Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Jan 14th 2008, 7:46 am
#1
Im here!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Bayside, Melbourne
Posts: 311
Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Ok ok, calm down guys here it is....................... (thanks for ther great comments though!!!) xxxx
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time
. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!
So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time
. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
Jan 14th 2008, 10:52 am
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2005
Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
You're a star!!
Jan 14th 2008, 11:02 am
#3
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2006
Location: Mount Martha
Posts: 1,112
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Wonderful update, can't wait for the next one
Jan 14th 2008, 11:15 am
#4
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Where the sun always shines
Posts: 3,627
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
do we have to wait till next week 
fab post and chloe must be so proud to have such a great mum
fab post and chloe must be so proud to have such a great mum
Jan 14th 2008, 3:42 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Tropical North QLD
Posts: 21,434
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Great post again! But do you have to keep us hanging again?
Jan 14th 2008, 5:57 pm
#6
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Happily in Adelaide
Posts: 11,994
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Great part two!! About time.
Don't forget part 3!
Don't forget part 3!
Jan 14th 2008, 6:16 pm
#7
egghead4+becky
Joined: Jul 2006
Location: was newport now sunny Bundy
Posts: 797
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
wicked, I look forward to the next part
bec
bec
Jan 14th 2008, 6:30 pm
#8
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Portsmouth
Posts: 52
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Keep them coming, have I missed 'Life is Sweet 4 Months on...............Part 2' I did search. It's so nice reading how you are getting on
Jan 14th 2008, 10:14 pm
#9
Im here!!!!!!
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: Bayside, Melbourne
Posts: 311
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Thanks again everyone for the comments! Makes it worthwhile. x
Feb 13th 2008, 7:14 pm
#10
OH is STILL undecided grr
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: UK.... for now!
Posts: 913
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Ok ok, calm down guys here it is....................... (thanks for ther great comments though!!!) xxxx
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!
So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time
. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
Mods...Sorry for the bloodys...i was just so moved by the post
Feb 15th 2008, 4:07 pm
#11
Just Joined
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Excellent post and glad it's going so well or you
Is part 3 coming along soon? can't wait to see how things are coming along for you
Is part 3 coming along soon? can't wait to see how things are coming along for you
Feb 22nd 2008, 12:55 pm
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,991
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
Ok ok, calm down guys here it is....................... (thanks for ther great comments though!!!) xxxx
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!
So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
Melbourne on a budget Part Dues:
You see, we didn’t have the luxury of selling a house worth ½ a million bucks, neither were we the typical immigrant family of Mum, Dad and 2.4 children. I am a single, skint Mum with a 13 year old child, bare minimum savings, Hell-bent on making it work for us down under. The emotional support of some good friends has been all the help we’ve needed so far. And were living proof you don’t need any money to start a new life out here – just determination and a plan – the rest is already here and well within anyone’s reach!
Back to the story; over the next couple of days, we continued to mong about in a jet-lagged haze, walking up and down Toorak and Commercial Roads about 9 times (?WTF?), we went into the city a couple of times and I got to explore the VERY busy Alfred Hospital - quite anonymously, where I was to start working in 4 weeks time
. At this point I began to worry a little; Id come from a brand new tightly run NHS Cardiac Centre, with starched uniforms and Matrons and everything, here at the Alfred it was old, tatty and manic, full of very ill and weird looking individuals, more worrying was the fact that I couldn’t decipher the doctors from nurse because everyone appeared to be wearing civvies – NO UNIFORMS???. I felt very apprehensive about starting work there and worried incessantly about it over the coming weeks. As for the other shocker – the level of Ozzie friendliness, it took quite a few days to get used to that and accept it as genuine! It really is noticeable when you first land, just how polite and happy everyone appears to be. Especially in shops and businesses, people are so very polite, apologetic, chatty and seem to want to bend over backwards in order to satisfy you. The first time we encountered this, was at the train station when we were struggling to work the ticket machine; an old man came up to us and said ‘Are you Ok? Would you like me to do that for you?’ Instantly, I was on the defensive - 'No it’s OK, thank you’, (thinking - back off Old Man, leave us alone you Perv!!!!) in true UK style! Only when you realise just about everyone you meet acts in this same, genuinely helpful manner, do you realise its the 'Ozzy Way'. Its so great for morale!!!!So, 4 days in the Toorak Manor was all we had allowed ourselves as a treat and as we had just about recovered from jetlag by then, it was time to move on.
Previously, back in the UK I made a cyber friend via a dating site, who had been kept informed of our whole expedition from planning stages to landing and he offered to look after our Sofa-Suitcases whilst we moved on to stay in the worlds smallest twin room at the Melbourne Oasis Youth Hostel in North Melbourne for a fortnight. After delivering the suitacses that night, I began to worry and had many cold sweats and visions of him possibly prancing around in my knickers - thinking he may have gained access to my silkies by smashing the hell out of my ‘Matalan Special’ suitcase locks! But then I thought, what the hell – they’d wash and at least we had more room to swing our backpacks!
We settled in quite nicely to our new, basic shelter and were quite comfortable (by adult standards), but again, I was worried I was making Chloe ‘rough it’ too much - just to save some cash by staying in a youth hostel and eating frugally, but the place turned out to be so nice and so well run, we didn’t go with out any creature comforts those two weeks, we made some good friends and were very content; it was also a good lesson for Chloe in social, eco and financial awareness! Travelling into the city was a bit tiresome though from the North of the city everyday and getting out looking at property and schools in the South was a real bind with all the travelling. If I was to do it all over again, I would have booked accommodation somewhere around St Kilda.
School was the first major hurdle to get sorted - then to secure some permanent accommodation. I had been researching suitable secondary colleges/high schools for the last three years and had a shortlist of around 19. I knew I hadn’t the time to consider all of them, so we just went to visit the top (in terms of statistics) in each chosen burb. Glen Waverley was top of my list, so we made our way by train, tram and foot for a meeting with the assistant principle. Whilst sitting in the foyer, it became very apparent that this school was just toooo big (1800 pupils and 75 different nationalities) it was too overwhelming for Chloe.After many, many miles on foot and schools later, we went down to the Bayside area, near the beaches that I had promised her we would one day live.............
Tune in next week for another exciting episode!!!!
Hapy New Year Y'all!
Off to catch up with 'Daunted' over in Perth next week for a 'Sorted-Single-Mum' session at hers!!!! Hi Mand!!
cant believe i missed this thread!!! Hi you two! It was fun hey shame it wasnt for longer. Ill be over to yours soon as 
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:03 pm
#13
live free or die
Joined: Mar 2007
Location: Valhalla
Posts: 6,967
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
You go girl!!!!
It's incredible that the people with the most moan and expect everything, and those with the least just get up and get on with it!!
Keep it coming, and have a great time with daunted.....will you be in her Chill Out Tent!
It's incredible that the people with the most moan and expect everything, and those with the least just get up and get on with it!!
Keep it coming, and have a great time with daunted.....will you be in her Chill Out Tent!
Feb 22nd 2008, 1:10 pm
#14
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 105
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
That was absolutely fantastic. Laughing outloud but with great admiration for your strength, humour and frontier spirit. All the very best to you both and look forward to tuning in to the next episode. Good on ya, Sue xx
Feb 22nd 2008, 10:13 pm
#15
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,991
Re: Life is sweet 5 months on.......PART 2!!
I reckon its about time it got re- born, if only i could remember where i pitched it!
