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So, what's new?Posted on Thursday 15 November 2007 at 08:30 - Post Comment
I don't know why, but I've been a bit lax on the blog this past month. Maybe it's because I feel much more settled here, that I don't need to bang on about this that and the other. Then again, it is most probably because I am just a lazy bugger.
So, I will share some of the delights that the past few weeks have held for us. As you'll know from the previous post, our EOI was selected - yeah!
This was over a week ago, and we now have to wait for an 'Invitation To Apply' or ITA before we can go any further. This, of course, is if the EOI is accepted at all, as recent rule changes may mean that the work experience I have offered could be 3 months short of the required 5 years. Ah well, I'll try and get hold of immigration next week to see if my NZ work experience can be added to my UK stuff to make it over the 5 year hurdle. Let's hope so, else that's a shed load of $$$'s down the drain.
Right, what else has been happpening? Well the land in Rolleston now has a fence up along one side of it. The neighbours - Shane & his family - organised it all and we agreed to get it done. Here in NZ, the cost of fencing is shared equally between the 2 neighbours that it seperates. It's the law. Wish we'd know that before buying a blimmin big unfenced section! It's going to cost over $4k to fence the bugger. Currently we don't have $400, let along more, so we're hoping that the new neighbours who have just completed their house on the other side of us, are not looking to get it fenced any time soon.
Our new house in the city is proving to be pretty hassle free. Everything works, well - it does now after a bit of handyness by yours truly. Some bulbs needed replacing and stuff like that. I still have a bunch of other jobs to do but we are currently being very lazy and the place is a bit of a tip. Predictably, my favourite place is my bit of garage. I've dreamed of this for years, and now I have it! Last week I came over all DIY, and knocked up the free shelving that Toni scored from her work:
During:
Finished:
When Dad was here I took up his offer of free labour and we gibbed (plaster boarded) the dividing stud wall which was unfinished from the previous owners. Then, seeing as it was all going so well, I then used a load of old leftover stud lengths to make my crowning achievement - a work bench:
Considering that I had neither a square, or a drop saw, the fact that it is only slightly out of square is a miracle. It was good fun to do too. In addition to all this, we have planted out the balcony planters, and had a good few bbq's to boot:
The front garden is coming on well, with only one of the plants looking a little on the ropey side. At Riccarton market last Sunday (where we are becoming regulars - all the stall holders greet us now!) we got a bunch more plants to add to the existing bit, and finish off the bit we had missed on the right hand side as you look at the house. I intend to do that today, or at least over this weekend. It's a public holiday here in Canterbury today. Predictably it's called Canterbury Day, and there is a big show that celebrates it. They have livestock, events, and all sorts of stalls etc. It's a really big thing, so we'll be going along tomorrow to see what it's all about.
This whole week is Cup Week, which is the NZ Trotting Cup. The main day was on Tuesday, and a massive horse racing meet is held each year at Addington Raceway. It is a massive deal here, with close to 30,000 people decending onto Christchurch to celebrate. It's been great business for my work too, as we have supplied over 40 people to various companies to help cater for all of these people. On the Tuesday evening we went to the Casino with some friends to see a band called Atlas. They are a relatively big deal over here, with a couple of songs in the charts etc so we were interested to go and check them out. The fact that the concert was also FREE may have had a little something to do with it too! So, we arrived really early, and got seats right at the very front of the stage. For the next hour we chatted and had a few drinks, and then come 8pm they kicked off the show. And they were actually pretty good! We all had a great time, and stayed on after for pics with the band, and a bit of a gamble on the gaming tables:
Toni, Raewyn, Kathy & Hayden:
Some lead singer eye candy for the boys:
And some bass guitarist lovin' for the girls:
Overall, a great night out, and with damage limitation in action as it was a school night, no awful hangover the following day. Bargain!
Still no news on the job front for T. She recently applied to her current school for a 2nd year and a 4th year position, and wasn't even shortlisted for them. As you can imagine, this was more than a little knock to her confidence. To top it off T is due a pay rise soon, but before it can come through the head needed to assess her. The outcome of the assesment was that she taught well, but that all of her planning and paperwork was pretty much useless. As you can imagine, T was absolutely devestated by this news - as she has always been ahead of what others in her year group are doing, and puts 100% into it all. It turns out that she hasn't been told by her year group leader what half of the stuff she should be doing actually IS. On realising this, the head has agreed to give her a period to fix things, and then he will reassess these areas. In a way it's a good thing, as it is something more to work towards. However, to find out you are not doing our job properly for the simple reason that no one has told you what the job fully entails is a real kick in the teeth.
We'll be putting a lot more joint effort into job hunting after this weekend so hope to have a bit of a turnaround before Christmas. If not, then it's back to temping, and this is far from ideal.
On a lighter side, some people at her work invited T to their weekly art class last night. It's great to see her using her talents, and this (unfinished) was the result of the session:
I love it, and can't wait until it's finished - it's going straight on the wall in our bedroom.
Our UK house sale is still going through - thankfully - and we just have to email the solicitors some info and we should be done and dusted before Christmas. Well, here's hoping on that score.
So, there's a quick update. I will put a bit more effort in over the coming weeks, so until the next time...
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