As some of you may know, I grew up in Australia. Although I have been living in Los Angeles for almost 11 years now and call it home, I still have a soft spot for my city of birth, Sydney. The thing about Sydney for me is that I felt it was too far removed from the rest of the world and I wanted to be at the center, or at least close to the center, of the action. When I ventured into fashion and left my childhood dreams of being a pro rugby player behind, one of the things that excited me about it was that I had always dreamt of living in America and even becoming an American citizen, two things I have now achieved and two things that weren’t really possible in the field of Rugby League.

Playing Rugby League in America was not something that was a possibility, it’s like moving to Australia to play American Football. So when I left that behind, the world of possibilities opened up to me in more ways than one. Sometimes you don’t know what you got til it's gone and you think the grass is always greener on the other side. Whilst it has been somewhat true for me, as I have found a home here and success here in Los Angeles, I do miss Sydney from time to time. I haven’t been back now for 8 years, which is a long time between drinks for sure. Had it not been for the pandemic, I would definitely have gone back there sooner. But now as things ease and open up more, a trip down under is imminent.

I have also recently been binge watching my new favorite show Luxe Listings Sydney on Amazon Prime, and that desire to return home for a visit burns even more. There’s a lot to love about the city I grew up in. The beaches are second to none. Sports was a big part of life. The harbour is quite magical. The food and coffee are on another level. I also miss the Rugby League, which was a big part of my life when I lived there. I am looking forward to catching up with family and friends and showing my kids around where and how I grew up. It’s been 8 years, and I am sure the city has changed a lot. But I am excited to return to my homeland after all these years and to see it through a more mature set of eyes, as I feel I arrived in LA as a kid with big dreams and have grown and matured into a responsible adult. Nothing like getting outside your comfort zone and having to work things out. You would be amazed at what you are capable of when put in these situations. LA is home for me, but I definitely want to make Sydney part of my life again, and I want my kids to experience it as they grow up too.