Holdfast Training Services Trial Blog

So up until now we have mostly been relaxed in preparation for the inevitable start of work, which is now in about 10 hours time and the most outrageous of hours, 0500, to catch a ferry to the office. What does this mean…I’ll be going to bed shortly after the kids in order to get my straight eight in so that I’m on fire tomorrow.  Knowing full well it’s all about the first impression I have neatly pressed my uniform (photo to follow of it’s beauty), polished my steel toe capped boots and lost the arguement as to which transport option to take in the morning.  I wanted to take this:

3 litre Ford Territory, air con, nice to drive, etc…BUT Lisa said I have to take this instead:

This is my new toy for commuting, the red rocket, being ably demonstrated by Austyn. It has a 50cc engine and I’ve had 50 Kph out of her downhill with a tail wind. What’s most important is the 75mpg that I get from the monster…with a stat like that it wins hands down every time (plus it was dirt cheap to buy!)

The main reason for the alternate mode of transport is that we have successfully beaten the Gladstone odds and got Austyn into a Kindergrten (Kindy – pre school) as there’s a 9-12 month waiting list for most places and he also starts tomorrow. Elliot is also enrolled into a nursery (once again a shocking waiting list for his age) and will be attending 1 day a week so that he can integrate with the locals (and probably adopt that lovely Aussie twang!)  The boys have also been enrolled into swimming lessons and we managed to get round most of the kids groups last week in the town. What does this all mean? Apart from the fact that I’ve lost control of the Territory it means that I’m able to start work reasonably content that the family unit is squared away.

WRT our housing, we have been allocated a property which we viewed last week and are very happy with it. Whilst it does not have a pool (number 1 priority on Austyn’s wish list) it is brand new, will be fully furnished and ours from next Monday, 19th March (touch wood). Tied to this is our freight which is in Gladstone!!! Hurrah!!! We are going to get it delivered to the new house as it saves double handling at my own time and expense and I can assure you that the contents have been sorely missed, particularly our Summer clothes and the kids toys.

So all in all we are now fairly swept up. Lisa is now 33 weeks along in the pregnancy and has midwife appointments booked for later in the month so that has come together nicely. Just a visit to the hospital needed for planning purposes.

As for Gladstone itself, we are more than happy. It has everything you could possibly want (apart from a dive centre within 3 hours drive) and has a clean, fresh feel about it. There is plenty going on and I might even join the running club so as to keep my eye in for the PFT when we return. I think that anyone would be just fine here (there will be work for many years to come) and it’s cosy for families. This is possibly the most contented that we’ve been as a family unit for some time although that may change from tomorrow!!!

As a final note I have completed some research and have the following pieces of useful information:

McDonalds is known as Macca’s

Pizza Hut takeaway is better here than Domino’s (very strange)

Charcoal BBQ’s take hours to get ready (I’m buying a gas one for the new house)

Sausages are generally made of Beef instead of Pork down under

The chocolate does taste different BUT it’s not inedible, we haven’t told the kids this fact though!

Supermarkets don’t sell alcohol – you have to go to bottle shops

The water does not spin the wrong way round the plug hole as it drains.

And on those bombshells I’m off to make my lunch for tomorrow and get my straight eight.

(Richard, below is a picture just for you as I’ve semi sorted my pictures out now)

Australia Zoo in the rain!