Settled in down under
I’m writing this post from the kitchen table of my new Sydney home. Actually zooming in it’s the Northern Beaches suburb of Manly, and zooming in even closer – for the locals – it’s Fairlight.
I’m not going to bother you with the details of the hows and whys of me and my ever growing family ending up here, but I can tell you it’s been both very relaxing and very busy times since we left Bergen early November last year.
Why relaxing?
In short because Australia is a very relaxing country and the Australians very relaxed and friendly people. Also, because now we’re actually doing what we’ve planned and wanted for a long time, not just planning it.
Why busy?
Because moving to the other side of the world, finding out as you go how and where to live, together with a wife, an eight, a six and a three year old plus a fourth one coming keeps you from getting bored.
Plus – and this is important – being busy is not a bad thing! We stayed in Melbourne for the first two months, enjoying an absolutely wonderful summer (i.e. winter – I know; it’s confusing) holiday with tons of new and exciting things to see and do.
What now?
Now we’re starting to get settled; the kids are at school, the non-furnished apartment is rented and filled with the bare necessities, we have found a maternity hospital, we are getting acquainted with the neighbouring area and people and we have located most of the 18 Manly beaches. Oh, and all…sorry most of the paperwork is filled out. (Holy moly; I thought we Scandinavians were bureaucratic. I’ve never seen so many forms in my life. The British legacy they say…)
Now I’m getting ready to do some work. Not too much, but just enough. The plan is you’ll be able to see the result of some of it here. Keep your eyes open.