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*

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.

Many things have occured!

Ok, work stuff: I knew that being a huge organisation, there’d be plenty of room to move around and up in St Johns, but 3 weeks in??? Not even a month as the Relief Officer and I get pulled into an office and offered something new. Since the start of this month I’ve been the new Schools Project Co-Ordinator. I send info to schools about the free program we are offering, line up trainers when schools express interest, and register the courses when all has been confirmed. And since we can only cover metro schools, I also support all our sub-centres accross WA in going to their local schools and offering our program by co-ordinating certificates and resources. I currently have 5 trainers to roster for and at last count I had over 1000 students lined up. Not bad, but slightly diminuative when compared to the target of 20,000 students trained in first aid across Primary and High schools over WA. This is St Johns’ “flagship” project for the year. I need broader shoulders *faint*

Work is challenging, interesting, mind-boggling, and still fun. I’ve stayed back a few nights and worked through a couple lunches, and its because I just wanted to keep going on what I was tackling at the time. Dad put it best the other night when he said “Nice to be paid to do something you like, innit?”

Other stuff: On Tuesdays I wear a netball bib and run around a court doing my best to get near a ball. I can’t possibly claim to have any skills other than for making friends with my opponent so they’ll be nice to me and tell me where on the court I’m allowed (therefore preventing me from being called off-side). At the end of 40 mins I’m dead on my feet but its still fun and apparently supposed to make me live longer- assuming tall people stop trying to crush me. Rob and I have been playing an hour of squash on Wednesdays too. There I claim to have skills- not many, but at least some. And on Fridays (for the last 2 anyways) I’ve been swimming an hour of laps. Nothing too fantastic, but its nice and cool and shockingly there’s less chance of being pummelled by an opponent.

Wedding stuff: Are occuring also, slowly but surely. We’ve got the main thing done- all our venues are booked (ceremony, photos and reception). We’re tackling other things along the way, but we’re working on a timeline we put together so everything will be accounted for at some point.

And there you have it, my current life in stuff.

*nay*

(from meme thing last post)
2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

• For 08, I plan to do well in my new job, take up more hobbies with the spare time I will finally have, and ride my bicycle more.

So far so good, I am doing well in my new job! I love it! Did I tell you people I finally resigned from Insight after securing a new position at St John Ambulance HQ in Belmont..? Well I did. Anywho, as the new Relief officer, the idea is that I am a permanent temp- whenever someone else goes on holidays, I do their job. So the next time they’re away, I already (in theory) know how to do their job, and they don’t have to keep re-training regular temps.

So I’ve started out in the First Aid Service and Training call centre, to get a good base knowledge of everything to do with First Aid Training. You want to do a First Aid course? Call me! I started on Wed, so today, being my third day on the job, I got to take a few calls myself while my trainer listened in. It was great!! Working at Insight gave me a great knowledge base- I know how to talk on the phone, how to sound like I know what I’m talking about (even though I don’t actually know a lot yet!) and what questions to ask before putting the caller on hold and yelling for help. Also in my Team Leader and Trainer positions at Insight I got to know the inner workings of Exel Spreadsheets very well- and that came in so very handy today. My trainer thinks I’m cool

And my connections with Hedland depot are useful too.. So far there’s only been one follow-up call to Daddy, but I can see so many more occurring.. Its much quicker than waiting for internal communication to catch up and get us the info we need!!

There’s so much to remember too, but as usual the stuff just gets absorbed by my head and then sticks there for good- taking up valuable space I might add!! The mind-boggling bit is this- I’m only learning one position just now. Eventually, I’m expected to step into at least 10 different people’s roles and sub while they’re away. *faint* Its a challenge, and enjoying it will make it easier I think. Oh and everyone is quite mad, totally bonkers, so thats fun too.

So, stuff in ’08. I’m sure other things are occuring too, but the big startling ones thus far include:
September: Keith turns 21. Crikey.
October (tentative): Rob and I get married.
November: My parents’ 30th wedding anniversary.

Feel free to come up with more earth-shattering news Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, and to all a good night!

*nay*

Lukas lived, and Ben and Tiff had a wonderful honeymoon- Mission Accomplished!

The proud parents came up last Tuesday and stayed the night, as their flight to Mauritius left early Wednesday. So Rob drove them to the airport while I wheeled the pram off to feed the ducks- a great distraction There were a few tears that first night at bed-time, but the rest of the week was pretty smooth. I chauffered Lukas around the various family for lots of visits, changed a few nappies, and found myself thoroughly entertained by the cheeky nearly-2yr-old. “Robbie” came for a visit over the weekend- possibly the highlight of Lukas’ week! We took him out to Collie on Sunday to see Rob’s family, to the amusement of all and many comments along the lines of “Gee, you kept that quiet!!” Then Sunday night Rob snuck out after the little man went to bed- its just easier that way, ok?! We spent Monday visiting everybody again, doing the rounds before heading back to Perth on Tuesday after Daycare. Wednesday morning swung round again, and off we went to see the planes- and to pick up Mummy and Daddy.

Ben and Tiff headed off yesterday morning, and I have to say, the place is very quiet without Lukas running around being gorgeous! Next time we see them will be his 2nd Birthday in Jan, can’t wait to see how much he grows in 3weeks, considering how much he learned and changed in only a week.

And now to take more drugs, and shake the flu both Robbie and I managed to catch off the little bugger..

*nay*

So my job title has changed. I am no longer Renée the Call Centre Team Leader, but rather Renée the Call Centre Agent Trainer. I am indeed the trainer, in charge of all that is training and the co-ordination of accuracy reporting and coaching and monitoring. Should be interesting. So far I’ve spent two and a half days playing with spreadsheets.

Oh, and I’m no longer finishing work at 10pm every night. I’m quite looking forward to late-night shopping tomorrow, actually.

I registered for my graduation ceremony today too. Pick up tix and my regalia on Friday September 14th. Can’t wait, but still not sure what to wear under great-gran’s gown.. Thinking some nice black pants and a pretty blue top that will match the hood- I’d quite like to find one of those Chinese-style tops that button up with the pretty black embroidery things that were everywhere a few years ago. Just not sure if I’ve got the boobs to pull it off. So to speak.

Anything else, you ask? Nope, that about sums it. Did I mention we’re engaged?

*nay*