Hey all,
Hope everyone is well.

I have been aloft lately - been very busy with the new off campus courses I am doing. Have 2 assignments due by 8/6/07.
Busy looking for a new job - I think I am always looking for a new job!

Kids are great son is about to turn 14 soon - I am told this is the time he is to rebel! We got him an early B'Day present Drum Kit - yes I am deaf now and completely insane!
Daughter is great she is our princess and she knows it!

Hubby is bored as always - he is doing drug and alcohol counselling again this month - Parole requested for him to do it at this prison?? He has been drug free for 3.5yrs now!
He has just given up smoking 3 weeks without a smoke! Hubby wants all to know if he can do it in there then anyone can.....I had to confess to him I was smoking again .....went well..
We have 1yr 6mths til Hubby moves prisons and we are eligible for 24hr special visits!!!

How is everyone else going?

Hi all, yep other than waiting for the 12th things are pretty much the same, work 8-5 during the week, visits on the weekend,
I have to say, my heart and admiration goes out to all of you who do not have the hubby/partner/family not close to them. I think thats the only thing that keeps me sane is knowing if i make it through the week i can see him on the weekend.
So my sincerest admiration to all of you out there who are still holding in there, i hope i would be as strong.
Other than that sun comes up sun goes down...lol. Each day gone is another closer to him coming home,
I've started making tentative wedding plans for January, so hopefully all goes as planned and we can finally get married (he went in 2 weeks before our wedding last dec), but this time as i am only going to be a bride once i am planning on a girly wedding, with the gown, etc etc.
It gives me a i suppose a something to plan for and look forward too, we discussed geting married in jail, but we both decided against it.
Ayways hope all is good with everyone else, i'd better start pretending i'm actually doing work...haha
Hugs to you all
Katy

Oh wow Katy a wedding - how much have you planned so far and what is the theme? Details.......
My sister's wedding is a beach wedding - its in Darwin in August. Weddings are so exciting.

Gee feels like a long time since i have been around.
So many things have happened.

Working still trying to get another job have started working a second job - dont try this one!
Been studying - another dont try this at home thing.

Hubby is well - bored as usual but well. He is doing drug and alcohol counselling this week for a while. He is still a non smoker - which he now gives me grief about -yeah started smoking again.
Have a 14yr old boy this friday - his b'day.
Going to Darwin for my sister's wedding next month very excited.
Find out shortly if I am able to temporaily foster my daughters old school friend - she keeps running away to my place and i have to keep taking her to the police station. very heartbreaking. I just want her to be happy and safe.

What has everyone else been doing?

Gawd Em how on earth do you manage two jobs and study and kids? I take my hat off to you.

I'm still around. Had a messed up back again for about the last 4 weeks. So been just taking it easy.
One more weekend leave left until we no longer have to go to the jail. I will miss going in a way, kind of got used to doing the same thing each week.
So yeah, we are now 10 days Away from the end of my Brother's sentence.(He then has 1 and a half years of parole)
Seems to have gone so fast. Feels like it was not long ago that I was asking questions about remand and so on.
I'll still hang around these forums when my bro gets out, as there's some great people on here :D

Em, you really have been a busy girl!!..and you have lots of things to keep you busy for a while, as well.At least when you are busy, the time seems to go quicker.:) Hey, do you have time to sleep???LOL
Lauren, wow 10 more days till the end.I hope all goes well for your bro, and he is nice to you when he gets out. I am sure that you wont really miss the jail thing AT ALL!!!!:D ..Nice to know you will still drop by here.:thumbsup:

Well I won't miss the jail itself, I will miss the 2 hour trips each way, in a sense, as it gives Mum and I heaps of time to talk and we enjoy looking out for kangaroos on the hills each week :P Now I will have no life. Haha.

wow that is great start a timer not long left.

yeah just barely fit the sleep in but hey wont be like this forever.

Just as things seemed to be nearly over.. it may not be..
My Brother rang up earlier and asked us to take clothes up for him this weekend so when he gets picked up next Friday he will have clothes to wear home..And then a few hours after that call (About 30 minutes ago) He rang up to say his weekend leave is cancelled, he has been sacked from work and he has been moved back behind the fence into the compound and may not get parole next week.. Why you ask.. Because he made the silly mistake of saying hello to someone on a friends mobile phone and someone else noticed and dobbed him in.
So we are going to go see him Saturday and we have to wait until Monday to see if he still gets parole. I will keep you all informed on what happens and I hope you all have a good weekend.

Oh Lauren i hope it all works out for you and ur Bro, i'm wishing you both all the best of luck that it works out ok,
kate

Lauren Fingers crossed for you.

Hey Wissy how did the interview go??

Hi Em

The first interview was OK. It was a good interview and they really put me through my paces. I was there for an hour and a half! But I'm not sure whether I'm what they are looking for.

I got called to another interview on Friday and it was a bit weird. The guy was disorganised and didn't seem to have much idea of how to run an interview. It was more like an informal chat than an interview. This one isn't quite the job I'm looking for but I could do it with one hand tied behind my back and it's not to say it wouldn't lead to the kind of job I want in the future.

I think it's a case of wait and see on both of them. In the meantime I'm still looking around.

Good Lick Wissy. I dont like th interviews where you are there for more than 30min.
Hope you get a job with great conditions and good pay.

Thanks Em, so do I. This being broke is getting me down. I am still trying to make up my mind whether to go see Cal tomorrow. Realistically I can't afford it but if I lock myself in the house for a few days I might just scrape through to the next Centrelink payment. It's the first weekend since he's been up there that I haven't visited. Tomorrow is my last chance. I know it's only one weekend and when I read about other people that haven't seen their partners for months on end I feel selfish but I am so used to seeing him each weekend that missing one is difficult especially when he rings me and tells me he's been thinking about me all day and missing me.

Wys that isn’t selfish at all. If I could I would go and visit my bf every weekend and you are brightening his day up too. I hope you did go and visit him in the end. I still have my fingers crossed for you for that job.

I bit the bullet and went yesterday Lara. I just couldn't stand the thought of not seeing him. It's left me stony broke but I don't much care.

At least you are happy and got to see him! I am sure that I would have done the same thing. ;) I hope you had a wonderful visit.

We did. They give us an extra hour on Mondays and there's not as many people there so it was lovely. :)

That sounds really great. I am happy you had such a lovely visit and it is really nice that they gave you an extra hour. Are you aloud to visit every day?
I am starting to feel impatient now that there are less then two weeks left for my bf to get out. Somehow it feels as if time has stopped. I guess the next few days will be dragging out forever. :o

Lara he's in a prison that has three hour visits on Saturday and Sunday and four hour visits on Mondays. I don't usually go on a Monday so that extra hour was a bonus for us. :)

So glad you did go. I bet you both felt better just from seeing each other!!.:D .ohhhhhh only 29 days until I can see my darling.(not that i'm counting or anything):thumbsup:

Glad you loved the visit Wissy. I love the monday visits.

Lara gee I would be sitting on the edge of my seat and be so excitied about my partner coming home, how do you keep yourself busy now?

Roz not long now- you will have to start the count down.

My News.
I got a job interview for a really good paying job - within the government and now my current work place a starting to stress they are talking about giving me a pay rise to keep me.
Fingers Crossed I make the best decision for my family and me.

Em, you do what you feel comfortable with, and that will be the right decision.:) Good luck with the new job if you decide to go that way.Tell your current workplace you would need a substantial pay rise...it cant hurt.You are worth it...:D

Yes, I am on a countdown...only 29 days until our 1st anniversary and our next visit...:thumbsup: I can hardly wait.:yay: :clap:

Em I'm sending positive thoughts your way. I hope it becomes an easy decision for you. The interview will give you something to go on I should think. Good luck with it. Let us know how you go.

Wys

good luck with the job EM , hope it all goes well
Jeffrey's Girl, yayayay a countdown, and in advance a very happy anniversary to you both.
I found out yesterday that we have our parole hearing on the 5th October, but we should know by mid september if his parole officer has recommended him for parole or not...
But we have just started the process for his C3 so fingers crossed that means in 8 weeks we can start day leave and then weekends.
So fingers crossed (again), i can start planning this wedding, It's yet again another case of wait and wait and wait, and hope for the best.
Hope everyone out there is well and happy
Hugs to you all , Katykat

Katy, thats great news.!!!.:D 8 weeks and you can have day leave.:yay: :yay: ..you lucky girl!!..I hope all goes well, and your darling gets his C3.:thumbsup:
Wedding plans huh..what fun that will be!!
Thanks for the good wishes.:)

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllll people..
It's time to party.
My Brother is home and we are off in one hour to a suprise party, So far, so good.

We got him like 2 drinks to have at the party, as he was never much of a drinker anyway, and I don't think after being without alcohol for so long that he should drink much, so I will drink heaps instead. Haha. But yeah, finally it's over.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thats great news Lauren.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: I bet you will all have great time at the party, and enjoy a weekend without having to go for a visit.:D
All the best to your bro, and of course to you. I wish I had a sister as dedicated as what you have been.:)
Take care, and drop by sometimes to let us know how its all going.

WWOOAAHHH lauren how did it all go, How is everything now your Bro is home.

Thanks for the good luck everyone - i will let you know after the interview on fri. i will take your advice Roz - Tell my current job to pay more - time will tell which is best.

Hey katy fingers crossed for the classo 3 - the count down must be driving you insane.

Roz not long now are you getting really excited now the time is nearly here.

Let us know how you do with your interview's Wissy, It was good to see you today.

Hugs and smiles Em

Hi all

Im new at this so please dont take offence to my advise. As I have read alot about what you guys have been going through I feel like I am getting to know and admire you all.

Lauren congrats and enjoy. I am sure that the support and just the fact that you have stuck by your brothers side through all his troubled time will bring you closer than ever. Once again I take my hat off to you and you have earnt as many drinks as you like. Party like there is no tomorrow:thumbsup:

Em dont be worried about making a wrong decision as there is no such thing if you make a decision based on the information you have in front of you and follow your heart it cannot be wrong. Never regret the path you follow but enjoy the fact that you have choices. Good luck im sure whatever you decide will be wonderfull :)

Take care all

Hi folks, sorry I've been a bit quiet lately.

Katy that's great news - I hope the C3 & external leave go through smoothly, and that he'll get parole in October. And then a wedding!!! Woohooo!!!!!!! You guys deserve all the best.

Roz, you are truly amazing how you much support the rest of us, when your situation is one of the most heart-wrenching of them all... may the support and blessings be returned to you tenfold!

Lauren, I really hope that things go well with you & your brother now that he's out - sometimes they take a bit of maturing before they appreciate their family.

Em & Wissy - good luck with the job hunting - keep us tabbed!

And Novacastrian, I can't imagine anyone taking offence to your advice - it all looked pretty good to me! Hope you & your family are hanging in ok...

It's a beautiful Full Moon tonight, and the Celtic festival of Imbolc in a couple of days - the first stirrings of Spring. The snakes are starting to show themselves again, it's only 1 deg outside instead of minus 5, and I spent half the day pottering around pruning. The other half was spent sleeping - recovering from a big weekend going up to the Gold Coast to my daughter's 21st & son's 27th, & catching up with some friends on the way home.

Tomorrow I'd better get back into rounding up some astrology work - it's been an expensive week & I'm doing another trip this weekend to go see my man. He's been good, happy at the moment cos he got this whole leatherwork teaching program proposal together & presented it to the big knobs - they thought it was great, and are into getting materials, tools etc together for it. So he'll be doing something he really enjoys doing - teaching leatherwork.

Hugs, Dingogirl

Hi everyone.. Everything is fine here.
Hope you all have a nice week.

Hey Dingo, great to see you hun.:D You have been a busy girl indeed.Lots of celebrations, and even a visit coming up as well :thumbsup: JD must be so pleased about his leatherwork project.Good for him.I remember when my hubby was in Ararat, they had a lot of gorgeous leather work on display. Im not sure if you have seen the wedding pic of us with the photo of Ned Kelly behind us.Its in another place we meet.:) That was all carved from leather, and absolutely amazing.Just had to have a pic of us with Ned at our wedding..:p

Thank you for the kind comments, but I just love happy endings. I know that one day I will have my darling home with me again as well, and at the worst it will only be 710 days until full time..Less than 2 years now :thumbsup: Not that i'm counting or anything...I get to see him in 23 more sleeps...WOO HOO:yay: :yay: :love: :hifive:

Have a great visit on the weekend with your handsome man:D

Hey all -

good to hear you are going well Lauren.

Thanks for your kind words Novo - will let you all know after Friday how things are going. Novo I hope all is going well for you lately. It is great to be here with others knowing we are all going through something similar and drawing strength form that.

JD good to hear your JD has something of interest to do while he is away. Hope you get enough hugs and kisses to last you until your next visit.

Wow Roz time is nearly here for you to kiss your man all day long. You wont be able to sleep soon with the visit nearing.

Hi everybody I hope you are all doing fine.

It seems as if a lot of us have something good coming our way. I have my fingers crossed for you Em on your job and you Wys and for you too KatyKat. It must be a great feeling to plan your wedding. And congrats Lauren that your brother is finally home, I hope the two of you are having a good time. Roz you must be really excited to see your man soon. I hope the time fly’s by for you and your visit comes around soon.

Well I really need to share this: I only have to sleep 3 more times till my bf is released. He only got 6 months but still it was very hard for us especially with the big distance separating us We have never not seen each other for such a long time before. I am totally excited and not really sure what to do with myself. This last two weeks have been passing by just so slowly. Em to answer your question I am doing everything that crosses my mind or way to keep me busy. Today I will get my wisdome teeth removed. I thought it would be a good idea but I guess now I will be sitting on the sofa watching TV and time will go even slower. But I will sit at the edge being excited ;) . I will have to be patient for a few more days after he gets released before I get to see him again. I am not really sure how I will do that without going crazy :D. I am just so happy that he will be out and can leave all this behind. It still doesn’t feel real at all and I guess it wont till I see him again.
I just want to thank you all for writing on this page and supporting each other. I haven’t been around for a long time but still it helped me a lot to see all these amazing people, especially all this strong woman who stay strong behind their men during such hard times. I think I am younger then most of you and well I was really insecure and overwhelmed about this situation before I found this side. It confused me a lot and it was hard not having anybody around to talk too who went thru something similar. In the end I have learned a lot thru this experience and I am grateful for that even if it was a hard way to learn.
I just wanted to say thanks and thanks for answering my questions. I really wish all of you the best. And sorry that it got so long. :o
Lara

Lara, all the best for your future with your bf. :) Hopefully you will both get back to a normal life, and like you said,put all this behind you and move on.:thumbsup: I hope you will come back and let us know how things are going for you.:D

Yes, I am sooooooooo looking forward to our visit.:yay: :yay: It will be even more special, because it is our 1st Anniversary on that day as well :love: :love: I can even get to see him for another 3 hours the next day too.Woo Hoo!!

Hey Lara - well now you would have him home and I hope you are loving every minute of it.

Hi all
I thought I give you all an update. Well I haven’t seen my boyfriend yet. I have to sleep another 7 times before we will see each other again. But things have been great. Just being able to talk on the phone as much as we want is wonderful. It has been a week already but it still doesn’t feel real at all. I guess in a week when I finally see him it will feel real. I am so looking forward to that and feeling really excited and nervous. :D
Roz you must feel similar with your upcoming visit.

Lara,
Congratulations! Been gone a while and did not know. I am sure you are excited! Will he be joining you where you are? Hope the reunion is all you have dreamed it will be. Good luck
S.

Lara, you will be in your man's arms before you know it.:D You must be feeling so happy to know that he is finally out.:yes:
I am getting really excited for our visit, and one day I will feel the way you are now.I cant wait for that day, too.It will come to us all, eventually.:yay:
All the best to you both Lara. Have a great time when you do get to see him:thumbsup: :thumbsup: