Life is busy

Life is very busy.   However we are enjoying every minute of it.    

All our bits and pieces were sorted out and put away, three weeks ago.   Now we are not always sure where some items are, but I guess they will turn up one day.   Best not to think about it too much, but it can be frustrating at times.   Not even sure if it is the 'senior moments' problem or the 'frantic pace of life' problem.

We were all excited to see Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel arrive on the first of September.    They were a very tired group, after a long flight, a few days in Kuala Lumpur and saying goodbye to family and friends in Britain and in the Netherlands.    

They have settled in brilliantly, and have gone through the same process as us, in registering for Medicare and getting their taxation numbers and South Australian driver's licences.   As well as all the other bureaucratic details that one needs to attend to when changing countries and becoming residents.    It is not for the faint hearted, I can assure you.

But they are getting there, and now are looking at a school for Jackson and Isabel, and getting personal statements ready in order to apply for jobs.    They both have excellent references and a range of expertise and skills, so should be fine.

We had the family here for the day, in order to catch up with Emma, Steve, Jackson and Isabel, and we caught up on all the news.   Luckily the weather was kind, with bright sunshine and warm weather.

It was even warm enough for some people to try out the swimming pool.   A hardy lot, I think.

We took the English crew to Aldinga Scrub to view the kangaroos who put on quite a show for us, not that we walked close to them.

Emma and Steve have joined Donna in running, and climbing to the top of Mt Lofty.   A very fit trio.   In the photograph below they were limbering up before going out for a run. 

As soon as the water volley ball nets are available in the shops we will buy one, as there are very keen players here.   Not a lot of room, admittedly but enough for four aside teams.  I think I will try light aqua aerobics, and a few laps, when the weather and pool become a bit warmer.   I took my jumper off for the first time this afternoon, it has not been a warm spring.

More fun in the pool, on a not so warm day.   Emma managed to take the plunge, but came straight out I think.   Steve has been braver.

And now to introduce our new family member, namely Piper.   And for those people who think we may have two dogs or changed one dog for another, we have only one dog.    Piper came to us as Atlanta, very apt for people who live on Dolphin Boulevard and have a mermaid fountain, not working at present, at the front.

But the name 'Atlanta' did not seem right, and indeed that was not her original name, as I discovered when i registered her at the council offices.   She was previously registered as Piper, and someone, no doubt the previous owner, had changed her name.   Interestingly she answered to Piper, and by popular family agreement she became Piper again. 

So we have Piper, a cocker spaniel/heeler (Australian cattle dog) cross, who is eight months old.

We got her from the RSPCA centre, in Lonsdale, where she had been spayed, so she came with a massive wound and had to be kept quiet and calm, which was nearly impossible as she is a pup still.  After the stitches came out, we let her play with Poppy and run on the beach, which was a bit silly, as fluid collected under skin, in her abdomen. due to her being too active    Consequently she has had numerous visits to the vet, to have the wound drained, and to be given antibiotics.   She now has to be confined to quarters again, which is very boring for her.   Luckily we have not had to pay for any vet services as it was seen as a follow up.

Piper tired after her playtime, in the photograph below.   I would like to add that I have allowed her to sleep on our new couch, sleep in our bedroom and use the grass by the pool as a toilet.    The family keep reminding me of my previous setting of rules, which Poppy had to follow for a few weeks, prior to Piper's arrival.   I also should add that none of our previous dogs have slept in our bedroom.   Oh well, rules are meant to be broken!

A photograph of this beautiful bush, which I noticed a neighbour's front garden.   A type of protea, I think.

A close up of the flowers.   Magnificent.

And finally I must mention the numerous types of doggy treats available here, in the pet shops.   Quite an education for us.   There are the usual pigs, sheep and cattle ears, but also dried bones from all of these animals. 

And the most delicious of all treats, the dried cattle penises, large and small.   Yes for those who do not live in Australia, you have read correctly, we have dried cattle penises here.    Piper loves them. 

Furniture arrival, at long last

Events have moved on, and now we have Emma and Steve here, which is absolutely fantastic, and we are all loving every minute of it.   But I am so behind on my blogs.   

I need to back track to nearly two weeks ago, a day of great excitement as our furniture finally arrived at our house.

For a week we thought that we would not get our furniture before Emma and Steve arrived, as the ship was a week late arriving at Port Adelaide, and then no one seemed to be in any hurry getting the container off the ship.   

In the end the contents of our container went through bio security very quickly, we paid $460 for the inspection, and then it was signed off. 

   

The inspection included spraying the goods, which made everything smell a bit when the boxes were opened.    Some of the boxes had been opened by the bio security people, and the contents looked at.   Interestingly a few items slipped through, much to our horror.    There was chocolate powder in the shaker we used when making cappuccinos.    There were also cobwebs in the wheels of the heater and dust on the edges of one of the cupboards.  It goes to show that no matter how meticulous one is, it is difficult to get things perfect.  Everything has now been cleaned thoroughly, and the chocolate powder cleaned out of the shaker.

The day was bright and sunny thank goodness,  and the truck arrived promptly at 7.30.   The unpacking progressed as fast as the packing up in Britain.    These guys were amazing. Impressive.

Familiar boxes, but mysterious all the same.   After two months I had forgotten what we owned, or indeed what rubbish existed in the boxes.  Objects that were crucial to our existence or too precious to give to a charity shop in Britain, were probably totally irrelevant to a life in South Australia.

Sunshine and empty boxes.

The boxes for the kitchen just came flooding into the room.   More and more of them.   The men from the removal company commented on the number, the most they had ever seen apparently.

Billie-Joe bravely helped with the unpacking. 

Where will I put everything? Amazingly I managed to find a place for all items, although I will admit I sent some cups and glasses to Darren's house, and quite a few items when to the charity shop.

Scott also helped with the unpacking, and finding places for DVDs and books.    Darren, Lucy and her friend, plus Walter, also unpacked books.    There was much arranging and rearranging of books, depending on people's categorisation systems.   It now looks super organised, but it will be interesting to see if I will be able to find anything.

After five long days we managed to get everything unpacked and away.    No pictures on the walls yet, that will have to come later on.

The lounge room, looking very cosy.   All ready for cosy nights of television watching.    Only drinks of water allowed in this room, except for wine of course.  Everyone is waiting for me to spill my glass of wine.   And then the ban on food will be relaxed.

The study, with its different cupboard styles, and currently also Isabel's bedroom.

Our black couch and blue spotted chair grace the edge of the dining area.

The kitchen looking spotless and free of the clutter of the few days beforehand.   I forgot to add that the electricians came in last Friday and replaced all our halogen lights with efficient LED lights, 34 in total.   They also changed the dimmers accordingly, and the house is so much brighter.   I love the dimmers.

The table we bought from a charity shop, and which lived in our conservatory in Britain now sits in the outside area.   We covered it with a plastic table cloth, and it looks a perfect patio table.   

Our pull out bed, all ready for Emma and Steve.

The new twin beds, in the room with the perfect view of the pool area.   Emma and Steve now use this room.   The chest of drawers went into the study, for Isabel to use, and the twin beds were pushed together.   Very practical.    We have made the pull out bed back into a single bed, and Jackson uses this room, with plenty of room to set up a small screen, play station and laptop.  Some creative thought by Emma and Steve.

Our bedroom, all very cosy and practical.    Almost looks like our old bedroom in Joydens Wood.

And yes we had quite a pile of clothes and other objects that went to the local charity shop, and a huge pile of defunct electronic cords and bits of pieces went into the recycling bin.   Even our electrical plugs have been changed from the UK to Australia, thanks to Darren together with Patrick on Saturday.

The only missing items were the screws and bolts from the Ikea bed and chairs, plus the outside of a small rubbish bin.   We went to Ikea and they gave us new screws and bolts, for nothing.   Of course we then spent $200 in the shop.   That store is such a trap.

And more exciting news, but more about this later.    We have a new family member, a furry friend called Atlanta (not named by us) who we call Lanta.

And I will finish with a photo of her, as a small introduction.