16th March 2010 (Tuesday)

We have STUFF!! I'm sitting on a sofa as I write - not just any old sofa, but OUR sofa! The Mr is programming the TV! Littles has retired to bed in bliss, surrounded by as yet unpacked crates of toys and utterly overwhelmend in her bed by mountains of stuffed animals. We ate our dinner sitting at our own table! Off our own china! Wonders will never cease. Of course, the general unpacking and reorganisation will go on for weeks, but in the main, we're fine.

In fact it's all so straightforward (and besides I'm quite tired anyway) I'm not sure what else there is to report. So far we've discovered one broken mirror (not a big deal especially in the short term as we can' hang the smallest item on the wall in any case), and one of the packers brought down and smashed a light cover in the garage - again no big deal. Gosh these sofas are damn comfy, aren't they. Littles's teacher reported that today was 'a good day' and the slowly slowly progress is being made. Her 'news' today went well - she said it was 'very short' and she 'only got questions on the butterfly garden' but that everyone liked the Great White she brought in. (She was telling them about the Shark and Ray centre.)

While she was at school and we were unpacking here, Lillian's mum turned up, incredibly kindly, and helped me unpack the kitchen. Really nice of her, totally uncalled for - much appreciated of course. They've been very sweet indeed, all told.  Anyway, it meant that the kitchen is at least mostly done - well, I'll be shifting stuff round for ages of course but at least the stuff's out. There's a huge amount of stuff in the garage to be carted straight off again - all the pictures, the spare bed, all sorts of bits and pieces that there just won't be room for in here. The Mr is still busily programming the telly, which as predicted is showing images but not sound.. however not quite as predicted continues to do so even when channelled through the hard disk. Or rather, the hard disk doesn't pick up any channels at all currently... we're wondering whether Australian have heard about digital TV at all just at the moment. However, the Mr with his magic fingers is very good, I'm sure it'll all be sorted one way of the other.

Ah well, there we are. Stuff. The Mr also made us the most DELICIOUS repast of pork cooked in milk (aparently a Veneto dish?) which was as yummalicious as could well be imagined, DEFINITELY a keeper, that one. When I rouse myself from satisfied and luxurious enjoyment of sofas and beds I might eventually get round to posting the recipe - though I understand he altered it considerably, including the deletion of sage and the addition of nam pla and wourcestershire sauce - all as un-Veneto as you like but verytainly extremely effective and tasty. Lots of love to you all, V xxxx