All good things must come to an end.

So G'day my friends, our Australian adventure has come to an end.

We have had a wonderful, wonderful time. Enjoyed over 340 days of sunshine, been to Bali, Queensland, Sydney, Ayres Rock, wine regions, coastal resorts and caught up with cousins, other distant relatives, old friends and made many new friends that have had an impact on ours and the kids lives.

We have seen a different way of living. With me not working silly anti social shifts and even with Rachel working very hard we have still had more family time and been able to devote more time to just enjoying life. Not having your own house that needs lots of building work helps too!!!

In our last couple of weeks the kids swimming became obsessive with Tom wanting to get in the pool at least twice a day and often more. It was sometimes a struggle to get them out!

We decided to have a impromptu leaving pool party/BBQ and had a great turn out. The weather was fantastic and the pool was well used. It was really lovely for Tom and Lucy to see all their friends before we left. Quite emotional really.






                                         
                               Brilliant day!











If you run fast enough you really can do it!
Honestly, I promise. Try it yourself next time .




We had a very busy last few weeks with many friends kindly inviting us round for a final time and most of Rachel's bosses (she had six of them, all of them part time) getting round to having us over to say goodbye, that our feet barely touched the ground. For the preceding few weeks I had begun readying the house for the final inspection by the Real Estate Donkeys, sorry I mean Agents as we had heard that they are really picky and often try to find fault so that they can deduct things from your deposit. We had to scrub the house from side to side (can't do top to bottom in a bungalow!) and weed the garden, clean the windows, remove all exterior cobwebs (!!) and generally leave the place better than when we had rented it. As a result we were able to obtain our deposit in full. However it is not quite as simple as that. We had arranged for the Donkey to bring the Bond refund form with him so providing everything was in order he could give us the refund voucher and we could take it to the Bond office in the city on the following morning first thing. So not to disappoint us he continued true to form and did not bring the form with him. "Oh" he said "I was told not to bring it" he stammered clearly spotting the delicate shade of purple that I was turning. "You'll have to come to the office in the morning and get it"
"Fine" I said "I'll be there at 8.30"
"Oh" he squeaked "I don't get in until 9.00 I have a long way to come, I live in Gawler"
"I don't care if you live in Darwin, be there at 8.30 as I will now have to get to your office, get to the city, park, get to the Bond Office and then as they helpfully only provide a cheque I'll then have to get to the Bank to pay it in and be back home for the Shipping company to collect our crates at 10.30.  and get to the airport by noon"
"Oh ok" came the audible only to dogs reply.
We managed just!



We stayed our last night with our 'across the street' neighbours Graham and Joylene who did us the honour of throwing a last Aussie Barby for us which was 'awesome'. The kids were very excited to be staying there and were both bouncing around like firecrackers. Rachel and I had some last minute papers and things to sort out before going to bed in readiness for our morning of mania.
In the morning after sorting everything out we were able to squeeze in a cuppa and were joined by Elizabeth our next door neighbour for one last get together. We really landed on our feet in West Beach and certainly in Northern Avenue and we count ourselves blessed to have had such wonderful neighbours and to have become such good friends, we really hope we get to meet them again some day. We made some other great friends through the Kindergarten and School and I am sure we will keep in touch with them.

Graham took us to the airport and with watery eyes all round bid us farewell.


We boarded our plane for the first leg of our journey to Kuala Lumpa at 14.30 on Thursday 2nd February 2012 for a 7 hour flight. The temperature in Adelaide was 36 degrees. The mood was mixed with excitement at returning home and seeing our lovely family and friends and sadness at leaving a wonderful country and some very special new friends behind us.

The kids were really good for the flight and we managed to get a hotel room for six hours in the airport at Kuala Lumpa which gave us all the chance to get a few hours sleep and really made all the difference. The kids slept most of the next flight too and coupled with some cartoons, books and smarties the whole experience could have been a whole lot worse.
We were met by Rachel's Dad and Mum who brought coats and hats for us all as the temperature was minus 4C, that's a whole 40 degree drop in 24 hours brrrrrrrrrrrrrr!
The kids were asleep again within five minutes being in a warm and cosy car which was silent compared with a 737.
We spent the next couple of days wondering if Australia had actually happened as life in England, like a comfy old sweater wrapped itself around us and made us feel like we had never left. Good job I wrote this blog and took pictures as proof!

I would like to thank you all that have followed my Blog and for being an inspiration (if not a cattle prod) for me to complete it. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

I think this says it all really!

Here are some stats for you.

There have been over 5600 views of my blog and whilst the main ones have obviously been from the UK we have been followed from the following countries. The United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Russia, Hong Kong, Germany, Jordan, Taiwan, Canada, Indonesia, Lithuania and Croatia.
Just goes to show what a small world it has become.


So there is nothing left to say except


Hello to Our England
and to Our Australia I say 'Ooroo' and Thank You.

With love
Matt
x

Veni Vidi Vici

Appendix February 8th 2011 - Audere est facere - To dare is to do February 14th - Ad eundum quo nemo ante iit - To boldly go where no man has gone before February 17th - Cacoethes scribendi - The urge to write February 18th - Caveat emptor - Let the buyer beware February 22nd - Maxima omnium virtutum est patientia - Patience is the greatest of all virtues Febru\ry 26th - Magister artis ingeniique largitor venter - Necessity is the mother of all invention March 1st - Memento mori - Remember your mortality March 3rd - Semper in excremento sum, solum profunditas mutat - Always in the s##t, only the depth varies March 7th - Ad vitam paramus - We are preparing for life March 14th - Disciplina, fide, perseverentia - By discipline, faith, and perseverance March 15th - Clamo, clamatis, omnes clamamus pro glace lactis. - I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream March 16th - Exegi - I have tried March 19th - Mater artium necessitas - Necessity is the mother of invention March 21st - Comment from my Uncle Ivan - Ad deum qui laetificat juventutum meam.- To God, Who giveth joy to my youth. P.S. Herbam eget secans, Matthias.  -The grass needs cutting Matthew! March 30th - Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere - If it ain't broke, don't fix it April 6th - Magno cum gaudio - With great joy April 17th - Tam diu minime visu - Long time no see April 28th - Cuiusvis hominis est errare; nullius nisi insipientis in errore perseverare - Any man can make a mistake; only a fool keeps making the same one. June 9th - Amor absentia alitur - Love is made stronger by absence June 21st - Ventis secundis - With favourable winds July 17th - Ubi amici, ibi opes - Where there is friends, there is wealth August 30th - Quod erat demonstrandum - That which was to be demonstrated October 20th - Vita non est vivere sed valere vita est - Life is more than merely staying alive November 19th - Videre est credere - Seeing is believing November 23th - Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem - It is not goodness to be better than the worst January 20th - In somnis veritas - In dreams there is truth February 22nd 2012 - Veni Vidi Vici - I came, I saw, I conquered

What will 2012 bring....40C temperature, that's what!!

Happy New Year to you all!

We'll what another busy month!

Tom was due to have an operation on Monday 12th. He was going to have his tonsils removed, adenoids removed and his grommets replaced in each ear. However at the eleventh hour, well actually about twenty past three in the afternoon when he was in his gown and had been given his pre-op paracetamol when they came and told me that they were cancelling his operation. There had been an emergency and had to use the theatre for it. So we were offered  another date at the end of January which would of course been too late so they finally came up with a date at a different hospital the following Monday which went ahead just fine. Tom did really well and you would have barely known that he had been under the knife except for the fact that he was speaking like Alvin the Chipmunk for about ten days.

Christmas eve was a scorcher at 37C but Christmas day was a bit cooler so doing the Barby was not too uncomfortable. We had steaks and the others had huge prawns along with roasted veg and corn on the cob all on the Barby. It certainly cuts down on the amount of washing up!
After that and some present opening we went to the beach just because we could! Too easy mate!



Since the weather has been so good the kids have been in the pool at least once a day for the last month and they are swimming so well, we are really pleased. They just love the water so much but it is now the slightly more worrying bit where we have to watch out for their ability being passed by the over confidence. But to put your mind at rest, the pool is totally enclosed and we have very strict rules regarding being in the pool area which the kids observe well.
However the kids were worried that they had seen a couple of Crocs in the pool but we got it sorted!

Crocs sighted at West Beach!

 

Rachel and I had a couple of nights away between Christmas and new year whilst the kids were looked after by their Gran and Grandad which was lovely. On the drive down to the place we stayed at we saw some new road safety signs and I had to stop and photograph them as we couldn't quite believe them.





I know the Aussies have a habit for plain speaking but I don't quite think they would pass the Advertising Standards in the UK!








I thought this might make you smile. It is the Ant-ivenom fridge in the emergency department for all the horrible and nasty Australian things and I don't mean Rupert Murdoch!

The Anti-venom fridge.

For new year celebrations we took the kids along with Rob and Alison down to the beach to watch fireworks. They very considerately put on a display at 9.30 as well as midnight so the kids get to watch one and get to bed before they have a tiredness meltdown. There were lots of kids there all covered in glo-sticks and it was warm in both weather and atmosphere, a real family event.

After a lovely Christmas and new year with Rachel home for ten days, and Rob and Alison having left in early January, we suddenly realised that our Australian adventure was drawing to a close. It was time to begin the mundane process of packing up and shipping out. It is going to be sad to leave as we have made some lovely friends as have the kids but it will be wonderful to be in our own home and to get to see all our lovely family and friends again. I don't know where the year has gone!

So the next blog will be my final one as all good things must come to an end and I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. I will include an appendix of the latin quotes for you.

I'm off to bed now to dream of my fair England where the grass is greenest.

Good night xx

In somnis veritas

Christmas is coming and I am getting fat,

Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la laaa!

Helloooooo one and all.
As we hurtle headlong towards Christmas I have to say that it is difficult to feel Christmasy. It is very strange indeed. Despite people putting in lots of effort and tastefully and splendidly decorating their homes with thousands of Christmas lights you only get to see them late at night. Our lovely neighbour Graham for instance has bedecked his house creating a wonderland complete with near full size dancing singing Santa and much more but in order for our kids to stand there slack jawed in awe (which they have done) we have to keep them up until gone nine pm. No problem I hear you cry, tis Christmas after all but then we have to endure tired stroppy kids the next day as they still insist on getting up the same time.

Graham and Joylene's house, our lovely neighbours opposite.

Rob and Alison (aka Grandad and Gran) have arrived with us to spend Christmas and New Year. I hope they bought Factor 1000 suncream and the forecast for Christmas eve is 37C. and it is on line to be the hottest Christmas day in Adelaide since the 1980's. Tom took the morning off school to come and meet them from the airport.

Welcome Gran and Grandad!

Lucy's birthday unsurprisingly was a pink affair. She decided she wanted a princess fairy castle birthday cake so we had a go. It was much harder than anything else we've tried but she loved it. Although I am sure if we had just piled up a large quantity of pink icing and written her name on it she would have been equally happy!

Cake glorious cake!

It was also Rob's birthday and he wanted a princess fairy cake but he had to make do with a piece of Lucy's.



Tom had his Christmas concert at school which was a cute little tale about a wombat trying to get a part in the Nativity Play. Tom and his friend Jack were the narrators and Tom just lapped it up, loving the limelight. He had learned his lines really well and even had to prompt the prompt when she got lost!!

Tom and Jack

.
 

Tom also had his last day at school and it was a non uniform day. Tom needed a haircut badly so I cut his hair badly for his last day. He wanted a mohican and that is roughly what he got. He was as pleased as punch but I removed it after the weekend

Before!

After!

On the theme of haircuts, Alison and Rachel had been urging, nay begging Rob to get his cut and they then managed to get Rob to agree to me doing his with the clippers. I made it very clear to him from the outset that I only do the same length all over and the longest I had was about an inch. In a fit of madness or rebellion he agreed, so without further time for deliberation I did it. Alison actually cried with laughter when she saw the finished result. She hasn't seen him with any other hair style for thirty years and it seemed to have a peculiar effect on her!! Personally I think it suits him rather well!

Tom and Lucy have been getting on so well with their swimming. Tom is always first in the pool at home but also the first out as he has zero fat or chub to keep him warm. Lucy on the other had take a little longer to get in but would stay in for hours if you let her. They can now both swim the width of our pool without armbands.

Lucy contemplating a career in synchronised swimming!

We went to Victor Harbor (no U) last weekend and just as when Paddy and Val were over and we went there it also rained nearly all the time. It didn't dampen our spirits just our clothing!
We did the usual tram ride and the lovely driver let Tom and Lucy hold the reins all the way over and feed carrots to the Horse that was also named Thomas.

Tom has had his operation this week. He had his Tonsils out, his Adenoids done and both his Grommets in his ears redone. He has managed really well although he has been quite tired since.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Anyway, it has taken me about a week to get this blog out, snatching a few minutes here and there to get it done so it has rolled on and is now Christmas Eve here and five to one in the morning of Christmas eve in the UK. So Merry Christmas to you all and have a wonderful fun filled Christmas time and a peaceful New Year. We'll see many of you very soon.

Lots of Love Matt, Rachel, Tom and Lucy xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Table top Science!

The kids were quite tired last weekend so we decided to have some fun indoors and embarked on some table top science. So with a big lump of modelling clay, some Bicarb of Soda, some Vinegar, some red food colouring and some grass for decorating we were able to recreate a volcanic eruption of a scary size and ferocity, well almost! The kids loved it anyway and it helped fill the morning.

Rob and Alison aka Grandad and Gran have arrived back in Oz as they are joining us for Christmas and New Year. They are currently 'up country' somewhere and are flying into Adelaide early December in time for Lucy's Birthday. The kids are of course very excited and have been asking how many sleeps to go!

Tom is going 'under the knife' so to speak on December the 12th to have his tonsils out and a redo of grommets and adenoids. I'd like to say he is going to be our brave little boy but actually he is a bit of a wimp when it comes to anything that mildly hurts. He refused to have a shower yesterday as he had a tiny mosquito bite and he said it would hurt too much! That doesn't bode well!

Tom and Jack, his friend from along the street have been chosen to narrate the class Christmas play this year. There is a big school Christmas production where each class performs a play for everyone. After school on the day everybody stays behind and they have picnics and BBQ on the school field and at about 6pm the show starts. Tom will be wearing a top hat, bow tie and braces (they call them suspenders over here which just seems wrong) so should look quite cute. Photos to follow!

Graham and Joylene from across the road have started putting up their Christmas lights. They are renowned in the area for their lovely display and they have been really generous and lent us a tree and lots of decorations so we can be truly festive. Again Pics to follow!

I had the donkey from the Real Estate Agents around today for our sixth month inspection. Being such a dynamic individual he whizzed through the whole place and clearly to his surprise declared that we 'kept the place real nice'. Well, with such high praise from such an elevated and well respected sector of the community it was all I could do, not to blush. Actually it was all I could do not to grab him by the scruff of the neck, drag him into the garden and show him the deep end of the swimming pool. Breath 1..2..3..4..5... and relax.
Still, we passed and it seems that by his good grace alone we shall be given the honour of remaining in the 'average house' where we pay above average rent. I guess the extra is well worth it simply to ensure that Mark is sufficiently remunerated to be able to take long expensive overseas holidays to to unwind from what must be an incredibly stressful occupation. My @r$<!

Still on a brighter note we have found people to take over the rental of this place when we leave so we will not have to pay rent for February and March. They are also buying both our cars and all the other things that we have bought since we have been here excluding food!! So we will not be out of pocket as we thought, we might even make a small profit you never know  ;-)

Speak soon xxx

Bonitas non est pessimis esse meliorem

Mr Gherkin

Hello, Hola, Bonjour, Sa'lam, Kon-nichiwa,  dia dhuit.

I hope all is well with you.

Things are getting warmer here, it been early thirties for the last week which was a bit uncomfortable at first as it was quite humid but it has been dry the last few days which makes it more bearable. We have been in the pool the last few days which is lovely and the kids love it. Tom tends to get cold quickly but Lucy spends ages in there. Even Rachel went in!

Tom has really settled well into school and he is just loving it all. He has just started Basketball after school on Thursdays which he enjoys and he has made some great friends. He loves his teacher Deb,and the headmaster is fabulous, knows all the kids by name and takes a real interest in all of them. The other day in the car I ask Tom what he did at school today. I get the usual, 'oh nothing' but then he tells me something about 'Mr Gherkin the Ringmaster' that I don't really understand. Upon further questioning I realise that he is actually talking about 'Mr Kirkman the Headmaster', I did laugh. They had Sports day last week and it was really sweet to see him running around. He was so excited the night before he couldn't get to sleep, it was really cute. They had the usual egg and spoon race and some relays but sadly no sack race.
He told me that Mr Curtain had given out prizes to the teams, 'No Tom' I said 'Mr Kirkman'!



 










Lucy has received her first certificate of her life (excluding her Birth Certificate for which she did absolutely nothing to receive). She has been made up a class at swimming from Tadpole beginner to Tadpole advanced. She is a determined little fish and works really hard at her swimming. Tom is now swimming without his armbands for short distances which is great to see.

We have had Halloween and we carved a 'punkin' as Tom and Lucy call it but being that it doesn't get dark until 8pm it's not quite the same. We did get a few Trick or Treat visits but it really isn't a big thing here which quite frankly is great as I hate the Americanisation of it.
I also did find it a bit odd that there is no Guy Fawkes Night but it is obviously a UK only thing being that we are celebrating the Kings escape from assassination and this sunny country would, for the most part be happy to see the back of the monarchy.



I've been enjoying work although it does feel somewhat like I've walked into an episode of Neighbours circa 1989. I work with Kylie, Jason, Madge and Harold but I have yet to find Mrs Mangle or come to think of it Bouncer hasn't shown his face yet either. My colleagues are really lovely and the department is very friendly if not about ten years out of date in some things but also quite ahead in others. It seems funny to hear people saying that 'it is totally impossible to see and treat patients and get them out in four hours' which was exactly what everyone in the UK was saying in 2000 but we managed it! Yeahh Go NHS Go!!

We have had some strange goings on here culminating in a crop circle in the garden........hmmmmm!

Where are Mulder and Scully when you need them?

I took Tom and Lucy to a car show as I had seen that the original Batman Car was going to be there and Tom really wanted to see it. I have to say I have never been to a 'petrol head' event other than the Goodwood Festival of Speed which is the tweed, barbour jacket, scone and jam version where as this was more the ripped jeans, string vest and babes draped over highly polished bonnets type affair. The Aussies really do like their 'bling' motors and suped up cars which is totally ridculous in a country where most of their main freeways have a speed limit of about 50mph equivalent and even the proper motorways are not that much faster. You also can't exceed the limit here as the Cops are really really sneaky and over zealous. I have seen several unmarked police vehicles as speed traps and they have been a beaten up pick up truck, an expedition equipped 4X4 complete with surfboard on the roof, a lime green sports car to name but a few which they secrete behind bushes and advertising hoardings in true 'Dukes of Hazzard' style, oh and ....hmm....the 'camper van' that got me in Queensland earlier in the year. None of this 'must tell people where the speed cameras are', they have set a speed limit and if you break it anywhere then you are fair game. They even have billboards and radio adverts warning about 'creepers' which I thought were paedophiles at first but in fact they are people who 'creep' over the speed limit by a couple of kmph. Mad! I am a self confessed and caught 'Creeper'!


Lucy has been considering her future and I think she wants to take after Mummy!

We just had the Adelaide Christmas Pageant which was billed as a 'must see event' for the kids and I have to say that it was wonderful. It starts at 9.30 and people start lining the street from about six am positioning blankets along the 'Blue Honour Line' which marks the route. All the kids get to sit on the line so they don't miss anything and adults all sit behind them on chairs if youy bring them and then the remainder stand behind them so everyone can see. Any late arriving children are quickly filtered through to the front by everyone, it is a really family/children focused event.


 Before the start all the kids are encouraged to Chalk on the road whatever they like and to make it as colourful as possible. It is lovely at the kids can run around on the route and they are safely enclosed between two rows of adults. We had fun drawing around eachother and then other kids and adults also joined our human chain and it ended up looking like a mass New York style homicide scene so we decided to chalk clothes on the outlines to brighten them up.

 The floats were spectacular with 65 in all and there were so many clowns and acts in between that kept the children enthralled for the duration. It was so well behaved and well managed. The city was closed over about ten blocks with all trams stopping and buses diverted but within a few moments of the finish there was a swarm of cleaners not to pick up litter as no one drops any but to empty the bins and other people to get things going and within 20 minutes the whole city was up and running again. Fantastically efficient.
Here are some of the kids favourite floats.

There is clearly a lot of work that goes insto these floats. Most of them were animated in some way and some blew smoke and such like. The kids were in awe, not just ours but every kid watching.

Ahhhhh Old London Town!

And of course Father Christmas in 32 degrees Celcius. It's true, it really was him, we all saw him!

I have found the culprits responsible for the crop circles, I think the one on the left organised it!

Take me to your leader!

Our Friends Katie and Omar and their three lovely kids are returning to Scotland after their year in Adelaide. The ladies (and man) wot lunches circle is diminishing further.  We wish you well in the land of Tartan, Haggis and Bag Pipes and we hope you don't miss the Adelaide sunshine too much. Travel safely and keep in contact!

Well enough from me. Let's have some comments from you guys, just so I know you're still following us!

Love to all.

xx

Videre est credere