Drifting

Its been a while since I posted, mainly because nothing much has changed for me.  Essentially all that has changed is the weather where I am LOL.

I'm not even sure why I'm posting, but the current situation is, I'm still in the same job, actually approaching my 2 year anniversary where I am.  Which I think is my 3rd longest job ever in my working life, behind Network Rail and Toys R Us.  I think its because its pretty quiet at the moment and I don't like it being quiet, I much prefer to be busy, even though I can help other departments.

Socially I've gotten out and about the last few months, kept myself pretty busy but nothing major to report in that, though I did attend my first ever Thanksgiving dinner which was fun and I got to see friends and I have things coming up to look forward to, so that is something good.

But generally lately I've been feel a bit like I'm treading water, drifting through life and not going anywhere fast.  Maybe its wrong and I'm actually doing okay and I just can't see it, but I guess I'm just feeling a bit jaded and cynical at the moment.  I'm sure it will pass but right now it doesn't feel good.

Still I'm okay, right now I've got my cup of tea and following Hull City as they currently lead Crystal Palace 1-0.  So Up the Tigers and hope you are all well.

5 Years in Israel.

Well it’s been a while since I blogged and I can't think of a better opportunity to blog again, in that today is my 5 years Aliyah anniversary.  October 24, 2011 I stepped onto a plane to Israel and set out to build a new life. I think in this post, it will be a little look back at the last 5 years and see what I've accomplished

Well in the 5 years I have been here I've lived in 6 different apartments in 4 different cities, not sure if that is an accomplishment or just really a sign that I have not settled... or rents in Israel and Tel Aviv in particular are really high!!  

Seriously though I enjoyed the first 5 months living in Haifa in the dorms, while I took Ulpan and although my Hebrew isn't still the greatest, I did learn and I can have a certain level of conversation.  Rishon was fun, I don't think I was ready to live in Tel Aviv at the start, it took having to commute to Tel Aviv, for work and for meeting up with people to realise that I needed to move here, if I wanted to get things going.  So after my first 18 months I made it to Tel Aviv and spent 6 months in an apartment, that the dirt was so bad, I think if the building was destroyed the dirt would not be effected.  After that I moved to Ramat Aviv and shared with my good friend Kylie and eventually the little devil aka Kiki whom you all know from my statuses 'The diary of Kiki'!  And I was settled there and enjoyed my time, even got the first of living alone when Kylie moved in with her now husband Yuval, which was both exciting and strange, as I had been used to having someone around to talk to a lot of the time.  Then I moved on, back into Tel Aviv and lived alone for another year, it was certainly closer to everything, but with the rent going up at the end of the 1st year, I chose to move on and here I am now living in Ramat Gan for the time being.  It’s being a variety of different apartments and I've hosted guests and some of them have kept coming back, so I guess the apartments are okay.

Onto the work side of things, I have struggled in this aspect, though mostly settled the past 3 years, in the beginning after Ulpan it wasn't easy and certainly in the 1st year I job hopped, not able to settle in a role or they didn't feel I was suited which is tough.  After doing the typical sales jobs that Olim seem to find themselves in and even spending a few weeks as a Paralegal.  I was in a bad position, 5 months without work is bad anywhere in the world, but when you live in a country where it’s not your native language it feels even harder and there were times, that maybe I could have gone back and I don't think anyone would have blamed me for doing so.  But I stayed and kept going, eventually shortly after moving to Tel Aviv found a 10 week contracted position and it was good, got me started again and I got to hang out with a friend from Ulpan during that time so it was good. Then I moved onto a position in Binyamina and since January last year I've been in the same role at a law office as an English Typist.  So I think I've managed the job market here okay, but I'm still looking for the job to settle in that I can be really, really happy with.

Socially, I'm not sure if my life is better than it was in England, I am getting out and about, if not as much as I would like, but I have made some good friends here, whom I can count on, if I need help or even to go for Rosh Hashanah :-).  But I do often feel a bit left out and I see pictures of my friends having a good time and I haven't been asked to join them.  Otherwise social wise it’s all good I think.

I think I've covered everything that's mainly happened in the last 5 years.  I could mention that I have appeared on Israeli TV, in a segment about Aliyah, I've also appeared in an article that was done on someone else about their business in a newspaper.  So I've had that happen to me.

But after all that, I think the main thing I've accomplished is, that I'm still here... A lot of people I came with and was on Ulpan with have gone back, so that I am still in Israel, still working to build a life it an achievement.  So all I can say is, here's to the next 5 years. 

Updating the blog and its nearly Rosh Hashana

Well its been a while since I've posted and I'm sorry for that, I would have posted more, but feels like I've been very busy.

So since I last posted, there have been more departures at work and a few new arrivals.  It actually feels like a train station, people coming and going all the time. A former colleague remarked to me that it was so different when he dropped in a couple of weeks ago as he didn't really know anyone and I agree, while there are people still in the office who have been there since before I started and probably be there long after I've gone, it feels like a lot has been lost.  But the new people are cool so I have no complaints.

I've also continued my own search for a new position, my next opportunity.  Its tough and I'll admit I'm finding it tough, I've actually had interviews but no success and like anyone I could hide away and let it get to me.  But I'm doing everything I can to find the next opportunity, to continue my settling in Israel.

I'm almost at the 5 year mark here and am I settled, I'm not sure. Life is hard and its a challenge, but I'm still fighting to make it here.

Meanwhile, I've had a visit from my parents and they stayed with me for ten days and it was nice to spend time with them and get out and about.  It will now be another 6 months before I see them again though as I plan to visit England in April.

Socially I've gotten about, I had great fun at a Nefesh B'Nefesh games night.  Yes I came last in Ticket to Ride, but it was a great evening and then I've had fun seeing friends over the last couple of weeks.

Tomorrow is the start of the Chaggim, by this time tomorrow Rosh Hashana will have commenced.  For me I will be spending it with my good friends Melissa and Derek Pursell down in Beersheva, which is always fun.  Then onto Yom Kippur, which I'm not sure where I will be for it though.

Otherwise looking forward to dogsitting for two different dogs, 1 for Bella my cousins dog for the evening and then in November for Kiki, so the Diary of Kiki will return then :-).

Anyway thats all for now, in a few weeks I will do a 5 years in Israel blog.  But for now, Shana Tova, I wish all my Jewish family and friends a Sweet and Happy New Year.

Changes all around me

This post was inspired by one of my current work colleagues, well current until tomorrow when she becomes former colleague, but hopefully still in touch as a friend.  It kind of inspired me to write about change.

Heraclitus a Greek philosopher wrote that "The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change”.  And he is correct, otherwise we would all be standing still and nothing would improve in life.  For me at the moment I do feel a certain amount of standing still.  I've changed apartments in the last couple of months and it’s a better apartment, good location for social life and work, but apart from the losing weight which is a good change, I don't feel that I've made many changes lately.

At the moment I am feeling a like I am ready for a change, but perhaps its the time of year and the fact that people are moving on and I am in fact envious of the people who have recently moved on and are moving on from the office and going onto new things and new challenges.  There are other aspects in my life that are pretty stale and I'm working to change them, but everything with time and patience, hopefully with my birthday now come and gone everything will fall into place. 

It’s sad that they are moving on, as I would like to think they have become friends over the time we have been in the office and shared a few laughs. But like I said things do change and people move on and those left behind go on.

I also don't want to forget a couple of friends who are moving on not from work, but moving from Israel to the Netherlands and I wish them a lot of luck and I will visit them soon.

Well not much else to say, but to Nicole, Noa, Keren, Yodan, Daniella and Lee, all moving on to better and brighter things, we have shared a few laughs in the office, I wish you nothing but the best in your next challenge that life brings you and I will miss you guys, stay in touch and I'm sure I will see you soon.

So what can I take away from this one that change is bad, or is change good?  I think sometimes things staying the same is good, but without change we don't make progress, so change is inevitable... except from a vending machine LOL.

Until next time.

  

Losing Weight

Something I don't think I've mentioned in my blogs recently is that over the past 6 months I've lost just over 5kg in weight.

It all started in January after a blood test, the Doctor informed that the results while not dangerously high, certain things had come back over the top range that they should be. As a result of that the Doctor advised me to go to see a Dietitian.  So on a cool February morning I went along to the Dietitian expecting to be told, 'you can't eat this, don't eat that, don't do this' and so on.

However within a few minutes of our conversation, I had revised my opinion.  We spoke about what I have been eating and how I could change my diet slightly.  To that end she suggest that I cut down on carbohydrates, meaning less potatoes, bread, rice, pasta etc and more protein and more vegetables.

So taking her advice on board, I ditched the cereal and slices of bread for breakfast and replaced that with a piece of fruit and a yogurt.  I still occasionally have a few slices of bread, it does depend on how I'm feeling sometimes.  Lunch has also changed, instead of the constant sandwich everyday alongside a packet of crisps, I now have a salad, usually cheese, tomato, cucumber and tuna or egg if I remember to boil them the night before.  I again still have the occasional sandwich, but usually now they are relegated to a weekend.  Evenings have not changed much except for more vegetables and less potato, it used to be that I could have chips or a baked potato every night.  Now I've cut it down to maybe once a week and sometimes even not that.

I've also cut down on the snacking and tried to eat more fruit and exercise more.  At the moment I'm now walking to and from work and trying to do at least 10,000 steps per day and most days I achieve that and more.  I also do a bit of exercise around the apartment, so every little helps.

It hasn't been easy, after my first two weigh-ins I put back a kilo... might have had something to do with my parents and sister visiting but I'm not pointing fingers, I'm just guessing lol.  Anyway its taken time but my last visit two weeks I had dropped under 80kg and I hope when I visit the Dietitian again next week that I will have dropped more weight.

People have noticed that I've lost weight, they also say I look younger which I like to hear and it does feel good to know that people have noticed that a little change in your diet can have a productive effect.  It certainly was a wake up call my blood test and now I'm grateful for it, yes I still have junk food on occasion, but now I'm feel better about myself and my body.  No, I will never have a six pack or abs of steel, but I will be healthy and that is far more important than anything in the world.

So with that in mind, wish me a few more kilos lost in the next few months and for now I say farewell.

Birthday Blog

Well what a difference a week makes!

It’s a week since I was probably at my lowest place and state of mind since coming to Israel.  Now has anything changed in relation to my work situation and my dating life?  No, I'm still searching for both, but conversations with friends and co-workers has put me in a better frame of mind and the fact that I've celebrated my 39th Birthday as well.

Hard to believe I'm 39, actually a lot of people needed me to show id to prove I am on the basis that I look younger.  A lot of people have said my weight loss has certainly helped me look better and younger and while I can't see it myself, I'm not one to turn down compliments :-).

So Wednesday was my birthday and I'm not sure what I was expecting, I was in work because I want to save my days off for when my Mum and Dad come to Israel in September to visit.  I had a few WhatsApp and texts and a couple of cards wishing me happy birthday and the obvious greetings on Facebook.  I knew a few colleagues also knew it was my birthday as well.  So anyway mid-morning I decided to get cakes for the office in celebration of my birthday, sending an email around I wasn't surprised who was there first to get a cake LOL and there was various email responses to my email wishing me Mazal Tov on my birthday.

So after that, I thought, okay back to work until around 1pm when one of my colleagues pretty much kidnapped me to the cafeteria.  I'd been so wrapped up, dedicated to my work that I hadn't seen people disappear to the cafeteria, where they had gotten cakes and goodies and balloons to celebrate my birthday.  I honestly did not expect anything like this and actually kind of embarrassed by it all.  But I'm very grateful to the people who organised it and if they're reading this, they know they are and I thank you :-).

So that was the work festivities out of the way, I had invited a group of friends to mine to join for a pizza party, which was fun, just a few good people, chatting, eating snacks and pizza, a very chilled and relaxed affair.  Then onto last night, I had decided a while back I wanted to do a party, originally it was going to be another house party but then I decided I didn't want to clean up after myself LOL.  So I found a bar to book a table, invited friends, colleagues, and ex-colleagues and for nearly 5 hours, we sat around, drinking, laughing, and having fun.  

I'm very happy, grateful to everyone who came to both parties and as I said in a Facebook status, I'm not going to name you all, because you know who you are and how much I appreciate you guys for making this probably the best birthday I've had in Israel so far. I honestly think the Thursday night party, should be a regular thing, chance to get out with the co-workers and the like and just have a good evening away from the office.

Anyway apart from the whole birthday celebrations, it’s been a relatively quiet week. Although after the last few days I'm now really tired and looking forward to sleeping the rest of the weekend away LOL!

I hope you enjoyed reading, as always comments are appreciated.            

Fight to get where I want to be

I'm writing this mainly, because as a few people have noted, my Facebook statuses have been a little depressing lately and quite negative.

Let me start by saying I'm fine, I'm going through a bad patch, its not easy being in Israel and certainly its tough without being able to pop over to see my Mum and Dad and have a chat and a hug from my Mum (yes I'm 38, nearly 39, but a hug from my Mum is still needed sometimes).  Though 5 weeks I'll actually get that hug as my folks are coming to stay with me for 10 days, which I'm look forward too.

I think part of the slightly negative tone of my posts is the feeling of frustration that things are not going my way, even though I'm doing everything right, I'm not seeing the end result I want.  I know people say, what I want to succeed at will eventually happen, but every lack of response, every rejection, it wears on you and does get to you, even if you try not to let it do so.

I said it last night on Facebook, after a particular post I made in the morning, when something I had seen really upset me and I shouldn't have let it get to me, but it did.  I know their was no malice on intent, but the one thing that feels like a struggle is my social life and sometimes it feels like I'm forgotten by my friends, never intentionally, but they don't include me and it does get to get to you, especially when your trying to build a life in a new country.

But as I also said, I do appreciate my friends and I'm looking forward to hanging out with them at my pizza party on my actual birthday and birthday night out the following night.

As they say its always darkest before the dawn and hey it could be worse, I could be the Hull City team, as seen in there 2016/17 squad photo.

Seriously though if the Hull City players can poke fun at themselves over the stuff going on with the club at the moment, I can roll with the punches, and get past these roadblocks that seem to be in my way.  It might not happen overnight, but I will get to where I'm trying to go in life.  I just need to learn patience and let myself relax and enjoy and appreciate what I have.

Thanks for reading and next post, birthday blog :-).

Friends

I've been thinking about this one a lot, one thing I've noticed I don't have a lot of friends, the majority of the people in my life are acquaintances and the few friends I would say in some cases are like family as they have supported me and for that I'm grateful, even if I don't see them for a while, I know that they are there for me.

But what really got me thinking about this is, work friends, I am not sure if anyone will agree or disagree, but how many of your former colleagues from your previous job who you spent 8 hours a day and maybe your lunch hour hanging out with, are you still in touch with.  I suspect that the answer is maybe 1 or 2 or even none.  The truth is work friendships are fleeting, you can support each other in work and have a laugh, but when it comes time to move on, its no looking back.  I'm guilty of this, I think there is a handful of people I'm really in contact with.  Even outside of work friends I'm not sure how many are really there for me, I've plenty of friends on Facebook, but how many of them are really friends and not just there to make up the numbers.

I know we all have busy lives and people change and move on, things happens, but it seems to me we take friendship for granted. I've had friends, including one from my home town whom I've met here in Israel and we've hung out and become good friends and then suddenly, there is no contact, disappears and your left scratching your head as to why.  Or friends who have problems and use you as someone to talk to, but when it sorted, you don't hear from them.

Its tiring and upsetting to me.  I don't think I'm a bad person, but why cannot I create the level of friendship that I see some people have.  I'm not saying I want to be going out every day with people, but it would be nice if someone said. 'Adam we're going to this place for a bite to eat, come along'.

In some ways I feel more isolated in Israel than I did in England, I know when I moved to London it took a long time for me to build a life here, but after 5 years, I don't know how I feel, I feel like nothing has changed.  My life is work, home, bed and repeat with the occasional interruption of a social event. I've tried reaching out to people apart from those who I can count on, but it feels like banging on a brick wall.  How would you make yourself feel settled in this situation?

Eilat and the week following

As I've said I'm trying to blog a lot more than I have and after my post from last week which got more views than I had ever previously and I want to thank all those who viewed and read and enjoyed it.  So I've decided to continue with the momentum and fire off a new post.

Well since that post, I've been on a brief break to Eilat.  I have to say that in all the time I've been living here and been on holiday, until last week I had never been to Eilat before.  I was fortunate to go with someone and for them to drive down as I think that added to the adventure of going there.  While there is a lot of greenery here in Israel, the trip to Eilat certainly showed it is very much still a desert and probably you could get lost around there.  Still it has it charms and the views on the road to and from are certainly amazing.

As for Eilat itself, very much a beach resort town, plenty of shopping to be done with several malls, the beach of course, the Dolphin Reef as well (didn't have chance to go, but next time I will).  And hotels of course to lay by the pool.  To be fair I didn't want to do much, been a while since I've had a mini-break and had the opportunity to relax, as I said to my companion, I am not sure I actually know the meaning of the word!!!  Still it was nice to get away for a few days... I did pick up a few souvenirs a couple of new tops and sunburn LOL.

Anyway back to the reality of job hunting and working.  I was delighted on the way to Eilat to know I had an interview to prepare for when I came back, although sometimes all the preparation in the world for an interview and you can still walk in and go blank when they ask you what do you know about the company, I've had it happen to me on more than one occasion, but now these days I feel more prepared and I'm at least able to show I've checked out my potential employers.  So I had the interview and I felt it went well, now its a case of waiting and I really hate waiting. Something I have noticed is that it seems like here in Israel in most cases there is no rush for them to let you know if you were successful in the interview or not successful, which is very frustrating as I would rather have a 'no thank you' than never actually have a response or have to chase for a response.  Still I suppose this is part and parcel of job hunting, getting responses, or not getting responses.

While I'm talking about jobs and work, I just want to wish my colleague Samantha who is leaving at the end of the coming week :-( the best of luck.  She is moving on to a new challenge and I'm happy for her, but also very sad as I'm going to miss my fellow English Typist, after all she taught me about this job, she has always supported me, been there to back me up during work and I'm going to miss that support as you have been the best person I have ever had the pleasure to work alongside.

This is actually the first job where I've had someone working in the same role, same office and had to work together as most of my previous jobs it has just been me filling the role and not had another person to rely on. So working with the new person is going to take some getting used to, unless I get this job and then I'm out of there myself.  But yeah Sam, I'm going to miss you, I know you'll do great in the new role and stay in touch :-).

What else has been going on, well I had my first party at my new apartment. I decided that having moved into a new place and it was better suited to have a gathering and I hope everyone who attended had a great time, I think I will do another one as I'm reliably told I must celebrate my birthday which is coming up in just under 5 weeks now.

Ooh I sold the Fridge/Freezer finally yay.  I didn't get what I wanted for it, but in some ways I'm so happy to have it out of the apartment that I am not that bothered.  But I now have more space and my friend Rachel, who helped me find the apartment is coming to help me decorate and make it look more homey.

Okay I think that is all for now... oh wait I bought myself a ticket to see Queen + Adam Lambert... very looking forward to it :-).

Seriously that's everything, hope you enjoy reading and we'll all see/speak soon.

Adam

Looking for work in Israel

Well hello there weary blog reader, welcome to my humble blog.  Now you might be asking who is this person greeting you, well I'll tell you... I'm Batman..... okay I'm not really my name is Adam Pearlman originally from the UK, but now a settled resident living in Ramat Gan in Israel.  If your still reading perhaps I'll tell you something about me, that way you can keep reading :-).  I'm a Oleh Hadash having been here in Israel since October 2011, where I came to build a new life for myself.

So you could say I'm adaptable, after all moving to Israel and uprooting myself from everything I knew is a heck of a change, I'm also hardworking, I would like to think that I'm willing to put everything into the job I'm in, determined to succeed at the tasks I'm given and I think that is both relevant to me as a job and as a person here in Israel.  You need to be adaptable, you need to be determined and you need to ready to work hard to make it work.

I've brought with me experience in administration from working here in Israel and before in the UK for many years, in all that time I've found myself interacting with Owners, Managers and people of all levels, even managed to form personal relationships with some of them as well as professional relationships.  I've worked on projects as part of my experiences and even myself following from the beginning to end and seen my work become an official standard as part of the company.

Through my working experience and even before that I've always liked to write, even a few short stories and spent time in work experience at newspapers and radio stations and finally I translated that into this very blog you are now reading.. well I hope you are still reading.

Anyway that's enough about me, I hope I've intrigued you enough that perhaps you would like to get in touch, learn more about me, but now I want to focus on the title of my blog.  Looking for work in Israel is a tough experience, as I know others will attest to, just as they probably found it hard in their countries of origin.  To take your experience from working and move to another country and expecting that just a click of the fingers you will find your way into a job similar to what you were doing.

Experience here has taught me that its tough and sometimes even if you have everything they need, you might lack one thing.  For instance my Hebrew is functional but not fluent even though I work to improve it and I have found that has counted against me in job hunting when they want someone with a near native command of Hebrew, I'm fortunate in my current role my English is very needed as a Typist at an Intellectual Property Law Firm.  Apart from my duties of preparing emails, I am often called upon by other members of staff to check their English and correct as necessary or aid them in writing emails.  Its also handy for me to help other departments with their workload and even on occasion deal with incoming phone calls from the UK or other English speaking countries.

I've done a lot of different things since I came to Israel, my main roles as with England has been administration, whether its working on legal emails and such documentation in Bnei Brak or working in Binyamina and doing data entry and preparing sales quotes and invoices. To working for a company where I monitored game servers and tested them to see that they worked correctly and that was fun, especially for someone like me who enjoys playing computers.  So you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to spend 10 days playing a game to test it for bugs, I can only say that the amount of computer generated money I had at the start was doubled by the time I finished this project... if only it had been real and they had let me keep it LMAO.

And finally my other position in my time in Israel, a sales representative for Checkpoint.  It was a short term thing and in some ways I'm glad as it was not for me.  I do consider that I am a sales person, but I'm not a phone sales person, I'm a people person and I much prefer chatting with someone face to face than over the telephone, which is probably I enjoyed my two years of working at Toys R Us back in the UK after Middlesex University where I graduated with a B.A. Joint Honours in Media and Cultural Studies with Film Studies, learning such things as script writing and research methodologies.

Of course I worked before coming to Israel, for 6 years I was the Controlled Publication Distributor for Network Rail, dealing with 1500 people and over, interacting with members of staff across the country, and at all levels.  Okay I better explain what the job title is as people are probably wonder what that is.  Well, its Document Control, working in such an industry as the rail, there are rules and regulations for the safety of working, so my responsibility was to make sure everyone had the necessary information to do their job correctly.  I also acted as the administrator of the in-house database... meaning I had the power LOL.  Seriously though I was the main point of call for people using the database, assisting people with technical issues and helping people learn to use it.  Eventually I moved on and it always sticks in my mind that when my Manager found out I was leaving that he was sad to see me go as he knew I knew the job and didn't need to be managed by him, He knew that I could get on with it and manage myself without him needing to micro-manage me and only come to him with problems that I needed someone senior to handle.

I've also found here in Israel that computer skills are very good to have with Israel being a big hub of activity for companies such as Google, IBM and many others.  I've had a computer at home as long as I can remember and used so many versions of Microsoft Office that I would consider myself experienced in all the programs that are part of the package.  Of course I'm a tech geek, I'm never off the Internet and active in social media, not just here on my blog, but Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. I also find myself having learnt new skills through my work, like how to use a web based database and find search engines for finding people to add to work databases.  So I believe I have good computers skills that have served me well in the past and will continue to do so.

I honestly believe that if there is one thing I have learnt from work experience is that I can adapt and continue to learn new things, after all we never really stop learning, even if we have left School/University and that's what I want to do, show some new employer that I've got what it takes, that I can help their company grow and expand as much as I can grow and expand my horizons.

Thank you for reading.

Emotions running all over the place

Well its 10:15pm here in Israel, the weekend is over and as a Hull City fan the season 2015/2016 is officially over and I can happily say Hull City are Premier League once again.

Its been a season of high tension and drama and in a season which I believed we would go straight back up after last seasons relegation from the Premier League, I never thought it would go to Wembley having been in such a good position early in the year.  They talk about the curse of the Manager of the Month award and I think its true as the moment Steve Bruce was awarded that and Abel Hernandez received player of the month, it seems our form became inconsistent and poor and having been top of the Championship we slipped into the play offs.  A position I can say I would not want to be in as it comes down to 3 more games if your lucky.

Lucky we were a 3-0 win in the first leg against Derby meant by all rights we were safely heading to the final, but an inconsistent and quite frankly dreadful performance put City fans on edge and certainly kept everyone on the edge of their seats.  But we pulled through and Wembley we are there.

And today, I spent the 90 minutes sat in a bar in Tel Aviv watch the television, sadly not even able to be in the country to watch my team fight to get back to where we belong.  Its a hard thing watching and not being able to do anything, so many emotions going through my mind as I felt and played every kick in my mind.  When the 72 minute happened and we scored what would be the winning goal I celebrated and then sagged in relief.  To be a football fan is not easy and I can honestly say the moment the final whistle blew I shed a tear of relief and joy.

In some ways the emotion of today in a football game is how I feel with my own life at the moment, a lot of frustration going on, with the direction of my life, but I feel a sense of hope and a little happiness that this move on Tuesday to Ramat Gan is a new start, a new chapter.  So just like Hull City soon to be starting a new chapter in the Premier League, my move is a new chapter of a book that is still be written.

Why am I here

Its an interesting question Why am I here? in this case and this time it refers to why am I in Israel.  I think I've answered that question over my time here, usually in Interviews its the first question I have been asked.  But have I fully ever explained to people, to my friends why I am here. I am going to try and do that now, I hope it makes sense.

My decision actually came about after a conversation with my Mum about 7 years ago, Network Rail who I was working for at the time in 2009 and had decided to build a new office in Milton Keynes and close a lot of the offices in London.  As a result staff were being expected to journey there every day.  Obviously I did not want to move closer to Milton Keynes, living where I was, I was in a Jewish area, surrounded by friends and places I liked to go to.  I could see the possibility of being made redundant from my job and during that time it was very difficult to get a job.  So after job hunting without success for a while, a weekend visit to my parents I chatted with my parents and they said 'What about Israel'?

What about Israel, that's the question, I knew people that were already living in Israel, but had I considered making aliyah, giving up everything to move to a different country to start again.  However, the idea must have been in my head because the more I thought about it, the more I looked into it, the more it seemed like something I wanted to do.  I had been to Israel on family holiday and two summers in-between University and it must have always been in my head because I started the process.

Anyway time progressed and we got closer to when I would come to Israel, but even in my head I still had the idea that I probably would stay in England if the right job came along, with good prospects, money etc.  But June/July 2011 my Managers at Network Rail gave me the catalyst to turn round and say I'm coming to Israel and I know it will be hard and maybe I won't make it, but at least I if that happens I can come back saying I wanted to do it, I did it and okay didn't work out, but I tried and stepped out of my comfort zone.

I came to Israel because I'm proud to be Jewish, proud of this country I live in and everything it has achieved.  Do I believe I will make it here.  I know recently those who read my blog last week and seen my Facebook posts are probably wondering if I am doing okay, all I know is I'm being challenged and maybe I've bent a little on the weight of the challenges, but I'm not broken and I will make it here.

Feeling the heat and frustration

Well following on from my post a few weeks, I'm going to say things have not totally going my way lately and its being tough. I should apologise and to anyone concerned after my mini meltdown on Facebook at the beginning of the week, I am okay just tired and a little frustrated with things at the moment.  They always say its darkest before the dawn, but for the moment I can't seem to see the dawn for me.

As some of you know I've been looking for a new job as the current position which I have been in for nearly 16 months... actually my longest position ever in a job in Israel so go me.... Is rapidly becoming a place I loathe and detest going.... yep I could say that about most jobs after a while.  But my place of work is a special place and while most of the people are generally good people and nice to talk to, there are certain people who make the environment not nice and I have really had enough of being there.  I am looking for a new job and I have had interviews a plenty since I started looking, its just I seem to always fall at that hurdle, mostly the reasons being 'we decided to go in a different direction' or 'we wanted someone with more experience' In response to that, how do you get experience if no-one will give you the job.  Still I keep persevering and hoping that someone will eventually see I have the potential to be good and do a good job at their firm.

The 2nd frustration was the thought of having to search and move home again, but that is actually less of a frustration now and more of a nearly past the post.  Thanks to a work colleague and friend I saw an apartment on Monday and then met the neighbour the following day and all being well I will have signed the contract by tomorrow or Monday and will be as of June 1st a resident of Ramat Gan.  I am certainly getting around the area, having lived in North, South and the Center of Tel Aviv.  Maybe one day I will find a place to settle down permanently, but for now here I am.

3rd frustration is my social life, which probably ties into frustration number 1, as with the job although I have set hours, it seems like more often than not I don't work those hours and then I'm there longer and I miss out on events and meeting people, seeing friends and its tough seeing friends having fun on Facebook and me having missed out because I had to work an extra hour or so... I also feel like sometimes my friends forget about me because maybe I don't make enough noise, but there are times when I feel excluded and its sad to think my life is work, home, work, home and repeat.

I don't know maybe tomorrow will be the day everything changes, I live in hope that one day I will have everything I am searching for.  On the happy side I'm delighted for my friends Catherine and James who welcomed their first child Scarlett Rose Angel into the world a couple of weeks ago.  I know you two will be great parents and I hope I can get over to the UK soon enough to see and meet her.  Oh and there is the matter of Hull City, being 90 minutes away from Wembley again and 180 minutes away from being back in the Premier League.  Come on City.

Anyway I've rambled on for a bit, voiced my frustrations... I'm hungry, going to make dinner. Speak soon.

Passover, personal anniversary's and life in general.

I recently made myself a promise that I would blog more, I haven't done so for age and I feel like I should, even if its a bit of nonsense.

Anyway we've reached the end of Passover here in Israel, because of the way it fell though instead of 7 days which is the normal for Israel, we had 8 days like in Diaspora, so just like everyone back in England, I'm stuck eating crumbling cardboard for another day.  However if you don't care about the holiday and have done the bare minimum, its back to normal food from last night or even before.  Most stores here in Israel during this week have cabinets and shelves taped off because they won't sell the normal stuff and only Kosher for Passover, but out of curiosity last night while walking home I popped into AM:PM and unsurprisingly all the cabinets are back in business and people were buying bread.

I don't have an issue with anyone who doesn't observe or keep the Chaggim, its your own choice, for me while I'm not the perfect Jews, I still want to do the right thing.  So for the last 8 days, I've used plastic knives and forks, plastic plates and instead of my usual dinners, gotten slightly creative and also buried Matzoh in anything I could find to get rid of the bad taste.  Matzoh it looks like crackers, tastes like cardboard and goes everywhere.  I think after every meal I've had to sweep up the remains of my dinner because it goes all over the place.

Usually I go to England for Passover, spend time with the family and take a break from Israel for 10 days, this time I'm here and its been okay, I've taken time away from work and relaxed.  Also managed to enjoy a meal or two in Kosher for Passover places which I have gone too when its not Passover, nice to have a menu catering for this week.  Mikes Place nearest me went Kosher a few months ago and I was delighted when I was in the area last Tuesday to be able to go in and have a Burger and Chips Kosher for Passover... sadly no Beer to wash it down... not available because of Passover.

Anyway Passover is done for another year and moving on, I've had a couple of personal anniversaries in the last week.  Last Sunday was 4 and a half years since I made Aliyah, and yes some things still have not gone my way and I'm still working on things but I'm getting there slowly, but surely.  I'm also celebrating over 15 months in my current job, which is the longest I've been in a job and also a hell of an achievement, (people who know me, know what my office is like will understand why its an achievement).

Otherwise I haven't had much chance to socialize as a result of busy work life.  Hoping that will change and I'm also having to plan for moving in a months time as my year is up and I want to move as the rent is going up and I don't want to have to pay the increase, so I'm on the hunt for a new place, hopefully big enough that I can have visitors over to hangout and my Parents to stay.

Its all going good at the moment for the most part, hope to catch up with you all soon, in the meantime I bid you שבוע טוב.

House guests, parents visit and everyday life

Well its been a while since I blogged and I apologize for that, been distracted by other things of late.  But I am here now and its been a busy few months for me.

I shall start with work, for the most part nothing has really changed there, did have a 3 week period where I was pretty much the sole person in my department, which meant I was doing a lot of extra hours and not having much of a life outside the office which wasn't fun.  Still maybe my pay packet will reflect the hard work :-).

My apartment has seen two guests staying with me for the last month and now it feels very quiet here.  Although not having to make sure one of the guests has food and water, is entertained and taken out around Tel Aviv is nice and the other is Kiki... (sorry Dad).  Seriously though its been a nice change of pace looking after Kiki for 3 and a half weeks for Kylie while she was on her honeymoon and certainly having the company whilst been extremely busy at work was great.

My Dad stayed with me for a few nights as my parents and sister have been here in Israel for 10 days and due to the nature of how they ended up visiting for ten days, my Dad had to stay with me for the first 3 days of their trip, before they moved onto Jerusalem and then to Netanya to stay with my Uncle Edward and Auntie Laurette.  They've had a good time and are now at the airport waiting for their flight back to the UK and Storm Katie (or whatever its called).  I will miss them as I don't know the next time I will get to the UK but I will speak to them soon.

Apart from all of that, I've had time to hang out with friends and see people so its been pretty good time, just continuing to go along with the flow of life.  Anyway I hope to blog more than I have lately and speak to you all soon.

Where is the outrage?

Where is the outrage?

So with 2016 less than two days old a quiet Friday in Tel Aviv was shattered by a gunman opening fire in Dizengoff, killing 2 people and injuring others before running off and bringing about a manhunt around Tel Aviv to find him.

While the rest of the world was recovering from celebrating New Year's Eve and the start of a new year people in Israel were being killed or injured in a unforgivable act of evil. Was it breaking news on the media; did people across the world look at the Internet or their TV and think what terrible news, what a horrible thing to happen and what a way to start the new year?

Where is the outrage?

We all sat and watched the news coverage of the events in Paris a few weeks ago and the outpouring of sympathy and outrage of a terrible evil act from a world united in shock; but what makes yesterday any different to Paris? Is it that only two people died and a few injured, or is it that it's Israel and no-one cares?

Where is the outrage?

Have people become so jaded and cynical to the news reported here in Israel that it no longer bothers them?  Is it a case of what did Israel do now? The fact is all life is sacred and no family should have to grieve for losing someone in this evil manner. I am outraged that no-one seems to give a damn, when we live a world that is big enough for everyone. In 2016 can't we make this the year that words work and we learn to live in peace.