Blanchie, it gets easier after a while, you get into a routine. I tend to organise my housework and catchup with girlfriends for coffees/walks etc when he's away, the we do heaps of things together when he's back. And when we have a baby, he'll be home during the day when he's home, so we can do things as a family, when other men might be coming home late from work while the kids are asleep... so there's pros and cons... give it a go and maybe reassess in 4 months.. if it's too tricky then maybe your DP would look into other options?

My DH applied for other jobs yes but we're just waiting word on a South Aust one now, which is STILL a FI/FO post. If he gets it, the option is either to be based in adelaide (and him fly in/out of adeliade which would suck because i dont know anyone in adelaide so will be on my own while he's away) - roster around 10days on:6 days off; OR base in Perth (fly adelaide then to the mine) but he'd have to travel in his own time and lose a day, roster 2:1. If he gets the job, we've decided we'll live in Adelaide for at least 6 months (or however long it takes for me to get pregnant/during pregnancy), then I move back to Perth when baby due so can be supported by friends and family, and he commute from Perth. I'm pretty happy with that arrangement - just hope we get pregnant before he changes jobs. I suspect anything new and his roster would be pretty rigid.. he can hardly ask for "fertility flights" with a new employer!