Soo… Bike lessons are going well. Lesson number 5 is this Thursday, and I have to remind him that we haven’t done emergency stopping yet (how to not throw yourself over the handlebars). Those rotten U-turns are coming along nicely, and I’m plenty confident in leading the instructor around and sitting in the right bit of the road. Just need to get out and practice lots, which we have been doing with Rob’s Dad nearly every weekend. Great to see him more often!

This weekend was my Nan’s 80th birthday (crikey, when did that happen??) so my parents came down to surprise her! They flew in Thursday night, so we went out to dinner on Friday to catch up. We took Dad along, and they had organised for a friend from Hedland to come too. Anne was a crazy lady who used to work at the Depot with Dad and at Maccas with me, and had a hand in pretty much every sport up there at the time. Still crazy!!

Then there was The Lunch on Saturday. We all turned up at the Atrium at the Esplanade Hotel in Freo- Nan had no idea! Dad’s little brother was over from Brisbane aswell, the first time all four kids had been together in about 11 years. Then lots of grandkids, and 3 great-grandies running and crawling around the place. My cousins’ kids are sooo cute! Pa had helped the girls to organise everything, and did a stirling job of keeping Nan in the dark about the lot After lunch we went back to Nan and Pa’s for cake and photos- I think thats the first big family photo that Rob’s been in. We crashed with very full bellies that night!

Then another lunch Sunday! The girls (Dad’s two big sisters) had figured a take-away picnic in Applecross was the way to go. So we headed down to Coogee to meet up with my parents again and move fridges and freezers around with Dad- well I entertained the dog while they worked out the logistics Then my Dad borrowed Rob’s Dad’s bike and gear and he and I rode to the picnic with the cars in convoy! So cool to get out for a ride with him after spending so much time as his pillion to get to school and stuff. There was much KFC and introducing and more photos- though I’ll have to get copies off Mum’s camera since we forgot ours on both occasions! Then Mum and Dad headed off to get to the airport, and Rob Dad and I went back to our place to drop off the Spada and get our buts to the movies- made it just in the nick of time too, lucky Adam pre-paid the tix on teh internets.

Overall, alltogether too much food! But plenty plenty family- very cool to have (Rob’s) Dad thrown in the mix too!

Oh yeh, Mum and Nan were quizzing on when my Grad ceremony will be, when Nan suggested I where my Great Gran’s regalia! Turns out Pa’s Mum graduated from the University of London with a Bachelor in Music, and Nan still had the gown and mortarboard packed away. Aunty Heather wore the gown when she graduated from Curtin, and when I called ECU to see if was ok to provide my own regalia they said No Probs! I’ll still have to get a mortarboard from ECU with the hire of the sash and hood though, because Great Gran’s has a pale blue tassel, and ours have to be black. But I get to keep that one so its all good! Nan got them out to try on at their place on Saturday- it was a bit of a shock to see myself in the mirror.. I thought “Oh crap, I’m really graduating!” Now I have until September to find an outfit to put underneath it

*nay*

So Hedland made it more-or-less safely out the other side of another cyclone. Awesome pictures can be found on my friend’s page posted by Roshy (the LJ links don’t work in my other blog), and when Mum figures out the camera-computer connection I’ll post some pics of our backyard too. The town has seen several decent ones, and so most of the place is really well built and prepared, but it’s no less nerve-racking wondering how your friends and family are doing while you’re safe in the South West.

And as an avid fan of 2am pizza, it pains me to say that Bruno’s is practically no longer. Wow.

Apparently Dad used his time constructively tonight, and made a TV appearance =) He and the other Ambos were filmed at the RFDS unloading the Wogina Mine survivors and made it to channel 10 news- I was at work, but according to Rob, Dad was the one done up like an Irish Eskimo in his big green bommer jacket =P

Stay safe everyone, whatever you’re up to
*nay*

And the regular crowd shuffles in.. There’s an old man sitting next to me, making love to his tonic and gin..

I sing that phrase every Saturday when I happen to look at the clock and see its about 9ish

Anywho. Taking the mini back today. We’ll fill her with fuel and put in a little summin for Dad for kindly letting me borrow her when my car was on the outs (again!). Hope there’s room in the shed!

And the rest of the weekend? *shrug* Not going to work *grin*
*nay*

The call centre I’ve been casual at for the last couple years has made a bunch of changes for the new year- starting with making several of the more “senior” staff permanent full-time. I’m now the 2pm- 10pm Team Leader; Monday to Friday, weekends off, time-in-lieu for public holidays, sick pay and holiday pay, and a pay-rise on top! I’ve just finished my first week in the role- didn’t want to post too early in case I jinxed it

The main thing I was worried about was how my parents would react to me taking a full-time job thats not teaching- but they were really excited! Such a relief. I’m spending most afternoons up-skilling the new staff we adopted before Christmas, and with the next round of recruiting in Feb I should be doing alot of training in the near future!

Things to do on weekends (now that I have them):
~ Get to Australind/ Collie more often
~ Do stuff in the unit (paint, garden- behave you miscreants)
~ Buy a new car by the end of this month

That should do for now.
*nay*

Spot the birdy!

I think I’ll also put up pictures of Lukas being adorable, but I need to find them first. Ben and Tiff stayed the weekend to come see the Air Show with us. Luckily we went on Saturday, so the trafic and parking were pretty decent. It was a really great weekend, just a pain we live so far away.

The kids were aiming for 120mins of practice each this week. Nearly time to find out how they did.
*nay*

Thankyou Defying Gravity for re-instilling my faith in the Tuesday lunchtime Concert.

Yesterday made four whole years that Rob and I have been together. Oh and also the Crocodile Hunter died. So an interesting day was had by all really.

My mummy was in town for the weekend! She stayed with Rob and me on our fold-out couch, which isn’t the most comfortable but is the most convenient accommodation that ISN’T my grandparents’ spare room. (They’re Dad’s parents, not hers, and sometimes they make that li’l fact known.) I missed her alot when she left, since we spent the entire weekend together except for the 5hrs work I did Friday. We went shopping and had KFC and she met Ben and Tiff and baby Lukas. And the Dockers won yet another game. Wo0t!!

Last week we saw Snakes on a Plane. Only because Hoodwinked was on early and we didn’t realise. My God that movie is so stupid it’s hilarious.

And this backward post has been brought to you by the letter N and the number 3.
*nay*

Finally. A friend of mine has listened evey time I had to scream or sob or just have a beer and chat. I wasn’t even here. Quite often get the feeling that means I have no room to talk. To grieve. Thanks pumpkin.

Happy 21st Birthday Tiff!

Daffodil Day is the annual fund-raising day for the Cancer Council, and is upon us yet again. So wear some yellow (I’m wearing bright orange coz I don’t have any) and support a great cause by buying a pin, badge, pen or pretty Daffodil flower! I have a new pin to add to my hat-badge collection (which are all on a bag, go fig..)

Miss ya Mum B

*nay*

Happy Birthday Rob