If the title sounds familiar, it should, it’s a quote from Sir Humphrey Appleby’s Christmas message.
It seems an appropriate title for a post which is a bit of a reflection on the year that has been and the year that is ahead (although I’m not convinced that it is possible to reflect on an event which is yet to occur). I started to think about this a couple weeks ago when I noticed that Mark Parton was trying to get people to give their year a rating out of ten…I’m not really convinced that such a thing is possible as a year is such a long time and so many things happen that I just don’t think that I can really weigh them all up against each other to come up with a definitive number.
It has been such a strange year with a number of ups and downs along the way including a few points in time where I nearly didn’t see the year out (well, I still haven’t, but I think you get my drift). The latter half of the year has probably been better overall than the first half, but the highs and lows have been much more pronounced.
If I remember this year for one thing, it will something that I don’t want to write about for fear of incriminating myself…at least I don’t have to worry about it any more. I might feel like writing about it in a couple years…three years sounds like a good number, and I’d be interested to see the resident conspiracy theorist who thinks I don’t exist try to work this one out…the clues are all there if you look hard enough.
Anyway, as I mentioned at the end of the breakfast show on 1WAY FM this morning, and alluded to yesterday on this blog, the year ends for me on a tentative note. The brief summary of it is that I have somewhat willing become unemployed, although the longer version is much more interesting.
Regular readers would probably recall that in June I resigned from my job with AussieHQ. What is less well-known is that I took up a similar job with AussieHQ in late August, a move which, in hindsight, may have been a mistake. It was definitely a mistake to ignore my option about a week later of submitting an application for a journalism job at Capital Radio, although a number of bridges would have been damaged beyond repair had I been successful with such an application.
I should make it clear that I don’t have any problems with the people at AussieHQ. They are a group of thoroughly decent people…you would have to be decent to take somebody back a short time after they resigned. When it comes down to it, I’m sick of technical support. I’ve convinced myself that I’m not sick of it enough times to know that I am completely and utterly sick of it (he said as he publicly killed any possibility of a last resort job in some other technical support position with another employer)…there is only so much of dealing with other peoples’ problems that I can take.
Last week, the week that I spent in Deniliquin, proved to me just how much I was deluding myself to think that I was making some sort of wise decision by staying in technical support. I absolutely loved my week at 2QN, and I recall saying that, if they would have me back, I would love to come back.
Things became a bit difficult on Monday afternoon when I was asked to come back. I knew at that time that taking another week off from my stable, if boring by comparison, day job would be damaging to my chances of retaining said day job, so I initially turned down the offer to go back to Deniliquin on the grounds that it just didn’t look like it would be workable. At the same time, I was being offered a change of pace in my day job…A PR role, seemed interesting and deserved consideration, and I was reasonably excited about it, but I wasn’t comfortable with the reasoning behind my decision to turn down the time in Deniliquin.
My options, as I saw them, were to accept the Deniliquin offer, or accept the PR offer…continuing in tech support was not an option, and to compound matters, I needed to make the decision by about 6am.
I consulted with some people for “external advice”, including Tim Malone who happened to relieve the other difficulty in the consideration, the small matter of the 1WAY FM breakfast show. I received some useful advice, but ultimately I had to make the decision for myself, and when I came to the conclusions that:
1. PR isn’t a role that I can see myself enjoying for an extended period of time, and
2. Radio is where I really want to be
The decision became obvious. The only remaining concern was that the Deniliquin job may have been filled by one of the casuals who live a lot closer to the town that I do. By 9:30am I had an answer, I had the job.
That afternoon I was asked to resign from AussieHQ, a request which was more amicable than I was expecting. Refusal would have been an option, but I doubt that my application for unpaid leave would have been granted, and I would probably have been fired for failing to attend work for a week, so the resignation is probably the better option. It also means that AussieHQ can employ someone else who will hopefully enjoy the job more than I did.
I enjoyed the job for a while, quite a while in fact, and I usually found something to enjoy each day, but the days of going to work and enjoying most, if not all, of a shift are long gone. The opportunity to move on is a welcome one.
So, moving in to the new year, I find myself in a bit of a pickle. As of the close of business on Friday the 2nd of January, I don’t have a job. I have about a week and a half of leave to be paid out, and the few days of work in Deniliquin to be paid, and of course the week just gone in Canberra as well. What happens after that is a mystery.
A heap of radio jobs were advertised just before Christmas, so I will have to follow those leads, although if I’m lucky I might find that an existing contact has a position, even if it’s casual or part-time.
At this time I’m more than willing to move if a full-time position is available. Moving for a part-time job would be a decision to be dealt with on its merits. Ultimately it’s a great opportunity to move on, without needing to worry about the stability of an existing job.
I’m approaching the new year with cautious optimism…for all I know it could come crashing down in a big heap, but with any luck it will turn out better than before, and everything will be good. “Bring it on” I say!
Sorry, this cold has been knocking me about a bit and hasn’t made sleeping any easier, hence the lack of posts here of late.
Anyway, a bit of news for you. As I alluded to during a conversation with Mark Parton on 2CC about leap seconds this morning, I’m heading back to Deniliquin next week. There are a number of factors which have made it a much more difficult decision this time around, but I believe that it’s the right decision.
This does mean that I won’t be hosting breakfast on 1WAY FM next week, and the small number of pre-recorded segments which I have set aside for next week will just have to be held over for a week.
In regards to the question of airchecks from my last stint in Deniliquin, a small number of them will be placed in the Aircheck Sunday roster for the new year, so you will be able to hear them.
For those of you who are wondering, Maritz will not be filling in for me next week. I will try to find some time to write some content. Maritz continues to write emails to me, which I am attempting to reply to with a “proper English” translation. It’s not as easy as it looks sometimes.
Finally, I must remind myself to post the few photos from last week. It’s probably one of those “eventually” things.
But I think I’m coming down with a cold…actually, scrap the “think” from that sentence.
I came back from Deniliquin via a different route to the one that I took to get there, and unfortunately I didn’t check the odometer reading before I had to go elsewhere, nor did I remember to get my exact time of arrival, so unfortunately I can’t provide accurate time, distance and average speed calculations.
Anyway, thank you to Maritz for filling in for me, I hope you all enjoyed her company.
I’m going back to sleep now. I’ll have more to say later.
On the mornings of weekend and I am do often have listen to Mr. Don of the radio who does talk of grardens which is much lovely and the wonderfuls. He is man of good and also had beard. Lovely neighbour Mrs. Porrit did do of say that Mr. Don used to be of the tevelvisions on the night of Friday as well as the lucky cat of the betting lotteries.
Mr. Samuel is doinf ginish in the Deniliquin today he did say of in the emails and will be doing drive of to and from the Canberras and Deniliquins. It is much wonderful and I have had been do of funs in the writings on here in filling for him and do. Also much thank you to have been do of read and write of commentings. I do think the commentings in the Englishes are of better for my learnings but also I think the writings of the Mrs. Legshagger in the Russian are of from the trasnalating programs which are not having accurates of the much and many and would be of do in similar to the accurate of the my doing of and have write in the Englishes.
Mr. Samuel has do been ask of me to write the emails for some weeks of coming for him to do read of on the radio in breakfast time and did say that he will be do write back of with tippers and the pointings on thwe better Englishes.
Please am do lovely day.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
I am did much nice vists to the post office today in morning time which was good. The nice people of post office are very happy and alwaays the nice in helpful of finding packagings for of do send in the parcels.
I am today did send photo of nice cat Slavcatchski in gardens with flowering and also the weight records of him for last days of month to Mother of Russia. I also did send bake of orange and pineapple cake in other boxes in hope of the Christmas time at posting expresses which are of much expensive for when do late in postings.
Mrs. Lesley of next door is will be do get cake of orange and pineapple in tomorrow morning when I do the plant and care of flowers in her the gardens.
It is also weekend of soon and with the Christmas on next week in day it is much and many people doing holiday drivings for weekend. Please be od safe drivings if going away and to and from.
The enjoyment and afternoon to you.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
Dear and goodly mornings on this lovely day of the rain.
I am did do hear of the newses on the radio yesterday at time of do gardenis of the work and did hear of newses that the people of the easy DVD for where the good watchings can do of from are doing the bankruptings in ways of almost which is not the good as I am do like to be finding many nicely movies of from them. I do of try to be find the DVDs of with words or writings for screen in Russian as this does the help with good learnings as my language is OK but not best because the words do muddle and with grammar of problems of have and do.
Mrs. Porrit did do of say that the watchings of DVDs have be on good improvingments in times do soon in past.
Also of news in good is Mother of Russia is sending photo of current for Squeelivich the nice mouse of living in Russia with Mother Of Russia as is pet mine but not here for the quaranatinas.
Please be do good day of lovely and have Umbrellas.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
I have received a request from Maritz which, based on what I’ve seen, looks quite reasonable. Maritz has asked if I can ask all people leaving comments for the rest of this week to do so in English, this is for two reasons:
1. Maritz thinks that by seeing your comments in English, she will learn the language more quickly.
2. Maritz thinks that people who don’t understand Russian might be having “the much and many of troubles” understanding the comments which are written in Russian.
Maritz appreciates the sentiment of making her feel more welcome by writing in Russian, but would prefer English.
I agree with Maritz, but I’m going to be a bit harsher as I’m getting tired of the bizarre comments which are getting a run in Russian, that I’d probably be binning if they were in English. English, or not at all. Leaving a comment in a language other than English between now and Sunday will result in your comment being deleted, and your account suspended.
I hope that you all understand, and are enjoying the stories from our guest blogger.
Hello and Goodly Wednesdays to you on the today of lovely.
I am not the much do of proper and good with computers at the of times and have been do of want the show of nice song of Moscow which nice Mr. Ian of the Radio did play as I was driving home on a night of Saturday in the weeks of ago. The good singing is on the YouTube but I am not much of knowings the how to be doing show to you as I can not be doing send of computer to you for the watchings.
I did send email to Mr. Samuel on Sunday for question and the answer and goodly it did come and I am do copy and the pastings so hopefully video of good song of lovely Moscow does the show here for you and watching.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
Hello and the lovely mornings are of here and to you today and this afternoon as well too.
Lastly night at the teachings for English with Mrs. Porrit I as doing learn of song as Mrs. Porrit did think the songs of childhood would be a good for and the of happen so that such and would be able for learnings of ways of words in order for correct and grammar in the Englishes. I am not the sure of song as it was not the senses making much but it did something of the twinckeyling stars which I am not sure from meanings.
Mrs. Porrit did nice singings of good a nice though as she did say that once in time but now long before she was wanting do to singing teachers but found the Englishes to be better as she was then of able to teach people of big skill in the happen in country for living is easy.
I am did tell of her the song lovely Mr. Ian of the radio played of the weeks ago which was wonderful and I am find song of Internet video picture but do not be knowing of how to do put on the blogs. I am will do of email to Samuel and the hopes that he does telling for how of do and then you can be doing singings with me.
Please do enjoy of lovely and wonderful.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
I am do remember of Christmas in the Russia which was cold and freezing of mostly and Mother of Russia did the big cookings of warm and house did sit of near kitchen for the warms and heat. It was of Christmas that I did first of eat the vodka breads which were much lovely although I think the day did a blur of afterwards which not the good.
Also of remember I do that Father of Russia who was much lovely man of good but is now late sadly did the try to do make of heater inside of and for in the house in one Christmas which was OK for try but not the good as the electricings were new in the part of Russia where did live and the was not of work properly in blackout so Father of Russia was the electrcial work but could not be making heater do work in properly. It was mostly of the wood in making so and not finished so when Electricings was not the work after the week two it was of on fire that heater for warmth so did some heating after eventually and time.
Father of Russia went to the work of with electricity company in weeks afterwards when snow was going and did help of fix the workings of which was much good but could not be fixing of Steel Tevelevisions which did not make the noise and sound proerply but had buzzes so often sound was off and not on for watching of teveleivisions.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly
The base station for Open House with Sheridan Voysey has a new name, as their press release points out:
In September of 2007, Sydney’s Christian Radio station FM103.2 launched their new name Heart 103.2. This was immediately challenged by Macquarie Regional Radio who had trademarked ‘heart’ for radio use, although they were not using the brand outside of Tasmania or Queensland.
As a community radio station, FM103.2 was not in a position to enter a legal battle to salvage the name ‘Heart 103.2” and therefore relinquished the name at the end of 2007.
For the last 12 months, FM103.2 has searched for an alternate station identity. The first step was to seek suggestions from listeners, and then the most popular names were tested in the marketplace. Finally, a trademark was acquired for the name with the most votes.
CEO Phillip Randall today stated that,
It’s been a long and tough journey, but after 9 months of waiting, we are very pleased to announce the new name of Sydney’s Christian Radio station is Hope 103.2!
The new name will help define the station better for listeners and the wider Sydney community.
CEO Phillip Randall explained,
Hope 103.2 was by far the most suggested name amongst our listeners and test groups, and best conveys the nature and purpose of this radio station.
Hope 103.2 will continue to be active as a radio station that cares about social issues and community concerns, and encourage listeners to embrace a ‘Passion for Life’.
Thanks for the embargo, it’s great to be able to schedule a post to appear here when an embargo expires while I’m out of town.
Last of week I did have talk of telephone with Mother Of Russia about gardens and she did much tell of me the good singings in longer to garden is good for rains, and I did in the weekend last in my weekly singing to gardnes on the Sunday at 4am at the home and the Monday at 11am at the work where I am do also the gardens.
The singings were of longer than the normal and then it did the rains so maybe and perhaps of something to true of story from Mother of Russia. The rains are of very much nice so I did more of nice singings longer to Gardens today and morning and also tomorrow at the work of gardens so and hopefully the rains to keep for this week as well.
I think the Christmas is of much and better with the sun and warm of temperature as it is otherwise of similar to Russia and the cold and freezings of Winter and Christmas so I will be doing not of singings in longer on the weekend to come and then hopeful and sunny should be OK and good for week in Christmas.
And here I am in Deniliquin. I arrived at 2pm, having left home at about 7:15am to fill up with petrol at Caltex Braddon and then embark on the journey. From Caltex Braddon to Deniliquin was 533.9KM and I left Caltex at 7:23am, so the average speed of the journey was 83.64KM/H, however when you consider that I stopped in Gundagai and Jerilderie for approximately 30 minutes per stop, the average speed of the journey was actually 99.18KM/H.
The trip was quite enjoyable thanks to a podcast followed by an iPod in shuffle mode, and the fact that I got in to Gundagai right on schedule to hear the 9am news on FM 94.3 Sounds Of The Mountains, in which I heard one of my sport bulletins for AIR News. I also stopped a bit west of Wagga Wagga to take a photo of a sign which interested me due to it containing the names of two people that I work with in Canberra. I also made a note of a few things that I would like to take photos of on the way back to Canberra.
I didn’t travel via the shortest available route in terms of distance, but I did enjoy the drive anyway, although my GPS got a bit confused in Wagga Wagga at a point where a traffic island ended…its instruction to me was “Turn right, followed by, make a u-turn”.
Based on what it was displaying at the time, I think this was supposed to be followed by “turn right” again.
Anyway, I’ve been up since about 11:30am yesterday, so I should probably get some sleep. I have more Internet access than I was expecting within the hotel, so you will probably hear from me a few times during the week…and if you live in a town where AIR News is broadcast, you’ll hear me tomorrow morning presenting the sport bulletins.
Must sleep now for a little while as it will be dinner time in a few hours, and The Bill will be on ABC1 shortly thereafter.
Please and thank you to Samuel for the writing of the week which is here and I am doing look forward of it, after words of nice earlier. I am do hope of writing for you during week when can and good.
I am of previous from Russia and now do living in Sydney with cat Slavcatchski who is much lovely. I am much fond of bakerying and gardens, and am do learnings of Englishes with Mrs. Porrit for improvements. I am of lucky to be in lovely Country australia which is wonderful in the ways as especially not the same as the Russia which is also lovely but as good in for the people of living, which Australia is the better for in the democraticies.
Please be doing the wonderful and lovely days.
From Maritz
Ms. Maritzkrozlavsky Throrglasnishozly