The move into our new flat!

Saturday 25th Feb'12

The flat was actually the second flat we saw in Sydney, and we fell in love with it. It had 2 large bedrooms, 1 with en-suite (and dressing room), and an amazing open plan living/dining/kitchen area with outstanding views!! It comes with a large pool, sauna, jacuzzi, gym and has access to another larger gym and pool area too, plus tennis courts!!! A bit of a change from sleepy Wokingham... We couldn't quite believe it.

We immediately knew the flat location would be great as it is in Pyrmont, 5 minutes walk to Darling harbour, 23min walk to the main shopping centre/CBD and 4 minutes walk to the famous Sydney fish markets! Yummy!!

The move in the morning was a rather dis-organised affair as Sarah had a little hangover headache from the fiarwell BBQ and drinks do with Ro and Dan. We managed to plow through and move all the boxes and clothes up in the lift to the 11th floor without too much hassle.

Next came our deliveries of:
Sofa
Coffee tables x2
TV cabinet
Washing machine
Fridge/freezer
Bed and Mattress.

James had to pop out for a much needed hangover feed, whilst Sarah dealt with all the deliveries- which all turned up at once!! It was all was rather chaotic with 3 different delivery trucks at once!

Anyway, here is the end result: We obviously need a little more furniture ;)

Our lounge area, taken from the kitchen

Taken from Balcony

Our Bedroom, dressing room and bathroom

The guest suite (yes, your more than welcome!!) However as you can see no bed... we have roll mats ;)

And finally: Our balcony:

Our view from the balcony onto Anzac bridge

Anyway, i'll leave you a view of our sunset on our first night:
(We were also treated to the fireworks over Darling harbour)

And sunrise on our first morning:

Finally:

James started work with Appsense on Monday 27th Feb (and flew down to Melbourne), whilst Sarah awaited eagerly for the final offer pack from Google! She had got through 9 interviews, a review with the senior finance team and the senior exec review panel (with Larry Pages' signature ) was due on Monday 27th... Nearly there!!! :)

Last days with Jasper, Ro and Dan!

Our move in date was set for the 25th Feb'12, exactly 2 weeks from arrival date.

We had most things organised, the car was packed up and we had all our orders ready for delivery on the move day:

Our furniture for delivery consisted of: A sofa, TV cabinet, washer & fridge freezer, bed and coffee tables! Not much for an empty flat!

So on thursday and friday we decided to spend some quality time with Jasper, Dan and Ro before we left:

Jasper was teething quite a bit so he was a little poorly, but it didn't stop him from brushing James' teeth:

Jasper also helped out with pool cleaning! (Distraction technique working quite well)

 The friday night before we moved we had a BBQ of surf and turf cooked by Dan:

 Followed by 6 bottles of wine and port!!! Not such a good idea looking back on the night of a house move...

We all woke up need paracetamol and asprin and James had to drag Sarah out of bed.

We both want to say a big thank you to Ro and Dan who put us up (and all our crap we bought) and gave us so much advice!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!

See next blog for flat move.....

Reorganising your life in a week

So the excitement of arriving in Sydney was great, but the task to setup a life was greater.

We had in all necessity sorted the flat however did need to sign on the dotted line, this was to occur on Monday 20th February in the mean time the task list grew...and grew...

1. Get tax file numbers
2. Change driving licenses
3. Apply for a credit card
4. Go to see the bank to get draft for the rental bond
5. Find a sofa, 
6. Find a mattress
7. Find a bed
8. Find white goods, research white goods
9. Organise gas and electric
10. Buy kitchen utensils, pots and pans
11. Buy crockery...

All while Sarah continued the job hunt and James prepared to start the new job in 10 days.....

Needless to say its the 21st February today, James starts work in 7 days and we're still not sorted!

The new list as of today:

1. Got tax file numbers supply them to employers
2. Change driving licenses - still not done
3. Apply for a credit card - declined as we have no credit history!!!
4. Go to see the bank to get draft for the rental bond - Done
5. Arrange delivery of the new sofa
6. Arrange delivery of the new Mattress
7. Find a bed - still not done
8. Find white goods, research white goods - still not done
9. Buy crockery...- still not done

As you can see some items have gone, some remain and some have changed but its still a long list so sorry for no exciting blogs!

We will blog over the weekend with pictures of us in the new pad though!

Welcome to Sydney

the trip had actually come to an end......but the adventure was just beginning.

We flew from Auckland to Sydney on the 11th February to setup home for a bit.

We were staying with James' cousin Rowena and her husband Dan and their little boy Jasper. The first few days were spent relaxing, enjoying random rain storms! and eating and drinking. The following days would be chaos!

James had secured a job with a software vendor he worked with in the UK and Sarah was 9 interviews down with Google. So the decision was made that flat hunting for a place with no less than the following characteristics was required:

1. Sea or harbour views
2. A balcony
3. 2 bedrooms
4. Mirrors on the cupboards
5. A gym
6. A swimming pool
7. Close to the CBD
8. Not ground floor
9. Walk in wardrobe
10. Parking space
11. Preferably furnished
12. Air conditioning

So in a city the size of Sydney no problem right.......yeah right!!!

The process to obtain a flat is complicated and stressful to say the least. Firstly normally you don't get shown around a property on your own there are organised open houses where 5 or 10 people may turn up mid week at weekends its 30. Then there is usually one or two people who know the process who turn up with all their documents and take it there and then!

So we quickly learnt to adjust our way.

We have now virtually secured a flat, we sign on the dotted line on Monday.. so here's hoping!

Here are some pics:

And we got all 12 on the list!

Just a quick snap from Darling harbour

Friday night we're off partying with our good friend Emma who we used to go clubbing with us in 2000!!! How time flies: from Wokingham to Sydney! Such as small world!

Rotorura

We arrived in to Rotorura on the 2nd February, this was to be our second to last stop of the trip.

We were going to stay with some friends Danny and Natalie who we met in Mendoza Argentina and travelled to iguazu falls with.

Us 9 months ago!

Danny and Natalie welcomed us in to their home where we would spend 4 days with them. We borrowed bikes and went cycling around Rotorura and tried to help prepare food in their geo thermal steam oven. 

We spent most evenings sat drinking NZ wine and chatting about our trips, it was amazing to think we had not seen each other in 9 months and had each seen so many places and had so many experiences, the stories never ended!

After a few days we left Danny and Natalie in peace and headed to the Wai ora spa resort where we had checked in for 3 nights of relaxation and pampering away from the chaos of travelling.

We enjoyed massages and pedicures (well some of us) and platters of food delivered to our bedroom.

On our 3rd day in the spa Natalie called to say she wanted to take us to the beach, so we packed up all our stuff and headed of to Tauranga (Mt Maunganui). We relaxed under the shade of a tree on the corner of the beach to protect our white English skin from the harsh rays, much to Natalie's amusement. Natalie even ventured in to the sea, I think it was still wet suit temperature but she was not phased by it!

Sarah deciding that the sun was not for her got a 50% off discount spray tan, what she did not expect was them to do 50% of her legs.

On our last night with Danny and Natalie we headed up the gondola to the skyline restaurant, and all you can eat buffet over looking the city.

So as with almost all the trip now our time in Rotorura with Danny and Natalie had come to an end. But the last week has re-affirmed that those friends you make travelling can be friends for life!

We now head on to Auckland for our last 2 nights in New Zealand, and the last 2 nights of being a traveller.

Tongariro Alpine crossing

29^th January

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is supposed to be the best one day hike in Nz, perhaps in the world. The trek guides you though volcanic craters, past many multi coloured volcanic lakes and winds between numerous volcanoes, the scenery is spectacular.

We completed the trek in 2008, albeit in thick cloud so we could see nothing of the wonder and beauty, we always vowed to return and complete it again.

The time had come, we arrived to the small town adjacent to the nation park inspirationally named “national park village” how creative! Due to time constraints we had again arrived with only one possible day to complete the crossing, the weather forecast, cloud early on but clearing, promising!

We arose early at 6 am ready for a 7 am departure, the hostel owners advised the weather report had changed somewhat to cloud with early rain and winds gusting to 70 kph…. Those who got ready to board the bus in their jeans or shorts and with no coats were quickly advised that unless they wanted Hypothermia at 1800 meters they should not go….It surprises me sometimes just how stupid people are when it comes to mountains and the outdoors, 10 decided not to go.

When we arrived to the start of the trek we saw a familiar site, nothing. We were bathed in thick misty cloud, as we climbed the devils staircase to the foot of Mount Ngauruhoe aka Mt Doom from Lord of the Rings we saw no volcano a bitter disappointment.

We continued to walk quickly with our heads down cursing the weather that had again duped us.

At the highest point of the trek the wind was gusting so strongly that the wooden signs driven in to the ground were swaying and we had difficulty walking in a straight line. There were people who looked decidedly ill at ease in their trainers and shorts as the wind drove in to us pelting gravel and loose volcanic matter at our legs, these conditions were alpine to say the least.

Not a lot else happened really that’s what happens when you walk in a white out, you don’t see a lot.

By the end of the trek from the other side of the Tongariro range we could see the cloud lifting and the sun shining, anyone up there then would be having a great day!

We have vowed never to try the Tongariro crossing again, however I am not sure that’s going to happen!