Arrival in Perth

Well already I've stopped finding time to write everyday. A good sign i think! We arrived in Perth during the small hours of yesterday morning. When we got to the hotel at 2am it was 10 degrees C outside. When we disastrously woke up at 1:30pm (discovering that the hotel alarm clock doesn't work) it was beautiful outside.

We're right next to the Swan River. The main one which flows from the sea and through the city of Perth.

I've never been in a city that is so green and beautiful. It's strange. B'ham is a city but it is nothing like Perth. (I mentioned this to a guy in a shop today and he said " Ah yes Birmingham I parked there once for 3 hours I think it was the M6") Outside the hotel is a dual carriageway but there are hardly any cars, then between the roads is a mass of green lawn - that kids play on. There are benches so that you can sit an relax. Beyond that is a pavement which is divided into two lanes - bikes and pedestrians. A lot of people seem to use bikes here and I can see why. Despite the hot temperatures there is a cool breeze and the view is beautiful.

I feel much happier here than I did in Dubai. Much more at home. The people are really friendly and welcoming and it's much more calming and relaxing. This could be partly down to the fact that I've had time to wind down a bit. My IBS flared up quite badly so I haven't been eating too well. The only two options in Dubai seemed to be cheese or spicy! Not helpful. Here it's back to normal and I had a nice meal and at a nice restaurant yesterday. Can't wait to eat what I want when I want again!
\
We've found the shopping centre and I've bought an Australian Vodafone Sim. I need to go back to the vodafone shop though as the phone won't accept because it's not from vodaphone uk!!! Didn't expect that one !

We've found out where the fireworks are for New Years Eve and so we're going to get tickets for Gloucester Park later today. It's right next to the local cricket ground where a certain team played badly so I'll watch out for spiky objects...

At the other end of the river is Kings Park where they have an outdoor cinema which is playing Monster House tonight. Might see if I can convince Matt to go along and watch that. :)

can't believe that it's Saturday already or that it's been a week since we left England. So much has been happening in a short space of time!

Once I find an Internet connection without upload restrictions I'll start putting the picture on Flickr. The Internet in the hotel is free but it won't let me upload for some reason :(

Love to all back home.
X

Incase you're wondering

Yes there is a delay on here.
I can't always get to the internet so I've been Blogging in a travel journal and then typing it up when I can :)

I'm currently sat in Dubai airport so I'm killing time on the ninny net.
Off to Perth now...

X

Christmas Day!

I'm off to bed NOW. The end of a very different and fun Christmas day. We're still waking up at 10:30am and heading out at around 11:30. This morning we spent sometime downstairs in the hotel lobby which contained fake snow, reindeer's, Christmas trees and snowmen. Once we'd had something to drink and eat we decided to try, once again, to get to Jeremiah beach, This time in a taxi. It quickly became very obvious that there is no way that we could have walked from our hotel - The Arabian Courtyard- to the beach. It took about 10mins in the taxi to get there down long and dangerous looking highways.

We couldn't find a way to get onto the 7 star hotels' beach but we did locate the beach right next to it (There was even a photographer trying to take pictures through the fence into the 7 star hotel - I wonder who was there?) We Sat down , relaxed called mum and Dad and then decided to walk further along the beach to find the water park.

At about 1/2pm we entered the Wild Wadi Water Park. (at a discounted rate because we were so late!) This park was no ordinary water park. I tell you, they don't do things by half here! You can pay to put money on a plastic wrist watch which acts as payment for everything. This means that everything goes in a locker, nice and safe and everything is taken care of for you.

As I was waiting for Matt to get changed I was stood by a man-made cliff. Suddenly, theme park style thunder and lightning sound effects began. Amused by this I turned around to notice a pretty waterfall had started behind me. I was observing this with the usual Ohh- Ahh and wonder when suddenly the pretty waterfall turned into a tsunami and soaked me, flooded the footpath and went gushing off into the distance! Brilliant but I was soaked. Good job I got changed first!

We had a whale of a time on the rides. You sit in a doughnut which floats you to the beginning of each slide. When you get to one you fancy you line your self up and off you go. Jet propulsion sends you up the slide and gravity does the rest. You don't need to cue up though, you just float along. The only concern is whether or not you'll still be wearing your bikini bottoms once those jets of water start pushing you along! Note however that cheap swim suits like mine will not withstand the pressure. When I got back to the hotel and washed out my bikini my bottoms were thread bare and had to be thrown away!

Once the park closed at 6pm we sat on the beach and watched the sunset. Actually we got a little chilly then and got into a taxi back to the hotel. I then caught up on the blog and we had dinner, sat in the Sherlock Holmes British Bar for a pint and then mack to the room at 10pm.

A really different Christmas!

By the way I think that Vodaphone have helpfully ignored my letter and have cancelled my phone contract way too early. So I can't receive any more messages or send them on my old number. I'm going to be a new Sim in Australia though. :)
Thank you all for your messages so far and I hope you're all having a great Christmas.

Merry Christmas From Dubai!

We spent it on the beach and in the water park!! ;)

Dubai - Day One

We woke up at 10:30 am (6:30am UK) and eventually dragged ourselves up and out. It was very warm outside and felt a little strange to be wearing a T-Shirt and short floaty skirt (and that was just LOF!)

The streets were filled with the sound of the Qu'ran as the local mosque was calling its followers to prayer. A man was pulling a cart with two heavy objects on the back of it and getting into arguments with taxi drivers as his poor navigation almost caused permanent damage to their Toyota Camry. We strolled in the direction of the river and the sea down narrow Arabian streets; immaculately presented with an array of brightly coloured fabrics and the smell of hot leather surrounding us. The streets weren't bustling. No last minute Christmas presents being frantically purchased. Simply local people with their local wears.

We walked for about 2 miles when we discovered an enormous Carefour shopping centre. Tesco Redditch has nothing on this place. ( Although you can still purchase everything you would expect to find there and more) We bought ourselves a picnic and carried on; deter mind to have a picnic on the beach. We walked for miles and had eaten most of the picnic before we gave up! This place is huge! You see a building in the distance and although it seems like it's just around the corner. Like a mirage. it never appears! We took the remains of the picnic and got a taxi back to our hotel!

We then spent the rest of the afternoon snoozing and reading. We're both exhausted! Lof organised a massage for 7:00pm. I'm telling you now if you can DO IT! Manys the time I have said at the end of a busy term "I'm going to go and have a massage" and when I come to book it I decide that it would be far too extravagant. Nonsense! Do it! It will be the best 30 quid you'll ever spend (Span I mean you!)

The spa here is amazing. Candle lit with lovely smelly oils. It's exactly how it should be. The lighting, sounds and smells all spell relax - which after the last few months and a 7 hours flight is just what the doctors ordered. I felt so relaxed and did not want it to end. When it was over I wanted to just lie there, my face through the hole on the massage table smelling the bowl of oils + fresh rose petals, listening to the music relaxing. Instead I sat in reception and waited for Matt to come out. They fed me peppermint tea and I read magazine brilliant.

Then, instead of going to find food, we ordered room service and ate it in our room! Brilliant. really cool. I"m starting to feel a little bit more relaxed now.

Leaving the airport.

For the last few months my mantra has been "I'm just going on a big holiday" so why is it that leaving Birmingham airport, where I was surrounded by my family and friends, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do in my 26 years of experience?

As it was there wasn't much room to sit and cry anyway as we caught up in line after line of cues. We had breakfast with everyone before making our way to the Emirates check-in desk.

We were hoping for some extra leg room seats (what with LOFs unusually long legs) but when we got to the desk - immediately after the desk number came up on the board- we were told that we should have been there at 9.20 if we wanted extra leg room seats. Ironically, that's exactly the time we had arrived but we didn't have a clue where to check in until it came up on the board. so we missed it! Doh!

Once we checked in, held back the tears, but not the hugs, whilst saying goodbye we then had to join a 1 hour que to get through security. This meant that the minute we got into the departure lounge we had to board the plane. No time for the obligatory Bean Burger or to get bored. I sis manage to sneak out of the que (which went up along the top floor, down the escalators to the lower floor, back up the stairs, round the self-service restaurant etc... ) to get me a book -"my Take" by Mr Barlow! Yeah! Just got as far as the formation of TT on page 68 so far!

The flight itself was very comfortable and the staff were great. Five hours would have been enough though. 7 was too long - and the next leg is 10!!! :O

LOF had an isle seat so he was OK too. The trolley did attack him occasionally though :(. We were really excited about the games console/ TV/Radio/Movie screen in the seat in front. Disappointed though that the movies were not "on demand". You have to wait until your film starts and try and catch it on the right channel. No Garfield a Tale of 2 Kitties either :(

Arrival in Dubai was great it was 19 degrees C at midnight!! I haven't ventured out yet but it's going to be hot! A Bit different from the freezing fog we left back home. We had to que again to get through passport control in Dubai and then the hotel forgot to pick us up :(. No problem though, we hopped into a local taxi and it worked out to be cheaper anyway!

When we arrived at 2:00 am local time the staff couldn't have been more helpful. It's a lovely hotel - with a pool and a spa and we've been given a voucher for complimentary massage. Woo Hoo!

I'm off to have a shower and explore - Love to all of you!

Because we'll miss you....

This is for all of you - Even the ones I haven't managed to "snap" recently :)

We're leaving on a jet plane!

Oh my god.... this time tommorow I'll be 2 hours away from landing in Dubai.

I'm really looking forward to our adventures but concerns over how i'm gonna stay calm, cool and at ease are growing... LOL. I have nothing at all to worry about.. It's all organised but still... Ah well! lol

Off to the pub to see everyone before we go. Mum and Dad are going to buy dinner whihc is good! and then to bed, breaksfast and Dubai!

We're officially homeless..

The house has gone to its new owners and now I own no house...

We've moved everything to Span and LOM's attic and have cleared it out ready for the new owners. I handed the keys over on Monday lunchtime and I am sure they will have a great time living there.

I was expecting to sit and weep on the living room floor but instead I was very sensible and managed to pull myself together. I didn't let it affect me - despite LOF telling me to "let it out" I'm threatening to spend the first 7 hour flight wailing in despair! lol. Actually I am feeling quite calm and I think I'm ready for this big adventure.

The car has gone, the house has gone. Just the job now!

Christmas Came Early at No.60

It's gone :(

Well there's one week to go... arghh!

The car has been taken away to its new home in Hertfordshire today and on Monday the house will be handed over to its new owners too.

Scary!

Jesus Was A Gent - Check out their video!

Alvechurch Hall...

So crisis averted we arrived at the Alvechurch Village hall. We set it up and I got changed in the toilet (no time to go to the hotel). The Australian flag was hiosted high, the music was played loudly and we had lots of fun.

Rowan and Dan wowed audiences with their musical stylings and we all ate, drank and made merry.

Most came in fancy dress and we celebrated Xmas and our journey to Oz similtaneously.
Despite the stress and problems we had getting the party started I am really glad that we did make it in the end. It was so lovely to see everyone again. There was no way we would have been able to get round to everyone before we go so having everyone gravitating to the same spot meant that there were hugs and wrestles for all!

Lof had threatened some naked mud wrestling back at the hotel and not with me. No No No but with Adi... What can I say - Sarah and I have seen it all before :) but it never did materialise... More on that later.

Thank you to everyone who came. It really meant a lot that you could all make it. Gerin, we missed you but we love you! (Give Oscar a munch from me)




More pictures on the Flickr thingy!

The war of the Golden Roses.

Last night was the night of the Australian Christmas Party to end all parties. Lof and I were on course for a stress free, easy and relaxing evening. Yes, we had a lot to set up but the hall was booked, the decorations and food bought and costumes ready to worn.

After getting the key for the Hopwood Village Hall from the manager, having been shown around, after changing a light bulb, learning how the heating worked and agreeing that we would be tidy by 11:30 LOf and I booked into the hotel next door and then set off back to Redditch to pick up the rest of the stuff required for a cracking party.

When we got back some old ladies had let themselves into the hall and we telling my parents that they had booked it a year ago. :0 Not good.
Now, unlike nice, caring old ladies who have manners these evil women had decided already that my party was cancelled. This was made very clear from the moment they opened the boots of the Volvos and removed boxes of sandwiches and table cloths. - Anger rising now...
LOF was trying frantically to get hold of the manager of the hall who had convieniantly decided to pop out for an hour. So no-one to solve the arguments the evil ladies of the "golden rose" began to instruct us to cancel the band because they had booked a disco and began to set up their tables.

BREATH --> In with love out with hate-->

Now part of me was thinking oh good they're setting up the tables for me. Thank you very much and the other half of me wanted to scream, shout, cry and throw an enormous tantrum. I sent LOF to talk to the manager's neighbours on the off chance that they may be able to get hold of her. Instead the lady he discovered was much more useful. She organised another hall for us. At this point (45 mins on) I was getting angrier than an angry thing without chocolate.

I made my anger very clear to the roses who replied with "be reasonable" ME? Be reasonable - what about you?? She said that she couldn't cancel it - she couldn't possibly phone all her guests and who would pay for the DJ? Her guests had paid £5 a ticket and she had access to the hall 3 times a week.. BLAH BLAH BLAH - Yes --- but I've paid to use the hall tonight.

In the end a decision had to be made. Do we sit and argue with the battleaxe for another 2 hours and wait until the guests begin to arrive or do we cut our loses and sort the situation out - We still need to set up and now we need to re-direct people. The sooner the better.

I asked the gang to get everything back into the car and was told by the generous woman that she wouldn't begrudge my using the oven. - F()^^* off!

We marched to the manager's neighbours house and were escorted to the Alevechurch Village - hall - T minus 2 hours!!! ARGHHHHhhh

Barmouth

A small sleepy sea-saide town in North Wales and the home of LOF for many, many years. We visited a few weekends ago for the last time. By the time we return from our little jaunt his mother will have moved away - to an undisclosed location - and as his father has already left to find solice on the other side of the estuary we though that we would document this very picturesque location. Check it out... Hope you don't get car/sea sick easily :)

Stuck for ideas?

When you arrive to the party there are strict rules.

You must either be dressed as a famous Aussie or be prepared to dress like it's the summer... Here are some ideas...

"Paul Hogan, Shane Warne, Kylie and Jason, Harry Kewell, Elle McPherson , Men at Work, INXS.


Almost forgot. Do you know what it is yet? - Rolf. (Wobbleboard and Didgeridoo)

An Update. - Just keep focused! Don't panic !

Yes it is. We're out of special measures.. Thank goodness. That school hasn't needed to be in special measures for some time now. We were deemed to be a satisfactory school with some good and outstanding features. Ofsted like things to be done in stages, poor --> satisfactory is quite a leap but I imagine that next time they come we will be a good school with some outstanding features. That next time will be in 3 years thank fully!

The last week has been really hard. I went to see Colette and felt cool, calm and at ease. We visited LOFs Dad (which was lovely) and his mother at the weekend and then by Monday I was getting myself into a right state- god knows why. I wasn't even particularly scared about the invasion of the inspectors but, nonetheless, I found myself in tears repeatedly throughout the whole experience. The reason? Sheer exhaustion I think. I couldn't even eat for one 24 hour session!

I have only 3 weeks left until we leave. 3 weeks and a list as long as LOF's entire body of things that need to be done. Conti-boarding seems to be taking for ever and the attic in our old house is now empty. I still need to do the shed, the garden and buy rucksacks and walking shoes. I need to pack everything. Order goods for a party on Saturday (see you there), make sure the sale of the house is moving (it's seems to have stood still for weeks now. How hard can it be???) Pack away all of my stuff at school, tell the kids, plan lessons and teach, etc etc etc. Arghhh.

I just have to remind myself that it will all be worth it! Sometimes it's hard though and there have been moments when I have even felt a little panicky about it all. If you think that moving away to another country for a year sounds appealing then stop and think about the hard work that needs to be done before hand - there's a lot of it!

The car hasn't sold yet. There were 8 people watching it (I suspect blog people) and no-one made a bid. I've put it back on there again now. Please don't watch it unless you want to buy it - I got my hopes up last time...lol.

At least this week I will be able to move my priorities to Australia rather than school and I'm afraid that's probably where they'll stay now. It's not possible to do everything. here's to December 23rd.

It's over... Is it for the last time?

We don't know yet. They're sat in "the house" making a decision right now.

They arrived on Wednesday (when I had 5 lessons and a break duty) and are still here now. I had 4 lessons today. They didn't bless me with their presense in any of my lessons despite my having stayed at school until gone 7pm every night to get everything ready. That'll teach me for working too hard!

Now I can relax I hope. :)

I'll be out of the cave tomorrow.

I've been in it since Wednesday last week when we received a phone call. HMI are here. I'm knackered and went the last 24 hours without food! Tut tut!

you know...

If it’s really love you’d follow it forever
Would you wander for me?
Even though you think I’m lost and you know better
Would you wander for me?

Cause wandering is more than filling footprints right behind me
How far would you go outside the lines if just to find me?

Letting go of anything that grounds us
Would you wander for me?
Even though there’s darkness all around us
Would you wander for me?
Cause I’ve wandered for you

Wandering is more than filling footprints right behind me
How far would you go outside the lines if just to find me?
When you see that I have gone to the edge and way beyond
Would you, would you, would you wander for me?

It doesn’t matter where we are, we can be our northern star
Far above the earth and weather together

Cause wandering is more than filling footprints right behind me
How far would you go outside the lines if just to find me?
When you see that I have gone to the edge and way beyond
Would you, would you, would you wander for me?

If it’s really love you’d follow it forever
Would you wander for me?

:( its on E-bay

:(

: (

: (

The Plan

Leave Birmingham 1:20pm
Sat, Dec 23
Arrives in Dubai 12:15am
Sun, Dec 24
We stay in Arabian Courtyard Bur Dubai
Dubai. Check-in Sat 23 December 2006 Checkout Thu 28 December 2006


Departs Dubai: 9:35am
Thu, Dec 28
Arrives in Perth Australia 12:10am
Fri, Dec 29
We Stay in the Crowne Plaza Perth
54 TERRACE RD, Perth
Check in: Thu 28 Dec 2006 Departure date: Tue 2 Jan 2007


Depart Perth: : 12:20pm
Tue, Jan 2:
Arrive Alice Springs: 4:35pm
We stay in the Alice Springs Plaza Hotel for one night.
Wednesday Jan 3 we leave at 05:15 for the 6 Day Alice Springs to Adelaide Safari.
Monday Jan 8. Arrive in Adelaide.
Not booked accommodation yet. 
Wednesday Jan 10 Pick up hire car to do the Great Ocean road to Melbourne

Saturday Jan 13 Return Hire car to Melbourne Holiday Autos.
Stay in Melbourne long enough to do Neighbours set and Neighbours night at the Elephant and Wheelbarrow.

We then have an Autralian Greyhound pass to take us as far as Sydney. We can visit Canberra on the way if we want but we can go where we like and take as long as we like. We do need to be in Sydney before Jan 22nd
08:00 am Jan 22nd We begin our Wave Surf tour. We learn to surf over four days travelling between Sydney and Byron Bay. It includes all accommodation and tuition etc.
Arrive Byron Bay
Jan 26th
Accommodation 3 nights in The Arts Factory Backpackers Hostel. With a choice of accommodation including TeePees, Aborininal Gunyas Pentagons, Dorms, Cubes, Wagons and Island Retreats!
We’ll be leaving Byron Bay on Jan 29th and getting back on the Grey hound bus to Brisbane and our new life!!

Woo Hoo

Crisis!

It came in a shiny new box, it lasts for 4 years and it controls the minds of my parents. It sits in the living room taking up a full 54" of space against a wall and is a thin as a short paperback novel. Recently it required an upgraded box to be attached to it which cost a further £300. This was so that the messages it transmits can be made much more crystal clear - especially when showing things "outside".

It commands the attention of my parents for at least 5 hours a day, sometimes more. It shows them stories; mostly about crime, aliens or red boxes with numbers in them.

This evening it was singing songs and asking someone to leave when world war three broke out in the living room.

Picture the scene. I have come to accept that the large, paperback thin, monstrosity takes over the will power of my parents. I am sitting through yet another story; this time about young people who want a million pounds to work for someone who tells them they're rubbish most of the time. The story has reached a climax; someone must leave and face the fact that the million pounds will never be theirs. Outside the grey clouds are rolling ominously across the sky but no one could have for seen the events which followed.

A small message appeared on the enormous entity in the corner of the room:

"Warning there is clash in recordings.
Casualty - recording
The Far West - start recording at 9:20.
You must select one of these stories and cancel the recording."

Questions are raised. Which is more important? Why is this message obscuring the view of the tension provided by the stupid story? Then it happens.... It all goes black.

"Oh well that's it... That was ALL I wanted to see.."
"K why did you go pressing buttons?"
"I didn't!"
"Well now I've missed it... I just wanted to see that bit. It was the only bit I wanted to see!"

Screaming, shouting, cursing and then silence..

"Don’t give me the silent treatment X I didn't do anything!"


I left the room in tears... of laughter. Seriously, is the X factor, Casualty and The Far West so important to our lives that we need to almost kill each other when the TV accidentally gets switched off!??

Their PERSPECTIVE must have been obscured by the enormous television screen!

Ad sense

I've decided to be silly, to advertise and see what happens.
Google give out the code and you get paid everytime someone clicks on the advert. Google is supposed to choose adverts which link to the content of your site. Why is it then that it keeps bringing up ads about natural disasters???! LMAO!

What does that suggest??

2 weeks in - They make a bid for freedom!

They've been in for 2 weeks. Getting alittle fed up and crying at the door. So, they were let out yesterday. Amusingly the first thing Stan did was jump up onto the roof of the house. They were so happy to be running around, climbing trees. I am sure they had a great time!

Hooray no more smelly cat litter!!! Woo Hoo!

It's rolling quickly

Like a fast moving train it's gone really quickly. The week started and ended like a blinking light bulb. Only 6.5 more blinks to go...
Scary, sad, worrying etc.

We've accepted an offer on the house and it's really sad. It's really hard. Sometimes I sit and wonder what on earth I'm doing. I had a lovely home, a great job, my family close by and my best mate 2 minutes away. That's what number 14 represents and it's very hard when someone stands in your kitchen and says "I only bought it on Friday and I'm already thinking nets". You remember the first few weeks that you spent in your new home excited about the prospect of finally owning your own house as you removed the revolting nets from the window and made the house your own.

When they say of course we'll rip out this carpet and you remember that not even 12 months ago you'd managed to save £5oo to pay for it. When they walk around your home and cheerfully point out that you haven't yet removed that picture or that ornament.
It's still my home and I have to let go.

It represents so much more than bricks and mortar and it's not easy. I want it to go through quickly because the quicker the knife falls the sooner it will all be over. Sooner I have to let go.

Number 14 will be the dream for a new young couple and they’ll fill it with their hopes and ideals. It will hold as many wonderful memories for them as it has done for me. It’s a wonderful home with a brilliant spirit. I am really happy and excited for them and I understand.

If you're reading this you might think that I regret what's happening. I don't. I can't wait. Part of me wishes that I could take my best mate, my cats, my job, my home and everything I love about England with me in 6 1/2 weeks, but I can't, and I guess if I could then it would kind of defeat the object. We'll have a great adventure and when we get back we can buy a new house, a new bubble to feel safe, secure and happy in. Two minutes from my best friend's house and down the road from my family. I can pick up where I left off and I'll have had a new enriching experience to remember for the rest of my life.

Believe me tying me to a chair and not letting me go sounds tempting some times but nothing amazing ever comes easy...

For the fans...

Span you'll love this...

We're on the move.

Well today we have opened a bank account in Oz, been to Costco to set the cats up with enough food to last then for the next few months and moved all of our personal effects to my mothers; including the cats.

Hendrix is like a kitten in a whiskas treat shop, mewing and exploring and leaping about. Stan, on the other hand is a little more reserved; infact terrified and it has taken him an hour to get out of the bottom of the wardrobe. I keep thinking " Well it's nearly 10pm we better get home" except we're not going home...

Where will you be?

Where will you be in 40 years time? Who will you have lost? What will you remember?
Who will carry it all on?

This is beautiful..




In the end, what really matters?

Introducing the new lead singer of Jesus Was A Gent..

Mini Jones....

Oscar is the latest arrival to the gang and is currently in training as the new lead vocalist for the Rock sensation that is Jesus Was a Gent.

It was really nce to see Gerin again and to meet Kate and Oscar (Cool name)
They have just moved into a really nice flat in Cardiff and little Oscar is absolutly 100% muchable.

House For Sale.

My goodness it's been over a month since I last contributed to this blog. Shocking. I can only appologise to the three people who read it ;)

The reason for this absense is perhaps more permisable. I'm leaving for OZ in 9 WEEKS!!!! OMFG!!

The last month has been the most tiring and overwhelming 4 weeks I think I have ever experienced. This "trips to far flung countries" has created more of a blur than a colour!
Don't get me wrong, I don't for one minute regret the decisions that we have made or the time scale that we have chosen to work to. I do however, have a right to feel absoloutly knackered.

Believe it or not it is also possible to feel nothing about such a big event. Everything HAS to be done and as a result you don't really have time to consider how you might feel about it. When you've invested as much time and money into something you can't allow yourself to get setimental about your home or the things you are going to leave behind and, in those moments where you fear that on DEC23rd you will tie yourself to the bottom of the bannister and refuse to go because it's so god damn scary, you have to remind yourself that even though you will be thousands of miles from all of the things that are familiar and true in your life you will also have an amazing experience. Your friends and family will all be exactly as you left them when you return and your conversations might even be filled with different quips. LOM might find himself asking "So you've lived in Australia have you?" instead of the usual because I will have something else to talk about. (he's already slipped in a "are you going somewhere then?" quip more than once this past week.)

People keep telling me how brave we are. This fills me with dread because I don't feel brave and I'm not even sure why I need to feel brave. If I thought about it too long I'd end up panicing that there was something that I'd forgotten that was really very important. Instead I've come to realise that that phrase says a lot more about them and the dreams that they once had than it does about anything that I'm about to do. At the end of the day LOF and I are about to do something really exciting and wonderful and if we can get through the planning and preparation for all of this then we can do anything!

We've made several important decisions this month. For example, we've decided to sell the house. No, this does not mean (as many of colleagues think) that we have decided not to come home. It's just going to mean that we don't have to worry about tennants recking out beautiful home or the rent not being paid and our mortgage going into arrears. It is a massive decision though and I am sure that Matt was quite surprised when I agreed without a second thought. He is having sleepness nights though over what amount of money we should ask for.

We're also offering the furniture to the lucky home buyer. This is to help reduce the cost of storage at £80 a month. A big box in a field is £80 a month.

I've cancelled the TV liscense, the broadband, the telephone etc. so in a few days the family Woodward-Clarke are moving into my mums. (I've promised Matt that I will buy him a a pair of earplugs so that the early mornign Saturday disco doesn't wake him up)

As for staying in OZ for a year? I know it's going to go one of two ways either we'll miss home like crazy and come home in 6 or we'll stay longer than a year. I've been at Shenley nearly a year now and it only feels like a few weeks!

Appologies to all those I work with at Shenley for the emergence of my sewer mouth. My hysteria seems to have brought about the regular use of some rather nasty obesenities. I was heard to say "That's getting right on my knob" the other day - it made me laugh though due to the apparant lack of one of those appendenges. And when I was setting up Year 8s disco the other day. I thought I was in a room full of adults and said lots of rude words only to realise one of the year 8s was sat very quietly in the corner of the room!!! :o Shocking isn't it.

If I am not myself it is because I am so incredibly busy that I'm very sleepy. I'm still me and I'm still happy I'm just not as bouyant as I normally am.

Blast from the Past

We went to a wedding at the weekend. Have a brilliant video of LOF but he won't let me put it on here :( So please ask and he'll have to watch you watch him over a cup of tea! ;)

Matt (and Bogus) went to uni with this lot... ( i was there too but in a tag along capacity as I never got the A levels....)
and it was Kate and Dave's wedding. Needless to say they were both extremely happy. Dave got the Blues Brothers ( 'a tribute to' of course) to attend the reception (he was little obsessed with them at uni) and everyone had a great time. Especially after we'd managed to to evade a certain person's company....

The wedding was themed around diving and they had the most amazing wedding cake. Check out the dangling fishes! (NEMO!) and the sting rays on the bottom layer. LOF did point out (rather un-tactfully) that they'd forgotten to add a certain aussie hero on the bottom layer..











.

On;y 2 days left but...

I'm doing no work - I can't stop researching Oz and all of the things I need to do!

Had the quotation for shipment of essential items today:

Here's the list:

1* double bed and 2 bed side cabinets
2 x lamps and alrm clock
Kitchenware
2x book boxes
2 small speakers (That's the Ipod ones)
1 x DVD player and DVDs
1 X Carton of photographs and ornaments
1 x Games cube
1 x small telescope
2 x book boxes
1 x computer
2 x file boxes
2 -3 carton of CDs (won't be taking any so I don't know why these are on the list)
3 x Cartons of bedding and linen/towels
2 x carton non breakables
3 x guitars
1 x amplifier.

Total Volume 250 Cubic Feet.

Now these people come and pack it and wrap it etc and this is a quote to send it to Perth although they know that may not be where we end up...

Total Cost? £1488.00


OH MY GOD...

LMAO....
That's more than it cost to send me to Oz!!!

Forgot to Mention...

We've booked our ticket to the New World.

We are officially leaving England at Lunchtime on December 23rd 2006. We're flying to Dubai for Christmas and on to Perth (OZ) for New Years Eve. After that it's Alice Springs and then finding a place to live....

Although, Lof is a little confused about this...

"So how many guitars do you want to ship across then?"
"Well none! I'm not going to want my guitars in Australia am I!"
"really? I'm sure you are! It's a long time without a guitar."
"Well err (duh) I'm not going to want to carry a guitar around whilst we're travelling Australia am I!"

Of course not - note the words "ship out" this is me costing up packing up and shipping our belongings to our new home - we're carrying none of it!

"No but honey... We're only travelling for 3 or 4 weeks and then we have to get jobs, a house and live out there!"
realising... Slowly...
" Oh! Well I'm not! I'm travelling for a whole year" (silly grin on face)

Honestly... Anyone would think he wants me to be the bread winner: Again ;)

Best Mates in the world...

We were supposed to go camping this weekend but the weather was Crap!!! So instead we went to Cadbury world, had a balti, watched a film and then spent the day in a theme park. My mates are great and I'm not sure what life's going to be like in oz without them!

Cadbury's world highlights included, Dunk writing supercalifragilisticexpealidoucious in chocolate, Lof having fleas picked of him by a plastic man, Dunk kissing a plastic boy and LOF holding council with the chiefton.
I was amused at the tete a tetes which occured betwixt Dunk and Span - enough to entertain anyone and amazed at the effect that one small pot of melted chocolate with sweeties in can have on fully grown adults.

After wrestling with Dunk, and an umbrella he was threatening to poke little chocolate egg people with, I can say that he did behave himself this time and did not try and kidnap any creatures from the cadabra ride.

Today we went to Alton Towers, a few couldn't make it (and were sadly missed) but we had a great time and picked a brilliant day. The park wasn't rammed as usual (bad weather I guess) and most queues weren't too bad at all!.

I've missed Dunk and his crazy ways and I'm very glad that he's so very in love.... "Ni Ni would love this" "I'm just gonna call Ni Ni" etc all day - It's very cute and she's a lucky lady. lol - I just hope she can keep him under control ;)

In a long Queue for Oblivion I discovered Dunk and Greg are soul mates and that they can entertain each other for hours by asking and answering stupid questions that no- one else would think about let alone ask. For example: " Is this queue two, three or Four dimensional? It definitely feels more than four dimensional it's taking ages" followed by a long discussion about how the smallest distance can not be measured because maybe, just maybe, we can't see the dimension in the smallest of distances, there could be mountiains or anything. Then they talked about gravity and the earth for ages until they noticed that only one of my eyes still remained open and I had gone into another dimension myself! LMAO. They are both a pair of girls too; screaming and swearing on a ride! Tut tut.

I also discovered that LOF, Dunk and Greg are secret historians who, despite reading a sign that said the ruins were CLOSED, decided to run riot through Alton Towers (the original building) until they got to the roof "We got to the flag and everything!" Apparently this jaunt was justified by the prescense of some French.


More pictures on Flickr!

He's pissed so I'll forgive him...

Had a new hair cut... LOF was supposed to come home at 7:30 but arrived at 9:00 pissed as a fart.


Picked him up from the station...

I parked int he road by Northfield to be greated by a star jumping man in the headlights "ta da" I knew then that he was pissed, really pissed.

"Oh look at your hair, you look cute! I need chinese"
We drove to the chinese.

Outside Chinese
"Ah you look like when we first met, cute and "i wish we had a flat of our own""
LMAO

Inside Chinese:

me: I've got a fringe"
HIm: yeah i know (screwing face up)
me: You don't like my new hair do you?
Him: Screwing face up - almost shaking head.... Not sure
Me: Do you like my new jacket?
HIm: It doesn't matter what this looks like (hair) or this (body) it's what here (in eyes) that matters.

Very sweet but clearly not impressed with new hair or jacket.
Well i did ask a very drunk man..,.. LMAO.

New homes...

Ok so I've spent all week orgnaising Oz related things. We now have two itinaries to get there. Last night we decided that it was stupid to want to live in Sydney - Here's why....

Aall of these searches involve a min of 300 Aus Dollars and a max of 400 a week. That's the equivalent of renting my own house out.


Sydney I can afford to live in a flat, in a block with distant views of the sea.(350 a week) A place like this...









however, if we live somewhere else... Let's try Melbourne. (that's another big city) this one has a large lounge with gas heater, formal dining area leading to kitchen/meals area with plenty of cupboard space. 3 good size bedrooms, main with study area. Polished floorboards throughout. Large bathroom with sep. toilet. Laundry leading to low maintenance backyard with fernery. Also includes single LUG. Pets OK.

Would love to know what a LUG is??






and if we go to live in Brisbaine....
I can live here....
in Mango Hill...
where there is a communal....
It would be like living in Joey's apartment block only we'd be living in a "3 bedroom lowset. air conditioned living areas, ensuite, DLUG, gas & electric kitchen appliances, gated complex, pool, BBQ, close to schools, childcare facilities, shops & bus at side entrance to complex" That;s for 310 AUD a week. (about £125 a week)

Crazy isn't it!
Mango Hill and Brisbane are in Northern Oz where it's hottest - sunny sunny sunny...
What a decision we have to make eh?

Where shall we live?
and what the hell is a LUG???? ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ??? ?

My Head HURTS!

It went all dark outside, the heaven's opened and I have a mother of a head-ache. No Pilates for me tonight !

I don't like the flashing sky-line and the ominious early darkness. Someone please tell me that the weather is going to be great this weekend??

Cas- purrrr

The latest addition to my sister's household is small, female (we think) and purry. Testing videos.

...all let us rejoice for we are young and free

It's done! They made their decision. We're booking the flights at the weekend...
Our visas have been granted.
Anyone want a yellow beetle with pink daisies or a house to rent for a year??

We are back!

Pictures on the Flickr thingy.
Report to come...

Summer HOLS!

So it's here! The 6 weeks holiday! Woo Hoo

For the first time, in possibly my entire career, I don't feel exhausted, dead and in desperate need of a hoiday. This is very odd as I have probably worked the hardest I have ever worked over the last 6 months at Shenley! The difference is I enjoy it! lol. So it'll be nice to not be so tired that I can actually relax and enjoy myself.

Off to Espania on Wednesday with Span, Lof, Bogus and Lom. That'll be fun. Sun, sea, private pool and Sangria!! Yeah!

We are regal

but we do like to fight...





Occasionally we'll ask you to














rub our bellies.

How do you get one?

Simply plant a seed and in 14 days.....











I appear!

It's still bothering me...

I've been waiting for him to say it... We all know he does so why didn't he say it? Then just when he was about to he couldn't and now he will never be able to say it,... EVER and it's so sad and It's really bothering me. I just hope Billy Piper stops being so selfish and comes back to the series. Obviously Rose will go to Tourchwood and find something that will allow her to find him again and then they can re-populate the Time Lord Population with baby Dr + Roses. and she can be Mrs Who and I will be happy. Very happy. Because right now I can't stop worrying.

Yes I know they are fictional. But this happens to me sometimes. - usually with books. You get yourself so invovled with it all that it seems a little too real....

Poor Dr ?

No rest for the wicked!

Well after weddings and cavorting with Take That this week is a big downer! HMI are back... We thought it would be easy as they said they were happy with teaching and learning and would be spending more time grilling SMT and other managers to make sure that everything was going well. Only year 9 were in today which meant that I only had to plan an enormous HMI lesson plan for one period (phew) and the kids were brilliant. Year 9 are my most challenging bunch of youngsters. It doesn't really matter what I plan because they know that they have the power to destroy my heard work within about 30 seconds. LOL . Today I was very proud of them as they were perfect. The lesson went extremely well and had an inspector been in the room I am certain we would have achieved an outstanding for it. As it was no-one came to see me.

Thinking I had all afternoon to plan and get ready for tomorrow I relaxed period 2 and went off the invigilate an exam period 3. When I returned I was told than an inspector had come up looking for exercise books to scrutinise and had told the department that he had a master key and was planning to look around. OH MY GOD I really don't think that that is fair at all. I mean JESUS talk about harsh. One of my colleagues managed to get him into her room looking at her books whilst the rest of us locked away anything we didn't want him to see in cupboards that HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY for. That'll teach him.
Please don’t' think that we don't mark books. We do, every two weeks in fact. It just so happened that my Year 7 books are due for that 2 weekly mark - now most teachers would think "two weeks! big deal! that's up to date" but under this pressure you do crazy things.

Tomorrow they're going to follow SMT on a learning walk around the school and ask pupils randomly what level they are, what their target level is and what they need to do to get there. Thank god that I chose to do a review and target setting lesson yesterday with Year 7 +8. They'll rattle off the date in no time. They're also going to check the books as the pupils work in them. All the books in my classroom are now marked to the very last word. Marked, of course, to departmental policy.

It's all a bit much really isn't it!

Roll on tomorrow!

Mr and Mrs Owen?

Alas it was never meant to be... He announced at the concert last night that he and his lady are having a baby. :(


Last night I saw TAKE THAT !! WOO HHOOOOOOHOOOO HOOO!
It was brilliant. Loved every minute and I don't care what anyone else says it was the best thing in the world EVER!.

Seriously though those boys (or should I say men) know exactly how to put on a great show. There were nudely ladies too (for the boys I assume. ) which was bit of a shock and It was weird to see alchol everywhere. Ten years ago that wasn't allowed ;)

Span and I had a brilliant time. They did some really cool things to some old classics. Turning "It only takes a minute girl" into an ellaborate tango number, re-light my fire had LULU singing (although she wasn't as stretchy in her vocal ranges as she once was) and then there was the hollogram of Robbie. I am actualy glad that he wasn't there. It would have made it R0bbie with Take That then and that wasn't what I came to see. I didn't even notice he was missing to be honest. LOL. At least his ego was put aside long enough to make a hologram of himself for "Could it be magic"

The stage show was amazing. I was a little disapointed that the concert had been moved from Wembley to Mitlon Keynes Bowl but I think it was actually much better where it was. 70,000 people were sharing the experience. It was amazing. I think even Take That were shocked when they were greated with this view!
Once the sun went down and the stage light went up it was magical.
There were great graphics and animations, fantasic dancers. A moment where the boys got wet in very little and danced around (mmm) and then, in the finale, "Never Forget"? a massive Fireworks display. Wouldn't have got that at the NEC now would you?? Woo Hoo! What a night!