October 2005

Monday, October 31, 2005

The Job Front

Hi all,

I have an interview tomorrow for a position on the nurse bank at the hospital in Carmarthen, the one I mentioned in the last posting.

I have also got another application (hopefully the last ever one I have to fill out) for a nursing agency that actually services Wales, and the pay rates for that one are great so I am going to see about a job with them as well. I could end up doing both. The advantage of the one in Carmarthen is that it is only with one hospital, so you get a little continuity and settle in a bit more, even though the pay is not as good. So we shall just have to see..... I will of course let you know what happens. Wish me luck, the interview is at 10:40am local time, so that will be 9:40pm AEST. Think of me if you have read this and you happen to be awake at the time!!!!!!

Love to everyone

xxxx

Friday, October 21, 2005

Back In Wales- Update

21 October 2005

Yes, its been a long time between postings, I know, stop nagging me!!! My Aunty Jeane's phone line didn't work for 2 weeks so there was no internet access so I have got a little far behind I know.

I returned to Wales at the beginning of this month because I decided it was silly of me to have travelled half way across the world, and then not live near my family. So back I came to Wales.

I have applied to a hospital in a place called Carmarthen which is about 15-20 minutes drive away. I am hoping to get an interview in the next week, but things move very slowly here so we shall just have to see.

I have stopped doing flat out touristy stuff, but am still having lots of fun and seeing new places. Just have to resist the urge to shop! I will post some more details soon, and photos as they come. Love to everyone xxx

Stirling, Cowie & Cowie

Tuesday 6th September

Shane had planned to go for a trip up the coast of Scotland to visit the two towns of Cowie (cause that is his last name) and he kindly invited me to go with him, although he may have just been using me for my excellent navigating skills as he is just a naviguesser! ;-)
So off we went the next day in Shane’s hire car.

We travelled up the east coast to see the first town of Cowie which was a little sea side place (I emphasise the word LITTLE), then went across to see Stirling and the other town of Cowie which was another LITTLE place that had apparently once been a mining town but was now very quiet as the mine is now closed. It was really nice though to just be driving around seeing the non-tourist places in Scotland. We also visited Dunnottar Castle which was only about 5 minutes drive from the first Cowie.

Dunnottar Castle is one of the most significant historical buildings in Scotland. It was a stronghold in times of war, as you can easily see looking at its strategic position. In 1297 William Wallace attacked the castle and took it from the English, burning the fortress with the English still alive inside.

For 200 years the castle was home to the Earls Marischal, one of the richest and most powerful families in Scotland. The Earls were counsellors to the Sovereign, and both Mary Queen of Scots and her son King James VI of Scotland visited the castle several times.

The Scottish Crown Jewels, known as ‘the Honours of Scotland’ (which I saw at Edinburgh Castle) were saved from certain destruction by the castles garrison. I can’t remember the details, but I think they were either hidden here, or smuggled away from here. Anyway, it is a picturesque castle in an amazing position. These qualities have made it quite popular with film makers, and it was used as the setting for one of the versions of Macbeth.

On our way to the other Cowie we stopped and had fish and chips from a shop that had one awards for its service and food quality. Things had gone downhill since then apparently cause the service was terrible and the food was just ok, nothing special. Strange seeing it is so close to the sea.

I had already been to Stirling to see the National Wallace Memorial during my tour of Scotland, but I hadn’t seen Stirling Castle. So we drove up there, only to decide that we didn’t have the time or the inclination to pay the entry fee to get in, so we enjoyed the view and had a look around the outside, then set off again.

I had booked a bus to Glasgow for the next day (Wednesday 7th Sept) so once we got back to Edinburgh I had a fairly early night.

Back to Edinburgh

Back to Edinburgh

Mel and her boyfriend Doug were off on one last driving tour of Scotland before they fly home on Saturday so they dropped me off in Perth and I caught the bus back to Edinburgh.
Shane (one of my Australian friends from my volleyball team) had contacted me to say he was in town so we met up for a drink and a meal and then went up to Arthur’s Seat. Unfortunately for Shane it was very foggy and there really wasn’t much of a view to be seen. I said I would send him the photos I had taken (here’s some we prepared earlier…. ha ha).

We had another drink before arranging to meet up tomorrow to go exploring in a hire car that Shane had arranged.