I mean it is quite possible I will leave a company again, but for now, am in the departure lounge of my Virgin years. It's funny how people think you're really going to miss the excitement, buzz and unpredictability of working in an airline. Possibly. But I will get over it. At the end of the day (like), when ye work in the Finance department of any large organisation, one's exposure to the heady heights of flying jets around the largest island nation in the world is reasonably limited. I am not a pilot. Nor am I a trolley dolley. And I will not miss the turbulent insanity of the industry, the somewhat fake nature of what is perceived to be the Virgin "culture" (it is just another large corporation lets face it), or the penny pinching and occasionally pound foolish nature of what is essentially this low cost airline. It's a job. Family and a career path one can actually see is what matters.Upwards and onwards.
A little ray of information light has been cast on the antipodes with the "freeing" of access to the Irish Times on the internet. I almost feel a step closer to home - there's something about the familiarity and the style of the writing.
Little Ms Emma Foley is approaching 8 weeks. That mystical milestone at which point kids (and therefore parents) theoretically adapt to having a decent sleep at night. I reckon we're close, but still a way to go to that holy grail. In all fairness though she is being bloody great and is porking up just like her big sister (who now exceeds 3 ft - she's inherited the Foley height genes).The countdown to the arrival of the Foley folks at the start of August is well underway. Downstairs is being prepared for the arrival i.e. kettle and milk for multitude of cups of tea about to be located in the laundry/kitchenette.
You will all have to forgive the lapse into talk of the kids below, but to be perfectly honest, that's our lives currently (and forever!!) so not much else for me to talk about right now.
The tale of Sea World - where that clip below of Aibhe going nuts at Big Bird and the crew was filmed. Alissa thoughtfully decided that given the time of year etc, it would be good to get away for a couple of days/nights and distract the minds a bit - so we booked into the Sea World resort, about an hour south of here on the Gold Coast. It meant staying in a (relatively small) single studio room with 2 double beds. The danger bells should now be ringing.
Off we went to the park with the girls - Emma was wonderful and pretty much slept for the entire day. Aibhe had an absolute cracker of a day. Have to admit to being incredibly impressed with the whole set-up (and it wasn't even all open due to it being Winter and all maintenance being carried out). The surprise to us both as parents, was Aibhe's reation to Elmo. She barely knew the guy (girl? monster?) yet when he came out for a picture session after the 1st of the 2 shows we attended, she insisted on going up and hugging him. A 6 foot red and hairy character for which she only had one book as a reference point. Straight up there, skipping and barging through the queue where possible.
Off we went to the park with the girls - Emma was wonderful and pretty much slept for the entire day. Aibhe had an absolute cracker of a day. Have to admit to being incredibly impressed with the whole set-up (and it wasn't even all open due to it being Winter and all maintenance being carried out). The surprise to us both as parents, was Aibhe's reation to Elmo. She barely knew the guy (girl? monster?) yet when he came out for a picture session after the 1st of the 2 shows we attended, she insisted on going up and hugging him. A 6 foot red and hairy character for which she only had one book as a reference point. Straight up there, skipping and barging through the queue where possible. I walked out of the toys shop $120 poorer having adopted Bert, Ernie, Big Bird and Elmo as Aibhe's latest obsessions. She actually refers to them as her 'Guys' now.
Of course Aibhe hit the brick wall at about 2 in the afternoon so yours truly was lumbered with carrying the 14kg deadweight for an hour while we watched the somewhat kitsch seal lion show. Managing to wake her for the dolphin show was an achievement in itself, but entirely worthwhile as she shouted "MORE" every time the amazing mammals did one of their sky-jumps. I was rather taken by the show - all done in extremely good taste and not even remotely cheesy - which I think I was expecting a bit.
Of course Aibhe hit the brick wall at about 2 in the afternoon so yours truly was lumbered with carrying the 14kg deadweight for an hour while we watched the somewhat kitsch seal lion show. Managing to wake her for the dolphin show was an achievement in itself, but entirely worthwhile as she shouted "MORE" every time the amazing mammals did one of their sky-jumps. I was rather taken by the show - all done in extremely good taste and not even remotely cheesy - which I think I was expecting a bit.
The sub-marine views of the beautiful polar bears and the quite fricken gigantic sharks were mesmerising - ye could spend hours looking at them - if permitted to.
The evening came along and we retired to our abode for the night. Hmmmm. Tight was the first thing I thought of - but sure lets see how we go was the attitude. Roll forward several hours to about 1am, Aibhe wakes in a fever and grizzles away so I climb into bed with her to settle her down. Emma wakes shortly therefter and basically stays awake. Aibhe then wakes again - still sweating and demands to go in beside Alissa - so we swap girls and battle through to dawn. I made the unilateral decision that we would not stay the 2nd night. I think Alissa thought I was giving up too early, despite being just as frazzled as I was. We hung around a while and managed to get Aibhe to meet with Elmo again in the hotel lobby before trying the "heated" resort pool (still too fricken cold) and then calling it quits, packing up the rather unreal amount of baggage we had and heading home. In fairness, the resort refunded the 2nd nights accommodation, something I still find extremely surprising and in one word, kind.
A sleepy drive back to Brisbane and home sweet home. As we both sat with our glasses of wine watching TV at 8pm, both girls sound asleep, we reflected on it being a good move in the end. When Aibhe woke the next morning, she was probably in the best form she'd been in for weeks.
Bert and Ernie are now on an endless TV loop.
The evening came along and we retired to our abode for the night. Hmmmm. Tight was the first thing I thought of - but sure lets see how we go was the attitude. Roll forward several hours to about 1am, Aibhe wakes in a fever and grizzles away so I climb into bed with her to settle her down. Emma wakes shortly therefter and basically stays awake. Aibhe then wakes again - still sweating and demands to go in beside Alissa - so we swap girls and battle through to dawn. I made the unilateral decision that we would not stay the 2nd night. I think Alissa thought I was giving up too early, despite being just as frazzled as I was. We hung around a while and managed to get Aibhe to meet with Elmo again in the hotel lobby before trying the "heated" resort pool (still too fricken cold) and then calling it quits, packing up the rather unreal amount of baggage we had and heading home. In fairness, the resort refunded the 2nd nights accommodation, something I still find extremely surprising and in one word, kind.
A sleepy drive back to Brisbane and home sweet home. As we both sat with our glasses of wine watching TV at 8pm, both girls sound asleep, we reflected on it being a good move in the end. When Aibhe woke the next morning, she was probably in the best form she'd been in for weeks.
Bert and Ernie are now on an endless TV loop.
