Wednesday, 18 November 2015

It Was Only Just A Dream.




Recently I've had this feeling that London didn't happen.

That the past 2 years have been this dream like state and I didn't really live on the other side of the world.  Only when I get a snap chat or a facebook invite to a party in London or a message from a friend that I think "Oh yeah, I did live in London."

When I think about it now, it seems like another lifetime ago.  I have settled back so quickly into life back in Sydney that sometimes I feel like I never left.

I think a big part of it was the huge relief to be finally out of London as I was in a big slump, and coming home was the solution that I obviously needed.

The angry sassy Sam seems like a distant memory as I am now chatting to strangers again whether it be people working in the shops or people that seem lost.  So much in fact that I was out with my sister for an appointment and while I was in the waiting room for her, she seemed shocked that I was speaking to other people in the waiting room.

The fast walking impatient Sam is gone.  I had forgotten what it was like to stroll.  Now I can't believe I stopped doing it.  To go to the shops and not feel rushed or annoyed when somebody was walking slowly in front of you is fantastic.

This morning I woke up however and in my half asleep state thought that a box that is next to some draws was a naked man crouched down and the black label on the box was a camera and he was taking pictures of me while I was asleep.

I totally jumped until I realised that I am an idiot but then I thought will London hit me like that.  Will I be happy and content just in my sleepy state and then BAM,  London will be a naked man box filming me.

Will it scare me that the London part of my life is over?  Will it make me jump - to want to get back on a plane and do it again?  Will my heart race at the thought of it?

Only time will tell!

Aussie Out
xo
Read On >>>

Thursday, 12 November 2015

What Do I Miss?

In the lead up to me moving back to Australia, a lot of people asked me what I would miss about London.  I found it hard to give them an answer that wasn't filled with silly responses like tunnocks tea cakes and Primark.

Now that I have been home for just over a month, I figured I would think about it again.

I spent 2 years living in a place and surely I would miss more than a delicious chocolate treat and a clothes store.

So what do I miss?

The Weather!

As a pale ginger, I felt incredibly comfortable in London.  I was told by a visiting friend that I looked like I belonged there.  Since I have been back home, I felt like I have just been sitting in front of the air-conditioner trying everything possible to cool down.

A sense of Freedom.

It's not like I can do what I want now - but now I have a lot more responsibility.  I have family commitments and friends wanting to catch up seeing as they haven't seen me in forever.  Back in London, I only had friends so I didn't feel too much pressure to have to go to events.  Now it's like I don't have a choice.  And don't get me wrong, I have missed my family and friends, but sometimes I am too much of an introvert to even want to bother.

Public Transport.

Sydney transport is in a word - shocking.-  Before I left for my adventure, I gave my car to my sister and brother-in-law to look after.  Upon my return, I was informed that my brother-in-laws car was in the shop getting fixed and he needed my car to get to work.  So I have only been able to get back behind the wheel part time.  Because the transport around my house is so sparse, I've just not bothered to do anything.  I thankfully have my car back now but that won't stop me missing how amazing the public transport was in London (even the tube... believe it or not.)  Plus I needed to catch the bus into the city the other day and I had to wait 30 minutes for the bus - JUST GREAT!

Primark.

Ok it has to be on here.  It's just so cheap.  It doesn't matter that the quality isn't amazing or the shoes make your feet hurt like they have never hurt before.  There is something about picking up a pair of jeans for £10 that just makes you smile.

The West End.

Whenever you want to go and see a show, it's so easy.  The last couple of weeks I was in London I was going to a lot of shows (maybe I will write about all the shows I have seen.)

I think its kind of sad that this list isn't longer.  Obviously friends are on the list, but the joys of snapchat and whats app have helped greatly.

It also helps that I have found Irn Bru and tunnocks tea cakes at my local shop.

It's a shame that after 2 years living in a place, I can't think of more things that I would miss.  I am not saying that London isn't amazing - cos it really can be.  Maybe further down the track I will remember a lot more things that I will miss, but right now, I couldn't be happier to be home (accept for the sunburn.)

Aussie Out
xo



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Wednesday, 11 November 2015

The Job Hunt

So I have been back home for a month now.

The first couple of weeks I spent napping during the day as my fight with Jet Lag was one that my body didn't want a bar of.

The last couple of weeks I have spent getting my cuddles on with my brand new niece.  A few weeks ago I had never even held a baby but now I can say that I know how to change a nappy, I can dress her and top her up with her bottle (she likes food thats for sure) and most importantly - I can get her to fall asleep.  Aunty of the year right here guys!

But as amazing as all that has been, I've been getting a little bored at home and wanted to not only get out of the house and do something other than sing songs to a crying baby, but also get some money so I can save for my next adventure,

So turns out my track record with interviews stays intact as the first interview I went for, I got the job.

It was one of those interviews where you have to perform a little.

Where they told you to bring in an item that represents you (I brought my knitting cos I'm cool like that)

It was a group interview with about 30 or so people and halfway through the morning they spilt us up and after waiting a couple of minutes, I found out that my group was through to the next round of interviews in a very x factor Australian Idol kind of way.

We really had to sell ourselves (and an object that we had to choose from the gift shop.)

But after it all, I got a call back for a second interview and then yesterday got the confirmation that I have a new job!

I am really looking forward to getting back to work (less so that I have to catch the bus into work as there is no parking for me :( but I did the public transport thing in London so I can do it here.)

So I am officially a working girl again.  I start next week and thought I would share what my office view will look like.  It's not half bad.



Aussie Out
xo
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Saturday, 7 November 2015

What We Do In The Shadows

So I have recently watched a movie that I have heard a lot of things about for a while, but never got around to watching it.

It is a mockumentary type movie that follows around a flat share of vampires living in New Zealand.

It's extremely rare that a movie will make me laugh out loud in earnest so when I find a movie that does, I can't help but recommend it.

So do yourself a favour and find and watch this movie.

You wont be disappointed.




Aussie Out
xo
Read On >>>

Saturday, 31 October 2015

Burning Bridges




As I sit here on a Saturday evening, having a cold beer waiting for the men to come back from the shops to BBQ, I can't help think about the people that I have left behind in London.

People that were my support system for 2 years.

People that turned from complete strangers into friends and substitute family.

Unfortunately that support system crashed.

My last 2 months in London were made awkward and almost miserable for the fact that I had a fall out with one of my housemates.  A girl I would say I was the closest to.

I found myself agreeing to go to every event from other friends just to get out of the house because I didn't want to be there anymore.

All of my work friends were aware of the fall out and started having random night outs just to help me get out of my house.

I wish I could say that this was the first time I have had a fall out with a close friend over the same reason (it was a guy btw - not a girl code break but choosing a guy you have known for 2 weeks over a friendship of almost 2 years doesn't fly with me.)

Before I left for London, a good friend had done almost the exact same thing and I had cut her out of my life.  After having friends ditch me at a concert because their boyfriend had showed up or cancel plans we had had for months because she wanted to hang with her new boyfriend - I decided to take a stand.

Turns out that although you will loose some good friends, at the end of the day you will feel much better about yourself.

Since I stopped being friends with this girl before I had left for my adventure, I put a new rule in place.

1 strike your out!

If you wrong me - that's it.  Sure I might play nice but I feel like you should know that it's fake,

I like to hold a grudge and burn my bridges.

Sure it's upsetting that a great friendship had to be sacrificed but that's just a price I am willing to pay.

After moving away from these failed friendships, I have always felt so much better about myself, and this is no different.

I am so much happier being home, and I am starting to get my life back on track.  I have a job interview in a couple of days and hopefully that brings a new bunch of friendships and adventures.  Hopefully friendships that survive the burning of the bridges!

Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 15 October 2015

Advice for any Aussie moving to London



So you have made up your mind.

You are going to do an Australian rite of passage.

A trip that many before you have done.

You are going to move to London.

The first thing you need to do is sort out your visa.

I tried to be crazy organised and tried to do as much as possible before I left the country.  I found a company called First Contact which really was a god send.  All I needed to do once I got to London was go to their office in Tottenham Court Road and collect everything I ordered.  My sim card, the details to set up my bank account (you need to have an address to open up an account so they supply that), all the details to get an NI number (just like a tax file number)

Book flights.

Don't bother going to a travel agent.  It will just cost you more money on flights.  Jump onto Skyscanner and find the best flight for you.  

Tip: Find a flight that has a 30kg baggage allowance - Jumpers and jackets are heavy and you will need them (but don't forget things that will make London feel like home.)
Tip: Set incognito or privacy settings on your browser - these websites use your browser history and if it knows you are looking for certain flights then they will put up the prices.

SAVE SAVE SAVE!

It is always a hard moment when you exchange the thousand of dollars for what seems like only a couple of hundred pounds.  Try not to stress.  Yes living in London is expensive but you can save if you are smart about it.  Rent is always going to be cheaper the further out you go.  I thought that you weren't living in London if you weren't living next to a tube station, but simply living a 15 minute walk away from a station made rent so much cheaper.  And you will save on food.  If you are broke just before pay and you need some cheap options for dinner - find an Iceland and thank me later.

Re-establish a routine.

This is not a holiday.  Sure you will be excited to be somewhere new and exciting and sure spend the first couple of days exploring London but you won't be spending a lot of time in those tourist areas.  The quicker you get back into a routine, the easier you will settle in.

So finding a place to live is the number 1 priority.  Spareroom and Gumtree is what I used and I found a place to live within a couple of weeks.  Think of looking at houses like a job interview.  You need to sell yourself because if it is a nice place - there will be a lot of interest and if the housemates don't like you, that's it.  If you are travelling by yourself and you really want to emerse yourself in the British experience, then I would suggest going for a medium sized house ( we had 5 bedrooms) that way you are going to meet more people and end up doing lots of social things with your housemates.

Finding a job.

When I first moved to London, I had a job within the first week.  A lot of Australians move over with a promise of having a job as soon as you move over.  A great paying job catering to VIP events.  From what I have heard you are basically a waiter and are forced to work long hours with little training and you have to buy your own uniform - sometimes more than one uniform if you are working at different locations.

I however jumped on indeed  and found 2 different jobs via that website.  Yes I also went to certain companies websites but a lot of places will advertise here.

While we are on the subject, you will need to change your resume - firstly by referring to it as your CV.  Make sure you have your references ready ( written are best as I don't think they really want to be making international calls to make sure you are a good worker.)

Learn the lingo.

They speak English, I speak English.  How hard could it be.

Sure most things are the same, but there are some slight differences.  You don't want to be caught in the rain yelling that your pants are wet (like I did) and turn around to see a bunch of shocked English people.  I was quickly told that pants are underwear and from now on I should refer to my pants as trousers.

I told myself when I first arrived to the UK that I would never say some things.  I would never call chips crisps and I would have a hard time saying pounds instead of dollars.  That didn't last very long.  Living and working with English people, I was mocked if I said anything in the Australian way.  Within a couple of months I grew tired of being teased so I just accepted my fate.  I called lollies sweets, I called chips crisps, I said half 8 instead of 8:30 or half past 8.  I was turning into a monster, but life got a lot easier.  

Beware the dreaded "you alright."  I asked numerous people what was the correct response to this when somebody said it to me and I still don't understand it.  So people just looked at me like I was strange when I responded with "I'm good how are you."  Wrong!  Apparently you are meant to say "yeah you alright."  I was also told that they don't care about your response.  They say it out of habit now.

Must have apps.

London is a huge place and can be crazy over whelming at times.  I would spend most of my time looking at the maps that they have on almost every street corner of Central London  - looking like a tourist.  Then I went to lunch with my friend and she told be all about citymapper.

It's a free app that helps with all the transport and getting around that seems hopeless in London (they do other places as well but not anywhere in Australia yet... slackers.)

All it will do it find your location, you put in where you want to go and it will give you the options to do so.  Walking, bike, taxi, light rail, tube, overground or bus.  It tells you how far away it is, what time you will need to leave your location in order to get to your destination on time, even how many calories you will burn if you walk.  This is the app of the Gods and even though I knew my way around after a certain amount of time, I still found myself using it on a regular basis. 

TodayTix is the app you need if you want to go and see a show on the west end.  They sell tickets super cheap and take the hassle out of having to line up somewhere.  Yes sometimes you will need to go to the box office to collect your tickets but that wont take nearly as long.  You can get some fantastic deals.  I wanted to see a bunch of shows before coming home so I went on the app and never paid more than £30 for a show.  Sure some of them weren't the best seats but I could still see everything and I loved every second of it.  Highly recommended.

Uber.  Trust me on this one.  Uber is a life saver.  When you have had a big night the last thing you want to do is jump on a night bus (some buses run 24/7 - crazy right) and the London black taxis will charge you an arm and a leg to leg home.  Then there is Uber.  I found Uber to be so much cheaper and you don't have to worry about getting home and finding your money as it's all done through your card.  I always felt safe travelling with them and never had any major issues.

Viber and WhatsApp.  Almost everyone in London uses WhatsApp.  So much to the point that one day I got a normal message and it took me a few minutes to find out where to find the normal messages where on my phone.  Viber is fantastic for staying in contact with everyone at home.  Sure I used Facebook messenger and skype but viber was the app that I used most often for messaging family back home.

ENJOY YOURSELF!

Whether you are making the move for good or for 2 years, the most important thing to do is to go out and create memories.  YOU ARE IN LONDON!  Not many people get to do what you are doing and it is an amazing opportunity.

Try not to let peoples moods get you down (easier said then done), and try to explore and find new things instead of going to the same places over and over again,

It is so cheap to travel from London so if you want to go somewhere - DO IT!

Don't have any regrets.


London is a hard city to live in.  People can be rude, you almost never get a seat on the tube and sometimes you have trouble trying to figure out what people are saying.  But I wouldn't change my 2 years at all.

So grab your jacket, oyster card and your pounds (and pennies!), meet new people and have an adventure!

Trust me... you won't regret it!

Aussie Out
xo


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Monday, 12 October 2015

Life Choices



Ok I admit it... I am a bad blogger!

But I have a reason... just hear me out!

London is a hard city.

She can be your best friend or your worst enemy.

And the past 6 months, I think it's fair to say that we hated each other.

I wasn't enjoying work anymore (to the point that my team leaders at work would have to pull me aside to calm down to stop from yelling at customers.).  There is nothing worse than coming home from a horrible day at work and not feeling comfortable in your house ( which did result me in drinking 2 bottles of wine and a lot of yelling at a certain housemate.)

I think to say that I was getting miserable would be accurate.  Which explains the lack of blogs (nothing like being miserable to be the inspiration to write.)

Rewind to April, I was on skype with my sister and she dropped a bombshell.  She was having a baby and I was going to be an Auntie.

So being miserable in London, and seeing all the excitement that was happening at home, I had a choice to make.

Renew my visa and stick it out or accept my fate, book a flight and go home to enjoy being an Auntie for the very first time.

The choice was easy.

So operation move home without telling anybody but family was a go-go!

I had booked my flights months ago, handed in my resignation for my job, found somebody to move into my room, packed and had a lot of beer, wine and cider saying goodbye to people.

I managed to get a plane, leave the country and travel around the other side of the world without any of my friends knowing.

Getting off the plane at home and coming out of departures and seeing my pregnant sister and her husband was the best welcome home present I could have ever wanted!

So now I am sitting in front of a fan in an air-conditioned room, happy with my choice.

Will I ever move away again?

Never say never. (#Bieber)

Do I regret my choice to leave?

Not for a second.

So now the token Aussie is back with my own kind, lets see what kind of adventures I get into!

Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 1 June 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 30

Day 30 - Cover of a good song to begin with, but now slightly better

Well this is it.

The last day.

So I have picked 2 songs.




and finally purely because I have just heard it and I loved it. (And yes I think the original is a good song.  I challenge you not to dance to it on a night out!)




Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 31 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 29

Day 29 - Best cover of a bad original song, that's better now

I have never liked this song.  That is until I heard this version.




PLUS



Aussie Out
xo
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Saturday, 30 May 2015

Friday, 29 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 27

Day 27 - A singer with a beautiful voice

Just Listen!




Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 28 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 26

Day 26 - Favourite song from this time last year

Seeing this man in concert is one of the best things I could of ever done.

His songs are so beautiful and so heartfelt.

And this is the song that started it all (but I'm happy to know that I loved him and saw him live before this song made it big)




Aussie Out
xo
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Wednesday, 27 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 25

Day 25 - A song from your childhood.

I remember so fondly, going to my grandparents house (which was a big deal as they lived in a different state) and them recording on cassette tape from a vinyl of this record that they had.

When I think of my childhood, I think of this man and this album.

If I ever have kids, they will be listening to this.  They wont have a say in the matter.




Aussie Out
xo
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Tuesday, 26 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 24

Day 24 - A song you wish you could play on instrument

There are so many songs I wish I could play.

Unfortunately my talent for playing when the saints go marching in on recorder during primary school didn't continue onto something a lot cooler.

However, I would love to be able to play this.





Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 25 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 23

Day 23 - A song that makes you laugh

There are so many song that do.

I love musical comedy so this was a tough pick.

I would like to give an honourable mention to
Tripod

Bo Burnham

David O'Doherty

flight of the conchords

Please check them out because they are all amazing.

But one of my all time favourite comedians, and a man who I have seen numerous times is my choice.




Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 24 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 22

Day 22 - A song you want played at your funeral.

Something I don't really wish to think about.

But this song is haunting beautiful to me, and just seems so sad.

So it would be this song.




Aussie Out
xo
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Saturday, 23 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 21

Day 21 - A song you want to play at your wedding.

When my sister got married, she picked me as her maid of honour.

We both walked down the isle to this song.

It's such a beautiful song, and although I wouldn't copy my sister by walking down the isle to it, I would love to have it play at some point of the day.




Aussie Out
xo
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Friday, 22 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 20

Day 20 - A song you listen to when you're sad.

There are 2 versions of this song that I will listen to, so, I shall post both versions.

The first version, I heard when I first watched Beaches (one of the sadest movies of all time)




But now I will also listen to the Tom Odell version.




Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 21 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 19

Day 19 - A song you listen to when you're happy.

I can't be sad listening to this song.  Plus everything this guy does is amazing so i'll happily listen to him whenever.

Gingers united!




Aussie Out
xo
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Wednesday, 20 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 18

Day 18 - A song you listen to when you're angry

It takes a lot to get me really angry.

But once I am at that point, it's going to take an awful lot to bring me back to the happy Sam that most people know.

So instead of picking one song today, I am picking 3.  #YOLO

Note: All 3 songs need to be as loud as possible!




I always wanted to play this song as my last ever song at a theme park that I used to work at.  But then one new years eve when I was working, I was working on the roller coaster and a DJ played it.  I had a great time jumping around to it, but then lost the need to hear it at work.




When somebody hurts me emotionally, this is my angry song.  This is when I'm going to lock myself away and listen to this on repeat and work myself up into an emotional mess.




And this is also just a loud, rock out angry song about how rubbish the world is.  Because if people are angry about the world, I can be angry aswell!

Aussie Out
xo
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Tuesday, 19 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 17

Day 17- A song from your favourite album

This is a tricky one.

As someone who likes music as much as I do, picking one favourite album is next to impossible.

So after much thought, and the almost impossible choice to find a favourite album of this particular band, I came up with this song.

Plus, the first time I visited the place where this album is recorded, I listened to this song.

I had only just moved to London, a fresh faced Aussie that had yet to be tainted by all that I have learnt.

From the amazing Abbey Road....




Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 18 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 16

Day 16 - A song you wish you heard on the radio

As much as I would love to work in radio, even I have to admit, that it seems like they just play the same 10 songs over and over again.

Even during this next songs peak, I never heard it on the radio.

I saw the film clip a lot, which is awesome because I love it, but never heard heard it played.

I would love to just once, rock out in my car listening to this on the radio



Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 17 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 15

Day 15 - A song you used to hate but now love

I'm keeping this short but sweet.

It's just so damn catchy!




Aussie Out
xo
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Saturday, 16 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 14

Day 14 - A song that describes you.

Confession.

I am the youngest old person I know.

I recently saw something on buzz feed that I related to.


A lot of people tell me that I am an old soul, and I'd be the first to admit that a perfect night would for me would be snuggled in bed, with a hot drink, watching a movie and knitting or crochetting something.

When I told everyone that I was moving across the other side of the world, my family were worried.  Not that I wouldn't enjoy myself.  But more so the fact that I needed to find my comfort place again.  And that comfort place is my room.

My housemates tell people, "Sam will be upstairs, but you won't hear her - she makes no noise"

And its true.

My room is my comfort bubble and I don't see that ever changing.

Oh and the fact that I used to stay inside to avoid the blistering heat that is Australia




Aussie Out
xo
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Friday, 15 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 13

Day 13 - A song that no one would expect you to like.

My music taste is pretty varied.  There is not much music that I don't like.

But I'm gonna throw a curve ball into this list.

It's been very pop so far, so I'm going with something different today.

Nothing like a bit of country music in the morning to get you ready for the day.... also helps that this singer is not to bad on the eyes.




Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 14 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 12

Day 12 - A song from a band you hate.

I will never like this band, and having to listen to one of their songs at work almost on a loop doesn't help the situation.

So in honour of that, this is said song that I have to listen to.




Aussie Out
xo
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Wednesday, 13 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 11

Day 11 - A song that is a guilty pleasure.

I will never be sorry for loving this song.

Its so catchy, easy to sing to and just makes me want to get up and dance.

#RIPZayne




Aussie Out
xo
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Tuesday, 12 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 10

Day 10 - A song from your favourite band.

So I just want to say that I have loved these boys for a very long time.  8 or 9 years roughly.

They have seen me through some hard times.

I love them so much to the point that when I fell down some stairs 2 days before their concert in Australia, I got all the pain medication I could take, got on a train, and stood just behind the mosh pit (I would of been in it if my friends didn't hold me back) on my crutches just because I love them so much.

Don't judge me!

I give you MCFLY (Not McBusted btw)




and even though its only Tom and Danny singing this song.... its sooo good that I'm putting this in as well

.

They just have so many amazing songs!  I used to operate rides back in Australia and the last song I would play every night was The Last Song - McFly, and everyone knew that that was my song.

A lot of artists and musicians I have grown out of.  I can never see that happening with McFly!

And I'll never be sorry for it!

Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 11 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 9

Day 9 - A song that makes you fall asleep.

I don't really listen to a lot of music to fall asleep now (thanks Netflix)

However, when I was a lot younger, I had made a mix of songs to fall asleep to.

And this song featured heavily in that mix.

I will never not love thing song and it just always reminds me falling asleep - which is a happy thing to think about indeed!)




Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 10 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 8

Day 8 - A song that you dance to

One of my favourite things to do is to plug a laptop into the tv, enjoy a glass or 2 of wine and jump around the living room dancing to cheesy songs in my PJs.

So this one is a little tricky.

I love to dance, and often find myself at work pulling out some horrible moves... just because.

So after much thought, I have gone with.....




As the house Aussie, I always take the Fat Amy roll in this movie classic, and I have almost mastered the whole dance that they do.  Practice makes perfect!

Aussie Out
xo
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Saturday, 9 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 7

Day 7 - A song you know all the words to

I have a confession.

I love cheesy 90s rap music.

So much so that I try to learn all the words to these classic hip hop tunes.

I have a few songs in my belt that people don't expect the short ginger girl to know all the words to at parties, but the first that I learnt has got to be my favourite.




Just putting this out there aswell, I also know all the crimps from the mighty boosh and can quote the movies Waynes World from start to finish.

This might be a factor of why I'm still single..... nah can't be!

Aussie Out
xo
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Friday, 8 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 6

Day 6 - A song that reminds me of a certain event

In 2012, I decided to set off on an adventure.  I was going to travel to the other side of the world, by myself for 6 weeks.

Half of that time, I was left to my own devices.  The other half I was on a tour throughout Europe.

France, Italy, Greece, Prague, Switzerland, Germany, Austria - no matter where this tour went, I heard 2 songs.  ( Yeah I'm cheating and putting in 2 song today - so sue me!)

The first song I heard during the day.  It's not in English and when I came home and started playing it at work, I was shocked by how many people actually knew of it.  It's just so damn catchy - and apparently has a dance to it (well according to the film clip) that I totally learnt and taught my friends.  Cos I'm cool like that.




The next song, just like the first, I had never heard before starting this tour.  By the end of the 3 weeks, I felt so gangster that I knew almost all the words to this song.

I just have flashes of being on the tour bus, driving through some woods in Austria to a tiny little cottage restaurant, having a coach party - which pretty much involves disco lights in the bus, and most of us standing and dancing in the isles and on the seats trying not to fall over and kill ourselves while we are driving down narrow roads on this bus.

And I have yet to hear this song on a night out since, which is what I prefer.  What happens in Europe, stays in Europe apparently. (Unless you write a blog of course)




Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 7 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 5

Day 5 - A song that reminds me of someone

Picture this!

My Sister is getting married!

I am the maid of honour!

We are planning the hens and think, what can we do to make a bunch of 30 year olds go "WOW!  Those sisters are cool!"

So we put our heads together and came up with re-creating an internet sensation.

So a couple of nights before the hens party, we just got home from getting our spray tans, we ordered some Thai food and got to work.

We watched this video again and again to perfect the dance moves (I mean they are quite tricky.)

So whats cooler than a 30 something year old and a 20 something year old learning the dance of 6 and 9 year old cousins who went on national tv to sing a taylor swift song?

Not much I'm sure.

I bring you, the song the reminds me of my Sister.




And the performance went off without a hitch by the way.  Which was tricky as we had to perform in the back of a hummer, but I mean we are constant professionals.

Aussie Out
xo
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Wednesday, 6 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 4

Day 4 - A song that makes you sad.

It's crazy to think that you can listen to a song thousands of times through your childhood, but then as soon as you link that song to something sad, it tarnishes the song forever and you never think of it the same.

Well thats this song in the nutshell.

2011 was the worst year of my life.

I set myself a challenge to take a photo every single day to document that year.  When I first started, all I could think was that nothing ever happens to me and that I'm going to look back on these photos and think LAME!  However, when I look back on them now, I'm on a rollercoaster of emotions.  From denial, hope to pure devastation.

You see 2011 was the year my Mum was diagnosed and a few short months later passed away with cancer.

Throughout her whole treatment, I never once thought "What are you going to do if she doesn't make it through this?"

If anything, knowing how stubborn my Mum was, and how much she loved her children (and looking after me), not living wasn't an option.  If only she had a choice.

Things were starting to look up and she was starting to get better.  However, they then went downhill fast.

I remember so clearly being the hospital and a nurse asking me if I had "made arrangements."  I couldn't stop crying and when my Mum woke up and asked me what was wrong, I told her I had a headache and she made me go home.

The whole way home all I was angry.  How dare this nurse think that my Mum wasn't going to pull through this.

The next day I was at work and I got a phone call from my brother telling me I needed to come home now.  1:13am the next morning, I received a phone call from my brother telling me that my Mum and my best friend had passed away.  We had all gone to see her a couple of hours before.  She could barely speak, but she did manage to choke out an "I love you" to us kids.

My Mum was a very fiercely proud of where she was from.

Born in Glasgow, Scotland, she and her family immigrated to Australia when she was young, but she never forgot where she was from.

She always used to try and make us kids have bagpipes to celebrate every occasion.  (Which we never did - Sorry Mum.)  But she tell me all the time that when she died, she wanted bagpipes playing this song.

So that's exactly what we did.

We called everywhere to find a piper, and after a a couple of days searching, we finally found a man who was happy to play for us.

Until the end of time, this will remain the most powerful song to me, and will never not take me back to that day.  To that year.  To those memories.

This ones for you Mummas!




Aussie Out
xo


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Tuesday, 5 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 3

Day 3 - A song that makes you happy.

Guess what?

It's not Happy by Pharrell.  Shocking I know!

This one has some story behind it, so gather around kids, and Aunty Sam is going to tell you a tale.

Once upon a time, in a land far far away ( Sydney, Australia),  there lived a girl called Sam.  She thought she was a pretty hip and cool teenager because she had recently decked out her room in Guy Sebastian posters (If you don't know who he is... shame on you, but stay tuned to Eurovision this year cos he will be making an appearance), but she also discovered the presets before any of her other friends.  Sam was "so cool!"

That is until Sams' older sister started talking of a band.  A band so magical, that the only thing that describes their first album is to say "oh my god".

They sounded so different to anyone that Sam had heard before.  She started telling her friends.  They all thought that she was a little stupid for singing the lyrics "oh my God I can't believe it, I've never been this far away from home" while she was in the costco parking lot.

Fast forward to 2014 and Sam found herself camping in England at a little known festival called Glastonbury.  She was very upset because she was working the festival and although this band was going to be playing, she found out she was working when they were on stage.

Until the first morning, Sam was awoken from a deep cider induced slumber to the glorious sounds of the KAISER CHIEFS.  They were on stage playing a 'to be announced' gig.  Unfortunately because Sam is an idiot and didn't take her phone, she didn't want to leave camp without someone in fears of never seeing them again.

Sam however did start singing and dancing in her tent to a song that makes her happy.

After all, how can you not love a song with the lyrics

What do you want for tea?
I want crisps!

  


Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 4 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 2

Day 2  - Least Favourite Song.

I'm a huge music lover.

There is not a lot of music that I don't like so this one is a little tricky.

So the only thing I can think of right now (in light of a recent event of mine) is the winner of todays choice.




This song is just so cringe. 

It just gives me flashbacks of awkward moments of standing around not knowing what to do, while people are singing at you.  Not to mention the huge amount of pressure of blowing out all the candles at once and know that everyone is going to try to make you kiss the nearest boy if the knife comes out dirty when you cut the cake.

Yeah this song can burn in hell.

Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 3 May 2015

30 Day Song Challenge - Day 1

Inspired by my timehop of when I did this 4 years ago, I thought I would try this again.

30 days.

30 songs.

Brace yourself... 30 DAYS OF POSTING IS COMING!

So lets start with today.

Day 1 - Favourite Song.

I don't know how I discovered this song.  I just remember always loving it.  It's not a song you hear on the radio often so it didn't get ruined by being overplayed.

I have a memory so clear in my head of being in a random shopping centre with my Mum and I heard this song being played throughout the shopping centre and telling my Mum that it was my favourite song.  She didn't know what to think and just ended up replying with "God you're an old soul"

So sit back, and enjoy the glorious hairstyles of the 90s





Aussie Out
xo
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Birthday Blues

I've never enjoyed my birthday.

It's just never really been a big deal in my household.

I was born the same day as my Dad so our celebrations were always together.  Same cake, half with blue candles and half with pink.  Joint birthday "dinners" as I don't recall ever having a party of my own.

Then there was my 16th birthday were my family moved houses.  I woke up on the sofa and spent the day lugging furniture backwards and forwards towards the old and new house.

So when the dreaded date approached, I didn't think too much about it.  I didn't want a fuss.  I was scheduled to work and that was just fine.  

Charlotte however seemed to want to make my life hell, telling me about a surprise that she had planned for me.

That is my idea of my personal hell.  I hate surprises more than anything else. 

I don't like people making a fuss about me.  It leaves me so uneasy to think that people have spent time trying to do something for me. (Yay for having issues!) 

So the week leading up to the dreaded day wasn't so bad.

I was at a pub and a guy thought I looked 23 and when I told him how old I actually was, he claimed that I had great genes.

Not that age is an issue.  It's a fact that we all get older, so there is no point in it being a huge deal, but people saying that you look young is always a cheeky bonus.)

So as Saturday rolled around, I was at happily at work until I felt my phone starting to go crazy in my pocket.  And then I realised that it was officially my birthday at home.  

It's a strange feeling knowing that it's your birthday at home, but where you are is still the day before.

So the night before I had an early night, ready and dreading what the surprise could be the next day.

So work was fine.  My workmates sang me happy birthday a lot and then got me a card which everyone had signed.  

After work,  Charlotte and Lucy met me and surprised me with cards and cake.  They didn't want to tell me what we were doing but after seeing how un- enthusiastic I was about this surprise, Charlotte decided to give in.  We were going to Karaoke!

So we headed to so-ho, where we met up with Thom and Steph and chilled out in the park watching people play table tennis for a while.  We then headed for some food at Ed's Diner.



After that we, headed out for a wild night of singing cheesy music and jumping up and down making fools of ourselves.

Seeing as singing cheesy music in the living room is a regular thing in my household, this was the perfect thing to do for my birthday.  

Even though I hated the fact that it was a surprise, it all worked out well in the end.

So now I'm another year older.

I still hate surprises.

I still hate people making a fuss about me.

But this year will be a good year - I hope!

Aussie Out
xo
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Friday, 10 April 2015

Going Retro



Sometimes the most fun you can have on a Friday night is going old school.

It all started on a random night in where most of us in the house thought how quirky and cool it would be to go to a roller disco.

So after a quick google we found a Roller Disco hall, and bonus, it was close to home.

Bad point, is that the place was closing down... ohh and Charlotte can't skate.

So we decided to give it a go the next week.

Friday rolled around (get it... rolled around.. roller skating... moving on), and the house started getting ready.  We had a couple of drinks but decided to not get smashed as alcohol and roller skating wasn't going to be the best combo.

So we headed to Vauxhall to get our retro on.

After the huge struggle of trying to find the place and deciding that because it was so impossible to find would be the only reason why the place was closing down, we finally found the place.

So we paid out entry fee (£12 skated included), and started noticing that we were very under dressed.  We lacked leg warmers, tutus and lycra which apparently was the uniform of the roller disco.

So we all sat down and put our skates on.  We must of looked nervous as a worker came over to us and taught us how to stand up without rolling away and pulled us over to the rink so we could get our skate on.

Turns out skating in a circle to uptown funk, shake it off and sing is the ideal way to spend a Friday night.

There were 2 rooms, one which was a professional room where if you could not skate up to standard, then the marshal would blow a whistle, point at you and shame you away back to the normal room.  No pressure!

I have to say that it was super refreshing to have a great Friday night and not have a sore head in the morning.  Just sore legs.

So even though that this roller disco is now closed *tear* I highly recommend to find one near you and just give it a go.

You might even surprise yourself and not fall over (like me.. BOO YEAH!)

Aussie Out
xo
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Tuesday, 7 April 2015

Stranger Danger




Hello.

My Name is Sam and I'm a bad blogger.

I have plenty of "Reasons why I haven't done my homework" type of excuses however.

1. Life got in the way.  Sad to say that this is the biggest lie but I thought I would start with it cos hey lets start off with a lie.  I work weekends.  During the week, I have nothing to do.  If anything I should be blogging more.  Soz.

2. I was in a slump.  Very sad to say this is very true.  You know when no matter what you do, you just cannot motivate yourself?  Well I had that for a week.  It got so bad that I didn't even want to walk downstairs because my housemates were in the lounge and I didn't want to pretend to be happy, So I spent many a night dying of thirst.  I am not proud of myself but I am out of that funk so happy to announce that I have a tea sitting by me right now.  Yeah I'm such a semi-functional human being!

3. I was sick.  Also the truth.  I decided to pick up some cheeky overtime shifts at work to help with my slump.  Turns out that standing in the wind and rain for 8 hours was not what my body thought would be a good time and it struck me down.  I came home from work on Monday freezing cold.  Sat on my sofa shivering.  Decided to go to bed, put on my warmest pjs, put the heater on along with the raditor and snuggled under my duvet... shivered and shivered.  I woke up the next morning with what can only be explained as the fires of hell in my throat and no voice.  Today being my 1 week "omg I'm dying" anniversary, today is the first day I'm actually starting to sound like myself. Take that life!

But the overall reason is ... I just got lazy.

I'm Sorry.

But I'm making a comeback so watch this space!

Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 9 March 2015

Lemon Drizzle Cupcakes

So it's been a while since I wrote a baking blog.

I've wanted to make something I haven't made before, but I just couldn't decide what I wanted to make.

Charlotte wanted me to make lemon drizzle cake, so I changed it and made it into cupcakes.

I've never made lemon drizzle cakes, nor have I ever tried a lemon cake, so totally unsure about how it should actually taste, it was time to bake.

This recipe should make 24 cupcakes 

Preheat oven to 160 degrees Celsius

You will need:

250 grams of unsalted butter at room temperture
400 grams of caster sugar 250 grams for batter, 150 grams for icing
3 eggs, lightly beaten
250 grams of self-raising flour
zest and juice of 3 lemons

Line cupcake tray with cases.

With an electric whisk, whisk the butter, 250g of the sugar, eggs, flour, zest of 2 lemons and juice from 1 lemon until just combined. Fill the cases two thirds full, then bake on a middle shelf for 30 minutes, until a skewer poked in comes out clean.

Leave to cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes.  Once slightly cooled, poke holes in the top of the cupcakes.  Pour remaining lemon juice over the remaining 150 grams of sugar and the zest of 1 lemon and spoon over the cakes.

These cupcakes are super sweet and not recommended if you are on a diet.

Enjoy!




Aussie Out
xo
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Sunday, 8 March 2015

Netflix Roulette



So a couple of days ago, I had decided that coffee was going to be the drink of the day.  That was a big mistake.  I used to drink coffee every day but have since switched to tea so a normal intake of coffee turned me into a slightly hyper kid that had been given red cordial and all the sugar in the world.

Fast forward to that night, and although I had calmed down a lot, apparently my mind didn't want to sleep.

So when I have trouble sleeping, I normally put on a movie or some music and can fall asleep to that.

So I formed a plan.

Open netflix, pick a genre, close my eyes and randomly pick something for me to watch.

So I chose musicals because music can put me to sleep.

Closed my eyes and picked something.


Well I would want to go to sleep so I wouldn't have to watch this.

Next thing I know, it's 3am, I have watched the whole thing, and I am slightly concerned for myself as I knew all the words to his songs and an awful lot of his dance moves which I cannot explain.

Have I unknowingly had a case of Bieber Fever?  

Definitely not.

Did I enjoy the movie?

I really did.

I've lost the plot!

Aussie Out
xo
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Friday, 6 March 2015

A piercing tale - 2

Happy Sweet Sixteen Sam!  Lets go get you pierced!

Back when I was sixteen, belly button piercings were the "in thing."

Everybody had one.  Now I am not one to follow trends but my sister had talked me into it.  She had it done and with reassurances of how it doesn't even hurt and how I can get pretty belly button rings, and not to mention be super cool.  I caved.

As I was only 16, I needed my Mums permission.  She was not onboard at all.  However she did the standard "ask your father" thinking that my Dad would be completely against a piece of steel going through the belly button of his little girl.  

However that plan didn't work out so well for her when my Dad was all for it.

So with my Mum reluctantly onboard, she agreed to come with me and my sister.  It was a week until my birthday so my Mum decided that she was going to try and get her friend who had her belly pierced to tell me her horror story of the jewellery being rejected by her body.

I wasn't giving up.  I had it in my head that I had to be the cool little sister and if I backed out after agreeing to get it done, I would be the lamest person in the world.

Mum then went with a different tactic.  "What about those boots you had your eye on.  I will buy you the boots if you don't do this."

I did love the boots but my reputation was at risk so I turned that sweet sweet offer down.

The afternoon of my birthday, My Mum, my sister and I all set off in the car to the piercing parlour.  As I mentioned before, I am terrified of needles, so I was seriously starting to freak out.  My Mum had hope that I would back out.

I picked out a pretty purple belly bar, learned about care and cleaning, and signed my fate.

My Mum refused to come in the room with me so my sister joined me to hold my hand (but really she just laughed at me.)

I was marked up.
Was told to lie down.
The clamp was put on.
I had to put my hands under my body so I wouldn't move.
And then I broke out in a stress rash.

It covered my chest, my arms, and was slowly making its way up to my face.  The lady noticed and tried to calm me down, but i told her that the only way I would calm down would be if she just did it.

The next thing I remember is my mother yelling from the waiting room.

"Sam think about it.  You can still get the boots."

I replied.

"Oh no I can't anymore."

It was done!

It didn't get infected and I was the only person in my group of friends to get it done.

It was the perfect thing.

Fast forward 7 years later and it finally got infected.  And not a little bit.  It wasn't pretty.  I ended up having to take it out and because it wasn't the "in" thing anymore, I left it out.

I now have an ugly scar on my belly button due to the infection, the regret that I didn't show off my piercing enough when I actually had it and boot envy because I never did get those boots.

First world problems

Aussie Out
xo



 
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Wednesday, 4 March 2015

A Work Of Art

You are sitting with your friend for 7+ years.

You get given a task.

If you are right handed use your left hand and if you are left handed, use your right.

Look at your friend.

Ready, set, DRAW!



Ok so the left is clearly me looking sassy and fab as I had curled my hair this day and decided that it was going to be a bright pink lipstick day.

On the left is Lucinda, with her eyelash coming from her eye, and her scarf that she knitted (because it's all about the details.)



As you can see from this picture taken the very same day, it's pretty spot on!

Don't worry, I wont quit my day job.

Aussie Out
xo
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Monday, 2 March 2015

The Haunted House



I just want to first point out that I am not crazy nor am I making any of this up.

Ok so it was quite a few years ago now, my Mum and I were looking for a new place to live because my brother got us thrown out of our old house (cheers for that bro.)

My friend was a real estate agent at the time so she said she would help us find a place for the two of us and our dog.

We had looked at a few places but they were either too small or too old.

Then one day we got a call from my friend that she found us a place and it was perfect for what we wanted.  So we hopped in the car and drove to the house.  It wasn't too far away from where we were staying and the rent was crazy cheap.  We could have the dog and because they were renovating the house, they didn't really care what we did to it.  It was strange however that the house was totally liveable, yet it was clear the owners had not been living in the house for some time.

But we didn't think too much about that and started packing ready to move in.

The first night it started.

I went to my room to go to sleep and my Mum did the same.  About 15 minutes after we had both gone to bed, we both heard a loud crash and then footsteps up the hallway.  However these footsteps sounded like someone was wearing big heavy boots.  My Mum yelled out at me asking what I was doing, and I yelled back telling her nothing I was trying to go to sleep but what was she doing.  She yelled back that she was also in bed.  Let the freak out begin.

We lived in this house for a year and in that year a lot of freaky stuff happened.  Things would fall over, the toilet seat would slam shut, my brother heard banging while he was using our shower but nobody was there, the vacuum cleaner would stop and start randomly, my Mum would see shadowed and lights in the hallway while she was in the lounge room.

They say that animals can see the dead, and I fully believe in this now as my dog would just randomly start barking at a corner of the room and jump up like there was someone there.  At first we thought he must be hearing something outside because it was by a window, but there never was.

Now the freakish thing that happened to me.  I was alone in the house as my Mum was at work.  I was sitting on the sofa with my dog asleep on my lap.  All of a sudden he woke up with a start and looked over at the window blinds.  The chord for the blind started swinging.  Now before anyone says anything, there was no breeze, the window was shut, all the doors were shut, there was no reason for this chord to swing.  However swing it did.  For a good 5 minutes, until it suddenly stopped.  It didn't just loose momentum and come to a stop.  It jolted to a stop.  I was terrified.  I called my Mum and she told me to take the dog and get out of the house for a while.

We started looking for a new place to live not much longer after that.

On moving day, our neighbours came up to us and instead of asking us why we were moving, said well done for lasting in that house for so long.  The owners of the house refused to stay in it.  They told us that one night while the man in the house was away for work, the woman ran to the neighbours saying strange things were happening in the house.  As they looked out the window, they saw the lights flicking on and off and shadows walking past the windows.

We then found out from the neighbours that there was an old lady that died in the house.  She died in my bedroom (which might explain why it was the coldest room in the house) and she would sit by the window and just stare (which could explain why my dog would jump up and bark at that window.)

Why this back story?

It's happening again.

I was in bed trying to get to sleep when I heard a creepy male voice whisper "hey."

Sounds stupid I know.  I told my housemates and didn't think much else about it.

A couple of nights later, trying to get to sleep, I heard the same voice whisper "girls."

After having a great laugh about us having a creepy ghost - and naming him Herb the perv - we didn't put much other thought into it.

However a couple of days ago, our stove top started sparking as if someone was trying to light the hobs.  But nobody was near it.  Might just be a malfunction.  Fine.

However the other day, I dropped my crochet needle on the floor.  I saw it fall, I heard it fall.  So I turned the light on to find it but it wasn't there.  Now my crochet hook is fluro green so it's not easy to miss.  Thinking that it might of somehow fallen behind my bed I told myself that I would find it the next day.

I have been cleaning and organising my room for  the past couple of days.  The great declutter of 2015.  But couldn't find my crochet hook anywhere.  So I went downstairs to get a drink of water, then headed back to my room.  When I walked back in, I saw my crochet hook in the middle of my bed.

Had Herb been up to new tricks?

Will he strike again?

Only time will tell!

Aussie Out
xo
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Thursday, 26 February 2015

The struggle is real

Hate is a strong word.

I don't hate a lot of things.

But I do hate job hunting!

"You don't have enough experience"
"Sorry you have too much experience"

ARGHHH

On my return from home, I have spent an awful lot of time searching for work.  I reapplied for my old job again (just fewer hours) in the hopes that by this time I would be working and earning money.

But seeing as they had over 100 people apply for the job its taking longer than expected.

There has been so many jobs that I have applied for, and I'm just not hearing anything back.

UNTIL....

I received an email from my old job asking me to come in for an assessment centre.  Lucinda got an email as well so we were on our way!

We got there and was given a post-it note.  Our first task.  Put it behind your back and rip it into an animal in 20 seconds and then explain yourself.  Note I did the worst giraffe I have ever seen in my life and couldn't help but noticed my old managers trying not to laugh at how sad and pathetic it looked.

We then got split into groups, got given a list of 6 people with little bios.  One girl was pretty and loved flower arranging.  One was a mother of young children but was having an affair.  A man who was curing rabies but had indecently exposed himself in front of children... TWICE!  You know, the norm.  We were told that these people were trapped in a cave and it was up to us to decided who to save and who was going to die as there wasn't enough time to save them all.

Our final task was to split into different groups and come up with a marketing idea for easter.  There is no budget, be creative and GO!

All these things I can do, I just happened to be put into groups with a loud mouth who tried not to let anyone else speak, a girl who could barely speak English, and a guy who didn't speak at all.

I'm convinced it was my old managers way of having a bit of fun with me "let's make things interesting for Sam"

I must not have done too bad as I received a call a few days later asking to come back for an interview and some shadowing.  Lucinda also got called back so it was exciting all around.

The day had arrived, I met up with Lucinda the night before and tried to explain everything to her.  So we went in, got given a snazzy uniform and got put on position.  It was a nice feeling being back and was getting hugs from my old work mates.  I also had to help a new staff member as it was only his second day and he didn't know what he was doing.  "Thank god you're here Sam, cos I wouldn't have a clue"  Oh bless.

So after a great catchup with my friends (oh and a bit of work as well) I had my interview.

"You left this job Sam, so why should we hire you back?"

CRAP

I tried my best to explain myself, and answered the questions the best that I could without being cocky because I know all the procedures and the people.

I left the interview unsure.  When I left, my old managers told me that I would always have a job if i wanted it, but I didn't want to go into the whole process thinking that.  That would make me over confident and I could of lost it for myself.

Lucindas interview went well from what she told me, so now all we had to do was wait.

Fast forward a few more days and I have a slight panic attack at the private number flashing on my phone screen.  I answer it and BOOM!  I am officially employed again!  I start next week and the best thing is, Lucinda got the job as well.

This will be the 4th job that we have work together at.

These poor people wont know what hit them.

Prepare for an Aussie invasion!

Aussie Out
xo


Read On >>>

Wednesday, 25 February 2015

Scones!





So as lent is upon us, and Charlotte has decided to give up chocolate.  I am trying to be kind and bake thing that do not have chocolate in it.

This weeks baking mission : Scones.

A super simple recipe that can go wrong so easily.

You will need :

3 cups of self raising flour
1 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of lemonaid


Put the flour in a bowl and  make a well in the middle.  Add the cream and the lemonaid and using a flat knife, make cutting motions in the mixture until completely combined.  If the mixture is still sticky, add more flour.

Lightly dust a working bench with some more flour and transfer your mixture.  Then knead your dough for a few minutes.  Then roll it out so it is roughly a centimetre thick.

You can either cut it into squares or using a round cutter, into circles.

Pre heat oven 220 Celsius 

Bake 10-12 minutes

Add jam and cream for the top.

A tip for scones the next day, cut in two, put on some nutella and put back together, and heat for 10 seconds in the microwave.  It tastes like dreams coming true.

Enjoy

Aussie Out
xo
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A piercing tale

You know how when you are drunk and you come up with great ideas with your friends?

It never ends well.

The mammoth peer pressure I felt,  on that day was beyond anything I've ever felt before.  I don't regret it, but I wouldn't be bothered if I didn't have it.

So one night when my friends and I were all all the vodka in Sydney, we thought it would be a great idea for us all to get piercings the next day.  Having a crippling fear of needles, I only agreed as I was so drunk somebody could of told me I was going in for trans-gender surgery the next day and I would of thought it a brilliant plan.

When I woke up the next day, I did remember the plan but hoped that everyone else would of forgotten.

I was not so lucky.

So with full acceptance that I was going to have another hole in my body, and that if that hole was anywhere near my face, my mother would kill me, we all went to Newtown in Sydney (which is kinda the place to go for piercings and tattoos and made a booking.

One of my friends got dermals in his arm.

Another a lip ring.

When I told them all I wanted was my second holes done, my friends were not impressed.  I agreed to go a little more daring and agreed to the top part of my ear.

I don't know how it happened.  I could of still been drunk from the night before, but I made the appointment to get my tragus pierced.


My other friends went in first as I slowly freaked out in the waiting room.  They came out one by one with tales of how cranky the guy doing it was.

Finally it was my turn.

Everyone wanted to come in and watch me which the guy was fine with.  He marked me up and then told me to lie down.  I started freaking out and told him that I was terrified of needles.  His reply.

"Well close your F**kin eyes then"

Oh God!

A tight squeeze from my friends hand, a comforting word from another friend, and a sharp needle bursting through my skin and I was done.

What I didn't think through was the inability to sleep on my right side.  Not being able to listen to music on the way to work with my headphones... ohh and the crazy infection that I got.

The infection got sad bad at one point that the skin started growing over the back of the piercing.  However after drenching it in saline solution every couple of hours it did heal, as I was determined to have this piercing as I had suffered for it.

Fast forward a couple of years later and I want to change the jewel into something prettier than a silver ball.  I was having some trouble changing it so went into another piercing place so they could do it.

"Who did this for you?"

The lovely tatted up guy asked as he was changing the jewel.

"I only ask because whoever did it, did it wrong.  It's too far in.  Did it get super infected?"

OH MY GOD!

I knew that guy was an a-hole.

I told him about my experience and he knew straight away who the guy was as he had quite a bad reputation in the piercing and tattoo community.  Something I would of liked to be told at the time.

I still have my tragus pierced.  Half because I feel cool and hip, the other half is because it looks ugly and I have a stupid hole in my ear.

Moral of the story, don't go out drinking with my friends, you will end up with piercings (and tattoos - but thats for a later post)

Aussie Out
xo



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