I think I was destined to live in the land down under. I may not have realised it, but when I look back the signs were everywhere.
Like most children at my school I was thoroughly obsessed with ‘Neighbours’, it was a daily habit that started in primary school and lasted until University. I can recall cheesy plot lines and characters and, for much of my teens, I believed it to be an accurate portrayal of life in Australia.
As a teen I loved Australian Music… particularly the talents of Kylie and Jason. I used the book voucher (from WH Smiths) that I got for my 11th birthday to purchase my very first record; “I should be so lucky” and spent an entire weekend torturing my parents with it.
My friends and I loved Kylie. We made up complicated dance routines to pretty much all her songs (even the slow ones, cue lots of prancing about and long meaningful looks) and studied the lyrics with the type of dedication that is usually reserved for end of school exams.
Crocodile Dundee was my favourite movie. Although, if I’m honest, the fear of being eaten by a crocodile is still causes me a great deal of concern. My husband assures me that I’m perfectly safe and that even if there were any in Parramatta River they wouldn’t be able to travel the three kilometres overland and knock on my front door. Still, you never know…
The biggest clue that I was destined to become an Aussie though occurred in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. Along with the rest of my travelling buddies I went for breakfast at an Aussie run café whose aim was to teach basic business skills to local teenagers. It was in this delightful establishment that I first tasted the wonder in a jar that is Vegemite.
I know I am taking a big risk in alienating my British readers, but, man! I love Vegemite! I prefer it to our weaker equivalent Marmite and would happily live off it. In fact, when I travelled up the East Coast of Australia in 2007 I did live off it. For ten days I ate nothing but corn thins and Vegemite, which I carried around in a green Coles bag.
And now here I am… wife to a true blue Aussie and mother to two little Aussie babes. I love my life in Australia and as much as I miss my family in the UK I wouldn’t change it for the world.
This time next year I’ll be eligible to take my citizenship test, and as long as I suss out who on earth David Boone is and learn how to use the term ‘fair dinkum’ without blushing, I’ll be a bone fide Aussie!
Happy Australia day folks!
Like most children at my school I was thoroughly obsessed with ‘Neighbours’, it was a daily habit that started in primary school and lasted until University. I can recall cheesy plot lines and characters and, for much of my teens, I believed it to be an accurate portrayal of life in Australia.
As a teen I loved Australian Music… particularly the talents of Kylie and Jason. I used the book voucher (from WH Smiths) that I got for my 11th birthday to purchase my very first record; “I should be so lucky” and spent an entire weekend torturing my parents with it.
My friends and I loved Kylie. We made up complicated dance routines to pretty much all her songs (even the slow ones, cue lots of prancing about and long meaningful looks) and studied the lyrics with the type of dedication that is usually reserved for end of school exams.
Crocodile Dundee was my favourite movie. Although, if I’m honest, the fear of being eaten by a crocodile is still causes me a great deal of concern. My husband assures me that I’m perfectly safe and that even if there were any in Parramatta River they wouldn’t be able to travel the three kilometres overland and knock on my front door. Still, you never know…
The biggest clue that I was destined to become an Aussie though occurred in the city of Hanoi, Vietnam. Along with the rest of my travelling buddies I went for breakfast at an Aussie run café whose aim was to teach basic business skills to local teenagers. It was in this delightful establishment that I first tasted the wonder in a jar that is Vegemite.
I know I am taking a big risk in alienating my British readers, but, man! I love Vegemite! I prefer it to our weaker equivalent Marmite and would happily live off it. In fact, when I travelled up the East Coast of Australia in 2007 I did live off it. For ten days I ate nothing but corn thins and Vegemite, which I carried around in a green Coles bag.
And now here I am… wife to a true blue Aussie and mother to two little Aussie babes. I love my life in Australia and as much as I miss my family in the UK I wouldn’t change it for the world.
This time next year I’ll be eligible to take my citizenship test, and as long as I suss out who on earth David Boone is and learn how to use the term ‘fair dinkum’ without blushing, I’ll be a bone fide Aussie!
Happy Australia day folks!
Linking up with a Cooker and a Looker for her Australia Day Party!
If only Aussie day was a big deal in Colombia. I think Im going to crack a couple of homebrews...and having FINALLY got the internet connected at my house following 18 missed appointments by the telcoms company...I might even tune in to the Hottest 100!!
ReplyDeleteWow - its not often that a pom admits to liking vegemite. You are a brave, brave woman.
ReplyDeleteIt was obviously your destiny Catherine! I can completely picture your choreography and long, meaningful looks.
ReplyDeleteI am actually the proud owner of Kylie and Jason Donovan's signatures. They caught one of my Dad's flights while they were still together and Dad got them to sign a menu for me. He earned some brownie points for that, let me tell you!
Thanks for linking up, Happy Australia Day!
Amanda
PS. I did the practice questions for the citizen test out of interest last week. I was grateful to learn that I pass!
Hi there, I think it suits me so well to be here too. But my conversion came around the shores of the Med in Italy, Spain and Portugal when I was 19. I met so many hilarious Aussies and loved them the most out of all the wandering nationalities. And have blogged about the mate I made who's coming round today.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE vegemite. If I dont want to cook tea I would be happy with a vegemite sandwich or on toast! Once you've done all that study you will probably know more than us about our own history.
ReplyDeleteDoes the citizenship test mean you won't be an Essex girl anymore? Jen
ReplyDeleteOh good luck on taking the citizenship test! I heard it's pretty easy, though. My Canadian friend took it several years ago and got full marks. She was so chuffed!
ReplyDeleteIt is just a piece of paper though it makes it official like marriage !
ReplyDeleteI love vegiemite too.
Your blog is nice.
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We are showing our age, my first record was Kylie also.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I think you are more Aussie than some real Aussie's, I always forget you weren't born and bred here.
Your straight-up, no beating around the bush style of writing and humour earns you citizenship in my view!