First Driving Lesson

I had my first driving lesson today. Well actually my first two lessons as it was a two hour session. Didn't know to expect at all- I knew that driving a car would be involved in some capacity but that was about it!
My driving instructor Jim had been highly recommended by a friend of mine who has had many a lesson with him. I gave him a call on Monday and arranged a lesson for today (Wednesday).

So I met Jim at the filling station opposite my apartment building as we'd agreed. It was spilling rain which probably wasn't ideal for a first time on the road but not much could be done about that. I hopped in the passenger seat, we shook hands, he asked me what level I was at, I said 'utter beginner' (best to keep expectations low. No room for bravado here!). He brought me to some quiet small roads to start. I learned about the controls in the car from the clutch to the indicators, the handbrake to the accelerator. And off we went from there!
No seriously, OFF WE WENT! When he pulled out of the filling station at the start of the lesson he told me I'd be driving us home. I thought he was JOKING. Well he wasn't joking it turns out. Madness! Before too long I was driving in the city. In the rain. With a disgusting amount of traffic.
I conked about five times and Jim had to brake for me once when a stupid kid cycled right into the road but overall I didn't do too badly. It was a little nerve-wracking, but also exhilarating and hugely confidence-building.
So anyway, I'm far from being a pro but it's great to get started all the same. Have booked another lesson for next week. Anticipating it already!

Is it too early to yearn for this?

Vroom vroom BEEP BEEP!

So the time has come, I am finally going to learn to drive.

This is something I should have (and WISH I had) done when I was 17, but alas, seven years later here I go! I passed my theory test, I got my eye test report today (not blind) and now I just have to bring these documents to my local motor tax office and get my Learner's Permit. I have no idea where my 'local motor tax office' might be. I'll have to employ the services of Ms. Google later. Once I have a Learner Permit, I can start to get driving lessons and that is where the fun* starts.

*terror

I'm both looking forward to and dreading my first driving lesson. I'm sure I'll be nervous. I mean, do they make you go out on the road on your first lesson? If so, how safe can that be? Do they KNOW what I'm like?! I might panic and do something really stupid. I'm a total beginner when it comes to driving. My Dad took me out to drive in an empty carpark a few times about two years ago but anything I twigged about driving back then is long lost. I just wish I could skip the 'learning' bit of driving and jump straight to the 'Woohoo! I can drive! What kind of car do I want?' bit.

I have to wait a minimum of 6 months after I get my Learner Permit or Provisional Licence before I can apply for my driving test. By my watch, that means I can apply for the test in April so I might be able to do it before I go to Australia. And zat, friends, would be ideal.
Wish me luck on the road!

G'day mate!

Ok, so having just read my previous post I realize how different my new life goals for the next couple of years are!

I talked about applying to work and subsequently moving to London and after a year or so there I'd maybe think about working in Australia for a year.
Ever the fickle creature, my new plan is to go to Oz just before summer 2013. The London thing is still definitely going to happen no question, but now I want to do Australia first. There are two reasons for this: 1) Some of my friends are doing it too and are thinking along the same timeline as me, so there will be people I know there at the same time as me making it somewhat less daunting blah, blah... 2) I feel like if I were to live in London, I'd get settled and love it too much and never end up seeing Australia properly. At least with Oz out of my system, I'm free to enjoy London as long as she'll have me!

I have begun compiling some of the documents (there is a sh**load!) I need to apply for an Australian working holiday visa. I have to get my degree accredited, there are all sorts of medical boards to apply to and personal and professional references to accrue and send to them before I even apply for the actual visa. Like oh my actual GOD!

Anyway, anyway, anyway...Once I'm there, I can travel around working locum jobs. Apparently this is  relatively straightforward, or so I've heard from friends/friends of friends who've done it as radiographers are classified as a 'Skill Australia Needs'. Score!
The great thing about Oz is (besides the weather, the standard of living, the shrimps on the barbie...) is that it's a base from which to travel to Asia. Which, let's be honest, would be AMAZING.
Ok, well that's the plan for now anyway. Till next post anyway. Ciao!

I lucked out when I accepted my place in DN004 in UCD in 2006. Radiography that is (radiation technologist, x-ray technician, glorified button-pusher...d) a worm). The internet says I am 'responsible for producing high quality images to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.' In reality what I mainly do is ask "is it 5 o'clock yet?", try not to spill radiation or laugh at patients who say stupid things (much restraint is needed here).
I lucked out because I got a well paid job straight out of college, a job that is challenging and engaging and that lets me work pretty much anywhere in the world. Even in the shittiest of economies, doctors will always need them pretty pictures. Enter radiographer. 
It'll also be relatively straightforward when I apply to work in the UK in a year or so. Once my application to the Health Professionals Council is accepted (this can reportedly take 4-6 months though :-(), I can work as a locum in London for as long as I want and maybe get something more permanent down the line if things are going well. 
Current plan: 
- get more training and bulk up CV
- get HPC registered
- find a job in London
- MOVE TO LONDON
- see how that goes
- consider Australia
Ok so now I've written it down it seems achievable right? Yes.

Greeks just wanna have fun

I've been on holiday to Greece. I hate how 'past tense' that is. It was fantastic. It was my second time in Greece, the first was 2 years when I spent 3 months studying in Athens. We stopped by Athens again this time and it was exactly like I remember except it was about 25°C hotter. I don't think I've ever perspired so much. After two nights in a really cool hotel in the centre of Athens [Click here for pictures of cool hotel] we got a ferry to the island of Naxos where I did my PADI open water diver certification. Why do I have to pick such expensive hobbies?! I blame Finding Nemo. From Naxos we went to Mykonos (classy party island), Ios (studenty party island) and finally Crete (bit too close to The Inbetweeners movie than I would have liked). 
There is a lot to love about Greece. The weather, the food, the people, the history, the ruins, partying until 8am... Greeks are so laid back, everything can be done tomorrow. Let's just sit here and drink coffee for 4 hours. Mine's an Espresso Freddo. I love that. I miss that. 

Markets in Monastiraki

Espresso Freddo. So good.

Acroplis

Naxos

Greek Salad

'Little Italy' in Mykonos

0 SPF???

Drunk people

Our scuba instructor Claire, James and me struggling with my fins!

Click for music!

some random crappy iphone pics from the Camden Crawl. Mystery Jets didn't play my favourite song, but how could they have known? (bastards!) Twas a late one. 

the most poignant pic of the night obv.