So, I don't like to whinge (actually,
that's not true, I love to whinge, but realise that nobody wants to
read a blog that is nothing but whining) but, in the interests of
being honest, I am going to indulge.
People keep asking how we are settling
in and the truth of the matter is that, we aren't settling in and
can't really settle for a while. In some ways it is as though we are
still on holiday – rather more wine being bought, still in the
“hey, we have to buy pork pies and English chocolate!” - phase,
but to be honest, this is getting a little wearisome. Because we
don't have the time or the cashflow to do the other things one would
do on holiday – sight see, eat at nice places etc.
The older two are at school, but we
still have Lydia at home. The local school – the one Juliette is
attending – is a specialist sports college and considering Lydia is
the least sporty person in the world, we thought she ought to have
the chance to try for one of the two grammar schools. BUT.
Apparently, to coincide with our arrival in England, the grammar
schools have decided to change the way that they run the testing,
which means that neither the county council, who are supposed to run
the tests, or the schools, who the county council think are supposed
to run the tests, have a clue what's happening and at this rate it
looks like she may be at home till Easter. Which means that I can't
even begin to look for work, be it packing shelves in Sainsbury's,
teaching, or cleaning toilets, since we don't know where my
chauffeuring skills will be required – Buckingham, Winslow or
Aylesbury (five minute drive, ten minute drive, or 25 minute drive,
in other words!)
Meanwhile, Rupert is still working for
the Brisbane office and hasn't had time to apply for a job here,
which means that we don't know whether he will be disappearing to
London for 24 hours a day, or whether he will be able to get
something local and a bit more family oriented. What's more
significant, is the fact that he thinks we shouldn't get a dog until
he knows whether we can pay the vets bills.....
And of course we still haven't got any
stuff and am seriously missing it all now – especially the ironing
board, the mop and the hoover! At some point in every day, somebody
says, “I'm just going to play the piano – oh, it's on the the
ship.” Though we have been VERY lucky as have an array of blow up
beds and mattresses supplied by sisters and sofa and chairs provided
by neighbours, it will be nice to have our own stuff – to have
shelves and cupboards so that we don't have to have piles of papers
lying around on the floor everywhere.
Had a melt down a few days ago as it
really hit that this is it. We are here now and won't be going home.
It's not Australia I miss, I have to say – not yet. But I do miss
my friends, I miss being warm, I miss knowing what it's like to be
able to walk around without feeling like the michelin man. Doesn't
help that it's Australia day weekend, I suspect. Knowing that most of
my friends are sitting round the barbie eating bugs and steak, the
annual ride-one lawnmower races pootling around the streets.
In celebration, we took the kids to the
cinema last night – thought they should learn some local history by
seeing The Imitation Game as Bletchley Park is just round the corner
from here. Well, that was a good idea. Felt much cheerier after
seeing that....
Okay, that's enough. I do have a job,
after all. The fact that it will only be once a month for a while, is
not paid, is neither here nor there, as it is still a bizarre, dream
job. More about that in a few days....
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