Thursday, August 31, 2006

Only 2 days of work left!

Yay! Only two days to go at work. I'm not getting much done either - lots of long lunches and e-mail checking - not to mention blogging!! Though I do have a few things I need to get done today. I'm hoping that I'll be able to leave a bit early and go to the Japanese Consulate to pick up my visa. I'm cutting it fine, but hopefully this time next week I'll be in Osaka. The farewells are difficult but its all so exciting. The list is gradually being ticked off...
Well, must away for now, the work doesn't get itself done you know!!

So much for Today....

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The Countdown continues....

Well only a week to go now. This time next week I'll be at the airport preparing to board a plane, very exciting! Now that my house is emptying and the boxes are filling it is starting to feel very real, though I still can't quite believe that I'll be gone in a week. Boy have I been busy, most evenings I'm catching up with people, either in person or on the phone, plus packing and cleaning. At least I'm not busy at work. I'll try and finish off a couple of assessments this morning. Then I can finish reports on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as putting the final touches on my last ward newsletter. I have my farewell lunch with collegues on Thursday too. Friday will hopefully be easy going and I might even try and slip away a bit early... we shall see.
Well, I'd best get back to it, till next time.....
Ciao for Now :)

Monday, August 28, 2006

8 days and counting....

Eight days till my departure and counting - provided that my visa comes in time that is!! Have had major headaches getting my travel documents, not fun! Still, other preparations are coming along nicely. I had a big sale on Saturday, as mentioned and it went really well. I only have a few smaller things left and I made a fair bit of money so I'm pretty happy with how it went, and its another tick on the list! Still, there's plenty more to get done & everyone wants to see me so I expect I'll be on full throttle until departure.
Ciao for Now....

Thursday, August 24, 2006

A Correction

I just read a brief news report that mentioned Mohammad's case. He is here for medical treatment and has not been released. If you would like to help me petition for his freedom please e-mail or fax your letters to Senator Amanda Vandstone - her contact details are below. Please help me secure Mohammad's freedom, enough damage has been done....

http://www.minister.immi.gov.au/contact/index.htm#important

Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone
Suite MF 40Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6277 7860
Fax: (02) 6273 4144
GOOD NEWS!!


I just found out that my long-time incarcerated Iraqui pen-pal, Mohammad Afaisal (what else?!) has been released from Nauru and is in Brisbane!! I'm SO HAPPY for him & I hope & pray that he will settle in quickly and be able to make a life for himself. To be living so long without hope must be soul destroying. My government's policies on immigration and refugees sicken me, but I won't be around for the next election so there's not much I can do about it.
Still, its one small victory for Mohammad and his loyal friends here in Australia. Aparently there is going to be a story on him on tonight's 7.30 report, a current affairs program that airs on our government network, the ABC. I will have to tape it for posterity.
It has made my day!
Sale this Saturday!!

I have to get rid of all my stuff so I'm having a big sale this weekend. Starts Saturday at 10am, so if you know of anyone in the vicinity who wants some stuff...
Unit 4, 19 Rathmines Street Fairfield Victoria Australia
Might see you there....

Wednesday, August 23, 2006


The Wheels keep turning

I'm trying to sell my beloved little Betty (that is a 1989 Mazda 121 hatchback shades). We've done a lot of miles together, Betty and I. I will miss her, but I can't take her with me. If you know anyone in Melbourne who wants a reliable little car - send them to
http://www.carsales.com.au my rego is RBB 923. So, the wheels keep turning....

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

So much to do... so little time....

Well, I fly out of the country in a fortnight and I've still got much to do... like:
  • pack the rest of my stuff
  • say goodbye to all my friends
  • get my UK visa
  • Finalise my tax return
  • Store anything I want to keep
  • Sell my car and other stuff
  • Finish at work
  • Change all my addresses to my mail box
  • Find a new web-based e-mail account
  • Send some stuff to Germany
  • Pack!!

I hate packing, so that's why its at the bottom of the list. You would think that with all the moves I've done I would be cool with it, but no matter how often I do it, I still hate it. There's no rhyme or reason, I just do... So that's that, hopefully I can tick off the bulk of the list this week, will check in with my progress at a week to go!

Ciao for Now...

Friday, August 18, 2006

Markets and marmalade....

Friday is outing day at my work and we went to the Queen Victoria market. I was scouting hard for Seville Oranges to make my Grandmother's special marmalade... High & low, organic & ordinary... I was starting to worry I would never find them when.... There they were a little sign reading "MARMALADE ORANGES" With relief I purchased a big bag - I wonder if they let you send marmalade to Europe - they confiscated my pepper in customs. That's why my birthday present from Mum in Europe took 3 months instead of 3 weeks!!
Only 10 days of work to go and I'll sneak off early today so I can pick up my car. Then I'll drop by the shops on the way home & cook up a quick loaf of bread and chocolate pudding for dinner tonight. I am going to my brother's house....
Tomorrow I'm heading down to Geelong with a couple of girlfriends to watch my beloved Cats for the last time... 'Tis hard saying goodbye to all I know and love about Melbourne...
Ciao for Now
Joce <><

Thursday, August 17, 2006

What a morning!
I'm glad everyday doesn't start like this... First I slept in until the next door neighbours builders started up the heavy machinery... then I played telephone ping pong with my friend who I need to witness some documents for me... then I spilt my breakfast (raspberry smoothie) all over the dashboard... so, I was late for work and already feeling flabbergasted... hopefully it improves from here on.... Will keep you posted! :)

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Just in case you were wondering - this is me.
12 days and counting...
That is how much time I have left in my current job - not counting any further days off I might take. I'm super organised so that if I need to take extra time off at the end I will be able to. I'm absolutely hanging to get out of this place, but am I ready for the next?? No way! I have stacks of things still to organise, including visas and my HPC registration in the UK. It is all consuming. Still, it will be worth it - what an adventure! It doesn't feel quite real yet, but I'm sure that it will soon. I'm going to pack my first boxes this weekend. Have to get my friends and family around to claim their stuff (my stuff that they want!) I'll be giving away books and CDs too - once I have copied all my CDs to MP3 anyway. Have to sell my car first though. So much still to do and less than 20 days to go till I board a plane headed for Japan!! Will try and keep this updated more regularly.
Ciao for Now...