Okay, okay, time for another blog…stop nagging already!

Sheesh but time is flying! I can’t believe that we’ve been here almost two months already. Our apartment in Cammeray seems world away now – but the Manly apartment is definitely the better option – lack of furniture and all!

It seems we may wait a while longer for our sofas now though (people here look at you oddly if you call them couches; unless they’re just looking at me oddly…?). It seems last month the bosses forgot that they paid for our accommodation, so they took it off this month’s salary, which was a bit unexpected. But the good news is that Grant will now get paid fortnightly (they seem to do it that way here, monthly payment is the exception), so hopefully we can last it out. Although I must say the camper chairs are taking strain – one of them was very unceremoniously down-graded to a footrest, and we have added another to our collection. Another highlight for the month was getting our washing machine. Second hand, but from someone selling up & going back home to the UK; since we could empathise with that, we did her a favour and got a washer (yep, new terminology for washing machine) for a bargain price. Making progress!

This last week the weather turned a bit dodgy, with some rain, etc. But the temps didn’t get much below 16°C, and today, you’d swear it was summer again. Happy birthday to Kim, love from the weather in Australia. But seriously, I was saying to Grant, I can’t remember when last there was such nice weather around the end of April. Apparently winter is coming soon – although I feel that more when I go to Melbourne than here in Sydney. The cold there is more like Joberg. Nice place, Melbourne, but I’m not too upset that we didn’t end up there. Besides with the number of times I go there, it’s like a second home anyway.

Last weekend we went to the Belgian Beer Café at the Rocks in Sydney (yes there is actually a place called that …), and that was quite cool; their speciality (aside from beer) is mussel pots, but don’t worry, I didn’t want to make you jealous, so I didn’t have any! I did try cherry & raspberry beer though – not too bad, but beer is not for me. I also had my first ferry ride that night (getting to and from the city) – I must say, the city, harbour bridge & opera house are quite spectacular from that vantage point. Next time we’ll take the camera.

And for all those people who thought we’d miss the Westrand – we heard a car drive past the other night pumping ‘Barbie girl’….

Life is really good here – the only thing missing is the family & friends. Keep well guys, and come visit soon – we didn’t get a place with a guest room for nothing (although give us some notice so we can furnish it! ;-)).

Karen