We’ve been here longer than six months now. Crazy. I can’t believe how quickly that went or how much easier this has been the second time around. Perhaps, it’s been easier because there is no uncertainty, no deadline for decision making and in a lot of ways that makes it so much easier to just ‘be’, to settle and enjoy. The last 4 years have been fraught with form filling, decision making and the weight of what felt like an awful lot of enormous decisions.

It’s funny how, once you’re here – decisions’ made, it doesn’t feel like such a big deal anymore. How easy it is to forget how much has been achieved, how much you put yourself through. Perhaps it’s just my natural tendency to over think and over analyse that created the tension in the first place? All I know is that this time I’m happy. I really am.

I do miss friends and family. I get jealous of what I’m missing and then get annoyed with myself because it was, after all, my choice to move here. I feel guilty when something happens and I want to be there and can’t… Perhaps I then over compensate with Skype, Facebook, emails etc. (Sorry!)  I hope that all my friends know they can call anytime and I’ll listen and give my usual brand of slightly dodgy advice!

A few days ago mum asked me whether I ever felt homesick. I wasn’t really sure how I was supposed to answer that one. I know honestly is the obvious answer but is it insulting to those you love if you genuinely don’t? I haven’t once felt like I need to be back in England, not had the urge to return to my house in Studley. I’ve never, once wanted to move back forever. I’m happy to just “be” for the moment. To be still, without the stress of form filling, packing boxes, solicitors, goodbyes and hand overs.

I’m happy to live 5 blocks from the beach with regular ducky visitors on my lawn, to see the sun everyday – even if it must rain in winter. I’m happy drinking coffee rather than beer in cafes rather than pubs. I’m happy to be able to go for long walks along the beach or in the hills. I know that I could have done more of these things in the UK. The weird thing is I never chose to. For what ever reason, the UK didn’t inspire these things in me. Maybe I’ll get bored at some point and Australia will stop inspiring me too. By that point, hopefully, I’ll be driving my kids crazy by trying to get them to appreciate what they have. We all know how ‘ungrateful’ the youth of today are It’s really nice to inspired. That’s what this place does.  It gives you the space to expand (no not just with ice-cream and cakes and coffee ), to reflect and push yourself.

There’s no way I’d have been brave enough not work full time. We couldn’t afford to do that in the UK.  This time we made  decision to live off one wage.  Future proofing for when I’d be with the babies.  I have Matt to thank. It’s been hard for him to take all that responsibility and it’s weight.   He’s learning things about his career and his direction too. I hope the events of the next few days help him with that a little more.   I hope he gets to a comfy place, an inspired at work place – there’s certainly opportunity for him

Running a business has been different. Not as busy as I’d like and I’m finding myself being slowly being drawn ever closer to the classroom.  An interesting thing.  I thought I’d move away from teaching but I can see so much potential in this education system. I want need to be a part of that – Shenley has created a bug in me that needs to be fed.  It will be interesting to see where I end up with that.  Educational Career paths that seemed un-appealing in the UK suddenly seem very exciting here. I guess I need to get inside the door properly before I’ll know for sure.  I definitely, need to get inside a classroom though.

I wonder where what we’ll be up to in another 6 months? Apart from playing host to the Clarkes (senior) and Athersmiths of course!

Created with flickr slideshow.
When you’re on the Expat forums you here people deciding to fly over to go on a “reckie”. This involves flying out and hanging out in Aus to see if you like certain areas etc. We’re living in the more Northern of the Western beaches at the moment and we’ve been considering where we’d like to live more permenantly. We’ve had our eye on Sellicks beach ever since we drove through it on our way to Kangaroo Island last time we were here. It’s a lovely beach town about an hour south of Adelaide CBD and it’s a lot more under developed than the area we’re living in . In fact it only seemed to have a Post Office and a Pizza house there! It is about 15 minutes from the bigger town of Noaralunga where there are loads of shops and things. I guess it would be like living in Studley, and popping to Redditch for shops etc. Except… it’s next to the beach and prettier.

We had a good drive around the streets (which didn’t take us long – not many there) and had a walk along the beach (which is gorgeous). It’s a very lovely spot and it seems to be being developed at the moment. Devine homes are building there and I the whole town is obviously going to tripple in size very quickly. This could mean that once it’s more developed the houses will raise in value and so it would be a good investment… or… it could mean what is currently a quiet and beautiful spot becomes crowded and we’d feel penned in. I guess it depends on the plot of land you choose to purchase for your home.

As you can see from the piccies above it’s a very beautiful place.

We also popped down to the next beach “Silver Sands” which is even smaller and the houses seem to be a bit more spaced out. There was one property with 14Hectares for sale… That’s way tooo big!! lol It’s way to early to be actually putting down a deposit but we fancied a drive and had a good time wandering around on the beach and having a think about where we might be this time next year. It gave us plenty to think about and consider. We’re going to need to think about what our priorities are in the future. We chose Adelaide because we liked being near the city and the beach and moving down there would mean an extra hours journey both to and from work. We’d need to weigh up whether that’s worth it or not. We are soppy gits and we hate it if we can’t hang out as much as possible.

Well it’s certainly given us food for thought …

I was bored and I’ve been surprised at how much my shopping bill is so… I went online to tesco.co.uk and entered in my entire shopping reciept from last weeks trip to Coles.  I recorded all the prices into an excel spreadsheet.  The same shopping is $40 more expensive in Adelaide’s Coles than it is in the UK’s Tesco.  It’s quite interesting what’s more expensive /cheaper!  Feel free to look or ignore just click the words “shopping comparison” below to view the pdf

SHOPPINGCOMPARISON

OK… so if this continues for much longer I’m going to need to rename the blog to rockincath (welsh for cat).  I know you all love seeing the ‘big moments’ lol so here’s the next one It’s probably the last one… At least I hope it is!

They’ve had a wander about and those squeaky birds that you can hear keep dive bombing Henny when he gets to close to the back of the garden. They must have a nest somewhere over that way; or they’ve been employed as hit men by the mice… not sure. It’s very strange to see though. They’re not that much bigger than a sparrow! Hen keeps pushing his luck though (as you would expect) I’ve seen him hiding in the long grass (weeds really… should buy a lawn mower!) and them swooping at him until he runs in. Stan doesn’t like them and just runs in as soon as they start! They were the ones who kept sitting on the pergola and squawking at them when they could see them in the window. Matt reckons it won’t be long before Henny eats one of them and then they’ll shut up! I’m not so sure!! Poor little things (birds or cats.. you can choose sides!)

I’ve brought them both in now (it’s midday) as Henny kept going out, getting hot, coming in and flopping on the cold floor and then willing himself back out into the heat. Stan, bless him, kept trying to find a cool spot under something. I don’t think he’s worked out that the sun’s beams are not the problem. It’s not that much cooler under the car, patio chairs, bushes today.. It’s just 35 degrees and that’s that! There’s supposed to be a storm tomorrow at some point though so that should cool it all down.

oh and I have to show you this… how cool! Cat pod! fun! You can follow the links to his blog… he made it! I think Matt’s getting his tools out

It’s arrived!

The tower has finally made it and it’s Huffing ENOUUUURRRRMMMOUOUUSSSS! ~( and a bargain at £40!)

Thank god we have such a lot of empty space to accommodate it!

Stan is particularly impressed with the mouse on the string and Hen is enjoying the fact that it’s positioned infront of the air-con

You’ll have to turn your head sideways for the video… I need to remember not to turn the camera on it’s side!

I saw some cute things today on my walk !

I tried to trace the walk on runkeeper but my Iphone’s battery died in my pocket as we wandered. When I plugged it in at the house it decided that I’d completed a 12mile walk with an average speed of 30mph. LMAO!! ooops. It’s a shame though because I’d love to know how long it is and how high up you go as you wander around the top of the canyon. It’s really very pretty!
Here’s todays piccies…

Created with flickr slideshow.

They arrived… 45 mins early!!!  YAY! Apparently their plane had been early at the airport (I’m pretty sure that’s a rare thing!) I got the camera and told the man if I didn’t take pictures I’d be in big trouble!!

They seem fine.  They’ve spent about 2 hours wandering around what must feel like a massive palace after spending 24 hours in a box and 4 weeks in a cattery.  They’ve been nomming on the cat food and Stan’s even been playing “chase me” with Matt around the house.  Seems like they’re absolutly fine to me !  Well don Spotswood for looking after them so well