First few days of the new job

So loving my new job. I know it has really been 2 days there but the thing is I can make more immediate contributions. Right now I just have to get familiar with the code, since the methods it is based upon I know inside out (shit I get asked to review papers on the subject as I am an "expert" on it). So instead the challenges are more related to the applications of the methods. It just feels like it will be less of an uphill battle.

Add to that I will be getting a decent wage for which my previous experience counts for a lot. So I being paid what I am worth. This means finally I can save money, while paying off the credit card, and in the next 10 months, finish paying off my loan to the bank.

This is weird. I have never been in such a scenario. Even better it looks like renting over here will actually give you good value (seriously our flat here is as big as our old one but we are paying less and bills are included).

Other plus', I feel like my work drive has been renewed, plus I like the atmosphere of living here. Not worked out what is different. Maybe it is the cheap, but excellent food.

Add to this I have a conference in Berlin at the end of March, and I can take my wife with me. So basically we just have to pay for her train ticket. :D

To finish off we now have almost everything ready for Venice for our 3 year anniversary. And well being married is great, and in Germany you get a tax break for it :D

Madness ensues!

So right now I am sat here with some form of bug, feeling sick, burning eyes, and attempting to work. I have read the paper I am reviewing and need to do some more perhaps later at home. However, I am also trying to organize (read 'smash head against wall') a job in Bochum. It would be the perfect job. Good location, and good standard of living.

 

However, I am no more info on the contract. I need to know the pay, the tax breaks, and most importantly the relocation costs they cover. I had that covered when I moved from Manchester to Leamington Spa. Not that far, but still you need to cover costs like deposits and and so forth. Moving to Bochum, Germany must surely mean I have some, if not more costs covered? Well I am still in the dark on that one. Hopefully it will be sorted out soon, as in the end of the week, as I am meant to be going over there on the 10th to have a interview/informal meeting. I am pretty much the best candidate for the position and so I should be getting this easy.

 

Worst case. Borrowing money of family. But if I am being paid more over there then I can pay back people like my mother-in-law (she is just awesome) and my sister, quicker.

Bit of an update

SO how have things been since we got back from Venice.

Well of course we had a few days back in Manchester and on the Saturday 7th we had our hand fasting. Sam and I had worked out what was most suitable, making the entire event far more intimate and personal. At around 4 our friend began to arrive. It was a good turn out, more than I expected to see considering that some people had messaged to say that they had other things on/last minute changes/seriously low funds. I was really happy to see Dan and Stacey as they had made it all the way up from London to us. Plus they had brought us presents. The most epic of toasters, coffee, cookies and honey. I was pretty much knocked back by this generosity since we had seen each other in months. Well of course that will change now we are 'down south'.

Drinks were poured and we all sat about looking at the photos we had a the time and watching the wedding video (I now can this onto the computer but need to edit it). And then we moved outside for the main event. The blessing. Sam and I exchanged our vows in a ceremony that suited our own personal beliefs, which is why it was more of an exchange of vows before the stars and universe. We then exchanged roses representing ourselves and kissed. Alan caught a really great photo of the moment.

Afterwards we all bundled into taxis and headed to the northern quarter to get food, which was an entire pain in the arse, before we all gathered back together in Socio Rehab for drinks. We were also really happy that Kirsty, Sam's friend from Ireland, got on so well with everyone.

So yes those who were there thank you. Especially Dan and Stacey for making such a long journey up to see us. It really meant a lot.

The day after was more crazy as all of Sam's family from her mum's side descended on us. Many were ok. There were just a few that were more difficult. Needless to say the day passed by and in the end things were ok.

So after all that we came back to Leamington. So far work has been ok. I have been trying to get my sleep pattern back into gear but I think the lack of stress has meant my body has decided just to get more sleep. I have my viva next tuesday so I have been preparing a bit for that. But I feel quite confident. So yes next tuesday I will be back up in Manchester for a few hours. Otherwise we met up with Ben last night and watched them kill some zombies on the Wii. It's good to have some people we know just down the road. Tomorrow after we have gone for food Sam and myself will be meeting up with some fellow goths for the first time who also live in Leamington. Should be good to speak to some like minded people.

Of course this Saturday we are heading up to Leeds on the bus to stay at Mel's for her birthday at Wendyhouse. Can't wait!

Oh and of course in preparation of starting a new roleplay group I have created a new community called etheric_labs  where all the session posts and madness can be posted

H2O(s)

Oh and today it snowed if you didn't know.

So I have been at my new job now for two weeks. Over these few weeks I have been sorting out various things. We have had one leak in the radiator system fixed and now I have identified another that has to be fixed. It's not as bad as the last one but still quite annoying.

The last two weeks I have been reading lots to get my head around transition metal chemistry and Ligand Field Molecular Mechanics and now just getting into the basics of Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithms. I also have 2 programs to learn and I will be learning how to code in SVL and Java/C++, which will be good because then I will be generally more employable in the future.

Last weekend my sister, Zoe, and her boyfriend Rob (the poor git who drove us up and down from Manchester when we moved) came over so we had a good walk around Leamington Spa. It took them some time to find some where to park (parking in the wrong car park that was filled with posh super cars) but they finally joined us for the indulgence of coffee and sweet pastry goods.

This last week was rahter much the same but we have slowly been unpacking things and the flat is almost in a good shape, though missing a few oddments that would make it better and finish off the study. On Friday we met up with Ben, Joe's little brother, and his mate Steve. It was good to meet up with another who knows of the fun of Manchester and makes Leamington seem more fun. We went for drinks and unfortunately ended up in the local Weatherspoon. The bad part was not the comical collection of student drunks, or the weird older people drunk and sounding like they had just come off the farm. No the bad part was the smell of a sewer that swept through the pub as apparently the loos had been flooded. By the Gods!!

Saturday was more random with myself and Sam making our way into the metropolis of Birmingham. I think the fresh air in Leamington had made us feel so good that the foul, cold air, and that same air that was being recycled by the shop heating systems, just made both us feel absolutely grim. After some time shopping and getting annoyed with other idiot shoppers in the Bull Ring, we headed off into the suburbs to go to Anna's place. Anna is one of the two fellow postdocs in my group. At her house she was holding a get together of the research group. This was quite different from my old group in Manchester. The highlights of the night is that both Rob, my supervisor, and his wife, Pam, can talk the ear off you, as can their daughter Lauren who is just doing her mocks for her GCSEs (strangely feels so distance now those times). As a fmaily they are very loud together. Rob recited a wonderful piss taking poem of Australia (he's Tasmanian). They all watch a lot of sci fi and fantasy (Pam loves Supernatural and SG: Atlantis, Rob has read The Book of the New Sun). Rob is also a pilot and I believe has flown old WW2 aircraft.

The rest of the research group are typically geeky science types, but not too geeky or weird. Another of the group is Sara, who is Italian, comes from aplace very close to Venice and wants to come out with myself and Sam to clubs in London that play music that goes 'thud thud thud!'. I think we can organize that.

Getting back from Anna's was not quite as fun. We got to the train station in Birmingham and had to wait an hour in the freezing cold for the last train back to Leamington. Sunday was as result quite a lazy day.

Today I awoke to a layer of the white stuff covering the town. I headed into work, enjoyed a nice free lunch, and then at 4 thought I'd better get home before things get a little risky. Fortunately Ben was driving by and so I got a lift back rather than having to brave the bus filled with students.

So huzzah. Two weeks have gone by and things are going ok down this way. I am finally getting the deposit and the rent back from the old flat and that means I buy things. Next up another few days (17 in fact) and myself and Sam will be off to sunny (but cold) Venice for the end of Carnivale and our wedding.

Oh and once I'm back I'll be starting up my new rp group. First stop will the thrills, spills and moans of zombie as I get new players to have ago at the splatterpunk fun of Unhallowed Metropolis.