Hi all, sorry it's been so long again. Well, where do I start? I know, I'll start with Nathan clocking up another set of points on his new Australian licence and a neat $170 fine. Poor Nathan. It has got to the stage now, where he's scared to check the post in case there's a nasty letter from the NSW RTA. He is genuinely trying so hard but the car literally rolls faster than the speed limit. This time he was caught out in a school zone. Between the hours of 8.00 and 9.00 and 2.30pm and 4.30pm, the speed limits change from 60km/h to 40km/h. Talking of the post, Nathan is currently most distressed. Now reenergising his past hobbies, he is a fully fledged philatelist again and he has purchased 2500-3000 stamps! They should have arrived in the post by now but no sign of them. Maybe we live in some strange stamp collector's cult area and they have been stolen, you never know! Well, it has been about 25 years since he last did it seriously. He has some huge catching up to do with his world stamp collection. He has also decided to start a collection of Australian new release stamps since January 2014 so he is now stamp multi tasking - most impressive! Bless him! It keeps him happy.
Well, we've come to the end of our first school holiday. 2 beautiful weeks. The first week's weather was rainy but the second week was beautiful. We went to the Jenolan caves. Wow! We'll definitely be visiting again. The most spectacular caves I have ever seen, even better than Chedder Gorge. I have posted piccies on Facebook. It was a 2 and a half hour drive but completely justified. On the way back, we were delayed by two kangaroos who were on the road ahead of us leaping along like mad but with nowhere to go - cliff face on one side and sheer drop on other so it was a kangaroo's pace for us for a while, ( just as well really, at least we didn't pick up any points on that drive!)
We also went to the Sydney Easter Royal Fair - a super event; like a huge agricultural fair. The girls loved the animals. Nathan loved the wood chopping competition! I kid you not. There is a very prestigious log chopping competition (men and women- believe me, you wouldn't upset a female Ozzie wood chopper!). We missed seeing Kate, Will and baby George; they went the following week.
Then, there were the really significant things. I sorted out new contact lenses; found a hairdresser (that I trust!); joined a union; sorted out the kids with a swimming squad; drunk a bottle of Belgian chocolate baileys; found a local dentist. We had some people over for dinner and we visited other people for barbecues; we watched movies at the cinema. We wrote reports; planned lessons; marked work; discussed the pros and cons of owning a dog. Life is still crazy. No regrets but not feeling settled either. I pine for security and a sense of belonging - neither of which are likely to present themselves anytime soon.
Talk soon and lots of love.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Saturday, 5 April 2014
Musical extravaganza continued
..sorry about that, blog and iPad not playing today :(
Where was I? Ah yes, we went to see another one of my boys who was starring in Les Mis at a different venue. I went along because he asked me to and because I wanted to support him but I ended up watching a future star. He had the most amazing voice. He is definitely going places. Watch this space!
Anyway, that's it for now,
Lots of love and talk soon.
Where was I? Ah yes, we went to see another one of my boys who was starring in Les Mis at a different venue. I went along because he asked me to and because I wanted to support him but I ended up watching a future star. He had the most amazing voice. He is definitely going places. Watch this space!
Anyway, that's it for now,
Lots of love and talk soon.
Musical extravaganza!
Hi all,
I am so sorry that its been so long. I have been nagged at relentlessly on Facebook so here I sit, guilt ridden and bearing the burden of an expat. Its been so long because we've been so busy. Not just with work, though life at School continues to share similarities with a good old fashioned rat race - we are like rats on red bull ..... Though unfortunately no wings in sight! Life generally has been so busy.
Whilst enjoying quiet reflection in worship, 2 weeks ago, Nathan received a phone call from the company in charge of moving our stuff. Great news. Despite the fact that we had been promised sincerely by the company that the whole process would be a smooth and sympathetic one, taking no longer than 8 - 10 weeks at an absolute maximum, it has been a really expensive headache, full of extra costs and taken around 15 weeks. But hey, good news, it was ready and they'd be delivering it the next day. Not wanting to rock the boat, if you pardon the pun, we raced to the Deputy Head and asked for permission to take the following day off work to receive our belongings - despite the short notice, we were both granted the day off work.
The following day was going to be a very busy one. The girls were going on camp with the school so Nathan dropped them off while I waited at home for our eagerly anticipated home comforts. People said it would be like Christmas; unwrapping treasured things that we'd almost forgotten about. What a lovely romantic notion. I'd love to tell you that this was an accurate comparison but that would be a lie and if nothing else, this blog is to serve as an accurate, warts and all account of a family's move to the other side of the world. I will call to mind the 'giving birth' analogy again. Eagerly awaited and yet disappointing and painful. I cannot complain about the care that went into the packing of our cheap cutlery and plastic bowels. As I unwrapped each layer of paper, it was reassuring to know that each individual teaspoon was wrapped so well that it took up half of a large box. We have a lot of teaspoons so I'll leave you to do the maths. I am so glad that the wonderful packers looked after us. After all, where would we have been without our well protected teaspoons?. Never mind the 2 chests of drawers, sofa bed, quilt, pillows, bedroom chair and book shelving that we had to leave behind and dump because there wasn't enough room on the storage container to bring them. There wasn't enough room because of all the bloody boxes full of bloody sumo-wrestler impersonating teaspoons!!! And while they were at it, why not rip out the shelves of the welsh dresser, leaving nails poking out so that they could squeeze in a couple of 30 year old keeping bags!!! (Note the irony that these arrive the day the girls go off to camp - so we've had to buy new sleeping bags for them anyway). I tell you, these packers were real experts who really cared about our belongings. Nathan's speakers for his surround sound cinema effect entertainment system were just chucked into a box with no packaging or bubble wrap at all. Then again, why would you protect expensive electrical equipment? It's all about the teaspoons. As long as they're ok. My precious collection of books? Well, they're not teaspoons are they, so let's just sling them in and sod whether or not the spines or covers get damaged. After all, you can't stir sugar in your tea with books can you?
Furniture wise, not too bad. Though typically, the only piece which did sustain damage was Nathan's beloved bespoke outrageously expensive walnut TV cabinet.
Ok, ok, ok, I hear you. Enough moaning. What about the good stuff?
The kids enjoyed camp and seem to be fairly settled. We have booked a holiday to Florida for Christmas and the new year! I figured that being a long break from work, this might be a time when I dwell on being away from my family - need the distraction. Nathan is so excited and the spreadsheets are being designed as we speak!!
Last Friday, we all went to watch the school's production of 'Kiss me Kate', a musical inspired by Shakey's The Taming of the Shrew. One of the boys I teach was performing in it and asked if I'd go and see him. In my pastoral care mode, I thought it would be nice. It was a phenomenal performance. The orchestra was fantastic and the singing and acting so professional. A brilliant night out. Friday just gone, I took the family to come and watch a performance of Les Mis, which another one of my boys was starring
I am so sorry that its been so long. I have been nagged at relentlessly on Facebook so here I sit, guilt ridden and bearing the burden of an expat. Its been so long because we've been so busy. Not just with work, though life at School continues to share similarities with a good old fashioned rat race - we are like rats on red bull ..... Though unfortunately no wings in sight! Life generally has been so busy.
Whilst enjoying quiet reflection in worship, 2 weeks ago, Nathan received a phone call from the company in charge of moving our stuff. Great news. Despite the fact that we had been promised sincerely by the company that the whole process would be a smooth and sympathetic one, taking no longer than 8 - 10 weeks at an absolute maximum, it has been a really expensive headache, full of extra costs and taken around 15 weeks. But hey, good news, it was ready and they'd be delivering it the next day. Not wanting to rock the boat, if you pardon the pun, we raced to the Deputy Head and asked for permission to take the following day off work to receive our belongings - despite the short notice, we were both granted the day off work.
The following day was going to be a very busy one. The girls were going on camp with the school so Nathan dropped them off while I waited at home for our eagerly anticipated home comforts. People said it would be like Christmas; unwrapping treasured things that we'd almost forgotten about. What a lovely romantic notion. I'd love to tell you that this was an accurate comparison but that would be a lie and if nothing else, this blog is to serve as an accurate, warts and all account of a family's move to the other side of the world. I will call to mind the 'giving birth' analogy again. Eagerly awaited and yet disappointing and painful. I cannot complain about the care that went into the packing of our cheap cutlery and plastic bowels. As I unwrapped each layer of paper, it was reassuring to know that each individual teaspoon was wrapped so well that it took up half of a large box. We have a lot of teaspoons so I'll leave you to do the maths. I am so glad that the wonderful packers looked after us. After all, where would we have been without our well protected teaspoons?. Never mind the 2 chests of drawers, sofa bed, quilt, pillows, bedroom chair and book shelving that we had to leave behind and dump because there wasn't enough room on the storage container to bring them. There wasn't enough room because of all the bloody boxes full of bloody sumo-wrestler impersonating teaspoons!!! And while they were at it, why not rip out the shelves of the welsh dresser, leaving nails poking out so that they could squeeze in a couple of 30 year old keeping bags!!! (Note the irony that these arrive the day the girls go off to camp - so we've had to buy new sleeping bags for them anyway). I tell you, these packers were real experts who really cared about our belongings. Nathan's speakers for his surround sound cinema effect entertainment system were just chucked into a box with no packaging or bubble wrap at all. Then again, why would you protect expensive electrical equipment? It's all about the teaspoons. As long as they're ok. My precious collection of books? Well, they're not teaspoons are they, so let's just sling them in and sod whether or not the spines or covers get damaged. After all, you can't stir sugar in your tea with books can you?
Furniture wise, not too bad. Though typically, the only piece which did sustain damage was Nathan's beloved bespoke outrageously expensive walnut TV cabinet.
Ok, ok, ok, I hear you. Enough moaning. What about the good stuff?
The kids enjoyed camp and seem to be fairly settled. We have booked a holiday to Florida for Christmas and the new year! I figured that being a long break from work, this might be a time when I dwell on being away from my family - need the distraction. Nathan is so excited and the spreadsheets are being designed as we speak!!
Last Friday, we all went to watch the school's production of 'Kiss me Kate', a musical inspired by Shakey's The Taming of the Shrew. One of the boys I teach was performing in it and asked if I'd go and see him. In my pastoral care mode, I thought it would be nice. It was a phenomenal performance. The orchestra was fantastic and the singing and acting so professional. A brilliant night out. Friday just gone, I took the family to come and watch a performance of Les Mis, which another one of my boys was starring
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