Chris writes….

So, we're here - what an epic trip! Hong Kong at (our) midnight, on our feet for 13 hours, was really interesting, and I managed to stay interested for at least the first three quarters of the tour! When we got on the next flight, I think we all fell asleep before take off! it was a 10 hour flight here then, so we all got a reasonable amount of sleep AND managed to catch up on some movies from the last few months. The drive down here, nearly 2 hours, was tiring though. I drove first, swapped after an hour or so when I was too tired. Richard only lasted about 10 minutes and then we pulled over at the side of the road, set the alarm on my watch and all slept for half an hour, to gather strength to get here in one piece.

Our house is actually fine. It's fairly old and a bit tired looking, but that suits me fine! It's set up a very long driveway with 3 other houses along the way, all with a field or two with very cute lambs in at the moment - it being spring. In fact, I've just had to rescue one of the lambs from our garden - it had got through the fence and couldn't get back -aah! Our kitchen is the first room you get to, with a big breakfast bar then an open plan dining room the other side. Up 3 steps and round a corner is the lounge - with piano!! Then along the corridor, Kirsty's bedroom on one side, ours a bit further along on the other and Lana's at the end. Not dissimilar to The Pines! Half way along the corridor are the stairs to the upstairs study/bedroom, from where I'm typing this and looking at the sheep and our 3 chickens - the big black one the girls have christened (not literally - no dunking involved!) Miranda. Nothing personal - it does waddle when it runs though. The 2 small black and white ones have no name yet. We've had just 3 eggs so far - and managed to drop one of those! The cat, a fat old ginger called Gimmick is friendly, but lets you know with teeth and claws when it's had enough, as both Lana and Kirsten have discovered to their cost!

I haven't really met any neighbours yet, and am too shy to go calling, but I have walked hopefully up and down the drive a couple of times. so either they think I'm mad and are staying inside, or they haven't noticed. Generally people here are so incredibly friendly. Even the customs and immigration guys were making jokes and chatting about where we were going to live / work - not something you'd ever hear in England!

Tomorrow the girls go to meet the headmaster at school and have a 'uniform fitting' and if we take our name labels along, they'll be sewed in for us!!! Then on Thursday Lana, but not Kirsty, has to go and sit a maths and English test. She's a little concerned and has even asked us for some maths practice, saying she's forgotten everything since the end of term! We took a drive round the school grounds on Sunday - it's HUGE!!! Should get Kirsty fitter just walking between lessons! The girls say that they don't start school just yet (there are just 2 weeks left of this term), but judging by the increasing noise accompanying the endless games of Monopoly, they clearly need to go to school!

Richard went into work for the first time today and I was invited in for coffee too. Unfortunately we arrived just in the middle of what seems like the whole office tea break and therefore had to brave a whole room of people at once, but they seemed so friendly and genuinely interested in both of us. I came back with a list of phone numbers - friends of friends with kids at the same school/horses/choir members/ music teachers/spare bicycles to lend. It seems all of our needs will be well catered for. Richard is hoping to cycle in every day if he can borrow a bike, but until then I'm driving him in and out. It's about 6 miles from here - probably quicker by bike. His will arrive in November with all of our stuff.

We're on a Broadband waiting list, so unfortunately Lana can't spend hours on Facebook until we get something sorted, but it's on the list of jobs! Similarly, I'm writing emails then waiting and sending them all at once - just like the old days!