Wednesday, June 25, 2008

One door closes, another opens ...

I have to admit I was wrong. I imagined Bruce's funeral to be a bundle of nerves and stress for us all, but it all went really well. We had a lot more people come than expected with the last few in the hall having to stand at the back.

It was a simple ceremony with the minister opening, Bill giving a eulogy and then the floor opened up for anyone to speak and tell of their stories of Bruce. And heaps of people came forward to say their bit. There must have been over 20 people speak in the end. We had laughs and lots and lots of tears and everyone left remembering what an amazing guy he was. Some who took life by the horns and lived it without boundaries. It was sweet seeing grown men in absolute tears for a mate who they loved and respected.

The last of the family went home today so it's just us again. Back to peace and quiet with no screaming kids or screaming adults for that matter. Although in saying that it was really neat catching up with all the cuzzies again.

Turns out the job I applied for at the lab (admin one) probably won't eventuate. They've decided they can get away without employing anyone now. Ahhh well.

A few days ago I learnt that the casual ambulance officer position probably wasn't going to happen for exactly the same reason. But I had a strange peace about it all. I know something will come up.

Then yesterday my boss at the station called me aside to say that the RSO (my boss's boss) was so impressed with my work on the road that he rang his boss (who employs the casuals) to put in an excellent word for me and persuade him to employ me and all without my knowing. I was blown away!! I've been told I should hear back in the next couple of weeks on that.

I also had it suggested by my station manager to apply for Auckland. They are currently taking on officers. In the past I've always shyed away from this knowing they are run off their feet. It's a hectic place up there, but in saying that I know that it would be good for me. It means putting myself way out of my comfort zone but deep down I know it will sharpen my skills and confidence on the road.

So yes you guessed it, I've put my application in for Auckland. I can hear all your questions now ... but where will you live? are you moving back to Auckland? What about Bill and the kids?? The kids are happy here in Waihi and very settled. If I get the Auckland job it's a 4 day on four off roster, so I'll find myself a flat or boarding place up there, Bill and the kids will stay in Waihi and then I'll come back home to Waihi on my days off. My long term plan (if I get this job) is to get my skills up and a good look on my cv for when the new officer position comes available back in Waihi (in around a year to eighteen months). We'll wait and see, don't even know if I'll get a look in for the job... ambo jobs are very very hard to get (so I've learnt)

The shop sale is going as planned so far. Still have to wait for it to go unconditional in a couple of weeks time, but everything looks good so far.

We've found ourselves a place to rent in Waihi. It's still being built at the moment and will be ready a week or so after we move from here, so might mean going on a little holiday first maybe. It's a brand new brick and tile 3 bedroom place with ensuite, heatpump, new carpet, new kitchen ... thank god!!! We have lived in grotty little holes since moving from our new house in Auckland. To have a place that doesn't have the wind whistle threw when all the doors and windows are shut, a place that actually looks clean once it's been cleaned, a place with a front door (not a back coridoor from the back of a shop as the front entrance), a place to call HOME!!! Our current house is not a home, sure we have our furniture there but it is just accomodation. So to have something brand spanking new ... yay!!!

Thursday, June 19, 2008

I might just have to go shopping

Wow thankyou guys. It's good to be back blogging again. I think the break was good to make me appreciate the simpleness of the reasons why I want to blog. I started to get caught up in should I say this? shouldn't I say this? who is reading? what will everyone think? When at the end of the day blogging is not about all that stuff ... it's purely and simply a ways of communicating to a bunch of friends. Having the break away made me realise how I was over complicating it all. At the end of the day I missed my bunch of mates, and THAT is why I blogg!

The funeral organisation is nearly done. Poor Bill has had it all on his shoulders to organise it all. There are 5 boys in the family ... the oldest is in Aussie so can't really do much, the next went over to Switzerland to bring Bruce back, the next one works full time and didn't really put his hand up, the next was Bruce and lastly baby bro Billy. He's done well considering, although I've had to take my hands off given it's not my brother and I can see things being done a little ... umm... shall we say ... corner's cut. I tried to put a gentle word in to give some advice which wasn't recieved too well so have left it to him and will just have to bite my lip for a bit. But that's ok, I'll get over it! lol

Bruce arrives home tommorrow and is being brought down by hearst from Auckland airport to Paeroa where the funeral director is. He will stay there for the next few days till the funeral on Monday, allowing anyone who wants to go see him to be able to there. I was a little nervous when Bill said he wanted to go see him. I warned him that Bruce has been dead for nearly two weeks now so he won't look the same. Infact he will not be looking very good at all, and that I hoped Bill won't have that memory stuck in his head and will be able to remember him as he was, not as the empty remains he last sees him as. I understand Bill's point tho that until he sees him there won't be a closing for Bill. It's all still too much like a story that happened somewhere over the other side of the world.

As for the sale of the shop not much else has happened. Basically now it's a matter of waiting for the time to go by. And I'm sure it will be going by veeery, veeery, slowly.

Onto weightloss, after all that is the whole point of my blog!! lol ... and laugh out loud I have to do. It has certainly not been my focus for the last month but it never is when my world feels like a tornado. I've been doing this for long enough to recognise that when things settle down again I will get back into it and start cracking the whip again.

And I need to do this ... because I have a friggen ball to go to ... like an evening wear ball gown ball!!! I have nothing to wear!! I got out some dresses I had from my slimmer days and had a little try on last night. Of course most were too small but one of them nearly fitted ... just the overly endowered boobs popped out the top!! Just imagine that?? On the dance floor and a boob decides to go for a runner, not a good look!!!! lol

So I guess I need to do a little shopping before the date of the ball ... 28th June, either that or lose 20kg by then ... hmmm ... don't think so!! lol

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Catch up

Where to start??

Thankyou all for your lovely comments. I'm sorry for not updating in such a long time. No excuses really, just got into a funk and decided to take a break for a bit, from weight watchers and blogging. No other reason.

It's been a crazy month ...

Firstly, I didn't get the ambo job. Got a bit disalutioned at first wondering if I was wasting my time thinking I could ever get a paid ambo job. After a couple of days sulking I snapped myself out of it and realised I still love doing my ambo work regardless of whether I get paid or not.

I was informed by one of my bosses that the only reason I didn't get onto the short list was my qualification level and to keep working on that. So that's what I'm doing. I've since been asked to apply for a relief officer position which I have and am waiting to hear back about. If I'm successful in this it will give me something very positive to put on my cv and the pay is very good when you do get work, although can be very speradic. But it all helps at the end of the day.

We got some very sad news last Monday 9 June. Bill's brother in Switzerland died in an absailing accident. We still don't have all the exact details as to what happened. His other brother is over there at the moment organising bringing his body back to New Zealand for burial. In the meantime Bill has been organising his funeral and I've been running the shop and house. He was only 36 years old! Far too young for anyone to die!! He arrives back in the country on Friday and his funeral will be here in Waihi on Monday.

The other news is that we have had an offer on the shop which we are going to accept. There's been negotiations back and forth for the last couple of weeks and we have come to a price both us and the purchaser agree on. It goes unconditional in the middle of July with settlement date 31 July. It still may fall over, as with any sale it's not final until the money's in the bank but I feel very positive about it.

Both Bill and I are excited about the next chapter in our lives. Not quite sure what we're both going to do but to be relieved of the burden of the shop which we have worked our butts off in for the last four years will be very nice.

We've decided that for the meantime we will stay in Waihi, shifting from the beach into Waihi itself (a bit cheaper rent and more jobs). The kids are happy and settled here so hopefully we can find a job ... see what happens, who knows??

I've applied for a part time admin job in a research lab here in Waihi. I've made it to the final two people and find out in the next 3 weeks if I'm successful or not. So hopefully with that and the relief ambo stuff will be enough to get us by. Then Bill will also keep his ear to the ground for some work.

So very sad and exciting news all in the same post.