Leaving Sydney

We are now moved and getting settled in Newcastle.

Saturday was the big day. I hired a 3 tonne truck and drove down to Sydney. Not the most comfortable drive but I made it. With a bit of guidance from Brad, I managed to reverse the van in to the back of the flat in Sydney. It was Brad's last day at work so we went straight out to meet some friends for leaving drinks and dinner.

About 5am I heard a radio sound and voices from the lane below the bedroom window. I thought that sounds like Police and they were talking with a women about the Europcar van. A bit of a worry but I was too lazy to get up and check. At 6am we got up and started to move. All went well until we tried to get the bookcase down the stairs. It is an Ikea flat pack which we didn't bother disassembling. But it didn't fit on and we got stuck half way down the stairs! he he after much pushing we got it back up into the flat and decided to drop it over the balcony. I stood below and caught a 6 foot case. Not a scratch! So we got loaded up and then Brad found a note on the front of the truck advising that I had driven into my neighbours car, the police had been called and to call the number to sort it out. Her car had been damaged but she just presumed it was the van. I had been no where near her car and eventually she accepted that it was nothing to do with me (the van was already covered in dents and scratches so that didn't help) Oh well.....

It was a stinking hot day. Over 30 degrees so it wasn't nice to be carrying all the belongings. I remembered very quickly why I used a removal company on my last move. Never again. We arrived in Newcastle about 4pm, got keys etc and proceeded to move in. The flat is on the top floor of a converted warehouse and thankfully there is a lift. After 2 hours we were in.

The flat is fantastic, 2 bedrooms (one on a mezzanine level) 2 bathrooms, modern kitchen with s/s benches, large lounge and dining area although no balcony. It is south facing (so no sun) but at least it will be cool in the summer. We have a problem though in that we don't have enough furniture - easily solved though and we have ordered a new suite and bed :)

Spring has arrived

ok as I write this, there is a huge storm looming however this weekend saw the shorts and trainers dusted off and a trip to the beach. It reached 31degrees in Sydney on Saturday and wall to wall sunshine. After a morning walk along the coast, it was a picnic lunch in Centennial Park. (we were joined for lunch by "sparky" a small but annoying dog who liked the smell of our chicken salad)

Sunday was nearly as warm but with a bit of cloud cover so we took a walk over the Harbour to North Sydney, met friends for lunch and chilled out in the afternoon.

A quiet relaxing weekend.... oh but we were supposed to be packing the flat up as we move out next Saturday. I reckon I will just go back to work tomorrow and leave all that to Brad.!

on the move

House hunting in Newcastle has been a lot easier than the Sydney experience. One of my assistant managers put me in touch with a property manager whom I called and had modern flats to let in a converted warehouse. A quick drive round and we were shown a really nice property and told that, providing our references were ok, we could have it.

2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, modern, nice kitchen etc etc and all for the same price as the shoe box we have in Sydney. Nice. (just not the city living that we have become used to though - I think we may have to invest in a car so we can actually go places!)

and as for work - my hotel is currently 2nd top for sales for the month in New South Wales and I have had a congratulations from the director already. Not bad for 3 weeks,,,, he he