Oatlands: Starting to settle into a routine

The last few days has been about getting everything ready. We have really started to find a routine in our daily life and are getting more comfortable about getting out and about in the big city.

• Swim club started this week in Blacktown at Blacktown Aquatics which is a big drive for us, 20 minutes or a bit more compared to the 2 minutes we drove in Beaumont. 
• I got a school tour and a look into my classroom for the next year and I am wrapping my head around the fantastic little classroom that I get to use.  My pod will laugh that I can't just step out into the hallway to get a little adult interaction when I need it as my door leads to the outside.
• Facetime and Skype have been used for friends and family all the time and the girls are getting better at talking on the computer.
• We have explored all the grocery stores and our finding the best place to get everything we need. Still haven't been able to stomach the smell of the Veggie mite, so yet to eat it.
• I have figured out how to make instant coffee good. When out flat whites are delicious.
• We are loving doing laundry and hanging to dry. Even getting it down before rain comes.
• We have survived waking up to +35 at 7 am by enjoying a swim in the morning shade of our pool.
• The Chariot is getting a good workout and a lot of comments "Quite the pram". 

My first day with the kids is a week away. One more week before work starts and our summer holiday in winter is over.  

Holiday Road Trip #1

The first Bowkowy road trip was a big success. Debating on how far to travel and the options seeming endless, we decided on a short trip just over an hour away to stay on a small farm in Jamberoo, NSW (populations 954, which is smaller than the school I will be teaching at). I quite nicely navigated the toll roads and highways and we made it to our first stop at Fitzroy Falls National Park. We completed a short walk and saw some amazing views of the valley.

 Next stop: Illawarra Tree Top Walk 

We continued to add more walking miles to our day and completed the tree top walk adding more breath taking views to our day. We could the ocean but were still higher up in the mountain/ rainforest area.

Home for Four Days: Our Airbnb place was a beautiful little farm stay with fresh eggs, cheese, bread and wine to great us. The girls got to pet animals and enjoy the quiet little house we stayed in each night. We were out exploring every day so we only had breakfast with eggs from the farm and dinner each day here. 

Adventures for the next three days:

• Dolphin Cruise in Jervis Bay
• Exploring Kiama
• Finding the big and little blow holes
• Minnamurra National Rainforest Centre
• beaches, beaches and more beaches

snowsuits versus sunscreen

We have now determined that putting on sunscreen before going anywhere takes the same if not more time than snowsuits. We are not complaining, but we were told we would not miss the hassle of getting the girls into snowsuits. Try putting on sunscreen multiple times a day. At least with the snowsuits you do not have to plan ahead and they can do most of the snowsuit themselves. The beach and hot weather after the sunscreen is a definite plus though :).

Manly Beach

Today we scored on our public transit rides to and from Manly Beach. On the way there the ferry was full so went straight to Darling Harbour with only 3 stops and on the way home we got the express ferry to Rydalmere. We are getting used to the crowds and the mass usage of public transit. Those that know Matt would be surprised but we did drive and park at the ferry today instead of biking.  Today was hot!!

On the trip we saw views of the bridge and the people walking over it as well as the Sydney Opera House.

Manly Beach was big and huge. I think we could spend days exploring. We started at the beach. We were so eager to go into the ocean and Malia really just wanting dig in the the sand. Matt and Maëlle got right to it. Unfortunately Maëlle was only in for minutes with Matt before a Bluebottle stung her. She was a trouper and once the stinging went away (30 min) was in good spirits again.

Yeah the beach!

This is a Blue bottle

My leg is stinging!

We find a swim team

Today we went to try out a swim team. We were welcomed with open arms and Maëlle got to swim 2 races, play for an hour and do an hour lesson as well. The times for her practice and racing are Saturdays which might not really work for us, but we might just go when we can as the cost is good. Very different from Canada in that 8 and unders don't pay other than their admission to the pool and if Matt and I would like to join in for swimming it would just be $60 dollars each. Malia had a blast in the pool as well and swimming out doors is just the best.

If Maëlle keeps with the club she might go on a Thursday night with the next group up if she can do it and each Saturday as a race opportunity and a lesson. They really just want kids swimming here. It is so nice to see. The Parramatta swim team was a great team to get introduced to today.

Rainy Day Fun

The weather has been wet! We are definitely starting to settle in. We are living just outside the city of Parrammatta which is filled with lots to do. We have been able to go places without feeling completely lost. Maëlle even congratulated me on both getting home without getting lost and not using the windshield wipers instead of the turning blinker. 

Victories of the week: 

1) Finding the original MouseTrap

2) Rain stopping and the trampoline not been too hot to jump on

3) Venturing the Lake Parramatta in the rain to just explore and the girls having a blast

Fail of the week: Not getting laundry dry before rain started for multiple hours.

Burnside School- Maëlle's School

Maëlle got to go and see her new school! We met the principal and the secretary. She purchased some used school uniform items and got to look around inside and out. I am so happy with the school and think that is is going to be a great year for her. She got some books to take home to read to be ready for year one. She read to the principal with confidence and not one bit of shyness. They eat lunch outside and get a tea break. She is going to get to to do so many different things. She is excited to share with you all once she starts.