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    Taking Time for Ourselves!

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    The process of obtaining a visa to live in Australia is daunting and a full time job in itself. The kitchen table is covered in paperwork, as I gather together the necessary documents for our solicitor. With the housing crisis biting in Western Australia, our cramped living conditions are also a source of constant angst, as we try and find solutions to living in such close quarters with Darrell's Mother. Don't get me wrong, she is more than happy for us to be here, but it is a strain on all of us, as we search for a place to live.

    Luckily we had some good news last week, Darrell has got a job after being in Australia for only a few weeks. This is a great start; eventually we will be able to rent a property, hopefully, with relative ease. Yes there is a housing crisis, with homelessness on the rise in this country; even with substantial funds to pay for accommodation, there are just too many people chasing each apartment. Agents can pick and chose who they rent to, and without a job, we don't have a cat in hells chance.

    Despite our difficult circumstances, we are both determined to stick it out and not run back to the UK at the first sign of problems, as we would have done in the past. Whatever country we live in at the moment, there are extreme struggles to overcome. The cost of living is spiralling out of control across the World, and we would rather be here than somewhere even more precarious.
    Perth
    It is extremely important that Darrell and I take time out for ourselves. We have very little privacy, so days spent together are welcome. I try and set money aside at least once a week to do something, while we are waiting for my bridging visa. Once that comes through, I will be able to work unhindered. Until then, we are visiting a few of the attractions here in Perth and making the most of the free time we have, because that won't last.

    Last week we spent a lovely day in Perth, visiting places we both love. London Court is a particular favourite of mine - sat down with an ice cream, in the relative cool of the outdoor precinct, keeping out of the hot sun. I bought a few souvenirs to send back to the UK and most importantly, both of us were able to relax, away from all the pressure we have at the moment. Looking at unnecessary things I'd like to buy if I had somewhere to put them, keeps me focused on the end goal, while this waiting game continues.

    We had lunch at The Shoe in Yagan Square, as we normally do when we go into the city. It's great just sitting in the centre, people watching and enjoying the hot day with a beer and bite to eat. Looking out across the square, I was reminded why I want to stay in Perth. It is an extremely isolated part of Australia, which would be a problem for many of those I know, but I am ready to take that leap of faith and make a new life for me and Darrell in a quieter, more congenial environment. It is true to say, our emotions are on another one of those rollercoasters we are famous for currently, but that is an inevitable part of forging a new life. I hope to God we don't end up back in the UK, especially at the moment, but you can never be totally sure with us, only time will tell!
    Caversham Wildlife Park
    With more time to kill this week, we took a trip to Caversham Wildlife Park. Apparently I visited this place when I was here in the 1990s, but in all honesty I can't remember a thing about it. Nevertheless, I had heard all good things about the place, so was more than happy to go once again.

    Caversham isn't that far from where we used to live in Ellenbrook, very close to the bushlands that surround this city. We took a train from Midland to Beechbro and then a bus to Caversham, taking a half an hour walk through the bush, to this spectacular wildlife park. It was extremely hot yesterday and as we strolled across the open plain towards the reserve we had a generous helping of flies to keep us company. If I am honest, it wasn't the most pleasant walk in my life, but we were out, enjoying the day; who could ask for more.

    The park was vast and sprawling with every native animal you can imagine and much more besides. It felt strange having close contact with wildlife I had only seen on the television before. Getting up close and personal with a Wombat and Koala was a lifetime dream, something I never thought I would be able to do. Being at the park is yet another aide-mémoire, that I am in a very different country now. I don't have the fondest memories of this place, but this time, on my third visit, I am determined to do and see as much as I can. I really want to fall in love with this country, truly I do, and if my exploring does the trick then I couldn't be happier!

    After walking around the many animals and exhibits, we approached a large clearing in the centre of the park. To my shock, there were Kangaroos of all shapes and sizes wandering around. Some were sleeping during the heat of the day, others feeding, and many more caring for their young Joey's. It really was a site to behold; I was quite overcome with emotion as I knelt down, stroking these amazing, friendly animals, observing the Joeys in their Mother's pouch, coming up to me, nuzzling around my legs. I couldn't believe we were so close to these majestic creatures, invited to live in their World for a brief few hours; they were fascinating to watch.

    While videoing one of the albino Kangaroos, a baby joey fell out of its Mother's pouch. Mum, used her paw to push him back towards her side, and he made straight for the safety of her pouch once more, trying his best to get back inside. It was touching watching the interaction between Mother and baby; I was just sat there in awe of this privileged experience. There aren't many people I know, who have been fortunate enough to see this first hand and I just feel extremely lucky to have seen it. This makes me want to see more of this vast country, while Darrell and I decide where our future lies.

    Caversham Wildlife Park was a break from the huge burden we have to contend with presently. Both of us need more days like this and with Darrell starting work next week, I will start investigating this vast state on my own. As a seasoned traveller, I relish the opportunity to traverse Western Australia, even if Darrell isn't with me. Caversham has given me a taste of Australia, and I want to look under the surface. Unlike the other two times I was here, I intend to leave as an Australian resident with happy memories and above all a reason to return!
    Guildford Hotel
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    West Australian Housing Crisis, Employment and Legal Status!

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    Property hunting with Joy, via the pub of course!

    I've been in Australia a little over two weeks now, and have been finding my feet, rather like I did all those years ago in 1995. From previous experience, this is a notoriously difficult country for foreigners like me to get on, and on the surface at least, little has changed. However, I am doing what I can to make this our forever home. This needs to be the last time we move thousands of miles across the World; I do not have the energy to do this again, so this has to work for the both of us!

    The wheels are in motion to secure my rights here in Australia. I have employed a solicitor to do the legal work for my Spouse visa, and that is coming along at break neck speed, for a price of course. I have a lot of paperwork to gather together for my case, and I am 99% of the way there. With witness statements to collect, Statutory Declarations to sign and documents to submit, followed by a medical, and police department check from each country I have lived in, there is a hell of a lot to do. Once that is done, we are there. This is the simplest part of this endeavour; the one thing I thought would be the hardest, is actually the easiest activity of all. Everything else seems difficult and demanding, and that is the most stressful part of this journey.

    Our travelling has stalled for the time being, while my application to stay in Australia goes through, once my bridging visa is granted, and I have permission to work, we can take off when we like. I don't mind travelling across Australia for a bit, working as I go; or possibly getting permission to leave here and restarting our travels back in Asia. Whatever we decide, there are exciting times ahead.

    Now for the hard bit; a couple of days ago we went to see an apartment here in Australia, just down the road from Darrell's Mother. Unlike the UK, where viewings are conducted on a one to one basis, here, everyone who is interested, arrives at the same time and views the property together. Immediately, alarm bells started to ring; I was gobsmacked at this way of doing things. There must have been forty of us viewing this tiny one-bedroom flat, each of us from very different walks of life, but everyone just wanting a roof over their head.

    The agent couldn't get in the gated complex at first; I just stood there shaking my head at Darrell, muttering under my breath, how 'shocked I was at the number of people' and just 'what the hell is going on,' in this supposedly first world country. After finally getting in, she then took all of us to the wrong unit, and we ended up walking all the way back to the correct one, just inside the gates, where we first started. By now I was distinctly p*ssed off and just said I wanted to 'go back to the UK;' you know the sort of thing - I was aggy and had enough of the whole situation.

    Imagine, for one minute, 40 people trying to get in the front door, all trying to look around; it was a bloody nightmare. Darrell decided to stay outside, while I squeezed inside, briefly glancing at the tiny apartment. I handed my name over to the real estate agent and that was it. After a brief few pints at the Swan Tavern and Four hours later, at home, I finally finished filling in the application form and the most tedious day of my life was over.

    So why were there so many people chasing this rather ordinary flat in Perth. Once I had got over my initial shock, I decided to find out more. It appears Perth is in the grip of a full-blown housing crisis born from the pandemic. While Western Australia was shut down, all building and construction work stopped in the state. People who had ordered houses to be built were still trapped in rental quarters, while their properties were being finished. You have to understand Australia has only really been fully open for six months now, so delayed and new construction work has been piling up, leaving no rental accommodation for people like Darrell and me. This is a huge problem in Australia and is causing all sorts of issues for people looking for rental homes.

    As if that isn't bad enough, finding work for Darrell is also proving problematic, while he sorts out his right to reside in the country. Darrell has been out of Australia more than he has been here, so it will take a while to establish himself once again. Until then, until the housing market changes and until I get my right to work, things will be difficult. We have both thought about knocking this venture on the head and returning to Asia and back home to the UK, but in truth, Britain is in a worse state than Australia, so that's another country best avoided. For now, we will just batten down the hatches and wait for the worst to pass; things can only get better!
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    Stepping Back in Time

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    Fremantle, Western Australia
    It has felt like stepping back in time this week, as Darrell and I travelled to Fremantle on the coast of Western Australia. In 1995, both of us lived in a flat on Canning Highway, within walking distance of this old colonial town, referred to as Freo by the locals. I can remember the apartment well; it was an old 70s building, with an awful lime green carpet that was infested with fleas. We had an old beer crate for a coffee table and one of those old-fashioned TV's from Cash Converters. At that time, it was our first flat together, and it was home, even if it was only for a short period.

    Fremantle has a special place in my heart, having been a town my Grandfather visited many times, whilst in the merchant navy. Grandad loved it here, and always made reference to it, when talking about how he and Nan nearly emigrated down under in the 1950s. Freo is my kind of place, I loved it in 1995, and I love it even more now.

    The town centre has a distinctly European, cosmopolitan feel. There are small boutique shops, café's and restaurants and to my surprise lots of bookshops. Anyone who knows me well enough, understands my love of books; I was of course a book valuer for nearly ten years and love everything about them - the smell, feel and history behind the pages. Stumbling across the first shop, I went inside and got lost in the literature on sale; just briefly, mind you. It has been a long time since I have been in such a place, having lived abroad in Spain and resided on the south coast of England in Portsmouth, which has no bookshops to speak of. I made the most of my time, flicking through the pages of a few well known and several less well known publications. I was transported back to my time, running my own outlet in Southampton.

    As I left the shop, I noticed a sign outside advertising for staff, and immediately my ears pricked up. This is a job I can do with my eyes closed, and although I am not able to work yet, I have taken the details down, with the hope I may have found my niche.

    As well as having plenty of bookshops, there is also Fremantle indoor market; all I can say is Wow, just wow. If you love your objet d'art, then you will enjoy leisurely walking around this vast corner of the town. From jewellery and art, to food and souvenirs, there is every thing you can imagine here and more. This really is a destination you will fall in love with, just like me; I was so happy to be back after 27 years.
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    Walking around Fremantle, I came across the Tom Edwards Memorial Fountain. Instantly I remembered having my photo taken next to it in 1995, and thought it would be fun to recreate that shot, 27 years later, only standing on the opposite side of this historic monument. It does feel kind of strange looking at the photograph, knitted together, and seeing the two different versions of me. It is small things, like this fountain, that bring back the most recollections, and the longer I am here, the more the memories come flooding back.

    After visiting the Round Tower, overlooking the sea, we took a slow walk to The Orient Hotel and had a bite to eat. Not the cheapest meal I have ever had, but nevertheless it felt good to be sat together, relaxing and forgetting the pressure we are both under at the moment. As each day passes, it is becoming clearer that this will be our toughest struggle yet, but it is important we do all we can to get through the increasing obstacles. Days out will become more crucial as we immerse ourselves deeper into the mounting paperwork needed for me to stay in Australia.

    We spent the next couple of hours walking, talking, having an ice cream and finally a drink along the esplanade. After our travelling through Croatia and Thailand it was a reminder of what we like doing most, and a hope that despite the challenges ahead, we will continue to do this as much as possible. There is a lot of Australia I want to see, and next week should be the perfect time to start exploring the west at least. For now, I am content we took the time to revisit my favourite location in Perth and I have enjoyed reconnecting with a past, long since forgotten.


    Bush Walking, Kogolup Lake
    In complete contrast to our day in Freo, yesterday we went to visit a friend in Beeliar, near Kogolup Lake. This far away suburb, is right on the edge of the bush, rather like Ellenbrook, where Darrell and I lived in 1997. There, we also lived on the periphery of a rather colourful area, and the wildlife we encountered there, is also flourishing in Beeliar.

    We got the Transperth train to Cockburn and spent the next hour walking to Beth's house. There were plenty of scenic views on the way, including swamps and marshes I have never seen before here. The panorama was stark, trees growing out of the wetlands for as far as the eye could see, and the strange sounds of native wildlife in the distance. Colourful parakeets were flying above my head as I walked, and there were signs warning of the danger of snakes and to keep well away. Surprisingly for me, I wasn't particularly anxious walking through the bush; I was more interested in the beautiful unspoilt scenery, which was striking, amazing, and unlike anything you would ever see in the UK.

    As we arrived at Beth's, the bush literally on her doorstep, I was truly aghast by the wildlife outside in her front garden. There were lizards just itching to attack (What is it with everything in Australia, wanting to kill you?) This little critter certainly wanted to make it known who was boss, and I was just happy to keep my distance.

    On her driveway covered with indigenous flower and fauna, hiding in the undergrowth you could hear plenty going on. I am sure I didn't need to know most of what was there, and I tried not to think too hard, about what I might be standing next to. However, there was a family of bandicoots living happily, next to Beth's van, and they were fascinating to watch, as they went about their business unharmed. They do look cute and cuddly, but also very similar to the large rats or rodents we have back in Britain. They are pretty harmless, so I am told, unlike everything else down under.

    There is an abundance of natural wonders in this country, that I want to see during my time here; even walking in the bush is a wondrous experience for a pasty Britling like me. I seem to be far more relaxed this time I am in Australia, than the previous two times I was here, and that can only be a good thing going forward. As we decide on where our destiny lies, I am happy to be with Darrell in his home country. It isn't where I thought I would be at this time in my life, but it is another adventure in a life packed full of exploits. I am looking forward with anxious positivity as we finally put down roots and make a much-needed home for ourselves on the other side of the World.
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    Reality Check

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    We have been in Australia, for a little over a week now, and already we are feeling the pressure. Currently, we are staying with Darrell's Mum in Midland, WA, and it is rather cosy to say the least. Neither Darrell nor I truly understood just how difficult adapting to Australian life would be, but I think we have finally realised the complexity of our situation, as reality finally starts to bite.

    On the surface, Western Australia is stunning and beautiful in every respect. The city of Perth is clean, modern, with an integrated public transport system that works fantastically well; more impressively, it has changed dramatically during the twenty-five years I haven't been here. The glittering capital of Western Australia does however mask struggles bubbling under the surface, we are only now beginning to see.

    Let me first say, I have come to an important decision and have decided to apply for a Spouse Visa to stay in Australia, in spite of the difficulties that lay ahead; more about that later. For now, it was a bit of a culture shock discovering all the hurdles we have to overcome, just to build a life here, and remember age isn't on my side. At 51 years old, it isn't usual for someone of my advancing years to emigrate to Australia, but because I am married to an Australian, it actually isn't a stumbling block, thankfully, and on paper it should be a simple process!

    There is a huge problem with housing in Perth, even bigger than the crisis in the UK, and that really is a concern. Over here you buy your house off plan from a catalogue and a builder will construct it to your own individual requirements. When COVID hit Australia, all building work stopped and those waiting for their houses to be built remained in rented accommodation, leaving rental properties in short supply. You have to remember, Australia has only just opened up after the pandemic, and construction as an industry has yet to recover fully. It will take a while for the new homes to be built and free up rental accommodation.

    When I look back to 1995 and how fast Darrell and I obtained a property in Fremantle, I am gobsmacked by the circumstances today. It looks like we may have to stay with Darrell's Mother for a while, at least until my visa comes through just after Christmas. This wouldn't usually be a problem, but my Mother-in-Laws house is quite compact and was never designed to accommodate more than one person. The irony of it all, is we have the money to rent somewhere tomorrow, but there just isn't the property to rent.

    The job situation in Perth is another bowl of contention, but not in the way you may think. There are actually loads of positions vacant here currently, so you would think it would be easy for Darrell to just fall into a job, but it isn't quite that simple. As I found when I was looking for work here in 1997, if you are a foreign national, it really can be a huge mountain to climb. Of course Darrell is Australian, but he has lived in Europe far more than Australia, so is consequently finding it hard to get a job. As the old saying goes, 'if your face doesn't fit....'

    He has applied for lots of vacancies, but just can not seem to get past that first hurdle. Rather like when he arrived in the UK, just over a year ago, he needs someone to give him a break. In the UK, I knew people who could help, and he was given chances he isn't getting in Perth, and that is another source of angst for him and me. The alarm bells are ringing, and I am thinking, how difficult is it going to be for me, when I actually start applying for jobs too. These factors are making me cautiously anxious, but I am just hoping this is a temporary blip and both he and I will find work relatively quickly!
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    Lets return to the Spouse visa; yesterday, Darrell and I had a meeting with a solicitor in South Perth to discuss my future in WA.  It is well known how difficult it is to emigrate to Australia, it's probably the main reason why I have put off doing it for so long. However, we have now both reached a cross road and with Darrell's Mum suffering from Cancer, a change of circumstances in the UK and a desire to live somewhere warmer, it has been important for us to finally bite the bullet and chose to live together in Australia, a country I am beginning to love the longer I am here.

    The solicitor was positive about the chances of me getting a visa relatively quickly, due to the length of time we have been in a relationship. We have travelled with twenty-seven years worth of paperwork since we have been together, so we have as much proof as the authorities in Australia need. Despite this, I do have concerns, which I did bring to the attention of my solicitor.

    I will have to undergo a medical, and I am a little concerned at what they may find. The hope is, everything is OK, but that may not be the case. The only medication I take today, is statins for high cholesterol, which although under control, is still needed to keep my cholesterol levels in check. Apart from that, I really have no other issues that I know of, but at 51 years old you just never know. On the plus side, I am probably the fittest and healthiest I have been in years. I have lost so much weight that I can feel how healthy I am, and that can only be a good thing.

    The other worry is the police check I have to have done from my time living in Spain. Australia requires a one from every country I have lived, and Darrell and I have lived in quite a few. The process of obtaining a police check is pretty simple as a rule, but Spain can be a problem. Getting the Spanish police check could take quite some time, and it has to be done in the correct way. Our solicitor said he will explain just how to do this at a later stage. Having dealt with Spanish authorities in the past, I am well aware of just how much red tape you have to wade through, and I have a feeling this could be the hardest part of the whole process; of course only time will tell.

    Leaving the meeting yesterday, I felt far more positive than I have been lately. I know Perth is where I want to live, and I am determined to do everything I can to stay here. Our solid relationship should see us in good stead and really is the only proof they need of our commitment together, but this can be a hard country to deal with, and I am under no illusions about the apprehension I feel today. This will be our hardest obstacle to cross yet as a couple, but for the sake of Mum and to achieve the life we want together, it is a necessary next step on our journey together.
    .... And finally, it's time to get back to eating healthy. This morning I was at Woolworths early to register some steps on the pedometer, and buy some healthy options. Since I left the UK all those weeks ago, on my lifestyle break, I have put on 3-4 kg in weight. That is not acceptable in my book, and I need to get back into a healthy routine. I found some similar items, I used to eat in the UK and a few more I have never seen before, and will give them ago. I'm also back on healthy balanced microwave meals, having found the popular 'Lean Cuisine' rage in both Woolies and Coles. They normally cost about $5 a pop, which is a bit more expensive than the UK, but is an absolute must for me, especially whilst keeping fit before my medical.

    It looks like we have a busy time ahead from now on, and I will of course keep you all updated on the visa process. It does feel a little daunting at the moment, but with plenty of willpower and that overriding desire to succeed, I feel sure we will achieve our goal and look forward to a new life together in Australia!
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