I got a Dyson!!!

Who would have thought some one could get soooooo excited about a vacuum cleaner? Well guess who has???

I went to the Harvey Norman sale at the Convention Centre during my lunch break on Thursday and low and behold they were selling Dyson Vacuums (DC08 Origin) at just $399. I could hardly contain myself, but I did. I went back to work and phoned all the electrical retailers I could think of and none of them could match the price, apart from the Good Guys, who offered $398, but it had to be a cash payment and I had to show proof of the price. I didn't have proof, so I returned to the Convention Centre, purchased by new Dyson with an extended 4 year warranty, paid by credit and organised to pick it up on Friday!

I sent Pam and email about the great special as we had checked out the Dysons in Myers a couple of weeks ago. I thought she would never read it as she is on her holiday in Germany and Russia, but fate came into play and she did read it, and on Friday when I picked mine up I bought one for her.

I built it on Friday evening, but I haven't used it yet. It looks so clean and new that I don't want to get it dirty yet. I think I will use my old one tomorrow and then go over everything again with the Dyson to see what the old couldn't pick up. I have never been this keen to get out the vacuum cleaner. I am sure the novelty will wear off pretty soon!

So here is my new baby. Isn't she pretty and aren't I sad?

How to Remove the Pasha Bulker or Not?

Just testing how to add a YouTube video.

Christening of India

On Sunday 17th June 2007 I attended the christening of India Adelaide Lynette Carmichael. She is the daughter of Karen (my work friend) and Chris. She was christened at the King of Christ Church in Beaconsfield and wore a beautiful dress made by her grandmother. I heard that the lace used on it was 70 years old!

India was the perfect baby throughout the christening - wide awake, no tears or screams and smiles all round. She maintained this angelic behaviour at home whilst we all snacked and drank champagne and coffee. Karen kept waiting for the "wheels to drop off", but it never came whilst I was there and India was well and truly overdue for a sleep.

Who's that Girl???

Here is a sneak peak for all those dedicated fans of mine (how deluded??) of the new hair colour. It feels pretty radical at the moment, but I am sure I will get used to it. This post will be deleted soon as the photo is a shocker!

Engagement

A group of us (about 20) attended Charmaine's birthday dinner on 26 May 2007, only to realise that

ASHLEY AND CHARMAINE GOT ENGAGED!!

Apparently they got engaged on the Friday night after the Dockers win over the Saints. I was one of the first to arrive with Angie, Pam and Nicole. I spotted the ring first and started pulling faces at the girls. Nic was the one to ask.

So there you have it. Ash is getting married - never thought I would say that! No date has been set for the wedding, but I will keep all posted when I hear anything. Here's a photo of the couple.

The Waiting is Over .......

Just a quick note to say that yesterday I got an email as follows:

Thank you for your interest in the Wave 2 APS5 Compliance Officer positions which were advertised in the Commonwealth Gazette on Thursday 7 December 2006.

I am very pleased to advise that you have been successful in obtaining a position in Large Business & International Northbridge.

You will be contacted shortly by a Business Line representative regarding the specifics of the position including the details of your new manager and the area you will be working in.

Formal notification of this promotion/transfer/engagement will be sent to you by ATO Appointments within the next two weeks.

So I got a promotion!!!

Not sure when I start but will keep you all posted.

The bad news is that I am moving back to the Northbridge Office (no good coffee shops around and full of ferals and derros), and more importantly I will be leaving my colleagues - whom I have thoroughly enjoyed working with. I think I will find it hard to meet such a great team of people who got along so well and worked so well together.

World Blood Donor Day is 14 June

World Blood Donor Day is set by the World Health Organisation, the United Nations health agency.
The United Nations theme this year is: Safe Blood for Safe Motherhood.
Every year approximately 17% of pregnant women in Australia require a blood product to ensure they have a healthy pregnancy. This product is only available thanks to the support of voluntary unpaid blood donors.

What happens to blood
Most people think blood donations are used to help people who suffer traumatic incidents, such as accidents or burns, or in surgery. But, in fact, the vast majority of blood donations go to people with major medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, stomach and bowel disease, liver and kidney disease, people with haemophilia and to newborn babies and pregnant women. The blood drop diagram below provides more detail.


Did you know that 430,000 people in Australia receive a blood product each year and it is estimated that 50% of Australians will require a blood product during their lifetime?

Unfortunately I will not be making a donation on World Blood Donor Day, because I made a donation on Wednesday 30 May 2007 and have to wait 12 weeks before I can donate again. Wednesday was my third donation since November last year. I made a New Years resolution this year that I would donate blood at least 3 times in 2007. I have made 2 donations this year and I am aiming for 4.

If this blog inspires just one person to donate blood then I have achieved my goal, however that one person with one donation will have saved a life.

If you feel inspired please phone 13 14 95 for an appointment at the Australian Red Cross Blood Service or visit their website to learn more and make that appointment.

Friday Night Football

Friday night was the last night game that the Freo Dockers will play at Subiaco Oval this year, so I took my camera to capture a moment to share with you. It was always going to be a quiet night as I was working overtime on Saturday from 7am to 3pm, and was on my second 6 day week and extremely tired, so there are no tales of drunken escapades at the footy.

Freo played St Kilda, an extremely injury riddled team in the AFL at the moment. I had tipped Freo to win, but as usual lacked any confidence in Freo winning. The only predictable thing about the Dockers is that are unpredictable!

I took my raincoat as the weathermen had predicted rain in the evening, and I also packed my gloves for when the temperature dropped. In typical fashion of me taking my raincoat - it failed to rain, and to add further insult the temperature never really dropped and I didn't use my gloves. It was almost too warm for my jacket, but I kept in on as I already had enough baggage with the raincoat and gloves in my lap, and the camera, oh and the radio etc etc.

Getting back to the footy, the game was fairly lack lustre. The Dockers didn't look convincing and the Saints were appalling and couldn't kick straight to save a life, especially Gehrig who I dislike with a passion and verbalised this quite frequently to Angie with comments about the way he walks like he has a carrot up his arse and how damn ugly he is. I would just like to add that ugly men should not play AFL football - it is not good for TV.

And the outcome of the game was a Freo win, 101 to 55. At least I have started the round with my first tip being right.

I want to put forward a theory I have on AFL games. That being the first to 100 point wins. Angie and I joke about this often and did on Friday night, but I think this theory is correct and would love to hear from others about this, especially of examples that buck this trend.

PS: Take note of the score in the photo - first to 100 wins!

Waiting ........

I applied for a promotion in mid December 2006. I actually cheated and paid a business to write my job application and prepare a resume for the cost of $220. This round of jobs was supposed to be finalised in February 2007, but some one stuffed up (as usual, and this time the ATO is blaming the recruitment agency - Manpower) in that a lot of job applications were lost during the electronic application.

I heard nothing for ages and the ATO kept posting updates saying this and that was happening, but no one heard a brass razoo about anything. Then one day I was actually talking to a colleague about the process when my mobile rang and low and behold it was a Manpower (not the strippers!!) saying I had been shortlisted for an interview. Great!! This interview was booked and to my horror it was a phone interview. I suddenly became very stressed as every interview I have been to has been in person and usually a panel.

I studied my job application and finally the day arrived. How did I go - SHOCKING! I managed to stuff up an example in true form by missing the end of the question in which the interviewer stated Give an an example of when you have used your understanding of taxation principles and practices to help a client and gave an example of a client that I referred to GST Field for a visit as he was non compliant with me. Field ended up penalising him heaps and he owed hundreds of thousands of dollars and they nailed 2 of his mates and he has done a runner. At the moment the ATO is looking at prosecuting the client, so how did this HELP the client?

I realised my error half way through my example and rather ask the interviewer the question again and start with a new example (that I was not prepared for) I kept going. Arrrgh ....... the pressure.

Anyways I am the only one in my office who has had an interview for the job, and everyone I talk to says that is encouraging. Our intranet site advised late last week that the candidates would be contacted and advised of the outcome the week commencing 21 May 2007.

Today is 23 May 2007- no word yet. I am trying to be patient, and really when you look at the fact these positions should have been announced in Feb, I guess I shouldn't hold my breath.

One thing I have learnt ...................... this may have been the best $220 I have spent in a while. As they say you have to spend money to make money, or was that just have money to make money?

Mothers Day 2007

For Mothers Day this year Bianca and I decided to take Mum out for breakfast, after the first idea of going to the zoo did not seem to appeal to Mum at all.

I managed to get a booking at La Tropicana Cafe at Cottesloe, however the time was for 8.00am as they were almost fully booked. Mum thought this might be too early for the kids, but we discovered it was a blessing instead. We all arrived in separate vehicles within 5 mins of each other and were able to easily get a parking space right near the cafe. Mum was most surprised that Atilla was joining us too. I gave Mum some flowers that I had picked up on the way and Bianca gave her a gift bag full of yummy soaps.

Kisses aside we ordered a big breakfast each, me no egg as usual, and Melissa ordered scrambled eggs on toast and Meagan a toasted bacon sandwich with tomato sauce. When the plates came out they were huge. We battled to eat it all including Atilla.

We then went for a quick walk along the path above the beach and watched the surfers. Despite threatening to rain the whole time it never did, but it was quite chilly with the breeze. If you ask me I think the surfers are mad and Atilla said that peeing in your wetsuit doesn't keep you warm long.

I think Mum had a lovely time as she had never been out for breakfast before. We have decided that we should do this more often as a family, so I look forward to that. I also look forward to it being slightly cheaper as all of the meals had been bumped up in price for Mothers Day.

Despite it being a fantastic morning and enjoying myself immensely with my family, there was a small part of my mind wondering whether I would ever get to celebrate Mothers Day myself. I really do hope so, but sometimes days like this really remind me of the ticking clock and my inability to find that Mr Right.