Love the pics of numptybub ...gorgeous

She is wonderfully kissable.

aaw what a beautiful baby

Our kids never really got that sick to be honest - and even if they were, they still breast-fed. Another thing, our kids never spewed like some kids - or to be exact, had reflux or wind issues. (That was one thing I had been led to believe might happen). And they went with us most of the time. I'm quite serious that they've never had a bottle. We've never owned one. I wouldn't know how to use one.

Mate - my 4 year old daughter gives the best hugs - she really does. She's a little cutie and she knows it. She's got me around her little finger.

Just think - one day she'll probably decide her old man is not worth it any more - but I won't worry about that just yet. Then we get into the territory of being her Dad and not her best mate...

...one shotgun and a box of ammunition please.

And what's this - her 2 year old sister is going the same way...

Part 12: employment.
After four weeks of unsuccessful job applications I eventually set up my own business, offering my services as a business management consultant. I have turned my study into an office and entered the strange world of ABNs, GST, tax deductibles and quarterly tax assessment (fortunately my accountant understands all this stuff).

My employment drought came to an end last week, when I was interviewed by British Aerospace Engineering for a temporary three month contract in Edinburgh. The interview seemed very positive and I felt confident that the job would be mine. However, within 2 hours of arriving home from the interview I received a phone call from an old acquaintance whom I have not seen for more than 10 years. He was looking for a permanent business development manager and my name had been suggested to him by a mutual friend. Could I come in for an interview asap?

Well, to cut a long story short, British Aerospace offered me the job and I turned it down, choosing to take the permanent BDM position instead. Ironically I received a third offer in the same week, this time from a recruitment company in need of a regional manager to maintain and expand their existing client base. It was a good offer but not as good as the one I had already accepted, so I politely refused - though I couldn't help thinking "Where were you guys four weeks ago, when I was desperate for work?!"

My new job comes with a number of fringe benefits (including the ability to work from home for part of the day) and my company car has factory fitted LPG, so I shall bid farewell to the mighty Pintara (below) and re-enter the corporate world in my shiny new Commodore.



The 'tara is a good little workhorse and surprisingly economical (450km from a single tank) but it has an embarrassing tedency to urinate oil on people's driveways, which has led to some awkard social moments.

We'll evict it from the garage and keep it as a runabout for Mrs Stampede until I can afford something better for her. In the meantime, I'm off to Clare today with my new boss.

Congrats on new job

Not bad - not bad at all. A good variety of roles too... Good luck mate.

Well done, good things come to those who wait. Same old thing, it's not what you know but who you know that comes up trumps.

well done

Congrats on your new job Vash!

Thanks guys.

Congrats on the job Vash

Thanks! It was worth waiting for.

Part 12: it's curtains for us!
In our latest DIY triumph, Mrs Stampede has made us some beautiful new curtains with the help of my mother. They've been reinforced with 3 pass blockout to ward off the sun.

Here's Mrs Stampede doing her stuff with a pair of scissors and my mother's ancient Husqvarna sewing machine, which is nearly as old as I am!