Warning tank crossing??

We may have signs of kangaroos on the road or koalas crossing but I am not sure if we can beat this sign I came across!!!!

Winter skies

Spent today driving and walking along the Lulworth Coast. The day started out raining and blowing a gale. I started to wonder if the sun does actually shine on this side of the world. Then by the afternoon, the rain lifted and the most beautiful skies eveloped the coastline. The winter light is amazing with the sun remaining low in the horizon and a glow that touches everything.

Don't Mention the War

With a 5-0 score line I could not help but to put this image on the blog for prosperity. It seems that no one at work wants to confirm that the game even exists so I need to ensure that an image is kept for future record.

Speaking of things that should not exist I have the pleasure of only having 4 TV channels to watch. Unfortunately they seem to have the same obsession with reality TV shows as Australia.

Tonight I had the choice of watching:

1. Soapstar Superstar - with "stars" from Coronation Street and Emmerdale, sing live accompanied by an orchestra and are judged by a panel

2. Just the Two of Us - a series in which nine professional singers are paired with celebrities and have to sing live duets in front of a judging panel

3. Celebrity Big Brother - no need to explain this with the exception of celebrity includes Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty - what else can I say

Thank god I have lots of good books to read

First day on the job

Well I have survived my first day on the job with:

- 40 mentions of the weather in the UK and how cold and rainy it is, has been, will get.

- 5 comments on the cricket

- 3 people asking why I would want to leave Sydney

- 2 "good luck - you will need it" and

- 1 "what were you thinkin?"

Spent most of the day being introduced to everybody. Rest of the week will mainly involve getting to know my team, meeting the other Managers and getting a bit more of an understanding of the role and priorities. For those that dont know my role is Corporate Development and Partnership Manager. Still learning what this actually means but so far it includes:

- Corporate Policy and Planning (I always knew I wanted Dougs role)

- Community Planning (2 staff very similar to our community capacity building team)

- Sports

- Arts (I can hear Susan laughing now!)

- Heritage Centre

- Pools (being handed over)

- Democracy (mix of Councillor services and community engagement)

A mixed bag with a lot of challenges (oops) opportunities! I am looking forward to the year ahead.

Buckland Ripers

Well I have arrived and starting to settle in to Buckland Ripers. It is a cute country hamlet located about 10 minutes from Weymouth. My neighbours are two horses as can be seen from the view from our back fence.

Spent the last few days driving around getting a feel for the place. Still in the habit of putting on my windscreen wipers instead of the blinker as they are on opposite sides. Have driven around the local area trying my best to avoid dogs and oncoming cars. It seems every man has a dog - "literally". Where ever you go there are people out taking their dogs for a walk. Also, the country roads are very narrow, in most places only wide enough for 1 car with large hedges on either side.

Weymouth is one of the most beautiful sea side towns. Lovely old buildings with a great feel about the place. They have their sales on at the moment and there is lots of people shopping - looks like some things are no different to home.

Everybody has been very friendly and are quick to pick up on where I am from. Was taking some photos in one of the small hamlets when an old couple invited me in to their house to chat. Got a tour of their old mill and its history. However, one thing they dont want to talk about is the c word - thats CRICKET! Looking forward to the last test.

till next time

Welcome to Heathrow Sir - ps; we have lost your bags!

Well I finally reached the other side of the world. Left Sydney at 3.50pm for 23 hours of joy. Luckily I had a very nice person (read young brunette) in the seat next to me so was good to have someone to talk to. Although most of the time I was distracted by the individual personal entertainment system with a choice of over 50 movies, games, TV, music and more - almost wish I had one at home.


Arrived at Heathrow at 6am to a warm 10 degrees even the train conductor commented to me that it had something to do with that "changing earth thing cos the crap we put in the air".

So here I am at the airport watching all the bags go around the carousel, watching for mine to make an appearance. 100, 50, ...23.......15...........6........0...... No bag! No point in getting in to a panic - just trying to work out how best to explain wearing track suite pants and a 4 day old smelly shirt on my first day at work. Went to the lost baggage and started to fill out paper work when this loan bag appears on the belt. Despite its best attempts to get on a plane to Hawaii and avoid the cold, it was rounded up and handed over. Looks like it is not the only one not happy going into winter.

Next step was a 4 hour bus then train ride to Weymouth. And it only cost me the equivalent of $145,877.... well almost - £43 which is almost $100 - ARGH.

Have now settled in to the house (more on that later) and trying to stay awake to convince the body it really is not the middle of the night!

Next few days involve looking around the town and getting ready for work.

Chat soon

So what is the weather really going to be like?

I am amazed at the focus on the weather in Weymouth. I knew the poms complain about the weather but the level of fascination is over the top. It seems everyone is keen to give a weather update - LIVE - 24 hours a day.

If it was not bad enough just to feel cold you can look on-line and know that you were right - it is bloody cold. Here are a couple of sites that feed the weather live from where we are going to live

http://www.geoffwebber.co.uk/weather/index1.htm
http://www.weymouth-weather.co.uk/ http://www.weymouth.gov.uk/Environment/Weatherstation/home.asp?svid=1011

Here is a live photo from a few days ago - as you can see it is a lovely rainy day with a wind chill factor of 5 deg. CANT WAIT!

Maps of our Travels

End of Year Trip

European Trips

Scotland Trip

Highlands Trip

Ireland Trip
Wales Trip
Weekend Trips

Home for the next 12 months

A few people have been asking where we will be living. Well it is a lovely house called 'The Mansard' at Buckland Ripers about 15 minutes from Weymouth. I love the name 'Buckland Ripers' - almost posh. It is described as "a tiny hamlet with a church situated at the end of a sleepy lane". It seems the only thing in the area is the Church so it looks like we have something to do on sunday at least!

45 Days to go

Well the plane ticket has been purchased so it looks like there is no turning back now.

Still waiting on the visas but have ticked of 45 of the 4534 things to do before we go. Sadly one of those was to sell all my fish and coral.

Only 45 more sleeps to go...ARGHHHHHH