We're here!!!

This could be a long one.....you better get a brew!..........Arrived safe and sound on Monday teatime (Perth time). The flight was great, hundreds of films to choose from, telly programmes to watch and games to play. Debbie met us at the airport and it was great to see her, quite emotional. By the time we got through customs and collected the hire car it was going dark on the journey back to the house so we didn't see much. Jake and Luke are now speaking in Aussie accents like they've lived here years! So cute!! Debbie and Gareth's house is great and they have made us really welcome.

Yesterday we spent the day unpacking then had a walk round to get our bearings. It was really cold but we are just coming out of winter here. The Aussies are all wrapped up in thick anoraks but us hardened Poms were just in a jumper! Went to view a rental house last night. They have this strange system here where they open up the proprty for half an hour and about 6 families turn up to view it at the same time. Whoever is interested then applies to be tenants and the Agents just pick one! Pot luck really. The house was big and we quite liked it but we have a couple more to view over the weekend so we will wait a while before we start applying.

Simon went to check out the local gym at the leisure centre and couldn't believe the facilities on offer. As well as the gym there are several huge swimming pools including one for the kids with all the water slides and one for the serious swimmers where you get a lane all to yourself to swim up and down. There is also an olymic sized outdoor pool that has barbecuing facilities around it so the family can spend the day there and cook lunch on the barbie in between dips in the pool!

Met the headmaster at Maya and Nathan's new school today. What a lovely lovely bloke! In fact all the staff that we met made a real fuss of the kids and were so informal and friendly. The kids will start school on Monday. It sounds fabulous..........and they will be learning Indonesian (beats German!!). The deputy head is going to have Maya assessed to see if she can represent the school in their interschools athletics tournaments next term!! Nathan will be going on an intensive 2 week swimming course with the school in the new year as well. The schools here are big on water skills!

It was a bit warmer today - T-Shirts and sunglasses (not bad for the back end of winter). Went into Perth city on the train to activate our bank accounts. The train stations here are so clean and tidy.....in fact the whole place seems so clean and new. The streets round here are great. Each house is detached, most are 4 bed, 2 bath bungalows with huge front gardens and back gardens.

Need to go into Rockingham tomorrow to buy a car, because we only have the hire car until Tuesday. Also need to buy new mobile phones and the kids school uniforms etc. Then we need to crack on and start looking for a job. I've possibly got an opportunity with the bank, I need to chat with the area manager next week. Simon is applying for various different jobs. Keep your fingers crossed for us........want to apply for a mortgage asap!!

I'll be back soon to keep you posted. Don't forget to leave me a message! Missing you all. xx