Why hello there! Welcome back to my 2018 gratitude challenge :D
A quick recap of my 6th week into 2018:
Monday: Alarm clocks and I have a love hate relationship! I slept in (yes I slept through my 5 alarms) however I was only 30 minutes late! I honestly think I could be the next NASCAR Winner the way I got into work in my little red rocket.
Tuesday: Another early start for the ladies opening day for the year and guess what- I was on time! Went to beach after work after a helpful suggestion from a friend and grateful I listened. Was there for a good 3 hours and caught a spectacular sunset.
Wednesday: Just another typical Wednesday at work with another sneaky visit to the beach with some of the girls from work. Was denied alcohol as I didn’t have my ID was a bit angry but was happy that I don’t look old yet haha.
Thursday: couldn’t come quick enough, why? Coz I have tomorrow off! Been a lazy butt all week and hadn’t been to the gym so I made the extra effort to go in after work and man did that make me feel grand!
Friday: Day off and with a sleep-in, bear in mind though I didn’t fall asleep until 6am!!! However I did not waste my day and woke up at 11am. Went for a stroll to get an iced coffee and mail before heading off to the gym with Meg while we waited for my new couch to be dropped off by my lovely and brotherly friend, Jon- I owe you!
Saturday: Today I slept into 12. Didn’t set my alarm so I missed my brother’s basketball game :( yet I still went over to visit family for some toasted ham and cheese croissant and caramel coffee before doing a night function at work. What is crazier is that I went to the gym after work with a friend at 1am and yet still didn’t fall asleep til 4ish! I think my sleeping pattern is a little out of whack but seem to be working better on 5 hours sleep than 8 lately.
Sunday: Slept til 11ish and still made the most of the day. Wanted IKEA breakfast but woke up late so their famous meatballs had to suffice haha walked around IKEA- one of my fave stores- and day dreamed the days I would live in apartments similar to their setups. Headed to St. Kilda for the anuual free St. Kilda Festival. I did not realise how many peeps actually attend, especially young underage teens dressed like the 90’s was the new in thing. Walked around and admired the stalls, rides and games as I listen to a few fave bands from triple J before heading home exhausted and in need of some R&R. No better way to R&R with some classic maccas nuggets and a movie- perfect nuggle (nuggets + cuddles = nuggle) moment
Now let’s get into why you are really reading this.
This week I am pay gratitude to “The City that I live in”.
As we all know I have lived pretty much all over the east coast of Australia, currently residing in Victoria and I do not see myself moving from this amazing and beautiful state anytime soon. The city I live in resides in the Whitehorse City Council but I will not be focusing on this area but all the areas I love throughout Victoria and why I will always call Victoria my home.
If you are not aware but Victoria is known to experience 4 seasons in one day- this is not just a saying as I have experienced it multiple times. You can wake up like it is a Winter’s morning, cloudy and foggy on the roads, by midday the sun peeps through the clouds blaring UV lights on civilians strolling the streets then nek minut just as you were taking off your jacket it starts blowing a gale preparing for the storm Mother Nature has up her sleeve. This storm can consist of heavy rain, spectacular thunder and lighting shows or even hail down pellets of small stones or golf balls! It is honestly amazes me the quick change that can and does occur here.
Melbourne is home to 3.85 million people – either born here or have migrated nationally and internationally. Melbourne is a very multi-cultural city and that is another reason why I believe it is the best city to live in.
There are times where I would love to be like some people who can just book an overseas ticket and not worry about how they will afford it all! However I am lucky enough to be able to travel the world in my own backyard. Councils throughout Victoria are amazing in the way they involve all cultures through festivals, markets and charity work. As we are coming into the Chinese New Year, Melbourne is putting on a culture-packed two week program to mark the 2017 Chinese New Year. The queen Victoria market will be headlining the festivities with Light installations, dragon boat demonstrations, lion dancing and a showcase.
It doesn’t stop there though! Some suburbs throughout Victoria have higher percentage of other cultures than others; for example: Box Hill is a mini China Town, Hawthorn promotes the Vietnamese culture and Oakleigh dominates in the Greek department. We even have streets which are popular tourist destinations like Lygon Street, which offer a variety of Italian cuisine restaurants. If you want to know more about what is going on around Melbourne check out http://www.visitvictoria.com/ which has all upcoming events that pay homage to international celebrations, food festivals, educational programs and more.
There are days where I visit Southern Cross railway station just to sit with a take away coffee and some music playing through my headset to watch the people come and go. Why Southern Cross? Well it is pretty much the central hub to get anywhere in Victoria as it is has metro trains for suburbs, VLine for the country lines, buses that get you to the airport and back and access to trams to travel the city quickly. I am lucky enough that my tram out the front of my home takes me directly to Southern Cross, or if I stay on to Port Melbourne.
Melbourne may have beaches but they are not surf beaches, they may not have crystal blue water like other beaches throughout Australia but it is a beach that anyone and everyone can go to. Port Melbourne and St Kilda Beach are probably the most popular beaches in Melbourne and I love going there for multiple reasons:
Water,
Sand,
People watching,
Culture,
Food and of course
Watching and listening to motorbikes and cars.
They are also the closest beaches to where I live, I go to chill more so then a quick dip. I do travel to other beaches where you can catch a wave or jump off cliffs into the ocean or secluded to centre myself.
What else do I love about Melbourne? Its proximity to the mountains and you know what the means when winter hits- SNOWBOARD SEASON. I am grateful enough to have been over 4 times last year to two different mountains and hope I get the same opportunity this year. If I had the flexibility (fingers crossed it will be next year) to live closer to the mountain and work up there to build a resume so when I do decide to live overseas I can work pretty much anywhere. I am born a winter baby and forever will be a winter baby- I live for the cold and wet months were all I do is board and keep warm with coffee, a fire and a good book or journal.
I could seriously go on about Melbourne and Victoria from the Four-Wheel driving experiences, the hikes through Wilsons Prom or the Grampians or the vast winding roads for cruises but I believe that in order to understand you need to put Melbourne/ Victoria on your bucket lists to travel to and if you need some help on things to do I am sure I can give you a list designed for you.
Stay tuned for next week gratitude challenge- “Week 7 - A Friend”
