Our first week in the sunshine

So I'm sitting here in sunny Perth and its 33 degrees at the moment. 33 degrees! When we left the UK it was -2. I can't remember when I last felt heat like this (if ever) and it feels so great. We've been here almost 2 weeks and it hasn't really sunk in yet that we aren't going home any time soon. It still feels like we're here for a holiday, maybe a few weeks, and we will be going home with a nice tan and a photo album full of memories to share with everyone. I was so eager to lay in the sun for hours when we first got here, so I could work on said tan. You know what it's like in the UK - as soon as the sun comes out, you have to literally run while putting on your bikini in order to catch a bit of it before it disappears. While worrying about missing out of vital time in the sun, The Bearded One says to me "we've got the whole year to get a tan". It wasn't until I heard these words that I started to think that this isn't just an ordinary holiday.

It's seriously beautiful in Perth. From what we've seen so far the beaches are gorgeous, the weather is hot but there's a breeze to keep you a little cooler, the people are so lovely and shops, banks, etc are close by. We've yet to put together a plan of action but I'm sure we'll stay pretty local in between travelling to other places, exploring some more and seeing what this lovely area is all about.

Everybody we've met so far have been so welcoming. The Bearded One's family here have made sure we've got everything we could ever need and have kept us sane through the jet lag. It's so nice to see familiar faces and meet the other members of the family that I've heard so much about.

Our first week has bought beach days, pool days, walks along the beach front, early morning bike rides (before it gets too hot), sunrises, sunsets, exploring the surrounding areas, finding our feet and trying to settle in. We've also organised a bank account and a Medicare card (should we need a doctor or treatment for anything) and we've bought a car. We decided to buy a 4x4 so that we can go on some road trips we've been planning. The Bearded One has also got some work with an old colleague who came out here a couple of years ago. He's going to do some days here and there, in between our exploring, to learn the ropes and get used to working in the heat.

We're absolutely loving it here and are looking forward to what else this adventure will bring.