The Last Post

I'm sure someone, somewhere has used this title for their last blog post but I like it all the same.

Well friends, as you will now no doubt expect (from the title and the previous line) I am officially signing off from the blogging world (as far as I can see into the near future at least).

I have quite enjoyed blogging. Being able to write things about things through my eyes, and have whoever cares read them has been good, however you have probably noticed with mine and most of my linked friends blogs, that of recent time the posts come fewer and fewer as life (and Facebook) take over.

Work is busy (but really good) and home life is good too but I want to be realistic about how much time I have for things. So instead of just not posting for 12 months (as some are in the habit of doing) I am making a clean cut.

Feel free to look me up on the 'book though. Stuart Lee (photo is me standing next to what used to be described as a 'small ute'.

Catch you later.

Sydney here I come!

Hi All,
Just a quick note to say that I applied for, was offered, and accepted, a job up in Sydney. Woo Hoo!
I will be working for John Holland on the Sydney de-salination project in Kurnell. I dont really think that de-salination is the way to go as far as our water resourcing is concerned, however if they want me to build it, I will come.
It is kind of sad saying goodbye to the people in Canberra though, but I will still be able to visit them and spend some time during the coming snow season. :)
I told my work on Friday last week. It wasnt much fun resigning, but the people who I work with at the moment were pretty reasonable about it so that was ok.
As for how long I will be around, I have to work till next Tuesday (11/3) then I am on holidays till the day after Easter Monday 23/03 (going to the Formula One in Melb). I would then have to work for 4 days (which I am trying to convince work that they dont need me for) before disappearing. I will start the new job on the 29th of March.
Over that time I will, of course need to find somewhere to live but I dont think it will be too hard. If I cant find anywhere I can stay with my Dad and step-mum but it would be a pain because I would have to find somewhere to put my stuff etc etc.

Christmas + NYE

To those who read my blog, apologies for the lack o' post recently. No excuses.

Christmas was good this year. Work Christmas was a new experience. We had our branch Christmas party at Luna Park which was cool. The put us up in the Hyatt in North Sydney. The site Christmas party was at a local resteraunt and the alcohol bill was almost 3 times the food bill. Crazy. Also, various subcontractors were kind enough to give presents to us for helping them out during the year. I got 2 bottles of 12yr old Scotch, 1 bottle of 15 year old scotch, 4 bottles of wine and some misc other things. Again, crazy!

Christmas with the family was good. Like usual I spent most of Christmas day driving around from place to place (Homebush-Hurstville-Kareela-Engadine-Homebush-Pyrmont) but I quite like driving, especially in my car at the moment.

Speaking of that, it is time to sell the little guy. It's been great fun having it but I think that I can use my money more wisely by getting a cheaper car.

Here are a couple of photos that I took to put on my Carsales.com ad.

NYE was good too. I was a bit apprehensive about the party but it turned out to be a really good night. My friend Al had a 'white party' which meant that everyone had to come dressed in all white. People had some good ideas too. Lots of white accessories happening! I will try and get some photos from there and either post them here or on Facebook.

Yesterday I drove back down to Canberra and am at work at the moment. It's really quiet though. Most of the workers dont come back until next week.

Motor Show

Went to Sydney this weekend for a friend's 30th birthday. It was at the clock hotel balcony bar in Surry Hills. Not bad. I only knew the host and one other guy so while it was good I was pretty tired after working all day Friday and driving to Sydney from Canberra.

The Saturday I went to the motor show which was fun. The other guys I normally go with couldnt make that day so I just went by myself. It was still way good though and I got lots of good photos (as you can see below).

Lamborghini stand

Alpine Chysler 300C

Porche 911 Turbo Cabriolet

Audi R8

Recent events

Recently:
1/ I got offered a job up in Brisbane for an obscene amount of money. Turned it down because I decided that the wiser, long term solution would be to stay with the company I am with. That most likely means that early next year I will be moving back up to Sydney. Not definite, but unless things get significantly better I will be back up in Sydney faster than a tumbleweed in a stiff breeze. I will probably have a separate post exploring my thinking behind that later.

2/I signed up for Salsa dancing classes with a local dance studio. They start on the 18th of October. I need to get out there and do more social things. This seemed like a good option.

3/ I had a friend's 30th in Sydney the Sat night of the long weekend, went to Wollongong for the Sunday/Monday morning and realised how much I miss the gong. It was great hanging out with friends and catching up. I hadn't been back in a while and was beginning to feel it.

4/ Got an Xbox 360 this week. Traded in the old xbox and a bunch of games. It was good to get some money off the 360 but it felt a little sad. I've had alot of fun memories with that box. From youth group events, to friend's bucks parties, to having mates over and playing Halo 2 through in one sitting, there were many good times there. Hopefully the 360 will keep that theme going.

5/ This weekend has been pretty quiet. Could have gone to the gong for some Salsa dancing but because I had to work today I decided that it would be easier to just stay home and chill. Ended up finishing Halo 3 Friday night/Sat morning. Helped the new housemate set up the spare room, watched some 'Scrubs' and went to a friends house to watch Australia play badly enough to lose to England in the world cup. It was a good night apart from the loss though. Good company, good hot chocolate (thanks Tim), and good jokes (mainly at my housemate's expense) made it the highlight of the weekend.

Training in Sydney

On the 23-24th of August I had training up in Sydney (Parramatta actually) on Risk Management for Supervisors and Managers.
As I am officially a Canberra resident, work put me up in a hotel. The Courtyard in Parramatta. It was actually the first time that I have stayed in a hotel - ever! And it was way cool. I mean, I have stayed on countless camps and group things but they have always been a dorm type thing with at least 4 bunk beds in a room (and no room service!)
So, I turn up at the desk not really having any idea what I am doing and the lady asks me who I am. I say that I have a booking and she hands me this form to fill out. One of the sections is how I am going to pay. I look up to the lady and say that I thought that work was paying. She responded with "yes sir the company is paying for everything". Wow. So she gives me directions to the room and my swipe card and I go up the elevator to the room. I swipe the card, walk in and put my bag down. The room was quite nice. About 8 meters long and 4 meters wide including the bathroom (I stepped it out to see for fun).
The room has a queen size bed, large desk with a TV on it and the mini bar inside it, a single lounge chair and a coffee table. On the desk is a folder type thing with instructions inside of my mission (I mean how the hotel works). There is the costs for room service meals, things to do in Parramatta and so on.
I thought that I would get some dinner so called the number and a lady answered asking me what I would like. I ordered the salt and pepper calamari and a beer.
Soon enough there was a knock on my door and a friendly girl with my food turned up. She asked me where I would like it set down and if she could open my beer for me and if I would like it poured into the glass. It felt a bit weird actually but was nice to have done for me.
I could go on in heaps of detail about the rest but I will just say that it was really fun and I quite enjoyed the novelty of it all.
Also the training was helpful.

Blogger vs Facebook of DOOOOMMMM!!! + Snow

Hi,

Recently I have been swept up by this wierd phenomenon known only as facebook (and by swept up, I mean spend 15 mins a day on). I face a bit of a conundrum as I have now potentially to choose where to spend my posting time. I guess to tell the tales of the life of Stu, blogger will still reign supreme, however for easiness of use and the ability to track down and amass more and more friends till I rule the facebook world!!! ahem, facebook will do the job.

So, if you want to find me there, just type in my name (Stuart Lee) and look for the handsome young Atlas holding the steel beam. :)

As for the snow, well this trip (#3 for the season) was fairly interesting. I went down with friends from church and we stayed at the Jyndabyne backpackers from Friday-Sunday. As snow trips go, it was the worst conditions I have ever skiied but it made me appreciate how good the good days are!

Friday there was gale to storm force winds. All the chairs were on wind hold even in Smiggins so it was T-bar central the whole day.

Saturday it rained. No snow or sleet, just rain. Too warm. However, it made me realise how I need some new gloves which I bought on Saturday night and are in the photo below.

Sunday was good. Parked at Smiggins and traversed across to Blue Cow and Perisher. The day was clear but the previous two days of T-bar joy had wrecked me for the Sunday.

From Blue Cow centre.