0Warrnambool, Australia
16th September 2007
...and the word was Preparation
I am back at my parents’ place for the weekend for a final catch up with family before I head off overseas again. In two weeks I fly out of the country, bound for Peru. I spent several years in Melbourne and then in Canberra, researching the places in Latin America that sounded interesting enough for my planned three year sojourn and plotting a course of travels and activities to the nearest day. It’s been over a year since I looked at any of that information, and as my departure for at least part of that journey becomes imminent, I am feeling totally unprepared for the trip.
0Warrnambool, Australia
30th January 2007
Relief
In the early hours of this morning I woke from a dream where I was hearing a telephone ringing loudly. As I woke, I realised it was the telephone ringing loudly. At that time of day, such a phone call could only mean one thing: my uncle had passed away.
0Warrnambool, Australia
26th January 2007
Stuck in reverse
Comet McNaught passed us by some time last year, but it was only on its outbound journey of the past weeks that I actually heard anything about it; and it was only because my sister happened to call me one night and mention she was watching it from her backyard that I had any contact with it whatsoever (see Kate, never mind credit in the sub-standard—I’ve given you credit on the Internet).
0Warrnambool, Australia
19th January 2007
Best in show
Despite going through the interviewing process in Spain, it wasn’t until I returned to Australia and began interviewing for jobs here, that I began to see the similarities between job interviews, and dog shows, particularly the farcical kind.
0Warrnambool, Australia
1st January 2007
The last days
I have returned to a family emersed in the process of living and dying at the most extreme peaks and troughs of the cycle. Whilst both have their own particular beauty, I think I can say with definite bias, which of the two I prefer.
0Warrnambool, Australia
11th December 2006
Madrid
Spain disappeared over the horizon over a week ago, but it was only today that the prospects of me returning finally went with it.
0Warrnambool, Australia
2nd December 2006
It was all just a dream
Just as I was getting used to the idea of living in Spain, I’ve found myself suddenly yanked back into reality, with another marathon flight (and all the economy class discomfort that comes with it), and a shock from my own culture that’s as severe as when I arrived in Madrid.
0Warrnambool, Australia
25th August 2006
T-minus 10, 9, 8
The time spent waiting between moves is all a bit hectic. At once, I am trying to hold on to the last days before I leave, whilst at the same time my anxiety, and my excitement, about the journey ahead grows.
0Warrnambool, Australia
12th March 2005
The New Arrival
At around 3am, Richard (Kate’s partner), arrived with the news they’d given birth to a little girl, except she wasn’t little—8 pounds and 10 ounces (3.7kgs)—quite enormous by any standards but especially considering how petite my sister is.
0Warrnambool, Australia
11th March 2005
The Big Move
The moving company arrived at 10am, and began loading my belongings onto their truck. Like many removalists I’ve encountered over the years, they had a grumble about the way I’d packed my things, and as I watched the truck disappear down the street I wondered if I’d paid enough money to get my things to Canberra, let alone safely.