Sherwood Forest

The Royal Oak, a 1000 year old oak tree.  What a sight.  We went down to Sherwood Forest today to meet Caroline, Steven, Oliver and Amy.  Twas a day where you're not sure if you need a jacket or shorts n flip flops :p

We took Grandma Tibby with us as well as it was the last time she would see all her great grandkids together for a while.  It was hard taking her with as I knew it may well be the last time she will see them together for over a few years.  But I think she had a great time and really enjoyed cuddling and holding Baby Amy.

Marcus was in the pram mostly but had a lovely walk with Daddy around the clearing at the royal oak and seemed to enjoy looking at the trees and all the different people walking around.  Well he was gurgling and smiling lots. 

Finley and Oliver had a whale of a time running and jumping off logs and enjoying the space and freedom to roam, Oliver liked the bramble patches for the blackberries (or blackbellies as he says it) after he and his Mom and Pa had taken him blackberry picking earlier that week.

Dinner was a lot of fun and Finley and Marcus both had a great time and ate very well (may have been partly starving them from breakfast but who knows?!?).

When the rain started to fall we headed home.  Twas rather sad leaving Caroline, I know we don't see each other that often but she is my Sister and it suddenly hit that it may be over a year before we see each other again.  Also the fact that Grandma may not see the four great grandkids together for a long time was upsetting, (but who knows when she would have seen them together again for a while anyway) feel like I am taking part of her life away from her but I know she would tell me to stop being silly and live our lives to the full.  She is an amazing wonderful Lady and we will miss her greatly.

Journey home was quiet, me lost in thoughts and Grandma as well I think and the two boys fast asleep after lots of fresh air.

Steak for dinner was GOOOOOOD!!!!!

Water Fountains Wakefield

Who knew that on a cold day in September we would have so much fun in Wakefield.  We headed off, after Finley and I dropping Mum at Dewsbury station.  Felt quite sad watching her walk away, very odd but it felt as though it was us leaving properly.  Finley was overjoyed at the £2 coin she gave him to spend on him and Marcus.

Anna had a fun dentist hygienist session and we decided that some fun was needed.  Que the water fountains.   Finley saw them and wanted a closer look, he certainly did that...

It was a huge amount of fun and had us all laughing and just purely enjoying being silly and relaxed.  So nice to just be us and mess about, felt like a long time since we had had that release.

Home after that and quiet time for Finley (after James had made macaroni cheese (huge ego boost as it worked!))  

We then went up to Mum and Dad's for a roller coaster of an emotional nature.  Dad came out and gave me his digital SLR and I truly didn't know what to say.  I was trying not to let the tears show as was Anna.  I felt so honoured and loved to be given his camera as I know he really enjoyed using it and to give it to me was a huge thing for him.  It really hit home how close everyone has become to me over the last four years, I can never thank Dad enough for everything he has done and how he and Mum have accepted me into their Family.  We look forward showing them our new life Down Under.

Then home and dinner for us and Marcus, he enjoyed the macaroni cheese and as a side some rather nice trout!  We did however have a load of fun chasing and being chased by Marcus in his walker, his laugh is great.

Bye Bye Bob

Well, today we said goodbye to our giant African Land Snail.  We gave him to Connor, one of my friends from the dojo.  He is a great young man doing a course in Animal Husbandry at Huddersfield so I know he will look after him well.

Finley was very cute and said bye to Bob and held him so we got some good photos of him.  Twas sad saying goodbye, who knew I would get attached to a snail that i've had for four years?!?!

Party

We had some good friends over on Friday night and had a fun night of wine, risotto and chocolate cake thingy.  It was really nice to just relax and laugh and feel surrounded by friends who want the same as you and are are so happy that you're doing something positive and exciting, Thank you.

We had a Bon Voyage party on Saturday night (16/9/11).  Twas an enjoyable evening, we had a right mix of people, Anna's friends from her old jobs, my friends from Edinburgh and Leeds and then new friends that we have made since being here. 

People started arriving from early afternoon and played with the boys, huge kudos to Paul for playing with Marcus for ages.  Finley was a little shy at first but he soon got over that and joined in and had a whale of a time, especially on Sunday morn when he made a fort with John and was jumping of the couch onto his new trampoline :p

It was also more than just a going away party, two of our good friends told us that they had got engaged.  So congratulations to Jaymie and Dan and to Frodo and Kat.  Our very best wishes to both the happy couples.

Saying good bye to all our friends was strange, emotional but at the same time because we do go for months at a time of not seeing each other it feels like that again and that in a few (well usually 6 months or so) we will see them all again.  I think it will hit more the nearer we get to actually flying and I will begin to realise that we will not see friends for a lot longer than a few months.  It will be strange.

Oh, my tooth where they did the filling still aches, so not a happy bunny.

Some good news

Well, I have now been off for a few days and enjoying the time off.  I have just about caught up on sleep and tried to make a chocolate tart today.... it was all going so well except I forgot the eggs, even though they were sat right in front of me whilst i was cooking.  Yes I know I am stupid!

We took Finley to the soft play yesterday and he had great fun climbing, running and sliding about and so did Anna, as per the video below.

But the good news that I spoke of is that we have heard from URS today that my references have arrived and been accepted.  A HUGE weight off our shoulders, we just have to wait for the visa and that should be through in the next 3-5 weeks.  It really feels like we are going now, so we have applied for an Australian bank account and can start to decide what we are taking in suitcases/hand luggage versus what will be shipped.  Once the visa is approved then URS instruct (hopefully) Pickfords to arrange packing and shipping of the rest of our stuff, which will take about 7 1/2 weeks to reach Oz.  URS arrange accommodation for the first 4 weeks so that will give us time to rent somewhere but we will still potentially have 2-3 weeks in Oz without proper beds etc - time for camping out indoors me thinks :-)))) the boys will love it!

Last Day

Well, i'm not sure where the last four weeks have gone, a mix of site work and finishing of projects I guess.  Very strange feeling today, excited to be going and moving on but I know I shall miss my friends here.  Locked away on site for a few weeks with just someone from the office you can form strong ties. 

My desk is looking bare, all bar two photos of the boys and my dragon bookmark are gone, doesn't really feel like my desk anymore and in two weeks then the new grad, another James who did his MSc in Hydrogeology at Leeds, so a like for like swap!

The visa should be done in 3 to 5 weeks but we are hoping for the shorter time period but we shall see, it will be appiled for first thing next week.

Going for a lunch with work today to say bye to everyone, last pub lunch in Headinley.  I thought I was going to be here for several years and move on up past the site work level before heading of to somewhere new but things change so quickly. 

I will really miss working here they are a good bunch of people and i've learnt a lot and made good friends.  Hopefully i'll keep in touch with people (I know i'm useless at emailing as all my friends will testify to!)

Getting somewhere(ish) Part 2

Well good news today.  The Boys passports arrived in the post after being told yesterday they would be 48hr to print and then at least 48hrs to post.  Go Figure.

So Anna has sorted them and sent copies to Australia and the Visa can be appiled for.  Woohoo :)

Getting somewhere(ish)

Well, things have taken another step forward to getting sorted.  We know the boys passports are sorted and so we are just waiting for them to drop through the letterbox, hopefully Friday or Saturday and then the Visa can be sorted. 

We have had a family discussion (the five of us) and we have decided to sell the house.  This is the best option really but a shame at the same time.  We have been in the house for less than 13 months (we moved in on the 3rd September 2010) but in that time mum and Grandma have been living at number 9 for nearly 7 months now and while we have been in the house we have had it either broken from the fire or a building site.  So none of us have really made a strong bond with the house.  Even though it was a really nice house.  We also asked mum if she would mind if took the Dragon and she is happy for us to do so.  Therefore we will have the Gatekeeper, Dragon and Garg and Goyle to keep our house in Perth safe.

We have sold the trailer tent now, again a shame as we never got to go camping properly but things moved so fast that we just never had the time and then the whole emigrating thing happened, oh well, we shall just camp in Oz (should be warmer at least!). 

We have also found a home for our Giant Sequia (that we planted for our wedding in 2009) and the Oak tree that we found as an acorn with Finley in Judy woods shortly after he was born in July 2008.  They are both going to Nostel Priory, a National Trust property just outside Wakefield.  We have been there several times and feel really happy knowing that the trees will be given the space and protection to grow to maturity, which for the Sequia could well be over 40 or 50m!

I tried to get a certified copy of my passport yesterday from the bank but they said that they don't do certified copies anymore...most annoying so we now need to go into the bank in Perth with passports to formerly open it, we can still deposit, just not withdraw or use the Internet banking.  Most annoying but such is life.  It's over 21'C in Perth today and a balmy 15'C in Leeds with heavy rain, need to start looking for a decent pair of sunglasses me thinks.

Finally for today and the most exciting news is that Marcus, complete with about 8 teeth and more to come the next few weeks, walked by himself for the first time yesterday (Wednesday 7th September 2011)  he took about 7 or 8 steps between Anna and myself and was really chuffed with himself, he walked to us and had a hug and then turned round to go back, meanwhile Finley was running between us and having a hug with the one who didn't have Marcus, he was also laughing and hugging Marcus as he walked backwards and forwards.