The countdown is on

I have to admit I am feeling a bit disillusioned at the moment.

I have my flight booked at the end of September and cannot extend it on my current working holiday visa in Australia.

I have been on my working holiday, which has gone so well I still find it hard to believe and would say these may be the best years of my life, since February and everything is going along very nicely.

Of course, I miss my parents, friends and other home comforts but my rellies here have made me feel so welcome I am forever grateful but I do feel I have got to the point of overstaying my welcome.

Fairfax get internal job opportunities e-mailed weekly and the New Zealand jobs catch my eyes as I could go there on a new visa for a bit - I would be by myself but what a challenge that would be...

My (sort of) cousin signed me up to an Aussie job site which e-mails me everyday with jobs in journalism and some of which, seem pretty good.

The job situation is England doesn't seem much better than when I left but with six months working on a paper that has to help. However, working alongside some of my colleagues I have learnt they haven't got Shorthand (I have 90WAM) and their knowledge of law isn't as strong as mine based on the law section of my course.

Of course, there is no substitute for on-the-job learning and they beat me hands down at that but I can't suppress this feeling inside that I should apply for jobs here or else it will be an opportunity missed.

From the fact Fairfax offered me a job, before they found out I had to be sponsored and withdrew the offer, I know I have a chance of securing a job here but should I? I really don't know...

I am off to look at Aussie/New Zealand jobs and update my CV. I haven't got much time to make a decision and for any visa details to be sorted out so I better make a decision damn quick.

Where's that coin gone...???

Round, round, I get around

While I am in Australia I have decided to explore a bit - this is thanks to my income from Fairfax and not working five days a week with them!

I have already been to Sydney as I posted about before, early July I visited the nation's capital Canberra for three days and I got back yesterday from a short trip to Tasmania.

Canberra is not like a capital, especially not of Australia, but it is inbetween the unofficial capitals Melbourne and Sydney so no-one gets unhappy?!

In the capital I saw Parliament House, Lake Burley Griffin about three other museums and other things.

In Hobart sights seen included Cascade Brewery, two AFL football stories, Richmond among others. Only disappointment was not seeing Port Arthur after being booked on a tour which was cancelled as I was the only one on it. Unfortunately by the time I got the message I couldn't re-arrange other things but oh well.

Although not booked it has been cleared with the people that count about me staying for a final month till the middle/end of September.

I hope to leave Fairfax on as high as possible and visit other places in Australia/New Zealand - maybe one more or two trips if financial/time constraints don't get in the way.

English footy season kicks off this Saturday (bloody hell that has come around quick!) and Ashes has two tests to go with England 1-0 up and still going with AFL here and the Aussie soccer starting any time now.