My Blue Heaven

Happy

I’m feeling really happy today for some reason! In fact (aside from being sick), I’ve been feeling that way quite a lot lately. I’ve just been happy with life, feeling independant and liberated… and excited. 🙂

More than fine
More than bent on getting by
More than fine
More than just ok..

(No prizes for guessing where those lyrics are from. :P)

Well… off to my regular HipHop class now. More detailed updates coming soon. Am still frantically trying to complete my CV (stuck on the career history section.. ugh) – but at least I’ve sent my passport renewal form off and have just about decided on which laptop to buy! Yay! Also still slightly sick.. but am on the mend… slowly…. :\

Current listening :: “More Than Fine” – Switchfoot

Busy bee

Man. Life these days has been just a whirlwind of activities and planning. So many things to remember, so many things to do.. sometimes it feels like my mind is gonna overload. I’m constantly reminding myself of things that I’ve forgotten, at the most unlikely of times.. like sitting on the toilet:”Ooh, gotta remember to take my passport photo”. 😛

Anyway, things are progressing fairly rapidly.. I’ve been doing lots of research. In addition to looking up websites about London and about living & working in London, I’ve also bought Lonely Planet’s guide to London – which has been quite an interesting read so far. Reading up on all this stuff really gets me excited about the move. I can’t wait to get there and see London with my own eyes.. soak up the new-ness of it all.. and just *be* there. 😀

So updating my to-do list:

• Take passport photos & verify with GP
• Send british passport renewal form (Mon 21st Feb)
• Complete CV draft (Tues 15th Feb)
• Complete CV second draft (Tues 22nd Feb)
• Final CV check with various friends (Fri 25th Feb)
• Hand CV into Global Career Link for assessment (Mon 28th Feb)
• Write cover letter
• Prepare for interviews
• Organise accomodation with cousins
• Book flight to London (but still keeping eye out for cheap Singapore Air tix)
• Research best suburbs/areas to live in London
• Read Lonely Planet’s “London” guide
• Read “7 Habits Of Highly Effective People”
• Try and save $$$ <-- Eeek.. not doing too well! :\
• Buy laptop (Sun 13th Mar)
• Buy dark coloured (grey, blue or black) business suit
• Buy more cold/wet weather clothing
• Buy black work heels
• Buy runners/sneakers

Gee this list grows with each week – even after striking off completed tasks. Eeek! Need to keep focused, not get distracted by things. Hrm.. more about this later..

And on top of everything, I think I’m sick now. 🙁 Have managed to come down with a minor cold – probably due to not keeping warm enough with this sudden cooler weather, not sleeping enough, going out too much, and being too busy/stressed with things. Need to take a few days out to rest and relax methinks. And keep warm! I guess it would have all started with clubbing last Sat night – getting home at 6:30am on Sunday morning wouldn’t have helped either. But I think I would have been ok if I had slept early on Sun/Mon/Tues nights. Meh. Silly me.

Current listening :: “Twenty-Four” – Switchfoot (Am looking forward to see these guys!)

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Displaced

Just feeling a bit… unsettled. Displaced is the best word I can currently find. I guess it is because things are happening, moving, changing in and around my life… and all of a sudden, I feel sorta scared.. out of my comfort zone.. insecure.. alone. Hrmm.

Anyway, in other news, I’m really milking the gigging here in Sydney for all its worth! So far I’ve purchased myself tickets to:

• Switchfoot @ UNSW Roundhouse (Tues 1 Mar)
• Jack Johnson @ Centennial Park (Fri 18 Mar)
• The Cat Empire @ Enmore Theatre (Fri 22 Apr)

And I intend on seeing/purchasing tickets for:

• Bluebottle Kiss @ Spectrum (Sat 19 Mar)
• Ben Folds @ Enmore Theatre (Sat 2 Apr)

Gigs galore indeed! So, who wants to come with me? 🙂

And also tonight I’m going to the Side-On Cafe for dinner and some good jazz music. A mammoth sized 18 piece jazz ensemble called “Jazzgroove Mothership Orchestra” are playing. They play all original jazz pieces, and apparently are very good. Looking forward to it. 🙂

Current listening :: “Grace” – Jeff Buckley (Live A L’Olympia – Wow… this guy really went all out in concert! The emotion in his voice and in the band is just so overpowering. He would have been awesome to see live… RIP 🙁 )

Mini me

I don’t know how I forgot to mention this, but I’ve FINALLY purchased myself a brand spankin new pink iPod mini!! Woohoo! On sale at Myer last weekend for a mere $299 ($100 cheaper than retail price). 😀 And how cute is it! And pink! *girly squeal* 😛

Waveaid Temporary Webcast

You have to check out the Bigpond Music site. They’re hosting a webcast from the Waveaid concert, temporarily playing until 16th Feb. So yeh, catch it while you can. I’m watching it now at work. 😉

Current listening :: “London Still” – The Waifs (live @ Waveaid – this song is so beautiful… makes me feel like crying for some reason..)

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Life & London Update

To update my checklist:

• Figure out career goals (Fri 4th Feb)
• Complete british passport renewal form (Fri 11th Feb)
• Attend Global Career Link info seminar (Tues 8th Feb)
• Take passport photos (Fri 11th Feb)
• Complete CV draft (Tues 15th Feb) <-- ACK haven't even started!
• Complete final CV (Fri 25th Feb)
• Hand CV into Global Career Link for assessment (Mon 28th Feb)
• Contact relos/cousins/friends in London and start getting word around / build relationships
• Organise accomodation with cousins
• Book flight to London (via stopover at HK? or maybe Singapore?) – REALLY wanna find cheap Singapore Airline tickets – I think I just missed out on the earlybird offers dang it!! 🙁
• Research London climate, living conditions, culture etc etc
• Read “7 Habits Of Highly Effective People”
• Try and save $$$ <-- Eeek.. not doing too well! :\
• Buy laptop (Sun 13th Mar)
• Buy iPod mini
• Buy dark coloured (grey, blue or black) business suit
• Buy more cool/cold/wet weather clothing
• Buy black work heels

Phew. Lots done and still lots to do! I attended an information seminar last night with Global Career Link – a NZ & Australian based international recruitment consultancy that helps people find work overseas, specifically in the UK. It was pretty useful, we learnt about the current UK job market, tips on what they look for in CVs in the UK, expected earnings etc.

Now the big thing I REALLY need to get cracking on is my CV. I haven’t written one in over 4 years, so it’s really quite hard trying to think about these things now. What have I accomplished in my job? How have I “added value” over the last 4 years here? What are my key skills? What challenges have I overcome? What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses (and how do twist them into looking like strengths)? ARGH! *stress stress* My problem is that I feel like I haven’t really accomplished much or added much value in this job… and that’s part of the reason for me wanting to get OUT of this place! But I obviously cannot say that in my CV or in interviews. *sigh* Time to bring out the good ol bullsh!t-o-meter. 😛

Other than that, life has been pretty good. Been hanging out with some new friends more lately, which has been good – refreshing! Though everything these days is done with the constant thought that I’m leaving soon – so it’s like I’m living in my “last days” here in Sydney. Note to self: gotta get me some more beach action! 🙂

Another thing is I’m trying to fit in as many gigs as possible before I leave. So far I’m going to see Switchfoot (Mar 1 @ Roundhouse) and Jack Johnson (Mar 18 @ Centennial Park). I also want to see as many Aussie bands as possible – like Bluebottle Kiss (hm no shows announced atm), Missy Higgins (15th Apr @ Enmore), The Cat Empire (REALLY have to see these guys live! 22/23 April @ Enmore!) and more.

Current listening :: “Simple Things” – Usher