Mattins Down Under

10th June 2008

2008-06-10T16:43:00.003+09:30

Well, yes I have been slack at keeping the blog updated, my apologies. But any way hope everyone is well,

Here's whats been happening,

Plumbers were on the land 27th Feb and the slab was pored on the 5th March, the frame was erected in April, roof was put on in May, and brickwork has gone up, and we now have a house,

Laura unfortunately had some bad news that her Grandad had passed away, so flew back to the UK for the funeral, I stayed here in oz with the girls and everyone again helped out with getting the girls to school etc. She was away for 2 weeks, so I had 1 week off work as it also clashed with the girls school holidays here.

The house that we are in at present is up for sale, you can see it by clicking on this link http://www.open2view.com.au/Property/50930 it was up for $360k but has been reduced, still not enough to sell it ! so we have had three open days, (when people come round and wander through the house nosing in all your cupboards etc.) which we were not at all happy with, but couldn't do a lot about it apart from move again!

The girls are fine and Bethany is looking forward to her Birthday party this weekend, Chelsey has mastered the art of riding her bike with no stabilisers and is also looking forward to her birthday party even though its not till October !

We have been out and about most weekends, wont bore you all with the details, but this weekend was just as hectic, Saturday we went to order a new bed, and ended up with a corner lounge suite ??? Sunday was down the house sorting a few bits out and later Janet & Dave came round for tea. Monday we took our jammy mates to the airport, they won a competition on channel 10 (TV station) a brand new car and 6 holidays to major sporting events any where they wanted in the world, this time they are flying back to England for the Wimbledon Tennis.

Jo and Dale had invited us down to the shack, which we would we of loved to of done but needed to get things done at the house, before they moved on to the next stage.

Winter started here on June the 1st, and we have had a few nice days still, but we have also had a few crappy days, the temperature plummets at night time and I have dug out my thermals, it probably is still warmer here than in the UK, but we all feel the cold now.

Any way, dinner is now ready, so must go, will try to keep blog updated.

Bye for now Laura Steve Bethany & Chelsey.

26th February 2008

2008-02-26T19:01:00.003+10:30

Hi everyone

Great news...... they have actually started on our house !!!! pictures to follow !

Well we haven't done a great deal since Christmas, that's why I haven't updated the blog,

We went for a drive down to visit Janet & Dave at a holiday camp a couple of weekends ago and had lunch with them, they were staying near Victor Harbour in there new caravan they have just brought. The girls loved it as there was a big playground & the camp was right on the beach.

Jo and Dale also popped down to see us a couple of weekends ago, and stopped for Sunday dinner, then we all went down to the beach, it was nice to catch up with them, because they live so far away from us we don't get to see them as often as we would like.

Laura has been in for a laparoscopy last Thursday, and has recovered well, all our friends have been great helping us out looking after the kids, taking and picking them up from school etc.
I was meant to be going on a fishing trip Friday through to Sunday with a load of Aussies and sleeping in my "swag" (tarpaulin with a zip !) in the middle of nowhere, but couldn't as had to look after Laura & children. So instead I went to the Clipsal 500, which is held here every year, and involves V8 super cars, formula 3 & V8 Ute's racing round the streets of Adelaide , Janet took the girls for the day so Laura had a day of rest, (nothing different there !)

The girls are doing fine, except Bethany has to go to the Headmasters office on Wednesday for putting lipstick on and chasing boys round the playground, ( been watching her mother )

Any way here is our email address for all of you that haven't emailed for a while !

steve.mattin@gmail.com

Bye for now

Australia Day

2008-01-27T12:18:00.001+10:30

Hi every-one, hope you are all well. Yesterday was Australia day and the day was spent on the beach, breakfast, dinner & tea ! the weather was beautiful and the girls were in the water most of the day. we also spotted a dolphin swimming about 10mtrs away from us which was brilliant.
We also sold our Ford Exploder, and brought a Mitsubishi Pajero, the girls fell in love with the dvd player and drop down screen, so we had to get it ! No news on the house front, as yet, but we are in compettition with friends as to who's gets started first!

Happy New Year Everyone !

2008-01-01T13:05:00.000+10:30

Hi there, we hope you all had a wonderful Christmas,

We had the most hectic Christmas, Starting with the works Christmas party which was at the Bosses house, the girls were in the pool while Laura and I were drinking and playing lawn bowls!
We were out on Christmas eve looking at the houses that had Christmas lights. then Christmas day was spent with Sheena, Mel & Chris, where we had a proper Christmas dinner, from there we went to the beach and met up with some other friends, Boxing day was spent at Becky & Spence's and again down to the beach, and every day since then has been at the beach, the girls love it, and it is nice to cool down in the sea as the temperatures are crazy, we have had a succession of days in the mid 30's and yesterday was around 43. We also spent New years on the beach staying there till 2am this morning. We were supposed to go down the beach for a BBQ today, but we are burnt, and Knackered so have decided to spend the day in front of the air con! as it must be at least 35 out there again. We were also supposed to be going to Tiddy widdy with Jo & Dale but Chelsey hadn't been well. So we missed out on that, and will have to catch up with them another weekend.
The house should be starting any day now, and will keep you all informed as to what stage they are at.
Thanks to all of you that sent Christmas cards.

And once again HAPPY NEW YEAR

Sunday 2nd December

2007-12-02T18:39:00.000+10:30

Hi every-one sorry we've been slacking and haven't updated for a while.

Well, we have been busy nearly every weekend for the past couple of months,
We went to the Christmas Pageant with friends a couple of weeks back which was excellent, the floats were as good as a Disney parade, and was well worth seeing, the Girls absolutely loved it.
From there we went swimming at an open air pool which was also great.
We met up with Jo & Dale one weekend and the Girls went to a Christmas party which was arranged by Kmart, while me and Dale went looking at swimming pools.
Bethany had a sleep-over at her school on Friday night, and we got up at the crack of dawn to go and have breakfast with her and all her classmates. they put on bacon, eggs, sausages etc.
Later on that day we went for a BBQ with friends and finished the day off at the beach!
Today we have been putting up the Christmas decorations, but it still doesnt feel like Christmas as the weather is not what we are used to this time of year. But I'm sure we can put up with that !
The House has now got full council approval, but nearly cost us another $5000.00 because they couldn't track down a certificate stating what the land was filled with, but after numerous phone calls to different people, Laura finally managed to get one off her mate who also lives on the same estate.
They have told us that it should be one of the first jobs that they start in January, because everyone in the building game shuts down for Christmas. So fingers crossed it should be finished in June / July.
Any way, we would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and will update blog in the new year........

22nd October 07

2007-10-22T18:55:00.000+09:30

Hi All

Well, the last six weeks have flown by and my Ma & Pa are due to leave us on Thursday, They and us have had a lovely time and will be sad to see them go. Laura's Mum and Dad should be the next ones to visit us but at the moment they have not set a date. Any one else who would like to visit us, just let us know when and we will sort it out.
Last week we went for our colour selection for the house which involved choosing everything from wall & floor tiles, kitchen, bathrooms and colours through-out the house, which also cost us more money for upgrades. We also had a letter from the council saying that plans had been approved, so shouldn't be long now before work begins.
I took my trade test last Friday which I passed the practical side of, but have got to wait for the results of the theory which I don't think I have passed as the questions were mostly on motors and on stuff that I done at college 10 or so years ago, but will have to just wait and see !
Laura has decided that her course was not for her and it was going to interfere with the children to much, so she has stopped going, but is going to get a part time job at the local supermarket instead.
Have posted a few more photos of places we have visited whilst Ma & Pa have been with us !

Keep in touch

Bye for now. Laura Steve Bethany Chelsey Pam & Brian

iGoogle

2007-10-14T20:03:00.000+09:30

iGoogle

Saturday 6th October

2007-10-06T11:42:00.000+09:30

Hi every one, its nearly been a month since I last updated the blog, so thought I had better let you know what we have been doing.
My Mum and Dad arrived here 3 weeks ago and have fell in love with the place, they have picked out their house that they want, and when they return to the UK they are going to look at how they can also get out here.
We have been out and about showing them the sites of Adelaide and have been to some places that we had not yet ventured ourselves.
I started my new job working for a building company who specialise in insurance refits, which is vary varied work, that I am enjoying at the moment, but have still been for another interview since starting with them (keeping my options open)
Laura has got all her stuff sorted for her course which she starts in a fortnights time, after the girls return to school, Chelsey starts full time school which she is looking forward to. Both of them have been doing swimming lessons and are doing really well. They can both swim better than Laura now ! so she will have to do lessons herself to keep up !
Weather has been OK, we have had some really hot ones, but some cloudy ones as well.
The house is progressing and has gone to council for planning, we have chosen our colours and flooring. Me and Dad spent all day last week cutting down the weeds on the land as we had a letter from the council warning us to do so, as it is getting close to summer and was proned to fire.
We also had a days golf at Willunga golf course, which Dad enjoyed but I gave up after 16 holes because I had sent two balls into peoples houses and one just clipped the trees above an old couples heads.
Emails from every one have dried up, haven't heard from JULIE & ANDY, JOHN & NIC, MARTIN & NIC, DARREN, DEBBIE & STEVE, KIM & PHIL, DAVE & SHARON and any of you other lazy gits that are not mentioned above.....YES YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!!

Keep in touch all of you, or no free holidays !

Speak to you all later Love from Laura Steve Bethany Chelsey Pam & Brian.

Sunday 9th September

2007-09-09T21:05:00.000+09:30

G'day everyone

Hope everyone is ok, We are still enjoying our new lives in Australia. Laura has made a new friend who came from Witham, so she has got another Essex girl to go to lakeside with ! She has also enrolled with Becky (essex girl) to do a college course for Aged Care, so maybe one day she will even get a job, I finished up at my job that I was doing on Friday and I am due to start my new job on Tuesday for a Building company closer to home.

Didn't get up to much this weekend, as had to take Lauras car in to have a few bits sorted on it, After dropping the car off we went to meet Jo & Dale at St Kilda, where the kids had a mad half hour in the park, which resulted in the girls having friction burns to their bums from the slides. On the way home we went to China Town for tea which is getting to be a regular thing.

Will update again pretty soon.

Havent had many emails from you all.

Dont forget us !!!!

Monday 27th August

2007-08-27T17:44:00.000+09:30

Hi every one, its getting hotter ! today has been 26 degrees and very hot to work in, christ knows what we are gonna do when it gets to 40 !

We made the 420KM round trip to Tiddy Widdy again this weekend with Jo, Dale, Bianca & Georgina, the weather was great, 24 Saturday & 25 Sunday, Dale and I went fishing, and caught puffa fish, squid and crabs (swimming type) On Sunday after a mornings fishing we all went down to the beach, the girls were loving it, in and out of the water, I also went in but soon came out as the water was bloody cold. Laura enjoyed herself just sitting and lapping up the sun with Jo.

Not long now till my Mum & Dad come over for six weeks, hoping to take a couple of weeks off work to spend with them, probably when the girls are on school holidays so we can show them around. So will have more to tell you then. Nothing to tell you on the house front as yet.
Last weekend we went for a drive to Hahndorf, which is a German settlement, but couldnt get parked as there were beach towels every where, and it was also raining when we got there. So we had another day at the shops ! On the way home we went back through the city and had a meal in China Town, which was different to say the least.
Any way, keep the emails coming and hope you are all well.

Friday 10th August

2007-08-10T18:16:00.000+09:30

Hi everyone, weather is getting better, we have had a few warm winter days of 21 degrees. but still gets cool during the night. Laura has now got a car, which is a Holden Barina....(Vauxhal Corsa). We have done a bit more exploring of Adelaide, and the other weekend we went on a boat trip from Port Adelaide to spot Dolphins, The trip was great value at $3.50 each (£1.45) for a two hour trip.

Saturday we are going to meet up with Jo & Dale, as its Jo's 35th birthday, and on Sunday we are going up to the Murray River to see a water ski / boat show.

The girls are still loving school and Chelsey is either round her friends or her friend is round here, They have also started swimming lessons which they seem to love as well, I have started back at college, doing a course on Australian standards, so I can get my Electrical licence. I have also given up smoking (nearly 2 weeks) Laura is a bit happier now that she has got her own set of wheels, and she doesn't have to rely on everyone else to give her lifts to shops/school. and Im trying to get her to go to work, but not having much Luck !
We are now the owners of a overgrown with weeds piece of land, and the conveyancer got it round his neck with the encumbrances, which are still on the land, so we have gone back to the idea of just putting a house on it for ourselves.

The job that I'm doing is getting a bit tedious now especially as I am driving for about 2 hours each way.

Keep the emails coming, hope you are all well.

NEW EMAIL Address's lmattin@dodo.com.au

smattin@dodo.com.au

stevenmattin@dodo.com.au

Sunday 8th July

2007-07-08T21:50:00.000+09:30

Hi there everyone thanks for all your emails, sorry we havent replied individuly, but dont seem to get a lot of time to! We are all fine and still enjoying OZ, weather has started to turn a bit colder now, as we are in the middle of winter, We cant wait until the summer as we had a winter in the UK and then arrived here for yet another Winter.
My finger has healed up pretty good now, even without the skin off my ass!
The girls are still enjoying themselves, Bethany had a great school report saying how well she was doing, and how well she had settled in & made freinds. They have now broken up for 2 weeks of school holidays, Laura is really looking forward to that! We went out looking for a car for her yesterday, but couldnt see one for $100.00 so perhaps next week!
Last weekend we took a drive out to Mount lofty which is the highest point in Adelaide, the veiw was spectacular, but it was a cold and damp day, so we will probably re-visit in the summer.
Yesterday after car hunting and a bit of shopping, we drove to Jo & Dales, Had some supper with them and a good natter, while all the girls had a good play.
We are now in the last stages of our land purchase, as we had to postpone the orriginal date for settlement, because we couldnt get our money over from the UK.
We have now found out that all the incumbrances have been removed from the land, so we might be able to go back to our original idea of putting two property's on there.
But will have to wait and see what the local council has to say about that!
It has started to feel a bit more like home now, as we have all our furniture and a long awaited BED, only problem is, we dont want to get out of it in the cold mornings!
Any way please keep the emails coming, as we love to hear from you all, and we will keep you all updated....
Love from Laura Steve Bethany & Chelsey

Sunday 17th June

2007-06-17T12:10:00.000+09:30

We would like to wish both fathers happy fathers day, as we cannot buy cards out here as fathers day is not until September, Well we havent done a lot this week apart from celebrate Bethany's 6th birthday, Thanks to those of you that sent cards to her. She had a few presents but she mainly wanted a pet, but as we are renting she couldnt have anything that lived indoors, so we brought her a bunny rabbit, which she has called fluffy. Jo and Dale came over to us yesterday and brought a temporary rabbit hutch for her to keep it in until I get round to building her one. But cant do that until tools arrive. Telephoned container co to see what has happened to our stuff getting pretty pissed off now waiting. As a woman who Laura talks to had her container arrive the day after ours and has already got her stuff.
Any way not much more to report this week, so will update again pretty soon.......Keep in touch everyone..... and hope you are all well......

2007-06-11T16:38:00.000+09:30

11th June 2007

2007-06-11T14:23:00.000+09:30

Hi all, we have just returned from a long weekend with our friends Jo, Dale, Bianca & Georgina who have a holiday retreat on Tiddy Widdy beach which is nearly a 3 hour drive from where we are lving. Dale & I spent the day fishing on his boat, while Laura, Jo & girls went shopping (as women do !) the weather was not too great, but at least it stayed dry. We caught about 6 puffer fish ( like the one on shark tale ) which have teath & spikes and blow themselves up like tennis balls, when they get angry, Dale also caught a squid, which Jo snacked on!

2007-06-08T21:38:00.000+09:30

08 June 2007

Now into our sixth week in oz, and still loving it,
I had an accident at work which involved an electric plane & my finger, and was offered a skin graft from my arse, which I declined !
The girls are still having lots of fun at school, and have made numerous friends, Bethany has watched happy feet twice now at school, so that's probably why she enjoys it so much !
Laura has been out and about with Sheena and her sister Mel, out for lunch etc.
She has also made a few friends from the school & pre-school, which keeps her occupied.
Our container has now reached Australia, but we have still got to wait for it to go through quarantine, getting a bit fed up now waiting for our bed!!!
This weekend is a bank holiday for us due to the Queens birthday, so we are off to Ardrossen to stay with friends in their shack on the beach. Hopefully get a bit of sea fishing in as well, as Dale is taking his boat.
We will take some photos and post on here very soon.

Mattins Down Under

2007-06-08T21:10:00.000+09:30

G'day Mates

To save sending emails we have introduced this blog to keep you all updated with our news & adventures down under !
We will still be writing emails but only once a month.
Hope you enjoy looking at our photos ( sorry no rude ones )