2 Weeks Already?!

So here I am after 2 weeks already! A lot has happened....
I landed in Sydney after a uneventful trip - all my luggage arrived (including the toy box with my bike, rollerblades and dive stuff) and I actually had 3 seats across to stretch out on so the flight was not bad at all. Although I was travelling for 24 hours, and lost a day in there, the jet lag was not really noticable, but I did get to nap whenever I wanted....
After one day/night in a Sydney hotel, it was off to the hostel I had booked online. It ended up to be in the Northern Beaches (I hope to get a map on here next) in Collaroy. It was a great place to land and get my bearings and luckily I had a room to myself. So I explored a bit around there - the beach (some decent surf), the meatpies (yummy), the mall (cell phone, bank account) with some pressure to find a place to live since I only had the hostel for a few nights. The weather was in the high teens and overcast for the first week I was here, but that was ok since I had a lot of errands to do and need to ease into the sun exposure here - I know, I know SUNSCREEN!!!

The first night in Sydney I saw an ad online for a too-good-to-be-true apartment to share - in my budget, in Manly, on the ocean, with a pool, sharing with people. Luckily, I was the first to contact Catherine - she would become my housemate and first friend. As it turned out, there were 10 people who wanted to live there with them so it was a bit nerve racking waiting for her to call back, but after I had met her (and Steve, her cousin the other housemate) I knew we would have a great time together. Catherine has really taken me under her wing - including me in bbqs, taking me around, giving me help and advice and introducing me to her friends. I could not ask for anything more!

So I've now moved in and been here a week and it's an unbelievable place - we are right on the ocean, on the penninsula in Manly (in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney). It is a 6 storey apartment/condo type place with huge windows and a balcony with far views of Sydney harbour and close views of Manly Cove/Little Manly Beach. There is a ferry (only $6) which goes back and forth between Circular Quay in Sydney to the Manly Wharf (it's only a 5 min walk from here). The harbour in front of us is always busy with activity - kayaks, windsurfers, sailing, dive boats in and out, the ferry - we found we can sit out there for hours (with wine of course). It's like being at a holiday apartment, but we live here! There is a saltwater pool (you can see it on google earth, it's the biggest and cleanest!) right below our balcony (we are on the 4th floor) which extends into the ocean.... I am living in the moment and appreciating each one.

Luckily Catherine and Steve have everything as far as furniture and house stuff as I only brought my clothes! I did have to buy some furniture for my room (bed, wardrobe, etc.) but Steve was nice enough to drive me home from Ikea in his truck with all my stuff! I have come to appreciate the fact that, at home, I can jump in my car, drive anywhere and haul as much stuff as I want anytime. Since I don't have a car (or motorcycle, yet?) I am reliant on the bus, train and ferry - which is pretty well linked here.

I had my first day of work yesterday - if you could call it that! Since there is some crazy times at Frenchs Forest at the moment, they don't want to drop me in there just yet. I went to the head office in Pymble yesterday (one bus, one train, 1.5 hours! which makes me seriously consider the car...maybe a convertible? a jeep? a motorcycle??) and I got my pass (I challenge you to find a happier employee picture!! - see photo gallery), my computer setup started, an invite to the Christmas party and we had lunch...then he sent me home to check out the surf!

Everything seems to be falling into place - almost too perfectly....
Well, I should go and do some things outside! I'm trying to get over the urgency to do everything right away - as if I won't be seeing a sunny day again - I guess that's left over from living through November in Canada!

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