Friday 1st April 2022
April Fools Day
Myer 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
I wake up early to submit my fornightly income reporting to Centrelink & sign a new job plan agreement online. Done before work. I also ensure that I could log onto Myer WSS not only to check my fortnightly payslip but to ensure that I could log in in advance to do my annual safety training course on Tuesday which is an hour long and paid.
What's new today? The wild weather continues. No strong winds but again it has to pour with rain as I leave for work this morning - splashed waiting for the bus at the bus stop my jeans are wet and so are my shoes and socks. I sit on the 144 bus and B line bus feeling icky. Once I get to Warringah m
Mall I go to Kmart and look and try on boots. I can't seem to find any in my size nor are there any socks in my size. I am running out of time and don't want to be late for work. I'm sure I have a spare pair of socks in my backpack. Yep. I take my sneakers off as luckily only my socks are wet. My sneakers are quick drying. Feet now drier I head straight to work. There was no way I could have worked 6 hours in wet socks.
There are leaks everywhere in the mall and in Myer - no surprise. A blue bucket is near the homewares registers. I thought an elderly lady was about to walk into it but she gracefully maneuved around it very well very close but did not bump into it all unlike the tall skinny electrical team member who walked straight into it knocking it to the side of where it was catching the drips from the ceiling.
I had all the weird and wonderful customers again. Loads of returns - I think it's called Mole Friday by the electricals team leader and customer service manager when all these difficult customers show up.
A guy returned a packet of CK underwear he purchased online today. Underwear is generally unreturnable and a message did pop up online to advise of this therefore I sought authorisation from the customer service manager. Returned. sometimes what you see online is not what you get which was the case in tis situation.
Another return from March 2021 - could not contact a manager therefore I rejected it like I rejected another outside of the 30 day return policy as per receipt. The other customer returns were from Christmas but this return 1 year later was a first. I initially thought it was from March 2022 but no the receipt was from March 2021 and it was sheets which are generally unreturnable due to health regulations.
My customer finally came to pick up the 1 kanagroo coaster I managed to find and purchased for her from Myer Macquarie.It was tissued and wrapped in a Myer bag with fragile tape around it. I had no idea what condition it was in . I assumed it was in 1 piece as felt as if it was still in 1 piece. It was very busy when she showed up so I just gave it to her. I think it had a crack or chip in it as she texted saying she was going to glue it back together. I gave it to her free of charge as it only cost around $1.50 after staff discount. She didn't have to get me anything for doing this for her tbut gave me a packet of Roses chocolate as a thank you.
No Myer One sign ups but my scan rate is still above 75%. I managed to find another few customers' Myer One membership numbers. The best Myer One Lookup I found was from Wednesday. I asked a male customer if he had a Myer One card and he responded with a no but when asked if his wife had one it was a confident yes.
A few large sales today but still not asking anyone for purchase round ups as I an still unconvinced the donations go directly to a charity. There is no evidence that they are not going into Myer's pockets.
News headlines today include
The rain may have eased but the wild weather continues with damaging wind gusts up to 100km/hr . A roof has blown off South of Sydney and residents have been warned to stay away from the surf. Colloroy is under threat of sand erosion and wild waves.
Princess Mary has been spotted shopping and lunching in Melbourne on a low key visit home to catch up with family and friends in Hobart.
The president of the Ukraine addressed the Australian Parliament advising Australia may be under threat from Putin. Australia will sending more unmanned military support as requested.
Anthony Albanese has pushed the MP to call an election. With policies to increase the quality of aged care and improve funding to the aged care industry.
The AUS$ is now just under the 75 cent US$ mark.
5 die in chopper crash outside of Melbourne at Mt Disappointment. Thick bushland has hindered the rescue & retrieval of all 5 bodies. The 4 passengers were meat buyers on their way to cattle inspection.
Saturday 2nd April 2022
Myer 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
I signed up 1 Myer One today and this time did remember to scan the barcode without being reminded and I should have a very high scan rate as at least 4 of my customers were convinced that they were not Myer One members and what do you know - they all were found to be Myer One members. I was only unable to find 1 customer's Myer One membership details despite trying for quite some time. It is possible their unique name was spelt incorrectly combined with not updating their profile.
A cute little girl comes up to me holding a few what looked like mascara or eye brow brushes and says my name is Daisy. How cute, she even spells out her name for me and I said to her you know there is a Daisy that works here and she does eye brows. He mother over hears and makes the comment brushing her little girls eye brows with her fingers "She holding a mascara brush". What a co incidence.
The battle between the new manager and the customer service manager continues - it looks like all the casuals from homewares have been reallocated to mens youth x 2 and mens shoes x 1. There goes my attempt to escape homewares. Ever since that meeting between the 2 managers and the homewares team leader the new manager has not said a word to me and there were no more promises shifts in her department for me only a day or 2 after she advised me there would be more shifts for me in her department. It looks as if the 2 managers are indeed not friends but just worked together at the Sydney store. I can't believe the new manager told a customer to come back tomorrow with an issue they had. Today there was a customer who came in with a double charge on her card due to the POS system freezing up during her payment and the transaction being reprocessed last Thursday by a team member. I hope the new manager did not tell this customer to come back on Monday? Maybe she did - who knows. The unvaccinated team member makes a comment of how can someone be a manager if they tell a customer to come back another day. This team member was told off today for not wearing an ear piece and leaving the counter by the new manager and when she asked the new manager about accepting a return was told abruptly just do it. She had to get an authorisation.
My last customer of the day was a lady I had to retrieve a glass cake dome from the reserve for. I then helped her find a nice cake stand where I chose a S & P wooden acacia wood cake stand to match. I thanked she liked my combination. The separate MW 26 cm glass cake dome paired with the wooden S & P acacia wood cake stand looks so much like something you would find on the counter of a cafe - I can just see it covering her home made muffins decorated with a few flowers on instagram. This glass dome caused another customer to be a copy cat where she also asked another homewares team member to go to the reserve to get her one. Another happy customer and although I finished a little after 4.30 pm my very last customer I did not mind spending time serving even after being ambushed whilst I was looking for a mortar and pestle for another customer.
I got home a little later then I should have as I took 2 buses I have never taken before back to Chatswood. The 280 Chatswood bus was cancelled according to my bus buddy and the next 280 was in 40 minutes therefore she told me to catch another bus getting off at Northern Rivers Hospital or before it in the middle of nowhere ( pushing the stop button at the wrong stop and confusing the bus driver ) and connect with the 160X express bus to Chatswood . She led me astray and I will never follow her again. She h mad no idea where she was going or how often the buses came. We waited about 10 - 15 minutes for the 160X bus . I calculated that if I had walked across the road and caught the next B line or M as only bus connecting with the 144 bus I could have been home much quicker!
Finally arriving at Chatswood aftee 6 pm I had to recharge my Opal card with $40 before popping into Woolworths to get a shepherds pie as a snack. So hungry.
Home by around 6.30 pm it was as fruit salad and sleep after watching the food channel. Still a dry night.
I did not sleep throughout the night. Getting up to have a midnight snack.
Sunday 3rd April 2022
Day off
Day Light Savings Ends.
I woke around 6 am and didn't even know daylight savings ended last night. I don't have any analogue clocks as my smart phones automatically wind back an hour.
I had a really restless night sleep waking at least twice throughout the night needing a midnight snack around 1 am and another food break a few hours later.
I took the rubbish out to the mini red bun so I don't have to do it tomorrow and put my laundry in the washing machine to wash whilst I am out . When I get home I will take it all out and place it in the dryer to dry overnight. There is still no light at all downstairs and I hate doing my laundry when it is dark. I actually unplugged mý floor lamp and carried it downstairs to put to use so I could see what I was doing with my laundry . After finishing my laundry I took it back upstairs.
It is a beautiful day today. Sunny and forecasted for a top of 27 degrees c!
I had to venture out but find that there are no trains again between Gordon and Wynyard on the Northern lines! Irregular train replacement buses are running.
I booked a free ticket to the Museum of Sydney to see 2 exhibitions there which I have been wanting to see for a while now and on my list of things to see and do in my diary. Until July entry to The Museum of Sydney Hyde Park Barracks and The Police Justice Museum are free every Saturday and Sunday and free to the Museum of Sydney on Fridays nights from 5 pm - 8 pm .
What's on at The Museum of Sydney ( last few weeks to see both before these exhibitions close)
Part 1 for the kids
How To Move A Zoo ( refer video uploaded onto my YouTube channel & photos below)
Scaled Down Model of How To Move A Zoo on display upstairs in children's activity room
My Frankenstein Koala Head band I made
Part 2 for the adults
Iridescent By Gerwyn Davies ( refer video uploaded onto my YouTube channel & photos below) Some art I just don't get but this art I do.
Apparently this is inspired by a big night out at Mardi Gras - yep I can see that.
Apparently this was inspired by the Rose Seidler House - yep matches the curtains in the background!
I actually interpreted this as being a straight jacket - locked away in a mental asylum or institute never to released with all the keys hanging off the costume symbolizing how there is only one key amongst all of them that will release the person in the straight jacket and release them from the mental institute or asylum.
I thought this may have been some sort of pet that lived at this residence keeping their owner company possibly a dog cat or some native Australian animal asl such as a joey. No it just matches the cushions.
Unsure about this one.
This was something to do with the presence of black and white tiles in this residence
I interpreted this as some sort of kinky sex outfit - dominatrix - nope it has to do with the leather used in the horse stables - bridles whips saddles etc
This reminds me of those horrible spitfires or those giant fat hissing black hairy caterpillars that only came out from the sandstone when tourists stopped to snap selfies of the view and that looked as if they were about to attack you with their red mouths open. It was in fact something to do with lustrous hair of a former resident that passed away.
Locked up chained up life in jail.
Gardens and nature.
Convicts in hammocks that resided at Hyde Park Barracks. The blue and white stripes symbolic of pjs and sleeping or convict uniforms even.
Paper & card board - books newspapers - it has to be something to do with archives.
After seeing both exhibitions, I spent time creating an animal head band. I was trying to create a koala but ended up creating a Frankenstein animal as there were not the correct pieces left to make up a koala. Interesting this activity was located in 2 areas one on the top floor and one down stairs. I made my head band downstairs were there were other adults creating headbands even though it is a kids activity.
Next was a walk to the light rail at Circular Quay to Woolworths Townhall where I purchased the last packet of paper wrapped toilet paper yoghart and puff pastry.
A stop off via Haighs chocolates st the QVB. I haven't purchased Haigh chocolates for so long. 2 hot cross bun chocolates cost me $9. I ate one of them. It was ok I rate it a 7/10 as I am sure there are better ones that are not as pricey. Koko Black is my preferred luxury chocolates
The light rail back to Wynyard where I almost walked in the wrong direction through the station towards where the train replacement buses were on Clarence Street. I was about to take the escalator up another level to Clarence Street before being stopped and redirected by a few station staff asking if I was looking for the train replacement buses to Chstswood towards Gordon.
At Chatswood it was quite a long wait for the next 144 bus home. There must have been over 20 people at the bus stop waiting for this bus.
Home, I put the remainder of my laundry into the washing machine and emptied the other washing machine full of clean laundry into the dryer.
Back upstairs in the apartment I made a potato rosemary shallot and tomato tart whilst catching up on my blog YouTube and watching the Food channel.
Washing clean I placed the remaining washed laundry into the drier and left it on overnight to dry.
Dinner of the tart & a cup of tea , hung up my non drier laundry to air dry and finally sleep around 10 pm. Work again tomorrow.
News headlines today include
The Autumn horse races are on in NSW and Victoria.
The war continues in the Ukraine with bombing to Southern parts of the Ukraine with hundreds of residents injured whilst there is now silence in the city of Kyiv where Russian troops have withdrawn. Efforts to evacuate residents of Mariupol have been hampered as Russia refuses to co operate to ensure safe passage of refugee out of the Ukraine.
A COVID 5 day course drug is being approved for usage as it enters the next stage of medical trials.
Melbourne public servants have had their work from home orders extended not returning back to the office until as late as Spring.
Prince Andrew is in trouble again over funding for Princess Beatrice's wedding. Accepting $1.3 million a gift for his daughters wedding from a Turkish millionaire in an attempt to get a passport?! There is a court case in regards to an aid accepting the financial gift by mistake and the money has since been returned. The Queen has requested Andrew to stop using his royal title in instagram accounts and suggestions that he was by the Queen's side at Prince Phillip's memorial to escape media attention by entering through a side door with the Queen.
The wild weather continues as La Nina heads South and off shore to NZ. Cyclones are forecasted for QLD and the wild wet weather has hit VIC. Rain is expected to clear tomorrow in regional VIC.
The saga continues over the Will Smith Academy Awards incident where Will Smith resigns from the Academy - what does this actually mean anyway? He won't be able to vote at the awards basically. The Academy is still investigating the incident and deciding on disciplinary action however this can't be decided until mid April due to the Academy guidelines rules regulations whatever. There is still confusion as to whether it was a publicity stunt or a real incident.
Fuel prices are about to drop after the fuel excise was dropped at the announcement of the budget last week. It may take up to 2 weeks for the full benefit to filter through to drivers. Meanwhile the cost of living continues to rise with the war in Ukraine, COVID etc affecting imports and transport supply chain issues causing stress on household finances. Wages are not increasing and are lagging behind inflation rates yet the cost of living continues to rise. An increase in interest rates is imminent. The current government is scrambling to win votes by a criticised temporary but not permanent fix to the current raising cost of living situation.
The pressure is on for Scott Morrison to call an election date.
Lunar dust bought back by Neil Armstrong in 1969 is being auctioned off for 1 million dollars.
People have been warned to put their seafood orders in early for Easter with supply chain issues, soaring seafood prices etc. supplies are limited.
Telstra has s new female CEO t as king over from the current CEO who is retiring after 7 years at the helm of Telstra. She will be the first female CEO of Telstra and steps up from her CFO position of almost 3 years at Telstra and will work with the current CEO over the next few months to transition into the role. Concentration will be on to reduce the huge amount of customer complaints and on hold times of up to hours.
Sonic The Hedgehog is back on the new film circuit.
Myer 11 am - 5 pm
Another sunny day with tops forecasted to be 29 degrees C! It's Autumn yet it is still so warm.
I send a text message to say that I will be unable to attend yet another appointment at APM Chatswood due to being registered on that day - I just checked Kronos such a waste of my time working at Myer as I hardly get 20 hours work a week.
I don't know what's wrong with NSW public transport system but it's falling apart. Yesterday there was trackwork on the Northern lines and if there isn't trackwork the rail network is on strike. Ever since almost the entire bus network was privatised bus companies think it's completely ok for buses not to show up or be cancelled at the last minute. Bus drivers think it's ok not to stop and pick up passengers such as the incident this morning where for a second time the yellow Hills Express bus drove straight past me when I flagged it down at the bus stop and where the troubled frequent 144 service between Chatswood and Manly thinks it's ok to return to the depot during peak hours dumping a bus full of passengers one stop before the next major bus stop connecting with the B line bus. Why would this bus driver continue to drive so far with a technical issue with the bus she announces advising passengers that she has th o return to the depot ( I think she was doing overtime therefore decided not to continue the route) . It is a long wait for the next bus and a long walk to the next bus stop I prac 4th I ally ran and just made the B line that appeared in front of me. The other passenger that dawdled behind me missed this B line just. I had to push in front of 2 fat guys that took up the entire footpath taking their time obviously not in any hurry. I would be late for work if I missed this B line. Next one is not for ages. Got to work just in time this morning.
Rushing to finish work today, I had a customer who was faphing around therefore I worked 7 minutes overtime unpaid and I did not have a break today. It wasn't busy but there is as always stuff to do like check all the quilts for security tags, put stock in the correct places, take down old tickets , put up new tickets , fold towels and restock pillows. I signed up 1 Myer One membership today and yes I remembered to scan the barcode as I just could not find the customer on the system. Not as many returns today. Customers are still lying to me about not having a Myer One membership! Found in the system again!
No rain all day today.
Home on the 5.20 pm 280 bus after a toilet stop I made this bus. A quick grocery shop for tomorrow's lunch ( I am not looking forward to a 8 am must leave home in order to get to work by 10 am for a 1 hour safety training session before starting work at 11 am until 5.30 pm and then heading off to see a movie in the city finishing at 10.20 pm then getting the train and bus home day tomorrow. Lucky no work on Wednesday but I am not looking forward to tomorrow.)
Gee it's a long wait for a 144 home from Chatswood. 6.40 pm and still waiting for a bus.
Bin to take out for rubbish collection tomorrow morning. Done as soon as I arrive home before going upstairs to the apartment.
Home around 7.15 pm so I missed the evening news but watch the tail end of The Cook Up and then 8 Out of 10 Does Countdown whilst having a snack of buffalo wings from Woolworths and fruit salad I have in the fridge. Sleep early tonight.
News headlines today include
Will the bin chicken ( Ibis) become the next Olympic mascot for the Brisbane Olympics ? It is being considered.
The Grammy awards are on today and Kanye Has been banned from performing due to his erratic behaviour.
The war continues in the Ukraine with Odessa now targeted.
The race is on for the next preferred government as Labor now leads the current Liberal party. The pressure is on for the PM to call for a date for the next election which must be called by 21st May 2022. It is expected to be announced in the next few days.
QLD and VIV regions are still cleaning up after floods.
Calls for VIC premier to lift close contact COVID isolation orders due to what's happening in the football matches as players are missing out on playing in matches due to having to isolate when being in contact with COVID positive household members. There is no plans to lift this lose contact isolation order.
There has been a mass shooting in Sacramento in the US.
Australia has won the ICC Womens World Cup cricket match over England.
Monday 5th April 2022
Checked Kronos again and there were no changes to shift. Arrive at work and the customer service manager had added a new shift on Sat from 10 am - 6 pm without oking it with me first. I advised her that I just checked Kronos this morning and it was not on there. Now it is and I made it clear to her that I can't work until 6 pm on Sat only until 5 pm as I can't get home due to lack of public transport ( even 5 pm is a stretch and I hope I don't get stranded due to flooding again) . The customer service manager knows this yet still rosters me on to work until 5.30 pm . This is not ok to do so nor is it ok to add shifts at the last minute and not tell me in advance just because others can't work. I made sure my finishing time was changed on Kronos. I keep asking why she can't ask someone who resides closer to Warringah csn't work.
Myer 10 am - 5.30 pm ( includes 1 hour safety training between 10 am and 11 am)
10 am and I'm sitting in the staff lunch room about to commence my 1 hour safety training online. There is no one in the managers office so I don't waste time and just start the course. Most of which zi did on the B line bus on my way to wark. Having trouble continuing with it online again.
I was asked today of I was working on 14th April 22 yes but when asked by the customer service manager if I would bake anything for it - fat chance I'm going to bake anything for the bake sale on Thursday 14th April or any of their bake sales.
It's the second last day of the French Film Festival in Sydney and I judt had to fit in seeing one movie. There will probably be an encore of films but I'm so busy working I don't have time to fit in everything I want to see and do.
I requested 2 Saturdays off in the event I decide to work at the federal elections this year. Even if I don't I never work on polling day.
Tonight is the 2nd last night of the annual Alliance Francais French Film Festival therefore I had to fit it in around my erratic work schedule and see at least one french film before the festival ends tomorrow although there are usually encore sessions for selected films afterwards. I traveled straight from work on the B line. I make my way across the road as quickly as i could to the bus stop where there is a queue for the next B line bus curving around the corner all the way past the Manly bus stop! I have time and decide not to get on the awaiting bus which is full but wait for the next B line bus which was in 9 minutes according to the arrivals board after a 280 Chatswood bus. A Bline bus arrives almost immediately after the last one departed therefore I was one of the first to board it. It was quite empty too so I didn't have to stand all the way to Wynyard where the Bline terminates. Then it was a walk to the station underground where I boarded the next train to Central Station . The movie cinema Palace Central Sydney was a short walk from Central Station on the upper floor of the Central Park Mall. The movie I was going to see at The French Film Festival tonight was The Kitchen Brigade which did not start until 8.20 pm therefore I had time to buy a ticker at the box office in person , a sit down to recharge my mobile phone's battery, a toilet stop, a snack as well as a visit to the Timezone arcade games parlour. It's been decades since I have set foot inside a Timezone but not much has changed except the types and ranges of prizes you can win from the claw machines as well as points from tickets won . selfie booth, the shoot them up, knock the duck over, racing car simulator, skittles, basketball, motor bike races, even sonic the hedgehog and dance arcade games were all still present. I didn't have a go at any of them as I was more interested in taking photos of all the vintage arcade games and the wall of Japanese vending machines.
A full wall of Japanese vending machines which was very interesting to look at
Timezone - full of arcade games including Selfie booth, skittles, racing simulators , claw machines etc arcade games all lit up in bright coloured neon lights.
The movie was in cinema 6 tonight and my seat allocated was F2. I has asked for a back seat but unfortunately it was the worst seat I could have been allocated as and i will explain later why. Because I was a Poo as lace Cinema members, I only paid $17 for an adult ticket.
The cinemas are small and there are quite a dew of them. I could not enter the cinema until around 8 pm as it was still being cleaned out when I had a sneak peep inside it before 8 pm.
I loved the move but had a really hard time enjoying it for several reasons. It was a full cinema and it was really rude for a couple who arrived during the start of the actual movie and not during the previews trying to find 2 spare seats together therefore blocking my view at the beginning of the movie and asking me to move across which I wasn't happy about but did. Throughout the movie the person sitting next to me was constantly coughing and removed her mask for the entire movie. I am going to get COVID or whatever that person has in the next few days for sure! During the movie I rummaged through my bags in the dark to find whatever I could to disinfect the area near me. Not being able to find my disinfectant spray I pulled out first one sheet then a second sheet of disinfectant wipes and tucked them over my mask that I was wearing and no way taking off for the rest of the movie and left as soon as the lights came on and the couple that asked me to move over left. I rate the movie The Kitchen Brigade ( La Brigade) an 8/10. Quite appropriate given the current situation of refugees in Europe.
The movie end around 10.15 pm and I walk back to Central Station for a train back to St Leonarfs Station and a wait for a 144 bus home. I am home before 11 pm. Sleep. It' been a verylong day.
News headlines today include
A Melbourne man has become the first male to have a baby via a surrogate mother.
A British family holidaying in the Blue Mountains turned tragic when a bush walk in the Blue Mountains lead to a freak accident due to a landslide. The father and son died whilst the mother and other son are in critical condition in hospital. Their 15 year old daughter remained relatively unharmed but was the one to make the 000 emergency call. The 2 deceased bodies are to be retrieved from the landslide and investigations are on as to why these tracks were still open given the recent heavy rain falls and floods.
The Ukrainian president has visited Bucha to view the mass killing of civilians caused by the war risking his own life. Russians are saying the images are all a lie. Biden has accused Putin of war crimes and should be taken to court to be trialled. Marise Payne Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs is to meet NATO members in Brussels this week
Chaos of Easter travel is expected with wild weather along the East Coast again, long queues at airports due to shortage of staff and delays in baggage collection as well as isolation conditions.
Elon Musk has purchased a large stake in Twitter increasing the value of tech stocks on the market. Over 73 million shares.
The Aus $ is above the 75 cent mark against the US $ again
Fuel costs continue to fall temporarily, inflation is at its highest , unemployment rates remain low as the job market remains high, interest rates are speculated to rise any day by the Reserve Bank, wages remain low whilst the cost of living continues to rise.
Tiger Woods may make his return to the Masters for the first time since his horrific car accident 14 months ago. He is unsure if he can handle a full golf tornament and is currently in practice to make his mind up by tea time.
Australian defence is to get a government boost to increase it's military presence after the concellation of the French submarine contract and the new agreement with the US to build a fleet of submarines taking too long. This comes after the ever increasing presence of China's military in the Indo Pacific region. It has been said that Australia has been caught napping as it has taken so long to increase it's defence weapons only waking to the current world situation. Long range strike weapons will be supplied to naval and airforce.
Kids are having shorter attention spans due to social media particularly TikTok.
2nd booster shots are now available to over 65 year olds.
"A re Rudd is not a solution to Australia's problems" as quoted by Scott Morrison. Just call the election date now .
China has reported a huge increase in a new variant of COVID cases after the entire country was tested and the country locked down to combat the spread of the virus. Initially the country was only locked down for 4 days.
2 people have died on a helicopter crash in NSW near the Snowy Mountains.
Rain is forecasted for tomorrow AGAIN!
Wednesday 6th April 2022
Day off
I sleep in until 7.15 am this morning after a very late night last night to a very wet morning as the sound of motor vehicles swish and splosh by . It was forecasted to rain today and it sure rained overnight.It rained almost all day today so I did not venture out. I stayed at home all day as it rained outside sleeping watching tv and YouTube and eating and cooking as well as catching up on my blog.
The usual The cook Up and 8 out if 10 does countdown followed by celebrity numbers snd letters.
Sleep.
News headlines today include
There is more wild wet weather over the next few days in NSW with a rain bomb and rain falls forecasted of upto 300 mm in 3 days after a few days of sunshine and higher temperatures. Evacuation warnings are in place. The NSW premier has come out of parental leave to tour flood affected regions of NSW.
The queen has sent her condolences to flood affected regions and victims around Australia.
A boy has fallen from the Loonie Tunes carousel ride and has suffered a head injury at Movie World which caused the theme park to close. It is not seen to be the fault of Movie World as investigations continue and the theme park reopens although the Loonie Tune ride remains closed.
No more proof of vaccination staus is required in QLD and unvaccinated residents of QLD will be finally allowed back into clubs pubs theme parks and other events as of next Thursday - about time as the peak of Omicron has long passed. A vaccine mandate is still in place venues where there are vaunable residents such as aged care facilities.
Another bus strike is going ahead next Monday.
The Reserve bank has kept interest on hold at the moment but could start raising rates in the next few months as early as June ( forecasted as 3 % rise in 3 months). This will put strain on mortage holders with the treat of defaults in mortage repayments. There is caution due to see inflation stabilised within 2 -3 % and for wages to increase ( with the reserve bank removing the word "patient" being used in a move to increase interest rates) . Inflation and low unemployment rates are a sign that that the economy is in good shape but fuel prices are still high as a result of factors outside of Australia's control such as the war in the Ukraine.
Woods does intend to play in the masters and tee off in opening round after feeling confident he will be able to play during practice sessions in Augusta. The Masters could be Woods' first return to a major golf tournament after 14 months since his car accident where leg injuries have made walking difficult for him.
Air taxis in QLD to start a rideshare service?
Vale Bobby Rydell teen idol rock and roll singer and actor of the 1960s ( Rydell High School in the movie musical Grease is named after him) dies aged 79.
Thursday 7th April 2022
I slept in this morning until 7 an again to a very wet morning. It rained constantly overnight again and it is a lit cooler today.
Today I need to prepare for work tomorrow and am running out of groceries again.
I can't even enjoy my days off without being interrupted by a can I work on Monday text message from the customer service manager at almost 4 pm today. I responded with a no public transport strike can't get to work. If she had kept up with the news she would have known this.
I was planning to go for a skate at Macquarie but due to the heavy rain am running really late. It was my last chance for a discount hour skate before school holidays began on Monday 11th April when the flat rate everyday for a mega skate is $25 wth no discount sessions or hours.
I was right I did not make the skating session therefore just did a grocery shop at Woolworths Aldi & Cokes. Not everything on my shopping list was available and groceries are so expensive therefore I just grabbed whatever was available and that I could afford.
Home on the Metro and 144 from Chatswood which was a long wait and it started to pour with rain again as it became dark around 5.30 pm. It was getting rather cold as well. There were quite afew people waiting fir the bus.
I managed to get home relatively dry in contrast to when I left in the afternoon when it was absolutely pouring with rain and it was not only a very long wait for a bus but I was being splashed by cars driving past at the bus stop so stood on the bench with my umbrella open shielding my legs from getting drenched and my hoodie zipped up and covering my head.
I arrive home and there is a car parked in the car park. This is a constant problem. People just think they can use this property's car park free of charge leaving their mvs overnight for days - I should really organise them to be towed away as they often block the entrance and exit to the front door.
I unpack my groceries wasj my hands gave some bread with vegemite and rocket watch the tail end of the news followed by the cook up and 8 out of 10 does countdown before going to sleep. I did not prepare for work tomorrow.
I tried to purchase a ticket the Easter show online today at am having trouble so I the RAS an email of how disappointed I was. Fancy not being able to purchase a single ticket or any ticket for any day on ticketmaster. You can't get tickets anywhere else this year except online and I was planning to go on Monday 11th April butthere is a bus strike on so due to work the only other day I can go is Friday 15th April but I csn't seem to purchase a ticket online. Tickets are not transferable therefore I have to ensure I purchase one for the correct date.
Will see what the RAS has to say.
I did however book a ticket to the Sydney Good Food & Wine Show in June . Can't wait!
News headlines today include
NSW health workers are on strike today over a catch up pay increase of 5% where the current wage increase is capped at 2.5% which is below the inflation rate.
A vaping study has found that e cigarettes are targeted and harmful towards young people creating a new group of addiction. There are over 200 chemicals in these e cigarettes and nobody knows exactly which ones are in different e cigarettes. These e cigarettes are targeted to children and easy to use and available in flavours such as bubblegum and fairy floss for example which is marketed towards children . The claim is that these e cigarettes are not harmful as they do not contain nicotine but they actually do and therefore are just as addictive and even more addictive then cigarettes are. These chemicals can cause damage to the the brain and lungs as well as other parts of the growing body. It's not just harmless vapour water as marketed and a ban on the sale flavoured vapes is being considered.
A Melbourne 52 year old woman has been caught and being investigated for placing poisonous dog baits along High Street. She was arrested but released as baits are being analyzed.
The wild wet weather continues in Sydney and is forecasted to continue over Easter. Warnings are not to travel and stay off the roads in flood affected areas. Warragamba Dam could spill later this afternoon or tomorrow. More then 140 mm of rain is expected for NSW today.
A fire in Sydney has caused its roof to collapse luckily there was injured in the fire.
Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricardo is returning to Australia for his first Grand Prix since 2019 racing for McLaren. He has had a car named after him and is helping out with flood affected regions . If he wins he will be doing his trademark shoeie.
PM Scott Morrison was verbally attacked and heckled on a visit to a pub near Newcastle during his election campaign by a senior citizen for not providing adequate financial support for older Australians.
Ed Shereen has won his copyright case.
There was a petrol spill from the Kurnell refinery. There is oil slicks in residents front and backyards which is currently being cleaned up and hampered due to heavy rain. There is a 5 km exclusion zone although the spillage d oi es not cause a hazard to residents.
Meanwhile Anthony Albanese has avoided answering a question by a resident during a press conference in Perth yesterday "Are you upto the job?" was never answered by Mr. Albanese citing this was a press conference and only journalists can ask questions at a press conference
A Japanese robot has been developed to peel a banana.
Friday 8th April 2022
Myer 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
It rained overnight but eased in the early morning and has stopped raining for now. zit is relatively dry by 6.30 am this morning.
It was quite busy today. Once again I was alone most of the time serving whilst other team members were doing other things.
No Myer One sign ups. I don't care anymore. I did find a few more old Myer One memberships though.
Some customers you just can't help. The guy who wanted the Single Aero Protectabed mattress protector and the lady that rang up asking for a phone order to deliver 4 large woven baskets that will cost her $80 due to the bulk just to deliver to her with no other option as she can't order online or do an order. She hasthem on hold over the weekend and picking them up.
The new manager is now talking to the unvaccinated team member who is "burying the hatchet" after complaining of how rude she is to everyone and how she complained about how she could be a manager if they tell a customer to come back tomorrow. The new manager although joking was making a point about how she thought someone was trying to poison her as she knows how everyone thinks she is a bitch with her response " I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to do my job" I think all managers at Myer Warringah are like this and they are all bitches.
Same shit at work. Rushing at 3 pm to put up all the sales tickets for the start of yet another monthly Super Weekend tomorrow . Myer is constantly on sale, the mid season sale just ended followed by the weekly Home Sweet Home sale on Tuesday which is on every Tuesday now it is the Super Weekend sale which actually starts on Fridays online every month and in store over the weekend meaning Myer team members have to honour all sales for customers who notice this sale prompted online and want to purchase the same items in store on the Friday before the Super Weekend. Add to this it's Mole Friday again. It was Mole Friday just last weekend. What is Mole Friday ? I have never mentioned this in my blog before but it is a well known term where on Fridays especially before an upcoming sale at Myer all the weirdo customers come out to shop.
I locked my bag again today as I finish at 5.30 pm and to make the 5.40 pm Chatswood bus every second counts as you exit the staff entrance exit including bypassing a bag check. I make the bus with the team member from wimens shoes although she thought the bus was cancelled again and I thought we had missed it as there were not a lot of people waiting at the bus stop.
It was wet cold and vrey when we left work and by the time we reached Chatswood it was dark even colder and wet. I stopped off at the Chatswood Mall markets for a snack of a fried sesame leaf fish cake on a stick. I haven't had one of these for a while and it was not my intention to purchase this as a snack but after looking at what hot food was available at Woolworths , failing to find any salmon sushi that had not been prepackaged and sitting on the shelf for a long period of time or had a fly sitting on it in a bain marie as well as GYG discontinuing to sell the barramundi burrito - I was running out of options.
Home on the 144 bus which again was quite a wait. I catch the end The Cook Up and 8 Out Of 10 Does Countdown . Sleep as I have to work again tomorrow.
News headlines today include
4 Kinder Surprise Easter chocolate products have been recalled so close to Easter due to Salmonella. 100 people have fallen ill globally from consuming them.
The PM has been banned from entering Russia along with a growing list of other countries due to sanctions imposed against Russia and Australia sending and supplying millions of dollars worth of military equipment consisting of bushmasters armoured vehicles requested by the Ukrainian president. Painted for better identification.
The wild weather in NSW is easing however much of Sydney's North, West and South are still flood ravaged or under flood evacuation or warnings overnight. The Warragamba Dam has spilled. More heavy rain is forcasted with a possible thunderstorm. The Hawksbury and Nepean Rivers are of concern. Cars became stuck as the George's River rose and flooded. A cow had to be coaxed out of a picnic ground confused as to where to go stick in flood waters.
The Formula 1 Grand Prix has returned to Melbourne's Albert Park ( which has had track changes) with thousands attending today to mark it's absence after 3 years - the last major event to be cancelled at the last minute due to COVID. A boost to the local economy with a sold out crowd predicted.
Will Smith's fate could be decided tomorrow by the Academy. The date has been bought forward due to Will Smith having already resigned.
The Royal Easter Show turns 200 tomorrow and Princess Anne will officially open it. The wet weather has not deterred visitors.
Tiger Woods has teed off at Augusta.
Saturday 9th April 22
Myer 10 am - 5 pm ( Super Weekend)
Well it's not raining today and the sun is out. If I had not been rostered in to work today at the last minute I would probably be at the Easter Show or at some other event today. I was asked to work until 6 pm today but made it clear that I could only work until 5 pm today as it will take me forever to get home. Even after 5 pm it will take me forever to get home on a Saturday.
As I approach Warringah Mall it starts raining again - a sun shower uh oh a rather heavy sun shower just minutes to the mall it starts to pour with rain! And it stops.
Lunch was at 1.45 pm - 2.25 pm. I ate my lunch for breakfast and purchased $18 worth of sushi from Master Rolls for lunch. There was a long queue but what I ordered was not what I got. I started eating the first piece of sushi and it was grilled salmon or maybe not but the rest of the pieces of sushi were butterflied prawn and imitation crab meat. I asked for grilled salmon. No time to return my uneaten portion as there was still a queue. I will just have to suffer the consequences of eating shellfish which I am allergic to. I hope my antihistamine is still working. Photo of lunch attached. Rating 4/10. I am giving this a low score due to the mistake which could have killed someone who is far more allergic then I am. Pretty ordinary - the seaweed hand roll was better then the "salmon" sushi. 1 piece of salmon 3 pieces of imitationcrab meat and 5 pieces of butterflies prawn not worth the $14 I paid for it. Let's hope I fon't get sick. Should have just gone to sushi train.
Above is my lunch which looked like pieces of grilled salmon but was actually prawn as nd imitation crab mix. The single hand roll was a seaweed salad.
I thought Mole Fridays were bad but today was just as bad - is there such a thing as mole Saturday? Why are customers so difficult. They come to the counter unprepared and hold up the long queue behind them constantly. Then there are the disappearing customers - they want an item, I advise them that it is on the reserve and will return in 15 minutes with the item (s) and they just disappear. I am notgoing to spend time looking for them as they were told to stay around the homewares department.
Today I was asked to wear a headset. Although I am only working 10 am - 5 pm today and filling in for someone else who could not work, one of the permanent team members called in sick ( again) today therefore there was no other senior staff member therefore I was the one who was asked to wear it. ( I don't get it this team member keeps calling in sick on Saturdays yet she posted a message on what's app that she could cover for anyone that couldnot work).
So something did happen this afternoon - the cash draw on one of the two cash and card POS registers was jammed. I had reconciled the end POS register which balanced - another team member had balanced the one that jammed and I was serving a customer who wanted to pay with cash . The cash was in my hand and Iwas wsiting forthe cash draw to open butit did not but a receipt did come out. I gave the customer thereceipt - just as well it was the exact cash for the purchase and said don't worry I can open the till manually afterwards via the till reconciliation function which did not work therefore had to call the customer service manager. She couldnot unjam it and it was out of service for an hour or so . Mean time it was extremely busy and the other 2 team members were fluffing around trying to organize their lunch breaks which I thought had already been organized before I went to lunch. The electricals team leader needed someone to cover over intheir department so I sent one of the team members over there for 30 minutes as she advised me that she was not going on her break for 30 minutes. Apparent as advised by the customer service manager thisteam member has a habit of not taking her break in the allocated time slot then taking it just before she is about to finish her shift which is a no no 30 minutes before finishing your shift.
Register finally unjammed but it became busier and busier. My final customer of the day took me 10 minutes overtime which I don't get paidfor then i had to return my headset to the office and I sent a text to the customer service manager that I returned it to recharge on #4 . I did not trust just telling the assistant store manager. Everything I do has to be in writing at Myer.
I was asked again if I am working on Monday by the assistant store manager. I reply no there is a bus strike and I can't get to work. There was no way I was going to work to cover for someone who decided they can't work on Monday again, I've already done everyone a favour today.
Finishing at 5 pm makes a big difference. I made it on the next 280 bus to Chatswood on a Saturday afternoon even catching up with the team member from shoes who catches that bus. I thought she finished at 6 pm but also requested to finish at 5 pm so she could get home.
Home around 7.30 pm . I did not stop at Chatswood but it was a wait for the next connecting 144 bus home. When I arrived home, the front door was open. I had locked the front door behind me this morning and wondered how long it had been left open and by who. It was a little bit concerning - the lights were all on down stairs ( they were fixed last time the cleaners came) . What happens if someone is squatting in one of the unoccupied apartments or rooms or hiding in the kitchen laundry or downstairs toilet or bathroom or even in the courtyard out back and jumps out at me. I locked the door behind me with as loud thud and ensure it is locked before heading upstairs straight to my apartment and shut my door so I am locked inside my apartment. I turn the volume ofmy TV up loud and all my lights on to deter anyone that maybe in the apartment block.
Tired I wash my hands have some grapes put my mask in the sink and sort my laundry out before falling asleep still wondering if there is someone else in the building.
News headlines today include
More concerns over the Queens health as she cancels attending the traditional easter service.
The worse looks as if its over for the wild wet weather as some flood affected regions of NSW return to clean up for a second time. There has been yet another fatality as a result of the floods with a 68 year old man drowning as his motor vehicle is found under water. Several parts of NSW is still under flood watch.
Tiger Woods legs are holding out walking the course in the golf tournament after teeing off yesterday and has made the cut which means he is in with a chance for his 6th green jacket.
Will Smith has been banned by the academy for attending the awards in person or virtually and voting for 10 years.
The Formula Grand Prix continues with a final practice round before the qualifiers this afternoon. Spectators are keen to attend as soon as the gates open to the event this afternoon.
4 astronauts, 3 who each paid 55 million dollars to travel into space for an expected 8 days at the international space station to conduct a number of experiments will be the first private funded astronauts to do so. Unlike last years private funded civilian joy ride astronauts , these 4 US astronauts including 1 former astronaut have undergone months of training and will use their acquired skills learnt from their training to conduct experiments in space putting their training to real use during their time at the international space station.
Fleeing civilians now refugees including children waiting at a train station for safe passage in the Ukraine have been bombed by the Russian military. The word " for children" was spotted on the side of a missile. 52 including 5 children were killed.
Princess Anne arrives in Sydney for her royal visit to the Royal Easter Show to celebrate its 200 anniversary. The show opened yesterday.
COVID is still in the news overshadowed by all other headlines. Booster shots are now in the process of being approved for the 16 + aged group. The % of 1st and 2nd dose vaccinations have not moved and booster shots have only risen to just past 60.9% ( probably due to any mandatory booster vaccinations only) . The booster shot marketing and advertising campaign continues despite these figures ie very slow uptake.
Craig Kelly has been egged by a women during a rally in park Melbourne with a " you'ra a disgrace" response. Campaigning begins as Scott Morrison is edged on by Anthony Albanese by advising that he would give Scott Morrison a lift to the lodge to call the election although he got the destination incorrect - not the lodge but government house. SM is expected to call the election date this Sunday.
Sunday 10th April 2022
Day off!
Today was a really nice day but I did not venture out. There was a lot of banging of doors to the apartment block and some strange cars parked outside. Are there new tenants living in the apartment block now? There was certainly a lot of noise and I saw someone from the as apartment across from me shut their doir and then take their rubbish out to the mini red bin before driving off in a white car parked outside.
In the late afternoon I started hearing someone having some sort of mental breakdown which Ithought was coming from inside the apartment block but looked outside to see where it was coming from. I could not see anyone around but could still hear them. An elderly couple work past and there curled up on the footpath I could just see a white object of some sort. At first I thought it was a white bag until it started tomove and then realised that it was a person in a white hoodie curled up in a fetal position across the footpath blocking it. Then I sawthe eldely couple stop and ask possibly if the person was ok. They were still in a state so they walked away from the person and called 000. A police car showed up then there were 3 police cars later. The white car was trying to drive out of the car park from the right but was partially blockedby the police car out front managing to just squeeze pass it onto the main road before the other police cars arrived that parked right across the entrance to the apartment entrance. They were thereforever and had their red flashing sirens on so I pulled my blind down as I was trying to block out the lights and sounds. Finally after an hour or so the incident is over and the police and mentally unstable person who has calmed down by now have left.
Yep there is definitely someone that has moved in either next door or across from me. There are so many other apartments in the block. They could have chosen one on the other side - maybe the rent is cheaper on this side of the apartment block.
I suspect that these new tenants may have been living here for a few days or weeks but not in the front apartments as people passing by can see into these apartments. The mystery of why there is always someone dumping their bags of rubbish into the red bin may have been solved as i saw the person driving off in a white car this afternoon placing a small bag of rubbish in the mini red bin which should be empty as I only just emptied my large bag of rubbish into the mini bin this morning.
I fell asleep after watching the food channel catching up on my blog eating the tomato chicken and vegetable soup I made in my slow cooker, having a shower and washing my dishes
Breaking news headlines today - Today is the day the PM calls the election day. All eyes are on Scott Morrison today as he travels to Canberra to the governor generals ti resolve the current government and calls the election date before announcing it at a press conference . The date of the next Federal election is offically on Saturday 21st May 2022. As both Labour and Liberal parties begin their campaigns, SM may be in Canberra but his opposition Anthony Albanese is at the Easter Show. The race is on - will the current PM win the next Federal election with his experience and seriousness or will an alternative PM be elected based on his more human and caring characteristics?
Other news - UK PM Boris Johnson pays a surprise visit to the Ukraine.
Today it is dry however flood affected areas are starting to clean up. More rain forecasted? Possibly over the Easter holidays.
A warning for people travelling over the school and Easter holidays. Arrive at the airport 3 hours before your flight departure time after the chaos of delayed and cancelled flights, delays in baggage claims and security checks that occurred over the previous days. To ease the situation of staff shortages at airports , airport staff have now been reclassified as essential workers and therefore the 7 day close contact isolation rules no longer applies to them.
There are new concerns for the new Emerald class ferries that are smaller then and replaced the old Ferry MacFerryFace ferries on the Manly route. Masters of these ferries have been advised not to sail directly into waves at the heads as the Emerald class vessels are too small to handle rough waters at the heads and can become airborne and topple over seeming them unsuitable and unsafe for the Manly route. There are plans to keep these Emerald class ferries for inner harbour routes and to recomission one of the old ferries back on the Manly route.
The bus strike tomorrow is to cause commuter chaos.
Sydney's weather forecast is for mid to high 20s and mostly sunny with achance of showers but much drier then previous weeks. Looking mostly dry over Easter.
Monday 11th April 22
Day off ( I did not want to work today as there is a bus strike on and it will be difficult to get to and from work and to be fair why should I have work because someone decides they don't want to!)
It's just past 1 am and I just returned my ballot and questions for the up coming AGM as I kept receiving pestering emails to do so. No ballots or registrations will be accepted on the day of the AGM which is via Zoom again this year and questions are to be submitted prior to the AGM. Lucky the AGM is on a Saturday which is a Sunday Australi as n time therefore should not interfere with work.
Another sunny day today but if I want to go anywhere today there will be a lot of walking as there is a major bus strike today that started at midnight last night.
I took my rubbish out to the mini red bin this morning so don't have to worry about it later on today.
I still need to do my laundry but need change again.
I intend to walk down to Lane Cove today to get a few grocery items I've run out of and get change. Maybe even return my bottles. It's meant to be mostly sunny today but with a chance of showers.
Around noon I venture out for a walk down to Lane Cove shops for some much needed vitamin D and exercise. It is boiling hot and the spitfire caterpillars are out. Let's hope I don't get a severe allergic reaction.
First stop return and earn machine. A bad time to process my bottles as therecycling truck is emptying the machine and there is a father and son in front of me with a bag full of cans and cartons. It's a long wait as they are so slow. Done.
Next stop Chemist Warehousetheb woolworths for groceries and to get some change for the laundry. Almost forgot to cash in my return and earn voucher. Done.
Final stop some sushi. Oh dear. First sushi place only had raw salmon. Onto the other sushi place. Sushi Maru, I chose the $10.50 California salmon rolls. To be totally honest it was just as bad as the other sushi i had at Master Rolls. I have purchased from this place before but today it was absolutely awful . I rate it a straight 4/10. The salmon pieces were in pieces and had fallen off the sushi pieces and they were not seared. The rice at the bottom was soaked in a sweet sauce with what may have been char marks but looked as if the pieces of sushi had been dropped on a dirty floor picked up and resold. There was an unidentified jelly piece in amongst the sweet sauce. The thin pieces ofsalmon looked as if they were not raw but not cooked either - as if it was blanched on one side only. Tasteless.
I walk home and do my laundry, take the 2 bins out ( someone has stolen my pair of rubber gloves I left downstairs) and place my pizza in the oven to bake whilst catching up on the food channel and my blog amongst other things.
It is getting dark and the cloudsare looming. I think it will rain tomorrow.
News headlines today include:
The holiday chaos continues at airports and is likely to continue beyond the Easter holidays where it is advised to arrive at airports 3 hours prior to departure. The blame is not just on staff shortages due to COVID close contact isolation but also on unprepared passengers going through airport security eg liquid and gel limits and declarations, laptop removal, lost or forgotten travel documentation etc which cause passenger delays as well as cancelled flights upon arrival to the airport. More delays at airports. The bag drop has stopped due to being over capacity. Airports are just in chaos .
The race is on with which government will win the next election. Both SM and AA are now campaigning hard for the next 6 weeks as of yesterday when the Federal election date was called and campaigning began. It is a very tight poll with barely a % or 2 between the 2 parties as preferred party however SM has a slight lead over AA aa preferred PM. AA and SM were both asked the same questions about the economy today the cash rate and unemployment rate. SM answered both correctly whereas AA could not answer either questions apologising later. SM 1 AA 0!
A man has run into the field during an NRL game on Sunday with a flare. Luckily the flare did not cause any damage. The man was arrested .
Another shooting in the US in a nightclub in Iowa.
An elderly couple were pulled from there caravan before it exploded.
A 23 year old man has died at Golf course. His body was found facing down in a lake. He was unable to be revived
The Queen looks great via a video conference where a plaque was presented to NHS staff speaking about how tired and exhausted onecan get contracting COVID.
The Grand Prix in Melbourne over the weekend was a massive success unfortunately Aussie Daniel Richardo placed 6th in the race.
Macron may be the first French president to be re elected although he faces fierce competition
A 4 year old boy was spotted unstrapped in on a ride at the Easter Show which could have ended in tragedy if not alerted to a ride operator who pressed the emergency stop button. The ride remains closed. A stabbing of a 17 year old late tonight also occurred at the Easter Show. The teenager died and another injured when a fight broke out in the carnival rides area which remains closed. Another male has been arrested but the hunt for the killer is still on. The rest of the Easter show will remain open tomorrow. Ticket holders to the show can request a refund if they don't want to attend the show tomorrow and can't attend on another day.
Aussie Cameron Smith places 3rd st the Masters after green jacket winner Scottie Scheffler and runner up Rory Mcllroy.
Today's bus strike was a flop. Up to 1000 bus drivers were on strike today making their way to a rally on Macquarie Street outside Parliament House for better pay and conditions. However whilst some routes caused commuters an inconvenience other routes ran as normal with bus drivers turning up to work as normal.
Climate change protestors wereat it again with fines issued to anyone that causes blockages to traffic.
The Fifty Six Cafe was peppered with bullets with links to the underground world.
It was so hot today 30 degrees celcius was reached! But wet weather is returning.
Princess Anne has departed Australia after her brief visit to Australia to open the Easter Show for it's 200 anniversary.
Silver Chair singer faces jail for drink driving charges near Newcastle 3 times over the limit.
Thousands sprint to safety after explosions in Timessquare later found to be from gas build ups in man holes.
The housing boom is coming to an end due to looming increase in interest rates and restrictions in borrowing.
The areas around the Hawksbury River are still flooded and Warragamba Dam is at 100 % capacity and spilling.
The Australian dollar is under 75 cents against the US dollars.
Resapp shares have surged as Pfizer takes over this QLD university based company.
Tuesday 12th April 2022
Myer 11.30 am - 5.30 pm
A partly cloudy partly sunny day this morning.
I wake at 5 am and remove my laundry from the dryer downstairs I had left in there overnight hoping it had dried completely.
8 am and I still have not woken up completely as my right ear is still slightly blocked and I am really itchy again as well as not feeling well in my stomach. Was I suffering from an allergic reaction from the pizza I ate ?
So it was the usual at work. Home Sweet Home Tuesday one day sales. At the end of the day all the sales tickets have to be taken down. Oops I forgot about the triple and single stands. After pulling them down too early last time I left them up.
I told the team leader but I don't know why the team member that was transferred over to kids kept hassling me about when I had to take my break. I only have a 15 minute break today and can therefore go when I like. Whenever the team member left she would be on my back again. She advises me that themanagers don't like it when you take a break in the last hour before you finish your shift. I corrected her and said last half hour. This particular team member does not like to stay behind the counter and disappears whenever she can. If she ensures I am behind thecounter then shecan go off and do what she likes without telling anyone. The other team member that was on with me said she going down to thereserve to get stock. I saw this team member on her phone (again) in the napery reserve and told the other team member who was wondering why it was taking this team member so long to return from the napery reserve.
The team leader was signing a customer up for a Myer One membership and a new piece of information now collected for security purposes ( I still don't believe it is for birthday vouchers as I never get one) is a DOB. When the customer advised her the year was "1973", the team leader repeated it as "1937" as the customer repeated the year I was think and said "excuse me how rude" with a giggle and jokes with the customer about being "well preserved for her age"
Again no Myer One sign ups but hopefully still a high scan rate. There are stillcustomers whose Myer One profiles havenot been updated therefore I am failing to find them on the system but once again there are always people that don't live in Australia or are in too much of a hurry to join up. However I am still getting people that say they are not Myer One members but when I look them up they are actually in the system.
The cleaner purchased some towels today and she had a Myer One but when I asked her if she got a team member discount she said no she didn't think so. I was going to ring the operations manager but thinking whatthe cleaner was thinking decided against it as she felt uncomfortable for asking even with me asking on her behalf. So the question remains do the cleaners who are contractors get a team discount like all the other concession team members do? Do brand partner team members get a team discount?
No stopping today on my way home. I wait for the 5.40 pm 280 bus to Chatswood and it showed up. At Chatswood it was still a 6 minute wait for the next 144 bus home.
News headlines today includes
Britney Spears has announced that is is pregnant?! After her last video of her rolling in the sand on a beach sun burnt
A police car has pulled over another erratically driven police car only to find it was a driverless police car in San Francisco.
The case of missing fake financial investor Melissa Carrick has resurfaced again.
It's day 2 of the election campaign after Anthony Albanese's gaffe yesterday former PM John Howard was in support of Anthony Albanese with a "who cares!" comment having gone through a simular situation himself.
The countdown is on for Michael Bauble's down under tour and has made a new music video.
Rebel Wilson has a new movie where she returns to high school to finish her final year.
Victoria to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games?! An announcement is imminent by premier Dan Andrew's in Ballarat with the reason of the games being hosted in Victoria's regional cities to showcase places to visit and promoting tourism in regional Victoria.
The guy that ran onto the field of an NRL game with a flare has been arrested. He was a climate activist.
Johnny Depp and Amber Heard are in court again with Johnny during Amber for defamation over sexual abuse claims.
A notorious man has climbed up on a construction crane without s harness or other safety equipment and taken a selfie of himself without any respect for his safety.
World number 1 Novak Djokovic has returned to playing major world tennis at the Monte Carlo Masters clay court but loses the first round to Alejandro Davidovich despite still being unvaccinated . At one stage it was unclear whether he had been vaccinated or not.
Wednesday 13th April 2022
Myer 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
I tried to log into my mygov account and can't get in as the security codes sent to me are not being accepted and generated too slowly Finally done after 6 attempts of trying to log in! Centrelink fortnightly income reporting lodged earlier as per email received due to public holidays.
I paid a random amount on my private health insurance and sent a email of complaint as I don't believe payments are being allocated correctly again.
Time to get ready for work. Must leave at 7.30 am in order to get to work in time plus return Coles baby spinach recalled. Returned to Coles warringah this morning for cash refund.
It is raining again as soon as as I board the Bline bus at Neutral Bay Junction.
More tickets to put up today and price increases on items to do again.
I only managed to do the Vue photo frames price increases today as there were customers right to the end today. How I hate customers that take their time when there is a long queue behind them or whocome in at 5 minutes to closing and take their time. Yep it happened today and it happens all the time.
I had a customer today who purchased 2 glass jugs and a box of cutlery and was standing there trying to balance it all whilst trying to match extra pieces of cutlery from MW stand . I spotted him and asked if he would like me to put his boxes items on the counter whilst he matched up his extra pieces of cutlery. I madehim hoback snd bringthe cracked glass jug he found on the shelf tothecounter so icould suspend it and dispose of it.
So many dodgey customers trying to return clearance stock which can't be returned unless faulty, bedding which can't be returned due to health regulationsub, stock from Christmas ( which can't be returned as the returns policy is 30 days from date of purchase or for christ until the end of February and it's now mid April) and even chocolates because they are on sale at Woolworths and Coles at 50% discount and not 20% discount that Myer is offering. Speaking of which a box of Favourites is on sale for only $2 a box at Myer until sold out!
I had a customer ( from cosmetics downstairs) that returned a broken glass canister and no Myer One sign ups today. My scan rate has slipped a bit but still finding the odd customer on the system that thinks they are not a Myer One member when they are and one customer who had 2 membership numbers.
2 customers left their phones behind at the counter yesterday. Lose your phonelose your life! Both realised and returned for them luckily.
I finished work quite late tonight as I volunteered to help a team member do a cash clearance round. She can't do it by herself as all cash clearances need a 2nd team member to confirm a cash clearance. After being unable to log into the cafe POS ( because I have an capital Alpha password not a numeric one ) we made our way around the POS and cleared any tills that needed to be cleared. I stayed withher until she finished putting thecash into thecash clearance machine ensuring the cash all balances which it did before heading tothe staff lockers . We had to wait for a manager to let us out. I didn't want to be the only one waiti g for a manager to let me out of the staff entrance exit mor did I want to leave the other team member alone waiting to be let out. She rang a manager from downstairs to let us out and we left with our team leader who stayed behind to put the rest of the sale tickets up.
It was pouring with rain by the time we left, it had been raining again most of the day but it really pouring by the time I left work.
Because there were no 280 buses to Chatswood after 5.40 pm, I walked to themain road inthedark and pouring rain, up across the pedestrian bridge and waited at the Manly bus stop for the next bus. There was a queue for the bline. The next bus to Manly was unfortunately a scenic route bus but it was so wet and I just wanted to get home I boarded the bus and upon arriving at Manly it was a long wait for the next 144 bus home.
I arrived home and hadmissed the news and just caught the tail end of the cook up and 8 out of 20 does countdown.
I had a snack and went straight to bed. So tired after today - and this is why I said no to contributing to the bake sale tomorrow. I have no time to bake due to the shifts I have been given ( the customer service managers till does not understand the it takes me 2 hours to get to work and 2 hours to get home) - the other reason is that I have no idea what these bake sales are for.
It' still wet but the rain has eased.
Around 10 pm I get a text message from the team leader asking about the instore customer order of Robert Gordon mugs from yesterday that was cancelled but could not be refunded to the customer as she paid instore on a POS but the order was on an ipad therefore itcan't be refunded as it is not an online order. Confused? I am therefore I don't like doing them. So I had to find the photo ofthe order and sent it to her before falling asleep ( I was actually half asleep already).
News headlines include
A gunman has opened fire in a NY subway during a peak hour morning commute. A man in a gas mask started shooting as passengers stampeded. 10 suffered gunshot wounds 5 critically injured. Crime rates such as shootings stabbings have risen by 50%.
SM has been heckled again by a labour supporter during the 2nd day of his election campaign who first asked for a selfie then lunged into a tyraid where he accused SM of not providing support to bush fire victims."Shame on you!" was shouted at SM.
Security is being stepped up at the Royal Easter Show since the stabbing on Monday. More security and police presence will be at the show as of today. New rules to the show may mean bag checks.
Quarantine free travel to NZ is back today. All flights to NZ today are fully booked.
Coles baby spinach packets have had a product recall due to salmonella nationwide. Oh dear I just opened a packet of Coles spinach with the use by dates recalled. It's not the baby spinach and I'm cooking it. Hope it's still ok. Correction it is baby spinach! Must return it.
Thursday 14th April 22
Myer 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
Late night shopping. I missed the bus this morning so had to take 3 connecting buses. I really did not want to go to work today.
Same same at work today stuck at the Homewares counter when the other team members wonder off and do what they like. Awful customers again who come to the counter then decide they need something else holding up the queues of people behind them or do not have their payments ready. Constantly running to the reserve to try and find stock. One vague customer wanted something from the reserve so I went down to get it but needed something else from the reserve and did not tell me. Instead as soon as I returned with the product from the reserve the other team member had to go down to the same to get another stock item and that's when I found out that it was for the same customer so I asked her "Why didn't you tell me I was just down in that reserve?" - this is what wastes my time and holds customers behind them up. Not happy . I think I'm over working in retail.
The customer service manager is still keeping a low profile but was very "close" to the manager from the ground floor this morning. What was she trying to achieve? They were looking for a mask for the ground floor manager who is just recovering from COVID and about to go on holidays again. The rumour is the customer service manager has been asked work over the Easter Weekend to cover for the ground floor manager when she was suppose to have the Easter weekend off therefore she has not been very happy since she found out recently. Maybe she was was being so close to the ground floor manager hoping she will contract CoVIDfrom her and therefore willnot be able to come into work due to close contact isolation regulations!
I wasn't yelled at by the customer service manager todaybut was told that that I forgottoput an APN number on a faulty item label returnedby a customer. Apparently it gets rejected by the DC. Another vague customer after I was about to process her cash payment gives me her cash then asks if she can make a donationto the flood victims if that is what the charity donations still went towards I ask the customer service manager how to process this ( she must have thought I was dumb when i asked her). She pressed the charity button and gave her $1 change back. After the customer left I explained tothe customerservice manager that i wasn't sure what she was asking me to do ie take the whole donation or round up her purchase to the nearest dollar. The customer service manager had assumed round up the purchase to the nearest dollar. She was a little strange going on about how she supposed the tea towels are all made in China etc etc. and how she kept asking the customerservice msnager what every single animal was on the tea towels.
Loads of chocolates sold today especiallyboxes of favourites at $2 a box. After a customer spotted the short best before dates and swapping a box for the later best before date I now know why they are so cheap. The best before dates are mixed and either expiring in May 22 or August 22. I was tempted to buy a box but amnot a fan of favorites no matter how cheap a box! A team member who has a sweet tooth purchased 3 boxes!
Loads of sheets and pillows purchased as well. There is a 4 day Easter sale on. We just had a super weekend sale and a Home Sweet Home sale as well as a always on sale of buy 2 get a % off.
More tickets to replace other tickets throw in a daily but late till reconciliation etc and the day is over.
No time to stand stil. No Myer one signups but still s high Myer One membership scan rate. I could not find a few customer membership numbers as their details are probably incorrect and customers in a hurry so missed 2 Myer One signup opportunities. If only Myer supplied enough hardcopy sign up cards this would make signups easier instead of having to log into the ipad myer one sign up page. I found yet another customer's myer one membership.
I had a late 15 minute break around 2.30 pm and managed to get offwork almost on time today with yet another last minute customer taking me over 5 minutes after 4.30 pm.
The bake sale looked as if it was a fail with half of the cakes still unsold. Idon't understabd what the proceeds of these bske sales are going towards.
Desperate for groceriesvasall shoos areclosed tomorrow it was a long shop at Woolworths then Coles with a toilet stop in between. Some products were unav available so I grabbed whatever groceries icouldcarry, was on my shopping list that I could remember and that were available from both supermarkets at Warringah. I was not stopping at Chatswood just going straight home.
By the time I finished it was past 6 pm dark but dry. I had tocross the road as there were no 280 buses to Chatswood. The first Manly bus was due in a few minutes and was a 199 which is suppose to be faster then the 167 bus to Manly. There was a long queue for the Bline bus again. At Manly there was a 167 in front of the 199 bus I was on. How is this possible? Both buses were due at the same time at Warringah however the 167 bus was nowhere in sight. Across the road i thought imayhave missed the 144 bus but I think it may have been a 142 bus from the distance. It was a long wait for a connecting 144 bus.
Home just before 8 pm I missed the news and the cook up but caught 8 out of 10 does countdown. I have my piece ofbarramundi fish I purchased from the fish monger at warringah mall . I baked it without any seasonings in the oven and had itfor dinner. It was so good!
Stillnoresponse from ticketmaster I send another email complaint. It's too late to get a ticket to tomorrows show atthe early bird price. i will just have to pay the full $46 GA fee. I onlywant to go as it is the 200 year anniversiary of the show I have not been able to go due to the COVID pandemic.
Sleep.
News headlines include
The gun man Frank James that filled the subway with gas and open fires in NY has been arrested without incident. Charged with a single account of terrorism police are still trying to find a motive for his attack. 26 people have been injured an 5 are still in a critical condition.
Airport chaos begins for Easter holidays. The queues are long and travelers have bern askedto arrive 2 - 3 hours prior to departure and be paitient. It is estimated that 82000 people will pass through Sydney Airport today as the Easter long weekend starts. Staff shortages are due to covid close contact isolation and cases of covid positive amongst staff.
Sydney climate protestors are at it again after yesterday's incident threatening to shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge by a truck blocking the bridge and 2 gluing themselves to the road disrupting traffic flow. Police are out there watching them and arresting them hoping to give them the full penalty in court.
A Fatal car crash with a semi trailer in SE QLD has killed 4 young women yet to be identified. The injured truck driver is in hospital Witnesses are urged to come forward with any dash cam to assist with identification.
Fuel prices are falling by up to 32 c per litre and will continue to fall . They have been falling since the budget when fuel excise were removed. Mean while the AUS $ is still under the 75 cent mark against the US $ with forecasts for rising interest rates, rental price rises putting pressure on housing as the borders open up more international workers and students return will lead to less rental availability and affordability as landlords increase rental prices to recoupedtheir loses duringthe pandemic
A low of 15 and a top of 23 degree C is forcasted for today.
Adam Bandt at the National Press Club says " Google it mate!" as the answer to politicans gaffes. But does everyone agree?
An Aldi survey of whether people prefer chocolate bunnies or chocolate eggs - the eggs won .
Friday 15th April 2022
Day off.
Happy Good Friday - Happy Easter!
It is a beautiful day today! I had planned to go to the Easter Show today but so far problems with getting a ticket online and complaints sent for non response to my technical problems may mean it's not happening! I only want to go as it is the 200 anniversary of the show. I do not plan to go again next year or in the following years.
I decided not to go away this Easter long weekend after not receiving a response from the accommodation place in Goulburn. Instead I have booked a ticket to go to the Easter Show on Sunday 17th April 2022. I am undecided on where to go or what to do on Saturday but kept it open as it is not a public holiday so all stores are open and I may need to top up my groceries that were unavailable on Thursday.
Today there are a few things in town that might be worth exploring after lunch now that I have had a shower and almost caught up with things.
A 144 bus to St Leonards Station followed by a train to Central then a trip on the light rail ( I just missed one) - my first destination is the Sydney Fish Markets before it closes at 4 pm today. I have not visited these markets since the light rail shut down temporarily after cracks were found in their rolling stock. Now that it has been up and running again, today is a great day to visit. Nice weather too for it. I wonder what tasty delights I will discover out there today? The light rail station at Central is so crowded. Are all these people headed for the same destination as I am? It is good Friday after all. ( I have already sinned by eating a quail and slaw wrap this morning). I forgot to mention rail travel is free for 10 days as compensation for all the rail industrial action that's taken place. I am unsure when this started and when it ends but it is effective over the Easter holidays. The unvaccinated team member who is on annual leave at the moment because she was told to take her annual leave bought this to my attention last week. It is so crowded on the light rail a super spreader for sure!
Arriving at the Sydney Fish Markets everyone had the same idea. Queues for the scallop mornay and anything else flamed, grilled, bbqed or cooked had long queues where you could not even see the end of therefore no scallop mornay or oyster kilpatricks for me today. I make my way to a fish monger outside of the main crowded complex and lined up for some Australian baby tenderized octapus rejecting the imported octopus like everyone else, some mullet roe and a rather large and expensive piece of burramundi. The cheapest baby octapus uncleaned was $19.99 / kg and the most expensive was $29.99 / kg . I didn't think the quality of the cheapest baby octapus was very good and doubted the country of origin of it so opted for the $25.99/ kg tenderised Australian ones. I selected a middle price point by weight, mullet roe and the smallest fillet of burramundi. I was going to buy a bunch of dill and a bunch of shallots but a $1 - $2 more then supermarkets and local green grocers decided not to buy any.
Next stop if it is still open is Paddys Markets to find some dill and shallots but it seems like a very long wait for the next light rail back to Central. I just missed one but it was quite full so decided to wait for the next one which is just as crowded. Maybe not a good idea to stop off at Paddys Markets.
The queues forthe lightrail towards Dulwich Hill at central Station started off like thisbut quickly becasme crowed.
Alighting at The Fish Markets light rail station there is an incline up a ramp or a set of stairs to get to street level. The light rail stops on the opposite side to the fish markets above therefore you have to cross over the light rail tracks to get to the ramp or stairs. A passenger that just alighted yells out "Why isn't anyone walking up this side of the station?"
Actually it got so crowded and smelly on the light rail I decided to get off at Paddys Markets but did not go to Paddys Markets instead took a walk through old Dixon St in Chinatown and through Sussex Street Shopping Complex which was also full of people due to the street markets that were on selling hot food, drinks and nic naks. I really wanted some yum cha Taiwanese food from the East Ocean food stall but no must get home with my expensive sesfood tightly wrapped in butchers paper sealed in 3 plastic bags and next to another bag of ice encased in my insulated cooler lunch bag then placed
inside my cloth shopping bag. Not much chance of a leakage now!
Most of my afternoon was spent walking around and on all forms of public transport rather then looking around. Tomorrow I hope to do and see a lot more stuff.
Home on an alternative light rail towards Circular Quay which is not so crowded getting off at Town Hall connecting onto a train to St Leonards and home on a bus - any bus - the first bus that comes past. It is a long wait.
I wash my hands and my mask after taking my rubbish out, put mygroceries away and have a snack for dinner as well as prepare a large glass container of fruit salad as I will not have time on Sunday.
I missed the news and fell asleep during the cook up and 8 out of 10 does countdown.
News headlines today include (so much news !)
SM's election campaign in Tasmania yesterday came to a halt and was cut short when the car his security detail were travelling in was hit from behind , crashed and rolled down an enbankment. There is an investigation. All 4 officers were taken to hospital with non threatening injures. AA mean while has been questioned over border control policies " offshore detention" and has had to back track on them. Both SM and AA are having a break over the Easter holidays from campaigning to spend time with family and attend religious services.
An international traveller has tested positive to a new omicron variant which is far more contagious.
The 4 young women that died in a fatal car crash were identified as Korean nationals who were fruit pickers and had only arrived in Australia a short time ago.
The Easter exodus at airports continues causing major delays and lost luggage. Estimated 79000 will pass through Sydney airport today down from 81 000 passengers yesterday . Meanwhile a security staff bonus of $1000 incentive for turning up for work for 14 days straight and not calling in straight? The question is what happens if a worker turns up for work for 13 days straight then falls sick with COVID - do they lose their $1000 bonus?
The Queen has cancelled in person events including attending her annual Easter service . Prince Charles & Camila will be attending on behalf of her. Harry and Meghan have been spotted by church goers on a secret visit to the Queen although they did not bring Archie and Lilibet with them to see the Queen on theway to the INVICTUS Games in the Netherlands.
A Russian warship has been damaged. Crew had to abandon the ship. The ship was the Russian flagship - was it incompetency or was it attacked?
Sydney & Melbourne will be around 24 degrees today with Melbourne temperatures slightly higher in the coming days.
The unemployment rateremains steady at 4 %.
Elon Musk has made a hostile takeover of Twitter after just purchasing a stake of it recently. At a little over $54 per share the company is worth several billion dollars. Musk believes that twitter will operate better as a private company to allow freedom of speech.
A store assistant has thrown a carton of custard at a thief in a QLD grocery store last Wednesday to deter him . Police are still searching for the thief who is of Pacific Islander appearance.
A bus catching on fire has led to smoke in the Lane Cove tunnel for motorists. the cause of the bus catching on fire is unknown.
Australian Golfer Jack Newton dies at 72 overnight. He was a champion golfer in 70s and 80s who lost his arm in an aviation accident teaching himself to play with one arm and setting up a foundation for diabetes. He had been sufferring from Alzheimer's disease.
Saturday 16th April 2022
Day off
So much to do today but I just don't want to do it
. Although I wake quite early this morning I did slept in until around 7 am as it is Saturday.
Breakfast was a nice fruit salad yoghart and muesli slice I had made crushed up and mixed in.
I also made myself an Asian savoury egg custard for breakfast with the mullet roe I purchasedfrom the Sydney fish Markets yesterday adding some pepoer a bit of stock powder sesame oil peas shallot & spinach to it before baking it covered in the oven.
1.50 pm and I just witnessed a little boy slip between the platform gap as he boarded the train at chatswood bound for the city. He was lucky he didn't fall between the gap completely as one of his hands was being tightly held by his mother who managed to pull him back up from the gap and safely back into the train.
First stop Pitt Street Alive and it was certainly Alive today. Most of Sydney is in town shopping and enjoying the entertainment or activities in Pitt Street Mall. Spin the wheel and win a prize. The person in front of me won a chocolate. So what did I win a a little red heart key ring with Westfield on it. You need to be a member of Westfield Plus first to spin the wheel.
Westfield Plus members spin the wheel and win a prize
Selfie spot # 1
Westfield Sydney lit up
Come inside for the free arts and crafts activities for the family to enjoy as well as face painting. Selfie spot # 2
Dance with the pelicans whilst listening to the live bands playing or the buskers performing.
Watch a piano being transformed into a colourful piece of artwork or sit on one of the colourful neon lit benches.
Plenty of benches to sit and eat a snack or just take a break to rest those tired shopping feet.
wait for the popup cinema to commence it's screening of peter rabbit at 6 pm as you lay on the bean bags whilst free bottles of water and boxes filled with sweet and savoury treats of fairy floss pop corn and cookies are handed out
Mulga alive - not today as a blank canvas awaits his arrival
Selfie spot #3 as day turns to night these neon swings arrive.
But that wasn't the only thing I came into the city to see and do today. Next stop was a walk to the Royal Botanic Gardens to see the Sea of Hands.
( also refer my video uploaded onto my YouTube channel)
Sea of Hands @ RBG an art installation by artist Frances Belle Parker a Yaegl woman. On until 17th April & open until 9 pm whentheart installation is lit up
Apologies for the poor photos above which do not do justice to this amazing artwork and artist as well as those who helped create the colourful Sea of Hands in the Royal Botanic Gardens as I am again having trouble uploading all the photos I took and can only upload certain ones.
I almost forgot what is Easter without some chocolate? NSW has Darell Lea chocolates ( absolutely awful is it even real supermarket mass produced chocolates) which can't compare to SA's Haighs chocolates but the best Australian made non supermarket niche chocolate and my favourite has to be VICs Koko Black chocolates with its chocolate brittle bark and unique chocolate flavours such as carrot cake bites, hot cross bun bites and the last packet of mango yoghart bites that I purchased, has to be the best chocolate.
Then it was awalk back to do some grocery shopping at Woolworths before returning to Pitt Street Mall where an outdoor cinema was set up for a screening of the movie Peter Rabbit at 6 pm.
There were boxes of movie sweet treats given out and mini bottles of water but when I asked for one I kept missing out. I planned to stay to watch the movie but did not want to lay on the bean bags on the ground. I found a single seat so am watching from there. I managed to get a bottle of water by asking a but no box of sweet snacks.
I did however manage to get the free gift that was advertised which was a little more difficult to access with your Westfield Plus membership. I thought the boxed sweet treats were the gifts but no they were just for watching the movie and there were hundreds given out. The free gifts were a choice of the Peter Rabbit DVD or a Peter Rabbit keyring or a Peter Rabbit pair of ear phones. I don't have a DVD player and have too many keyrings so chose the headphones which I am sure will be the most popular gift of the 3 redeemed. I'm more interested in box these headphones are packaged in then the actual headphones.
I ❤ the Peter Rabbit movie
6 pm Easter Saturday screening of Peter Rabbit in the outdoor cinema set up @ Pitt Street Alive
News headlines today are the same as yesterday so nothing new to report.
The Russian war in the Ukraine continues.
A new variant of COVID hasbeendetected in an overseas traveller.
Airports are still in chaos
Federal election campaigning continues and AA is loosing in the election stakes as preferred PM due to his continued gaffes.
Sunday 17th April 22
Day off
Easter Sunday and by 10 am I'm on the 1A special event bus bound from Chatswood to Sydney Olympic Park to The Royal Easter Show. It is approximately an hour long bus trip one way as it stops along the way to pick up more passengers. Taking the special event train from Central Station to Sydney Olympic Park will take longer. No Opal card required as public transport is included with entry to the show and it's free travel on public transport anyway until 25th April 2022.
It's not 11 am yet and tickets online are still available for today. The long walk ahead is just a sea of people. If tickets are still available for the Easter Show today I can't imagine what Good Friday was like at the show when the 80 000 capacity was reached and tickets were sold out!
First stop skip carnival alley which was just for the young and just side shows and rides . It was straight to farmyard hands. I enjoyed this walk around activity very much although I didn't participate in collecting the produce items. Maybe return later if I have time. I took heaps of great photos! Start by going through the farm yard gates to collect an apron and a metal bucket and head towards a series of walk through sheds filled with displays of real and artificial farm yard animals where activitoes include collecting an artifical egg or 2 from an artifical hen with real chickens on the opposite side in cages, stroke an artificial horse, milk anartificalcow andcollect a mini plastic bottle ( sans real milk) before taking a stroll through real fruit and vegetable market garden patches to collect a series of artificial oversized strawberries potatos & carrots etc to add to your metal bucket. Next stop an optional purchase a ticket for a miniature ponyride or take a pit stop to ride the inflatable ponies around an obstacle course of oil containers or ride a go cart style tractor around a track before returning aprons and buckets of items collected to a farmers market in exchange for play money which can then be spent at the Woolworths make shift store for a healthy snack or toy. A true paddock plate experience for the kids. Rating 9/10. Lots of fun in a safe supervised environment and a first time for me in all my visits to the annual Royal Easter Show.
Next stop the Dome and to queue up for the Woolworths Fresh Farm tour. This year it was groups of 16.
Onto thedistrict displays highlight of the Royal Easter Show each year. What no viewing platform this year?
A quick snack of a chicken and vegetable pie for lunch. What is a show without a pie? I have had these Mick pies before at the show. They have won several show awards. Not s bad chicken and vegetable pie. it is one of very few square pies produced and at $6.50 this is what I thought of it Rating 8/10 up there as one of the better pies. It held its square shape whilst I walked around eating it without falling apart or having it's contents drip all over me. The sauce was thick and creamy and there were visible chunks of chicken peppered with pieces of carrots and pop in your mouth green peas . The crust was short and chrispy thin and not the puff or oily flaky pastry I hate on pies that would soak up on an entire brown paper bag. The filling was not so hot that it would burn your mouth on the first bite or if the filling dripped down your clothes burn you. And the taste - it was a nice chicken and vegetable pie show style.
Last stop of my day at the show was a rather long walk back to the showbags pavillion. I did not research any of the showbags this year but limiting myself to 1 or 2 only unlike the days when we would buy as many as we could carry all day around the show and all the way home.
News headlines today include:
As the new COVID variant XE arrives in australia, the first cruiseship will arrive in Sydney Harbour tomorrow to refuel before heading to Brisbane
Funding for debetes glucose monitors announced by Federal government.
Break from the campaign trail to attend Easter services today but retirement of greg hunt and announcement of new minister before winning the next election considered to be a little cocky
Monday 18th April 2022
Myer 11 am - 5 pm
I made a mistake this morning and thought I started work at 10 am so left home for work at 8 am invorder to get to work on time as public transport is on a public holiday or Sunday timetable which means a less frequent buse and train service.
I caught 3 connecting buses this morning and arrived at Warringah Mall almost 2 hours early no shops had opened yet.
Work was the same very busy therefore no slacking off today.
There was 4 of us on in homewares the team leader plus 2 others and myself .
I signed up 3 Myer onestodaybut forgotto scan 2 there scanned them straight after. I alsomanaged to find another customer's myer one membership who didn't think they had one but failed to find another only because I gaveup aas I could see the customer was getting impatient and justwanted to leave with her purchase therefore I stopped looking for it. There are more visitors coming to coming Sydney or Australia therefore I am finding customers who don't want to join Myer one as they don't live here.
One lady purchased andreturned some Sheridan quilt cover sets on CBA reward points and want to exchange themfor another Sheridan quilt set which there was no stock of therefore I had to issue her with a returns card leaving anote of stock inquiry for the Sheridan rep.
I helped move new mothers day MWstock with the customer service manager today and display it. I actually fixed and restocked the pastel towel table display today as it was looking low in stock and had the wrong colours mixed in with it
The customer service manager didn't even bother to do a proper staff appraisal with me today. She just discreetly took out her phone under the counter and got me to sign it. Did not even check my bag exiting. I don't think she could be bothered today being Easter Monday.
Just a 15 minute break today - enough for a toilet break , to tryout the Kind muesli bar I got in the Rural Aid showbag I purchased yesterday at the show and a drink of water.
No long 1 hour breaks for anyone that worked the full 7 hours today. The team leader had to ask about the lengthof breaks today.
Sales tickets and more sales tickets were to go up for tomorrow's Home Sweet Home Tuesday one day sale and another on offer sale straight after it.
I pulled down any expired offers and there were a few of them and replaced them with the buy 2 get % on going offers. These are any items not included in the current sales. One of the team members was putting thesales tickets upside down and missing expire offers to be taken down.
Another team member kept leaving the floor to put some medicine in his mouth. He made it sound as if he had herpes until after a few times he advused that he was putting medicine in his mouth to numb his wisdom teeth.
It was straight home tonight on the first Manly bus across the road which was quite a wait and another long wait at Manly for the next bus towards Chatswood . Home after 7.30 pm , I missed the part of the Cook Up but watched 8 out of 10 does count down . I put the 2 red bins out and the green bin but notthe blue and yellow bins out as I have not been the one filling them up with cardboard and cans. Next I put my laundry into the washing machine and let the 2 loads to wash overnight before going straight to bed tired.
Tomorrow is another day of a Home Sweet Sale.
I don't bother remembering what's on sale now because it's just sale after sale after sale at Myer.
News headlines today include
Duke & Duchess of Sussex have have celebrated Easter atthe Invictus Games. Harry was presented with a pair of budgie smugglers which looked a little large for him .
The first Carnival P&O cruise ship sails into Sydney Harbor today escorted by tug boats spraying water jets. Hundreds of people will line the harbor foreshores to welcome it . This will be the first cruise shop to return to Australia in 2 years since the start of the psndemic.
The war in the Ukraine continues. The question is now whether nuclear weapons were used.
The Federal election continuesas SM's lead increases as preferred PM and AA is booed by crowds on stage of the Blues concert as he announces the lead act Jimmy Barnes.
Tuesday 19th April 22
Myer 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
Today was rather busy considering it was a Tuesday and the day after the Easter long weekend. It was a Home Sweet Home one day sale though.
After over a month of no customer feedback scores. Ireceived a low score of 7/10 for being too chatty and not the most efficient with Myer scoring an equal score of 7/10 for incorrect sale pricing on products compared to on the system.
Home Sweet Home tickets down and new tickets up. Myer is constantly on sale.
I signed up another Myer One and probably found another customers Myer One Membership details.
The next stocktake ( scan count) is on 17th May 22 for electricals.
As I walked towards the apartment block I was wondering whether the empty bins were still out on the kerb. I was about tobring them back in but noticed that they were not there. Someone had taken them back in to the carpark for me which was nice of them.
News Headlines today include:
A rogue wave capsizes a boat during an early morning fishing trip near Currumbin QLD . Off duty lifeguards were able to rescue the boat which trapped one man under the boat for 5
minutes whilst the other escaped unharmed.
The Invictus games continue after Harry and Meghanwelcomed the start of games overthe Easter weekend with a speech to participants who are ex service men and women.
Soccer star Ronaldo whose wife welcome twins into the world but has lost one of the twins.
6 QlD schools have reopened after flooding andhavebeen fully renovated andrefurbished
The AUS$ has fallen to just above the $0.73 mark against the US$.
Tributes have flown in for the 6 year old boy killed in the recent Qld house fire.
It looks to be a hung government as both SM and AA fail to win confidence from voters during their election campaigns. Failure to win voters for both parties. 30% support a minor or independent party.
There is a cold snap heading towards Sydney with possible storms in Sydney tonight as Melbourne suffers through a spell of cold answer weather after days of continuous fine warm weather.
Business organizations in NSW and Vic are calling fot the scrapping of close contact isolation rules as industries suffer staff shortages. Only essential workers are exempt from close contacti isolation. The push isonfor just rapid antegen testing before going to work.
Myer 10.30 am - 4.30 pm
I just made it in time for work this morning . I took 3 buses. I just missed a connecting B linebus and had to wait 5 minutes for the next one.
I am getting a bit sick of rude customers especially those that waste my time. If they want to return something or purchase something just go to the counter - don't ambush me whilst I unloading stuff asking me questions about products. I had a rude customer interrupt what I was doing asking if Myer had any plastic stemless champagne glasses I replied no only seamless wine glasses. She just stood there. Thinking she may not have heard me with mask on as I was unloading stuff onto a trestle table, repeated what said adding would she like me to show her whertheywere. she says to me no with that attitude andwalks off. 2 other customers wanted information on products and werewastingmy time therefore I apologised and askedifthey needed anything to go to the counter. It's usually to return something for something else but it has to be on sale!
I had a customer I am sure I served previously who can't see very well due to MS that arrived at the counter pretty angry as she was not allowed a refund for a return of a European pillow case she had purchased previously as the item wss notonher Myer One App on her phone. Whicheverteam member served her had called over the customer service manager who had authorised a refund. Somehow it was not processed there she left the store andsearched everywhere to find the original paper receipt. She wanted the issue resolved today and was not returning a 3rd time. She calmed down once I processed therefundfor her. It was only $19.95 and clear she had not taken the product out of the packet. She explained how she had gone to the community centre to assist her in finding the item on the Myer One app on her phone. it was indeed not there when searched for it however there was an item that matched the amount but with the wrong description ( there was no way a quilt cover set would cost only $39.95 which was the price of the european pillow she had purchased) and she had the original receipt so I refunded the amount for her. It was only the discounted amount she paid on the day not the current price of the item that was refunded. I even bought up the Myer One app on her phone for her and I think she appreciated that. She had purchased some pants downstairs ( using her rewardvoucher) so I advised her to check that the receipt shows up correctly on the Myer One app overnight.
My last customer of the day had a whole heap of returns and was so disorganised with her receipts it, but she did purchase extra items. She was stylinghernewhome in Manly. Unfortunately all the items were on different recipts and each refund onto efpos had to be signed for so I did not finish work until 4.40 pm. That's 10 minutes overtime unpaid.
By now I'm a bit over customers. I really did not want to be at work today.
I stopped off at Coles totryand get something to eat but ended up with just a bottle of water.
I saw the awating 280 bus to Chatswood which was about to leave the bus stop - I ran and managed to flag it down before it departed. I plan to get some fried chicken which I will have for dinner tonight with some vegetables. When I arrive at Chatswood I will decide on either KFC or buffalo wings from Woolworths.
So much to do when I get home tonight.
I did end up getting a few groceriesat Woolworths Metro Chatswood but looking at the rather burnt buffalo wings decided to spend $15 or so on 6 pieces of KFC instead. I ordered using one of the 3 contactless vending machines. I can't remember how long it has been since I last had KFC. It will probably be a while until I have it again. I didn't eat it all
I checked kronos and an extra shift on Tuesday 26th April 22 has been added 9.30 am - 5.30 pm - since when did this happen ?!
News headlines today include:
A mother has been knocked off a scooter whilst holidaying in Bali to buy 1 more present for her 3 year old and has undergone surgery for a brain injury. Her friends haveralliedto support her and a go find me page has been set up for her.
Supermarket prices continue to rise putting pressure on houseshold budgets. Coles and Woolworths prices have risen by above 3%. This is due to staff shortages due to close contact isolation regulations, supply chain issues, rising production and fuel costs and the war in Ukraine.
The Victorian deputy premier is pushing for VIC to leave the Commonwealth ( VEXIT)
Former One Direction member Harry Styles is coming to Australia for a tour.
Keith Urban has extended an 11 show national tour in December.
4 most controversial PMs will be having a pre election debate over why they will not vote or support for the 2 major parties . SM & AA will go in a head to head debate answering voters questions at a later date.
A boy has been malled by a bull dog ripping his arm. The owner has offered to pay for his medical expenses and have the dog put down.
Boris Johnson has apologised for his Downing Street partying during COVID lockdown but will not be stepping down as PM.
NSW and VIC are on the brink of scrapping outdated close contact isolation laws hopefully in the next few days. It could end over this weekend.
Johnny Depp continues his courtcase against Amber Heard suring her for alleging him for being a sexual abuser. She in turn is counter suing him.
NSW has had a brief but freak storm last night.
Thursday 21st April 2022
Day off!
I slept in until 7 am this morning. It is a beautiful day today but I so much to do again andjust don't ferl likedoing it.
It began as a nice day by by noon became overcast and started to rain.
I have not ventured out today and it is now 4 pm.
After trying to catch up on my blog and watching the news , I had breakfast and a another nap. I was going to go to The Rocks but decided not to as the day has turned colder darker and looking as it could storm .
I prepared another fruit salad as I finished the last one I made.
I foldedthe laundry idid nothave any time to fold and put away previously.
There are always financial related complaints to follow up on.
1. paid to attend the cake Bske & Sweet Show in 2020 and 2021but it was cancelled both in Sydney and Melbourne due to the pandemic. Where the Good Food & Wine Show issued a refund to everyone. This organiser kept everyone's money and when I contacted them twice theyhavenot responded instead sending me more spam advertising emails.
2. Still waiting on a response from HCF. Ihavebeen withthem for 28 years now and not claimed much. I have held off paying April membership fees because it looks as if they are ripping me off.
3. Blackmores running festival transfer of 2020 and 2021 entry fees also not getting anywhere with claiming. race roster is networking working and I contacted them twice. Instructions were not even received the first time round .
8 pm and it's raining heavily again.
I am watching 9 out of 10 does countdown after watching the cook up.
I booked tickets to another event and am going on Sunday my only day off.Hopefully it will be a nice day - damn it justremember ihaveto attend something else on that day! ( An important AGM
that was postponed last year due to last years floods in BC)
News headlines today include
COVID overhaul for VIC and NSW . Scraping of last remaining COVID rules. Close contact isolation rules scrapped. Vaccine mandates now scraped in most industries except industries such as healthcare in NSW
Getting readyfor an interest rate rise
Queens bday turning 96 today. New photos of the Queen with horses has been released to celebrate.
Prince Harry's latest interview without Meghan is a contrast to the Oprah interview and leaves a lot of questions about his relationship with the Queen and his family after his brief visit with the Queen.
SM verses AA first leaders debate. It started off with a friendly handshake but ends with well ....... Rent increases, housing and China were on the topics of debate.
A hot air balloon has crash landed onto 2 buildings in Melbourne carrying 13 and a pilot. All uninjured.
Aged care workers are cordinating a national synchronized strike for better conditions and pay.
The annual Elvis festival returned today after being postponed. Celelebrating 25 years it runs for 5 days bound for Parkes.
The Australian dollar is above the 74 cent mark against the US $.
Fuel reserves in Australis arerunning low and may run into a fuel shortage if Australia is cut off from fuel supplies due to the war in the Ukraine.
Friday 22nd April 2022
Myer 9.30 am - 5.30 pm
Fun and games at work today.
I just made the 144 bus this morning by running for it. I have to again be mindful of ensuring I get to work in time in order to make it to the staff entrance/ exit opening times.
A mother was with her daughter shopping for Australiana gifts to take back to England with her. I advised the daughter that think most of the Australiana items end up in England or overseas I ask if they had checked all of their breakables and had not so I did so whilst they were still gathering items adding them to their pile. Checking a set of coasters they had picked out to purchase, I discovered were slightly damaged therefore I asked if they wanted to swap them. They did. Upon inspecting a boxed mug they also selected to purchase which was not cracked or chipped , I discovered that it contained a mysterious white powder of some sort inside it therefore suggested strongly that they get an alternative one. They did. I did not want the mother being held up at the airport being detained and questioned about the suspicious white powder. The mug was later suspended to be written off and disposed of immediately. I did not touch it nor want anyone else to touch it. I posted a comment about it on the homewares comments page in Myer Metrics in regards to it later that day.
Another customer also returned a MW destinations mug where the print was coming off it after it was washed. After showing it to the customer sservice manager, I suspended it to written off, took photo of it as requested and posted a comment with the photo of the fault on the homewares comments page before disposing of it. The customer was given a refund.
I had 2 customers with phone inquiries in regards to item availabilities today. You know when a customer phones and advises you that they saw an iitem on the Myer website and then informs you that it says it's available at the store you work at only to find on the system thatit is actually not available but the customer insiststs that it is and won't let go? Yep the following customer wasthat type annoying customer.
The first was rather rude man who dinot ring back whenhsaid he would and just showed up and who was constantly on his phone whilst Iserving ervinhim with 3 very heavy Heritage marble pieces I had found and kept aside for himonthebacounter.
man wanting splendour decanters
Stock asked by thstoremanager but blocked by someone else.
Last minute changes in shift. Very annoying as I had an appointment on Wednesday can tattend so decidedto take day off.
News headlines today include
NSW and VIC will scrap COVID close contact isolation rules. From 6pm tonight NSW will scrape rules while VIC will have to wait another 6 hours.
Mike Tyson has been charged for hitting another passenger on a flight. Intoxication was involved.
2 Korean Olympic Winter gold medalists have received a chicken pension. Free fried chicken for the rest of their lives with $30 vouchers tio spend on fried chicken everyday for the rest of their lives.
A barbie doll of the queen has been made to commemorate her 96 birthday. Thedoll has not been seen and is not available for sale in stores yet.
Johnny Depp is cross examined by Amber Heard' lawyers as the court case continues.
Wild weather is heading towards QLD again. Some regions have hadtheir drought status revoked. Rainhasreturned tothe Gold Coast, Sydney & Melbourne overnight.
AA has tested positive tio COVID and is now in isolation. He contracted it aftervisiting anaged care facility. Forthenext 7 days he will continue his election campaign in isolation.
Chinas threat in the Pacific increases after an agreement with the solomon islands of military presence.
Saturday 23rd April 2022
Myer 10 am - 5 pm
I ran for the 144 bus again and just managed to catch it. It was again along wait for the next b line bus at Neutral Bay Junction.
My last customer of the day was lovely but took me over my finishing time of 5 pm again today. She did purchase almost $200 worth of MW Melanie Hawa Aboriginal art mugs coasters placenats and teatowels which I checked for any suspicious printing flaws breakages and suspicious white powder. She wanted the other set of hard placemats which I had not seen instore yet therefore took her details down to look for them as they still could be in any of the hundreds of cages full of stock and since i will be doing stock next week will lookout for them for her.
Did I even have a break today? I can't even remember. Maybe only to see the assistant store manage about helping out with stock shifts next week. Far upset about the constant changes to my shifts and their finishing times. Especially the last minute changes Wednesday 27th April 22 shift. it changed 3 times. My original shift onthat day according to my diary was
I had as really bad day at work today so after fighting my way onto the next 199 bus to Manly which was packed, decided to walk around the Play Event before deciding on something to eat. I really wanted a $3.95 Dominos large pizza but the wait was probably 30 minutes minimum. The hole in the wall outlet was crammed with people inside and outside there were crowds of people waiting for their pizzas. I walked around Manly and all restaurants bars and cafes were full of people waiting for takeaway or eat in. I decided on a GyG spicy chicken burrito again. Therewas a long queue that did die down later however by the time I reached the front of the queue to order, Iwas told that they had run out of chicken so I asked how about barramundi? Nope. The only choices I had were pulled pork or beef mince. I don't eat pork and don't likeeating beef but decided to try a spicy beef burrito. I find that I had no points on my loyalty card left. I pay for my burrito and head to the bus stop to wait for the next 144 bus home. It was a very long wait so instead ofmyplans to eat mbeef burrito when i arrived home, I started eating it whilst at the bus stop waiting for the bus.
This was the queue for the B line bus after 5 pm taken from the pedestrian overpass bridge above. The queue winds around up William Street and is this long Monday - Saturday
Underwater In Light projection onto Manly Town Hall
This Outdoor Cinema on Manly Beach is not actually part of Play Manly but part of the free movie screenings once amonth on a Saturday night between 6 pm and 8pm.
Gospel Lights @ St Matthew's Church
The Big Red Button - press it and a random sound is heard
History & a lit up pathway towards the old Manly Aquarium building which close quite a years ago.
I arrived home quite late and ate the rest of my beef burrito before going straight to bed whilst watching tv . I have a Zoom meeting to attend at 6am tomorrow morning .
I did not like this at all it's not grilled pieces of beef it's mince - at least the chicken burrito is grilled pieces of chicken and the pull pork is aparently pulled pork but beef mince? How do I even know it's even e beef mince? Only purchased it because they ran out of chicken and took the burramundi off their menu and I don't eat pork. Rating 3/10 not even spicy and more rice cheese and beans the beef mince. Horrible not worth price. Tastes as if it was a Taco Time burrito. Should have been more patient and gone for Dominos pizza!Whatever was in it gave me an allergic reaction as well.
News headlines today include
The Elvis Express made its way to parkes today.
one of Mark McGowan 'schildren has been admitted to hospitalwith COVID.Theywererecently vaccinated. Thiscameafterhecontracted it recenohac
Day of AA in isolation during hiselectioncamosign. Heis notconcerned that sM hasmoreairyome during the election camosign.
Sunday 24th April 2022
Day Off
What did I do today ? Absolutely nothing as I was up before 6am this morning on a Zoom call Canada for AGM. This time rreall did questions.The common problems were addressed - it turns out that I am not the only owner complaininabout bo ongoing problems over the years with the bathroom exhaust fan. So we are paying maintenance fees but things are not being maintained. I bought up questions about the hot tub being out of order over the years,someone complained about the noise of the lifts . I asked about welcome nights reintroducedin the future . A few owners were wanting to sell their units, somewhere concerned about their age and estate planning, quite a few have been owners for 20 years since Whiski Jack like I am. Failure rent out and deliquent maintenance fees was bought up. all sorts of questions from owners were asked. I even made a shout out to the couple from Montreal who come up Whistler every year when I'm am there. Whoever was chairing the AGM kept wanting to end iteven when I raised my hand sobefore she could call time on the AGM I butted in as my raised hand was eithee ignored or notfunctioning on the t Zoom call. I made it known that was present eventhough I turned off the video but unmuted myself. At the end there were couples waving ? Who were they waving to? On the list of attendees not everyone had turned their video mode on. Some even left mute mode on. the AGM was suposd to last 1 hour on a Saturday lunch time tiyet someone was in their car and the meeting officially ended in barely 45 minutes with a final question after mine asked and answered.
After the AGM it was back to sleep.
News headlines today include
The Federal election campaigning continues as it gets into its 2nd week whilst AA is still in isolation, SM refuses to answer questions at a press conference over the Solomon Islands agreement with China and the threat a Chinese military presence there w may caucauscaucause to Australia.
Mark McGowan's child is now out of hospital after contracting COVID whilstheis still in isolation. It was a worrying free days for him and his child was fully vaccinated.
The government advertisement's for people to get booster shots are still running on tv although the uptake has plateaued . According to statistics barely 50% of NSW has had a booster shot. There is still around 4% of NSW that remain partially or unvaccinated including myself. The cases of COVID in NSW is above 11 000 daily.
Prince Louis celebrated his 4th birthday a few days after the Queen's actual birthday ( which in Australia we don't celebrate until June each year with a public holiday)
The war continues inthe Ukraine whilst rumours have circulated that Putin isinbad health with Parkinsons disease . Heisin his 60s abd in the past has always been depicted in photos bare chested on horseback looking trim and healthy. In contrast a recent photo of him depicted him looking overweight and clutching the armsof a chair to stop his shaking. Could his ill health be the reason behind his erratic behaviour and attacks against Ukraine? Some believe so, whilst others believe he should arrested and charged for war crimes for the killing or murder of innocent Ukrainian civilians.
Preparations are on the way fortomorrows Anzac Day celebrations. The game of Two Up has been made legal over the weekend. ( I actually had customer looking for the Jenjo wooden version of it advertised on the Myer website which was unavailable in store at mMyer Warringah )
Sunday 25th April 2022
Day off.
Anzac Day Public Holiday
Poppies are a symbol of ANZAC Day , artificial ones were planted around The Dolphin Fountain @ Warringah Mall
I woke at 5am to watch the dawn service at Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast in Qld on tv. It was a beautiful and unique service. Crowds are back after 2 years of absence and driveway vigils.
Two Up is legal this year for the 3 day Anzac Day public holiday long weekend to make up for the past 2 years were long to play agame or two but not for the PM SM who showed everyone how it's done.
After breakfast war veterans will March through the streets in Anzac day parades not just around Australia but overseas in countries such as France and Turkey who will also hold their own dawn services to remember those that lost their lives during war.
As I watched the dawn service I make a lasagne for my long day at work tomorrow and gather my rubbish to take out later today to the red bins which will be put out for rubbish collection day tomorrow.
Water boiled for tea for breakfast, I still have to do my laundry and wash the dishes as well as have a shower and pack my bag for work tomorrow.
In afternoon I had planned to go iinto town but nothing was open and I had stuff to do like laundry put the bins out and essential grocery shopping.
I ventured out to Aldi Coles then Woolworths. Shelves are bare at Aldi and Coles of toilet paper tissues and other basics therefore I was hoping Woolworths still had the items unavilable at Aldi and Coles on my grocery list.
On my way I discover that Westfield in conjunction with the local council called Into The Woods. Giant inflatable shrooms were located in Westfield and around the Concourse and inside Westfield weregianinflstable rabbits as well to find. So it was not just Happy Chatty! Until the 30th April Into The Woods is on. photo below.
It starts with a series of giant colourful inflatable strooms at The Concourse.
Pop Up Art Gallery @ Westfield Chatswood
Giant Inflatable Shrooms at The Concourse
Into the woods Westfield Chatswood. Giant inflatable Rabbits & More Srooms plus kids' activities hub.
These gisnt inflatable white rabbits aasround wesfield have names.
Unsure what this was suppose to be - series of floro green ropes hung across and above the wishing water feature in the library's courtyard below
New headlines today include
French resident Emanuel Macron has won a second term as French president, the first to do so in 20 years. Boris Johnson sends his congrats and hopes continue towork with him global issues.
It's the first visit of US officials to the Ukraine since it's invasion.
A truck carrying cattle has overturned in sydney's west. The driver has escaped unhurt.
Dawn services and ANZAC Day marches have taken place around Australia and overseas. It was a wet start at Martin Place this morning but the rain did not last long. The crowds are back without restictions after a 2 year absence due to COVID. It is the 80th anniverary of Kokoda.
A new movie Dowton Abbey A New Era has been released with some of the cast travelling to the French Riveria for filming.
A boy at a party in Gympie Qld who approched a dog that was chained up has been bitten on the face and taken hospital.
SM has attended at dawn service in Darwin and warned of Chinas presence whilst AA and MM were unable to attend due to COVID isolation.
A grass fire in Melbourne has occurred and fire fighters are trying to bring it under control.
Anger is growing in Shanghai with its total COVID lockdown and compulsory testing and residents think it is inhuman to lockdown an city for so long until COVID is completely eliminated and are fighting back by knocking down fences. They have been in lockdown for over a month now and cases of covid continue to climb over 20000. 38 have died overnight from COVID. Fear of lockdown has spread to Beijing with panic buying.
Odessa has been attacked by missiles in the Ukraine killing civilians in apartment blocks
Tuesday 26th April 22
Myer 8.30 am - 5.30 pm ( stock?)
I wake at 5am and take my laundry out othe dryer I had left overnight. I had another rough nights sleep as I am itchy all over my body. What did I eat to give such a severe allergy yesterday? or is rain coming again? My body hates wet weather.
It's raining again at 6.30 am. I missed the 144 bus therefore catch which ever bus came past next.
Why am I on stock this week? Because the VM department just got some funds with the condition that it be used before this Saturday.
I arrived after 7.30 am but am not starting until 8.30 am. I could started at 8 am but sticking to the hours agreed to last Saturday and on Kronos as of Saturday 23rd April 2022.
I attend the huddle this morning at 9.15 am. I had discussions with other team members today as I still don't get how Myer Metric works. One team meamber said she received a 5/10 customer feed back score but it's not her fault if Myer does not have the Vue lilac combed cotton hand towels she wanted, the customer has already harassed several team members about them and now I am being asked if I have seen them. No haven't and I would have put them out on the floor if I had seen them. The team member says she doesn't pay attention to thecustomer servicw feed back scores on Myer Metrics. I have to agree its all bull shot but if you fall below 80% management will start having a word to you about it and if you get 5's you have to do that dreaded refresher customer service course and your overall score drops much more then it increases for every 10 you get. it just does not make sense and is really unfair. Which brings me back to my question also related to Myer Metrics . At the huddle my Myer One Scan rate was at 100% and swere several others. This impossible due to several reasons. 1. My Myer Metrics figures don'match this. 2.why are they still pushing for everyone to up 1 Myer One membership per team member every day if there are team members with scan rates of 100%. if you are on 100% Myer One scan rates you can'sign up anymore new members. 3. I know that my Myer One Scan rate is not at 100% ( who knows if that's per day per week or per fortnight even) as I have had customers that I just can't find their membership details for in the system every day as there is something wrong with their profiles set up and there are people that don't want to join for different reasons such as they don't live in Australia.
I served 2 customers today to get my net sales figures out of the -$54.97.
I think I must have emptied between 7 and 10 cages of product today but the dock is still full of products.
This was the first set of shelves Ireorganized tidied and filled fromstock on the dock. Talk about safety - Someone had dumped and overfilled piles of kitchensid bakeware onto a shelf above eye level which could fall off and cause injury. moved them to the lower shelves and reorganized them so they were more accessable to customers.
I managed to find for that last customer of the day that purchased all that MW Melanie Hava Aboriginal products the box set of hard placemats she wanted from the dock. I rang and left her a message.
You never know what's in the cages you empty to put out onto the floor or back into the reserves. one cage had boxed medirest pillows that needed to be security tagged that weren't. delegated this to as another team member to do. there were price iincrease increase checks to be done on pillows that may have had a price inceease which I randomly scanned to check that the DC did not just send Warringah Myer abatch that had old prices on them. Myer is notorious for holding onto really old stock and sending it all out to stores without changing the price increases on them first and mixing this incorrectly priced old stock with correctly priced new stock without thinking.
A cage also had boxed Heritage clearance stock at the bottom of it. Luckily there was a clearance labeling gun at the counter so I was able to mark these items down before shelving them on the floor.
I found some colanders on the dock in a cage in the bags reserve for the unvaccinated team member's (who working in electricals) customer today. she has just returned from annual leave.
I was so nice having a break from customer service today. I had lunch at 2 pm on my own and no one to ring me to find out where I am.
Unfortunately the other merchandiser I was working with today was really slack and did not help me much at all. I had just finished consolidating and putting out stock on the floor for 2 cages and was returning the empty cage when I found the other cage I had consolidated my excessstock into nearly to return to the reserves hdisappeared off the floor. I went to grab another cage and found it back on the dock. . the other merchandiser had returned it the dock without telling me and did not even bithe bother taking it down to the reserve herself.She did't even bother to write a note on the cage to indicate it was stock to go back down to the reserves. half the time I took her stuff backdown to the reserve for her. Whilst in one of the reserves I saw a half bottle of water left behind and a cage that was half full of empty boxes and half full of stock. So slack whoever did it.
I made sure that I finished intime and had a bathroom stop before 5.30 pm. It was pouring with rain again when I left work and really dark. I catch the 280 bus to Chatswood with time to spare and stop off again to purchase more groceries . I decide not to and wait until tomorrow on my day off for when I had funds.
I was not only hungry but curious to see if I had become allergic to something in takeaway fast food. For the past few nights where I did not wanted to cook or arrived home too late, I had been having takeawfrom different places and something was causing a rash to appear on arms and torso mainly so tonight I decide to have a
hamburger ( or what used to be known as a junior burger) from McDonalds ( it's been so long since I last had Mcdonalds). Now I know why they changed the name! At over $3 I thought that was a bit steep in price but it only cost $2 - I used self service order machine and the total does not come up until the end of the order. Then out came the order. When I grew up a junior burgeburger from McDonalds was more half the price and twice as big. Most of my order was the cost and volume of paper - the paper bag the paper burger wrapper and the paper napkin provided which costs more then the burger itself! And to think people kicked up stink about the shrinking size Cadbury chocolate barsas an example of "shrinkflation" . Nothing is a better example of "shrinkflation " then a McDonalds junior burger - the burger is so thinbanthin and small it fits into the palm of my hand, a slither of pickle a splat mustard and ketchup and newsagency cardboard extruded meat which is meant to be beef that's a real example of "shrinkflation" - $2 & two bites gone!
Look at the size of it's wrapper. This junior burger fits in the poison of my hand and my hand is small!
Home in the next 144 bus.I see the bus and run for it. it's not always a long wait for a bus home. thebins are still out so I leave them out overnight to see if someone else will bring them back in.
A drink & watch The Cook Up & 8 out of 10 does countdown and a well deserved sleep.
News headlines today include:
Twitter boss has met with Elon Musk for a takeover bid. Musk already owns a 9% stake in Twitter.The takeover is worth $14 million
A fire in an Adelaide hotel that trapped people on the top floorrequiring rescue by ladders and a cherry picked is being investigated with the cause being an explosion from an e scooter stored onthe premises.
Britney Spears is taking a break from social media.
2 planes where 2 pilots swapped mid flight almost ended in tragedy when one plane went out of control. Tincident is being investigated as Red bull may not have had a permit for the stunt . No injuries iwere sustained.
QLD is set for wild weather again.
It's back to school for most kids on the Eastern coast of Australia. Mask free for senior school students and parents no longer have to vacvinated to enter school grounds but daily testing of close contact COVID positive requires.
Wednesday 27th April 2022
Day Off ( only an unreasonable "Not Happy Jan" requested after 3 changes to shift starting and finishing times which interfered with my plan to attend an appointment during my lunch break between 1 pm and 2 pm today. A last minute shortened shift for today meant that I no longer had a break meaning I would have had to cancel appointment for today)
It's really grey day today and I slept in until around 7 am. I did not take the bins in last night so they are still out this morning. I'll see if someone else takes them in as they are the ones filling them up not me. If someone doesn't take them back in today the council will take them away.
First thing this morning is tea and breakfast. Quail marinated in soya sauce sesame berry jam and a few other ingredients before being baked in the oven and cut up stored into rice noodles and spinach leaves with some fresh coriander. yum. It was for lunch tomorrow at work but I could not wait.
The one off payment of $250 from the government as promised hit my bank account today. It's barely enough to pay my rent for a week or pay for food for the fortnight or cover the cost of my phone (mainly data usage ) and public transport for work. Since Myer's fortnightly wages still have not hit my account yet, I am again using my own funds to pay for Myer's work related expenses.
I had planned to pay bills today in advance to get ahead of them and do a maingroceryshop on my my only day off but my plans again have gone out the window.
Nobody has bothered to take the bins back in this morning therefore I went down to take them all back in. It's a wet day again but as I take the bins out at around 10.30 am it's not raining.The ground very outside but no umbrellas are up yet. The mvs continue to swish by but the rain is just holding off if not it is really light. It is quite grey but not cold.
I listened in on the vitual information session today via google meetings on jobs in the aged care industry between 1 pm and 2 pm and how to apply and the application process. It is not as easy as it seems to apply to work in this industry as there is a lot of compliance and studying towards or completion of a cert 3 or 4 in aged care support which takes a minimum of 18 months. There is also a 3 shot vaccination required, police record checks and otherdocumentation required as well as a completion of a first aid certifcate , mv insurance, a mv and drivers licence. etc etc etc. The pay is minimal therefore not an attractive industry to work in. I'm unsure if this is the industry I want to work in despite this information information session being for job seekers over the age of 45.
After the virtual meeting I went on a major grocery shop where items on my shopping list were still unavailable.
A bus to Chatswood to recycle my 7 bottles for change then off to grocery shop.
I went to the larger Coles in the Chase and the greengrocer there as well. It was raining again ( when has it not been in Sydney). I noticed that allthe Shrooms have disappeared at The Concourse.
I find yet another confectionery collaboration - Kit Kat now has a new flavour in a chunky single serve bar Kit Kat Chunky Biscoff. I rate this 8/10. if you haven't tried Biscoff anything go and try it! It's a crushed up spiced German biscuit made into a sweet paste and used as a filling in chocolates and desserts. photo below
There was no toilet paper at all again so I had to stop off at Woolworths metro tsee if I could buy some toilet paper. Yep they still had lots of Sorbent and Quilton pkts decided on not the cheapest bulk pack but the most value money for money 8 pkt of longer length Qulton toilet paper
that just fit into one of my 3 shopping bags.
Walking backup to the station it was a wait for the next bus home . Food and preparation for work tomorrow.
News headlines today include
Teachers strike again next Wednesday and encourage parents to keep children at home as there will only limited schools with minimum supervision open.
SA is only state with mask mandates at school. Teachers and high school teachers are required to wearmasks for aleasthenext 4 weeks.
Vic has 3rd booster vaccine mandates for teachers causing chaos as there is already a teacher shortage.
Melbourne has won the base location ( Port Melbourne) for Virgins Richard Branson's new super cruise ship " Resilient Lady" to dock next summer 2023. This will generate millions in jobs and a huge boost to tourists to and from the state.
A little girl that felldown a drain has been kept calm by Wiggles songs whilst being rescued
Queensland is to try and steal the NRL grand final from Sydney. Negotiations are on their way in a possible Superbowl type deal.
6 million Australians will get a one off $250 cash payment from today and should be in bank accounts by the end of this week to help with the rising cost of living. Pensioners welfare rceiptients concession cardholders holders etc don't have to do anything receive this payment which is not an election campaign stunt but part of the last budget. This will cost the government 1.5 million dollars
Princess Mary has visited a refugee camp.
Both the French Open and Wimbledon do not have a vaccine mandate therefore Novak Djokovic is free to play and defend his # 1 rating however Russians have still been banned from playing.
Plans have been revealed for the Queens Jubilee with puppet corgis and Ed Sheeran making an appearance a well as Cliff Richard possibly singing the national anthem.
Cinderella the Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical is coming to Sydney . Rehearsals are on the way.
The federal election campaign continues with Libetal's slogan " It won't be easy under Albanese" aired on tv.
A crash in the Western suburbs of Sydney overnight in Liverpool involved 6 motor vehicles that resulted in a fire. An investigation of the crash is currently on the way.
Thursday 28th April 22
Myer 9.30am - 5.30 pm
What going on today ? 2 B line buses passed and both had Not In Service on them. A 3rd B line bus arrived and I boarded it.
It was pouring with rain again today as I worked.
I wasasked by the new manager today as I was servingas whether I could work tuesday for her department. Notwantingtpupset the apple cart at Myer, utwuesdawthea kextra shift next Tuesday added Kidswear by new manager.
ncustomer service m as nager today. ddiddid she get ccovidfroall the other m asnage Assange who got it?
Don't ask thstore ma nb age to authorize a refund without a receipt - he put me off processing one . no other manager avsilable
elderly couple who kooked as bnb of they were shop lifting the pink lady Billy chocolates chocolates putting them into their bag to take to the pay - I told them to tcontainertocountercount the whole con
pouring with rain as I left work at 45.30 pm with another team nember. waited for the5.40lm p.280 chatswood.
Csb' bbothered to cook si had a pollo wood fire ovepizza from the market stall all pizzas $13 plus creditsuecharge uecharpi
wsit and home on 144 bus.
caught end of cook up and 8 out of 10 does count down.
washed hands washed mask packed lunctomorrow and sleearly day tomortow. for eatomorr
News headlines today include
Calls for Prince Andrew to be stripped of another honour " Freedom of the city of York" and just be known as Andrew Windsor instead of The Duke of York with his title to be possible passed down to his daughter as the Duchess of York due to his previous sex scandals. The Queen is unable to make this decision herself but can strip him of his title. The people of York don't anything to do with him.
A car has rolled of an enbankment in a car race in Tasmania .The wife in the car survived and taken overnight to hospital for observation.
Inflation is at a 20 year high of above 5% as it continues to rise and interest rates are set to rise by the reserve bank to curb rising inflation rates as the the cost of living continues to skyrocket resulting in mortgage stress increases.
Is the US headed for a recession? Share prices are gaining gmomentum and clothing prices have remained low.
Americas biggest air show is set to be hosted on the Gold Coast over 3 days which is usually hosted on Huntington Beach ithe US. It will will be hosted in August 2023 on the Gold Coast.
NSW paramedics will go on strike today and possibly every Monday forbetter pay and conditions
VIC premier Dan Andrews has been secretly investigated and question bu IBAC over corruption within the Labor Party under his leadership.
Friday 29th April 22
Myer 8.30 am - 30 pm stock
Well foronce it's not raining today but it was quite warm today.
And this is why I have to leave for work 2 hours before I start work. I can see the 144 pulled up at the stop beforemine however why isit no moving for so long? It was just sitting at that bus stop forever. Maybe it's too early therefore waiting until it is time to depart - buses doing this more often now since privatisation of them. suddenly a line ofpeople emerge from the bus and walk down the main highway towards me. What was happening? One of the passenges on that bus tells me as she sees me waiting for the bus whahad happened. That 144 bus had lost it's mirror when construction vehicle knocked it off Again! I said the passenger how it's happened before (if only she knew how many times!)
Served a few customers today put my I'd # onthemtoensure thsales weunder my name and kept an eye onsale amounapoearing
2 cages of wuiltagged and put on floor rest to reserved later on.
yelled at for tagingquiltsandsheets - someone had to do it. cam csn' just ask me to put them out if they are not tagged.
Paired upwith someone from kids wear who had no idea if where stock goes but we managed to get a lot done.
News headlines today include
WA & QLD COVID restrictions ease in both states. WA s premier Mark McGowan is now out of Covid iso and NSWs AA was also oouooutof iso aa of last night and continues his fed election campaign .
The Aus$ has dropped and is now down to $0. 70 against the US$. The cost of living continues to riseng and electricity shock isnext.
Vaccine fatigue has halted flu bac. tnumber of flucases has skg rocketed due itabsenceovethe last 2 years
Actress Olivia Wilde has been served child custody papers whilst on stage.
75 strand locals had a window of opportunity to to escape in a convoy from flood ravage plains with a break in the rain. Some mv became blogged and had to be rescued. Supplies to the local township had to air dropped as the town ran out of food being cut off from any surrounding towns.
The Queen is out and about again looking spritely with no signs fatigue or mobility issues. She did previous mention that COVID does leave one fatigued.
Saturday 30th April 22
Myer 11 am - 5 pm
It's after 8 am and it's already wet outside. I really do not want to go to work.
Before I blog anymore , readers may have noticed that I a not only very behind in my blogs but they are incomplete and full of nonsense words run together. It's not me but the blog site itself . The lag and autocorrect/ predictive text is so bad that I am unable type one word without it running words together dropping of letters off words repeating random letters or just having random paragraphs of letters appearing. I can't seem to find a setting to switch the predictive text off on the blog site. It does happen outside of it. Apologies.
News headlines today include
A rain front is moving across Australia with rain forecasted for today although nowhere near previous downpours and only passing through and off the coast. Also a chilly weekend is forecasted . ( the front is from Indonesia to Tasmania) .
Prince William has video dialed in to speak to flood rescuers and victims praising them for their continued emergency efforts.
Australians are urged to get their flu vaccines by the end of today as a bumper flu season is forecasted for this winter as well as a twindemic of COVID and the flu combined increasing the risk of hospitalisation and death. Vaccine fatigue is concern as a 4th COVID booster shot continues to be pushed.
Putin has been invited to the G20 summit of world leaders in Indonesia .He has announced that he will be attending. The Ukraine president has been invited although it is unclear if he will attend.
Leaked information has lead to Putin possibly declaring a WW3 although this has not been verified.
As the cost of living increases the government has made a promcrise to overhaul and decrease the cost of prescription medications tomake m heslthcare more affordable. Both Liberal snd Labor sgovernments have improvements to affordable healthcare for all Australians on their election campaign agendas. Labor is promising support news print . AA was out of iso yesterday
Former tennis champion Boris Becka has been accused of hiding funds after declaring bankruptcy twice.
Electric buses have been taken off the streets of Paris after 2 caught on fire.
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