In a move that’s bound to surprise many of you as much as it surprises me, we’re relocating the Reilly family to Brisbane in about four weeks. I know – I’ve had my fair share of fun talking smack about Queensland (and Queenslanders) over the last few years – well, in fact, the last 20 years – and it’s the last place I ever thought I’d move to. Paris? Yes. Manhattan? Yes. Florence? Easy. Brisbane? Not on your life. But there you go, the universe has a sense of humour?

Why are we moving? Well we’d been talking about it in late December because most of our family is up there (all except my sister Anita who is down here in Melbourne and who we are all going to miss heaps) and we thought it would be good for the kids to get to spend more time with their grandparents and cousins. And then, out of the blue, Belinda saw an advertisement for a job in Brisbane which was made for her. She applied for it just on a whim, and was offered it a couple of weeks later. And although both of us love Melbourne dearly, and I’m going to miss my little village lifestyle in Yarraville, it just seemed like it was meant to happen.

Obviously I’m lucky in that it won’t affect TPN at all. I can work from anywhere I have internet access. It won’t affect MODM either, as I’d already planned to launch it nationally this year and will be looking for sponsors for each of the state events. Part of the sponsorship will involve flying me to each event, so I plan to be in Melbourne at least once a month for a few days.

So… I’m looking to buy a house in Brisbane (anyone with real estate contacts please get in touch with me), and recommendations for good areas to live, schools, cafes, cocktail bars, etc. I’m going to get a safari suit, pith helmet, hammock, and that’ll be me for the next few years. I’m going to buy one of those massive freakin’ commercial fans, stick it in the back yard in front of the hammock positioned between two palm trees and beside the pool, set up a little bar with an ice maker for my mojitos, and run my global media company from there. Going to lose 20 kgs, work out, take up surfing, work on my tan.

I moved to Melbourne from Bundaberg in January 1988. My dear deceased father’s last words to me as the car left Bundy were “you’ll be back”. For once in his life, he was right.