Angst Free
It’s hard to believe I’ve been back in Australia for over a year. If you still check this site you will have noticed my blogging activity is almost non-existent. I guess the whole moving countries, starting a new job and having a baby thing has eaten into my navel gazing time.
I’ve also noticed the dire lack of angst in my life means I’ve got less interesting stuff to write about. Who wants to hear about how wonderful it is to be surrounded by warm, kind, polite, like-minded people?
Evidently, the move was a sound decision. In retrospect, I should have returned 4 years earlier and avoided my infamous slide into the Dutch abyss.
I live and learn.
Live from the tram…
Hard to believe that I, Ms. Low Tech, am writing this from my iPhone on the tram to work.
Bootcamp
Working on Level 27 of a floor to ceiling windowed skyscraper in the heart of Melbourne has its advantages. As I type I’m watching the sun rise over the city. Hot air balloons surround the building and pop in and out of the mist below. The light is golden and the whole scene looks just like heaven. If you add the shopping below, the mouth watering food on every corner and the espresso machine ten metres away you’ll see that it’s quite a contrast to the Hoog Catharijne in Utrecht (oh the memories!).
There is one down side. Fire drills. There are 810 stairs to climb down. EIGHT HUNDRED AND TEN. After not breaking a sweat for 18 months I’m terrified that I’ll collapse half way down, block the entire stairwell and maybe even make the newspaper. So in a typical all or nothing attempt to get fit I started boot camp this week and oh am I paying for it.
It involves getting up at 5.30am three mornings a week and being screamed at for over an hour. We start off with a 2km run then alternate between sprints, squats, sit ups and various other forms of torture. There are no breaks and any sign of slowing down results in the whole group being punished with 20 (unmodified) push ups.
Ouch.
Could today be THE DAY?
When I left Australia back in 2002 I told myself I wouldn’t return until John Howard was booted out for good. For obvious reasons (Annabel) I couldn’t make good on my lofty promise. But today, being the Australian Federal Election Day, could see my dreams come true and end in the end of the Howard era.
Up until now he’s relied on a strong economy, fear based policies and a leadership vacuum in the ALP. But you can feel the discontent in the air. People are angry about his lack of action for the environment, his disregard for the rights of blue collar workers and his constant fumbling and tripping over at high profile international events.
The polls put Kevin Rudd, the ALP leader who wants a more decent inclusive Australia, ahead by a small margin. Keep your fingers crossed as tonight could be a night to celebrate.
New Photos
Beach huts, originally uploaded by supasuze.
Some glimpses of our new life in Melbourne. I have been a little camera shy since putting on 20kgs of baby. Once I get started with my personal trainer I hope to be snapping away like crazy as life here is just beautiful.
Hopefully clicking on this photo will take you to the whole set.
Alive
Just a quick post to let you all know I arrived safely in Melbourne. I’m having a fabulous time and am surprised at how much I love it here already. There’s a great atmosphere that is difficult to describe. I guess it’s the combination of springtime, fresh food, spectacular sights, wild nature and a relaxed but friendly attitude.
More to follow when I’m back online.
To the girls back in Holland (in no particular order) Lenny, Gosia, Miranda, Colleen and Izzy. I MISS YOU ALL.
