Oh my aching feet! Wait, I think the rest of me wants to come to the party too...

Supanova was last weekend at the Gold Coast.

Niece seemed to have enjoyed her second week of holidays. She went on her day trip to the museum and enjoyed her day out. Mon didn't detail a lot of what they actually did, although Niece did try sushi and really seemed to enjoy that too. Wednesday we travelled north to visit with Bestie and attend ceramics class. We met up at her place and drove from there. It was a lovely day. I did end up doing some work; one of the kids had started a piece but not finished it. So I worked a little on that. Niece worked on two frogs that Bestie had bought previously as extras for the kids. Niece finished painting them but they weren't quite dry when we were ready to come home. Then a quick vegemite sandwich before heading home. MOTH stayed home for the day.

Then ... Mon told us she had been offered a full time job. Thursday would be her last day. Not good for us, but excellent news for Mon. Late Wednesday night she sent a text to say she had come down with a bad cold and couldn't make Thursday. Niece was disappointed. So now we have to find another companion for her.

So. Supanova. I didn't enjoy it as much this year. Elder arrived on Thursday and I was really looking forward to it. We were travelling down on Friday and checking in to a unit with a couple of other volunteers we hadn't really met. But things didn't quite go to plan and we had to drop Elder off for her out of town induction before we checked in. The unit was tidy with an amazing view. About a block or so from the beach. Where I never went. Not enough time.

This weekend however turned out to be nothing like I had hoped. The vibe was completely different to me and the atmosphere seemed more toxic. I sensed from the first tour that there was politics *there always is, anywhere* but this tour I was really picking up that vibe. I couldn't really relax there, nor did I find I was able to relax in the apartment. I chose this tour because George Takei would be there, along with two other original Star Trek actors. Usually I work that area but this time the team I was assigned was summarily shuffled off to a far corner never to be heard from again.

The area I was sent to is part of the department but seems not to be considered so by the rest. I really did enjoy the area I was working in and found it a bit more fun than the other. But if I had known I would be sent there and not assigned to my usual area, seriously I would have saved my money for the Sydney one.

We usually have a debrief after the event, but this year I hung around and nothing seemed to be doing. Suddenly there was a group of liaison volunteers standing around one of the supervisors. Great, I thought, this must be debrief. I tacked myself to the group only to be looked at, and hear "okay, so you've got my email address so feel free to contact me any time. In fact, why don't you send me a photograph of yourself so I know who you are. So I can give you the better jobs." And there was no other debrief....

After pack up Elder and I returned to the apartment before we went out to dinner. By the time we had showered and changed, it was 9pm before we got to the restaurant. But we did arrive to clapping and cheers. We were told the kitchen had closed. That's okay, I said, the bar isn't. And not long after that, we had to leave the restaurant. Some of us went out separate ways, and some of us decided to go for ice cream. And we ate that and stood around on the street and talked. Some more left and some others joined and we stood and talked. Eventually we left to go back to the apartment. But I was hungry so we detoured via a Maccas. I had a caesar wrap and it was good.

I actually slept well that night. Awake early then I went back to sleep. And woke again at 9.30am! Check out was 10am. So hurry to pack. Elder bugged me to let her travel home with one of the other volunteers we shared with but I thought that rude and said no. Besides, if she got home before we did, she had no key. So there.

But, after this weekend and with the house full if/when Elder moves back and wanting all the volunteering, I might not volunteer for any more. Or maybe out on the trade floor or a different area. That's my "me" time and I seem to be losing it...