Destination Perth!

The last seven days have been busy, certainly the busiest for me, since I arrived in Australia. I have had determination in my eyes, as I sought so secure a new job. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the job I have, but I am well aware that it is time to move on. Of course, these days I have no fear of the unknown; after traversing the World for a number of years, I have no qualms about leaving my current circumstances behind, and heading forwards, towards adventures.

Over the last week or so, I have literally blitzed the job market here in Perth. There are many positions on offer, and I have been inundated with interviews, and indeed, offers of employment. Trying to juggle interviews, conducted on Zoom from Sydney, has probably been my biggest challenge. Attending an appointment at seven o'clock in the morning isn't ideal, but luckily for me, I am an extremely early riser, and these days at least, I am at my best in the early hours.

With several firm job offers under my belt, I believe I have made the right decision for me, at this juncture. I have decided to accept an offer of more money and allowances, in a business closer to home. It will also allow me to continue with a lifestyle, I have become accustomed to. This wasn't the position paying the most, but taking travel and commuting into account, this option affords me the best opportunity at my time of life.

I can't stress enough, just how different the pay rates are between the Britain and here. We are paid substantially more down under, meaning I earn well over and above the average wage in the UK and Australia. This is probably the first time in my life, that I have absolutely no financial worries; so despite my moans and groans about this place, I am well aware where I am better off.

With employment top of my list of priorities, you would think I haven't had time to do anything else, but both Darrell and I have found the time to relax and enjoy everything Perth has to offer.

Last Sunday we travelled into the city for a meal, and show at the Perth Concert Hall. I had booked a table at The Italian Street Kitchen, in Raine Square, Perth. I have been past this restaurant many times before, but never had the pleasure of eating there. From the outside it is just an ordinary building, but inside, the ambience, feel, and atmosphere is uniquely Italian, in every respect. This was not another pastiche of Italian culinary delights, this is as authentic as it gets down under, and for me, it was a delight. I was transported back to my time in Naples and Sorrento, and I was impressed by the staff, standard of service and the quality of the food.

The Italian Street Kitchen is a little more expensive than other places we have eaten, but that was only to be expected. Nothing is cheap in Australia anyway, so if you have to pay $60 more for a meal, then I can live with that. You do get what you pay for, and I was not disappointed and will certainly be back.

From The Italian Street Kitchen, we walked the short distance to Perth Concert Hall. This homage to Brutalist architecture, is not a place I have been to before; as I entered the building, I was impressed by the sheer size of the building. The atrium was light, bright and airy — here I bought a few books signed by Mariam Margolyes, the Australian/British national treasure we were there to see. This was a show I had been looking forward to, and I wasn't disappointed.

Darrell and I had seats very close to the stage and a great view of Miriam. This was a one woman show, with a female journalist host — for all intents and purposes, interviewing Miriam, or at least asking her questions. This was not a set-up I was used to, but it worked well, and I was impressed by Miriam's candour and frank conversation.

Miss Margolyes spoke about everything, from her life to politics, and even gave several readings from Charles Dickens.  As usual there was no holing back, as she spoke in raw, uncensored language, in her own unique way. She has a voice you just can't forget; it is a voice I have known for many years, growing up with her on the television, in films and of course the theatre. She was an absolute joy to listen to, and I was glad I had booked the tickets, despite Darrell's initial reluctance.

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The bush fires have been engulfing the area around Midvale this week, showing just how vulnerable the area around our home is. You could see the smoke rising behind the houses on the opposite side of the road, and it was quite scary to observe. The people in the hills around Midvale really do suffer more than most, and with high winds, the flames were well and truly being fanned.

Luckily we are far enough away to feel protected, but nevertheless we do get a lot of smoke settling in the suburb. This can cause major throat issues for me — sore throat, coughing and wheezing are just some of the symptoms all of us suffer from. For those who have asthma, the difficulties are even worse. This is one of the major downsides to living in Perth, but one that I'm sure I will get used to over time.

This weekend we were once again back in Perth CBD for the annual Japanese festival. Both Darrell and I love all things Asian, so this was a must-see for us. If I am honest, it was rather disappointing. There wasn't mush to see or do, so we left after an hour, walking back into the city for lunch at The Shoe, in Yagan Square. This is a place we used to frequent often in the past, but we haven't been there in a while. The food is bog-standard Australian fodder, but the staff are lovely, and it is always a joy sitting on the balcony looking out over the city — even with all the construction work going on at the moment.

Perth is the most isolated capital city in the World, and at times it really does feel that way. There are things to do in the city, but not on the same scale as London, New York or Sydney. I do find the lack of amenities here frustrating at times, especially when the city closes down at such an early hour. It does feel like I am living in a time warp, back in the 1990s, with similar shops, businesses, and restaurants also shutting prematurely.

When you move to Perth, you must be prepared for the difference in lifestyle. This is a very quiet state in all respects, especially when you consider its vast size, in comparison to its population. When events and occasions happen in the city, it is important for me to grab those with open arms. Listening to Mariam Margolyes is a positive connection to my childhood and life back in the UK; being able to dip in and out, whilst living the quiet life, is a blessing. It allows me to return to my rather routine, mundane lifestyle, happy that I have at least been reminded of happy times back home.

Perth, as a capital city, probably needs to do more for the people who live and work here. They need to encourage big name acts to come more often, and they need to rethink some of the more archaic laws that seem to hold this state back. I am happy to call this place home, but I would also like to play an active role in this diverse part of Australia, in the same way I would in Sydney or Brisbane, for example. This city and state has much to offer, and much more to give, so please give us a reason to celebrate, a reason to feel satisfied and a reason to feel alive!

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