grape grazing and other things...

Okay, so the blatant tourism has come to a grinding halt in the face of... aherm... alcohol. Well, mainly. Haha.

On Saturday we went Grape Grazing in the Yarra Valley. I'm not so sure about the term 'grazing' myself, since it was more like 'guzzling'. Forget any ideas you might have about clasy wine tasting, this was just an opportunity to buy bottles of (surprisingly inexpensive) good wine, and enjoy it with friends. Most people end up in Rochford (the 'party winery') at the end, as we did, where there is a band playing and by this point in the day most people are in a pretty damn good mood. It was a lot of fun, and for a good cause too... a lot of the wineries in the area were badly affected by the bush fires in February, so the proceeds were really helping out towards the recovery. Excepting the part of the day where we (re)discovered my inability to walk, talk and carry (thankfully, white) wine at the same time without spilling it, one of the most amusing moments for me has to be the that when I looked on the website I discovered a disclaimer at the bottom which says, "no BYO food or alcohol". I know, I'll head to a winery and take some wine of my own...

I've had a few amusing days since then... Tuesday I had a job interview which I almost didn't make it to, and at one point I rued the moment I had turned down some temp work for a day of getting lost. I was late leaving the house, and only just managed to catch my bus, which was early and driven by the craziest kamikazee driver. Eventually, I made it to Port Melbourne where I had to change to another bus, only the stop wasn't where the transport website had told me it was. Chances of making it to the interview on time were rapidly diminishing (the bus only goes every half hour), there were no taxis in sight, and an old guy at the bus stop kept talking about the buses I couldn't get and wouldn't let me leave to go search for the stop. I finally broke free and scurried off down the road, when the guy - who must've been about 80 - started yelling and running after me, telling me hed give me a lift ("Gotta help the old Poms, you do"). Bless him. 10 (mildly scary - he rarely looked at the road) minutes later I was deposited on the the doorstep of the interview with the admonishment; "didn't your mother ever tell you never to get into a car with strangers?!" Haha.

I've also been spending a lot of time in the city library, slowly turning into an icicle (oh how I love aircon) and getting mildly frustrated at the intermittent internet connection (though it is rather better than my pay as you go Dodo (who calls a company that?!) internet). Still, it's free, so I definitely cannot complain, and it's quite nice to sit and work while some dude plays piano on the mezzanine. I can't help but be slightly amused and disconcerted at how many people come to the library to sleep these days. They don't even make any pretense that they have come for anything other than that... Romany assures me that this is perfectly normal, and that libraries have become the 'third space' between home and work...

Other than that, I have been to see a friend's (awesome) band play, and caught up with some comedy in the form of Charlie Pickering, who is hilarious. The festival ends on Saturday and I don't think I'll catch any more. I'm catching up with friends for after (their) work drinks this evening. Things are hectic, but good. I could just really do with a job. Oh, and some more hours in the day...

happy easter!

Okay, so maybe that sentiment is a little out of date. I intended to update before now, but got a little sidetracked. Story of my life! I am typing this at the reception desk of my first temp assignment (I'm having flashbacks to Canada now). It was originally supposed to be 4 hours - now is 2 days. It's not much but is a weight off for sure.

It's been a busy week, and Easter passed me by in a little bit of a (chocolate fuelled) haze. Lisa and Craig arrived from Brisbane and we wined, dined, wined some more, BBQ'd, comedied, went adventuring in Williamstown - on the coast south-west of the city (once we got past the problem of me being totally incapable of reading the map) and Warrandyte - an area of bush north-east of the city (via the scenic route (that is not a euphemism for me getting us lost again!) and fairly directly once Craig took over the navigating), there may have been some more wine, an awesome Thai meal and just generally caught up. It was a great weekend and it was so good to see them. I can't wait to get up to Brisbane to visit now.

In the middle of that, I also moved into my house. After a minor setback where I discovered that the bed was queen-sized rather than double (unlike my bedding), and that it is far easier to unpack when you actually own some coat hangers, I'm settled in nicely. Oh yes, and I managed to try and set up my broadband on the one day that they are having emergency evacuation procedures at the call centre (only me!). I've caught up with a couple of friends - discovering cool new bars and coffee shops all the time :) I've also been working... so it's not all fun and games. Okay, so mostly it is. I like this new laid back me. I hope it lasts!

I bought the most expensive cinema ticket I have ever purchased the other day (spot the girl who has never lived in London)... $16.50?? Craziness. But, The Boat that Rocked is a truly awesome movie, so worth every penny. On Monday it was a beautiful day, so Cathy, Mike and I hit the road and headed south-east along the coast to Mordialloc, a little seaside town, for lunch. The drive was cool - I felt like I was on holiday in Europe somewhere (the coastline just has that feel to it in places). On the way back, we stopped for a walk along Brighton Pier - I am so lame, but that really makes me giggle. Loads of the suburbs here have the same names as British cities/areas, it's disconcerting at times.

Back to the office... 'til next week

settling in

It's funny, I actually started writing this a few days ago when it was raining. I was starting to be very British about the whole thing... you know, giving the Poms a bad name and all that. After all, everyone knows how much I hate the rain. But then today has been beautiful and sunny, and I actually forgot about the rain. I think my happiness is hard-wired to the sunshine.

It's been damn cold too. I actually slept in my coat one night this week with the fire on the first bar. Sleep didn't really happen that night - I was too paranoid about the flame going out and gas exploding. God bless Cathy for supplying me with an extra duvet! This is what I get for following winter around the globe...

The comedy festival is on at the moment. Laughing being one of my very favourite pasttimes, I do intend to catch some eventually. It just isn't happening right now. I just keep letting life just happen to me. It doesn't work well with making actual plans. On Friday night I ended up in a room like a sauna watching an English guy who may have been funnier if he had realised that most of the people in the room were Brits. I'm hoping to go see Steve Coogan next week.

Meanwhile, I am starting the job hunt. I'm mildly put off by the fact that jobs are in short supply right now, but needs must. After 5 weeks of not working I am rather averse to the idea to be perfectly honest, but this journal will get pretty boring soon if I don't get myself a cash injection!! I'm just a little appalled by how expensive some things are here. Like books... $25 (£12.50) for a general fiction book?! I will never complain about the price of books in the UK again. I promise. I joined the library, only to find that gazillions of people before me have had the same idea and all the books I wanted to read are out. Free wireless internet though. I am wholeheartedly in agreement with that. Maybe I shall invest some time in the classics and read the stuff from Project Gutenberg instead.

Thankfully, the main benefit of having found somewhere to live is that I am able to actually have a social life again because I am not rushing about going to viewings every evening. As you can well imagine, at that I am super happy! Monday I was taken to a quirky pub, fabulously located very close to my new house, to listen/dance to live music from a groove/funk band called Steve Wright and Eclectives. $4 in, awesome, and a regular event to boot. I have a feeling living in Fitzroy North may be fun! Tuesday was back to the Bridge Hotel for the old trivia night (not that I am any good at it). Tonight I headed down to Richmond Rowing Club, after having been lured by the sight of the rowing boats on the Yarra (it was only a matter of time). A few (burst) blisters later, I am a happy chappette... the Yarra in Melbourne CBD at sundown is an awesome and pretty place to row! Generally, things are starting to fall into place and life is starting to flow nicely.

Tomorrow morning brings the arrival of Lisa and Craig from Brisbane. I am VERY excited about this, having not seen Lisa since we both left Canada 18 months ago. Friday I move into my new house, and Saturday I get to make my first escape from the city limits...

spoke too soon

I had to laugh when literally 2 minutes after I pressed 'publish post', there was a flash, an almightly clap of thunder and the rain came down in a torrent. It's been torrential all day. The house was actually shaking when the thunder rolled and the lights were flickering.

British as I am, I swear I have never heard anyone look out at rain that is bouncing back at least 6 inches off the ground and say "now look at that, isn't that just beautiful" with not even a tiny hint of sarcasm, despite the fact that they are about to step out into it. I had to smile. And then stepped out in it. Without my umbrella. D'oh.

making progress

Good news! I have finally found somewhere to live! And what a relief that is. When I think about it clearly with all the frustration behind me I realise that it only took about 10 days of physical searching and calling and visiting and emailing and... (I'm sure you get the picture). Apparently that's not so bad going here. I move on Friday to North Fitzroy, somewhere I have been assured is an awesome place to live. North Fitzroy is about 15 minutes by tram from the Central Business District. In Melbourne terms, that's pretty damn close.

So, what have I done with my new found freedom? (house hunting is a definite social life inhibitor) Erm. Not a lot. I have applied for a few jobs in a half-hearted manner, and arranged to sign up with an agency on Monday but I just couldn't bring myself to do anymore searching. Just generally, I am all searched out. I also know that it's going to be tough. Tough can wait til next week.

It's been blissfully hot this week. Mostly high 20s but yesterday it cooled to about 31 by 6pm, and 25 by 1am. Blazing sunshine and no clouds at all til yesterday. One of the great things is that for the most part, people don't moan about being too hot here! Despite my rather wet introduction to the country a few weeks ago, I am starting to see now why there are severe water restrictions here. It really is intensely dry. I hadn't really thought about it until I saw of a photo of my brother washing his car the other day... that's banned here, as is watering your garden - this is a snippet from the Melbourne Water Stage 3a Drought Procedures:

"The Drought Response Plan states that watering may take place ‘only as required’ within specified watering hours. We encourage you to abide by the Drought Response Plan and water only as required. The four-hour window, over two days, has been granted to provide for maximum flexibility for people with time constraints. We do not encourage watering for the full four-hour duration." There are no exemptions - if you cannot water between 6am and 8am Saturday and Tuesday if you live in an even or no-numbered property, or Sunday and Wednesday if you live in an odd numbered property, tough.

I can just see my mother shuddering as she thinks of all her plants dying. Strangely, most of the gardens here do not look half dead. The lawns do though. Apparently, when the heat hit the 40s in February the trees were literally burning in the sun. Scary.

I've spent a fair few hours on the beach at St Kilda this week. You know, just working on my tan. Ha ha ha. I am still paler than a pale thing despite any efforts I make. I went vaguely pink yesterday for about an hour. I think I just reflect the sun (trying not to blind people in the process). Still, that's probably a good thing. After spending a little while on St Kilda breakwater talking to an 82 year old Italian guy about penguins, the war (at length) and the fact that after 40 odd years of laying about on St Kilda breakwater he has skin like a crocodile (his word, not mine), I am not keen to follow suit. People seem to care less about my paleness here anyway. The penguins were cute though. That was pretty unexpected. I mean, in Australia you expect maybe a croc or a shark or a kangaroo (I know, I know, wrong part of Australia, but you catch my drift), but penguins? Maybe I should be more thorough in my reading of the guidebook...

I also rediscovered my love of food yesterday in one of the St Kilda cafes. French toast with bacon (real bacon too, and cooked to perfection), strawberries and maple syrup. In my excitement I forgot the time difference and texted a Kiwi friend in the UK at 3am (UK time) to exclaim. It's the small things in life that can be most (really? most? maybe that's a little bit of an exaggeration...) exciting I guess. All the same, I'd recommend you turn your phones to silent at night time just in case.

I am going to get up (it's 9.40am and I'm still in bed) and try to think of something fun or at least vaguely interesting to do with the day. I'm becoming too philosophical and lazy. Seriously, I had to laugh at the zen-like state I reached yesterday on the beach. The zen disappeared pretty quickly last night when I discovered the bar I was meeting friends in was on the roof of a building (fake grass and everything) - 6 floors in a tiny lift followed by a couple of flights of open metal stairs are not good. My vertigo is getting worse at a steady pace.