Well, I'm back again. I've been in Armidale for five or so days, a somewhat unexpected trip. The Boy and his younger brother own a house down there, and I knew the Boy had planned on going down in early January to help with renovations... then I got a message from Boss at the Thai place, saying that they were staying closed for another week because she didn't want to come back to work yet (!) so as it turns out, I was free to go with him. Kind of glad about that too.

So last Wednesday night we packed up the car and took off... we also brought the kitty with us. We really didn't want to leave him again after us being away for two weeks and him trailing around after us like a little shadow since we got back. He's not so fond of the car but after a while he seemed to be pretty settled, and the return journey was barely an issue at all. I tell you, that little cat amazes me... I've moved house with him more times than I can count on my hands and he seems to take it in his stride so easily. Within a day at Armidale he was quite content and we were able to let him wander in and out as he pleased. I think Younger Brother and his Girlfriend really liked having him around too :)

So, not really much to say about Armidale though. I've been there three times and I think I've seen most of the town... it's not very big. The house is coming along well, some of the big stuff like the kitchens (one in the house and one in the granny flat out back) have been done since we were last there and although there's still some fairly big jobs to be done (the bathrooms, replacing all the doors and some carpet) there was plenty there that I could do. I spent the first day sanding and repainting the laundry window and doorframes (although I managed to sand my knee with the circular sander attachment on the drill... ouch!), the second and third day was mostly preparing and undercoating the walls and ceiling in the bathroom and toilet, and on the fourth day I painted the ceilings proper in the bathroom and toilet and also painted the walls in the laundry. We never really did more than five hours work a day, so we still had plenty of time to watch DVDs and drink and enjoy ourselves... also managed to read a lot of the Japan Lonely Planet guide... man I have lots to do! Also got to spend more time with Younger Brother, who I really like, and get to know his lovely Girlfriend a bit better, so was really good.

The unexpected bonus was getting paid for it... I didn't know that Younger Brother had been paying himself from the mortgage fund for any work done on the house, and he suggested we did the same - $15 an hour, which is way cheaper than what a tradesman would charge but a bit more than what I typically earn at my other temp stuff, especially after tax. So I've managed to earn a nice $300, without spending a whole lot in Armidale, which will go straight into the Japan fund.

The Japan fund is actually looking okay, considering I had quite a long time off work around Christmas... nearly three weeks now. Furthermore, I'll be able to add my bond refund to that when we leave, another $500 (assuming they don't deduct anything... we've really got to have the garden done!), and my temp agency called today too - I've got two weeks of work lined up. Sure, it's only four hours a day, but at least it's regular work...

Besides, I have a lot to do right now, I can use the time. Various things to buy and find for Japan, and more keep springing to mind... for example, I really need a pair of decent shoes that I can get on and off easily. I don't think I'll be wearing my 10-hole Docs around so much anymore :) We have about 20 more days in this house so we need to be packing and cleaning and stuff, always fun... probably will do a run to Grandad's with some stuff this weekend if I can. I've got to organise all the uni stuff (declining offers and scholarships and such) and then the Austudy stuff, and decide whether I really want to pay $50 for gown hire to do my graduation ceremony... got to change address and all that shite... we have so much to do for the letterbox drop of fliers we have planned for the Boy's business, more folding and delivering and stuff... we're still waiting on whether the Boy will receive a uni offer, and then there'll be all the accpeting stuff with that... and then, there's the 7th and final series of Star Trek still to be watched, which is of course a top priority :) And the longer I sit here, the more I think of... there are rather numerous things to be done just now. I need socks without holes in them for when I have to keep taking my shoes off in Japan, and I need to buy luggage... sheesh!

Anyway, tonight I am going to watch Phantom of the Opera, but perhaps I will get some of this shopping stuff done too, this afternoon, hopefully... :) I guess I should go do stuff, eh?

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