Loneliness

Loneliness has been a huge part of my life this week. On Monday the 4th Ben flew to Sydney for work, so I was left by myself until the 22nd. It was and still is a bit nerve racking being in this house on my own. Every sound was 10x louder than usual, every creak made me jump and almost every light was turned on so I didn't have to face the dark until I went to bed. I locked every door hours before I went to bed and still I did not feel safe in this house once. I have never had so little sleep in my life, hours of tossing and turning to get to sleep and then waking time and time again during my slumber only to wake early the next day.

The time difference between Perth and Sydney hasn't helped with anything. When I wake up Ben is eating his lunch, When I am having lunch Ben is getting ready to go and have dinner and when I am having dinner Ben is in Bed. It makes it quite hard to speak to one another with having to work and everything taking up the time we would have to speak. Oh well only 2 more weeks of it until he returns home, then we don't have to worry about it.

Work wasn't as exciting as it would usually be, I felt excluded most days and got frustrated easy from lack of sleep. The heat and humidity of which Melbourne usually doesn't have at this time of year has made me a little ill with constant headaches also.

Driving has been interesting, having to find my way around now is weird but exciting and I get to see more of the suburbs around me now. Only 4 months and 18 hours of my logbook until I can go for my P's. YAY!!! I will then be able to go anywhere whenever I like, as we have been looking at cars and have found 1 we like, and are half way to getting.

Karate is improving, I am getting close to my next grading (blue belt lol) and have been staying behind to get some extra coaching from my Sensei, which have helped me quite a lot. I am feeling quite confident with my Kata's and am progressing rapidly (according to my Sensei).

Today has been a wonderful day, I had Nan and Gramps (Ben's) visit me. They came in and had a coffee and a nice little chat, and a little look at the house. We then went out to the PK Tavern for lunch. I ordered the most delicious Chilli Honey Chicken (Tender pieces of chicken sautéed in a sweet chilli & honey glaze served with scented rice). Nan had the Fresh Fish of the Day (Barramundi with a side of chips). And Gramps had the Seafood Selection (A beer battered selection of prawns & fish with crumbed scallops & calamari served with chips and homemade tartare sauce). All of our meals also came with a side of salad. It was such a lovely lunch, and we are going to do something next week , Can't wait!.

'Tomorrow when the war began'

Sunday was a good day... Socialisation was a key part of that day.

Ben and I went to the movies with Kayla. We saw 'Tomorrow when the war began' - it was a good movie, Ben even thought it was good (although he was continuously saying he didn't want to go and see it coz it looked like crap). We had a good time chatting heaps before hand at KFC and enjoying many laughs.

We are going to get together more often with Kayla, which I am looking forward to (MORE female interaction and socialising).

Although there hasn't been a lot happening around here lately, I feel more comfortable with my surroundings.

My new way of life is moving forward.

CSO Graduation

This morning was Ben's Graduation... He has now finished his course and is a CSO :P. He also got The Navy Warfare Community Medallion. It was quite a good day, Ben got 96.06% average and came away from this ceremony quite pleased with himself. Mind you I came away very proud of the work he has done and the amount of time he has put into his studies. We also went to Hogs breath cafe for dinner... Mmm had a lovely dinner chatting and stuff. Afterwards we went over to the Swinging Pig for some drinks. Man that was fun I haven't had fun like that in a while, chatting away, joking, Laughing so much. But sadly it had a sad ending... One that got sorted out but will be avoided next time.

Here are a few of the photos from the Graduation:

Medallion Cert, Rate badge (patch), Medallion, Sea Readiness Badge

Liam, Brett Mayers, Jess Spencer, Ben, Bec Stanley and Rhiannan Walker

Everyone graduating

Me and ben after the Graduation

Ben receiving His Medallion and Certificate

Ben receiving his Grad certificate

Whistling Kite

Last night I went out with a couple of friends from work. We went to the whistling Kite in Secret Harbour, it is such a nice restaurant/bar. We had a few drinks and a LOT of laughs. Claire, Sarah and Tracy had me smiling the whole night, which I haven't done in a while. We talked about many different things like work, people, family, friends, marriages, why we all moved over to WA, and much more.

Tracy is leaving on Sunday to go back over to England for personal family reasons which is why we all decided to go out. It was the first time I had been out without Ben since I have been over here, Which I don't mind, but it was good to get out with the girls. We are planning many more get together's when Tracy returns and a couple of them may include the Men.

Going out with these gals makes me quite happy, not saying that being over here with ben isnt making me happy, but just that it is good to be comfortable in my new surroundings and being able to go out with friends once again (because I didn't have any to begin with :P).

So this is where my New way of life is at presently and hopefully it just keeps moving on up...

AQWA

On Friday we went to AQWA (Aquarium of WA). There were so many beautiful fish, sharks and gorgeous Turtles :D. I even got to touch a Stingray, starfish, fish, and Port Jackson shark. It was a good day, and we took loads of photos, Dad took a video of us touching the stingray.

Benny With his head in a crocodile's mouth

Stingray

Some ray

Stone Fish

I thought this was quite interesting how they were all huddled

Poor turtle had 1 leg missing.. But was still so cute (I want 1)

Eels

This is just beautiful

I love this photo I took of the baby crocodile

Weedy Dragon

Lobster's I thought this look so facisinating

Puffer Fish

This Eel thing just stays like that to catch fish

Gorgeous baby crocodile

Nurse Shark

Massive Beautiful turtle (best photo I got)

Shark.. Need I say more

Benny checking out the Nurse shark that was just sitting there not moving at all just staring at everyone

Overall, it was a fantastic day...

INK ART

Monday we went to the licensing centre in Rockingham and I got my phase 1 learners permit. which means I have to do a practical driving assessment before I can get my logbook, then I have to accumulate 25 hours in a minimum period of 6 months. And only after all of that am I able to complete a Hazard perception test, and when I pass that I will have my P's. There licensing system is so weird over here :P. On Tuesday we went to TNT in Rocky (a tattoo shop), where Jonno got a tatt done...

Jonno's Tatt

While Jonno was getting his tatt done mum, dad and I went and got fish and chips for lunch... Man they were the worst fish and chips ever. The chips weren't cooked enough and were all soggy, the potato cakes were over cooked and the fried dimsims were steamed the battered. We are not going back there again thats for sure. On wednesday I had work from 10-6.30pm, so while I was working Mum, Dad and Jonno went to Mandurah to take Benny's Bike for a service and shopped around a little. In the afternoon Dad got a tatt done also...

Dad's Tatt

On thursday mum and I went and got a tatt done, I went first because I had to have it finished by 12, as I had a driving lesson that day. Whilst getting it done I flinched a few times at the start (I couldn't help it). But after a while it was fine and I could barely feel it, and that part of my body wasn't even numb... It was the rest of my body that was numb. I had to get up and walk a bit 3/4 of the way through coz My leg was completely numb and If I didnt get up when I did I dont know how my legs would have been. When Tony (tattoo artist) was doing the tail part of the tatt I felt tingles in my arse and right leg but it was only when he hit a certain spot...

My tatt

When my tatt was finished I went and did a driving lesson. During we went over how to pass a practical driving assesment and went cruising around rockingham. He then took me into a carpark and I performed a reverse bay park a couple of times. At the end he said I went well but that I just need to indicate when leaving a roundabout. Then he went on this spool about the other drivers entering the roundabout will think I was turning right or something if I didnt indicate to leave. I was thinking but wouldn't they see my indicator if i was turning right. but no He said no if they dont see your indicator to leave they would think your turning blah blah blah blah blah hahaha... Nah it's all good I will do it next time haha. Whilst I was driving mum was getting her tatt done, she was so nervous the day before and I was sure she was gonna pull out haha...

Mums Tatt

Harbour town

Mum, dad and Jonno arrived on Saturday night. I was, still am, excited that they are here. Hugs went around, and we all had a lovely catch up chat. On Sunday we all went into Harbour town in Perth west and had a good day shopping. There were so much stuff I wanted to buy, I just thought no you don't need it save your money. After leaving harbour town we took a scenic route through Fremantle and went and looked off some rocks at the ocean. It was so nice apart from the cold wind.

It is so good to have family and friends here, I missed them so much and I am a very happy woman at the moment :). This week is going to be an exciting one

BRING IT ON!!!!