Falls into place...
After trying to work out how to balance work, studying over summer, racing trips and a PBox; its all taken out of my hands and oddly enough, all falls into place. Job offer at 10am. Pro's and Con's List created at 12 noon. Job accepted at 12:30pm. Pro's and Con's Lists seem to follow me everywhere; whenever I need to make a decision. I have a Pro's and Con's List which I created while standing knee- deep in mud in a cauliflower field in France, trying to decide if I wanted to change from an anthropology degree to business. I have one written on the plane on the way on the way to the Philippines, trying to decide if I was running for LCP for the right reasons.
Now, after only five days at work in marketing department, I have another Pro's and Con's list, a promotion and a transfer. I'll be back home in Toowoomba working full- time as of Monday until early February. Completely unexpected.
Don’t worry.
I’ll still be at ANCON
Still in Brisbane on weekends
I have been having the most utterly random dreams lately. Last night's consisted of:Kezz, an inflatable pool in the back of Kezz' car (filled with water) and some unicorns.
W
T
F
Side note. Today Tonight; an Aussie 'news reporting' show (and easily one of the things I hate most) has had blow #2.
1. Naomi Robson and her crew trying to sneak into PNG on a tourist visa to do a story on a boy who they thought was to be eaten by cannibals. Find it here.
2. Today Tonight's crew sneaks aboard a P&O cruiseship in an attempt to film the 'highlife of drugs and alcohol on the high seas'. Probably with the underage girl they brought abroad themselves. Check out one (of the many) articles here.
So far, its the score is ETHICS 2: TODAY TONIGHT 0
Missing the Philippines.
I’ve got that travel-bug itch back again.
Today I was sitting in the office at work, happily typing away, when a memory from AP randomly popped into my head.
Opening Night. A twilight evening on a patch of lawn next to a beach and a gorgeous Spanish building. All lit up, white marquees, too much food, laughing, chattering, still on a high from Global Village (and the Aussies in pluggers feeling decidedly underdressed), the sound of the ocean, all capped off with fireworks.
*sigh*
Missing you Miss Rondario.
How could you not miss places like this? --
As a random side note. Two dashing quotes from Bo:
[On the cost of @ conferences] They’re a tornado in your pocket!
[On studying for exams in Turkey] You’re prostituting your brain!
And finally, add to my frequently played list The Cure; 'The Lovecats' is on repeat. Love. It.
'Old Skool'
I've gone all old skool after the last couple of days. All I've been listening to is Fugazi and the Manic Street Preachers.Addicted.
Today is a lightbulb day.
So I might be officially an ex-LCP now.But lounge room floor covered in branded documents, 4.5 hours on a laptop, 9 pages of a draft proposal tells me that I have a PBox.
Like a TIGER!
October must be the month of birthdays! Today it’s my little brother’s…
Happy Birthday Boof!
A higher intelligence? In my dryer?
Have you ever seen the movie 'Contact' with Helen Hunt?The metallic, repeated, grinding noise that the scientists can hear in deep space is exactly what my dryer sounds like right now. NB. If you actually go to the 'Contact' website, you get to hear said sound!
Indy vs. Schoolies
Its the Indy 300 this weekend, so for any of you that have not had the fortune to attend either of these at their home at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast… at a veteran of both of these events…here’s my overview of both events:
Schoolies is a week of underage partying, drugs, sex and booze with hundreds of thousands of high school graduates, converging on the Gold Coast under the guise of ‘celebration’.
Indy is four days of partying, drugs, sex and booze with hundreds of thousands of adults, converging on the Gold Coast under the guise of ‘motorport fans’.
Both events are based out of Surfers Paradise, need to be organised and booked months (for Indy sometimes years) in advance.
Here are the similarities between the two events:
- Sunglasses, sunburn and short-shorts
- Crowds, parties until 4am
- Drink Spiking
- Police out in force
- Overpriced merchandise
- Seedy old men trying to hit on underage girls
Schoolies differences:
- More drugs.
- More police.
- The Surfers Snow Party.
Indy:
- More nudity.
- More prostitution.
- More lycra.
- The Indy Undy Ball.
My tip. Indy. Not only because I’m now officially a ‘Toolie’, but because I went to both events in the same year (they’re held two months apart) and nothing compares to arriving in the days before Indy to the atmosphere. Seeing the whole of Surfers transformed into a huge party, beer delivered by pallets, accommodation owners bracing themselves, marquees set up… on the final day the whole place dissolves into complete anarchy… which is just great to watch with a beer in hand from a 10th floor apartment balcony…
So the date might be a little out...
Eeeven though my blog tells me its the 17th (I need to work on that)... its actually the 18th...
...Happy Birthday Jake!
Brisbane's Traffic Woes
Last night I, not realising exactly what was going on, hopped a lift with my parents from the city. After 3 hours in the car (it would have taken me about half an hour to WALK home)...
For those of you not quite in the loop, Brisbane's Riverside Expressway (the huge tangle of roads and ramps on the city side of the river - the simplest, easiest way to get into... and out of the city) was closed last night as cracks have started to appear in the Ann Street Off- ramp. Check out this CM (18/10/06) article: 'The Commute from Hell'
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20600397-952,00.html
An anti-climax...
Months in the planning…
The tension was high…
My first day at work in ‘Strategic Marketing Communications’ unit at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Forestry (and Fisheries). DPIF&F was a complete anti- climax.
They weren’t expecting me.
I had a quick half hour induction (I've been warned that the intensive, online, two- day induction is something I should avoid at all costs... sounds worse than Ernie...) then went shopping. Minor false start, so I’ll be kicking things off tomorrow.
Tomorrow will be a good day. I get my sexy ID card on belt *zing zing zing* tomorrow (Queenslanders know what I’m talking about). Ah…you know what they say about small things…
NB: Something I noticed on the morning commute with Bo (Ha! I commute to work now!) and something purely Queensland… while sitting on the bus this morning, I didn’t realise how many business women wore their pluggers (thongs) to work. Seeing handbags bulging at awkward angles to contain their high heels was also classic; made my day.
Only in Brisbane.
Grameen Bank
I first heard about the
Grameen Bank from one of the Bangladeshi delegates at AP; I thought it was an awesome concept, but I didn't really think anything else of it until today. Flicking through the paper, I see that the GB have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts.
GB works by giving advances to the poorest, rural Bangladeshi women, without collatoral, in an effort to pull them out of poverty.
But what's even cooler.
Google has just shown me that the GB concept is being spread internationally through the
Grameen Foundation. Go check it out.
Watch out... I'm getting all reflective...
I post this from the QUT office; where I’m chilling after an EBM and a Queensland pub night hangover, avoiding assignments and exam study by Googling upholsterers and screen printers for the legacy items I’m planning on handing over to the LC. You’ll just have to wait to find out what they are.
My plans for next year are starting to come together; at present (and very, very open to change) is as follows:
- Involvement in recruitment on an LC level – just to have another hand on deck*
- Apply for MENA LDS and totter off to Morocco
- Run a PBox on water sustainability
- Mentor first year ICX directors in the region
- …and the thought just popped into my head that I really should do something linked with - branding…since I’ve barely touched on it during my term…
MelMel is up here for SnA, so that should help me to clarify things a bit more, which is good because I’m in that ‘it’s the end of my term’ reflection mode at the moment. Last night were EB elections for the 2007 team, another wakeup that I’m creeping towards handover, and passing on an LC that has been home for the last year and a half, but my baby *tear* for the last few months.
The other day, ex-QUT LCP Natalie, asked me how I found my term. When it came to describing it, the best term I could come up with was ‘big’. I really hope that over the next few weeks I can come to something a little better than that.
On a final note; a huge congratulations to Azz (OCC), Kezz (PD) and Taiwan Dave (ICX) who are our new EB for 2007. Also, thanks especially to Mei, Brett and Lil for sitting in on selection panel. Thanks guys, very appreciated.
*I’m realise a lot of clichés in Jess-speak lately….
Water Blog!
Apologies to all those who keep seeing my blog appear in the recently updated section of Nomadlife without any REAL updates; I'm learning how to add links!... pictures will come soon... an updated background after that...*hyperventilates*
Further on my quest to a Jess of blog savvy; I've started up a second blog on water. Yes, it no longer will completely take over this blog. You can find it at http://keep-treading-water.blogspot.com/. This blog on water is purely for my rants, to post news articles, to store links so I don't lose them and space for me to plan out a PBox based around water sustainability.
Hometown (?)
This is a conversation I just had with a friend of mine from Toowoomba:Toowoomba: Hey, long time no see
Jess: Hey, how are you going?
Toowoomba: Yeah not too bad – what are you up to?
Jess: The usual. Assignments, talking to some people. You?
Toowomba: Yeah same. Who are you talking to?
Jess: A couple of friends from overseas; UAE and one from China.
Toowoomba: Haha foreign people are so much fun to stir up!
Uh… yes…you’re an idiot. The conversation then digressed into unbloggable... but its made met think...
Is this really where I come from?
And the people I used to relate to?
I’m starting to think all the mock stereotypes about the place are true.
Sunday is a holy day...
On Sunday, most Australians will know that it was the Bathurst 1000; a motor race held on a hill, in rural New South Wales. This year it attracted 62,000 people for a weekend in the middle of nowhere, with eskies, tents, petrol fumes, scantily clad grid girls and a hell of a lot of tradition. It’s difficult to put into words what Bathurst means to me. It’s just something I’ve been raised on, and I’ve come to see that its really difficult to ‘convert’ later in life. I’ve watched Bathurst every single year; be it in front of the TV, or at the circuit. In 20 years, I’ve seen 3220 laps, well over 120 hours and 20,000km of racing; just at this circuit, on one particular day, every single year.
It’s a day spent with family and friends, where you crack open your first beer before 10am, spend hours spieling off race history; debating if this is Denyer’s first year in V8’s, or exactly what the fastest lap around the course is (around to the fraction of a second), or which year ‘Bargs’ made his debut. The scale of it all is something you can’t describe unless you’ve actually been there. For some it is a religion. Couples get married there. Newlyweds honeymoon there. The course itself is epic; (if I had the tech talent I’d upload a video of the course… but I suck), but it goes something like this:
Off the start line, and straight into the aptly named Hell Corner; (I don’t think I’ve seen a single race that all cars have made it through that first corner unscathed) from here, its an uphill climb through a crowd lined track at the Cutting and Reid Park. The crowd gets fuller as you reach Sulman and McPhillamy; this is ‘the Mountain’; where only the stupid set up camp, and the brave venture by day; where at night you can see the glow of bonfires, where the illegal fireworks go off, where porta-loos are blown up in the name of fun and beer is ordered by the pallet.
Next, you’re through the square arch which marks Skyline; the segment of track right above the trademark of Bathurst; the massive white ‘Mount Panorama’ sign, and into the steep decline of the Dipper and the VB signs which signal the Esses. Its down through the tree lined Forrests Elbow, then out of the dark of the trees and onto a bright open plain – a straight stretch – Conrod Straight – a sharp turn (avoiding the sandtrap); under the GMC bridge at the Chase, around the final corner and your home… 160 laps to go…
This year, the race was won by a well deserving Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup, with the Kelly boys (two brothers; Rick and Todd) in second. Really; the whole race was just Lowndes vs. Kelly (as a single entity).
There’s a huge division between Holden (red) and Ford (blue); but its not a strict division; there’s a lot of crossover. Though I’m a Holden supporter; there is no-one I would have preferred win than Lowndes (Ford), just because he’s a damned nice guy. My favourite driver is Bargwanna, who was a Holden boy, but defected to Ford. No matter your alliance, very few people support Morris (Holden), Radisich (wherever will take him) or Skife (Holden)… just because they’re b*stards. Its all a big soap opera.
The heartbreak story of the day was Skaife’s collision with Jack Perkins (aged 20) about 30 seconds into the race. You just had to feel for Perkins; his first time in a V8 Supercar just HAD to be at Bathurst, with a hell of a lot of pressure that he would live up to his father (Larry Perkins; last won in 1997). Later in the day, roaming reporters tracked Perkins down who was loitering outside the commentary box, reminiscing about spending all his younger years at Bathurst annoying the commentators, and generally getting underfoot. It reminded me a lot of how I spent my Saturday nights when I was younger; dropping by the lapscoring tower, talking to the ladies in the canteen, generally dodging racecars returning to the pit area… ok enough of me reminiscing.
Bathurst this year, was similar to most years in many ways, but very different. Before the race, a short service was held to remember Bathurst legend, Peter Brock. For anyone who has been there, Bathurst is not a place that is quiet. Ever. But there was an eerie silence over the whole track for a few moments to remember Brock. Hundreds of thousands of people silent; a few moments where the red and blue rivalry stopped, and all that you could see were shots of racing’s illuminati with tears in their eyes. It was incredibly moving, and something that I’ll remember for a long time to come.
Saturdays...
Shopping in the morning. Yum Cha with Laura, Matt, Rando and Chuckie in the Valley for lunch. An afternoon on my balcony overlooking the river with Bo, a shisha, Turkish coffee and a book.
… funny all the time you find when you’re outgoing.
Words on the 2006 NLT...
Yep. A double post tonight, because I’m in a reflecting mood. Today was my first day ‘back in the office’ after SPM’s and the finality of my term is really sinking in. I’ve been thinking a lot; not about what I have or have not achieved, but more on what I’m going to miss. I’ve realised that one of the biggest things I will miss about being an LCP is being on the NLT (National Leadership Team).
I’m not sure who it was that quoted this, as a group of us wandered around Darling Harbour during SPM’s pre-conference but it was a perfect way to describe the NLT:
“It doesn’t feel like we’ve been apart for months, its like I saw you all yesterday.’
The NLT is the most supportive group of people I’ve ever worked with. A group of those that I respect and admire the most, the ones that are most understanding and let me ‘take off my leader hat’, and at the same time the most challenging.
The biggest thankyou to these three people pictured; Anne, Daz and James. These three have supported me from day dot; for those of you who don’t know them, they’re the kind of people who would call at 2am if they had the slightest inclination that things weren’t flying right. In fact, a few times they have. Actually at 2am. From across the other side of the country. I’ve got so much respect and admiration for all of you, and I’m incredibly blessed to number you among my friends, and I cannot wait until we can work together again.
@ Australia’s 2006 National Leadership Team
The Queenslanders: Elo, Dimmey, and St. James (and moi)
The Sydneysiders: Kana and Lucy
The Victorians: Daz, Lobov, Ippei and Shaz
The South Australians: James, Anne and Kate
The West Australian: May, Jun and Julz
The MC: Ralph, Ruth, Mel, Kyle, Ausra and Martin
A five hour croissant hunt...
Today, Kezz and I went on an impromptu adventure around Brisbane city.
Starting in the city, seeking chocolate croissants we were distracted and headed to the Valley where we hunted for Elo’s elusive $38 dress shop. From here, back to the city, with a short stint in a second-hand bookstore
In the spirit of the day’s adventure, I ended up buying a copy of Thor Heyerdahl’s ‘The Kon-Tiki Expedition’.
Heyerdahl is generally considered a crank archaeologist; in the 1940’s he theorized that the pyramids of the Middle East, and those of Central and South America were constructed by the same people, and he set about building a raft to carry him across the Pacific to prove his theory. I finally get to read his ideas from his perspective, rather from the ‘Pfft Heyerdahl *scoffs*’ perspective of his peers.
After the bookshop, back through the mall, onto the City cat and back to my house in Toowong. Still unsatisfied at dress hunting, lack of croissants and both of us deciding that we needed to go to a petstore… we ended up at Indooroopilly. And in the end. With dresses. And chocolate croissants.
All in all. A brilliantly wasted day. I should waste more of them in this way.
Sydney Sydney Sydney!
September Presidents Meeting
Queensland humour managed to pervade the entire conference. Fucking awesome. Thong throwing has become a national pastime, but more importantly, a mandate in legislation. Thongs thrown by the plenary inundated both Ralph and Ausra at points during conference. Great stuff.
The Queensland RB’s language has been adopted including:
‘So cold… so dark… so ronrey!’
NSW’s darling Kana was fucked over…becoming a ‘Kana Banana Split’ (photos to follow when I’m back in Brisbane), the plenary used every chance to yell ‘poofter’ at our Chair, Brett, Queensland’s ‘Teenage Party Games’ party theme night ended in far too much beer skolling, spinning around, frotting Ralph, gyrating and laybacks direct from the goon keg.
Content wise – it was very different. Not a ‘this is how you become an LCP’ conference; a ‘these are the decisions we need to make for the nation… I’ll give you an hour’. That was something I really loved – and it’s the first time I feel I’ve truly had an impact on the direction of @ in Australia.
PBox me...
On Friday, September 22nd 2006, in a Sydney Starbucks, I decided that I need to run my PBoX. It’s to the point that its stupid not to, and in the words of MelMel;
‘All signs point to yes’
I’m still incredibly unclear on exactly how it will link together – a lot of research is needed, because I flatly refuse to do this half-arsed. In the next few days I’m going to start up a blog to document everything about the project; it’ll be pretty organic, and eventually open to my team (once recruited!). Basically, it means that my rants about water will no longer completely take over my blog. Yay!
After deciding a definite YES on PBoX, two other factors added to my decision; @ Australia’s decision to include environmental sustainability as one of our three focus areas, and seeing ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ today. Won’t rant on more…could go for hours.
Learning for the sake of learning
This is all Jake’s fault. He’s relishing his philosophy degree, while I can’t abide my business studies. Lately, I’ve been lamenting that I gave up my anthropology degree. From when I was five, and studying dinosaurs, to when I was seventeen and I enrolled in an Arts degree, I had been set in my ways to do a degree in anthropology/ archaeology, with the ambition of eventually entering the field of evolutionary psychology.
I’m not going to give up on my current degree, but I’ve realised that down the track, even if its studying one subject, part time external for years and years, I need to be continually learning. After wandering around Borders bookstore today, and being tempted to purchase about ten different books… I haven’t really concentrated on reading since I moved to Brisbane at the start of 2005; Blackberry Winter by Margaret Mead was the last that I can honestly remember reading.
--
Photos to come soon. Thongs, Kana and the conference.
