A holiday to me means new experiences — whether they are local or global. Every month I lived in Canada I chronicled my working holiday in Expat Updates. Now I am back in Australia, I have created Hayley Lately. At the end of each month I talk about my life lately, my blog posts, what I’ve been reading (both online and for my reading challenge) and my writing. I hope you enjoy learning about my new home and Melbourne moments. 

Life Lately

April has definitely been the most interesting month of my 2015 so far. I finally moved to Melbourne after all. It was a damn struggle to pack my life away yet again into 30 kilograms (two bags) but I managed. Go, team! I spent my first weekend in Geelong with family friends. I had never been to the city an hour away from Melbourne, so it was nice to get acquainted. We also visited Torquay, which was ridiculously pretty. The water was so clear at the edge and surrounded by these sand-coloured rocky cliffs and pine trees. I could imagine the water was freezing though.

The last two weeks have involved me getting to know Melbourne a little better. I am living in an apartment about a 20-minute walk from the centre of the city, so I’ve been out exploring most days and enjoying everything I see and do. I’m still freelance writing to pay the rent, but I’m also looking for a casual job to save for future travels. My travelling future is currently looking a tad bleak, which needs to be remedied ASAP.

My first weekend in Melbourne I got the opportunity to see a couple I met on my Contiki tour of South-East Asia 3.5 years ago get married. The ceremony was held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, which was beautiful inside and out. I then danced the night away at their reception with another Contiki friend who was visiting from Perth. I hadn’t actually seen any of them since our trip, but as soon as we caught up it was like no time had passed. Travel is an incredible thing when you get the chance to meet people like these folks.

Blogging Lately

What I Read in February + March: Up until this month I had averaged a book a week and these are the reviews. I am sure you will find at least one you will enjoy!

Fabulous Portland: I fell for Portland HARD when I visited it twice during my working holiday in Canada. This is a very thorough wrap-up of the city’s best bits. I also posted the photo below to Instagram and consequently got my most likes on a photo EVER (170). I was just a tad excited.

Taking Stock: This idea was found on another blog but I thought it was a good way for new readers (and old) to get to know me a little better.

#HipmunkCityLove: My posts on Seattle, Vancouver and New Orleans are part of my collaboration with Hipmunk, a travel search engine. Plus they were just super fun to write.

Challenging Lately

Hayley failed with her reading challenge in April. Luckily I read more books in January to make up for the two I read in April. I know, I’m terrible. However, I signed up to my local library on Friday though and borrowed five books, which will all be read this month. Check back in May to see how I do.

Rosie Dunne by Cecilia Ahern

Challenge Completed: A book from an author you love that you haven’t read yet

I chose this book for a few reasons. Mainly, it was cheap on Amazon, I’ve enjoyed Ahern’s other novels and I’m totally going to watch the movie (Love, Rosie) now. It’s about two best friends who are basically in love with one another, although the other doesn’t know. It’s written through a series of emails, IMs and letters between the characters, which was an interesting but clever style. I liked the book but I kind of just wanted the two protagonists to be together – and let’s just say it took a lot of pages until it happened.

Hayley’s Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

How Starbucks Saved My Life by Michael Gates Gill

Challenge Completed: A memoir

My granddad actually recommended this short memoir to me, which might also be made into a movie. It’s the story of a man who begins working at Starbucks in his 60s when he is fired from his corporate job. A lot of the Starbucks talk resonated with me as a former employee, as did his thoughts on being ashamed of his workplace. I’ve personally had those feelings previously. However, as long as you’re happy, that’s what’s most important and that’s what I took from Gill’s story.

Hayley’s Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Sea of crochet poppies

Reading Lately

Around the web, I’ve got a serious case of wanderlust after viewing The Londoner’s posts from the Maldives. I really need to visit the nation soon, it just honestly looks magical. Leah from The Mochilera Diaries put together an article on 15 amazing South American adventures, and now I want this to be the next continent I tick off my list. I’ve enjoyed reading about cruises via Girl Tweets World and thank Our Oyster for sharing this Singapore trick with their readers.

Writing Lately

No new writing this month, unfortunately, but I am still writing entertainment copy for Entertainment Daily and completing the Hipmunk work featured above through Copypress. If you’re also a freelance copywriter, have a look at Copypress as they seem to still have positions available.

Quoting Lately

I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be — Douglas Adams

I hope this quote comforts other lost souls.