A one-live cat’s life

This is my 2nd week being on emergency on-call duty at work.

Meaning I always need to keep my phone on, sleep beside it, run with it, bringing inside the bathroom with me.  It was actually just this year that my 24×7 duty is approved to be paid for the region of ANZ since i moved work here.  I was already doing it back home.

Anyway, what’s good with being in the Tier 3 is we don’t get much calls just like tier 1 and 2 and still we get paid for the duty time we have been scheduled to do.  I have been enjoying that for 4 years whenever I’m in duty, I do not get any call, most of my colleagues as well anyway.

This morning at the bus on my way to work, I missed a call from my colleague Albert, in Tier 2 and a project manager, Robert.  An emergency call.  Wow, why would it have to be when it is I on duty? I was actually day dreaming and looking forward to finishing the work day and doing my long slow recovery run hopefully a 28KMs.  Probably that’s one reason I did not hear my phone ring.

When you get called for emergency at work, the managers involved in my team and the Care big bosses get notified, plus customer big bosses.  So much pressure you do not want to screw up. (I was so trained 6 years back from an old company i was working for, from customer and direct line management swear on you on the phone.)

As I type this piece, I am still baby sitting the servers in Sunshine where the fire started when they called me.  Hoping it gets stable before I go home for my run, well that means I’ll be expecting calls while I’m doing my fitness.  It realize, that even if I wasn’t on call the issue is going to be escalated to me because it was our team’s product to support.

I am not whinging, I am glad it is a weekday, it was a morning that I got the  call.  I do not look so forward on days when you are at the movies, or eating in an expensive restaurant, or sleeping or your weekend.

Besides that, I just finished talking to our big Boss in Melbourne for our 2nd Half Evaluation last year.  A call where your managers discuss you whether the company made money and if you are going to get a share of it. And if you’ve done your job well, fair or not all.  In my 2 posts ago or so, I’ve been working for them for 4 years now and almost a year for this manager in Oz, I am please he was happy with the decision of taking the risk of moving me down under  and he still remembers the day when I approached him in the cafeteria two years ago to consider me working for his team here.  Aside from that, what’s scarey is I am a “slave” for everyone at the team as I do support work for everyone trying to make everyone happy, well i don’t mean that in a bad way, and I do not get any direct feedback or evaluation from them otherwise some express their feedback to this big boss.  I am relieved that my team mates whoever had expressed their feedback to the boss TG that they are happy and satisfied with the services I have been receiving.

Its not a bad day after all receiving an emergency call, i had good evaluation, I did fair bit for the cash incentive at least and its a sunny day for me to go running tonight with my phone with me.

One thing why i liked Australia is because of how they give importance to their animal and plant life. That’s why if you wonder, why does it take longer to be in the queue of Customs than in immigration because they did not want someone importing and smuggling a new biological creature in their environment that might bring disease to the country, or will be a biological enemy to the local wildlife and thus making most of only Oceanic found species endangered.

Anyway, while I was looking at the Mx paper, a free tabloid for train commuters, on my way to my TNT with Woodstock last Thursday, I read the article below:

Now, I felt ashamed and i was laughing too because what was written is true. Oh I am so ashamed again someone told me that some Filos collet the Ibis bird in sacks at night for food! We’re just like Chinese, maybe that’s one trait we go from them invading our country from the past.

With the Sydney couchsurfing community and guests.  Playing that night is Gypsy Kings and Queens.

Find me …

Just like most of the aussies who love their (summer) weekends I was relaxing and spent my time of 7th of February in Brisbane.  I knew 4 days ago that it’s going to be a very really hot weekend in Sydney at 40/41 degrees where I was staying.  Hotter in those areas in the west.  I was happy I escaped the heat.  Weekend was wonderful, but not for all Aussies or people living in oz.

That Sunday night, I sent SMS to my family back in Philippines informing them of the good weekend vacation I had and telling them they should not worry about me affected by the bush fires in Victoria and Floods in Queensland.

That Sunday night, while waiting for my flight, flight were delayed because the smoke from Victoria is tat bad and to see the news that there were people killed/hurt and left homeless by the fire.  While on the opposite north of the continent, North Queensland is flooded and are being challenged by Dengue infestation.

I am not used to see that a 1st world country/western country having such calamities.  They were supposed to be “children of God” (idiomatic expression).  So interesting to see how they react to this kind of drama in their lives.  You still see that its very common compare it to Philippines when one house is on fire instead of helping them save the household, some people take advantage of the stuff instead, and just shows that men are such animals and even in a western world it also happens in Australia, just like stories during the Hurricane Katrina in US.

In telly, I also saw that they can be as hopeful as Filos, that they will still be able to get up on their feet and start all over again.  The government and their fellow men are so helpful too raising charities and giving charities for the victims.  Oz is so blessed to have lots of millionaires or people who have enough to share.  Philippines would often rely on Foreign charity.  Local support is still there but it is not enough.  maybe because its not that there is not enough people who have enough but government funds is not put to proper use.  Well who knows!

I’m glad to see that watching the charity shows in Tv last Friday, the victims still manage to smile depite that their homes were burned, just like how calaity-stricken-Filos when filmed.

I tell Australia and Australians that of course you will be able to get back on track on your feet and start all over again.  Blessed are you for good support from government and fellowmen.  You are still far blessed compared to 3rd world countries struck with or without devastation.

Sunday I woke up early, and was startled because the sun was up high and i was so embarrassed that Ren and Adam might have been waiting for me to wake up before we do our Sunday trip.

I did check my phone’s time and it says 545.  I told myself this can’t be true, so i checked Sydney time and it says 645.  So It was really 545! I went back to sleep and woke up at 630.

Then we had our eat all you can breakfast at the sports club in Cannon Hill.  had the usual yummy oily breakfast of potato, tomatoes, beans, sausages, eggs, bacon, toast coffee and juice. Yum i was very full again.

Then they decided to show me the city.  We parked the car at Apollo Street and CBD.

Roamed around the shops, got a few souvenirs and then to the Public Swimming pool they call Wee pool because most children who are swimming ther wee.

After Brayden is exhausted from playing inthe water under the sun, we had a fish and chips lunch.  The heat was too hot and got us all exhausted to we went back to cannon hills through the Brisbane River by the ferry.

After which we had a stop at the playground where Adam bring Brayden on the weekdays while waiting for Renelyn finish her work at the city.

I was almost late in my flight and that Adam was diving 110 KPH over the speed limit.  I checked in 1 minute before the gate closes supposedly and i learned that it was delayed.  So It was all good.  And I arrived Sydney 2000 of 8th of February.

I defenitely would like to comeback and have a longer visit there and go to the theme parks, and the nature parks and hang around the beach.  And  its a cheaper way to get to great barrier reef, to cairns and to Fraser’s island.

This trip has been long planned and always has been moved due to my schedule or because of the flight fares.  End of last year I already promised Renelyn and Adam I will be visiting for sure.  Ren and Adam were my friends whom met me the first time i came to Australia 2 years ago.  They moved 1 week before I arrived last year to Brisbane.

It was suppose to be last Australia day but because it was a long weekend then fares are very dear.  So at last I dragged myself out of bed at 455 as i booked a cab to pick me up at 530 of 7th of February to central station, where I am hoping to get my bus to the Airport.  At Central, I never learned my lesson, of course the very unreliable bus service of Sydney did not arrive.  Rode a bus to Mascot where another Airport passenger boarded to.  He was on the same route as i am but of different carrier, Qantas, I was riding the cheaper one Virgin blue.
So I shared a cab with him to the airport.  My flight is at 7 reaching 730.  I was saying wow, only 30 minutes on the air.  When we reached the destination, I only knew that Queensland is 1 hour behind than that of Sydney that’s why.  I was picked up by Ren and Adam, then they showed me their home.  I met their son Brayden who was like months older the last time i saw him on his Baptism.

Then we packed and headed to Gold Coast.  Had breakfast at Chatters then walked towards the Surfer’s paradise.  There we saw Meter maids.  meter maids are ladies clad in gold bikinis in high heels who trot the main road.  People put money on their bikinis and they top up the parking fees of cars whose parking fees are abut to expire.  They work for the council.

Then we headed to the beach.  The shore was massive!  they call it the “Miami” of Queensland. I had a quick swim, as the currents is bit strong pulling you towards the ocean.  The water was much nicer and warmer compared to the beaches in NSW although they still get Sharks in that area.

We went to the Fish Markets and we were kind of late and only were able to get prawns.  Then we were enroute to Mt. Tamborine but Adam saw a a very English Looking Pub.  It’s called Fox and Hounds Country Inn.  There we had English beer (i had Cider) and English meals.

After getting fully fed we went up Mt Tamborine and roamed around the novelty shops.  I was reminded of Tagaytay because of the trees and the mountainous terrain but not the temperature as it is hotter.

We were all tired and went home had a swim at the complex’s swimming pool and had a very big meal of KFC.

Just yesterday when I realized I already have been working with the company i am with for four years last Feb 1!  I was not even aware not until I saw what date it is yesterday.

Funny huh.  Yes I once forgot my birthday that was my 22nd I think.  Now I forgot my job anniversary.  Congratulations to me, this is the longest i made it through a job :)!

I’ve had 4 jobs after this, this is my fifth in my almost nine years of my career.  It was usual that when i reach the 2nd year i get bored and i wanted to find better work.  Never did I feel that way with this job.  I am also thankful I still belong with them.  two and a half years from the mother company and a year and a half with the merger, two sites, stayed on the same team ever since i joined.

Not long enough, last Tuesday, they announced that they will soon start the downsizing again of the company because of the “global economic crisis”.  But they told us (i was not in that meeting i was out working for a project) that Oz office will be least affected.  Well still who knows.