Well what a year its has been! Manda and I have had the most amazing year; certainly one we will remember for a long time with the fondest of memories!
Europe certainly has given me a new perspective on life; a greater appreciation of home; and a means by which to empathise with so many more. I wouldn't have dreamt it, but there are so many people now with whom I otherwise shared little in common with who I can now converse with so much more easily and broadly; the Italian, Greek, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Turkish patients at work a great example. Travel is certainly a extraordinary treat and should definitely be encouraged to all! The places you see, events you experience, friends you meet, foods you try, languages you dabble in, means of transports you experience and pleasure from spending that hard earned money is unparalleled. Far more rewarding than anything else we've spent money on recently!!!
Other exciting news since returning home in late August includes, but is not limited to,
-the acquisition of Mango, daughter of Whoopie and Diesel at 8 weeks of age from Sydney on the 17th December. She is a delightful little, but ever growing and forever eating (!), golden retriever. She's into EVERYTHING - all of Mookie's toys, the garden, the hedge, the tissue paper, the Christmas presents... only the odd accident inside; nothing that can't be fixed up! After initially getting off side with Mookie, Mango is now a very good friend of Mookie - they play together gently (although at times it looks rough - especially when Mookie claws at Mango and Mango bears her teeth like a piranha and nips at Mookie's legs and neck) and, after some initial confusion, they now let each other eat uninterrupted. Manda claims that Mango is 'the best Christmas present ever'. When she's not eating her poo anyway! See the following video as an example of the dogs 'play' style! Manda has actually dubbed Mookie and Mango Sabertooth and Wolverine.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AL4u-SgItg
-I've been accepted, yes thats right, accepted, to join Royal Canberra Golf Club. Its more of a country club really where you must turn off the mobile phone and wear white socks above the ankles, polo shirt stuffed into dress shorts/pants; no denim or cargo pants here! However, it is a lovely golf course and its going to be a real pleasure to play there (when I can finally hit the ball straight that is!). Tom has accompanied me a few times now and I'm getting a few little pointers so hopefully I'll be hitting straighter soon. Goal of a handicap below 20 at present for 2012.
-Starting work at Cooleman Court Pharmacy as pharmacist in charge and now in the role of business manager. Its a great place to work offering professional services with great staff and terrific patients. As I always say, if you're not happy getting up to go to work every morning then you're in the wrong job! Needless to say I love getting up to go to work (most mornings anyway!) so don't need a career change just yet! I would however rather be back travelling but that's just not possible!
-Manda started work the same day as me (Monday 29/8/11) after being snapped up by a recruitment agency and then promptly being contracted to the NRS, part of National Parks. Having learnt loads and coming to really enjoy the challenge of public service work Manda has now accepted a job with the Department of Health, also based in Woden, working in a division of the PBS I believe looking after the administration and provision of extremely rare and expensive medications provided directly to the patient. These are drugs and conditions that I've never heard of so you'll have to ask Manda what exactly its all about! Having gained an APS level 5 position is quite impressive given Manda's small previous experience with the Public Service so we are both really happy! Manda can now pay the mortgage while I spend all my income on golf!
-#1 Carrington Street (now officially so after Manda had it changed on the public register from 58(?) Stradbroke Street - beauty of being on the corner block!) has been fairly uneventful. The tenants (Rod and Donna) are pleasant enough but have found a few things that require some attention.... Looking very much forward to doing some work on it when April rolls around and have been busy with Tom, Manda to a less extent, taking cuttings and raising seedlings! Only 14 weeks to go!
So with that is the end of a terrific year in the Brady files! It really has been a remarkable and memorable year. We certainly didn't anticipate it to be as fulfilling and educational as it has been but are extremely grateful for our good fortune.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Brad, Manda and Mango!
Europe certainly has given me a new perspective on life; a greater appreciation of home; and a means by which to empathise with so many more. I wouldn't have dreamt it, but there are so many people now with whom I otherwise shared little in common with who I can now converse with so much more easily and broadly; the Italian, Greek, Dutch, German, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Turkish patients at work a great example. Travel is certainly a extraordinary treat and should definitely be encouraged to all! The places you see, events you experience, friends you meet, foods you try, languages you dabble in, means of transports you experience and pleasure from spending that hard earned money is unparalleled. Far more rewarding than anything else we've spent money on recently!!!
Other exciting news since returning home in late August includes, but is not limited to,
-the acquisition of Mango, daughter of Whoopie and Diesel at 8 weeks of age from Sydney on the 17th December. She is a delightful little, but ever growing and forever eating (!), golden retriever. She's into EVERYTHING - all of Mookie's toys, the garden, the hedge, the tissue paper, the Christmas presents... only the odd accident inside; nothing that can't be fixed up! After initially getting off side with Mookie, Mango is now a very good friend of Mookie - they play together gently (although at times it looks rough - especially when Mookie claws at Mango and Mango bears her teeth like a piranha and nips at Mookie's legs and neck) and, after some initial confusion, they now let each other eat uninterrupted. Manda claims that Mango is 'the best Christmas present ever'. When she's not eating her poo anyway! See the following video as an example of the dogs 'play' style! Manda has actually dubbed Mookie and Mango Sabertooth and Wolverine.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AL4u-SgItg
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| Get the ball Mango, aka Sabertooth! Only problem is that her mouth was too little to fit it in! |
-I've been accepted, yes thats right, accepted, to join Royal Canberra Golf Club. Its more of a country club really where you must turn off the mobile phone and wear white socks above the ankles, polo shirt stuffed into dress shorts/pants; no denim or cargo pants here! However, it is a lovely golf course and its going to be a real pleasure to play there (when I can finally hit the ball straight that is!). Tom has accompanied me a few times now and I'm getting a few little pointers so hopefully I'll be hitting straighter soon. Goal of a handicap below 20 at present for 2012.
-Starting work at Cooleman Court Pharmacy as pharmacist in charge and now in the role of business manager. Its a great place to work offering professional services with great staff and terrific patients. As I always say, if you're not happy getting up to go to work every morning then you're in the wrong job! Needless to say I love getting up to go to work (most mornings anyway!) so don't need a career change just yet! I would however rather be back travelling but that's just not possible!
-Manda started work the same day as me (Monday 29/8/11) after being snapped up by a recruitment agency and then promptly being contracted to the NRS, part of National Parks. Having learnt loads and coming to really enjoy the challenge of public service work Manda has now accepted a job with the Department of Health, also based in Woden, working in a division of the PBS I believe looking after the administration and provision of extremely rare and expensive medications provided directly to the patient. These are drugs and conditions that I've never heard of so you'll have to ask Manda what exactly its all about! Having gained an APS level 5 position is quite impressive given Manda's small previous experience with the Public Service so we are both really happy! Manda can now pay the mortgage while I spend all my income on golf!
-#1 Carrington Street (now officially so after Manda had it changed on the public register from 58(?) Stradbroke Street - beauty of being on the corner block!) has been fairly uneventful. The tenants (Rod and Donna) are pleasant enough but have found a few things that require some attention.... Looking very much forward to doing some work on it when April rolls around and have been busy with Tom, Manda to a less extent, taking cuttings and raising seedlings! Only 14 weeks to go!
So with that is the end of a terrific year in the Brady files! It really has been a remarkable and memorable year. We certainly didn't anticipate it to be as fulfilling and educational as it has been but are extremely grateful for our good fortune.
Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!
Brad, Manda and Mango!
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| Mango in her Christmas costume - it was a battle to get her in and out! |
