Landowners!

Well, after a day of frantic telephone calls between myself, Jeff, the bank, the solicitors and the real estate: we're now, at the end of the day, finally landowners.  We've just secured a 754 square metre plot here in Eumundi. Yay and relax... We've met with the builder and the plans for our new home are with the council now... this time next year Rodney: we'll be in our own home...  Well, early February actually... quite exciting as we've never built a house before :)

where we live...

I love Eumundi, where we live.  We're presently renting a property until we decide where and when we would like to buy here.  Normally, you would be asked to sign a 6 month contract on a property, which is renewed in 6 monthly intervals.  However, our landlord decided last week, after we'd been in the property for 4 months, that he would like to move back in!!! He gave us 2 months notice which sent me and mine into a state of absolute panic.  There's literally nothing at all to rent here in Eumundi and we didn't want to be pushed in to buying something: but we were left with no option.  We have been frantically looking at properties all week around here in an effort to find something, but to no avail.  Then today, our landlord telephoned.  He's changed his mind.  He has given us another 6 months. FLIPPIN' HECK!! I have said to Jeff that we DO need to make a house purchase within the next 6 months: I cannot stand the stress of it all!

The Great Outdoors

Guess where I have been this week... in the night-time we endured: mosquitoes, praying mantis, dingoes, no showers, no toilets, lumpy bedding, re-heated food and a clear sky... during the day we endured: pythons, mud baths, obstacle courses, lizards, enthusiasm, leaps of faith (gulp), team spirit, 4 hour treks with 20 kilo packs each, sunburn, sandflies, sunnies, hats and soggy socks... have you guessed yet?? THE YEAR 7 CAMP! a 'learning experience' for one and all..! Thanks girls: you rock :)

Easter Hols

I haven't written on my blog for a while as I was unable to find it... long story but here we are again :)
Lovely to have some time off work (for marking, planning etc...!!!) and getting to know my son again... finished the term up with a medieval banquet (no cutlery allowed: use your imagination) followed by a Year 12 fundraiser: the Easter Bunny... hilarious...I have had such a busy term, it's now lovely to kick back and just do nothin'...
Jeff's sister arrives from the UK next week with her hubby which means that I have had to clean... sigh... Ooh, just remembered we're off to 3 house viewings next week as planning to buy somewhere in the next few months: excited!! Will be good to stop paying huge amounts of rent! ($450 per week: eek!).  We've decided, that as long as the price is right, we'll buy here in Eumundi... soooo relaxed and only a short drive anywhere...
I am sat here typing and being eye-balled by a kookaburra sitting on the fence: how cool is that??  Anyway, this post is just to say that I am back on it again and, hopefully, bookmarking this blog!

A teenager in our midst...

Well, today our big fella turned 13 years of age... where did those years go? we spent the afternoon at the cinema watching 'The Impossible' which is all about the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand. True story about a family who were staying in Khao Lak; where we were less than 12 months earlier. Very sobering to watch, although it was a film that Oli wanted to see and, as it was his birthday, it was his choice!
We then spent the evening at the Thai restaurant in Eumundi with Sid and Betty, followed by birthday cake and a cuppa at home.  Fabulous day with fabulous company.  A teenager... sigh... can't get over it...

New School

What a great week I have had. I started work at my new school, albeit a day late because of the flooding.  Lovely atmosphere, although soooo much to try and take in!  So many different systems, classes, ways of doing things etc... but the staff are tremendously helpful and supportive.  My classes are great: lively but sooo keen to learn... really refreshing! The college is starting to grow and it's exciting to be there with them as it does so.  So happy to be there.  The school is small enough (400 students in total), that I should know all their names by Easter!  The higher grades interact with the prep and junior students regularly, making it seem like one big family.   

The Big Wet

What an eventful and rain-filled few days we've had.  Queensland was as dry as a chip as there had been none of the usual downpours the state expects in January.  That changed at the end of last week! We experienced the tail-end of Cyclone Oswald (Ossie hits Oz??) and boy was it relentless!  The rain started on Thursday, got heavier on Friday and then the winds picked up on Saturday and Sunday... quite frightening but thankfully for us: no structural damage, no flooding and no loss of power.  Other parts of the country weren't as lucky.
The school where I should be today escaped as it's on a hill, but the town of Gympie flooded badly, with the main route into the town inundated, preventing access.  I am therefore at home, with another day's grace for lesson planning!
I have just seen Oli off to his first day at High School (gulp).  He's catching a bus for the first time (wouldn't let me drive him!) and has just txt me to say that he's on it: result! His school escaped flooding although power was only restored last night. Jeff's route to work completely clear so all good here in the Friendship household.  Hopefully, I am able to get to school tomorrow when the floods recede in Gympie and the main road in is clear of water.

Long Distances...

Driving to Gympie yesterday from here in Eumundi, I noticed a sign stating that it's 1594 kilometres to Cairns... long old trip!

New Year: New Home!

New Year's Eve was fantastic: on the beach at Mooloolaba, watching the fireworks, eating snacks and enjoying the entertainment... great end to the year.
Since then: its been EXHAUSTING! We moved on the 5th of January to the lovely little town of Eumundi, with population of around 2000, just half an hour up the road from Mooloolaba and 15 mins from Noosa :)
The moving day itself went incredibly well with so much help from very good friends: we naively thought that we would be able to do it ourselves: not to be.
We actually kept the other house in Mountain Creek for a week, so I could go in and clean it up, in anticipation of receiving the full bond. I HAVE NEVER WORKED SO HARD IN MY LIFE! I have cleaned, vacuumed, polished, swept and mopped with a vengeance all week in heat-wave conditions... we finished yesterday at 7pm and have passed the keys back, awaiting the inspection with bated breath.
I am unable to find anything just yet in our new home: including my mobile telephone! I have tried 'phoning my number but to no avail.  It's definitely not in our old house so I still haven't given up hope of finding it.  We haven't had internet access either so it's been like living in the twilight zone! Thankfully, our internet has been sorted today and we won't have to pay any fees for getting out of the previous contract with the supplier either: bonus :)
Loving the new house... we're still renting, although we've already met the owner (whose sister lives one side of us and his parents the other), and he's intimated that he wants to sell it: I am going to persuade Jeff to buy the place, as it means I would get out of the Bond clean at the end of the tenancy.