Wondering where I went

Well it has been about four weeks since I last posted about moving. So I guess some of you might be wondering where I went.

I’ll tell you.

Brisbane.

Definitely not somewhere that I ever thought I would live again, having left some thirty or so years ago. When I came back to Australia to study last year, I had a hunch that Bendigo might not be a long term home, but I kinda thought perhaps Melbourne, Canberra or Sydney might have been possibilities – even Newcastle at one time.

But, in my job searching research I began to think about Brizzy again. Lots of former colleagues now call Queensland home so it can’t be all bad, right ? I came up in July to have a bit of a look around, look at rentals, meet some recruiters, catch up with friends. It definitely seemed to be offering 100% more than Bendigo.

Not just workwise; it is nearer the coast, there is always something going on, there is a river or two and they even have way more water flowing in them than Bendigo Creek had in the whole time we were there.

Life got in the way a bit and my return was delayed.

But I’m here now, still job searching but with so many more possibilities. I like the new neighbourhood and I’m enjoying finding my way around again.

Public transport is amazing. You can get to anywhere easily but I think a car will be near the top of the list once there is an income. It’s been a while. Most of the boxes are unpacked too, although there isn’t quite as much storage as I had hoped.

There are jacarandas everywhere and other flowering trees and shrubs to learn the names of. There are even Kookaburras in the park – never even saw or heard one around Bendigo in all that time.

The most surprising and refreshing thing has been the rain. In the last two weeks there has been at least 200% more precipitation than there was in an entire year in Central Victoria.

So far, it feels so much more like a place I want to be.

I’m looking forward to joining groups, meeting people and reconnecting with friends. I have completed my Diploma, results for my final assignment are due this week. It has been a tough 12 months, but I’m still looking on the bright side.

But my primary focus right now is still getting work. Watch this space.

Where to from here ?

So, it’s been six months and it is looking like Bendigo isn’t all that it seemed, or that I had hoped.

Admittedly even at the outset, it did feel as if the job market was smaller and slower than other potential destinations, but I didn’t expect that it would be this small, insular or nepotistic. I’ve lost count of how many roles I have applied for, but can count the interviews on one hand.

I have started applying further afield, not quite in Melbourne, but closer. Having no car is a bit of a pain – just for the impulsivity and convenience more than anything. Public transport takes about the same time to get places anyway. On the plus side, all the walking is doing me good healthwise.

Now, it is back to that catch-22 – move and hope someone will rent me a property while still looking for work, or travel back and forth to interviews; get the job and THEN find somewhere to live. What is that ABBA song ?

Meanwhile, I still really LIKE Bendigo – even if the heat takes all the fun out of enjoying the outdoors right now. It is such a walkable little city, filled with parks and ancient trees, birdlife and other creatures, community events…

On the other hand, the little city which is trying to promote itself as the place to be in regional Victoria is struggling to keep retailers in town. So many stores have become empty since we arrived. Planning for the future and sustainability sounds optimistic, but seeing anything come of it seems like it is a l-o-n-g way off. Home building is exploding – but the house market seems sluggish too. Almost like development for development’s sake, and the buy in regional Victoria housing assistance schemes don’t seem like such a great deal if there is no work to be had.

SO frustrating because I could really make a home for myself here. Maybe in another life.

2018 I have hopes that you will be better than 2017 – so far, not convinced. Already, plans to make a trip back to NZ early this year have been shelved. (Anyone know anyone looking for Ed Sheeran tickets in Dunedin ?)

In other news, if I can sell said concert tickets I will be able to pay (and start) the 4^th unit in my Diploma. Almost halfway ! If everything else comes together, the earliest I could graduate is December 2018 ! Now that is something I hadn’t quite anticipated.