During the two years we spent living in Sydney, we never really found a group of friends we could socialise with regularly. On weekdays we went to work during the day and came home in the evening tired and cranky (often quite late), and that was about it. We spent most weekends together, just the two of us, sometimes out adventuring and other times quietly at home, but rarely with friends. Though we already had some gorgeous friends in the city when we arrived and met a few more through our jobs, we didn’t have a group of easy, comfortable, fun people we could hang out with at any time. We just never really found our place. And though we always enjoyed each other’s company and spent our days together quite happily (and had fun with our Sydney friends when we did manage to see them), it often felt like something important was missing.
Since moving to Bendigo so much has changed. We were lucky enough to meet some wonderful people and become part of a nice little group almost as soon as we arrived, and we’ve since formed a lovely little routine of social activities together. Most Sundays some of us go to the markets and potter about looking for treasures (which is where the pictures above were taken). On Wednesday nights we go to trivia at a local pub. Some Sunday nights we gather at one of our houses to play board games and every few weeks we all go out for dinner. After two years without those things, we are so grateful to have been welcomed so warmly. For the first time ever, we feel like we are living in a place where we could be happy to stay. Neither of us feels the desire to pick up and leave and a lot of it is owing to the wonderful people we have met in the past eight months.
The move to Bendigo hasn’t been all sunshine and lollipops. There have been struggles with money, stress concerning our careers, and extreme frustration over the rundown old house we are currently living in (among other things) but we are both certain moving here was the right thing to do. We are so excited about the little life we are building together, in this lovely part of the world.
Phew! Making friends is a tricky business isn’t it?!
I hope you all have a truly gorgeous week. I’ll be thinking of you!
