September 17, 2011

Freezing west of the Great Divide

Hi there folks,

It's been quite a long time since I've been able to sit down and blog.  Finally got my internet connected again yesterday - yippee - and can now surf to my hearts content.  Seeing how I've moved west I forsee a great deal of time spent online, whether it be emailing, messaging or skyping family and friends back home.

The weather here has been a real eye-opener.  Back on the coast, my family are enjoying nightly temperatures of about 9-12°c, but over here I haven't been quite so lucky.  In the three weeks that I've called this town home there hasn't been a night when the mercury has risen above 5°c, indeed the other night it was a chilly 1°c!  Seriously, that's like being in Antarctica for a Queenslander!

I'm still finding it hard to be by myself.  At night there is a silence that I'm just not used to yet.  My little cat keeps me company, but I find that I do miss the daily interaction I had with my family, friends and neighbours.  Thankfully I'm in an area that reminds me of home.  There is little traffic noise in my street, and there is a park only a few doors down, which means that I can hear the numerous species of birds as they forage during the day.  It may not be much, but it does make this strange environment seem a little less foreign.

The one thing I don't think I'll get used to in a hurry is no shopping on Sundays!  Yes, that right people.  The towns shopping centre shuts down on Sunday.  I haven't had to worry about shops closed on a Sunday for over 10 years!  They should tell people these things when they move into a new town.  Thank God I didn't have to get anything vital, just a few odds and sods.  Lucky for me I was able to flag down an old gentleman with a shopping bag and ask him where he had shopped.  So I do have one or two food shops as an option, but seriously, no Big W, clothes shops, anything.  I feel like I've stepped back in time about 20 years.

Anyhow I must dash.  Adieu for now possums.  I'm off to find some warmer blankets to adorn my bed with.  I have a feeling I'm going to need them tonight as its only 10.20am here - and I'm freezing already! . . .  now which box were they in . . .