So incase the world does fall apart

We can always sell up and live in a tent... and why not get some free prime real estate while you're at it?

This has to be the most adventurous type of camping possible?

Helicopter Raids on Sydney CBD

Unfortunatly there were no parachutes.

Helicopter

I can thoroughly recommend these guys, Aviation Tourism Australia

Operational health and Safety improvements.

Recently at work, we've been asked to suggest improvements for safety in work.

I think this picture says it all.

The sign says, "Fire safety door, do not obstruct"

Sometimes art confuses me.

It's meant to be a work of fiction... but I would have to move this piece from the Literary work pigeonhole into the Shoebox of "Incomprehensible gibberish, also called art", which I would stash under the bed. Promptly forgetting about it.

"Eunoia is the shortest word in English containing all five vowels - and it means "beautiful thinking". It is also the title of Canadian poet Christian Bok's book of fiction in which each chapter uses only one vowel.

Mr Bok believes his book proves that each vowel has its own personality, and demonstrates the flexibility of the English language. Below are extracts from each chapter"

Honestly, this sort of thing makes my head hurt.
And when that happens I quite often get angry.

No-one on the phone.

I've recently been trying to get in contact with my mortgage broker... I think i've just figured out why they arn't answering the phone any more!

And on the weekend, we went to Goulburn to see the "lumpy underdaks".
I don't know about their webpage, but they play some good tunes. I hear they do weddings too :-)

Horsey people

It's billed as "the race that stops a nation".
Now in Oz, that could be the 100 metre front crawl, or the one legged dog frisbie chasing 100 metre, cause let's face it the Aussies would bet on a blind drunk man hitting a bullseye through a brick wall... if the odds were right.

So it did indeed stop everything at my work. Where they put on the big screens in the board room and invited everyone in for a beer and a bet. Nice to know that your employer can live it up once in a while.

As a bonus, I picked (it must be mentioned that it was out of the hat) the 2nd and 3rd place winners out of the hat, and ended the day $50 richer. There were a few comments made about the gambling irish!

But i'm happy, now I'm going to put that money in the bank and let the interest build up. Er, or not.

Still at least things don't look quite as bleak as they did last week, the Aussie dollar gaining about 10% value against the Euro and the US Dollar.

Back in the land of Interweb #2

After compulsive checking of my e-mail for the last 4 days, I finally got the e-mail i was waiting for!!

"Dear Customer,
Thank you for choosing TPG Internet as your ADSL provider.
Your ADSL service is now active; charging will commence from today."

Yeah.. back in the interwebz!

Back in the land of Interweb

I recently received the following mail from my internet provider.

This is my explaination for disapearing of the radar for a month.
And of course because we've been busy.

I've been training for the Gong cycle this weekend. 90km's and a sore arse for charity (MS research).

And a visit from some of the old Karlsruhe gang from germany and holland. So we did the tourist thing and went to the blue mountains. And took some snaps of this...

Which any Australian should be able to identify as the three sisters

Oh.. and I've decided to give the American Football a miss this season. I'm having much more fun getting fit on the bike.

And because our interweb is getting cut off soon, we're getting really fast internetz (ADSL) from these guys.

AND... Just for good measure. I've now been in the country of deadly seas and (not quite) scorching sun for 6 months and 2 weeks (So I now have an Ozzie drivers license). And there is exactly 6 months left until I get married to my loverly lady 'K'.

Life goes on, and on, and on 'n on.

And because I've now lost 5 kilo's from cycling, I can now drink beer again! YEAH!

Daddy Spears.

Does this phrase,"susceptible to undue influence." , just mean that she's a bit dim?
Surely being stupid is no defence for doing stupid things?

If that's the case, I shall get myself sectioned immediatly!

Pimp My Ride - Cycle Edition

Can I just say, if you want to make your commute on a bicycle more enjoyable... maintain your bike properly.

The gains in average commute speed shown below are mostly due to proper maintainance!


Tips for increasing your speed ranked according to effectiveness!

Tip 1. Save 3km/h - If you have a mountainbike - swap the dirt treads for road tyres. Descents are much faster. Dirt tyres have great grip, through high surface area contact to the ground. Road tyres a smooth profile and less grip, but this is only needed while breaking or cornering. If you don't feel confident cornering on road tyres, then try semi slicks, with a high grip profile on the parts of the tyres used in cornering.

Tip 2. Save 1.5km/h - Keep the tyre pressure as close to your tyres maximum pressure rating as possible. The higher the pressure, the less the tyre deforms, the less contact with the ground. This reduces energy loss due to friction, and puts it into generating momentum. Be warned, as you have less grip, and reduced breaking power.

Tip 3. Save 1km/h - Check your brakes. You only want to use them when stopping. Brakes Rubbing against the wheel waste energy, and sap energy on ascents. If your wheel is buckled, you may be able to straighten it by adjusting the tension on your spokes.

Tip 4. Save 1km/h - Grease up! Buy the tools, and find out how your hubs are assembled. If your hubs aren't setup correctly, then the energy lost is actually causing damage to the Hubs. Old or missing grease, creates unwanted heat & noise. Overtightening will squeeze the bearings and increase loss to friction, more heat and noise. Loose hubs, will move off center cornering and cause uneven wear to bearings and brakes.

Tip 5. Save time - Plan ahead. Optimise your route! Shortest does not equal quickest. Consider, road surface quality, traffic and pedestrian congestion, ascents, recovery after ascents... etc.

Fun ouch fun ouch

I can thoroughly recommend the guys as Heartbreak ridge, for all you paintballing needs.

However the most important consideration is.. who are you taking with you.
People who would shoot you in the back in work, will it seems, also shoot you in the back on the field. Normally at close range.

I have a selection of multicoloured welts to prove this.

Well thought out

From the front page of the sydney morning herald.
Obviously the Ad placement guys have been working overtime.

Fringe benifits.

Apparently there's another benifit to cycling to work. One which keeps the miser in me just as content as my inner eco freak.
I don't have to pay this anymore.


And combined with the petrol price it shapes up to a neat, $12.

To work and back by car.
Toll Pennant hills - abbot rd : 2.20 * 2
Toll abbot rd - old winsor : 0.56 * 2
Distance 20 km each way
Petrol price - 1.51 (Expensive Thursday)
Petrol Consumption - 10L/100km
Time 25 - 45mins
Total - $11.56
+ Gym Membership - $16 (Month)

To work and back by bike.
Toll - $0
Distance 25 km each way (Not so many choices as by car)
Petrol price - 55cents (1 Bananna Extra)
Gym Membership - Nada, Nill, Nichts.
Time 1h 5mins - 1h 10 mins.
Total - Bugger All, and a free workout to boot!

AND BEST OF ALL - because it's all bike paths and back streets
I DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP WITH ALL THE DICKS IN CARS ON THE ROADS!!
Of course the money that's saved all goes into the kitty for our next brew of beer! Which after all that excercise, can be drunk without guilt!

Progress

After my rather depressed post the other week, about injuries and weight problems... it's really nice to see this picture.



Let me explain... this pic is produced from the geektistics that my fellow cyclist Liam has collected on our weekly bike to work. In pairs, going to work, going home, each about 30k's.

Now that you understand what's in the pic, that steady rise of the chart shows that we have made progress. Steadily increasing our speed on the route to and from work.
(Now a real stickler, would point out that we got lost on the way home every week, while trying different return routes.. but the to work route was always the same.)
And our total ride time for 30Km has gone from 1h 30mins ride time plus "Air" breaks, to 1h 7secs with stops only to cross at traffic lights.

So I'm going to enjoy this pic, while it lasts. Because as of friday, we're stepping up our training for the Ride to Gong, to twice a week. And as a result, the pic will probably start to level off.

And of course, on the way home, we get to use the only Bus lanes on the planet for which it is illegal to cycle on!

Will the real slimy git please stand up.

Point to note:

Will the person who turned up the cooling in the work fridge please get in contact with me...




You owe me lunch!!
(It's meant to be a salad.)

What a load of bollocks

Honestly how are we meant to believe Mr Bush, Bail-out 'vital to easing crisis'

So the worlds largest economy (which incedently is also the worlds most indebted economy) get's the hiccups, and suddenly the Government of the USA starts pumping money into it, too stabilise it?

I have heard several justification for this over the last week, but my favourite has to be along the following lines,
- The fall of the large american company XYZ would have a negative effect on the world economy.

Now when did the US ever give a shit about the world economy other than when trying to leech as much as it can out of it.
I can't understand how taxpayers in the US can watch as the Government pours it's money into companies who have been swindling those same tax-payers into mortgages they cannot afford.
Sure the fall of these large financial institutions would probably send the US economy into recession, but isn't the idea behind capitalism and free markets, that if a company is unsuccessful it should fold and a new one will take its place. Until now I saw a sort of darwinism in the free market, survival of the fittest. We have just seen the dinosaurs hit by a meteor, and now we're trying to fix them up and get them on their feet.
Now is should also be known that when other Economies have faltered, and reacted in this way, the US was normally the first country to chastise them for intervention in the free market. The normal result in weaker economies was that American capital flowed into these markets instead of local capital, and the economy there after sent all profits over the border. That is of course, only when the USA don't invade. A county that managed to buck this trend, was Argentinia when it defaulted on it's foreign debt, their crisis also brought on by a credit crunch.
Now the US economy is effectivly defaulting on its internal debt.

So why does the US Government not want to follow what it preaches?
The US Government claims that the fall of their largest financial companies would send the world economy into turmoil. Well certainly there would be a slowdown.. and of course the US was very clever creating a Debt system based on it's own dollar, so any countries that loaned to the US in dollars have alot to loose if the American economy goes downhill. However, the US likes to overstate its position, it helps to scare smaller economies into doing as it asks. If the US was to deflate its debt, by devaluing the dollar, it would also open it's financial sector to takeovers from abroad or to use the US euphanism, it would open it's financial sector to Foreign investment. This would then leave the US with reduced control over its financial sector.
Alternatively the US could honour its debt, and enter a recession, where the old companies would die, and new companies would take their place. In 10 years, if the Chinese haven't overtaken them by then, they could emerge without the deadwood of con-artists, swindlers and ambulance chasers who caused the current crisis. Their markets would, with proper management (not intervention), be rebalanced, and the US could get a fresh start. I think that would be a positive thing for its overworked underpayed, living on credit masses.

There is of course another somewhat more radical suggestion as to why the Government would bail out the old, large financial institutions with Tax Payer money. The old boys club. What would they do with all those Ivy league boys if they all suddenly had to go on the dole. They're bloody useless without their connections.


Personally, I think the US could do with cleaning up their economy. Take a look at the Environmental changes they could make if they had to start again. They could remove the populace from their dangerous credit addiction. They would have to invest in education. Most importantly, they might have to drop their protectionist import restrictions and wage deflation and actualy start practicing what they preach.

Like my mum always told me, it's better to take the plaster off quickly.

The other rugby game

I turned up for Rugby training the other day.

I didn't recognise any of the lads there.

I didn't know what was happening when they started pulling out helmets.
And then the shoulder pads came out.

So I trained with them.

American Football can actually be alot of fun... at least until the next day.


I couldn't lift my arms for a week.

And then the next week, I broke my laughing and sneezing muscle.. in the warm-up!
Now everytime I sneeze, I get stabbed in the stomach.
I told the doctor about it, and he sent me for an ultrasound. So maybe he thinks i'm pregnant. It would explain the extra pounds.

Full circle

Today I came home to find a weighing scale sitting in the kitchen. This is not normally something that would worry me. So I jumped onto it to see what it said.

Oh, dear...

I haven't weighed in at 110kg since I lived in Karlsruhe.

Things have to change.

After I arrived in ingolstadt, I did manage to get down to 88kgs. I guess that'll be my aim again!

Until then, I'm going to have to lock up the beer fridge.

Introducing levies on fresh air

Warning: This post is long, rambling, and politicized


Many are not familiar with the institutions of government in Australia.
I am one of those people too.
To keep it simple, there's government (federal) and then there's government (state).
In my opinion, all government finally reaches a level of parochialism if you follow the power structure to it's lower tiers. However, I did not expect to find this at the second level of government, the state government of NSW.
This aspect of Australian politics is wisely kept hidden from the outside world, because on hearing the antics of the NSW state government over the last 6 months I was strongly reminded of a Bingo Hall.
I need not list the ways in which the last Premier (Mr Iemma) and his Treasurer (Mr Costa) have made themselves notorious, as many others have already done that.
Lets just be happy that they are out of a Job.

Now normally I would salute such a move, but, it was not due to a voter decision, instead it was infighting in the party which led to the change at the top. Also, the person appointed to succeed Mr Iemma, a Mr Rees, was not voted in by the people and will continue a 3 year premiership without ever being put to the ballot.
Yes I know, we can't vote on everything.. in fact, I can't vote on anything till I get residency... but normally the voters have a Idea of the preference of their MP for premier, when voting. Instead, the biggest bully/personality of the party has been put into the premiership.

Anyway, I'm sure it will be remedied in the next 3 years, either Mr Rees will be successful, or he'll be succeeded.

So far the measures proposed by the Rees Cabinet to help the state offset it's massive debt, aren't sounding to good his future.

Government is moving to charge fees for cars parked at railway stations): This is a plan to charge commuters for using the free parking at selected stations for their commute into the City. That's right, the most congested city I know of, is looking to put more people on the road. Surely the guy that came up with this one, should think before opening his mouth.

The next proposal... axe the (more than half finished) North West Metro rail project: Now please, how is stopping an already half payed multimillion dollar project, a wise decision. (Edit - Apparently there has already been a change in mind on this)

Here's the remaining proposals, I can't be bothered to point out the inadequacies in them all, needless to say, they were probably jotted down on the back of an envelope after the premiers inauguration party.

Please note, unfortunately it's not possible to get any remotely impartial news in this country, and I must warn the reader, that the Fairfax group, from which all of the links originate, would seem to dislike the Labour NSW Government. Be Warned.

It's murder at the disco

I was late into work today, there was a rather severe traffic accident which caused traffic problems until about midday.

According to the police, the driver was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
What I saw, was a car that hit a power pole so hard, that the pole threatened to fall and block a 3 lane expressway. I'm not normally a rubbernecker, but I was curious when I saw that there was a giant crane on site. So I snapped a pic, I'll post it later. But basically, you could nearly read the front number plate, through the boot of the car. That someone can come away from that with "minor" injuries tells me they were very lucky.

What suprises me more, is that the accident was at 2am that night. There's not much traffic around at that time. That this is the first accident I've seen, also suprises me, given that at least half of the morning traffic is asleep, and the others half is wired and suffering from a road rage addiction. Yet somehow, people still manage to safely get to work.

September is the new April

Now some of the northern hemisphere people will not understand. But those of you from the deep south will appreciate, that the onset of spring does not immediatly imply good weather.
Infact, as it has now been raining for 2 days without a break, I would say, surely by now, the rain quota for the year has been fullfilled. Why is it that wherever I move, that country immediatly manages to set all time records for wind, rain and least number of hours of sunshine.

COME ON SUMMER, I'M READY FOR YOU!

P.S. My better half however, keeps reminding me to appreciate this unpredicable weather, because when summer comes, she predicts only one type of weather, "melty".

Timewasting

If you are ever in the fortunate position of having too much time on your hands, then all you need is a Suse 11 install CD, and an old mac IBook.
Guaranteed to use up all of your time, until you realise that your mission is futile.

The beardy man

So the funny man, beardy wizard of bristol is in Sydney next week.

He was on telly yesterday too, pluggin his show.
Unfortunatly I can find no-one to join me, as my better half has to dedicate the beginning of the weekend to be better prepared to teach those who wish not to be taught.

New Toy

I've wanted one of these back in 2003.
They cost €1000 back then.


Unfortunatly, I forgot to get a monitor first.
Now it's sat there, and I can't get into it! Argh!

Its been a long time coming

So, it's been a busy week, and no posts.
Now that we've told all the relatives that need to know, it's safe to tell the world.

Yes, K and Myself are engaged.

I popped the question after a Kasey Chambers Gig at the lovely state theatre in Sydney.
And she was, for a short time, quite speechless.

So now it's all go, trying to figure out what's next, and how and where we do what!

Oh please!!

As if it's any suprise...

The BBC reports that the little chinese who was an integral part of the Beijing Olypic ceremony, as watched by close to 1 Billion people was actually miming!


Really! What country would let the fate of their opening ceremony lie in the hands of some cutesy singing kid.

One of those days

IF, you ever buy a packard bell laptop. Please ensure that you buy enough replacement batteries to last you the lifetime of the computer. My laptop now lasts about 1 minute off of the power, enough time to transfer plug sockets.

Yesterday, after 2 months waiting for delivery, I received a replacement battery from packard bell. Only to find that it wouldn't fit in the slot of my computer. Now I'm curious as to how the Battery Configurator touted on their site as "100 % guaranteed" managed to configure the incorrect battery, and why when I check it now, it's suggesting another incorrect battery. And better still, when you switch the online shop to german, it's in a mix of german and dutch!
Oh, and don't try to find a contact email on their site... there's only a british phone number where the phone monkeys are trained to say, "Let me ask my supervisor".

The supervisors.. are also monkeys... but they have typewriters.

It's an omen

It must be an omen, when, on the morning commute to work you get overtaken by a Toyota Prius. Gliding by, just over the speed that I speed over the speed limit. Outside of my comfort zone.
I wish to present this as a metaphor for the world, where finally environmental responsability dares to overtake short-term quickbuck car buyers.
The 12 year old eco friendly version of me, would have been fascinated with these cars, apparently good for the environment, giving people a warm fuzzy feeling inside when they buy them.
My modern day me, while fully aware of these vehicles being firmly outside my price range, gets geek goosebumps thinking about the possibilites for adjusting things on this car.

In the meantime I'll have to make do with driving as economically responsibly as possible.
On the other hand, I could take the bus. It's cheaper. I don't have to drive. It's timetabled, so I HAVE to leave work. And I can relax and put my feet up while someone else gets frustrated with the traffic. Hmm.

Today I made cake

Today I made cake, and I ate it too.
Cheesecake for workmates.
It has two handy functions:
It helps you survive the pre-lunch sugar low.
It greases the palms of the people who will be interviewing me for a permanent position this week.

Yes, bribes and cakes are the way forward.

The olympics are on

My Visa is granted

I have some smelly cheese, and I'm no afraid to use it.

And I'm getting interviewed next week for a permanent position.

A long day.

Despite your best suggestions, we decided to lay down a Dark German Beer.
Dunkle helles.
So what should we call out beer..

Suggestions from noelle,
Man Juice
Siobhans nads
barney hughes
Ormeau Dark
Granny mornin milk
Lunch

Dermots suggestions,
Devils Bread
brown bread
Ormeau Dark & Dasatardly
Devils vomit

Suggestions please...
And we need a beer label.. something classy, OK!?

One step ahead of the news

Google maps has released Streetview for sydney. Apparently over a year in the filming. I can now show people I know where I REALLY live. (Yeah Right!)
Click StreetView!

What Aussie drivers see

A long walk of an even longer continent.

I'm sure that many Australians don't appreciate quite how big their country really is, what with them being so car dependant.
However one person should have a very good idea of just how big Australia is, when he completes his journey from West to East Australia, John Olsen is raising money for two Childrens Charities.

Somehow, I got conned by someone in work, to sponsor him $20 for the City to Surf, a measly 14km. If I was to keep the same rate, I'd have to give john olsen about $7k. Well, I don't have that sort of money, but I think I'll have to sponsor a man that intends to do the City 2 Surf, 3 times a day, for the next 100 days.

Inventing words in my sleep

Don't ask me what I was dreaming about, cause I can't remember, but i woke up this morning with this word stuck in my head.

Volatics

Politics in a volatile environment that keeps breaking into Violence.

Now I have to get it included in 100 books within the year, so it gets into the collins dictionairy.

Want!

Yes please, toy with real use!!! If I can program this to pour a pint, then even katherine will be happy with it!

Sicky bad no good.

Today I stayed at home and made the house smell of "sick man".

So if any of you are wondering why my internet presence spiked for a day... well it's nearly like being unemployed again.

Firstly, I'm incredibly proud of my Bro, who received his diploma in Popular Music today! Yeah! I've got a pop musician in the family!

So aside from ickey snot head, I did actually have a good week. K and I were out with some of my workmates at the Austrian Schnitzel house. Very tasty indeed. Infact, I would say the food was better than in Germany. Although K pointed out that this may have been due to looking forward to it so much. And the beer mmmm. I love a Weizen!
If you ever want to kill your desire for German food, then eat in a German work canteen.

Just another bank holiday!

The Aussies know what they like.

And outside of sport, their next favourite, is bludging it.
This is the latest theory in how to get some good Barbie time.

Vis-a-o-rama

Today K and I went into the City to talk to Mr Chung from the Australian Immigration department. He told us, that our application was quite comprehensive.
So I should have my visa within a month, quite a relief, as we were under the impression it could take upto 8 months.
Now I must state one thing clearly! This is a temporary Visa which entitles me to remain in Australia as K's partner. After 2 years, I can then apply for a permenant residency Visa, assuming K hasn't gotten fed up with me yet! ;-)
So this is very good news! Now we can get on with living, instead of waiting in Limbo!

A long weekend.

So it would seem we have arrived.
I promised several people I would write them a postcard when we arrived in Sydney. Now, three months later, I've finally gotten around to it. Although, who know's when I'll manage to get them to the postbox. I've written many letters in my time, however only about half ever made it to their destination.

K and myself haven't been well this weekend, partner flu. K first, and two days later I fell ill too. So I've had a running prediction of what condition I'll be in, in 48 hours.
We still had a busy weekend,

on friday, we met L_, a long time friend of K's and I suppose, an Internet friend of mine. L_ was visiting sydney from the far north, for family reasons, but still managed to find timeout to see us. It was fun, anything that ends with late night coffee's normally is!
Saturday was a hectic day of shopping, refunds, baking, flat reorganisation and cleaning. Sunday was our first housewarming lunch! Alot of work, but well worth the effort. There was only one pregnant visitor when they arrived, but two when they left! And houses were bought! And... oh my god.. that shit's all so grown up!
Infact, everyone's preggers, my mate Andre from Germany just had a kid! So cute too! Who would've thought such a grumpy bastard could spawn such a cute kid!

Anyway, it's sunday night, it's raining heavily, i've been drinking since midday and I digress.

Let's just concentrate on getting a visa!

Rugby in the middle ages

I honestly believe that my dear ingolstadt baboons were born in the wrong century!
Way to go baboons! I bet you managed to win this tournament too! Especially the Beer Cup!



There's a short one here

blogging from ann I phone is not easy!

Where's my Popemobile

So it's world youth day, and sydney is full of pilgrims.
I havn't seen the popemobile yet, but then I haven't been looking.
On the weekend K and me visited K's parents in Goulburn. K's mum had pilgrims too. They're bloody everywhere, and K_ and myself enjoyed tormenting them over a lovely sunday lunch.

So I haven't had much of a chance to post in the last week. I've been happily working away, doing at least 10 hours a day. Basically, I've had to do alot of catching up, I managed to forget alot of what I learned in Uni while I was getting comfortable with working in Germany. I got complacent, and it was evident when I was looking for work that I wasn't looking after my skills over the last few years.
So now I'm very happy to do overtime to get my programming skills (C# & .Net) upto speed, while I have an employer that's willing to let me try.
So although I don't have much time, it's all smiles.

Now if only I can get work, and working out, to work together. Then I can get back to playing Rugby! I NEED THE SOCIAL!

In the meantime, it looks like we'll be brewing some Munich Helles. Unfortunatly, it won't be ready in time for our partial housewarming this Sunday. (I say partial, 'cause it's only 3 rooms)

And in other news, K's friend L is down from the far north, and I can finally meet one of the people that keeps K sain!

Mmmm Beer

Hi folks, all right as rain here.
Indeed, there's plenty of rain here.
Today, work consisted of learning how to wash my hands properly. Don't you love health and safety.

On another note.. I've had a splendid idea.
Infact, Katherine and myself have been missing our dose of German beer for a while now. So we've decided to brew some beer ourselves! Of course I'm too lazy to do homebrew properly, thank god for the beer factory. Getting a place like this to do the hard work is affectionately called putting down a brew.

Unfortunately, we can't decide which one! Help us out, and choose one for us - vote now.
Here are the details.
http://www.thebeerfactory.com.au/brewersreserve.html
And the price... that's for 50 litres.

Mmmm Beer!

New Job Ok

So the new job would seem to be much more my sort of thing. Definately alot more of what I want to be doing. Testing, Programming and plenty of Nerdy Tech details.

Katherine's officially allowed to breath out, not having to support both of us will definately take a weight off.

And I got told twice today to take my tie off! Score! ;-)

Another new start

So, yesterday, I quit my job.

I start the next one on Monday for these guys. Which is actually where I wanted to work in the first place.

why exactly

One of those typical oddities that pops up once in a while.

Who invented the rotating train seat.

A genius stroke, well made, and durable design.
It MUST be from the days of investment in the future. When public works were not measures in revenue, but rather of benifit to the public.
Still, it's odd that such a well designed feature never caught on anywhere else.
It's a basic need for alot of people to face in the direction of travel, I don't understand it.

Who would have thought.

So, I start work tomorrow!
Working for these guys.
Should be interesting, of course I'm not allowed to say what exactly.
And I also got another offer of work from a company that turned me down before. Unfortunatly it's come too late, I've already commited to the first job.
I also had 2 interviews last week for permanent positions. One of which I felt was a good interview, and the other in which I managed to forget all I know about programming. Still, I may have recovered.
So next week I'm starting work. And the week after I may still be going to interviews.

This should keep me going 'till the visa comes through!
O.k. I'm off to sit on my arse till I have to get up for work.

Tara then.

Oh. And I'd better go wish my parents happy 30th anniversary.

Brushing up on my Australian

Today was another day, another interview.
In the morning, i took K_ to Brighton-Le-Sands. It reminds me of Ali G's locale of West Stains. It was K-lassy down there. The greek pillars on the houses. The popularity of the mono-brow. The mobile disco vehicles, with white rims. The lovely seaside view of Sydney airport and a refinery. However, by far the K-lassiest was this numberplate.


And I wasn't too happy about the open aggression aimed at me. They want to rub me out. It was even publicised in shop windows.


So... If successful, this interview would have me working in a casino. Sounds exotic doesn't it? I wish, it would involve sitting in a windowless room, trying to get the casino networks working with each other. Not so exotic though.
And after the interview I took the opportunity to brush up on my Australian.
So I took a detour to the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling harbour.

There's alot there. I think maybe I got to see 1/5th of the displays. I think that's my dead time sorted for before and after the next interviews!

News, Views and Prospects.

So it's been a week since my last post.
Lot's of things have happened in the last week to keep me busy. A quite novel experience.

Most important in my mind, the southern hemisphere winter solstace.

So now I can officially look forward to summer, and the weather and dark days theoreticaly MUST get better from now on in. Low and behold in 6 months I may even be complaining that it's to hot, instead of shivering next to the only heater in our apartment.

Other incidents of note this week.
Some people actually want to talk to me about jobs. I had 3 interview situations last week. Several more are organised for this week. And suitable jobs have started popping up on all of the Job Sites. (Although K. would have you believe that I just wasn't looking hard enough before.)
I've even managed to wear-in my interview shoes, so I no longer limp into interviews. Instead I have progressed to a kind of shuffle which seems to remind most people of a Green Mile walk.
Naturally, some of these interviews were with recruiters, who often like to check that you have all of your limbs attached, and can find an anonymous office in the Sydney CBD before forwarding your resume to actual employees. However, eventually one of these recruiters has to find me a job, murphys law dictates they can't always sell me a goose.

K's looking forward to her holidays. I'm looking forward to working.
And unfortunatly the casual work continues to take back burner to the longterm job search.

Newsworthy is also the confirmation of my good character by the PSNI and UK police service. Something that quite suprised me, since I thought that the NI police had dirt on everyone, even if it was made up. So that's an official green light to the final visa application. Now it's just a case of getting everything togeather in one application.

Going to bed lastnight I mentioned that K had only 4 hours till she had to get up again, to which she answered, "What's it matter to you, you don't have to get up at all". And to be honest, that's certainly how I feel, I wish I didn't have to get up to call recruiters all day and leave messages with their receiptions which will never be answered. I really wish I could just work in a bar for 6 months. Unfortunatly, that would be the death knoll for any professonal career in Australia.
As one recruiter told me, "you could always try your hand at working as a recruiter, it's easier than getting a Job". Indeed, all the recruiters I've spoken to sofar, are infact english rather than Ozzie.

Anyway, I'm rambling now... time to talk to some receiptionists again. Bye. D.
P.S. Chin up, as my da would say, "Don't let the bastards get you down!"

Suprise Visitors

So today I was preparing for a telephone interview when this little fella turned up for a chat.
Apparently cockys like brown bread. But have an aversion to cashews and dried fruit.
Later on, there was four of them on the balcony, and they're not small, nor bashfull. I was standing less than one meter from them, and I have the feeling they could have very easily mugged me for my bread supplies if they had wanted to.
Still, by australian standards these animals are quite courtious.
I'd rather have to deal with a cocky than an australian magpie.

On a Geek High...

The firefox 3 plugin for delicious is out!
Thank god, my bookmarks were getting really messy.

Ireland in the Euro Final

We nearly managed it!! Thank god we didn't have to qualify!!

Another defeat, must be setting up for a great win!

Damn you Kiwi's!


Unfortunatly I didn't know about the match until it was half over. And obviously not hearing me roar had a bad effect on the result.
You can be sure I'll be watching the next match.

And in other new, the Ingolstadt baboons have won the beer cup in milan

Yes Oz has a Winter

The sky is pregnant with a swelling belly full of southern hemisphere storms.
It's been raining for 3 days now.
In his book on australia, bill bryson comments on how no one knows why Captain Cook decided to call this part of australia new south wales.
I think i've figured it out, it's wet, it's hilly and most of the people on the road drive as if they're drunk.

So, while the weather has once again spoiled my plans to actually leave the house and see some of the many sights in Sydney... I've had to find other ways to amuse myself.
What better way to do so, than to prepare myself for my next meeting with one of Australias poisionious animals. So I got out the "St Johns Ambulance, Australian First Aid" book, from the library.

Don't be scared by the list, in most of the cases the treatment is the same. Death. Slow and agonising.
Unless of course you happen to get bit/stung/impaled next to a St Johns Ambulance.

Medical Knightmares

Today I have been prodded, poked, injected, inspected, irradiated and left waiting.. all in the name of "Form 26, Medical examination for an Australian Visa".

All things considered, it went quite smoothly. I booked the medical online on the previous friday, and recieved an appointment for 8am the following monday. They charged about $250 to my card.
When I turned up at 7:45, the shutters were down and no-one was home, and there was a queue. It takes a special kind of government based institution to achieve queues while not even open.
They opened the doors at 7:59 and 61 seconds, and I proceeded to the next queue.
Then 10 minutes later I handed my forms to the receptionist, and was allowed to sit.
I'm from the UK, I'm used to waiting. My way of dealing with it is, have no expectations when you get there. Oh, and then they turned on the tele in the waiting room... morning TV, if there was anything to make the waiting seem longer...
Still, after waiting I was called up by a very polite doctor or assistant, weighed, measured, given a cup to pee in, left to sit, called back, had my veins pierced, blood taken, left to sit, called back to the (grumpy - not a morning person) doctor, ignored, stripped, poked, prodded, told to sit, called back X-ray'ed, and then shoved out the door onto the street.
And looking at my watch I was suprised to find that only an hour of my life had been stolen. I could have sworn that I'd been in that tardus of a waiting room for a few days. I have no idea how the poor Iranian parents with triplets managed to keep their children quiet the whole time, what heroes!
Still I survived, and apart from some brusing due to a pierced blood vessel, and a feeling of empathy for cattle at the slaughterhouse, I am unscathed. Still, now I'm waiting again.. on the results of all the AIDs, Heppatitus, TB tests!
Hopefully I'll be given the all clear, and then I can attempt to start remaining in this country long enough to convince someone to give me a Job.

More to come... D.

Quick turn on the lights.

Isn't it funny how the polticians all come out when they want something from you.

And on this occasion, they forget their differences for a cup of manky coffee in dundrum shopping centre.
I'm sure I could quite easily relate this to meeting the Leader of the opposition walking down the main street in Goulburn the other day. It was the opening of the largest waste incinerator in Australia that day.
Rubbish!

Don't let your nan go down for murder!

Today I was checking out the avon and somerset police website.
I needed information on getting a piece of paper for the Australian Visa people which confirms my non-criminal status.
While checking around the site, I found the following gem...

So Wise Up! And don't let your nan go down for murder!

Beat me baby

So today I found out that if K_ ever has enough of me, I'll have to ask her to beat me so I don't get thrown out of the country.

Let me explain.

I'm applying for a spousal visa with K_, we're in a defacto relationship.
When I apply for the visa, I get a temporary 820 Visa. When immigration check up on us two years later, if we're togeather I get permenant residency, if not, I get evicted & deported.

UNLESS...
Katherine beats me, and I can prove that I am the victim of maritial violence.
Then, if these circumstances are the reason for our breakup, I may be allowed to contunue reside in the country.

I understand that this provision is for the protection of people in a relationship with their Visa sponsor. But wouldn't it be open to abuse?

Attack of the Arachnoid

So, today I was bringing my bike down into the celler, when I met someone in the garage.
A HUGE spider! I opened the door, and he winked at me and asked me how I was doing.

So being naturally scared of anything that casts a shadow, as all good irishmen are, I took a photo and legged it. It was the size of my hand!! Well half the size! Well it was the biggest bloody spider I ever saw.
And when my lovely girlfriend got home, she informed me that this was a Sydney funnel web spider, a type of tarantula, and ONE OF THE MOST VENOMOUS spiders in Australia.
Nice, I've been here a month, and the first australian animal I find, is one of the ones that can kill ye!
Lets see how long I last. Maybe the next one will be a redback.
In other news, today I found out that New Zealand apparantly has no snakes, hmm...

Lovedale long luncheon

So the weekend was spent doing something that katherine and I have after 1 month in Australia, only just found time for...
Relaxing.
Well, we tried to relax, but it wasn't as easy as we had thought. Both of us had a shocking case of the flu mixed with encroaching chest infections. And there were 10 other mad eijits, mates, friends and accomplices from katherines band of friends travelling with us.
Still, fun was had and a select few will be able to see more than this little pic.

Yeah Connected Again!

Just a quick word to say...
We have Moved into an apartment of our own! Now we have a considerable amount of room!
Internet is connected... now to get the rest done.

The proof is in the pudding.

Here's further proof, that the road rage problem is definitely out of control.
Idiot driver, worries a pack of professional and semi-profesional cyclists, then overtakes and emergency breaks in front of them with a shit eating "I Think I'm so funny" grin on his face. Now he's claiming he had engine trouble...
Yeah, the engine trouble was caused by the dick in the driver seat. Man, people like this make me mad.
I did't beleive what I had been told before I came here, cyclists are pelted with eggs, stones, cans, abuse. They are squeezed of the Road by cars, and BUSES! Overtaking cars pull in on cyclists to knock them of balance.
Unfortunatly it's all true.

I think it's an ingrained problem in the driver psyche in Sydney. The roads are hostile for car users, never mind cyclists and motorbikes. Most cars would cut you to pieces to gain a 20 metre advantage to the next red light. The lanes are too narrow for a normal car. The intersections are inconsistanly laid out. None of the traffic lights are intelligently controlled. The roads are uneven, potholed and inappropriatly cambered. Everybody wants a V6 muscle engine, regardless of piece of shite car it's attached to. How do you change a nation, grown up with traffic like this. It's like dublin, but 3 times the size, and 3 times the idiots.

I don't know what else to say, except, I don't have any idea how to solve this probem without confronting every crazy driver individually.

Getting a Flat in Sydney

Right, so we probably have a flat sorted. So here's my guide to getting a flat in Sydney.

1. Figure out where, transport is difficult in Sydney, get near the trains & Buses
2. Check the Websites, Domain, myhome.com.au, rent.com.au, realestate.com.au, HomeHound & TradingPost.
3. Visit the Estate Agent personally, and ask about upcoming properties. You can get the inside info on not yet published properties.
4. Dress well, before meeting any estate or rental agent. They make alot of snap judgements, and first impressions count.
5. Don't look foreign. Sorry but it's true, I was amazed at the engrained racism of the Rental agents we dealt with. They were openly dismisive of non-white european candidates, even if the agent themselves fell into this catagory. (A self fulfilling engrained racism that I will get back to at another post.)
6. Saterday is Viewing day. Most properties are viewed in the morning on Sat & Sun, it's the time with the best lighting and least traffic/transport noise. Plan your viewing.
7. View every property possible, even if it's only to get an Idea of what properties are worth, and what the standard state of the properties is. Damp & mould are standard in the housing thrown up in sydney in the 90's. Don't be scared of by this, it's mostly cosmetic, it can be dealt with using appropriate Airing.
8. Ground floor = Easy to break into. Australian apartments get a security rating of -1 from me. The only limiting factor for a thief appears to be getting a parking space for the getaway van.
9. If you REALLY are sure about an apartmetn, then try to gently coerce rental agents to let you view apartments on your own. This uses up alot of their time, but many are willing if they expect you to take the property, it saves them organizing a public viewing.
10. Be prepared. You could be knocked back, or put on the spot. Don't make snap decisions (Thanks K!) about you accomodation, you will regret it. If you're waiting for an approval for an apartment, prepare the Deposit & Keep an eye on the upcoming properties incase it doesn't work out.
11. Presentation is No 1. If you dress well, and act professional, and have security, then the agent will put your application forward. If you turn up with bed head, trackies and a mouth full of gum, your application will land straight in the bin.

Good luck, and suggestions are welcome.

Fine fittings from top to toe

Reihnard, Look I've got a Shirt on!
So this post is mostly for my colleages in Audi. Who never got to see me in a suit, and proves that I can clean up.


Sorry, it's a mobile phone camera.
That's one of the other perks of no longer working in Audi. ;-)
And of course I got dressed up for a reason. Today I had my first interview, it went quite well, and I'll find out what the firm thinks of my performance next week. Here's hoping!

Out-road-rageous

I have already commented on the crazy driving experience in Australia.
Over the weekend this reached new lows.
While driving around Concorde, close to home, K and I experienced some rather unsettling road ettiquite.
We were driving on a main arterial road at about 70km/h, we saw a blue ford "insert stupid muscle car name here" waiting to turn left onto the road. We were the last people in the block of traffic that left the last lights. We were about 30 metres behind the car in front, with noone behind us.
So what does Ford driver do? Yes, he pulls out in front of us, causing us to brake to 30km/h in minimum distance. Of course we beeped the horn just incase he hadn't noticed us.
And he gave us the finger...
Now, pulling out after misjudging traffic speed and timing is forgivable. Even a random finger is ignorable. But to pull out in front of someone, causing them to emergency break and then give them the finger, that's asking for a beating.

Road rage, it seems, is endemic in Large Australian Cities. I've heard reports of serious Road Rage in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. I can only hope that it's an east coast thing.

So if anyone knows the driver of the Blue Ford "Wank" with the NSW plate, BBS 40R, would they please tell him to return to base for a personality transplant.

These people are nuts.

Okay, so every nation is entitled to their excentricities.
But imagine the terror I felt watching this happen on television.

See the faces of the two american comics, that was my face.
I've moved to a land of crazy bastards! My god this is going to be fun!

Flat-o-rama

So this weekend is a long weekend.
Friday is Anzac day, in celebration and remembrence of the sacrifice made by Australian and NZ soldiers in War. It's also my first chance to play "Two up", at first glance a simple but apparently addictive gambling game, which is only legal for one day of the year, Anzac day.
So tomorrow I'll probably be giving away some of my hard earned cash to some well trained Two up shark.

The long weekend is also the last chance that K and I have to find a flat before K returns to School (Work). So we will be running about like headless chickens/kittens/budgies trying to find the nicest, cheapest, quietest, most convinient flat as near as possible to where K works, and I don't yet work. So there will be some clarvoyence involved.
Wish us luck! The sooner we find a place, the more lightly it is that we'll have money left for a big sofa for you all to sleep on while you visit us!

In the News in Australia:
1 in 5 to have house reposessed within the year.

So, no flats or houses to be had. And one fifth of the people who have scraped a deposit togeather to buy one, are going to lose it.

Sounds like there is a small crisis in affordability and availability here.
Maybe it is like home after all.

Its my party and I'll cry if i want to.

So today I turned 29. I'm still a baby according to my girlfriend. Which makes her a kiddy fiddler. So let's not dwell on that subject.
On other news... it's wet.
The australians all claimed that it was a sort of welcome for the Irish, ab bit of rain just like home.
They're overdoing the welcome. It's been 11 days of rain now.
According to the rather camp weatherman on channel 10 that's a 15 year record.
It's an olympic year, so they all seem to be into records.

I am over the rain. I left ireland for an assortment of reasons, one of which was the weather. So I'm off to find the bastard doing the rain dances, to knock him off his feet.

Other news, Finding a job is hard without a flat. Finding a flat is hard without a job.
But then, I'm only just getting the job search rolling now, and K. has the flat huntung fully under control.

And yes, I feel a whole year wiser today, than I did yesterday.

Making life as difficult as possible

This is my adversary.


And being the geek I am, everything I own has an integrated plug. Argh!

You would think of all the things to come out of globilization and world trade agreements... someone would think to standardise the damn plugs!