Fractal Blog

Yet another new year started with a monumental hangover, due to seasonal over-indulgence. Today, however, we couldn't give in to the desire for sleep as we are once again moving half-way around the planet. Tomorrow is the day. So today it was time to provide our existing furniture with a good home in a friend's house. For logistical reasons this had to be done in the morning. At least the physical exertion of taking apart IKEA furniture soon got us over the hangover.

Hopes for the New Year. A home and a settled life in Australia are top of my list. Not moving half-way around the planet every twelve months. Being able to accumulate "stuff", otherwise known as "personal possessions that make a house into a home". Stability. Most people seem to manage to acquire these without moving 10,000 miles but not us.

With a major feat of organisation we managed to see the vast majority of our friends and families before heading off. These are concentrated in Devon, Berlin and of course the Bristol/Bath area. The visits have reminded us why we are emigrating: the weather.

This was Devon three weeks ago. High winds and driving rain made spectacular views but driving or walking was dangerous in freezing conditions.

This was Berlin two weeks ago. Maximum daytime temperatures were around -2C, and we didn't have proper winter clothes (clearly there was no point buying any).

Christmas was somewhat scaled down as all presents need to be shipped at a whopping cost of GBP 8 per kilogram so it made sense to have only silly presents (to be left here) or presents that don't weigh anything and don't take up any room. The Burblechaz won that one by giving me a beautiful ruby necklace.

It'll be summer again the day after tomorrow.