Yom Kippur and Holiday

Hi all, sorry for the slight delay in posting, just been a bit of a busy week or so since I last blogged.  So now I shall endeavour to bring you up-to-date on things.

Well Yom Kippur (Jewish Day of Atonement) has come and gone.  It’s probably the toughest day of the Jewish calendar as your in services pretty much all day and to add in not eating or drink for 25 to 26 hours it’s pretty tough.  I did think it would be tougher in a hot country and especially in Tel Aviv where it is more humid than Jerusalem, but I spent the Friday up until the fast drinking water as much as possible and also when not in the synagogue, resting and relaxing.  Still it’s always a good feeling to know that you've completed the fast successfully.

The last of Festivals at this time of year is Sukkot which is finished in just under a week with Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.  In Sukkot we spend time in the Sukkah which is a temporary hut which is topped with branches and has fruit hanging from it; I have wandered around Tel Aviv and seen several Sukkah's set up, apart from the ones that are at the synagogues.  As the custom is, you are supposed to eat, drink, and sleep within the Sukkah during this period. 

Apart from all of the Religious festivals, it’s been pretty busy with work and social life.  I've now finished work until the 29th so I'm enjoying a break and for once it’s nice to enjoy a break that I don't have to worry about either job or apartment hunting.  Hoping to do a few things during this break and get stuff sorted and organised.  Will try to make it to Jerusalem for at least one day as it has been several months since I was last there.

Anyway nothing else really to report, I hope you are all well and we'll speak soon.

Rosh Hashana, September and all that

Hello all, well it been a couple of weeks since I last posted so I apologise for that, been fairly busy week or so for me.

Anyway best news is I have sorted out a new apartment for a few months at least, slightly cheaper rent and sharing with a friend in Ramat Aviv.  I know some people will say why go for something only temporary but it gives me a chance to save a little money and also see what happens with my job after the trial period ends in October. 

Work wise everything is going well I believe, I have no doubt that at the end of my trial period I'll be a permanent member of staff and continue on with the job.  I'm learning a few new words of Hebrew as the factory staff don't speak English at all, so if I'm dealing with them I have to speak Hebrew. 

Socially wise I've gotten out a lot over the last weeks or so, I think last week I somehow due to social life managed to not find my bed before 1am every night.  Not sensible when you have work in the morning LOL, but I have had fun. 

This month is full of the Jewish Holidays starting with today with Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year), followed by Yom Kippur and Sukkot, all which means I have time off work, actually a lot of time.  Off today and tomorrow, back to work Sunday for the next 5 days, then I have another 3 day week and after that again I'm on holiday but this time for 11 days, so it’s going to be a slow working month, but a fun break time month.

Anyway at this time I would like to wish my Jewish readers Shana Tova and hope you all have a happy and healthy new year and well over the fast.

Been Sick

Hi all, very short blog as not much to report as the last week has pretty much been a washout from a social point of view, mainly because for most of the week I was sick.

Which sucks and I could have curled up in bed for the 3 days I was really bad, but being British and really stubborn I still went into work even though  would have much rather stayed in bed.  But I guess its my determination to show my new employers that come whatever I will make it into work and do my job.  Fortunately I'm feeling much better now and even went to the Doctor who insisted on me going for a test, despite me saying I'm nearly better I don't need it LOL.  So I've still got to do that test.

This coming week I've not got much planned yet, one friends wedding on Wednesday which should be fun. So for now this very short blog post, I say farewell and my friends in the UK enjoy your long weekend, my friends here in Israel enjoy your week.

Birthday

As promised here is the latest instalment of my blog, so since I last posted it has been a relatively hectic time.  Work has kept me busy and I've managed to enjoy myself socially as well.

Started off my weekend with a friend’s birthday.  That was a cool thing to do as it was also a chance to decompress after finishing work for the week.  So I had fun.  Friday was a busy day in the end for me, with a few things to do I was able to do them and then enjoy myself by going for coffee with a friend and then off to dinner with my Cousin Ilan and his wife Sara and some of their friends so that was nice and hope I'll do that again soon.


The following day was my birthday so after going to synagogue in the morning and then relaxing it was off to the beach for the evening to spend time with friends and enjoy the sunset, I have to say who could have imagined I would be spending firstly my birthday on the beach and secondly watching a gorgeous sunset.  So to my friends who came I thank you and for the presents thank you very much and I'll put them to good use.  I also received a few cards from home and a present via Amazon thanks to one of my best friends back home Steve Bowman, once again Steve you showed excellent taste in presents.

After that it was back to work Sunday morning... somehow I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to the working week been Sunday to Thursday but I'm sure eventually it will become second nature.  So I've had two contrasting days at work, one very busy and the other not so busy, I'm hoping tomorrow is more of the busy than the not so busy.


So that's what I've been up to, looking into starting my new hunt for an apartment, I am thinking the time has come to live on my own as I've never done that before.  The search itself is very daunting, living on my own is also scary but like making Aliyah it’s another wall to climb and climb it I will.  For now I say goodbye and speak with you all soon.

Work, Wedding and... not got another W LOL

Sorry about the odd title, but hey it works :-). Hope everyone is doing well both here in Israel and in the UK and anywhere else you might be reading this blog from.
Well it’s been a busy week with work, slowly, slowly think I'm getting to totally understand it and its even been mentioned about possibly taking on more responsibility, but still early days so we shall see what happens. But it would be nice; as it stands I'm still in my trial period so we shall see where things go.
Socially wise this week which looked like being very busy, sadly seems to have gone the other way. Plans I had have fallen through for one reason or another, but I suppose that is life. Still got a birthday party to look forward to tomorrow night after work and my own birthday celebrations as well.
Going to be short blog but would be remiss in not mentioning the lovely wedding I attended yesterday evening in Hadera. It was really nice evening and I hope both Austin and Kassy have many happy years together and may we only meet on a Simcha. Mazal tov to you both once more.
Finally, hope everyone is well and hear from you about this blog post or any of my other posts very soon. Or even just general chat. So speak soon

Busy first week

Well its me again and its been less than a week since I last blogged, I'm getting more frequent with my posting, the next gap will be 4 days LOL.
So since I last posted I've completed my 1st full week at my new job, each of the first 3 days of the week has seen me learn more stuff and also work on my own to try and complete the jobs I have to do, now that the person I'm replacing has now left. Fortunately I think I'm getting a good understanding of the job and I have made mistakes... yes it’s my 1st week I'm going to make mistakes. However I've been shown the mistake and I think I'm getting to understand where the mistake was made and not make it again. So I think it’s been a good week so far, the only downside was the disruption in travel for me.
As people may or may not know I'm working out of Tel Aviv about 30-40 minutes train ride away and this week due to emergency repairs so for the last two days of this week I've had to use the bus and usually its just 1 bus and a train ride to work, for Wednesday and Thursday it was 3 buses to get there and 2 to get home... So very long days for me, leaving mine at 6 and managing to get to my office on time for 9 but then getting home late as well, I will be glad the trains are running Sunday morning again as Sunday I open this offices... yep I'm the first one in and the person with the key... scary stuff but I'll do fine.
Speaking of mistakes I've made a few over the years and yes Israel has been very hard, but I don't regret coming here and hopefully now with this job, things will finally fall into place. Yes I have made mistake with friends and people I've met here and friends in the UK sometimes feel like I've not been the best friend to people who have been only nice to me. So with my birthday beckoning, I'm going to be a new person, a new me, try and always look for the best in every situation no matter how bad things might be and try and be there for my friends when I have not.
Apart from work the last week has been a bit quiet as I've been working and relaxing after travelling, I did manage to go out last night and very briefly to a party this afternoon, so I am getting out there, just need to start talking to people, getting myself known and building the social life :-). So for now that’s all folks

So its been quite a week since I last posted, a lot has happened and changed, not just the fact that I've had a haircut LOL. I'm back working, so fortunately after 2 weeks of twiddling my thumbs and hoping for interviews I'm working again and its a bit of a relief. I have to be honest this time after finishing at Playtech I was worried that I wouldn't find anything and my dream of settling here in Israel would end, fortunately Israel hasn'megotten rid of just yet.
Right so job, it all happened on Sunday, I'd initially gone for one job interview that had been rescheduled and in fact I was waiting to be interview when it was called off. So having left there quite annoyed, I headed for home and while on my way home I was called about a job I applied for and asked if I could come in the same day. Naturally I said yes and after going home for a bit, I went to the interview and was asked when could I start and of course I said yes and started on Wednesday, I'm getting the hang of the job and its basically data entry and office administration for a small company, but its a job. Hopefully its a permanent job and its a stepping stone into establishing myself here in Israel. The company is in Binyamina so it means I'm travelling about an hour and half each way in the morning and the evening, but I don't mind a job is a job and for now it means I'm here to stay.
Socially I got to hang out with a few friends over the past week which is always fun, but I do really want to get out more as well and meet new people, so any of my Tel-Aviv friends who are on their way out somewhere and want to invite me, please do so :-). Also started planning my birthday, this will be my 1st birthday in Tel Aviv, so I want to do something good with my friends here. Anyway not much else to say, going off to relax before heading to bed as work in the morning. Bye for now.