Out of the 'burbs and into the bush...: 10 months in Wadeye...a review

The time has simply flown by, and here we are approaching 10 months in Wadeye already! We have had a roller coaster ride but I have to say there are plenty more ups than downs.

School is going really well, as we have been able to implement a few small changes that have had large payoffs in terms of behaviour and literacy improvements.

Millan is doing well in Year 1, and despite a few issues with not being able to speak in murrinhpatha (it is a possibility that he might fail his very first subject!!!!), and having naughty kids try to tease him (he did come home with a perfect bite mark on his back one night), he has made some lovely friends and been welcomed into a family. He is now participating in one of the ceremonial groups "Lirrarr" for culture once a week- learning two dances: I know that one is about a bird at the beach, not sure of the other one! He is now on the Sunshine Coast and attending school for Term 2. Having just completed his second week away from us, I think we can confirm it was the right thing to do- and does he miss us? No! (Too busy)

Marcello is also going really well at creche. He particularly enjoys re-enacting our last 4WD trip (when all three cars got bogged in the mud) on a daily basis with the bikes. He proudly informs me every afternoon that he was "stuck in the mud"!! He is almost as popular as Millan, and gets quite a few hello's or hugs whenever we are at the shop!

Our afterschool/weekend adventures have prompted Matt to do a few "upgrades" to the Prado! We have the winch ready to attach as soon as it's dry enough to drive into town (9 tonne pulling capacity I am informed), as well as a suspension upgrade (and whatever else might take his fancy?!). We have made some great friends out here, who also have kids and a passion for going bush, so there are plenty of adventures planned for the remainder of the year.

I will post a few photos that give a glimpse into life since I last wrote....