Howdy from Melbourne!

Well we know it has been awhile since the last update but we have been super busy looking and failing at jobs!

So we have settled in nicely in St Kilda...loving the flat (bar the bathroom) and have it all to ourselves at the moment. We also love the area...now that the weather is finally getting hotter, the beach down the road will finally be coming into use! It is very easy to get into the city from where we are, so we have had days of venturing around all the shops....not spending any money of course lol!

So maybe the biggest thing that's happened since landing here in Melbourne was the AFL (Aussie rules football) Grand Final. So it was St Kilda versus Collingwood, both Melbourne teams so the atmosphere was awesome, especially since one of the teams is from our neck of the woods. So the final was on the Saturday after we arrived, me and Gillian got really into it...up on the couches supporting St Kilda! It was a really intense game and ended in a draw. So me and Gillian are preparing for extra time....to find out that doesn't exist here! They have to go to another game a week later! Apparently we watched history because this has only happened 3 times in the sports history. So Grand Final number 2 took place last Saturday and Collingwood beat St Kilda 108 to 52! It was a rubbish game and we are still not hearing the end of it now!

So onto the job front....I can't believe how hard it is to get a job over here. Everything is done through the internet. Everyone we speak to is like "check our website for vacancies!" and if it's not that response it's..."oh the accent...where are you from, how long you going to be here??" We have lost count of how many jobs we have applied for, with the only interviews coming from call centres and door-to-door sales companies. Gillian had her go at LUMO energy, selling gas and electricity. I did the training day and knew that I wouldn't be able to sell it. So it was bye bye to them!

We then got a job from Aussie Farmers Direct, selling farm products that was 100% Aussie owned and produced. Basically we were milkman...our slogan "bringing the milkman back to Australia". It sounded like a brilliant job. The training went well and we were very excited. Day 1 came around, Gillian was sick so I went off on my own. We got carted off on the minibuses an hour and a half down to a place called Torquay. Then it started....a huge storm and I was stuck in the middle of it, going from door to door getting drenched. I also was ill with a migraine so it was a horrible day followed by no sales. No sales = no money...everything was commission based. I started the day at 11am and didn't get home till midnight...very long hours for nothing! Day 2 was basically the same (minus the storm). Gillian was better so we headed out together to a place called Geelong, an hour outside the city. Gillian was a whiz kid at it...getting 6 sales on her first day. I finally got 3 sales but hated every minute of it. So that was my last day at Aussie Farmers. Gillian stuck at it getting high sales throughout her week, but after getting dropped off in a dodgy neighbourhood...we won't go into details as it could scare people....but let's just say, she's not going back! So we are back to square one....job hunting recommences Monday!

So that brings us up to today! This weekend we have had gorgeous weather so have been heading down to the beach for walks and even treated ourselves to lunch at one of the local cafes in St Kilda. This week will bring more job hunting and we have a birthday night out on Friday which I'm sure we will update you on next time.

Pictures of Melbourne are coming soon!

Miss you all loads!

Claire and Gillian

xxx xxx