Very proud of myself

So as a last minuet decision David and I decided to go see some friends in Gympie for New Years. I made it very clear that I couldn't be that close to my parents without seeing them. We have had David's family up for a few weeks before Christmas, but I didn't get to see my family (first time in 29 years I haven't spent Christmas with mum and dad).

I promptly burst into tears crying that "I miss my mummy". Yes I still call her mummy, and yes I do still get homesick!

David being the loving supportive husband he is burst out laughing at me. Apparently I'm supposed to be mature at 29 and not miss my parents to the point of tears.

He then surprised me by saying that he would be ok at home without me if I wanted to stay a few extra days. Luckily flights were cheap so this afternoon we are driving to Gympie then on Sunday we will get to Brisbane. David drives home on Monday because he has to work on Tuesday, but I get to stay until Thursday and fly home! Excited!

So today I have been busy, making sure the house is clean and packing. I also made some yummy meals for David while I'm away that he can just defrost and eat. The one I'm most proud of is the risotto. I have never been very good at it, but this time I decided to try it in the slow cooker! U recommend that all risotto should be done from here on out in the slow cooker because it is amazing!

1 cup arborio rice
2 cups of water with chicken stock mixed in
1 teaspoon of minced garlic
1 chicken breast diced
1 onion sliced
1 cup of each sweet potato, potato, pumpkin and carrot cubed
1 teaspoon of butter
a sprinkling of mixed herbs and pepper to taste

Brown the chicken and onion together (it's always better if you cook the onion and brown the meat before you put it in the slow cooker.
Chuck everything in the slow cooker and cover with the chicken stock and water (I had to add a little extra water after a couple of hours).
Cook on low for 4 - 6 hours (depending on your slow cooker, mine takes about 6 hours).

This should give you 2 large servings, so David has dinner and then lunch for the next day.

He also has my very own version of pasta bake.


500g mince
1 onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 cups of mixed veggies (optional)
1 tin of tomatoes or 3 diced fresh tomatoes
1 bottle of pasta sauce

2 cups pasta

Cheese sauce
2 teaspoons butter
1 heaped teaspoon flour
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon minced garlic
Milk ( you will need to judge the amount based on how thick you want the sauce, if you make it too runny just add a little more flour)
Cheese to taste

Cook mince, onion garlic, veggies and tomatoes in a fry pan and add sauce (if you like it really tomatoey add a tin on tomato soup as well!)

In a small pot melt butter add garlic salt and pepper.
Add flour, take off heat and stir.
Put back on heat and use a whisk stirring constantly as you add the milk.
Add extra milk or flour as needed until you have and nice white sauce (if I was making corned meat this would be the point I would add a slash of dry white wine for a lovely white sauce).
Add cheese to taste (David likes his really cheesy so I add about 1 1/2 cups)
Stir until cheese is melted and leave on a low heat.

Cook your pasta (I usually wiz it through the microwave for 15 mins while I make the mince and cheese sauce).

Mix mince, pasta and cheese sauce together and place in oven proof dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bake in oven until cheese on top is brown.

This gives 4 large servings and has a lasagna type taste without the hassle of layering pasta sheets sauce and cheese sauce!

I also made him honey mustard chicken with noodles, but this is totally boring as I just used a bottle of sauce on browned chicken, onion and garlic. Also threw in a clue of handfuls of mixed veggies.

Pretty sure he won't starve while I'm away, and it is much better than take-out which he would probably rather do than making something himself! He hates cooking lol.

Hope everyone has an amazing New Years! God bless for 2012!




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mr Kookaburra

We have a couple of kookaburras that live in the gum tree out the back. I see them everyday. This morning Mr Kookaburra came to visit on my back verandah. Nice start to the day!





Just thought I'd share.

Why....Hello!

I know, I know, it's been a while, but things have been kind of hectic around here. The end of year at school is always full on. This year I haven't been quite so stressed, which has been a major blessing.

First off we moved, bad time of year to move, but so worth it! Our new house is just stunning, and coming home from work was like going on a little mini-break every night! We are all settled in, a few things to still unpack and sort through, but hey, I'm on holidays now so I have plenty of time!




This is home, sweet home! There is so much space, and light, and no mould or mildew like the old place. Not to mention the fact that this house is not falling down around us! This picture is of the lounge room. We are really very happy here!

School finishing was a blessing, but also non stressful. Most years I get sick at the end of the year because it has been so full on. I think the major difference this year has been that I have had my weekends to myself. I don't have to do any gigs, I can just chill out and recuperate. I loved doing DJing and Karaoke, but I can tell you now I do not miss the late nights, lifting heavy equipment and the drunken so-and-so's that I would have to deal with at least once a week, and sometimes more.

I'm so proud of all of my kids, one even took out the prize for the top mark in one of his subjects! And if I could talk about everything this kid is going through, you would be just as amazed and proud of him as I am!

The formal was beautiful, and so laid back! Unlike my old school, the formal was purely a time to enjoy each others company and celebrate our kids finishing school. There was no ceremony as this was done at a school assembly, just dinner and drinks with the kids and their families, as well as some funny videos the kids made to have a dig at the teachers and of course the teachers response!

Last day of work blew my mind! They way they look after staff is amazing. I'm used to using the last day to do secret Santa and clean up then we go out for dinner that night with whichever staff want to come. This year I was surprised to find that our last day consisted of being shouted lunch at this beautiful resort which was compulsory for all staff, where we gave our secret santa's their gifts and the leadership team gave each and every person a box of chocolates and 2 movie tickets! The cards the leadership team wrote were just amazing, they had me in tears, just to be encouraged like that was amazing and has made me really appreciate the school I am at and the fact that they take none of us for granted and they care as much about their staff as they do the kids.

So now I'm in my first week of holidays! Holidays I was hanging out for because this time last year we were packing, moving 7 hours away from friends and family, going back home for Christmas, New Years and our wedding, and then freaking out cause the floods meant we only got to our new home a couple of days before I started my new job, plus the added stress of hubby not having a job to come to.

I'm actually relaxing! Hubby has a full time job, I could put my Christmas decorations up this year, and there is no financial stress! God has really blessed us!




My Christmas tree, which now has some presents underneath!



I love having the lights on at night, it puts me in my happy place!




Lights on the doors out to the balcony. They make me happy too!




The most Christmassy nails I could get done!

Tomorrow mother-in-law and hubbies 2 little brothers come, followed by father-in-law closer to Christmas. It's exciting to have kids here for Christmas. The only down side is that I can't see my family over Christmas because of my dads work, and my brother, sister-in-law and nephew are going to spend Christmas in Perth. I am hoping that maybe I will get to see them early in the new year if we can get down or they can get up.

Also coming up this week is the Rockhampton Christmas Carols in the music bowl, which I get to sing at. Very excited! I have done carols before but this is a rather large event in Rocky and they go all out for it.

Well I think that has everyone up to speed. Until next time!

Is it sleep time yet?

No...really...is it?

This moving thing seriously sucks, why can't we just have Star Trek style "beam me up Scotty" technology that just transports everything, all at once (including the occupants) to the new house? Then it transports all the dust and crap that seems to accumulate over time to the dump? I personally think that would be so much easier!

In saying that I have made a good dent in things. The kitchen is packed, the games room is done (yes we have a games room....no grown ups here), and the spare room is looking slightly more respectable. But seriously, I'm over it!

We currently live in a rather old house. I'm sure it is sinking into the ground ever so slowly. I know this because every few months we have to shave a couple of millimeters off the top of the front door so that we can use it, and there are cracks in the cement under the house that you could quite rightly mistake for stairs (well maybe not THAT big, but you get the picture). Included with this prize piece of property is a busy main road with trucks frequently passing by that disrupt the TV reception (and sleep). As well as neighbors that just love a good domestic at least once a day and/or singing at the top of their lungs to whichever lame/old/country tune that seems to fancy them (this also causes lack of sleep). An added bonus that I am finding is the mildew that has popped up in the most inconvenient places, like venician blinds. No wonder hubby and I have trouble with sinus infection.

The house we are moving too is brand new and never been lived in! I'm excited about the move to this house. I would be more excited if it didn't involve packing. If anyone invents the transporter in the next few days please let me know.

Reasons I get up in the Morning

1. Well obviously it's my husband, although mostly in the mornings we just want to stay in bed (get your mind out of the gutter). I always know when he is awake because he pulls me in close and just holds me. It's the best part of my day, and the day just doesn't feel right without it. The alarm is always set that little bit earlier so we can just lay there and snuggle for a little while.

As for actually getting out of bed. Mostly it's because my husband is proud of me, the job I have and he things I have accomplished. I love that he is proud of me, it's important that he is proud of me, and it makes me proud of myself. Not that I wasn't proud before, I just never really thought about it much.

2. My kids. I have such a special bunch of kids at school. They are amazing. They aren't the brightest, most academic kids, but I'm proud of them. I have watched them grow so much over this year and gain confidence in themselves. I love to celebrate every little victory with them, and my heart breaks when they are in pain over something.

I want to be there for them. I want to see them mature into amazing men and women, and I want them to know that there is always someone who loves them and is proud of them.

3. I love life. I love everything about it. Sure it has it's ups and downs, but it wouldn't be interesting if it didn't. Life is full of more fun stuff than bad stuff even though we mostly only remember the bad. I am truly blessed in my life, I have family and friends who love me, an amazing husband, a job I love, a beautiful new house that we are moving into next week. Life is good, even when it is sometimes hard, I know I am truly blessed.

4. Facebook. I know, it's kind of "what the" but seriously, what would I do without it? I live so far away from family and friends that a little time on Facebook everyday keeps me up to date with the people I love. I love the pictures posted of my nephew so I can still watch him grow up, and I love knowing that my family and friends are safe, loved and enjoying life.



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Photography

I love photography. There is something about capturing a moment that I love. I love looking back and remembering what I was doing and where I was at any particular moment.





This was at 1770 going on a sunset cruise. One of the only places in Australia that you can watch both sunrise and sunset over the eastern ocean. Also you can watch the sunset over the water then over the land. I don't know how this works, but it is pretty cool.







This was at 1770 also. I was looking at the view and I turned around and David had gone. I must admit I did panic for a little bit but decided to walk back to the car. As I turned the corner I found him, up a rock!







My big brother's Phd graduation. Nice to see that becoming a Dr. Hasn't made him go all serious.










Rockhampton has a free zoo. It isn't big, it isn't that special, but we still enjoy going there and having a wander around if we just want to get out of the house for a bit.










I remember David calling me out to the front balcony because I just had to see the sunset. Of course I had to take some pics of him which he graciously allowed me to do...because he is so cute...I mean manly.




Mum and dad came up for a visit so we went and stayed with them over the weekend in the unit they had rented. Saw this rainbow one morning and it made me really happy.




David is very artistic himself. He is into 3D modeling on the computer. He loves to go and take photos of textures so he can use them in his creations. I just love how he looks when he is thinking. Here he is checking out his photos, I couldn't resist snapping a pic.

You probably have seen most of these before, but well I honestly don't have any new material. These are just some of my favs.

I will tell you that I am planning a one off vlog to show you around our new house when we pick up the keys next week so stay tuned. And I shall break out the camera again soon I promise. Christmas holidays are coming up soon and I will need to occupy myself for 7 weeks while David has to work.

Very Confronting

It's Happening

There will be no more domestics next door
No more Celine Dion played
No more singing from over the fence
No more trucks driving by at all hours of the night
No more mould and mildew
No more surrounded by old and nasty

why?

Because we are moving here.....

It's a brand new home

4 bedroom

dishwasher

Open plan, split level

Main bedroom have walk in robe, ensuite and private balcony

And the peaceful view from the main deck out the back of the house is to die for.

No one has ever lived in this house.

I can put my pictures on the walls.

It's 5 mins to the beach.

I'm so happy right now.  God willing we should be in there fully by the end of October.  

I can see myself spending a lot of time out on that deck in the peaceful quite. 

Bliss

Note: the pictures aren't mine I got them off the net...I will post better ones once we have moved in :)

New Things

In keeping with my "perfect little housewife" theme, I have been trying new things. Yesterday I did Jamie Oliver's "6 hour slow cooked pork roast", which was perfect if I do say so myself. I've never cooked a pork roast before so I was rather surprised that this recipe seems fool proof. I suggest you go Google it and try it, because it is amazing!

Today I baked bread. In fact as I am typing I am enjoying one of the cheese, bacon and tomato pesto bread rolls I just pulled out of the oven. I have never made them before, but I am getting pretty good at looking up recipes online and trying them out. I must say they taste amazing!




This is what they looked like before.




And this is after! And oh my Lordy do they taste good. Should get the thumbs up from hubby. Maybe tomorrow I will make a cheese and bacon scroll. It can't be that hard right?

Perfect Little Housewife

What to do today?
Pretty sure I'm the perfect little housewife, while I'm on holidays anyway.

Yesterday I washed dooners and sheets, towels, and clothes. I took my car to the carwash, although I didn't have to do much but sit there while the carwash attacked my car. I went to the shops and bought David some new socks and pluggers (things, flip flops, wherever in the world you are), and a Bocci set, which he has wanted for ages and is determined to take me to a park to play today. I also bought a coffee table and started my spring clean on the lounge room....oh and also cooked dinner and made these perfect scones!








Today, I think I will finish the lounge, do the floors, clean the bathroom and start on the folding in my room.

Then, when my pay comes through I will go to the shops and get some stuff for a picnic for our Bocci date. David finishes early on Wednesday's so he should be home by 3pm.

I even have a pork roast to put on...if it is defrosted in time, if not I will cook it tomorrow.

I like this not working thing, I could get used to this! Pity that if I don't work I don't get paid, that part kinda sucks, while I work i get paid for my holidays! Bring on babies and maternity leave pay!

Bubble Pop

Ever played that bubble pop game? Because I have. More specifically there is a version for iPad that has a "chill out" mode. Basically you just keep going....and going...and going. How this could possibly chill anyone out I have no idea. Personally I find that it pisses me off. I mean it just keeps going. There is no end to it. There is no " yay I beat my high score", just going and going....and going.

So I try to make it a little more interesting right....wrong...it ticks me off even more. See I had this idea that it would be really cool to challenge myself to fill the board with just one colour. Pretty cool idea if you ask me. However, every time I try....this happens!




Do you see that?! "what are you too good for your home you little loser red, blue and yellow bubbles! Green is way better than you because green has friends!"

Problem Is that if I pop some of the green ones....well they all go and I have to start again, and I have started again so many times with the exact same outcome.

Stop playing if it pisses me off so much you say? Well I could do that, but then again I could take a pencil and stick it in my eye, and I'm not about to do that. I'm stubborn enough to keep trying. Maybe one day I will get it. Until then I will continue with my "hate the world" attitude until those stupid little bubbles learn their place, "what are you too good for your home?"

That is all.

Holidays

I love holidays. It's that time when I get to catch up on everything I have no time for during the school term, like spring cleaning.

There is something about spring that makes me want to have everything beautiful. Winter is kind of depressing with everything locked up, and this year it was an overcast and wet winter...which is very unusual for the Capricorn Coast. Now it is bright and sunshiny and makes me happy. All of the windows are open and every day I am doing a little bit here and there (don't want to be cranky when the hubby gets home cause I'm all tired and stinky from washing walls and cupboards etc).

So right now on day 2 of my holidays, my kitchen is fantastically spotless. I wish I could say the same for the lounge room, but I can't. Maybe tomorrow I will, but probably not because today I'm going to wash donors and sheets and probably put away those clean clothes that have been sitiing in a basket on the floor of our room for....oh so long.

It's times like this I am glad I don't have kids yet, because I'm so not organized enough for them yet. Will have to get organized pretty quickly 1. Because we are moving in a month or two, and 2. Because husband has finally agreed to start a family next year now that he has full time work and a stable job, squeeeeeeeeee. God willing by this time next year I should be just about ready to pop...or already popped if the kid turns out to be just as impatient as me.

Now I'm off that little tangent, as for the rest of my holidays, well there is studying for my exam, and more spring cleaning, starting to pack to make the move easier. I'm going to go get my nails done with my cousin at some point this week, and I might just go shopping today after the washing is done. I know you are all jelous right now :) and are probably thinking of all the wicked come backs generally thrown at teachers because of the amount of paid holidays we get eve year. Tell you something though, we deserve every one of them. I'm so tired at the end of term I generally spend the first week just recovering (I'm surprised I have the energy I do have this this holidays). I generally get sick in the first week of holidays, the whole running on adrenalin thing is very real for teachers. Luckily I'm just a little sniffly.

Maybe it was how well term 3 ended this year. A lot happened this term and I was so drained, but it all ended well (that's another post entirely...one I promise I will write as soon as I know how). Maybe things are easier this year cause I have a husband and best friend to come home to every night and debrief so I'm not bottling things up as I tend to do. Whatever it is I'm just glad that I have enough energy to actually enjoy my holidays this term.

A Happier Update

Apart from the last post life is pretty good. I was pretty stressed for a while because David so desperately wanted to move home. He hasn't adjusted so well to life in the Beef Capital, but then again it isn't exactly my favorite place either. This, however, is where we are at this point in time and whilst it isn't forever, it isn't such a bad life.

I have spent the majority of this school term looking for work back home. I promised David I would, so I did. Even had a few phone interviews and lots of interest. Apparently I'm "hot property". As much as I wanted David to be happy, it just didn't feel right at this point in time to move home. But he is my world and so must come first. Jobs come and go, but family is forever.

I guess God had other plans for us, because He has provided the means by which David is happy to stay, and the pressure is now off me to find work (it is easier for me to find full time work being a teacher). My wonderful, most beautiful Aunty made it possible for David to have a job interview for a Dock job (logistics), and the powers that be really liked David. He now has a full time job at Yeppoon by the beach working week days until about 5pm and every weekend off!

This is just perfect for us. David hasn't had a full time job before. Don't get me wrong, he is an extremely hard worker and has worked full time hours (and the rest, 70 hour weeks were not conducive to a happy married life), but has always been classed as a "sub contractor" with the "pain in the arse" job of taking care of his own tax and super, and no paid holidays!

Now we finally both have full time jobs which means that we can start thinking about a family within the next year! I'm a little excited about that. But more so I'm excited that he is happy. He is working with people, not just on his own in a taxi, so he can make friends. He isn't working all hours of the night, I get to see him every night and every weekend! And to top it off, when the lease runs out on the place we are in, we will be moving out to the beach, I can dig that!

It feels as though a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, and it is so nice to hear the confidence back in his voice, and his willingness to start a family now he feels he can provide for us.

A big THANK YOU to Aunty Chris who got him the interview, I know he had to get the job on his own merrits, but you were instrumental to getting him there, we will be forever greatful!

I love the fact that I don't have to leave a job and kids that I love, and I'm looking forward to what next year will bring (especially the whole trying for a baby thing).

The Things That Cannot be Said

I haven't updated in a while because the only thing I have had to talk about I'm not allowed to talk about at this moment in time. It is extremely frustrating because all I want to do is yell and scream and stomp my feet like a little kid, but I can't. I have to be a grown up, I have to keep my cool until the situation is dealt with, and it isn't my place to deal with it.

It made me feel sick, it has given me migraines and stomach cramps, a real kick in the guts. Worse still is that every day I have to smile and nod while inside I'm writhing and angry, frustrated and about ready to crack it and wring someone's neck. I don't of course, everything on the outside is cool, calm and collected. I'm a professional after all, professionals don't just wring someone's neck.

On the up side is that those who can deal with it are well aware and are in the process of fixing it. Meanwhile I go slowly insane, driven mad by the frustration I feel at my situation.

I long for the day I can get it all out. Not the people involved of course, but the situation. I can't wait for the day when I can happily blog about it and vent to the world.

I have known about this for a while now, so I have had some time to process, but that unfortunately puts me very much in the "angry" phase. It takes all of my strength not to crack it on a daily basis.

Smile, nod and don't make eye contact. That is my mantra. Smile, nod and don't make eye contact.

In other news I now have an iPad, which I'm typing this on right now. I can happily say that I am madly in love with this piece of technology. It also has a pink cover which is a nice happy colour that I need right now.

David got a full time job which is very exciting, and because of his new job we are moving to the beach in November/December. Ocean views here we come!



This is my cat, Cow. He was fast asleep and let me take several pictures. It made me chuckle, which I needed. So now you can chuckle too.

The First Year

I was told that the first year of marriage is hard.
I was told that it is hard because you have to get used to living with someone 24/7, you have to get used to sleeping next to someone, their habits, snoring and differing opinions etc. etc.
I was told that you really have to learn how to listen, how to express your opinions/thoughts without hurting the other person.
I was told that communication is the key, you have to become better communicators and solve problems together.
I was told that all of this is really hard.

Is it weird that I don't find this hard at all?

David and I have been married for 7 months.  We haven't had a fight, we are on the same wave length.  We enjoy each others company, and we each put the other first.

We have been together for nearly 2 years.  We haven't had a fight.

We respect each others individuality, but don't do life as individuals.  We do life together.

Maybe if we had been closer to home things would have been different.  We are in a situation where our closest friends and immediate family (I have aunties, uncles and cousins where we are living now) are far away from us.  We are really all we have (although I know if we ever needed anything one of the extended family would be here in a heartbeat).

Maybe, even though we hate being so far from home, it has been a blessing in disguise because it has really made us rely on each other.

Maybe it's because we are a bit older.  We didn't meet each other until our late 20's and now David has passed into the realm of 30's and I will be there next year.

Maybe it's because we appreciate each other and how long it took to find one another.

Maybe things will change when we have kids (it's bound to).

Whatever it is I am so very greatful for the marriage I have.  I know things will change over the years, and that I can't live in my little bubble of wedded bliss forever.  But right now, I really appreciate my husband and our life together.  I wouldn't wish for anyone else but him.

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Then again, maybe we are just the bomb-diggity.

Daniel's Graduation

Last week I was down in Brisbane for some professional development.  I love professional development, 1. because I like learning new things, and the area of Learning Support is extremely interesting, and 2.  because I get to see my family.

This trip was especially well timed because it was Dad's birthday (and soon mine).  One of the biggest things for me living so far away from my family is that I miss out on special occasions.  I missed my nephews 4th birthday and my brother's birthday as well.  We are a close family, and birthdays have always been the time when we get together for a family dinner.

I was so happy to be able to spend Dad's birthday with him.  Even better, David was still visiting his family, so I got to see my husband after a week without him.

It was such a nice evening, mum even had my birthday dinner then too because it will just be David and I for mine this week.  The only low point was that my nephew was sick so my brother and sister-in-law couldn't come.

The next night (I was lucky enough to not have to fly back straight after my PD) was my brothers graduation from studying his PhD.  He's Dr Dan now and I am very proud of him, even if he did look funny in his Harry Potter robes and floppy hat.

Unfortunately my sister-in-law and nephew couldn't be there (Will was still sick), Daniel was disappointed they couldn't be there, but Will was so sick it was impossible.  Poor little thing had to be taken to hospital when Dan got home that night.

Congratulations Dr. Dan! Very proud of you big brother!

New Template

Tonight I decided that I wanted to make a new template...so I did.  I made the background in Photoshop and used the template builder in Blogger to do the rest.

I like it...it's purple...enough said

The Love Hub

Run by my AMAZING sister-in-law, The love Hub, just in its infancy is a place where people can go to find out about ways they can share the love.


Stolen from the page:


The Love hub is:

Kara (twitter: @lifeofkara): Perioperative nurse, Compassion child advocate and the mastermind behind the love hub. Her energetic and passionate drive is contagious. She has a desire to make a difference and see others inspired to the same.

Dan (twitter: @geekdan): Husband of Kara, Software Engineer, Doctor of Philosophy and technical support for the Love Hub. Dan focuses on the logistics and technical aspects of The Love Hub.

Together, Dan and Kara are parents to a lovely son, as well as government Foster Parents to any child that needs their love and care.


Please go check it out and support.

The week is nearly over.

I'm 28....29 in just over a week.  I have spent most of my adult life alone, independent.  I have been married for nearly 7 months, not an overly long time, but in that time I have lost my ability to be alone.
My husband went to visit his family this week.  Something that is important and he needed to do, but he will never be doing it alone again.
It's been a hard week.  I never knew that it was possible to miss someone so much, but a week without him has seemed like an eternity.

It's funny that we are perfectly capable of spending time alone in different parts of the house doing our own thing, but when it comes to him not being here, I really don't like it.

I like that I'm not so independent anymore.  I like that I have someone to rely on.  I like coming home to someone.

I haven't slept much, and when I do I have to go to sleep with the TV on to compensate for his snoring.  When he was working night shift I could fall asleep just fine, knowing that he would be home about 4am and I would wake up next to him.  Waking up alone sucks, I can't do it anymore.

I guess it really is true that when you love someone and get married you really do become two people living one life as one.  When the other person is gone, things just don't feel right.

I miss him so much, and it has only been a week.  I could not and don't want to imagine what life would be like without him in it.  The only thing that has gotten me through is hearing his voice every night.

I'm so excited that I get to see him tomorrow.  I'm flying down for work stuff and he will meet me at my parent's house.  We will get to celebrate my dad's birthday together, and mine, and then we will both be home again on Tuesday.

I'm glad this week is over.  Next time we are both going together when we both have time off work.

Whirlwind Week!

This week was the first week back at school after the mid-year break, and what a week it has been!  I think we have had more kids through the office, more decisions made and more positive outcomes than the rest of the year combined.

I love the feeling of making headway.  I can see the progress we have made so far this year, but this week has been a leap forward.  It one of those times when you have been walking forward and suddenly you break into a run, taking you much further in a short amount of time.

Hopefully it will continue.  There is still so much work to do, but I am feeling confident that we can get it done.

Calming Down

So our horrendous week has nearly come to an end.  David is much happier seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and him being happy makes me happy.

Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary, and even though we went away for the weekend last week, we decided we would take advantage of David's only day off this week to go to lunch together.  It was only Sizzler, but hey it got us out of the house, and me out of cooking!

In other news, I have successfully completed my first week of Uni for this Term.  I'm only doing one subject, but working full time I think this is the wisest idea, at least until I get back into "study mode".

The Subject is "Social Foundations of Psychology".  This week I learnt about Intelligence.  It really is very interesting stuff and I really am very proud of myself for organising time to watch the lecture, read my text book, complete the labs and do the study questions.

Part of our assessment every week is to take part in an eFil quiz.  Basically on Friday we answer 4 multiple choice questions, then on Saturday a forum opens so we can discuss why we chose those answers.  On Sunday we get to re-sit the same quiz.  The Sunday quiz is the one that is marked, and I am pretty confident, after going back over notes and the text that I can get 100% when Ire-sit on Sunday.  Good to know as well that other people are just as stumped over one of the questions as myself.  Makes me feel like it really is a level playing field and I can actually do well in this.

And so this is how my week ends, happy again, and very proud of myself.

A Challenging Week

This week has been rather challenging, and it is only Wednesday.  It will most likely stay this way until after Sunday, but could go on into next week.

The problem, David's work hours.

They are hard hours at the best of times.  With me working full time during the day, we don't see nearly as much of each other that we would like.  Often times he is at work when I get home and doesn't get home till 4am in the morning.  When he does works days he has to go to bed really early so he can get up at 3am to do it all again.

Needless to say, we treasure the time we have.  It is difficult being newly married and unable to spend quality time together.

This week is the killer though.  David has to work a 70 hour week.  Today he is doing a 14 hour stint, starting at 2pm till 4am, right after getting off night shift last night.  And tonight is Origin, there will be lots of drunk douche bags out and if QLD loses they will not make for happy cab rides.

David gets overwhelmed when he has to work such a mammoth week as this, and rightly so, it's not fair.  Who works a 70 hour week as a driver, with quick turn arounds from day to night?

I never knew your heart could break for someone so much.  I thought that feeling only happened once you had kids and one of the was hurting.  It's stuff like this that makes him hate where we are living now, he wants to go home.  He wants to have family and friends around him.  I want those things too, I just seem to cope better.  But I feel guilty for moving here for my work every time something like this happens and he gets stressed, overwhelmed and lonely.

It's difficult for him to make friends here because of his work hours, and driving a cab means he doesn't really have any workmates he can become friends with.  It's a lonely job.

I just wish I knew how to make it better for him.  Any ideas?

I thank God every day that I can just get on Skype and have a teary to mum any time I want to.  Thanks mummy I love you, our Skype dates are part of what gets me through each week.

Sorry if this post is kind of disjointed, I'm rather emotional at the moment and thoughts are going a million miles an hour.  Hopefully will have a much happier post for you next time.

More Weekend Photos

I promised some more so here they are.

Plants grow in the most amazing places!

From the lookout at 1770

I lost David for a minuet, turned the corner to find him up here!

Wonderful husband!

Amazing colours!

The LARC we went on for our sunset cruise 

In the water crossing over to the sandbank

Driving along the beach

About to crash into the water

We stopped so that we could watch the sunset

David and I with the LARC

A Weekend Away

So we went for a weekend away!
We both needed it I think, and it was just wonderful.
Here are some of the pictures I have edited so far.  There will be more to follow soon.

My Wonderful Husband

View on the way up to the lookout at 1770

The path up to the lookout at 1770

Our lunch time view from The Tree Cafe and Bar in 1770

Another from the Cafe

And another on a lonely little boat at low tide

Sunset on the LARC tour

And again

And again

Such a wonderful weekend...only spoilt by David's boss telling him he had to work when we got home. So now my husband is off to work a 70 hour week.  He is not happy about that!