We arrived in February and friends kindly agreed to put us up until we found somewhere to live. We had an idea of area, which wouldn't be too far for Stuart to drive and beside the ocean. This would give us what we had so desperately wanted. Sun, sea and cafes to walk to. Our search was on.
However, the friendship wore thin. We were not compatible people and everything we did seemed to annoy them. We tried hard to fit in, cooking, cleaning and helping with the young child. But nothing was good enough. There were arguments, we weren't doing enough around the house, our cooking wasn't up to standards (theirs not mine, and our standards were poles apart). They were angry that we didn't want to spend weekends with them. Even when we said it was to give them time together - that wasn't good enough either. We were stressed beyond belief and desperate to move on and I just wanted to pack it in a go home every day.
The joy we found an affordable property. We moved out, our ex-friends had our things waiting at the door on the day of our departure and we have all but seen nothing of them now for months. I'm still don't know what we did. We were grateful to have people 'on the ground' and here to help us out.
We settled into a routine and my husband went to work and I walked and drank way too much coffee . Just to pass the time I would have lunch out and read a book. Coffees and lunches became my source of expenditure. Food prices were expensive, petrol was going up. House prices are beyond belief. How on earth are we every going to get our foot on the property ladder here. I don't think I relish the prospect of borrowing hundred of thousands of dollars. The property crash in the UK has seen every diminishing returns on properties and that's if you even manage to find a buyer.
However my daughter made friends and loves school. She loves the Aussie lifestyle. Through my daughter we met some parents who took us under their wing and I honestly think if it hadn't been for them I would have gone home. We have been to a party, enjoyed a card night, eaten meals out and generally enjoyed their company. We have two new friends through this meeting. We really have been very lucky in such a short time to find a lovely unit, friends and employment opportunities for me are now on the horizon.
Yet most days I feel so homesick and miss children, family and friends. My rose tinted glasses mean I have forgotten the reasons we wanted to try A New Life Down Under.
I find it hard to let go and can't easily make decisions. Too old for a new life......too old to change? Too expensive to have the life I want? Maybe. But I still want to try so hard. I love the sunshine here and the going into shops everyone is so pleasant and nice. Everyone has been helpful to us but the next challenge is selling our house and now we have an offer. My indecisiveness now has to stop.
