Case Officer at last!

Just when I thought it had all gone a bit quiet, we got an email this morning to confirm we have a case officer - woohoo! Even better is that they will be making a decision on our application next week!!

As you can imagine, we are all rather excited at this prospect and my brain has just gone into overdrive - don't know which part of my 'to do' list to do next!!! OK, deep breaths - goodness knows what I'll be like when the visa is granted!

So, watch this space...

All quiet...

It's all gone a bit quiet with the visa. The last bit of paperwork (the medicals) were sent off on 15th November, so that's it! Nothing more we can do except ... wait.

We have bought a new laptop and have had fun transferring everything over, but at least it means we will be able to communicate straight away, once we land in Oz. It also means that Harry hasn't figured out how it works yet, so it gives me a chance to update the blog!!

I have now stopped working and have 101 things to fill my time with. The kids think it's a bit of a novelty having a 'proper' mum at home - dropping them off at school and picking them up, cooking tea & baking cakes!! The sorting out is quite good fun and I am glad to have this opportunity to get prepared for the big move - it will be all systems go as soon as the visa is granted!

I have received my new employment contract, which is all very exciting and we have narrowed down the area around Perth we would like to live, together with a school for the kids. Term starts on 5th Feb, so it would be great to be out in time for the kids to start back at school.

In the meantime, we are still out and about at weekends, which has been great, and are now looking forward to our last Christmas at home in the UK - can't believe it's nearly Christmas - that will mean it's been a whole year since we first started to plan our adventure - yikes!

I fought the law

We had the results from the police search and they were unable to pin anything on us. Clearly they never checked with the Fashion (Police) branch otherwise they would have uncovered my minor mis-demeanor regarding the wearing of a grey tank-top at the age of 17. There were also two counts of wearing loud shirts in a built up area for which I pleaded guilty on the grounds of diminished responsibility (my mother made me wear them).
So with a successful police check the next hurdle is the medicals. We went through all the tests last Wednesday and we're now waiting for the results - it could be a couple of weeks before the blood tests get back. As it was halloween the nurses taking the blood (phlebotomists?) decided it would be a great laugh to dress as dracula - it didn't do much to settle the nerves though.
The rest of the medical was fairly painless and most importantly didn't involve removing my trousers.
Incidentally, for those of you who have requested that photos of my large snake be posted on the site, I have to inform you that we have employed a team of crack lawyers to advise us on the legality of such a move. I am also doing research into whether the internet, like TV, adds 2 lbs onto you (if so, I might consider it).
I did have to remove my shirt during the medicals and my concave chest caused the medics some concern.. as did the fact that I needed to be physically shown how to complete the 'touch your nose' test. I was none too convincing in the walking in a straight line test as well and 'touching my toes' was abandoned somewhere shortly below the knees. Apart from that I think it went well.

So, if the medicals are okay, we will be a big step closer to going.

The jpeg at the top of this blog is my latest art creation (now the clocks have gone back I need something to do in the evenings - I get that off my mother, she's probably knitting me yet another balaclava at this very moment). It looks a bit odd because its in the wrong format.. and because it was painted by me.

I know lets talk about me a bit more ... next week I promise I'll let Wendy and the kids get a mention.