Australian roots

So what has happened since my last Blog?

We have now been living in Australia for just over 3 months and time really seems to be moving fast. In that time I have been thinking about our life at the moment and what point we have reached and wondered what made other Nickisson's move to this big country. I have also been thinking about what type of property and garden we will have and will there be an opportunity to grow vegetables????
So I thought I would look at what Australian roots have already been established and how others are now starting to growing.

1. Australian roots: The first Nickisson's to arrive in Australia from my Family Tree?
2. Australian roots: How are we doing after 3 months?
3. Australian roots: What vegetable growing is going on?

1. Australian roots: The first Nickisson's to arrive in Australia from my Family Tree?

My Great Great Grandfather, Henry Nickisson (1809-1846), had a brother, William Nickisson, who was born in 1816 in Stone, Staffordshire. William married Mary Ann Parkes in 1842 and they lived in Birmingham until William died in 1866.

They had six children; Alfred Parkes Nickisson (1840-?) - Caroline Nickisson (1842-1843) - Ellen Nickisson (1845-1921) - Elizabeth Nickisson (1847-1891) - Frederick Nickisson (1857-1941) - Louisa Nickisson (1863-1875).

After William died, Mary Ann Nickisson (nee Parkes) continued to live in Birmingham but her daughter Elizabeth Nickisson, now married to Carl Casper Franklin, emigrated to Queensland, Australia in 1873.

Was this the influence that made Mary uproot and move?

In 1875 Mary decided to emigrate to Australia taking three of her children, Alfred Parkes (now married to Hannah Francis Hancox), Frederick and Louisa. On the 4th of April, they sailed from London on the iron built ship 'Ramsey' and arrived in Brisbane, Queensland on the 8th of July.

What happened next?

More of the story in my next Blog

* There was a lady who immigrated to Australia and married an Australian gentleman. The poor lady was not very proficient in English, but anyhow managed to communicate with her husband. The real problem arose whenever she had to shop for groceries.

One day, she went to the butcher and wanted to buy pork legs. She didn't know how to put forward her request, and in desperation, lifted up her skirt to show her thighs. The butcher got the message and the lady went home with pork legs.

The next day, she needed to get chicken breasts. Again, she didn't know how to say, and so unbuttoned her blouse to show the butcher her breast. The lady got her chicken breasts.

The third day, the poor lady needed to buy sausages. So, she brought her husband to the store........................ because he spoke English.

2. Australian roots: How are we doing after 3 months?

After 3 months we have moved forward quite a bit, establishing routines, making friends and getting used to the weather. I boasted a few Blogs ago that the weather was 30°+ but now were into winter and the temperature changes from 20°+ in the daytime to 4-5° at night, quite a noticeable change. We have had heavy rain and thunderstorms, the swimming pool is not as inviting now!!!!!!

Ryan has moved to a new job as an Apprentice Cabinet Maker. His previous job was supposed to be as an apprentice but it became just a casual factory hand job. He seems to have more of a future with this new company.
Kye is really settled in at school and seems to have made some good friends. He is in the school basketball team and they have a competition this week against other schools.

Sue has now got a full time permanent job as a Family Care Worker with 'UnitingCare West' and starts this week. The job is very similar to what she did in England, working with children and families and helping them to get back into family life. She is very excited about the job.
Me, I'm now ready to start work. Finally the container of our belongings has arrived and it is now in a storage unit until we have our own place. I have been able to collect all my tools so painting work, bathroom replacements etc. for friends and family are now to be arranged and started. Plenty of work for me to do and I'm looking forward to it.


* A man was given the job of painting the white lines down the middle of a motorway. On the first day he painted six miles; the next day three miles; the following day less than a mile. When the foreman asked the man why he kept painting less each day, he replied "I just can't do any better. Each day I keep getting farther away from the paint can."


* Employer to applicant: "In this job we need someone who is responsible."
Applicant: "I'm the one you want. On my last job, every time anything went wrong, they said I was responsible."

3. Australian roots: What vegetable growing is going on?

So what's growing?

I have heard that there has been very mixed weather in England but things are growing well in the allotment. More information when I have it.

Here in Australia, we have started the allotment.

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Yes................................we have started the allotment !!!!!!

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Well, it's a start !!!!!!!

Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris)

Classic culinary Thyme with small highly fragrant, grey-green leaves and small pale purplish flowers. Used to flavour soups, fish, meat, vegetables, vinegars and stuffing.

Basil - Red Rubin (Ocimum Basilicum Rubin)

 Large, nearly pure purple leaves with lighter coloured flowers. Great flavour and aroma. Use leaves fresh or dried in the same way as other Basil. Excellent in herb vinegars or simply as a garnish.

Cress - Upland (Barbarea Vulgaris)

Cress forms a rosette of lobed, shiny leaves, which can be used to add a mustard flavour to leafy salads, cheese spreads, sandwiches and other salads.

Don't I sound clever.

It's surprising what information you can find on the plant label.

* A friend of mine was cutting dried herbs last week and some of it went into his eye..... be careful when doing the same as it left him 'Parsley' sighted...

* I was doing the same when I got a bit stuck on my arm. Now I can tell the thyme.

And finally

* Two senior couples are walking along, wives in front, husbands behind.

Herb says to Sam, "Gee, we went to a new restaurant last night and had the best meal ever. Good prices too".

Sam replied. "Well, we like to eat out too. What was the name of the restaurant?"

Herb says, "You are going to have to help me out here a little. What's the name of that pretty flower, smells sweet, grows on a thorny bush?"

Sam answers. "How about rose?"

"Yes, yes that's it!" cries Herb, then calls his wife. "Rose, Hey, Rose. What was the name of that restaurant we ate at last night?"

Speak to you soon