Great day at the Football

It was bloody freezing standing on the sidelines watching both the kids play today.  They both played really well.

Alex played what many said was her best game to date, including her coach Kevin who gave her a brilliant wrap minutes before her collecting an award for great gameplay.  He said "it was the best game he witnessed her play in the 3 years that he had coached her".  As a mam and dad we were both very proud.  Unfortunately the Under 11's lost today - only their 2nd loss this year.

Oliver also played well surprising his coach Russell by asking to try a different position.  Oliver's team had a brilliant win - something that the team needed.  Ollie also got an award tonight - WOOHOO clean sweep for the Murray kids.

Great work kids.... you guys rock xx

Nana's birthday

Today is Nana's birthday, Noel's mam.

This year we won't get to see her as both Mam and Dad are on their way to Tweed Heads for a relaxing holiday.  We did celebrate the other week with all the family up at their house for dinner. 

So a phone call this morning wishing her a wonderful day filled with love and laughter is this year's celebration.  Great chatting with her this morning.  She was really happy with our Happy Birthday serenade.... lol laughing as we probably hurt her ears!!

~ Happy Birthday Nana ~

Back in the groove....

Yes it is back in the groove - full swing ahead with the Murray household.  Menu planning, shopping, cleaning, homework, catching up on a week, etc... I am back in my element. Yes truly I am.

Ollie got picked up this morning to go to the U18's and waterboy followed by the other 2 senior games at the Pines.  Huge day for him and in the rain at times but he enjoys earning the money.  $35 for running water for 3 games on a Saturday is quite good for a 14 year old I guess.

Noel, Alex and I went shopping and had lunch at Mambo's instead of eating at the dodgy food court.  I don't mind going there and it is away from the shopping centre.

Alex is still working on her project of the Australian Federation focussing on Edmund Barton.  She is putting 110% in as usual but I will be so glad when she has handed it in and it is over.

Have decided tonight is DVD night and as a family we are going to sit down and watch Hugo.

Enjoy your Saturday xxx

YAY Home again....

Nothing beats returning home especially to my family.... hubby, ever supportive and loving, kids glad to see me back and as we know a child's love is unconditional. It definitely makes the travel and time away for work worth it upon my return.

I had a huge week away - the stress of my work tasks and of course there was another issues work related which I ended up being involved in as an Independent or as it was subtly put "a fresh set of eyes" but that's my job and I do enjoy it.

Noel's job interview went really well. YAY!!  The management there spoke about all aspects of the job, a medical would be required if he was to make it through and that they weren't starting until mid July.  Noel, positive about the interview, expected to hear from the company next week or so.  Only to recieve a phone call that afternoon stating we might as well get the ball rolling and get that medical done early next week.  OMG things are looking brilliant but I hope they turn out that way.  I am really excited for him but worried at the same time.  Overall great news to come home to.

It is probably just as cold in Melbourne as it has been in Tasmania except that there has been a lot of rain. 

But that doesn't matter because I am home xxxx

Homeward stretch.... farewell Tasmania!

Before leaving Hobart to go home, I have a very interesting day ahead, infact the last few days have been very interesting....I commented yesterday that "I just got to tell myself that I am doing this because I can make a difference!!"

This is something my gorjus husband sent me:

Today is a new day,hold your head high smile take a deep breath and move forward,life is full of ups and downs,what u did yesterday is history,and what might happen today may change our lives for ever,cannot wait to be with you tonight so we can be a family, wish me luck this morning,this is what I have wanted for over 12 months,love you miss you xxx

Management asked me to become involved in an EEO (Equal Employment Opportunity) issue - main problem Bullying and Harrassment in the work place.  I have found the last two days very hard, interviewing many involved, striving to stay independent while trying to keep my emotions at bay.  This is the first EEO issue that I have been involved in - only newly appointed to the role I haven't even done any formal training.  I guess I was in the wrong place at the right time!!

This morning will see me meet with all involved including the operations mananager.  My gut already knows the outcome - it's just the scenarios which I keep playing in my fuzzy brain.

Yes fuzzy brain.... last night as stress relief I went nightclubbing.  Yep me at a night club... actually several night clubs and several fruit tingles later I found myself back in the hotel room at around 2am... it was about 3.30 am by the time I relaxed enough for sleep.  All the managers and us visitors went out for dinner at the Drunken Admiral.  Then as dinner wrapped up and we were saying our good byes one of the gents from the Quarry said he was going to find another place to hang - too early to go home. Every one was surprised at my spasmotic agreement with a work collegue to kick on for the night but I beleive I needed to release some tension and try and destress - no chance of clearning my head though.

Noel has a job interview this morning at Bombardier - a company he has been trying to get into for approximately a year now.  I am crossing fingers and toes for him as this job has been a dream, a desire for him for so long now.  It is better hours, better pay, better conditions, full time so there is job security along with the benefits of holiday and sick pay.  I know I will have that in my mind while getting on with my day - I am just praying that it goes well.

Oh well.... let us see what today holds... I honestly cannot wait to get home xxx

Busy Busy Busy!!!!!

Thank god I am part of this family or I wouldn't keep up with the happenings of late.  The Murray family has been very busy.

Currently I am away again with work.  Sitting here at the moment in Longford Concrete Plant, Tasmania.  It's a chilly 2 degrees outside and about 3 degrees inside the batch hut!!  I flew into Launceston last night after spending Monday evening in Geelong, working on another project.  I am here with Terry to complete a Front End Loader assessment and also the Housekeeping Photo capture.  The two of us will be moving on to Hobart this afternoon where we have a Zero Harm presentation and will meet up with our manager Veronica.  All 3 of us will leave Hobart Friday afternoon - YAY just in time for the weekend.

Noel and the kids are well. 

Noel has had car troubles this week and thankfully was able to stop his car Monday morning without damaging it or any ofther vehicle.  A malfuncation whilst driving to work causing the Land Rover to loose it's brakes making for an interesting trip up the freeway.  One tow truck later, a missed day of work and a car sitting at the mechanics waiting to be fixed.  Luckily we have kept my old Magna (as I have a company car) so he has a vehicle to drive around in.

Alex is busy with a school project about the Federation of Australia.  I love how she loves school and learning, always putting in a 110% effort on school work both in the classroom and at home.  For extra project points she is making a bust of Edmund Barton, Australia's first prime minister.

Oliver finally returned to football this weekend after breaking his arm 5 weeks ago.  He was pretty excited and played well.The team won against the Rovers so that was a bonus also.  At school they are discussing career options and education choices - strange to believe that my little boy is nearly in Year 10 and half way through high school!!  Where has the time gone?

Enough blogging...the sun has risen so I can start my Japanese tourist impression with my camera taking photos of the Longford plant.  Hard to take photo's in the dark!

Enjoy xx

Murray family dinner.....

Mam and Dad arrived home from their holidays but we hadn't caught up with them until tonight.  It was great to see them, even though you could tell they were still exhausted from their adventures and the jet lag that they were experiencing.

We had yummy dinner of Roast Pork but the highlight was just catching up with not only the two of them but with Sean and Vicky also.  It seems like forever since we have seen them also.

It was great to hear all about Mam and Dad's adventures and all the places that they went too.  Some of their destinations sounded so beautiful, some I had visited myself and brought back memories of my days of travelling... many many moons ago. Long before I became a Murray!

It was great talking with Sean and Vicky and catching up with them, something we should definitely do more often.  They used the Gold Class Tickets that we gave Vicky for her birthday last year, with Vicky's parents having the boys giving them a night out by themselves.

Mam recieved her birthday present from the family, a bowling jacket, as she will be away for her birthday next weekend.  They are heading to Tweed Heads as they do most years at this time.  Hopefully they will have a safe trip and an enjoyable time.

Teeth Chattering & Knees Knocking!!

I have now made my way to Hobart and it is still cold.   One more night and we can all go home - mind you from what I hear it hasn't been that much warmer in Melbourne.

Last night I had a lovely dinner at The Squires Bounty at Salamanca Place with Mark, Terry and Veronica.  The food was delish and the company was brilliant.  I love catching up with Mark, we have formed a close friendship since we first met and spent time together in Brisbane for work. OMG what a week of work and alcohol that was!!  LOL!!

Today will be a pretty full on day at work - mainly mentally but I do have to drive back up to Launceston for an important meeting (for want of a describing word this point in time). I will say however I am not looking forward to that but it is a requirement. 

Tonight on the other hand will be another fantastic evening.  Dinner at The Drunken Admiral, one of my favourite Hobart restaurants with managers and supervisors for both quarry and concrete and their partners.  They always get together and take me for dinner when I am in Hobart.  Any excuse for a piss up I reckon but it's lovely to see the social side of them all - and it's always a hoot.

Better go stand back in front of the heater!! 

Queen's Birthday - Long weekend.

Happy Birthday to the Queen 2012 and thank you for a long weekend.

 
With all the Regal celebrations - the Queen's Diamond Jubilee -we just had a wonderful but quiet weekend... with Noel and I spending some great quality time together.

Alex was away at Lakes Entrance with her friend, Tammy, celebrating Tammy's birthday.  She left Friday from school and was home Monday afternoon. 

Oliver had his friend Max over , spending most of the time in the bedroom on the X-Box only coming out for food and toilet breaks.  I guess just like most teenage boys do!

As for Noel and I, well we entertained ourselves.

Saturday night we had a date!!  Dinner out at Blu Restaurant in Patterson Lakes.  The food was nice, the service good but it was a very noisy restaurant but it was busy.  We both agreed that it would also be a nice restaurant to have lunch in - especially over looking the water's edge.  We shared a dip and bread platter for entree followed by a seafood platter for 2 for dinner.

Sunday we went to the local Market for a walk around, had a coffee out and about, did some shopping etc.  Max stayed again Sunday night.

Monday we caught up Kelee and went for lunch at Petaling Street in Clayton.  I have had lunch there before with work so it was nice to take Noel and Kelee there.  We were there for several, catching up on what's been happening with us all.  We love Kelee to bits and we are all at ease with each other, being able to chat about anything and everything.

A little more shopping on Sunday, then home to get ready for work and school Tuesday and the weekend was well and truly over.