So, our travels are over.  We’ve hopped to Europe and back in a week and enjoyed catching up with family and friends.  This was a our first time out of Australia since we arrived here 18 months ago. So, it was really our first opportunity to see how we felt leaving it.  I know we didn’t go all the way to the UK this time (that will happen in August though) but we did have the opportunity to see our friends and family as well as see how we felt about coming back… and leaving them.

It’s a very strange feeling.  First of all, Matt told me that he felt strangly sad leaving Adelaide in the first place.  He had to remind himself that this wasn’t a repeat trip of our “ping pong” back to the UK in ’07, that we were coming back.  I, on the other hand, was so busy thinking about the stuff I needed to get done when I got back that I wasn’t under any illusion that we wouldn’t be returning!

Spain did feel different this time though.  Obviously, having grown up in the UK, Spain was a regular holiday destination.  It always felt strange and different.  It’s dusty, dry, has terracotta roofed houses, beaches with cafes and a different atmosphere to the U.K.  Weirdly, when you go there from another, dusty, dry place with beaches and terracotta roofed houses it feels strangely familiar.  Even the plants were like the ones we have here in Adelaide.  The feeling of familiarity with the place I now call home.. from a location on the other side of the world was not something I was expecting.  It was nice though.  It also meant that leaving Spain, our holiday destination, didn’t seem as much of a wrench as it did when we were living in the UK.  I’ve left the Spanish beaches and cafes for the one’s down the road.

It’s a nice feeling knowing that you want to come back.  It’s even nicer knowing that the life you have now chosen to lead everyday is a little like the one that your friends and family back home see as a holiday.  I’m not being unrealistic, obviously I have to go to work in between but at the end of the day, the beach is at the end of the road, the sun is usually shinning and I can relax here

Of course, hanging out with your friends for the first time in 18 months is wonderful.  To be honest, I was worried about where I might fit in after all that time.. it appears I fit exactly where I used to! (yay!) which is a relief!  I did have a secret cry on the beach during the wedding because I knew that now that lovely day was over, I had to be on my way… away from my best mate again.  I soon slapped myself out of that though.  I’ll see her in 5 weeks!

Let’s see how I cope with it after August!

Here’s some more piccies of the event!

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!

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 …

Coles! You're expensive!

Tesco's you win!

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!

I've found lemons!

They won't see me here SHhhhh.

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

I can see my mouse from here!

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 !

Koalie!

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…

my goodness ... captions on a postcard / comment!

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

and a whole heap of other stuff too!

Get building!

Ah! Bed!

The van arrived yesterday with all of our long missed belongings on board. Last night I slept on my lovely, squishy mattress with my lovely squishy summer duvet.  I made myself a cappuccino with my coffee machine and had a glass of wine in one of my own glasses!  Yay!  I also found the web cam so we can wave at people on Skype (and give you a tour of our house on request)

I was asked by one pal this morning if there were any surprises as we unpacked.  Well, nothing was broken and nothing seems to be missing ( which was brilliant) but we do seem to have let that mouse into the house!  Do you remember in a previous post I was praising the commando mouse that I had seen out in the garden?  Well he’s somewhere under the kitchen cupboards at the moment.  Despite Matt’s best efforts to catch him in a bowl or herd him back out the door he keeps eluding us!  We’ve called the letting agency who’s response was “Have you tried a mouse trap” – nothing like an obvious answer.  As I pointed out to them though, our job is being made harder by the fact that the kick board around the bottom of the cupboards isn’t complete and the little squeaker keeps disappearing up inside the back of the cupboards.  I’ve requested permission to get some money off the landlord to fix this problem.  We’ll just have to wait and see i guess! In the mean time it’s quite entertaining watching the wits of one man pitted against a tiny mouse!

At least it spurred us on to unpack and get things out of the way of mice!  We pretty much un-flattened everything.  It took flipping ages to put the dinning chairs back together. We definitely won’t be flat-packing them again!  I didn’t realise just how much stuff we do have though!  5 boxes of “kitchenware” to start with.  It took an hour to uncover the kettle! At least now I have everything I could possibly need to make cooking nice and easy

Time for a beer / glass of wine?

The garden looks nice now too.  What with all my garden furniture set up under my lovely pagoda!  can’t wait to sit in the steamer chair with my book! Just need to hook up the hammock

Anyway, I’m off to Bunnings now to get about 15 plugs.  I need to change the sockets on numerous appliances.  I can only have 3 things plugged in at once at the moment!

Ohh and on a boring expat note. I know a lot of people ask about whether their TV will work well, our British TV works fine! (Without the aid of a freeview box or anything) I just plugged it in and told the TV we weren’t in the UK anymore! Then it scanned and found all the TV channels for us. Neighbours and Home and Away without any trouble at all!  Of course, now I have to have the tennis on all day (yawn!)

More pictures have been added to the slide show in the post below… feel free to be nosey

We’ve been in the house for two days now.  We went shopping yesterday and replaced a lot of the horrible brooms and mops they left here.  I now have exactly the same mop I had in the UK (Such a domestic loser!) and new cleaning things.  I spent $300 in the supermarket (and the fridge freezer still looks empty!) and then returned the hire car.

We’ve discovered that there’s a short cut across the creek which gets you to the local train station in about a 5 min walk and that the beach is only 10 mins stroll away.  There’s  a lot more on the beach front here than there was in West Beach.  There’s no SLSC but there is a beach front cafe, a pub (hotel), a Thai take away and chippie and some beauty salons.  So that means that I might get to spend longer at the beach because when Matt gets bored he can be sent for iced coffee, beer, cakes, chips, Thai food and a hair cut.   It’s all very nice.

At the moment the house feels like a great big echoey place.  It really is huge for two of us.  We’ll need lots of visitors to justify the rent   (Start booking yourself in!) I’ve taken some pictures of the house and the surrounds to give you an idea of the standard of accommodation you can expect.  Of course, there should be some furniture in it by the time you arrive.  I’ll keep adding pictures to the collection so if you’re feeling nosy keep checking