Perth - Week 1

Technically, it's week 2, about 10 days into this move but it has been a bit of a blur.  We are now about 80% unpacked and settled but this last 20% may take awhile, since it includes unpacking around 8,000 books, 9,000 MORE toys, finding and purchasing an outdoor dining table, a barbeque, and a living room sofa (sitting on the floor to type whilst charging my computing is getting soooo old), and fixing everything that has decided not to work in the new house.  The good news is that the few sticks of rental furniture have been collected so now I can actually reach the 7,000 remaining boxes.

Nothing says "Welcome to Perth" quite like a Shingle-Back Lizard the size of my arm, sunning himself on our steps!

In all seriousness, it has been as positive a first week as I could have hoped for.  J's first two days of the final week of Term 1 school passed really well.  He was such a trouper and it has paid dividends.  Do you remember from my last post that our next door neighbour/Vice-Principal introduced J to another boy in his year who had recently returned from  3 years in Calgary.  They seem to have hit it off and through his father, born in Kingston, Ontario (just like Murphy), J joined a week-long sailing school, albeit reluctantly.  However, off he has gone for 3 hours every day this week to the gorgeous little sailing club down the road - yes, they have gorgeous little sailing clubs down the road in Perth - and has LOVED it.  Apparently, if all goes to plan, they will each be indivually sailing in their little boats the breadth of the Swan River on Friday - SERIOUSLY???

He has been playing with the other kids at the club, and today spent the afternoon at 3-years-in-Calgary boy's house.  I'd say those two school days paid off!  The other significant dividend is no anxiety over this two-week school break before the start of Term 2.

Did I mention J's sailing instructor is French?

I have met two of J's sailing club/school mates' mums this week and we've had a couple of good chats, especially with 3-years-in-Calgary boy's mum so am looking forward to building on that.  In the meantime, I am e-mailing and texting my supportive Melbourne peeps and even had an evening at the beach and fish & chips back at our house with one Melbourne family who were holidaying in Perth.  That felt good.

Cottesloe Beach one fine evening

One handsome boy, one fine beach!

Sunset at Cottesloe

Selfie of us 3

 After several days of 30c+ days, it dropped back to mid-20s and, frankly, it was a nice break to fling the doors open all day, especially with furniture removalists, refrigerator delivery men and other maintenance people in and out all day.  Murphy thought we were moving again and tried several runners but I am on to her wily ways now.

J and across-the-street-boy with "River" the young Black Swam who befriended us on a walk along a stretch of the Swan River

"River" loved the wild grasses the boys fed him

One more day then C2 is off for 10 days.  Ten days of breaking the back of the final bit of unpacking, a little exploring of our new region, a little sleeping-in, and little cooking together and drinking wine...maybe even fit in a bit of binge-watching of "Orange is the New Black".  Can't come fast enough!