Monday 1st June 2020
Attractions opening today - Powerhouse Museum & Art Gallery of NSW with prebooked entry times slots required. Unsure whether to visit either of them today. It is a beautiful sunny day to be out and about however I still fear contracting the Corona virus. Does not look very busy on both ticketing websites.
Monday morning I forwarded a screenshot of police check signature page today after retrying to for the volunteering position I had the video meeting with.
On Sunday night I managed to complete the rest of week 2 and 3 of my online IT related course. Maths is so much fun especially learning about conversions between the denary binary and hexadecimal systems although I still have not figured out how this is relevant to or will assist me in writing computer code.
Just received a response from Citrus Group - a recruitment company - it was from my expression of interest/application to work in a call centre. They had a group interview on Wednesday however I decided not to attend it as I have an appointment the following day and the work was for call centre work - not really my sort of work although I probably could do it. It was a rather long initial phone interview asking for a birth certificate as a passport was not good enough, police check and bankruptcy check - although I am looking into a police check already and advised them that I already had an old police check - asking for a birth certificate really? What's wrong with an Australian passport? Citizenship papers? I was born in Australia why would I have citizenship papers? I'm on the electorial roll and have been voting since since legal age! You can't vote if you are not an Australian citizen, even permanent residents of Australia can't enrol to vote. Only my parents had citizenship papers however these were thrown out after my mother passed away and my father was placed in a nursing home with dementia. I probably do have a rather disintegrated paper birth certificate somewhere buried deep at the very back of my storage facility but I'm not digging it up just for a recruitment company & for a job application for a job I probably won't get and not really interested in which has no fixed hours or term and is between extended hours. If it was for a serious job I was interested in I would go to more effort. The recruitment company mentioned they couldn't put me forward for the current positions as I did not have my birth certificate and if I could ring back to attend interviews on Thursday or Friday that were not scheduled yet. smells like a "Don't call us we'll call you" - clear warning to keep away from this recruitment company.
Lodged a complaint to Fair Work as I have not been able to log into my account to view response to my enquiry. Can't reset password at all as well. I may need to call them.
Still no response from the volunteer position I was signed a police check form for. I hope that my police record is still clean. I provided all my ID and am not really comfortable about it as I really don't want to have another issue with identity fraud.
Watched Masterchef and fell asleep at the beginning of it but managed to stay awake for the rest of it.
Tuesday 2nd June 2020
Tuesday morning and it absolutely miserable outside again. Cold dark overcast and wet. The cars swish by and you know it's raining again. It was forecast to be a very wet Winter and it is definitely looking like it.
No plans today. Just watching the Food Channel again.
I am running low on food again but can survive at least a few more days on what's left in my fridge and pantry. Still having a problem with the fridge staying too cold on the left hand side and not cold enough on the right hand side. Ice is really forming into the fridge section despite adjusting the temperature and I think the seal of the fridge is deteriorating. I would love to get a new fridge but don't want to spend my savings on one as I am still unemployed.
I feel like making a shepherd's pie without any pastry but it will take a while to bake in the oven. Will think about it as it is the perfect weather for it.
I really should venture out again as it has been over a week since I last ventured out.
Still no word from that volunteering position. I think it is time to forget about it. I joined an over 50's group ( I just qualify to join - I wonder what would have happened if I had to select by clicking on the "I'm not quite there yet" option? ) called Stitch online late last night instead after seeing a volunteer advertisement online. I haven't verified myself yet but have set up a profile of myself including photos of myself and what represents me. Will verify myself when I get a chance - it is a must do if I want to connect with other Stitch members. I have only joined a free membership for now but if it works out will start paying for a $5 per month membership. As you can probably see I am always seeking out new things. I had a quick look at what this community is up to and some activities are quite interesting but not out of the ordinary - nothing to the extent of the events I attend or places of interest I visit.
Just received my first message on Stitch and I haven't even done my 'mugshot verification yet! If joining Stitch turns out to be a good decision, I won't push the volunteering effort as much although I still would love to work for the National Archives of Australia if offered a volunteer or paid role in the future - I must follow up on my expression of interest lodged for this organisation.
I am feeling a little better today although I am still unemployed as I just booked a free ticket for 30th June 12.30 pm - 2.30 pm entry timeslot and 1 pm behind the scenes walk through tour for The Powerhouse Museum which is the last day The Heritage Core of the museum is open to the public via small private group tours only before it is scheduled for permanent closure and relocation (although this might be delayed pending completion of the new Powerhouse Museum) out at Parramatta currently under construction. The Powerhouse Museum is an institution and was originally named Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences and now once again know as MAAS. It is one of the various venues involved in exhibiting this year's Nirin Bienale 2020 in Sydney which was just one of countless major events cut short ( if not cancelled or postponed) just after opening due the Corona virus. Can't wait to go! I might book a general time slot for tomorrow just to see Nirin tomorrow as I really want to see this although this event has been extended until September hence there is no rush.
I am trying to book sessions to events and places of interest to visit and keep getting bombarded by messages from people - some I am unsure if I even know and 1 from a job application although still no interviews yet.
I finally received a response from Murrays Coach Services after e mailing them twice regarding day trips down to the snow. They still do not have a resumption of service date yet due to COVID travel restrictions and lifting of. Disappointing as well as no response to my future employment enquiry with them.
I have now booked to go to the 12.30 - 2.30 pm general entry session of the Powerhouse museum only on the 3rd June as all sessions to the talk through behind the scenes tours are booked out completely for the next few weeks at least. I also booked to visit the Sydney Observatory for the 12 noon - 1 pm session on Friday 5th June. This is my first visit to this attraction and it will be interesting as it is usually open at night for star gazing but is currently only open during the day for visitors with no tours currently available.
So the next 3 days before the Queens birthday long weekend is filled with things to occupy me however it still isn't employment.
It has now cleared up outside and although slightly windy the sun is trying to peep out and it is mot miserable overcast or as cold. Hope it stays like that for the next 3 days.
Let's talk about LinkedIn - it is really strange that 1 guy I went skiing with in Whistler many years ago read my profile along with a very old friend and classmate from Tafe. This is why I didn't like being on LinkedIn and took my previous profile off it - it is not a replacement for the "Find my friends" function on Facebook, It's meant to be an employment social media platform and professional networking!
Wednesday 3rd June 2020
7 am and it is a beautiful day. I have to get out and about today with almost no groceries left.
I also have to confirm my appointment today with the approved employment service provider for tomorrow. It was announced that Mutual Obligations recommence on Tuesday 9th June 2020 after 2 date reviews and there is now concern that the welfare system will not be able to cope when it is bombarded with its recommencement. There will be no penalties in the first few weeks for not fulfilling the mutual obligations apparently therefore your welfare payments won't be suspended during this time. I have been doing the right thing and looking for work since I went on welfare payments and constantly looked for work and am still doing the right thing as I really want to work and get off welfare payments that is why I preorganised an appointment before everyone else does when mutual obligations recommence. There is also concern people that have never been on welfare before will not know how to fulfill mutual obligation requirements. This is why the whole welfare system needs an overhaul. One main thing that is heavily in debate is the minimum welfare payment - in order for a single person to survive on welfare the minimum weekly welfare payment should be $500 gross or thereabouts which is about right. Currently and it hasn't changed for years the welfare payment for a single person ( prior to the current COVID 19 fornightly supplement ) is around $550 per fortnight which is almost impossible to survive on especially when required to seek employment ie fulfil mutual obligation requirements of I think 10 job searches a month now being reconsidered lowering the requirement to 4 per month due to the current economic situation. Oops I'm wrong in my information it is actually pre COVID 19 mutual obligations a requirement of 20 job searches a month every month you are on welfare from what I just read which is insane as I have already applied for I estimate 1 job for every weekday since I was umenployed which means 11 weeks x 5 days = 55 job searches! yep 1 a day in order to keep your welfare payments - I would rather be spending my time doing the equivalent amount of time performing volunteer work, at least it is meaningful and keeps you connected with the community. Pressure is also on employers as they will be inundated with job applications from job applicants that aren't even suited to positions advertised which will result in competition from job applicants and a longer period of time in gaining employment. I am finding that most of my job applications have been a no response after initial application forwarded and follow up or a stright out unsuccessful.
I managed to drag myself out of the apartment outside into the sunny but with clouds looming to take my rubbish out to the dumpster and make my way to Chatswood ( I just missed a bus). I will try and make my way for the first time into the city to my prebooked session at the Powerhouse Museum at 1 pm. I dread riding public transport. I booked both 12.30 pm and 3 pm sessions just incase I could not make it in time. No garantees that I will not abandon my visit to the museum to go grocery shopping locally instead ( I have my trusty mask on again!).
If I don't make it today maybe tomorrow as I no longer have to attend my appointment above or I'll just wait until 30th June.
Another unsucessful response received from an online English tutoring position that was advertised on Indeed. I asked for feedback and intend to request for them not to keep my details on their data for future assessment. I don't believe an employer should keep unsucessful applicant details in their database - if you are unsucessful what is the point, it another position is advertised they are very unlikely to go through their database to look at old unsucessful applicants who have probably found alternative employment by then. It is also a privacy of personal information concern. Everything is online now - what if there is a cyber attack where your information has been hacked?
On the light rail at the moment just departed Central station towards the Powerhouse Museum. I am half an hour late as it is travelling at a snails pace! Yep a snails pace!!!!!Should have walked. It's 1 pm now!!! There was a lady coughing away on the short bus trip to Chatswood and a man coughing even more severely on the light rail trip to the Powerhouse Museum - both not covering their mouths and definitely not wearing masks. This is what scares me. I hope I don't catch anything as there is still a debate of whether wearing a mask prevents the transmission of the Corona virus. Thankfully the man on the lightrail got off during his continuous coughing fit. I don't think others on the lightrail felt very comfortable either. The doors on the lightrail were kept open so hopefully the old fashioned ' cross ventilation' theory thst was taught to us during my school years actually works in practice.
Well I made it to the Powerhouse Museum and did a part grocery shop as well afterwards! My very first trip into the city since March 2020!
I am still scared of contracting the Corona virus but I know I can't stay in my apartment all the time - if I do I will run out of toliet paper.
I verified myself on Stitch by taking a photo of myself and the 'secret code' provided and sending it via email as the function did not work for me online on their website. - I am doubting whether joining the Stitch Community was actually a good idea. Maybe I was meant to live alone do things on my own without any friends or family. I never get to see any of my distant family or friends as none of them are in Sydney or deceased. I have a great online 'following' which is not the correct word as I have zero followers (except on Future Learn where most of the time I get at least 1 follower) just plenty of 'likes'
I will now write about what my visit to the Powerhouse Museum was like and what I saw with loads of photos and there may even be a video uploaded onto YouTube at some point in time (done upload completed ready to watch on my YouTube channel if anyone is interested)
Probably about half of the museum was closed to the public. You checked into your prebooked timeslot via the main entrance by standing on an spot marked at the reception desk. A museum staff member dressed in black electronically checks you in. You are advised of what sections of the museum are open and to exit via the cafe ( which was empty) and store ( also empty).
I proceed down the escalator and walk through the Apollo 11 gallery followed by the Linear gallery then onto what I came to the museum to see the Sydney Bienale 2020 exhibition.
I have to admit I did not understand why the exhibition was called what it is called but as I walked slowly through the exhibit I started to understand. My interpretation of it was each piece in the exhibition had to do with a significant invention or innovation that made a change to peoples' lives or made lives easier. Some pieces in the exhibition looked a little cumbersome or was something you would see in useless Japanese inventions others were much more practical. I read somewhere that the pieces in this exhibition are from the museum's collection.
The exhibition was not one that I could video but one better told through a series of photographs.
RAMIN HAERIZADEH, ROKNI HAERIZADEH AND HESAM RAHMANIAN I PREFER TALKING TO DOCTORS ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE 2020
A toilet - must be a special toliet if it was part of the museum's collection.
I can see what this was suppose to do but was it actually practical?
this is some type of robot that I have seen somewhere before but can't remember where. A little creepy.
I think this should have been part of the Apollo 1 gallery?
A dinner table setting with vintage crockery and snack packets of desserts such as chocolate, biscuit bars etc. Desseet anyone? These vintage decades old prepackaged foreign snack bars did not look appetizing at all!
radioactive case
a piece of space junk
oil rig
old breast pumps from the mid 1900s onwards
this is some kind of porcelain sculpture
that's a miner's emergency breathing apparatus apparently. Unsure what the white thing in the background is though.
pottery jars?
braces?
antique table?
these looked like plastic doylies
fur collar
someone's boots? Not included in my series of photographs but hanging along a wall opposite these boots were someone's multiple pairs of socks as well!
someone's bike?
?
?
golf cart?
?
prosthetic sleeve & a drum of some sort
Modification of the burqa to allow Muslim women more freedom and movement to participate in sporting activities
Black unitard/ one piece body suit - redesigned and still worn today
?
On my walk back to Townhall via Haymarket I passed a still closed Paddy's Market.
A very quick look at the analytics this morning and if they are correct, there has been another little spike in the number of readers. I am still a long way off from reaching my 25 000 readers target but I am still hopeful that I will reach it before the 5th anniversary of my blog in I believe October 2020.
My YouTube channel is not fairing as well therefore I am encouraging readers to watch my videos in conjunction to reading my blog as there are a lot of events and places of interest that I have been to and videoed on my YouTube channel especially my recent flashback series of videos dating back to 2013 ( I would upload more of the older videos but some videos in my archives are corrupted and won't actually open or play anymore).
This morning it is a little overcast outside however the sun is trying to peep out. I wonder if it is going to rain as my skin was so itchy last night. The tree outside my window is swaying and it was so cold this morning!
First thing I did was write a comment on Stitch online of how unimpressed I am so far since signing up and it's only been a few days. It seems to be too restrictive and I was correct not interesting. I am finding that if you are not a full member or "paying" member you can't do much and the things you can join in are already full. You can't start a discussion just join one or suggest an activity for others to join in as you keep getting pop ups telling you there are already activities in your area. I had planned to try Stitch out for a few months before paying to become a full member but because I haven't been able to try it out have decided I might have to abondon it instead. There does not seem to be an option to opt out of membership that I can see therefore it was another concern of mine. Being sent an email advising that the Stitch community is in crisis is crying out for funding. I am wondering why it is not getting enough government funding or grants if it is so sucessful as advertised. I question whether it is a cult type community as it seems to have originated from the US. It feels like it as I now feel trapped since signing up. I'll ignore all emails from them and see what happens. Just received an email response which I will ignore.
Onto something completely different that I previously mention and that is whatever hapoened to that shepherds pie I had planned to make. Well here it is and i had it for breakfast as it was so cold earlier this morning.
Sorry I don't edit my photos. The basic shepherd's pie recipe is usually mince tin a base mixture of tomatos carrots peas celery onion herbs of some sort mash potatos and cheese of some sort sprinkled on top baked in the oven until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Sometimes breadcrumb is used instead of cheese or just plain mashed potato seasoned with salt pepper butter and milk. For my shepherd's pie I used whatever I had in my fridge and pantry ie turkey mince frozen peas celery capsicum onion carrots celery leftover stalks of the broccoli without the florets Campbells condensed tomato soup fresh lemon thyme potatos salt pepper sliced tasty cheese. Yummy and hot!
Another response received from expression of interest to volunteer with St Vincent de Paul - will look at this again later too much paperwork to fill out - police check required again, working with children check etc etc. There is far too much red tape and administration just to volunteer in Australia that's why don't do it as much as I used to. I would like to volunteer but not if I have to provide so much personal information. How many police checks do I need to do?
Watched the entire episode of Masterchef tonight without falling asleep!
Friday 5th June 2020
Sorry I have to start again just lost what i had just written as my blog crashed yet again. I can't switch over to the new version as it won't let me upload any photos at all - it just hangs each time I try.
Anyway I woke up really early this morning but went back to bed and slept in until 7 am this morning.
It is a beautiful day today although quite cold overnight - just in time for our Queens birthday long weekend public holiday - not that it mattets as it looks as if i am on permanent holidays due to my unemployment. I have given up so am not working for anymore jobs paid or unpaid.
Still no word from my first volunteer job that i had that video meeting for and I just received feedback from that online english tutor position I applied for. I didn't get the job as I don't have a TESOL certificate which is usually mandatory.
Anyway today I have quite a bit to do laundry, remainder of my shopping, my trip to the Sydney Observatory and other stuff.
Again no guarantee that I won't abandon one or more of the above activities.
Forgot , my breakfast was a wrap with freshly oven baked chicken pieces and spinach with mango chutney. The chicken pieces wete tossed in olive oil because the chicken was so lean, plain flour, ground cumin, chilli flakes, salt, ground pepper, ground turmeric , fried shallot and a crushed vegetable stock cube. Sorry no photo - so hungry I scoffed it down. Did not eat much yesterday.
A cup of tv and a bit of YouTube asnd SBS Food channel. Checking my emails and reading or deleting them.
Time to start getting ready to go out as it is now 10 am.
On my way ( again on the train) towards the city. This morning whilst I was in the shower I was bombarded with messages and a missed call from the Citrus Group asking if I was still intetested in the call centre job. No I 'm not really as I haven't done call centre work before and not really interested in it. I know it could lead to employment but the documents I have to provide and the effort I have to put into my application does not really seem worth it and it is a recruitment company not a job advertised. There are only a few companies that I applied directly to that did not advertise any jobs that I am really interested in working for. Theses are the companies I would like to put my job search efforts into.
I thought nobody cared about me but my friend in South America messaged me today instead of me always messaging everyone else to ensure they are all ok and safe. So nice of her. She is lucky as the Corona virus has not really hit hard where she is. I tell her how it was announced that Australia was officially in a recession after being recession free in over 3 decades. Last recession was due to a global economic turn down such as a stock market crash and the phrase "It's the recession we had to have" came about but this is a recession we didn't have to have as it was caused by a global pandemic which resulted in global economic downturn - hence could have been avoided.
I managed to find The Sydney Observatory & it's gardens on Observatory Hill. It was one of the best first visits I had. The day was perfect and the views of Sydney Habour Bridge and surrounds spectacular. Why haven't I visited this attraction/ place of interest earlier? Probably because I had no idea how to get there. It is a bit of a walk and up a few sets of hills and stairs as well as negotiating underpasses to get there. I needed to turn my GPS on as I had no idea how to cut my way across the tangle of main roads leading on and off the Harbour bridge to get to the Fort Street side of Millers Point where Observatory Hill is located .
I had booked both the 12 noon - 1 pm session and the 1pm - 2 pm session in case I was late. I was late because I was being bombarded with phone calls emails and messages however I still arrived easily in time for what I booked to see ie the 1 pm time ball drop. Nobody around me had seen the 1 pm time ball drop before therefore had no idea how long would take. Some like me had not even been to The Sydney Observatory before. I really recommend a visit there particularly if you have an interest in weather patterns, time keeping, telescopes, the night sky, construction of the Harbour Bridge & Opera House, Australian history and exploration or just enjoying the gardens and spectacular view of Sydney Harbour from Observatory Hill. It is an astronomer's paradise.
I have upload a video of the 1 pm time ball drop onto YouTube. The rest of the observatory inside and out is better in a series of photos rather then video however the working mechanical instruments such as clocks and pendulums are better shown in videos.
The 1800's sandstone buildings have been beautifully restored and maintained. As l walk through the 2 main buildings of the observatory, there so many doors leading to so many rooms with stair cases, fireplaces , arched windows looking out into the courtyards and Sydney Harbour and peep holes in walls everywhere mainly where telescopes have been located. A set of stairs leads to one of the copper domed towers where one of the restored telescopes sits permanently. A panel in the dome ceiling usually opens up for night tours. The telescope looks like it is sitting on a rotating platform. The space theatre and planetarium were both not opened to the public on the day I visited along with quite a few interactive displays however I did manage to find 2 interactive displays that were working - there was a black button on each to push which started the 360 journey of a rotating action of it's arms. I had no idea how to stop them or how long they would continue to rotate around its central axis so i left them to stop rotating on their own.
An unofficial non council sign is placed around a lamp post in the city to direct people to Observatory Hill. To find it requires a cross city walk through a maze of underpasses that crisscrossing beneath a tangle of major heavy traffic roads entering onto and exiting off the Harbour bridge above.
Once in Millers Point there is plenty of signage however it is still a pretty steep set of stairs and a short walk to get The Sydney Observatory. There is no public transport to Observatory hill. The closest bus stop is at Wynyard Station.
The gates at the entrance to the observatory grounds
Just one of several copper domes housing telescopes at The Sydney Observatory
The main observatory building which is a museum and houses several large functioning telescopes
This looked like a archaeological site where there was once an old building or annex standing.
Side view of the main sandstone observatory building where you can just see the yellow time ball and drop mast on the top of the building.
I think this separate building in the observatory's grounds is the signal cottage with a mast displaying a series of colourful flags next to it.
Close up photos of inspection by staff of the time ball before it's ascent and drop at 1 pm.
Front entrance & side garden areas of observatory
Back gardens and courtyard of the observatory with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The gardens around the main observatory building and courtyard at the back of the main observatory building boasting spectaular view of Sydney Harbour Bridge side.
Around The Sydney Observatory's gardens there are information plaques like this giving visitors some information on the history and uses of the observatory
The observatory has multiple copper domed towers that once housed or still house their telescopes.
Just one of the spectacular views of Sydney harbour bridge from a balcony of the main observatory building
Lots of artifacts, peep holes, fireplaces, stairs and arched windows to look at or through.
After spending a few hours at the Sydney Observatory, I make my way back to the closest train station Wynyard. I have been meaning to find this sculpture and finally found it hanging above one of the main set of escalators leading to and from the York Street Station entrance. All the esculators at Wynyard station and even Townhall Station were originally wooden now all replaced with metal ones. The original wood set of esculators at Wynyard have been converted into a large sculpture and currently hangs high above the replacement set of esculators at Wynyard Station's York Street entrance.
Photos below
From Wynyard Station it is a train trip back to Chatswood. The next train to arrive was an express train and in no time at all I was back at chatswood where I did quite a big shop at Aldi and Coles Westfield. I did not managed to get everything on my shopping list again as there were items still unavailable. Some items I substituted with others for the time being.
A final stop to buy 2 punnets of rasberries from Fruitez before heading back to Woolworths Metro and home. No luck finding what I needed on my shopping list at Woolworths Metro. With my really heavy 2 full loads of shopping I head home by bus.
I went to bed early tonight exhausted. I responded to the citrus Group who wete still hounding me to see if I was still intetested in the call centre position. I advise them by email that I will get back to them on Tuesday after the long weekend.
There is not much on tv tonight therefore went to sleep early. Still no redponse from that volunteer position.
Joined Meet Up online ( some meet up activities are actually run by the Stitch Community ) and received a few other unsucessful responses including the online English tutoring position. I have given up on trying to find a job. I am pretty angry that the Jobactive online site has deleted all my job searches I had recorded to fulfil my mutual obigation requirements. It means extra life admin for me to do.
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