My Birthday

This gorgeous piece was a birthday present from my mum and one of my sisters. They bought the three canvases from a square in Montmarte during their recent trip to Paris. The individual pieces are incredible alone, but they mounted them together and I think they look stunning. I have to rearrange my entry space/living area to give it pride of place now. I can't stop gushing about it.

Sleeping

Or not sleeping as the case seems to be. Since I dislocated my elbow I've had a lot of issues with my sleeping pattern. To begin with it was hard to get comfortable and I would frequently wake up during the night to change positions. Plus I was tired constantly.

Photography

I love photos. Taking them, looking at them, editing with them, sharing them...so I think it's time I turned it into more a hobby.

I think a lot of people have a 'passion' for photography, there's something natural about wanting to capture moments and share experiences. I don't expect to do anything unique :-)

Present Giving

In an attempt to find inspiration for blog post, I trawled through the photos I have stored on my phone. I came across this picture of the gifts I gave my three sisters for Christmas last year. So what are they?

Road to Recovery

The picture above is what my arm looked like under it's cast over the weekend. While I will admit the flash on my phone overexposed the photo a little, it really was that yellow with bruising.

Pop.

My Live-in Cook

My attempt to make myself loyalty post on Friday didn't work because I forgot about it. I'm good like that.

Green thumb

These are our new veggie pots. SJ and I went off to Bunnings (mega hardware store) last Saturday with a plan to buy timber, soil and seeds to start our very own balcony veggie patch. We had discussed growing some things from cuttings/baby pots as we'd stand less chance of killing the more temperamental types.

I live in Melbourne.

Something I am still coming to terms with. It's been more than 3 months now. SJ is living with me (still unemployed though...) and life is slowly moving forward. Work has been busy enough, few little projects and some minor flood events, I'm getting more experience and starting to feel like I really fit in here.

Decided I should get back into this blogging thing. It really hasn't turned out the way I wanted it to. I'll admit I had big hopes for blogging as a creative outlet for me, somewhere to vent and reveal a different side of myself. That hasn't happened.

At least one promise I made to myself when I started this blog, that I would have another job before the end of the year, has happened. I can be glad about that at least.

And I live in Melbourne!

In tomorrow's blog, my veggie patch...(like how I did that? I'm committing myself...fingers crossed it works).

Absent Directions

So I've realised I'm not a regular blogger, in fact, I suck at it. It's not that I don't know what to write, I have plenty of ideas, but more that I can't make myself come across in a blog the way I want to.

I'll let you in on a secret, I'm not cool. Not at all. Kind of want to sound like I am when I blog though, which I know I haven't achieved. So I hold of on blogging, writing posts in my head and thinking about how they could be better...then I get distracted by the real world and forget everything.

I'll try harder, I promise. SJ moves down next week and I've had a few mini projects in the apartment (from some great ebay buys). Plus I think about life and stuff all the time and wish I had someone to talk to about it. I have a constant voice in my head that needs to be heard, would be great if anyone thought it was worth listening to but me! Oh if only I was famous and people thought my mindless dribble about life and philosophy was some insanely amazing insight to an incredible being...

My House

Since I forgot to attached the photos to the last post, here are the pics from my new apartment I've been promising.

Tick Tock

I am slack. Although I've posted since SJ's visit I haven't really covered any of the progress my life has made since then. And there have been a few big changes...

Bad blogging habits

I think about updating this blog all the time, it's just usually at a bad time. While I'm busy at work or cooking dinner or in the shower, you know how it is. And then when I do have the time, at say 9pm when dinner has been cooked, eaten and cleaned up, I somehow don't have the energy for what seems like a big effort.

Total Eclipse of the Heart

Well no, of the moon, but every time I hear the word eclipse Bonnie Tyler starts singing in my head. Could be worse I suppose, I could get images of vampires...

IKEA Injuries

  Last night I braved the cold and the crowds and went to IKEA again. Happily, it was rather empty and parking was a breeze (though traffic to get out there was shocking). Bought the bed for the guest room, bedside, a few blanket boxes, storage tins and bits and pieces. Then I spent the rest of the night putting the bed together. Was surprisingly complicated and probably the most intricate IKEA piece I've dealt with so far.

Moving frustrations.

My kitchen - before I started to move in

The day was full of dramas.

I have keys :-)

And the movers have confirmed an 8am drop off tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it but I feel a little weird about it too, makes the moving thing seem more real. After being here for 3 weeks you'd think I should be used to the idea by now.

Visited the apartment tonight and dropped off some things. I've managed to accumulate quite a bit in such a short period. Doesn't help that I've bought 3 pairs of boots and a giant wine glass...quite bulky things to move. Will have to upload a pic of my wine glass, but I might leave it until I've given it to a fish friend as a new home.

Few things weren't quite as I remembered them, I don't think the furniture I've ordered will fit in our bedroom. Will ring tomorrow and attempt to change it to a tall boy instead of the low chest. Not what we wanted but I'd rather not have to climb over the bed to get to the other side of it...

A New Season

Today was the first day of winter, it's funny but there was a notable change in the temperature...was 6 degrees when I got to work this morning...at 9am. To me, that's cold. I used to consider the day to be freezing if it was less than 10 degrees when I left home at 7am in Brisbane. Things are going to get interesting.

I hate the sound of fridges.

I hate that humming noise that changes pitch and interrupts you just as you're falling asleep. For some reason the fridge is keeping me awake tonight. I am so over sharing a room with a fridge. Seven more sleeps...

Strong enough

I'm flying home tonight, looking forward to seeing my boyfriend and family so much. Will be attending a cousin's wedding tomorrow too, so it will be great to catch up with all my extended family.

I have a new home!

I've been a little bit slack with my blog updates over the last week, mainly because I feel like I have too much to write about...which means the longer I leave it the worse it becomes :-S

I am in Melbourne!

Well this is it. I have just landed in Melbourne after a rather hectic week of packing and farewells. Had a few days of solid family visiting time where I had a sleepover with some younger cousins and shared myself around with a few others.

Thursday and Friday were packing days, which included culling more of my belongings as I packed things up. Still ended up with a rather decent load on the truck, I hope I have space for it at the other end! Movers were also rather late on Friday, it was around 4:30pm by the time they finished their other jobs. Luckily for them I'm organised and had piles of things for them to pack, rather than cupboards.

Saturday and today were family days. Last night in particular was a lot of fun. My boyfriend stayed over (very, very rare) and he and my three sisters and I played lego before dinner. One of my sisters (who is an instructor) gave the rest of us a zumba lesson (I'm terrible btw) and after dinner we all played cards. Was a really good night.

Today was a bit of a lazy day, I have a bit of a head cold so I even had a nap. Then a bit of a late family lunch before heading off to the airport.

A predictably emotional farewell at the gate and an uneventful flight down and I'm here. Now I just need to adjust to the cold...

[Written in the taxi on the way to the hotel, sent a few days later when I remembered to post it!]

Unemployment.

I finished up at work on Friday, was very surreal. I'm not sure I'm ready to move to Melbourne, it feels like something other people do, not me. Work was a little stressful over the last week too, a nasty project that I didn't manage to finish. It reminded me that I do want my new job at least :-)

One week to go though. This time next week I should be down there or at least on a plane. Hopefully by then it will have sunk in a little more.

I've started saying my goodbyes, had a few friends over today and I will be visiting family most of this week. And packing, I still haven't done much to get ready...

I've been looking at places to rent as well, a lot of options but I don't have a rental history so it might be a little harder for me. Fingers crossed. Not much I can do about it til I'm there though.

Not having to go to work tomorrow will definitely help. I'll be running errands and spending time with mum but I will be able to make a start to my packing. Not particularly looking forward to it though.

So much to do!

Dear Brittany,

It's almost been a month since you left us and I'm finally coming to terms with it. With all the recent holidays I haven't had to be at work so I've been more easily distracted. Planning my move to Melbourne has definitely helped too.

Resignation

I finally resigned from work. I was dreading it so much, I know that we're in a really busy period right now and leaving would cause a strain on everyone.

But when I told them they were really great about it, said they thought it was a good opportunity for me and a great workplace and that they enjoyed having me work for them and would be sorry to see me go.

So now I'm feeling really good about it all and I'm actually going to enjoy these last few weeks at work.

Went shopping on the weekend to start gathering things I'll need to deck out my place (living at home I have nothing) and looked at Ikea furniture. Going to take the boy to Ikea on Friday night to make sure he has no major objections to what I've picked. The chairs are likely to be too loud and girly for his tastes but I can be very convincing...besides I'm paying for them :-)

Really looking forward to moving now, with the major exception of leaving my family, I think my mum is using shopping with me as a coping mechanism. Still five and a half weeks to go.

Local Romance

I've been meaning to upload these pictures for a while, I noticed them leaving home the other day.

OMG

I got the job!!!!

The Interview.

A little late but I was in Melbourne for the weekend. I'll follow up with a post about that soon enough.

ROAR?

So today is the day. My interview. I think I'm ready, I've looked at possible interview questions, gone over the selection criteria, am wearing a great suit...I even had a dry run last Friday (I know, I'm anal) to check how long it would take me to get there and park nearby and walk in. I work about 3km from the CBD at the top of a hill and the bus route is very unreliable.

Today I woke up to the radio and discovered a spanner in the works. Sunday was the A-League (our national soccer competition) Grand Final. The Brisbane Roar made it for the first time after a few terrible seasons. The game was amazing, nil all at full time, down 2-0 during extra time to come back with two goals during the final 5 minutes. Then in the penalty shoot-out they won 4-2. It was the best soccer game I've ever been to (of maybe 5 games :-P).

Today there will be a parade in the city to celebrate their win. Sending thousands of people to the public square I need to be at for my interview...at the time I need to be there. It could be an absolute nightmare for traffic and parking. Stressing a little but I do have a backup plan. Was tempted to just have the day off 'sick' but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Wish me luck.

Finally

I got an interview. Next Tuesday via video conference, would have been great to fly down and even better if it had been on Friday when I'll be down there for the weekend! But still, I'm very happy that there has finally been some progress in the selection process and even happier that I made it through :-)

Still waiting.

And as a result, I don't feel particularly motivated to post. I'm tempted to email again but I know that it won't change anything. There are a few other positions going at the company (also in Melbourne) that I've decided to apply for, but I'm not as qualified so since I haven't got the first one I won't hold out much hope

Still worth a try I suppose.

The joy of flying.

I love to fly. When I was a kid my first 'when I grow up dream' was to be a pilot. The Lego set I was given as a child is even an airport complete with a plane and helicopter. No dreams of being a hairdresser or a teacher like the other girls in grade one, I put my pilot dream into the school's 1991 time capsule.

Crossing my fingers

I'm really hoping I get this job. I heard back from HR people, someone from the selection group has had to take unexpected leave so it has delayed the process a little but they expect I will hear something (either way) next week. So I'm crossing my fingers rather tightly in the hope I get an interview

It's so hard not knowing how popular the role is likely to be, or who might apply for it. Any other position I have applied for, I've had a reasonable idea of what the competition is and how I stack up. Good grades in school and at uni have meant I was a reasonable candidate for any teenage jobs and graduate positions, but this is so different. For all I know there is someone with 10 years experience in this specific role wanting this job too...or just a few other people like me with relative experience in the field but nothing in this actual job. It's really doing my head in.

I'm mentally trying to prepare myself for both possibilities but I'm just too hopeful and too much of a dreamer. And I don't cope well with rejection so this could be very bad. I'm going to assume it all goes well and deal with the consequences if it doesn't. I know this job is perfect for me, I just hope I'm perfect for it too. I think I may be at risk of looking like an excited puppy if I do get an interview...

It doesn't end.

Thankfully Yasi wasn't quite as bad as predicted and few lives were lost (only 1 to date and he died because he was running a generator in an enclosed room during the storm). A lot of far-north Queensland has still been terribly affected though. After the floods and the cyclone, Queensland will take a while to recover...and the season isn't over. On top of that there are still floods occurring throughout the country and even worse, major bushfires in Western Australia.

Today also marks the second anniversary of the Black Saturday Bushfires in Victoria. An event worse than any of the recent floods because so many people lost their lives. Right now Victoria is in flood through most of its major systems. Definitely a land of contrasts.

As for me, I had a good weekend. Very productive in the organising/cleaning of my room, I'm basically done :-)

On the job front, I emailed the HR department inquiring about the selection process and how long it was likely to take. I haven't heard back yet...I need to know!!

Nasty Yasi

Just as south-eastern Queensland is recovering from devasting floods, north-eastern Queensland is bracing for a category five cyclone...they don't get any worse. It's set to hit the mainland in just over three hours time. It will be more devasting than the floods too, hundreds of thousands of people will be affected. Thoughts are with them over the next few hours.

No news yet on a possible interview for the job I so desperately want. Keeping my fingers crossed I'll hear something (positive) soon...I've heard it can take up to a month, I'm not sure I can wait that long. I'll send a follow up email if I haven't heard by the weekend :-S

The waiting game...

I applied for a job!

Oops, this is my town.

Looks like yesterday's upload didn't work. Here is a replacement (taken a few months ago from the top of the kangaroo point cliffs).

New post to be written soon :-)

This is my town.

Not the best picture I know, but it was taken on my phone as I walked to the train station (EDIT: The photo didn't upload at all, I included a better one with the next post). Something new I'm trying. I used to catch the train but I work on the wrong side of the city and then also need to catch a bus, which are incredibly unreliable. I also work at the very top of a large hill.

Droughts and Flooding Rains

For around the last ten years, much of Australia has been experiencing drought. Over the last two years we've had some drought breaking rains and floods, particularly through central Australia. Lake Eyre (the biggest lake in Australia) remained dry for years and hadn't filled since 1974 (a big year of big floods for the eastern side of Australia), but it has been close to full two years in a row. There has been a definite shift from El Nino to La Nina.

The dawn of 2011

The start of another year always brings about new resolutions. As always, I have plenty. The general ones are there, eat healthier, exercise more, be nicer etc. But for me 2011 is going to be the year of change, new directions :-)

If a tree falls in a forest...

(This was my original avatar/blog theme)

 ...and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

With over 150 million other blogs out there I don't expect anyone to read mine. Just another blog by a directionless, twenty-something woman who thinks her dramas are more important than everyone else's.

Obviously, for me, this is personal. I've had diaries before (first attempt at age 11) but I'm never truly honest in them. I've always written things down with a deep fear that my mother or sisters might stumble across it. So my diaries lack the tales of boys I liked and girls I didn't that you would expect in a teenage diary.

Adult diaries haven't been much different, usually more of a way to document my eating/exercise plans than to record my feelings. My biggest problem is that I write much slower than I think and the whole process is tedious, so diaries only survive a few entries before they're retired. At least I can type fast, that might be enough to keep me blogging for longer. I can type entries on my non-iphone too which will give me less excuses.

So my reasons for wanting a blog are rather typical. I'm not happy with the direction my life is heading but I'm not sure how to change it. Or where I'd rather it went.

Might be best to leave the details for the next blog entry, it's lunchtime on Christmas Eve and I'm about to finish work (very productive day, obviously).

Happy Holidays :-D