January 2012 Updates: Trip with Aunt Debbie to the Sydney
Aquarium Also: The Packing Saga Ends And the Big Move Arrives!
Slide 2
Our Aunt Debbie generously suggested to spend a day with the
girls at the aquarium so I could finish the last of the boxes. So
on a very wet day we left the brave trio to battle the torrents
outside and the sharks indoors.
Slide 3
The big attraction there were the new penguins. Hahgoot had her
face painted as a penguin, but you need a lot of imagination to see
it... For Alma it was her first exciting trip to an aquarium.
Slide 4
There were nice LEGO sculptures, lots of fish and reptiles, and
hundreds of people, due to the sudden wild weather.
Slide 5
Debbie did a great job with my camera, documenting their fun
day together. Hahgoot always likes to Find Nemo...
Slide 6
Slide 7
At last the rain stopped and they spent time outside at the new
playground at Darling Harbour, that has a lot of water play
features.
Slide 8
Moshe came for his last gardening job, and Alma helped him tidy
up the frangipani flowers
Slide 9
Moshe and Alison came again another weekend to help pack up the
kitchen
Slide 10
Alma noticed that I was packing and started helping by taking
books and DVDs off the shelves and depositing them in boxes,
without me asking her to do so. Hahgoot saw her working and decided
to help too. She also got to go up the ladder to get philosophy
books. Together we packed 12 boxes!
Slide 11
Alma also helped to pack the girls clothes in large bags
according to age. Barak woke up at last two days before the move
and packed up his computer accessories.
Slide 12
Hahgoot helped make signs for the boxes of toys, so it will be
easier to sort and organize them. The girls helped most by keeping
out of my way and keeping busy with drawing, games and food while I
packed in every free moment.
Slide 13
The playing area was getting smaller every day... But the girls
were resourceful and kept arguments and fights to the minimum.
Slide 14
Top: Alma tried to pack herself in Mistys cage... Bottom right:
it was sad to see Misty resting alone on the boxes without
Chat-chat...
Slide 15
We had a family trip to Emu Plains to the final inspection day
(to see the property is in mint condition before the contracts
change lawyers hands on settlement day). Here you can see the Blue
Mountains, which are the backdrop of the suburb. Middle: the Nepean
river, which is very popular with rowers. Our house is somewhere in
between these two landmarks.
Slide 16
Finally, Settlement Day arrived and we could now say we are
proud owners of a house! (well, technically the bank owns most of
it currently...) We got this impressive pack of goodies from the
real estate agent after signing, and a bottle of wine from Fred,
the loan financial advisor.
Slide 17
Thats it, the whole house is packed and ready to go (photos
taken at 2 am, the night before the big move)
Slide 18
Slide 19
The girls were woken up on the day of the move by our lovely
neighbours Lily, Hayden and Culloum. They spent the whole day at
Charlotte Walshs house. The first truck we ordered arrived at 9:30
am, but the other one arrived only at 12:30, which meant I did a
lot of work trying to help the removalists load. Barak spent most
of the time reading in the car, but eventually I convinced him to
come out and help with things like detaching the bookcases. Poor
Misty was in the cage from 9 am to 7 pm... Not fun at all.
Slide 20
Top left: the girls wardrobe, a second before it toppled over
and didnt survive the journey. Right: We had a lot of problems
getting things up the stairs. The removalists folded our Queen
mattress in half, and it landed OK it was such a stressful
day!!!
Slide 21
When we arrived at the house in Emu Plains to start unloading
the trucks we discovered the kitchen floor was covered by shattered
glass (top left). The ceiling lamps cover fell and broke. Well,
this means 7 years of good luck... The good luck already started
when one large bookcase fit exactly in a tight spot, the fridge fit
exactly (though the cupboards on top cant be opened) and we got
nearly everything in to where I planned them to be. Poor Misty was
so unhappy all day...
Slide 22
The piles of boxes were EVERYWHERE in neat stacks
Slide 23
I set up the three beds, unpacked the little food we brought
into the pantry, we showered and let Misty out of the box at last.
Then we picked the girls up, had a takeaway dinner on the way back
and all collapsed to bed. In our next presentation: The first and
second day of unpacking