Okay - so first day on the job...exhausting! But they always are aren't they. Got my own desk (even had my name on it) which is something I'm going to have to get used to again...and a new laptop, phone (3G), MMC (3G too) and Charm - yay! The team were soo nice and Louisa (who I'm replacing) is a true gem.

Everything has been organised to within an inch of it's life so my first project - Results - can go nothing but smoothly.

Here's my desk - note Vodagnome's presence -

What else to say?

I've been here for a little over a week now and each day getting more and more immersed in the place. Highlights:

• Filmed with Arun today - yay back into video - man what a legend that guy is!
• First meeting went well - though had been here all of two hours and was asked to give an update on IC for project - ummm...ummm...ummm...Louisa?
• Team have been really friendly (one pub lunch under belt already)
• Invited to Fireworks display at local cricket club on 5 November and then hit the clubs of Newbury (two - and not too shabby actually)

Speaking of fireworks - had an absolute nightmare on the weekend. Smudge went missing for 48 hours (the grey cat). We think scared by fireworks and then locked in someone's garage. Both Bridge and I were distraught. Bridge had to carry it all on her own and went to door knocking around the neighbourhood. She finally came back on the evening of the third day. Not good - obviously a grown up teenager now who likes to scare her parents by staying out all night! UK certainly seemed like a long way away...

Went to London again on Sunday (this time by train) and caught up with Ben (old mate who I used to work with in Internal Comms at Westpac). I'm normally dossing on his floor when I see him in London so was nice to meet up with him and then go back to my place!

Of course...my place...am now in apartment which is great. The hotel was diabolical and it's great to have my own space with a couch, 2 bdrms (sepearet to lounge...yay!), kitchen so I can cook meals) and Sky TV with over 100 channels (still nothing to watch though). Spookily this is the exact same apartment that Michael (Sarah's partner) was in when he was here...small world.

Was off househunting again on Tuesday (one house would be great but only available for six months...Grrr). The others were pants. Off to see another one today so fingers crossed.

Thinking about Paris for my birthday (9 December - so send presents now!) But only if riots stop soon. Went on to www.lastminute.com to book tickets but have to book at least 330 days in advance...seems odd for a site called 'last minute'...

Talk soon

Ciao

Sorry it's taken so long to Blog again guys - busy at work and house hunting would you believe!

Where were we?

Day after curry Sarah and I went to Oxford and had a look around. Got a bit lost getting out of Oxford - my driving probably!

We took the Vodagnome with us so here's a few pics of him:




Here he his having a very nice sandwich actually in a cafe in Oxford.




And here he is outside the Church in the main Oxford St - someone know what this is called?






Finally, here he is outside Oxford College...i think




Promise more Gnome pics soon!

The next day I looked around Reading and spoke to Real Estate Agents about houses - nothing!

The next day went to London to visit the queen! It was the same as always - big, bustling and wet. Felt quite proud of myself coz I drove in...I know ...crazy! Started regret it as soon as I got on the M4. Ended up parking in Earl's Court and then tubing it.

Caught up with Sarah and Mike, Sonya Aitken and Louise Hall (ex VFNZrs) and some other friends of Sarah's in a pub in Marylebone. Exceptionally nice time. Then did a spot of shopping. If thought driving on the M4 was scary during the day - forgot it gets dark quickly and had the terror of driving for an hour in the rain at night!!!

I think the next day was the day before work and so I went house hunting again. This time to Basingstoke (Sth East of Newbury). Another big town with no real estate agents that could help. Except one!

I found the house we want to live in...can you believe this place...like a chocolate box! Shakespeare chic I like to call it. It's so cute - the ceilings are really low, the doors are all wooden with latches instead of door handles and the front door key is about 25cms long!

The house is in a field surrounded by huge trees that were filled with autumn leaves. It is called Kisby Cottage and is in a village called Ecchinswell about 10 minutes south of Newbury...perfect and I put an offer in straight away.

Here's where the story goes downhill a bit. It has been on the market for sale for some time. It did have a couple were interested but they pulled out after much negotiation. The guy who has selling was so pissed off he said, just get some tenants in there. And along comes Geoff and Bridge - yay! Unfortunately, the day we came along, the couple started sniffing around again so the guy has put us on hold to see what happens with the couple - Grrr!!!!

So the search continues (although we hope this one will come through)

The next day...it's off to work!

Will fill you in on all that next time!

Ciao

Geoff

Well, bugger me!

Am now living in UK!

To start at the beginning...jumped on a plane at 7pm on Sunday of Labour weekend. Can definitely recommend Emirates. Got to fly Biz Class too which made it just that little bit better (okay a lot better!) Had a stopover in Melbourne for about an hour and a half and after a marathon 14 and a half hour flight to Dubai. A two and a half stopover in Dubai (a much needed shower and a spot of window shopping) and then back on the plane and away!

Arrived @ Heathrow and the bloody taxi driver was over an hour late! Just what I needed after a 36 hour commute to a new job! It was also persisting down with rain which was a real downer - thought to myself - what the hell have I done! The hotel though was much better than expected too. Normally Brit hotels are a trifle dodgy (apologies to all the Brits) but this was quite nice - Regency Park should you ever need to know.

Went for a walk (in the rain) and got in supplies (yes it was chippys and cheese and crackers). Managed to last until about 6.30pm before falling asleep on the bed. Not bad! Of course, woke at about 6am the next day but that was okay.

I got a hire car so decided to venture into Newbury itself. Had heard many bad stories about it but have to say it wasn't as small and grubby as I'd pictured in my head. In fact parts were quite nice. Here's a pic of the canal going through the centre of town.

The main street is about a kilometre long and has all the shops you'd expect including M&S. I did a spot of shopping - well bought the latest Empire magazine and then toddled off back to hotel and started the first of the 'sitting in a room on your own' afternoons/evenings!

Next day it was house hunting with our agent, Stephen. He showed me six houses - a couple of which were OK. In fact, one was damn near perfect. Piccie here...

Was a great wee place with two up/two down, a big garden and smack bang in the middle of nowhere in a hamlet (wasn't even big enought to call a village) called Brightwalton Holt.

Unfortunately, it went that afternoon and we missed out - never mind.

After a full on day it was exceptionally nice to relax with a glass of wine (chilean...large) with Sarah Williams and Michael who's been over here for the last three months. We met at the Lock, Stock and Smoking Barrell pub and after a few quiets, we headed off to grab a curry. Apparently this curry house was below the apartment where Chris Gent and the other guy first set up Vodafone 20 odd years ago. First impressions with this curry house weren't great. The musty odour that assaulted you as you walked in the door was quite overpowering. But we soldiered on coz it was the Vodafone restaurant after all. Luckily, after one more glass of wine, the smell disappeared (or we got used to it). The food was bloody superb actually and the company was awesome so a pleasant night had by all. Of course, we found out later it was the wrong restaurant and the right one is quite nice actually but hey - you get that!

Well, I'd better get on and do some work. Will update you on the next couple of days soon.

Take care all and blog back soon!