Dan Makovec’s blog

In transit

What an interesting few weeks it’s been since arriving in Brisbane.  Work has been interesting for reasons that if I disclosed here in too much detail, I’d be updating my CV.  Suffice to say that people can really surprise you and you should never think you know anybody.  The last couple of months of work have been hell on Earth, 50+ hour weeks 7 days a week.  I’m definitely looking forward to putting Q2 2007 behind me.  I’m flying down to HQ on Monday for a 2 day meeting, after which hopefully we can get over the past 2 months and concentrate on a new project that I think will really take off for us.  Vroom vroom.

Meanwhile, tonight I’m in Adelaide.  It’s Dad’s birthday on the 30th, so I thought I’d surprise him with something a little different.  Graz told me about a BMW advanced driver training class being held this weekend out at Mallala, and I thought Dad might get a kick out of spinning somebody else’s $140,000 M3 Coupe around a racetrack for a day.  Graz kindly organized the whole thing about a month ago, and today the three of us turned up for a bit of fun in zero degree temperatures.  Deb pulled the wool over his eyes and got him all prepared for the day while keeping the whole thing a secret, and I came up with some ridiculous excuse to get Dad to drive me out to the middle of nowhere at 7am this Saturday morning. Nothing twigged until I had to finally tell him what we were about to spend the day doing when he caught a glimpse of the dozen 325i’s and M3’s all lined up in a neat little row in front of him as he drove into the race course.

Tomorrow, Nadia and Nanna are coming around for an afternoon lunch to round out the weekend before I hop back on a plane Monday.  No time for visiting friends this weekend unfortunately - this has literally become a flying visit!

Back up in Brizzy, we got a new puppy on Thursday night.  Casper is an eight week old Golden Retriever/Standard Poodle cross, looking slightly more Retriever at the moment and cute as a button.  Brian’s playing solo daddy for the weekend, dealing with the separation anxiety induced whimpering and “little accidents” on the back deck of the house, but over all they’re getting along fine.  Once I’m back on Wednesday, I’ll be working from home for the next few months so I’m sure I’ll get plenty of Casper contact time.  He’ll make a welcome break from the computer every couple of hours and give me some company during the day.  I’ll get some photos online soon (doesn’t everybody do that these days with a new child/puppy?)
Yes, I know, I’m terrible - never writing to anybody.  I seem to live my life lurching from one crisis to the next, never leaving enough time for a phone call or email, even though I’m always thinking of my friends back in Adelaide, London, Sydney and around the world.  The good news is that we’ve settled into Brisbane very nicely and the lifestyle is certainly far more relaxed than we had down in NSW.  If it wasn’t for the current work crisis, I’d be spending more time lounging around in my hammock and talking to everybody.  Hopefully soon I’ll be in that situation!

So yes, we’re alive and well.  Still living on the edge of nervous breakdowndom but definitely enjoying it a bit more.  More to follow!