AFF #3 Photos

Back into the Daily Grind

I started off today sleeping way past my expected wake up time. Dad was knocking on my door. I was meant to give him a lift to Glendalough. Woops! So I rushed out of bed, was dressed in seven minutes flat and hurried to the car. I dropped him off and got home not long after. I had a nice hot shower and got dressed (again). It was off to work on the bike this morning as it was a quite pleasant 8°C.

In the office, there was nobody there except Brad. The boss rolled in well after 0900, so I wasn't in much of a rush to get anything started. My diary filled up pretty quickly with all the things that needed doing from the last two weeks.

By lunch time, Brad and I were going crackers. We needed food, and we needed to vent. Luckily the sun was also out so I enjoyed some more solar power!

After the Hot and Spicy Box from the Wok place in Belmont, it was back to it, with crisis after crisis of people not doing what they are hired to do... no surprises really!

Even though I was busy, I didn't get much done at all today. And I had absolutely no motivation to take my laptop home either.

Tonight is maya time. I've reset my router and I'm going to try to fix that damn SATA problem with my DVD burner. Otherwise the older one is going back in.

EDIT: Aaaaand, the ADSL just cut out again. For the love of money! Ah well, might just send an angry email to Netgear and do a warranty job.

EDIT 2: Heeeuuuuuge thanks to Glen for helping me remain calm and going through BIOS settings with me. Who would have thought that the thing with the thing changes that other thing and SATA and RAID and CMOS and IDE and stuff! :S
Anyway, the drives all work! I managed to change the fascia on the burner while I was at it and it looks heaps better. YEY!

In other news, got some more fencing gear in today. Can't wait to try it out on Wednesday!

A Week Has Passed

Without my Robin.

Miss you babe!

Queensland.... Again!

Yeah, so I went back to Queensland on Monday morning for another few days. This time to Townsville and Charters Towers. It was warm, it was sunny, it was actually pretty damn good. It makes me think twice everytime I go to Queensland "what the hell am I still doing in Perth?"

So I was back in the Sunshine State again on another work trip. My task was to head to Charters Towers and present some training material to a mine and familiarise them with some new software that they had purchased. It was nice to spend almost two weeks in full sunshine, something that I hadn't experienced a lot of back home in a few weeks. It was most pleasant to sit in the sun by the pool at the motel...

2008 Western Australian International Fencing Tournament

The Australian Fencing Nationals were in town this week and I had the opportunity to participate in the Women's Team Sabre, representing Cavaliers School of Fencing with Sarah Macfarlane and Vlasta Barac. We were seeded third and went up against the second seed team from Exalibur. *The* sabre club.

We lost to Excalibur 45 to 38 but we were very happy to have made it a very close match right up until the end when they were sneaking up points here and there. Highlights of the match were excellent ripostes from Cavs, giving great chase, and JR Ho breaking her sabre into my neck to get the 40th point. Her blade snapped as she made a point attack to my chest as I lunged causing the blade to get stuck between my chin and chest, snapping on the bib of my mask. It didn't hurt as such, but it took my breath away for certain! And of course, that is *why* we wear what we wear!

So it was between Cavaliers and UWA to battle out for bronze. Both teams started well and kept even right until the end. The final score was 45 to 43 to UWA. A well fought battle, but no medal this year.

Photos to come...!

EDIT: The sexy Cavs Sabre Team:

Frustration and a Tanty

I got a few calls on Friday from Mum and Dad, they had two flights diverted for emergency landings in Dubai and Budapest. What a nightmare for them. To add to the frustration, the mobile phone coverage and networks in Dubai are shit. Three times, mum tried to ring to tell me they were ok and two of those times all I heard was static. I let out an overwhelming "FUCK!" and stomped my foot in the lounge room. It was so stunning it even scared Robin. I don't think I have ever been so frustrated in my life. And annoyed, and scared. After checking the Emirates website for hours and hours, I finally concluded that they would be landing in the morning. I set the alarm early for Saturday morning and checked the website again. 0825. I bloody well hoped so!

Mum and dad landed on (re)schedule and were so glad to be home. They told us all of the drama and the stories, the sights, the food (and booze) and all the rest. I was happy to see them again and still in good spirits.

And of course, I got gifts. Two gorgeous tops and a set of union jack socks.

Back in Brisvegas

I do love to travel. Even though I leave my loved ones behind...

I'm back in Brisbane aka Brisvegas. After a delayed flight (at least they called me beforehand), I got a seat in the aisle with nobody next to me, Bacardi and coke flowing, having my baggage arrive last, waiting 45 minutes for a taxi then having the crazy Indian taxi driver get us lost in the damn city... I made it. Checked into the Mercure, room service has been served, red wine has been consumed and I'm ready to kick back and have a nice sleep.

It's conference time again in Brisbane for two days, then I'm flying back home on Friday. I'm really hoping that QANTAS don't mess me about as I need to pick the parents up from Europe early on Saturday morning.

No camera with me this time around so no photos either. Which sux because Brisbane in winter would have been pretty nice to check out.

Oh, and they have Schweppes lemonade here in little glass bottles.
Best. Lemonade. Ever!