We've been in full Xmas Preparations mode this week.  Becca and I di da little last minute shopping on Monday and we finally got round to sending out the last of our Christmas cards (sorry Paul, I don't think yours is going to arrive this side of Christmas, but we love you really lol) Ellie's done absolutely nothing at school other than crafts and fun and tomorrow she's singing with her class at assembly in front of the whole school.  I'll make sure I take my camera along.  We have been told she's with Miss Carmichael next year and she seems very happy with that.

 

Mike's had his 3 month review at work.  This was v important as this was the meeting at which they had the option to say "we don't like you, you're fired on the spot".  However, one of the phrases used contained the words "sun", "shine" and "backside" so I thin kthat means they like him :-)

 

We were invited out to dinner with our new neighbours (well, along the road a bit) Zach and Martine last night.  Martine and I have met a few times now and the girls get on well with their wee boy Matthew so it's nice to have some friends close by.  Very nice people, and Mike and Zach have lots in common which is good.

 

Tomorrow, I'm having coffee at the lake with Helen and a few other Mums after the school assembly then Helen, Helen and Sandra and their kids are all coming over for a pressie swap and little Xmas tea.

 

Mike's continuing with his swimming lessons and has been told he's too good for the class and that he just needs a programme now for fitness as his stokes are fine.  Also at swimming this week, Rebecca swam 10 metres compeltely unaided!!!  Ellie didn't manage this until she was over 5 (mind you that was in the UK) so we're very proud of her.  The girls are both still loving their lessons here.  Ellie's lessons being switched to a Sunday morning seems to be working well.  She's often alone or one of 2 with the teacher and being morning time, she's much more alert and doing fantastically well.  She's also got a really strict teacher who Mike and I call "Bubbles" as that what he screams at them to get them breathing correctly.  Ellie seems to find him funny though, so maybe he needs to change his tack lol.

 

We have decided to bomb the house again this weekend as we're getting a lot of spiders in again.  Yesterday a huntsman crawled out of my washing that I'd just brought in (I was still shaking when Martine arrived 10 mins later) and then at night a really big one decided to come watch Grays Anatomy with us in the TV room.  I've got to say, I will NEVER get used to those things.  They are big, ugly and fast.

 

The marine shippers have made us an offer for the items damaged in transit.  The total is £570 so that just goes to show how much they broke!!!!  We're happy with the figure so have accepted it.  That means we can now go out and buy new chests of drawers for our room as Mike is sick of drawers that don't shut (the removers snapped the carcases).  Actually we had a laught with this last night as when the offer came through, our immediate thought was "how many dollars is that?"  I guess we're getting used to being here after all lol.  We thought we'd never get used to dollars.