Wednesday, 29 October 2008
Yet another job hunting day .. only it seems a lot harder to search for jobs here than it would be in the UK.
It seems that unless you chase Australians with a stick and then beat them with it - nothing gets done. Strange but unfortunately true.
In the fine dining stakes however we are continuing to flourish.
We have set up chez Rupert for all your culinary needs - last night we had a home made soup to start, steak with pepper sauce with green beans and potatoes, followed by a sticky toffee pudding. We have worked out how all the appliances work, where the bins go, and received our first letter.
It was from the Electricity company.
We are just going to drop our amended inventory back to the lettings people and then go for a walk on the beach, in is a lovely day - clear blue Sky's but with a refreshing breeze (without which I would be dead) I think El is slightly resentful of the breeze and keeps pointing out that it is cold in the shadows, secretly I am exceptionally pleased about the shadows!
We are both well, I had a bit of a cry yesterday as I came over all home sick and decided I might like to pop home for a day or two... I got over it quite quickly, it just hasn't sunk in how far away we are and so I feel that maybe I could visit you all in an hour or two. El provided me with ice cream which seemed to help.
Hope you are all well, fingers crossed we'll have something really interesting to tell you all soon, I'd hate for you to die of boredom and I fear that currently the blog is about as interesting as the financial times.
Love to you all
Leah and El x
It seems that unless you chase Australians with a stick and then beat them with it - nothing gets done. Strange but unfortunately true.
In the fine dining stakes however we are continuing to flourish.
We have set up chez Rupert for all your culinary needs - last night we had a home made soup to start, steak with pepper sauce with green beans and potatoes, followed by a sticky toffee pudding. We have worked out how all the appliances work, where the bins go, and received our first letter.
It was from the Electricity company.
We are just going to drop our amended inventory back to the lettings people and then go for a walk on the beach, in is a lovely day - clear blue Sky's but with a refreshing breeze (without which I would be dead) I think El is slightly resentful of the breeze and keeps pointing out that it is cold in the shadows, secretly I am exceptionally pleased about the shadows!
We are both well, I had a bit of a cry yesterday as I came over all home sick and decided I might like to pop home for a day or two... I got over it quite quickly, it just hasn't sunk in how far away we are and so I feel that maybe I could visit you all in an hour or two. El provided me with ice cream which seemed to help.
Hope you are all well, fingers crossed we'll have something really interesting to tell you all soon, I'd hate for you to die of boredom and I fear that currently the blog is about as interesting as the financial times.
Love to you all
Leah and El x
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Job hunting is killing me
Good Morning all.
Well we are in one of the many internet cafes looking for jobs.
It is dull.
El has been atacking anyone who works in the travel agency ( when I say atacking that is not far from the truth ) the girl is on a mission. I favour the slightly more laid back aproach of apply for anything which sees me working in an office. I think this is for the best otherwise we would probably end up applying for the same jobs and fighting furiously over who gets them!!
To be honest because of the 6 month maximum on staying in any one job it is proving difficult to find jobs which maybe you would go for at home, my theory on this is quite simple, I am not at home therefore I can apply for what ever I like.
We have settled into Rupert quite nicely now and are both enjoying cooking, just so you kjnow tonight we have steak.
We are still yet to do anything remotely exciting and although we are having a lovely time I don't really feel like I've left England. Yesterday we woke to rain, the television is the same NCIS, bones etc etc - food and beverages are exactly what you would expect and Melbournes CBD is just like London.
I am however really starting to miss people - it sort of comes in waves, I know that El is the same and when we look at all your smiley faces on our wall it does tug at the heart strings a bit.
Thanks for all your emails, we can't wait till we get the internet at home I barely have time to read them currently let alone reply but they do make me laugh.
Well back to looking for work, I'd probably get frowned at by the lovely Eleanor if she new I had not been aplying my self to task ... what would I do without her?
Love to you all xx
Well we are in one of the many internet cafes looking for jobs.
It is dull.
El has been atacking anyone who works in the travel agency ( when I say atacking that is not far from the truth ) the girl is on a mission. I favour the slightly more laid back aproach of apply for anything which sees me working in an office. I think this is for the best otherwise we would probably end up applying for the same jobs and fighting furiously over who gets them!!
To be honest because of the 6 month maximum on staying in any one job it is proving difficult to find jobs which maybe you would go for at home, my theory on this is quite simple, I am not at home therefore I can apply for what ever I like.
We have settled into Rupert quite nicely now and are both enjoying cooking, just so you kjnow tonight we have steak.
We are still yet to do anything remotely exciting and although we are having a lovely time I don't really feel like I've left England. Yesterday we woke to rain, the television is the same NCIS, bones etc etc - food and beverages are exactly what you would expect and Melbournes CBD is just like London.
I am however really starting to miss people - it sort of comes in waves, I know that El is the same and when we look at all your smiley faces on our wall it does tug at the heart strings a bit.
Thanks for all your emails, we can't wait till we get the internet at home I barely have time to read them currently let alone reply but they do make me laugh.
Well back to looking for work, I'd probably get frowned at by the lovely Eleanor if she new I had not been aplying my self to task ... what would I do without her?
Love to you all xx
Saturday, 25 October 2008
Sorry for the delay....
23rd, 24th October – St Kilda
We are sorry to leave you hanging for 2 days without word, unfortunately the perils of international travel is the distinct lack of predictable internet availability.
I have some exceptional news, we are in, 4/24 Dalgety that is, and what an absolute joy it is. So to recap -
On the 23rd we got up early to pack up our belongings and vacate the match box (turns out we didn’t do a very good job as we left 4 DVD’s and a small bag of gifts behind) then we dumped everything at reception and headed out for a proper breakfast. With that accomplished we printed some photos and I took my old school film in to be processed and was acosted by a very posh Englishman who apparently works in, or owns, the photography shop who took a shine to my Camera. He then gave me a quick lesson on how to use the aperture, told me they only made 300 and that a savvy Japanese tourist would no doubt try and swap it for a digital number. He also said that if I ever got rid of it he would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Nice chap, turns out he lives up in the Mountains, had been in Oz for about 28 years and is going to have El and I over for tea one day.
We’ve witnessed some odd things like the woman who bent down on the tram and trimmed her toe nails with a pair of clippers and then just got off. The man who commented on El’s Fatima burba hand that she wares around her neck and then proceed to rant about how he had faught the burba’s – oh yes the crazy people are still attracted to us no matter how far we seem to travel! But it makes us laugh.
So when we got to the flat we didn’t have any electricity but we did have everything else that 2 girls could ever need (except a lasagne dish and candles). So off we went out to Acland street in pursuit of candles and some light snacks. The flat soon got really dark and the candles were struggling to offer us enough light but we put all our photos up on the walls and have left plenty of space for more, El has to print some out and like I said I have a film in the shop. I bailed and got an early night after that, knowing full well that tomorrow was going to be about cleaning and shopping.
I wasn’t wrong.
We Cleaned – and cleaned and cleaned, although saying that I believe we are yet to hoover … Then we tried the mains switch – and there was light, and refrigeration and hot water. So we headed to the shops. We had a concise list and this time we got everything on it (except brown sugar) and a few extras we’d forgotten ( like tinfoil, freezer bags and a hand blender). We got some plants, and plates, and flowers but best of all we went back to the local butchers.
4 Pork and fennel massive sausages
2 gigantic steaks
2 huge chicken breasts
1kg Pork mince
12 eggs ( free range fresh from the farm )
for £20 that can’t be bad. Plus they were lovely people who chatted easily to us about living in St Kilda and their daughter who is in England at the moment.
We ate the sausages last night, and I can safely say they were about the best I’ve ever tasted. We cooked our first dinner in the mansion (we have named him Rupert as he is definitely a bit posh) and then watched a rubbish movie and drank a bottle of wine.
Today is Saturday and we are treating ourselves to a day off, well technically 2 as we have been here for a week now and haven’t sat down really. We’ve walked along the beach for a total of 10 minutes, we haven’t been for a swim or a walk or anything apart from in transit. We are off to find jobs on Monday, CV’s ready and raring to go but this weekend is all about relaxing. I can’t speak for El but I didn’t come all this way to be stressed out and frantic.
Hope everyone is well, El’s done a clip of the apartment and we have a St Kilda clip for you too, so enjoy.. and we’ll write soon, or as soon as we find another internet ready café bar!
Love to all
Leah and El xx
We are sorry to leave you hanging for 2 days without word, unfortunately the perils of international travel is the distinct lack of predictable internet availability.
I have some exceptional news, we are in, 4/24 Dalgety that is, and what an absolute joy it is. So to recap -
On the 23rd we got up early to pack up our belongings and vacate the match box (turns out we didn’t do a very good job as we left 4 DVD’s and a small bag of gifts behind) then we dumped everything at reception and headed out for a proper breakfast. With that accomplished we printed some photos and I took my old school film in to be processed and was acosted by a very posh Englishman who apparently works in, or owns, the photography shop who took a shine to my Camera. He then gave me a quick lesson on how to use the aperture, told me they only made 300 and that a savvy Japanese tourist would no doubt try and swap it for a digital number. He also said that if I ever got rid of it he would haunt me for the rest of my life.
Nice chap, turns out he lives up in the Mountains, had been in Oz for about 28 years and is going to have El and I over for tea one day.
We’ve witnessed some odd things like the woman who bent down on the tram and trimmed her toe nails with a pair of clippers and then just got off. The man who commented on El’s Fatima burba hand that she wares around her neck and then proceed to rant about how he had faught the burba’s – oh yes the crazy people are still attracted to us no matter how far we seem to travel! But it makes us laugh.
So when we got to the flat we didn’t have any electricity but we did have everything else that 2 girls could ever need (except a lasagne dish and candles). So off we went out to Acland street in pursuit of candles and some light snacks. The flat soon got really dark and the candles were struggling to offer us enough light but we put all our photos up on the walls and have left plenty of space for more, El has to print some out and like I said I have a film in the shop. I bailed and got an early night after that, knowing full well that tomorrow was going to be about cleaning and shopping.
I wasn’t wrong.
We Cleaned – and cleaned and cleaned, although saying that I believe we are yet to hoover … Then we tried the mains switch – and there was light, and refrigeration and hot water. So we headed to the shops. We had a concise list and this time we got everything on it (except brown sugar) and a few extras we’d forgotten ( like tinfoil, freezer bags and a hand blender). We got some plants, and plates, and flowers but best of all we went back to the local butchers.
4 Pork and fennel massive sausages
2 gigantic steaks
2 huge chicken breasts
1kg Pork mince
12 eggs ( free range fresh from the farm )
for £20 that can’t be bad. Plus they were lovely people who chatted easily to us about living in St Kilda and their daughter who is in England at the moment.
We ate the sausages last night, and I can safely say they were about the best I’ve ever tasted. We cooked our first dinner in the mansion (we have named him Rupert as he is definitely a bit posh) and then watched a rubbish movie and drank a bottle of wine.
Today is Saturday and we are treating ourselves to a day off, well technically 2 as we have been here for a week now and haven’t sat down really. We’ve walked along the beach for a total of 10 minutes, we haven’t been for a swim or a walk or anything apart from in transit. We are off to find jobs on Monday, CV’s ready and raring to go but this weekend is all about relaxing. I can’t speak for El but I didn’t come all this way to be stressed out and frantic.
Hope everyone is well, El’s done a clip of the apartment and we have a St Kilda clip for you too, so enjoy.. and we’ll write soon, or as soon as we find another internet ready café bar!
Love to all
Leah and El xx
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Here it is......
Our Address:
4/24 Dalgety Street
St Kilda
Melbourne
Victoria
3182
Australia
Please feel free to write (all will be replied too) or simply just turn up - The more the merrier we say X
4/24 Dalgety Street
St Kilda
Melbourne
Victoria
3182
Australia
Please feel free to write (all will be replied too) or simply just turn up - The more the merrier we say X
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
22nd October 2008
My Birthday!
Its El here following in the blogging footsteps….Id firstly like to apologise to all those that have been following the blog so far if my writing skills aren’t as up to scratch as Miss Bakers! It’s been at least 3 weeks since I’ve had to write anything but its my birthday so I’m up for the challenge.
I’d like to start by saying what an amazing birthday it has been. We started the day with a little sing song courtesy of Leah on the bottom bunk whilst I hung upside down from the top bunk like a drunk Koala!! She did very well with the singing although it seemed to tail off on the last ‘happy birthday to you’! I was then treated to a morning of opening all the lovely cards which made it through the vigorous customs at Melbourne Tullamarine (we’re still trying to work out what Tullamarine stands for or means!!) And what lovely cards they were – thank you to all.
So my idea of a birthday treat was to firstly head to the bonds outlet round the corner for a cheap underwear buying session and what fun that was, I think even Leah enjoyed the experience-many bargains were had.
The most exciting part of this little trip was returning the missed call we had had the previous afternoon! For all of you that have been following our rental nightmare mission, the pain is over, we are now the proud renters of 4/24 Dalgety Street,
the flat we have wanted since the search began. I must say that we are both very relieved that we didn’t have to embark on another day of tram travelling, apartment viewing chaos! And what a birthday present finding that out was. We are both overjoyed.
So to complete the deal we then headed down to St Kilda to hand over the cash and sign the documents (once we had figured out how to get enough money out the bank! HSBC very kindly cancelled my card and Barclays don’t seem to know the meaning of international) but with our stealth like cunning we scrappled together enough to secure our palace. YAY- all signed and picking up the keys tomorrow.
Of course only a medium rare steak on mash potato with caramelised onion sauce could satisfy the joy so lunch it was. I hear the lasagne was pretty darn good too…..
A little bit of packing later (thank goodness were getting out of the match box) and it was dinner time. Went back to our favourite Acland Street and ate more! The eating out will of course stop once we are into Dalgety tomorrow (power permitting) but for now we are celebrating all things good and we have only been away for a week so are still milking the ‘were still sort of on holiday’ feeling.
Now you wouldn’t believe it but its blooming freezing this evening so we skipped the idea of waiting for a tram and hopped in a taxi back to the match box for our last night of bunk bedded slumber.
So for this evening we both say good night and love to you all.
With birthday cheer.
El and Leah XXXXX
internet permitting we will be back with you tomorrow!
My Birthday!
Its El here following in the blogging footsteps….Id firstly like to apologise to all those that have been following the blog so far if my writing skills aren’t as up to scratch as Miss Bakers! It’s been at least 3 weeks since I’ve had to write anything but its my birthday so I’m up for the challenge.
I’d like to start by saying what an amazing birthday it has been. We started the day with a little sing song courtesy of Leah on the bottom bunk whilst I hung upside down from the top bunk like a drunk Koala!! She did very well with the singing although it seemed to tail off on the last ‘happy birthday to you’! I was then treated to a morning of opening all the lovely cards which made it through the vigorous customs at Melbourne Tullamarine (we’re still trying to work out what Tullamarine stands for or means!!) And what lovely cards they were – thank you to all.
So my idea of a birthday treat was to firstly head to the bonds outlet round the corner for a cheap underwear buying session and what fun that was, I think even Leah enjoyed the experience-many bargains were had.
The most exciting part of this little trip was returning the missed call we had had the previous afternoon! For all of you that have been following our rental nightmare mission, the pain is over, we are now the proud renters of 4/24 Dalgety Street,
the flat we have wanted since the search began. I must say that we are both very relieved that we didn’t have to embark on another day of tram travelling, apartment viewing chaos! And what a birthday present finding that out was. We are both overjoyed.
So to complete the deal we then headed down to St Kilda to hand over the cash and sign the documents (once we had figured out how to get enough money out the bank! HSBC very kindly cancelled my card and Barclays don’t seem to know the meaning of international) but with our stealth like cunning we scrappled together enough to secure our palace. YAY- all signed and picking up the keys tomorrow.
Of course only a medium rare steak on mash potato with caramelised onion sauce could satisfy the joy so lunch it was. I hear the lasagne was pretty darn good too…..
A little bit of packing later (thank goodness were getting out of the match box) and it was dinner time. Went back to our favourite Acland Street and ate more! The eating out will of course stop once we are into Dalgety tomorrow (power permitting) but for now we are celebrating all things good and we have only been away for a week so are still milking the ‘were still sort of on holiday’ feeling.
Now you wouldn’t believe it but its blooming freezing this evening so we skipped the idea of waiting for a tram and hopped in a taxi back to the match box for our last night of bunk bedded slumber.
So for this evening we both say good night and love to you all.
With birthday cheer.
El and Leah XXXXX
internet permitting we will be back with you tomorrow!
Tuesday, 21 October 2008
Ok so maybe not ALL letting agents are horrid.
October 21st – The day of reckoning
Well it has been a good day. We viewed Dalgety Street and let me tell you for a property that had already been let it was pretty available! We applied for it and are 90% certain it’s in the bag. I have my lucky silver bracelet, my good luck bear, my ruby slippers and my gems are charging on the windowsill. Tomorrow we will go there with everything we’ve got and if that is not enough then it was not meant to be.
I noticed something the other day, at Balaclava train station on a piece of A4 white paper in a black marker pen someone had written thought of the day.
Today I noticed it has been changed. It reminded me of Auntie Julie writing dad’s office thought of the day. Little bits like that remind us of home and of all the people that we love, we managed to speak to almost all our family members today and it is so good to hear your voices.
El and I have been telling stories about old friends, childhood memories and as we walk around St Kilda it feels like we are on the other side of the road not the other side of the world.
We came across the St Kilda community gardens today, it is quite incredible for $8 per square metre ( for a year ) you get your own piece of vegetable heaven, and they have open days, farmers markets and $10 dinners.
It really is a wonderful place.
We walked along the seafront for the first time, found the salt water swimming pool and got blustered along the lower esplanade it was really nice to find an hour where we were not pre occupied with finding a flat or worrying about where we are going to stay, or where the bank is, or job agency. We found time for a cup of coffee and an excited chat about our potential new home. It really is beautiful, and tomorrow we will post a video with St Kilda and the insides of the property for you all to see.
Well off to bed as it is El’s birthday tomorrow and she, like me believes that you should certainly not be up past midnight!!
Love to you all
Leah and El
May we also just say, thanks for your comments, we do read them and they make us smile from ear to ear, we only get internet for a very short amount of time each day here, as soon as we get into the flat we’ll be commenting back… just you try and stop us. xx
Well it has been a good day. We viewed Dalgety Street and let me tell you for a property that had already been let it was pretty available! We applied for it and are 90% certain it’s in the bag. I have my lucky silver bracelet, my good luck bear, my ruby slippers and my gems are charging on the windowsill. Tomorrow we will go there with everything we’ve got and if that is not enough then it was not meant to be.
I noticed something the other day, at Balaclava train station on a piece of A4 white paper in a black marker pen someone had written thought of the day.
Today I noticed it has been changed. It reminded me of Auntie Julie writing dad’s office thought of the day. Little bits like that remind us of home and of all the people that we love, we managed to speak to almost all our family members today and it is so good to hear your voices.
El and I have been telling stories about old friends, childhood memories and as we walk around St Kilda it feels like we are on the other side of the road not the other side of the world.
We came across the St Kilda community gardens today, it is quite incredible for $8 per square metre ( for a year ) you get your own piece of vegetable heaven, and they have open days, farmers markets and $10 dinners.
It really is a wonderful place.
We walked along the seafront for the first time, found the salt water swimming pool and got blustered along the lower esplanade it was really nice to find an hour where we were not pre occupied with finding a flat or worrying about where we are going to stay, or where the bank is, or job agency. We found time for a cup of coffee and an excited chat about our potential new home. It really is beautiful, and tomorrow we will post a video with St Kilda and the insides of the property for you all to see.
Well off to bed as it is El’s birthday tomorrow and she, like me believes that you should certainly not be up past midnight!!
Love to you all
Leah and El
May we also just say, thanks for your comments, we do read them and they make us smile from ear to ear, we only get internet for a very short amount of time each day here, as soon as we get into the flat we’ll be commenting back… just you try and stop us. xx
Monday, 20 October 2008
Find a flat
20th October – Find a flat day
Today we looked for a flat.
I’d love to elaborate, I’d love to regale you with joyous tales or mirth, but in truth we tried to find a flat and we failed.
We did apply for Foster Street (avid readers of the blog may recall that this was the property we wanted to look at yesterday but when we arrived some over renters had swiped from under us!) It is an absolute beauty. We debated uploading the footage of the flat but we both agree that we do not wish to appear over cocky so for now you will just have to trust our judgement.
Letting agents here are ridicules and I am trying to find the best way of smiling through the almost intolerable pain. I look forward to the day that I wake up and do not have to interact with any form of estate agent, do not have to visit an agency or phone one and be lied to.
This is a conversation I had earlier with a Jonathon Boon from Wentworths (who are the worst incidentally)
Me - Good morning I wondered if it would be possible to look at 4 / 24 Dalgetty this morning?
Receptionist – I’m sorry we haven’t decided which days we are showing properties this week.
Me – Oh, well is this property not currently vacant and available to let now?
Receptionist – Yes, but we have to pick days. We’ll decide when you can see it on Wednesday.
Me – Sorry I’m confused, you won’t decide when I can see the available uninhabited property until Wednesday?
Receptionist – Yes.
Me – Can I please view the property before Wednesday.
Receptionist – You could speak to a sales manager, I’m just a receptionist.
Me – That would be delightful if it’s not too much trouble.
Jonathon Boon – Goodaye Johno speaking.
Me – Hello My name is Leah I spoke to you on Saturday and you told me to call in on Monday and arrange to view Dalgetty. Can I please view Dalgetty.
JB – Oh I’m killer busy right now can I take your number
Me – Yes ummmm I really want to rent this flat, can I please see it today?
JB – can you hang about all day and wait for my call ?
Me – Yes.
JB – Great speak to you later …..
This was at 09:25
At 16:00 El rang him back.
El – Hello Johno, I believe you spoke to Leah earlier about 2/24 Dalgetty and you were going to call and show us around
JB – yes that’s right, I’ve actually let that property but I could show you another one tomorrow.
El – oh
Now please correct me if I’m wrong but this is exceptionally poor estate agent work.
Well tomorrow can only get better, apart from the renting saga life is pretty brilliant, had a lovely dinner in a thai place just down the road and found somewhere to stay when our times up in this hostel ( in case of a delay on finding a flat )
Tomorrow if we have 2 minutes we may actually make it to the beach, we’ve walked past it for 3 days now just seconds away from the sea, oh well it will all be worth it in the end.
Love to you all
Leah and El
Today we looked for a flat.
I’d love to elaborate, I’d love to regale you with joyous tales or mirth, but in truth we tried to find a flat and we failed.
We did apply for Foster Street (avid readers of the blog may recall that this was the property we wanted to look at yesterday but when we arrived some over renters had swiped from under us!) It is an absolute beauty. We debated uploading the footage of the flat but we both agree that we do not wish to appear over cocky so for now you will just have to trust our judgement.
Letting agents here are ridicules and I am trying to find the best way of smiling through the almost intolerable pain. I look forward to the day that I wake up and do not have to interact with any form of estate agent, do not have to visit an agency or phone one and be lied to.
This is a conversation I had earlier with a Jonathon Boon from Wentworths (who are the worst incidentally)
Me - Good morning I wondered if it would be possible to look at 4 / 24 Dalgetty this morning?
Receptionist – I’m sorry we haven’t decided which days we are showing properties this week.
Me – Oh, well is this property not currently vacant and available to let now?
Receptionist – Yes, but we have to pick days. We’ll decide when you can see it on Wednesday.
Me – Sorry I’m confused, you won’t decide when I can see the available uninhabited property until Wednesday?
Receptionist – Yes.
Me – Can I please view the property before Wednesday.
Receptionist – You could speak to a sales manager, I’m just a receptionist.
Me – That would be delightful if it’s not too much trouble.
Jonathon Boon – Goodaye Johno speaking.
Me – Hello My name is Leah I spoke to you on Saturday and you told me to call in on Monday and arrange to view Dalgetty. Can I please view Dalgetty.
JB – Oh I’m killer busy right now can I take your number
Me – Yes ummmm I really want to rent this flat, can I please see it today?
JB – can you hang about all day and wait for my call ?
Me – Yes.
JB – Great speak to you later …..
This was at 09:25
At 16:00 El rang him back.
El – Hello Johno, I believe you spoke to Leah earlier about 2/24 Dalgetty and you were going to call and show us around
JB – yes that’s right, I’ve actually let that property but I could show you another one tomorrow.
El – oh
Now please correct me if I’m wrong but this is exceptionally poor estate agent work.
Well tomorrow can only get better, apart from the renting saga life is pretty brilliant, had a lovely dinner in a thai place just down the road and found somewhere to stay when our times up in this hostel ( in case of a delay on finding a flat )
Tomorrow if we have 2 minutes we may actually make it to the beach, we’ve walked past it for 3 days now just seconds away from the sea, oh well it will all be worth it in the end.
Love to you all
Leah and El
The secret life of us
19th October – 19th October – Melbourne
Just a quick one tonight, as we’ve just consumed a bottle of rather nice Austrian Chardonay and I’m feeling a tad tipsy.
We’ve had an up and down day, I guess we are finally realising that we haven’t had a full nights sleep for nearly a week, and that getting up at the crack of dawn is all well and good but it does leave you feeling slightly sleep deprived. Todays early arrival at the estate agents was sadly a wasted journey. We arrived at 11:05 ( THEY OPENED AT 11:00) someone had got in before us and taken the keys to the Foster street pad.
We went to look at another one, but it was far too far out and a little drab. By the time we got back to collect the keys for Foster st. the flat had been let. Damn it.
We decided to go for a wander and try and find other letters open on a Sunday, instead we happened upon a coffee shop and a craft fair and then lunch. We found the Fubar, from the secret life of us ( TV series) although it is not similar what so ever, we found a butchers, a fishmongers, a bottle shop, a launderette, the main cinema, a borders, a community garden ( where you can buy veg ) we have got maps of everything we could ever need and we went to look at the outside of the perfect flat.
As you would expect, it is perfect. Tomorrow we will view the inside, fall in love with it and just simply have to live there.
We met a strange and slightly crazed lady today called Maria. She makes necklaces as part of the Sunday craft market gang and on learning we were English she asked us to acquire her some 10p pieces. She wishes to use them on some new designs! If any one would be so kind as to collect 10 or so and send them to us at our new address (at this stage we can only hope that we have one soon – and that it starts 4/24 Dalgety Street) we would be very much obliged, you will in return get the most beautiful hand made necklace courtesy of Maria
Well that’s about it – tomorrows an early start (again) and lets hope I can report our new address by this time then.
Mobile numbers for E l and I are as follows – you may need to Google the dialling codes – We think it’s + 61 drop the 0 making it
Eleanor – 61424074183
Leah – 61404772598
Sending you our love
El and Leah
Just a quick one tonight, as we’ve just consumed a bottle of rather nice Austrian Chardonay and I’m feeling a tad tipsy.
We’ve had an up and down day, I guess we are finally realising that we haven’t had a full nights sleep for nearly a week, and that getting up at the crack of dawn is all well and good but it does leave you feeling slightly sleep deprived. Todays early arrival at the estate agents was sadly a wasted journey. We arrived at 11:05 ( THEY OPENED AT 11:00) someone had got in before us and taken the keys to the Foster street pad.
We went to look at another one, but it was far too far out and a little drab. By the time we got back to collect the keys for Foster st. the flat had been let. Damn it.
We decided to go for a wander and try and find other letters open on a Sunday, instead we happened upon a coffee shop and a craft fair and then lunch. We found the Fubar, from the secret life of us ( TV series) although it is not similar what so ever, we found a butchers, a fishmongers, a bottle shop, a launderette, the main cinema, a borders, a community garden ( where you can buy veg ) we have got maps of everything we could ever need and we went to look at the outside of the perfect flat.
As you would expect, it is perfect. Tomorrow we will view the inside, fall in love with it and just simply have to live there.
We met a strange and slightly crazed lady today called Maria. She makes necklaces as part of the Sunday craft market gang and on learning we were English she asked us to acquire her some 10p pieces. She wishes to use them on some new designs! If any one would be so kind as to collect 10 or so and send them to us at our new address (at this stage we can only hope that we have one soon – and that it starts 4/24 Dalgety Street) we would be very much obliged, you will in return get the most beautiful hand made necklace courtesy of Maria
Well that’s about it – tomorrows an early start (again) and lets hope I can report our new address by this time then.
Mobile numbers for E l and I are as follows – you may need to Google the dialling codes – We think it’s + 61 drop the 0 making it
Eleanor – 61424074183
Leah – 61404772598
Sending you our love
El and Leah
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Flat hunting
18th October – Melbourne
Well we’ve had a right old time of it today, early start with breakfast and coffee in the hostel, and then straight out into the unknown for a brief introduction to transport.
If you happen upon the right tram in Melbourne, (you wont know it’s the right one you’ll just have to hope and make educated noises until an elderly tram driver yells out the window at you) You will need to pay for your ticket in cash – coins only, not only were we not prepared for this but must have looked like a pair of right dopes waving our debit cards around. After some nifty swapping notes for coins we managed to buy a ticket, and feeling quite proud of ourselves, sat down and then proceeded to miss our stop!
Tram 2 was far more satisfactory and as the tickets were valid for 2 hours we did not have to repeat the ghastly affair.
Aim of the day – just so we’re all clear
find a flat in the St Kilda area o Melbourne
Do not exceed the carefully calculated ( perfectly respectable budget)
Do not except any sub standard properties to avoid further flat hunting
Do not sack of entire plan and go for a swim
With these clear objectives we headed to letting agent number 1, their sign welcomed us and invited us in. No one was there. They were all out on viewings.
Letting agent number 2 advertised to “find your dream home” the letting agent there worked out of a different branch and we therefore needed to call her. We don’t have a phone. At this point we add objective number 5 onto the list
buy cheap BoBo phone.
Phone brought, credit acquired but obviously these things need to be charged so off to the phone box. Haven’t got a lot of change as used it all for the bus journey so scraping together what we do have in order to speak to Jade. Jade is lovely and says we can view the flat on Tuesday night. This seems to be the way in Oz – they give you a window, you turn up, Jade has kindly given me the address, a garbled message about how it is tricky to fine and then tells me the window. 5pm – 5:15 Tuesday night. Better not be late aye? So we set off to find said flat (obviously we are trying to be prepared and focused) when suddenly we spy letting agent number 3 and abandon all thoughts of Jade and 18/1 Acland Street and nip into Biggin and Scott ( it is at this point that we think to add objective number 6
Complete all tasks before becoming distracted.
Biggin and Scott however are actually quite good and in exchange for 50 dollars and a copy of my passport happily they provide the keys to 1/56 Carlisle Street. Happily and with the naivety of a 2 week old rabbit we set out believing that this could be our new home. We were wrong.
It was not good and we have lovingly renamed in “The shit pit”
As my father says it’s always good to have a back up plan – and trust me no one in their right mind is going to rent that hole so we’re all set dad!
Feeling despondent we head for lunch. Yummy
Feeling better we head to Century 21 – may I just say what a refreshing blast of cool air they are – friendly efficient and with 3 stores in as many miles what fun you can have chasing all over town for keys to various flats!
The end result of this, after much more to-ing and throwing is that tomorrow is Sunday and only Centaury 21 are open and we have 3 of there properties to see.
El and I have actually decided where we wish to live but it is over budget and with a lettings agent we do not care for.
If the charming old school flat with fireplace is available we may well seal the deal tomorrow, if not then the over budget mansion gets it! Well not quite, we’ve got 5 on the list for Monday and Tuesday and 3 tomorrow so here’s hoping.
After flat hunting El explored South Yarra whilst I went through the 80 odd listings to check we hadn’t missed a blinder. We had not.
We had a lovely dinner and a few beers in the tiny tiny box room – and as we head for the bunk beds I am reminded of my childhood, me and Simon lying in Valley view no doubt planning our next adventure in the fields or trying to solve the latest string of nonsensical ( and non existent ) crimes in the village with a total population of 25! Funny because very little seems to change really. Only now I have to try and argue my case that we do not need the over budget beautiful wrought iron spiral stair cased mansion, but in fact a small damp lightless room will do fine ( knowing full well that no one ever sticks to their plans exactly – what is life with out a little spontaneity? )
We will see.
Love to you all
Leah and El
Well we’ve had a right old time of it today, early start with breakfast and coffee in the hostel, and then straight out into the unknown for a brief introduction to transport.
If you happen upon the right tram in Melbourne, (you wont know it’s the right one you’ll just have to hope and make educated noises until an elderly tram driver yells out the window at you) You will need to pay for your ticket in cash – coins only, not only were we not prepared for this but must have looked like a pair of right dopes waving our debit cards around. After some nifty swapping notes for coins we managed to buy a ticket, and feeling quite proud of ourselves, sat down and then proceeded to miss our stop!
Tram 2 was far more satisfactory and as the tickets were valid for 2 hours we did not have to repeat the ghastly affair.
Aim of the day – just so we’re all clear
find a flat in the St Kilda area o Melbourne
Do not exceed the carefully calculated ( perfectly respectable budget)
Do not except any sub standard properties to avoid further flat hunting
Do not sack of entire plan and go for a swim
With these clear objectives we headed to letting agent number 1, their sign welcomed us and invited us in. No one was there. They were all out on viewings.
Letting agent number 2 advertised to “find your dream home” the letting agent there worked out of a different branch and we therefore needed to call her. We don’t have a phone. At this point we add objective number 5 onto the list
buy cheap BoBo phone.
Phone brought, credit acquired but obviously these things need to be charged so off to the phone box. Haven’t got a lot of change as used it all for the bus journey so scraping together what we do have in order to speak to Jade. Jade is lovely and says we can view the flat on Tuesday night. This seems to be the way in Oz – they give you a window, you turn up, Jade has kindly given me the address, a garbled message about how it is tricky to fine and then tells me the window. 5pm – 5:15 Tuesday night. Better not be late aye? So we set off to find said flat (obviously we are trying to be prepared and focused) when suddenly we spy letting agent number 3 and abandon all thoughts of Jade and 18/1 Acland Street and nip into Biggin and Scott ( it is at this point that we think to add objective number 6
Complete all tasks before becoming distracted.
Biggin and Scott however are actually quite good and in exchange for 50 dollars and a copy of my passport happily they provide the keys to 1/56 Carlisle Street. Happily and with the naivety of a 2 week old rabbit we set out believing that this could be our new home. We were wrong.
It was not good and we have lovingly renamed in “The shit pit”
As my father says it’s always good to have a back up plan – and trust me no one in their right mind is going to rent that hole so we’re all set dad!
Feeling despondent we head for lunch. Yummy
Feeling better we head to Century 21 – may I just say what a refreshing blast of cool air they are – friendly efficient and with 3 stores in as many miles what fun you can have chasing all over town for keys to various flats!
The end result of this, after much more to-ing and throwing is that tomorrow is Sunday and only Centaury 21 are open and we have 3 of there properties to see.
El and I have actually decided where we wish to live but it is over budget and with a lettings agent we do not care for.
If the charming old school flat with fireplace is available we may well seal the deal tomorrow, if not then the over budget mansion gets it! Well not quite, we’ve got 5 on the list for Monday and Tuesday and 3 tomorrow so here’s hoping.
After flat hunting El explored South Yarra whilst I went through the 80 odd listings to check we hadn’t missed a blinder. We had not.
We had a lovely dinner and a few beers in the tiny tiny box room – and as we head for the bunk beds I am reminded of my childhood, me and Simon lying in Valley view no doubt planning our next adventure in the fields or trying to solve the latest string of nonsensical ( and non existent ) crimes in the village with a total population of 25! Funny because very little seems to change really. Only now I have to try and argue my case that we do not need the over budget beautiful wrought iron spiral stair cased mansion, but in fact a small damp lightless room will do fine ( knowing full well that no one ever sticks to their plans exactly – what is life with out a little spontaneity? )
We will see.
Love to you all
Leah and El
Melbourne
17th October – Melbourne
Well we arrived.
Another day seems to have disappeared, we got up at 6 and were on route to the airport by 7 – checked in for the flight with out incident and were very soon on our way.
Yet again within seconds of sitting down the seat in front of me crushed my legs into submission and left me wanting to clout the individual involved around the head ( I believe that is what they call air rage)
I managed to spend the entire flight either asleep or rocking out to Billy Joel who was on demand radio on the plane. El watch Hero’s for 7 straight hours and has now seen the complete series 2 apart from the last 40 minutes of the last episode.
After all our concern with visa documentation and having the correct funds in the bank etc etc we made it through customs with out so much as a raised eye, in fact the only trouble came when they scanned our bags and enquired as to what exactly it was that I had in the back pocket of my bag. It was treacle bear! Poor old thing.
We got to the hostel at about 22.30 and having now looked at all available flats in the St Kilda area, attempted to register the mobile phones, found maps and counted our mosquito bites we are just about ready to turn in for the night. Our room is small and we would struggle to swing a cat in here so it is lucky that we did not opt to bring Tonic, Steve or Jazzi.
Very little of interest to report I am afraid, none the less it is good to get in to the habit of typing on a regular basis and we intend to keep you all updated regardless.
Enjoy your afternoon
Love Leah and El x
Well we arrived.
Another day seems to have disappeared, we got up at 6 and were on route to the airport by 7 – checked in for the flight with out incident and were very soon on our way.
Yet again within seconds of sitting down the seat in front of me crushed my legs into submission and left me wanting to clout the individual involved around the head ( I believe that is what they call air rage)
I managed to spend the entire flight either asleep or rocking out to Billy Joel who was on demand radio on the plane. El watch Hero’s for 7 straight hours and has now seen the complete series 2 apart from the last 40 minutes of the last episode.
After all our concern with visa documentation and having the correct funds in the bank etc etc we made it through customs with out so much as a raised eye, in fact the only trouble came when they scanned our bags and enquired as to what exactly it was that I had in the back pocket of my bag. It was treacle bear! Poor old thing.
We got to the hostel at about 22.30 and having now looked at all available flats in the St Kilda area, attempted to register the mobile phones, found maps and counted our mosquito bites we are just about ready to turn in for the night. Our room is small and we would struggle to swing a cat in here so it is lucky that we did not opt to bring Tonic, Steve or Jazzi.
Very little of interest to report I am afraid, none the less it is good to get in to the habit of typing on a regular basis and we intend to keep you all updated regardless.
Enjoy your afternoon
Love Leah and El x
Friday, 17 October 2008
KL
16th October – KL staying at the Nova Hotel
We’ve had quite a time here – maybe that’s an understatement, it’s been brilliant.
Hot enough to burn us in the morning and leave us like drowned rats in the afternoon.
Breakfast was a bit of a sham, let us speak frankly, it was shit.
Luckily El was on task and dragged my somewhat reluctant bottom to a fantastic eatery and plied me with the finest iced mocha in town (and no it did not come from the aforementioned chain!) We abandoned both sets of plans – due to the over sleeping and instead concocted our own grander, better tour of this wonderful (if not slightly breakfast unaware city)
This is how to do it.
Buy a hop on hop off bus ticket (38 rm)
Hop on
Hop off at the lake gardens (be prepared for the lack of lakes)
Walk to butterfly enclosure, see sculptures, hop on.
Hop off at Patronas towers be refused entry due to sales of tickets, feel cross. Eat away the pain in Secret recipe (we advise that you seek solace else where as El experienced what she can only describe as “miserable chicken”)
Hop on.
Hop off at KL tower – view dancing (very good) travel 250 metres into the sky in 58 seconds
Let go of the rail in the lift and advance to 360 degrees of sublime viewing pleasure. Wait. Experience a thunder storm and some pretty nifty fog. Leave.
Run like complete morons back to the bus stop splashing coke all over your clothes and wishing you’d brought a sports bra and umbrella.
You’ve got it – Hop on
Hop off at arty Malaysian craft centre – peruse purchase and then ponder for an hour and a half as to why the bus has not arrived to pick you up.
Eventually hop on.
Hop off – eat in a delightful Thai restaurant in the BB Park named Bangkok Jam ( HSBC Credit card holders are entitled to a 15 % discount excluding alcohol )
Wonder home through the bustling streets and puddles and tend to your blisters.
If you want to see it the way we did, check out the exceptionally brilliant ‘flip mix’ that miss Godfrey has whipped up for you.
I think you’ll agree the girls a genius – plus she managed to film the majority of it even though I told her to “hurry up” or “put that bloody thing away!” I‘ve learnt my lesson.
Tomorrow we leave for Oz yet another 7 and half hours of joy! Get in.
Just off for a beer
El and Leah x
We’ve had quite a time here – maybe that’s an understatement, it’s been brilliant.
Hot enough to burn us in the morning and leave us like drowned rats in the afternoon.
Breakfast was a bit of a sham, let us speak frankly, it was shit.
Luckily El was on task and dragged my somewhat reluctant bottom to a fantastic eatery and plied me with the finest iced mocha in town (and no it did not come from the aforementioned chain!) We abandoned both sets of plans – due to the over sleeping and instead concocted our own grander, better tour of this wonderful (if not slightly breakfast unaware city)
This is how to do it.
Buy a hop on hop off bus ticket (38 rm)
Hop on
Hop off at the lake gardens (be prepared for the lack of lakes)
Walk to butterfly enclosure, see sculptures, hop on.
Hop off at Patronas towers be refused entry due to sales of tickets, feel cross. Eat away the pain in Secret recipe (we advise that you seek solace else where as El experienced what she can only describe as “miserable chicken”)
Hop on.
Hop off at KL tower – view dancing (very good) travel 250 metres into the sky in 58 seconds
Let go of the rail in the lift and advance to 360 degrees of sublime viewing pleasure. Wait. Experience a thunder storm and some pretty nifty fog. Leave.
Run like complete morons back to the bus stop splashing coke all over your clothes and wishing you’d brought a sports bra and umbrella.
You’ve got it – Hop on
Hop off at arty Malaysian craft centre – peruse purchase and then ponder for an hour and a half as to why the bus has not arrived to pick you up.
Eventually hop on.
Hop off – eat in a delightful Thai restaurant in the BB Park named Bangkok Jam ( HSBC Credit card holders are entitled to a 15 % discount excluding alcohol )
Wonder home through the bustling streets and puddles and tend to your blisters.
If you want to see it the way we did, check out the exceptionally brilliant ‘flip mix’ that miss Godfrey has whipped up for you.
I think you’ll agree the girls a genius – plus she managed to film the majority of it even though I told her to “hurry up” or “put that bloody thing away!” I‘ve learnt my lesson.
Tomorrow we leave for Oz yet another 7 and half hours of joy! Get in.
Just off for a beer
El and Leah x
Wednesday, 15 October 2008
15th October – LHR-KUL
Well what a start.
Having spent the last few weeks saying goodbye to our nearest and dearest, somehow I forgot that at the end of all those goodbyes I actually had to leave, came as a bit of a shock once I’d boarded the plane.
We actually managed to keep pretty entertained, I found a host of Disney films and the sound track to enchanted, then discovered battleships, tetras and bejewelled, because she is a remarkable girl El not only agreed to play against me but also attempted a rather stressful game of Yatzee!
Now on the off chance that you are not a friend or family member of either mine or El’s and you have just happened across this blog and you flew to KL with Malaysian airlines and you sat in either 54 F or 53 D ( To be hence forth known as “Mr Anger Management” and “Mrs I have to lie flat at all times” respectively ) May I just say what a pleasure it was flying with you.
I know it is hard when you hate everything in the whole world Mr but lets be reasonable 16 bags of peanuts is a step too far, and when an air stewardess ( especially one in such a pretty dress ) informs you that she is very sorry but has ran out of white wine, it is not customary to throw all your toys ( and empty peanut packets) out of the pram and declare that “ this is the worst airline ever and you will not be flying with them again ” I am pleased with this, and would now happily book a flight with Malaysian on that fact alone.
Mrs I have to lie flat, you didn’t waste anytime did you? Let me just share with you the commonly accepted rule of wait at least 15 minutes before crippling the person behind you its just good manners.
Apart from that the flight was pretty uneventful and we managed to avoid having the “I think that’s Kent” argument which was nice.
Arriving in KL –
Water – 2 RM
Pain Killers - 1.4 RM
Taxi – 67.50 RM
Smoking – Priceless
Got a cab for about £12 – ( 50 minute journey so that is not bad )
Arrived at the Nova Hotel 5 hours early and charmed our way into our luxuary hotel room for a much needed nap.
Fact – it is not a luxury hotel room
Fact number 2 it is a horrid hotel room
After a small nap (6 hours) we headed out to eat, that’s when we first realised that when they say tropical storms they mean tropical storms. I have never seen rain like it.
Soaked to the skin and trying to save my espresso frappacino light from the lightning ( Yes we went to Starbucks, but in our defence we were not feeling too good and the other coffee shop had men in full white suits with breathing masks which made me feel a little uneasy) Any way – we made it to the steakhouse.
Getting back to the hotel was a challenge, the roads were ankle deep in water (or ‘cankle’ deep I you are me) and everyone we passed tried to offer us shelter in their shop or café.
We plan an early night tonight, and then either the Kuala Lumpur City tour tomorrow or the SunWay lagoon water park – it depends on which one of us feels more passionate about their ideal day – I’d say I’m fairly sure we’ll go to the water park as El has already put on her swimming costume, her board shorts, sun cream and packed her bag and is sat by the door waiting for the morning to arrive! As I type she is reading me a brief description of the said water park…. What chance do I have!
Hope you are all well
Love Leah & El
Well what a start.
Having spent the last few weeks saying goodbye to our nearest and dearest, somehow I forgot that at the end of all those goodbyes I actually had to leave, came as a bit of a shock once I’d boarded the plane.
We actually managed to keep pretty entertained, I found a host of Disney films and the sound track to enchanted, then discovered battleships, tetras and bejewelled, because she is a remarkable girl El not only agreed to play against me but also attempted a rather stressful game of Yatzee!
Now on the off chance that you are not a friend or family member of either mine or El’s and you have just happened across this blog and you flew to KL with Malaysian airlines and you sat in either 54 F or 53 D ( To be hence forth known as “Mr Anger Management” and “Mrs I have to lie flat at all times” respectively ) May I just say what a pleasure it was flying with you.
I know it is hard when you hate everything in the whole world Mr but lets be reasonable 16 bags of peanuts is a step too far, and when an air stewardess ( especially one in such a pretty dress ) informs you that she is very sorry but has ran out of white wine, it is not customary to throw all your toys ( and empty peanut packets) out of the pram and declare that “ this is the worst airline ever and you will not be flying with them again ” I am pleased with this, and would now happily book a flight with Malaysian on that fact alone.
Mrs I have to lie flat, you didn’t waste anytime did you? Let me just share with you the commonly accepted rule of wait at least 15 minutes before crippling the person behind you its just good manners.
Apart from that the flight was pretty uneventful and we managed to avoid having the “I think that’s Kent” argument which was nice.
Arriving in KL –
Water – 2 RM
Pain Killers - 1.4 RM
Taxi – 67.50 RM
Smoking – Priceless
Got a cab for about £12 – ( 50 minute journey so that is not bad )
Arrived at the Nova Hotel 5 hours early and charmed our way into our luxuary hotel room for a much needed nap.
Fact – it is not a luxury hotel room
Fact number 2 it is a horrid hotel room
After a small nap (6 hours) we headed out to eat, that’s when we first realised that when they say tropical storms they mean tropical storms. I have never seen rain like it.
Soaked to the skin and trying to save my espresso frappacino light from the lightning ( Yes we went to Starbucks, but in our defence we were not feeling too good and the other coffee shop had men in full white suits with breathing masks which made me feel a little uneasy) Any way – we made it to the steakhouse.
Getting back to the hotel was a challenge, the roads were ankle deep in water (or ‘cankle’ deep I you are me) and everyone we passed tried to offer us shelter in their shop or café.
We plan an early night tonight, and then either the Kuala Lumpur City tour tomorrow or the SunWay lagoon water park – it depends on which one of us feels more passionate about their ideal day – I’d say I’m fairly sure we’ll go to the water park as El has already put on her swimming costume, her board shorts, sun cream and packed her bag and is sat by the door waiting for the morning to arrive! As I type she is reading me a brief description of the said water park…. What chance do I have!
Hope you are all well
Love Leah & El
Sunday, 5 October 2008
It's the Saturday after the night before, and although I feel surprisingly OK I am still failing to pack boxes..
It is almost as if I have an aversion to it, I will go out of my way to find a distraction, any distraction.
I still do not believe I am going, it has still not sunk in, what if it doesn't ?
What if I get on the plane before I even realise it's happening ?
One step at a time I hear you cry, let's pack some boxes first aye? and worry about the rest later.
You would be right.
It is almost as if I have an aversion to it, I will go out of my way to find a distraction, any distraction.
I still do not believe I am going, it has still not sunk in, what if it doesn't ?
What if I get on the plane before I even realise it's happening ?
One step at a time I hear you cry, let's pack some boxes first aye? and worry about the rest later.
You would be right.
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