Thu 01: Hmmm ... I was going to write One Step Forward and Two Steps Back ... but I received a phone call about 2 minutes ago in relation to an email I sent to a national business last Sunday. I was about to send a follow-up email when my phone rang. I am meeting with a senior representative tomorrow at 10am. Stay tuned. Did my washing and had a bit of a sleep in this morning. Visited the Post Office to return a faulty product (free post) to Queensland and collect the new rim for my Toyota. Then off to work.

Fri 02: It looks like October is shaping up as an 'interesting' month. Not too interesting, please! Today was 1 step forward and (hopefully) no steps back. The problem I hinted about yesterday was resolved satisfactorily and things are almost looking up. I am too poor to gamble on a Lotto ticket in tomorrow night's draw - but I bought one at the last minute today. Going to be a quiet weekend - Troy wants to spend some time alone with Amy.

Sat 03: Day off. Slept in until 0930 - then nature insisted I get out of bed. Nothing special planned this weekend. I changed my sheets and pillowcases - and did my washing and hung it on the line to dry. For some reason, I ended up doing Troy's washing as well - but at least he hung it on the line to dry. Decided to make the most of the sunshine and started pruning the large orange tree that has fruit that llooks like a lemon, colour of an orange, takes very bland. Very spiky branches - so my hands and arms look like I have had a fight with a lion (and lost).

Sun 04: Day off. Slept in to 0730 - had cereal for breakfast. Tracey was due to visit last night but made it here this afternoon. Troy and Amy went visiting. Tracey made us both a nice lunch and then we went to a garage sale. Things got better - Tracey made the 3 of us a nice chicken stir-fry meal. There was enough left over (must teach my daughter about portion control!) for Troy's lunch tomorrow and some to freeze for a later date. Daylight saving started on the east coast of Australia (SA. Vic, Tas, ACT and NSW) - but not Queensland. WA rejected daylight saving at a recent referrendum.

Mon 05: A disasterous sleep last night - went to bed around 2100 (9pm) and woke around 0030 (12.30am). Couldn't get back to sleep for at least 2 hours - and feeling lousy at 0445 (4.45am) when my alarms went off to wake me. Fortunately I had a pleasant day at work (all passengers were extra nice people) - so this might be a good week as I do the same shift all week. TC Rob kindly gave me a 9hr 13min overtime shift this coming Saturday. Boss (Sharon) gets married this coming Saturday and we are having a staff sausage sizzle between 10am and 3pm this Wednesday - her last day at work as a single woman.

Tue 06: Swings and roundabouts today. A pleasant morning - nothing outstanding. nice cup of strong tea and a pleasant nap. Went back to work - but left my mobile phone at Mum and Ian's place. Realised too late to go back to get it - so it will be switched off and waiting for me tomorrow. A healthy Lean Cuinine meal of Thai chicken curry, beans and rice for dinner tonight. My updated Roster is also posted.

Wed 07: This has been a pleasant week. Even allowing for the fact I was allocated a 22yo Renault bus this morning and I witnessed the aftermath of a two car crash (at the intersection of Wanneroo and Ocean Reef Roads, Wangara) in which a 5yo child lost their life - it was a good day (for me). I managed to retrieve my mobile phone (which I left with Mum and Ian yesterday) - it was like getting a reprieve on Governor's orders ... maybe I twist the truth a bit. The sausage sizzle went well at work - and I knocked off on time. Dinner tonight was leftover chicken stir-fry (courtesy of Tracey on Sunday) - I just spiced it up with lots of curry powder. If anybody wants to know - I have also updated my Roster page.

Thu 08: Nearly the weekend - but that doesn't mean much at the moment as I will be working the next 2 Saturdays. Another pleasant day today - the weather is warming up slowly - but I had a Mercedes 0405 air-conditioned bus all day. Nothing terribly much to report. When I arrived home this evening, I got changed and headed off to my local IGA store to do some shopping. I need not have rushed, as it's Thursday - late night shopping. It looks like the reticulation which was damaged by the fence repairer has been fixed - just the dead plants to be removed. Amy and Ada dropped by - I may have some more photos later.

Fri 09: Another really nice day at work. I spent 50 minutes on the phone to health fund provider Medibank Private as I have been waiting nearly 4 months for my membership card and welcome pack. Three phone calls, it took. I was on the verge of cancelling my membership - but at the last minute I received apologies and a promise that everything will be all right. Otherwise I will return to HBF. A nice brief nap at number 5. The weather today was warm, but not too hot (that is coming soon, I am sure). Rain is forecast for the weekend - not enough to cause any floods - but hopefully enough so I don't have to use the reticulation at home. Tracey dropped over briefly - thanks - nice to see you and catch up. Amy and baby Ada are spending the weekend here.

Sat 10: Worked a 9hr 13min day today. It was voluntary overtime. Result: A good day - but as soon as I arrived home I was almost asleep. So tired. Day off tomorrow - so hopefully an early night and up early tomorrow. Tracey dropped over - rubbed some Deep Heat (medicated cream) into my aching neck and cut my toenails for me. Then I slept well.

Sun 11: Probably the closest I have had to a completely relaxing day for a long time. Woke around 0800 (8am), had cereal and toast for breakfast - then went and checked out a few local garage sales. As I predicted some time back - the weather in October is (usually) very mild and it's getting close to Christmas. People are coming out on the weekends, the GFC (Global Financial Crisis) is easing - and people both have a few dollars to spend and want to save a few dollars (and in the case of sellers - want to make a few dollars). Then I took Glen into Perth to the WACA to watch the openiong day of the 2009/2010 cricket season. Back home and I did some more washing and made my bed, while Tracey made some meals for me.

Mon 12: Just a bit of drizzle (light rain) today. A reasonable day at work. I checked my Lotto (lucky numbers) ticket for last Saturday's draw - it lost - 'Sorry - not a winner,' said the Lotto machine. I don't think I will ever be rich (financially) - but I work hard and try my luck with the numbers often. I think I will give them a break for a while. Leftovers for dinner tonight - very filling cottage pie (thanks, Tracey).

Tue 13: There's a lot of 'behind the scenes' stuff happening at the moment - hopefully things will resolve themselves in the coming days and weeks but I am not hopeful. It doesn't affect me directly - but I am still keeping a handle on things. On the work front: not too bad today (although I had an old Renault bus this afternoon). Weatherwise - nice - but summer is trying to break through - Perth is expecting a maximum temperature of 28ºC on Friday this week. I'll have to get my shorts out.

Wed 14: The weather may be warming up (slowly), but it was a bracing 10ºC this morning! But - Perth's Saturday maximum temperature is now tipped to each 34ºC. I am compromising - leaving my work jacket at home and wearing my sleeveless jumper (and hoping I don't get an old Renault bus - which doesn't have any heating or air-conditioning). I was lucky today to get a Mercedes 0405 low floor bus for both the first and second half of my shift. I managed to have a nice sleep at lunchtime today - and my daughter Tracey helped out by going to the local post office to collect some parcels. Each Australian dollar (AUD) is now worth 90c (USD).

Thu 15: The Australian dollar (AUD) jumped to 91.55c to the US dollar (USD) today. Even the conversion rate between the AUD and Thai baht (THB) is looking good - at 30.65 baht to each AUD. The other thing warming up is Perth's weather. It will be 29ºC tomorrow, 33 on Saturday, before a humid change on Sunday. The beach looks like a good option on Sunday (my day off). A busy day today - with a 1430 (2.30pm) finish, so I was home before 1500 (3pm). Troy and I went to Whitford City for some late night shopping and a meal.

Fri 16: TGIF! You can say that again! Yes - I am working tomorrow, but this week was NOT a good one (at least compared to last week). Then again, the start of this month wasn't so flash either. Perhaps NEXT week will be a good one. Drama at work today - nothing I can talk about - the only point worth noting is the number of buses which had over-heating problems (and the maximum was only in the high 20s!). I hate to think how things will pan out tomorrow, when 35ºC is forecast. I think an early night tonight would be a good idea.

Sat 17: I did have a reasonably good sleep last night - but woke early this morning. Checked my email and had a relaxing shower and got ready for work. It was hot in Perth today - with a maximum of 36.8ºC at 1530 (3.30pm) in Perth City. My bus overheated a couple of times - but fortunately, I was able to limp it into the city bus station and hose down the radiator and get ready for the next trip. Mind you - my white work shirt looks a bit the worse for wear after today. Picked up some of my medications after work and came home to unwind.

Sun 18: A wasted day? Yes or No? I am not sure, either way. I had a list of things I wanted to do today and less than half the list has been completed by the time I update My Diary® just after 1500 (3pm) local time. I caught up on my emails, did my washing, hung it on the line and brought it in, ironed a couple of work shirts, remade my bed with clean sheets and pillow-cases (and put away my blankets). Took my electric blanket off the bed (and put it away until next winter). Sorted out my medications for the next fortnight. Cooked some boneless chicken pieces (and forgot about them ...) That was Sunday!

Mon 19: I was a bit daring today. No blankets on my bed (but it was 16ºC overnight ...) and I wore shorts to work. The only problem was light drizzle and the mercury battled to top 21ºC ... not that I shivered - it was a nice change and my shift today was quite hectic. Ron phoned - he has a sore back and is due to travel to Geraldton for a couple of weeks. He needed a back massage - and when he said he would pay for 20 minutes for me - I agreed to meet him and we spent a great half an hour at the Chinese masseur at Warwick. Home for a light meal and an early night.

Tue 20: My back and neck feels great - I had a reasonable sleep last night and a pleasant day at work. Fresh egg and parsley sandwiches for lunch and a nice nap. What more could one ask for.

Wed 21: A reasonably good sleep last night (I woke 5 minutes before my wake-up alarms sounded). A reasonable day at work. Troy phoned to say he had found a replacement fuel tank for his VN Holden Commodore sedan, so I drove to Welshpool and met him at Bright Shine Motors, in Division Street. Nice people. Hopefully, Troy will drive his car to work on Friday and the replacement tank will be fitted. Apart from the odometer (which hasn't worked for 18 months!), the rest of the car is fine.

Thu 22: A reasonable sleep last night. Did the same shift as yesterday - so I was ready for everything. Received a pleasant surprise this afternoon - a brief phone call from Brad - at Murwillumbah Motor Inn. He told me Madi (Madison) is in Perth for the weekend. I went shopping after work at Woolworths for a few things and ended up spending just over $200. I can't complain as I haven't been shopping for a few weeks and my cupboard, fridge and freezer were almost bare. Tomorrow is the big day for Troy - he will drive his Commodore to work for the first time in (I reckon) 3 months - the old (leaking) fuel tank will be removed and replaced. On the work front - lots of complaints about our work roster. Relief DM has put in a lot of time and effort and things are almost back to normal (whatever that is).

Fri 23: So much happened in the last 24 hours, I don't know where to start! As a result of the complaints about the work roster, which I reported yesterday, things are almost back to normal. The two shifts we lost have been reinstated and most of us will be happy. A reasonably eventful day at work - I contacted Medibank Private to organise my membership card and then RAC Insurance to get our contents insured. Glad to finish and go home. I made dinner tonight for Troy, Amy and myself. I start work at 1630 (4.30pm) tomorrow (afternoon), but I am still planning an early night tonight as I am very tired.

Sat 24: Didn't have to start work until late today - but still woke around 0700 (7am). Did some washing, washed my car and generally took it easy. Troy and Glen went to Kwinana Motorplex to watch speedway action. Tracey worked this morning and went out tonight. Troy's Commodore didn't get its replacement tank yesterday (as we planned) due to a serious medical problem in the mechanic's family. Hopefully it will be up and running early next week - then we can get rid of the Camry and be a 2 car family.

Sun 25: My home city of Perth, Western Australia is called Dullsville by many people (including a lot of the locals). It USED to be a very liveable city - more of a big country town than a city. We had a recent referrendum and voted 56% to 44% to abandon Daylight Saving. Despite the best wishes of State Premier, Colin Barnett to increase retail trading hours, most shops in Perth close before 1800 (6pm). Perth City, nearby Kings Park and the Swan River are beautiful. Much of Perth surrounds is not. Graffiti and crime abounds. The bush is basically mediocre scrub. However - this time of the year, the bottlebrush blooms and red is the colour of the month. Late next month, the colour will be orange, when the Christmas Tree blooms. Many councils are now planing native trees and bushes as they are waterwise. A fairly quiet day today - a trip to Bunnings and mowed the back lawn.

Mon 26: Today was one of those days when I should have stayed in bed! If it could go wrong - it did go wrong. I arrived at work in plenty of time to start (as I always try to do as I hate rushing ...). My allocated bus had a fuel leak (loose injector pipe), so I managed an upgrade from an old articulated Merc to an 8yo Mercedes 0405 low floor bus. The first two trips went well, then I mistook a red light for a BUS traffic light (fortunately no problems). A reasonable sleep at lunchtime - them I misread the start point for the second half of my shift and drove to Scarborough instead of Stirling. Okay - they both start with the letter S. Oops. Things got better (at least no worse) after that. Glad to get home and unwind. I have Wednesday off this week - thank goodness!!!

Tue 27: Slept well - until 0430 (4.30am). With my alarm set for 0455 (4.55am), I think that's pretty good. I worked out a budget between now and Christmas this year - I will have to be extra careful and watch every dollar if I am to achieve my goal. A good nap at lunchtime too - and a reasonable day at work. Tomorrow is a Day Off (but I am On Call) - so I may have to head to work at short notice.

Wed 28: Day Off. Today was going to be a day off ... it was until 0455 (4.55am) when Wangara TC (Rex) phoned to advise I had a shift - starting at 0730 (7.30am) ... if I wanted it. Hey - you woke me up - so I am going to work! One look at my bank balance ... and I was showered, shaved, dressed and out the door. Not a bad day. A nice nap at number 5. Very windy today in Perth and a few showers. A marked change from the weekend.

Thu 29: What a strange month - real swings and round-a-bouts stuff. I think October will finish on a positive note. Nothing terribly much to report today - I was paid on time (good), but I have a pile of bills that need to be paid by 01 November (bad). I think I will have enough plus a few $$$ to spare (good).

Fri 30: Almost the end of another month. Quite a bizarre one too - very strange weather - warm then cool, fine then wet, calm then windy. I think something happened to the weather when man went to the moon and probably brought something strange back (there's probably a conspiracy theory about it). A reasonable day today - Delwyn (our relief Depot Master) goes back to Joondalup after filling in while Sharon and Wayne celebrate their wedding and honeymoon. TC Rob will return too - giving Rex a well earnt break. Alice also is due back next week - who is Alice? A lovely lady cleaner.

Sat 31: Halloween and the 20th Annual Pride March both on tonight. I feel a bit rundown - so I'll have an early night and maybe get stuck into the housework first thing tomorrow morning - or just go for a drive and then do the housework. I did have a fairly good day at work today. No dramas! Thanks goodness. Tomorrow is the start of November. Let's see how that turns out.