The Hughes from Springwood Brisbane News
We are sitting in my office looking at each other on a hot an sultry day outside, saying yes the year is almost at an end, and what did we do in the year of 2003.
So yes its all coming back now, I worked on the Australian Magnesium project in January on the final budget figures, soon after they were in, they cancelled the project, not because our figures.
Then I celebrated in February a 49+1 birthday, as you can see I am not comfortable with the thought. The party was held in function room at one of the local Motels and about seventy people attended to help me get through the chronological event.
It was great to have Mother, Brothers and Children all in the same room at the same time, and also many friends from Newcastlle and other areas, the night was a tremendous success in my eyes and Maria’s.
Also in February we did another rare event and took a holiday to New Zealand and did a bus trip, the schedule was fairly intense, however this gave us a very good look at the place.
We can recommend a holiday over there to any body that hasn’t been, there is some thing there for everybody. The weather was unseasonable for there summer as we experienced snow, some would felt cheated, however we just accepted it, the only thing is Maria had to go and buy a wooly jacket to feel a bit comfortable in the circumstances. The high lights were landing on mountain next to Mount Cook in a helicopter and a Jet boat ride through the Waikata River. If you are over there, and in the position, don’t think about it, just do it.
Maria saw another year out at Myer fitting ladies lingerie (Meat Packing as some refer to it) When it came time for the company top executives to visit the store they gave Maria the day off, they said it was for some thing else, however everybody else knows better.
My work also saw another contract come up where I was working in an alliance (this a grouping of companies joined together to achieve a goal) They said it was for 2 to 3 weeks this I new immediately was stretching the truth, and double the time span. The time ran out to be 4 months for the first stint, and then 6 weeks for second, and now I am in there working 4 days a week, trying to sort out what we did in the first 3 months and work 1 day in my office to keep in touch with my business.
This has been a great experience working in an alliance, having direct access to the process designers, construction designers and programme schedulers. All of these people are housed under the one roof, this is done for reason, so that they may build a strong team of people, all focused on a final goal, instead of becoming us and them syndrome, that seems to happen in the normal projects carried out in to days environment.
We also were getting the hang of these things called holidays, and because of some friends were encouraging me to experience such events, booked a holiday at King Fisher Bay resort on Frazer Island as part of my birthday present.
Naturally we took up the challenge and proceeded, and thoroughly enjoyed the whole longer then normal weekend.
We also experienced another different event, and that being going to Byron Bay to Kyle and Margarita’s home to look after Joaquin and Xavier whilst their Mum and Dad were working, the 2 grand kids, yes they are very a live and active boys. We got through the weekend with out any trips to the hospitals. We made swords and watched Star Wars, and learnt the ancient art of wrestling on the floor, taking on 2 opponents at once.
Amber this year long term relationship came to an end, however Amber is now in recovery mode and looking forward to her life. Amber has had along term teaching contract that has given her a lot of experience and still lives on the Gold Coast.
Kyle and Margarita have wound down one of their restaurants and let the lease go on the Rails Hotels bistro so they can concentrate on Ruby’s at Lennox Heads, thus giving them more time as a family.
The software company that I operate is floating along and slowly growing, I have not done as much traveling this year, and what traveling had to be done was partly done by Leanne, my office manager as Leanne spends more time in the office than I do. Leanne had never flown on commercial airline until February this year, as her first trip, flew to Perth to do training.
Change of writer, Maria’s bit.
In August we were sitting in the hotel on Friday night over dinner discussing Chris’s trip to Sydney for a software conference for the next day. I asked the question what time does the conference start tomorrow, as it happened to be a free day. I made a quick decision and took the opportunity with the use of modern technology to book a flight on internet and was able to get on the same flight as Chris on the next day.
The conference was held at the Mirage Newport Hotel in very nice part of Sydney on the water over looking some very expensive floating real-estate. On the Sunday caught up with my Uncle Theo and Aunty Maria for lunch.
In reflection the world is so much smaller when you can book a flight on the net and be in another capital city the next day, talking to internationally guests. I am so pleased I took advantaged of this experienced as live is so short.
I don’t have much more news, only my Mum had a bad fall and fractured her vertebra, and had to be in bed for week’s, it was hard for her not be able to do the things she was use to. Thanks for all the neighbors that rallied, when help was needed, mum made better than expected recovery.
I just celebrated another Birthday on the 1st of December, at a local restaurant with Mum, Brothers and there families and enjoyed by all, Chris made all the arrangements.
Apart from some of the events mentioned above, we spend a lot of time seeing friends and relatives, and there never seems to be enough time to keep up with this activity.
We hope all that receive this news letter are well, and to use a well worn sentence that is sincerely written, that you have a happy Christmas and great new year.
Our Best, to you all.
Maria and Chris