What a great way to have an interview. Sitting in your underwear, with a can of Coke, talking to some people in Wellington. This Research Assistant Job at the NZ Consumer Institute would be like one of my Council jobs, but with two distinct advantages. You get to help out the writers of the NZ Consumer magazine and website (so you get to keep your finger close to the pulse) and actually do some writing yourself. The second great point is that it would be part time of 30 hours a week, which would still provide enough payment 32 ooo pa which is less than my last job, but enough to live off.

If my Dad is the H and J Smith Department Store main Santa Claus in Invers, what does that make me? Santa's Little Helper?

Phone Interview

I received a call about a perspective job as a Research Assistant at the NZ Consumer Institute in Wellington. It sounds like a really great job, and despite my reservations at leaving the wet, windy and cold south to go to the wet and windy Wellington, it may be the change I need. I will be as positive as I can and do the best I can. It is a great way of doing well. One phone interview I had I sat in my underwear with notes around me ansering questions. The videophone would've made it interesting.

With heaps of my mates getting married I have come to the conclusion that it must be really tough to know who to invite to your wedding let alone who to make your best man and groomsmen. I often have known people much better than others, but yet not been invited to weddings and been invited to lesser acquaintances weddings. It is probably like 21sts and European Trips where you learn so much from them that in a way you wish you could have them again with slight improvements.

Some introverts only have a small number of friends so it is easy to invite them, but others like myself have heaps of friends and you go through different stages of being close to them. It all depends on who is the flavour of the month. Also with invites it is hard to know how much family to invite. There are plenty of relatives, but often they only know a small part of what is going on and you usually have more fun with mates, but you feel obliged to invite great aunt Doris who you dread going to see.

The final comment I will make is that Cromwell Scripture Union Holiday Programme will rock this year with Lachlan, Me and Boss among others. We will have great times and if anyone else is keen I am sure you can come. It is running a kids programme yet the best times occur once the kids leave. One guy Lucas or James is a classic and actually 16, but still comes. He is great to get people enthusiastic with the puppets, he has special needs. He also kisses the female leaders and the puppets!

Motivation

Being the big fish in a small Invers pond, I have decided that getting so close to getting boring office jobs may be a sign to try something exciting. This of course can be difficult, but the folks at WINZ here are treating me like a star pupil. In the past couple of days I have heard Television Reports on TV3 from previous Radio One director Sam Hayes who I did a placement with on my journalism course. I also notice Andrew Seatter's sister on Prime. They seem to start from humble beginnings in places like Dunedin or Invers.

Still getting my foot into another door will be difficult, but means that I will diversify my job search from better paid monday to friday office jobs which are also hard to get.

Invers is the summerless south. At the bottom end of the country it has been the national low everyday since I arrived, hardly inspiring weather and the wind is a shambles.

I am continuing to apply for a variety of jobs, so it is really a lottery which one comes to fruition, assuming one does.

It has ended up well that things didn't work out in London, with heaps of my mates getting married in New Zealand within the next few months. It is hard to know if I had any part to play in the timing of weddings, but all I can say is that Dalman has fitted his outside the football season, smart move.

Small Circles

It has come to my attention in recent months just how many people I have in common with other people. It is mainly in christian circles especially. Firstly I realised I share friendships with so many of the same people as Carrie Van Rij, yet only just got to know Carrie really well. These people are not restricted to the All American Josh Copland who developed a legacy no matter where he went. Love him or hate him, I loved the lanky yank, he is a common friend to name one.

In stopping by in Australia and visiting Kyle, I met this guy who is Hayden Luke's cousin, Ben Caldwell. In Australia, Sunshine Coast of all places.

Since my return I have been told of how my folks share friends with former blogger and international man of mystery Darren Hight's folks. This is a crazy small world!

My olds also have gotten to know Stew McDonald's folks through one of my old Auntys.

There is a lesson to be learned and that is that you better be on your best behaviour as these people probably know your parents! Kind of freaky though, don't you think?

Also Christian circles are too small!

P.S. What is lanky Josh up to now anyway?

I missed out on my job at the University and am going through a career crisis. It seems to be an ongoing thing. Where to from here, God only knows! He does (very cheesy)

Where Have All The Cool Girls Gone?

On my recent return to Dunedin I have noticed a real dearth of cool lasses with great personalities. This is a real general statement, but is probably due to the inclement weather and the smorgasbord I have met and evidence of in both Europe and Australia.

Since last year I have attended more sausage parties (basically all guys) than ever before. Even the other night at Sammys for dinner it was mainly guys. Is there a hidden untaped resource that Jon and Dom's emancipation movement and myself haven't stumbled across?

Maybe we need to broaden our horizons!

Invers

For a sleepy place which gets bad press for the poor weather (this is justified) it is amazing that Invers has it all it does. The streets seem abandoned and a wide and flat, and everything is so spread out, yet Invers boasts some amazing things.

They host the Tour of Southland, the best cycling race in NZ.
The cheapest cost of living out of the major cities in NZ. A great flat costs $70 a week.
NZ's only indoor cycling velodrome.
Home of the movie The World's Fastest Indian- Worldwide famous ( I saw it advertised in Switzerland!)
An international Stadium which has hosted Davis Cup Tennis, International Netball, Southern Sting Netball and International Basketball.
Deep South Ice Cream
Flash Museum
Gateway to Stewart Island, Milford Sound, Catlins and Queenstown.
A great enthusiastic Mayor Tim Shadbolt. So good that no one stood against him last time.
Rugby Park- Home of the Stags and Highlanders (one game a year).
It is a great place if you like the slow, laid back style of life, but I am finding it cold and too quiet (I don't have many friends left down here), also there are less jobs around here. It is funny because around here if you have been to University, everyone is impressed!

I am just astounded how a town which since returning from Europe, seems so sleepy, yet has so many top quality things, disproportional to it's size!

Interview

It was a strange interview because it didn't seem too formal. It didn't seem to matter that I knew hardly anything about Raizers Edge Databases or that I had just arrived in the country.The three women who interviewed me seemed like pleasant potential colleagues, although the lack of a male representative is hardly encouraging. The final question was what was the last movie you saw and what did you like about it. That was a great way to finish. I have a 33% chance and if it is in God's plan it will happen as simple as that.

I am off to seek refuge in Invers tomorrow. I must see my family again after what seems like years away. I have become sick of scrounging money and the folks are the obvious next candidates. I have an appointment with WINZ down there and will aim to look for jobs and use it as a base. I can't get the unemployment benefit until I go to the seminar and then go to the appointment with a case manager.

I played turf soccer yesterday. It was against several guys who work at the DCC so it was great to give them a ribbing. My timing was off for a start, but I finally got into the game. It was strange being back using the round ball after four months.

Some other beautiful shots are shown for your amusement.

Photo 1 is something that astounds me!

Photo 2- Reminds me that other cultures have different levels of social acceptance, but some chicks are too old to be bikies.

Photo 3- Was sent to me by a work colleague. Someone that you wouldn't want to take home to meet the parents.

Photo 4- Could be considered the same, but is Mark Van Rij again from a couple of years ago in a moustache com, like Movember.

Photo 5- Is from around the same time and it is amazing how these boys look so young and innocent. How times change!

Yahoo Photos

It ends up that all those photos that get sent to you, are stored in the photos section. I have stumbled across some absolute corkers, many of which are from the dull dark days of 2004.

From the top they are my girlfriend Doris.

Photo 2- From the Vineyard at the end of 2004. Some of the crew are Me, Sammy, Rach, Hesslin, Yuri and Rose and of course Duncan who simply was referred to as Betty.

Photo 3- My Karaoke party from 2004. Some of the gang are enjoying festivities. It was a great night.

Photo 4- The Web of Manlove at Ellis Park, Roslyn. The 2004 Redemption FC side.

Photo 5- Gerrardo and Mark, The Mexicans.

Reality Bites!

The reality of real life Dunedin hit me as I walked in from my Freedom Air flight in the wind and rain yesterday. It was 12 degrees and the fresh south wester was a reminder of the inconsistency of the Southern Summer. Brisbane was the other extreme the day before 35 degrees and too hot for any sort of outdoor activity. Is there no happy middle ground?

Dunedin is quiet as the students return home for summer. I am crashing in the lounge of my old flat. It is a pig sty, but full of fun times with the old crowd of Crouchy, Stevo and Bauer. Boss has moved in and relegated me to the lounge. I caught up with Sammy by telephone and will meet the old crew at the DCC at tea time. I have also secured an interview for Friday at the University as a Database Operator in the Research department. I actually applied from Brisbane and received an email from them asking me to attend. It has restored my faith in the job market, but in the back of my mind is the realisation that there will be several others in the running.

In returning to my old stomping ground Central Library, I came across Malcs Gordon talking to blogger Ryan Lobster and then my old mate from the Medical Trial days Derek walks in and Anna Newton too (since they work there). SO I have caught up with people. It is a far cry from the anonymity of London. Will head out to Sam and Rach's for din dins tonight. Turf soccer tomorrow night, so while I feel like a big fish in the small pond, hopefully these everyday things will help me to settle in.

Welcome Home

I arrive back in Dunners with $15 in my bank account. The harsh reality will kick in. I have come to several conclusions during this trip some of which I have listed below.

1) London is a great place for sightseeing, but so drab to live in!
2) People without really specific vocations really struggle to find work.
3) Businesses go quiet from July/August and September and don't hire anyone.
4) The Working Holiday Visa scheme is doing it's job of stopping the Brain Drain.
5) A European grand parent is so valuable.
6) People work in UK just to see Europe.
7) Summer is great.
8) Things are more fun when done with your mates.
9) European and Australian females are on average more attractive to my radar than Kiwis. I don't know much about their personalities though.
10) Christians the world over are so kind.
11) It must be tough living in a foreign country long term.
12) Public transport can be so brilliant.
13) Suitcases wear out after a while.
14) Overseas Experiences are like 21sts. You really need a practice one so you know what works and what to expect.
15) Once you start travelling and get a taste for it you want to do it again, but take the things that you miss with you. In my case friends, family, Redemption FC, The Chosen Ones and the Stags. The Lord is always with you anyway.
16) Other cultures live differently but not necessarily a better or worse way of living.
17) It is better to take the plunge and go on one of these trips than die wondering what might have been.
18) New Zealand is small and insignificant, yet there are so many Kiwis, Aussies and Saffas living abroad.
19) The pound is a killer for foreigners.
20) It is sad when you keep just missing out on great sporting events which if you had known and slightly changed your trip, you could've got tickets for. Wimbledon, All Blacks vs England at Twickers, Tri Nations league in Brisbane.

I have been up visiting Kyle Paton on the Sunshine Coast. I met a guy called Ben who is actually Hayden Luke's cousin. It is a small incestuous world these Christian circles!

I managed to survive the storm which battered Queensland yesterday. We avoided it, but nearby Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast had some severe hail and rain. It has cooled down today and is very bearable.

I walked today to the South Bank area. This included walking past the Gabba and only takes about 30 minutes which is nothing in London terms. It is a great place right near town, but has a man made beach and plenty of other entertainment.

The Museum of Queensland was my destination and I thought initially I would go to the Science Museum part of it, but apparently it is more for kids, so instead I had a look around the normal museum. Queensland has such a diverse amount of amazing animals like turtles, sharks, wallabies, koalas, kangaroos, snakes. They also had some planes, Indian motorbikes and some Aboriginal artefacts.

Following this I went to the movies again. For $6 I was the first to arrive in the IMAX Cinema for Russell Crowe's latest film Good Year. It was great as I was middle of the back row and in some seats with extra leg room. The screen wasn't as big as one I saw in London, but it was still well worth the viewing. I give the movie 8/10.

They have this ice cream in Queensland where you pay 70 cents per item added. They have fruit and confectionary which they mash into your ice cream. A novelty idea which makes money so easily as these things are usually worth less than 70 cents. Confectionary is expensive over here. The most ridiculous price I have seen is bananas which are about $14 a kilo. This affects my banana infatuation as the most versatile of all fruits. Apparently a cyclone hit and ruined the supply of the most beautiful of fruits.

The Peacock Has Landed

Brisbane is a great city. Although it seems small (after London) it is the size of Barcelona but spread out more to not seem as daunting size wise. Where I am staying is a stones throw from the river where the Brisbane Cat Ferry goes into town and it costs $2.60 to get to town. It takes about 10 minutes. Today the Peacock and two of her mates in town for U2 concert and myself went to the pub to watch the race that stopped the nation. To get there we walked past all these people who dress up, but the pub itself was ful of yobbos. The Japanese won it. Today we went the full way on the Catamaran, it is cool.

Tonight I had to find my own entertainment as because the tickets were so scarce for U2 I had to find my own entertainment while the others went to the concert. The beauty of Brisbane is that I could get on the Cat and go to South Bank and come out about two minutes from the Cinema with five screens. It is cheap Tuesday and $6 for an adult. This is really cheap, but the usual weeknight price is $7.50. The weekday price is also $6. I went to Little Miss Sunshine. It is a strange comedy which I dosed off like an old man in for the first thirty minutes. It was pretty funny though. It is great to be able to walk around in a t-shirt at 10pm at night afterwards.

P.S. I went to the Gabba today and saw some Queensland Cricketers practice. It is also home of the AFL team the Brisbane Lions. It is really close to where I am staying.

The Peacock Has Landed

Brisbane is a great city. Although it seems small (after London) it is the size of Barcelona but spread out more to not seem as daunting size wise. Where I am staying is a stones throw from the river where the Brisbane Cat Ferry goes into town and it costs $2.60 to get to town. It takes about 10 minutes. Today the Peacock and two of her mates in town for U2 concert and myself went to the pub to watch the race that stopped the nation. To get there we walked past all these people who dress up, but the pub itself was ful of yobbos. The Japanese won it. Today we went the full way on the Catamaran, it is cool.

Tonight I had to find my own entertainment as because the tickets were so scarce for U2 I had to find my own entertainment while the others went to the concert. The beauty of Brisbane is that I could get on the Cat and go to South Bank and come out about two minutes from the Cinema with five screens. It is cheap Tuesday and $6 for an adult. This is really cheap, but the usual weeknight price is $7.50. The weekday price is also $6. I went to Little Miss Sunshine. It is a strange comedy which I dosed off like an old man in for the first thirty minutes. It was pretty funny though. It is great to be able to walk around in a t-shirt at 10pm at night afterwards.

HeyI am returning home next week. I actually thought myreservation was for Saturday, but it is actually forTuesday 14th November at 2:20pm (it will be later onceI actually arrive). Freedom didn't send aconfirmation email initially. This means that myfolks who still think I am arriving on Saturday won'tbe able to pick me up. I am flying into Momona(dunedin airport). Because I am broke I was going to crash with the oldson arrival. So instead I will return to Dunners, welluntil the next weekend at least. This gives me achance to catch up with the rowdy Dunedin mob. Itmeans that I am need of a place to stay and alsosomeone to pick me up from the airport. This wouldgive me a chance to network with my old boss.I am unsure what to do on my return and where to be based. It is another difficult time as there is only a month until the bearded man climbs down the chimney.Dunedin will be emptying out and I will be competing with some more graduates for jobs. I don't regret handing in my notice with my last job, but miss the security of a fulltime job. The necessity for some dosh could throw up some further opportunities, I guess. It does suck though being in a place where youdon't know many people.Dunedin is a double edged sword. I escaped there for the bright lights of Europe and to escape the wrath of winter and because heaps of things evolve around theUniversity, but I miss the mates and ever dwindling circle of friends although most of my friends are settling down. The sport available in Dunedin has also been missed hugely Redemption FC is the bomb as are the Chosen Ones.I have come to realise that my general qualifications have left me non specialised. The question is do I learn something a bit more specialised like Web Designer just carry on my battle in the office world? I am thinking of doing a bit of both. Maybe learning something on the side while I pay off my debt duringthe day. The Brisbane heat is immense and it is funny because Ihave taken Christie Peacock's room in her flat untilshe returns tonight from Sydney. She lives near the Gabba Cricket Ground but unfortunately I have arrived too soon for the First Ashes Test which will be a sellout anyway. I had better go and get a map as despite Brisbane being smaller than London, it isstill big and can be disorientating. Thoughts/comments?

P.S. The dream of sports media lives on, but the dream of world travel, a girl in each port and living the high life is almost over! Still, my suitcase is bust and this is a sign that I have been living the unsettled lifestyle for too long!

I am writing this from the Singapore Airport and it is great here. Free Internet Access all over the show, showers, gaming, shops and everything is so cheap after London. It is so much more user friendly.

My flight didn't seem to bad. You get used to asking for snacks, drinks etc. Singapore Airlines give you socks as well. Their entertainment is better. If my laptop was working I could've got wireless onboard.

All I can say is this trip still lacks sleep. I was sitting in the aisle in front of the toilets, but you realise that you will dose off eventually so there is no point obssessing about sleep on the flight. It did mean I could recline with no one behind me. The security is a pain, but after travelling on a coach 24 hours each way to Spain and frequenting budget airlines with no leg room, this is bliss. What you accept as a person changes through experience!

I have to say this whole timezone thing is pretty trippy. Losing hours. What would the people at Greemwich think of it all?

Here are some photos of my Oakhall Trip. Two of them revolve around the hotel foyer evening when two lovely Flamengo dancers performed and eventually got some of us on stage. I hope someone got a photo of us copying their female seductive moves. The other photo is based on the lovely mens toilet in a French Petrol Station we stopped at for a clean the teeth break. It was bizarre having heaps of random mainly English guys brishing teeth at once in a foreign country at midnight. The French also don't have toilet seats in these types of places and enjoy walking their dogs everywhere including crowded streets and restaurants. C'est bizarre!

www.oakhallreunited.com/pages/peoplesphotos.asp?userid=995&holidayid=462

For my 202nd post I will tell you about an interesting trip I went on last night.

On the train from Malmo to Copenhagen to catch my flight, I fell over as the train stopped and snapped the handle of my case. Actually I didn't fall over completely, I more staggered and banged my hip before maintaining my feet. The design wasn't up to the Swiss efficient design and smooth suspension. I departed on a flight which arrived in London at 10:20pm. I then had to cash in my 40 euros which when you take out the commission charged which was nothing short of criminal 3 pound, left me with a meagre 21 pounds.

I decided to catch the 8 pound bus rather than spending my money on a 15 pound express train which would've only taken me to Liverpool Street leaving me a 45 minute tube trip. I instead caught a coach which took longer than they actually claim and by the time I got to the Underground part of the station I had resnapped my handle badly and missed the last tube to Putney near Wimbledon. It was 12:40am. I had also been asked for money by some girl with a mangled hand, but continued on my unmerry way.

The London buses go all over the show, but there are so many of them and in my vulnerable state, I was unsure of where to go. I caught one bus and got greedy in my tired state. I remembered catching a bus which went to near where I was staying and remembered that it went past South Kensington (Museum area) and Knightsbridge (Harrods). But I thought it also went further and possibly to Putney. I overshot my stops and realised I better catch another bus. I was approached by some sub continential people who were cab drivers, but they charge through the roof. Another told me some other way, but he wanted me to buy him booze and fags as he had earlier been in a fight in the store. I left these people and walked across the road thinking I will catch the same night bus back. An older gentleman who seemed more normal told me to take the next bus to Notting Hill Gate, which was about five minutes by bus then catch the 28. Unfortunately I had told him I was going to Fulham and Putney is a different place. Also the 28 is a day bus and the night version only ran in twenty minutes, so I waited.

Once onboard I heard this club manager giving his card to some Swedish blondes of dubious profession and took the bus to Wandsworth almost near Putney. The only problem is, I knew I was getting closer, but I kept following these biking path arrows, but it took me a while of going the wrong way and then realising that things look different in the dark. The streets go all over the show in London so I walked what didn't seem far (distance is nothing these days) in one direction and then had to walk back the other direction, but on a different track. This took me through alarmingly quiet backstreets. Never mind. I got to Mark and Carrie's at 4am. I then couldn't unlock the door and Mark ended up letting me in.

Yesterday in Sweden I was head babysitter for my nephew Willy and niece Amanda. They are both pre schoolers. Willy is about two years older and so he always wants to show his affection for his little sister, but always hurts her. We went to a playground place like Chipmunks. This means keeping a close eye on them. It felt strange being amongst all these other parents watching kids. It was matter of trying to keep them entertained without Amanda being squashed. She on the other hand is always touching everything and has only basic motor control, so they are a handful.

We went to the playground place because it was snowing outside. It was settling around a little bit and bitterly cold. I found myself wearing a thick jacket almost like an army jacket with a fluffy trim on the hood. Everyone wears them in Sweden. So I am officially metrosexual (high neck jumpers and fluffy hoods).

I also went to see my brothers new house which is great, but further away from the city. I took photos for family members. They are aiming to do all these things with it. Including building a sauna. With so much protocol surrounding sauna etiquette as a foreigner not knowing this etiquette and not wanting socially awkward situations which could be avoided when going with someone else, I think I will wait. It doesn't help when you don't speak the language and can't rad the blatant rules written in Swedish. Avoid eye contact, large towels, mixed gender, no swimwear, shower before entering.