Tom has arrived safely in Aus, he found it a slightly better journey second time around. He landed at 07.30 and managed to stay awake until 7.30 pm before falling asleep, but he’s into Australian time now. The weather has remained nice, blue skies and 26 degrees. We walked along the beach to the next village of Mordialloc, they had a food, wine and music festival on over the weekend which was very relaxing. We sat in the sun (burning as I found out later!), listening to swing sipping strawberry champagne, whilst Tom and Ellie tucked into sampling the Indian food. It turns out that they have a restaurant 5 mins away, they advertise as making Birmingham and Bradford inspired food, and the owner had just got back from Rusholme in Manchester! We are off to there tonight to try properly.
Tom hasn’t had much luck on the job front, he has applied for a few jobs but not much luck as he’s only here for 5 weeks now.He has a project from uni to complete though, and Chris has given him a free gym pass for the duration of his visit so he’s keeping busy. We are hoping to go away for a long weekend from 14th April, maybe Great Ocean road or Gold Coast.
Steve & I went on the wine tour of the Yarra Valley with other couples on Sunday. We left home at 9.00am and got home 9pm, it was a long day but beautiful scenery and a lovely sunny day, will put some pics on Flickr. It was really nice to see some greenery and hills, reminded me of the area around our lodge in the lakes, but made us feel a little homesick though. I really could not have forced another sip of wine through my lips by the time we reached our last vinyard! The owners of this were great and gave us a tour, along with olives, cheeses and friuts, and explained that the wine industry has really suffered this year because of the damp weather, a lot of crops have been wiped out with mildew. 2 years previous they were all burned with the severe fires! Of course we felt sorry for them and bought lots of wine as it was only a small concern.
Ellie had a great time on camp, climbing huge trees then abseiling down, surfing, scubadiving and horse-riding along the beach.They met up with a group of Japanese exchange students and their teachers, it turned out that they were from the area that got wiped out with the tsunami and some girls had lost their whole families. Ellie’s English teacher was looking at fostering one of the girls, very sad.
Steve is going through a quiet time at work, but the guys say this is normal for this time of year, its end of financial year so not much business gets done. Should pick up after that though. One of his work colleagues is an official marshall at the grandprix which has just started, and so has given Steve & Tom his complimentary access all areas tickets for this Sunday, so that’s where they’re off to ( sorry Sam!). The sports season has just started so it’s Aussie rules football and rugby every day now, woohoo…. not!
It is definatley getting more Autumnal here now, the leaves are starting to change colour slightly now,and the clocks go back on 2nd April. I suppose the weather is not bad for the time of year, as it is equivalent to the end of October here. I have got used to the sunshine and warm days, it was only 22 degrees today and I had my work coat on!
I am detaching myself from nursing in the UK a little more. I have wrote to the NMC and told them to cancel my registration with them, no point paying 80 pounds per year if I am not even there, so I cant work as a nurse in UK anymore – until I re-register that is! I hear there are lots of changes happening in the NHS though, so I may decide just to work at M&S if we come back!
The tenants in our house have asked if they can sign to stay for a further 6 months, and re-decorate the bedroom. So we have to decide if we want that or whether to re advertise for a new tenant for 12 months or so. If the current tenants leave, November is not a good time to be re-advertising, most people want to be in for the new school year, decisions decisions…..
Sam also has to leave his flat in Reading as the landlord is moving back in, so he is flat hunting again.
NEW PICS ON FLICKR
March 25, 2011 at 11:03 am
Hiya Gill
Glad to hear that Tom arrived safely and that you are all okay. Spring has definetely sprung here the weather has been glorious. Lovely warm sunshine and everything looks so nice and fresh.
Sounds like you had a good time visiting all the vinyards any excuse to buy the wine!!
The Indian sounds brill. I’m sure it won’t be long before you sample the food.
Very sad for the japanese girls. We can’t imagine what it must be like for them. We are so lucky here.
Take care Kath
March 25, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Love the photos, you are all looking very well. Xena looks really well, has she lost a bit of weight with all that running on the beach.
Love Kath
March 26, 2011 at 8:43 pm
hi
March 26, 2011 at 8:50 pm
hi gil, that was a test to see if i am doing the right thing.. you know what im like with computers. You all look very happy and chilled out- dnt think you will ever come back to the uk-the beaches look fantastic and the weather too. I want to take my little lucy for a walk on one of them beaches. If my Wayne gets a job in aussie then i may be over there – trouble is i will miss my louise-the others would be ova with me–she would follow. You all look very happy- i am soo jelouse. Take care.xxx
April 10, 2011 at 5:26 pm
I’m so glad you’re making your way in Oz, Gill! The weather here has definitely taken a turn for the better and the last few days have been beautiful. Bess has been getting into Terrier Spring mode by rolling in anything and everything including something totally disgusting that wasn’t fox related but which looked like… No I won’t go there, sort of a minging slimy goo!
You must have been there about twelve months right?
You did the best thing, the Public Service cut backs are biting hard and there are lots of strikes in the offing. If they really wanted to save money they’d review all the scroungers benefits claims (something they have started to do actually) and stop sending money to other countries until such time that the UK is back on its feet.
Have a thoroughly lovely time out there, looks like you and Steve made the right decision and I’m sure you’ll have lots of lovely stuff to show us for a long time to come. Sylvia, Bess, Oscar Grouch, and the Gobby Teenager
PS We are looking into being foster parents!