Month: July 2006

Gday! Apparently, so I’ve been told, I am sounding more and more Aussie of late, but what’s funny is that my friends who have witnessed mySkype Converastion with UK friends have pointed out that my Pom accent comes out…I think it’s hillarious because both parties would so argue to the contrary.

So a new week at work begins, and it is HECTIC! But I looovvvve it! So busy my head spins, and that’s the fun part. Everyone’s busy and just working away. A few digs here and there, but total team environment. Makes a fresh change! There’s total support amongst the team and no animosity. Above all else, no one sleeps on the job and gets away with it. Ooopsss…did I let that slip? My bad!On my first day My trainer fully arranged an escort for my walk to the station on the way home. From then on Anthony and I wait for the other before heading to the station. Makes the journey faster. My Team Leader is pretty cool, and Kristine, my Trainer and I have loads of laughs, at each other’s expense.

This weekend was another busy weekend. Friday night I had dinner with my cousins and God children. So I got to play with them Friday night, which was nice. My God daughter Ashlee Rose certainly has gotten used to me quite quickly. Took no time for her to start bossing me around. All of three years old! Nice huh!

Saturday my sister came over because she lew out to NZ on Sunday for work…it’s good for some ey! Though sucks for her cause she won’t really get to see much as she is only there for a few days. Bummer, if I didn’t have a job I’d go with her. We went shopping at the SQUARE. My bro, sis & I which we haven’t done in years so that was fun. We met up with my Mum there too. Afterwards we hung out here, downloaded more stuff on Bert. After my Ats left, my friend Jes came to pick me up for Our Girl’s Night In at Val’s house. Where we ate far too much, watched movies (I swore I wouldn’t watch Notting Hill for awhile, and I realise why I swore that as soon as I watched it *sigh*), we chatted, and we were there till almost 3am if not 3am. Thank you Ramir for giving up your house for us, and agreeing to be shipped off to the rest of the boys at Blair Athol. Thank you also for cooking us our dinner before you left. Thank you Val for being such a gracious host too. For frying the spring rolls! =)

Sunday hung out at the homestead. Cleaned my room…sorta! Ironed clothes, and then car napped the car! Well it was with permission! I went to the mall to exchanged my Hair Straightner….I hear the murmurs of ‘But your hair is straight??’ Yeah yeah! Then I picked up Jes, and then Ann before heading off to Hillsong Sydney! Yay! It was such a great service, and certainly felt like a taste of the Welcome Home I know and love. I love that they use the same intro we do in London, and every time I see them pan to our chior, my heart warms. If I close my eyes while I’m jumping up and down, I swear when I open my eyes, I almost expect to see some of my nearest and dearest there. Phil Dooley spoke and the message was entitled ‘Is it Love?’ It talked about how there are so many ways to describe love and at times we take for granted the weight of such a powerful word. Sometimes it’s so easy to spit out those words and not really mean it, and sometimes, we don’t say it when we really need to. Love is the foundation of all relationships, the strength or the weakness of it lies on how you use love in it. Food for thought huh! Phil D pointed out the real love is sacrificial love, and when you think about it, it totally is! Not even in a negative way, but in that selfless way. What you would do for a friend. Especially your family! So looking forward to next weekend. It’s super weird to be at church and having Marty lead worship, Donna Crouch doing the prayer and praise, Robert Ferguson do the offering and Phil Dooley give the message. It was awesome though!

I went a little nutso at the resource centre… I got previous messages from Hillsong Women, and I picked up a couple of Gary’s ones too…I was feeling a little Hillsong London sick okay! Besides it was all on sale… she says with justification. I love the new CD. It has all my recent fave songs in it! Totally cool.

After the service my friends and I went out to dinner, so not unlike the last year and a half of my Sundays in London!

It’s still fairly cold at the moment, but it’s almost over. Getting up in the freezing cold is a bit of a challenge, but it’s all good. I am enjoying the travel to work. Despite the hike. What can I say, Bert keeps me well entertained. My routine is almost set. After work I head to the gym and work out for over an hour before catching one of the last connecting trains home without a half an hour gap. I get home, shower, sit in front of this PC to quickly check my email and then PASS OUT. In the midst of all that try and hang with my Mum. Sooo tired! So, I’m going to bed. Just wanted to say hello and what not. Hope all is well with everyone.

Much Love,
E

Tuesday 25th July 06

Hiya! As most of you know, I have been back in Sydney for about three weeks now, and though it has been fun getting back and catching up with everyone, I thought I had better start looking for a job properly this week! Yay! And I got a phone call yesterday, well a few (from the adds I answered) but this one in partiular grabbed me.

I did a phone interview yesterday, and was in the office of that particular recruitment agency early this morning, and was on my second interview with the actual company this afternoon, and about an hour later I got the job offer, and I start bright and sparky tomorrow morning! YAY!!!!

It’s for a IT Company (go figure) who also out source a Financial Services teamed up with Rams. Or something to that same effect. I will be doing Customer Service. The role is very similar to what I was doing at the MPC before I left. It pays great, which will set me up for my studies next year, and the best part is that I may be able to do both without giving up the other, as I found out my desired University is like around the corner. It’s a temporary postition so I’m not tied. The interview I had today was with my Team Leader and we totally got along. The place has a very relaxed feel to it. Professional, efficient, and I’m so going to be challenged, re-learning and learning more and more about the Financial Insitution and all it’s dealing, which will free me from boredom. I’m well excited.

I have sooo been praying for God to present me with a job that will give me the opportunity to be challenged, and something that I could potentially keep doing once school started depending on the workload. This place is pretty close to everything…aside from home that is, but hey I could live with the hour and a half journey. I like to read! Besides, that’s what Bert’s (IPOD) for. There’s a gym in the building. Opportunity for growth in the company. Such a nice atmosphere too.

I’m excited! Well, that’s what’s new with me! God is soooo amazing!

Hope all is well with everyone. Take care and be blessed. Love lots, E

…Another year older! Oh my word! Though it has to be said, it doesn’t feel any different. It’s after midnight and technically my birthday has finished, but the festivities shall continue over the course of the weekend. Spoiled? Just a touch!

My day began extremely early…well especially if you count the phone calls and text messages at midnight. But my morning officially began with Ashe’s wake up call at 7 in the morning. But I was pre-warned, so it wasn’t like it was a rude awakening or anything. Ashe and I had our good chat…the typical hour long type! Catching up is always great. Her phone call was soon followed by everyone else. From my cousins, aunt, to Ghie, Grace & Mei, to my old friends, high school friends and even ex workmates. It was well cool. So to all those who remembered, thanks so much, you so totally brightened my day!

I spent the morning running errands with my Mom, driving her around and what not. We had to get last minute stuff for the pancit (noodles) which is tradition to always have when there’s a birthday for LONG LIFE. Picked up the Spring Rolls that my Mom’s friend had made for me. Bummed around at home before having to get ready for the family dinner at Bongiorno’s Italian Restaurant, a place which we frequented back in my day!

So funny, all the cousins (kids) were in one long table and the adults (parents) were in another. How things never change regardless of how old you get. It was nice to have quality time with my siblings and cousins. There’s bound to be a few laughs when you get all of us in one room. Usually at each other’s expense!

Tomorrow I have dinner with my friends, which I am looking forward to. I have been getting back into the whole picture slowly yet surely. How some things never change, in some ways it’s comforting.

Saturday night is reserved for my sister, my girl cousins and my somewhat adopted older sister. Girl’s Night In. Which shall be well fun!

It’s bizarre, because the more time that passes, the more it feels like I never left, but in saying that, I feel the distinct difference in me. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who sees it, and if I am, it’s scary to think it can just slip away. In two years I have learned to stand on my own, and though I make compromises in order to avoid ruffling of feathers I am aftrraid that if I keep doing that I end up in the same place I started. Where do you draw the fine line? How do you draw it?

Today was a good day. I’m grateful for it. I’m thankful that I am settling down, little by little. I am learning to close the door to a season that has ended, and all that goes with it. I held on so tightly because it felt like if I held on, then I hold on to what I have learned, what I have grown into, but I am slowly learning that I have to hold on to the lessons and not the season. If that at all makes sense. I can’t hold on to my independence, by holding on to the place where I learned them from. I can only retain them by retaining the lessons I learned. It’s a choice. Soooo, I am making that choice.

Anyways, it’s almost one and tomorrow’s going to be a big day too. Hope y’all have a great weekend ahead.

At my Sis’ Birthday 010706 (with the Brother and the Sister!)

It has been sometime since my last blog and I figure it?s time to update. So here tis? my update from OZ.

I am hours away from having to do a testimony at my friend?s church, and though I have a deep sense of peace about what I had written, the thought of standing in front of everyone is a little more than NERVE racking.

Week Two over, and it seems that the initial shock of no longer being in London has worn off.

Well it?s now Monday morning. I know, I know, I?m getting slack. It seems harder to blog of late.

I spent most of the week at my sister?s place and hung out with the Ats?! On Saturday I had my friends? church?s Anniversary. The testimony I wrote was thrown to the side as it all changed when I got there.

Saturday evening was spent with my old friends. It was nice to be able to catch up properly and little by little it?s starting to feel ?home? again. The boys played poker and the girls?well, there was karaoke involved, so you can picture the laughs that was had at each other?s expenses. Once again I thank my beloved friends for picking out POINTED songs on my behalf!

I am currently enlisting myself to numerous agencies and applying for countless jobs and now playing the waiting game.

In the spirit of my upcoming ?coming of age? ? I have been shamelessly shopping. Last week while I was at my sister?s place we went shopping. I finally got my IPOD. (Thank you C for organising my pay!) I have decided to call him Bert. So Bert and I have been hanging out a lot of late. Hey, I?m unemployed I have time to play with my toys and even name them. Have I mentioned my phone is called Ernie? It seemed only fitting, seeing as I got them both on the same day. You can reach me on Ernie +61 410 583 784!

I?ve been having a lot of good days. Some days are harder than some, but I know with time, it?ll fall into place.

I am driving more and more, which I am enjoying and looking forward to being able to do it without adult supervision, but it does give me bonding time with my Mom. Even if it means biting ones lower lip and gripping the wheel extremely hard to preserve composure.

?Right! I said RIGHT!!!? she says as she points to the left. *e looks confused*

We?re having a family dinner for my actual birthday. All 20 of my immediate family! We?re going to the local Italian Restaurant that we used to frequently visit before I left. Then Friday I have dinner plans with my friends. Saturday, I have a Girl?s Night with my sis? and cousins, which will be fun seeing as it?s going to be the first one for me. Initiation me thinks! FUN FUN!

Anyways?best go. Muchos hugs!

Thanks Ashe for my surprise in the mail.