Bon Voyage
September 13, 2009 at 1:22 pm | In Life Observations, Switzerland, Sydney, Travel | Leave a CommentToday is my last day living in Sydney. We got back from Malaysia/Singapore on Wednesday, and fly to Munich via Dubai tonight. The past few days have been nothing short of manic. We have been going to breakfasts, lunches and dinners every day. Today we are having a BBQ with my family before we head to the airport around 6:00pm.
It’s kind of a surreal feeling. Sometimes when I see the packed suitcases ready on the bedroom floor it is like I’m watching someone else’s life unfold in front of me. I had quite a few sleepless nights when we first made the decision to go, but the past few weeks have just been a flow of sorts. The thinking, planning and decisions have all been completed now. It’s just a matter of getting to the airport on time so we don’t miss the flight.
We’ll be in Munich with my Fiancée’s parents for about 10 days before heading to Zurich on Friday 25th September. We are being provided with temporary accommodation while we find our permanent abode. All of these exciting times ahead. Where we’ll live, who we’ll meet and importantly for me, where I will work. I don’t think scared is the right word, but there is definitely some sort of apprehension. If there wasn’t it would probably mean I wasn’t taking it seriously.
Next time you hear from me it will be from beer capital of the world (or is that Sydney?!?). No doubt I will be blogging regularly on all things German and Swiss.
Busy Weekend
July 6, 2009 at 6:56 pm | In Life Observations, Sydney | Leave a CommentI have been back in Sydney for 4 days now and tonight is the first night we have not had something on. I surprised my fiancée last Thursday by having a chauffeur pick her up to take her to Café Sydney, arguably one of the best Restaurants in Australia. My brother was very kind and picked me up from the airport, dropped me at the Restaurant, then took all my 77kgs of luggage home for me. What a legend.
Friday night we met up with the ex-Westpac crowd for dinner at Vinothek, the new German wine bar in Darlinghurst. I invited a dozen people hoping that 5 or 6 could make it. To my surprise everyone came along except one friend who was travelling for work. We had a great night. A wonderful way to spend my first 24 hours back in Sydney.
On Saturday we took my mum to see the Wayne Scott Kermond musical Candy Man at the Theatre Royal. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would, even more than Buddy which we saw earlier in the year. The dancing was simply sensational.
Last night we had friends over for dinner which was another superb night. Great food, wine and conversation. How could we not have a great night.
And now I am waiting for my beloved to come home from work so we can go for a walk in the brisk night air. Very different to the 32 degrees I was baking in this time last week.
The Fishing Trip
July 3, 2009 at 3:40 pm | In Darwin, Darwin Observations, Sydney | Leave a CommentI landed back in Sydney last night after completing my final week in Darwin. I learnt an enormous amount in the 9 months that I spent up there. Not only about life in Darwin, but about the challenges faced in remote parts of our country, about life for our Indigenous, and a lot about myself.
I originally took on the contract for a number of reasons. I have had a keen interest in Indigenous affairs since reading my fiancée’s PhD on Indigenous Health. I was also excited about living in a new city for a while having lived and worked in Sydney my entire life.
Prior to taking this role I had spent the better part of 10 years working for a large bank so I was looking forward to working outside the corporate environment. I was even happier to be working for a not for profit (NFP) company.
I think I had some naïve views about what it would be like to work for an NFP. Given their missions are usually about altruism and community, I had thought that those who worked for them would embody this. Sadly, this was not always the case. Of course there are a number of people who’s career focus is about improving the lives of our Indigenous, but I would say that to the majority of people it is just a job. A lot of people wouldn’t have the faintest idea about the challenges Indigenous people face. I don’t profess to be an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but I did all I could to learn during the time I was here.
Having said all that, the people that do believe in the cause and understand what the mission is go a long way to making up for those who don’t. There are some truly passionate people, some of whom have been here since the very start. These are the people that the organisation needs to hang onto, and listen to, if they are going to succeed.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Darwin. I will miss the weather, the relaxed way of life and the fact that you can wear your thongs anywhere. Most importantly I will miss the geckos.
Back to Darwin
June 5, 2009 at 6:23 pm | In Darwin, Sydney, Travel | Leave a CommentIn an hour or so I’ll be at the airport ready to board my last flight to Darwin. My contract is nearing completion and I will be back in Sydney permanently from Friday 3rd July. It’s hard to believe that eight months have past since I first went up there.
At least the Sydney weather decided to see me off in right fashion. The sun decided to come out for the first time this week which makes a nice change from all the rain we have had. We even managed to get a nice sunset.
As I have mentioned in earlier posts my fiancée is travelling with me to Darwin for the first time. Early tomorrow morning we fly to Kununurra returning to Darwin for dinner on Sunday. I am really looking forward to seeing the Bungle Bungles. Yet another aspect of our beautiful country.
I Thought I’d Seen Everything
June 4, 2009 at 6:40 pm | In Life Observations, Sydney, Sydney Observations | Leave a CommentLast night my fiancée and I finally got to see Samson and Delilah. It is a remarkable movie, even more so when you learn that neither of the lead actors are professionals and that it was the first movie Warwick Thornton has directed. It gives insight into the problem of petrol sniffing indigenous youths, and the day to day battle they face to overcome their addiction. A must-see in my book, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
When we left the cinema we were walking back to the car along King St, Newtown. I am used to seeing purple hair, pierced faces and studded vests along there, but this took the cake. A couple were walking two goats on leashes down the main road. Not something you see every day, certainly not in Darwin.
Weekend in Sydney
June 2, 2009 at 2:23 pm | In Life Observations, Sydney | Leave a CommentAs with most weekends down in Sydney I managed to pack quite a few things in. On Sunday my family got together for lunch which was a lot of fun. My two nephews who are now 2 and 6 and seem to have endless energy. We spent some time after lunch running around a park with a soccer ball. It’s been years since I did that and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sunday night my fiancée and I caught up with an old work colleague and her partner for pizza in Waterloo. There isn’t much choice for pizza in Darwin unless you want Dominos (which I don’t even classify as pizza really) so it made for a nice change. Our friends brought along a sensational bottle of Henschke wine which was superb, truly a highlight.
Tomorrow night we are going to see the movie Samson and Delilah. If you haven’t already heard, this movie is being dubbed the best Australian movie of all time. It is based in and around Alice Springs and documents the daily life of a petrol sniffing youth and his girlfriend. Friends who have seen it say it is highly emotional and intense. Definitely looking forward to it.
Sydney Bound
May 29, 2009 at 11:42 am | In Darwin, Sydney, Travel | Leave a CommentJacki and I have had a great week, even more so for her as she didn’t have to go to work. Last night we went to the Mindil Beach Sunset Markets which is always a culinary feast. So much great food to choose from and only one stomach. It was absolutely packed as usual which makes moving slowly essential.
We are both on the same flight backed to Sydney this afternoon. I am back down for a week and as usual have a lot to fit in. Family lunches, breakfasts with friends and dinner and movies with my beloved.
Next weekend will be really exciting. My Fiancée and I are flying back to Darwin together on Friday and it will be her first visit to Darwin to stay with me. First thing Saturday morning we are off to Kununurra in far north WA to see the Bungle Bungles. This has been high on my ‘to do’ list for a number of years now so I am very much looking forward to it.
Cats and Dogs
May 20, 2009 at 3:13 pm | In Darwin, Sydney | Leave a CommentI know where I’d rather be this week…
Sunshine Coast
May 5, 2009 at 11:39 am | In Sydney, Travel | Leave a CommentMy fiancée and I managed to manipulate our schedules to be in the same city over the weekend for change. I flew into Brisbane and then drove to meet her up on the Sunshine Coast. The drive is only 90kms but it took me nearly four hours due to a serious accident on the Bruce Highway. I was getting pretty annoyed sitting there in traffic (read: car park) until I realised that the families of those involved were having a much worse night than I was. Some perspective.
I was sitting in the traffic jam and actually managed to get some work done with my laptop on the passenger seat. Who said men can’t multi-task?
We stayed in Maleny which is in the Sunshine Coast hinterland, in a hotel with wonderful views of the Glasshouse Mountains. I have never been to that part of Australia before, it is very picturesque. Sipping champagne watching the sun go down over the mountain range. What else could one ask for.
It ended all too quickly, and this week we are both back in Sydney. My fiancée is off gallivanting around the world again on Wednesday, and I am flying back to Darwin on Thursday.
Weekly Cramming
March 14, 2009 at 9:22 pm | In Life Observations, Sydney, Sydney Observations | Leave a CommentI was just reflecting on what I was doing this time last week. It made me realise just how much you can cram into a short period of time when you want to.
In the 9 days I was in Sydney, I went out for dinner 4 times, attended a Birthday Party, went to work drinks for my Fiancée (on the night I flew in), had Sushi Train for lunch twice, and even attended the Musical Buddy. No wonder I arrived back in Darwin exhausted.
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