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June 1998

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THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT
Friday, 19 June 1998

We had a very strange occurrence here a couple of nights ago. We have a house guest, Catherine, staying with us for a while and doing a bit of work for Leonie. She has an old beat up car, but we offered to let her park it behind the house with our car - its a squeeze but it is possible to get both into the small courtyard at the rear of the house.

Anyway, the first night she was here, someone broke into her car - they must have climed over the new brick fence at the rear. Whats strange is that the car appeared to be deliberately targeted. Our, much newer, Laser wasn't touched. But whats even stranger, is that nothing appears to have been stolen! There was stuff tipped out all over the floor and the seats and stuff, like someone was looking for something. Even a few stubbies of beer and some food was not taken, and other goods attractive to a thief, such as her camera, and a few id cards, were not touched.

The next night it happened again. We got up yesterday to find her car door open, and stuff strewn all over the car - this time only a few insignificant items of clothing were taken. The first night, the "visitors" left behind a colourful beanie, and the second time they left a dirty parka jacket. Very strange indeed!

The whole thing was a bit odd, and somewhat unnerving. What was it they were after? And why target this particular car? (Our car was not touched in either incident). Catherine is new to town, so its unlikely its someone that knows her. Very odd.

Anyway, last night, we decided to do something about it. We borrowed a dog from a friend. "Missie" (a real cute Blue Heeler), spent last night doing guard duty. No more visitors!

In other news, the assignmenst are cominga long just fine. Hopefully they should be finished after this weekend. I spent Wednesday night over at Adrians going through some of the statistical analysis from our occupational survey (thanks for all that helped out by participating in the survey). And I now have my remote access account all set up, so I can hassle you all from home as well as work now! *grin*

TIME SLIPS AWAY
Sunday, 14 June 1998

I really shouldn't be spending too long writing this, or doing the many othet tings needed to keep my site "ticking over". But sometimes you just gotta do something to break the routine. I have been spending a rather intense week, getting notes finished off, getting assignments done. But there always ssems to be a bit more that needs doing - and there just isn't time.

I guess it comes to a point where you have to drawn the line and say - "Well, thats what I've done, it may not be perfect, but its there". But not yet - a few more days to go.

Politics in Australia has taken a disturbing turn on the weekend. the Queensland election result has certainly given us much to contemplate. It worries me that there are so many people out there willing, indeed enthuisiastic, to jump on a bandwagon of simplistic solutions. I mean some of what THAT party was offereing voters was just mind boggling! Anyway, enough politics for now.

Last Monday, when we had the ultrasounds done on Leonie, they gave us some prints from the machine. So here is the first of our new baby photos. Can't tell I'ma proud Dad, can you! It's funny how this sort of thing can change you totally. It's hard to explain it, but I guess just that life can be full of little joys - and, to me, this is one of them. Sounds corny, I know, but its the only way I can explain it. Life's pretty good at the moment.

LITTLE DECISIONS
Wednesday, 10 June 1998

I'm not getting any better at getting back to here to write, am I? Was it really a week ago that I last wrote? So much has happened since then. I have been as busy as... There always seemed to be something to do, notes for class, an assignment, time with Kathryn, time for cadet activities - but not much time for me.

But that nagging little problem I was talking about before - well, its kind of resolved itself. Nature has a way of dealing with this. The longer you take to decide this one, the more it swings a particular way - you get used to the idea, that only a few days ago you found so frightening, so challenging.

Over the weekend, Leonie and I got to thinking about our "little problem". Without talking to each other, we both came to the same conclusion. Truth is, we can't play God. So, now we let things go as they are.

Have I confused you totally? Well, it has been hard to write about. For those that haven't got it yet, Leonie and I are going to have another child. And when we first found out, we weren't sure we wanted to go through with it. But having thought long and hard, those feelings changed.

We had made an appointment to see a doctor on Monday - so off we went and explained the whole thing. He is a really nice doctor, was very understanding and all.

So now the "little decision" has been made we are quite happy, its almost as if the whole weight has been lifted. The first ultrasounds were taken on Monday also. We took Kathryn in to see. It was weird watching this little life on the monitor, barely two centimeters in length, yet with a little beating heart that was quite unmistakeable. Emotionally these past couple of weeks have been a real rollercoaster, and its great to be on that high again.

Now if I can just find time to complete all my assignments and projects, I'll be real happy and can relax a bit!

LOST IN THE SEA OF CARES
Wednesday, 3 June 1998

It has been so long since I wrote here. And it's not that there hasn't been anything happening. On the contrary; I haven't had a moment to myself for well over a two weeks. And as there is still a mountain of things to get done, I'll try to keep this brief.

Work-wise - there is lots to do. I now have two modules I am getting on-line notes done for. Somehow I always seem to be just finishing them off immediately prior to students needing them. Last night I was up till 1am getting the Advanced Graphics notes completed (they didn't get loaded to the server until first thing this morning). And there are the Pascal notes and assignments to get organised. And perhaps I shouldn't tell you about the pile of assignment marking sitting in my office.

Study-wise it's no better. This evening I have written up another of the contracts for my Internship. It's about my "brave" attempt to get my students to use on-line notes to learn Pascal! For some reason, they still insist on printing them out!
I have now completed five of the required nine contracts. In the last few weeks Lucienne has come to my class to observe my teaching - that got me another three contracts. And still there is only a week or so to get the rest completed. And thats on top of the final report for my famous Computing Course Redevelopment that the on-line survey was about (thanks to everyone who participated). So guess who is going to be one busy little bunny in the next week or so?

Then there is the family... Emotional turmoil is not good at the best of times. Things will come to a head when next week begins and I have to be strong for when my support is needed. I know the time will come and go, I just want a decision made one way or the other.

And I'm so tired... I can't write anymore right now [Loud klunk! as Tazy's head hits the keyboard]