caramac

My car was registering 11degs at 7pm yesterday, but it was pouring with rain. However, it's still mild this morning and lovely clear skies. I can feel a long walk coming on for later! Apparently it's going to last all week -lovely!

That at may be true, but all other public sector workers have taken a hit on their pensions too, to career average, without having any pay rise to 'compensate'. NHS workers have been told they probably won't get the 1% they were promised either, so MPs aren't doing too badly really, especially when they can claim hotel/flat expenses in London where they already own homes.

It's fine really. It's the first real winter stuff we've had this year and all is calm again this morning. :yes:

It's going to be a bit soggy overnight! http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/142151.aspx

People have been evacuated from their homes in parts of Norfolk, I heard - 9,000 homes, I think. http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/regional_picture_properties_in_wells_flooded_as_tidal_surge_hits_king_s_lynn_hunstanton_blakeney_morston_1_3080978

Scary stuff.

Is it the start of the high tide? I think it'll be worse in Norfolk and south of there. Poor people.

That was my first thought this morning - thank god I'm not flying anywhere today!

My daughter's on her way back from there now! It was certainly running faster than I've ever seen it in Hexham earlier - the ducks were on their way to Newcastle whether they wanted to be, or not! Branches everywhere and the few remaining leaves have given up hanging on. It was so sunny and calm when I was walking, you'd never have believed what had gone before!

Yes. Amazing to watch too. We had some incredible ones in Spain this summer.

It's amazing isn't it? Even the sheep are sheltering!

Close your curtains, put the aircon on full blast, light up the tree and watch The Grinch? :cute:

Hopefully it'll have moved away by then..

It it was like that earlier here - all the windows and doors at the back of the house leaked, it was so windy! It is definitely dropping now and the sun's come out... Maybe it'll be safe enough to leave the house later this afternoon, but I agree, I'm going nowhere until it is. Stay safe.

I think it may be getting better here now..... There's a bit of blue sky and the wind isn't quite so vicious, but Baz is right, there seem to be overturned lorries all over the place! - two in Gateshead, apparently.

It's a tad breezy here today... The whole house is shaking - it's built of stone with walls at least three feet thick and I think I just heard a slate hit the ground outside....

Oh dear. We're preparing for an 'article blast' starting on Friday. Pack your thermals!

That is the worst bit of it, I agree. Going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark. I used to work in a building with no proper windows so it seemed like I was living in the dark for months. Still, it's under three weeks until the shortest day, then the days will start getting longer again, slowly, but surely.

I think we've had a great autumn really. The past couple of days have been overcast, but we've had lots of bright, sunny days. It does make winter so much shorter when it's like this! We've lit a fire in the evenings, but only had the heating on for an hour in the mornings and for half an hour upstairs in the evenings. Hopefully it'll make up for the reservoir of oil we used last year! It's all set for change by the end of the week though. Mind you, even the cold spells haven't been long. I don't mind winter so much when it's like this - good for long walks with the dog!

Nothing scabby about you Pabs. You're one of the good ones. :yes:

I don't know if it's the same in Aus as here, but I don't think I'd even agree to moving out of the house until you've taken legal advice. I've heard of cases where one partner leaving the house means they have fewer rights than those who are still resident. What a horrible situation for you to be in - it sounds like you've got her whole family to contend with, not just your marriage and children. :sad:

You've had great advice from everyone already, so I won't repeat it, but I think you're right be concerned that you won't just slot back into life here. You might, but it's good to be prepared for a bit of reverse culture shock! You've had an experience that most others haven't and mostly aren't all that interested in. I found that people just wanted me to pick up where I left off and I found that hard (I wasn't desperate to come home like you are though). I wanted to talk about what I'd done - it had been four years of my life after all, and they wanted me to hear about what I'd missed being away, but weren't at all curious about what we'd been up to. It was a strange time and I found it very difficult. However, after a while our lives came together more and I also made new friends who I now have a shared history with. You may not experience any problems being back at all, and may well just be relieved to put it all behind you, but it can be a confusing time when you compare your life 'now' with what you've left behind. Just be prepared for it - I think it's quite normal! good luck!

School sport has changed beyond recognition from the 70s and 80s in the UK. Our lot don't go out running, playing hockey, netball etc when the weather's bad (and if they are outside they're allowed to wear their trackies.). They do Zumba, swimming, yoga, climbing walls, fencing, judo, dance, go to the gym etc instead. It's so far away from what most of us remember. Thank god! I used to hate slogging along the river bank in the rain, ice, snow... Oh, and there don't seem to be any communal showers anymore either....

Yes, she'd be in year7 now. It's unlikely you'll be able to hold her back unless you're looking at private schools where, in our experience, there's more flexibility. It might be worth a try though - some places are willing to assess children coming from overseas and place them accordingly. Are you here now? If it's any comfort to you, our youngest has a late June birthday and was born prem. She came from having finished year5 in Aus and had to go into year 7 where the rest of the year had already done a term. It took a little while for her to get used to moving around for lessons, but no longer than half a term (She had returned to her old school though, so had friends who knew her and teachers who knew her sisters and could help.) Year 7 really is a transition year and lots of children take a while to adapt to the different demands. Lots of things they've done in primary school are gone over again and things like languages are taken back to the basics to allow those who haven't done them before to catch up. Children will have come from different primary school settings, so the teachers are used to teaching a range of abilities and experience. Good luck - I know how worrying it is!