Day 330-336: Sydney
Trip Start
Sep 12, 2004
1
54
57
Trip End
Jan 05, 2006
Sydney,
Australia
Monday, August 15, 2005
Interview day. Done some prep and revision and headed into the city - business clothes still fit which is good. 2pm interview, 2 guys grilling me but I done pretty well, answering all the tech questions, suitably cheesy, pointing out how damn good I am. Seemed to have worked, had a job offer within half an hour! It's a 3 month contract initially - but who knows what could happen when you're in such a big company could be a really good starting point....not gonna get too excited until I know the money and I've seen stuff in writing.
Met up with Chris for a celebratory bevvy, he's not long back from his travels so we had a catch up. Went back to Erskineville so I could get changed then had a couple of drinks in the area. Quiet night in afterwards watching TV, Nadia went into the Big Brother house - all of a sudden she's got long blonde hair and is thinner - doesn't suit really. Next few days should be interesting.....
Tuesday 09/08/05:
Couple of hours at Bond St in the morning, doing the weights thing, weighed myself and have lost .02 of a kilo...woohoo!!...not :O( Hoping that it's coz I'm adding muscle mass..well better be anyway, not eating so much crap or drinking so much plus exercise much more so it should be coming off a bit quicker than that! Met Scott (English bloke working over here) for lunch. No more job updates so far...the other finger in the pie has gone quiet and didn't hear anymore about the job offer, though they're still sorting stuff out.
Went over to Coogee to see Sven later in the afternoon. He cooked up some pasta for dinner and then we headed over to South Juniors Rugby League Club to watch some amateur boxing...his idea of course. Never been to a live boxing match so thought it would make a nice change to the usual. The club is like a private members thing, it's a supporters club but it's in a huge building with various bars, function rooms and auditoriums. There were about 10 fights in all ranging from kids...and we're talking 10-12 yrs old, up to adults, tho the fights were categorised by weight. Some of the bouts were quite dull but a couple where they gave each other a good pounding. For some reason in this bouts they wore vests...I mean what's the point of having a fit body if you're gonna cover it up?? Sven wasn't as bothered.
Wednesday 10/08/05:
Phone call this morning re the job, want me start tomorrow.....aaaaaarrrgh!! Of course that's very good, tho I'm enjoying doing nothing...still, earning money will be nice of course. Turns out I'll be working on my WHV for a month, then the agency will start the sponsorship process, guess a little bit of me is wondering if there's a reason why they're not doing it now. There's an element of trepidation coz it's not a Notes job and it's not permanent, but I'm about 80% confident that it'll all work out ok. Watched Kath & Kim DVD after brekkie, v funny.
Got a call in the afternoon, "They want you to start tomorrow, that ok"...er, yeah that's fine! lol....so back in the land of the workers from tomorrow....nooooooooo!!! I like doing nothing, it's good for you.
Thursday 11/08/05:
Up at the crack...well 7am which is about as crack as I like. 8.45am start but dunno what the trains are like at rush hour. Actually made it all in good time, arriving with enough spare time to go and have a coffee before starting. Met by my direct Manager in the foyer. It's all very fancy, Ernst and Young recently moved into a brand spanking new 51 level building on George St so it's all very new and modern. I'm on the 43rd floor and the views are fantastic...you can't see out to the harbour bridge and opera house coz there are too many buildings in the way, but you can see for miles to the south and west, you can see the sea, Botany Bay, the airport....loads, very cool place to work.
Went around doing all the usual introductions, 200 people, 200 names I won't remember. Basically most of the day was spent buddying up, listening to a guy take calls and learning the systems. Interestingly I was introduced to the Notes boss and he said that they're really short at the mo but they aren't aloud to poach people which is a bugger. Also discovered that one of the guys I worked with at the Attorney General's earlier in the year is starting on Monday, another Paul, so that'll be a nice surprise for him. We get on well too that's cool. So far they don't seem a very exciting overly friendly bunch but we'll see how we fare. Obviously after a full days work I was shattered so went home and done bugger all.
Friday 12/08/05:
Work...gym....nothing....oh dear, working life is so dull :O(
Saturday 13/08/05:
Well what a terribly productive day. When I bought my business trousers last time I turned them up myself with that iron on hemming stuff, well this has proceeded to start falling apart and they're flapping around a bit, plus they were turned up a bit too high in the first place so taken them to be done properly. From there I bought myself a scarf - yes it is that bloody cold sometimes! Went and viewed a room in a flat to share with one other, right near Oxford St, location is perfect. It's a little expensive and I wasn't too excited or impressed so that might have to come off the list....accommodation day in the paper so we'll see what's around.
Into the city, met a bloke I've been chatting with for an hour or so, Tony, had lunch at Sushi Train, wandered for a bit then I buggered off to get my hair done for pre-birthday drinks tonight. Had the rankest fish & chips I've ever had from a place near me, chips greasy and soft, fish batter was wet rather than crunchy....eurgh! Pommie Scott, Chris, Nick and king joined me for drinks. Sven had previous arrangements and Carlos was ill. Started in the Clock, busy coz of some rugby on the telly. Eventually ended up on Oxford in the usual haunts, copious amounts of vodka, etc, etc. Crashed at Scott's as he lives in the city rather than attempt to get home.
Sunday 14/08/05:
Lazy lazy morning, minor hangover and knackered. Scott prepared brunch of ham and cheese croissants...v nice. Rang round a couple of accommodation ads in Surry Hills in the afternoon, gonna go take a look tomorrow night. Went for a lovely stroll in Newtown beautiful afternoon, sun was nice and warm. Picked up the trousers, sat and read the paper in the park, went for a cup of tea...nice chilled Sunday arvo. Watched BB in the evening, grand final tomorrow and I'm gonna miss it coz I'm house hunting...bugger! Tried to start watching Pret-a-Porter but by 10pm I could hardly keep my eyes open, last night finally caught up with me....
So it'll be my birthday on Tuesday...what was that? Birthday? Yes...birthday...just thought I'd mention ;O)
