My first week

Now I realise that personal blogs are generally supposed to be short, witty, inspirational or comical prose that will grab the reader's attention to encourage them to come back and read it again at a later date. Unlike political or journalistic blogs which are generally factual with a writer's personal bias. However, given that I have just recently relocated to Perth and everybody is asking me how I am settling in, I figure that the easiest way to update everybody with the same information is to post it here for everyone to read. So, here goes :)

As most of you are aware, I have accepted a role in Perth as an IT Project Manager for CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) within the GIS (Global Infrastructure Services) department. Now rather than rattling off some meaningless statistics on how large the multinational organisation is, if you are not IT inclined or into cycling, they are the primary sponsor for the Tour de France each year. Capiche? :)

I started on Monday 12/3 and flew over the evening before. They have placed me on the Justice account (Dept of the Attorney General and the Dept of Corrective Services) together with 2 other Senior PMs to help out with the huge work load that they currently have. Looks like they are throwing me in the deep end to see if I sink or swim. I have already been assigned my first project to upgrade all the existing Oracle & SQL databases for this account, although scope is yet to be defined. I will be meeting with the client for the first time this Tuesday.

I am currently staying at my father's friend's place in Dalkeith, my rental apartment in Nedlands should be ready for settlement by the end of March. For some odd reason, my car which I shipped over from Adelaide had to be quarantined so I should hopefully be picking it up later this week from Kewdale (think Elizabeth!).

For those unfamiliar with Perth, CSC is based in Subiaco, which is just west of Perth itself.

Nedlands is just south of Subiaco, and so approximately 10-12 minutes from town. Parking at CSC is ridiculous (70 car bays for 400 onsite employees!?!) so I catch a bus to the Claremont train station, and then train it in to Subiaco. It's not a long trip, and costs me $1.79 each way. Perth have just introduced this 'Smart Rider' electronic card system which allows you to charge up a card with credit, to be debited the exact amount depending on your distance of travel. Much like what they have had over in HK & S'pore for some years now.

Attended Kingsway Methodist Church this morning through a friend of a friend (thanks Elaine!), and will be visiting their young adult group this coming Thursday. So far so good :)