6 weeks.....

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.