What's up?

Mm, mm! Off to Queensland this Friday - can't wait. And to make you all jealous, I have included some pictures of where we are all staying, just below. Take a look and turn GREEN WITH ENVY!!

I have been a bad blogger of late. But today's entry should make it all up - it's been a busy past few weeks.
Week before last I went to see Summah at her new home in the country side. She seems really happy - she was happy to see me, but was wandering around Julianne's house like she owned the place. So it's good that it has worked out that way. Hopefully I will be going up there this Wednesday to visit again, she got spayed last week and although I'm told she's doing well it still would be good to see her for myself. She's getting along really well with the kids - more people to play with is always good, and the other dog - Rory - is getting along ok with her as well. I think it will get better between the dogs over time.
Mark arrived in Melbourne a little over a week ago. I had some time off when he got here. Another reason for the lack of blog. That's been pretty good - it's nice to have him around again, but will make it harder when he leaves again in about 3 1/2 weeks. Still we've had some good times hanging out. Went to dinner a few times and on Wednesday went to the zoo, which was fun. But simply having him here has been a bonus - missed him so much when he's in the UK.
The same day that Mark got here was my housewarming party. Was a really good night - hopefully I will be able to have my going away at my house. We were supposed to have my friends, Jahe's mates and Verys. But only mine turned up - which ended up ok as we all know how to have a good time regardless of who is or isn't there! So the party along with picking Mark up from the airport at 5.30am left me pretty buggered for a few days after.
On the Sunday after the party we went go-carting for Ian's bucks do thingy. Was a good day, although I proved to all what a nana I can be when it comes to go carts. If the guys who gave us the saftey advice hadn't've mentioned the fact that the carts could flip I may have gone a little faster. Still out of the two races I was consistent - last both times!! Funny thing about that day was the man who organised us when we got there was my old grade 6 teacher! Couldn't believe he recognised me!!
I was back at work again all too soon on the Thursday afternoon. Still no time to blog as I had to catch up on work that went wanting while I was on holidays.
Then last weekend was again hectic. I volunteered for trailwalker this year instead of doing support crew. I trained up to the hills on the Friday night, and then did a 6am - 2pm shift on Saturday. Helping out with all sorts of things from directing traffic to making cups of tea.
After that we raced home to get ready for Ricci's hens night. We had to dress 'glam' - not something that is contained in my cupboard so I'd bought a dress for the occassion. Felt a little strange looking so girly in that with the enormously high stilletto heels, but managed to fit in with all the other girly girls. Hugely sore legs and feet the next day, and ankles hurt today. I'm buggered if I know how those women who wear heels all the time do it! Still it is nice to get dressed up every now and then isn't it?
Sunday I went to visit Steve Kolivas with Mark. Was good to catch up with him again, and I think Mark enjoyed himself too. We stayed for a BBQ lunch/dinner - a few prawns on the barbie that Mark enjoyed immensly - I'm not a big seafood fan, but the one I had was yummy. Soo much work to peel them and pull their legs off etc, just for a small morsel of white flesh.
And today back at work again - almost time to go home. Not looking forward to home though as I have to speak with Jahe about his desire to get me to pay more rent to cover the spare room. As far as I'm aware I only pay for mine, that was the deal when I moved in and if he wants to change it I'm gonna have to move out. Still it may not come to that, I've sent a few emails and there are some people coming around this week to have a look at the place. Hopefully they'll like it and there won't be a problem with paying rent. Still I need to talk to Jahe before it gets to that point. I hate confrontations....
I got my decree absolute granted the same day as my housewarming party - so a celebration has already been partially had. I got the actual papers on the Tuesday after the party. Haven't had the girls absolute vodka night yet, but plan to do that the week after the wedding. Probably not the best timing to do it before... Have to be polite with friends and their needs too.
On the Tuesday that my divorce papers came through I booked my ticket to Bangkok and Kathmandu! I leave Australia on the 19th of June - midnight, and spend 3 1/2 months in S.E Asia, onto Nepal around the 1st of October, and then through India to Deli, although that part, as yet, hasn't been booked. But I plan to fly from Deli to Amsterdam and after a week there it's onto London to earn some cash and travel some more. Over the next few weeks it's travel injections, travel insurance, save, save save, and try to organise the visits to Laos and Cambodia projects and if possible some work with Oxfam Great Britain for when I arrive in December. It'll come around so quickly, I really need to get my arse into gear.
This Friday I am off to Qld for the wedding. Should be fun, and will be great to get away even for just a short while. Then I think the Friday night after the wedding (a week later) I'll hassel everyone to come around to mine for some celebratory divorce drinkin'! Better than having it on a school night I think, other wise we'll all be calling in sick with hang overs the next day.
So that's what I've been up to and why I haven't blogged. But it's been fun, life is good! Hopefully will be a better blogger this week and in future, but don't go holding your breath!!

Just a little somethin' to keep you interested.....




Soon my pretties I will be on my way!

But tomorrow I get to go and visit Summah, the beautiful, lovable hound!

Ah Tuesday. Lots to do this week, every day there is some appointment that needs to be kept, or someone that I need to go and see. I tell you next week is like gold - nearly a whole week of annual leave! Yay! Still if I hadn't 've forgotten various appointments last week, then this week wouldn't be so full. So really it's my own fault.

Summah has a new home! She's staying with my friend Julianne out in the country side, and I am told she's enjoying herself enormously and doesn't seem to miss me at all. Which is good - I guess, but I miss her. It'll take a bit of getting used to not having her around. And really she's not my dog anymore... A strange thought, but I am allowed to visit whenever I want until I go, and I am sure when I get back too.

Went to the backpacker expo on Sunday which was well worth the trip - I have found myself some cheap but good travel insurance. Plus I collected various information on Thailand and a S.E Asia phrase book - I can now say that I have been vacinated in 5 different languages. Bound to come in handy that one... But seriously I'm glad I went to have a look, plus there was free beer and other stuff (pies, liquor etc) at almost every second stall.

Anyway, there is more to write, went out a bit this weekend - Phils' birthday drinks and Elissas' house warming party. It was all good, lots of fun, but I can't be bothered going into it any further than that at the moment. May write again later if I get the chance.

What a morning! Up early to do an Oxfam presentaion to our face to face recruiters, on top of a late night last night after doing a similar presentation for our Oxfam shops. Went well but was strange being in a door to door slaes office again from the client perspective, especially seeing that I used to do the same sort of work that they are doing now.
Anyway was a goodun, and enjoyed it.
Feels like a pretty hectic day because of this morning, but it's just going quick, which is nice.
Tonight I am going out to King Lake! Summah is coming with me and I will be leaving her there with my friend Julianne to see how Summah gets along with the family and their Irish Wolf Hound cross Mastiff. He's a beautiful dog - Rory, sooo big though - and you thought Summah was a big dog. But if all goes well with them then she'll have a lovely home. Julianne lives next door to state forest, has two older kids and has her Mum living with her as well so there would always be someone around to look after the dogs and play etc. Fingers crossed that all goes well.
Next weekend is my house warming party - Yay! Should be a good night and it will be fun to have all my mates & family around to see the new house. Pool table is in the process of being cleared and prepared for the night amongst other necessary preparations. So see you there!

Well it was nice to have the long weekend - wouldn't you agree? And the updates from Dad and Ann were good too - nice to know they have arrived safe and sound. Hopefully Seamus hasn't had the urge to lick a toad yet.
I tried to book my flight to the UK (via Bangkok, Kathmandu, Deli & Amsterdam) on Saturday but as prices for June haven't been publicized yet, thought better of it and will be leaving it til later this month when these details should be available. - Don't want to commit to paying an unknown amount. I may be blonde, but fortunately am not that stupid!
Saturday afternoon and evening was spent catching up with friends, and having a bit of a laugh. So many people are going back home to either England or Scotland at the moment, almost every weekend is taken up with another going away party! But not everyone is off - Elissa's house warming is next weekend, and that's a staying around kind of thing - init? Mind you my house warming is the weekend after next, and I'm most likely sticking around. So there you go!
Summah should be going to my friend Juliannes sometime this week for a trial stay to see if she gets along with their dog Rory, and of course the rest of the family. Hopefully it will pan out that she does as if not it's back to square one and I am at a loss as to what I could do with her..... If I can't find her a home, I can't go away. Simple, but not a happy out come.
Have been a bit ill of late - tummy problems again. Am seeing the doctor about it and hopefully will be getting it sorted out and ok again shortly. Will let you know if it gets worse though. Spent most of the long weekend in bed due to cramps.. Not pleasant, but I did get quite a bit of embroidery done - and old woman hobby I know, but also good for when you're feeling ill, and can't do much.
Well that's it from me! Hope all is well with everyone.

Posted by: Victoria / 6:15 PM

So the quitting smoking thing is going pretty well. I had a smoke free day yesterday which wasn't too hard and am attempting to have no ciggies today either. Not feeling narky yet, shall see how the day pans out though before I start to sing my own praises.

Haven't been much of a blogger this week, but then again I haven't been up to much aside from sewing patches to my backpack and sorting some things out with the doctor. Went yesterday, but nothing hugely serious so don't panic.
Was going to take Summah up to Juliannes this weekend, but have had to postpone it until late next week which is actually better for me, but anyway, she is still in line for a good home - if she gets along with the dog that is there already. Fingers crossed along with toes and eyes. Touching wood and any other superstisious substances that may help it all to run smoothly... Hmm, hopefully this will be the home for her & I can stop worrying that she won't have anywhere and I will have to stay.
But seeing that I have the weekend free now I can again go with plan 'a' and book my ticket, my 'golden ticket' at least that's what it feels like! Ohhh so exciting!
So all is good in the realms of the great Vickus.

Do ya like my little backpacker? This will be me in a few months, weighted down by my pack. I packed it for the first time on Monday night and fortunately can get everything I really want to take in it, with some room to spare. Am a little uncertain if I am going to be able to carry it all around, but figure it shouldn't be too hard, and I'll probably develop muscles where I didn't know I should have them. Ha ha, I'll return looking like a wrestler. Heh heh heh that's funny.
This week has been pretty quiet aside from some hassle with finalising the old house. According to the real estate agent it wasn't cleaned properly and not everything has been removed from the property... Al assures me it was and refuses to pay for a cleaner, so at present we are at odds as to what happens next. I guess I wait for the real estate agent to get back to me as Al has asked him to go back around to inspect again saying that the first inspection was done before he'd finished moving. I suppose we'll find out today as he (the agent) is supposed to be calling me back with a quote on the cleaning, if it does actually need to be done again. If not and it's just a matter of getting rid of the stuff Al left behind. I should be able to get over there early Saturday morning to throw whatever it is out. Plus I book my ticket on Saturday - if the travel agent is open - then it's off to Juliannes with Summah to see how she gets along at their house and if they can take her for me when I go away. Saturday is looking so busy already... Arrgh! At least this weekend is a long one.
Trying to quit smoking this week. I have set Friday as the day that I stop completely this week has been a matter of cutting down. I was supposed to have my first smoke free day today, but didn't quite make it and had 1 this morning when I arrived at work. Ahh well, I'll keep at it. Should quit before I go - will save more if I'm not paying for tobacco and other smoking paraphernalia all the time.
Am off to the doctor at lunchtime, still getting hideous pain in my belly and I should check if he can do my travel inoculations. Would be so much easier than going all the way to Heidelberg.
Anyway that's me, not a lot going on really, but lots to do. Weird.