Ups and downs

Well, we've had lots and lots of ups and downs.  We have had lots of frustrations -- dishwasher and laundry machine not working; not telephone service, no internet, telephone service started but still not working, lost DS games (all of them!), credit card got cut off (despite 4 phone calls telling them, yes, we are in Australia!), shipment of all our stuff delayed a week, etc.  I wrote a longer post earlier about this, but can't manage to import it, so you all get to miss the angst I felt a day or two ago.  

The no internet and no phone was hardest, cause we couldn't communicate with anyone.  Now I'm at the public library (which closes in 45 minutes) trying to take care of everything we need online.   The first library we went to was about the size of our bedroom, and has 1 computer terminal that you have to book in advance!  But we are now at another library with wireless and many more books!  

The supermarkets here are interesting -- everything is smaller, and since we are in a city, the supermarkets are about 1/2 the size of Trader Joe's.  And, as Ripley explained in her blog: no baby carrots!  What will I do?  But the kids have been troopers, getting on schedule, spending lots of boring time at the bank, finding foods they like (apparently even the sugar tastes different here - -more granular or something), and not having TV.

Dave's parents did set up and unpack the WHOLE house -- it was amazing to arrive with sheets on beds and food in teh cupboards.  We have every kitchen thing we could need, and more towels than we need.  Garbage here is much smaller -- a bathroom sized can is the kitchen garbage, and the weekly cans we put outside are about 1/4 the size of ours at home.  So lots of adjustments.  

We did go to a mall and to a target-like store, yaay!  And today, a woman dave met last time, set up a playdate at the park and lunch with a bunch of friends, so we met 4 families, all with kids casey's age.  He immediatley made fast friends with several, and we got invited to drinks tonight at one's house, which is lovely.   

Won't have internet again for 3 days, so don't look for more posts!  Happy Christmas and Chanukah to everyone!!