All journeys start with a single step.....

Well I thought I better take a photo of my ring and blog it...

So here it is....and gee my hands are looking OLD......

This morning I went and had my interview for my passport which went really well....so in about 10 days I will be able not only leave the country but they will let me back in....

If only renewing Darian's was that easy....talk about forms, forms and more forms, and thats not including getting certified photo copies of pass port, ID book, photos and finger prints which we now find out that the federal police can only do and they are fully booked until the end of March....

Then it gets sent to Canberra, South Africa and back to Canberra....and then finally back to us...taking approx 6 - 8months...

I also received a letter with an appointment for Matthew with the early intervention team...so the ball is rolling on that account ..

Some very exciting news

On Sunday Morning my very special man proposed and of course I said yes.....

I new a long time ago that this was the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with, It feels as though we have known each other forever.

He is one of the most kindest and gentlest men I know. We can make each other laugh, he washes the dishes, vacuums and does all the ironing. He is a fantastic father to his own daughter and has taken to my 3 with out a blink...some would say that this is too good to be true...I say soul mate...

I finally found him...It has taken many years of heart ache, loneliness and finding out who I am. And as corny as that line sounds in "Jerry Maguire" it is sooooo true...he completes me...

I know the next question will be "when is the wedding?"...well some time this year, no set plans yet.....

School has started at last

well what can I say, after a few minor hick-ups...the girls are at school and are happy. Talia is in a split 4/5 grade and Eloise a split 1/2 grade, they both have female teachers and seem nice...

The girls were so excited this morning and we actually got to school early and I managed to settle both girls into their classes...

So I am now a free woman again...hmmm what to do????

Ok I will tell....

I have been questioned by a number of people about the significance of the 17th Dec.....

some thought I was pregnant and others engaged....

well the truth is on that date Darian and I decided that we were going to live together once both of our leases were up...well mine is up before his so we are going to find a house together...we would love to buy but the housing prices in Perth are beyond a joke....so we will be renting...

We told the kids and they are quite pleased...

We are still hoping and planning on going to South Africa later this year...we will see.

Today we went to the school and picked up the kids book and stationary for this year....yippee this means that school is just around the corner. Now I get the fun job of covering books and labeling everything....I just love it...

Tomorrow is Australia day and here is Perth they have a huge fireworks display called the Skyworks ( everyone calls it the skyshow as thats what it was called) on the Perth foreshore however as much as i would love to go, it wont be happening with 3 kids....so we are going to go to a smaller fireworks display in Mindarie keys.

Tomorrow is meant to be hot and 37....yukkkkk

A very expensive oversite

isn't it funny how life is...everything was going along smoothly and life was just getting back on track from the move...we are getting ready for school and the only thing I have to get in the next few months is a chest of draws each for the kids and Talia needs a new mattress for her bed. Which I was going to purchase this fortnight....

Well that all went out the window this morning when I received my phone bill.

Can you believe it was $600.......

I only use my phone to log on to dial up, every other call is made on my mobile

And all due to BL**DY TPG internet...

They have been getting me to dial down to Rockingham every time I log onto dial up.....

I should have made sure that It was a local call, but I didn't think....so i rang TPG and asked for a number that is a local call...they have none...she then gave me a number for Broome (can you imagine my phone bill then)

So I have canceled my tpg internet service...told them to politely stick it and we are now using Darian's service...which i know for a fact is a local call as i rang telstra...

Do you ever have one of those days????

Today I woke up feeling yuk, and I don't know why.
The kids went to bed night before last as planned. i actually had all 4 asleep before 8pm so they were much nicer to each other yesterday but again it was after 10pm last night that the girls went down...but on the greater scheme of things thats no biggie..

I feel drained emotionally and physically. there is no rhyme or reason for it.

So this morning I took all the kids to the park down the road for a play...before it got too hot (it is supposed to reach 36 today) I had realised that we had been housed bound for 4 days....and that getting the kids out in the fresh air running and playing would be good for them.

the girls also had their weekend visit with their dad postponed as his wifes pregnancy isn't going to well. Shes now 27 weeks, needs bed rest and a quiet house. The girls are upset as they are worried for the baby ( their first baby was born prem and didn't make it).

So that is my whine for the day...hopefully what ever is making me feel this way can bugger off...i hate feeling like this...

4 kids, 2 cats and a tired mummy

Well a new year, a new look for my blog. But I have lost all the extras I had on my old blog so If any of you in blog land could help me jazz it up again it would be much appreciated...

well this week Megan came back from South Africa and has been spending the week with us, so I have had 4 kids at home....and boy has it been interesting... I am grateful that they all get along quite well, but we have had our moments...At the present they are all very tired as the little tykes have been staying up until 10 ish....SA is 7 hours behind us..so poor Megan is jet lagged and everyones routine is messed up....tonight I hope to have everyone in bed at 7.00 and asleep by 8....haha

So wish me luck as i am as tired as the kids....

2006.....A year in review

I was reading Rach's post and decided to do the same...so here goes

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Went onto an internet dating site....now that was an eye opener
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I tend not to make new year resolutions as i set myself up for failure, however I am still loosing weight (not as much as I like) but I am getting there
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No but I found out that I am going to be a great aunt in 2007
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No
5. What countries did you visit?
No not this year..but there are plans for 2007
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
A lot happened in 06....I mean alot so I think a slower pace in 07...time to sit back, relax and settle back into Perth
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 27...Darian first contacted me, 1st nov when we flew into perth, 4th Nov Darian and my first date, 30th nov...the robbie concert OMG....and a very special date of sunday 17th dec...cant tell you why yet....
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I think letting my fears go and trusting again...
9. What was your biggest failure?
I dont think i had one this year...
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nah not really
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new mobile phone...i love it
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one really
14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving to perth...it cost about $7000 all together
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting tickets and going to the Robbie concert and finally landing in the west again...I am here to stay
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
Make me pure - Robbie Williams...its my ring tone
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier...and in love
b) thinner or fatter? The same.....
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Nothing really I am pretty happy with what has been this year..
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
wasting time
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with my Fam.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
YES and I never thought in my wildest dreams that it would ever happen to me again
22. How many one-night stands?
NONE
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Greys Anatomy
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don't think I actually Hate anyone ... dislike what some people do .. yes ... but don't hate anyone
25. What was the best book you read?
OHhh my sister introduced me to a great series...Laurell K Hamilton....Anita Blake(Vampire Exicutioner) BLOODY FANTASTIC
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing off the top of my head...
27. What did you want and get?
Move back to Perth
28. What did you want and not get?
nope i am pretty happy with 2006...one of the best years for a while
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
the lake house
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 33 and went to dinner with Darian....
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
nope cant think of anything...
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
EKKKK horrible....
33. What kept you sane?
coffee....lots of coffee
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
OMG seeing Robbie Williams in the flesh would do it for anyone....
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Nothing really don't pay any attention to all that stuff
36. Who did you miss?
I missed my friends in Perth sooo much
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Met... Darian for sure...he has been the best thing to happen to me
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
I am Learning to trust and go with what I feel on the inside...
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
umm cant think of any at the moment...will work on it though

So there is me for 2006 .. If U choose to do this aswell ... Link me so can come C

Merry Christmas, little Jellyfish and all that....

Well another Christmas over and done with for another year. We had a very unusual and quiet Christmas. Still very stressful leading up to it as my 520L 2 year old fridge decided to stop working properly so we had to try and work around that.

Christmas eve Darian , the kids and I went to Tanya and Brads for a visit. Tanya is my oldest friend, we met when we were 8 and she is the kind of friend that it doesn't matter how much time has past we can still sit down and have a chat.

We took the kids to see the Christmas lights, there is a street in Connolly that every single house is done up. We had to park a block away and walk as there were so many people. It was amazing. We got home put the kids to bed and the power went out....and it was hot, so here is us trying to get presents out in the dark and because it was so still and quiet all the musical toys were SO loud...

Christmas morning the kids woke us up at a decent hour...7.30am they were busy showing us what Santa had given them in their stockings and such. The Precious clan and Miss arrived at about 10.30 for brekkie (very basic, croissants, pancakes and fruit kebabs) and then we opened all the presents . this year the adults had a secret Santa and I got a dusk candle and Darian got some Boerewors (South African sausage).

We passed on Christmas lunch and tried to have a nana nap in the arvo...yeah right.

The girls dad came and picked them up at 3.30pm and then Jen, Darian, Matthew and I went to the Precious house for a swim/BBQ...where we ate Boerewors and lots of other yummy stuff.

Well I had a fantastic weekend.
Darian was away at Kalgoorlie for the week for work and I missed him terribly. Friday night we had his work Christmas party so I dropped the girls off at their dads and came home to get ready. Aunty Jenni spent the day at the WACA watching the Ashes and came home early so that she could baby sit Matthew for me.
The Christmas party was at a little restaurant in Fremantle (cant remember the name) so in semi peak hour traffic it took us an hour to get down there. We were on time and had a nice meal and night.

Saturday we had a lazy day at home in the air con (36 outside) watching Australia whip England's butt in the cricket.

Sunday we went and collected Darian's daughter Megan so he could spend some time with her before she heads off to South Africa for Christmas. The girls came home and Darian and I put up the Christmas lights outside.
We all went to Heathridge park for carols by candlelight and fireworks...all the kids were great, Matthew was a little scared of the noise but wanted to watch anyway.. we took Megan home and the kids saw some houses done up with Christmas lights on the way...very happy children.

So today I braved the shops and picked up a few layby's for Christmas, I have never been this disorganized before but you get that and all I need to do is pick up a few more things for the kids and I am done...another year out of the way...

Wednesday.....another day.....

Another day.....We are settling into the ho hum of school holidays nicely. Which means I am counting down the days till school starts again...the girls are driving me crazy!!!! But to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way...they are with me and they are happy and safe...

Apart from listening to the girls bicker I haven't been doing much.

I need a trestle table to set up my scrapping stuff so i can start to scrap...it has been soooooo long and I miss it soooo much. I haven't even been into a scrapping shop since I have been back to Perth!!!!!

But sitting in my rocking chair today reading another Anita Blake novel (vampire executioner) I realised that I am happy and content with my life and that thing that I have been roaming the country for, I have found it. I no longer have itchy feet or feel the need to move again (though I am going to have to as this is a rental)

For the first time that I can remember I have stopped searching....

I just thought I would share as those who really know me would realise that this a big thing....

Back to real life

We have moved into our new house, the furniture arrived safe and I am almost unpacked.
The only major glitch is that I am unable to get broadband. We are in a broadband area but it seems that the phone line is shared or something and that it will cost me to free it to use it for broadband and since this is only a rental...They can forget it...So it is back to dial up. I am borrowing Darian's modem and account for the time being as he is in Kalgoolie for work this week...
The girls have finished school and are happy to be here.
They are settling into the routine of seeing their father every second weekend.
I have been seeing a lot of Darian and things are fantastic.
Life is good, things are great

The Robbie concert

I know I said that I would post the day after Robbie but things got hectic as usual....

All I can say is that Robbie was fan-bloody-tastic....
I got the kids to the respective babysitters and was on the train heading to Robbie at about 6pm, the train was full of Robbie goers and the ride when smooth. I found Jen and Miss very easily. I ate some dinner and we sat waiting. We were so far away....I would have loved to been able to get into the mosh pit but these were the only seats available and hey we were there so there is no way to complain...

The concert was unbelievable...He played all the best songs (apart from better man :(.....And yes he is as hot in real life....

I sang and screamed my self hoarse (we were surrounded by dead people who just sat there) but we danced, screamed and sang and had the best time

We got home at about midnight .......Great night....

Tonight is Robbie

I am sooooo excited, tonight is the night we go see Robbie..... A bit more about that later.

Tuesday night Darian took me for coffee to meet some of his friends (the closest thing to family he has in Australia) they are from South Africa as well. They are really nice people but I had to really try and contain myself and not laugh because most of the time I had no idea what they were saying due to their accents and that once they all started talking together they seemed to get faster and faster....A you had to be there kind of moment. But it was good.

Last night we took the kids to Sizzler for dinner as a combined birthday thing for Jacquie and myself, we all ate our selves silly but the kids had a great time.

Today I am stressed...We have an award ceremony to go to at the school and then Jen and Miss are heading on down to Subi to line up for the concert. I am dropping Matthew off at his grandma's at 4 but cant drop the girls off until 5.30 at their dads. I then have to get the train down to subi and then TRY and get in the gates before Robbie starts...I might not get in (even though we have reserved seats) I don't mind going down alone but I am worried about not meeting up with them....Going home alone bothers me....I am hoping there will be a huge police presence around.
But I am going to think positive and we are going to have a fantastic time......

Will write tomorrow and tell you how bloody fantastic it was

Happy Birthday to me

Yesterday was my birthday and I am happy to say that it was one of the best birthdays I have had in years. I had lunch with my 2 sisters and Darian took me to dinner last night, not before Jenni nearly slicing off her finger while chopping onions for dinner (trip to emergency, glue, steri strips and a tetanus shot)

My lounge suite was delivered this morning, it seems to take up the whole lounge.....LOL...

Tonight Talia is going bowling with the girl guides tonight and then I am off to meet Darians adopted family here is Aus. He has no real family here so they are as good as.

Tomorrow night the family are all going out to dinner to celebrate both mine and Jacquies birthdays as we are going to Robbie on hers....

And then finally the night is here.....Robbie.......

Will catch up when i can...

Life is beautiful

Things have been sooo busy here. The days seem to go too fast. The kids have settled into school beautifully so I have decided not to move them next year. Its not a huge drive and there don't seem to be many good quality schools in the area I will be renting.
The girls spent the past weekend with their dad and they seem to be settling in with the routine.
They are looking forward to moving into our house, I sign for the keys this Friday but the furniture wont be here until the 4th December.

However my new lounge will be delivered next week, a Christmas present from a very special person. Things are going very well on that front. He is such a special person and I feel very lucky to have met him.

Well I better go and clean up a bit, 10 people in a house can make some mess let me tell you

We have a sick house

Well it seems everyone in the house has either had or coming down with gastro. I have 5 kids home today and I myself not feeling the best.
My car arrived yesterday and I received a phone call from the realestate agent saying that I have the rental house I applied for...4 bed 2 bath in Quinns Rocks....

Heaps more has happened but at the moment things are a bit fuzzy

I went and picked up Miss from the airport on Sat and Miss, Darian and I took all 6 kids down to Hillarys for the afternoon to play...I met his daughter, she is sweet and all the kids get on really well

I forgot to mention that we took the kids to the world festival of magic on Friday night...It was a late one but everyone had a good time.

So I am going to go lie down while there is calm in the house

A week past already....

We have been here a week already, the girls are settling into school which is a huge relief. I knew that Talia was very apprehensive about a new school as she has been prone to bullying but she is coming home a happy girl which makes me a happy mummy. Eloise is out of bed and dressed straight into her uniform which speaks for it self...So on the school front all is good. I would love to keep them in this school next year but it all depends on where we manage to get a rental.

I have been looking at a few houses and have applied for one...I will know if I have been successful within 48 hours...I hope so. It s not a big house, 4 x 2 but it has a good feel about it. Rentals are as scarce as hens teeth and its only going to get worse.

VIP car removals rang yesterday to let me know that our cars have arrived in Perth early and will be delivered later this week. I am borrowing a friends car at the moment.

Speaking of that person I know some of you stickybeaks are dying to know about our date Friday night... I am happy to say that it went really well and that we are spending more time together. The girls spent the weekend with their dad so Darian took Matthew and I out for the day on Sat we went and had a look at a few rentals and to see how far north the urban sprawl went and then drove down to Freo. We ended up at Kings park lookout ( wow Perth has changed)
He has a very kind soul and I feel lucky to have met him...Things are only early days but it feels right. He has a 4 year old daughter that he sees every second weekend and I will be meeting her on Friday as we are all going to the magic show in Perth.

So I am happy and my life is good...Hope everyone else is good too

I have been badgered to update

Well where shall I start....hmm I might update over a few days as so much has happened.
Well at the end of the time in Vic came around very quick, the girls had their last day of school on Tuesday and they were a little sad to go. Which is understandable but were very excited about the plane flight and all. I managed to get them all into bed at a reasonable time.
Wed morn was an early start, I got up at 3.45 am so that I could get Molly in the cat carrier before she had the chance to escape outside. Miss found her asleep in Matthews room so she was put in the carrier before she knew what hit her. The rest of the kids awoke and we were packed and ready to go .....The trip down to Melb was interesting. Molly didn't cope to well with the car trip and i had to sedate her a half way.
We got to the airport with time to spare and we got all the bags etc checked in and by the time we walked up to the the departure lounge it was time to go....I had given Matthew some medicine to help with the plane trip as I wasn't sure how he would go with the noise and sitting still for 4 hours...

Well I needn't have worried as per usual he was a little angel, we managed to get onto a 747 and there were lots of seats spare so we could spread out a bit. The girls were happy as they had movies to watch. The trip went quick and easy I even managed to watch most of The lake house.
we landed and we met Avril ( my BIL mother) as she kindly offered to pick us up. We grabbed our bags and collected a very upset but drugged cat and headed off to the vet to drop her off.
It was so good to be back in WA, the air smells better and feels different. Perth has changed soo much since the 6 years that I left.
We dropped Molly off at the vet and drove to Jacquies house, Jac was at work so the kids and I had some quiet time. After lunch jac come home and we walked up to the school so that the kids could finally see each other and My girls could see the school and met the teachers before going the next day.
We have 6 very excited and happy kids in the house...All is well....

Time is flying

I expected the days to drag but they seem to be flying....A lot has been happening. Jen is spending most of her time down in Geelong looking for a house for Dave, Miss is at work and I am just busy tying up loose ends. I have finally finished packing and got a final quote of $3030....
The cars leave this coming Monday or Tuesday and then the kids and I leave Wed morn....

The kids have there last day of School on Tuesday and start at their new school on Thursday...

Sat we are seeing Bec to say goodbye and then some friends on Sunday.

I took Oscar the cat back to the vet yesterday so that his stitches could be removed and I was a little concerned as the stitches were broken again, I was exciting more surgery and if that was the case I was going to have him put to sleep...He doesn't have much more tail to remove. But the vet is optimistic, he said there was no point in doing another surgery but he is confident with time it will heal (it doesn't help that the dogs and himself keep licking it)...So he is on more antibiotics and time....

only have 8 days till we fly.....