Back in Blogland!

It's has been over a year since my last post on our family blog... tut tut tut.

And it's not because we have been quiet!

Indeed, we were thoroughly absorbed by our Guide Dog puppy, Sheba who became more and more a part of family with each day of fostering.

We then received the exciting opportunity to move to Melbourne - I've never been shy about how unsettling Sydney felt to me personally so the news was a welcome alternative... however it meant saying goodbye to Sheba.

We knew it was not going to be easy... and it wasn't!  Fortunately, I became good friends with our Puppy Trainer at Guide Dogs NSW, and we recently received the wonderful news that Sheba has graduated to full guide dog training... maybe in 6 months she will change someone's life by becoming their eyes.  Fingers crossed!

Here is our lovely foster-dog on our last day with us in January...

:o)  So, since December / January, we've 'left' a friend, said goodbye to many, made a few, lived in 4 different 'homes' and started a new school (that's a family effort as many will know!).  And it has all gone really well, with the girls settling into school super-well and confidently - we are very proud.

Melbourne is beautiful.  We've moved to the southern Bayside area and the beach is just over a mile away!  It sorely makes up for the absence of a swimming pool at our house... although we still have Sammy Spa of course, who has followed us since NZ days!

The vibe in Melbourne is more relaxed, more creative, very sporty (Aussie Rules is HUGE here!) and with amazing public transport it is an easy city to enjoy.  I think we have finally, truly, arrived in Australia :o)

Now, I, Mamma A love the inter-world-wide-web :o)  I follow blogs; I facebook; I occasionally tweet but mainly watch with amazed interest at the normality of famous people's random tweeting!;  I 'do' Pinterest.  I also love taking photos.  So I was thrilled when I discovered a cool-as blog, Fat Mum Slim, written by this delicious woman who, amongst other topics, sets a 'Photo A Day' list each month.

It's not a challenge as such, but more an opportunity to think creatively each or at the very least, take time to think and record.  I think it's a wonderful way to journal life - pictures captures moods, feelings, memories, without necessarily having to think of articulate ways to memo those thoughts or emotions.  To that end, I am taking up the 'Photo A Day' mantel and will share it through this blog :o)

I hope whoever might read it, enjoys our images as simple views from a small family living a mighty big adventure!

Big love

Mamma A and the gang xxxx