Parents should have their heads examined…

Posted on March 15, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone? | 2 Comments

Or at least, I should. I sit here listening to, what should be, the beautiful strains of “Pomp and Circumstance” being mutilated by a learning child.  Don’t get me wrong, I love my daughter with a zeal that only a mother can, but, I think I may have made a rookie parent mistake when I allowed her to try out for a trumpet scholarship.

Ok, I  may be exaggerating a tad. She’s actually quite good. Chelsea has always had a natural ability when it comes to anything musical. She sings like an angel, has taught herself piano, recorder and is now learning the fine art of the trumpet. She is in a special music program at school and has been accepted into the school band. Because of this, she’ll get to perform in Sydney and in Tasmania among other places during senior high school.

I am so proud of her!! (Regardless of how Pomp and Circumstance sounds just now.) For those facing the decision of whether or not to let their child learn a horn instrument a few words of advice:

Panadol IS your friend. (Tylenol, aspirin, Advil…take your pick)
Playing into a pillow will muffle the sound but makes it hard to empty the spit valve.
Practice, however loud, makes perfect.
A child who knows they are supported and admired make an amazing effort.
Dogs don’t like the trumpet.  (Mine are howling in sync with her playing.)

Well I’m off. Dinner needs to made and she’s starting on “George of the Jungle.”

I can bop to that. :D

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Job Agencies…Do they do the job?

Posted on March 13, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone? | 3 Comments

Today I had an interview with a popular job agency here in Perth. The woman I met with was very pleasant and seemed quite helpful. Of course, she was certain that she had the perfect job for me. It required all of the skills that I possess and I have experience in a similar field that is highly desired.

After our interview, I did a skills test for Word and Excel. I have to admit, I’m a bit rusty in Excel because it’s been at least 3 years since I’ve used it! But let’s face facts here, nobody uses all of Excels functions. Every company is different and even someone with the most rudimentary knowledge of the program can be running spreadsheets with 10 minutes of training.

Word was fine, with a few exceptions. I was annoyed that by doing something simple like trying to move the window would count as a “click” and sometimes I’d get it wrong and be forced to the next page without even having tried to answer the question. Grrr!

Now, I wait.  Wait to see if I’ve passed muster and exactly how many interviews come my way. I’m not sure how effective agencies are, I’ve had little experience with them but I guess I’ll find out!

Wish me luck!

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Puppies would rule the world…if only we’d stop neutering them!

Posted on March 10, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone?, Stupidity and randomness | 2 Comments

Tomi (pronounced toe-me) is going to be 8 months old next week. This means that the dreaded “snip” is due.  We had made an appointment for last month but with Mum’s visit, we thought it would be best to postpone the whole thing until she’d left.  Now the day is almost upon us. The day where I take my sweet, innocent, moose chewing, clothes peg stealing, wet-paw-prints-all-over-my-floor leaving, won’t-come-when-he’s-called-unless-he-want-to baby to have his TESTICLES REMOVED!

I have to admit, I’m hoping that this might calm him down a little bit. He can be pretty hyper (in typical puppy fashion.) But the reason I really want him to calm down is that my lap-dog will not sit in my lap.  He is so interested in that sound, movement, smell coming from somewhere else that he can barely sit still for 30 seconds to get a cuddle from me.  Pretty soon, I’m going to need therapy to cure the damage cause by being rejected consistently by my own dog.

OK, maybe that’s a slight exaggeration…he does come running when I return to the house and he cries when I pick up my car keys (the indication to puppies everywhere that you are leaving them FOREVER,) and he absolutely must have hugs from time to time. This is actually pretty funny. He wraps his paws around my neck and splays his hind legs around my waist like a toddler. I have to hold him under the bum so he has support. He then lays his head on my shoulder until he’s had his fill and starts squirming for release.

Still, I’m waiting for the time that I can sit on the lounge patting a submissive and calm animal to my hearts content.  Maybe this is payback… I’ve let some pretty mean things happen my puppy.  For example:

Tomi Stranded

Poor thing, stranded on the pool float. He couldn’t get off unless he wanted to swim, which he didn’t.

Cool TomiOk this was just funny

IN the bed

For some reason, Tomi likes to go under the sheet in my bed. On this occasion I was making the bed and failed to notice that someone snuck in.

You think he’s holding a grudge? Maybe this is why my puppy won’t sit in my lap, he’s afraid I have a whoopi cushion waiting for him.

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Windows Vista

Posted on March 8, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone?, Stupidity and randomness | 3 Comments

Yesterday, I upgraded my operating system to Windows Vista. So far, I like it. The features that I like about XP are still there and there are some pretty nifty new things to play with including; games, Windows Media Centre, Meeting Space and the funky little sidebar that keeps me up to date on how bloody hot it’s been the past few days, (Currently 34 degrees.) among other things.

The one thing that annoys me is that whenever you get a new piece of software, you find out how crappy your PC really is. For instance, I was all hyped about trying Windows Aero and the 3D flip option when you have multiple windows open, but alas… my graphics card can’t handle it! I can’t even test it out as the PC rates your system and if your rating is too low, windows doesn’t even off the option of trying it. It’s simply not there!

So now, we’re shopping for a new graphics card as I cannot handle not being able to try everything. Realistically, any card we get can be used in our next system (we’re looking at a Dual Core) but it really grinds me that we bought a new graphics card not long ago because the original wasn’t compatible with the wide-screen monitor I got Brian for Father’s Day. So this makes 2 new graphics cards in a matter of months. I’d better do the research before committing because I’ll be really cheesed off if the next thing (and there is always a next thing) turns out to be incompatible again!

So far, Vista has a thumbs up but watch this space… there is bound to be something that comes up.

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Immigration and laziness

Posted on March 6, 2007
Filed Under Australia - The land down under, Irony Anyone? | 7 Comments

A couple of weeks ago, I received a call from my immigration agent at DIMIA (The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs) here in Australia.

She seemed a tad surprised and amused by the gross lack of evidence (of my marriage) sent with my application for PR. (Permanent residence) We chatted for a few minutes on the phone while she gave me some helpful hints on what exactly constituted “evidence.” I bantered with Brian as well, asking “Do we have this?” and “Am I on that?”

Byt the end of the conversation, she was convinced that we were in fact, a “real” couple but still needed some proof to offer a supervisor in the event of an inquiry.

The most important thing was the fact that, though I put my maiden name on my Australian police check, they had failed to include it on the clearance. So I called them back and asked for it to be reissued. I was told that they would send the request to the proper department and they would check that I had indeed included my maiden name, then call me back to let me know if they would be reissuing the document or if I had to apply again (Another $60.) A week later with still no response I called back, only to be told they had a computer failure and that they would have to start the process again. Thankfully, the gentleman I spoke to was competent and called me back within 10 minutes to let me know that I HAD included my maiden name and that he was sending the new clearance. WHEW!

Now, it may have seemed that I was lazy or lackidaisical about the application in the first place but I assure you, I was not. It was simply that I couldn’t think of anything else to send. You see, this was part THREE of my application.

Firstly, when I applied for my prospective spouse visa - having to prove relationship in the first place.

Second, the spouse visa, after marriage here in Australia - having to prove the marriage and ongoing relationship.

Lastly, The PR Visa where you have to prove…. everything above…again… with new things.

When I moved here, Brian already had a house set up. Bills, insurances, the mortgage were all in his name. Not much point in changing that - they just charge you for it! Also, I had used our joint bank account twice before - no good.

So here were the agents suggestions and what I provided as proof of continuing relationship.

1. Brian’s tax return stating me as his spouse and claiming my income.
2. Our mortgage agreement stating 2 adults live here (Because I don’t have PR , I cannot be named on the mortgage, nice twist, huh?)
3. Our car insurance listing me as a driver.
4. The amended police clearance.
5. A Family Allowance receipt that lists my kids as Brian’s dependants.
6. A statement from the bank, giving the length of time that we have held a joint account. (Same but different ;) )
7. Some Christmas cards that fortunately were addressed to the whole family by name (and in some cases dogs too.)
8. Photos of us and the kids ranging from 2003 - present. There are 2 great photos of just the 4 kids, one in 2004 and one taken a few weeks ago that show the difference in ages immensely! Here they are.

So there you have it… all the proof I can find on paper that Brian and I are still together and happily married. All of this after a 5 minute conversation proved the exact same thing.

I’m off to the post office.

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