Hello from Renmark

Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours. Swedish proverb

Hello from Renmark, haven’t been able to log on sooner because mum is having trouble with her new internet connection and is not sure how to alter the security levels to allow access to her wireless internet. I am at my brothers today looking after my nephew so I’ve taken the opportunity to jump online while he is sleeping.

We took him to the local pool this morning and he was absolutely tuckered out by the time we came home at lunchtime. Today it is 40C in Renmark and the forecast for tomorrow is expected to be 44C. Damn hot is all I can say. Thank goodness for air-conditioned cars and houses.

We arrived up here mid afternoon on Monday and the weather has been fantastic. The only problem with our holiday is that Renmark is currently experiencing an over abundance of mosquitoes. Locals are saying they have never seen them this bad ever. If you go outside you get eaten alive from the minute you wake up, to the minute you go to bed.

Shops are selling out of bug repellant and medicated cream. It’s because of the massive rainfall that the region has experienced this year. The river is really high again and they’re also on alert for flooding in the next month or so because of the massive floods in Queensland and the resultant water flowing down the Murray River.

Mum and dad’s new house is an absolute dream; I could live there and be eternally happy. The house is gorgeous and is set on an acre of botanic-like gardens. Beautiful lawn areas, palm trees and tons of pretty flowers and shrubs. If it wasn’t for the mosquitoes, I would spend my whole time sitting in the backyard enjoying the scenery.

The MM’s hooked the trailer up to the ride-on lawnmower yesterday and spent the morning clearing all the rotten oranges from the orchard and doing a general clean up for my dad. They got $20 each for their efforts so they were rapt. They were having fun and didn’t consider it work at all.

Hubby had his shed warming party back in Adelaide yesterday and christened the new ‘Taj Mahal’, sounds like it was a messy night for all who attended. We’re off to the Riverland’s street party tomorrow night to celebrate New Years Eve. They are having it on the banks of the river and will have wake boarding, skiing and board riding demonstrations on the river as well as live bands and DJ’s. Should be fun, but will definitely be a scorcher.

I am planning on heading back to Adelaide on Sunday but that will be largely dependent on the weather. It was originally expected to be 39C which is way to hot to drive for 4 hours, with 5 of us in the car. Amended forecast is now saying 31C, which is a little more bearable but we will see. Alternatively we may not head back until Monday.

I then have another week of holidays before I have to go back to work which will be nice.
Well that’s probably all my news for now, will check in again before we head back on Sunday if I get the chance. If not, have an awesome New Years Eve and seeya all in 2011

Pheww, it's over....

Happiness is being at peace, being with loved ones, being comfortable…but most of all, it’s having those loved ones. Johnny Cash

Another Christmas bites the dust. I had a lovely day with friends and family but I'm glad it's all over for another year, there is just something so tiring about Christmas (and of course it has nothing to do with tearing about to visit everyone or eating mammoth amounts of food)

Christmas morning we started off with unwrapping presents at home, eldest son and his fiance joined us as well which was nice. Kids were all rapt with their presents. Then off to the local pub for Christmas drinks with friends. From there we ventured down to my brother-in-laws house for Christmas lunch with my husband's family. It was hot so the kids took advantage of the addition of the new below ground pool. (I am not envious, much)

Late afternoon and from there we dropped 15 year old MM at a friends place for a party and then headed off to visit friends. Drinks, relaxation and good company is how we ended Christmas Day. Well that's not entirely true. We headed home at about 10 and hubby (with quite a few Christmas drinks under his belt) decided to educate youngest MM on how to cut and bend pipes in the 'Taj Mahal' in the back yard - hubby's almost completed new shed for those who've missed earlier posts.

Was beside myself with laughter at the look on hubby's face when the copper pipe they were bending actually split and began gushing water all through the shed. So Christmas night ended with youngest MM and I watching hubby drag out the oxy and fix the pipe so that we had water to the house. Maybe next time he'll listen to us when we tell him that he should have left the job until today.

I'm all packed and ready to head up the river with the kids tomorrow, am so looking forward to seeing my side of the family. The news today has forecast a temperature of 43c for New Years Eve in Renmark. It's gonna be a scorcher and here I've been whingeing about how summer was never going to arrive, well bang now it's going to arrive with avengeance.

At this stage eldest MM's fiancee may still be joining us for the trip, but I'll see when I pick them up tomorrow. I told her that it wouldn't make much difference if she has her tests and scans this week or the next week, so fingers crossed she'll come with us.

Well, hope you all had an enjoyable and fun Christmas. Hopefully I will check in through the week from Renmark.

Cheers, Fi

A better day

If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster. Stephen R. Covey

What a miserable sod I sounded last time I wrote, I was just horribly disappointed about the job and wasn't feeling that flash either, but today is another day and I am feeling 100% better. I am doing 'mother duty' at the moment and waiting for 15 year old MM (mere male) to come home, he's due home by midnight, so 10 minutes to go. He's been working flat out, 5 days a week since school got out 5 weeks ago, so today was his last working day before his Christmas break.

Can I do my little dance and say thank you for my first comment on my blog. I know that my family and friends check in now and again - but it's different when a fellow writer makes a comment. Gees I sound tragic don't I, but let me repay the favour and ask you to go on over and check out Tim's blog anyway.

Well MM has just checked in by text message (don't you just love modern technology) and he is now staying at his mates place. Of course I rang him and asked why he'd left it till the last minute to let me know. The next thing I know he's telling me what an awesome Chrissy present he's bought me tonight, this of course was to justify the last minute notice. It's his first Christmas of having his own 'earned' dollars to buy presents, so he's quite excited and obviously was trying to sidestep the issue of not letting me know sooner that he was staying at his friend's house.

Back to yesterday's distress about whether I would have a job when I returned to work in January, my boss rang me again this morning following a meeting with the Managing Director and stated unequivocally that I would have a job when I return, the project will go ahead and we will have plenty to do. I feel like I'm on a roller coaster ride with this project at the moment.

This is of course a huge weight off my shoulders and while I would love to have nothing better to do than spend my days churning out books, the 38 hour week is still required for the moment to pay the bills.

13 year old MM has just come and done a little jig to remind me it's now Christmas Eve (10 minutes into) much to my amusement. I miss the excitement and joy of having toddlers who get excited by Christmas and Santa. I now have a houseful of teenagers and it's just not quite the same, so the jig made me laugh.

Well that's all my news for now. Cheers for now, Fi

One of those days

Fortify yourself with a flock of friends! There is always at least one who will understand, inspire, and give you the lift you may need at the time. George M. Adams

What a horrible day, spent all week looking forward to catching up with old work mates for Chrissy drinks and then ended up with a migraine and slept the afternoon away instead. Consequently it is now after 11pm and I am wide awake. Still have a bit of a headache but am not tired at all. Erggh!

Had a phone call from my boss this morning and a decision on the project is now not expected until June next year, so not sure how long I will have a job for when I return to work in January. I may be looking for a new job, who knows. I guess a change is as good as a holiday as the saying goes.

Then my third crappy piece of news today - yes it was the day for it, eldest sons girlfriend (future mother-to-be of my grandchild) is now not coming away with us for the break. She has her 12 week scans and blood tests next week and has decided to spend the week with her mum instead of going away. Was very disappointed about this, but what can you do?

On the good news front, I am just shy of 10,000 words on my book, so I have been getting a lot of writing done this week which is pleasing. The way things are going, I may have a lot more time to write soon. As far as the work situation goes there's not much I can do about it, so I plan to just enjoy my break and make the most of the time off. Will worry about the future in January when I return. Probably easier said than done.

Have an appointment with the doc in the morning to get some more 'miracle' migraine drugs, they're like wafers actually and work a treat. He gave me 2 samples about 6 months ago to try and they're amazing. Have had 2 migraines in the last week though which I can put down to the state of my back and neck which are still not back to 100% after my graceful slide down mum and dad's front yard the other week.

Here's hoping tomorrow is a better day, ciao for now. Fi

Keeping busy

Whatever they grow up to be, they are still our children, and the one most important of all the things we can give to them is unconditional love. Not a love that depends on anything at all except that they are our children. Rosaleen Dickson

Mission completed - all of my Christmas shopping is done and the presents are all wrapped, what a beautiful feeling. I so enjoy selecting special things for my family at Christmas. Hubby and I don't buy each other anything, we usually just purchase whatever it is that we want as a gift to ourselves.

I have been enjoying my holidays, getting the things done that I need to - shopping and cleaning the house, but at least I can do it at a leisurely pace and not my usual frantic pace prior to Christmas.

I've been writing a lot in the last week and have also got the framework around my newsletter website established. Still some work to be done yet and then I will share the details with you.

Attended a 2 year old birthday party on Sunday for a friends' little girl. Who would expect that 6 days out from Christmas we would be sitting around a heater and all dressed in jeans and jumpers - absolutely ludicrous weather patterns at the moment. Christmas Day is looking a little bit more promising with temperatures expected to reach 31C.

I'm hoping like anything that it is warm and sunny next week when we head up to Renmark. I'm looking forward to catching up with brother and sister-in-law and also seeing mum and dad's new house. It'll be just the boys (and eldest son's girlfriend) and I going up, as hubby has to work. A week of family, relaxation and sunshine is something I'm joyfully anticipating.

At least this year there will be none of the garbage that I had to contend with over the last Christmas break with my former job. Hubby, the kids and I headed up to Renmark last year and I had phone call after phone call from employees saying they hadn't been paid. Not my fault, I might point out, but I was the only contact number that anyone had.

The mistake was made by the Corporate office and I ended up cutting short our trip to come back to Adelaide to fix it. I hadn't taken my work computer access codes to Renmark, after all it was Christmas and I didn't think for a second I would need them. The end result was that I had to contact the Payroll Manager from the Corporate office and interrupt her Christmas break to get the problem fixed. I was appalled that some of our employees had not been paid prior to Christmas when I had ensured everything my end was finalised. In short, thankfully this Christmas it is not my concern - new job and all.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow - I'm catching up with the crew from my old place of employment for Chrissy drinks which should be enjoyable. The people and the camaraderie are in fact the things I miss the most, well in truth they're the only things I miss.

Well that's all my news for now, Fi

When I grow up....

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. Albert Einstein

I have decided that when I grow up, I want to sit on the Board of Directors for a national company. Imagine getting paid ludicrous amounts of money to fly around the country, get treated like royalty, attend a measly eleven meetings a year and all you have to do is give your opinion. I can so do that, where do I sign up?

Pardon my sarcasm, I'm feeling slightly disgruntled with the decision making process or slowness of it, not to mention bored out of my brain with doing very little each day whilst waiting for a decision. Luckily tomorrow is my last day and then 3 weeks of absolute bliss. Can't wait.

Admittedly today did give me time to create a new newsletter template and I am extremely happy with the result. So what if I'm beginning the January newsletter for the project in December. At least it's keeping me busy.

Was discussing the cleaners with a work colleague today and I commented that I felt extremely sorry for one of the cleaners. She is well advanced in years and looks to be in constant pain, yet is one of the happiest, cheeriest people I know. Every morning she gives me a cheerful hello. My thoughts were on the fact that she probably should retire, not that I voiced them.

I was absolutely shocked to hear that this poor woman has a husband who is a quadriplegic and she gets up at 2am every morning to help him with his exercises and get him ready before leaving to start work cleaning our building at 6am. She doesn't drive, so catches the bus at an ungodly hour for a mere 3 hours work a day.

The extra money she earns doesn't affect her pension and allows her to buy the few extras they need. Last year she saved up to buy her husband an electric wheelchair, she's now saving for a lounge suite. In future, when I moan and groan and feel hard done by, I will remember this story and realise how lucky I am.

I'm sure there are many people out there doing it tough, especially at this time of the year which saddens me and makes me especially grateful for my family and my life.

Ciao for now, Fi

Christmas is coming - ready or not

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. Norman Vincent Peale

Okay I've finally given into the inevitable - Christmas is rapidly approaching. I put the tree and decorations up on Sunday. I wasn't really in the Christmas mood prior to this, but I'm getting there.

Yesterday was my first day of moving about all day without any back pain - yahoo. I did have a whopper of a migraine last night though. This is undoubtedly due to my dodgy back given that I haven't had one for months and months, thanks to my delightful chiro.

Spent another day at work looking busy and doing absolutely zip, the days seem to take forever at the moment. I have added an extra week to my Christmas break and will start my Christmas holidays this Friday. Can't undergo another week of doing nothing. I have no idea what January will bring though.

One bonus of having very little to do at work and having a need to look busy, I've got over 4000 words done on my book. Awesome start. Words on a computer screen look inocuous enough, so no questions are asked, not that my boss gives a hoot at the moment, but other Managers would. Next year when I complain about the ludricous hours I am working and the workload, you can remind me about being bored and having nothing to do.

Hubby has serviced my car today, so now it's all ready for my trip to Renmark - which is less than 2 weeks away. He made a point of saving the smallish bucket of oil that was left after the oil change. He wanted to point out that I should be checking the oil more regularly. It has always been my standard argument that I married a mechanic for a reason and that this is his job. He responded that I drive it, I should check the oil. My response to this was that he wears his work shirts but I wash and iron them, did he want the job instead. His mate doubled over laughing at that one and said that I had a valid point.

Hubby avoids the iron like the plague. He's been known to wear a jumper rather than iron a shirt himself. I have no idea what he is going to do when I am away for 8 days, his employer only supplies 5 work shirts at any one time. He suggests he'll just put it in the dryer to 'iron' it, gotta love him. Don't get me wrong, he could rival any world class chef with his cooking ability and when it comes to repairs, building or 'boy' jobs then he is first class. He'll even wash and hang a load of clothes but he refuses to touch the iron.

Well my belly is starting to voice protests about lack of sustenance so I had better go and fill it.

Ciao for now, Fi

On my soapbox

Trust the dreams for hidden in them is the gate to eternity. Kahlil Gibran

Another night of bliss is upon me, MM's are all out for the night and I am stationed in front of my laptop. We are now 11 days into Summer, not that you would know it, becuse it's cold and raining. I'm beginning to wonder if summer is ever going to arrive. Half of Australia is under water at the moment. Well that's probably a slight exaggeration, but a large number of towns on the East coast are flooded due to large and unprecedented rainfall.

You will be very proud of me, I took my own advice today and kept my mouth shut, despite the urge to loudly and clearly voice my displeasure. Hubby had a guy around on Wednesday to fit a roller door to the 'Taj Mahal' in our backyard. The 'moron' contractor forgot the tracks for the door. So while the roller door was fitted, it could not be used. Okay fair enough we all forget things, so I can cut the guy some slack.

He said he would be back at 8am this morning. Youngest MM (much to his disgust) dragged his butt out of bed at 7.30am this morning to greet the guy as hubby was at work. I even took pity on MM and dragged myself out of my nice warm bed shortly after he got up. At 10am with no sign of the 'moron' (and no courtesy call to explain his lack of appearance) I went shopping.

Hubby rang the guy at 2pm and received an explanation that he had got held up and would be there at 3. I for one was not happy with this shoddy behaviour, but not for me to comment, hubby was annoyed enough. At 4.30 hubby rang the 'moron' again and was told he was half an hour away. I was meant to be dropping hubby and a mate off at their work show at 6.

This guy finally showed up at 5.15. Sorry, but to me this is totally unacceptable. I was expecting a young lad, my apologies for stereotyping, but I figured it's usually the younger ones who lack the decorum and good manners to simply pick up a phone and explain their delay. Bugger me if this guy wasn't a day under 50 (and that's being generous). I bit my tongue, in fact I walked away because I was all set to explain exactly what good manners and reliability was to this twit.

The guy packed up and left at 6.30, yes the door works fine and looks very good also, but we were half an hour late dropping hubby off at his work show. Anyone who knows my hubby will know that he is also not afraid to voice his opinion, however not a word was said to this 'delinquent' for his unreliability. I guess once you've already paid the cash and are reliant on the job being completed you don't want to risk upsetting the apple cart, but geesh! Never again will I stereotype the 'younger' generation.

While I'm on my soapbox, I discovered something else tonight which I am at odds to understand. Why the hell can't you get a 10 cent refund on milk cartons? In Adelaide you get 10 cents for every can and soft drink bottle that you take to a recycling depot, this is also possible on iced coffee cartons and fruit juice cartons. So why not on milk cartons? My family goes through 12-15 litres of milk a week (yes I should own a cow) Think how much money I could make on recycling milk cartons.

Okay, I've voiced enough of my opinions for tonight. I'm off to make the most of the peace and quiet and write some more of the 'Great Australian' novel, well my current work in progress at least.

Ciao for now, Fi

Just one of the 'little people'

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. - Harriet Tubman

Well I'm beginning to feel like a yo-yo, latest word on the street today was that the Project will go to the Board this month for a decision. I'm sure this will change again between now and the 20th. Gotta love decisive action, surely they get paid enough money to make a decision and then stick to it. One minute it's this month and the next minute it's not. Ergh, don't worry about the little people who are waiting on a decision.

I am feeling close to normal again, back has settled down after another trip to the chiro today. Coccyx is still extremely tender, but is now bearable. I think if I hadn't have been having regular visits to the chiro previously then I would have been in a lot more trouble.

My 'baby' MM is graduating from primary school tonight, how the time flies. They've gone to the Woodcroft Tavern for dinner and then the presentations start at 7.30, so I'll be armed with a camera in the crowd to embarass him silly. Truly I wouldn't dream of it, embarassing him that is, but will still have the camera though. Apparently parents are meant to get up and dance with their children, I will be begging off this one. Not sure that my back is quite that forgiving as yet.

Oprah is on TV being interviewed by Barbara Walters, I swear some people have nothing better to do than worry about what other people are doing. Being famous would have to be the biggest drag in the world - not that the money would be a hardship, but who needs the grief that goes with it.

I think the all expenses paid trip to Australia for 300+ Oprah fans is an absolutely awesome idea, now that would be fun. I love that she spreads her money around to the 'little' people, because lets face it's the 'little' people who have helped her get where she is today. Unlike other superstars who spend their money on useless rubbish like drugs and alcohol. But perhaps I won't get on that bandwagon.

Time to get myself organised, catchya later. Fi

Televisions are hazardous!

Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way. Edward DeBono

I had the day off work on Monday to help mum and dad with their move to Renmark and am suffering for it. I was carrying a television that mum and dad had given me out to my car, before the removalists arrived and ended up flat on my back after a nasty slide on the white rocks in their front yard. Felt like an absolute idiot, but saved the TV.

Consequently I then had to have a sickie yesterday and spent my day flat on my back on the lounge. I have done some serious damage to my coccyx and feel like I have a knife up my butt, not a pleasant description, but that's how it is. I have also strained my neck, upper back and shoulder, however this was somewhat alleviated by a mercy dash to the chiro on Monday night. Luckily I have an awesome chiro who fitted me in.

Went back to work today and am seriously feeling it tonight. The good news is that mum and dad got off to Renmark on Monday afternoon, after some ups and downs. Firstly they have so much stuff (read that as rubbish) that they ended up having to organise another truck. They were meant to be on the road by 12, but the second truck didn't arrive until 1. I ended up booting them out the door at 2.30 and told them I would finish up at the house, would clean all the floors and then lock up.

Do you know how much fun it is to sweep and mop miles of tiled floors when you're in agony? The things you do for family. The other hiccup came in the way of a phone call at about 12 saying that settlement hadn't gone through on their house. You can imagine my dad, absolutely freaking out, said they'd have to stay put, until I reminded him that the first truck was already on the way and they were committed. Not good levels of stress for someone with a heart condition though.

Numerous phone calls and stress later, it turned out that the buyers of mum and dad's house had used a 'quality' banking institution and someone had forgotten to process all of the paperwork. Consequently mum and dad couldn't get the keys for their new place till the Tuesday when settlement finally went through and so they instructed the real estate people that the same thing happen for the people moving into their house.

Mum and dad were fortunate enough that they could stay at my brothers place Monday night, but the family coming from Queensland ended up having to stay in a hotel. They were not happy, but shit happens and it was their stupid bank. Turns out this is a 'very' common occurrence, see I knew there was a reason why I didn't want to move.

Well got the bad news today that the Board probably won't make a decision until the February board meeting, which means the project won't get under way until at least April. Not sure what they're going to do with me. I have about 2 days worth of work and then I'm twiddling my thumbs. It's okay for John and David who have oodles of annual leave, but I only have about 8 days worth of annual leave left, because I had 2 weeks off in May when we went to Bali and I have booked 2 weeks off over Christmas.

Not really sure what is going to happen, they'll either advance me some leave (not likely) give me some shitty jobs to do in the meantime, or worst case scenario they'll put me off. I think with almost 10 years of service and a good track record that I may escape the worst case, but not looking forward to shitty jobs in other departments.

Time will tell I guess, I just wish Christmas would hurry up, then I can spend a blissful week in Renmark doing nothing but relaxing, swimming, reading and writing - my 4 favourite past times.
Well, that's about all my news for now.

Ciao for now, Fi

Love is sweet

The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds. Nicholas Sparks

I love weddings! A special friend got married yesterday and I felt honoured that my hubby and I were invited to share their special day. After 17 years of marriage, I think I've become slightly jaded. Yesterday reminded me of the joy and hope that you feel on your wedding day. This was a beautiful wedding, tastefully done and still maintained the essence of who these people are.

I liked that things weren't necessarily the 'traditional' expectation, but were in keeping with the joy and fun that this pair inspire in all of their friends. They made the wedding their own; it was not just an over the top extravagance for those who attended. It was instead, a special, unique and inspiring day.

The 'tomboy' bride surprised many of us, her dress was spectacular and suited her perfectly.

What is it about babies and weddings that spurns such strong emotions? I'm a sap, I love the emotion of babies and weddings. All the hope and joy they inspire. It's all about new beginnings, dreams, hopes, wishes.

Well the real slow down has started at work. Looks like I might be getting a longer than expected Christmas break, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I haven't had more than a two week break (at a time) in probably 10 years, so the prospect of 3 or 4 weeks is quite enticing. Probably won't know for sure until next week.

Mum and Dad pack up tomorrow and move to Renmark, I'm sad but happy for them. I've planned to go and help them clean the house tomorrow morning, as the removalists are loading up. They have to be out of the house by lunchtime, so we should have a busy morning.

Do you know that I have lived in the same house for 17 years? Yet, the first 22 years of my life, I lived in more than 10 houses. I am really starting to get itchy feet and would love to move, it's not going to happen, but it's nice to dream. My children had something that I never had, they were born and lived in the same house for their entire childhood, attended the same schools.

I attended 6 different schools through the course of my childhood and again it wasn't necessarily a bad thing. I enjoyed the variety and moving around, or is that just the years dimming my memories?

That was the one thing I envied about the wedding we attended, of the 5 bridesmaids that made up the bridal party, only one of them had known the bride less than 10 years. She has very close friends and has kept them through the years. Moving around meant that I lost contact with a lot of my friends over the years, I still chat to some of them on occasion, but they are not 'in' my life any longer.

Ciao for now, Fi

Patience is a virtue

Life is all about timing…the unreachable becomes reachable, the unavailable become available, the unattainable…attainable. Have the patience, wait it out. It’s all about timing. Stacey Charter

Yeah I chose the quote for a specific reason - if you read my last post then you'll know what I'm talking about- they still haven't made a decision. urgh! Frustrates the hell out of me. I'm beginning to wonder if they will ever make a decision, what is it about company board members? These ones don't even appear to have their facts straight about company history and they're the ones we're relying on to approve the project.

If the project doesn't go ahead then I am out of a job and they will make me redundant, unless they offer me some cruddy alternative which I will be obliged to take. The other alternative is that they will only give part approval for the project and then we will cut it down, lessening costs and minimising risks - which means we implement something that won't meet expectations and will be seen as a half-assed effort. Can't win

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining as such - I enjoy my job but the challenges and new experiences have obviously come to a grinding halt until we get approval. I want more, I need more. I've got 3 weeks left till Christmas break and bugger all to do. Do you think I could get away with writing my book during work time to fill in the time. The days go really slow when you have nothing to do.

It's my 'baby's' 22nd birthday today, boy how the years fly by. They're all growing up so quickly. At times it makes me sad and nostalgic, remembering them as babies and toddlers. Now they have their own lives and their friends.

That's all for now, Cheers