Happy Birthday To ME!

So yesterday was my 28th Birthday! It was nice. I woke up to some nice pressies from Andy, a Kombi van shaped money box and a beautiful diamond pendant. From that point, the day just got better through a course of little events. I was racing the train, managed to score a perfect park at the station and the driver waited for me. Bless her (it was the husky voiced lady, I feel like I should be paying $5.95 each time she announces the next station).
I got to work and everyone was happy to see me and hear all about my holiday, I got countless very lovely Happy Birthday messages on Facebook and it was a generally un-crappy day in the research centre.
At 3:30, I closed the research centre down and sat down to bash out a job application which had been due last Friday, but I begged their compassion on the grounds that I had been on leave and only read the email today. No sooner did I get off the phone to them, my phone rang and it was a panel member from a position that I had applied for before I went on leave. I had received a letter when I got back from my trip saying that the selection process had to be put on hold for 12 weeks, however she said that the process was now off hold and that I won the position! WOW! It's a personal assistant role in the Health Department and I should be starting in around 3 weeks. Central location, so no more 60km round trip every second week! Hip hip hooray!
It seems that I am bathing in a vat of Smarties at the moment!
Stay tuned for the next exciting installment......

Back to it!

Hello everyone! Back from Darwin, had a lovely time, too lovely to bother trying to find an internet cafe and sit blogging for too long. Will post some more info and pics when I get an opportunity!

Darwin

Gee's it's sticky!!!!

Ok, first, a run down on our weekend in Melbourne. As described in my last post, late arrival, bottle of wine and block of chocolate before bedding down in Matt's spare room, which is a shrine to Peter Brock, no joke!!!
We spent Saturday exploring the Bellarine peninsula and catching up with Matts folks and some other friends down that way. We then hit the road to Melbourne and arrived at Nick & Tricias place. We all sat out on the deck enjoying a bevvy and then taxied into the city. ONce there, we enjoyed a beer at a bar that is on the rooftop of a building, aptly named the rooftop bar. The lift was out of order, so we sure earned our beer. It was only about 5 floors up, so not too hard! After that, we headed to Chilli Padi for tea. Yum. Lots of spicy things and good wine! Dessert was at Max Brenners where we all suffered chocolate overload. After that, we went to a bar called Sister Bella. If there had been about 100 less people, it would have been a cool place. As it was, it was quite small and stuffy.
Sunday was a chill out day with Nick and Trish. We had a late brekky near their place and then went on a bit of a market jaunt. After that, we cruised Melbourne for a bit, went over Westgate Bridge and out to Williamstown, a great little place not unlike Victor, only a hell of a lot closer to the city.
A late lunch there and then it was time to get to the airport. The flight was long, there was only so much reading and sleeping one can do before getting a bit over it.
We spent our first night here at Greg & Debs (for those who don't know, Andy's cousin and long time friends of mine). On Monday, we had a morning walk down to Casuarina beach, where I spent many hours of my youth! We took the dog, Jaz, who was most appreciative of the walk and swim!
After lunch, we headed to Casuarina, Darwins answer to Westfield. Not much changed there!!! Deb then dropped us into the city to our backpacker hostel, Frogs-Hollow. Our room is basic, 4 walls, a bar fridge and a bed! It is serving its purpose though, keeping our ciders cold and giving us a spot to lay our heads! We hit Mitchell street for tea after a swim in the pool and then crashed shortly after we got back.
This morning, I dragged Andy through the mall looking for some more comfy shoes (thongs give me blisters between the toes!) and bought him an ice cream for his saintly patience! We had a bit more of an explore of the city before an early lunch and then came back to the hostel for a swim. We are planning to hit the Wharf for tea tonight and then hire pushies tomorrow morning for a bit of an explore!

I'll upload some photos when I have a more reliable connection! This one requires peddaling!

Counting the hours

If you have noticed that Friday the 12th September has been an especially long day, Andy and I take full responsibility! We fly out to Melbourne tonight for our 2 weeks away. I am totally pumped! We fly to Melbourne tonight and will be picked up my my good mate Matty D, who's going to take us back to his abode in Drysdale. We plan to drink wine and chat into the early hours. Tomorrow, we'll spring out of bed and explore the Bellarine Peninsula, catch up with Matts folks for lunch then hit the road. We head back into Melbourne to Nick & Tricias, settle in there before heading out for probably a few pre dinner drinks, then tea at Chilli Padi (YUM) and dessert at Max Brenner (DOUBLE YUM). Sunday is going to be a lazy day with the Rudbott's, checking out the markets and having a long, lazy pub lunch before boarding our plane to Darwin!
Once there, we have a few plans, mainly involving relaxing and soaking up lots of warmth, getting some colour back into our skin and shunning too much responsibility.
I am so ready for this holiday!
Stay posted for pics of us with wet hair, sunnies and tan lines!!!

Searching for a silver lining

A poem/prayer by Michael Leunig (genius!)

God bless those who suffer from the common cold.
Nature has entered into them;
Has led them aside and gently lain them low
To contemplate life from the wayside;
To consider human frailty;
To receive the deep and dreamy messages of fever.
We give thanks for the insights of this humble perspective.
We give thanks for blessing in disguise.
Amen

God bless me! Today, I am going to put the finishing touches on my cross stitch, curl up on the sofa with my book, tissues and a hot honey and lemon drink and let the healing begin.

This one's for you Shazza!

About 10 years ago, I decided to sponsor a child. I was part time employed and living at home. I had surplus cash and a comfortable lifestyle and wanted to share it with someone who really needed it. Enter Erick. Erick, at the time, was 8, living on the Kano Plains in Kenya and needed a sponsor. So Erick became my little mate in pink thongs on the other side of the world. We wrote letters to one another, I got regular school reports and photos and updates. It was a thoroughly rewarding experience for me and judging by his appreciative letters, also for him.

So fast forward to now, I got a call last week to tell me that Erick had reached self supporting age and would no longer be my sponsor child. I was with tears in my eyes that I began to write a letter to Erick wishing him all the best. The sponsor agency told me that they would send me the details of another child shortly and that my sponsorship would continue as normal.

So yesterday, I "met" my new sponsor child. Now I always thought it ironic that someone from somewhere as exotic as Kenya, had such a Western name, Erick (add the K for a bit of interest). My new sponsor child is a 13 year old girl from the same area as Erick. Her name is Sharon and she likes netball......

On a more serious note though, if you have the means to sponsor a child or so something similar (there are heaps of options these days) I highly recommend it. I know some people are sceptics and see it as "warm fuzzies" for white folk, but I truly believe in it and have learned a lot from Erick and hopefully also from Shaz!