Places I've Lived
Early Years in Belmore and Lifelong Friendships
(1974 - 1976)
(1974 - 1976)
After staying with Sandra for a few weeks and securing a permanent job, I was able to apply for a unit in Belmore. The unit, located at the top of Leylands Parade, was about a fifteen-minute walk to the station, making it convenient for me to catch the train into Sydney. About a month after I moved in, I received my crate with belongings from Holland. In the meantime, I furnished the unit with essential items such as furniture, bedding, a fridge, and a washing machine.
Unfortunately I have no photos of this period
It was during this period that I met Lynn and her husband Ian, who moved into the unit next door. Lynn and I formed a friendship that has endured for over 45 years, and I have stayed in touch with her and her parents, Pat and Elvio, right up to this day. Pat and Elvio became like an Australian Mum and Dad to me, and their loss, especially Pat's a few years ago, left a significant void in my life. Later on, I moved up to Innisfail and spent many Christmases with them, which became cherished memories.
A Brief Stay with Sandra and Bill
After enjoying a year and a half in the unit at Leylands Parade, Sandra and Bill invited me to rent a small unit they had built onto their house. It was a cosy one-bedroom unit with a kitchen and a small lounge-room. I got along well with both of them, so I decided to give it a go. Unfortunately, the unit turned out to be too small for me, and I moved out after about six months.
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Returning to Belmore: Madang Court
(1977 - 1984)
Having had such a great time in Belmore before, I decided to move back to the area I knew best. This time, I moved into a unit on the second floor at Madang Court on Chalmers Street. It was a lovely two-bedroom unit with a great view and even better neighbours. It was here that I met my next two lifelong friends, Carol and Jacquie.
I spent almost seven years at Madang Court, and it was a period filled with many memorable experiences. I went on several Contiki trips and attended numerous parties. This is also where I got my first car, a VW Beetle, which I later traded for a Lancer Sports model. I had many great adventures with this car, travelling extensively and enjoying the freedom it provided.
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The Newtown and Enmore Years (1984 - 1986)
While living in Belmore, I made many good and lasting friendships, particularly within the travel industry. During this time, I met Leonie, Colin, and Marilyn, and we became inseparable for years. Eventually, I moved into a unit in Newtown above Leonie and Marilyn for about six months.
It was also during this period that I met my best friend, Deza. We decided to move in together to save on rent and for the company. Our first rental was in Sydenham, but we only stayed there for a few weeks due to its location on the flight path of Sydney International Airport. The noise from the planes was unbearable, and we were allowed to break our lease.
We then moved to a two-storey semi-detached house on Simmons Street in Enmore. The house had three bedrooms upstairs, and we converted one of them into a personal gym. Deza looked after the garden as he was mainly on late afternoon shifts. Living in Enmore was convenient, with everything close by and the city only a few minutes' drive away.
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Deza had a Great Dane named Spartacus, and we decided to get him a companion, a female Great Dane we named Sheelah. They were wonderful pets, and I've included some photos of them below.
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A New Chapter: Travelling Around Australia
Unfortunately, I did something very foolish that caused Deza to lose trust in me, and he moved out to a unit in Newtown. I stayed in Enmore with both dogs for a few more months. During this time, I requested three months leave from Contiki to travel around Australia. Despite Contiki's offer to fly me around the country for three weeks with all expenses paid, I had made up my mind to take an extended break. After more than twelve years of service, I resigned.
With no immediate plans to return to Sydney, I placed most of my belongings in long-term storage. I packed my Toyota Landcruiser, hooked up the pop-up camper, placed the dogs in the back, and set off on the next stage of my life's journey.
Thank you for joining me on my journey