One week later...

So now I have been in Oz for 1 week. And what a hectic and weird week it has been.

For a start, the jet lag and temperature difference (along with the extremely loud birds) mean that I wake up at 5am, everyday. In London, this time would be deadly, but here, it's a way of life. The earlier you get up, the more stuff you can get down before it hits 30 degrees. and everyone is active on the Gold Coast, with people walking, running and cycling before work along the beach. Its a beautiful time of day.

Secondly, the Gold Coast is a rather uneventful place. The beaches are beautiful and the people have a reputation for being trashy. This is amplified by the fact that virtually everyone, young and old, has terrible, terrible tattoos on display. Really tacky, badly done, for all to see. Im in awe of it all. And apart from these beaches, there really is not anything to do. Luckily, Daves parents have a nice pool and view.

This is why we are looking for places in Brisbane. The renters market out here isn't brilliant. Its more expensive than London, and further out from the CBD. It's all about buying. If only. Fingers crossed, I'll go crazy on the GC otherwise.

We had our 1st anniversary this week, which we had a nice and very windy picnic by Tullabudgerra Creek. This was followed by an awkward event at home, which made me realise just how archaic some Australian views are. Especially with the older generation and their views on a woman's place within the home. Glad the modern woman doesn't have to conform to this way of life.

I have also been educated on the ins and outs of certain people, if you get my drift. It appears that there is also a lot of sexual promiscuity, as a way of normal life, with boob jobs, fake tans and high expectations be oming commonplace. A completely different world to what I'm used to. A world where it is all about boys, numbers, careers, what you drive and what you earn.

I'm also getting to grips with the fact that 1 banana is 2 dollars, around £1.20ish and that if you work for a mining company, people my age can earn 200,000 dollars a year. And they waste it. They don't appreciate what they earn and how ridiculous wages can be here.

As George Clooney states in The Descendants, "just because we live in paradise, doesn't mean we don't go through the same s*it". Or something to that effect. Its truly a different world out here, not just England in the sun. Everything is so strange. But I guess I need a bit more than a week to get used to it!

So, for the time being, we're still flat hunting, job hunting etc. At least the suns still shining on my ever so pale skin!

Much love to all, and many thanks for the snow messages and pics!

Our pics to follow...enjoy. Xx