I added value at work today - finally - it felt good to not feel totally lost - hooray!
Also- good things
*I fly back to Minnesota a week from tomorrow
*tomorrow is casual day at work
*and my Dad arrives on Monday
Happy Thursday!
:)
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Back to the grind
Today in the little kitchen on my floor (where you can heat up lunch & get a cup of tea) I noticed on the bulletin board a very creative sign.
It was a piece of paper set out like those ads with little tear off strips at the bottom - which usually hold a phone number regarding the item for sale.
It said 'FREE - strips of paper for writing down phone numbers, or to dispose of your chewing gum, or for spit balls - up to you - price - FREE!
LOL - and most of them were gone - that made me smile - how silly!
p.s. I love that here like in the UK they have a couple of cartons of milk in the fridge & free tea bags & coffee for your afternoon fix (tea with milk hold the sugar for me thanks!) And best of all - free cookies!!! I think I may grow to like this place:)
other good things today - they finally got my badge working so I can go to the restroom without having to buzz the doorbell to get let back onto my floor and they installed a phone at my desk so I don't have to go sit in someone else's desk to make calls - fantastic!
It was a piece of paper set out like those ads with little tear off strips at the bottom - which usually hold a phone number regarding the item for sale.
It said 'FREE - strips of paper for writing down phone numbers, or to dispose of your chewing gum, or for spit balls - up to you - price - FREE!
LOL - and most of them were gone - that made me smile - how silly!
p.s. I love that here like in the UK they have a couple of cartons of milk in the fridge & free tea bags & coffee for your afternoon fix (tea with milk hold the sugar for me thanks!) And best of all - free cookies!!! I think I may grow to like this place:)
other good things today - they finally got my badge working so I can go to the restroom without having to buzz the doorbell to get let back onto my floor and they installed a phone at my desk so I don't have to go sit in someone else's desk to make calls - fantastic!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Day 2
So I drove to work this morning.
I left REALLY early and still got caught in traffic (that was surprising!) and made my way there fine. I took all my exits perfectly and followed Murray's fabulous map that was like 3 feet long - a bunch of pieces of paper taped together. I got there an hour before work started (hey - but it was my first time - I wanted to make sure I had LOTS of time). It was good to be early anyhow since this was my first time working at this work site.
Work was fine - I sat in a meeting and understood SOME of what they were talking about, then I read manuals - fun fun fun! Oh the best part of the day was when the guy on my team noticed I had a Dilbert calender and asked if he could look at some of the cartoons (Murray gave it to me as part of my b-day present) :)
Driving home was ok until I got about half way - then I missed my exit (I saw a sign that was my exit, but then just before the exit the sign changed and I thought that exit would mean I was going the wrong way). SO I didn't take it, then got lost, then ended up in the city - opps! So I ended up just picking Murray up at work and we drove home together.
THIS is the thing that I don't like about driving here - the other side of the road - I am getting used to, the roundabouts - fine, but the fact that if I take a wrong turn - most of the time I cannot easily turn around and get back to where I went wrong is SO frustrating!
Anyhow, I looked at a map and I now know where I went wrong and it won't happen again:) And thankfully tomorrow I am back at the site with Murray so we can drive together whew (i.e. he an drive:)
And our little home made pizza was SOOOOOO fabulous tonight - we were too hungry to take photos! :)
I left REALLY early and still got caught in traffic (that was surprising!) and made my way there fine. I took all my exits perfectly and followed Murray's fabulous map that was like 3 feet long - a bunch of pieces of paper taped together. I got there an hour before work started (hey - but it was my first time - I wanted to make sure I had LOTS of time). It was good to be early anyhow since this was my first time working at this work site.
Work was fine - I sat in a meeting and understood SOME of what they were talking about, then I read manuals - fun fun fun! Oh the best part of the day was when the guy on my team noticed I had a Dilbert calender and asked if he could look at some of the cartoons (Murray gave it to me as part of my b-day present) :)
Driving home was ok until I got about half way - then I missed my exit (I saw a sign that was my exit, but then just before the exit the sign changed and I thought that exit would mean I was going the wrong way). SO I didn't take it, then got lost, then ended up in the city - opps! So I ended up just picking Murray up at work and we drove home together.
THIS is the thing that I don't like about driving here - the other side of the road - I am getting used to, the roundabouts - fine, but the fact that if I take a wrong turn - most of the time I cannot easily turn around and get back to where I went wrong is SO frustrating!
Anyhow, I looked at a map and I now know where I went wrong and it won't happen again:) And thankfully tomorrow I am back at the site with Murray so we can drive together whew (i.e. he an drive:)
And our little home made pizza was SOOOOOO fabulous tonight - we were too hungry to take photos! :)
Monday, March 30, 2009
B-days and back to work
Saturday night we went out to dinner to celebrate Murray's birthday
My mother-in-law Lyn & I
We were treated to a lovely meal at our favourite place - Ribs & Rumps!!!
Lyn, Me, Helen & the birthday boy Murray
And yes we tried something new - Murray had the double burger - WOW it was huge (and yummy!).
I had the fresh barramundi which was lovely as well!
For dessert they surprised Murray by bringing out this lovely little chocolate mousse which had sparklers in it! They came to our table singing Happy Birthday and Murray looked around and nearly said 'whose birthday is it?' Ha ha - he was totally surprised! The dessert was Fabulous as well!
The next day after a lovely wander around Manly we came across the local Manly-Warringah Scottish bagpipe band performing down by the beach! They were raising money for their trip to Scotland to participate in a bagpipers competition!
They even had a group of girls dancing the Scottish fling! Fantastic!
I also finally took a picture of this sign - the beach closest to us is North Steyne (it is just down from Manly - basically the same piece of sand though). I think it is pretty darn fantastic that they won cleanest beach in NSW (our state - New South Wales)!!!
AND so today was my first day of work. Our commute driving was fine (we actually work at the same place here - bizarre I know)! It was a normal first day - lots and lots of information - too much to process in just one day. Also lots of unknowns - like where do they keep the extra printer paper? how do I release my laptop from this desk thingy it is connected to? And how ODD is it that they have signs in the restroom telling you to check the color of your urine to see how hydrated you are..... bizarre! My little team and I went out to a very nice lunch with a great view, then we walked to a place that had fantastic views of the bridge and the opera house - I only wish I had had my camera!!!
Only bad thing - I already have to go to the other work site tomorrow (my job will be split between these sites). SO I have to drive. I have checked out every public transport option - and they are all at minimum two hours - yuck. Driving should only take 50 minutes - but I am leaving MUCH MUCH earlier than that tomorrow (like - giving myself 2 hours cause it is my first time driving this route) because
1. I want to go before the traffic so that I can drive a bit slowly and take in the route and not be freaked out by packed rush hour traffic
2. past a certain point I haven't driven this route before - so the less traffic the better
3. this is only my second time driving outside of our little area - so I am of course a bit scared
BUT my lovely husband has spent the last half an hour printing me out great maps, and highlighting them, and explaining them to me, and taping them together so it is nice and easy for me. I know I just need to get out there and do this to gain some confidence - and I know it will be just fine - I just need to practice practice practice! WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and tonight at work the power went out at 4:45 - we heard that the city's power was out as well, so I asked if I could go home and my boss said that was fine. The traffic was a bit busy, but we got home alright. We saw on the news tonight that power went out in all of downtown Sydney causing 2 hours of traffic chaos - some tunnels to closed, people got stuck in elevators, and tons and tons of terrible traffic. We actually saw a view on the news of people sitting at the entrance to the tunnel we took earlier tonight - eek that was lucky!
Now - here's to the good driving luck extending to me tomorrow!!!
My mother-in-law Lyn & I
We were treated to a lovely meal at our favourite place - Ribs & Rumps!!!Lyn, Me, Helen & the birthday boy Murray
And yes we tried something new - Murray had the double burger - WOW it was huge (and yummy!).I had the fresh barramundi which was lovely as well!
For dessert they surprised Murray by bringing out this lovely little chocolate mousse which had sparklers in it! They came to our table singing Happy Birthday and Murray looked around and nearly said 'whose birthday is it?' Ha ha - he was totally surprised! The dessert was Fabulous as well!
The next day after a lovely wander around Manly we came across the local Manly-Warringah Scottish bagpipe band performing down by the beach! They were raising money for their trip to Scotland to participate in a bagpipers competition!They even had a group of girls dancing the Scottish fling! Fantastic!
I also finally took a picture of this sign - the beach closest to us is North Steyne (it is just down from Manly - basically the same piece of sand though). I think it is pretty darn fantastic that they won cleanest beach in NSW (our state - New South Wales)!!!AND so today was my first day of work. Our commute driving was fine (we actually work at the same place here - bizarre I know)! It was a normal first day - lots and lots of information - too much to process in just one day. Also lots of unknowns - like where do they keep the extra printer paper? how do I release my laptop from this desk thingy it is connected to? And how ODD is it that they have signs in the restroom telling you to check the color of your urine to see how hydrated you are..... bizarre! My little team and I went out to a very nice lunch with a great view, then we walked to a place that had fantastic views of the bridge and the opera house - I only wish I had had my camera!!!
Only bad thing - I already have to go to the other work site tomorrow (my job will be split between these sites). SO I have to drive. I have checked out every public transport option - and they are all at minimum two hours - yuck. Driving should only take 50 minutes - but I am leaving MUCH MUCH earlier than that tomorrow (like - giving myself 2 hours cause it is my first time driving this route) because
1. I want to go before the traffic so that I can drive a bit slowly and take in the route and not be freaked out by packed rush hour traffic
2. past a certain point I haven't driven this route before - so the less traffic the better
3. this is only my second time driving outside of our little area - so I am of course a bit scared
BUT my lovely husband has spent the last half an hour printing me out great maps, and highlighting them, and explaining them to me, and taping them together so it is nice and easy for me. I know I just need to get out there and do this to gain some confidence - and I know it will be just fine - I just need to practice practice practice! WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh and tonight at work the power went out at 4:45 - we heard that the city's power was out as well, so I asked if I could go home and my boss said that was fine. The traffic was a bit busy, but we got home alright. We saw on the news tonight that power went out in all of downtown Sydney causing 2 hours of traffic chaos - some tunnels to closed, people got stuck in elevators, and tons and tons of terrible traffic. We actually saw a view on the news of people sitting at the entrance to the tunnel we took earlier tonight - eek that was lucky!
Now - here's to the good driving luck extending to me tomorrow!!!
Friday, March 27, 2009
547 Days
It has been 547 days since I last stepped foot in an office. My last day of work in London was 28 September 2007 .....
Monday I start my new job - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!
So in preparation, I filled out all the forms & the contract they sent me this week & returned it to the company. I also did my online induction today - which included such health & safety stunners like 'do not stand on your desk, it is dangerous' - also, 'do not run, walking is safer'
ah yes - will have to keep that in mind
SO I am nervous. It is a job that is different to what I have done before, but the good thing was I was honest about what I have and have not done, SO they have decided to hire me & train me up since I do have some relevant experience. This means quite a big learning curve for me - but I think I'm up for it!!!
Now - the big decisions - what shirt & what shoes to wear??? hmmmm
Monday I start my new job - eeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!!!!
So in preparation, I filled out all the forms & the contract they sent me this week & returned it to the company. I also did my online induction today - which included such health & safety stunners like 'do not stand on your desk, it is dangerous' - also, 'do not run, walking is safer'
ah yes - will have to keep that in mind
SO I am nervous. It is a job that is different to what I have done before, but the good thing was I was honest about what I have and have not done, SO they have decided to hire me & train me up since I do have some relevant experience. This means quite a big learning curve for me - but I think I'm up for it!!!
Now - the big decisions - what shirt & what shoes to wear??? hmmmm
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Exercise, popcorn & candy & a Birthday!
Today I walked to the gym, did a body pump (weights) class, and walked back - I am exhausted.
Tonight we are going to see the movie Watchman and eat lots of candy & popcorn & soda (goes well with the exercise huh? oh well) - to celebrate Murray's birthday (crazy work night b-day celebration - ha ha - we will properly celebrate this weekend)!
Tonight we are going to see the movie Watchman and eat lots of candy & popcorn & soda (goes well with the exercise huh? oh well) - to celebrate Murray's birthday (crazy work night b-day celebration - ha ha - we will properly celebrate this weekend)!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Back to the gym!
We joined the gym this week and today was my third day attending. It felt GREAT to be back taking classes - my favourites are body pump (a full body weights routine set to music) and body attack (a high impact aerobics class). I am really sore after not having exercised much in the last few months (we hiked on our trip, so I am counting that as exercise - but this is the first time I have been to a gym since we left London in Sept 07!!!)
I like our new gym. They have branches all over and you can go to any of them - one is close to our place (4 miles or 6.3 km away - I walked back today in 45 minutes), one is near work, and one is on the way home. So hopefully we can make this a regular thing!
Things I Like:
*they gave us a lovely 'welcome' pack of a backpack (that I actually will use - it's a good size), water bottle & hat
*I counted 15 flat screen tv's - now just gotta find my headphones!
*classes classes classes hooray! I love group exercise
Anyhow, other than that I have just been making my way to the beach to read, and making dinner for Murray. This is his first week at work (and my last week before starting work!) and he is starving every night when he gets home (hard to get used to sitting at a desk every day again!)
Tonight I made Lamington cupcakes!!!
Lamingtons are a classic Aussie dessert - they are sponge cake which is dipped in chocolate and then covered in coconut
Traditionally they are made in cube like shapes - but I like the idea of cupcakes - I think they look kinda cute:)
I like our new gym. They have branches all over and you can go to any of them - one is close to our place (4 miles or 6.3 km away - I walked back today in 45 minutes), one is near work, and one is on the way home. So hopefully we can make this a regular thing!
Things I Like:
*they gave us a lovely 'welcome' pack of a backpack (that I actually will use - it's a good size), water bottle & hat
*I counted 15 flat screen tv's - now just gotta find my headphones!
*classes classes classes hooray! I love group exercise
Anyhow, other than that I have just been making my way to the beach to read, and making dinner for Murray. This is his first week at work (and my last week before starting work!) and he is starving every night when he gets home (hard to get used to sitting at a desk every day again!)
Tonight I made Lamington cupcakes!!!
Lamingtons are a classic Aussie dessert - they are sponge cake which is dipped in chocolate and then covered in coconut
Traditionally they are made in cube like shapes - but I like the idea of cupcakes - I think they look kinda cute:)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
