The start of our new life in Port Macquarie

We had booked a cabin on a site in Port Macquarie for 2 weeks. It was a 1 bedroomed 4 birth shoebox!! But it suited us for what we needed! We started buying bits and pieces and also looking for somewhere to rent after the 2 weeks. We really liked Bonny Hills which is on the coast, so we had a look and there was a house for rent that was a stones throw from the beach so we took it. We moved in on the 17th July.

The 4x4 we bought had a small problem that Nige found out to our peril!! Although the dashboard light stated it was in low range 4 wheel drive, it wasn't!! Nige decided to take it on the beach and guess what. WE GOT STUCK. I had some fab pictures of everyone trying to dig us out, but they were magically deleted!

Luckily the tide was going out but it was very scary and we were stuck on a stranded beach for over two hours until the emergency service rescued us. Luckily we had packed an esky full of food, so the kids were occupied while Nige hitched a lift into town to get help!

Nige started work and I was dreading being on my own, but it was great, I found my way around town and loved it.

We spoke to our Mum's regularly on the phone while we didn't have an internet connection.

We moved in to our rental house with our limited furniture!! The guys at Nigel's work gave us a fridge and a futon to sleep on and we borrowed a TV. We sat on camp chairs in the living room and used to fight over the beanbag we had bought!! Our first weekend, we went to buy a barbeque and an outdoor 7 seater table and chairs (which we used inside!!)

I freaked out one day when I saw the head of a blue tongued lizard poking out from the slab at the front of the house!! It looked like a snake!! So what do I do???? I call Nige in a bit of a fit!!! Eventually the "thing" came out and I was so relieved that it was a lizard!!! My friend Tara told me that they're good because they eat the redbacks!!! So he could stay!

Talking about redbacks.......

This female redback was a resident in the garage. (Not for long though!)

On the 20th July 2009, Jessie celebrated her 1st Birthday. She had some lovely prezzies and cards from our friends in the UK and her Nanny's.

It was very strange being in the Winter in July. We had such lovely hot days. Weekends we would explore the areas around us, go to the beach and parks. I started going for long brisk walks on the beach which was fab.

Jacob started at a pre school not far called Cowarra Park. He went on a Monday and Thursday. The staff there was brilliant and Jacob settled in very well.