The Adventure of Ben & Charlotte

Good morning to the world, family & friends.

Today is the start of 'The journey of life adventure tour'. Where will we go? who will return? what will be cooked on the campfire? what colour underpants will Clem be wearing at the begining and will they be the same ones at the end? All will become clearer as the 4 adventuers start.

Introducing the team:

Campervan 1
Name: Charlotte
Occupants: Clem Blue Ray (played by Ian), Marj Targ (played by Margaret)

Campervan 2
Name: Ben
Occupants: Beckochinno (played by Becks), Fan Dango (played by Dan).

Day 1 ... the begining

Clem, Marj, Beckochinno and Fan are geeing each other up for the adventure ahead. Marj has just dropped all her belongings down the stairs and Beckochinno has enough batteries packed to power all the Japenesse cameras in the world. Clem is washing up and Fan is tap tap taping away on the keyboard. Shortly they will depart in Charleene, the queen of Semaphore, to pick up Charlotte and Ben where the journey will start. More soon.

News just in, Clem has confirmed underpants are blue with white stripes.

Talkathon

Just a quick post to say that Mum and Dad arrived on Wednesday and it has been brilliant to catch up with them, and enjoy that holiday feeling they bring!

They landed in 37c heat, and the following day battled with their jet lag at 41c! Luckily it has cooled down since and they are enjoying some lovely weather (though they got spoilt with the hot hot weather and now think it is cold at 27c!)

It so far seems to have been talking, drinking, eating and more talking.

Lovely to have them here. Will write more soon! Check out the photos for now by clicking on the link below!

January 2008

I make a good housewife

So far this temporary blip of unemployment has been very busy! I feel like I've cleaned the house from top to bottom, washed everything that can be washed, and have a new ambition to keep the ironing pile at zero! It's not easy!

I have an ongoing joke with Dan that I am auditioning to be a housewife and that he really needs to consider getting a job that pays the equivalent of both our salaries so that I can become a full time housewife! He's not buying it... I've even tried to impress him with ironing his stuff - he wasn't impressed at having crease free rugby shirts, but I think he'll look smart... haha.

Mum and Dad are now in Singapore and it is a strange feeling knowing they are just a hop, skip and a jump away (well, a 6 hour flight). I'm so excited that they are coming to visit - it makes things suddenly dawn on me when I realise just how far they are having to travel to see their baby! I just keep telling myself not to feel bad and that actually I'm doing them a favour whisking them away from mid UK winter to 38c heat, blue skies and sunshine! They need some sunshine and it is my role to give it to them!

Enough for now. The ironing pile has grown 10cm just whilst I've been typing.

(Gosh, isn't life glamourous these days?)

I'm hot - and I'm not exaggerating!

Feelin' hot hot hot

Hello everyone, and happy new year!

We have had a lovely quiet Christmas and New Year with a good chunk of time off together to spend just relaxing in the garden and on the beach. Of course, if you know us you'll know that we don't relax easily so at times it was challenging but all in all it was great.

The weather has really heated up over Christmas and we've had quite a few days in the high thirties, low forties. The heat here is generally bearable as it is very dry with low humidity but over the last few days it has been challenging! We don't have air conditioning in our house (it is usually a very cool house) but over the last few days it really heated up so on a few mornings I was almost delirious, just craving a light cool breeze! I kept telling myself that one of the reasons we've moved here is for warmth, but I have to admit cursing it on a couple of occasions! Anyway, enough winging, today it has 'got back to normal' and we had breakfast outside in the cool garden. Ahhhh.

Last night we went to see Miss Saigon at the Festival Centre, which has always been my favourite musical. We really enjoyed it and for anyone interested I can provide a full post-performance critique! Dan said it didn't really 'float his boat' but nevertheless seemed to enjoy it!

So now it's back to work. For me, just for two days as I have only today and tomorrow in my current job before I leave. It's a bit weird going back to work for just two days but financially (for holiday pay etc) it is the much better option. It will be a relief to leave though as it has all felt a little awkward since handing in my notice.

Really looking forward to my Mum and Dad arriving a week today! It will be lovely to see them and get them caught up in this whirl that we're currently living in. I know it will be like we've never been apart and am getting ready for a couple of weeks of solid gossip and chat with Mum!

7.30am, Christmas Eve - Central Market, Adelaide

Saturday afternoon achievement

Hello, its Dan, yes me. I don't normally write on this blog, but I am now. Becks is cleaning and being domestic whilst I am sitting on my skinny backside being creative. The picture below is of our new home in its full colours, all very exciting. Have a good Xmas.

Dan

Wow, what a year... we're shattered!

So, we're nearing the end of 2007 and what a year it has been!

I must say that both Dan and I are really looking forward to some time off together over the Christmas period. We are both absolutely shattered and I can only presume it is 2007 catching up with us!

Dan finishes work for the holidays today and has his whole organisation Christmas lunch at the National Wine Centre. His team lunch was a D'Arenburg winery in the McLaren Vale - I'm sensing a theme here... Dan has had a busy 6 months in his new job and has faced several frustrations but seems to be settling in and doing his thing.

A slightly different story for me. I have resigned from my job in local government. After just 6 months in the role, I have decided it isn't for me. I've faced many frustrations (which I won't bore you with) and for my own professional development (and personal sanity) I think that it wasn't really going anywhere. I could sit tight and go along with it but I just wouldn't get the satisfaction I like to get out of work. Watch out state government, here I come! I start a new job at the end of January so let's see how that one goes!

So it's been a bit of a 'funny' time recently. It's a bit strange that Christmas is next week because we haven't really got around to thinking about it yet! We've decided not to have a tree this year (bah-humbug!) as it just seems more hassle than it's worth! Honestly, we are that shattered! Christmas day itself is going to be very laid back - just us, the beach, and a bottle of champers!

The land purchase is still going through. We visit it every couple of weeks and things constantly change. It's so exciting to watch a patch of mud turn into a cul-de-sac with a road, kerbs, and drive way entrances! This week we've signed a contract to build a house (very very exciting) so once we officially have the land and planning permission from the local Council it will be all go. We aim to be in the new house by Christmas next year so fingers crossed. Then we will definitely have a big tree and a party at ours!

This morning it started to rain and it hasn't stopped all day. I guess when all the rain for the last three months (minus a few short showers) comes down in one day it's gonna be a heavy downpour! Funny that the drains don't seem to work properly so everywhere floods and there are streams down the street!

After work (yes, I'm typing from work) myself and three other English girls from work are off to Glenelg where there is a live link up with GMTV! We hope the sun will be shining by then so we at least look like we're basking in the Australian sun! Very strange to think of everyone in England watching on a cold December morning!

Anyway, thanks for reading this year. I will keep this blog going in 2008 as I know quite a few of you still dip into it to catch up on our news. Have a great Christmas and a brilliant 2008!

Becks x

Saturday night basketball

Tonight we went to see the Adelaide 36ers - the basketball team. Great fun.

1st day of summer...

Scene: Marion Shopping Centre
Date: Saturday 1 December 2007
Time: 1.00pm ish

Girl behind counter in shop: How's your day going so far?
Dan & Becks: Yeah, so good so far. We're just starting on our Christmas shopping.
Girl behind counter in shop: Yeah, first day of summer - everyone's at it.

Surreal.