Author: Mrs A
Location: Sydney, Australia
Time has just flown since we returned from our travels, and no, we have not just been spending the summer lazing by the pool (as our property agent suggested!). Untangling 25 years’ of life in Australia is as involved as you might imagine!
Over the last month we have calmed down our social life a little so we weren’t out every night, and installed a little more balance. Every day we manage to take a small step towards our move across the world, while bing kind to ourselves as well, with breaks and walks.
We have been carefully assessing our possessions and consolidating, selling things of value (farewell to our beloved double fibreglass kayak and Mark’s Surly bike), and giving away things of lesser value (various pieces of camping kit, a multitude of Australian power extension leads and plugs and more). I have become quite adept at using Facebook’s Marketplace, with most things snapped up within minutes of advertising them (as long as there is no charge!). It is certainly preferable to putting things into landfill.
We have broken up our days with outings to local areas of natural beauty, finding it a great way to turn off those stress receptors and think about something else. We have of course enjoyed a few catch ups with friends along the way.
Current day Sydney is quite different to the one we left behind. Lockdowns and a huge increase in working from home has meant the CBD is incredibly quiet, our old favourite lunchtime haunts sitting largely empty with greatly reduced menus. It is so sad. Meanwhile, the suburbs are busy, with rarely a quiet time in the neighbourhood cafes and the car parks straining to keep up with the amount of traffic.
Last week saw me off to see my Otolaryngologist here in Sydney for some more injections in my airway, to treat my iSGS. It didn’t quite go as planned. A laryngology fellow who was training with my doctor ended up causing a bruise and some bleeding which resulted in inflammation. Later that night it got particularly swollen and mostly blocked my airway – we ended up taking a drive in the early hours of the morning to the nearby hospital emergency department.
Thankfully after being admitted to hospital for two days of treatment and observation, the swelling decreased, and I was allowed home to continue my recovery. For a moment there I thought I might not make the flight back to the UK after all! I’m pleased to report my breathing has since gone from strength to strength, so finger’s crossed it stays like this so I can avoid an operation before we fly….just 8 more weeks!
I’ve shared some photos of our past month’s adventures below – feel free to whizz through them if it all gets a bit overwhelming!
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Curl Curl Lagoon – our local park just footsteps from our front door, and a great place to wind down with nature….
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Dee Why – a walk and dinner with friends Bill and Olga
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Curlew Camp Artist’s Walk, Mosman, Sydney – a new walk to us! Just down the road from where we were meeting friends for lunch and close to where we got married (Taronga Zoo)
Lunch at The Fernery, Mosman, with friends Andy and Donna
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Long, lazy lunch with friends in Manly at Busta (Italian restaurant)
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Long Reef headland – a few beaches up the coast from where we live
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Back at Curl Curl Lagoon
And meanwhile, back at home….
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Manly Dam – just 11 minutes from home and a stunning bushland haven
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Bronte with friends Jenny and David – just around the corner from my first ever accomodation in Sydney back in 1999!
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Rainy morning walk around the Narrabeen Lakes, about 20 minutes up the coast from home
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Weekend in Newcastle, NSW with friends Chris and Karen
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A grey Saturday morning’s kayak on Sydney Harbour with friend Cindy
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Warriewood Wetlands – a rainy afternoon walk, 25 mins drive from home
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A hospital room with a view, herbal tea and healthy food…if only I could breathe and eat at the same time! Unexpected two days at the new Northern Beaches Hospital…
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Breathing improving – a walk along the coast from North Curl Curl to Dee Why…
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Morning walk through Ku-ring-gai Wildflower Garden, Terry Hills
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If you have made it this far down the page, then thank you! Will try to leave it less time before our next post!
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Haha, there is the Pacific Koel we were hearing last night at dinner!
Yes!!
Wonderful catchup. Glad you are well after that scare!
Thank you! I keep waiting for my airway to stabilise, but it keeps getting better and better! Very happy 🙂 x
Can’t believe it’s just 8 weeks! Time to get excited!!
I know! The count down begins…the days are literally flying past!
Such a lovely read !
And difficult times saying goodbye .
After spending 2 hours on the Skype
With my 39 year old son who resides in Melbourne .