The big news for this week is that after 3 years of coursework, I have finally completed my Open University course in computing.
I received news on Friday that I had passed my final module, which is great as I had no intention of re-doing it if I hadn't. Web Server management, so totally dry and boring.
Soon I will have a nice Certificate in Web Application Development to hang on my wall beside my two accountancy ones and my project management one (or maybe I'll file the accountancy ones away as relics of a previous life!)
So, what to do next? Hmm, maybe I'll take a year off studying and try and sort out my work situation which now desperately needs addressing. And then maybe do a course on London history or genealogy for a change.
I've been studying computing courses with the Open University since 1997 so its probably high time for a break. The great thing about this recent course is that it was all coursework based and involved online studying (I guess e-learning). Added another angle of interest to it.
Anyway, back to my work situation. I love the job I do and I enjoy working with my customers but I feel my opportunities to widen my network and get into new business areas are limited.
I'd like to find something that allows me to broaden my customer base beyond one area and extend my network beyond the confines of London.
So its time to change my job.
But I like my employer and love the sort of work I do - so, it's a no brainer, really, I just need to find another role working for the same employer doing a similar sort of role but for a different area of the business - and I think / hope I discovered it last week.
Fingers crossed, it will be brilliant if it comes off.
They say things happen in life for a reason and maybe what I had to deal with this past week at work was meant to happen as it triggered me to look for something else - and the opportunity I found wouldn't be more ideal had I written the job spec myself.
Let's hope office politics doesn't get in the way and prevent me from being offered this new role.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Sunday, March 19, 2006
A Big Decision
yep, after loads of thinking about it, weighing up the pro's and con's, I've decided to sell my car.
It will be an interesting experience to be car-free, having owned a car since I was 17. But the fact of the matter is that I just don't drive it.
Its impossible to park in London even on Sundays and the cost of car tax, insurance, MOT and servicing is getting ridiculous when I only really drive the car short distances on weekends.
I used to need the car for work but not any more. And I don't mind using trains to get to places out of London - I can read and relax rather than getting wound up by all the traffic that seems to be on the roads, no matter what time of day or night.
I guess I'll need to make a couple of adjustments - shopping online for starters.
But the money I'll save I can use for cab fares when I need to. Or maybe for updating my kitchen.
It will be an interesting experience to be car-free, having owned a car since I was 17. But the fact of the matter is that I just don't drive it.
Its impossible to park in London even on Sundays and the cost of car tax, insurance, MOT and servicing is getting ridiculous when I only really drive the car short distances on weekends.
I used to need the car for work but not any more. And I don't mind using trains to get to places out of London - I can read and relax rather than getting wound up by all the traffic that seems to be on the roads, no matter what time of day or night.
I guess I'll need to make a couple of adjustments - shopping online for starters.
But the money I'll save I can use for cab fares when I need to. Or maybe for updating my kitchen.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
My first "podcast"..... eventually, hopefully, kind of
ABC radio in Australia did an interview with me a few years ago. (You will need to have Real Player installed to listen to it.)
One of my friends in Sydney had "dobbed me in" to them as an expat who they could talk to on air about what it was like living away from home.
It was fun to do and the dj, Angela Catterns, was really friendly. (And living in London, you don't meet many genuinely friendly people, which is sad.)
Since the interview, ABC radio have phoned me a few other times just to get my thoughts as an expat on London and Aussie stuff. And they even phoned me on 7/7 to check I was ok - how sweet.
Anyway, I recently found the link to the interview while tidying up my pc and thought it might be interesting to add it to this blog. Unfortunately the interview itself is in real audio format rather than mp3 and I can't convert it directly as the file sits on ABC's server. (See below).
But on the bright side, its their bandwidth and not mine that you use if you listen to it!
I hope it works ok and is more successful than the boardI added to my family history site this weekend - which seems to crash for Aussie users, as I found to my dismay this morning. Oh well.
This weekend has been nothing but a series of technical problems ............ maybe I oughta stick to reading books.
One of my friends in Sydney had "dobbed me in" to them as an expat who they could talk to on air about what it was like living away from home.
It was fun to do and the dj, Angela Catterns, was really friendly. (And living in London, you don't meet many genuinely friendly people, which is sad.)
Since the interview, ABC radio have phoned me a few other times just to get my thoughts as an expat on London and Aussie stuff. And they even phoned me on 7/7 to check I was ok - how sweet.
Anyway, I recently found the link to the interview while tidying up my pc and thought it might be interesting to add it to this blog. Unfortunately the interview itself is in real audio format rather than mp3 and I can't convert it directly as the file sits on ABC's server. (See below).
But on the bright side, its their bandwidth and not mine that you use if you listen to it!
I hope it works ok and is more successful than the boardI added to my family history site this weekend - which seems to crash for Aussie users, as I found to my dismay this morning. Oh well.
This weekend has been nothing but a series of technical problems ............ maybe I oughta stick to reading books.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
The best and worst of London
The Sydney Morning Herald web site recently ran an article about The Best and Worst of British.
It was actually about the fun and perils, well mostly perils, facing any young Aussie backpacker who ventures over to London for a working holiday.
The "worst" fell into three areas:
- accommodation and how expensive it is
- employment and the British working culture
- public transport, particularly the tube
No surprises really.
But once you work out ways of dealing with them, London is still a great city and has loads to offer visitors.
Ok, it might also be overcrowded and dirty but tell me a place that isn't these days. I hear even Sydney, god forbid, has started to go downhill and Melbourne is now "the" place to be in when you live in Oz.
It was actually about the fun and perils, well mostly perils, facing any young Aussie backpacker who ventures over to London for a working holiday.
The "worst" fell into three areas:
- accommodation and how expensive it is
- employment and the British working culture
- public transport, particularly the tube
No surprises really.
But once you work out ways of dealing with them, London is still a great city and has loads to offer visitors.
Ok, it might also be overcrowded and dirty but tell me a place that isn't these days. I hear even Sydney, god forbid, has started to go downhill and Melbourne is now "the" place to be in when you live in Oz.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Work, work, work
Apparently, last Friday was Work your Proper Hours day.
This is one of those subjects, like smoking and hunting, that everyone seems to have a strong view on. You are either for or against it, you either do it or you don't and having a day to "celebrate it" - like National Non Smoking day - is probably not going to change your attitude or behaviour.
Personally, I can't remember a time when I worked my "proper hours", apart from when they coincided with the hours in which I could actually work. e.g. the hours when the shop was open.
[But retail staff probably can't even do that anymore, unless they do 16 hour shifts or longer, I guess.]
And its never bothered me. Perhaps like a lot of people, I just work to get the job done because I enjoy what I do.
But equally, if I ever feel I need a break from work, I just take it. And this is more likely to do with someone or something that has really annoyed me to the extent that I adopt the "flight not fight" mentality - than with the hours I have worked. I'll just shuffle my commitments around so I can leave work early or go in late until I feel ready to cope with the situation again. No big deal.
What I did find interesting was the article in the Guardian which said that, according to new research, public sector staff work longer hours than their city counterparts.
Having worked in both the public sector (for 8 years) and now a city-type organisation for the past 7 years, I find this laughable.
For a start, most public sector workers I knew then and now get paid overtime. Or if its not overtime, its flexitime. Whereas city businesses, like the one I work for, pay no overtime at all apart from to junior staff. So public sector workers often have an incentive to claim longer hours.
I can't recall any public sector colleagues, apart from some schoolteachers I know, ever working weekends doing unpaid overtime. However, I have known loads of city workmates who have spent Sundays travelling to get to their place of work for the next week - unpaid of course.
And when I think back to my public sector days, I probably worked just as many hours as I do now. Except that I got credit for the extra hours in the form of flexitime, which equated to around 6 extra weeks, yes weeks, a year holiday!
Which meant 6 weeks of not working - as opposed to 6 weeks' of extra hours simply given to my city employer.
Public sector workers work longer hours? Next, they will be saying that chocolate doesn't actually make you fat.
This is one of those subjects, like smoking and hunting, that everyone seems to have a strong view on. You are either for or against it, you either do it or you don't and having a day to "celebrate it" - like National Non Smoking day - is probably not going to change your attitude or behaviour.
Personally, I can't remember a time when I worked my "proper hours", apart from when they coincided with the hours in which I could actually work. e.g. the hours when the shop was open.
[But retail staff probably can't even do that anymore, unless they do 16 hour shifts or longer, I guess.]
And its never bothered me. Perhaps like a lot of people, I just work to get the job done because I enjoy what I do.
But equally, if I ever feel I need a break from work, I just take it. And this is more likely to do with someone or something that has really annoyed me to the extent that I adopt the "flight not fight" mentality - than with the hours I have worked. I'll just shuffle my commitments around so I can leave work early or go in late until I feel ready to cope with the situation again. No big deal.
What I did find interesting was the article in the Guardian which said that, according to new research, public sector staff work longer hours than their city counterparts.
Having worked in both the public sector (for 8 years) and now a city-type organisation for the past 7 years, I find this laughable.
For a start, most public sector workers I knew then and now get paid overtime. Or if its not overtime, its flexitime. Whereas city businesses, like the one I work for, pay no overtime at all apart from to junior staff. So public sector workers often have an incentive to claim longer hours.
I can't recall any public sector colleagues, apart from some schoolteachers I know, ever working weekends doing unpaid overtime. However, I have known loads of city workmates who have spent Sundays travelling to get to their place of work for the next week - unpaid of course.
And when I think back to my public sector days, I probably worked just as many hours as I do now. Except that I got credit for the extra hours in the form of flexitime, which equated to around 6 extra weeks, yes weeks, a year holiday!
Which meant 6 weeks of not working - as opposed to 6 weeks' of extra hours simply given to my city employer.
Public sector workers work longer hours? Next, they will be saying that chocolate doesn't actually make you fat.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Free tours on International Tourist Guide Day
According to the BBC London web site, this weekend is International Tourist Guide Day.
Just like guides around the world, London's Blue Badge guides will be kicking off free walks around London on the hour every hour from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Their walks usually cost around £5 per person, I think.
Walks will mainly start from mainline train stations such as Kings Cross, Waterloo, Liverpool Street and Victoria.
For more information, check out the Blue Badge Guides web site.
Sounds like fun. Might even have a break from my family history research and do one of these walks myself.
Just like guides around the world, London's Blue Badge guides will be kicking off free walks around London on the hour every hour from 10am to 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Their walks usually cost around £5 per person, I think.
Walks will mainly start from mainline train stations such as Kings Cross, Waterloo, Liverpool Street and Victoria.
For more information, check out the Blue Badge Guides web site.
Sounds like fun. Might even have a break from my family history research and do one of these walks myself.
Friday, February 10, 2006
The family records centre
I have recently started documenting and digging further into my family history (10 convicts and counting).
Many of my ancestors came from England and so when I read that the Family Records Centre in Islington, north London was holding a free family history talk, I took the opportunity to go along to it.
After encountering the modern day Dick Turpin (in the form of Westminster parking inspectors), I found my way into the centre. - Tip 1: if you are going, either go by public transport or be prepared to pay £6.50 to park in the NCP parking centre near Bowling Green Alley.
So what does the centre hold? Basically, the ground floor contains shelves and shelves of big books listing births, deaths and marriages that have been registered in England and Wales from 1837. And loads of people pouring over them.
And the first floor contains things like census records, held either in microfilm, microfiche or on computers. And loads of people peering into them.
Its a place where time has been documented yet also stands still. You can lose yourself for hours among all the records. Tip 2: before you go there, have a bit of an idea of what you are looking for and take some basic information with you. Great grandmother's possible birth years, the names of the people who once lived in your house 100 years ago, whatever. This helps you to make the most of your visit, in my view.
I didn't manage to find any specific records to help fill in the gaps in my family history, but I did eliminate some possibilities. I now know that poor Emily May, whose husband James Wall died when she was only 25 years old, didn't die in the ten years that followed his death in 1904.
So I guess she got remarried - sigh, time to go back to the Family Records Centre again, when I have more information.
Many of my ancestors came from England and so when I read that the Family Records Centre in Islington, north London was holding a free family history talk, I took the opportunity to go along to it.
After encountering the modern day Dick Turpin (in the form of Westminster parking inspectors), I found my way into the centre. - Tip 1: if you are going, either go by public transport or be prepared to pay £6.50 to park in the NCP parking centre near Bowling Green Alley.
So what does the centre hold? Basically, the ground floor contains shelves and shelves of big books listing births, deaths and marriages that have been registered in England and Wales from 1837. And loads of people pouring over them.
And the first floor contains things like census records, held either in microfilm, microfiche or on computers. And loads of people peering into them.
Its a place where time has been documented yet also stands still. You can lose yourself for hours among all the records. Tip 2: before you go there, have a bit of an idea of what you are looking for and take some basic information with you. Great grandmother's possible birth years, the names of the people who once lived in your house 100 years ago, whatever. This helps you to make the most of your visit, in my view.
I didn't manage to find any specific records to help fill in the gaps in my family history, but I did eliminate some possibilities. I now know that poor Emily May, whose husband James Wall died when she was only 25 years old, didn't die in the ten years that followed his death in 1904.
So I guess she got remarried - sigh, time to go back to the Family Records Centre again, when I have more information.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Leaving London - when and why?
Every year - usually between January and March, when the weather in London is grim - I think about heading back to Oz.
And so it happened today. There I was, sitting at my laptop at 7 am on a cold and drizzly "day" (still pitch black, really, outside.)
In accordance with my usual work morning routine, I browse the Sydney Morning Herald web site over coffee, just to check the place is still there and the natives haven't been too restless while I've been sleeping. And on the home page this morning is an advert for new waterside apartments at Twin Waters, on the Sunshine Coast.
Any place with such a happy name deserves a look - and besides, I already happen to own an apartment in that area so it sort of feels like my second home anyway (even though I've never seen it - long story.)
So, looking at the photos, it got me thinking (again) about why I would want to leave London.
The question is, when will I bite the bullet and make the move. After living in London for nearly 17 years, it will be tricky. I mean, there's 17 years of accumulated crap, for starters. Maybe I'll do what I did when I left Oz to come here all those years ago - bring over what I could carry in a backpack and sell the rest.
Maybe next year.......... or the year after.......... or maybe after that...................
And so it happened today. There I was, sitting at my laptop at 7 am on a cold and drizzly "day" (still pitch black, really, outside.)
In accordance with my usual work morning routine, I browse the Sydney Morning Herald web site over coffee, just to check the place is still there and the natives haven't been too restless while I've been sleeping. And on the home page this morning is an advert for new waterside apartments at Twin Waters, on the Sunshine Coast.
Any place with such a happy name deserves a look - and besides, I already happen to own an apartment in that area so it sort of feels like my second home anyway (even though I've never seen it - long story.)
So, looking at the photos, it got me thinking (again) about why I would want to leave London.
- crowds
- rubbish on streets
- the general cost of living
- has to be, the weather
- rude or unfriendly people
The question is, when will I bite the bullet and make the move. After living in London for nearly 17 years, it will be tricky. I mean, there's 17 years of accumulated crap, for starters. Maybe I'll do what I did when I left Oz to come here all those years ago - bring over what I could carry in a backpack and sell the rest.
Maybe next year.......... or the year after.......... or maybe after that...................
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
English icons
http://www.icons.org.uk/
The Government has launched a web site to allow people to nominate their favourite English icons. Among those listed include the routemaster bus, stone henge, a cup of tea and the FA Cup.
You can also vote for them at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4594660.stm
Personally, my favourites are stone henge, the red phone box, the traditional circular red post box, routemaster buses and Tower Bridge. Sadly, only two really exist anymore.
I'm surprised that Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben didn't make it onto the BBC's list. Friends from Australia often have these at the top of their lists to see.
The Government has launched a web site to allow people to nominate their favourite English icons. Among those listed include the routemaster bus, stone henge, a cup of tea and the FA Cup.
You can also vote for them at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4594660.stm
Personally, my favourites are stone henge, the red phone box, the traditional circular red post box, routemaster buses and Tower Bridge. Sadly, only two really exist anymore.
I'm surprised that Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace and Big Ben didn't make it onto the BBC's list. Friends from Australia often have these at the top of their lists to see.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Rail fares
Guardian Unlimited | Special reports | Passenger groups condemn rail fare rises
another great reason for working from home as much as possible.
Its incredible to think that people pay thousands of pounds a year to commute into London in cramped, smelly, unreliable trains.
Give me buses anytime - and its one more reason for living close to where I work, in London.
another great reason for working from home as much as possible.
Its incredible to think that people pay thousands of pounds a year to commute into London in cramped, smelly, unreliable trains.
Give me buses anytime - and its one more reason for living close to where I work, in London.
Friday, December 30, 2005
Having kittens
It's been a long, long time since I lived with any animals (apart from a few flat mates during my student days who could probably fit under that description.)
And the last one (animal, not housemate) I "owned" - in as much as any human can own an animal - was a dog, back in 1981 or so. I have never owned a cat.
So I did a lot of soul-searching before deciding on getting a pet while living in London. I did think about it a few years ago but in the back of my mind was the plan to go back to Oz "in a year or two" and get one then.
Though that's still the plan - the "year or two" now being "in a few years" - I figured why wait... and wait .... and wait .....
Besides which, my partner was really keen to have some intelligent conversations for a change.
So, meet our two little Battersea Dogs Home girls - Gizmo and Pippa.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Similar christmas days
And so I spend my 13th christmas day in London. Every year I have the same classic English christmas and I love it. Lots of wonderful, traditional christmas food: turkey, veg and christmas pudding. Followed by watching films I have already seen but that seem strangely more enjoyable when watched on christmas day with a bunch of people I often don't see for the rest of the year.
And, of course, phoning my friends and family in Australia.
This morning I chatted with my sister-in-law in Queensland. What had they done on christmas day? Had turkey, veg and christmas pudding and spent the afternoon watching films.
Classic - maybe its not uniquely English after all. The only difference was around 30 degrees in temperature.
And, of course, phoning my friends and family in Australia.
This morning I chatted with my sister-in-law in Queensland. What had they done on christmas day? Had turkey, veg and christmas pudding and spent the afternoon watching films.
Classic - maybe its not uniquely English after all. The only difference was around 30 degrees in temperature.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Tips about London
who better to provide tips about London than people who have "been here". Lots of tips on free things to do and see.
From the Guardian's web site
From the Guardian's web site
Friday, December 09, 2005
BBC NEWS | England | London | Routemaster makes final journey
There was nothing quite the same as travelling on the top deck of the number 12 routemaster to Peckham.
The experience was even more surreal late on Saturday nights. I remember one such evening, getting the bus home at around 11pm from the west end. As usual, the top deck - in fact, the whole bus - was packed.
Now on the routemasters, the golden rule was that only the conductor could ring the bell to tell the driver to stop the bus. Us mere passengers were only to tug on the cable.
Some drunken revellers decided it was easier to simply ring the bell for the conductor when she was downstairs. So you can imagine the scene when the conductor came upstairs - shouting to all passengers within earshot: "if one more #@*£ing person rings that #@*£ing bell, you can all #@*£ing walk".
She then went back downstairs, leaving 40 or so passengers cowering in their seats.
Only on a routemaster, and only in south London.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Christmas in London
Visit London - Christmas site
As an Aussie, I have fond memories of baking hot christmas days - swimming in our family pool, riding my bike in the sunshine and playing football with my brother and mates.
Sadly, I also have memories of "traditional" christmas dinners - hot roast ham, chicken, vegetables, gravy and my mother's home made christmas pudding - though we were at least spared from having to get dressed up like turkeys to eat it.
We also used to send and receive christmas cards with winter scenes on them - really bizarre in temperatures of 35 degrees celsius to receive a card with a snowman on it from your neighbour.
Why did my mother do it? I think she felt that it just wouldn't be a proper christmas if she didn't. By proper, she meant English - even though she had never been here. So despite the heat and humidity, a traditional English christmas it was - every bloody year.
So I love christmas in London. It brings back memories of what my mother used to try and give us every year - except this time around, it IS the "proper" christmas.
As an Aussie, I have fond memories of baking hot christmas days - swimming in our family pool, riding my bike in the sunshine and playing football with my brother and mates.
Sadly, I also have memories of "traditional" christmas dinners - hot roast ham, chicken, vegetables, gravy and my mother's home made christmas pudding - though we were at least spared from having to get dressed up like turkeys to eat it.
We also used to send and receive christmas cards with winter scenes on them - really bizarre in temperatures of 35 degrees celsius to receive a card with a snowman on it from your neighbour.
Why did my mother do it? I think she felt that it just wouldn't be a proper christmas if she didn't. By proper, she meant English - even though she had never been here. So despite the heat and humidity, a traditional English christmas it was - every bloody year.
So I love christmas in London. It brings back memories of what my mother used to try and give us every year - except this time around, it IS the "proper" christmas.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Matt's London Blog
meet my friend, Matt - and check out his excellent personal blog about living in London
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
What can you say about the Elephant and Castle?
| BBC NEWS | England | London | Dozens profit in cash-grab stunt | ||
Monday, November 07, 2005
Jono Coleman presents BBC London Breakfast show
BBC - London - TV and Radio - Breakfast Show: 6am to 9am
For all those Aussie ex-pats living in London - actually, for anyone, as you can listen to his breakfast show over the web.
For all those Aussie ex-pats living in London - actually, for anyone, as you can listen to his breakfast show over the web.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Trick or Treat, or just plain dangerous
Being an Aussie, I find it intriguing the way Londoners behave at Halloween. I mean, I live in south London - the place where the budget for decent street lighting ran out.
So picture this scene - its 8.30 pm at night, dark and rainy. There's a knock at my door - 2 young kids standing there in the darkness wearing masks. On any other night, I'd probably call the police - or be arrested myself for giving sweets to children.
But no, at halloween it seems perfectly acceptable for young kids to knock on the doors of strangers and also to expect to be given "treats".
Do their parents know / worry / care?
So picture this scene - its 8.30 pm at night, dark and rainy. There's a knock at my door - 2 young kids standing there in the darkness wearing masks. On any other night, I'd probably call the police - or be arrested myself for giving sweets to children.
But no, at halloween it seems perfectly acceptable for young kids to knock on the doors of strangers and also to expect to be given "treats".
Do their parents know / worry / care?
Friday, October 28, 2005
The last of the routemaster buses
link
what a sad day for London. Along with red phone boxes, they typify the city - and are very popular not only with people who live here but also with tourists.
oh well - another one down to mayor Ken.
maybe one day they'll bring them back again. Until then, they will only run on two tourist routes.
watch out for them, as they are now a dying breed.
what a sad day for London. Along with red phone boxes, they typify the city - and are very popular not only with people who live here but also with tourists.
oh well - another one down to mayor Ken.
maybe one day they'll bring them back again. Until then, they will only run on two tourist routes.
watch out for them, as they are now a dying breed.
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