For the past week or so it rained almost non stop in the Hills. While we would normally groan about this, it's been so long since we had good rain that we are very pleased. The garden has been well watered and hopefully some of our plants will spring back to life. We have had such tough water restrictions that keeping some of the plants alive has been a challenge.
Autumn has arrived and living up here means that we can really see the seasons change. The trees are starting to turn and display beautiful reds, golds and yellows. Iain and I had a fun day a few weeks ago pickling some quince and some onions. So many people grow so many things in their gardens here. Zoe has a walnut tree and I could take a whole page listing what you can buy on the roadside, apples, quinces, onions, chestnuts, to name just a few.
The most exciting news of the last few weeks has been James's marriage proposal to girlfriend Zoe who we are very fond of. James is leaving us tomorrow after 3 months to head back to the UK to sort out settlement on his flat and also apply for the required visas he needs to be able to come back to stay for a 12 month period. He is also looking at the options he has for setting up over here doing the foreign currency exchange work which would mean getting sponsored by a company so it's a bit complicated.
Over the last month or so we have said adieu to my friend Charleen who has moved to New York for an exciting job with Grey Worldwide advertising and also Chelsey who has moved to London. But we have welcomed back to the country Jane and Jason who have been living in London and are now in Melbourne.
We are hoping to get across to Melbourne in the not too distant future to see Katina's new place and catch up with friends. Iain is busy for the next few months flying to see colleagues in Perth, Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne to start the new financial year business planning. So we'll have to figure out some dates.
A friend and I have started up a new working women's dinner group once a month to catch up with ex colleagues and meet new people. We held our first one on Tuesday evening and it was a lot of fun. I managed to get gravy all over my white top so Iain was very amused when I got home. I'm worse than Amelia!
Amelia has been growing and is now into 6-9 month clothes. Mainly because of her length. I think she will be quite tall.
She has settled into childcare 2 days a week while I'm at work and she seems to be very happy there. We have been impressed with the quality of care that she receives.
Amelia and I have both been touched by the cold bug and have been feeling very snotty and dry so hopefully that will disappear soon.
This May we are looking forward to meeting Nat's baby who is due on the 20th, our wedding anniversary on May 13th (yes its been a year already!), my first mother's day also on the 13th and Iain's birthday on the 21st. So lots to celebrate.
Here are some photos from the last few weeks.
James with Amelia (ours) Amelia (Zoe's) and Mitchell
Looking happy after getting home from childcare
Local trees
James and Zoe
Iain and Amelia having a chat
