another new job

well the weekend proved to be much of a washout. Saturday it rained  proper wet rain all day and was the coldest April day on record... an extremely low 18 degrees, which did make us chuckle. However Josh still went and watched the school rugby team.. showing himself keen to play and learn ready for next weeks game, Rebecca's hockey did get cancelled though. Anyway Mark and I went off to look at pools... surprise surprise no one else was out looking.. but it did give us some ideas though. 

Saturday afternoon I went out driving with Josh as I had to vote again... still for what I have no idea... I just don't do politics!! Anyway we went and got me a new laptop as Rebecca's had died, so she's having my old one and I got a nice new notebook :) however coming back we made a wrong turn and driving along this lovely rainy road hit a flood where the water was half way up the wheel... just as the sign said 'road liable to flooding'... dilemma do we continue or turn back through it again? my poor little car is not designed for floods. We decided to continue and hit thankfully only one more which he coped with very well, but it did make me realise that the roads do flood very quickly. Anyway Josh was disappointed it only asks for night driving in his log book not rain or flood driving!

Sunday we had a lie in :) did church at normal time :) then did shopping, some baking, some ironing etc. nothing exciting.

So today I started my new job... spent the day looking at policies, organisational structure, all those bits of stuff that are very dull but you need to know. The office is lovely light and airy and I am the only person (apart from the manager) who gets her own computer... the rest all have to share :) and my own desk to myself... what luxury. Anyway the other 2 respiratory nurses seem very nice as do the other staff that I met today.. psychologist, case manager and admin staff. I've a really full 2week induction period to meet all the staff and get a brief overview before I have to get stuck in and a 15 minute drive home was a lovely end to the day. 

The other highlight of my day was finally booking Ceri's flight over here... the 26th June :)  I can't wait :)

So nothing really exciting to report this weekend.. but more happening this coming week....

lots of happenings

The adventure never ends...this week has been quite exciting, firstly we finally decided on a builder and a set of plans, although the ongoing debate is .. was it a joint decision or 'Lois's decision'... because I'm a coward my darling husband agreed, with some persuasion, to email the unsuccessful builder to tell him we were not going with him, however the last line of his email read....

         '...it is no reflection on you but rather a woman's feelings about design and there is no             winning that argument.'

absolutely hilarious... but one argument that he couldn't come back and argue with to try and change our minds.. it would have been useless anyway as we had already signed the contracts! Anyway, it will take about 2 weeks for the contract and plans to come back, then it goes to planning which will take 2-4 weeks, then they have to be onsite within 2 weeks and complete the build in 14 weeks or they start paying our rent!! so if all goes ok.. should be in at the end of September, yipee :))) 

so the fun bit starts now, firstly we have to decide what pool we want and where its going in the garden, then we go to their design studio and decide tiles, flooring, kitchen extras, electrics, paint colours, doors etc and try not to go too much over what's included....mmmmm... can I do that? not sure!

Parents evening was experienced on Monday, ah I was a proud mum, Josh is doing really well despite not knowing the Aussie slang and culture for English and Rebecca is still a straight A student and their music teacher was so pleased to have them both:) the best bit was that ran to time.. no hanging around missing appointments and ending up first come first seen as was Oke college style. It was 10 minute appointments, the bell rang and we all moved round, very civilised and out on time:)

we then had our first Anzac day in Oz, everything was shut apart from the pubs.. it makes it a real bank holiday.


the local service was held by the lake... beautiful, however it was much more informal than I expected and the guy chairing didn't know the names of all the people laying wreaths and got some muddled up.. so started waffling. I hear the main services in Brisbane are much more formal though. 

The kids college were playing the music and leading the hymns which turned into a performance as most people didn't have a programme with the words on. 

However as the parade was coming into the amphitheatre they played and sang Waltzing Matilda a total of 37 times!!!!   

not sure who'd had enough of it by the end.. them or us.

Can you spot the kids Josh & Rebecca?

our church use the event as an opportunity to serve the community by handing out bottles of water (as its usually a scorching hot day) and we gave out 1500 bottles of  water. We had a really great turn out of members which was fantastic as our minister was admitted to hospital this week with 2 brain abscesses which has been a real shock to people.

there were loads of different groups in the parade....  it wasn't a march but could have just been a walk... and schools but also the local riding club ???

I missed the oke sergeant major!

Anyway we then spent the rest of the day mooching at home, I managed to unpack all the rest of the boxes and get some extension leads out to plug in the sofas and lamps etc, so now starting to feel more cozy :)

Job wise... Mark still hasn't heard anything yet, but didn't expect to, but SU are still trying to persuade him to take the chaplaincy.

I finished my job today... what a weird feeling, but am looking forward to next week although have a very busy 2 week orientation planned for me. I've already been asked / volunteered to do some COPD teaching for practice nurses to raise COPD awareness in general practice.. just up my street! But a weekend to relax in first:)

12 weeks and 4 days

well we've been here 3 months now which has gone really quickly and I think we are now starting to settle into Aussie life although its all change again soon. Anyway, sorry for the lack of blog this week, I have been dutifully reprimanded and accused of slacking by a number of individuals, no names mentioned of course.... but you know who you are!!! So just the 1 post this week.

Anyway to continue last weeks decisions... Mark was unable to attend the chaplain meeting on Tuesday as Rebecca was not well and off school, however was still not feeling it was right and emailed them so say so. Wednesday he had his interview for the parole job but won't know the result of that for up to 2-3 weeks. However on Thursday he finally decided to withdraw from the chaplaincy job, which is itself makes no sense at all, but he did feel much better. God is good though and a friend of his in the UK emailed him to say that when he had prayed about it he felt Mark should withdraw but hadn't known whether to tell him, so the confirmation was really useful.  So we'll see what the future holds for him job wise.

On the subject of jobs though..... Josh has managed to get himself a job in Woolworths (its a supermarket here, not like proper Woollies that was a great British institution). He thoroughly impressed at his interview and starts training on Fri 4th for 10 hours a week. So hopefully no more scrounging off us.... but somehow I doubt it!

The kids went back to school this week  and Rebecca continued her run of straight A's, determined to get the academic award this year, with a science assignment. They both went in for concert band, Josh back in for rugby and will be playing most Saturdays now. Rebecca had her first debating competition this week which their team won :) She also started hockey training again. So an ok first week. It was me that got very cross with school this week :((( We have booked to go to Airlie beach in June when they break up but we realised this week that the dates in the handbook are wrong and they actually break up the week after! Have discussed with the bursar who was very apologetic and was supposed to get back to me on Thursday to tell me if its ok to take them out of school as its their mistake. Rebecca's not a problem but Josh may have exams, anyway we've parents evening tomorrow so will find out then, but could do without it.

House plans are now back in at last but oh its so not straightforward! was hoping one would be way more than the other but not so. So now trying to work out which one includes what, garden space and generally overall feel.... its so complicated.

So my gripe of the week is TV adverts... don't ever complain about UK adverts, 12 minutes of adverts = 4 breaks in a half hour programme.... did you ever.... its painful. However breakfast sat outside in the sun at 7.30 am which feels like being on holiday is a definite upside... who needs TV! Anyway after a weekend of sport, coffee, house plans, church, baking (even in my dreadful oven that takes twice as long to cook anything), church lunch (from Domino's) and cinema, its back to my final week at work. Feels weird saying that after 9 weeks when leaving Abbey was 9 years.. but hey ho.. on to challenges new, have spent the last week revamping assessment forms, but I'll take them with me so not wasted time, but am looking forward to getting stuck into a job. So lets see what the coming week brings.. there has to be a house plan decision at least!

decisions, decisions....

a nice weekend was had by all, saturday morning I went to a Ladies book brunch from church, there were 6 of us and Melanie had made the most amazing food and displayed it so beautifully. She is a cake decorator too and has made some amazing works of art. Bless her she was exhausted doing it along with all her normal work, but it was so worth it. It was nice meeting new ladies but I felt so homesick when I got home, missing nattering with my mates who I know so well... hey ho, it'll get easier in time. 

Saturday afternoon I spent unpacking boxes and hanging up all the clothes... even managed to find Josh's box of stuff that had been missing, well not actually missing, just not found. Anyway it was hidden by all the winter coats, no wonder... a box with little attention paid to it. Anyway I was very organised, all the repacked boxes have labels on so I know what's in them. I then set up a second sitting room in our bedroom for the other TV and dvd so much more organised now. Sat evening was pizza and TV time, just for a change.

Sunday... a bright and early start, 8 am at church for music group practice pre service, my new mantra... I must not complain about early mornings (even on a sunday) !!! The kids were both feeling exhausted, so they came home, Mark went off to Bunnings to get some Aussie plugs and I went to Woolies to get lunch. In the afternoon, Mark started swapping plugs... 20 plugs later we now had some spare adapters but I had a husband with very sore fingers. Don't like to tell him how many more there are still to do. I started emptying book boxes and sorting them into types of books and getting all the odd things out that weren't books but were in boxes marked books! Starting to look tidier and more organised though. 

Today I had work.... so boring, I just wish I could move on now, rather than waiting out the next 2 weeks, however I did manage to go up to the hospital on my own, yipee, but my 2 patients booked in for this afternoon didn't turn up :(

However Mark has had a much more stressful day... he had started the morning by emailing the probation service to ask when/if he was likely to hear anything, to be told he would be getting an interview but the person organising it was just back from holiday and they didn't know when he would hear anything. He then got a phone call from SU about the chaplains job to say they had got round some of the protocol and that he could start next Monday and he is to go into the office tomorrow to sort out the details. I come home and we were sat discussing it, when he gets a phone call from the probation service offering him an interview on Wednesday !!!!!  What to do?? He doesn't feel settled about the chaplains job, despite lots of prayer but he may not get the probation job... What to do???  

pro's and cons'... Chaplain is term time and a definite job, but less wages, less superan, has to pay for own training and no career progression (if that important). Probation job is still not definite, higher wages, all training provided and has a career structure. All opinions welcome!!!

I guess we sleep on it and pray some more and see what tomorrow brings?  

another new adventure

So another weeks activities for you to mull over and get really excited about, am so pleased some people find this exciting bed time / morning time reading.. makes it all worthwhile. 

Well seeing as I'm writing this I'll start with me... I got the job! so am now a clinical nurse consultant of a small respiratory community team... basically the same job as I applied for last August, so got there eventually. However when I told my manager yesterday, needless to say wasn't best pleased but today was more relaxed about it although did tell me the 2 staff there were not very bright and were rather laid back, uuummm. The manager that phoned me yesterday did say she was looking forward to the changes I was going to make, so they better watch out is all I can say! Anyway I will be doing clinics, home visits, pulmonary rehab, in-reach at the hospital (reminisce Fiona.. its the PA & QE)  and being a sales girl, selling the service to the GP and consultants to build it, then seeing how many staff I can poach from Ipswich! (just kidding). So start in 2 weeks... but am looking forward to an extra $18000 / yr and an extra 20 minutes in bed every morning. 

As for work this week.. quiet I think would be the word, not quite bored, even did letters in envelopes today after a morning study session, think we might have gone home a tad early today too :) not quite sure how I'm gonna fill the next 2 weeks, but I'm sure I'll find something. 

So as for the others in my household. Mark is still waiting... the parole office contacted him on Tuesday to say that the posts in south Brisbane had gone so would he prefer Brisbane central or Ipswich... didn't mind really but hasn't heard anything since... very weird or just very slow, but either way very frustrating waiting. 

The kids have enjoyed their holiday. Josh has been out driving with Mark and finally got his CVs out and filled in some applications for jobs. Apparently the manager in Woollies was so impressed with his CV she told him to apply for the 2 jobs she was about to advertise - deli or checkout, and she would get back to him, so maybe he'll be in luck. At least it will get him off facebook to his sort of UK girlfriend! He's also been out to a party last night.. very funny, I had to go into the house to collect him.. haven't done that in a few years, he was mortified, except that all the parents were doing the same! lovely Queensland house though, all wood, high ceilings, on stilts, large veranda, lots of trellissed wood work and fairy lights. more funny was his comment to his Aussie friend who we were also taking home was, ' these roads look like UK roads'... tarmac, white lines, how different can a suburban road be!

Rebecca has been out to a friends filming and had 1 sleepover, is now out to another tonight. She also has a fettish for frozen coke.. its a bit like a coke slushy and she tries to get one every time we're out... still resisting when we can! We went late night shopping last night, bled me dry I think... having an image change, short skirts and dresses, decided she's  ditching her tomboy image. Looks too good now, or am I just jealous I never had her figure:( hey ho

so.. we finally got the first set of house plans back today.. surprise surprise... over budget, and still doesn't include some stuff.. and only 1 double plug per room! just hoping the other one is cheaper now... will chase it tomorrow, but hopefully we can get it sorted this week.

Easter weekend

4 days off work :)) and lovely days they've been too, albeit fairly busy.

Good Friday started with a service at church and being dropped in the deep end with the music group, I was playing keyboard, Josh bass and Rebecca sang also doing solo for one song... it was amazing worship! We then went to a place called Manly and onto Wellington point which are eastern suburbs of Brisbane on the coast, very muddy beaches but gorgeous views and yachts and we had a lovely time. Fish and Chips on the grass (no where near as good as UK fish 'n' chips) followed by walk and ice creams.  

Also found these really weird trees which caused some amusement!

Saturday was slightly more leisurely, boring housey jobs in the morning, then we went to our pastors house for lunch and the afternoon along with 2 other families. we had a lovely time and it was great to get to know some other people better and the kids all seemed to get along as the other families had kids the same age which was great and very thoughtful of them.

Sat evening Mark and I went out to the cinema to see American Pie: reunion ... what can I say... very very funny!

Sunday am was church again, this time Josh had his trumpet out and my violin even got an airing... more remarkable was that I could remember how to play it. Anyway the service was great, I could listen to our pastor speak for hours.. he has an amazing ability to bring the Bible to life. We then had a leisurely afternoon and Rebecca and I went to see Titanic 3D which again was very good.

Today was the sea side, our first trip to the Gold Coast. We went to Southport which was the nearest beach and according to google quieter than surfers paradise, however it was still lots of high rise apartment blocks but the beach was fantastic.

 All beautifully sandy, almost no stones, even the sea bed was sandy, but a long way out to get any depth. However having the body boards and deck chairs was great and the sea was just so warm and the surf amazing... but not a wet suit in site! ours are still in a box so guess that's where they'll stay.

 Can't wait for the next trip to the beach... it's what's we came for , well one of the things anyway :)

Home

So it now does feel like home, Tuesday the container arrived at 7.30am!!! I was still in bed with a coffee :( however 4 guys worked like trojans and by 8.40am it was emptied and they were gone. So the day did feel like Christmas as everything was wrapped up in brown paper and we were able to just rip it off!! however the mountain of paper in the garage was stupendous. By Tuesday evening we had all the beds put together, furniture unwrapped, kitchen full and most of the bedding and towels etc unpacked and what's not going to be needed repacked. So just all the books and clothes to go through and sort out, and homes to find for odd bits, but it is lovely having all our stuff around us, although Rebecca did point out that it does now make us realise we're not just here for a holiday.

Mark's job saga continues as on Wednesday he had a telephone interview for the probation job, half an hour later he was told that he would be contacted in the next 2 days to say if he had made it through to the panel interview which will be Friday next week.. so here's hoping. However today he got a phone call to say that he hadn't got the University job, so that was rather disappointing, but its one out of the equation I s'pose.
I had my interview today too... guess it went ok but again won't know for another 2 weeks.

So last night Josh, Rebecca and I went to our first music practice... talk about being thrown in... Rebecca's singing a solo in tomorrows service and Josh is doing a trumpet solo on Sunday... go kids! Still don't like the 8am start though.
Anyway 4 days off work now, woo hoo!! more unpacking to come and maybe the beach....:))

2 days to go...

I'm so excited 2 days to go till all our stuff gets here !!!!

well we've had a lovely weekend and all doing different things. Josh was at school all day yesterday and today till about 1.30pm on a rugby workshop where they had external trainers, psychologists and nutritionists all come and work with them. He thoroughly enjoyed it apart from his very grazed knees. Not sure what the nutritionists thought of Subway and Nando's for lunch though :)
Rebecca had a friend (who is even more mad than some of her UK friends and I really didn't think that was possible) over for the day yesterday and a sleep over. We dropped them at a large shopping mall, Indooroophilly (great name) at about 10.30am and then Mark and I went off to explore Mount Cootha. Having decided against walking up, we drove up to the top and went to the lookout area and wow the view was spectacular! Having identified areas and got our bearings, coffee was called for, and cake of course. The area has lots of walking trails and having googled it before going, I wanted to go and find the waterfall. This plan was stumped due to the signs running out, so as we then ended up following signs to a reservoir and coming across a rather steep path downhill, we decided that burning off carrot cake was not that important as the temperature did not call for walking back up the hill! So we went back to the car and drove down, needless to say we missed the waterfall on this occasion. However we did find the botanic gardens and went in there for some lunch. We didn't make it around the gardens though as after ordering lunch it took almost an hour to come as they were just about to serve up the wedding party in the room next door. Hey ho... but lovely place for a wedding.
So we then tootled back to the mall to meet the girls, but oh dear, we got there too early and just had to do a bit of shopping. Actually it was a ploy to get Mark some decent shorts and T shirts rather than his sloppy holiday shorts he's been living in, but of course I couldn't be left out :)
Anyway we eventually met the girls and got back home picking Josh up on the way.

Today, Josh was back at rugby, three of us did church this morning, Rebecca went off to the cinema with some friends from school this afternoon and Mark and I went round to some friends from church for a meal this afternoon / evening. We had a lovely time, and sitting outside all evening felt like being on holiday... its great this weather. 

Anyway, did I tell you our stuff comes in 2 days... am so excited :)