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.

Kayak adventures

Life can't be bad when your Saturday afternoons are spent Kayaking with dolphins...!

Emotions

Hello again from Becky, chief blog writer and communicator extraordinaire! I've mentioned the blog to Dan again but he doesn't seem to jump at the chance to write on it so I will just continue to get on with it myself!

So... Dan's folks left us today after three fabulous weeks here. Well, let's forget about the torrential rain in week one and the coughs & colds we all had in week two! But all in all it has been lovely to have them to stay. (and believe it or not, I'm not just saying that because I know they read this - it has genuinely been really nice!)

Though our house is relatively small, we've managed quite nicely with four adults living here. It helped that Dan and I were out at work during the days which gave all of us some space, and the hot weather for the last week and a half has meant not much time indoors!

This morning we took them to the airport and said our goodbyes. It was a teary farewell but we kept it reasonably brisk and didn't prolong the agony!

I cried most of the way home and we had one of those conversations reflecting on the choices we have made at this particular point in our lives.

It was sad to say goodbye because it made me want to be able to know that we'd see them (and the rest of our families) again in a couple of weeks for Sunday dinner, or to have a mid-week evening catch up like we did when we lived in London! But at the same time, I cried out of happiness for the realisation that I lived in a country where the sun was shining, the sky was blue and it was 30c at 11.30am! And all in November!

For probably the first time since I arrived here today I got an intense feeling of being at home in Adelaide. Don't panic (Mum), it doesn't mean I'll stay here 'forever', but right now I feel like I am fulfilling my ambition to live in a different country. It's a great feeling!

So whilst it was an emotional morning saying goodbye, it has also given me a bit of a boost and a really great launch into summer. Work/Life balance seems to have restored itself over the last few weeks and I am determined to keep it that way!

Maybe one of these days you'll hear Dan's perspective on it all... I'll keep working on it! For now he's lounging in the warmth, drinking a smoothie, watching the cricket on tv so I wouldn't hold your breath!

PS - the house feels weird without you N&T! And who's going to iron Dan's shirts?





Last night in Semaphore

Coughs & Koalas

It has been a while since I last wrote on here (it is still Dans turn, but as usual I have jumped in to write something) and we have been having a busy time.

Dans folks arrived a couple of weeks ago and it has been lovely to have visitors to stay. Within minutes of them arriving at the airport it felt as if there hadn't been a five month gap since we'd seen them!

The first week they were here Dan and I were both at work but last week we took the week off work. We headed to Kangaroo Island for three nights and loved the place - I even finally managed to get to see a few koalas in the wild! (after 17 months total spent in Australia) My highlight was getting to see a Seal Colony on the beach and being able to get quite close to them.

The biggest annoyance however is that I am actually typing this from my sick bed. Dans folks picked up a bug on their way here and unfortunately we have spent the last week or so all coughing and spluttering. I must confess that I feel pretty yukky and have booked myself into the docs later. It's such a shame for them to feel yukky when they're on their hols but we are all battling on.

Lots of photos added. Check them out!

Dan's folks come to stay!