Keado’s Weblog

..and yes mom, have played Lotto tonight $5.50, start packing!

Every once is a while you have a day where everything is just perfect. Not to jinx that day [it's onlt 5pm] but ‘bloody brilliant”

• I have been having hassles with the home internet and not sure what the problem was – last night particuraly bad and decided that something had to be done this morning. 8:30 this morning, knock at the door – courier with new modem – forgot that I was due a new one with the business line – plugged it in and hey presto, looks like problem solved
• Over the past few months I’ve been trying to get a grip on design software and something was always lacking – then last night I received a file in a strange format – Adobe Illustrator – which I had on my system but hadn’t had the chance to really look at – did some work this morning and worked perfectly – reworked all the artwork from the week within 30min – awesome.
• Keagan has been asking for a netball for months and months, but at $30-$35 just too expensive. There have been some specials at $20 but just haven’t been able to spend that much on a ball. Jd’s soccer ball on special was $10 – but for some reason, the netball balls are never market down – until today – and to make it even better, it was really free. K bought a lock book 2 months ago for $5 that didn’t operate properly when she got home and like a good girl, kept her slip. So today, went to the Warehouse for a cash refund – got her refund and I told her to see what the special were on balls – guess what the netball cost her – yup, an incredible 75% off and $5!!! Couldn’t believe it but she is the proud owner of a new Mitre Netball.
• When Kim was in SA, the bedroom Tv went on the blink – we bought from the Warehouse but unsure whether we still had the slip. True to form, Kim found the slip this morning but thr warranty was for 12 months from March 2007. Thought worth a try and put the Tv in the car and went through. Left the Tv in the car and spoke to the lady at the desk – after an up and down she said that it was out of warranty but could send for repairs at our cost. With the tubeoon the blink, not much good sending for repairs. The Tv was $250 and pretty sure would cost more but still $250 – just couldn’t walk away. She said I could speak to the manager if I wanted – negotiations were all smiles and happy – manager came over looking a little blue – I joked and asked if he was in a happy mood – got a smile and said “I know it’s out of warranty but really, a Tv should last longer than 2 years and just can’t walk away from $250. He thought for a moment, then said ok, he would swop out but didn’thave the same Tv anymore – lets go have a look. Cheapest 29cm was $299 and above..looked at a few then he said, best he could do was swop the $299 if we kick in the $50 extra – mmmm “Kim, what you think”…mmmm” an additional $50″… [both knowing that we don't have it]…mmm…looks at me…look at Kim…look at eachother…”hey, could you discount the $299 to $250?”..”sure, lets just do a straight swop, ok?…mmmmm…”ok”… I was out like a shot to the car to get the old and we have a new [better] tv.
• Over the past 3 months or so, Surf have had massive specials on washing powder, except for front loader, all top loader. Both Foodtown and Warehouse have had no stock of any front loader. I had stocked up before so not really concerned but still not right that everyone else was getting bargains at 60% off and not us. So 2 months ago, emailed Surf, no answer. Another special so called the 0800 number. They couldn’t really help and gave me the number for the distrybution centre – they couldn’t help, so called Surf back. They can’t deal directly with the public so gave me the number for the manager at the local Foodtown. Emailed but nothing – when Kimw as away I had the opportunity to ask for the manager – she checked the system and said, yup, we have 66 in stock . “No you dont”..”yes we do, computer states we do”..”well you don’t and haven’t had for 2 months”..”no, can’t be but I’ll check”..there was a special on at 50% off at $2,29 at the time. She came back and said’ yup, you are right, the computer states 66 in stock but there is an error and so has not ordered for months because it thinks it has enough in stock” She oredered and I bought a few some days later, at the special price. Well, today, another special at $1,99 [60% off] and yes, they had front loader, bought 6!
• I have for at least 2 years looked for hi-res quality stock photo’s that can be used in marketing material – FREE. Prices for quality pictures range from $1 to $25 and more. Some site was a registration fee or monthly subs. Last night came accross one that, yup, 100% no frills free!!! There is some 440+ pages with 30+ per page all of different aspects of life. Artworks, abstract, people, dogs, architecture – you name it, it’s there – downloaded a ton and will be back for more.
• We’ve been meaning to clean the cars and just haven’t had the chance, always something and then the off rain shower. Today, blue skies and spent the afteroon washing the cars [inside and out] with the help of K and JD [after he came back from a party]. Oh, Jaque came over with a bourbon&coke as he was also washing – so after that – recipricated with a Kaos – two 8% drinks – nice!
• Kim collected Jd from the party and got chatting with mom – she is expanding her business and Kim was quick with her card for the print work. They do quite a quantity and would look to use us.
• Kim also for the first time since coming back had “energy” – simple thing I know but not great when it’s lacking. No naps, no yawning, no moaning – energy and smiles.
• Peanut butter Thai Chicken for dinner

Can’t think of anything else but maybe that’s enough good karma for one day, you think?

Sunday night and the holidays are officially over, kids alseep and ready for school tomorrow., Kim under blanket watching NCIS.

The week flew by in a blink – guillotine and perfect binder were delivered on Wed.  I think it was Thur I had to take so much new info, the first thing I had was a Nurofen when I got home. Kids highlight was Ice Age 3 on Tuesday otherwise it’s been a pretty boring holiday for them. The weather hasn’t helped so no beach & no fishing. Lots of computers & tv and a little playstation.

We got some work for Fri and waited for the tech guy to do a maintenance check – he finished & around 4:30 we tried to print – ERROR and error and error. By 5:30 it was time to switch off & go home – maybe the machine wanted a long weekend. Teething problems were anticipated, so we carry on tom morning.

Lucky you weren’t waiting online – lost an hour preparing for office tomorrow. We’re taking 3/4 of the dining room to the office – reception chairs & main front desk. The tinted glass on the wood matches the internal partitioning.

Looking forward to the new term..

Not since the start of Thai Cafe have I been this excited about a business. Maybe it’s because as withthe restaurant, it’s new territory we’re playing in.  I found myself in the office this morning bursting with excitement when somene asked for a quote!

The fundementals are all there and the machine waiting patiently to get rocking. Kids last week of holiday and came to the office after lunch to play – nothing broken so all good. They are going to movies tomorrow, not sure whether it’s Hanna Montana, Transformers or Ice Age – they are very undecided. They’re busy playing Playstation at the moment, 8:36pm so lucky no school. I think this is the first time this holiday that they are playing Playstation..

The weather over the weekend was pretty bad but lucky not as bad at anticipated. There was some sever storms further up North, mostly strong winds coming down form Samoa.

Kim is stilltired, a  little better each day but not much energy. It’s been some very late nights watching the Tour de France. I tried to watch a year or 2 after Lance Armstrong retired but it had no fire, just plenty of drugs and banning. This year there’s a new fire and don’t think there has been one positive test [yet]. Following Lance on twitter over the past few weeks leading up to the Tour has meant that it seems like I know the team and the competition. Sky are crossing over around midnight and have to drag myself to sleep by 2am – would prefer to watch to the close at 3:30am but haven’t yet – maybe in the last week and certainly the last stage or 2.

Its a rest day today so no cycling but doubt that I’ll get to sleep until much later. Otherwise, everything happening..

Yup, she’s back – and sleeping….

We got to the airport and thought that she would be through around 11:30 – the strange thing was that when we arrived there were hardly any people waiting. There were a few taxi people and maybe 4 other – empty. I had to look twice at the flight info to make sure I was there at the right time. We had McDonalds, finished eating, check the board and still had as ‘landed” unlike some earlier which were “processing”. Jd wanted to look at the toys and get a water, so said we would get a water and then look. We came out the little shop and walked out to see Kim coming through the doors – hadn’t even seen the crew come through>

Kids were off, lots of hugs and kisses – “I’m home!!” Apparently ran through customs and stopped for nobody.

Keagan was out pretty quick in the car on the way home while JD was awake after his 3 hours sleep before…he has his eyes on the trick track and wasn’t letting go. Even after he fell asleep, got him into bed, he was all smiles minutes later when I brought the trick track into the room. Had to almost bribe him to sleep and open in the morning – technically it was already the morning, think around 1am.

Kim was ready for sleep but I was too excited to unpack and see all the goodies – so I won and everything was distributed around the bedroom, kids in between on their beds. Kids awake “late’ just after 7 and into the goodies like a flash. Kim lay in until 9, only I as I had to go to a meeting. She lasted until 11 and then asleep again on the couch, cat and all. She did have time to hoover, something she must have missed.

I’ll let her have a relaxing day today but I think tomorrow semi back to normal, even with kids on holiday