tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1568569050015175342024-03-05T22:42:13.730-08:00Laura Kate Life- Lifestyle, Travel, and the Diaries of a Move Down Under -Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-57409122200423533122018-10-24T21:57:00.001-07:002018-12-01T16:45:19.365-08:00Five Months in Australia<img id="id_3d97_9f64_a0bb_fca9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd7R2A5lccAgV9Sn2ExLETRvwe5remfUMlXRK7xWj0MpTfvDxSlCeukOCjy3R8kP6sR74vwyaFzOzWwRfA4O7Z34RtNjFlqOXpmNghfLleJowzTFuOrAJGDRYCW32CbDSZlqPZxmkkqAo/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 891px; height: auto;"><br><br><img id="id_236c_1964_5441_c1b9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILy_eJsYqa6x0Vlg4K_11pA_n9nnB2JMkrTXV3Xc3GIVConXMk1oMk-mF7lliUEVKwm9jgeFfuW4tlWvYnjSmveoBExIHwjpNdfKGMo6ehI7Wt8J5lIUAK_uaHPI_nPrTBn0q8Rd8z-CJ/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 889px; height: auto;"><div><br></div><div>It’s been quite some time since I last updated this blog, and now that I’ve been here five months I thought it was time to check in. We are now at the beginning of Summer, and although I thought the rainy weather had passed, it seems that Summer here is pretty inconsistent and you can still expect days of 32c blazing sun in between days of 8c rain and thunderstorms. I must admit I think I preferred Winter, as at least the weather was more predictable! Now, I can leave the house in the morning to go to work wrapped up in layers, and leave work when it’s 30c and risk getting sunburnt. I hate the unpredictability, not knowing what to wear whenever I leave the house, and the quick changes in weather throughout the day. I definitely miss the weather at home, as I love cosy rainy days and the consistency! I’ve gained a bit of a reputation amongst friends here for constantly moaning about the weather. I’m clearly never happy!</div><div><br> </div><div>Weather aside (such a typically British trait to talk about the weather first and foremost!), I can’t quite believe I am still here. I think for the first few months of being in Australia I felt like I was on an extended holiday, but now that I’ve been in my job full-time for just over two months, the reality of staying here has well and truly sunk in. I am really enjoying work, as the staff have been extremely welcoming, I’ve gotten to know the patients, and I’m finally getting used to the ways the ward and the trust work. I am still struggling with some vast differences to practices in the UK, but I feel I’ve finally got into my groove and I have a routine I’m happy with. </div><div><br></div><div>I’m still meeting plenty of new people, mostly friends of friends and a lot them fellow nurses; the fact that most people are here are on a Working Holiday Visa means that everyone is in the same mentality of saying ‘yes’ to most opportunities, and embracing talking to anyone and everyone. It’s not hard to get chatting to people here as everyone is so friendly, and this just opens up plenty of new opportunities. </div><div><br></div><div>I’ve got lots to look forward to over the next few months, including a few day trips and a road trip along the Great Ocean Road just before Christmas, and five days in Tasmania in January, coinciding with Australia Day. I have tickets booked to see Mumford & Sons in January, and George Ezra in February, and every spare day off seems to get filled pretty quickly. The only thing I’ve not really got sorted here is my gym and exercise routine. I’ve become lazy, shied away from getting stuck into new gym classes with new people, and put off getting up early to make it to classes. I need to get my motivation back and find something that works for me, as I’m feeling sluggish and I know that once I get back into the routine, I’ll really enjoy it. </div><div><br></div><div>I am very happy here, but the longer I’m here I find the more the days of feeling homesick slip in. The feeling doesn’t last long as I remind myself how many opportunities there are here of things to see and do, but sometimes I can’t help feeling that I wish I could ship everyone out here with me.</div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-49029870695823591422018-09-22T20:40:00.000-07:002018-09-22T20:40:02.057-07:00The Great Gatsby Ball, and Settling Into Routine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My first week at work was a bit of a drag, given that I was supernumary Monday through Friday, and this knocked my confidence a little as I certainly didn't feel like a nurse, and after three months off work I was desperate to get my purpose back. It was necessary of course, as there was so much to learn, staff and patients to get to know, and a whole load of new purposes. The best way for me to learn however, is by doing, and come Sunday I was finally allocated into the numbers and I learnt much more, and the shift seemed to fly by.<br>
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Prior to starting work I'd had big worries about the journey and the best way to get to and from work. I've discovered that I quite enjoy public transport, as the bus stop is three minutes walk from my house, the bus takes only 20 minutes, and then the walk at the other end is another 20 minutes. The walk takes me through two beautiful parks, and first thing in the morning when the sun is rising the views are stunning and I enjoy the time to myself listening to podcasts. What I have since discovered however, is that the buses home stop at 21:00, and my late shifts end at 21:30. So the last two late shifts I had to get an Uber home, with the other options being that I cycle (currently not confident enough to cycle home in the dark) or walk, which takes almost two hours. I'm planning to cycle for a couple of early shifts so I can get to know the route in the day time, as I certainly don't want to be getting into the habit of getting Ubers home, even if they are only a dollar or two more expensive than the bus (thankfully there are always Uber discount codes here!) It has also made me question whether I want a car, but I am determined to make do without, as I just don't think the costs would be worth it in the long run.<br>
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One of the great things I have discovered since getting a bike, as that there are so many little parks and green spots that will be amazing come Summer time. A lot of the parks have gated off areas for dogs to run around in off the lead which are really popular and such a great idea. They also have outdoor BBQs which anyone can use, and I can't for Summer to roll around so I can sit out in the parks of an evening after work. The cycle route to work goes along the Merri Creek, and the one day I managed to cycle it felt like such a treat to be able to cycle instead of get the bus.<br>
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Whilst being in Australia I have probably walked more than I ever have since owning a car, as everywhere I go I walk, whether it's going to the supermarket, meeting friends, or heading to the gym or library. I feel so much healthier for it and it has been a great way to discover more places, as driving places means you don't really get to discover the little nooks and crannies of a place. There have only been a few times that I've missed having a car, and now with having a bike I think I'll be looking to do a few bike rides in the Summer. At least I am mostly getting my exercise in every day, as previously work days would mean sitting in front of the computer all day and barely moving.<br>
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Despite joining the gym two weeks ago, it has taken me until now to finally attend a class! I had planned to go most days during my first week at work, but was so exhausted after work and taking in so much new information, that I decided to go easy on myself and give myself the week to settle in. However, I attended a spinning class yesterday and I knew that all it would take to get the gym bug back would be to attend just one class, and finally I'm motivated to start attending again. I don't really have any excuse, because the gym is no more than a five minute walk from my front door, and the classes are on at all hours of the day from 06:00 through until 19:00, so there's no doubt I can find something to fit around my shifts.<br>
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Saturday was my only day off during my first week of work, which was very fortunate as a group of girls and I had all booked tickets to a 1920s Great Gatsby-themed ball. We had booked the tickets well in advance, and they cost us $80 each, so we were expecting great things; I would have been hugely pissed off if I’d been rostered on to work it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The girls and I spent weeks trying to find cheap outfits and accessories, and finally on Saturday we'd managed to pull it off and we were super excited about going to the 'ball’. However, our excitement was short-lived as the ball itself was a complete let-down. The ticket included an open bar from 7-11pm, as well as buffet food / canapés. When we got there we queued for just under an hour to get a drink, at which point people were getting so annoyed that the bar staff resorted to handing out whole bottles. Beer, wine, and soft drinks were free, but instead of just lining up glasses for people to help themselves to, they were taking orders, which didn’t make any sense at all. They had run out of fizzy by 8pm according to the angry commenters on the Facebook group. I didn’t see a single plate of food. The cloakroom consisted of a clothes rail in the middle of the hallway - unattended - which at the end of the night resulted in coats and bags spread out across the floor, trampled on and in a big messy heap. The music was definitely not 20s, and the venue looked more like a cheap nightclub than something worthy of a ball. People were understandably getting very angry in the queue for the bar. WE didn’t last very long and left at around 21:30, and decided to head home to get UberEats!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The next day, the comments on the Great Gatsby Facebook page formed a source of entertainment in their own right. It seems everyone else had exactly the same opinion as us, and the company was left to grovel and apologise to all of the scathing comments. They sent an e-mail out a few days later to apologise but also to say that they weren’t in a position to offer any refunds. It was a shame that the event we’d so been looking forward to ended up being such a disaster, but oh well!</div>
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</div><br>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-78429496257459800782018-09-21T20:05:00.000-07:002018-09-20T20:34:35.256-07:00Four Days in The Mornington Peninsula<img alt="" id="id_d2e0_fadd_a809_6fe8" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-eu8L_D1ZSpffe508QnenQ1Xk3MqX3YqgRV2WJufNLadLiBuzGFWMBODQShExKF7zTayNdRAUC-FJhjYwcLn2lE6GFbtP4bcEYYHX6VPEzxvngcisrSVwKoETwyfWw2ubCloBnkY0ztR/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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The weekend before I started work, I went away to the Mornington Peninsula for three nights, with four other girls from the UK. Three of the girls are nurses, and we had met via Facebook groups we had all used before coming over to Australia. I can't stand Facebook at the best of times, but it has been the absolute best way for me to meet people over here, especially those with similar interests, like nursing. It was great to get a last little trip in before starting work, and a great distraction from the Sunday night feeling of work dread!<br />
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<b><u>Thursday</u></b></h3>
We didn't leave St Kilda until Thursday evening, as one of the girls is a supply teacher and therefore couldn't leave until after school. The drive took around two and a half hours thanks to the traffic, but it was a straight-forward drive with some beautiful views. I understand now why people say that Melbourne has 'four seasons in one day', as we started the day off with glorious sunshine, drove through torrential rain, and later experienced thunder and lightning. It makes it difficult to know exactly how to dress!<br />
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We stayed in the most beautiful Air BnB, but the owner insisted on waiting behind to meet us, as she'd seen that we were a group of five girls going away for a birthday weekend, and was concerned that we would be having a party. We assured here that we were two hours from home and therefore wouldn't even have anyone to invite for a party, and were just there for a relaxed weekend! She seemed suitably appeased and left us to it. We had a nice chilled evening with a home-cooked Mexican feast for dinner and a few bottles of wine, and just chilled ready for a fun-packed Friday.<br />
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<b><u>Friday</u></b></h3>
Friday was Amy's birthday, so we had a lazy morning and a cooked breakfast before heading out to spend the day at the <a href="https://www.peninsulahotsprings.com/" target="_blank">Peninsula Hot Springs</a>. We arrived at around 10:30 and managed to while away the time until 16:30, chatting away and relaxing in the countless different baths. Each of the baths was around 40°, and actually at times was even too hot to be comfortable! We were very pleased we'd gone in Winter (despite people saying that it would be too cold to enjoy), as had we gone in Summer it would almost certainly have been unbearable. It was a gloriously sunny day and the views were beautiful.<br />
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On Friday evening we went to a Thai restaurant for dinner to celebrate Amy's birthday, and as is quite common here in Australia, the restaurant was a 'BYO alcohol'. We took a few bottles of fizz and had a nice long dinner. The restaurant was in Rye (interestingly there is also an Eastbourne, Seaford, and Peacehaven), where there isn't a great deal to do in the evenings, but we managed to find a pub a short walk down the road where they had some live music, as well as a beer garden which had been hired out for a girl's 18th birthday. It was hired until 10pm so by the time we got there we had a few drinks in the garden, but it was slightly horrifying for me to realise that 12 years have passed since I was 18! After having eaten so much food at dinner, we didn't stay out for too long and got a taxi back to the Air BnB.<br />
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<b><u>Saturday</u></b></h3>
We woke up Saturday morning to the sun shining brightly, and decided to sit out on the deck and have pancakes for breakfast. We were lulled into a false sense of security by the morning sun and dressed ready for Summer, only to remember later on in the day that Melbourne can have 'four seasons in one day' and it later got pretty chilly!<br />
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We hadn't planned much for Saturday other than to visit a winery, so we had a look on the ol' Google to find local things to do, and found that <a href="https://aseagle.com.au/" target="_blank">Arthurs Seat</a>, the highest point of the Mornington Peninsula, was about a 20-minute drive away, and on such a clear day we thought it would be great to check out the view. It was definitely the right day for it, and we also paid to get the gondola to the bottom and back up again.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_1eba_c951_9724_a8b5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj2HEwuJ-mr-uDwdQ3GVpE0YrNLCuq0_2MnNNH83J7aWyDOBtVALNmahCPsVEqEUjci-m-k5zTzW6az0wkca6TvkWWczfSP3ILc7FNiJWB8Cgn324ovBfp0dNqc4nX0E7IuIIfnx8XwBJd/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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After we'd finished at Arthurs Seat, we went to <a href="https://www.thecupsestate.com.au/" target="_blank">The Cups Estate Winery</a> at Fingal for a wine tasting session, and afterwards sat out on a picnic blanket in front of the stunning views with a glass of wine. As Grace was driving we only stopped for one glass, as before long we had to head back to the house to get ready to go out for dinner that evening.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_f175_7644_71d6_1ba4" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRbd9OW7aXFe6_JPCTFyoDqUNRi-x0DolIuW3wos6Wf8n7yFWolEGWlsbxxRUkAFWNgYLEwEsafvfKCfXjhEzM3NncXsJ8-LRwHz-GEuh6otWcZvEf6bjceuuApvWXjfvSWGB2nCKd9MJ/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Fairly limited for choice for dinner, we went back to Rye and went to a little independent Italian restaurant, which was absolutely delicious, and stopped for gelato afterwards. Despite a pretty slow-paced weekend, we still found ourselves quite tired, and after dinner went back to the house to watch a film and laze around. All in all a lovely relaxed day, and just what I needed.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_cec6_93f1_ef3c_1e" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV2uhw034DsxQof1SpB2mHWbhkhPjFx-NN5Pd98oQqQ5bxWOQT_3s2sJ4GbXfcPPrQyhoObklULsnFocsd7O4ZAjkrRYyHj9-0zCRDbhJzEmYlM8PZhY7qbLhikB5r-0cUaUDRfnC7m8L/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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<b><u>Sunday</u></b></h3>
Sunday morning was an even more lazy morning, as everyone was making the most of the opportunity to have a lie-in. I woke up with the Sunday morning dread, knowing that I was starting work the next day, so was glad to be heading back. We left the house around 11am and stopped at the beach for a quick wander, although the weather had turned a bit and the wind picked up, so we didn't stick around for lunch. We had a walk through the main drag of the high street to find somewhere to eat for lunch, and decided on a tapas restaurant. Afterwards we took the drive back to St Kilda, and thankfully it only took around an hour and a half on the way back.<br />
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All in all we had a gorgeous weekend, and I was so glad of the break before starting work.<br />
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<img alt="" id="id_2d80_3917_9a6c_affc" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmG8iN5hpxzPNWECajUWwHKXI2ZzMpeYHQv13GZlmBlyLk4OeAWSGionqJGWxfB-OwwXWR69aQYQqLBFxSyM895wBb_Adsuh8JQXdYQR1fg9P2uumXck1B-seW6SVk98bCeD9IGHLf-XbE/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-63057148742923922612018-09-20T20:33:00.002-07:002018-09-20T20:33:57.715-07:00Bali - Worth The Hype?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I finally got a start date for work, I decided to book two weeks in Bali, given that I've always wanted to go and it's only a 6-hour flight from Melbourne. I was most excited about visiting Gili-T, having heard that it's the party capital and seen lots of fantastic photos of the area. A few days before I was due to fly out, the earthquake happened, and so understandably I was informed by the tour company that we would no longer be visiting the island of Lombok and the tour would be altered. I decided to still go ahead, mainly as I was desperate for more sun!<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a>I decided to have two nights to myself in Kuta before joining the tour group, as I was very keen to chill by the pool, speed through a few books, and just enjoy time to myself. I feel like since arriving in Australia it has been a pretty overwhelming experience, and so it was nice to just switch off for a while.<br />
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The fantastic thing about going away with a tour company (I have used G Adventures four times now and have nothing but the highest praise for them), is that you get to do things that are 'off the beaten track', essentially because you have a guide who is from the area, or knows the area extremely well. Our guide, Gede, was from Bali, and has even set up his own home-stay. He helps to support the local community by providing funding for a local school, and provides jobs for many of his family members and friends at his home-stay.<br />
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Whilst at the home-stay for two nights, we got to take part in an Indonesian cooking lesson, dress up in traditional Balinese outfits, and watch a traditional Balinese dancing show. The staff there were incredible; given that there were 18 of us in our group, they asked each of us our names once and all of the waiting staff remembered exactly who we were. They were so friendly and kind and really made such a difference to our stay.<br />
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I think the highlight of the entire trip for me has to be going on our sunrise dolphin-spotting tour. We had a 4am start which was particularly painful, but was worth it when by 06:00 we were out on the boat absolutely surrounded by dolphins swimming right up next to our boat. Amongst the backdrop of the sun rising, it was a pretty magical morning. I hadn't honestly expected to get to see anything, despite being guaranteed by the people running the tour that we'd see at least a few dolphins.<br />
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After we had seen the sunrise and dolphins and had some breakfast on the beach, we drove up to the Holy Hot Springs, which was a nice little detour on the way to the waterfall walk at Sekumpul. Group tours are great but sometimes you can feel as though your itinerary is so packed that you have minimal downtime, so this was a nice stop to relax! Another great thing about organised tours such as these is that for the most part you don't have to worry about the little added extras and paying for all the admission fees, as the tour guide will sort it all out in bulk and you just turn up.<br />
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The walk down to the foot of the waterfall was very long and very steep, with a <i>lot</i> of steps. Fine on the way down, but not so fine when you consider how hard the walk back up is going to be! A couple of us decided to swim under the waterfall once we got to the bottom, whilst the others dipped a toe in and decided it was far too cold to even attempt! It certainly was refreshing, that's for sure! I love walking but the heat was so stifling that it was definitely a struggle.<br />
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Another day, another waterfall. I really enjoy walking / hiking and exploring beauty spots such as this, so I was glad that the tour factored in so much of the same. As our tour was part of another tour that had travelled other parts of Indonesia, the people in our group that had already been in Indonesia for a while felt that they had already had an overload of temples and waterfalls, so they skipped a lot of the things we decided to do, so it was good that we had the option to split into smaller groups based on what we wanted to do. A common misconception of guided tours is that you are tied in to a strict itinerary, but every day's activities were completely optional, and could be changed if we weren't happy with something or fancied a change. There was plenty of flexibility and our guide was fantastic at trying to cater for everyone.<br />
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We visited Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, which is a beautiful temple on the shores of Lake Bratan, in the mountains. We were lucky to have good weather, as the group that had gone previous to as had rain all day long and this somewhat distracted from the views. Our guide was full of interesting information about Indonesian culture, and most of us were really shocked when he explained to us that everyone in Indonesia <i>has</i> to state a religion on their government ID card, out of the choice of six.<br />
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Fortunately our trip featured plenty of downtime when we fancied it, and for me this involved a couple of different massages on separate occasions, and chilling by the various different pools with a (very cheap) alcoholic bevvy.<br />
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A few days before the end of our tour, our guide Gede took us to a traditional Balinese restaurant, where there was a traditional dance and drama performance based on a traditional story of the Gods. I must say it was a very bizarre performance, with accompanying repetitive music that sounded like something out of a horror film, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. Unfortunately we waited at least two hours for our meals, which putted a massive dampener on the evening. We all ate something completely different, some eating chicken, others eating duck, others eating vegetarian. It was the morning after this dinner that a large majority of our group became unwell. We couldn't identify a specific cause because everyone had eaten something different, and around eight other people from our tour went to a different restaurant that night and a few of them also became unwell.<br />
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I really enjoyed the Ubud Monkey Forest, as the monkeys were wandering around all over the place, and it was surprising how close we could get to them. There were quite a few rules before we got in, including not to make eye contact with the monkeys! I realised the seriousness of this when I was taking a picture of Amy next to a monkey sat on a railing, and as she turned to look at the monkey it took a direct swipe at her! Vicious little creatures they can be. They were absolutely fascinating though, and it really amused us when we saw the daddy monkey standing on the baby's tail to stop him wandering off.<br />
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So was Bali worth the hype? I will say I'm glad I only had to commit to a fairly cheap flight and six hours of travel time, as if I had travelled all the way from the UK I would have been very disappointed. Kuta, where we first stayed, was very much a Benidorm away from home, and was full of stag dos and lads' holidays. There were a lot of people who travel to the same destination several times a year and get stuck into their same old holiday routine. Granted there are some really stunning places in Bali to explore, and I loved the wildlife and beauty spots, and the weather is a definite pro, but I can't say that it was anything out of the ordinary for me. I thoroughly enjoyed my trip, but I won't be making a return as there are so many other places in the world that appeal much more.<br />
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Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-21836104328120302162018-09-14T22:42:00.000-07:002018-09-20T19:16:42.458-07:00My First Week As a Nurse in Australia - Friday<img alt="" id="id_6cfa_d3f4_8fc9_c869" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3_WpJgkdj6FYtLqgJ3lr430VCZbffFkyhu3mUy8I2lpMlo_OwjJJN6UOaIKuL3NiksQhRY4H9X_YATfxK2sVl9bdcvolfD9jpEjLBDVdPJzlbyqIdfgfQpqT-hGKgxYSlz4Zh-EkXwzt/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 960px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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Wednesday and Thursday I was on a normal early shift, working 07:00 to 15:30. This automatically felt much easier, as I was able to start at the same time as everyone else on the shift, listen to the handover, and be available for the allocation of tasks. Being supernumary means I am still shadowing and not being allocated my own tasks, so I am overloading on eLearning and reading up on patient notes. I’ve used electronic documentation systems for the last couple of years, but I’ve got to say that the electronic system used here is far more efficient than anything else I’ve used. In some ways Australia are miles behind the UK in terms of nursing care and processes, but in other ways they are far more forward-thinking. It still surprises me that they only have registered nurses on shift, and that staffing is outsourced to another department. The ward manager takes care of planning the rota, but after that point, it is the ‘clinical admin’ team (senior register nurses) who manage the entire unit and coordinate the staffing. In some ways this is beneficial as they can move staff across the various units and ensure that staffing levels are balanced, however, they are members of staff that do not know the ward staff personally or the dynamics of the ward, so they are making staffing decisions based purely on figures rather than staffing abilities and suitability of stafff to an environment.</div>
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I’ve had my mind set on cycling to work, as this will save me time and also be a good way to get a bit of exercise into my day. The bike needed a few things fixing which I did before my late shift (13:00 - 21:30) on Friday, but I had intended to get the bus and take my bike on a day when I had more time to suss the route out. However, I got carried away sorting the bike out and before I knew it I’d missed the bus, and had no choice but to cycle! Probably the best thing for me, as I have a bit of a fear about cycling on the roads with traffic, and so I knew I just needed to do it. The journey took me around 45 mins when Google Maps assured me it’d take 23 minutes; I got lost on the way and took a few wrong turns, meaning by the time I got to work I was absolutely knackered, but thankfully I ended up being only three minutes late for the shift. It always pays to get to the hospital pretty early as it can take a while to get through security, what with the bag scanner and iris recognition, and airlock doors which mean only three people can be let through at once. On the plus side, the route to cycle is about 80% designated cycle paths, including past creeks such as the one above. It’s a really scenic and enjoyable ride, particularly so as the sun was beaming today. On the way back however I think I’m going to have to find an alternative route, as there is no lighting and it’s a little on the creepy side!</div>
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Friday was my first late shift, and it seemed to go much faster than my previous shifts. Perhaps this had something to do with the fact that I knew it was my last shift as a supernumary member of staff, as I am back on Sunday and will finally be in the numbers. I must say I’ve actually really enjoyed this week, as the staff have all been so welcome, and I would go as far as to say that there are more English and Irish nurses at the hospital than there are Australian nurses! I feel I’ve got to a reasonable level of understanding of the ward processes and rules, but am aware that the real learning will take place once I am actually part of the numbers. </div>
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I’ve only got Saturday off this week (the working week starts on a Sunday, which means I’ve ended up with six shifts on my first week in the job!) but I’ve got a ticket to go with a handful of girls to go to a Great Gatsby-themed 1920s ball with food and drink included. Thankfully I am on a late shift on Sunday so I will thoroughly enjoy my only night off! </div>
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I have been told by various people that I will very quickly notice the perks of working in Australia as opposed to the UK when it comes to pay rates and enhancements (known as ‘penalities’ here), so I am looking forward to my first pay to see how it compares and whether I’m going to be able to save some money for more travels. </div>
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First week, survived!</div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-52328697768901397892018-09-11T20:55:00.000-07:002018-09-20T19:16:30.000-07:00My First Week As a Nurse in Australia - Tuesday<div>
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Tuesday got off to a slightly better start given that I remembered my bus pass this time - wahey!Not only that, but it feels much easier when you actually know where you’re going and what you’re walking into. Simple things like where the bus stops are and the route into work make all the difference. I did another 08:00 - 16:30 shift today as part of my ‘orie’, so again not starting a proper shift with everyone at 07:00, which only serves to further make me feel like a spare part. </div>
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I’ve noticed that processes are a little more thorough here, and to be able to dispense medication you need to complete some competencies and be observed giving all medications at least three times, including depots. You also get tested on naming various medications and their side effects and trade names. It’s forced me to brush up a little but this can only be a very good thing! Thankfully I live with a pharmacist who is a great person to ask if I’m confused about generic / brand names, some of which I’m not used to. </div>
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Today I shadowed a medication round and tried to familiarise myself with the medications used and how they’re organised, and the layout of the medication room. I spent a good couple of hours completing my eLearning and booking on to some face-to-face courses, and met the course lead for the ‘FERN’ course I will be completing (Forensic Education for Registered Nurses). I’m finding that the eLearning is allowing me to learn a lot of the basics such as acronyms used, ratings tools, paperwork, etc, without feeling like I’m constantly asking questions, although I am assured there is no such thing as a stupid question!</div>
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I’m trying to shadow as many different processes as I can at the moment whilst I’m supernumary so that I can be prepared for when I’m working as part of the staffing numbers next week. It felt like a very easy day’s work and a huge contrast to the hectic ward environments I’m used to, and under-staffing here is simply not a thing. The days feel long and slow, but hopefully when I have some responsibility that’ll be different. </div>
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I feel a great deal better now that I have a job to go to, as I feel I have my purpose and routine back. Already I feel I am going to appreciate and enjoy my time off so much more, and it’ll be even better to be earning money as well as spending it! Most people are paid fortnightly here which is a nice change. </div>
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I’m looking forward to actually doing a proper early shift tomorrow, and hope things will get more exciting!</div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-63958294276990008242018-09-10T14:19:00.001-07:002018-09-20T19:16:18.320-07:00My First Week As a Nurse in Australia - Monday<img alt="" id="id_2b72_cdeb_595b_6aab" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7gFDl-s8a3Y9Nrs04GeTVkRdibkU9QPrk5Kw6K8evrkKhRDzYcspZ-XStA-kfmfPMjwYNpFbZ3zR5LHXkKKTXbxO5M4GxW3ag2iTe-M4VGFRSpnx0qzbyXdyULCll23H-fI1SFoaaJvP/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 960px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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First days at a new job are always daunting and somewhat anxiety-inducing, but coupled with a period of three months away from nursing entirely, I found myself worrying about whether I’d actually still know how to be a nurse and whether I’d be able to settle back into a ward environment easily enough. I got myself off to a bad start when I got on the bus to find that I’d forgotten my bus pass and had no cash, but thankfully the bus driver let me on regardless!</div>
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I met my new unit manager at 08:00 to go through the basics, and being in a forensic unit this involved setting up security access including fingerprints and iris recognition. I was shown around the ward and introduced to the staff on shift, and was very pleased to find that a few of the staff were from the UK and had only been there for a few months, so were also fairly new to the process of switching from UK to Aus nursing. This proved very helpful when I came up against countless acronyms and nursing terms that were specific to Australia, as they had had the same confusions and were able to explain the equivalents to me. It’s bad enough learning the acronyms and jargon from your own training, but to then be faced with a whole new set of terms makes it a lot more tricky.</div>
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I was very surprised to find that the shift is always purely made up of qualified nurses, but there are RPN2s and RPN3s, as well as Enrolled Nurses and Graduate Nurses - very confusing! From what I’ve gathered, an RPN2 is an equivalent of a band 5, and RPN3 a band 6. Only RPN3s can coordinate a shift, unlike in the UK when anyone can get thrown in at the deep end and you can find yourself in charge of the ward from the first week if you’re unlucky! Enrolled nurses are those that have done a diploma as opposed to a degree, and there are a few things that they cannot do until they are fully registered. </div>
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I spent much of the day going through the electronic notes system and making a start on my mandatory training; being told you get a significant extra payment on your wage at the end of the year when your training is up-to-date certainly inspired me to get it all done! As much as eLearning is a bore, it’s actually been incredibly helpful for teaching me the basics.</div>
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All mental health nurses on the ward are expected to complete a postgraduate programme in forensic nursing, which is estimated to take around six months. This starts straight away and involves completing various modules through supported sessions at work and some self-learning each week. It’ll be great to pick up an extra qualification which will enable to be a ‘forensic nurse’, something I wasn’t able to do back in the UK. </div>
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I finished my shift at 16:30, and having forgotten cash and my bus pass decided to make the most of the nice weather and walk home, 1 hour 45 mins in total. I enjoyed the walk but I certainly won’t be doing that every day! I did however buy a second-hand bike after work, which needs a little bit of tidying up but will be ready to cycle to work next week. All in all I’m pleased to say that it was a fairly pleasant first day. </div>
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Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-39206575077181405902018-09-05T00:52:00.000-07:002018-09-05T00:52:18.335-07:00The Three-Month Vacation Nears Its End<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMLw_E8WY3jw_A2cTQ2tBXyj1wxoipeLZ_HFYWKlgwYwXwU5-jjtb9nPyi7inRDK6B1KszrUTYHz5gd-_KYJsdxQb2-t9ywyTLkha0OhalDhyphenhyphenTMi_QeGM6UHccW_TXpzXL9Fq8-yujiGw/s1600/IMG_6880.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGMLw_E8WY3jw_A2cTQ2tBXyj1wxoipeLZ_HFYWKlgwYwXwU5-jjtb9nPyi7inRDK6B1KszrUTYHz5gd-_KYJsdxQb2-t9ywyTLkha0OhalDhyphenhyphenTMi_QeGM6UHccW_TXpzXL9Fq8-yujiGw/s1600/IMG_6880.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Byron Bay</td></tr>
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Having last worked on the 1st of June, it is now just over three months since I worked a shift. I am due to start my new job on the 10th September, and having been out of the habit of work and routine for so long, I am dreading how I am going to cope! I went in to the hospital two days ago to meet with a HR representative in order to complete a heap of forms and sign my contract. I was very surprised to be given a 'welcome to work' pack, consisting of Tim-Tams, Vegemite, sun cream, note pads, and various other bits and bobs. Not only that, but my workplace induction will place in the same week I start work - now that's a novelty! There is a little amount of excitement - very deep down admittedly - and hopefully it'll be a positive experience from the start.<br />
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This week has consisted of lots of tedious tasks which I like to call 'life admin'. Things that need to get done but I like to keep putting off! Today I have been at the library (unfortunately you are limited to two hours per day on the computers) doing eLearning for the new job. This consisted of a fairly basic online module on outcome measures and patient rating scales (must remember that patients here are referred to as 'consumers'), and fortunately are mostly similar to tools used in the UK.<br />
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I find it a little odd that the facility I will be working at offers the choice of wearing your own clothes, or purchasing a uniform. Surely the point of a uniform is that everyone wears the same? Either way, I've decided to opt for the uniform in order to save the bother of buying a whole new work wardrobe and having to think about what to wear each day. You are allocated a voucher of $400 to pick what you like from a selection of shorts, trousers, shirts or polo shirts, or tunics. You can even order yourself a true Aussie-style canvas hat! I'll be skipping the hat - I'm not ready for that just yet!<br />
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I joined the gym at the end of last week, but had been waiting for a gym induction to be able to use the facilities. It's been two months since I last stepped into a gym so it'll be nice to get back to exercising and getting those endorphins flowing, and hopefully will be another way to meet like-minded people. As a bonus, the leisure centre has both and indoor and outdoor pools, so come Summer-time the outdoor pool will be a delight! They also run a running club on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6am. I've really missed running but have found it diffiuclt to find adequate running routes, so maybe this will be a good (and safe) option.<br />
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I am feeling rather stressed about the prospect of commuting to work at the moment. I've weighed up my options, and decided that buying a car will be fairly pointless here in Brunswick; you can walk everywhere you need to or use public transport, so the costs will far outweigh the benefits. In fact, I've actually enjoyed how much I've needed to walk, and realise how lazy I had gotten at home, driving the 2 minutes down the road to Tesco instead of walking, or driving to the gym for ease. Anyway, the drive to work would be around 15-20 minutes, however there is <i>always</i> heavy traffic on those routes and so public transport would be easier. The downside with working shifts however, is that they will be starting and ending at funny times, quite often when there are transport delays or replacement services. The final option is to cycle. I have no problems with cycling, but am not very confident at cycling on the roads. However, there are plenty of second-hand bikes available locally, the route will take no more than 25 minutes, and apart from the initial outlay for a bike, the transport will be free. I've therefore lined up a few bikes to try out tomorrow and hopefully this will result in me being sorted for work. I've got to get over my cycling fear! It'll be much nicer to be able to leave work the minute I finish, and get home to make the most of my 15:30 finishes, as opposed to waiting around for public transport. Not only that, but it would involve a 20-minute walk from the hospital to the train station, on top of the journey.<br />
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I'm a bit of a one for leaving things until the last minute, and have booked to go away to the Mornington Peninsula from Thursday to Sunday, with four others girls from the UK who are all nurses. I must say, I can't really stand Facebook, but it has been a Godsend for meeting people, and it will be great to spend time with some fellow nurses. We will be visiting the hot springs at Mornington, going out for dinner, celebrating the birthday of one of the girls, and spending some time relaxing. The only downside is arriving back Sunday afternoon doesn't give me a great deal of time to prepare for work, but I couldn't say no to one final trip before I get back on the grind! I've been blowing money like it's been going out of fashion, but with three months off work I feel it would be criminal not to make the most of exploring Australia and enjoying my time. Fortunately most people get paid every fortnight in Australia, so it won't feel like such a long time before I get to replenish the (drinking) funds!Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-10481512668948568022018-08-30T21:08:00.001-07:002018-08-30T21:08:50.618-07:00Four Nights in the Gold Coast<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;">Whilst not working, I am in the habit of saying 'yes' to any opportunities that arise, as I am aware that I need to make the most of having a huge chunk of time off without the constraints of shift work. Rhianne had already booked to go the Gold Coast, but due to circumstances no longer had someone to go with and asked if I fancied it, with only a week's notice. Without a moment's hesitation I booked the flights and jumped aboard. Rhianne is fantastic at planning (she planned the majority of our Bright trip too), and so I was happy to go along with anything she suggested. We flew into Gold Coast airport on Thursday evening, picked up a hire car, and headed to our Air BnB. </span></div>
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We decided to get an early start on Friday morning and go to Morans Falls, a sub-tropical part of the Gondwana rainforests in Queensland. I have recently learned that Instagram is a fantastic source of inspiration for places to visit and camera-worthy views and locations, and Rhianne having spotted Moran Falls on Instagram, we decided to head there. The walk was a fairly easy 4.4km which took us about an hour and a half from start to finish. To get the view pictured above, we had to walk through and along the stream to get right to the edge (there were a fair few others doing this too!), but the views were absolutely worth it, particularly as it was a bright and sunny day.</div>
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We had a quick look at the tree top walkway before making the drive to the Sky Point Observation Deck in Surfers Paradise. Driving back down the mountain I noticed an animal along the side of the road, and slowing down to look at it I was very pleased to see a kangaroo! It's the first I have seen out in the wildlife and it made my day! Thankfully it was only a young 'roo as the adults are huge and can be absolutely beastly. </div>
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The observation deck offered fantastic views across the Gold Coast, and thankfully the weather was brilliant and the sky was clear. We didn't spend long up there as there's only so much you can do once you've taken in the view, and didn't fancy the overpriced refreshments. We decided to go and buy an ice cream and sit on the beach for a while, just watching the waves and the surfers, and enjoying the sunshine. It is surprising how much of a difference it can make to your mood to feel the sun on your face and the sea breeze. </div>
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Before heading back to our Air BnB, we stopped at John Laws Park at Burleigh Heads, where you can walk to the lookout points and watch the sunset or sunrise. The sunset was absolutely breathtaking against the city skyline, and we spent quite some time sat there watching the co lours of the sky change. I was fascinated by watching all of the young people who were hanging around the park eating dinner or playing games; it seemed such a nice way of life to be able to sit in the park and watch the sea, with people running and walking along the coastal track. It's certainly very appealing, and I can see why people move to the Gold Coast.<br />
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Rhianne and I went for dinner with one of her old work colleagues and had a walk around before returning to the Air BnB to rest up for the next morning.<br />
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The next day we took the drive to Byron Bay, for Saturday and Sunday night. Once arriving we had a look around the town, and made sure to get to the beach for sunset. Many other people had got the same idea and flocked to the beach to watch the sun go down. It's a really lovely beach, very clean and not at all crowded, and was a lovely place to see the sun setting against the sea and the lighthouse. We found a pub later that night to watch a blues band and grab a bit of food, before returning to our hostel for the night. </div>
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For our last full day we opted to take a surfing lesson at 9am. We got up early enough to stroll along the beach whilst it was peaceful and quiet, before meeting our surf instructor at 08:30. After only a few days in the Gold Coast I must say I am very inspired to live somewhere near a beach, where I can get up early for leisurely beach strolls and sit and chill of an evening.<br />
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I had a surfing lesson in Bali last week, so it was fairly fresh in my mind how to surf, so it was nice to do another refresher so soon. There were only three of us in the lesson - Rhianne and I and one other - and so we had a lot of tuition and managed to get quite a few waves each. The surf lesson was great fun, although very tiring despite only being in the water for around an hour. I'd love to surf a lot more so maybe in the near future I'll sign on to a surf school for a few days.<br />
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After surfing we were absolutely starving and stopped for some lunch, before making the walk up to the lighthouse. As always, the views were brilliant and we spent a fair amount of time watching for whales, and managed to see quite a few. We even saw a few dolphins! We were told by the staff at the hostel that we would not see whales, but I strongly suspect this is because they wanted to entice us on to their whale-watching tour for a fee. </div>
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On Monday evening, our last night, we went to a fanastic wood-fired pizza restaurant. We decided to get a fairly early night as Rhianne wanted to get up at 05:30 in order to see the sunrise. Unfortunately the sky was pretty cloudy and the sunrise was nowhere near as spectacular as we had thought it would be, but it was very nice to be up early and see the day in. It's made me realise how much I actually miss getting up early for work and seeing the 'golden hour', and it will be nice to get my routine back.Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-84128677627901312672018-08-21T23:27:00.001-07:002018-08-21T23:27:52.381-07:00Hitting The Slump<img id="id_d4db_ba6d_77c1_3e09" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGB5nSYXt3stwwgogcBM_nCy4f6IVoe_piD_XjOfKT715hnXMiE0huQXAxu59fi4gqO1qHn4iHZq0DmLcxbzP5klUZZAWx2lx2NgsKtvuTXGfRxyBcSF5pv4i3bEJqIuYa_B8nUbg2u2W/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I have now been in Australia for just over two months, and so far I have been pleasantly surprised by the absence of any homesickness, save for the odd day in the first couple of weeks which passed pretty quickly. Fast-forward to 65 days after arriving down under, and I think I’ve finally hit a slump. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Today is Wednesday. I arrived back to Melbourne on Monday after a 12-day tour of Bali, and unfortunately the end of my trip was ruined by the dreaded ‘Bali Belly’. On Thursday of last week there were around 8 people out of 18 on the trip who suffered from the dreaded 24-hour vomiting, and I thought that I had been lucky to avoid it. Friday came, and three other girls and I decided to have a morning at a local spa due to heavy rain and the absence of anything else to do. I booked myself in for a very cheap package for a facial, massage, and manicure for the bargain price of around £8. All was going well until I sat down to have my manicure, and all of a sudden tried to explain to the beauty therapist that I needed to make a run for the toilet, but I wasn’t quick enough and promptly vomited all over the salon floor. To say I was mortified was an understatement. I then spent the whole of Friday in bed, throwing up constantly, unable to keep down any fluids. Sadly that meant I missed that evening’s farewell meal, along with a few others who also ended up struck by the bug. Later in the evening, when I felt like I could barely move a muscle for fear of being sick, there was also an earthquake which lead to the bed shaking and was not the most comforting of feelings. Even worse when you can hear people around the hotel shouting in panic and running around, and I’m questioning whether I even have the strength to pull myself out of bed!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I spent all of Saturday in bed hoping that I would feel fit enough to make my flight on Saturday evening; I did, but it was not a pleasant experience. I could not have been more pleased to get back to Melbourne and to my own bed! Sadly it is now Wednesday and I am STILL ill. I shouldn’t have been ill this long and it’s causing me all sorts of worry, and making me feel utterly miserable and alone. <br></span><br><img id="id_6ba4_39b6_ff21_950" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxF7LlJUNTxHNIKM-g1VSDWejq_HqJ5yH4cVvMUDLxVdYp2WttIaqrzsoFdxVPEQBr9drG1vxIQ15Y9qGb82uoY9TpuEHeqC3R6ep-kQ_bi6DSUtgptoi9JXWxHLR7d26bpkkLmE8BBSP/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br> </div></div><div>Bali was an absolutely amazing experience, and I got to enjoy lots of new things and meet some great people. I went for my first ever surfing lesson and loved it; I was very lucky to see countless dolphins on a sunrise boat tour (not even this picture does justice to how spectacular the views were with the dolphins leaping out of the water right beside us); I went white water rafting which was absolutely hilarious; I enjoyed Indonesian cooking lessons and dancing, amongst many other things. I should have been on a high after all of this, but sadly the dreaded Bali Belly ruined the end of my holiday, and I think this episode has kick-started my current slump.</div><div><br></div><div>Feeling ill, I just want to be at home in my bed in England, around my home comforts and the undivided attention and company of my furry little house cats. I want to be able to pop into Tesco to buy the things I know I can eat and drink when I feel sick, that aren’t available in Australia. I want to be able to go to see a doctor without paying $60 for a consultation and $150 for a pathology test. I miss being around my familiar people and not having to be constantly trying hard to be sociable and make an effort to form new friendships; as much as I enjoy meeting new people, there is something to be said for the comfort and ease you enjoy at being around those that are close to you when you are drained of energy to do much other than to just ‘be’.</div><div><br></div><div>I am yet to start work and am missing the routine. I have just received my first month’s rota and I could not be more disappointed. Going from working 12-hour days with three or four shifts a week, with colleagues that I absolutely adore, to working in a new place with up to six 8-hour shifts per week, gives me plenty of worries about what kind of work-life balance I am now going to have to get used to. What I wouldn’t do to have my old shift pattern back, and to sit and natter with my old colleagues. </div><div><br></div><div>Despite my current pessimistic state, I still feel very grateful to be here and know that this feeling will pass. I have some more trips planned, firstly flying up to the Gold Coast in a couple of days to do some surfing and general exploring in warmer weather. I’ve a few social events in the calendar to look forward to, and once I get back from the Gold Coast will promptly be joining a gym, as that is one of the major things I am missing right now and know that I need.</div><div><br></div><div>That all said, I must remember in times like this, that <i>“This too shall pass”.</i></div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-74782737372962790852018-08-15T20:25:00.000-07:002018-08-30T21:11:28.605-07:00A Weekend in Bright, Victoria<img alt="" id="id_c651_aaa4_27be_cd89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN1E-G-M0dMUrNPH3ToYhRl-4iArVTO0i51fC8lSSbVoC8ilTb8jwCz3GtYt7R194857CQKQ02uZwqsFDMg6vFlRYhxHyOasMQodnOSr2ehiVW8D5oeNkqgM2wzWMKjEnRO2geSRfAup_/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" style="height: auto; width: 746px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />
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In the first week of August, two friends and I decided to take a road trip to Bright, a town in Victoria which is the start of many walking trails, as well as the skiing areas. Bright being roughly a 4-hour drive North of Melbourne, we had a few stops along the way, including a little town called Glenrowan, best known for being the place that Ned Kelly was finally caught and captured in, in 1880 after a siege and shoot-out with the police. I'll admit I had heard of Ned Kelly but didn't have a clue who he was or what he was known for, so I did a bit of research on the journey and found that he is widely considered a Robin Hood type, however in my opinion (and many others on internet it seems), that reputation is very wide of the mark.<br />
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Glenrowan is a fascinating little town which feels that it is many years behind, with lots of little cafes and a real Australia country vibe. Not surprisingly, most of the accommodation and shops are named after Ned Kelly himself.<br />
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Away from the city, there are so many things to look at and beautiful areas of countryside, so we stopped a fair few times to have a look and take pictures.<br />
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We stopped along the way at a town called Beechworth, known in its heyday for its gold, but we stopped specifially because we had heard that the Beechworth Bakery was highly recommended. We stopped for pie and cake but I must say it wasn't anything out of the ordinary! It's a tiny town with a population of under 3,000, and is another very quaint-looking Australian place.<br />
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It was really nice to be outside of the city and to be able to explore the countryside. We all enjoy walking, so decided to walk the Apex Lookout walk, as we'd heard there were fantastic views from the lookout point. We had a bit of lunch 'al fresco' before making the walk up to the viewpoint.<br />
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The views were fantastic and we had a nice clear day. The only disappointing thing was at the lookout was a power generator, which we had not expected to be there, and the views were therefore only decent from one side.<br />
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We took another stop to admire Mount Beauty, which I was very surprised to see was snow-capped. All of my preconceived ideas about Australia told me that they experience nothing but sun, so in my naivety I was rathersurprised to find that you can actually go skiing in Victoria and that there is snow at this time of year!<br />
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We were adamant we wished to go to a motel or hotel that had a jacuzzi (or 'spa' as they call them here), and fortunately we managed to find one. We spent a good couple of hours drinking prosecco in the spa before we decided to sort ourselves out for dinner. I'd had a shower and washed my swimmers, before wrapping myself in a towel to dash to the room. Unfortunately the rooms all looked remarkably similar, and some poor guy stood looking very surprised when Laura and I walked straight into his room before staring at him in confusion! Luckily he saw the funny side and laughed it off, although given that he didn't speak any English I have just assumed he was not traumatised.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Sunday morning was spent at a lovely little cafe on the river called the Ginger Baker, which served the most delicious selection of brunch dishes. On the way back to Melbourne we stopped at several wineries in the King Valley Prosecco Road region (yes it is as great as it sounds, wineries all in a row all offering prosecco) for a few tastings, before driving back to the city. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">It was great to get away even if only for the one night, and it has shown me there really is so much to see away from the city. It really made me miss having a car, as it would make it so easy to take off for days out here and there, and so I am really considering whether I want to get myself a car once I start work. </span><br />
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Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-79173367864904800292018-07-25T00:22:00.001-07:002018-07-25T04:08:35.817-07:00Settling in to Life in Brunswick<img id="id_1cf7_64e3_31f4_f87f" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaUrcCbSBX7eOMfPCppIovYmjmKuifWWLBMOyiWqv6-W9zwvm8HDHJ6i9em9QcNgZCzhMyZxR_1RNWsznsXGD5xZheHPxww326wHZ4DL0GXsxAWdNjNVhLlzBRsLmtqjNEBtxf2xOtgJu/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I have now been living in Brunswick for just over three weeks, and I can’t believe how quickly it has begun to feel like home. The location of the house is great, situated very close to the main streets where all the pubs, bars, and restaurants are, and only a short walk from the supermarkets. There is a library down the road which I have become very well acquainted with, what with the arduous task of still having to sort out paperwork for my nursing registration, and the gym is just across the road from the library. I’ve gone as far as going for a tour at the gym and looking into classes I’d like to join, but have decided to leave joining up until I start work and can manage the extra outgoing costs and will have more of a routine.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I’ve tried to say <i>yes</i> where possible and make the most of opportunities to meet people. One day I decided to get out of the house and find a pub to read my book. I googled the nearest pub and sat myself at the bar and had a few drinks. Before the night was out I’d got to know a couple of people who are regulars at the pub, who have gone on to be people I have met quite regularly since, and the pub has very quickly become my ‘regular’! It’s nice to have a place I can pop into any evening and bump into a familiar face. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Through the powers of Facebook, I also found a regular pub quiz team at the pub round the corner from my house, and we all meet every Tuesday. I can’t honestly that I am contributing much to the quiz, but it’s nice to have a regular social event!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I spent the first two weeks wondering whether I’d made the right decision in leaving everything behind to move to Australia, but I can safely say now that it is one of the best decisions I could have possibly made. I miss home, friends, and family terribly, and I even miss my job. However, I’ve realised that you can’t have everything in life and that you need to compromise on some things. Life is about pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone, and life really is too short to hold back on the things you dream of doing on account of the things you don’t want to leave behind. I’m a stickler for routine and home comforts, but I have taken comfort from developing new routines and finding new safety blankets. I used to listen to podcasts every single drive to and from work, and surprisingly have found it a great comfort to continue to listen to the same podcasts here. Thankfully the power of the internet and WhatsApp chats means I have no problem keeping in touch with people at home, despite the time difference!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Finally, last week I received some good news. On the Wednesday of last week my 4-year sponsorship visa was granted, meaning I am no longer on the Working Holiday Visa and therefore farm work is definitely not something I have to worry about anymore - woohoo! I can stay in Aus until July 2022! Just two days later, I received my ‘offer in principle’ for my nursing registration with AHPRA. After six months of stress, worry, and repeated back and forth with both immigration and AHPRA, to get both things sorted within the same week was the biggest relief. There were numerous times at which I felt like giving up as I couldn’t handle any more stress of chasing of documents or employers, but I am so pleased now that I persevered. All I need to do now is present my ID documents in person at an AHPRA office and I am good to go.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Now that I have a timeline and am able to budget my finances accordingly; I have agreed a start date for work of the 10th September. I’ve booked to go to Bali for two weeks in August, and am hopeful to find a few weekend breaks too. I am heading away this weekend for a short break to a town in Victoria called Bright, with three other girls, which I’m looking forward to. It’ll be my first ‘road trip’ in Australia and hopefully the first of many. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br> </div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-17699121862692024392018-07-10T22:51:00.001-07:002018-07-10T22:51:32.523-07:00Things I've Learned During Three Weeks in Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Although Australia is pretty similar to the UK in a lot of ways, I've come across a fair few things so far that have surprised / amused / confused me, and here they are. </div>
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<b><u>Book Nooks</u></b></h4>
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In many shopping centres you will see a 'book nook'; put simply, this is a book exchange system where you leave a book behind and take a book. I love this idea as it means that once you've finished with a book you can get rid of it, but get something new to read at the same time. In theory I'll never have to buy another paperback again!</div>
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<b><u>Money</u></b></h4>
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I am finding it difficult to get my head around the change here in Aus, as the coin sizes don't correlate to the value of the coins, and seem pretty backwards. For instance, the smallest coin is about the size of a 5p and is actually a $2 coin. I was just about to ready to chuck all my $2 coins into a charity box until someone kindly pointed out that they were worth quite a bit!</div>
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Something I can't quite get used to is that when you buy something, the amount will be rounded up. For instance if something comes to $23.47, you'll be charged $23.50. This saves all the irritating small change that seems to gather, but it's an odd concept to get used to.</div>
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'Pay Pass' - At home we have contactless card, but here it's called 'pay pass' and you will be asked if you want to 'pay pass'. Confusing at first if you don't realise what it is! Also, you can tap and pay for much larger amounts, which is pretty dangerous when it feels like every time you tap you're not actually spending any money!</div>
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<b><u>The Lingo</u></b></h4>
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I already knew that Australians like to abbreviate everything, but I have now realised that they like to abbreviate <i>everything</i>. Going to the petrol station? The 'servo'. Need a cool-box? It's an 'esky'. Want to buy some alcohol? Get yourself down to the 'bottle-o'. Work as a skilled labourer? You're a 'tradie'. Most shockingly for me was when I went into a chemist to get some toiletries, asked the sales assistant where to find a few things, and she had to ask me a few times what <i>I</i> was saying!</div>
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<b><u>Drinking</u></b></h4>
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Cider is my drink of choice, and I drink it in pints. Here in Victoria, you can't always get a pint. You'll either get a pot (half-pint), a schooner (in between a pot and pint) or a pint. Go to Queensland, and you'll get a middy instead of a pot, and you'll also get a schmiddy or a pony. The worst thing about drinking in Australia however, is that a pint is around $10 (GBP5.58), which pains me greatly. </div>
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<b><u>Friendly People</u></b></h4>
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Everyone here is <i>so</i> damn friendly. Everywhere you go, whether it's a bar, shop, restaurant, or public transport, you'll get a friendly greeting and genuine warmth. Sometimes it's a lot, especially when you want to go somewhere like Priceline (the equivalent of Superdrug) and someone approaches you to ask you if you need help. I'm the kind of person that needs to be left to browse, so sometimes the over-enthusiastic offers of help are too much!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OGBT0EgXKBQ_9LxNKT2Nm_-FtQBXamvro4Kmnau_V6_aUbajGF4reQtvf9KdIRLJcvPTW1x0wUp_LvNc6OQqSgjd4iF2yDJVD2UpyvsLBEp0DYiogOltYqYFNKaRUX8ZQl9R-0yYYNqr/s1600/477E2A77-89CC-44E0-9691-DD62280221CE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5OGBT0EgXKBQ_9LxNKT2Nm_-FtQBXamvro4Kmnau_V6_aUbajGF4reQtvf9KdIRLJcvPTW1x0wUp_LvNc6OQqSgjd4iF2yDJVD2UpyvsLBEp0DYiogOltYqYFNKaRUX8ZQl9R-0yYYNqr/s1600/477E2A77-89CC-44E0-9691-DD62280221CE.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Hard Rubbish</u></b></h4>
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One of the most surprising things I have learned about in the last week or so, is 'hard rubbish'. Now this really is quite a sight! Apparently every six months or so, the council comes around with a truck and picks up any 'hard' rubbish that people leave out on the streets. This is your bulky rubbish that you would ordinarily take to a dump or put in a skip, such as furniture, beds, electrics, garden furniture, and so on. People leave it outside their houses and other people come and help themselves (supposedly there are laws against this, but that doesn't stop people). The picture above is the remains of a hard rubbish week - I walked along one road where there was <i>so</i> much junk I could barely walk along the pavement!</div>
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<b><u>Op Shops</u></b></h4>
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What we call charity shops, are 'op' shops here. Again, another abbreviation, standing for 'opportunity shops'. They are a really big thing here and there are actually proper stores for op shops. People even make a thing of going 'op shopping'. </div>
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<u>Everyone Ubers</u></h4>
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I have used Uber at home maybe once in my entire life, but here <i>everyone</i> uses some form of Uber. There are various different taxi apps (Ola, Taxify, Didi, Uber), and each offers discount codes, especially if you share the codes with friends. So by swapping codes with other people, you both gain discounts and can get super cheap travels. Sometimes Ubers work out cheaper than public transport, and it's a great system when you want to get home from a night out. I've found that alternating between the various Uber apps ensures that I can get the cheapest journey. </div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-53198717951464107762018-06-30T22:10:00.000-07:002018-07-10T22:11:26.675-07:00Week 2 - Rooftop Drinks, Kangaroos, and Bottomless Brunch<div>
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I spent another week in Macleod, and although the jetlag is still wearing me down (probably not helped by the lack of routine and focus, namely any form of employment at present), I’m starting to feel more settled and at ease with being here. In fact, I’ve really enjoyed being in Macleod as it feels like such a nice, quiet, and safe area. The homesickness comes in waves, but for the most part I find that focusing on all of the new experiences I’ll be able to have here and the people I’ll be able to meet distracts me just enough. I am definitely missing home comforts, and it pains me that it’s Winter here whilst it’s in the high 20s in England!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yarra River at night</td></tr>
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One evening I went into the city to meet an old school friend, Kyle, who I hadn’t seen for around eight years; it was really great to see a familiar face and to catch up with someone else from home. We went to a swanky little bar on the river next to Flinders Street Station, and had a few drinks. I’m yet to properly explore the city and what is around as I’m still finding my bearings, so it’s nice to discover places through the recommendations of others. Annoyingly, not everywhere serves drinks in pints and so I have to settle for a schooner, yet the price seems to be the same! It's certainly expensive drinking out in Melbourne. </div>
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After a few drinks, we went to a rooftop bar which also functions as a roof-top cinema. We sat and had a few more drinks and ordered some food from the burger bar, which I was most impressed with - sometimes you can’t beat a simple burger and chips!</div>
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The next day I decided to jump on the train to go to a little town called Ivanhoe, which I had discovered last week and really liked. I went for some wood-fired pizza for dinner, and am finding that I am loving the opportunities to eat alone and spend time catching up on reading, something I used to do for a couple of hours a day at home, but haven't done much whilst I've been here.<br />
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I had intended most days on going for a run, as it's something I usually love doing at home. However, with my sleep completely topsy-turvy my motivation has been lacking, and I've not much wanted to get out running once it's dark. On Thursday morning however, I finally managed to wake up at a reasonable time and took myself out for a run. Thanks to the joys of GPS, I just decided to run without considering where I was going, then rely on the GPS to find my way back. It was a good way to explore the area, and I also discovered a walking track just ten minutes behind where I was staying. I had briefly considered whether there might be kangaroos lurking around, but then chastised myself for stereotyping Australia and forgot about it. However, on my way back two girls (who spoke little English) stopped me to ask where they could find the kangaroos. Cue my befuddlement and telling them that I did not know and I had not seen any. That evening I spoke to Suzi (owner of the Air BnB) about it, and she told me that there are indeed mother and baby kangaroos roaming around, most loitering on the boundaries. The male kangaroos are held behind a large fence because they are too dangerous to be roaming around! I was most disappointed that I had not managed to see any 'roos, but also most surprised that they can be found in such a suburban area. <br />
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I enjoyed having a nosy whilst running around the area, as there were some seriously swanky properties!<br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">On Saturday morning I moved into my rental house in Brunswick with two Australian girls, Caitlin and Laura, who have already been living there for quite some time. I managed to get myself an Uber for about $3 for a 40-minute journey, thanks to an accumulation of discount codes! I was surprised to find how much stuff I had accumulated in just two weeks, due to having to buy all the items I hadn't had room to pack in my suitcases on the way over.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The girls had very kindly left me a 'Welcome to Melbourne' gift with essentials including wine and TimTams! </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Saturday lunchtime we went down the road to Laura and Caitlin's friends' house for a 'bottomless brunch'. We all took an item of food and contributed to the breakfast (which was absolutely delicious), and filled our boots with prosecco. It was really nice to meet a few other English people, and just to be around a group of girls. It's going to be hard to start a whole new social circle in a new country, so occasions like this I am so grateful for. I'm also very pleased that bottomless brunch is very much a thing here!</span></div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-86079996054003011052018-06-25T10:30:00.001-07:002018-06-26T08:21:58.506-07:00Brunswick and Fitzroy - Meeting the HousematesOn Friday night I took the train over the Brunswick to meet Caitlin and Laura, my soon-to-be housemates. Before coming over to Australia, I was getting stressed about all the things I would have to sort out once I arrived, and so decided that anything I could sort out beforehand would be a bonus. I therefore took the risk of finding somewhere to live without viewing it first, and so met Caitlin and Laura, and viewed their house, after Skype! <div><img id="id_d468_3d55_d756_b85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDMS1rf5LXGnifWN6kgieWGT00luECF4vqLzdA-b4BLg_tUw5IS8pB6Mlc-2mFlOMLYEs7T3MFn2f_Waei-unzOVxDXci-4Oq8mLTqQqxg3IdCXFYQVy3QiWAiayKn2pkxkwqP5xEAFCN/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">After getting the house and having a quick look around, we got ready to go out for my ‘Australian Initiation’. We went down the road to a Thai ‘BYO’(bring your own bottle) restaurant, something which seems to be a pretty common thing here. We stopped off at the ‘bottle-o’ (it seems I have a lot of Australian lingo to learn in order to eventually understand what everyone is actually talking about!) for a few bottles of vino, and had a nice civilised dinner. Brunswick is often described as the ‘hipster’ area of Melbourne, full of share-houses, with lots of bars, restaurants, and cafes - I’d liken it to Camden. After dinner we went to a pub, where I was very pleased to see that they serve my favourite cider - a little glimpse of home which was much appreciated! The first stumbling block however was the drink sizes; did I want a pot (half-pint) a schooner (between a half and a pint), or a pint? I was then told that in other states of Australia, the sizes would be called something different again. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">After a few civilised drinks, Laura suggested we head over to Fitzroy, which seems to be the place to be if you want to stay out late or go clubbing. We caught an Uber and went to a club called Perseverance - I realised that Australians will abbreviated absolutely <i>anything, </i>when everyone referred to the place as ‘Perso’!</span><br><img id="id_8fff_4445_8357_7a0c" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Pg8zGPtrfCOmLeRAG85mw0TDe7DfSQUiB8cRVkS2KJ2Bf52KlKT64VtqIvYuReLoM8X-r1p9G-UUjd1iI80B3USR0HqFgj8GOJZ6zqnSRf3QLrmcKvLJ8Id9wT9weGQGXdxVh69vQAJi/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br>Having all felt pretty sober, the drinks started flowing at ‘Persa’ and before we knew it, it was around 4am. I learned that firstly I have no idea how to use Australian coins, several times trying to pay with the wrong denominations (the coin sizes are all wrong!), and secondly that Australian clubs stay open super late. When I’ve had a drink it seems that everyone is my best pal, and so I got chatting to a lot of people, and everyone had plenty of advice for me about things to see and do in Melbourne. Everyone is so friendly and so willing to help.</div><div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After Persa we went to another club until close at 6am (apparently this is a normal time for clubs to close!) before going back to an after-party at an apartment of some people that Caitlin and Laura had met. My camera roll is full of pictures of random people I got talking to, including the one above, and for some reason all of them seemed to have beards. </span><br><img id="id_4539_fd19_f220_123d" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWneTrJTObmWiMMM7SiN0PgPcqaTOfv-fxrlXLGRy2_q7euy0aXlJL7R8V0GSYYw4DXxsMsMsc7SHa_QnaxDNEqLBfu4PbnIpqjIg7iXbGomkvyq0OFh4bgDDBu2CEA4xSH_GZzuGg6-L/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I’d like to say that I saw a lot of Brunswick and Fitzroy, and that I have lots of pictures to show for it, but unfortunately none of the pictures are worth sharing! At least my introduction to an Aussie night out was a good one.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Staying awake so late wasn’t a problem for me given that I still haven’t managed to get myself synced up to Australian time, but by 8am I was ready to go to bed. I got a taxi back to the house and spent my first night in the new house. Laura has a cat, Tux, and I couldn’t recall whether she had said whether he is a house cat and allowed to go out or not, so when I opened the front door and he ran straight out, I realised I wasn’t going to be falling straight into bed. Tux decided to run straight under the neighbour’s house, cue me running around after him and trying to entice him out. Given that the cat doesn’t actually know me, this was quite a task! He eventually came home though, and I could get to sleep. Thanks Tux. <br></span><br><br></div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-11260209837862071622018-06-21T05:32:00.001-07:002018-06-21T05:42:32.773-07:00A Visit to Ivanhoe<img id="id_d6e7_8da7_8627_18da" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9YLHU0HhCqyIS8F-3eGH0_q5j4hPwkLkbgr_USArfAcoFb3rWHH2bQs8HrxljEG67DmnjlzF4F_rbJJiN8Rtn1MOdYEwskgZaE_ddPI8wzWKdi0mTbwmJRbGsc3UuFGlL9meV1zwz9fA/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">After another day of sleep (this time 08:30 until 16:30), my whole day of plans went completely up the spout. I managed to sleep through my alarm, which never happens, so I must have been tired. I’m trying to listen to my body and sleep when I need sleep as I’m trying to minimise stress, but as of tomorrow I’m on a mission to fight the jet lag, and synch with Aussie time as opposed to English time! The only positive is being on the same time zone as everyone at home means I can still chat to everyone at a normal time for them. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">On the way back from the city yesterday I noticed quite a few towns along the train line, which looked like they might be nice places to visit. One of those places was Ivanhoe, and when I looked it up it seemed to have a lot of independent restaurants. I thought it would be a good idea to get out and get a hot meal, having not eaten anything hot since being on the plane on Monday morning. Despite there being so many restaurants, the majority were wood-fired pizza places (in fact three right next door to each other) and so pizza it was. It was nice to sit in a restaurant window and just watch everyone going about their business and catch up on listening to a few podcasts. Even better, now that I’ve sorted my mobile phone out I can actually use data and chat to people at home whilst I’m out and about - it makes dinner out alone seem much less lonely!<br></span><br> </div><div>Being here now I can’t help making comparisons to when I last came to Australia a decade ago; back then I had no access to the internet other than to use internet cafes and public libraries, and had to stick with using Lonely Planet guides and maps, and asking locals for directions. Contact home had to be via e-mail at the Internet cafe. It was a completely different experience, and although having the internet at my fingers all day long gets rid of a lot of the anxiety of getting around and looking up train times etc, it also takes away some of the challenge of the experience, which I really enjoyed. I felt such a sense of achievement first time around, although this time it’s a challenge in a very different sense. Everything these days is so instant, and I do miss the simplicity of a time when we didn’t have the internet so readily available. </div><div><br></div><div>Tomorrow I will be going to Brunswick for the night to meet the two girls I will be living with, and spending the night at the house I’m going to be renting (I won’t be moving in until the end of next week). It will be nice to explore the area that will hopefully become a more permanent home, and meet the girls that have committed to living with me without having met me yet - either they’re brave or stupid! I’m hoping that having a few drinks and meeting some new people will help to make me feel more settled and at home. Whilst I’m waiting for my TSS Visa and AHPRA registration to come through I am going to make good use of all of this time off and enjoy myself, with a hangover or two along the way!</div><div><img id="id_3304_35b8_3e82_22c9" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUCnlaLdvw0AxFbz8qUt_TVluviCa-scvbIP03uAX7mS9iGcgOQKBefAIZtpP6bUAbyznuh4KbuZdQ8tWDvyaKHQd6dfsQAXLfrYzCHXXEgd7ZHRVi34jB9Y7v_erDqiKbMnCwIemt5UF/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 746px; height: auto;"><br><br><br></div><div><br><br><br></div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-21514191902661964392018-06-20T01:40:00.001-07:002018-06-21T05:53:19.930-07:00Venturing Into The City<img id="id_e50b_e8f3_8b31_2a0e" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhuMVAuF8i168HGptkRTQFwXfrGPYB2SFAKtkqTwBnaeTfLzGvF2gBNrG-S6ILUPJl2bJeVPhkI0n1zUQNsB-WW23uZzhbFGlPJ3nf0nQNQ5RJLi9yPHTU0xDFBdKzNwHHtfYNQ_uJO5wE/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 693px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">Another sleepless night last night, definitely not helped by my sleeping until 5pm yesterday! I’d set my alarm for 10am this morning in order to go into the city, but at the point that horrendous noise reverberated around the room I’d just got back to sleep and felt like hurling my phone through the window. I dozed for another hour or two, and then realised that I was yet to see any daylight since arriving, and if I got up and about then hopefully I’d sleep better. I’m feeling insanely homesick, and therefore it feels easier to luxuriate in bed and sleep or read than to get up and face the world. I have to keep telling myself thought that it WILL get easier, and that right now I am pretty much alone, and so it IS going to be hard until I actually meet people.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">The walk through Macleod to the train station was what I can only describe as walking through the set of <i>Neighbours</i>! So stereotypically Australian and quiet. The train into Melbourne Central is about 40 mins from Macleod (which I have now learned, since embarrassing myself at the ticket booth, is pronounced <i>ma-cloud</i> and not <i>ma-cle-od. Fortunately</i> it pulled up just as I paid for my ticket, which saved me quiet a wait.</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><i><br></i></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);">I’m feeling rather overwhelmed by all the changes I am having to face at the moment; after having a routine at home for many years, I had taken for granted so many of the little things, such as knowing which brands to buy at the supermarket, roughly how much things are going to cost, and approximately where most places are in relation to work or home. I hadn’t expected to get myself into a tizzy just trying to work out what a bottle of semi-skimmed milk looks like or is called, or how much a box of cereal equates to in pounds. Given that I am trying not to work myself into an absolute frenzy of stress, I have decided it would be best to give myself something small and achievable to do each day in order to get myself out and about and exploring Melbourne, without the stress of trying to squeezing too much in. I have plenty of time to do things whilst I’m waiting to start work, so there’s no hurry.</span></div><div><img id="id_e84_5976_4ed1_bc95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt53QsWWmYNWhDfPT50pR3Jjtps3Yc1niVGkhbzDuLJOtxWSWee3ZnY6w-U25k62Du5sks3Ah-pX61dTnwd3xNkqxiBnglrZ3_ZEBizyt2Wqi6uTjq6Sj6NnysZl_HgpBNTlmuGJLqc4c/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 695px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br>Today’s challenge was to set up my Commonwealth bank account, which was easy enough as I had already applied online two months ago and had my bank card sent to the Flinders Street branch to pick up. I was also relieved to see that the transfer of funds that I’d sent from the UK a couple of days ago had made it into my Australian bank account with no issues; surprising given that I did not really know what I was doing! Everyone is so friendly and helpful here, and the ‘<i>How you doing?’</i> seems to be a question of genuine interest rather than a generic greeting. Everywhere I’ve been today people just wanted to talk, ask lots of questions, and give lots of advice about Melbourne. All much appreciated at this point of course. </div><div><br></div><div>I had planned to get a new mobile service plan in a few weeks time when I’m more settled, but I realised today how much I am going to be relying on Google Maps, and data would help greatly with that. There’s only so much you can do with the free WiFi! There was a Telstra shop just down the road from the bank, so I decided to go in and find out about the service plans. The guy in the shop was explaining to me that the internet in Australia is generally pretty slow, and that costs for mobile plans are rather expensive. The cheapest I could get for what I needed came to the equivalent of about £25, when I pay £12 at home. It’s dawning on me that life here in Aus is going to be more expensive than at home, which I was honestly not expecting!</div><div><img id="id_81e0_21df_88c1_83bf" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5RjUFpzFxXSRGi6ItQCN2iBK92SJD0Tx4FuojNN7SQowRGfPWS80bDJg-vNN8DEX7_efrCeCzYZ2rUDVeMY-TY-EGArlaSn-wJHALCM7JZH0Napj9J2Svp7nrpxMy8ejr4IToSyFwY6Q/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 694px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br>I spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the shopping malls (both of which I managed to get in to but somehow couldn’t find the exits for, like some kind of labyrinth...) and just bumbled around, trying to find my bearings. I last came to Melbourne ten years ago and although I spent five days in the city, I feel that there is so much more for me to explore and now with a completely different perspective. I intend to make the most of being a tourist before I have to start work, given that I have no idea how long that will be. I went past Fairfield on the train, where my new workplace is based, and I was pleased to see that it seems like a really modern and clean area. The trains seem pretty reliable and so hopefully I’ll be able to get by quite easily without having a car, although it will be quite an adjustment!</div><div><br></div><div>As for tomorrow, I plan to stay in Macleod, go for a run around the local area, and perhaps visit the library to sort out some bits of ‘life admin’. Here’s hoping tonight will be bring me a better night’s sleep. </div><div><img id="id_7047_6a4e_ae75_aac0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsMeGO4VLG9jsCizBfzHLuMC5so3NmXiqKT1fFdDDYqLPe0zbK8ExBQaoWvUEW5AZGSRr4Ay1G9jaE7c4lCixPASngqWMnZvSOCYL8VQZV5WKHCgFNiwqi23Wl79Nx_1elZieFF4H5-gks/s5000/%255BUNSET%255D" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 694px; height: auto; margin: 4px;"><br><div style="text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="text-align: center;">(I am extremely frustrated at the lack of apps available to use my Blogger account on an iPad. If anyone has any recommendations of websites or apps to use which will avoid all the glitches I have been getting, I’d be most grateful!)</div><br></div><div><span style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0);"><br></span><br> </div>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-64268211716308947082018-06-19T03:10:00.000-07:002018-06-20T01:36:57.834-07:00Arriving in Melbourne<div class="separator" style="text-align: start; clear: both;"><a style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUEm51cDjUIA3zLprlF5N4UNUDNJC9NYRKfAxzp8DumNdYU4xciNCnkzSizfYI6q2dwXDa0UiEVVxVi9iaqf4NyQL9w1COh6OerGAuXihWsFKXo2d9GOZFVtBcFDfx9qvC1j5MilNJ2-l/s1600/IMG_5061.HEIC"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUEm51cDjUIA3zLprlF5N4UNUDNJC9NYRKfAxzp8DumNdYU4xciNCnkzSizfYI6q2dwXDa0UiEVVxVi9iaqf4NyQL9w1COh6OerGAuXihWsFKXo2d9GOZFVtBcFDfx9qvC1j5MilNJ2-l/s1600/IMG_5061.HEIC" alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1600" id="id_ccfa_97da_b2c5_d8d5" style="width: 1600px; height: auto;"></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think I could very easily say that this week has been one of the most stressful of my life. Trying to sort my belongings into two suitcases and hand luggage seemed an impossible task, and very nearly ended in a hefty oversized baggage charge; fortunately the kind lady at the baggage drop-off let me off the charges as I was only 3kg over when my luggage weights were combined. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Earlier this week I got asked to send more information for my AHPRA application, as well as complete another police check for my visa application. It has seemed like a constant (and never ending) stream of requests for further information and payments, but at long last I have arrived. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not only has this week been pretty high on the scale of stressful events, it has also been an absolute rollercoaster of emotions, mostly sadness and worry accompanied by streams of tears. I am overwhelmed by thoughts of all the things and people I will miss and struggled to say goodbye to (mum and dad especially!), and at the moment am struggling to focus on the positives, but hope that in a few weeks that may change. I recognise that it may take quite some time to settle in, and am prepared for more tears!</span><div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Following my Saturday night 21:55 flight from Heathrow to Hong Kong, my connecting flight to Melbourne landed at 07:20 this morning. It wasn’t all plain sailing as I was <span style="text-align: justify;">so distracted by how upset I felt, that I went through security at Heathrow and all the way through duty free before realising I had left my cabin bag behind. Fortunately when I ran back it was still there, although I had visions of the bomb squad being out to reports of ‘unattended baggage’!</span></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div style="text-align: start;"><span style="text-align: justify; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I managed to sleep a fair amount on the first flight, thanks to having a window seat, however the second flight from Hong Kong to Melbourne - not so much. By the time we landed I was pleased to be back on land, although rather panicked when my suitcases were the last to arrive. Funnily enough, the exact same thing happened the last time I was in Australia!</span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I have booked two weeks to stay at a homely Air BnB in the suburbs, in a little town called Macleod. A sleepy little place which will hopefully allow me plenty of time to unwind, get over the jetlag, and find my bearings. I hope to see these two weeks as a holiday to unwind from the stress of the last few weeks, and will take a few trips into the Central Business District (CBD) in order to set up my bank account, enrol in Medicare, and familiarise myself with the area. No doubt I will have to buy all of the things I have likely forgotten - or haven’t had time - to pack. I have various things to sort out, such as getting a new phone contract, sorting out my tax file number, and finding a new gym, so hopefully I should have enough to keep me busy. </span></div></div></div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I arrived to rain and wind, not exactly the weather that people envisage when they think of Australia! I had considered trying to get an Uber, or tackle public transport, but thanks to the weather, my tiredness, and the amount of luggage I had, I decided to take the hit and pay $61 for a taxi to Macleod, where my Air BnB is.
Monday was spent in a cycle of sleep, wake, read, sleep, wake, read. I had hoped to get out to the shops to pick up some food, but given that it was dark when I finally woke in a functional state, I decided to just go back to bed hungry and get on with things in the morning. That didn’t quite go to plan when I woke up at 17:00 today! I obviously needed the sleep, so I am not going to be hard on myself for wasting a day. I walked to the nearest supermarket, which was about a 25-minute walk, and had a slow wander around the neighbourhood. Macleod seems like a lovely, safe, suburban area, and I’m looking forward to exploring it in the daytime and finding a running route. </p>Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-33119519267870771842018-06-14T07:31:00.001-07:002018-06-14T15:29:12.988-07:00The Cost and Process of Nursing AbroadWhen I started the process of applying to work in Australia, I scoured the internet looking for accounts from others in a similar situation, but was pretty much met with a blank. I wanted to know how much it would cost me to complete the process and whether I could afford to commit to starting the application process and seeing it through to the end. With that in mind, I thought I would break down a list of the costs involved, for anyone else that is thinking about making the move. Even after completing most of my application, I am coming across more costs, and it terrifies me to think of the combined cost! But to be forewarned is to be forearmed, so here is the information you need...<br />
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<u><b>Visa Application</b></u><br />
Depending on who you talk to, some will tell you to complete your visa application first, whilst others will tell you to go for the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency application instead (AHPRA - The Australian equivalent of the NMC). I did the visa application first, with the idea that the visa was cheaper to apply for and if I got declined, I'd have saved myself paying the hefty AHPRA fee.<br />
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The Working Holiday Visa (WHV) is a year-long visa that you can apply for until the age of 30. Once approved, you must enter the country before your 31st birthday. If you wish to extend your visa to a second year, then you need to do 3-4 months of agricultural work and apply for your second year WHV before you turn 31. This visa allows you to travel around whilst working, but means you can only work in one job for a certain amount of days / hours (somewhere around 500 hours I think).<br />
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If you are planning to undertake work in health care whilst on your WHV, you will most likely need to undertake a medical. The medicals can only be performed by licensed panel physicians (I had to go up to London for mine) and are pretty pricey.<br />
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<b>WHV</b> - £349<br />
<b>Visa Medical </b>- approx. £300<br />
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<u><b>AHPRA Application</b></u><br />
At first glance, the AHPRA application looks incredibly overwhelming. And to be honest, it really is. Before I could submit mine, I spent around three months firing e-mails all over the place, gathering information, and spending money to get the information I needed. Not only that, but a lot of the time I found myself getting nowhere and wanting to pull my hair out with the stress of it all. I was bounced from pillar to post and at times waited weeks on end for responses. The best advice I can give for the AHPRA application is to allow yourself plenty of time to gather all of necessary information, and be prepared for possible delays in getting hold of said information. <br />
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You will need to gather statements of service from all of your previous NHS trusts, however there are stipulations as to what the statements should include, and you can find a template for this on the AHPRA website. AHPRA can be very pedantic as to what they require (in fact, mine were rejected and I had to get new letters written up) and must all be hand-signed. You will need proof that you have been taught in English, so that will involve a letter from your school or college to verify that you were taught and assessed in English, and the dates you attended. You need to provide certified copies of your academic certificates, which means you either need to find a Justice of the Peace who can sign and certify them for free, or find a 'notary public' to do so at a cost. Notary publics will quote vastly different prices, so it's best to ring around. I had quotes from between £80 and £200.<br />
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As well as certified copies of certificates, you will also need to get transcripts sent from your university directly to AHPRA (if you choose to have the transcripts sent directly to you, you will have to get them certified and if using a notary public, this will incur additional costs). Most universities are au fait with this process, and will complete a pack consisting of summaries of modules completed, placement hours, and your transcripts. Unfortunately the price of this seems to vary between universities. <br />
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Working in the NHS, I have never had to complete a CV, as I have always used the very user-friendly NHS Jobs website. However, for AHPRA you will need a full CV following their specified format, so it's best to get started on that as soon as possible, as you will need to gather information on any extra courses you have completed, as well has relevant skills you have pertaining to the jobs you will be seeking.<br />
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Finally, you will need to apply for a Certificate of Good Standing (COGS) from the NMC, which they will send directly to AHPRA.<br />
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Once you have your AHPRA 'Offer in Principle' you will need to present in person to an AHPRA office to show your ID documents. You will have three months to do so, and therefore need to consider when submitting your application how long it might take and when to book your flights. You might need to think about how long your period of notice is, as you want to arrive in Aus before the three months is up. <br />
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You may need to apply for a Fit2Work police check as part of your application; AHPRA will <i>only</i> accept police checks from specified companies. <br />
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Unfortunately my AHPRA application got lost in the post for two and a half months, having sent it tracked with Royal Mail (an experience that nearly put me off the entire process). I have since looked into other ways of sending the documents, and plenty of people have confirmed that DHL seems to be the most reliable, arriving in Australia within less than a week. <br />
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<b>AHPRA</b> - $660 (roughly £375)<br />
<b>Notary Public</b> - £80<br />
<b>NMC COGS</b> - £34<br />
<b>University Transcripts</b> - £25 for one university, £50 for the other.<br />
<b>Fit2Work </b>- $163.90 (roughly £93)<br />
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<u><b>Additional Costs</b></u><br />
Once your application process is complete, you will of course have to factor in flights, travel insurance, and accommodation, amongst other costs. I have been fortunate enough to secure sponsorship, which means the visa application is around £1300 and I also need an additional police clearance certificate costing £45. The pros of going to Australia on a sponsorship means that I can stay for four years without having to do farm work, and I can get settled into a routine, working in the same place long-term. For some people, being able to travel around Australia is preferable, so you may wish to give consideration as to whether you look for sponsorship opportunities or pursue the WHV route.<br />
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If you have any questions about the process I would be more than happy to help - I asked countless questions of strangers on Facebook and it couldn't have been more helpful!</div>
<br />Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-61942489263844026562018-06-06T03:00:00.000-07:002018-06-08T09:01:41.131-07:00One Week To GoThe last couple of months have really flown by, and now I find myself just a week away from 'the big move'. When I first booked the flights last year, June 2018 seemed <i>so </i>far away that I kind of convinced myself that the time would never arrive! But here we are, and my thoughts and emotions are all over the place.<br />
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I want to document this process for two main reasons; firstly for others in the same position as myself who are looking to nurse in Australia, as I found the information available was pretty scant, and I was desperate for <i>honest </i>first-hand accounts of how people had coped; and secondly, so that a few months down the line when I'm feeling homesick and mardy and full of regret, I can look back on this blog and see how far I've come. So here are a mish-mash of my thoughts thus far...<br />
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<b>Work</b><br />
Perhaps the biggest thing for me at the moment is that I am now, for the first time in my adult life, I am unemployed. I no longer have a steady income from a full-time job, and have no idea when I will be starting my next job. Although I have a job lined up in a forensic hospital, my start date entirely depends on how long it takes for both my sponsorship visa and AHPRA registration to be confirmed. I already have a working holiday visa which allows me to stay in the country for a year, and would allow me to pick up some temporary work, however the minute my other visa is confirmed, the working holiday visa becomes void. This leaves me in quite the state of worry regarding how long I am going to be unemployed and how far I can make my savings stretch.<br />
<b> </b><br />
The last week has unfortunately involved a lot of big sums of money leaving my account, such as for my visa, the bond for a place to live, fees for my air bnb where I am temporarily staying, and other chunks of money which have all acrued to cause me more stress! The uncertainty of not knowing how long I need to live off my limited savings means I can't exactly budget, and will be living rather frugally. Not exactly how I had envisioned my exotic arrival in Australia!<br />
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<b>Packing</b><br />
Packing for a holiday is one of my most-hated chores of all time. I never know what I want to wear that day, let alone of the rest of the week or fortnight. The added challenge here of course, is packing to move my entire life 9,000 miles away within just two 23kg suitcases. I have no idea where to begin with packing for both Summer and Winter, work-wear, gym-wear, essentials, and whatever else I need in order to not feel like a complete nomad when I get there. It's causing me an almighty headache!<br />
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<b>Fitness</b><br />
I joined a new gym in December as soon as it opened, and have been there almost daily ever since. I adore the classes, I've got to know the other members and the staff, and it feels like a rather dysfunctional home from home. I've never enjoyed exercise more, and the class timetable fits well with my life and keeps me motivated. Although I can walk straight into a gym in Melbourne as the same chain exists out there, it will be a completely different experience. Will the classes be the same? Will I gel with the people?<br />
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I also enjoy running and have myself several running routes that I know well around where I live. I'm actually quite looking forward to finding my way around the Melbourne suburbs, and running will be a great way to do that.<br />
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<b>Social Life</b><br />
A biggie here, but starting a new life so many miles away means incessant worries about whether I'll meet people I get on with, whether they'll like me and my Pommie ways, and whether I'll be able to get into a nice work-life balance out there in the same way I have developed here. I feel like I am starting a completely clean slate and although that's in some ways quite exciting, it's also rather terrifying!<br />
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That's just a start on all of the worries and anxieties that are swirling around my head at the moment at a million miles an hour, but hopefully in a week's time when I am sitting on the plane I'll be feeling more excitement than terror. We'll see... </div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-3837962947812462242018-04-09T10:40:00.002-07:002018-04-09T10:52:29.626-07:00When Things Don't Go According to Plan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGTmOa90kHk8yQQok-OPZU6MPCKKnC79n0dgbUSRXbJAlceIOndogacd2p6OUt_o2NoH4h_EmnFNwcds5bdALxmvXwXonWDoxkN2frKhyGd0JXHmb1GNe9DLfurf09D8idvzD6v2XgQpi/s1600/IMG_0888.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGTmOa90kHk8yQQok-OPZU6MPCKKnC79n0dgbUSRXbJAlceIOndogacd2p6OUt_o2NoH4h_EmnFNwcds5bdALxmvXwXonWDoxkN2frKhyGd0JXHmb1GNe9DLfurf09D8idvzD6v2XgQpi/s1600/IMG_0888.HEIC" /></a></div>
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As of today, I have 67 days until I depart for Australia. What seemed to be a pretty smooth process so far, now seems to have gone 'tits up'. I had my Working Holiday Visa confirmed in early December, and so swiftly started the process for applying to AHPRA, the Australia nursing board, in order to become registered to work in Australia. Having a vocation such as nursing seemed like a really great way to up sticks and relocate to Australia whilst having a guaranteed source of income, however it certainly hasn't gone as smoothly as I had liked.</div>
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The process of applying to AHPRA is a fairly tedious one, involving a number of costs (I dread to think the total costs so far), gathering a wide range of documents (including approaching my secondary school for proof that I studied with them at least 14 years ago!), and chasing people constantly. The amount of e-mails and telephone calls I have made, to be told things such as '<i>you're not showing on the database', </i>and to have my queries and requests passed from pillar to post, is simply frustrating and has made me want to pull my hair out.</div>
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On the 14th February, after two months of gathering the required documentation, I finally submitted my documents by Royal Mail signed tracking to Australia. I had no reason not to trust the Royal Mail, but unfortunately two months on my documents <i>still</i> haven't arrived, and after asking for help I was told either that my parcel had gone missing, or the tracking barcode had got damaged. Either way, how could I possibly know whether to wait for the parcel to arrive or to assume it has gone missing? </div>
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I'm arriving in Australia in two months' time, and I need a job. Without my nursing registration, I won't be able to work. So the fact that the Royal Mail have royally fecked up has caused me no end of worry. I now have to go through the pain-staking process of gathering my documents AGAIN, and paying out the various costs this entails. To say I am stressed is an understatement. I am on the verge of giving up on this process and staying put. In fact, if I hadn't already left my permanent job, I'd be quite tempted to do so.</div>
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I'm hoping in a few months' time when everything is finally in place, I can look back at this blog post and feel relief. I just need to remember to hang on in there and stay positive!</div>
<br />Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-58861338285857201292018-03-16T14:06:00.001-07:002018-03-16T14:08:56.839-07:00Three Months Until Moving Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUab7hkIFyQdBQsWg6FOV1AemnfdH-NgQqDqKEIUJSNjz6YR4QabWhKzZl2eQxpSfa0I17569QXsotXSDMsJvSVE4nGiIIiOOUXCR3rq4QWHKPz6olPqVIZGU1xoulgocDo9ZGbEnx_gLH/s1600/IMG_0726.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUab7hkIFyQdBQsWg6FOV1AemnfdH-NgQqDqKEIUJSNjz6YR4QabWhKzZl2eQxpSfa0I17569QXsotXSDMsJvSVE4nGiIIiOOUXCR3rq4QWHKPz6olPqVIZGU1xoulgocDo9ZGbEnx_gLH/s1600/IMG_0726.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the summit of a sunrise hike in Guatemala - one of the lightbulb moments that made me realise I wanted to see more of the world. </td></tr>
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So today marks exactly three months until I up sticks and move my entire life to Australia. To say I'm terrified would be a complete understatement! My nearest and dearest ask me regularly whether I'm excited, but at the moment the fear is overtaking me and I am finding it difficult to see the excitement and opportunities that going to Australia will bring. I should be focusing on the change of scenery, meeting new people, discovering new places, and rediscovering my independence in a completely new and wonderful way. But all I can think about is the things that I'll miss, and all of the things that I'll need to sort out when I'll get down under. Here are just a few of the things going through my mind...<br />
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<li>What do I do about a bank account? Which is the best bank to choose? What do I do with my current accounts in the UK? How can I ensure I continue to make pension contributions whilst I'm away?</li>
<li>How am I going to cope with missing friends and family - who am I going to call when my car plays up and dad's not on the end of the phone?!</li>
<li>Where will I be living? Will I find some like-minded people to live with, that will want to party and socialise as much I will?</li>
<li>What will working in Australia be like? I am already aware that my profession will be largely different in Australia than it will be in the UK, and that I have a lot of specifics to learn before I go. I know I'll struggle with going from a relatively well-experienced practitioner to practically a newbie. Can I deal with feeling like a newly-qualified nurse again?</li>
<li>Will I meet friends that like sitting around drinking pints and playing card games? </li>
<li>Will I be able to find a new gym and find places to go running? </li>
<li>Will I still be able to chat to my galpals in WhatsApp groups or is the time difference going to mean that I'm out of touch?</li>
<li>How the hell am I supposed to condense my life into just two suitcases? (Possibly the biggest of my worries right now!)</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2jcNVOeTRHC2Kshav6qBC46M-Nbq0u0oJSWX9KN3M_x_OIVme5JMnlucwc5pcWfTSHgE6fw5fp_tEu7M9fGe8MeocMS1xCIHVkT2cCOHjStdDGY5ygm8lNx3Ti0BIvlBkE2LX8onUNgu/s1600/IMG_9716.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2jcNVOeTRHC2Kshav6qBC46M-Nbq0u0oJSWX9KN3M_x_OIVme5JMnlucwc5pcWfTSHgE6fw5fp_tEu7M9fGe8MeocMS1xCIHVkT2cCOHjStdDGY5ygm8lNx3Ti0BIvlBkE2LX8onUNgu/s1600/IMG_9716.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caye Caulker in Belize is one of the greatest places I've ever been. It was on this trip that I realised how much I love travelling and need to travel whilst I have no commitments. I have honestly never felt as happy as when I felt when I was on Caye Caulker!</td></tr>
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Over the last six months or so, I've settled into a brilliant routine at home. I've got my work / life balance spot on, I've joined a new gym which I love and the classes fit perfectly with my routine. I've started to socialise with new people and love seeing friends I've met through blogging, and my job doesn't feel like work because I love it so much. I can't imagine ever having a job that I love so much again, so part of me is batting away the idea that I'm crazy for upping sticks whilst I'm so happy and settled. But the rational side of me is telling me that I'm probably only feeling so content because I'm making the most of the next few months before I go away.<br />
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I'm hoping as the weeks go by that I'll become more excited and that the feelings of excitement and adventure will overtake the feelings of sheer terror at what I'm throwing myself into, but I shall have to wait and see. I'm hoping that by documenting the process and the journey on this blog, that I'll be able to look back and reflect on it all. It'll be interesting to look back this time next year and see how my fears played out!Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-72136701747584319112018-02-14T09:04:00.003-08:002018-02-14T09:04:42.002-08:00Moving to Australia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNuzXSraITlXe41C94MURRVI2XT922hCSNIrnNSm_Pt5rF7GiErM0hl2CRCn_2ExVHJTUPXKHD1DPjtQ6v5T3RURbiDUypBTs6U9y0d9mnWbs87JgMb7EeK9lnZeM_aXfI1tm3Gbv66np/s1600/IMG_9388.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYNuzXSraITlXe41C94MURRVI2XT922hCSNIrnNSm_Pt5rF7GiErM0hl2CRCn_2ExVHJTUPXKHD1DPjtQ6v5T3RURbiDUypBTs6U9y0d9mnWbs87JgMb7EeK9lnZeM_aXfI1tm3Gbv66np/s1600/IMG_9388.JPG" /></a></div>
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2018 is going to be my biggest adventure yet, as I am taking on my biggest challenge to date - I'm moving to Australia.</div>
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Over the last decade I have travelled far and wide, been on many a trip, countless flights, seen a whole host of new things, and made some amazing new friends from all across the globe. The experiences I have had can't really be put into words, as to do so wouldn't do them justice. Just know that the memories I have created and the experiences are worth more than any material possession, and have shaped my present and will shape my future. </div>
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Whilst in Central America in November 2017, I felt completely and utterly content. I was in my absolute element with an amazing tour group, seeing some of the most beautiful places I had ever seen, and just feeling completely stress-free. Although I would say I very much had the travel bug already, my trip to Central America confirmed for me that I wanted to try living abroad. Whilst away I met a girl who was moving to London from Australia, and worked in healthcare like me. She'd just decided she wanted to give it a go, and without much thought, she was off! I've wanted to go to Aus for work since around 2011, but several things got in the way and when it came to applying and paying money for the application process, I freaked out and stopped.<br />
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Fast forward to December just gone, when I turned 30. I looked into the options for working in Australia, and found that you can get a working holiday visa up until the day before your 31st birthday. It made me realise that if I wanted to do it, then I had to do it now. Time is of the essence, and the last thing I want in my life is regrets. I therefore applied straight away for my visa, got confirmed a few weeks later, and decided I would then apply for my nursing registration in Australia so that I have some guaranteed work.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD9YrnX7ISbFUoP_j_lJtA8wXJ5rhCenSIFNL4sxoQaKmP_n4nLZNIKteUzP6oFgj75xDFqlrBjFH7qRukoHjeOOtHoNgU6NnFqFC_CXjWmNMG4Vewqmp6fk9Muaab_496xGw8E0F5WUO/s1600/IMG_9389.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAD9YrnX7ISbFUoP_j_lJtA8wXJ5rhCenSIFNL4sxoQaKmP_n4nLZNIKteUzP6oFgj75xDFqlrBjFH7qRukoHjeOOtHoNgU6NnFqFC_CXjWmNMG4Vewqmp6fk9Muaab_496xGw8E0F5WUO/s1600/IMG_9389.HEIC" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">So here we are, in February, my flights have been booked, I've got my visa, I've applied for my nursing registration, and I've handed in my notice at work. To put it bluntly, I'm shitting myself. But here's to new adventures! </span></div>
<br />Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-83732862332278903032018-02-06T01:22:00.001-08:002018-02-06T01:22:55.251-08:00London Cider Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-thubS1a7naIamdDEyX5q81radooiH4Af9dwlcqWPFuD73mNkI-lYqWalBIZ5eKUsyc4JLMwlIEhyphenhyphengOpFxEjiIhK3922zj1l6PWKxU8mUouuDDOAljJo6TYvLqXTR6EuMOuam9Qw94w6/s1600/IMG_1300.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-thubS1a7naIamdDEyX5q81radooiH4Af9dwlcqWPFuD73mNkI-lYqWalBIZ5eKUsyc4JLMwlIEhyphenhyphengOpFxEjiIhK3922zj1l6PWKxU8mUouuDDOAljJo6TYvLqXTR6EuMOuam9Qw94w6/s1600/IMG_1300.HEIC" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1xV8Gc94otfuMtFeWrbFLrXMXUp0ZaIVTtxXJ1P9b8MrM82t-y2tTuQzqxRyKgRFrDYyzOC0_GLvazqRSzA3KtsWt7K2i2ZSV8ZBV9v_R_j-cNASRQbUK2N4pa8IsK5UFNVsl5VbPmMj/s1600/IMG_1303.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP1xV8Gc94otfuMtFeWrbFLrXMXUp0ZaIVTtxXJ1P9b8MrM82t-y2tTuQzqxRyKgRFrDYyzOC0_GLvazqRSzA3KtsWt7K2i2ZSV8ZBV9v_R_j-cNASRQbUK2N4pa8IsK5UFNVsl5VbPmMj/s1600/IMG_1303.HEIC" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3lA8nSR3cvJhlYiZJnFvPYjRwNB21vnAQ5huOEy6OQe0cT3mRkZbYZmJZ_axug4Bt-P63EpkQKmgVJbE740zCxSBgUfTkt_ZmlGCzVriPQKyoTVKLFJz5t8URMuON-FP4_of-MxcRpxb/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="828" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ3lA8nSR3cvJhlYiZJnFvPYjRwNB21vnAQ5huOEy6OQe0cT3mRkZbYZmJZ_axug4Bt-P63EpkQKmgVJbE740zCxSBgUfTkt_ZmlGCzVriPQKyoTVKLFJz5t8URMuON-FP4_of-MxcRpxb/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cider vats at Hawkes Cidery & Taproom</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of cheese at Borough Market</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhQndRCr0EEFiBtOnigQpOGi55wM21Sq6cRD47peOHmwnrjR5QdVN4Hy6nz2TpMUWSshbQRWg1bYU0EB5xWhJkK7mgdk_XV6LDtchtNNUm6zdkfywY5qAmu7Eq3BAmKLaPsIjArcoq1Vi/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhQndRCr0EEFiBtOnigQpOGi55wM21Sq6cRD47peOHmwnrjR5QdVN4Hy6nz2TpMUWSshbQRWg1bYU0EB5xWhJkK7mgdk_XV6LDtchtNNUm6zdkfywY5qAmu7Eq3BAmKLaPsIjArcoq1Vi/s1600/IMG_1338.JPG" /></a></div>
One of my best buds, Sophie, organised me a surprise birthday treat to celebrate my 30th birthday. Somehow she managed to keep it secret for several months (although we both think she told me a while back whilst we were both drunk on holiday, and the next morning neither of us could remember whether we had spoken about it or not!), and so I was very excited when I met Sophie at London Bridge to find out that we were heading to a pub to join a cider tour. Anyone that knows me will know that cider is one of my fave things in life, so Sophie scored major friend points there!<br />
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Along the way we went to three different places to try different ciders, whilst hearing about the history of cider and how it's made. I'll admit it's not something I've really given much thought to, so I found it really interesting. We had a great group and we all got along well and were able to have a laugh, but then again if you put a load of cider-loving strangers together, then I'm sure you'll never have a problem! Our guide was great and let the tour go on much longer than the three hours we should have done. It was his first tour 'solo' and he was obviously enjoying it as much as we were.</div>
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After we had finished the tour, we all went and found another pub to have some more cider together, before Sophie and I disappeared to find a diner-style restaurant to gorge on far too much food and take advantage of the cocktail deals. I went home feeling completely full of alcohol and food, happy and content. </div>
Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156856905001517534.post-90485733196634281792017-12-31T03:59:00.001-08:002017-12-31T05:09:17.696-08:00Where Have I Been?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMIarXbi7FicdrMpMEq7fNxUZ293Z1AiXKzn3IgWivX_XJKStgz2TuuV4v0j6x0MaH8axYK-_v2Gl_pGZSn0Oik4SCcmXldcn8BhmuFgUFfgJFbijfB-9GeSZGrCHyiMh_E8lcyYVWFVO/s1600/IMG_0858.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMIarXbi7FicdrMpMEq7fNxUZ293Z1AiXKzn3IgWivX_XJKStgz2TuuV4v0j6x0MaH8axYK-_v2Gl_pGZSn0Oik4SCcmXldcn8BhmuFgUFfgJFbijfB-9GeSZGrCHyiMh_E8lcyYVWFVO/s1600/IMG_0858.HEIC" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antigua City, Guatemala</td></tr>
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By my estimation, it's been about ten months since I last blogged, possibly more. After moving my blog over to a self-hosted WordPress account a few months prior, I felt much more motivated to blog due to the much better functionality of the WordPress platform, and felt I could really put a lot more into blogging. I was happy to no longer blog about PR samples such as beauty products, as I was inundated with items I just didn't need, and had decided to clear most things out. I was ready to blog about things that I wanted to, as and when I wanted, without having to stick to a schedule or keep up with deadlines for sponsored posts and suchlike. However, things did not quite go to plan!</div>
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The last time I blogged, I had written a post for a stay I had been offered at the Citizen M South Bank hotel in London. I'd had a lovely stay, and was rather pleased with the post I'd written and the pictures I'd managed to capture. However, just a day after sending the link off to the PR contact, I had an e-mail back from her as well as several tweets from blogging friends who were advising me that my blog had been hacked. Sure enough, my page was littered with references to ISIS and Syria. Not exactly what I had in mind for my blog. I managed to clear out all of the muck and revert my blog back to how it was, slightly pissed off but thinking the problem was resolved. I changed my password to something ridiculously obscure and thought that was that. Two days later however, the same thing happened again. This time, they'd managed to amend all of my WordPress drafts for my recent Citizen M post (WordPress periodically saves your blog post as you write it, so at any point you can revert back to previous version), therefore the post was lost. I was really upset that I had been given an amazing stay at a lovely hotel, and the work I had done in exchange for that was completely ruined. In short, I lost motivation and left the blog alone. I realised that to do a full fix of the blog, I would need to pay someone to do a whole security fix-up, as what needed doing was far beyond my capabilities. I then left the blog until my hosting got shut down due to inactivity, and here we are.</div>
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I wasn't sure whether to try and resurrect my old Lola and Behold blog and continue on WordPress, however there were several things that made me decide to start afresh. Firstly, I didn't like the commitment of having to pay monthly hosting fees, as this made me feel that I <i>had</i> to blog regularly to make the most of the money, and if I ever decided to stop blogging I'd have to keep paying in order to keep my old content. Secondly, I'm about to start a very big and exciting adventure in 2018, and felt like a new blog would be a great way to document my new adventures. Granted I have lost a <i>lot</i> of old content that I was very proud of, and documented a lot of brilliant memories and fun times, but what can you do!</div>
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So here I am... I really missed the social side of blogging, and although I've made a lot of friends through blogging I always felt a bit of a fraud engaging in Twitter chats and suchlike without having a blog. Now I plan to get involved in the social side of the community again, and I'm super excited to get back into the swings of things, so here we go!</div>
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Laura Kate Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05592399710819840576noreply@blogger.com0