So now just 6 weeks today until the one-way flight!!
In terms of keeping myself focused and fit for the Big Move, I'm doing yoga in my digs at night, following the DailyOm Fierce at Forty course - I'm at day 16 now!! I'm also doing minimum of 25 sit ups every night, to try and reduce tummy for the wedding on 30th December! I've also sorted out my Xmas cards and labels for envelopes, etc., so this week's job in the digs at night is to write and post them.
Last week I finished my online Chakra course - glad I did it; it's been really interesting to learn about chakras and what is linked to what. I didn't know anything before I started it. When I saw Lisa for my 4 weekly massage last week, she said my blocked areas were solar plexus and heart; so I've been eating orange and green things and trying to think them unblocked!
I put the oak dresser and corner unit on Ebay last week - if you remember, I decided it probably wouldn't go with any Australian decor, given it's 30 years old and quite dark. A lovely guy from Bury came to get it with his daughter; it's great that my furniture will be loved again by a new family. I had to pack all of the contents away - so now the cats have two towers of boxes to jump around!
I had another interview for a job as Dean of Students (like a Pastoral Deputy I think) at 5am on Wednesday. I thought it went well - I could answer all the questions, wifi and Skype were strong enough to survive an hour's interview. But I wasn't successful this time. Disappointed, obviously, because I thought I could make a difference to the team there. However, in a way I'm sort of glad I didn't get it because it's so far up north and I'd have a tough time trying to look after Nattie & Pete on their honeymoon in January if I was based there - 13 hours' drive from the Sunshine Coast.
Today I'm planning to email my CV out to my lovely cousin Kate's list of people in independent and Catholic schools in the right geographical location. I haven't made any progress with jobs in the state sector - I'm not sure why, I've asked for feedback on a couple of applications I'd made.
Zoe at Smart Leaders has put me forward for more posts in QLD. I've got a good relationship with Zoe - she seems as keen as I am for me to have a job! It seems that faith and independent schools use agencies like Smart, but the state sector doesn't. That's an interesting difference, isn't it.
I spent time earlier in the week talking to HMRC about "double taxation", non-resident landlords, etc - really helpful and I'll be registering online asap. It links to my personal tax online account, which is sensible. I have to register as a non-resident landlord (official form NRL1), so that all income from the letting is taxed at right rate, or not at all.
Purple Bricks have managed to secure me a great tenant and they are doing all the paperwork - have had to pay for a lot of certificates (gas safety check, legionnaires, inventory and checkin) but they'll last for a year or so, so they'll be valid for the next tenancy too. I started a lettings spreadsheet so I can track all the outgoings, income, etc for accountant to put into my self-assessment
In terms of staying sane (!!) I know I have enough money already banked in Australia to survive for a few months without ANY work. I'll leave enough money in my UK bank account to cover DDebits etc which will continue for the foreseeable future.
I do still have investments in the UK that I can access if I don't find work within six months.
As soon as I have an Australian mobile number, I'll be on the DET list for supply work and that will bring an Australian reference hopefully, which should enable me to get a permanent post at some point.
So, all in all, lots of progress this week. I've been really touched by comments from my friends about the blog, and how they are keeping up with each week's progress for me.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Saturday, November 17, 2018
49 days to go...
This week I seem to have been paying for things! So far, I've paid for a year's worth of redirection of my post - it will be interesting to see whether post comes weekly or monthly to Oz? I've also paid for the removal of my possessions, including the packing of everything into the sea container, and insurance for these, in case the container falls overboard! Just the thought of all my work shoes and suits falling into the Pacific Ocean is terrifying!! But my son said, "Well Mum, you'll get to buy more brand new things!" I've also moved more of my savings into my Australian bank account - so that from the moment I land, I've got cash in the bank to use. And I've booked my car hire for the first month, so that gives me a way of getting about (big distances, remember) until I can buy a car, or lease one if I've got a permanent job.
I've looked again at my calendar and worked out that there's only 8 weekends left until I actually fly. And in that time, there are trips to Bradford with bestie to see Sarah Millican, to the Isle of Man to see Mum and sister, to Berwick on Tweed to see bestie and husband, to vets for final jabs, to Birmingham for cousins' joint 70th birthday party (they are twins), a Christmas meal with kids and spouses ... as well as the fabulous big wedding for gorgeous daughter! Last weekend I had the best day with her as we sought my mother of the bride outfit - I had booked a personal shopper - Gail - at Debenhams in the White Rose Centre. What a brilliant experience! Lots of lovely things to try on and no rushing about the store, that's what Gail did! I also managed to persuade daughter to let me buy her a "going away outfit" for the plane journey on her honeymoon. So now I'm all set for the wedding on 30 December - such a lovely couple, so proud of them and excited for them.
Having planned this move for so long, it's surprising how quickly it's all rushing towards me. I'm still super-excited, but sometimes the fear factor kicks in, particularly when I think about my children and being on the other side of the planet from them, and about being financially stable in Oz.
One of the most touching parts of this long goodbye is the opportunity to catch up with people I like and to re-connect before I depart. I did this on Sunday over in Brantingham (near Hull), in a super pub called The Triton. Lovely food, great atmosphere, fab smell from the log fire - and the chance to get all the gossip from an old friend. Brilliant! And lots of my friends are saying they would like to visit me in Oz one day. I hope that does happen, it would be good for me to maintain contact with my friends network.
In terms of jobs in Oz, this has been a week of nothing but set-backs to be honest. The job where I had the interview with the organisational psychologist - remember the dawn interview? The school didn't take me to the final panel interview; and two other posts I'd applied for (deputy jobs) didn't shortlist me. I found that hard - there must be something wrong with the content in my applications? Is it that the employers think my UK education knowledge isn't good enough? Or is it that I'm not yet on the same continent so employers don't think I'm a credible candidate? I don't know. I just know it's hard to hold my nerve in this process.
In terms of my current work, it's been interesting over the last ten weeks - with five weeks to go until I hand over to the new Principal. I am racing to get more of the job done, so that she has less to do in her first term. On Wednesday I joined the other Principals at a London academy - what a privilege it is to walk around someone else's school. I always learn loads from doing that. And that was the last Principals' meeting I'll do in the UK!
I'm still doing yoga each night, whether at home or the digs, with my 25 sit-ups and I've nearly finished the online course for balancing chakras. I'm eating well, with quality food (M&S of course) to ensure I've got enough energy. I'm planning to break up the weeks from now to the end, so that I have a night at home mid-week, to boost my energy levels. I've always known that being in my own space reboots me in a positive way - and I get to see my fur babies too. I'm using every possible method I know to stay calm and focussed, even though I'm about to create a huge disturbance in my own support network. I think realising and accepting that this is a huge deal helps - I'm not just moving house to a neighbouring street, or a new town. I am moving to another hemisphere, time zone, climate, culture and network.
#Australia #BigMove #carpediem #emigration #moving #Queensland #education

Having planned this move for so long, it's surprising how quickly it's all rushing towards me. I'm still super-excited, but sometimes the fear factor kicks in, particularly when I think about my children and being on the other side of the planet from them, and about being financially stable in Oz.

In terms of jobs in Oz, this has been a week of nothing but set-backs to be honest. The job where I had the interview with the organisational psychologist - remember the dawn interview? The school didn't take me to the final panel interview; and two other posts I'd applied for (deputy jobs) didn't shortlist me. I found that hard - there must be something wrong with the content in my applications? Is it that the employers think my UK education knowledge isn't good enough? Or is it that I'm not yet on the same continent so employers don't think I'm a credible candidate? I don't know. I just know it's hard to hold my nerve in this process.
In terms of my current work, it's been interesting over the last ten weeks - with five weeks to go until I hand over to the new Principal. I am racing to get more of the job done, so that she has less to do in her first term. On Wednesday I joined the other Principals at a London academy - what a privilege it is to walk around someone else's school. I always learn loads from doing that. And that was the last Principals' meeting I'll do in the UK!
I'm still doing yoga each night, whether at home or the digs, with my 25 sit-ups and I've nearly finished the online course for balancing chakras. I'm eating well, with quality food (M&S of course) to ensure I've got enough energy. I'm planning to break up the weeks from now to the end, so that I have a night at home mid-week, to boost my energy levels. I've always known that being in my own space reboots me in a positive way - and I get to see my fur babies too. I'm using every possible method I know to stay calm and focussed, even though I'm about to create a huge disturbance in my own support network. I think realising and accepting that this is a huge deal helps - I'm not just moving house to a neighbouring street, or a new town. I am moving to another hemisphere, time zone, climate, culture and network.
#Australia #BigMove #carpediem #emigration #moving #Queensland #education
Thursday, November 8, 2018
59 days to go....
So, now there are just 59 sleeps until the Big Move Day!
This week I've been applying "cold" to 15 secondary schools along the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, which is where I was brought up, to the age of 11. It's not ideal, because I can't physically go and call in yet, but at least I'm raising awareness of my availability to the school leaders.
I did the interview on Monday of last week - if you remember, I was getting up super-early to be suited and booted! That was a screening interview for a Deputy Principal post by an organisational psychologist, who decides on which candidates are put forward to the interview panel stage. I found it interesting, much of it about my application, resume, etc - but I don't think I've been interviewed by a psych before! I should hear by Monday of next week whether I've been recommended for the next stage.
One of my fab cousins in QLD has sent me lists of independent and faith schools in QLD so I'll attack that this weekend when I'm back up north. Again, it's applying "cold" but it will get my CV, or what QLD are calling "resume", out there.
I've taken part in another Webinar by QLD Education - again, fascinating to hear the experiences of the school leaders and what they're looking for. It was another 7am call! After the UK clocks went back, QLD is now 10 hours ahead - I didn't remember that QLD doesn't do daylight saving, their times always stay fixed. I guess as a child (last time I lived there was 1975) I wasn't much interested in clocks/time, etc. I also emailed all of the QLD Education teams in the different regions (there are six) to indicate I'm ready for work - most of them have replied back to me and have found my original application from April 2018, where they're waiting for me to have an Australian mobile number. So at least it's all joined up!
I've also applied for a pastoral role in a very rural North Queensland school, which sounds amazing. It even has stabling for those students who want to bring their horses to school! Fingers crossed! I spent quite some time re-writing my application as my day to day job as Principal isn't so focused on pastoral, it's more about academic progress and organisational issues.
And I've begun packing moving boxes!! I've decided not to take the large oak dresser and corner cabinets - they match my lovely house in Garforth but unlikely to match Australian décor, as most is stripped wood and white tiles, I think. So I need to put it on ebay or gumtree - and I need to make sure it's empty!

I've had more contact with my removal firm, the fabulous Bishop's Move - I used them to move from Headingley to Garforth in 2013. The same guy came out to check on the loads! Apparently I'm going to need just a little bit more than the 20 ft container I'd hoped for.. so they add it as "groupage" in another container which is shared with other people. On the day, they might be able to fit it into the 20 ft unit - I hope so! I've got to make sure that I get rid of stuff I really don't want to take. That's hard - I spent some time in the loft at the weekend, going through things for the children and what I wanted to take with me.
Had a call earlier today from Purple Bricks, the lovely Ross, who is the lettings manager - my little house is going on the rental market on Monday of next week and he is planning viewing sessions. This makes it sooo real! I'll be coming back to the house at the end of the week to a "To Let" sign.... gosh!
This week I've been applying "cold" to 15 secondary schools along the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, which is where I was brought up, to the age of 11. It's not ideal, because I can't physically go and call in yet, but at least I'm raising awareness of my availability to the school leaders.
I did the interview on Monday of last week - if you remember, I was getting up super-early to be suited and booted! That was a screening interview for a Deputy Principal post by an organisational psychologist, who decides on which candidates are put forward to the interview panel stage. I found it interesting, much of it about my application, resume, etc - but I don't think I've been interviewed by a psych before! I should hear by Monday of next week whether I've been recommended for the next stage.
One of my fab cousins in QLD has sent me lists of independent and faith schools in QLD so I'll attack that this weekend when I'm back up north. Again, it's applying "cold" but it will get my CV, or what QLD are calling "resume", out there.
I've taken part in another Webinar by QLD Education - again, fascinating to hear the experiences of the school leaders and what they're looking for. It was another 7am call! After the UK clocks went back, QLD is now 10 hours ahead - I didn't remember that QLD doesn't do daylight saving, their times always stay fixed. I guess as a child (last time I lived there was 1975) I wasn't much interested in clocks/time, etc. I also emailed all of the QLD Education teams in the different regions (there are six) to indicate I'm ready for work - most of them have replied back to me and have found my original application from April 2018, where they're waiting for me to have an Australian mobile number. So at least it's all joined up!
I've also applied for a pastoral role in a very rural North Queensland school, which sounds amazing. It even has stabling for those students who want to bring their horses to school! Fingers crossed! I spent quite some time re-writing my application as my day to day job as Principal isn't so focused on pastoral, it's more about academic progress and organisational issues.
And I've begun packing moving boxes!! I've decided not to take the large oak dresser and corner cabinets - they match my lovely house in Garforth but unlikely to match Australian décor, as most is stripped wood and white tiles, I think. So I need to put it on ebay or gumtree - and I need to make sure it's empty!


Had a call earlier today from Purple Bricks, the lovely Ross, who is the lettings manager - my little house is going on the rental market on Monday of next week and he is planning viewing sessions. This makes it sooo real! I'll be coming back to the house at the end of the week to a "To Let" sign.... gosh!
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