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1/7/10 Okay – we went to the Weston Club for dinner and
couldn’t believe the crowd! They
were raffling off $30,000 but still? We
went about 1900 and I left Rodney in a long line to get us dinner while I tried
to find a table. Found one in the
way back corner, but hey I found one. Okay
then we put our club card into the little box to get our receipt for the $30,000
which they put in a kitty (a gambling tumbler).
Also tried to win a meat tray but no such luck.
We were under the impression (as others were) that the numbers from the
receipts would be picked at 1930, 2000 & 2030 but NOOOOOOOOO they made an
announcement that the computer would pick numbers from the 1,000’s of members
number from their database and you had to be there in person BUT they would then
go to the kitty at 2300 and start picking receipts out every minute until
someone won. Okay – congrats to
the someone that won cuz we left at 2100. I’m
sure that several people missed the calling cuz they were too drunk by 2300 to
hear or see the numbers! Guess we
won’t be doing that again and the only reason that we went was cuz the 30th
was the last day to use the free drink card, free dinner card and 10 free meat
raffle tickets. Gave the leftovers
to Kelly tonight including pickled onions. He
left the onions but Angel had to go and check it out.
She sniffed and then did the dog/cat thing of breathing thru her nose
with mouth open. It’s hard trying
to explain to people about her and that she has Downs Syndrome for a dog until
they actually meet her. She only
eats what is familiar to her, she doesn’t run but hops, etc. but she is our
happy, go-lucky, loving dog. Okay
about work – changes, changes and more changes.
Liz who was the foster child care coordinator will now be doing Ressie
kids, whoever fills Chris’s job will do the foster kids, Robyn is now in
charge of ALL foster dealings, etc. My
job is the only one that is the same thou I have more work to do.
I had Supervision today with Hase (the Acting Ops Mgr) and he has said
that he expects me to work 0900-1700. And
I’m to get the rest of my work done when?
Okay enough “cheese with my whine”.
It will all change again when we get a new Ops Mgr.
Well your Mom has done it again – okay 1st time in OZ.
I was trying to park at Woolworths, turning right when I scraped another
car. I did the right (yes pun
intended) thing and left my name & number.
Turning is still hell for me here & I admit I park horribly.
I thought Rodney was going to be mad at me, but surprisingly he wasn’t.
His response “I’ve been waiting for 6 yrs for this to happen” or
something to that effect. The
weather is supposed to get down to -3c tonight with possible thunder (no rain)
and hail tomorrow. We are still
taking vacation in 3 weeks but can’t afford to take the Blunder Bus to
Brisbane so will take a week but stay locally.
We will take the dogs too. Rodney
is scoping out possibilities. I
don’t know what I will do the other week but am taking it.
Rodney will probably have to go back to work – but I’ve always been
able to entertain myself. 4/7/10 Happy 4th of July from downunder. Yesterday was uneventful, I slept on/off all day. Just so emotionally tired from just thinking too much this last week and it is amazing how many people have been affected by the recent turn of events! Well Friday was a shock. Lance (the other American I work with) resigned right out of the blue. It is surprising cuz he had been with the company trying to get a disability respite home going for 18 months and it is suppose to open this month. My thinking is that he clashed with the new Acting Region Mgr which I can understand as he really was an arrogant man! So he either had had it or was “nudged” out the door. So there are now only 3 of us left from the original 9 – Gabe, Liz & I. We found out Friday that we also are being hit with an Audit from the Gov’t (OCYFS) on Thursday. Files & other things are a real mess – so lots of overtime (thou not in pay) for all of us to pass. Thank God it’s not my mess – my Financial/Admin area is in great shape. So it will be interesting watching the chaos turn into something worth looking at. I really respect our Acting Region Mgr – she is great. I’m not too impressed with the Acting Ops Mgr but they are interviewing, so hopefully they will get someone in worth their salt. Yarralumla has a new free dog area that opened this weekend (near us) so Rodney 1st took Angel and she loved it and hopped all over the place (heck she’d love anything) and then took Kelly. He wasn’t too sure so stayed right by Rodney thou he kept trying to get him to run or play. Well not much more to say. It is now 1900 and I just got home a few minutes ago, but wanted to finish this letter so I can mail it to you tomorrow. Oh – While I was working today Rodney cleaned the kitchen floor and yes lots of mouse poo under the old heater so he has put rat crap up in the roof so the dogs don’t get it. See he couldn’t stand it anymore. 5/7/10 Angel learned something new (finally!) but, we think,
by watching Kelly. They both come in
the bathroom in the morning with us while we are getting ready to shower.
I went in this morning while Rodney was brushing his teeth and he pointed
down. She was actually using her
tongue to lick his leg instead of licking the air!
I know it isn’t very exciting to you, but she can learn some things –
now if we could get her to sit, go outside ALL the time to do her “stuff”,
etc. :>)
Worked late again tonight and it is chaos in the office.
Did a lot of running around for the office we have people in from all
over helping us get ready for the Audit on Thurs (gopher
am I now?) and didn’t get much of my own work done.
The Acting Regional Mgr, Cindy, wanted to talk to our office cleaners so
I called George and asked him to come in and meet her this afternoon.
He showed thinking that he’d be praised for the good work they were
doing – NOT! She pointed out lots
of stuff they didn’t do yesterday (Sat), i.e., cleaning the top of the toilet,
dusting, etc. Boy did he get mad and
then she did (thou she was more professional then he was).
She left the room and he started ranting and raving at me.
She came back out of her office and just stood by my desk listening and
he refused to look at her but just kept talking to her while looking at me.
Was really quite funny and then she interjected her thoughts again and he
stomped out. I have asked him to
come in Wed and do another clean for the Audit on Thurs.
His words “my wife & I will both show to see the situation!”
His gorgeous daughter (really she is) does our cleaning so I guess I
could see why he got a little upset. :>)
Not much more happened today. I
have brought about 7-8 computers home from work (they were donated) so Rodney
can clean them up and get them started again.
They are to go into our Ressie houses if he is able to.
He has started on one and already frustrated but I think that it is great
that he is trying – I know, very trying is he!
I will write more tomorrow. 12/7/10
I didn’t get a chance to write any more this week
as was working late all the time. We
did pass the Audit, but still have a lot of work to do.
We will have another one in Sept but our jobs are safe for now.
Cindy bought lunch for all every day this week and I’m actually sick of
fast food! But if it was American
fast food – might make a difference as there are more choices.
Well work is still really busy. Have
finally been allowed to call a temp agency so I can train someone to do my job.
Vacation in two weeks – Yeah! Not
much is happening. Some stupid kid
walked yesterday in dog shit and then traipsed it all over the carpet at work.
Smells really good – we are having it cleaned today.
Weather is still cold. Heard
from Dad. He says the weather has
been about 97 but today is in the 60’s. Mom
hasn’t been handling the heat very well, but then she never did. 13/7/10 Good news today – got a temp to start training at work next week. She better be damn good cuz she hits the doors running the following week when I’m on vacation with payroll, petty cash, carer’s pay, etc. Put out a lot of little fires today – at 1630 Hase asked me to make arrangements for one of our youth workers to fly to Dubbo tomorrow to pick up a transportation bus – med size. The bus is actually in Mudgee (very small town about 1-1/2 hrs away from Dubbo). But they agreed to meet in Dubbo. She’s working tonight until 2230, then has to catch at plane at 0625 to be in Dubbo at 0925. Remember, Sydney doesn’t allow any overnight flights and shuts down during the wee small hours. She will be one tired lady but she is a wonderful person – “diamond in the rough” but loves her job and she gets all the fun ones – okay not all. You try dealing with teens that are abusive, threatening, etc. but get up every day and go back to work. Me – I’d never be able to do it cuz of the military – I’d probably tell them to all “drop and give me ten!”. Oh I have a going-away party to attend on Friday for Lance, Esther & Chris. It will seem strange for them not to be at work, but every single youth worker and staff said they would come. Gabe made arrangements for Drake to bring in a worker for each house so all could attend. Just too much going on to get presents so giving gift cards – yes I know kinda cheap looking, but what do you do? It will be at Sub-Urban in Dickson which is a very nice restaurant. We will have the “tent” outside as there are several smokers in the group, but it will be warm with heat lamps. All in all about 15-20 people. This will be the 1st time I will have seen all of us together! Oh we aren’t going to be able to come home this year. Blunder Bus has taken it all, but is ours and the properties are sold so we are actually out of debt – just struggling like everyone else now. Rodney, for the 1st time in a long time has to go on a budget! Yes I can hear my Dad speaking right now! Love you too Dad. Good thing I remember how to do it. Oh again – I got a pay raise supposedly when I signed my permanent contract – was on a yearly one before, but Rodney told me that the pay isn’t any different. Hell I expect to see at least a dollar raise. Will take it up with payroll on Thurs after the payroll run. No more news. 14/7/10 The weather here has really turned for the worst and
we are having a sleet attack and expect snow on the “hills” here.
Work also is really busy – never seem to get caught up.
Oh during audit week, I ran almost every day to go and buy lunch for
everyone. This week have been taking
my lunch – everyday Hase has been asking if I’m going out for lunch and I
say no. Today he came up to me and
said he really missed my making lunch runs.
I told him that if he’d like to buy my lunch every day, then I’d be
glad too!!! Hah – got him.
Black car is in the shop getting the new paint job (remember my telling
you I scrunched it?) so Rodney came to pick me up in the Suzy.
Not a bad ride but damn would like some heat in it.
Toes were cold. PS:
It was interesting watching Kelly try to play with Angel tonight (he has
been doing this recently – getting used to her now after 1 yr?) as she really
doesn’t get it. They both play so
differently. He wanted to do the
doggie way of playing, i.e., head, front paws down, butt in the air and she just
wove her way around him, rubbed up to him like a cat and flashed her paw in the
air. You’d have to see it to
believe it. He finally gave up –
poor babe. Remember the blue hat
that she used to sit in when she was little – you saw pics.
Well she is trying to get her 18” body in the sock hat again – good
luck D&S. :>)
15/7/09 Trying to still get caught up from the Audit last
week and getting ready for the temp on Monday.
So much to do and so little time. Haven’t
decided if I’ll go into work Sat to try and finish some stuff up (didn’t go
– too tired). I won’t have time
to teach her my complete job but hopefully the important stuff.
Oh – next week I’m also taking a class on “Difficult
Conversations” regarding how to deal with various different phone calls.
I do okay on the phone, but it can’t hurt to learn more. I’m sure YOU
know what I mean. It will be down in
Batemans Bay. I’ve had 2 other
classes down there this year and enjoyed them thou the drive is tricky in the
dark (road where Poo Corner is). Rodney
is going to take vacation that day and we will drive down the night before.
He is a little worried about my driving so long as I’m just so tired
and never seem to catch up on sleep. It
should be fun thou as the motel (job paying for) has a Jacuzzi tub in it. I
couldn’t figure out how to use it last time – but hey I’ll have my man
with me to figure it out! It also
has a deck overlooking the waterway – hope it won’t be too cold to sit
outside! While I’m in class,
Rodney will just “wander” around and it is a beautiful place.
I’ve asked him to PLEASE try and find some fresh/frozen scallops that
we can take home or on vacation without the roe.
Yucky stuff thou Aussies luv it – kinda like Vegemite – what you’ve
grown up with. PS: I was
suppose to pick up the car today but couldn’t remember the name of the place
– good on ya Julie – to call. Phew
found it and got car – one with heat in it! PPS:
Today several of the Ressie kids and 2 of the foster kids were taken to
Sydney for NADIC day which is Aboriginal Day or (African-American) Day.
JK, from one of the Ressie said “Julie am I weird”.
My response was no do you think you are weird” (Kinda threw me for a
loop). He said yes and I said
“well I’m weird cuz I’m an American and I talk funny”.
He said “Your really nice and I hope you stay here”.
Good job today Julie! The
Ressie kids actually like me – cuz I’m honest and let them know what the
situation is – sorry no pocket money cuz I made a mistake and didn’t plan
well enough, or it’s school holidays so you either get trips or pocket money.
I’m proud of myself! Yeah
me! The return trip from Sydney
wasn’t so pleasant as LRH decided to throw a fit and from what I understand
from one the YW’s, you have never heard such filth out of someone’s mouth.
She was upset cuz her BF wasn’t going to be waiting for her at the
house when she got there. They
finally had to drop her off at the police station in Goulburn.
She was so violent that she damaged a few of the headrests!
They called the YW at the Kambah house to go and pick her up as they
couldn’t transport her further. The
van had a combination of foster kids and ressie kids in it.
Hey my job is interesting to say the least or at least the drama’s are
that I hear about! 16/7/10 Well today was just great.
I feel so stressed from the last two weeks and trying to get caught up.
Went to the going-away party for Lance & Chris (Esther was suppose to
be there too as she left but was sick – the whole office is sick but
thankfully I haven’t gotten it yet). Gabe
recommended the Sub-Burban for the party so we were given the tent outside thou
had heaters. All the Youth Workers
showed up to say bye to Chris (former Care Coordinator for the Ressies).
The YW’s were very surprised to see a different side of me – more
relaxed and joking. They do like me
which says a lot and I’m grateful. Gabe
had the great idea of us car-pooling with Liz as parking in Dickson is so bad
– unfortunately some “little fires” came up so we didn’t get out of work
till 1900 – party started at 1800. Arrived
and where was Lance – he was sitting in the restaurant as he didn’t like it
outside. He & his wife then left
after eating and never came to say good-bye.
Now how rude is that and we didn’t get to give him his card.
Wonder if I should mail it to him? Hmmm
yes I will as I’m a nice person. Glad
he is gone thou – heard the real truth as to why he resigned.
He has been working really hard the last 2 years trying to get a
disability respite home up and running in Queanbeyan NSW.
From what I understand, he thought he would just manage it from the
office, but Cindy told him that he would have to “work on the floor” at the
house for 2 days a week and not from the office.
Guess he disagreed! Anyhoo
– no big loss as he really was very arrogant.
There is no way I would ever have wanted to be an OA to him.
Had a good time with the others, finally got a chance to relax a little
and had some good laughs. At 2200 I
was getting really tired (only had a few drinks & Rodney was proud of me)
and Gabe wanted to stay and chat longer, so called Rodney.
He really is a wonderful hubby and came to get me.
We’ll pick up the car on Sat. Had
a great meal, but stupid me left the “doggie bag” with a beautiful steak in
it!!! Whaaaaaaaa! 18/7/10 We got a call this morning at 0830 (have you never heard of sleeping in people?) from a chap and his wife (Julian & Ally) that Rodney has been corresponding with on the CMCA forum. They both check for dump point sites on the CMCA map and put them in their correct position. Nothing worse than reading the map, heading for a dump point (that is for waste stuff, not grey water) and finding that the map has placed it right in the middle of no-where instead of where it should be. Meaning – then you have to play hide and seek with it, if you’re able to find it at all. They are a lovely couple. They have renovated a 4 WD truck into a motorhome. The truck itself looks like one of those trucks that police take money into the bank with! Can’t really describe it. It really was amazing and he put it together in 6 months. He is an engineer and talking to him reminded me of Dad. I still prefer ours but I hope we catch up with them again. They are taking off into the wild for 4-5 months. We will someday. Hit the deck running tomorrow at work as the temp (Jos) comes in. Have to make a petty cash run before she gets there. God I hope she is quick in picking up my job as I only have 4 days to train her! Okay Julie – stop worrying and just go with the flow! We have decided to sell the scooters. One, we need the money and two we haven’t been using them as much as we used too. Guess the novelty wore off (‘tis too cold to ride right now), but will never have motorcycle rider taken off my license as I may want to ride again. It was a dream of mine for many, many years to ride a scooter (thanks to the movie “The Singing Nun”) and I finally got too. Having you learn to ride many years ago also made my dream come true. Well the Blunder Bus is all ready to go for next weekend. Food in the Freezer/fridge, clothes in the corner’s they need to be in. Will need to do a little grocery shopping thou. All we need to do next Sat, 24/7, is get the computer stuff in the BB and get dogs (is Angel a dog or a dat?) in the BB. Both dogs will have a bath (shower with Rodney) on Sat morning as they are REALLY beginning to smell doggie – Angel phew and Kelly like dirty/stale walnuts. We aren’t going out very far – maybe a round circle of 100 K’s. We will have 9 days out, staying here, parking there for a few days, etc. Will be great. Rodney had the generator worked on last week (for when we don’t have a powered site) and brought it home Friday. He/we put it back in yesterday. Ummm it doesn’t work? I asked him if he had all the cords screwed on correctly? He said yes so tomorrow the BB and generator are going to Fyshwick to see what is wrong. Can’t go out for 9 days without it! Please let it be a little problem! When we return, Rodney will go back to work, but I’ll still have a few days off to get laundry done, etc. Oh speaking of laundry – I think I mentioned our dryer is dying? Well I now feel like I’m back in the 50’s? Do the washing then hang stuff out to dry overnight and pray it won’t rain. Then when clothes are ¾’s dry – throw them in the dryer for the final dry. Now Mom – I know how good clothes smell after they have been hanging outside! :>) Can you believe it – there are people here who can afford a dryer but don’t want one. I asked one lady at the grocery store what she did when it rained? She said she turned her kitchen in a drying area! Boy am I way too much an American city-slicker! I went on your FB today to clean up all the requests you have, etc. Saw two pictures of Duncan from the 4th of July that Michael and he went too this year. Captured them and have sent them to work for my pic collection. I really miss getting pictures of him. Am afraid that I will turn around and suddenly I won’t know him or he’ll be a stranger. Have you gotten any pics yet? Please write. If you’d like me to send you any books, you’ll have to let me know the titles as I don’t want to double up on what others have sent you. Cooking a beef roast in the crockpot tonight – smells good and hope Rodney leaves enough for sandwiches this week. :>) 19/7/10 Well I worked late tonight.
I’m trying to train my temp on my job today and they dropped a huge
project on us that HAS to go out tomorrow. Great
and I’m to train her when? I tried
to talk to the Mgr about it but her response was that I was darn luck to have a
week to train. Most places don’t
– ummm you obviously haven’t temped for a long time or ever.
This job is not one that you as a stranger can just walk into and
“figure” it out – not by a long shot.
Okay enough whining Julie and just get the job done.
20/7/10 Today was pretty much the same
except we had only a few hours to get the project done.
Thanks to Jos (the temp) and Esther, who is the Senior Ressie House Mate
(she resigned and leaves next week! :>(
) Esther put all the reading
material together and finished copying all the material that was needed.
70 handbooks, 70 interview questions lists, etc. – all this for people
that can possibly stay in our new Disability Respite House.
This house is for families that live with disability family members but
need a break so the disability people come there to stay a few days!
If Esther hadn’t done that we never would have gotten it all done.
I put Jos to work being me while I did labels, and addressing letters.
I went to the PO this morning and bought over $1,000 worth of Overnight
Express Envelopes – gee the PO friends (yes we are now!) gave me a free note
taking book for being a good customer! Towards
the end of the day when we were down to about 15 min (Express Mail has to be in
the post by 1800) John the guy who was asking us to do all this saw that we were
struggling. His 1st
response was thank you and good nite – BUT WAIT – can you use my help?
Duh! So he was down on his
knees helping us to pack envelopes – kind of a revelation and a little more
respect for him. Well I am sooo glad
that I got out of the AF Reserves (IMA) when I did.
Have heard on the radio that since the sinking of the South Korea war
ship, the US and SK are going to start playing war games again – just to flex
our arms and show them what we are made of!
I don’t disagree with it but having been stationed in South Korea I
know what type of war games that will be played and I don’t want to “play”
any more. I told your Dad that if I
was still attached – “you know where I’d be going and for a long time”.
Don’t get me wrong – I went into the military at 18 for the wrong
reasons, but 30 years later I love our country, would have and did give a lot
for the USA, but after my last “war game” South Korea – I realised I was
tired of it and wanted out. It
didn’t help that OZ has no military base here so I had to go thru Japan to
talk to my Commander (by phone), then get orders for the States and hope my
uniforms were up-to-date enough and my assignment from my Recruiter in South
Korea. I don’t know if I told you,
but my physical for going over to South Korea in 2006 was done in the parking
lot of the US Embassy as I wasn’t allowed in US Embassy BUT there just
happened to be a female officer that kinda helped.
Try having your blood pressure taken in the parking lot of the US Embassy
parking lot –
High and why? The female exam she
just kinda glossed over (great hubby is standing by listening!) but no real
exam! Did find out that the Embassy
personnel were able to get shipped over things that we normal Americans
couldn’t have at US expense like grape jam!
Humph! When I got to SK
it was a revelation – totally different world.
I was housed with 2 other PFC’s (Black American’s) but they never
expect to be housed with a white woman that was in her ‘50’s.
Ummmm what was with the rank? It
didn’t go over well with them. Long
story and don’t want to really go into it.
But I was with a mixture of Navy, Marines, AF & Army!
Quadro camp. Towards the end
of the 7 weeks (remember I’d only been in OZ a short time) Rodney came to
visit the last week. Oh and by the
way I pigged out on the American food in the Chow Hall – real salads that I
made – not the fancy salads here with only lettuce, tomato, maybe an olive and
vinaigrette dressing! Real salad
dressing with anything you want with it! Rodney
was used to travelling when and where he wanted to and how.
Well he learned really quickly that he had to behave and was married to a
US military person. Only people of
certain rank could drive/rent cars. Sorry
luv – not high enough in rank, so he had to walk or catch a bus (if you were
lucky!). He learned really quickly
that there were rules and regulations that HE had to abide by for being married
to a US military wife or I would get in trouble!
One day we were walking downtown and ended up in the “red-light”
district. We really didn’t know it
was as we both thought that the whole block of glass windows were beauty shops.
Ummm suddenly a car drove up, guy jumped out, woman in window was
“redressing” and both disappeared! Ummm
time to go dear. But then my cell
phone rang and it was my Major asking us over for dinner.
Hi PFC Fiddaman – blah, blah, where are you?
Ummm Maám, somewhere we need to LEAVE now!
She started to laugh and said welcome to our world!
It really was a wonderful experience for us – something to see the live
food you pick to eat! Also seeing
the North Korean border was a real insight into both worlds – I’ll take ours
thank you. But the experience WAS
worth it and something I/we will never forget.
Okay I have rambled on enough. I’m
discovering that I love letter writing. 21/7/10 Rodney drove me down to Batemans Bay as he knew how tired I have been and was concerned about my driving down in the dark the very curvy roads – Pooh corner is very famous here but the “hole” that the stuffed animals are put in is extremely sharp – 15 K around. We arrived and we straight to the Esplanade Motel which is right across from the RSL club where my class would be. I was able to leave work early (though it was hard as was still trying to train Jos and “little fires” kept coming up – Jos will do fine tomorrow (Thursday by herself). I was put up in the motel on corporate rate so Rodney had to pay $35 as my “guest” which wasn’t bad. He discovered many things about the room that I hadn’t known before (same room for the last 2 times I was there). Umm it has an electric sheet (note sheet not blankets) so I was kinda cold the last time I was down here. We went over to the club and I had a great roast beef meal and he had a chicken something. We had dessert – but the cheesecake had obviously been sitting for a while – very rubbery. Class was good so now I just need to teach myself not to react but “talk in a certain way!”. (Am I in a My Fair Lady Dream? :>) Rodney had a good time, relaxed on his own and we found some scallops and shrimp that we will take on the Blunder Bus with us this weekend. Yummy. 24/7/10 Well
we have finally been able to leave on vacation.
As we had to cancel the last vacation a month ago – we had gotten the
bus mostly ready with food and clothes so it wasn’t too bad today loading up
thou I got really tired and so did Rodney (God bless old age!). Both my
shoulders have rotor cuff tears so I’m in pain a lot. Dealing with it thou.
Good thing I have a high pain threshold. I
did do a little more grocery shopping – just for salad stuff, etc.
We left as we planned at about noon.
About an hour into the trip, I realised that I had forgotten the milk and
the shrimp + scallops that we bought Thursday from Batemans Bay on the way home
from training. :>( So Tim will have an extra good meal this weekend!
He was sorry we had forgotten, but said “No worries, going now to get
them!” Laughing am I.
We made it to Arias Park, a small town about 40k from Temora.
Pop 250! So everyone knows everyone else’s business. We are here for 3
nights so Monday I’m looking forward to going thru the shops. Can’t buy
anything but do luv to look! The dog
& dat have made the trip okay. Kellie,
of course, wanted to sit in my lap most of the time. Angel just slept in her bed
or stood by Rodney’s chair just looking around and going “Duh!”.
Kellie has eaten and peed but Angel so far hasn’t figured out any of
this. It’s not home and she is
confused. We figure when she gets
hungry enough or thirsty enough then she will be alright.
This happened the last time we travelled with them and that was only for
4 days-this is for 9 days. Rodney is
now sitting outside with her, but that is okay as it isn’t as cold here as it
is in Canberra. Kellie goes between
being guard dog & “I’m six years old and really tired”. I’m actually
relaxed for the 1st time in months (years?).
Didn’t get off work till 1900 last night as I had to tell Jos more
things, but that is okay. My job is in her hands now & I’m just going to
try and let it go and have fun. Well
we discovered that we forgot to pack Rodney’s jammies so he will be sleeping
in my sweat bottoms & an Eeyore night shirt that April gave me several years
ago. Now this should be cute!!!
Will take a picture. (attached) Will write more tomorrow. Oh forgot –
when we arrived in the Caravan Park a big Footy game was going on – so we got
front row seats on the bus. Cool.
25/7/10 Angel has sorta settled in this area.
She can run and play – Rodney does have to go after her as she gets
confused when she has lost eye contact. We
gave both dogs a bath on Sat before we left – ummmm should have just left them
dirty. Most of her is still clean
except for brown, wet feet and face! But
both dogs are having a ball. Angel
has figured out that she can drink water from the shower – she can get in but
hasn’t figured out how to get out. When
out running, at least she is white so we can find her.
Sat night late, some kids were building a huge bon fire, drinking, etc.
There was a knock on the door at about 0200, Rodney was up so opened the
door to the startlement of the kid who thought he was playing a joke on us!
His eyes opened wide, then he turned and ran as Rodney was yelling at
him. It really was funny.
Today the neighbours (live in house behind caravan park) came over.
Ian had gotten up cuz all the dogs were barking and saw the kids heading
our way. He watched, etc.
He came over this morning to see what had happened.
Very nice man and his wife, Trudy, is also. We got to talking and here
the IT side of Rodney came out. Ian
had just bought a new computer & printer (they had to travel 40-50k’s as
this town is really tiny – the police station is actually a house where the
policeman and his family live, I put that on FB and one of my co-workers said
she was raised here and told us about the police-house that her Dad ran).
Anyhoo, Rodney went over there to try to fix it.
Left Kellie here and he was so upset.
So after a few minutes I let him out.
He knew which direction Rodney had headed, so he just sat down looking
that way and waited. Silly dog.
He doesn’t like it when he doesn’t know where we are, especially when
his daily routine is different. For
lunch I made for the 1st time a fettuccini & shrimp dish.
It was good but needed more herbs or garlic for taste.
I’m trying to learn how to cook in the bus.
Still made too much for us, but will keep trying.
Later that night Ian & his wife Trudy came over and we had a big bon
fire. They own sheep so he brought
over some lamb that was from their herd. He
teased me and told me that I was eating Gloria – Ugh!
It was really good thou – don’t really like lamb but this was fresh
and really good. We donated
sausages, salad and dessert. It
turned out to be a very good night thou cold.
This morning there was fog everywhere and it lasted for hours. 26/7/10 What a glorious day today.
Blue skies and warmer. We got
up later then usual, played on the computers, showered then cleaned up the
kitchen from the night before. Angel
actually ate today (she hasn’t for the last two), peed and did #2.
Yeah. Kellie is eating the
left over lamb and sausages. We
cleaned “the house” then hopped in the Suzi and took a ride.
Kellie was NOT happy with being left alone.
Very small town with one grocery store and one 2nd-hand shop
open. I got two pretty sweaters that
will stay in the bus. Gee not sure I
can afford $4.00 for both! :>)
We came back home, ate lunch (left-overs) and now Rodney is helping
another caravaner learn how to use the internet.
She has a laptop that she has had for 4 yrs, but never used the internet
as thinks it’s too expensive and didn’t know how.
Rodney explained to her that places like McDonalds have wireless for free
– so he is teaching her now as I’m writing to you guys.
Not much more is happening, so I’ll sign off for now.
Will add more later as the day progresses.
Oh I see on FB that Michael is going camping Tues-Sat next week.
I think that is great as we all need a break and too get-away.
Duncan, I know, will luv it. Don’t
know who he is going with thou. Hello me again – adding to today’s adventures.
Skyped with Michael today – just writing.
Guess he exchanged his truck for another one.
Good on him. He’s says
Duncan is doing really well and I think it helps that he is laid back like his
Dad and a very happy little boy. Well
we discovered that we have a homeless guy living here in a pup tent.
God he must be cold at night. Ian
told us that he raids their fruit trees, etc.
You can stay here for free as long as you don’t use any energy.
It’s been interesting watching him & he does have a dog.
I feel for him looking in the trash cans, but that is his life.
Well Ian just stopped by and Kellie & Rodney have gone to see his
farm. They actually live in town and
the farm is several k’s out and he share-farms with others.
As I figure this is more a man adventure then this city slicker wants to
do at 1700 at night in the cold…..Rodney will take pictures.
They are lovely people and I hope to get their email address.
At about 1200 today had a phone call from the temp.
She was soooo sorry to call me, but she had some questions.
I think I have told you that my job is one that you just can’t put in a
nutshell and this is how it works! Okay
back to my relaxing, playing my games and just chillin’. Hi
me again. Ian & Rodney came back from the farm – just a little socialising
and I reheated my roast & potato stew for dinner. Went down well with them.
Angel again had to pee so here we are looking out at a full moon –
watching a white dog do her thang. 28/7/10 Afternoon: Well
yesterday we left Ariah Park and went for a little drive.
We checked out a rest area that AP is trying to create.
Someday it will be a great place to stay.
We travelled thru a fairly big town called West Wyalong.
Wyalong itself is no longer and all was moved to West Wyalong – go
figure. We were actually looking for
a Woolies or Coles as Angel isn’t eating anything but doggie treats and we
needed to get some more. Yes I know
not really the best food for her, but she is familiar enough with it that she is
eating. When we actually go on the
road, she WILL have to learn to eat other stuff.
You’re not going to believe this (okay it is OZ!) but for a big town
the only grocery store they have is a SupraIGA.
Whoever has that franchise is getting rich!
Prices for food – well just add $1 to everything.
We are now staying at Ungarie Showgrounds which is free.
Not too bad of a place and Rodney has taken the dogs out to the footie
ring where there is lots of grass. I
cooked a Cannelloni dish with garlic bread for dinner.
Trying my hand at cooking in the BB (Blunder Bus).
Last night/morning at about 0400 I got up to take Angel out.
(Okay Rodney poked me which made me mad as I was snoring and sleeping so
good-shhhh we women don’t snore – just snuffle loudly!). She
went under the bus and then just disappeared.
It was sooo dark out as a storm was brewing.
I went into panic mode and got Rodney up to help look for her.
Found her ½ hrs later just hunkering down in the dirt as she was cold.
God I was just soooo scared as she doesn’t know her up from down! Both
of us couldn’t get back to sleep for a while.
Kellie wasn’t much good in finding her and he just follows really close
to our feet. Rodney let me sleep
until 1000 this morning – I’m getting a lot of sleep now and it is great and
I feel better. Later we had to move
the BB to empty the toilet tank. About
an hour ago I was going to take a shower & Rodney mentioned he would take
the dogs for a walk. After my
shower, I discovered the shower door had locked me in, so there I was stark
naked and couldn’t get out. Scared
the crap out of me cuz I had this image of Rodney coming back 30 min later, etc.
Thankfully it isn’t as cold here as Canberra, but….if I had had to
– I would have used all the water in the tank to keep warm.
I did try yelling for Rodney and he actually heard me at 20 meters away
and came to check on what was up. Horrible,
horrible feeling and still bothers me but the feeling will go away soon – okay
I’m ready to go home now! – NOT really.
I am in the process of making cinnamon bread and the BB smells really
good. The weather is getting rainy
now. Rodney has gone into town (if
you could call it that – pop 50) to get some draino to try and fix the toilet.
(He returned 10 min later as everything was closed up for lunch –
siesta time?) We will leave tomorrow and stay somewhere else.
We have decided that we are going to stretch this trip out as long as
possible, so may not get home until Monday Morn, then Rodney will have to go to
work. Must be nice to have a job
where you can show up any ole’ time.
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