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October 1999

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Refocusing on a new goal
Saturday, 23 October 1999

One of the worst failings I have is that I procrastinate too much (remember all the problems I had completeing that last Graduate Diploma?). That, and letting things drift too long.

Leonie also gets very frustrated with me when I get like this, and on more than one occassion, this has lead to considerable tension in our relationship. [aside: I know all realtionships have their ups and downs, but I guess it is good being able to identify one of the sources of tension in my relationship] So, this last week, when the tension got too mch, and we had our little run in, I have now resolved to get somethings done. And to get serious about achieving the new goals.

For a long time now, we have talked about the posibility of another overseas trip - this time to atleast the United States. For me, the attraction is visiting the many friends I have made there through the internet, for leonie, its another place to go visit, and for Kathryn, its Disneyland (surprise, surprise!). Thomas is too young to even have an opinion *grin*.

And to get us all there is gonna cost a small fortune (and I can't rely on winning tonights Lotto). Both Leoni and I will be able to take leave, and I'm hoping to be able to save on accomodation costs, but even the raw airfare to get from here to there is upwards of $1,500 per adult. All this will require some serious saving - a strict plan and sticking to it!

And this is the sorce of the tension - with about a year to go until we are planning to be there, poor Leonie was getting very frustrated. I guess after our little blow-up, I have focused a bit more, and have arranged preliminary quotes, and stuff. It all helps focus on the end goal.

In other news, my job is now a little more secure - I have just been granted a two year extension on my teaching contract! *grin* So, they obviously think I can teach OK (or is it just that its too difficult to get rid of me and hire someone else?) Anyway, I'm here for a while longer.

Work has had its frustrations - I keep getting new students, who have just enrolled in the Introductory Computing modules, turning up - two thirds of the way through the Semester! I just don't think its fair - not to the new students, we take their money, but they just don't have enough time to properly complete the modules; nor to the other students in the class, who are nearing the end of their modules and are about to start assessments, it means I have to devote inordinate time to the new students to the detriment of the existing ones; nor to me - I have to run around week after week gathering together the course materials all over again! I know its my job, but it just makes things that much more difficult. And I'm not saying we shouldn't be enrolling these students - at least in other than Introductory Computing classes that are capable of a reasonable amount of flexible delivery, its just that it would be nice to be able to adequately advise these students as to appropriate ooptions *before* they enrol. Anyway, that's my beef for this week - I've put the matter on the agenda for the next School meeting on Monday.

Leonie is busy with the Referendum. I know what I think, but I don't wanna bore you with politics (unless I get requests to discuss - hint). I have a bad feeling that I am gonna wake up on November 7 feeling very disappointed in this country.

Cadet Challenges and Minesites
Saturday, 9 October 1999

School holidays are just about over again - Term 4 starts on Monday.

I spent to school holidays doing things. (Theres that busy life again). After finishing up for the last week of term and preparing stuff I'd need, I managed to get away and take the kids down to Perth to stay with Nanna (Leonies mum). Leonie herself had to stay home and work (poor darling).

There was another reason to go down to Perth - There was a Cadet Challenge organised for the first weekend in October. Whats that, you ask? - Well, think of the Cadet Challenge as sort of like a Scout Jamboree - except it was for the cadet organisations in the state. As well as the military style cadets (such as hte Air Training Corp that I am associated with, and the Army and Naval Cadet Corps), the State Government here sponsor several other cadet organisiations such as the Emergency Services Cadets, Police Rangers, etc. All these organisations have the aim of providing something for youth to do, to be associated with and to learn some life skills through. Its a fairly successful thing with many Units assocciated with local schools.

Anyway - they had orgainsed this Challenge thingy as means of getting as many cadets together as possible. We were all to be accomodated in a big tent city down on the Esplanade at Perth (huge forshore park right next to the city). As I said I had travelled down early - the rest of 9 Flight came down on the Thursday, and we all met on the Friday - ready for a street parade through Perth.

The cadets look quite spiffy when they get it together marching - of all the cadet units there, I would have to say that the Air Cadets were the most together when it comes to marching - maybe I am biased - but just looking at them and comparing them to the others, many onlookers commented favourably as well.

On the Friday evening, we took our lot to the Royal Perth Show - country kids just don't often get to see a large event like that. I had a great time wansdering around the exhibits - I got a few items - and I'm afraid my choice of showbags reveals alot about my tastes - very chocolate oriented!

The Saturday and the Sunday morning were spent in the sporting activities organised for the Challenge - well, the kids were involved in those - we instructors merely organised and looked on. I had to leave early on the Sunday - as I needed to get home for the Monday - even though it is still school holidays, I have work to do. And it is a long drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie (about 7 hours). I brough Thomas home with me - he travels reasonably well, and actually slept most of the way - and only got fussy for about half an hour after a short stop at Southern Cross.

Anyway, I mentioned that I had to work. And so I did - they needed someone to run a Microsoft Access course for one of the mining companies. So, I volunteered (don't worry - this one goes down as overtime paid upfront - a nice tidy little sum for my effort). The company is the Sons of Gwalia mine in Leonora - about 2 and a half hours north of here. The training was to be two groups on a two day course - four days in all.

I managed to get away after a slight frustration in getting one of the campus cars, about 3pm on the Monday afternoon. Its quite a drive to Leonora - not least because there is not much in between - just lots of semi-desert bush. It didn't help when I noticed a radiator warning light on the car when i picked it up - however, I was told it had just had coolant topped up and it was just a faulty warning light! So, off I went anyway - playing Paul Kelly CD's to help with the long drive.

The mining company provided accomodation for me at their Single Persons Camp. If you've never come across these places before, let me describe:
Take a a couple of dozen transportable bunk houses (affectionately known as "dongers"), a large mess building and about fifty mine and contract workes with not much to do but sit in the afternoon sun (after their shift of course) and drink heaps of beer - and you get the idea. The dongers themselves are just large enough to provide a bed, a wardrobe, a sink, and a chest of drawers - really only the sort of place you would sleep in - its fortunate that the waether is not too bad this time of year and outdoor life is quite pleasant.

The reason I was doing the courses now was that the only place we could get sufficient computers in one place was at the local district school - which would only be available during school holidays. I met the local headmaster and he gave me access to the room - not abad set up for a smallish country school.

Both groups were quite different to teach - one more frustratingly so. Its hard to teach the technicalities of a relational database to someone that can barely use Windows. But we got through. I think we will find that more of these sort of courses, out where the students actually are, will become more common in future.

This weekend, Leonie is busy with the ATSIC election - so I guess I will have plenty of time with Thomas.