Bewitched 2

Unfortunately Kelly got a disc with 50 games on it. Bejewelled 2 is very addictive. We fight for the computer chair then I finally relent to make tea. Kelly yells from computer room what level she is onto, I turn hotplates off, run back in to check her progress, run back out to kitchen.
I have great intentions of sitting down and doing my school project(s) and yes I am now a few weeks behind on one, but Bejewelled beckons and I look at my watch and it is nearly midnight!!

Oh and we have a young cat visiting us in the morning...he is quite shy but has greeted us up on the kitchen window sill the last 2 mornings. The big black neighbourhood cat had followed him into the yard this morning. He was eyeballing me from the fence. The young cat is deciding whether he likes us or not.

I still miss Pippy even after 2 years. Still get tears in my eyes when I look at her picture. Are we ready for another animal?

Survival of the fittest

Ok so I sold out to the big commercial chain but it was just tooo easy
Off to Macca's tonight for celebration of Kelly's 7th birthday. 15 yes fifteeen, very excited girls in a small room...
By the sound of it, fun was had by all. One bent fingernail injury, burgers and nuggets, fries and drinks, icecream cake, face painting and a few detours to drop off extra kids...and I came out alive...phew

Emotional Investment

Six months on and JDE problems still exist. Yesterday was hilarious.

Q: How many overpaid I.T. experts does it take to work out why nothing is being processed or printed?
A: 1 Scotsman, 1 German, couple of Poms and a few Aussies

Technology used - Whiteboard!!

Lots of talking the talk going on, hit the pub boys cos it aint getting any better...

Countdown

I must in a nostalgic mood lately...at the gym today watching Countdown doco...wow is it bad to bop along to the 80's music on the tready...oops I think I sang that bit out loud!!
Countdown was a huuuuge part of Aussie teenage culture...have a look at Pat Wilson she looks like a girl version of Boy George...I can only remember that it was soooo cool to do the B O P G I R L...
Molly's interview with bonny Prince Charlie cringeworthy and check out the tie
And Madonna is like a foine woine she definitely has improved with age.
Countdown was the hipper version of Young Talent Time (Tina Arena, Debbie Burns, Dannii Minogue). YTT was for the olds.

Nostalgic Noosa Road Trips

My mum and dad were big country music fans
This version of Rawhide on YouTube got me giggling...my sister and I used to know every whipcrack...we were forced to listen to it halfway to friggin Queensland.
We only had a choice of Best of Country Music 70' s style cassette or Best of Leo Sayer - You know I can dance :(
Tammy Wynette was another favourite (cringe cringe). Didn't realise Connie had sang I don't wanna play house about a decade before.
And for the Johnny Cash fans, Connie also did a good version of Walk the Line. Well I think so, and she is my namesake and I am hers also according to my online bible Wikipedia.

And they say your first five years are your formulative years...what hope did I have?!

The Money Pit update

Ok so we had to forgo (isn't that an interesting word) a mini sleep in this morning because the tiler was due at 7.30am. He was here at 7.26 so luckily I had showered and looked half decent for Saturday morning.
Unfortunately Beaumont tiles underestimated shower area (5 tiles too short!!) and overestimated the floor area. They have got to be the most useless (insert expletive here)'s going around. Fancy working in a tile joint and not being able to work out square metreage.
I have already been there 4 times and the icing on the cake was when the assistant(?) said do you fancy a drive to Dandenong today? I kept my cool and replied quite calmly that no I didn't fancy a drive especially as they were to blame for the underestimation. I think my eyes must have got their warning flashes happening because his attitude changed dramatically.
So tiler is back on Tuesday to put on 5 extra tiles and do the grouting. Painter coming Wednesday. Plumber still to be organised...stay tuned

And to add to the drain on the purse strings, my downstairs split system airconditioner according to my a/c guy has had the 'gong'. Whats another 2 grand between friends. Do you know that you can text your aircon and turn it on remotely using your mobile phone???
"Hey aircon Im running late could you have a nice red poured for me and my bath drawn?!"

Hallelujah

Of course music is a very personal thing, no-one would argue with that.

When I first heard Jeff Buckley's version of Hallelujah I was moved to tears. It sent shivers down my spine. I make a conscious effort not to overplay it.

At the gym the other night I heard K.D. Lang's version. I have always been a bit ho-hum when it came to K.D. But well we are allowed to change our opinions especially when we are the fairer sex. KD's version is excellent. Didn't give me the spine shivers but there was something about it. Maybe a good background song whilst sipping on a cab sav. (note - gone the full circle, back to my roots of red wine drinking but thats a whole other story!!)

So I did a bit of research and put my trust into Wikipedia. Looks like Leonard Cohen was the original - mm sorry Lenny old mate but I reckon my singing sounds just as good during a Jimmy Barnes concert.

The original isn't always the best and there is always room for improvement.
Hallelujah to that :D

How did I ever cope with dial up??

I'm up to 68% of my 12Gb limit for the month :-D
Which equates to just over 8 Gig used and 2 weeks to go.

I'm enjoying my computer at last but I'm missing my sleep...a lot!!

Had a giggle to myself in my car tonight.
Behind a car, 50+ male driver - name had to be Scotty.
Why you ask??

Licence plate BMEUP

There is a entire Wikipedia entry on Beam Me Up Scotty

What a ditzy day

How embarrassment!!
Off to school drop off and it was a bit brisk. Even Kelly felt the cold. She decided to put on her jacket whilst we were standing in the middle of the school yard. As her arm was wriggling through the armhole, she says, Whats this Mum?? Oops my stocking has gone through the wash and she is now holding it up for all the world to see. Could have been worse I spose, could have been my knickers or bra!!
So usually for me, how the day starts is how the day progresses.
I'm cringeing with embarrassment as I am typing.
In the lunch room I decided to get another cuppa. Went past friend who was putting stuff in bin and commented to him that he was dressed very casually today. No response...hmmm strange.
Got my cuppa and on way back to table. He was still standing over the bin with his back to me. I put my hand on his back and gave him a friendly pat/rub and said 'Gee you really are very casual today'
Omg Omg Omg
He turned around and agreed that yes he was very casual today but unfortunately he wasn't who I thought he was. Didnt even know him. I must have looked like a startled deer in the headlights because I was totally dumbstruck, didnt say a word and just rushed back to the table. I was in such a flap I put my arm in someone's soup lid!!
Turns out that the guy was a casual just started in the store that day!! Probably went home to his family and said what a friendly bunch of people we are.
Everyone had a good laugh on me.
I am a ditz - can't deny it any longer just got to live with it :D

Today was a

Beautiful Day - you gotta love U2 - play it LOUD.

Today I went for a lovely walk in the sunshine. I meandered here and there.
Went to the village and picked up all the essentials - Thai menu, Indian menu and pizza menu. Asked the pizza man if he made good pizzas, money back guarantee was the answer in a heavy Indian accent!! Had a giggle about that one - oh my goodness gracious.
Strolled through the local cemetery looking for but not finding great grandparents.
Returned via the other side of the railway, popped into the Art Gallery to check out any upcoming exhibitions - none :(
Ordered Thai for dinner and accompanied by a bucket of housewarming red...mmmm
Fell asleep on the couch and woke myself up with a very cute snore :D

Goodbye Nana Dot

The scattering of Nana Dot's ashes was held on Sunday at Rosebud pier. It was a lovely day under the circumstances. Strange to catch up with so many people from my past. Though everyone made me feel most welcome and I didn't feel awkward at all.
Nana Dot was Kelly's great grandmother from her Dads side. She was the person who was the centre of the in-laws family. Everyone met at her house once a week for dinner and laughter.
We all have great memories of her...red in the face from too much laughter and not enough breathing, crossing her legs cos she was laughing too hard, too much food, cucumbers, lettuce, roast dinners, rollie cigarettes, having a flutter on the horses and dogs, Carlton blues supporter, cups of tea, more food.
Kelly had a good idea of what Nana Dot was about. I told Kelly that Nana Dot's spirit would always be with us. I explained to her that your spirit is what makes you, not your body but what is inside. As an example I said so your spirit would be happy, funny, loving. She replied so Nana Dot's is kind...out of the mouths of babes.
Zoe and I could get jobs as professional mourners. These days I am so emotional in general and in particular, funerals. Zoe started quite early on and I had to look away from her. The ashes flew out of the urn, straight to the sea. I really felt like her spirit was on its way on the wind. Luke bent over to say, 'Goodbye Nan see you when we get there' and Eden said 'we love you Nan'. The tears flowed and the sobbing started. Zoe and I fell into each others arms with first Nip consoling us then Eden with the ol' stoic pats on the back.
Another bout on the way to the RSL then composed myself. Kelly is so sensitive to my feelings. She held my hand, was extra nice to me and was extremely well behaved for a long emotional day.
Thanks for everything Nana Dot (aka Nana Spot by toddler Kelly).
You will be sadly missed
xx

Tick

Voluntary placement completed - check
Isn't it ironic - don't you think - I was filled with trepidation at the day that lay before me. Could it possibly be as bad as the previous two days - filing and photocopying when I could be at work earning money.

Strange how things turn out when you are expecting the same or worse.
The ladies at the Freemasons Health Clinic in Clarendon Street were just lovely. I wish I had been there for the three days, well worth the long walk from Richmond station.
I got teamed up with an English girl who was on a working holiday. She has only been in Melbourne for four months and is on the last leg of her round the world ticket. That brought back some lovely memories for me as well.
We had lovely chats in between filing patient records, looking patients up on the computer, pulling records for next weeks consults. It was very basic office stuff but at least I got a feel for how the office was run.
They were very sorry to see me go and wanted to know if I was coming back!! Made me feel very welcome and I could see myself working in that type of environment.
The hospital needs to get with the 21st century. They rely heavily on paper and files. But I suppose they are very conservative.
Back to school next week. Haven't done set homework yet :( aren't I just the rebel!!

Its a competition

Epworth - 2 days down and 1 to go :-D
Today I was on the neuro ward doing patient packs. Every minute for at least half an hour, one poor woman would scream/moan in pain. Finally they must have sedated her because she was quiet for a couple of hours then started up again. One buzzer was broken so whilst that was being fixed it was constantly buzzing.
Makes you think how lucky you are. I went to the gym tonight thankful that my body is willing and able.
Wish I had taken my mp3 player (loading songs on now so I can take tomorrow). Had a nice long free lunch with the plan to try and finish by 3. Back to the ward. Finished as much as I could and rather than ask for something else I basically said that I had hoped I had helped them out and thanks for having me!! Woohoo...out of there by 2pm. Off to Bridge Road for a spot of shopping waiting on my friend to finish up. She finished at 3, quite pleased with herself until I arrived at reception with shopping bags in tow!!
Challenge for tomorrow to see if we can take a late lunch and not go back??
Tomorrow I am at the Health Check Clinic at the Freemasons opposite Fitzroy Gardens...see what that brings I suppose.
Train journey has been enjoyable as we are both big talkers and we both cant believe it when Richmond station is being announced!!
This morning guy opposite me was busy writing notes and I am quite adept at reading upside down (due to many years of crosswording with Grant). Well he was writing about porn videos, nephro nurses, lighting, directions etc. Kylie had noticed as well and she was having a read, raising her eyebrow at me and we were having private smiles. Must have had big hidden assets cos he wasnt much of a looker.
Bring on the weekend

Gone with the wind...

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned
Mother Nature was in a premenstrual mood today and totally disrupted Melbourne.
Train services were interrupted due to a lightning strike. Electricity was off at my house for half the day but I was oblivious to that minor detail because we were out lunching and shopping :-)
Bins were strewn all over the roads, big branches (dry from lack of water) came crashing down. The wind was whipping around and a big dust storm covered Melbourne in a red haze.
We escaped relatively unharmed apart from the slight inconvenience of not having power.
Had to scrounge up a match to light the gas hot plates to cook dinner...smoke alarm batteries still work cos I managed to set that off...gee I am good at that!
Kelly and I ate our dinner by candlelight - quite good cos you cant see the burnt bits!!
Haven't heard any trains go past so hopefully they will be running again by the morning so I can do my second day of voluntary work. Going in earlier so we can get a kickstart coffee to fight off the boredom.
SES have a long night of clean ups ahead of them

Foo Fighters

I am loving the Foo Fighters
The Pretender

Learn to Fly

Road to Ruin

Dave Grohl is soooo cool and a touch cute

Didn't realise he came from Nirvana :D

1 day down 2 to go

Well I thought JDE sucked but photocopying sucks even more!!
Had my first day at the Epworth today in the Health Information Services department. Basically it is where you go if you want to request your Health Record.
I sms'd my sister at lunchtime to say that all I had done was stand at a photocopier and copy records.
Her reply got me smiling 'God I hope you do more than photocopy! Send me a copy of your arse!'
So yes Jen, it is all I did and here is your request :D