Who would have thought everyone. Karratha is so stunning! Within the first few days of arriving I immediately set out exploring the area with my dear, dear friends Rachel and Ryan, their doggies Mango and Layla, and Ryan’s parents. We went to a place called Hearson’s Cove which is a wee drive out of town. When we got there I said to myself; “wow, I want to see this place at sunrise.” So that’s what I did. The very next morning Prince Charles and I set off around 5:45am and boy was it worth it. I could have died. It was so beautiful. The tide had gone right out and I managed to walk to an island that is usually surrounded by water. It was a bit squelchy and I had images of being stuck in the mud with an incoming tide, but I found harder ground and soaked up the immense beauty that surrounded me on the dawn of a new day.
Charlie loved it and after we had walked and basked in sunrise glory, I decided I had to stop off at Red Dog country – Dampier. For those of you who haven’t heard of Red Dog, he is a Dampier icon. A book was written about his travels around the region and then a movie followed. I highly recommend the movie but make sure you have a massive box of tissues on hand.
Big shout out to my beautiful friends Rachel and Ryan who have allowed and indeed welcomed me with open arms into their home. I’ve managed to pick up a bit of relief teaching as I take steps to manifest a life back in Europe. Let me just say such a massive step is not an easy decision. It seems having given up my Dutch nationality previously (because the Dutch do not support dual citizenship) means getting it back is a bureaucratic nightmare. Funny, ’cause I thought with Dutch parents it would be my birth right. As a result, I could be here in Australia (somewhere) for a wee while longer as this all plays out. What’s more, it looks like I’ll have to relinquish my Australian and UK passport in order to re-acquire a Dutch one. I’m pretty sad about that seeing as I’ve lived half my life in the UK and half my life here in Australia. It’s almost as if the past 46 years have amounted to nothing and all that history is wiped out. I feel I’ve earned the right to be British, Dutch and Australian and love being all three, but I have to choose. With a recent divorce and a few of life’s curve balls thrown my way over the years, I’m a bit down about it all. Life has gone full circle. When I left Holland all those years ago to come to Australia, it was just me and my Dutch passport. Now when I go back, it will be just me and my Dutch passport – I think! Oh but wait – AND MY VERY OWN PRINCE CHARLES! That’s actually a whole heap!
On the road with my dog 
Love reading about your adventures.
I remember, after my divorce, I wanted to go back home to Scotland. I think you gravitate to what was familiar. In the end I didn’t go. I’m glad I didn’t as life turned out great. I go home for holidays, well I did pre-covid.
I hope you are making the right decision for yourself. Relinquishing your Australian passport is so final. You wouldn’t consider a holiday there to check it’s what you really want?
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Lovely to hear from you again. Where are you guys now? How’s the new car going? Yes in my heart I am not ready to relinquish my Australian passport and through this whole process starting from the idea of moving back to Europe to ending up free-loading at my friend’s place here in Karratha doing relief, to be honest I have no idea which way is up anymore. I’m so unsettled and I guess what I’m trying to work out is where Charlie and I can live a simple, peaceful life together. This transition phase is starting to get on my nerves. I guess the main factor when considering a move back to Europe is my parents. It’s been 5 years since I’ve seen them and be nice to be a bit closer as they get older. AARRRGGGHHHH is how I’m feeling!
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Oh I feel for you. It would be good if you could go for 6 months or 12 and see how it feels. I usually look for some kind of sign to know I’m on the right path. Hard decision too with covid situation.
We are in Nhulunbuy in NT still and having an amazing time. Our car is going well!
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