Visitors in my garden!

I have a garden!!! It’s even growing things, which is pretty amazing when I think about it, as we’ve only been here six weeks! I’ll post more details and pics later. There’s bushland over behind our back fence and we have an abundance of wildlife here! Last week there were four kookaburra’s like these one’s http://www.mareebaheritagecentre.com.au/images/kookaburra-large.jpg in the gum trees, laughing away for about an hour!

On the weekend Dian and I were watching butterflies dancing around the garden. I haven’t seen butterflies for ages, and these were beautiful! This morning I followed a bee, so laden with pollen it was falling off her! She buzzed around the pumpkin patch, hovered near the garlic, stopped off at a few dandelions that I deliberately let flower, before buzzing off again.

A magpie http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Australian_Magpie_-_by_frank_wouters.jpg hopped almost right up to the back door! I took out a piece of ham and cheese pizza and fed him. It was so friendly! Obviously used to humans, although he did go and jump on the back fence when the cat decided to play.

I really love the area here. There’s so much greenery and plant life, it’s just wonderful! I don’t enjoy that we’re so far from shops (20 minute drive for a major shopping centre) Dian’s school, church etc, but the area is lovely.

Tribunal hearing

Went ok. The magistrate dismissed the claim for replacing the rose bushes and cleaning the brickwork, but allowed the claim for the blinds less depreciation. So we are paying $332.11 and getting the remainder of the bond back. Better than nothing, and I’m so glad it’s over!

Auslan

Australian Sign Language. I’ve just started studying it at CIT (Canberra Institute of Technology). It’s a six year course, six hours per week, to receive a diploma and be a qualified Auslan interpreter. I’ve been interpreting for two deaf men in our church for four years before we moved last year, and am doing it again now we’re back. Just think, if I’d started the course back when I first started signing then I’d be nearly finished!

The church has said that they will pay my fees for the course, which is great! Not so much for the money but more for the recognition that I’m doing this for them. I’m a happy girl!

Tribunal hearing tomorrow

We were granted a phone hearing for the Tenancy Tribunal and had to send all our information, photo’s etc in so it would be received by the 10th (sunday). Plus a copy to the landlord. We managed to get it in on saturday and have a signed receipt to say they received it. The hearing is tomorrow at 3.00pm. Yay…

Actually, I can’t wait until it’s over and finished. Just to have it finished. I’m fed up with dealing with this, the uncertainty and waiting.