Letters from Lavender Bay
Sat here in my beautiful flat and privileged surroundings of Lavender Bay, I can’t help but wonder what words of wisdom I would write to that girl who first stepped foot in Australia over a year and a half ago. Within those first few months of being in Sydney, I knew I would be staying longer than initially planned, but never could’ve dreamt what an adventure and journey of self-discovery I was about to embark upon.
Following six months of full-time work at my PR firm, I must now move on given the limitations of my visa. Whilst it will be sad to say goodbye to a company and role which has taught me so much, I look forward to new beginnings and the prospect of developing all the skills and knowledge I have gained from my current job.
As I pack my bags to go back to the UK for a few months to celebrate my brother’s wedding, the time has come to move out of my flat here in Lavender Bay too. I will hold many fond memories of my time here and feel blessed to have been able to experience living in such a special corner of Sydney.
I’ve been inspired by the eclectic decor and quirky artistic touches in every corner of this wonderful flat. My lovely landlady has been a pleasure to live with and her vivacious approach to life is very admiral…the ‘Fuck Fuckity’ wall placard says it all – don’t take life too seriously!
So as the sunsets on my final week here, I can’t help but feel a twang of nostalgia as I reflect on my short but sweet time in the lovely neighbourhood of Lavender Bay. If I was to write a letter back to myself when I moved in six months ago, I would remind that girl to exhale the worry, embrace the good times and just enjoy every minute of the journey.
With a delectable menu of modern Australian cuisine and a twist of European influences, it was hard to choose. For appetisers the Burrata, Lobster Tacos and Grilled Corn caught my attention. However we went straight in on mains, so I opted for the Beetroot Salad served with spiced pumpkin, heirloom carrot, roasted sprouts, humous, goats curd and a garnish of flaked almonds.
This dish was not only exquisitely presented, but the roasted veg were served piping hot and seasoned to perfection. I particularly liked the wintery twist of spiced pumpkin and by favourite brussel sprouts, bringing together a colourful plate of delicious food as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the tastebuds!
From the specials board, my collegue went for the Chicken and Sweetcorn Soup served with sourdough, a perfect winter warmer. My manager chose the Sweet Potato Gnocchi served in a pea puree with grilled asparagus, Persian feta, crispy kale and dry ranch. Yet another stunning bowl of food with gorgeous flavour also inspired by Mediterranean cuisine. I would highly recommend visiting Wild Sage for an ideallyic long lunch savouring fine food and lapping up those European al fresco dining vibes.
To think that this time last year I packed my suitcase and ventured down to the Southern Highlands to embark on my farm work, I still can’t believe my luck to have ended up in such a place much like my home back in England. That quaint little town of Moss Vale became my home for 4 months, during which I established some of my closest friends who I continue to catch up with on my visits back to the Aussie countryside.
Now I find myself back in Sydney making the most of working city life and soon to move into a different role for another 6 months of my visa. I’m unsure where this next chapter will take me, but I hope to make the most of this year and continue making many beautiful memories with all the wonderful people I meet along my journey.
With winter closing in and that brisk chill in the air, we got the fire pit roaring in the garden and saw down the sun with a few drinks and some good old Australian yarns! Later on we ventured to the local pub in town where the drinks are cheap and you’re never far from a familiar face. It was great being back in the countryside leaving all the madness of city life behind me and just enjoying time spent with friends… ‘A good laugh and a long sleep are the best two cures for anything.’
Listening to the podcast series The Highest Self with Sahara Rose, my eyes have been opened to the sad fact that we are all sucked into this whirlwind of modern life where we continue to push our boundries to reach such demanding expectations. Instead of feeling content and happy in the moments of greatness we do reach, we find ourselves moving the goal posts once again to battle on before setting the next target. Why is it we cut short that feeling of contentment and joy when things are simply just fine and life is all OK?
Sahara Rose asks us to take a moment and think back 5 or even 10 years ago to reflect on just how far we have come. What we find is that every one of us is on a journey of growth and we are achieving wonderful things in that fact alone. I spent a weekend with my lovely Manager and close friend who has helped me to see the amazing things I’ve already accomplished at work and in my personal life. After our Sunday morning brekky date, we went for a beautiful bush walk to wind down, breath in the fresh air and just appreciate where we find ourselves at this point of our lives.
‘The happiest people in life are those who are grateful for where they are now; living life in the present moment is true contentment.’
With daylight savings now meaning the sunsets around 5:30pm, pastel colours paint the sky and splash the harbour with that majestic haze each evening I walk home. This sight never fails to make me smile and feel so grateful for being right where I am in life at this moment in time; Sydney, you stole my heart ❤
However journalling is something I only began doing when I first embarked on my trip here to Sydney over a year ago. After my friend brought me a beautiful journal as my leaving present, I have continued to keep a diary ever since. Now onto my third book, I have a unique record of my travels here in Australia which provides a whole other perspective to the photos. Keeping a journal gives me opportunity to reflect on moments in life, both the good and the bad. I like to add little memos to my diary too such as tickets and receipts to remind me of all the places I’ve been.
I would be the first to admit my journals are certainly no novel and definitely lack a decent amount of grammar (usually my worse nightmare). Yet those words capture all of my thoughts even when I’ve faced challenges and spark fond memories of the adventures I’ve been on. It has definitely been quite a journey and as I continue to stand on my own two feet on the other side of the world, I will
The first race was at 12:15, so we all got to the racecourse by midday to grab a spot by the track whilst still in prime location near to the bar! It was a swelteringly hot day, so between a few glasses of bubbles I sipped on diet soda all afternoon to stay hydrated.
Unlike the typical races back home in the UK, I was surprised to see that the dress code and general atmosphere here in Australia is a lot more informal. With benches laid out on the grass and food vans selling mostly hot chips and burgers, it was certainly a far cry from the fine dining options and lavish outfits of Royal Ascot. Nevertheless, everyone from our company made an effort and got spruced up for the occasion, especially all the gals!
It was fascinating watching the horses which are so incredibly fit with their veins protruding from their muscles following the race. Now I can truly appreciate the power and skill of these highly trained, magnificent creatures.
It was a glorious day getting to mingle with my work colleagues as we basked in the sunshine all afternoon cheering on the horses as we placed our bets. I love any excuse to get dolled up and it was lovely to see everyone enjoying some down time away from the office.
With my hectic 9-5 job consuming the majority of my week and constantly booking out weekends socialising with friends, I forget how wonderful the quaint corner of Sydney I live in is. Looking back over my diary so far this year, it’s been so busy with something happening every weekend since I moved to Lavender Bay. So having made the conscious effort to be selfish and nourish my soul on Sunday, my body as well as my tired head, thanked me for it this week as I started Monday fresh and ready for the demands of my high pace PR job!
Dani Aneka 