EE-GALSSSSSSSSS

Woohoo - Crystal Palace are back in the Premiership (English football/soccer), winning the playoff final for the final possie against West Ham. Fingers crossed they can do better than when they were in the top flight last time around, 1997/98, when they didn't win ANY of their home premiership games, and I think only one home Cup round.

Apart from that and listening to the news, has been a quiet weekend thus far - LOL had hat head yesterday, put on a baseball cap too soon after a shower eek. That was about the highlight - two episodes of Kung Fu off the first series DVD as well - it could have been Top Gun, on TV, but seen it a couple times in the last year or so, so no doubt when/if I ever get a job and some money, Top Gun would be a $20 DVD by now?

Cos I'm (clap clap) glad all over, yes I'm a, (clap clap) glad all over, baby I'm a (clap clap) glad all over, that you're my i i i ine... (Crystal Palace theme song, Glad All Over, Dave Clark Five) - mmm South London memories...

Spot ya tomorrow probably

Raining Jobs, Continued

Hmm, things continue to be hectic around here. Yesterday, I went for another temping agency interview, with the possibility of starting on Monday. I did sufficiently well in the interview to have my name put forward to the client - with two names at this stage being put forward for two positions - but the client (major energy company in Queensland) wants to do a second interview thingy - well, at least that is what I feared, cos I blew the last second interview, but the agency girl said it would be more an informal chat, to see if there are any obvious personality clashes with the permanents, or some such.

So yeah, another pretty agency girl, the job sounds admin back room kinda thing, no direct customer service aspect, putting together changes of address, mailing lists that sorta thing (by the sounds), but even if that falls through, Kim her name yesterday said that she now had me in mind for call centre work. So yeah, between Kim and Sam and Sarah (the latter two from the interview on Wednesday) I could happily work for any of them - hehehe in double entendre fashion as well if you like...

Got home, and then I got a phone call from the company that phone interviewed me on Thursday evening, and said I had made the REAL interview grade, so on Tuesday if I have not confirmed anything with the other agencies, I will have that interview - is for a statistical coordinator - lol something the woman said that threw me was you can bring in some of your spreadsheet work if you like - umm yeah, apparently some other interviewees will be bringing stuff in - I mean, it's not exactly an art portfolio?

And THEN the NEXT phone call I got was from Thursday's interview, saying can you start Monday. This was for handling credit checks at GE Finance, but then a mini spanner in the works by clarifying it would be part time, 25 hours a week - I then said give me a bit of time to think about it. Thought about it for twenty minutes, kinda was three quarters of the way into talking myself into it - only needed to clarify that there was room to advance to full time and that the position was for more than just the initial six weeks.

Got back to the girl, and the positions had been filled already - apparently GE has five agencies looking around for it - umm yeah, sounds like a high temp turnover rate - especially when she said that the route to full time was the attrition rate and some people didn't even make it through the two week training period. A bit more soothing, going beyond the initial six week contract was up to your own attitude and abilities, but hmm kind of happy I had my mind made up for me, what with the other three processes on the go.

So yes, I have the Telstra customer service job that I wouldn't mind having, that would be a twelve month ongoing temporary role. I have Energex the back room data entry admin role that I interviewed for yesterday, with every likelihood that the informal chat with the client will be on Monday, that will be a six month temporary role but could very well go permanent if I wanted to. And the RACQ (Automobile Association equivalent) statistical coordinator, which would be permanent, interviewing on Tuesday.

Why couldn't they have come up about a month apart from each other over February to May instead of four in five days LOL. Such is life I guess.

Quiet weekend, nothing planned - ooh just thought I would mention that New Zealand won two golds at the cycling world champs last night WOOHOO - mmm Sarah Ulmer, now I wouldn't mind sitting opposite her on the train or having an interview with her LOL LOL.

Okies settle down Paul, maybe you had those two coffees this morning too close together :)

Spot ya later

It's Raining Jobs, Hallelujah

LOL, so yeah that has been the story of the week, apart from me watching Day After Tomorrow - my review is around here somewhere. Had one interview that I really liked the staff at - yes that entry is around here somewhere as well - on Wednesday.

Yesterday had another one, but the vibe I got from the place - it was just the temping agency, but the vibe I got was meat market LOL. Had eight applicants for three various jobs in the same room for the employer rundown, the alphanumeric test, and the customer service test, and then when we did get to one on one, it was just at the staff member's desk and this was open plan rather than behind a closed door. Seemed very mickey mouseish to me.

Oh, just a quick comment on one of my fellow applicants - he brought his bike up to the agency, and asked if he could store it somewhere - ah what does this look like mate, a gym or something - tosser LOL. And then when they did find a storeroom to take it to, he said I hope nothing happens to it, it is very expensive - fuckwit LOL. What was that supposed to show us, that even public transport is evil or something and bikes are the way to go for the go getters of this world? Well, yes, the ones that find themselves in temping agencies LOL...

And then got home after watching a movie in town, and TWO job phone calls came in. One was a phone interview which I think I did pretty well at for a Statistical Coordinator, and they will get back to me after doing the phone interview shortlisting, which may end up being too late as the second call proved.

The second call was a temping agency that were just asking for temps a week or so ago, not any particular job, but they need someone to start a six month temping job on Monday, and I guess my resume got to the top of the 'oh well we have sent all our experienced people off already please take a number and wait for your order' pile yesterday. There is every likelihood that when I go in for an interview this afternoon they will make a snap decision, yay or nay - wonder how many others they are interviewing?

Anyways, after the drought that has been the last four months, it's a virtual flood of interest - although the job that I really wanted this week, reading newspapers and condensing the stories into a paragraph came back to me with the usual sorry but no thanks email this morning. So the going wisdom is take the first job offered LOL - although the Telstra job would be fun I think, in the sense of any new job being fun.

We will see no doubt. Catch ya soon

Amateur Movie Review - Would You See This?

THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW

It must have seemed a risky venture to be the first disaster movie to whack New York since 9/11, especially for the director of ‘Independence Day’, with that movie’s Empire State Building and White House money shots. How could a fake tragedy compare to the horrors of that day? ‘Day After’ makes the grade – LA being leveled by mega-tornadoes and New York being flooded remind and reinforce the horrors of those REAL newscasts. One scene especially is reminiscent of the dust and debris cloud that went through lower Manhattan that day.

There is a slight niggle that the movie is sanitized from the true horror such an event would cause – there are no couples holding hands on the jump down – but that is more an indictment on how graphic our news has become, rather than how ‘real’ a movie should be.

The disaster scenes are impressive and truly ramp up the wow-factor. The scene of Americans crossing the Rio Grande could have been iconic if not the fact that this is a summer blockbuster movie (what, us iconic?), and scenes from the international space station made me think of the cosmonauts stuck on Soyuz as the Soviet Union ceased to exist.

But, apart from a rescue effort for the British Royal family stuck at Balmoral, and a crusty old Scottish scientist, this is yet again a very Amero-centric movie. Which may be a comment on the accepted wisdom that global warming is mainly America’s fault, but in these global disaster movies, surely something interesting happens to non-Americans as well?

Dennis Quaid does his everyman role quite sufficiently, and Jake Gyllenhall is the earnest young man with a crush on the girl – similar to Tobey Maguire in ‘Spiderman’ – but the other characters are straight out of stereotype central. The Girl, The Competition for The Girl, The Geek, The Earnest Doctor – but hey, this is a disaster movie, crammed so full of CGI that the actors no doubt felt squeezed.

Despite the makers of this movie saying they wanted to make people think more of global warming and the consequences, by making the political figures so close to certain Administration stereotypes, they may have missed their mark. The messages included in the movie are too obvious, preachy and make you think of a diet version Michael Moore movie – liberals will still be baying for Dick Cheney’s blood, conservatives will still see the liberal bias of Hollywood, and neither camp will have any minds changed.

Sit back, enjoy the CGI, witness the disasters, but leave the political brain at home. Any environmental messages in this movie have all been said before, ad nauseum. Use 9/11 as a reference point instead.

When Did Glasses Become So Goddamned Sexy

I have seen the promised land, and her name is Anita.

Okay, I was minding my own business at the railway platform going into my interview, and an attractive girl sat next to me. Not so unusual in my line of work LOL, but then she started talking to me, and I was in uncertain territory!

It seemed innocent enough, commenting that it was hotter outside than in (has been a very humid day for late May here), and from then on ensued probably the best twenty five minutes talking to a stranger in YEARS. She has this cute lilting accent that defied recognition to me for a while, before she explained that she was Spanish born but New Zealand raised - interesting combination indeed. LOL talked about which was the windier city, Wellington or Fielding and then it was onto the train.

We sat opposite each other and it was only then that I realised how beautiful she was. Her sunglasses untinted to real glasses again, and boy was I glad I was wearing my contact lenses and had shaved, rather than doing the feral thing, unshaven for a week and wearing glasses, as I went out last week like. Pale olive skin, that lilting accent, shortish black hair, hazy blue eyes, if that is a good description, behind gorgeous rectangular glasses, loose black crop top (well a crop top doesn't have to show the stomach does it?), black bra and black pants - yes, there was a quick view of the bra LOL - and a very very good conversation.

Had gone from the weather to time in Australia to my jobhunting to the size of my CV to her job to her study to my current medical condition - she is a nurse that deals with patients with brain injuries, including seizures - to me coming back from Canada to her dad being a pilot in Texas and her mother being in Australia to the suburb we are in being really really nice but hella expensive. She has the greatest smile as well, and I am sure I was showing my best physical asset (my smile) a lot.

This is a girl who I would consider soooo out of my league, but that had actually initiated the conversation with me - I am so stoked LOL. This goes beyond a cute assistant manager at Burger King/Hungry Jacks smiling in a secretive way towards me and telling me how cheap the Kit Kats are at the moment - this for me was a very very attractive stranger talking to me and showing her personality and actually listening BACK to me. That hasn't happened in like eight years I think? Have to go back to me being in London between Contiki trips in 1996 and I bumped into a girl from New York in the pub after doing the pre tour thing with the actual people I would be travelling with. Talked deep into the night that one, and had the opportunity to go up to her room and have coffee. Wish I had, took another four years for the coffee duck to break LOL - duck as in the cricket term.

Anyways, back to Spanish girl Anita - I am in Lust methinks. LOL does meeting attractive people, having them talk to you count as Fate perhaps? She got off halfway to town doing her art therapy course in Morningside, and from that point on I didn't CARE how the rest of the day panned out, including the interview stuff, I had had my epiphany for the week! If I have used epiphany in the right context, of course.

And I wonder what she thought of me, she kept talking to me and the conversation didn't seem forced so that is a positive. Let's see, I showed a sense of humour I think, told her I was jobhunting, that I live with my parents (through inference), that I have seizures, that I am recently back from a relationship. Hmm, I think that's just the usual me seeing more negatives of course - I think she thought I was actually interested in her and what she was SAYING, and 99% of the time my eyes were on her face, eyes and mouth. Beautiful eyes. Will have to keep going to that particular railway station to see if I bump into her again. Or a Google search. It’s a fine line between friendliness and stalking LOL, will keep an eye out from that angle as well.

Anyways, back down to reality. Had the interview, got a good interviewer, again with the cute glasses - she had family in Croydon which was the first thing she spotted off my resume, that I had worked there, so throw in a couple of suburb names and the footy club and connection with Sam already. I think I was still coming down off the Anita Encounter and/or the Starbucks coffee, and was sooooooo relaxed in the interview. Think I gave good answers, don't think there was anything obviously wrong this time around. Cute cute girl with the cute cute glasses - though not as stunning as train station girl LOL.

And the test was soooooo easy, Word 97, and I answered 24 out of 25 correct. New speed record as well, 63 wpm woohoo. And told Sam that I DID have another interview tomorrow, and she said she would try to fast track saying Yes or No to me. There were three different staff members interviewing three applicants, and yes Sam and I got on like a house on fire – she was the prettiest of the three LOL LOL – and no, not thinking with that part of my anatomy, just aesthetically pleasing – like I said in the entry about girls at the pub after the rugby the other day, not in the mood for even a one nighter, not that I have done that before of course.

I am explaining too much I know. Good interview, feedback I got afterwards was that I interviewed great – hmm yeah I felt I was flirting in the room with Sam around. Fingers crossed. Next interview tomorrow, hopefully more stunnas at Manpower LOL. Silly silly Paul.

Anyways, that’s it off the top of my mind for now.

Talk later

Busy Busy

Or as much as I have been the last few months. Have a docs appointment this morning, for anti-epilepsy pills - had a few seizures, they can't figure out what's wrong so let's just give some pills just in case they work is the attitude I got when I was first prescribed them. Can't have alcohol with dilantan bleah, that's the big negative - not that I am an alky but just a year without alcohol that's a big push, not wanting to be like Dubya and never drink again just yet thank you very much.

Then have two interviews, one this afternoon and one tomorrow morning. This afternoon's one is through a temping agency to work in a 'contact centre' not a call centre mind you for Telstra, which is Telecom Australia, which is like Bell Canada, British Telecom, AT&T, in one of their business client centres.

Tomorrow's one, also through a temping agency, will be for GE Finance, six weeks temping and then see what they will do with me. Telstra it is ongoing temp but they want at least a year's commitment - well, what else am I doing with my time :)

So yeah, just a quick one, will spot whoever actually READS this thing around maybe sometime tomorrow.

A Brain Teaser Perhaps

Okies, have just gotten off the phone with my best friend, and we argued. Not about the ex or anything - which is a change, but about citizenship.

I am a New Zealander in Australia right? A few years ago, New Zealanders could just pop across the ditch (shorthand in this part of the world for Tasman sea) and be considered just like Australians, ie get the dole and public medical care etc. Then because so many Kiwis live in Australia (half a million I think) the rules were tightened up. New Zealanders are still the only nationality that can work here without work visas, but as for anything beyond that forget it.

For the first two years after coming to Oz, New Zealander's cannot get the unemployment benefit. And basically have to sell your first born for proof to the public medical system that you are sticking around for long enough for the taxes the state gets off you and the money you use in healthcare even out. Need four types of evidence at least it seems - I have one at this stage.

So my best friend was saying that oh why don't you become an Aussie citizen - it's fairly easy to do and all, and it would solve some of your problems. First off, that sounds a very mercenary solution - although I could be a dual Australian and New Zealand citizen, at this point I don't have that burning desire that Australia is going to be home anytime in the future. Let me rephrase, it may be where I live, but it will never be 'home'.

Secondly, it would feel like I was cheating, that I was not becoming an Australian for good reasons, but just to do the system in. It would feel very awkward I think. LOL, the acid test is if I am a dual citizen, I would still use my Kiwi passport instead of any Australian one - until that changed or at least got to fifty fifty hmm.

Does anyone know what I mean, cos my best friend sure as hell doesn't. Not to put her out or anything, but she has never travelled overseas, and hasn't had that occassional ache in the pit of your stomach or that catch in your throat when you think of your homeland. Or am I just talking crap here?

Grateful opinions please :)

PS - not quite right - if NZers need EMERGENCY care over here, ie public hospitals, that is covered - along with any hospital followup to these emergency cases... but elective surgery and GP and specialist visits, forget it

Some Of My Interests

Hi again, just thought that I would go through some of my interests. You won't find a focussed, determined rant on one or two issues, the world and especially the world through the internet is my oyster.

This is something I bumped into while doing the random website thing. Is a good comic, which reminds me of the non serious non 22nd century storylines out of 2000AD. Used to read about Judge Dredd and all that for most of the nineties - good character, what a sucky movie though. Anyways, back to this paragraph's link - reading the comics from that link have had a wry smile on my face for most of it. Put it in my faves and reading two issues a day thus far, will think whether to keep it after I have read all of them then.

And yes, I am afraid that my exposure to Canada has made me interested in their elections and this link is from the Ottawa Citizen, part of Lord Black's Canadian press empire. Just as long as I didn't read the editorials, I could read the paper over there - editorial and comment pieces are usually a bit too right wing for my stomach LOL. I didn't support the reasons for going to war in Iraq for instance, just to give you all a first flag on my viewpoints.

In the course of a usual net session, I wander past the BBC, the Guardian and the New York Times, as well as wander past Doonesbury for my news feeds. Also check up on the hockey, cricket, and the Mets in the baseball for the sports.

And think I will wrap it up there, LOL too many hyperlinks in the above paragraph? Looks long as a draft but with all the code it will probably just look piddly when I hit enter LOL. Was going to write up my 'Entertainment' links as well as the news and sports, but is enough to chew on just at the moment. And maybe one link per paragraph LOL, might be an idea.

Spot ya same bat time, same bat channel

The Difficult Second Album/Post

Hey all, Monday morning and things are cruising along fairly quietly. Just had my shower about twenty minutes ago, so am reveling in the 'feeling alive with no recourse to caffeine' mode I am in at the moment. Mmm coffee, now there's an idea for lunch :)

Am pretty up at the moment actually, because as well as the just showered rush, I have got the 'some job actually wants to interview me' rush as well. Have been unemployed for umm just over fourteen months now - the first nine of which were self imposed, as I went on leave without pay from my job to go pursue a relationship on the other side of the globe. No, not in the UK, in Canada, Ottawa to be precise. Loved my time there, and ninety percent of the time the relationship was on an even keel, but (big scary music please) to get a job there was hella difficult, much more difficult than I thought, and combined with some health issues, started falling into a mental breakdown, with what I felt was a lack of sufficient emotional support. So, to stop being a burden to the girlfriend/ex, I came back to sort out my life with my family and parents in the immediate background.

Now that I have scared off ninety percent of my potential readership, for the past four months I have been jobhunting - the first month after I got back in early January was just blobbing out. Have been hot and cold on how interested in the whole thing I have been, but upshot is I have applied for almost eighty thus far, and gotten a sum total of four interviews. Maybe five, counting this mornings phone call - data entry/call centre positions, and have the interview (sounds like they bring all the candidates in at once? strangeeeeeee) on Thursday morning.

So in the shower after getting confirmation of the interview was singing bouncy songs like Let's Get Loud and Man I Feel Like A Woman - sad huh, but it is an UP day. Which is better than the alternate - I'm not clinically depressed or bipolar or anything but I do have massive mood swings day to day, sometimes hour to hour, so no doubt you will be hearing me whinge sometimes in here :)

Had a quiet weekend just gone - the 'highlight' of it being going out to watch the Super 12 rugby final at the pub - don't have cable TV at home, parents don't believe in it or something, and I don't yet have the cash to install it as a side issue. So yeah, I don't really get out that much, apart from my family (parents, one brother, one sister - I'm the eldest sibling) I am fairly isolated socially in Brisbane. Spend too much time online is the chorus I hear. Anyways, back to Saturday night - went to the first pub, good atmosphere, pretty barmaids, reasonable pre match entertainment (a guy with a guitar and a keyboard and a lot of 70s songs), but they were going to show the rugby LEAGUE- and yes, to the North Americans, there is a difference.

Wandered quickly to the only other pub in the suburb and gave a sigh of relief that they were showing the rugger - had big Maori guys who looked like they were the bouncers ensconced on the best seats and all, and got in before the game started. Between ACT Brumbies (Australia) and Canterbury Crusaders (New Zealand) - the rugby season is split into three, well at least back home it is - Super 12, internationals and national provincial championship. Trying to think of how to explain it to non rugby followers, but will try again at another point.

Anyways, ACT scored five tries/touchdowns in the first quarter, with no reply from the Cantabs, so although they valiantly tried to play catch up, the Crusaders just leaked more tries at the worst possible moment. Only lost by nine points though, but this is finals football, no prize for second.

Yesterday was pretty dull, netted for a bit, then played Age of Empires (basically the only game that has moving graphics - ie not Mahhjong or Solitaire - that works on this puter), and then watched TV - Australian Big Brother, eviction night, and Momento - good movie that. Sunday also used to be American Idol night as well, but even since George left I have basically shrugged my shoulders about it all. Fantasia I guess, but the voting has been really funny this season - good article about it all in the NY Times - would hyperlink it, but you have to be registered with the site to read it. Free registration and all, but don't want to annoy you all.

So yeah, that has been my last few days - see you all again soon :)

The First Post

As opposed to the last post of course, meaning that sad bugle play. Just thought I would give a quick WOOHOO here, since I have another diary, which I may MAY mind you link into here, but this one I can insert hyperlinks - YAY me.

Twenty eight, male, New Zealander in Australia. That's all the info I am giving at the moment, as setting up a profile etc, that sounds like a tomorrow as in Monday job :) Talk then