I surprised my immediate family just before Christmas in 2013. It was just Mum who was aware of my arrival home. Even more surprises followed when I showed up at my friend’s birthday party the same day. I then kept a low profile to surprise the rest of my family on Christmas Day. Now that was a big reaction!!
Within the first week of returning home to Australia, I had a number of trips sorted. As it was the period between Christmas and New Years, there was no point in looking for work just yet. It was summer and the best time to be in Australia.
Being away from my home country for so long made me realise how much we take for granted. Australia is an amazing country and I made sure I saw and did as much as I could, whenever I could. I had to make the most of my time back in Aus as I knew it would be a ‘pit-stop’ to help fund my next trip.
I am lucky enough to have such beautiful friends who I absolutely loved catching up with and made sure I did as much as I could..
I took this time to catch up with my mates and spend quality time down Port Noarlunga beach – my favourite beach in Australia.! My childhood pet dog was still around (just!) so I had great fun taking her down the beach. My pooch loved to swim more than I did and was great company.
I was lucky enough that my grandparents had a spare car and let me borrow it for my time back in Australia – I don’t know what I would have done otherwise. I had forgotten how big and spread-out Australia is.!
A trip up the river with a few friends was good fun as was going away to the incredible Yorke Peninsular to bring in the New Year of 2014 and top off my eventful 2013.!
Yorke Peninsular is just over an hour’s drive from Adelaide and has more than 700 kilometres of stunning coastline. It is amazing for surf breaks, fishing, 4wdriving, camping and just getting out of Adelaide.
My family and I went to Streaky Bay in the New Year, before the job hunt started, for a week of fishing. It was an 8-hour drive from Adelaide – in stinkin’ heat too. . The house where we were staying was right on the water and we were able to moor the boat right out the front – perfect!
That week was full of fishing. From fishing on the boat to beach fishing and going for a few drives along the stunning coast of South Australia. We even had a huuuge pod of dolphin swim past our boat, jumping out all over the place!
The beaches here are incredible and definitely one-of-a-kind. All we ate everyday was our, freshly-caught, seafood straight onto the bbq – the best way to eat seafood!
Back home for a few days down the beach with my brother and mastering the stand-up-paddleboard. We even managed to catch a wave together on it and I stood up whilst ha sat down the front – Dad was well impressed!
A group of us girls went to ‘Yorkes’ (Yorke Peninsular) once again and had an amazing girls trip away. There were roughly six of us and we had a great time cruising from beach to beach and having some of them to ourselves!! We packed nibbles and eskies full of beer and we were set. No better way to spend a weekend.
Now it was time to get a job and I was very lucky to get one that suited well. A full-time job finally meant the money was coming in and of course, more weekend trips away!!!
Another trip up the river, to Loxton this time, again with a great group of people. It a scorching 40+ degree weekend!! We spent the days taking the boat out for a few wakeboards and skiis but had to hang in the shade the rest of the time as it was just so hot.! No complaints from me though – great fun!!
Another trip to Yorkes, this time with the boys. We took the swags and drove around from surf break to surf break, having dinner at the typical ‘Marion Bay Tav’. We camped out in a carpark so the boys could go for an early morning surf. Such an amazing weekend!
Finally it was time for the start of my interstate trips! First up was Melbourne to meet my mate, Mitty, and drive back to Adelaide along the Great Ocean Road. Such a stunning drive along the coast of Victoria and South Australia.
Another weekend in Melbourne was spent purely catching up with friends and exploring the great city. I do enjoy going to Melbourne..
It was almost Easter and this meant my annual trip away, to a new country, for my birthday!!
