If a successful Christmas can be measured by exhaustion, ours must be an all-time whopper!! We’ve had a lovely Christmas and New Year, but we’ve been so busy with friends and activities that we’re knackered! And with less than a week before we’re off on our hols and so much to do in between times, we’re only set to get even more tired! Never mind – sleep is for the weak (or should that be the WEEK commencing July 09!)
Christmas Eve we were out on the boat. It came out of the water at the end of December for a service and to have the anti-foul topped up, so we took it for a spin round the estuary to make sure everything was in full working order. It was like having a new boat back. Unfortunately, over the year, barnacles grow on the propeller and slow the boat right down, so after the service and the clean, it was really fast again.
Also, unfortunately, Sam and Paul popped down to the boat yard to collect the boat and drive it back to the pen. Whilst they were cleaning it though, Paul leant forward and his blackberry slid out of his pocket into the marina! D’OH! I did ask if they’d even bothered to retrieve it, but as Paul pointed out, in the salt water, it didn’t stand a hope in hell :o( Luckily though, after a pleading telephone call to our provider, they realised that Paul was probably single-handedly keeping them in profit and they agreed to replace his handset free of charge! Yippee!! The only down side? It’s a newer version than mine and he keeps rubbing my face in the face that he has video clips and ringtones by Stuart Copeland :o( I’ll get my own back (somehow :o)
I had complained that I wasn’t feeling very Christmassy, so Paul had decided to cook a complete Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve – bless. So we had crackers and turkey and went to bed with a Christmassy smile on our faces.
Christmas Day was to be spent with friends (yes – friends. We now have some :o) We went down to the beach for 11am and two families had taken their portable BBQs and cooked up bacon and sausage rolls.
We were only supposed to stay for an hour, but the bubbly was flowing and the bacon was being scoffed and I think we were some of the last ones on the beach at 2pm! We went back home for an hour and then de-camped round the Kim and Tony’s for Christmas lunch. We’d clubbed in with Mick and Sue as well, and we had a laugh and a few drinks and then in the evening, the rest of the gang from the beach came over and we laughed and drank some more into the night. It was the most sociable Christmas we’ve had in a very long time.
Boxing Day we relaxed at home and the kids enjoyed playing with their presents and having fun in the pool.
Sam got a swimming mask for Christmas that takes photos and video under water, so they tried that out. I think it’s pretty cool!
Paul and I bought Adam a ‘Cars’ ride on toy which he really loved. Santa bought him a remote control Thomas that blows real steam – I think that was the absolute hit for him this year!
We bought a Playstation 3 – for all the family. Darcie and Adam love the Singstar, Sam loves guitar hero and Paul and I are enjoying the Bluray player – an all round winner!
Darcie got a pink iPod and pink dock which she really likes. Sam was a little annoyed when he realised Darcie’s has a bigger memory than his (good job it’s pink, or he’ll have ‘borrowed’ it for himself, I think!). Sam had a few PS3 games and iTunes vouchers – not hundreds of toys this year, but alls three of them were happy with their haul, so Santa and I did well.
The day after Boxing Day we went down to Mandurah with friends to eat up the leftovers and let the kids have a play in the water. Unfortunately a 51 year old man was taken by a shark in Port Kennedy (about a ten minute drive from our house) that morning, so people weren’t as eagre as usual to jump into the water. There have been lots of shark sightings up and down the coast this last week: White Pointers and Hammerheads. Beautiful creatures, but this man who was killed was only snorkelling 6 metres from the shore! It brings it home that we really are in their territory when it comes to the ocean. However, the area where the kids were playing is segregated with shark nets, so they were quite safe. Although Sam was being a pain in the car on the way down and I did offer to take him swimming in PK!
The next evening we had a BBQ to go to, so we were off on a social whirlwind again – lucky us. The hangover was now turning into one continuous one by now though :o(
Then we had New Year at our place. It was lots of fun – Mark did first-footing in his kilt and Paul cooked haggis (for the authentic touch!)
and then just after midnight, everyone jumped into the pool fully clothed!
It was a really good night – so much so that I didn’t even surface until 1pm the following day. I did emerge from my bed at 8am – felt very sorry for myself, took two paracetamol and then fell back into a coma). It’s been VERY hot the last week. New Years eve topped 39 degrees, so the pool was a welcome relief and it was too hot to bother removing clothes :o)
Thanks for all your emails. I will write back, but we’ve got another busy few weeks coming up. We’re off on our holiday next Thursday – travelling up North to Monkey Mia to spend a few days with the dolphins, so there’s lots to be done work-wise prior to going, that’s before packing and any of that stuff. Then we’re back on the Wednesday and Margaret arrives on the Saturday. We’re all really looking forward to Margaret coming :o) Paul’s taking Margaret over to Sydney for a few days whilst she’s here this time, so it’ll be even more special for her.
I’ve also got the take the kids to get their new uniforms, pick up their stationery for the new school year and then go back to the school the week before it starts to find out what classes they will all be in. I think Adam’s teachers mentioned that he would be invited for an ‘afternoon tea’ as well prior to starting, so that he can meet everyone. I don’t know how I’m going to fit it all into one month!
So, I wonder what 2009 will bring us all? Hopefully, permanent residency! We already have had some correspondence from our case officer requesting more information (at least it’s not a flat – NO! - so that’s got to be good news!) Once we have our PR, I think we can then apply for citizenship which will allow us to vote and have an Aussie passport (again, this involves more form filling, parting with more cash and waiting for a decision from the Australian government). I think we’re keeping the Prime Minister in suits ever since we decided to come and live in Australia. Everything costs a dollar.
Happy New Year everyone. I hope it brings you everything you wish for,
Ju, Paul, Sam, Darcie and Adam xXx
