My families adventure on the road to oz via Germany

Its all coming together now, feeling more relaxed about the move.

V got back in the early hours of yesterday morning and so much has been sorted out by us for the move back to the UK.

V loved the house when he saw it and my gut feelings when i saw it were correct, great area to bing up the boys and big enough to give us space. the only issue he has was the pale coloured walls and pale carpets , with 3 boys that is going to be tricky to keep it clean. So we have thought of a way round that. We will get some very large rugs or carpet off cuts and put over the pale carpets, so at least i will be able to relax more. I was impressed when i saw the video footage and photos he took of the place.

V was more than impressed with the school and having read the most recent ofstead report i feel happy that ive chosen a good school. V felt the school was small enough for the kids to be made welcome, there are also some army kids go to the school and the staff fully understand how unsettling it can be for kids who move schools frequently. The only problem we have is D goes to senior school in September and the school in our catchment area is under special measures and was very badly reported on in their ofsted report. V also saw some of the kids coming out of the school smoking. I had already looked up other schools near enough and i may be able to get him into Richmond school it has an excellent reputation. I emalied the head and he said in principle D could go to the school but its up to the school administration dept, he also said i would be responosible for getting him to school as he is out of the catchment area. However i do know kids from the garrison go to the school and there are buses availabe. I should of applied for his school place last October but obviously we wern't in a psotion to do so. However i shall fight to get him in to this school as no way to i want him to go to the school in the catchment area.

V has come back from his interview feeling very confident there is another candidate to be interviewed so V should know with in the next few weeks as to whether he has the job or not.

We have decided to take Hammy the hamster back with us, after a quick call to check on the rules with DEFRA there are no problems and he doesn't need a pets passport or anything like that . Just need to get the Vet to pass him as been healthy enough to travel to show the ferry company. We also need to get him an appropriate travel box.

Benji just needs to have a tick and tapeworm treatment on the day before we travel as his rabies jab is still ok. His booster lasts 3 years so he wont need doing till 2010.

The removals are booked for Thurday 12th the army take the quarter over on Fiday 13th (worried about that) and we travel on the overnight sleeper ferry that night. Furniture arrives on the Monday . The kids will be staying at my parents once we arrive till we get the house sorted which is way moving during the holidays is so good .

The OU have sent me a letter to say that despite the evidence i produced and what i felt were valid reason to have my exam result checked, they have decided not to re-score my exam. So that is that. I shall now be continuing on with the Open BSc degree with out honours.

Maybe if i can afford it or if i feel the desire to do another course to gain my hons degree in Health and Social care i will but for now i shall continue my efforts to pass my new course which starts soon. My study materials have still not arrived and i am getting worried, if they are not here by Monday i shall chase them up.

Next week is my cleaners last day and i shall really miss her she really has been a godsend in helping keep the house the way i like it. Ive told V if he gets the i would very much like to get another cleaner to do the basics while im concentrating on my course. I dont whether it is the done thing or not but i will buy my cleaning angel a bouquet of flowers and a card from us. I know some of the officers wives have treat her badly and more or less treat her like a servant. I however have never felt like that towards her. I always felt a bit strange paying someone to clear up after us, when essentialy i would normally do it. But without her dedication to her job my house would be a mess. I just hope i can find another person who i feel comfortable with to come in once a week and sort the house out. 

It will be strange moving back to the garrison, after nearly 7 years away from the area. Both C and J were born in the area and we did enjoy living there. It will be strange being surrounded by army units but not part of them any more. Our closest freinds who are both still in Iraq have told me recently that they are putting in their preference postings to the garrison when they get back. that would be so cool to have our freinds around for a little while.

We are still very much planning on going to oz though i suspect a few people in the family think it wont happen now. We have decided to just keep plodding on with the application, doing all the stuff for Engineers Australia is certainly a lengthy process. Just as V thinks he has done it he re checks and thinks of something else he better put in for the CDR. It will get to Go Mattilda then our fate is in their hands as it were.

Well ive waffeled on enough id best get some work done.