Day One Thousand and Eighty

Sunday

We were both up early for a Sunday, alarm went off at 7.20am, was a struggle to drag ourselves out of bad as it's turned cold here in Brissie. Kate was ready and headed off to Walkabout Creek to volunteer again. Below is some pictures of the animals at the Wildlife Centre. She has written animal names and descriptions for each.

I went to work for 5 hours and got more stuff done, mainly prepping for our safety briefing on Friday.

We both met at home, went for a walk along the river and after dinner skyped the folks and also spoke to Sydney.

Pademelon

Wombat (named Midi)

Whiptail Wallaby

View of the National Park from the Wildlife Centre

More Whiptail Wallabies

Swamp Wallaby

Carpet Python (Samantha)

Tawny Frogmouths (Manners and Einstein)

Bush Stone Curlew

Water Dragon

Red Bellied Black Snake

Day One Thousand and Seventy Nine

Saturday

Walked into work for the second weekend session of volunteers training. Both the sessions went well, they both seemed more relaxed than last week. Headed home at about 4pm and switched off from work. Cooked a roast chicken for dinner and we watched the Swans game. Soon enough the day had disappeared and it was time for bed.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Eight

Friday

Another long day at work, 3 weeks today the event will be in full swing. Still feel on target to get it all done. Headed home and Kate and I went for Asian food at Grasshopper downstairs.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Seven

Thursday

Back to work in the office, much merriment in the office as we messed about in the big skip bags we had delivered. We'll use these for discarded clothes and for full bin bags ion our bush checkpoints.

You can officially fit five people in a 1m square skip bag.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Six

Wednesday 

I worked at home all day today trying to get some scheduling done. Did quite a bit although digressed onto other things at the same time too.

Spoke to folks on Skype in the evening.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Five

Tuesday

Up early and out to Walkabout Creek to meet my main contractors to do site visits to the bush checkpoints. Visited CP 5, 1, 2, 4 and then 6 in that order. Went through all the plans and it all seems to be OK.

Headed back otthe office later inthe afternoon and then home and crashe dout after a long day.

Checkpoint 1 Site - 3 Marquees to go here

Checkpoint 1 Again

Checkpoint 4 Site, being cleared by Parks Staff

Checkpoint 6 - A nice big field

Checkpoint 6 Again

Day One Thousand and Seventy Four

Monday

I decided to work at home all day doing scheduling. Got a lot done which is good.

Picked up Kate from work, had some dinner and Kate caught up on Masterchef and The Voice while I did some more scheduling.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Three

Sunday

We were both up early as Kate was volunteering at Walkabout Creek and I went into work. 

Kate finished at just after 1pm and drove to the office and we grabbed some Japanese lunch in the Valley before coming home.

A relaxing afternoon and then a wonderful Chicken Katcartori dinner in the evening. Had a call with Sydney and crashed in front of TV in the evening.

Day One Thousand and Seventy Two

Saturday

Up and into work for 9am. Today was the first of our volunteer training sessions at work. We did two sessions, one at 11am, the second at 2pm. I reckon we got just short of 100 people through the door. It consisted of the first part of general training then break out sessions with each member of staff. I trained up a number of trail marking and sweep teams in my breakout sessions.

Walked home at about 4oclock and spent some time watching the Sydney Swans Game. We had an Italian selection for dinner.

Had  skype call to UK too.

We started watching the Movie A Beautiful mind but gave up at about 10 o'clock as we were both knackered.

Day One Thousand and Seventy One

Friday

Alarm went off at 6am, 4 weeks today the alarm will be going off at 2am to start the event. Was in work just after 7 and had a manic day, we basically prepped all day for the volunteering training sessions tomorrow.

Left work at 6.30 and heading back in for a full day tomorrow with 2 training sessions at 11am and 2pm.

Day One Thousand and Seventy

Up at 6.25am and and off to work just after 7. A manic day running around the office and trip to Kennards with my assistant Antony to take delivery of all the gear from Melbourne. 

Didn't leave work until 7.30 and thankfully Kate collected me. We decided to hit the London Club for dinner as it was quick and easy.

Spoke to Sydney alter in the evening.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Nine

Wednesday

I worked at home all day today after dropping Kate to work. Find it far more productive at home with less distraction. Still had a few calls and lots of emails to deal with.

Did some shopping on way home after collecting Kate.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Eight

Tuesday

Cold today in Brisbane, was 8 degrees when I got up at 6.30. Was nice to wake up under the covers feeling all cosy rather than being hot in bed. I'm still a Pom at heart!

Walked to work, did my thing and headed home.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Seven

Monday

Back to work, all busy as deliveries are coming in and final aspects of planning coming together.

Walked home and found Kate cooking the dinner already, result....

Day One Thousand and Sixty Six

Sunday

A day around the flat, we did the usual Sunday things of shopping etc. New Farm was a bit crazy with Mothers Day, especially the Deli which had taken up much of the car park with more tables.

Had a Skype call with UK and also spoke to Sydney on the Skype too. Carol was happy with the presents from Kate for mothers day, an apron and new address book.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Five

Saturday

Kate and I were up early, Kate went to Walkabout Creek to volunteer again. Sounds like she had a good time. I wentt into work but had a stinking headache all morning which wasn't great. At lunchtime I left work and went and had my passport interview at the city GPO. $280 dollars and five minutes later I was heading back to the office. My passport is winging its way back to UK for renewal and then it will come back along with a new one.

Kate picked me up form office and we headed home.

In the evening we went to a very nice new Italian Restaurant on James St, we are celebrating 5 years since our first official date in Leicester Square. We laughed that both of us then did not foresee we would be living in Brisbane 5 years later.

The restaurant website is here, food was superb.

http://www.buccirestaurant.com.au/brisbane/

Day One Thousand and Sixty Four

Friday

Up early again and into work, getting up at 6.30 these days and walking into work before 8am. Got a fair bit done and then left late. Kate picked me up and we did some shopping for food and had nice Italian food for dinner.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Three

Thursday

Back to work, ploughed on with lots of things, event is 5 weeks tomorrow so things are getting busy now.

In the evening we went to the London Club for dinner as the pest control people had been through the flat and left notes to say they had sprayed all through the kitchen. It was too late to shop for food and we didn't fancy the stuff laying around.

Day One Thousand and Sixty Two

Wednesday

I worked at home all day to get on with event scheduling, so much easier at home without constant distraction. I drove Kate to work and picked her up.

Had a Skype call to UK in the evening.

Day One Thousand and Sixty One

Tuesday

Up early and walked into work, was there before 8am. Got lots of things done and then headed home. Quiet night in front of the tele. We failed to win the $70M lotto too.

Day One Thousand and Sixty

Monday

Labour Day in Queensland. Despite being a state holiday I went into the office from 8.30 until 2.30 to get some stuff done.

Came home and we went out for a walk. Cooked a massive risotto for dinner.

Day One Thousand and Fifty Nine

Sunday

Awoke to get text messages from the old fella thanking us for the surprise champagne we bought them at the Aviator.

We had a picnic lunch by the river which was lovely.

In the evening we had a massive Skype call with family from home including my aunts and cousin. Was nice to see them all.

Day One Thousand and Fifty Eight

Happy Birthday to my wonderful old man, 65 today.

Saturday, a morning of lazing around, shopping, lunch out and then a walk along the river. Had a Skype call to wish dad a happy birthday, sad to not be there in person but glad to be able to say hello face to face on the Skype.

Kate baked a superb chicken pie for dinner....after which at 11.30 tonight we got chucked outside for a fire alarm...

Day One Thousand and Fifty Seven

Friday

Another busy day at work, lots of distractions going on but trying to keep on with the job at hand delivering the Brisbane event. We ha steak and veggies for dinner. Watched the movie 'Conviction' in the evening which was quite good.

Day One Thousand and Fifty Six

Thursday

A busy day at work of meetings and dealing with suppliers. Walked home and then Kate and I went for  walk along the river. Dinner at home.

Super heavy rain here tonight.

Day One Thousand and Fifty Five

Wednesday

Drove Kate to work and then headed to Bunnings in Stratford to meet my assistant to buy a load of kit for the event. Spent 550 bucks there, but we did get  a lot of gear to build our water stations. They look like this.

Headed into the office briefly then home to work on event scheduling during the afternoon. 

Picked up Kate, did some shopping, home for dinner and then Skype to folks in UK.

Day One Thousand and Fifty Four

Tuesday

Up early and walked into work. Getting up earlier and earlier as event nears. Busy day ticking off things.

Came home to find Kate cooking a spag bol, lovely.

It's raining again in Brisbane this evening.