One year on...

I haven't been adding to this blog, as this year has been a busy one... but thought that I should add an update... 12 months on: what's been going on in our little world?

1) house now complete and we're living in it... still in awe of our wonderful little piece of Australia... landscaping needs attention, but not bothered too much about that at the moment... when the weather's warmer, we'll do some work I guess!

2) I am now completed the transition from provisional to full teaching status. All new teachers to Oz have to complete 200 days of teaching and put together a hulking great evidence file: wouldn't have minded, but already done this in the UK when I qualified there! All done now though :)

3) Jeff now an Aussie registered electrician... took a couple of years and parted with nearly $2000 for the actual test, but we can relax there too.

4) Oli really settled in school and bringing home great reports... lovely to hear... he's very self-motivated, which is a bonus. He's also quite the entertainer. :)

5) We've been enjoying our Aussie winter here in Eumundi and the environs. Strawberry picking, walking, attending the markets, reading, cycling et al. The beaches here are glorious in the winter sun and we've spotted: humpback whales, dolphins, echidna, turtles, sea-eagles, goannas, rainbow lorikeets, quails and snakes (but only a couple of the latter thankfully!).

We feel really settled now. Oh, I actually have just secured a new teaching job, commencing in January 2015. I will be teaching senior English only (year 11 and 12) AND THE JOB'S IN NOOSAVILLE WHICH IS ONLY 14 MINS DRIVE FROM HOME... :)

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.