By the way! We have a kitten in our house! :) Its name is Panther, but I just call it Pus. Sometimes Kosepus. He is very very cute and cuddly, and earlier today he slept on my back for an hour or so! Im in love.

Natt til 24de sov vi over hos Scott’s familie. Ikke det at de var hjemme, siden de er ute og reiser. Broren var dog hjemme og vi tilbringte så og si hele natten på og spille D&D. Et spill. Kommer ikke til å forklare nærmere, i og med at det er ganske innviklet, så har du ikke hørt om det før så google det om du virkelig vil. (Hoho). Så den 24de altså, vi sto opp rundt 12, og dro deretter ut for å spise frokost/lunch med Tom. Det var koselig, og jeg drakk en absolutt fantastisk kokosnøtt drikk! Deretter dro jeg og Scott til dyrehagen, hvor vi så på koalaene, kenguruene, de tasmanske djevlene, uglene, salamanderne og de giftigste slangene i Australia. Jeg fikk til og med ta på både en salamander, en frosk OG en slange! Ikke så slimete som jeg hadde trodd! Men jeg har fortsatt igjen å ha en slange rundt halsen. Det SKAL oppleves :) Desverre begynte det å regne, men det var fortsatt kjempe varmt ute, så etter en stund følte vi oss både klam og ekkel. Det bar derfor hjem for en dusj før vi dro på lokalpuben for å spise middag. Risotto for julemiddag, ikke værst ;)

Om kvelden hadde vi planlagt å åpne en pakke hver. Men en pakke ble fort til to, og da var det plutselig vanskelig å stoppe. (Her nede, skal jo pakkene åpnes om morgenen den 25). Fra Scott fikk jeg et Pandora armbånd med 5 forskjellige charms. En koffert fordi vi begge liker å reise, en kenguru fordi jeg er i Australia, en heks fordi vi dro til Perth og så musikalen Wicked sammen, en pakke siden armbåndet var en gave fra Scott og en terning fordi vi har begynt å spille dette D&D spillet sammen ;) Legger nok ut et bilde senere :) Vi gikk tidlig til sengs, og sovnet rimelig fort. Ute var det storm, torden og lyn! Akkurat som det var i Norge?

Den 25te sto vi opp tidlig og laget oss frokost. Banan og sjokolade pannekaker! Nam nam! Deretter åpnet vi de aller siste gavene som var under treet og dro deretter til Scott’s tante og onkel for å feire juledagen. Vi drakk masse vin og champagne, som man gjør her nede i jula, og åpnet litt mer presanger. Scott’s bestemor var også tilstede, pluss Scott’s bror og onkelens foreldre. Vi satt rundt omkring i stua, drakk champagne og snakket, før det var klart for julelunchen. Eller, det vil si. Julemiddag, bortsett fra at den er inntatt rundt 2 om dagen. På menyen var det rekecocktail til forrett, og både kylling og skinke med poteter, gresskar og andre grønnsaker. Og gjett hva! De hadde SVOR! Ekte SVOR! Og ikke nok med det, men det var vist det store spørsmålet også, KOM SVOREN TIL Å BLI BRA I ÅR? Tanta kom på et tidspunkt forferdet inn på stua og fortalte at hun ikke kunne få den sprø! Så i et siste desperat forsøk putta de svoren på panna og freste den på høy varme! Og det funka! For svoren ble helt fantastisk og jeg tror jeg spiste mer svor enn noen andre! Nam! Til dessert hadde de sjokoladekake med rosiner og fiken. Med andre ord, jeg smakte den ikke. Heldigvis hadde de også noe de kalte “Trifel” (eller noe sånt), som rett og slett var sukkerbrød rullekake, gele og vaniljekrem lagt lag i lag i en gjennomsiktig bolle, dekket med bær! NAM! Vi drakk mer vin og champagne, og etterhvert kom det også en fjern slektning med mann og tre barn. Ble en del stress, slik det SKAL være når barn er i hus, så det tok ikke lange tiden før vi dro hjem. Nå hadde vi jo drukket en del, så bilen ble satt igjen, og Scott’s bror kjørte oss hjem. Vi sluknet i sofaen med en øl i hånda og en eller annen julefilm på TV. Og så var jula over. :P For det var det. Ingen julefrokost hvor alle samles rundt bordet og spiser sammen, ingen julelunch heller. Eller julemiddag. Januarsalget som vi pleier å ha når jula er ferdig, var allerede den 26 desember, og kun den ene dagen. Dagene mellom jul og nyttår virker som å være helt normale dager hvor julepynten blir tatt bort og ting går tilbake til normalen. De snakker også om en “mat-koma” her nede. Men ærlig talt. Mat-koma etter kun en dag med julemat? Nei hvet du meg hva. Jeg tror Scott kommer til å få sjokk når vi drar nordover neste jul. For jula varer jo helt til påske! :)

Et lite utvalg bilder fra de siste dagene:

Bildet er tatt av søte Erika, og er fra en dag hvor vi dro til Brighton Beach. Vi lette etter små strandhus, men vi hadde litt dårlig tida så vi fant dem ikke. Men det var veldig fint der uansett :)

Dette er meg og Erika. Ved de 12 apostlene på Great Ocean Road :)

Luke, Erika og meg med apostlene i bakgrunn :) (ser det kjent ut pappa?)

Alle fire av oss :)

Tulle Scott, meg og Elsa :)

Tulle Scott og tulle Patsy

Elsa, Patsy og Tom!

Kjæresta <3

My name is Hazel. I am a shifter. A razor-claw shifter to be exactly. 19 years ago I was born in the Winterbole Forest. I have lived there all my life, with my family and the rest of our tribe. My brother Ash and I have always been competitors. My father always expected more from him than from me, but I never thought it was fair. Just because I was a girl, and he was a big, brave and fierce boy didn’t mean I couldn’t serve the family just as good. My brother always had a dream about becoming an avenger.  Just like our dad. Me, on the other hand, didn’t know what I wanted to be. I was just a kid. That was then. Now, things were different. I had left the tribe. I had to. It was the Raven Queens plan for me, and this is my story.

Since the fall of Nerath, the dangers in the forest increased, and many shifters, including our tribe had to move closer to the human and elf communities. At this time, I was 15, and my brother was 17. My brave and strong big brother. A week before we had to move, our tribe had a visitor from the elf tribe in the city. He was one of the eldest ones son, and was visiting to prepare our own eldest for the big change that would meet us once we moved from our well-known forest. It was early in the morning, and my brother was out hunting as he often was. He had heard someone scream of pain just near the waterfall, and when he arrived he saw the elf being attacked by a big brown bear. My brother, the brave one, had started running towards them, getting the bears attention drawn away from the elf. Silly city elf, he didn’t know anything about the forest. What was he doing out there anyway? The bear had turned around and went for my brother instead. My brother had fought against him, and the elf hadn’t been helping at all. It was inevitable. The bear was a full-grown bear, and my brave brother wasn’t even 18 yet. My brother died that morning. In the forest. 1 hour away from me, who was sleeping and didn’t know a thing about what was happening. The elf survived.

After this, my family and my tribe were even more eager to move closer to the humans and the elves. Everyone was, except from me. How could I live in the same city as the one that caused my brother’s death? How could I possibly ever walk past him without feeling the urge to fight him, and see him dead? It was not fair that he could live, while my brother couldn’t. If the elf hadn’t been out there in the forest all by himself that day, my brother would still be alive. We would still have the same stupid fights and unagreements around the dinner steak, and my father would still yell at me for being so jealous at my brother. But just because of this elf, my brother was far away now. I would never see him again, or share a meal with him ever again. It was my job now, to make the family proud. And the only way I could do this was by killing my brother’s killer. He deserved to die just like my brother died. And that was my goal.

I had heard this rumour among the other youngsters in my tribe. 10 days away from our old tribecentre in the forest, it was another tribe of shifters. I had heard stories of this powerful shaman that could control every animal spirit he came across. Apparently he was old, and his tribe wasn’t of the friendliest one. I could risk a lot going there; the shaman could already have passed away. Maybe they didn’t like unknown visitors either, but that was a risk I was willing to take. I was going soon.

A year after my brothers dead, I packed a small package with some meat and cheese, and left. It was early in the morning and no-one was awake yet. I couldn’t tell anyone, they would most likely not let me leave. They would have said it was too dangerous. If it had been my brother, my parents would have bought him a brand new spear, with the best wishes and maybe even a follower to help him. But not with me, I would always be the weak girl in the family, but I was about to change this view. I was out after revenge, and in the end my family would be really proud of me.

After nearly two weeks in the forest, running, hunting and running some more, I found them. At first it was just a suspicion. I had been walking through a forest where the grass was shorter than usual. There were some broken sticks here and there, and once I was sure I could hear some voices far ahead. I continued travelling through the forest, and the small hints that said that someone had been there earlier, were around me more and more often. I was starting to get tired of being all alone, but when I thought about my mission, it was worth it. One morning when I was about to wake up under a tree, I was sure I could hear voices. And I was correct. When I opened my eyes there were four spears pointing at me from every direction. My story could have ended there. But it didn’t. I managed to convince them to bring me to their tribe. They weren’t positive, but since I was a girl and all, they decided that I couldn’t be that much of a threat to their little tribe. For some reason this tribe refused to be more civilised, they meant that they could handle the forest and the dangers that followed. And so far they were right.

Once I came inside their little village, I asked politely if there were a shaman around. Big mistake. They all started yelling and talking to each other in a language I couldn’t understand, I almost thought it was the mistake of my life, that they would kill me just for asking. But then I heard a voice behind me, and I turned around. Even if I never had met the shaman earlier, I just knew it was this guy once I saw him. The shaman saved me that day, he didn’t know who I was, and he could easily have refused to talk to me. But by some reason he didn’t, instead he brought me to his home and gave me a bed to sleep in. The following days I learned to know him, and him to know me. Finally one day, when we were sharpening our weapons, I told him why I had come this far. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t tell me to leave either. So I stayed. The shaman took me as his apprentice, and I lived with him for several months. One day his tribe had decided to leave. They could no longer hold up their defence against the forest and the dangers that raged around. Many people disagreed, but it happened. They moved closer to a city on the other side of the forest, but not me and the shaman. He meant that if it were just the two of us, we could easily live in the forest, hunting and practicing my shaman skills. So we did. It was hard times, and it was good times, but the time passed by and I got stronger and stronger every day that came. It was a good time.

Today, I am 19 years. I haven’t seen my family since the day I left. My teacher, the wise shaman is dead. He was old. I put him on a homemade raft, with leaves and flowers, and sent him down the river. He is probably watching me this very moment. He and my brother. I have started my journey of my own. I don’t want to return to the city where my tribe lives. Not yet. The elf can wait, I need more experience. I need to learn everything about being a shaman first. Queen Raven wants it that way. I am on a journey, and it has just begun.

In Australia it is normal to put up the christmas tree in the beginning of December, so next weekend we will put it up. Already a bit late, but well well… Christmas spirit? No, I cant really say I can feel it. I just know it. I know it is christmas, but I surely cant feel it. I tried to improve the spirit a bit by making Scott a norwegian adventscalendar. And some other norwegian christmas stuff :P It is working a little bit, but the real christmas spirit is not like it use to be. What happened to first sunday of advent? Why doesnt people celebrate that here? And wheres that star those three men followed to visit Jesus in the barn? In Norway, you find that star in every window, and it is the most cozy thing ever. Dark outside. Big star in every window <3 Not that everyone is christian, but I mean. Christmas IS a christian celebration… :P Havent seen the crib either. And havent heard anyone talk about the christmas evangelium :P So yes, it is different, but I do like it. It is sunny and you can go to the beach! I love the beach, and if I could choose, I would probably live AT the beach every day. <3 The beeeaaach! <3

Oh, and guess what! Today we had a daytrip to the Twelve Apostles! 8 hours back and forth, 470 km, no worries at all. Pictures will come later :) It is very pretty! And yeah.. it is almost 31 degrees :) Cant complain about not having snow, because this is just awesome :) Now, Im gonna go down stairs and try to encourage people to go outside and play some footy! :D Australian footy!

See yah later mate ;)

He was a good budgie. The best actually. I have so many fantastic memories with him, and I will miss him for ever and ever. Irre will always live with me in my heart though, and when I get back to Norway, Im gonna take my favourite picture of us and put it in a frame. <3

Some of my memories:
- The first day with Irre. When he wasnt the best flyer, and didnt know what walls was. So he kept crashing, and falling behind the couch. Poor little guy.
- When I had to chase him for hours because he didnt want to go back into his birdcage.
- That time when he flew straight into my brothers face, landed on his nose, and then took a big bite of his nosetip :)
- When he ate apples, and instead of actually eating them he just threw the applebites all over the floor.
- That happy twittring when he got budgie candy.
- Or that happy twittring every time I came home from school.
- How much he loved mandarines.
- All the pre-parties I had at my place, where Irre were a big part of it, and even tasted beer :)
- When we had wrapped candy on the table, and he could play with it for hours. He took one candy, tripped to the edge of the table and dropped it on the floor. His favourite game.
- His other favourite game. When we made stairs with our fingers and he had to climb it :)
- How cute he looked after taking a bath. Fluffy Irre :)
- The last time I spoke to him. Over skype actually. He looked healthy and happy :)

I would put in a picture of me and him, but all those pictures are in Norway, so the only one I have on my computer is this one:

Irregutt <3

Sov i ro Irregutten min. Du va den beste. Virkelig. Vi delt mange hemmeligheta og vi :) Takk for alt <3 Håpe du har det fint i undulat himmelen, og at du kose dæ med alle dine undulat vænna :) Gla i dæ sjø <3

Og noen ganger, skulle jeg ønske at google translate ikke fantes. For jeg har veldig lyst å dele en setning som ble sagt til meg et par dager siden. Men tror ikke den passer seg for ører i Australia :P Men så kan jeg ikke skrive det på norsk heller, for jeg vet jo det, at minst en person her nede oversetter når jeg skriver på norsk (så hei til deg forresten). Så derfor blir det med denne lille teaseren istedetfor. Jeg ble veldig glad da jeg hørte det iallefall :)

Og ellers, så FATTER jeg ikke hvorfor jeg har så forferdelig slitt hår! Det er så urettferdig! Jeg føner det nesten aldri, og farger det enda sjeldnere! (bortsett fra den lille utskeielsen her nede med blondt, orange, blått, grønt og svart haha).

Nå er det vår forresten. Å si at gresset er grønt igjen og at blomsterne blomstrer blir feil, for det gjør de hele tiden. Derfor synes jeg vinteren her nede er sykt unødvendig. Hvorfor skal man ha vinter om man ikke kan ha snø liksom? Hvorfor skal man ha høst om man ikke har store løvdunger å hoppe i? (Ja, for det gjør jo alle i Norge om høsten, ikke sant?) Og hvorfor, hvorfor skal man ha vår om man ikke hører lyden av snø som smelter, blomster som spirer og bjørner som våkner fra vinterhi? Hvooorfoooor? Synes godt det kunne ha vært sommer her hele tiden. Slik det er lengre nord i Australia. Melbourne er vel mer eller mindre den eneste byen her nede som kan minne litt om Norge. På en måte sånn. Siden det er kaldt om vinteren. Og man kan faktisk gå på ski. Er et fjell ikke langt unna hvor det snør og folk pleier å dra for å stå slalom og snowboard. Dessuten har de et innendørs skianlegg her også. Midt i sentrum faktisk. Men det er mer for de som trikser og har kjørt slalom såpass lenge at de er gode. Jeg, som den uekte nordmannen jeg er, har aldri.. les ALDRI stått på slalom før. Første gangen jeg dro til bakken var da jeg var 16 år og hadde kjøpt mitt første snowboard. Og JA, kjære familie, jeg er bitter. Hvilken norsk familie tar IKKE med seg kidden til bakken liksom? (Neida, jeg er ikke sinna.) Forrige semester ble jeg spurt i en forelesning; Du, du som er fra Norge… kan du forklare hva som er så gøy med slalom vinter og snø? Jeg bare.. eeh… Også måtte jeg LYVE da! LYVE! For at jeg ikke skulle bli fremstilt som en norsk taper som ALDRI har vært i bakken før liksom. Det ville vært det samme som at en australiener ALDRI har badet i sjøen! Så nå går det en gjeng med australske småunger rundt på campus og synes jeg er dritkul som kommer fra Norge, for da kan jeg stå på slalom når jeg vil nesten. Yeah right. Det er forresten et annet tema. Småunger på campus!

Småunger på campus nemlig. Det forekommer svært ofte. Som i hele tiden. Her er de ikke stort eldre enn en ramp fra Toten er når han begår sin første kriminalitet. Sånn ca rundt 18. Og det sier jo litt. 18 åringer er vel som 18 åringer flest uansett hvor i verden de kommer fra. En haug med umodne bananer som tror alt dreier seg om dem og festen de var på sist helg. (Ja, jeg er fult klar over at bananer var en særdeles dårlig sammenligning). Men istedet for å slaske rundt på Rimi slik ungdommer i Norge gjør, slasker de på universitetet. Og spyr ut av seg med barnslige kommentarer om den stakkars lille gutten som ikke har kommet i stemmeskiftet ennå. Det sier vel seg selv at jeg ikke gidder å henge med disse? Av og til, kan man finne diamanten blant stenene (Ja, jeg jobbet lengre med denne sammenligningen), en godt moden melon (Ok, seriøst… Jeg skal stoppe, det er ikke helt min ting å være kreativ.) som har vært ute og reist på andre siden av sjøen. Denne personen er aldri under 20. Og som regel er denne personen like irritert over småungene som det jeg er. Desverre er disse diamantene veldig ofte utvekslingsstudenter som kun er her for et semester, før de reiser tilbake til sitt hjemland. Ergo, jeg er stuck med en haug steiner og må starte letinga etter diamantene på nytt. Jeg har mest lyst til å slutte, rømme tilbake til Norge og starte universitetet på nytt. HVOR ALLE ER DIAMANTER :D

(En liten ting til, australsk pålegg finnes så og si ikke. De har syltetøy, en type peanøttsmør, en type sjokoladepålegg, 4 typer av den samme osten, vegemite og skinke som ikke er sånn veldig god. Om du leter lenge kan du finne Latvisk leverpostei, norsk brunost og svenskt blåbærsyltetøy, men da må man vite hvor man skal gå hen. Og dessuten er det ingen som koker egg for å ha på brødskiva heller. Og brødet er altfor luftig. Og alle spiser loff. Loff med luft. Ristet loff med luft, eller toasted loff med luft og ost. Og melka smaker ganske ille den også forresten. Har funnet en melk jeg liker, men den er himla dyr. Men jeg savner ikke Norge fordetom altså. Ikke nå når det er sommer.)