Musings on what makes a place “home” …

For anyone who’s ever moved house, there comes that moment when the bricks and mortar, the surroundings, become “home”. This can be almost instant, or take many months, or even years.

I distinctly remember the moment Sydney became home, when we moved there almost 30 years ago. About six months into our stay, I was driving back to the city from Newcastle, and at a particular point in the journey, I crested a rise, and there was Sydney in all her splendour. My emotional response was so great that I had to pull over because I felt just as strongly as I had felt seeing Johannesburg in a similar context. Sydney had become home.

Melbourne took a little longer. There was no one moment there, but a series of small events, walks in the city, concerts attended, people entertained. Melbourne was home when we stopped visiting Sydney at every possible opportunity and finally realised that we lived in a place perfectly suited to us.

And Kosmos?

With every keepsake unpacked, every visit with friends and family, every sunrise, and every sunset, this place comes closer to being home.

We’re no longer listening for the lorikeets and noisy miners; we’re coming to love the screech of the hadedah, and the call of the grey loerie.

Some of our much-loved works of art are hanging on the walls …

Cyril guards our front doorway.

I can BBQ in my preferred style (even though we have a built-in braai)!

The weird and wonderful critters are becoming endearing

We’re taking part in community activities …

And the man has fixed the water pressure so that I can now enjoy all the bubbles I absolutely MUST have in the bath!

I guess 134C Kruger Ave is becoming home!