Unprogress

I have decided I'm going to phone Home Affairs daily to find out what is happening with our unabridged birth certificates.  It's been 11 weeks and counting!  This is ridiculous.  Tomorrow we are couriering the hardcopies of the ACS (skills assessment) application, and if that result arrives before the birth certificates, I will be very annoyed.  The birth certificates are the only things that we are waiting for apart from the skills assessment, and the moment the skills assessment arrives, we are supposed to be able to apply for the visa - but only if we have received our birth certificates!!!!!!!!

I've got another interview, next week.  I haven't heard from the 1st co yet, despite them telling me they'd let me know Thursday - I guess they're still going through the applications.  And the 2nd co will let me know next week whether I'm to come in for a 2nd interview.  The 3rd co is also in the city CBD, this time it's even closer to home than either of the others, or my current office!  I'm very optimistic as it seems that there are jobs out there!

Next week is BLITZ WEEK!  I hope that the weather is decent, so that we can comfortably sort through stuff.  There will be loads and loads of stuff to get rid of, I just hope mom doesn't pull everything that we've 'discarded' to one side and end up hanging onto it by not actively GETTING RID OF IT - the stuff (like toys) we want to give to a charity, for eg.

What else is news... not much.  I've been reading more up on the visa process.  It doesn't sound too confusing or difficult, it's just a case of sending our stuff through, waiting to be assigned a case officer, and then once the case officer requests the last remaining info (which we may not give until it is requested).  I think it's just the police clearance certificate, medicals, and might also be the australian values statement... might be a good-character-proof form or something else like that.  And that's it!!  And I've found out that the visa application fee is half of what we thought it was - the 2nd instalment is only for people who have less than functional English, because they would need English tuition once in the country!  Yay!!!!!!!!!  The only downside is that the actual application processing time is quite long.  I'm using 15months as a ballpark duration.

YAY it is FRIDAY TODAY!!!!!  Excellent - I can't wait to go home and CHILL!!!!!

Hiccups

I've been reading the SA2Aus forums, scrutinising the posts relevant to our application, and have found something that was momentarily disturbing.  We sent off our ACS application online at the end of March.  We did not realise that we had to courier/post them the hard copies of the documents.  So... we shall do that ASAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It sets our ACS application back by 3 or 4 weeks... but (still reading on the forums) ACS might take anything between 6 weeks and 6 months to assess the skills assessment application.  So 3 weeks might not make SUCH a big difference.  Specially if the Aus govt take a long time in assessing the actual visa application!  But... that all remains to be seen.

I think I shall rest (temporarily) easy once the actual VISA APPLICATION has been submitted... then after a short while (haha knowing me probably a few HOURS!), I shall be champing at the bit, wanting to go for medicals and apply for police clearance certificates etc.  I think I will truly only rest easy after we are actually in Aus and able to move forward and do things like buying a car, finding a place to stay, etc.  Maybe even after that.  I think between the visa granting date and the landing date, we will be exceptionally busy and stressed out... but SUPER-EXCITED!  There is just so much to organise and arrange.

Work is super-dull.  I sincerely hope that something changes ASAP so that I have a new situation to enjoy!

EEEEEEEKK

Super eek!!!!!!

Friday I had an interview with a recruitment agency.  The lady had phoned me on Tuesday and had a phone interview with me, and just wanted to meet me in person.  I will hear tomorrow whether they want me to come in and redo the typing/computer skills test, or whether they want me or not.  Eeek.  I believe the job is at the recruitment agency themselves, but I'm not 100% sure.

This morning I got a call, and now have another interview, 8:30 on Thursday.

On the weekend I got 2 calls about the same thing, offering me the chance work at a company which does transcription typing, mostly typing from dictaphone recordings of people who speak in British accents.  It sounds like it could be interesting for the first day or 2 and then insanely dull for the rest of the time.  I guess something for me to do if I resign (close to the time that we are going to move) and there's a delay and I need something to do to bring in more money.

So, all in all, it sounds promising.  I guess, even in recession, there is a need for a receptionist/admin assistant/secretary type person.  I will keep sending my CV out, there might just be something awesome out there.  There really is no need to mold over at the same place for 5+ years if you don't enjoy it.  I feel apprehensive (who doesn't when it comes to interviews!), but excited... anxious because of the unknown factor (what are they going to make me do, will I have to do invoices, will it be too hard, etc)... and also because of the newness of everything - getting used to a new place, new people, new rules and modus operandi, etc.  I guess it's the feeling of being thrust out from a safe routine into completely unknown, uncharted territory!

But, then, there's also the fact that something NEW will completely throw the leaves in the air and I think (hope) that it'll make the time go past quickly, so we won't notice how long it takes for the visa application to be processed.  I don't know how long it will take.  Apparently ACS can take over 6 months to do the skills assessment, but then they could take 12 weeks on the dot.  And apparently, with the new rules about the skilled independent visa, they have a STACK of those visas to process, and they've halted processing on everything apart from the state/regional sponsored applicants and those who have occupations in the critical skills list (CSL).  They're processing the CSL applications which have been backlogged since Sept 07.  Apparently they started processing the backlogged once starting from Sept 07 ones in (say) Feb 09, and had already reached June 08's applications a month later.  So, if they are hurrying everything up, we might get ours quite soon after we apply (if people applied in June 08 and got their visa in March 09 and they're speeding up with the processing).  Although, of course, one can NEVER set your watch according to ANY govt department, no matter how 1st world the country is.

On that note, we are still waiting for our unabridged birth certificates.  We submitted our applications on 26 Jan.  They only 'received' our applications on 5 Feb.  They said it'd take 8-10 weeks, it is nearly 12 weeks now since we applied.  SIGH!!!!!!!!!!!

Not much news

I got a parcel note yesterday evening, my Cardigans "Life" and A Camp "Colonia" albums have arrived.  It took 6 weeks to come from the UK.  Lovely.

I had a bit of an epiphany last night.  It finally fell into one sentence, what exactly it is that bothers me about my job (in a more broad perspective).  I do not want to be a PA.

I think that needs a little bit of elaboration:  in my 'occupation', at the start you are (for example) an admin assistant, girl friday or receptionist/switchboard operator.  Then you progress and become (say) junior secretary/senior admin assistant/senior receptionist or something.  And then, you become, after a lot of hard work and proving your ability, you become a PA, or executive secretary, personal secretary, etc.  And I don't want to become a PA.

I don't enjoy personal work like phoning to book tickets/sort out someone else's medical aid (or other personal shit like car-service/glass-replacement etc at home, stuff that THEY should be doing themselves, or their stay-at-home-wifeykins should do).  I don't particularly want to arrange meetings, take minutes, stuff like that, but that is in essence what the job entails.  So in all, I do not want to aspire to become a PA, even though I'm nearly there.  I'm essentially a very low-level PA right now despite the fact that it's not mentioned anywhere on my payslip.  I COULD become a PA - I might well take up a PA job in the interim before we move - but I have now realised that I don't enjoy it.

But, then there's the tiny little insignificant, annoying little problem of WHAT THE HELL DO I WANT TO DO!?

I don't know.

To totally sum up the situation:

 

When you devote your time and energy to doing things that you really want to do,

you will feel more confident, more valued and in control

and there will be less time to think ………

 

and that is now my problem:  I DON'T want to do it, and I'm losing confidence, feeling very unvalued and out of touch with where I want to be (apart from Aus and NOT SOUTH AFRICA).

I don't know what I want to do, so I don't know how to start and head off into that direction.  Don't know what it is to know what to study.

So yes, I've been feeling a little *low* lately.

Boredom again

Yay, boredom!  I'm currently having a quick teabreak before tackling one of the most boring jobs in this entire office - packing a job away.  It entails taking everything out of the lever arch files, replacing the file-dividers with a blue sheet of paper with the divider's title written onto it, putting a string-tie through it, making a note of it, and putting it into an apple box, and once everything is in the applebox, making a label for it, outlining the contents.  It is boring.  It takes a while.

It's great being part of a forum on a particular subject relevant to you.  I'm a member of a budgies forum and a SA->Aus forum! 

The budgies forum is (as would be expected) a forum with LOADS of 'baby' pics.  Lots of information and advice on how to look after your budgies best.

The SA->Aus forum is SO informative, also lovely and welcoming, but totally different as the members aren't KNOWLEDGEABLE like you feel like a complete n00b, they're in the same boat as you - trying to fathom out the immigration process.  By assimilating their experiences, trying to gauge how long each thing takes, it helps gather ideas and gain insight into how it all works.  I just found out that ACS is currently taking 6 months+ to do skills assessments.  That's not great.  Also, it's not recommended that we pack our stuff ourselves, as the Aus customs are apparently extremely strict and the shipping companies don't cover (with insurance) boxes that aren't packed by them.  So, this is going to be a long, boring uneventful wait.  I guess it means I can relax a bit more and actually cross-stitch at times.  Play computer games, read, chill.  I do still want to finish scanning the photos though.  At least that's a finite amount.  But damn, it's getting boring now.

I may or may not have mentioned in blog yesterday, but I have an interview on Friday - with a recruitment agency.  Hold thumbs.

The winds of change

have begun to blow...

I've been sending out my CV to job-ads... this morning I got a call from a recruitment agency - I have an interview on Friday at 07:00.  Eeeek!  So early.  But at least then I won't be too late for work that morning.  And I have received an email offering me the opportunity to send my CV - my profile on a career-resource site has obviously had a hit or two!

Other changes will happen, probably soon?  ... G's decided to sell his car.  Main reason: to save money on petrol+insurance, and by selling the car privately, he can use the selling price to settle the repayments and buy a 2nd hand smaller car.  A no-strings-attached (committment-free) car will be ideal for when we have to close up shop and leave.  No worries of settling repayments, etc.  So that'll be a significant change too.

Another change (sad)... G's grandpa passed away on Thursday night.  I'm so fortunate to have met him, and to have had him be part of our wedding.

~~

Long weekend bliss

It's LONG WEEKEND!!!!!!!!!

I've been scanning LIKE MAD since yesterday. I've finished the 1st box of photos. I really want this done and out of the way.

I've been reading up on forums, stuff about the visa application and move process. It's so exciting, but hectic and almost scary too. There is just so much waiting involved!

We have to wait until (roughly) end of June, for G's ACS skills assessment. By then, we will hopefully have received our unabridged birth certificates, and we will be able to apply for the visa. From what I've read, it'll take well over a year to get the visa. Most of that time is made up of the application just sitting in the 'in-tray'. Once it gets assigned to a case officer, it shouldn't take too long. The case officer then asks for us to get a police clearance certificate and go for medicals... and then once that's sent in they can carry on.

There's just so much info out there, but mostly speculation and people's individual experience and suggestions, about stuff like going for the medicals a few months after applying, so that there isn't much of a wait for the case officer when they request the medicals result.

Anyway, my job situation depends on the visa process. If it doesn't take very long, then there won't be much need for me to stay working past the end of the year. And, also, we will have so much to pack. YAY eeek!!

Thoughts

While on the way to work this morning, I heard the DJ on the radio saying he likes some Jewish/passover food, and that that food, and easter eggs, were the best part of this time of year for him.  Which led me to wonder, who 'judges' who may buy certain foods?  Our local supermarket has large selections of religious festival foods at the specific times of year, and although I've never had the urge to buy any religious food (like halaal dates for Ramadaan, or food for Passover), who would 'stop' me from doing it?

The ladies at the tills would.  The amount of scrutiny and discussion (in Xhosa) that our groceries get, at times, is quite perplexing and would be seriously offputting were I to buy anything 'judgeable' religious food (or condoms!).

"Ntoni le?? (what's this?)" *serious discussion between till lady and bag-packer*.  Me, defensive inner thoughts "It's NORI... um... I need it for... my fishtank!  I don't have enough um, algae in my tank and it's a.. um... for my tank!"

So, I'd probably get a nice tearing-apart by the till ladies who'd think it weird that a non-religious person* would buy stuff for a non-commercialised (ie Ramadaan/Idh/Passover as compared to Easter) religious festival!

 

* by non-religious, I mean not 'stereotypical' of that religion's followers:  ie not Jewish or Muslim 'looking'.  Yes, that's stereotypical and judgemental, but we're not in a perfect world where race has no bearing on religious group.  They are not my judgements/stereotypes.

Music!

This morning I received a pack of 3 CDs: Kelly Clarkson, Kelli Ali and Dead Can Dance.  Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!

I hope this 'inspires' my other parcels to arrive.  I'm still waiting for the LR2 soundtrack, A Camp+The Cardigans CDs and The Cardigans CD/DVD.  Oh the joy of airmail.

The wedding dress and jacket are ready for collection at the drycleaners.  Funkiness!  I'm also going to pick up a copy of today's newspaper, for the job supplement.

 

I NEED TO GET OUT OF THIS FUCKING PLACE!

 

I am quite FED UP.  I need to get out of here.  The pettiness and shit, I've had enough.  I really have.  I have said so before, and I've been jobhunting.  And I still am.

 

Last night, while I scanned photos, G and I swapped RAM chips.  Mine I'd left in its box as my laptop just wouldn't accept it.  G's had no problem with his RAM, so we swapped.  Mine in his laptop seems fine.  His in mine seems fine.  I even had a bash at Diablo II, maxed out the CPU but the RAM was HAPPY!  At some stage (not while playing) I gave the laptop a couple of bangs/nudges/presses and typed very... roughly, to see if the RAM chip would move and crash the laptop.  It didn't, so hopefully it was a combination of a finicky RAM chip and a dodgy slot connection, and hopefully the RAM chip isn't as finicky and will work!

I can't wait for the weekend.  I want to sleep late.  I want to scan a shitload of photos, I'm tired of photos now and I really enjoyed Diablo II yesterday.  I want to do my own stuff now.  Stitch, read, play games.  I have 3.5 boxes of photos still, plus G's packet of holiday photos which is equal to another box.  *sigh*  And Mom has a few other photos (odds and ends) which I want to scan.  AND then my aunt has photos from Gran which I want to scan.  I think once I'm done I won't ever want to see another printed photo in my life.  And hopefully I won't really have to, cos they'll all be on CD :D

And then I can stitch.  Poor Golden Ice.  I was almost craving cross-stitch yesterday (at work) I can't remember, I think I was folding drawings *exceptionally boring*.

Fuck, I'm sick of this job.

Monday, day 1/4

This week is a 'short' week - Friday is a holiday.  And the following Monday is a holiday too - I CAN'T WAIT for this long weekend.  And, not forgetting: CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Ok... now that the chocolate-thoughts are out of the way... :D

 

This weekend was rather fun.  Friday night we went to M's place - she made an entire Greek meal (starter, main course and dessert)... which was EXTREMELY delicious and EXTREMELY filling.  I couldn't eat more than a teaspoon of the dessert.  Hectic!!  It was so yum though.

Saturday morning we finally (yes, it's taken this long to get around to doing it) took the wedding dress and the jacket to drycleaners.  And we fetched my new drivers' license.  My transformation is complete!  Then, we met up with G's mom and headed out to The Old Biscuit Mill - a shopping precinct, where you can find unique jewellery, antiques, odds and ends, clothes, beads, crafts... lots of stuff.  But it's more for tourists, and well off people, as the things are seriously pricy.

This week is probably going to be fairly boring, as hbbm is away.  The other guy has left me quite a bit of filing but it won't take long to do.  I have just overheard the receptionist asking someone whether they have filing to do, so he said 'lots' so I'm sure she's going to go on walkabouts doing his filing.  Like hell... you're RECEPTIONIST, even if there is nothing else for you to do, you have a phone, front door and fax machine to oversee.  I have nothing.  Piss off and leave me to do my OWN job, thanks.  Anyway, I'm going to do this filing I have quickly and then see about helping the other guy.

 

MAN I'M AMPED FOR AUS...

Impending boredom

As I blogged previously, I'm think I'm going to be bored next week.

Today, however, has been rather busy.  Yesterday was a total pointless dumb day (the saga of that friggin' document carried on!), but today is busy so far.  I'm probably going to be madly rushed today because of the 2 people going on leave needing everything done before they go today.  There are 2 of those LOVELY invoice-batches to go out today, and hbbm is stuck in meetings the whole time starting from 12.  So I suspect a rather bleh day.

This evening we're going to M&J's place, it was her birthday yesterday and we're having a greek supper.

 

Ok after pressing "save now" and going to do work before hbbm left... I'm back.  Bored.

Nothing to blog about now.  Bored.

Slow disintegration

Depressed.  I think that's what I am feeling right now.

I'm feeling caged, but not as a tiger.  I don't have the vitality, right now, to be called a 'tiger'.  I feel more like a potato, left in the dark, back corner of the cupboard, behind everything else.

I want to go out, I want to go out this evening in fact, but I don't want it to be a FORCED outing.  I don't want to go this evening because we HAVE to go this evening because there is no other time to go.  I don't WANT to go collect my drivers' Saturday morning beCAUSE we can't go any other time.  I'm tired of this hamster-wheel.

I just heard hbbm tell someone on the phone that he's on leave next week.  Instantly, I feel a dull dread because miss madam receptionist is probably going to be in her ELEMENT saying 'if you're not busy, I just want to...' so that she can be awol.  And, because he's on leave, I WON'T be busy so I will have to shut up and stand in for her.  Fuck I hate this powerless position.

I guess I have seesawing emotions, maybe it's my piscean nature or maybe it's because I'm a girl or maybe because I'm mentally unstable or maybe I'm too sensitive to sugar-levels or light-levels or hormone-levels or whatever, but I'm THRILLED because we finally got our wedding rings!!  They took a week and 2 days to make them!  I'm so so happy with mine, and I love G's ring too.  And to our EX-jeweller I say TAKE THAT MUTHAFUGAH!!  What a loser, I'm so glad he stuffed up in a way, because it means he didn't get our business!

Anyway... I think I blogged about hbbm 'scolding' me for something he gave me to do on Thursday and I wasn't sorting it out.  Well, about 20mins ago, he completely overrode what I'd accomplished.  The lady I was dealing with was trying to get their copy of the document back from the company they'd given it to, so that it could be exchanged for the uptodate version we have.  But now, hbbm says 'this needs to be put into an email so that when people ask about this, there's a formal written record of it'.  So, he dictates an email that *I* must send (as me), to this lady, saying that only 6 pages of the document had changed, and if she would prefer, I can email her the updated pages.  This, after I'd obfuscated and told her that 'the change affects the whole document' because I did not in fact know what *had* changed, and was trying to get across the fact that we do need the documents exchanged and not just updated pages sent out.  Because I thought it was VITAL that the old one be returned to us.  No, hbbm says 'as long as the date is on the updated pages, it's 100% fine to send them out'.

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If you WANTED this whole thing done YOUR WAY, why not give me THE INSTRUCTIONS HOW TO DO IT YOUR WAY, FROM THE OUTSET!!!!

 

Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

How DUMB!!!!!

Lunchtime lethargy

GUESS WHAT!!  It is...... blog time again!

I'm bored, uninspired and frustrated, sitting at work.  I applied for 3 jobs last night, 2 have already replied saying 'sorry, but thanks for the application'.  I expect I will receive a lot of replies like that but I'll just keep trying.  It won't be easy, finding another job... but I'll persist.  I'm really fading, here.

This morning I phoned someone's PA regarding exchanging their (out of date) copy of a document (from us) with an updated one at our office... to remind her as I phoned her about it first on Thursday.  She gasps and says "I completely forgot about it... and the document has been issued" (ie given out to another company).  So, I relay the info (POINTING OUT the fact that *she* FORGOT) to hbbm.  His response?  "issued to who?  where is it?  why hasn't it been exchanged yet?  I gave this (task) to you on Thursday... just sort it out!"

Thanks.  *I'm* the one who forgot, I'M the one who is delaying the entire thing... I'm the one dawdling with this on purpose, so *I'm* the one you should rant at.

I'm really so tired of this place, tired of hbbm's responses to things, tired of MY irritability and annoyedness, which is triggered by this (yes I know I'm supposed to control things like that but damnit, I'm tired of this place), tired of the same, repeated, boring day EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Anyway, on a happier note - we should have our rings today.  Hopefully, FINALLY!

I don't know whether I've mentioned in previous blogposts, but 1 of the parcels arrived: my 2 LR CDs... I'm still waiting for the LR2 soundtrack, the Cardigans' Life, A Camp's Colonia, and the Cardigans' Super Extra Gravity (with bonus DVD).  And, I've placed an order for Kelly Clarkson's and Kelli Ali's latest albums... CAN'T WAIT!

I've nearly finished LR2.  I have to complete 1 level, get 2 map pieces to unlock the final level... and play the final level!  Other than that I have to unlock certain other things like stamp sheets, stamps, songs, etc.

No other news, right now.

Oh - forgot to add this and can't edit the previous post

... because I'm blogging via mail.

One of the MAIN reasons I'm desperate to leave this job is the fact that I am sick and tired of and fed up with the bloody receptionist.  Taking liberties, now that she herself is looking for a job.  Stuff like going to the toilet at 5 to 1, so I have to listen to the phone, when I AM GOING TO BE STANDING IN AT LUNCH FROM 1!!  Bitch, go to the toilet DURING lunch.  So, I waited for her to go to the loo, then while she was back at her desk I went to make tea so that I could have tea while sitting at the swb.  So she announces "it's 1!" and comes into the kitchen to put her cup down (so she could see I was making tea) and the PISSES OFF out the front door.  While I'm still making my tea.  Bitch.

Oh and another FUCKING REASON: I AM STILL NOT A FUCKING ACCOUNTANT!  Yes, accountant, your phoning my boss 'reminding him' to do an invoice for something, which ends up as him telling ME to make a note in MY diary to do the invoice every month... THANK you for palming off YOUR FUCKING JOB onto me.

I've done it!

I've taken a step FORWARD.

I'm reaching out, actively sending my CV out.

I'm bored, dying even, in this job, and it's time for a change, even if it IS for 1 year (approximately).

S gave me a clever suggestion: think of all the reasons for wanting to leave the job, and think of all the reasons to stay in the job.  Basically, work out why exactly it is that I'm staying.

I haven't really thought it all yet, but I did update my CV, and did a coupla jobsearches online.  I also applied for a job.

In other news:  we just need to get the copies certified (probably will do that this evening by going to the police station), and then apply online for the ACS skills assessment.  Can't wait!

Tomorrow evening L+S+C and some of L's other friends and I are going out dancing!  I've picked out a very cool top I've had for a while now (it just needs a stitch or 2 to strengthen the ties), and sandals I got a while ago to attend a wedding reception (the couple had got married secretly a while before!).  I tried the sandals on and was amazed at how comfortable they are - I'd quite forgotten!  So I spent the rest of the evening 'acquainting' my feet with those shoes - they get along quite nicely!  I'm looking forward to the outing!  Haven't seen S or L since just after the wedding - man does time fly?

In other news:  my LR2 soundtrack CD (I think it's that) has arrived - very late (it was supposed to be here by the 13th), but I am guessing customs hung onto it for an age trying to work out how much tax they can charge me on 1 CD.  Sucks.  But anyway, at least it has finally arrived!  Now I've still got the Cardigans CD/DVD to wait for, and the other 2 LR CDs.  Yay!!!!

Not much else is news... apart from the fact that I'm rather thrilled by the job application process!  I reckon it's a good idea, because I can't STAY at this job (I'm going nuts), so I can't just stick it out until we move because the visa process might take a LONG time.  And I can't just resign and stay at home until we move because the excitement and impatience for the visa would drive me batty too!  So a new job is a good idea.  Something new, and if I don't enjoy it I can look for another one.  And if I do enjoy it, I won't mind staying at it until it is time to pack for the move.  Hell, I might even learn something totally new which might open my mind to a new career path!

 

^.^

 

Happy Friday, everyone!

212 or 174

That is my dilemma, at this present time.

I am extremely bored.  I don't really have any work to do.  I am on standby... I am bored.

I've been thinking, reconsidering when I should resign.  At this rate, our ACS application will only be sent off this week soonest. Taking into consideration posting, assessment and sending out of assessment, it should arrive back in July.  Our actual visa application will probably not be in July (depends what we still need to gather before sending the application), it will probably be August.  And then, if the visa assessment takes 15+ months (rather be pessimistic with this date and be pleasantly surprised), we should get a yay/nay in October 2010.  Which gives me a little problem.

If we are only going to be moving near the END of 2010, my resigning in February 2010 won't really work out so well.  Even more so if I resign end of December 2009.

We can't really bank on the fact that because of G's skills being so desperately in demand our visa application would be prioritised and 'sped up'.  So I may have to keep on at this job past Feb 2010.

I don't think I can last that long.  Hell, I'm even considering only staying til end Dec 2009 because I'm slowly going insane (yes, I've been saying that ever since I started here!! HARHARHAR).

I desperately want a 'deadline', so that there is some finity on this boredom.  A light at the end of the tunnel.

hmm

It's 21:30, Sunday 22 March. I am busy scanning photos, I have 27 left in this particular album. I want to do them before I head to bed.

I don't know how I am going to go to work tomorrow. The thought kills me. I am so bored, uninterested, I just don't know how I can keep going there.

Resolve

I have decided, since it is often the wiser route to choose, that since I am unable to change the situation, I shall avoid it completely. The saying is something like 'realise what you can change, and change it, and realise what you cannot change, and deal with it'.

I am, therefore, going to forget that we have a garden, and it will be as if we do not have a back door at all.

That means: I will no longer water the garden, I will no longer mow the lawn, I will no longer clear the gutter in the corner.

I think I shall have incredible peace of mind doing that because I will no longer have to live with the fact that despite having a pretty little garden, WE CANNOT USE IT OR ENJOY IT IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER.

I cannot enjoy watering the plants as, more often than not, the neighbours come and smoke while I'm still busy. I will not mow because that is like an 'investment' of time to make the garden 'nice' and 'enjoyable', which is in reality A WASTE OF ENERGY.

I will no longer clear the gutter because I will not be OUTSIDE to notice that it needs clearing.

Therefore, I will have no more stress and annoyance from the garden, because it will be as if it does not exist.

Bad bad mistake

I had coffee at work this morning, for the first time in I'd say (by now) about a month. I've been avoiding coffee because it felt a bit stupid autopiloting and making coffee like a robot every single workday at 10:00. So I stopped. At first it was a small struggle, and I just told myself "TEA!". And it's not like I don't enjoy tea so it was fine. It has been fine - I think I had 2 cups of coffee, at home, in all that time.

This morning I decided that since I wasn't *feeling* like coffee, I would make coffee.

It was great. Milky coffee.

But now I feel like banging my head against my desk.

I'm exceptionally tired, having had a very late night last night (G played LocoRoco until midnight), and the previous night (we went to bed at 3am due to the horrendous fire all over the mountains near us), and very likely the nightS before. So I'm not feeling very alive right now. And the coffee is driving me crazy. Because I'm physically tired, and want to sleep, and am at work with nothing to do and with the INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING if I wanted to do anything ANYWAY. And, it is making me WANT to do stuff. Not sure what, but things at home, like scan photos, or stuff for the ACS/visa application, or packing, or ANYTHING. So I feel a bit like a tornado in a well - all the energy but nowhere to go!

Except, I'm tired, and want to sleep. I feel strange.

G's IELTS result arrived... now all he's waiting for is for his boss to sign a letter outlining G's skills/duties at the office, and then all the paperwork is to be put together (with certified copies etc) and THEN he can send it all off to ACS!

That will take about 12 weeks (add on a few weeks extra for posting it to Aus, and posting back?), so we'll only get the result in July earliest. So, our visa application is likely to happen in August. Add 15 months (approximately) and that's when we'll find out YAY OR NAY.

HOLD THUMBS!!!!!

In other news: we had a 'security breach' in the complex on Monday night. Found out yesterday morning as we were getting our gatebuzzers' codes changed that apparently our LOVELY neighbours (!*%^$&!#*^#) had left their house/car/gate keys in the doorlatch! Thank you, morons, you really are valuable members of the complex AREN'T you. For a moment (on Monday night) I felt a minor inkling of sympathy for them, what with their having just had someone almost break-in... but that soon vanished as they really don't HAVE any redeeming features. Smoking bitches, fag-hags LITERALLY! Thank you (again/still) for smoking us out in our home by smoking just outside our window, after our nearly being smoked out of the house by the MOUNTAIN FIRE.

Yah yah there I go again, rant again. I have 214 working days left here and I REALLY CANNOT WAIT until we can move, which sadly isn't a determineable date (YET).

I've been scanning a lot lately, and I have 5 photo albums left. Then I have 4 boxes of photos to scan, and then once I finally get them, I will have photos from Gran to scan. I can't wait to see them.

Can't wait to be finished scanning so I can stitch! And can start preparing/packing, too! That's a different kind of task though - it's 'closing up shop', where the scanning is a 'colossal task'.

Anyway, it's midday and I want to sleep but have another 5 hours left at the office.

YAYYYYYYYYYY*snore*

Birthday Boots!

For my birthday G gave me a 'voucher' for a pair of boots. After looking in loads of shops which had 'nearly' the right ones, I found the right ones! YAY, my very own, funky-real-leather(mmm leather smell)-boots!