Christmas.....again!!!!

Summer hasn't really started here yet and the weather is quite miserable.....even the heating still comes on in the morning!

Grandad, Laura and Abigail arrived on the 13th and couldn't shake the jetlag, but the giant prawns on the BBQ made up for the loss of sleep. While they went off to Cairns and Sydney we went about doing some Christmas shopping and orgnanising the goose (which by the way was a disaster...the thinnest goose from some concentration camp goose farm.....fatten them up for heaven's sake!!!!!!) At least the stuffing was delicious and the ham that Grandad made turned out really well.

The rest of the days were filled with trips to Sorrento, Yering Station winery, Yarra Valley Dairy, Crown Casino and more shopping!!! Plus I had a day out just with Grandad at the NGV and a special lunch at Nobu, thanks Dad! And it had to be the hottest day when I dropped you all off at the airport on the 31st - 41 degrees!!!!

As Noddy Holder would say, Its Christmas...................

Marti turns 3!

Grandma left on the 6th and we were all sad to see her go, thanks Mom for all your help. Marti turned 3 on the 11th and was very excited to get all his presents....as he always is! Now we are counting down the days until the next load of family arrive from the UK:)

Happy Birthday Cutie Pie

Birthday Madness - Now you see it, now you don't

It’s getting hard to keep this blog up-to-date with all the goings on….. Everything is in full swing, Georgie and I are working full time (G has Mondays off) and the kids are in day-care for the rest of the week. Yes, it was a birthday month and this year we decided to get a Magician. Max was recommended by a colleague and the kids and adults all had a great time. What else happened in October……? I have no idea but the boys are happy and Granny Erika is looking forward to going back home to get some well earned rest.

We are now waiting for the next visit from Granddad who already has a BluRay player, 10 DVDs and a large Handy Manny doll in his suitcase for us.

Abracadabra (5min)

Where did September go?

Hello all, it’s that time again, time for another blog entry. It's been extremely hectic here with the new jobs but there is always time to say hi to all our friends and family around the globe. It's Karl Jnr’s birthday tomorrow but his party will only be in two weeks due to holidays and the “Grand Final” (Go Saints).

This weekend we went to the Royal Melbourne Show to entertain the kids and get the obligatory show-bag. We all had loads of fun on the various rides; eating what was on offer from the various stalls and watching them prepare Guinea Pigs for “best in show”.

Grandma Erika is still here and doing a good job with the boys who are off to day-care mid-October once she leaves.

PS. I am going to blow up every radio transmitter in Victoria if they don't stop playing Bon^*%%$ Jovi, who are touring here soon. (boy we sure do get the dead-beats down-under)

A day at the Royal Melbourne Show

Life flashing by

Karl's mom just left after being here for 6 weeks to look after the kids. Her BP was 200/150 for the first two weeks until she settled down to a rhythm of KFC and MacDonald's. The kids had a great time and were sad to see her go but now we have my mom arriving for a 7 week stint. (fingers crossed)

Jobs are going well and we are warming to the 80's (as Karl keeps saying). The weather looks to be cheering up and we can smell spring approaching. There were so many activities over the last couple of months but most notably was the ride on the miniature trains. Look, it's winter, it's cold and we are both working so life is one big blur.

Karl is commuting by bike to work and seems to be enjoying the Just Group while I input the day away at Interactive. (great great people).

Under 5min of kids fun

We are both working - Mom's the Nanny

Information to follow.................................

....................................or not in this case.

Looking for work in winter

Half the year has gone and Christmas is looming while the Neubauer’s are looking for work in Australia – What an experience that is…. Bugger me, if you’re not off the convict boat, -10 points and if your grandfather isn’t a £10 POM/WOG its -5. (Harps, if you’re Indian mate you had better s__t golden eggs)

Georgie is contracting again with a company I used to do business with and I have started looking for work (soon I'll have to give old Ronald a call). It’s been an interesting ride... cough cough. We have a new PM who is probably less worried about their hair, a football team who had a good holiday in South Africa and Rick Ashley is still No.1 in the charts. June has been a good month with me shooting 40 points at the Brighton Golf Club and visiting some of the many friends we have made here in Australia.

Thanks to all of you who emailed etc as it means allot to us being so far away. All the best and see you next month.

Winter 2010

Attack of the In-Laws - Part 1

The In-Laws came and went, three weeks just flew by........................

While I was at work, apart from the odd day off here and there, the rest of the Neubauers went sightseeing, fishing, golfing, shopping, eating and a lot of sleeping. Must be all that fresh air!

It was great to see the kids get on with their grandparents, especially when it came to playing the Wii. It was hard to tell who was having more fun! Hopefully it won't be too long before they come and visit again.

Addendum: It was great to catch-up with some old friends. Uncle Brian, you're an inspiration mate.

The Dali-Lama, The Connoisseur and The Normal

April Fools... and then some

What a month this has been.............

We bought a new car (a little run-around) for Georgie to get to work in..... This was on the Saturday and on Sunday... Yup, she goes and breaks her arm - SNAP. 000, Morphine the whole 9 yards.. (Cough Cough, healthcare rip-off for working folk here in the 51st state of America). No car for 4-6 weeks so now not only do I have to fetch and carry the kids, I have to drop the wife off at the tram each morning/evening, as breaking an arm (which she did falling over Karl while holding Martin) affects your legs in some way.

Other than that the weather has been good and we have spent quite a bit of time with the kids on the beach gathering shells, sometimes with the damn animal still inside (what a stench after a few days in the sun).

The kids enjoyed a Tomb service on Saturday Evening before Easter Sunday where they hunted for "Easter Eggs" after a short service. During one of the Hymns Martin let out the loudest fart I've ever heard, as everyone looked Martin started to laugh and said "FART" with his little lisp (smiles all round).

We also visited the Melbourne Museum....Now that was challenging with two kids but there were loads of activities to keep them busy and interested.

My parents are arriving soon so it looks like my workload will once again increase.

******Wish me luck********

Days with the kids

Mr Mom

So what happened to Summer Part 2 – Let me tell you, it turn into yours truly donning an apron to slave over a hot stove feeding two ungrateful little “angles”. Yes, Georgie is working; she has a two month contract at L’Oreal in their Marketing department which overlooks Albert Park. Lets see what this leads to and in the meantime I’m Mr Mom. Time to pick up Karl from kindergarten, then time for some McD (no no, its not laziness, I hear you cry, its just they're giving away hot-wheel cars with every happy meal bought, and we have lots of cars. :-) )

Other than that we have been jet skiing (cheers Noel) and visiting some of the food and wine festivals that are currently on. Basically enjoying the last throws of summer before it starts cooling down.

Gordon Ramsay, eat your heart out

Visit to the Zoo

Today we went to Melbourne Zoo. It's one of the best zoos I've been to but also one with the least animals. I'm all for giving them room to roam but if all you can see is the end of the Lion's tail you kind of feel a little cheated (did I mention the smell!). Now, lets talk baby elephants - We went along only to find out the whole of Melbourne also want to see a baby elephant so we waited and waited while the boys ran riot. After 45mins we finally saw the little fella, took a picture and left (ba humbug).
No Sheri, that's not my tummy - It's just the way I'm standing :).

Marti being Marti

Summer - Part 1

Just a quick post..... Today was a fine Summer's day - just over 30 without a cloud in the sky. We decided to head off to the Caribbean Market to take the train. The kids were/are knackered with all the walking and playing in the various playgrounds dotted around the site. Dad got to look at some classic cars that congregate there most weekends and enjoyed a meat pie. (Australian national dish)



Summertime at the Market

Lord of the Flies

While Ralph is still advised by Piggy on this ole Isle..... summer has started in earnest. While not as warm as last year (due to global cooling and the coming ice age) it's still a welcome change from the rain and mild weather of spring.
(one week of flies..... picture attached)

We got some fishing rods and headed off to Mornington Peninsula (we fished off the pier and then ate in the restaurant) and all we caught was a stomach bug which brought us all to our knees (literally).

February is about to start and nobody and everybody is totally confused as to what we are going to do. I must say I don't miss the winter they had in England this year but I do miss all the activities available to all in old Blighty.

2010 is going to be the year of decision making and adventure....



Some family fun