The Boys start High School in Sydney

The boys were a little less eager to attend school having just finished a full year in the USA plus, the Deputy Headmaster was impossible to track down. 


Once enrolled into Chatswood High School, we kitted them out with uniforms, (custom trousers for Brandon with his super long legs), and sent them on their way. In addition to their core classes, their new educational experience includes Cooking, French, Sewing, Woodwork & Coaching Principles.


Patrick has already created the most delicious mini quiches we have ever tasted, obtained accolades for his sewing skills and won 4 Merit Awards for Excellence and Achievements.

The Beilby's Visit Forster, North of Sydney

It's winter and all the kids want to do is frolic on the beach. That could be because it is sunny and a balmy 20 degrees (68F)!


Caitlin must have been a mermaid in a former life because just wants to spend hours wondering seaside with the sand oozing between her toes and the breeze in her hair, warm sunshine on her back as she adds to her ever mounting shell collection. In fact, she is bugging us all right now to head out to the beach for yet another jaunt.


This weekend we find ourselves north of Sydney at a small holiday town called Forster. We are here to help my sister in law, Jeni celebrate her birthday. Fiona, Kevin's oldest sister is also visiting from Mackay in North Queensland and Kevin's Mum and Dad are here as well. It's so nice to have the family mostly all together. The kids especially enjoyed catching up with their cousins, James and Matthew!


What a lovely, lazy weekend!

Caitie's First Day at School

No Hat, No Play!

Miss Caitlin was eager to start school so the very next day after our arrival, we walked up to Chatswood Primary School and began the enrollment process.

Today, looking very smart in her new uniform, Caitlin joined Mrs Baker’s Year 5 class where she spent the morning in Mandarin class followed by Sport, Math and Spelling. Caitie met some lovely new friends and was very happy about her first day.

Some things we learnt about Chatswood Primary – It is over 100 years old. Kevin attended the very same school in 1971 and Brandon in 2001. It is a large school with 780 students and is ranked 4^th in the country for academics probably due to the large Asian population (86% of the students are Chinese, Korean or other of the total 28 languages spoken at the school) Music is also very big. There are 10 bands, a music house with 7 music studios where students may have private music lessons during school hours. Sport is played after lunch on Friday’s for the remainder of the day and includes cricket, netball, soccer and many more.

How to Pack Up A Life In 10 Easy Steps!

As the Market of Choice checkout attendant mindlessly swiped my Moonstruck chocolates, put them into a paper bag, and routinely asked for $26.50, i thought how mundane this all seemed. I am moving to a different country today....Oh my, I AM LEAVING OREGON FOR GOOD! I am packing up my life and saying goodbye after nine wonderful years. Delayed reaction, true but with all the finite details involved in packing up a life, I guess I was a little distracted.

I am excited but also anxious for the challenge of restarting our lives. There is more at stake this time. Hong Kong was a transient place. You said goodbye all the time and truely good friends will always be there...this I know. But this is 9 years in which not only my life has been affected but those of my three children. This is what they know. Caitie was a mere 17 months when we stepped off the plane May 28, 2002.

Well, Sydney bound we are. Look out, here come The Beilby's!

We could have used two of these!

My Beloved Acura....what a magnificent car!

Bye Portland....Bye Mt Hood...Bye my friends!