Singular Scene

So Singular in Each Particular

On the Move

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I am forever trying to nut out where I was living in any given year but because they all seem to run together, I’ve decided to figure it out once and for all and post it here so I have some point of reference. You know, just for the next time I don’t want to spend an hour backtracking through my ever increasing number of years to try and remember where it was I was living… and when. So, here goes…

2012 – November – Melbourne, VIC … this is in advance… I WILL be there come November 11… (wait, I hadn’t told you? Yes, we have a date.. and a plane ticket OMG)
2006 – December – Sydney Rd, Balgowlah, NSW
2002 – January – Queenscliff Rd, Queenscliff, NSW
2001 – January/February – Rhonda Ave, Forestville, NSW
1999 – February – Australia – Starkey St, Forestville, NSW
1996 – April – Pah Rd, Onerahi, Northland
1995 – October – Whangarei, Northland
1995 – July – Devonport, North Shore, Auckland
1994 – April – Mount Smart Rd, Royal Oak, Auckland
1994 – January – Glenfield, North Shore, Auckland
1993 – January – Deep Creek Rd, Torbay, North Shore, Auckland
1992 – February – Woodlands Cres, Browns Bay, North Shore Auckland
1991 – October – Ladies Mile, Remuera, Auckland, NZ
1991 – September – New Zealand – Cambridge, NZ
1989 – June – United Kingdom – Richmond, Surrey, then Manor Rd, Teddington, Middlesex, then Twickenham, Surrey
1988 – July – USA – Gaithersburg, MD, USA
1986 – April – Hamilton Rd, SH1, Cambridge, Waikato, NZ
1980 – June – Move to Mills Rd, Bruntwood, Waikato, NZ
1974 – June – Move to Morrinsville, Waikato, NZ
1969 – June – Move to Karaka, South Auckland, NZ
1968 – New Zealand – Born in Auckland, living in Helensville, NZ

There, a blog post. Sorry it isn’t more interesting… there’s plenty going on around here, just trying to find the time to write about it!!

I’m in Mexico

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No, really. It’s what they call Victoria, you know, if you’re from New South Wales… Mexico… south of the border.

Hey, I never said it was funny (or culturally sensitive). I wonder though, do Queenslanders call New South Welshmen, Mexicans too? For we are south of their border. Please advise. (What can I say, these are the things I think about.)

That was a dreadfully long way of saying I’m back in Melbourne. You know, because I can’t move here soon enough, and I got cheap airfares, and because Katia is here and so, given she came all the way from Paris to Melbourne, the least I could do was trek down from Sydney (as if I needed an excuse) in order that we may meet over dim sum.

So here I am in Mexico Melbourne and being here has a whole different feel now that it is settled in my head and heart that I’m going to come live here. It seems to me that I should feel all sorts of excited, and I do, but the idea also feels overwhelming. You know, that “OMG what on earth am I thinking?”; “is it really a good idea?”; “am I going to regret this/am I really sure?” and is it too late to change my mind? feeling. Of course, it isn’t too late to change my mind. Neither do I want to, but just to make sure, I sift through all my reasons for making such a change and examine them, turning each one over and checking it for any warping or twisting, for anything that undermines this overwhelming desire for change.

I factor in to these thoughts (as a last resort), that if things don’t work out it’s only my pride that will get hurt, that if I hightail it back to Sydney in the next 6 months at least I’ll be able to say I had given it a go. But even in having said that, I’m really not doubting the idea at all, just acutely aware that whatever expectations, large or small I bring to such a change NONE of them will be met exactly as I anticipate them. Some will be exceeded, some may be shattered, but I’ll make the move and hope and plan (as well as I can) for the best.

Scratching the Itch

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It’s been a few months since I confessed to being restless, to being ready for a change, to being tired of feeling stagnant and dry and, quite frankly, bored. I posited that it was on my mind to make a move. To change my scenery. And while at the time it was little more than a wish or a dream, in the intervening months it became one that I have been having so repeatedly that I finally started listening to my heart.

The long and the short of it is, I’m moving. After nearly 14 years in Sydney I’m packing up my things and heading south of the border to Victoria, to Melbourne.

I have been loving Melbourne for two years, ever since I drove down there with a friend to move her back to her home state. I’ve been visiting her and a succession of friends who’ve moved there or whom I’ve met in those regular visits and every time I drive in along the Hume Highway, or fly in and catch a glimpse of the city, my heart skips a beat with the possibility of being there. So I’ve decided to listen to that skipping beat, to that whisper of excitement and I’m just going to do it.

I’m excited, I plan to be leaving NSW at the end of October, or early in November, I’ve already culled my wardrobe of clothing I don’t wear and books I won’t want to take, I’m loving, so much, the feeling of shedding the weight of STUFF that’s not necessary to take with me and is cluttering (mostly) my office, and I am BEYOND excited that a new city, new experiences, new friends and a new environment will almost certainly breathe new life into this dusty old blog.

Let alone, new life into a dusty old me.

Taking Courage

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I’m a dedicated observer of human behavior. I don’t do anything about that other than make the occasional comment. I’m not a counselor, I’m not particularly concerned about changing people’s behaviour except perhaps where their actions or words affect me. But I will often observe what people do and and give some thought to why they may have acted that way or why that pattern exists in their repertoire…

Someone else who observes behaviour and goes further into discussing and writing about such things is social researcher Brené Brown. I came across her not long after her famous Tedx Houston talk took the Internet by storm (see below) and I’m posting her follow up video as well, because it is equally life changing. If you haven’t come across them before I strongly urge you to watch them.

Brené takes on issues of shame and vulnerability and advocates living life wholeheartedly and courageously, giving insight into why westerners are so addicted, medicated, overweight and miserable. She talks about why we try and numb our pain, and in doing so completely numb joy and all that’s good, as well. She talks about why we live always expecting the hammer to fall, and why we feel undeserving and unworthy.

I don’t pretend to have appropriated all of her thoughts but I am (for the most part) pretty together. I’ve made some unusually old fashioned choices (for this day and age) about how I live and while sometimes those decisions are restrictive, to be honest, they’ve set me in good stead in terms of my self esteem and the ability to live comfortably in my own skin.

Why am I sharing this stuff? Well, in recent months I’ve observed a dear friend make some radical, life changing decisions that are taking her into a whole new life, one without shame, fear, intimidation and one in which she can actually start to get in touch with her true self and it’s utterly beautiful to watch.  It hasn’t come without a price but what I’ve seen is someone having the courage to step out, to be vulnerable and to take back life with both hands. I’ve introduced her to Brené and she was inspired. I hope, if this is the first time you’ve met her and heard her speak you’ll feel the same.

Enjoy!