In 12 days time, on the 15th January 2013, I have been in Australia for 365
days. One full year. No, I can't believe it either.
So much has changed, and yet, so much has stayed the same. I was
determined to come to Australia and change certain aspects of my life in order
to find happiness, my mojo, whatever you want to call it. And, do you know
what? It occurred to me recently that it's not where you are in the world, it's
who you are with that's the most important thing. Someone asked me if I would
miss living in Australia - so I reversed the question back to her and said
'take your family and friends out of the equation, would you miss living where
you live?' and she thought for a moment and said, 'no, because it is your
support network that matters the most, not where you are based'. And I think
almost every single ex-pat in Australia would say the same thing - if we could
all move our family and friends over here, it would be perfect (or if we could
slide Australia a little closer to Europe - either way!). But the fact of the
matter is, if you ever have to move away from your family or friends, the one
thing that will keep you going is meeting new people or having contact with
those who love and support you, no matter what.
I had a wonderful Christmas present in the shape of my nephew Liam
and his girlfriend Charlotte. When I went to pick them up from the airport,
within minutes it was like I had just seen them the day before, not 11 months
ago. We got a campervan and hit the road, up the East Coast, so that we could all
see a bit of the Australian countryside as I've never been further than
Brisbane before. And what a journey it was! Loved Noosa, hated Byron Bay - it
looked like it all just needed a good wash, even the people! Although, we did
get to have one of the best breakfasts ever there and I got to see an old mate
from St Albans (cheers midge & paul). We also went to stay overnight with
another old friend in Nambour (past brisbane) who've I've known since I was 15
- again, the years just seemed like days had passed as we reminisced about old
times and what the old gang was up to now. So big love, Aub & Erika.
Fraser Island was, without doubt, one of the best places I've ever
been. Considering it’s the one of the largest sand islands in the world, the
fact that it has one beach that is named the '75 mile beach' will give you some
idea just how huge this place was. There was a shipwreck, a freshwater creek,
lunch, a walk through the rainforest and then a swim in lake mackenzie. It was
like a warm bath. Absolutely breath taking. Christmas day night, we were so
exhausted, we had a packet of crisps each for dinner and then hit the hay. Up
at 5am to drive 12 hours to Airlie Beach...
There are loads of 'Stop, Revive, Survive' stops along the
motorways, which most of them offered free tea, coffee and biscuits. The
Aussies are like the Americans - they think it’s nothing to jump in a car and
drive 3-5 hours to go and see friends/family. The British moan if we have to
drive longer than an hour! So these revive stops were a godsend to us - time to
stretch our legs, pop to the loo and nick as many packets of biscuits as we
could (joke). All the stops are manned by volunteers, which we thought was
amazing. It certainly made our trip a lot less boring with the straight roads
and the huge amount of roadkill on the side of the road (bleurgh). Airlie Beach
was beautiful, although it was stinger season so no one was allowed to swim in
the sea. But they have a large lagoon in the middle of the town, where you can
spend all day in the sea water pool, but without the scaryness of the fish or
seaweed (music to my ears). I, unfortunately, had a contact lense issue - I
rubbed my eye and the little bugger popped out - and I didn't have spare with
me. So I was half blind for a majority of the afternoon. What an eijit I am.
We got a ferry crossing from Airlie, passing some of the other
Whitsunday Islands over to Hamilton Island, which was gorgeous. It was complete
paradise. Then we flew home, just in time for New Years Eve...
My two friends Zoe and Tom live right at Balmain Wharf, so their
communal gardens overlook the harbour – what an ideal spot! We spent the whole
day BBQ-ing, swimming in the pool and catching rays, waiting for midnight to
arrive. When it was time, we all walked down to the Wharf, expecting it to be
heaving and........there was hardly anyone there! So we had the most amazing
view of the fireworks and we all sang a couple of drunken renditions of 'Auld
Lang Syne' (Stu and Ange actually sang it, we all just hummed the tune!). Then
back to the apartment, where a few of the others decided it would be a great
idea to go swimming in the Sydney Harbour! Eeek! I would not have gotten into
that water if you had paid me a million dollars....it was ink black water and
who knows what was swimming alongside them. Needless to say, there were a few
UDI’s (unidentified drinking injuries) from hitting the rocks.*tut tut*
It was, without doubt, the best New Year’s eve I've ever had. I
usually get quite maudlin on New Year’s, as it always reminds me of mum. But
this year, I was happier than ever - which was a wonderful feeling. I don't
think that celebration could be topped again - although I know a few new
traditions have been started (pavlova and disaranno, anyone?).
At one point, as I sat and watched the bunch of loons who I've
come to call my family, as they were all laughing, joking and drinking
together, I thought to myself - this time last year, I didn't know one of them.
Funny how fate deals you a hand sometimes that is so life changing, that you
don't realise it at the time, but at one moment, it will come up and smack you
in the face. Who would have thought that this random group of
people, who were thrown together with only one common denomination, would be
the ones who have helped changed my life? They've made me step out of my
comfort zone more times than I care to remember - which, at times, I have
refused to acknowledge. I was told the other day that my default setting is
switched to 'No' - until I am persuaded by someone to give whatever it is a
try. And it's funny, isn't it, that most people will do the same. They'll say
no, to whatever it is, but how can you say no to something when you've not
tried it? Obviously, I am being quite generic here, but you get the gist.
So, one of my new year resolutions is not to immediately say no
when something I've never done/tried before is put before me. Obviously there
are limitations :) But I have managed to make 2012 a year of first's.... went
to my first festival; tried surfing; went to the cinema alone; ate sushi (which
I love now); went to the outdoor cinema and ate alone at a restaurant. I'm sure
there are a few more, but my brain seems to still be in 'holiday' mode. And I
hope that this optimism will stay with me when I come back home.....fingers
crossed.
I only have 16 weeks until I leave Australia......which I know
will come round scarily fast.
However, I am torn. I will be leaving Oz to go home
to my wonderful family and friends. But I will be leaving behind my wonderful family
and friends. However, with the modern technology that we have these days,
facebook, skype etc, I know that 12,000 miles between us will seem like
nothing. And when I do get to see my Oz family in the flesh again one day in
the future, it will be like I've only just seem them yesterday.
Happy New Year!!!
xxxxxxx
