Still Very Busy Getting Settled

We are all still very getting settled into the QLD scheme! There are just so many things to do, we are still trying to get the car registration changed from VIC to QLD, not a difficult process but time consuming. It is a bit of a learning curve trying to find a mechanic you can trust, one you can rely upon to do what is required and nothing more, especially when doing RWCs or road safety certificates as they are called up here.

We have been lucky, in fact spoilt for choice in Ballarat, we found Ballarat Toyota to be pretty good, Eclipse Motors are excellent as you would expect me to say and the work I had done at Reptile Gulch Motors was also very good, so the hunt is on to find a workshop we can trust. I tried the nearest Toyota Dealer and they were too busy, so next was to try the local Ford Dealer (Denmac Ford). They knocked off the two vehicles today and both passed without issue although the Mondeo is almost due for its second set of shoes after 74,000k, thankfully QLD have a fixed price RWC across the state so you know what you are up for. Now all I need to do is get to the nearest department of roads office and change the regos over, get a QLD licence for Karren and I then get the trailer rego'd and we should be legal transport wise. That only leaves the firearms and licensing...

While the cars were being checked over we went shopping for school uniforms for their new school, Pullenvale State School, as a result all we seem to be doing is paying out coin for stuff (see above as well) at the moment. The girls have been super keen to get uniforms sorted out and were rapt to get it all finished off today, new hats, shirts, collottes, dresses, shoes and school bags. The girls are pretty happy with there new garb, a very different look to Pleasant street but I think they look pretty cute.

The girls new school uniform

After shopping we still had heaps of time to waste so we headed into Streets Beach at South Bank (via Translink, the QLD equivalent of Metro) for a bit of a sticky and a swim. It is a great spot for kids to swim and have fun, Emily and Rosie thoroughly enjoyed themselves and given it was only about 28degC and nowhere near hot enough for me to get wet, I was impressed that they were in the water for an hour and a half without looking like wanting to get out! Unfortunately we had to get back to pick up the car so we headed off reluctantly after two hours of watery fun.

Streets Beach

More Streets Beach

Yep Streets Beach

We have had an appointment with a pool builder Rogers Pools to get started on our own pool. Up until today I wasn't sure it would be used enough but after seeing the girls at Streets Beach, I think the pool will get sufficient use to make it worthwhile.

There are so many options and things to consider when building a pool it is a little daunting, mineral or salt chlorination, concrete or fibreglass, cartridge or sand filter, lights or not - colour, what type of fence, what shape pool, What lining pebblecrete or gemtex, what cleaning system and so on, the list seems to be never ending. We will be getting a couple of quotes, Precision Pools are the other mob at this stage and hopefully we will get a pool builder who will do an exceptional job for us.

Nothing new to report on as far as wildlife in the area, in fact I am sure that the little critters are becoming wary of us - particularly Charlie, so apart from Wallabies and Wood ducks not much else is materialising. The frog that has made his home in the down pipe is a little annoying, his calling at night is starting to wear thin, we really need a decent storm with significant rain to wash the noisy little bugger out and it might fill the tank as well.