time for another update

Still limited access to the internet. Anyways, here goes:

CARS
We've got it down to two cars - either a Mazda 6 or a Subaru liberty/legacy - both in the wagon version (estate!). Given the price of reasonable second hand cars here*, we will probably end up buying a new car. (then we can get rid of the stupid holden commodore hire car, with it's strange quirks)

*cars don't depreciate as fast as they do in the UK - depreciation does start from when the car was built, not registered (so a new unsold 2005 car is automatically worth less than the 2006 car next to it in the show room), but it is nowhere near as steep as the UK.

HOUSES
We've found a place we like in St Ives, for rent. It has a pool, and some garden for amelia. No aircon (I think), but was nice and cool when we went for an 'inspection'. So, we've given the real estate place our references and a holding deposit, and we are just waiting for confirmation that we are acceptable tenants. It takes ages to look at houses and find something you are happy with. Lots of rental places are ok, until you see the kitchen/bathroom... then you remember that they are rental, and some landlords don't want to invest in the building...

MONEY
Have a bank account with westpac (no fees as long as you keep $5k in the account at all times). Transfered some UK money over last week - however the $$$'s don't arrive until the forex company has been paid - this takes 3 working days from our UK account (done online using normal BACS transfer), and so it's not here yet...

FOOD
Been to COLES (a bit like waitrose) and WOOLWORTHS (a bit like tesco's) - ack - both stores were much smaller than you would get in an express store in the UK, and the layout is a little all over the place. The 2nd COLES we went to was 2/3 through a refit - which was being done whilst the store was open, so there were whole isles with only a few items on them. OK - there are a lot more "speciality" shops, but when you are in a hurry and want to do a single shop, a supermarket makes more sense (especially with a baby). And what is it with the person on the till putting only a few items in the plastic bag when packing for you - and they make such a fuss about the number of plastic bags Aus uses!

WEATHER
Unseasonally warm - 7 degrees higher than normal for this time of year (autumn) - about 30d in the day, and 22d at night.