False Alarm!

Ahhhhhhhh! I think I’m going to have a nervous breakdown.

After this mornings post the ’specialist’ has sent the missus back until something a little more productive happens!

It transpires that the waters hadn’t broken, the fluid was just down to hormonal changes (sorry for the detail)

Whats with that!

Time to start thinking positive ‘come on baby’ thoughts.

We did find out that the baby currently weighs 3.4 Kg (clever machines they use when doing the scan). It also has hair (takes after mummy then).

Fingers crossed everyone please

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Baby on the way?

Well, I asked the question what do you do with a four year old when your wife goes in to labour?

The answer is, you stay at home and wait for news Seriously, it’s not all kicking off yet but something is happening.

We think the missus’s waters may have broken during the night, not a big gush like it was with Junior number 1, more of a gentle trickle.

No drama’s though. The missus had time to get a shower and eat some cereal before going to the docs to get checked out.

At time of typing, the midwife has told her that her waters are ‘breaking’ whilst the specialist ‘isn’t sure’

So, the missus now has to be hooked up to a special machine now to help the docs see what’s going on.. Read more

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House sale progressing well

It’s been all of 2 weeks since I announced that we had taken the plunge and decided to buy our first bricks and mortar here in Australia.

Since then, things have progressed well. Firstly the Real Estate Agents were pretty insistent that we were able to deliver an ‘unconditional loan approval’ letter from the bank.

This is basically a letter that the bank provides you confirming that they are willing to loan you the dosh we need to buy the property.

After the issues we had when trying to sell our house in the UK this makes perfect sense. The implications of not delivering the Mortgage Promise within two weeks of signing the offer papers would have been the return of the house onto the market. The $5000 deposit we paid to the estate agents to secure the property would have also been in jeopardy. Read more

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Marmite vs Vegemite - Buying Real Marmite in Australia

OK, I think its time to get serious and write an entry which may well be the final tick in the final box when deciding if you’re going to take the plunge and make the move to Australia.

Can you buy Marmite in Australia?

Vegemite, the famously yummy Australian yeast spread is the market leader here and although Junior likes the stuff, personally speaking I’m not that keen.

I’m really hoping that I won’t need to eat 6 slices of Vegemite on toast as part of our Citizenship ceremony in just over a years time. If it came down to it though, I’d do it for queen and country.

Incidentally, junior (who is only 4) loves Vegemite on toast, I think it must just be one of those things you need to try from an early age. Still, at least he won’t be outcast when he starts going to school with the ‘big kids’. Nothing worse then being pointed at and being referred to as that ’strange kid who doesn’t like Vegemite!” Read more

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Lots of people moving to Western Australia - Where will they all go?

I’ve just been watching a story on the news this afternoon about the influx of migrants into Western Australia.

According to figures produced by the clever statistitions at the Federal Department of Immigration and Citizenship; Western Australia accounted for 14.1 percent of all new settler arrivals in Australia.

It seems Western Australias ‘booming economy and lifestyle’ are the big draws and out of the 160,000 migrants expected to come to Australia in the current financial year, a large portion are expected to call Western Oz their home. Read more

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She’s going to blow!

Seriously, how much more can this baby grow before its due to pop out?

We are now at ‘full term’ which the missus tells me means junior number two is fully formed and 100% capable of  doing what baby’s do…. You know.. Turning the TV on, writing emails, all that kinda good stuff.

To say the missus’s belly is massive is an understatement, she still looks beautiful though and the regular addition of oils and sprays has kept the stretch marks at bay!

The frequency of curry’s chillis and other hot foot stuffs is starting to increase in an attempt to encourage junior number two on his way (this little one will be asking for a chicken Madras when it eventually decides to say hello).

Similarly, the frequency and quantity of beer that I’ve been drinking is starting to decrease just in case I’m called into action at 10pm at night.

Really exciting times ahead but I think its safe to say that the missus is now ready to ‘get it out’! Poor thing, us blokes really do have the easy part when it comes to this childbirth thing huh?

Hmmm… I wonder what it might be? Anyone fancy taking a punt? Bruce or Shiela?

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IELTS - An Overview of the International English Language Testing System

IELTS or the International English Language Testing System measures a persons ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – a key requirement for folks who intend to study, work and generally live in Australia.

Since the announcement to the changes in the General Skilled Migration Program which comes into effect next week, a migrants ability to speak a good level of English will become even more key as a knock on effect of the English Language threshold being increased.

IELTS Test

The IELTS tests are available in two formats – Academic and General Training with the latter being the more appropriate for people who simply need to prove they can speak and understand a good level of English before moving to Australia.

The Academic Reading and Writing Modules assess whether a candidate is ready to study or train in the medium of English at an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Read more

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Found the screws

Remember the screws that I lost when I was putting the cot together?

The screws, that because they were sadly lacking meant that I couldn’t put the cot that we brought from the UK back together again resulting in us having to go out and buy a new cot for the pending birth of junior number 2?

Well, the screws turned up this weekend and even better, they were right next to the place where I said I’d already checked.

Looks like I might have a few screws loose myself!  Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

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Subiaco Oval - Pretty Impressive

Well, I went to see my first AFL Footie Match yesterday and I have to say I had a pretty good time.

We had great seats and I even managed to get my head around some of the rules.

The game was played at a Stadium called the Subicao Oval I took a picture on my phone so have a click to see a larger (slightly blurry) picture.

The Subiaco Oval, known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth and is the home ground for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Football Club, the two Western Australian teams in the Australian Football League.

I have to say I was pretty impressed with the Subi and it was jam packed with supporters. Read more

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Going to the footie

Well, I had to get my first AFL footie match in at some point and today is the day.

I’ve been invited by a supplier to attend an AFL match between a team called the West Coast Eagles and Richmond at the Subiaco Oval which is one of the larger stadiums here in Perth.

‘The Eagles’ Won the AFL Champions league last year so are supposed to be quite good apparently.

I’m hoping that the Aussies that I’m attending the game with will be able to educate me a little on the rules. I really have no idea whats going on when I’ve watched the matches on TV.

Lots of running around and kicking and tackling and kicking and running around throughout the four quarters which seem to last anywhere between 20 - 30 minutes. How confusing!

I think I’d actually quite like to get into AFL though. It’ll make for good bonding time for me and Junior who also fancies going to a footie match sometime soon.

Will the Eagles be our team of choice? Well that depends if they win of course!

Come on the Kangaroos, err Eagles!

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