What have you been doing today?

[Nikkit]

Not as glam as some cookie! But I did scrub up ok I think. Pretty nerve wracking going up on stage in front of about 350 people, but a good night.

Have been to work this morning and am flagging now. May have to make yet another cuppa coffee!

Hope you feel better soon Jo, and you get used to your new tooth cookie.

[Cuilidh]

Jo hope you feel better soon.  I just did my GST at the beginning of the week, so am ahead of you, but it is EOFY stocktake this weekend so you are lucky just having the GST to do!  Take care.

[astarra]

Trying to get a few extra jobs done (other than the necessities like washing, tidying, dishes,  and cooking) done this week,  wrist is starting to feel better and the house is sending me crazy  but I still have to be careful not to overdo it. 

[gertbysea]

Nikkit Spotry Horse  would have bee so proud of you as we are. I am sure you were gorgeous, well presented and well spoken. Pity about the spinach in your teeth.

Gert

[cookie1]

Nikkit were you up for an award?  If so a big congratulations.

[Cornish Cream]

I hope you are feeling better this morning Jo

Nikkit were you up for an award?  If so a big congratulations.

Congrats from me too Nikkit.

[Nikkit]

Nikkit Spotry Horse  would have bee so proud of you as we are. I am sure you were gorgeous, well presented and well spoken. Pity about the spinach in your teeth.

Gert

Ha ha Gert, Let me tell you we checked our teeth before we got up there! Us girls had a "signal" and we all grinned at each other and checked for spinach and gave the nod if all clear!!
After dinner Andrew Daddow said "right you lot, clean yourself up before you get up here on stage, you know, check your teeth for spinach!" 

Nikkit were you up for an award?  If so a big congratulations.

Thanks cookie  and CC 
The tea room I cook for was nominated for a Telstra Small Business award, we made finalists in our category, but didn't win. Up against some tough competition. I was honoured to be invited seeing as I'm in the background of the whole thing. 

[obbie]

working, on quotes

[troupie]

Bedlam that is such beautiful country side around Esperance; we have driven many of the tracks down there photographing orchids and other wildflowers. My DH likes nothing more than a good rough track which at times scares me a bit but I have got used to it.

Love your invitations mcmich; I too love making invitations and cards.

[cookie1]

Nikkit, that is really, really wonderful. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

[Emme]

Great achievement Nikkit, well done. 

Astarra, glad your wrist is getting better.  Keep taking it easy though 

Mcmich, those invitations are lovely 

[gertbysea]

Nikkit that is fantastic.

Gert

[Cuilidh]

I have just got to have a rant .... sorry if this bores you, I’ve just got to get it off my chest I am so annoyed.

We are currently looking to employ a young person from overseas who holds a bridging visa.  This person has advised that they have permission to seek employment and will be granted a full visa, but, although we have no reason to disbelieve this person, we want to make sure of this, after all, there are penalties for employers who employ illegal workers. 

Anyway, yesterday I rang the department of Immigration to verify the position and sat on hold for one hour at which point I had to give up ... after all, we have a business to run and have so many other things to attend to.  I then decided to send them an email and got an automatic reply back (a couple of pages worth) and saying if that reply didn’t answer our query (which it didn’t) they would get back to us in 2 – 3 weeks!!!  We cannot wait 2 – 3 weeks at Immigration’s whim, once again, we have a business to run!

I checked that they open at 8.30 am so, at 8.30 am on the dot this morning I rang them and after a mere 15 minutes on hold finally got to speak to someone.  All I needed was a yes or no answer but, sorry, under Freedom of Information, etc., they cannot tell me if this person is legally permitted to work in Australia or not.  I now have to register with Immigration to prove I am an employer, wait another 3 – 5 days for them to agree with me, that, yes, I am a legal entity, then they will give me a password to access another site to get my yes or no answer.

I am so frustrated!!!  Here we are, trying to do the correct thing legally, and all we get is brick wall, after brick wall, after brick wall.  GGGRRRRRRRRRRR!!!     

[gertbysea]

I feel your pain Marina. Sometimes it is hard to do the right thing and you just give up. If this person is worthwhile and you value them just preserve rust rating as it is.  In the long run you both may benefit.

If ya really wanna have fun go deal with Centrelink? Or better still Telstra. Telstra can keep you busy for years.

Gert

[judydawn]

I feel for you too Marina, Government departments are so difficult to deal with but if you do the wrong thing they will come the heavy on you with no regard for your high professionalism and attempt to do the right thing in the first place.  I wish you luck in this regard.