March/April: Cake & Circus...& The Great Ocean Road

  

Mid March saw me start work at a busy cafe in Crows Nest, 'Kurtosch' – it sells the yummiest selection of cakes and cheesecakes. It's definitely not a dream job, and steals most of my evenings from me which is annoying, but it will pay the bills for now!

My circus life has seen some exciting developments – great news for Chinese Pole – the first rubber coated poles Sydney has ever seen went up at Aerialise, and I have a fab pole partner to train with. So it's a lot easier to train...I just have to find the time!

And secondly - achieving my first catch in Flying Trapeze! First with friends and colleagues and then a class of paying customers...admittedly only two people were good enough to hit the position, but it was still good practice getting in to the locks, and what a buzz! My thighs are now permanently bruised from practicing but I love it :)

Me and Will - my first ever catch! 22.03.14

 Me and Kat

...and with a real-life customer!

The Easter holidays was a fantastic fortnight for me. Flying Trapeze was on everyday and I went in to 'work' each morning on the train with a smile on my face thinking how lucky I was to get paid to hang upside down and have fun. It reminded me that this is what I'm looking for. Although either side of Easter I caught myself wondering whether the financial insecurities and cafe work are worth it, when I've only got steady weekend circus work which could be done alongside a 'normal' job. But in the end I decided that this is my year out of the office; and even if I change jobs it's important that I'm working a casual one so that I can keep looking for and take any circus opportunities that come my way.

My 'uniform' :)

Over the Easter weekend I took a small break from circus to fly down to Melbourne, visit my old friend Dani and take a trip along the Great Ocean Road. Luckily for me, Dani has a car and was happy to drive! It doesn't take long before you're out of Melbourne and already driving alongside some spectacular scenery.

Dani casually asked me as we drove past a little place called Aireys Inlet and a small lighthouse whether we had 'Round the Twist' in the UK at which I got inordinately excited, insisted on a stop and lots of photos!

Next we drove through Lorne, Apollo Bay and then up inland to find our very glamourous motel in Lavers Hill (which consists of the motel, one pub and one cafe!). The next day we took a break from driving to go to Otway Treetop Adventures where you can walk high up through the trees.

 Then we drove onwards to the Twelve Apostles...although there are only seven of them now because of erosion!

I wasn't sure I could tell exactly why this next rock formation was specifically 'London' Bridge, but it was definitely a bridge! A little further down, Gibson's Steps allow you to get right down to beach level and access the beautiful coastline – just a shame it wasn't hot and sunny!

That evening we drove back to our motel via Melba Gully where we waited amongst the trees until after dark for the glow-worms to come out. And after a slightly false start (Is it dark enough yet? Is that one? Or is it a leaf?) we found zillions and zillions of them! Shining like constellations in the earth. It was amazing and so beautiful. A very cool experience! Sadly that was all we had time for (alhough not so sad to leave our motel!) - we drove back to Melbourne on the Monday – but I had a brilliant and refreshing trip, and came back ready to tackle Sydney and new challenges again.

March: Perth & W.A.

This blog entry is dedicated to my trip over to Western Australia with the lovely Jess – long-time travelling pal from way back when in my gap year in East Africa! Jess now lives in Auckland, and was over in Perth for a conference. I turned up at the end of the conference and we took some annual leave together – me from my very tough life of sunshine and circus ;) Although I did finally find a job to come back to: working at a cafe dedicated to cake!

After a day wandering around Perth myself - which doesn't seem to have a great deal going on other than a CBD, searing temperatures and some nice botanical gardens - Jess and I started our trip together with a trip to beautiful Rottnest Island. Not even the knowledge that 'there are more sharks on the western side of Oz' could stop us diving in to the shallow crystal blue waters around the island, to cool off from our bike riding and snorkel with the fishes!

We took the ferry back to Fremantle, a lovely town which is obviously an older, predecessor to Perth's industrial port on Swan River. We escaped our youth hostel (which made us feel very old!) and visited the Little Creatures brewery/bar/restaurant in the evening, where a balloon man made us a giant balloon caterpillar, which became our road trip travelling companion!

Next day we rented a car to drive on down to Margaret River. I even got back behind the wheel – thank you Jess for your teaching tips, patience and trust! Was also very helpful having massive open roads with absolutely no other traffic! We stopped in a couple of sleepy coastal towns on the way down: Mandurah, Bunbury (which advertised dolphins though we saw none!) and Busselton which boasts the longest pier (2k) in the southern hemisphere....

In Margaret River we stayed at Wharncliff Mill eco-lodge, which was absolutely fabulous and I have to admit feeling slightly smug every time I walked past the dorms, tents and campervan spots that they also offered. We decided to hire bikes as a means to explore the trails around Margaret River...after getting totally lost one morning we did eventually end up seeing some beautiful scenery!

We also went down to the river mouth, hired some kayaks and had a gorgeous 3 hr trip paddling up and down on the river all to ourselves. Taking a 'selfie' on a kayak is a tricky business... 

And of course we had to sample the vineyards and chocolatiers for which the region is famous :)

On the drive back up to Perth we stopped at Meelup beach, a beautiful spot on the coast with white sand and clear blue water. The best beach I've seen in Oz so far and a perfect way to round off the trip with a cooling dip before our flights home! 

February: Foot in the Door

I've just finished my first weekend as a professionally employed flying trapeze trainer! Woohoo! Completely knackered, aching muscles and ripped hands but a really satisfying feeling. I'm still learning – not ready to catch yet – but have graduated from 'just helping out' to being a paid member of staff! So that's my weekends sorted ;) And Circus Arts owns flying rigs all up and down the East coast, so when I move on from Sydney I should be able to keep on working (up until the annoying six month visa limit).

But it's been tough finding other circus work. After taking down the Circus Oz tent the momentum I had really died down: I felt like I'd chased every avenue there was and started reaching dead ends. No circus spaces in need of Static Trapeze trainers, and no Chinese Poles. So, I started thinking about my original love – 'shiny' pole! I had a great time keeping it up myself and teaching it to my wonderful private student Nadia back in London, so I applied to a number of studios here to see if they needed any trainers. End result: as of mid March I will be teaching one class per week to beginners at a studio in north Sydney. It's only one class but it's a start. And the studio's ethos embodies everything I love about pole: physical and mental well-being and empowerment for women. Heels are optional and wiggling is just for fun! ;)

I'm still very much in need of other work as my circus hours aren't nearly enough to survive on. Visiting temping agencies has made my heart sink – and made me remember why I wanted to fight not to end up back in an office! But it would probably be a good way to save up some money to get in to my own accommodation and for future travels. So it'll either be that or cafe work...

Aside from job hunting I've been having a great time with new friends and enjoying the sunshine. I've had a really beautiful day out on a boat down at Cottage Point – where I tried (and totally failed!) at wake-boarding.

I've also tried Stand-Up Paddle Boarding (SUP) (much more successful!), had an amazing week house-sitting by the beach in Manly, and continued trekking up to Newcastle for my Chinese Pole fix! Clearly I'm turning in to an Ozzie when a six hour journey doesn't phase me.... ;)

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!

Aerial Photoshoot (Hoop, Silks, Chinese Pole)

With big thanks to Rachel Mayes who helped me create these on the last day of term when we were all knackered!

Week 11: Looking Back & Looking Forward

11 weeks at Circomedia have come to an end. I can't believe just how fast it went. I can't believe I won't be going in on Monday 6^th January, and catching up with everyone before cracking on with another term's hard work. Turns out three months just wasn't enough to achieve everything I wanted to achieve. I certainly do feel stronger and fitter, and my trapeze technique has definitely improved, but I don't have a portfolio of perfectly polished acts across the disciplines that I thought I would come out with! But I'm not complaining because these three months have given me more than I ever conceived of. I didn't really know what to expect from circus school - and every minute of it has been a joy. Every day provided new surprises and moments I'll never forget, and I've absorbed and gained so much else aside from pure technique and strength training – in movement, theatre, performance, creativity and friendships that will last a lifetime. Which is the Circomedia experience, its forte. A BIG thank you to all of you, my teachers and friends who made it so special.

I do also wonder to what extent the part of me that wants to stay at school simply wants to continue deferring the real decisions: the hard work and potential disappointments involved in trying to find work in the circus world; of potentially compromising my ideals in the need to earn money. But at the same time I am excited to be moving on. I certainly couldn't at this stage go back to my 'old' life, where I fear my new experiences and plans could be drowned by all the hustle and bustle and pressures of London living. Yet whilst it seems so natural to me now, that of course I want to stay in the circus world, when I think back to my trepidation and doubts before coming to Circomedia, I realise just how much I have achieved. And I feel proud of myself. I have not simply 'survived' physically (which was a worry!) - I have flourished and want more.

So...next stop Australia - in under two weeks! My ticket is one way (it made economical sense, but felt quite different pyschologically to buying a return!) and takes me to Sydney. I've sent a few probing messages and emails to friends of friends out there working in circus, but I think it will be a lot easier to network and get to know the scene once I've arrived. I'd love to find work performing, but if I can't do that, or if it's only sporadic (at festivals, parties etc.), then I'd at least like to keep up my training - ideally by taking on some teaching work, which would give me access to a training space. But if it takes me some time to find my feet, who cares? Because it's hot and sunny :) and there's a whole country out there to explore, with many great experiences along the way!

Static Trapeze Performance at Picton Street Xmas Fayre

Trendy Picton Street in Bristol hosts a Christmas Fayre each year with craft stalls, food, drink and performances from musicians, dancers and circus artists. A couple of us from Circomedia decided to sign up for the experience, and despite only having a couple of days following our own Christmas show last week to come up with material, everyone created some beautiful pieces: Holly and Micci with fire, Rach on aerial hoop and fire-hoop, Sudhira on rope and myself on trapeze. The crowds were great and the weather held out until two minutes after we finished!