If today is Thursday (which it is!), then I'm in Melbourne.
Arrived yesterday, return to Sydney tomorrow, so will miss the GrandPrix.
J
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Monday, March 27, 2006
Public Transport
Tried to get the bus from North Sydney to work (Macquarie park) this morning - what a disaster!
Left early to find the bus-stop - no problems. Bus turns up (7.33), and I realise I don't have a ticket - believing I can't buy one on the bus, I get off (the driver neglects to mention I could just buy a single journey one there and then).
Buy a 10 journey RED ticket - the shop isn't sure if it will cover the distance I require, but suggests asking, and if it doesn't, bring it back an get a refund.
Wait for the next bus (8.03) - it doesn't arrive.
Wait for the one after that (8.33) - it is full, and refuses to stop!
Walk back to flat, and get Louise to drive me in!
Will give it another go tomorrow.
UPDATE: "tomorrow" was much better - bus arrived, I got on. Got work, I got off.
Left early to find the bus-stop - no problems. Bus turns up (7.33), and I realise I don't have a ticket - believing I can't buy one on the bus, I get off (the driver neglects to mention I could just buy a single journey one there and then).
Buy a 10 journey RED ticket - the shop isn't sure if it will cover the distance I require, but suggests asking, and if it doesn't, bring it back an get a refund.
Wait for the next bus (8.03) - it doesn't arrive.
Wait for the one after that (8.33) - it is full, and refuses to stop!
Walk back to flat, and get Louise to drive me in!
Will give it another go tomorrow.
UPDATE: "tomorrow" was much better - bus arrived, I got on. Got work, I got off.
Bed
Well, thats a new bed* ordered - hopefuly it will turn up on the day we move into the next house - otherwise we might be sleeping on the floor!
*an australian king size bed - next one up from a UK king size apparently!)
*an australian king size bed - next one up from a UK king size apparently!)
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Some pictures
Some pictures....
The view from our room at the hotel...
At the zoo, looking at dinner...
In the cable car at the zoo (look at my hat!)
What a week...
What a week.
Monday:
Jon has an informal chat with a guy from Ericsson’ which beforehand Jon thinks might lead to something or is going to be a waste of time. Less than an hour later Jon has been offered a contract position for 6mths.
In the afternoon we sign the lease for the house (4 Priestly Close, St Ives, Sydney 2075) for the next 12 mths. We move in on the 6th April.
Tuesday:
Jon signs contract for job.
We picked up our new car – Mazda 6 wagon (estate)
Wednesday:
Jon started new job
Amelia
She is sleeping better now given the temperatures have dropped (now around 18-20 at night) and it is not as humid.
In the sun we have had to get her use to wearing a hat, which she is slowly accepting. Now in the flat she will show off by putting her hat on and wandering around in it.
We took her to the Zoo last Friday and whilst she did not always know what she was looking for in all the foliage, some of the larger animals she took notice of and at time got very excited. She especially enjoyed the cable car ride over the zoo, so much so we went round again.
Then on Saturday we meet up with some other expats down on the beach – Amelia 2nd visit to a beach (the first one being in North Wales). We changed her thinking she would like the sand and sea, but instead we had cries every time her feet touched the sand (didn’t like the sand moving when she stood on it).
She is taking her time figuring out walking. Standing up a lot, taking at most 1 or 2 steps, and then falling forward to crawl off at speed. However since the weekend she has increased the number of steps up to around 10 and is trying out walking a bit more often.
Her word at the moment is ‘tickle’ – might have something to do with the number of times Mummy & Daddy tickle her! There are now 4 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth, so getting lovely smiles. Also getting lots of hugs and kisses, even Roo and teddy do.
Monday:
Jon has an informal chat with a guy from Ericsson’ which beforehand Jon thinks might lead to something or is going to be a waste of time. Less than an hour later Jon has been offered a contract position for 6mths.
In the afternoon we sign the lease for the house (4 Priestly Close, St Ives, Sydney 2075) for the next 12 mths. We move in on the 6th April.
Tuesday:
Jon signs contract for job.
We picked up our new car – Mazda 6 wagon (estate)
Wednesday:
Jon started new job
Amelia
She is sleeping better now given the temperatures have dropped (now around 18-20 at night) and it is not as humid.
In the sun we have had to get her use to wearing a hat, which she is slowly accepting. Now in the flat she will show off by putting her hat on and wandering around in it.
We took her to the Zoo last Friday and whilst she did not always know what she was looking for in all the foliage, some of the larger animals she took notice of and at time got very excited. She especially enjoyed the cable car ride over the zoo, so much so we went round again.
Then on Saturday we meet up with some other expats down on the beach – Amelia 2nd visit to a beach (the first one being in North Wales). We changed her thinking she would like the sand and sea, but instead we had cries every time her feet touched the sand (didn’t like the sand moving when she stood on it).
She is taking her time figuring out walking. Standing up a lot, taking at most 1 or 2 steps, and then falling forward to crawl off at speed. However since the weekend she has increased the number of steps up to around 10 and is trying out walking a bit more often.
Her word at the moment is ‘tickle’ – might have something to do with the number of times Mummy & Daddy tickle her! There are now 4 top teeth and 2 bottom teeth, so getting lovely smiles. Also getting lots of hugs and kisses, even Roo and teddy do.
Sunday, March 19, 2006
tv, tv, tv
TV
We were warned about the dismal quality of Aussie TV, and the USA level of advert breaks on the commercial channels (we only have ABC, 7, 9, 10 here - no foxtel), but I did expect the ads to stop once the programme restarted. Instead we have to put up with little DOG's (digital onscreen graphics) all the time - the channel ident in the corner, a "whats on next" after /every/ ad break, "comming soon, on this channel" and "in case you forgot, there's a similar program on tomorrow night too"...
The ad's themselves are a whole different story - you have the usual "buy this, it's great, but we can't actually say that" as for the UK. But the commericals done up as interviews are the best "So, Mrs Aussie with a full time job, /and/ 3 kids - why do you use these very reasonably priced ready meals, which taste just like your mum's cooking??"
Saturday@ Balmoral Beach
Went to our first Aussie Britishexpats meet yesterday at Balmoral Beach. Weather was ok, but very cloudy. Amelia currently doesn't like sand we have discovered - hope she does better with the pool at the next place. Was interesting meeting other expats - we were the newest expats there, but I expect that will change at the next meet.
Work
Looks like I have some short term work via a UK company (thanks Bryan/Terry), and also have a "coffee meeting" with Ericsson over at North Ryde - so think we'll pick up the new car on Monday (still have auto insurance to sort out of course).
Paddys Market
We drove into Sydney today, parked at Darling Harbour (very expensive - won't do that again), and bought a load of fresh veg and fruit from the Paddy's Martket next to china town.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
house & car
Good day yesterday - put down the deposit on a nice new Mazda 6 Wagon (estate for all you brits :-) ), and had a call confirming that we will be the next tenants of the house we want to rent.
horrah!
horrah!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
time for another update
Still limited access to the internet. Anyways, here goes:
CARS
We've got it down to two cars - either a Mazda 6 or a Subaru liberty/legacy - both in the wagon version (estate!). Given the price of reasonable second hand cars here*, we will probably end up buying a new car. (then we can get rid of the stupid holden commodore hire car, with it's strange quirks)
*cars don't depreciate as fast as they do in the UK - depreciation does start from when the car was built, not registered (so a new unsold 2005 car is automatically worth less than the 2006 car next to it in the show room), but it is nowhere near as steep as the UK.
HOUSES
We've found a place we like in St Ives, for rent. It has a pool, and some garden for amelia. No aircon (I think), but was nice and cool when we went for an 'inspection'. So, we've given the real estate place our references and a holding deposit, and we are just waiting for confirmation that we are acceptable tenants. It takes ages to look at houses and find something you are happy with. Lots of rental places are ok, until you see the kitchen/bathroom... then you remember that they are rental, and some landlords don't want to invest in the building...
MONEY
Have a bank account with westpac (no fees as long as you keep $5k in the account at all times). Transfered some UK money over last week - however the $$$'s don't arrive until the forex company has been paid - this takes 3 working days from our UK account (done online using normal BACS transfer), and so it's not here yet...
FOOD
Been to COLES (a bit like waitrose) and WOOLWORTHS (a bit like tesco's) - ack - both stores were much smaller than you would get in an express store in the UK, and the layout is a little all over the place. The 2nd COLES we went to was 2/3 through a refit - which was being done whilst the store was open, so there were whole isles with only a few items on them. OK - there are a lot more "speciality" shops, but when you are in a hurry and want to do a single shop, a supermarket makes more sense (especially with a baby). And what is it with the person on the till putting only a few items in the plastic bag when packing for you - and they make such a fuss about the number of plastic bags Aus uses!
WEATHER
Unseasonally warm - 7 degrees higher than normal for this time of year (autumn) - about 30d in the day, and 22d at night.
CARS
We've got it down to two cars - either a Mazda 6 or a Subaru liberty/legacy - both in the wagon version (estate!). Given the price of reasonable second hand cars here*, we will probably end up buying a new car. (then we can get rid of the stupid holden commodore hire car, with it's strange quirks)
*cars don't depreciate as fast as they do in the UK - depreciation does start from when the car was built, not registered (so a new unsold 2005 car is automatically worth less than the 2006 car next to it in the show room), but it is nowhere near as steep as the UK.
HOUSES
We've found a place we like in St Ives, for rent. It has a pool, and some garden for amelia. No aircon (I think), but was nice and cool when we went for an 'inspection'. So, we've given the real estate place our references and a holding deposit, and we are just waiting for confirmation that we are acceptable tenants. It takes ages to look at houses and find something you are happy with. Lots of rental places are ok, until you see the kitchen/bathroom... then you remember that they are rental, and some landlords don't want to invest in the building...
MONEY
Have a bank account with westpac (no fees as long as you keep $5k in the account at all times). Transfered some UK money over last week - however the $$$'s don't arrive until the forex company has been paid - this takes 3 working days from our UK account (done online using normal BACS transfer), and so it's not here yet...
FOOD
Been to COLES (a bit like waitrose) and WOOLWORTHS (a bit like tesco's) - ack - both stores were much smaller than you would get in an express store in the UK, and the layout is a little all over the place. The 2nd COLES we went to was 2/3 through a refit - which was being done whilst the store was open, so there were whole isles with only a few items on them. OK - there are a lot more "speciality" shops, but when you are in a hurry and want to do a single shop, a supermarket makes more sense (especially with a baby). And what is it with the person on the till putting only a few items in the plastic bag when packing for you - and they make such a fuss about the number of plastic bags Aus uses!
WEATHER
Unseasonally warm - 7 degrees higher than normal for this time of year (autumn) - about 30d in the day, and 22d at night.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
quick update
Sorry for the lack of updates - very little internet access at the moment.
We have now moved into our temporary furnished appartment; have a temp medicare number, bank account, have a hire car, and have applied for tax numbers.
now just need to get a job, more permanent house, and move some money from the UK!
weather is great etc, all are fine.
J
We have now moved into our temporary furnished appartment; have a temp medicare number, bank account, have a hire car, and have applied for tax numbers.
now just need to get a job, more permanent house, and move some money from the UK!
weather is great etc, all are fine.
J
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