I have too much time on my hands.Enough for me to share some hilarious political cartoons.Elections ,in particular this Fedral election has all the elements to make it exciting. A coup d’état,insider leaks and a so-called debate that was nothing more than an orchestrated farce!
Hey guys its me, Kevin . Remember
that $900 I lent you last year? Yeah I lost my job and I’m gonna need that
back….
HOW TO START EACH DAY WITH A POSITIVE OUTLOOK...
1.Open a new file in your computer.
2. Name it “Julia Gillard”
.3. Send it to the Recycle
Bin.
4. Empty the Recycle Bin.
5.Your PC will
ask you. “Do you really want to get rid of Julia
Gillard?”
6. Firmly Click “Yes.”
7.Feel
better?
Tomorrow we’ll do Wayne
Swan.
Note: It worked on Kevin Rudd
There is nothing like being laid up with Glandular Fever to force one to rest! I left work early last Friday and have been home since, feeling quite unwell and terribly guilty for the inconvenience this is causing my colleagues.The only time I have left the house is to go to my DR,then the pharmacy( which has done quite nicelyout of me this week). I am due back at work on Monday so I will need to pick up considerably.Being still is not my forte’, just ask my family, I know I drive them nuts! They are complete opposites to me,happy to veg out, sleep al lday and generally kick back.How I wish I could do the same.LOL
Today,the family presented me with a surpirse early birthday gift-a Netbook. What a fantastic and totally unexpected surprise it was too. They said they bought it so I too, can sit in the warmth of the living room and access the net, in the same way they do on their laptops. I have to admit that it does get bitterly cold down the other end of the house. As I write, the netbbook is on my lap and gas heating is very pleasant.
We are not planning anything special for my birthday on the week-end because I don’t have the energy to contemplate going out( not even my favourite local Vietnamese) besides I think I have had enough spent on me already.
Thank youto those of you who continue to check this site for updates, even though I have been tardy about regular entries and to those who regularly send emails and messages. I now have Skype so if any regualr readers or friends wish to get in touch for a chat, just let me know!
Finally, I am posting and before I write anything, I want to say a big thank you to those dear friends who commented on my last blog. I am so fortunate to have connected with these wonderful individuals who have become dear friends. Without exception, they have each contributed something positive to my life and for this I owe them my deepest gratitude.There have been numerous occasions when they have passed on their words of wisdom or encouragement, making a significant impact on me and the issue I was facing at that time. They are important to me and I value their friendship.
Since the last post, I have been going through a bit of internal turmoil and self doubt. I have a habit of flogging myself , questioning my own abilities and wondering if any of the contributions I make in life amount to much at all. I give 100% and that’s all I can do, but it never feels enough.My self confidence has plummeted and it seems that all the negativity I hear on a daily basis is beginning to get to me. I work with great colleagues, who are supportive and who make the workplace a good place to be which is wonderful but am I doing enough? I am fallible, not super human and I need to keep reminding myself of that but it is hard.
The cold weather has really set in and I am so glad I went out and bought myself a good winter coat. It makes those early mornings and evenings on the railway station platforms bearable. D bought me a pair of beautiful soft leather gloves which keep my hands toasty too. A lovely gesture from him.I did go searching fro a pair of leather boots but could not find anything that fitted my skinny legs. Everything looked like a pair of gum boots on my skinny legs LOL. I think the only way around it is to have a pair made or buy a pair and have them remodelled by a shoe maker, a costly exercise, so that is on the back burner for now.
We did have to go out and buy a new microwave this week as the old ( not really old..we only had it 2-3 years) one was fire hazard and downright dangerous. It was never any good and we learned a lesson about buying anything other than National/Panasonic… everything else we own is Panasonic and we bought the last microwave based on price… a big mistake. The new one is the top of the line model, convection, stainless steel, inside and we used it for the first time last night. It comes with a comprehensive instruction book( I hate instruction books haha) so I will have to study it, so I can learn how to drive it properly. We were very impressed by how it functioned last night and we did not have to be concerned that it would turn itself on in the middle of the night and burn the house down! When we went out to buy the new microwave, we had only intended to buy a basic Panasonic model but when we looked at the features and considered how old and unreliable our oven is, the option of buying the convection seemed a sensible decision, albeit much more costly but it will last, like all our other Panasonic appliances have and that makes it good value.
Well, I have laundry waiting to be done and it is not going to do itself !
The last few weeks I have been pondering whether I should continue with this blog. Since I started the new job, I have wanted to write about some of relevant issues that are going on in the wider community and how they impact on the most disenfranchised out there but does anyone really want to read about that, or care for that matter? I do. I want to scream, knock down doors and make a fuss but at the same time, I must look after myself, my own sanity and try and leave work where it belongs… at work. I work with some great colleagues and we are all in the same boat. We walk a thin line between providing a service and becoming personally involved and it is often blurred.
This big news in Oz this week was the deposing of Kevin Rudd as PM by Julia Gillard. Ho hum ( big yawn). Same horse, different jockey. The Labor comrades (Federal and State) are trying to regroup and get their act together, in an attempt to win over the electorate for the run up to the elections.Unfortunately for us, Labor rules, State and Federally. They have dug us into such a deep financial hole that it will take years to recover, bumbling from one embarrassing disaster to another and who is holding them accountable? The fiascoes are numerous, including (Federally) the insulation tragedies, education, health and back-flips on almost every issue they have touched. On a State level, there is the Myki debacle, increased utility charges, a rail service that is downright dangerous and hospitals with waiting lists of years!Governments whose health systems ignore the mentally ill and the thousands who are homeless! What the…? We are a wealthy country and it is a disgrace. Families and individuals who rely on welfare and food parcels to feed themselves. All I can say is bring on the elections!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today, is the first time in weeks that I have a felt liking writing . Yes, there has been plenty to write about but I feel “written out” by the time the week end comes and the last thing I feel like doing is sitting in front of the PC tapping out a few words.Prue says I take my work too seriously and she is probably right but that’s me. If I do something I give 100%.
It’s a long week end here- Queens Birthday Weekend. No, not ‘queens’ but Queen Elizabeth. Here birthday is in April but it is always celebrated on this week end. Go figure. We are screaming out nationally to become a Republic but we continue to celebrate Her Majesty’s birthday. She does a sterling job and is a great ambassador for England but we are so far removed from Great Britain, both geographically and politically , that the time has really come for us to cut the apron strings from Mother England and become a Republic. This is by no means a recent argument, as we have been debating the issue here for years. Arguments about whether it should happen at all, the model we should adapt and so it goes on and on.For now the issue is dead in the water and we all get to have Monday off work, so I am going to make the most of it as it is the last Public Holiday until November.
Nothing is planned here this week end but I may go out later this afternoon to buy a new coat, because the early mornings stranding on the railway platform waiting for the train are bitterly cold. I am thinking a long coat, classical and black in colour. The outlet where I will go has a brilliant selection , including some fabulous cashmere coats( which are probably right out of my price bracket LOL). I also need some boots and as the annual mid -years sales are taking place, I may have a look for a pair.Winter is always so difficult for me and long for the warmer days!
Thank you so much to those of you who have been in touch. I enjoy receiving emails and messages
It’s been a dull and cold week-end here and other than go to the clothes line in the back yard, I have not been out at all. D and Prue have been working on her car( I have not mentioned it before bow but the news I could not mention last week was that Prue was involved in a car accident last Friday week ago). Fortunately, she and the guy she ran into were not injured, but both cars were damaged. She has insurance , he doesn’t. It was quite distressing for Prue as the guy got out and abused her, shouting the worst obscenities and carried on like a man possessed. As it happened, there was a serious 4 car pile up and the traffic was easing along slowly, under the direction of the police, when the guy in front of Prue took off at pace, then braked suddenly. Prue ran into the rear of his car. It was just one of those unfortunate incidents that happen and the last thing she needed was the guy to get out and start screaming at her. He even drove off leaving her stranded in the middle of the road. I think you get my drift about the type of person he is… a complete arse!Funny thing is, as I arrived home form work that night , I sensed something was wrong. The house was brightly lit, heater on , yet both Damien and Prue’s cars were out. I told myself not to be foolish and think the worst but as always, my mother’s intuition was correct. I called Prue’s mobile phone and she answered crying and handed the phone to her father, who said she had been involved in an accident and he would call back in 10 minutes. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life. When he called back he said Prue was OK but she was in shock and that although damaged, her car was drivable. He ensured the damaged parts were OK for Prue to drive and he followed her home. She was very shaken up and embarrassed but I told her not to be. She was OK and the car could be repaired. No need for her to feel silly and incompetent. Everyone has been in a similar situation at some time in their driving history.The next day, Prue and D went to a wrecker and managed to get all the parts and panels required to repair the car and that was what they did yesterday. it is not finished yet but it is well on the way.It is fantastic that D is so capable and able to turn his hand to most repairs. It has saved Prue thousands of dollars.
Today, it is raining and wet outside, so all the laundry is now on a clothes horse in the lounge room drying. Later, I have to venture out to grocery shop and I am not looking forward to it at all. I am still feeling rather under the weather but I have to go to work tomorrow, as it is the end of the month and a busy time for us all.
The others are beginning to surface here so I best go.
Thanks to those who have emailed or messaged me this week. I appreciate it, very much
Well it’s the week-end again and I am about to get stuck into the tasks around the house. I did not go to work yesterday and I feel guilty about that but I have been feeling poorly for over a week and yesterday I was just too sick to leave the house. As usual, I woke up early, showered, dressed and was ready to go when D said to me I was crazy to go when I was feeling so sick. I hesitated for a while and agreed with him, I was just not up to leaving the house, let alone spending the entire day seeing clients. I got on my PC , logged on to the work system to check my diary, then called every client I was due to see to reschedule their appointments.I had a few other things I had to do as well for work, then I logged out and called to see if I could get an appointment with my doctor. Prue said she would drive me which was lovely of her and it meant that I would not have to wait all day for D to come home from work.I really don’t enjoy letting people down. One person away means it puts an enormous strain on the entire office.
I received a message from a good friend Lee who thought I had deleted this blog. Maybe the server was down when she tried to visit? No, I am still here, albeit infrequently these days.When I can, I try to catch up on all of my favourite blogs. I do miss the daily interactions with my friends from all over the globe and reading their fantastic posts!
I have just finished writing a short email to someone with whom I used to be quite close. In fact he was one of my best friends. Circumstances changed and we have not been in contact for years but as he came up in conversation here today it got me thinking about him and how he is doing. I doubt I will receive a reply but that’s OK, at least he will know that me and the family think of him from time to time and remember some of the good times we shared all those years ago.
Funny how life can change. We start off on one path and life happens, with all its twists and turns. Some good and others that make you want to head for the bed and hide under the duvet. This week has been one of contrasts. From elation and feeling pretty pleased with myself to one of absolute terror when I received some news about a family member on Friday evening. I can’t elaborate about it right now because it is not my news to tell(and I will be admonished in no uncertain terms if I write about it here). What I will say though is it made me take stock and not place so much emphasis on other things such as success in the workplace( although success in the workplace for me is achieving outcomes for the most disenfranchised individuals in our society) and concentrate on matters closer to home.I know that I am but a small cog in a large organisation and if I dropped dead at work tomorrow , I would be replaced by the close of business tomorrow night! That’s the way it is and I need to remember that rather than give my all and then some.
It has turned cold here, by Australian standards anyway and I dread getting up at 5am and facing the cold journey to work. The return journey at night is just as bad but at least i arrive home to a warm house. not like some of those with whom I come into contact on a daily basis. The homelessness in this city is a disgrace. Our political leaders can spend well in excess of a billion dollars on a ticketing system for the public transport network, that still does not work but cannot build emergency or transient accommodation for those in need! Rental accommodation is scarce and out of the reach of most people now. It is not unusual to discover that 10 people are sharing a one bedroom apartment( and they are the fortunate ones). Tens of thousands are sleeping rough in this city each night… a sad blight on us as a community, city and country.
It is nice to sit down in front of the screen and tap out a few words! Spare time seems to be a thing of the past lately and what little spare time I do have is usually spent on household tasks or preparing for the next week. I am not complaining though. I am enjoying my work(even though it is very busy all the time) and fortunate to be employed.
I want to sincerely thank those of you who continue to email and message me. Receiving them is always a joy and I do appreciate them.
Travelling on public transport has certainly given me a few laughs lately. For instance the night before last, the train stopped at a station and the driver announced there was going to be a hold up and requested that the passengers bear with him while he made inquiries about when the train would be departing. Minutes passed and finally the driver announced in a pseudo English accent” I have spoken to the fat controller and we should depart in 1 minute” I nearly choked with laughter but not one other person could see the humour in what he had said! ( for those still in doubt as to why it was so funny, you must not be familiar with Thomas the Tank Engine LOL). People looked at me as if I was demented and I wondered, why I was the only one who thought it was so funny? Oh well. maybe everyone was just over their day and were vexed at being delayed.
I have been busy today with some work that I brought home and then I tackled the floors, bathroom and the washing. D and Prue have gone out and what Prue does not know s that D is going to buy her a GPS for her car. Prue admits herself that she is no good at all reading maps and it is a dangerous practice while driving, so D wants to install a GPS for her. I think it’s a good idea and I hope she gets a surprise!
Not that much else has been happening. We did go out for dinner on Mother’s day, which was lovely and the food delicious. We certainly are spoiled here in Melbourne , having such a diversified selection of restaurants from which to choose.No wonder we are called the food capital of Australia!
Today is Mothers Day, something which is now a marketing delight and a retailer’s bonanza. The commercialism surrounding the day is incredible. Advertisers have been imploring us to buy everything from fluffy slippers to large screen TV’s and everything in between for our mothers and I have to say, I find it all a big turn off.
Being a mum would have to be the most rewarding thing a woman could ever do. Yes, there are times when it can be a thankless task, scary and completely overwhelming but it is mostly wonderful and for me, the best thing I have ever done. I look at my daughter Prue and can’t help beaming with pride. All those times I doubted( and still doubt at times) my own capabilities and mothering skills have been mostly unfounded. I have actually done something right!!!!! This is my Mother’s Day gift. Looking at my daughter and knowing that I helped shape the person she is today. What more could a Mother want? Fluffy slippers , TV’s or expensive jewellery just don’t cut it when compared to the joy I feel daily when I see what a wonderful young woman she is.
Well we didn’t go out for dinner last night. D asked if I really wanted to go and to be honest, when the time came to get ready to go, I wasn’t. In fact I think I went to sleep whilst I was showering! I usually get in to the shower, wash and get out again. A swift process which takes no more than 3-4 minutes but yesterday I got into the shower and I really do think I dozed off for a few minutes. When I woke up I realised I had been in there several minutes! Even D commented on how long I was in there. He was not up to going out as he got out into the yard, mowed the lawns and tidied up the edges and was quite tired when he finished and I too, had been running around doing all the household tasks, so we settled for a quiet night at home and cleaned up all the left overs in the fridge for our dinner.
Today we are going to go out and look at microwave ovens. We currently have an LG, which we have had for no more than 2-3 years and it is the worst investment we have ever made. From day one we have had nothing but trouble with it and the back up service and attitude of LG has been appalling. Prior to buying the LG, we had always bought National Panasonic, as we have with all our appliances. They may be more costly but they are always reliable, good quality and the back up service is exceptional. Never again we we allow price to influence our purchasing decisions!
I am dreading going to the electrical goods store because D will be beside himself, checking out all the big screen TVs and trying to convince me of how much we need one. The TV we have is fine, it is 80cm and more than large enough for our living room which is quite small. What is it with men and big TVs? Hmm. I have my own theories but I am not going to go there . Ha ha.
I spent some time this morning logged onto my computer at work, getting a head start on some of the work I have planned for this coming week. Unfortunately, the other Government site I also use for work was down, so I could not complete all that I wanted to do.I was thinking about my workplace and it is like a family. Sometimes they argue, raise their voices and at other times they are as tight as a drum with each other. I get on well with everyone and I hope they feel the same about me. I do find all the personalities fascinating though. I am without doubt, the quietest member of staff( mainly because I can’t get a word in LOL) and as I have been there a relatively short period of time, I am still getting my head around the dynamics of the place and find it is better to listen and keep my mouth closed! All in all, I am finding it very enjoyable but oh so tiring.
Congratulations Richard about your discussions with the Discovery Channel. I am sure that all your efforts will be a welcome addition to any documentary about WW2.
It has been quite a week. I am extremely fortunate to come into contact with so many wonderful individuals who inspire me.They are the reasons I do what I do. Not always pleasant, often confronting and humbling but most of the time extremely satisfying. This week has been a mixed bag, that’s for sure. I am pleased of the week end break though because I felt completely drained when I left the office last night.So much so , I almost drifted off the sleep during the short train journey home.
Prue and I had arranged for me to do her hair immediately I arrived home last night because I have been putting her off for 2 weeks and I understand exactly how not having your hair look just right can affect the way you feel about yourself. It took less than 90 minutes to do, then we had dinner and settled in for a quite night. Prue went to help a friend who is shifting house, so it was just me, D and that cats at home. Chevy has become very clingy lately and pines when I am not here. For such a big macho cat, he can be such a sook!
I actually watched a movie on TV last night. I cannot remember the last film I watched. It was light and just what I needed to relax and get in into week end mode.This morning it is sunny but quite cool and other than have breakfast and read the paper , I have done little else.Soon I will get stuck into the domestic tasks and if I have time later this afternoon, go out and do the grocery shopping so I can have a free day tomorrow. Shopping for groceries , then coming home to put them all away is time consuming and has become such a bore.We are such a weird family in that we all eat differently and each night we have different meals, except for the rare occasions when Prue may eat the same meal as me. Meal planning is really a bit of a nightmare here. Often lately, I am content to come home and have a toasted sandwich or something simple like a big bowl of potatoes steamed in their skins, with garlic or some other type of seasoning or topping.It just crossed my mind that going out for a simple Vietnamese meal might be an idea. Hmm, I will run it by D and see if he is interested in doing that!
I am now going to catch up reading some of my favourite blogs. I miss reading them daily but it does give me something to look forward to on Saturdays!
It is Anzac Day, a day to honour all of those who gave and continue to give of themselves, for their country. It is a day to honour the dead, those who have suffered horrendous physical and psychological injuries and those who are currently serving.
It is not a day to glorify war, but to salute those men and women who have done and continue to put their lives on the line for us.
It has been such a busy week here. Work has been incredibly busy and right now, I am taking a break while the washing machine does its thing.I am so looking forward to having the Public Holiday on Monday!
I love the work I am doing. Challenging clients and I really like my work colleagues but I have an overwhelming feeling of insecurity, don’t know why but I do. This feeling makes it difficult for me to plan any further ahead than the next week.It’s not that I want a pat on the head or anyone pumping up my ego but it would be nice to hear some positive feedback that I feel is genuine.Enough of my insecurities, worrying is not going to change a thing but I think I am going to ask for a one on one with my manager, just so I can get some peace of mind.
Prue is delighted with her car and so are we. It means independence for her, which is great and it opens up so many opportunities for her as well.She made us laugh yesterday when she and a friend went to the local shopping centre. they went in Prue’s car and when they returned to the car, Prue stood waiting at the passenger door. her friend laughed and reminded her it was her car and she was driving!I suppose that is to be expected because she has been a passenger for so long. LOL
A big congratulations to my dear friend from Hicksville, NY, whose birthday it was during the week. Hope you had a great day Glen.
The weather is unseasonably warm here. It has usually a lot cooler here at this time of the year but we have been having temperatures in the high 20′s all week. Most years, by Easter it is quite cold but I am not complaining! I hope the rain hold off today so when the machine is finished I can get it all out onto the clothes line and dried.
I want to write more but I have work to do, so more next time!!!
I know I have been lax about posting lately mainly because I have very little to write about and the things I do feel I can pen a few lines about would be of little interest to anyone else. I do miss writing though.
Earlier in the week, I lost my watch en route home from work. I was annoyed with myself when I realised it was not on my arm and doubted that I would ever see it again. I checked at the office of our local railway station and no one had handed it in. Par for the cause I thought. It was probably sitting on the shelf on the nearest pawn broker! By Wednesday I was resolved to the fact it was gone and I would just have to get over my annoyance but as a last gesture of hope, I went to the train station near my work and sheepishly asked if it had been handed in and to my surprise and delight, it had! I was overjoyed and people on the platforms must have thought I was a crazy woman as I let out a squeal of joy. LOL The unfortunate thing was that whoever had handed it in did not leave their name and I so wanted to contact them to thank them and give them a gift expressing my gratitude for their honesty and kindness. A lesson for me not to be so cynical about human nature.
It has been terrific to spend time this morning, catching up on all my favourite blogs. I miss reading them daily and keeping up to speed with what is going on in the lives of my beautiful friends, scattered across the globe.
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