Richard Wilson is a Good Bastard

Big man, thanks for all of your help with the visa! Not only a BC, but a GC. (Good C!)

Ben, you're cool too. Even though you didn't help with the visa. Because you're so shit at helping...!

Phew

I received an email today notifying me that my visa application was successful. So I am now legally allowed to work in the United Kingdom for two years. Hip hip horray! It's not only good news as it means I won't have to pick fruit for money, but it means that I will actually be allowed to leave Australia. When you apply for a visa you have to send your passport off to Canberra. So I was stuck in Aus until it came back.

Of course, I could be speaking too soon. I know my application is successful, but I'm yet to see my passport with the little $300 sticker in it. So once it's here, I really will be able to breathe easy!

On another note, I've borrowed a set of scales to weigh everything that I am packing and/or sending home. Working to magic little numbers such as 20, 7 and 10 (kgs I am allowed for my checked luggage, hand luggage and sporting equipment/bike respectively) is actually quite tiring. The fun part is that when you put bags onto scales you can't actually see the reading so I have had to adopt an interesting method to make sure I won't be forking out for excess baggage:

I first weigh myself (erghhh so much pain so many times each day!) and then weigh myself carrying each bag. I then subtract my weight from my weight with the bag and ta da! I have the weight of each bag. 

Such. A. Mission! But worth it to save the moolah.

Everything is pretty much all set to go, the car is sold and all of the excess clothes have gone to the Salvation Army. 7 rubbish bags have gone into the skip bin and I only have a few painting and a few bits and pieces to give to friends who are taking them off my hands.

T Minus 13 days until take off and counting! Eeeekk it's getting exciting!

I Hate Packing

Here's a couple of horrible photos of the mess I made over the weekend. I'm pleased to say, however, that this mess is pretty much cleaned up now.

The other good news is that all of the packing is almost done. 5 more days in the Fogerthorpe Estate and I should be good to go!

These are from Saturday afternoon and is what happens when you pull everything out of your drawers, wardrobe and shelves. The first one is the haul that the Salvation Army are going to get delivered to them tomorrow afternoon. Lucky buggers!

Emptying the Larder

As well as having a lot of stuff to get rid of, I've also got bits and pieces of the food variety to use up before departing. So, I have made it my goal to not have to go to the supermarket until I move out of the Fogerthorpe Estate. The means doing a Bridget Jones and eating everything that I have until there is nothing left. I have to be strategic about it and make sure I have enough to last me 10 days, but don't want anything left over. (I have an issue with throwing food away. Starving kids, all that stuff.)

The only problem is, I'm actually running low. Tonight it was toast (from the freezer) with cheese and Quince Paste. Then a rather horrible Sticky Date Sponge. One of those things in a packet you chuck together with minimal ingredients. Tasty enough but you can't get away from that plasticy taste.

The surprising thing is, however, that I am pleasantly content with my evening meal. I was content with last night's meal of Chicken Two Minute Noodles and vegetables and tomorrow night I might even spoil myself by cooking some pork steaks with canned beetroot.

On my first Wednesday night in a while where I've been able to sit down and watch Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their Long Way Down. They're in Kenya and they show the native people eating what they have to get by. Goats, all sorts, and Charlie and Ewan dig right on in because if they don't, it's some freeze-dried camp food for them. 

I don't necessarily have to skimp and miss out on making my weekly trip to the supermarket but it's bit of fun just getting by on what I've got. A lot of people in the world do it and they're happy enough so I'm happy to be doing it too. 

I'll let you know what I've got left this time next week! Something tells me those 12 meal-replacement packets that have been with me for months are going to be the last ones standing. Yuk...

When it Hits You. BOOM!

Wapol. Done. 

First day back in Police Media. Done. 

And I loved it.  

I was feeling slightly apprehensive this morning and I strolled across the Causeway into Police HQ in East Perth for my first day back in Police Media. I was very fortunate to get a three week contract in Police Media to finish off my time in Perth after failing to get a three week extension to my contract that finished on Friday at Wapol. 

After feeling quite sad about leaving the band, I guess I was feeling down about being in a workplace without 'the boys.' However, it was a total blast. I really felt like I was getting my teeth into something and felt the cogs in my brain ticking over again. Not that my brain has been shut down for the past 6 months, but I was really having to concentrate to write kick-ass press releases, really having to think about exactly what to say to the journos and really thinking about the advice I was giving police officers. It felt great and I really felt in my element. What a buzz.

However, the only problem with the great day that was today, is that a few things have finally hit me.

First of all, I have only got 11 days left in my house before I have to get in for the new flatmate to move in.

Secondly, I have only got 3 weeks left in Perth. This time in three weeks I will be somewhere over NSW I would say.

And thirdly, I have got so much stuff and I have NO idea what I am going to do with it all.

The latter of the three things above is the most daunting. It's not until you start packing that you realise how much you have, and the biggest battle is getting all that stuff down to 20kg in one bag. It's not going to happen.

It also really made it hit home that I am leaving Perth VERY soon. As much as I am excited about heading home and ultimately on the big trip, I am sad to be leaving Perth and to be honest am not looking forward to the big move.

I guess I just have to think about all the fun I am (hopefully!) going to have over the next few months. The prospect of great times will have to cancel out the throwing away of clothes I have never worn, still with their labels on, and sending special things like Christmas cards to the bin. I'm a terrible hoarder, I love keeping those wee sentimental things!

So it's three weeks of working, two weeks of moving stuff and one week of shenanigans while staying at friends the week before I leave, all leading up to Monday the 2nd of February at 6pm when I get on the plane and head for home.

Should be an interesting few weeks!

For F*** Sake

That's all I have to say about that.

Roll Call

I'm interested to know who's snooping around the ole Potentially... blog. Who's here, how did you find it and what do you think?

Please feel free to let me know if you're a reader of the blog, what you like, what you don't and what you want to see more of.

You can email me - libbyobrien @ gmail. com, or just leave a comment!

Cheers.

Resolutions. Keeping Away from the Cliche

It's a new year and again, time to make some new years resolutions.

This year I seem to be struggling to decide what my goals for the year are. Not because I don't have anything I feel I can improve on, but perhaps because there are so many things I feel I can work on in 2009 that I wasn't too happy with in 2008.

There are also the resolutions that I refuse to make as they will simply be broken within a few short weeks. Resolutions pertaining to getting fit and healthy for example. I, like a lot of people, should have this one on the top of my list but know that at this time of the year I am likely to break it. Also, I hate cliches and hate doing the same thing as everyone else so need to find some that are a bit different.

So the first of my 2009 resolutions is to stop picking my nails. I have never bitten my nails but have picked them for as long as I can remember. I stopped for a little bit last year until stress made me get at them again. It's an addiction and I sometimes don't even know I'm doing it. But with a bit of willpower I think this is the year to get some real girly nails going that I can then fret over when they start breaking!

My next resolution is to not get frustrated at others' inabilities or lack of knowledge of certain subjects. I often find myself getting irritated at people perhaps not understanding the importance of certain things that I feel are a big deal to get right. Example? - The lack of brand standards and branding in a workplace. I know this is important as I spent time doing studies relating to this but others may not. Just because their priorities are not the same as mine does not mean they are stupid and it is my goal to realise this.

I also want to make sure I get my priorities right in 2009. Whether this means making sure I see all the people I need to when I am in New Zealand or spending the right balance of time with family and friends, I want to make sure I am able to prioritise things and make the best decisions possible throughout the course of the year. I don't know where I'm going to be in 6 months and I my decision making skills are probably going to be tested a few times over the next while. As long as I get to the end of 2009 and am happy with the decisions I have made then I'll be happy with this resolution.

I'm still working on a few more and hopefully I can stay away from the cliched resolutions. But I do want to stay happy, healthy and predict I will continue to fuel my photographic addiction even more this year!

Does anyone have any resolutions to share? Please feel free to pop a wee comment on this post.

The Last Week of 2008

I have been terribly slack with the blog postings and would almost be inclined to admit that keeping this blog updated more often could be a resolution for the new year.

But my excuse for not posting since before Christmas is that I have been spending time with some wonderful friends since Christmas. This year I was very fortunate to have a mass of Band Clubbers in Perth to hang out with. Kat, Jarrod, Richo, and ex BCers Ben  and Paul. Add to that my flatties and a spa, pool, casino, beach, road trip, cases of Blonde and a home poker game and you've got a week of fun!

One of the highlights of the week was a trip with Kat and Jarrod to Bridgetown, about 3 and a half hours south of Perth. We were off to meet long time friends of Kat's family, Jenny and Kenny. J&K own one of Australia's top Bed and Breakfasts, Ford House, and are two very special people.

Kenny was diagnosed with cancer some four years ago and was only given 18 months to live. Jenny has been living with MS for some time and recently broke her ankle, which still causes her grief. However, by looking at their B&B, you wouldn't think that the two people that run the place were anything short of athletes with what they have achieved.

Ford House is a masterpiece and the surrounding grounds are spectacular. Wag Walter's Emporium is a great little gift shop that stretches through three venues nestled around the B&B. 

But the jewel in the Ford House crown is the Barn where breakfast is served. With gaps in the walls and the odd possum to be seen creeping around, the Barn has been totally decorated from top to bottom in a classy farm style. Most of the bits and pieces you see around the place are for sale and even the table pieces and books that sit in the middle of each table can be purchased. One wall is totally covered with homemade preserves which are served up at breakfast.

The best part about my visit to Jenny and Kenny's B&B would have to be discovering their great attitudes, especially Kenny's. With most of his family and friends deserting him and with his health leaving him in uncertainty as to how long he can continue working on the property, Kenny simply keeps on going and has the most magical wit and attitude towards life. Never seen out of his gumboots (which he wore to dinner in a local restaurant with us that evening) Kenny gets on with life and keeps on making plans for the property and works hard every day. Perhaps that's why he's completely outlived the 18 months doctors gave him.

I urge anyone that is in Bridgetown to visit Ford House, even just for a look around and a nosey in Wag Walter's Emporium. I'll be heading back before I leave WA, if only to spend some more time in the company of Jenny and Kenny to soak up some of that good attitude before embarking on the big trip.

And now that I've had to say goodbye to all of our guests, I hope to post more frequently here to keep everyone updated with the countdown to the 2nd of February when I leave Western Australia.