Last night, when I returned from work, there was a huge parcel waiting. When I opened it I couldn't believe my eyes! Our neighbours had put together a "First Australia Day Welcome Pack"! They had obviously gone to a lot of trouble, not to mention expense and put a great deal of thought into this act of kindness. The parcel contained a beautiful photographic book of Australia, sun screen, a flag, various stickers and transfers, a fly swat (!) Castlemaine XXXX, recipes for Australia Day food, a cap, a bag - the list goes on.
It is the nicest thing any neighbour has ever done and I am quite overwhelmed. They even wrote a letter welcoming us to Australia and so on...
Without minimising their generosity, this is the kind of stuff that neighbours do over here! I hope you are all lucky enough to have similar experiences when you get here. Somehow though, I don't think you will need luck - these acts of random kindness seem to be a way of life! :wink:
I almost got a tear in my eye imagining you opening the present.
We too have found people to be very generous with their hospitality here, we've been invited to a barbie and also to join them in Freo to see the fireworks rather than being on our own for Australia day
Ali
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"POZZIE" - HAPPY AND LOVIN IT!
I'm sick of following my dreams, I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later
Location: From Bury,Manchester To Jimboomba, Brisbane
Posts: 6,196
Hiya
I too agree with you both about the generosity of people here ,we arrived just before xmas with the kids in tow and i was amazed how many new made friends bought pressies for the kids ,we were invited on hols with a family we met just so we wouldnt be on our own xmas day ,the aussies are genuine peolpe who want to help,lets hope we can live up to their expectations,i have also been surprised at the amount of teenagers 17/18yr who will quite happily play cricket etc with my 8 yr old ,in the uk they would not entertain 'playing with kids',,everyday i see somthing new that makes me realise uppin the kids to another country was well worth the stress.
Cal x
ADVANCE AUSTRALIA FAIR
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
We had a lovely day with 'new friends' 2 of who were brits who'd married Aussies (no one spoke about the cricket!). Whole families were together, strangers in the park asking if you wanted to join them in a game ... these are some of the reasons we came to Aus. We had a brilliant, relaxing day
Ali
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"POZZIE" - HAPPY AND LOVIN IT!
I'm sick of following my dreams, I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later
I spent Australia Day in Dubai, at an Australia Day Barbie with some guys from the GHD ofice in Dubai... a little bit of Oz in the middle east. 8)
So, for any of you who have been corresponding with me...I am in the UK right now (fighting jet-lag :shock:), in here and Europe for the next couple of weeks, and my forum access might not be so frequent... I haven't abandoned you...I am just visiting family and friends...
So if it takes me a day or two to respond...please don't worrry...
Back in Oz on Monday 12 Feb....
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Geelong, Victoria's second largest City
