New cow hopper

Well Julz bought Angel this ridiculous cow hopper a while back off the Internet and for Chrissy, Annette's daughter got given the same one from VLC, only hers is green! Yesterday Angel (2.5yrs old) and Gabby (6 yrs old) came over and played on Angel's cow. It was hilarious to see them. Actually Angel's cow looks a bit different, but i couldn't be bothered photographing it, so i pinched this piccy off some website. Hers is white like this one though, but the face on hers is much cuter and the horns are longer.

The great thing is, the kids playsafe website had this to say about their cows (which they call horses!!!): Enjoy bouncing around on this fun inflatable horse with a round, bouncy, ergonomic body. Specially shaped body for easy grip. Great for balancing and co-ordination skills. Made of thick, nontoxic vinyl. Comes deflated. Measures approximately 52 L x 51cm H. Colours and designs may vary. For ages 2+

The previous day we took them both swimming. I was surprised at how intimidated Gabby is in the pool - she obviously has not had a huge lot of exposure to water early on in her life. While she clung on to Annette's neck tightly and cried, Angel swam in circles around her in the deep end with her floaties on, kicking away! They were both surprised at how well Angel can swim and how brave and courageous she is in water.

I realised these two little girls make excellent playmates. Gabby is a fantastic role model in many other areas and I can see that Angel clearly loves having her as a friend. We went to IKEA yesterday and Angel got really upset that Gabby didn't come and sit with us in the car, until I told her they were in the car behind us. Angel promptly twisted herself out of her seatbelt in her babyseat and turned right around to have a look out the back window - much to my sheer horror. The last thing you want is your little backseat toddler not fixed safely down in her chair! Anyway, she was very excited to see their car arrive after ours. I think out of all the kids i have seen, Angel likes Gabby the most.

Angel and her grandma going to see the peacocks

My little nephew - nine months old

Well, that one day of babysitting two babies was not so bad. In fact I actually had fun and so did my little niece and nephew. This is Lars and I.

Angels in my room

My little 2.5 year old niece stayed over last night. At around 6am this morning she goes "Aunty, look" and I sleepily said "what?" and she was pointing at the ceiling going "shiny man, shiny man, shiny man". She had the biggest grin on her face. I couldn't see anything. Funny, last night I was praying that God would open her spiritual eyes and reveal hidden things to her. I even prayed that God would show her his army so she wouldn't be afraid. God is so awesome. That was confirmation He hears my prayers. So exciting.

I was so excited I randomly blurted it out to the kid's youth pastor and some guy working with the superkids group in church today and some lady named Sam with an 18yr old daughter and a five year old son I had only just met. I also told Graham and Mirjana, Andrew and Karen, Gayle, Catherine, Annette and mum.

Getting rid of stuff

Well today Julz came over and we played with the kiddies all morning, then I took Angel swimming and she took Lars shopping. She brought over a spare baby seat, so I now have two car seats fitted in my car, ready for tomorrow when I look after both munchkins alone. Oh God please help me! I have never looked after both babies alone before.

I have now started seriously getting rid of stuff I don't need. Today I gave Annette my: six beautiful trendy green coffee mugs with matching saucers, lovely crushed glass sugar bowl and matching milk jug; two very expensive exquisite glass serving dishes and a glass salad bowl; a brand new pair of size 8 women's runners (they still had the price tag of $129.95 on them - Julz bought them online from China thinking they were kiddies size 8); my candle collection; and a brand new door hanger-decorating kit.

A while back I also gave her my bible college books, CDs, DVDs, record collection, mini perfume bottles and some bracelets. I am no longer materialistic. I am letting go of so much stuff. I just cannot take it overseas with me.

May I please have a punching bag?

On Tuesday I had lunch with Sarah who I worked with ten years ago. She told me I really need to find the right guy and settle down and start having kids because my clock is ticking. Nice. I guess people of the world just have no idea about the miraculous God I serve. I know that choosing to wait for the one He has chosen for me, instead of rushing to find one who will make do to please everyone else and shut people up, will reap rewards. I know w/o a doubt that God has the right person for me, just so many people are throwing their worldly thoughts and doubts at me, it is really annoying. Only God knows why I have had to wait so long.

On Tuesday, I also went to see Kristin's parents cos they said they had a book they bought me for Chrissy. Well I was touched that they thought of me, but then I opened it today and I realise they have jumped to all these silly conclusions about me and got me a book they thought I needed, but which is not at all relevant to me because I don't ask any of the questions the author is aiming to answer. It frustrated me more than anything else. I have to remind myself they have good intentions. They are just old, naive and are w/o a clue when it comes to relating to people my age. That's why their two kids escaped and moved out and don't want to tell them anything.

Oh Lord, I cannot wait to leave this place and get to America. I just need to move out of this place and get on with my life and into the promised land.

Farewell to my house of prayer

Well today Julz dropped a bombshell on me - she has decided to sell the house I am currently living in. This overwhelming sadness has been lingering in my heart since she said that. Well, now it really does seem time to move on with my life and pursue my dream of going to IHOP in America. Gosh, who would ever have thought that would happen. I never even saw it coming. I guess it makes sense. Julz wants to buy a two bedroom unit next to UWA so Angel and Lars can live in it and attend university one day. She has already been looking for units on Broadway, which is one road parallel to the university.

I am going to start moving things to mum's house tomorrow. Well that makes it all a bit easier for me I guess.

New direction

ok so Sarah got back to me end of last week and said she hadn't heard from her boss, which she was assuming wasn't a good sign. She will only know for sure in January when she returns to work whether the work is a goer or not. Ho hum! Anyways, I ended up ringing up the recruitment agencies and chatting some more and it turns out they only recruit to level 4 in Govt. I hadn't realised that. The whole ordeal somehow softened my heart to the idea of returning to Govt by directly approaching people I have worked with.

Last night, I had a look at the organisational structure chart for the OOE and what a surprise that was! It turns out the sister of the first boss I ever had that died, now works there as a director and one of my friends from Consumer Protection also works there now. Then the director who wrote me a glowing reference that i have carried everywhere since, is now the CEO of the place! So I summed up the courage and emailed her, saying I would be willing to do anything and even for lower pay then what I left on. Boy, that took a lot of humbling, but I guess I have just come to realise in the last few weeks that employment is a gift that should not be taken for granted and any salary would be a step up from being a volunteer on the streets of Mexico!

God is faithful

Well yesterday was a real downer. I spent the morning cleaning with Exit-Mould for the shower walls, Harpic for the toilet, Spray & Wipe for the counters, Windex for the glass and mirrors and Jiff for the sink. Shortly afterwards, I had the worst allergic reaction - I couldn't stop sneezing for hours, had tears in my eyes and a runny nose and my skin felt like it was falling off. I took two different types of anti-histamine, some nasal spray, dissolvable aspirin and sudafed and yet could not shake off the symptoms. By evening, I was truly sick! I went to church anyway and felt very unwell.

All my allergic reactions contributed to my downcast soul and I had tears streaming down my face all through the church service. I was really grateful to Tam for being s sweet and caring, but it only made me weep more. I got home feeling unwell and miserable and down in the dumps. Before I went to bed, I wrote a list of everything I was thankful for, including future praise points that I wanted to believe God for. I was also feeling lousy because I have not worked a real job for three years and most workplaces want two current referees - they have to be within the last two years. I could put down Ps Judy and Ps Eunice, but really, they can't say I have worked in a related job.

Well this morning I woke up and prayed and then I felt this strange desire to contact Sarah, an old work colleague from the DoH. I asked her if she had any work for me around the same pay level I left at three years ago. During the day, she suggested I be paid a HUGE amount more than I left on (like $14K more) and offered me 12 weeks from early January, subject to her boss' approval. She now works for a guy who is a doctor as well and directs the state in matters to do with medical imaging. He looks like a really nice guy.

Well I never thought I would return to the work place I started in, nor the Government at all, for that matter. It would certainly fit within the words of the prophecy though with regard to being an "on" ramp. At this stage in my career, I cannot think how else to get back in, given I have no current referees. The work would relate directly to my degree and I know I have the skills and experience to do the job. Hey, the greater one lives in me now and consequently, I now have special favour.

Just having that conversation with Sarah today, regardless of whether it will go ahead or not, has encouraged me deeply and picked up my spirit. I bought Tammy a gift today and when I went to drop it off, she said that as soon as I walked into the bookshop last night, she knew I was not ok. She said she and Menka prayed for me. Well their prayers worked. I woke up well and felt this urge to spend time with Jesus.... and it has led to a potential job.

Note to self - no permanent markers for Angel

One of my friends sent me this today. It made me laugh so much because I can just imagine Angel doing this to Lars. haha

Peacocks

This is such a beautiful bird! I would love to see a white one spread its feathers. I am not surprised that Angel was so captivated by them today. They are just so delightful to watch. God must have had such joy in creating them.

Little Angelina

Well today mum and I had a lovely afternoon with our little Angelina. She is such a beautiful and cheeky little toddler. We just love her to bits. We took her to see the peacocks at UWA and boy did God have a beautiful surprise for us.

The male peacocks had their incredible feathers on full display. I have never seen them with the one metre-long feathers parading them, while dancing in circles and making funny calls. Apparently it is mating season, so the males are getting all theatrical and impressive. Angel was absolutely delighted and cried when we left. We found a few feathers for her though. I am going to find a picture of a peacock and print it for her and glue the feathers on it.

Mum reminded me today of the vision she had ages ago before Angel was born. It was of a little angel swinging on swing and waving at her. She said the face was the same as little Angelina's face and her smile was bright and cheerful, just like her lovely grand-daughter. None of us every dreamed Julz would have such a stunningly attractive and beautiful fair child that was called Angelina! She really is such a sweetheart. She has a really fun bubbly personality and is almost always giggling.

Last weekend, I caught her playing with my bible. Then I left the room briefly and came back to find her standing on my bible and then jumping up and down on it! Today I read her the toddler's bible and she remained interested for the whole book!!! It was about 140 pages long. I couldn't believe it. I snapped some piccies of her last weekend. I guess you could say she is standing on God's promises on the Word of God :-)

Term deposits

Well last night I almost invested my money in a dodgy bank, which was offering a very impressive interest rate of 6.61% - much higher than my current bank's offer of 6.00%. Well I filled out their online application form and got right to the electronic transfer of my hard-earned savings and then suddenly had second thoughts, so I rang mum. She had never heard of this bank, in fact neither had I, nor anyone else I know. Mum did some research and found out it was a private bank that made less than $50,000 in profits last year - meaning it could easily fall through and my money could be gone, out of my reach forever .... or only accessible through lawyers and their legal fees. I am so glad I did not go ahead with it.

So I went for the next best rate in a known bank - it was 6.30% at Citibank. There was only one branch in Perth on St Georges Tce (cnr Barrack St), but at least it has been around for 25 years. The service was so much more professional. The other bank sounds like a bunch of yobbos.

Interview

So today I had to do online testing to assess my typing speed and accuracy, and then my proficiency in using MS Word, Excel, Powerpoint and Outlook. I passed them all. I was a bit frustrated because I simply couldn't do some of the basic functions I have done in the past because I either couldn't remember how to do them or the program asked me for an alternative method of doing it, which I couldn't do :o( Boooo hooo. Tomorrow I have a face-t0-face interview in the city at 9.30 am. I am excited about that. I am going to catch the bus and train to get there, then catch the train and bus home, then go and have lunch with Kristin's parents in the Overflow cafe.

My "on" ramp onto the express way

For the last few days, I have been thinking of Kerry Kirkwood's prophecy to me back in August 2007. So far, it has all come true, except one small part, which I feel is for now. It's this bit:

"There is an issue where the enemy has told you, you made a mistake and because you made a mistake you are never going to be able to get where you need to be. That is not true. God is a redemptive God, no matter what, and He is able to catch you and put you in right place whatever the detour is. I just see it there’s a detour but you’ve got an “on” ramp onto the express way. He’s going to give you a way to get on. You are not going to be going down the side. You are going to be able to get on and be able to move quickly".

I have always felt as though this part of his prophecy related to my career, because when I worked in the public sector, I got to a place where I felt trapped because I had jumped up to the most senior level I could go and then there didn't appear to be any where to go to from there. Then, the manager of the section in DTF where my permanency was attached to, made my life hell by forcing me to release the position. In hindsight though, I realise God didn't want me bound to that position anyway. In letting go of it, I was able to go into bible college for two years and then YWAM for six months.

Funny, with all the drama associated with that night-fill job and mum getting upset about me having a crap job after she worked so hard to get us educated, I feel it is time to return to a real job. I know America was my plan, but my heart is not 100% in it yet. I feel I may have the timing wrong. For the last few days I have had Kerry's words in my heart about how God had a detour for me, but then He would provide an "on" ramp onto the express way, that I wouldn't have to go up the side. Could it be my career? I cannot think what else it could possibly relate to. Looking back over the last few years, I have definitely had a detour. Who ever thought God would send me to bible college and then to YWAM!

I know from my time at night-fill that God has made me a lot more confident. I can now define my boundaries and am not intimidated by people like I used to be. I feel confident and believe in myself. God has changed my heart. I feel so much love inside for people I don't even know. He has done some work inside me. Though I look the same on the outside, it is like my insides have been renewed.

As I prepare to approach this mining company, I feel like I am meant to be there. They offer the exact same scholarship to students that old Crusty gave me for my honours year. What are the chances of that happening! Then, during my time in the public sector, I participated in the corporate sports that some staff from this company were also part of and I put together two teams in DTF and WAEC for the "Climb to the top" fitness challenge that this company was a major sponsor for. It's like I have had connections all the way through.

This company poached the girl from DTF whose position I filled. I also went to Cambodia with another girl who was from this company and I remember her saying how much she liked working there. Then mum's friend, Helen, also got a job in this company. She is in her 40s, so she is much older than me. I know I have a lot to offer.

My night-fill career is over!

Tonight I worked my last shift of night-fill forever. Even if I do need a job in a hurry, I am confident that I will never return to night-fill work. Good bye night-fill work. I kind of feel sad leaving all the guys behind, especially working for the loser store manager who is a bully.

Resignation

So yesterday I went into talk to my line-manager, but similar to Monday, he had gone home early. So I talked to Nigel, the equivalent manager in a different section. He said he had just resigned as well and was finishing up in a week. Then I told him I was resigning because my plans to go to America had been delayed and I would now be leaving in April, not January, so this meant I had another four months to kill and I would prefer a day job. I decided to give one week's notice, even though I only actually had to give one day's notice. I just felt it would toughen me up to wear the consequences of my action to stand up for justice and fair treatment of all workers and also, that it was fair on the manager who employed me to work until the end of the roster he gave me.

Then I proceeded in telling him my concerns and gave him a piece of paper summing them up. He told me he was aware of the issues and he would give my paper to the store manager, but felt that it was unlikely anything would be done about them in-store, especially seeing I was leaving. Therefore, he told me to send a copy to the head office. So I rang up the head office and the guy on the other end of the HR department didn't sound too friendly at all. He asked me to email him directly. Gosh, I wonder whether this unfriendly man on the other end is going to be of any help at all. I guess I have done what I believe God sent me to this workplace to do.

I just feel in my heart that this season of working late nights is finished. I am quite sore too in my left shoulder. I really never want to be so proud that I cannot do a low life job and make friends with people who others look down at. I think this was a great research project and work experience opportunity for me. I really do have a lot of love for the people I work with. They are beautiful creations of God, His workmanship. I wish I could help them further.

So here are my points summed up that I gave to the manager yesterday. The text in blue was not submitted. I just wanted a record of it.

________________________________________________

Concerns regarding Occupational Safety and Health Standards

1. Some night-fill workers are unaware that they are entitled to have breaks when they work more than four hours in one shift. I have spoken to three workers who had seven hours in one night and were unaware they were allowed to have a break. One was recruited to work at the Innaloo store permanently. The other two had come from another store to assist due to a shortage of workers on a Saturday night.

Without adequate breaks, workers’ energy levels are reduced and they are more prone to accidents/injuries (potential workers’ compensation claims). In addition, the two workers that assisted on Saturday night from another store had never had breaks during seven hour shifts – they could potentially claim re-imbursement for every 30 minutes in each shift that they worked, when they were meant to be having a meal break! The Fair Work Ombudsman’s office (131394) confirmed that these staff were entitled to claim reimbursement.

Suggested improvement: Information about breaks should be included in the induction training and re-emphasised at team meetings.

Wageline (131394) advised that the following shifts should accommodate breaks:

4 hrs to 5 hrs – one 10 min paid break;

5 hrs to 7 hrs – one 10 min paid break and one 30 min unpaid meal break; and

7 hrs to 10 hrs – two 10 min paid breaks and one 30 min unpaid break.

2. A performance target rate of emptying a certain amount of stock cages per hour has been set, which is the same for all workers regardless of what type of items they are working with (e.g. dairy products, heavy metal cans or confectionary).

While it is great to have a performance target rate, if it is unrealistic (as suggested by one dairy worker last week) then staff will rush to achieve this rate and may not consider correct lifting techniques highlighted in the induction training. Consequently, muscle sprains and injuries may potentially result in workers’ compensation claims and loss of workers (requiring more recruitment, training and ultimate loss of finances). I have already heard two workers complain about back problems.

Suggested improvement: Information about correct lifting techniques should be re-emphasised in team meetings. Performance rates should be based on the type of grocery item and if there is too much stock to put out in one night, then more night-fill workers should be employed!

Worksafe (1300 307 877) advised that every work place has a duty of care towards the workers and is required to ensure occupational safety and health standards are complied with. If improvements are not put in place, Worksafe said that a formal complaint should be lodged.