Sven's life in Oz

Dear Friends,

Sorry not being in touch sooner. I have received one or two reminders to get back in front of the computer and tell you all about Australia, but it has been a little hectic here and the more time that passes the more there is to say so it gets harder and harder to know where to start! Thanks to everyone for your kind messages after my grandad’s death – it was very difficult being so far away, but also easier in some respects and it was lovely of you all to send your wishes.

You can watch a BSL version of this, or read on.

So let’s talk about the snow. I confess that the whole thing is making me very homesick. I told James it would be the whitest winter for years if we left the country and look what happens! Just call me Cassandra. I have been inundated with photos, texts, e-mails and even phone calls telling me all about it. I think snow is one of my favourite things in the whole world (along with marmite and fireworks) and I’m dreadfully sad not to be able to enjoy it with my friends. Of course, now it’s all turned into a raging storm I’m not so green, but for a while there I was quite envious. The weather here is, of course, scorching, though Sydney has been enjoying some rather moderate 30 degrees at midday. Today it has even been grey and miserable, giving Bristol a run for its money in the bleak stakes. Thankfully we are nowhere near the fires in Victoria, and although there are a few around Sydney they are quite far away from us and we haven’t seen anything even remotely like a fire in the city. The smoke did blow across on Saturday which was very strange – everything smelled like bonfires – but that’s as close as we have come. We are both quite safe.

I had my first session at the gym for a long time a few days ago and whilst I knew I was not at the peak of physical fitness, I didn’t think I would be too bad: I did all that trampolining and squash, not to mention an uphill hike to work while I was still in Bristol. I was quietly confident I would acquit myself admirably. Turns out I have a fitness age of 50. I was mortified. In fairness, my actual physical fitness isn’t too bad, but for some reason my heart was racing at a staggering 96bpm and the poor trainer looked worried I was about to explode. I ended up with the cardio results of a 74-year-old, which dragged my average fitness age up somewhat. (Also, I was shocking at press-ups, but then I knew I had no upper arm strength.) So anyway, my trainer told me not to worry as they were “just some numbers” (always a bad sign when they start using that kind of language) and to come back on Thursday to help me plan an exercise regime. In the meantime I have been regularly testing my heart rate and my friend (who is a doctor) and I agree that it is 80bpm, which is far more reasonable and less likely to give me a stroke before I hit 30.

In job news, I am now temping for three days a week – it’s the same job my sister had and it was she who got me in, and although it’s not as much money as I could be earning, it’s better than nothing. It’s Tues – Thurs, which means I have Mon and Fri to look for something, I really want (as well as the weekend, but that doesn’t count) and do some writing for myself. I’ve also registered for an ABN (it’s the Australia version of registering as a sole trader) and have some freelance writing jobs coming in for various people, which is excellent news and will all look great on my CV. My tax return will be a nightmare, but at least I’m doing something I want to do. I’ve starting saving all my receipts just in case something turns out to be tax deductible! I need to start making real money soon though, as my laptop died the other day; something to do with the logic board. James and I had a deal that as soon as we were both properly employed I could buy a MacBook Pro and he could buy a new bike. I think I’m getting the better deal, but it is becoming desperate now.

James and I are planning a trip home at the end of August/start of September so if you are around and not on holiday it would be great to catch up with as many of you as we can. As ever, if you are coming this way look us up – we’re always delighted to see you and there’s plenty of room to stay. In the meantime, you can follow the ins and outs of life here, and if you visit this page it even tells you how to subscribe so you don’t have to keep checking it yourself. I’m too good to you all!

  and if that doesn’t work, you can hear it and subscribe to the feed here.