Melburnians have just endured their coldest spring in 30 years! Unseasonably wet, cool, and grey, yet still with long days and high UV.
When I came home, I discovered they’d only replaced about half of the stained boards. I was devastated. The house smelled of freshly sanded and sealed timber, so I couldn’t tell whether the dog odor underneath was still lingering. In a mild panic, I began dousing the remaining stains with enzyme cleaner and bought a couple of air purifiers—both have helped.
It feels good to finally settle in, but it's hard to accept that the house may never feel properly clean to me. And the way the property manager handled the situation was completely unprofessional.
Unforunately, the whole saga has cast a long shadow over our move. I miss the old house and neighborhood—the pool, the easy grocery runs, the vibe. Everything feels further away now that we’re deeper into the suburbs.
Friends and family have encouraged me to remember why we moved and focus on what we like: being able to walk to the beach, the wide streets, the reduced traffic, the novelty of exploring a new area. And apart from the urine situation, the house is perfect.
Outside of work, I've started training for two swim events in February.
I've been swimming at Carnegie pool a couple times a week, plus ocean sessions with the SwimWell squad and the Seagals—a welcoming group of mostly older women who swim at Elwood and Brighton beaches.
I'm learning that storm runoff after poor weather reduces the water quality. It’s not great for swimming (it's dirty and visibility drops), and it also attracts jellyfish—mainly lion’s mane and blubber (stinging but non-lethal). Apparently they haven’t been bad the past two years, so this is new to me. And yes, I’m still in a wetsuit in December. A very different season from last year!
On a brighter note, I took myself to the Victoria State Rose Garden.
Melbourne's roses typically bloom from October to May, with big flushes in November and March.
I was also excited for jacaranda season. These purple canopies can be found throughout the city, but I found quite a few in Albert Park—easily my new favorite neighborhood!
