I’ve seen lots of blog posts with people’s ABC of Spring, however here in Darwin we are just about to hit Winter as soon as the wet season is over so I thought I would write my ABC of Winter.

I would do Winter although we are kind of in the in between stage of Summer and Winter but we don’t really seem to have Autumn just a lot of storms.

I tried to do it as things I am looking forward to happening but also things I hope will happen as well.

A is for Adventure – now the weathers not so rainy we can go out exploring and adventuring. There are lots of places close to home where we drive past the roads and I ask “what’s down there?” the Aussie isn’t sure either so now we shouldn’t get stuck in the mud so much we can go explore.

B is for bites – and the hopeful reduction of bites when I am outside. I have spent most of the wet season covered in bites all over my legs and arms. I even had to go to the Doctors a couple of times to get some cream to help heal the bites as the itching was driving me crazy. Hopefully when the rain stops the mozzies will leave me alone.

C is for Crocodiles – I am really hoping that we manage to find a croc or two around so I can see them in their natural environment. I will also say it is for camping as I really want to buy some camping equipment so me and the Aussie can head of for a day or two and explore the Northern Territory.

D is for Driving – I’m hoping that me and the Aussie and also my Aussie friends get to go on a few road trips over the next few months. I really want to visit Katherine, the Mary River, Kakadu, Coroboree amongst many other places in the Northern Territory.

E is for Entertainment – Darwin has a Deckchair Cinema where you sit out under the stars watching a movie or two. We didn’t make it here last dry season but hopefully we will do this year! We went to a screening of the Great Escape at one of the Yacht Clubs last year and it was so cool so this is a must.

F is for Family – my Mum, Dad and Brother will be flying to Australia in June to visit me for 2 weeks and I cannot wait to see them but also to show them around Darwin so they can see where I live and why I like the Northern Territory so much.

G is for George Brown Botanical Gardens – this is one of those places on the to-do list that gets pushed aside for other activities. I’m hoping we make it down there soon as the photos make it look so beautiful.

H is for Home – hopefully before the dry season is finished me and the Aussie will have found a house in the City so our commute to work or to do anything really is reduced and an indoor bathroom would be bliss!

I is for Idea – in that I have no idea what to do for I!!!

J is for Jumping Crocodiles – there are lots of places out towards the Adelaide River where you can go on a boat tour and see the crocodiles in their more natural habitat and being fed. When they jump they jump pretty scarily high. This is on the to do list when my family are here and I’m looking forward to getting out there and have our whole day planned!

K is for Kakadu National Park – this place is on my need to do and do it soon list. It looks stunning from the photos I have seen and we are hoping to get there during the dry season.

L is for Lyons Cottage – this place is also called British Australian Telegraph House and is an early example of Darwin architecture. I’ve walked past the place a few time and it looks quite interesting, especially as Darwin is being expanded so that combined with Cyclone Tracey means there’s not so many old buildings left. It’s closed at the moment apparently but hopefully we’ll make it there.

(Image from here)

M is for Mindil Markets – On 24 April the Mindil Beach markets began again and I am really looking forward to visiting again as often as possible. The market runs every Thursday and Sunday evening during the dry season and you can find all kinds of delicious food, buy lots of lovely nick nacks and listen to the great performers that they have each week. I can almost taste the Laksa!

N is for Northern Territory Parliament House – this building is called the Wedding Cake due to its design and looks pretty cool even from the sea (photo below). You can do tours around it and its free (always a winner) and I quite fancy a peak around there especially when you hear about some of the things that go on in there!

O is for Oil Storage Tunnels – these are storage tunnels used during World War 2. I think that they will be really interesting to visit, probably with the Aussie and my family when they are here (I think they might need a holiday to get over this holiday you know!)

P is for Photography – of course! I have just become a committee member for my camera club and so hopefully this will help me broaden my photography as well as meet new people. I’m planning on entering a few Darwin based photography competitions as well so who knows what will come of that.

Q is for Queues – or avoiding them. The end of April is the start of the tourist season here so I’m expecting a few queues out and about to get in to places.

R is for Rodeo – At a place called Noonamah (yep that’s its real name) they have a Rodeo during the Dry Season and I am going to drag the Aussie there to watch it when it starts!

S is for Studying – in order for me to qualify to practice in Australia I have to do some studying. I’m going to sort my visa out first but once that is done I’ll be looking in to the courses I need to study, choosing the best University to do it and then getting down to studying. I’m a bit anxious about having to study because whenever I have tried distance learning before I have not been very good at it but hopefully as I really want to qualify this will help spur me on.

T is for Tea – well Devonshire Cream Tea’s to be precise! When I was at the museum a few weeks ago I heard a lady talking about how somewhere they are doing Devonshire Cream Teas around Darwin. Now this is like a little piece of my home and I would love to find somewhere to have some. I didn’t hear where though and so did a bit of googling research and discovered they do them at Burnett House on a Sunday afternoon so I am going to drag the Aussie and/or my Family when they are here to go find the magical Devonshire cream tea’s!

(Image is from here)

U is for UK – as I will be visiting for a couple of weeks in September to see my family, friends and go to my friends wedding where I will be reading for her and her hubby to be.

V is for Visa – the ongoing process will hopefully be well underway shortly if not by the end of the Winter.

W is for Weather – I go on and on and on about the weather I know but after the humidity and sometimes non stop rain of the wet season I am really really looking forward to the dry season kicking in properly.

X is for Xhausted – I know terrible choice but I couldn’t think of anything and if I make it through this list I think there is a fairly chance of exhaustion so I will go with it!

Y is for Yum (yeah I know I suck at this game) – In other words trying new foods. Before I got to Darwin I was a bit adventurous and would try new food when the opportunity had arisen. In Darwin the food choices are vast and so I have tried lots of new things that are out of this world. I had tried what I thought was Thai food and wasn’t too keen but then tried some hear and it was so so good I am always looking for an excuse to have more and it’s not just Thai food you find here there are so many choices so I hope we get out and about and try new things often.

Z is for Zoo – I’m not sure if you would class it as a zoo but they have lots of zoo animals so I’ll go with it being a zoo when I say that i want to visit Crocodylus Park in Darwin. I think we’ll save this for my parents visit but we definitely have to get there during this winter.

That took a while and some pushing of boundaries with the letters! What is your ABC for the season?