A labour of necessity

Its funny you know. I have been working really long days, really long hours in the office, weekends etc and I stopped myself today and thought why?

I am currently working on the development of a new intranet for my company and the last few weeks have been filled with a flurry of work with the consultants and content owners at each site getting ready for launch (which I might add after all my work, has been delayed by 4 days till Monday). Through all of this I have been working ALOT. I won't tell you how much as you will all be ashamed of me.

I thought today...'why I am so dedicated to this?'. It is not because I love my job, I don't. It is not because this project will be of some greater good to society, it won't. It is not because I am serving God, I'm not (well not directly...see Colossians 3:23). It is because I feel some necessity within me to appear dedicated to my job.

I am not alone in this. Hundreds of people chain themselves to the office everyday for hours longer than they should, and for what. They don't get recognition from their boss, they don't get paid any more and they are missing valuable time with their friends and family.

So why do we do this to ourselves. I think somewhere along the way society has begun to place work on a pedestal far above where it should be and made it the ultimate goal in life. Therefore, if I am working long hours and going 'hard' at it in the office I am respected.

Can I tell you now this is crap. So, I am calling for you ( and me included) to stop putting work first in our lives. Start putting God, our family and friends first. These are the most important things in life.

That's enough ranting from me for one day......now its time for a glass of champagne and a relax!

27 days but who's counting?

I am! It's 27 days till I can throw away my glasses, throw out all my old contact lense solutions and be able ot find my towel when I get out of the surf!

Yes, that's right, I am having laser eye surgery. A new, clear visioned me will emerge from the surgery in North Sydney on Friday 12 December, being able to see the world without the aid of glasses....YIPPPEEEEE!

For those of you that don't wear glasses you won't understand how truly liberating this feeling will be. But for those of you attached to your specs, you will understand.... The joy of not having to grab your glasses just to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, the joy of not having your glasses fog up when you open the oven door, the joy of being able to swin in the ocean or the pool and be able to see, both under the water and above it! To quote Eliza Doolittle, 'wouldn't it be lovely'.

Take one last look.....these are the last contact lenses I will ever wear.

27 days to go and I am counting!

No one mourns the Wicked

Except for me. The musical theatre show Wicked that is. I can't believe how amazing it was and I am in mourning for the fact that its over (well the show I saw anyways, they perform 8 shows a week at the moment!). This is, without a doubt, one of the most brilliant productions I have ever had the privilege to witness - and I have seen a few. From the moment it began Ben and I were enthralled. For those that don't know what show I am talking about - here is a quick rundown on the show from their website:

Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet
in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.

From the moment the curtains opened, to the moment they closed at the end of each half I could barely take my eyes off the stage. The actors that play Elphaba and Glinda, although relative unknowns in the world of Musical Theatre, are an inspired choice. Anthony Callea and Rob Mills (aka Australian Idol rejects) were not. Thankfully we didn't have to suffer through Rob Mills' performance - it must have been his day off. Possibly Paris Hilton was in town again (ouch!).

Apart from the unbelievable talent of its two lead characters, what makes Wicked stand out from other recent productions, is that it has an actual story. It's well written and well scripted storyline is supported by an eclectic mix of music by the great Stephen Schwartz. It is not an excuse to throw some aging pop/rock band's music together (aka We Will Rock You or Mamma Mia) nor did some money-hungry producer decide "Gee this movie was great - why not cash with a musical" (aka Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Billy Elliot).

Wicked takes you back to true musical theatre genius with added bonus of advancements in technology. The costumes were spectacular (I was kinda jealous in a weird way) and the choreography was interesting - no jazz hands or spirit fingers to be seen.

If you aren't online booking tickets at this very moment...DO IT, DO IT NOW! You won't regret it.

What happens in Vegas

So much as happened in the last two weeks that it would be impossible for me to tell you everything. And more importanly I am a firm believer in the old adage what happens on the road, stays on the road. So without revealing too much I will tell you some of what I have been up to over the last two weeks.

The last fortnight has involved me travelling to each of our mine sites (not Africa unfortunately) to train employees in the management of our 'soon to be launched' intranet system. So far the stops have been Brisbane>PNG>Bundaberg>Ballarat>Melbourne. There's been a lot of time spent in planes and cars - in hotels and in restaurants. So much so, that it reminded me of my days with Wakkakiri, travelling around Australia.

Lucky for me, most of the people I have to travel with were amiable. There's nothing worse than not being able to get along with the people you are spending 16 hours a day with. I must admit, however lovely they were, I was glad to have some time to myself over the last day or two.

It appears, from this trip, that I have an ability to attract hideously coloured hire cars. In Bundaberg we were the recipients of a 'Kermit' green Holden SV6 and in Melbourne (Ballarat) we were given the 'spew green' version of the same car. I have a feeling that no-one else wanted to be seen in these cars and that's why Avis ended up with them.

My restaurant recommendation from this trip would not be the pub in Mt Perry but two big surprises in Ballarat. One is Bibo - a funky little cafe on the main street and the other is Ballarat Steakhouse - probably the best steak I've had ever! Also had a great wine that night, am trying to get the name of it off a friend.

Meanwhile, whilst I have been enjoying the sights of regional and rural Australia, Al has been by his lonesome at home. Pretty soon it will be the other way around as he has put in his applications to the Airlines (well, Qantas, Virgin Blue and Jetstar so far).

More on these latest adventures tomorrow, meanwhile I'm off to watch a Bourne movie and enjoy a nice glass (or several) of Sav Blanc!