The totally off-topic thread

[straitman]

Exit row pre-allocated without paying? But I believe you are referring to business class which is not covered in the exit row rules recently implemented for economy.

JohnK,

I believe you are missing my point which is that the rules are not as rigid as they seem on occasions.

Our upgrades went through 5 days before the flight, rather than the night before. As a Gold FF (not WP) they accepted a a business exit row request which subsequently held.

 

[samh004]

Well I narrowly missed out on this role unfortunately. Gives me more time to travel around Europe + UK, while I wait for the next opportunity.

Better luck next time... so, where are you off to next?

 

[Mal]

so, where are you off to next?

This weekend - Munich for Oktoberfest (dep Sat arvo, coming back Tue night).
Mid Oct - planning 1-2 days in HKG, but not sure if I'm going to go or not yet.
Other travel will be planned around the next Pointsbreak list when it comes out I think.

 

[samh004]

This weekend - Munich for Oktoberfest (dep Sat arvo, coming back Tue night).

Don't fall under a train.

In early stages of looking for flights for next years 'fest.

Mid Oct - planning 1-2 days in HKG, but not sure if I'm going to go or not yet.
Other travel will be planned around the next Pointsbreak list when it comes out I think.

Sounds good. Mid October of course I'll be gearing up for AFF#3, shame you can't come just a little bit further, but I'm sure you'll have a good time there.

 

[Mal]

Sounds good. Mid October of course I'll be gearing up for AFF#3, shame you can't come just a little bit further, but I'm sure you'll have a good time there.

I could make it back to Australia. Don't really know yet. My situation is that i have the other half of my cheap PE HKG-LHR to use. It's currently booked Oct 24th (I think) from LHR-HKG in a Skybed.

My choices are to change that flight to Feb, which is my next planned "return" date (this will cost quite a bit), throw it away (negligible cost vs originally buying a 1 way ticket), use it and buy another return to London (my preferred option, but PE return is over $A2K at the moment - I value it around $1300), or to use it, then set up a return set of flights HKG to Australia to tie into another set of flights.

So many options, no idea which one I will use. Have a tentative booking for the Holiday Inn express in HKG, and want to do some clothes shopping in HKG as well as get another entry to renew my FV card - plus the SC's are needed to help with renewal.

 

[anat0l]

Mal, I'm sorry to hear about your unsuccessful interview, but I'm sure with your multitude of talents you will find something soon.

On another level, they didn't do any sort of psychometric testing on you, did they? I know that IT position interviews can be really unusual in that regard. A couple of people I knew from uni tried for IT positions at a couple of companies; each one had about 6 - 10 stages in the process. Even Google and Microsoft don't have that many hurdles.


On another note, Twitterers here might be wondering why I've arrived home so late. I was at uni from 6am - 11pm today - crazy, because when I just about left, the lights in our building turned off (they are on automatic timers like that). I'd spent most of today if not in meetings, seminars and a lunch churning out lines and lines of VBA for a software tool some of the researchers are using.

It's just one of the many deadlines I have to get over with before I head to South Africa next Friday....

 

[samh004]

Jeez that QF bird flew low over the MCG. Loved their (basically) advert. Looked and sounded amazing. Really pumped for the game now.

COME ON THE SAINTS!!!!

 

[Keith009]

Alas it wasn't to be. My heart goes out to all the Saints supporters. It was so close "yet so far." Or at least, during the bits I watched anyway - I came home from shoe shopping and caught the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Saints were certainly the better looking team this year (other than the capt's weird eyebrows) so I was hoping they'd win.

Time for more Gossip Girl.
xoxo...

 

[samh004]

Alas it wasn't to be. My heart goes out to all the Saints supporters. It was so close "yet so far." Or at least, during the bits I watched anyway - I came home from shoe shopping and caught the 3rd and 4th quarters. The Saints were certainly the better looking team this year (other than the capt's weird eyebrows) so I was hoping they'd win.

xoxo...

I actually had a little crush on the captain. He's a hottie!

Other than that, ****. ARGH!!!! Next year, we're playing well, we'll get there.

 

[tuapekastar]

Ok, I've washed out my mouth ...... and it's still saying Geelong suck:!: :mrgreen:

OK...I'm a couple of hours late, but I think I can say with abundant confidence that Geelong does not suck at all! GO CATS!!!

 

[samh004]

OK...I'm a couple of hours late, but I think I can say with abundant confidence that Geelong does not suck at all! GO CATS!!!

Congrats! (10 chars)

 

[Mal]

On another level, they didn't do any sort of psychometric testing on you, did they?

Nah, this one was a phone interview, followed by physical interview. They didn't like some of my answers to situational questions. Situational questions are always difficult, because they force you to suddenly come up with examples where you've done something and how you would handle things.

As indicated earlier, not really that worried, still have plenty of time before I start holding my cap out at the nearest train station

 

[QF WP]

Pity you missed the position Mal, but chalk it down to experience that you may need later. Enjoy your time in Europe.

Anat0l, congrats on yor news. JNB - Mrs LW and I both want to head that way at some stage.

Great to see such a close match at the AFL, I wasn't backing either team, but disappointing for St Kilda missing out.

As for the Bronco's ... pffft

 

[samh004]

As for the Bronco's ... pffft

Yeah, what a match!

 

[anat0l]

Nah, this one was a phone interview, followed by physical interview. They didn't like some of my answers to situational questions. Situational questions are always difficult, because they force you to suddenly come up with examples where you've done something and how you would handle things.

I got phone interviewed once for a position in WA (three month research contract). The interesting thing about that was they asked me several examples for situations just like you went through. Although I could answer each one, they were slightly embellished (e.g. they wanted an example of me leading by example for safety - I gave them an example that I do first year engineering distillation column tours, which require careful safety procedures, strict reporting protocols etc.. Not a great example but due to the way I explained the processes etc. it made it sound like an important role).

The face-to-face interviews are harder, but I fail to see how "they would not like your answers" unless they were left field. Oh well, whatever. It depends on what type they are looking for; particularly difficult to appease is if an employer is looking for a cut-throat type and you are not, or vv.

 

[serfty]

...
As for the Bronco's ... pffft

They missed their No 7 big time.

As to what Gus Gould said at the end, "either the Storm have been lucky in playing teams who are out of form or the Storm are Very, Very good at the moment".

Roll on Sunday

 

[Mal]

Yay, I've finally been allowed to enroll into IRIS (UK Automated border control system). Thought I was going to be denied again, because they saw I was a frequent traveller, and was on a ancestry visa [which requires you be looking for work/working etc]. First question: "Are you employed"?. Answered, No but I'm looking <then said how tough it was at the moment>. 2nd question "What field do you work in?" Answered IT, < then mentioned how I've had a couple of interviews, so i'm still hopeful of finding something soon>.

Am now enrolled for 2 years, and wonder whether I'll be stopped on the way back into the UK for some more questions! (ie, where I get my money from etc).

 

[Alanslegal]

After some spring cleaning I have founds loads of old textbooks, magazines, books etc which I no longer need or wish to store. Can someone guide me on where in SYD I can donate/give/recycle these things? I'd prefer not to toss them into the recycle bin as I think they are still good reading and educational material.

 

[Hvr]

After some spring cleaning I have founds loads of old textbooks, magazines, books etc which I no longer need or wish to store. Can someone guide me on where in SYD I can donate/give/recycle these things? I'd prefer not to toss them into the recycle bin as I think they are still good reading and educational material.

Is your old uni in SYD? If so why not call them and if they have a student centre etc, they may be able to pass them on to a needy student.

 

[JohnK]

You must have been hanging out for a drink; 1:57PM and you head to the bar.

I had to make sure the temperature was right before having a drink. As I was going to the get the drink the monitor showed a delay of 30 minutes to the flight but QF made up for the delay at the gate.

It will be interesting to get your quick review of the flights; how was LHR and LHR T5.

Most flights were good except for the first flight SYD-LAX.

LHR was not too bad considering it appears to be work in progress. The transfer from T5-T4 was relatively smooth although one needs to negotiate a maze and obstacle course to get there.

Well I narrowly missed out on this role unfortunately. Gives me more time to travel around Europe + UK, while I wait for the next opportunity.

Bad luck Mal but keep trying. It was good to catch up again in LHR late August....