Where does the time go?

Crumbs, it really has been a while since I last blogged and it seems like a lot has happened too!

My little sister arrived on the 28th December to glorious Melbourne weather and a great big hug from both of us. I had been so looking forward to seeing her, I couldn't stop smiling. The next morning as I was making her breakfast I was thinking silly things like "My little sister's here and I get to make her brekkie!" Time with her went all too quickly but I'm glad she didn't spend all of her time with us. I would have got used to her being here and saying goodbye would have been absolutely awful.
We had so much fun showing her how at home we are here and doing the touristy things. I'd never seen the Great Ocean Road in summer and the sparkle of the sea every time we turned a corner (and there are plenty of those LOL) was stunning. We did the animal stuff and the city too! I'd made a point of telling her that as it was her holiday she could do anything she liked and she certainly took me up on that! She decided she wanted to go up the Eureka tower and do the 'Edge' as well. I don't like heights!!!! It was a tad scary and I really didn't like it when I could see through the floor too.
We had a fab time and her goodbye dinner was a lovely evening. I'd been doing really well, not getting too sad and then she went and made a really nice speech as part of her thank you and goodbyes! Well that was it, tears all round.

Luckily there was much to look forward to when she left - I was heading back to work. Well really I was starting my first proper job since we got here and I was really looking forward to it. Before term began there was the Australia Day celebrations to be had. We had a fab day at Balnarring Picnic Races with friends. This is well worth a trip. You park your car near the race track (well almost on the track really), set up your picnic blanket, eat, drink and gamble for the day. The weather was great and we had a really good day. Neither of us had been to the races before and it is a lot less formal than things like Cup Day but we'll certainly go again. We had a barbie with all the neighbours on the Sunday and had a great time again, they have all made us feel really welcome and are a great bunch of people.

Term began with a couple of teacher days (groan from the parents who just want to pack their kids off to school!) and I was surprised at how nervous I was. I've been teaching for over 8 years but it was like starting all over again. Luckily the staff are so friendly and supportive. I feel like I've known some of them for ages - lots of joking and laughing goes on (yes some at my expense but only because I'm the school's token 'pom') and I really enjoy work. I also have a great class of kids. Initially I was employed as a part time teacher but at the moment I'm full time and loving it. Being in a Catholic school was a bit daunting as well but my first mass went without embarrassment and we're (yes Mr B too) off to mass tomorrow (Sunday) for the staff commissioning mass.
Monday was a good day in particular - I still can't get over the novelty of being able to come home from work, put my bathers on and head straight for the beach. It was so warm and the beach was quite quiet, we had a lovely swim before heading back for dinner.

Mr B is still a jolly postman (well he wasn't at Christmas - there was too much mail!). He had his final assessment this week and has passed his probation - he's now a fully fledged postie. I think he quite enjoys his job really - especially the bit where he gets to finish at lunch times most days. I think I may just have to start leaving notes of jobs for him, I'd hate for him to get bored!

Well that's about all for now - got to get ready to go out!