We've had a fantastic year, despite not having made any tangible progress on the house. We've found that the process of living in a new place took a LOT more time and effort than we'd imagined and that the temptation to sit down at the end of the day has been just too great.
Phoebe has started to get into things in more depth. She has become MORE like Phoebe than she was. I mean she sings along to herself just as much, but the subject matter is a bit older (a year older more or less!) and she's more wily in the way she winds up Matilda. She's developed as a dancer, having joined her ballet class and done really well. They are going to be doing a show at the posh theatre in Ipswich, in which they will be using the proper dressing rooms and everything will be as it would be for 'proper' dancers. The teacher, ms Ivegottalottasnottupmynose-akova has told Daile that this is in recognition of the fact that most of them wont be getting an opportunity to do that again...since they wont make it as dancers in reality. I was pleased to hear that was the reason... I've been wondering about her. Phoebe's not quite as fragile as she was either - this IS Australia after all! Reading wise she's beginning to get it too, and probably would be sailing ahead if we were blowing her sails... as it is we've been happy to let her go slower than she's ready for, and she's been fine with that. All the kids start later here as I've already mentioned and there's no point in pushing her too far ahead... even if a bit of a head start is a good thing for confidence. Her ability to fold her own clothes is fledgling but sweet to watch...unless you're in a hurry. She's VERY girly.
Matilda on the other hand is VERY un-girly. She's come along really well in general (as a person to hang out with) and is much more in control of herself than she was when we left. Having said that, both Josh and Molly didn't really get to see that developing aspect of her personality too much because she's a show off when people are around. It seems to be that she will behave best when its just Daile or I or at least just someone who she's really not trying to impress. I'm very impressed with her ability to control her mountainous tempers and really love her spirit that persists through all her travails. School wise she's settled in really well, is a major player in the poetry club, the science club and generally a bit of a swat. However, you'd not want to be the kid that picked a fight with her for it.... she's as stubborn as a bank manager, as tough as a prize fighter and as ferocious as a cornered cat. She's also INCREDIBLY creative! (I take full responsibility for this aspect....Daile is responsible for the stubbornness!)
This is one of Josh's pics which seems to describe them pretty well:
When Molly visited she was significantly older. She came across as like Molly, but without so many 'out there' sorts of comments and observations. She reckons she's matured.... and she has, but like Asda mild cheddar to Waitrose mild cheddar. Still plenty of room for more if you know what I mean. (No offence Moll! He he). She's been really working hard at college and has been blisteringly prolific with her artwork. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that she's going to be a player in this field, however it manifests itself... and of course she is turning out to be a fine and good looking woman type of thingy too. She wants a car. I'm hoping that will focus her to the need to work at things that you don't always feel like doing too.
Josh distinguished himself this year by managing to travel around the world on a bag of pork scratchings and wallet full of coppers. I was impressed greatly by this - having already braced myself for an emergency bail out. I was happy that he proved me wrong - and normally I don't take much pleasure in being wrong as many of you will recall. I really wanted him to 'get' that money isn't easy to come by. He did some work at a frozen food factory that started at 5am and that was fun to watch too....even though I had to get up at 3am to take him there. Next week he starts his university phase, and is doing English at Exeter Uni (Falmouth campus). http://www.ex.ac.uk/cornwall/?icid=G035-3079692-106G
Smart move this, since the cost of living is less and therefore the amount of work he's going to have to do to keep himself in the squalor to which he's about to become accustomed will be less. Oh to be able to do all that for him... curled up with James Joyce Ulysses and no particular obligations for a bit.
Daile has turned into Cinderella, she cleans the house and clothes all day and cooks at night. She's been trying to get her psychology degree augmented with a biological psychology addition that is required for her to work as a psychologist here. She's also been training as a counsellor for Lifeline, a service that is like the Samaritans in the UK. She's missing the UK at times funnily enough - not so much the place, but the people she used to hang out with! The way things work here from a school drop off perspective couldn't be more different than the way it worked in the UK. Here its all done without getting out of the 4WD. Hardly any groups of women standing round with the breasts propped up by folded arms cooing like chickens. Its all air brakes and carbon monoxide outside the school here.
Wayne and Bernadette have been solid. I'm amazed that even after all this time, they are still as uncritical and just as accepting of our presence in their home as they were when we arrived. They are a wonderful couple of people.
And I've found my place here. I LOVE the masculine culture thing here. It makes it easy to be comfortable in my skin. Where else would I be able to drive a 4WD along deserted tracks and beach, blat around in a boat, and call women 'mate', without falling foul of some politically correct edict or other. Workwise, I've been right out on a limb to be honest. I think I've done pretty OK considering that there is absolutely NO creative element to this job and my bonus depends on 'gross profit' - whatever that is! THAT is what's stopping me from getting the house built... and beer of course. If I could put my beer down for long enough, perhaps I'd be in with a fighting chance!
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