Last week of current job

This week will be my last week lecturing at Notre Dame. I've really enjoyed it, but I won't miss the travelling. 45 minutes to Fremantle and back, for a 2 hour lecture is a bit of a bind, no matter how good the money was ;-)

Still, on to pastures new! This time next week I'll be back in the primary classroom, where I intend to stay for a good few years to get some 'coal face' experience under my belt. Then, who knows...watch this space ;-) 

                                            South Terrace - Fremantle, Christmas Eve, 2012

Not so 'uniform'

Some bright spark in Liam's school decided to fix the winter uniform fittings during the Easter holidays. So we'll be heading out shortly to see the nice ladies in the uniform shop! And they are nice. It's just strangely surreal to take your twelve-year old to a fitting appointment for school uniform.

At the risk of sounding old, 'in my day' your mother bought you the bog standard pleated skirt (that was far too long), the extra wide school tie, the shirt that was so starched it hurt to turn your head to the side, and who can forget the socks? Those extremely attractive knee length white ones with more holes that a block of Swiss cheese....ah, those were the days :-)

Still, I guess this morning is just another sign of things moving on. I also doubt there'll be much change out of $600 😜

Aussie Autumn

I think I'm getting used to the fact that we're now in Autumn here in Oz. It's starting to feel a little cooler ( and when I say cooler, I mean low 20's). I guess Liam and I will also have to get used to having our birthdays in the middle of Winter! given that July/August are a couple of the worst months weather-wise.

Today, I decided to switch my blog to Blogger. I had used Wordpress before, mainly to ramble on about the process of actually getting out here in the first place. I considered transferring all my previous posts, but then thought no. I'm guessing they weren't that interesting the first time round ;-)

I decided on Blogger because a good friend of mine is on here. She's sailing round the world shortly, and I can't say how amazed and full of admiration I am! I look forward to following her regular updates (and when I get my first pay cheque from my new job, she'll also be getting a donation) Although Claire, if you're ever bored enough to read this, you had better get your arse here for a visit when you arrive down under! You have been warned :-D

Today is also the first day of the school holidays here, so Liam is 'chillin' in his room, with his iPad, Xbox and gaming computer....oh it's a tough life :-)

I have one week (next week) left to work at the University of Notre Dame, and then I start my full time teaching post in a local school. I'm delighted to have secured it. It's a fantastic primary school, and the principal seems lovely and very supportive. It will however, be a 15 minute drive to work, which is why we had to go out and get a car at the weekend. That arrives at the end of the month, so although our bank balance is a little lighter, at least I can actually get to my new job. Liam is also pleased that he won't have to walk the half hour to school every morning in the winter....again, teenagers have SUCH a hard life these days! >:-)

I 

I thought I'd start with a picture of our local beach in Rockingham! This was taken around Christmas 2012. I have to be honest, although Liam and I had been in Western Australia since October at that point, it wasn't until that moment, standing on the jetty, did I appreciate just how lucky we were.

Having come from harsh Scottish winters, and lets face it, days upon days filled with rain, it was very surreal. This truly is paradise...