I keep meaning to blog weekly but life just keeps getting in the way, you know? They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so maybe if I focus for a month I’ll get into a decent routine.

Two weeks ago I wrote about my road trip as I drove from my old home in Adelaide, to my new home in Sydney. I had almost a week to unpack and settle into my new room, and then I was back to my dream job at SWEETNESS The Patisserie.

Whenever anyone moves to a new city, state, or even a new country, there’s always one common feeling: loneliness. It’s such a difficult thing to leave behind your family, friends, and in some cases pets (I miss my fur baby!). I knew this feeling would come, however I thought it may be less painful after having just lived overseas for 6 months. I had a bit of a “been there, done that” attitude.

Let me tell you now, the loneliness you feel when you’re alone in a new place does not get easier.

The past week has been incredible for me job-wise, I have had so much fun and learnt so much in my first week of 2015 as a full time pastry chef. However, working long hours and not having any social outlet really started taking it’s toll on my mental health – and I’ve only been here 2 weeks!

Today I ventured out into the city and met up with some old friends I hadn’t seen or even really spoken to for three whole years. THREE YEARS! To say I was apprehensive would be an understatement. I can be pretty darn shy sometimes so it was a little scary. What would we have to talk about? Would I just be an awkward extra person to the group? Would things be the same as they were the last time I saw them?

I am so grateful to say that I had the most wonderful day with the most wonderful people! The sun was shining, we ate Mary’s Burgers in Hyde Park, then Gelato Messina in Surry Hills and just talked for hours about anything and everything. To be able to get out of the house and interact with people who were not only fun to be around, but also so kind and welcoming – I feel so much better about life already.

The best friends are the ones who you can lose contact with for years, and then pick up exactly where you left off like no time has past at all. For the first time in the past 2 weeks, I feel hopeful about life outside of work. Everything’s coming up Taryn!

So what’s the moral of this story?

Moving to a new city is hard, and getting out and making friends or taking the chance on old ones can be even harder – but it is SO worth it. If you ever find yourself in this situation, it can be so easy to just stay home and get lost in your solitude but please trust me when I tell you to get out and interact with people. Call up that old acquaintance from years prior, join a class and meet new people, just get out and explore, have an adventure, and talk to anyone who looks friendly.

Advice that is certainly easier said than done, but is more than worthwhile!

Today I started the long drive from Adelaide to Sydney. My little blue Ford Fiesta is chock-a-block full of my most important possessions (aka a tonne of baking supplies & 50 billion cute dresses) and I am currently sitting about 700km from where I started this morning – halfway to Sydney!

This morning as I drove north out of Adelaide I couldn’t help but think of the devastation caused by the continuing bush fires in South Australia. I had no idea that by the time I got to New South Wales my concerns would be more about flash flooding, as severe thunderstorm warnings are announced. C’mon mother nature – give us a break!

Driving from Adelaide to Sydney is a long drive normally, but when you’re driving solo it feels even longer. On the plus side, it has allowed me to sing along to Taylor Swift at the top of my lungs the whooooooole way without hurting anyones ears. The whole way – seriously. My throat is a little sore.

Another thing about driving interstate from or to South Australia is the fruit regulations. I forget them every time! For those who don’t know, South Australia is a fruit fly free zone so we’re basically quarantined and no fruit is allowed in. What I wasn’t aware was that the Riverland district has it’s own quarantine area. This resulted in me panicking for a good few hours that I would be busted by the “Fruit Police” and arrested for my entirely safe (purchased in SA!), yet illegal zip-lock bag of watermelon.

Don’t you worry though, my smuggling activities went undetected. I’m a master criminal in the making! Hehehe…

Eight hours down. Eight and a half to go tomorrow. Then I’ll officially be one of those Sydney-siders!

Now what I want to know is, has anyone ever actually been busted by the “Fruit Police”?