Immigrating to Australia...........a day I'll never forget!

On the 18th March (today) exactly three years ago, we landed in Australia for the very first time to start our new lives, and I remember that day like it was yesterday.

It all started with the most gut wrenching goodbye at London's Heathrow Airport.  Mr D was already in Sydney and so I was left to say the final goodbye's to my parents with a very little Master J and Miss H by my side.  I had a knot in my stomach the size of a watermelon as I hugged my parents tight not knowing when I would see them again or what of I heading towards. Swallowing my tears was the only thing I could do to try and maintain some kind of composure as the kids didn't really understand why Mummy (and Granny and Grandpa) were so upset.  Once we had said our goodbyes, I walked towards airport security without looking back ........ I just couldn't!!

The flight itself was another challenge as I had SO much luggage and two small kids to juggle on my own.  The guy at check in had ironically joked "You look like you're moving countries, it's amazing how much luggage people pack when travelling with kids!" Ha - if only he knew!!  I'm not quite sure how, but we did it and hats off to those people who travel long distances alone with kids.

By the time we landed in Sydney I was actually quite excited.  Mr D had met us in Hong Kong and it was amazing to have us all back together again ready to start our new adventure. Once we had collected our luggage and feeling a little bit braver I was ready to walk out into the glorious Australian sunshine.  However as we pushed our enormous trolley outside all I could see was water!  The rain was pouring from the dark, angry looking sky and rushing along in small rivers past the pavement where we stood.  This was not what I signed up for!!  Apparently (I overheard someone say) it had been raining for days and was showing no sign of stopping!

Mr D was on the phone trying to find out where our new (temporary) home would be and I could hear in his voice that things were not going to plan.  With exhaustion kicking in and tempers soggy and frayed, all we wanted to do was collapse in a proper bed and sleep (forever), but frustratingly, the re-location company had booked our accommodation for the wrong day and the earliest they could have it ready was much later that afternoon.  Bearing in mind it was now only little after 7am, this was going to be a VERY long day.  In hindsight we should have just checked into a hotel for the day, but at that moment in time (for some crazy reason) that just didn't occur to us!

We bundled into our rental car (thank goodness that was organised) and just sat there for a while. Neither of us knew what to do.  Mr D suggested that we drive to Manly as he had visited it the other day and it seemed like a nice place.  I was starting to feel so disorientated that I didn't care where we went.  It's the strangest feeling not knowing where you are, not having a home or someone to just visit or even what day it is!  I felt like all the control I had over my life had just disappeared.  It was scary!!

The rain was still driving down as we made our way across the Spit Bridge and down into Manly. Grabbing a kid each we ran for the nearest cafe along the promenade (which happened to be a hotel restaurant), and there we sat, staring out at the rain and the blurry lines of the Ocean, drinking copious amounts of coffee (and milkshakes) and wondering what the hell we had done!

This area (full of water) usually has tables and chairs on it!! Just shows you to the extent of just HOW MUCH IT RAINED!

Exploring our new home......after a good sleep!!

Settling in ....... a far cry from what we left behind

Happy 3 years to us.  WE DID IT!!

Have you ever moved countries? Do you have a moment or day in your life that you will never forget??

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