The Guerins left Ireland in 1841; now we're back to sort out some unfinished business. Airservices Australia have kindly granted Leave Without Pay for 2 years 9 months and the Irish Aviation Authority have employed me as a controller based in Dublin for that period. We arrived on Friday the 13th (March 2009), started work the day before St Paddys Day and moved into our new hom on April Fools Day; oh the luck of the Irish. Everything has worked out perfectly: the camper and our belongings have arrived (still waiting for someone to contact us about rego: so we are driving around without plates!); a great home in a beaut location (again walking distance to school and a restaurant strip); Dylan and Macayle are settling into their new school very well and Camilla is getting to know some of the mothers and feeling very much at home. The last days, weeks and months were hilarious; looking back at them' It was ridiculously busy but what did we expect. New rainwater tank with a couple of weeks to go; however the painting was still being done and the builtins were done the day before we flew out; the same day our tenants moved in (and better tenants would be hard to find). Thanks to Paddo, I had a whole day off after my last night shift and before we flew out: 28 hours with Etihad. What a relief. Oh, and if you ever need to choose between Etihad and anyone else just remember they tried to sting us $1600 excess baggage. I passed the simulator last week so maybe we will be staying. We started with three but sadly only two of us got through. I can assure you it was the most difficult things I have done in ATC in a while; especially if you consider that one wrong move and I would be explaining to the kids why we were going back home! The course was extremely good Only one hurdle left: the helpful Dutch lady in charge of Medical has been so busy working on my medical paperwork for the last seven weeks; well she has been so busy anyway: so much so that it still hasn't been finalised. Just a minor issue really. The Irish are very friendly and helpful (they have been voted most friendly travel destination in Europe - we should fit in well; and worst dressed - I should fit in well!)Every weekend we have gone exploring; GPS and Lonely Planet in hand. The weather has been very kind since we arrived - yesterdays report was strong gusts and some rain, sunny spells later, wind calm, cloudy, showers, clearing, storms, hail; oh and that was before ten!