JoHatts Update

[johatts]

Saturday 12th July

Well, we have lived here now for 3 1/2 years. Christ, how time flies! We landed on wednesday 9th Feb 2005!!!
Today we said goodbye to my father in law Adrian and his wife Gloria . For some reason, I have no idea why , it is getting harder and harder to say goodbye to people when they go! I bawled when I said goodbye on the phone today (as I was working I couldnt go to the airport!). I think when you havent seen someone in a few years you notice their fragility and how they have changed.
Adrian still looks well but is still more fragile than he has been before. They have done a 22 day Aussie tour before they arrived in Brissie to see us. When they got here we were both sick with the flu which didnt help matters!!! LOL! We have done a few things with them this time and had a beautiful day out at Byron yesterday.
Last week as some of you will be aware my parents were awarded their CPV visa. The wait for this visa is horrendous but the feeling of relief when you get it, undescribable!!! Mum and Dad have waited almost 18 months for it and were caught up with the halt on VISAs in January of this year. Now once the house is sold they can buy a ticket and away they go.
We have been doing reno work to our house and have recently converted the garage to a study and had a double carport built. This has made our house our home now. its not just a house we bought , its a home we`ve made. Does that make sense??? I cant wait to show it off to my Mum and Dad. I hope that they like it and are proud of us in our life here.
Someone on a post the other day said to me "we have a no nonsense, no bull**** approach to life here and we have embraced Australia for what it is". I think thats why we settled so damn quick. We took on Australia at face value and head on. So they dont sell food we used to eat, well then so what - we ate something else!!!!. So we dont get twilight and it gets dark early - we turn a light on!! We haev got on with life!
We have had sad times here too. Since we have been here I have lost my Nanna (Dads Mum). That was the hardest time. I wanted to go back but what would I have gained by going home???? So I bit the bullet and stayed in Oz. Mark and I have also lost a close friend (one that was kind of responsible for us getting together!!). We have had horrible bouts of homesickness too but you know what people..........it hurts but you get on with life. You have to. We made the choice to come here. No-one made it for us!!!!

I love my life here, I love my house, I love the friends that I have made and for the first time in a long time i ADORE my work!!!! I see my husband more and we spend more time together, quality time as a couple. Thats gotta be worth it!!!

More later!

[Jo&Rich]

Nice post, glad it's all fitting into place so well for you. When you're feeling a bit down, it's nice to read something positive, to see that if you stick at it, it can work out well.
Jo x

[calNgary]

Top post Jo ,I think you hit the nail on the head when you mention the go it get approach to life out here,i think that can sometimes be the make or break of settling here.Im so happy for you especially with your mum and dad coming over ,your life will be complete girl and you deserve a big pat on the back ! Long may your hapiness continue and you best get swatting for citizenship now,lol
Cal x

[Forgetmenot]

So pleased you are settled and happy. Life is what we make it.

[minlady]

Great to hear you are so happy jo... makes a nice change to hear happy rather than gloom and doom... and you are so right...life IS what you make it.... if you come to Oz expecting a larger version of the UK you are bound to fail.... you have got to mix in with the culture and get on with life...so what if you have to make some adjustments...... life wouldn't be exciting if you didn't!!

Great news about your mum and dad too... i am sure they are already really proud of you....look what you have become..how could they not!!

min x

[stockies]

Great post jo, I always read your posts along with Cal and other Jo (you know the Mad one ) lol, and many more peeps that have made the journey to oz And you all are an inspiration to us all ( im not creeping either before anyone says it ) lol,you have shown how its done , yes you've had your ups and downs and struggled along, and probably still do have bad days but you have shown that by throwing yourselves into it you can make it work. Im really pleased for you that your Mum and Dad will be on there way very soon and they too can start to enjoy there new life with you.

Claire. XX

[aspinall]

What a really lovely post. Sounds like you went in with the right approach and as a result have a fantastic life!!! Good luck with the rest of your life you sounds truly happy.

Love

Toni

[Brickie]

S h it, sh it, shi t . ( there are many ways around it)
Sorry Jo but I clicked your chicken for your post even though I promised myself I wouldnt get in to a chicken clickin situation....

[debbie2302]

Hi Jo

I agree with the others, what a fantastic post, you give us all an insite to life in oz, both highs and lows but show that with guts and determination it can work.

Hope you wont wait too long for your mum and dad to sell their house and be over there with you, once they arrive you will feel complete.

Keep us the informative posts, they are great to read.


Debbie
xx

[johatts]

Thank you for all your comments. I have never been one for sitting down and writing things down but I thought that I would make an effort on here. I can ( as my long suffering PIO widower Mark will tell ya) spend copious amounts of time on here. Just thought that I`d put it to use!!!
You`re all right , I cant wait for Mum and Dad to be here, we are a close family...always have been!!! I want to show them that I have made a great life for myself and Mark here. We are so settled and happy!

And as my mum says....Oz has changed me! I now have a dog AND I cook!!!!