Auz Autumn

Apparently it's autumn now Down Under. A cool 17 degrees today and the locals are wrapping up in hats and scarfs - I am still playing golf in shorts! This picture was taken last weekend at Riverside Oaks Golf Club. There are some unusual hazards here - as if I didn't have enough problems on the golf course.

I had a cracking weekend with Killian and Alan at the Melbourne Grand Prix in March. These Irish boys drink Castlemaine XXXX for breakfast and the GP coincided with St Patrick's Day!! Killian had so little sleep he regularly tried to have 40 winks during Qualifying. Fantastic to be at an event I have watched on TV from the UK - it was loud trackside and scorching hot both days.

All of the VIPs were given access to the track after the race.

I spent the Easter break in Bendalong, NSW with Australian Surf Tours. It was a 4 hour drive from Sydney so we were a long way from the crowds of Bondi Beach. We camped on the point that you can see in the distance for 4 days.



It was very different from Sydney - the beaches were huge and deserted with no lifeguard patrols. Perfect for learning to surf and not a shark in sight. We did see plenty of wildlife though - kangaroos, lorikeets, stingrays and dolphins.





Pretty much everyone on the tour was from Europe. I guess all of the Aussies can already surf pretty well.



As much as I enjoy surfing and golfing, most of my time is spent in the office in Melbourne. It's a nice view from the 21st floor of the Queen Victoria building. I look out onto the Botanic Gardens and the Harbour. .

Melbourne has a lot to offer. I went to the Opening Round of the Aussie Rules Football season at the MCG stadium and saw Carlton beat Richmond.

There is a large Asian influence in Melbourne which means that there is a huge variety of food to choose from at lunchtime. Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean...

Melbourne's sandbelt is mecca for golf and I was lucky enough to play Victoria golf club on ANZAC day last week. Ian Poulter won the Australian Masters here in November. I didn't play great but it was nice to play a top ranked golf course. 

Another place that I like to spend quality time is the airport. I will be there at 6am tomorrow for my weekly pilgrimage to Melbourne. It is a short week though as Lee Dove is coming to visit from NZ on Thursday. I do welcome visitors and it was brilliant to see Helen O'Grady in Sydney last weekend!

Starting to to think about my trip home in July and August for Alex and Miche's wedding (and I need somewhere to stay if anyone has a spare room). It will be great to catch up with people as I do miss my mates - saying that, the locals are pretty friendly over here!

  

Surfing in New Zealand

Had 6 super days in New Zealand for Lee and Sarah's wedding. They were married on the 18th of February in Piha,  just West of Auckland where they are living at the moment. Piha is stunning, especially with the weather we had, and it's famous for being one of NZ's best surf beaches. The waves were far too big for me but I borrowed a board and got thumped a few times. This is the view from the deck at the bach where the wedding reception was held, and our home for 4 days - amazing!!

Lee getting up and down from a bunker at his course in Auckland called Titirangi. We were speculating on whether this was going to be his last game of golf EVER. I hope not as Dougy and I took the honours against Lee and his Dad. Too many trees on this course for me but Lee has this place mastered. He played it 4 times a week for 3 months while he was job hunting!!

The lesser spotted Ali Clem is also living in Auckland, just around the corner from Lee. Was great to see Ali and taste some of the beer he's been brewing in New Zealand. His girlfriend is expecting a baby in 6 months! Keep up the good work Ali and good luck.

Some of the wedding guests had dinner at Piha Surf Club on the Friday night before the wedding. Not a bad spot to prepare for the weekend.

Wedding itself on the beach was very nice. Think I was more nervous than Lee, more so when the celebrant told me not to drop the rings in the sand. Thought it was funny that Lee managed to get Sarah to say in her vows that she'd "support Lee in his sporting pursuits". There's only one way your handicap is going now I'm afraid :)

Good place for wedding photos. The professional pictures will be brilliant. Sarah's sister and bridesmaid Helen.

Dinner was excellent. Speeches weren't too bad either. Jan and the girls celebrating with pink sparkles.

Really glad I was able to make it and can't wait to get back to NZ now, just don't think next trip will beat Lee's wedding. Great to be on the same side of the globe. Congratualtions to you both.

Back to reality...... and Melbourne

Superb last few weeks in Sydney. Couldn't have imagined a better place outside of Scotland to spend Christmas and New Year. Felt very strange barbecuing on Clovelly beach with Arum and Fi on Christmas Day, but the sun shone for us and we swam just about enough to make room for a turkey roast in Redfern that evening.

Have landed on my feet moving into a spare room that Fiona Gardiner had available in December. I now live in a fantastic, modern, 4 bedroom, Victorian conversion with 3 wonderful girls. Quite a contrast from a crotch scratching Alex Wright in Streatham, but I think I prefer it. This is a picture of us all at the next door neighbour's Christmas Carols on his front lawn.

 I never thought I would be so happy to see Steve Critchlow but New Years and the days after were a riot. Free flowing champagne and oysters in front of the Opera House was a pretty good way to see in 2012. If only I could wean him off the red lights of London and persuade him to make Sydney his playground - we would have fun.

Coogee Beach was quiet on New Years Day. Not a bad way to get rid of a hangover if you could find somewhere to sit!

 Australian v USA Water Polo at Icebergs with Steve. Met some strange characters in the bar that day but had a great night out with Stacey in Bondi Beach Club after.

Spit to Manly walk burnt off a few Holiday calories. Everyone in Sydney apart from me has a boat by the way!

Anyway, reality had to kick in at some point and it did 2 weeks ago when I started work at CapGemini. I am now working for them in Melbourne at National Australia Bank for at least the next 3 months. Hopefully things will work out and I'll be there for a lot longer.

The added bonus about living in Melbourne in January is the Australian Open. Not a bad way to unwind after a hard day consulting. Isner v Nalbandian.

 I was looked after incredibly well by Matt and Michaela in Melbourne. Always nice to see friendly faces in a new city. I can't wait now to see Trang, Prue, Andrew and everyone else in that part of the world. I'm not going to give up Sydney as a base just yet but I am growing to like Melbourne Monday - Friday, especially when it's 10 degrees hotter than Sydney and doesn't have half as much rain!

Some of you have been asking me about the birds in Australia......

.........I can report back that they are stunning and I have them eating out of my hand.

Hope you are all coping with January in the UK!

Settling in Nicely

Well it’s been raining quite a lot in Sydney for the last couple of weeks which I wasn’t expecting. We have had the odd day of glorious sunshine but for the most part it’s been wet and windy which has given me the opportunity to job and flat hunt with some success.

It is not the ideal time to be looking for jobs in the run up to Christmas and Australia's holiday season, but I’ve met quite a few recruiters now and am hopeful that something will present itself this week. I have an interview with a digital media firm called Tigerspike (no kidding) this week and am exploring my options back at Accenture in Sydney. 

I have had better luck finding a flat. I’m moving into a houseshare in Redfern with my friend from New York, Fiona Gardiner. It’s not by the beach but it’s very close to the city centre which will be very handy for those elusive jobs!

I spent a bit of time in Manly this weekend and it was looking at it's best on Saturday when I went to see Ali Martyres. He was struggling after his Christmas party and was in a bit of trouble with his girlfriend - some things never change mate!

On the Friday before, I met up with Arum and Fi for a beach volleyball lesson and a drink at the Manly Wharf Hotel Bar. Definitely something I'd like to make a habit of if possible.

I saw Rob Hyson again on Tuesday at his regular pub quiz and had a cracking night out with Al Hewson at the piano bar in King Cross where we stumbled across a swimwear show at 10pm on a Friday night.  A couple of other great nights have been had, especially with Jules and friends in Darlinghurst when Suzie enjoyed the Rose a bit too much.

Greg also deserves a mention for getting me on a golf course twice in the last 7 days. Once to St Michael's and then yesterday to Kooindah Waters. If it wasn't for the Thunder, Lightning, Cold Winds and Driving Rain I would have enjoyed myself immensely.

If you are reading this at about 10pm in the UK you might see me having my breakfast on the rooftop using the webcam!

Around Sydney

This is the view from level 53 of the Governor McQuarie Tower. Robert Walters have a pretty incredible office..... but no jobs! Seems like the market is pretty flat as we head towards the holiday period. Might have to go and work at Westfield.

 

 This is me at Bondi Beach. Weather was brilliant over the weekend and the beaches were packed.

I took this picture on Friday. Imagine how busy it was on the weekend. I took the ferry to Manly on Saturday to have a look at an apartment and saw Greg who has a great place over looking the beach there. Don't suppose you are looking to rent your room out Greg?

On Sunday I went out for brunch with Jules and headed down to the beach at Bronte. She has been great, putting me in touch with recruiters and friends that she knows who can help with jobs and apartments.

Sculpture by the Sea on the Bondi to Bronte coastal path!

This country is brilliant. They have televisions by the beach so that you can watch MOTD while getting a tan.

Tamarama beach. It's just a small cove but has a really deep beach. One of the places I wouldn't mind living.

This is the view from the rooftop at my Youth Hostel in The Rocks. I couldn't really be in a better spot, although I haven't stepped outside today because it hasn't stopped raining :)

 I had breakfast down at Darling Harbour on Saturday before I sorted out my mobile phone +61 449770306 and my bank account.

Opera House from the Botanic Gardens.

Few surfers out in Bondi yesterday even though it was raining. Water was probably the best place to be - I got as wet as them anyway. Going to have a look at a nice apartment in Bondi this afternoon. Hoping to share with Arum and Fi! I'm lucky that they are looking for a place to live at the same time. It's also been great catching up with Cath Willis and Rob Hyson who is going to be a dad in March...

Picture of the pool at Icebergs below.

Sydney Arrival

Feeling really good this morning after about 6 hours sleep last night in the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel. I should have taken a taxi from the airport but got the train link instead to Circular Quay. I didn't really appreciate how difficult the walk would be up the hill to the hotel which was on the other side of The Rocks.

I couldn't find the front door to the hotel as the downstairs is a great pub but two ladies were keen to help. Anyway, they gave me a nice welcome and looked after my bags while I checked in. When I came back they had bought me a beer, organised a game of golf and set me up with their daughter!

I am off to meet the recruitment consultant now and will spend the rest of the afternoon strolling around. It is supposed to clear and get to 25 degrees :)