Purpleturtle comes to Perth

[suzywong]

Well you probably know that Cottesloe is one of the best beaches in the country, great white shark attacks not withstanding.

I think I saw you post that your kids are 4 and 2. Well let me tell you they are going to have a ball here.

Where do you live at the moment?

We're in sunny (?) Sheffield, where dh and I met 13 years ago!

Susannah (Susie) was 4 in April, and Noah is a typical 2 and a half year old boy. Not planning on feeding them to sharks at this precise moment in time. ( But there are days...)

I saw your post about playparks the other day - 3 months definitely won't be long enough to do them all justice, will it?

There is sooooooo much to do here, there really is.
And it's full of Poms, so you won't feel too lonely. It can be a big culture shock; outside of the city centres (Perth and Fremantle) is deathly quiet on the streets by 7pm, that freaks me out having lived in London for so long. But Cottesloe always has a buzz, that certainly is a great choice of location to start with

I am south of the river just below Applecross so about 12 ks from Cottesloe, but then with the traffic the way it is that is nothing. So I can stalk you very easily (joke, I don't think we have posted much on the same threads but I hope you have an idea of my SOH, irreverant and bawdy, but don't let that put you off a meet up)

I have 2 sons, 4 in April and 2 next month, and my name is Susanna too.

If there is anything you want to know do ask as I may be able to point you in the right direction in terms of information.

Are you doing the move off your own bat or is your work helping out?

Don't worry, I can cope with your SOH - this is because I have been practising by stalking you on MN prior to making contact to extract all useful information from your brain.

We are pretty much moving off our own bat - spending the equity from our house. We have a contact in Cottesloe who knows the kind of stuff we've been doing in Sheffield, and is interested in exploring whether we might be able to help him implement some of it there. It may or may not come off. All we know for certain is that God has told us it's time to move on from Sheffield, and at the moment this is the possibility we're exploring.

Although we only have direct contact with one person at the moment, the great thing about churches is that you can turn up as a total stranger and be accepted into a community on trust pretty quickly. I am expecting that there will be a few people on hand to help us find our feet. But don't think that lets you off the hook - I will be picking your brain, too. Location of the shop where I can buy Marmite, to start with. (see, I read that thread too)

Current priority is sorting out the contents of our house before Pickfords arrive to put it all into storage.

that's easy - the British Shop in Riverton Forum. And Tesco salad cream and Revels and Minstrels

You're very fortunate to have that church community going on, that will make a big difference.

I'm off to bed now (GMT+7 don't you know) but seriously if there's anything you need to know resurrect this thread. Pinkwhistle, whom I haven't seen post for a while, is in Perth too. And Israel was, but she had some personal problems and I wonder if she returned to the UK.

Night night

Hey PT
we went |link{http://www.tumbulgumfarm.com.au/photo_gallery.php\here today} it's about an hour from Cottesloe but well worth it

Can't get that to work SW. What's there?

here

Looks good. We'd have to choose a day when dd doesn't decide to freak at farm animals though.

What's up in Perth?

Dh saw an article in the paper today which said that while the UK climate is getting warmer, it's getting colder in Australia. Must be doing something wrong, somewhere along the line!

I think we've got 10 days to be ready to move, so I've set dh to clearing out the garden shed this afternoon. I'd better go and supervise.

well it did snow in Canberra apparently but here is was another fabulous 21 degrees of glorious sunshine

I took the boys to the Western Power Parkland in Kings Park this morning.

So 10 days! What have you got on your list of "to do"?

Well, first up was booking the tickets! We've just done it. EEEK! We should arrive in Perth on 13 September.

Meanwhile I have to sort out my contract with Pickfords, because we're being awkward and our international move needs to start out as a warehouse store, so I've got to move departments in Pickfords, blah blah blah.

Dh is home, but he doesn't really do organisation. He's holding down the practical stuff like making lunch, and lifting heavy stuff when I ask him too.

Anyone who pops round to say goodbye leaves with stuff we don't want anymore - a neighbour took a play tunnel and toddler slide away today.

I'm beginning to get a bit antsy about what we'll want with us for the next 3-5 months, and what we can live without. I'm on the verge of packing suitcases, just to see how much stuff there'll be and doing a cull if necessary. And I'm trying to think about the different paperwork we might want to be able to lay our hands on.

Oh, and because I haven't got much on, I've started to potty train ds this week. He's doing very well indeed - just shouted from the next room 'Did it!' and I hadn't even prompted him.

Kings Park looks cool. Showed the website to dd - dh was more impressed!

clever old ds

well my advice is put aside some money and get to a charity shop (op-shop) as soon as you get here with the kids and let them choose some stuff. Ds1 had to wait 4 months for his toys to arrive and it really unsettled him and threw him once the novelty had worn off.

I know you said the church is helpful but if you need anything just ask me

Thanks Suzy!

I am planning on bringing a little train set, and some doll stuff, which won't take a lot of room in the suitcase. They'll have their LeapPads for the plane. Beyond that, if we've got paper and crayons we should be okay!

I've halved the toys they've got, and it's given the remnant a real new lease of life! I just hope they're as pleased to see it all again sometime in February!

Mind you, if I don't find a way to get off MN, I'm never going to get anything packed up anyway. LOL

\link{http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDW12300.txt\this is deepest winter

terrible isn't it?

bugger
serves me right for showing off

I'm sorry, does that thing reckon 15 degrees is cold weather?

yes
people put on hats and scarves for 15 degrees although so far I have yet to see any woollen gloves

Anyhow it turned out nice again today..not a cloud in the sky

Perhaps I'll pack my winter boots after all!

Idiot question of the day:
Will our vhs children's videos work in Australian video machines?

yes, dear, they will

Thank God for that!

Been caught out by Americans before now. Thought I'd check.

I've probably missed you for tonight, but today's question is:

Do you have any idea how much excess baggage costs with Singapore Airlines? We're just sort of 'practice' packing cases, and dh and I are already slightly over our measly 20kg allowance. The kids cases should have a bit of leeway for us to juggle stuff about, but we haven't even started on essential books yet!

I don't know sorry
but call t hem up and ask what the maximum size hand luggage is in terms of dimensions and fill then full of your books and stuff like that
and wear all your woolies and boots

sorry not much help, dh always does all the packing, I am a packing a divvy

Other way round in our house! At least this time I'm not having to tell him how many pairs of pants to pack - just put them all in!

I've set dd the task of filling a little bag with essential toys. Ds won't get a choice!

If I look like a tramp when we first meet, it'll be because I've just chucked a pile of clothes out in a state of panic. Won't know till I try if I can make a co-ordinating outfit! Oh well, if not, I'll just have to go shopping

Were you on MN at 1am last night?