Pages

Wednesday 30 September 2015

Bloomin' Marvellous



Nope this is not about a 1997 UK TV show set in Yorkshire (not another one please - is there anywhere else in England that can be used for a location) nor is it a gardening post, though i might include a few photos later.  This post is about feeling Bloomin' Marvellous.   I don't want to put a jinx on it but at the moment, everything is looking pretty good on the home front and i want to take the time to take a big breath in and savour a period when there are no major issues at play, Spring is in the air and life feels pretty damn good.   So if it all comes crashing down around my head tomorrow i can look back on this post and say "See, it hasn't all been bad!"

On the job front, we are both in full time employment in jobs that we love.  Now that is saying something as it hasn't always been so for poor Rob.   Its taken six years to find a place where his level of skill and experience is again recognised, where he is shown respect and where he can genuinely say he likes his fellow colleagues.   Its been a long long journey with many downs (the last job in particular) and not many ups but he has pulled through.   Lets just pray that his new employer (its a biggie) stays profitable and this job will see him through to retirement.


He looks happy doesn't he and that makes me happy!   You might notice he looks a little different as well. No moustache or beard.  Trimmed for food grade packaging plant.  It was either that or wear a beard net.

Rob was initially employed by the agency for 4 months probation (so they can make lots of money contracting him out) but the company has paid out the agency after only one month and he is now a salaried employee.  Last week, the agent called him and personally thanked him for doing such a great job as now other sites of the same company are using them.  Can there be no greater validation of his skills and in his belief in himself.   We would both like to truly rub a few ex-employers names in it but we are taking the higher ground.



This new job is quite a distance and so we seriously had to start thinking about our motor vehicles and running costs.   Robs Falcon XR6 is 13 years old and my Fairmont 5.4L V8 is 12 years old.  Both in need of ongoing repairs (expensive in my case) and not very fuel efficient (OK again in my case). Lucky us, Rob was gifted an amount specifically for this purpose and so he was able to buy a new Mitsubishi ASX which is a lovely blue 4 cylinder SUV.  Just perfect for the job at hand.  Yes, i know, that gift would have gone a long way on the mortgage but that's was not its purpose.  It has made him very happy and able to put up with the long commute (he doesn't like driving).



Which brings me to my dilemma.  I know I'm not supposed to love a car but i do.  I love the leather (sorry veggo's), I love the sliding roof, I love that if i want to get somewhere in OH say a few seconds, i can just gun it and "poof" I'm there, like magic.  I know I'm supposed to think green thoughts.  I know that a tiny little eanie weannie 4 cylinder would get me to work and back BUT A. it wouldn't make me happy (sorry Gav) and B. we wouldn't FIT IN IT, which i guess is a pretty BIG (excuse the pun) reason to buy a family sized car.

Why do i feel like im having an affair?  Its one year old and has 6500 km on the clock so it practically new and was $10,000 under its new price.  Bargain.
My emotions from selling the V8  have been soothed by a very gleaming Falcon G6 Sports.   Its a 6 cylinder and so far its proving to be very fuel efficient using normal unleaded rather than the premium I've been buying for the last 7 years.  Both cars now have 5 years warranty and fixed priced servicing and so Rob's days of spending weekends under a car are over.  Did, i say that?  There is always the stereo mods you know he's going to do.   So did i sell my soul.  Nope, having paid cash for the ASX i financed this one and after much discussion and bargaining i got them down to 6% which is almost home loan rates.  I can also pay extra and reduce my term which suits as i pay all my bills weekly.  I think we have set ourselves up for the next decade with regards to having good reliable vehicles and me thinks i had better stop trying to justify it to you and just enjoy.

Since everyone's posts are full of spring flowers, i will add my very small collection of garden snaps from last weekend.  I promised last spring that i would start planting more flowers.




The bees are certainly appreciating my efforts.

On the veggie front i continue to pick buckets of snow peas each week with no end in sight.  The broad beans seem to be doing their thing as are the cabbages and brussel sprouts.




I've put in lettuce, a couple of early cropping tomatoes and quite a few seedlings which i will call "bird fodder".   They were there one day and not the next.  Last weekend my sister and I refurbished one of the raised beds, first filling it with leaf mulch before adding lots of nitrogen and soil.  I'll let it rest a few weeks before popping something in, with a net over the top.


I had a blocked pipe on my worm farm and once unblocked i collected rather a lot of worm pee for use in my garden, my neighbours garden and my friend Ella's garden and still, i have more.   I was told they would take my "shit" anytime.

Thanks for Visiting Living In The Land Of Oz

11 comments:

  1. Well hello there, Im so pleased about all this good news, things are going to be awesome my friend. A big congrats to Rob he deserves this job and glad he is happy. Well those cars are lovely , I must say the blue one is my favorite as when you talk car talk the only part I get is the color lol.Its a very beautiful blue. Your flower pictures are beautiful. Vege garden mine is nil at the moment as you know there are going to be changes in my yard unfortunately right when Im supposed to plant everything. The person doing it has no idea from a weed or vege and pulled out my rhubarb and dahlia tubers as weeds aaagh. I did manage to find them and put them in pots. Anyway Im glad your feeling fabulous. Love to all xxx

    ReplyDelete
  2. So glad that all is going great guns for you both. Two thumbs up! Your garden is looking marvellous! I am down to pots of greens and a patch of garlic at the moment, due to a certain chicken palace that is going up on the site of the previous vegie garden. Eggs instead of vegies this year (fingers crossed).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, i'd so love some chookies but i have to make the same choice, one or the other. Imagine if we could have a dairy cow as well. Sigh.....

      Delete
  3. Well done Rob! There is nothing better than a man who's happy in his work. Things are coming up roses all round at your's. Best wishes to you all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Barb. Speaking of roses im going home this weekend to Mum's and will be taking her out rose shopping for her new home.

      Delete
  4. I love those flowers, Lynda. I also love the colour of the blue car but it would be too big for me after driving my little Getz. I am so pleased that your hubby has a job he loves as that is so very important. Glad things are on the up and up for you both.

    ReplyDelete
  5. So happy for you,I'm sure if things go a little pear shaped in the future your family will just get on with it until it goes the way you want it again.love the cars brilliant decisions. Jo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glad to hear that Rob is happy in his new job. Your garden is looking great, here's to a good summers growing for you.

    ReplyDelete
  7. It's okay to love your car! And it's wonderful to have jobs you love. That makes a huge difference in all of life.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know its OK Leigh but i have conflicting "green thoughts". Should i have gone for a hybrid? I dont want to be part of the worlds environmental problems but its hard to avoid.

      Delete

Please leave a comment. I enjoy making connections with my readers. Hope you enjoyed your visit.