June has been a good month! I had some busy weekends and two trips to Sydney but I also had lots of time to sit in the sunny spots of the back yard and read, and I have read about 6 books this year which is a great number!
R and me went along to the local production of Little Women the musical. We know one of the leads. The singing was great, the musical itself is not memorable but it has it's poignant moments. I checked out the orchestra while I was there as it is my hope to join them, and I sat next to someone and struck up a conversation with them and she knew all about the orchestra, the time commitment and what they do each year so that was great information.
I pruned my roses which was 2 green bins worth of wood waste. I'm treating one for scale and white aphid things.
And I tackled one of the scariest jobs I've ever done! I cut and unravelled the sleeves on the cardigan mum knit me last year, and wove the cuffs back on, making them 4 inches shorter. I did this at mums house with the support of mum and heather just in case it went badly. I am SUPER PROUD OF THIS. I do a lot of crafts, and the youtube videos were quite clear about how to do it, but it still feels like a miracle achievement.
I was dreading one of the trips to Sydney because I'm nervous about driving into the CBD and getting into unfamiliar car parks. I drove down with a colleage, dropped her in the city for a meeting on monday evening and got my car and myself parked at darling harbour. Then I was heaps more relaxed! I enjoyed walking over to Myer, over the beautiful pyrmont bridge, and I tried on some jeans I'd seen online. I concluded that they looked like dad jeans on me and I will not rush to straight or wide leg jeans. Then I met G for dinner and we had shanghai dumplings at Darling sq and I burnt my tongue on the soup inside the dumpling, which I am not unfamiliar with but I sucked it right into my mouth and my tongue hurt for 2 days. Then we walked up the goods line and back, had some kurtosh for dessert, and had an early night.
Tuesday and Wednesday I spent at a workplace wellness conference, learning a lot about managing workplace mental health, HR, latest trends and free coffees. It was quite a lot for the brain so it was tiring.
We left a bit early on wednesday afternoon so I ended up getting home at 6.30 and then back to work on Thursday.
I received an update on my job application and had to make time to record some video responses, so I took thursday arvo off to do that, and then on the weekend I uploaded some requested samples of work. I have my interview via Teams on Thursday 6 July and then this ordeal will be over. I know I have an advantage in getting my existing job, but I also know there is a lot of good competition and I also have the most to lose! So I am looking forward to when this is all over.
My second trip to Sydney was for pleasure, I left work Monday arvo and drove down for the Getty Sing! Australia events, the first one at Castle Hill on Monday night, and the second on Tuesday night at the Opera house. I enjoyed both, the music was excellent both but Monday had a sprinkle of short topical talks, on the songwriting, singing with kids, the place of music in suffering, the ministries Getty and City Alight are involved in.
I stayed with R and her mum, and Tuesday we went out for lunch at a Filipino restaurant, delicious BBQ skewers and I had to have a pandan dessert.
R and I met Heather at Central, we enjoyed the Railway Brass Band while we waited!
It was R first time inside the Opera House! And I was excited to see the new acoustic renovations too. It was a great night of music--irish, bluegrass, gospel, a choir and audience singing. Immaculate sound.
And now on to the second half of 2023! My parents are moving house in August, which is huge news for the family. They haven't moved in 25 years so there's lots to deal with, and it's a bit of a shame they haven't enjoyed the renovations very long, but the new place is nice and has a lot less mowing so it's a good change.
