"Surprise!!!!!!!"

Well, I can finally let the cat out of the bag - the past few weeks I planned a sneaky trip back home to visit Brett, Jack (the dog) and my family.  I could only squeeze in a 5 day trip, so wanted to dedicate it solely to my fam (sorry friends, but I'll be back in August and you're definitely on my agenda then!).  I left US on Sunday and arrived Tuesday morning and then on Easter Sunday first thing flew myself back out.

I am exhausted and writing this post high on jet lag and on the back of a very ordinary night sleep, so please excuse the slur that I write with.

So, I snuck into town with only Brett, Renee and Lisa in the know only to surprise the rest of the family.  I wish I had the camera on the ready when I saw Mum - she couldn't believe it was me... priceless.  I threw her off kilter for the rest of the day.  She had the grandkiddies that day as Nicole was at work.  We had the challenge of ensuring "Mitchell madness" (my nephew) wouldn't let the cat out of the bag with Nicole.  Mitchy isn't so crash hot at keeping a secret as Jack and Taylor kept telling me, but even without a bribe, he pulled it off and the following night was a second moment of priceless-ness.  Nicole turned up for her birthday party (confused as to why her party was one week early), pleased to see Brett there and as soon as she saw him, started muttering that she couldn't get bloody skype to work with me, and at that time I stepped on out and aged her a few years - sorry Nic.

It was a great week - Brett and I did some great day drives together - I felt like a tourist; I spent a couple of fun nights with my in-laws (also gave John my father in law a bit of a shock), some great time with the kids playing soccer and ball tiggy in the back yard (Brett and I are still arguing over who was best on ground), I finally got to see Nicole and Mick's nearly finished house (if they weren't going to send photos, I thought I better go see myself), a daily walk in the park with Brett and Jack, a quick visit to the chiropractor to fix my aching neck and shoulder, and oh, did I mention a spot of fire fighting...

So, I did used to be fire warden once upon a time, a role that I took very seriously and for which now the memories of a fire drill came flooding back.  On my first day back on Tuesday, trying to ensure I shake off the jet lag and keep awake for the full day, Brett, Jack and I set out for a walk to Akoonah Park (in Berwick).  We are walking in one of the more bushy areas when Brett spots smoke.  We go searching for a closer inspection and find that there's a wild fire that is unattended - about the size of a decent sized lounge room.  Straight onto the Fireys, we hear the local horn sound and then came the roaring sound of the fire engines.  Unfortunately they missed me waving my arms violently and went in the wrong entrance to the football ground.  So, given I was strangely feeling very energetic, I set off on foot chasing after the fire engine - I nearly make it to the footy ground (puffing slightly, okay maybe a lot), only to find the fire engine turning around.  I continue running after the truck, waving my arms, shouting, and you'd think with the two guys sitting in the back of the track (i.e. the outside of the truck) facing backwards, that they'd see me.  But no, off they keep driving, but I keep running....Finally, once they are half way around the field they spot me, stop and reverse and then stop... bastards, they have to make me keep running - I can tell they're laughing at me.  But, I'm not deterred, chanelling the deep sense of responsibility I felt as Fire Warden of the HR department, I keep running, finally reaching the truck.  In my puffed out voice, I manage - fire... huh, huh, huh....it's down that way.. huh, huh, huh.... over the bridge.. huh, huh, huh....you need to go in the next exit.  On that, the fireys set on off and make it to the fire and put it out - disaster averted!  That's two emergency calls in one year - I've never rang 000 before, and here I am calling them, only a month after having to call 911.  I'm becoming a pro now - least this one could understand what I was saying.

So, now I have a few crazy weeks ahead of me.  5 major meetings in 3 weeks, luckily mainly in NY, but  next week I need to travel up to Connecticut and then off to Montreal in Canada (in Quebec)... in the same week.  I then have assignment bloody two due in a couple of weeks, so the upcoming weekends will be filled with the joyous task of writing another assignment (sigh...).  Can I find a therapist that will crack the pain out of an assignment?...