@Warning: Long Post Ahead@
The Twins. The *Gulls*. Jan and Kellie. It’s so hard to know where to start with these two. Considering I only knew Kellie from blog reading for the last 3 years and I didn’t know Jan at all, it could have all gone so wrong. But, instead, we got along so amazingly well and we had more fun than three invisible friends should be allowed to have. Kellie made me laugh non-stop and I adored Jan — we bonded as only ladies-in-waiting to the queen could!
I was amazed at how well The Twins functioned on almost no sleep. I picked them up from the airport at 7:30 in the morning and took them to the hotel to freshen up and take showers and maybe nap? But no, they wanted to power through and adjust to their new time zone. Fabric shopping priorities are international, so we went immediately to St. Croix County Dry Goods in Hudson, Wisconsin for a little fabric shopping. The *Gulls* do appear to be listing a little — I supposed it’s understandable if you’ve been up for almost 40 hours.
After this first day, the days sort of all ran together for me — I don’t think we got any more than 5, maybe 6 hours of sleep any night, all week. On the evening of the first day or early the second morning *someone* let a teeny tiny little naughty word slip and the ice was broken. After that, we were constantly laughing and giggling. The *Gulls* proceeded to make fun of the odd things they saw (the water level in our toilets, our uni-colored currency, MY driving … the list is endless.) So, I defended myself in the only way I knew how….I made fun of the way they speak.
Apparently Australians don’t speak English. I got a big kick out of watching people in the booth, as they adjusted their thinking to *AustrALian*. Here are a few clips:
- “Kellie uses a *roar* edge applique method.” A What? As they look around the booth — are there lions in here?
- “How you goin’?” Which, when spoken in the rapid fire AustrALian method, sounds like “Now you goin’?” I swear, I saw at least one lady step back out of the booth and question if it was time for her to leave. By the end of the show, I actually got Kellie to say “How are you doing?” instead.
- “Here’s our *PATun*”. Your what?
- And, not an interaction with customers, but while in the booth, my cell phone buzzed. I looked and it was Kellie calling me. She was standing right next to me, but her phone was in her hip pocket. “Kellie, you’re butt dialing me” I said. “I’m *WHOT*”??? I had to explain the term butt dialing. An hour later, it happened again and it went to my voice mail, which was probably an expensive international call. Then, the next day, it happened again. I just looked at Kellie with my phone in my hand and said “Kellie”, and she very innocently asked if she was butt dialing me again, except that she got the term “butt dialing” all wrong which sent us all into hysterical fits of laughter that lasted the rest of the week.
Maybe they were only speaking funny because I scared the bejeebus out of them with my driving? In my defense, we didn’t have any accidents. And we were talking. Do you know how hard it is to concentrate on your driving with two quick speaking Aussies in the car? All my skills were being used in interpretation. All their skills were being used clutching the dashboard. I almost drove on the WRONG side of the road to put them at ease. One night, on the way to The Mall of America, I missed the exit, so I showed them how to get back on the right road without over-shooting the interchange and turning around. We rode the jughandle rollercoaster.
We were all laughing hysterically (hey, nervous laughter on their part counts, doesn’t it?) I was just warming them up for the Mall of America rollercoasters. I was laughing so hard while we zipped around those loops that I had tears in my eyes!
But, by far, we had the most fun when we were shopping. We worked like dogs during the day, so our evening shopping excursions were our reward. The Twins were like kids in a candy store at JoAnn’s.
And Treadle was super fun too. Try and get your average American fabric clerk to convert feet to meters.
And Target. The downtown Minneapolis Target is awesome.
That’s Kellie in the red cardigan and Jan in the green one. No need to adjust your monitors. Kellie insisted her hot pink cardigan was red, so Jan and I insisted that Jan’s was green. It worked for us! Most of the time, I felt like a mother hen, keeping an eye on my straying peeps who never stood still.
We had SO very much fun. I wish you all could have been with us. Here’s a picture of the Twins taking a picture of my feet on a big bear footstool at a Caribou coffee shop.
And my feet. My poor tired feet. We got kicked out of the coffee shop at closing time ’cause we were too tired to walk back to the hotel so we were just hanging out. (Sorry for the dark *Nick-on* camera pictures.)
I could write many more posts about these two. About the time when Kellie walked into the hotel revolving door the wrong direction and it chased her around until she exited. (Apparently, just like drains, they go in the opposite direction here?) Or the discovery that our hotel rooms don’t have auto-flush toilets. OR the REALLY big discovery on the last day that those two don’t prewash any fabrics. The SHOCK. The HORROR! To think that I spent a whole week with people from the wrong side of the washing machine!
I know you’re horrified too, so I’ll just leave you with a parting shot of the three of us in our cute booth uniforms. (I was too tall for the camera. ;-) ) By the end of the trip, I was starting to feel like one of the *Gulls*. And the last night, it was even confirmed, when we went straight from booth tear down to a restaurant and some goofball asked us if we coordinated our outfits (all white shirts and blue jeans). Smart Alec. If all went well, the Twins should be arriving back home about now. Thank you, Thank you *Gulls*, for a fantastic time. If you two had half as much fun as I did, then I think the week was a success!
XOXO,
Anna
I’m still laughing – you obviously had a great time with the ‘sheilas’!! Isn’t it funny how we have problems understanding each other when we are speaking the same language! I’ve now met 3 blogging friends, and I had a terrific time with all of them – I guess we already have all the things in common that we write about!
Oh, it sounds like you had so much fun!!!! If you can’t loosen up and just be goofy once in a while, life isn’t worth living!!!
One year my family went to see our family in Georgia for Grandpa Somer’s (the one from Indiana) 100th birthday. We taught our cousins how to say, “You guys.” and they taught us to say, “Ya’ll!” Then we would go to “Wa-Mart”. We had a blast.
I’m so glad you had a great time!!!
It looks like you all had a great time!
Wow, what a wonderful time the three of you had. Sounds so fun! It sounds like your sense of humor totally clicked with the Gulls. That was a fun post.
I visited Australia many years ago and could barely understand anyone. I spent three weeks saying, “What?” or nodding in my head in agreement, pretending like I understood what people were saying to me.
Oh my gosh, your post had me in stitches. But I do understand your confusion (and that of your customer). When we first lived in Australia I often had to ask three times to repeat a question and more often than not I just said yes, although I still had no idea what they were talking about.
What a lovely, funny post Anna! It looks like you had SO much fun.
I certainly feel like I missed out on a lot of fun but, it was a delight sharing in your experiences with Jan and Kellie. I laughed out loud as I read about the week you spent with them. I’m happy it was a successful week for all of you. It’s always find to make quilting friends.
Looks like you all had a ball. And I know exactly where Hudson, WI is, my brother has lived on front St for 25 yrs. Next time I visit them in Twin Cities I’ll have to get my SIL to take me to Dry Good Store!
LOL, I have a feel you have NO MATTER what you are doing ;-) xoxox Clarice
Glad you had such a good time and so many fun new experiences. You were MISSED!
Sounds like way too much fun. I’m so glad that you had such a great time.
oh my gosh that is hilarious and I love your thoughts on their accents!!!!!!!! looks like you had a fab time together and I’m so jealous! they are both sooooo lovely and friendly and I love all your photos
thank you for sharing and I’m sure you’ll remember the trip for a long time to come! what fun it sounds like you all had!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Corrie:)
I’m sure they could not have had a better guide /friend/booth helper than you Anna, it all sounds like heaps of fun!
OMGosh it sounds like you had so much fun!
Anna, it looked like you “ladies” had a great time so glad you all got to get together. I am sure it was very helpful that you knew your way around. So happy you got this experience. xoxo
Oh Suse you don’t want to know what I said!!!!!!!
I miss you already Anna … and I laughed until I cried just reading your post! What a wonderful time we had with you! Thank you for your help and for all of those laughs!!!!!!
Much love
Kelliexxxxxxxxxxx
by the way I think it should be triplets … you look like us too!!!!!
What an adventure you’ve all had, so much fun and laughter that it sounds wonderful and I bet your planning a reunion.
Oooh I can’t wait to catch up with Kellie and find out all the goss! What a brilliant post about our accents. Last time we were in the states my husband adopted an American accent when on the phone to get a cab – otherwise they wouldn’t have had a clue what he was after!! You do all look the same which must have been quite funny on the stand!
Sounds like an amazing time…
Isn’t it amazing how you were all speaking English, but it didn’t come out sounding like English. I’ve been with my Brit hubby for 9 years now and we STILL have communication problems!! You’d have thought he would have learned Canadian by now! LOL
Thanks for another hularious post and for sharing the fun!
I think it should be triplets too, you made me laugh out loud at some of the things you mentioned . Looks like an awesome time was had by all , if not a bit tiring :-)
Oh you are so funny, Anna. I suspect you make anything fun. How lucky for them that you were available to show them our ways! LOL.
Great post Anna! I sure enjoyed meeting you and Lilly Pilly!
this is my first time reading and I just want to say- I ENJOYED IT!
clever and funny: I found this post so witty. you’re a gem of a person and I wish you the best of luck
Katherine
Oh, I am so jealous that you got to hang out with the “gulls”. It sounds like you all had a fabulous time. Thank you for posting and including us in the fun!
Oh, wow. It looks like you just had the best time at Market. Our fearless leader and her husband were there and they said it was a lot of fun. Plus a little work. :) Thanks for sharing your photos so those of us who were stuck at home could share in the excitement.
(Shandie appears to be quite at home in the spotlight, doesn’t she?)
This is entirely too much fun- It must have been a real blast for the three of you. Market is one of the things I really envy that so many of you go off to- It would be so much fun to meet so many designers and professional quilters – never mind seeing all that beautiful new fabric.
Ah well, blogland has treated to many vicarious adventures- Thanks for sharing yours Anna..
Hugs,
Anna
i just want to know if you shared any of your chocolates with them?
will they be upset when they read this post and find out you held out on them?
shhh, i won’t tell!
Ooooh, I’m so jealous! It all looks so exciting, Anna….and I can just make out your face on Kellie’s blog behind the groucho squiggles. How fun!
What a wonderful post Anna, it sounds like you three had a great time together. I love your matching outfits and aprons, did you get to keep yours?
What a great post! Sounds like you three had a fantastic time! LOVE the aprons you wore.
What a hoot Anna, but as any good Aussie will tell you, “We don’t have the accent” it’s the Americans…lol… sounds like you had a wonderful time and forged great friendships.
Oh, I just LOVED reading about your adventure at the quilt market! I also LOVE those austrailian quilts! Looks like you had a wonderful time. I’ve been sewing tutus, so reading about your adventures was a nice diversion for me, I’d rather be quilting!
Anna….I just love this post. You made us all feel that we were there with you three! Glad you all had such a great time. Wonderful photos too!
Sounds like it was a fun, if not exhausting week, you all had! I just want to know what the deal is with our toilet water level!
hey anna,
i noticed your new black & white back pack!!!
really does sound like you had a blast…
how was the mall of america?
…& your aprons are cute…do tell if you made them…
:)) linda noblog
Oh Anna possum, sounds like you’re a bonza sheila now.. you can’t sit around like a shag on a rock when two aussie (thats AUUUUSSIE not ossie) sheila’s are about.. fair crack of the whip it sounds like you had a tonne of fun (thats 2200 lbs for you non metric peeps) and you’ll be fluent in ‘strine before you know it.. ‘strine – australian, but we mash our words up… stone the crows I wish I could of been there!
Lissa
who speeks English English and not US English…
….and a good time was had by all.
A great read!
Jody
I’m still laughing!!! I first read this post Monday when I got home and it’s been sitting up on my computer ever since (taken me this long to be able to string a sentence together) and I laugh every time I read it! It’s such a great account of our time together! Thanks for all the fun times – I REALLY appreciated having you there. Lots of stories to tell of our trip home too so will email you in the next day or so. xx
Are you really that tall?? lololol!!!! Very cute aprons. I’m glad you had a fun time. The booth turned out very cute.
What a cute story..you had me laughing with your translations. Sounds like a very fun day for all of you!
What a fantastic story of your time with the “Gulls”. I’ve laughed and laughed (well, I admit I also sighed in sadness about the whole non-washing of new fabric bit). Anyway, this post is awesome fun!
What a GREAT post Anna!! I really had a good laugh!! I could never have kept up with all of you… I would have had to squeeze a nap or two in someplace!
You must all have incredible energy levels or extra large supplies of adrenalin! A good time was obviously had by all anyway:)
what a darling post….and darling girls!!!! Im glad you had a great time!!!!!
It sounds like a really fantastic and happy week! I’m not surprised the “gulls” had such a great time with you – I only got to spend a day with you when we met up in Edinburgh but it was a VERY happy one!!!
Lucy xx
I so enjoyed this post!! The *gulls* (at first I did not get it…duh..the girls…) are so cute and, by the sounds of things, were a riot to be with. Anna, so happy that you had such a fun time. Such wonderful memories were made. Can I come along next year? I swear I am a good driver!
xoxo
Becky
Hi Anna,
it´s quite a while since my last visit.
I am happy you are doing fine.
I will come over to a visit in thimbleannaland more often now.
Have a great sunday
Janine
what a riot Anna! it sounds like you had such a wonderful time! I love that shot where you say most of the time you felt like a mother hen…. and then there they are, peeling out in opposite directions. Too cute!
Well, I think you must be an Ozzie girl at heart! Yes, we do sound like a flock of seagulls chasing a piece of bread, but Kel’s from Melbourne, so you wanta try understanding those of us in the other states of Oz! We can be quite exhausting in an exhilerating fly by the seat of your pants kinda way. Thanks for sending the gulls back. We missed them! Take care and keep bloggin’… Another Ozzie Gull signing out!!!!