On the up!
Trip Start
May 06, 2006
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52
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Trip End
Mar 23, 2009
Melbourne,
Australia
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
I headed out on a venture yesterday just intending to make some appointments to get the x-ray done and an idea of the costs. First I headed to a Medicare office which gives me discounts/free medical care thanks to Australia's great relationship with the UK and there I got my number. Next I went to a recommended doctors (they do 'bulk billing' whatever that means!) and I got an appointment for an hour later and there I got my referral for the chest x-ray (all free of charge so far!). Next I called the radiology department they recommended for an appointment and they just told me to head on in and I could get it done. True to their word I went there and about 2 minutes later I went in for the x-rays! I had to help the radiologist fill out the forms 'cos he'd never done them before but he even got speedy results for me and got the specialist to fill out the other part so I wouldn't have to go back! And all that for about 18 pounds! They couldn't do the bulk billing thing but I think if I take in the reciept to Medicare I might be able to get the money back on that too... it's all a little confusing but the whole thing may have been free! I swear, if that had been in England it wouldn't taken weeks, possibly months! I like their health system at least!
So, all done in a day! I applied for the visa online last night and posted the x-rays off today so I should have the visa by Monday-ish! Then, just to add to my happiness I won a free Mars Bar last night! Yey! It may sound minor but it was a huuuge deal to me!
Today, fate also shone on me. I decided I'd make a quick visit to the Oz immigration here to see if I could make more sense out of the visa thing when I had people who spoke English. It turns out my Oz visa hasn't been cancelled at all and the system just says they're waiting on health records. So, now I've had the x-rays done for NZ I should be able to use the same stuff for the Oz visa. I just have to give the office in Hobart (I'll say hi for you Teresa!) a call tomorrow to make sure but as long as I send the stuff in from outside Oz my visa should still be vaild and I can come back and work here in a year! So, all in all a good two days!
Now it's probably up to Brisbane next week for a week or so (thanks to cheap flights from Jetstar... any discount for the free advert?!) and then over to Christchurch to finally try to work for pay! I'm not sure I'll find anything as exciting as my past adventures but you never know!
Tonight I'm off to the cinema in the biggest entertainment complex I think I've ever seen in my life - I mean, seriously it's HUGE! And then tomorrow it's the Neighbours tour with Alli! Yey! I'm actually quite excited about it. How sad is that?!
Hope all is well - pleeeeease email with your news, I haven't heard from some of you in a long long time!
Comments
So jealous!
Say hi to Harold for me!
:D