As we see the second full week in Australia come to an end, and as our frantic efforts to get our lives in order down here start to reap reward, we start to see the reasons why this part of the world has such appeal, and why we hope that this will become an excellent spot to settle.
We have now sorted our accommodation, and enroled the kids in school. I have even got a second interview booked up and a number of other hot possibilities for work coming up over the next few weeks. So we have been able to relax a bit in the hot run up to Christmas, and have spent a couple of days on the beach to unwind, and have had a day in the city before we saw the Melbourne Stars beat the Sydney 6ers in the T20 big bash, which the kids adored so much that I have had to book tickets for the rest of the short season. I have even managed to get out fishing at a rediculously early hour in the morning, and caught my first fish!
As we take breath ,we suddenly start to see around us the advantages that exist in the Australian lifestyle, which is far more rounded. The greater opportunities to enjoy the outdoor environment has definately created a culture that encourages and promotes health and wellbeing, and the result is that everyone is extremely fit!. Steph and I are definately feeling the pressure to get ourselves back into it.
There is a simple reason why the beach lifestyle is Australia is so great in comparion to the UK, and this reason comes without involving the obvious weather differences. With such a large country and such an expanse of available beach, and so few people (approximately 20million) the available beach space per head on any given sunny day is immense in comparison to the UK, which means that when you want a spot in the carpark, and then a spot on the beach, and a swim in the sea, you do not need to be rubbing sholders with the folk from East London who also see your chosen beach as the 'local option' for a weekend break
This is not just about a 'beach lifetsyle' though and the advantages of Melbourne in particular are demonstrating themselves in a number of ways. A trip into the city with the kids took 20 minutes by train, and was without complication, risk or irritation. The options of restaurants are not confined to the 6 major chains that now overrun the british highstreet. The traffic allows me to plan a journey with relative accuracy without plugging extra 30 minute chunks due to a chosen road. People appear to be content in their work irrespective of the position and as such are happy to serve you in a petrol station or a 7-11 without grunt or attitude.
For fear of over stating it or showing premature smugness, I will leave it there, as we shall see how it starts to unfold as we get oursleves properly settled, but initial indications are very good
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