Things have been a bit stressful the last few days. Today's the first day I can feel my zen-like calm returning. My team-mate who started at the same time as me was made redundant on Friday, so I've had the whole weekend to stress and obsess about my job security. Talking it out with the boss on Monday did help to allay some of those fears, I just hope they realise that other people are taking risks along with them, and I hope they look after us. We did get some good news today though - we've managed to get out of our hugely expensive building lease, and we'll be moving in a month, so that's all good. Since it's just the four of us now, and usually it's just one or two in the office, I don't think we should bother getting another office. But obviously it's not my decision. I think we're eyeballing a space near the train station, so hopefully we won't be moving too far. A colleague is suggesting moving to the Tech Park which has some merits, but seems a bit far out of the way for everyone but him. I guess we'll find out soon what is happening.
Micky ran the Weetbix Kids Triathlon today. I don't know what her time was, but she finished it which is the main thing. I think she was quite quick, but it's not a timed event - it's more about the kids participating and being outside and exercising. She's very pleased with herself right now. Just next time she does an event, I would hope she'd be more self-motivating. Kids always want to do things, but don't want to put in the effort required to do it. Then it becomes a burden on the parents.
It was a bit of a sideshow getting to our first Supanova convention. I was starting to wonder if we were going to get there, because we spent hours trying to paint Micky's face up to look like Queen Amidala. She'd gotten this ridiculous burgundy medieval costume, but after spending two hours trying to paint her face white, but not have it so white that she looked like a clown, or streaky, blotchy, or patchy we eventually packed it in and swapped the costume for a white Princess Leia getup. Beeb on the other hand was much simpler, and his Batman costume went down a treat.It was a little embarassing initially getting on the train, because people were staring, and we'd just realised we could see Micky's green knickers through her costume. Bay insisted on pointing it out to people on the street, much to her embarassment. We then had some problems finding the event, but it wasn't too far to walk, and the train turned out to be quite convenient vs. trying to find some parking.
The event was smaller than Armageddon in NZ, and the guests were a bit disappointing. But maybe this was just a one-off and the next one will be better. Lando didn't look like he was getting a lot of patronage, and I always feel sorry for them when they come all this way and wind up just sitting there. There were certainly plenty of Star Wars clubs there in costume, so maybe he had a big burst of visitors at some point during the day. There were a lot more merchandise sellers there than NZ, and the range was a lot better too. A lot more variety of collectibles, and things that we never even get at home. Rob finally bought a LOTR sword - she's been wanting one for ages, and it's magnificent! I collected a lot of business cards, so I'll probably follow up some of these places/groups on the net. I might join a club and see if I can meet some people. It was really interesting to see what some of the artists were offering there too, and I feel sure that if Hottie and I can get our act together, we'd be able to produce something we could sell there.
One big difference, a lot more people turning up in costumes. That was really neat to see, and I commented to Rob when we left that it's a bit like the commercial where they advise at what point swimming togs turn into underwear - at the convention everyone's normal, comfortable, safe; it's only when you get out on the street a distance from the convention, no other costumed people around, that you become weird, and people start staring at you and pointing. Having said that, it looked like fun, and I might like to try going as something next year. Perhaps something with a mask or helmet that I can hide behind? The kids want us to make the costumes next time, which was something we didn't have time to do this year, because we weren't originally planning on taking them.Anyway, it was all good fun. The people were really nice and friendly, the event was pretty busy and chaotic. I really enjoyed it, and we'll be looking forward to the next event.
We enjoyed the Boondall track so much, we went back and did the Boondall to Sandgate ride today. The kids did really well to ride the 16.5 kms, although they're a bit slow moving for my taste. Nice gentle, mostly flat ride out along the railway tracks, through the outskirts of the suburbs, through some parks (Curlew Park was full of bats along the mangroves), and back out along the seaside to Sandgate. Really nice area, very reminiscent of Mission Bay in Auckland. I'd like to go back and do the ride without the kids next time so we can go a bit further along Sandgate, because you can ride right along the beachfront.
After we got back we had a picnic which was good, until squadrons of giant mosquitos started attacking us. I've never seen something leave so much blood on your skin when you swat it. That's one thing about Australia, everything's bloody big and bloody hungry. NZ doesn't have snakes, crocs, sharks, giant insects, lizards, dingos, and assorted other animals that're all out to eat you. They eventually drove us out of the park, furiously biting at us, and a few weren't giving up without a fight, pursuing us back to the car.
After we got back we had a picnic which was good, until squadrons of giant mosquitos started attacking us. I've never seen something leave so much blood on your skin when you swat it. That's one thing about Australia, everything's bloody big and bloody hungry. NZ doesn't have snakes, crocs, sharks, giant insects, lizards, dingos, and assorted other animals that're all out to eat you. They eventually drove us out of the park, furiously biting at us, and a few weren't giving up without a fight, pursuing us back to the car.
We went out to the Boondall Wetlands today. I thought it would be easy for Beeb to ride since it's mostly flat. It was a really nice ride with lots of little bridges, and some gentle slopes. He did really well, and although it didn't really challenge us, it was still a nice bit of gentle exercise. There were a lot of cyclists down there, so it's obviously quite popular.We spotted our first snake. Rob let out a scream in the carpark, and I thought she had some giant spider crawling over her body. I didn't realise that there was a snake crawling along the ground. It was a small grass snake - about 20cms long and about as thick as a pencil. Surprisingly enough I didn't freak out about it like I expected I would. It didn't seem to be very interested in us, and just slithered away into the bushes.
Before we went out we finally sorted out the garage, and have achieved some kind of order at last. We've got a little bit more room to move around now which is good, but we're going to have quite a bit of stuff packed in boxes for the moment. That's one of the worst things about moving - having to pack up your life and unpack it again. I was really disappointed to find my file server wasn't working this morning. I'm going to have to take it apart later and have a look at what's wrong. Hopefully it's just something cheap and simple to replace like the power supply - I really don't want the drives to be damaged.
We're going out to celebrate our achievements and hard work on our latest project today. It's really nice to finally work for someone that appreciates your efforts. I've never had a company treat me so well, even down to little things like checking that I'm doing okay. So I'm really looking forward to going out and socializing with my workmates (something pretty much unheard of in NZ), and then tomorrow is a long weekend for Easter. I'm hoping to squeeze in some mountain biking finally.
Rob finally got a job - she is now working with finding people apprenticeship's. She's very excited about the job, and I'm hoping that this will provide some challenge and room to grow in her life, instead of just dealing with daily stupidity like, who likes what boy at school, or who was playing with dog poo at lunchtime. I can understand why she goes a bit nuts at home with the kids sometimes, I had the same thing when she was away overseas last. Sometimes you just need to have some adult conversation.
Micky's triathlon is coming up soon. I took her down to the orientation for it the other day. It's going to be absolutely insane driving to the city, so we've decided we're going to take the train in instead. Shouldn't be a problem taking the bike on it since it's the weekend. Although lately people don't seem to be worrying about it much, and we're getting morons jamming their bikes into the carriages with the commuters during peak time. It's ridiculously cozy in there most of the time - people packed in tightly like sardines in a can.
Beeb is lacking focus at school, and the teacher is having a lot of trouble getting him to stay on task. Apparently he just wanders off and does his own thing. I wondered if he's bored, and they're not challenging him enough, since he comes home everyday with new facts that he's learned, so he's obviously taking things in. We're going to try to incentivize his performance now - Rob's holding a Lego Star Wars game that he wants, but he won't get it until he's earned enough stars on his chart at school.
Rob finally got a job - she is now working with finding people apprenticeship's. She's very excited about the job, and I'm hoping that this will provide some challenge and room to grow in her life, instead of just dealing with daily stupidity like, who likes what boy at school, or who was playing with dog poo at lunchtime. I can understand why she goes a bit nuts at home with the kids sometimes, I had the same thing when she was away overseas last. Sometimes you just need to have some adult conversation.
Micky's triathlon is coming up soon. I took her down to the orientation for it the other day. It's going to be absolutely insane driving to the city, so we've decided we're going to take the train in instead. Shouldn't be a problem taking the bike on it since it's the weekend. Although lately people don't seem to be worrying about it much, and we're getting morons jamming their bikes into the carriages with the commuters during peak time. It's ridiculously cozy in there most of the time - people packed in tightly like sardines in a can.
Beeb is lacking focus at school, and the teacher is having a lot of trouble getting him to stay on task. Apparently he just wanders off and does his own thing. I wondered if he's bored, and they're not challenging him enough, since he comes home everyday with new facts that he's learned, so he's obviously taking things in. We're going to try to incentivize his performance now - Rob's holding a Lego Star Wars game that he wants, but he won't get it until he's earned enough stars on his chart at school.
The latest season of Doctor Who has started back on the BBC. I can't wait for it to come on over here. The episodes are as follows:3.1 Smith and Jones
The Doctor faces the dreaded Judoon, intergalactic alien stormtroopers who have transported a hospital to the moon... including the young Martha Jones.
3.2 The Shakespeare Code
Shakespeare gives the performance of his life to save the Earth from destruction at the hands of fearsome flying witches.
3.3 Gridlock
The Doctor returns to New Earth, and encounters the Face of Boe again.
3.4 Daleks in Manhattan
(Two-Part Story)
The Doctor and Martha visit New York in the 1930s... and run into an experiment by the Daleks to disrupt the fabric of time!
3.5 Evolution of the Daleks
3.6 The Lazarus Experiment
The famed scientist Dr. Lazarus may have developed the fountain of youth!
3.7 42
The Doctor and Martha visit a spaceship in a distant part of the galaxy.
3.8 Human Nature
(Two-Part Story)
The Doctor settles down to lead a normal life in a boarding school, in an adaptation of Cornell's novel "Human Nature".
3.9 Family of Blood
3.10 Blink
A Doctor Who horror story!
3.11 Utopia
The Tardis goes to the planet Malcassairo... where a lonely and patient professor is giving his all to save his people from extinction.
3.12 The Sound of Drums
(Two-Part Story)
The last of the Time Lords? Maybe. Then again, maybe not...
3.13 Last of the Time Lords
