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.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, February 12, 2010
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!!!
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!!!
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
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...
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...
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Monday, February 01, 2010
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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...
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...
Monday, January 18, 2010
Golden Ice progress
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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!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, January 08, 2010
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!
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!
Thursday, January 07, 2010
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!!
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!!
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
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!!
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!!
Saturday, January 02, 2010
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!
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!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
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Monday, December 21, 2009
Golden Ice progress!
I haven't blogged for a long time, well, long for me. I've been on leave and ENJOYING MYSELF for a change!!
I don't feel like talking about work now, just that it's boring and I don't feel like going back!! I've been chilling, stitching, playing Diablo, just chilling :)
Anyway, let me leave it at that... here's Golden Ice!
.JPG)
I don't feel like talking about work now, just that it's boring and I don't feel like going back!! I've been chilling, stitching, playing Diablo, just chilling :)
Anyway, let me leave it at that... here's Golden Ice!
.JPG)
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
3 working days left
I have 3 working days left until I'm on 3 weeks' leave. God I can't wait. This miserable fucking place is driving me to distraction.
Today I was receptionist the whole day cos Madam was off sick - it gave me a brief respite from those damn drawings (still got about 100 to fold).
I'm just so tired of the place, the misery that sinks in after so long without actually having fun. There's hardly ever a 'light moment', everyone's so bored and autopilot if not busy-to-death.
2 colleagues' wives had babies recently (as in, last week/this week). The one guy was off from work today, and I heard the 1 director talking to hbbm about it, apparently the guy had taken the rest of the week off and would only be back on Monday. The typist informed me after I overheard the bosses that BOTH of the guys had TOLD the bosses of the probability of the birth/s happening ahead of time or after the holidays. But, boss(-turd)'s response (talking to hbbm)? OOZING SARCASM 'didn't you know, it's now the norm to take a week off paternity leave' and 'what's he staying home for? She's going to have to look after both of them (this is colleague's second baby) at SOME stage!'. Utter, despicable OOZING SLIMY SARCASM. I felt so angry I wanted to stand up and yell 'WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, ASSHOLE! Just because YOU hate YOUR wife and don't LIKE YOUR KIDS doesn't mean this colleague's in the same pity-boat as you!!!!'. Just because HE doesn't particularly enjoy HIS life doesn't mean the rest of us HAVE NO LIVES!!!
Jesus Christ in a Handbasket! I seriously don't know what is wrong with that guy! The utter lack of compassion, no, not even compassion, just the acknowledgement that the people working here are actual living beings with existence OUTSIDE of this morgue!!
I really need to get out of here!!! God I'm trying! I've been browsing the online job ads, applied for some, no results yet. I seriously (yes I've said it before many times) need to get out of here.
Today I was receptionist the whole day cos Madam was off sick - it gave me a brief respite from those damn drawings (still got about 100 to fold).
I'm just so tired of the place, the misery that sinks in after so long without actually having fun. There's hardly ever a 'light moment', everyone's so bored and autopilot if not busy-to-death.
2 colleagues' wives had babies recently (as in, last week/this week). The one guy was off from work today, and I heard the 1 director talking to hbbm about it, apparently the guy had taken the rest of the week off and would only be back on Monday. The typist informed me after I overheard the bosses that BOTH of the guys had TOLD the bosses of the probability of the birth/s happening ahead of time or after the holidays. But, boss(-turd)'s response (talking to hbbm)? OOZING SARCASM 'didn't you know, it's now the norm to take a week off paternity leave' and 'what's he staying home for? She's going to have to look after both of them (this is colleague's second baby) at SOME stage!'. Utter, despicable OOZING SLIMY SARCASM. I felt so angry I wanted to stand up and yell 'WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU, ASSHOLE! Just because YOU hate YOUR wife and don't LIKE YOUR KIDS doesn't mean this colleague's in the same pity-boat as you!!!!'. Just because HE doesn't particularly enjoy HIS life doesn't mean the rest of us HAVE NO LIVES!!!
Jesus Christ in a Handbasket! I seriously don't know what is wrong with that guy! The utter lack of compassion, no, not even compassion, just the acknowledgement that the people working here are actual living beings with existence OUTSIDE of this morgue!!
I really need to get out of here!!! God I'm trying! I've been browsing the online job ads, applied for some, no results yet. I seriously (yes I've said it before many times) need to get out of here.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Travelbug!!
How is it possible that something like a travelbug can grab you so forcefully?
IT'S CRAZY!
Just browsing the tiny bit of internet we're allowed (our mailboxes), I saw a banner ad for viewing celebs' travel-wear. And OMG I WANT TO GO ON HOLIDAY!!!!
I guess it's partly because of the 'eagerness' to actually move to Aus (or at least, to have some movement on our application so we can start prepping ourselves for the move), but mostly I think it's the 'without-a-care-in-the-world-apart-from-me-and-my-destination' feeling.
When you travel, you really are relieved of all mundane responsibility, and get to be responsible merely for your own travel, experiences, plans, purchases. It's like a cocoon, of selfishness, I suppose, where nothing else matters and you feel cameraderie towards other travellers because they also are in their own cocoon, enjoying their own travel-holiday too, and you're all free to explore and experience. The motives are the same: experiencing something new/different.
And of course it's the newness of everything, the perspective and just plain FUN you have, exploring and learning about a place (like how things are done), and the orientation you learn, being in a new place with no inner-map to guide you.
OK THIS BLOGPOST HASN'T HELPED!!!! %-) WANT TO TRAVEL MORE NOW!!!!!!!!
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