Well, we were worried about having to wait up to 40 days for the police checks to come back, but they arrived on Monday moring - less than a week after being applied for.  They hare now safely on their way to George's office in Sydney and we've scanned them and emailed them too. 

On the same day, Dr Smart's office called to advise our blood tests are all back and everything should now be on it's way to LCU in sydney.

So, that's it, it's out of our hands now.  All we can do is wait, wait, and wait some more.  Before getting to this stage, we really scratched our heads in wonder at how much of a state some people seemed to get into whilst waiting for the visa grant.  We can now completely understand.  My stomach has been in knots all week!!! and I keep getting emails from Mike at work saying his head's mince

I think it's a lot to do with getting ready to sell the house.  Until now, it was a kinda safe thing, this immigration mullarky.  Now, all of a sudden, we're about to sell our beautiful home which we love so much and it feels VERY different.  I know we'll find another home to love, and I know I'll be fine about the move, but it just feels really weird right now.  I'm excited and terrified all at the same time, and the worst bit is, I know it'll just get worse.

Had my sister and her kids over yesterday and I take my hat off to her.  My nephew (nearly 2 yo) is so goreous, but boy is he full of life lol.  I am really going to miss Pam and the kids when we go.  Our kids are all pretty close just now, and it's sad to break that up.  I can only reconcile it as Pam's going back to work soon, and then we wouldn't be able to spend Tuesdays with them anymore.  Also, Ellie would be starting school in August so she wouldn't see them either.

It's still freezing here but my spirits are lifted buy knowing this will be my last winter here, trying to stop the kids breaking their legs on the ice getting to nursery, or having to get frostbite scraping the car in the morning.

Mike has now opened up our trading account for moving our money over to Australia and we've also got the forms for opening up our Aussie bank account.  I'm going to have to get some research done on cat shipping and removal firms this next couple of weeks.  Should keep us busy.