Corkonians Abroad: I’m writing this on my balcony as sun sets...

IN this week’s Corkonians Abroad, I caught up with Laura Bridgeman, from Fairhill in Cork city, who now lives in Perth, Western Australia, with her partner Ian Ricken, who is from Farranree.

How did you end up on the other side of the world?

Ian and I moved here in 2018, and I would say we moved later in life than your typical Irish immigrant, with Ian being 29 and I being 26 at the time.

I was working in Topshop in Opera Lane at the time and Ian was in the Irish Navy.

We first came for a two-week holiday as Ian was Best Man for his pal Darren O’Riordan’s wedding. 

To be quite honest, I had zero interest in coming to Australia, it was never, ever on my radar.

However, we agreed if we didn’t go now the opportunity might never come our way again, so off we went.

We landed in Perth after our first long haul travel experience and drove straight to Scarborough Beach where our accommodation was. The biggest, bluest sky I have ever seen, the world-famous sunsets and hot temperature were a welcome change from the Cork climate.

It genuinely was a quick comment on the flight home about how much we both loved it, and should we give it a go, that started the ball rolling for us.

This resulted in me returning to work in Topshop to my iconic manager Linda O’Mahony, and her knowing by taking one look at me that I loved Australia and was planning on leaving.

It was then we gave our notice at work and began to tell our family and friends.

That September, we flew one way on the 17-hour direct flight to Perth with absolutely no plans on work, where we would live, or how long we would be here for.

What is life like in your new home?

Life is an absolute dream. We now live in Inglewood, right off Beaufort Street, which is a really busy strip of restaurants and bars just 10 minutes outside Perth itself.

We are around 20 minutes from the ocean, which is just perfect for us.

We have a beautiful big downstairs balcony where we get the sun all day and watch the beautiful sunsets in the evening. I’m sitting here right now, writing this. It’s my absolute favourite spot.

What has been the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge for me and for lots of Irish people abroad, is what you miss out on at home.

Missing out on family, the day to day life with my Mam, Dad and brother, missing being there for my two nephews at the fun silly age they’re at now. Frankie is seven, Remi is three.

Missing the big celebrations like friends’ engagements, weddings, big birthdays, and new babies.

Missing Christmas at home, Christmas on the beach is just not right, no matter how many times you do it.

Once we get that annual Holly Bough picture, it’s out the gap home.

How might you spend your weekends?

A typical weekend for me is being up early on the Saturday with a gym trip or a run. An active lifestyle is the norm here in Oz and impossible to escape. It’s now the norm for our little gang here to arrange ‘Family Hikes’ on a weekend.

There are so many of us here now, half of Ian’s family followed us here - Ian’s sister Michelle and partner Jack, Ian’s cousin Ciara and her soon to be husband Paul, and Ian’s cousin Katie who is our latest addition.

Tell us about your career?

This is probably the main reason I love my life in Australia. I have the best job in the world, I am a Diamond Specialist at Diamond Collective Perth.

I’m the Showroom Manager at the flagship Diamond Collective store in Subiaco.

Diamond Collective is different from your typical traditional jewellers’, we act like a concierge service to source your diamond individually for you.

We create bespoke engagement rings for our clients in Western Australia, over East in Sydney, and as far as Gurranabraher.

I have to mention my friend Samantha Deasy, who trusted me to make her engagement ring all the way down here in Perth.

I am extremely lucky to work alongside the owners, Parys and Katie, two of the most powerful and intelligent women I have ever met. We continue to be extremely busy with more and more clients coming our way.

What has been your most memorable moment in your new location so far?

It has to be April 2, 2022, when Ian proposed to me on my 30th birthday. It’s fair to say I have a beautiful Marquise diamond.

He proposed in front of a small group of our family and friends at home, with videos of my nephew Frankie asking me to marry Ian, the most amazing moment of my life.

Second to this, and I know many fresh immigrants will agree with me, is seeing an email from Immigration with the words ‘Visa Granted’ in black and white. The weight off your shoulders after being approved is immense.

Permanent residency is next up, that’s the aim for 2024.

Any special mentions to friends or family back in Cork?

Here we go - hi to my mam Patricia, dad Barry, brother Rob and partner Saima.

Huge hello and hugs to my two handsome nephews Frankie and Remi (the jokers of the family) and their gorgeous sister, Laila. To my girls and all now new mothers, Charlotte, Stacey, April and Antoinette.

My nana Eile and Jimmy Barret, who are 94 in June and 100 in December respectively.

My Aunties Rena, Cora, Ger, Helen, Irene and Rhonda, and my in-laws Kathleen O Brien and her sisters Liz, Caren and Mary.

If you were back in Cork for one day, what would be the ideal day for you?

The absolute dream for me is to be able to fly into Cork for one day, if only it wasn’t 24-plus hours of travelling.

It would be straight up to my Mam’s on Fairhill, where, all going well, we can have lovely tea and cakes from Brackens.

I then would pop in town, have a nose down Opera Lane at the old Topshop store and head to Penneys for an hour alone to do a bit of damage.

Following this, I would head to Crosshaven, to hang out with my nephews and have 'Chish n fips' sitting on the bench.

Ideally, I could be transported down to my dad’s new mobile in Kerry to take in the sights and have another cuppa in the Kingdom.

I would finish the day with either a meal in Tung Sing up the magic stairs in Blarney, or a Donatello’s Chicken Baguette.

What keeps you connected to Cork while away?

Truthfully, I listen to Neil Prendeville’s podcast every day while I’ve been in Perth. 

It’s how I stay up to date with everything Cork, and especially around Christmas, it’s as close as I get to feeling Christmassy.

Also, Facetime, I would be lost without it, sometimes it can be hard to find the time to suit both sides, but you can feel like you’re right in the room with the person you’re talking to.