Looking down, 2 hours into our flight from Sydney to Perth, I said, "ooh look! We've reached the coast!" It turned out to be South Australia and the Great Bight to be precise - that great big chunk out of the bottom of the country, which is presumably how it got its hame. We still had 2 hours, and more land, to go.

We had a week of M's family, visiting them first in Busseltown, about 2 hours south of Perth, then down for more at Margaret River, and then up to the city. I was on best behaviour and hopefully, gained his mother's approval. We did however, have a few hours to ourselves at Margaret River, where his brother lives, and spent the morning at Gnarabar Beach.

Now I'm a bit of a beach connoisseur. Far too much time in my life has been spent lounging, walking or sitting on beaches. So I feel confident saying that this was one of the best. Perfect silver and green colours, sea refreshing and clear and the perfect breakfast at the White Elephant cafe of poached eggs on pan fried polenta. Yum!

Not too many postings of late due to the constant flow of visitors and the school holidays. Things are calming down now and with morning tides, we are getting up early and going to one of our favourite bays for a swim. Usually there is nobody else there but the wildlife - yesterday we were treated by a walk-by, by two black and white Australian magpies - far more beautiful and less foreboding than their British counterparts, with the most haunting call.

We turned the corner to see a long black goanna sashaying across the sand of about a meter long. Tracks showed that there were a pair lurking, along with some wallabies.

Whenever I go into town, I curse the 40 minute drive back but when we meet animals like this, along with being able to live in such an amazing location, I really think its worth it.

Visitors

I've been a bit busy lately with getting through visits from M's kids of varying ages and families, which quite frankly is exhausting.

Im loving where we live though and am thrilled by visits from so many other visitors that come into the garden - including the goanna that was sitting on a rock in the front garden when we passed through the other day. There are many species of birds too, from the noisy and hilariously ungainly galahs that wake us at 5am to the pretty little '28s' with their bright colours and sweet voices that sit just off the deck in the mornings, hoping for a bit of toast.

Night vision

With nothing in the house and high tide outside our window, we went out for thai last night. This involved a 15 minute boat trip to the end of the creek and then across Pittwater to Bayview, where we borrowed a friend's mooring. As we turned the corner, our journey became interesting. The evening sun was fading and the landscape around pittwater was alive with an electric storm. Aside from fear of being in a little metal boat, we marvelled at its beauty and commented that somebody would be taking photos of it.... And here, thanks to Uge, are they.

Our first trip back in the dark, extroadinarily, we managed to remember the light signals to avoid crashes and courtesy on the water. M also managed to navigate our shallow creek with no lights so we're almost professional. Not in every case though - I picked up the 16' trailer this morning from the shop, and whilst I managed to get it home without incident - the broken fence is a dead giveaway that my 3 point turn with trailer needs a bit of practice!

PART 3 - MCCARRS CREEK

We moved yesterday. By boat! Our new house is away from the hustle and bustle of Pittwater, up at the end of McCarrs Creek. As it sits on a sandbank, we had to get up early to get in whilst the tide is high. Now our little boat which we have named 'Oshi' which means 'delicious' in Japanese, is sitting in about half a meter of water, moored off the front of our deck.

The house is AMAZING. I cannot believe how lucky we have been and it all feels like something out of a film. Its a lot more modern than the house at Elvina Bay and has a road up behind it so its a lot easier to get about. We have 173 steps down from the garage which contributes to my 30 minutes aerobic exercise a day and does make you plan what you are going to carry, when you come down! The steps were covered in dirt this morning from bush turkey diggings during the night and judging by the bangs and bumps, its a popular spot for wild life. The doors have little sausages which is apparently a prevention for funnel web access, which is something that does scare me but for a city girl, Im not doing badly, moving spiders and cockroaches outside, when I see them.

Putting the rubbish out

Back from Melbourne after a lovely week with my great friend Nics who managed to calm me down and feel a little bit more at home. Arrived in Sydney to 38 degree temperatures, which lasted a day, then plummeted to 20.

Down to practicalities. M having been left on his own, the mountain of debris had piled up in the house and I pondered about rubbish collection. It sits with water on one side and the national park on the other and with no roads anywhere near, I thought it might be interesting. I googled it and found the answer under ‘the world’s strangest garbage collections’. And here it is – every Tuesday and Friday morning, debris must be left in bags on the jetty and it will be collected by truck sitting atop a barge. It cannot be left out before because it will be opened by the other residents – so far, I’ve seen a guano, two wallabies, a possum on our terrace, not to mention the galas which wake us every morning or the kukuaburra which sits outside the kitchen window. And there are spiders. Big fat ones which crawl onto the windows at night and look like crabs. I itch constantly and keep socks in shoes. Nics swiped a handsized huntsman so professionally and I wonder if I will ever be able to do that – I doubt it!

PART 2 - Elvina Bay

On Saturday night, I went to sleep on a plane leaving Narita, and woke up on Sunday morning in Sydney. Sunday was all about getting here to Elvina Bay which is water access only – car hire, Woolworths then water taxi. Finally to the house up the inclinator (cliff lift to the rest of us!) Then, later in the afternoon, M arrived with his two youngest children who will be staying here a week. Since then it’s been jobs and its good to sit down. The first meeting went well I think, although to be honest, I’m exhausted – mostly from the build-up both to the move and the meeting. They think I’m funny apparently, which is good. His daughter (12) is hugely into fashion and labels and seemingly very unimpressed by the second hand Audi we bought yesterday and the rented house, which has ‘old people furniture’. His son (7) is just so happy to see his dad and thanked me for keeping him company in Japan. He asked if I could be his stepmother, which was very sweet, but felt like a test so I said I would like to be friends if that was ok to start off.

After a day’s skiving, they went back to school today, which meant a 6.30 taxi to the main wharf and sandwiches packed last night. I’m feeling slightly shell shocked by the whole overnight lifestyle transformation but keeping a very open mind – easier to do when I’m sitting in on the jetty with my feet in the water as I write this! I’m on my own today so had a big walk in the national park behind the house and cleaned the house. I’m slightly obsessed with spiders, having found s funnel-nest right next to the front door on the first day and a black wiggly thing in my bed the same day. I’m sure Ill get over it. Either that or permanent gloves!

Next challenge is to find a boat to get practising as we’re going for our boat-driving license next week. Before that, a few days in Melbourne with my dear friend Nic and her three boys. Hopefully I’ll feel a bit more settled when I get back.