September 2012

2012
	September 6 - 2012 I've been doing a lot of praying since Monday and I think my prayers have been answered!!! This began last week when Jared (grandson) checked out the available jobs on the Lady Elliot Island website. (Lady Elliot is an island on the Great Barrier Reef, a 40 minute flight from here). He's desperate for work and sick of the employment agency doing nothing to help him out. He saw a position for a Room Attendant and figured it was better than nothing. Of course I nearly split my sides laughing at the idea of him doing this kind of work!!!! I continually nag him to keep his room tidy! Anyway... I redid his Resume and did a covering letter for him which he emailed to the Manager. Much to my surprise the Manager phoned the next day to talk to him and he got the job. He flew out on Monday... works for 10 days... they fly him home for 4 days off. Jason and I have been on tenterhooks waiting to hear from him. There no mobile (cell) phone access on the island. He called yesterday (regular phone) and from what I could make out from Jason's end of the conversation... all was going well... he likes the people and is happy.... YES!!!!!! (You have to imagine my arm action to go with the "YES!!!" S) Apparently when he arrived on Monday he was told he'd be working for 4 hours in the restaurant! He was thinking.... "I took this job to get away from restaurant work... what the heck is going on!!!???" A few other thoughts went through his tiny mind but I can't repeat them here S He did as he was asked and was shocked and surprised.... he actually enjoyed it !!! The people were friendly, so different to the other restaurant jobs he's had... no yelling.. no being ordered around! They even had time for jokes.... So he's found out that not all restaurants are run by Diva Chefs who think they're God's gift. The staff quarters are being renovated so he is living in a suite!!! They're training him for the job he applied for and have told him to expect to be in the restaurant when they're busy. He's fine with that. The $$$$$ are great!!!! Finally he'll have some money in the bank and it will do wonders for his self esteem. He was supposed to get a particular type of shoe for walking around the island but we couldn't find them before he left. He asked the Manager if he could buy a pair of the ones used for guests. They didn't have any big enough... so the Manager had a pair, the correct size, flown in for him... !!!! Jason and I feel like a weight has been lifted off our shoulders, it was such a relief to hear that he's enjoying the work. Lord... who wouldn't enjoy working on a Barrier Reef island, having meals made for you and mixing with friendly staff....different to the 'layabouts' he associates with here at home. We're soooooooooo happy!!! Jason wasn't looking forward to having to do the dishes every night but I wash as I go (preparing the meals) and he's had little to clean up after dinner. I just have to start preparing for 2 people not 3... it's hard to break the habit. S So, with my Flu disappearing fast now and Jared happy in his work maybe I'll get back to normal and my creativity may return. It makes a difference when all is going well in real life. Here's hoping things don't change any time soon.
	September 9 - 2012 Today, Saturday, Jason got a call from Jared to update him on what was happening on the island.... A whole bunch of people left yesterday so there were a lot of rooms to fix.... Jared and the others had a hard time getting them done fast enough and properly. He told his Dad he couldn't make a bed properly if it meant his life!!!!! Like that's news to me..... NOT!!! LOL!!!! He was stressed out by the time he finished his work and had a talk to Graham... his boss.... Told him he thought he'd get "more value for his money if he transferred him to the restaurant full time"! I never thought I'd ever hear Jared ask to work in a restaurant again ever..... His boss must be really nice because HE AGREED!!!!! He did say if they needed extra help with the rooms at any time he'd have to help out. Jared was OK with that. He'll have longer hours but he doesn't care. More $$$$$.... and he likes the people in the restaurant and gets on well with them. And NOW he won't be back home for time off until the 23rd September. He's working for 20 days and then has 8 days off. He'll be home for his birthday on the 25th and his Dad's birthday on the 29th. Also, in his spare time he's going to watch and learn what the staff who organise the different activities do so he can learn what's involved and he'll be available to help out if needed. This doesn't sound like my Jared..... I can't believe the change in him in just a few days!!! He may have found his niche.... S If he learns a lot there he'll be able to get a job on any of the islands on the Great Barrier Reef. Jason asked if he was short on cash .... nope.... he's been getting tips!!! I forgot about tipping.... overseas visitors always tip. Aussies are not used to tipping,only because staff usually are paid well and we know it.... so it's not something we do unless we get extra special service. Oh... almost forgot ..... he's also found himself a girlfriend!!!!!! Seems they hit it off right away. I'll have to get Jason to tell him if it doesn't last, please don't break up on bad terms.... not good for the working environment. OK... I'm thinking like a mother hen... but I don't want anything to mess up this "new" Jared. They have different days off ... so we'll see what happens there. So, my phone and internet are working again... my grandson is happy, my son is happy, I'm happy, so all is good again S
	September 23 - 2012 Grandson, Jared has been home for a few days and has been busy buying new clothes, shoes and necessities with some of his earnings. He took great pleasure in letting the employment agency know that he got a job on his own. He goes back on Monday morning and will have to work for 24 days before his next break. Been nice to have him home. No.... he hasn't messed up all the work I did cleaning up his bedroom. As for me.... Tuesday can't come fast enough!!!
	September 26 - 2012 It was both frustrating and depressing not having a computer for a few days but it happened at a fortunate time as far as real life is concerned.... not for my PSP life though. Jared, grandson, came home on Thursday and he looked so healthy and happy. Of course, being loaded ($$$$) helped.... he must have felt great not having to rely on anyone else to pay for the shorts,shoes, T-Shirts and toiletries he needs for his island life S He loves the job and doesn't care if he has to do occasional housekeeping chores... he'll just have to get someone else to make the beds... LOL!!! He DIDN'T make a mess of his bedroom.... can you believe it!!! Of course he didn't make his bed before he left on Monday but I don't care!! S We won't see him again until the 24th of October. We did have a birthday celebration for him while he was home...since he was back at work on the 25th. Don't yet know if anyone acknowledged it at work..... haven't heard from him yet. We also have a boarder who has been hanging around for a few weeks.... at least 4 if memory serves me correctly. He's here at the invitation of Aydee (our cat)!!! Aydee has befriended him... they get on great together but it may not be lasting because I'm sure someone is missing him. I rang the animal shelter yesterday to see if anyone was missing a Siamese or Tonkinese cat. They have a couple on their list. Jason is going to take him down to see if he has a 'chip' embedded. We thought he went home each night so we didn't worry about it too much but he's 'moved in' and is here all the time now. He's pedigreed so someone must own him. The cat on the right is Aydee (short for Attention Deficit..... LOL!) Looks like our visitor is thinking.... "Maybe if I just sit here it will be OK...." "OK... that went well.... no objections" "Good time for a preen" "Ahhhh... so nice to have a friend who cares...." "Stop with that camera!!!!!" He's so cute.... but we don't want another cat.... he needs to find his owner. If he doesn't have a microchip then I'll put an ad in the "lost and found" in the local paper. I've almost caught up with all my emails. I had to wait for Jason to get time to install the graphics card in my computer but since I have a free personal IT expert I say little about the time he takes. S He's been working on 2 cars over the past few weeks... saved a bucketload of $$$$ for labour costs.Our second car is finally up and running (like me) again today... he's just taken it for a test drive.His main car (the sporty one) is still waiting for one part, won't be done until the end of this month.He's quite clever my son.... must get it from his mother's genes!!! LOL!!!




	OCTOBER - DECEMBER 2012