Friday Afternoon / Evening and Saturday Morning

There was an expat meet in the city tonight, we had been to one the first week we arrived and not only had a great time, but got some fab hints and tips. Both Jason and I wanted to go, Tom agreed to child sit for us, but we thought it would be nice if we all went and then spent some time in the city on Saturday. We found ourselves a cheap hotel, and after picking the kids up from school I headed towards the city. We had already agreed that I would not drive in the city, you need to have a look at hook turns and if you understand them, you are a better person than me, so Jason would get the train out and meet us somewhere to complete the drive in.

We arrived at the hotel and dumped our stuff and went straight out to meet Maggie and Mitch for a curry, it has to be said that curries are not the same over here as in the UK; it was Ok, but nowhere near Akbar’s standards. Tom was disappointed as he wants to go to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, apparently there is one in the CBD somewhere. For starter Moo and Sam shared the Sheikh kebabs, the chef came out and spoke to them he was so surprised that kids were eating curry, let alone kebabs, Mollie even had fish masala, needless to say it was an expensive meal for us, once the kids had finished.

Jason then took the kids to the room as it was nearly 9 o clock and then came back to the pub where we were meeting everyone. It was great, those we had met before were straight over asking how things were going, were we settled, it was like being interviewed and I just felt as though we were repeating ourselves as we answered the same questions. There were a few new faces too, which was good. We eventually left at about 1 o clock, having had a lovely night and agreement to meet a couple of the families again soon.

We all had a fab night’s sleep, in real beds with proper bedding; the kids thought it was heaven. But we woke up to rain on Saturday and when it rains, it rains!!! We threw our stuff in the car and had breakfast while reading the papers in true Oz, Cafe culture style, even the kids now drink coffee, Tom thinks he is a connoisseur of fine coffee; he even likes the iced coffees you can get.

We were going to go to an observation point but with the rain and fog wouldn’t get to see a great deal so had to re think our plans. We went to Queen Victoria Market, it really is a great place, some of the stuff is cheap tack and rubbish, but there is some good stuff too, we bought Sam and Tom new tops and Moo and I got boots, well it is winter now and our feet are getting cold, it has forecast hail for this weekend, so they will come in handy. We had a couple of hours wandering about then set off back home but on the beach road for a change.

We got back, unpacked, sorted out some washing and then went to the development BBQ which was being held in the show house, we arrived at about 3.30 and got back home about 8ish, we weren’t the last to leave, well, I suppose we were, with the last couple to leave. We met some lovely people and I wasn’t offended in the least when Doree came across and said that she had pointed us “Poms” out to her husband who it turned out was a £10.00 pom. Mick (her hubby) was from near Norfolk and they were a lovely couple, we also met Kerry and Stephen who are Ozzies, but he has the same sense of humour as Jason and they go on really well and Hayley, whose hubby was working, they are from the UK and have been here about 2 years. It was a great afternoon and we really enjoyed ourselves and have agreed to have a Wii fit night and invite them.

As an aside, it is now Saturday evening, it is very wet, the wind is howling and it is really cold, looks like winter has definitely arrived.