We are in our new house!!!!!!! I am really pleased to report that whilst it is very simple, it is far nicer than I remembered and we are really happy. I think when the agent showed us through, the owners had been away for a while so it was a bit dirty and unkempt. They did a lot of work to get it ready for us and its all spick and span now. After electricians and locksmiths finished today almost everything works (not the oven unfortunately or ...more devastatingly for Adam, the TV). Thankfully we have internet access!! The owner even had the hedge trimmed for us so we could see more of the lovely view. It's of the surrounding hills and we also can see the sunset. Yippee. It's sooooo wonderful to have a garden and some outdoor space for the kids. They have been in seventh heaven! The hotel we have been in since arriving was full of lovely staff but was in the city centre and the area was very busy, dirty, smoggy and brown. We are now in the countryside and there are lots of birds and flowers here -well there were- the kids went a little too crazy picking them. The owner/landlord is very sweet- he keeps telling us we are part of his family now and to ring him day or night if there are any problems. Its a safe area and we are in a compound with a gate but we are going to get a guard to be sure (its the normal thing to have here, like a house alarm!). He will also look after the garden as we don't have any tools.

An amazing coincidence- the OT from Australia (Sarah) that set up Plaster House and that I work with lives literally next door and we had no idea till we got here!!! Was meant to be! She's lent us sheets and towels and promised pots and pans too so its all working out very well. I am going to get very good at hand washing as there's no washing machine. At the hotel, it was taking me about an hour or 2 a night but that was without sheets and towels... Makes you appreciate technology!!
On the car front- Sarah and her husband Jack had a friend who has bought a 4WD and is shipping it over from Japan. He will rent it out to us with comprehensive insurance for almost half the price that the car companies were charging. Means both of us can drive too so a much easier arrangement. Only problem was- it didn't arrive on the plane today! Whilst we are waiting -he is lending us his sedan to use... I can't believe how helpful everyone is!!
We have had a lovely time today "playing house" and getting everything looking homely. As we watched the sunset over the hills, we could hear beautiful singing from a nearby church... feels like we're really in Africa now. PS We have 6 empty bunk beds and 2 spare rooms if anyone wants to visit !!!