Arrival day!

What a day/ two days it has been! Firstly Iʼd like to say I am here, and safe!
Me, Mum, Dad and Ella got to heathrow airport 2 mins (6.50 AM) before the check in desk opened- which was an answer to prayer because we thought we would be stuck in traffic on the M25. We said our goodbyes around half seven eightish. It was so difficult saying goodbye as Iʼm sure you can imagine. Normally I would say to Mum and Dad ʻsee you after workʼ, or tomorrow. But this was like ʻsee you in six months!ʼ Donʼt think it really hit me I was actually going until I let go of Mums hand and walked through the barrier.
It was a really tough journey because it was so long and I am not the best flightier
especially on my own. It was 12 hours from London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, which was
alright because I had a good seat and there was a spare seat between me and this other women (who was really lovely) so we both spread ourselves out a bit!
Kuala Lumpur to Perth was only 5 hours but I was a bit ill at KL airport, so I didnʼt really want to eat anything on the plane, and I was sitting on a row with 3 other kids on!
After going through customs at Perth Airport (took agggeeessss!!) I collected my baggageand Mum donʼt worry, yes I did use a trolley thing, I had three heavy bags. I then got ushered through quarantine (I think where they check your bags for crazy foods being brought into the country). Then straight out into the arrivals, which was much more of a happier place than Heathrow departures! Everyone was wearing shorts and tee-shirt. I
was still in my long sleeves and thick tracksuit bottoms- big mistake for not changing because it was so so hot!
As soon as i walked through these three friendly faces all yelled ʻHi Martha!ʼ It was so nice someone knowing my name and who I was and all been so welcoming, especially after such a long time on my own and only smiling at strangers! It was a really nice welcome.
Kent Morgan (my SU supervisor) Amber Flynn and Sheryn Binks (both from the SU
schools dept) all came to welcome me. They bought me a little welcome present too which was so nice of them!
They all took me back to the office to show me around and introduce me to people. Amber and I then drove to Waneroo to the temporary Billets for this first five nights (whilst my normal billets are away till monday). For now I am living with Andy& Eleanor who are friends of Jan & Laurie (my normal Billets). Andy & Eleanor are both so lovely and welcoming. They have a really pretty house quite far from the SU office (takes about an hour each way on the bus) Andy works ʻout on the fieldsʼ helping endangered animals- he has so many stories its amazing. And Eleanor just doing two days a week of work not far
from here. They have two daughters both in their late 20s. One is married and the other lives here.
Last night (weds 27th) we all had dinner and Eleanor drove me to the bus top to show me how to get there in the morning which was so kind and helpful.
Got to bed about half nine, which is 1.30 PM in England. But I was so tired I just zonked out until half twelve when I woke up thinking it was morning, look outside and it was still dark.... my body clock is very confused! But for the first nights sleep I think it was ok. Lets see how I get on tonight!
I am writing this on Thursday 28th Jan. Andy & Eleanor have wireless but they are finding the password for it. So in the meantime I am writing this on pages, then Iʼll post it on the blog later.