The Fun Begins

After several weeks of preparation we are now into our final week here in Perth. There is still much to do;

Finalizing accommodation in Christchurch
Closing down accounts here
Packing enough stuff to see us through about 8 weeks while we wait for our stuff
Removalists, cleaners & gardeners coming during the week
Left over stuff to get rid of

The list goes on.....

Have you had much experience in moving? Have you moved overseas before? Did you find it easy or difficult. I suppose it doesn't matter how far you move, it's always a hassle.

I don't anticipate doing it again in the near future.





Technorati Tags: Moving

My Train Journey

This morning I went into town on the train to meet up with a friend for the final time before heading overseas. They say that the public transport system is suposed to make life easier, but the fun started even before I got on the train.

I drove my car to the train station about 5 minutes from home, once I got there I drove around the car park for about 10 minutes looking for a park. I gave up & decided to drive down the freeway to the next train station. I then drove around that car park for about 5 minutes before finally getting a park in the far corner.

Once I got onto the platform I discovered another delay; because this was one of the smaller train stations not all trains stop here, and so the train that was coming was not stopping. The next train was due in 10 minutes. By this time I was already 5 minutes late for my meeting with my friend, so another 10 minutes wasn't going to matter, & then the journey was 15 minutes anyway.

I finally met my friend, 25 minutes late, but we had a nice morning tea & chit chat, and then I headed back to the train to come home.

Just for the record, the journey home was allot simpler; I just had to wait for a second train.





Technorati Tags: Transperth - Trains

Have a Shay Day

What would you do? You make the choice. Don't look for a punch line, there isn't one. Read it anyway. My question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fund raising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question: 'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first! Run to first!' Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!' Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball ... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'
Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third! Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!' Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY: We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. So rather than sending this out by email, I'm posting it on my blog.

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.


May your day, be a Shay Day.






Technorati Tags: People Stories

Third Farewell

Yesterday was my last day of work with Network Couriers; I have been working as a courier with them for about 12 months, & during this past year I have posted several articles to do with work stuff.

Through my daily city run, I have met some wonderful people of whom I have had the pleasure of visiting everyday for a couple of minutes.

I told many of my daily customers that I was leaving & where I was going; yesterday I was overwhelmed with farewell wishes & gifts. Now I know that I always take pride in my work, but everyone was saying that I am the best courier that many of them have had; I was shocked at that revelation.

I hope the new person who takes over the city run will look after the customers as well as the all suggest that I have done.

So now that I have finished work there is still much to do in preparation for our move to NZ. It's certainly no time for a holiday.





Technorati Tags: Network Couriers - Work

Second Farewell

Today Jo & I visited Subiaco Church, the church we called home previously before going to Metro church 12 months ago.

Jo had been a part of Subi church for 14 years, & I had been going there since arriving in Perth 6 years ago.

We both had many friends there, allot of whom were not there today for one reason or another. The people that we did see today, we hadn't seen in 12 months since leaving Subi, & it was good to catch up & say goodbye.

Even though this church had been our home for many years, we both had the feeling of being out of place & in a foreign land, & we were reminded of the reason we left there in the first place.

Do you ever feel like that when you visit somewhere you used to call home, but it no longer feels like home? It's like everything has changed & you no longer belong. For us, we are the ones who have changed & moved on. I felt like a square peg in a round hole.

On a positive note though, I do have some some good memories from my time with Subi church; and some wonderful friends.





Technorati Tags: Church - Subiaco

3 years of marriage

I'm a day late in posting this.

Yesterday the 12 Feb, Jo & I celebrated 3 years of marriage. It really doesn't seem like 3 years ago that we said "I do".

Allot has happened in 3 years, including starting a family with baby Chloe.

I look forward to another wonderful year with my lovely wife Jo. Happy third anniversary honey.





Technorati Tags: Anniversary - Marriage

First farewell

This morning Jo & I were farewelled from Metro Church. Jo & I have been attending Metro Church since the end of 2006.

There was nothing special for us this morning, Pastor Geoff just mentioned us from the stage and wished us well.

After the service we went into the lounge for a cuppa & to catch up & say goodbye to some friends.

Next week we'll be going to our former church for the final time, but I'll post about that next week.





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Crawling

Little Chloe has been crawling for about 3 weeks now. She's learned how to crawl on her knees, pull herself up & lean on the table or sofa.

Everything has to go up off the floor and even out of her reach as she can and does grab anything and everything off the table.

The scary thing is she'll be walking before we know it.

Here are some photo's of her.










Technorati Tags: Babies - Crawling

Off to the eye doctor

Today I went to visit the Optometrist to get my eyes tested. It's been about 6 years since my last visit.

My eyes have not deteriorated too much in 6 years, and as a result there's not too much difference in my new prescription.

The frames I have had for the last 6 years have done very well too, but the optometrist said they won't last too much longer. The new frames I looked at today are a new style and allot more flexible in their design.

I'm looking forward to getting my new specs, but probably shouldn't leave it so long before my next eye test. They say every 2-3 years is about right. I'm certainly well overdue.





Technorati Tags: Optometrist - Eyes - Spectacles

The feminine side of Bart Simpson

Did you know that the voice of Bart Simpson is actually a women?? Nancy Cartwright was interviewed by Australian personality Rove McMannus. Take a look at the video clip below & let me know what you think.







Technorati Tags: Bart Simpson - Nancy Cartwright - Video's