Yeah, well, some of you might have heard I have had a bit of a change of plan with regards to my trip. I've managed to find myself a job working for a games company out here in Adelaide. It's all a bit unexpected and I'm still trying to get used to the idea, but I guess I better do it quickly, I start work on Monday!
It all started with a news report. I heard about a visual effects company called Rising Sun Pictures. They looked interesting and were based in Adelaide so I sent them an email to see if they could offer me work for a few months so I could save up money and keep on travelling. As it turned out they couldn't, but they got me in to have a chat with them and they mentioned a company called Ratbag Games who they thought were hiring. Being keen to get a job anywhere I fired off an email to Ratbag and pretty much forgot about it.
A few weeks later I was sitting down after a hard days grape picking and I got a call from them offering me an interview. I uncrumpled my best clothes, and headed down to a tall blue building in downtown Adelaide. They said they only had full time positions available, and wanted to know if I was still interested. Thinking that if nothing else it would be good interview experience I said sure and had what turned out to be quite a good interview with them. At that point I started to vaguely consider the possibility of moving, but when they didnt get back to me after a few weeks, I had pretty much discarded the idea.
Then, a friend of mine here in Adelaide who I had put down as a reference called me up to tell me that he had just had a phone call from Ratbag and that they seemed quite keen. I checked my email and sure enough there was a letter asking if it was okay to check my references and that they were interested in getting me back for another interview. It all happened pretty quickly after that, They checked my references (well, the ones they hadnt already checked) and gave me a bit more of a grilling at the second interview. I thought I acquited myself pretty terribly, but they seemed pleased enough because they called me back within about 15 minutes and offered me a job.
So, there it is. My life takes a bit of an unexpected lurch into the southern hemisphere. Feel free to come and visit, I may be here some time.
Well, yes, I've spent a month and a half picking grapes in Adelaide, and I've read lots of books. Unfortunately I'm trying to save money so I have no exciting adventures to report.
That being said I'll give you a brief run down of the highlights of the last month or so.
I've bought the new Little Birdy EP, which is good, though probably not available in any shops near to the majority of you.
I've bought new tyres for my car, and got it serviced so when I do finally save enough money to move on I'll be slightly more certain it won't fall apart on me immediately.
Oh yes, and best of all, I've picked lots of grapes.
Exciting huh? To be fair I expected some level of dull manual labout on my trip, and I have learned a good deal more about China from my chinese housemate Ian(good chinese name, his real names Peng Yong, though I'm still not certain which is his family name). He's also dragged me out to play basketball several times from which I have successfully confirmed that white men can't jump.
I have sallied forth into pubs on a couple of occasions, the last time being a trip to the Belgian Beer Cafe where I got to sample genuine Belgian Beers, very exotic, they even have Stella on tap. It all reminded me of Edinburgh, even the prices! ;)