April 19th 
Tibetan Music Concert – over dinner we listened to Tibetan bowls, wind gongs and world flute performers playing sacred ceremonial music. Another first in experiences for us! Very enjoyable.
April 22n
d 
Ice Hockey – Witnessed our very first ice hockey game – extremely fast and furious game! We loved it even though the Houston Aeros lost against the Rockford Icehogs (from Illinois). Our friend Kristina, sang the American National Anthem to open the game – she was sensational.
May 5th – 8th
OTC – This is the largest oil and gas conference/convention held in the world and EDN were once again visible, running a marketing booth with 4 staff, including John, manning it. John is very optimistic that work will come to EDN from this event - so a successful week.
May 6th
Baseball – Once
again our friend Kristina sang the National Anthem before this game which was held at the Rice University stadium. Our first introduction to baseball in this country and despite being warned that it could be very slow, this was actually a fast game and we enjoyed it very much. The Rice Owls beat Texas State 9-1. Rice University is a beautiful campus with the most amazing architecture and really old magnificent trees that we love visiting – it is one of our favourite walking areas.
May 10th
Art Car Parade was held again – we saw it last year and were blown away with some of the vehicles that were transformed into amazing masterpieces – just can’t believe that a year has passed already!
May 10th
Madame Butterfly. Saw our first ballet at Miller Theatre. This outdoor theatre offers world class performances on a regular basis absolutely free to the public. It’s amazing. It started 84 years ago and the founding principal stated that the theatre should always provide top class cultural and educational events free of charge for the public. Lydia came with us and we thoroughly enjoyed the performance and all the costumes and scenery were courtesy of the Australian Ballet Company.
Tibetan Music Concert – over dinner we listened to Tibetan bowls, wind gongs and world flute performers playing sacred ceremonial music. Another first in experiences for us! Very enjoyable.
April 20th
International Festival - Downtown Houston transformed into an African Oasis for this annual festival. There were outstanding musical performances, art & craft markets and heaps of native African and other international foods – we wandered around all afternoon and were very impressed.
International Festival - Downtown Houston transformed into an African Oasis for this annual festival. There were outstanding musical performances, art & craft markets and heaps of native African and other international foods – we wandered around all afternoon and were very impressed.
Discovery Green – abrand new parkland - 12 acres opened April 13th – and filled with so much and is totally free. There’s an amazing children’s water fountain play area, remote controlled yachts, bocce field, golf putting, stages for various concerts, picnic areas, whispering walls, restaurants – overall it is just fantastic and we had a wonderful time just walking around trying to take it all in.
April 21st
Supper Club – regular get together with friends and friends of friends – great place to meet lots of people. Organised by our friend Dawn and a wonderful social event.
Supper Club – regular get together with friends and friends of friends – great place to meet lots of people. Organised by our friend Dawn and a wonderful social event.
April 22n
d 
Ice Hockey – Witnessed our very first ice hockey game – extremely fast and furious game! We loved it even though the Houston Aeros lost against the Rockford Icehogs (from Illinois). Our friend Kristina, sang the American National Anthem to open the game – she was sensational.
April 25th – 27th
Weekend at Cat Springs with Bill & Anna. Blisswood is a working ranch about 60 miles out of Houston. We met the owner, Carol, at a seminar in San Antonio 12 months ago and we have been meaning to visit her ever since. She has 9 B & B houses on the ranch and we all had a great time just relaxing and feeding the animals.
Weekend at Cat Springs with Bill & Anna. Blisswood is a working ranch about 60 miles out of Houston. We met the owner, Carol, at a seminar in San Antonio 12 months ago and we have been meaning to visit her ever since. She has 9 B & B houses on the ranch and we all had a great time just relaxing and feeding the animals.
May 2nd
Dinner Pat & Sam – Had a great dinner at the Cheesecake Factory – catching up on our New Zealand trip and on their daughter’s successful job appointment with an architectural firm in New York and lots of other things that have been happening.
May 5th – 8th
OTC – This is the largest oil and gas conference/convention held in the world and EDN were once again visible, running a marketing booth with 4 staff, including John, manning it. John is very optimistic that work will come to EDN from this event - so a successful week.
May 6th
Baseball – Once
again our friend Kristina sang the National Anthem before this game which was held at the Rice University stadium. Our first introduction to baseball in this country and despite being warned that it could be very slow, this was actually a fast game and we enjoyed it very much. The Rice Owls beat Texas State 9-1. Rice University is a beautiful campus with the most amazing architecture and really old magnificent trees that we love visiting – it is one of our favourite walking areas. 
May 10th
Art Car Parade was held again – we saw it last year and were blown away with some of the vehicles that were transformed into amazing masterpieces – just can’t believe that a year has passed already!
May 10th
Madame Butterfly. Saw our first ballet at Miller Theatre. This outdoor theatre offers world class performances on a regular basis absolutely free to the public. It’s amazing. It started 84 years ago and the founding principal stated that the theatre should always provide top class cultural and educational events free of charge for the public. Lydia came with us and we thoroughly enjoyed the performance and all the costumes and scenery were courtesy of the Australian Ballet Company.
May 15th
Picnic tea with Pat, Sam, Candace, George & Diane in Discovery Green. What wonderful friends we have – they organized a ‘raw’ food picnic especially for us and we ate ‘lasagna’, salad, fruit salad and chocolate pudding – all uncooked and delicious. We had a band playing on a nearby stage and the beautiful backdrop of Discovery Green. Earlier we also shopped at the Farmer’s Market that is in the park every Thursday afternoon/evening. Another memorable evening with this wonderful group of people – our special American friends.
Picnic tea with Pat, Sam, Candace, George & Diane in Discovery Green. What wonderful friends we have – they organized a ‘raw’ food picnic especially for us and we ate ‘lasagna’, salad, fruit salad and chocolate pudding – all uncooked and delicious. We had a band playing on a nearby stage and the beautiful backdrop of Discovery Green. Earlier we also shopped at the Farmer’s Market that is in the park every Thursday afternoon/evening. Another memorable evening with this wonderful group of people – our special American friends.
Our newest family members.....
During all this time we had birds nesting on our balcony in a beautiful Texan bird house purchased by Shelda as a gift to John when she stayed with us over Christmas. It was great seeing mum and dad bring the little ones food several times a day and we were both lucky enough to see the youngsters take their first flight albeit a little shaky. They have now all flown the coup but we hope they may come back another time to share our space with us.
Walk through the Arboretum
We are incredibly lucky to have the most beautiful arboretum (botanic garden) in walking distance of our apartment. We often walk around its many trails and when we walked last Sunday (Mother's Day) we were delighted to see so many turtles out sunbaking on a log.
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