At the end of the month, my family and I will be leaving Melbourne and moving back to Sydney.
Our stint down here was always a temporary one and although I am thrilled to be moving back home, I will miss Melbourne – a lot.
Which got me thinking.
What makes a place? I think I have a small amount of experience when answering this.
When I was 22, I packed my bag and moved to London and it turned out to be a life changing experience. I met Jason and the rest is history.
But apart from that, when I remember London, I think of the amazing friendships I made – friends who will always hold a special place in my heart.
Life long friends.
It has been like that for me here.
Melbourne has SO much going for it. The coffee, the day trips, the culture and the restaurants to name a few but for me, the “experience” has been about the people.
I have met some wonderful folk, here in Melbourne.
Generous and open…
…but in Melbourne I found one of “those” friends.
You know the one? They don’t come around often.
The one you can talk to five times a day and still have something to chat about.
The one who you show your really bad side to and they still love you.
The friend you will always have, no matter where your life takes you.
The mate that just “gets” you.
Thank you Melbourne, for giving me such a friend.
Love ya x
{ 33 comments… read them below or add one }
Melbourne is great like that. I moved here from Sydney when I was 22 and ever since I’ve called this ‘home’. I sort of want to go back to Sydney eventually, when my parents are older, but it will be for my family, not for the city. Of course that all depends on what’s happening with my life here too…..
It’s so tricky when you have family interstate x
Hi Kate,
Sorry to see you go back to Sydney – it was great getting to know you. Best wishes to you and your family and happy crafting!
Cheers,
Karen
I will miss your quilting on my quilts Karen!
x
Melbourne is like that I agree with Karen. We moved here from Brisbane six years ago and I too found a friend like that here. We will miss you Kate and I wish you all the best relocating back to Sydney. At least we will still see you here in blogland!! xo
Lovely to have met you Cathy and looking forward to seeing your creations on the interweb x
You have already heard my thoughts on the Sydney matter. And I reckon you gals have what it takes, notwithstanding the geography.
(Couldn’t have thought of a better time to use The Square Bracket as a blog post title!). xxx
You cheeky cheeky minx xx
I think it’s great that you have made a friend that just connects with you… and I’m sorry that you will be leaving that ease of contact behind… and all the lovley things that Melbourne has to offer.
I would like to say welcome back to Sydney though – this city will be richer for having you here :)
Thankyou x
I’m so pleased ‘the wait’ is over for you x
‘those’ kind of friendships cope with anything, even a big move xxx
I couldn’t agree more x
Gorgeous, gorgeous KateO. Right when I really didn’t think I wanted or needed anymore friends [there was you].
I love you & I’ll be forever grateful that the corporation brought you to Melbourne & unleashed your enthusiasm on me.
We’ve had such a lot of fun & shared some really great [& very] real stuff too.
& today you’ve made me cry…& then smile when I saw the time of the post & realised there must have been a bit of “courage” under the belt.
I’ll miss you like crazy mate…you’re tops. x
Well, if I have learnt anything from my trip is you never can be too sure when you will stumble across a gem.
It has been a blast Kirst and I’m looking forward to many more adventures with you.
Thank god for Telstra and Qantas
x
Lucky Sydney! I hope the move goes well!
So glad you got to experience Melbourne and so happy to have shared coffees and a chat with you! Hoping your move is an easy one. Great to have a contact in Sydney!
Has been lovely getting to know you Rit, will catch up before I leave x
I wish you well Kate! I’m sorry we never got to meet in person but I will continue to enjoy your blog and a little of your life from afar. Melbourne is THE best, so I’m sure you’ll be back to visit too! Best wishes for the move too!
Thanks Susan
Wow Kate that’s a surprise! Well it has been lovely to meet you and I wish you all the best for your move home. Hope to see you when I’m in Sydney next :) Lou x
Likewise Lou! Make sure you let me know when you visit.
Kate it will be lovely to have you back in Sydney, hopefully we can catch uo
Looking forward to it Cass x
It’s always hard moving and starting over…we are heading back to Brisbane next year and leaving the friendships that I have made here in Perth will be very hard.
Hope everything goes smoothly for you Kate :)
x
Wow!!! Didn’t expect THAT!!!
But I completely understand it! It must be so hard to raise little kids without having family close at hand.
I have so enjoyed having you here in Melbourne and will miss our catch ups.
But I do hope to have the occasional trip to Sydney and a catch up then! (In fact, I have a trip planned in January for a friend’s wedding!)
Are you thinking of having a bit of a gathering before you leave?
Andi x
Moving is always tough, but Melbourne’s loss is Sydney’s gain! Hopefully you’ll be able to make it along to our Craftroom meetings again.
When push comes to shove and as we get older it’s family that we need around us more than ever. That’s what instigated our move from London. But it doesn’t stop us painfully wrenching from dear friends. The world is a small place these days and so much easier to keep in touch, which I am sure you will with your new wonderful buddy x
You will be missed by many. I knew it was temporary but wow, that has come around quickly! So glad that Melbourne has given you so much. I just wish that I’d had more available time while you’ve been here!
Kate, from one Sydney girl to another…well you know I will be sad when you leave and will miss you immensely. You are braver than me to move back, I’m so entrenched in the Melbournian way of life. I know what it’s like to miss your family. My little people will miss your little people. Those dropoffs and pickups won’t be the same! You have reignited my interest in craft, all things vintage and knitting (I will get there one day) and when I have time (someday), I hope to show you something (that scarf) which I will have finally finished off, all by my lonesome. Adios amiga… see you sometime in Sydney LX
Thanks Laura! Hope to see you when you visit Sydney x
This is such a wonderful post. I’ve been thinking about these issues a lot lately, mostly because I so hate living in Brisbane (I feel awful writing that but it is true). We moved back here from London and I’ve been trying to work out why I can’t just get over myself and make it work here… but I think you might have hit the nail on the head when you said about the people you meet who make a place. I’ve met some fabulous people here but no-one I’ve really connected with in the way you’ve mentioned. I think that might be why I continue to feel like an outsider here. Anyway, I’m rambling… So very happy for you that Melbourne had that specialness for you and best wishes with your move back to Sydney. K
It’s a tricky one.
How long have you been back in Australia for? I find it takes a good 12 months to re-settle/settle into a place but really believe that it is made a lot easier when you meet some good people.
I just try and put myself out there, go to courses, workshops…anything where I may meet like minded people and hope for the best!
Hope you find a good egg soon xx
Very sad that you are going & your departure is coming way too quickly.
Glad you have enjoyed your time is Melbs, & I’m so glad that we got to become friends.
x