What it feels like to quit your job on the 2nd day...

Today, my day started how I imagined it would be in my new role - get up and get ready, jump on the tram and fight for a seat, read the Guardian on my phone and await the moment I can get into the office to make myself a cup of coffee and quit my job on my second day.

Backtrack to the day before and I had a good first day. Like most first days it was all about inductions, introductions and information overload! So nothing really new there. I was taken out for lunch, joked with my fellow English colleagues (there are a few of us here!) and looked forward to getting to grips with my new role and responsibilities.

So when I received a phone call at 5.20pm whilst I was awaiting the tram home offering me another position, I had a dilemma on my hands.

Whilst for most people this might not seem to be too much of an issue, for me it felt bittersweet. Bittersweet because my colleagues were so lovely, they were genuinely happy to have me there, the working conditions were great and the pay was marginally better. So why leave?

Because the new position is a permanent managerial role for start. But mainly because the cause makes my blood boil at the injustice of the system here in Australia. Because it is an excellent opportunity to build and grow the fundraising team and implement my own campaigns and fundraising events.

But I felt so bad when I arrived at 8.30am and saw the look of surprise on my colleagues face at 8.35am when I told him the news and had to wait my our manager and the HR manager to arrive to further spread this news. They were very gracious about the episode, making me feel at ease with my decision and trying to make sure that I stopped apologising!

It is a real shame as I felt that I would have got along well within the team, but this other opportunity is one that I need to challenge myself and to really strive towards greatness to make the maximum impact and to actually change people's lives.

All the services are run on-site which is an excellent motivation to achieve all the goals that need to be met and to really make this position my own.

So now that I am back at home at 10.30am I shall give myself the day off from my 1 day at work.

A cup of tea, slice of chocolate peanut butter birthday cake and a crafty afternoon should ease my mind!

A big thank you to everyone who sent me birthday love via email, facebook, texts, birthday calls and Skypes, cards and pressies - it is great to know that I have the love and support of so many around me :)

I had a lovely day which began with a chocolate caramel slice in the shape of a 27 for birthday breakfast, opened some lovely gifts, had the flat decorated in balloons and streamers, had my favourite birthday Pho in Richmond and went to see the musical King Kong at the Regents Theatre which had its world premiere in Melbourne.

Check it out here:

http://kingkongliveonstage.com/

If it ever does travel the world - go and see it - its very technical and amazing - sexy and scary all in one!

And at the weekend I had a great time as Eloise and David made me a chocolate peanut butter birthday cake and bought me beautiful roses! We watched the AFL Grand Final (a religion down here) and headed out for delicious drinks and cocktails in Fitzroy with Brant and Ali (Ali is featured in my world travel blog as we became friends in Buenos Aires and she lives in Melbourne!).

And we had a great chance to catch up with Debs and Joel - good friends with the lovely Sarah and Macca and I met them at their Thailand wedding in 2011 - also featured in my travel blog.

So thank you to everyone - I have been spoilt yet again this year!

I shall keep you all updated with my other new job on Monday.

Have a great week to all, much loves as ever xxx

The only way is up!

A very good afternoon to all!

I hope you are all doing well :)

I am definitely having a positive day today-despite the dark clouds and torrential downpour we just experienced!

The only way is up.

Taking positivity out of all situations.

At the moment, we are both having a 'power week' with lots of interviews, meeting with recruiters and interest in us as potential employees and candidates.

Between us this week we are looking at 8  appointments with just as many last week and next week too. I secured 2 interviews and a meeting before breakfast time in my PJs this morning which is a very positive start!

For those who have experienced unemployment, they know the processes, energy, enthusiasm and motivation required to just get up and write the application. Let alone the sales skills, passion and drive to see through an interview, doused with endless lashings of hope, angst and uncertainty. With a sprinkle of confidence of course!

It is easy to fall into the 'unemployment pit of doom' after a while, with those dark days and endless wondering about different applications and when you'll hear back.

We have found that the Melbourne processes are extremely time consuming - with applications open for 4 weeks, with another week for processing, another 2-3  weeks for interviews and maybe another week for a decision, just  for good measure.

The key selection criteria is the killer. An essay on your specific history and employment examples demonstrating all skills ever experienced, ever. With a 250 word limit per section please.

It's definitely draining and a test if endurance. But I guess at least we are going through it together and supporting each other. And still haven't killed each other!

But the trick, as ever to remain positive, remain active and healthy (weather permitting) and to read the book you never have time for, enjoy cooking those meals that always take too long, take up those creative projects at the back of your mind and use it as an opportunity.

Cue my latest lol project-a vintage/retro (buzzword alert!) peg holder with a vintage twine hanger.

What a whizz I'm becoming on the sewing machine!

But in the meantime, we have bought a ticket for this weeks Power ball Lottery and if anyone does have a job in mind, let me know- haha!

Much loves as ever and a MASSIVE HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR YESTERDAY TO MY NOT-SO-LIL BRO ADAM!!! 

T-minus 8 days till the Roses' birthday too! Xxx

Friday 13th, unlucky for some...

But not for me! ( 2 hours left so hopefully not)

Huzzah for Friday! Not that it makes much difference to the unemployed. Everyday could be Friday! Or Monday. Depending on how you're feeling.

So a quick summary-the house is all lovely and set up and we are super happy to be in such a great area!

On the job front, I have applied fair around 10 jobs and heard back from 7 of them, had 4 interviews with another on Tuesday-so still hoping that one will turn into a position. Fingers crossed for me people!

Super-Dave is on a roll with the interviews and meeting with recruiters so fingers crossed he's on the employment path too!

So enough of that. That's where we are at.

In other news, those who know me well also know that I have developed a strange fascination and ever growing collection of fridge magnets. Weird, I know.

I think it partly started with the really old fridge that we acquired from the Curries and I think I just wanted to make it pretty.

And then it started to become an obsession. I can't go to a tourist attraction or go into a gift shop without buying one.

Annoyingly this obsession started after my epic round the world trip. What a list opportunity!

And beloved friends of ours have started to add to our collection, thinking of us on their own trips which is very lovely- and exciting for this obsessive magnet collector.

So here's a selection if some of my faves. ( with my impending day of birth coming up, please feel free to forward magnets my way! )

The epic €3 euro delight from Seville airport spending our last coins. I love it because its so tacky it's actually cool.

 The latest edition from our GC-MEL drive- stopping off at the Big Banana. It's just plain funny.

"Mahalo Lucy!"- our lovey Hawaiian edition from Eloise and Brants Honeymoon. Reminds me of Eloise and her love for 50 First Dates.

A simple, Eco-friendly fridge magnet from our first ever big family holiday this year!

Whilst we weren't in the UK at the time, we picked up this beautiful lil momentous of a historical day.

Creepy yet must-have magnet from the Catedral de Seville in Spain. 

Beautiful ornate magnet from the Queen Vic Markets on my first ever trip to Melbourne.  

David's favourite bird- the Kookaburra from our day trip to Currumbin Wildlife Centre with Kristy. Sitting next to a lil lighthouse from the Herne Bay museum at home.

Sweet Dutch kisses from Davs on his mini Euro trip.

              Functional and English.

12 years since September 11th. How time flies. From our amazing NY food fest in 2011.

 Finally, the long-awaited Barcelona from Laura, James, Jo and Jesus on their trip about a million years ago.

So, as you can see, my weird obsession has stories and many fond memories.

I encourage you to all get on board and go buy a magnet!

Have a lovely weekend all- we have a day trip out to the Dandenong Ranges before the Gangsters Ball for a night of dressing up, swing dancing, cocktails, gambling and feeling fabulous as our engagement gift from the wonderful Laura, James, Jo, Tess, Jesus and Charlie. Can't wait!

Oh and a Mexican food fest on Sunday, super yum!

Buenos Noches and muchos love xxx

 

Tonight is the night.

That most likely the political landscape will change with today being Election Day!

Now, as a 'foreigner' to this great country, I am not allowed to vote. However, now I live in this great country, I am allowed to have an opinion.

So here is Heather's rundown to the 2013 Australian Election:

The main showdown is between Kevin Rudd and the Australian Labor Party (ALP)...

And Tony Abbott and the Liberal National  Party (LNP)...

And unfortunately Tony is the leading man in the first counts of today's voting.

He had come up with some crackers in the last few weeks of the campaigning:

- Implying that Gay Marriage is a 'fashion trend of the moment'

- Commenting on the 'sex appeal' of a female member of his party (as a strength  of her position)

- Commenting on the attractiveness of his daughters as a reason to remember him and vote for him...said daughters below:

And other party members of his have come out with these amazing tit-bits:

- Explaining the plan to stop the boats:

Check it out - http://youtu.be/V2NDewpz1mY

- Fiona Scott's cracker stating that the congestion on the roads of her electorate are  'due to the excess asylum seekers' that have come in as Boat People. ( Boat People is a socially acceptable term for Asylum  Seekers who arrive by boat. This term is used in the news. Amazingly.)

But we also have a few other characters and parties to vote for:

Bob Katter: Face like an old orange leather shoe, fights for farmers and rural Aussie issues.

Clive Palmer: Billionaire Mining Magnet (not his words apparently), wants to run Australia as well as his businesses, a dinosaur golf course and whilst rebuilding the Titanic. Aka - Titanic 2. No jokes.

 

( oh and he remains on top of QLDs rich list despite losing over $1bn in a year)

And then we have parties like this:

http://pirateparty.org.au/

May or may not consist of pirates. I haven't bothered to look into it.

So it's a very interesting time.

The main difference between politics here and in the UK is the excessive, slanderous advertising campaigns. 

(And compulsory voting with a fine if you don't and don't declare a good reason before polling day.)

Literally the advertising is ALL negative slagging off about the other parties- you don't really hear about what the parties all stand for. 

They don't really credit the public with the intelligence to understand their policies and base it off meaningless ads.

Oh and of course this: 

The good old sausage sizzle. An institution in Australia and an accompaniment to the election.

You can find the best voting station sausage sizzles in your state, here:

 http://www.electionsausagesizzle.com.au/

Yes. It is real. And a real big deal.

Bigger than the election for some people.

And as we finish Kevin Rudd concedes his 

place as Prime Minister and has to make that 

awkward call to Abbott. What would you say 

in that situation?

So that, in a nutshell, is what I have learnt 

about Aussie politics.

A new Liberal (conservative) government 

should be an interesting one!  

Nighty night to all (or have a lovely Saturday 

if you are in the UK).

And a happy birthday to my stepdad Adam!

Much loves xxx

Road trip: GC - MEL.

Well, well, well. Australia's a big old country isn't it?!

As it can fit the whole of Europe with a bit of space to spare-I guess I should have realised it would take a fair while to drive the car down from the Gold Coast down to Melbourne. 

This very accurate map gives you an idea of the route:

So if we drove without any breaks it would take around 20hours non-stop. Phew!

We didn't do that. We stopped along the way to have a quick look on our way to Sydney where we stated with Kevin and Vicky Currie and the rest of their Currie clan in Lilly Pilly.

Overall, the trip was pretty long as you can imagine, but quite scenic- especially at sunrise and sunset. 

Oh, and I finally saw my first Aussie big things! (They have a habit if having large novelty structures as tourist attractions, usually in the middle of nowhere!)

Enjoy this photo journal of our trip!

Day 1: Gold Coast to Sydney. 

                   Sunrise in QLD.

                   Near Yamba.

   Pie tasting at K'Pane Artisan Bakery,              Coffs Harbour, NSW. 

             Coffs Harbour Marina.

Making Merry Christmas Rock at the Big Banana! 

I always wondered how they got the writing inside- fascinating to watch!

                         Ta-dah!

          As it says on the banana.

           In the banana plantation.

         Finally made it to Sydney!

Day 2: Sydney to Melbourne.

View from our room in Lilly Pilly, Sydney. At Dave's Aunt and Uncles.

              Gorgeous views!

  Inland on the road to Melbourne, NSW.

        The big Merino! A random find.

We also saw the Big Rock Roadhouse randomly (I wasn't quick enough to take my own pic so here's one from Google)

    Dusk going over the border into VIC.

 

           Beautiful sunset shots.

And then it got dark and I didn't take any more pics!

It was a crazy long journey- and not cheap too. It cost us around AUD$240 plus tolls, snacks etc so getting domestic flights is much much cheaper and quicker!

But a great way to see the countryside, go through random small towns and try to get to grips with just how big this county is!

That's all for now!

Much loves xxx