Hi (or should I say G'day!)
This is Caroline just doing a little update on what's been going on this week. Afraid there wont be any photos because Chris is "The Master" of blogging but since he wont be home till late tonight, thought I'd have a go!
This week we have been spending a FORTUNE at the shops fitting the house out with a few basics, just to tide us over till our stuff arrives in the container, which may still be another month away (nightmare!). It's due to arrive in Melbourne 30th September but then has to go through customs which can take up to two weeks.
The house is lovely but a little echo-y since it has wooden floors throughout the hallway and lounge. Since there isn't a lot of furniture and no curtains (roller blinds everywhere) and because it is open plan, it can be very noisy , especially when the Boys get going! We have to escape to the bedroom for some peace and quiet!
What we intend to do in a while is convert the garage into a room for the boys and put a sofa, TV and X-box out there. The garage is single width but has space for three cars. It is fitted out with lots of storage and a fridge for their tinnies ! We will put some carpet down and they will be sorted! Will also put Wills drum kit out there and there will still be space for a workroom for me, if and when I decide to do some curtain work.
We have been to both schools this week for enrolment and again, spent a fortune on second hand school uniform. Brand new, the prices are outrageous! We are talking £50 for a pullover each, £30 for a pair of trousers and £50 for the jacket they have to have. Plus shoes, shirts P.E uniform - our bank card is quaking under the strain! I tell you, it makes you realise how cheap everything is in the UK. A whole school uniform for a tenner aren't they advertising in some places?!
We were very lucky with Wills uniform yesterday though. Someone had donated a school bag (60 dollars new and it's compulsory!) to the shop and didn't want any money for it. It was practically brand new and even better - inside were two pullovers and a polo shirt all Wills size! Hoorah! We ended up just paying 10 dollars for a pair of shorts - result!
Over here, you have to pay for all the school books and exercise books, even 17 dollars (£10) for a planner! And 500 dollars a year just for miscellaneous stuff. Times 3 Boys - you can see where our money is going! And this isn't even private school, this is Government funded - ha! What a joke! It seriously makes you realise how lucky we are with our state schools! We will never run them down again!!!
Today we are having Foxtel (cable) put into the house (the guy is here already and it's only 8.30 a.m!) so we will be able to get all the English footie (I'm so happy as you can imagine!!) and UK TV (that I am happy about!). Then this afternoon, we are picking up our new car. It's three years old but still cost us £20,000! We sold my lovely S-Max for £12,000 and that was three years old too!
Hey ho! I'm sure there are some benefits living over here - just haven't found too many yet! Petrol is cheaper and the train is miles cheaper - £160/month for Chris's train fare compared to £500 at home.
The Boys are fine but getting a bit bored since all the kids here are still at school till tomorrow (then it's two weeks off). Without the X-box , lego and all their stuff from home, they don,t have much to do. Jack has spent the last couple of days trying to find a job (with no success as yet) and Sam thinks he might try a paper round delivering the freebie paper (The Leader). At least it will give them something to do and earn some money.
They have "The Melbourne Show" starting in the City tomorrow for ten days (a bigger version of The Romsey Show) but unfortunately, all the jobs have gone for that.
Chris's job is going fine - meeting lots of people and getting home now at about 6.45p.m He will probably be starting on a project soon.
Our next aim is to find a soccer club for Sam to join and clubs in general for all of us so that we can make some friends. Jack has joined a cricket club and goes to soccer training with Josh. Will wants to try Aussie Rules footie but the season has just come to an end.
Thats about all for now. Please, please keep emailing us (I don't have everyone's email addresses on this laptop) and commenting on our blog. We really look forward to hearing from everyone and if we don't get any we get very sad:( !!!!
Lots of love to you all from "Down Under" xxxxx
Hi Caroline, great to see you had chance to update the blog with lots of news. Can agree that it does seem noisy with wooden floors - could try some rugs or just get the boys to walk quietly around the house!! Yeah I know thats never going to happen. Great idea to convert the garage as I suppose you dont even have an upstairs in the house that you can escape to. Long time to wait for all your belongings to arrive so not surprised you have lots to buy - hope you have managed to find some cheap shops for household goods like you did for the wine!
ReplyDeleteCant believe the price of the uniform in Oz - is it made of a special material! I got away with only having to buy Jess a new blazer and that was £30 (thought it expensive but compared to what you have paid I will just stop moaning!) Can you only buy the uniform from the school? Good deal with Will's uniform though so thats a result. It does make you realise that schools in UK are very good - I moan about sending in £5.00 for a school trip! I didnt realise you had to pay for education in Oz even in state schools - did you already know this or was it a shock! Although college is very expensive in UK when apparently it is free. I have paid out £1,000 already for Ems with bus pass, college deposit and academy kit and fees. Then spent another £50 on books for A level subjects and she then brings home several letters this week for more money - £15 for locker, £25 for more books, £40 for PE A Level kit as they need to be filmed taking PE lessons so have to wear the proper kit. OMG I cant believe how much money I am handing over.
Great to hear the boys have jobs, that is brilliant for them and money will come in handy. Ems is still waiting to hear from Waitrose but there is a job going in Longs fruit and veg shop which she might apply for. She will probably eat all the bananas if she gets the job!
Sure the boys will be relieved to get cable installed so they can watch all the footie and UK programmes - will almost feel like you are back in the UK - fancy going to Prezzos next week!!! Hope the new car has safely arrived - so expensive for a 3 year old car.
Hope the boys manage to get sorted with clubs soon, great to hear Jack has got cricket and footie club sorted. Has he organised anymore diving? Is football as big in Oz as in UK or is it more Aussie Rules footie. Cant see you following that anymore than the footie in the UK!
Jess is going away this weekend with RASO Orchestra for a residential weekend in New Forest. Will be lots of fun (I hope) and is meant to improve standard of playing.... Ems will be having a quiet weekend catching up on her sleep - she was up at 6 am this morning as she wanted to wash her hair! Also has lots of college work so will need to organise that as well!
Get Chris to show you how to upload photos and then you will be able to take over the blog and fill it with lots of photos of beach, shops, restaurants and places that I know I will want to visit.
Love and hugs to you all and miss you lots, Lisa xx
Hi Caroline
ReplyDeleteI'm enjoying reading the Blog & seeing how you are settling in. I didn't realise things were so much more expensive here. I know we found it cheaper when we visited you there in 2004/05 but we weren't buying school stuff or household goods!!! When it gets to the end of the Summer holidays they have a lot of 'specials' on the school stationary, stuff like 10 books for $1, so that should save you. Well done on the uniforms. Addison has a few second hand things and I was lucky this year as a friend's daughter was going to high school so she gave Eloise 3 dresses, they are almost $50 each!!
Are you going to the Melbourne Show? Here in Sydney we have it over the Easter holidays & Eloise's dance studio performs in the twice daily parade. Exhausting being there all fortnight, but so much fun for the kids!!
I hope the boys find the clubs they like. All the footy codes are big here in Sydney, I know AFL is bigger in Vic than here though. Don't know how they can enjoy cricket, I find it as boring as watching paint dry!!
Well, I'd better get on & do some stuff. Eloise is dancing in Eisteddfods (competitions) all weekend & I need to get costumes, shoes etc together.
I hope you manage to work out posting pics, I'm enjoying them, so are the kids who remember your boys from our visit.
Helen xxx
Hi Caroline,
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear all your news. The house looks absolutely great and I'm very impressed the boys have found jobs already! What a shame the bike shop isn't a bit closer, Alex could do with a new bike!
Hope you are enjoying buying things for the new house - I am trying really hard not to spend anymore money in John Lewis but as usual finding it rather difficult!
Bad news about the school uniform, it makes PGS look positively cheap! We went to Parents Eve this week and things look tough for Alex this year, poor thing! His new teacher is very nice but a bit of a stickler for rules from what I can gather. She is also a neat freak!!
When do the boys start back?
Charlie arrived on Friday so I will email you some pics asap. He is absolutely adorable, but I'm finding it hard to get anything done! I am putting Iain in charge of toilet training! As usual, he's conducting it like a military campaign. I am very impressed!
Anyway, better go but love to all and keep writing the blog, its great. I love all the photos you've posted so far, now I can imagine you all in your new home. Love the pink wendy house in the back garden!
Thinking of you all.
Lots of love Becky xxxxx
Grt to hear from you all! Becky - glad you've allocated the toilet training to Iain - good move!
ReplyDeleteHelen - can u send me an email coz dont have yr email address on this netbook. Address is caroline@ccjsw.co.uk. Thx. Good to be in touch! x
Lisa - always fab to read yr responses! Loads of love to everyone! xxx