I’m the one who waltzed Matilda

I Am Australian – Russell

I came upon the prison ship bound down by iron chains
I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.
I’m a settler, I’m a farmer’s wife on a dry and barren run
A convict then a free man, I became Australian.
I’m the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode
The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road
I’m a child of the depression, I saw the good times come
I’m a bushy, I’m a battler, I am Australian.

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

I’m a teller of stories, I’m a singer of songs
I am Albert Namatjira, and I paint the ghostly gums
I am Clancy on his horse, I’m Ned Kelly on the run
I’m the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian.

I’m the hot wind from the desert, I’m the black soil of the plains
I’m the mountains and the valleys, I’m the drought and flooding rains
I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run
The spirit of this great land, I am Australian.

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

I came from the dream time, from the dusty red soil plains,
I am the ancient heart – the keeper of the flame,
I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come,
For forty thousand years I’d been the first Australian.

We are one but we are many
And from all the lands on earth we come,
we share a dream,
And sing with one voice,
I am, you are, we are Australian.

I adored this song when it came out.  It had a catchy tune and finally I felt there was a song that Australians could really put their hearts out to, rather than the shitty national anthem we have!  Now THIS is an awesome aussie song, and I’m not sure if these two performers are the original writers, as a lot have performed it, but to even this day, in amongst all my camp bubblegum pop and country I listen to, this is one of my favourites 🙂 It really makes me love my country even more than I already do.  Awww how patrotic   I always loved hearing the choirs singing this, especially when it comes to the chorus.

I have one more day left in my first week of work by myself!  It’s been so good and I believe I’ve almost got it downpacked.  I learn more about my job each day, so that’s pretty cool, and it’s cool finishing by 2pm most days 🙂  I hate going to bed earlyish, but meh it’s okay, I don’t go to bed ridiculously early.  just a normal time compared to the shitty late hours I USED to have to go to bed.  I USED to go to bed at the time I now get UP to go to work!  Pretty unreal.

One of the checkout supervisors asked me what time I was finishing as i was walking past doing my work.  I said ‘Two’ and kept walking.  only reason she wants to know that is so she can call me to checkouts.  But guess what – in THIS job, I am EXEMPT from checkouts!  It is NO MORE!!  WOOHOO!!  Yeh the store services manager spoke to the girl in the lunchroom when I was there and explained that the Autostockr person only has a certain amount of hours to get everything done (which is true) and therefore can’t be called up to checkouts.  Woohoo!  Fine with me!  I’m quite liking it.  I get to work by myself pretty much, and I pretty much create the work in the morning that I have to do in the afternoon, via reports, etc.  I usually do them before lunch and get the counts right, then after lunch I go hunting for what needs to be found and get it out on the shop floor.  I made a few mistakes today, but quickly rectified them when i realised, or i came across an item I couldn’t find earlier in the day.  It’s pretty cool when you find something you’re looking for, but really annoying when you can’t find it cos you’ve gotta pretty much use your store knowledge as to whether it’s hidden in the store somewhere, whether it’s been flogged, whether it was a mis-pick, whether it’s unsupplied and whether the product has come from a Brisbane, Sydney or Melbourne warehouse.

All the managers have been so supportive of me, and a few of the other staff are surprised to see me working in grocery instead of perishables and ask me if I’m filling in for Mel while she’s away.  Umm, no, I’m doing Mel’s old job, permanently!  I’m glad the store manager gave me this opportunity, because, seriously, the old section is fucked.  Too much work and not enough staff.  i was always running around trying my hardest to get everything done, and hardly ever could.  It was amazing when I did.  This is so much more organised.  it’s funny as I’m doing my rounds in the morning, I have to walk past my old department manager (who starts even earlier since I left to try to get the work done) and I say ‘Good Morning’ to him and he says it back, but I can’t help but feel he’s a bit pissed off with me for taking on this job.  It was offered to me, and I’m glad I took it.  Management have been real supportive of me, but I’m not gunna get on too of a high over it because the novelty of me being there will wear off after a while, I’m sure.  I haven’t been late yet for my 5am starts, so I’m doing well

Met a new housemate when I came back from posting a letter after work.  Sent off another one of my ebay items.  I like to send them off pretty much as soon as i can after I’m paid because I pride myself on speedy delivery.  I’m a bit worried about one I stuck in a post box instead of going to the post office that it won’t reach the person who bought it, but that’s my own stupid fault.  First negative feedback, here we come… That’ll suck, but let’s just hope he gets it.  So yeah, new housemate.  i didn’t even know Bryn had applied for another person, but yeh he seems alright.  Friendly, doesn’t look very old – probably mid 20’s – hard to tell.  He has three daughters!  That surprised me because he looked so young.  I’m a bit annoyed how Bryn only charges the other housemate $170 a fortnight wheras I’m having to fork out $190 a fortnight.  i think it should be even, but I’m not overly co

ncerned because I guess I use a bit more electricity than everyone else, only cos of this computer.  But still, he should charge him $190 as well, not leave me forking out an extra $80 a month.  He probably thinks I haven’t noticed or don’t know how much the other housemate pays, but I’m not stupid.

So just tomorrow to get through and I’ve been invited out clubbing tomorrow night.  Reminds me i have to reply to a message.  But I probably shouldn’t drink too much because I’m going to White-Water World on Sunday with some friends 🙂  Gosh, so intimidating letting my friends see my white slim body, but meh they’ll get over it.  It’s only gunna get uglier as i get older I figure   I just hope they keep their mouth shut.