The Ultimate Incentive Threadies go all out!

Birdie85

I've found people on my PC before, in my old job. same thing, trying to deal with a call but I've had heart failure in case they click on the wrong window! It's a policy in my new office for everyone to lock their screen whenever they leave their desk, even for a minute, which is good for me as it doesn't look odd when I do it! I do get a lot of people popping over to help me out and they take over which makes me nervous too as I've often got a half written reply on the go or a snarky e-mail gossiping about the annoying guy on my team and I really don't want anyone to see them! I didn't get into trouble about the printer, I legged it home before they could tell it was me! I think it lost the print job thank goodness!

A lot of people sell stuff on Zazzle it appears; I think you design the stuff, they print and sent it out and you get a little share of the sale. Get on it!

Tete_en_l'Air

Yeah I think we're meant to lock ours too for security reasons, that's my excuse anyway. I am LOVING the Bloggess!! "A hug is like a strangle that you haven't finished yet" hahaHA, I can't undertsand why her husband doesn't find her funny

Mmm, raspberry and white chocolate Ruby ... Tesco do nice cookies yumyum

zigmeister

Tete_en_l'Air wrote: »

Keep thinking about Scott Michaelson and all will be well xx

If only it was that easy! Alas, he isn't really my type. Bit blonde for me.. Although I do love Eric from True Blood and he's blonde..

Thank you for the kind words about my wobble. I had a really crappy dream last night involving the both of them and woke up feeling awful. I saw him yesterday as I had to pick something up from his work and he said I've lost weight. I haven't, but yay!

LOVE the bloggess! In hysterics at the chicken thing! :rotfl:

Glad to hear your OH is being a bit more cheerful Birdie. It drags you down when you're around grumpy people. Hope yours cheers up soon CMD!

Did you fix your technical laminator issue Tete?! I hate that sick feeling you get when you're up to something and then it all goes wrong haha.

Ruby that is a lot of work! Make sure you rest next week to make up for it

I've just made raspberry ripple ice cream and it is lovely - even if I do say so myself! I had planned to make flapjack too but the ice cream took ages.

Anyone got anything good planned for the weekend? My friend has invited me to his birthday night out in town on Saturday. I haven't seen him or anyone else for a few years, and I've put on weight and I hate town and I'm really not feeling it! But then I feel guilty for not going

archersluck

Aw Zig, you can't have put on weigh if you're looking a skinny minny! But don't go if you don't feel up to it, might be fun though?
What do you fancy knowing about Oz? actually I might just hijack and write a giant post after I've sent this

I love that Young House Love blog, wish I was wholesome American and creative! I've read that metal chicken one before but it still had me snorting!

Cinny it's me who just tweeted you btw! I'll try find some of you others on there in a min. ETA - Birdie I'm following you too now!

Glad it's Friday but not got much planned. Seeing a friend for some shopping in Leeds and a takeaway tomorrow which should be nice. Otherwise have been kicked out my room as my parents have guests so I'm crammed in the boxroom, my lovefilms have arrived so will get watching this evening - any sign of the amazon vouchers birdie?

zigmeister

archersluck wrote: »

Aw Zig, you can't have put on weigh if you're looking a skinny minny! But don't go if you don't feel up to it, might be fun though?
What do you fancy knowing about Oz? actually I might just hijack and write a giant post after I've sent this

I actually laughed out loud at your reason for editing!

What films did you get from LoveFilm? I'm really bad for ordering films then not watching them for months. Honestly, I could have bought the film 3 times over.. I'm got Black Death to watch (nice and cheerful!) then I can finally choose some new ones. I've had Black Death (the film, not the disease..) since March! :eek:

I've put on weight since college unfortunately I might stop by.. I do have work the next day so I have that as a bit of an excuse! The guy is lovely though so I know he'll understand if I love him and leave him.

Hijack away about Oz! Did you go on your own? Did you take a big rucksack? What essentials and stuff-you-really-don't-need do you recommend? Any must see places? How long did you go for and how much did you take? General tips?!

Tete_en_l'Air

zigmeister wrote: »

Did you fix your technical laminator issue Tete?! I hate that sick feeling you get when you're up to something and then it all goes wrong haha.

No I left it for Monday morning Serves me right for being a sneak. If I can't sort it I;ll try and lift it to the back of a cupboard behind some boxes and hope no one ever asks for it

What films have you got Archers? I'm just painting my toenails (yey my toenail-that-fell-off has grown back enough to be painted without looking weird!) and about to put on Submarine

Zig you should think about going for a drink tomorrow, you might not enjoy it and can come home, but you might surprise yourself and forget everything else for a bit

archersluck

zigmeister wrote: »

Hijack away about Oz! Did you go on your own? Did you take a big rucksack? What essentials and stuff-you-really-don't-need do you recommend? Any must see places? How long did you go for and how much did you take? General tips?!

Ooookay here goes! Mammoth post begins....
Went for all of July with my boyfriend, and though there were some couples we met most were groups who's met out there or friends etc. So really wouldn't worry if you're on your own.

I took a backpack though some people had wheely cases, I'd get a backpack with compartments so you're not emptying the whole thing as what ever you need is always at the bottom!
Travel towel is always handy and they're tiny. Some type of walking shoe, mine were really lightweight ones, and flip flops are the only shoes you need. Some girls took heels but you look a bit daft tottering around manky hostels and most people are pretty casual even on nights out.
It'll be hot when you go I think so you wont need too much warm clothing but when I was there you needed leggings and a hoodie on an evening. Their suncream and insect repellent is great

Hostels always have laundry room, and normally a bookswap box which I loved! Toiletries are pricey over there (everything is really, stupid exchange rate) So pack enough to keep you going for a bit without going OTT. Hostel kitchens are OK... not the best, but you'll save money. I had a £2500 budget including flights, bus pass and insurance and managed to do nearly everything I wanted to

We used the greyhound buses with a mini traveller pass from Sydney to Cairns. You have to book your individual trips 24 hours in advance, and sometimes they times arent great but theyre pretty good. Sometimes we'd sleep on them to save hostel costs but it's not the greatest. Oz experience is another bus company who are a bit cooler and probably better at getting everyone to mingle. No idea what the trains are like and flights would only be useful if you were travelling a fair chunk. You def get used to thinking 'ooh thats only a 5 hour drive!'

We went to Hong Kong - (def recommend a stop over, despite having a billion films to watch the flight was hell!) Sydney - Port Macquerie - Byron Bay - Brisbane - Hervey Bay - Airlie Beach - Townsville - Magnetic Island - Cairns

In Sydney theres the normal tourist stuff, went whale watching (they were migrating north, but when they come south again they take their time and stop and play with their... baby whales?!, no idea what they're called... so that'd be cool), and to the Blue Mountains (I'd booked that over here with STA travel and it was a great tour and cheaper than the ones over there we saw advertised) I think you said you had family there but if I was staying I'd want to be at Bondi, Coogee, Manly, somewhere on the coast as theres loads of buses to the center.

Port Macquerie - prob spelling it wrong, was just to break a long journey really. It's pretty and there have lots of watersports far cheaper than at Byron etc but it was all shut for winter when I was there.

Byron - Chock a block with old hippies! We had a surf lesson (cool kats surf is good and cheap), and walked to the lighthouse which is the most easterly point of Oz. There's Nimbin nearby which is a stoner paradise apparently!

Brisbane - Stayed for a week to volunteer at a Koala Park, got to be really hands on with loads of animals, seriously discounted cuddling koala pics, food and gift shop stuff and some really nice people. Didn't have much time to do anything else but there's the Steve Irwin zoo nearby, and the XXXX brewery.

Hervey Bay - This is where you get across to Fraser Island, it's meant to be a must see but I don't think it was worth the cash really! Saying that it is beautiful, and everyone I spoke to who'd been on an overnight trip seemed to love it rather than the 1 day trip we did. Back on the mainland theres not much to do.

Airlie Beach - Where you go to the Whitsunday Island. Def go on a sailing trip (wait til you're there and get a last minute booking, they slash all the prices hugely), you can pick cheap party boats, or really fancy ones depending on budget etc. You can snorkle and see the coral as it's a fringing reef of the great barrier reef. I didn't realise til I got in the water that the underwater world totally freaks me out and fish the size of doors are not something I wish to see! Glad I've done it though. They take you to gorgeous beaches and the stars are absolutely amazing.

Townsville - Not sure whats on the mainland but you can go over to Magnetic Island which I loved! Wish I'd stayed on there, It was really chilled out and we went horse riding where you end up going bareback in the sea, clinging onto your horse mane while it swims. On the way back we raced wallabies through the fields at sunset. Best thing ever!

Cairns - Not much to do in the town but if you want to do any adventure stuff then this is the place. Also do loads of reef trips. Theres a scenic railway and cablecar to the rainforest which I wanted to do but ran out of time and cash. We went whitewater rafting which was really good. Hostels were the cheapest here.

We hardly ever booked hostels as they'd turn up at the bus stops to meet the greyhound. I know this was the quiet time though so you might need to be a bit more organised.

If we'd not spent the week in brisbane and the 5 days in sydney (boyfriend has family there so stayed with them for a while) then I think a month would def have been enough time for quick tour of everything. But you could easily spend more time. Apart from the bits I saw wveryone raves about Melbourne, and I think it'd be nice to see some of the northern territory where not as many people go.

Weird stuff - you can only buy alcohol at bottleshops, not supermarkets. The supermarkets are pretty good but no way near as cheap as Tesco! The have outdoor bbqs - theyre really just grills, no charcoal, in all parks which are free to use. If you get a bank account over there then you have to withdraw your cash from that companys ATMs or you get a charge. Credit cards get a 2% charge whenever you use them, even prepay mastercards include this which is v annoying!

I think that's enough for you to be getting on with! Phew! Sorry for the essay.

Tete - I've got 'Into the Wild' and 'Schindlers List' to be getting on with, How was your film? I thought about your toetail today weirdly, glad it's getting back to normal!

wendz86

Hi everyone!

Have had a quick catch up but would take me hours to reply and my memory is not what it used to be hehe.

We had a really nice time in the lake district. The cottage was really nice, in the middle of nowhere but there was a lovely field of cows next door hehe. We went on the steam railway, went to the acquarium , went swimming,had meals with family ,OH and my sis and Mum canooed in the lake and Poppy had a little paddle.

Had to go to the launderette again this morning as have to wiat till wed to get new washing machine.

Archersluck - sounds like you had a great time when you went to Oz. I would love to go especially as my best friend lives there but don't think i fancy that journey with a very small child!

shrimpy_80

Glad to hear you had good holiday Wendz, sounds like you all had a lovely time. What did Poppy make of the cows?

I inadvertantly had quite an MSE day so far, did 2 MS (really had to drag myself out the door to them though, don't know how Dinah and NIM do it! They are easy money in a way and I always enjoy it when I get going but I get tired of pretending to be a simpleton all the time!) and bought a £12 pair of wedges in New Look which only scanned at £5 at the till, plus had a £2 voucher, yay. Then practically ran to the hairdressers as I was late for my appointment only to find that they had booked me in for last Thursday instead of today. Was annoyed at the time as I was really looking forward to having it cut (plus it really needs it!) and rather than apologise, they insisted I had booked for Thurs and it was my mistake. I only booked it Thurs morning so I know it wasn't, plus I was at work so clearly wouldn't book it for a time I couldn't do! Still, I told myself it was £24 saved, will probably end up hacking at it myself with the kitchen scissors at this rate!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend, off out for a few non-MSE glasses of wine tonight for OH's friend's birthday, with my raggedy hair! Boo!

Flower08

Glad you had a nice time away Wendz

Havent been posting much recently but I have been reading. I have finished work got one weeks holiday and then my maternity leave officially starts. Starting earlier than I would have liked (am nearly 32 weeks) but doing it more for my own mental health more than anything. Got lots to be doing while i'm off including finally starting the nursery!