New Job!

I started a new job yesterday!

Technically, it's actually the same job (kitchen steward), and I'm still working for the same company. But now, instead of doing random shift work in different kitchens all over the place, I'll be on set hours, in one kitchen. I've also moved from Casual basis to Fulltime, so now I'll get sick leave and annual leave entitlements and the like. Also: my hours will mostly be 10:30am-6:30pm, with some variation in future possibly, but probably not much. The outlet I'm working for is a hotel lobby bar/coffee shop, and the kitchen is only open from 12noon to the early evening.

The last time I worked fulltime was way back in early 2011. So after six years of random odd shift work hours, it feels oddly luxurious and exotic to be on relatively "normal" hours again (although I'm still working weekends). Work doesn't start super early either, so it's about the best of both worlds for what I want at the moment.

It'll be interesting to see how my perception of the advantages and disadvantages of this move change over time. I think I'll definitely start to feel like I've got "more money than time" at some point, when it sinks in how it's just not always easy to take a few days off and go on a random little mini-holiday somewhere, or something.

Still, I'm happy I've made the move for now. It's especially awesome to have some off time in the evenings as a given.

Mallacoota Road Trip

I've just returned from a little four day holiday to Mallacoota and surrounds. I recently got a fulltime job (long story, and the subject of another post in a day or two), so I took this opportunity to take a last little holiday before I start fulltime work next week.

We stayed in Bemm River on the way over, spent two days in Mallacoota, and then spent a night on a farmstay on the way back. Driving all the way between Melbourne and Mallacoota (523km) is entirely doable in one day, but we just wanted to break it up a bit and take our time. Especially considering this might be the last little holiday for at least a couple of months.

We got quite lucky with the weather. On the way over it was lovely, on the second and third days it got a bit hot, and towards the end it got rainy - but that was actually fine because we were just driving back and wanted to check out some rainforest walks, which were very interesting and atmospheric in the rain!

Here's a selection of photos from the trip:

Mitchell River

Somewhere in Gippsland

Lakes Entrance

Sunset with contrail, Bemm River

Galah, Bemm River

Bemm River

Rainforest walk, near Bemm River

Colourful bugs

Skink I

Skink II

Mallacoota, first afternoon

Mallacoota sunrise on the second day

Water Dragon

Pelicans, Mallacoota

Kangaroos, Mallacoota

Cabbage Tree Creek flora reserve

Farmstay at Tostaree

Vegemite the Pony

Historic trestle bridge, near Tostaree

Lakes Entrace on the way back