2011

Well another year has passed... Seemed to go by quick, the days seemed shorter...
So what will 2011 bring? What do I want it to bring? Whats my resolution for the year??????
Well it seems that in various things I've taken a backwards step. First- The family, I feel as though I've lost my calm feeling that I worked hard at achieving , I'm snappy again and I don't like it, do I really want my kids to grow up with a grumpy parent? No not really... So that's high on the list of things to change. Second- Time with the wife, well things are pretty good I think, but we've stopped making time for ourselves-work/kids/hobbies/Internet-seems to over run it sometimes. So I want to work on some quality time for ourselves. Third- The big one that always seems to come up....Money, now its not like we're struggling or anything, we eat well, go out plenty, and we do buy things when needed, but, we're not really saving money though, and I'm not managing my income very well, and not making progress on my car...Ive sold some things on ebay which went well, spending money on the car and saving don't normally go together, but it is possible. So time to have a big cleanout/selloff, stick to a savings plan/weekly budget for the car too. Forth- Lifestyle, now really we're not doing too bad there, but i'd like a better house, paying for location is one thing, but having a below average house is another, we have a house move coming up soon so that's something to look at. The dogs-well actually Atlas- is going to need some work in regards to not running laps-and trenches in the backyard- so I need to make a big effort there, more exercise and training-more time with dogs can be taken from internet time- that will help with the house thing, this house was a last resort thing, I didn't want to spend too much time waiting for the perfect house, this time around we can look abit more.

I think that's about it, well maybe for resolutions, one goal I have is work related-move up the tree so too speak- but that'll come in time... I should check my lotto tickets too, you never know how good the year might be starting!

A new start

Well it's been awhile since my last post, some new developments! Work, I've been offered a job, partime with a view to full time, with a new Pet Supplies place about 10mins from here. Ive accepted the job with a view of working towards some goals, 1- Achieving a full time position, 2- Becoming more than just a "Salesperson". The money seems good even with just the part time position, I will soon know the hourly rate once my paperwork gets here, maybe this week. I'd actually lost hope on this job, I'd applied to it maybe 5weeks ago, but got a call from the HR manager last week for an interview, they called afew days later with the job offer. Its not ideally what I wanted, I really wanted full time work, but the money for 20hrs a week is not much less than what I was earning at the Shelter, so its not all bad, and like I've said, I've got something to work towards so I think it'll be fine....although I've had another phone call for another job interview....

So that's a good start to things, some extra income, and some future career prospects.

Ive also been thinking about other parts of my day to day life, family, pets, health and cars. I'm starting to plan certain things, more goals I guess, looking at some things long term, and also making an effort to have some routine to certain things. The family side of things has been going well, we've had constant outings, nature walks, activities for the kids, and just family days out, I've been going to alot of things too, I used to just stay home when the kids were going out with K, but I've made an effort to change that, quality time with the whole family. Some time with K without kids is next on the cards. The pets, well I've spent more time with the dogs lately, going outside a playing with them, walking will be happening again-this relates to health too.
Health- well I've been lazy, eating crap food, no exercise, gaining weight. So this week, yesterday, I started back on weights, bought a barbell after putting it off for months, I've got a bench that my cousin left here...geez I'm sore today though. Ive planned 4 days of weight training, weekends off, walking a couple of days a week at least, maybe getting a bike to ride. Time to get fit again.
Cars- well I've thought about this lots lately, I cant see myself driving -the car I've been working on-in 10 years, I cant really do the things I want to it, legally, and when its finished, I think I'd still like a Camaro, so rather than spending 2-3years building the current car, then wanting another car 5years from now, I'm biting the bullet and selling all of my current cars and parts, and buying a Camaro. It will cost more to build the actual car, but long term will work out cheaper as I'm only building one car, not two. It will take longer to build, but it'll probably be the last car I build, so time is pretty unlimited now. Plans, plans, plans!!!

So lots happening, and lots of plans, I'm also planning on doing more things with the kids, we spent 1 hour yesterday blowing bubbles in the back yard and laughing at the dog trying to catch them...was a good day, more of that to come...

Money

So, I've stopped working at the rescue shelter about a month ago, work with my "mate" has been pretty inconsistent, so money hasn't been great, but we're getting by ok, for now. So whats my plan? Do I even have one? Last night we had a manager from a franchise come around to talk about buying a pet grooming franchise. Now its sounds good, make your own money, support from the company, how much you put in is how much you get out...but things that are bad, initial outlay to buy the franchise, 37000, that would mean a loan, and emptying our-well the wife's- bank account, owing money to the bank, probably spending the first year building the business and repayments, so pretty much the first year is repayments, not so much making money-well depending on how busy I am- so that means the first year, or most of it, I would be paying off, not earning, we get by on the wife's wage, and have backup in the bank, but buying the franchise would change that, is it something I/we're prepared to do? All of this hurts my head. Money money money, that's all life seems to be, money doesn't make you happy? To some degree I believe that, working your ass off to make it, doesn't work, the more money you want, the more you got to work-mostly, I think winning money doesn't help, IF, its alot of money, you know millions, you have people wanting things from you, having that much money makes you complacent I think. I want enough to be comfortable, enough to buy a house, and invest some and live-or at least- have enough interest earning, that if we weren't working, we had a modest-40000ish- interest payment each year-you know average wage. I want a comfortable life, that revolves around time with/for the kids, hobbies and having a fun exciting life, without stressing everyday about money and work, yes I know billions of other people want this too. If I won money, how much would be good, its one thing to say I want to win that 10million lotto draw, but really, that's nothing but greed, its nice to say I'd like to help out people or my family if I won money, but my main priority is my family under this roof, so how much is enough? Well a house, yes a big block of land and big house, cars, sheds and no neighbours would be great, but what would make us happy and comfortable? Maybe a decent size 4 bed home, close to the water-so gold coast obviously- a garage or workshop/shed, nice kitchen/bathroom etc, so maybe something worth around 400-450000? That's a pretty average house price on the coast, what else? Abit of spending money, finish the car, a holiday and some household items? So maybe 50000? A decent holiday by the way... And some money in the bank, 10% interest account, 40000 a year? So maybe another 400000? So really a million? If we couldn't have it all, I'd settle for the house option, that would mean working wasn't going into rent or home repayments, it would be surplus, so 450000? That would be nice, I'm not greedy, I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting a better life, that didn't involve watching every dollar you have, just want some comfort... Now to work out how to make it happen

I should be sleeping

Well its not that late, 11.40pm on a Wednesday, day off tomorrow, but really I should be in bed....but, I don't feel tired tonight. I'm not really sure why, I've done lots of hours at work the last couple of weeks, I'm normally awake by 5am most mornings, sleeping in is 6am! Maybe its just having too many thoughts running through my head tonight, nothing bad, just thinking about work, the last few months has been abit shitty, lots of changes, some good, some bad. It seems the clash of personalities is really making things difficult, for me? No not really, I'm pretty much removed from that, I'm not really taking sides, just seeing things from some peoples side of things. The ethics of the place are my main problem, Nic, our 'new' boss, in my opinion, doesn't deserve the position she's in, I haven't seen her work any harder than anyone else there, I don't see her making things better for the animals, if anything now that she is in control of things, she can pretty much pick and choose what animals go out for sale and which ones visit the 'green' room.. Its disappointing, I've worked in many places where the staff are treated like second class people, I wouldn't have expected this at a rescue centre. Its all about money isn't it? Every business needs to make money to stay afloat, I get that, but the rescue centre feels like a pet shop, sales meetings and training nights, listening to figures like, '200 people came through the doors on the weekend, but only 40 animals were adopted', to me figures like that are important in a retail store, we're a 'NO PROFIT RESCUE CENTRE FOR ANIMALS!!!', anyone can work in a pet store and sell a cat or a dog to anyone, I choose to work in a rescue centre because I don't agree with what pet shops do, selling animals to just anyone, they're the reason alot of rescue centres exist, people go into pet stores and see a cute husky puppy, the salesperson does the hard sell 'Ohh the puppies soooo cute, ohh look how its kissing you, it wants to go home with you', then a couple of months later the new dog owners realise how much work the dog is, how much exercise it needs, attention, food, vet bills...then we get the call 'The dogs just not suited to our lifestyle', another homeless dog...pet shops... I don't need sales figures, I'm not in a pet shop, I don't just sell dogs to anyone, I find the right people for dogs, I find forever homes for these animals, saying we're not selling enough is offensive, being called 'sales consultants' is offensive, I'm a rehoming team member, not a salesman. To start to force sales and animals on people...that reduces the rescue centre to a pet shop, in my opinion. I'm disappointed with my workplace. They say the place isn't making enough money, we cant afford to work extra and get paid for it, and yet a new position of a 'purchase officer' has just popped up, to help us reduce our product costs, and yet the centre has never-in its 50years- had a purchase officer, ohh wait its the bosses brother, a very strong conflict of interest I think. I have a job offer, working with a mate, on cars again, good money, do I want to take it? Not really. Will I? Maybe not. Maybe I need to move forward with where I want my future to be, working with animals, making a difference, I don't think I want to take a backwards step in my career, being paid to work on someone else's car's is a backwards step, time to move forward. Tomorrow-well now today-I have a plan, resume and emails.

My resolution for the year

Everyone seems to have one, I dont really think ive had a New Years Resolution before, actually last time someone asked if I had one...my year turned to shit....
So, what am I working towards for this year?
First- Health. Ive noticed that in the last few months ive become lazy with looking after myself, no exercise, poor eating habits, and too much alcohol.. So im going to set myself some goals and some rules. Today will be my first day back on the weights, 3-4 days a week, I will set myself a workout plan, including walking the dogs a few days a week. Food- cut down on the junk food, start the day with a good breakfast, smaller more regular meals throughout the day, I will make sure I take food to work. Cut down on sugar filled drinks and snacks. Good quality food, dinners have been good so theres no problem there, just need to eat breakfast, better lunch's and meals during the day-I will set myself a work menu. Alcohol, time to really cut that back. NO alcohol during the week at home, weekends and "outings" only, but still keeping it limited, maybe a 2 drink maximum at anytime, this one will be hard, but I dont want to keep going the way ive been the last couple of months..And drink more water!

Anything else for the year?

Ohh yeah, boat license and getting out in the water! A few trips to the local islands, need to try and get this happening by K's birthday!
Hmm, money... I want to start making some money again, outside of my wages. I'm thinking of snakes, breeding them that is, a few different types. I want to have some extra money to spend on a holiday, and maybe a Camaro, yes ive got the car bug again, but this time I want to do it right, not spending money thats needed for living, but having a side money maker and using it for "other" lifestyle things/needs.

I think thats it, probably more that enough to try and achieve this year...lets see how I go...

Man i'm lazy....

Ok, time has got away from me, my idea of making this blog a regular thing hasnt really worked in the last few months, but I guess life has just been abit busy...

So where to start???...Well our family is back together in the same house again, the kids were happy when it happened, and K seems happy, it has been a long hard road really, not knowing what was going to happen, would K actually be able to give up her place and live with me again? Would it all work, or was I expecting too much? So how do I feel now that we are back together? Am I happy? Well the simple answer is, it feels like we started again, I remember when we first got together all those years ago, that feeling of excitement, wanting to hear what she had done for the day, just wanting to spend time with her, so yes, im happy, I feel like the future we always thought we'd have together, is back again, this time I feel like it will be better, no one getting in the way, and no more forgetting who we are, or how we feel about each other. Thats my take on things, hopefully its K's too. I think thats all I'll add in this post, ive got lots more to say, but I think they should be in other posts.