End of the month

It is the end of June.

Half way into 2005.

6 more months till 2006.

6 more months till the big “30”!

Put on another 0.5kg!

It is time for big measures.

I am going to clean every inch of my house this weekend!!

There is just something about Men and cars.

There is just something about Men and cars.

I suppose it is like us with our designer clothing, make-up, shoes and bags. But only at a fraction of the price.

Today. I am suddenly a co-owner of a black MX5.

Not at all impressed!

GGGRrrrr!!!!

Rainy days and Mondays always makes me sad

It has been pouring for the past 2 weeks.

Winter is always quite miserable. Rain, overcast sky, cold, short days….

The news tells us that we are in the worst drought since the 70’s. We need as much rain as we can get. Sunday services have been ending with prayers for rain. Rain is everywhere around me!

Sigh…

Well, at least I get to snuggle in with my hot chocolate and write in my blog.

Robo Dog

There was a robotic dog on TV today.

It is programmed to do everything. From asking for affection, to listening to commands, to even needing discipline from time to time.

It’s amazing!

To get one of these cool state of the art pet. You will need a cooler AU$3590.

Shopping Haven

We always have a ball in Melbourne. So when a couple of our friends suggested we took advantage of the long weekend to fly to Melbourne. We jumped at it.

Shopping in Melbourne is great. It is just something about the grided city, the proximity of the shops, the accessibility, the style in which boutiques are fashioned, and the friendly sales assistance that makes shopping in Melbourne so rewarding and enjoyable.

I always make an effort to eye out things I could not find in Sydney.

Here are a few I love:

Hannii – Her pieces have a good fusion of orient with provocative modernism. I bought myself a lovely over- the- need-length skirt and a couple of tops from her Melbourne Central boutique. The fabrics used are tweed and beautiful china silk. The same team flowed through with her tops and coats. Very chic.

Metalicus – They have stockist in Sydney. However, the boutique is the only one that carries the full range. Perfect for layering and under jacket camisole.

GPO Melbourne – Be prepared to do some serious shopping. This mall house high end fashion labels like Belinda, Fat, Karen Miller, Harrolds, Akira, Zimmermann, Lisa Ho and the likes. Very very pricy.

Cactus Jam – Located in the heart of the QV mall has collections from designers like Willow, Karen Miller, Indigo and _____. Beautiful fabrics, soft drapes, luxurious and timeless pieces.

Snag – You will find very independent and unique pieces in here. The buyer goes round the world collecting buys that fancies her and it really gives the shop a sense of individuality. Perfect for little finds. It’s located in the heart of the city.

My first ticket

Tamworth, the capital of country music of NSW.

We were there for an Energy Safety Solution trade show hosted by one of our largest customer, Country Energy.

On the last day, we decided to take our chances with the kangaroos and hit the road after the closing ceremony.

I tore down the highway eager to get as much mileage as I can before sun set. We did well for about an hour before I got pulled over by a police patrol.

My heart was racing. My colleague just couldn’t stop swearing!

The officer was really polite. He pre-warned me that everything we say will be caught on video. I hope I fail the cut for “Crime Stoppers”.

In that instant, I lost over $200. Grrrr

The passing trays

We attended a friend’s 30th Birthday party bash. It was held at the Harbour View Hotel down at The Rocks.

I am a fan of cocktail food. I love to bland food of different flavours and texture in my mouth. The contrast of sweet and savoury, crisp and chewy, hot and sour. Just thinking about me makes me salivate!

There were waitresses walking around with trays of noodles in little take away chinese boxes, kebab sticks, tiny drumsticks, oysters, spring rolls, cocktail sausages. You know. Party food.

The trick is in finding a strategic spot in a heart of the passing trays route. Once planted in, stand steadfast and do not budge till you have had your fill. Very tricky…

Visitors from home

Marian and Will [my sister and brother-in-law] have been making frequent trips to Sydney. It is always great to have the family come round, even if it’s for a short visit.

They have flown in for a 4 days holiday and the whole family met up for dinner to catch up. Indian [Planet Bollywood @ Double Bay] was the cusine of the night and we ordered their famous "banquet meal".

Boy was it a real banquet. The food just kept coming and coming. It was great as you get to sample everything on the menu! But by the 5th entrée, I was absolutely stuffed to the brim!

Of the lot, the extra hot beef vindaloo was the best. I was quite impressed at Will's (who's a Brit by birth) chilli tolerance. And quite embarrassed at myself for being the only one that kept reaching out for the jug of water.

Marian is a great person to get shopping tips from. She is always out there discovering new designers and has a really good eye for fashion. Nelson Molloy was the latest discovery. I cannot wait to get my hands on one of those Obi belts!