Firstly I must apologise for how far behind I have fallen with this blog. I think it was a case of once I had fallen behind, it was too difficult to catch up and so instead I just fell even more behind! But I’m here now, committed to giving you the run down on all that has happened in my life in the last 2 months. Or at least, the main highlights.
Firstly, Christmas! Spending Christmas day with over 400 people was somewhat chaotic, but also so much fun! It inevitably ends up with a lot of mess beings created, but again, when you have about 300 sets of hands to help tidy up, it doesn’t take very long! The joyful singing coming from the kitchen whilst all the dinner dishes were being done really was quite inspiring. This was my 2nd Christmas here in Perth, and whilst I did enjoy my first one as a student very much, I have to say this year was filled with much more joy for me. Having become (slightly) more accustomed to having a hot Christmas, being in a staff house with a more family based set up, and feeling more settled here with friends to celebrate with really did make a big difference. So I’m looking forward to next year being even better!
The following day was the base Boxing Day trip to the beach! So yes, we got to spend the day in 35 degree sun watching the waves and enjoying a BBQ brekkie! You can’t really get more Australian than that….
Next up was my birthday! Again, 2nd one here in Perth, and definitely more fun this time around! The previous year my birthday was the day before we left for Nepal on outreach, so I spent the majority of my day packing. This year I got to celebrate my birthday with housemates and friends, with pancakes, waffles, and all day breakfasts, a great game of Settlers, a Dead Sea mud face mask and a girlie movie! What more could a girl ask for?! I was greatly blessed. Then, a few days later, I got to celebrate the start of the new year with 2 of my dear friends, sitting by the river watching the fireworks. So beautiful and such a great way to welcome in 2015.
So all in all the week of December 24th-Jan 1st really was an incredibly blessed week for me, filed with joy, fun and laughter. 2015 got off to a great start for me too, so for the first few days I was literally buzzing! Things have naturally started to settle down for me more now, but I have to say, so far, 2015 has been incredibly good to me. And right now, I am loving life.
Other things that have happened in the past few weeks:
1) The January quarter has started, with all 160 of our new students. This has made life on base incredibly busy, at times simply chaotic, but they are a fantastic bunch and it is fantastic to have them around.
2) Perth also recorded its hottest January day in around 20 years I think a few weeks ago, with temperatures hitting a ridiculous 44 degrees C at one point. I am thankful that it was a week day, when I work in an air conditioned office, rather than at the weekend when I would have been melting in my house, so all in all I got off pretty lightly. Although having said that, it really wasn’t fun that evening in my house, as when I went to bed at around 10.30pm it was still 28 degrees. Hotter than an average UK summer day! That was definitely the hottest night we have had so far, but there have been many nights when I have gone to sleep in the 20s. This is still something that I am trying to get used to, and probably one of my biggest challenges here. Its not fun trying to sleep in such heat, and definitely has an impact on how well/how much sleep I get. February isn’t due to give us any relief either, so I’ve still got at least another month to survive before I will start to cool down….
3) The Megacities team have now been given their own office! Which definitely makes life easier for us over all. But we are now having to take the time to design how we want the office to look. Which is actually quite exciting, but challenging to do on a budget whilst also keeping everybody happy!
4) I got to achieve a dream of mine which was to watch a live tennis match; made even more exciting by the fact that I actually got to watch Andy Murray play! As a birthday treat to myself I purchased a ticket to the GB verses Australia matches for the Hopman Cup, a tennis tournament right here in Perth, only a 15 minute bus journey from me! This was such a treat, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Team GB beat Team Australia in the ladies, mens and doubles matches! Although there was some confusion as to the serving speeds, when I eventually realised that they were recording them in km per hour and not miles!!
Right that’s it for now! My tablet is running super slow and its time I head off to bed ready for the big day tomorrow that is Australia Day! But I will try my very hardest to be better at updating this more regularly 😉
I hope you are all well, and that 2015 has got off to a good start for you too!
Jo x