Happy New Year 2007

Back into the posting after half a year, why not. I'm not really one for New Year Resolutions, but it can't hurt putting together a few goals for the new year. Before I mention some of the wierd and wonderful things that i'll be doing in the year ahead I might as well mention how it is that I have come back to the blogging world.

Mark's blog has a massive fan base that is calling out for a revival? Nope... plus it's probably best that I don't know how many people visit my blog. Mark really wants to become a writer and needs to get some practice in before hitting the big time? Nope. "What is it then???" is the million dollar question - well, the real truth is that I was Googling myself to see what would come up (who doesn't nowadays) and my blog comes up. My thoughts: wow, I should update this... so much has happened since May 2006.

So - onto some goals/resolutions this year. I think i'll just name a few and see how close I can get. Hopefully this won't bite me in the backside later on... because the goals are on record.

• Travel overseas once more
• Update the blog at least once a month
• Score a half-century in cricket
• Start playing Golf

So there you have it some goals/resolutions on paper. I'll be happy if I do just one of them.

I shall finish off with some photos that marked the beginning of 2007. (Note to self: should do a write up on 2006 - a year in review... could be an interesting read)

Graduation and More

Last week was an intense week. Not only was there craploads of work to do, but three of the five weeknights were also filled with events! What did I have on?
1. All Staff Meeting
2. Know-IT-All Charity Dinner
3. Graduation (and Graduate Dinner).

Alot to get through, I know so maybe i'll throw in some photos... rather than ramble on.

And they call the Liberals racist

Exciting times in the media this week. The Budget was presented as was Labor's reply. Interesting week indeed. Surprises aplenty, and more than just from the Treasurer.

First up, i'll say that I headed down to Canberra for the Budget. Why? Well... why not. I could say that I sensed something big - but that would be an outright lie. Haha! Got in early and got a glimpse of Question Time and saw the Member for Ballarat get snapped in half (Not literally, of course).

This was a preview to come for sure. Ms King(Member for Ballarat) made an aggressive song and dance about how several Maxitran workers were laid off while Chinese workers remained. No mention was made as to how competent or hard working these Chinese workers are - it seems that Labor believes that Chinese workers here on working visas should always be the frist to get the sack. Seriously... and somehow the Liberals get tagged as racist.

The fun thing about this little segment of Question Time wasn't Ms King's xenophobia but it was how she got comprehensively owned. In the Government's response Mr Hardgrave (Minister for Vocational and Technical Education) opened up with a neat little paragraph.

Hardgrave: I thank the member for Ballarat for her question. It has been 266 days since the
Australian Labor Party asked a question of me in this place about training, about skills or about apprenticeships. It was on 16 August last year, which was the 28th anniversary of the death of Elvis.

The question was then answered, but Ms King couldn't stop. After a question on the Solomon Islands, she was back for part 2. Unfortunately most of her question was overruled by the Speaker of the House, Mr Hawker.

Hawker: Order! The member for Ballarat will resume her seat. In calling the Minister for Vocational and Technical Education, I rule that the first part of that question was asking for an opinion, the second part was in order and the third part was not needed.

Boom! What was the third part of the question... well let us have a look:

King: Will the government now join Labor in making its No. 1 priority to train Australians first and to train them now?

The entertainment contiued from the Minister:

Hardgrave: I think the last part was a commercial!

Entertainment, indeed. I only really ever watch small snippets of Question Time, but it can be entertaining at times :). Oh the debate gets even more interesting but i'll let you go check that out at Hansard (Official Records of Parliamentary Proceedings).

So what happens next? Well the rest of the mob go for a tour of Parliament. Been there, done that - so I got sucked into helping set up shop for later on in the night. After the tour of Parliament House was done (and the others that didn't go finished setting up) everyone headed back to camp - well... serviced appartments.

Luckily for us we were invited to the Bradfield function inside Parliament House, where we watched a live Budget feed. An interesting budget indeed. Finally, some relief to those who are punished the most. MPs were to be found all over the place at the Bradfield function including: Malcolm Turnbull, Brendan Nelson, and Joe Hockey.

Afterwards it was time to eat, drink and be merry. And i'll leave it there :). Oh, yea... Canberra Casino leaves much to be desired :D.

Maccas Madness

Well, well, well. I haven't really posted up anything wierd or funny recently. In fact, I haven't really posted much at all. So here is a little segment to tie off those who have been watching my website and have been bitterly disappointed with its rate of updates.

So there I was at the Maccas drive-through, just entered, and noticed that the car in front of me had left the ordering window and just shot straight through. Didn't even bother to stop at the collections window. Odd, but not entirely abnormal... I guess. So anyway, without dwelling on this further I continued on.

Next, I was hovering outside the ordering window in my car. A kid. He was playing around with the electronic cashier in front of him and looked quite lost. He looked as though he was pressing way too many buttons for normality. It was just a bit odd. "Just a minute, be with you in a sec" was the first words that came out. Alrighty then. Time to fiddle with the change and get the required amount ready.

Medium six-nuggets meal. That's what I was thinking. Some more kids entered the ordering booth, and a quick conversation followed - still while the first kid was pressing away on the electronic cashier.

Some kid - "What happened with that lady? She just drove through."
Button pressing kid - "She didn't have enough money"
Some kid - "Really?"
Button pressing kid - "Yep. Not enough"

That was the entirety of the conversation, fairly riveting stuff. Now it was time to order. Good. I ordered the medium nuggets meal and then paid the required amount. "Thanks, and have a nice day" was the closing statement from the Maccas kid.

Now the collections window was where it was at. Here the intrigue begins. I pull up to the window and look through. More kids. Wow. Looks like it's the day where all the young 'uns come out to work. Good on them, though. Much better than sitting at home playing computer games or watching TV all day.

Looking about the place I notice that there is a chain of drinks next to the drinks dispenser. All large, and presumably, all Cokes. (The drink, nothing more). Kids everywhere. More kids were having a bit of a discussion and then I heard "just give it to him". Soon enough a large Coke was given to me. Riiiiiiiight. Can't complain, I guess.

So I thought that i'd get a free upsize - something like that. Oh no! What did I end up getting? A bag full of burgers and fries. Errr.... what the? It got even more interesting. The kid at the collections window told me to wait in the waiting bay. I diligently did so, hoping that my nuggets will arrive in the next batch. Nope.

After a couple of minutes the collection window kid came out with another bag full of goodies. Absolutely packed. Chips, Quarter Pounders, Big Macs, you name it. Bloody strange. "Thank you and sorry about the wait" is what was said to me. OMG.

So off I went home with about 4 packets of chips and a dozen burgers. No nuggets. Damn kids. LOL. An interesting adventure indeed.

Easter and the Queen's Birthday

Easter. Wow. It's been an age since I posted last. Busy, busy, busy. Looks like I managed to post again after the four day weekend. Heh. Ah well, it was a nice relaxing four days off. The highlight of the long weekend would have to be the Qantas v Ansett Social Cricket Cup. Oh yes and Happy Birthday to our Queen. Jolly good show!

So the cricket. Saturday. The inaugural Qantas vs Ansett Shield Cricket Match. Bwhaha. Why? Well one of the guys works at Qantas and during a clean up at the office they found this unused shield. Yoink! (Well not quite - cost him something in the order of $50).

Ten players for Ansett, and eleven for Qantas (includes one female). And the rules? Retire on 20, everyone gets a bowl (max 3 overs), immunity on Zero and no LBWs. Neat! It turned out to be a down-to-the-wire match. Unlike the Jason Gillespie double ton slaughter unleashed upon the Bangladesh Tigers.

Qantas scored 8-203 after the 30 overs. Not a bad effort at all. I ended up with 1-22 off 3 overs, got owned - but that happens. Meh, a catch was dropped in one of my overs as well! (Then again, I dropped one, so I can't complain). Top score for Qantas - 39 runs.

Ansetts turn. Off to a flyer of a start with 30 runs being scored in the first three overs - however things slowed right down and at 15 overs we were struggling to keep pace with our required run rate (95-odd runs at the end of 15). What was humorous about our innings start was that Dinesh was out three times before heading back to the pavilion on one run. Just wasn't his day.

When it was my turn to bat in it was approximately 4-120 . As it was immunity on zero, I decided to maximise the situation. First ball, gave my self some room and let loose. The ball sailed over the long-on boundary for a solid six. Solid hit indeed. I put on a great partnership with Dillan (who retired on 20) and Derrick (who retired on 20 after I left) before I had to leave the crease... yes on 20 not out. A good solid rear guard action by the three of us!

5 overs to go and there was still 30 to get - and by this stage I was a spectator. Who would have thought! Some good planning by the Qantas team meant that the final overs were being bowled by the most experienced bowlers in their side. However, Tom and Ant destroyed their bowling. Clobbering 18 in one over to effectively seal the match.

Ansett defeated Qantas with 5 wickets in hand (and 2 overs to spare). Go Ansett! The good news is that there is another Ansett/Qantas clash planned for the Queen's Birthday weekend. So i'm looking forward to it!

Speaking of the Queen it is her 80th birthday today. The reigning monarch of the Commonwealth. Happy Birthday! She's done an excellent job as Queen, and she deserves a mention in todays entry.