Sorry again folks, a long time between posts ……. a few technical issues getting ourselves setup in the new condo — it does have high-speed internet as promised, however, it doesn’t have the modem that you need or the setup details to actually use it!!! Anyway, after a few days of floundering around with that we finally found somewhere that would sell us a wireless card and after a few goes we even got it working!

And since then we have been busy, busy, busy. Mike is flat out at Project Walk 4 days a week and pretty exhausted once he is done there. Ash and I have been busy exploring Oceanside (where we have moved to). It is a fantastic spot except for one small (or very large and heavy) detail — the fact that we are about 20m away from the main Amtrack train line …. i don’t think I have slept for more than 2 hours at a stretch since we got here — the 4:30am service is a our personal favourite – you could used to the sound of the trains but the noise level of the horns that they seem to constantly toot is something else again — I swear the walls shake! Anyway, we are here and there is lots more space and Ash is very happy having a bit of room to move around. Her only complaint is that there is no pool! There is a massive ocean out the front but in her defence it is freezing and not exactly beautiful but we did have a pod of dolphins playing out the front the other morning so definitely a very peaceful spot – well, between trains it is anyway.

Speaking of things sea-like we have managed to drag Mike along to a bit of sight-seeing since my last post … we have been to San Diego Zoo, Sea World, Balboa Park and Old Town. Old Town is my favourite but I need to get Ash eating mexican food (or take a packed dinner for her so we can enjoy a restaurant or two. I can safely say that Ash’s favourite outing so far has been seaworld – although I am not so sure that the Killer Whale will be as fond of her ….. we had been there all day, seen all the shows and were pretty tired when Ash decided that she wanted to see the killer whale show again….. (it is called Shamu – Believe). Anyway, Ash says, no mummy I don’t want to go home yet (mind, she is in her stroller by this stage, with it tipped back and 3/4 asleep and Mike is nearly out in his chair) “I want to see the black and whites again”, when I asked what she meant she said, you know that one with the black and whites and they do swimming, you know, the one called shampoo! Mike and I burst out laughing and decided we had to take her to just one more “shampoo” show. Too cute!

Other than that, lots of time at the playground at the beach (it has the advantage over fun parks of being free!!).  Also, there is another little girl whose dad is at Project Walk on Tuesday and Thursday so I am taking them to the park and for little play dates – was nice to see Ash playing with kids!! I think she is sick of hanging out with mum and dad! Also, she seems to have turned over a new leaf and is keen to try lots more things and is much more confident – maybe my mum was right all along, I should have just bored her to tears so that when we went somewhere half fun she would clamour to have a go. Anyway, she is trying lots of new things and is happy to give most things a try – going on rides by herself and even different foods!! (will wonders never cease!). She went for a ride on “Cowboy” a little pony at the local market last night. Except for the trains, we are enjoying where we are and having a good time.

But just to finish off, had an embarassing little effort late yesterday, bringing Mike home from Project Walk, I decided to drive him down to the harbour so he could see it … he is usually too tired to get out and about much so hadn’t been exploring much. Anyway, I took a wrong turn (easy to do on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road!) and ended up at the army base at Camp Pendleton — oopla! Arriving at the gate with two armed troopers I did a hasty explanation about how I had managed to go the wrong way but was really trying to get to the harbour … they were remarkably good humoured about it – clearly had me pegged as a complete airhead (which I decided was fantastic as they didn’t seem inclined to arrest me!) - embarassingly, they stopped 8 lanes of traffic (at the top of their lungs) so that I could do a u-turn  …. how embarassing! Anyway, gave them a wave and we were back on our way – phew! Needless to say, Mike enjoyed the harbour!

Take care and look forward to seeing you all soon. Video has been taken and has been downloaded (or uploaded) on to you-tube … a couple of links below. More to come soon …

Sit Ups

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=assbZnzRelo

Squats

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6q2_bg93sxo