The start of the calendar year brought with it the start of a new year of school for the girls.  Amanda entered Year 5 and Allison entered Year 7 - high school in Australia.

Amanda eagerly trotted off to Mosman Public School where she has gone for the last four years to see which of her returning friends would be in her class and which teacher she would get.

Allison, on the other hand, cautiously but very excitedly approached her first day at Queenwood School for Girls where she felt optimistically overwhelmed by the prospect of 7+ teachers in as many subjects, 1+ hour of homework a night, early morning starts, weekend sports, lockers, new faces and friendships, getting to class on time, carrying a backpack equal in weight to her own and a host of other challenges that come with being in high school.