Missing home

We like it here. We had a few technical difficulties to negotiate along the way, but we now have a dial-up internet connection, with broadband on its way. Craig has been in turmoil and frustration for over a week as he negotiated his way through the Australian internet providers. But he’s peaceful now.

The house is fantastic, the weather is warm (roasting in the sun, cool in the shade) and the people are a strange mixture of warmth and straight talking. Some things are just Australian and can’t be quantified – the couple who run the laundrette up the road were incredulous at our pleasure in the weather. “Oh but you poor things, you must hate it coming from England, it’s so hot here, you poor things, it must be awful for you…”

Some things are more difficult. My mum has just found that she has to go into hospital for an operation following a scan which showed a mass around her bowel (she had breast cancer 2 years ago). We don’t know the full story yet, but it feels horrible to be so far away. Mum has been amazing through all of it, so full of faith and determination (as ever) but I’d like to be able to give her a hug. We’re missing her, missing all our friends and praying hard.