Changes

Well, today's probably not the best day to update my blog. Feeling rather down, cause, well basically I have a teenager! Anyway, I'll try make it interesting for ya.

So, this week saw a lot of changes. Fluffy has been surfing the used car sales pages for months, looking for something different to tow the caravan with. The Fairmont is a 2000 model, and won't last forever. But we still owe a bit on the Mitsubishi. Ideally, we would like 4WD to cope.

So he got a payout figure from the finance people, and we did some math, and figured we could spend a certain amount. He hit the pages with renewed vigour.

We were also deciding on what to do with the existing cars. Do we trade both in on a replacement, and look for something cheap and nasty for Dobby and I to drive, with the view to give it to Dobby when she has her license? Yes, probably.

The last couple of weeks have seen us look at a couple of possibilities. One was a Mercedes 4WD. Very nice. Diesel so the KM wasn't too important (they are considered not run in until 100,00km). We ummed and aaaahed, then kept looking.

Next to consider was a little blue Holden Barina for Dobby and I. Good price, low KM, neat little unit. So we decided to trade in the Fairmont and pay cash for the difference.

As it will be Dobby's, she has decided it's practically hers now. Pfft. I don't own a car now it would appear :-). Anyway, she has given her a name...So, Meet..... Shazza



It's a manual so it will be easy for Dobby to learn properly how to drive in. She loves it, and it's lovely to drive. We paid a deposit and made arrangements to pick it up Saturday.

But, with a caravan rally looming, and one we have to attend, the hunt has stepped up for a replacement for the Fairmont.

We looked at two Jeeps, but were advised that being short wheel base they would struggle with our heavy van, even though the tow capacity is supposed to be more than capable.

We looked at a Hyundai Taracan, but have balked at the $6000 replacement gearbox that a lot of this model seem to experience.

Next on the list was a Nissan Pathfinder. Nice vehicle. We took it for a drive, and it's quite nice. Close inspection shows it's been knocked around a bit, but overall a nice tidy car.

We were offered $14,000 for our Mitsubishi. Twice.

Then Fluffy found The One. We showed up on Saturday all set to sign the deal. We were looking at the most magnificent Ford Territory. A sweet blue colour all over, black suede look upholstery, low KM, and around our price range. Took it for a test drive, and were so excited. It has a cargo cage at the back, all the bells and whistles, turbo, looks real mickey mouse.

BUT they were only prepared to offer us $9000 for ours. What?? How can two different people offer $14000 and he only advise $9000. Wayne told him that's an insult. The smart alec, whom I might add we had to wait 15 minutes for because he was in the loo, just said, "well, if you think you can do better somewhere else, you're welcome to do that". So we did. We just walked out. We were all prepared to buy that car.

We were all almost in tears, let me tell you.

So, we went to pick up Shazza instead. The saleman there was very sympathetic. Another Ford dealer they are. And let me tell you, they were sooo nice. They bent over backwards to make our Shazza experience pleasurable.

They took Fluffy out to show him another Territory, which paled in comparison, though. They said if they don't have the car for us, they'll do their best to get one just like it.

He took Fluffy for a drive in this other Territory, too, and they have agreed to match the $14000 for our old car.

We agreed to think about it. Fluffy phoned the sales rep yesterday saying he had seen another similar vehicle, and the bloke told him they would have a look to get him something similar.

Well, after all this we had to then drive Dobby (in Shazza) to a sleepover way down South. So, we drove from home to Hahndorf, from Hahndorf up to Elizabeth, back home briefly, then down to Seaford Rise and back home. Felt like we were on the road all day!

Sunday, Dobby was away, and Fluffy went to work. I was invited out to a friend's place. We have only met person to person once, but been Facebook friends for some time, and she has a blog (check it out). I got to meet 6 of her friends, who are all mad keen quilters. I felt a bit odd barging in on their Christmas party, but I was welcomed, with gifts, laughter, great company, and great food too. Lots of it! Khris even made us all table runners and matching coasters. Now, I'll tell you, she asked me on Thursday what colour dining room I had... so that's how quickly she made my runner set! We had games as well, and the prizes were all things she had made. I scored two little bags, a pin cushion, and our Secret Santa Sisters gift was a basket of all sorts of goodies. So lovely!

Then by the time I got home Dobby was home. The evening was quiet, until Dobby started to get naughty. She wouldn't do something, can't remember what, so I threatened to take her laptop off her. She protested, got very nasty, and it turned into a fight. I ripped the laptop out of her embrace, and the mouse USB got broken in the scuffle. So Fluffy got mad too. Well, perhaps my mood may have misread him, but I thought he was angry at me for breaking it. I got that impression anyway, so we had a fight too.

Dobby called me all sorts of lovely things and stormed off to bed.

This morning was no better. She couldn't find a shoe, which had gone down behind her bed. She was throwing things around, and swearing, and blamed me for throwing it there (for the record, I didn't).

Anyway, I think I came to work to escape today. Hopefully the end of day will bring some good news. Keep you posted...

Visual art

So because not much has been happening (and SOL will be busy for a few days so probably won't get to read this post anyway) and also because I don't think anyone else actually does read them, I have decided to put pictures up instead. Next week I'll actually have something to blog about I hope.

So, enjoy the visual experience....

Apologies in advance

So, I got nagged by SOL that I had to update my blog. Pffft. Well, here it is. Updated. Happy? No? Oh, well I'll have to trawl through the fog that is my mind and see what I can come up with.

Lets see. Well, Dobby is now an army cadet. She should get her uniform Tuesday week. The week before our holiday she missed out on being accepted in her chosen netall team, so we decided to focus on Cadets. The first Tuesday back we hit the Southern Expressway and lobbed up at the Lonsdale Barracks. There are closer ones, but this is where her friend joined a few weeks ago.

We sat through the information session, and although she was given the chance to stay, Dobby chose to go home.

On the Wednesday we had parent teacher interviews. Seems Dobby is failing year 8. Time for action. One of the key points we discovered is that Dobby just doesn't put any work into exams or trying too hard. No surprises there I guess. So it was agreed that she would do some revision before any upcoming tests.

First one was a maths exam. She got an E in her end of term report. She sat the test on Monday and on Wednesday we found our her score. I am pleased to announce she got 84%, a B. Yep, my child is suddenly a B student. *Is proud*.

Anyway, just before we went for the interview she informs me she was having second thoughts about Cadets. I told her I wanted to see a list of reasons she should join, and a list of why she shouldn't, then I'd discuss it with her.

A couple days later she has decided to join after all. Seems her biggest worry was that she would feel she needed to join the Army after (something she has given thought to) but her real dream is to be a beautician, and joining the arm would get in the way of that. But then she realised that she could be a Cadet and still study for her dream. Well done.

Anyway, all that aside, not much else has gone on. I went and got my facial and toes done again on the weekend, followed by what was supposed to be a quick coffee with a friend. However, we ended up having lunch and a long chat. Seems she is going through a very tough personal time at the moment, and is quite down. Sigh. I tried to be supportive, and I also tried to explain that the reason she probably feels abandoned by her friends is that people who haven't gone through or aren't going through what she is, tend to not want to get involved, and therefore distance themselves. She thought that that wasn't the case, was it? Don't you always want to be there for your friends. Well, yes, but to a point. Now I feel obliged to check in every day to make sure she is okay. REALLY don't need that right now, but I will anyway. Because she is my friend and I do care.

While I was with my friend, Fluffy had to take Dobby for a follow up doctor's appointment. We took her for repeat blood tests and a mini medical for cadets last weekend, so this was to get the blood results. Previously we had approached the doc to find out why Dobby gets so angry. He diagnosed mild stress, but her thyroid was also a tad slow so he wanted to repeat that test.

He found that her thyroid has settled down, but she's still under stress so he has recommended a visit to the psychologist to give Dobby some help. I was supposed to phone them today but forgot to bring the card in. He also wants to see her again just to repeat the psyche test in early November, just before she goes. Guess we'll see how that goes. She had a friend over on Friday night, so she had to clean her room Thursday. We never thought she'd do it, but she did. And with little fuss. Good for her.

I also scored a laptop from work. I little white Macbook, which was the boss's. However, the screen doesn't work properly. So I tee'd up with our geek to get a friend here in Australia to look at it. I asked him to check out a link to a screen on ebay, which he did. So I bought it. $125 or so.

Then it sat here at the office for weeks and weeks. Finally, the geek suggested we could fix it ourselves, if we looked up on the web how to do it. It really wasn't hard.

So I took it home over the weekend. Fluffy opened the website, then followed the steps. We got stuck though because two of the screws were fixed too firmly in place. Even broke his little screwdriver set. What to do.

Luckily I have a lovely friend who's partner fixes computers for a living. So we phoned up and asked would they mind bringing over his tool kit, and staying for coffee and nibbles.

While he was there he said we've got it this far, may as well finish the job, so he installed the new screen too. Bless him! Dobby is very happy, and has a laptop sitting nicely on her desk now. All for $125 and a cup of coffee! When I asked him did he want a couple bottles of red, he said no thanks, he had plenty and it was a good excuse to catch up anyway :-) awwww!

I took some photos on the weekend, just playing about. If I get a moment I'll put them up.

So. This last two weeks has really been about Dobby. She has joined cadets, gotten a B in a math test, cleaned her room, had a friend over, had a doctor's appointment, gotten a new computer, and made extra money because she has kept her room reasonably clean. Good for her, she's also been on pretty good behaviour. Maybe we are seeing a short turning point?

Fingers crossed...

Home sweet home

Okay, so hopefully this time this blog will work. Last time I tried to write one with my iPad, but while it let me write the title, it wouldn't let me enter any text in the proper place.

So lets try again.

Before I get into the holiday stuff, on Saturday I finally finished Bertha. What do you think?



I love her, actually. She's pretty cool for a first attempt I think.

Well, our holiday began on Sunday 2 Oct, with a flight up to Brisbane. We were supposed to move our clocks forward Saturday night but were so busy making sure everything was done we forgot. Luckily we had plenty of time, even with the car arriving fifteen minutes early.

The flight was uneventful and once we collected the hire car, we made our way out to see Fluffy's brother Dog Man and his partner. It was lovely to see them again, but once we were ready to leave we noticed that the rear right tyre was flatter than it should be. So the boys reversed it into the yard, pulled out the compressor and pumped it up.

Then it was back to town to visit my sibling SOL. She greeted me in her (un)usual way - fluffy dressing gown cause it was cold! Yes, the first few days of our trip were actually quite cool. Anyway, we called the hire car mob and they sent out the RACQ to change it.

Which meant, of course, that we could not take that car up to Gladstone to see the rest of the clan.

Then, us girls headed into Red Rooster for dinner fixings, getting up to all sorts of silly business on the way. The same girls then sat in front of the telly to watch crime night, through which we chatted most of the way. Poor Fluffy was left alone to watch Underbelly. I thought MOTH might keep him company so was rather surprised that he locked himself away back in his office. Poor Fluffy ended up just going to sleep in the chair instead.

Back into town we go on Monday morning. What fun we had, waiting, waiting. The lass behind the counter was concerned because it was taking so long. I think we were there nearly an hour. There were no cars available, and people were getting stroppy. The problem with us was that we wanted it for a long time, and they only had short term cars around. Most were due for a service, or like the one we eventually got, due to be decommissioned. Once the car was found, we then had to wait while it was washed.

The original car was an SS Commodore, late model in dark green. I loved it. It's replacement was a Ford XR6, equally nice but with a few more KM on the clock. She had to change the return date or the computer wouldn't allow it to come out. She was so apologetic, but I told her we expected there to be problems because we were just "drop-ins" so don't feel bad. The young bloke who brought our paperwork out to us said "you're out here waiting, so why don't I bring the car to you" which I thought was lovely, saved us going looking for it. He even reversed it right up to us so we could pack up the boot.

Eventually, all was sorted and we were on the road. A quick stop at Sippy Downs to hand over our tax to Steve and Jo, and then stop start traffic most of the way up home. We arrived late afternoon, to find the old place we used to live almost unrecognisable. Lucky I took the copy of the receipt they sent us too, because it had recently changed hands and the previous owners had not marked our payment into the books. Naughty!

We let everyone know we were there, and headed up to the old Caltex servo for dinner. That place sure has changed, and not for the better. Meal sizes were smaller and prices were double! Mum and dad came down and met us for dinner.

Tuesday we went into Tannum Sands to see Fluffy's parents. It was also Fluffy's birthday, but his folks forgot. He was not surprised.

After lunch we went up to see my folks. They gave us each a card with some scratchies and $50 inside. Nice!

I think we ended up with takeaway for dinner that night.

Wednesday we took mum and dad up to Mackay for the night. It was a long drive (no one bothered to tell me Mackay was a day's drive away from Gladstone when I suggested the trip).

This is us mucking up in the car...





We stayed in a posh 3 bedroom apartment, on the 10th floor, of Lanai Apartments on River Drive.

Here, Fluffy ponders the view...



The room was fabulous, and mother got to have a soak in a bath, which she can't do at home. We took a walk down to the local shopping centre before taking some time to relax. Dobby opted for a swim in the hotel pool,



while Fluffy waited nearby...



and after mum's bath and a quick shower for the rest of us, went to dinner at the Metro.



Noisy place, but lovely food and service.

Here are a couple of photos I took from our room just before we went to dinner:





This is the pool by night, from the balcony outside the lifts on our floor.



Thursday we had breakfast in the room then headed back to Rockhampton. We decided to stop at the big shopping centre there for lunch and a bit of a look around, getting back to Gladstone about 4.30pm.

Friday was a quick grocery shop, and an outing with cousins Elder and Teen for Dobby. Boy, those girls get up to some mischief. Dobby was not impressed... lol. Anyway, Friday night was party night. I put out lots of food, and as I did it in shifts, because people were arriving at different times, I found myself too busy to actually sit and spend time with everyone. But, I had lovely visits from Kerry and Esmond, my old Sunday school teachers, Rat and Wally and their husbands, Toni and Laurie, and Wally and Daff, our old neighbours who still live in the park.

It started about 4 and the last guests left by 8.15, so not a late night. Elder bought Dobby home when they came, about 4 or so, but made the mistake of telling the office they were coming to a party. I mean, a group of pierced teens, telling you they are going to a party in your park, would you be impressed? Of course, the park phoned me to check. And Dobby couldn't remember her site number either....

Anyway, it was all good.

Saturday we took Dobby up to Granny's for the weekend, and Fluffy and I headed into town to see what has changed. The main thing that struck us was that there were no familiar faces around anymore. And the amount of high visibility shirts and trucks that were around. The highway is full of truck after truck, after truck. That's all you see on the roads.

We visited the Auckland Point lookout, and spotted this storm brewing. I took heaps of photos but I'm sure you don't need to see all of them.

This is one of the best ones:



And this...



When we headed back to the caravan park, we were amazed at the water across the road and debris around. Turns out the storm we saw above swept through where we were staying with mighty force, and of course we had accidentally left the windows open. Fluffy's side of the bed near the window was all wet, and indeed the water had gone under the bed and pooled over my side of the bed!

This is the back patio, were the party guests were all seated the night before:



And this little pond was not there before either!



Needless to say we made sure the place was secure before leaving after that. Saturday afternoon I left Fluffy alone for some quiet time and went to see Moose for a Monty Python fix. I met her cats Bobby and Torana (a stray Rag Doll who has made herself a home under Moose's front stairs). While we were there Rat stopped by with her mum to check out Moose's Garfield collection.

Saturday night we had lazy tea, and Sunday was spent just quietly by ourselves. I think we went back into town for a look but not much else.

On the weekend, though, Dobby noticed a discharge from her belly again. So on Monday, while she was in town with Granny, Grandad and Aunty Tanya, I managed to get her an appointment at Granny's surgery to get some anti biotics as a precaution. I think I'll get Fluffy to take her back to her doctor this week so we can get it checked to make sure it's all good.

Monday afternoon we went down to see Fluffy's folks again and they gave him a fruit cake his dad had made. Very nice it was too! Still have a little bit left...

Monday night we had dinner with Rat and Wally and their husbands. It was lovely. Lots of laughs and Wally took a couple of photos. I'd love to see them, too, if she gets them up on FB at all!

The rest of the week was spent just visiting people and resting when we could.

Thursday it was time to stop at mum's to do the last load of laundry. While we were there dad's sister Joan stopped by on her way up north... to.... Mackay. Haha. So we had a cuppa with her, leaving just after she did and heading off to say goodbye to Fluffy's folks. We went back to pack and have a bite to eat, then back to pick up the washing and see my folks and sister Moose after dinner.

The plan was to leave at 7am on Friday morning, and it was 7.01 when we drove past the reception office. Nicely done!

As I had only had a cup of tea for breakfast, I didn't get far. I had to stop at Granite Creek for a loo break. Then poor Dobby was feeling car sick before Gin Gin. I found a chemist up the main street of Gin Gin, and got her some Quells. She also sat in the front seat for the rest of the trip, and slept most of the way to Yandina.

One thing we did get out of the car for, was a bad accident at Gympie. There had been a head on between a ute and a truck. The ute driver was being attended to and all traffic was diverted around the site. We had to go up over a hill, and like heaps of other people decided to rubber neck so Fluffy could have a smoke. But before they freed the driver the firies made everyone move on. We found out next day it wasn't a fatality as we thought, but the poor fellow had multiple injuries.

We made a couple of small stops but nothing major until we got to the Ginger Factory at Yandina. We had a late lunch, and when I was paying for it, the checkout girl handed me some tickets, saying "you almost forgot these too!" I thought they were complementary or something, but realised much later that someone before us had bought them and paid for them.

But when we thought they were freebies, Fluffy and I decided to use the train trip tickets, while Dobby stayed behind. The tour goes for about 15 minutes and is a dinky little steam locomotive with open carriages behind. An older group of people were in the seats in front of us, and one gent was giving cheek to Fluffy. Made it fun. I took a pic but won't put it up here because I have so many already.

Just near the factory is a customer of ours, so we stopped by and had a look around his establishment. He and his wife Jan had visited in January, and Fluffy and I took them out to dinner. So we were pleased when they returned the favour and offered us a bed at their home.

Their property is located up in the hinterland near Gympie, and it was so quiet. Totally restful. John cooked a barbeque, and Jan and I prepared the food. We ate outdoors in the cool.

We went to bed fairly early, but were woken at 4.30am by a huge storm. I stood at Dobby's window trying to catch a photo of lightening, but could only get this...

I think I need practice. Anyway, once the worst had passed we all went back to bed. Then breakfast about 9, and back on the road.

We decided to stop at the Ettamogah Pub on the way into Brisbane. That was fun. The place is beautifully made of wood, and is quite interesting. However, people kept texting me, and the house sitter called me (at which time I had difficulty getting off the phone to him). So I didn't get the proper look I would have liked.

Here's a couple of pics. The pub pic is the wrong one - the sky is too light, but I have been having issues uploading so won't change it now.





We scoffed a quick pie then headed into Petrie to see Pork Chop.



I haven't seen her since Wally got married, just before Dobby was born. SOL and MOTH came too, and they also brought dessert. We had cheesecake, a fruit and custard filled pastry concoction something like eclair but in a round ring, and a lovely sponge based fruit flan. Followed by crackers, cheese, kabana and ontions. Yummo!

Pork Chop's partner is a computer whizz, and had a media centre he showed Fluffy. Fluffy was taken, and as Mark had one downstairs, Fluffy bought it for $300. It is fully loaded with over 4,000 movies, television series, and other bits and bobs. Great invention! Pork Chop had also made me a lovely bag so I slipped my iPad and purse in that.

We made tracks about 2.30 or so and headed toward the airport and the DFO factory outlet shop. We were very good, and didn't spend much. I bought Dobby a little pink zircon necklace and myself crystal earrings (total $44) from the jewelers, and Dobby bought herself a hoodie. That kid's obsessed with hoodies. While she was paying for it I noticed my wallet was missing! Crap, mad dash back to the last shop and luckily there it was. Whew!

When we were on our way back to the airport, we saw this...





According to the news tonight it was pretty fierce. The airport was closed temporarily but our flight wasn't affected.

Our plane taxied down the runway just after 7pm, and we arrived early, just after ten Adelaide time. Our driver was so lovely waiting patiently for us. Home to drop the stuff, play with the very excited dog and cat, then bed just before midnight.

I was awake first at 8.30. The others didn't surface for some time. Today was unpack, defrost the big freezer, a couple small loads of washing and a huge grocery shop.

Then of course this. Tomorrow it's back to work, and no doubt feel like I need another holiday!

Thanks for reading, I hope I didn't bore you too much with all the pics :-).

Happy Birthday to me!

So, this one is only a quick one, and I am not sure if I'll be able to update for a while. I reckon I'll manage something though.

This week has been a catch up week. I managed to catch up here at work, and I even had time to go for lunch with the boss's wife on Friday. The only thing left to catch up on now is the housework.

Saturday was my birthday, and as is often the case, I got spoiled. You will remember I received the iPad last weekend, so this time it was just the stuff for the day. I was given a lovely bottle of bath salts, some perfume, another perfume gift pack, and another bottle of bubble bath/shower gel. Plus, a heart-shaped box of chocolate cherry liqueurs. Yummo! Mum also sent me the most beautiful box filled with scrap booking bits and bobs. Plus, I was well-loved on Facebook to boot! I didn't do much of anything at all, which added to the fun.

Dobby had a friend over Saturday night, and on sunday that friend's mother had a Flashengeist licquer party. Lovely stuff. Check it out here. There were only the hostess and three others of us, but it was very nice. I ordered a couple of little things for myself! Even though I don't drink!

Then back home to pack. Before we left Dobby was packing and we realised she didn't have anything that fitted, so it was a very quick dash to KMart for some shorts and a couple of tops. And a couple of tops for me too :-).

Now I have this week at work, and that's about it. A visit to the hairdresser tonight to trim the wild mane, the house sitter is stopping by tomorrow to meet the animals (and Roger and Oz!) and guitar Wednesday will round off the week. Saturday will be spent furiously cleaning and making sure everything is ready. Fluffy booked the car today, and we were pleasantly surprised at the cost. I also bought travel insurance to make sure we'll all good.

So, I'll do my best to stop by but you might not hear much of me for a bit. Most of you, though I will be seeing in person, so consider yourselves warned! I'm on my way!

Checking in

It's been an incredible few weeks for me. Remember how I said I was training the Boss's wife? Well, that takes most of my work day, then it's a scramble when she goes home to catch up. I am way behind but hopefully that will sort itself out tomorrow when she's not in. I may even be where I should be tomorrow!

For quite a while it seemed that my life was a round of work and house work. I never seemed to catch up either way. That in itself can be quite stressful. Then Fluffy went away for a week.

But first, I must tell you about our weekend away. The weekend before last we went to Blanchetown with the caravan club. Turned out that the only families to go were committee members! So we had an impromptu committee meeting instead of meeting through the week.

Dobby bought her friend Sarah with her, which was nice for her. Because Fluffy was going away on the Sunday afternoon, and we couldn't take the dog, we decided to just go on the Saturday morning and stay in a cabin overnight.

It was soo cold, though. But the small intimate gathering made it fun all the same. Plenty of time to sit and chat, and a pool room with a TV to keep the big kids occupied. Apparently there was a pants-down game of pool the Friday night....

Anyway, we arrived kind of stars, which was good fodder for a bit of ribbing. See, the week before Dobby and I had our photos taken for a newspaper article on the joys of caravanning. We made sure to wear our SAPI shirts, much to the joy of the committee members. Lots of pats on the back for that! This is the result...





Of course, this opportunity couldn't come up when I was thinner and looked good. No, it had to arise when I looked like the caravan I was modelling and had crazy old-lady red hair! Haha.

Never mind, it was a bit of fun.

So, after the weekend we drove home, got there just after lunch. A quick pack and relax for Fluffy then off to the airport. He was off to Melbourne for a training course for work.

Dobby and I made a trip to the video store, then called out for Chinese takeaway, something we don't buy when Fluffy is home as it's not his forte.

Later that afternoon we get a call. "I'm pissed off," says Fluffy. Why? Work told him they'd book his room and he could pay for the taxi, claiming it back when he gets back.

Only, they booked him a room $80 away from the venue! Each way! First, the taxi dropped him at the wrong Quest hotel. Then, when he booked in he found he had nowhere to eat. Not a place within walking distance! He found someone nearby who would deliver, only to find that when it arrived, his fish and chips were literally swimming in a half-inch of water! He threw it out..

So on Monday he phoned the chick who booked it and told her to change it. She did. To another Quest hotel only marginally closer than he already was. So $40 for taxi's each way. And again there was nowhere to eat. He didn't. On Tuesday morning he went to the McDonalds across from the study venue for his first meal since, well, Saturday night really.

The finally booked him a room at the pub across from the venue. They didn't choose it because it was, well, a pub. But, as he said, I don't have to pay taxis, and I can get a great meal (booked to the room, I might add, as it should be!).

He was so stressed and upset that he thinks after all that he failed the course. How rotten for him!

And for us during that time, it was just as stressful. Dobby was on her worst behaviour, acting out and being a very difficult child. With the stress at work, and her at home, I was on a knife edge for the whole week. Then, when Fluffy phones, she tells him "we're doing all the housework so it's clean when you get home". He answered that see, it's up to him to keep the place clean.

I really took offense to that because the house was a mess because Dobby was just so darn hard to shift! She left a trail of mess behind her and resisted every attempt by me to get her to clean it up. I often did it for her, only to turn around and find it back. It was a terrible week.

And Fluffy wasn't due home till Saturday evening, even though the course finished Friday. Luckily for him he was able to change his flight. They even did it for free, even though they weren't supposed to. It was very good to see him, and he bought us gifts - heaps of Smiggle pencils for Dobby and a book on the Kerobokin Jail in Bali. Looks like a great read too.

Anyway, I also spent Saturday morning swapping around our bedroom. I like it's new look, and Fluffy does too.

Sunday morning we were all sitting outside in the warmth (it was an unseasonable warm weekend here) and I told Fluffy that I had been giving thought to buying an iPad. I don't like to get caught up in the techno hype, but had been thinking of a laptop. The one I wanted, though, was way too expensive.

I thought all I would use the iPad for was for books, and I already had a reader (like a Kindle) for that. Then, I realised that I could put small movies on it so it might be handy to take to away with us.

On the Sunrise program we were watching we saw an internet place that had cheap electronics. So he decided to do some research on pricing. Yes, this place was cheaper, but he wasn't sure he wanted to pay all that money at once. He found out that Dick Smith does interest free, so next thing we're all piled in the car and I now own an iPad 2. Plus he spent a small fortune on a cover for it, which is sooo pretty. It's cream leather, with pale cream suede animal print inserts. Very swish! Well, not sure if it's real leather, but it looks nice anyway.

So then it was home to play with that for a bit. I put heaps of music and photos on it, and a couple (but not many yet) apps. I also found some movies to load on it, but apparently they take all night...

Anyway, today and tomorrow at work we have some people from Sydney over so I've been dealing with them, helping Mrs Boss learn, and still run the house. Hopefully tomorrow will see me up to date, and I can afford to slow down a bit, and not do any overtime! Not much each day, but enough anyway.

Not much on this weekend, but I'll try to find something to blog about!

Happy Father's Day yesterday

So this blog will be small. Not a lot to report. As I am going away in October, I have been training Mrs Boss to do my job. It's a trial. I don't mind training her at all, but it's a slow process. She can only spare me a few hours at a time, and each task takes several hours just to show her, not leaving her any time to do the job on her own.

We are hoping from this Wednesday that she can stay longer and will therefore be able to take in more of the tasks. There are some things she will do every day, others only once, but each of them require a written set of instructions, which have to take into account her lack of skill with Excel, which we use for almost everything. I know she finds it a trial too so I try to make it as easy as I can.

Dobby started music in place of the dreaded Dance at school last week. She is quite keen this time, although I don't think she fully realises that "being part of the band" means she will be required to play in public... Hmmmm...well, while she's keen I'm not going to burst her bubble. She is also looking forward to learning the theory side of music, which to be honest, was the only subject I did really well at in school.

She also had Friday off, as it's Royal Adelaide Show time. The whole town goes into party mode for ten days. The schools give their kids one day off in that time so they can attend. I wonder, really, how they are supposed to go when the parents often still have to work?

Anyway, today is also a Student Free Day for her, so her friend's mum took today off work and is taking them. Whew! I get out of it for another year. Mind, she has a huge list of showbags to collect! Haha! Punishment!

I am working solo at the moment while the boss is away, and for me that means heaps of work getting done (except while typing this of course). Because I am training I am so far behind with my own work. I can't set tasks yet for Mrs Boss to do while I continue doing other things. Add to that, that most of my "other things" involve the computer, and we have a little problem.

However, I know we can get there in the end.

This weekend was so lovely, just to sit still for a bit. Saturday we took a drive up to Gawler to pick up some bottles of Ned Kelly drink. Never heard of it? Check this out. We tried it some time ago, and Fluffy really liked it. It's like a sweet carbonated wine. Friends of ours had been to the show and bought it for us, so we popped in and picked it up.

A very late lunch (or early dinner if you like) at Villis and we were home and relaxing by 4.30pm.

Sunday was Father's Day. I made breakfast for everyone (including Dobby who managed to drag herself out of bed reasonably early) and we sat outside while she gave her dad his gifts. Nothing flash because he's so difficult to buy for. We got him a few DVDs, a large Toblerone choclate block, and a box of Fererro Rocher chocolates.

Later, Dobby had been asking if she could have her tragis pierced. That's the little nobby bit in front of the ear. She thought I had agreed but really I had just been listening to her waffle while she talked about it. Anyway, she pointed out that because she wants to play netball she will only have this weekend to do it before it's too late, because you have to let it heal sometime before you can remove it, which she would have to do for sport.

So we trudged down to Marion, as she also had to buy a gift for a friend whose party she will miss on the weekend. I got a rude shock when I went to pay for it. It was 3 times what I had envisioned, but she is happy anwyay. She chose a tiny black spike. I don't have a pic, but apparently she does.

Then onto the jewellery store for something for the friend. That done, we wandered over to Bunnings because I had told Fluffy I had seen a tool box I would like to buy him. However, he saw it and mentioned he had seen a better, cheaper one, advertised recently at Repco, so off we toddled over there.

Yep, that's the one he wanted, so he left a happy dad. We also stopped in Dick Smith for a sticky and priced small laptops and wireless printers.

Back home and it was a semi lazy afternoon for me, but busy for Fluffy who cleaned the Fairlane and the back patio. I did the ironing, mopped the kitchen and dining room, and did the litter tray, then cooked dinner. Fluffy chose spaghetti bolognaise for some reason. Dobby agreed to vacuum the lounge because I paid for her earring.

After Underbelly it was time for a shower and off to bed...