07.11.06
Well, after over a week of paperwork, job hunting, paperwork, house hunting, paperwork, and shopping, we have finally managed to chill out and enjoy Sydney.
The day started out a little grey but we were determined this wouldn't deter us, so we packed the camera, an umbrella and our jackets and headed off to Bondi to do the Bondi-Clovelly coastal walk. We had to cross the harbour to reach Bondi, but we're getting good at mastering the central Sydney roads. We even used the tunnel instead of the bridge today. Although Graham just pointed out that its him doing all the driving. I won't get a go until we collect the car at the end of the week - Sydney watch out!!!
We were planning to do this coastal walk anyway, but it turns out there is an outdoor art exhibition on at the moment, otherwise known as Sculpture by the Sea. It was an interesting mix of traditional and quirky. It made for a few good photo opportunities though. Click on the photo for our gallery...
After a taxing morning wandering along the coast looking at art it was time to re-fuel in one of the many cafes. It would've been rude not to order the smoked salmon and scrambled egg...
Following the pit stop the sun came out. We're going to put in an official complaint to the met office as they forecast rain today, so we carried the umbrella for the whole five miles and didn't pack the sun cream. As a result of this our arms ache and we both look like lobsters... Lesson learnt, we will now carry sun cream whatever the forecast!
Cunningly, we arrived back in Bondi just in time to place a bet on the Melbourne Cup. For those of you not in the know the Melbourne Cup is the biggest horse race in Australia, the equivalent of the Grand National except they take it far more seriously. It's a national holiday in Victoria and the rest of the country have the afternoon off, so we felt obliged to join in. We text Grandad for a tip and put $10 on Yeates. Having secured our spot in the pub we eagerly awaited the start. Once we'd identified our horse we were able to see him take the lead, and then fall back to about 8th! Oh well, better luck next year!
Here are the photos from today - yes we really are in Australia! (check out those surfers!)
07.11.06
We had our first visitors to the flat today. I think they'd heard that we like to cook, so they popped round at 6:30 to see what was on offer. Unfortunately we had nothing to give them today, but I'll be off to the shops first thing tomorrow to buy some nuts. Click here for some photos of our special guests.
04.11.06
As we have our own apartement we thought we should make the most of the kitchen and do a bit of cooking (also cheaper than eating out three times a day!). So off we went to Coles to see what was what. It took twice as long as a normal shop as we didn't know what brands to buy and what was what, but when we got to the meat section we just couldn't resist the kangaroo meat. Yes you read it right, they had a shelf full of kangaroo in Coles. So for tonights dinner we had kangaroo lasagne!!!!
We were a little sceptical at first but thought we'd give it a try (just because we can!) but it actually tasted great. Email me for the recipe, or Graham for the real review...
Nic x
03.11.06
Well, I've finally managed to wrestle the computer off Graham and write my take on our adventure. The Simpsons are on TV so I guess I've got about 30 minutes, good job I can type reasonably fast.
So we arrived late Sunday evening and I packed Graham off to his interviews on Monday and Tuesday morning. Having stayed in a hostel for the first two nights it was my job to check us into the apartment. With our whole lives in two suitcases it was going to be a mission to transport all our stuff, so Graham helped me to the top of the hill and sent me off searching for flat 69, whilst he dashed off for the ferry. Unfortunately we arrived in the middle of our road so it was a 50/50 chance as to which way to go. The numbers on the other side of the road were at 120 and going down so Graham suggested I go right. Half way down the hill I located a number, it was 39 - my heart sank. I think the look on my face said it all (bearing in mind I was wheeling a suitcase and carrying the laptop and camera bag which contained a lot more than they should to try and reduce the weight of the cases) as a little old man asked if I were lost! He kindly told me that the block of flats I was looking for was at the top of the hill on the other side of the junction. He was however very friendly (and a little senile) and told me at least three times that he was Greek and that many thousands of English words originate from Greek words, oh and he'd love to help me carry my stuff but unfortunately he had hurt his shoulder, and he had a mate in a Greek cafe who'd probably give me a job. I nodded and smiled politely, as my heavy luggage meant that I couldn't walk fast enough to overtake him!
Having almost reached the point where I started (I was now at least 10 minutes late) a man in a car pulled up at the side of the road and wound his window down - "G'day love, can I give you a lift somewhere?" (in your best Australian accent). Now I wouldn't normally accept a lift from a stranger but I thought I was about to collapse. He said he'd seen me going down the hill a few minutes ago and guessed I was lost. I only had a few hundred yards to go but the lift was very much appreciated, so I finally met our temporary landlord in a rather sweaty, flustered state! Thankfully the apartment made up for it and I soon got over the stress. I won't be taking advice from Graham as to which way to turn in the near future though!
I think Graham filled you in on the rest of the week, so that brings me to today. We've had another hectic day, starting with a trip to the bank to do a bit of money laundering. In order to secure the house we had to pay the deposit today, but the money from the house doesn't clear until at least tomorrow. So we fiddled the overdraughts and withdrew the daily maximum from all three accounts. I'm sure we'll get a call from the bank asking why there's been so many transfers and withdrawals in Oz!
Bankers draught in hand we trundled back to Balmain to explore our new suburb. We had a wander down to the water front where we were able to see the harbour bridge and a glimpse of the Opera House.
We had lunch in one of the 30+ cafe/bars on the main road. I think it could be our new favourite place. It was a bustling Italian Deli, with business men stealing ten minutes for lunch, drinking their latte's on up-turned milk crates - it would have made a great photo!
And finally we got the keys to our new house. We can't go in until tomorrow as that's when the contract starts, but we'll be there bright and early to sit in our empty house! Now all we have to do is wait for our furniture...
Nic x
p.s. I almost forgot, I've secured myself a job. It's only temporary for now but it's working with children with learning disabilities and they say there may be some permanent positions coming up in the near future. At least it's a bit of pocket money whilst I'm looking for something more permanent and I didn't have to have an interview!
02.11.06
Well, it's been a very chaotic week since landing here in Sydney on Sunday evening! After the tearful goodbyes things started looking better when Qantas gave us £400 for flying us through Hong Kong rather than Singapore. Thanks Qantas! It helped pay for Nic's first shopping spree in Sydney at least!!
It was a REALLY long flight and we had no time in Hong Kong to recuperate, it was off the plane and straight back through security. We had a really nice taxi driver on our way to our hostel from the airport who gave us the lowdown on where to live, where's good, where's not good, commuting times and none of the old 'you'll never guess who I had in the back of the cab last week' routine. However, he was very keen to know how he compared to London cabbies and if they REALLY had to do an exam to learn all the streets.
We booked into a hostel for the first couple of nights in Manly which did the job nicely. We got to bed around 1am and then I had to get up at 6.30 for the first of my 7 interviews of the week!!! On the early morning walk to get a taxi though, I had a huge smile on my face, as out of various side streets, coming down from the hills like rodents, were people in rubber suits and surfboards under their arms!! I was definitely in Australia!!!!
The interviews went very well, being offered both jobs pretty much on the spot. Tuesday brought more interviews but an official offer from my favorite firm meant canceling the rest and going for a drink! The company looks really good, a similar size to what I'm used to and guess what? It's only got a bloomin' bar/terrace and a pool on the roof! Oh and they've got 2 holiday homes for staff's use!! Yes please! (Please note: The inclusion of pools and holiday homes had no bearing whatsoever on my decision).
So with a job in the bag it was on to where to live long term? We are currently staying in Manly which is a fantastic suburb of Sydney with a surf beach one side and the harbour the other (have a look at the home page...). Top of the list is a suburb called Balmain so off we toddled to look around and have lunch in one of the many cafes. It was love at first sight and we quickly went to the estate agents to have a look what was available. We went to see a house and really loved it! It was only the first one we'd seen but competition is tight in this area of Sydney (there were at least 10 other people looking and all wanting it!!). In Oz you have to fill in application forms and provide references and all sorts to apply to rent, so we wrote a nice letter and said what great tenants we'd be, oh - and if they want we can pay 6 months rent up front!!! (Think that might have clinched it...). Anyway! Got the call today saying it's ours if we want it!! Excellent! Our new house will be....
And the icing on the cake was the prospect of two interviews for Nic, both with companies that look good. In fact all one of them wants to know is "When can she start?" So watch this space for which one she goes for. One thing's for sure, I bet her office doesn't have a roof top pool...