Where the Grass is Greener

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    30 October 2008

    Dear SW

    I'm really sorry, but I just don't miss you. New job is being very nice to me and I haven't been sad about leaving you behind. I thought I should be honest and tell you the truth.

    love Miff xo

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      29 October 2008

      There is a morning ritual.

      6.45am - radio alarm comes on. pretend not to hear it.

      6.50am - struggle to get up.

      6.51am - struggle to get up.

      6.52am - pretend I don't really have to get up and snuggle back in.

      6.53am - stop trying to trick myself and struggle to get up.

      6.54am - wonder how late I could potentially be to work if I wanted to lay in...

      6.55am - this time for sure... manage to sit up. husband cruelly rolls over into my warm spot and snuggles in.

      Tasks then occur as follows:
      • put on uggies and dressing gown.
      • open door to madly excitable doggies. not sure why they are so excited - it isn't like we've been anywhere...
      • allow madly excitable doggies to jump all over husband, giving him lots of licks. (i love that they have worked out how to find their way under the doonah to lick him if he hides - they are so clever!)
      • ask madly excitable doggies if they'd like to go outside.
      • struggle to get past madly excitable doggies to actually open the door.
      • sit on back doorstep so that madly excitable doggies can jump onto my lap and lick me, thus calming them mildly.
      • watch slightly less madly excitable doggies to make sure they DO go to the toilet.
      • let doggies back in to jump all over husband again.
      • shower, dress, cup of tea, breaky, etc etc.

      Today I had a nice little interruption to the ritual. As I sat on the doorstep watching the doggies I noticed the sound of a little birdie having a nice little sing. Not sure what type of bird but it's repertoire was amazing! It was singing in very short bursts but every single burst was different. It really was beautiful and special, almost magical (there you go little bro - a magical moment for you, which you were asking for last time we saw each other). This little birdie had so many different songs! Check Spelling

      I listened for a few minutes before going to drag husband out of bed to enjoy it with me. Nature realy is quite lovely sometimes (other times not so much, a la blue bottles and mozzies).

      Based on my somewhat aged knowledge/memory of the behavioural ecology of birdies, I would assume this one was a male practicing his songs to attract a nice lady birdie by his marvellous repertoire. He certainly sounded very pleased with himself, and I would have applauded except he probably would have flown away.

      I'm hoping to see and hear lots more nature over the next week as husband and I trundle up to the 'Berra and then on towards the coast. The wildlife in Melbs is a bit limited - there's cats and dogs, sparrows, minors (the bird kind, not the under 18 kind) and those funny little pigeons that make a noise when they fly off. I miss the sound of magpies, parrots and cockies from my morning ritual. Can't wait to get home to hear them again.

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        13 October 2008

        Hard core peppermint tea drinking

        I feel like I've just had a long weekend - I suppose the feeling comes from having busy evenings leading up to the weekend. Also I'm totally exhausted (but mostly because I'm still getting over working my last ever weekend the week before). The ever lovely Anna flew down late on Wednesday night, and we got the week off to a rock 'n roll style start by having a peppermint tea and going to bed. Hard core. I guess that's the problem when you are both early to bed kind of girls. (^_^)

        Thursday morning saw us breakfasting on Lygon St before I went to work at the Museum. Anna was going to spend the day touristing around the city and going to the gallery. I was late for my meeting because the shop was having a sale and I got caught up buying lovely things I hadn't known I'd needed before they became super cheap. After the meeting I decided to do a little bit of my new job before heading back across the river... half an hour later I realised I was now late for a meeting that started 5mins ago and it would take me about half an hour to get there. Ah me. Doing two jobs at once is a challenge.

        After work I met Anna in the city and we headed for home - I was hosting craft night with the regular girls and some invited guests. Much crafting, Thai food and cake eating ensued.

        Friday was my last day at Old Job. I was pretty disappointed when I realised that my boss had not organised a farewell on any level and didn't even do that thing awkward one-on-one thing where they try to thank you for wasting the last two years of your life working stupid hours and for being totally awesome in your job. Humph. Even though technically I'm only going to another campus for twelve months, as long as I don't hate New Job I know I'll be able to stay in it and don't really intend on coming back. When people go on holidays for more than a month we do them a farewell party, and what do I get? Well, I took my gel wrist pads for my new desk, but seeing as it is the same organisation that doesn't really count as being given anything does it?

        Thankfully my teammate had organised after work drinkies and we had $2 pots at the pub. I managed to not get too drunk so was very proud of myself. Husband and Anna managed to trek over the river to meet up with us for dinner and banana fritters (and more beer) so that was very nice!

        I awoke on Saturday morning tired, very thirsty, but not headachy. A trip to the markets followed by Anna and I going shopping with the Infamous 12yr Old on Brunswick St, followed by Anna and I going to Blondies in Clifton Hill, then going to a cafe and eating way too awesomely cheesy pizza, a scrumptious cupcake and then being too full to eat the donut we had also purchased in our haste to attempt to not impulse buy everything at the cafe because it looked so yummy.

        We had a lazy crafternoon and then go dressed up to go out. We decided a little cocktail at the Atrium Bar (35th floor of the Sofitel) would stimulate our appetites (we were still full from the cafe). mmmm, strawberry-licious! We were right, it did wonders! We wandered to China Town for tepanyaki and then realised it was almost 9pm - a very late dinner for two early bed girls! We ate slowly so managed to eat all the food as well as drinking a bottle of champers.

        A shot of icy vanilla vodka when we got home rounded out the evening.

        In true hard core style we also had a peppermint tea.

        Sunday morning we had a big breakfast and then went back to do the rest of Brunswick St. We tried on just about every hat at Scally and Trombone. I love hats! I just wish I had somewhere to wear them regularly and could justify spending that much on them.

        Then it was off to the airport to say goodbye for a few weeks (reunion so soon! how will I become fit, rich and famous in three weeks? eek!). I crashed out on the couch reading for the rest of the day - I'm too obsessed with my book at the moment.

        Today I'm at New Job. It is quiet. You can't hear kids screaming. My boss isn't here so it is just me sitting doing what I think is my job. My chair is uncomfortable. I'm wondering if I can ask to bring old chair to new desk? I've got two monitors. Weird. I'm starting to worry about how much work I'm about to have cram in and learn as I go.

        Well, I think I'm just going to have to hold my breath, shut my eyes and jump in (and hope that the water isn't shallow).

        Maybe I'll make a cuppa first... peppermint tea anyone?

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          09 October 2008

          Preparing to depart

          It has been a long time since I've written because work and life has been a wee bit hectic. Nothing bad, just busy.


          But I'm beginning to move into a new phase of my life, that will hopefully be a a good one! Husband and I have just had our home loan approved, which in this current economic climate may not be the best timing, but dammit! I want a house! House shopping is exciting, but also very depressing and not very interesting. Also I seem to have inherited the mater's snobbery about certain suburbs in Melbs - even though she hasn't lived here for almost 30yrs, and I've only lived here for 2yrs. And why do people mispronounce street names and suburbs (Reservoirians, you know I'm talking about you)?


          I'm also about to start a new job at a different campus of my organisation. Same money, same team, but no more working weekends and no more presenting shows. In preparation I took down all the photos and pics surrounding my desk and they filled a calico bag (an ANU O-Week one for those playing at home). My desk is back to having big blue partitions - no more smiling and loving faces staring out at me. *sniff sniff*



          So to cheer me up I've got a new favourite Desktop pic on my putey. As seen below. Sunset at Cottesloe beach from 18months ago. So much has happened since then!




          I also went through my drawers and shredded lots of stuff which was quite enjoyable. What is it about shredders that makes them fun? The destruction? The way it sucks the paper in? The way I imagine throwing the shredded paper all around the room and having a little dance in it?

          I've found lots of pens that have tried to make their escape over the last two years by falling down the back of my drawers and plan to take them with me to my new desk. Do you think I could take my chair too? I love my chair.

          I'm excited about new job as I can tram to work (which means I can have little beersies after work without having to say 'no'). I know there are all sorts of dangers on public transport - such as the freak who want to sit next to you, the drunk/druggie who needs to vomit, the school kids, the invasion of personal space when it is full, the riding backwards and feeling sick, and so on. BUT there are also good things - I can read a book (which you can't do while driving), watch the Melbourne scenery go by (always entertaining), locate shops or cafes I might like to visit, and sometimes you get to talk to not-freaks. Or maybe sometimes I'm the freak? They do say if you can't spot the freak on the tram, then you probably are the freak. Oh dear.

          I'm worried about going back to being the person who doesn't know anything. I've spent the last two years becoming the 'go to' person and now I'll have to start learning all over again! I think this will be a good learning and experience opportunity though, and will go some way to chasing that perfect work-life balance one hears about (I just want a dishwasher and then things would be perfect!).

          In other news, 10yr school reunion is coming up in a few weeks, so a trip to the Berra is in the offing. This will coincide with the return of the weary pilgrims who have walked 200kms in Spain. A good effort, but nothing like as good as the Proclaimers and their 500 miles...

          Peace out.

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            The Nappy Library

            If you know any parents who are considering trying out cloth nappies (for their babies, not themselves or aged parents...) check out my friend's new business: The Nappy Library

            Hurrah for the environment! Hurrah for poo and wee staying in their pants! Hurrah for trying it out for real cheap, even cheaper than disposables!

            Miff xo