Beermaking 101

Rod started his brewing and fermentation process last week and the beer has been sitting in barrels in my diningroom smelling of hops and yeast. We’ve got a ton of Australian Pale Ale, Mexican Cervesa, Czech Pilsner, and an Apple Cider.  It’s been an interesting process and Rod has been talking about making beer for the year I have been here.  I can say that I’ve learned a bit about the fermentation and bottling process. I will have to do some more research on the beer tasting part - I’ll get back to you on that.

Fermentation in progress

  
 Bottling

 On the Farm

Last weekend we were guests on the Farm in Kinglake withour friends Dawn & Woz.  Dawn is my friend that graduated from the same high school as I (5 years later), that we went camping with last month. Dawn and Woz are planning to be married this coming February.  Dawn and Woz made a wonderful vege lasagne and some excellent BBQ.  Their neighbors, we’ve met before, Bud and Melissa and their son Sam were there as well as Heather & Blair and the girls Ashlee and Skye.

Dawn invited us to stay in their guest loft and in the morning we woke to some very odd noises.  Peacocks, sheep, a lamb, the dog Lily, and someother odd bird noises - it was quite an interesting morning on the farm.

Around the table left to right: Skye, Sam, Bud, Melissa, Woz, Lainey, Rod, Heather, Blair (Ash not pictured, Dawn behind the camera)

Immigration

Well, last week Rod and I spent a good amount of our time and a lot of our money last week filing my paperwork for a Spousal Visa of residence.  Our filed document included everything from certified birth records, to an FBI report and just about every document the Navy has on me.  At least one hundred pages, it is all filed and now we await our interview that preceeds approval.  After my VISA is approved I will be able to seek other employment, and I will have permanent residency in Australia.  I can apply for citizenship (dual citizenship) after I have been a resident for two years.

Other new news

Dawn and I have recently become involved in a Yahoo networking group for Americans in Australia, it’s been good for us to hear and participate in conversations about difficulties us american’s have here in Australia.  I have gotten some great information about filing my VISA paperwork at immigration and other things like where to get American brands of food that we miss so much! 

We’re going to see Jason Mraz on Monday the 7th of August (only a few weeks away)!  He’s finally made it to Australia on his first tour.  I am so thrilled that we got tickets!  On 31 July Billy Joel tickets go on sale - I’m hoping they won’t be so completely expensive that we can get a pair of tickets.

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Mental Status: Under the weather
Song: Mr. A-Z -Jason Mraz
Favourite Thing Today: My work Tupperware party this week