Pool man !

Quick post to say we were in the pool at the weekend.. and video conferencing over messenger is very cool so get yourself a webcam and talk to us. My messenger id is sp_wilkinson@hotmail.com

Hopefully a few photos should be here !! we have rescued the charger!

Speak soon

Were in the new house !

Just a quick post to say we are in the new house.. the pool should be ok by tomorrw (sat) as currently too much chlorine in it..

have bought a 42" plasma TV which is alll good.

We also have got MSN messenger working with the webcam and had a video conference with Mum and dad last night and Mat Hardy this morning.. all very clever.. so if anyone has a messenger account message us at sp_wilkinson@hotmail.com.. and if you have a webcam even better !

Had Rach's family round for a barbie last night.. so first steaks (but no shrimps) were cooked on our enormous barbeque.. all very Australian apart from it was cold and raining !!!

Will post some photos of us in the pool tomorrow...

Cheers

Stephen

quick update on job and house

Just a quick post to say all is well with job.. nearly accidently ended up project managing a whole office move of the Queensland patholgy labs but think I have got out of that and will be Project Managing desktop deployments at a few sites...

We have got the keys now to the house we are renting.. we went with the one I last posted about. Far too much money but it has a pool and aircon and is in a good location... I know we are being rubbish about photos (and the one I posted last looks awful!) but when living out of one room charging cameras keeps being forgotten... we will get better!

Caught up with Amanda and Chris at the weekend (they are from Tunbridge Wells and emigrated back in January). Took along a bottle of Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay - I have beem looking for some ever since the Sommelier at Petrus recommended it. However in the 9 bottles of wine that the 4 of us consummed it got lost a bit - so will have to get another one soon to remind me what it was like !!

Have to buy another car now as my office is very hard to get to on train (multiple changes etc - will take over an hour by train but will take 15-30mins depending on traffic in car).. this really pains me as the landcruiser is still not sold and is sitting in Kent awaiting a buyer and costing me 560 GBP per month - and now I have to buy another car. So true to form am looking for a classic Mercedes and may go for the 500SEL down the road at $9000 wiuth "slight cosmetic issues" see pictures here
http://www.carsales.com.au/pls/carsales/!cs_content.private_vehicle?vehicle_id=2540958¤t_rec=27&used_rec=135&total_rec=121&sort_type=2&total_rec=121&sort_type=2&make_id=12&state_id=4&search_postcode=4170&search_distance=100

Anyhow keep the comments and emails coming

Speak soon

Stephen

Employment !

It seems I have a job !

I start today at "Dimension Data" (http://www.dimensiondata.com/au/) as a Project Manager on an initial 3 month contract. Quite happy to contract so all good. DiData as they are known are one of the larger australian "systems integrators".. basically IT infrastructure consultancy doing Microsoft products - for the DrKW people reading they are very similar to Konchango or Bytes.

Went out yesterday to emergency buy a suit - came back witha lightweight Hugo Boss number.. see attached photo.

We also put an application on a house. Very expensive and awful pink colour inside but we are getting desparate... see here http://www.realestate.com.au/cgi-bin/rsearch?a=o&s=qld&c=46172967&tm=1128550692&id=401783692&f=70&p=10&t=ren&ty=&snf=rbs&ag=&cu=&fmt=&header=

Will post later to let you know how my first day went !

Stephen

Have a car.. but otherwise quiet.

Not a huge amount has taken place over the last week. Houses have dried up a little but we do have a car! Hoepfully if I have done the right thing then there should be a couple of photos here of the big white blancmange..

I had an interview for a position at Suncorp but not sure if I want the job. It was a contract for the team leader of the build testing team - basically test changes to the server and desktop build. I have another interview later today and also we are seeing a house so may well have more to report tonight... There is a fair amount of Project Management work around and once I get one then others will follow - there is a certain amount of resistance as I have not worked in Brisbane or Australia before but am confident that I will get something good soon.

At the weekend we went to to the Southbank manmade beach here in Brisbane which Maddy loved. Unfortunately we forgot the camera - promise to be betrter with photos from now on. Imogen is over her cold\cough which has been keeping her (and us) awake so that is a relief.

Watched the rugby league "grand" final on Sunday which is a big thing here. Also the Bali bombs have very much affected everyone in Australia - Bali is the favourite holiday destination for many Australians and is the closest exposure Australia has had to terrorism.

I will post again later today or tomorrow with house and job update...