Visiting Junee, NSW.

It’s been a couple of days since I have blogged but there is a good reason as to why. It’s been an extremely long, tiresome and stressful year thus far. It’s been a year filled with some ups and a lot of downs. We have been hit with a few things that have hurt us, we have been hit with a few deaths in my family and we have both being working harder in our jobs than we ever have. I’m sounding like some pathetic whiney person but that is not my intention and that is not where I am heading with this blog entry.

My point is The Husband and I are extremely over worked, over tired, slightly disconnected from one another and needing a break and desperately needing to reconnect with one another. The way we reconnect is to basically organise some time off work, throw a few things in our suitcase and hit the open road.

We woke up bright and early on Friday morning and escaped Melbourne for an amazing couple of days with nothing but the open road in front of us and some maps. We decided to go to Wagga Wagga and Junee. We had an amazing time talking about our life together and seeing and exploring a very quiet little country town called Junee.

I fell in love with Junee much to everyone’s amazement. I think I heard at least 10 times “Junee? Junee? Why on earth would you want to visit that place?” I kept telling everyone that I was really excited about visiting this town, as there was so much history there. I love my country and I love nothing more than exploring tiny off the beaten track towns and researching the area and seeing the sites.

We started off by driving around this little town and we finally found the Information and visitor Centre. We spoke to a lovely local who gave us some information and recommendations on what we should see and do. We began at The Green Grove Organic Liquorice Centre and the second I looked at the building my heart just melted. The factory used to be an old flourmill that had been turned into a liquorice factory. It had to be the most gorgeous looking old building you could ever imagine and it was breathtaking. We bought a heap of liquorice and then sat down in the café and had a yummy cup of coffee and it was lovely to just sit there, talk with my husband and just totally relax.

I have not felt this relaxed for over a year and I just felt so amazing as all my stresses just flew off my shoulders. I kept staring at The Husband as he drove us around and gushed with nothing but love for him. I had love just coming out of my pores. He too looked very relaxed and I felt as if I had my husband back.

From the Liquorice Factory we headed over to the Junee Railway Station, which was the most beautiful, and breathtaking train station that I have seen in many, many years. Very early 1800’s architecture and just so beautiful. The Husband and I sat down for lunch in their cafeteria and I felt as if I was back in the 1800’s. It amazes me how these old towns have preserved their beautiful buildings like they should be.

We then spent time at The Monte Cristo homestead that claimed to be Australia’s most haunted building. We paid a lot of money to view this grand old home and yes it was beautiful but I would never recommend this tourist attraction to anyone. I found the owners of the home to be rude and not welcoming whatsoever. If you are planning to go visit then my recommendation would be not to! Regardless The Husband and I had a lovely relaxing stroll through their gardens.

Next stop was The Broadway museum, which used to be a pub, many, many years ago and has been converted to a museum. We had one of the workers walk around with us and tell us stories and tales about the area of Junee along with the all the history that she knew about the town. It was an amazing holiday and now we have been hit with the reality that we now have to wait another 12 months before we can hit the open road again and escape the madness of our lives!

If you are planning a holiday to NSW and have the time I highly recommend that you visit Junee. It is truly a wonderful old little town and its almost as if time has sort of stood still.

DH

xoxo

My weird relationship with zip lock bags.

Whilst tidying the kitchen up tonight I realised that I have a rather loving yet bizarre relationship with zip lock bags!

I don’t know what it is nor do I know why it is but I love nothing more than putting things in zip lock bags. I am so satisfied as soon as I zip the bag up. I almost get off on it or high off that feeling. I am the same at work I love nothing more than zip locking little items that need to be couriered out of the building into zip lock bags.

It’s become my little sick obsession. Well at least my relationship come obsession is not hurting anyone. Maybe, just ever so slightly, annoying the living hell out of The Husband. He is convinced that I must have been a drug dealer in one of my many past lives. Why a drug dealer? Because drug dealers tend to either wrap the drugs they are selling in foil or zip lock bags!

I looked at my pantry and snickered to myself as I had placed all my opened goods into zip lock bags but felt ever so satisfied with myself. I would love nothing more than to live in a world where everything was zip locked! You must all think I’m losing my mind and I think I might be. If I ever end up on the streets homeless you will see me and my belongings all wrapped in zip lock bags!

DH

xoxo

I've been promoted to painter?!@#?

It was a busy Monday like it always is everywhere and for everyone but today had me laughing and chuckling to myself. I was swamped with a desk pile high full of paperwork and my boss popped out of his office to ask me why I hadn’t painted the wall yet. At first I chuckled thinking he was joking but his face wasn’t indicating joking or laughter. He stated that he had left the can of paint near my desk on Wednesday, as he wanted me to paint the wall behind me. My initial reaction was sheer and utter disbelief and then I got very angry but internalised it.I told him that how was I supposed to know what he wanted me to do if he hadn’t told me. I think he said that he had told me but for the life of me I couldn’t remember having this conversation nor recalling being asked to paint.

Does being a painter fit my job description? The answer to that would be NO. I didn’t know whether I should hurl some verbal abuse at him and walk out, or to continue arguing with him or whether I should just paint. I decided that I would just paint the blasted wall and make the most of it.

I was in mood for an argument and by the looks of things he seemed to be in a mood that wanted an argument. I felt like he was baiting me all day long and knowing my boss the way I do he has this tendency of throwing his emotional bullshit onto me and expecting me to take it and to bite back and have an argument. For once though I thought to myself “You know what DH? You need not argue with him, if this is what he wants you to do then just do it” and that’s is exactly what I did.

I climbed the ladder grabbed the paint tin and brush and painted the wall as he requested me to. I giggled whilst I did it as I found this request totally bizarre and left of centre and if I didn’t laugh I think I would have tipped the entire contents of the paint onto his head!

I am the only worker in our building that is expected to do everything and this just proves my point. I could ring my union and put a complaint in but there is no point, there really and truly is no point. I am just going to keep doing as I am told until the right time comes when I can walk away.

Even now as I sit and write this entry I am chuckling to myself at what a bizarre request was made! So if anyone needs any painting done just drop me an email. I need the extra cash and I apparently did a great job!

DH

xoxo

I don’t like lazy Sundays as they lead to destruction!

The Husband and I had a million things to do but the poor thing has been up all night with some sort of gastro bug! I went in to our room this morning to wake him and see how he was feeling and to sort of motivate him to get up and try and ride through the discomfort.

We ended up getting into a little argument as he feels that I do not show him enough empathy. He doesn’t realise though that I am trying to be strong and positive and to try and encourage him to override the yukkiness of feeling sick.

I walked out of bedroom and sat in our lounge room fighting the tears away. I’m crushed that he thinks that I do not show him enough empathy when he is sick. Today’s argument made me look like I was some sort of selfish narcissistic cow and that I am not. I never have been and I never will be. I always, always put other people’s needs and wants before my own and that has always been a detriment to me yet I always think of others. So to be told I was not showing any empathy has sort of left me crushed emotionally.

I guess my parents have raised me to try and be strong and not let colds and flu’s and ailments slow you down. I guess though that my Husband doesn’t see what I am trying to do. When I am sick I take rest periods but I still continue with housework or whatever else needs my attention. I am no martyr but nothing slows me down. I wont allow things to slow me down. I push and push myself.

I’m saddened that I have upset him, as that was not my purpose; I love him too much to be a bitch towards him. I am upset that he doesn’t remember how sick I was the first time I met his family, it was his Fathers 70^th birthday and I was so sick and had overdosed on pain relief and antihistamines that I was stoned but I rode it through. I guess we are made differently!

But anyways we stayed in all day and I cleaned the house whilst he nursed his head, stomach and bum! I want my husband to get back to his perky self and that’s my main and top priority but me being this bored only leads to danger and destruction. When I am bored I will find things to clean, or rearrange furniture, or clean out wardrobes. I cannot sit still.

So with that I thing my underwear drawer needs to be rearranged and colour coordinated!

DH

xoxo

Drama in the middle of suburbia!

After a day of sheer joy and jubilation I went off to bed at midnight and snuggled into the most beautiful sleep. My entire mind and body were so tired and drained that sleep literally came before my head even hit the pillow. At 2.34am I heard an almighty bang that actually jolted me out of bed. For a split second I thought that an earthquake was coming and I was thinking it’s the aftershock from New Zealand!

I jumped out of bed I stood on the side of the bed frozen for a minute trying to feel if the earth was moving. I looked for The Husband but he wasn’t in bed with me I then looked out my bedroom window and saw a huge fire and then 2 huge fire trucks park in front of our home.

I was still half asleep and trying to force myself awake to try and take control of the situation. When I say control I mean it as in do I need to grab the dog and some shoes, find The Husband and run out of our house, or are we all safe indoors.

I raced into the lounge room and The Husband was sound asleep and unaware of anything going on outdoors. Trying to wake him was impossible! I shook him and shook him but I could not rouse him out of his deep sleep so I resorted to punching him very hard on the leg. I calmly stated that he had to wake up, as there was a huge fire outside the front of our house and garden and there were fire trucks, we needed to wake up and access our evacuation plan.

The poor Husband was in such a deep sleep all due to a few glasses of wine and I could see the utter confusion in his eyes and he trying to comprehend why I was punching him and what was coming out of my mouth. He finally awoke and we raced out the front and we saw an obvious stolen car that had been dumped and then set alight. It was such a shock to see a burning car in the middle of suburbia. The entire neighbourhood was up and staring in sort of a voyeuristic shock. We all knew that we should have gone back into the safety of our homes yet we all couldn’t pull ourselves away from the scene and what our eyes were seeing.

This is cruel but my neighbours across the road and I were busy clicking away and taking photos. I then felt a wave of guilt for taking photos at another person’s misfortune so I slipped my iphone into my robe pocket. What have we as humans become where we all take photos at another’s misfortune?

But back to what I was trying to say. From 2.34am until about 6.30am we had the street cornered off by police cars, we had a police or forensic photographer taking photos, we then had a huge police tow truck come along and take the car away.

It was amazing the drama we had in the middle of suburbia! Our day today has seen both The Husband and I trying to catch up on sleep! Lets hope that this is the last of drama we have for a while and our street can get back to normality!

DH

xoxo

An appointment with the scary Bank Manager!

Well we missed out on the house of our dreams but you know I am ok with it. I should add the word finally though! I was so sad and really felt just sheer deflation but after many, many hours of chatting with The Husband we have come up with a better and new solution.

So we have the money all sorted from the bank and now its time for major renovations in our home! I am chuffed and really, really excited to be making plans for this home. Sadly our creepy neighbour is still harassing the local council to build and it will affect us but then I figure if he can build a huge house in his backyard then who can stop The Husband and I from adding an extra storey on our home?

I must say though it was such a stressful morning though as The Husband and I had to race to the bank and do a lot of arse kissing and grovelling and say, “pretty please can we have some money?” It was scary and I think I was almost ready to vomit on the poor manager’s desk out of sheer nerves and anxiety.

I was so scared of banks and bank managers. I almost have anxiety attacks when I step into a bank even when I do the banking for work on the odd occasion I literally hold my breath in sheer and utter terror. This morning whilst The Husband was having a cigarette before we went into the bank I stood almost frozen on the spot outside. I found myself holding my breath again and feeling so very light headed and ready to pass out.

As soon as we sat down in the waiting area I started to actually relax a little bit and then we met our bank managers Liz and Alan. They guided us into their little office and as soon as they shut the door I started to feel claustrophobic. I wanted to just turn around and run and not stop running nor look back!

Our bank managers were lovely though! I could not have asked for better people to look after us. They were both so patient and understanding and they actually heard us out. Liz especially could tell that there were times when I was a tad (that’s such a lie as it wasn’t a tad) confused, unsure and perplexed. She took her time and made sure both of us understood her and her banking jargon. What I loved the most was that Liz & Alan were looking out for OUR best interests!

They didn’t want to lend us hundreds of thousands yet they wanted to help us succeed and get ahead in life. The Husband and I have so many setbacks in our lives and I think they could sense that.

We were given a break for once in our lives and for that I am forever grateful to them both. I was always wary of banks in general but after today my opinion has totally changed.I cant wait to finally see the money in our bank account and start to really re-do our home! I think I need to dance around the house a little bit! Its been such a long time since I have truly been this happy, in fact the last time I was this ecstatic was on my wedding day!

I love life and like they say everything happen for a reason! One door opens and another closes! And without a doubt Bank Managers aren’t that scary!

DH

xoxo

Dealing with the leeches

God Lord in Heaven what a hard few days The Husband and I have had with relation to dealing with the leeches. I call them leeches but they are commonly known as Real Estate Agents.

As my previous post explained The Husband and I found our dream home and fell in love with it instantly. That was on Sunday. Since Sunday we have literally been hounded and pestered via email and phone calls from the said leeches.

We had Section 32’s emailed to us; we had calls, calls, and more calls and then email after email after email. I have never felt so hounded and stalked. I had the day off work yesterday and spent the entire day trying to deal with them all whilst nursing the worst stress headache known to man.

We only viewed this home on Sunday and we were initially just driving past to take a look at the area, we only by sheer fluke found that this home was open for viewing. To say I have been turned off by this whole experience would definitely be the understatement of the year!

The Husband eventually put an offer on the property after 24 hours of being circled and corned by the leeches and he was basically told that they had a higher offer and see ya later. When I heard the news my gut just sank. My heart was so set on this home and I wanted it and imagined spending the rest of my life there.

I had researched all the amenities and even went to take another look at it yesterday from the outside not once but twice. I had planned where all our furniture would go and The Husband had even found some bookshelves online that he wanted me to look at.
Something just told the both of us that this house was going to be our next home. I was so excited and so looking forward to the next adventure and chapter in our lives.

Since we got the news that our offer was too low I have hardly slept, hardly eaten and I have come to work again with this stress headache. I am gutted, I am disappointed and I’m very teary. I sat in my office deflated.

I know that you don’t always get what you want but I have always been very focused and driven when it comes to what I want. What I want I get. I become extremely tunnel visioned and focused when I want and I strive to reach it.

I don’t believe that life is meant to hard. I believe that if you want something in life you go get it. This has sort of been the first time that my determination and drive haven’t gotten me to where I need to be.

I understand that everything happens for a reason and like The Husband told me last night as he hugged me close, you can’t mourn something that you didn’t have to begin with. Quite the philosopher aint he? He is so true and I just have to get back to my positive, strong, determined, happy self and see what the future holds for us.

I end with this: Never deal with a Real Estate Agent they are slimier and shiftier than a Car Salesperson! Very crooked people and a profession that I once held a lot of respect for but not anymore!