All go go go here!

Well lots has happened since the 1 month and 6 days of my last blog......
Work as usual is chaotic but finally getting on top of things.
Rob's Dad and Nephew are arriving in 3 weeks for a holiday in Darwin, its always good to get visitors as its an excuse to do the touristy thing .
Looking forward to going to Perth in Oct to catch up with Jen and go to Tim's wedding (we used to work together in Leonora) will be great to catch up.
Then a well deserved few days on Stradbroke Island and Brisbane to see Circus SolAi in December.
Who said painting was fun.... yes im eating my words. Painting is good i like that bit but the preparation sux. It is clearly evident that i should never be placed in charge of no more gaps and a caulking gun, lucky it washes off in water ha ha ha
Hopefully by the end of tomorrow should have downstairs 90% done.
Well im pooped, its been a long day. I will post more soon.
x

Lazy Lazy Lazy Laaazzzyyy

Yes 1800 i know i been a lazy cow and not blogging lately- well ok not blogging for hmmm over 2 months.
Well i am looking forward to this long weekend, il be going fishing and crabbing and sleeping in and enjoying not being a work.
Hopefully at the end of my weekend il have some pic's of the huge Barra im going to catch and big mud crab im going to trap- maybe wishful thinking???????

Seeya Molly

I said goodbye to my favorite little friend yesterday, her dad picked her up today and she left for Katherine.
Leaving Toni to get in and pack the house before leaving on the weekend.
Will be sad when Toni goes too as il be losing my shopping and coffee and cake buddy!!

Elton John comes to Darwin!

Thanks to Territory Resources for giving us just about front row seats to see Elton John, was a good concert. Was packed 14,000+ people.

Sydney

Well im in Sydney at the moment for a OHS National Conference. Its pretty full on and its only day one ahhhhh 2 days to go. I have to do a 1/2hr presentation which has been put off till Thur morning so looks like i will stay nervous till then- cant wait till its over and done with.

Staying in a great hotel right opposite the beach. The best bit is that the Australian Rugby League Team are staying here as well. Awwww a lovely sight when im chilling on the balcony to see Glazzy, Willie Mason and the rest of the team staying on the adjacent balcony. I will have to see if i bump into them again in the lift to pluck up the courage to get a signed jersey for Rob.

Toni my girlfriend and her daughter are moving back to Perth in a couple of weeks so when i get back we will plan a list ofg things to do before she goes. She has invited us to go camping to Edith Falls on her drive out of town. Hmmm me camping is not a problem its just what il be sleeping in! Im more of a day camper, but we were in BCF the other day and saw the perfect tent. Its like a camp stretcher that sits off the ground with a tent/swag attached to the top. Yep thats me no creepy crawlys going to get into my sleeping quarters.

Well room service should be here any moment now- yes i make the most of being away and not having to cook!!!

Till next time.....

Anzac Day- Darwin Cenotaph

Two Months On!!

Its been a long while but those that know me its not through lack of things to say its just that i have been so busy at work and the last thing i feel like doing is tapping away at a key board after hours. Its so much more fun checking out everyone elses goss.

We took a drive to Kunnunurra at easter for the weekend- needless to say nearly a full day driving there, a day of sightseeing and then a drive back again. Was nice though to get away and relax. Went to some lovely waterfalls, lake Argyle (bloody beautiful) will be going back there!, Wyndam (hmmm wont be on my to live there list) and did some 4x4 driving to a place that the lady at Wyndam claimed was the Prison Tree (later found out the Prison Tree is in Derby???), but was a big boab tree anyway and nice drive to get there.

One of my best friends Jennafina is in New York at the moment and i got my second email from her today. Was great to hear about her travels, she is having a ball. I got her and Miriam tickets to the Jerry springer Show in Chicago so they hired a car and drove there and back, crack me up as id love to be a fly on the dash mat seeing them drive in USA on the wrong side of the road.
Mum is in Peru for 3 weeks, i spoke to her the other day and she also is having a great time seeing all there is to see.
Dad is in Melbourne doing the bowls carnival thing.
Needless to say im feeling very left out with everyone travelling around the place- so guys do think of me slogging away at work!!!

Im off to Sydney for a week for work conference so that is the closest thing il get to a holiday i suppose. Will be nice though, im staying across from the beach. Meanwhile Rob will be in Alice at the Alice Springs Cup with a couple of buddies from Brisbane- real boys weekend and thankfully when they get back il be in Sydney so they can have the place to themselves.

Congratulations on your Engagement Amanda & Matt!

Such great news when i opened up my emails this morning, my friends in Melbourne Amanda & Matt got engaged whilst on holidays in Sabah. I used to work with Amanda at Perkins before she moved away to Melb for Matts work posting.

My message to Matt 'About bloody time ha ha ha '

Cant wait to get all the holiday goss and news soon.

Slack and Lazy!!!

I know, i know, iv been very slack and lazy blogging, iv been just so busy at work and when i get home i try not to turn the lap top on!! I still make a couple a minutes every day to read everyone elses and keep up with the goss, but im afraid i just havent been very efficient in keeping everyone up with my goss.
Im off in an hour, going away for work, Perth this time only for 2 days, will manage to poke my head in and say hi to the folks and Oma then back on the plane again.
Our tennants finally move out of our townhouse, they broke their lease earlier than we thought so they out next week and we are moving in!!! YAY

The Aftermath of Cyclone Helen

Survived my 2nd cyclone! It was very windy and lots of rain. We went out for dinner last night at the Trailer Boat Club- Hmmm didnt think it was the smartest decision we have ever made as we were right on the water, yep a birds eye view of the winds getting stronger and stronger!

We were home by 8.30pm and by 10pm apparently the Police were closing all the pubs in the city down and making sure everyone was getting home.

I checked the BOM web site at 11pm and it gave me a bit more piece of mind by telling me Cyclone Helen has stuck to its course of heading east and had just crossed onto land at Point Charles (about 200kms from Darwin) Ahh not so nervous now, slept quite well knowing we werent getting the eye passing through Darwin. The winds were still pretty strong (catagory2) gave me a real taste of how much worse it can get if it hits!!!!!!

Lots of trees down, quite a few cars squashed and black outs but everyone ok

Here she comes!

All systems go here at Darwin, sometime between 10pm and 10am we could get hit with a cyclone!
At the moment its heading east inland where it will weaken over land but if it comes up north east it will intensify over the water and be straight inline to hit Darwin.
So its off home shortly to pull in the pot plants and get heady for a windy night ahead.

Xmas in Perth

Me and Rob spent Xmas with the folks in Perth this year.
Only 1 week here then back home. Has been nice. Xmas day was great lots to eat and eat and eat some more.
So far we have done lots of shopping and Rob has been lucky to escape the family stuff and go fishing with Dad.
Apologies to all that i have not caught up with as iv tried to dedicate some time to my Oma (dutch for Grandma) as she is in a nursing home now and well life is to short with living in NT i never know if this is the last time that i may see her. I took her to Myers today to go shopping for some blouses, i should have been wearing 'L' plates as my wheel chair driving skills are not the flashest, but she survived my driving.
Tomorrow im taking Rob sightseeing for the day, Sunday last day with family then back on plane first thing Mon morning.
Yes i know Blogs are far and few between lately but im hoping that this new year everything will be a lot more relaxed and less hectic and il be able to share more with whats happening.

Cyclone Season on its way

Thought id better get shopping and start the cyclone kit. We still have some of last years items in our cyclone cupboard so this is a top up on the food items, its good to be prepared. Last year when we went on cyclone watch the supermarket shelves were bare within a couple of hours- no batteries, no water, no canned food!!! ahhhhhhh nightmare!!

Tahlia's Graduation Formal

It is Tahlia's big night tonight! Bec unfortunately is in Tassie so being the proud aunty i am got her ready. It was all very exciting- hair, makeup and best of all the dress. She looked lovely. Oh did I mention my dress making ability!
Toni came over because she just brought a new car, so off we went in style. Much to Tahlias disgust we dragged her down to the foreshore before dropping her off for some pics, poor girl she was embarrassed as the foreshore is always packed with picnicers at that time of night.
Well i told her she must call me when Steve picks her up so i can get all the goss on the night.

The Wet is Here!

The temperature has just dropped about 10' and its about to pelt down.

The first pic i just took from my balcony at home.

The second pic i took a while ago at work.

The wet season is finally here. We have had a few good storms already with lots of thunder and lightening. You can almost set your clock to the fact that everyday at 3pm you look out and the storm is blowing over and by 4pm its pouring. Yep just when you finish work and need to get to the car. No umberella can save yo from these big rain drops.

Yay Its Friday

Well il pick up where i left off......

Had a big day in Sydney Tue, my arvo meeting got cancelled so damn it i had to shop all day!!! I started at Hourbourside in Darling Harbour then walked into the city. OMG shops, people, cars ahhhh it took me half hour to get my bearings and find my way back to the hotel. Sadly i walked away with a belt that was on sale for $7.95, Starbucks coffee and a piece of caramel cheesecake.

Wednesday was really full on. The Maritime Union Negotiations with our company. It consisted of myself and our company consultant representing Patrick against 3 MUA delegates (stevedores from our site) and the National MUA Delegate. Wasnt as heated as when they had the first discussions in Darwin but it was still a bit daunting at the start.

It was all over late arvo and then i headed to the airport. I had 3hrs before i flew home so our consultant Mick, who drove me to the airport got me into the Qantas Club. Saw no-one famous but it was nice all the same to relax and take advantage of everything free! Would have been more fun if i was not by myself.

Iv also taken on a new position in the company of Employee Relations Manager, it started effective of yesterday, funny though im still yet to sign the letter of offer, hmmm everything happens Darwin time. All is negotiated including my pay rise its just formalities now. It will be a challenging role esspecially dealing with the wharfies but i think il enjoy it.

Well today we got the news that the finance for the townhouse that Rob and I applyed for came through today. Settlement is on 21st November.

Its 2 story, living room and kitchen upstairs, 2 bedrooms and bathroom downstairs. Courtyard off the main bedroom and courtyard out the back-with spa, balcony off the lounge room also. Its rented out till March 08 then we will move in for a couple of years then rent it out again- well thats the plan anyway! Our own little love nest!!!

Its all very exciting.

Viva Las Sydney!

Arrived in Sydney last night, beautiful weather here, lovely and warm!!
Staying at the Crowne Plaza, lovely hotel. Excelent freebies- 1800 parcel comingyour way
I dont have a meeting till after lunch today so il be maximising oportunity and time and going SHOPPING!!! Theres a massive complex across the road, im sure il find a bargain.
Well im off to live life like the rich and step out of my hotel and swan through the shops (in my case more window shopping than the rich!) all before my stressful day im sure il be having tomorrow!
Arevaderchi

Rob POP'D the question!!!!!

All very exciting!
Rob took me out for dinner last night to Pee Wee's on East Point, prob Darwins only posh restuarants that is secluded out at East Point and seating is on timber decking right on the foreshores waters edge.
He proposed after dinner with a really beautiful speech to me- oohhhhhh! Yes brought a tear to my eye.
Well so many things have been happening in the last weeks, Im a signature away from accepting a new position of Employee Relations Manager at work and we have possibly brought a townhouse together will know for sure early this week.
Im off to Sydney on Monday arvo for work im sitting in on the final Union negotiations in preparation on gettign the new Certified Agreement sorted. When i get back on Wed night im sure il have some more exciting news to tell.
Well must go off to cook the new fiance breakfast (see what happens when they put a ring on your finger ha ha ha )
Stay Tuned :-)

Feeling Guilty

Well im on my lunch break and just checking out everyones blog page.
Read Jennafinas and how guilty do i feel, shes just started Tony Fergusons weight loss program so im writing to her being encouraging and meanwhile tucking into my lunch- toasted banana and brown sugar sandwich. Im the one who will need the encouraging words if i keep eating this kinda stuff; but like Jen i love my food!!!!!!!

Its been a while between blogs as iv been so snowed under at work, there hasnt even been any time for idle chit chat emails lately :-(
Hopefully this will all change soon and il be on top of everything when i maybe take on a new role- will tell all soon.

Anyhoo im thinking of you all and will speak soon
Over and out

Rainy Brisbane

I got to Brisbane on Monday night. My flight was 2.5hrs late getting in as the air hostie got sick before we boardered the plane in Darwin and the ambulance had to come and take her away so we had to wait for a replacement.
Got into Brisbane and settled in the Motel about 9pm, luckily when i got off of the plane at Brisbane i got in the taxi q and it was about 1km long so i had a hunch that Lisa our National ER Manager was flying in from Sydney so i rang her thinking she was already at the motel but yeeha she was also in the taxi q so i hunted her down and jumped the q so we could share a cab together.
Up bright and early today and met downstairs for breaky then off to Allocation Training at Fishermans Island. Was really interesting as i got to see the auto straddles loading a container ship, its the only one in the world of its kind and the ER Training was interesting as well. Back into the classroom again tomorrow than fly home tomorrow arvo.
Update again soon