Friday, 30 December 2011
Monday, 26 December 2011
Sunday, 18 December 2011
juliettes sydney impressions
When I first got into sydney(still with jetlag) it was amazing,like the opera house,the bridge
and luna park I just saw It all close together.My dad is always telling me im such a city girl.
Which is true because im always asking can I go to the city.But I miss all my friends and
family(I do not have any friends).When I moved to mosman which is not like the city I
was disapontad but exited.There is a libary and a nice beach close by.Now where im
living now by mosman bay there are lots of birds,like a cockatoo was on my dads shoulder
when we fed it. I really like sydney and cant wait to go to school.
signed: juliette wilson.
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Settling In
It's been about 5 weeks since the girls and I arrived, and we are getting more and more comfortable in our new city. We spent the first 3 nights at a hotel in The Rocks which was a fantastic way to get an early feel for the city. I remember being so surprised to see 3 jacaranda trees in bloom as I walked down to circular quay for the first time to see the opera house. I thought they only lived in Pretoria! Then we moved into a furnished rental in Mosman for the next month which was an easy transisition into more of a suburban life. Pete chose a central location so we could walk to the beach and shops, and we had a bus stop outside our entrance. We quickly got used to catching buses, trains and ferries and the girls loved the adventure of it all. It felt like we were on holiday for a while, but then we got busy with the business of finding a car and a more permanent place to live.
So two weeks later, we have ourselves a pimped ride in a Subaru Liberty stationwagon which is like driving a limo! And after running from inspection to inspection (of rentals) we finally pinned down an apartment in Mosman Bay for ourselves to call home for the next 13 months. It overlooks the marina and is a 2 min walk to the ferry. Close to Reid Park, and has a beautiful pool for summer swims. We can walk to school, which will be Mosman Public (http://www.mosmanpublicschool.com/) and it has a couple of coffee shops etc up the hill.
While we wait for our furniture to arrive, we are getting into the garage sale culture which is a first for us. Deal of the month has to be a pink Nintendo DS which Christina found at $7. We bought a charger and it works! She has been nagging me for one for 2 years! As you can imagine she now wants to visit every garage sale we pass, just in case...... We also got 2 small Ikea couches for $5 each. Go figure! They are in brilliant condition, and they fitted into the stationwagon.....!!!!
So far, Sydney is bright, exciting and seems to have so much to offer us. Always something going on around every corner. We are looking forward to Peter taking 2 weeks off over Christmas, and we are excited about watching the phenomenal fireworks display the city puts on New Years Eve over the harbour bridge. We will be able to see it from our balcony, and will walk around the head to Cremorne point to get a perfect view.
Thinking of our friends and family as we approach Christmas & New Year, and wish we could import all of you to share our new experiences and adventures with us. XXX
So two weeks later, we have ourselves a pimped ride in a Subaru Liberty stationwagon which is like driving a limo! And after running from inspection to inspection (of rentals) we finally pinned down an apartment in Mosman Bay for ourselves to call home for the next 13 months. It overlooks the marina and is a 2 min walk to the ferry. Close to Reid Park, and has a beautiful pool for summer swims. We can walk to school, which will be Mosman Public (http://www.mosmanpublicschool.com/) and it has a couple of coffee shops etc up the hill.
While we wait for our furniture to arrive, we are getting into the garage sale culture which is a first for us. Deal of the month has to be a pink Nintendo DS which Christina found at $7. We bought a charger and it works! She has been nagging me for one for 2 years! As you can imagine she now wants to visit every garage sale we pass, just in case...... We also got 2 small Ikea couches for $5 each. Go figure! They are in brilliant condition, and they fitted into the stationwagon.....!!!!
So far, Sydney is bright, exciting and seems to have so much to offer us. Always something going on around every corner. We are looking forward to Peter taking 2 weeks off over Christmas, and we are excited about watching the phenomenal fireworks display the city puts on New Years Eve over the harbour bridge. We will be able to see it from our balcony, and will walk around the head to Cremorne point to get a perfect view.
Thinking of our friends and family as we approach Christmas & New Year, and wish we could import all of you to share our new experiences and adventures with us. XXX
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Two more sleeps...
Repacked my bags today, trying to get the most squeezed in possible! What to take, what to leave? An emotional week with lots of goodbyes. We leave lots of beautiful people behind, and there will be lots that we miss. Nonetheless, everything has been falling into place, our house nearly finished being fixed, we've found someone to manage our property, Laney has found a loving family and Ronica a new job in Camps Bay. Relocating is not for the faint-hearted I have discovered... need nerves of steel. Nonetheless I remain resolute that this is going to be a positive and enriching experience for all of us. The girls have new back packs ready for some adventuring, and can't wait to see their Dad. So two more sleeps before we get on the plane, hope we get through customs without appearing on an episode of Border Security! Classic chirp of the week goes to Christina: "Having kids is tough, but having kids is also a good thing because when your husband is away you have someone to talk to. Otherwise you would be saying 'what to do, what to do!' "
Update
So it's been three weeks since I arrived in Sydney. Time surely does run by. I arrived on Friday 14 October and started work on Monday 17 October. Ever since then it's been a mad rush with trying to settle into a new job and to pave the way for Cathy and the kids to arrive. Don't let anybody tell you that a move like this is easy as it comes with an emotional price tag.
The positive is that life here is not too dissimilar to back home adn the weather is a good match as well. I am so excited to be counting the days before my beloved family get here, and so relieved that Quantas got their A into G and resumed business. On Wewdnesday evening, we will be re-united as a family and Cathy and the kids will have their first view of Sydney. I have booked us into a nice hotel which overlooks the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, and which is only three minutes walk to my office. We will stay there until next Saturday and then we will move into longer term accommodation in Mosman. I am so grateful to my friend, Kathryn, and her family, who have let me crash at their spot since arriving in Sydney. It has been a great experience staying with them and listening to their advice as recent imports.
Soon Cathy will put the stress of uprooting the family behind her and hop on a plane. Saying goodbye to friends and family is really difficult and we both hope that we have visitors in Sydney sooner rather than later.
The positive is that life here is not too dissimilar to back home adn the weather is a good match as well. I am so excited to be counting the days before my beloved family get here, and so relieved that Quantas got their A into G and resumed business. On Wewdnesday evening, we will be re-united as a family and Cathy and the kids will have their first view of Sydney. I have booked us into a nice hotel which overlooks the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge, and which is only three minutes walk to my office. We will stay there until next Saturday and then we will move into longer term accommodation in Mosman. I am so grateful to my friend, Kathryn, and her family, who have let me crash at their spot since arriving in Sydney. It has been a great experience staying with them and listening to their advice as recent imports.
Soon Cathy will put the stress of uprooting the family behind her and hop on a plane. Saying goodbye to friends and family is really difficult and we both hope that we have visitors in Sydney sooner rather than later.
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Notes on the way out
Notes from the Air
Today as I took off from Cape Town International Airport, reality really bit. After months of preparation, I was on my way to Australia for at least the next couple of years. This move was something I had planned for many, many years and finally it was happening. Bit moves like this come at a dear price, as those that have gone before me will tell you. The idea of not only leaving my belved wife and two beautiful daughters behind until they join me in November but extended family and dear friends brings a massive lump to my throat. Coupled to this is the leaving of pets behind. I am thankful that my twelve year-old cat has found an amazing home at a good friend's house and apperas to be ruling the roost without much difficulty. Also my parrot is going to a good home next week and I hope and pray that he will adjust quickly. Being an alpha male, he doesn't take to too many people and prefers to focus his attention on one or maximum two people. In Sanchez's case, he only has focussed his attention on me and perhaps our child carer, who has served me loyally for more than ten years. I hope and pray that he takes to his new family quickly and settles in well. My beloved Laney, the family dog for the past two years is still without a home and Cathy will continue to struggle to get her squared away with a loving family. We got Laney from DARG just over two years ago and she has been an amazing family pet - ever loving, ever faithful and always keen for a run up the mountain. I really hope and pray that Laney will find a good home in the next couple of weeks as she so richly deserves to be part of a loving family. I really feel terribly guilty for leaving my pets behind. Words cannot describe the emotions I felt as I walked out of the front door for the last time today.
After saying good bye to my good friend, Julian, who I have known for most of my life and who has been my surfing and mountain biking buddy for many years (Jules I will miss the fun we have had over the years - I loook forward to catching up on one of my returns to South Africa), it was time to bid Ronica a farewell. Ronica has looked after my kids since they were born and I have had the pleasure of knowing her for longer than that, when she was the tea lady for a company I worked for many years ago. Ronica has been the most amazing extension to our family and I will miss her. You could not ask for a more loyal employee who has often gone beyond the call of duty for my family, like nursing my eldest daughter back to health after contracting meningitis when she was just two years old. Ronica is just a very special person and I hope that Cathy is successfull in finding her alternative employment before she leaves for Australia in November. Whatever happens I will return the loalty whilst she finds alternative employment. Please let me or Cathy know if you have friends or family that are either looking for a great family dog or a child carer/ house keeper. They will be lucky - I promise.
So here I am on a flight to Kuala Lumpur and then on to Sydney. I am listening to The Corrs singing their version of the REM classic "Everybody hurts" and the melancholy of leaving Cape Town, family, friends, and pets behind stays with me. If anybody thinks this is an easy, they are kidding. If you ever shoose to make a move, be prepared emotionally.
It does not help that I am lacking sleep as I have been running my tail off for the last couple of days as emotions run high, especially when you are tired.
So it's off to Sydney I go. Exciting times lay ahead with new challenges in store on both the business and personal front.
Who knows what tomorrow brings. - let's wait and see.
For now, I bid my friends and family a heartfelt farewell. I miss you guys aleady. For those that I didn't see before I left, please stay in touch and catch me on Skype when the opportunity avails (skype: mrpeterwilson).
As the sun sets somewhere over the Indian Ocean, it's time to rest. Until the next instalment, so long.
Peter
BTW excuse the grammar and spelling as I churned this out on the plane
Today as I took off from Cape Town International Airport, reality really bit. After months of preparation, I was on my way to Australia for at least the next couple of years. This move was something I had planned for many, many years and finally it was happening. Bit moves like this come at a dear price, as those that have gone before me will tell you. The idea of not only leaving my belved wife and two beautiful daughters behind until they join me in November but extended family and dear friends brings a massive lump to my throat. Coupled to this is the leaving of pets behind. I am thankful that my twelve year-old cat has found an amazing home at a good friend's house and apperas to be ruling the roost without much difficulty. Also my parrot is going to a good home next week and I hope and pray that he will adjust quickly. Being an alpha male, he doesn't take to too many people and prefers to focus his attention on one or maximum two people. In Sanchez's case, he only has focussed his attention on me and perhaps our child carer, who has served me loyally for more than ten years. I hope and pray that he takes to his new family quickly and settles in well. My beloved Laney, the family dog for the past two years is still without a home and Cathy will continue to struggle to get her squared away with a loving family. We got Laney from DARG just over two years ago and she has been an amazing family pet - ever loving, ever faithful and always keen for a run up the mountain. I really hope and pray that Laney will find a good home in the next couple of weeks as she so richly deserves to be part of a loving family. I really feel terribly guilty for leaving my pets behind. Words cannot describe the emotions I felt as I walked out of the front door for the last time today.
After saying good bye to my good friend, Julian, who I have known for most of my life and who has been my surfing and mountain biking buddy for many years (Jules I will miss the fun we have had over the years - I loook forward to catching up on one of my returns to South Africa), it was time to bid Ronica a farewell. Ronica has looked after my kids since they were born and I have had the pleasure of knowing her for longer than that, when she was the tea lady for a company I worked for many years ago. Ronica has been the most amazing extension to our family and I will miss her. You could not ask for a more loyal employee who has often gone beyond the call of duty for my family, like nursing my eldest daughter back to health after contracting meningitis when she was just two years old. Ronica is just a very special person and I hope that Cathy is successfull in finding her alternative employment before she leaves for Australia in November. Whatever happens I will return the loalty whilst she finds alternative employment. Please let me or Cathy know if you have friends or family that are either looking for a great family dog or a child carer/ house keeper. They will be lucky - I promise.
So here I am on a flight to Kuala Lumpur and then on to Sydney. I am listening to The Corrs singing their version of the REM classic "Everybody hurts" and the melancholy of leaving Cape Town, family, friends, and pets behind stays with me. If anybody thinks this is an easy, they are kidding. If you ever shoose to make a move, be prepared emotionally.
It does not help that I am lacking sleep as I have been running my tail off for the last couple of days as emotions run high, especially when you are tired.
So it's off to Sydney I go. Exciting times lay ahead with new challenges in store on both the business and personal front.
Who knows what tomorrow brings. - let's wait and see.
For now, I bid my friends and family a heartfelt farewell. I miss you guys aleady. For those that I didn't see before I left, please stay in touch and catch me on Skype when the opportunity avails (skype: mrpeterwilson).
As the sun sets somewhere over the Indian Ocean, it's time to rest. Until the next instalment, so long.
Peter
BTW excuse the grammar and spelling as I churned this out on the plane
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Packing Up
Part of the exercise of moving to a strange new country is to take stock of what will go with you and what will stay behind. We will of course book a container and load a bit of furniture and personal effects so that we take a bit of our history and heritage with us. At this stage, we are in the process of finding loving homes for those members of the family who will need to stay behind - our pets. Whilst we are still contemplating taking Laney (our dog) with us, we need to find homes for Tiga (the cat) and Sanchez (our Amazon Green parrot). Please let us know if you have any recommendations in this regard, as this is the hardest part of the exercise - leaving loved ones behind.
There will be a ton of furniture and appliances to sell off - lounge suites, coffee machines, etc etc. Please watch this space as I will be loading details shortly.
So long!
There will be a ton of furniture and appliances to sell off - lounge suites, coffee machines, etc etc. Please watch this space as I will be loading details shortly.
So long!
Sunday, 7 August 2011
It's True
The time has come to announce to the world that there is truth in the rumours that we are moving to Australia. Australia is presenting me with a great career move and for Cathy and the kids, it represents a new adventure and certainly a new chapter in our lives. We will always hold our family, friends and native country very dear to our hearts and in a couple of years we may return after our adventure. For now, it's about breaking some new ground. The move has been planned for some time and now it's a matter of getting down to the nitty gritty of getting things packed and ready to be shipped. I will be making the move over probably around mid October with Cathy and the kids heading over during the third week of November.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)