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A welcome call from Kire - Just what I needed!
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I've definitely been in a reflective mood this week. It has been eight years since Darrell and I left for Spain in 2016. Looking back at that period can at times be traumatic. The circumstances behind our departure, and my reluctance to leave Britain, has thankfully become a distant memory. The life enhancing experience of living in Gran Alacant, has become a special reminder of a carefree period, that allowed me to recover from one of the worst periods of my life. Without Spain, I don't think I would be the success it is today.
Spain certainly taught me a lot about life; the expat community, of which I was a part, was a great source of inspiration and hope at such a challenging time. These were the people that got me through some pretty dark days, when my Mother-in-law was diagnosed with cancer and Darrell returned home. All of them, always, without fail, lifted me up when I was feeling low.
I have so many regrets about leaving Spain in 2018, but with my Mother also seriously ill and Darrell having to care for Mum in Australia more and more, it was a necessary departure. The timing wasn't great, with Britain voting to leave the EU, but the reality was, it just wasn't meant to be. Our dreams faded into obscurity, and we adapted to our new life apart from one another, as we spent time with our respective families on opposite sides of the World.
Today I look back at my time in Gran Alacant with fondness and have nothing but good memories of the years I spent there. If I could go back tomorrow, I would; if we had moved there a few years before, I believe our life would be very different today. Still I can't change history and despite having to leave my dream behind, both Darrell and I are finally making a success of our life, in a way we haven't in the past.
Sadly, people aren't the same in Australia, but sometimes you just have to do what is right for your future. Friendships and companionship is of course important, but earning money has to take priority. I could never have earned the wages I earn here, in Spain, and for that reason I am better off where I am. However, we will both be back in Gran Alacant at some point and hopefully retire back to the place we once called home!
This week is also the first anniversary of us buying our first home in Australia. It has certainly been an eventful and expensive year. Nevertheless, It does feel good to finally have our own place again, especially during the middle of a housing crisis down under, and we were lucky to have been fortunate, in securing a mortgage at such a difficult time economically. I do have my moans and groans about Australia, but when I look back at everything we have achieved, I really shouldn't complain. This country has been good to us, in a way the UK and Spain never were, so despite my misgivings, we are now firmly rooted in Australian life.
On Sunday, by way of celebration, we took a drive to Scarborough beach, where we met an old friend of Darrell's, Danae; She is a breath of fresh air. I do find most Australians rather stand-offish, so spending time with someone who has been welcoming and open has been heartening. With both of us working hard, we don't get a chance to see many people, when we do, it definitely puts a new perspective on life.
After a week of soaring temperatures of 45 degrees, and with more to come, I am gradually settling into Australian life. The heat has never really bothered me if I am honest, and the sun has always brought a smile to my face, but I do understand why so many people get down because of it; at times it can be relentless.
I still can't help thinking what could have been, if we had stayed in Spain, but on good days, like today, my positivity returns. I have to keep telling myself, that at least I am not living in the UK at the moment. Unlike the vast majority, I have been afforded the chance of a new life in a country far away from the unhappy memories of the past, and for that I am truly grateful… Now who could possibly ask for more!
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Last week we were able to catch up with an old friend - Jason. Darrell has known him since school, and he is one of the few contacts Darrell has, who still remains in Perth. In 2008, whilst Darrell and I were living in Southampton, Jason stayed with us for an extended period; I haven't seen him since this time, and it was wonderful catching up, after so many years.
One of the biggest problems when relocating abroad, is rebuilding your life from scratch. Neither Darrell nor I, have had much opportunity to connect with people since moving here, mainly due to the busy life we lead. Friends are of course important in life, so seeing such an old mate was a reminder that, Darrell and I aren't alone in the World.
I'm not sure Jason enjoyed his time in the UK too much if I am honest, and I really don't blame him. He was able to work whilst living with us, but the wages were low and the position itself was particularly taxing. I believe this left rather a bitter taste in Jason's mouth, and it's easy to see why. No one wants to stay in a job they hate, especially when wages are low.
The UK is a notoriously difficult place to succeed - the cost of living compared to wages is high, hours are long and working practices often hard to understand. Australia, in stark contrast, is a country where anyone can succeed, just look at Darrell and me. We have both done remarkably well here, and if I had to compare Australia with the UK, there is literally no comparison - Australia wins every time!
We spent a lovely afternoon in the city having lunch and then a few drinks in South Perth, a wonderful suburb in this great city, with amazing views, and venues in which to relax. Sat having a few beers with Jason, I was taken back fifteen years, and it was a reminder of just how far, all of us have come,
Hopefully, we will catch up regularly and continue the friendship we forged all those years ago. As I have discovered, it is important to make time for people you know; not everything in life is about work and earning money!