Picture yourself in a boat on a river with tangerine tress and marmalade skies...
or a badly directed episode of Yes Minister...you chose
This is the farcical, sometimes comical, but always frustrating state The Mausleum finds itself in these days. "Organisational Change' it's called and it's doing my head in big time. Let's split from 'this' and call ourselves 'that' even though we're doing the same things as 'them' but wait lets consolidate that bit and relocate this bit and dammmit let's do it all again just one more time with feeling!!! Confused yet? Try living through it. Now we've reverted to 'that' name because after all we really ARE all working in the same domain after all and you know that bit that was ours for 12 months? well we can't have it any more because it fits better over there.......
oh and job security? WTF is that these days....
three new bosses in 12 months, or is it 6 in nine and hell where do I actually fit in any more and is my work really cotributing to the organisations goals?
So let's find a new job I says to meself......
where shall I work? shall I move interstate, inter ity or just inter current site?
what am I actually quallified for and Lord help me writing the application because I am damned if I know what to write after seven years in one spot.
Then there's the interview...can someone PLEASE tell me how NOT to look like a babbling idiot in front of an interview panel.....
Anyway I guess I screwed that one up...better luck next time eh?
Wednesday 25 November 2015
Cruisin' (Part 3)
There's nothing quite like the gentle motion of a ship on the seas to rock you off to sleep.
The dozen or so cockatils consumed had nothing to do with it!!!
Waking up knowing someone has cooked breakfast and you don't have to clean up the wreckage is so cool. Then while you consume said breakfast someone cleans the bathroom, makes the bed and replenishes the fresh fruit basket. Bliss.
After breakfast a brisk walk around the 'top' deck watching as the serious runners breeze by you (really who does THAT much exercise on hols?) and then down to deck 5 to the coffee shop for tea, coffee and trivia!
Ok so there are lifts on board to get us from lowly deck 5 to the lofty heights of deck 11 but HR and I chose to take the stairs! Theres a hell of a lot of stairs between decks you know, sometimes we had to take a break at deck 8...at the Casino.
Hagalicious and I did a Martini Masters course. So much fun!!! and of course the martini's were not wasted (on me anyway) Hagalicious decided martini is not her preferred tipple. The wait staff in the Orient bar (deck 7) are a very talented bunch. They sing, they dance, and make a wicked martini. Lots of audience participation in the dancing. Haven't laughed so much for ages.
HR and CR sat at another bar drinking and doing whatever it is blokes do when women aren't around to advise them.
Now on board the beautiful Pacific Dawn there are two Cocktail folders, each with a different selection to choose from. In the fine tradition of Bar Auditors around the world I sampled ALL of them (except the choclatey ones, I don't do chocolatey drinks, though the Toblerone almost got me to change my mind). I coud do a seperate blog comaparing the relative merits of each drink I tried but I think I woud be the only one who enjoyed it. One cannot drink vicariously, it just doesn't work.
Whilst this blog is predominantly about food I won't go into graphic detail, but suffice to say the Eggs Florentine were deliciously perfect, the Salmon and Cream Cheese Omelette was divine and the cheese boards were very acceptable!
I will however, mention Luna one of the specialty restaurants on board. There is a cover charge of $29 per person but it is so worth it! The restaurant rotates between various Asian cusines and this cruise was a Japanese degustation. Eight courses of beautifully cooked and presented Japanes foods ( the menu is downloadable from the Luna link in this blog). Some different tatses for us to try and I enjoyed it all.
Now when I mention Bingo a lot of you will groan but...when the jackpot sits at $5000.00 and you're two numbers off it can be pretty exciting ( no we didn't win but hell we had a good try).
Apart from Bingo and trivia there was plenty more to occupy us including a very funny Hypnotist (Anthony B Laffan) who had some of the guests doing very funny things, an excellent review called Life as We Know It, an engrossing talk from the Pilot who navigated us through The Great Barrier Reef section of the trip, oh and Name That Song ( another hilarious take on trivia) to name a few.
And every day that lovely cabin person came cleaned the bathroom and made the bed !
Cruising is such a joy!
HR and I have already booked an amazing deal to sail on the Pacific Aria (yes she was 'christened' today in that P&O spectacular in Sydney Harbour) , A seven day cruise to Cairns, Willis Island etc in a Balcony room with a drinks package each and $300 room credit for $1729.00 each! Outstanding value.
I could go on and on and on...you get the picture, but I will make this the last Part of the cruisin' post.
If you're enjoying the read please leave a comment, feedback good/constructive is always welcome.
The dozen or so cockatils consumed had nothing to do with it!!!
Waking up knowing someone has cooked breakfast and you don't have to clean up the wreckage is so cool. Then while you consume said breakfast someone cleans the bathroom, makes the bed and replenishes the fresh fruit basket. Bliss.
After breakfast a brisk walk around the 'top' deck watching as the serious runners breeze by you (really who does THAT much exercise on hols?) and then down to deck 5 to the coffee shop for tea, coffee and trivia!
Ok so there are lifts on board to get us from lowly deck 5 to the lofty heights of deck 11 but HR and I chose to take the stairs! Theres a hell of a lot of stairs between decks you know, sometimes we had to take a break at deck 8...at the Casino.
Hagalicious and I did a Martini Masters course. So much fun!!! and of course the martini's were not wasted (on me anyway) Hagalicious decided martini is not her preferred tipple. The wait staff in the Orient bar (deck 7) are a very talented bunch. They sing, they dance, and make a wicked martini. Lots of audience participation in the dancing. Haven't laughed so much for ages.
HR and CR sat at another bar drinking and doing whatever it is blokes do when women aren't around to advise them.
Now on board the beautiful Pacific Dawn there are two Cocktail folders, each with a different selection to choose from. In the fine tradition of Bar Auditors around the world I sampled ALL of them (except the choclatey ones, I don't do chocolatey drinks, though the Toblerone almost got me to change my mind). I coud do a seperate blog comaparing the relative merits of each drink I tried but I think I woud be the only one who enjoyed it. One cannot drink vicariously, it just doesn't work.
Whilst this blog is predominantly about food I won't go into graphic detail, but suffice to say the Eggs Florentine were deliciously perfect, the Salmon and Cream Cheese Omelette was divine and the cheese boards were very acceptable!
I will however, mention Luna one of the specialty restaurants on board. There is a cover charge of $29 per person but it is so worth it! The restaurant rotates between various Asian cusines and this cruise was a Japanese degustation. Eight courses of beautifully cooked and presented Japanes foods ( the menu is downloadable from the Luna link in this blog). Some different tatses for us to try and I enjoyed it all.
Now when I mention Bingo a lot of you will groan but...when the jackpot sits at $5000.00 and you're two numbers off it can be pretty exciting ( no we didn't win but hell we had a good try).
Apart from Bingo and trivia there was plenty more to occupy us including a very funny Hypnotist (Anthony B Laffan) who had some of the guests doing very funny things, an excellent review called Life as We Know It, an engrossing talk from the Pilot who navigated us through The Great Barrier Reef section of the trip, oh and Name That Song ( another hilarious take on trivia) to name a few.
And every day that lovely cabin person came cleaned the bathroom and made the bed !
Cruising is such a joy!
HR and I have already booked an amazing deal to sail on the Pacific Aria (yes she was 'christened' today in that P&O spectacular in Sydney Harbour) , A seven day cruise to Cairns, Willis Island etc in a Balcony room with a drinks package each and $300 room credit for $1729.00 each! Outstanding value.
I could go on and on and on...you get the picture, but I will make this the last Part of the cruisin' post.
If you're enjoying the read please leave a comment, feedback good/constructive is always welcome.
Tuesday 24 November 2015
Cruisn' (Part 2)
So here's how it all went down....
The afformentioned friends from the Mausoleum, HR and I all trundled down to Brisvegas the day before the cruise left We like to stay at the Airolodge and congregate around the pool sipping coldies of some description and generally getting into holiday mode. The Airolodge has the added advantage of 1.) cheap parking for the car while you cruise and 2.) they have a shuttle takes you down to the wharf in time for embarkation as well s being a comfy well priced hotel.
Next morning we saunter out for breakie and make sure we have the cash we want to leave with the purser for drinkies on the cruise (using debit//credit cards can freeze funds for a little while after the cruise so we use cash). Into the shuttle and off to the wharf for boarding. As we were in a Mini Suite we had priority boarding so we escaped the cattle crush of the lower decks (oh yeah we were snobby).
On board we went to check out our suite and then up the Lido deck for a cruising cocktail or six.
Watching the ebb and flow of the punters at the bar as the ship started to fill up with passengers is thirsty work.
After the Dawn set sail, promptly at 1600 hours, we went downstairs to get our bags unpacked and settle in before dinner. Problem:it seems HR had left some sort of multi tool in his bag from a previous trip and security wanted to have a word with him before he could have his bag!!! Seriously! Who does that???
Crisis averted and some welcome aboard champagne later, we went to dinner with our travel companions.
We dined at the Waterfront Restaurant Deck 7. It was a schemozzle!! There were several large parties aboard and the staff , God bless them, were overwhelmed.. mostly by the rudeness of some people!!
There was a wedding party (I'll swear they were from Bogan Central) very large in number and size...
The first lot of bread rolls had been consumed and a second lot was going round and then a third...but wait! Old mate in the back row didn't get a third roll ( he didn't need one either from the size of him) all hell broke loose! He chased the poor little wait person all the way back to the wait staion and commenced harranguing them at the top of his voice in front of a packed restaurant! Appalling behaviour, even his own family was embarassed.
Sadly the food that night was not what we had experienced on previous cruises and so we did not eat an evening meal there again this cruise.
After dinner we went to the coffee shop on Deck 5 for a soothing Jasmine tea (me) and a cappacino (HR). All in all a good start to the cruise. More to come soon!
The afformentioned friends from the Mausoleum, HR and I all trundled down to Brisvegas the day before the cruise left We like to stay at the Airolodge and congregate around the pool sipping coldies of some description and generally getting into holiday mode. The Airolodge has the added advantage of 1.) cheap parking for the car while you cruise and 2.) they have a shuttle takes you down to the wharf in time for embarkation as well s being a comfy well priced hotel.
Next morning we saunter out for breakie and make sure we have the cash we want to leave with the purser for drinkies on the cruise (using debit//credit cards can freeze funds for a little while after the cruise so we use cash). Into the shuttle and off to the wharf for boarding. As we were in a Mini Suite we had priority boarding so we escaped the cattle crush of the lower decks (oh yeah we were snobby).
On board we went to check out our suite and then up the Lido deck for a cruising cocktail or six.
Watching the ebb and flow of the punters at the bar as the ship started to fill up with passengers is thirsty work.
After the Dawn set sail, promptly at 1600 hours, we went downstairs to get our bags unpacked and settle in before dinner. Problem:it seems HR had left some sort of multi tool in his bag from a previous trip and security wanted to have a word with him before he could have his bag!!! Seriously! Who does that???
Crisis averted and some welcome aboard champagne later, we went to dinner with our travel companions.
We dined at the Waterfront Restaurant Deck 7. It was a schemozzle!! There were several large parties aboard and the staff , God bless them, were overwhelmed.. mostly by the rudeness of some people!!
There was a wedding party (I'll swear they were from Bogan Central) very large in number and size...
The first lot of bread rolls had been consumed and a second lot was going round and then a third...but wait! Old mate in the back row didn't get a third roll ( he didn't need one either from the size of him) all hell broke loose! He chased the poor little wait person all the way back to the wait staion and commenced harranguing them at the top of his voice in front of a packed restaurant! Appalling behaviour, even his own family was embarassed.
Sadly the food that night was not what we had experienced on previous cruises and so we did not eat an evening meal there again this cruise.
After dinner we went to the coffee shop on Deck 5 for a soothing Jasmine tea (me) and a cappacino (HR). All in all a good start to the cruise. More to come soon!
Sunday 22 November 2015
Cruisin' (Part 1)
I LOVE cruising! Yes yes I have only been on two cruises BUT...I will be going on more in the near future. Technically I guess the trip from England to Australia on the Castel Felice in 1967 counts as a cruise so we'll call it three cruises then.
Cruising is the ultimate in relaxing and having everything done for you. Someone makes the bed every morning, turns down the covers every evening, and leaves a choccy on the pillow. Someone cooks every meal for you, with a variety of eating spots, and a variety of foods available. Someone clears away the dirty dishes and then washes them (you never see any of the cooking or cleaning going on...it's like magic...). Someone makes all the different cocktails you could ever want to drink and there's heaps of entertaining things to do every day and night!!!! Oh and apparently some cruises stop at interesting places that you can leave the ship and go and visit for awhile.
The cruise HR and I just completed was a four day trip from Brisbane to Airlie Beach and back. We've been to Airlie Beach before so we didn't see the need to leave the ship at all.
We organised the cruise earlier this year and counted down the months, weeks, days, hours even the minutes. We were one of four couples from The Mausoleum to sail away (it's always fun to have friends to hang with). The beautiful Pacific Dawn (formerly Regal Princess from the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy), part of the P&O Fleet, was the ship to take us away!!! (Take me away P&O was an advertising jingle back in the day). I love the gorgeous curves and old worldliness of her interior decor (go google images of her).
On our previous cruise we had booked a Balcony room, this time we went with the Mini Suite. There are a few advantages to a Mini Suite including; priority boarding, bigger room, lots of perks (canapes and champagne in room), fresh fruit daily, a bath in the bathroom and priority disembarkation to name a few. Mini Suites have balconies too. Only issue is that the Mini Suites are below the Lido deck where all the parties and nightlife go on, makes a hell of a racket at night if you're staying in or wanting an early night.
Other than that I think a Mini Suite is a damned good option!!
Time for a post cruise cocktail......part 2 coming up soon.
Cruising is the ultimate in relaxing and having everything done for you. Someone makes the bed every morning, turns down the covers every evening, and leaves a choccy on the pillow. Someone cooks every meal for you, with a variety of eating spots, and a variety of foods available. Someone clears away the dirty dishes and then washes them (you never see any of the cooking or cleaning going on...it's like magic...). Someone makes all the different cocktails you could ever want to drink and there's heaps of entertaining things to do every day and night!!!! Oh and apparently some cruises stop at interesting places that you can leave the ship and go and visit for awhile.
The cruise HR and I just completed was a four day trip from Brisbane to Airlie Beach and back. We've been to Airlie Beach before so we didn't see the need to leave the ship at all.
We organised the cruise earlier this year and counted down the months, weeks, days, hours even the minutes. We were one of four couples from The Mausoleum to sail away (it's always fun to have friends to hang with). The beautiful Pacific Dawn (formerly Regal Princess from the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy), part of the P&O Fleet, was the ship to take us away!!! (Take me away P&O was an advertising jingle back in the day). I love the gorgeous curves and old worldliness of her interior decor (go google images of her).
On our previous cruise we had booked a Balcony room, this time we went with the Mini Suite. There are a few advantages to a Mini Suite including; priority boarding, bigger room, lots of perks (canapes and champagne in room), fresh fruit daily, a bath in the bathroom and priority disembarkation to name a few. Mini Suites have balconies too. Only issue is that the Mini Suites are below the Lido deck where all the parties and nightlife go on, makes a hell of a racket at night if you're staying in or wanting an early night.
Other than that I think a Mini Suite is a damned good option!!
Time for a post cruise cocktail......part 2 coming up soon.
Thursday 12 November 2015
Trains and Boats and Planes (well boats mostly)
HR and I are going on a four day cruise to somewhere (destination doesn't matter , it's the someone else cooking, cleaning, making the bed etc). We're being joined by a few friends we've travelled with before (DO NOT get me started on the Adelaide trip), an amusing bunch with similar interest; namely the auditing of the bars and restaurants aboard ship and of course the ever important stock rotation policy (which we intend to give a solid helping hand to).
Before one sets sail on a cruise there are a few things that MUST be taken care of first!!!
At the risk of giving away more info on my whereabouts than I generally care to here are two of my favourite pamper places.
1. Nails: Stunning Edge Studio. Shaylee does the best nails ever! The search for the perfect nail tech has taken several years of hit and miss and finally we found Shaylee. 90 Plus colours and an amazing range of glitters and foils. Manicures, Pedicures and sundry other Beauty treatments this place is clean, professional and the customer service is beyond compare!!!
2. Hair: Engineering Hair and Beauty. It takes forever to find someone who cuts, styles and colours your hair JUST the way you like it. Jodi and her team are totally amazing. They provide a whole range of services from waxing and tinting to facials and massage as well as fabulous hair technicians. I miss Naomi still, but Jodi has stepped up beautifully ( ok she's the boss and taught Naomi everything but it did take a little while for me to be confident with the change (Luvya Jodes!).
From the minute you walk into the salon you feel good with a friendly welcome from ladies who genuinely care and make the whole experience about YOU. You walk in feeling dowdy and miserable and you walk out feeling and looking BEAUTIFUL.
3. THE TAN: On my best day I resemble a great white whale in a swim suit- nasty. So off I go to Engineering Hair and Beauty for a Spray Tan! Casey is the ultimate spray tanner! A beautifully even tan that is not orange or too dark or fake looking and it lasts a week. LOVE it.
Of course there is the waxing etc charmingly referred to as 'Beauty' after all one does NOT got to sea looking Walrussy (no offence to the Walrus) for which one goes to the afformentioned establishment.
Ok, that's the aesthetics taken care of, I better go pack a bag.........
Before one sets sail on a cruise there are a few things that MUST be taken care of first!!!
At the risk of giving away more info on my whereabouts than I generally care to here are two of my favourite pamper places.
1. Nails: Stunning Edge Studio. Shaylee does the best nails ever! The search for the perfect nail tech has taken several years of hit and miss and finally we found Shaylee. 90 Plus colours and an amazing range of glitters and foils. Manicures, Pedicures and sundry other Beauty treatments this place is clean, professional and the customer service is beyond compare!!!
2. Hair: Engineering Hair and Beauty. It takes forever to find someone who cuts, styles and colours your hair JUST the way you like it. Jodi and her team are totally amazing. They provide a whole range of services from waxing and tinting to facials and massage as well as fabulous hair technicians. I miss Naomi still, but Jodi has stepped up beautifully ( ok she's the boss and taught Naomi everything but it did take a little while for me to be confident with the change (Luvya Jodes!).
From the minute you walk into the salon you feel good with a friendly welcome from ladies who genuinely care and make the whole experience about YOU. You walk in feeling dowdy and miserable and you walk out feeling and looking BEAUTIFUL.
3. THE TAN: On my best day I resemble a great white whale in a swim suit- nasty. So off I go to Engineering Hair and Beauty for a Spray Tan! Casey is the ultimate spray tanner! A beautifully even tan that is not orange or too dark or fake looking and it lasts a week. LOVE it.
Of course there is the waxing etc charmingly referred to as 'Beauty' after all one does NOT got to sea looking Walrussy (no offence to the Walrus) for which one goes to the afformentioned establishment.
Ok, that's the aesthetics taken care of, I better go pack a bag.........
Wednesday 11 November 2015
Viva Brisvegas (with apologies to Elvis)
Every now and then we're given day leave from The Mausoleum (work), we're allowed to (shock horror) TRAVEL! Decadent huh?
Day trips are the order of the day, after all, the tax payers dollar should not be wasted!
Anywhoo Brisvegas was today's destination and, as Miranda would say, 'Such Fun'!
A quick two hours down the road and we arrived at our destination somewhere near the Roma st station, parked the chariot (work vehicle) and commenced the meet and greet ritual with those we HAVE to see and then sneak off to catch up with colleagues we haven't seen for awhile. Of course LUNCH is a must.
There are so many little eateries we could frequent but we opted for the tried and tested Hog's Breath at The Barracks.
On a whim we sat inside (the boss was seated outside, avoidence mode engaged) a move we came to regret as it was bloody cold in there! I mean seriously one dresses for heat and humidity in Brisbane, it was a cool day and they have the aircon on 'freeze hell over attempt'.
Now we have been to Hoggies many times and we know what we want, mostly anyway, and so it was the lunch special - Flathead and Curly fries. There's just something about those curly fries......
I love the way they serve this meal, in a little pail lined with paper, a generous serve of tartare sauce and a slice of lemon.
Crispy crumbed fish dipped in tartare is just what's required for a catch up lunch, stuff the cutlery, fingers came first. Washed down with a sober Lemon, Lime and Bitters it fortifies one for the barrage of afternoon meetings and the subsequent trek home.
The usual 30 minute lunch became an hour, we had a lot of catching up to do, and we scurried back to the office with a happy tummy.
The trip home was uneventful and one will be attending The Mausoleum tomorrow for debrief and enhanced workload!!
However, as of Friday 13 Nov I am on 9 days leave!!! Oh HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.
Look out for my cruise blog when I get back!!!!
Day trips are the order of the day, after all, the tax payers dollar should not be wasted!
Anywhoo Brisvegas was today's destination and, as Miranda would say, 'Such Fun'!
A quick two hours down the road and we arrived at our destination somewhere near the Roma st station, parked the chariot (work vehicle) and commenced the meet and greet ritual with those we HAVE to see and then sneak off to catch up with colleagues we haven't seen for awhile. Of course LUNCH is a must.
There are so many little eateries we could frequent but we opted for the tried and tested Hog's Breath at The Barracks.
On a whim we sat inside (the boss was seated outside, avoidence mode engaged) a move we came to regret as it was bloody cold in there! I mean seriously one dresses for heat and humidity in Brisbane, it was a cool day and they have the aircon on 'freeze hell over attempt'.
Now we have been to Hoggies many times and we know what we want, mostly anyway, and so it was the lunch special - Flathead and Curly fries. There's just something about those curly fries......
I love the way they serve this meal, in a little pail lined with paper, a generous serve of tartare sauce and a slice of lemon.
Crispy crumbed fish dipped in tartare is just what's required for a catch up lunch, stuff the cutlery, fingers came first. Washed down with a sober Lemon, Lime and Bitters it fortifies one for the barrage of afternoon meetings and the subsequent trek home.
The usual 30 minute lunch became an hour, we had a lot of catching up to do, and we scurried back to the office with a happy tummy.
The trip home was uneventful and one will be attending The Mausoleum tomorrow for debrief and enhanced workload!!
However, as of Friday 13 Nov I am on 9 days leave!!! Oh HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY.
Look out for my cruise blog when I get back!!!!
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