Cooking

So someone mentioned to me after reading my last blog that I've not mentioned that I have started cooking since I moved apartments.

The benefits of moving into a full apartment where I am on my own are great, I have my own space, no-one to tell me off for being too loud or eating something that they don't like. It’s great and best of all it has a proper kitchen.

Now I can cook and in years past I did cook occasionally, but over the years it definitely became a case of can cook, don't want too. However, moving into this new apartment for however long it lasts, gave me the opportunity to try and try I have.

I'm sure those of you who are on my Facebook have seen my pictures of my attempts at cooking. While most of the attempts might not look pretty, they're tasty and I'm still here lol. So far I've successfully made Chicken Soup and Kneidlach.  It wasn't perfect, but it worked and was tasty. I'm planning to try again tonight, so watch this space :-). 

I have also tried to make meatballs, which didn't work as well as I hoped, but I know where I went wrong, so when I try again it should work. I also made most recent schnitzel, now the first couple of attempts did not go right, in fact they kind of looked like I had thrown them into the flame directly LOL.  So I had to throw them away and try again and while they might not be as perfect as others, they turned out okay.



I'm pretty pleased with myself for now finding the time and trying to cook.  As I said to someone on my attempts, maybe they don't look perfect, but with time and practice, I'm sure I'll maybe have food good enough for others to eat.

Anyway if people have ideas for recipes and want to send them to me so I can attempt, feel free to do so.

Dinner with the schnitzels I made

Back to Blogging and changes

Hi all, so I haven't posted in a while been busy and feeling a bit out of sorts in terms of writing but I'm here and going to update you all on what's been going on.

First off at work today it was a day of farewells as two people left the company and I'm sorry to see them go, but happy they are going off to do their thing and change is always good.  Still it’s going to be weird to not see Meredith at work from Sunday, if not for her interviewing me almost 2 years ago and saying they wanted me to come back for a 2nd interview, I wouldn't be at the company now almost 2 years later, so I owe her a debt, for seeing something in me for wanting to bring me back for that second interview with the head of the department and for teaching me about the job and supporting me as I learnt the ropes and to settle into a new role. I will continue to do as she told me stay positive, be confident in what I'm doing and stay focused to continue to do a good job for the department and for the company.  Although sometimes that’s a lot harder said than done when you have a lot of work.

The other departure was also sad as a colleague whom I tended to share the lunch table with, has moved onto look for his new challenge and it will be weird for a while to not see him at the table in the kitchen, but I wish him luck.

Otherwise what's new, work is going fine and life in general is okay, a bit quiet socially but it’s been a decent couple of months so far.  Still weird though to be renting an apartment as big as the one I'm in and for the first time in ages I hosted a party and it was good fun.  Thinking that while I'm here another party maybe in order.

Anyway not much else to say, nothing really earth shattering to tell you, just wanted to really say hi and get some thoughts of the day out of my head and onto here. I hope all who read my blog are doing well.

Update to the last post LOL

So after my last post a few days ago, I thought I would update as there have been changes.... more stress :-(.  And at least I know someone has read it since they commented on my post....

Anyway, spoke with the landlord for this potential apartment yesterday (Sunday).  Apparently he wanted to change the goal posts as it were, increase the rent after 2 months, which he hadn't done with the previous tenant (I asked her).  He also wanted a ridiculous amount of security from myself and from a guarantor and maybe its good to be cautious about your tenants, but there is being cautious and there is overkill.  And when you mention it to various friends living here and they are like 'abort, abort'. You know you have made the right decision to back away from this. So with 3 weeks until the end of the month I'm back to apartment hunting.

However, I should point out that friends have offered me an opportunity regarding the apartment hunting which could help me out for a few months and I will be grateful that they are willing to help.

This situation is one of the ones that sometimes makes me feel like I'm not suited to life in Israel, that I should just pack up and go back to England, where everyone speaks the same language, but I suppose my parents didn't raise me to quit... even though I feel like currently curling into a ball and just laying there doing nothing.

Also, although not that common knowledge my Dad was in hospital for 2 and a half weeks at the end of October and part of November.  He is back home and getting better, but its tough to be here in Israel while your Dad is in Hospital.  People said why didn't you go back to the UK and yes I considered it. But honestly I would have just spent my time going between the hospital and my parents flat and worrying.  My Mum kept me updated.  But this situation is one of those where I realise how really hard it is to be away from the UK and from family.

Stressed and changes

So it’s been over a month since I wrote, a lot has happened during the last month or so... 

So the main thing that has me stressed out is apartment hunting.  I think I have said this before and probably will say it again, but it’s tough to search for an apartment.  In Israel there is a lot of competition for apartments.  You can go and see a place and within a few hours, someone else will have seen and signed the contract and if you wanted to think about the place, you've lost the opportunity.

Also, prices of the apartments for what you are seeing and what you will get, often there is a huge discrepancy in prices.  Apparently though people seem to think that others will pay a huge amount for a very tiny place.  And then there is the attitude that even if you're interested in a place and speak to the landlord, that they will advertise it still because maybe someone else will come along. 

This one I am talking for experience, I've seen a place that I liked and saw it a 2nd time with friends just to get all questions answered and get their opinion if they thought it was a good fit for me and having then spoken to the landlord I've been told to call back on Monday.  This worries me as I've seen people still responding to the post for the apartment on Facebook and the answer being that it is still relevant.  This is troubling, but shows how the market for apartments is in Israel. So if you have read this today (Saturday or on Sunday, or even Monday) please keep your fingers crossed that on Monday night I'm posting a happy Facebook post about a new place to live.

Also, I should thank the stress of apartment hunting, as it’s made me proactive to throw away a lot of stuff that I have accumulated over the past few years and don't really need to take to a new place.

Work is fine, tiring on some days as I occasionally have to go in earlier than normal to have phone calls with Australia... Yep I am have phone meetings with Australia.  I didn't think 7 years ago when I came to Israel, I would be holding regular meetings with people from across the other side of the world.  Yes, there are days when I'm still unsure of myself in the job, but it’s nice that my bosses are happy for me to take care of the meeting with Australia.  

From a social point of view, I do feel a little out of place at work, I think because of my age and that a lot of the singles in the office are a lot younger, it’s kind of tough for me to relate to them in the office.  Still working in an office that is predominantly female has its advantages.  As people have seen on my Facebook I have gotten new clothes in the last few months.  I wouldn't have done that by myself, it is in fact thanks to two of the ladies in the office that I have new clothes.  

If you have seen me in the new stuff, do I look better?  Interested to hear from people what they actually think, rather than a like on a picture on Facebook.

Otherwise not much else to really tell you, most of my focus is on hoping the apartment is signed on Monday and then getting myself moved... wish me luck.

7 years on Aliyahversary

So I've been thinking about this post. As to what I would write on the occasion of my Aliyaversary. It has been 7 years since I moved to Israel to start a new life and a lot has happened and a lot has not happened.

It’s funny, a friend's first reaction upon the news of my impending move to Israel was 'you're going to get blown up'.... my reply was to tell him that “I was more likely to die of a car accident.” The irony here is about 2 months into my new life in Israel I did get hit by a car. Fortunately a few bruises and a tetanus shot was all I needed.

So what can I say about the last 7 years, what have I got to show for it, 7 years or 2555 days. In that time I completed 5 months of Ulpan and my Hebrew is still not fantastic. I am working to improve it though, but I should be more fluent after 7 years.

After Ulpan I worked 9 different jobs, 6 of them weren't really proper jobs just short-term positions or I sucked at them and was shown the door. The last 2 before my current job, were certainly interesting. Can't say much about what happened about the job in Binyamina but a lot of people know why I only stayed 18 months there... still wonder if the business is still there. Then there is my 2 and a half years at the IP Law Firm, where I was fired, un-fired and given a second chance. Then I was told about 7 times in the space of a few weeks that I had one last chance and received emails regarding work with language that is not professional. I was treated with zero respect so by the time I finally escaped it wasn't a relief as I felt I had no self-worth or value as a contributing person to another job.

It’s taken nearly 18 months at my current job to even feel like I'm doing a good job and I was told last week that they are satisfied with my performance. They appear to like me which I suppose is good, even if I do still feel a little like an outsider sometimes.

Over 7 years, 4 different cities and 6 different places I've lived in since I got here. 5 months in the dorms in Haifa during Ulpan. 1 year in Rishon LeZion... again ironic that I lived in Rishon and was about 20 minutes’ walk from Moroccanoil, my current job. Funny to think that a number of years after I moved to Tel Aviv for work, I'm now living in Ramat Gan and working in Rishon.

So yeah, a year in Rishon before moving to near the beach in Tel Aviv for 6 months which quite frankly was a last chance as I'd been unemployed for 6 months and I wasn't sure if would be able to stay. Fortunately in those 6 months I found a short term job and then a more permanent role that made me feel like I might actually make it here. After my 6 months were up I wanted to move on, quite frankly if the apartment was destroyed, only the dirt would have survived. But I digress, I moved in with a friend in Ramat Aviv and lived there for over 18 months alongside her and for the last 6 months of my time there on my own. It was good if a little out of the way from a social point of view. Then I moved to South Tel Aviv into a place of my own. A nice apartment but a shame about the area and after a year there I moved to Ramat Gan where I've been for over 2 years now. Again a nice apartment with a good location and access to Tel Aviv. Still my time in this apartment is coming to an end as I have to move at the end of the year. Pretty sure I want to stay in Ramat Gan though.

Socially I'm not sure if it’s better than I had in London, I think maybe, I get out more than I probably did, but I do still feel a little isolated or alone but I'm getting out there. I just have to get out more and be more confident.

So after 7 years, I've certainly done some things, not sure if I've accomplished a lot. I know a lot of the people I made Aliya at the same time as have moved on, some back to England and some are still here. People still ask me why I am here, why do I stay and it’s a good question.

Fitting in

So I weighed about posting this one. Just something that is bothering me and if people read this they may not like what I have to say, some might agree or might not agree and some might not even care. This is something that has always bothered me, that generally I don't fit in anywhere. I mean yeah, I get out and about and I do have a social life but sometimes it feels like there are long periods where I hear very little from anyone unless its me reaching out and I'm tired of chasing after people. I think it stems from my social circles and heck even work, I don't feel like I fit in. Now I think you'll say well you should fit in, hang out with the singles you know, but the fact is most of the single are younger than me and I just don't fit in... the proverbial round peg in a square hole. I also sometimes feel a little ignored or unnoticed. That people don't see me even when I'm there and I know I can be a little awkward around people. Sometimes I'm better off not talking. I sometimes feel, even in a crowd of people, like I'm the outsider. Standing there trying to be noticed, to be included.

Summers here and going and Birthday

So, I wanted to update earlier this month, unfortunately I got distracted and forgot lol.  But here I am...

So since I last posted, not much as really happened, I did have a birthday and it was fun, nice to get out of the area and have a party and dinner with friends down south and I appreciate my friends who hosted me and the ones who came making the time for me.  I also got to play Dungeons & Dragons for the first time.  It was pretty fun, not sure its a me thing, despite my passion for science fiction and fantasy, but still nice way to spend the afternoon.

Generally its gone back to being quiet as Hamas seem to have run out of rockets... but as usual it will probably kick off again soon and I don't think the fire kites have actually stopped.

Work has a bit up and down for me and a little tough.  Things are okay but by my own admission I've been a little sloppy of late and I've had the typical good and bad days at work... Still I'm doing well in the job and even if I am making a few mistakes, its very nice to not have rude emails and shouting in response.

Socially its been fairly up and down as well, I want to get out more, but I kind of feel socially awkward going to new things, especially as it always seems that everyone else knows each other and I find it tough to be part of a group.  Also doesn't help that pretty much all of my friends are now either serious relationships, getting married, married or married and kids.  Surprised I haven't had anyone start saying to me that I should be settling down... which yes I know... still I'm doing my best.  Looking forward to September as with the Chaggim it means a lot of time out of work and I intend to enjoy it as best I can.

For now that's all folks.