When people ask me where I live and I reply “Cottesloe”, they are probably thinking to themselves, ‘How does a scruffy hippy fella like him live in Cottesloe, he must just park his combi on the street there and use the public toilet facilities’.

Cottesloeis a pretty wealthy Suburb of Perth, due to its close proximity to beautiful gold sand beaches and Norfolk pine lined streets. The house down the road from us is going for $2,000,000 to give you an idea. When Heath Ledger (famous Aussie actor) had his funeral in Perth, all the superstars were seen swimming at Cottesloe beach. In saying all that, it is not a pretentious place, its still relaxed and attracts a mixed crowd of people, especially a young crowd at the beaches and the bars.

Its so relaxed, that when I ‘m home on my week of R&R, I get out of bed, put on my boardies, walk down to the corner deli for a coffee, I don’t even bother to put on a shirt or jandals – thats how it should be. I love it, it reminds me of being in a Mexican beach town, the only difference being that I have control of my bowels, its first world, people generally understand me, I have money and they sell more than taco’s.

So how did I end up living in Cottesloe.  I was very lucky, or unlucky, depending on how you look at it.  The mining boom has attracted thousands of people, putting extreme pressure on accommodation that has seen rent/house prices sky rocket due to the competition. 

When going to look at open home rental properties, there would be groups of people waiting outside. So the competition was steep, especially when 6 young people are competing with families. The only time I went along for an open home, I had to wait around the corner (in a 1970’s leaking Holden Kingswood), like a stinky dog being locked in the cupboard while the dinner party guests arrive – it was in the best interests of our group, as we sent our 2 most respectable members posing as a couple.

So after 2 months in Perth, we had been accepted for 2 places. Our dream house that was 2 storied, close to the beach and subway with a swimming pool that had a bar in the middle, only to have it taken from under us a couple of days before move-in due to a “family emergency”-we were even paying $650 a week rent (straight off the bat we had offered $50 more a week than they were asking).

But as things tend to do, it all fell into place like waking up in your own bed after a big night out. The mates place where Bugz and I had been crashing since in Perth had 2 flatmates move out, so we officially moved in last week. And it just happened to be in Cottesloe (Their parents had originally signed the lease, but have since moved up north)

Its a great location, 5 mins walk to the train station that takes 15/20 mins to get to downtown Perth, or head the other direction to Fremantle. Our house is 5 mins walk to amazing golden sand beaches that see great sunsets. I can not say enough good things about the WA beaches. Its great to live in Perth, a big city, but yet have access to uncrowded beaches that rival the best in the world (for cities).

As well as the primo location, its a primo house. It has 5 bedrooms, a pool, outside relaxing area and is big. Also for once I don’t have the gimp room, infact I would call it the pimp room. I have the 2nd storey (consists of only my room) to myself, with red carpet and even the pimping (tacky)fake zebra duvet cover that I picked up half priced (I wonder why). 

 Oh, and also, the most important factor to any great house, is great people. No doubt a few people reading this blog will recognise a few familiar faces, made up of Waimea College and Otago Uni faces. 

Fingers cross that when the lease comes up in May, all goes well.