Daniel, Priscilla and kids

On Monday 18th June, 2007 I got handed the reigns to Client Services – CQU Sydney Graduate Campus. I am now acting Manager for 1 year (whilst my manager goes on maternity leave)
I am so thankful to have the opportunity to have a managerial role.
I have a great team of people that work with the Client Services team – Lucy, Peter & Sarah.
My first job as manager was to interview applicants to take my position for this period and then employ Taane (from Melbourne).
We are looking forward to him joining the team and hope that he will fit in well when he arrives in 2 weeks time.

Well it’s been a long time since posting my last blog – and so much has happened!
I can’t believe that I am now 30!
How did I celebrate this event – I got a group of friends together, went up to chilly Katoomba and had a sleep-over (not that we got much sleep!)
We all rugged up, stoked up the combustion fire and turned on every heater that we could find. We then had a night full of conversations, board games and videos.
Saturday morning started with a few people waking up early and braving the chilly morning freshness to go for a walk to wake them up. This followed by a mid-morning brunch.
Everyone ate until they could eat no more. Then left when they felt they needed to.
It was a wonderful, relaxing way to start my 30’s!

[Daniel, Tim and Nathan enjoying the spa]

This is the life – lazing around in a spa whilst the Christmas dinner is being cooked!

[Priscilla, Skye, Leah and Peter – all relaxing in the spa]

It was little Molly’s first Christmas and even if she didn’t appreciate all the presents she was given – she did enjoy playing with the wrapping paper!

[Naomi and Molly]

The day together was enjoyed by all. The Christmas dinner was a huge success with everyone eating until they had had their fill.

[Tim enjoying his presents with Leah looking on]

The afternoon was a lazy one (as all Christmas afternoons should be) as we enjoyed playing the detective game of Cluedo (Tim’s present from his secret santa) and then learnt to wear a poker face as we tried to bluff each other around the poker table.

For more christmas photos (click here)

Argh! It’s the month of Movember – the month that I have been dreading for quite some time.

I’ve gotten used to the many different faces of Daniel…

1. with a full beard and moustache

2. with no beard and moustache

3. with a goatee and moustache

and even with a moustache for a friends’ bucks party (I was not a fan!)

But I guess this time he’s growing his moustache for a cause… male health.

The money raised by Movember will be used to change the face of men’s health by creating awareness and funding research into prostate cancer and male depression.

If you wish to sponsor his ‘mo’. Please go to http://www.movember.com.au/au/sponsor, enter his Rego number which is 2487 and your credit card details.

I’ll hopefully provide some photos of his ‘facial growth’ over this time.

Indian communities around the world celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Light, which began on Saturday October 21st 2006.
The festival is the most popular of all the Indian festivals, which is traditionally celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains.

India celebrates Diwali (or Deepavali) for five days in the Hindu month of Ashwina. The festival gets its name from the rows of lamps that decorate houses and streets. These lamps symbolise life, knowledge, and the victory of good over evil.

Other traditions of the festival vary according to region and religious belief. Families gather to celebrate with fireworks, gift giving, sharing food and sweets, visiting local fairs and making offerings to the gods. Diwali is also celebrated in many other countries around the world.

A recent article from the Times of India summed up the contemporary meaning of the Diwali as:
“Regardless of the mythological explanation one prefers, what the Festival of Lights really stands for today is a reaffirmation of hope, a renewed commitment to friendship and goodwill, and a religiously sanctioned celebration of the simple – and some not so simple – joys of life.”

CQU celebrated the Diwali festival in style at the Sydney International Postgraduate Campus on Friday 20th October.

Using authentic Indian decorations the CQU foyer and numerous other locations throughout the university were transformed into a cultural delight for all students and staff to enjoy.

Client Services dressed up for the event in traditional Indian saris which the students appreciated and commented on. One student even went so far as to say that we looked better than our normal ‘Aussie’ professional clothing!

In addition to the beautiful decorations, students were also treated to 400 sweets and desserts provided by Jaipur Sweets Catering.

For more Diwali photos click here

With Priscilla as a name I have seen many varied spellings – but if you think about it – it’s spelt how it is pronounced. Pris-cilla.

Since “The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert” I thought that it would have raised the awareness of my name and especially the spelling – but it didn’t! Although it’s a bit weird having a bus named after you in a movie about drag queens!

I thought it was about time I shared some photos of Daniel and myself.

This photo was taken when we first started seeing each other.

We went to a Beach Mission reunion at the Schabel’s home.

This was our first ever photo of us together.

We tried to keep our relationship to ourselves until March – but it didn’t happen.

Our next big outing together was Dimity and Brendan’s Wedding.

Dan looks a lot younger when he has not beard or moustache. It is shaved completely off for the as Daniel did shave it down to a hideous Merv Hughes moustache for Brendan’s bucks night.

Visiting Marilyn (Dan’s mum) down at Sussex Inlet.

Daniel and I on the beach on a glorious day.

Daniel and I at Katoomba. We spent the afternoon up there just sight seeing and doing a small bush walk.

Picture taken near the Three Sisters lookout.

I enjoy doing a huge variety of things together with Daniel and also enjoy the fact that he likes to spend time with me too.

On the 3rd September another of my friends decided to take the plunge and get hitched.

The wedding took place in Maryborough, QLD and so myself and 6 other friends from Sydney travelled up to attend.

We (Dave, Heidi, Alison, Amy and myself) flew into Hervey Bay on Saturday 4th and then travelled to Maryborough in a hired car to stay overnight.

Here are some photos from the day.

Nick & Em White

The Wedding Cake

Em’s Wedding Dress – made by her mum and herself!

This photo was taken during the making of the quilt…And this was the finished product…

Attached to the underside of the quilt was a patch stating the following…