A Change of Direction 2

Well, thank you Phil for this post, it is now out in the open. I feel I should give my own version of the facts though, I mean how it really happened :) Sorry for our absence on your screens recently. But it was because we were at a turning point in our journey, it has been a time of reflexion rather than sun-tanning.

A few days ago, we had the written confirmation that it would take a minimum of 4 months before Phil can start working. Administration here is very close to Communist Poland in the 80's. I was luckier than my husband, as I was offered a job after an interview at a bilingual school, north of Sydney. But as you know from Phil's post, I turned it down, as we have decided not to stay in Sydney and work, but to go travelling instead.

There are many reasons for that. When we found out about how long it would take for Philip before he can start working, we decided to write a list of the 5 most important things we want to bring back from our voyage. We wrote a list each, without consulting each other.

I'm gonna be truthful and 'publish' these 2 lists, so you can see why we have decided to change our plans. I havem't adultered them.

Julie

• Great memories of quality time with my loving husband

• 2-The feeling of freedom for a year, before life starts becoming a ‘tartine de merde’

• 3-Work experience

• 4-Travels around Oz and NZ

• 5-Discover a side of nature I don’t know

Philip

• Beachside Activities

• Travelling

• Food

• Quality/worry free time with Ju

• Going for it and not looking back ... let all my hair down... so to speak

When comparing the 2 lists, we came to the realisation that what we had in common was quality time with our spouse, and a certain feeling of freedom. Work was not so important for Phil, and I surprised myself by putting it only in third position.

It helped us reset our priorities and decide to shilf of plans. This is why we decided that we were going to go travelling around Australia, take our time to do so, and then visit New Zealand, before we come home and settle. This plan will also allow us to come back home earlier than expected (although we don't know how long we'll be on our trip for, remember, we are free:)) which is a good thing because we already miss our families.

So this is it. It has been difficult to take this decision, as I know I will be missing out on a few things I really wanted to experience, like working in an Australian school and living the life of a real Sydneysider. But as my Moz wisely says: To make a choice is to say no to something. And I'm saying no to these things, but I'm also saying yes to so many great things, which will bring back fantastic memories (and photographs...)

Phil and I are delighted to have made that decision, it was maturely thought through, and now, we are ready for it.