As the title of this blog shows, one day we decided that we wanted to have a change before retirement and old age and bad health set in so we “upped and left” for Australia. Fortunately for us, we didn’t have to go on a ship like in the old days, taking months to arrive and where sickness and death and famine were everyday occurrences. Nor did we have to sell everything we have to pay passage to crooks, and leave on little rinky boats from Asia to sail over treacherous waters to arrive in Australia. When I say arriving it is not always the case, and unfortunately, while we have been here, we have heard of many boat people perishing on the way to what they perceive Australia to be, paradise and a new life for their families.
No, in our case we were taken well care of and had a removal company pack up our things and we were given tickets - no expense spared really. So, after quitting jobs and crying at farewell parties, we left France where we had been so happy for almost 30 years, and set off for Sydney.
“Why”? You might wonder. Don’t think that we haven’t asked ourselves that question many times. I think the simple answer is: “because we could”.
In the beginning I will probably dwell on what I perceive as very different here. It strikes you immediately that Aussies don’t live for work, but work to have a good life with lots of free time. Nothing wrong with that, but after having lived with a hubby who might come home at 8 or later every night and who is now out of the office at 5.30 tops, that is a big difference!
Also this free time is spent doing lots and lots of sports. Organized sport aside, you cannot walk out without seeing people running or walking with weights in their hands. More on that another time…
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