A drive

We finally did the drive to Bruthen. It was a great day for a drive as it was too windy to really do much else but the sun was out and the sky was blue.

We took the longer way via Nowa Nowa which is another on our list in which to spend some time.

We had a late lunch at a lovely little cafe and then I went and investigated a little local craft shop. She had some very pretty quilting fabric but that is a hobby that is very much on the back burner for now. She did, however, have some absolutely gorgeous hand spun and dyed alpaca, wool and silk yarn skeins. Two jumped up and bit me on the nose so I had to buy them. I have no idea what I will use the for - maybe weaving, maybe knitting - but in the mean time they will have pride of place in my craft room when I finally get it set up.

Instead of retracing our footsteps (tyre tracks) we came home via Swan Reach which is the first township you come to on the road to Bairnsdale from here. The drive was through some beautiful countryside alongside the Tambo River.

We do live in gods own country.

Home via Aldi (need wine) and the block (just to check the fencing etc is still upright with this wind).

I really enjoy going for drives. We tend to talk more.

And with this as a backdrop for the drive what could be more perfect?

Life

 

Another day of not doing anything much. I did have plans but life got in the way. Specifically someone who slept in way beyond his usual get up time (blamed the early start yesterday and the long drive - I blame the 2.00am bedtime pffft). We then had to visit the block, buy kitty litter and tickets in tonight's tattslotto mega draw. It has been jackpotting for weeks now and I think everyone who can buy a ticket has done so! I hope it goes to a battler.

Our site supervisor rang with an update. His communication is just brilliant. I guess a real plus living in a smallish country town is that everyone knows everyone so if you provide poor customer service you will soon be hung out to dry. I have seen cafes change hands for that very reason and can't understand why you would work in the customer service industry if you have no customer service skills! 

NN appears to have pulled her horns in. She is still up on site (as is her right) but seems to have stopped the stalking behaviour and we have had no contact. Himself got a reply to the email he sent to the police officer who took our initial report and she thanked him and said that if we do get further harrassment to call 000. It won't come to that, I am sure. And we don't want it to.

The chubby old lady in my mirror is a bit of a grumpy old lady, too. I need to take her in hand and focus on some serious self care.

Maybe tomorrow.

Or not.

Regardless, life in Lakes is still Bloody Magic.

Quiet

Life is quiet.

Himself got a big tick from the surgeon who lifted his eyelid.

I went to coffee group and had a lovely time as always. 

The house is sitting waiting for the roof trusses to be delivered and installed.

NN has been scarce (shhh, don't tempt fate).

I feel we need to do something or go somewhere. Maybe I can convince Himself to go for a drive tomorrow but I doubt he will want to. He uses the dogs as a convenient excuse. I might just take myself off somewhere.

Don't get me wrong. I love being here but am aware I could easily become a hermit and that isn't always a good thing. Maybe a coffee, a book and a bench overlooking the lake.

Yup. We live the high quiet life and love it!

Still no photos.

Seven year old girls are exhausting!

She had a great time although wasn't impressed with the taste of the water in the lake when she went swimming. I don't think she has tasted sea water before. 

She played a couple of games of mini golf, made friends at the playground, went on a cruise of the lakes with Granny (I think the highlight was the kiosk that sold icecream, milk shakes and lollies) and was generally spoilt rotten as grandchildren should be!

Three and the rest of the family came down on Thursday night and we had a lovely long weekend with them.

On the advice of family and friends we reported the Nutty Neighbour (NN) to the police - more so that they have a record, we don't want or expect them to do anything at this stage. The police officer said we could take out an intervention order through the magistrates' court which would prohibit her from any form of contact but we will see if she does anything else. 

In house news we have a frame on the slab and our site supervisor let us walk through it today. It is so exciting to see the rooms take shape and the main living area will be lovely and big and bright. The kitchen is huge especially compared to what we have now. The view from MY room is just lovely. I can see myself spending many an hour in there crafting or reading and just relaxing.

Summer appears to have finally arrived. Right as schools go back. Typical. I have learned my lesson and wear a hat when I am outside and often remember to apply sunscreen. The lovely thing about living on the coast is the afternoon sea breeze that takes the heat out of the day.

Next week the U3A starts and I will put myself out there to meet new people. A huge step for this confirmed introvert but I do need to develop something resembling a social life.

Life in Lakes goes on. Things are so much quieter as tourists head home. Apart from the glitch that is NN we are still so glad we made the decision to move here. 

Another wee break

Tomorrow I will head towards Melbourne and Three and Sally will head towards Lakes. Somewhere around the middle we will meet up, have lunch and I will bring Sally back with me.

Next Thursday Three et al will come to Lakes and stay for the long weekend (Australia Day) and then take everyone home on Sunday.

I will try to post when I can but a seven year old takes a lot of entertaining.

This afternoon Himself had a cortisone injection into his shoulder in an attempt to relieve his bursitis. I really hope it works as he is in a fair bit of pain. He is not stoic when in pain and I am not patient. I think most nurses and ex nurses find caring for family members a bit trying.

I will leave you with this. Please tell me I am not the only one who does it?

Jobs #2 and some house news.

After I left Lifeline I went to work for a vet. He was a lovely English bloke, probably well into his 60s by then. His consulting rooms and kennels for his patients were at the back of his house. I worked mornings one week and evenings the next. I was given morning tea and lunch or afternoon tea and dinner. All prepared by his wife - also English - so lots of hearty home made stuff. As I was living in a flat on my own by then and rent took 50% of my wage it was a great help to be fed one decent meal a day.

It was a great job. Dr Williamson (or Dr Willy as we called him) did a bit of everything as vets did back then. We did the routine desexing but also caesarian sections (Mrs Willy was in charge of looking after the puppies or kittens as they emerged), orthopaedic surgeries, tail docking (now banned, thank god) and treated all manner of complaints. The thing I loved about Dr Willy was his refusal to put an animal to sleep just because the owners asked for it. If there was nothing wrong with the animals ("we are going on holidays and will get another puppy when we get back") he would show them the door. 

I remember the day someone brought a feral cat in. It got out of the carrier and went beserk. It was like a cartoon blur of teeth, claws and fur. Dr Willy and I managed to corner it in my office (basically a cubby hole off the consulting area), pen it in with a cat cage and he threw a syringe with a sedative in it like a dart at the cat. Even with massive protective gloves we both ended up slightly the worse for wear. The cat was put down. It really was feral!

By now Himself and I had moved in together (shock, horror in the mid 70s). We were living in St Kilda and it was too difficult to get to McKinnon where the vet was. I didn't drive in those days and public transport wasn't the most direct. I had been with Dr Willy for 12 months which seemed to be my usual term of tenure so I resigned.

Not far from where we were living was a real estate agent. It is quite well known even now - Stockdale and Leggo but back then it was actually run by Mr Leggo. Mr Stockdale had left a year or so before. Again, I was at the front desk manning the plug and cord switchboard and taking rents or directing enquiries to relevant departments. It was perfectly normal to smoke at your desk and boozy lunches were not uncommon. I came back from one and answered the phone "Stockleg and Dago, good afternoon".

Apparently affairs between staff members were a regular occurence, a couple of salesmen were doing the dodgy buying and selling land and I was completely oblivious to everything. I realised later that the two dodgy fellows had something to do with some development in The Pines which would have made them quite a bit of money. I wish I could remember exactly what they did but I vaguely remember it was akin to having inside knowledge and therefore being able to buy land low and sell high to some government department but who knows and all involved at the time would be long gone by now.

After 12 months (see the pattern?) I resigned. Himself and I were getting married and I took a month or so off to help mum organise everything. (We were married at my parents' house, I made my own dress and mum did the catering).

Just before our wedding Dr Willy contacted me (I can't remember how as we didn't have the phone on and there were no mobile phones back then - maybe he had my parent's number as they would have been my next of kin when I was working for him). He needed someone to work for 6 weeks and that suited me just fine.

After the six weeks were up I applied for several jobs and had some very interesting interviews. One was for a dentist where I would be his assistant, be trained chair side and would also babysit his kids and do some housework. Even I could see that was rather a weird set up so I declined his offer.

I eventually landed a job as a receptionist in a service department of a car dealership. It was close by with public transport and just up from where Himself was working so he often dropped me off and picked me up.

I stayed in that industry from 1977 til 1983 but that will have to be part 3.

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In house news, our slab is down. They built the formwork yesterday and poured it today. It has been hot and humid and wet and windy and hot and humid. Himself took an esky up to the block filled with ice and soft drinks and the tradies were most appreciative. I wonder how long before I receive the invoice for the next progress payment (due on completion of slab).

Nutty neighbour spends ages just sitting in front of her house in her car. She can't see anything or go into the house without her site supervisor. Even other neighbours have commented on how she just sits there! Yesterday, though, she went behind the safety fence and walked around the house and peered in the windows. I have photos! I was tempted to report her to HER builder but I am not that petty. I will hang onto the photos, though, just in case. 

This morning I enrolled in 4 courses through the local U3A. They start in Feb. History on Mondays and Qigong, Criminology and Craft on Tuesdays. That should keep me busy!

Lamb backstraps for dinner in souvlaki bread with hummus, tzatziki and salad. A favourite.

Jobs #1

I recently received an initial contact regarding potential jury duty. One of the questions was my employment status (retired) and the next was what was my job in my working life.

Wow.

Did they mean the last job I had? The longest? Qualifications? 

I settled for the career in which I have a degree even though I haven't worked in it for years - nursing. My nursing background did lead to future jobs so I figure it is the most accurate. 

It got me thinking about my working life.

My first job was working on Saturday mornings (shops shut at midday) and school holidays in a lingerie shop while I was still at school. I remember a bloke coming in during the Christmas rush and asking for a red lace nightie. I replied "Certainly, Sir. Is it for you or someone else?" This was the mid'70s and I was barely 16. In my defence, at Christmas we asked everyone if the purchase was for themselves or a gift. 

During my final year of high school I worked on Saturday afternoons in a milk bar. That was fun. I learned to make milkshakes and part of my pay was a milkshake of my choice. I remember the little kids coming in with their sticky hands holding their precious coins and painstakingly choosing their 20 cents worth of mixed lollies. When you could get 2 for a cent it would take a long time to choose. 

Who remembers these ...

The plan was for me to start nursing training when I finished school but I was too young even having completed the highest year of secondary school. A local chemist employed girls waiting to start nursing training. I applied for the job and got it. And then decided I could no longer live at home so moved out with a school friend - at the ripe old age of just 17.

The chemist was not the easiest of bosses (I once overheard him boasting to a colleague about how he saved money as he only employed the girls for 12 months so they were considered casual and he didn't have to pay certain entitlements), and his wife was a piece of work so I quit - with no job to go to and rent to pay but this was the 70s, I was 17 and life had way of working out. 

I applied for a typist role at Lifeline even though I had never learned to type. The woman that interviewed me must have seen something as she fudged my typing speed, told me to put my age up to 18 (better pay) and employed me. I still remember that woman fondly. Miss Cath Lawler.

Part of the role was to relieve the receptionist so I had to learn how to use the small switchboard. After I had been there for a few weeks the receptionist moved into another position and I was made receptionist - which probably pleased the poor sods who had to put up with my atrocious typing and inability to format a letter. Miss Lawler came to my rescue and gave me a quick crash course in the basics. 

One Monday I came into work to find the old small switchboard had been replaced by a fancy new plug and cord switchboard. I was told someone would come in that afternoon to train me but meanwhile the thing was lit up like a Christmas tree with incoming calls and people wanting to make outgoing calls. I taught myself how to operate the damn thing very quickly using a badly written manual - no youtube back then!

Apart from being a phone crisis service, Lifeline also offered face to face counselling and some basic welfare help. It was run by the Wesley Central Mission who did a lot of really good outreach work. As the first person seen when walking through the door I saw and met some very interesting characters. Again, my youthful naivety probably sheltered me from a lot of what I actually saw but didn't really understand. I do, however, remember one very sad case where I was looking after a young child (maybe two years old) while her mother was with a social worker. The kid had terrible nappy rash and was obviously hungry. When mum came out to take her home the child hid under my desk and didn't want to go with her. I often wondered what happened. I can only hope that the social worker's involvement made things better for mum and daughter. I also had the presence of mind when asked by a rather strange gentleman where I lived to answer with a suburb on the opposite side of town - just in case he followed me to the train station.

God things were so different back then.

After a few months on the front desk I became secretary to the Training Officer. Another amazing woman so ahead of her time. Ms Bonnie Bates. She was in charge of selecting and training the volunteer phone operators and providing ongoing training and support. Part of my job was to do the initial screening of applications. Again, some very interesting people out there! It was a great job and I loved putting together the training sessions and finding images, music and poetry to match the topics. 

It was around this time my somewhat precarious mental health started to become evident. After having a bit of a breakdown whilst walking to the station and racing back to work/safety, the director suggested I might benefit from some help myself. He referred me to another organisation which helped me immensely and was where I met Himself.

But that is a story for another day. 

As is part 2 of my employment history.