Chris and Jane'nette Were Here!

As you would have realized from the last post, Chris and Jane'nette were here with us! We picked them up from the airport, and had breakfast at our place.

After a brief sojourn at the Swansea Street Market we had a great lunch together at Secret Garden Cafe before sending them off to their hotel. Since they were here for their second honeymoon, we made sure not to disturb them!

After a week or so, we met up again for some crabbing! On their last night here in Perth, we went down to Sir James Mitchell Park and made full use of the free facilities by having a sizzle!

We're looking forward to our next visitors!! Will it be you? :)

 

How to Catch and Cook Blue Manna Crabs

Step 1: Purchase crabbing equipment and bait.

Drop nets and hand-held scoops... we decided to go with the drop nets so that we could catch them from a jetty

Step 2: Find a good location.

Urmmm.... too shallow - not suitable for drop nets

too many boats launching out from here...

looks like a good spot!

Step 3: Wait for someone to show up to give some local expert advice!

Looks like this was not a suitable place for crabbing, though by then we had actually caught 6 crabs (by following steps 5 to 10), of which 3 undersized ones were released! (refer to step 9). This nice man suggested a better location, and that's where we headed to next.

Step 4: Select an even better location.

perfect spot... this time with shade too!

Step 5: Attach bait and secure drop nets.

We used mullets as bait

Step 6: Fling drop nets into the water.

just dropping them into the water made no difference, but flinging them definitely looks much cooler in photographs!

Step 7: Wait for a few minutes, then reel in the drop nets to check if it contains blue manna crabs.

Step 8: If there are no blue manna crabs, return to step 6. If there are blue manna crabs, ensure that they are legal (carapace width >= 127mm AND not carrying eggs).

Step 9: If crabs are legal, you may keep them for consumption. Otherwise, they must be returned to the water within 5 minutes.

Bye bye!

Step 10: Repeat steps 5 to 10 until tired, bait runs out, or maximum limit of 10 crabs per person has been reached.

possibly half of our bait were devoured by puffer fish...

Step 11: Pose with entire day's catch before going home.

We brought home 18 crabs! We caught at least double the number, but released the undersized ones and the female ones with eggs

Step 12: Boil crabs for 10 to 15 minutes.

Our Master Chef!

Step 13: Indulge!

Be our judge please!

A few days back, Kevin attempted to relive one of his favourite childhood past time. He drew a dinosaur (more like copying from a book!).

Agnes decided to give it a go as well. For her first attempt, it did not turn out looking like a dog!

This is the dinosaur that we both drew (or copied)...

To satisfy our egos, we want to know which one of our drawings is nicer. Just for fun! But it may help prevent this issue from turning into a marriage crisis! Haha. We have created a poll and it's on the right sidebar. Just vote which drawing you think is nicer!. It's anonymous so don't you worry! ;p

No. 1

No. 2

We will reveal later who drew which. ;)

Counting our blessings: God's timing

We often wonder what God is preparing us for... especially when we're at dead ends in our life and also in times of waiting...

Agnes, who's been in the corporate rat race for 6 years, couldn't believe that not a single one of her job applications here resulted in an interview, not to mention any offers. Just last Thursday, however, she discovered that she will be starting work as a relief staff in South Perth Child Care Centre next year. We never thought she could, since we had the impression that she needed certain certifications. But... God makes all things beautiful in His time.

For Kevin, even as he embarks on a new journey, getting involved in astrophysics and cosmology - he wonders where all this is leading to...

The prayer below was part of last Sunday's liturgy and it pretty much sums how we are feeling...

Thank you Wise and patient God, for the way you prepare for all good things:

By your creating Spirit you slowly prepared this planet earth to become the home of living creatures whom you shaped in your own soul-likeness.

You prepared Abraham and Sarah to be the first covenant people by sending them on a journey, destination unknown.

You prepared Moses to liberate,lead and teach your people by aletting him live many years in the wilderness, destination far off.

You prepared Samuel to be your priest and the anointer of kings, by giving him the faithfulness of his mother Hannah and a training from childhood in the temple at Shiloh.

You prepared David to be a remarkable king and poet by the years he spent as a humble shepherd of his father’s sheep.

You prepared Amos to be your courageous prophet by the seasons he spent up in the hill country of Tekoa, pruning fruit trees and caring for herds.

You prepared Hosea to understand and to preach the message of your love, through the painful experience of a failed marriage.

You prepared John the Baptist to be your prophet by giving him a mother and father of faith, and by (perhaps) training him among the desert communities of zealous monks.

In the fullness of time you prepared a young woman named Mary, and a carpenter of integrity called Joseph, to nurture and teach of your only true Son, Jesus our Saviour.

Thank you, wise and patient God for these acts of far-sighted and most generous love.

Thank you also for your Spirit today, around and within us, preparing us for things which no eye has seen nor ear heard.

Your goodness and love are over all your works.

Blessed is your name forever!


Amen!

Glimpses of Democracy #1

The issue of refugees has been a hot topic in recent months. More than 50 boats with hundreds of refugees have been caught attempting to enter Australia illegally in the past year to seek asylum. Many of them have been placed on Christmas Island, while others have been sent home, as the government deliberates on the best way to tackle this issue. The overwhelming consensus so far is that the refugees should be sent home - due to concerns over the safety of Australians as well as the limited resources of the country.

There are some who disagree, of course. And they made sure their voices were heard, by taking it to the streets - on a Saturday afternoon right in the middle of the city in a dense tourist/shopping area (this is the 'Bukit Bintang' of Perth). No tear gas and water cannons were fired. Business went on as usual for the traders. A few policemen were following them around, to protect passer-bys AND the protestors.

We had a glimpse of what it means to live in a real democratic country...

...amidst drum beats, we heard chants of 'Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here!'

 

At Helene's

Helene from church invited us for lunch at her place.. and of course, we couldn't resist! She made the yummiest chicken casserole for us. We each had 2 servings of them! Not to mention a whole ice-cream cake for dessert! Add to that the heart-warming life stories and photographs that we shared with each other... and we had all the ingredients for a perfect Sunday afternoon...well, almost. Kevin had his presentation anxieties at the back of his mind. Yes, he had another presentation the day after and he still had slides to prepare. After lunch, he actually had to go to office for a few hours to finish them up. ;(

 Agnes is now busy knitting some bells & hollies (Christmas tree decors) for Helene as a BIG 'thank you'!

Astrofest!

After an entire year of activities organized in WA in conjuction with the UNESCO International Year of Astronomy, it was time for the ultimate finale - Astrofest!

Preparations were already underway in the morning...

The World At Night exhibition was one of the first things to go up...

as the telescopes began to arrive - we were expecting at least 60 on the night

including the Small Radio Telescope (SRT)

Kevin helping to set up the booth for the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research, among some other astronomy and science related organizations

Agnes reading a book while waiting...

... to set up the booth with children's activities

launching rockets!

talks and lectures throughout the day

not to mention loads of freebies, planetariums, 'astronauts' walking around, moonwalker rides, craft competitions, food.... there was something for everyone present, no matter how young or old they were. We expected about 2000 people... but ended up with about 4000 over visitors! It's great to see so many people (especially the kids) being so interested in science and astronomy. The universities here take it upon themselves to reach out to the school children here, hopefully to inspire them to pursue science as a career. Astrofest will no doubt play its role in showing the wonders of the Universe to schoolchildren and even adults as well!

The long day ended with a tour of the night sky, as the 60 over telescopes took turns pointing at the Moon, Jupiter, globular clusters and various other objects.

We were really amazed by the number of people willing to queue up just to look through some of these telescopes!

Orion just above the horizon at Curtin University, photographed with 30 seconds exposure

As we were on our way home... the thought that came to us was - how would the response have been for such an event in Malaysia? :)

Two of our firsts

1. It's officially summer today! We have been told to get ready for the heat that's nothing like what we've ever experienced in Malaysia. So, bring it on!

2. We pumped petrol for the car for the first time since we got it 2.5 weeks ago. The tank was full when we first got it. $33, one bar before E.