Monday, September 25, 2006

Monday Musings

New Beginnings

This time next week we will be in London. It seems like only a short time ago that we first conceived the idea of moving overseas; as I suspected, the months have flown by.

This new step in our life actually dates back in its conception more than 6 years. With the advent of Y2K (remember that?) the UK cried out for IT specialists and we thought – albeit fleetingly – of going along with many other Australians chasing the pound pay-check. Six years on, the pay rates are sufficiently tempting to finally drag us out of our comfort zone.

Comfort zone. That’s the thing isn’t it. I was perfectly happy with my little house in the burbs, my friends and family close by and a cat to keep my toes warm while I knit. I know which streets to avoid in peak hour and which local pizza restaurant delivers the fastest.

These last few weeks have been anything but comfortable. My house is a shambles, my friends are in tears and the cat’s prowling around wondering what the heck is going on. I know London will be fantastic. I remind myself that there will be pizza shops (do they deliver?) and vegemite available. I can even perceive some advantages over Melbourne such as competent public transport.

The key to survival, for me who likes to be comfortable, is to find a new comfort zone. With foundations carefully laid I have friends and family on standby for when I arrive. I have the beginnings of a social life and plans to buy a goldfish (hey we’re only there a year). I will find a new little house and fall in love with London’s streets. I will drink warm beer.

I’ll probably never want to come home.
Last week's Monday Musings

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8 Comments:

At 5:08 am, Blogger Heather said...

Can all of that make up for no AFL?

 
At 5:16 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is Auntie Liz, looking over your mothers shoulder, intrigued by such fast contact. If she teaches me right I will follow your progress with much interest. We were in London for a week mid 1982, just long enough to visit every dungeon in town, as you must when you travel with a 14 year old boy! We have been invited to come on wednesday so we look forward to seeing you again, see you then.

 
At 8:22 am, Blogger Auntie Noo said...

Yeah we get "anything" delivered. Pizza, Indian, Chinese. They are all just clambering to take hard earned British Pounds! As for warm beer - well if you drink it fast enough it stays cold!!! (speaking from experience obviously)

 
At 6:19 pm, Blogger Spinningsue said...

Competent public transport... please don't read my blog! You really don't want to know it regularly takes me over 1 1/2 hours to get home - a whopping 10 miles away!

Really its not that bad! Take it from an ex-pat Aussie, its actually quite all right over here. :-)

 
At 1:16 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very well put Diane. That is exactly how I felt when I moved away from home (Massachussettes) 7 years ago to my new home (Pennsylvannia). I enjoyed my comfort zone, and slowly built a new one. I never want to move back!
((hugs)) Good luck! I hope everything goes smoothly and I can't wait to here about London

 
At 10:01 am, Blogger Badger said...

Mmm, warm beer! You'll have to try all the real ales, we have some truly great beers :)

 
At 11:36 am, Blogger Linda said...

Best wishes for your move...moving out of your comfort zone will be a real confidence boost. Warm beer and no AFL...oh dear!!!
Lin x

 
At 12:28 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You'll love England Diane. I came here (from Norway) 16 years ago and planned tostay for a year and I'm still here. Not in London though but in rural Cornwall and I love it here. At least if you don't like it you can go back home. And you may end up staying here for 16 years like me. 5 more years and I will have lived here longer than I lived inNorway. Now that's SCARY. Good luck with the move etc. Anni

 

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