Here is what I'm doing here btw

So I am interning at VSL and currently I am in Melbourne making sure panels get cast to the correct specs. Today the lifting rig I designed a few weeks ago cleared its saftey rating test and arrived at the plant. The hangers in the picture are upside down. Its cool to see something you did the math and drawing on in actuality. It is to replace nylon strapping which is hazardous to use as the concrete might wear the straps down. Now shunting these panels around the plant can begin in earnest. Those are the panels in the background and thats Paul one of the guys here at the plant.

Melbourne - Its not thornleigh!

So Monday I went into the office for work in Sydney and ended up in Melbourne by Monday Night. I spent all week pulling some long hours at the fabrication plant learning what I'm going to be doing for the next few weeks. I am decidedly not good at getting up early. Once I got over the cold and sunrise I got acclimated to the day to day out there and am ready I think to do what they expect of me. Maybe this upcoming week Ill get home while the sun is still up.

I am living in Richmond a stones throw away from the Melbourne Cricket Ground where are the AFL in the city is played. I spent Saturday walking around the area. Its a mix of working class and hipster Bohemia that's pretty good for bars and restaurants. Speaking of bars Saturday night I hoped a bus to the next suburb up the main drag here Collingswood to go a rawk show at the Tote Hotel. The show was great but nobody talked to me. There was an older creepier dude there alone as well so I dodged that bullet. All and all I like the area better than thornleigh just because there is more going on and its within walking distance.

Sunday was a adventure in laundry. The washer in the unit is old and busted so I went seeking new hotness. After going to the store for food and coins I found a laundrette and then later went and got dinner with gavin. Next weekend I plan to do more touristy stuff in downtown melbourne so Ill have pictures then.

Man Its like a roller coaster

A boring one where you have to do work. I had a bad weekend last week I got a migraine and stayed in. Then we had a really busy at work week getting some drawings out. So I was really suprised when I recieved a car on Friday. One of the guys at work left to go home, Hong Kong I think. He had this company car in his possesion and now its mine for at least 3 weeks. I put it to good use today Taking a drive on the Pacific Higway to Manly. Its a super cool beach town similar to San Clemente in California. The car is a little Nissan Sedan pictured here with Manly's Beach in the distance. The drive took about 45 minutes with lights and traffic. Driving on the left took about 3 turns to get used to. Manly was fun to walk around there were people out and about. The water was cold, I only got in ankle deep. If your interested the photo set will be here if its not already.

One Week

 
Week one is over and the ridiculously warm weather continues. It rained today but yesterday I caught another parakeet lookng bird outside of work. I got a long weekend coming up so we see if I have more interesting posts and pictures at the end of it. For the first weeks worth check out the web album . Its mostly downtown Sydney including Kings Cross (think grenich village) Chinatown and the Royal Botanical Gardens. I check in with you next week maybe before that if the internet goes live at my flat.

Sydney

Oh its winter in Sydney. Pack a coat. Have you got warm clothes?

BAH!

Its like 50-60 degrees farenheit here most of the time. Apparently warm clothes in Australia means a sweatshirt. Not to knock there winter but if parakeets dont migrate its not a winter. I'd have to take a two hour train ride into the blue mountains to see any snow. If I owned skis it might be worth it.




Downtown Sydney was neat. Its like New York without the overwhelming feeling of the populace. I did get yelled at by some chav-y girl in kings cross because she happened to be on street that i was investigating to see if it had an outlet. Im staring over you not at you. I need to go back to explore the rest of it. Maybe ride the monorail through epcot.

This is a T rex

I went to DC and I lost my keys. It was nice to get a shot of democracy pride. The capitol was super cool as we got a staff led tour. If you are ever in DC go see your Congressman he or she wants to see you I promise. As for the keys if you see them give me a call.

Google owns Everything

Google Intergration: its not microsoft so its okay right?

I got Picasa so I could pretend I had iPhoto on Linux. Then I saw this went live out of beta and picasa can post photos to it and I thought that be good for photosharing. My girlfriend has had a horrible time with sites like snapfish and myphotoalbum so maybe this will better. Now i just need a digital camera.