Well - it has finally been delivered, emptied and taken away.
The house is now "busy" with boxes, and furniture. I've spent a couple of hours replacing UK plugs with Australian ones. Joy :-)
(TV is up and running off the PVR, and the PC is plugged into the Internet)
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Monday, April 24, 2006
drinks with the neighbours...
Saturday - we were invited round for a drink by our next door neighbours. He is an expat from 50 years ago, and she is a true aussie. We had a great chat (and picked up some emergency babysitters as well) ...
Sunday - off to get some more wool for louise - but the store was closed (it is hard to tell if somewhere will be open on a Sunday here). We bought two oil filled electric heaters instead - it is getting quite cool at night.
Week ahead -
Builder, plumber and gas man coming on Monday to make sure the house is safe;
ANZAC day on Tuesday (so day off)
Shipping container arrives at the house on Wednesday*.
Jon probably flys to Melbourne on Thursday.
ADSL - now enabled but can't properly test it until the home pc arrives (or a major reset of the adsl router/modem, losing all the settings I have from the old network.
Discovered that the two ethernet cables that poke out the floor in the back bedroom are run under the house - one to the study, and one to one of the other bedrooms.
Still don't know where the aerial extender in our bedroom pops up, nor what the 3 cat5 ethernet connectors are in various rooms (possibly Optus data/phone connectors??). Also don't know what the phone lines in the study are connected to...
*WHOOHOOO!!!!!
Sunday - off to get some more wool for louise - but the store was closed (it is hard to tell if somewhere will be open on a Sunday here). We bought two oil filled electric heaters instead - it is getting quite cool at night.
Week ahead -
Builder, plumber and gas man coming on Monday to make sure the house is safe;
ANZAC day on Tuesday (so day off)
Shipping container arrives at the house on Wednesday*.
Jon probably flys to Melbourne on Thursday.
ADSL - now enabled but can't properly test it until the home pc arrives (or a major reset of the adsl router/modem, losing all the settings I have from the old network.
Discovered that the two ethernet cables that poke out the floor in the back bedroom are run under the house - one to the study, and one to one of the other bedrooms.
Still don't know where the aerial extender in our bedroom pops up, nor what the 3 cat5 ethernet connectors are in various rooms (possibly Optus data/phone connectors??). Also don't know what the phone lines in the study are connected to...
*WHOOHOOO!!!!!
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Monday, April 17, 2006
Beached Whales
We spent the afternoon at Whale Beach (near Palm Beach).
Amelia now /loves/ the beach, and the sand, and the water. We had to drag her out of the ocean before the waves took her for good!
pictures to follow...
Amelia now /loves/ the beach, and the sand, and the water. We had to drag her out of the ocean before the waves took her for good!
pictures to follow...
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Saturday
we drove out to waroonga mall to pick up the outside canopy/umbrella we got at the same time as the patio set - only just fits into the car of course (once we have found the Myer "parcel pickup" area).
Will be nice for next summer :-)
Amelia was obviously tired from the trip out yesterday - instead of the usual 6.30am wakeup call, we didn't hear anything until gone 9am!
(which was lovely)
Will be nice for next summer :-)
Amelia was obviously tired from the trip out yesterday - instead of the usual 6.30am wakeup call, we didn't hear anything until gone 9am!
(which was lovely)
Friday, April 14, 2006
Friday - The Sydney Easter Show
Well - that was interesting; we spent the day at the Royal Easter Show - much like a UK County Show - lots of animals to see (altough when you've seen one goat, you've seen all 231 of them!).
We got a bus from the nearest stop to us - there are special buses run for events at the Sydney Olympic showground. Pay on the bus for a single ticket that gets you to and from the show, and into it as well (Amelia is free). 45 minutes later we were there - the show is located around the NAB Arena, next to the Telsta Stadium, all part of the venue that Sydney built for the 2000 Olympics.
We did spend the day there - Amelia enjoyed seeing the various animals, including getting to walk in the Dairy Farmers nursery (did I mention the fact that /everything/ was sponsored), and stroking lambs, goats, and a piglet.
We also (just to get into the Ozie way of life) went into the Showbags arena - Showbags are plastic bags with sweets/gifts/stickers etc in them - that you pay for. The bags claim that they are a bargin, and give you the RRP of the contents as well as the actual sale price. But I just don't get it - there were thousands of kids (and adults I must add) going round with 3 or 4 (or more) bags of sweets that they had bought. Outside there were fields of kids sitting eating the sweets looking sickly...
Showbags are such a big thing that the show guide ($5 on top of the entry fee) has half the guide dedicated to listing each of the bags, the contents, the sale price, and the RRP for the contents.
A typical bag:
Cadbury King Size - $10 (total retail value: $14.75)
Contents: 1x75gm Cadbury King Size Dairy Milk, 1x80gm Cadbury Boost, 1x55gms Turkish Delight, 1x50gm Cadbury Picnic, 1x55gm Cadbury Cherry Ripe, 1x50gm Cadbury Crunchie, 1xCadbury Cow Mascot, 1xPGA Childrens Golf Lesson.
So - $10 gets you 6 bars of chocolate, a small (nasty) stuffed toy, and a voucher for a golf lesson that you will almost certainly never use - saving you $4.75
That said, chocolate bars are much more expensive here - maybe the toy and golf lesson are valued at less than the $4.75, and you really are getting a saving on the sweets. Bugger - maybe they were good value!!??
We think Ameila really loved the Rodeo - we queued up to get into the NAB Arena and watched NSW vs Queensland "ride it out" against each other. Anyway, she went completely loopy watching the horses and riders, waving here arms and squealing loudly. She even clapped at one point, along with the crowds.
[btw - there were no Waland's competing in the 2000 olympics - we know as Louise checked the posts outside the Telstra Stadium which are marked with the names of all the athletes).
We got a bus from the nearest stop to us - there are special buses run for events at the Sydney Olympic showground. Pay on the bus for a single ticket that gets you to and from the show, and into it as well (Amelia is free). 45 minutes later we were there - the show is located around the NAB Arena, next to the Telsta Stadium, all part of the venue that Sydney built for the 2000 Olympics.
We did spend the day there - Amelia enjoyed seeing the various animals, including getting to walk in the Dairy Farmers nursery (did I mention the fact that /everything/ was sponsored), and stroking lambs, goats, and a piglet.
We also (just to get into the Ozie way of life) went into the Showbags arena - Showbags are plastic bags with sweets/gifts/stickers etc in them - that you pay for. The bags claim that they are a bargin, and give you the RRP of the contents as well as the actual sale price. But I just don't get it - there were thousands of kids (and adults I must add) going round with 3 or 4 (or more) bags of sweets that they had bought. Outside there were fields of kids sitting eating the sweets looking sickly...
Showbags are such a big thing that the show guide ($5 on top of the entry fee) has half the guide dedicated to listing each of the bags, the contents, the sale price, and the RRP for the contents.
A typical bag:
Cadbury King Size - $10 (total retail value: $14.75)
Contents: 1x75gm Cadbury King Size Dairy Milk, 1x80gm Cadbury Boost, 1x55gms Turkish Delight, 1x50gm Cadbury Picnic, 1x55gm Cadbury Cherry Ripe, 1x50gm Cadbury Crunchie, 1xCadbury Cow Mascot, 1xPGA Childrens Golf Lesson.
So - $10 gets you 6 bars of chocolate, a small (nasty) stuffed toy, and a voucher for a golf lesson that you will almost certainly never use - saving you $4.75
That said, chocolate bars are much more expensive here - maybe the toy and golf lesson are valued at less than the $4.75, and you really are getting a saving on the sweets. Bugger - maybe they were good value!!??
We think Ameila really loved the Rodeo - we queued up to get into the NAB Arena and watched NSW vs Queensland "ride it out" against each other. Anyway, she went completely loopy watching the horses and riders, waving here arms and squealing loudly. She even clapped at one point, along with the crowds.
[btw - there were no Waland's competing in the 2000 olympics - we know as Louise checked the posts outside the Telstra Stadium which are marked with the names of all the athletes).
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Roaches
Well, that was fun - Louise went to get Amelia up this morning, and just about stepped on a 1.5" cockroach making it's way across the floor :-)
(it's dead now of course)
(it's dead now of course)
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Slow Blog
I've worked out why the blog was so slow - and fixed it.
(any slowness now is either blogger, or your internet connection)
(any slowness now is either blogger, or your internet connection)
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Preistley Close
Moving.
Well, we have moved into Preistley Close now - 4 bedrooms, bathroom (with a separate shower), an en-suite, a "family room", study (also known as a little room at the side of the house with no function), and an unheated pool.
Not bad!
Now all we need is our possessions!!! (which should now have arrived in Sydney - just have to wait 2-5 weeks for AQIS to do the quarantine bit).
RealEstate Agent
We spent over 2 hours on Sunday afternoon going though the document from the realestate agent about the state of each room of the house - first point - the cleaners they apparently employed neglected to touch the floors and windows, and the gas heater has an interesting collection of dust on the air filter. Second Point - "minor marks" does not equate to great big scratch on the polished floors, which we will not be held responsible for when we eventually move out...
Fridge
After being messed around by Retravision Chatswood (who we will not be dealing with again, even if they did give us a great price), we now have a fridge - a Samsung SRS618DP- we haven't had the water/ice bit plumbed in yet, but it works, and we can actually buy chilled/frozen food when we go shopping (at Woolworths, St ives Shopping village) .
Credit Card
Got a letter from Westpac saying my credit card application has been accepted; this is good as without a credit history, it is proving difficult for somethings (plus the Westpac Handycard is crap for actually using as a debit card - a max of $2000 worth of payments or ATM withdrawals per day, and then a max of $5000 worth of payments online - if you request it and wait 5 days!!). Will try to pick it up at lunch time today - they need 3 payslips, I only have 2.
Phone Line
The realestate agent left no details about the provision of phone/cable at the house - looks like the Cable connection is through Optus, and the phone though Telstra - will have to have a think about what/who we want to use for broadband and then decide if we get the main phone line reconnected, or use the phone lines which I think are hosted off the cable connection.
(so still no internet at home, plus no pc unless I bring my work laptop home with me)
Mmm - New Shoes
We also did some more shopping at the weekend, this time at Hornsby - Amelia got her first shoes - nice pink Clarkes, which she had trouble with to start - she walked like they were moon boots. However, when we came to take them off last night during dinner, there were screams...
Also got a "quilt" (oz name for a duvet) - it is getting far too cold at night to just have sheets on the bed.
Commute to Work
I had a half day yesterday due to the extra hours in Melbourne (and also see below), the drive into work from home at lunch time only took 10 minutes! Bliss. This morning during the rush hour the same journey took 45 minutes!!! And it is increasingly looking like there is no simple public transport option.
Ultrasound
As well as a half day because of Melbourne, we went to Hornsby Hospital to get Louise's first ultrasound. Baby-two appears ok, and confirmed a due date of the 3rd week in October.
:-)
Well, we have moved into Preistley Close now - 4 bedrooms, bathroom (with a separate shower), an en-suite, a "family room", study (also known as a little room at the side of the house with no function), and an unheated pool.
Not bad!
Now all we need is our possessions!!! (which should now have arrived in Sydney - just have to wait 2-5 weeks for AQIS to do the quarantine bit).
RealEstate Agent
We spent over 2 hours on Sunday afternoon going though the document from the realestate agent about the state of each room of the house - first point - the cleaners they apparently employed neglected to touch the floors and windows, and the gas heater has an interesting collection of dust on the air filter. Second Point - "minor marks" does not equate to great big scratch on the polished floors, which we will not be held responsible for when we eventually move out...
Fridge
After being messed around by Retravision Chatswood (who we will not be dealing with again, even if they did give us a great price), we now have a fridge - a Samsung SRS618DP- we haven't had the water/ice bit plumbed in yet, but it works, and we can actually buy chilled/frozen food when we go shopping (at Woolworths, St ives Shopping village) .
Credit Card
Got a letter from Westpac saying my credit card application has been accepted; this is good as without a credit history, it is proving difficult for somethings (plus the Westpac Handycard is crap for actually using as a debit card - a max of $2000 worth of payments or ATM withdrawals per day, and then a max of $5000 worth of payments online - if you request it and wait 5 days!!). Will try to pick it up at lunch time today - they need 3 payslips, I only have 2.
Phone Line
The realestate agent left no details about the provision of phone/cable at the house - looks like the Cable connection is through Optus, and the phone though Telstra - will have to have a think about what/who we want to use for broadband and then decide if we get the main phone line reconnected, or use the phone lines which I think are hosted off the cable connection.
(so still no internet at home, plus no pc unless I bring my work laptop home with me)
Mmm - New Shoes
We also did some more shopping at the weekend, this time at Hornsby - Amelia got her first shoes - nice pink Clarkes, which she had trouble with to start - she walked like they were moon boots. However, when we came to take them off last night during dinner, there were screams...
Also got a "quilt" (oz name for a duvet) - it is getting far too cold at night to just have sheets on the bed.
Commute to Work
I had a half day yesterday due to the extra hours in Melbourne (and also see below), the drive into work from home at lunch time only took 10 minutes! Bliss. This morning during the rush hour the same journey took 45 minutes!!! And it is increasingly looking like there is no simple public transport option.
Ultrasound
As well as a half day because of Melbourne, we went to Hornsby Hospital to get Louise's first ultrasound. Baby-two appears ok, and confirmed a due date of the 3rd week in October.
:-)
Thursday, April 06, 2006
ClustrMaps - information visualization of visitor locations - zoom map
ClustrMaps - information visualization of visitor locations - zoom map
Someone asked who the Swedish fan club were - mainly ex-collegues in Ericsson UK - their web proxy is in Sweden...
Someone asked who the Swedish fan club were - mainly ex-collegues in Ericsson UK - their web proxy is in Sweden...
Melbourne
If it is thursday, then I must be in Melbourne (again). It is, and I am.
Another 3 days in Melbourne, reliving UK weather :-)
Meanwhile back in Sydney, Louise is packing all our stuff from the appartment in North Sydney, and driving it over to our new (rented) house in St Ives. Thanks Louise - I know it is difficult because I'm not there to help.
Meanwhile, our new bed should arrive (in St Ives) today so that we have something to sleep on, as well as the new patio furniture, so we have something to sit at!
(If we are really lucky, we might even have the fridge delivered!!)
Another 3 days in Melbourne, reliving UK weather :-)
Meanwhile back in Sydney, Louise is packing all our stuff from the appartment in North Sydney, and driving it over to our new (rented) house in St Ives. Thanks Louise - I know it is difficult because I'm not there to help.
Meanwhile, our new bed should arrive (in St Ives) today so that we have something to sleep on, as well as the new patio furniture, so we have something to sit at!
(If we are really lucky, we might even have the fridge delivered!!)
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Walking
Forgot to say yesterday/over the weekend - Got back from Melbourne to be greeted by Ameila - walking to me across the lounge!!
When I left on Wednesday she was still doing one to two steps then realising she was walking; and sitting down on the floor.
Now, it is toddling everywhere, any number of steps, with or without a little bucket in her hands :-)
(she is also really enjoying playing with an empty Huggies* nappy box, using it as a walker, or a car, or a table!)
*Huggies are expensive here - but much better that other brands!! see http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3379772 for more info
When I left on Wednesday she was still doing one to two steps then realising she was walking; and sitting down on the floor.
Now, it is toddling everywhere, any number of steps, with or without a little bucket in her hands :-)
(she is also really enjoying playing with an empty Huggies* nappy box, using it as a walker, or a car, or a table!)
*Huggies are expensive here - but much better that other brands!! see http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3379772 for more info
Bus home from Ericsson to North Sydney
Just discovered that there are two buses on route 290 that I can get home from Macquarie Park to North Sydney - the normal one, which gets me home directly, and the "via the freeway" bus that completely skips North Sydney, and drops me off in the CBD, where upon I have to get the train up to North Sydney!!!
that was a surprise!!
that was a surprise!!
Monday, April 03, 2006
Weekend
Back at work now - spent much of the weekend looking for a good deal on Garden Furniture, so we have
a) something to sit on before our container arrives, and
b) something for the garden (obviously).
Being Autumn we hoped that we could get a good deal, and looked at a number of places on the North Shores.
In the end we got a display set at Myers in Waringah Mall - plus a nice parasol thingy for next summer - (seems very strange to be saying that in April!!!)
Should get delivered on Thursday at the new place.
a) something to sit on before our container arrives, and
b) something for the garden (obviously).
Being Autumn we hoped that we could get a good deal, and looked at a number of places on the North Shores.
In the end we got a display set at Myers in Waringah Mall - plus a nice parasol thingy for next summer - (seems very strange to be saying that in April!!!)
Should get delivered on Thursday at the new place.
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