Sydney: 1 week in

Firstly, thanks to everyone for your lovely comments about our blog. Not sure if good or bad, but has encouraged us to keep writing + share our experiences of living in Oz.

So, we've survived our first week + achieved the following:

• (possibly the hardest task) we have phones
• opened bank accounts
• have found somewhere to live
• got drunk with Dave's new boss
• met my new boss + team at Microsoft
• proud new owners of two very shiny new mac computers (oops, sorry Microsoft)
• I have found a great new hairdresser but definitely not a new beautician (the search continues)
• I have been invited to a 'laughter yoga' class (I will report back...)

A big help to us getting on this week has been the card Dave was issued to say he can work as a vet in NSW. Somewhat like the ID card Dr Who has [Psychic paper - Ed], this thing could get you in to see Obama. Having been turned down by several mobile phone suppliers, Dave flashed the vet card + about two hours later (and a nosebleed from the shop assistant), we had a shiny new iphone and BlackBerry. Unfortunately I don't have a super-power ID card, so my phone is on Dave's account + he pays the bills. Shame!

Most importantly, we have somewhere to live. It's incredibly competitive here, with zillions of people turning up in the same 15 minute window to look at the same house. It is safe to say that our new house is on the quirky side, but has some endearing features. I'd popped along to see it as Dave was busy, but due to its oddness, wouldn't have bet even $1 on whether Dave would like it or not. I'd arranged to meet him there afterwards + although the estate agent + all the other 'hopefuls' had gone, the owner was still there + let us in.

This worked in our favour + Dave flashed his ID card (well, told him he was a vet, said we are homeowners in the UK etc) and he seemed pretty keen on us as tenants. So, away we went to our favourite brunch restaurant, Bill's, to ask ourselves the question, "Quirky good or quirky bad?". We decided quirky good, admittedly partly to get us out of (potentially) months of house-hunting + living in a hotel, and put in an application that was accepted.

So, we move into Palmer Street in Darlinghurst on Friday. It's much bigger than anything we've had before. It's over three floors and has a very large guest room, so book your trips to Oz now! It's 10 mins walk from the city centre and a bus ride to Bondi. Very convenient for Dave's work, but I'll be getting a car. Driving to work feels very grown up to me. My first thought was 'How on earth do you arrange drinking after work?', but having been to North Ryde, I appreciate there is nothing to do there, except perhaps take them up on the invitation to join the netball team.

A couple of other comments on our first week here. The weather is bonkers. It went from 31C to 18C overnight. But, as with home, it's a bank holiday weekend (must stop referring to them as that as everyone looks at you blankly) and it is pouring down.

I need to slow down. I'm still rushing around like an idiot + for those of you reading my FB + twitter updates, you will see it causes Dave to apologise to people that I bump into (see shove out of the way), saying: "Sorry, she's from London."

The time difference with the UK is odd. The other day I was chatting to my mum on googlechat in the morning + then she emailed me later that day to say "Nice chatting yesterday", having had a night's sleep in the meantime. And I am playing a new game with my lovely friend, FiKp. I am calling it 'drunk / hangover tag' ie when she is drunk, I am hungover and vice versa.

But, overall, it has been a good first week. We're enjoying Sydney. It's easy to get around, fun and incredibly friendly + chatty. Not least made much easier due to our very generous friends, Lou + Gid, who are putting us up for the second time this year and who have also offered to lend us pots + pans, towels, bedding etc, until our stuff clears customs in mid-November.

Keep the messages coming. It's so nice to hear from you + to know the blog has provided amusement and helped while away, otherwise boring, visits to the airport.

Take care + speak soon xxx