Massive change of plans…

Hey guys,

Been a while since my last post and there’s a lot to talk about!!

I had until last week, been working in a café…

I took 3 days off for a house leaving party with friends, upon my return to work I found a new guy doing my job. When I asked what was going on, I was told they were not going to sponsor me and just incase I decided to leave, they replaced me!!

Hahahaha..

Absolutely mental but you know what?

It’s the best thing that could have happened to me.. I’ve had to shift my plans a little but I’m really excited about what comes next..

I’m so damn positive right now! Anything that happens, just is. How I choose to perceive it is up to me and I tell you all now, what a year I’m having! I love it here! There’s so many opportunities, when one door closes five more open!

I’m now jobless, penniless and without a sponsor to stay in Australia. With only 10 weeks left on my visa I’ve decided to fly north to Queensland for the remainder of my visa and work on a cattle farm.. random I know but it means I can earn 10k in 10 weeks and set myslef up to continue travelling. My friend “Tiff” has just completed his 90 days on the same farm, to qualify for a second year visa in Australia. He said it’s shit, hard work and you smell of cow shit the whole time but it’s good fun and worth doing to earn some money.

I’m planning to fly back to Melbourne for the last few days of my visa in December,  just to see friends and say goodbye to everyone. Then I’m heading off to New Zealand for December and Christmas before flying out to Thailand to meet some friends for new years. I’ll probably spend a month in Thailand because it’s so cheap. Depending on the money situation, I plan to come back to Australia on a 3 month tourist visa.. 

Wahhooo! Buzzing for this adventure!
Not a bad outcome to losing a job, hey?

So I’m flying to brisbane on friday, taking a couple of buses to the middle of nowhere, where I’ll be collected by the farm owner and taken to the farm. There are 3 or 4 houses on the land for backpackers to stay in, so I’ll be working along side at least 20 other international travellers…

I may be out of contact for a while as there’s not much phone reception or wifi out there but I’ll try and blog as often as I can.

I may have to write my posts, save them as drafts and upload them all at once when i get wifi..

Anyway.. I’ll let you know how it goes!!

Love ya

X

9 out of 12… …moving house…

Hey guys,

So we’re now into September and the 9th month of the 12 month visa I’m on..

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last posted.

Not much going on to tell you about..
I’ve been working pretty hard and just trying to get everything ready for my 457 via application.

I’m in the throws of moving into a sharehouse with 3 of my friends. We’ve apllied for a three bedroom house in Fitzroy, Melbourne. I’ve pretty much moved out from Baz and Fi’s house and I’m currently living with my friends in the old house in Fitzroy. Its cool living there, always a party or something fun going on..

The housemates are being evicted from the old house due to the landlord wanting to renovate the property..
We’re all going to move together, just to a new house. This house I’m talking about is legendary around these parts!

Hannah, one of my friends I’ll be living with has been in the old house since the beginning, 6 years ago!.
She’s seen many characters come and go through the house in that time.  some official housemates, others like me.. kinda unofficial (not paying rent) 😉

So…

For this reason, this weekend there’s going to be the biggest house leaving party of all time…

We think there will be around 100-150 people coming.
Oh and by the way, it’s a three day event…

Gonna be cray!!

I’ll be taking lots of pictures and a few videos so you’ll all be able to check it out and see a little of what we’re getting up too!.

Anyway, just a quick check in. I’m happy and well and Loving life! 

‘Til the next one..

Love
X

457 sponsorship and learning Auslan…

It’s been a while since my last post and there’s quite a lot to tell you about..
It’s all been going off over here the last couple of weeks.

Firstly, my boss has lodged the application to sponsor me and keep me here in Australia. It’s the first step in a long, arduous process but its happening! If the application my boss has lodged is granted I’ll then be invited to actually apply for the visa… very expensive and time consuming but well worth it in my opinion.

Secondly, last Wednesday was the first week of an Auslan, sign language course I’ve signed up to. Tonight was the second of the 12 week course.
I’m loving it!
It’s a challenge but really rewarding and alot of fun.

All this came about because of the holiday i had up in Byron Bay (I’ve told you about it in an earlier post).
I was introduced to a couple of really cool guys, both deaf.
That was the first time I’ve been in a social situation with two non-hearing people.
I’m very aware of how I’m perceived by the people I meet and meeting those guys, I found myself not able to communicate the way I would with any other friends or people I meet.
Those moments of awkward silence. Trying not to talk to the guys like they’re idiots, but having to slow my speech and use obvious generic body language and gestures. 
I didn’t like the feeling i had, not being able to convey myself and communicate in “my voice”. In that moment, I decided that when i got back to Melbourne I was going to enrol in an Auslan course, and I did!.

Watching the two deaf guys talk to each other in full speed sign is pretty amazing!.
To be fluent in sign will probably take a lifetime, so I’m making a start..

Anyway, it’s all good over here, I’m happy and well and I’m loving the Australian life..

My heart, always with the ones I love in England!
And last but not least,
Big up my little sister!! 29 now! Happy birthday! You’re a beauty and I Love ya.

Til the next post..

Peace.
X

UPDATE!!!

Hey guys,

It’s been a little while since my last post..
I guess it’s because when I started this blog I figured I’d use it primarily as a holiday journal, a way of keeping all of you guys in the know with what I’m getting up too.

Well, as it turns out, I’m 8 months in to my 12 month stay and I haven’t really been “holidaying”.
I’ve had a couple of trips away which I’ve posted about but I’ve just been living in Melbourne, trialing life as an Australian.
I’ve been working, trying to establish a life for myself. I’ve had so much fun along the way and met some lovely people (and some Assholes too).
I’ve now got a tight circle of friends, a good, well paying job and I’m happy.

Whatever it takes, I want to stay here.

There’s been times when I thought it’d be easy for me to stay and times when it’s looked like a long, arduous and really expensive process.

The only way for me to be able to stay past my 12 month visa, is to be sponsored..

I’d already made the concious decision to just “let life happen”, I’ve always tried to force things in life, everytime failing. I think life gives you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. However it may come or be disguised..

I’ve been working pretty hard at my job, I’m running the kitchen as head chef so I’m really getting stuck into it. I’ve added a couple of things to the menu and tweaked a few things.
The biggest change I’ve made is that we’re now baking fresh bread every day, rather than spending a small fortune on buying it in..

The job is perfect for me and I get on really well with the owners. So much so that today my boss, Nic came up to me and said they’d been in touch with their immigration Lawyers and have begun the ball rolling to sponsor me!

Boooom!!
Best news ever!

I’m not getting too excited yet though. There’s a lot of hoops to jump through and alot of potential for it to fail. I’m just keeping a positive mental attitude, working hard and enjoying the ride, wherever I end up!

Anyway,
That’s all for now.
I’ll try and post a little more often..

Thinking of you all, always.

Love, peace!

Working and chilling…

Hey,

My posts on here are thinning out again, I’ve not been up to much.

When I’m not working I’m usually chilling with friends thay live in Fitzroy.
I actually started another new job as a chef in a cafe about 10 minutes from home, nothing special but it’s ideal for me, close to home, 7am-3pm and its good money.
I’m just working and saving as much money as I can for the remainder of my visa. At least if I have to leave Australia, I’ll have enough money to continue travelling and come back here on a tourist visa.

If I come back in on a tourist visa,  I plan to travel around and see alot more of Australia before I have to return to the UK. By working and saving now I’ll have enough money to do that.

If I get to stay longer or indefinitely then I’ll travel in my holiday time from work.

Of course, i miss all my friends and family from home but I’m having a wicked time over here, I’ve meet some quality people.
I don’t want to live in England. I want to live in Australia.
If I do have to go back to England, I’ll just do what I need to move back here. It’ll only take 2 years..

Anyway just a quick post, for the sake of making a post I guess…

Love to all..

X