87

There are 87 days left til our holiday!

Yesterday, whole day, and Monday, half day, I was receptionist.  I always dread it, but in reality find it far more tolerable than standing-in for her while she's HERE.  It irritates me immensely to have to stand in while she goes on walkabout.  But if she's absent, I can get on with it and 'be receptionist' for the day.

I've been stitching a bit, I want to finish the 'wooden frame' section of the design, as it's a natural 'frame' of the design itself.  Everything else can then be stitched within it, and with reference to it, so it'll be easier to work. 

I haven't been sitting down daily to stitch lately, somehow my mind is very 'busy' with thoughts about Aus, which I suppose is only to be expected as, like with the wedding, there are so many things to plan and prepare and do, which can only really be done in the month or 2 before the actual event.  So, I'm eager for the time to fly past so we can get going!  And make moves!  But... I wish the time could be longer, so that we could fit things in before we leave.  It's winter now, or almost winter, or late-autumn, etc blabla, essentially the weather has changed, so I feel that we won't have enough time to go on our sightseeing ventures to catch things on video.

I have a feeling it's going to be hard... stressful, when the time comes, to actually LEAVE.  On the one hand, it won't be MUCH of a change because, living in town, we don't see much of anyone ANYWAY, and we'll still be able to chat to the people we chat with already.  On the other hand, we won't be able to just pop in for tea at G's parents, or hang out at Mom+Sis, or bump into friends at the shops, or whatever.  Thankfully we'll still be able to phone and SMS and chat online though, which we do now.

Then of course, there's the leaving behind of an entire country.  A frame of reference.  Everything we know.  The value of our money, buying power, how things are done, how not to do things, how to avoid things, how to get things, where to do things, when to do things, the list can go on.  I'm really looking forward to the freedom though.  Not financial freedom, as I doubt we'll be stinking rich any time soon, but just the freedom to GO FOR A GODDAMN WALK in the evenings!!  To take a leisurely bike ride, to sit on a bench in a park without feeling anxious that someone might approach you with a knife.  To buy KFC without being worried that the streetkids will cause trouble.  I know that sanity and self-preservation would be required ANYwhere in the world, but just the constant anxiety of 'who is that... what was that (sound/shadow), what are they doing?'.  Also, I'm looking forward to the freedom of paying taxes and GETTING SOMETHING BACK.  Not stupid soccer stadiums, not luxury cars for MPs, STREETLIGHTS and PUBLIC TRANSPORT!  Road maintenance!  Water supply!  Getting your money's worth, paying your share but CONTRIBUTING, not being ripped off.

Ok this has turned into a very contemplative blogpost, but I'm back at my own desk today and I have, so far, got nothing to do.  I COULD go check the guy's filing, but don't feel like it RIGHT now.  Will check in a moment.

Right now I wish I could be at home, spending the entire day stitching.  Somehow this Xstitch isn't as 'gripping' as any of the 3 horses, I guess because it's a 'design' as opposed to a 'character'.  But it's still fun.  Simple, clearly defined colours, instead of blended colours.  The colour I'm working with now is a cheerful yellow.  Once I'm done with this colour I'll post a picture.

I want to go home now........!  And stitch!!