It's New Years Eve

Yep it's new Years Eve and I'm sitting here at my iMac playing a game and maybe later I will watch a movie depending if I get in the movie mood. It be a quite new year's eve again for me, surfing the net, chatting to my online friends and I'll be watching Sound of Music tonight.

I got some chip n dip and some drinks to keep me going, hopefully I can stay up till the New Year! I will also give my family a ring to wish them a happy New Year and texting some friends too, might have to do that early as the Vodafone network will get overloaded.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!..See you'all in the New Year XD

I Enjoyed Christmas Day

Christmas day already and almost over but it was a very nice day with Mum and Dad. The weather was warm, sunny at times and a little overcast at times, just right for a day out.

We headed off to Cornwall Park for a Christmas picnic lunch and a walk. We arrived to find the park was 'packed' *looked like half of town was here* and it was hard to find a car park but we found one after 5 minutes of driving around the park. Mum found a nice area for us to have our picnic and we set up our portable table and chairs and got the food out as we needed it. We had some wine with our yummy lunch which was very nice. We had some fruit as well then went for a walk.

We came back to my place for late coffee, cold drinks and heated fruit mince pies and to open up some pressies. We all got some neat presents too. Mum and Dad later left to go home. I did some texting to thank people and also wish them Merry Christmas. It's been a great Christmas and relaxing too.

Early Christmas Dinner with Family

My brother Ben and his wife Ang are going to Australia in the weekend for there Christmas break so we all had a Christmas dinner and exchanged gifts last night. Ben picked me up and took me to Mum and Dad's place for the dinner. Mum, Dad and Ang were busy in the kitchen when we arrived.

The table was decorated with a white table cloth and Ang had made up three simple but nice flower arrangements for the table. It was a silver and white theme with crackers, wine glasses, white plates and a small silver wrapped gift by our plates.


We pulled our crackers and wore our hats and went over the jokes from the crackers. Dinner was very nice with roast pork, roast vegs, roast potatoes, gravey and a green salad. I love my roast meals and it was yummy. We then had a variety of fruit and xmas pudding which I had a little peice of as I was pretty full.

We all had a good laugh and talked then exchanged gifts and I got a JB Hi Fi voucher which was kewl. I gave Ben and Ang some wines. It was a fun night. Below is the Christmas Card I got from Ben and Ang

Bits n Peices

I haven't done much over the past week, just relaxing, mucking about on my iMac and surfing the net. I finished my xmas shopping about two weeks ago which was good, means I can try and save some money and pay bills that seem to come at the end of the year.

I took some photos of Casey the other day sitting out on the grass checking out for some birdies hehe. Below is a photo and a small video or her..enjoy
This is where Casey waits for me to come home XD


Casey relaxing on the lawn (video)


Yesterday I went out to the mall with my friend and we window shopped mainly but did get some vegs. We had some pizza for lunch which was yummy. The shops in the mall were being packed full of stuff to sell making it uninviting for me to enter (and the rest of the wheelchair users) as it's easy to knock things over or not even get inside the shops. This is the time I really don't like going to the malls as I can't get in many shops. Richie and I exchanged Christmas gifts too and omg he has given me a 'huge parcel' and I have no idea what it could be...*wonders what's inside*

Job Work in Process - RE RE Email to Support Person

I sent them an email today regarding the letter from Poly-Emp I got yesterday. I have edited it for here too.

I hope S and you have not misunderstood my letter. Having finally sorted out a desk with R (the OT), the workplace Employer's and OfficeMax that would enable me to work there, I was upset that one of the employers raised more questions about the desk size. I was sorting this out with him (employer), and I simply said in my letter to S that "it would be easier for me now to finish the purchase and delivery of the desk and set the starting date on my own....". It is just easier for me to solve the final problem directly with the employer and he has suggested R (OT) phone him when she gets back to work after Christmas to help with this.

I did not say that that I was declining any future offer of support from Poly-Emp. I actually thanked S twice in my letter for her help and said I would contact her when I started the job. I'm sorry that I seem to have upset you but all the hassles with WorkBridge etc have been very frustrating.

Thanks again to you both and Merry Christmas.


I then got a 'fast' reply from the Manager saying--> Nope we are certainly not upset and support you sorting things out on your own. I just wanted some clarity around the fact that we will still be in contact with the employer's and still involved with the arrangements.


Gahhhh, Well if they are supporting me to sort things out on my own THEN why can't they respect what I asked them in doing which was to back-off and let me orgainse the desk concerns and delivery!!! There is nothing S can do at this point as it's simply solving the desk issue then getting it delivered.

Job Work in Process - RE Email to Support Person

I just got a letter from Poly-Emp today from there Manager and I wasn't impressed with it. S and the Manager seem to have misunderstood my email I sent to S on 27 November.

Just saying that S has been keeping her up to date with the process of negotiating an offer of employment for me. That she understands when I was offered the position I chose to negotiate everything for myself regarding setting up my requirements for my employment and have endeavoured to keep everyone in the loop. (This is not 100% correct)

The Manager then explained that--> This has been un unusual way of working for us and not one we often find ourselfs in as as our sole purpose is to offer a seamless supported Employment Service to people with Interllectual disabilities. (This they told me at the first appoitment we had and they accepted at the time that I was going to be a challenge for them and was happy to help me)

The Manager continues with--> Wheras it is completely your decision to decline any future offer of support from Poly-Emp, we believe that we have a duty to the potential employer to continue to see through our negotiation of the position. We will continue to be in contact with the employer untill the contract with yourself is signed and a start date has been arranged. (First of all I never declined any future support from them and second I have asked them nicely to back-off while I coordinate the desk delivery once I've sorted out the employers concerns with the desk length as at this stage S has left everything else for me to do)

I was really annoyed with this letter as they haven't got some of there facts right and it's over the top and defensive. I will reply by email to her tomorrow.

Job Work in Process - One Employer Not Happy With Desk Length

I rang one of my Employer's to arrange a date for the desk to be delivered, sometime over the xmas holidays to find out he is not happy with the desk length. G was saying that the desk length wouldn't be long enough and he's not happy about adding another table to add extra length as it not really suitable for them as they work more hours than I will be doing. I suggested the spare shorter desk they have but G said no as he doesn't like that desk and it would be shorter height wise (they could raise the height with blocks to fix that!). Well dam if he wants the extra length then he shouldn't be complaining about how the desk looks, it be covered anyhow with paper and work stuff.

I explained that most standard corner desks will not be the same length as there current 'custom made desk' and the one I'm getting is also height adjustable to suit all of our height needs. G wants to talk it over with R (OT) and the other employer in the office and I said that probably won't work as WorkBridge has to pay for her to go out again so I said I will see if I can get R to ring him. I said that the whole point of the workstation assessment was to get a suitable workstation for me to work off and that would suit all staff as well. M the other employer was there during the whole workplace assessment and was fairly happy with it all but I think G is the main one that gives the yes or no. I bet that they only use the end length of the desk to store stuff on anyhow.

There current L-Shape 'custom made desk' measurements are below
270cm (2700mm) length/width - main working part
190cm (1900mm) length/width
70cm (700mm) depth

Height Adjustable Desk Ordered for me is
160cm (1600mm) length/width - main working part
160cm (1600mm) length/width
70cm (700mm) depth

DIFFERENCE (in length/width - main working part) = 110cm (1100mm) 1.1metre

R (OT) said at the assessment it's either a height adjustable corner desk or nothing as it's such a small office and we don't have anymore solutions.

So much for things turning around from being a nitemare to going smoothly.

Last Sports Practice for the Year

It was a beautiful day for our last sports practice today, the sun was out and it was fairly warm inside the gym today as well as outside. Everyone arrived on time so we were able to start quicker than we usually do which was great. We played hockey and it was fun as we were able to have 4 vs 4 with positions and two parents were the goalies. My team changed positions a few times during the game as requested by my team players. Our team won 8-0. Mum took some photos of some of us playing.

After playing hockey we all went outside and had some afternoon tea in the sun. Some of the younger players did some racing around. I talked to my friend's and enjoyed some strawberry's dipped into chocolate sauce..yummy. The coach and one of the player's (acting as Santa) gave out the gifties to all the player's including his gift haha that was funny!!

We had a Team 2008 photo taken too...

Job Work in Process - Headset Arrived

I just got my headset which arrived via Courier. I unpacked it out of it's box and it's nice and lightweight. I will have to try it out on my phone sometime.

I will be using this at work so I can have both hands free if I need to take a message or use the computer.

Job Work in Process - Desk Ready for Delivery

I got a call this morning to say my desk is ready for delivery and can they arrange a time today. I said not today and that it be most likely in January sometime and I have to orgainse a date and time with my employers. I got his details and will contact him when I know.

Job Work in Process - Headset Update

I got a letter from Workbridge yesterday about where I'll get my headset from, it will now be provided from Orb Communications in the South Island. I had to contact them at 'my cost' (they didn't have a 0800# to ring) and left a message with them. I wasn't going to ring them again so I googled them and found that the particular shop I'm getting the headset from dosen't have an 0800 either so I emailed them hahah.

I finally got a call today regarding the headset and he knew I was a Workbridge client as he had talked to T last week about it. He asked me to email him my mail addy and it be couriered to me by the end of the week.

Relaxing and Enjoying the Sun

Woah it's the 1 December today so for anyone reading this, I'm first in... A Pinch, A Punch, For the First of the Month! muahaha

I've been out at the mall doing some shopping, spending $$$$ for a change which I don't normally do as I window shop more. I then met up with a friend and had some lunch.

Otherwise I've been enjoying the sunshine at home and mucking about online. I changed my desktop wallpaper too to something a bit brighter and has purple in it, as I love that colour.