Archive for the Category »The Planning Stages «

Last post in the UK!
Friday, April 02nd, 2010 / Tom

Just 4 more days till I’m in a plane, although no longer alone! As most people reading this already know, It turns out Rich couldn’t bare to be in the UK without me, so has decided to tag along. This is good news, now someone to watch the world cup and get drunk with. Woo-hoo. :)

I had my leaving do last weekend, it was amazing! Especially the lovely Direct Enquiries girls dressed as kangaroos with t-shirts with pics of me on. (Soon to be available in all good Berkshire car boots). Thanks a lot to everyone who came :) .

DE Kangas

It’s so strange not getting up to go to work, I’ve not had time off work apart for set booked days holiday/weekends/bank holidays for years…. Lets just hope they don’t forget about me and give me some work to do in oz :-) .

No doubt this will be my last post whilst still in the UK. But I don’t think it’ll take too long once in Oz to whip a post up! And don’t be surprised if it includes the cliché pic of in front of the Sydney Opera House, because it probably will!

Everything here in the UK has been packed away, ready to be put away till I come back, I suppose at some point soon I should pack my bag I’m taking…? That can wait till Monday.

So yeah, I think that’s it? As Mels t-shirt says above, Watch out oz…

Tom x

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25 Days and counting….
Thursday, March 11th, 2010 / Tom

11 woking days left….11! Well, 11 in the UK that is. My lovely place of work have agreed to hire me as a freelancer to do some work for them from Oz. Graphic Design on a beach anyone?! As I said before i’m going to have to do some work to support myself in Oz, why not do what i’m good at :-) . So yey for that…. i’m now self employed! I’ve setup a client area for work requests http://freelance.skinzy.net if anyone wants any work doing! (Although, the websites not finished yet) – Although working out who I pay tax to is a bit confusing!

I’ve started packing all my clothes away, that’s a lot of effort :-( . But it has to be done. just 4 weekends left, and I think they’re all fully booked. Eeeep. I really should find somwhere to live, but that’s efffffffffort. I’m not too sure how long I can live with hosteling it up, perhaps a flat share may be in order? We’ll see when I get there.

I’m pretty chuffed with my netbook and my camera i’ve bought to take with me, not too big but powerfull enough.

Anywhoo, i’m off out! Maybe i’ll find more to waffle on about soon?

Tom x

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Well, not long to go now!
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010 / Tom

Well it all seems to be coming together, who’d have thought I’d be organised? But I am, honest! I now have a bag to add to the list of things I have! (kind of an important thing, wouldn’t you say!). As you’ve probably all guessed I have the crem de la crem of geek bags, its actually amazing! My oz bank account is all setup, even has a bit of money in it! The travel insurance has been purchased…. Umm there’s easily more I’ve got since posting before but can’t think of it now!

I’m sure eveyone I know is fed up with me talking about Australia now, but I don’t care! If you think its bad, try working with me! Its got to the stage where Mel is punching me every time I mention it, and I only really see her at lunch! But its clearly just jealousy :p (don’t hit me Mel!)

I’ve been reliably informed they even have lactose free milk in oz! They must have heard I was coming :) thinking about it, 6 weeks to the minute i’ll be waiting in Hong Kong for my next flight, on to Sydney! Jesus, really not long to go.

Less than 25 working days to go, that’s a weird feeling! Not as weird as its going to be on my first day in oz when I go, hmm, what now? I suppose I need somewhere to live!

Oh that’s something else I have booked, an RSA course, something you need if you want to sell booze, well work anywhere that does in Australia. Obviously new south Wales is the only place that doesn’t let you do it online! Grr!

I’m looking forward to my leaving party, obviously it’ll be sad as its the last time ill see most people till I come back, but the night should be good… I expect heart felt goodbyes from eveyone at the end! I’m currently practicing the “cya” and walking off at the airport, although I think it’ll probably be a bit harder than that. Cold play and radiohead at the ready for the drive home mum and dad!

Owell, speak to you soon you lovely people. Well see if there’s more for me to gabble about before I go. :)

Tom x

p.s. i’ve just noticed how often I end a sentence with! – I blame excitement

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Up up and away…!
Tuesday, February 02nd, 2010 / Tom

How time flies……. it’s already been 2 weeks since I set this up!

What’s new?

Well, the flights are booked! I did have a deposit down with a company but they really annoyed me and we’re generally slow and incompetent so I’ve asked for a refund. Now my flights are booked with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong on the 6th April. It’s official. I have a date!

Due to my lovely sister deciding to get married half way through my trip round Oz my flights are coming back in October for 2 to 3 weeks. Somehow I’ll have to find another £800 or so to fly back after, but we’ll sort that…hopefully! I’m taking donations you know :D .

I’ve been looking at companies who offer to pick you up from the airport, setup tax card, bank account etc for you for a few hundred quid but I’m more leaning towards doing it all myself. Add a bit of a challenge to it. I’ve found some hostels I really like the look of online, I’m in contact with an Aussie bank and a medical and tax card can’t be too hard!

I got the first hand fun of NHS direct recently, decided to give them a call to see if I needed any vaccinations or anything, 20mins later I get told I’ll have a call back the next day. Granted, the lady was lovely and apparently quite jealous of my journey! I got a phone call back confirming that I just need updated tetanus jab and MMR etc but nothing in particular.

Nerves are a bit more apparent now, still quite a few things I need to sort…what am I going to take, what to do about my car, I need to buy a bag etc etc etc. But ahwell! 63 days time I’ll be sunning it up on a beach :D .

Very skint for this month, VERY! But it’s worth it….

The plan hasn’t changed much from last time…work my way round the country….meet as many people as I can…..bully them in to being my friend and then moving on!

I need to get in contact with somewhere about my leaving do, 48 accepted on FB and quite a few people who aren’t on FB that are coming! EEEP! Hopefully somewhere like the rose will give me the back section for the night?

Anyways, time to love you and leave you. Not really much more to say before I leave but I’m sure I’ll find things to waffle on about :)

Tom x

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So it begins..
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 / Tom

Well… where to begin?

Just over a month ago I decided it was time for a bit of a change. Most people decide this when times are hard / they don’t like their job or something really isn’t going right. Weirdly it’s quite the opposite for me. Love my job, friends etc, it was just all getting a bit to same old same old. So one sleepless night later I decided to up and go 12,000 miles away for a year or so. Why not eh?

If I’m honest, I’ve never been a massive fan of blogs, i’ve always been of the conclusion no one cares about your life. Get a diary. But for this once in a lifetime trip I want to remember it, I want somewhere I can look back in 10 years time or when ever and see what amazing experiences I encountered. So here we are. The blog was born. Plus it’s a bonus for nosey parents to see what they’re missing out on!

I intend to keep this blog updated frequently with pictures and details of what I’ve been up to. I’m not too sure how frequently frequently is…but if I’m honest, the first month will probably have a lot of posts and it’ll slowly slow down. But we’ll see. I may stick to it? I hope I do – If you read this and I’ve not posted for a while, shout at me.

So what’s the story so far? Well, my passport has been sorted, my visa has been granted. I’ve put a £500 deposit down on my flight. I’ve quit my job, organised a leaving doo (the most important thing really if you ask me!). Umm… I’ve been put in contact with a couple of people in Sydney which I may meet up with at some point when I’m out there.

The Plan.

I’m not really sure if you can call it a plan, but basically, the plan is to arrive in Sydney around the 7th of April, with somewhere booked to stay for the first few nights. Turning up with a bag on my back, money in the bank and a smile on my face. From there explore the city, see what there is, see where I can stay, how I can earn some sort of money and find more people doing the same.

I intend to stay in Sydney for about 3 months, probably working a total of 2 months and exploring the rest, but really taking each day as it comes. After that, make my way around Australia, Canberra, Melbourne etc. No idea really how long I’ll stay in each, depends what they’re like .

That’s about the extent of the plan, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a pretty epic and long thought out plan!

Anywhoo, that’s it for me now! As the blog is new, I’m sure there will be a few posts before I leave when new updates happen .

Ta Ta for now.

Tom

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