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 :)

Jobs, Jobs and more Jobs...

Can't believe it's Friday already its gone so quickly. Well the dilemma and stress of the week has been Mark's job or should I say jobs....

We started the week with him having passed the first interview for school chaplain and having a second interview  booked for today. Just after writing Sunday nights blog he checked his emails to find that he had passed the application part for the parole officer job he'd applied for first and that he was to do an on-line assessment test by Tuesday... so the confusion increased... 3 possibilities!

Monday had me in stitches as it was an IQ test that he had to do... 50 questions in 20 minutes... which he thought he'd messed up as only managed about 31 of them. He then got a phone call to say that he had an interview with a large secondary school on Thursday for the school chaplain post :)

So yesterday he went to the school, had the interview and would be told next week whether he had got it, however because the chaplains are federally funded they have to have certain qualifications and they are not sure that his 2 year BEd will be of the correct standard, so he has to find out whether it will be acceptable. Snobby lot about academia here - only their qualifications will do :((  So the next event was that he got home to find out that he had passed the IQ test (yeah... he does have a brain) and now needed to do a second assessment test to see how good he is at retaining information by a speed and accuracy test, ha ha!!  4pm comes and he gets a phone call to offer him the chaplains job subject to his BEd being acceptable, as the Head really wanted him there and then :) the downside being they will pay him at the bottom of the scale as despite all his experience he's never been a chaplain before :( Anyway , he didn't accept but will let them know keeping the options open at present.

So today he did his assessment test for the parole officer job and had his interview at the Uni. He seemed to do ok and was asked some weird questions.... eg most of the work is done in 6 months of the year and what will you do in the other 6 months of the year? after some suitable answers the interviewer said he'd never thought of any of those and they would have to do them... and he'd been in the job for 15 years!!! but still came away with more homework... he had to reply to a hypothetical letter from a student wanting to appeal against their marks... so has to do that, then may get recalled for a second interview.

So the saga continues.....

so despite my frivolity, please pray for some direction in all of this, the jobs and salaries are all very different, ie the chaplain pays a pittance and the parole officer is pretty good, but it's where God wants him that's important. 

Fortunately I haven't heard about mine this week.. I don't think we could cope with the stress of that too.

My week has been mega exciting (yawn), I've been trawling through notes auditing which of the patients we have that fit the palliative care criteria for COPD. I can't believe how much stuff hadn't been recorded by my Aussie colleagues therefore the audit result isn't a true number but so far from what is recorded 22% of the patients are palliative so far. I really don't think they have thought this through properly. Anyway, I then spent the last 2 days redoing the assessment forms, the funny episode was when one of the Aussie girls was complaining that they couldn't possibly get all that information done in the appointment time, Rhona was merrily chuckling in the corner and pointed out to her was that I was probably not the best person for her to moan to. I innocently asked her how long the appointment time was... 1 hour, 1 hour!!!!... so of course I looked flabbergasted, pointing out that I previously had 20 minutes in the UK to get almost all the same info, and I will elaborate no further!!! Anyway it's been done, we'll just see how much is now going to get culled after discussion.... hey ho, it filled 2 days.

So the kids have had a good week, Josh did much better in his next set of exams getting B's and Rebecca's still on her target of straight A's. Josh had another rugby match on Monday and an inter school swimming tournament on Wednesday. He's now got a full w/e of rugby all day sat and sun and quite excited about it too.   But the highlight for them is now 2 weeks holiday. They've been 9 weeks at school with no break, the longest they've ever done... a culture shock in itself, and finished with an Easter service down by the lake in full dress uniform, i.e. blazers as well as hats, very smart they look!!

My highlight though is that I had an email today saying our container will be delivered on Tuesday, yipee!!! So apart from having to pay $75 to dispose of a Christmas decoration that had sprayed pine cones on that I obviously missed, that was worth about £10 :((( everything else seems to have passed customs inspection. Roll on Tuesday to check it's all ok, but no more plastic plates or cups, rugs to make it echo less, cushions, photos and my own bed.....can't wait am so excited !!!!!

what a week....

So lots has happened this week, all good (I think). 

Firstly Mark passed the first interview to be a school chaplain, he had the interview on Thursday and was told he wouldn't hear until this week and then got a phone call on Friday, which was great. Now they have to match him up with some schools and he then has to have an interview with them to see if they'll accept him. However there is some concern that he may get used as a supply teacher, which could be ok if it leads him back into teaching, but not good if occurs too much and leads no where. Then to complicate matters he also got a phone call asking him to go for interview next Friday, for a Student support officer post at Queensland Uni that he applied for. Please pray that he knows which to go for / accept, if he gets them. 

I finally finished my orientation on thursday and started proper with lung health on friday, creating my own post. I've started by creating a database of patients that meet the palliative care criteria... boring but not hard work, the hard bit is finding the notes! Anyway, I got to go to a nurse practitioner forum and then did oxygen clinic with Rhona which was fun as Mrs Fluster wasn't there like last time :)

I also went to the Uni this week to see how much I would have to do to upgrade my PGDip to the masters degree to work as a NP. They do it quite differently here in that there are 3 sections, part A which are the core modules, Part B and Part C have modules to choose from. He said I have enough credits to cover part B & C but I'd have to do all of part A, this includes all the examination skills and OSCE's which I've already done :(((. Anyway, in the end, he's kept all my work (thank goodness for memory sticks) and all the module syllabuses that I bought with me from plymouth uni and is going to have a more thorough look at it and get back to me. I so hope I don't have to redo them all :(((

Finally work wise, I've applied for another job!!! Yep, its the same post I applied for initially last August but in another area of Brisbane, much closer to home. Its a respiratory nurse consultant post (band 7) but of a much smaller team that needs a bomb to it apparently. I've spoken to the manager there, who said apply, and then I also spoke to my current manager who also said apply, as unfortunately they can't guarantee me a NP post at the moment, and I also have the support of Rhona and Jo to apply... so apply I have, closing date's tomorrow! Still feels odd changing jobs after 4 weeks but these posts are like hen's teeth and who knows about the NP posts - now we've a change of government anything could happen as they don't like NP's!!! 

So yesterday was Mark's birthday and we had a lovely day, did a boat trip down the Brisbane River which was lovely, deciding which apartments we should invest in for our retirement :) See FB for pictures. Even saw a spare plot of land there, but not sure we could have afforded it, but we can dream:) We then ambled around south bank, the man made beach and the market, and then had lunch. we then had to get Rebecca to a school cross country event for 2.30pm so a shortish day with lots left to go and explore another day. Feel very lucky to live so close. 

She did really well, running 4k in the heat and was good practice for the more competitive events that are coming up. 

I then went to vote, like the good Aussie citizen that I am... actually it's compulsory here to vote, so I had no choice!!!  The evening then finished with chinese and videos, so a good day.

Today we had church, and the kids and I stayed for a jam with the worship band along with some other newbies to the church. Josh got to play bass guitar and will be required most weeks, I get to play keyboard about every 4 weeks and can play my violin in between if I want to (and can remember how) and Rebecca will alternate clarinet and singing, depending what's needed. We then all had pizza together afterwards which was great to chat to others. It's great not having to do it every week, but having the opportunity to still be involved. However its practice for 3 hours a week and have to be at church at 8am on the Sunday morning!!!! (Sorry Andrew for complaining about 9.45am)

We eventually got home and took Josh off to rugby. Lovely, 24 degrees in the shade. I did get confused as the team they were playing against were 6 players short , so Josh and 5 others were playing with them so wasn't sure which team I ended up cheering for, being a rugby ignoramus despite Mark giving me a running commentary. However it only lasted till half time as one lad didn't get up at half time, the ambulance turned up and he'd a fractured collar bone, they thought, so the match was curtailed. 

So another week ahead, Josh's last swimming training tomorrow and 5.30am start, which I won't miss... and watch this space re our jobs.... it'll keep you reading anyway:)

week 8

So as I ran out of titles it was suggested that I just go by how long we've been here, which for lack of better suggestions I'm going to do. Having now done that I can't believe it's only been 8 weeks, in some ways it feels a lot less, but the fact that we've got into a normal routine it seems a lot longer. So apart from the fact that it's 25 degrees in autumn, work still calls as does the washing, cleaning etc. 

well this week I sort of managed 2 days with the diabetic team, as in day 1 I disappeared an hour early to meet a guy at the Uni, day 2 I had a 2 hour induction at the Plaza (where I'm based) and then went out for a lunchtime curry with the lung health team for one of the girls 30th birthday. Today I've been up at the hospital with the palliative care outreach team, well at least I was from 10.00. I was told to get there for 6.30am at start of shift, the ward manager wasn't working today and the staff on weren't expecting me, and then they wanted me to do the drugs.... um I think not!! So instead I fed patients and made beds, not done that for about 18 years!! Still it got a bit better when I found the outreach team... much more useful to my future role although how we're going to work with them I'm not sure, the girl leading it set the service up 10 years ago and it's her baby and we're going to have to fit in with her, me thinks, as she know's what's needed!!! we'll see...

Mark's got an interview tomorrow, stage 1 of the school chaplains post, so please pray if that's the right thing for him. After this one he then has an interview with the school he's assigned to. The idea is that the government fund a school chaplain for every school in the country and while the present government has changed the rules to say the worker doesn't have to be a Christian, only Christians apply because the money is so poor (relatively) - can't see any party in the UK funding a Christian worker in every school - can you imagine the result - some other faiths did complain hence widening the criteria, so when they complained the government basically said that if they didn't have the followers with the commitment it was their lookout, and reminded them that this was a Christian country. 

Other events of this week.... 

Josh has passed his learners test and can now be let loose in a car (AARRGG!!), I took him out this evening around the estate... not as easy as he thought though, haha, but he's now got to do 100 hours before he can do his proper test.

Josh has only been in school for exams this week.

Rebecca got more A's for her exams.

I've got over my homesick blip (for now).

We've got a second builder doing up plans for us so we can do a very accurate direct comparison, so hopefully in 3 weeks time we'll know exactly what we're building and when it'll be ready. 

We had kangaroo burgers for tea...uumm... I'm not sure... very beefy, but everybody else like them.

I finally got my car mats that I was supposed to get when we bought the car... stalling salesman:(

and the best... we are now land owners, having completed today, yipee!!

running out of titles

Another weekend taken up with nothing very exciting I'm afraid. Mark very gallantly went on a church working party at somebody's house yesterday and spent 3 hours with a pressure washer and came home like a complete drowned rat, but not a goose bump in site:) However the one positive was that his hand held up and he has had no increased pain today, however it was a daft thing to try it out on!! He's still dropping the painkillers and now down to 25mg twice daily (came on 60mg twice daily) and doing ok, although occasionally wakes with pain in foot at night, but having to reduce fortnightly now he's getting to the lower doses, which is certainly no bad thing.

Then there was the mystery of the lost car keys!!! the kids and I were going out to do the shopping and they wanted to get mothers days cards but we couldn't find my house and car keys at all... spent ages hunting but not a key to be seen at all!!! anyway josh ended up staying here and we took the spare car keys ( hadn't got a spare house one cut yet). Miraculously after Mark got back they appeared, he claims he didn't have them and Rebecca still looks guilty,  but I reckon a possum came in the house and sneaked them out and then returned them when realised they didn't taste nice...

The afternoon brought another trip to Ikea. Josh was busy revising as has exams this week and we didn't feel we could go exploring without him, so Ikea it was... to get furniture for our guest room, which was successful, so once the beds arrive all visitors are welcome.

Today we had church, got another invite out for lunch in 2 weeks time (thanks), and then spent the afternoon watching Josh in his first ever rugby match... he did quite well, tackled, got tackled, ran fast, got the ball, didn't need an ambulance, but they still lost :( He enjoyed it anyway which is the main thing. Anyway it kept me occupied as I've had my first real teary friend & family sickness day today, don't think it was because it was mothers day, think its been brewing all week really, but guess I'm not invincible. Anyway you'll be pleased to know I'm missing you all really xxx

Rebecca didn't have much success with cards either,  so I had a 1 'especially for you' card, 1 'thinking of you' card and 1 UK mothers day card. So googled mothers day today and realised in Oz its in May... not sure I'll get another one, the jury's out on that, but I reckon I could deserve another one by May :))

study days

so... the last 2 days have been quite nice, I like study days really, would be quite happy doing them daily, although thismornings was a bit of death by powerpoint. I got to meet new people too which was an added bonus.
Yesterday morning I did a basic xray interpretation course which was fantastic, the A-I of Chest xrays, which I could have done with about 5 years ago, however the doctor doing it was great and made it really interesting and interactive. The next 2 sessions were abdo and limbs which weren't quite so good, but also less relevant to me so no worries. The afternoon was a CPR update which was much the same as done in the UK and fortunately the guidelines are the same. However the phone numbers and acronyms are all a bit different so its a bit double dutch to me still.
Today was all about Advance Health Directives, to interpret.... what are your wishes at end of life, challenging thoughts and getting it in a legal document. We also watched a video re the effects of dementia on 4 families, made us all (well some people) cry. Very challenging and thought provoking it was.
However on the upside, I discovered that the chap I'd met this week in cardiac rehab from the UK was a Christian and also met another lovely lady from Ireland, so some good conversations occurred too.
I've also arranged to see a chap at the University of Queensland on Monday re upgrading my PGDip to a masters so I can work as a NP, so hopefully won't have to do too much :)

Mark has sent another job application off today and the closing date for the probation job was today so here's hoping he hears something next week. He's currently spending most mornings trawling job sites.. says he's not bored yet but....

The kids have had a good 2 days, Josh is finally getting down to some work and doing some revision. Yesterday the whole school did cross country races and Rebecca came 7th out of her year which gives her an automatic place into the cross country team... more busy days... and more kit to buy :((( It was the 3rd trip to the uniform shop this week :(  Never mind, we shouldn't grumble, at least they're getting stuck in to school life.

So I'd like to say we're going to do some exciting sightseeing this weekend but I fear not, kids have homework to do tomorrow, Marks volunteered for a church working party at an old ladies house, and then Josh has a rugby match sunday afternoon... and I thought it was mothers days! Still it could be entertaining.

another week.

So for all of you that aren't bored yet, I'll keep writing. This week I have been in cardiac rehab, still not exciting but ok and the staff were lovely, although they didn't tell me they started at 7am today, so I got there at 6.30am as have done all week and sat outside like a right lemon until someone arrived!! However, met a person today who actually knew what a BTEC was, he was one of the nurses who came from the UK 15 years ago and also met 2 Americans, 1 with a real southern drawl. Anyway, nice to see that cardiac rehab does exist some places, but as for targets, well, BP's have to be <130/80 and cholesterol <4 and if you're diabetic BP <125/75 (go for it Emma & Jill)!!! Anyway I've learnt something new about cardiac interventions and when losing weight is classified as malnourishment rather than just losing weight... so wasn't all in vain. I also had a meeting on Monday about putting together the palliative care pathway and referral processes, am still not convinced its going to work very well for COPD, could be a lot of doubling up, but we'll wait until I get more stuck into the job and see how it develops. Anyway, in many ways I just wish this orientation was over so I could get stuck in, but most of it is fairly useful I s'pose.

So Mark has now sent off his applications, although the chaplaincy job phoned and wanted even more information !!! Anyway, all in Gods's hands now. So he's been sorting out documents for the solicitors and now starting to get a little bored.

The kids have had a good week, Josh has now borrowed a trumpet and is going to join stage band, but also started rugby training (suprise), Rebecca started hockey this week too. Josh's chemistry teacher sent us a really nice email about his progress and how he's getting on, and it's not even report time yet, and it wasn't about bad behaviour either, so quite a novelty. Rebecca got another A for her science exams. Josh has been picked for the swimming team in the school competition doing 50m freestyle and relay, but Rebecca couldn't quite bring herself to audition for the cheerleaders squad :). Tonight they have had 'codat' (college open day at twilight) and we got to have a look around the school and hear the senior concert band, which Rebecca's in, uumm... not quite up to Oke college big band standards :(  and then we went to Maccy D's for tea.

One thing here is the abbreviations - they are mad.
my job title is CCSCPCCN... try saying that after a drink!
prac ... practice
chem... chemistry
soce... social science
rave.... religious and values education
pa.... performing arts

I'll come up with more another day for your entertainment!

visitors

So having finished that dreaded Sunday evening occupation of ironing those dreadful school shirts (sorry must remember not to keep moaning about them) I can now tell you about our exciting weekend.

Yesterdays highlight was getting to stay in bed till 9am with a cup of coffee and my kindle!!! just kidding, it wasn't really, although it was nice to have a leisurely start to the day. We had our first visitors, English as well, Rupert and Annie who I used to work with for many years at Abbey. They were staying in Brisbane with other friends on their way back from a year working with VSO in Vanuatu and came and spent some time with us. We had a lovely day hearing about all their adventures and seeing pictures, and were able to walk them around to our plot of land and show them Australia suburbia - not quite as exciting as where they'd come from though. It was lovely to see some familiar faces though.

Then today we had a early start and went off to see a builder about our house, put a deposit down for the full plans to be drawn up, yipee!! Anyway, we've added it as a wish list, even down to the outside shower for the pool, built in BBQ and boat space.... but no doubt it will end up being well over budget and bits will get chopped out... but we can dream for a bit before reality kicks in.. well for about 4 weeks anyway! But hopefully we might be in for Christmas if it goes according to plan.

Anyway we got home for lunchtime and had Ray & Liz arrive for lunch as they were staying up near here on holiday. This was another brother of Jan's (brother number 3) who lives down near Newcastle (ish), so it was a great chance to meet them and find out some more about their family and we were able to spend a lovely afternoon with them.

So after proving I can even entertain with plastic plates and cups, we had a lovely weekend.
Josh and Rebecca have spent most of it on facebook / skype but are quite happy.
Josh is elongating his mondays .. so after doing swimming at 6am he is going to join rugby after school .. but we'll wait and see how long that lasts for! Rebecca is also starting hockey on tuesday at 7am!
As for me I've got 3 days of cardiac rehab this week starting at 6.30am... I'm beginning to agree with my daughter, they world should not start before 8am, anyway just means bed at 9pm instead... so guess I better head off.

less boredom...

Well, the week slowly improved. Wednesday was still very quiet but Thursday I went back to lungs for the day, yippee!! I got to go shopping to the charity shops first thing, as for pulmonary rehab half way through the course they actually do functional exercises, which on this occasion was hanging out the washing :) and then went on a palliative care visit in the afternoon. Today was a heart failure medication titration clinic followed by a palliative care case conference. What was interesting was that the other palliative care clinical nurse that I will ultimately be working with is also a Christian, so while we were waiting I got to pick her brains on other possible churches.
The girls in heart failure have been really nice but HF just doesn't float my boat, anyway off to cardiac rehab next week! Orientation I guess is useful but I just want to get stuck in.

So apart from me working... Mark has completed 3 application forms, a school chaplain, a probation and youth justice officer and a community support officer... the worst application being the chaplain, 5 pages of questions!! So just need to pray he gets the right one.

The kids have had a good week, Josh got a B for his GCSE English that he did before he left, which we were really pleased with. Rebecca has managed to get straight A's for all her exams here, which we were really pleased with, so am holding out hope for the scholarship exam now.  What wasn't good was Josh's lift for swimming didn't go today so I had to do it again, boo hoo, not sure I'll ever get used to getting up at 5.30am! Mind you he also needs to get to bed earlier and practice his questions for his learners license.

House plans are going well, now have 2 quotes for our final design, so hopefully can get it sorted this weekend. Its getting quite exciting :)

Dentists!! they are so expensive... me and my awful teeth, a filling fell out this week (fortunately not painful) but for the filling, although a big one to be put back was $300 = £200 and then he tells me it needs a crown and that will be $1400 !!! I hate my teeth! I was rather anxious walking into the building as it was rather shabby and a bit dirty around the floors, but he was really good and I didn't feel a thing. Anyway another new experience.

So finally the weekend....

Boredom

well I have it confirmed - I do not like hearts - lungs is definitely for me! I have been with the heart failure team for 2 days too long, the staff are really lovely but it's so quiet. yesterday I sat in on the clinic with the consultant and in 4 hours we saw 5 patients and the nurse practitioner saw 3 (I think) of which he checked them all before they left clinic... uumm... what's the point of her seeing them I ask myself!! Then went up to the hospital in the afternoon where all the teams do the same, reviewing notes and introducing themselves to the patients, anyway looked at 2 lots of notes and saw no patients. Today, got in at 7.30, sat in office till 9 and went for some medical records training, not exciting but needed to know, anyway that took 30 mins, then went up to hospital again and looked at 4 lots of notes, then sat around until 30 mins of IT training this afternoon :(((  I have never been bored at work in the last 10 years. Even the nurse I went to the hospital with this morning says she gets bored and its her job!! (been there since october)  hey ho.. I'm sure it will get better. Still at least I've read almost a whole text book on heart failure, so at least I know a bit more about it :) got to look at the positives!

As for the others, Mark's still looking at job websites and deciding what to apply for as well as being a very busy house husband, cleaning, shopping and cooking. I have to say, being home from work at 4.40pm and eating tea with everybody is a lovely novelty. He also went to see another lot of builders today with our plans, cheaper than last weeks, so 2 more to go and then we can make a decision. He's also been watching the exchange rate as it's been going up again today after last weeks dip - very boring but necessary. 

The kids have had a good 2 days, nothing exciting but they seem quite happy.  So more of the same for this week I think... wait for my next installment, I'll try and find something more exciting and /or random to tell you :)

a selection of zoo pictures

Happy Birthday Rebecca!

My baby was 14 yesterday, where did the years go? Anyway we were determined to give her a good day so she didn't miss her UK friends too much. As usual we were up early (what is it about this country and early mornings?) at 7.30 am and after the usual brekkie and birthday presents we were off on our first real day out. Australia Zoo being our destination, crocs, kangaroos, koala's and elephants galore! well we haven't seen them in the wild, kangaroos and koala, that is, so a zoo it had to be. It was a lovely trip up there and we were able to see a little of the glass mountains - fascinating mountains, they just stick up out of nowhere in random shapes, will go back again another time to explore further. Arrived at the zoo at about 10.40am finally getting in after getting an annual ticket - as usual more cost effective as we know we'll be back again this year. Our first surprise was how quiet it was , in the UK on a sunny day everybody would be out, but no, it was really quiet.. weird but good! So we ambled round and saw the alligators and crocs, then went to the wild warrior show. It was amazing, they had lots of birds of different kinds, including kites, cockatoos, lorakeets, macaws that all flew into the arena (some from their cages), almost synchronised flying and then flew out another exit - really well trained. then came the keeper feeding the very large crocodile in different situations - very brave, or stupid! After lunch we then went and saw and fed the kangaroos, patted koalas, watched the keepers play ball with the tigers and my highlight of the day was then feeding the elephants! 

We finally left about 4pm tired, sore feet but very happy!

We then went on to Caloundra on the coast and went for a swim in the sea - it was like being in a bath, only with some rather large waves which took us under a few times, would have been great with the body boards though. At the end of the beach was a lovely salt water pool and some free showers and changing rooms - all very civilised. So a welcome rest but great fun. 

Coming home was not so great, as we got back to Brisbane it was raining!!! the car even aquaplaned at times, a bit scary! However it had stopped enough for us to go out and get a chinese - it was really tasty but somewhat more expensive than the one we went to in Oke. So a lovely day was had by all :)

Today has been somewhat quieter, Josh went into Brisbane for the day with some school friends, still haven't established quite what he got up to.... we did church which was followed by a sausage sizzle and had a good time chatting to some more people, then came home to pour over more house plans, ironing, skype and now bed, ready for another week of work, school, job applications and house decisions!

I'll post zoo pictures tomorrow.