Thursday 28 August 2008

So apparently I'm going to Australia...

I'm not quite sure how it happened really.
My good friend Gordon has gone to Oz to live for a few years and invited me out to visit him, good excuse so (with about a years notice) I arranged a month or two unpaid off work, so the plan was to go over for September/October time. Well it's no secret that I wasn't enjoy work as much as would like, to cut a long story short it doesn't have enough of a creative element involved for me, and I was looking around for something new hopefully in creative visualisation or graphic design of somekind. So when I was told that dispite the previous arangement I would not be allowed the time off to go to Australia it was the catalyst I needed to get me moving. A few people were key in my final decision:
  • Jaime - Jaime had the misfortune of sitting next to me at work and hence got the brunt of my general bad mood, but she's always been a supportive friend (as well as an equally under used resource at Spotlight!) and keen traveller so was quick to suggest I went to Oz whatever work said.
  • Gordon - obviously Gord was nice enough to invite me out in the first place, but also when I said I couldn't make it he just said that I was always welcome and when I decided to tell them where to stick their job and go to Oz anyway I could stay with him until I got myself on my feet!
  • Stephen - after being told I couldn't have the time off for Oz Stephen and I took a road to the south of France, it was perfectly chilled out enough that I could get my thoughts together (with some wise words from Stephen) and make my decisions. Also as my flatmate he's had to put up with my work related rants for sometime now!
  • Cez - my brother has always listened to my problems and occationally offered solutions. He's a proponent of the take a big leap and do something crazy school of thought - and although both of us are usually too scared to take those risks this year we both have, he has quit his job and is going become a teacher (good luck bro!)
  • Danny Wallace - I was read Danny Wallace's excellent book "Yes Man" for the second time when all this kicked off. The main thrust of the book is about being positive and taking hold of the possibilities that life throws your way or even creating them yourself. And by coincidence one of the biggest decisions that Danny has to make is about Australia. I'll say no more for fear of ruining the book - which you really ought to read and maybe even learn from!
So yes I'm off to Australia, it's one of the craziest things I've ever done, I'm more than a little scared but above all I'm excited! Let's see how sunburnt this tiger can get!

2 comments:

Andy Smith-Thomas said...

I have mixed feelings about this. I've not been seing my friends as much as I would like recently, and with you buggering off to Oz, obviously there's next to no chance of seeing you til you get back. Damnit. On the other hand, its going to be one hell of an adventure, and I'm sure you're going to love it. I think its great you're taking the plunge. Just keep in touch.

Sunburnt Tiger said...

Well you can always come and visit me out there!