Since I’ve lived in Sydney I’ve written an overview of my life at first, a bit of a look at the weather and then my observations about the way the Aussies use the English language.
I’ve now left to go off on my travels again. I had nearly seven months in this great city and I’ve lived in three different suburbs: Redfern, Glebe and Ryde. All were pretty varied ways of life.
Redfern was a rough and ready suburb…although we lived at the ‘Surry Hills end’ which was near a strip of posh bars on Crown Street. Glebe was just my sort of place. My last abode in the UK was in the ‘Golden Triangle’ area of Norwich. I call Glebe ‘Sydney’s Golden Triangle’. It’s brimming with independent shops, lovely chilled out bars and eateries, but best of all, it was near to a very beautiful foreshore walk, from which you could look across Blackwattle Bay and take in a view of Anzac Bridge, and the city skyline. It was also a short walk to the ABC via some quiet back streets. The area was a joy to live in.
I’ve now left to go off on my travels again. I had nearly seven months in this great city and I’ve lived in three different suburbs: Redfern, Glebe and Ryde. All were pretty varied ways of life.
Redfern was a rough and ready suburb…although we lived at the ‘Surry Hills end’ which was near a strip of posh bars on Crown Street. Glebe was just my sort of place. My last abode in the UK was in the ‘Golden Triangle’ area of Norwich. I call Glebe ‘Sydney’s Golden Triangle’. It’s brimming with independent shops, lovely chilled out bars and eateries, but best of all, it was near to a very beautiful foreshore walk, from which you could look across Blackwattle Bay and take in a view of Anzac Bridge, and the city skyline. It was also a short walk to the ABC via some quiet back streets. The area was a joy to live in.
I then started housesitting to bridge a short gap between my lease in Glebe coming to an end, and the legal limit on how long I could work for the ABC. You are allowed 6 months with any one company on the Working Holiday Visa. I took up a position in the suburb of Ryde which gave me a sense of how most Australians live.
My first night in the house sit I was ecstatic. I had a sofa to sit on, a TV to watch, and a dog on my lap! They might sound like small things, but the TV and sofa combo is something I’ve lived without for about four years! I adore dogs but my life isn’t set up for dog ownership, so house sitting (which is really pet sitting when you look at the detail) is an ideal solution for me while I travel.
As you can see, the roadkill is a bit different here in Aus. I think this is a blue tongue lizard that me and Chanelle the toy poodle found on one of our strolls.
As you can see, the roadkill is a bit different here in Aus. I think this is a blue tongue lizard that me and Chanelle the toy poodle found on one of our strolls.
I was still working like a mad woman…knowing I’d be back in Sydney when I didn’t have work…my plan has always been to see most of the sights when I visit as a tourist. But I did get out and about a little. I took myself whale watching. Seeing a whale’s tail disappear into the sea has always been on my bucket list. This was the moment I saw that happen for the first time. The whales migrate right past Sydney and I was living in the city at just the right time for it.
Myself and Seven News journo Laura had a rare day off at the same time so we spent a sunny day on Cockatoo Island. We didn’t know much about the place before we arrived, but it’s had an interesting history involving convicts, ship building, and these days rows and rows of mysterious tents which you can apparently stay in! I think it would make an excellent venue for a slightly odd party.
And talking of ITV Anglia journalists, I found myself in the extraordinary position of being one of SEVEN former or current Anglia people who happened to be in Sydney at the same time. And we didn’t plan to meet up either – it was a coincidence! From left to right you have me and Laura who are here on the 417 visa, Lauren Hall who was over here on holiday, Wendy Hurrell who dropped by during honeymoon, Andrew Sainsbury, Stephen Lee and Alex Gore all emigrated in the last five years.
My final days in Sydney were very much concerned with the New South Wales bushfires. They were the worst fires the state has seen in a decade. It was exhausting and pretty horrible to work on….phoning up people affected and trying to persuade them to come on air. I will never forget the moment I smelt smoke from the office and thought ‘crikey, these are a good hour’s drive away so they must be pretty large’ and as the days rolled on the situation got worse and worse. My throat would hurt after my morning dog walk as the air was thick with smoke, and I started finding ash in the back garden of the house in Ryde. I don’t know how people live with this threat. I find the idea of bushfires totally terrifying. To the left is a picture of the sun during the fires. Taken from the street I was staying in at Ryde.
After six months without a break and working much more than full time, with the addition of garden maintenance and dog walking, the bushfires just finished me off! I was exhausted. Sydney was so, so kind to me. I learnt so much and have made some terrific friends, but I was very pleased to have a flight booked to Alice Springs!
TTFN Sydney….I shall be seeing you in all the glory of New Year’s Eve! xxxx
TTFN Sydney….I shall be seeing you in all the glory of New Year’s Eve! xxxx
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