Week 2 (kind of) I’m going to start writing this from Monday so it’s actually only really day 4 but I’m somehow counting that as week two… It was such a busy first week!? With lots of people to catch up with and things to do so this is a long one.
On Monday Morna was back to work so it was my first day out and about on my own! I had a slow morning and went to the gym for 10ish, replying to everyone with podcast length voice notes as I walked. I’m going to get so fit without a car because the hills around here are no joke. Post-gym I mooched around Coogee and the different shops/cafes on Coogee Bay Road before heading to Coogee Pavillion with Morna for a coffee. The sun came out in the afternoon so I headed back to the beach to listen to a podcast and take in the beach air – loooove it.
We were up early on Tuesday to go on a walk in Malabar National Park before Morna started work – it felt like we’d achieved so much so early and felt great – I need to keep these early mornings up once I’m working (not sure if it’s the jet lag or if I have suddenly transformed into an early bird?) so it doesn’t feel like I’m a slave to my laptop. Morna worked, I gymed and then sat on the beach in the glorious sun reading my book Notes on Heartbreak, which is currently up there with being one of my fav books I’ve ever read. Couldn’t recommend it enough, the author puts feelings that everyone has had into words that you’ve never been able to find to describe a feeling. It’s great. On Tuesday eve Morna and I headed to Pilates, holy moly. I’ve done pilates before but never pilates like that. 10 mins in and my body was trembling, like your bottom lip when you’re about to cry, but all over. I thought there is no chance I’m going to be able to do the whole class…but I did (just). Afterwards we headed to Coogee Pav for a schooner and pizza with some of Morna’s friends!
Waking up on Wednesday was tough and my body was in absolute bits from Pilates?! I felt like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz in need of an oil can to loosen up my tight muscles. It was a slow morning as the weather was pretty rubbish however Morna and I still went for a very brief dip at lunch time in the baths by Coogee beach – I’ve made a promise to myself that I’ll go in the Ocean a minimum of twice a week while I’m here so this was my second this week! In the evening I headed to the Sydney Noodle Market in Surry Hills to meet some friends from Uni – my first time navigating the public transport and shock I got the wrong bus. The Noodle Market was good but a little cold, I got some delicious tofu Bao Buns – have reallllllly been loving tofu since being here.
We had a wholesome start to Thursday morning and went to a Vinyasa yoga class. I’ve really been enjoying going to yoga classes, however before going I really can’t be bothered but by the end of the class I feel like I’m walking on clouds because it’s so calm and relaxing. I had some time to kill after the class so I went back to the Coogee Pav (clearly the Pav’s number 1 fan, third time in a week) and looked for some upcycling inspo for what i’m going to do to my room when I move in to my apartment next Wednesday – the guys that are moving out have left some stuff but it’s all very basic so I want to get creative! Afterwards I went to meet my future housemate, Maddie, for the first time for lunch and she was an absolute babe, can’t wait to move in and get to know her better! In the evening I headed into Surry Hills to meet my team at work for the first time – transport in Sydney isn’t quite like London and I managed to be 15 mins late and then in true Chaotic Chloe style I made quite the flustered entrance to the monthly meeting telling them the transport in Sydney is shit compared to London… oops. The office in Sydney is much smaller than the one in London, but everyone was so friendly – I’m looking forward to starting! We had a couple of drinks and the office and then I headed home and FaceTimed mum and Nicole!
MY ONE WEEK AUS-IVERSARY AND IT WAS SUNNY! FINALLY! Thankfully I had a big walk planned from Rose Bay to Hornby Lighthouse with Liv (who I used to work with) and Charlie (who I met up with on Weds) so got to make the most of the beautiful weather! The walk was stunning and took us past some absolutely ridiculous houses and loads of different beaches – my favourite being either Parsley Bay or Camp Cove Beach. I love contrast when you’re standing on the most stunning golden sand beaches with crystal clear water and you can look out and see all the skyscrapers in the city. The walk was just over 10km and when I got back to the apartment I was absolutely exhausted! The sun and ocean air really took it out of me so I had a v early Friday night #wild.
Saturday was a jam packed day. Morna and I went to the gym for EIGHT FORTY FIVE?! On a Saturday!?! We both did separate work outs and then headed to Coogee Beach for a dip as it was another gorge day. We were discussing that we felt like God having achieved so much by 10am. Loved it. We then did a (not so) quick trip to K-Mart where I spent a small fortune on all the essentials for the apartment and went to CottonOn! to buy a new bikini. The bikinis out here are just 10x’s better than anything you can get in the UK. We completely lost track of time and next thing we knew it was 2pm and we’re meant to be at Lottie’s bday picnic at 3… classic Chloe timings. A super speedy turn around time meant we got to Lottie’s at 4ish where we played KUBB (a great garden game, 10/10 recommend) and rounders then headed back to Lottie’s for a bbq and pre’s! Met Lottie’s goregous doggos and loads of really lovely and really fun new people, Morna somehow accidentally managed to knock a hole in Lottie’s wall and the night ended in Marly bar (where we would go out on my semester abroad in Newtown!) which was fun but just such a rogue bar. The DJ seemed to only play any song for about 10 seconds before changing it and the song selection was eclectic to say the least.
AND FINALLY, Sunday. I was SO tired today, Morna and I stayed up to 4 having a huge dmc so my eyeballs were stinging with tiredness, like when you get shampoo in your eyes when you’re washing your hair. No time for being tired though, I had to get up and out to go and meet up with my Godfather and his wife Kate for brunch at Sea Salt Clovelly.There’s nothing better than seeing a familiar face in a not so familiar place! The brunch was delish (I’m such a fan of the brunch culture here) and there was loads to catch up on as I haven’t seen them in ages. The rest of the day was spent horizontal on Clovelly beach with Morna, Jake and Morna’s friend Izzy. I decided to walk back from Clovelly and I’m so glad I did because on the way home I saw whales just off of Coogee!!!!!! Now it’s Sunday eve and it’s been a super relaxing evening of doing absolutely nothing (except writing this) and reflecting on such a fun first week!!
Three thoughts of the week:
- Must remember GCSE English and get better at writing metaphors and similes – As I’ve been writing these posts (and I’m only on number two so that is saying something) I notice how often I go to describe things as ‘soooo nice’, ‘sooo tired’ or ‘sooo pretty’. I really need to get better at describing things because it’s painful to read! I’ve never been too great at English/writing so look forward to some interesting descriptions coming your way (starting in this post).
- I miss pints – In Aus there is no such thing as a pint in a pub, instead you get a schooner (425mls aka less than a pint) and they are the same price (if not more expensive) than you’d expect a pint to be!? It’s normally $11 minimum for a schooner which works out at about £6.20 (ouch). Daylight robberies.
- Different types of happiness – I’ve been thinking about this a lot this week, especially when I’ve been getting up early to go to yoga classes… I was reading about Type 1 and Type 2 happiness but I think what I’ve been thinking about is slightly different. I’ve been thinking about instant and delayed gratification/happiness, e.g. when I’m scrolling Instagram/TikTok at night that is instant gratification/happiness which lasts for such a short period of time. However, another type of happiness is the happiness I feel after doing yoga, which only happens if I don’t scroll socials/watch Netflix. It takes more discipline and self-restraint, knowing that future you will thank you for sacrificing the instant happiness for the delayed happiness. Anyway, I’m rambling but hopefully that makes sence.
Thanks for reading, Chloe x
Chloe Cripps 