nothing says happy fathers day like a Jet Propelled Thomas train!
Ella is wearing face paint or what is left of it from her visit to the fairy's this morning. We met the new rainbow fairy today so decided to have our face painted like a rainbow.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
First few weeks
were a blur... the trip over was ok, a bit of a mission, but all achieved in one day and with no excess luggage or lost luggage drama. Ella was at times a bit ratty but only as you would expect from a 3 1/2 year old with no sleep.
Arriving to Adelaide, and then attempting to fit ourselves and the 100+kg of gear (and that was only the checked in stuff) into one car, when it had taken two cars to drop us off at the start of the day in Napier was one of those situations where the Taxi driver looked at us sideways and must have been thinking there is no way, what are these people thinking! but at that point of the trip there just wasn't going to be any other way, we were all going to fit, and that we did, we just had to unpack Ella's car seat for her to sit in, and the rest of the gear went into the back of the stationwagon, (including the buggy) and we all squashed in, and nursed both Lucy and the remainder of the bags on our knees in the back seat...
Ella was funny as she had been told that we were going to Australia, and so from the day after we arrived, each time we went out for a walk and then came back to the motel Ella would say "look, there is Australia!" (pointing to the motel as we walked up...) It took a few days to get her head around the fact that Australia was the place, Adelaide was the city and greenways was the motel... think she has that one sorted now...
Other than getting around and trying to select a rental house, we were pretty busy in the first few weeks catching up with a few friends. Having Jenny come along was really very helpful, as not only did it mean we had another 20kg luggage allowance, but Ang and I could go off and look at houses or go to town to stand in que's and get drivers licences, Medicare cards, etc etc, while Jenny and Ella spent whole days at the park or swimming pool, or just chilling out.
Along with catching up with friends who had moved here at the start of the year, (Walter, Shelley, Maddie & Zac + Sarah, Drew & Hannah.) we got invited up to see Stephen and Angela in the Adelaide hills, where they grow/bottle wine. lovely spot about 40min out of the city, with a resident owl in the tree and a dog named George.
So we then settled on a house, and moved in at the end of the 2nd week. It is fully furnished, (the easiest option in the short term)
(shopping in the local supermarket, about 1 min walk from home)
which one is the monkey
don't touch that Ella just leave it sleeping on the rock...
But it tickles grandma! these kangaroo are very very friendly (wallaby in this case, they are smaller than kangaroo's)
the worlds largest rocking horse. that is Daddy and Ella at the top of the rocking horse's head.
the local market. about 15mins walk into town and a ride on the free tram gets us to the market where we get all our fruit and vege's it can be quite hectic in here at times. this was taken on a very quiet day.
Look Poppa, a digger just like yours...
meet sky the clydesdale who pulled us across to granite island from victor harbour
on the tram.
Lucy bouncing around in one of her fav spots.
Ella and Mia the pink fairy. (a regular sunday outing.) more to come.
the girls chilling out at home
Roger came to visit while he was in Australia, and we did some sight seeing together. up into the Adelaide hills, and out to the beach etc. Ella had fun with Roger, showing him all her games.
like this one. it's called Dad, I'll just roll around in the pile of packing paper and make a mess while you unpack our stuff which finally turned up off the boat.
Lucy making a start on her numbers and letters! or maybe she was hungry and actually trying to get in the fridge...
Ella just doing a touch up job on the bike. 'needs a new paint job Dad...'
the view from mount lofty. it's a bit like christchurch, only the other way around (west coast, beach then city, then hills to the east.)
Arriving to Adelaide, and then attempting to fit ourselves and the 100+kg of gear (and that was only the checked in stuff) into one car, when it had taken two cars to drop us off at the start of the day in Napier was one of those situations where the Taxi driver looked at us sideways and must have been thinking there is no way, what are these people thinking! but at that point of the trip there just wasn't going to be any other way, we were all going to fit, and that we did, we just had to unpack Ella's car seat for her to sit in, and the rest of the gear went into the back of the stationwagon, (including the buggy) and we all squashed in, and nursed both Lucy and the remainder of the bags on our knees in the back seat...
The first few weeks we spent at a motel, over the road from the womens and childrens hospital, 
(old part of the Womens and childrens hospital)
so handy for Ang to pop over the road and see her new work environment. Also very easy 10min walk to central city.
(old part of the Womens and childrens hospital)
Ella was funny as she had been told that we were going to Australia, and so from the day after we arrived, each time we went out for a walk and then came back to the motel Ella would say "look, there is Australia!" (pointing to the motel as we walked up...) It took a few days to get her head around the fact that Australia was the place, Adelaide was the city and greenways was the motel... think she has that one sorted now...
Other than getting around and trying to select a rental house, we were pretty busy in the first few weeks catching up with a few friends. Having Jenny come along was really very helpful, as not only did it mean we had another 20kg luggage allowance, but Ang and I could go off and look at houses or go to town to stand in que's and get drivers licences, Medicare cards, etc etc, while Jenny and Ella spent whole days at the park or swimming pool, or just chilling out.
Along with catching up with friends who had moved here at the start of the year, (Walter, Shelley, Maddie & Zac + Sarah, Drew & Hannah.) we got invited up to see Stephen and Angela in the Adelaide hills, where they grow/bottle wine. lovely spot about 40min out of the city, with a resident owl in the tree and a dog named George.
So we then settled on a house, and moved in at the end of the 2nd week. It is fully furnished, (the easiest option in the short term)
(shopping in the local supermarket, about 1 min walk from home)
which one is the monkey
don't touch that Ella just leave it sleeping on the rock...
But it tickles grandma! these kangaroo are very very friendly (wallaby in this case, they are smaller than kangaroo's)
the worlds largest rocking horse. that is Daddy and Ella at the top of the rocking horse's head.
the local market. about 15mins walk into town and a ride on the free tram gets us to the market where we get all our fruit and vege's it can be quite hectic in here at times. this was taken on a very quiet day.
Look Poppa, a digger just like yours...
meet sky the clydesdale who pulled us across to granite island from victor harbour
on the tram.
Lucy bouncing around in one of her fav spots.
Ella and Mia the pink fairy. (a regular sunday outing.) more to come.
the girls chilling out at home
Roger came to visit while he was in Australia, and we did some sight seeing together. up into the Adelaide hills, and out to the beach etc. Ella had fun with Roger, showing him all her games.
like this one. it's called Dad, I'll just roll around in the pile of packing paper and make a mess while you unpack our stuff which finally turned up off the boat.
Lucy making a start on her numbers and letters! or maybe she was hungry and actually trying to get in the fridge...
Ella just doing a touch up job on the bike. 'needs a new paint job Dad...'
the view from mount lofty. it's a bit like christchurch, only the other way around (west coast, beach then city, then hills to the east.)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
day at the beach. Temp 11deg...
yes, not the best day for a tram ride to the beach, but with guests leaving in the next day or two we are kind of locked into doing some activites with the days that we have regardless of the weather.
by the way the pictures added above were just taken off the internet not an indication of the weather here today...
I didn't risk getting my camera out incase it got wet!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
arrived in adelaide
we have landed and now have somewhere to live. busy getting around like tourists half the time and getting forms filled in the other half..
currently using the internet in the library so limited time...
will post again sooooooon hopefully.
all good and the girls taking it all in their stride...
later
Ross.
currently using the internet in the library so limited time...
will post again sooooooon hopefully.
all good and the girls taking it all in their stride...
later
Ross.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
June and the computer going in a box!
not going to be a lot of Blogging happening over the next month or 2, as the computer is being packed away tomorrow, and will be in transit in a container for a while...
The movers come on Tuesday and take away the stuff we are taking with us to Adelaide, and then we have another few weeks to pack up the remaining junk out of the house before we go.
who knows when we will be back on line properly, as supposedly things are a little slow when it comes to getting a phone line and internet service in Australia, although I have also heard that their broadband is faster than here. anyway, till then have fun.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
may madness
trip to town for Finn, he came up for a few days in the last week of the holidays, and got to go out to the movies, ride on marine parade and go to marineland to see kelly.
rabbit stew with the neighbours, thanks Glen for preparing it, and Cole for raising and shooting it... All Glen's idea...
Mark and Rebecca's wedding in Hamilton. Apart from a brief shower at the start of the ceremony, a nice afternoon had by all. unexpected catch up with Mike
Ella posing for photos
photo op while we were all dressed up...
mike getting a cuddle with Lucy (needs the practice, he's soon to be a daddy too)
Ella 'planting a garden' (on the reserve at the beach) after a great 'Celia Hunt' for pretty sea shells and things on the beach.
A special birthday treat from Aunty Sarah and Uncle Mike, a fairy art work for Ella's wall.
Ella off in the chopper to rescue the baby elephants and fox's
Focus health staff do, full on cowboy gun slinging showdown... 6 shooters, winchesters, shot guns, 38 c police pistols, laser sights, targets, etc etc, followed by warm mince and spuds, and a few beers and overall results. (I came 5th overall and 3rd in the 38calibre section) also got to have a go at letting off an old muzzle loading rifle which has the most distinctive ring to it, like a small cannon going off!!! something different you don't get to do every day...
One of the resident cowboys...
Gay letting off the muzzle loader
David launched his new boat last Saturday at Pakowai so we went down for a look and got a short ride. Tom Joe and Jake enjoyed the ride!
Joe mostly enjoyed the mud.
The gumboots took some effort to extract!!!
Monday, May 05, 2008
snowflake
the sort of stuff Dani has to look forward to... this is Ella having a bath at Uncle Cole's house a few months ago...
"Look Daddy I'm a snow flake" said Ella
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