kjmci's webdump

So I was planning on doing daily updates but too many things have been happening. I suppose the quick synopsis is as follows:

• Moved out of the YHA Hostel, currently staying with a friend in Kew
• Been to four house interviews, missed one, waiting to hear on two, and been offered one (more on this later)
• Both job interviews went well, I can’t really discuss the second one yet but the Service Centre is happy to offer me a position, pending my uni availability
• Speaking of uni, I was not made a first round offer. I’ll need to wait until Feb 15 to find out if I have been successful

I’ve had a crazy week of settling in, meeting new people, going out for dinners, birthday parties for friends, finding my feet, learning the suburbs and having an all round great time.  Today’s weather is certainly interesting - patchy rain, cool temperatures, occasional hail and strong wind gusts. To think, a week ago it was 43º - guess I need to get used to this constantly shifting Melbourne weather.

On Wednesday of last week I recorded an episode of the MacTalk Podcast. You can download and listen to it here if you like 4 guys and a chick sitting in a room nerding it up about Apple products. Following that I was able to fill an urge I’d had since leaving Melbourne back in September - a Spicy Salami Chicken Parmagiana from the Sherlock Holmes Pub.  It was everything I thought it would be and more.

Thursday night I went out with a mate and caught up with some new people at a place called Taco Bills.  As you can see from my recent post, they serve margaritas in fishbowls. I had 3. It was definitely an interesting night!  I was given 3 sombreros as proof I finished the drinks, but I think they got tossed away at the hostel.

Friday was a great night, full of spur of the moment fun. I caught up at my favourite little bar, Hells Kitchen in Centre Place. Hell’s Kitchen was one of the original laneway restaurants which kickstarted the entire scene, above it now is a small bar with very a very relaxed attitude and comfortable couches. Grab a spot by the window and you can watch the world go by as people stream from Flinders St Station through to Collins St and beyond.

I then got a call from a friend offering me the chance to go see Al Green perform live at The Palais. To start with, the venue is amazing. Right on the beach at St Kilda, across the road from Luna Park, The Palais is a beautiful classic theatre which is great for live music. As for the show, while not knowing any of his tracks I recognised the name. I had a smile on my face the entire time, it was a great uplifting soul performance by an awesome band and an incredibly talented and respected vocalist.

On Saturday I spent time inspecting three places. Two in North Melbourne and one in Windsor.  The first place in North Melbourne was a bit pokey and small, and the kitchen was pretty awful. The second place, however was amazing. I mean, here - look at it!

And, as an added benefit the bedroom is also furnished. This is by far the #1 place on my list, and I should hopefully hear back by the end of the week. However, if I’m unsuccessful there’s a nice place in Windsor with a good kitchen and a lovely housemate I should be able to fall back to. I’m trying to schedule a few more interviews this week so I’ve got options open when I make a decision shortly.

Saturday night was spent with my friend’s partner, mother in law, sister and her boyfriend at a Turkish restaurant on Bridge Rd.  The food was absolutely amazing, and I’m told just a taste of the kind of restaurants that are available down here. The entrees were like mains, the mains were huge, and the desserts incredible.  I can’t wait to get out there and experience all these different cuisines.

Yesterday was a relatively quiet day of recovery until I found out it was a friend’s birthday - off we went to a pizza-serving bar in Fitzroy called Bimbo Deluxe.  It was another great night of meeting new people and forming networks which will see me through my time down here.  Nearby a venue called The Tote was having its last night before being shut down as part of a crackdown on venues by Liquor Licensing. Nearly 3,000 people turned out in a farewell celebration for the place - pretty awesome.

Today was, another day of recovery and lining up interviews for houses. All in all its been a pretty awesome week, and I look forward to when I can settle in a house and finally call this place home.

Writing this as I cruise along Collins St on a tram out to IKEA. Yesterday was one very busy day and I absolutely loved it.

The flight to Melbourne was hassle-free, until I got there. I figured something was up after three rotations of the baggage carousel and no sign of my luggage. After checking with Baggage Services I was advised, and asked “Oh we put it on your connecting flight to Townsville … wait, shouldn’t you be on that flight?” After explaining the idiocy of flying from Brisbane to Melbourne only to turn around and go to Townsville, she agreed to lodge a report. My bags arrived late last night an were delivered to the hostel.

During the day however I went shopping for some clean clothes and a wall around the city. I picked up a PO Box, so if anybody would like my new postal address let me know. I had my first housemate interview for the Windsor house. The place was amazing, housemates friendly and very easy to get to. I find out later today if I have been successful.

The big story of yesterday had to be the heat. I don’t think I’ve ever been in 43.4°C heat before, but I coped surprisingly well. I was wandering about the city all day and was fine. In Brisbane the humidity saps all life out of you, and you can barely function past 33°. I’m glad I’ve left that humidity behind. Case in point: running for a train at 10pm in 38° and never breaking a sweat.

Managed to catch up with some friends, enjoyed a few beers, some awesome pizza and later some beautiful scotch. It was an awesome start to a new chapter, and I’ll do my best to keep you all in the loop!