MWNews 158

My last post from Tasmania. Or should I say the last one for a while. May be the last one from anywhere but I doubt it. I'll keep going from sunny Queensland, if I survive the heat.

Now that I have started this, again, I am being interrupted all the time. Not sure if I can write or not. Seems everyone knows this is my last day and they keep stopping by to say goodbye. Very nice of them but I don't remember who half of them are but somehow, they all seem to know my name. Very touching. Guess I will miss this place after all.

I leave on Monday, on the boat Tuesday, arrive Tuesday night. Then start driving to Brisbane. Not so sure about the route at this point. Lots of fires between me and Brisbane and they haven't closed the roads yet but I keep seeing pictures of the highways I will be on with lines and lines of cars backed up because of the fires.

I was thinking of going up through the middle but there are fires that way too and the roads are not as good. You'll have to look at a map to see where I mean but basically, you can go along the coast through Sydney or up through the middle via Dubbo. I don't like the Dubbo route but haven't been that way in a long time so maybe it has changed. I doubt it but it is a possibility. Guess I will have to wait and see what issues are on the Sydney route before I decide. It's a longer route through the Dubbo but if there are fires and road closures, it might be quicker.

I am noticing that lately, I do not do a lot of talking about the kids. Or maybe I do but I seem to talk about my troubles and my adventures more than I do them lately. Maybe it has always been that way but I seem to be noticing it more lately. Not that I am planning on changing anything but just thought I would mention it in case you have noticed it also. I am aware of it and hope to get more on the kids when I get to be with them more but for now, I am just a lonely fat man stuck here in Tasmania with no family or friends to talk to so I complain a lot. I don't expect understanding but I do expect ridicule and apathy to my plight. It's just the way it is. Having no readers of this blog, I am really just talking to myself but since I enjoy that so much it is never really a problem.

So lets get back to me. I have the dilemma of how I am going to pack. I also have the dilemma of how I am going to clean, but one dilemma at a time.

I can pack everything with no problems. I have boxes and the time to do it all. The issue is, when do I start putting it in the trailer. I had planned on doing that starting Sunday and finishing Monday before I leave. But I have to move the trailer to a place where I can do it from and not where it is sitting now. Which means, I have to connect it to the car since once I start to load it, I am not going to be able to move it by myself. I probably can but I don't want to take the chance since I am on my own and if I do run into problems, there is no one to rescue or help me.

That in itself is not a problem. It is the question of the carpet cleaner coming on Monday. If I connect the trailer to the car and then load it, there is no where for the carpet cleaner to get to the house. I think they need a connection to their van when they do the carpets and if I move the trailer somewhere to allow access, then that means I cannot be loading it at the same time. Plus, I will have to move it back closer to my house so I can finish loading it and that is a problem due to trying to back a fully loaded trailer via the obstacle course that my new neighbor has created for me to get to my driveway. I won't go into that other than to say I have to maneuver around their car and then swing into my driveway backwards and the space to do that in does not leave a lot of room for error. I can usually maneuver the trailer fairly well after I practice for a bit but since I don't due that except every couple of years, I forget how and have to practice all over again to get the hang of it once more.

My other option is to fully load everything on Sunday. But that means I have nothing to sit on, nothing to watch and really nothing at all to do Sunday night and Monday morning before he gets there. Everything will be packed. That's not a real problem but something I wanted to avoid. Since I am putting the TV into my van, I was going to do that last so I have something to watch/do until it is time to leave. Guess that is a real first world problem but doing it all Sunday is not my first choice.

I could load the trailer, back it into my driveway so it does not block the door, and then take my car to get a coffee or something while the cleaner is there. Then come back after he is finished and load the rest. That way, I only have to pack the TV into the garage before he comes and then put it in the car when he gets there so I will be ready to leave once he finishes. It is probably the best option but as I mentioned, it is the backing the trailer into the driveway that is the issue.

Since you are tired of me writing about this, I will say what I am going to do. Connect the trailer Sunday. Pull it forward in front of the garage and load everything that is going into that from there. Then back it up to the end of the driveway so it is not in front of the door, disconnect it, and then move my car when the cleaner gets there. Come back after the cleaner leaves and load everything into my van and begin my trip. It's a plan and not something anyone, anywhere, wanted to hear about but since I am not doing anything else, it made it easier for me to work it out on here as opposed to sitting around thinking about it all the time.

So lets move on the next boring topic. Cleaning the unit to moving out standards. I won't go into the merits of the moving out standard they have here. It's just too anger inducing. What I want to talk about is how I am going to get it all done. I should have been cleaning for the past month. I have, but not as much as I needed to be doing. I still have both bathrooms, the kitchen and the living room to do. I don't really see that as a problem but what is a problem is the outside. I need to weed, clean up the weeds, and generally make the place ready to moving out standards. Since it was not that way when I moved in but they let me move in anyway, I am not sure I should be held to that high of a standard. I think all I need to do is put it in the same shape it was when I moved in. I am sure they do not see it that way, so I need to do everything. I can do it, probably only take a day but that gives me two days to do the outside and finish the inside, plus finish packing all the boxes. Not an easy task but it is my own fault and since I have no choice, it has to be done. I am thinking I will be doing it in the middle of the night both of the next two nights but maybe it will not be as bad as I think it will be. That's me doing some wishful thinking. But since I work best under pressure, I am sure I will get it done. Not like I have a whole lot of choice.

Now that I have bored you all and talked about things that have nothing to do with anything, it's time for lunch. Not that I am going to lunch, I am leaving early today, it being my last day and all, but it is that time of day and my hands are getting tired. So I am going to begin the wrap up for this entry. Expect only a few more pages of stuff.

There is trouble in paradise. One of the grand-kids was apparently robbed yesterday. Anna, to be exact. I am told her purse was stolen while she was sleeping and the dogs did nothing to stop them. I do not know the whole story but the effect on me is that Juanita is now giving her money, which means I am giving Juanita money, which means any money I have saved for when I do not have a job, starting tomorrow, will disappear quickly. I am also told that she knows who did it but I do not know what that means or if she will be getting it back. And I thought she lived with her boyfriend, so why is there nothing being done by him or how is this all working out. Just another thing I am going to have to deal with when I get up there. I will comment no further on that issue until I have more facts.

Maeghan went to a doctor yesterday. Not for anything in particular but really just to establish that she has a doctor and they can get all her records together. They have to make recommendations and things about her so she can get help or special treatments and special doctors, so it is the first step in doing that. Plus, Juanita lost all her scripts and she has to get new ones. I don't know much about what is going on or what needs to be done but as I will be directly involved on this soon, I will need to find out. I am not sure that they realize that since we will all be living together again, I will need to be directly involved in all this and maybe some of the mistakes that have been made in the past will have to be looked into so they do not happen again. Like Maeghan being pushed from one person to another every time her current coordinator quits or is fired. Seems like every time they get some answers or make any progress, someone in the chain leaves and they have to start all over again. I will be making sure we have all the records and all the correspondence and everything that has to do with anything with us so we do not have to try to get it all again for each new person. I'm not saying anything has been done wrong but it seems there is way too much turn over and way too much backtracking all the time and it shouldn't be that way. Or maybe it can't be helped but since I have not been directly involved, only on the periphery, I will have to start finding out for myself.

William is becoming a teenager, and not in a good way. I hear he is arguing all the time and not doing things and generally being surly. Maybe it is the heat, maybe it is the hormones, or maybe he just needs an attitude adjustment. Not that I am saying I have the answers but maybe he needs more of an example and I can certainly provide that. Just basically be there for him, let him know what is wrong and show him how I deal with things. It probably won't help but it can't hurt. I am sure it is just becoming a teenager. Everyone goes through it and no one has found an answer yet so we will just weather the storm as best we can.

Ok, it is time to go. My hands hurt from typing. No more interruptions so I haven't had a break. Just been typing this whole thing all in one go. I will try to get back to this at some point in Queensland but since I have no internet up there, I will have to see when I can do it. Don't want to try to type on my phone so it will have to wait for my computer to be set up. Guess it is goodbye for now and goodbye for later.

Until next time

MWNews 157

Let's write a new post, full of joy and happiness for the Christmas season and the new year. It will be fun and energetic and make us all feel warm and comfy.

Who and I kidding. Did I forget it was me writing this thing. Warm and comfy is just not me. This is just a place to go when I have nothing else to do. And believe me, I have nothing else to do. So, I have started this once again.

Let's see, in our last chapter, I was complaining about something. Not that I went back and re-read whatever it was I was talking about last time but it's a pretty safe bet I was complaining. I think it was Maeghan's award or maybe it was me being sick, or maybe it was moving to Queensland. Probably none of those so if this repeats anything, pretend the problem is with you and not the writer.

The family has been gone for a while. Off to move into the new place in Queensland. they had the van completely packed, so much so that they had to ride while holding stuff. I don't know how they did that but they are there now and have been for about a month or so, maybe a little less than a month. I have no idea how the new place is or what it is like. I am told it is small but I would have assumed that would be the case. I am only concerned about the location and if it is in a good area or not. Apparently, there are a lot of kids around. It is yet to be seen if they are good kids or not. They do make a lot of noise as I can usually hear them on the phone.

I don't think I have mentioned it before but it is hot there. Very hot and they are currently going through a hotter than normal stage, or most of the mainland is. I am not so sure about where they. It might not have gone their way, the heat that is. I know we are about to feel it where I am. Just in time for me to be working outside cleaning the flower beds and doing the yard this weekend. I am not looking forward to it.

I leave next week. My last day of work is two days from now, or it is at the time I started writing this. I am not entirely sure I will complete it today. I still have a lot of packing and cleaning to do. I have done some, but I got tired and non-motivated and have not done a lot since last weekend. I am hoping to get it all done this weekend as it is my last and it has to be ready to go so I can leave. I still have most of the packing to do but since I don't have a lot to pack, it shouldn't take too long. It is the cleaning that will be the problem. Lots of that to do, especially the outside. All the weeding and cleaning and mowing and chopping I have no idea how much I will actually get done. I would try to do a good job so I can get my bond back but since I never expect to get my bond back at anytime, I am not sure why I would try to knock myself out getting it done. Just do what I can and let them decide how much of my bond they are going to take. All I can really do since I have no way of fighting them if I disagree with anything as I will be on the mainland and unable to argue with them about it.

I should move on to the kids. Not a lot to tell so I will mention the trailer instead. I have the trailer to haul stuff with but it is unregistered. I have been trying to get it registered. Lots of little crap I have to do to get it up to specs but apparently that will not be good enough. The inspector told me it was too rusty and I needed to remove all the rust before I could get it inspected and I do not have the time to do that. So, I am going to try driving it unregistered. I am sure that's not a good idea but at this point, I don't really have a choice. All my stuff will not fit in the back of my van so I have to take the trailer. There is a transport registration I can get but it does not allow anything to be hauled in the trailer, only to move it from one spot to another. I am hoping I can get that and then pretend I did not know I could not put stuff in the trailer. I am sure no one will even notice but just in case, I will get this permit and hope it gets me through.

Maeghan passed the 11th grade. Not that there was a whole lot of doubt about it but she did get her certificate so she is officially graduated. The school system in Queensland is different and we still need to find out what from over here applies to over there. Long story but in Queensland, they have to go through year 12. In Tasmania, it is an option after the 10th grade. Since she has technically graduated and has taken some college courses, it could be that she will not have to attend 12th grade and she can use her certificates to get into TAFE or something. TAFE is the vocational education system people go to instead of college or university. It allows them to get certificates so they can get jobs. If they decide that is what she is allowed to do, then she can start working at anytime. TAFE will help her find a job and give her further training in what she needs to get a job. If they do not allow that to happen, she will have to go to 12th grade and we are not sure what happens to her qualifications at that point. Have to call them up after the first of the year and find out what needs to be done.

We have no idea what William is going to be doing. The private schools over there are expensive and the public schools are public schools so it might not be good. They have not found one yet but will have to call a few in the area to find out which one he needs to go to. I don't hold out much hope there but if I work with him, he might be able to catch up the level he is supposed to be at, which is 10th grade. Since he did not finish 9th grade, I am not sure what that means over there. He left before the end of the school year and I am sure that will hurt him. Don't know a lot about what needs to be done at this point. Have to wait until I get there to find out what is what.

I am told they go swimming everyday while they are there. It is hot. I am not sure I want to go swimming everyday but since it is so hot, I am not sure what choice I will have. And since this is still the beginning of summer, I am sure it will only get hotter.

The apartment has air-conditioning which keeps the bottom floor ok but does not reach the top floor. It is still hot up there, I am told. I will have to see what I can do about that but I do know running the air will cost a lot of money and a lot of money is not something I have. I have no money. I don't have a job. I am not sure how that will work out once I am there. I am ready to retire but I suppose 60 is too early to retire, especially since I cannot access my super until I am at least 65 and probably not until I am 67. Not that it is enough to live on but it is something to look forward to I suppose.

This is going to be a short entry. I am getting tired of typing and since I have done all this at one sitting, I think I deserve a break. I'm tired from working and packing and working and packing so I need to do something else for a while. I suppose driving is what I have to look forward to once I leave. Long ways to go by myself pulling a trailer, and doing it all on Christmas day. I don't really look forward to that.

But, as I said, I am tired and I seem to not be putting out the entries as I was for a while. So, maybe this time I will have something more to say and do another entry soon.

Until next time

MWNews 156

I am going to start this with the idea that I will not be able to finish. I am at work, again, and I have something to do today in about an hour but I just don't want to do it and I don't want to do anything else. So, I am going to attempt to write in here.

Of course, as soon as I started, I was called away to do some work but I am back again, two hours later and am starting this again. Right now, everyone seems to have disappeared. Normally, they would ask me to watch the phones if they had a meeting or something, but I came back from an install and no one was here. I have no idea where they have gone and they have been gone for about 45 minutes now. No one else seems to know either.

Now I have been away for a couple of days since I last started this. Not sure what drew me away but I have a few minutes now so I thought I would try to complete it. Not much chance of that happening but we can always hope. And the fact that I am having trouble typing is not a good sign.

Ok, where to begin, or begin again, or just start from scratch. Or maybe I can pretend I have told you everything and just move on from here.

Let's start with Juanita's going away party. I didn't really have anything to do with it and it was actually a Christmas party that occurs every year but since it was the last chance for a lot of people to see Juanita before she goes, I called it a going away party. Not that anyone actually showed up.

This party is a once a year thing for some family. Not sure what all families are involved but Juanita is part of one of them. I think it might be her mother's side of the family. This year, Craig volunteered to have it at his house. Plenty of room, nice place to be, and he has lots of free booze. You would think that would have brought out the entire mob but it turns out only about 15 people showed up, including us. Not the turnout that usually happens but they did say it has been getting smaller and smaller each year. I remember times when there were over a hundred people at this party, but not anymore apparently. Maybe it was the fact that it was at Craig's, which is really not close to anything but since we have always driven across town with the parents and family to attend the one they normally have, we thought maybe it was their turn to drive over to us. Didn't happen. Just the die hard regulars who are always there showed up. Maybe that is a good thing. I thought so.

Anyway, since this took place about three weeks ago, I have a lot of catching up to do in this blog and I need to move on.

At the party, everyone wanted see me get drunk. I normally never get drunk or not so much that it shows. Since we were going to camp in Craig's paddock, we were going to try out Juanita's new awnings she got for the van, if was ok for me to drink and not have to drive later. So Craig made it his mission to keep me supplied with alcohol. He has this cask of whiskey he like to get everyone to drink. I think I have mentioned it before. I have tried it and it is not bad. Not real good but not bad. Apparently, the reason he keeps pushing this stuff is that is was made wrong. From the stories they tell, it is supposed to be aged in a wooden barrel for at least a year. This is aged for a year but they did not know that the barrel they got was lined with metal. So the alcohol was not aged properly. It stayed in the whiskey so what they ended up with was a whiskey that is about 100 proof. It is very powerful and probably should not be drunk straight without adding it to something.

I found it tasted like crap with coke. It was barely tolerable with anything else so I ended up drinking it straight. I had five. Now I say I had five and you would think that I meant five shots but what Craig was serving it in was about one cup shot glasses. I am not kidding, each one held a little over a cup of liquid. Craig gave me five of these over about a two hour period.

See, I have to finish later. I will definitely re-read this and get back to it at the point I am at now but I have to go somewhere for work and I am already late for leaving for it. Not that you will notice, but I will probably not get back to this before Monday as today is Friday and I only do this at work apparently.

Ok, I have reread this and have no idea where I was going with this. Must have been the fact that I did get drunk and I do not remember what time I went to bed. I normally go to bed early so I assume I went at about 9 or so, but I really have no idea and I am told everyone was in bed by 11 so I don't know if I went to bed before them or after. I do know that when I went, Craig was trying to escort me to the van but he was more drunk that I was so he was not a great help. I know they all said I almost fell down but the way I remember it was I dropped something, can't remember what, and when I bent over to pick it up, Craig said he would get it and ran into me making me stagger out of the way. Not sure if that is what they meant but I know it was not my fault as Craig ran into me.

I suppose, after about three weeks, I should end this and start over. I am going to do that. I am at work again and I just had a lunch they took me to so they could thank me for my efforts. I still have a week left but it was nice of them to do so. I expected everyone to come with us but it was just me and the boss and the bosses boss. It was ok. They made me drink beer and then we all came back to work. I am not sure how having a few beers at work would go over in America but here, it is the norm.

Anyway, I am going to wrap this up. Can't be bothered to start typing on what it is I was going to say. Too tired and too much beer to concentrate, so I guess this will have to be it. Hopefully, I will get back to it this weekend and type some from home. Can't really say that will happen but it might.

So it's goodbye from me and it's good bye from the pints of Guinness I had. Yeah, it's a picture of me. Get over it.

Until next time