Emulating Julie Andrews...

Do you remember that moment in "The Sound of Music" when Julie Andrews in her unflappable, capable way, (I admit it: I've always had a mum-crush on her. As in, I want her to be my mum) sings the Von Trapp children out of their fear?

With a hop skip and a jump, some props, and a rendition of:

When the dog bites
When the bee stings

When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

The kiddies are smiling angelically, fear assuaged, doubts quashed, ready to get up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the next day to climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow...

Well, that's really what I've needed in my life these last few days; a Julie Andrews-esque emigration nanny, to hold my hand, sing me to sleep, be terrified by my frogs (have you seen the film?) and make  every job a game (wrong film, but same protagonist).

In the absence of further weirdos (oh, but there's always time!) my energy has recently been concentrated solely on adjusting to life Down Under. Now, however much you think ahead, attempt to empathise with your future-self and work out just how strange it will be being 12,000 miles from home - you can't do it. You just can't. Imagining emigrating whilst surrounded by a loving, caring network of friends & family is very different to having emigrated, being in a new country, and feeling absolutely bewildered by where you are, what time zone it is, and why on earth the person standing next to you still believes bow ties to be "ïn".

With the realisation that it was down to me to always look on the bright side of life (this post is unintentionally revealing my hidden love of musicals & "popular culture"), and that to  make a success of things East Side (or in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney at least) a good attitude was required, I resolved to become more positive ASAFP (the 'f'stands for feasibly). Yes, I thought. I'll join a class and make some friends. That will get me feeling better. Buddhism for the Nihilistic, perhaps. Yoga and yoghurt - the ancient art of culture development, physically and biologically (get it?). Yes, the only way is up, and a spoon full of sugar will help the medicine go down.  

This moment of zen-ish, however, was interrupted by an ice-cream shop. Now, despite being about as dessert-orientated as you can get, I'm not a big fan of ice-cream. Cake, yes - all day, every day. Chocolate absolutely. But ice-cream? Not so much. That has all now changed. And why? Because of the Australian ice-cream brand of choice: "Golden Gaytime".

This is the advert, as seen in that shop-front off Dover Heights:

Boys and girls, with all the mayonnaise in the world you can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh*t. But with a positive attitude, an internet connection (for skyping people back home - I dont know what you're thinking), a sense of humour, and some truly shockingly named products - anything is possible. Including creating your new life away from home. 

As I'm increasingly learning, emigrating or moving, however far away you are, will always be difficult. Taking things one day at a time, remembering the support and  friendship you've got back home (even if it seems far, far away), and knowing that love never dies, true friends are always there, and a good ice-cream is a Golden Gaytime - that's what's important.

We could all do with a Julie Andrews in our life. As she's fairly in-demand, however, the next best option is to be our own Julie Andrews. Channel that indomitable spirit, that determination to keep going, and the PMA (positive mental attitude). And if you can also manage to sing like her - good luck to you (I certainly fail on that score...)

One last time, altogether now:

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad,
I simply remember
my favorite things
and then I don't feeel so bad!

Love,

Belle de Sydney

x

PS And just in case you thought Golden Gaytime was bad, the Sydneysiders also enjoy the "services" of The Lube Man. Apparently, this is a standard handyman service. Hmmmmm....