I'm trying so hard to learn

Thursday 10th July 2008

OH MY LORD!!
What have we done?? Why at this time of my life would I put myself through this?
We’ve hardly had time to come up for air since we arrived here last Thursday. I thought the whole move thing was overwhelming – that ain’t nothing baby, compared to the party we’re throwing now!
What the hell was I thinking??
Between staff, invoices, till balancing, banking, staff, finding mistakes on the till rolls, ordering stock, talking to reps, fixing mistakes on the till rolls, staff, facing up stock, putting orders away, making notes on changes that HAVE to be made, oh and did I mention STAFF!!
They are not happy with our arrival. You have to realise that it is a small town and some of these people (mostly women) have been working here for years, they have experienced a lot of management changes and they are well aware that we are very ‘green’ at all this. Then there is the noise to contend with, we hear everything living upstairs, then when it’s time for bed, we can even hear them talking, you obviously can’t make out what they’re saying, but you hear the murmur of their voices and the banging and clanging that happens in any kitchen. The trucks below our bedroom window and their engines idling are all things I’m sure with time we’ll get used to (let’s pray).

I’ve told Joe that I’m going to make a concerted effort to stick it out for at least 3 months but if I find that I’m either not coping or not enjoying it here, that I will just go out and get a ‘normal’ job. So we’ll see how I go.
Ok, it’s getting very late and I have another 15-hour working day to get through tomorrow – yay, what fun, I don’t know how I got so lucky?
Cross everything that I will learn well tomorrow and that things will start to make some sense to me! xx

Finally!!! I'm back.....

Is there no end to the torture of relocating?

The different stages of emotion - excitement, enthusiasm, exhaustion and lastly, the I’m so over it stage, working its way into the mix and as is so typical of my life – It’s always all or nothing with me.

Firstly we had a cleaning dilemma, which ended in tears and yes, they were mine! It just felt like the whole process of packing and cleaning was dragging on forever.
This morning, we got up feeling really good about not having to stress about the house anymore, it was all taken care of (or so we stupidly thought). We drove over there and I did a walk through just to check out what they had done and was horrified to see that it had been a very slap happy job!! There were too many things that hadn't been done to even mention.
Joe got on the phone to the woman who had come out to quote and she virtually told us that we were lying and that they had never had anyone complain before. After arguing back and forth for a while, I realised that she wasn't listening to us and she ultimately told us if she got the cleaner to come back out, that there would be an extra charge. FOR WHAT?? - NOT HAPPY!
We soon realised, we had no leg to stand on, we had paid them when they left - in cash - and we still haven't received a receipt and on top of that we were running out of time and we couldn’t afford to waste another day just waiting around for them to be good and ready to come back.
On top of it all, I started to feel a little fluey – of course I did, now that I don’t have any ‘sick leave’!! Sure enough within a couple of days, the bad sore throat had turned into full-blown flu.
Like the little trooper I am though, I soldiered on.

Since we were officially homeless by Sunday 29th, we were very grateful to be given the invitation to be roomies with Jo, Andy, Aaron and Madison for the next few days. We couldn’t have felt more welcome or loved.
Aaron is our 12-year-old godson and a really special kid; we love him a lot and I know the feeling is mutual. He is very independent and manages household chores amazingly well (he would put my 20 yr old to shame).
He even cooked us pizza for tea on our last night there, he didn’t want or need any help and rightly so, he very confidently made peperoni & cheese and ham & pineapple pizzas and they were very yummy – good job Aaron!
We’re looking forward to lots of visits from them while we are up here and Aaron has already told us that he wants to be put to work and earn some money. We’re thinking maybe next school holidays he could come up and stay with us. Kids keep you young and help you to stay in touch with the ever changing, fast paced world we live in.

So it’s three o’clock am, Thursday 3rd July and all I’m hearing is this high pitch, beep – beep – beep!! The alarm! It’s now officially the start of our new life. We we’re really careful not to make too much noise – didn’t want to wake the roomies- then have to say our goodbyes all over again (I hate goodbyes)!! So at around four o’clock we just slipped away into the darkness without any fanfare, just the way I like it.

It wasn’t a very comfortable trip, feeling as lousy as I did. We stopped in at Eight Mile Plains (one of Joe’s old ‘Freedom’ haunts) for some water so I could take my cold & flu tablets. Our next stop was around 6am for brekky and a toilet break at Maccas in Gympie. As we were walking back to the car, I noticed that I had what felt like part of one of my back teeth missing. I had a look in the mirror on my sun visor and saw that I had lost a filling – Eww!! What next?? The rest of our road trip was uneventful and we were blessed with beautiful travelling weather. We did get stuck behind some wide load trucks a couple of times, but we were in no hurry, so sitting behind them for a few k’s didn’t matter too much.

We arrived at our new life in Calliope at around 11.30am and hit the ground running, we’ve hardly stopped since. We got stuck straight into unpacking and trying to organise our new ‘home’.
It didn’t look like much when we started but four days later and I’m really happy with the end result. It’s really cosy and it has all our favourite things displayed, especially beautiful family photos, so everyone we love are all around us all the time, you can’t help but think about them when you see their precious faces that we already miss so much.

We we’re supposed to officially start tomorrow (Monday) 7th July 2008, but of course Joe hasn’t been able to help himself and has spent a lot of the weekend downstairs, making himself known to staff and customers, learning the layout of the place and marking his territory. Because I have been so ill, I haven’t ventured downstairs at all since we’ve been here, so I’m sure the staff here think that I am merely a myth and don’t believe that I actually exist.
Tomorrow for me is a very daunting consideration but unless I take the steps, literally, towards the beginning of whatever it is I’m supposed to be doing here and for however the length of time we are here for, the entire expedition will be without value.

And of course the story continues….

These are some photos of my farewell from Konica Minolta night out on the 27th June. It unfortunately wasn't a great night having had some dramas attached to it (of course - but that's a whole other story) these photos were taken before all the unpleasantness began. Believe me, it was all down hill after that!

So much to catch up on!

I have been in moving mayhem, it just seems to have taken control of my life!!
I needed to get Jessica's birthday photos up first because it seems like such a long time ago, even though it was only last Tuesday.
So much has happened since then, with me finishing up at work and then getting the house organised for the removalists.
But back to Jessica first. Joe, Jayden and I went into Brisbane so that we could have dinner and birthday cake with her. I finished work early, went home to change then got in there around 6.00 - Ray still wasn't home, he had to come via Sunnybank so that he could pick up the present that he had bought her. A gorgeous gold chain bracelet, all shiny and new.
We had tea at the Wynham Tavern and we're surprised at how spectacular the food was. Joe and Jayden had Wagu steak and salad, Ray had the pasta carbonara, Jessica the parmigiana and salad and I had the Thai beef salad - to die for!

We had a really fun night and I was trying really hard not to think about the fact that it was probably the last time we would all be together for quite a while. I didn't want to make it about me and the way I was feeling, but more to make Jessica feel special.

Although, anyone who knows me will know the 'I'm leaving soon card, would be something too hard not to play, so I'd better take lots of photos of us all together now'!
As you can see - it worked.

Ok, so much more has happened since then, so I'll be back tomorrow with the next installment!! It's getting very late and we've got another big day of, yes you guessed it - MOVING!

It's no fun moving!

Yes, we are packing up the house and at the moment my life, which until recently had some sense of order and normalcy, has in just a few short weeks been replaced with utter chaos and uncertainty.
While Joe's not working, he's doing a lot of the cleaning - YAY!!
Yesterday he did the windows and inside tracks and the ceiling fans. Today, I don't know what he was thinking, but he thought he had time to play a quick 9 holes of golf with some buddies - I let him get away with it today, but tomorrow by gosh, it's back to work buddy, the oven is filthy and needs some attention. (only kidding honey).
I try and get a couple of boxes packed each night, because he's not allowed to. I'm just afraid that I'm going to get up there and find half 'my stuff' has been left at a Gold Coast dump! I am such a hoarder and he's just not. He just doesn't understand the sentimental value of 'stuff'!
I think it's probably a boy thing.
We aren't taking any beds - we have a waterbed, it's the only type we've ever had, but we've decided that we are going to try a mattress and base (that should be interesting).
Jayden is taking his bed of course, then we have both the kids king single beds, that we bought when each of them was ready to go into a 'big bed' when they were two. One of them is going to one of my girlfriends for her son and she's trying to find an owner for the other one for me.
Jayden is taking the fridge, because the residence at Calliope already has one, and our dining room suite will be too big for the small kitchen we're going to, but we're taking it and storing it up there.
At this moment I have about three different piles growing in what used to be my lounge room. 1.Chucking 2.Giving away 3.Cash Converters. So as you can see, I will be very glad when at least this end is done...then we get to do it all over again at the other end.
(Have I told you how much I hate moving?)

Work is frantic at the moment, I'm so snowed under, I hardly have time to sneeze. They've only just organised interviews, which will be happening next Tuesday and because there's been such a huge response to the ad, they're doing an initial 'cattle call' style meeting, with three groups of 12 starting at 8.30, then at 12.30 and the last one at 4 - then a second interview on Thursday for a 'lucky' few. Did I tell you they are replacing me with 2 people!! I couldn't believe it, in a way I'm flattered, but then when I think about it ...... no don't even let me start!
'Wax on - Wax off'
Anyway, I can't imagine they are going to have my replacementS in time for me to teach them anything before I leave next Friday.
I am quietly enjoying the fact that I've caused so much chaos and that the cracks are starting to show in their 'I don't care that Jo is leaving' attitude.

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It was Jayden's birthday on Tuesday, he turned 20! As you can see, my baby is all grown - when did that happen? I swear I only looked away for a minute, then my little boy changed into a man.
After we move away, I'm really going to miss his sweet smile and big bear hugs, talking in the morning before he goes to work, cooking something and having him tell me it's the best he's ever tasted. What I won't miss is his messy room, smelly clothes or his whiskers all over the bathroom basin.
I was sitting at my desk at work yesterday, when my phoned beeped, telling me I had a message. My sweet boy had just wanted to tell me that he loved me. What made it so special is that it barely never happens. I sent a message back telling him he was the sweetest child in the world and that he was my most very favourite son!

Jayden, Col and Ryan

Joe and Jayden


Jayden with his cake


Joe, Jayden & Joanne


Jayden's birthday cake

Now we get to do it all over again next Tuesday for Jessica's 22nd birthday. Joe, Jayden and I are going into Brisbane to have dinner and birthday cake with her and Ray.
Then we have to get ready for next year - a 21st and a wedding!!!!

Our 25th Wedding Anniversary

(This photo is from my niece's wedding in October 07)

Our anniversary has come and gone without the anticipated whooha that we had originally planned to give it. There seems to be so much going on at the moment that it has ended up being a huge non event.
Although we did receive some really beautiful cards, emails and phone calls from our respective families, we felt so special when so many people remembered us on the 11th and we would like to thank them for:


(my sister-in-law Aline)
Dear Joanne and Jo, Happy 25th Anniversary! The kids and I love you two heaps and wish you the best on your special day, I don't think I know anyone besides my Grand parents and Mum and Dad Ball, who have made it this far and still look so content . Love you guys, Aline, Jach, Dan and of course Georgia! xxxx

(my brother Brett)
Firstly congratulations and well done on your fantastic achievement of 25 years of marriage !! In this day and age it's something almost unheard of ! Also i got the pics of the service station and i gotta say it is very clean and seems very cosy. Give me a yell when things get closer and i'll come up and give you guys a hand. Congrats again and see you soon. Brett xx

(my cousin Deb & hubby John)
To two beautiful people. Hope you are not going to Wellington Point. What are you going to do?
Have a wonderful time. And congratulations on 25 years - you are an inspiration!!!
Deb and John

(our gorgeous friend, Cheryl O'Bree)
To a wonderful couple.
Were has the time gone. We have spent many working hours together, many holidays sking, getting sunburnt and having fun. Having kids and bringing them up, and we have come through all the hard times. Congratulations on a fantastic milestone.
Love always Cheryl xx

(The cards we received - the one on the right is a special hand made card from my very clever cousin, Lynda)

We also received some beautiful cards and I remember thinking when I read 'On Your Silver Wedding Anniversary' - on some of them, that that just can't be right. I always imagined having to be really old to be celebrating a 'Silver'. But there you go, I consoled myself with the fact that we we're EXTREMELY young when we married, mere kids, as young as our son is now. We've been through so much together, grown up together really and yes we've been extremely lucky to have been able to weather all the storms that have rolled over us and have somehow, almost miraculously come out at the other end still committed to each other. I am truly loved by the man I married all those years ago - I know it, I see it, I feel it every single day, there is nothing he wouldn't do for me - to know this, is the most wonderful gift I could ever receive. (honey, if you're reading this, a diamond ring would also be nice, of course, not necessary, but really, really nice).
So thank you to everyone who remembered us and for all your congratulations - you all have played a huge part in our marraige being so sucessful with all your love and support.

The big reveal!!

Ok, now's the time to let you all know what Joe and I have been up to for the past few months. We've been offered a husband/wife team managers position for Choice Petroleum in Calliope! It's something we've thought long and hard about, weighed up all the pros and cons and we feel confident that the timing is perfect for us to accept the opportunity. Joe gave notice at Freedom already and finishes up tomorrow and I gave notice yesterday and after worrying about maybe having to give 4 weeks, was told that I could finish up next Friday the 20th. It's all been much easier to leave our jobs than we anticipated.

We had originally intended on taking a trip away on the Queen's birthday long weekend to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, but when this opportunity presented itself, we decided to head up there just to have a look at the place and see whether we thought it was going to be a viable proposition instead. So last Friday we hit the road at 4am and headed for Calliope (20mins southern side of Gladstone) - definitely a little less romantic than what we had originally planned, but well worth the trip. We got to see the site which has a 3 bedroom residence above it. All living expenses are included in the package which will give us the chance to save a wage a week - that was the clincher really.

Moving away from the kids is pulling at my heart strings, but the financial gain is something that we've unfortunately had to consider over that and I've been assured by people who really love us that the separation from the kids (especially Jayden) will do them good. I'm not worried about Jessica, she's fairly self sufficient and doesn't rely on us for anything. Jayden on the other hand is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. How is my boy child going to cope without his Ma?? A few short months ago it was him looking at moving out, who would have guessed then, that it would be us moving out on him!

Ok, so there you have it. I have taken photos of the residence as well, but I'm too scared to put them up yet - I'm going to wait and do a 'before' and 'after' post - obviously that won't be until we are up there and moved in.

Laura Rose

I just wanted to thank my beautiful niece for the comment she left on my blog on Sunday. Laura is the second eldest of five children to Ralph (Joe's brother) and his gorgeous wife Anna, whom I absolutely adore. I fell in love with Laura the moment she was born and we have always had a really special relationship. She's a very grown up 11 year old who loves her family and is a great sister to her brothers and little sister Sarah. I just love to watch the interaction with those kids and the lovely vibe this family creates, it's really special and I feel privileged to be a part of their lives and to be loved so much by them all.

Aunty Jo & Laura June 2006

Sarah had done my hair and put a knitted hair band on me - very special!
Here I am teaching Laura how to knit. She was a quick learner.

A quiet moment with the girls.

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I had a breakfast meeting at work this morning, we have them at different locations around the coast every quarter. Today we went to Evergreen, on the corner of Bundall & Ashmore Rds, I've been there a couple of times for lunch with Colin and Alan before and have always said to Joe that we must go there for lunch one week end, we haven't done that yet, but we might just have to make a reservation for our wedding anniversary next week. It's a very upmarket nursery with little specialty shops and an a la carte restaurant. A bit pricey, but for a special occasion it would be worth it, we don't spoil ourselves very often.