It's just gone past the most significant month since our arrival in Australia. I had never been this occupied before to the extent that April passed me by in daily doses of to-dos and I'm snuggling contentedly in my own lounge, in our own place, in a neighbourhood to beat, in one of the most beautiful cities in the world... and what did I learn? Read on:
(1) Crazier things had happened and just when you think it's never going to be topped, mind your surprise because it usually will happen anyway, anyhow. We got white goods delivered wrongly, someone "forgot" the refrigerator and the delivery men decided to give you an attitude bigger than Priscilla in the desert and your humour level is as low as a flattened packing box could go;
(2) But then in the same tone, things can always (and usually will too) get turned into your advantage - such as bringing down the thunder with the manager of the store, evoking your civil rights and the amendment to consumer liability (I have no idea what it is but it sure sounds impressive, don't you agree?) with only poor Keith apologising to your heavily pregnant wife for putting through this poor lady the wait in the previous night for a 0630 hour wake-up call to confirm that morning's delivery and bungling it up. Sigh, so a $150-worth of gift card is the least you can do, right Keith? Okay, it helps to have a hubby who muscled in because... you're just worth it baby!
(3) That your life will be a circling blender of lint, lint, and surprise, surprise... more lint! Forget about rolling your sticky tape on your black pants - it's the holy trinity of vacuuming, cleaning, flipping out those sheets, pillows, whatever the washing machine spat out, and repeat the cycle as many times as you can muster in a day, for at least another two weeks. Smiling during the process is optional but protective eye wear is desirable;
(4) Cooking in your own kitchen is so fun! (plus after a long 3-year wait, not counting the courting days, my hubby has finally cooked me his infamous fish curry... and yes, it was worth the wait);
(5) Your first stain on the sofa, your first dent on the pot... they do hurt but you'll move on;
(6) Taking time out to breathe and realign your perspectives are important, especially when you are dealing with incompetent drivers, delivery men and service staff;
(7) The Asian food scene in Sydney still kicks ass;
(8) Patience overrules panic - do not rush into settling everything in one go. Shopping around, even though it means you have to grind your imaginative teeth to brave grumpy Sydney-siders (they probably think you're one of them too) at stores like IKEA for that elusive working desk or baby changing cot is worth the effort. Trust me on this one;
(9) And if things get too crazy, you can always up the bar by subjecting yourself to the exceptionally lacking of warmth welcoming of the Phoenix Court Chinese Yum Cha restaurant and dig into some fabulously nourishing morsels of delight;
(10) It's a building exercise that you'll never ever forget for the rest of your life and as hard as you can fathom it RIGHT NOW, in a decade, you'll look back at life and forward, laughing at adversity because you handled it ALL back then (if I get a Dollar for every time anyone made a comment that I was "very brave" to move country, city (twice in the space of 3 months), go preggers, settling down in a new system of things, getting things bought / delivered / unpacked / cleaned and sorting out recycled items to do our bit for the environment (and well, the Council didn't really leave much choice), hospital visits, all the waits, finding out how things work around here, did I mention about grocery, all the registrations, all the dealing with the authorities of all forms and departments, and catching up with friends, and reminding ourselves the other friends that we had yet to call (sorry! soon, we promise!), clean and cook, get some decent sleep AND well, look well put together when I step out of my front lawn? I would, honestly, get a good stipend to buy myself a treat at the Victorian Tearoom after a good session of spa-ing and enough left for the trip back home in a cab); and
Finally, having your hubby coming home for a surprise lunch when he bought you your favourite chicken avocado toasted wrap, and reminding you that "we need to get more beanie hats for our little one" is absolutely divine.
My takeaway from it all - yes, it's been insanely unpredictable you just got to laugh at it. There were definitely moments of apprehension and ponder, doubt, fear, uncertainty but on the grand scale of things, you absolutely have to pinch yourself and remind yourself what an incredible reality that you are living in.
So, before I yap on about the great mysteries of life, enjoy some of the snapshots that I've captured during our stay in Manly before moving into our own Lower North Shore pad. Yep, this bump ain't a bummer at all! Bub and Mama had been busy sniffing around for the extraordinary in the ordinary, only to at times come out with some unbelievable mouthed "Oh..." moments.
Enjoy folks!
Ageing is so not fun sometimes! (And cruel)
I don't know what's more hot and bothered - the seagulls, my camera, or the lady's strategically placed palm?
Not far for us to go now! I love you bubba and your papa and I can't wait to see you :) XOXO
