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.
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| 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
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