Monday 6 July 2009

Online at last!

Well, I think it is best to do one big update to get myself back on track. We have been in Mt Isa about 5 weeks now, going on 6. We were able to find a house the second week, but it took us weeks to get the phone and internet connected. We had no end of problems! Anyway, with that now in the past, I have to be motivated again! :)
Eldon's job is going well and he is really enjoying it. He has been endorsed on two types of aircraft so far and we hope that the next one will be soon. (The next one is the one where he will be co-pilot on a turboprop) He has already been convinced to join the company's safety committee as the Mt Isa rep...big surprise....but so far it hasn't meant much more in working hours. We are feeling very spoiled as he is home a lot compared to the last job! If he is flying, he does his flight and then comes home. If he's not flying, he usually goes in for a half day or not at all sometimes....woohoo! It is such a wonderful difference!
I have settled in ok...it took me a few weeks to want to be here, I must admit. But there is a good little group of friends here and I am feeling more at home now. I can walk to town from our house so I have been trying to do that a couple times a week. The weather is beautiful right now, perfect for walking. We are having dry season winter here, so the nights get cool and sometimes downright cold, but the days are clear and warm. Eldon's Mum came over for 10 days and it was really nice to have her around for a while, especially while we were settling in. While she was here, we planted a vegie garden in pots so now we have silverbeet, lettuce, green beans, grape tomatoes, apple cucumbers and herbs growing! I love watching things grow and they are doing really well. We'll have fresh vegies soon and I'm already using the herbs.
We have come at the right time...the workers arrived today! It wasn't expected that they would make it out here this year but some new workers started after special meetings this year and so they were able to split some fields. The workers that cover Mt Isa also cover Townsville which is 800+ kms away! They are coming over for a few weeks to have missions...first one Wednesday.
Rhys is almost a year old! We are closing in fast to his birthday and one of our friends has offered to make him a teddy bear cake. He is such a cutie and it's so much fun watching him learn new things. He can now climb up and down stairs, walk aided or pushing something, clap, and wave. He walks very enthusiastically when he's holding our hands, but as soon as you let go he freezes! He has regressed in being able to sit still during meeting...guess that is no big surprise!
Well, I will send an email with our new address and phone number....if you don't get it and you want it, please let me know. Here are some pictures of our time so far!
Rhys "driving" on our way over to Mt Isa
These are rosellas which parked outside our motel room in Winton at special meeting time
Meet Freddo, who lived in our pipes until we hooked up the washing machine...he once gave Mum a scare by perching under the front lip...you can imagine
It is cold here in the mornings!
Rhys on his new fire engine! Not so sure about it at first...
Mum watering our new vegies, with Rhys's help of course!
Riding on Dad's shoulders...not very good at hanging on yet
Bath time!
More sure about the fire truck...too sure actually! Look at that concentration!
Rhys "helping" me with my herbs
Rhys loves pushing his pram around the yard!
This one is just for you, Shauna!
Family photo...not the best