Day 2

Today saw us on the road around 8am with plans to go to Adelaide Zoo. We located the zoo and then had the problem of finding somewhere to park the 4wd and caravan, a constant problem when in the bigger cities.
By 10.30 we located a spot not to far from the entrance we began walking. Then the rain started. The the soaking downpour came. We made a run for it but we all got soaked through. We all decided we didn't want to see the zoo in the rain, wearing wet clothes, we could go to Perth Zoo instead lol. So it was back to the car and back in the road and on to Port Augusta.

I will say at this point that I am really proud of how the kids are handling this trip. When I say "we decided" I literally mean we all discussed something and made a group decision. We want the kids to feel part of this trip and that they have a say in what we do.

We made a couple of stops on the way and arrived at Port Augusta around 5pm. We had shopped for food in Port Pirie and sat down to a nice salad dinner.. We are trying to avoid takeaway meals and it really hasn't been too hard to do. Port Augusta is a lovely place and while we would have liked to spend some more time there we again all decided to gain some extra k's and travelled a further two hours through to Kimba.

Kimba is known as the "half way across Australia point".

Day 1

We arrived in Melbourne late last night and although originally planned to drive to Ballarat we decided it was best for everyone to get a goodnights sleep and start fresh today.

We drove through to Ballarat and spent a few hours at Sovereign Hill. We all enjoyed panning for gold and walking through the old mining town.

After some lunch it was back in the car for the four hour drive through to Bordertown in South Australia. However, once we got to Bordertown and had some dinner there was a unanimous vote to keep driving and maybe make it to Adelaide.
We came close but instead called it a night, stopping at Tailem Bend just after sunset.. about an hour from Adelaide.

We travelled a total of 630kms in all and trimmed off a days traveling in the process!

Moving day

It been a hectic and stressful few weeks but the day finally arrived. The house was filled with boxes.. Lots of boxes and I was a little concerned it wouldn't all fit in the shipping container .. But it did!! Tomorrow our journey across Australia to our new life begins.
The hardest part of all this has been all the goodbyes to wonderful friends that have been a part of our lives for both long and short stretches of time. I take comfort that technology will help to bridge the gap of distance.

2 weeks

2 weeks to go and the sold sign is up and the boxes are accumulating.

Yesterday was my last day at work with lots of goodbyes. Many of those that I work with are not just work colleagues but people I have formed close friendships with as well. It's at this point that the reality of WHO you are leaving hits.

I'm so glad that technology makes it so much easier to stay in touch over distance.. I'm going to need that!

4 weeks

Well, just under four weeks until we leave. Packing is underway.. Along with lots of cleaning and sorting and throwing! It's somewhat cleansing to rid ourselves of twelve years of accumulated junk but it's also been sweet going through old memories. We have an offer on our house but it's one if those "too perfect" moments do I am holding my breath until the sold sticker is in place!

Let the moving begin...

So after much discussion and a very busy few months we are finally on the market. Now the fun of keeping the house clean and tidy begins (not an easy task with seven people). We are hoping its not a long process but the market isn't great at the moment so we are prepared for a wait.



As for when and where to move.. well we have decided to move to where Brendon works, the small wheatbelt town of Westonia in WA, around 3 hours inland from Perth.

When we first considered this option we didn't think the kids would agree to it and because they are as much a part of the moving decision as us, we were prepared to accept that decision and stick with the original plan of moving to Donnybrook. However, much to our surprise they are all for the move... go figure! I think they miss their dad when he is gone and the idea of seeing him everyday again was what won them over.

Its going to be a huge lifestyle change for them.. no Macca's round the corner, no quick trips to Target or Kmart (the nearest is 3 hours away). Emma and Ethan will be going from a school with around 230 pupils to one that has 15 and the two older boys will travel 30mins to the highschool. Personally, I am looking forward to leaving the city and a much quieter life. I plan to take up my study full time and finish my degree. I'm also looking forward to not working for a while and being a full time mum again and pursuing a couple of hobbies that have been sadly neglected for the past couple of years!

It is going to be an adventure! (thats what we keep telling the kids at least...!)

Making decisions..

In deciding to move I knew one thing.. I did not want to move to a city. We wanted somewhere quieter and possibly somewhere we could have some acerage or at least a large block of land. I detest those houing estates with tiny blocks and big houses all crammed in together. They make me feel claustrophobic. So we settled on a little town called Donnybrook, about 30 minutes from Bunbury. It seemed like a perfect choice, rural, larger affordable blocks of land but still close to the coast and beaches. We spent a couple of days there checking out the town and the schools and decided it would suit up perfectly. quiet but close to a city and beaches.

So in September during our school holidays, I flew to Western Australia spent 6 days with Brendon checking out a prospective town to relocate to.



It was so nice to get some one on one time with hubby. It was the first time we had been away together longer than one night since we got married 18 years ago. The first night their we stayed at Scarborough right on the beach, took a lovely early morning walk and then enjoyed a QUIET breakfast together...ahh bliss!




We took a drive further down the coast to Bussleton and took a walk along the VERY long jetty there.



Then it was on to Margaret River which was gorgeous and reminded me so much of some of the beaches at home.



The last two days we drove back to Perth and caught up with some old friends and while it was nice, I only need to be in the city a few days, stuck in end traffic to remind me how much of a city girl I am not!

I left Perth feeling good about our choice and looking forward to getting a plan in action for the big move.

Change is in the air...

So it has been a while since I updated the blog. I've been busy, haven't touched my camera for most of the year and hence neglected the blog. But..there have been some big decisions and changes made in the past few months and as it turns out I have a million (ok, exaggerating) but a lot of pics on my iphone that need posting.... so I am going to start updating the blog, in order of events that have occured in the past few months (don't cheer too loudly Kris!).

2011 started out with the usual juggle of me working and studying at uni. Then in May, hubby decided it was time for a job change and after much decision making, took up a position at a mine in Western Australia, which just happens to be across a small ocean and on the other side of the country!

And so began his weekly flights back and forth, 8 days away and 6 days home, but we managed (kind of). Then, because our life apparently isn't exciting enough (lol) we have we to move the family to Western Australia too. We've lived in Tasmania for 12 years now and while we do love it, it has become obvious that we need a change and a new direction.

The downside to moving is that my dad is here, and my brother and his new family will still be here and I wont get to see my sweet little neice grow. Our eldest son will also be staying to complete his Electricians apprenticeship. Those aspects will be hard to leave but I am excited about what lies ahead of us.

Beautiful sunset

Merry Christmas

Proud mummy post

Emma receiving an award at our final assembly.. Well done Emma on your hard work and commitment to learning!




I wish I had been able to get a better pic.. but unfortunately I was working in another part of the school at the time and was only able to dash in and grab a quick snap on the mobile from the back of the hall. A HUGE thank you to one of my work collegues who watched my little charge so I could see her get her award.

Moving on

Zack is off to college next year. This week is his last week at highschool. Here he is, looking all handsome and grown up, ready fir his leavers dinner. Good luck next year Zack!

Happy Birthday to me....

Another year older...

Woohoo!

Uni is finished for the year and results are in and I am very happy! I finished the year with three distinctions and two credits. I have now officially completed the first year of my teaching degree. It took 18 months to do so and I still have quite a way to go but, I did it!! Only a few more weeks of work and then a much needed break till February.

Time to relax and enjoy life again, meet my family and enjoy some time with my hubby.

Almost there..

When I am not working, this is where I spend all my time studying.. literally.. my family haven't seen me in months :p



I am so thankful for my extremely supportive husband who holds it all together during semesters, without him I could not possibly follow this dream.





Only a couple more week and semester 2 will be done and I can put my uni studies away till February next year!! After 18 months of study I am really looking forward to a long summer break.. bring it on!!

Dreaming of summer... sighhhh

(and thankful for great iphone apps that scratch my photography itch!)

Winter

I have had the winter blues, snowed down with work and study and cold dreary days its hard to find the beauty in this season, but if you look hard enough.. it is there.

10km

Anyone who runs a 10km road race in the pouring rain must be a little bit crazy.. right??

My hubby did just that today.. well done hun!

Happy 6th Birthday!

Emma celebrated her 6th birthday today. It is hard to fathom sometimes just how quickly my baby is growing up. You're a beautiful little girl xxx






and I just have to add this one... not wanting to share the limelight on her birthday at all..lol

A day out