And it goes a little something like this…

Amazed at how much I’ve done in the last decade, but hoping to do more, different things in the next!

I could regret certain things from the past (education, work and relationship choices), but I choose to see them as learning experiences, just ‘life’, and generally I’ve had a lot of fun. Things I didn’t do and still want to do (like more travel, different ‘career’ choices’), is going to happen slowly. The main thing I struggle with is how much I want to do, and the limited time (and sometimes funds) I have. But it’s about choices, and it’s awesome I have the freedom to make these choices and prioritise.

So this was 2000 to 2009…

Major life events + education + work:
Graduated from high school in The Netherlands (2000)
Started and graduated from university in The Netherlands, a bachelor in business administration-facilities management (long story what this is, why I started it, what changed for me during) (2000-2004)
Got a car license, got a car with P (black Peugot Uno)
Moved in to an apartment with P (2002)
Married P (2003)
Moved to Perth, Western Australia with P (I’d lived in WA as a child and have dual citizenship) (2004)
Worked at G in various admin positions (2004-2009)
Bought a house in Thornlie (2005)
Started the blog EnjoyPerth!, now a proper website (2006)
Bought a rescue dog, Bailey (2006)
Divorced P, sold the house and found Bailey a good new home (2008)
Lived in various locations in Perth with friends/family (2008/2009)
Quit my job to concentrate on EnjoyPerth! and travel the world (2009)

Holidays:
Backpacked through Australia with P, WA, NT, QLD, NSW (2000)
Camping in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and The Netherlands (2001-2004)
City trips to London, Berlin, Barcelona and various in The Netherlands (2001-2004)
Many camping trips around WA with various people (2004-2009)
Holiday with family and P in The Netherlands (2007)
Roadtrip to Broome via Ningaloo, Karajini etc etc with Raf and Doug (2009)
Backpacked around Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos, mostly alone (2009)

It’s been an awesome decade. I guess the decade I’ve been most in control of my life so far.
But the other decades have been awesome too:

90’s
Lived in Kalamunda (Perth Hills), Bidyadanga (aboriginal community 200km south of Broome), Nullagine (town/aboriginal community between Marble Bar and Newman), Bridgetown (south west), Koedijk/Alkmaar (6 weeks when first back in Holland) and Rijssen. Started high school in Australia, finished in The Netherlands. Was part of a youth circus. Had pet goats, chooks, dogs, rabbits, ducks, guinea pigs and hamsters. Performed in plays. Made life long friends. Got a scooter. First kiss. Got a boyfriend. Then got a serious boyfriend. Holidayed in Perth, south west WA, Bali, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany. City trips to London and Paris. Went to my first big concert (*cough*BoyzIIMen*cough* blame my brother). Music festival (Lowlands). Night club (Lucky). First alcoholic drink (probably bessen, berry gin).

80’s
Was born in The Netherlands (82). Migrated to Western Australia (87). Lived in Graylands Migrant Centre, Maida Vale, in a campervan going around Australia, and Kalamunda. Started primary school in the campervan. Holidayed through Europe, stopovers in the Maldives and Singapore, Western Australia (and that 4 month trip around Australia). Got the two dogs I grew up with (Takkie and Springer). Learnt Dutch and English, to read and write (but not hold my pen properly). Ride a bicycle and swim.