Sunday 27 January 2013

Nothing to Report really

Well it’s been another week and yes I promised to blog a bit more often, but there is also only so many times you can say there isn't anything going on. Since I last posted the election has been and gone. I have to say voting is a lot different to the UK, apart from the obvious holiday day so people will come and vote. Instead of the usual paper with the candidates names on and putting a little X next to the name and putting them into a box. Here its slightly different, imagine the television show Countdown and it’s a bit like that with the different parties on pieces of paper with Hebrew letters in front of you and you have to choose the one you want to vote for. Not a case of one from the Top, Middle and Bottom, but a case of one from wherever the party you want to vote for is!!! Then it’s just a matter of putting the slip of paper into the envelope and putting it into the ballot box and hey presto you have voted
Apart from that, I've started to browsing apartments for myself, I'm thinking that Tel Aviv is the best place to go as that’s where the social life is and maybe I can actually find that there. Also started walking a bit more, done a couple of two hour walks over the last few days and feeling more determined than ever to lose some weight.
Sorry it was so brief; hopefully the next one will be longer and more informative.

Monday 21 January 2013

More changes to come

Hello everyone, hope your all well? I'm doing okay, just getting over a cold at the moment, probably down to the bad weather from a couple of weeks ago. Nothing much to report except as I knew or expected I will have to find a new apartment from the beginning of April. I have time which is good but everyone knows how quickly time flies, still I'm not going to get to worried or panic just yet, though I admit last night I was a little worried.
I've actually already started some work towards it, even if it is just mentioning to friends and asking if they know of anything of anyone who is looking in the Tel Aviv area. I'm determined to get this sorted as fast as possible, rather than have it creep up on me suddenly and find myself scrambling to take any apartment. Hopefully something will turn up and it will be as good and as reasonably priced as the apartment I've been in for the last year. Watch this space for further information and developments.
Not much else to tell you tomorrow is a holiday as its Election Day here in Israel and I have to say I think that it’s a great idea to have a day off, even if it is a bit strange to do so. But from a point of view of if you’re working a long day and your tired, the last thing you want to do on your way home is go and vote when you would rather go home. So having the day free to vote is a really good idea.
Apart from all that it’s pretty quiet here, nothing in particular to really report of interest. I am however counting down the days to something I've been looking forward to for the last 6 weeks, can't believe it’s nearly here. Anyway hope to read some comments and hear from you all.

Tuesday 15 January 2013

Driving and Feelings of Isolation

Well so far this year I've seen some pretty epic driving here in Israel. As in epically crazy... early in the month I saw a car pretty much refuse to move until a JCB moved first, while other road users pretty much went round the JCB. I think this went on for at least 5 minutes with the driver blasting his horn and the JCB eventually moved. Then today I've seen possibly the oddest thing I've seen in a while. Now feel free to argue with me on this point, but when most of us are driving if we go past our turning on a road and there is no one around we will either do a U-turn as soon as possible and go back or if we're able reverse and take the turning. Not so with the driver in question today. He went past the roundabout and then reversed back over the roundabout to the 1st section of the road, then went round the roundabout into the street he wanted, I know what you’re thinking nothing wrong or strange with that, it’s the fact that after reversing he could have turned right into the road, but instead chose to go round the roundabout and down the road he wanted. Just seems to me a little bit crazy to do it like that.
And finally I was walking to the supermarket when I saw some lights coming from behind me and turning around there was a Motorbike behind me on the path, I know they do this in England, but here it seems like they don't care about rules of the road or pavement. It’s almost as if once they pass their test they figure lets drive how we feel like and yes I have a licence to drive here, still believe I will drive as I did in England and like my Mother says going slow may take you longer to get where you’re going, but going faster and having an accident means you’re a long time dead.
At the moment I'm finding things a little tough and while I'm committed to making Israel work, I'm feeling very isolated from people both here in Israel and back in the UK. I'm not getting at anyone at all; it just feels like that I don't hear from people unless it’s a comment on a status or something I've shared. It would be nice to hear from people just to have them text or message me and ask how things are going.
Okay I had my little rant about how I'm feeling, now to finish on a song... okay I won't sing I don't think we want the rain back in Israel. But seriously I'd like to wish my Mum a very Happy Birthday for Friday as I won't get the opportunity to speak to her on the day as she and my Dad are off on a cruise. So Mum Happy Birthday or יום הולדת שמחה אמא של. Hope you have a great day and a great holiday and I will speak to you soon.

Thursday 10 January 2013

Nothing to Report

Sorry not a really interesting blog post today, but I'm trying to post at least every other day now. Still very cold here, though the weather widget on my computer says it’s going to get warmer from tomorrow and I hope so as I'm actually quite cold and the rain has disrupted my social life somewhat in the past few days which is not good :-(. Still hopefully all back on track after tomorrow and warmer weather I hope.
Apart from that I have my apartment to myself this weekend as my roommate is off with her family. So chance to chill out and do what I want including playing music as loud as I want. Also one final thing which I sure some people might get a laugh out of. Earlier this week I had what I can only rank as the number 1 worst date I have ever had. After meeting her she decided she wanted to sit outside somewhere so she could smoke, needless to say that didn't impress me much as well the weather was horrible and not a nice day to be outside. Then while we were walking to where she wanted to go she asked me if I had 20 shekels to borrow so she could buy some cigarettes and well I said no to that and then the final thing before we even sat down was her asking me what was my name again. Now I can take a lot, but in this case I felt that this was not going anywhere and it was a goodbye from me. Seriously how is it I somehow manage to occasionally meet and go out with some really weird girls? It's almost like I have a sign above my head saying pick me, when all I want to do is meet a nice normal girl.
Okay that's all from me, over to you :-).

Tuesday 8 January 2013

Its Raining

I always try and keep an eye on the weather in the UK, see how things are going for my family and friends and knowing that the last few months have seen heavy rainfall and very cold weather, I've felt happier being in Israel where its warmer and not a lot of rain. Well in the last 5 days I've kind of changed my opinion as the weather has taken a very cold turn and it has pretty much rained nonstop since Friday with Thunder and Lightning. It’s still probably warmer here than in England, but right now I have the heating on to warm me up having been outside in it.
Apart from the very bad weather everything else is fine, I'm hopefully hanging out with a friend tonight and again tomorrow as long as the weather allows me to travel. Looking forward to a drink with a friend Thursday and also getting myself down to a bar in Tel Aviv to watch Hull City take on Sheffield Wednesday and continue the push for promotion to the Premier League.
That's all for now, to all my friends and family stay safe and warm :-) PS. Here is a picture of the main North/South Highway in Tel Aviv as a result of the rain

Sunday 6 January 2013

End of the Year and a Friends visit

Well this is my first Blog post of 2013 and I guess I should sum up 2012 for myself in this one as its been a while since I blogged anyway.
So 2012 has come and gone, now onto another year. I think 2012 was an eventful year for me really, Started off the year by completing my Ulpan in Haifa and coming away with at least in my own opinion a Bet Level of Hebrew. I have to say I haven't really used it as much as a I should have since then, but I do continue to use it and even manage to have a conversation with people, even if it doesn't sound right and I get the words wrong sometimes. Since the end of the Ulpan its move to Rishon and I've searched for work and I've been lucky and unlucky with that, having found work but been unable to settle into it to make it a permanent thing. I suppose it just means that those jobs were not right for me and the right job is still out there waiting and hopefully around the corner.
Socially 2012 wasn't bad, I wouldn't say it was better or worse than my life in London on a social level. I think here in the last year I've had more dates than I had in London in a long time and I've gotten out and about with friends and made new friends. Even attending a Doctor Who event and a sci-fi convention so I'm getting out there. Like with my employment hunt for the right job, it all takes time and while it would be nice to have had it all fall into place in a short space of time, I accept it wouldn't and it might be a little while longer before it settles down. Otherwise everything else is pretty much ticking over nicely.
As I mentioned earlier and in the title my friend Georgina came from London to stay with me for 10 days and it was a very good 10 days. I hadn't seen Georgina since October 2011 before I left London in preparation for making Aliyah so it was good to catch up with her. Though her flight coming in at a sensible time would have been nice!!! Still she arrived safely and after a chilled day out I took her to meet some of my friends in Tel Aviv and I admit I wasn't sure if she would get on with them, but she bonded with them, so much so she added them to Facebook that night!!! Plus we managed to get her into watching Doctor Who, so not a bad 1st evening. The Friday we went into Tel Aviv and around nachlat binyamin arts and craft fair, which I think is the 1st time I've really been there as well and it was an amazing experience to see the whole thing. Then I took her through the Carmel Market and a walk on the beach, before we returned home and chilled out back at mine and then went to the Cinema. Apart from the 1st two days it was a pretty chilled 10 days, we travelled to see Old Jaffa and walked around there, spent more time with my friends Tal and David. Enjoyed a New Year Eve drink or two in the Temple Bar in Rishon. Again ventured into Tel Aviv to Max Brenner's with Tal and David for some Chocolate and then finally saw a friend of Georgina's yesterday for a drink and a bite to eat. Now she is at the airport heading back and I'll admit its quiet around here and I will miss having my friend about, but I'm sure I will see her soon.
Anyway thats about it, back to the job hunting and living carefully. Feel free to check out my new page on Facebook as that's where I am now posting my blog. And I hope to hear from you all soon