Lest we forget

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From For the fallen by Laurence Binyon (1869–1943).


Although I have attended a couple of dawn services in London with Mr G in the past, this was my first ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day in Australia. It is a bank holiday here, so people tend to go to their local RSL club or pub, drink beer and play two-up. Before this though, there is dawn service and the annual parade through the streets of Sydney. Although we didn't make it into the city ourselves, I made sure we watched it on TV. The parade was wonderful - it was so lovely seeing the servicemen, young and old, proudly marching through the city centre. Next year we will  make sure we are there in person.

We did, however, go to our local RSL club in Kirribilli (just north of the Harbour Bridge) with friends after lunch. In the restaurant, at the bar and on the terrace, we 'civilians' mingled with the servicemen proudly displaying their medals on their chests. It really was a fantastic atmosphere.

I also decided to try my hand at baking ANZAC biscuits the day before. We've had Bill Granger's Sydney Food cookbook for years and have only cooked a few things from it, but I found a recipe for the biscuits and gave them a go. The ingredients are pretty simple and in most people's cupboards I expect; it was just the coconut and rolled oats I had to buy.


ANZAC biscuits
(From Sydney Food by Bill Granger)

Makes 20 biscuits

1 cup plain flour
1 cup desiccated coconut
2/3 cup rolled oats
125 g butter
1 tablespoon golden syrup
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 tablespoons boiling water

 

1. Preheat oven to 160°C (or 315°F). Place flour, coconut, sugar and oats in a bowl and mix well.

2. Place butter and golden syrup in a saucepan over medium heat and melt.

3. Place bicarbonate of soda in a small bowl and add boiling water. Stir to combine. Add the bicarbonate mixture to the saucepan and stir. Pour over the oat mixture and stir all ingredients together.

4. Roll teaspoonfuls of biscuit mixture into balls and place on a greased and lined baking tray, leaving room for spreading. Flatten each ball gently with a fork.

5. Bake biscuits for 15-20 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown at the edges. Allow to cool slightly on the tray before transferring to a wire rack.

 

They were so easy to make and came out really well; even though ANZAC Day has now passed I would still make (and eat!) these biscuits anytime of year. A word of warning though: they are extremely moreish so you find yourself having two or three with your afternoon cup of tea!

Homesick. The hardest word.

I'm afraid this is going to be a less upbeat post today, but I did decide when I started this blog that I would also write about the difficult parts of moving to the other side of the world.

I often don't know when it's coming, but the feeling of homesickness can be overwhelming. I have days where anything can set me off - finding a cockroach on the bathroom floor, an extremely hot day, or even if I can't get a certain cheese at the supermarket. My retort to Mr G is normally 'It's not like this in England'. I know I have my rose-tinted glasses on about the UK most of the time, but isn't it like that wherever you are? The grass is always greener and all that...

I had a particularly difficult February: my parents returned home after two brilliant months with us, and then Mr G left for a week-long work trip in Europe a few days later. My jealousy did get the better of me more than a couple of times. Why was I stuck here in Sydney when they were all in the UK? I felt left out, particularly as my husband was getting to catch up with some of our closest friends in London. But he's back now, which for the moment is keeping the homesick feelings from bay.

Some days I love that we live here - an early morning walk along the beach, coffee in hand, is just the best way to start the day - and I look forward to the next couple of years that we will be in Sydney. But then I will have a day when it hits me...when will I see the people that I care about again? I find that the hardest part is talking to loved ones on Skype or FaceTime. It's so lovely seeing their faces but then all too soon the conversation is over and I'm left feeling flat afterwards.

Of course I know that feeling homesick is all part of living abroad, and I'm fully aware that my husband had to deal with this during the 11 years he was in London. We're still to decide where we will live long term, but you can't make rash decisions based on homesick feelings. Whether we stay here or go home after a few years will be decided by the both of us, but I know that wherever we are one of us will always get those pangs for home.

In London.

In Sydney.

Sydney - my top 5

I've just said goodbye to my parents after a great two months of having them over here from the UK. To say this week has been stressful and very upsetting is an understatement. It seems to be much harder this time than it was when we left the UK seven months ago, but I suppose that is because I knew I would be seeing them again in just a few months plus we had lots going on when we first arrived in Australia.

Anyway, this post is not a depressing one I promise. We did so many wonderful things while they were in Sydney that I thought I'd compile a list of the best; it may just inspire you whether you live here or you're  just passing through.

1. Walk over the Harbour Bridge.

 

Of course you can just pay to do the Bridge Climb, but I am too much of a wimp to scale the famous structure, so we opted instead to walk from The Rocks to Milsons Point on a damp and grey afternoon after a lazy Saturday lunch. The other half and I had already done this walk one lovely bright and sunny Spring day (read about it here), but it was just as impressive in the drizzle! If you want to see the world's most famous harbour without having to pay for the Bridge Climb, or if like me you're just too scared, then I would recommend just getting your trainers on and pounding across the pedestrian path one morning before it gets too hot, or in the evening when the sun is setting.

Obviously taken on the bright and sunny Spring day!

The pedestrian crossing on the Harbour Bridge.

2. Explore the harbour from the ferries.

 

This is probably the best value for money; much better than paying top whack for a harbour cruise. A MyMulti day pass is AUD 22 and allows you  unlimited travel on all buses, ferries and trains for one day. We actually ended up doing the same thing the next week as we had so much fun the first time, but didn't have the time to get on all the ferries. We began at Milsons Point as this is close to our house, from here we got the ferry into Circular Quay and then back out to the Eastern Suburbs. This takes in Double Bay, Rose Bay and ends up in Watsons Bay. We had the famous Doyle's fish and chips by the beach with a cheeky glass of wine and then made it back on the ferry for the return trip to the city.

Double Bay from the ferry.

The second trip was down the Parramatta River as far as Abbotsford; this takes you under the Harbour Bridge and to places like Cockatoo Island and Drummoyne. The Sydney Rowers Club at Abbortsford is perfectly positioned next to the ferry terminal for a drink or bite to eat depending on how long you have to wait for a return ferry.

Going under the Harbour Bridge on the way to Abbotsford.

We ended our day on the ferries by getting one to Manly to enjoy early evening drinks on the wharf with friends (see more on Manly in number 5 below).

3. Balmain.

 

Balmain is by far my favourite place that I've been in Sydney. I really love the feel of the Inner West. Don't get me wrong, I also love the Northern Beaches but being a city girl and coming from London I feel more at home in the suburbs of Balmain, Rozelle and Glebe. This is ideally where we want to live, but lack of rental properties was a major stumbling block when we were looking. When I visit Balmain, I get the feeling that I wouldn't really need to leave for anything which is how I felt living in North London. There are plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to amuse us for a very long time. The buildings are beautiful, with lots of Victorian architecture and it's so easy to get lost in the back streets while having a nose at the houses. You could easily spend a day exploring round here, and from Circular Quay it is only a 10-minute ferry ride.

4. Lunch at the Kirribilli Club.

 

Or dinner, or breakfast, or just drinks... Regular visitors to Australia will know that they have a club system, similar to working men's clubs in the UK, as well as golf and country clubs. If you live within five kilometres of the club then you must become a member to be able to drink there. In the UK, working men's clubs conjour images of tatty, run-down community halls with a few unsavoury types propping up the bar. In Australia though, these RSL clubs are normally pretty modern and some have spectacular views. There is also the added bonus of subsidised drinks! Our local is the Kirribilli Club and we joined a few months ago. It has stunning views of Lavender Bay and the harbour bridge. We took the parents there for a New Year's Eve lunch - the sun was shining and we drank wine and beer while eating fresh fish and overlooking the sparkling waters. If you're ever in Milsons Point (and you live outside of the 5kms or have someone who can sign you in) then get yourself down there for drinks and/or food out on the terrace. A bottle of good Sav Blanc is only AUD 25...

5. Manly.

 

I couldn't finish my top 5 things in Sydney without mentioning a beach. Forget the Eastern Suburbs (or actually, keep going to Bondi as Manly locals really don't want an influx of tourists!); my favourite Sydney beaches are the Northern ones. Manly is by far the most famous, and I am quite biased towards going there as some of my husband's family live nearby so it's the most familiar place for me in Sydney.

Manly Beach.

Apart from the beach, Manly also had a fantastic number of great bars and restaurants, as well as a few good shops that aren't to do with surfing! Our favourite place to while away a few hours has to be Murrays. It brews its own beer, so the other half is happy, it has a fantastic wine list to keep me happy, but best of all it has the best terrace overlooking the beach. This is where we took my parents almost as soon as they had touched down at Sydney Airport. The best way to get to Manly is of course on the ferry, and one of my favourite things to do is to catch the fast ferry on a Friday evening with a glass of wine or a beer while watching the city fall away.

What would be in your top 5 things to do in Sydney? Drop me a comment below; I need some new ideas!

Details

Sydney Ferries website
Website: www.sydneyferries.info

MyMulti ticket info
Adult: AUS $22; Child: AUS $11; Concession: AUS $11.
Website: www.131500.com.au/tickets/explore/mymulti-day-pass 

Doyles on the Wharf, Fishermans Wharf, Watsons Bay
Website: www.doyles.com.au

Sydney Rower's Club, 613 Great North Road, Abbotsford
Website: www.sydneyrowingclub.com.au/barsanddining.php

Kirribilli Club, 11 Harbourview Crescent, Lavender Bay 
Website: www.kirribilliclub.com.au

Murray's, 49 North Steyne, Manly
Website: www.murraysbrewingco.com.au/manly/manlyWelcome.php

Sydney Fast Ferries
Website: www.sydneyfastferries.com.au

Instagram pics: the last few months

Belated Happy New Year!

Well, again I've been really slack with blogging but my excuse this time is that we moved into our new place and my parents came to stay! So here is just a quick round up of my Instagram pictures from the last couple of months, mainly consisting of Sydney views, Birthdays and Christmas...

Morning coffee on Shelly Beach.

The walk from Fairlight to Manly

Catching the evening fast ferry into the city.

Birthday cards!

Birthday arvo in the sun watching cricket and drinking wine.

The kitchen of our new house.

Beautiful hydrangeas in our living room.

The Opera House on a very grey day.

Christmas present for the hubby.

View from our New Year's Eve lunch.

Table set for New Year's Eve dinner.

Customs House interior.

An Australian resident...finally!

I haven't blogged properly in a while; we have been pretty busy with lots of exciting things happening. My visa was finally approved last week, which involved a four-night trip to New Zealand (more about that in another post), but I now have permanent residency! I originally applied for a temporary partner visa (subclass 309), but ended up being granted a permanent visa (subclass 100). I thought I'd share the timeline of my visa processing for those who are considering making the move down under, or who are already embarking on it.

8th March: submitted application via post.
12th March: email received from case officer confirming receipt of application and informing me that there was currently a 5-6 month wait. I was also asked to attend a medical examination as soon as possible.
27th March: attended medical examination in London.
4th April: received confirmation from my case officer that the medical results had been received and she would be in touch when my visa was ready to be approved. 
9th May: confirmation from case officer that I could travel to Australia on a tourist visa while my partner visa was still being considered.

12th July: we arrived in Sydney with me on a three-month eVisitor visa.

10th August: I received an email from my case officer that said they were ready to grant my partner visa and that I needed to leave Australia for at least three working days in order to do so.
3rd September: we flew to New Zealand for four nights.
7th September: we arrived back in Sydney and confirmed with the border staff that I was now on a permanent residency visa (partner visa subclass 100).

So in all it took almost six months, but that was because I was already in Australia and had to leave so the visa could be formally granted. It was actually five months from submitting the application to receiving the email to say they were ready to grant the visa. We still believe we did the right thing by coming out here before it was granted though, as we wouldn't have got out here until at least October if we had waited for it in the UK.

I would love to hear others' experiences of the visa process - drop me a comment or contact me on Twitter (@hollygalt).

Details

Australian Government, Department of Immigration and Citizenship
Website: www.immi.gov.au/migrants/family/family-visas-partner.htm 

Instagram Sydney-style

I haven't done a picture post while I've been in Australia, so here are my Instagram photos since I arrived in Sydney in July. They give a snapshot of our life over the last few weeks, and as you would expect they are mostly of beaches, the opera house and lots of sunshine!

At the airport, my fab husband bought me a new iPad so I can FaceTime family and friends. Note: large glass of wine, sorely needed after many tearful goodbyes.

First morning in Oz, and the sun is shining!

On the Manly Ferry to the city to pick up our bank cards.

The garden where we are staying in the Northern Beaches. Looking forward to afternoons spent in this pool when summer arrives!

Manly beach

You can just about make out the hubby.

Kilo of prawns in Gerringong.

Palm Beach AKA Summer Bay.

Breakfast by the beach in Manly.

Manly flags!

Visa granted!

'Dear Mrs Galt

The processing of your application has reached the stage where I am in a postition to grant your visa...'

I finally received this email last week from my case officer at the Australian High Commission in London! Unfortunately though, as we were so impatient and came over here before it was granted it means I now have to leave Australia for at least three working days. So we are now looking into last minute deals to go anywhere within a 3-4 hour flight from Sydney. At the moment we are hoping to go to Auckland for four nights at The Langham as they are doing a really good deal, but this could all change if we don't book it soon! This news has coincided with Steve landing a couple of interviews this week, so it all depends on the outcome of these meetings.

Hopefully though, this time next week I will be flying off to spend a few nights here...

Images from The Langham website

This aside though, it has come as an enormous relief that my visa has finally be granted. It now means I can start looking for a job as soon as I return to Sydney, which is not only good news for our financial situation but also for my sanity! If we both get jobs in the next four weeks, we should be able to secure our own place by the beginning of October which is the thing I am focused on at the moment. It is really hard to settle anywhere when you are living out of suitcases, and the need to nest is growing by the day!

A visit to Hyde Park Barracks

Being a History geek, I got very excited a couple of days ago when I stumbled upon the Historic Houses Trust website. For UK readers, it's the Australian equivalent of the National Trust and they have a number of historical houses in and around Sydney. We were going into the city yesterday for a wander around, so I dragged the husband to the Hyde Park Barracks museum on Macquarie Street. He wouldn't admit it but I know he enjoyed it!

Between 1819 and 1848, Hyde Park Barracks housed male convicts who had been transported to Sydney to serve out sentences handed to them in the UK. After 1848 the main building housed female immigrants, mainly from Ireland, who had been encourgaed to emigrate out to Australia. The main building and surrounding outhouses are now a museum after several reincarnations as courthouses and government buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries. It is a beautiful building from the outside and there are lots of Victorian features still evident inside.

Hyde Park Barracks. (Image from Time Out Sydney www.au.timeout.com/sydney)

The museum itself is definitely worth the AUS $10 admission fee with exhibits on the transportation of convicts from the UK, their daily lives in the barracks and the integration of reformed convicts into Sydney society. There are also fascinating models on how the building itself was transformed during the 19th and 20th centuries.

My next visit will be to the Museum of Sydney and then I will hopefully make my way though the list of other historical houses. Check out the Historic Houses Trust website if you're into all things historical like me and you happen to be in Sydney!

Details

Hyde Park Barracks, Queens Square, Macquarie Street, Sydney 2000. Open daily 9.30am-5pm (Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day). Adults: $10; Child/Concession: $5.

Historic Houses Trust www.hht.net.au

A winter's morning walk along the beach

Even though it's winter at the moment here in Australia, it is still a lovely 16-18 degrees during the day and bright sunshine (although still very cold at night). I've had a few days where I've felt extremely homesick already (mostly when I'm given insipid tomato sauce instead of Heinz Ketchup!), but going out for a morning walk along the beach in Manly has made me realise why we made the move here. Sipping coffee and power walking along with all the yummy mummies while watching the surfers may even encourage me to exercise more... I'm so looking forward to exploring more of the Northern Beaches in the next few weeks and discovering more walks to enjoy on bright sunny mornings.

 

AFL, Christmas in July and a bush walk!

So I haven't posted for a while; unfortunately Steve's grandma passed away 10 days or so after we arrived so the last week has been spent up in the Blue Mountains attending the funeral and helping out wherever we could. 

We are now back in the Northern Beaches and are trying to get into some sort of routine. Steve is looking for work and I can't wait until he does so we can start to look for our own place to rent.

I attended my first AFL (Aussie Rules football) game last week. Notice I don't say match anymore; it is a game, NOT a match. It was fun to start with, but I don't think I'll get used to the length of it - the game lasts over 2 1/2 hours. Luckily I was with a couple of other girls, so we drank wine and gossiped most of the day, much to the annoyance of our other halves sat in front of us. Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) was great though; easy to get food (important) and wine (even more important). 

The old part of the SCG.

One of the stands was being demolished though and they were only part way through. Check out the crane holding up the big screen in the below picture!

I have also experienced my first 'Yulefest' or 'Christmas in July'. It is absolutely FREEZING up in the Blue Mountains at the moment, so it's the perfect time to have Christmas dinner! Steve's Dad booked us tickets for just that at the local golf club and we had a hysterical evening last Saturday with friends and family. My favourite part of the evening though had to be the Kath & Kim impersonators who were brilliant. And that was before someone (we don't know who yet) set Steve up and he was half-dragged onto the stage by Sharon and Kim. I don't think I have ever seen him look so embarrassed. But it made my night... If you are ever in Oz during Winter, make sure you attend 'Christmas in July' wherever you are. Who wouldn't want to celebrate Christmas twice in a year?! And you don't need to go to the trouble of buying presents or posting cards. Result.

After eating a massive Christmas dinner the night before, we had to go for a bush walk the next day. There was not a cloud in the sky and we had a beautiful walk down to Wentworth Falls.

The beautiful Blue Mountains.

Standing at the top of the Falls.

So it is now on with the job search for Steve, and I will be attending a few open houses over the next few weeks to see how far our money will go (not far I imagine). Will keep you updated...