The wind of change

Posted on Saturday 26 January 2008 at 06:03 - Post Comment

Another week over - I just can't believe they go so quickly.  As a kid I remember adults sincerely telling me not to wish my childhood away, that it was the easiest time of my life and to enjoy it, and all I would think is 'Yeah, right!'.  And yet here I am, probably about to say the same thing to the next kid I meet.

It really has been an amazing week, with one massive situation change for us.  After all the doubts and depression over T being out of work and having no joy in finding any teaching work what should happen?

T's only gone and landed a teaching job!

Yup - you're not hallucinating - I'll type it again just to confirm: T has only gone and got a teaching job!  After all the applications to schools based on the 'what you know' basis, and getting no where it is no surprise to us that (this being Christchurch) this job came through the 'who you know' route.  One of the parents of the boys T taught at her last position has kept in touch with T as she was buying some boots off a contact of hers who works at one of the wool factories here.  Still with me?  Good.  Anyway, last weekend she calls T up to ask if she is still looking for work. T says yes, and the lady gives T the email address of a friend of hers who is looking for a primary teacher at her school (where she is the Deputy Head!) to cover 2 terms of maternity leave.

So, excited but thinking that she really had no chance, T slings her CV and a covering letter over (this was last Sunday) and we then tried to forget about it.  Come Wednesday T gets a call inviting her for an interview!  Well, now we both start to get very excited, but try and keep a lid on it as this could well be just a 'sympathy' interview - you know, a friend doing a favour for a friend of a friend.  So, T's interview was first thing yesterday and immediately after she gave me a call to say that it had gone really well but that we would not hear anything until Monday.  However at around 1pm the same day T gets a call from the interviewer asking if they can 'meet for coffee' that afternoon.  As soon as they meet, the deputy tells T that she has got the job, and the meet is to have an informal chat to seal the deal!  It is also to reassure her that although this position is currently for 6 months maternity cover she knows that the person she's covering will not be coming back and so essentially the position could be open ended.

I can tell you now that the word excited just doesn't cut it.  We are both absolutely over the moon.  The 2 biggest problems facing us - visa and work, are currently under control and we can continue to breathe slightly easier day by day. 

We still have issues with trying to sell the UK house.  Our purchasers are proving to be hard to nail down about a completion date and this resulted in me laying it on thick to both our estate agent and solicitor in 2 late night calls.  I basically stated that unless the purchasers provided evidence of finance and a provisional completion date by Friday (yesterday) then we would be 'seriously considering our options'.  Unfortunately we have had no response and so are now thinking that if nothing has happened by the middle of next week following another kick arse call then we will put it back on the market.  Seeing as it now untennanted, it is costing us money and so we either need to get shot of it, or re-rent it asap.  Time - in this case - really is money.  We just hope these purchasers are serious.  God, buying a house in NZ is SO much better - an offer is made, accepted, a deposit paid, a date for completion set, and it's all over bar the shouting within 30 days.  In comparison, the UK (as we all know) is absolutely shocking, and it amazes me that anyone manages to sell anything sometimes.

Anyway, just wanted to share the latest.  T is off out tonight for a celebratory piss-up with a couple of mates, so I'll be holding the fort.  Just one week to go to my birthday, and then it's back onto the beers again.  I intend to fall off the wagon in a big way, as I've been hanging out for a beer this past week or so.  On the up side though, being off the grog has helped me to lose 5kg's so it's not all bad news.

So, all is good in our 'hood and with just the house to go until the stress is really and truly off, we intend to enjoy the remainder of summer as best we can.  Bring it on.  

Untitled Comment

Posted by rebnatoli on Saturday 26 January 2008 at 09:49 - Link

Well done to your wife! I love Christchurch I really felt I could live there but we decided on Oz in the end as work for us is easier to come by and at least we're a lot closer for holidays to NZ!