YouMeAndThree
13th January 2009, 11:45 AM
Is it 4 months already?
Apart from feeling pretty rubbish at the moment due to bad cold/chest, we are ALL loving our new country :nice1
We miss family and friends, but I don't feel they are that far away because we catch up a lot on skype. My Dad's cancer returned just days before I flew over, which was a difficult time for me, but following his progress via the webcam has helped me to 'see' that actually he is physically and mentally coping very well, just minus his trademark beard and tache. Treatment ended last Friday so hopefully at his next check up he'll get confirmation that it was a success again.
Our eldest DD has settled well at school and loves the walking school bus. I 'conduct' twice a week, but the rest of the time she's off on her own. Sadly we were unable to find a kindy within walking distance for DD2 that had any vacancies, so she's been out of education since last July. She turned 5 on 23rd December, which thankfully means she's off to school at long last in February. I keep worrying that she'd have been at school since Sept had we been in the UK, but then I remind myself "we aren't in the UK!", LOL. DD3 was 2 in October (the day we moved into our current house), so I need to think about getting her name on the books.
OH loves his job. He's out and about all over the place everyday, seeing new sights and is just in awe constantly at how beautiful the countryside is. He often feels guilty that we are not able to share this with him, but I'm sure his employer wouldn't be too happy with the whole family sat in the cab, LOL!
I've been made to feel very welcome by neighbours, forumites, school Mums and Dads and complete strangers. I also meet up with a group of ex-pats for coffee on Fridays whenever I can - I met them through viewing a house to rent, of all places. There is quite a large group of us now, but we don't all get to meet every time.
We have found a lovely house to rent, the only downside is the lack of lawn space, but it's not really a problem for the girls. Compared to our tiny UK home this is a grand palace :nice1
We are Friends of the Zoo, so spend many days there. Our Cadac bbq is always ready and waiting in the back of the car for all the beachside bbq's we've been enjoying. So many great beaches, we are spoilt for choice. There is so much still to explore - I see many a happy holidays over the years to come as we venture further afield.
And in the 4 months since we've arrived, none of us have experiences homesickness - I'm not sure if there is a period of time when this is likely to kick in, or whether that has already passed. Fingers crossed it remains this way. There are occassions when I find thing tough going, like for example when DD1 came home with an invite for grandparents and great-grandparents to attend the Greats and Grands day, felt like I'd let her down by having nobody to take (the invite even said if you don't have grandparents to take along an elder friend or neighbour, we didn't even know any :wah).
We have no regrets..............well maybe one, that my family are unable to share our wonderful new life and experiences with us in person.
Have just asked DD1 and DD2 what they think of our move and would they want to go back to England. DD2 says she loves it here and doesn't want to go back. DD1 said she likes it here, but would like to go back to England. "Why?" I asked, "because I miss Paulton's Park" was her reply. Paulton's Park for those who don't know, is a theme park aimed at under 12's - Rainbows End is no substitute!
Lx
Apart from feeling pretty rubbish at the moment due to bad cold/chest, we are ALL loving our new country :nice1
We miss family and friends, but I don't feel they are that far away because we catch up a lot on skype. My Dad's cancer returned just days before I flew over, which was a difficult time for me, but following his progress via the webcam has helped me to 'see' that actually he is physically and mentally coping very well, just minus his trademark beard and tache. Treatment ended last Friday so hopefully at his next check up he'll get confirmation that it was a success again.
Our eldest DD has settled well at school and loves the walking school bus. I 'conduct' twice a week, but the rest of the time she's off on her own. Sadly we were unable to find a kindy within walking distance for DD2 that had any vacancies, so she's been out of education since last July. She turned 5 on 23rd December, which thankfully means she's off to school at long last in February. I keep worrying that she'd have been at school since Sept had we been in the UK, but then I remind myself "we aren't in the UK!", LOL. DD3 was 2 in October (the day we moved into our current house), so I need to think about getting her name on the books.
OH loves his job. He's out and about all over the place everyday, seeing new sights and is just in awe constantly at how beautiful the countryside is. He often feels guilty that we are not able to share this with him, but I'm sure his employer wouldn't be too happy with the whole family sat in the cab, LOL!
I've been made to feel very welcome by neighbours, forumites, school Mums and Dads and complete strangers. I also meet up with a group of ex-pats for coffee on Fridays whenever I can - I met them through viewing a house to rent, of all places. There is quite a large group of us now, but we don't all get to meet every time.
We have found a lovely house to rent, the only downside is the lack of lawn space, but it's not really a problem for the girls. Compared to our tiny UK home this is a grand palace :nice1
We are Friends of the Zoo, so spend many days there. Our Cadac bbq is always ready and waiting in the back of the car for all the beachside bbq's we've been enjoying. So many great beaches, we are spoilt for choice. There is so much still to explore - I see many a happy holidays over the years to come as we venture further afield.
And in the 4 months since we've arrived, none of us have experiences homesickness - I'm not sure if there is a period of time when this is likely to kick in, or whether that has already passed. Fingers crossed it remains this way. There are occassions when I find thing tough going, like for example when DD1 came home with an invite for grandparents and great-grandparents to attend the Greats and Grands day, felt like I'd let her down by having nobody to take (the invite even said if you don't have grandparents to take along an elder friend or neighbour, we didn't even know any :wah).
We have no regrets..............well maybe one, that my family are unable to share our wonderful new life and experiences with us in person.
Have just asked DD1 and DD2 what they think of our move and would they want to go back to England. DD2 says she loves it here and doesn't want to go back. DD1 said she likes it here, but would like to go back to England. "Why?" I asked, "because I miss Paulton's Park" was her reply. Paulton's Park for those who don't know, is a theme park aimed at under 12's - Rainbows End is no substitute!
Lx