Six months on.

So, another week goes by. We've been in Australia for six months now. I'm not sure whether it feels like we've been here for a lot less or a lot longer. Some memories of when we first arrived seem like yesterday but there are other things that seem to have been a part of our life for a lot longer than six months.

It's been really quite warm over the past few days. It feels like the worst of winter is behind us and spring is on its way, and it's shaping up to be a nice one. If this is the case then I managed to get through winter without wearing my winter coat once. I also wore short sleeves for work the vast majority of the time, though admittedly there was no alternative. Long-sleeved work shirts are a luxury for us Mat Exchange drones.


Shopping is a very interesting experience in Australia. There is a clear link between 'what you buy' and 'national identity'. If there is some part of your product that originated in Australia then you proudly announce it on the packaging. Australian Owned, Made in Australia and Homegrown Australian Produce are all selling points here, it seems. You'd be hard pressed to find many things in an Australian kitchen that don't advertise their loyalty to the Federal Government. Even the weak, head-bowed-in-shame Made in Australia from Imported and Local Products gets in on the act. It's strange to come to this from a country where supermarkets proudly announce that their oranges are grown in Spain and that the really good jam comes from France. It's sometimes the same on the TV - although the ABC (Australia equivalent to the BBC) fills its schedules with about 95% imported programmes. I watched Australian Idol a week ago and the first half-an-hour of the programme was like a jingoistic Second World War newsreel declaring the supremacy of Australian talent and music charts. Still, it was very entertaining though. Australian Idol is Australian in every way, so the judges think nothing of saying "You need to lose a few pounds" or laughing at a auditionee's teeth even before they start singing. They make Simon Cowell look like Barnabas.


You're probably aware of a lot of the experiences and changes of the last six months if you've been keeping in touch with this blog. I've tried to share some of the key things that have been going on in our lives - and I've enjoyed doing it. Things have been a bit quiet this week, but as we think about what we're going to do next year it will get very interesting. Keep with us for the next six months and we'll continue the journey together.