Today is another new start for me. At the start of the week I was totally unsure as to whether I would be staying in Australia or having to fly home to the UK and not being prepared for the latter at all. I had a huge panic. With my possessions being dotted across the borders of Victoria and New South Wales, I knew that I would have no time to arrange my things and pack and go home. Part of that was knowing that I didn't really want to do that. But I had been leaving things to the last minute, meaning that I hadn't applied for my second year Visa yet and time was running out.
As some of you may know, the Visa applications over here can be a little tricky at times. You have to stick to the guidelines and do what you're told. One of those guidelines states that you must be in the country you were in at the time of application, when your visa is granted. Which is why I was panicking. Did i go home and apply for the visa there, or risk the potential three week waiting time for paperwork to be processed and apply here in Australia. This dilemma niggled at me for a few days. Then after a few tantrums and a trip to Melbourne later, I applied on Wednesday morning. In about ten minutes, easy peasy.
Then for the waiting game. The sick feeling and thoughts of rejection running through my head. It was not fun. Then of course realisiation dawned that I STILL hadn't packed for my flight. Which I was determined not to take. besides, I couldn't leave the country now. It wasn't the most pleasant 12 hours I had experienced. The next morning, I checked my Emails. And there it was, my Grant for an extra twelve months.
The feelings I had were not dissimilar to the ones I had experienced around this time last year, when I had applied for my first year. I had to check it, and double check it, then double check it a few more times. You might say I was in disbelief. In less than a day my Visa had been granted. All my panic was unnecessary. My shock continued most of the day. I joked to my sister about not getting it, that the Immigration wanted me to go in for an interview, because of a few problems they had encountered. It was a little cruel but still funny. (Sorry Lou-Lou)...
But this morning I'm in the stage of excitement. Working out where to go next, what I'm going to see. I'm still in Lorne right now. Its a pretty little town, but the rain has begun to set in. Winter is coming. I would be happy for winter if there was a chance of going to the snow, but I have no work just yet, so once I've earnt some money, I think I will chase the sunshine. Head to the coasts and stick to the beaches., after all, I can't come all this way without at least trying to surf, can I?
But a piece of advice to anybody wanting to travel, make sure you are completely organised. I'm not saying plans have to be set in stone, you never know where the mood will take you, who you will meet or what you'll love doing the most. But when it comes to paperwork, flights, and all the 'boring' stuff, never leave it to the last minute.
