January: Adventure & Sunshine - Goodbye London, G'day Sydney!

When I arrived in Sydney on the morning of 10^th January I was a bit of a wreck: I hadn't realised just how much of a difference there would be between visiting Australia on holiday, and moving to Australia. Despite the fact I have no idea how long I'll stay here, people have been saying goodbye to me as if it was forever! It was an emotional journey...I began to feel very English and nostalgic within minutes of reaching the departure lounge. And after three days in Kuala Lumpur feeling jetlagged, hot, tired, and just a little bit lonely – well, thank goodness I had Sarah and baby James waiting for me in the arrivals hall!

Two weeks in I'm feeling much better. I've kept myself very busy, diving straight in to the circus scene. I've blagged two free tickets to circus shows (Circus Oz & Empire), visited two flying trapeze rigs, one aerial space for a 'Sticky pole' lesson (very disappointing and messy version of Chinese Pole, but the only one in Sydney apparently!) and Circus Avalon in Newcastle – who I was just visiting to see a performance and talk shop with the director, but ended up performing with in the afternoon show - amazing! After being introduced on stage by the compere, he asked me why I had moved to Australia? My answer, on the spot, was 'Adventure and Sunshine' :) . I wore a borrowed outfit and had had about 30 seconds to try the trapeze bar and rehearse a few moves - and am happy to say I managed to pull off a reasonable version of my Bristol routine. It was a great way to meet the Avalon folk, and I am officially now a member! The only problem is distance, Newcastle being a three hour train ride away from Sydney, but at least they have a proper Chinese Pole!

I have also met some wonderful people here already. A great flying crew at Circus Arts Sydney, who also love a bit of Acro on the beach (or anywhere, in fact) – and with whom I'm training up to do the lines and catch with.

I've also met most of the Circus Oz cast (who kindly got me the comp tkt!) who are over from Melbourne for the Sydney Festival. I'm hearing more and more that Melbourne and Brisbane are the places to be for circus, and with little prospect of a paid circus job showing itself (so far) in Sydney, I'm wondering how long I should stay here, and where I should base myself, or whether I will get a circus job at all: I've already felt quite daunted by meeting some seriously skilled and professional performers with years of circus school behind them. Tomorrow, however, brings me my first paid job in circus – a very glamorous role helping to take down the Circus Oz big top!