Harmony Day Parade
posted by Justin @ 2:54:00 pm
Helenic club Harmony Day parade last Saturday. The day was very hot and sunny, and the starting area had no shade or shelter. The kids got ready in their costumes and faux ocean waves, and eventually, off they went.
Emily in her fish mask:
Anna and Felix, Anna in her Jellyfish hat:
Cool big people:
Hello Possums
posted by Justin @ 9:10:00 pm
We haven't
seen the possums yet, but I've heard them (horrid loud grunting noises, right outside your window), and after each nightly party they leave these delightful gifts for us (the shit, not the money):
How enchanting!
Pictures of the new house
posted by Justin @ 10:13:00 pm
Felix thinks his new room is neat (though he was frightened of the knocking of the blind in the breeze during the first night:
Here's the front entrace:
My car in the driveway. On the right is the furnace heater thing. Underfloor ducted heating. A Canberra essential.
I am reliably informed we have a kiwi fruit tree:
Emily in her empty bedroom:
The windows letting light into the studio. Quite nice. A big bookshelf along the wall as well:
Another view of the studio, showing the small ensuite:
With a very small hand basin:
The garage, nice and roomy:
Hills hoist:
Emily in the lounge, there is some weird built in unit thing in the corner:
The tool shed, complete with supplied tools (!):
Emily and Felix in the lounge area:
The kitchen:
Entrance to the studio:
What is Red?
posted by Justin @ 8:11:00 pm
It's the title of Felix's first school reader! He read it with great glee:
Where are we?
posted by Justin @ 4:02:00 pm
Well I aint telling you
exactly (you could be anyone!) but here is a link showing the local school:
Google map of school.
First day at school
posted by Justin @ 12:11:00 pm
Felix had some second thoughts about school when waking up this morning:
But soon both of them were in the hotel lift, school colours on, ready to face the day.
Here is Emily at morning assembly:
And Felix in his classroom, getting to know his teacher and classmates:
Felix took a while to settle in, but once he realised it was just like a grown up form of his childcare, he was fine. Waved goodbye to us and off we went.
Emily had a slightly more difficult time. Emily was tossed in the deep end, with her Italian speaking teacher, and a bunch of other kids who understood what teacher was saying. This was a little bit overwhelming (as I'm sure you can appreciate) but hopefully she will understand that no one expects her to understand on her first day, and her classmates will help her out. I look forward to hearing more about it tonight from her.
As I said the school is very small, only about 80 students total, so it has a lovely small, community feel about it. We met a few of the other parents, and the principal over coffee before leaving and taking Anna to work.
Now I am all alone in Canberra at a loss for something to do!
It's the thought that counts
posted by Justin @ 12:25:00 pm
"AdamS and the gang" decided it would be good to send me my name plate from my desk to make me 'feel at home'. The Australia Post sorting machine probably had a different opinion:
Residence found
posted by Justin @ 6:46:00 pm
Against all odds (well it seemed like it) we have found a place to live. Conveniently it lies very near to the local school, bus stops and other facilities. It's near Woden for those that know Canberra.
No pictures yet, haven't taken any and we don't get the keys until next friday.
We visited the school today, it's lovely. Very small, only about 80 students, and it's bi-lingual. So Emily and Felix will be learning Italian as part of their normal school day.
The teachers there that teach their lessons in Italian (normal things like Maths and Art, but taught in Italian) do not talk to you in English - you can ask them questions in English but they only respond in Italian. No better way to learn I guess!
