It's now been a year since I arrived in Sydney, emotionally exhausted, jetlagged and without much of a clue about what was going to happen next. Well I'm not jetlagged anymore.
I flew out from Heathrow on 15th July and arrived in a chilly Sydney two days later on a student visa and enrolled on a Modern History course at UNSW - which was to act as a career break but was also a means of getting myself in to the country to see whether I could (somehow) land a teaching job. This was easier said than done as RS is taught by chaplains in most schools (where it is even taught at all), plus my teaching qualification (the GTP) is not recognised here. So I still wake up most days somewhat baffled as to how on earth things seem to have worked out as they have.
I flew out from Heathrow on 15th July and arrived in a chilly Sydney two days later on a student visa and enrolled on a Modern History course at UNSW - which was to act as a career break but was also a means of getting myself in to the country to see whether I could (somehow) land a teaching job. This was easier said than done as RS is taught by chaplains in most schools (where it is even taught at all), plus my teaching qualification (the GTP) is not recognised here. So I still wake up most days somewhat baffled as to how on earth things seem to have worked out as they have.
Regular visitors to the blog will have seen that it's undergone something of a facelift recently (too much time on my hands). I hope you like the new look. I have created a "My Picks" label for my favourite posts of the last year (it runs to three pages); there is also a monthly archive as well as a summary of the past year by month in this post below, which is hyperlinked (* indicates a hyperlink that is also listed in 'My Picks').
I thought it might also be helpful to know who is who on the blog, so there is a list below of those people whose names regularly appear.
I thought it might also be helpful to know who is who on the blog, so there is a list below of those people whose names regularly appear.
If you do visit the blog - once in a blue moon, infrequently, or regularly, please leave a message or tick a box from time to time - I have a hit counter but I've really no idea who reads the drivel that emits from my brain week in, week out; so it would be good to know that this enterprise is not simply the insipid effluence of a tragic mind that is merely fuelling its own appetite for self-indulgence.
Finally I would like to say a big thank you to all those, in whichever way, big or small and both before I left and since, who have supported me in actualising something that I've spent much of my adult life talking about doing, but only got around to actually doing last year. As I have said on numerous occasions in the past 12 months, I never feel lonely here because of the huge amount of goodwill and support I feel from back home. And I will be coming back to the UK next July and am already really looking forward to catching up with many of you then.
I'm going to have a bit of a celebration this weekend, but more of that in a couple of days....
Enjoy.
Kit: An old friend from RGS who has been a teacher at another boys' school here for the last five years, and my housemate
Jen: My other housemate and Kit's girlfriend. She is also English and works in IT
Aviva: A friend who I know via Kit; she's just finished her degree at Sydney Uni and now works for a Jewish events company
"Ludo" (Laurens): A good friend who I know via Kit; he's Dutch and works for an international financial institution in the city
Sian: I met Sian about 10 years ago when she was living in London, before she returned home to Sydney; she works for the ABC and is an awesome friend
Michael: Sian's boyfriend who is similarly awesome and is also a producer at the ABC
Antoinette: Sian's sister who is also a producer at the ABC
Jeremy: My excellent Head of Department, who's English
Dylan: My similarly excellent colleague in the PRS Department (also English)
July
August
Tigers v Sydney City Roosters at the Sydney Football Stadium
September
Mid-semester break and discovering the State Library
October
November
Completed UNSW and Open Universities Australia courses
December
January
Induction at Newington
February
March
April
May
Rugby returns
June
Semester 1 exams
275 school reports
End of Term 2
Can we have a tickbox for simply 'Read and Understood'?
ReplyDeleteThanks. Matt.
I'll look in to it. Perhaps I'd also need to have a tickbox that says "Read and not understood"; and maybe one that says "I understand perfectly and don't have to read it".
ReplyDeleteJust 'Read and understood' would be fine. M.
ReplyDeleteCasey Boy - as you know, if you can't take it in the gut you are not a Fly-Half. Good Old Hank! Sounds like you have had an amazing year - really pleased for you that all is going so well. And very jealous that you went to the 20-21 win - great result. Take care and I'll keep my eye on the blog (it looks great). And I should probably mention that I'm getting hitched in November! All the best mate.
ReplyDeleteGaffie
I don't know if there's a 'hit count' of the number of times people feed your blog fish, but if there is you'll see that I do it far too regularly... V x
ReplyDeleteHiya Mark. Has it really been a year? How time flies. Embroidery classes haven't been the same without you (back to being an all girl class and Jennie has left). Hope you're keeping it up out there. Helen x
ReplyDeleteThanks Vix! I'm glad you were as I've been a bit rubbish; you may've noticed a couple died recently, possibly as a result of not being fed enough. I've made the tank bigger just in case, and I'm looking in to replacing one of the fish. x
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're still going Helen - I have certainly missed our classes! I've not joined one out here yet, but I'd love to get back in to it if I can make the time. x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the message Gaffie - and congratulations! Please stay in touch; I'm looking forward to seeing you and your wife(!!) next year! C.
ReplyDeleteWow. Happy Birthday. your list of stuff you've done in the last year is very impressive. If I made a similar list it would probably have one entry: December: went to see Casey.
ReplyDeleteWas it difficult for Aviva in the few months after she changed her name? Did people still know who she was?
If Aviva were to arrange a Jewish wedding in Norfolk, would it be a Norwich Union?
ReplyDelete