Training, weather and the South.

Hi everyone, it's Andy here, I finally have some time to write a blog, so here goes....The past weeks have been another interesting week in New England. We got our first taste of what is to come with Winter. The evenings are starting to get brisk, and the mornings are definitely chilly (6 deg C). So far I haven't had to scrape ice off the car. I've been running training courses over the past few weeks and am dog-tired. I started with a 3-week long course for 72 students (in conjunction with 5 other moderators) , and I never actually realised how much that can take out of you. I started at 7am (no change there from work in Oz) but instead of finishing at 4pm, I often didn't get home until 8 or 9pm. This was a bit of a bummer when I didn't get to see Lexie for 24 hours. Still it's was so much fun, playing with fire pumps, and teaching people (don't worry Mum I don't want to do a degree in teaching). A little while ago Jen went to see a movie with some friends. While she was in the film, the parked car was side-swiped by some feral. Of course they didn't leave a note - why own up to causing damage to someone else's property? Result? The trim along the driver's side of the car was ripped away from the body, and some nice deep gouges ran along the rear door, across the wheel well and the tyre itself (sorry I can't bring myself to use the US spelling "tire"). Being a company car it was all good, and repairs were simple to organise, and a rental car was provided in the interim. It's now October 9th and I am in Georgia. In a little town called Rome, which is located about 1.5 hours north-west of Atlanta. I'm running another course, this time for only 25 students. It's been another draining week. There is so much to organise and keeping track of things in your head can be difficult at time especially when you are pulled in 9 different directions. I fly back on Friday night and plan to spend the weekend doing diddly squat. It's also hard being away from Lexie, especially as she's growing up so fast. Yesterday it poured with rain (over 2.5 inches). It's a good thing as they are in drought down here - not as bad as back in Australia but bad nonetheless. The Southern accent is really cool and the people down here are so friendly. And I've developed a taste for "grits" - you can look it up. Anyway now that the Aussie dollar has crashed, I feel fortunate that we got the money out of Australia. I have even watched it slide in the last few days. Bad news! But on the bright side you are all paying lower rates on your mortgages. What do you mean the banks don't pass the rate on?? Next you'll be telling me the banks like to increase rates above and beyond what the Reserve Bank dictates! What a load of baloney! :-) Ok I'm off to lunch. I'll update things when I get back home. Have fun y'all!