FOUR CASES. ALL CHANGE.

Miranda and I arrived in Sydney last Friday with just four cases, to stay in her sister Fiona’s shed until we settle.  As we passed through border control, I thought about Ellis Island in New York. It was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants who arrived to start a new life, many were the driving force behind America’s growth. We were arriving in Australia as new immigrants. With just four cases. 

Never have I experienced so much change in such a short period of time. We have literally turned our lives upside down. The following is a list of the new things that we have had to set up or change: New residential address. New bank accounts and insurance policies. New boss and new team. New computer operating system and a dozen new apps. New phone and new phone number. New email address. New commute, without a car, with an Opal card. New friends. New weather patterns: sun, sun, sun. New legislation. New starter training programme. New views and new ways of thinking. New bed and bedroom. New neighbours. New habits. New recreation. Oh and my new job is driving the cutting edge of change on earth in IoT, robotics and artificial intelligence.

With so much change, it is a challenge to process everything. Miranda and I have walked for hours. We’ve visited 10 beaches, 2 art galleries, and a debate. We’ve sat in a bunch of bars, restaurants and pubs. We’ve travelled on ferries, buses and Uber cars.

But the real essence of the change of the last few days is that the sun and sea changes the way you think. The light changes the clarity of thoughts and living out of just four cases is hugely liberating. 

And whilst we will be back in the UK in six months and most of the change is temporary, the change we have already experienced over the last few months are really huge, And some of the changes we are driving though my new firm will not be reversible. We are going to change the way cities are run and food is grown. It’s an exciting time.