bursting the bubble

ingrid's chest showing where her loyalties truly lie!

i've always toyed with the idea of starting a blog. back in the day it was a diary. on many occasions i've even gone as far as to start one and record a few entries. they all failed. but recently it occurred to me (with a little push from ingrid) that now would be the perfect time to start writing. instead of feeling self-absorbed by writing about what i think to be a mundane, everyday and somewhat boring existence; i can feel like i now have an international audience! there'll be no promises of updates, it'll get updated when it needs to be (when i can be bothered). so, if you're interested have a browse.

it's been a little over a month now that i've been living in australia and many a thing has happened. one of the main reasons why i've put off writing this initial entry is because there is so much ground to cover; the fear of taking on a mammoth task. there's also the added problem of forgetting or not adequatelydoing justice, and trying to hark back and put myself in my head weeks, days, hours ago. well, if you can be bothered to read on then know this: i didn't die on the plane journey, i like melbourne, i've settled into my accommodation and i've got a job. 'nuff.

i think the initial problem i had with coming to australia wasn't so much australia itself. partly it was because i was scared, and partly it was because i was stressed with uni and needed something to project upon. but i won't lie, the first two weeks here were pretty tough. but did i or anybody else really expect them not to be? it wasn't just moving to australia but it was leaving home, leaving uni, leaving the bubble.

i took the first week off before joining life again, so i could get used to the layout of the city; to try and sort out my head and plan my next move; and just to get a general 'feel' for the place - whatever that means. i also needed to get over the jet-lag (which, to be honest, isn't really that bad). it's hard to remember what happened in the first couple of weeks. most of what i remember was wandering the streets with ingrid, sach (my friend from uni) and his girlfriend kate. they were all a massive help and just having friends here who already know the score was THE most comforting and settling thing that could have happened. i always wish i would've written more at the time, because trying to remember the first and freshest thoughts and perceptions of a new place is like trying to remember what it was like when you were a baby. most of what i remember is worrying too much about finding work, even though i'd promised myself at least a week and didn't expect to find anything straight away. in fact, if anything, i was told that there was NO WAY i'd find anything straight away; or at least, that it was 'highly unlikely'. however, that's one trait i've confirmed about myself - i stress too easily and too much, and like my mother i worry like hell. hello heart attack.
the palace of grimshaw; the pathway to the domain of grimshaw.

i compiled my cv (or 'resumé' as it's called here) in the first week and by tuesday i was armed with a pile of paper to canvas the city with my good name. by the end of the day i had a trial at café notturno about 10-15 minutes outside the city centre. by thursday i had the job. by saturday i'd completed my first shift and by monday (with three shifts under my belt) i'd earned $104.30 in tips and $171 in wages. not bad for my second week in melbourne! but in all truth, i knew i didn't want to stay in that job. don't get me wrong, i enjoyed the new challenge and the people that worked there were fsantastically helpful, welcoming and friendly. the problem was that the pay was minimum wage and the hours were shit (anywhere between 2am and 5am finishes). i really enjoyed serving decent people and it rekindled my faith in humanity (which is always under scrutiny). but with five years retail experience and knowing that it's better paid - how could i not look for something else? so - i went handing out cvs again and - after so many dead-ends - got interest from the manager at 'miss sixty'. she seemed so keen that she called me back a couple hours later and offered me a trial the next day before my first shift at the café. i got the job on monday and started on wednesday. this is just what i had hoped for: the hours are more sociable and the pay is a hell of a lot better ($21 an hour and $33 on sundays!). i'd already had my shifts at the café worked out and i was prepared to work some `16 hour shifts. however, i showed up for my first shift at the café and, explained the situation and they graciously let me go, offering me a job 'whenever i needed it'. fantastic! to sum-up the job situation: i've been in my 'new' job now for a little over 3 weeks and everything is great. i'm fulfilling what's expected of me, getting settled in well and getting along with everyone who works there. i couldn't ask for more. all of my work mates have a fantastic sense of humour and we all help each other out. team players!

miss sixty wooo; some of the miss sixties (sarah, izzy and adeline); more miss sixties (liz de rizz and a-tizz)!

aside from the job situation, a lot of my time in the city has been spent getting to know the bars, shops and street names. sach and kate have left melbourne now and are in queensland living the life they came over here for, and i'm really happy for them. ingrid and i try to spend as much time as possible together, but it's not always so easy. i work pretty much every day, she has uni, and also works a couple nights in the week. but don't get me wrong, i'm not complaining. i've done long-distancre and anything is better than that! we usually go out a couple nights a week to do whatever - whether it's drinks alone, with friends, eating out or going to the movies - and whenever we both have a day-off we try to indulge ourselves and do something worthwhile. otherwise, we usually just hang around the house with the boys (our two kiwi housemates, brothers leon and ken). this may sound like a throwaway comment, but i really can't voice how much of a relief and comfort it is to be able to get along with my housemates and feel at home enough to be able to come back feel like it is 'home'.

me, ken and leon; leon and me; ingers and ken - partying it up!

i'm not going to get into particulars about exactly what has been happening day-to-day; it seems a bit long gone for that. there haven't really been any major mash-ups, just a few drinks here and there. there have, though, been two to mention: me, sach and kate on a random tuesday night a few weeks ago drinking beer, jager-bombs and a shit-load of gin (pictures shortly). the other was at our house, when we threw a surprise late-aussie birthday for ingers (no pictures, sorry).
gin city; day of days - waiting for sach and kate's ride to queensland (you can still see the 'happy birthday' poster written in norwegian from ingrid's party).

i suppose i should talk about my perceptions of australia and what it's like out here. well to be honest, there isn't much of a difference (in the city at least). it's only the little things that are different, that make you laugh, smile, or crumple up your face in a perplexed amazement. these are the things like 'coon' brand cheese. one thing i can't get over is that they charge you to hold a bank account over here; something that really fucks me off. but like home, there are so many similarities. for example: the trains are shit. however, i know full well that i'm not qualified to talk about australia yet, or even melbourne. i haven't been outside the city as of yet and haven't discovered everything it has to offer. i also know that i never fully will. but, just like manchester - it's a hub of multi-cultural activity. it's a conurbation born out of industralisation and modernity. it's full of busy little bees, and not-so busy little bees humming around at all hours. i guess you'll have to read on to see how it changes and develops (through my eyes, at least. or, even better: find out for yourself! i will say one thing though: fucking good sushi and i now know how to use chopsticks!

peace out from a very happy, satisfied and settled AGD.

reading: sebastian faulks, 'engleby'.
listening: ace enders and a million different people.
writing: short stories.


looking at the cbd on a rainy day; inside melbourne central where i work.