New Ballina Abode

Benn unloading in new garage
Front of New House - (yet to add letterbox and Lane number)

Benn Assembling Dining Chairs - My Hero

Presto - our New Lounge (disregard packing boxes!)

Unofficial House Warming on Back Patio

Finally! We have now moved into our very own house for the first time in 20 years. Mind you the military housing we lived in throughout our career was top notch for the most part, but nothing beats having your own home. Tomorrow will mark the one week anniversary of our first night here. A week filled with more cartons than you can imagine, lots of lifting, and finding the right spot for our goods and chattels that have been in storage for 3 years. We are one room short, so Murray and I are sharing a study...hmmmm. Lots of compromise ahead I daresay.

My son Benn spent 3 days with us helping us move and if it wasn't for him, I doubt whether our 8 new dining chairs would be assembled yet, nor our TV connected to all the other devices ie video, DVD player, speakers etc. We needed his extra pair of hands to help us manoevre the 5 piece modular lounge into its right spot - there is no way that Murray & I could have done that heavy job alone. By the time Benn left, the worst was behind us, and we were left to unpack cartons and work out where to fit all the contents. Phew! American friends of ours are also moving into their new house near Tampa, Florida, so we know just what they are going through. Heavy going, but very exciting at the same time isn't it Rainie & Tom? Waiting for your photos!

Our first weekend in the new home arrived yesterday and my brother Tony and wife Yudian were keen to drive 1.5hrs down from the Gold Coast to check it out. They offered to bring hot chickens and fresh bread rolls for lunch. My sister Gemma, her husband Bill & our Aunt Dympna live here in Ballina, so we invited them to join in and together we would 'christen' the back patio. To add to the enjoyment, I got a call from Jen, my partner in crime for 4 years of general nurse plus midwifery training. Jen, her husband Peter and her sister Leonie were keen to drive down from the Gold Coast to visit and see the new house, so they joined us all for lunch. It was like the loaves and fishes - food just seemed to materialise. Bill made a delicious pavlova topped with fresh cream and raspberries, and Jen & Co bought some fresh iced tea buns. Delicious. Yes Jan, I am still talking about food.

Although we have been engrossed with moving in, our proximity (1.5 blocks) to the CBD is already coming in handy. As we are in walking distance to Australia's best RSL Club which serves great meals and is located overlooking the beautiful Richmond River, we have already beaten a path from our door to the RSL. Once we went with Benn, once on our own, and again with Tony & Yudian. Well, the house is still in too much disarray to take any decent 'Home Beautiful' pictures for the blog, but I trust the ones above are a good start!