I suppose I should detail my Post-Post celebrations.

Went out last night with some Posties - Pete, Dave, Amanda, Serita, Michael (ex-Post), Louise, Mus, Stacey, Mark, and Richard. I think that's it. I got very very drunk. I didn't really feel it until after I left... managed to get home ok, and even coherently talk to a lady on the train. But once I got into bed... well, I got up, puked, went back to bed, and passed out. Apparently when Aidan got home he was all looking after me and stuff, wet cloth on the face to stop me getting a hang-over, and talking to me... I vaguely remember something wet. Nothing else, I was that out of it. He's such a sweetie.

Tonight I'm by myself - Aidan was working, and staying at his parents' place tonight. So I watched School of Rock (yes, the Jack Black one), and then started listening to full-on rock music way up loud... moved on to some punk/ska kind of stuff, and I've been dancing around like an idiot.

So, my Post-Post celebrations are complete. I have made a fool of myself both in public and in private, and I don't regret a moment of it!

Well, that's it. My days at Post are over.

It's been an interesting couple of years. I started there in November 2003 - young, naive, inexperienced. It was part of my "utter change" - breaking up with Dave, moving back to Hawthorn, leaving Teletech behind me for a new job. It was a month of turmoil. So, into the International section of the CCC I went. Only problem was - for my first week, I was taking Domestic calls. So, I sat with a group of people who only knew International things, asking them Domestic questions. Odd. Things got easier in my second week when I was taking International calls! There I remained for about nine months or so - going through several Team Leaders including Ness, Nick, and Damo. Damo was the beginning of my REAL time at Post. He was annoyingly encouraging and positive! He took me with my apathy and ignorance, and he schooled me and obtained training for me. He eventually got me placed in the Domestic Resolutions Team - for "two days", mind you - where I actually stayed for the rest of my time with Post.

Time in the Resolutions Team was far more interesting, and there I discovered that nobody knew everything about Post. The team's knowledge was spread over each member of the team, so that all together we knew everything or where to find it! The team was diverse, interesting, intelligent - among the best people I've worked with. Once again, I out-lasted several Team Leaders: Carolyn, Vicky, Dale.

Everybody says this about Post - whilst the work itself may suck like a vacuum cleaner, the people there are fantastic. I didn't say it, because I didn't want to sound like a parrot. But it's true. I will miss a lot of those people, and I hope we all keep in touch.

Anyway, I'm now well into my first day of unemployment in about three years. The morning was lovely... laying about, breakfasting in a cafe down the road (they're not kidding when they call that the Big Breakfast), op-shopping... Then Aidan had to go to work. I finished my jigsaw puzzle, made some nachos, had a cup of tea... and now I'm a little bored. Retrospective, too. Looking back over the last couple of years...

Before he left, Damo once said that he'd seen the changes in me since I started dating Aidan. I didn't see it myself, but he said I was happier, more confident, and optimistic.

I just received a very sweet and supportive email from Carolyn, who I'd
completely forgotten I gave this blog URL to... Oops. Thanks Carolyn!

How Odd

I'm in a bit of a funny mood today. I feel like a schoolgirl looking foward
to the Christmas holidays! I'm all excited about leaving Post.

People

I think all my friends have personality problems.

I won't name them.

One's an antagonistic bugger.
One gets on the defensive and wants to prove he's better than everybody.
One has major self-confidence problems.
One is clinically depressed.
One is anti-social in the extreme.
One laughs when she gets angry.
One believes the rest of the world is insane but he's fine.

There's more, but I can't be bothered listing them. What does this say about
me?

Countdown...

2nd day of my final week...
29 hours, or
1740 minutes, or
104400 seconds,
of time left AT WORK!

Yay!

Today is the beginning of my final week with Australia Post.

...

Louise has been asking me what I want for a going-away gift. I'm hardly used
to asking for things and even less used to having a chance of getting them.
I feel very very selfish and mercenary and guilty about giving her a list.
Is that weird? Guilty. That's definately how I feel. I'm trying to play it
down and make a bit of a joke of it, but I still feel funny.

eeek

Louise is organising a farewell lunch for me, next Friday. Eeek! Social
situations are not my cup of tea. Cups of tea are my cup of tea. Oh well,
I'll let everybody else chatter and have fun, and I'll sit as usual and not
talk.

In-depth analysis of my psychological problems

Actually that would take too long.

During the last month or so, for the first time in my life, I've felt
respected and useful. I feel like people are going to miss me - that's a new
one. As much as I whinge about Post, it has been good for me in some ways. I
feel that when I leave, people are going to miss my contribution, my
knowledge, myself. Weird. But cool.

I've just been to visit Aidan in the bookshop during my lunch break, as
usual. Apparently we're going to talk more about his anxieties tonight. I
confess I'm getting rather anxious myself as to what his anxieties may be. I
have to keep reminding myself - these feelings or thoughts in him are not a
new thing. The expression of them to me is new. But they are not. So it's
not about something changing or a recent problem. I hope. I don't really
know what to think. I'm glad he's telling me and letting me inside his head.
I'm grateful to him, and proud of him, for that. But as to what he may
actually say... I guess I won't know how to feel about it until I hear it...

Oh. My. God.

I can't believe some people. I was just having a quick read through the
emails I've got to respond to this afternoon.

- Person 1 has emailed me three times with insufficient information, and is
angry that I have not assisted her - even though I've told her what
information I need to do so.
- Person 2 turned up to a passport application appointment, having forgotten
his passport application form, and is then angry that staff insist he
reschedule the appointment - he needs to get organised.
- Person 3 has a PO Box with a broken lock, and demands I compensate him,
when logic would suggest that he should simply ask the Post Office to
fix/replace the lock.

Me...

- Inability to make small talk
- Lack of interest in petty gossip
- Lack of "fashion sense"
- Avoids clubs like the plague, and pubs only slightly less so
- Insecurities leading to the belief that nobody would turn up if I invited
them

So what the heck am I meant to do for a "going-away"? From work, not from
Australia. I'm confident that Andrew, Chantell, Dom, and Howard would turn
up to a Leaving Australia party. But work... the tradition is
after-work-drinks on your last day... Must I?

I think I broke Aidan... I think that's a good thing.

WARNING!!!

> There is a dangerous virus being passed electronically, orally and by
> hand.
>
> This virus is called Worm-Overload-Recreational-Killer (WORK). If you
> receive WORK from any of your colleagues, your boss or anyone else via any
> means DO NOT TOUCH IT. This virus will wipe out your private life
> completely.
>
> If you should come into contact with WORK put your jacket on and take 2
> good friends to the nearest pub. Purchase the antidote known as
> Work-Isolator-Neutralizer-Extractor (WINE).
>
> The quickest acting WINE type is called
> Swift-Hitting-Infiltrator-Remover-All-Zones (SHIRAZ) but this is only
> available for those who can afford it,the next best equivalent is
> Cheapest-Available-System-Killer (CASK). Take the antidote repeatedly
> until WORK has been completely eliminated from your system.
>
> Forward this warning to 5 friends. If you do not have 5 friends you have
> already been infected and WORK is controlling your life. This virus is
> DEADLY (Destroys-Every-Available-Decent-Living-Youngster).
>
> Update 05-05-05: After extensive testing it has been concluded that
> Best-Equivalent-Extractor-Remedy (BEER) may be substituted for WINE but
> may require a more generous application.

What has become of me?

I'm boring. My mind is void. All I can talk about is Australia Post. God I
need stimulation. If only correct mail redirection procedures were
interesting to anybody else, or worth knowing just for the sake of it...

New Topic That Isn't Post:
We're going to take out our travel insurance tonight! And buy journals for
the trip! Exciting!

I've had an odd day, but a good one. Sort of semi-domesticated but semi-contemplative. I've made bread, muffins, and soup, but I haven't done any cleaning or dishes. I brought back a shell from the beach and was amazed that all the sand in all the world is basically made up of similar shells, worn down by the simple motion of the waves. I sometimes think I've lost a lot of the "child" of me. That bit that gets enthralled by a thought like that, or just does crazy things without thought for the consequences. I don't know if I have an inner child - just an inner mother telling me to wear shoes if I'm going for a walk or I'll end up with splinters and callouses and other apparent nasties, and not to go skinny dipping because I'll only have to walk home dripping wet and I'll catch cold.

On a lighter note - everything is wonderful! Life is a haze of happiness, anticipation, love, and so forth! Last night Aidan plied me with sparkling shiraz, and covered the bed in rose petals.

I'm trying to sort of diet - in a sensible and non-extremist way. I'm mostly just trying to cut down on needless snacking, and get more excercise. But I want to snack! The only way I can not-snack is by not having any snacking food near at hand. I'm hungry! I think it'll be time for dinner as soon as that man walks in the door!