Since our last update we have been enjoying making our new home more green and trying out some of the great environmental initiatives here in Brisbane. Although we don’t have a backyard we just couldn’t bear throwing our scraps in the rubbish bin any longer so we have gone ahead and bought a Bokashi bin. A Bokashi bin is like a compost bin except that instead of decomposing your waste it ferments it using anaerobic bacteria. This is great for flats because it doesn’t smell. The QLD government is currently offering a 50% rebate for these bins along with a $200 rebate on water efficient appliances, so we have applied for both of these (we bought a water-efficient washer last month). So now with our recycling and our compost bins we will produce very little landfill waste. Through its fermentation process, the Bokashi bin also creates a great liquid plant food which we will use to get our herb garden up and running. We are hoping to give the solid waste it creates to a local farmer who we have been put in touch with through Food Connect. Continue reading…

It has been a stressful couple of weeks, but we have finally moved into our flat and I am now gainfully employed! It took a lot of energy to get here, but we did it. I wish someone would have told me the amount of pressure moving and getting set up puts on you. To anyone who is thinking of moving cities or countries: be healthy and strong because your body will need it. Unfortunately, I haven’t been so lucky. After six gleeful years living without a doctor in the UK I have been to the doctor twice in the six weeks I’ve been back in Australia. I’ve had the flu, cracked a rib, put my back out, got a rash and lost weight!

Putting the dramas and injuries aside, we are both loving Brisbane and the surrounding areas. Continue reading…