Freebie

We have just checked into Singapore Changi Airport and are waiting to board air Vietnam to Ho Chin Mhin city. I spotted this free internet access while buying ourselves ice mocha and thought I'd take the opporunity to do a little blogging. yay!

Last night, we landed at Changi Airport at a quarter to 11pm. After a brief reunion with my parents and exchanges of hugs. We celebrated our reunion Singapore style by whisking off to a late night super of porridge and little pickled veges and meat (Teochew Porridge)!

We chatted, we ate, we laughed, we ate some more. It was great! I felt instantly at home. Meanwhile, a rat ran across the unpolished tiled floor of the little road side restuarant. We shrugged our shoulders and continued while Melvin politely declined eating and quietly sipped his canned ice tea.

Time running out! Got to rush.... Don't you just love free internet access!!!

See you all in Vietnam!!

Holiday frenzy

Oh. My. God!

In 2 days, both Melvin and I will be flying in to Singapore and then Vietnam for 6 days, than back to Singapore for 4 days. And I will be off to glorious cherry blossom spring Japan!!!! AHHH!!

Yes. I will be making a second trip to the land of the rising sun and will be spending a week with my dear friend in Kyoto!!!

I can hardly contain myself! Every living cell in my body is bursting out in anticipation.

What a fabulous April it will be! I’m absolutely high from my holiday frenzy!!!

See you all in about a month!!!

Though I will be logging on and updating all our advantages from time to time, so take a peep every now and than yah! =D

Time out

Mel and I had planned to take a long holiday to visit his sister and brother-in-law in London & a detour to Paris in September this year. We put aside a travel budget and started saving up for it, accumulated our leaves and took note of any flights promotions on offer. We were really looking forward to it.

Earlier this month, I accepted a management role in a new company and will be starting work in June.

In that instance, all our travel plans flew spectacularly out the window.

It was a hard decision to make (not so much for the holidays) but because I have come to enjoy my current job and have grown very comfortable with the company's culture and its surroundings. However, I understand that one has to move on to the greater world out there and take chances from time to time in order to grow in ones career.

So come May. I will be the new States Sales Manager for a switchgear manufacturing company. I will have a team to lead, business plans to draft and goals to map for the future. My direct manager will be the managing director of the company and I will be THE "man" in-charge of the NSW office. And to tell you the truth, if I allowed myself to take all that in one sitting. The apprehension of the responsibilities that awaits me is sometimes far more overwhelming than the excitement of a management role itself! eek!

Anyhow.

With my new job commencing in May, plans for any major holiday this year were no longer a reality. So instead of waiting till 07, I am seizing the opportunity now to take a month off in between jobs. One full month starting April. That should be enough to settle my nerves and take a well-deserved break!

I can’t wait to feel the pre-holiday buzz again and to smell the sweetness of freedom in the air.

We’ve already booked our tickets to Singapore and are making plans for Vietnam and Cambodia!!!

Come what may. I’m ready for any challenges that await me now!!!

The delusional empowerment of holidays! I love it!

Wowhoo!!!

At last.... I'm home alone

It has been way too long since I spent a quiet evening all by my lonesome self. Back in uni when I was living by myself, I treasure the nights when I could throw my feet up, slump my aching body on my comfy lounge smothered in fluffy pillows. One hand armed with a tube of Connoisseur Cookies and Cream, the other, a glass of red and in my DVD, a couple of good quality chick flicks from Blockbuster videos. And just drift away into a world of fantasy and delusional high sugar indulgence!

Very hard to hear yourself speak sometimes after you get married let alone a home free night.

SO. You could imagine how delighted I was when Mel had to stay over a night for a business convention.

I didn’t hit the bed till 1am that night and though I was twitching the morning after from sugar high. I was sublimely happy.

Women. Aren’t we a funny specie?

Bamboo art

Some months ago, we had a working bee day to eradicate bamboo that had run wild in our back creek. I have become a fan of bamboos (thanks to Jamie Durie) and watching them being hacked and dumped like worthless trash made me feel like I had to do something.

So. I decided to salvage some and start a little art project of my own.

It’s not great in the picture. But boy am I proud of my mahogany painted sticks now proudly nested in my chrome vase in the corner of my living room.

I sense a 2nd project coming on..

Stay tuned… yay!

Salem

Salem had recently developed tiny crystals in his bladder. It got to the point that it prevented him from going to the toilet and made him really irritable and uncomfortable.

I sent him to the vet and they did all sorts of things to get him to wee normally again. The hardest thing to vision was the catheter, which they inserted through his “manhood” to drain out the urine from his bladder. The final option if that didn’t work was to go through an operation that will literally transform him into a girl. Arg. It was not a pretty sight.

Anyhow. He managed to escape the operation but the poor thing spent a week in the hospital and managed to rack up a hefty bill of $1031.00.

AARRGGG!!!

I swear. If he clogs up again, we are renaming him Jessy.

A soft mushy weekend

Over the weekend, we attended a friend’s wedding. The reception and ceremony was held along one of Sydney’s beautiful and private northern beaches. It was a perfect day. The sun was shining and the sea breeze was cool and refreshing.

The bridal party was beautiful. The bride’s maids were all in dark sandstone frocks with little fragrant frangipani posies. The men in their traditional black suits and the bride in a long sleek flowing gown. They were beautiful.

I love going to weddings. It just brings out all the softness and mushiness in people and engulfed it all into a night’s celebration that embraces and celebrates the vulnerability that (let’s face it) we are all so reluctant to show these days.
I had a ball and I was so happy to be able to share all that soft mushiness with the man of my life.

Parents-in-laws

I found this while I was clearing out my camera. Thought I’d post it and have a BIG shot out to my fabulous parents-in-law whom in their collected 7 weeks stay with us have done nothing but fed us with the finest food and warm our home with their wonderful company.

So thank you for your care and love!

Come and visit soon!

Melbourne

I flew in to Melbourne for a week of work. I was kind of dreading it because I will be alone and away from the city and all the wonderful shopping. So you could imagine how happy I was when my good friend from Singapore rang to tell me that she would be in town the same week as me!!!

It was great catching up with her. And in a shopping hub like Melbourne! We spell trouble. Just 1st day of her visit. I had already bought a fabulous pair of golden hues, a delicious cherry red silk skirt and a couple of cute little camis.

What a trip it was. Who says work never go with pleasure!*grin*

Cool paper bags

Someone sent these pictures to me. Some of these are pretty cool.

Back in Action

Ok. So I've been slacking off and have not written in my blog for like what.... a month!

January was absolutely crazy!! Mel’s parents were over for a holiday. A couple of friends flew in and stayed over. Lots of dinner parties. Lots of family lunches. Chinese New Year celebrations!! We climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I celebrated my 30th birthday! EEK! And started some mini-reno projects around the house.

Phew!

SO. I’ll be getting right into again, and start filling you all in on my latest gos, coolest trends, latest craze. AND more shopping sites 2006 has to offer.

Stay tuned….

"Twenty something" no more

31st of January 2006. I sadly bid my much beloved “twenty something” title goodbye.

Events from a couple of days before;
- At the gym: Trend mill key in age blinked @ 29.
- Sydney Bridge Climb Declaration Form: age group (25 to 29) ticked.
- Participated in a telemarketer survey for Sydney Herald – accepted category: Late twenties independent professional.

I tell ya. I was adamant to use my "twenty something” title to the very end.

2 days later.

I am now a full fledge, 100%, settled, happy woman. (Alicia Keys "A woman's worth" playing in the back ground).

And to celebrate my womanhood. I had a wonderful 30th Birthday Bash. A yummy classic luxious afternoon tea party! I am after all twenty something no more!! hehe..

A big shout out to all my friends who were there to celebrate this "big" leap with me. =D

Rock on!

Happy 06 everyone!

We were invited over to a friend's for the new year celebration. His backyard patio has THE most magnificant and close up view of the harbour I've ever seen. What a BASH!



Here are some pictures we took......

Happy New Year to you All!

oh... did I mentioned I made a gingerbread house...

Merry Christmas!

Just a quick Xmas shout out to everyone! Have a great Christmas and remember to celebrate Xmas for what it really is. The remembrance of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1
22:All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. 23:"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."
Luke 1
10:But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11:Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord."

Salem's new roomy

Mr Jangles has been with us for over 2 weeks now. He is an incredibly gentle and mild mannered cat. And compared to our weird, quirky black monkey, he is an angel.

Only thing.

He will not stop eating Salem’s dinners!!!!

I’ve tried everything!

Feeding Salem something Mr Jangles is not accustomed to. Doesn’t work.

Watching them eat. Salem never finishes his food in one hit, so that meant I have to sit and watch Mr Jangles devour his, and than stand guard while Salem leisurely waltzes in and out of the laundry taking little nibbles at each go. ARG!

Smacking. Not enough to deter him…. Double ARG!

Feeding him more so he stays clear of the other bowl. Double whammy. He finishes his own huge dinner and continues on to Salem’s for desert!!!

I give up! Just have to secretly sneak snacks and nibbles to the little black guy for now.

Brisbane shopping spree... oh .. I meant business trip...

I was in Brisbane for a couple of days for work and the last meeting for the day got cancelled.

Need I say more....

Here are my 2 new gorgeous dresses!!! And just in time for tomorrow’s Carlton Xmas Party!


Woohoo!!




Both pieces are from Brisbane designer Dogstar.

Agave Attenuata

I fell in love with this obscenely exorbitant green life since I first set my eyes on Jamie Durie’s Patio design.

I had always loved succulents because of its sturdiness and determination to stay alive. So it’s only natural for me to fall in love with the Agave because of it’s reputed boldness and rich texture.

I had made many trips to the nursery but have never bought one back. They were either TOO expensive or …. TOO expensive.

The Agaves are extremely slow growing plants. A good size teenage plant will set you back (easily) over $80. And an adult, with its beautiful structured longneck stem, over $180!

On a recent visit to Dural nursery for a working bee day. I stubbled upon 4 baby Agaves priced at a cool $30! On sales at a cooler %50 off!

My two little crowning glories are now nested proximately at the 2 corners of my balcony. Now all I have to do is to sit and wait for them to grow up into a stunning garden feature.

Hmmm…. Let’s see…. 10 years should do it?!

Mr Jangles

We have agreed to pet sit a friend’s cat while she’s away for the summer holidays.

I am a little apprehensive as to how Salem would react to this new four legged guest. So to help us to prevent a potential blood bath. Our friend sent us this article….

All I can say is… I hope it works!!! Eek…!!

The introduction to other pet cats in your home
If you are bringing your new cat into a home with other cats, keep in mind that there are diseases and parasites that cats can transmit to each other, and some of these are fatal. Before you bring a new cat into your household, take it to your veterinarian for an examination and stool sample check. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you what vaccinations your cat needs and check your cat's stool for intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian can also perform blood testing for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Then you can bring your new cat home without concerns about compromising the health of your current cat(s).
Keeping the new cat in a quiet, separate room is especially important if there are other cats in the house. The other cats will quickly become aware of your new cat's presence. The cats will usually sniff at each other under the closed door. Do not be surprised if there is some initial hissing. Help the cats get used to each other's scent by rubbing a towel over each of them in turn. Feeding them on either side of the door that closes off the room the new cat is in is also helpful. They will start associating the smell of the other cat with a good thing (food). After a few days, take the new cat out of its room, put the old cat in that room with the door closed, and let the new cat begin to explore the rest of the house for a few hours each evening.
The next step is to let the cats see each other, yet still keep them separated. An old screen door or a piece of Plexiglas works well for this. Another option is to prop open the door of the new cat's room, just enough so that the cats can see each other and put a paw through, but not enough that they can get through the door. After a few days of this, try feeding the cats together, but at opposite ends of the room. Monitor the cats during this time, and separate them except at mealtime. Each day, move the food dishes very slightly closer to each other, until the cats are eating side by side. The idea is for the cats to associate each other with the pleasant experience of eating. It is not unusual to hear occasional hissing, but this should decrease as the days go by. If things do not seem to be improving, try decreasing their interaction for a few days.
Once the cats seem comfortable with each other, you can move on to the final step. Open the door all the way, allowing the cats to come and go as they please. Monitor them closely, in case they fight. Do not leave them alone for any length of time until you are sure they will get along well. Make sure there is at least one litter box per cat. This helps to prevent a more dominant cat from stalking the other and keeping him from using the litter box.

Some much needed R & R

Summer is such a busy time of the year. We are fast approaching the end of spring and have already entered into daylight savings.
I LOVE the longer days. It just gives you so much more energy and motivation to do stuff. It’s great!!

Our social calendar has already been filled to the brim with dinner invites, working bee days, picnics, and Xmas parties! And that’s not to mention the obscene amount of after-office-drinks invitations.

I am finding it harder and harder to find time to enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Lazing around the house, tending to my (much neglected) potted plants, try out a new recipe (just love Kylie Wong). Finish a book! It’s crazy!!

Anyhow. Last Saturday, a few girlfriends and I got together for some much-needed R & R. Remedy? A full hour remedial massage.

Oohhh boy did it feel good…. awwww…

After the 1hr relaxing kneading and stretching. I was told by my motherly chubby Italian masseur that my muscles were really tense.

In her words:

“Young girls no… should never have such tight bodies no… relax more ok. If not, you’ll end up with poor posture no…. not good for pretty young girls yes..??”.

Oh man. What better excuse to book me in for a routine overhaul!! Wowhoo!