Maddie's first day at C and K

C and K being Creche and Kindergarten. She is starting to attend three days a week (hoorah) although only from 9 til 2.30.

Her little friend Angus is also going to the same C and K.

And Imogen (and her little friend Ioan) wish they were going too!

The "local"

I have found in Australia the equivalent of the local pub.. it has only taken me a year to do so as it is a well kept secret. It is however the local Bowls Club! Have been going for last few Wednesday evenings with members of Rachel's extended family. All v.good and just like the local pub back in England. People remember your name and there are loads of hammered retirees.

this is where we this evening

http://www.geocities.com/westtoowongbowls/

It was however bleeding hot and am now in shorts and t-shirt pouring with sweat.

Had a look at Rachel's step Dad's new car. Range Rover Sport. Very nice but will see how many times I have to pull him out of the sand at Fraser Island this weekend!!

Australia Day update

Can finally post from where I am now working so will endeavour to update this more regularly.

Last weekend was Australia Day weekend. Friday was actually Australia Day. Went to BBQ at Ken and Susan' s place. All good, a little hot (32c but felt hotter next to a barbie with not much breeze) and I find I am constantly having to watch Imogen like a hawk as she is at the age where she finds it amusing to do exactly what she should - be that pinching other children, climbing anything she can, throwing things etc etc...

Left there at 4pm ish and went to Mat's (Mat Hardy) girlfriends (Alice) sister's (Fiona) house for dinner. Again all good. Mat is over with Alice, who he met in London, for a month. We are trying to convince them to move here but not sure this is working!

Saturday was 34c, hottest day so far this year. So spent a lot of the day in the pool. We also had 2 little boys to look after - Angus and Ioan - whose parents (Michelle and Paul) were out for their anniversary. The boys stayed overnight, and it was a good demonstration of how hard it would be to have 4 children!!

Then Sunday I went shopping for our trip to Fraser next weekend with Mat and Alice. http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/projects/park/index.cgi?parkid=1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Island
and bought tarpaulin, tent poles etc - the idea being we can drive miles down the beach and set up a shaded area with the tarp, poles and car... have never done this before but it is what everyone else does so will give it a crack... Will let you know how it goes!!

Will et some more photos up soon but have to do that from home - and we fogot to take the camera out with us on Australia day. We will have Mat with us on Fraser so rest assured there will be thousands of photos...

31 degrees at 7am..

Just thought I'd share with you that it was 31 degrees in my kitchen this morning at 7am... which is hot...

Christmas 2006

Rach and a bit of beach cricket.. Aussies winning again !


Ice creams on the beach on christmas day.. not that you can see me but I had Rum and Raisin flavour which, not unsurprisingly, tastes just like christmas pudding !

The turkey - if this picce comes up sideways its not my fault!!

Cooking...

Imogen helps with making pudding for our Xmas dinner for expats...

Straddie....

One of Straddies deserted beaches a few weeks before Christmas...

Better late than never...

A few piccies from the last couple of months... Girls smiling for the camera and one from Charlotte and Steve's wedding... late on in the evening, an hour or so before Rach falls over, literally !!