The day in the life of a couple down under

3rd December to 7th December
We went cricket crazy as England came to play their Adelaide Ashes task. Mark and Jason had tickets for the whole test, but Georgia and I joined them for the Saturday. For someone who has never really enjoyed cricket I had a fantastic day. Who couldn’t love sun shine, and an ice cold beer?







6th December
Today was my last Guide meeting before the children broke up for summer, as a celebration we brought some large ice blocks and took the girls ice blocking. The girls had a great time. I even had a go, but was unable to get a picture as people couldn’t seem to operate my camera. It was fantastic fun (I may have found the Aussie style sledging).

(For photos check out Facebook)


11th December
We held our third Aussie BBQ and once again it rained. I have a feeling someone in Aussie is trying to make us feel at home.  Apart from the cold weather I think everyone had a good time. We had a few of my work colleagues over, and my new mars bar slice desert went down a storm.

12th December
This Sunday we took things slow, in our preparation for CHRISTMAS. We finally explored the finally wine area, surrounding Adelaide and found some great wine in Brossia on our Sunday drive. I even found a gaint hobby horse in a field, at a wooden toy factor (it was like going down memory lane, fantastic).

Getting into the festive mood

Since last time talking to you all, life has really continued as normal. We now appear to be getting some sort of routine into place.

On Sunday (21st November) I went to the Baden Powell state awards ceremony and met some more guides. As the ceremony was held at the state’s water centre I was introduced to the canoeing instructors who have asked me to work on my qualifications so that I can take girls out on the water - should be good fun!

On Tuesday (23nd November) Mark and I went to our local outdoor 50 metre swimming in pool for our weekly swim, as we couldn’t face the RSB indoor pool when the temperature outside was 35C.

On Thursday (25th November) I went to play netball. I ended up playing 2 games (40 minutes each). I felt completely knackered afterwards. Once again we lost but the result was very close in our first match (24-25). We all ended up having to play for the second game as only one member of our second team turned up, so the result was a little different 15-37. This was my favourite game as the cocky centre was put in her place, after telling me that I had to work on my game a few weeks ago (which may I add I was awake of, but she was very snooty about it). I showed her this week. She played 2 quarters and dropped the ball every time she got it and I played 2 games and my defending was positively commented on (much improved).

What with the comments on the cricket and playing netball with the Aussie’s I am quickly beginning to realise that they are terrible sportspeople when they are losing.

Friday (26th November) this evening we had our friends Jon and Liz over for a BBQ, and spent the evening playing board games, I think we may have found some true friends in this couple. I love spending time with them and Liz is another lover of board games 

On Saturday (27th November) Mark and I spent most of the day with our friends Georgia, Jason and their 2 young children. We went to a Russian Christmas fair and found a beautiful advent calendar. In the evening we headed back to Georgia and Jason’s for a Christmas party where we met some more friends of theirs. It was a lovely evening and was good to meet some new friends.



Monday (29th November), we have now been married for 6 months, and its Bill’s birthday (Happy Birthday Bill). This evening I went to the Girl Guide’s end of term BBQ with the whole district. It was a lovely evening, I as usual spent most of the night playing games with the girls and teaching them all new games from my times as a Guider in the UK and as a groupie in PGL. It appears that I am quickly becoming known as the games person. One of the young girls also gave me a Christmas present and told me she had brought me my own snow (what do you think?).




Tuesday (30th November)
Today I can’t take the smile off my face I have now been made a permanent member of staff at the Royal Society of the Blind after a 3 months trial. I am so pleased to finally have some more certainty in my life. I now just need to complete my OT registration process here in Australia and my career will be on its way down under ( I hope to have this part finished by February).

1st December – Today I had my sight and guide training which found me being guided blindfolded around the streets of Adelaide. It was great fun. Today is also the start of Marks little holiday (I will be at work). Tomorrow he is 4x4 training for work, and then for the following 5 days he will be watching the Cricket here in Adelaide (look out for the Union Jack and Welsh Dragon, if you are watching on TV, I will be there on Saturday but I couldn’t take it for any longer so on Sunday I will be doing the gardening).

Visitor research

Sunday 7th November

Following a late night with the house party, this Sunday was spent researching the local beaches and a gentle walk around the coast.




















The following week was nothing special really, as life is becoming normal. Monday night I had a girl guide’s meeting and left Mark with a task list and listening to his music loudly. Tuesday night was swimming night with Georgia. Wednesday was the quiet night in. Though Mark did have yet another work trip, this time he went on a 24 hour trip to Wollongbar (which is on the Gold Coast). He went for a meeting and ended up visiting a coffee plantation.




Thursday night I had a game of netball, which went well I think. We have yet to win a game but the margin is getting smaller 17-27 this week. Friday night is collapse on the sofa night, and after difficult research we have found a fantastic pizza place, hum.

Saturday 13th November

This Saturday with the other Guiders I took the girl guides horse riding in the Adelaide hills. Where without fail it rained and rained. I loved it I finally got a normal November day, cold and wet. The girls had a great time; I meanwhile was the nominated photographer.

Sunday 14th November

This Sunday, a rare occasion occurred. We managed to get up and be out of the house before noon. Making the most of this rare occasion we went on a 2 hour dive down to Wellington and around Lake Alexandrine to Goolwa and the mouth of the Murray. On our trip we crossed the Rive Murray using the first and oldest ferry crossing. It has been open to the public for 170 years and we found yet some more, great wineries

Late October early November news update

Sunday 24th October – Jan’s house warming BBQ

Today Mark and I experienced our first Aussie style BBQ. I have to say with a cold beer and sun shine it’s one of the best ways to spend a Sunday afternoon. It was also a good way to get to introduce Mark to my work mates.

Monday 25th October – trip up to York Peninsula for presentation

After being given less than an week’s notice that I was to do a 60 minute presentation on the role of the Occupational Therapists role within R.S.B, Jan and I head up to the York Peninsula, in the very early hours of the morning. I think I handled it well and even managed to win over a difficult client by the end of the session. The group I presented to even took us out for lunch and I experienced by first even Garfish, it’s sweeter than the cod I am use to, but I really enjoyed it.

Wednesday 27th October – Jesus Christ super star

We came around this on Saturday when going to the central market. It was a lovely evening out but I was not too impressed with their sound. It needed to be a lot louder. I am sure I know a company that would have done a better job. 

Thursday 28th October – Netball twisted ankle

Week 3 of netball now and I have to say that even though we lost again we are improving every game. I just need to remind the centre that it’s a game, and it’s not the end of the world if we lose. I even managed to twist my ankle this week, so I have been limping, the last couple of days. However it was nothing that could not be sorted with a lot of ice and rest. 

Saturday 30th October – Jeff’s Halloween Party

We have sent the day looking for costumes and making deserts. The party was a great success. How hostess with Canadian and really did know how to hold a Halloween party. There were some great costumes there to. Mark went as a mad scientist (very arugula) and I went as a devil. Please see the photos below. I even had pumpkin pie for the first time and I have to say it was very good.

The last week has been somewhat uneventful in comparison. Though we did spent most the week getting ready for our housewarming party this Saturday (6th November). I hope you like the pictures. It was a bonfire night theme with a difference as we are not allowed bonfires in Aussie at the moment and it is illegal to have fireworks. But we still had the sparklers, meat and potato pie and parking cake. We even had some visitors from the UK join us .

Follow the link below for photos from halloween and house warming party.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/album.php?aid=257756&id=507038534&page=2

Life has become busy

13th Oct 2010
As Mark’s business friend was in town, we headed out for dinner with Dan at a lovely Greek. Things were going so well until we headed home and tried to get into the wrong car. It appeared that a simpler car was parked 3 space down from ours, and it wasn’t until I was unable to lock the door, I and Mark realised that we’d tried to get into someone else’s car. LOL LOL .

14th October 2010
What a long day!!!
The day begun at 5.30a.m and out the house by 6.15am. The Royal Society for the Blind was having a sponsored walk, call from Dark to Light. This was to try and demonstrate low vision and blindness to the general public. It was a great success we raised $26’000 and had a great Aussie style BBQ breakfast. This finished around 8.30am and I hand to work. After walk I headed straight to Netball.
Good what a laugh, many of us had not played for some years and the end result showed it. But I think everyone enjoyed as they were back again for more this week. This finished around 7.30pm and as Mark was unable to pick me up I had to walk home. I finally got home around 8pm. With just enough energy left to get in the shower and straight to bed.

16th October 2010
Saturday we decided to go for a drive to see what else the Adelaide Hills had to offer. Mark found a road he fell in love with. And on our trip on this amazing road with found a fantastic pub with beer that nearly matched the British ale and food that was out of this world. After digesting the pub find the drive continued to a chocolate and cheese factory.







The evening was rounded up with an evening out with friends to an Indian restaurant and live music.

17thOctober 2010
Mark packed up and went off to Perth for a week of work. He arrived back last night, and from the stories it sounds like he had a lovely time. He got time to do some sight-seeing.













18thOctober 2010
The weeks begins with an evening at Guides, the evening was spent playing games and to my amazement I remember how to play some games and ended up have a great laugh.

19th -20th October 2010
As the evenings were to my own I got on with the gardening because Mark and I have planned a house warming party on Bonfire night. Though as fires are banded during the summer months and fireworks are illegal, it will be a bonfire night party with a difference.

22nd October 2010
The wedding album has arrived safely in Australia and is looking fantastic. It’s a brilliant reminder of the best weekend we have ever had. Mark and I would once again like to thank everyone for a wedding weekend which was just the way we wanted and one we will never forget.

23rd October 2010
After a long week for both of us today was a gentle day with a trip to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.









Next week I begin my new part of my job. As the Occupational therapist for the York Peninsula, this week begins with doing a presentation for the company at Wilunga.

7th October till 10th October 2010

The rest of the week has been quite quiet in comparison. Thursday evening Mark and I went for a swim. Friday night I went out for a girl’s dinner/wine with my new friends Judy and Wendy who run the Guide group that I have joined. Saturday was a quiet day, we headed in to the city to do some shopping and then later in the day (when the weather cooled down.) we head to the beach for ice cream. This was combined with a walk along the beach and watching beach volley ball.

Today I have been out with the Guides and renewed my promise during a centenary event ( I have a new promise badge as they are different over here). As its 100 years of guides this year. All Guides across Australia were planning on renewing or making their promise today at 10 O’clock on the 10th October 2010. The Guides in UK will be doing the same but on the 20th October 2010. After a walk and a panic the girls were picked up. For me it’s time to chill and relax.

Summer begins

Since last writing the blog, life has begun to become the norm. On Tuesday we finally managed to hang the pictures we were given as wedding presents. During this task we came across yet another Australian animal. I was holding up a mirror trying to decide what to do with it. On it was a sticker of a lizard, I thought, before it started moving. After ensuring our new friend was well and truly outside Mark looked him up on the internet to find it was a Skink (See the link below for more information).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skink

Apart from a red hot poker feeling in my eyes Thursday (thank god I work for RSB is all I can say), the week was business as usual. My eyes were the subject of much discussion and examination. My work colleagues and I decided it must be a reaction to the Sun, as my eyes were also feeling very dry. So as a result I have begun to wear sunglasses at all times. My boss has found me some glare glasses to protect my eyes from the high level of glare experienced from the sun over here. I can’t say they are the next fashion item, but they do what they say on the tin and my eyes are feeling much better.

Now that the days are finally getting longer, I have managed to get out in the garden after work and hope that with a few more sessions this bank holiday weekend. I will have the garden looking fantastic, in time for my first Aussie BBQ (that is ones we have got the BBQ).

This weekend is a bank holiday in Adelaide as October 4th is Labour Day. The weekend as begun in true summer style. Sun, Sun, Sun and temperatures of up to 23°C. We have had a lovely day walking around the Adelaide Hills Botanic gardens and ending the day in the garden of a winery with a glass of wine. Could a day get any better?



Sunday begun with a chapter of my book (which I have to say is a great present, thanks Kim. Kim’s books have been keeping me company on the bus to work). After a good breakfast we head to the York Peninsula and Moonat and Port Hughes, where we found some amazing beaches and went for a paddle (it was like something I could have only dreamt off).





Monday we head down to Deep creek Conservation Park for a walk to another waterfall (I have to say the walk was worth it as it was the best waterfall yet and Mark even managed to take a great picture). This was followed by a walk to a remote beach (another one to end to the list of dream beaches). Though the walk back up the track through a field of Kangaroos (male Kangaroos included, my god their big) was both amazing and nerve racking. In all we would say we had a great weekend.







Tuesday, as the swimming pool was full of screaming children when we arrived, we gave swimming a miss and headed home to do some gardening. Those of you on Facebook will know that, on Tuesday night we acquired a pet huntsman in our letter box. Can’t say it was a pleasant surprise, however he appears to have vacated our letter box today, obviously decided that the letter box is not a good enough home, thank god (Follow the link below for more information on the spider).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntsman_spider

Getting to know the local area

The weekend begins with Tea and cake with work colleagues in our local coffee shop. Mars bar cheesecake and my first ice coffee with ice cream, yummy. What a way to start the weekend. I have had a great week at work visiting old ladies in Adelaide, most of which I have found emigrated here themselves 50 or so years ago and they seem to love to talk to me about England and Europe. Today I had sight and guide training which was very interesting as I had to be guided blindfold around the streets of Adelaide. It was amazing how much you senses improve when you can’t see anything. It was strange how different open spaces, closed spaces, uneven ground and even over hanging trees made you feel. I was not too keen on the fact that I also had to rely on someone else to cross a road.

The weekend has been a jam packed couple of days. Mark is now back on his bike and went out with a mate on his bike on Saturday morning, leaving me to sort out the garden. Saturday afternoon with head to Goolwa to see the mouth of the Murry, and ended up getting caught on the beach in the rain. Sunday we head to Clare Valley with Jon and Liz to do a wine tour bike ride. It was a lovely day we did a 40 km ride and ended up stopping for lunch and wine on the way. We went to Sevenhills winery which is the oldest winery around. It’s an old monastery and the winery was started to make the monks wine for mass.



Mark, Jon and Liz taking in the wine of Sevenhills.

On the way back when I was pushing myself to get to the end, I was attacked by a magpie who thought I was too close to its nest. It came out of nowhere and tried to bite my head 3 times, thank god for me helmet is all I can say, but it did help me to get to the end, I don’t think I have ridden that fast before. After this encounter (I am ok by the way) I have taken to wearing a hat whenever I go outside.
This week has begun well I had Guides on Monday night and we took them to see the Adelaide gang show, was a late night but good fun. Tuesday night Mark and I tried out the RSB swimming pool which is open to all staff members on Tuesday and Thursday night. They have a 10 meter pool and we were the only ones there, it was fantastic.

I am sorry about the lack of photos, I will get them on here soon I promise

Nearly 3 months on

What a few months we have had. Getting married, moving to Australia, starting new jobs and losing jobs. We hope now things are settling down. We have got the house how we now like it and the bikes will be experiencing their first Australian outing this weekend.

Work is going well for both of us at the moment. Mark is being kept busy with papers and presentation giving and I am loving being back behind the Occupational Therapy wheel. I have even managed to drive an automatic car as work doesn’t have any manual cars. I can’t say I like it be it could be worse. They are keeping me busy and I am really enjoying it.

The weather has improved a little and we are now enjoying sun shine (at a temperature that we are enjoying) and longer days. With the longer evening we are enjoying some fantastic sunsets. We joined our friends Jon and Liz to watch a sunset near Brighton beach before heading back to theirs for tea on Saturday evening. We had a lovely evening with a fantastic meal and a good board game to follow. On Sunday we went out to see Georgia, Jason and their children (friends of Marks from Bangor). We head to Morialta (which is a nation park) for a gentle walk and a picnic.

It final hit me on Friday that life over here is becoming normal, when we got home on Friday we realised that the washer had gone in the outside tap which had resulted in our back garden being turned into a swop. As our water had to be turn off until the plumber could come round on Saturday to fix it. This gave us a good reason to turn out another local take away restaurant.

Monday – I began my guiding story again and visited a Guide unit in Burnside with the view to help the Guiders run the unit. I really enjoyed myself and ended up getting very involved, with making Mexican style hot chocolate. If you get the chase I would recommended any hot chocolate fan to give it a try.

Items arrived safely in Australia

30th August to 5th September

30th August 2010 had to be the busiest day yet in Australia. I started work with the Royal Society for the Blind and our items arrived in the country after a 10 week trip on the GTI boat. We are glad to say that everything has arrived in one piece expected Mark’s Castle of Britain Cow which has arrived in pieces (he, he).

My first week has gone really well. The team are welcoming and the work is very interesting. I have learnt so much already and I love it. I’m back to the business of putting smiles on old ladies faces. With work (training) and unpacking in the evening we have had a busy week.

The weather has been making us feel really at home this week. The rain has not stopped. In the last few days Adelaide has had 4 inches in rain and they say it is to continue this week. Though you would think the Adelaidains had experienced 3 weeks of snow, because they have no idea how to drive in this weather.

Has the rain has not stopped all weekend we have been getting the house in order and even managed to get Mark to go around Ikea to collect some bookcases and the all-important male armchair. It has been great fun going through all the wedding photos and presents again. Thanks again to everyone and for those of you wait to see the photos, don’t panic Mark is now onto it and will hopefully get the pictures to Chris by the end of September.

When it rains it rains.

The weather this week has put the rain we experience in the United Kingdom to shame. When it rains it comes down as heavy sheets of rain. It caught me out when I headed into town for last minute items for Mark’s birthday on Wednesday. Though I didn’t mind because this trip had ended up with me going into the Royal Society for the Blind to collect my 3 month full time contract (this will be reviewed at the end of the 3 months and extended to an enrolling 12 month contract). I don’t really remember the journey home, but I do remember being soaked to the skin by the time I got home.

Mark’s Birthday
The day began with a few early calls and messages from the United Kingdom using all methods of communication. When I finally persuaded the birthday boy out of bed (god he is terrible in the morning) with a bucket of coffee and croissants. I packed him off to work with homemade pizza and banana cake with lemon icing to continue his writing class (he loves it, really time to get on top of writing this list of papers he has to write). Meanwhile I made him a Chocolate fudge cake (which I have to say, Mark reports it coming very close to matching his old housemates amazing chocolate cake). By the time Mark got home I’d decorated the house with a banner and balloons and I was ready to take him out for his birthday meal, to Ayra Indian Restaurant. The service was fantastic and the food was amazing (another place on the list to take visitors).



Friday I took it easy as it was my last day of freedom, during my errand run I came across ladies who were selling daffodils for cancer care’s daffodils day. I couldn’t quite get over that I was seeing daffodils in August so I brought a bunch to help the organisation and to remind me of home. Don’t they look beautiful? (sorry the pic is not ready will be added later).

Saturday
Today following some research errands (to enable us to print out and frame some of the Uk pictures we have of landscapes and friends and family), we head to Morialta Conservation park to complete the first falls hike. We had a lovely walk with some fantastic views of an impressive waterfall after all the rain we have had this week. We even saw 2 koalas in the trees and we finally managed to take a photo. Hope you like it.






Sunday
Today we head down to Victor Harbour and Newlands Conservation Park. Where we completed a 7.5km walk around the cliffs, with amazing views of the southern ocean. During this walk a Kangaroo jumped across our path (I wonder if this is good luck). After our walk we sat on the beach and eat our lunch whilst watching the local surfers and fisherman, these sports seems to be the norm around here. We head home through some lovely countryside to get ready for our big day tomorrow (our items arrive from the UK and I start work as an Occupational Therapist with the Royal Society for the Blind). Back at home we had a lovely surprised phone call from a good friend.




NOW IT’S TIME TO REST AND AWAIT THE ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER WEEK. WE CAN’T WAIT, BRING IT ON !!!

The bears find new places

After being busy with job interviews last week, both interview got back to me to say that I had got through to the second section, so this week I have been busy with medicals and following up references. Now it is just a matter of sitting back and waiting.

Meanwhile last week Mark went on his travels again with work. This time he spent the night in Sydney. His meeting was held in the grounds of the Australian cricket ground and his hotel room had a view of Sydney harbour. Well you can image with his meeting in the cricket ground he was like a child on Christmas evening. He got to walk through their changing room and on their cricket pitch. Getting back to the really reason he went to Sydney, I think from the feedback and the amount of work he has come back with the meeting went well and Mark has by now nearly met every soil scientist there is in Australia. His next work trip is to Perth in the middle of October.






This week’s weather has been unbelievable. You would have thought we were back in the United Kingdom with the amount of rain we have experienced and yet again it is raining whilst I’m writing this. Though we can’t moan as we got some great weather over the weekend and the sun cream has come out again. We have finally found some great places to walk and this weekend we have enjoyed two of them.

On Saturday we attempted to walk around an old ore mine, through directions were poor and our observation skills were terrible so we got very lost. Though we retreated our steps and we were back by the car just before the sunset. On this walk we met our first wild kookaburra and he sang for us. On the Sunday we went for a walk in Belair National Park, we walked past water falls, which were running for the first time in years. On the way Mark disturbed an emu.








We are loving our new communication method and have been really enjoyed catching up with people. My parents surprised me with a call on Skype when Mark was away and seeing them was fantastic. Marks parents joined us on Skype on Saturday evening and it was lovely to catch up. All I can see is if you are not on Skype yet, WHY NOT ITS FANTASTIC.

Communication systems are now all working.

Saturday 14th August 2010

We were waken by very heavy rain this morning, with a firm clue that it was best to stay in bed. Which I was not complaining about, after being up most of the night with a Australian head cold. After pulling ourselves out of bed we head to the Parade (well know shopping street) to experience Adelaidian culture. It’s amazing over here a Saturday feels like a Sunday, no one is in a hurry and is happy chilling out in restaurants with a good glass of wine and mates. We were quiet happy to join in and tried out an Italian. Following this we wandered up and down the Parade and found a fantastic coffee shop (with yet another good hot chocolate. He even sold PG Tips) and an ice cream parlour (it is a must try if you are an ice cream fan and you find yourselves over here, it’s called Cold Rock). On our tour of the Parade Mark has even found a couple of great shops that sell LPs he just needs a turntable now for a reason to buy one.

Back at home Mark put our new land line to use and called a few family members. Unfortunately he was unable to speak to everyone (Gladys and Les we will call again soon, promise). This was then followed with a trial run with our new Skype account (email us for our username), it was lovely to hear and see familiar voices and faces. We hope to speak to more of you on line soon.

2nd August to 13th August

Well the week was going well and was finally feeling normal. Mark was spending a week in Brisbane on a work conference and I was getting use to the normal rotate of getting up, working between 8 am – 5pm, coming home etc. I should have known that things were going to well. On Friday morning (6th August) I got myself from our home to an Assessment of activities of daily living which was 45 minutes north of our house, completed the assessment and headed back to the office completely unaware of what was waiting for me inside. Within 5 minutes of arriving at the office I was asked to entre my manager’s office, where I was kindly asked to leave the office as my services were no longer needed.






As you can image I was distort, and to top it off my husband was miles away in Brisbane. I felt very lonely and hated live in Australia, after a few hours of tears I began to realise that they were not worth my tears. So after pulling myself together I got my CV organised and started emailing it around on the job search. This appears to have worked because on the very same day that I was sacked I was also offered an interview on Friday 13th August. So fingers crossed a new job will be found soon.

Our weekend began with a scene from Love Actually, when I collected Mark from the airport. And from then on Mark made it his responsibility to cheer me up. His plan began with a trip to the Zoo on Saturday, where we saw the panda’s, Mircats (Simple’s) and many more animals. Though I was a little distressed by the size of the enclosures, they were tinny and the big cats were pacing up and down.









This was followed with a trip to the well know Cathedral where there are some amazing stain glass windows. I had a lovely day it continued when we got home and Mark turned into a true Italian and made a homemade pizza, yummy.



Sunday was started in true Sunday style and for once we were not woken by noisy neighbours. It was follow by a healthy cooked breakfast (Boiled eggs and Solders) and a long walk up Mount Lofty. We decided to follow a walk from a walk guidebook we have acquired. It appears over here there are 2 types of walks. One’s that take days or short walks which are well equipment and outlined.

This week as begun well on Monday we booked our trip back to the UK over Christmas, I got my second interview and I spent the evening climbing. I am improving but I have a long way to go if I want to climb outside.

WE ARE COMING HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, YA, I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL.