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Work and job searching related comments.

Live

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Keep letting this slip. As usual.

Living in Estonia now. Everything sorted. I’m working. Wife working. Daycare working. Flat is good. Bills are getting paid. Everyone is happy at the moment.

Rugby going ok. Semi final tomorrow. Feeling confident. Still playing tighthead. HRC in Helsinki. We blew our chance to finish the regular season in first place, by 1 try and 3 points. Came third overall. Best +- points differential in the league though. Let’s try to take the championship though.

Gym had to drop back because of rugby. From 4 to 2 days a week, with a sneaky extra session sometimes if we had a bye. Lost some strength, but have sustained most of it pretty well. Looking forward to off season lifting.

Sleep time. Will make a mental note to update more.

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Change of plans

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I resigned from work two weeks ago. I have 8 work days remaining. Nearly made 7 years. Wouldn’t have happened without my roles shifting through the organisation over time… So that’s good.

It’s not officially announced yet but I suspect half the staff already know. Quite a few people have all left at the same time. I’ve been holding off as long as I could but I felt the time had come.

So, what now?

Well, concrete plans are to head overseas for 3 months again. Estonia via Singapore. Splitting the flights apart should hopefully make things more tolerable with the bub.

We’re also looking into picking up a property in Tallinn to eventually move into. We’ve found one we like. Family on both sides are doing their part to help us arrange it, which is lovely.

No set date to migrate. Probably procreate once more first. Likely due next year. Hopefully not too far away, as I’m getting old and I also don’t want the age gap between the two sprogs to be too great.

Loose plans are to study and practise programming. Update CV. Try to make some little applications. Study Estonian. Do temp/contract work when we return. Enjoy family reunion around Christmas.

Doing this on mobile sucks.

Not a leap year but maybe I will anyway

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Good afternoon.

We’re in the middle of planning a new life overseas. Marika’s going berserk investigating new apartments and interior designs. We’ve found one place we’re very keen on. Whether we can get it is another matter. Time will tell. Hopefully soon.

Since we’re going back to Tallinn this year (on holiday) and we want some more free time either side of that trip I decided to resign from my job. It was a bit awkward, as I don’t leave jobs very often, so I’m not that familiar with my approach. Either way, it’s done now. I have just under 4 weeks remaining and then I suppose I’ll have to finally update my CV.

It’s been a long stint at this employer, but I think I’ll go more into that when I’m fully out.

Apart from that, well, we’ve moved back to my parents’ house to save money. It also gives them more time to spend with their grandchild, so that’s nice. We haven’t quite been able to abuse the live-in babysitter option yet but there’s still time to make amends.

I’m keen to try my hand at some webdev and even some more gamedev. I tinkered with it last year but couldn’t stick with it. I have some little ideas that I’d like to turn into projects for fun and learning. I may even be able to apply some of those new skills to a future job, depending on what sectors I look into. I think if I can stick with it and get over the initial learning up I’ll probably enjoy it. I may need more screens though… we’ll see.

Speaking of screens, I recently purchased one of these USB powered, portable monitors from Amazon. It arrived after about a week or so and works brilliantly. I haven’t tried cramming it into my laptop bag yet but that’s my next mission. I’m sure it won’t fit and then I’ll be sad.

Foxtold

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Hello, dear readers. I hope you’ve missed me. I felt in my heart a burning desire to jot down the latest. I’m not sure if you can actually be passionate about “jotting”… yet here we are.

I’m a bit thrown off by the latest WordPress blog entry UI. It’s minimalistic and contemporary, I suppose. It’s novel, it’s unique… but is it shithouse? Probably not, no.

I just cancelled our Foxtel subscription after 6-odd years of service. It went a little like this:

trumps-youre-fired

Except with better hair.

Since they’ve slashed their prices after Netflix came out in Australia it hasn’t really been too big of a hole being burnt into my wallet. As I’m unable to get both the “iQ” and the “HD” options though it means I can’t record anything and the resolution looks like shit anyway. Dropped.

Speaking of dropped, my laptop has returned from Dell today. I’m yet to unbox it and check its performance. Basically the power from the charger kept dropping out whenever the graphics card was in use. Long, boring story but it involved accidentally having my laptop sent to Perth instead of Lidcombe after it was lost in the mail for a week. Then getting it back in a busted up cardboard box. Let’s hope it works. Or let’s hope it doesn’t work, then I can push for a refund or outright replacement. 4 warranty calls in 4 months isn’t much fun.

Baby is walking and babble-talking now. Pretty cute. Getting big muscles and teeth. Sounds like I’m talking about a thoroughbred or something. Speaking of, I should have bet more on the Melbourne Cup last year. Deane gave me some hot tips and one that was practically a gimme. Too bad I was just playing with change. My sports bet account is a little fatter now, though.

I’m going to try and teach myself some programming again. I dabbled in some gamedev stuff earlier in 2016 and didn’t mind it. I didn’t dedicate a whole lot of time to it though. I should. I’m also keen to learn some other languages and create some apps. Yes, I now sound like one of “those guys”.  However, I’ve always liked doing that kind of stuff. I just never give it more than half a crack. Maybe it’s time?

It definitely won’t really happen with our current home lifestyle though. Evenings disappear in a puff of cleaning and feeding and cooking and sometimes a bit of wine. Then it’s 10pm and I don’t want to concentrate on learning or developing new skills. Then it’s the weekend and I want to unwind. A vicious cycle of non-progress. At least I’ve started some basic exercising again.

That’s right. I’m crawling up the slippery slope that is dad-bod-ism. I dunno if I ever really had a dad bod. I’m probably too big in general to be considered that body shape. I tend to just get boobs and a spare tyre, but all combined it’s simply too impressive to be cute. So, back to wearing headbands and sweating all over the yoga mat I’ve laid out in the bedroom. It was easier when the baby’s room was just a spare room. At least it was easy to move around in there. Doing dips off the side of an IKEA bed doesn’t quite feel right.

Looking forward to finding a way to head overseas again this year. A few destinations on the shortlist. We haven’t cross checked that with our budget yet. Might put that off for a while and let the dreams prosper a bit longer.

Just realised that because I’m resculpting the dad bod I will be able to fit into old clothes again (that I’ve had for about 11 years) but my latest business attire won’t fit properly. Is it easy to take in trousers?

It’s Christmas again

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Hello darlings. Merry Christmas. This year Marika and I made our own gift for ourselves and our families – a baby boy.

He alternates between being wrapped and unwrapped like a hand-me-down present. He also occasionally leaves a little surprise behind in his nappy for us. We wouldn’t change anything for the world.

My gift to Marika this morning was letting her catch up on some sleep while I held the little fellow. Job done.

So we’re doing Christmas at our place for the first time. Only my parents and Elina & Meelis will be attending. That’s 7, not too bad for a small flat such as ours. I’m hoping the weather stays moderate so we can enjoy the balcony and our shade umbrella. I’m also hoping the barbecue doesn’t run out of gas, since I actually haven’t started it after the first week of January this year. Keep your fingers crossed for yet another Christmas miracle.

Still working where I’ve always worked, but now I’ve transferred roles to become a project manager. Did a certification and everything. Going alright so far. No one wants to read about work though, right?

I’m currently signed up to about 4 online courses for further certification. I have no idea how I’ll get through them, as I find it quite difficult to study with videos. Having live teachers and courses has spoiled me. Having also developed a short attention span over the years doesn’t make it any easier. Still, if I get through them I’ll be pretty chuffed with myself… Although they have very little to do with project work. Maybe 25% of it. Yep.

Marika is on maternity leave until sometime next year. I’m partly jealous but also sympathetic. Child-rearing housewives are effectively single mothers for half the day or more, and it’s tough. I’d probably still take that deal if I could produce my own milk.

So yeah, I’ve now got a few decades of kid stuff to go through now. Already started playing Christmas songs through the flat even though they’re painful and sonny boy is too young to realise what’s going on. Sacrifices, right?

See you all soon.

Pardon me, dear. I kind of forgot about you.

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Seriously. I forgot this was here for a while. It’s ok now, I think. I’m here. It’ll be alright now.

Life? Life’s been ok. Thanks for asking. Since my last update I believe I’ve gone back to that KFC once, maybe twice. It’s been a while. Both times were reasonable experiences but not up to the standard of the first one. I haven’t had much to eat today so far and mentioning the dirty bird is making my stomach grumble. Let’s move on, shall we?

Tonight we’re going to see the Dead Kennedys for our second time. It should be fun. Last time was a few years back at the Manning Bar and we both really enjoyed it. Not sure what to expect this time around but if it sounds as good as the previous gig we’re in for a treat. The major dilemma I have is deciding whether to drive in and not drink or get drunk and train in. I better check the set times.

One big news item in the gap between posts I suppose is that Marika’s sister got married. We spent 3 weeks back in the isamaa and managed to catch up with shitloads of people, really, before and after the wedding. Even during the wedding actually, as they used the same photographer that we did. Small world, small country.

The other big news is that we bought into a nifty little bar. Yep, Marika and I are publicans. Well, partly. It’s in Estonia and we’re not, so we can’t get sloshed on our own supply unfortunately. Maybe that’s for the best. Anyway. Cool, right? Yes. It’s only relatively new but already popular. Now we just need to take over the world.

It also means we should probably get a real accountant. I even started dabbling in the stock market, although I don’t really intend to invest much. It’s just a curiosity at this stage. Accountants sort all that shit out for you. I think. The website says they do.

Life achievements:

  • We’re well past both year 1 wedding anniversaries. Go team.
  • Air conditioner has been installed in our apartment (pending strata approval, oops).
  • Fly screens have been installed in our apartment windows (pending strata approval but I mean come on) but not on the sliding doors because the doors are retarded and might need to get re-done.
  • I just set up a Sonos sound system so now we can have multi room audio. Well, currently it’s single room plus the balcony if we want but let’s see how far down the rabbit hole we go.

Honourable mention: both Marika and I are able to do proper pull ups now. We’re strong enough now that any risk of injury is more likely to be from the bar falling out of the door frame than of us dislocating our arms from their sockets.

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Home!

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Work!

On a whim I pissed away a respectable chunk of change on getting some blank keycaps for both of my Duckys. Now I have a colourful yet indecipherable range of input devices to the amazement of all.

Yes, mixed and matched. Sorry if the aesthetic offends anyone.

Apart from these kinds of distractions I don’t really have a lot going on. Both of us are working and I for one don’t have any holidays left. Marika still has a million because she gets spoilt by her company. I’m still jealous.

Maybe I’ll tell you how the concert went next time.

Learning the process

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Greetings.

I’m currently on a training course for work. It’s for the ITIL framework. No, I don’t expect any of you to understand or care what I’m talking about. Anyway, it’s interesting and it means I don’t have to go into my work office all week!

Marika and I went to the Future Music Festival last weekend. It was decent but felt too short and getting there and back was a total nightmare. In the end it was still worth it as we fit to see Die Antwoord again and even New Order, who naturally played Blue Monday! Yay.

I’ve been doing P90x, the workout regime, for the past 5 weeks. I’m not even halfway through it yet but I’m seeing and feeling the benefits. I just wish I could do proper pullups. Actually I just wish I had a place to simply attempt to do them. Our flat is the least accommodating exercise centre.

I bought a Scanpan grill pan and some other cookware last night just before bed. Regular price was about $1200 but I’m getting it all for about $300. Thanks, online shopping.

My Tintin collectors book arrived yesterday, too. Haven’t opened it yet but looking forward to it. The original two comics that I haven’t read are in this volume. Very exciting.

Time to go back to class.

Impulses

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Hi there.

I just signed up for a new Telstra mobile plan, for the low-low price of $74/month.

Why? I don’t know. I just sort of kept clicking buttons. Now I have no idea how I’m even going to receive the damn handset they’re sending out, since I probably won’t be home and the post office is only open 9-5. Since my work hours are 9-5:30 (lately 9-7) this could be a problem if they want photo ID.

Well, I guess these problems come up when you act on impulse. Obviously I had an urge to update this blog, as well.

Let’s see.

I got my tax return back and so did Marika. Hopefully I’ll be in the system for next year so I won’t need to fartarse around. In the end something must have been updated, somewhere, because I managed to get it done online. Hoorah!

Winter is gone. Summer is coming. It’s like the opposite of Game of Thrones. Marika’s loving it while all the sensible types are complaining about the heat. I’ve got an extra special reason, as I am currently walking to and from work every day. I believe it’s approximately an 8km round trip. That’s right, no more car.

Well, the car will probably come as an impulse buy in the next month or two as well. For now, I’m trying to get a touch of exercise. Starting in summer with business attire isn’t the best way to start a good habit, though.

I bought some new runners, I think my old Nikes might have been from the 90s. I don’t even remember their age, but they’ve been donated to a charity/laugh bin in the shoe store where I bought their replacements. Matt took me down there for a look. It may be the first time I’ve actually bought shoes with an assistant giving me advice. Running up and down the street to see how they feel wasn’t a particularly flattering moment of the purchasing process, unfortunately.

So, with all this walking and new shoes (I wear the runners on my walk and swap into business shoes in the office. Cool, right?) you’d think I might even be losing some weight. Well, if you didn’t, I sure did. It doesn’t seem to be working. I’ve narrowed it down to mostly my rigorous beer consumption. All those liquid sandwiches are holding me back. It’s a shame to cut back, as they taste so sweet after a long day and a long walk in 30 degree heat. Back to gin and wine, then.

Oh, I forgot to mention. Yes, we went back to Eesti and caught up with whoever was still left in the country. The time went quickly but it was pleasant to say hi to all the folks. I made a trip down to Riga to see John which ended up on par with most of our other sessions. This time, though, we had live ammunition. I won.

It’s been about a month since we got back. Now Piia’s coming. Tomorrow. This is exciting news, for Marika especially.

I expect there will be more updates about that very soon. On her blog, at least.

Winter winds bring a little change

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Too fucking cold of late. Not impressed. Even if it’s sunny the wind ruins everything. Blustering.

In a cynical attempt to chase better weather, Marika and I have obtained tickets to fly to Estonia in September, returning in October. 4 weeks of paid leave. Yee-haw.

That paid leave will taste even sweeter now, as I’ve become the helpdesk team leader. Apparently it’s not a position worthy of the title “manager”. I think it has something to do with pay grades. Anyway, the role operates like a manager: I mainly do admin and all the real work is done by the team. I guess I’ve got a real knack for getting myself into situations like this. Look at the hostel.

So, no more little 2-seater car for me. I’m using dad’s at the moment as he is still unable to drive. He is, however, hopping around and building up the amount of weight he takes on his bad ankle. Each week he applies a little more pressure. It seems to be coming along rather well. He’s even lost a considerable amount weight which, aside from the obvious health benefit, makes it easier for him to move on his feet.

I don’t know what car I’ll end up getting. Marika wants a Volvo. I don’t really care as long as it isn’t stupid. Not stupid and easy to park. That’s the criteria, really.

I think I’m coming down with a cold. I’ve been feeling mildly achy and drowsy since Sunday morning… after being up until 3am the night before playing video games with Matt. I’m splitting the display onto our new TV (which looks sexy) so it’s easy to be a spectator. We’ve picked up a new fridge, too. eBay was too annoying. Thank you, Bing Lee delivery service!

So, yes, money has been flowing out faster than it’s been dripping in lately. Marika also picked up a new laptop recently, seeing as her old one was getting run down. Time to pay everything off and start trying to save again.

Hopefully our tax returns give us something to smile about. We still need to fill ours in. I expect the return should be fairly generous for the two of us. Generous enough to pay for our plane tickets. We’ll see. I’ve considered getting a tax accountant to do it for us but we don’t have any deductions except for private health care, but I think claiming that is a simple procedure. It probably won’t be, knowing my luck.

Marika’s birthday is coming up. I still need to go shopping! It’s hard to work out what to buy for the girl who has everything. Ha. Socks and underwear? No. Perhaps rum? No. I’ll have to walk around and hope for some inspiration.

I feel like I’m about to fall asleep sitting down. At least that might numb the dull RSI that I’m sensing coming up my forearms.

Bye.

I’m not sure what inspired me to do this

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But here I am. Typing.

It’s pissing down rain today. I could probably swim home. Home to our new flat in Artarmon. Yes, that’s right. We finally moved out. I’m living with Marika and Chandler (no relation to LeBlanc). It took 5 weekends stretched out over about 2 and 1/2 months but we finally succeeded with an application. We spent most of the past weekend moving in our furniture and permanently damaging my back in the process.

Another application that succeeded was Marika’s visa. We finally submitted it just before the ANZAC weekend. About one week after the holiday and $2700 later I noticed a rather battered and discreet envelope beside the front door. This was the letter that the immigration department had sent us to notify Marika that she’d received her residency. Now she can work unhindered and travel in and out of the country as she pleases.

Now that it’s sorted we’re planning a return trip to Eesti later this year. Details still to come.

Unfortunately only 2 of our 3 recent applications have been successful. I bombed out in the last stage of my Air Traffic Control recruitment process. I realised at the time that I’d made a few silly blunders on the day and probably did a lot better back in stage 1. I didn’t feel out of my depth but rather a little off my game. Either way, I didn’t perform well enough and received an email about 2 weeks later letting me know as such. Disappointing and frustrating, but there’s not much that can be done about that.

My current employment is going along reasonably well. I now have an offsider and we have a third engineer working in Queensland. There’s beginning to be enough work involved for it to grow into its own division but it’s not quite the time.

I actually spent a month as the helpdesk team leader. An interesting experience, although my role was mainly as a caretaker rather than innovator. All disasters were handled pretty well and I heard some rumours that everyone was pleased with my work. That’s good enough for me. Nothing fell apart, so I must have done ok. I’m back on the road again now though and definitely enjoy that flexibility.

Poker is still alright. I’m playing more for entertainment these days and am gradually building up my bankroll. I’m seriously considering cashing in 80% of it as there’s beginning to be a lot of talk about the Australian government clamping down on online gambling sites, a la what happened in the USA last month. The whole situation is ridiculous but I won’t go into it here. If they’re going to enforce restrictions here then I’d best get the money out quickly.

Dad broke his ankle a few weeks ago. He’s been wheelchair-bound and/or bed-ridden ever since. Hopefully he’ll be discharged (for the second time) at the end of this week. He slipped in the mud one morning and broke it in two places. He had a plate inserted and later removed after it became infected. We had ramps installed at the house and he’s relocated his surgery by amalgamating it with another practice. It’s forced my parents to consider selling up their real estate and expediting their retirement. I suppose sometimes people need a catalyst.

My new car is nice. Nice and small. With 2 seats. It’s very useful when there are 3 of us sharing a flat. That’s all I can think of for now.