 | Covid complexities and government restrictions seem to have affected almost everyone on Earth to varying degrees. What follows is a very brief account of how it has changed my life, yet I have no complaints as I realise I'm one of the more fortunate ones. |
Briefly, I sold my home in the Dorrigo mountains NSW in 2019, gave away most of my belongings, and spent months enthusiastically studying my world travel options.
Then I visited friends in Northern New South Wales and Queensland to say what I privately knew to be a final goodbye. After that, I planned to fly to Portugal to create a home base in Porto and later Istanbul, then travel on and off by rail and river throughout continental Europe and UK.
And then ... Covid struck, and all those plans disintegrated under a shroud of confusion and restrictions. Where to settle now?
I found a beautiful apartment to rent on Bribie Island and crossed the border from NSW into Queensland during the last week of March 2020 with one day to spare before the first tight border closures began.
Covid had put an end to my overseas travel plans and visits and workshops to intentional communities already living aspects of The New Earth Way. Examples being: Anastasia, the Siberian Shaman, who explores some of the elements in The Ringing Cedars Series of books introducing the Kins Domain concepts. Also of interest is Penny Kelly's new presentation, Seeds of a New World.
Then, early in 2021, I had a strong calling to live on the opposite side of Australia, either in Perth or elsewhere in the glorious South-Western region of Western Australia. So after six months of intense research, making contacts, packing up, more giveaways, including my vast potted veggie garden and indoor plants, and sending my few remaining essentials by removalist to a storage unit in Perth, I was almost on my way. To top all this planning off, joy, oh bliss, my dear friend Wendy Slee had offered me her family's lovely weekend cottage as a base until I decided where I wanted to live.
I began my 5000-kilometre drive on June 11 through Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. My darling son Paul intended flying to Adelaide from Melbourne, and Mother and Son would drive the 2700k that took in the vast outback Nullarbor Plain to Perth.
Covid then closed and opened the borders several times to both of us, and Paul and I had to abandon those plans. I readjusted to doing the long drive alone until I received an urgent notice from the WA Police that my G2G (Good to Go Border Pass) was rescinded. Then it was reapproved and cancelled three more times until finally hard closed. Having made that drive would have meant I had travelled all that distance only to be refused entry at the WA border on the Eyre Highway, one of the world's longest, most barren and isolated roads.
So after collecting my car from a garage in Peterborough after a breakdown, then having it broken into and precious items stolen in Port Augusta, I headed for the completely unknown-to-me city of Adelaide. I arrived on the June Solstice with just one distant friend on my radar in the entire state.
Paul drove the 8 hours from Melbourne for a short stay during a brief window of opportunity, and we had a splendid time exploring parts of Adelaide. After notifying my friends and contacts in WA and cancelling our plans, thus began adventurous six weeks of Air BNBs, House and Pet-Sits, with several cancelled due to border closures to the owners of the pets.
Nevertheless, one very kind couple insisted I stay with them anyway in their glorious Highbury home for two weeks before taking up a six-month pet sit at the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. Oh - the kindness of strangers.
I had applied for the long pet sit along with numerous others and was delighted to win the gig. So, on August 7, I settled into a lovely apartment to care for two gorgeous Russian Blue cats. Living in Frank's place is more like living in a Buddhist temple. It's in the beautiful suburb of Magill, a short drive to the city, beach, conservation parks, and the hills. I will share the owner's Frank Maraz's remarkable journey of commitment in another post.
Adelaide is undoubtedly the most beautiful city I've ever lived in or visited with its stunning architecture, parks, eateries and kind and fascinating people. The locals call it their hidden gem.
Now I'm happily settled; I'm eager to meet other Adelaidians and South Australians and welcome your contact so we can meet and share our interests and talents.
Please feel free to share with your friends in South Australia. .
Then I visited friends in Northern New South Wales and Queensland to say what I privately knew to be a final goodbye. After that, I planned to fly to Portugal to create a home base in Porto and later Istanbul, then travel on and off by rail and river throughout continental Europe and UK.
And then ... Covid struck, and all those plans disintegrated under a shroud of confusion and restrictions. Where to settle now?
I found a beautiful apartment to rent on Bribie Island and crossed the border from NSW into Queensland during the last week of March 2020 with one day to spare before the first tight border closures began.
Covid had put an end to my overseas travel plans and visits and workshops to intentional communities already living aspects of The New Earth Way. Examples being: Anastasia, the Siberian Shaman, who explores some of the elements in The Ringing Cedars Series of books introducing the Kins Domain concepts. Also of interest is Penny Kelly's new presentation, Seeds of a New World.
Then, early in 2021, I had a strong calling to live on the opposite side of Australia, either in Perth or elsewhere in the glorious South-Western region of Western Australia. So after six months of intense research, making contacts, packing up, more giveaways, including my vast potted veggie garden and indoor plants, and sending my few remaining essentials by removalist to a storage unit in Perth, I was almost on my way. To top all this planning off, joy, oh bliss, my dear friend Wendy Slee had offered me her family's lovely weekend cottage as a base until I decided where I wanted to live.
I began my 5000-kilometre drive on June 11 through Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia. My darling son Paul intended flying to Adelaide from Melbourne, and Mother and Son would drive the 2700k that took in the vast outback Nullarbor Plain to Perth.
Covid then closed and opened the borders several times to both of us, and Paul and I had to abandon those plans. I readjusted to doing the long drive alone until I received an urgent notice from the WA Police that my G2G (Good to Go Border Pass) was rescinded. Then it was reapproved and cancelled three more times until finally hard closed. Having made that drive would have meant I had travelled all that distance only to be refused entry at the WA border on the Eyre Highway, one of the world's longest, most barren and isolated roads.
So after collecting my car from a garage in Peterborough after a breakdown, then having it broken into and precious items stolen in Port Augusta, I headed for the completely unknown-to-me city of Adelaide. I arrived on the June Solstice with just one distant friend on my radar in the entire state.
Paul drove the 8 hours from Melbourne for a short stay during a brief window of opportunity, and we had a splendid time exploring parts of Adelaide. After notifying my friends and contacts in WA and cancelling our plans, thus began adventurous six weeks of Air BNBs, House and Pet-Sits, with several cancelled due to border closures to the owners of the pets.
Nevertheless, one very kind couple insisted I stay with them anyway in their glorious Highbury home for two weeks before taking up a six-month pet sit at the foothills of the Adelaide Hills. Oh - the kindness of strangers.
I had applied for the long pet sit along with numerous others and was delighted to win the gig. So, on August 7, I settled into a lovely apartment to care for two gorgeous Russian Blue cats. Living in Frank's place is more like living in a Buddhist temple. It's in the beautiful suburb of Magill, a short drive to the city, beach, conservation parks, and the hills. I will share the owner's Frank Maraz's remarkable journey of commitment in another post.
Adelaide is undoubtedly the most beautiful city I've ever lived in or visited with its stunning architecture, parks, eateries and kind and fascinating people. The locals call it their hidden gem.
Now I'm happily settled; I'm eager to meet other Adelaidians and South Australians and welcome your contact so we can meet and share our interests and talents.
Please feel free to share with your friends in South Australia. .
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