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.
29 June 2008
24 June 2008
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!
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!
22 June 2008
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!"
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!"
10 June 2008
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.
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.
07 June 2008
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
03 June 2008
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.
02 June 2008
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.
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