Arr..Me..Hearties!

First of all I must say, We miss you Jackie! Not a day has passed that we don't express how much you helped us and that you are in our happy thoughts!
Sunday, First Host Family day: God Bless the Greenies! My host family is Richard and Natalie Marriott, two daughters Ashley (10 going on 18), and Brooke (8 forever young)- They are an absolute delight!!
First good sign, we pull into the driveway and there are tomatoes and squash vine tangled in the landscaping. Richard said that these were volunteers from when they tilled the compost into the soil. I've done the same thing!! Love it!
R& N are both Math and science teachers, Natalie also teaches computer tech. They have spent four years caravaning around Australia, home schooling the kids and living on the road. They recently bought this home, one year ago, it is a beautiful space.
We met Don, Carol and Brianna with Mike at a local brew pub. Fish and chips was just as popular as the Chicken nuggets and chips. It is official: Mike is eating VEGETABLES! There was a generous salad with the fish and chips, even the kids plates; leafy greens with carrots, onions and tomatoes.
We all went to Bryon Bay Lighthouse, the most easterly point of Australia. The view is breathtaking, Waves breaking on volcanic boulders surrounded by a green hillside...I can't get enough of the blue ocean. Byron Bay the town is a hippie/ trendy oasis for world travelers and the young granola crowd.
Ashley, Brooke and Brianna were quite entertaining. Brooke started a paper pirate hat assembly line in the back seat, we all got hats. Red for the boys, white or light purple for the girls. Each hat must have a skull and cross bones to enter the ship. Rules are rules. Natalie demonstrated how to make origami boxes, and Ashley kept us in communication with Brianna's car via walkie talkie, even when not in range. The treck down to the beach & up to lighthouse was a good hike. We got wet from the rain, but we could see it coming across the water and took shelter under the bush.
Dinner was a hosted at Wendy & Charles home. They have built a garden into the hillside of their back yard, it is quite a project. Charles carries stones up 2 at a time. They have some herbs, tomatoes and lettuce growing. They get meat from a local butcher and try to use local produce as much as possible, Richard and Natalie do the same.
Food thoughts: Eggs are kept in dry storage. We saw vegemite snack packs (think Kraft lunchables) in the store, I'm bringing some home for gifts- Here's your warning.
There is a large section of the meat department devoted to pet food, see pic, a great way to use by-product. I've seen some tubes of ground meat items at Pet's Mart-like stores, but this was a well developed product.
Here are some prices I jotted down; In Au- tax is included: half leg of lamb $12.99/kg, Veal roast $14.99/ Kg, Porterhouse $24.07 kg,
Off to start the Tuesday!!