Uncle Mike & Jakey

Ian, Jake, Mum & Chris - Xmas Lunch 07

Jake and Dad in December

Australia - August 07 to now

Hi everyone,

Apologies for the ABSOLUTE disrespect to updating the Blog. It's been blood, sweat and tears but hopefully all is going good now.

We arrived in a miserable Brisbane on 18th August at 6.30am. Oh my goodness. What had we done and other questions but we were happy and shocked to be here.

We spent a month in a trailer park, which was helpful whilst we were getting to know the city, Ian applying for jobs, getting bank accounts, Medicare cards, etc etc. We found a lovely house (2 storey townhouse) in a gated community (like an expat Compound that you'd find in Asia/Middle East) - we have a pool, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and BBQ area. Transport is brilliant - only 15-20 min bus ride into the city.

Hiccup occurred whilst Ian was going great guns at jobs (3 weeks in to our arrival) - he lost his driver's licence for 3 months, 0.06 breath test. The UK is 0.08 but unfortunately Brisbane is 0.05 - plus a $400 fine. Nice - welcome to Oz. Looking back though, it was probably the best thing that happened.

So Ian managed to get a job at a Travel company (second choice of profession but we were getting tight on the finances) and then I started seriously looking for work. I managed to get to the final stages of interviewing with an Advertising agency but in the end I hated it and wasn't keen. So the next thing was Macquarie Bank. After 2 interviews and a psychemetric test, they offered me the job - 5 days part-time hours 9-2pm. Jake was booked in to a nursery which scared the hell out of me - he hadn't been in day care for nearly 3 months so it was going to be difficult.

Christmas was spent with Mum and Chris and my brother Mike arrived on Boxing Day. It was great to see everyone again and Mike was happy to be meeting his nephew for the very first time. As you can imagine - Jake was spoilt rotten......train set table, art easel, building blocks, trucks, books, etc etc.

For Australia Day long weekend (26th Jan-28th Jan), we spent 3 days on the Sunshine Coast at Caloundra. It was fantastic. We were quite sunburnt (Ian & I) but Jakey seems to be tanning VERY well. Already got tan marks (concern??)......but hey, your not an Aussie unless you've got some sort of skin cancer.

So, everythings looking up - Ian has landed a job at Sigma Herron (pharmaceutical firm) and I'm loving Macquarie. Funny isn't it. Dave (my younger brother) is also expecting a bubbie in July - so yet another cousin for Jake (unfortunately non local - they're all in the UK and now the Middle East!)

Hope you all enjoy the photos - and please email us soon. I'd love to see pics of the kids in the UK....

Lots and lots of love to everyone,

Sarah, Ian & Jakey
xxx

Dad and I at Hertford Castle - and I'm having an ice-cream!

Not sure about the candles

Mum, me and my balloons (I had my name on them too!)

Yep - it's my cake and I LIKE IT!

Well Jake has turned 1!

All happened rather quickly and now he's not just a baby. We had a lovely 'BBQ' at home with friends and family - well it was all indoor due to the lovely English summer we are having.

It was more like a 21st though - lots of noise, food and drink (wink, wink)

Jake had a fantastic time socialising with everyone and sharing all his great presents.

Hope you enjoy all the great photos.....

Oh yeah and just a little thing - we are leaving the UK and heading down-under on 16th August.....

Sez, Ian & Jakey

xxx

The proud parents.

takes after the man below

Can't believe my country have let him in....

Adventure Castle does this to Jake - the 'Mad Professor' look

Butter wouldn't melt

Let me in the pram mum!! Lunch in Cambridge.

Jake, Sam & Josh - playing at Adventure Castle (the new place to be!)

11 months on Sunday (eeek)

Yep - Jake is that one step closer to having his 1st birthday. Invites are already on their way to the lucky few that have made it down the red carpet (well dark side alley next to the house)......

Ian received his permanent residency visa for Australia a few weeks ago.....we were both in shock (been such a long time coming!!).....and the reality that we CAN go back to Australia without any problems. Quite scary now. Time-scales? Mmmm.....the latest is September this year (Ian has to enter before November to activate it) but dependant on a few issues it could be later....but the earliest is September which really is only 3 months away. Keep you all posted.

That's about it but enjoy the photos.....

Love Sez
xx

Happy boy - why not.....we're at the Ritz-Carlton having a drink in Bahrain......noice!

Enjoying my spaghetti! (note t-shirt)

Jake & Dad having a swim - Bahrain

Jake and Mum - at the half-way point between Saudi Arabia & Bahrain

View of Bahrain from the apartment (very dry and dusty!)

Say aaahhhh.....or is that something else!

10 months old

Hiya,

Since the last post, we've made progress in getting Ian's visa for Australia sorted so we're hoping it's not too much longer now till we're all back home!

Early April saw us take a quick trip to Bahrain (Middle East-The Gulf) - long story but I had an interview there which never worked out but we had a great time in the sun, non the less.

Enjoy the pics,

Sez, Ian & Jakey
xxx

12th March '07 - nearly 9 months old.....such a little boy

Walking to the station to get the train to work - 8th Feb '07

Better get the snow chains! Outside our house, on the way to nursery - 8th February '07

Early morning play (with snow in the backyard) - 24th Jan '07 - 7 months old

Tele's more interesting than food - 5th Jan '07

Dressing up (again) - 3rd January 2007

Xmas Day, Yorkshire - 6 months old

Cheeky choos - 3rd December 2006

Jake and Owen (The Boys!) - 24th Nov 2006. Owen is a month younger than Jake.

Getting ready for bed - 5 months old (18 Nov '06)

Nearly 9 months....and breath!

Hiya,

I know. It's been ages since an update - going on 5 months now. Let me fill you in...

We finally trekked down some nurseries and had some visits. We warmed to Busy Bees which is on a lovely park around the corner from home. Gavin's kids went there when they were little and a few other people we know. The first two times, Jake balled his eyes out and really got hysterical the second time with Daddy. It's very home-y compared to alot of the ones we saw. The killer is it's £50 a day and he goes 4 days a week - arrgghhh! Thank god, we're millionnaires! Ha ha ha. He's been there for nearly 3 months now and loves it - even making into the local newspaper too after being there for just 2 days!

We've been swimming a few times too and Jake seems very at home in the water. Kicks his legs like a pro and thinks its bottle time when we're there too coz he likes to drink all the water!

Kristi my best mate from Canberra came over too for a few days in early December. She was visiting her brother Mark in London and then spent Xmas/New Years in Egypt touring around. Sounded awesome. It was great with her here and I felt like myself for a little while anyway - a few nights out, chats over some glasses of wine, etc etc.

Christmas was spent up in Yorkshire visiting Ian's family. It seemed to work well although I think this was the beginning of a few months of illness for us all. Jake seemed to go downhill from then onwards and he is still not right - chest infection and alot of coughing. This included what we think was some teething so we've had about 7 weeks of uninterrupted sleep....and still going.

New Years Eve we were in bed for 10pm and it was one of the best New Years I've had. Too bloody cold here anyway!

I started back at work on January 8th. It was hard the first few days, was in tears leaving behind Jakey but it something we've all got used to. I'm working full-time which is hard mixed with a few sleepless nights and no real weekend to relax but I'm used to the mayhem and being hectic!

Ian had an interview back at Glaxo Smith Kline (his old work before working in travel). After a long wait we found out he didn't get it - we were hoping to go on holidays if he got it (but unfortunately our trip to the Sth of France for 2 weeks was cancelled).

Feb was a bad month for all of us health wise - with Jakey going to nursery he seemed to be at home more than there coz he was picking up all the little colds and stuff. Or he caught something off me or Ian. We've all had terrible cold/flus, chest infections and finally Jake had an ear infection (I do not wish this on any parent!!!).....touch wood, none of us are sick and haven't been for a week so hopefully we're out of it all now.

Jake and I also trekked off to London to get his Australian passport - it looks fab. His passport photo is priceless - we've also sent (FINALLY) Ian's migration visa application. We are still waiting to hear but after literally years of discussion, we got everything sorted and off it went. Which means, we pray that we're back in Oz for good sometime this year (sooner rather than later!).

Anyway, enough about all the boring stuff - hope you enjoy the photos. Not many Xmas ones but as you can see the little man has grown and is still as lovely as ever.

Love Sez, Ian & Jake
xxx