Thursday, February 20, 2014

The Premier comes to visit

Me with the Premier Lara Giddings and Minister for Economic Development David O'Byrne

Media Scrum



Oh poor neglected blog!

I have been itching to get over here all week but there have been some wonderful distractions keeping me away. My cousin and his partner from Perth have packed up their lives, bought a boat and are sailing the seven seas. Living the dream!  They have done the east coast of Australia and are currently docked right here in the centre of Hobart and we are spending snippets of time with them before they prepare to head off to New Zealand. More on that later. I have also been engaged in what can only be described as a neurotic knitting marathon these past few weeks as I try to keep up with the Knit-Along I signed up to 5 weeks ago. More on that later too. And then there is the Olympics - anyone else feeling the effects of too many late nights watching athletes do crazy things on snow? And don't even get me started on the laundry and the general job of keeping on top of household administration. I won't bore you with any of that. 

As you can see from the photos, there has been a little development to do with our farm project too. Last weekend we were told that our application for a government grant to help with the cost of improving the main State road in front of our property was successful. The Premier came to our place to announce the news, along with 3 news crews and the local newspaper. I have been mostly in the background taking care of the Kids while Daniel has been busy working on the business and the task of raising capital but it was decided that since I would be doing most of the PR for the business that I may as well step into the role on the weekend to answer questions. Just jump right in after 9 years of being out of the workforce. It was so nerve-wracking. Having a pre-prepared speech is one thing but being put on the spot with questions, knowing if you stuff up a whole heap of people will see it, is something else. Answering questions from the journalists right after they had given The Premier and the Minister a grilling over political stuff (we have an election in 3 weeks!) made the whole thing even more scary.  They were here for about an hour but in the end the story was overshadowed by the political stuff so I appeared on TV for a grand total length of time of 10 seconds. However, we showed the Premier the plans and the site of the development, the Kids shook her hand and it was altogether a lovely and exciting way to spend the morning! 

I learnt 3 things - 

1) When your husband tries to give some helpful advice like "just try not to say "um"", don't roll your eyes and look at him like an embecile. Somehow I managed to  say "um" 3 times. In 10 seconds. It's much harder than you would think to string sentences together without the use of "um".

2) When the camera wants to take some overlay footage you are to look like you are explaining the farm project in great detail but in reality you are discussing footy tipping and plans for the weekend.

3) When the Newspaper wants a photo and you have to hand the baby over, make sure all baby paraphernalia stays with the baby. Look what I'm holding in my right hand!!!!


Against my better judgement maybe, I'll include the 10 second footage that appeared on WIN Television, even though I hate the sound of my own voice and cringe at the thought of you watching me and listening to it. However the thing that always surprises me when I meet bloggers in real life is their voice, particularly if they have an accent because I guess I always read their blogs with my own accent so I thought my international friends may get a kick out of my Aussie accent. Please note - I look very serious, which is not the way I am in real life but the business of roads and money called for Miss Serious to appear, the footage also contains some very sustained frowning as the sun was directly in my eyes and you will also be subjected to a croaky Aussie accent :-)






34 comments :

  1. Oh Mel, I just love that you have a dummy in your hand. Sums it all up really.
    And you look beautiful, and sound the same. Well done to you.

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  2. Holding a dummy, love it! Exciting stuff, still think it would make for a great reality show. You will be great with the PR xo

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  3. I love that you are holding the dummy. But I would never have noticed until you said it. It is all very very cool.

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    1. I didn't notice it in the photo either until my 7 year old pointed it out!

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  4. lol that's a classic!....you look fab...well done on holding it together. public speaking let alone on camera!!!....its all so exciting. x

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  5. haha, oh Mel - that's a classic (the dummy). I totally agree on the voice thing too....something Jeff Buckley said once about words being beautiful but restricted, the voice comes from the part of yourself that simply knows, expresses itself, and is. An unmasked insight to the real life person, a treat in blogland! Good luck on the developments - sounds like you're going great guns so far. Belinda xx

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  6. Congratulations on the funding it all sounds wonderful. I did have a huge laugh over handing over the baby but not the dummy. I actually wouldn't have noticed it unTil you pointed it out because I was looking at you and the picture but when you pointed it out it looked so obvious but it went unnoticed price to that. I did have a good laugh. Sounds like a great venture. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane

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  7. Brilliant and well done you, I think that the dummy shows that you are a real person, a real Mum, doing many things all at once and doing them all very well!!!!!! Good on you and how proud and excited you must be!! This is wonderful news for you and I hope that it brings all good things to you! Congratulations. xx Oh, and lovely to hear your voice, you are right, I read you in my English accent in my head! xx

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  8. This is fantastic, Mel! On so many levels. I can only imagine how nervous and exhilirated you must have felt taking the reins on this worthy cause. GOOD FOR YOU!

    Stephanie

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  9. Hey Mel,

    Just brilliant!! And how exciting for you all. I love the serious head bob. I've been doing it a lot lately in my capacity as house hunter. It's a ruse really. I am the most ridiculous person on the planet!!

    Leanne xx

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  10. Wow, so fantastic - well done! I LOVE that you have the dummy in your hand :-)

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  11. So exciting that things are moving forward for your project! I have to admit I was baffled by the expression "footy tipping." And the magazine picture with you holding the soother is priceless. In a roundabout way one of your children managed to embarrass you yet again! :-)

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  12. You look and sound wonderful! I'm really happy for you. To my American ears, you sound just like Olivia Newton-John. :)

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  13. How exciting Mel! Another step on the way. It's funny how we make up a voice in our head for bloggers - sort of the reverse of radio where we form an image of the person speaking.

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    1. Exactly, it's not a good or bad thing, but if you don't have exposure to someone's voice or what they look like, your mind will conjure up with something to fill in the blanks :-)

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  14. It's lovely to see this and so good to hear things are moving forward. My husband has done TV interviews in the past. It is so easy to say Um! Sarah x

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  15. Weirdly you sound exactly as I might have imagined you would. Kristie and I have chatted on the phone a few times and the first time her voice was more of a surprise, and I think the fact that I have a BBC English accent surprised her.

    So excited that this project is beginning to take off for you. Can I suggest you cement that dummy into the foundations somewhere, when the time comes, as a good luck charm :)

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    1. Well I always had you with a Welsh accent in mind Annie, even though I know full well that you are English, how funny! x

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  16. You look and sound great. Now when I read your blog I will read and hear your accent, up until now you had a New York (America) accent!!!! LOL

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  17. Good luck with the project, fingers crossed it goes ahead. The dummy in your hand cracked me up!

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  18. How exciting ... it's all taking off for you now ... love the accent and the dummy ;) ... Bee xx

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  19. Very very exciting Mel and Coal River farm team! It's really happening.... you are wonderful to get this all up and running. It will be great to follow along for the ride. Isn't it funny how you imagine how people sound - you sound much the same as I though you would - nice. {By the way, love the dummy accessorising!} cheers Wendy

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  20. Wooooooo Go you good things and be proud of that dummy in your hand chick as it screams I am a mum but soooo much more too! congrats lovely, so so stoked for you guys xx

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  21. oh Mel, I laughed out loud when I saw the dummy. Atleast it wasn't a breast pad!
    Congrats on such a fantastic initiative and life dream!!! I'll come and visit one day x

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  22. What an exciting week!! I never noticed the dummy. Baby paraphernalia suits you xx I agree entirely on how painful it is to watch and listen to yourself talk. I feel the same way. I wish I came across more composed!! x

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  23. Oh goodness - I think the pacifier in hand is my favorite bit, showing more accurately than anything else that this will be a family creation. What a big event and an exciting moment!

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  24. Wow, Mel, you did a great job! How nerve wracking! Thanks for the email, I'm yet to reply, (sorry!) but we'll be away from playgroup for 2 weeks now, this week we are swimming, and next Friday is SETTLEMENT day! crazy! But a visit would be lovely. Chat soon. Nat xx

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  25. Love the dummy, shows you are the ultimate multitasking mother!
    You look and sound great in the video Mel, very brave :-)

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  26. I read this a few days ago but didn't get to comment at the time, am still smiling about the dummy!
    Wonderful that your plans are progressing along and that the premier and hopefully the community are supporting you. Can't wait to visit Tassie again one day when it's all done and visit.

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  27. Ah, the Olympics - I became temporarily addicted to snowboarding and watched hours of it. Forgotten all about it now, of course.

    Thanks for the clip, you look and sound fantastic. To my British ears, you sound like Home and Away and Neighbours, the telly of my teenage years. And I just love that you're holding Flynn's dummy in your hand, brilliant. x

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  28. Oh Mel I missed this post when we were away, how lovely to hear your voice, you're exactly as I thought you'd be! And what an exciting and nerve racking day it must have been - love the dummy in your hand on the newspaper photo!!

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  29. Love the dummy... made me giggle :) And loved hearing what you sound like. I too find it interesting to hear what bloggers sound like (and cringe at the sound of my own voice!!) x

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