Catch-up post

Hi everyone,

Here I am trying to bring my blog up to date, and also comment on a few other people's blogs.  We'll see how I go: dreadfully tired tonight.

As I think I grumbled about recently, I had four hearings in the last seven days. Hence, four lots of advices, briefs, court books and court time, as well as all the other usual work.  Herein the explanation for my recent crop of 10-11-12 hour days.  Anyway, the first hearing was adjourned not reached (ie, no judge available to hear it). The next was meant to go for one day and wound up running for three, the third day of which was today. And today, I also had two matters meant to start in the County Court, one of them a multi-employer matter with another defence firm involved and competing insurer objectives.  Fortunately, my boss and one of the Summer Clerks were able to pitch in and help keep the multiple balls in the air at once.  It all worked out though: the two matters that should have started today were both not reached, but not before we'd had some illuminating discussions with the other side(s).

I noted that the County Court has set up a "wishing tree", so I must remember to put a present under it next week.

The day got off to an encouraging start as well: I was awake early enough to go for a good 4 miles run, which meant I was also awake early enough to get a proper brewed coffee at Hudsons, rather than just drinking the granulated instant coffee that work provides (and which is the reason I tend to drink more tea during the day).  By the end of today I was completely wiped out and out of ideas, so I pulled the pin at about 5:30 and went to a Christmas function that the recruiter who landed me this job was giving.  I was only able to stay half and hour because of a Blood Bank appointment, but it was enough to do the catching up and networking I needed to do, and also to find he'd rung my boss a few weeks back and asked for feedback about me and received a generally positive review.  This was comforting: maybe it's just the lack of sleep, but the last couple of weeks I've kind of had the feeling of being radioactive at work - like nobody wanted to be too close if an axe fell (a feeling not helped by one of the partners in the head office in Adelaide calling my former assistant a fortnight ago to ask her about a large write-off in my name that I've mentioned previously in these pages).

As I mentioned, the other thing this evening was the fortnightly plasma donation, which was rewarding and pleasing to do.  Although I now have punctures in both elbows, as the first needle was a little off target.

What else?  Well, the time of year resulted has resulted in me receiving two cards so far: one from a surveillance company I use a bit, and one from a fellow blogger as part of a "Christmas card swap" program.  I sent my own cards out on Monday, along with a package of presents for Grace and Rachel.  I found a good place to write quite a few of the cards...

Last Friday, when I was feeling pretty good about having lost quite a bit of weight, this showed up in the kitchen at work.  Must. Retain. Discipline.

Also, on Friday last, I got the best news in the world: some of you will know that there's been some concerns one of the girls may have a few health issues beyond ordinary childhood illnesses.  Joni emailed me last Friday to advise the latest assessment has said firmly that that is no longer considered a serious prospect.  I was beyond thrilled by that bit of news and told everyone in my office who would listen.  I know some people might not believe it, but I truly love those girls more than anything in the world.  Which is, when I think of it, one of the things that keeps me here.  I may blog that at some later stage, but not now.

The city, incidentally, is all dressed up in yuletide spirit was well.  As you can gues, one of these photos instantly had the voice in my head sounding like Will Ferrell in Elf and saying "son of a nutcracker"

If you look closely at this photo, incidentally, you'll see the name of this store was originally "Buckley's & Nunn".  This is the origin of the phrase you'll sometimes hear me use, which is still common here, "you've got Buckley's (chance)", that is Buckley's and Nunn (none).  Anyway, the other photos ...

 

 

So there you have it: that's what's been going on in my little life this last week.

Hope all is well with yourselves too!

See you tomorrow.