Back in Australia, happy and loving it!

So here we are. It's been 3 months since we arrived home (Nov 18th, or was it 17th?) and it's been really good. But a lot has happened, obviously, and it's hard to know where to start...

Going right back, we spent 5 nights in the Movenpick Hotel at Ouchy before leaving Switzerland. That was a super-busy time as it was when we cleaned the apartment in preparation for the final inspection. I am so grateful to Lucinda and Yasmine who helped me clean. They came on the Sunday, spent all day - Yasmine doing the 2 bathrooms and Lucinda doing all windows - and did a phenomenal job. I also had our cleaner, Catarina, come for a couple of hours on Saturday. The inspection on the Mon afternoon went ok, but they had a nit-picking list of final things we needed to do (like replace the ice-tray in the freezer!) but MK got all the things done.

Yasmine had a little do for us at garderie on the Tuesday night and this was very emotional. We both cried a lot when we did our final hug. She had been so strong and positive for all the time leading up to this but it was too much for both of us saying goodbye. She was so important in our lives. Us and the kids.

And basically everything went without a hitch and I know I left Switzerland the way I wanted to - calmly and peacefully. I chose the way I wanted to end my time there.

Having said that, our flight from Geneva to London was cancelled on that fateful Wednesday! But it didn't matter - we just caught an earlier flight and had longer at Heathrow. Aussie Jen and the girls had come to the airport to see us off but it was one big rush. Very sweet of them to make the effort.

Have blocked all flights from Geneva to Melbourne from my memory (oh, except the memory of someone calling out 'shut-up' when Charlotte was screaming on one flight and me spending ages in the toilet with her just waiting for her to stop crying).

Mum, Dad and Matthew were at the airport to meet us, and Lindy joined us a day or two later. Being in HK was excellent - went to Ocean Park (hot, but good) and Disneyland (excellent). Ate out lots, shopped, took the girls across to the new park opposite Mum and Dad's apartment. Michael left before we did, so we celebrated Charlotte's 3rd birthday twice. Once when MK was there, then a couple of days later on her actual b'day. She's still talking about the Beanie Cake she had for her b'day. Personally I preferred the buffet lunch at the fancy 5-star hotel we had on her b'day.

Mum flew home with the girls and I, and was lucky to get on the flight (booked solid). MK's parents were at the airport to meet us, along with MK and the car his parents bought us. We are very lucky people.

And when we got home to Ma ma and Poppy's place (where we still are now) Lily jumped on her bicycle and hasn't looked back since. That kid is so Aussie it's not funny. She was really made for this place. The great outdoors, catching frogs and lizards, feeding the horses, playing in the dirt, gardening, her fairy tree. She loves the lot. It is so so wonderful. Charlotte loves the great indoors a bit more, but that's ok, so do I.

Mum and Dad were back in HK for Xmas and we spent it with MK's parents, sister and family. It was a really lovely Xmas and we spent a happy couple of days down at their place.

Since we've been back Mum has been here 3 times and Dad twice. The girls love having them back and it gives us extra hands. Much easier for them to travel HK - Melb than HK - Geneva.

Lily started school at the beginning of February. We had enrolled her at the Montessori school here but we visited it and two local primary schools. The one closest to Mum and Dad's really stood out as suiting Lily the best. They have a good amount of land and lots of outside activities. Right up Lily's alley. Only 178 kids and 22 in her prep class. The teacher is lovely and the best thing of all is...I speak the language!

On the same day that Lily started school, Charlotte started at Occasional Care. She goes 3 mornings a week (the maximum amount she can attend) and at the moment that's Tues, Thurs and Fri morning 9am-12noon. She's settled in well, but I know she's not the Miss Independence her big sister is.

And me? We'll I'll save that for another post...