Will the last Englishman out of the country turn the lights out please ?

Sandra's shoes

Christmas here, our first, was amazing. All day by the pool, turkey, cooked on the barbeque rotisserie was so succlent. We also did the ham on the bbq, all in all a real good day. Hot tub with more champagne in the evening, dogs running around, it was such a refreshing change from cold, miserable food fests and tv in the UK.

For boxing day, we then went to Sydney Harbour to watch the Sydney Hobart boat race start. People having picnics on the grass, or on the beach. Everyone so happy, no yobs causing trouble. It really is such a lovely place to live, we feel very lucky to be here.

Spent yesterday afternoon with the neighbours, we all got a bit merry round their house. D got smashed, and after bear hugging Nicola, the woman next door, staggered back to home and promptly passed out for the evening.

Woke up this morning to find one of Sandra's shoes, or what was left of it, on the living room floor. Oh dear puppies. Had to shop for a new pair, which was amusing. 1 hour in a shop trying on 15 pairs of shoes, only to find the right pair, then get to the checkout, and change her mind ! Next shop, it was only 20 minutes, which was a godsend. The woman in the first shop was not too impressed I can tell you.

We now have a UK landline number too, so you can all call us. You only pay local call charges then, and the call comes through the internet to us. We will email the number out shortly.

Sandra and Jim seem to be loving it here. After the pep talk from the neighbours yesterday who are a similar age, they were even looking at properties in estate agents windows today. Dont know why though, there aren't any properties in Melbourne for sale up here !