Liz Going On

I wasn’t going to blog today, but I felt I should write something before March ends.

January was holiday! I intend to blog about this sometime

February was back to work. Its ok. All things considered.

March has been many things including birthday, singing, another trip to Sydney, catching up and decorating.

But you’ll have to wait for more. 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS PEOPLE!!

I hope you all had a nice Christmas and are enjoying the strange time between Christmas and New Year.

I had a really lovely Christmas.

Christmas Eve was spent with Katharine and her family. I used to work with Katharine, but she now works somewhere else. She moved here with her family 5 years ago. I played with the kids and then we went to Mass. There was a nativity in which all 3 of Katharine’s children were in as well. I’d never experienced a Catholic church service before and I wasn’t disappointed. Smells and Bells galore! I didn’t take communion as I’m a C of E girl, but I did enjoy the whole experience. And the nativity was great.

Then Katharine cooked a whole Christmas dinner. It was amazing, with wine galore. Then it was bedtime. I was sleeping in the lounge so we had to make the bed and move presents etc before sleep time, so it was half two before we got to bed. I was woken the next morning by her 6 year old boy. It was very sweet, 06.30 Marcus came to me and said in a nice quiet voice "Liz, Liz, Its Christmas! Father Christmas has been and we’re going to open our stockings". I joined K and her husband and the 3 little people in bed for the stocking opening. It was ace and a really lovely start to Christmas.

 

Then it got even better. I went to the airport and ANDREW!!! had arrived! The best Christmas present ever. I took him home, showed him my flat and we had Christmas breakfast. Then we opened a few presents and all the cards we’d received and Andrew ate the treats I’d bought him (I’d got all his favourite foods in as I wasn’t sure what he’d want after travelling. The answer was EVERYTHING!).

After that we decided to go to the beach as it was so sunny and lovely. The busses were running a reduced service, but it was still a really good service, so we caught the bus to Bondi. Once on the beach Andrew put my Santa suit on and we took photos. It was a lot of fun. And some bikini clad girls wanted their picture taken with Andrew in the suit which was rather amusing. Then we walked the costal path to Bronte Beach and sat on the sand and went in the sea. It was lovely. (Although didn’t really feel like Christmas!).

All this was before lunchtime!

We went back to the flat for lunch (of Andrew’s favourite things) and sparkling wine and then watched films and chilled out all afternoon. It was nice. 

Boxing day we visited some friends for a breakfast party before they all went to the races, then we pottered around and then I did a night shift. I did two more shifts on the 27th and 28th nights, which were ok, as they involved flying in the helicopter. The most exciting thing was the trip in the new helicopter. It was ace! So much more comfortable than the other ones.

And tomorrow is a wine tour. Then only 6 more shifts at work then one whole month off work. HURRAH!

1. What time did you get up this morning? 9.23 (as I went to bed at 2 am due to overtime)

2. How do you like your steak? Medium or rare, but not well done please.

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Due date and it was really bad. Awful

4. What is your favorite TV show? I’ve just watched ‘Indian Doctor’ and loved it. I’m also a fan of Dexter and Don’t Tell the Bride.

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Well, techincally I am ‘living the dream’ at the moment in Sydney, but I think I’d rather be cold in Manchester with my husband and friends rather than alone and upside down and hot.

6. What did you have for breakfast? A cup of coffee.

. What foods do you dislike? I agree with Amy. Offal. Not fond of Game either.

8. Favorite place to eat out? Its more the person than the place. Had a really nice meal in Trinity Beach, Queensland when on holiday with Mum.

9. Favorite dressing? Balsamic vinegar with oil

10. … Wouldn’t you love to know my answer to question 10?? Who stole question ten? I shall answer YES without knowing what the question is.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? None at the moment. This is bad. My Sporty Daewoo is in the garage, it might be terminal. My Skoda taxi at home is being driven by Andy/Em and I believe is dandy.

12. What are your favorite clothes? Hmm, probably a pretty party frock. Not my flight pants.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? I quite lucky as I’ve travelled a lot. Heading to NZ soon. Currently exploring Australia. Quite fancy visitng Mexico. Or Russia.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? I like Amy’s answer ‘I’m a realist; if you are emptying the cup, it is hal; empty, if you are filling the cup, it is half full. I do not accept any other answer to this question.’. I try to be half full, but don’t always manage it.

15. Where would you want to retire? By the sea please, near my friends and family.

16. Favorite time of day? Hometime. Or Bedtime. I love bed.

17. Where were you born? Shrewsbury

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? Cricket or gymnastics

19. Who do you think will not tag you back? most people

20. Person you expect to tag you back first? no one

21. Who are you most curious about their responses to this? I’m not that bothered really. Do it if you like, but you don’t have to.

22. Bird watcher? Not really. Sometimes, if they’re pretty.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? Neither! Sleep Rocks.

24. Do you have any pets? I am currently babysitting a fish, called Fish. He’s not died yet and is 5 months old. Go me. At home I have two rabbits whom I am very fond of. Harold and Muriel. They’re cute and HUGE.

25. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share? I have a three week holiday coming very soon with my husband in New Zealand. We’re going to hire a campervan. Cant wait!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? A Doctor. Done.

27. Favorite Childhood memory: Tricky. I have a lot of memories involving Alison Healey, playschool or Borth. I am lucky.

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Both please

29. Are you married? I am.

30. Always wear your seat belt? Yes. In any moving vehicle on the road or sky.

31. Been in a car accident? I had a crash on my driving test. And I drove into someone last year after a night shift. Oops.

32. Any pet peeves? People who walk too slowly and won’t get out of the way. Stupid people and Stupid rules.

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Ham and pineapple.

34. Favorite Flower? Calor lillies

35. Favorite ice cream? I can live without ice cream thanks.

36. Favorite Fast food restaurant? A good curry from Ashton Balti House.

37. How many times did you fail your drivers license test? Passed first time, despite crashing.

38. From whom did you get your last email? SpamSpamSpam

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? John Lewis. So much choice.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? Not really. I like planning and getting excited.

41. Like your job? Mostly, the helicopters make me smile a lot.

42. Broccoli? Yes please. Who doesn’t? Its my second favourite vegetable (the first is the corgette, the king of vegetables).

43. What was your favorite vacation? Honeymoon of course!

45. What are you listening to right now? The Simpsons on the TV and some colleagues chatting

46. What is your favorite colour? Sliver

47. How many tattoos do you have? None

48. How many are you tagging for this quiz? can’t be bothered to count.

49. What time did you finish this quiz? 18:11

50. Coffee Drinker? Yes. Everyday.

I am sad as my car is poorly.

It let me down yesterday, on the way home from a night shift. And now I won’t get it back till Tuesday.

Boo.

December, the traditional month of counting down.

This year, I have a extra special reason to count down. ANDREW!!! He arrives in just 24 days.

I just can’t wait. It’ll be so lovely to see him.

I have so much to get done before he arrives, so should stop blogging.

Bye!

I seem to have quite a lot to tell you all. I’ll split it up into sections.

I started this last week, and then forgot about it until I mentioned my blog on FB. And then at least 10 people came here, so I felt a little guilty that there wasn’t a recent post, so here it is.

 

Flyling lots

I’ve flown quite a lot this month. I flew three times in three shifts the other week. All in the helicopter. And I flew last night. I almost had too much flying when we went miles and miles, it took 2.5 hours to get there. The helicopter we have at the moment is very cramped and not very comfortable at all. And there is a lot of vibration. But I still love flying.

Roar and Snore

Harriet and I slept at the Zoo. It was totally amazing. So much fun. Glamping in a really cool posh tent with comfy bed and wine and night tours. I got to feed a giraffe. It licked my hand and everything. And the view from our tent was really cool too. And it was with Harriet, which made it even better as she’s ace!

Massage/pedicure

I have discovered that  beauty is cheap here. Before the Zoo H and I had a massage. I didn’t quite know what to expect but this little Thai lady ended up walking over my legs and bottom. It was amazing! And dead cheap too. I might go again today if I get my blogging and emails done quickly enough.

 

New flatmate

I have a new flatmate. He is no way as nice as the lovely Rachel, who I miss heaps and heaps. But he’s ok. Well, I’ve got free ballet tickets tonight which is a definite bonus.  I think overall I’d rather have Rachel and no free ballet tickets, but I can’t have everything. And at least he’s not a nightmare.

Rash

For the first time in almost a year my rash has almost totally cleared up. I am very pleased indeed. Hurrah for prolonged cream application.

 

Written work

I have submitted four of my 10 case reports. And have done half my PGCE written stuff, and hope to have a big push to finish that next week. Then I can finish my research project and the case reports in December before the wonderful Andrew arrives.

 

I shall write about other stuff another time. I need to tell you about Gold Class, The Idea of North, The Ballet and activities and maybe other things too.

Its November. That has come quicker than expected.

I’m a little freaked out as I have so much to do in the next 53 days before Andrew arrives. Lots of academic work and exciting things too. I shouldn’t really by blogging. Actually, I’m going to go now and tell you things another time. sorry.

Hello people,

I hear its cold at home. Very cold, my sources say. Its nice and warm here. Around 23degrees each day. There’s been quite a lot of wetness too. My golly, I thought the sky was falling in the thunder and lightening was so loud. But thankfully the sky appears to be where it should be, which is certainly a relief.

I’m behind on my email writing and letter constructing. This is a shame. I know that if I don’t send any emails then I don’t get any replies, and the same for post. However I have just been too busy, and I think I may remain so for a while. I have certain written projects to get done whilst I’m here. I’ll feel better with the things done. I know. I hope that I can get them done and that work isn’t to mental.

I don’t really want to go on at length about work here, but things are not ideal. Its really bad actually. And has been making me exhausted and sad. Today was ok. 

I was going to write a bit about choir. Which I shall do. The first thing which was different was that they don’t have seperate male and female changing rooms. Everyone gets changed into their choir uniforms together. I found this strange and rather un-British. I think its because Aussies are more used to changing at the beach than we* are. The orchestra wasn’t as good, which I guess I should have expected as at home I’m lucky enough to sing with the best orchestra in Britain.** They were ok. There was also the festival chorus singing with the Symphony Chorus. The Festival Chorus don’t audition, and appear to have serious trouble keeping pitch. There are lots of them (circa 300), but I did find it quite trying not singing in tune. I actually worry that I was singing sharp in some semi-conscious way to counteract the flatness. Which I know is bad, but I couldn’t help it.

Sherlock was on TV over here recently. Proving that all good things are Welsh. Anyway, I discovered there’s an Aussie version of iPlayer (I can’t iplayer as I’m not in the UK), so I got excited that I could catch up on the one I missed. However, yesterday it wouldn’t play. It said I was in the wrong region. i.e. Not Australia. Which I believe is false. My IP address was aussie, I tried my mobile internet as well, which is also Aussie. No play. I was wondering if it was a Mac thing. However, they are stupid. Today I changed my computer clock to Australian time. I’d previously had it at home time, as I love home, and it helps me keep track of what you guys are doing (ie, sleeping, working, eating). Anyway, now my computer clock is Australian time, the Iplayer thing works. Now, that’s just stupid in my opinion. Use my IP address. I’m in Australia you fools. It shouldn’t matter what time my clock says it is, its just a clock! Stupid Stupid Stupid.

 

Right, I’m going to be soppy now. If you don’t like it then just stop reading now. Its 62 days till Andrew arrives. I love him so very much, and I’m a lucky girl to have such a nice husband. Having been busy/stressed/overworked/poorly/tired has made me also realise how much he looks after me, which is very nice and I miss a lot.

Andrew’s parents are arriving tomorrow and are staying at the flat. So I should go tidy, clean, empty bins and things. I don’t live in a hovel, I keep things quite tidy really, but they’re coming off a 5* cruise ship, so it’ll be quite a change anyway and I’d like it to look nice.

*We being most of the British population. There are some exceptions to this, myself and Paula are two, especially cold beaches in Wales in May.

 

** I can’t remember where this came from, I think its the South Bank awards, but I know its true!

1) Last night shift of the four weeks of constant nights tonight. Woo

2) Opera house concerts Tomorrow and Saturday night

3) Seeing Andrew’s parents soon

4) Andrew coming for Christmas

5) NYE at the Opera house (I got tickets today! Woooo)

6) Hoilday in NZ

I’ve not blogged for a couple of weeks. This is because I’ve been miserable. The misery is lifting now, and I don’t like to blog when I’m grumpy as it gets boring and self obsessed and I think it makes me worse.

I shall summarise the misery.

Nights. Difficult cases. Lots of cases. Bad sleep during day. Rota getting worse and doctors are leaving. Rachel leaving. Missing Andrew. Choir not being as fun as I want. Tiredness. Fatness.

Right, misery over. 

So, Andrew’s parents were in Sydney for 4 days. They’ll be back in two weeks. They’re having a jolly nice holiday, involving visiting me and cruising around New Zealand and visiting other bits of Australia. It was lovely to see them. They bought me British things (I am now supported. Hurrah for Marks and Spenser) including magazines and chocolate. Yum yum yum. Don’t panic. I’ve not eaten the magazines. Just the chocolate. MMMmmmm. Scrummy.

 

Gosh I got quite distracted there. I think I need more sleep. Time for another nap.