My week

Well, to be quite honest, my week has not been the least bit exciting.

On Tuesday we had our ice skating lesson. Me and Debra have decided that we need to take up yoga, so that we can do the positions required for being a professional ice skater better! We kind of learnt how to skate on one leg with one leg dragging behind in a kind of lunge position. We can’t even bend that low standing on the carpet let alone on an ice skate with one leg dragging along the ground. We kind of got the hang of it, but I woke up the next morning hardly able to move my right leg, but I bet my right arse cheek is looking better for it! Unfortunately, (well fortunately it wasn’t me) Debra fell over and would have fallen about a metre onto the ice on her butt. Apparently, she had an egg shaped lump and could hardly sit for about a week.

The only other thing that was exciting this week was that me and Debra were driving home (after being shopping at Pacific Fair, Debra wanted to get some trackies for ice skating to help lunge better) it started raining and then right before our eyes a bolt of lighting hit the top of the Q1 building. The moment we had been waiting for had happened right before our eyes and then about five minutes later another hit the top. It was so exciting. We decided to camp out at some theatre that had a great view with the camera but didn’t see anything else. Next time a storm hits we will be in the car with the camera in our secret spot!

This picture is of it being hit about three weeks or so ago at night. It wasn't that exciting yesterday but it was up there!

Hope you guys had a more exciting week than me, let me know!!

We have a few people coming over in the next while, so hopefully will have some cool stories and pictures shortly.

Home and Away

Just thought I would update you on the final episode of Home and Away.

Well, Flynn collapsed at Scott and Hayleys going away party. He has had enough of being sick and will he kill himself with morphine!!!!

Zoe, is back!!! Well not exactly, we saw a scene with her nursing someone in a hospital somewhere. She is still alive.

Tasha is still caught up with the beleivers and looks like she might choose them over Robbie.

Amanda got married to Graeme (Beth's father). Ewwww.

Jack and Martha got back together.

Dan and Leah have pretty much broken up but Leah is pregnant.

Next year, a hurricane hit summer bay... someone dosen't make it!

To be quite honest the final eposide wasn't that good. Definently not a clip hanger like shortland street.

Toni

My weekend

I decided that when I came to Australia that a new hair style was in order. So as I was flicking though one of the papers I came across some vouchers and took it as a sign that it was time to go to the hair dressers. So on Saturday morning at 9.30 (as some of you will know, I had a few drinks with the girls from work and was quite “excited” when I got home on Friday night, but managed to get myself out of bed and dressed). Anyway, I walked down the road to the hair dresses after 15 minutes of waiting the owner said would you like a manicure for free, so I said sure so I ended up getting a free manicure, as well as discounted hair which was cool. Three and a half hours later I walked out of the hair dressers with my new hair. Its not actually all that different, just dark brown with six blondish foils and they straightened it for me. The picture doesn’t really show the colour of the foils, may have to get another one.

We didn’t really do anything else exciting on the weekend. Watched Bewitched, The Notebook (that is sad) and I brought Singstar Party so we had a sing of that.

Oh, I also forgot to mention that it Schoolies week in Surfers. As you can see in my pictures there is a bank up of cars. Most of those cars are from 16, 17 and 18 year old people who have just finished seventh form and have come down to Surfers for a weeks worth of boozing. I call tell you that there is no way were are going near Surfers for the next three weeks. I am so glad I don't work in there anymore.

I will do a little Home and Away update, check out the new Home and Away website though as its pretty much got on it what is happening.

This week is the last week for Home and Away

Hayley and Scott are leaving Summer Bay for good and moving to France. Did you know that Scott is 30 in real life. He is going to England to further his career.

Amanda and Beth’s father (who is like 70) get married, she is after his money.

Martha and Jack get back together.

Leah is still mad at Dan for lying to her about the gambling. Dan’s kid gets taken away by the guy he owes money to. Leah has just found out she’s pregnant, but can her marriage survive?

Tasha is caught up in a Cult thing, what will happen?


Toni

Our adventure in the big city

Me and Debra embarking on our journey

One of Debra’s workmates was leaving Debra’s work so we decided to spend a night in the “Big City” aka Brisbane. So on Saturday morning we packed out bags and headed for the bus stop which would then take us to the train station.

Unfortunately, the bus we wanted to catch was also the bus that takes everyone to the theme parks on Saturday morning so after waiting 20 minutes in the heat for the bus we were most annoyed when it was jam packed and drove straight past. Luckily another one was a minute behind it. We made it to the train station and were fortunate to get a train straight away (although Debra almost made us catch the wrong one, and she tells me catches the Brisbane one most days!).

So we headed towards Brisbane, I was quite excited as I had not been on a train before but the excitement soon wore off after ½ an hour. Luckily, the train only takes 1 hour. So we got into the station and navigated our way to the Backpackers three blocks down (we only asked for directions twice). We filled out the forms and went up to our room which only had a double bed and a chair that’s it.

However, it did have a nice view from the window. We chucked our stuff on the floor and headed for the shops. Brisbane is a bit different from the Gold Coast people are not as friendly and after seeing the biggest group of Goths in the middle of the mall decided Brisbane definitely wasn’t for us and quickly walked past them.

That night we went out for dinner at a pizza place. The food was quite good and after a few RTD’s (which we were allowed to bring in ourselves) telephoned Kim for a chat. Being about 12 in New Zealand she wasn’t to grumpy and ended up singing to her all the 80’s singstar songs we could remember.

After dinner we then dodged the beggers and jumped onto the train back to our backpackers and got ready for a night out on the town. We headed to the Casino thinking that we would make back the money that we spent on shopping (so that Debra could wear buy dress with a belt that come up under your boobs, she vowed if she saw 5 people wearing them and won money at the casino she would get one) but unfortunately they didn’t have craps and we lost money on the pokies. Why do I play them I always lose money?
This Casino is in the background
On Sunday morning we packed up our gear which was splashed around the room and headed for the markets and then across on the fairy to the man made beach. It was really cool especially for a public place that was free. After our swim we were exhausted and decided to head home and play a bit of 80’s singstar.

The man made beach in Brisbane

Debra asleep on the train with her new sunnies

To see more pictures, check out my photo gallery

Toni

My New Job

Where do I start! Sorry, I haven’t written anything in a while but have been rather busy.

Last week I got a call from some recruitment agency saying do I still want a job. I said yes please, I was so over filing and stuff at the construction company. It was a small family law firm in Southport. That sounded perfect for me as family law was something I was interested in and Southport is just around the corner. Turns out the law firm is literally around the corner, 5mins walk!

So I went for my interview on Wednesday night and it went fantastic (she was a kiwi as well) and the next day I found out I had the job. How fantastic, the only thing was that I needed to tell my temping agency that I was quitting. I can tell you that went down like a house on fire. As a temp I don’t need to give notice, but felt kinda bad only giving one day. The temping agency took it well, it was the construction company lady who didn’t and practically didn’t talk to me all day.

Anyway, I had my first day yesterday and I think I will like it here. I have not idea what is going on as I have hardly any family law experience let alone Australian, Queensland Family Law experience. There are about 8 females and no boys. There are four dogs and one cat roaming around the rooms and sitting under your desk. I am not much of a dog person but they are ok. Hope everything goes well, I am sure it will.

Will keep you posted.

Toni

Detox is over

It was so hot last night. The temperature outside was 24 degress at 6.15 at night. It was so hard to sleep, someone told Debra that in the summer here it is not uncommon to wake up with heatstroke. Looking forward to that!!!

We are going to have a big fat juicy steak tonight. Yum, I am so looking forward to it. We drank our last bitters last night, we are not sorry that they are over and all the other arse tasting food we have been eating for the last ten days. I still ended up having a soy milk shake for breakfast as we had no other milk but ate three lollies today.

Me and Debra went on our first ice skating lesson last night. It was actually quite good. The rink isn't as flash as Auckland but the guy who taught us was quite cool and he can do flash things. We are going to be the next Nancy Carrigan and Tonya Harding, look out winter Olympics. We were learning some flash turn thing (well it wasn't that flash) and I fell over, everyone saw and I landed on my face with my glasses mangaled out of shape and a nice bit scratch over my eye. In my defence, it was very slippery where we were and I don't think I was the only one to fall over.

I got a call today from another agency, I forget which ones are which, anyway I have a meeting with her about a job tonight so fingers crossed.

Toni

DETOX DAY TEN

I have had a pretty bad day today.

I think it may have even started last night when I saw a big spider run across the kitchen. We have sprayed the house twice and its was still alive. I fixed it though half a can of flyspray later and it was dying in the jar.

I woke up this morning right on the alarm which I don't normally do as I usually wake up before and then ended up running late and then had to rush to get the bus.

When I got I had sore eyes and couldn't focus on the computer properly, so I had a look at them and they were really blood shot. I didn't even have a late night last night I went to bed at 9.30!!!

Also, that mean lady at work had a go at me. She was sick on Monday, so me being the nice person I am did a bit of her stuff (which she would have given me anyway!!) but instead of thanking me she goes "Why didn't you give this to so-and-so, use a bit of fore-thought?" (well I will have you know that I am VERY good at fore-thought, I am the most organised person I know and you can't be organised if you don't have fore thought!). So I said I always give them to you and she blabbed on about something. If they want me to give the people the stuff, just tell me, don't make me feel bad. Imagine if I had given it to that person and it wasn't supposed to. Grrrrrrr ... she went off at me again this afternoon, saying I should do something before it gets to full. How am I supposed to know the process!!! Anyway, I am still in the looking for a new job. The sooner the better. I am not expecting a new job not to be the same sort of thing, but at least hopefully I will feel included, not just the temp in the corner spending most of her day filing dam invoices and dockets!!

Anyway, enough bitching. Me and Debra are going to go Iceskating tonight (if Debra doesn't get us lost! - kind of reminds me of someone else who thought they knew the day but didn't :)). We are going to an adult learning class. Not sure what it will be like, but hopefully they will at least teach us how to stop!!

For all those HOME AND AWAY fans, heres the latest goss!!

Martha is terrified after the Cory incident that she gets a gun and accidently shots Rick. Rick is ok but tells her to get rid of it. Jack finds out that Martha has the gun and also tells her to get rid of it but it ends up getting stolen (does it sound a bit like the Tasha, Sarah, Jessie scenario). Anyway we don't know who has stolen it yet.

Tasha has been in the city seeing Duncan as he has been in an accident and she comes back but is spotted on the beach with some guy. Robbie finds out and confrots her but she lies and says he is in love with her and she was just telling him to back off, but upon reading the TV week we are about to find out that actually Tasha has got herself ropped into a cult.

Kim, Scott and Hayleigh

Hayleigh has had the baby and everything is fine. Kim is finding that he is getting left out a bit and is a bit annoyed at Scott. Then Scott gets a call from someone in France and is offered a job. Hayleigh decides to go with him but Kim isn't happy about her taking the baby. Duhh... Hayleigh. Anyway Kim files at petition. They go to mediation but then Kim runs out of the room followed by Hayleigh and then Kim gets him by a car and is in hospital. Any this week KIM in fact does find out the truth about the baby!!! Stay tuned it happens this week some time.

Amanda is trying to get it on with Beth's rich dad.

Dan has bet on some horses (he is an old gambler from way back) and is in a lot of debt.

And that is all I can remember.

For Kim and any other McLeods Daughters fans.

Jodie might be a McLeod. At her birthday Jack has left her lots of money. We don't know yet thought.

Tess if pregnant and her husband, whats his face, dies (maybe) in a plane accident.

Anyway the place is closing.

Bye bye

Toni

Detox Day Five - Nine

CHOCOLATE AND PIES

These are the things on my mind at the moment. Everywhere I look I can see people eating yummy things that I am just not supposed to have!!

Sorry, I haven't written for a while but there hasn't been much happening. Am feeling good and healthy but am a little over fruit and vegies for everymeal and either fish or chicken everynight for dinner. On Wednesday night we are going to have a big fat juicy piece of steak. Yummy!!! But we are going to try not to go into the old habits of chips (not that the chips even taste good here, nothing beats Bluebird, take note everyone who is coming to visit, we have lists for you!!) and dessert every night.

I found out about a cool place on Thursday. I work for Rapcivic Construction with built the Cheveron Reniassance Towers, a very flash resort complex on the Gold Coast. I got told on Thursday that my "fob", its a key kind of thing, will let me into the towers and up to the pool complex. Well that Thursday lunchtime I went for a little looksee and its fantastic. Nice pool, BBQ area, sunbathing area, gym, spa, the works and I can do this at lunchtime, afterwork or even in the weekend for free. Below is from there site.

"Facilities
Beaches in the Sky~outdoor pool, bridges and grotto spa surrounded by sandy beaches and sub-tropical gardens Undercover parking (free) Heated outdoor pool BBQ Club room for private functions Private theatrette for guest use Outdoor meditation area 25m heated indoor lap pool Gymnasium Sauna –male & female Games room"

I don't really have much more to say so bring on tomorrow night!!!!

Love you lots.

Toni

Detox Day Four - Wednesday

Today I actually feel ok. A little tired for getting up in the middle of the night but no headache yay.

Tomorrow is half way there. Only five to go after that. Me and Debra have been talking about what we are going to eat when we come off next Thursday. We don't want to get back into bad habits, but the Cheesecake Shop has been eyeing us up over the last couple of days and they have some yummy treats in there.

I don't really have much else to say, have had a pretty average day. Am not really looking forward to going home to dinner though we are having Salmon Patties. Another recipie from the detox book. Hope they are not as bad as the pumpkin soup was.

Oh and me and Debra are really looking forward to Rachel and Cameron who are coming over in December and challenging them to some singstar 80's.

Anyway better get home am expecting a phone call.

Love Toni

Detox Day Three - Tuesday

I still have my everlasting headache, it is one of the side effects of the detox, but I hope it goes away soon.

I had a pretty crappy day today actually. As everyone will know it was Melbourne Cup day yesterday, which is quite a big thing here, bigger than in New Zealand, and as everyone in the whole stupid country was getting ready to go and watch the race somewhere. Guess who wasn't allowed to go? Me. It was so stupid "apparently" I had to stay back and look after the phones in case someone rung during the race... whatever!!! What damm Aussie is going to ring during the race. We don't even get many calls and the main phones were on divert anyway!!! I am so mad and then became increasingly homesick. But I am over that now, looking for a new job and ended up winning 12.80 on the races. I bet on the horse that came third. It was a kiwi horse so in NZ is was only paying 1.90 but here it payed 6.40. So I was pleased as I am a bit poor until pay day on Friday.

I had already agreed to play netball for work yesterday, before the incident, and reluctantly went down to the court at 8.00 to play. It turned out all right. We ended up winning 30 - 17. The first time my team had one and the game flowed really well. They say you are not to do to much vigorous exercise when you are on detox and I sure felt quite weak after I finished. They also say you should drink two litres of water a day. I was reminded twice in the middle of the night, that I was in fact drinking that much damm water.