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Winter finally arrived on Thursday - a massive storm came in on the Wednesday night and it has virtually been none stop wind and rain ever since. Since I have lived in Australia I have become so mard and if the temperature drops below 15 degrees I moan and moan about how cold it is - I can't believe it and wonder how I would cope with the UK weather when it is -2 and freezing cold ... brrr!!!
We finally had our housewarming party in January on Australia Day weekend and it was so nice to have a house full of people over for the first time since we came out to Oz. My friends gave us a lovely fern plant as a house-warming gift (I haven't killed it yet!!) and spolt Doug with an 'aussie apron' that he loves so much!
In Butler, there was a free concert one Saturday night in the park and the star of the show was none other than Leo Sayer! Now I vaguely remember him from when I was little girl but he was really good and we had a really great night singing and dancing and of course I ended
up in the 'mosh pit' or as we renamed it on the night 'the squash pits'!.
We also had our first relative visit in early April Pete and it was so surreal to have a family member here. We showed him round the sites and of course introduced him to the good old aussie barbie when he was here! Saying goodbye at the airport was awful and I got really upset - it was the first time we have had to watch family go home and is terrible as there is no timeframe to when you will see them again.
I was invited to my friend Olivia's little girl's christening and we had such a lovely afternoon and we sat in the garden in lovely sunshine just catching up and laughing with the girls from Crown. Both Doug and I have been so lucky making friends over here and I can't say how much the Aussies have made us feel welcome. I feel like I have always known my friends here and can't believe that it is only a year but I can honestly say that I will be friends with them forever as they are some of
the nicest people I have ever met!
Doug has made a lot of friends from his works and has taken up golf again - he has become a bit obsessed to be truthful but I am glad that he has got a hobby again even if he talks none stop about it and keeps dragging me to golf shops to look at golf balls each weekend!!!
Over the long Anzac weekend we got up at 3.30 am and went on Doug's bike into the city to meet up with my friends Gez and Carly for the dawn service for Anzac. It was very emotional but so well organised. I must say that anything that is put on in Australia is organised with military precision - nothing like anything I have been to in the UK.
The dawn service took place in King's Park and they put up large screens and played clips from the war - it was very moving and the we stood in virtual silence and listened to the last post being played as the sun came up over the hills lighting up the entire skyline of Perth - it was beautiful. After the service
we went for coffee and a catch up with the girls and then we went for a ride on Doug's bike!
Doug celebrated his birthday the other week and we had a lovely day - it was also his sisters birthday on the same day and was a bit emotional as we normally celebrate both birthdays together. Around the same time Doug's gran was 101 and she is still going strong! We write to her as much as we can and send little DVDs with photos on and she says that she watches them so much she wears them out.
I just wish we could pop over for a few hours to see everyone and then come home - it doesn't feel so far away but we are trying to save up for a holiday so that we can see everyone again as I miss my family and friends (and Tescos, Next, Asda etc !!!) but we are really happy here and life is still good!
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Ann- fav mum in law
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Hi Jo Jo, love the pic's of you all ,our grandogs look so gorgeous, you and Doug dont look so bad. LOL. Cannot wait untill we are with you for ever. YEEEEEEESSSSSSS. Ann XXXXXXXX