Our New Life

I guess one of the things we didn't really think hard enough about when we left Houston and decided to take up the ex-pat life is not just our own transience, but that of those around us as well. When you decide to move to a foreign country, and commit to continue moving around in the future, you can count on leaving some friends behind. It's hard and you definitely put it into the "cons" column, but you always look forward to making new friends in new places. What you don't count on is that the easiest people to meet are also ex-pats, who get moved around too. It's happened to us again, in that friends we have met here in Aberdeen are being shipped off somewhere else. It makes you want to pull inward a little - what's the point if everyone is just going to move away once you get to know them - but that's an urge we have to fight.

I spoke to my sister, Linda, the other day. She's starting a mini-expat experience of her own, doing 6 months of research in Holland for her PhD. We had a good chat and I think we've already organized a couple of visits, including a possible Christmas visit. We wish her, Mark and Adele all the best in their adventure.

For those who are interested, Australia are 479 for 5 in their first innings, after England went a respectable 435 all out. The English bowlers are having real trouble getting wickets and it looks like Australia could bat all day. The guys at work were hoping for rain, which would call off the remainder of the match and give an "honorable" draw for the first test.

We also are getting back into the Tour de France. I thought I would have to retract my statement about Lance not finishing this year, but it looks like Contador put his stamp on the race yesterday. If Lance can't pull back the time in the rest of the Pyrenees, I don't see him being content with second fiddle and working to protect a teammate's lead. I can imagine a withdrawal sometime in the last week. I was hoping Astana would get 5 guys in the top 5 positions and then, on the second last day, just let them go at each other up Mont Ventoux. Oh well.

We went out again last night in what is becoming our routine Friday night walk on the beach with Casey. The wind was blowing and the surf was up, so there were a few more surfers in the water than last time. Casey loves it - chasing birds, running in the water, playing with other dogs and little people. She comes home exhausted. It works out well for us too. A little bit of exercise and fresh air, get to watch the big boats leaving the harbour and, if we deserve it, some soft-serve ice cream.