365 days down under.

Well we’ve made it through the first year. They now tell me the distance will get easier. I do think they may be right. Though there is not a day that goes by that we don’t think of you all in cold wet UK, and wish we could have the lifestyle, and weather we have here over there with you. Sitting here in a warm house surrounded by our belongings, knowing that we both have great jobs which we hope will only improve and enable us both to accomplish our ambitions. Things don’t seem as bad as they did this time last year. I have to say this area is an amazing place. There is so much to see and do and I am beginning to get excited about the prospect of being a personal tourist guide for you when you come and visit.

One year on, I thought it would be fitting to write a summary of what Mark and I have been up to these last 12 months and encourage you all to come and visit. Now the house is ready for visitors. But were to start is the question.

At the beginning is a good place to start (I can hear some of you say). After arriving on the 23rd June 2010 at 8am (Aussie time) our first two weeks were fitted with sorting out items needed to start life over here. First stop was the bank; this was quickly followed by buying Harry the Hyundai, finding a place to live, shopping for furniture (which Mark appeared to enjoy more than me, which I found very odd - Mark and shopping does not normally compute) and of course beginning our jobs.

My route into work life over here was not as smooth as Marks, but after six weeks I found a job which I now love and work colleagues who appear to have adopted me into their lives. For this I am very grateful to them. My work colleagues along with the friends we have made and reconnected with here in Australia and New Zealand have been a great tower of support for us over the last 12 months (I feel a party coming on).

I thought as I have told you all about my job over the last few months it is Mark’s turn to tell you a little more about his, so here goes. Mark works as a Research Scientist here, and spends most of his time researching mud (he is a soil scientist after all, and before you snigger at the back there, just consider what your food grows in… Not such a silly research field now is it? And yes, that was an intended pun). So apart from digging holes and playing in the lab, and spending hours swearing at a computer and fighting a deluge of emails, he’s actually seen quite a lot of our new home country. Firstly, we both went to help our friend sample on Kangaroo Island, not soon after we got here in July. Then in August, Mark went up to Brisbane for a big conference, then to Sydney for a meeting at the SCG! After that, he went to a field site near the Gold Coast, then that was it for a while. This year, he’s been away a lot sampling: over to Streaky Bay (9 hours West of here on the Eyre Peninsular), Clare Valley (2 hours North and home to a lot of good wine), then he flew out to Canberra for a 3000 km sampling trip round NSW, SA and Vic, coming back over the Snowy Mountains. This was all topped by a trip to poor old ChCh, which we had to reschedule as the first planned date was a week after the horrific February quake. They still get many strong aftershocks, and it’s a shame to see what was such a thriving place look like a scene out of 28 Days Later. He’s also been on TV twice – once for a Kids’ science show, and once on the Australian version of Countryfile – Landline. Next year looks just as busy!

Brisbane by night


Sydney


Claire helping on Kangaroo field trip.


New Zealand.

Many of our weekends and holidays (appear from of course our fantastic trip home for Christmas and New Year) have been spent tasting some fantastic food and wine, and seeing some of this outstanding country. From its hills, beaches, its bush land. We have filled our spare time between mountain biking, Girl Guides and going out for coffee with friends, visiting pubs, wineries, and completing walks and cycle rides that have all been recommended. From our year of tourist research I think I would have to say that a number of thinks have stood out. From eating Kangaroo and purple potatoes, drinking the Aussie beer called Truffles, their vast range of wines on offer in South Australia and their orange juice that actually tastes of oranges. To visiting clear blue seas and white sandy beaches, Aussie bush and seeing Australian animals such as Kangaroos, Koalas, Emus, Kookaburras, Pelicans and their fantastically colourful Lorikeets.











Many of you have asked us how different is it over here? What can I say South Australian appears to be a mix between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The biggest differences are the weather and their approach to life. There appears to be a good approach to a work life balance. I know one element that we have both enjoyed and appreciated is the ability to commute to work in 30 minutes by riding our bikes or walking.

In summary this year has been one amazing roller-coaster of a ride, with positive and negative elements, but in all life over here is going really well. We would to thank everyone for their support over the last year. Being able to start in touch through email, facebook, skype, letters and phone I know has been our lifeline over the last 12 months.

We cannot believe how much we have done and seen over the last year, and hope that the next year is as successful as this one.

When on our short walk today (Mark’s attempt really of getting his sick wife out for some fresh air) I realised I didn’t tell you about the morning this week, when we woke up to find Cockatoo in our walnut tree eating the last of our walnuts. I still think Bill (Dad Farrell) that the birds over here are much better to look at. They are far more colourful to start with and the magpie’s have more character, apart from that is when they dive bomb you from the air (they only do this in nesting season, and then it tends to be the ones that are not use to having people around).



Anyway less of my ranting, and more about what we have been up to. I have finally worked out how to use flickr, so hopefully this will encourage me to take more pictures and keep you all updated. Though I do feel that I am missing out somewhat on what you are all up to. Please do help Mark and I keep in touch and feeling so far away at times and let us know what you all have been up to.

Sorry once again I go off the track. Let’s try again. As I have been under the weather this week with a cold and now blocked sinuses Mark take me on a small walk (2.6Km) to a conservation park near a place called Mont Compass. It was beautiful some of the walk even reminded me of walking through the country park in Grimsthope (where my Granny once lived). Take a look for yourselves with the pictures Mark took on the walk.









This is brought to you by Barrell Farrell’s and lots of hugs for you all. XXXXX

An eventful few weeks.

Following our bush experience earlier in the month, the month continues to be eventful.

Guides

I have had a busy month with guides too. Earlier in the month I had a district meeting and a qualification session. Near the end of the month I assisted with my first Australian Guide camp, as the first aider. Though the camp was hard work fun was had and it was a great leadership team bonding session. We arrived at the camp site an hour before the girls so that we could put our tents up. My first job as the first aider was to bandage up the tent pole when it split, on one of the guiders tent.
I can say that my role as the first aider ended up being hard work. In the whole weekend I had one girl who twisted her ankle, hit her finger with a mallet, and stepped on a sharp stick that went thought her shoe to her foot (a white shock was turn red). I had another girl who had a chest infection, one girl who had a stomach ache and another girl who was sick because of a migraine. To make matters worse we also had very bad weather, so much so we had to abandon the tents on Saturday night and sleep in a hall (60ml of rain that’s one month’s rain in one go they say and 100 kilo winds). This weather we may have managed in the UK but the girls had very little camping experienced and had come to camp with blow up beds and huge suitcase, even though the kit list had said otherwise. Due to the bad weather I made the discussion that the 3 sick girls were to go home, but as 2 parents were unable to get there to pick them up. I and a parent made the 2 hour round trip to take them home from Mclean Vale to Adelaide. Sunday was less eventful and we run a master class in taking tents down, which we managed to do before the weather came in again.

New Zealand

The second week of May Mark went to Christchurch for work and I joined him out there for a long weekend. What an amazing place. Their worlds have been turned upside down, but still they are warm and welcoming. Some of the stories we were told brought a tear to my eye. The countryside around Christchurch is breath taking. Standing in Littleton and walking around Christchurch with Sam and seeing the devastation of peoples lively hoods with the beautiful countryside around and people getting on with their daily lives, its difficult to describe because you felt so many emotions in one go. Sad, norm, inspired, happy to be a life. All I can really say is that we have some fantastic and amazing people in this world.


Sam and Mark enjoying a drink together.


The view from Littleton NZ


View just around the corner from Littleton NZ.


It was brilliant to see old friends again and it feels like nothing has changed. I for one had a great time catching up with an old friend, and would like to thank Sarah and Scott for their hospitality and warm welcome. I hope Scott that the rugby team continues to win their matches and once again thank you for an awesome evening in the Ashley.


Sarah and I


Scott Smiling, there you go Sarah we have a smiley photo at last.


Barrell Farrell's in NZ,

New Arrivals

Last Thursday we welcome our friend’s new arrival, Eleanor. What a beautiful baby. We wish Jon and Liz well and look forward to being a part of your life and watching Eleanor blossom with you. Thanks for this evening. I hope she settled.

Wedding Anniversary

For our wedding anniversary we went to a top restaurant on the Penfolds estate called the Magill Estate Restaurant. It was a amazing with a fantastic menu accompanied with wines that complimented the dishes. The night view across Adelaide was breath taking. We also enjoyed listing to the famous play list, reading the guest book, and reading all the wedding and engagement cards that I have kept. I even put up some wedding theme balloons and the bunting. We spent the today remember what an amazing year we have and wondering what next year will hold. We would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their continuing support and send them all our love and hugs.






I would also just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their messages of support and condolences following the death of my Granny. They mean a lot and have helped me greatly. Below are picture of the lilies given to me from work mates and the flowers which travelled all the way from the UK. Thanks goes to Danny, Gaz, Alan and Laura for those. They made my day when I came home to find them on the door step.


Flowers from work mates


Flowers from Danny, Gaz, Alan and Laura.