October: Tribute to SURCAS

Whilst officially 'away' in Tasmania I snuck back to Sydney for my birthday weekend mid October to see friends, go to trapeze – and see DUSK, the Sydney University Circus show. I have been going to SURCAS (Sydney University Recreational Circus Arts Society) practices since June and want to pay tribute to yet another fabulous bunch of circus folk I have met here in Sydney. We meet in the unlikely place of the University rock climbing gym and rig up what we can in the middle of the room, usually a couple of silks and a trapeze.

It's been great to learn a few more tricks on silks – and I have to in particular thank Joe and Odette who taught me enough to convince some students of mine at Suzie Q's Pole Studio that I was an adept silks performer when I covered a lesson there!

I was originally going to be in DUSK with my fellow silks girls, Rose and Odette, and had lots of fun training and practicing with them and coming up with ideas. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay in Sydney for rehearsals because of the opportunity I was offered in Tasmania, but here are some pics of the act when it was originally conceived of as a trio not duo!

The girls did a fab job on the night – as did all the other SURCAS folk. I'm so glad I got to see it. Bravo! :)

September: Strawberries & Circ's'Cool

Before we move on to all things Tasmania, I don't feel that my blog would be complete without paying tribute to the job I had for the majority of my time in Sydney: selling strawberries. Finally, I have sold my last punnet! I've said that before (and gone crawling back to it) but I really, really have this time as I move on to Tassy and my crazy Irishman boss Baz takes his venture over to New Zealand in October. Sydney is now as saturated with strawberries as it is possible to be; the market is flooded, it's the end of the season and no one wants to buy them anymore!

Despite my protestations (long hard days picking strawberries up at Flemington market, then walking several kilometres going door to door carrying 15kg worth of punnets at a time) the job has had its moments. Aside from being surprisingly lucrative ('red gold' Baz calls it) it has also taken me to almost every single suburb of Sydney and beyond, giving me a much greater appreciation for the city and its diversity. I feel like I know it better than many locals, and definitely better than the tourists who only ever see the harbour, the CBD and the beaches.

I must also do a shout-out to my fellow sellers who went through it all with me (the blood, the sweat, the tears...being chased by the council, or being completely ignored, and the days when the strawberries were a bit mouldy but we had to sell them anyway). In particular, my two lovely Italians, Cesare and Mattia who made the whole thing not only bearable but fun!

 Also a thank you to the anonymous hundreds of people who would make the job worthwhile: who would actually stop and talk to me, give me a smile, or ask me how I was doing that day. You will never know just how grateful this poor English girl was on those days to have a sympathetic word and be treated as a fellow human being! Getting to know particular people, knowing that I would be received warmly, and knowing where to go to sell and keep my morale up (thanks go to the office blocks of Parramatta!) kept me on the job. Through you, I re-discovered the value and pleasure in basic human interaction and friendliness.

And so to Tasmania! Leaving Sydney was harder than I thought, despite knowing I'll be going back to enjoy my last month or so there. I had a fantastic house and a bunch of great friends, in particular at Circus Arts, and I was sad to say goodbye!

So now I am in Launceston, and have just finished helping out over the two weeks of school holidays at Circ's'Cool. We've had the kids from 9-3 every day and it has been quite intense, but also good fun. The school itself is in an old church, and has the space for an indoor flying rig and rock-climbing wall.

I am staying with the family who run the school, and it has been quite a change to my Sydney lifestyle! However, I have been made to feel very welcome here and met (yet another) bunch of lovely people. Their house sits outside Launceston in Swan Bay on 80 acres of land. Beautiful scenery but somewhat isolated (and no wifi!). This is the view from my bedroom window...

August: Poletastic!

August was all about pole...shiny not Chinese! At the very end of July I was lucky enough to get involved in a music video for Melbourne band Halycon Drive. Every year, radio station Triple J teams up with NIDA (Sydney's National Institute for Dramatic Arts) to give bands and creatives the chance to get together and produce a music video – the winning band gets a record deal and the creative team a lot of exposure to the industry, so the stakes are high!

One of my circus friends, Zeb, is studying at NIDA and put out an advert for any circus folk willing to get involved and showcase their talent. No pay, just a fun day out and free pizza - anyone who knows me knows that's enough ;). And given my flexible work and lifestyle over here, I was able to commit to filming one Thursday, at the Colombian Hotel/Bar on Oxford Street.

The theme was bright and brash, verging on the grotesque, so we all had great fun choosing outfits and getting make-up done. As well as myself, there was another pole dancer, David, and Bailey, who did hoop and contortion. Then there were a number of actors and extras hired to dance!

The storyline was dreamlike (turned nightmare!) so I also had a bit-part in a gas mask and hoodie....!

The rest of my month was spent gearing up for an acrobatic pole performance at The Victoria Room in Kings Cross on 24^th August. They run a 'carnival' night every Sunday and have a number of different acts perform each week, from aerial, pole and hoop to burlesque and jazz duets. I went there very early on in my year in Sydney, imagined how cool it would be to perform there....and, well, it only took me 6 months to pluck up the courage to approach the manager!

I created two routines, both for spinning pole, one slow and the other more dynamic. Both are up on my website. I am happy with how they went, and remembered how much fun it is to perform! And I'm thankful to all my lovely friends who came to support – and film!

July: My six month anniversary in Oz

This month I'm writing more of a reflective piece: not so much what I'm doing right now, or have done this last month, but how I feel about the last six months, and what I'm thinking about the future. So much has happened since I arrived, it feels both like I've been here a very long time, and hardly any time at all. Being six months in is a strange feeling, because it's been enough time to really miss the things and people I love back home, but also enough time to begin to feel very settled, and to be able to envisage what a future here might be like. Ultimately, however, the former have won me over. For many reasons. Some trivial. And some fundamental.

Circus is always going to be fundamental to my life and my happiness: it isn't something I am 'exorcising' from my system by doing as much of it as possible over here – it is a part of me. But living over here doesn't seem specifically advantageous over living in the UK or Europe for following that dream. Admittedly - you can do flying trapeze in the Winter! - but aside from that, I don't think it has been any easier to create networks and find jobs. Whereas for skydivers and divers the Australian climate means that there are more jobs in those sectors, sunshine and circus don't necessarily equate! Plus, on a practical level, I am having to assess that whilst I have been able to find good work with flying trapeze, it has not been enough to live on, (hence taking ridiculous jobs such as selling strawberries) and a high percentage of that work hasn't been what I came for (two words: children's parties....aaargh!).

More trivially, Australia HAS A WINTER AFTER ALL. Yes, dear British readers, it really does. I have never been so cold. True, it may still be nice and warm outside, but come home at night to a house that is designed to keep the heat out, and has never heard of central heating...and it is VERY chilly.

It's amazing how quickly you can become so accustomed to a new and exciting place, that you forget just how exciting it is. Sometimes I'm on the train going over the harbour, and have to remind myself how spectacular the view is, and how much I wanted it and how hard I worked to get here and have it. And reminding myself of how special and unique this experience is is something I intend to do every day until I leave.

I am so privileged to have had, and be having such an incredible time out here. It has been so good for me in so many ways. People can so easily get stuck in a routine, shut doors and wear blinkers. Being here is reminding me how to live: the rewards to be gained from putting yourself out there beyond your comfort zone; the joy in opening yourself to new and totally different friendships and experiences; the humility you learn from the kindness of strangers to new people in new countries.

So, here's to everyone I have met along my journey so far, with thanks, and to the next half of the year, with great anticipation... :)

June: East Coast Road Trip – Trapeze, Sunshine, & Dolphins!

In early June I took a dream road trip up the East Coast – exploring all the sites I've been dying to see and squeezing in plenty of trapeze on a three day intensive at the Circus Arts Headquarters in Byron Bay. Every day of the trip just got better and better! - with something new and amazing to see and experience – and on top of this Kat and I managed to chase the sunshine all the way up, each day waking up to a perfect blue sky.

First stop was the Big Banana at Coffs Harbour – cue obligatory 'holding up the banana' photo!

Byron Bay is a gorgeous sea-side town with chilled vibes and a hip crowd. The beach and lighthouse are beautiful and amazingly, Kat and I were lucky enough to spot both a whale breaching in the distance, and a number of wild dolphins out for an evening swim.

Then over the weekend was trapeze trapeze trapeze! So much fun to be on 'trapeze camp' with three of my fabulous Sydney trapeze buddies Kat, France, Amanda and to meet the local enthusiasts!

By day hanging out at the rig, and by night getting take-out and staying in our beautiful beach-chic house. Over the course I worked on my swing, tried some new things, including hands-legs-angel, and got my first ever return to bar after splitz-angel! :)

http://www.streaka.com/profile/circus-arts/v/9aYRuhSvVdw/vel/29424/

It was so much fun and on the last day we got to perform in a small show - in sparkly outfits of course, true circus style!

Next up was Surfers Paradise and the Gold Coast – the home of Australia's theme parks - first stop, Movie World.

Having not had quite enough trapeze to satisfy us, that evening we took an impromptu drive up to Circus Arts in Brisbane to play on the rig there with Chris and Dave – and absolutely blitzed it! Lots of time to play up on the catch bar, and I even caught the catcher ;) .

At Sea World the next day we got suitably soaked on a number of rides! Although not every ride was quite as hardcore as the day before...

The dolphin show impressed us so much we wanted more....so Kat and I decided to stop off at the Marine Magic Park in Coffs Harbour on the drive home. We thought we would be content with the dolphin and seal kisses...

...but ended up signing up for the full dolphin experience! We both got to swim and play (and get kisses and hugs with!) the adorable 4 year-old Jet. It was absolutely amazing to be up close and personal with one of the most magical, friendly and lovable animals on the planet.

May: A Visit from Home & A Trip to the Blue Mountains

In mid May I was lucky enough to have a visit from my Mum, who had been holidaying in Mauritius, and decided that it wasn't too much further on to Oz....! We had a great time seeing the sights of Sydney together – and it opened my eyes up again to just how beautiful the city is: that moment when you first come across the sparkling blue water of the harbour, that impressive bridge and the white sails of the opera house.

We also rented a car and went up to the Blue Mountains. I had been before, with Sarah in 2010, but the view had looked like this: 

This time around we were super lucky and it looked like this: :) 

We visited Scenic World in Katoomba and had fun taking the glass-bottomed Skyway, the cable car, and the steepest incline railway in the world (reassuringly built by the Swiss). The views of Mount Solitary and the Three Sisters rock formations were spectacular. 

 Leura, the small town we were staying close by to was perfectly quaint and 'rustic-chic', although we were disappointed to find everything closing by 5 o'clock! However, the beautiful converted old dairy (Leura Old Dairy) we were staying in was the perfect place to relax after a day's walking, and even had an outside hot tub!

Mum's visit flew by and there wasn't remotely enough time to show her everything. But it was great to share some of what I have been experiencing and show off just a little of what has drawn me half the way round the world!

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.