Here I am at work on the 31st of July, my second last week at MBF. I finish on the 8th of August and then head up to Toowoomba to stay with Michelle's mum until the 25th when we fly out. The China trip has been a dream for Michelle and I since we returned from the last trip in 2003. We are returning to work at the same University- Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics in Nanchang Southern Central China. There are a few changes to the dynamic this time around, the largest of which is our 2 year old daughter Penelope.
We moved out of our house a couple of weeks ago and have been house-sitting for some friends (the lovely Mark and Mel) while they are away holidaying in the sun in Thailand. I emphasise the whole 'in the sun' thing as it is cold as a witch's proverbial here in Brisbane and the thought of spending a couple of weeks up the range in Toowoomba is a little frightening...Brrrrr. We are house sitting because we decided to break the lease on our old house and save the money we would have paid on rent. Luckily it all went fairly well with the break lease at the old house and the whole finding tenants ASAP thing. Timing was good as the rental housing market in Brisbane is 'tight as, bro' and the house was leased within a week. Nice.
Penny has had a cold for the last week which put a bit of a downer on her 2nd birthday party but is recovering nicely now. Everyone says that kids are sooo flexible and adaptable but you worry about the changes to routine and environment, after all its not like they (the kids) get a say in anything that is happening (well until they are older and then they start blaming you for everything anyway). Oh well back to it I guess, the wheels of industry keep turning!