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.

A week alone begins

After a quiet weekend I dropped Mark off at the airport at 5.30pm.I am now starting my first week alone tonight and I have surprised myself. I am not sat here crying because I'm homesick. This is a improvement, on things over the last few weeks, and I wanted to thank everyone for the cards, letters, emails and facebook messages as they have been keeping me going.

This weekened we have been to a art show of photo's taken around Australia and learnt about some of the history this country holds. The day was going so went until we left the kettle on the hob and I had to use my girl guide fire saftey skils to put out a kettle fire with a very damp cloth. The rest of the evening was spent cleaning up the mess. Don't worry we went to the shops this morning and I would not allow Mark to have another arga kettle so we are back to the good old electric keetle.

Sunday was a little less eventfully we went up to Hahndore again to treat ourselves at their chocolate cafe, Chocolate No 5. Lucy's you would love it. I had the most amazing while chocolate hot chocolate. I have fully found food that beats Mark, who was unable to finish his pudding. Hope you like the pictures