Thankyou, Jetstar, you’ve joined the list of Companies I’ll avoid, and recommend against using.

Seriously - first of all, you lie to customers waiting in the queue about how late the plane will be (two lots of “It’ll be delayed by 20 minutes”, followed by “The plane has just left Newcastle” when we were supposed by be boarding), then you make us sit in the plane for over 30 minutes whilst you stuff around with the APU and wait on Paperwork from CASA.

On top of all that - you then have the nerve to ask if we’d like to buy overpriced drinks or snacks.

I’m off to Brisbane for three days.

It turns out the Taxi company doesn’t want to cooperate though - 4:45AM comes and goes - No taxi. Call the Taxi Company: “Oh, it’s booked for 5:45…” Me: “Right, well… that’s not going to do it for me, I’ll have to get a lift.”

*rolls eyes*

Update, Thursday Morning: Well… The flight up was ok, just… noisy (De Hellier DCH-8 300 Series - i.e twin-prop). They have more legroom, which is great — My knees didn’t even touch the back of the other seat. *gasp* The hotel doesn’t have wifi, which sucks - so I’m down at McD’s using the Telstra wifi here. Also, Brisbane is too damn hot - it was 36-ish yesterday, and didn’t get anywhere close to being considered “ok” temperatures until 3-4AM. It’s overcast, muggy and still warm today - crazy place! Ohwell, off to work now…

Update, Friday Lunch time: Been busy as heck - just about to go back to the Airport to fly back home. It’ll be good to get back home.

I’ll probably be in Brisbane (near Roma St, CBD) for 3-ish days (2 nights), for work. It’s not quite during Schoolies, but it should be pretty busy I’m guessing.

I’ve got nfi yet what I’m going to do while “off duty”.

I saw these Banana and Nutella Crepes whilst I was in Paris, but never actually had one.

I guess they’re a good enough reason to head back, just on general principle.

(PLEASE NOTE: This information was gathered by me, from www.workingintheuk.gov.uk - accuracy and currency is not guaranteed, so please check their site directly for the latest information)

Possible Working Visas I might be elligible for:

Working Holiday Maker

This is meant for people who are working incidentally in the UK, to support their holiday for up to 24 months.

Key Points:

• Cannot work for more than 12 months during the Holiday.
• Cannot re-apply for this at the end of the Holiday.
• Must intend to leave at the end of the holiday.
• Only for use as a support to holidaying in the UK (i.e you’re not travelling specificly to work in the UK)
• Available to Commonwealth citizens aged 17-30.  (Not 26, as I had been informed by others)
• You must get a Visa prior to travelling to the UK.

Highly Skilled Migrants Programme

This is meant for people who are highly skilled, to travel to the UK to work for up to 24 months.  Cost is £315 to apply - about AUD$776 at the moment. (No refunds if you don’t succeed).

Key Points:

• Initial Work Permit limit of 24 months, however this can be extended and you may get granted up to a further three years’ leave.
• If you live in the UK continously for five years, you can make application for Indefinite leave to remain.
• Takes between 5-14 Weeks (typically) to process.
• Must apply for Entry Clearance (Visa?) at a British Embasy (in Australia) within 6 Months from the date of your Approval letter.

Forms, and Guidance information are available over on their “All Forms” page.

Got a listing of flights SYD<->LHR…

Starts from $1,530 + Tax (Thai) — that’s leaving in January, with open return.

The past few weeks we’ve been having progressively warmer weather - and I’ve been keeping my bedroom windows wide open. Last night I even turned on the fan all night to keep the air flowing (I like it when it’s cool at night).

It’s also hard to miss other changes — like the number of hot women walking past my window at work, wearing uhh… well, lets just say less clothing.

Ian wrote last month on his blog about The Last Days of Summer in the UK.

Looks like the hand-over of summer has taken place…

We’re preparing for a very dry summer again - with the likelihood of a big bush fire season occurring.
There’s also a been a change to warmer water in the Equatorial Pacific Ocean, pointing towards an El Niño cycle*. Meaning floods and tornadoes in South America, and a worsening of the drought in Eastern Australia.

* = It hasn’t been declared El Niño yet, but it’s pointing that way.

Some information that might be helpful.

First, you’ll need to get a Work Visa - UK Visas is the place to go.

As for getting jobs - Ian gave me this bunch (thanks Ian)

The sites I use are:
- www.monster.com
- www.reed.co.uk
- www.hudson.com
- www.hays.co.uk

Also, for developers, the Joel on Software job board might be a good place to look too.

(Yes, I’m thinking about it…)

Just learned about State of Play IV being held in Singapore next year (January) — Neal Stephenson is giving a talk.

I’ve got no idea what the conference is really about (It’s sponsored by a few Law schools) - but it sounds interesting.

Plus, Singapore is pretty close, and fairly cheap to get to for me.

I think I’d like to go…

Just saw this brief review of Coke Blak at slashfood.

The roadside services throughout europe (well, France, Switzerland and Italy, atleast) had this stuff in little cans all over the place.

From memory - someone did try it, much to their regret. To be honest - regular coke is bad enough, why mix it with anything else? Lemon, Lime, Vanilla, Cherry… even Clear coke, afaik

While I’m at it… I think someone deserves a round of applause for making a Stargate out of cupcakes. (The finishing touch would have been a pile of blue jelly [Jello, for americans] for the ka-woosh)