A Pom returns: the reality of life after Australia

This is a one blog I’ve been meaning to write since we packed up our thongs, Aussie born pooch and 20 foot container of ‘stuff’ and waved one last goodbye to Down Under. I always meant to give an update on Life After Perth, but to make certain my rose-tinted ‘happy to be home’ goggles were now a more realistic hue of clear, and to ward off all accusations of still being drunk on rolling green hills and Tesco prices, I thought I’d give it a respectable 6 months before giving a verdict.

A seasick spoodle on the Norfolk Broads

This led to a rather rapid chain of events that involved my daughter letting out a squeal of horror and disgust, my husband turning around to see what the hell was going on, the boat banging straight into the side of the river, me flying backwards inside of the cabin and my son falling head first off the seat. It wasn’t the best 15 seconds of the trip it has to be said…

Diary of a Pom in Western Australia

August 31 – Just got transferred with work from Leeds UK to our new home in Karratha, Western Australia. Now this is a town that knows how to live!
Beautiful, sunny days and warm, balmy evenings. I watched the sunset from a deckchair by our pool yesterday. It was beautiful. I’ve finally found my new home. I love it here.

Why we moan and what we love

Some things are just so ingrained into the British way of doing things it really wouldn’t be stretching any sort of imagination to think they’re actually part of our DNA.

It may be cold but at least it’s pretty

Some people it has to be said have no problem dealing with the long, cold months ahead, while others are already busy dragging their SAD lamps from the loft and dusting off next year’s summer holiday brochures in a panic. At least on the bright side there are some positives to the impending gloom.

BOGOF Brown

It’s probably been a good few years since I felt really proud to call myself British… But the recent elections have revived my patriotic spirit and reminded me how glad I am to have the passport that I do.

Raining Cats, Dogs and Maltesers

Yesterday Mother Nature wasn’t very happy. In fact, I’d go as far as to say she was pretty pissed off. If I was a guy I’d probably say it was a case of PMT, but I’m not, so I’ll just hazard a guess and say she was having one hell of a bad hair day.

How NOT to stop kids having sex

I haven’t had much time to write recently – work and migraines have been getting in the way – but today I saw a headline flash past my eyes and I had to have my say. So what caught my attention? Condom’s for 12-year-old boys, that’s what. Yes, you read right. 12-year-old boys.

How to fly round the world and survive

Normally the worst thing about a holiday is when it comes to an end. But when you have to fly all the way back around the world just to arrive at your own front door, it’s even worse. A healthy dose of jet lag is enough to make you look and feel like you’ve never even been away.

Demon children and saintly spoodles

Taking your child away on holiday can sometimes be a very dangerous thing to do. In only a few short weeks they can morph into a human being barely recognisable from the one you once knew. As routine, balanced diet and consistency goes out the window, everything you ever taught them seems to follow, including good manners, eating habits and general all round intelligence.