Life's been hectic since my last post. Work is unrelenting - I suppose with New Zealand's largest sporting event looming, my contribution towards it will be increasingly demanded - the play I'm in has opened, and I've managed to sell off a number of my assets. It's all in aid of shedding items and procuring cash before I head overseas to live.
First thing to go was my gym membership. I had mixed feelings about this, as I love the Les Mills group fitness classes, but also needed to relieve myself of the burden of a contract before I left the shores of New Zealand. So that has been put to rest now. Fortunately I have a treadmill at home to avail myself of if I need to exercise and the weather is inclement.
Second asset to depart was my car. It was fortuitous that a friend had just returned from overseas and was in need of a vehicle. They've taken it off my hands, which means one less item I have to move in the next 3 weeks before I go. Thankfully I have access to another vehicle at home, so I can still get to and from the show this season! (There's another story about the day I handed the car over to my friend, but I'll save that for a future post.)
There are still a few items yet to sell, but I am certain that will be sorted in due course.
Last night Dolphin Theatre in Onehunga opened 'A Few Good Men' by Aaron Sorkin. Directed by Annie Whittaker, with 15 male actors and me as the sole female actress, the performance we gave last night was enhanced by an enthusiastic audience. A few lines were dropped and technical cues missed - which is nothing unusual on opening night! - yet we still managed to pull together a cohesive and entertaining show, so I think the rest of the run will go well. Today's matinee may be a little flat due to coming down off the high and hype of last night; however the confidence we gained from opening night will stand us in good stead for today. Onwards and upwards for the rest of the season!
I'm looking forward to getting into the theatre scene in London. And believe that in a few year's time, I will be on the way to establishing myself in the acting world where there are greater opportunities to be taken with both hands. Bring. It. On.
Saturday, 30 July 2011
Sunday, 24 July 2011
Last Holiday and Progress Thus Far
Firstly, apologies for the novel proportions of this post! A bit to catch up on...
Over the weekend I spent two nights in Rotorua, a town in the middle of New Zealand's North Island, famous for geothermal activity. I really enjoyed playing tourist even though in my native country. The experience was enhanced by an international friend joining me to help with the tourist vibe! It is my last trip away in NZ before I head off to London to live.
While I was away, I had the opportunity to have a guided tour through a living Maori village, sample some of Rotorua's cuisine and experience my first Aix (pronounced 'aches') massage. During this time I was surprised to remember that I have a play to rehearse and open in a week, and continue to pack up my life in preparation to relocate overseas. I had completely immersed myself in the experience that I had forgotten about the current issues occupying most of my thoughts. Bliss!
If you are in New Zealand (whether visiting or living here), get yourself to Rotorua and give Jock a call - he runs Eddy Massage & Spa, where my friend and I indulged in the Aix massage. With a specially designed therapy pool, hot spa and sauna room, you will be relieved of what ails you in no time. I had my first experience of a sauna (dry) while my friend was massaged under jets of warm water by Jock. Then we swapped and it was my turn for the Aix massage. Jock, who has these fabulously large hands that intuitively understand muscle and ligament structure, manipulates tissue and coaxes out aches and pains with ease. Being a top-notch gentleman, Jock goes to the utmost pains to preserve your modesty while you're on the table. It was bliss in a couple of hours. My friend and I really enjoyed chatting with Jock afterwards - whose background is in sports and sports massage, and has many an interesting story to share! - and his generosity that caught me by most pleasant surprise.
Before I went away to be a tourist in my own country - and following a quick renewal of my passport - I submitted my application for a UK visa. It is a relief to have that done. Now the waiting starts and I must be patient. My fingers itch to pick up the telephone and call the office to check on progress. Knowing that the application goes offshore to be processed means that I'll be waiting at least two weeks before I hear back - either with good or bad news. My only concern is if additional information or evidence is required, which will delay the process. However, using the principles of The Secret, I am confident that my application will be swiftly processed, accepted and the visa returned to me in good time. Looking forward to it!
I now move into the process of selling off some of my possessions. I started this today and have also sorted out some of my clothing to be donated to goodwill, and other clothing items to be sold to a recycle boutique. My wardrobe subsequently looks a little bare! This will surely help me when it comes time to pack my suitcase for the big move. The less I take with me, the easier it will be!
Adding to my busy schedule is the current show I am in, 'A Few Good Men', by Aaron Sorkin. Dolphin Theatre in Onehunga cast me as the sole female in the play, Lt Commander Joanne Galloway. I'm having immense fun playing a strong-willed female who is the catalyst for the entire premise of the piece. We are in the final week of rehearsals, having undertaken a double-run yesterday to prepare. The members of the committee were our audience at the second run-through and we've received good feedback so far. It helps that we have a very talented core cast. I'm really looking forward to getting this play in front of a more regular audience.
The focus, persistence and hard work required to a) find the character, b) find a way into the character each time and c) keep exploring and finding new aspects, has galvanized my desire to succeed in this career. It is my hope that in London I will find a way into the professional acting industry and make my mark on the world. Here's to future success!
Over the weekend I spent two nights in Rotorua, a town in the middle of New Zealand's North Island, famous for geothermal activity. I really enjoyed playing tourist even though in my native country. The experience was enhanced by an international friend joining me to help with the tourist vibe! It is my last trip away in NZ before I head off to London to live.
While I was away, I had the opportunity to have a guided tour through a living Maori village, sample some of Rotorua's cuisine and experience my first Aix (pronounced 'aches') massage. During this time I was surprised to remember that I have a play to rehearse and open in a week, and continue to pack up my life in preparation to relocate overseas. I had completely immersed myself in the experience that I had forgotten about the current issues occupying most of my thoughts. Bliss!
If you are in New Zealand (whether visiting or living here), get yourself to Rotorua and give Jock a call - he runs Eddy Massage & Spa, where my friend and I indulged in the Aix massage. With a specially designed therapy pool, hot spa and sauna room, you will be relieved of what ails you in no time. I had my first experience of a sauna (dry) while my friend was massaged under jets of warm water by Jock. Then we swapped and it was my turn for the Aix massage. Jock, who has these fabulously large hands that intuitively understand muscle and ligament structure, manipulates tissue and coaxes out aches and pains with ease. Being a top-notch gentleman, Jock goes to the utmost pains to preserve your modesty while you're on the table. It was bliss in a couple of hours. My friend and I really enjoyed chatting with Jock afterwards - whose background is in sports and sports massage, and has many an interesting story to share! - and his generosity that caught me by most pleasant surprise.
Before I went away to be a tourist in my own country - and following a quick renewal of my passport - I submitted my application for a UK visa. It is a relief to have that done. Now the waiting starts and I must be patient. My fingers itch to pick up the telephone and call the office to check on progress. Knowing that the application goes offshore to be processed means that I'll be waiting at least two weeks before I hear back - either with good or bad news. My only concern is if additional information or evidence is required, which will delay the process. However, using the principles of The Secret, I am confident that my application will be swiftly processed, accepted and the visa returned to me in good time. Looking forward to it!
I now move into the process of selling off some of my possessions. I started this today and have also sorted out some of my clothing to be donated to goodwill, and other clothing items to be sold to a recycle boutique. My wardrobe subsequently looks a little bare! This will surely help me when it comes time to pack my suitcase for the big move. The less I take with me, the easier it will be!
Adding to my busy schedule is the current show I am in, 'A Few Good Men', by Aaron Sorkin. Dolphin Theatre in Onehunga cast me as the sole female in the play, Lt Commander Joanne Galloway. I'm having immense fun playing a strong-willed female who is the catalyst for the entire premise of the piece. We are in the final week of rehearsals, having undertaken a double-run yesterday to prepare. The members of the committee were our audience at the second run-through and we've received good feedback so far. It helps that we have a very talented core cast. I'm really looking forward to getting this play in front of a more regular audience.
The focus, persistence and hard work required to a) find the character, b) find a way into the character each time and c) keep exploring and finding new aspects, has galvanized my desire to succeed in this career. It is my hope that in London I will find a way into the professional acting industry and make my mark on the world. Here's to future success!
Monday, 11 July 2011
Plenty to organise...
First cab off the rank - renew passport. As my current passport is due to expire in February 2012, I need to get a new one before I apply for my UK visa. Otherwise, as my sister handily pointed out, I will be carrying two passports around with me from next year - the expired one with my visa stamped in it...and the new passport to get me in and out of the country. Best to get a renewed one for my visa to sit in for the next 5 years!
Next - once the new passport arrives - apply for UK visa to be able to live and work in the country. Should be fairly straight forward, as I can apply under ancestry and already have a job offer.
Book flights, one-way to London. Scary prospect. And can only be confirmed once the renewed passport is received.
Arrange accommodation. Something I'm hoping my sister who resides in the UK can help me out with. Decisions include: do we want to flat-share together? Do I want to flat-share with strangers? Should I stay in a hostel/hotel for the first few nights and flat-hunt once I'm there? I want to live close to my sister and her partner for the convenience factor. Plus I have a feeling I'll be quite homesick in the first weeks, so it will be handy to live close by for comfort and reassurance.
Advertise and interview potential flatmates. The co-owner of my house is presently running with the idea that we will rent out a couple of rooms to cover the mortgage. We have to get the right flatmate(s) in though and there's loads to take into consideration. For instance, my cat (Mabel - I know! Cute, right?!) is used to living in my self-contained apartment attached to the house. And there is already another cat living in the house who rules the roost, which means they've sorted out their territory. Adding a third cat into the mix is just inviting trouble. Probably more so for Mabel, cause she's just a big scaredy-cat and doesn't stick up for herself. Also, we want quiet, professional people who won't be partying every night of the week. Or very often, lol.
Sell my belongings in NZ. Car, bed, desk, sundry items - it's all got to go, or go into storage. While I'll be keeping my house as an investment, I don't want to burden my co-owner with having to store my personal belongings for years. So I have to get onto parting with these worldly possessions in the next 6 weeks!
Sell off my gym membership. Hopefully not too hard as I belong to the best gym in the world, Les Mills. Will miss the fantastic classes! Sh'Bam today was wicked. Must admit - it's the trainers I'll miss mainly.
Open a UK bank account. This might turn out to be the most painful part of the process. However, I will get onto this while still in NZ as I understand that saves a lot of hassle.
There are so many questions that I have to wait to ask. Like, when does the first salary payment go through? What about my KiwiSaver account in NZ? How do I arrange a payment holiday from my student loan? Will I get a mobile phone through my employer? Can I use my current Nokia? But these questions have to go un-answered until I have actually signed on the dotted line and it's all official. Plenty of time to sort that out then.
Loads to organise before I go. Plenty on at work in my current role. Still rehearsing for 'A Few Good Men' and will be running the season up until the week before I leave. Life is already full-on and only going to get busier. If there's one thing you can say about me, it's that I don't do things by halves.
Next - once the new passport arrives - apply for UK visa to be able to live and work in the country. Should be fairly straight forward, as I can apply under ancestry and already have a job offer.
Book flights, one-way to London. Scary prospect. And can only be confirmed once the renewed passport is received.
Arrange accommodation. Something I'm hoping my sister who resides in the UK can help me out with. Decisions include: do we want to flat-share together? Do I want to flat-share with strangers? Should I stay in a hostel/hotel for the first few nights and flat-hunt once I'm there? I want to live close to my sister and her partner for the convenience factor. Plus I have a feeling I'll be quite homesick in the first weeks, so it will be handy to live close by for comfort and reassurance.
Advertise and interview potential flatmates. The co-owner of my house is presently running with the idea that we will rent out a couple of rooms to cover the mortgage. We have to get the right flatmate(s) in though and there's loads to take into consideration. For instance, my cat (Mabel - I know! Cute, right?!) is used to living in my self-contained apartment attached to the house. And there is already another cat living in the house who rules the roost, which means they've sorted out their territory. Adding a third cat into the mix is just inviting trouble. Probably more so for Mabel, cause she's just a big scaredy-cat and doesn't stick up for herself. Also, we want quiet, professional people who won't be partying every night of the week. Or very often, lol.
Sell my belongings in NZ. Car, bed, desk, sundry items - it's all got to go, or go into storage. While I'll be keeping my house as an investment, I don't want to burden my co-owner with having to store my personal belongings for years. So I have to get onto parting with these worldly possessions in the next 6 weeks!
Sell off my gym membership. Hopefully not too hard as I belong to the best gym in the world, Les Mills. Will miss the fantastic classes! Sh'Bam today was wicked. Must admit - it's the trainers I'll miss mainly.
Open a UK bank account. This might turn out to be the most painful part of the process. However, I will get onto this while still in NZ as I understand that saves a lot of hassle.
There are so many questions that I have to wait to ask. Like, when does the first salary payment go through? What about my KiwiSaver account in NZ? How do I arrange a payment holiday from my student loan? Will I get a mobile phone through my employer? Can I use my current Nokia? But these questions have to go un-answered until I have actually signed on the dotted line and it's all official. Plenty of time to sort that out then.
Loads to organise before I go. Plenty on at work in my current role. Still rehearsing for 'A Few Good Men' and will be running the season up until the week before I leave. Life is already full-on and only going to get busier. If there's one thing you can say about me, it's that I don't do things by halves.
Friday, 8 July 2011
First time for everything
Hi, I'm Andrea - long time reader, first time blogger.
My intent for this blog is to share my experiences as I embark on the next stage of my life - living and working overseas.
I'm an actress who works in an office to make a living. While I am extremely good at my job, and love the stability that a steady paycheck brings me, I need to fulfill my passion - acting. Be it on the stage in a theatre, or in front of a camera for film or television, there is something in me that drives me to transform and perform.
Recently my employer offered me a job half-way around the world. So, despite having a full life and a mortgage here in New Zealand, I jumped at the chance and am now planning to set up a new life in London.
Exciting and scary at the same time. Opportunities that have the potential to change your life tend to operate like that.
Anyway, I'm going to update this blog from time to time, recording my experiences. I hope you find it interesting and perhaps even amusing at times.
Thanks for joining me!
Andrea
My intent for this blog is to share my experiences as I embark on the next stage of my life - living and working overseas.
I'm an actress who works in an office to make a living. While I am extremely good at my job, and love the stability that a steady paycheck brings me, I need to fulfill my passion - acting. Be it on the stage in a theatre, or in front of a camera for film or television, there is something in me that drives me to transform and perform.
Recently my employer offered me a job half-way around the world. So, despite having a full life and a mortgage here in New Zealand, I jumped at the chance and am now planning to set up a new life in London.
Exciting and scary at the same time. Opportunities that have the potential to change your life tend to operate like that.
Anyway, I'm going to update this blog from time to time, recording my experiences. I hope you find it interesting and perhaps even amusing at times.
Thanks for joining me!
Andrea
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