Still more

I spent some considerable time writing a post last week, saving it so Icould proof read it the next day before publishing it, and somewhere between save and publish, the whole thing has disappeared into the ether...... not impressed.

The epic continues: Last week was another hectic week. I worked two night shifts at the residential home - 10.30pm to 7am, getting back here to crash on the couch to try and sleep enough to get through the next round. I managed a ph call on the Saturday 24th July to NZ to Mum for her birthday and the following day to Clive for his between shifts. On the Sunday night, I had my last shift at the ff place for awhile and am more than happy about that. Monday it was back at school but had nothing that afternoon - felt like I had a get out of jail free card woohoo. I decided to sieze the moment and went to the optometrist to get my new pair of glasses underway. I do not think the woman working there was very impressed with me - she told me to browse the frames and I said I didnt need to, I just wanted a very basic, no 1 CHEAP pair. She directed me towards some name brands regardless and I had to repeat myself and she still did not seem to get it. In the end with lips like she had sucked a lemon, she managed to come up with a couple of frames and though I liked one pair more than the other, I picked the cheaper pair, telling her I wanted to see, and was not overly concerned what they looked like. As it happens they are pretty much like what I already have so no drama. It would seem I should have two pair of glasses ideally - one for reading and such like and one for all else. I said I had hard enough time of keeping one pair organised and two would be a recipie for disaster - hence me getting graduated lenses in the first place. Arrrrrgh. The good news was however, when she zip zapped my hbf card ( health ins) I received $160 off the price of the glasses which I was very impressed with. Am starting to like this health ins business.

I had thought I might do a quick bit of shopping but as I drove past the university medical practice, I drove round the block and pulled in to see if I could sign up for a Dr as I was in personal warrent of fitness mode. I need to get a medical certificate to update the F endorsement (just try saying that in a hurry, lol) on my licence which will enable me to drive the school mini van. It would seem I was in luck as they have two new Drs taking on patients, so have an apt for tomorrow to start the ball rolling there. The receptionist told me I had the choice of an English or South African Dr, I replied I didn't care as long as they knew their stuff. I have been given to the South African guy so will see how it all goes.

While I was on a roll, I then drove to a dentist I had been recommended. Took a deep breath and entered the building, and met with a very nice receptionist. Filled out paper work and then was told I could have an apt in half an hour as they had just had a cancellation. Immediate panic. More deep breaths and I decided, what the heck, would only be putting off the evil hour so may as well take the apt. I did mention I was not good at dentists, but the receptionist kind of brushed that off with a laugh. Ok. Half a magazine later, a young thing came out to get me, seated me in the chair and then the dentist came in. I said I needed a check up to find out what needed doing, showed him the gap from my lost tooth and then closed my eyes and lay back in the chair after warning him to I was not so good with dentists. So of course, the first part is to open your mouth while the dentist tacker tacks round your teeth with one of those probe things, apart from the sound of a drill, that's that part that I hate most. (Oh, this looks like it needs a filling, gouge, gouge, pain, pain). I am always jumpy in anticipation that as they are tapping, scraping and hooking, they will strike a nerve or what ever. This dentist did not take kindly to my nervous apprehension, and told me he wanted me to open my eyes as he did not like people being jumpy - hmmmmm like I am going to be more relaxed seeing it coming. Too late, my body had started shaking, tears streaming out of my eyes - total involuntary reaction, so shallow breathing like labour lol, tried to get under control, while he stopped and decided to take xrays instead. Xrays I can cope with. Xrays taken, he then asked what I wanted done - it would seem I have to have another tooth out, next to the gap in the bottom front, and then on the right bottom lot, I have to have a stainless steel pin put in where a tooth has fallen half away, cos he can rebuild, and something else to the tooth next door. I was too stressed to take it all in. He has given me a quote for $1500 for the lot that will include a plate to replace the missing teeth. He asked whether I wanted a metal or plastic plate, like I had any idea. I have chosen to go with a plastic one as a metal one would mean a trip to Perth, and a plastic one can be altered should I lose any more teeth. The next decision was whether to wait for gum shrinkage or to put plate in immediately after tooth extraction. It will be put in immediately - I told him I could cope for any amount of time with one tooth missing but two was a step too far as he suggested six months was the time it would take for the gums to shrink properly. He also gave me a script to get some sedatives from the Dr before the next apt. Am not sure when the next step will be taken as I told him it will be finance driven. I can still eat, lol. Still not entirely sure I will not look for another dentist, as if he insists on me being in the chair with my eyes open while he is doing work, it isn't going to happen. Got the apt paid for by hbf though I had to pay $79 for the xrays so I now have had more benefits than what I have paid to date.

On top of this, the saga with the cars has continued. After the new battery in Phil's car, all was good for nearly a week, then went to go to work at school one morning, and the flipping new battery was flat. I have diagnosed that the alternator has packed it in but have yet to get the car to a garage to find out. As my car was still being fixed, the WM picked me up that morning on the bus run for the kids and leant me their car to get to work for the next few days. Got my car back on the Friday afternoon so all was good again. After the traumatic experience at the dentist, I went to the WM's for a restorative cup of coffee, and ended up playing a hand of canaster with the WMH. I noticed the clutch on the car went straight to the floor boards but thought I was just getting used to changing cars again. Tuesday not only was the clutch to the floor but also on the way home from school, it was quite hard to change gear. I rang the garage when I got home and asked did the clutch have clutch fluid and would it cause the gears to stick if it had run out. The answer was yes and yes. I remembered when I had left work at the ff place on the Sunday evening, there was a damp patch beside the car - in CSI mode, I had picked up some gravel to smell to see if petrol had been leaking or oil but there was no particular smell so had thought no more about it buy now wondered if maybe it had been clutch fluid?. I arranged to drop it back to the garage the next morning, the WM picked me up again, and that afternoon I borrowed the work ute as I had picked up a shift at the home that night. It transpired that the the slave and master cylanders on the car had packed it in and the mechanic also replaced a gaskit and spark plugs, so another $344 later, and now am good to go.

On Thursday last week, we had the Principal of the learning centre (school) come over from Queensland where he is based. Two other staff came with him, so Thursday was at school from 9am - 6pm as we had a long meeting after school- then we all got taken out to dinner which made a very nice change indeed. I ended up having the first weekend off work in weeks last weekend which came not a moment too soon. Slept a good amount, did housework, washing, floors etc and started weeding the front garden. I had another round of changing light bulbs - I dragged up a ladder from the back shed as I could not reach the lounge lights with the step ladder. Changed the first bulb, switched it on and nothing. Ok, maybe the two of them have to be replaced at once. Went to put the second bulb in only to find that the bakerlight holder had broken away at some stage so had nothing to screw it into. Made sense why there was no bulb in there already. Not ready to give up yet - there was one more large enclosed down light to go, I clambered up the ladder and unscrewed the light only to find it was in a sealed unit and I could not get into it without possibly breaking it. Then, could not manage to hold the light and rescrew it in so after a few well chosen words, have left the sealed unit resting on the edge of the hole it came from, until I can find someone taller than me or with more strength in their arms than I have to put it back. Fortunately, the new bulbs I bought both fitted into the hall sconces, so I now have two that go there and that is all the light I have in the lounge as the hall is open into the room.

In the midst of this I ended up by having Janet and Jude visit at different times which broke up the afternoon and on the Sunday, Janet and I drove down to Dongara to have lunch with Jude. It was great to see wheat growing on the way down, and the canola has burst into flower so there are swathes of dark green with the wheat and bright yellow with the canola. Shrubs are starting to flower so the wild flower season is not far away. It made me realise how much I miss living out at Tardun, as being in town and working so much, I have been oblivious to the changes in the seasons.

Need to get some shut eye so will close for now.

Its been a hard days night plus plus.

Just when I thought I had got my life organised, hello, the universe struck back and said no, you need a few more challenges in your life yet, lol. Balancing jobs has continued since I last wrote. After a massive week I got to Monday (ten days ago now) and as I worked late the night before at the ff place I thought bliss, I have a day off tomorrow, I will sleep in,catch up on some stuff, and surface to catch up with folk. Well, the alarm went off early as I had forgotten to turn it off, but I did go back to sleep. I got up later in the morning, did some tidying up and washing, curled up on the couch to watch some morning telly, made it to lunch time and crawled back into bed and slept the afternoon away. This was all good as I thought I had two days off in a row. Wrong!!!! at 11.30pm that night as I was putting some things away, I picked up my calander and nearly stroked out when I saw I was working at the residential home at 6.45am until 3pm the next day, in fact the calander said I should have been there that day. OMG, but surely they would have rung me. Well, try to sleep when you have already had more than your usual quota for the day, not made any easier by waking on the hour so I didn't sleep in again like the week before. I made it to work ok, to find out we were going on an outing to the Greenhough Wild Life Farm south of Geraldton. The boys were in high spirits so we nearly didn't get there until they settled, had seat belts on and were getting on together. The wild life farm was a bit of a misnomer as there were a few domestic animals as well but there were dingos, emus, kangaroos, a crocodile and some cockatoos, along with the donkey, horse, goats, sheep, steer - (there were lizards and snakes too but didnt get to see them up close). We were given bags of food to feed some of the animals, strict instructions on not feeding others and everyone seemed to have a good time. Just as I walked up to one of the enclosures, there was a male peacock with his tail up which was awesome. I think the last time I saw that happen was a zoo visit when I was around 5 yrs old, lol. Unfortunately, the battery in the camera died so missed getting photographic evidence.

I found I was to be working the following day too, so another early morning start - this time a trip to Horrocks Beach had been organised. Horrocks Beach is about an hour up the coast line north of Geraldton. Horrocks Beach looks like a picture from the 1950's - fibrolite baches across the road from the beach, one general type store, and a motor camp. Where we parked, there was a covered area with tables and a kitchen sink at one end where you could sit and eat, there was a barbeque outside and a play area beside that. Down on the beach, a grader was working to fix the shore line from the storms of the week before. There was a jetty going out into the tide and as we had gone with another group of kids, some had a go at fishing off that, while others played in the sand or got into the water. It was a beautiful day, so I sat up on a bank, surveying where the kids were all at soaking up the sun - woohoo. The water is relatively shallow for quite a way out, so had already worked out the likelihood of my having to leap down the bank to rescue someone lol, which was extremely minimal. After a picnic lunch we headed back to the home. I finished at work there with 20 mins to spare to get back into town, get dressed to head out the door to the ff place for my evening job. Luckily is was not a late night so was back here by around 9pm.

grader working on the beach

looking out from beside the play area

baches

I had noticed the car smelt hot when I got home that night, but didn't think much more of it. I had the next day off until 3pm, had made my list of things I wanted to get down in town but first, I wanted to get the inside light in the car sorted. After replacing a missing fuse the week before I hunted out a small screwdriver to pop the cover off to check the light bulb and as I jiggled the bulb, hey presto , the light came on. Eureka, I thought, and was feeling pretty pleased with my mechanical prowess. Oh, how pride goeth before a fall, and the following was the Grand Canyon of falling, lol. Remembering the hot smell, I thought I would check the oil and water, imagining the oil may need a top up. If only. I found a jug, filled it with water and watched somewhat disconcertedly as it poured in one end of the radiator and whooshed out somewhere near the right front tyre. Just in case it was an abberation, I poured another jug into said radiator, and lo and behold, it whooshed through again. All was not lost, as I had just opened the mail that morning to find my new RAC card. In NZ it would be the Automoblie Association - I am thinking it may stand for roadside assistance something but if I am wrong you get my drift. I mentioned some time ago joining the RAC when I bought my car and how I had decided to take out the one (large) fee option that covered everything and I am VERY pleased that I did. I had work that afternoon at the ff place so I was not too worried as I thought - no problems - I will use Phil's car, give it a run and that will work. WRONG!!!!. Hopped into Phil's car and flipping flat battery - not a jumper lead in sight. Had about an hours wait when the RAC man turned up, said my car's water pump was in its death throes and he would organise a tow truck to get it to a garage - and bless, he got Phil's car going, said to leave it running in the garage for half an hour and all should be good. I had just enough time to grab a shower, get dressed and get to work at the ff place for a 3pm - 10.30pm shift.

Worked like a cut cat as we were busy with staff down through sickness, and with stocks run out of several items. A fun night! Never mind, I thought, car is primed, will zoom home catch some telly, wind down and get a good nights sleep. Again, if only. Got into the car, and buggary bollocks, it was flipping flat AGAIN. No one at work had jumper leads so once again, I was on to the phone to the RAC with a somewhat terse conversation seeing a mere recharge had not fixed the sodding thing. Another near hour wait, car going again and zoomed home before anything else went wrong. This bloke said the battery was obviously dead so best thing was to try and get one the next day. Good oh. The WM and family were still away on school holidays so waited patiently until 9am and decent time to ring, rang Janet and she said she could take me to get a new battery - brilliant. Went to Repco and $180 later, new battery all good to go. Had no spanners to hand but found a pair of pliers that did the job, took the old battery out, lugged the new one in and woohoo, the car started first pop. We had already had a well deserved cup of coffee at Dome so Janet headed home and I zoomed to the library to return books for the WM's children. Pressed the door lock/opener on the car keys shut, shot into the library, dropped the books off and back to the car, pressed the automatic door opener and nothing. Pressed the button again, then the other button, still nothing. It was about 1pm, my phone, and wallet were locked in car, and I was due at work again at the ff place at 3.30pm from memory. Began to think I had been born under a bad sign by now, two cars down and now the sodding lock. Crossed the road to a service station and wouldn't you know it, they did not stock this particular battery. ARRRRRGGGGHHHHH. I took a deep breath and thought the key has to open a door, surely cars have not bypassed being able to use a key altogether. Tried the drivers door but no luck - do not know why. Boot wouldn't work either, and just as I was ready to kick in a window (thinking dark thoughts indeed), for some reason, I tried the passenger door and had a pavement kissing moment, when the door opened. Needless to say, I leapt into the car, shot off back to Repco and got a battery for door lock. Was so stressed, rang work and said I would be an hour late has had got nothing achieved that I had planned for the day.

Friday worked at the ff again until 10.30pm then onto the home to shadow another night shift until 3am. Was wide awake by the time I got home so poodled about until 7am then slept for a chunk of the day before heading back to the ff place for work that evening again. I did a dash round to the WM's place to use the drier to get uniform dry and as they were getting back from holiday that day, zoomed round the house and put pile of washing left on and hung it out, got in washing left on line, cleaned fridge out of a few things as there had been a power cut at some stage and got a bottle of fresh milk so they had something to come home to. Worked until midnight and got to bed around 3am and then woke up next day to a call from the WMH to say they were back. Paid a flying visit that afternoon before heading back to work once again at the ff place - an early night 4pm until 9.30pm and a reasonably early night because, in the blur the past two weeks had been, it was back to school the next day for teacher only day and on the Tuesday we had all the kids back - well the ones that turned up after the holidays, lol. I have one more week on the roster at the ff place and will then drop back to being on call, only picking up a shift if I have nothing else on. Whew.

Beware what you ask for!

Down to one job, I think I said in my last post - famous last words. Last week I was rung by the folks from Child Protection on Monday and started on the Wednesday (I think) with them6.45am till 1pm, then a quick change then to the fast food job until midnight, then back to CP 10am - 7pm Thursday, Friday back for a staff meeting midday until 2pm, then again 10.30pm - 3.30am Saturday and then later in the day, 4pm - 10.30m at the ff job and tonight 3pm - 8pm. That is a snapshot of what my weeks look like. LUCKILY, I have taken leave from the ff job at the end of this week so will be down to the job at school 9am - 12.30pm Mon -Thurs with a shorter time on Friday and the CP job will fit around that, mainly afternoon shifts and weekend work.



Last week Wednesday at the CP job it was mainly about paperwork, and induction to the residential home where I am now in the process of becoming a residential care officer (I think that is my correct title). The children being looked after are there by order of the court having been removed from their family situations for a variety of reasons. Most of the children who need this residential situation have some significant traumatic incident or incidents in their backgrounds, hence their removal to an environment that helps support them until they are ready for placement back into family with supports, or into foster care. Most are emotionally younger than their chronological age and many basics have to be taught as well as such things as anger management and appropriate ways of behaving. Having worked late at the ffood place the night before, I set the alarm on my phone for 5.30am which would have given me 5 hours sleep and horror of horrors woke bolt out of a dream at 7.10am. Thank God for a boarding school background and casual clothes for the job, lol. I was showered, dressed and heading out the door by 20 past seven (and yes water did touch my body, lol) only to drive nearly a mile before I realised I was not wearing my glasses!!!!!!! Eeeek, knew I was doing paper work and am now blind as a bat without glasses for reading, so there was nothing for it but to turn back, at warp speed and then return at a very fast pace reaching the home by about 7.45am totally embarrassed - luckily they all thought it was hilarious, whew.

Thursday, I went along on an outing with the three boys in care at the moment, which involved a trip to the playground on the waterfront which was a huge success. It was an outing where family members of the boys were able to join us too. We went out under threat of an impending storm - warnings had been out for 24 hours that a storm was coming and we watched the black clouds come in from the sea. We had a very quick picnic meal at the playground then loaded up and headed back to the home. There was much talk about the coming storm and the boys decided to build a cubby outside with chairs and blankets in the afternoon until everything was cleared away and the rain started. I was doing some more induction reading when I was called to come and look at what fun the boys were having, and could I take photos. By now it was bucketing down with rain and there they were running about and jumping in puddles having a whale of a time. We let them get rid of all their energy and once they said they were cold, it was hot showers and pj's, with a bit of telly before an early roast dinner. I stayed until they boys were in bed or heading there calling into the WM's on the way home. They were all bundled up, the WMH not well with flu so as it was pouring down, I waited for a lift in the weather and hied my way back here.



While at work earlier in the evening, one of the staff had been rung by her son to say the power line from the pole to the house had exploded and he sent a picture by phone of a scorch mark down the side of her house. Luckily, it did not catch fire and she had to go home to find out if it had caused any damage to electrical goods inside. Driving along the roads back to mine, there was flooding so had to go slow as I thought I was going to aqua plane at one stage (before I slowed down, lol). Got back and the front door light had blown so fumbling in the dark trying to find the key hole in the pouring rain was not fun. By the time I went to bed, the wind was phenomenal - I believe it was 90k and more. There was massive lightening and thunder so felt very cosy wrapped up in all my duvets and quilts tucked up in bed. It was a little disconcerting to have the banana palm bashing against the window but it did not keep me awake. When I got up the next morning, it was to find that the ceiling in the bathroom had leaked enough for the bath mat to be wet through, and there was a small puddle in the hallway from a leak I could not identify. I think the skylight in the bathroom was the cause of the leak there. Perth got badly hit again, - one bloke having a tree trap him in his bed when it crashed through his house and luckily to be alive to tell the tale.



Friday, I was on a mission in between going to work twice to get light bulbs for the house as at least five have blown by now. Now, since I last had cause to buy a light bulb, they have changed the whole lot to these long life safe the planet type bulbs - which I loathe with a passion. First of all, the bulbs in the hallway - I took one to Bunnings to try and find a replacement, then the one at the front door that is in a carriage lamp type fixture. Of course to change the bulbs, I needed a step ladder so chose to buy one of those too. What a hassle it was to get the bulb out of the carriage lamp fixture. The screw things holding the top on had semi rusted but managed to get one undone with some pliers and after much checking of screw type bulbs (who on earth puts screw bulbs into things instead of batten type bulbs!) in the local IGA, managed to get the going again. The packet says these bulbs are good for five years - and they would want to at the cost of them. What I dislike most is the dullness of the light in these bulbs and the fact they seem to have to be on for awhile before getting to full light. I had work again with CP at 10.30pm and once again, had a duh moment. Every door at the home is lockable and you enter via the garage and two locked doors before gaining entry. So, in the dark I arrive, my keys are on a black key ring thingie that goes round your neck, I have no light on the inside of my car, and I cannot find them in my bag in the dark!!!!!! There was nothing for it but to knock on the door - not being sure anyone would actually open it but luckily - again - staff heard me, and let me in the front door - I tell you, I am rapidly using up my 9 lives in this job, lol. I was to shadow the night person to get an idea of what is expected which is a complete handover and bed checks on the hour, with some cleaning, laundry and in between cups of coffee and a fair bit of chat which was great. I stayed until about 3.30am and finally got to bed around 7am so that was a long day but good.