Well the weather continues to be lovely, but the variability never ceases to amaze me, I would say that’s its more changeable than the UK, but the Melbournian’s do say you can get four seasons in one day, always carry an umbrella! It can be 26 deg one day, followed by 35 the next then 16 deg the next – so strange. At least if you wake up and it’s raining you know it will be sunny by lunch time, you don’t seem to get the days of grey skies and rain setting in here. We spent yesterday on the beach (the one where dogs are allowed in the day), lovely and sunny, swimming in the sea and picnicking, hardly anyone around as there are so many beaches the people spread themselves around. Went around to my new bosses house yesterday for a get together and leaving do for the girl that is going on maternity leave. Yes I have a new job but it is not the cancer hospital one, it is strange how fate intervenes sometimes. I got a call from the practice at Brighton again, they have  a permanent position of 2 shifts a week, 10 – 5  Tue and 12 – 7  Wed, so I decided to take it to try. I will do shifts for district nurses once or twice per week also, need to build our savings up again so we can go and explore different parts of Aus. All the girls seem really nice at the practice, and it turns out that 5 of the nurses live in here Parkdale, including the boss – 5 doors away! I think that will work really well from a social aspect, as you don’t get to chat or meet other people in the other job as you are out on your own all day. They are also filling me in on the area, good places to go with the dog, restaurants etc, and all the gossip!

The big clean up continues in Queensland, 3/4 of the state has been declared a disaster zone, thats the size of France, Germany and nearly all of Spain together! The TV coverage has been really upsetting with the presenters in tears (and me). The most emotional aspect is the sheer number of volunteers that have turned up from all over Australia, the army have been drafted in and are managing the rescue effort, strangers are coming together and ripping the houses back to the timber frames, power washing the mud away, and the old people that cant physically help are baking and taking drinks and food to all the volunteers – so sad. There are loads of fund raising events going on, even the tennis are donating proceeds. The people have been overwhelmed by Australia’s response to them and the premier has been in tears on TV describing it as a ‘war effort’. Hopefully they will be back to normal in 6 months or so. The floods in Victoria have been in the north of the country, so quite a way away, we are South/East Melbourne. The government are talking about introducing a tax levy in order to rebuild Queensland.

Look out for Oprah Winfrey’s TV program when she visited Aus, its really interesting and shows Australia at it’s best. Was filmed just before Christmas and has just been aired here, bit tacky but interesting! The TV are just discussing the latest research showing Melbourne is the 4th most expensive place to buy a house in the world! This is so true and will be the deciding factor in whether we stay here or not. For a 3 bed home (timber not brick) on a small plot of land you are talking $700,000. (approx 500,00 pounds!)  So not worth it, but it is the land that costs. The exchange rate is the worst it has been in over 25 years, but we have 3 years before we need to decide so we will watch the market. I hear houses are not selling in the UK either though.

Xena is better now, the lab in Brisbane lost he samples so they had to be re-done. They have come back clear now, she has had 2 weeks of antibiotics in the meantime, so hopefully the problem is now resolved.

Ellie is preparing to go back to school after her summer hols next Tuesday, she has a 10 min walk to school along the beach, the nicest walk to school I have ever seen.

I may look at ways of making this blog more secure, It makes me feel a bit sick some of the weirdos that are able to read it as it is public, and some of the comments are soooo strange, this is the latest one –

Hi there, I found your blog by way of Google even though looking for initial aid to get a heart attack and your post
looks pretty interesting for me.’   WTF….