Domestic bliss

Another day another update. I decided to change my font for this one to spice things up a bit.

On Friday I went to a careers expo all dressed up all smart (sweating like a Brit abroad), armed with copious CVs and a determined and professional attitude. Unfortunately it was heaving with school kids on day release (and making the most of it) and I stuck out like a sore pom. I didn't make it very far around to be honest, as I felt a little bit dismissed by most of the people I spoke to, who showed very little interest in anything I had to say. I did get a contact for an agency that deal with placing people into the police, so am preparing myself to lay siege to them and prove that just because I am Johnny Foreigner does not mean I am Johnny Unemployable. Will keep you posted.

Then we went over to our new little apartment. The phrase 'compact and Bijou' springs to mind, but it'll do us grand for the forseeable. Unfortunately the folk who run the building are desperately in need of an arse-elbow orienteering course - they could not run a bath. I suppose though it is a pretty busy time for them with 800 odd people moving in in the space of about a month. It is very exciting to be doing trendy inner city living - I'm really looking forward to it. Yesterday we went off and bought a Fridge Freezer and Washing Machine for our new place - bizarrely this made us both feel more grown up than getting hitched and moving to the other side of the world did! So although we will be sitting and sleeping on the floor and staring at the walls (no budget for telly or sofa!) we will have cold beer and clean clothes. Not sure we need much else really!

We also set ourselves up with boring but essential things like phones and electrickery and the such like. I think it's sinking in a bit now that we really live here - we've certainly got a paper trail now!

Today we just kind of pottered around - went down to the pier for eggs benedict and latte breakfasts and just to watch the river go by in the sunshine. One of Stu's new colleagues was there, and he kept calling him Simon. Stu didn't correct him so now we're in that awful quandary of either - a) embarrassing him by correcting him next time he gets it wrong, or b) letting him call Stu Simon for ever. He's a pom too (from Orpington no less) and wants us to get together for beers and stuff with him and his wife, so this one could run and run.

That's it for the minute really - all very dull and domesticated, but hey it all needs to be sorted before the proper business of holidaying can begin!

Also - a word to the wise for anyone coming out here. Avoid this stuff at all costs. It is NOT Marmite. Repeat it is NOT marmite. It has the texture, colour and consistency of a red wine hangover poo and does not look becoming on a slice of toast. If you do come out - please bring us lots of marmite. REAL marmite.

Memory Lane

Well, we'll have been here for one week tomorrow, which feels at the same time like it's been bloody ages, and no time at all. Haven't been up to much in the last couple of days. I went for a bit of a walk past the hostel I used to work in, and around that neck of the woods the other day, which was a bit weird. Everything is still there and still exactly the same - felt like I'd got in my dolorean and gone back 6 years.

Stu has started work now, and seems to be enjoying it. I think he still feels very much like the new boy and as is typical in new work he has a lot to take in, but I think he'll be grand. He's a smart cookie my husband. I'm not doing anything really yet - just lots of admin. Getting visas stamped, bank accounts, all that malarkey. Starting to feel a little anxious about sorting out some accommodation as we'll be getting booted out of this place in a couple of weeks. We're trying to apply to the fancy new apartments in town but the process of getting somewhere to rent over here is a bit rigorous, and not very easy to get all the necessary paperwork and jump through all the necessary hoops when you're Johnny Foreigner fresh off the boat. Also they are now out of 2 bed places, and only have 1 bed, and Stu is being a bit stubborn about having 2 beds. So there may be a domestic on the horizon.

Anyway once all the admin is done I'll be throwing myself into looking for a job as money is something else I'm meithering about!

So sorry there are no exciting tales of drunken excess today, but the holiday couldn't last forever unfortunately! Hope you're all well and enjoyed the bank holiday sunshine at home.

x