What made you happy today?

[stui magpie]

Cheers Jo

I actually feel sorry for those left behind. The joint has changed. At the moment, it's not for the better but time will tell.
When one of my direct reports, who's normally the height of positivity calls me a lucky bastard, things aren't well.

[luvdids]

Getting 2nd row tickets to Robbie Williams at Rochford... 2ND ROW!! Row B!! The shaking/sweating/panicking & freaking out paid off.

[think positive]

Oscar’s law had a big win, maximum sentence, it’s a bloody good start.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-12-11/maximum-sentence-for-breeders-accused-of-animal-cruelty/9246914

[stui magpie]

Day 1 being unemployed. Good day.

Knot in the gut that's been there for months is starting to loosen, got active and did some stuff, head feeling clearer after a messed up past few weeks, shit looking good.

[think positive]

Goodonya Stu, enjoy!

[Mugwump]

^ good on you, Stui. That knot will dissolve even further in the next few weeks, I expect. Enjoy the time.

[stui magpie]

Christ I'm aching all over but it's a good ache. 50 yr old muscles take a while to get going when you've been slack for a few years driving a desk.

Heading up north tomorrow, 36 forecast for Melbourne, 40+ up in Toc. Got to go to the tip and mow the lawns up there. I can see thursday arvo sitting down watching the cricket. Loving watching the Poms getting reamed.

[think positive]

Met the new baby yesterday, got more hair than my kids had at 2!

Plans for holiday house at the draftsman that did this house, put in for owner/builder, website says 21 day turnaround, bugger wanted to started getting quotes as soon as the plans are done, woke up this morning, and in 24 hours flat, I have my owner builder permit! Gobsmacked! Yippee!

[stui magpie]

The Ashes are back home baby.

[think positive]

Booooooooo

[Mugwump]

^ I’m happy about that. While I can no longer see the guys in the blue caps as the enemy, as I did in my cricket-loving childhood, I still want the Ashes in Australia. I presume they will be kept on Steve Smith’s mantelpiece while we hold them.

[Pies4shaw]

The boy did his graduation recital for his guitar performance degree tonight at Memo in St Kilda. His set was a real smorgasbord. “Yours Is No Disgrace” by Yes (as well as being an homage to Steve Howe, the three-part vocal harmonies were beautiful - which was a little surprising because he’s obviously learnt to sing very well somewhere along the line), “Birds of Fire” by John McLaughlin, “21st Century Schizoid Man” by King Crimson, “Hazard Profile” by the Allan Holdsworth incarnation of Soft Machine, ”The Sentinel” by Judas Priest (with the entire solo from Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” thrown in for good measure in the middle), Rainbow’s “Kill the King” and a twin-guitar harmony rendition of “Scarified” by Racer X, mashed up with Paul Gilbert’s cover of the same song. Impressive stuff. He can join my band any time he wants - thing is, though, I’m no longer good enough to get into his.

[think positive]

Well done to your son - enjoy proud papa!

[David]

Great to here, P4S – he sounds very talented.

[stui magpie]

Great to see someone in the P4S family has some talent.

For me, went back to work today for the Xmas lunch. Got to say G'Day to the people again, had a little presentation where they gave me a card and a bottle of wine (Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2014, need to save that for a special occasion)

Felt a little weird, not sure if it was closure or picking the scab off, but I was invited out and couldn't really say no.

Also, had a couple of phone calls today.

1. The bloke doing the restumping of the Toc house is basically finished, had to lift it up 100mm in parts and replace a lot of the stumps. Can't wait to get up there after Xmas and start work on the front deck.

2. Got a call from a recruitment agency doing a reference check on one of my ex team. Gave her a glowing reference and within 30 minutes they'd called her to offer her the job. With her and me both gone, the joint is going to be in shitsville. She was acting in my old job plus managing her own. No one is irreplaceable, with all due modesty I will be hard to replace, add her to that and it's an Ouch.