Back to Blogging After a Wake of Adventures

G'day, Live Life Sidewayz enthusiasts! Guess who's back to share the thrill of wakeboarding, expat living, and the quirks of Melbourne? That's right – it's yours truly! I know it's been a while, but please join me on this wild ride through Bayside's unpredictable rental waters, where even finding a stable hut is an adventure. Yes, yes, it's been a hot minute since I last sat down to share my musings and experiences with you on Live Life Sidewayz – the last post went up in August 2021. Life has taken me on an (un)expected wakeboarding adventure, but look who's back with a splash after neglecting this space for a while?

From the sunny shores of Brighton to the lively waves of Sandringham, I'll spill the beans on settling down, navigating the housing market, and why 80 years might be the magic number to finally buy our dream home. It's a rollercoaster of irony and ambition – our bank account might be ready by 2104, but where would we be?

Beach and ocean view over Sandringham Beach

Settling Down Under - From Brighton to Sandringham - Big Bayside Love

I believe I shared that getting into Australia in 2021 was no easy ride. In fact, it was a long and painful journey, with a couple of faceplants and stacks on the way, but the final destination is worth all the past sweat. I find myself settled in the city of Melbourne, where Dan and I started off renting a place in Brighton initially.

"Broooighton," as one who knows the area might repeat in a posh Southern British accent. Indeed, Brighton seemed like one of the posher areas where you can forget to buy a house unless you sell your organs to an old money Russian Oligarch. And, even then, it might be a stretch. Anyway, from the sunny shores of Brighton, we've made our way to the charming suburb of Sandringham – a lot more down to earth with an absolute stunner of a wine bar which I will get to a bit later.

House-Hopping Blues in Sandringham

One would think finding a place to call home in Sandringham would be a breeze, but oh, the renting market in Bayside is no calm lake. We've had to switch houses already after only two years of renting, thanks to our landlord who wants to sell the property. It's a testament to the importance of owning your own house really, a feat we're now earnestly saving up for. But with the mentioned 80 years of saving up, hey, that might take a little while.

Sun setting over Melbourne Bayside

Sandringham – the Place to be

In the midst of this property rollercoaster, Sandringham remains the perfect spot for me - I am so much in love with this place! It's a suburb located half an hour away from the city and, more importantly, half an hour away from Melbourne Cable Park. I truly never want to leave, despite the housing hurdles. We might be renting forever since I have fallen in love with this gem of a suburb.

Sunset view from the Sandy Pub

Sandringham’s Local Delights

What I love about Sandringham so much, you might ask? Oh, where shall I begin? It starts off with its beach suburb flair, where you can hear the waves and see the ocean when walking down Bay Road which runs through the heart of the town hub. There are three great and cutesy cafés all competing for the best coffee in Sandringham, and so far, I still can't tell who would win this competition. From restaurants and bars to a sunset-facing pub and local markets – stay tuned for upcoming posts where I'll be sharing some of our delightful experiences in this charming part of Melbourne. I’ll probably write an entire article about Side Bar only, probably my favorite place in Sandy, the local and an exquisite wine bar.

The Journey Continues

As we navigate the waves of life, both literally and metaphorically, I'm excited to be back sharing stories with all of you who are interested in finding out more about living as an expat abroad in Australia, wakeboarding, and exploring the area. Join me in this adventure as we ride the wake, revel in the unique charm of Sandringham, and maybe even conquer the housing market one day.

Here's to more wakeboarding tales, culinary endeavours, wine talks, yoga adventures and expat stories – the joy of embracing living life sidewayz!

Another sunset at Melbourne Cable Park