Tags

  • Published on

    Catching Up - Keeping our network alive!

    Australia Friends Colleagues blog
    Image description
    It was great to catch up with our old friend Elaine this week. Elaine has been a close friend for twenty years now, and she is one of the people we miss most. Thankfully, with FaceTime and other forms of social media, we are still able to stay close.

    Living on the other side of the World, can feel particularly isolating at times, especially when we have spent most of our life together, living in the UK, so any link to old friendships is welcome. 

    Of course, as individuals, all our lives move on, but because the majority of our friends are in the UK, it makes it very difficult to move forward, in life, without them. This isn't me feeling sorry for myself, or regretting moving to Australia, this is about adapting, to accommodate our changing circumstances.

    Making new friends, has been the biggest hurdle for us to overcome. We are not young anymore; people of our age normally have established friendships and a reliable network around them — we just don't, and that is making our life a lot harder than it should be. One has to remember, very few couples our age move from the UK to Australia, so the difficulties we experience are going to be markedly different to those of a younger age!

    Both Darrell and I have always found British people easier to get along with, and more welcoming in nature. That isn't a swipe at Australians, but rather an admission that our roots lie firmly in the UK. If I am honest, I'm not sure if we will ever fully integrate into Australian life, especially with our circle of friends being so small. That does leave me with a huge sense of sadness, but it is also me coming to terms with the limitations of my new life in Perth. It is clear things will not be like they used to; we will never have the huge circle of people around us, we had in the past, but we should both do more to invite people into our life.

    ​After suffering at the hands of some truly dubious people over the last ten years, we do both find it hard to accept that other individuals are genuine and honest. Having said that, we have learnt many lessons in life, and I would consider myself a wonderful judge of character these days. However, I have to admit that I just do not have the time, will power or motivation to put in enough of an effort at the moment. The reality is, both Darrell and I are probably the reason, we live our life without significant friendships. It is our choice right now, and something we will hopefully change in the future. 

    Our priority is our future, and that has to take priority. Paying the mortgage and bills will always be top of our list. When we finally do invite others into our life, it will be when we think it will be beneficial, and work for us as a couple. Until then, we still have our very strong network of mates in the UK, and that's all we appear to need at the moment.

    Everything I have said doesn't detract from those I have personally met in Perth; Darrell has some truly wonder friends, from way back when, who I feel extremely comfortable with. They do of course have their own lives to lead, so catching up can be tough at times. Both of us need to learn to relax more, enjoy the life we have built, and gradually become the people we used to be — Easier said than done I know, but not insurmountable!
    Picture
  • Published on

    It's been a bloody difficult few weeks if I am honest!

    Australia Britain Events Friends Colleagues Southampton blog
    Picture
    Darrell and I have just returned from the city, after spending a lazy Sunday, Christmas shopping and having lunch. This is the first time we have travelled to Perth in about two months; we have been so busy that we just haven't had the time. Of course, the CBD is now adorned with festive decorations, lights, and a large Christmas tree opposite the railway station; despite the sweltering summer heat, even I am starting to feel a little bit Christmassy!
    Image description
    Temperatures have been particularly hot, compared to 2023, and I am told this year's summer will be even hotter than the last — that suits me perfectly. However, I am all too aware, of the difficulties of living in Australia, in such a severe climate.

    Darrell has just given up vaping. This has been hard for him since he has smoked or vaped for many years, but this time it is a case of having to!

    Darrell has been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, which in part is to do with his smoking and vaping, but also the weather here in Western Australia. With the sun incredibly bright, and without 400 UV protective sunglasses over many years, he has paid the ultimate price. Both of us are staying positive and hoping the rate of deterioration can be stemmed for now. Of course, only time will tell — weekly monitoring and regular eye tests will help — changing old habits will help a hell of a lot more!
    Picture
    With Christmas just two weeks away, the last Christmas card I received from Mum when she was alive is on display. I always think of my Mother at this time of year. Speaking to my Father, back home in the UK tonight, we reminisced about Christmasses past, and how much we used to enjoy them, unlike today. 

    Things have changed dramatically over the years, and although I still love this time of year, it just isn't the same. Living in the Southern Hemisphere has changed my concept of Christmas. Oh, I still put up a few decorations and a tree, enjoy sending Christmas cards to friends and family, and buy presents for our nearest and dearest — that's something that will never change. However, I am aware, that for the most part, it will just be me and Darrell celebrating together — so different to years gone by. 

    There won't be a large Christmas roast, just cold meats, and salad around a neighbour's house. Nobody wants to be cooking a three-course British Christmas Dinner on the 25th, least of all me. This year, I will be putting my feet up, and letting someone else do all the work. This will make a pleasant change, since I am the one who usually does it all.

    Both Darrell and I remarked, earlier, how much we miss Christmas with friends in Southampton. We truly had some memorable times, with some remarkable characters; not traditional celebrations, but rather unconventional in nature, partying with like-minded individuals and enjoying the festive cheer. 

    Things are very different now and that can be hard to come to terms with!
    Picture
    The past two weeks have been somewhat difficult if I am honest. After Darrell's news about his eyesight, I was due in hospital for a procedure, that had been planned for several months. This wasn't something I was looking forward to, but an absolute necessity, especially at my age. Thankfully, living in Australia, I didn't have to wait too long, and it was carried out quickly, without incident. Nevertheless, the procedure did throw up some concern, after two small tumours were removed.

    This was completely unexpected, but after a follow-up meeting with my GP, to discuss the histology report, I was hopeful it wasn't anything to worry about, at least in the short term. I will have to have a follow-up hospital appointment in February, but for now, I am putting it to the back of my mind, along with the anxiety I suffer from, on a daily basis.
    Picture
    Picture
    None of us are getting any younger, and I am more aware than most of impending old age creeping up on me, faster every day. In truth, I don't like being 53, and I am not enjoying middle age. I have, however, worked hard to stay fit and healthy over the last four years, and I am doing everything I can to keep my weight under control.  I understand the damage I have done to my body over the years, and although I can not reverse it, I am hopeful I can at least stop the rot in its tracks. 

    This week I heard from a friend back in the UK, Julie, who I used to work with at The Newcome Arms in Fratton. Sadly, her long-term partner had passed away; naturally, she was devastated. I didn't know Bill very well, but he was a wonderful character, who was always kind, and courteous towards me, and an absolute pleasure to know.

    I felt so upset for her and her family, losing a loved one, especially at this time of year. Bill wasn't an old man, but his sudden passing made me realise, just how fragile all our lives are. 

    There are times I feel down and depressed, but I am so grateful for the life I now lead. It may well be quiet and uneventful, like most people's lives in Australia, but it is successful, fruitful, and extremely productive, who could possibly ask for more. 

    When someone dies, you often think about your own mortality. I was close to Julie at work and have frequently thought about her. The death of Bill will affect many of those I knew in Portsmouth, and I am just glad I got to know him, and all those from The Newcome Arms. With Christmas just around the corner, it is so important to remember the good times, because those were the occasions that got me through my worst days. People like Bill were the fabric of a neighbourhood that welcomed me with open arms, and that is an aspect of life I miss, living in Australia,

    Hopefully, the next few weeks will be better than the last, and Darrell and I can look forward to another happy Christmas together. Putting personal issues to the back of my mind, it's time to look positively towards the future, and put the last few weeks behind us! I will be glad to see the back of 2024, as I'm sure most of you will. This has not been the happiest of years, so lets hope 2025 surprises all of us and is the start of something better!
    Picture
  • Published on

    34-Year-Old Friendship Rekindled — The spectre of growing old!

    Australia Britain Events Friends Colleagues Memories Of Fareham Visits From Friends blog
    Image description
    Age came rushing head long into my life this week, and, thankfully, not for the wrong reasons. A friend from the UK who I haven't seen in 34 years was in Perth, and I knew I had to see him.

    Back in the dim and distant past, Wayne and I had a very close friendship, established during our time working together in the Civil Service. Despite losing touch for many years, I was determined to reconnect, and rekindle what is an important relationship. After not seeing each other for so long, I was worried by what could happen. Would he still be the same person? Would we still have a connection? And can you really rebuild a friendship after a decade and a half apart!

    Wayne and I met in 1990, at a time of great change for me. I was evolving from being a shy teenager, into a deeply sentimental young man, with the weight of the World on my shoulders. Wayne was someone who taught me much about life, and for a period of time we were inseparable. Of course, a lot has happened between then and now, but when someone leaves significant footprints on your heart, you know you have to make the effort!

    Back in the early 1990s, I had a small group of friends from college. After the odd afternoon out at The Jolly Sailor, our local hostelry of choice, they would drop me off at Wayne's house in Gosport, where I would try to sober up, before heading home. Wayne looked after me in some terrible states. He made sure I was fed and watered, and we formed a close bond. Our friendship was brief on the scale of things, but it was also very important. Sadly, we lost contact, as Wayne moved away, and my life took me to University in Southampton.

    Of course, a lot happened in the intervening years; I met Darrell and settled down, and With the birth of social media, I tried my luck, to see if I could find Wayne, initially on 'Friends Reunited.' I successfully found him, after a long time searching, and we finally got in touch once again.

    Now comes the weird bit — during the time when Wayne and I weren't in touch, like me, he had relationships, different jobs, and oddly, he was living in Spain, at exactly the same time I was. Even more mind-blowing, is he was in a relationship with one of Darrell's best friends from school. Of all the people in the World, this was an unexpected connection, that fate appeared to be responsible for. You have to remember, during this period, Wayne and I were not in touch, and we only found out this mutual link relatively recently… Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, just to keep you on your toes.

    This was a bizarre twist of fate, that on the surface at least, appeared to be just too much of a coincidence. However, it was, and here we were, 34 years later, chatting about it, sat outside The Belgian Beer Café, in Murray street, ten thousand kilometres from home, where I first met him, just after leaving school…

    ​This brings me nicely on to my vlog this week. After seeing Wayne, I realised just how old I was. Wayne was still the same person I knew all those years ago, I could tell instantly from his smile; our conversation was just like picking up from where we last left off, but we were both older, much, much older, and different in so many ways. Age, for me, is quite a traumatic thing — it is a sore subject, that I do my best to avoid. I never want to admit my age to myself, but, seeing someone from your past, allows you to reevaluate just what growing old means.

    Those 34 years have gone so fast, yet It really does feel just like yesterday and in many respects, it scares me that I am now in my mid-fifties. In another 34 years, in all likelihood, I'll be dead… We really are on this planet, for such a brief period of time, just the blink of an eye!

    Despite my own feelings on age, It was nice to see someone from my past. I guess that is the point you realise just how far you have come in life. The 1990s were great years for me personally, and I look back with fondness at a time that allowed me to finally come out and be the person I was always destined to be. I am not in contact with many friends from that period, so it was even more important to cement a bond that would otherwise have been lost — Social media really does have a lot to answer for. It can be responsible for conflict, abuse, bullying and resentment, but it can also bring people together in a rewarding and tangible way. It's good to have Wayne back in my life, even if it has made me question for fast approaching, inevitable and challenging old age. Furthermore, it is the reopening of a story that I had believed was over, and the beginning of another chapter, and a second chance at a friendship that I had thought had gone away!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Living The Quiet Life Down Under - Nearly two years since we left the UK!

    Australia Britain Cancer Research Cats Family Friends Colleagues Gran Alacant Milestones Pippa And Akira Travel blog
    Wow, how time has flown! It has been nearly two years since we left the UK, and what a productive 24 months we have had. This time two years ago, I was busy saying my farewells to family, friends, and colleagues. It was an emotional time for me, especially since I had made some wonderful connections during my time living in Portsmouth. These were the people that got me through the tough times, when Darrell was locked down in Australia and the pandemic was raging across the World. Without these people, life would have been harder than it already was. As my World got even tougher, during our final few months in Britain, all of these people became the family I had lost.
    Picture
    Picture
    Darrell and I have managed to stay in contact with family and friends from across the globe. We both owe them a great debt of gratitude for all they did for us, making our final weeks happy and memorable. I miss them every day; a photo on a wall cannot make up for physical contact, but both of us have memories that resonate every single day, and thankfully we have social media and video calls, to keep those friendships alive.

    My oldest, dearest friend, Ramona, celebrated a milestone Birthday recently, and we spoke to each other for over an hour. Chatting about the old times, shared friends, and memorable times spent together over 32 years. Those important milestones, that we both share, have been instrumental in keeping me firmly in Australia. Ramona knows where Darrell and I are better off, and she has always been honest about where she believes the best place for us is. Ramona and I have always had an honest and open friendship, we have shared so much over the years, her advice is invaluable; she is actually one of the few people I listen to!

    We also managed to speak to one of our closest friends in Portsmouth, Zerina. Not only did I volunteer for Zerina at Cancer Research in Portsmouth, but Darrell also worked for her as her Assistant Manager. She was one of the most influential people in my life, when I lived in Britain, and she is always, without exception, a joy to be around. We had some hilarious, fabulous times working together, and she has become a very close friend. She is the big sister I never had, and was a sounding board for all my anxieties. In many respects we were like chalk and cheese, but like Ramona, she always gave wonderful advice, which I listened to without exception. 

    These are just two people I think about daily; there are just too many others to mention, but all of them lifted me up at times when I needed it most. Unfortunately, we don't have the same friendships here, but that is a conscious choice we both made, in order to forge a successful start to our life in Australia. It has been essential to establish ourselves, and work hard in order to succeed in this new venture. The time for friendships may or may not come, but Darrell and I have each other, and that is all that matters… For now!
    Of course, we do have our two cats to keep us company — Pippa and Akira. Darrell and I have always had cats in our life, for as long as I can remember, when living in the UK and Spain. Sadly, we lost our last two companions when we lived in Gran Alacant; if I am honest, I was reluctant to get any more animals — not because I don't like them, but because of the travelling life we have always led.

    Both of us have travelled so much over the years, we never knew where we would be from one day to the next. My life is now firmly rooted in Australia, but it isn't a country I necessarily want to live in forever. I would like to retire to Spain or Asia at some point, and having animals will make that move more difficult. In the end, however, I agreed that we couldn't live without pets, because of what may or may not happen in the future. Our two cats really do make our home, and if the opportunity to move abroad comes, then both of them will make the journey with us. These two are our children, and wherever we are, they will be too!
    Picture
    Darrell and I have rewarding, successful jobs that we love. We have managed to find the perfect careers, that we both enjoy. If I am honest, I never believed I would find a secure, well-paid position this quickly. The employment market in Western Australia is rather volatile at the moment, but we have both persevered, and settled into a positive routine, that allows us to enjoy the lifestyle we have now become accustomed to. Wages are significantly higher here, compared to the UK, and five times higher than they are in Spain — I am well aware of how lucky we are!

    Approaching my mid-fifties, I never believed I would be where I am today. I have worked in many jobs, and have always been able to adapt to my changing circumstances quickly. Today I am back doing what I love best, in a retail management capacity, working with some amazing people, who have become important to my success and wellbeing in Perth.

    In time, I hope to restart volunteering as well, rather like I did in the UK. It has always been essential for me to give something back to the community in which I live, whether through writing in local magazines or dedicating time helping others who may be going through a difficult time. For now, with changes on the horizon, I am looking forward to the new adventures to come. There are plenty more years ahead to dedicate to all the passions I have in life, including my blogging today. Until the right voluntary opportunity arises, I am happy to do the best I can, in an industry I love.
    Picture
    First and foremost, I will always be English, it is part of who I am, and I am proud of my heritage. In many respects, my home in Perth is a homage to all things British. The memories I bought with me, are a reminder of home, and the pictures and photo's that adorn my walls are distinctly European in feel. 

    Darrell and I have travelled extensively, especially in Europe, and both of us are fond of the European continent. Despite loving the UK, its politics, eccentricities, culture and society, I am also a Europhile. Both of us lived in Spain, have family in Croatia, owned a house in France, and fell in love with Sorrento in Italy. We will always be Europeans at heart and if it hadn't had been for Brexit, we would probably still be living in Spain. Having lost my Spanish residencia during the pandemic, both Darrell and I made the conscious choice to build a life away from the UK.

    With that said, I pride myself on the Britishness I hold dear, even my bad teeth. I have a painting of the late Queen on my wall, photo's of our travels around the UK on display, and of course, British staples in the pantry. I always try to buy British food in the supermarkets when I can, rather like I did in Spain, and always make a beeline for the international food isle in Coles. From Marmite, English Cheddar and Scottish Oat Cakes, to Branson Pickle, HP Sauce and Eccles Cakes, they are all there. Thankfully Aussie culture is very similar to back home, and food wise, I fit in quite well… apart that is, from the overload of Chicken Parmi in restaurants, and the fact that Australians can not cook a British Roast.

    There are many aspects of the UK I miss, but I can live the English life right here if I so chose. I have been known to watch UK TV all day and then, in the height of the Aussie summer, pop down the beach and enjoy a lifestyle most Brits could only dream of — living the best of both Worlds!
    Picture
    Picture
    ... And finally, I still manage to keep fit and healthy, something I have been doing since 2019. Then I weighed a staggering 110 kg, smoked cigarettes (Up to 80 a day at one stage) and drank like a fish (a hangover from my days living in Spain and the 1 euro pints of Mahou.) After a brush with health anxiety, which I still suffer with today, I made a decision to change my lifestyle. Today I weigh 74 kg, although I have weighed as low as 70 kg, and I am not as strict as I once was. I have my good and bad days, but on average I have managed to maintain a healthy weight for five years now and have no intention of giving up.

    This week we took a walk to the John Forrest National Park for a 6 km walk. The weather was rather grey and overcast, which made me feel quite at home and was ideal weather for walking. This park reminds me of El Clot De Galvany in Spain where we used to go walking, and The New Forest back in The UK. These are the places that keep my fitness regime on track and allows me to explore the local area. 

    I still walk every day in Australia, far more than I ever did in Spain and on a par with the miles I walked when I lived in Portsmouth. I don't drive a car, nor have I ever wanted to, so walking is my main means of transport if you like. My two legs take me everywhere, and I am actually really proud of that fact. If I did drive, I believe I would be in worse physical shape today than I am — definitely overweight and most certainly a heart attack waiting to happen. Walking is somewhat of a passion now, and a pastime I intend to keep up, wherever I live.

    If these last two years in Australia have taught me anything, it's the resilience and determination I have to survive. I have had so many ups and downs in life, that a little thing, like moving to the other side of the World, wasn't going to stop me from achieving my true ambitions. I have grown to love this country, simply because it has given me everything I ever wanted, and that is important. Without Australia, I would probably still be underachieving in Portsmouth, in a country that has quite simply had its day. For the first time in a long time, I feel optimistic for the future, and can finally see light at the end of the tunnel… Life is indeed what you make it, and we are both giving it one hundred percent — things can only get better!
    Picture
  • Published on

    Thinking about the current state of the World!

    Australia Current Affairs Politics Friends Colleagues blog

    I've certainly had a lot of issues on my mind this week; not my usual health concerns, but this time world events. Now look, despite worrying about the end of the World in the past, and the threat of nuclear war, especially when I was a young boy, it isn't something I tend to think about these days. The reality is, I have got just too much on my mind, to be concerned about the end of life as we know it. However, this week, World events and current affairs have been thrust in my face, in a way they haven't before. To say I am sick of it would be an understatement — the state of our planet is beyond a joke, and it is all to do with the people in charge, our so-called great leaders, Presidents and Prime Ministers. The present incumbents seem to be the worst in living memory, and that doesn't inspire much confidence for the future and the trajectory events appear to be taking us on.

    Our leaders are a dangerous joke; in fact, if the planet wasn't in such a perilous state, the circumstances we all find ourselves in would be laughable. Despite everything, these evil men (Yes, they are all men) remain in situ and continue to destroy the very fabric of society. What a bloody mess the World is in, and all because of inflated ego's and psychotic ambitions; dictators rampage across the continents, asserting their authority, in a way not seen since the Cold War!

    I was watching Sky News a few days ago. One of my favourite journalists was part of the newspaper review — Susie Boniface. As usual her sarcasm, wit, and concern were expertly expressed in her own unique way, but both her and her colleague were nevertheless melancholy about the desperate state all of us find ourselves in. Susie, has this knack of cheering me up, even during the darkest of news days, but on this particular occasion, reading between the lines, it is clear we are heading for an extremely volatile few years. I am sure war is around the corner, and it chills me to the bone!

    Hearing newsreaders and politicians constantly referring to World War III has been pretty disheartening. More and more, we are being told to prepare for the inevitable. The UK Government is asking the public to organise an emergency pack. It should include essential items to last for several days. The British PM is talking about the return of National Service, (conscription in all but name) and sabre-rattling on the Eastern side of Europe grows ever stronger. All of these signs are a warning of what is coming; where once there was no anxiety, now there is some — I can gradually feel a sense of concern enveloping my psyche. Even my own Father, speaking on the phone, said how dangerous things feel at the moment. In his view, even worse than the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s!

    So this week, I am really just talking about the precarious state of the World. It helps me to calm my anxiety by just speaking about issues that concern me and having expressed my feelings, I do feel like a weight has been lifted. My apprehension seems to be growing daily, but having access to this blog helps me come to terms with the way I am feeling. When you are living on the other side of the World, uneasiness does tend to manifest in a way it wouldn't otherwise, especially if you were close to loved ones. I am grateful to speak to those closest on a regular basis and that helps me immensely.

    On Sunday, not only did I speak to my Father, but I also managed to talk to a friend, who I worked with at Tesco. Amelia and I always had a close friendship, and she has remained in constant contact, while I have been living in Western Australia. Like me, she has many insecurities and misgivings about circumstances we all find ourselves in, but her calming nature, has always been a great source of support for me.

    It is difficult being cut off from the usual networks of friends and family, especially at times of World turmoil, but I am blessed by the number of friends I do have. A Father who continues to support me, while I endeavour to build a new life down under, friends who remain in touch, offering unwavering encouragement and of course readers of Roaming Brit, who continue to contribute to this blog!
    Picture
    As a final happy thought, I have included a couple of photographs, of our cat Akira, who has taken to watching the television (even world events.) Having cats around, at the moment, is a great source of solace. Their calming affect tends to rub off on me and indeed distract me from the 'march to world war' emblazoned on our television screens. This week may well have been difficult in an overall sense, but I am lucky enough to feel well in myself, and better than I have been for many years — For me, that's all that matters.

    Having a great week, y'all!
    Picture
  • Published on

    New Car, Politics, Arthritis, and The Weather!

    Australia Friends Colleagues Milestones Weight Loss Health blog
    Picture
    Once again, as I continue to recover from an arthritis flare up, this week's catch-up will be mainly in video form. I suppose as time moves on, I will be video blogging more and more. That's a little disappointing for me, since my real, true love, is writing. But I am a diarist first and foremost, so whatever medium I choose, the real satisfaction for me, is in the process of recording events, no matter how mundane they are.

    I finally found out what is going on with my left hand this week, after delaying the inevitable for too long. After seeing a hand specialist, I have a definitive answer, I actually have osteoarthritis. After the weather took a dramatic change for the worst this week, and the rain set in, I was subjected to severe pain. Really, I should have put two and two together, but once again, I just thought the worst. In many respects I was relived at the diagnosis, it could have been far worse. My anxiety told me it was Rheumatoid Arthritis, thankfully it was the lesser of two evils.

    Darrell also picked up his new car on Wednesday. After driving our old, but highly reliable car around, for a little over a year, we took the plunge and bought a brand-new MG; taking everything into consideration, buying new was the best thing to do. The new car has a seven-year warranty and cost us less than we thought. By paying outright for it, we have also saved a fortune in interest. Darrell seems very happy with it, though for me, it's just a car — The next thing on the list is a new kitchen, far more important in my book.
    Picture
    Over the last few weeks we have been able to spend some quality time with Mum and took her out for Sunday lunch on Mother's Day. My Mother in Law doesn't get out much these days, but she seemed to enjoy the short time we were out. Not venturing too far, we took her to a local pub in Midland, called 7th Avenue, which was actually surprisingly nice. I personally wouldn't choose to eat in my local city, but I may, just may, go there again.

    Of course, the day was tinged with sadness, after the loss of my own Mother in 2019. Mother's Day in Australia does fall at a different time of year than the UK, so it did feel a little strange celebrating in May. The reality is, I am just glad I still have a Mother, albeit my husband's Mum, to enjoy the day with.

    Reflecting on the last few weeks, I have had quite a productive time. My new job continues to go well, and I am enjoying my new role immensely. It does feel good to be finally established in our new home —  just me, Darrell and the cats, and now the new car. For once in our life, everything seems to be going our way. Being the realist I am, I am just waiting for the first thing to go wrong. Nevertheless, I have been told to just relax and enjoy my new life. Australia has given both of us another chance to succeed, and so far, we ain't doing too badly.
    On Sunday I was able to enjoy a few hours with ex-colleagues, now friends, from my previous job. This certainly isn't a regular occurrence, especially if one considers when I started working here in Australia. At the end of 2022, COVID restrictions had become more or less a thing of the past, but as a hangover from this time, many businesses were still conducting meetings and interviews via Zoom and other similar apps. The truth is, going forward, I believe this is how most businesses will conduct themselves indefinitely. Technology continues to move along at a frantic pace, and communicating with friends, colleagues and family, via video conferencing platforms, will almost certainly become the main way, all of us stay in contact in the future.

    Except for one occasion, I haven't met my colleagues in any social capacity, so haven't had the opportunity to forge bonds and friendships. Sunday was about spending time with those I have worked with for nearly a year and a half and interacting on an entirely different level — not on a Zoom call, telephone, or behind an LED screen.

    Despite nursing a sore head today, I had a thoroughly enjoyable evening. I haven't done an awful lot of socialising since I arrived in Western Australia, but I hope this will be the start of a regular get-together. Great conversation, good company, copious amounts of alcohol and food — the ideal recipe for the perfect evening out.
    Picture
    With winter well and truly here, I have certainly started to feel the arthritis. With a diagnosis, I can now plan my life accordingly. There are plenty of other people out there who suffer from aches and pains, and I am not anything special, but as someone who suffers with health anxiety, I understand just how much these things play on my mind.

     I never look forward to this time of year, whatever country I am living in. The older I get, the more I crave the heat and the hope is, given time, Darrell and I will eventually move somewhere hot, all year round. That's a long way in the future for now, in the meantime, like everyone else, I just have to get on with life, whatever the weather. This winging Pom isn't going to change anytime soon, so expect a lot more of the same!

    Picture