It Had To Happen Sometime I Suppose

Well, I've entitled this the way I have because in some 15 years or more of hostelling, until now, this has never happened to me. Ever. And I still live in hope that perhaps I will get back to the hostel and discover that it didn't actually happen. Because to be honest, it is just sooo surreal...

But let me just tell the tale from the beginning. This morning, at Stupid O'Clock, I spent a shed load of money (well, $26) getting a taxi to the airport for the start of my Tasmanian adventure. I was sooo excited, I haven't travelled anywhere in an eternity (it seems - actually its only been 18 months) but clearly that amount of time has made my brain go soft and caused me to lose my travel-savvy, as you will see later. But I digress.

I got a Jetstar flight to Launceston. 2 1/2 hrs or something - quite respectable. The flight left on time, the service was reasonable (for a no frills airline - to be honest I slept most of the way) and the journey was pretty uneventful. Went through arrivals (past the sniffer dogs looking to see if you've brought any fruit to the Apple Isle - phew! I hadn't...), picked up my bag and then began the interesting task of collecting my rental car. You see, I had made a preliminary booking 2 days ago, but hadn't received any confirmation, so I booked with another company - or so I thought. At 11.30pm last night I discovered the confirmation email in my spam box, and as they charge you regardless, I had to quickly cancel Budget and go with this company, Red Ribbon - or something. They don't actually have a desk at the airport - you arrive, phone them on a mobile, and then a bloke swings by with your car, takes you back to their office and you sort out the paperwork. Quite wierd - but looks ok I guess. I've got a neat little red Hyundai Getz or something. Anyway, Dad had been talking to me before I hired it, telling me I should get the extra insurance and so on, which I never do. But it played on my mind so when I received an email offering me a discount for it, I took it. And then regretted it - when the bloke at Red Ribbon told me that I actually hadn't purchased cover with them, but with the internet brokers who sold me the car hire (who are in New Zealand!) - so if I have a prang (and I'm only covered if the prang is with another car - if I hit a tree well, that's it - not covered) I have to pay the $2000 excess to Red Ribbon first, then claim it back off these Kiwis. Well you know getting that money back will be like getting blood from a stone! So I'm stuffed...

Anyway, I drove into Launceston and after quite a lot of faffing about (photographing the car and so on before I left, figuring out where to go, what to do... yada yada) I managed to negotiate my way to Cataract Gorge. This is just a beautiful place - a nature wilderness in the heart of the city - I don't know how many kilometres and so on it is, but boy I had a lovely walk there. I did the 'zig zag' trail, which is apparently for hikers (that's code for 'this is going to be a little bit strenous so you better think about if you can handle it). You climb up the side of the gorge, with magnificent views, round a corner and there is the First Basin, with chair lift and a suspension bridge going across it. I carried on from there (that walk was supposed to take 20 minutes but hey, I was taking photos - so it was a lot longer) because I wanted to see the Second Basin. Well apparently it was another 20 minutes to the Second Basin, and probably it was, but again, lots of photos. But boy was I starting to feel it - hiking in jeans just doesn't cut it - and there were people running along the track in skimpy shorts and so on (its winter now and freezing - but in the sun its quite warm).

Made it to the Second Basin, and then decided to head up to Duck Reach power station. Well this bit of the journey was to take 45 minutes - and again, took me a bit longer - but was well worth it. The power station building is still there and you reach it from another rickety suspension bridge.

Anyway, after that it was getting on for 2pm so I decided to head back, as there was more of Lonnie to see. Got back about 3ish and did a bit of a wander around town (I was looking for a supermarket actually but didn't find one until much later). Anyway, walked around City Park - saw the monkeys, the pavillion, the turned off fountain - it was all very beautiful (very Victorian actually). Made my way down to the Esk river and had a bit of a wander past Boag's brewery, the Seaport marina (stopping off for a coffee there) and then wandered back into town. By this point it was getting on for 4.30pm and it was absolutely freezing! I could barely feel my hands.

So I made my way to the hostel, which is actually quite nice - a bit bohemian, but then, it is called the Arthouse after all. And that's when everything started to go to pot.

I was sorting through my bag in order to get everything ready for the evening, and I thought to myself, I must get the USB modem out and put it in a safe place so that I can look stuff up on the internet later. So I got it out and put it in a safe place.

Or so I thought. Because after this, I headed back to the car and set off in search of either a supermarket or dinner, and eventually found a Coles. Did my shopping, headed back and went to get out the modem so I could have everything ready to go - to do my internetting down in the common room after dinner.

But the problem is, I couldn't find the modem. At all. I have upended my bag so many times now, patted down all my pockets, searched through absolutely everything (including going back out to the car) and I can not find it. And then I was filled with dread, as I think that maybe someone has been through my bags and nicked it. But if they were going to nick the modem, wouldn't they take the netbook too? I know its a PC, but hey. Someone might want it.

So I don't think that anyone has been through my bag. What I actually think is, that when I got it out earlier, I put it on the bunk above me - and maybe I left it there. And that would be very tempting for someone in the room now, wouldn't it? The thought just makes me sick. $129 USB modem, gone. And how am I going to do my research and blog now for the rest of the trip? Realistically, I can't buy a coffee every night and sit in McDonalds (like I am now).

I went down to reception to see if anyone has handed it in, but alas, no one has. Which now fills me with more dread - because I can't leave my netbook in the car overnight, so I have to have it in the room. Do I sleep with it, and my cameras, and my phone - in case someone tries to nick them? I don't know...

What a horrible ending to such a lovely day. Here's hoping tomorrow is better...

The Idea of North and James Morrison

On Sunday night I took my family to the Powerhouse to see the wonderful The Idea of North and the inimitable, indescribable and totally incredible James Morrison. What a fantastic performance!

The concert was to celebrate the release of their new collaborative album, Feels Like Spring, which, let me tell you, is just awesome. But another reason that the concert was so special to me, was that my whole family there - my whole original family that is - Mum, Dad, Mel, Beck and myself. The first time in I don't know how long since we attended something like that, just us - no kids, no husbands - just us. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with the extendeds, but it was truly special that it was just us.

I had decided to give this concert to Mum as her mother's day gift, and then it kind of spiralled from there, as I realised I could knock off everyone else's birthday present as well. And it was truly fantastic, we had a brilliant time. One of the funniest moments of the day though, occurred before the actual concert. You see, Dad had been playing a gig at Morris Feng's (his dentist - what a name for a dentist!) and so I had picked Mum up and we had hung around the flat here. Mel and Beck picked us up en route - but Dad had already arrived at the Powerhouse. As the time was getting close, he walked around the very small car park and baggsied a spot for us. We however were stuck in one way traffic trying to get back around, and meanwhile another woman was trying to park in our spot. She was asking Dad to get out the way and he told her he was minding it for us as one of us was handicapped and some able-bodied blighter had parked in the disabled spot. She then found a spot two cars down from us - but at the same time as we were pulling in - so Dad runs over and tells us that one of us has to act disabled because of his white lie and because the woman could see us. So, Beck being the actress, we volunteered her. Well! I have never ever laughed so hard - Beck gets out and does her impression of, well, I don't know how to say it in PC terms - but in non PC terms, a spastic - sooooo funny! And then Dad decides to be PC Plod and leave a note on the windscreen of the people who had illegally parked in the disabled park - as only Dad would do - and we all thought that was terribly amusing too!

The concert itself was spectacular (Smile was a particular favourite - with comedic moments by James and the drummer, and Dear John was another favourite) and the playing just wonderful - it was a true 2 hours or so of Heaven. They are such brilliant singers, TION, and their harmonies were so intense, so clever and so spot on. And James, well, he is such an amazing entertainer, that man - and such an awesome musician. One of the things that James Morrison is particularly known for, outside of his fantastic playing ability, is his interest in inventing things and in technology - he did after all invent the "Morrison Digital Trumpet" which is a midi trumpet which can play any instrument and any sound - and doesn't require you to buzz your lips like when playing a regular trumpet. At the last concert of his I went to, in January when Tara was visiting, he had a keyboard that would let him "sing". And today of course was no different, as he pulled out his latest invention - the Bass Trumpet. Actually its not the first Bass Trumpet in the world, but by golly was it a beauty - and the sounds he could get out of it! Think like a Eupho but with a slightly brighter sound. Yummy. But that wasn't all - he also had something else. Something I was very envious of. In fact, extremely envious.

I speak, of course, of the iPad. Now I know that the iPad has only just come out in Australia, and he probably got his in America or something, and I have actually seen one - my friend Justin has one - but I had never ever thought of using an iPad like he was using it. He had all his music on it - it was awesome. I thought he was using a pdf or something of his music but I later found out from Justin that he would have been using an App called iReal Book, an amazing App that has hundreds of Jazz Charts on it - and the ability to add your own. So of course I had to download it the next day to my phone! Anyway, here is a little bit of illegal footage of the Bass Trumpet that one of our party (who will remain nameless but is blonde) took on their phone:

It was such a brilliant concert, we had such a good time - and then to cap it all off Dad took us for dinner at Sitar in Albion which we enjoyed on Bartercard! A truly top evening, thanks family!

Bring It On!

Just wanted to issue a missive out there to all you lowlife Blues supporters... Bring it on! The Queenslanders are back in town and you are in for a major drubbing! Get ready for the 5th in a row Queensland win, and for a 3 nil whitewash!

And to coin a Glee-ism - "That's how Sue sees it". Hehehe!

Finally! It's Happened to Me...

Yes, finally - I have a property for sale! See the thing is, I'm trying to get my finances (finally) sorted out for once and for all - no mean feat I can assure you. So the first thing was to clear all the credit cards, which is almost done - I'm still waiting on the response from www.taxback.com as I am apparently owed some £1400 in tax back from the UK, which will be perfect. Then, I paid off my Aussie credit card, and now the plan is to generate some capital with which to re-invest. That's why I'm selling off my 'dog' assets - the ones which are underperforming. Its all terribly grown-up...

So here it is! If you're interested, go to http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-deception+bay-106554811 and you can see it for yourself - or here's the main pic here!

Just Because I Like It...

Saw this video a few years back (or rather, one very similar) and re-discovered it again recently:

The funniest thing though was what happened when I played it. Picture the scene: Monday morning, crowded staff room at Charles Edward Brooke. Staff briefing just about to start, the inimitable Michael Place (bless his soul) about to kick off in his usual, deathly dull and terribly dry fashion - when suddenly the attachment to the email I'm reading finally loads up and with a mini fanfare, just as Mick has his mouth open in goldfish like fashion, a trumpeting fanfare breaks out, followed by these immortal words:

What's the worst day of the week that gets us all depressed?

M-O-N-D-A-Y S-U-C-K-S

Here comes more aggravation and a brand new week of stress

M-O-N-D-A-Y S-U-C-K-S

Monday sucks! Monday sucks!

Forever will it make you want to cry!

So come along and sing your sing and get it off your chest

M-O-N-D-A-Y S-U-C-K-S!

Hehehe...

On Again, Off Again - Yr 12 Retreat

As you will know from previous posts, we have been recently enduring a painful series of strikes, in the name of a fairer pay deal. As I may have summarised, Queensland Catholic teachers are the lowest paid in the country (outside of Tasmania - but that's not really Australia anyway!), and we are trying to narrow the 'inequality' margin in this respect. We have been doing this through a series of one-day strikes, which culminated recently in an indefinite ban on extra-curricular activities. As a result of this ban, I have been really in a bit of an emotional quandary, as although I agree with industrial action, I disagree with this form of it - but have been supporting it anyway. It came a bit to a head in the last week of term, when the Head asked for teachers who had volunteered to go on Yr 12 retreat, to confirm their intention to attend. After a great deal of struggle, I decided that if I was supporting the industrial action by not rehearsing my choir, then I couldn't in good faith continue to go on retreat. So I was one of only 2 teachers who withdrew their support for the retreat. I must admit, I was quite distressed to see that hardly anyone was supporting this action.

Anyway, all this happened in the last week of school before the Easter holidays. So, as it stood at the start of the holidays, I was no longer conducting Chorale rehearsals, and no longer attending retreat. Sorted.

However, half-way through the holidays I received an email stating that in good faith, with the promise of further developments with the Employers within the Enterprise Bargaining unit, the indefinite ban on extra-curricular action was being called off for a time. Great, I can do my choir again. But what of retreat?

Well, as they had already made new arrangements, I naturally assumed I still wasn't going, and made arrangements to house-sit and mind Beck and Damo's dogs whilst they were on holidays. However, within 1 hour of being back at school on Monday, the Head of RE approached me with a situation. It seemed that one of the teachers was now unable to attend retreat due to health issues with her mother, so would I mind going again?

Me, being a person for whom the word 'no', alas, doesn't exist, immediately agreed - and immediately regretted it. However, I am nothing if not a person of my word, so there it was. I was now going on retreat again.

Unfortunately (or as it turned out, fortunately) for me I couldn't go on the one I originally was supposed to go on, so I ended up at Ewen Maddock Dam, Landsborough. I have to say, this place was such a dive! If you check out the website, it actually looks quite nice - but it was just disgusting! Soooo dirty, soooo old, and soooo poorly kept!

Put it this way, the girls complained within a few minutes of arrival of seeing huge rats in their rooms. Now whilst I suspect this was an exaggeration, I don't now doubt that there was some form of creepy crawly in there. The reason for my conviction is, that on the first night, I accidentally left a muesli bar in my bag, and accidentally left the bag unzipped. When I awoke the next morning, there were teeth marks and a big bite taken out of my bar! Ugggg!

The retreat itself was ok - but on a spiritual level, just bollocks. Absolutely nothing of a Christian commitment at all, their version of a 'relationship with God' basically consists of a lump of plasticine modelled into a tree, or a boat, or something stupid. Just rubbish. But I knew that already from last year's retreat... where I had stupidly shared my 'testimony' in full on Salvation Army style to a bunch of people for whom God is just a vapid spirit (if they even believe that) floating out there in the ether, of absolutely no consequence to them. Soooo wrong.

Anyway, it was still nice to get to know the girls a bit better - and certainly nice not to have to go to school. Even with the mice...! but I will never go back to Ewen Maddock dam again...

With the other teachers at the Campfire - Susan, Cheryl, Jenny K, Me, Kate and Jenny S

When Miss M Went To South Bank

On Tuesday I had the lovely joy of babysitting my niece Miss M. I decided that for a treat, we would go to the Woolshed. I arrived at the allotted time, and after some re-arranging with the car seat, we were finally off - a bit later than expected though. Therefore I decided that, as we would miss the 11am Ram show, we should go to the 1pm one, so I took her to get a donut and a babycino, to kill some time.

At the appropriate time we set off for the Woolshed - about a 30 minute journey or so. Alas, when we got there, I discovered that even though I had checked the ticket prices, address and times online, the Woolshed (or "Wooly-shed" as Miss M was calling it) has permanently closed down! What to do?

So we drove off into the city and got the City Cat over to South Bank for an afternoon at the beach. Miss M didn't know the difference! What a lovely time we had!

On Strike - Again!

Last week has been harrowing in more ways than one for me. You may recall that back in October Catholic teachers in Queensland were on strike over pay conditions. Alas, that strike had no effect, and so industrial action has been stepped up - two weeks back we held a ban on extra-curricular activities for one whole week, which resulted in nothing, and so last Wednesday we had another full day strike, followed by an indefinite ban on extra curricular activities.

Personally, I believe in the issue we are fighting for (Queensland Catholic teachers are the lowest paid in the state, and in my pay band, I earn $7000 less than if I worked in NSW), but I'm not sure I'm totally in favour of the action, in the format we are taking. I really enjoy doing my extra-curricular activities, and I don't want to stop rehearsing my choir (especially as they are the good choir in the school and I only just got them) but I am really torn - my principle, despite having voted "no" on the extra-curricular component, is to support my colleagues - which means I have to follow the strike action.

So I am doing so - which meant that last Wednesday I had the day off, unpaid. Knowing that Wednesday is a day that Mum and Dad mind Bethany, I decided to go up to their place on Tuesday night, stay over, and then spend some time with Bethany the next morning before going off to look at potential flats (more on that in a later post). Dad had asked if I would go up there because he was quite keen to take Bethany out in the dinghy for her first dinghy ride - but she is a bit of a live wire and you really need someone there just to manage her. We had a fabulous time though, she seemed to really enjoy the dinghy experience, and like all Grandchildren before her, and I'm sure after her, she had a go at "steering" the dinghy too!

Here's a little vid I made to commemorate the whole thing:

Birthday, Birthdays and Moore Birthdays!

As my efforts at posting this year have been somewhat remiss, I thought I should at least make another attempt - even though I know that no-one is reading this anymore. At least it'll be an online diary for me...

So we have had now since the last birthday I mentioned, another 5 birthday celebrations (although one was my brother in law's which he celebrated with his immediate family). The birthdays were:

December - Mum's 60th and Lach's 11th, on the same day - Kev's a bit earlier

February - mine

March - Miss G's 1st birthday.

So in order, here's what happened:

Mum's 60th / Lach's 11th

Mum's 60th and Lach's 11th fall on the same day. This year, being Mum's 60th, it was a big celebration - Dad booked, as a surprise, the Kookaburra Queen for us all for lunch - Mum didn't know about it. All she knew was that at some point in the day we were all going somewhere nice for a meal. Beck organised though for Mum to have her make-up specially done by a friend of hers (all paid of course), and then Dad drove her (via Nanny's to pick up Nanny and Mal) into town, where we all met her at the pier. This though, was not without some drama - as poor Mel and Kev discovered that the journey into town from their place is infinitely longer than they had allowed, and they literally had to run for the boat, boarding with just minutes to spare! The boat doesn't wait!

After the absolutely gorgeous lunch, I had planned for Mum my gift - a concert at the Powerhouse with the Idea of North. It was a very fitting end to a truly lovely day!

Mine

My birthday this year was infinitely better than last year! I suspect that's because this year I decided that it couldn't be as bad as the last, so I wasn't going to let it get me down - plus, instead of going out for a meal, I decided that I preferred something much more quiet - a lunch at Mum's. So, Mum cooked up my favourite meal, Chicken casserole, and everyone came over for Sunday lunch (well, everyone except Mal and Nanny). The cake was lovely: Mum made it out of cupcakes, and they were oh so yummy, and oh so pretty.

The actual day itself was pretty good too - namely because this year I actually told people at school that it was happening, so they planned a lovely morning tea for me. The other thing that made a huge difference was that I didn't have an awful Curriculum Team meeting after school to lead, with my team of well-meaning misfits! And then on the actual day, Mel, Mum and Beck took me to see my all time most favourite musical, Avenue Q! So I truly had a special day!

Gabby's

I was very privileged to be able to share in my niece's first birthday. Beck decided to hold a party at her house, and I was put (again) in charge of the 'pass the parcel'. The special thing about this party was that Nanny actually made it, so that was lovely. There were so many people there! It was truly a lovely day.

So that's been the birthday update... the next batch I think (other than Demo's in May) will be July - and then it will be bang, bang, bang - one after the other... I just love birthdays!

The Australian Open

Ok, so its been a bit of a while since I last posted - but to be fair its not necessarily because there isn't anything to say - its just that I haven't had time to say it.

Anyway, in January I went to Melbourne to see the Australian Open, and I made this little video about it. Its pretty corny, but you get the picture...