Mel's friend

I am testing out a new way to post blogs. This new way is to email photos in
from any email enabled device. Even a phone with a camera in it - not that I
am posting this blog with a phone.

So, I thought I would show you Mel's new, Jaffa Cake eating friend, whom we
have not seen since this photo was taken. Perhaps Jaffa Cakes were not to
his liking.

Spectacles in a week

So Mel travels to the other side of the world and uses the marvels of modern internet technology to express her thoughts about toilet water. Let's see if I can get things back on track.

Before I left Melbourne, Mick encouraged me to get a new pair of glasses. I was indeed encouraged, but I was not in any particular rush because, hell, I use those fangle dagle 24hr contact lenses that you sleep in for a month. So I hardly ever wear glasses. At best, I would say I wore glasses for 20 days last year.

But there is something in the air over here because my contact lenses are giving me no end of grief. My eyes are producing so much mucus underneath the contact lens that a mere three hours wearing them makes my eyes so uncomfortable as to render them almost unopenable. I have tried new lenses, old lenses, different batches of lenses ... so it is most likely a fault of my biology, not the lens. So I have resigned myself to wearing my glasses far more often in the short term. When I arrange a local optometrist, I will run him through my problem and seek a solution.

But back to the glasses. My current glasses are quite a daggy sight, a fact Mel is happy to remind me of. Frequently. So we went shopping for a new pair and indeed found one in quick time from a mob called SpecSavers - a large chain. So I rock in, pay 99 quid for a new pair of glasses including lenses. I was fairly well pleased with this price. But there is a sting in the tail.

Seven days. For what, you might ask. In seven days I could do a round trip to Australia from the UK at least three times. In seven days, I reckon I could just about ride from Melbourne to Sydney on a push bike. Hell I could grow a beard in seven days. Well that is a lie: the average man could grow a beard in seven days, but in seven days I would have a pathetic excuse for facial growth that could be whisked off with a dry tea towel.

No ... seven days is the time I will need to wait from the time I purchased these glasses to the time I will recieve them. Actually, it is seven working days. So I need to wait more like nine days to get these glasses. Now, I hate to do the 'Gee, back home they do things better ...' thing, but try to name an Australian opticians chain that will not do glasses same day. Hell ... I reckon that if you went to the smallest family run optician in an outer suburb you would still get a turnaround of no worse than three days. I suppose that is one of the benefits of the Americanisation of Australian culture.

So this experience has inspired me to do a 'what is hot, what is not' list for the UK v Aust. I am not quite there yet, but keep an eye out for it in the near future.

As an aside, apologies for not updating the blog as often as we would like. As soon as we get some decent, regular internet access we will do so far more often. In the meantime, keep commenting and keep writing.

Rukka! Rukka! Rukka!

Mel:
RUKKA! So anyway, on a weekend away in Phillip Island, VIC with a group of friends we all got talking about, well ... sex stories. AND, this very good friend of ours ... whose name is not to be mentioned told us a story that had us all giggling for days on end, and then some. It goes a little somethin' like this ...

One evening this friend of ours who is not to be mentioned brought a companion home for the evening for a little jiggy jiggy. When things were really starting to hot up for the companion, (mid-coital) the companion started yelling, "Rukka ...Rukka ... Rukka ... Rukka," over and over again. This, as you can imagine put a dampener on the not to be mentioned friends desire. The not to be mentioned friend didn't know whether to laugh ... or get the hell out of there.

So Rukka became our catch-phrase for this weekend away and for many days, weeks, months afterwards.

Coincidentally, Paul and I were window shopping for Scooters and helmets the other day and I came across this jacket, with the brand name "Rukka!" As you can see from the price tag, we didn't snaffle it, however, had there been a t-shirt our not to be mentioned friend would have been receiving a gift in the mail!

"To bloo or not to bloo ?" That was always the question in mine and Kell's harmonious little terrace in South Melbourne. I was for ... Kell was against. Many a cat fight was had over this very issue. Surveys were conducted ... things got nasty ... yada yada yada.

Alas, Kell won in the end and our toilet water remained clear.

However, Meli Mel seems to have had the last laugh {*mel lets out an evil laugh, feverishly rubbing her hands together*}. I trapse across the globe, and whilst out in a bar in Clapham with Paul drinking two for one cocktails (that's a whole different blog entry) I had to break the seal (we all know how that goes don't we girls). Whilst doing so I noticed that the bar's ladies toilets had blue toilet water. So I whipped out my trusty Mju Mini and took a photo.

Just for you Kell. xxxxxx

Excel tests

So while we are one the topic of Microsoft Excel (come on, people, we move fast around here) one of the agencies gave ma an excel knowledge test. It was on the PC and asked a series of common and not-so-common questions and takes about 30 mins.

Anyhoo (not a typo, for the record) I figured I would ace the test. Perhaps I would even be the first person to get 100%. For the record, I got three questions out of fifty wrong. One I would debate about (of course), one genuinely got me. Then there is the issue of closing a workbook.

One of the questions was 'How would you close a workbook?'. I closed in it the exact same fashion as I would in real life: I hit Ctrl-F4. The testing program said this was not correct. I figured I had just forgotten the correct key stroke combination and while a little embarassed about getting such a rudimentary answer incorrect, I moved on.

When I got home, I fired up the laptop and started up Excel. What do you think happened when I hit Ctrl-F4? Too right: closed the workbook.

Who amongst you thinks that I am not tempted to ring up the agency and clarify this gaffe?

The job search

Just before Robert DeNiro clubs an associate in the back of the head with a baseball bat in The Untouchables, he says something like 'In life, things are funny because they are true'. This is not the exact quote and would welcome if anyone can find it on the web.

After attending a myriad agancy interviews, I attended a client interview for a project management role. Nothing too heavy, just develop some business requirements, pass them onto IT and make sure it doesn't get too far off course. Pay rate was good, though it was only a short-ish contract. I did not have my heart set on the role, but it would have made for a good story if I had landed it because I would have started the job search on a Monday and been working by that Friday.

It turns out that I did not get the role. Was it because I did not have the right skills? No. It turns out that my skills were a good fit. Rather, it was because I was too keen. Too eager. Too wired. This is funny because those who know me are reading this and saying. 'Yeah, well ... they have a point ...'. I am wired, I realise, It works for me most of the time. But not this time.

'In life, things are funny because they are true'. The search continues.

Another day, another shopping expedition

Mel:

Okay, not quite. But close. Before coming here I ditched a lot of clothes, including my running shoes and sweats. So, last week I picked up a new pair of Nike Air Max's and get this ... they're "retro". Retro being just like the ones that were around in high school. Very cool. Oh, and kid's size too so save on VAT (GST).

Today at bargain bonanza H&M, I picked up some sweats. I've tried to get my butt out of bed in the morning to walk but the thought of doing so without warm fleecy sweats really put me off. So, tomorrow ... wait for it!

We put fruit and nuts out in the backyard today in the hope of luring the resident squirrels. Will take a snap of it as soon as.

Two interviews tomorrow, another on Monday and then a meeting with Adecco next Wednesday. I'll keep you all posted.

Paul: Hello ... and sorry it has taken so long to update the blog.

We got on our flight (thanks for the lift and send off, Nan and Shannan) and boy was it a long one. We flew with Cathay, who were pretty good I thought, but 24 hrs on a plane is 24 hrs on a plane.

Marty was at Heathrow to meet us and that was a bit of a godsend (thanks Mart) as there is no way I would have gotten all of the bags lugged up all the stairs of the tube stations we had to traverse. Mel's bag was positively huge and mine was positively heavy.

The first couple of days were having a look around and settling in. And getting over jet lag, of course. I have felt the jet lag quite a bit this time. Getting old I suppose ...

It has been so cold here. Not fridgid ... but we have not been able to get away from the cold. Sunday just passed was lovely, though. So much so that we got to do the tourist bus thing. Most of the photos in the collage are from that tour.

Just started the job hunt - yesterday in fact. Six interviews down and about another four to go. I think you all be surprised to say that I am sick of talking about myself.

Anyway, I have to run. We are at a wi-fi hotspot with not much time left ... and Mel will want her say. So forgive any typos and keep an eye out for updates. And I hope things are well.

Mel:

So, first time to London, and all (including the weather) is what it's cracked up to be. It's just stunning. We did the open op bus tour on the only warm day so far ... saw the sights, yada yada yada.

Job hunting has also started for me. One interview yesterday which lead to being put forward for three roles, two interviews due on Thursday and another next Monday. These are all with agencies at this stage. No news on the Adecco front at the moment though.

Considering a day trip to Paris on the weekend ... oh the life! Oh ... and Krispy Kreme Donuts are everywhere!

AND ... shopping ... oh my GOD! Top Shop, Next, H&M, Zara, Mango, the list goes on! What's a girl to do with all of these fabulous department stores around. Oh ... I know ... SHOP!

Packing is so not fun. But Mel being Mel, everything is in nice piles ready to be packed. Though you can't see it, my piles look somewhat less organised.Hands up who is surprised?

Getting a little excited now ...

It is getting pretty close now.

Mel has had her last day at work and I have sold my car.

There have been a myriad of services to cancel and many more things to store. There have been plenty of things thrown away, and lot of going away get togethers. My place is a mess (or more specifically, much more so). But I am pretty please with things. Or, particularly, with the things to come.

The diary between today and departure day is almost completely full. I am certain I will not get everything done (which is worrying). Gadget shopping is way behind schedule: by now I figured I would at least have a new PDA and at best an iPod as well. There are still a couple of days left ...

At the risk of sounding somewhat less than completely manly, I am on the hunt for the perfect luggage for the trip. Sure, my backpack will suffice for the luggage that I will check in, but to transport my laptop plus and a reasonable amount of carry-on airline requirements will require a new carry-on bag. And will they allow my more-than-largish suitbag on board? Better find out ... there are still a couple of days left ...

Anyway, I had better leave it there. It is getting late and there is much to do tomorrow as there are only a couple of days left.