More News From Me

In the past few months since my last writing much has happened. 

Five weeks ago I embarked on a new career. I now work for Yellow Couriers aka Aussiefast Transport Solutions as a jockey/driver on the Salvos trucks. It is fun, rewarding and pay's not too shabby at the best of times.

You get to meet interesting people both in the public sector (donors) who offer up all kinds of donations for the shops throughout the metropolitan area and usually get to have a bit of a chin wag and then there are the folk who run and work at the shops. 

They too, a friendly bunch and, at times a funny mob who make you feel welcome each and every time you call in (usually twice a week). I've made some friends in this job both at the shops and at the depot where we are based in Pooraka.

It's a constant learning curve for me and as a jockey I have to use the phone (answering incoming calls, ringing select customers to advise of ETA and the shops as well for the same reason) and ipad to verify that we have or have not collected designated donations. 

After the run is over we usually go back to the warehouse to load up for the next day or we go straight back to the depot depending on what time we finish the run.

Much has changed from my first time with the Salvos back in the '90s when the UBD was our directory for getting from destination to destination. NOW, we have Navman...Thank God! it makes life so much easier and less time consuming. Instead of a woman(wife/girlfriend telling us where to go we have a talking street directory). Either way we don't get lost BUT the best upside is we, the drivers don't get the 'I told you so'. Sorry girls but, I had to put that last bit in. Not really, I just chose to, to add some of my dry humour to the post.

My latest trick is learning to work out the run for the next day which I seem to be doing okay with. My driver and I do this at lunch time as I sit down with a note pad look at the map overview and decide what is the best way to organise the run and write them down in the sequence I would do the run. Ian, my usual driver then checks it over and explains why, if necessary he'd change it. So far I'm doing okay. After we finalise it we then do it on the ipad and our Supervisor back at the warehouse either leaves it as submitted or makes the occassional changes and prints it out. If changes are made, I then reorganise it on the pad. 

Yeah, overall it's a good  job and I'm in no hurry to move on as I feel I have found my niche here. Like the  TV ad implies; 'Love your job and your home life changes for the better because you're doing what you enjoy and NOT what you must do to pay the bills and put food in the house. It also opens channels of communication within the family unit. This, I can testify to. 

In between the new job hours I'm still pursuing my passion of making stuff down in the work shop. I'm one happy camper. 

I hope you enjoyed reading my little ramble as much as I did writing it.

Back Again.

Time has flown past me at an incredible rate and it sems as though I haven't been in here for years but photos posted earlier this year remind me that it hasn't been so long afterall.

Writing has taken a backseat somewhat to my other love; woodwork and the amount of orders I've had recently has come about because I have obviously found myself doing good work and  producing good products... not bad for a non tradesman I'd have to say.

Projects of late have ranged from dog kennels (4 of) to leadlight window framing and indoor projects made of  particle board. It keep the dollars coming so I am not caring what it is that is asked for. Oh, and there has been a large interest in my pallet products as well. 

The smell of wood shavings, putty, paint or varnish has gotten to be addictive in a healthy way. speaking of addictions; crossword games on my phone and tablet have me hooked as well. 

in between all of the workshop projects I do try to write as am working on anthology number two. This will be a larger volume than the last one that was classed a "pamphlet". What an insult? I at least have the right to say I've been published and those that have read (or reread) it have been more than favourable in their responses and feedback. This also includes family and friends in South Africa.

Feel free to browse in the photos part of my blog to see what I was talking about earlier in this piece.

Until next time; safe travels, be happy. 

 

My Latest Triumph

Last Thursday, 2nd of February, saw the arrival of this, my first publication in the mail. To say I was elated and extremely proud would be an understatement. I was like a child lost in a candy store even at my age.

The first person I rang was my friend, mentor and one time Creative Writing teacher,  Eric Payne who supported me on this journey and kindly allowed me to use the picture from his gallery. My former TafeSA lecturer (and friend), Jude Aquilina was my mentor on this project.

In the near future I am looking to publish some of my short stories through the same publishing company, Ginninderra Press here in Adelaide, South Australia. Having said that, I am also working on my second Anthology called 'More of The Inner Me.'

If any of you, my followers wish to order this book in hardback format contact www.ginninderrapress.com.au. It will also be available in e-book format.

A New Year and a Loaded Bucket List.

This new year sees me on the verge of publication after a hiccup thanks to the services of a government department (or lack thereof).  Had it not been for the website having to be overhauled my book would have been out there now for you, my friends to be in ownership of. It will be available both in paperback AND electronic versions.

This issue now resolved; I can send the second proof back to my publisher with all other necessary signed forms.

It turns out that this first project will be a collaboration of sorts in that it is my writing and the artwork of my long-time friend, teacher and mentor, Eric Payne who, generously granted me the permission to use his painting ‘Moonlight at Maligne Bay’ as the cover design. Cheers mate!

While the finalities are being dealt with on the publishing front I am working on the second anthology of my works and, in between this I will be busy doing more work on my pallet projects with, I hope, as much success as last year. Four projects thus far, await my immediate attention and, as always will be posted both here, and, on my Facebook page upon completion. 

Additional lighting in the workshop may see me down there in the evenings more often tinkering, designing and completing projects that would have been normally left for daytime only. Time will tell as I want to spend a bit more time writing after taking twelve months off after having completed all of my diploma studies that earnt me my Advanced Diploma. 

In closing this, my first blog post for 2017, our granddaughter, Dominique also embarks on her new career; that of a first year student as an Enrolled Nurse.