Life in Darwin

Hello to all our friends, where ever you are! Life here in sunny Darwin is going wonderfully for us all. Work at the hospital has gone from casual to full time on the orthopaedic ward, which I am loving. Great team of nurses to work with, friendly doctors and allied health staff too. Enjoying getting up and going to work, which was a worry for a little while when I was going here, there and everywhere, not knowing the wards or the staff. Now I love it!

Stevo is still busy with Caz's yard, but the wet season is slowing things down a little. There is no such thing as a little drizzle or light rain, it's all or nothing up here. Hard to pour concrete when you could get inches of rain in the next few hours. But between fishing and reading he is stopping the boredom from setting in!!

The kids started back at school this week and I must say - so far so good. Both of them get home and say they did "nothing" when asked, but I'm hoping they are learning all the things that I couldn't teach them...music, art, sporty stuff...you know what I mean. They have made friends already and we have had no tears, so that's a bonus.

Laura has developed a new skill that I'm sure the family at home will be thrilled with...she is the best little tick picker in the NT! Every night she pesters Caz to get the tweezers and the empty wine bottle (into which we humanely put them to sleep!!!!), and let her pull the many ticks off the pup and 2 dogs that they pick up from the dirt in the backyard. Poor Will doesn't like it at all and won't even watch, big sook. Luckily for the cats they don't get them. And although I know they are around we haven't seen any cane toads up here in the backyard at all, so that's good.

Looking forward to seeing the Billing family at the end of March, I've already put in my requests at work for some days off. Looking forward to a little sightseeing with our friends, and hearing all the news from "home". The kids will have a ball I'm sure.

Well bed time here in Glencoe Cresent, better get these kids off to sleep...chow for now, love the Stevenson family.

photos galore...

Here are the photos from chrissy, the new year and around Caz's place in Darwin, as promised...

First stop was Janelle's place in Katherine where we spent Christmas Eve. She has a massive place so we had lots of room to kick back and relax, and the kids played with the new puppies.

Caz, Janelle and Deb, getting into the christmas spirit, CHEERS!

Christmas morning at Janelle's, Will and Laura were the only kids there and Santa had no trouble finding us. Look, DS's all round!

Christmas day and Boxing day we went to Meryl and Johns and were very spoilt with the great food and company. Had a fantastic day and the kids really enjoyed playing together.

We got a little rain, but not enough to dampen our spirits!

We had a couple of days house sitting at Christian and Surrinders too, while they were in Alice Springs. As you can see we made ourselves at home. Here is Chris relaxing with the kids while playing the playstation...Scotty is giving him a little help!!

Check out the beautiful pool we got to enjoy, VERY NICE.

This is a quick video of Caz and Craig playing the Wii on New Years Eve. We had the greatest time!

Then back to Darwin we came, and for some of us it was back to work also, bummer!

The kids love it when Caz gets out all her candles and we light them and have a "candle night". Here are Chris and the kids helping to get them all going, while Caz pours the beverages! Can you see the new BBQ area taking shape? Looks a little messy now, but almost ready for the paving and then a new roof. Good work Stevo!

Right, I'm off for a swim in our little pool. Cheers for now xxx

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

WOW, it's 2010 and I'm looking forward to another year full of fun and adventures. We had a wonderful time at Katherine with Caz, Meryl, John, Darren, Janelle, Craig and all the kids. Have taken lots of photos but no time to put them on the computer tonight, just got back to Darwin today and need a rest before starting back at work tomorrow. I will get them on soon tho', I promise. The trip home was the usual thrill (well I think that's the word I'm looking for?!)...as well as the 2 dogs, 2 cats and 3 kittens we'd taken down with us the first trip, we also had 3 puppies to bring home this time!! And before you ask - NO, we weren't in a truck or ute or towing a trailer...we were all crammed into a regular camry sedan (with Caz, myself and Laura - the animal lover). Luckily only one of the cats poops every time you put it in the cat cage and the other one gets car sick and throws up!!!!! Some would say Stevo and Will were the smart ones going in Jimny, although it adds an extra hour and a half to an already 3 hour trip, but I think secretly they were jealous to miss all the fun.

My poor old body is still aching from the energetic New Years Eve activities Chris, Caz, Craig and I got up to. For those naughty people who just went "eeeeewww, yuck Deb!", I will explain...Craig brought over his Wii and the four of us spent hours jumping around like crazy people punching each other, swinging golf clubs and baseball bats, throwing 10 pin bowling balls and generally laughing our heads off. I found muscles I didn't know I had and they have been screaming at me for the last two days! It was a great night and I'm glad I got to spend it with Caz (oh, and you too Stevo and Craig). Did anyone make any New Years resolutions? I didn't, but I feel positive about the year ahead. We made some big decisions last year and this year we are going to sit back a little and enjoy the ride (and the fishing I hope, for Chris' sake!). Hope 2010 is a year of wonderful times with lots of love and happiness for you all, my dear friends. Take care, eat, drink and be merry, I know we will be. See you all some time soon,
love Deb xxx