2012 was a BIG year. It was all about Australia, getting to Australia, leaving home, finding a new home in Perth, then finding another new home near Brisbane. What a year. What a life changer that was. I am constantly amazed how different life here is to the UK and what I call home.

Its the little things. Like a hot Christmas on the beach, old traditions that just don’t gel here in this land of plenty like traditional christmas dinner. The day starts 2 hours earlier than home. We are up at 6am most days which seems to be like 8am back home. People out jogging, walking the dog, whatever before it gets too hot. Different food and drink tastes and cooking habits, easy is best, who wants to slave over an oven when you can be outside? How everyone wears sports kit everywhere and it’s ok, where we would changed before leaving the gym back home, fear of anyone seeing us in our lycra. Driving……everyone drives to the speed limit like they’re on a conveyor belt.  And you have to constantly protect yourself from the elements layering on suntan lotion, bug cream, hats and glasses.

These are just a few things we have adjusted our lives to, along side new routines, rules rules rules (Aussies love to try and enforce as many rules as possible), laws, missing the familiarity of home, family, friends and colleagues. I have found I really miss having a job and being part of something but I really love having the time to do things I’ve always wanted do, it’s very conflicting. The lifestyle however is amazing here. So many places to go and explore. So much beauty and nature to see. So many adventures to have. Just popping to the beach everyday is a skin pinching moment, we can’t quite believe we’re here, it looks like a dream holiday destination and it is.

So 2013 for me is about appreciating everything. I’m pretty good at it already, I find it brings me a calm in pausing for a second whatever I am doing and just look back at myself and see what I am actually doing and I smile, it’s a great feeling.

I plan to do more yoga, more surfing, more looking closely at nature and being inspired by it. Potentially some conservation / volunteer work, possibly some design freelancing and some designing and making too. 2013 is the year I will start establishing myself in Australia.

Thanks to everyone who reads this blog regularly, and to those of you just reading this now. I love blogging and think 2013 is going to be a great year for sharing the next chapter with you.

Happy New Year!

Mel