January report

It's now the last day of January.  Where did the last 31 days of 2013 go?  For the first three weeks it was still school holidays but it was a busy month, settling back home after our holiday over the festive season, getting the girl's school supplies ready and our bowling leagues resumed for a new season of play. 

Consider the last two digits of our year is known as a lucky or unlucky number I am starting to wonder if this superstition is really true.  It seems our Mother Nature is doing her best in trying to destroy us in our country.  We had heatwaves, bushfires and a wild monsoon trough.  Flooding was the last thing on QLD's mind.  Most residents and businesses only just got back on their feet after the 2011 floods. It seems Bundy was the worst flood on record as it was a high topic via the media.  Parts of SE QLD coast and inland was hit too but it wasn't really mention alot about these cities on TV. 

Good thing about Brisbane and Ipswich Rivers they didn't exceed to their high peak this time. But they did have one problem to be worried about for 24-48 hours.  A shortest of town water supply!  You think after all the rain we had, many litres of water would be stored but not so in this case as the town's treatment plant had muddy floodwaters in the supply.  We were all advised to limit intake of town water. For the ones that weren't affected by the floodwaters we only use water for cooking, bathing, drinking (but I don't why because it is horrible taste to drink) and toileting. I knew it wasn't a good taste as I could smell the water after I had my shower before the floods started.

Wish them good luck when it comes to insurance claims again!!  I heard tonight about some people are still waiting on their insurance claim payout from 2011 incident.  Where is the client's money?  Most of these clients properly paid their home and contents for donkey years and never had to make a claim until 2011 or now.

The best highlight of my month would have to be purchasing a new car.  After 2-3 weeks my car was picked up and I have driven in it for a week now to Brisbane, shops and now back to normal routine since school resumed on yesterday. 

My 12 yo daughter started high school this year.  After the first two days she reported she has enjoyed her days there at her new school environment.  She might think differently once the workload really comes in.

Hope mother nature will be nice to you all for the month of February. 

Back to School

Yesterday was the last day for kids to be home for the summer holidays.  Their holidays sure ended well with a huge blast from Mother Nature in our state. 

 

During their last week of their school holidays a monsoon trough (caused from ex-TC Oswald) travelled down all of QLD coast.  Most areas experienced cyclonic conditions to heavy rainfall, storms and gusty winds for days.  Of course this caused flooding and unfortunately some residents in our state had to experience floodwaters again.  They only just got back on the feet from the tloods in 2011.

 

All State Schools in Queensland supposely resume back to school for a new year of learning today but well over 220 schools aren't opened because of the floodwaters or no power restored still.  My 12 yo daughter supposely started her first day of high school today but we weren't aware there was no school due to no power. This school wasn't even listed on TV or the education department website.  It wasn't until I arrived in the carpark one of the teachers announced there is no school due to no power!! 

 

At this stage no one really knows when school will resume in this area.  It doesn't make any sense.  Some areas in Logan have power while others don't.  Does the electricity company even know alot of areas don't have power?  DId the residents contact them to say there is no power where they live?

Gotta love tennis!

Hi everyone!  How's your week been going?  Most of this week I have been watching the Australian Open Tennis on TV.  I think all Australians might be out of the competition now.

 

On Sunday night it was the return back to bowling league again after a six week break.  My team done well on the first night back.  We won all the points!!

 

On Tuesday I went to the craft store for the first time in one month to sit and casual scrap with some friends.  It was a nice day out to be creative in air conditioned comfort.  I will be back there on next Tuesday to do more creative pages.  Guess I better get more photos printed by then.

 

I am still waiting for the new car to be delivered.  I guess the car had to shipped in to Brisbane from overseas afterall.  The vehicles might of arrived at the dealership on Thursday. It might be another working day or two before I should get it after the windows get tinted and the paperwork for the new rego to be done.  At this stage I am guessing I should get the new car by Wednesday, I hope. 

 

There is only one week of school holidays left which I will have to get my act together to get the kid's school booklist and uniforms prepared, ready for the following week.

 

Better think about getting to bed shortly.  I will be out during the day tomorrow, catching up with a friend who is currently staying in Brisbane.  Have a good Sunday! 

New Year Resolutions

Its now the 11th day into 2013 and the thought has came across my mind about making some New Year Resolutions for once.  We have been visiting a couple of car dealerships as a new car is on our shopping menu for this year.  Finally came across a model I love and the business paperwork has been finalized today.  Our new car should be picked up and driven fully registered by this time next week.  For the ones who are curious to know which model, it's a Toyota Corolla Ascent Sports Model.  But my car will be a red hatchback.  This model has only been on the market for six weeks now.  And I heard it will be the most quite model you might see

I had a busy week with normal commitments with the kids. On Tuesday we had a day out at the shopping centre and social bowling.  Monique had a sleepover at one of friend's house on Wednesday.  As for this weekend who knows?  Just take the weekend as it comes.  But I do know my bowling league resumes back on Sunday night.

Whatver plans you might have, a good weekend. 

Unexpected start to the New Year

Where did the past eight days of 2013 go?  It's hard to believe a week of 2013 has passed on by already. At bowling yesterday I saw the countdown for 2013 NYE on. Don't know why as it is many weeks away. I think the bowling alley staff might of forgotten to turn off the computer program for the display to be seen.  But like someone else said on facebook, everything is too commericalized these days. 

 

My spirit of holiday celebrations are long gone out the window these days. I never bothered dealing with festive season celebrations last year.  It was just too much was going on in 2012. And I am not sure if 2013 will be any better.  Don't they say 13 is an unlucky number for some?

 

After returning home from my summer holiday on NYE, I was abit road lagged for a couple of days.  After I caught up on some sleep I was busy spring cleaning Rachel's room.  I have other rooms to do as well but it might be a little while before I can do that now as I have a sore arm.  I was mildly hit by a car yesterday!  I was the pedestrian walking to my car at the shopping centre when a hatchback decided to reverse back into me at a low impact speed.  I heard it is quite a common incident happening at shopping centre carparks. I had close calls before but I guess yesterday was the unlucky day for it to happen. When people say they feel like they have been hit by a truck, well..... they shouldn't joke about it!!  I know what it is like to be hit by a vehicle.  I wouldn't even wish for this to happen to my worst enemy.   

 

Only Rachel saw the incident happening as she was with me.  Monique was walking further ahead of us. She probably was at the car waiting by the time I got hit.  I was more thankful it wasn't Rachel who got hit as her road sense isn't fully there as yet.  Then again most kids don't have the right sense until they are well into adult life.

 

Other then my drama in my life, there has been good times. I have been window shopping for a new car as we feel it's time for a new one as the current model is 13 years old.  It requires more mechanical work which will cost more then its current market value..  I have found this new model I love since I have seen the TV advertisements for it over summer. I haven't been for a test drive but I was very comfortable sitting in the driver's seat.  It will be a sporty model version of the vehicle.  It will only cost a $1000 more for extra features.....tinted windows, a rear spoiler, fog lights, reverse camera installed and alloy wheels.  It will be different feel with the car with some electronic devices after driving an older model for so long.

 

I caught up with one of my friends yesterday.  We went to the movies to see Life of Pi, had lunch at the cafe and went social bowling. The bowling league resumes back on this Sunday night so it was more a league practice play ready for the weekend.  Monique heard there is a big tournament to be played in Brisbane this weekend and she is keen on entering it.  But I am not happy with junior co-ordinator at the bowling alley for giving her such short notice to play. 

 

Safe travels everyone!

Summer Holidays

It is now half way into the summer school holidays and what busy times we had for the past three weeks with final preparations of Christmas and going away on holidays.  Rachel was away for three weeks while Monique and I were only away for half the time. 

Rachel only returned home tonight from her holiday at Grandma's. She must of had a great time as I just seen lots photos and videos from her ipod.  Her cousin stayed up there as well and they visited the waterpark just about every day.  Also they had another day at Australia Zoo.

Still have three weeks of school holidays left which I need to get the school supplies of their booklists and uniforms ready.  Abit of money will be spent because Rachel starts high school this year and apparently Monique's shirt will be changed too.

I am hoping to catch some new release movies at the cinema with the kids and/or friends and make some progress with some spring cleaning.  I already completed Rachel's room this week. 

Next Sunday night will be the start of the new season of league play at bowling. One of the league bowlers phoned me today to remind me the starting time.

It's getting late and I should think about getting to bed.  I had a very late night staying up, watching a midnight movie on TV. The movie is called 48 shades.  The story plot is based on the 48 shades of Brown novel about a teenage boy falls in love with a young woman who shares the same house as his auntie.  The movie was filmed in Brisbane in 2005-2006. 

Have a good night! 

Farewell 2012!!!

Goodbye 2012!  Where did the year go?  To think back in time on how the year went, I would have to say I had my ups and downs throughout the year.

I had a couple of sick relatives in hospital for a short time and one death in the family.  On top of all that I have a 14 yo child who started to become rebellious teenager by wagging school for half a term and done a runner from home twice.  All because of her 16 yo boyfriend of only five months and a new female friend in late teens she’s been hanging around with are the bad influence to her.  Both of these kids were school drop outs. She met these kids from her bowling league.  The only regret was to continue her in the same teen bowling league in 2012.

Another drama I had to deal with was my car. After 13 years of ownership, the serious mechanical problems had started.  The car wasn’t driven for about a term as I need to get a re-conditioned auto transmission and new drive shafts. Just before I plan on going away on summer holidays my car started to overheat. It turns out the thermostat started to have seizures. It will cost me $300 for a new thermostat.  At this stage we are thinking it’s about time for a new car as there is other mechanical work needs to be done which will cost more then the current market value of the vehicle.  We have afew brochures to view on which new car to buy.  There is two new hatch models I like but I will need to go for a test drive to see how comfortable it is to sit and drive in them.  Guess I better decide soon what to do as my car rego is due to be paid by next month.

My little baby girl has graduated from primary school now.  She had her school graduation on the last week of the school year in December 2012. It was a happy and a sad occassion as I knew it will be the last time we will be walking into the school grounds to see the school community.

On a good note I remained in the same bowling leagues on Sunday night and Wednesdays with the same people. But we did have a couple of new players joined our Sunday night league.  This league finished by late November. My team came 9^th and we won afew prizes for team and individual placing for the year.  Wednesday’s league finished up in early December which I managed to come 4^th and had the highest game scratch on record.  The ladies and I went out for a social dinner at a local sports club until midnight.

Scrapbooking was another hobby I spent a lot of hours throughout the year.  I attended to a lot of workshops and casual meets via a CM consultant and a local craft store near my home address. Also I was introduced to French Scrapbooking via AZZA.  This ideal method is interlocking photos onto pages and use stencils to highlight as embellishments or titles. This method probably would suit me better because I grew up using stencils all my life.

I was long overdue for a holiday which I spent 11 days with Monique in Central QLD over the festive season.  It was nice to get away from all the dramas at home.  We had the opportunity to catch up with some friends and relatives in Gladstone and Mackay. Also we had done a lot of shopping and sightseeing around both towns, beaches and the harbour.

All the best for a successful 2013! Hope all your dreams will come true.

December report

Goodbye Spring!  Hello summer!  December marks the official first month of summer in Australia. It’s time for the temperature to rise and have storms in the SE states of the country. But some tropical areas of Australia can be known to have tropical cyclones hit too.  While I was away on holidays I did see TV reports about two cyclones forming in the ocean near WA and the Coral Sea (near QLD).

Has been a busy month finalizing my Christmas card list, presents and catching up with afew friends before summer holidays started. Also I managed to watch four new release movies at the cinema.

There was only two weeks left of the school year.  Rachel had graduated her primary years at school.  She will start high school in 2013.

In the girl’s last week of school they had a fun day excursion at a water theme place.  The year 7’s had their end of the school year celebrations at Southbank while the junior grades at high school had a day at WET “N” WILD WATERPARK on the Gold Coast.

School holidays started from 15^th December and the kids will be on holidays for six weeks. In the first week Rachel was off to Grandma’s for a four week holiday in Hervey Bay. In the following week Monique and I went on our summer holiday to Central QLD for 11 days while Frank stayed at home to look after our pets and house.  It was late on NYE by the time we got home from our lovely holiday. We had a long drive home from Mackay (which about 1000km north of Brisbane).

We spent three days in Gladstone to catch up with some friends.  We managed to do some sight seeing around the town and had an afternoon 4WDriving on the beach.  It was our first time to experience this kind of drive and we loved it!! I saved money on accommodation by sleeping over at two of my friend’s houses.

Then it was time to check out and head up further north on Christmas Eve.  We spent seven days In Mackay.  We stayed in a cabin at a caravan park, west of the city centre. In the first three days we were busy catching up with relatives on my father’s side. It’s been about six years or more since I last seen most of them. It was great to catch up over Christmas!!

The next four days was spent on shopping, social bowling and a lot of sight seeing around the beaches at Mackay, Sarina and the harbour.  There were a lot of boats docked at port of the harbour.  Out to sea we could see big carbo ships carrying the sugar cane.

Another interesting highlight of going to the beach was seeing about a kilometres of mango trees at one beach area.  Not surprise the street is named Mango Avenue. These mango trees were on both sides of the road.  I do wonder how many residents grab these mangoes.

All the best for a great 2013!