Hello everyone, So it’s finally here, our return home is just a matter of hours away. About 12 to be precise, meaning in a little over 24 we’ll be home. Hooray!! Over 14 hours on a plane with 2 kids is a distant memory, and we kind of wish we could keep it that way. It should be OK though. Anyway that’s what we keep saying to ourselves. The thing is we actually take off at mid-night, landing at 6.30am when it will actually be 2.30 in the afternoon for us. The problem? Once again we’ll be some of the very [View Full Entry]

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So the end is almost here. We've had a great week in Melbourne, if a little strange at times. Great because we had a lovely day at the home of more of Shelley's relatives in Oz, Paul and Lorraine. We were again given such a warm welcome into a family home which was touching. Paul, Lorraine, Ivan and Kiara are lovely people and we felt at ease in their company, just as we did in Adelaide at Meera & Michael's. A special thanks to everyone in both families for making us feel so welcome, particularly as spending time with family has [View Full Entry]

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Hi there, So we moved on to the Great Ocean Road, much to the delight of the kids. And I have to be honest and say it was really 'my thing' for Oz - my idea to do it. I say that as whilst it's very impressive, it meant being in the car for 3 days. And I didn't exactly get a standing ovation when I suggested it. Anyway we strapped DVD player to back of hire car - gave Shelley kate nash on Ipod and set off. At one rare moment when Bella actually paused her Nintendo DS, I told [View Full Entry]

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Well after what seemed like centuries (to Bella anyway) the big day finally arrived. To be fair she's only been talking about it since the first of November last year. It all started with balloons and presents and Bella's first thought was looking to find one for Noah to open (aaah!). She loved her presents, cards / promises of presents on our return. So thanks for taking the trouble to post them over. The DVD from grandma was 'the best' apparently. Not that it's a competition. That said, I was suggesting we go out and immediatly buy her a big surround [View Full Entry]

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Well, we hired a car. The second time I've driven a Hyundai. The only difference is that this one is big and posh and the quietest car we've ever driven (we got a free up-grade, yipee!!) and the other one was small and yellow and had the gearbox scraping against the ground. We drove out to the Blue Mountains yesterday morning - to stay in a place called Katoomba (about 2 hours east of Sydney). The furthest inland we've been since we arrived. As you can see it was amazing. The most beautiful scene we've ever... well... seen. It was stunning. [View Full Entry]

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Hi everyone, just a quick update to let you know that we are all fine. Steve is 3 weeks into his course and he has passed the first part of it. He has done very well and we are all very proud of him. As for me and the kids, we are just plodding on doing the same sort of thing most days, mainly the beach and park - both are lovely though, so its not too bad. Its a bit like being at home, having to go out everyday for bread/milk/magazines etc! (the woolworths is just like Somerfield!) I am [View Full Entry]

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Just a quick one to show off my new friends, well things have been kinda quiet since Steve has started his course! Seriously, these things have petrified me and the kids. The cockroach was discovered by Noah saying 'mummy there is a fly in here, no its a beetle...ahhhh' I managed to catch it in a tub and left it there all day until Steve got home and bravely shifted it. All I can say about the spider was is that is was absoultely MASSIVE - I have never seen anythng like it! It was right outside the front door and [View Full Entry]

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So we have been in Coogee for just over nearly 3 weeks now, so we have been chilling out for the best part and exploring Sydney on the other days. There is lots to see and do here and we are having a great time. The beach is lovely and the weather is pretty hot most days. We took a ferry trip around the Sydney harbour, it was only an hour in total, but we had to get off early because poor Bella so so sick again. Bless her she was really brave, but I have to agree with her - [View Full Entry]

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Hello, Once again we thought it was time to put pen to paper, at least in the metaphorical sense, and give you ALL (all 3 of you anyway) a quick update on our week. Well, building on Shelley's update we are continuing to love Coogee and have been geting more into the place - the more we see, the more we like it. The place has such a great feel to it, with lively row of restaraunts down the main strip - all of which open out onto the street. A great atmosphere, the lively chatter, everyone eating and laughing, you [View Full Entry]

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So we have arrived in Sydney, and the apartment is fantastic. I have gone from living in a shoebox to a 2 bed, 2 bathroom trendy place overlooking the sea! The town, Coogee is also great, loads of little shops, restaurants and foody places. The beach is at the end of the road and we are only 20 minutes on the bus to the city. Strangely there are loads of brits. I am also happy because I have managed to buy marmite and the latest copy of Heat magazine - who says I'm hard to please!? So we spent the first [View Full Entry]

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