Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Ballarat has been our home since September 2020

From the quiet rural life of Trentham, we moved to Ballarat about 70 kms away. Ballarat is now the 2nd largest regional city to Geelong in Victoria. It has the most up to date medical facilities, hence the reason for the change in lifestyle.

After Sue having some health issues and the long wait for ambulance response, the decision was made during the early stages of Victoria's Covid lockdown. It was a good time in real estate with people from Melbourne looking forward to a more relaxed lifestyle.

We must admit that we enjoy our life in Ballarat and after a little more than three years, we have a lovely social group of like minded friends. The catalyst for establishing a social network was that Sue and I formed a regional division of the MG Car Club of Victoria here in Ballarat.

Such a group never existed in the past and Ballarat MG owners were just waiting for such a group. starting with 20 on the mailing list, we now are close to 100. I liken it to the Kevin Kostner baseball movie phrase, "Build it and they will come."

Any way, they are all very enthusiastic and are forming friendship groups within the network. Many like us are refugees from Melbourne and even interstate to make a life here in Ballarat.

Most would know that I've been a cyclist for many years however, my competitive days are now over, I enjoy cycling with a local group that I met on arrive in Ballarat.

I shall endeavour to post at least once per week - hopefully some of you will return as readers.

PS: How do I change the heading and photo on my Blog - I've totally forgotten.

Below photos: two of our toys.




Wednesday, February 14, 2024

MIGHT BE TIME TO MAKE A COMEBACK

So much has happened since our last post on this BLOG site. Not that I can tell you all in one post but maybe just step by step since we left Trentham for Ballarat.

Health reasons brought us to Victoria's second biggest regional city. Ballarat was built on gold mining in the 1850s and has an amazing architectural history with a most glamorous main street, amazing botanical gardens and a large lake where there is a huge population of water birds.

Food, wine and nightlife are still under discovery by Sue and I but we are getting there. Since arriving in 2020, we established friendship groups that make us feel comfortable enough to make it our last home.