What do I stitch now?

What should I stitch on this week?

A Liz Turner Diehl kit - shop model for Colours Down Under

 

 14

Wicked by Lavender Wings

 

 3

Bah Humbug by Needle Picks

 

 2

The Hardanger project Mariann gave me for my birthday (yes I've found it in the unpacking)

 

 3

One of my numerous ELTWIPS? If so, which one?

 

 2

Any other project you've been waiting for me to start ot get on with?

 

 1

Now that I've finished Vienna Ball and my Christmas gift stitching for the year I'm at a bit of a loss on what to work on next ....

I have some Inkcircles charts/floss/threads that I'm waiting on to arrive in the mail so in the meantime what should I stitch on now?

Need help with a work document

I work at a public library system for a local council.  I have been asked to write an induction booklet for all new library staff.  Corporate have a whole slew of induction documentation that goes out to all new employees, but I have been asked to write a complementary booklet for library staff specifically.

So, I've included:

• A brief blurb on the Council and a graphic of what area is serviced by which library.
• A list of all library branches, their address, phone numbers and opening hours.
• A list of specialist library staff and their contact details
• A graphic of the corporate structure and where the library services fits within that
• A graphic of the library internal hierarchy and the names of all library staff and where they fit. (included here will be the name of the new staff member - a nice touch I thought)
• A discussion of the unique arrangements of two of our branches that double as school libraries as well as public libraries
• A discussion of the unique arrangement WA public libraries have with their State Library (that is different to anything else I've ever worked at).
• A brief discussion and appropriate links for all legislation we work under and how each legislation pertains to public libraries - I was told to include this, I would not have thought to do it.
• A copy of the induction checklist which lists all the things the supervisor needs to tell the staff or give the staff on their first day (ie locker keys, desk, login codes, where the toilets are etc)
• Same for day 2, first week and first fortnight.
• A blurb about mandatory corporate induction training and how to apply for it.
• A blurb about other optional training available and who to discuss this with.
• A brief rundown on the Dewey Decimal System
• A list and explanation of commonly used jargon in the library.  Both general library terms, and acronyms specific to this individual organisation.
• A copy of the corporate policy on how to answer the telephone
• A copy of the IT written instructions on how to set up access to email, intranet etc for the first time.

Is there anything else, you as a new staff member would want included?

Remember this is for library staff specifically, so all general info like Payroll, working conditions etc is covered by the Corporate documents.  I have included some corporate documents here - but I think its material that is not easy for a staff member to find and important for them to know quickly.

Thanks

Mel's Sunday Update

Yes I am definitely blond now :)

In stitching news, I finally got the updated pictures in the Vienna Ball album. Stephen took the photos as his camera is better than mine.  I think he captured the beads and crystals quite well.

I've also stitched up a small Christmas gift for a friend. I'm unsure of my choice of fabric for this one, so I took it to the stitching get-together today.  The girls said it looks fine, just a little subtle.  They think it will look fine once it has been framed. Now to find a framer :)

Other news, my local online store Colours Down Under is opening a bricks and mortar store. A few of us lucky ones got to tour the newly acquired premises yesterday.  What a fabulous ambiance!  Can't wait for Janine to put pictures up when the shop is open for business.  Its in a complex with a motel, a restaurant and two cafes - so we're already talking Friday night stitch-ins, Sunday get-togethers and whole weekend stitching retreats!  I'm so excited !!!!!

Best YouTube Clip - EVAH!!!!

The FULL Muppet cast doing Bohemian Rapsody!

The embed didn't work.

Here's the direct link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgbNymZ7vqY

Vienna Ball in all her glory :)

I'll try to take some better pics later, but here is a first photo of Vienna Ball completely finished. Its slightly out of focus but you can ceertainly see the beads.  Feel free to make the pic larger to look closer, but I do warn it is slightly out of focus ...

Life Update

I've been a bit quiet lately and thought I'd send an update of how things are going.

I've been trying to adjust to the new situation. Even though Stephen and I are not in a relationship anymore we still share a house (rental lease isn't finished until April next year).

Given the huge discrepancy in our incomes, Stephen is still paying most of the joint bills. Most of my meagre wages go towards my personal bills (loans, insurances etc) and paying back the money we borrowed from mum and Debbie.

Stephen's current contract (which he hates) finishes in 10 days.  The only contracts he applied for are in Melbourne and Singapore.  What this means for the cats and I? Well that depends on the length of contract.

If its a short term contract he will leave his stuff here and apparently help supplement the rent. I'll have to obviously pick up the rest of the bills, water, electricity, etc. Then apparently, Stephen will be back in March and then we pack up our respective stuffs, him off to wherever and I'll stay in Perth.  Frankly I just can't afford to move anywhere else.

Stephen (as I now know) has a track record of moving on and leaving those he has left behind to pack and forward his stuff for him.  He hates Perth, he currently hates me, hates the cats and hates his life.  Once he leaves I cannot see him ever returning. Nor, (now knowing his fiscal responsibilities or lack thereof) do I really expect any assistance with the rent and bills once he leaves.

But frankly, with the situation as it is at the moment, I can't wait until he goes.  He's stressed over the finances and wants to leave Perth so badly, that he's taking all the stress out on me and the cats (though not physically yet).  When he leaves he will be happier; I'll be going deeper into debt but happier, and the cats will be happier.

Mel's Sunday Update

Just a quick post ... I had to do a mini happy dance.  All the cross stitching and back stitching on Vienna Ball is complete.

Now to start the beading .....

Well alright, now to bed.  Beading after work tomorrow.....

Feeling discombobulated

Went to the doc this morning for my annual checkup and Contraceptive Pill script renewal.

Today the doc said no.

Apparently because I get migraines with auras (flashing lights in front of my eyes) and my age, The Pill is strongly contra-indicated as I'm up for a 60% chance of a stroke or deep vein thombosis.

She did renew my script for a month, and gave me some literature, so now I need to explore options and see what else I can do to keep my periods regular and reduce the severity of both bleeding and cramping.

The actual contraceptive side of things is sooo irelevant its laughable .... so why am I sitting here crying my heart out?

Mel's Sunday Update

I've been a quiet on the stitching front, well I've been a bit quiet all around I guess.  I've picked up some additional hours at work what with it coming into the holiday season so I've been working flat out and mostly too tired to stitch when I get home.  Part 11 of Vienna Ball was also a lot larger than I expected (never make assumptions).

So for a few weeks there I gave up on Vienna Ball entirely and stitched two smalls.  Jewel by Moonflower Needleart and Morale by Sue Hillis.  Both are in my finished album.

Then back to Vienna Ball.  I finally, last night, finished Part 11.  Pics in the Vienna Ball album.

Now to make dinner and then settle in to start Part 12 (the last Part!!!!!!) of Vienna Ball.