scottie_b

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

Has it really been 14 months since my last post? Wow, that is a long time.

Anyway, I though I would update you all on what has happened since August 2009.

I'll start with the biggest news - I'm engaged! Yes, I proposed to Shannyn on New Year's Eve 2009.
It was an elaborate plan involving the Kerang train station, a group of friends and a "white lie" that you can see fireworks at Cohuna from Kerang.
It took Shannyn by surprise, and she said yes!!!

We're looking at getting married in January 2012, but it all depends on venues and costs. I'm confident we can do it.

We're also in the process of planning to build a house... we have a block, but have to wait for the court to be built. Who knows when that will be.

Work has been a great challenge. One month after my last post the assistant editor (senior journalist) announced she was moving to another job at Swan Hill.
This led to me becomming the senior journo, and the challenge of working with a different team.
It has its challenges (I was even considering if it was worth it), but things happen and we have a new team that is working great.
I think it also helped too that some dominant personalities left the office this year, which is a shame (but not so in other parts).

As for umpiring, I've now officiated five consecutive senior grand finals.
Umpiring has also been a challenge, as I've had to oversee the training of a number of new guys.
This included Shannyn, which has taught me new ways to educate new members. Thanks hun.

This year's grand final was moved from one side of the area to the other, but I will remember it more for watching Shannyn umpire her first grand final. I was so proud of her, considering she broke her wrist earlier in the season.

So, there you go... a short update of the last 14 months.

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

... say where the heack have I been?

I know it has been a while (actually, a very long time), but I am alive and well.

The last six weeks have been hectic.
Shannyn has moved into Kerang, and it has been great to share the house with another person.

I spent a month away from umpiring because of work, helping Shannyn move up here and going to Melbourne for the footy.
Actually, the trip to the footy meant it was the first time I drove to the MCG and in the city. It was great.

I've had a bit of a sore knee following the grounds drying up following the rain we had earlier in winter, but I am managing the situation.

Speaking about umpiring, it was an interesting night at the AGM during the week. It's not the right place to mention what occurred, but it has left a sour taste.

I'm also spending the next five weeks up at Swan Hill acting as the editorial every Friday. I've spent one day there and it is a great experience.

The coming week is going to be good too. It's Shannyn's birthday on Tuesday, and our two-year anniversary on Thursday. I love you hunny xoxoxox

I hope life is going good for everyone.

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

For those observant bunnies out there, I am posting on a Saturday. I'm not umpiring today as I have to work.
It works out I will not be able to umpire for a month (hopefully that will be the maximum) - two of these are work-related because people are on holidays.

The other two weeks are due to a big change in my life.

I know I have not posted for a few weeks, but there has been a legitimate reason. Shannyn moved in last weekend.
I spent the weekend after the last post cleaning the place up and resting after umpiring a 233-point annihilation at Kerang.
That was both the scoreboard and the battle between the goal umpires.

Don't get me wrong - the guy I umpired with was good, but there were a few moments where close to 40 years of experience can sometimes come unstuck... especially current rules.

After completing the Cohuna layouts on Tuesday I rushed down to Shannyn's place for the big move.
It took us an extra day (thus the decision to not umpire last weekend... hear me stamping my foot down hunny) to pack and complete car shopping duties, but in the end mum helped us with transportation. Thanks mum.

That created some funny moments of its own. Rule number 38 of life: never jokingly pick on two women... one may decide to thump you on the head seven times with a light fist! Thanks mum.
I also had an unexpected train ride from Kerang to Pyramid on Sunday morning after the doors on the train closed as I was helping mum load her bags on. Thanks V/Line!

The last week has been spent unpacking, working three nights in a row and taking it easy. I hope you are enjoying Kerang hunny, I love you xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

It is a lovely Tuesday afternoon here in Kerang. The sun is out, we've had a month's worth of rain in the last nine days fall across the district and I am relaxing listening to Eskimo Joe's new album.

Actually, I'm pleased I'm relaxing. I have not been feeling too well, and I really should have spent the weekend home.
Already you've realised I didn't... and there was a great reason why - the annual umpires footy trip.

Before I left with the guys on Saturday night I umpired a beauty of a match at Macorna. Murrabit won by 10 points, but the weather (mainly the rain over the past week) played its role.
My new boots got their christening, and I am worried I may not get the clay off them.
In fact, the boss took pics of me trying to navigate the slush and they were published in today's paper.

I had an hour to do a few loads of muddy washing before leaving for the trip. It was a lovely trip to Melbourne, spent socialising with the guys.
When we arrived in the city we went out separate ways. The guys did their "blokey" things (which I do not agree with and I am now questioning if I will ever go on another trip if there are other like me not there), whilst I caught up with Shannyn.
We went and saw Angels and Demons, which was well worht it, before calling it a night.

The next day was spent at the football. A group of us went to the Hawthorn-Sydney game, which was a highly-entertaining encounter.
This was followed by what is becoming a footy trip institution - a dinner and show at Witches in Britches.
It was a hilarious show, good food and great company with Shannyn.

Monday was the day we left to go back to Kerang, but before we went a new tradition was created - a go-karting challenge.
I finished third out of the six guys (and third out of eight on the course), and recorded the second-fastest lap time.
There were a few spins, bumps and slides, but it was worth it!

The next week will be spent preparing for a very big change, but it is worth it hunny. I love you xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how has the last week treated you?

The last seven to eight days have been very hectic! Life has brought me very good news and new goals for the next fortnight.

It has also shown me there is nothing wrong with wanting to stay in the one workplace for the entirety of my career.

Anyway, last Thursday was the final night of the conference at Geelong. A few of us decided it would be good to spend our last night in the city on the town, and it was a great choice.
In fact, I lost $5 because of it. One of the women brought along a camera with her - one that has two flashes.
I was not prepared for the second flash with the first photo taken, and the photo turned out to be very bad.
Alas, I bet the woman $5 she would not put in on her final presentation on the Friday, and guess what she did?

The Friday was spent completing final presentations and saying our farewells, before the Kerang gang headed back home via Shannyn's workplace.
Just before I walked into where she worked there was very good news (it's not my place to explain, but it means the next two weeks will involve carloads and boxes).
That night was the Business Excellence Awards, and all I wanted to do was sleep following a long week.

The next day was umpiring at Moulamein, which was a high-quality encounter between the Swans and Macorna.
That night was the umpires karaoke night, and I had to sing because I helped organise the evening.
My song of choice was Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand (we were using Singstar) and I murdered the song! Thankfully there is no video evidence of this!

Sunday was a relaxing day involving lots of washing, yelling at the television and relaxing with Shannyn, who left on Monday afternoon.

The last few days have been busy, but I have noticed something with work. I think the course or my time here in Kerang at the job has changed me. I now go to events and people come up to me who I know and we talk about mundane by very important things.

Now I am ready for the weekend, and the annual umpires footy trip.
In fact, it will be an amalgamation of the 2007 trip (when I met Shannyn) and last year's trip.
I will explain all (or what I can) when I post next week.

Hunny, I love you. Can't wait to see you tomorrow night xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

I am writing this post in my room at the Deakin Management Centre, Geelong.

I've spent the last five days here completing my third-year post-graduate journalism course.

This will mark the end of possibly one of the busiest months that I will experience this year.

Many, many things have occurred since I last updated. I spent the week leading up to the course getting over the bug or cold I had (and no, it was or never was anything linked to Swine Flu).
Shannyn came up to Kerang on the Thursday for two night, which was a significant bonus. It enabled us to go out to dinner with Ben and Rachel, as well as look at house plans with them.

Saturday was a very, very busy day. I had to umpire at Hay, meaning I lost half a day to clear up umpiring material and finish organising things for the trip to Geelong.
The game I umpired was a beauty! Moulamein won by two goals, but it was a tense match.
I also umpired very, very well.

The last five days here at the course have been excellent, the food has been great (even too fancy for me), the coursework has been very, very relevant and the people are fantastic.

Now I look forward to another great weekend. Ben, Andrew and I will travel from Geelong to Bundoora tomorrow to pick Shannyn up prior to the business excellence awards.
Saturday I will be umpiring a very good game, then the karaoke night will be on again (hunny, fancy some Blink 182 again;-) ) and a relaxing day on Sunday.

Andrew just rang me, he wants someone to kick the footy with. So until later have fun everyone...

and hunny, I love you xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

What do you think is a good cure for the flu?
a) Days off work?
b) A good batch of soup?
c) Goal umpiring?
d) A close game of football on television?

If you said d, then you are correct.

The last three day of the week were very, very hectic. Add in the fact I was so busy I could not afford to take a day off work, and it made things worse.
In the end the May bug got the better of me, and i had to go home early Friday afternoon.

It actually put umpiring on Saturday in jeopardy, but I was in the end able to front up... but when you want a quiet game it never eventuates.
In the three years I have been here in Kerang I have not seen so many tough decisions, and I will admit I was not 100 per cent for the game. However, I did it in the end.

Sunday was finally a day off, and it created the cure for this bug.
Three hours riding an emotional rollercoaster (known as the Port-Richmond) does wonders for your health!
It was also a game when I saw what a get of jail card can look like... Warren Tredrea! What a game he played, and Pearcey played well too!

I was able to make it to work today, and I am now looking forward to next week's editorial course. There is also a bonus at the end of the course - I get to see my hunny xoxoxox
Soon, hunny, soon. I love you

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

Frankston: The views and opinions of people who hear this name vary, but for me it is the place where I grew up.

Last week I spent six days down there with mum and Darren, and I'll tell you all one thing - life is never boring there.

The drive down there last Wednesday was the first time I used the new freeway, and it was great!
The next six days were spent relaxing, catching up with friends and family, watching football and working on assignments.

Not too much news occurred on Thursday and Friday, but all the action occurred on Saturday.
That was the day when I watched two quarters of football at the Karingal football ground and went to the Port Adelaide - North Melbourne game.
This was also the first time my mum met Shannyn's mum, which was good - it also meant I was seeing Shannyn again.
The game was the perfect situation as Meryl is a North fan, whilst I'm a massive Port fan... and so is mum, but I'm more of a tragic.

I won't talk too much about the game, but we deserved to lose... by possibly three goals rather than five points. Alas, it made great viewing at the end (and on TV too, as we were seen a fair bit).
After the match mum and I went to the after-match function, and I will admit I was starstruck.
I have no problems interviewing politicians and sports stars, but stick me in a room with the players from my favourite football team and I cannot move.
I had Brett Ebert five metres from me, Matt Thomas next to mum, Troy Chaplain two metres away, Bob Carlile and David Rodan near me and I shook Danyle Pearce's hand - who is my favourite player.

Sunday was a relaxing day with mum, but I also visited Shannon, Juanita and Zander. It was good seeing them all again and hearing what is going on.
I also had a visit from dad, which was great.

I arrived back here yesterday, and now I have a four day week in front of me.

Hunny, thanks for an excellent night... and I cannot wait to see you in three weeks time xoxoxoxo

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

I've just experienced an excellent weekend, a cold week weather-wise and a busy week at work.

It all started last Tuesday with a four-day week. The boss had to go away for two days for personal reasons, meaning the team had to pick up the load.
Add in some wet and very cold conditions and it was an excellent four days.

Shannyn arrived here on Friday night for the first of a few hectic May weeekends for me.
I umpired out at Leitchville on Saturday as part of an interchange program.
It was funny umpiring somewhere I knew a lot of people because of work events.
It was also the first time I have undertaken an interchange program with umpires from a different organisation.

The goal umpire i was with gave me my first challenge in a number of years, in fact he was a veteran in the art of psyching out fellow umpires.
However, all I had to do was wait until the action came down my end in the second quarter. I think in the end he received an umpiring lesson from the wall technique.

We then went to Castlemaine following the game for a 21st birthday party.
It was great to catch up with the Rovers, see how they are going, fill in the gaps from a few major events that occurred at the end of 2006 and make plans for later in the year.
Having Shannyn there and hearing Port win made it even better.

We travelled back to Kerang on Sunday and caught up with a few friends. It was classic watching Shannyn's reaction with new pug pups.

Today was my first day at work for a two-day week, then I am off to Frankston for six days.

Hunny, thanks for the excellent weekend and perfect choice in accommodation. I love you xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B

Hey guys and girls,

how's it going?

The weather is bitter up here in Kerang. I think it has struggled to get passed double figures during the last two days (it probably has passed it, but it feel very cold).

I'm currently on my "Sunday", although it is Monday.
Just to briefly explain Saturday was Anzac Day, which meant some journalists were needed to cover local commemoration services.
I was one of those lucky characters, which I knew was to occur, and to compensate this I've had yesterday and today off work.

Yesterday did not involve too much. I did a few things on the computer, walked down to the football to watch Kerang (it was also a study exercise, as it looks like I will be umpiring with the Central Murray umpires next week, and I have not been so keyed up for a game for a long time - i believe it will be a game to see where my umpiring skills are compared to other associations and teams) and visited friends.

Today was spent working on a few assignments and keeping warm (the best I can).

At least there's a four-day week awaiting me, Shannyn coming up at the weekend, a big game of footy and a 21st occurring two hours away. I love you hunny xoxoxox

Until later
See ya
From Scottie B