24 weeks

6 months until I'm free... 24 working weeks until I am FREE!!!!!! I
can't wait. 6 weeks til our trip, which I also can't wait for!! 9
months left in SA. Hbbm is away until 28th, and 1 of the 2 directors
is away until 5 July - YIPPEE!!

SWC has started... Friday last week was phenomenal! Our office closed
at 13:00, which is a FIRST in the 6+ years I've been here. I wore
jeans and takkies with my Bafana shirt over my top. Out of about 20
of us there were only 9 of us at work that day, and only the typist
and I wore our Bafana shirts. One of the other dept ladies wore an SA
tshirt, and HBBM wore an Italy shirt. To add to the holiday-feeling,
the typist organised 'eats' for us: a soccer-themed paperplate with a
soccer-ball-pattern foil-wrapped chocolate ball, a packet of "Simba
Soccerballs" chips and a green+yellow iced cupcake with an SA flag
poked into it (the cupcake was DELICIOUS!!). All in all it was a
rather festive day and the vibe in the CBD was incredible, so
infectious it was hard to do any work at all because everyone was
blowing their vuvuzelas and hooting. And the weather couldn't have
been better!

We left at 13:00 and headed over to G's parents to watch the opening
ceremony and the opening match between Bafana Bafana vx Mexico. The
ceremony was nice (a bit short!), and the opening match was fun to
watch... pity it was only a draw, but at least not a loss! We had
supper at G's parents and headed quietly home afterwards - the roads
were quiet, but we passed 2 accidents which were probably a foretaste
of the chaos that would descend after the night-match in CT.

Monday, on the other hand, was a disaster. It was the Italy vs
Paraguay game, in CT at 20:30. The office *didn't* close early, and
everyone was already heading over to the stadium at 17:00. The
weather was dreadful and traffic was MAD! It took G over an hour to
get to me, which is usually a 5/10mins drive. While I was standing
outside waiting for him, not only did it rain on me, it hailed as well
- yippee!!! Luckily I'd packed my umbrella, but it was flippin'
FREEZING and I felt like an iceblock when he finally picked me up.
Tonight there's another 20:30 match but I'm walking downtown to his
office so we can escape the CBD without having to cross it.

Wednesday was a public holiday and the 2nd Bafana match, which they
lost terribly to Uruguay - 3:0. We play France next, and unless we
get an incredible score, I think we're out of this tournament.

This blogpost seems very soccer-oriented, which is typical of
everything nowadays, but I do want to point out that I am still not
happy that the SWC is HERE. I'm enjoying the vibe, enjoying watching
the games, which I would be doing anyway were it hosted in another
country, but I'm not enjoying SWC 2010 in SA. SA is not ready for it,
and we're going to suffer once the tournament is over and reality
floods back. We're in for tough times and it should have been
avoided.

In happy news, G's dad has got a job! After a stressful age sans
employment, he's landed himself an interesting-sounding job and starts
1 July. What better gift could there be for Father's Day? :-D

I can't believe we have only 9 months left here. It isn't time yet to
start closing things up, but at least with the SABC account it was a
good call to do in January - it took them FOUR MONTHS to cancel our TV
license! Way to go, people! At least that's DONE, and we must now
just wait to start closing the rest of the accounts/ending
subscriptions. For now, still, I'm trying to focus only on the
holiday, and all we have to do is open bank accounts before we go.
Then, once we are there, RELAAAAAXXXXXXXXX!!!! Enjoy touching down in
what is to be our new home country. It's incredible... I can't wait
to be in that plane, flying over Aus, looking out the window at 'our'
new land. It was indescribably moving looking down at Adelaide when
we went in Nov 08, thinking that this was one day in the future going
to be our home, but now it's FOR REAL!!

9 months though - an eternity, and yet so short. So much to do in
that time. At least the last 3 months we'll both be more or less free
with no work-day to hog most of the waking hours. Can't wait til I'm
free!!

For now, my happiness is that it is Friday. A chilly one but a Friday
nonetheless!

Progress!

Thought for the day

A lack of planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on mine.

Are you ready?!

On Tuesday we went to see the Masters of Rock concert... Wishbone Ash,
Uriah Heep and Deep Purple, in a 4.5hr session of pure ROCK! It was
brilliant, the bands had fun, Uriah Heep's singer seemed to be having
a complete ball! There were loads of solos from everyone and of
*course* Deep Purple played 'Smoke on the Water'. So awesome! There
really are so many hard-core grand-daddies of rock out there, the
crowd was made up of a good proportion of older guys with leather
boots, long ponytail and denim/leather jacket.

On a 'negative' vein, though, the sound at the venue was at times too
loud - so that it affected your ability to hear all of the song's
music/sounds. G and I both noticed it at Kelly Clarkson's concert -
the sound was so loud that you could hardly hear her singing
sometimes, and at this concert you could also barely hear the singers
at times. Another 'gripe' was the cameraman/camera co-ordinator whose
footage is beamed onto the screens at the sides. The dude just DID
NOT KNOW when to focus on which band members. Steve Morse was ripping
up the hall with a mean solo, and the cameraman was focused onto the
drummer who was just filling in with a standard background beat... and
only after half a minute of solo from Steve Morse did the cameraman
realise that the lights were beamed onto someone for a *reason* and
whip his camera around onto the right person. It wasn't just a once
off occasion - you can check the News24 'clip' from both the Kelly
Clarkson concert and see how she just disappears out of the frame for
a bit... is the cameraman too busy with Mxit or something?

But anyway! It was a once in a lifetime, awesome experience.

Other than the concert and being so tired (still, today) after getting
to bed only past 1am on Wed morning, there isn't really any news...
Work has been superdull, I've been learning more/same of the typist's
job, actually doing some of the things now... and GUESS WHAT!!
They're also dull!! It's pure data-entry. Jissie this place really
is a rave! I have 40 working days left til our HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!
Can't wait.

I am (for now) decided about finishing up at this place at the end of
Dec. January just does not appeal to me one bit. At this rate, there
are +-2 months til our holiday, then +-2 months til our next holiday,
then 1.5 months til I'm FREE!!!! Really can't believe how little time
we have left here... 300 days to be exact (yes I counted)... +-10
months, 10 months to do everything, finish up our life here, wrap
everything up and move. Hectic. Just really mindblowing. I can't
wait to get started!

There are 7 days left til SWC starts. Chaos for an entire month.
Can't wait... at least Hbbm's away for a week + a half!

Completely and utterly uninspired

I have been so uninspired lately... I'm not sure why. Work has been SO inSANEly dull... Wednesday, Thursday and Friday last week I was receptionist. It's actually preferable being the receptionist for a full day, as I don't miss her. First thing Monday morning when she was back, she spent 50mins yakking on the phone to her friends. It gets a bit... dunno... just that you get sick of this almost incessant babbling away (regardless of language, but in her case it's Xhosa), almost all day. I know work is quiet, but work is quiet because there's no work coming in = spending the company's money yakking to FRIENDS isn't a great idea. But regardless, it doesn't change the fact that it's so boring.

Today most of my day was spent learning the typists job - certificates. It's a special program that's only loaded on her PC (I think), so I have to go up to her desk to do it. She's got shoulder problems, and is considering (or might *have* to) going for a shoulder op. Which means me being her, for 3 weeks (she said it takes that long to recover completely). I'm really not looking forward to it.

Just in 'idle' chatting with her, I read between the lines that if I were to resign to end at the end of December, I more than likely wouldn't get a bonus - i.e. they'd decide not to seeing as I'd be leaving, regardless of the fact that I'd worked the full 12 months and *should* get one. The way this year is with work coming in though, I'm not sure that any of us is likely to get any bonus. But anyway, I'm seriously (yes I always say that) thinking of finishing up at the end of this year. Fuck the bonus (to put it bluntly) I just can't take an extra month. We're thinking of leaving at the end of March, so we'd both need time to prepare.

My mind is in such a flipping annoying rut of thinking about things, not being able to do anything... and rethinking and rethinking and going in circles. It's not really fun. And despite work being SO DAMN DULL, I am *at work* for a full 8 hours, so when I get home in the evening I'm tired, which pisses me off because in the evening hours when I COULD BE DOING FUN THINGS, I'm *tired*.

Blegh. Nothing more to add really. I've been stitching... but because of the abovementioned tiredness plus a good dose of uninspiration, it's going slowly.

Here's a sexy man to keep you entertained while I try stitch at least a little bit:

First blog since they messed with the server

Woot, work has been KILLER dull, and to make it worse, they've done
something to the server, so MSN is now blocked, as is Gmail and
Hotmail in Firefox, so I'm battling with IE8. Sucks ass. At least I
can chat in hotmail in IE... not ideal but it's at least keeping me
sane. There are 52 working days left.

Saturday was G's birthday, and the weather was PERFECT! Since my bday
(which was on a weekday),I'd been holding thumbs that his birthday
would be sunny and fine, because you can go up the cablecar for free
on your birthday. Usually, even on the most spectacularly sunny say,
it's windy and icy up there, but Saturday it was hardly even breezy.
It was still a bit chilly, but it was stunning. Of course I took
videos!

Sat afternoon we went to G's parents for tea+cake. Sunday we popped
in for KFC with Mom+Sis.

We're still battling with SABC. The assholes. G got an sms (on his
birthday!) to call some upcountry number, with his TV license number
as reference. So I phoned SABC yesterday to find out wtf is going on,
the callcentremonkey says "it's been handed over to (lawyers' name)".
Gee, thanks, fuckers, for handing us over to lawyers WHEN YOUR OWN
FUCKING CANCELLATIONS DEPARTMENT HASN'T EVEN DONE IT'S GODDAMN JOB
YET!! Four MONTHS, and it hasn't been cancelled yet. THEY'RE sitting
on it, but have the CHEEK to hand his details to lawyers. This story
to be continued!

Work is so dull. I really keep saying that in my blogposts, but it
really never changes. Even the typist hasn't really got any work to
do. I'm going to see how things go towards the end of the year, if
it's still quiet etc, maybe I can just resign to end Dec... I could do
with the time off in Jan/Feb/March to catch up a lot of things!

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!!

Back on form

I suppose I'm getting back to my usual form, if that is what I can call my state of being AMPED and IMPATIENT AND AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!

Yesterday was pretty darn busy, and today has been busy too.  Yesterday was a KILLER with my stuffy head and seriously blocked, sore nose.  Today is much better.

It's only Thursday.  Thankfully payday too.  End of April too.  3 months til our trip I CANNOT WAIT!!

Long weekend, and what do I get? A COLD!!

It's a long weekend now... back to work on Wednesday, Tuesday is a holiday and I took Monday (today) off.

Last night, while having a relaxing evening with T + R and G, watching Star Trek (the prequel) and having pizza, I began to feel the onset of a cold. WHY, in GAWD'S NAME, does this happen on a long weekend? So, 2.5 days out of my 4 day weekend are doomed to be spent with a cold. Lovely.

I'm rather miffed right now, as there are a million and one things I'd rather be doing than wandering around like a listless zombie all day. So many yummy things that are waiting to be eaten, and I have NO appetite at all. And what's most dumb is that I'll get to work on Wednesday, still feeling crap, and mention it to colleagues, but it'll be like 'yeah sure, whatever... slacker'. I've been so bored at work lately, and all of a sudden on Friday I was given a KAK task to do (creating 52 reports... in LOTUS 95 WTF) but at least it was something... which I'm now going to have to do with a cruddy grotty head (because I won't be able to just call in sick cos this work needs to be done by end of day Thursday)... I can't wait.

I'm rambling. I have a cold, I have no appetite but I'm hungry, I have no desire to sleep but I'm tired...

I will have to blog again when my head has cleared.

Hospital-style wait

I realised yesterday that this boredom at work is like waiting in hospital.  Sitting in a waiting room, where there are no magazines to read, and I've forgotten to bring my own stuff.  I brought a book yesterday, but finished it before lunch.  The rest of the afternoon I whiled excrutiatingly lethargically away, reading old Noseweeks and Financial Mails (the office has a kinda 'library', most of the magazines being ENTHRALLING publications such as "Plumbing Africa" and "Plant and Equipment Monthly").

Today I want to get out during lunch and buy myself a junkycheap glossy gossipy women's magazine.  Or two.  And some snacks/eats... so that at least I can feel that I've prepared myself for an endless wait, much like the out-patient wait in an Xray dept.

I stitched a bit last night.  I've finished the first colour, I'm looking forward to the next colour because it basically frames everything.  It's going to look very cool.  I wish, as always, that I could stay home and stitch and take it easy.  Winter's in the process of arriving and it's getting chilly again.  Even more reason to want to stay home!

69 working days til the holiday!

SABC

BHAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAH the most pathetic of companies ever:  SABC.

Why do I give them that title?  Because we sent through instruction to cancel our TV license in January.  It is now (look at date of blogpost) APRIL and they haven't done it yet.  They are sending SMSes and emails threatening G with legal action and being handed over to credit bureaux, despite the fact that every time I phone to follow up they say there's a note on the account saying that it's 'handed to cancellation department' and we won't be handed over.  Somehow, that note doesn't instruct them to STFU!!

THANKS GUYS, YOU ARE THE EPITOME OF EFFICIENCY!!

Anyway, apart from that:  THERE ARE 70 WORKING DAYS LEFT TIL OUR HOLIDAY!!  Woopwoopwooooooooooooooooop!!!!!!

Other than that, there's not much news... I've been stitching, slowly.  The threads included in this kit are cut very long, so it takes quite a while to finish a particular strand.  And they knot a lot.  Unfortunately the needle included in the kit (a 26) is about 2 sizes too big, and I don't have any apart from 24s, so every stitch has to be poked through.  But it's still enjoyable.  I've been working with just 1 colour for now, the next colour I'm going to do basically frames the whole thing, so I'll have a far better idea of just how little there is to stitch :D  Can't wait! 

Dunno if I mentioned in any previous posts but I got Golden Ice back.  Had to return him to the shop cos of specks under the glass and a skew frame... but he's back and BEAUTIFUL!  So inspiring, up on the wall above me as I work on the next one.

G's Gran is coming down for a month.  Hopefully we'll catch some of the visits on video :-D  I've also made quite a list of things to-do/see for my video-chronicle... hopefully we can do some this weekend (Tuesday's a holiday and G and I both put in for leave on Monday!), we just will have to wait and see what the weather does.

Work is so deathly boring now... still... even the typist is quiet and bored.  70 working days left.  I'm still not sure about when I can resign, it depends on the meaning of 'one calendar month'.  Problem is, I can't very well ask about it now because suspicions will be raised.  So if anyone has a definite answer as to what exactly 'one calendar month' means, please leave me a comment!

Anyway, that's all for now - I've been reading an interesting book and I believe it is now time for me to pick it up and read some more.

Chip crumbs

Ok, thanks HBBM, you are hysterically funny.  Wow, how could I eat chip crumbs and mess like that, you're right:  I need a bib.  Thanks.  Hilarious.

Excursions and adventures

I've been thinking a lot lately about things we see and do here that I need to catch on video.  I've made a whole list of the routes we drive and places we go, as well as things we have done and seen before that we will wish we had a made a record of once we've moved.  It's quite a list and, as always, now I'm superkeen to start!  It'll be quite fun, as there are some things we haven't done before (going to see the Noon Gun, going to Robben Island - G's never been), etc, as well as others we've already seen, such as Cape Point nature reserve, Table Mountain cable car, etc... I'm looking forward to it now, and of course I'm frustrated to be stuck at work on a perfectly good sunny day missing out on the opportunity.
THIS PLACE!!!  Guhhhh!!  It's so boring!!!!!  There really is NOTHING TO DO ANYMORE!!
74 more (eish) working days til we go on our Austrip.  I also considered resigning earlier (by 3 weeks) next year, but it hardly benefits me at all so I'd probably just stick it out til end of Feb so that I get that paycheque.  So, end of Feb 2011 is it, I guess.  So my workday countdown still stands.  Except, I'm not sure what the status is of our riverrafting trip.  K who has pretty much been the driving force/organiser of the whole thing has been retrenched, so it might not happen.  Dunno - no news as yet and October's still far off, so we'll wait and see.
Dunno whether there's something wrong with me physically, but I'm SO TIRED lately.  Maybe it's cos of work being so DEATHLY BORING that it's just making my entire being lethargic and tired.
Guhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and I want Golden Ice back now, plzkthx!

Pony party weekend

This weekend was rather fun, despite going on Saturday to the framing shop to drop off Golden Ice - upon closer inspection I saw there were some specks under the glass, and the frame wasn't perfect.  The lady at the shop agreed wholeheartedly, so I'm sans Golden Ice for now.  The rest of Saturday we spent chilling, I looked at the rest of the slides, and just enjoyed relaxing.
Sunday we went through to SARDA to visit Majoor.  I'm enjoying filming the drives and 'events' so much and filmed the drive there, as well as the scenery - it's so beautiful there and was the most perfect day too.  We got there before M+J and Sis so we just hung around by the car til they got there, and I must say: I LOVED the sunlight!!  After the others arrived, and G and I had tried on hats, we had a 'pony ride'!  Majoor's saddle is currently 'out of action', so we had to ride bareback - I had a mosey around the indoor-arena, then it was G's turn.  G'd never been on a horse before, so his first ever pony ride was caught on camera!  Majoor's so mellow and relaaaaaaaaaaxed, he was hardly lifting his feet very much and just plodded around the arena.  M rode after G, and although she made Majoor trot, he was hardly exerting himself in the slightest!  Afterwards we had a mini-picnic and chatted for a while.  It's so lovely and peaceful at SARDA, and the view of the mountains is stunning.
After SARDA, we headed on over to G's parents for tea at 3.  I got the drive on video as well as we went a slightly different route than usual.  Caught Pookie (Dude's 'uncle' - an Amazon parrot) on camera as well, he's such a funny thing when he babbles at G.
Yesterday evening I made sushi, and just had a mellow time too.  I was meaning to clean the fishtank this weekend but didn't (it's only due next week though), and we didn't do our usual chores but somehow it's nice to just take it easy and ENJOY the weekend instead of rushing around doing stuff like chores.
On a less peaceful and relaxing topic, I'm seriously worried about the future of this country.  Or rather, I'm worried about our parents'+sisters'  futures in this country.  It's going to take quite a while for us to be able to sponsor them across once we've settled in.  The whole 'current affairs' scenario is extremely scary, and that Malema clown is the scariest person out there right now.  I really cannot wait until we're safely out of here, but will worry so much for everyone here still.  It really doesn't make for a 'stress-free' emigration, worrying about this and despite wanting badly to go, not wanting to go because of leaving family+pets behind. 
I think, under the circumstances, I'll resign as soon as the office opens in Jan 2011, so that we can leave earlier.  So it seems like March is going to be it.  G's work will likely finish end Dec, if I end work near the beginning of Feb, we should be able to go by the end of March.  That gives us time to sort things out THIS year, but not a lot of time once we've resigned.  Hopefully we won't need much time then.  It makes my list of things to see/do/video before we go even more 'urgent'.
I don't want to dwell on that right now, so let me post this and 'sign off'.

Golden Ice - framed

I LOVE how the thin border goes so well! It smooths the colours and makes them blend better. The frame-example they used on the chart's packaging really doesn't do the cross-stitch design ANY justice!

I'm taking him back to the framing shop though, as there is a speck of cardboardfluff under the glass, as well as a white speck or two which are distracting... I know it sounds finicky but when you're paying almost R500 for the framing, it's not insignificant!

Apache Wedding Blessing

Easter weekend 2010

The past (long) weekend has been nice and relaxed.  Managed to finish Golden Ice (see blogpost below), spent time with both sets of families (had a nice time both places), got lots of chocolate (no, we haven't even half-finished it - we're being good and not scoffing like mad)... and I borrowed the suitcase which contains all of Dad's slides.  He took thousands of slides, all dated +-60s/70s.  I'm not yet 1/3 of the way through, and there have been some incredible pictures. 
There are a whole lot of photos of his side of the family, including Grandpa and Grandma H, in COLOUR, no less, and loads from his travels through game farms as well as photos from plane windows while the plane was in the air.  He must have spent quite a good portion of his time taking photos, as the photos that have been turned into slides are (mostly) clear, steady, well-composed photos which must have taken time and effort and a tripod!!  I'm considering buying a scanner which can capture from slides (and negatives), because it'd be a damn pity to 'lose' these photos due to them being slides (and us not having a slide-projector), and I reckon it'd cost a small fortune to have them scanned by a photo-shop.  So... let's see.  Maybe a further project for me (but not sure yet).
I've been working on the Wedding Blessing - it's got such a different 'feel' to the other 3 cross-stitches I've done, as the fabric's holes are quite small and it's a light colour fabric.  The needle they included with the kit is too large so I'm using the only smaller one I have but even that one is 'pricking' its way through.  This morning I went to the framing shop (it's moved, now it's right near to where I work!), to get Golden Ice framed.  Took a while to decide, but eventually settled on a black frame with a thin strip of yellow backing/boarding... pics to follow!  I really can't wait, he's going to look STUNNING!!!!
I counted (yes, already), and there are 80 working days left til our holiday.  It's a HOLIDAY now, not merely a trip.  Hotel's booked, flights are booked, just gotta hire a car.  I'm thinking we should take it easy this trip, instead of rush around sightseeing.  We did a bit of sightseeing when we were on honeymoon, this time we've got a bank account to open and I want to get a simcard, other than that, we'll probably just drive around and see what the place is all about.  It'll be nice to go on drives, exploring further out.  Not FAR far... but still, not restricted to the CBD and immediate surrounds.
I CANNOT WAIT!  There isn't really much happening between now and then, apart from G's gran coming to visit for a month in May!  Looking forward to seeing her again!  Other things on our 'to do' list are:  G's license needs renewing, we have to get the washmachine serviced, got another dentist checkup and... oh and surviving SOCCER WORLD CUP woot.  That's going to be VERY interesting... not looking forward to the chaos and mayhem...
The weather's taken a definite turn... since 21st March (equinox), it's suddenly got a coolness in the air.  I've thrown another blanket on the bed... so winter's definitely on its way.
Man, now I (once again!) want to be at home stitching.  The winter morning/midday sunlight really streams in beautifully at home, and I wish I was there now lying on the couch lapping it up!  The place where G's aunt+uncle+cousin are staying currently gets a LOT of late afternoon sun, and when we were there on Sunday I was so envious of their dogs - lying stretched out absorbing all the warmth!  Hopefully one day when we have our own house, it'll get good sunlight.  Maybe Brisbane'd be too hot, and we'd be glad NOT to have any sunlight in the house... !
Nearly lunchtime, got a magazine to page through in the meantime - work is still so quiet.

Finished!!!

2 years in the making, and he's done! Jeepers, talk about shoulder ache (it's past midnight now).

Changes

G fetched our passports, and the visas are so pretty and snug in them.  Too cool for words.
Our $ was released yesterday, so yesterday evening we wanted to book flights.  Except, Singapore Airlines' site bombed out after we'd put in the billing details.  No seats on the itinerary.  So this morning I phoned the local office, only to be told by the lady that the online system and her system *are* different, but she can give us the tickets for R12 xxx, which was R1 000 more than the price we had been trying for.  She says the error happened because the flights back are full or something.  Our other option is to 'try and play around with dates til you find something suitable'.  Yes, lady, that's a GREAT IDEA, seeing how the thing only throws up the flipping error once you've clicked 'PAY'... think about that for a second:  the only way to know it HASN'T failed, is after you've already PAID for it.  Not a very smart idea.  So Singapore airlines can get stuffed, especially since their airfare is ALL now R13k+, regardless of what date you choose, when just yesterday, they were R10k etc.  Nice one.  We're thinking of flying on Qantas, with local domestic flights here just to get us to the departing airport.  It saves us R2k on the ORIGINAL Singapore airlines price (which is now not available).
It also allows us to choose different dates, which is better.  Our flights (for now) are closer than we'd originally planned, which is great.  Also, we miss out a public holiday lumped right in the middle of the holiday, which would waste a 'business' day there for us to sort things out.  The hotel rates are the same.
Today is BORING!!!!  Hbbm's not in today, it's a long weekend this weekend, so I'm ... waiting to go home.  Want to stitch stukkend this eve... and tomorrow... and and and...

Amped-a-lamped!

Just phoned the visa evidencing company and apparently our passports (with visas stuck into them) are READY!  That's not even 3 days!  Super fast, I'm impressed.
Can't wait to get them back... what it also means is that we can book our tickets as SOON as our $ comes through!  Yay... can't wait for that EITHER!
I started the Wedding Blessing x-stitch yesterday.  I haven't gridded it, but at least started the design - luckily it has stitches right in the centre so I can count from there outwards when I do grid it.  Going to be so glad once Golden Ice is 100% though...
No other news that I can think of, for now.  Once our tickets are booked, I'll put in my leave already.  87 working days left!!

Restless

I'm feeling excrutiatingly restless now.  Got an email about the road closures during the SWC and I'm NOT looking forward to it.  An entire month of chaos in the city... yay.  I won't go into detail but I'm dreading the entire thing.
Apart from that, I'm restless because I'm so nearly done with Golden Ice.  The framing shop is moving (around the corner now!), so I'll have to wait til they've moved before I take Golden Ice there.  This evening we're going to the mall to buy the thread I still need.  I already put the new xstitch fabric into the Qsnap frame, want to buy white cotton thread to grid it so that I can start!  Can't wait, it's going to be quite fun.  I still can't believe how beautiful Golden Ice looks... out of the frame, stunning.  Hopefully the Wedding Blessing won't take TWO YEARS...
We're waiting for our passports to come back from having the visas stuck into them, then we can buy airtickets.  They should be ready next week sometime.  Once it's done, that's the last thing visa-related we'll have to do, apart from go on holiday to have the visas activated.
I've been thinking how at the moment we're waiting for the passports before we can book, after that we'll have to wait for the holiday, then after that it's waiting for the Xmas holidays, and then waiting til I resign, and after that, waiting until we move.  It's a bit crazy... but what else can it be called other than waiting?  It'll be nice when we've moved, and we can settle in.  No more *waiting* waiting, just being.  For now the holiday seems too far away.
I really am looking forward to the day I'm finally finished here.  If, that is, the company doesn't have retrenchments.  Chatting to the accountant, apparently if we don't get the big job that's pending/still in discussion-stage/etc, we're going to be in a bit of trouble.  The current jobs we have aren't very big, and if that one doesn't happen, they might have to retrench people.  No one has said anything yet, but that's the accountant's impression.  Soo............. we'll have to wait and see.
I'm feeling a bit blah though, thinking about leaving next year, leaving Dude behind.  He'll be only 4, in Feb next year.  Still a youngster, really.  The fish will be 4 years old later this year... leaving them all behind... :(  Can't stay here til they've moved on to the fishtank in the sky... and too sad thinking about Dude.  They still aren't letting in birds from any country apart from New Zealand.  I feel worse because of being at work all day, every day, leaving him alone at home, only to leave him behind when we move... when I could be spending time with him keeping him company, doing stuff at home.  But who ever stayed home, not working, to keep a pet company?  But I wish I could.
I suspect my blog repeats itself all the time... I guess I type things over and over and over.  I reckon it's a symptom of my boredom at work - I sit thinking the same things over and over, dwelling on them because there's nothing to do.  Another 209 days of this... wooot!

Penultimate photo

Thoughts for a non-Monday

Yesterday was a public holiday - YAY!! Had a pretty busy long-weekend actually. Apart from the usual chores, I cleaned the fishtank, and we visited Sis for Synd on Friday, went to ex-her-G's place as a farewell (he's moving to Aus tomorrow - WOW seems unreal) on Saturday, then Sunday we popped in at G's parents for tea. In between all of that, I stitched like mad. I'm so nearly done with Golden Ice. I just hope I don't run out of this colour thread, but I'll just have to wait and see. Can't wait to be done now. I'm so eager to 'free' him from the Qsnap frame, looking forward to having him back, framed, put on the wall.
We've got to get our visas placed into our passports, G's going to drop the passports off tomorrow... can't believe it, this is the last visa-related thing still to do! Can't believe it's done, finished, granted. Everything else, from now on, is activation-trip related, and once that's done, MOVE-related. Waiting for payday to happen, then we're going to book our tickets. Gotta also hear from Sis whether she IS or ISN'T coming with us on the trip. Just gotta know soon so we can book our flights and accommodation. 92 working days til the trip! Can't wait!! After we get back from the trip, I'll have only 122 working days left... phew... what a countdown!

Golden Ice progress

I have 1 colour remaining :D

Progress and pausing

I've been making steady, slow progress with Golden Ice.  I'm almost done with the 2nd last colour, then all that's left is knocking myself out on the last colour!
It's so thrilling and I'm already eager to have finished and want to be busy starting the Wedding Blessing while Golden Ice is away being framed.  The Wedding Blessing is going to be so much smaller than Golden Ice, I'll (hopefully) be able to sit on the couch and stitch, rather than be restricted to sitting at the table the whole time (my poor shoulders are so tired).  It's a quicker design, as it's not an entire expanse of stitches, it's more spaced out and empty, and I'm hoping to do it in the time before we move.  It'd be special since it's linked to the wedding, and would be nice to keep stitching in this time before leaving.  All the other designs I have lined up - 100%-of-the-fabric-is-stitched Gentle Strength, more-than-50%-of-the-fabric-is-stitched Motion (which still needs threads), the others which still need both fabric and threads - can all wait til we've moved.  Also, if I'm not half-way through stitching something when we arrive in Aus, there'll be loads of time free (as opposed to 'busy' stitching) to explore the place and learn about where we will be.
It's way in advance to be planning stuff linked to the move, but it's better to be prepared than arrive and regret not organising something ahead.  I've enquired about opening a bank account, I've asked about getting a PO Box, want to re-research cellphone service providers, because all these things we can do when we activate the visa (not entirely sure about the postbox though).  The simcard we'd get in August would last a year before going inactive, and we'd definitely be in Aus before August 2011, so we could at least have an Aus contact number in order to arrange things and have a 'fuller' profile with the bank, for example.
But, as always, my daydreamy mind wanders and I think about things that we CAN'T do yet, like find a place to rent, or a suitable car.  And of COURSE I'd want personalised numberplates on my car (my car BUAHAH... that isn't happening ANYtime soon but it's a nice daydream), but these things must wait - I need to focus on more 'immediate' concerns like what can and can't be taken with us, which removal company to use, etc, and even THAT has to wait quite some time before it becomes pressing.  So, I'll keep my head down, prepare for the holiday in August (and, don't forget, river rafting in October!), and try CHILL OUT!!
The pausing I refer to in my subject line is:  KELLY CLARKSON!!  We're going to see Kelly Clarkson live!  I can't wait!  Going home and straight there, so that we can have supper early and BE THERE ready.  Really can't wait.  I think I should rename myself Kit-Can't-Wait.
YAY!!

Still can't believe it!

It still doesn't feel real.  Woke up this morning, and it felt weird NOT having to instantly check the visa application status!  Still doesn't feel real.
Last night we watched the 3rd Back to the Future movie.  While we were battling with a scratch in the dual-layer switching section of the disk, I noticed something small moving across the floor.  It was a TEENYTINY little CUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTE baby gecko!  It was so adorable!!  I quickly moved the couch away and herded it towards the wall, managed to 'capture' it in my hand and took it outside - there really is nothing for them to eat indoors, we've already had one in the bedroom die after a couple of days due to starvation.
I've been stitching again - spent most of the weekend stitching.  So exciting looking at Golden Ice, picturing finishing the colour I'm working on, having only 1 left.   Guh I wish I could stay home and stitch!!
MAN I wish that stupid widget still worked - the countdown that I had on my blog.  Anyway, this is my countdown, I can't remember if I posted the link or not:

http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/customcounter.html?day=28&month=02&year=2011&hour=17&min=00&sec=00&p0=56

Basically, I have 219 working days left til the end of Feb 2011, and 95 working days left til our trip - provisionally.  I still have to find out stuff from the bank we want to go to, like how long it takes to activate the account once it's opened and we go there.  If it's a week, we'll have to rethink our holiday dates.
219 DAYS LEFT OMG!!  And G only til the end of this year!!
Ok, that's all for now - gotta go make hbbm tea cos the tealady went off to the doctor.

OMGGGGGGGGGGG

WE GOT THE VISA!!!!!

I used my phone and logged onto the status checking webpage first thing this morning, as I have done every weekday for the past 4.5 months.

WE GOT THE VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It says 'applicant approved'.... OHMYGAOOOOODDDD I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S HAPPENED!!  I can't believe it's real!!

The whole application took 4.5 months, and it took 1 month after G's medicals were finalised to be approved.

We have to enter Aus (either move or activate the visa) by 1 Feb next year.  So we have plenty of time... but now it's time to book flights and accommodation for August - our trip!  I can't wait!  My savings are only being released later this month, BOY is that going to be a long wait til it happens!  OMG SO EXCITING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now Sis just has to apply for her tourist visa, we gotta book flights, accommodation, get travel insurance... and WAIT AND OMG exciting!!  I CAN'T WAIT!!  Gotta put in leave... 4 months til the trip... it's only a short trip BUT I CAN'T WAIT!!

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

I can't believe it's real!!!!

Quote for the day

There's something adolescent about it, the theatricality of anger.  It's definitely a juvenile thing;  I think if you're still indulging it beyond that then you start to become reminiscent of Basil Fawlty.  I think that was a fantastic portrayal of high-level histrionic, ineffectual rage where you want to create an impact but you just seem shrill and ludicrous.

- Colin Firth

Thought for the day

Those who do not create the future they want must endure the future they get.

 (Draper L. Kaufman, Jr.)

So tired

Yesterday was, to put it simply, was KAK.
Except for watching Back to the Future last night, the rest of yesterday was pretty much shitty.
First of all, ants.  At home, ANTS!!  Monday evening I went to have a haircut, G popped in at the shops while he was waiting and bought us a box of chocs.  Since we got home late and had stuff to do, we didn't open the box of chocs that night.  Tues morning, first thing in the morning, I notice the box of chocs was swarmed with ants.  IT WASN'T EVEN OPEN YET!!
Got to work, it was ok at first, in the morning I got my paws on a magazine that the typist brings sometimes (highlight of the week, pretty much), and since I'd packed in some chips to nibble, I was looking forward to having a nice break at lunch with magazine+chips.  Hbbm kept me busy the morning, then went out to a meeting leaving me with work to do.  Once I was finished, I took the opportunity to do filing which I hadn't been able to do for a good while because of being busy/at switchboard/whatever.  5mins to 1pm I'm NEARLY done filing, receptionist calls up to the office I'm filing in, saying hbbm's looking for me urgently, need to finish the document we were busy with the morning.  It's got to be ready by 3.  FIVE MINUTES TO LUNCH!!  He gives me drawings and says the pencil marks are to be rubbed off, the numbering redone, copies made, while he's busy reading through the stuff I've typed up so that he can make changes while I'm busy.  Lunch fuckingwell comes and goes... and I'm stuck, starving.
MADAM, on the other hand, is sitting at switchboard for lunch (it's the typist's week not to sit on Tuesday - DON'T EVEN BOTHER asking what the logic is in the timetable, there is none), so she asks if she can go to the toilet... she says she's sorry, she can see I'm busy but it's her time of the month (THANKS for sharing... really).  I look up from the drawings with a O.o expression on my face and say "I actually can't... " so she huffs and mutters something like she's going to ask the typist.  I carried on with the work, next thing I hear the doorbell go.  I ignore it, and it goes again.  I get up to see where she is, and she's DISAPPEARED.  She just abandoned the frontdesk.  Bitch.
I really don't understand why she can't just ASK SOMEONE ELSE!!!   Of all the times she asks, I NEVER SAY NO UNLESS HBBM IS RIGHT AT MY DESK DICTATING STUFF - because I'm NOT usually BUSY, AND because I, wonderfully, am first in line to stand in!  But no, she doesn't ask tealady, fuck, she doesn't even bother tealady to make coffees for meetings (tealady's JOB) sometimes even though tealady is upstairs, she asks me to listen to the phone while SHE makes it.  No, she doesn't call anyone ELSE, she just disappears.
I was so angry.  Fuck my lunchbreak (again), thanks hbbm, and FUCK YOU receptionist bitch!
It was busy ALL DAY, so I didn't get to eat anything ALL DAY.  Cornflakes in the morning, then a nice FAST the rest of the day til hometime.  Lovely.
I did send an email to the bosses, telling them of her disappearance, considering they're PAYING her to do her job!
222 days left of this?  I dunno hey... I guess I can try to keep myself sane by remembering that (hopefully) the Aus trip is in August, only 4 months away, and then, after 1 month, is the river-rafting trip, then 2 months after it's end of year holidays... THEN I have only 2 MONTHS LEFT EVER in this dump.  Putting it like that, it sounds semi-tolerable... but to think: 11 months left...?
On 1 of the Aus/SA forums, someone who applied (for the same visa as us) in Nov has already got their visa.  Damn!  When's our turn?  On the forum, with our particular visa application type, it's just us in Oct and now only 1 other person in Nov.  Our turn pls!!!  PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!
It's still so hot here now... muggy and overcast/hazy, and humid!!  I guess it's preparation for Brisbane weather :P

AWESOME BIRTH(DAY/WEEKEND)

Wow... is all I can say!

Ok, let me not be coy/corny and actually elaborate :D

First of all, Friday was my day, and despite having to be receptionist ALL DAY, it wasn't insanely bad, it was thankfully quite quiet. Hbbm wasn't in a mad tizz, so it was ok. Friday evening G and I went out for supper at an Indian restaurant. We shared a reshmi tikka (chicken) starter (mild) and aloo tikka (vegetable) starter (medium!), and for mains we shared korma lamb and makhani lamb (both mild). It was very yum. I preferred the makhani lamb, but the korma was also good.

Saturday morning we slept late (ahhhhh bliss), I read up a bit on camcorders (or carried on, I'd been trying to find out as much as I could for the past few days) then we popped out to the shops (got a quote for a cam). We headed over to G's parents' for birthday tea, and wow there was a delicious spread of sweet treats - carrot cake which we brought, plus chocolate cupcakes, caramel cupcakes, an apple-pie G's mom made (with the letter H on top!), plus shortbread biscuits. G's aunt+uncle and 2 of the 3 cousins were there, 1 of the cousins and aunt+uncle have moved to CT and it was so lovely seeing them again, and even more so, knowing that they're here, closer and a more tangible part of our lives.

It was very hot yesterday, as it has been for the past I'd say 2 weeks+. Yesterday evening, sis, M+J came over for Syndicate. Just a chatting, catching up kinda evening.

This morning I resumed my camcorder-research stint, comparing the quote I'd got with prices I could find out online, and decided to buy! G told me (very cryptically) on Friday about a surprise he'd organised for today... I worked out what it was during Friday evening and decided I NEEDed a video camera for it. The camera I bought is a Sony Handicam DCR-SX40(E), which seems pretty decent and seriously small. It fits in the digital camera bag PERFECTLY. So, it'd finished charging for only a few minutes and we rushed off to the V&A to the heliport. G had reserved seats for us on a Huey helicopter on a 'combat style' trip. OHHHHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYYY WORRRRRRRRRRRRRD IT WAS AAAAAWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was so incredible and wonderful, experiencing the sensation of flying in a different way to normal aeroplanes. It was quite noisy, being an open-sided Huey, but it was WONDERFUL. I filmed the entire flight (30+ mins), which because of the camera having an LCD didn't hinder my ACTUAL enjoyment at all. WOW!!!

WOW!!!! And super-kudos to the camera for actually capturing the helicopter sound well instead of a grating, overwhelmed crashing kind of noise that you might get with very loud sound. Wow. Wow to the camera and superwowyay to G for the seriously wonderful adventure! We got certificates afterwards saying we'd been on the mission and were 'honourably discharged' hehe.

Afterwards, we strolled around the Waterfront for a while, me doing the touristy thing filming odds and ends. When we got to the car, it said 41C. We certainly picked the HOTTEST day to park the car outdoors for a good few hours. One of the electronic clock/temp displays showed 85C HAHAHA... but I reckon it was maybe 43C, at the hottest, today! A real sweater of a day.

Right now I'm lying on the couch typing with the laptop, got the fan going pointed right at me, and it's still hot. I don't want to KNOW how hot it is upstairs... not looking forward to going to bed at all. Might end up sleeping on the couch ;-)

I hope HOPE HOPE that we get our visa soon - too exciting thinking about filming the Aus trip, and also the riverrafting trip too (just gotta get a waterproof housing for the camera).

Anyway, lemme sign off by just saying:

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Transit lounge

Right now, and these days, I feel like I'm waiting in an airport for an indeterminate length of time.  The only difference is, I'm LIVING that and not waiting FOR someTHING at a specific time... there's just no conclusion, like boarding a plane or reaching a destination... and I'm not even sure if I'm in the right airport anyway, or, why I'm even IN an airport, waiting, anyway?
I'm so tired.  I'm not sure if it's the hot weather we've been having lately or not sleeping properly or something else, but I just am so tired and exhausted.  I know we ARE waiting for something (visa, move preparations, finishing work+life here before moving), but I really... feel like I'm a damaged rowing boat, filled with water, slowly being scraped up a sandy beach by the tide...
I haven't made a LOT of progress on Golden Ice, it's just been so hot and uninspiring.  And I've been trying to research camcorders.  It's just not working.  I don't want to fork out R5000 for a video camera, but each one I read up about (+-R2500 - R3500) has some problem that seems bad.  One doesn't have a pause button, another has bad picture quality, another sucks when shooting in low light conditions, some have file formats that are apparently troublesome to convert to files the computer can read, etc etc etc.  But anyway, Panasonic seems decent, but the one I'd like isn't available here yet.  I want to start recording stuff to chronicle our year.  I don't recall if I blogged this already - probably have.  Anyway, it'll be fun.  Except I don't know what to buy!!  What's extra frustrating is I'm always perky and wide-awake AT WORK, when I CAN'T research ANYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GUHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait for tomorrow.  Switchboard ALLLLLLL day...

Golden Ice progress

March 2010

Today is 1 March 2010.  I have officially started my 7th and last year at this co...
If I can last here, my plan is to stay til Feb 2011.  Not sure if I will last - I KEEP DAMNWELL SAYING that, but I always stay... how irritating.  Anyway, regardless,  I've been here a solid 6 years now, I'm starting the 7th... there are 12 months left... 4months+a few weeks til our (provisional, depends on the visa) trip to Aus this year.  Our visa has been in progress for 4 months now... I am going to email them later to ask whether they've received everything we've submitted, and whether they need anything further.  I don't want to nag, but hopefully it'll make our application move a little bit more.  I'm hoping it's soon!!!
It's already March... how time flies... is my blog turning into a pit of overused phrases?  "time flies", etc. 
I stitched a bit this weekend, not very much though because it's stayed so unbelievably hot here.  I'm really thrilled with his progress.  I took a pic and will probably put it up later... but I'll see! 
Just over 2 weeks til we see Kelly Clarkson!  Can't wait!
Nothing really newsworthy has happened lately.  The cylinder (geyser) broke on Wednesday evening, the plumber came to fix it on Thursday.  We went to the carnival on Thursday, got to eat all the yum treats we'd been looking forward to, and bought some 2nd hand books and enjoyed the lovely evening.  Auntie Cancer was at their place yesterday, showing people around and watering the plants.  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE can they rent the place out and not move back?  PLEEEEEEEEEEEEASE?!?!
What else is news.  Not much.  Will post more if/when I am inspired again.

Timelining and Counting Down

http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/customcounter.html?day=28&month=02&year=2011&hour=17&min=00&sec=00&p0=56
I will add/update a widget on the blog to show it.

I... am not sure... but I may "have" to stay where I am, job-wise... for now.
Everything is provisionally able to fall into place nicely, if I am still at this co and have the leave days accumulated that I would have if I stayed.
Our Aus-visa activation trip (touch wood/depending on whether we get it, etc), will require 5 days' leave.  Our river rafting trip requires 5 days' leave, but after the visa trip I'd only have 3 days' leave available, and would need to put in for unpaid leave.  I doubt that I'd be able to join another company and get 2 weeks' leave so soon.
I have 233 working days left, til end Feb 2011.  It feels dumb, because I've started this timeline before, and it's always shifted.  This time, hopefully, it'll be for real, as G's work commitment finishes approximately the end of this year, and I don't want to sit at home for 6 months... Ok I'd LOVE TO, but don't think it'd be practical.
I've formulated a plan with the visa activation trip... it's pretty exciting.  I've kinda got Sis fired up about it too:  a trip to Brisbane, with a few-hour stop in Singapore on the way.  She's never been on a long flight like this, nor to a different continent, and although it'd be a very short trip, it's at least an appetiser for her, to give her something to inspire her.  It won't be too expensive, apart from the flights of course, as we'd be sharing accommodation, and with a stay of only 4 or so days (the main reason for the trip being us activating our visa and opening a bank account), we wouldn't have much TIME to spend great wads of money.  What's extra cool is that the time we've provisionally marked off as trip-time is during the Ekka - Royal Queensland Show!  So it wouldn't be a luxurious sight-seeingy kind of trip, but I'd say a fun holiday nonetheless!  And it gives me something to count down towards - 5 months!
In visa news, there is no news.  This is the 2nd week since G's meds have been finalised, I want to wait til Monday to send a post-lodgement-enquiry to find out w'suppppppppppp!!!!!!!!!!  Basically to check whether they've got everything and whether they need anything more.  I think it'd be better form if I were to wait til Monday, as then our visa app will have already been 4 months in progress, instead of my being so impatient that we don't even give them THAT long to do everything.  It's just too exciting and I can't wait!!!!!!  It'd be pretty cool if the visa were to be granted on my birthday, but let's see!
In my visa/cross-stitch race, I'm in the middle of a bit of a slump.  I DON'T have that much to do, but just don't even have the energy.  I guess it's cos of the trip-excitement, but also because we've been having extremely muggy, humid, hot weather the past few days.  The last thing I feel like doing is sitting under glaring lights, handling fabric and thread with clammy hands.  Today the weather looks as if it wants to give us a bit of relief - after it has a bit of a thunderstorm first.  It'd be nice if it were to thunderstorm!  This evening, please!  Then we can enjoy it at home and I can stitch!!  :-D
Ok I'm bored at work.  233 days of this?  Hmm. 

Diddle-daddle

Once again I am sitting bored at work.  IT'S IRRITATING!!!

There are so many things to do (not just fun/hobby things), and not enough time in the evening (or on weekends) to do all of it.  We have to do a big wash-up, gotta get a washer for the basin (we've had a bucket under it for a few months now), we have to re-stick the car's numberplate (it came off on Sunday), have to mow the lawn, cut back the plants (and cut up the stuff before throwing it away).  Then I need to email the owner of our place to a) tell her the tap in the garden doesn't work anymore (I suspect due to the work going on next door), and b) to ask her to tell the CancerClan to trim their tree.  It's growing up and over the fence, I reckon there's more tree hanging over our and the other 2 neighbours' fences than in their own yard.  And if they can pettily 'ask' us to trim a blade of grass from growing through the fence, they can bloodywell cut their TREE.
Those are just the 'need to do' things.  There are the usual chores, too, and other things we *should* be doing regularly, like washing the car and watering the garden (but I still don't really feel much like giving a damn about the garden if the CancerClan haven't ACTUALLY moved out!).
Of course, that's all in the way of happily doing FUN stuff.  Unreservedly stitching, playing computer games, reading, nevermind going out and stuff.  There's just too much life-time wasted sitting at work all the time.  The balance is all wrong.  Time should be divided into: work time, sleep time, unfun things time, fun things time.  Not: work time, sleeptime/unfun things/fun things time.
And this month is a lean month for us - having to pay for things and having nothing left.  After payday things should be back on track, but it's still uhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!

GUHHHH

SO FRUSTRATED!!!!

GAHHH SO FRUSTRAAAAAAAATEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No news on the visa front.  No progress with Golden Ice.  I did play Diablo last night, and made a bit of progress but OMG do they make you WORK for the waypoints in Act 5.
Hbbm has his aircon on right now and I'm dying a slow death.

Visa update

I logged on this morning to check the status of our application, and G's meds are now 'finalised'!!!!  So, we are evermore closer to the visa application result!!  It took 2 weeks for them to assess his meds, so now (it seems) all the CO has to do is tick 'received' for the meds and PCCs... and then of course, we wait... I'm not sure how it all works, as in, what happens after everything's been received - does the CO then have to go through everything and tick 'met'?  Then do we get the visa?  Will they ask for more information?  Has the CO been through the information we've already uploaded?  How long to wait til we get the result?  Ohmyword, questions!!  It'd be super-awesome if we were to get the visa this month, then we could pop up to Pta and get the visas stuck into our passports ASAP.  Could book the flights to and from Aus to activate the visa.... start EVERYthing!!!!!!!!!  Could RELAX knowing we'd got it!  So many thoughts!!  We're poised to make our moves!
In STITCHING news, I worked on Golden Ice last night.  This second-last colour is irritating because I have to pick my way around the lower-left half of GI, filling it in, but still have to pay attention and not make mistakes.  Can't wait to do the LAST colour, where I can just stitchstitchstitchstitchstitchstitchstitch filling everything in.  Gahhhh can't wait :D  So impatient to get home and stitch.  Probably can't stitch much this weekend, taking G's parents to lunch tomorrow, probably visiting Mom+Sis too, not sure what else.  Will try fit some stitching in!

YAY IT'S FRIDAY!!!

Disconcerted

Yesterday after work I noticed when looking out the bedroom window, a whole lot of wood and other stuff in the Habsburg's back yard.  I realised what it was:  skirting boards and tiles.  The place is still empty and wonderfully quiet, but we've seen (through the front window, when in the car in the morning - no, we're not spying) a wheelbarrow in their lounge, so I guess they're having the place retiled.  This morning we saw the front door open and some guy/s in there.

I feel so... worried about it.  I really really really don't want them to move back.  Really, really don't.  I am hoping and praying that they're having it retiled and are going to let it out.  I'm trying not to dwell on it, but it's such a disturbing, depressing thought that in a few weeks' time they'll be back.  On new tiles, with their goddamned high-heel clonky shoes, and the brat's toys, and the furniture being shoved and scraped along the floor, and so it goes on.  Back in the place, stinking us out again, disturbing us with their noise and lack of consideration.  I really despise them.  I've even had a nightmare where we'd just landed in Aus, found our dream home on a hillside overlooking the ocean, only to find that they're living next door and the places are joined, just like here.  I suppose we could, in passing, ask the neighbours on the other side if they know what's happening, it'd at least put my mind to rest, in whatever form of rest that may be - relief if they're preparing the place to let it out, or awareness that it's just a passing bliss that they're not living there right now.  But I dunno... I just... just hate these people.

Last night we watched District 9 (yes, FINALLY!).  Wow, what a tense movie!  Not at all what I expected.  I loved it though... it was so raw and real, and Wikus's response to his weird hand is just SO REAL.  Jees!!!!!  5 stars, brilliant movie.  Wednesday (for now) we're going to see Avatar (in 3D).  Can't wait. 

This evening I'm hoping to stitch a bit - haven't stitched since Thursday and the compulsion is poking me and I want to stitch right now.  I realise I've been working on Golden Ice since early 2008.  It's already been 2 years!  Ok a lot has happened since I started (wedding preparations, honeymoon preparations, wedding, honeymoon, scanning 7000 photos, visa application preparations, visa application, to name a few!), but it's been so long!  It's about time - Golden Ice's time has come and I must finish.  It's time to move onto something new... to try new things.  Time, also, to tackle Act 5 of Diablo 2 (LOD).  EERrrrghhhh!!!  So much I want to do.

Visa news:  DIAC/Aus govt are completely restructuring the system, scrapping the CSL in mid-2010, the MODL (a list of occupations according to which you are assigned points) is scrapped, they're capping and ceasing processing pre-Sept 2007 applications at 20 000 (which SUCKS for people who have been patiently waiting!), amongst other things.  I'm hoping that we are still ok, being on the as-yet-unscrapped CSL, but it all is uncertain.  No further change has happened with our visa application, G's medicals remain 'referred to Australia', whatever that means for us.  I hope it moves along, so we can get clarity on our plans.

It's 9:30am

and it's already boring.

Today is Thursday, in case the blogpost system doesn't show that.

This evening we're going to watch Eddie Izzard!  Can't wait!  Also can't wait for Kelly Clarkson, next month :D

As blogged last night, I've started on the second last colour, and it's such a pleasure stitching when there are only 2 symbols left on the chart!  It is still a lot of stitching, but the end is in sight - I really can't wait for that TOO!  I dug out the Wedding Blessing kit this morning, and yay, it's so much smaller than Golden Ice.  It might be the last cross-stitch I do in SA... who knows?  I'm super-amped to start the Wedding Blessing though, as it is so light and the colours are varied.  Gentle Strength is next (still... yes I probably HAVE blogged about all the charts ad nauseum)... and it's a bit 'daunting' as the entire fabric is stitched over.  Although... now that I think about it, I *could* of course just buy all the threads I need for Motion (as I have the fabric already), and what beautiful fabric it is too!  But whatever!!!!  I will cross that bridge when I get to it :P  But maybe, just maybe, the hand-dyed fabric might call out to me too loudly and I wouldn't be able to resist...

Some progress

I've started the second last colour!!

News!

This weekend, I stitched like mad.  I have 2.5 colours left and then it's FINISHED!  Yes, half a colour because I was nearly finished with it but ran out of the colour.  So this evening I'm going to try finish that colour and then there are only 2 colours left!  Yeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'll post a pic later once I've finished the 3rd-last colour.
Otherwise, this weekend was pretty chilled.  We went to N&N's place for a braai on Saturday - was so lekker to have braai food because we don't have a braai at home and always smell braai when people in the complex have braais.  Had fun and played Buzz Quizmaster again - G won this time :P

In OTHER news:  all weekend I had a feeling that something would change with our visa application on Monday (today).  I logged on with my phone this morning to check the status, and there HAS been a change.  The document checklist hasn't been updated with 'received' but probably will be shortly...  My medical info has been 'received' and my medicals are 'finalised'.  G's medical info says 'referred', and the details say 'referred to Australia'... I'm just curious to know whether that means they have a query about the results, or if it just means they've received it and are now processing it.
We will have to wait and see!!  I can't believe it's been so smooth so far - hopefully I'm not jinxing it by saying that, but so far it's been ok.  Eeeeek now we wait with crossed fingers, touching wood and all that jazz.
On Thurs we're going to see Eddie Izzard.  Can't wait!  I was a bit hesitant to go see him, seeing how flipping expensive the tickets are, but G splurged and got us tickets which seem quite near the front!  In March we're going to see Kelly Clarkson, can't wait for that either!  Ohh, and our river-rafting trip has been postponed til October.  But, if we get the visa soon, then we're going to have a quick trip upcountry soon anyway, to get the visa stuck in our passports.  So YAY!  So much going on at the moment :D  And I'm trying to finish Golden Ice before we get the visa.... let's see!!!!!

This is just a blogpost to say

I'M SO BORED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday morning

1st update:  our medicals have been delivered to Sydney to be processed, after which they'll get sent to Adelaide (immi dept), and then we wait to hear what the verdict is.  The case officer might request further information, but judging from everyone on the forums' impressions, it's unlikely that they'd ask for anything after they've requested PCCs and medicals.
SO WE WAIT!!
In other news, our river rafting trip has been postponed/put on hold due to a bit of a hiccup with people's leave etc.  So we are waiting to hear when we can go.
And in other news:  I'm happily racing down to the finish line with Golden Ice.  I have about 4 colours left to do (I've put them in order of quantity of stitches left).  I've run out of thread of the 4th last of the colours and can't finish it until I've bought more, other than that I'm about halfway through what is left of the 3rd last colour.  He's looking good.  This evening, most probably, we're going to the mall that has a thread-shop so I'll pick up the colour then.  Then I'm safely on the homestretch!  Wow, can't believe it.  I'm so amped, cos he's looking so good, AND I'm super-amped to start Wedding Blessing.  It looks so fun and 'light' compared to Golden Ice as it is a design as opposed to a picture (less of the fabric is covered compared to Warpony, Heremia and Golden Ice).  It'll be a good break before tackling Gentle Strength, whose ENTIRE expanse of fabric will be covered with stitches!
There is something that I'm hesitant to get excited about, but I feel it is worthy of blogging:
It might or might not be, but for now, it seems like THE HABSBURGS HAVE MOVED OUT!!  We saw the brat+his mother with a van+trailer (and accompanying guys), loading their couches and other items like breadbin, laundry basket, etc.  They drove away, and it's been silent since.  Their security gate is locked (they never lock it if they're home), and the neighbour on the OTHER side has been parking their car in the Habsburgs' bay... so!  We're HOPING AND PRAYING that it's true.  Who knows.  So, yesterday I MADE THE MOST of the fact and sat stitching with the window right next to me wide open, the bedroom windows were open ALL DAY (can you believe it!), and it was BLISSFUL!  I'm not getting my hopes up or counting the chickens and all that, but jeepers, it'd be amazing if it were the case!

Transition and thoughts

It's time for a ramble-pamble blogpost!

Our medicals were couriered off yesterday, they should arrive in a few days (Fridayish), and then it should take a few days for processing and sending to DIAC, and then we are completely at their mercy!

Time is slow.  It's a transition time.  G and I were chatting Monday about 'waiting' for a change in circumstances.  My point is that since we cannot enjoy where we are now (as in, living and working, and basically 'where' in life generally), we should wait and tolerate until we are in a better situation.  He says not to think of it as waiting.  My only consolation is that we're waiting and that this isn't how it'll be forever.
I recently discovered a new flavour of a type of chips we have here.  Simba Twistees - chicken flavour.  They taste EXACTLY THE SAME as Willards Flings did in the late 80s/early 90s.  The taste brought such a rush of memories!  Back in those days, when my sis and I were small, we'd go visit Gran.  In those days, it seemed like a long trip, but in reality it isn't far at all.  The skewing of distance-perception is perhaps caused by being small (when even the shortest wait is an eternity), having a very slow and sluggish diesel merc, and a father who did not believe in driving fast anyway even if the car was capable of high speeds (we never drove over about 100kmph, even on the freeway).
Anyway, we used to visit Gran, and on some occasions, we'd take Gran with us to the shopping mall near to her house.  In those days, it was more 'respectable' than it is now.  The place is very dingy and dirty nowadays.  In those days, however, it was exciting and we looked forward to going there.  There used to be a centre-court on the ground floor, with the floor above being opened above, and all the way around the railings above they used to have a racehorse themed display - the mall is close to a racecourse.  There used to be an amazing toy shop there, with EVERY kind of toy you could imagine, it even had a model-train set running in the window, if I recall correctly.
There also used to be a sweetshop there, a proper sweetshop, not a 'kaffee' like those we had at home.  When we went there, we usually got a prepacked selection of treats:  an animal-shaped plastic bottle of cooldrink, a straw filled with sugar (or was it sherbet?), a lollipop, a small bar of chocolate, a small packet of chips, and a few odd sweets in a little packet.  The chips were usually Willards Flings, and the flavour was so distinctive.  They are not flavoured now as they were then, but these Simba Twistees - wow!
Talking about those chips though, I am considering emailing the company that makes them, addressing their marketing department:  stereotyping IS NOT CUTE!
Putting messages on the packaging of products addressing MOMS! and telling them how, since they know how important it is that their family eats right/has clean clothing, they know how good the product is, IS NOT AMUSING!  It goes for any company, in fact, not merely food/cleaning products.  Do they not CARE that the world doesn't necessarily work in the archaic way that they picture it does?  There ARE in fact single men out there who eat breakfast too, and sometimes (gasp!) wash their own clothes!  Cooking and cleaning is not the exclusive domain of mothers.
There is a sauce we used on Friday - Knorr something or other.  On the back of each sachet (they were the same flavour - the other flavours had a different one) was an insipid 'tale', supposedly penned by a mother who was delighted when her kid came and showed her his tooth which had fallen out, while she was preparing sauce for supper.  Seriously, that sort of story is relevant to what percentage of the population exactly?  What has it got to do with cook-in sauce?  Would the packaging lose anything by NOT having a stereotyping message printed on it?  I doubt it.  Nestle earns my thanks (at least on a box of Multi-Grain Cheerios), because although they mention 'caring about your family's health', they don't imply that it is a mother's responsibility by addressing their packaging messages to mothers.  I am SURE that G and I are not alien in that he usually cooks and we both clean.  Seriously, can the world not move beyond stereotypes?  Isn't it a bit propagandaist?  A subversive way of normalising, by sending messages via a low-profile (and unmonitored?) sub-section of the media, the view that women are the ones who should be responsible for cooking and cleaning and looking after children?  It is perhaps time for a world-wide campaign against it...

Golden Ice progress

I've been working steadily over the past few days/weeks. There are only 4 colours remaining!

In other news: on Friday we went for our medicals and xrays. Xrays done in the morning, which get sent over to the panel doctors (for inclusion with the medical reports) and then medicals in the afternoon. I took the day off work. The medical exam was fine, even the blood test was alright, even though the needle hurt like hell when it was removed. But it all went fine, and the reports will be couriered off on Monday, I believe. They should reach Aus by Friday (or so), and then it takes approximately 2 weeks being processed by the health assessors, after which they get passed on to the Immigration Department for processing. So, any time AFTER the end of January will be 'wait and see' time. Eeeek!! Now the wait will be long!

PCCs etc

And.........
We now have our PCCs!!  The date on them is 07/01/2010, which means when (not if, WHEN!! heheh) we get the visas, we'll have until 6 January 2011 to activate them.
Medicals & xrays tomorrow, the reports of which should get to Aus by the end of the month.  THEN we wait!  WAIT WAIT WAIT!!  Eeek!!

It's been stinking hot the past few days, which has seriously been trying my patience.  I'm trying HARD not to be pissed off that we're essentially locked in like prisoners, but this heat is really making it difficult.  If it's cold, there's no need to have windows open, but with this heat, it's intolerable being locked inside with the windows shut.  I really am reaching the end of my tether.  I'm trying very hard.  I don't know how long I can keep trying.  I hate looking out our upstairs window, seeing everyone else in the complex with windows and doors open, and the back-yard of our neighbour on the other side all pretty and welcoming with fairy-lights and ground-level lighting and table+chairs and outdoorsy set-up.  Seeing it all is like a slap in the face.The fact that we are UNABLE TO enjoy just ONE window on that side open? ... I just... resent it.    Maybe I sound petty and jealous.  But the 'liberties' that are supposedly available to residents in our complex are not afforded to us.  What PISSES ME OFF about the whole damn thing is that A PERSON CANNOT COMPLAIN ABOUT A FUCKING SMOKER!!  Sorry, ma'am, your smoke is INTRUDING into our HOME!  How would a person be able to back up such a claim?  Preposterous!!  Sorry ma'am, your smoke ruins our enjoyment of our garden - haha seriously?  HAHAHAHAH.  Where are they, POOR PERSECUTED SMOKERS, supposed to smoke then... inside?  Seriously?!?  And endanger their child, and themselves, by suffocating themselves in a room of smoke?  Don't be ridiculous!!
So... I wish for cold weather, when it does not matter that we are unable to open windows.

Visa News part 2

Just an update, how awesome today has been:
Our PCCs are ready!!
Gonna organise for them to be collected, then YEEHAAA!
So, we'll have to enter Aus and activate our visas (when we get them.........................I'm not thinking 'if') by the end of this year - we don't know the date on the PCCs yet!

VISA NEWS!

We have a case officer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!!!!!!!!!!

G got the email this morning, and I've already made an appointment to go for medicals.  We can go for the xrays the same day, I'm going to put in leave so that I don't have questions about why I'm late in the morning and leaving early in the afternoon on a Friday.

OMG!!

I really am so damn excited I can hardly sit still.

So... all that we'll be waiting for, once we've done medicals, is our police clearance certificates.  They should be ready by the end of Jan... hopefully!  Omg!  That means we'll have to enter Aus to activate our visa before 1 year after the date of the Medicals (which is probably going to be the earlier of the 2, between medicals and PCCs) - so before Jan 2011.  G's gotta get a letter from his specialist... oh eek we have to have blood tests... yucky poo but EEEEK YAY!!!!

Yeehaaa!!!!!  A holiday to Aus!  Omg we're going to have a lot to do, gotta open bank accounts, etc etc etc.

Omg it's happening!!

Back at the saltmine

It is Wednesday today, part of a very dull week back at work.  Monday I got to work nice and before 8:30, and went to check hbbm's emails, only for the typist to come in and say "hi, happy new year! welcome back... the receptionist is on leave today".

Yayyyyyy!!
At least I survived, it was so boring and quiet I think only 2 phonecalls came in the entire day.  All 3 bosses are away and only back on Monday.
Yesterday was HOT!!!  Went out at lunch, met up with KW for burger+chips and OMG IT WAS SO HOT walking back to the office!
The evening was hot too, indoors downstairs at home was cooler but upstairs was an oven.  But we couldn't open the windows after it got dark because our lovely c*nt neighbours are HOME and FULLY BACK INTO THEIR USUAL.  Stinking the entire place out.
I KNOW I keep ranting about this, but seriously, we're locked in because of them.  I still wish they'd just die and emancipate the entire world from their presence.  It would be a better place.
It was nearly impossible to sleep last night, too, not because of the heat (we eventually were able to have the windows open, oh, at about midnight!!), but because someone's car/house alarm kept going off.  Loud, clear, and repeatedly.  And then, once that had shut up, the neighbours on the other side decided it's time to dismantle their umbrellas and deckchairs and put them away, at 2am.
Can't just stand at the upstairs window, with the windows open, elbows on the window-sill because they're there having supper/picnic/drinks out in their garden and it's like I'm spying on them.  Can't during the afternoon because of the Habsburgs and their stink.  Can't sit in the garden and enjoy the cool and quiet of the evening.  Can't sit indoors with the doors/windows open to let the cooler air IN.  Now, oh joy, we can't even have the OTHER side windows open without getting stink from the guy living on the OTHER side of the Habsburgs smoking outside his front door (the 'father' of the clan of runts who like playing around everyone's cars).
Can we ever enjoy living in our place?
Can we move out now, please?  Into a freestanding HOUSE with a GARDEN between us and everyone else?  With a GARAGE and fence so if there are people in our garden we CAN yell at them to sod off?  Is it really unrealistic to expect to enjoy your own home?  I don't think so.  Hopefully the visa hurries up so we can make plans and get started on our journey so that we can know in Aus what the outlook will be like so as to find a house-house instead of a flat/unit/townhouse blah.
ANYWAY!
I tried to stitch last night but wasn't in a great mood to get very far.

On an unrelated note, I have an idea, something to consider once in Aus.  A venture of sorts, but I won't go into detail now.  It's quite exciting, but something I'll have to be brave about - courageous, brave and determined.  I have to do research first, but it sounds cool.

GAWWWDDDD I'M SO BORED!!  I'm still sorting these damn drawings, I'm nearly done with the 1st job, then the guy whose filing I do has left me a SERIOUS PILE of filing.  Woot.  Then it's onto the 2nd job's drawings.  I cannot wait.

42 working days til the river rafting trip!!

Happy new year

It is, today, 2 January 2010. I wanted to blog yesterday, seeing as it was 01/01/2010 but got sidetracked by Gumtree.

A whole new year has begun. Our visa should happen sometime in the later half of the year... hope it all goes smoothly. Other than that, we have a river-rafting trip in March, which I CAN'T WAIT for. And we've got tickets to see Kelly Clarkson, also in March! What a month it's going to be!

And my work-plans... I can't really give notice (end Feb) and then take a week off in my notice-month, nor can I find a new job and start and straight away take a week off in my first month. So although I'm going to keep looking for a job, I'm not going to take a job which I'd have to start beginning of March... I'm hoping to give notice end of March and then start at a new place beginning of May.

The bonus of my having a new job is that I can then (hopefully) work until we are nearer to moving. I'd been 'holding out' for a full work period, ie 6 years, or 6.5 years (at my current company) but if I finish with them I'd still have about a year with another company, so I'd still be working (ie, no large span of 'unemployment' to explain to prospective employers in Aus), and still earning money (to go towards savings, for the move, etc).

I know things don't always work out how we'd like, but that's what I'm hoping for.

That's the plans-y things, now for 'news' etc: the past couple of weeks, I've been seeing a large, bright-green grasshopper in our garden. Then, one day, he* disappeared - I found the exoskeleton which he'd shed, but couldn't find him. I thought he'd been eaten or left our garden, until I found him again - he's now a large, brown locust.



The difference between grasshoppers and locusts, if I understand correctly, is that some species of grasshoppers have the ability to 'transform' in certain circumstances and form swarms, others do not; the 'swarming' species are called locusts. So we have a locust in our garden, but as far as I can tell, he's in a 'solitary' phase, and hopefully he won't go into the 'gregarious' stage and find swarm-mates!

We've made a step in the 'media-centre' direction by removing our TV from its cavity in the wall-unit. We've put G's computer (the same one I used for scanning all the photos) into that cavity and hooked it up to my hifi. We now have a music centre! All of our CDs are now ripped to that machine, so we have DAYS AND DAYS of music at our fingertips, ready to be enqueued in Winamp. Yeehaa!

I've also been stitching a lot, and I've been getting a very stiff shoulder. Golden Ice is coming along wonderfully and the end is in sight, sorta. I'm nearly done with the top-left quarter of the design, then all I have left is the bottom-left quarter!

Thankfully the Wedding Blessing kit is smaller than Golden Ice, so I should have it a bit easier by not having to hold up this massive Q-Snap-framed piece of work. J (in the US) reminded me that there ARE actually stitching frames out there which allow you to sit on the couch and stitch, which sounds super-blissful right about now! I'm thinking that it'll be something to pursue once we're in Aus. No point forking out $$$ to get a frame shipped out to SA only to have to cart it over with us when we move. And hopefully I'll manage the Wedding Blessing cross-stitch without it, and won't have the time to start a new cross-stitch until we're in Aus... let's see!

In other news, in Diablo 2 (LOD expansion, in case anyone is wondering) I managed (finally!) to kill Mephisto! Once I'd upped my lightning resistance kit, I was able to catch him across a canal and bash him with my psychic-hammer skill.

Then I raced through Act 4, battling with the 'fallen angel' guy (who was dreadful and super-life-powered so it took a LOT of clicking to kill him)... then I got into the 'Chaos room' where there were 5 seals to activate (to release Diablo), and 3 semi-bosses to kill. They were ok except for one, who ran so quickly I hardly stood a chance - only by running around and around the outside of a room, isolating his minions and killing them one by one, was I able to get him by himself and kill him. Then, Diablo appeared... it took a few attempts but I managed!! My assistant-chickie died about a hundred times, costing me 7200 gold coins each time to resurrect her, but in the end, I managed to kill Diablo rather easily compared to the fallen-angel-guy. I'm now in Act 5, waiting to start off on my first quest there.

Bleh, work starts on Monday. I haven't missed it. The only good thing about is that the bosses are all (apparently) on leave until the following Monday!

Anyway, let me leave y'all with a message for the new year: this one is going to be an interesting, eventful year (not even including the Soccer World Cup)! Bring it on! Here's to a fulfilling year, with everything working out how it should, or even better!

~*~

* He/she. Insects and other 'weird' critters seem to gain the male gender. Not sure why, but millipedes, grasshoppers, snakes, caterpillars, flies, etc, all seem to get the pronoun 'he'. He's quite large, about 8 or so centimetres... so he might well be a female!