What a life! Do we really all have to work???

I have survived the first half of my probation period and submitted two tenders just on time (four minutes to spare) and am totally exhausted! What a feat to try and understand a business in record time and write a submission involving all practice groups and all lawyers. Nightmare! I must have done ten days of 16 hrs in the office trying to get my head around it all. Not happy! But hopefully it will be worth it.
Even though it all feels very random and chaotic, I do feel quietly positive about the role. There are some very nice and talented people in the office... It will hopefully only get easier now.

This is my office building and the fantastic view from my desk...

The Pink Ball!

Last weekend an old school friend of Craig's invited us along to the Think Pink Charity Ball for breast cancer which was of course themed PINK and we made every effort to fit into the theme!! It was a really good night with lots of cheesy dancing and great food and way too much champagne. We even made it into the local City News Magazine! How funny!

Heading was: Pink is the new black: Forget boring black tie, the Think Pink Think Choices Charity Ball saw the CITY's ELITE don a kaleidoscope of brilliant colour at the Thai-themed event.... Hee hee!! THen it is followed by picture of us -they must have been really impressed with Criag's lovely pink bowtie!

Apart from that nothing much else to report, sorry! We are just working away and not doing much else. It is time we organised a weekend getaway!

I am working on it!

Tanja back at work!!!

It is unbelievable but after 18 months of travel and exploring I am finally back in the real life with a proper job and having to get ready in the morning, suited and flipflopped to commute into the city center to go to an airconditinoned office until it is dark. BIG SIGH!!!

I had almost a dozen interviews with 6 different firms, some of them with 5 people questioning me at once and usually with some more on Video Conference, very daunting! But I finally got an offer I could not resist from DLA Phillips Fox, the Australian arm of DLA Piper. The BD team in Brisbane is tiny, only 3 people with one events person, one Manager and little me! I am so excited! Especially because of my gorgeous office with postcard view of Brisbane's story bridge and miles and miles beyond that as we are on the 30th floor. On a clear day I can see the ocean and the white beaches... if that does not get you daydreaming then I don't know what will! These pictures are taken with my phone and do not really do the view justice but you get the idea. It is brilliant!



I had my third interview with DLA on Friday and got a job offer after half an hour, then went into the offices Monday to Wed for handover as the girl in the job is leaving this week and my induction starts on Monday! AMAZING!

I will report back on how it feels to be back in the hamsterwheel.
Lots of love,
Txxx

Going to the Races!

Last weekend I went to the Doomben Races with Vanessa. Can you believe I have never managed to go to any races in England! Now my first races in Australia and I did not have a suitable hat or fascinator! But there were many many others to admire. We had a great sunny day sipping champagne and admiring beautiful horses, tiny jockeys and major fashion desasters....

News from the Department of Immigration!

Today finally, exactly 6 months after we lodged my application for Partner visa and subsequent citizenship a lovely man on a motorbike hand delivered the most important letter of the year. The Australian Government has finally granted me a Partner Visa which means that I cannot get kicked out of the country anymore! HURRAH!
We are very happy and pleased we did not have to do any interviews or intergration tests etc. Just a waiting game. In two years time I should then get my citizenship and become Australian!
Apparently, my accent is beginning to reflect those changes already :-{

Now I have unlimited permission to work, get health benefits, free English classes and I am allowed to leave the country as well. What a relief! Not that I have any plans to do so...

Workwise, nothing much has changed. All moving very slowly here. I am expecting a third interview with a firm I would really like to work for and hope it will all go ahead. Wish me luck!

My parents have left again :-(

It was great fun to have my parents visit and I am very pleased that they enjoyed Australia as much as they did. They could not get over how friendly everyone is and how relaxed, how un-German I guess. And how clean Australia is and how blue the sky is every day and how delicious the lamb tastes and how this culture was able to develop in just a few centuries. And I can tell you that my parents dont give a thumbs up easily!

We had a really nice time together and the beautiful steps dad build in the garden will remind me every day that they were here.

I am sure they will be back soon!

Our little Blue Tongue

This gorgeous Blue Tongue Lizard lives in our garden and we finally made friends and had a drink of water together. Am very pleased. He is about as long as my lower arm and his tongue is blue as blue can be (as you can see).

See? Am getting used to animalis australianis. :-)