The day after.... and the day before

The day after christmas... I don't think I need to eat for the next year...
I spoke to Kate yesterday.... she sounded so very weak and ill... I guess cos she is...still it was good to hear her... and let her know I will send some phone pix while we are away...
www.moblogs.com.au
suzi_q

The kids had a great day :) Santa did well :)
well... nearly time for bed.... time to zone out before the big drive tomorrow....
two days driving to get to Queensland :)
Gilgandra tomorrow....
over 900km... over 10 hours... one step at a time... two drivers... lots of breaks.... good thing the kids are great travellers...

Merry Christmas

Bitter sweet Christmas....
I found out yesterday, Christmas eve that my oldest and dearest friend has been diagnosed with bowel cancer.... and has already been operated on...
I spoke to her this morning... after going to mass....I feel so helpless....
The kids are enjoying Christmas morning as they should...santa was good to them.... but I keep thinking about Kate's kids... spending Christmas day visiting mum....
Better go and get joyous....

Catching up

I haven't had a day's break in ages.... what with one tihng and another... so having last weekend's events start later in the day was lovely....
Saturday was the celebration of Gordon's first birthday and Mel's 40th...held at the WattleGlen esatate :)
Katrin had the kids disappear for hours with a bounty of $100 riding on the capture of a rabbit :) needless to say her cash was safe.
Sunday I made lots of the VFT guys and gals a little envious of my ride earlier in the week... hehehehe
and today... I am making space invaders with year 7 and 8s.... they are having fun :)
Tomorrow digital christmas cards :):)

What a week.... WHAT a month

December just seems to be a haze...



The V8s finale at Phillip Island was pre-empted with a week with only one night not commited to "something".



Thursday night was sad as I farewelled two great mates I have worked with for over 20 years....I probably drank too much... hmmm a bit of self medication... LOL... but it was good I wasn't tooooooooo messy....



The drive down to the island the next morning was a bit of a challenge... ughhhhh.... starting the weekend of long days tired was not good... but we brightened up the office with a couple of blondes on Friday... .the drivers seemed to appreciate the giggles...as we checked their licences and other documents.



Saturday was soooooooooo smoky... brought back memories of the conditions on Ash Wednesday.... however, these fires seem to be more that a one of event... and it looks like they may be burning with us for most of the summer :(


Sunday flew.... needing a nana nap from the heat at the partaying on Sat night... the race result was hmmm contoversial... but the decision was made eventually later in the week... and Holden was No 1 again :)





A friend from work was given my guest pass, a regular arrangement... I love to give them to people who really enjoy the racing as well as the event... well... on Tuesday I got the best thank you ever for the passes...


A hotlap around Phillip Island with Garth Tander - one of my favourite V8 drivers :):)





I am still buzzing.... and do you think the gang at the VFT party was a little jealous yesterday??? hehehe even the ford fans :):)
Anyway... I will come back to last weekend later... better get some work done :)

Jingle bells are coming

and the time is still flying.....
looking forward to a break over Christmas and New Year...
Miss Nat's ballet concert was wonderful on Sunday.... she is a little trooper.... when I asked if she was lonely being at the theatre from 10.30 am til 8.30pm... little miss replied... "how could I be lonely.... I am here with all of my friends"
gotta love her :)
TPL day today... yay... but going in to fix up some Moodle stuff... and hopefully clear off my desk....
today is the only day with nothing on this evening....33C and a day of total fire ban... I can smell the smoke...ughhhhhhvery hazy out there..... they reckon the fires in the past couple of days are more like February fires, rather than the start of the season...and the fires up north could burn all summer..... it's definitely dry enough....will make the drive to Qld interesting

Trying to work out MySpace... hehehe... maybe tonight.....
tomorrow INTEL.... then Sue and Jill's farewell... then the Island :)
woo hooo..... and Tinky coming down from Qld....

better fly

So... that was the weekend??

Yesterday was a blur.... two parties... not enough time in between to do anything... to much time to do nothing... ughhhh

We left at 8 this morning for ballet rehearsals....thank goodness they had a market on at the same time..... we only got home after 1.30pm... but Nat did get a pony ride.... which was the best bit of her day...

We have the contracts to go through for the house.... scary

Tomorrow... hmmm wondering if there will be wireless connections at the VITTA conference...3 days... it's going to be great... just went over what I am doing... and it should be very useful on many levels...weird to be at Flemington without the gee gees

Ohhh and I broke another tooth...grrrrrr... dentist was already booked as that one was feeling dodgy... now I know why... can't get in any earlier...Wednesday next week... arghhhhh... at least it's not too sensitive....

What a week...

and it won't slow down til Christmas...
Nat's at a party now.... just finished the PokeBall Cake and party bags for Jack's party later today...
Rehearsal for the ballet concert tomorrow..... why is it I feel like a beer right about now???
3 day conference mon - wed.... that should be great :)
Why is it I feel like a beer? ahhh the sun is out the temperature is going up...
nice :)

The rain.....

A few ramblings to start the day I think are in order....

as annoying as it was standing in the rain yesterday, and running through it this morning... I hope it keeps up for a little while at least.... the worst drought in over 1000 years is quite something... everything is so brown ... and we are still only in spring... when everything should be lush and green...
I guess it's good and bad news... if the rain stimulates more growth.... and then it dries up again there is more fuel for what is already is tipped to be an horrendous bushfire season.

Still recovering physically from the weekend.... standing for two days... in the sun, heat and rain and humidity takes its toll.... but it was fun to see the old cars fang around at Historic Sandown. There were a few cars notable by their absence, particularly in the regularity event.... some of the really big old cars that look like chitty chitty bang bang (I am told they are Bentleys). The Jags were gorgeous .....
If you want to see my pics... I have posted some on my moblog http://www.moblogs.com.au/
member is suzi_q

Better get back to work.... after not having checked emails since Friday I have a very full inbox... hehehe

What a cute way to start the day

After the usual rumblings and grumblings.... we finally got out of the house... kids dropped off... all fairly normal driving to work....
then lo and behold I turn around the final round about... and something big and black catches my eye.... on the side of the road.... on the road side of the fence... half a dozen cows... LMAO... they were all very relaxed checking out if the grass reall was greener... and seemingly enjoying it...
then a few metres on another six or seven.... and we are talking BIG COWS... they would make a fairly big problem for any car that connected.... and they were pretty close....
not suprisingly many cars took a slow wide berth around them...

ahhh well that made the day seem much brighter :)

Run and won

I had money on the winner.... Delta Blues... yay.... AND I get money back from Efficient being scratched. Mic got the winner in the sweep... Will got third.
The day was cool... the bubbly was fine.... and I can't believe I have prawns left over.... mmmmm prawn lakhsa tomorrow night :)
This week will be weird... missing two days.... and if I can work it out I should be able to work from home on Friday too... woo hooo two day work week... gotta like that...
Little Gordon is growing so fast... will be one year old in 6 weeks.... ughhhhh my boy will be 8 in a couple of weeks.... better get a party sorted.... this time of the year flies...

The day before the race

I love Melbourne Cup....
I used to go to many of the events.... but with three little ones... and the CROWDS....
when we started going... 20 years ago... with a group of students... and another school... we had the grass to ourselves most years.... alas, recently... well the last time I went was 2000 I think... heavily pregnant with a pram... it was insane...
even without the pram you couldn't move....
Guess I was spoiled in 98 when Mic got a corporate marquee ticket through his work.... (one week out from due date that year.... but very civilised :))
Well... I have been through the field... picked a few..... there is no real way to pick a sure thing for the cup... (working at the TAB as I did for a few years going through Uni... there were many people who put an eachway bet on the whole field....)
So tomorrow.... will be bubbles and prawns in the comfort of the backyard.... last one in this house.... a few friends and family coming over... better go finish of my bets and the shopping list...
I have to say I like the set up of the beta blogger.....
I played around with the new settings last night.... and look forward to seeing what I created....
tally ho....

Halfway through

yay... the long weekend... two more days to go.
Gotta love having a day off for the horse races.... and of course we went back to work a day early, so Monday is a day in lieu for that.
Miss Nat went to bed with a cough and a splutter tonight.... poor baby... She was off colour all day...
Jack and Nat painted the little doll's house we got... had a bit of fun with that.
I had a play with some of the brick and roof samples we have, and created a mock up of the "look".
Tomorrow we will need to get a few things for the barbie on Tuesday.... a smaller affair than last year... no overseas guests... but looks like being cooler too...
Better get to the gym too...

getting there slowly

another TPL day tomorrow... getting some of the moodle stuff happening.... slowly slowly...but hooking in a few along the way with it's simplicity of use...

I have downloaded some very cool photoblog software... hope I can put it onto littleweb (hehehe my baby server)

I had a big rant on my "work/tpl" blog last week.... I was suprised no comments...
interesting at first I wanted to just sit and put my thoughts down.. with no concern as to whether they were read or not.... and now... I think it would be cool... specially my photoblog... it was very cool when people commented on them... made it feel like I was doing it for a reason...
hehehe I was suprised... pleasantly when I saw someone had followed my link from the KB conference...

it was a big load off when I decided to can the yearbook... so far no one has missed it... suprise suprise...

It is nice not to have that hanging over my head....

I have plenty to keep busy with...
hmmmm must get to the gym....

Holidays

woo hoooo....
Today was the first day I spent at home.... but the kids and I have had a ball...
Jack stayed with his cousins .. missed him a bunch :(
Got side tracked again....
will post some more over the next few days

Where is the week going

What a frazzle....
Nat was sick on Saturday, Sunday and Monday... finally coming good later in the afternoon.
Jack gets home and tells me his tooth hurts and he can't eat.... looks sore... book into the dentist....earliest... Wednesday morning...
Work at home on Tuesday... very productively as seen on my podcast bloggy thing
I have an appointment at work to trial a new notebook/tablet... so Jack came with me... then back to the dentist, then back to work.... of course I didn't stop for petrol on the way back to work.... and by the time I drove home it had jumped 10C a litre again...
One more day at work this week.... then some motorsport...
V8 supercars at sandown... fun fun fun....
the cough is settling on my chest.... AGAIN... grrrrrrr
BSG is about to start... so out of here for the night :)

Just some ramblings

it's getting warmer and lighter here with longer days.... you have to be hapy with that....
I was very happy that the online training worked so well today, and I got my podcast up... woo hoooo...
Getting into the TPL swing...today was excellent.... still, never enough time. So much to learn and explore...
The conference at Lorne last week was brilliant.... ideas ideas ideas....

Busy weekend coming up.... Sandown... should be fun - Mic is at a senior's meeting there tonight (senior officials, not old folk)

better go shut off my brain for the night..... with a couple of quiet ales :)

podcasting

hehehe just made a podcast... I think... here is the link...

odeo.com is very cool :)


powered by ODEO

Bye to the view

It has always been such a peaceful lovely view, as I drop the kids in at before school care... some wondrous mornings with mist over the wetland lake... the birds... the atmosphere... now the land has been sold and building has started... guess my relaxing morning views are going to have to be found somewhere else :)
I have some awesome pics.... will try to find some more to post.... the view that was :)

slow recovery

the annoying thing about this year's flu shot is that I seem to have been sicker since having it... one thing after another... but slowly this foggy head is lifting.... still need panadol and loads of tissues.
I don't know if it's a good thing that I am thinking more clearly..... means my brain goes into overload again...
tick tick tick....
hehehe we have some of the guys from cams doing a driver ed thing with our senior kids... and trevor was there... nice to start the day with a kiss and cuddle from an old mate :)
better get organised.... back to the chalk face

again... nearly a month

or is it more???
so much has been happening...
got the funding for professional leave
got the conference presentation in Lorne
found a block of land, put in an offer and it was accepted, so then to the task of building....
health issues up and down
spent a couple of days with my Mum in hospital.... ahhhh the lungs aren't what they were after 40 years of smoking... (hers not mine, although at the moment I reckon we might be on par)
I picked up another virus... very flu like... that has knocked me out for about a week...still recovering...
and the beat goes on.....

mid year... break

The winter solstice has passed.... the sun has been shining more than not.... although tonight feels cold... but it might just be where I am sitting...
Have yet to start reports and stuff....
But I have done some satisfying work on my website...
I think I will try to upload it tonight.

I am changing the focus to more photography based work... use it as my gallery for larger images, and a bigger range of images. Might even set up some sort of sale of images thingy.


Well we are back looking at houses.... it's getting closer... I'm sure it will really happen soon....

Some sad sad news.... my long time best mate Kate rang me.... and her Dad is not doing well.... has had a huge hearty and is still in hospital.... I can't imagine life without him.... even though we haven't caught up recently... he's always there.... the closest thing to a Dad I had... showed us what a family and being christian was really all about..... I guess all we can do is wait... He is an amazing man.... I hope he will be here for a few more years....

What a weekend......

Nearly over....
The weather was perfect.... This morning's soccer was good... got chatting to a few of the mums... I at least had a voice this week.... Will's team was a bit lack lustre after a big night out at one of the boy's 10th birthday parties last night... and they lost... Will is still lacking in confidence.. hopefully when we have seen the podiatrist on Wednesday he will be able to get stronger in his running...

Everything has been so manic.... and I ... perhaps foolishly... listened to a colleague who suggested I put in a paper to present at an upcoming conference... well I found out this evening it was accepted... woooo hoooo... so a huge 3 day conference down at Lorne.... magnificent.... I think..... very scary to be presenting stuff... but it's the photoshop one... so that will be cool....so much to cover.... there is never enough time.

The arts festival is on Tuesday... I got most of the stuff done for that... the program and AV display... still a few things to do... the photos...
Got most of my prep for my Year 11s organised... found a few brilliant sites... going to try and book the room with the smart board to get some fun stuff going on....

nearly bed time......

Saturday arvo

well... what a start to the weekend... Jack's soccer team got their best result yet... 1 all draw... woo hoooo.
still it would have been a superb day to be at Winton... but then again... I am still getting over the bug I have...and Nat looks like she is getting it...
She started feeling "delicate" while we watched the soccer... oops I mean football... and I couldn't go too far....
This afternoon I have been required to give lots of mummy cuddles and watch the rugrats with her.... (and have a nana nap while doing it).
Cool.... I have just worked out how to add images.... I have been having some fun with my "moblog" sending images from my phone to a moblog site....
www.moblogs.com.au
Still trying to get the best resolution... but getting there slowly. I think I will have to take up the email extras option. or just upload them from the computer....
We are getting set for a girl's night... the boys are off to a party with a footy friend... we were all invited... but I think it may have been a bit much for Miss Nat... (and me)
ahhhhh here we go... Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.... clench your buttocks it's going to be a bumpy ride....

OK.... starting to get the hang of this....
The turmoil of the first half of the year is never going to end.....
been playing catch up for ages....
so much to do....
two more weeks til term break....

Guess I can

post that is... but I can't see what I have posted... guess I will get the hang of this eventually

Ughhhh

I don't seem to be able to post from work... that's a pain....
the last one didn't post... and I don't get time at home....
guess I will try to find some

time is flying

The past two weeks have been up down and all over the place. I have been over to Adelaide to play with the V8s, and the next week back here inmelbourne to play with the F1 cars.
The two weeks of holidays came and went...
we spent some fun time in Adelaide, and even got a chance to visit the wineries... yummmmmm
back to work ... and yet... Easter is next week... reports need to be written it never stops.

Nearly there

only one day til term break....
the next few race meetings will be tough.....but I guess time will heal, and we will remember the good fun times...

it's a reminder I guess... that life is too short ... enjoy every minute.

Two big race meetings coming up.... going to be hectic...

and the kids want to see stuff from the Commonwealth Games.... no time to dwell... time marches on...

tomorrow.....

is Neil's funeral... what can I say...
the tears will flow, and after the club and his friends are getting together at the Sandown.... (just behind turn 6 at the track)
The grand prix is coming up.... I figure there will be more tears then... when we get to the track, and he isn't there....
I guess time will help to heal...

Vale

lost a friend today, a friend, colleague and mentor.
We had a lot of fun times... some sad times, but ... I thought he would be here for a lot longer...
50's is to young....
SOP will be so different without him there....
Trackside hugs.... gone....
funs and laughs.....
gone when he just didn't wake up

love ya mate

how very cool....
I hope I can make some regular posts and thoughts...
coming up to some busy stages in my life... yet again.

selling and buying a house.... how exciting... and yet very very scary :)

watching my beautiful babies grow up...

all good... well today anyway