http://majik.id.au

I’ll get the work stuff outta the way first. Yesterday the last of the new Schools trainers was inducted. I now have 8 trainers; 8 people who’s lives I control! I’m a bit more conscious of the rosters now, as all but one of them are casual, and looking for as many dollars as possible. I remember those days at Maccas and the call centre, so I’m doing my best to keep it fair. And the travel… Although one of the new girls lives in Willetton, which will make my rostering life a bit easier!!

Bike goes well, although I’ve been sick this week so was lazy and drove.. My wallet is paying the price, fuel is ridiculous! Back in the saddle next week!

Rob’s Granny turned 90 the other day, so we’re heading to Collie tomorrow for birthday lunch. We’ve actually been in Bunbury the last couple weekends, I’m sure Ben and Tiff are getting sick of us!

Mum comes down next weekend for a dress fitting!! She’s making my wedding dress, and next weekend will be the first fitting with the real one- she made a draft in calico and curtain material first Can’t wait to go swishing around in the real material, and still with 17 weeks to go!! Sez, we should find some time to catch up and talk about Mum’s dress too, we can show Mum what you meant because I think my explanation just confused matters

And Tiff has a big giant belly which kicked me We met her sister’s tiny new baby last weekend, Amelia is beautiful. And Lukas is old enough to want to hold her like the adults, so I have some very cute pix of Amelia laying across his lap, just gorgeous. Made me terribly clucky, but Mother has informed me if I put on any weight before the wedding and don’t fit into my dress, I’m in big trouble! Oh well, couple years yet..

I think thats about it for now, we’re very boring it seems!
*nay*

Yay! I rode down to my Aunt and Uncle’s place yesterday and bribed them to help me put these bars, brackets and bags on properly. Rob followed me in the car to actually get all the items there, as I clearly hadn’t worked out how to put them on my bike..

It involved a small amount of swearing, long lunch and coffee breaks, and a trip to Bunnings because I hadn’t realised that more nuts and bolts would be required! But eventually, everything was put back together in the right order, with minimal spare parts left over.

Check it out on Facebook!

Many thanks to Heather, Steve, Robbie, and neighbour Carl, for coffee, lunch, use of tools, and lots of cable ties

*nay*

Last day of Term 1. How sad that even though I didn’t become a teacher and go into a school, I feel such relief on this day. As of this afternoon, my four trainers have taught 4,951 kids between years 4- 11 first aid, since Friday 22nd Feb (week 3). Thats nearly 5000 kids who can now put mummy in the recovery position, check if she’s breathing, and call an ambulance. And in the case of the High Schoolers- can start CPR if she’s not.

For the financial year (starting 1st July 07) that brings us to 10,834 students trained. We’re over two thirds the way to our target of 15,000 by end of financial year, and well on our way toward our target of 20,000 for the 2008 school year. And there are literally thousands more booked in for training in the coming term, so I have no doubts that both targets will be met by their deadlines.

Holy Crap.

For more info, follow the Skills for LIFE links on this here site: www.stjohnambulance.com.au **

In other news, the wedding is being planned. A few more things have been ticked off the ridiculously long list and now it sounds much less daunting when I say “25 weeks tomorrow!”. We’ve now got the big things done- venues, photographer, celebrant. I’m starting to get a bit excited now, even bought myself a curling iron last night!

 And finally, my other favourite thing to keep you all updated on- my vehicles. No I haven’t crashed again, thanks for asking. I’m one bolt and a few lengths of wire away from getting my saddlebags onto my bike- have to move the indicators out of the way for the brackets. Unfortunately, spending the next 2 Saturdays on a course means I can’t get to a SuperCheap or similar, but in 3 weeks time I’ll be hoping for about 4hours of good weather to camp in my courtyard and play with my bike! Hey Robbie can you warn Uncle Steve I’ll prolly be on your doorstep crying for help around that time? Thanks

And that ought to about do it. Consider yourselves updated.

*nay*

** Shameless plug. Had to be done.

Me (walking in the door): Hi, I called earlier about my Virago..?
Ric: Oh hi, Renée isn’t it? Now what have you done? You haven’t crashed it lately have you?

Its just the little fuel leak I posted about a while ago, and he’s gonna service her while he’s at it.*

In other news, Hedland hit 49degs yesterday. I’m sending luvverly cool thoughts out to you all!

*nay*

*Good lord that sounds dirrty

Though this will not stop me riding in the mean time, so thats nice.. I think I have a fuel leak. The first two times I hit reserve it was because I’d done 200kms on a tank of juice. Last time I ran out at 180kms, which indicated something was amiss. Today I noticed fuel-smelling splatter marks on one side. I believe a leak may be the cause. Rob did suggest this nearly a week ago, but now I believe my own findings, rather than just believing Rob because he’s a boy and by default probably knows more about my bike than me

Ric’s gonna shake his head at me again!!

*nay*

Stuff that has occured recently.

• A brief period of self-harm (Which resulted in my legs being epilated. Hard core yo.)
• A small break down culminating in me taking my hangover to work
• Several days of silence at a time
• Apethy. Lots of apethy. But hey, meh..

I’m sure there were good things in there somewhere but they are currently somewhat outweighed. I am in need of another holiday. Problem is, I have two booked and on-coming. The first I become full-time single guardian to our Godson for a week while his Mum and Dad are on their honeymoon. Rob changed jobs and didn’t have enough time accrued to join me as originally planned, because he’s taking the time he does have over Christmas, which brings me to the second one- a week in Parks with his family.

Not exactly the relaxing, fun-filled holidays that our trip North was. I’m looking forward to not being at work, but then I will be in Bunbury with a nearly-2-yr-old, or in the middle of the desert with a dish.

Anywho, in other news I have not fallen off a motorcycle recently. Go me. I flipped a gloved bird at some highly intelligent twat on Tuesday arvo when he thought it would be a good idea to slide his car into the bit of lane that I was occupying. Thought he was gonna get out for a sec but then the lights went green and he evidently had other places to be like so five minutes ago. My respect for any man in a pink tie is gone. Have to admit, it was pretty scant in the first place.

Besides, who gets out and challenges a person wearing armoured jacket, armoured gloves, and heavy helmet..? Twat!

*breath* Nearly time to start thinking about work. Arvy shift and then catch-up with the ladies of the night. My favourite shift of the week, I must admit.

*nay*

Motomax: You’re pretty lucky so far..
Me: Yeh, I keep hearing “it coulda been much worse” (thinking about my neck issues)
Motomax: Yeh, I mean a couple snapped mirrors, some fork seals and scuff marks.. You’re doing pretty well!

Well I suppose I was paying him to worry about the bike, not me

So I went on the Ladies Trakdayz up at Barbagallo weekend before last. If you’ve read Skit’s blog you’ll see the Spada and I more or less piked at half time. Neck’s still sore, have to see the Dr at some point and get her to pound it back out for me. And the Spada currently has one mirror, just waiting on the second bracket to re-attach the other one to match..

So I got bored on Sunday, printed out some directions, sticky taped them to my tank (so squidly) and told Rob to gear up for a ride. We went to Araluen, bit of a wedding location scouting trip I guess. It started raining so we headed for the bikes and buggered off- and I low sided the Virago halfway through a round-a-bout. Ground off the edge of the foot break lever, and bent the screw that adjusts it’s height. A few flat spots along the right side sticky-outy-bits, but nothing that can’t be filed and polished up I s’pose. The palm of my right glove has a little gravel rash, and I pulled a stitch on my kevlars, but again, nothing that can’t be buffed out..

Yes boys and girls you read that correctly. I have binned two bikes in two consecutive weekends. Someone must be lookin’ out for me as there has been minimum damage on both occasions. Mostly I’m just p*ssed off!

Now, for the love of all that is good, no body let on to my Grandparents! I’m looking at you Robbie!

*nay*

I’m a pisces. I love the water. Like any self-respecting fish, I dry out and die if I spend too much time away from the ocean. Well, not actually die, but I get the biggest salty-air cravings after a few weeks of not even driving past a beach…

But seriously, all this rain is just DEPRESSING!! Bugger off and dump it on some inland farmer’s paddock where its needed, for GAWDS SAKE!!

This post may or may not be brought to you directly by the need to go for a ride.

Today I sat on a bike. Yes thats right, just sat on it. Because it had a flat tyre which would have made test-driving a rather interesting experience.

I’m looking at cruisers, and sort of fallen in love with the Yamaha Virago. The one we looked at today was a gorgeous cream 250cc, not bad for a 1988, low K’s, 6months rego and soon-to-be new tyres. Just a few rusty nuts *giggle* She was comfy to sit on and quite light to hold up- not as heavy as the Spada but that’s just because cruisers are lower to the ground. We’ll go back for a test ride sometime this week- may have to leave it ’til Saturday if this weather keeps up..

It’s only the first one I’ve actually gone to look at really, but compared to others in the Autotrader and on line, its a good deal. Heck I only drove one other commodore when I was hunting for my girl- and I am not a car person by any stretch of the imagination- but comparing the year, features, K’s and the price to other ads I’m still certain I was in no way ripped off. So I’m applying that logic to bike hunting too I’m so excited I even rang my insurance company for a hypothetical quote to cover her!!

Quite silly really, I’m gonna be absolutely heart-broken if she’s no good to actually ride..

*nay*