Sculpture by the Sea

Cottesloe at sunset

We spent a gorgeous evening at Cottesloe Beach exploring a series of sculptures that Erin had recommended and taken us along to. Each year, tens of local and international artists transform Perth's most popular beach into a stunning sculpture exhibition entitled Sculpture by the Sea which overlooks the Indian Ocean.

I’d never attended an exhibition on a beach before, so it was a real novelty walking barefoot in the warm sand exploring pieces of artwork with crashing blue waves supplying the backdrop. My favourites included a giant running tap of water made of stainless steel and a shipwreck consisting of recycled tank parts. We dipped our feet into the sea and enjoyed the long-horizon sunset on this gorgeous pocket of beach before heading to Fremantle for a fish dinner.



"Migrating spirits"



"Shipwreck"

"Just another conversation"

Hello Sunshine!

I’ve been in Perth for over a week already and what a week it's been!

The jet-lag took a good few days to overcome but it hasn’t taken me much time at all to acclimatise to the weather (on average 35°C).

Apart from the obvious reunion with Mr W, the sunshine, hot weather, warm nights and breakfasts on our sunny balcony overlooking the calm Swan River, have put an instant smile on my face. Perth is the sunniest capital city in the world after all. In between settling into our new temporary home and assigning myself with the initial tasks on my emigration to-do list; (new Oz bank account, new Aussie phone number, Medicare and  job hunting), we’ve packed in a few trips to the beach including one to Yanchep Lagoon which is close by to where a friend lives. It’s a beautiful stretch of white sandy beach north of Perth city. And with the exception of the lifeguard, not a soul in sight…

D & M reunited

Apart from almost missing my flight, my journey to Australia was surprisingly smooth and restful (even if I did lose my iPod somewhere between London and Singapore!)

It was 1am when I landed in Perth. I wasn’t really tired, the excitement to see Mr W after three months apart kept me awake and energised, so much so that when I passed through customs and collected my luggage, I hurried my heavy trolley along at a joggers’ pace through the arrivals exit searching amongst the crowds of people for his familiar face.

There he was sitting ten or so metres ahead, “Sweetheart!” I yelled and waved as I pushed my trolley and hurried towards him with all of my belongings.  I was surprised he could see my head poking out behind my stacked suitcases and bags on my trolley. I was so caught in the moment rushing along to embrace him that my trolley was still in motion in a different direction when we reached each other and hugged. “Welcome to Australia sweet”, he greeted me.

Farewell family and friends...

My final week in the UK has been full of goodbyes, finishing work, and packing; in fact, lots of packing, unpacking and repacking!

Going back to the goodbyes…. There have been many, every day for the last couple of weeks and some haven’t been easy, but I knew that was coming. I feel very lucky to have such incredible people in my life who care a great deal and have been so supportive in my decision.

Leaving my job after almost four years felt surreal. We’d organised some leaving drinks at a local Latin bar the evening of my penultimate day which was fun. I was given a great send off on my last day with cards and presents and a farewell speech.

After finishing work, I had just two and a half days to organise myself and pack before I flew out to Oz. I was lucky to have my mum on hand to help. Y’know a 30kg luggage allowance is really not enough when you’re emigrating, even if you have already shipped two dozen boxes two months earlier! Mum had bought some weighing scales to measure my case to ensure we’d keep within the allowance. If only we’d known that at check-in at Heathrow I would be so fortunate to encounter a very friendly (and chatty) Singapore Airlines member of staff who not only gave me complimentary Priority tickets for my luggage and overlooked the 1.5 kg I went over by, but also offered me 10kg extra for free! Off mum went back to the car park to pick up my ‘emergency’ suitcase which was originally brought along for the unlikely scenario that my case was underweight so I could add my ‘reserves’ or, in case the old worn-out suitcase I used exploded, so this was a bonus.

Having said goodbye to close family and friends earlier today and having just bid a long farewell to mum at the airport terminal, I am waiting to board my 22:05 flight to Perth via Singapore. Excited, nervous, happy, sad, scared and energised sums up all of the mixed emotions I am feeling. Relieved and exhausted also as I had trekked to gate 18 for 20 minutes laden with my three heavy pieces of hand luggage having looked up the wrong flight with the same departure time, only to retrace my heavy steps to the correct gate number 3 with tears rolling down my cheeks thinking that there could be a possibility that I would miss my own flight having looked at the flight information screen to see red texting flashing Flight Closing and also thinking of the life I am leaving behind...

I am very much looking forward to being reunited with Mr W in Australia and starting our new Aussie lives together. And now I am literally off! I'll be in touch from the other side of the globe when I eventually get there - it's a loooong flight!