Monday, January 24, 2011

The Place to Be.

Melbourne. The place to be. The garden state. On the move.  We can learn a lot about a state by their number plate slogans.  Almost every Victoria registered vehicle in Australia carries one of these badges, labelling each and every person driving these vehicles in one way or another. 

What more is there to say about Melbourne? I have a few observations under my sleeve, from little more than four days living in this wonderful city.

  1. Melbournians are IMPATIENT drivers.  It’s scary. Not to mention the narrow busy roads and the weird line markings.  Oh, and for the record, lanes merge without warning so beware of potential collisions and sounding horns.
  2. The grass is GREEN. Actual, proper, luscious, thick, green grass.
  3. Teenagers wear their caps SIDEWAYS.  Didn’t that fail as a fashion statement in the 90s (along with white rappers and ‘Spice Girl’ platform shoes)?
  4. People have very LOUD conversations at McDonalds.  The number of arguments overheard in the past four days would out-do an entire month in Brisbane.
  5. (I have to include another ‘driving’ observation) Sharing the road with TRAMS is extremely strange! The tracks make a bizarre noise under tyres, it feels like you’re driving in the middle of the road, not to mention the feeling you get when one is barrelling up behind you.
  6. There are no cockroaches! EXTREME plus.
  7. Shoe polish is an EFFECTIVE spider killer. I don’t think this one is specific to Melbourne, but it had to be shared. I would like to thank our rather intoxicated neighbour for assisting us with the eradication of the strangest looking spider I have ever seen.
  8. It feels like HOME. New Zealand home, that is.  The houses are brick with chimneys, the evenings are cool but pleasant, the residential streets are lined with trees and the street shops are reminiscent of Invercargill town centre.

In a nutshell, despite our lack of beds, mattresses, seating, refrigeration, and general storage, the diminishing funds, the unemployment and not having ‘people’ in the state, this adventure is so far a success.  Sleeping on a doona and floorboards, purchasing ONLY non-perishables, and buying a couch on Ebay, but having no way of transporting it home, are all part of the excitement.

Until next time….

Monday, January 17, 2011

Shinanegans, scrubbing and sad faces.

Well, I finally did it.  This 'first post' has been a long time coming, but I credit this moment to three things:

1. Oriental Fifty. The observations and inspirations of one Rachael Brodie. Made me realise blogs are more a collection of sporadic thoughts, rather than the deep contemplation of the "meaning of life".

2. My rather ambitious list of new years resolutions ('start a blog' - check)

3. The looming interstate move, and a foreseen lack of time for "this is what I've been up to" e-mails to each individual who may be interested in my Victorian adventure.

Hopefully this blog will prove eventful and exciting, not just a play-by-play of the daily grind I will find myself immersed in throughout the year.  If ever this becomes tedious and dull, feel free to let me know (I will be sure to throw in some amusing "cats doing stupid things" youtube clips just to mix it up a bit).

Moving right along...

2011 seems to have begun with quite an eventful few weeks.  They say December is the 'silly season', with Christmas parties, new year parties, shopping, scrambling for car parks and fighting with oneself as to whether or not Aunt Betty will appreciate a stuffed cat doorstop for Christmas.  With this month behind us, I feel I have been launched into the new year with the thrust jammed into "full speed" and no power steering.  There has been a constant supply of 'to do' lists before moving from Brisbane to Melbourne.  Little things like making sure my tooth brush is kept out for the three day drive, and bigger things like applying for houses (I'm not quite sure I could rock the homeless look... although my hair has been known to take on a life of it's own when unwashed, unstraightened and unmoisturised).

Needless to say, it all seems to be coming along quite well.  Farewell party is booked in and looks to be a bittersweet night.  Rental property is in the process of being restored back to its former glory (pre attack of the four single ladies).  Possessions organised, sorted through, prioritised, thrown out, recycled, sold on Ebay, given away... and the remainder packed (in no particular order).  Finalising of employment in Brisbane (only 7.5 working hours to go before I am officially unemployed).  And of course, the various "you can't leave me" conversations all ready had (with more to come I'm sure).

With all of this comes excitement, hopefulness, animosity, frustration, exhaustion and longing.  But most of all, faith.  We will be fine. We will take all opportunities.  We will succeed.  Because without faith we are just two scared but ambitious girls, embarking on the biggest adventure of our lives so far.