Crazy Few Days

Well could I get any more stressed out?!  Been a lot of thinking about school, thinking about future work options, thinking about normal work stresses etc etc etc, whew I'm worn out!  Had a sit down conversation with Chris, Roola and Peter (my boss in the restaurant) yesterday, I was super nervous to start with as I wasn't sure how they were going to take the news (very unexpected for them as I hadn't told them anything about it before)?!  Well, they took it surprisingly really well.  I told them that I was thankful for the offer in CR Team Leader role but I had been accepted to study come Feb, if they wanted me to stay where I am or be in CR role I was more then happy either way, whatever worked best for them.  Well they were super happy that I had decided to go back to school and that I want to stay with IKEA!  They decided to put me in the CR role for 3 months (until Feb) as they think I would do well down there and help them out a lot.  Then Chris said he wants me back in food part time while I'm studying, he said he guarantees the hours for me and I get to be a bit choosy over what shifts I want to work.  So I guess all that hard work, stress and tears over the last year has paid off.  Yippee :)  VERY HAPPY!  And relieved :)

So I start as Customer Relations Team Leader Nov 12th.  I'll be helping out/in charge of; Front Line (cash line), Smaland (kids drop off area/play area), Greeters, Cash Office (counting floats, distributing change) & Shopping Tools.  Should be very interesting as it's completely new.  I'm excited for a change, working with a team of 50 odd co-workers, so double the size of what I have now.  Wish me luck!  Be nice to get some experience in another part of the company as well.

Roola & Chris are keen for me to get into Communications & Interior Design team after I've finished studying which is great to have the support to get where I want to go.  Sounds like they're going to try and help me get some work experience in the area before hand as well.  So we'll see how it all goes.

Going to be a very busy year!  But a very exciting year as well!  Studying, new career option, wedding, traveling, possibly moving, oh my goodness, brace myself, here we go!  I am looking forward to getting out of my current role right now, getting a bit too much for me especially with these hour cuts.  So I think all of this is happening at a very good time.  Keep you posted on how the new role goes.

And of course HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!  Thinking of you as always.  Love you to bits and hope you have a wonderful day!!!  Big cuddles in the mail for you xxx

That's it for now, it's all been keeping my mind very occupied at the moment, hopefully I'm able to de-stress a bit over the next few weeks or so, wound up tighter then a drum and not liking it at all.  Summer's on it's way, yipee :D  Love to you all xx

What a Week!

Well it's been a wonderful and crazy week both at work and at home!

Been enjoying the nicer weather that we've been receiving the last couple of weeks (YAY summer's on it's way, finally!).  Enjoying long walks along the beach, swims for Junior in Patterson Lakes, bike rides and BBQ's.  We had our first BBQ last weekend on our brand new barbie, yummmmm!  Food always tastes much better on the BBQ, used it a few times since, want to use it every night!  And less dishes too :)

Work's been a bit nuts, we have had to drastically slash our labour hours due to a slump in the the business, so it's put a lot of stress on our co-workers and the leadership team.  I'm now trying to do what a co-worker does in their day as well as my own work, UGH, stressful!

Plus I've been super anxious for my school interview, which I had today, I don't know why I stressed so much over it, suppose because I didn't know what to expect?!  Well....I've been accepted!!  YEEHAAA!  But there's a twist: I was offered another job position at work 'Customer Relations Team Leader' (temporary until Aug, then back into my current role after that), in this role I would be the Team Leader of cash line, smaland, greeters & shopping tools (ie: trolley's).  Chris (Food Manager) and Roola (HR Manager) sat me down on Tuesday (two days before my school interview) to offer me this position due to the high chance of my position becoming redundant due to hour cuts/having to be tighter with wages.  Chris doesn't want me to end up being a co-worker again (or leaving IKEA) as he thinks that would be a waste for the company and me, so he said while he's got the chance (while the opportunities there) he wanted to offer me this position before who knows what happens.  SO, obviously I'm choosing school but am very flattered at the same time!!  He reckons I'd run circles around the team down there, hehe.  

The course starts 2 week into Feb and finishes beginning of Nov, 1 year Diploma of Graphic Design.  Very excited!  I have until Tues this coming week to decide on whether or not I want to change positions at work (they don't know that I've applied for school), so I'll have to drop the studying bombshell on them then and then I've got (I think) three options: work the CR Team Leader role until Feb, or stay where I am and step down in Feb, or stay where I am and the possibility in a month, two months etc I would be forced to a co-worker position as they make my current role redundant.  SO, will keep you all posted with what happens.  Hopefully it all works out for the best?!  I know I don't want to leave IKEA during or after studying and by the sounds of it they really want to keep me there so I'm sure something will work out of all of this in the end.  Will let you know as soon as I do :)

Well, life will change slightly in the near future, it's going to take a bit of an adjustment, but I'm excited to try something different, make some new friends & have a new outcome of job options, yippeee :)  Dan's been super supportive (as per usual:) with all of this, my rock, my anchor :)  So lucky to have him <3 p="p">

That's pretty much been the excitement for the week, I think it's enough to keep me very busy!  Oh ya, can't for get this: Dan's boss handed in his notice the other week, so there's a possibility that Dan will take the management position or if they restructure it he would be an assistant manager alongside another assistant manager (split the operations department into two), so like always I'll keep you posted on what happens with all of that.  I hope he get's either, he'd be perfect for the role and deserves it.  Exciting things going on that's for sure! :)  Chow for now xx

Great Week :)

We went on a walk along Coastal Art Walk today (along the coast/beach), was a gorgeous day out so we thought we'd take advantage of it!  It was beautiful!  Junior sure enjoyed it too!! :)  Went for a couple of swims, Aussie coastline is gorgeous!  We stopped at a cafe along the beach and had a bite to eat half way.  Then turned around and headed back, we were gone for a couple of hours, was so nice to soak in some sunshine, the beautiful views and always so nice to be on the beach/near the ocean.  On the way home we stopped for gelato too...yummmm! :D

Some video's of Junior enjoying himself, he sure is entertaining! :)

Port Phillip Bay, the vast ocean is gorgeous! 

So lucky to live next to a beach like this!  Stunning.

Twisted old tea-tree, pretty cool looking.  

Some birds nesting on the rocks, not sure what kind they are but they were pretty cool looking! 

Junior enjoying his walk :)

This one's for you Grandma.  I can't send them in the mail (illegal) so I thought I'd take a photo for you :)  The little cove we stopped at during the walk to let Junior have a swim had LOTS of gorgeous glass and shells.  Made me think of you and our beach combing days.  Really wanted to take some home and send them to you, sigh, damn laws :P  xx  But know I'm always thinking of you :)

Chillen' at the end of a mini pier, what a gorgeous day!! :)  And so great to spend it with my family xx 

Junior thought he'd try rock climbing :P

Pretty flower called 'pigs ear'.  We might get some for our garden, they're a pretty colour.

We have a camellia bush in our backyard and it sits right in front of the office window.  Look what was nesting there! :)  Very cool to watch even if it was a pigeon.

One of our Kangaroo Paws in the back yard, was less then half the size when we put it in and it's filled right in.  Had to tie it up b/c it was getting to heavy/leaning.  The birds love to land on it and get the seeds out.

Our Peace Lily, this was less then half the size as well when we put it in this big pot.  Junior had a go at it last season and pruned it right back and it's filled right out this year, gorgeous!  Thanks for the pruning Junior :)

Unfortunately mumma bird who was nesting outside of the window fled the nest :(  Left three eggs behind, still pretty cool though, but sad for the unhatched eggs:(

So I got a little impatient waiting for the school to ring me so I rang them yesterday to 'follow up my application'. She was right in the middle of sorting everyone's applications and slotting them into time slots, lucky I called b/c I got to chose what time/day.  I'm booked in for Oct 25th for my interview & portfolio presentation, wish me luck! I'm anxious for it, hopefully all goes well?!!

Finally caved in a bought a air purifier/HEPA filter and man am I glad that we did.  It seems to work really well for the bedroom!!  I've had it two nights now, I usually get at least 4-5+ allergy attacks during the night, night one I had two and last night I had none, yeehaa! :)  I'm also having some luck with the Naturopath.  Went back yesterday, she tested my zinc levels and my iris'.  I'm now on a vitamin the reduces inflammation and a vitamin that helps naturally suppress over reactive immune systems.  She also told me to drink 2L of water a day and to change my diet slightly.  I not can't eat: dairy, citrus, MSG, aspartame, at least until my body sorts itself out (and I get the OK from her of course).  Dairy and citrus create a lot of mucus and MSG, aspartame is bad for asthma.  Also, chronic allergy sufferers are chronically dehydrated so I have to drink LOTS of water.  She gave me a lot more info then that but hard to take it all in at once.  She is super nice and educated in natural remedies, I'm really excited and hopeful for it to work, just need to make sure I stay committed to it as it is a bit of a regime.  So far (since yesterday I started taking them) it seems to be helping which is super exciting.  Would be nice to get my insides sorted so they stop over-reacting to everything!!

Been really enjoying my 4 day weekend!!  Wish they could happen more often.  It's been nice to catch up on a few things, relax and spend time with Dan.  Enjoying it while we can.  We're off to Clarissa's 18th Birthday BBQ tomorrow (Dan's niece), should be good fun!  Been awhile since we've seen all the family too so will be nice to catch up.

Well, best wrap this one up as it's getting pretty long.  Hope you enjoyed the video's and photos :) xx

Limbo.

Well, I'm still waiting to hear from the school! :(  I give it another week and if I haven't heard anything I might ring them.  I hope to know sometime soon because I hate it when important things like this sit in limbo!

Went to the Naturopath last Friday, sounds promising!!  She said 'she's got a lot to work with' which I'm not too sure is a good thing or a bad thing?!  Perhaps a good thing for her?!  Friday's appointment was an initial consult, she asked a LOT of questions, my health history, family health history, digestion, allergy symptoms, etc etc and she wanted every last detail!  She did give me a homeopath antihistamine to try and relieve me a little bit until our next appointment where she'll get me started on a regime.  She said she doesn't usually give anything out on the first appointment but wanted to help give me some relief and it seem to be working a bit which is good.  I also bought an air purifier/HEPA filter system.  Should be delivered by mid-week this week, hopefully sooner rather than later!!  I'm excited to get it, hopefully it really helps me sleep at night because that is when it's the most trying!  So I'll give the house a one-over and then put it on full blast (it'll be for our bedroom, but hopefully it helps a bit throughout the rest of the house).

I've managed to enjoy my bike twice this past week (since getting it the weekend before:).  It's so nice to be out there, but only when it's sunny and warmish!  hehehe, yes, I'm a fair weather biker ;)  I'm hoping to get out on it again today with Dan after he gets home from work.  It's been nice biking together, fun! :)

We received a fine in the mail the other week....$380...OUCH!  Red light camera!  It was for the BMW which we sold on the 1st of last month, the fine was for the 6th...YEEHAA, that means it wasn't us!  Thank goodness!!  Sucks for the person who was driving it, but great news for us, managed to skim outta that one :P

Junior having a nice nap on the couch, I think the picture says it all, what a cutie! :) 

Enjoying the sunshine, although that pillow doesn't look so comfy, perhaps a little hard?! :)

I'm off to get my Aussie Driver's Licence today, not sure if I'm excited or not?!  Kinda sad to not be using my Canadian anymore.  Had a great debate yesterday with a couple co-workers as to why I'm not becoming a citizen, this countries obviously very patriotic so they seemed pretty mad that I was 'taking advantage' of everything and not becoming a citizen :P  Maybe sometime down the line, but for now, doesn't seem to matter either way to me.

Well, not too much else is going on at the moment.  Oh, Dan put our BBQ together last night :)  Hopefully when the weather gets a bit warmer soon we can invite some people over and test it out! :)  I've also booked a couple days off this week, so I'll get a nice long 4 day weekend, SO looking forward to that!  Will be nice to have a bit of a break! :)  Ok, best get going, off to get my photo taken, more like a mug shot.  Love to you all xx