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From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

On 31st January 2016, my partner and I left Southampton to start a new life as Expats in Gran Alacant, on the Costa Blanca. This blog will document our journey, as we navigate the Spanish system, travelling a path untried and untested. With Brexit looming, political turmoil in Europe, and an unpredictable future, harsh decisions must be made. Illness, family bonds, and a Change of heart all make for challenging times in the life of a 'Roaming Brit!'

Jack Whitehall at The Riverside Theatre!

11/2/2025

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Yesterday, we spent Sunday in Perth. I had booked tickets to see Jack Whitehall, at The Riverside Theatre. Currently, Jack, and his Mother and Father are on a World tour, and as part of this, they are in Perth on Monday and Tuesday of this week. Like most things in Australia, the price of these tickets weren't cheap, but I can tell you now, it was well worth it; this was definitely a must-see show!

We arrived in the city at just after 2 pm — the sky was cloudy and temperatures were significantly lower than they had been. There was a cool breeze blowing across Elizabeth Quay, and it was a beautiful day, perfect for a walk around the city!

We made our way to Murray street, where we had a few pints of Stella in The Belgian Beer Café and lunch at Durty Nelly's. This was just bog-standard food — nothing fancy, just something to fill a hole before the theatre. My biggest bug bear with Western Australia, has always been the lack of decent eating establishments, and it still annoys me, two years after arriving in Australia. Today I have just accepted that eating out will never be the experience it was in Europe, and put up with lower standards. A friend did tell me recently, that over in the Eastern States, there is a far better choice of World cuisine; it just feels like Perth is so far behind the rest of the World, and that does make me feel quite isolated at times.

As we walked around the World's most isolated capital city, the streets were empty, almost like a ghost town. This is always a constant source of bemusement for me, that a major city in Australia is so empty and at times devoid of life, that you could be in a tiny village deep in the English countryside. We may well have a wonderful life here in Perth, but no matter how comfortable we are, it just doesn't have the culture and soul that Europe, Asia, or Britain have.

When you make the transition and move to Australia, you just have to accept that things are very different. In truth, there are times I could have walked away and gone home, but I am glad I stayed; in nine years we will have paid off what's left of the mortgage we have, and can then decided where our future lies!

After a few hours wondering around Perth, we made our way to the Theatre, situated on Elizabeth Quay. The huge venue in the heart of the city was already filling with people, and we were an hour and a half early.

To quote Michael Whitehall during the show, “nothing much happens in Perth!" Well he's right, nothing happens in this part of Australia at all, so when major stars turn up in the capital, it is a rather big event. Tickets sold out particularly quickly, so I was lucky to get seats at all. Thankfully, I was online just at the right time, and was able to get the best tickets I could.

The show itself was hilarious. Jack Whitehall is an astounding comedian, who certainly made Darrell and I laugh from beginning to end. His distinctly British humour was just what we both needed, and for me at least it was an amazing reminder of home.

Jacks Parents were also on stage, which made for a great few hours of entertainment. Some jokes may well have been too much for some audience members, certainly near the mark at times, but dark comedy, especially at a time of international turmoil, is a great tonic. I literally haven't laughed so much in many years.

It's not often you leave an event or show smiling, smirking quietly to yourself, but this production just left me feeling happy, satisfied and, understandably, wanting more. When celebrities tour down under, they typically forget Western Australia, let alone put on two shows. This was a special occasion for us, close to Valentine's Day, but it was more than that, It was also a link to the past we had left behind. It allowed both of us to relax a little, after such a busy time in both our lives, unwinding after a full on few months of work. Memories were made on Monday, and that helps both of us, as we continue to adjust to our new life in Australia! With both of us feeling suitably refreshed, it's time to face another important week ahead, and a date with destiny at Midland Hospital on Friday...

...I'll keep you posted!

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From a new life in spain, to an old life in britain, 'roaming brit' documents uncertain times!

Talking Trump!

Planning Our 30th Anniversary Trip!

Jack Whitehall at The Riverside Theatre!

Brexit - 5 Years On!

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