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(you might need to click on the photo to see the full story/piccy)

Yep, us girls made it into the newspaper today!  I think the reporter was most impressed with Mum though - as we all are!!!  Isn't it nice that this is something we all do together still?  I love that Mum is still out there playing, and that Kerry is back to play with us again - and that Emily can finally join in after years of waiting!

2008 is going to be a good year!

:)

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I GOT THE JOB!!!!

WOOHOOO!!!!

You are all now talking to the new Relationship Development Coordinator for Central Queensland University!

I got a phone call today offering me the job.  I asked for feedback on my interview, and was simply told I was 'outstanding'.  How wonderful is that???

She also said that it was obvious that I'd put a lot of preparation and thought into my application, and really understood what the job was about.

So, I start on the 25th March - just after Easter.  I have SO much to get organised for Matisse before then - some big stuff, and some small stuff...

Got a bit teary at the thought of leaving Matisse too - I love this company, and the job is agreat opportunity - but I am excited in a scared silly kind of way to be taking on a new challenge!

I will post more later - we're going out to dinner!

xx

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The unexpainable

At the moment, Emily, who is but a mere 9 years old, is listening to her newest most favourite song - You spin me right round, baby, right round, like a record baby, right round round round....

I'm not convinced if she even knows what a record IS!!! I have no idea why this song has become her favourite - but it is! Yes, it's from a 'hits of the 80's) type album... which we were listening to the other night... along with 'you think you're a man, but you're only a boy. you think you're a man, you are only a toy. you think you're a man, but you just couldn't see... you weren't man enough to satisfy me... '

Which, after a couple of wines, had me up and dancing - only to realise that Michael did NOT know the song!!!

And I have to confess, the past month or so, Allan has just shot up in height - and is really becoming a man now... he is nearly the same height as his Dad, and I have to be careful to make sure who's who when I see them out of the corner fo my eye.

And Kerry is HERE!!!! WOOHOOO!!!! Got plenty of cuddles from Baby Mitchell - and lots more from little Zoe - who is still a walking personality! She has gotten over giving us all the cold shoulder though - so that's nice - and it's so wonderful to hear her talking and saying 'Arr-an' and 'e-me-li' and Ahny Sally. Very, very cute.

For those that are interested, had my interview for 'Graduate Relations officer' at the Uni. It was an hour long, and I wasn't on the top of my game - but I think I did quite well. I know I hit some of the questions out of the ball park - and others - well I know I answered them all OK, just hope they weren't looking for specific phrases. They have one more person to interview next week, and then I find out.

I'm up to my neck again marking assignments at the moment (again!). I must say how much I appreciate the HD students - they make marking that much quicker - and more interesting!

And there was SUNSHINE here, and some of the good ole Rocky summer weather - which we haven't really seen much of all summer!

Just saw a draft of the netball draw... and my team has a BYE!!! That is SO NOT FAIR!!! The amount of work we have done to get the season up and going - I desperately NEED a hit out on the courts! *SIGH*

Now, I'm just procrastinating as I don't want to mark anymore assignments - perhaps I should make a reward up if I get them all done... but then I'll be too tired! LOL!

Happy happy chappies!

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Here's a couple of my latest projects - on canvas. They were so much fun to do - and relatively simple.

We are now finally moved in, and settled into our new house - although it was an extremely stressful time for us - and settlement was delayed after much ado!  But, it's done now - thank goodness!!!!  Having a housewarming party on Friday... can't wait to celebrate!

Tomorrow I am going for an interview for a great job out at the Uni - Relationship Development Coordinator.  It is all to do with graduates, and keeping them involved with the Uni once they graduate.  Would be right up my alley - and the pay is good - so here's hoping!  I've nearly forgotten what it's like to interview - better bust out the refresher course!

I'm also going to be the course co-ordinator for a subject called "Marketing Promotions" - a bit step for me - but sure to be an interesting one.

Oh, and in a couple of days, my sister, Kerry will be moving back here - WOOHOO!!!

Kids are back at school, and settled in.  Classes have resumed here for painting - and all is great.  Netball is about to kick off next week - and it's great to see that we have 12 teams nominted this year - a 50% increase on last years!  After all the stress and work, I'd really just like a game of netball now...

... that's not all... but I really don't want to get into the floods, water damage saga... today has had sunshine for the first time in ages... and I'm hoping it stays that way for a bit!

Hope everyone out there is doing great!

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A NEW house for us!

Guess what! We've signed a contract on a NEW HOUSE!!!!







Here's the details:

• 352 Philp Avenue, Frenchville (Berserker Heights) Rockhampton
• 604m2 block
• 3 huge bedrooms upstairs
• 1 bedroom, one large office, and a rumpus room downstairs
• Large central internal stairs
• Harry Potter/storage room under stairs
• New kitchen
• Bathroom/toilet upstairs AND downstairs
• Polished wood floors throughout
• Security screens throughout
• Air-conditioning in all upstairs bedrooms, lounge/kitchen, rumpus/office
• Landscaped gardens with automatic sprinkler system
• 2 car garage - one with remote access (Open Sesame)
• 2 bedrooms with huge built in cupboards, 1 with a walk in wardrobe (not the main one either!)
• Gas hot water/stove top
• Long verandah runs across front of house - with access from lounge and 2 bedrooms
• Lovely large back deck

Have a look - settlement is 5 February 2008... WOOHOO!

Done and dusted!

Well, I could nearly cry... it's all over, and we're back home.

Firstly, before I recap anything, let me share with you my claim to fame...
It’s available to view on-line via the TVNZ website (free of charge): http://tvnz.co.nz/content/?o=&k=&style=tvnz&s=d&b=2007-11-31T00%3A00%3A00&a=2007-11-01T00%3A00%3A00&ct=video&ayear=2007&amonth=11&byear=2007&bmonth=11&q=finals (the story is titled ‘Netball quarter finals in sight’).

Word of warning, I don't 'normally' talk like that I'm sure... but I was very nervous!

Now, back to the recap.... as you saw from Mum's post, the Jamaicans nearly bumped NZ out of their Grand Finals chance - and were, for the most of the game, the better team. I was SO impressed at how they played - not anywhere near the normal brutal game - I always thought they'd be dangerous if they ever got some control - and they were! Luckily for both teams they also got the best umpires - which made the game about netball, not rugby, as Mum stated.

Not so lucky for the Grand Finals... what a nail biter! I heard there were 3 heart attacks at the venue - and I think that was just my heart stopping all the time! Kerry and I managed to choke the life out of FOUR of the Aussie clappers - and Mum ended up a blubbering mess at the end of the game. I'm sure Jodie has finger marks where Mum was sqeezing her!

The umpiring was ... well... let me think of a more appropriate 4 letter words.... Nup, can't... we'll go with 'inadequate' and honestly, very lopsided. Bodies flew everywhere, not call, or worse, the WRONG call. Then, there was wee little hand brushes that WERE called! Go figure????

But the girls pulled through, battered but not beaten - we were SO proud. And, you're not going to believe this, but Norma GRINNED and waved to us!!! You could see this title meant the world to Liz as she tried to compose herself before being interviewed - she was nearly as emotional as Mum... nearly!

On the bus trip home, I was nearly in tears as I realised it was all over, and our little 'routine' was shattered. No more hot bread shop, no more date scones, no more cooked breakfasts... no more Aussie, Aussie Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi! No more time with our new friends.....

However, we did finish the trip off really nicely.... we got to NZ international airport about the same time as the team did - and at about the same place - so we got to cheer them off, and give Liz a huge round of applause as she came in with the world cup with her luggage! And then, they were all drifting around the duty free shopping while we were there.... so hard not to fun up and make a scene!

Well, that's all for now.... Back to reality.... and the Runaways AGM... *sigh*...

Today's the day

There was some good netball played today and some good rugby. Australia was a bit scrappy in the shooting circle but this wasn't helped by some inconsistent umpiring. Jamaica defended, shot and used space very well. They pulled ahead early on, but, after a tactical time-out, the Kiwis were able to literally knock out one of their opposition in the shooting circle and gained the upper hand. The stadium was packed to the rafters and the atmosphere was electric. Tonight there will be standing room only. Aussies and Kiwis love their netball and look on their players as superstars. I only hope that it will be netball we get to watch tonight and not rugby as I really feel that any team which resorts to strong deliberate contact designed to take out players have not "won" regardless of their nationality.
We went to a good Japanese restaurant today, the food was beautiful and the service good. The cake shop around the corner from the restaurant is totally to blame for the weight we've all put on (maybe not for Kerry's) and we've never seen sandwiches and cakes so good AND cheap. $1.10 NZ for an apricot turnover, the same for a large date scone $2.20 for a really healthy sandwich.
The breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with Vicki Wilson was a great success. The food part of the morning was unhealthily greasy, but the entertainment part was great. The Australian netball team came along and said hello and Vicki told a few stories from the past. She held a netball trivia competition and Jodie won! Out of nearly 150 people! She was given an Australian netball cap signed by the whole team!
Jo and Shell went down to the pub to celebrate getting into the finals, and were shouted drinks. They were late back, had a marvellous time and have declared that we are all going down there tonight, win or lose, old or pregnant.
It is unreal to think we are heading back to Australia tomorrow. On one hand I would love to see more of Auckland but on the other I want to go HOME.
Bye, Helen