Moving on again....

So tonight is our last night in the house on the lagoon. We all feel sad, but none of us feel as bad as Anna, who has been inconsolable this evening. It's been absolutely idyllic for us all, but Anna's life here has been like a fairy tale. Children available to play with all the time, unprecedented levels of freedom, a whole lagoon to swim, kayak and boat in.....it's not going to be the same at the new house, but hopefully she will settle, and come to appreciate the new and good things that it has to offer.

Of course, the other issue is that we are asking the children to say goodbye to something again, and after so much change, I do feel bad that we are inflicting this upon them. We really do need a period of stability - I hope so much that we are able to stay at the Mona Vale house until we are in a position to buy. I'm not sure I could cope with packing up again either anyway - this week has been exhausting, and rather depressing. I've loved this house too, and I will miss waking up to the stillness of the lagoon, watching the kayaks and sailing boats, and listening to the shrieks of laughter from all the local children on the trampoline.

However, on a more positive note, I think the Mona Vale house is going to be good. We will have even more room, the children will love the pool, and I've been having some tennis lessons so that I can enjoy our tennis court. We will be able to walk to a wonderful range of restaurants in the village centre (Japanese, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Australian, and the ubiquitous Chicken Shop). There are also wonderful shops, a great beach, access to Pittwater.....

It's just that you work hard to make somewhere feel like home, even though you know it's not. And now we have to start again a bit. Sigh.....