THE DYNAMIC WORLD OF ME

Hiya Pips.

Well, what do you know...I've been gone for a couple of weeks and when I came back, we've got more toys in the bloggers world. Bloggers have added on the 'GADGETS' on the layout, which are so cool. Games, texting wares, etc...

I am so excited to read through them and maybe upload them here on my blog. But I can't do that just yet because life is still so hectic.

This is just to let my family (and others who are interested) know of what's been happening with my life, and to notify them that I am still alive and breathing. Although I have not logged on to the YM for a while, you're not forgotten Mum! I know you think I don't care anymore...LOL
Kidding. I know you understand. Maybe Jashkah's on-line from time to time, but that's not me. You can leave a message with him, and tell him to pass it on to me, otherwise, he'll just delete the message.

Anyway...Life's drastically changed. I have now moved office. Well, on Monday, that is. I've been given a special project by my nice, lovely, beautiful, and too trusting ex-boss who will effectively be my boss again as of Monday. I will be working once again out in the big smokes! After so much resistance from my current-almost-ex-boss, my ex-soon-to-be boss again won!!! Hak Hak Hak. If that makes sense.

I will be assisting her to do up a policy and procedures manual for a specialized area (can't say which one)in Finance for the whole of the NT. It may even involve traveling to the regional offices (according to the product manager) to train staffs. It will be a very interesting job, yet very daunting and challenging. I don't know why she's given me this much trust when I could not even give my self half of the trust she's given me over the years. But then again, she's always proven her decisions to be right, so I have given her my full trust yet again. I don't know if I can do it, but I will certainly do my best. She once asked me if she's doing the right thing...the only answer I could give is..."I don't know. It's your decision, and I trust your decision" ....So help me GOD!

It was so sad leaving Casuarina Plaza yesterday(I bet someone's happy too). No one knew I was leaving. I did not want to tell them, but if I didn't, and simply vanished without goodbyes, it's pretty much the same as signing my resignation letter and my death warrant.

When they found out late yesterday afternoon, they went into a frenzy! prepared a very late afternoon tea and gave me a send-out-good-luck plant, which does not grow here in Darwin. How ironic. Maybe if I can make this plant live even for just a couple of months, then it will signify that I can get out of this project alive and successful. On the other hand, it probably signifies IMPOSSIBILITY.

Hayley, Margaret, Maria, (and the lot)... I will miss you guys. Thank you so much for all the support you've given me while I was the team leader. Had it not been for all your help, I would have taken a lot of James's wraths!!! Joke! He's a nice boss, a good bloke. Look after him for me and Cheryl. As I've said, I'm not dead! I'll be back.

Honestly, I am embarking on a very scary endeavor. Dark and musky, vast and deep, I will be crawling or swimming in an area so far fetched from the realities and comforts of my current job description. By God, I might come out of it without a pulse or come out of it with a flag! So CherylO, please do not leave me....Oh, my boss's name is also Cheryl. She gets called Cheryl O and I get called Cheryl M....It will Be one interesting journey.

Another affair I've been busy with is the 'MARKETING STRATEGIES' for the Darwin Barrio Fiesta. The TRALA-LAS will be having a food stall during the event. We had a meeting last Saturday night, then we went shopping for the styro-plates and our uniform materials last Sunday. In spite of the frantic schedule, somehow, Cat and Mona still found time to give out a showdown of voices and butts! Mga Tralala talaga!!!

Showdown Madonna & Cindy Lauper

Guess what else I've been busy with???

I come home from work at 8:00PM almost every night (overtime), eat dinner, take a shower, then what do I do? Sew aprons! Hek Hek Hek...Lots of them! This is going to be our uniform for the Darwin Barrio Fiesta at the end of the month. This will be fun!

(5 down, 10 more aprons to go)

My son's been to a camp for three nights and four days. When he came back home...He's a changed man!!! Whatever that means, Only I will know. But he's definitely grown a lot...Oh my.







Did a group study for our Certificate IV in Frontline Management too. Assessment for the first two units are due on Wednesday, so tomorrow, I will definitely be 'heads down-bum's up' with my assignment.

Today, I will be going to Ate Luz's house to get some stuffs ready for the Barrio Fiesta...And oh...Bugger! I am late...I have to cook something to take there.

K Catcha dunno when....

Busy Busy Busy

Well, guys, I haven't yet posted the photos in Melbourne. I do want to, but time hasn't been kind to me the last two weeks.

I've started a six-months-studies, which hopefully will give me a certificate 4 in Frontline Business Management by December of this year. My employer (NT Govt) sent me to this course, all paid for-of course-so I can sharpen my 'managerial' skills, so to speak. I can put it in practice in my current employment(that's the intention), and it can also be very useful if I do decide to work in a private sector. So who am I to complain if I was given a golden platter?

Even if my life's a bit constrained right now, I am so thankful I was given this opportunity. As they said, I got chosen because I am a ' manager material' !!! HAH!!! manager my BFA! Not my alley. I am more of a person to go out and do frontline work...the actual killing fields! Not behind a desk, inside an office and pray that the workers are actually working. I wanna walk the walk, not talk the walk... But hey.... I am flattered, happy and honored.

So see what I mean?

Life's been good.

I am not interested, but I know it's going to better me as an individual, so there is no logic in declining an offer so rarely given.

I've been working really hard too, working overtime almost every day. A massive restructure in our area has left us with big challenges to undertake in the months ahead. Well, i can see light, so it should be OK, very soon I hope.

Anyway, I am hoping that by February of next year, i will also be starting the Web Design (writing HTML) course, which, I am more interested in. It'll be fun!

This weekend's a long weekend, so I've decided not to work. It's the last long weekend of the year for NT. The next one will be Christmas. So I though, I might as well savor this moment.

Well, I'll show you the Melbourne photos one day, when and if I can find the time to put them together.

Bye for now.

THE REST OF GOLD COAST AND BRISBANE

It's very unfortunate that I was, yet again, unable to enjoy another water park. The White Water World.

This time, we opted to go shopping (again) even though we already bought the tickets to get into the White Water World. It's just a neighboring park of Dream World, and our pass allows us to go back and forth from Dream World to White Water World for two days.

Remember, when we went to the Wet N Wild, I did not even as much as dipped my feet ankle-deep? It was too cold for me. Since I did not enjoy the first water park, then I figured I won't enjoy this one either. So I decided to go shopping instead.

Ate Luz, Ate Lydia, Mary, Allan, Mona, Xander and my family went to Australia Fair, back to Harbour Town, etc, while the Catuncans and the Aralars pushed through. Above are some of their photos taken from the said park.

After all the park visits, Ate Luz's mob left for Darwin, the Catuncans stayed at Gloria and Bernie's house in Brisbane...And then there were two families left. Ours and the Aralars.

Surfers BeachSide Apartment's pool and spa

We stayed in the Gold Coast for three more days, but of course we also went to Brisbane for a little bit of shopping, house hunting and sightseeing. We got invited by my son's ninang to have dinner at their place in Brizzy. Mae and Nelson, who is like a brother to my husband have now settled in Brisbane along with Gloria's family. I would
like to thank Gloria who took pains in driving us around Brizzy looking for dream houses, shopping in the Airport DFO, Mount Kuta and everywhere... She really took time off from work to show us their hospitality...Thanks again Glo. Ohhh...dare I not forget...her house??? It's not a house...it's half an inch short to become a mansion!!! Huge! Rose Hancock...eat your heart out!

(above left) Gloria's house (below) her neighborhood

House Hunting in Brisbane. Prospect move out Darwin.

Mount Kuta overlooking the Brisbane Night Line.

We had the pleasure of having been visited by old friends from Darwin who are now residing in Brisbane. Emy Antalan and Ate Tess's family are now happily settled in Bisbane. Our kids, when they were younger (may have been 5 or so years ago since they said their Goodbyes to Darwin) used to play and hang around together. This time around, someone has to crack the whip to make them talk to each other. The distance barrier seemed to have taken it's toll on friendships. The girls, Merryl, Tin Tin, Ailish and Leah seemed to have grown a lot and changed so much. These outback girls from Darwin have now turned into beautiful big city girls, while our kids seemed to have embraced goths, shuffling and I don't know what else....

Awkward at first, but I think, friends will always be friends. All it took was 'TIME ZONE'. We dropped them there so they can sort of have a 'Night Out' for the underage and get the bonding fired up again....Well it worked because by the time they all got picked up from Time Zone, they were already talking to each other, and seemed to have really enjoyed each other's company. Now we can talk about weddings....WWHHAACCkkkssshhhh!!!!

With Emy and Ate Tess.




Last day in the Gold Coast.

The 10th night, we headed back to Melbourne for another big & cold adventure....

Infinity photo...coming right up( needs scanning).