Back to the old, with a bit of the new

Well, i have noticed that the tendancy is when you change your blog page, to go straight back to the old one....there is something strange about that new page and the older one looks better. Well, i decided to go one step better and make it a little new with fragments of the classic. Hope you like it....

Anyway, enough rambling....:p

Well, i'm finally back from good. i had the best time at Hayman. I learnt so much, meet lots of people, learnt to survive a little on my own and matched up portering to my personality (like i had done before i went, only this time in realy life) and worked out that concierge is somewhere i want to go.

It was good going up there cause it meant that i was in a place where i just worked (and pretty much slept and ate) but it gave me a chance to put my full time into work. If your wondering why I'm not still there till Jan 17th, I was offered early release because there were enough porters and i had finished my internship time. So i finished training the new porters and headed home.

One thing that i now wonder is how many photo albums i will be in.... :p

However, i am glad to be home for Christmas, with family and friends and someone very special :p in a way, i think that if i was still there i wouldn't probably realise and be as bothered by not being home, but now that i am home, i see what i would have missed so i am very glad that i am home for Christmas.

So now that i am home, hopefully, the updates may happen more often, as i had timed internet that i had to pay a rather step fee for. But now, i have free flowing internet flowing from the mountains so it should be easier....its also great to have my own room...my own space and a desk where i can do things on and write!.

Well, thats it for the moment

Merry Christmas....

(PS. My favourite painting up top there)

Update....finally i know!

Well, here is a small update, can't be too long cuase of the internet but otherwise i won't do it. Things are still going well, still loving the job as a porter and loving helping people. i think that i am growing in my skills of helping people and how i do my job and what i can say to people as i enter in the room. I had a good day yesterday, where i walked in and engaged in a conversation that to me sounded to just so....grown up and respected...not sure why but it did. other than that, not too much is happening, saving lots of money, making friends who, when answering the question "so how long are you planning to stay here" with a simple "oh, i'm leaving next week" ...hmmm, this happens a lot, very transitory people work here, couple of months then move on. But there are people here for as long as i am. but i still love it but at times...hmm, lots of them, want to go home.

Anyway, i have a day off and going to do...um...what i usually do,,,play my guitar for a while then rest from playing ...

Hope to see you soon.

A Quick Update

Well, I can't stay too long cause the internet is timeed (lucky i can type rather quickly!) I have arrived safely at Hayman, and have so far worked three days this week (i have today and tomorrow off) i am thouroughly (whatever!) enjoying the work and love being a porter here on the island/ I am constantly working amongst amazing souroungings (can't spell, typing to fast!!!) I load bags and unlaod them of the ferry things and also deliver them to the rooms, it may sound boring but i love it!!! (and i have a cool walkie talkie to communicate to my team which is also really cool :p - cause its a huge island (which i walk everywhere around it all day!) and i need some way of communicating. i did manage to attend a church service today in the chappel on the island and it was rather good, not too many people but enough and some guests and staff as well. That serivce is run every fortnight apparently!!!!!! good!!! i have some friends from my uni here as well, so we are all trying to get the hang of the place. i am starting to feel a bit more relaxed living and working here but there is not too much to do around. i feel like i know all the people i work with, in my department and others (my team is the best too, very supportive, looking after me)as a porter i pass heaps of staff (and Guests) all day and get to know them, oh, and i get to drive the 6 seater golf buggy, the buggy train with heaps of seats and the 'tug' which carries the bag container and i get to drive them all with amazing views and beautiful scenery.

I think i will leave it there for now and try at some times to put updates up, but because of the nature of the timed internet here, they may not be as recent as before and comments might not be put moderated straight away.

Lastly, thank you all for your prayers and support. I hope that all is well!!!!


God Bless!!!!!!!!!!


Michael

Hotels...again : )

Well...here is to looking like a hotelier again....after seeing the new "Ocean's 13" recently (twice actually) i realised that i do rather like hotels....caue the story line is about a hotel and i liked the things to do with hotels....i like most things to do with hotels...hope this stays when i am actully working in them :p

I should really put something up!

I am busy in the final two weeks preparing and seeing friends before i go of for the 6 months at Hayman. Hence why i havn't put up a new, flashy post to make the boring dreary page seem new and tended to.

: )

Instead i will leave you with a picture of what i have been doing last week : )

Enjoy.

I Passed My "P"s Test!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness!!! (well thank God and all those behind me sooooooooo much!!!!!! God Bless!!)

Conflicting

I am conflicted inside at the moment.....the stuff i'm studying is really stuff that i am interested in but i am having trouble useing that to help me study it....i am interested but when it is "formalised" study, it just makes me not want to do it as much...even thought i want to at some time sit down and read through the stuff and learn it for practical use....i just don't feel there is enough time now....

Crazy Socks (i should really stop posting about my feet!)

While waiting for the floor to dry just before i go and have lunch in between study times.....its not that bad at the moment. I thought that i would take a pic of my socks! My mum commented this morning that she didn't remember buying them (which she did) niether of us realised that they had the big stripe, they are the really short sports socks (all aliteration aside :p)....i still think they are cool though and they are rather warm....and i need to be wearing socks with the cold here in sydney........raining, cold...and i'm sick so don't want to risk it!

Go Mum!!!!!

Driving to pick up my brother this arvo, we were talking about the driving test. One thing that my mum said really made things better:

"You know that if you passed you wouldn't be driving now"

This is because of the insurance stuff and it is too ridiculous to change it over to me being a "P" plater from "L" cause according to the insurance company, i'm a very dangerous driver! (they have never meet me though). Therefore if i was now a "P" plater, i wouldn't be able to drive cause i wouldn't be insured! So i am still able to drive and pick my brother up from soccer!

Way to go mum for helping to find my silver ligining in this storm of grey rain clouds.

Damn It!!!!

Today, i had my driving test fo Red P's. I did everything very very well (i am rather sure) parked well, three point turned well, drove well. I got a 90+ score on my test, suggesting that i would have passed....however at one time, i went over the speed limit for a couple of secs, instructor told me and said can you lower your speed because i wsa over, and i said thanks. That right there was an 'imediate fail' item which means that although i did really well, i failed! So because of that and that i have a cold (a really great weekend though!!!) i have felt absolutly terrible all day. Thanks to those who made me feel better : ) i did pass a personal communications assesment...thank goodness i passed something today!!

Tomorrow is another day

Notes

These are my notes for the wine process for F&B exams. I found these diagrams in the book and thinking back to school where they suggested that i am better at learning from diagrams and such (visual stuff i think they concluded) i thought why not copy them down, use pics, have fun drawing (you might be able to tell that i got a little less interested in the end of drawing, the pictures become less precise) (did white first)

Think i might put them up on the wall to keep looking at them (another tip from school) put them up on the wall to keep looking at them and remembering them -never used it before, will see if it works...

Rather True

Rather true at the moment, except its thoughts in mine.....swirling and colliding

Just To Note

When reading through the bible, my mind immediately wants to go to the notes on the bottom to be told something amazing about God and life, however, it is becoming aware to myself that this shouldn't be my first port of call, instead, work out what i think/ am being told and use that brain that God has given me! I have been finding as i go on personal bible studies, sometimes i work things out that i'm not sure whether they are right though so i then go to the notes to check my suggestions....

In the words of Nathan Tasker:

"Now you look at me,
expecting easy answers that will join the dots,
make the picture plain for you,
and i'm happy to help erase,
the lines drawn incorrectly ,
to make the picture beautiful"
(Nathan Tasker, "Must Be More")

His songs are great!!!! Check them out.
Plus can't wait to led the 6pm service this week!!!!! (lot of exciting things happening this week!!!!! :P thank you God!)

Big News!

I got a job as a porter on Hayman Island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wooohoooo!!

The Unreturned book

I have this book which i borrowed for an assignment that i never ended up using it for but am quite interested in what it says because it is on the topic of the area that i want to work in. So tonight and tomorrow, i have decided to try and read as much as i can to gain from its wisdom before it is due back in two days. I have renued it at least twice and am not allowed to anymore!

The library might be a bit cranky with me...hope they don't mind...they will get it back to them, eventually.. : )

Monday Night Done...

First step has been done....I have started reading 2 Timothy. I had a great idea (not mine...) that i should start a notes on it....it went from actually writing on a note pad to realising that i had a book i could use... (see above) The first pic is one i saw off the internet (the others are my one) and subcontiously recollected the idea and thought it would be good......i really want it to be coulourfully too, i'm going to get some colourful pens to write in and colour it in....And of course it will be mainly used to study the word of God, not just colour, but that will make it fun too......

Gooooaaaal!!!!!

All joking aside...i have decided on a goal....might even right it up properly in a table...

Being a leader, i know that leaders are meant to be very good christian role models (can't be perfect i know) so i have decided that i want to improve as a leader....

Therefore - Goal
'to improve as a christian leader and rolemodel'

two weeks ago at the con chrisitan group....they were studying how to become more mature as a christian...one of the suggested ideas was to read the bible regularly (mor regularly then i have been at the moment) so, two weeks later after thinking about doing it....i am decided to make that one of my steps....

'Step - due by the end of this week'
to read the bible at least three times this week...(starting small)

to do this and make it usefull.....i want to read it at least three times (alone not counting group readings/church), study for a while (maybe an hour) pray first, read, think, pray....i think i want to do this on monday, wednesday and thursday (reasoning being that i don't have lectures those days and they are spread out and days were i don't really have too much chrsitian contact).

I have also reached into my library and taken out two books on the subject (Relational Leadership and Mentoring - sound familiar Andrew? i hope you don't mind me using them a bit longer) so i can read and learn....

So i want to be a better christian and live a better life for Christ, read the bible more, be a better leader to people...

I have already started by clearing my desk, the mountains of papers from assignments gone by have been cleared and i can see the wood again....

The rest of the list

* At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What

> > > is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice.

> > >

> > > * Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition

> > > of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

> > >

> > > * Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles, and other items to be

> > > recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.

> > >

> > > * The Lutheran men's group will meet at 6 pm. Steak, mashed

> > > potatoes, green beans, bread and dessert will be served for a nominal

> > > feel.

> > >

> > > * Please place your donation in the envelope along with the

> > > deceased person you want remembered.

> > >

> > > * Attend and you will hear an excellent speaker and heave a

> > > healthy lunch.

> > >

> > > * The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb

> > > entertainment, and gracious hostility.

> > >

> > > * Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 pm - prayer and medication to

> > > follow.

> > >

> > > * The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind.

> > > They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.

> > >

> > > * This evening at 7 pm there will be a hymn sing in the park

> > > across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.

> > >

> > > * Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10. All

> > > ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is

> > > done.

> > >

> > > * The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation

> > > would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next

> > > Sunday.

> > >

> > > * Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please

> > > use back door.

> > >

> > > * The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in

> > > the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The Congregation is invited to

> > > attend this tragedy.

> > >

> > > * Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian

> > > Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.

> > >

> > > * Mrs. Johnson will be entering the hospital this week for testes.

> > >

> > >

> > > * The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing

> > > campaign slogan last Sunday "I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours."

> > >

> > > * Our next song is "Angels We Have Heard Get High."

> > >

in the early 70s "What would you do if Jesus

> > > came to Manly tomorrow?" to which some wag had scribbled, "Put him in

> > > the centres and move Fulton to the wing"

Funny Bulletins

bloopers which
> > > actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church
> > > services

* Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight
> > > at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
> > >
> > > * Announcement in a church bulletin for a national PRAYER &
> > > FASTING Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer
> > > conference includes meals."
> > >
> > > * The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water."
> > > The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus."
> > >
> > > * Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in
> > > the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King.
> > >
> > > * "Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid
> > > of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your
> > > husbands."
> > >
> > > * The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been cancelled
> > > due to a conflict.
> > >
> > > * Remember in prayer the many that are sick of our community.
> > > Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "hell" to someone who
> > > doesn't care much about you.
> > >
> > > * Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
> > >
> > > * Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again",
> > > giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
> > >
> > > * For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a
> > > nursery downstairs.
> > >
> > > * Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all
> > > the help they can get.
> > >
> > > * Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more
> > > transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes
> > > of Pastor Jack's sermons.
> > >
> > > * During the absence of our Pastor, we enjoyed the rare privilege
> > > of hearing a good sermon when J.F. Stubbs supplied our pulpit.
> > >
> > > * The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the
> > > choir will sing "Break Forth into Joy."
> > >
> > > * Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in
> > > the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
> > >
> > > * A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church
> > > hall. Music will follow.

Soon....

I can't believe it but tomorrow morniing at about 9am, i will have handed my last assesment in and then it is just studying for exams!! No more huge assesments due in two days!!!! I meet up with a friend today and he said that at uni, if you are not working all the time, you get behind, so you have to just keep working, he has helped me realise in words (so i can learn from it) what i felt in real life, very helpful!

On to the two exams (F&B and Rooms Division) and then hols then internship...then...only God knows!!!! (well obviously he knows what is going to happen between right NOW and the rest of my life but i'm leaving it open for him.

I wouldn't leave you with just one.....

Larson Cartoons

These are great....

Je ne sais pas pourquoi

Je ne sais pas pourquoi je la fais en ce moment mais je suis en meuillieu d'une assesment et je n'ai rien a fair d'autre a part d'alle au lit! Je ne suis pas sur est-ce-que il y a les gens qui comprends se pubelle que j'ecrit mais peut-etre...alors, qu-est que je peux parle de.....j'ai accune idea! peut-etre cette feux tres grand la samedi soir, j'ai rencontre beaucoup des gens de cette eglise et ils sont tous tres gentil et agreable. Je me souviens aujour d'hui, j'avais des femmes qui parle francais devant moi sur la bus et c'est pas tres bien mais j'ecoutais a leur conversation (pour la practise bien sur!) et je trouve une chose....je peux encore comprendre la francais! ca c'est bien parce-que j'ai pas parle sois ecrit beaucoup de la francais en ce moment et pour assez longtemps. alor, je pense de les gens qui la lit ca est pense, qu-est qu'il dit, tous c'est mots.... aussi, cette table noir en haut me souviens de mon tmeps en France mais pas exactement parce que je crois que c'est un menu d'un restaurant! alor, je crois que je vais au lit maintenaint et leve demain matin et pour faire un peu plus avat de donne mon assesment a la prof... Bon Nuit...

Just some pics of my guitar strap which i got a while ago....

I'll try and get some better ones....

Smoken.....

My clothes smell like smoke (cool country smell in city!), i had an awesome weekend (thanks to all who made it possible), i visited an awesome church and want to go again soon - people were great, country was great -i was bouncing around the walls at my church tonight, yes i did miss a post but i have a good reason and now i have an assesment due tomorrow at 1pm and i have to finish it tonight and tomorrow, havn't done too much but have made a bit of a start....soon all the assesments will be finished, then i'll have exams...oh well, then i have some time off to relax, play some guitar, and other stuff...... soon mw, soon........

God Bless

And The Winner Is

Today we had two more properties come in to talk to us, one being Starwood hotels including the likes of the Westin, Sheraton On The Park and The St. Regis (i have stayed in the one in Washington, it was great!!!) to name the ones i have had affiliation with. At the beggining of the presentation they handed out raffel tickets for a lucky door prize (some of the presentations have done it too) just to get us interested i think. Well, the tickets were drawn out at the end of the presentation, the first being won by someone which was a rocky road chocolate block thing (yum) and the second was a sheraton on the park showbag (not sure what was in it). When it came to the third prize, the number called out was B 17...now as you can proably guess no one would probably write something like this unless it had effected them personally (sometimes might...) but i looked down just to check and that was my number!! I went up to collect my goody bag- a Westin Sydney showbag. after the presentation had a peek into the bag hopeing for .....i don't know....maybe a stay at the hotel, i free lunch or meal or discount.....inside the bag was a Hat and a water bottle. Don't get me wrong, the fact that i recieved something was great! and the thought was the thing that counted but i do feel like they are asking me to do a bit of free advertising...but i finish off with ......

Its The Thought That Counts, So Thanks

So instead....

Well, i was going to write about how muddled i am, how i have two sides of my emotional brain fighting for supremessy in my life, two big lists of

1. things that are fantastic and
2. things that are a bit annoying

both occupying the same space in my mind....hope fully things will clear. Its just a bit muddled and annoying at the moment.......

So instead of going into that.....i thought i would show some pics of the burj-al arab hotel in Dubai, the world's only 7 star hotel.....there is too much to go into now about it but.....its fully equipt....enjoy

Cocktails Anyone?

Yes, today was fun!!!!!!!(wednesday that is) I did a bar skills course at uni! i had soo much fun, we did a bit of theory in the morning, then did some practise pouring of water (i could have done that all day) then we went out for lunch and then came back to make some cocktails (could have done that all day too!) it was awesome, we made martinis, cosmopolitans, cabriosca.... (i think thats what it is called) and then i made a cream based one that one of the two guys leading it had thought up..it was great!! (i think that i like the cream based cocktails and liquers - they taste best)Overall it was such a fantastic day and i now would like to possibly do some bar tending at sometime...It was a truly great day!!!!!!!

(ps some recent developments in hayman but not going to put anything up just yet....contact me for more info if you would like..)

PS. i am pretty sure that the flaming one could be sambucca becuase sambucca (also used to put in coffees) is clear and can be lit like the picture.....check out that picture blown up, it looks pretty cool!

I've done it too (but at least i have something to talk about this time!)

I can't believe i actually missed it....i was going so strong and even looked at it a couple of times tonight....but yes i have missed one....i'll try not to let it happen again.....i would like to quote the jess theory (http://andallthatjessisteriffic.blogspot.com/2007/05/opps.html) in my defence and then realise that i have no defence...its just an excusses from me....but read on (or up) for an interesting colourful post.........

Easy Shine

I garentee it is not trick photography, those marks are the only ones that get on my shoes and they come off with just rubbing it with my fingers! (this is after a day, i cleaned them in the same way recently so they are not as dirty to show great before and after shots..)

And i will try my hardest to make an interesting post tomorrow..!

Hayman Update

Got a call from the concierge on hayman island today, asked me to send him my CV, asked me if i was still interested, talked a little.....very exciting!!! I think this is good news....?

Ever notice how fast Windows runs? Neither did I.

Check These Out

http://www.apple.com/au/getamac/ads/

As if that wasn't enough....found these...

-How do you want to crash today?
-Windows NT: "Hold the war, I have to reboot!"
-Windows: The colorful clown suit for DOS.
-Microsoft gives you Windows - OS/2 gives you the whole house.
-A computer without Windows is like a fish without a bicycle.
-Bang on the left side of your computer to restart Windows.
-I'll never forget the first time I ran Windows, but I'm trying.
-My latest screen-saver: Curtains for Windows.
-Out of disk space. Delete Windows? [Y]es [H]ell Yes!
-Windows 3.1: The best $89 solitaire game you can buy.
-Windows NT: Insert wallet into Drive A: and press any key to empty.


(Not that pcs are bad...i'm just having some fun...don't take it personally)

Thats Odd

Well, tonight i feel very odd! I'm not really sure why, i had a great night last night with mother's day dinner and today i have just been feeling odd. I was telling a friend about an assignment and he helped me realise that it was probably becuase i have all the Hayman issues over my head and also now this assesment due tuesday that i havn't started and is where i have to design and make a menu for: a wedding of about 250ish give or take 100 : P (i have chosen) Hopefully i will get it done and make it look great....it has inspired me (along with other things) to get tinto a bit more cooking and while i can't cook all the dishes i want to put on the menu, i want to get back into more cooking.....maybe even set myself a "cook for a week" challenge (maybe one time when i don't have an assesment due in two days!) I have kind of done it before but its been a while....we will see....

Some signs to keep you going