The 101 on moving to the other side of the world

 

In January I decided to follow my long-term ambition and move from Oxford to Sydney, Australia.

After the decision was made, my notice was handed in and the flight booked, I then had to put in the legwork to actually make it happen, which, in my opinion, takes lots of prep and a bloody good spreadsheet (I work in PR – I live by a good spreadsheet).

If you’re looking to relocate and find a new job in another country, chances are you’ll have a fair amount to consider, and sometimes it can be hard knowing where on earth to start. While everyone has a different experience, I wanted to share a few tips from me to you on how you can best prepare yourself. So whether you’re moving to Honolulu or Helsinki, Sydney or Sulawesi, here’s a simple, quick-fire guide on some tips and tricks to get yo’self moving, from me to you.

Money

First things first, lets talk money. It doesn’t make the world go round, but it certainly helps you get yourself half way around it. Saving is obvious, I know, but be realistic on how much you’ll need to pocket before you leave. If you’re moving to work and settle, consider that you’ll need a fair whack for a bond, bedding, furniture, money to live on until you get a job, and some extra dough to explore. Get saving and allow yourself as much time a possible to do so.

Life admin

It’s also worth getting your life admin in order before you leave, especially your finances. You’ll need to cancel your direct debits, notify your bank, notify your phone provider and, if in a contract, consider that you may have to pay out to buy yourself out of the contract. You’ll need to arrange storage for any belongings that you don’t take or sell anything you don’t need for some extra dollar. You’ll also need to write to the Student Loan Company to let them know you’re leaving so that they can freeze your monthly repayments until you’re able to start paying them back again; it’s also worth letting the Tax Man know.

The job hunt

Ahead of moving, research the job market in your chosen destination, particularly with regard to your profession. Start reading the media in your chosen country, and make sure you’re reading all relevant industry media – that’ll give you a good steer and get you up to speed on what’s what and who’s who. Find out the best recruitment companies, connect with them and anyone you know that lives and works in your destination that may have recommendations and/or connections.

Update your LinkedIn and ask for recommendations. Spruce up your CV (you may need to create several, in case you initially have to do some casual work) and begin reaching out to recruiters and companies ahead of your departure (not too far ahead, mind you). It’s good to have some coffees lined up for when you arrive, so that you can hit the ground running.

Hopefully the above advice will set you up for a successful move and help to ensure a stress-free transition.

Bon voyage!

Something’s Gotta Give

Hello ladies,

Sadly I was absent around these parts last month and for that I apologise. As the title of this post suggests, life has been pretty hectic of late.

I am confessing today about my canny ability to spread myself too thin, have my finger in way too many pies and have much more on more plate than I can reasonably handle.

Here’s all the hats I’ve been adorning of late:

• Mother
• Wife
• Son’s taxi
• Celebration inspiration blogger
• President of a newly formed Women’s Institute
• University Administrator
• Vintage Cocktail Bar hostess
• Vintage online shop owner

There are only so many hours in the day, days in the week and so on. I am sure, you know the deal too. Heck, I bet many more of you are juggling way more than this, but we each have our own threshold and I have definitely kicked the arse out of mine.

There is a need to eat, to sleep, to spend quality time with family and friends. There is a house to clean (I find dusting therapeutic, but have a love hate relationship with the hoover), dinners to cook (or put in the oven) and endless piles of washing to be done.

So,  somethings gotta give.

A few weeks ago I had to look at all of the above and decide which one I needed to say ‘adios amigos’ to before I checked myself in to the clinic with a large dose of ‘overdone it again, you will never learnitis’.

It was a bit of a no-brainer in the end. I have to drop the one that doesn’t quite fit and flow with everything that I am currently trying to achieve.

The ethos of the blog is celebration inspiration, the vintage bar hire service is an extension of that and is progressing naturally, growing organically and I truly love attending wedding fairs and events with them. They generate such interest, people love them just as much as I do and that is wonderful.

However, the shop is proving to be not a very good fit. I’ve tried to do a Usain before I’m off the starting block so to speak.

This is the picture that sealed the deal really, made me throw in the proverbial towel and call time on this element of the Trawlergirl empire.

This is one of a pair of bookends that I recently sold on Etsy, packed them within an inch of their life when sending them off to their new life in Italy.

I was gutted to receive this photograph, and it’s not the first item that has met its fate in this way too. And to be completely honest I cannot cope with this kind of image anymore. I actually feel like I am sending these vintage pieces who had a nice happy little life in the charity shop until I spotted them and packing them off to meet their death at the hands of an overzealous postal worker.

I am missing blogging too and interacting and contacting all of the lovely people who are interested in the bars. I have plans to organise events in the future too and I can’t do all that whilst searching the internet for ‘100 ways to pack a plate so it doesn’t get mullered in transit’

It was a relief to make the decision and I have renewed hope and energy for the projects that I can now devote my attention to instead.

I suppose that the lessons learnt from this are threefold

• If it’s not broken, don’t package it and try and send it some place. Leave it to the experts.
• I still love all things vintage, retro and kitsch, retailing online though is just not my niche.
• Finding out that some ventures are just not for me is almost as satisfying as finding the ones that are.

So come on ladies, I would love to hear about your experiences of a similar nature too. What one thing inspired you to throw in the towel on a venture you knew was doomed?

Love, headless deer and bubble wrap,