It’s been a while since I last posted… mainly because I haven’t done much! My days have mostly been days of job hunting/working/feeling mildly guilty about not ‘making the most of it’. Money was getting tight, and I was starting to wonder a little. The job market imploded. Recession has hit here, big time. I have never been so relieved as when today, I had the call to tell me I have a 3-month contract. I feel a million times lighter. A million. Best of all, I don’t start for another week. While I need the money, I can’t say I am anything other than happy to kick back and relax and enjoy myself without having to job hunt. 11 weeks of not working… I think that might actually be a record, even for me.
While the UK basked in the May Day bank holiday, we plodded along as usual here (well, if I’m honest, it didn’t make all that much difference to me). Victoria didn’t even get the public holiday that the rest of Australia got at the end of April for ANZAC day (a kind of remembrance day for the Australian and Kiwi troops killed in the war). I pretty much entirely missed ANZAC (but unfortunately not the rain or the complete lack of public transport). Though it did cause some amusement to watch while friends got obsessed about the AFL match that day: Collingwood (Magpies) vs Essendon (Bombers). I have friends who support both; it was starting to get a little vicious.
I managed to catch the end of the German film festival (which I didn’t know was on), and discovered that the jazz festival (which replaced the comedy festival) entails the appearance of random jazz playing musicians along the sidewalk restaurants of Hardware Street. Personally, I think they should always be there. I have also discovered that what constitutes a relatively warm spring day back home is bloody freezing over this side of the world!
After a really cold spell (in my defence, it did get down to 4 degrees one night…) it got warm again, at which point I discovered the botanical gardens. They are beautiful. I really think I could just lose myself in there. It reminded me in a way of the hours I used to spend wandering through Stanley Park in Vancouver. It was a great feeling to find that tranquillity again. I have also discovered how close I live to Merri Creek which runs for miles through the northern part of the city – a great place to go for a walk and literally seconds away from my house. Unfortunately, finding out that your shoes give you blisters an hour and a half into walking AWAY from your house isn’t such a great plan...
So, just to make the Brits happy back in blighty – yes, it’s really that cold (even having lived in Canada) and no, we don’t get the whitsun bank holiday either! No clue what the week has in store for me but I'll try to make it more fun (though still on a budget - I won't get paid for 3 more weeks!)... til next time then. Love to you all
