Zombie-ville

Yes folks, that's where I am living at the moment. This time of the month sure does suck. I am suffering from that most hideous of illnesses - PRS (pre referral syndrome). This malicious malady is characterised by excessive chocolate consumption, insomnia and the perverse need to get up at least half a dozen times during the night to check the RQ site to see if anyone has reported a cut-off date for referrals. I am seriously in need of some unbroken sleep, but I am pretty sure it won't be coming soon. Bring on those referrals, dammit!!!

Rumours at Last!!!

OK, for those of you who aren't a complete Rumour Queen addict like myself, here is (ripped directly from the RQ site - sorry!) the RQ rumour rating scale:


R1; A rumour that is very, very, very, suspect. I’m reporting it because it's out there, but I'm giving it zero weight.
R2: A rumour to keep an eye on.
R3: A rumour to pay attention to, but not enough behind it to say “this” is the way we are pretty sure it’s going to happen. Multiple conflicting rumours could all have a 3r Designation.
R4: Rumour that we feel good about. It comes indirectly from a source that is usually right, or it’s coming from multiple sources, but just not quite enough to give it a 5r Designation yet. This is the first rumour that I put my reputation behind.
R5: Very, very, very reliable rumour that is as close as we can get to fact. It comes from the place that is almost always right, or it comes from multiple sources all saying the same thing. This rumour also has my reputation behind it.

On the RQ site yesterday, there were finally some tasty rumours appearing about the next lot of referrals. Firstly, there is an R5 rumour that packages are on their way from China to the agencies. As to what is in these packages - it is an R3 that they are referrals (simply beacuase of the timing) but alternatively they could be TA's (travel approvals for people who received their referral last month). And as to the $64 000 question of the cut off date - it is an R3.5 that the cut off will be November 21st. One pissy day before our date of November 22nd. I had expected this, but it is still a kick to the guts, Oh well, what's another month's worth of sleepless nights and over-indulgence....

Rumour Wasteland...

This is VERY odd. Normally at this time of the month, rumours are coming thick and fast about the potential cut-off date, when referrals will be arriving, etc etc. So far this month there has been pretty much nothing. Earlier in July there was a flurry of rumours saying that the CCAA was going to shock the hell out of us and refer up until mid- December (HA!! AS IF!!), then we got the counter-balance rumour which said that they wouldn't make up to the 21st November. Since then - the silence has been deafening. One person did report on RQ today that their agency believes that referrals are still three weeks away. If this is the case, someone buy me a ticket out of here as I cannot bear the thought of having to wait another three weeks to see if, by some small miracle, we are in. So it's back to midnight sojourns to the computer, drinking too much red wine and snaffling far too much chocolate. Sigh... The sooner we get our referral the better, as if we wait too much longer I simply won't be able to fit into any of my clothes.

Poll results

Well done to those five people who correctly identified the Chinese character in my profile - it does indeed represent 'peace'. And, for those of you just dying to know, my tattoo is a peace symbol, emblazoned upon my upper thigh (i.e.butt cheek) when I was very young, stupid and pretending to be a hippy. Just a word of warning for anyone out there tempted to get a tattoo- they do not grow as you do. I am now about 10 kilos heavier than I was when I sabotaged my body with permanent ink, and have had two babies. Stretch marks and a warped peace symbol on your butt are NOT a good look...

Some People are Toads

I had to take DD to the doctor's (again) today. Last night she started going downhill and fortunately, the surgery was open for emergency appointments today. After waiting for about half an hour for the doctor, we came out, script in hand (chest infection, just like her brother) and went to get in the car. That's when I noticed that some little snot had graffitied his or her 'tag' on the side of my lovely new car. Grrrrrr. Mindless vandalism is one of the few things on this earth which I hate with a passion. The people who do stuff like this are the same people who rip trees up from the nature strip, pull people's mail boxes off, kick fences down and push street signs over. There is just no need for it. Moronic behaviour in the extreme, if you ask me. Anyway, this story does have a happy ending - the spray paint came off easily with some tea tree oil, thankfully saving me the hassle of having to go to the body works shop for a cut and polish. Honestly, some people should just grow up and get a life....

Pottermania

Yes, Loyal Readers, I have succumbed. For many years now I have been an avid follower of the young wizard and his friends. Today bought that chapter of my life to a close. I have spent the last seven hours devouring the final chapter of Harry Potter. Oh. My. Gosh. What a read. If you haven't read any of the Potter books, I urge you to do so. They will rock your world. I am still reeling from the experience. What a ride......

A clue...

For all you intrepid investigators who are trying to figure out what the Chinese character in my profile represents - it has the same meaning as the tattoo on my backside. Has that helped you at all?????

Come on guys!!

Where is your sense of participation??!!! I have put up a little poll to the right - have a go, it's all in good fun! The winner will receive - a big ol steaming cup of nothing, but eternal satisfaction and inner glory...




MySpace Glitter Graphics

Early Rumour

OK, I know I have promised not to get excited about rumours, but this one is a doozy!! During my meanderings in the Realm this morning (the RQ blog) I found a rumour which made my eyes water. It is only an R1 rating, but, get this - the girl responsible for the rumour is one of my November BlogRoll pals (Kim) and she reports that her agency called her yesterday to check that her paperwork is in order, as they expect her referral in August. What's so exciting about this, you may ask?? This lady's LID is December the 5th!!! That would mean that for her to get her referral next month, we would also be in, along with many, many other deliriously happy people. The CCAA hasn't referred that many days worth of files since before the beginning of time, so I really should not be getting my hopes up, but Kim says that her agency is VERY conservative and never gives out information unless they are certain of it's authenticity. Doh - have officially lost the battle to not be excited!!!

600 days....

I have just logged on and realised (via my gaudy and over-the-top counter) that we have now been waiting for Alice for 600 days. Wow - to think that when our file went, we were expecting a wait of around 180-240 days!!! The positive news is that we (most likely) have only 30-60 days left to go before that extra special phone call. I really hope I haven't jinxed myself by writing this down. If all goes according to what I think should happen, we will be referred in early September, only 60 odd days away. A surprise referral could come in August, but I am putting my money on September. So - 600 days down, 60 to go. Will I make it before I go completely insane?? Highly unlikely. But hey, what's the fun in being sane all the time???!!!