Hi-de-hi there campers!
How're we all doing? Keeping well (and warm), I hope!
This has been a slightly busier week than previous weeks. I had the tables turned on me on Monday. Twelve years of studying at Otago, with exams every year (except one?) - I always had the luxury of leaving when I'd finished the paper. What happened on Monday? I was an invigilator for a three-hour exam! I detested sitting in the silent exam hall when I was writing the paper, but to sit there when you're just watching the students? ARRRGH! I have never found three hours drag on for as long as it did then! Luckily it all went well (except for the girl that I gave a stern telling off to after the exam, nearly reducing her to tears - her fault. Silly tart had her mobile ON her - switched ON - during the exam...and it went off. That was Monday's excitement!
Tuesday was a dead day (comparatively). I had nothing at all in my calendar! Boredom ensued. So bored that I went around asking people if they wanted me help them with things... On a slightly different note (a bum one at that!), I couldn't get into the building this morning! When a cleaner swiped me in, I then couldn't get into the office (another cleaner swiped me in. This, my friend, is why it pays to always speak to the cleaning staff!). Sam and I were joking that they'd fired me a couple of weeks ago and just didn't have the heart to tell me and this was their was of dropping a hint. Turns out it wasn't far from the truth. As I'm only a temp, I have a guest card. These automatically expire after three months. Tuesday was the 19th of June...I started on the 19th of March... Go figure.
Checked out the Highly Skilled Migrant Permit (this could be a good thing as it gives me two years...with option of more!) and also asked about how long I could work for (more specific). Just have to call Air NZ to find out how much it'll sting me to change my return ticket... Very much looking forward to this now :) Will most likely move flats at the end of October - maybe go somewhere cheaper than what I'm paying now (hopefully a bit bigger, too) - this will give me a chance to save some money for home & for travels :) (mind you, I should be getting a £2-3/hr pay rise next month - whoo!
Wednesday saw me invigilating another exam. Joy of joys. Luckily, this was only a two-hour one! They're not the most funnest ways of spending a day (or half, as the case may be). After work, I ended up going to play badminton at the work gym. Bloody hell! An hour of badminton nearly killed me! How does the saying go? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Bollocks! It didn't quite kill me, but I sure as hell wasn't feeling any stronger for it (the pint & chips after helped though ;) ).
On Thursday we had OSKAs for the first years. I don't have the foggiest as to what OSKA stands for (though the A is assessment). There are like six stations and the kids have X minutes at each, the whistle is blown and they move to the next. I had to marshall them, then ended up invigilating one lot. Pfft. Ugh! Another tedious time ;)
The rest of the week was fairly quiet. Over the weekend I pottered around a wee bit - but not a lot. It was a shite weekend! Nothing productive, but it was enjoyable. (I say this because I have actually forgotten!).
Until next time,
Seeyabye
Tuesday 19 June 2007
Week 17 (11/6 - 17/6)
Oops - nearly forgot to put this up. I knew it! Give me a couple of weeks here and I'd lose all interest in this blog thing (hey, I haven't resorted to monthly summaries..........yet!).
So, the week gone. Started on Monday. Ended on Sunday. Things happened. I have this mental block going on now... OH! I know! We had the Graduate Entry launch and open day on Wednesday (open days are really big over here - mind you, it's not like home where you go to the uni you want to...). What was supposed to be this big drama (the Rector of the College was coming to speak and everything has to be perfect!) turned out to go very smoothly. Really, though. With Aidan, Michael & I at the helm - could we expect anything less? ;) It was a good, and very successful day. My banners looked quite good, I'm pleased to say. I was worried that they'd look naff or something, but they looked in character, so one happy camper here.
^ My banner - not flash, but not shabby either
So, the week gone. Started on Monday. Ended on Sunday. Things happened. I have this mental block going on now... OH! I know! We had the Graduate Entry launch and open day on Wednesday (open days are really big over here - mind you, it's not like home where you go to the uni you want to...). What was supposed to be this big drama (the Rector of the College was coming to speak and everything has to be perfect!) turned out to go very smoothly. Really, though. With Aidan, Michael & I at the helm - could we expect anything less? ;) It was a good, and very successful day. My banners looked quite good, I'm pleased to say. I was worried that they'd look naff or something, but they looked in character, so one happy camper here.
^ My banner - not flash, but not shabby eitherGiven I was born without artistic bones (I have to remind people of this), and the powers-that-be wanted something "professional looking" and conservative, I thought I did an OK job (thousands could do much better, but remember: I'm autistically, not artistically minded).
Thursday and Friday were just so mind-numbingly boring. Now that I'm rid of the Graduate Entry course (to Michael), I'm left holding the Biomedical Science baby (until Aidan leaves at the end of July, then I take over the Learning Resources team leader job until the end of September). Killing time, what fun.
Wee Sammy and Sydney-Sophie are looking at applying for ancestry visas (bitches). All this talking of staying has made me realise that I, too, want to stay (I've got to jump on the bandwagon). Not sure for how long though...I reckon it would be so cool, very cool, to have a white Christmas ("just like the ones I used to know")...so might look at going to Scandinavia for Christmas! Awesome, huh! Will get off my arse at some point and have a look into how long I can work for (yes, Mr Embassy person, I know..."up to twelve months", but I need more info, thankyouverymuch) ;)
The weekend was a bit grotty. Was meant to go visit Kenley (that just sounds odd...when I go, I might ask them to change the name of the town), but I actually wanted to go on a nice day - not a poxy one. Still got plenty of time for this.
Pete & Mandy sent me their itinerary for their holiday to Italy (makes me envious!) and I'm in the process of looking for a flight to Roma for a weekend at the end of July to catch up with them and see some of the amazing sights over there! Fares are much more pricey than they were a few years back (but still quite cheap). I'm looking at about £95, so that's not too bad :) (especially as I saw one that was £175 one way!).
I think that's about all for this week. I'm sure there was more (but really, I think it was just that I was still getting over that stupid cold I had; and I managed to get a few extra hours at work, so me happy).
I'm loving it over here - granted, could be making more of being here, but I'm happy. There hasn't been a single day where I've had regrets about coming over! After 17 weeks, this is amazing (for me).
Until next weekend (or after, as the case will most probably be!) - 'keep cool 'til After School'.
Seeyabye
Thursday and Friday were just so mind-numbingly boring. Now that I'm rid of the Graduate Entry course (to Michael), I'm left holding the Biomedical Science baby (until Aidan leaves at the end of July, then I take over the Learning Resources team leader job until the end of September). Killing time, what fun.
Wee Sammy and Sydney-Sophie are looking at applying for ancestry visas (bitches). All this talking of staying has made me realise that I, too, want to stay (I've got to jump on the bandwagon). Not sure for how long though...I reckon it would be so cool, very cool, to have a white Christmas ("just like the ones I used to know")...so might look at going to Scandinavia for Christmas! Awesome, huh! Will get off my arse at some point and have a look into how long I can work for (yes, Mr Embassy person, I know..."up to twelve months", but I need more info, thankyouverymuch) ;)
The weekend was a bit grotty. Was meant to go visit Kenley (that just sounds odd...when I go, I might ask them to change the name of the town), but I actually wanted to go on a nice day - not a poxy one. Still got plenty of time for this.
Pete & Mandy sent me their itinerary for their holiday to Italy (makes me envious!) and I'm in the process of looking for a flight to Roma for a weekend at the end of July to catch up with them and see some of the amazing sights over there! Fares are much more pricey than they were a few years back (but still quite cheap). I'm looking at about £95, so that's not too bad :) (especially as I saw one that was £175 one way!).
I think that's about all for this week. I'm sure there was more (but really, I think it was just that I was still getting over that stupid cold I had; and I managed to get a few extra hours at work, so me happy).
I'm loving it over here - granted, could be making more of being here, but I'm happy. There hasn't been a single day where I've had regrets about coming over! After 17 weeks, this is amazing (for me).
Until next weekend (or after, as the case will most probably be!) - 'keep cool 'til After School'.
Seeyabye
Sunday 10 June 2007
Week 16 (4/6 - 10/6)
Right, to explain the lateness of last week's entry. I woke up last Sunday with a sore throat, which quickly turned into a headache, runny nose and cough. I don't think going for my 2hr walk while the laundry was on did me any good (though I did work up a great sweat!). By the time I got home I was dead knackered. Ended up hanging up my laundry and then going to bed...for the rest of the day (and it was only just after 9am!).
Got up on Monday feeling a wee bit better...but really wasn't. Went to work and made it through the morning fine. By lunchtime, however, I think a fever had broken...and I had to go back to the office for a 1pm meeting (a meeting I remember nothing of, but I did take notes that seemed to make sense to me when I read them the next day). At 2pm, after the meeting, I said to the boss that I was going home...and home I went. Even though I walked home, I was frozen right through. Threw on my woolly jumper, trackies, and wrapped myself up in the duvet and slept. A couple of hours later I woke up (most likely dehydration!) to find I was soaked. Still freezing cold, but sweating like a pig. YUCK!
Tuesday, however, I went back to work, and short of a funny voice and runny nose and slight cough (more an irritating one than anything), I was fine. Worked late on Wednesday night helping the exams team. Supposed to be extra pay, but seeing as I left early on Monday, it really wasn't. Then on Friday, the exams team leader (who sits opposite me in the office) asked how things were going, and I told her I was "so bored f**king s**tless"...and had nothing to do. This pleased her as she gave me a bit of work to do (also pleasing me). Ended up doing a couple of hours extra - this time it will be extra in my pay! Whoo! AND, she said there might be more over the next couple of weeks.
I applied for a job in Sydney the other day. Just in the nick of time (damned time zones; damned people who see jobs advertised right at the last minute ;) ). It's at the University of Sydney. In the Faculty of Medicine. Doing pretty much exactly what I'm doing here. Salary looks appealing (AUD$57-62k; overall package of AUD$67-72k once the 17% contribution to superannuation is included). I'd like to think I have a chance. We shall but only see.
This weekend, since I'm getting over this bloody cold (which is still driving me insane because I can't seem to stop my nose running), I thought I'd sit at home and read a couple of books. Well, it's been a grand weekend, so I sat at the park on Saturday reading, and milled around home reading and doing some of the housebitch chores today.
When I went for my walk this morning, I did my usual three times around St James Park and even added a loop around Green Park. Talk about being fair knackered when I got home! I will be going for at least a one hour walk 5 nights/week from tomorrow night. I need to lose more weight as I feel I've been piling it all back on (not that I'd lost that much in the grand scheme of things). Though, in saying that, I put on shorts that I had to 'suck the gut in and hold my breath' to do up when I left NZ, and a few weeks ago only had to mildly 'suck the gut in'. I realised I didn't even need to 'suck the gut in' today. Cass gave me a link to an interesting site that has advice on weight loss, exercise, dieting and all that associated s**t that I need. Not too worried about dieting, as compared to a lot of people, I don't actually eat that much! And I'm getting much better about what I eat. I'm more interested in the exercise plan the site's given me. I'm going to follow it for a couple of weeks and see if I can notice any difference in how I feel (haven't got scales, so have to base things on how much of a blob I feel like ;) ).
This coming weekend I think I might go to Kenley, Surrey. My nephew wants me to go and see if they'll worship him like a God there. I doubt they would. I'm the God in the family - he's just delusional ;) I really want to see if I can get some pics of people there holding up signs telling him to 'naff off' and the likes ;) I'm also planning on a weekend in Rome in July; when Peter & Mandy Rich are over there. I think it'll be cool to meet up with them in Italy! Pop over for a coffee and catch up.
Oh, the advertising banners that I designed for work arrived on Wednesday. I was terrified that they wouldn't look very good - but everyone seems well impressed with them. They're very plain, but I'm happy with them. We're using them this week for our big open day, so I'll see if I can get a pic of them :) Speaking of pics, I came across an aerial shot of the South Kensington campus of Imperial College (I don't think I was meant to pinch a copy, but I did - it belongs to Imperial College London, in case asked):
^Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus
Sadly, short of a couple of buildings up towards the Royal Albert Hall (the dome, top left-ish), there's not much character to the campus buildings. The tower thing in the middle is the Queen's Tower (there's some story to it, but I don't know it). It's right opposite the building I work in (Sir Alexander Fleming Building). I think that the architects that designed the new Otago library must've visited this building as there are a couple of elements of similarity (and this building was opened in 1996 or 1997) - e.g. the funny ceiling. In the very top left corner is a wee bit of Kensington Gardens (or Park, not sure which now), which turns into Hyde Park at some point. Don't ask me which direction North is - I have no idea. Might actually be top centre, but don't quote me!
Anyhow, thought you might like that (actually, I just really like that photo!).
Just popped back in to add a wee comment that I've just clicked that week 16 = nearly 4 months here! Bloody hell! You all must be missing me like crazy! How are you coping without me? Never fear - it's not long until I come home...unless I stay on until April/May next year. That's another story! ;)
Seeyabye.
Got up on Monday feeling a wee bit better...but really wasn't. Went to work and made it through the morning fine. By lunchtime, however, I think a fever had broken...and I had to go back to the office for a 1pm meeting (a meeting I remember nothing of, but I did take notes that seemed to make sense to me when I read them the next day). At 2pm, after the meeting, I said to the boss that I was going home...and home I went. Even though I walked home, I was frozen right through. Threw on my woolly jumper, trackies, and wrapped myself up in the duvet and slept. A couple of hours later I woke up (most likely dehydration!) to find I was soaked. Still freezing cold, but sweating like a pig. YUCK!
Tuesday, however, I went back to work, and short of a funny voice and runny nose and slight cough (more an irritating one than anything), I was fine. Worked late on Wednesday night helping the exams team. Supposed to be extra pay, but seeing as I left early on Monday, it really wasn't. Then on Friday, the exams team leader (who sits opposite me in the office) asked how things were going, and I told her I was "so bored f**king s**tless"...and had nothing to do. This pleased her as she gave me a bit of work to do (also pleasing me). Ended up doing a couple of hours extra - this time it will be extra in my pay! Whoo! AND, she said there might be more over the next couple of weeks.
I applied for a job in Sydney the other day. Just in the nick of time (damned time zones; damned people who see jobs advertised right at the last minute ;) ). It's at the University of Sydney. In the Faculty of Medicine. Doing pretty much exactly what I'm doing here. Salary looks appealing (AUD$57-62k; overall package of AUD$67-72k once the 17% contribution to superannuation is included). I'd like to think I have a chance. We shall but only see.
This weekend, since I'm getting over this bloody cold (which is still driving me insane because I can't seem to stop my nose running), I thought I'd sit at home and read a couple of books. Well, it's been a grand weekend, so I sat at the park on Saturday reading, and milled around home reading and doing some of the housebitch chores today.
When I went for my walk this morning, I did my usual three times around St James Park and even added a loop around Green Park. Talk about being fair knackered when I got home! I will be going for at least a one hour walk 5 nights/week from tomorrow night. I need to lose more weight as I feel I've been piling it all back on (not that I'd lost that much in the grand scheme of things). Though, in saying that, I put on shorts that I had to 'suck the gut in and hold my breath' to do up when I left NZ, and a few weeks ago only had to mildly 'suck the gut in'. I realised I didn't even need to 'suck the gut in' today. Cass gave me a link to an interesting site that has advice on weight loss, exercise, dieting and all that associated s**t that I need. Not too worried about dieting, as compared to a lot of people, I don't actually eat that much! And I'm getting much better about what I eat. I'm more interested in the exercise plan the site's given me. I'm going to follow it for a couple of weeks and see if I can notice any difference in how I feel (haven't got scales, so have to base things on how much of a blob I feel like ;) ).
This coming weekend I think I might go to Kenley, Surrey. My nephew wants me to go and see if they'll worship him like a God there. I doubt they would. I'm the God in the family - he's just delusional ;) I really want to see if I can get some pics of people there holding up signs telling him to 'naff off' and the likes ;) I'm also planning on a weekend in Rome in July; when Peter & Mandy Rich are over there. I think it'll be cool to meet up with them in Italy! Pop over for a coffee and catch up.
Oh, the advertising banners that I designed for work arrived on Wednesday. I was terrified that they wouldn't look very good - but everyone seems well impressed with them. They're very plain, but I'm happy with them. We're using them this week for our big open day, so I'll see if I can get a pic of them :) Speaking of pics, I came across an aerial shot of the South Kensington campus of Imperial College (I don't think I was meant to pinch a copy, but I did - it belongs to Imperial College London, in case asked):
^Imperial College London, South Kensington CampusSadly, short of a couple of buildings up towards the Royal Albert Hall (the dome, top left-ish), there's not much character to the campus buildings. The tower thing in the middle is the Queen's Tower (there's some story to it, but I don't know it). It's right opposite the building I work in (Sir Alexander Fleming Building). I think that the architects that designed the new Otago library must've visited this building as there are a couple of elements of similarity (and this building was opened in 1996 or 1997) - e.g. the funny ceiling. In the very top left corner is a wee bit of Kensington Gardens (or Park, not sure which now), which turns into Hyde Park at some point. Don't ask me which direction North is - I have no idea. Might actually be top centre, but don't quote me!
Anyhow, thought you might like that (actually, I just really like that photo!).
Just popped back in to add a wee comment that I've just clicked that week 16 = nearly 4 months here! Bloody hell! You all must be missing me like crazy! How are you coping without me? Never fear - it's not long until I come home...unless I stay on until April/May next year. That's another story! ;)
Seeyabye.
Week 15 (29/5 - 3/6)
So, this week's entry is a week late. Really not sure what happened to it. Oh, I know. The next entry (week 16) shall explain it (even though, technically, it should get a mention this week - I'm over it ;) ).
This week was a fairly quiet week. Being a 4-day week helped that. Everyone at work seemed to be in quite an odd mood. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it? Who knows. It was my last week sitting at the desk I'd been at for a few weeks. Goodbye to old friends and all ;) I had to vacate it for the new permanent guy who starts on Monday. Lucky bugger gets my phone extenstion - the only one in the office that can't pick up anyone else's. The most annoying thing is that I'd just learned the blasted number! haha My new desk, for another few weeks, is in the team leaders' office. I don't like the idea much, but we shall see...
A quiet week for drinking this week. T'was good to detox the ol' system a wee bit ;)
The problem with writing these well after the event is that my memory fails me as to anything interesting that may've happened. Oh, that's right. One of the doctors was laughing when I said I had 'Old-timers'. He said that at my age, it's most unlikely I'd be suffering the effects of 'Old-timers', it's more likely to be 'Part-timers' ;) That was most amusing; and very apt. Finally, a name for my suffering ;) haha
Okay, due to said Part-timers, I really can't remember much of this week. Consider it to have been much the same as the previous weeks, but with a bit less drinking...and possibly worse weather.
Seeyabye
This week was a fairly quiet week. Being a 4-day week helped that. Everyone at work seemed to be in quite an odd mood. Perhaps the weather had something to do with it? Who knows. It was my last week sitting at the desk I'd been at for a few weeks. Goodbye to old friends and all ;) I had to vacate it for the new permanent guy who starts on Monday. Lucky bugger gets my phone extenstion - the only one in the office that can't pick up anyone else's. The most annoying thing is that I'd just learned the blasted number! haha My new desk, for another few weeks, is in the team leaders' office. I don't like the idea much, but we shall see...
A quiet week for drinking this week. T'was good to detox the ol' system a wee bit ;)
The problem with writing these well after the event is that my memory fails me as to anything interesting that may've happened. Oh, that's right. One of the doctors was laughing when I said I had 'Old-timers'. He said that at my age, it's most unlikely I'd be suffering the effects of 'Old-timers', it's more likely to be 'Part-timers' ;) That was most amusing; and very apt. Finally, a name for my suffering ;) haha
Okay, due to said Part-timers, I really can't remember much of this week. Consider it to have been much the same as the previous weeks, but with a bit less drinking...and possibly worse weather.
Seeyabye
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