Welcome to Blogsville

Hello all,

the more observant of you may have noticed, that up until this point my lovely wife has been the only contributor to our blog.... well not any more.... HELLO BLOG WORLD!

This is my first ever Blog (how exciting!). I'm not entirely sure what I'm supposed to say, or what you're expecting to hear. I'm certain that once we've set foot in Australia I'll be waffling on for ages, boring you with stories of adventure and excitement from the land down under, but at this current point in time...... I'm sitting at work!

Our plans are (so far) going well. As Claire mentioned I have handed in my notice at work. I was dreading it, but actually, it was fine. Everyone at work seems really happy for us and is wishing us well. I did point out that there's still three months 'til we leave so save the "good luck's" for now. It feels great now that we can talk about it openly, a weight has definitely been lifted off my shoulders!

Well, that's it from me for now. I just wanted to pop my blogging cherry and say hello.

Looking forward to writing something interesting for you next time! (though no promises!)

Bye bye

Ben
x

Well Ben's took the plunge and handed in his notice today !! One down and me to go, although I don't have to do mine til the end of June. He said it went well, I thought it would as he's not leaving to go to another job ..... he's just leaving the country for a year ! Blimey, sounds strange. I just want to be able to tell everyone and not have to worry about it but it's still a long way off ...... 102 sleeps ...... and counting. He's leaving date is 21st August, think I'll finish the week before but work more hours at the Call Centre for the last week.

We bought our home for 8 months !!!! It's the tent we've been looking at on the internet and it's a mansion compared to our other ones. It's great perfect for what we want. There's room for everything, can't wait to try it out. We bought it in a camping shop in Keswick, got some spare poles scopped in too which was good. We put it up in the garden as soon as we got back and we're so happy with it. Woo hoo !!!!!!

We've just paid for our travel insurance so thats another thing crossed off. Next thing is to pay for the Disneyworld tickets so thats next pay day. Been working loads and getting paid loads, not working many evenings now cos by the time they take off the tax I've nowt left. Only working weekends which means I don't get much time chilling with my hubby .... it'll all be worth it though.

Think Bens sold his scooter too which is good news, advertised it and someone rang pretty much straight away. He's zipping about on his Vespa, he wasn't that happy on our wedding day ! Hopefully get my scooter mot'd next month and then I can sell it july time. It'll be sad to see it go but I need the money, hopefully get another when we get back.

Well that's it for now, times just standing still, hopefully next blog I'll have won the £100,000.00 off GMTV. I've entered every member of my family in it 3 times so I'd better bloody win. Just hope the family is honest and lets me know !! Just a couple of £1000 would do .... we'll see !

by claire xx

Mr & Mrs Hines, it's official!

Well heres some photos of our "Big Day!". Still hasn't sunk in yet, nothings different. 17 ish weeks till we can start our Honeymoon. I'm so tired with all the working but I've got to get more money saved. I'm panicking abit about how much I will have and will it be enough. Just got to think I'll have 12 months or so off so it's all worth it ! Feeling a bit stressed at the mo but I think it's with working all the time. Although just had the weekend off and we spent it with Nellie, can't wait to get back so we can get our own dog .... yay ! Not that I'm wishing our travels away that is ! Well better go cos I'm just waffling now. Yippee it's getting closer !

By Claire x

Well we're now Mr & Mrs !!

Ha ha, nearly a week we've been married now ! Still not quite sunk in yet. Everything went to plan, although we didn't realise it would be as big of a shock as it was. I've never seen my parents faces look like that before ..... Erm it was interesting the reaction we got from our parents but it's our day and not anybody elses so thats why we did what we did. It was perfect and we got some lovely photos, taken by Owen. Had a lovely meal at Kesgrave Hall ... fish n chips ! Had an afternoon of chatting at the bungalow and then we were checked into Kesgrave Hall for the night. The weather was perfect, it was a perfect weekend. We're had some lovely cards and loads of money that we'll keep for when we get back, everybody's been really happy for us. We haven't seen much of each other this week but we've both got the weekend off (for a change) so we can chill and start being husband and wife !! ha ha so funny. I'm in the process of changing my name, just sent of my passport yesterday .... another £80 .... can't believe it ... just paid that to renew it ! Next will be my Oz Visa and then Bank Accounts and stuff. It's so exciting, I've got a new signature and everything !
Well now we can concentrate on our travel plans, we just haven't talked about anything just yet. Hopefully sort out some car boot sale stuff and organise one of those soon so we can raise a bit of cash. We've decided we're not going back to the bungalow, start a fresh somewhere when we get back. It's been lovely being there and I know my parents will miss it but we reckon it's time to move on to a bigger place maybe. Loads to think about, but we can worry about all that when we get home.
Well just thought I'd write a little something while I'm sitting at work. I've only been in 3 days this week and I still can't get my head round anything, really looking forward to spending time with my husband this weekend .... ha ha.
Can't really get anything sorted until my name is changed on everything so I'll be busy sending my marriage certificate off for the next month. Can't believe it's April next week ...... only 5 months til we go !! Yippee.
By Claire Hines (hee hee)

First Blog !

Hey there, just sitting at work after setting up our Blog for our travels. Just thought I'd write the first message. Getting so excited about things but can't talk to anyone it's so frustrating !! I just want to tell everyone "I'm getting married next week and then going away for 10 months!" Not long til we can start telling people though and we'll both be able to sleep better at nights. Well we've got our Rucksacks sorted and sorted out which tent we are wanting to buy. We're in the process of selling our other 2 tents to fund the new one. Then probably insurance is next on the agenda. We'll then have to crack on with emptying the bungalow, lots of car boots sales coming up to try and get some more money saved. It's only because we're not coming back to the bungalow, who knows where we'll be when we get back .... we're just going to worry about that on the flight home !!
Well better get back to work. Not long now til we are actually Mr & Mrs Hines .... wow ... so exciting !!
by claire x