New Apartment!

The Apartment

We finally have keys to our new apartment!



Looking into the living room from the kitchen



Friday morning I checked out of my second serviced apartment and went to the property management office and got the keys to Kelly and I’s apartment.  I had to go to work so I didn’t have time to go check out the place before heading to the city.  I was meeting some friends after work (more about that later) so I ducked out of worked a little early to collect my bags from Easystay and drop them off at the new apartment.  My serviced apartment is only about a 10 minute walk from the new place but with 3 suitcases and two laptop bags, I decided getting a taxi was the best option; even if I had to pay a little more for it.  Apparently getting a taxi on a Friday afternoon is pretty difficult and I ended up waiting about 30 minutes.  Finally I made it to the apartment and to haul all of my suitcases up to the apartment (we are on the first floor, which would be the second floor in the US – up one flight of stairs).  Please keep in mind I am still wearing the dress I wore to work and work shoes.  Fun stuff! 

After getting into the apartment I tried to flip on some light switches and noticed  they were not working.  I also tried plugging in my cell phone charger to see if the outlets worked.  No luck there either.  I had called to have the electricity turned on by Dec. 3 and they told me it could take up until 6:00 that day.  It was only 5:30 at that time, so I was still hoping it would be on by 6.  I quickly changed clothes and headed back to the city.  When I arrived back home around 11 I discovered that we still didn’t have electricity (we did have water).  Which means I was unable to blow up my air mattress so I ended up sleeping in on the floor using my Africa sleeping bag and pillow.  Good times!  Unfortunately the electric company is not open on the weekends so I have to wait until Monday to call them.  At least the apartment is well shaded and there is a breeze so I haven’t been desperate for the air con yet.

Here are a few more pictures of the apartment – our furniture has not arrived so these pictures are just to give you an idea of the place.  More pictures to come of the finished product!




Bathroom

 


 

Kitchen

Bedroom.  I stopped mid-unpacking to take some photos.
I'll be sleeping on that air mattress for the next few weeks :(

First Weekend in December

I again had a busy, fun-filled weekend catching up with friends.

 Festivities kicked off on Friday when my friend George (from the Contiki 2004 trip) and his wife Kaz were in Melbourne for a wedding (they currently live in Western Australia).  I met up with them on Friday for lunch at a restaurant in the city called Hairy Canary.  There are so many places to eat in the city, it is going to take me forever to pick a favorite!  Hairy Canary was recommended by a co-worker and I was impressed!  The menu was mostly tapas and pizzas.  We ordered some food and spent about 2 hours catching up (oops….that was a bit of a long lunch!)  I have not seen George and Kaz since our New York trip for New Years 2004/2005.  Since that time they have gotten married, travelled around Australia for 8 months, moved to the country, and had their first child!  As you can see, we had a lot to catch up on so I think the long lunch was acceptable!

After work and moving into my apartment, I headed back into the city to meet up with George and Kaz again and two of Kaz’s friends (Kelsey and Nicky).  We started at the James Squire Brewhouse for a drink and then went to The Seamstress/Sweatshop – a bar on Lonsdale St.  The bar has an upstairs – the Seamstress and downstairs – the Sweatshop.  We chose The Seamstress.  It was a really fun place – decorated with clothes hanging from the ceiling. Next time I’ll have to go back and see what the Sweatshop looks like.  We had some interesting conversations and I learned a lot about life in the country in Australia.  For example, I was informed that UGG boots are not to be worn in public….they are to keep you warm in your house.  It’s okay to wear them out to the clothesline but you cannot wear them out around town.  Good to know – I don’t think Americans are following the rules!!!

Saturday was such a gorgeous day we decided we needed to enjoy the sunshine so a few PwCers and Kelly and I went to the St. Kilda Sea Baths for the afternoon and sat on the deck enjoying a few drinks and the beautiful scenery.  St. Kilda Sea Baths is right on the beach and has a couple of restaurants, a gym (which I recently joined) and of course the sea baths.  I should also add that I did workout on Saturday – I used the elliptical machine while looking out onto the ocean.  So nice!  Here are a few pictures I took while I was walking to the Sea Baths:

Saturday evening I had dinner in the city with Valerie, Graham, Steph, Emma, Naesan, and Naesan’s brother Thurai who had just arrived in Melbourne from New Zealand that day.  We ate at a restaurant called The World (or maybe just ‘World’, I can’t remember) in Southbank.  We had a big booth outside with a great view of the city and even though it took about 2 hours to get out food, it was still a good time!



Sunday I was up early to catch a tram and then a train to the country! I met Justin, Kiz, and Carlee in Eltham for brunch.  Carlee was another member of the Africa tour I was on this summer.  Justin and Kiz live in Eltham and Carlee was there visiting a friend who also joined us for lunch (I am completely blanking on her name right now!  I think it was Kathy….).  Eltham is about a 45 minute train ride from the city. I brought along a book but ended up just staring out the window and enjoying the changing scenery as I went!  We had brunch at a nice café in Eltham and I got to hear stories about the rest of their time in Africa (they all continued on different tours while I had to go back home and go to work!)

This entry has gotten quite long, I hope I haven’t bored any of you!  I have had requests for more pictures so hopefully the apartment pictures suffice.  We have the EY ball and Christmas dinner coming up so I should have some good opportunities for more people photos soon!