Happy 2011!

Firstly, big apologies for not updating this blogs for what seems like months.  Actually, I think it has been months!

Secondly, welcome to 2011, our first full year to be enjoyed on the West Coast of Australia - very excited about this!

Not that much has happened over the last couple of months, though there have been a couple of events that are probably more interesting to tell you about.

Just before Christmas, Grace had a concert at Kindy, which all the mums attended.  Very cute, with lots of triangle playing and the like.



On the way out, whilst carrying Aggie and holding Grace's hand, I walked straight into a swarm of bees - apparently they have a nest in one of the trees at the back of kindy.

Christ, it was terrifying.  I screamed at the girls to run away and a couple of the parents grabbed them and looked after them.  I could see Grace screaming and this mom was swatting bees off of her.

I, however, couldn't escape them.  They were in my hair, inside my dress, just everywhere. :-(  I was stung countless times, mostly on the face and scalp with a few on my chest and back.

I've never been so frightened in my entire life and still have no idea why they attacked me - thank god it wasn't one of the kindy children though.

On a lighter note, Paul and I (and recently arrived Pom, Kevin) went to see U2 at the Subiaco Oval.  We saw the 360 degree tour in Glasgow last year, but it was so fabby that it was really no hardship to watch it again.  Bono didn't disappoint and was his usual modest self - ahem......

To update you all on our weather, as I know that all the English readers like to be pissed off at our current enjoyment of sunshine, it's around 40 degrees most days and unbearably hot! 

So happy new year to you all - wishing everyone a safe and happy 2011.  (and I promise to update more!)

No car, boohoo!

I've taken my lovely little car back to the airport today, so am transport-less. However, a lovely lady brought her PT Cruiser to show us this morning, and it's just lovely.

Have never been a massive fan of them but am loving the fact that they're quite unusual over here. It's a great price and in lovely condition, so we're going to get it for me to taz around in with the kids.

This pic might be an estate and mine is a hatchback, but you get the picture.

We spent the day today at Hillarys Boat Harbour, a lovely mix of shops, restaurants, play areas and, well, boats. The harbour is only about 4km from where our new home will be. It was pretty busy there today, but we still had great time.

I think the kids are officially over their jetlag - they've all slept through the night 2 times in a row now. At last we'll all start to feel human again!

The hunt is on next week for a school for the 2 big kids. Primary schools are very complicated over here - a mis of government, and private, and local intake and non-local intake.....it's a mine field.

The two nearest schools to our home haven't got any space this year in Kindy or Preprimary, so I'm having to look at non-local intake schools a few km away. I really wanted to be in a position to walk them to school but looks like this won't be an option.

Anyway, wish me luck on the big school hunt, this week could be quite taxing!