Day 282 – 23rd October 2018 – Darwin

I had a day off today.  I have been thinking alot about what skills would make it easy for me to get work on the road while we are travelling in the future and also something that I would enjoy doing.  So after looking into lots of courses I have decided on doing Business Administration (Medical).  This qualifies me to be a Medical Receptionist in a Doctor, Dentist or Allied Health rooms, but I think if you have these skills it would be pretty easy to get a Receptionist job anywhere.  The course can be done online and so I have signed up and this is what I will be doing in my spare time now.  Continue reading “Day 282 – 23rd October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 283 – 24th October 2018 – Darwin

Again I headed into the library to study today.  I have to confess something….. I have a thing for stationery.  Yes, there you go, I have put it out there.  I seriously LOVE it.  I have to keep myself under strict control when I go into Office Works, and could spend hours in there buying up a storm.  The pressure to find a good pen, such a tough decision with thousands of potential pens to choose from.  So I dared to go to Office Works to purchase required stationery, and I managed to control myself quite well I thought.  I left with an appropriate amount, no trolley required.  There is nothing quite like a brand new notebook and unused sparkly pens in your new trendy pencil case that is just waiting for a new chapter to begin.  I actually have a similar problem in Hardware stores, particularly Bunnings, oh and Ikea, oh and Kmart….. Ok I see the pattern here.   Funnily enough I am not actually a big shopper and don’t like the usual girly shopping things.  But there are certain shops where I can go into and convince myself I need something really random that I have lived quite happily without for 45 years.  I also need to add BCF, Anaconda and other camping shops to my dangerous shopping, do not leave on her own with a credit card list.  Fishing lures….. sigh. Continue reading “Day 283 – 24th October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 281 – 22nd October 2018 – Darwin

It is my final week at Woolworth’s and I am only doing part time this week.  I only have two overdue Planograms now and one in due now, then the next due isn’t due until the 26th.  The end is in sight my friends.

I got to work and did the Perishable mark downs and grabbed the remaining Planograms to smash them out of the ball park.  There was meant to be a Rep coming in to finish one and that left me two.  As it turned out, the Rep never arrived and the one he was meant to be working on was a 6 hour Planogram, so it was suddenly looking like I might not achieve my goal of getting these suckers back under control.  Luckily Rory was able to help me out and between us we completed the remaing three.  So now I feel complete hahahaha.  Zero overdue, zero due now and the next due on the 26th October…. sigh.  This leaves me with one and a half shifts which I am guessing will be back in Health and Beauty where this whole journey began.  It would have seriously irked me if I didn’t get on top of those Planograms before I left, it would have niggled at me like an old splinter.  So I am very glad I can leave Woolies at peace now.  Job done.  Victory was mine!!!!

Day 280 – 21st October 2018 – Darwin, Litchfield

As we didn’t hear back from the fishing guys at Col’s work, we decided to spend the day exploring Litchfield instead.  We left at 8.30am and drove via McDonalds for brekkie (of course) and then headed to Blyth Homestead in Litchfield Park.  If you want to feel like a millionaire and never complain about your life again, go here!  The pioneer families did it seriously tough.  This was not a homestead but more like a humpy.  In the middle of absolutely nowhere.  It was 36C and humid with many water crossings to get to the place and the water crossings had Salties in them.  It was a great 4WD track in, but I must admit I got a little scared with the long and deep water crossings, knowing there were salt water crocs swimming around.  If we got stuck there was no way that I was getting out of the car!!!  We had no coverage so couldn’t call anyone.  Luckily we saw that the Rangers drive around pretty regurlarly and check the area.  Also luckily, we didn’t need any assistance after all.   Continue reading “Day 280 – 21st October 2018 – Darwin, Litchfield”

Day 279 – 20th October 2018 – Darwin

Today we were hoping to go fishing with a group of Col’s workmates but they were going at 6.30am this morning and we didn’t have time to get the boat and rods ready.  So we apologised and suggested we would be keen for Sunday if anyone else was interested, but didn’t get a reply. Continue reading “Day 279 – 20th October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 278 – 19th October 2018 – Darwin

Today I was meant to have a 7 to 3 shift back in Darwin City, so turned up and started working. someone from payroll came rushing over to say I had reached my full time hours due to stock take overtime and i needed to finish at 11am today instead.  Personally for me, yay, but for Woolworths Planogram catch up time, boo.  I now have one more week to achieve my goal but I am going back to part time next week.  not sure how this will work but I think I will come in and volunteer just to get them done hahahaha.  I will be so annoyed if it comes to my last day and there are any overdue ones. Continue reading “Day 278 – 19th October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 277- 18th October 2018 – Darwin

Today was stocktake at Bakewell Woolworths in Palmerston, so another 5am start for me.  It is quite a big store and took a long time to get through it.  We started at 6am and didn’t finish until 3.40.  Technically I could leave at 3pm with everyone else but I feel relly bad for the small group of people left behind to try and finish up and so I decided to stay on.  You might think that it is only for 40 minutes, but when your body is hurting and you are tired, 40 minutes past your knock off time seems to go on forever.  You also don’t know when exactly it will be finishing so it is a battle of the mind. Continue reading “Day 277- 18th October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 276 – 17th October 2018 – Darwin

Today was another stocktake day at the Gateway Shopping Centre in Palmerston.  It is about a half an hours drive away, which meant leaving here at 5.30am to get there by 6am.  The store is beautiful and fairly new.  It was pretty flash.  Another long day doing stocktake and I was glad when it was done.  Continue reading “Day 276 – 17th October 2018 – Darwin”

Day 275 – 16th October 2018 – Darwin

The birds have all worked out that we feed the Curlews and they all rush over to try and get some.  Generally there are Ibis, Plovers, Magpie Larks and Pigeons trying to muscle in.  Lately there is a new bird on the block that wants it’s share, and that is the Blue-Faced Honeyeater, which is a spectacular looking bird.

I have been feeding the Curlew’s cheese as I looked up what is ok to feed them.  They get dog food meat from the neighbours and apparently cheese is good for them to get the calcium they need.  Apparently all the birds like cheese!  So I put the cheese in a zip lock bag when finished and usually put it in the outside fridge.  I forgot today and put it on top of the bar fridge.  Shortly afterward I look up to see the Blue-Faced Honeyeater trying to eat the cheese through the plastic packet, looking slightly confused and a bit miffed as to why he can’t steal it.  The bird life up here is defenitely entertaining.

A Blue-Faced Honeyeater, Lee Point, Darwin NT
A Blue-Faced Honeyeater trying to steal cheese, Lee Point, Darwin NT

Day 274 – 15th October 2018 – Darwin

Just a normal Monday shift at Darwin City.  The Planograms are looking much healthier now I am pleased to report.  It takes a while to work out how to modify processes effectively.  When I start something new I carry everything out to the letter of the law, but the reality is there is not enough hours in the day to work this way.  But it takes a while to work out what you can relax on and what you need to prioritise before you can juggle the work load effectively.  I have finally gotten to that point I think, which allows for better planning and time management. Continue reading “Day 274 – 15th October 2018 – Darwin”