Just a quickie...

It’s been a little while since I’ve written in this thing hasn’t it?

Job hunt is in a state of limbo at the moment – the preferred role has stalled because my would-be boss is currently out of the country (and will be next week as well) but I have the safety net of another offer elsewhere that they’ve agreed to give me extra time to think about. I really do want to start working sooner rather than later as I’ll go crazy if not, but part of me doesn’t necessarily want to dive into the first thing I’m offered. At the very least, I want to know I have a job, even if it doesn’t start for a few weeks. Still hopeful though.

Things are pretty good apart from that. Wish I had a bit more to fill my days sometimes, although I do like ‘wandering around aimlessly’ and once I start working I’ll no doubt wish I had as much free time as I do now. Might go check out the Guggenheim Collection at my gallery today, and go to Queen Vic Markets to get some nice food. Then there are gigs tonight and tomorrow, in addition to the ones Zo and I went to on Sunday or Monday nights. It’s great to get back into live music again.

In other random news:

• A chugger said that I don’t have much of an English accent. I don’t think an Aussie accent is encroaching, so I think she just wasn’t particularly attentive.
• The coffee here is very good. I’m on a quest to find the best ‘long mac’ in town.
• I saw a sign at South Melbourne Market for ‘Atlantic’ fish, with another small sign next to it that added ‘Product of Australia’. I used to think I was quite good at Geography (120/120 on my A Level Coursework), and I can’t seem to remember Australia being particularly near the Atlantic.

Stupid computer at Melbourne City Library won't let me click/type in the 'Title' box. What's with that...!?

Anyway, hello! I'm in Melbourne now obviously, and in this whirlwind of social events, admin and job-interviews-that-aren't-quite-interviews-but-basically-are-really, today is the first time I've had chance to take a breath. But anyway, I'm here, it's still bloody freezing (by that I mean it's 12 degrees - but it feels a lot colder than a UK 12 degrees) and I feel like like I'm coming down with a cold/man-flu.

It's going great all round so far...got lots of stuff organised (boring stuff like bank account, Medicare, Tax File Number) and have also met with two recruitment agencies and three potential employers. Three potential employers who are all very keen on me and have said things like;

"we'd love to have you here"
"we should be able to create a position for you"
"there aren't many people in the Australian job market with specific experience like yours"

...and have pretty much all indicated (or said straight out) that they'd love to get me on board. Which is fairly fantastic really. So it looks like I'll be able to take a little time over the next few days, take stock, have second interviews etc and then figure out what to do. I think I have a pretty clear leader in my head, but we'll see I guess.

Last night was Locals Night at the (very nice) pub near to Zoe's place, with $12 for pretty much everything on the menu (I had steak). And they have Little Creatures Pale Ale on tap, which is threatening to become my new favourite Aussie beer. Tonight is dinner at nic's, and there will be photographic evidence gathered for certain current & ex-dh people to prove that her bottle of Pinot Grigio Rose made it there safely.

Right, I think I'm running out of Internet time...

KL airport

I'm in the departure lunge at KL airport waiting for my connecting flight to Melbourne in about two hours. I had a row to myself on the plane so I could stretch out nicely (still couldn't sleep though), the movie selction was poor, I had squid sambal for breakfast and I have no idea how I managed to get away with the amount of luggage they let me have...

Departure is imminent...

No time for a long rambling post, but tomorrow morning at around 5.30am (i.e. stupid-o-clock) we'll leave Norwich for the drive to Heathrow. Can't afford to cut it too fine with all the nasty business going on at the moment. The flight is at 12 Noon, but check-in etc is 3 hours before so I don't want to rush things.

Today has been goodbyes to family, including my brother Andrew and my Nan. I've told her she has to promise to stick around for a visit in the first half of next year hopefully. It's not been easy to say goodbye to everyone, but it hasn't dented my confidence that I'm 100% doing the right thing, that it's going to be fantastic, and that, despite the fact that I'll obviously miss everyone in the UK loads, I'll be fine out there.

Your next update will be from Melbourne unless I can wangle internet access in Kuala Lumpar airport... :)