First few weeks in Australia

Hi all,

Well... I have touched down as most of you know!

I made it to Perth where I was collected by the wonderous person who is George, my busy second cousin (my Mum's cousin) and made it back to hers. She lives in Fremantle, just south of Perth, and thank goodness for that. I have a funny little feeling I wouldn't have hung around Perth for very long. Freo is the more chilled out coffee bar and museums kind of a town. Very child friendly and somehow seems bright, airy and happy. Perth reminds me of central East London. Huge glass buildings owned by banks and big companies casting shadows on the well threaded 'to-dos' walking through the hustle and the bustle. There are some good museums and there are certainly little gems to be discovered amongst it but to live... no, no.

SO George as I say is wonderous: she introduced me to all her friends (or so it seems! I feel like I have met a lot of people!) A lot of them other mums. George has 3 fantastic kids: Oscar 9-10, Priya 7-8 and Abby 5-6. Oscar is a little genius and they all go to an alternative school where you can choose and create your own projects.... Oscar recently did a project on AIDS, he made a child cry... Pria the feisty middle child who doesn't miss a thing and I love her for that and Abby is cute and curious with these huge eyes that penetrate yours if keep contact.

They were really fun and funny though and I was sad to leave their house. However I only left because George had made my unemployment known (to the whole of Freo it seems!) And one of the mums,it turned out, wanted an au pair... well here I am, tapping away at the computer in their GORGEOUS house with four, yes four, boys to look after as of tomorrow. Finn, Gus, Magnus and Iggy. All of them totally unique and individual I have a soft spot for each already!

And so I feel myself easing into this lifestyle. Very laid back and easy. Very happy and warm and genuine. I can see what it is people love about Australia and why you would want to raise your kids here. It is a wonderful balance to India in a way: the perfect place to regroup, re-centre and contemplate.

I do miss India and I say I'll go back but I wonder if I will... If it has taught me everything I wanted it to or if it is only a surface that got rubbed. There is of course so much more to see there and rediscover. And yet so many other places the world around. Ah... guess I'll go have a coffee, put on my uggs and read outside with a coffee and a tim tam.

G'day.

Sabs xxx