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Archive - January 2000 - April 2000
Saturday 1st January 2000 - Cloudy, so we didn't get to see any sunrise. We were all asleep anyway. Got up at 9am and had the first breakfast of the new year. Phoned Germany a few times (sorry guys), where it was still last century. Photos here.
Sunday 2nd January - Updated the website. Went up north to Simon's parents' summer house.
Thursday 6th January - Simon's mum's 50th birthday. You wouldn't know it though - I'm surprised she looks so young after going through the trauma of raising Simon. :)
Friday 7th January - Back in Auckland.
Saturday 8th January - Had lunch with Charlotte and Liz.
Sunday 9th January - Went to Devonport for lunch with Darren and then had a barbecue at his house. We watched the South Park movie. So funny!
Monday 10th January - Read some of Judge Judy's book "Don't Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining". It's great!
Tuesday 11th January - Went over to Philip's house and watched "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". The book was better.
Wednesday 12th January - Went into the city to drop off some books, caught up with Ian at Auckland City. Lost my sunglasses. They were getting a bit old anyway. Went for a haircut. Met up with Simon who bought a new suit for Sydney and some new sunglasses for me :). Tried to book flights, but we were running out of time. I went round to Ian G's for a drink.
Thursday 13th January - Met up with Simon again and went into town. Bought our tickets to Germany/Sydney. Went to dinner (Provence) with Simon, Charlotte and Liz.
Friday 14th January - Another barbecue at Darren's house. I was quite tired and we got drunk, so the couch was actually quite comfortable!
Saturday 15th January - Went Omaha again for the weekend. Updated the website.
Sunday 16th January - Back in Auckland. Had dinner with Ian and Jason at SPQR.
Monday 17th January - Met Aaron B for lunch. Went with Brad and Aaron to GPK for dinner.
Tuesday 18th January - Last full day in Auckland until December. Packed and tidied my room.
Wednesday 19th January - Left Auckland bound for Cologne, Germany (transiting through Sydney, Singapore and London). Sydney was lovely, warm and sunny - forecast 38C today. I can't wait to live there. The Singapore>London leg left late, but everything so far went smoothly. I got four hours sleep on the plane, which is unusual for me - normally I can't sleep. Finished the Judge Judy book - "Don't Pee On My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining". Started "The Beach" by Alex Garland.
Thursday 20th January - I got into London late, due to the plane leaving late from Singapore. I Arrive in Cologne. From Singapore to London, the plane was half an hour late, and since I needed to get bussed onto the London to Cologne flight (the airport doesn't have enough gates for the number of planes), the gate close-off time was the same time that my flight actually landed. I was met at the gate by a really nice BA official who ran me through security and everything to the bus-gate. We got there too late, as the last bus had just left. So, I got taken to the transit desk, and they asked me if I wanted to take the next flight in 15 minutes to Duesseldorf. I said I didn't want to rush too much (we'd run almost a kilometer trying to catch the last flight), so I asked if there was a later flight to Cologne. He said yes, but not until 5pm (it was about 11). He said that there was a flight to Duesseldorf in two hours. That would give me heaps of time to look around and have breakfast on them, so I agreed on the condition that they'd pay my fare from Duesseldorf to Cologne. He said "is a car alright?" I agreed. If I'd landed as planned in Cologne, I would have had to pay a hefty fare from the airport to home, but I got dropped off right outside the door totally free. Frank came around and we started to watch a DVD, but I got too tired halfway through the movie and so he went home and told me to get some sleep. I went to bed at around 9pm.
Friday 21st January - I woke up at 1am, so I took some sleeping pills and slept until about 9am. Still a little bit of sleep-catching-up to do though... Had dinner (pizza) with Andrew from downstairs.
Saturday 22nd January - Woke up at about 4:30am and couldn't get back to sleep. Better than 1am though! Went shopping for my lunches/dinners etc for the weekend. Did I mention that EVERYTHING closes on Sundays? Getting a little more used to the crappy weather here again. It's raining and windy. The weather forecast for next week is snow and highs of freezing (0 C) and lows of 6 below. Yay. I'm SO ready to mve to a warmer country. Updated website with long-overdue haircut photos and pictures of our Millennium celebration.
Sunday 23rd January - Frank and Joerg coming round. Updated website with photos of the trip so far. Applied for a job online.
Monday 24th January - Met Frank K and wandered around town. Sold the computer. Saves having to carry it back all the way to Australia.
Tuesday 25th January - Started studying in earnest for my MCSE TCP/IP exam. Went to Bonn to see Tom and Marc.
Wednesday 26th January - Went to see American Beauty with Frank and Joerg.
Friday 28th January - Went to Augsburg to see some old friends from my exchange student days. Stayed at Philipp's Friday night (haven't seen him for eight years). Went out to PowWow.
Saturday 29th January - Took a day-trip to Munich with Philipp. Went to stay for the night at Robert Fendt's place (my second host-family - from Oct 90-Jan 91).
Sunday 30th January - Had lunch with the Fendt's and then went to see the Mutschler's (first host-family from January - October 1990). Robert Mutschler and I become a hell of a lot more mature in the last ten years - we got on really well. We went through loads of old photos. Then it was back to Philipp's where we met Aunkie, Peter Hurle and Grossi and went to see "The Sixth Sense" at the brand-spanking new Cinemaxx complex in Augsburg.
Monday 31st January - Took the train back to Cologne. Updated website with Augsburg photos.
Tuesday 1st February - Went out to dinner with Frank and Joerg.
Wednesday 2nd February - Met Frank. Tom came around.
Thursday 3rd February - Computer buyer came around to pick up the computer and take it to it's new home *sob*. David here to stay (until Sunday morning).
Friday 4th February - Must have been food poisoning. Woke up at 3am and was sick. Blech! I HATE being sick. I'd love to be like a cat, throwing up when ever it wants, not ever feeling nauseous. Ventured into town with David.
Saturday 5th February - Packing. Still a little sick - tummy ache. Went with David and Francesco to the Italian supermarket - can't believe it was just around the corner all this time and we'd never been. My last full day in Germany. Went to the Dom Hotel for lunch with David.
Sunday 6th February - Tom gave David and myself a ride into the airport. After seeing David off, I had five hours until the flight. Met Frank and Joerg for coffee. Said "Auf Wiedersehen to Tom", and then to the other guys. Left Cologne bound for Sydney, Australia (our new place of residence). Went through London and Los Angeles. For once, had totally uneventful flights. Had a spare seat next to me for the longest leg (Los Angeles > Sydney). I got some sleep (sleeping pill) and they didn't even lose my luggage!
Tuesday 8th February - Arrived in Sydney. Met Simon at Sydney Intl Airport. He arrived from Auckland five minutes after I did. Went and stayed with Brad (who was over from Auckland) in his hotel. Simon and I both bought cellphones (we even got matching ones). Had dinner with Brad - and lots of olives. I guess I still wasn't quite right from the food-poisoning, because my stomach ache came back...
Wednesday 9th February - Surprisingly, I haven't felt any jet-lag effects. Must have been the strategically taken sleeping pill at my "normal" Sydney bedtime on the flight from Los Angeles. That's a bonus. Wandered around town to try and get our bearings then took a taxi to Matt's place at Bondi Beach where we are staying until we find an apartment. Met Brad for dinner.
Thursday 10th February - Met Kristin for lunch, then Simon had his first interview for a job. Looked at a couple of apartments. Found a really nice one on the 28th floor of a new building in Pitt Street. We thought it was great, with a pool and gym etc, so we put in an application. We then went and saw another apartment (we'd previously made the appointment, so we didn't want to stand them up). This apartment was even better than the other one, and slightly cheaper. The views aren't as good, but the location is much better (and safer), so we put in an application for this one.
Friday 11th February - Simon and I have been together for 5 years today. After frantic calls to organise references for the second apartment, the lady agreed to lease (Australian for rent, even for an apartment) it to us. Had my first appointment with an agent (to get a contract). It went well, but that company didn't have any work for my skills.. they will let me know. Went online and did a bit or research.. there are lots of jobs out there, so here's hoping. Met the landlady and signed the lease. It's ours from tomorrow. Went out to dinner with Brad.
Saturday 12th February - Got a phone, power and internet account for the apartment. Went to the Supacenta and bought a couch-sofa... really comfortable, because it has got an inner-spring mattress. It gets delivered on Monday. Should be great for the hoards of people who have promised to come and visit. Some acquaintances of mine from Auckland (hadn't seen them for 4 years) buzzed the apartment while we were there by mistake. They were visiting our next-door neighbor. Small world.
Sunday 13th February - Simon went for a 20km run as part of his training for the Sydney Marathon. I sat on my ass the whole day and updated the website. Matt got back today. Went to a party at Kristin's (met a few nice people).
Monday 14th February - Stayed at the new apartment most of the day, waiting for the carpet to be steam-cleaned and the sofa-bed to arrive. I spent my first night in the new apartment, but Simon went back to Matt's - most of our stuff is still there.
Tuesday 15th February - Scored an interview with an agent (tomorrow). Updated website with photos of our apartment.
Wednesday 16th February - Had an interview with another agent. Bought a fridge, iron, and ironing board (how exciting).
Thursday 17th February - Stayed at home all day waiting for the fridge.
Friday 18th February - Had an interview with a potential employer. It went well. Went for my first swim in the pool downstairs. Had dinner with Simon and Kristin.
Saturday 19th February - Went to the gym downstairs (and used it) for the first time. Also went for a swim and spa and then went sunbathing on the roof. Updated website.
Sunday 20th February - Went to Fox Studios to meet Scot (an Australian Madonna fan). Went to see Dogma. Updated website by adding photos to the Tom page.
Monday 21st February - More job-hunting. Find out at the end of the week if I got one of them. Went out to a Thai restaurant "Green Chillies on Oxford Street" - definitely worth a visit. Updated website with part two of the photos of the move to Sydney.
Wednesday 23rd February - Big power cut lasting all day. Thought I'd left all that behind me when I left Auckland.
Thursday 24th February - Went and saw "The Talented My Ripley" with Simon and Philip.
Friday 25th February - Had an interview with another agent. Updated website with touristy Sydney photos.
Saturday 26th February - Went to the Supacenta to buy a bed (IKEA). It gets delivered in a couple of weeks, because one part is out of stock.
Sunday 27th February - Scot came over to the apartment to listen to Madonna. American Pie single was released today.
Tuesday 29th February - Michael Robertshaw come over. Went to pick up my personal effects from the airport. Finally got a breadmaker again! Went out to dinner.
Wednesday 1st March - Updated website. Studied.
Thursday 2nd March - Had an interview with a company.
Saturday 4th March - Went up the roof with Simon, Kristin and Scot to see the Mardi Gras parade.
Sunday 5th March - Went to see the movie Get Real.
Monday 6th March - Studied. Updated website.
Thursday 9th March - Had a first interview with a company (bank).
Friday 10th March - The interview from yesterday wanted me back for a second interview. Looks promising. Finalised the contract on a PO Box.
Saturday 11th March - Bought a computer desk from Grace Bros. Michael came round.
Sunday 12th March - Went to IKEA and bought some chairs. The apartment is finally getting a little bit more furniture.
Monday 13th March - Went for an interview with a company. Looked very promising for a second interview, but the job at the bank wanted me and were accepted my salary request, so I'll be working for them. The agent just has to get the paperwork done.
Thursday 16th March - Computer desk arrived from Grace Bros.
Friday 17th March - Bed arrived from IKEA - proudly assembled by me! Caught up with Warren (identical twin brother) who is over here for a wedding.
Sunday 19th March - Warren stayed here overnight.
Monday 20th March - Got the contract for the new job. I start on the 27th. Should be interesting working again after all this time off. Caught up with Zak (friend from Auckland who I hadn't seen for three years).
Tuesday 21st March - Madonna's pregnant again. I guess this means there won't be a tour this year. :(
Monday 27th March - First day at my new job.
Friday 31st March - Finished my first week at my new job.
Saturday 1st April - Weekend. A term that actually has meaning now.
Thursday 6th April - Our new washing machine arrived. Finally, we can do our washing without going to the laundromat. This makes such a difference!
Friday 7th April - Ian and Jason arrived from Auckland. We went up Sydney Tower for dinner.
Satuday 8th April - Woke up with a headache. We finished off four bottles of wine between three of us (Simon wasn't drinking because of his marathon training). We went out and bought to more chairs (quite comfy) from IKEA. After assembling them, we proceeded to sit in them for most of the day, before we got into the wine again.
Sunday 9th April - After a quick breakfast on Oxford Street, Ian and Jason flew back to Auckland. Updated website.
Monday 10th April - Dad's birthday.
Wednesday 12th April - Frank Klemmer's 24th Birthday.
Thursday 13th April - Warren here again.
Friday 14th April - Pay day. Damn those monthly paychecks! Went out for a drink and something to eat with some people from work.
Saturday 15th April - Woke up with a headache. Pay finally turned up in my account. Ordered Simon's belated Christmas present. Bought mum's upcoming birthday present.
Sunday 16th April - Surprised Simon by shouting him a Sydney tour by helicopter. He'd never been up in one before, and we wanted to see a bit more of Sydney, so it worked out well. Photos and story here.
Monday 17th April - First day on the early shift. I had to be at work by 6:30am, but that meant that I finished at 3pm. Joy! Updated website.
Tuesday 18th April - Warren back to Auckland.
Wednesday 19th April - Simon bought a new computer. That means I get to play with the laptop as much as I want.
Thursday 20th April - Last day at work until Wednesday. Extra long weekend!
Friday 21st April - Good Friday - day off. Trying to get the two computers to talk to each other.
Saturday 22nd April - Trying to get the two computers to talk to each other - still. Went out to dinner at an Austrian restaurant.
Sunday 23rd April - Telstra came round to install our cable modem access. It works out to being about 20 times faster than a 56k modem. Simon downloaded about 600MB in 90 minutes! Andrew and Richard came round to watch a DVD.
Monday 24th April - Easter Monday - day off. Went to see Galaxy Quest. Went out to dinner at the same Austrian restaurant. Had the Schweinshaxe! Yum. Then went round to Andrew and Richard's to watch a movie.
Tuesday 25th April - Anzac day - day off. Still trying to get the two computers to talk to each other - time to give up. Stefan came round.
Wednesday 26th April - Back at work. VERY hard to get up at 5:30am!!!!
Thursday 27th April - Kristin came round for dinner.
Friday 28th April - Simon's parents arrived.
Sunday 30th April - Simon ran the Sydney Marathon today. Simon's dad also ran today. Simon's mum and I "spectated". Simon finished in 3 hours 39 minutes.