Finally got time to sit down and update the blog, been a busy few weeks. I am really enjoying my job so far, I have worked four days a week for the past 2 weeks but it has been good and I have learned a lot. It is so different to general practice in the UK, the nurses are very hands on doing dressings, injections and dealing with any walk in emergencies. We had a middle aged lady come in collapsed on the car park, nasty cuts to her head, I thought she had collapsed with a stroke as she couldn’t stand properly and speech was slurred – until I found a half empty bottle of vodka in her bag! When we wouldn’t let her smoke she was really verbally abusive, calling us Nazi fascist, same idiots – different country!! It’s also strange billing patients, they pay for the doctors visit, and the nurses time, $20 per visit plus any dressings used. They can claim some back of medicare but not all, could you imagine that in the UK! The Aussies cant believe all health care is free in UK, they are amazed. I am booked on a couple of courses already and get paid for any meetings we attend, as well as getting a meal provided. The girls are all really nice and we have a couple of social events planned, it is this Sunday that we are going sailing, though they have brought the time forward as the weather is forecast is ‘a bit choppy!’ I was going to cancel as I get so travel sick but I have been told that is not the Aussie attitude, you have to ‘give it a go’. So I will, but if I am ill they can’t say I didn’t warn them! I haven’t worked for district nurses for two weeks, but did  yesterday. Really felt like I didn’t want to be there, but it is good money, so I will do one or 2 shifts per week, it pays for our holidays!

Steve has been in New Zealand for the last two weeks, coming home at the weekend, but he has finally finished there now, he has gone to the first rugby union match of the Melbourne rebels tonight with some guys from work. He has no desire to move to New Zealand (at least Wellington anyway), it is a cooler climate than here, we are definatley acclimatised now, if it drops to 21 deg or so we are putting our jumpers on. The Autumn fashions are in the stores now and the sun is setting a little earlier now, wouldn’t it be nice to do summer in Aus then come home to do summer  the UK!

Ellie has settled into school, she is doing before school swimming at 7am on Mondays, they have a heated outdoor pool which is like getting into a warm bath, and swimming at the local pool twice per week, she is also going on school camp in March where they will horse ride, scuba dive and surf and the Duke of Edinburgh camp in April. Just got back from the mall, Ellie needed a mask as she has a masquerade party on Sunday, babysitting Saturday evening, she has not heard anything from the jobs she has applied for yet but fingers crossed. They can apply for a job 3 months before their 15th Birthday, the kids start to learn to drive here from 16, but have to do 120 hours of driving practice before they can take their test, so a lot of her friends are applying for their learner permits now.

We have booked more flights, off up to the tropical north of Queensland for 6 days end Oct, mum & dad will be here so will do the Great Barrier reef and Daintree tropical rain forest which is supposed to be magical, apparently there are crocodiles though (mum – don’t mention this to dad!!), and the gorgeous beaches. We can actually hold a koala in Queensland instead of standing next to one and not touching here in Victoria. We are already looking at booking Sam & Toms flights over for next Christmas, they have just been released, the time is just passing so fast, we will have been here 10 months on 4th March!  Tom will be arriving here in Melbourne on 13th March for 6 weeks, not long now.I mention to everyone I meet that he is looking for casual work, so far Harry the hirer is an option, he employs students, backpackers etc to put up marquees at events, good money tho!! Either that or temp agency work, or McDonalds!!

I am finally going to watch Michael Buble next Friday, seems so long ago that I booked the tickets, back in out little unit in Sandringham 5 weeks into our Australian adventure! Maria & I are going out for dinner then on to the concert, should be a good evening, then off to watch Lionel Ritchie end March with Maria and Stuart. We have tickets to go to a wine tour in the Yarra valley with two other couples, prob book a date in March, pick up in the city so we can catch the train in so wont have to spit out the wine!!