Another anniversary!

Leaving Aus, I was 110% convinced that relationships in general were doomed.

-   You can’t expect everything you need in life from one person. Emotionally, mentally AND physically..!? We’re setting ourselves up for failure!

 Strong, narrow minded me was convinced there was NOTHING getting in the way of me and my journey to fuck knows where. This trip, this relocation.. whatever it was, was to be pure Mel time. Me and the world. 

NO cling-ons, NO hindrances!

2 measly weeks into my righteous voyage, 

the universe had a giggle to itself and through WeZ in the mix...

 This day last year I went out with Aussie mate Troy

 for a few drinks in London town.

Mind if we go to a metal bar and meet up with a few Irish guys I know? 

Sure, why not I say !

A few ciders and tube rides later, the night eventuated into sing alongs, toasted cheese sandwiches and early morning giggles in a house I never really left, 

and eventually called home.

Against all 'logic', when it works it works.

who knew?!

12 months on we're in a new home, many many gigs and good times under our belts, ready for the next year!

Amazin' guy, lucky girl.

Down time

With all this shit weather, between work & dentists, we've ventured out and seen a few flicks.

Been a while since I've posted a bunch of insightful reviews, So!...

Flight

Wasn't life changing but didn't disappoint. 

Love me a good Denzel fix!

This is 40

WeZ 'pfft'd this trailer (rightfully so) so, a few hours of fixin' dreads at home alone saw me stream this flick for a bit of background noise.

I think they were trying to be insightful and witty about coming of age, marriage n kids etc,

Meh!

It had it's giggles and ridiculousness but was also predictable and nothing new for the actors.

If you're partial to perving on Megan Fox, this movie has it's perks on the big screen. Otherwise, I'd save for a rainy day on the couch.

Wreck it Ralph

A hungover Sunday saw us drag our weary feet into the cinema and scan the screens for something easy on the brain.

I didn't think much of this from the posters.. don't judge a book by its cover Mel! 

Much to my delight, it was surprisingly enjoyable.

Clever idea, bright shiny scenes with perfectly suited voices to characters. 

All smiles.

Cloud Atlas

Holy moly. 

Cool make up, alot of costume changes and an idea with potential.

But what an unnecessary headfuck!

3 hours long, it finished, and all I could say was 'Nope'.

Where were you this time last year?

One year ago today (well, it was today when I started to write this post a week ago, it still counts), I landed in the UK, backpack in hand without a plan.

I've been pondering on how best to sum up my first year abroad.

Unexpected is a word that keeps popping up! I could never have predicted the way things went over the past 12 months! Dunno what I expected, but it wasn't this, and it certainly wasn't WeZ! 

From delightful sun-shining days driving the Irish coast... 

 

to whacked out weeks of homesickness and boredom.. 

my year was packed with new extremes!
 

England, Ireland, Poland, Amsterdam, Iceland, Wales.
It was a muddy, foreign, dreadlocked, European, emotional, music filled year with the best friend I could ever ask for by my side. 
(To pick a few appropriate photos is impossible. I have hundreds!)

     

             
               

I met Wez only 2 weeks into my 'single voyage'.

Denial was the aim of my game for the first while. It took me a long time to realise and accept that a partner could float my boat rather than anchor it. (yep, getting metaphorical) Spooning a few (thousand) buckets of emotional baggage out along the way, myself and WeZ embraced our connection and sailed through an epic year of booze, sun, rain, laughs, tears, live music, fun and mayhem.

V was also a huge part of my year.

 We drank together, lived together, drank together, drank together and lived out of each others wardrobes right up 'til the day she left! Was great sharing in her life here.

Not a day passes that I don't miss my family and mates down in Aus. I've met alot of awesome people this side of the world, but having so little of 'my people' within reach of a hangout was a steep and surprisingly tricky adjustment for me. (still is somedays!)
Last week, the library girls back home sent me some love for my one year anniversary!

 Wowee, lucky me! I was like a kid at Christmas.
This is one of several packages I've ever so fortunately received over the past year.
And to their senders I THANK-YOU with all my might!
Although just 'things', the affect they've had on my time here has been heart felt. Between you guys and mates that still have a sheds full of my shit and cars... I'm so lucky to know such amazin' people!


Aside from the obvious, I still crave silly simple things... Dimsims, McChicken sauce, cruising in my beautiful baby with a bit of Toto and Daryl blaring in the sun! Ahh, yes please!! 

The Aussie lifestyle is something I think suits me. This year has taught me (among other things) that the UK rain, trains, gloom 'n' doom isn't something I'll ever live with long term.
Despite that feeling, this place still serves me a huge purpose. There are countless festivals and hundreds of countries still on the to do list!

So now, a year down, I'm coasting for a while. I have a 'normal' 35hr a wk job in the local Theatre (which I love). I'ma plod along there for a while whilst I wish along spring/summer time, see the odd gig and enjoy WeZ's company in between. Too easy!

 

I 101% don't regret leaving Aus. 
It was an inevitable move that bought me an epic year I'll never forget.

Here's cheers to the next one, wherever it may lead!

Not so glamorous rock

Last night we went to a drinkin session with a bunch of WeZ's mates. 

I have been sick and sober all year, I set the antibiotics aside for the night and filled my belly full of Jagermeister. 

The theme was glam rock. We didn't put much effort into dress-ups but were soon sorted when we got there (much to WeZ's delight).

The night led us to a dodgy drunk packed pub with a mixture of blarring 80's and reggae music.

Fun night out !

er..

Looked out my bedroom window 

today and felt quite perplexed.. 

Anyone know what that blue stuff is?!

I actually felt warm-ish whilst out n about today.

Amazing !

A year today since I landed in the UK !

I've been meaning to post an insightful, meaningful blog post ALL day.

Instead on this dull wintery day, I ate pancakes -  twice, worked on tidying my dreadlocks, listened to Triple J, snacked on BBQ Shapes and Milo, watched Empire Records and painted my nails.

Tomorrow's another day!

2013 vs Mel

Dunno what it is about this year so far, but I've had somethin' wrong with me for most of it.
From off innards, to developing weird eczemary hands, to bad reactions to crapbiotics from dumb dentists, to gettin' my wisdom teeth yanked out yesterday - I'm feelin' SO damn sexy it's unbearable !

As result, I am now a pro at poppin' every pain killin' pill in sight, taking relaxing baths, watching terrible time passing movies, and consuming all the cheeky but soothing milo & icecram I can !

      

From woes to super heroes, WeZ has been amazin'!
He's cooked, fetched, cleaned, hugged 'n' supported with all his might to make me feel better.
Trooper deserves a holiday!
I might be feelin' sorry for myself physically, but I'm one of the luckiest girls I know!