OK, why does it always rain when anything to do with Melbourne is on the TV? We have just had a lovely week of 28 deg and sunshine, the masters golf begins and we get torrential rain! There was even a mini tornado Friday evening just 10 mins away, bringing down trees and powerlines – what is going on with this weather? We routinely switch the air conditioner from heat to cool on a daily basis, it can drop 15 deg in a day!

I have let the manager know that I wont be taking the practice nurse job, she was upset and offered me different shifts but they are still only 6 hours long and would have to work more days to make up the hours, I prefer to do two 8 0r 9 hour days and a half day Fri, then to the gym on the way home. I can also do any other days if I need extra money as they are always needing staff so it works well – and no commitment to work any of Christmas or new year for the first time in 26 years!! I am getting a lot better at finding my way around now and knowing the way things work, will take a good few months though according to the other UK nurses that work there.  I will put a pic on Flickr of me in my uniform with my car

Still not sorted another house but it is early days yet, I have half of Beaumaris looking out for potential properties and have registered for early notifications of any properties that come up for rent with the agents. I was speaking to an English nurse whilst walking the dog, her house is up for auction next Saturday. but if it doesn’t sell may consider renting it out – so here’s hoping it doesn’t go as it is lovely!  The house sales here are falling right down due to the high interest rates and prices so more people are considering renting as an option – lets hope so. We were actually quite cheeky yesterday as we wanted to view a house that may have been a good option but the agent said the current tenants didn’t want people round until legally obliged to do so, which is 2 weeks before they vacate. That would only be early Dec so Ste knocked on the door under the pretence of wanting to know what the area/house/neighbours were like really. We had a good chat and of course she let us in to view! Wasn’t any good though….. dark and dinghy and massive. Good way to get in though before other people, may use it again! Went to view a lovely little house in Hampton, an older property with open fireplaces in the downstairs rooms but the master bedroom was gross, tiny and the wardrobes were circa 1970, pity as it was in a good location.

We have booked our holiday for next June ( 28th) we are meeting Sam & Tom in Hawaii! It is a 10 hour flight from Sydney and about 13 hours from Heathrow, so a good meeting place. The Aus dollar is so strong against the US dollar everything will be cheap for us – so long as it stays that way. We have just booked flights at the moment, we may do a week in Wakkiki near Honolulu then on to Maui, a smaller island which has been voted the worlds most beautiful island for many years.

Ellie starts her new school on Wed for 2 weeks as an induction before starting at the begining of the new school year end of Jan. Her uniform cost me $600 so far, still needs shoes and books. Went to the school as there was a second hand book sale on, as you need new books each year so some Y10’s were selling theirs. We managed to get a few French books for half price, schooling is so expensive here. I have ordered all her English Lit/Lang books off Amazon to be delivered to Sam’s, then he can bring them over in 4 weeks, they are a quater of the price they are here. She still needs a Casio class pad which is $220, I see overtime looming!

Steve has been busy at work with a highly confidential project, didn’t get home until 11pm Wed night but is coming to it’s final stages now so should get some free time soon. Xena loves the sun but after a few minutes starts panting, she understands the phrase  ‘ in the shade’ means and trots off to find respite from the sun.