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Well the exam did go well….it was a bit of a relief anyway! The training course is pretty much over now, all apart from our graduation ceremony on monday. Its been a long time since I updated this so I guess i'd better tell you whats been going on!
We were all really worried to see how the exam went as we'd heard so many horror stories but it was cool. Was really nice to be driving again as well and we found the training centre ok with the help of Colin's iPhone…hehe.
The tuesday/wednesday/thursday that week we had aircraft visits. This meant we didn't start work in the classroom till about 5pm, then going to the airport at 9pm to go onto the aircraft when they'd finished their day. It was sooo tiring and most nights we didn't even finish till about 2am. Least we had the car tho and were able to get back from the airport ok. Was really nice still living with Colin, Casey and Ben; nice atmosphere at their place and everyone got along well. While we were on the aircraft, we were split into crews of 4 in each crew and had to take the role of that crewmember. I was in the first group as the Cabin Supervisor. Every single time after that we were the first ones up. I guess it got our turn out of the way at least.
Well the nights dragged on and it was a really long week. Wednesday we got the keys to our new place in Darlinghurst. Just 2 mins walk from Hyde Park if you're looking at a map. It looked a lot bigger and better than we'd all remembered it, especially without the previous occupant's furniture all in there. Anyways….we couldn't admire it all day as we had another late night at "the office" AKA our little 737.
Friday night Casey and I signed up for the gym at Fitness First and then I headed to meet up with Steve my cousin and his girlfriend Laura. Met them just on Oxford Street and then went for a Mexican meal which was cool. Nice cheap food ;o) Got a few beers and then went back to the new place to show it off to them.
Gemma and Vicki hadn't found anywhere to live with us so they were gonna be staying with us for a while on a blow up mattress on the living room floor. Laura saw a copy of HELLO! magazine and sat cross-legged on the floor for half an hour reading it from cover to cover. Least it gave Steve a bit of peace for a while.
They then left and we all started getting ready for bed. Blair got a little excitable and started throwing the girls around the room and tickling them making them shreik and scream…..not especially brilliant considering it was 12:30am….and then the inevitable happened. Yes we had complaints from the neighbours on the first night in our new place. Lovely. Great. Just what we needed. Some miserable old Victor Meldrew saying that he was going to phone the police / council / people from Virgin / anyone who would care to listen to the whinging old git.
Well that put me in a great mood….didn't really fancy living there after that. Hate people thinking bad of me. Probably had a reputation as the troublemakers in the block now. Oh well. Then two days afterwards I bumped into him outside when I was coming home from a trip to the shops. Apologised like mad etc etc….felt annoyed with myself immediately afterwards that i'd caved like that but at least it cleared the air.
As far as training was going…..well it was going. Few assessments down and we were all passing at least. The trainers seemed to revel in making our lives a misery though. They were all smiley and happy and nice when we were in the classroom (but really fake with it) and then as soon as their "assessment" hats went on, it was like taking your driving test again. They really just changed like that with a click of your fingers. This was an added stress that none of us needed…especially those that had to do some of the practical assessments again because of a minor little detail that wasn't quite right. Honestly i've never been quite so stressed in all my life.
Well the final safety exam loomed on us like a great big black cloud. For those of you unfamiliar with aircraft location maps, we have an outline drawn of the aircraft with all the equipment that it carries like oxygen, fire extinguishers, smoke masks etc etc all written on the map where it goes. Well we had about 7 different ones of those to learn….think there's a picture of Vicki on my mobile uploads on Facebook with all 7 of them laid out and a highlighter in her hand.
The day of the exam…..100 questions in 2 hours. It was horrid. Again I don't think vie ever been put under that amount of stress before in my life. I definitely have never been asked to leave an exam room because i've run out of time. Yeap…."pens down please, time is up" WHAAAAT!!!??? Well i managed 96/100 but how the hell I really don't know. Then we had practical assessments on how to use the safety equipment. 17 points on how to use a fire extinguisher? You're kidding right?! No…..I really am not.
One of the examiners (who I wouldn't trust as far as I could throw her) suggested that as she wouldn't be there for our graduation, we should all get pizza that afternoon and relax. Well as many of the others felt as I did, there must have been about 7 or 8 of us stayed…..for about 10minutes. It kinda spoke volumes.
Aviation medicine passed by pretty uneventful…..with the exception of watching the childbirth video. Not really something that I want to see EVER. haha. The trainers for AvMed were really nice though and got us through it with no bother.
The Royal wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was on friday so we were allowed to leave training early to go home and watch it. A load of us met up at the King's Cross hotel to watch it on the big screen. Scott had his kilt on as well as a vest with Charles and Di on their wedding day printed on the front. Hehe….was a really good night and quite a few of us went out. Ended up going down Oxford Street with Scott for a few drinks and then home.
Then we had to come in on a sunday to do our "Elevate" course in which we learnt how to hold 2 wine bottles with one hand (i'd been doing that for years with varying amounts of success) and 3 plates in the other hand…..again with varying amounts of success. It was ok tho and one of our service trainers, Bel was taking us for it which was cool. By this point we were in uniform which was good….saved having to vary the outfits all week so you didn't look like you just had one pair of trousers to wear! The uniform isn't too bad actually although I do look like im going to school on my first day. Service training went well although 6 days of going to the training centre was a bit much….sort of brain dead by the end of it. One of the days the new name Virgin Australia was announced and Louise the trainer ran up and down the carpark with her scarves in her hand pretending to be the new aircraft. Guess you had to be there but it was really funny. Final exam went well with 100% done and then we had our appraisals with our managers. Mine had just gone on maternity leave so I have got a stand in for a couple of months until they find a replacement. She seemed really nice though…another Belinda and we went through the results i'd got. An average of 98.6%….who said serving tea and coffee was easy!?
That night, Simone had organised a graduation dinner for all of us at a place called Mickey's Cafe in Paddington. It was BYOB so was pretty cheap which was good. All of us turned up and Belinda the service trainers and one of her friends. We then went to one of Simone's friends houses and then out for a bit more of a celebration. Turned into a bit of a late night and finished with Hungry Jack's burger. Haha….(something tells me that there's more food entries in this blog than there are touristy entries!?)
On saturday Louisa and I were supposed to go to the Rocks Market down at the base of the Harbour Bridge, but she was too tired so Scott came with me instead. Was really nice…lots of craft stalls and homemade stuff going on and great food stalls too ;o) I had a Gozleme and then ice-cream. Did a bit of touristy stuff….wandered round the Opera House and Circular Quay, took a few photos and then Louisa surfaced and joined us. Grabbed a Coke and having a chat overlooking the Harbour Bridge all talking about how skint we were so decided to have some free fun by playing gladiators and running up the down escalator in the subway station on our way to Bondi Junction. hehe. Wandered round Kmart and got a few things. Wanted to get a cheap DVD player for the TV that i'd borrowed from John. At least it'd be cheap entertainment.
Got home and had some food then went for a drink with Steve. He'd decided to go home and was booked onto a flight on the monday so was kinda a farewell drink for him. Not known him very well considering we were cousins so was really nice to spend a bit of time with him.
Well thats it pretty much to date now! I'll try not to leave it so long next time…..somehow writing this blog seems to soothe my troubles actually getting it down in print even if no-one ever reads it anyway!
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Mel Cough cough.....we do read it eventually? Next edition ready yet??