STILL HERE!

We haven't left yet, but Darren thinks we may be able to give 2 weeks' notice on the house on Monday. As you can see, the van looks nearly finished. Just a couple of little things to do - cushions and mattresses are ordered, trimming on the outside, and of course we need to register it. I'm just waiting to see how much stuff I can get in those cupboards!

I finally finished the applications for registration for home schooling. I had to write a detailed outline of what I would be teaching the boys all year, which was a bit stressful. It felt like a uni assignment - and it's been a long time since I've done one of those! Anyway, they're in the post, and I'm just waiting now to see if they get approved. I mentioned that I'm a qualified and Qld registered teacher, which should help. I'm also following approved textbooks.

It's going to be very weird next week when everyone goes back to school. It's going to be even weirder when dance classes start again in February. Casey's been dancing with Hyfidelity since they began 2 years ago, and Brodie and I joined at the beginning of 2009. We're going to miss it so much. (But don't worry girls, we'll be dancing our way around Australia!)

Well, better go and pack some more boxes!

Getting Closer!

I went to visit the caravan for only the second time today. It looks fantastic and I can really imagine myself living in it. It's starting to look like home! Speaking of 'home', I'm still plodding along with the job of getting rid of stuff and packing things to go into storage. It's times like this I'm glad I'm not a hoarder. I donated a car full of clothes, toys and books to Lifeline yesterday.

It's also been a busy time trying to catch up with people before we go. I went out for dinner with the playgroup mums last night. We had a great time. I'm really going to miss seeing them every week. And yes girls, I will try to update my blog more regularly!! It's just that at the moment it's pretty much the same thing every day - until we actually get going. I finally pinned Darren down on a departure date...well, sort of. The last week of January the caravan will be finished.

I'll keep you posted!!

Happy New Year!!

Well, this is it! Christmas is over and it's 2010. THIS YEAR we are off around Australia! Not next year - THIS year!! Anyone who knows me well will know I LOVE clearing stuff out - throwing things away - giving things to the op shop. I've never done clearing out like this before. We are only taking what we absolutely need in the caravan. The kids have a 50l box each for their toys, so they've been deciding what they want to take with them. Santa really had to think hard this year to give them things that would fit in the caravan. Personally, I think he did an excellent job!! Anything we leave behind, we have to pay to store. It's a really good way to find out what you're lugging around that's just excess baggage. It's quite liberating to shed all that stuff from your life. So, I've sorted the toys, and the books, (they are always the hardest thing for me to get rid of, but I've been really ruthless and now I only have about 200 books!), and now I'm onto the clothes. Seriously, how many t-shirts does a six-year-old need?!

Update on the caravan - the cupboards are being varnished; plumbing's about 3/4 done. Here's the most recent photo.