Funding shortfall

You may know that I am a mentor. Through a welfare organisation called Good Shepherd, I, and other like minded volunteers in the MOOOV program provide a stable adult presence for around 50 disadvantaged young people. Or at least, we did. Today we have had it confirmed that our program is out of funding, both from philanthropic partners and the government. The program has no choice; it is selecting which mentoring matches are to be terminated immediately, and then phasing out all other matches.



This is such a huge disappointment. The program funds the volunteers to meet up with their young person and just 'hang out' for a minimum of an hour a week. Quite often mentors spend a lot more time than this (especially if you count travel time and costs, which are the mentors own costs). But in the end, the benefits are so great that no-one begrudges the time they have put into this fantastic program; seeing these kids, who've seen too much of life's negativities, blossom into confident and happier young people is such an incredible reward.



Our kids in the program come from a range of difficult situations; poverty, foster care, refugees, school refusers, substance abuse, personal abuse. These young people have seen more of the dark side of life than many lucky adults will experience in their whole lifetime. These kids have learned not to trust adults, to only rely on themselves, to disconnect from a society that has harmed them. Through valuable programs like MOOOV, we help them to plug back into the mainstream, and look forward to their own futures. And now, due to a lack of funds, these kids are likely to find themselves back on society's trash heap.



Sadly, mentoring is not a focus for our current government. They're focused on band aid solutions, like Juvenile Justice, but haven't the inclination to look at the source of the wound. So much can be done by helping kids gain the confidence to pull themselves up out of grim situations before they become dire situations that lead to darker cycles.



If you know anyone in government, in companies interested in financially supporting a charity, or in media, please help to promote our excellent cause. Expressions of funding interest, and all communications should be directed to Sue Parkes, Communications Manager at Good Shepherd, on 03 9418 3000.

Using my time wisely

I'm halfway through my holidays. So far I have marked this many essays/ workbooks: None. I have planned this many units for next term: None.

However...
I have seen this many movies at the cinema: Three
I have watched this many movies on DVD: Four
I have seen this many comedy shows: Four
I have been out to this many meals in restaurants: Three
I have been out for coffee/ cake this many times: Four
I have seen my mentee for this many hours: Eleven
I have had this many meals at someone else's house: Two
I have borrowed this many books from my local library: Three
I have been on this many picnics: One
I have eaten this many hotcross buns: Eight
I have eaten this much chocolate: Incalculable

Cinema

Oh my god, Paul Thomas Anderson is annoying. He makes me swear. A lot. Absolutely loved 'There will be blood' until the final scene. Then I swore non stop for approximately three days. In better cinematic news, saw 'Grindhouse' at the Astor as Tarantino intended; the whole double feature complete with shlocky previews and fake ads. I have not laughed so much in years. See it while The Astor is still showing it. With a group of friends. Who like horror. And 70s kitsch. Awesome.

DVDs

I have now seen the following: Waitress (Awesome, hilarious, quirky. Go you Felicity chick, and you Captain from Serenity); Bra Boys (like my VCAL boys, plus surf); Brokeback Mountain (wow, THAT was way more full on than I was expecting); Capote (how annoying that ALL of my local libraries are out of the novel 'In Cold Blood'. I really want to read it now); the first two episodes of Spaced (someone I know used the word 'Hilarious'. I'm waiting for that to kick in, cos right now, I'm not seeing it).

Comedy

Gotta love a night when you pay for one comedy show (Daniel Kitson, The Ballad of Roger and Grace. Very cute and amusing) and get a three for one ticket to another show (Geraldine Hickey, oh my god she is funny. Wrong, and bogan, but so so funny), a completely free show (Jimmy James Eaton in Eaton Alive, utterley hilarious. He really shouldn't have to bribe an audience in just because he's getting reviewed. Folks should be fighting for those tickets), and then get dropped another free ticket on your way out (The Great Myspace Emigration of 07. One word- meh. Glad I didn't pay for that!!!). Am also hoping to catch Andrew McClelland teaching people to be gentleman, Bec Hill discussing superhero-ly stuff, and Fiona O'Loughlin just being damned funny. But we'll see. Cash is somewhat restricted.

Foodie delights

Discovered (after it had had three writeups in The Age) an awesome coffee shop, Liar Liar in Hawthorn, which uses an unusual coffee making process to uncap distinct scents and flavours within the coffee. Served in a snifter, and delivering a lighter coloured brew with a long caffeine hit, the changing flavours emerge as the coffee cools. Also very excited to try a new churros bar on Brunswick St, Juanita's. Churros very good, although the chocolate is a bit sweet. South American style, rather than Spanish. Excellent chorizo empanada. Check it out.

Eating in

Yay Helen for hosting our communal candlit dinner for Earth Hour. Gorgeous vego food, good wine, great company followed by a pleasant stroll through the darkened city. The stroll back featured my VCAL boys. How amusing.

Books

Am currently reading: Anna Karenina by Tolstoy- I WILL finish this eventually; The Whisper of the Blade, I forget the author, about various revolutions throughout history; River of Gods by Ian McDonald- awesome sci fi writer, read all of his books, now. Am currently resisting: The curious incident of the dog in the night time; a couple of young adult fiction books I borrowed from the library. Have just finished: Wicked.

Easter

My favourite celebration of the year. Why do fruit buns taste so much better with a cross on them? Yum. And thank you to those who have accepted that I really WOULD rather have one expensive chocolate item rather than lots of cheap chocolate. Yum again.

Plans in black and white (to encourage me to achieve them)

- Give blood. Booked in tomorrow. This should happen.
- Don't complain when the service my car is booked in for turns up lots of faults; they are probably all genuine, and I should just hand over my Visa now. Smilingly.
- Make sure I actually get to the Indonesian grocers to try my hand at making rendang from scratch. I am quietly confident.
- Cross my fingers that either my brother picks up his kitten tomorrow, or that the kitten is willing to sleep in a cupboard throughout upcoming house inspection.
- Oh yeah. Marking, planning. Whatever.

Job Instability is Contagious

I have been stressing out about my job situation for weeks. Before I went to Europe (oh, care-free days of holidaying), I had been under the impression that I had a stable job back home. Upon my return, I discovered the company had been sold, and that the two other staff in Melbourne (including a new recruit) were now on a salary, rather than casual wages like myself. I, however, was to remain casual, which didn't worry me too much at first, as I'd been casual before and making ample amounts in that fashion.

Things started to seem shakier when I was told our company cars were being sold (I LOVE my car) and our props downsized (and no longer anywhere NEAR as cool as they used to be). Soon I realised there wasn't as much work as before, and I started to stress about my finances (a common preoccupation for me, I must admit. I like security).

I was a bit resentful of the New Girl, who had a salary right from the start of her job, but it training her I got to know her, and she's great. We chatted heaps about the changes in the company, and our uncertainty about the security of our jobs, and our other career options. I told her I was considering going back to classroom teaching next year, and when I started looking for work last week, she was really supportive and positive.

I've now gotten one post as an emergency teacher, and applied for a stack more. This is work that could complement my current casual schedule. But I've also applied for full time teaching work for later in the year and next year, and an awesome education position at the RSPCA, which I would snap up if offered. So I'm definitely looking outside of The Company, because they simply can't offer me security.

My Boss has been promising for weeks to call and discuss 'my future with The Company'. That call FINALLY came today, and she announced that, while she couldn't offer me permanency right now (!), she wanted me to stay. In fact, as an indication of how much she loves me, she offered the information that she had to get rid of a full timer. New Girl is the Sacrificial Lamb. The new ownership wants one full timer and one casual in Melbs, and I have been 'selected' as I am soooo reliable (yeah, and dumb enough to stay on a casual wage, which New Girl would be unable to do...).

So here's my quandary. I told The Boss that I have applied for supplementary casual work, and was also looking into full time teaching next year. I didn't tell her I was considering full time work this year. If I had, would she have kept New Girl on staff? Am I costing someone a job? And should I tell New Girl (soon to be Old Girl) that the axe is dropping? I know she'll be called tonight, but I feel so bad *knowing* and not being able to affect the result...

Such a chore

Everyone has at least one form of housework they really despise. Not the general feeling of annoyance related to cleaning tasks; I mean really, actively loathing a particular chore. For me, this is the cleaning the floors. I will scrub the shower, wash the clothes and quite cheerfully plunge my hand into soapy dishwater (sans washing up gloves. Gloves are for nancies). But sweeping? Mopping? Do I HAVE TO????

Even vacuuming. Most people, forced into household tasks, will jump onto the vacuuming. Not me. The only reason I vacuum at all is because we have a particularly cool vacuum cleaner with lots of flashy lights and super strong suck function.

In every house I have lived, it has been someone else's job to clean the floor. I will take on all sorts of disgusting jobs, such as cleaning the toilet and the grouting in the shower, as long as it is not my job to mop. In our present house, it's normally Nick's job, as he's more sensitive to the dust than I (oh, dusting, that's another job I hate. WHY do people give nick-nacks? They serve no purpose EXCEPT TO COLLECT DUST! I hate ornaments almost as much as I hate mopping).

Having grudgingly noticed the increasing disgrace into which my house has sunk since Nick went away last week, I set aside today for cleaning. Not that I got anything done before 3pm. Far more important to finish my book, watch a few episodes of 'Love my Way' while eating toast and drinking tea. At this point I dressed myself in clothes far too tragic to be seen by the general public. After bashing out a few emails, I got myself organised and somewhat motivated, and am proud to announce that (punctuated by stints reading the paper, contacting schools, eating popcorn (gosh those microwave bags of popcorn are rip offs. What kind of idiot would pay $1.50 for 10cents worth of popcorn kernels? Oh yeah, me...) and looking for new jobs) I have swept, mopped and/ or vacuumed every room in the house. Except my bedroom, that's got too many clothes arranged artfully upon the floor...

Heaven on Burke Rd

Last night I died and went to Naomi-heaven. Nick and I attended a Winter Indulgence Evening at Koko Black, in Camberwell, which was AWESOME.

Koko Black founder Shane Hills originally began life as a rock-candy devotee. Having joined the throngs engrossed by the sweet making demonstrations at rock candy store Suga, Shane opened his own branch of Suga at Chadstone. After a few years of success, he turned his thoughts to other areas of confectionery, and specifically a sweet traditionally more popular than rock candy; chocolate. He spent a long time pondering his ultimate chocolate experience, and through training, tasting and searching the world for master chocolatiers, Shane set out to create that ultimate experience.

Koko Black stores aim for a level of quality in their products (resulting in some of the most exquisite hot chocolate available in Melbourne). This standard is raised in the decor and general ambience of the stores, which create a sense of an old style salon. Sinking into a chocolate coloured leather chair, gazing out onto picturesque Royal Arcade, or simply admiring art nouveau inspired wallpaper evokes a sense of luxury and indulgence, raising the experience of a drink at Koko Black well above a latte at your local.

The Winter Evening of Chocolate maintained a friendly, casual atmosphere, with questions and jokes encouraged, so long as they did not undermine the real focus of the night; chocolate. Attendees were generally chocolate aficionados, who appreciated the experience of being guided through a tasting session of high quality chocolate blends, and viewing and assisting in the process of hand making chocolates.

Koko Black's 44% blend is a true chocolate lover's perfect milk chocolate. With a higher percentage of cocoa mass than many commercial milk chocolate blends, the 44% affords a fuller bodied taste and an extra smoothness, capped with a bittersweet tinge of an aftertaste.

The 60% sports more of a 'snap' than the milk blend, and is less likely to melt in the mouth. With a proportion of more cocoa mass than cocoa butter, this blend is close to the blend of many standard dark chocolates available on the shelf, but the high quality of the ingredients is emphasised in the smoothness of the chocolate as it dissolves.

The 74% blend revels in it's bittersweet shock as it enters the mouth, melting to produce a full bodied roasted bean aftertaste which lingers well after the chocolate has dissolved. For me, this is fairly perfect in what I look for in a dark chocolate; the heavy cocoa mass is noticeably present in the bitterness of the initial taste, but the rich aroma retained in the mouth balances any desire for a sweeter flavour.

The evening continued with demonstrations of bailey's truffles, piped by the attendees, highly alcoholic, addictive and delicious. After decorating individualised blocks of 44% to take home with us, it was time to indulge in a Koko Black high tea; hot chocolate served with an ice-cream or mousse martini. Koko Black make all their own ice creams, mousses and sauces. The chocolate mousse martini was topped with crunchy hazelnuts roasted by the KB kitchens, while the delicious vanilla bean ice cream was heightened by the rich hand made caramel sauce.

Prior to this evening, I'd enjoyed KB's hot chocolate (made from melted chocolate, not powder) and their excellent coffee, but this was my first chance to try one of their chocolate spice blends. The cinnamon blend balanced perfectly the bitter and sweet elements of both cinnamon and chocolate, resulting in a sweet flavour which was not overpowering. The standout drink for me was the chili chocolate, b far the best I have tried anywhere. The chili is visible on top of the foam as well as in the reddish tinge to the depths of the drink, but most noticeable as a kick to the back of the throat. The sweetness of the initial chocolate mouthful is boosted by the jolt of the chili, and ensures the chocolate does not overpower in sweetness.

The evening was a huge success (and by success I mean I ate stacks of yummy chocolates, AND got to take some home!). If this is what is meant by 'death by chocolate' I'm in.

P.S. I wrote this last week, I just hadn't found a way to finish it! Slack, much. I need some chocolate to console myself...

Home among the gum trees

Three and a half days after I arrived back in Melbourne, I embarked upon a three hour drive. In a manual van (making the jet-lagged trip that much more complicated). A van which does not belong to me (making the prospect of a jet-lag induced accident that much scarier). Work had advised that the only shift available pre-school holidays was a three day stint in Echuca. My credit card urged me to take the job. My credit card is wise, and so I heeded its advice.

The trip up was tough. Echuca isn't anywhere near as far as I thought it was, but it could have been on another planet. One urgent coffee stop, three frantic map checks and a U-turn later, I arrived at my B&B in the middle of the country. To quote my sister, "I hate the country". Having spent a few years growing up surrounded by dairy farms, paddocks (with high snake potential), hay sheds (with higher snake potential), chook sheds (with definite snakes. I really don't like snakes) and far more than openness and *quiet* than I am comfortable with, we hold somewhat of an aversion to the country. Sure, it's nice to visit, and I like the way drivers always wave, even if they don't know you, but fairly quickly I get sick of it, and miss the burbs.

Having spent eleven weeks out of Australia, though, and of course comparing it with the various European landscapes through which I was trekking, I found visiting the country really quite soothing. I mean, it didn't hurt that I was FORCED to recuperate from jet lag in a town with little else to do but eat and chill out, and get paid for it. But it was more than that. In Europe, I kept trying to put a finger on why our country-side is different to the European countryside. I came to the conclusion that ours was just bigger. European country areas are fairly strictly delineated, field after carefully bordered field. A Belgian farmer might have a coronary at the sight of an Australian paddock stretching off into the distance.

But that still wasn't it. It wasn't until sunset that it struck me; one thing I had really missed, and a defining aspect of our countryside, are the gum trees. I love the smell, the mottled bark, the feuding birds in the high branches. But my favourite thing about the gum tree is its silhouette. Stark against a lurid Australian country sunset, or ghostly in the early morning fog (and my goodness it was cold and foggy in the country. Brrr), this is an essential image of home for me. Even though I don't identify with the countryside, I feel grounded by gum trees. This might be why I feel so overwhelmed by Melbourne patriotism (is it patriotism if you're thinking of a city rather than a country?) when I near the Yarra; there are gumtrees lining the Yarra all the way from the city to the valley. For me, it's a sign of home. And it's nice to be back.

Alll of Neptune's oceans- rain, rivers and washing water

Oh lord. It's two days out from my departure, and it is gloomy, and my clothes are only just washing now. Will these clothes never be clean? Or more to the point, dry.

Typical. The one nice sunny day we had this week was yesterday. All days prior were rainy, so I didn't wash. And while it was great to see sun yesterday, as it was Picnic Day, it was also the day I had absolutely NO time to wash.

Picnic itself was ACE. Had so many people show up, so many RANDOM people show up. Such as my cousin and his mates on their bikes. I was on the phone to a lost friend (who happened to be at Studley Park Boathouse, down the river, rather than Fairfield Boathouse, where we all were), and noticed a bunch of kids on bikes just sitting in front of our group and looking. It finally registered that I knew one of the kids- not my cousin, mind you, I recognised his mate. Bad cousin, Naomi! Made up for it by feeding the ravenous hoardes and giving them money to go and buy chips. My nana, aunt and uncle also arrived for a while, leaving instructions for contacting my cousin in England, and a responsibility to drive my nana to the airport.

Also had such randoms as Jackie and Lonza from Geelong show up (thanks for making the big drive, guys!), as well as Kat (who I haven't seen since I left for Indonesia and who, it transpires, is living in a tent out the back of a squat. Even thought she has two corporate jobs...) and Dave (who I haven't seen in maybe a year, year and a half, as he teaches in Westernport). Also cool to see so many of the regular gang, especially those of the gang who only irregularly make it to group thangs- Gene, Sares, Dom. It was so much fun. Much eating, much merriment, much crocheting (on the parts of Deb and Sares).

But perhaps the most fun was discovering that I have not taunted away all my boating karma, through many a weekend at the boathouse laughing at people rowing badly- while Marty had been threatening to force me into a boat, and he and Gene both tried to manhandle me at various times during the afternoon (I had to human chain myself to a fence...), in the end I found out the price of rowboat hire. And we did not fall in. Hoorah! This was mostly due to Gene's rowing prowess, Marty a keen second for these honours (I was ok... ). Best part was when, Paul and Rami having bombarded us with rocks from the shore, we made landfall and Marty jumped ashore to attack them. Also amusing were the various encounters with overhanging and submerged branches.

Later that night went blues dancing with Nick, Sai, Imo and surprise inclusions Fy and Ben. While the class wasn't as good as last month (at which my teachers, Noni and Josh, officiated), it was ok, and we all hung around danced socially afterwards- even Ben. The class was taught by Kieran, who is from Geelong, and knows Gene. I have met him before, maybe at a New Year's thing at Gene's aunts? Or Gene's 21st? Or maybe just at swing? I'm not sure, but I re-introduced myself anyway. And the BIG surprise from the night is that Fy and Ben are planning to come monthly to Blues Night. Yay!

Referring back to the blog title, "all of Neptune's oceans" have washed the Scottish Rock Opera from St Martin's... and my life. Now I just need them to wash the songs from my mind. The show improved every night until it was really quite powerful, and we finished with good crowds, three great reviews and an enormous sigh of relief. Bump out only kept me at theatre until 1am, and I am meeting Clarry today to get my cheque.

Now I just have to wash, dry, pack, see family, check my flights, update my tickets, confirm check in time, book flights for the gold coast for later in the year, and other random things I am yet to list- before Wednesday. Sweet (as sweet as "all the perfumes of Arabia"... GO AWAY Scottish play!!!).

A Patch of Green

What you first notice, as you drive into the hills, is the greenery. It makes it difficult to believe that Victoria, as an entirety, was today declared a drought state. It's intriguing to see that areas still much in their natural state can survive conditions which, really, are part and parcel of the Australian environment.

The second thing you notice is the drop in temperature. The reduction in concrete, the increase in shade and the enticing breezes combine to cause the temperature to feel notably lower than horrid 35 degree Melbourne.

Today I worked in The Patch, a cute little area just out of Belgrave. Sometimes I think I could live in the bush. Then I remember I hate snakes, and windy roads make me sick. And I'm scared of bushfire, trees falling down, random bitey insects. Then I decide I'll stick with the burbs.

The GOOD thing about working in the hills today, though, was the opportunity to restock the tea cupboard, through a visit to my favourite tea store, in Sassafras. Mmmm. $30 spent in about five minutes. I love tea. (If you're interested, I restocked with Monk's Pear (similar to an earl grey style), vanilla black tea, imperial spice (spiced black), Wahgi Valley (black tea from PNG) and tried for the first time dandelion root, and fruit fantasy (a delicious smelling black based fruit tea))

Spent the rest of the day hanging with my nana, including taking her to The Scottish Rock Opera (which was pretty good tonight- the actors seem to get better each night, which is great). My nana nodded off. How anyone falls asleep three rows from the front at a ROCK OPERA (ie lots of loud singing/ screaming and a live band) is beyond me. Also sold tickets to a girl I lived with, who ducked out on the household still owing people money. Awkward.

My nana is staying in my uncle's company apartment in Port Melbourne, and waxing lyrical about how she loves Port Melbourne. I hate it. Yuppy snobsville overpriced wank of an area (yeah, tell us what you really think...). Doesn't even have a decent beach. Ugh. I hate places that charge twenty bucks for a small pizza. Get real.

Tomorrow I was thinking of auditioning for 1 vs 100, but turns out that you had to register for a time (which I totally didn't get from the website), plus Nick's going Wed night, so I am not going to do it any more. Can't do the other auditions due to Macbeth :(

Meh. I am going to Europe, anyway, so prob wouldn't be able to do the show, even if I dd get on. 12 days til bon voyage!

Sleepless soliloquy, 2am.

It is 2am, and I am wide awake. It is 2am in SHOW WEEK, a week in which I am working ridiculous hours: 5 days at Kidz Bodz, 6 nights on Macbeth; and I am awake.

I have a flu, the same flu that has kept Nick virtually bedridden for two weeks now. Even with nothing but rest, Nick has stayed sick. I have two weeks of show, and most days working, so no bed rest for me L And in two weeks I go to Europe. I hope I am not still sick when I leave!

I am running on the vague hopes that: perhaps my immune system is stronger than Nick’s? He seems susceptible to all sorts of illness; perhaps my far improved diet of late will help boost said immune system; perhaps the flu shot from July/ August last year is still effective and will help lessen the symptoms; perhaps the constant cold and flu drugs I am taking will also help lessen the symptoms. Although I couldn’t get my preferred brand which seem to be the ones that work best for me, but are so difficult to chase down (Nick says going cold and flu tablet shopping with me is like an Easter egg hunt…). I’d rather not be taking c&f tabs at all, but I have little choice- a necessity to keep functioning at this point! Urgurgle…

Anyway, I’ve taken a second night-time flu tablet (which has at least put a brief stop to my runny nose), and am armed with a lighter blanket (hoping to even out the fever- doona too hot, no blanket too cold) and fennel tea to hopefully make me drowsy.

Grey day, hooray

Friday post

Melbourne is grey today, and it is beautiful. Grey heralds rainclouds on the horizon, bursting overhead and drenching the parched, brown landscape. We need this rain, and the subsequent drop in temperature (and humidity) is beautiful too.

Generally, sunshine makes me happy. But this morning, when I came out of my house to damp ground underfoot and the massing clouds promising more rain, I was emotionally overcome. I know, how sad that rain almost made me cry. But they were happy almost tears. I guess I occasionally get pretty stressed about environmental stuff, but especially the water situation. We're almost onto Stage 4 restrictions. When I came to Melbourne seven years ago, I was shocked to see people watering lawns, as Geelong had been on Stage 1 for a few years. Now Geelong is on Stage 5 and Melbourne is fast catching up. Perhaps if we'd started earlier?

Anyway, the point is, Friday was grey. For my job, this meant that I had to remind preppies to wipe their feet, so the mat wasn't covered in mud; that students wanted to come in to my room at recess; and that our walk around the oval had to be modified to a walk around the covered walkways.

Saturday Postscript Post

Today was grey-ish, but I didn't see much of it. I ended up being called in last minute to rig lights (11-6, and only left that early by forcibly extricating myself). Got to wear a harness and walk on the bridges though, so that was cool. Also had to deal with dual annoying soundtracks- the Grand Prix (although I enjoyed when you could hear the bands- turned out Little Birdie played. Less appreciative of the sounds of jets overhead) and the teenage play being rehearsed in the next room. For their icebreaker (whcih went ALL day), the kids had to mime stupidly to a random daggy song, which meant much ad music and much girlie screaming. Ugh.

Dinner was fantastic- best baymarie ever. Totally recommend Sigiri Sri Lankan, as I am sure will soon be echoed in the 80 Meals Review. Had a great time, the first chance I've had to chat to Rami's friend Ruvinda. Also came back to our place to drink Kilkenny Beer for St Pat's Day. Not as good from a can, but we're all old, and we walked back out of the pub, having decided it was too noisy. *sigh*

Sunday Postscript Post

Ugh. Have decided that the 'nitrogenated widget' that activate the 'head' in the Kilkenny cans also dehydrate you. I had three drinks, and three drinks only last night: a very sweet Dolcetto, which tastes rather like alcoholic grape juice (and quite nice); a Crowny; and a Kilkenny. My mouth has that distasteful fuzzy feeling which follows a night's hard drinking. I feel ripped off.

Have just gotten a text from the lighting guy saying we need another hour of rigging/ patching, plus three-four hours plotting. With two walkers. Previously we'd only mentioned one. SO now I have to suck up to my friends to find some help. Ugh.

If only Caroline and Rami weren't moving today. I want to help, but having worked all week, rigged Saturday, plotting tonight, and then work all next week plus show every night, I just don't know if I can face giving up my half-day weekend to moving. Maybe I can lift pillows or play some uplifting 'moving music', a la Rami's previous moving assistance efforts. But I kinda would prefer to do my washing and buy food, so we don't starve and smell all week. But because I am not helping to move (or if I do, it will be one or two hours help, maximum), I can't ask them to help me tonight. Ah well.

Scottish musical opens on Wednesday. Anyone wanna come? $18 tix Wed and Thurs night, if you book via me (tix normally $30 full, $24 concession). The set looks pretty cool, and costumes are by the same design team, so I expect they should be funky too. I haven't been to many rehearsals, so I don't really know how the cast are shaping up... but right now I don't care. I just want the run to start, so it will finish, so that I can have three days of semi-normality, before I fly to Europe. Man, I am cutting things fine! Phew.

Start the clocks

I am in countdown to various things.

9 days until The Scottish Play Contemporary Rock Opera (stupid curse) goes on stage.
19 days until it's all over!
18 days until school holidays.
23 days until I go overseas.

9 days
In 9 days I will not have to do any more publicity, hopefully. In 9 days the pressure on me to identify media targets and send press releases and trawl theatre websites and fiddle with programs will be over. It will be replaced with having to man box office and schmooze and seat people, but this seems minimal. Besides, then I get to see the finished product of the show which, for all the whinging I do about the work and how disconnected I am from the performers, looks very exciting.

19 days
And in 19 days, even that stress will be gone. I will have been paid my scungy flat rate and, in an ideal world, we'll have made a profit and I'll get a cut of that. In an ideal world...

18 days
No more teaching. Nothing but sleep and organisation stretching between me and...

23 days
OH MY GOD I AM GOING TO EUROPE IN 3 WEEKS! This is exciting and terrifying. My last overseas trip was OK, but hey, New Zealand is practically an Aus suburb. And it was only two weeks. Indonesia was supposed to be long term, but ended up being around nine weeks worth. So this ten week trip will be my longest time overseas. And I'll be spending much of that time with Lisa, which is a big thing. We've lived together before, and even though we disagree, I think we get on quite well most of the time, and we generally are able to put differences behind us again and move on. So realistically I expect we'll not get on the whole time, but I am sure it will be fine. I love my friends, but I'm not sure I could travel with all of them. I think Lise is one of those I can.

Don't know if I've posted this, but have discovered I will be in London over the Easter weekend. I wasn't meant to be leaving before Easter. I'd set my departure date in my head as April 10, but then in trying to get flights to continental Europe, the travel agent and I had moved the date back and back and back. Then when we tried England, I really could have used my original date, but I'd ok'd the new date, forgetting why I'd set the 10th as my departure date anyway. So now I am going to be in England over a public holiday (a holiday which also is significant to my family, for personal reasons, rather than religious- it was always a very big deal for my mum. Yeah, we worship chocolate.). Two public holidays, in fact. I have a four day consecutive train pass, but no four consecutive days which don't include a public holiday. Crap.

Then again, if this is the most terrible thing that happens in the next 23 days, I am going pretty well. Count down/s begin now.

Desperation sets in, like cellulite on the thighs (but hey, a plastic surgeon can get rid of that...)

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I have finished Nip/ Tuck. What was that? Call that a season ender? It resolves nothing. NOTHING!

Before this, I was anxious and edgy because of the weird infringing of Nip/ Tuck into my every thought. NOW I am freaking out, because I don't even know when (if?) I can get my hands on another season! Addiction? What addiction?

*POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT*
The following questions have arisen for me from the final episode:
- So what's with the baby? Is it deformed? Is Julia really doing the right thing moving back in with Sean? OR is she actually sick, and she's moving back with Sean to give Annie and deformo-baby some stability when she kicks the bucket?
- What about the freaky carver family? Do I care that they're in Spain? Do I need to care about them, indicating they'll return, or can I just feel smart that I picked Quentin and Kit, and also that Quentin didn't have a male appendage? Meh.
- And Kimber? What will she do now? Has she really developed personality depth? And what will she do with her life if she leaves Christian? Her only skills lie in porn. *Sigh* So sad, they were so happy together. I think Christian grew a heart.
- Did Matt and Cherry actually kill Ariel's Nazi dad? (Bet they didn't) And what's going to happen there?

Anyway. Now that I have purged my desperation. Other occurences today.

I hauled my tired ass out of bed at 6am, got myself to Langwarrin in time for my 8.15 parent session to find... zero parents. Ok, that's not fair. One showed up at 8.45. Don't they CARE about their children eating nothing but processed and packaged fat molecules? Monsters. Rest of the day went really well, though. Had grade ones and twos, who were very cute (it's so cool how puppets actually WORK for little kids!). Then we had a healthy walk, in which I discovered I didn't have enough arms for all the kids who wanted me to hold their hand (including one who announced I was his 'mummy', but anyway...).

Heard from the Scottish Play's producer (this show will henceforth NEVER be referred to by it's true name, I am convinced of the curse) that the witches will be interviewed and photographed in the Age (I am proud of that, as I wrote the section of the press release about them). And Mx is after photos, which means we might get in there too. Considering we should get into any Leader paper in an area which has a cast member in it (which covers a fair few), we look to be getting a fair bit of press coverage. Yay. Now everyone come see the show. It'll be very cool :)

And Sarah says she'll come swing dancing. Yay.

However, Nick, I think it's time you came home. I have run out of Nip/ Tuck. I am developing a nervous twitch. I feel very edgy... and a little like having a lipo consult... and I'm considering rash decisions, like turning Liberal voter just to be closer to Julian McMahon (six degree of Kevin Bacon- of course you all know that former PM Liberal Billy McMahon is Julian's sire). Addiction? Don't be ridiculous. I can stop ANY TIME!

In a galaxy far, far away

On Saturday, I had a discussion with my dad about where Langwarrin is. I was right; it's a satellite suburb of Frankston. (He said it was near the end of the freeway. Which is true, it''s near the end of a freeway. We never specified which one...) Which means it is a long, long way away. which mean I am so super happy to be driving out there tomorrow and the next day. Today it took about an hour twenty. Ugh.

It seems like everything I do is in another world right now. I am not sure I am actually living my life, as I seem removed from a lot of it. Like this teaching gig. Loving it, but it's not quite settled into the format I'm supposed to be doing (ie having my own region, somewhat close to where I live). Thus I am driving minimum an hour to most schools, giving me time to vague out, and enhancing the 'galaxy far, far away' element of these places. So what if I stuff up? They're not even real...

Then there's this show, which just seems to be removed from reality altogether. For starters, I think I totally should have been calling it The Scottish Play, because it is definitely cursed. Our Stage Manager just dropped out due to illness. But anyway, on Sunday there was a meeting at which everyone (director, producer, cast) loved me, despite my doing jack all. There was an argument about comp tickets for the cast, which I cut short, stating the production team would discuss this later. This resulting in the cast loving me (for batting their side); the producer loving me (for de-tensifying the meeting); and the director loving me (for keeping the meeting short so she could keep rehearsing). And this on a day when I shirked as many responsibilities as possible. Go figure.

And then my social life is a bit 'another galaxy', too. With Nick away, I spend far more hours on my own, and it seems surreal. And I can't sleep, only adding to the dream-like state of my life. And then I go and share my evenings with Dr Christian Troy and Co, which, through the intertwined realism/ surrealism of the show (Nip/Tuck- I am ALMOST finished the third season) intensifies the weird sensations of my waking, and ensures that what sleep I have is peppered by story elements such as stalkers in strange masks, and the certainty that there will always be a weird twist to every story and a bizarre soundtrack.

A good day

Today was pretty good. Although I had to get out to Sunshine (ugh), all went very smoothly. Car drove happy-like (I love my new car, especially when I don't have to put it in my driveway), traffic was ok, my directions were all accurate and I was early. While a little trepidacious about teaching in Sunshine (ah stereotypes, you undermine me so), there were elements which made this less terrifying- it was a Catholic school, and an all girls school. Surely makes the chance of being knifed lower. Surely.

Well, it was fine. Some classes were better than others, and I would have gotten in trouble for being too 'teacher' had my trainer been there, but meh. I made it through five back to back session, adapting a grade six session for year eights. I was great. So there.

Traffic on the way back was lousy. Thanks god for Nip/ Tuck DVDs to ground me when I got home (I love this show! It's so unreal yet.... so good. It's all I can come up with. I am overwhelmed). Then, eventually (three episodes later...) it was time for swing. The first class I think I've been to without Nick!

I missed last week's dance class due to Rob's birthday, and the week before had SUCKED at trying to pick up a new dance move. Amusingly, Josh, one of my teachers, was SO relieved to see me today; he thought he'd scared me off the previous class. But no, I was back and brave and guess what? I had a great class. Lots of fun, and I got complimented by my teacher and generally thought I was pretty damn good. I love dancing :)

And so I am happy. Let's hope my plan to do Macbeth stuff tomorrow doesn't ruin all that..... Grr...... It's bad form to quit a play four weeks before opening, right? Damn it. Grrrr.

POSTSCRIPT- BAD DAY :(

Had a text on my phone at 6.30am insisting on a Macbeth meeting. I have managed to limit it to two hours, but it will run over because the producer is inefficient. His job is just to do Macbeth, how can he achieve so little in all this time? I have maybe an hour a day I can spare. If that. And the time I actually WANT to spare? It's in negative counters. Give me my wasted time back.

Despite my bitching, this is a really cool production of Macbeth. It's just that I get to see very little of it. All the stuff I do is way off scene, and that drains me a lot. I need to be constantly aware of the play I am working with in order to remain excited. Right now, I am just over it. And I don't have time to shop for food or clean my house because of this show. My house is a mess and I have no food. Is it any wonder I am grumpy about this show????

Let there be rain

Today, it rained. Ever so slightly, but enough to bring the temperature down from the constant 38 degrees Celsius we've been sweltering through the last three days. Currently it is around 26 degrees. Feels almost heavenly.

I know that this is not the first hot summer we've had in Victoria. I can remember the principal 'recommending' we not to attend school due to the 40-plus temperature in about 1999. I can remember doing a little rain dance when long awaited rain arrived in the summer of 2001. But isn't it funny how, no matter how many times you've been through this sort of heat before, it's still exciting when it breaks. I found myself grinning like an idiot as big heavy drops of rain began beating against my windscreen. It was quite funny, as I had driven from a completely dry section of road, to a section which was soaked from recent rain, but hadn't yet encountered any rain yet myself. I almost wondered if my mind was playing tricks. Imagine how excited I'll get when/if this drought ever breaks...

I picked up my panel van thing yesterday, and it's GREAT. It doesn't stall, even when it rightly should! Oh, except for when I'm trying to three-point turn in my driveway under secret observation of Rami and Caroline. In my defence: I have only been learning manual for about a week; my driveway has a totally stupid dip which is tough to navigate even in a familiar car, and which was trapping my poor, defenceless van; and finally, it was Rami and Caroline's fault I stalled. Clearly. Watched pot never boils, etc.

My job is going well. I have completed my training a week early (partially due to the fact that they've got nowhere near enough staff to complete the training in three states...), which means I am on my retainer pay, plus bonus if I see more than 375 kids in a week. Yay! In a fortnight-ish I will be PAID. Wow, it seems like such a long time coming.

My other job is so FRUSTRATING! I just don't care about this play enough to stuff around with journalists/ press releases/ general shitkicking. Especially when my press releases are re-written by drongos who have no concept of spelling, syntax, etc. Ugh. What's the point? This damn profit share had BETTER make some profit. It DOES look to be quite a cool show, so it deserves to do well. But WHY do we have such an enormous, unreachable budget? I really fear we won't break even, which thankfully will not cost us, as the production company is footing the risk, but does mean I'll have donated a lot of begrudging volunteer hours.

Tomorrow is a day off from KidzBodz- which means I can mess around with Macbeth stuff. Like I haven't spent enough of the weekend doing that already. Stuff it all. I'm going back to the couch to watch Nip/ Tuck under the fan. This can all wait. I just DON'T CARE! I just wish I could focus on my new, cool, ENJOYABLE job, and leave the Scottish Play to rot... *sigh* I don't really like Bitter Naomi. But I am SO tired of it all.

Let the info-tainment begin!

Nick asked me if today felt particularly romantic, being, of course, Schmalentine's Day. I replied that I had spent majority of the day at a Christian K-12 college wandering around in overall shorts and footless tights, so it was particularly bizarre, and did that count? He wasn't sure.

Today was my first day actually taking Kidz Bodz classes. Well, class, it ended up being, but anyway. What originally I had thought was a Prep class turned out at the office to be a combined Prep/ Kinder class, but in practice turned out to be Kinder only, as the Preppies had the day off (lucky things). So instead of teaching a group of 5 year olds (challenging, but achievable- they've been partially school trained by now) as had been practiced with my fabulous volunteers on Sunday (Nick (or should I say Rudigar?), Paul (aka Jesus Boy), Deb(bie), Fy (also known as Mrs Grown Up), Caroline (Shiloh Tigerlily Suri, or Tiger for short) and Rami (self-named as Testicle)), I had a group of new kindy kids, aged 3 and 4.

What did this mean for my class? Bad things: More teacher work than I had planned to do (for which I was gently told off in my feedback); less knowledge of the body (when we tried to name 5 body parts, we named 'hand' 3 times); less understanding of being quiet and not calling out; a tendency to advance creeping towards the teacher; a desperate desire to touch EVERYTHING. Good things: they're really, really, cute; they enjoyed it, even if they didn't understand it; they were SO eager to come up and be a helper; I got a hug at the end.

So anyway, based on the fact that my trainer thought I needed more watching time (not true, I just needed SCHOOL kids on whom to ply my fantastically honed trade), I got to, well, watch. So I didn't have to teach my second class at all, which is a pity because they were so receptive, and I would have done a much better job with them... But never mind. I'm taking three classes on Friday I think, and I have tomorrow as a work from home day as Nick needs my car. Yay, two days off (I mean, work from home days) in a week :)

I am pretty good with manual by now though. One lesson with my brother, two with my sister, and then my sister and I swapped cars, so I had no CHOICE but to drive manual. This was great, especially when forced to drive on my own. I just wish I could stop stalling the car in my own driveway- it's about the only place I do stall now. Stupid driveway.

Car disasters galore this week (well, x2), as my front tyre punctured and we had to try and change it and we got very dirty and angry and sweaty. Finally it was done, after calls to my dad, trawling through Yahoo Answers for tips and calling an uncle for back up. We now have sore legs from bouncing on the spanner handle to get the nuts undone. Ow.

Finally, I have a dilemma. Yesterday was my brother's birthday (Happy Birthday Rob). He invited me to his surprise birthday party (clearly no longer a surprise, but still referred to as such) on Sat night. Of course, as always, I also having a standing invite to an 80 meals dinner (Tibet, this week). Now I went to Rob's 17th with his mates. I felt old then. Now he's far more gay and fabulous, and presumably so are many of his friends. I think I'll feel out of place, but think it's very nice that he invited me, and wonder if I should go because I don't want to let him down. On the other hand, the Tibetan place might have yak butter drink (hmmm......). What should I do?

Learner plates

Well, I've had me quite a busy week. And it's only Wednesday!

My new job is ACE and (not that I'm bragging), but I'm really good at it :) In fact, I was told today that I am the best first time trainee performer they've had. Yay me! There's so much to learn (seven programs, lots of nutrition facts, stacks of admin stuff) and so much to do (assignments, watch and memorise two programs a day), but I am really enjoying it and looking forward to getting started.

So here's what I do, anyway: Schools book in for a ten week "Healthy Eating Challenge", and we send them a ten week plan with food diaries and challenges and activities for the teacher to do with the class. Also, the teacher chooses a program based on the year level of the kids, and I come out to teach an interactive session to each of the classes, armed with a funky costume (overalls, bright tights, pigtails, and a persona of the same age as the kids I am teaching- yeah, it is HOT) and a very big box of tricks. And I mean BIG. This box is almost taller than me, and folds out to display a body, a healthy food pyramid and more. I also take a range of props, ranging from balls, to puppets, to tents playing the parts of body organs.

Now there is NO way all this stuff will fit into my little bug of a car. But that's ok; I get a company car! It's a small panel van, it's bright purple, and it has a logo and cartoon character on the side. That's cool, I can deal with all that. Here's the REAL hitch. It's a manual car. I drive an auto, and haven't driven a manual since I was seventeen (that's almost eight years ago, for those playing at home). I am picking it up on Sunday.

So I have four days to learn to drive a manual. Started today with a visit from my brother in his fairly old and temperamental manual car. I am AWESOME at changing between gears 2, 3 and 4. It's first gear that gets me (and stalls the car). I'm considering skipping first gear altogether... And what's with hill starts? Ick.

Interestingly, when I started my training on Monday, I had a training buddy, John, and a demonstrating trainer, Genetta. On Tuesday, Genetta decided it was too scary performing for us (eight year olds are WAY less scary than adults), and dropped her job as demonstrator. Today, I turned up to deliver my first practice session to John, and he hadn't arrived. In fact, he didn't arrive nor answer his phone all day. Things are getting mighty strange round here.

I need to practice my routine a lot before I actually get thrown to the sharks, I mean school children. So anyone who's interested in learning all about the body and healthy eating through a combination of storytelling, songs, high energy voice and improvisation of what my props would normally be, come around sometime. It would really help me to have an audience- Nick keeps being a smarty pants :P

On a random side point, our water has become rusty in the mornings. This is not good.

Enviroblog

Working in a Minister's office has shown me that your Government DO care about the environment. There isn't a rubbish bin in my office, only a recycling bin. In the kitchen, we have a 'landfill' bin, a 'compost' bin and a stadard recycling bin. In the photocopy room there are TWO recycling bins, one for normal documents, and one for TOP SECRET (No wonder documents get leaked so easily from the Government when they're stored in such well camouflaged places. haven't they heard of a paper shredder?). And I really want to get me some of those lights which turn on and off automatically when you enter and leave a room.

Appreciative as I currently am about protecting our environment, I have a bit of a problem with Nature right now. Namely that it won't stay in it's rightful place. A place which is NOT hiding amongst the deceptively civilised seeming grass in Treasury Gardens, waiting to make my white top bird-poo coloured. A place which is NOT writhing into peaceful suburbs and lunging at innocent old ladies with nasty, snakey fangs.

I like Nature. It's pretty, healthy, often smells good. But I'm quite happy to come over to visit should I need a big dose of it. My people will call its people. In the meantime:

Nature. Learn your place. And stay there.

Sleep Interrupted

If you are the person who called me at 1.30 this morning, I would love to meet you. Oh no, I'm sure it won't be dangerous. You only called me in the middle of the night mid week, hung up before it was humanly possible to answer the phone, and then had the cheek to be calling from a private number, so I couldn't even call back and yell incomprehensibly at you. Why would I possibly wish to cause you physical harm?

Stealing people's jobs

I'm not sure anyone even reads my blog anymore *sigh* based on the number of comments. Sheesh, people I left for two weeks, did you even notice I was gone????

However, even if no-one reads my blog but me, I shall continue to write it. Maybe I'll have to start writing my own comments too... (that'd be so sad. Please let me know you're still out there, so I don't resort to such lonely and self-obsessed behaviour).

Anyway, I feel like a bit of a job thief lately (please picture me masked, in a stripey jumper, with a bag labelled 'Loot'. No real reason. It's just funny, that's all...). I have secured the Kidz Bodz Position (yay!). At the end of last year I was advised to give them a call after Europe, as they didn't feel they could replace me while I was away. Yet I received a call a few days ago saying they'd found me a term 2 replacement, and the job was mine! Yay to that, but I am worried that someone who thought they had my job may have had an offer retracted??? Hope not.

Today I started a one week temp assignment with the Minister for Roads and Ports. I arrived to find another receptionist already here. Turned out I was replacing her, and she didn't even know she was leaving. Very awkward. The day has continued to be quite shambolic, with not much direction, but also not much to do but answer sporadic phone calls, wrangle with IT to get my computer and net access working as they should, and try and determine which people I am supposed to let in to the office and which I'm not (I'm still not sure). This is made tougher by the fact that it's a long day- 8.30-6.00pm. However, it is now 5.45, so at least it will end soon, and I can start afresh tomorrow. Plus, I have a mag for tomorrow, hopefully to make the day go faster :) What a crazy, crazy day.