Gold Paint & Burning Couches!

Lets just say the first week of school holidays was "ok". No major damage, unless you count the fact that the carpets and walls and a few other things upstairs are slightly gold! Courtesy of Madam Maddy! She took it upon herself to spread gold paint all over the upstairs bedrooms and herself - rather liberally I might add! She was, of course naked (any tips for how to get a 2 year old to keep her clothes on will be much appreciated)at the time of the incident and looked as if she had had an encounter with a fake tan bottle!!
The great news is that there will be far more school holidays to endure throughout the rest of this year! Because ...... when we get to Australia, Ross will probably not go to school for the first month (maybe two) and then in December schools there close for 8 weeks!!! I think I shall be suitably "bonded with my kids"!!!
Wait - it gets better!
Madison was due to start full time school in September here in Wales and I discovered recently that she will not be starting school until 2011 in Perth!!! Don't get me wrong, I do LOVE my kids but every mom needs a break and school is good for them. I guess we'll be paying for a few mornings at playschool for Maddy and Gethin until 2011!!
While we're on the whole "school" topic I shall use this opportunity to brag about Ross' reading progress. His teacher printed out a few levels for me to take to Australia and I am very proud to announce that he is at a reading age of a "9 and a half year old". Well done Ross!
Last but not least, I shall take you through the photos for the week. Paul has been talking about this moment for over a year now. Burning the couches!!
Strange for some but very significant to us. We have been putting up with these couches for quite some time now while preparing for this move. They travelled with us from South Africa 7 years ago and have seen us through the last 6 years of messy kids. So, since they were not fit for selling, Paul decided he would dispose of them by burning them. This was no ordinary burning, let me tell you! Anyone who knows Paul, will know he is well known for being very neat and tidy and so this was a very "neat and tidy" bonfire. First, he painstakingly took the couch apart and cut it into smaller pieces.


Next we arranged the bonfire audience to watch from a safe distance so that their ice-creams didn't melt!

And then, Paul very carefully (so as not to spill or make a mess)poured petrol in a steel drum, lit it and proceeded to burn the couch!


This was very symbolic of saying good-bye to our old life in the UK and hoping and praying that our new life in Australia will be all we dream of!
xxx

The beginning of the end!!

Goodness, its been 20 days since the last post and we are now left with only 48 days till Operation Big Move.
We're starting to do all the "last things" before we leave. I've worked my "last" day and Maddy and Ross are soon to have their "last" day at school. I see people now and afterwards think, I wonder if that's the last time I'll see them. Strange, I know!!
We're quick to say how much we dislike this place we've called home for the last 7 years but the truth of the matter is, that a small part of me will actually be sad to say "good-bye". This is the place where we've had our children and this is all they've ever known. And besides that, I've made some really good friends here and I am not looking forward to saying "good-bye". The next month, although very exciting for us on one front is sure to hold a few tears and I'm sure it will be with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to everything good from Wales, whether it be friends or places!!!
Ok, onto a more cheerful note! Surely I should be excited about 6 weeks of school holidays! Mmmmm not too sure. I'm certainly happy that I don't have to get up every morning and get 3 little bodies plus myself ready for school. But for the most part, I think its going to be hard work keeping my 3 suitably entertained, especially if we don't have good weather!
I have a few tricks up my sleeve and I also have a lovely weekend away (without kids or husband)to look forward to!
Got to dash now as I need to fetch Ross from school and in true Welsh style its raining! I'm sure God is making sure I never forget "rainy" Wales as it hasn't stopped raining all week!!!

The big 70!!

That's all that's left folks!!! 70 days left in sunny Wales! I've been busy, busy, busy organising our move and feel like I'm on track with things now. A wonderful sense of accomplishment I have to say. We've booked a Holiday Villa for our first month which is a big relief as I can now relax and know, that when we arrive we have somewhere to call home even if it is just for a month. I'm so excited as its a lovely big house with NO STAIRS!!!!!! Have a look if you'd like http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/quinns-rocks/16193
That's not all I've been doing but I won't bore you with the trivial details.

As I said in my previous post, we were off to London for my brother's wedding. What a lovely day!!! It was a wonderful wedding with perfect weather and lots of lovely people. The children were so cute in their wedding outfits and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the day! They happily played and danced until the late hours of the night!

Then came the hard part - saying good-bye to my parents again. You'd think it would get easier each time but it doesn't!! It gets harder. If you're reading this, mom and dad, I miss you guys!! So to all those people who live near their parents - enjoy them and truly appreciate how lucky you are!!

One down side from all this hustle and bustle is that I am now behind on the scrapping challenge! Plus, I think I've lost my inspiration. Oh dear, not good!
We are going back to London this weekend as Paul has been invited to a job fair for Australia. Once I get back, I will make a concerted effort to get back to scrapping my life.

Please pray that Paul finds favour on Sunday as it will certainly make our move a lot less stressful, if he has a job offer.
Keep well. Till next time.
xxx

Quick Post

Just a quick note to say hi and show my handiwork for the last 2 weeks. I've found the best cure for spending too much time on the Internet - wonderful parents visiting!!
My mom and dad arrived last week and because their stay is so short this time we've been busy, busy, busy! It's a fun kind of busy though - shopping, eating out and lots lots more!
We're all off to London on the weekend for my brother's wedding. I'm so excited because I love weddings and I also can't wait to see the children all dressed up in their adorable little outfits.
On this very happy note I shall love and leave you!
Until next time ......

Once upon a time .......

Once upon a time there was a very sweet Princess named Michelle. She lived in a far, far away land where the rains often fell. The Princess' family were the proud owners of a castle in another far, far away land but because they were not nearby the castle began to fall apart. The poor Princess tried her hardest to get the castle fixed again but it was not proving to be an easy task. She was very dismayed and wished that a very large dragon would appear and burn that castle to the ground!
There we go - the story of our house in Pretoria. That pretty much sums up how I feel about it right now!



Its half term this week so I have the undivided attention of my lovely children all week. By Sunday I shall be in desperate need of a coffee break on my own at Starbucks as Paul has 2 exams this week and then is off to my brother's bachelor party on the weekend.
But come Monday next week, there shall be no more football and no more university which therefore means NO MORE EXCUSES!!!!!!!!!!! I can't wait!
And to make next week even more exciting - my parents are arriving!!!!! YAY!!!! Don't you just love it when Grannies and Grandpas are around? I really do as I don't get to see my parents very often and they are a huge help with the kids.

Because of this we shall all live happily ever after.
This Princess has no servants so she's off to make a cup of tea and relax.
xxx

Another Day, Another Week .......

Another week has passed and that officially leaves us with only 106 days left in sunny (not) Wales. Can you tell I'm not too impressed with this Spring/Summer weather we're having??? I just love fetching Ross from school everyday in the rain! It just makes things such a mission - pram out, Gethin in, raincover on, Maddy out, raincoat on, stand outside classroom with no shelter waiting - they're always late, back to car and reverse the whole procedure! Anyway, its a Bank Holiday weekend this weekend and Paul says its supposed to be the hottest weekend of the year. I'm not sure where he gets his info from but I sure hope its right! We haven't got any official plans for this weekend as Paul is studying for his last two exams and life has been pretty hectic lately. Maybe take the kids swimming and do some nice outdoor activities - weather permitting that is.
On the move front, things are moving along slowly but surely! I have e-mailed the relevant authorities for the week and am hoping to lodge my application with WACOT next week when my friend has verified my certificates. I have also started making appointments for removal services so that should be finalised in the next month.
All these things make me realise that we really are going to do this, which then fills me with all kinds of strange emotions ranging from absolute fear to extreme happiness. My new philosophy is that "if we go there expecting it to be a rocky ride we won't be disappointed if things don't run smoothly straight away and if they do we can be pleasantly surprised!" It makes sense in my head!
I have done very well with our scrapping challenge this week and completed my layout a few days ago!
The single layout that says "heaven" is actually meant to read "heaven sent" but I ran out of alphabets and need to find the same ones again.
That's all folks!Have a good week!
xxx

All Birthday-ed Out!!!

I'm still here - its been awhile I know. I am officially Birthday-ed and partied out! Our baby is now 1!! I can't believe how fast this last year has gone. He had a very low key Birthday with just a few little pressies which his brother and sister gladly opened and played with for him! Ross and Gethin then had a shared party on the Saturday after Gethin's birthday. I'm not too sure Geth even realised what all the fuss was about but they both seemed to enjoy themselves and I was particularly pleased with my cake creations!! In fact, I was very impressed with myself and had loads of compliments from the other moms.
Last weekend was Ross' and my birthday which we also kept very low key as we'd already had the party. Birthdays aren't quite so exciting when you hit 34 and have children. I get more excited about the children's Birthdays nowadays than my own. But it is nice to be spoilt and although Paul isn't very proactive with lovely, surprise treats and presents on the actual day he has given me carte blanche this past week to treat myself to some new clothes!
The scrapbook challenge is still on the go even though we occasionally bend the rules ever so slightly to suit our schedules. But as Kerry said the other day, at least we're doing something which is more than we were doing before.
My brain is working overtime lately as our big move creeps ever closer. We are now down to only 115 days till we move!! I can't believe it. I better get myself into "move mode" and start sorting the more urgent issues which should not be left for the last minute. I think I may start writing the things I need to do on here so I can hold myself accountable every week. This week I need to sort out my registration with the department of education in Perth. Lets see if I've got it sorted by next week. I'll keep you posted.
On that note I shall say farewell and so long,until next week!