I left everything that meant a lot to me almost three years ago now in order to start a new life across the ditch. After having lived alone for several years after divorce, I met my Aussie husband and came to join him in Mackay. It's always a struggle at the start. When you're in your golden years you have set ways and even more so when you've been alone for years. But when you also have to leave your family (good kids and a newborn grand daughter most especially), awesome friends and your home country behind; it can double the anguish as I found out.
Transitioning from an urban (cosmopolitan) to a smaller city (a very quiet one in my opinion) lifestyle where I cannot get a job (in fact where jobs are being culled by the hundreds in most industries) came as the icing of my bitter cake. It means learning the ways of the people, the services available; difference in local regulations, establishing new connections and friendships, getting use to or getting to know neighbours. Put together they can prove exhausting and can make one's experience either a tad better or much worse. It took a while for me to recover from all of these on my own and longer to recover from missing my children and most especially my only grandchild, my parents, brothers and friends.
Volunteering helped me in a big way by providing a support system, at the same time giving some sense of belonging and of self-worth from being able to help and support those who are most in need. As much as I was open-minded and resolute in making this place my new home; there is no denying how hard it was to give up or push aside my passion for travel and adventure.
The economic downturn in this area made it harder for some of us migrants to find full-time regular employments. Without the wonderful people from the non-profit organisation I volunteered at who vouched for me, I'd still be jobless today I reckon. Working in an industry that's close to my heart and where I can make a contribution to the next generation is my greatest motivation. Even if it does not offer me enough hours to justify travel pursuits like I was used to in my previous employment.
Working and studying part-time allows me enough time on the side to be a housewife and still have some time to pursue other interests. I'm lucky and grateful that I now have re-married to a guy who treats me as his equal and who encourages my creative streak in his own way.
I enjoyed a pretty well balanced social life and active private life across the ditch; one I unfortunately do not have here. I miss the noise, the non-stop chatter, the laughter, the singing, the praying and the sound of little children that is so normal to my family. Surprisingly enough I am enjoying the simple life and the peace and quiet I have here. I guess one good thing is being able to indulge in tropical gardening. It takes most of my time these days; my therapy, my life-saver. I am very grateful hubby and I have this to share.. There are still times I miss the nights out and social gatherings with my friends. I always will, not for the activities but for the awesome company of good and loyal friends.
When I got here my husband had an established but almost bare small backyard. We dreamed about transforming it into something greener. A lot easier said than done especially without a budget. Two years later on a shoe string budget and with a lot of give-away plants from a couple of lady friends (with beautiful tropical, oasis-like gardens); we now have a much greener backyard.
So what does my long spill got to do with my Bottled Dreams? Not much really except my "my Bottled Dreams" was born out of my frustrations of not having more space in the garden as well as not having enough adventure to keep me on my toes! One night I googled dwarf varieties of fruit-bearing trees I could grow in pots as we do not have fruit-bearing trees apart from a couple (a lemon tree and a Sesbania grandiflora or katuray tree in my dialect) I planted in pots last year. We now have a few more pots of dwarf trees in our backyard. Aside from dwarf trees I also came across terrariums that night, a childhood passion that faded with the years......I made a few attempts making them when I was in grade school (not proper ones of course).
Seeing pictures of them online took me back to my childhood days, my mom's garden especially. Well the next morning, I made my first terrarium with a bit of groundcover plants and moss growing from the shaded area in our garden. I realised I could actually create my dreams or re-create memories of experiences I had inside these little bottles! That was more than two months ago, my bottled dreams are looking established now. I guess I can say I'm hooked on terrariums!
 |
| Tramping - my first Terrarium |
I tried my hands on making figurines simply because my containers are small and I know it's hard to find the right sizes of ornaments and figurines I want to have everything inside the bottles proportional. In the above photo without scrutinizing the figure's face; it looks okay or acceptable. Working with air dry terracotta and trying to make an inch tall figure was a real challenge for me. If one looks closer though, it will show how bad it is...but for now I'm happy! Practice they say makes perfect! Looking forward to more of my Bottled Dreams come true, I am indeed!
