First of all, congrats on your award and overcoming your nerves enough to pass it on to the next recipient! It can be quite daunting to speak in front of a bunch of people.
Secondly, Australia has always been on my bucket list. I'm a little jelly that you get to live there ALL the time. I'll make it one of these days, but flights are just so long that I'd need to go for a month at least. When is the nicest time of year to visit? I'd like to hunt for opals in the mountains.
Third, you mentioned you couldn't take your son and husband because of adoption laws. Can you elaborate on that? He can't go on a flight? No boys allowed? No adopted kids allowed? That struck me as odd.
Haha, thank you for the congrats and I do hope you can get to Australia, which mountains are ypu looking at. Cant be any in WA as we have no mountains haha.
As for the adoption rules. Although we are one country we are many states that all have there own laws too. Adoption is looked after at a state level and we are unable to leagally adopt our son until he has been in Australia for over 6 months, until such time he is considered a ward of the state and we need approval to take him accross state lines. They said no so I had to go alone. I have another trip in October for 5 days that is simialar. Its making me a little anxious but its all ostomy related and a national conference of which im on the board so have to go. Will have to put my big girl pants on haha.
Well, I don't know much about the mountains in Australia, but I've heard of Lightning Ridge opals, so I guess I've always assumed they come from a mountain called Lightning Ridge. I know the particular opal is mined in Australia...but I really don't know the particulars any more than that.
Thanks for letting me know about the adoption bit. I'm always curious about different practices, but I bet that's pretty similar to how it is in the States too. I sure hope they say yes next time. I understand how it is having to ask the government for permission to travel. It's no fun.
The adoption will be finalised in Jan/Feb next year we hope and then he can come with us everywhere, I do have another trip in October that I have to go by myself which I am not looking forward too, but I am committed so have no real choice.