Strange Days Are These

After a strange and somewhat horrible week of confrontations with Landlords, strange rashes, confrontations with Doctors, settling in at schools and major property decisions (which all resulted in a teeny bout of homesickness) the Mitchells are back baby! And furthermore, we're moving. (obviously after confrontation with landlord).
We have taken a 12 month lease on a lovely house just down the road (but far enough away from the above mentioned landlord). We're moving in tomorrow so I will post pictures of the house and moving adventures (of which there should be many as David's only helper is me and 'muscles' George Mitchell). Hopefully it won't end in divorce.

But my main news is the fabulous resilient settling in powers of our children who, I'm sure you will all agree are the most fabulous children in America. George started preschool and loves it. He has a new friend called Matthew and they always hold hands (heads up Sal!)
Sabine is starting to shine at her new school. Today she won an award for best demonstrating this weeks rule of 'treat others as you would be treated'. For your viewing pleasure I have managed to overcome the tremendous obstacle of my own technological ineptness and have not only taken a video of her receiving the award but have downloaded things and run things and posted things and in general been brilliant while not understanding what it is I'm doing in the manner of all geniuses. Here it is .......(probably this will win an Emmy).


It's kind of hard to see her in the video so here is a picture as well so Nana doesn't go mad on me
Isn't she fabbo? So now we are off to move our still unopened boxes and try to navigate our way through the maze that is satellite broadband, digital television and American phone companies......(oh dear, could be another trying week!)

International School Career leaves Mother in Foetal Positon

We are so proud of our girl today! She started school today at her new American school and what a superstar she is. There was hardly a nerve in sight....she was much more excited and only looked lost for a minute or two standing in her class line. Then she started a conversation with the little girl in front and bob's your uncle. bff. Triumph!!


If only the same could be said for the neurotic mother. I fought back the tears as she stood a little lost in the line then I teared up completely I'm afraid while the precious little thing tried to keep her cool as everyone around her said the pledge of allegiance. God Bless Her. Then I practically followed her to her classroom. The poor child couldn't lose me. Directly following that I made my way to the car (mustang) and cried my head off.

Later, when the neurotic mother had to phone the school on completely unrelated business she happened, just in the passing of normal conversation mind you, to ask the office lady if she perchance had heard any crying around the halls that morning. The neurotic mother was told "I went into Year One Mrs Mitchell and I met your daughter. She is a lovely sweet child. She's fine." I mean god. I was only casually asking. Now we can't wait for her to come home and hear all about it. Even George keeps saying "I wonder how Sabine's going......" She'll be home in 4 hours and 48 minutes so I'll let you know......

The Other Side of the Ocean

When I was a little girl, swimming peacefully in the glassy waters of North Avoca I would sometimes look out at the horizon and wonder what I would see if i could see all the way across...(read; what I would see see see if I could see across the sea sea sea.) I am happy to report that I have found out! And here's a picture....

Ahhh the serenity......Imagine also if you will helicopters and aeroplanes going over every few minutes dragging massive flapping billboards behind them. mmmmmmm

So this is Santa Monica. Because of some weird brain freeze type moment we forgot to bring our Rollerblades and hot pants with us but fear not! There were still many fabulous attractions. We experienced Santa Monica as a kind of Manly on American steroids (no muscle beach pun intended) It was an amusement park, it was an aquarium, it was a big pier, it was posing and it was posh shops. We had a great time! Here are some highlights.......

One has to sample the local cuisine......

Then one has to get one's skimpys on and work off the calories

consumed in a very public way...........

Any aggression in the kiddies can be worked out on kiddie sized dodgem cars that they are allowed to drive (how fun would that have been when you were five?)

Then it was time to find the Mustang and start our 3 hour journey out of the car park. We really did have such a great day and will definitely go back.....maybe not on the hottest, busiest day on the Labour day long weekend though! Next time I'm thinking Malibu........