Journal - This Week was....

Difficult to find the right words for a post this week.

The tragic bushfires in Victoria last weekend have bought our nation to it's knees in shock, grief and disbelief.

And it won't be over for a very long time.

My thoughts are with everyone affected - and pondering today what happens when the media disappear, and the rest of the country 'gets on with it'.

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My week has been a typical one.

Z17 has taken his annual leave and won't be available to start back at work until next Friday - phew...the break has been nice.

Monday : Big A and PB went to Hobart for the Hobart Cup (horse racing) - so a quiet day. Unfortunately my stomach was about the worst it's ever been - so very little accomplished besides the usual order placing/stats etc

Tuesday : Many, many loads of washing done - my front loader is brilliant but far out it takes ages to do a load - and I can't fit too much in it......not always great when you have heaps.
Z17 organised for college.
No books to buy, or pens etc - he bought home virtually all of the stuff I bought last year unused!!!
His subjects still hadn't been finalised for this year yet either.

Wednesday : Back to school - Z17 has settled back in - I drove the first morning, he has driven in to the city the other two days - and did very well!
He did some initial working out of his subjects - all but one.
Small Man has a lovely new teacher - he called me Wednesday to introduce himself and discuss the year etc.
Phone still ringing with positions vacant enquiries - so another two calls down.
Forgot to bank Tuesday - oops! Fixed that up Wednesday!
Many phone calls passing on the phone interview people, working out areas, working out where we need people and how best to divide the areas...and so on.....
I even organised an interview for myself for Monday - it's been a while since I've interviewed anyone myself or had a 'new starter' - have attended many with my managers and helped them with theirs though.

Thursday: Went to college with Z17, bought his car back stopping at supermarket for supplies on the way home. Packed a picnic lunch for Small Man and I and left for an excursion to the Cataract Gorge.......
....but didn't take my camera.....
We had a nice day - he was given his book pack (WOW! a million times better than what he was getting at the high school).
We were broken into grade groups to discuss the year ahead.
The level of caring from the teachers seriously blows me away - and they are genuine!
They really want SM to attend a grade 9 camp at Cradle Mountain in 3 weeks.
Two of his teachers discussed it with us - one asked what SM's obstacles were - he said whether or not he could cope physically, and the food situation.
So, just for him, all children will be given the option to bring their own food for the three nights - just so that he's not singled out.
I was amazed.
They promised not to push him - and that he is the expert on his own body and what he can handle - and they will respect that.
And he's agreed to go.
We then had a dentist appointment at 2pm - SM's first EVER filling (and a teeny one at that).
He amazes me! He was so calm and brave - not a bit fazed.
But yet going to therapy for his food issues fills him with fear and dread....
After this we picked up Z17 from college - went home - cooked tea for Big A (while doing another phone interview) who has to eat at 5.30pm when he's day shift - cleaned up and then went to see one of my ladies for her weekly meeting.
I think I was in bed at 10pm Thursday night - ha ha!

Friday - received a 'drop in' visit from one of my ladies that's been away - the first time all week I wasn't up and showered - she didn't care :) I think they all realise now if the drop in unannounced, or on weekends - they get what they find with me.
We discussed the possibility of a promotion for her to manager - it would take some work off my plate, she would get paid more, and it would be more convenient. She is thinking about it, I think she's 90% yes at this stage.
Quickly changed my morning meeting to later in the day - at that stage I thought Z17 was finishing at 12.30pm.
All organised and ready to go - send Z17 a message to check if 12.30pm was still good - he writes back 'Actually just changed my classes so have a full day now'.
He's now doing VET Cert III in I.T. ( he received cert II last year) - Music - English Writing (pre tertiary) he scored an OA for this last year :) - Sisco Networking.

O.K. so another change in my plans - but I stuck with my time schedule for the meeting and changed everything else.
I met with RJ and MJ to discuss their promotion - which I proposed to them last week - this would have been great for them - and meant a new manager for me to replace some of what PK is currently looking after (he's leaving for sure).
They have looked into it all and can't do it.
Certain government agencies again - they'll be the end of us if they keep it up.
Basically they can't earn over a certain amount - something to do with something I dunno.
That was o.k. - I will just need a plan C.
I think I got to know them a lot better Friday too.
They confided in me a whole lot, and I understand their circumstances and why they can't take this on.
MJ has schizophrenia - under control at the moment but still an unpredictable thing. I knew there was something, and that he needed a bit 'extra' from me when I visit - even little things like encouragement on their weight loss (he has lost 12kg since Christmas), including him in conversation, wrapping up a big stack of pens for him for Christmas!
It's a running joke, he always pretends to eye off whatever pen I have and reminds me not to leave it on the table!
So in hindsight the fact that he was able to attend our Christmas party was awesome - I knew he didn't like going out much, but wow!
Next year I may even get him to eat something...one step at a time.
When I first started going he would just lie on the couch fairly disinterested, so I started to include him in the conversation, ask his opinion etc.
He even went out and helped her with deliveries a few times which he has never done!
Friday HE made me my Milo - a rare thing according to RJ.

Friday afternoon - return from college with Z17 - then wait for 'the signal' - ha ha! to take Big A to meet his buddies along the highway - they are off on the first of many fishing trips in the next few months - it's tuna season or something - anyway he'll be away every second weekend for a while.

We don't do Valentines Day - we haven't for years!
Oh but no....hang on.....I did get something very special here a few weeks ago.
I don't know if I should tell you - jealousy and all that......
Ah bugger it - I'll take my chances...................................................................................












I got..............................A NEW TOILET SEAT !!!!

OMG!!!

I shall expect some jealous emails over that - ha ha ha ha!!!!

I'm actually going for the longest post EVER.

I must be getting close?

By 5pm Friday I had a cracking migraine & a terrible stomach ache - it was a corker.
I went to bed after much codeine and a few donnatabs and slept some of it off....
In time to Coles go and get groceries at 10.30pm.
It's still hanging around today but at least my mind is relatively clear and functioning - now.
I have slept - a lot.

So that's probably it from me - try not to let the shiny new toilet seat get to you too much - ha ha ha!


G
xxx