SuperValu crew!!!

Its official. I am finished work in SuperValu as of Saturday past. It is a bit daunting to think I have been there almost 7 years, and I left to go work in Australia...I may have moaned about it and complained, but I will miss it...the people I work with that is, we where like a wee family...and I will miss SOME of the customers too...


So, Donna, one of my supervisors (supervisors and managers are more like friends in there really) decided we where not allowed to leave without a night out for everyone. So, a saturday night was arranged to Brunswick and Martha's Vineyard - bowling and a meal :D...and all I can say is what a night...


Thomas, Colleen, Donna, Laura, Maggie and I all met at Colleen's house for some pre-drinks (bowling is no fun totally sober) before we lifted Jill, Siobhan, Yvonne, Mary, and Neville in the village and Caroline and Michael in Eglinton. Off we went and met Siobhan, Ann-Marie and Stephanie there. After a game of pool, we took up 3 lanes for the bowling. Cocktails where amazing, and unfortunately, far too easy drank, so the game of bowls was a memorable one. A few shout outs over the tannoy, and down we all got for a go at "Rock the Boat" by the Hues Corporation....Good times...

Mature :P

Rockin' the boat

Then it was meal time. Even though we probably took up most of the space in Martha's Vineyard...the food was amazing! 3 courses of epic noms! Food, drink, friends and a nights crac...couldn't get better! After a few dances and cheering on bar fights :P, it was home time...


Then, for those who didn't get that night, due to work, we went out again. This time, Thomas, Colleen, John and I went to The Corner Bar for a few drinks, and met Amanda, Stewart and Adam while there...more drinks and more fun with friends...it was also a good night!!!

John (yes, he is a manager :P), Thomas and Colleen

John, me, Thomas and Colleen

Me, Thomas and Adam

So, what comes from this, is that I will really miss this bunch. They really are great to work along with, and will be hard to get other people like it :D

Off to Oz...

Ok, so, Thomas and I have finally got our Australian Working Holiday Visas and will shortly be off to Sydney to work for a year and possibly longer. I have to admit, I am excited to be going back to Australia, as it is one of the most wonderful countries I have been to, and I have awesome friends there, but, now that it has sank in, I am actually quite nervous...a lot of things have been niggling at me.


While my other half seems to be on a high, and is worrying about nothing now that he has a visa, I seem to be...a bit anxious, which usually isn't like me. I am looking forward to it, don't get me wrong, but I suppose men don't really let things get to them as much. This time, I will be away longer than before, I don't like saying bye and can't help but think 'What if...' What if something happens when I go, in Australia or at home? What if I can't contact home as much as before or only through email/FB (yes, this bothers me)? What if I don't like it this time as much as before? I suppose if that is the case I could just come home, but what if that would be a regret? What will (don't laugh) my little cat do, she is like my shadow, when she is alone for longer? And, what if she thinks I have up and left her without caring?...People know where I am and why I'm there, but she won't...Being diabetic, what if something happens, like I cannot get insulin or something...? What if I don't like the first job I get and that gives me a hateful impression of what the rest of the time is going to be like? I know it is unlikely, but what if the people I work for are quite horrible? I am used to a friendly working environment... I am not overly forward, so what if I can't make friends easy?... These may sound silly to you, but they sit in my head, and don't seem to go away. The main niggle is my kitty!!!


I have also been reading reviews about OzIntro, the company I'm going with, which all have been fantastic (only some negative reviews, which don't help), I will be staying for the first week in Surfside Backpackers hostel in Coogee Beach, Sydney, and out of 18 reviews on TripAdvisor, there are only 3 good ones :S...suppose, it is a hostel, not a hotel, but still... it looks nice, but the reviews make me anxious...


However, despite all of this, I can't wait to go. It should and will be fun, and a great experience. I will be travelling for the month of December maybe into Jan, going to a wedding in December, seeing all of my friends and I will be in Sydney to bring in the New Year, meaning I will be in 2012 before the peeps here :D


Anyway, wish me luck and tell me all my worries are nothing to worry about...


Edit:
Meant to add, at least Thomas will be with me :D

A tourist in my own country :)

Yes, that was what I done last week :D...
One of my friends, Alison, came over from Australia to visit her sister in England, so she came over to sunny little Northern Ireland for a week and stayed with us. I must admit, whenever I left Australia and said goodbye to everyone, I never thought any of my friends would have been over here...but, turns out I was wrong. I used to say that I wish they could come over, and Alison did!!! Wish granted :)...


Anyway, other than the rain - first rain in 2 weeks too - it was a great week. After 2 years of only facebook contact, I was so excited to see Alison, that, as her arrival got closer, I never slept! Yes...like a child on Christmas eve! So once she got here and to her 'home' for the week, we relaxed a bit, played catch up, went to town for lunch, went to the cinema etc etc (btw, Hanna is just ok...) and then on Wednesday, Nan and Granda took us to The Giants Causeway, the scenic route...it was lovely, and it stayed dry for most of the day. We also stopped at Dunluce Castle on the way back, which was also lovely - did you know, Michael Jackson wanted to buy it at one time - now you do. Learn something new everyday :O

Causeway

Next day, we done a bit of shopping...just had to go to Primark :)...and visited 'Derry's Walls,' and on friday, we watched tv during the day and went for a meal along with Kirsty that night. There was also a band parade, so we stayed and watched that. Then on the Saturday, mum and dad took us to the Ulster American Folk Park, where we learnt about the Irish (main story was about the Mellons) emigration to America, and how we pretty much built America :P... it was interesting, and we learned stuff we never knew, even mum, dad and me. Yes, this day it rained (the only 'good' day was the day the the Giants Causeway) but the trees and houses gave good shelter. We also got to play dress up when we got to 'America'.... :)

Back in the day

After a feed, we went home to get ready for the 'party/family get-together' that night (any excuse for a party in our family and its done). It was a joint 70th birthday on behalf of my Nan and Granda and a leaving party for Alison :(.  It was a good night, with plenty of pictures and sore cheeks :P

Alison and me

Alison, Kirsty and me

Then it was Sunday, and time for Alison to leave again :(...the week flew by, it was like a blink, but I had great fun and am epically happy Alison was able to come visit. I miss her already, but it won't be 2 years before we see each other again, as Thomas and I have to be in Australia for 6th June, and we have been invited to Alison's wedding in December :)...I will however see her before that :) (lots of faces in this blog)....