Busy busy busy

What has happened to the last week or so?  We've been busy that's what and generally exhausted by the evening. 

We have seen houses, been to zoo's and aquariums, the races and paddled in the Indian Ocean.  So where to start?

The first Saturday that we were here we saw two houses, one was huge and right opposite a nice open space with a small swing park but it felt very dated and had some interesting features, like exposed burnt red/black brick walls which weren't overly nice.  Also the garden left a lot to be desired.  Very sandy and not much cover.  The second house which is in Warwick, is smaller but felt nicer, two open areas with play parks close by (a few mins walk) and a decent little shopping centre again just a two min walk away.  The house is in a quiet cul-de-sac a 10min max walk to the nearest station.  The garden is also nicer with grass and a large covered area to play/sit in rather than in the full sun.

So we applied for the second house after a rather hectic but very strange viewing process.  They open the house for 15min and everyone interested goes and has a look during those 15min, therefore you could have 20+ people in a three bed house.  Very cramped and rather annoying but that's what happens here.

On the Sunday we went to AQWA (or the Aquarium of Western Australia), twas much fun and the boys both really enjoyed seeing all the fish and watching the divers in the walk through bit.  Finley was fascinated by the size of the sharks and the sting-rays.  He did however have a few harsh words for the boatman (the diver from Finding Nemo) who was cleaning the glass of the tank!  Later a trip to the local play park was met with much enthusiasm by the boys who played for about an hour in the setting sun.  A couple of very tired and irritable kids where ushered into bed after a quick supper.

Monday was my first day at work and along with the rest of the week was pretty much a blur.  I have done so much training that I don't want to see another training course for some while.  Otherwise I have enjoyed the first week and have gotten to know people I sit with and everyone seems nice and also fairly new.  Some people only having been here 6 to 8 months so I don't feel alone at being new. 

On Wednesday 9th November we got the news that we had been lucky enough to get the house we wanted in Warwick.  So we sign the lease next Tuesday and move in the next Friday (18th November).  We are both so pleased and happy that we have got it and we can settle in there and get properly sorted (or at least as properly sorted as we can till our stuff arrives).  This will likely be the last working week in December or possible into the New Year, not ideal but not a lot we can do about it.  Will have to rent white goods but that is easy and not too expensive until we get ours.

We have also found a little nursery for the boys, not as good as Hollytree but child care is more expensive over here and the boys will be happy here until we can afford somewhere else.  Another plus is that it is next to the train station so good exercise for Anna on a morning and afternoon.  There is also swing parks on the way home, so she may end up being distracted by the boys and end up in theparks!

Friday night we went to the Trotts, this is a soft core take on horses and trap racing where the horses are restricted to a fast trot and race round a mile track.  We went with the team and their families but Marcus was creating at so much going on and being very tired.  Trying to get him into a proper routine is difficult due to sharing a room with Finley but hey we will get there.  The Trotts however was much fun and it was nice to see people and their families outside of work. Will arrange babysitters and go another night for a more relaxed evening.  Anna enjoyed it better than when she went to see dogs racing in UK so that's a plus.

On Saturday we took the boys to their first swimming lesson, very very different from home.  A 25m pool divided into about 5 lanes one end and 4 the other with a larger space for the babies.  Anna took Marcus into the baby section which was similar to Puddleducks but Finley due to his age went in by himself with armbands and the instructor.  He did so well and swam fine with the arm bands, they gave him the confidence to actually swim by himself and he did it fantastically and got a certificate to prove it.  Marcus did well too and enjoyed the class save for the last 5 mins.  Very noisy but great fun and both boys swimming at the same time (9.00am) means we can be off somewhere else for the rest of the day.


The afternoon saw us down to Freemantle and fish n chips by the sea.  It was a really enjoyable afternoon, we went on a Ferris wheel which meant the boys could look out over the docks and quays. we walked along and found a little path and Finley got his first taste of paddling in the Indian Ocean, he seemed to enjoy it although he did spend a significant time on his backside in the surf.  He didn't want to leave the small beach we found, can't wait to get to the real beach and let him loose.

Sunday we went to the Zoo via the ferry across the River Swan, Both boys appeared to enjoy the crossing with Finley wanting the window open, perhaps he wanted a swim?  We saw our first black swans on the south bank which are beautiful birds.  The zoo was much fun seeing elephants out for a stroll and the Kangaroos lazing in the sand, Koalas asleep in the trees and some Kookaburras in the trees so it was a really good time out and the boys enjoyed watching and pointing at various things they could and couldn't see.  It was rather exhausting for us keeping them in check but much fun was had in general.  It was "grandparents day" at the zoo, so there were lots of extra activities for the kids that grandparents could join in, although didn't see any grandparents on the bouncy castle! (Finley for some reason has talked non stop about bouncy castles since we arrived in Oz, so he was very excited to have a go).

Back to work tomorrow, roll on next weekend and our new home.