LIFE UPDATE | OUR FIRST WEEKS IN IRELAND

This is our eighth week in Ireland, isn’t that crazy?! It felt like it took forever to get here and now we’re here the weeks are flying by.

Since arriving home I definitely have a new found appreciation for routines. We’ve all been a bit all over the place as we figure them out, not that we’re there yet (still haven’t nailed the whole grocery shopping and meal planning to name one), but each week brings us closer to making this feel like home and less like we’re in limbo.

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
Our original plan was to rent for a while to allow us to focus on settling in and getting to know Belfast, but what I hadn’t bargained for was that renting here is insane!

We looked into a few properties but they were either already gone or had 30+ people on the list to view them. Plus the prices have significantly increased due to the demand being so high and as they only offer 12 month contracts it meant we’d be locked in which doesn’t suit us. So it’s lucky then that I like my parents (and that Darren doesn’t mind them either) as it looks like we’ll be staying here for a few more months.

So that means we’re looking to buy a house sooner rather than later! It wasn’t what we had planned but I’m definitely more excited about this new direction and the process of getting a mortgage has begun!

BEING HOME
I’ve spent most of my life not living where my family is, drawn to the thrill of big city life and adventures in other countries (none of which I regret) but having been everywhere there is nothing quite like home and being with the people who love you most.

As for being back in Ireland its hard to describe exactly just what that means. I loved Australia, its an amazing place and it will forever have a place in my heart, but for me home is where my family is, especially my mum.

It’s not all been easy, as with any big life change and international move I’ve been stressed, more stressed than I’ve ever been, I’ve been short tempered, impatient, anxious and have felt stretched, but I can finally feel that easing now as life settles down and routines take hold.

HIGHLIGHTS
There have been many! Vodka tonics and catch ups with my mum, seeing these cousins together, seeing my best friend every week and feeling like I haven’t seen her in ages when 2 weeks pass without seeing her. Celebrating family birthdays, walks with my brother, buying a new car and of course Guinness!

But the main thing is the longing I’ve been carrying around with me has disappeared. For years without fully realising it I could physically feel the ache of not being in the place I wanted to be. Being home I feel whole again and am so grateful we made this move. There are of course still lots of things to figure out and we have our first winter looming but then that also means I get to shop for winter clothes which is something I haven’t done in years, so there are pros and cons to everything.

Thanks for following along on our journey from Australia to Ireland, I’ll keep you updated as we go xx