The Big Move North - An Update

[matt]

A few weeks ago I shared the news with you guys that we (my partner Rae and I) were heading north to start a new chapter in our lives.

I've been in Brisbane a fortnight, and I thought it was time I updated you on our progress so far.

Well...so far, so good.

We've found a new place to live. It's over at Wynnum, just a couple of blocks away from the waterfront and around the corner from Manly, which is a nice little area. It all overlooks Moreton Bay, which will make for nice morning/afternoon/evening walks etc

Rae's loving her job at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and things are starting to work out for me too.

I've scored some casual 'on the road' reporting work with a NewsTalk station here in Brisy. I've also got some weekend work in an FM music station newsroom down the Gold Coast.

To be honest, it feels a little weird to be back in a newsroom environment. I left that all behind about eight months ago when I moved over to a media-comms role in sport.

I never consciously said to myself I'd never go back to radio news. Like a lot of people, I try to never say never because life has a way of changing those types of best laid plans. However, I did make a decision that after a decade of radio in a variety of roles, I felt like I needed a lengthy break. Particularly as at least seven of those 10 years involved 3am starts, Monday to Friday!!

But here I am. Doing what I have to do (and what I'm probably most qualified to do) to pay the rent, bills etc

It's not so bad and I'm not looking at it like it's forever.

I'll be working with great people at both stations and I'm more than keenly aware it's a great adventure and privilege to be able to do this for a living. I just hope i'm up to it after such a long break and still feeling a little burnt out from the aforementioned crazy decade

What I am really looking forward to is moving into the new house next weekend and unpacking and setting up all the astro gear in the backyard.

It seems like ages since I looked through an eyepiece or plugged in the webcam to do some imaging. I've really missed it.

Anyway, that's my spiel. Just wanted to drop in and say 'hello'.

[Outbackmanyep]

Great to hear from you Matt!
Glad to see things have taken off well!!!!
Dont forget you're still a BLUES supporter!!!! Hehe

Cheers!

[matt]

Originally Posted by Outbackmanyep

Dont forget you're still a BLUES supporter!!!! Hehe

Mate...you can take the boy out of NSW.....

[Ric]

Hi Matt, good to see you are settling in well and finding your feet. Your new place sounds great with the views and all.

You didn't miss much tonight, clear sky and no jetstream but gale force wind to muck it up. It was hard enough to keep the bino's steady let alone get the 12" out, way too risky.

Hope you get set up soon and satisfy the imaging cravings.

Cheers

[astro_south (Andrew)]

Good to hear Matt

Look forward to catching up at one of the many IIS gatherings around these parts in the near future.

[xelasnave]

What an adventure..great.. The only place I know sortta up there is Manly... spend days there waiting whilst my wife was in hospital up there... I would drive out there every day between visits.

It would have to be better than the other place...
Good to hear you fell on your feet... top stuff
alex

[Louwai (Bryan)]

Nice area. Not far from my place. I have a house at Cleveland.
The mother-in-law is living there for the next few years while we're in sunny Melbourne.

[astroron (Ron)]

We will put out the mat, Matt when we catch up with you in the near future.
Again to sunny Queensland

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I see you finally made it Matt. Shame you missed Astrofest, but don't worry, we'll put it on for 10 days next year just for you.

[matt]

Thanks guys.

It's going to be great to catch up with you all (gradually) over the coming weeks and months.

As much as this hobby of ours is great to enjoy solo, there's nothing like catching up with a few friends and sharing time together around the scopes - whether that be visual, imaging, or sharing a quiet coldie under a clouded out sky

Thanks for the welcome to Qld, and see you all soon

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Matt it's great to hear that both you and Rae are finding your way. It can be tough making a whole new start like that but it sounds like you guys are doing well and are settling in fine.

As Paul and Ron said it will be great to meet up with you sometime face to face. What they both forgot to say is that in honour of your move to Queensland we have organised a brand new weekend long astronomy camp just to welcome you!!!

(a terrible lapse on their part, since they are both committee members)


I know you'll be very busy still setting in, etc, but since you missed Astrofest this year I thought it may be worthwhile mentioning this second chance to meet some of the SE Qld locals at the Barambah Dark Sky Camp on the 7th to 9th of September, ie next new moon! (click on the links in my sig just down there V )

We all understand if you can't make it, but if you can it would be great to meet you there!

Cheers Matt!

[matt]

Thanks, Steve.

I'm very interested in the Dark Sky Camp, particularly as you've gone to so much trouble to organise that in my honour

I've checked my diary and apart from working on the Friday, there's no reason why I couldn't travel up on Saturday and spend the one night there catching up with all you folks.

I'd have to get the directions from Brisbane worked out, but otherwise it seems quite do-able.

If anyone Brisbanites are thinking of travelling up on Saturday, I'd be happy to travel up with you, in convoy?

Cheers

[astroron (Ron)]

Steve, this is why I didn't mention it,
I've scored some casual 'on the road' reporting work with a NewsTalk station here in Brisy. I've also got some weekend work in an FM music station newsroom down the Gold Coast.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Matt it woudl be fantastic to meet you there face to face and I'm sure there wil be people travelling up on the Saturday.

I'm currently writing up some pretty specific instructions for travelling to and from Barambah from Brisbane, etc, via 3 alternate routes - these will be added to the darkskycamp.org.au website soon and will include accurate distance measurements & photos of various turns and signposts.


Ron I understand fully, you're forgiven of course - I'm just taking a lesson from that "old friend" of yours, ie the "shameless" self promoter.
You know who I mean.