Christmas.

I don't have a lot to say, just a bunch of photos to record what has been going on. Had a lovely catchup with JK, over a Ent Book seafood platter.

This is my Christmas tree.

This is JK making dutch pancakes. JK spent Christmas Day with me and my family which was very enjoyable. And we did some crochet on Boxing Day, and ate these then.

This is a family tradition, Binfire, plus friends.

My jurlique cage order!

When I had visitors over and realised I REALLY should get a table.

When my TV broke.

$10 pizzas with so much toppings at Merewether beach, and then Movenpick with Ent Book vouchers at Honeysuckle, with JK, M+C.

Just a delightful time with friends and my family.

Today... Gotta apply for my job before I go to Summer School I think. Feeling a wee bit anxious about life and what I'm planning to do next year around getting this job. I thought it would be an easier year, I'd just settle into a new rut, but not really. I guess life is too short for comfortable ruts anyway, I know I need to be out of my comfort zone sometimes, but I hate the nerves. Trusting God and not worrying is a constant challenge.

Carols, cookies, cockroach crisis.

Thankfully my mood and energy picked up by Friday/Saturday. Finished the working week with dinner at the home of a family from morning church, and watched Person of Interest with them, and discussed IKEA, and read their kids a book. Saturday ended up being more full than I planned, Jillian then a last minute brunch and my washing machine broke mid wash, so then I had to visit my parents to finish washing it. In the evening Heather and I went to a local pub and saw Melody Pool and friends perform for a Black Dog fundraiser, which was good music but everybody smoked, so gross. Then we went to a less smokey pub for dinner, then Heather helped move my stuff into my new bedroom and make the big bed.

On Sunday I made a quick shopping list for cookies and went to Greenhills and left before 10am, beating the insanity and actually getting a car spot. It took 2 hours to make all these cookies. I've been giving them away! 14 or 24 at a time. So handy to have big piles of cookies. I feel like E with all the Jurliques. Thankyou neighbour, have some cookies! Thankyou friend, have some cookies! Thankyou colleague, have some cookies!

I rented Hart of Dixie S3 from Video Ezy. This is Percy really getting into it.

Sunday night was church carols, aka Street Party. I was in the kitchen production line for half the night but there was a great atmosphere. Church meets on school grounds and it was perfect for the event. Boys games on the field, a good slope to sit on so you had a view of the band, and a view right over the flood plains actually.

 
On Tuesday Dad is taking time of work so he came over to my place while I was at work to meet the washing machine repair man while I went to work. The thing is, when I bought the machine I paid $109 for the extra 3 years extended warranty. I know they are a rort but I just wanted a little bit of piece of mind due to my situation in Sydney. And when it broke, lo and behold it was during the extended warranty!!!! I was so excited. But then the repair man said, if it is cockroaches that doesn't count. You gotta manage your own vermin. I kill a roach every night, whereas in Sydney I killed one a month at most. So I waited with baited breath until dad rang up and said it was OK, not cockroach damage, FREE REPAIR! Such satisfaction. More good luck than good planning I guess but I still feel happy and vindicated and the fact that I had kept the receipt and paperwork is worth some pride.

Percy at work on Tuesday. People love him.

Update on job: still waiting to see the ad. Was hoping it was today (Wednesday). But I've been put on a roster to chair staff meetings next year which is a vote of confidence.

Gloom and love.

I've been feeling sad and empty since Sunday night. It's been kind of on and off gloom for the last couple of months, because in a new place the second six months are harder than the first, plus death and stuff. It's very tiring. What a wonderful blessing are my close friends on twitter though. I think I should be being honest about it with people in my local life too, but when someone asks me how I am after I've tiredly dragged myself out to see them in the evening I'd rather put on a happy face and talk about Kris Kringle shenanigans than tell them I'm depressed at the moment. I'm hardwired to deflect difficult conversations and be amusing instead. So twitter it is. I don't understand why there are people out there who use social media to bully and abuse others. Thankful that my twitter is a happy cocoon. And physical manifestations of the love in cards this year, which I really appreciate the effort and thought and they sit around in my house reminding me of you. And a special treat of flowers delivered to work this week. I know I haven't been this thoughtful and caring and demonstrative when others have been through hard times.

Percy is happy coming to work with me. I just have to keep an eye on what he tries to chew.

I've made a bit of a 3-month to-do list. So that I can try and think about one thing at a time and not speculate anxiously ahead. So the carols are on Sunday (I think I'm anxious about inviting ppl to it and I'm helping with food). Next week I can apply for my job (haven't seen the ad yet but it's coming). Christmas (presents). Confirm housemate situation for 2015. Go to the movies to see Big Hero 6 with some people. Summer School. And so on. 3 months will take me to Feb (which is when my contract ends if perchance I don't get the job) and into what I hope is a more routine existence.

What goes on at my house.

Nothing interesting lately, no visits or shenanigans. I basically did jobs all weekend. Driving around buying things on Saturday and then building stuff on Sunday.

Here are some meals I've been cooking.

Here is a very pleasant use of my own bit of grass.

Here is the bed I built.

Here is a video of Percy having a lot of fun in my washing. It's got a good soundtrack actually.

Half holiday, walk, Mudgee.

After Belgenny, i worked one day back at tocal then took some time off. I have been feeling like life is a long to do list, just have to get this done then survive this then make it through that etc etc.

Liz unfortunately couldn't join me for my walking group walk so I then had Friday alone instead of with her company, so I rang the Ortho first thing in the morning and asked if they could fit me in. They did which was PERFECT. I drove down to Sydney, Ortho, swam at Wylies...

...had fish and chips at coogee, went to see Kate and Mia for afternoon tea, booked a bed at katoomba YHA for the night, and drove to katoomba.

Had a dreadful salad from the supermarket for dinner. Slept pretty well in the hostel in a shared room. Went out for an excellent breakfast. Met my group at 10.30 at wentworth falls. 

The national pass is a very good walk. Stairs yes, but views, waterfalls, swimming pools, stepping stones, a lot of shade and coolness, cliff overhangs, and a cafe at the end then a short flat walk back.

Afterwards I drove to Mudgee and stayed with a family I knew at Mec olden days. It was good to see old friends and their new kids. It was nice living with a family, and I had fun with the kids, and spent time with Helen when they were at school, and helped with breakfast club and a big horrible advent craft. Helen is a good advice giver, I love chatting with her. I think Mudgee will be my new country holiday default bc it looks like Armidale is coming to an end. Below is Helen's cheese making, nail polish fun and craft.

Cheese lunch, nice cafe.

I drove back on Tuesday afternoon, had a quick strata meeting with my neighbours, and went to bible study. Prayer time was the warm fuzzies.

Now I've decided to get budgeting again. I just set up my recurring expenses, I'll track expenses for December, then set a realistic goal for my mortgage and everything next year. I'm finishing this year by paying parents back what I owe, buying a second hand MacBook Air, and a second hand queen sized bed.

Jess