Don't know quite what to say which is a bit odd for me but where the hell have the last four years gone? It seems like yesterday that First Born was sobbing for a week but then it seems like we've been here forever.

Work is good, part time but because it's running the School Uniform Shop it's perfect because I get all the holidays less one week in January so can still do the really important main job of being a taxi for the girls We chose to live a way out so I'm happy to do it. The house is looking good, the pool is being used lots, a few more bits to do but I think we've erased all of Nutty Nora's 'touches' (previous owner ), oh the few curtains are still here but they're blackout ones and are a cream colour so totally harmless and in good nick, got better things to spend our money on but one day........

Hubby wants to quit work but then he wants me to win the Lotto so, hey, shit happens! He has his shed, he has his boat and he has his mates to go fishing with, life's not bad really

First born has a permanent part time job at Woolies which is boring but she has money so it's not that boring! She has a car that she's nearly finished paying us back for, still has to get her Ps but has had her licence suspended for the moment as she had a pretty mega Petit Mal whilst driving and so needs a new Medical Certificate. Again shit happens. The medical treatment she's had has been superb and I am pleased that we were here when she developed Epilepsy. I'm sure the UK would be also brilliant but I have a gnats more faith in the system here but that's just a personal opinion and that's all I can go on.

She's having to have major dental surgery next year, both jaws broken both sides and the top shifted forward, bottom shifted back. I know this wouldn't be happening in the UK because of what her uk dentist said to us before we left. The whole thing is thankfully going on Medicare which is amazing as we obviously don't have $25,000 to hand over for it She's calm about the work, just desperate to have it all done and dusted, braces off by her Grade 12 formal. She's a normal 17 year old Oh and madly in love with the boyfriend - 10 months and counting. He's a brilliant guy who looks after her when she's having petit mals and reminds her to take her meds when they're out - so many young guys would be freaked out and go running off into the sunset.

Tiddler is my resident rock chick, trying to push the boundaries but all in all a damn good kid. Needs a kick up the arse school wise but she's got the brain so hopefully will start using it. Every time she hears the weather report in the UK she's horrified and says she really doesn't ever want to experience a UK winter again. Who knows what she'll be saying in years to come No hint of a boyfriend (or girlfriend if she's that way inclined).

I have no idea obviously of how they would be if we'd stayed, I think they'd be just as they are now, however First Born's old friends in the UK are definitely more 'out there' and less friendly than her friends here - their parents give me details of behaviour and attitude I think they stay younger here in my experience and that's no bad thing but every kid is different whether here or there so who knows?

Will we ever move back? Again, who knows. Never say never but at the moment I can't see that we will, unless we decide we hate the climate. We wouldn't go back for family. Sounds harsh but my mother is 84 and we've never had the best relationship. She still manages to wind me up just by ringing us. She has my brother and sister close by. Hubby's mum and step dad assume they won't see us again, and whilst we've love to see them, they would never want us to move back to look after them. My family are close in that we get on really well (apart from me and the mother) but we get on just as well 12000 miles apart. I only speak to my brother on Christmas Day but we used to live five minutes apart and only spoke on Christmas Day so nothing's changed.

My best mates I miss a lot but we chat a lot and to be honest neither me nor hubby need lots of friends, we have a few close, brilliant friends, which is what we had there and we're happy with that.

Yes there are things that irritate us here but it's all minor and relatively unimportant so it doesn't matter. Things irritated us in the UK, they're both western countries with red tape, crap governments, hoops to jump through etc etc. In my opinion both countries are fab, and I love them both in different ways. All in all, life is sweet. We are so much healthier here (barring the Epilepsy of course), I certainly am. The weather suits us and the rest of the stuff is just the same in either country really..

So there's me saying I'm not sure what to say and I've rambled on for ages with just a gap in the middle to go be a taxi for Tiddler Who'd have thought it!!

Great update thanks for taking the time to write it
it seems like Oz suits your family well

nice update !

All sounds Very good - enjoyed yr update

Thanks for posting...glad to hear things are going well for the most part.

I like this...nicely put.

Good update MP!

Wow, 4 years already. That's gone quick.
Mind you, I've been back here for 3 years now. Does the fridge and freezer still work that we sold you???

Julie. x

Fab story And may I say it was a pleasure to meet you at last this year

Great update, many thanks x

Good one, MP. I think you and I are alike in many ways - very pragmatic, get on with life, happy with our lot, kind of people.

gr8 update, thanx

Thanks people. Julie, I didn't have the fridge and freezer, I had the bedside tables and something else I can't remember. Whatever it was, we still have it and it must work or still be standing

Great update

Terrific stuff MP, so good to hear another perfectly normal success story from regular people who just found that it all worked out.

Fab update moneypenny. Good luck to FB for the dental stuff. Does her boyf have an older brother?