Our News

Well, our lives certainly seem to be a roller coaster ride these days! We just arrived back in Reading after a month in Sheffield where I was doing a trial period for a Dental Technician job. It was a great job and I learned heaps in the tiime, however, unfortunately I had to turn down the offer. This was difficult and disappointing, but after much soul searching and praying Rob and I knew that we had made the right decision.

The day after I told them I wasn’t accepting the job, Rob was offered a job near Reading, so we felt that was confirmation we were doing the right thing. He started the job today, and I am back to the old job hunting!

We went back to Emmanuel church yesterday and it was absolutely packed to the rafters. Reason being - the baptism of 5 people. Seems a lot has been happening while we were away! I sense that God has great things in store for Emmanuel as well as Woodley in general. That’s one of the reasons we decided to come back - we want to be a part of what God is doing here.

Anyway, that’s about it for now. Will let you know if I ever get a job I can keep!

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Since Dawn’s last entry, the lab in Sheffield offered to reduce the trial period from 10 weeks to 4 weeks, and also pay half the cost for our accommodation during that period. So last week she began her trial and I accompanied Dawn to Sheffield. I’m now back in Reading and have a possible job in this area which would last until Christmas - the job would be working in an inbound call centre for a wine company, and it includes a nice discount for their products so that would be good!

We’re still working out exactly what to do, and where to live - only today Dawn got offered a part-time Dental Technician job in London, and I have an application or two in at places in the south. So it’s still uncertain whether or not we’ll stay in the south of England, or head up north to South Yorkshire. It’ll all clear up over the coming days and weeks!

I took a few photos in Sheffield for anyone who wants to see them - located here. Oh, and the other bit of news is that I have now sent off my application to the Australian High Commission in London for a Spouse Visa! I posted it last Tuesday, and it got there on Wednesday. Hopefully there will be no problems and the visa will be issued quickly!!

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Rob and I have just arrived back from yet another trip to Sheffield for a job interview with a private laboratory. I did two jobs on the bench before they decided to pull me aside for a little chat. The upshot is that I believe a letter of offer is on it’s way via the good ol’ Royal Mail! Hallelujah! I am not gonna say “it’s about time” because I know that I need to learn to be more patient, so I am just gonna bask in my relief and gratitude, and say “Praise the Lord!”

The job will require doing a mandatory 10 week trial, so the first obstacle to overcome will be finding some temporary inexpensive accommodation (likely impossible but we have faith!) as we think it would be presumptuous to sign a longer term lease. The laboratory have offered to help find something so we are hoping they will have some success with that.

In the times that we have visited Sheffield I haven’t been able to look around much, but yesterday I got to see a bit more of it and I am well impressed. It seems like such a thriving metropolis, with no shortage of cafes, restaurants and entertainment venues, not to mention the masses of new uni students beginning the term giving the whole place a very social and festive feel!

Well that’s all I have to report for now! Thanks to all those who have offered up prayers for my employment situation - I am very grateful. Will try to keep you posted of further developments!

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Autumn is on it’s way, it’s getting dark earlier, and it’ll soon be Christmas! Well ok, it’s still about 14 or so weeks until Santa uses the chimney as a door, but it’ll soon be getting much colder! On the upside though, at least we won the Ashes in the Cricket!!

Recently we spent almost 2 weeks on the road, being in Sheffield for a day or so, and then Glasgow for the remainder of the time. It gets very wet and windy in Glasgow, and it wasn’t too warm - you actually have to wear a jacket half the time in August! I managed to get a short trip to Edinburgh one day when Dawn was working, and also saw parts of Glasgow that I hadn’t before. Check out our Photos section for a few pics I took!

On Saturday we both spent the day in London - Dawn at an interview, me just wandering about - catching random tube trains and buses! Currently Dawn is waiting to hear from a couple of labs in London, and one of the Glasgow labs which may be opening a lab in London. So maybe we’ll end up in London - or if that doesn’t work, maybe we’ll look at something else.

I’m hoping to send off my visa application in the next week so maybe we’ll end up downunder at some point soon. As you can tell, things are still very much up in the air here!!

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