Depending on what timezone you’re in, today (Friday, 11th June 2010) is the three year anniversary of our move from New York to London. And what an amazing three years it has been! There’s no easy way to summarise everything we’ve done in that time, but one thing is for sure: I’m really, really glad I kept the blog (mostly) up to date. It’s so awesome to be able to look back on what we’ve done, where we’ve been, who we were with, etc. Good times!
After three years in London, I can definitely say this: if you want a good espresso, find an Australian (trained) barista. Loads of people know this to be true; Taylor St Baristas (which conveniently is right near my work) even use it as their biggest drawcard! But shops (and signs) like this are few and far between, and when you’re always on the lookout for good coffee, this isn’t an ideal situation. Unfortunately, there’s really only two things we can do to remedy this -
- Go into the cafe business and become a barista for a living; or
- Move to a place where practically every barista is Australian trained
And, though I’ve always thought that I’d enjoy going for option (a), we’ve decided instead that we’ll go for option (b).
Yep, you read that correctly: we’re moving home. It’s the end of an era.
Why?
Well, for two reasons, really.
Firstly, as already explained, it’s for the coffee. I guess the other option would have been to move to Italy – we’ve certainly been there enough this year! – but frankly, I’m not impressed at the way they look down on you simply because you enjoy a little bit of milk in your afternoon brew. That, and we can’t speak Italian. And we don’t have visas. OK, Italy would have been a rubbish choice!
But, perhaps a slightly more important reason, is because Kristy is pregnant, and we’re expecting the first baby Thomas in late September! And, as much as we love being in London (seriously; I could live here forever), we always knew that when it was time to deliver a baby, we’d be doing it in Australia. Say what you will about Australia’s public health system – we’d take it any day, over the NHS.
And obviously, given that the entirety of our immediate family is back in Oz, we have a much broader support network available at our beck and call. (Not to mention all the free babysitting!)
Where?
Back in the second-half of last year, we kept our wonderful parents busy running around Brisbane, looking for a new place for us to live. After loads of false starts, Mom and Dad came upon a private sale at Everton Hills which ticked all of the boxes. Everyone who checked the place out came back with positive reports – including the building and pest inspectors – and so we put in an offer. And after an arduous loan application, many late nights calling Westpac in Adelaide, and a settlement period that didn’t seem to want to end – it all finally went through at the beginning of January.
Our new home! We can’t wait to get back and see it for ourselves – as well as go on a crazy shopping spree to fill it up with furniture!
When?
It was tough to decide when we could move back with “time to spare” (before Kristy’s due date), and yet still have enough time here to feel satisfied when we left. Eventually we decided on finishing up work in July, then moving back in early August – dependant of course on the doctors giving us the “all clear” for Kristy to fly. So far we’ve been very lucky, fingers crossed it all stays that way.
That only leaves us about seven weeks in the UK. Seven weeks! Eeeeekk!!!
12 comments
Congratulations both of you. Look forward to seeing you both soon.
I can’t believe you’re coming home and that Kristy is prepping a baby. Wow… that is so exciting
Wow so is this like the mega trifecta? New house (in a different country!), new baby and new jobs! At least you get to come back to old friends (and family!)
Can’t wait to see you guys. 10 years has really been too long
It looks like the north side is where all the cool people are at!
As always
Oh and it looks like your house is looking left
Does that make the grassy strip on the driveway a ‘soul patch’ beard?
It’s about time! Shame you’re not coming back earlier so you can help us paint the new place.
7 weeks is not long at all! Eek, indeed. You’ve definitely packed in quite a lot. Congrats on the exicting news.
Your house definitely has a soul patch little gruffy beard and is looking left! Well-written article G, start off with a wee guilt trip for those of us blog slackers, move quickly onto coffee and then the wham bam finish of major life news! Very exciting stuff, can’t wait to see you guys in a few weeks and check on KJ’s progress. Great photo by the way, Kristy, you’re positively glowing!
teehee those windows do look like eyes!
Hey! Woody Pt is the best place for coffee forget Italy. Love the new Home.
Congrats guys!! Can’t wait to meet up again