fuchsia fragments

Not great that it was wet weather all week for my first week.

But first week went well. Beginning to settle in and starting to learn some new things which is awesome. Not overly full on and taking it step by step.

And it has made me appreciate the last 30 months more so that I did previously. As much as it was frustrating, that environment and having full control and free reign of the finance process enabled limitless learning and hands on learning and somewhere where you could take on the complete function without barriers and levels upon level of approvals.

Something that I have and have not missed. Deadline here must definitely be met and abide by - they have a soft close however once a ledger has been closed, it is completely and officially closed for the month. No exceptions! Something that probably is more relaxed in a smaller company.

Anyways, very cool company culture. Hot desks if you want to, open plan layout, juice, soda and mineral water in the fridge, nespresso machines, zoo passes, CASUAL FRIDAYS!, 9 am starts, 5 pm finish... happy days. Pizza fridays, evening drinks, yoga, boxing, people who actually clean the kitchen, awesome meeting rooms... yeah, I'm pretty excited!

Rain has made today one of the most boring days in a while. :( No baking...

One more sleep!

Can't say I'm pleased about this wet weather but it was wet weather when I interviewed. Maybe it's a sign...

Anyways, so today marks the end of my two week break. I did quite a bit. Probably (always) could do more.

Pretty much chillaxed today. Went to visit the organic market in Marrickville today. Seems like there is already someone else selling baked goods but we will see. Que sera sera. But wet weather isn't the best for market research...

I got my new Ikea shelf installed pretty much all by myself. My sister helped in the initial stages but faded away. Who says girls can't assemble things. Matches perfectly with my existing ones which is awesome and there was just enough space next to the corner near the stairs for it. Woohoo! Now if only I could get rid of what I see as "rubbish" but obviously someone else's "treasure" and that space would be perfect.

At least, for the time being, i can say that there is enough space to store everything. Neatly, organised and labelled. Yay for being organised!

Brain wanders when its not working full time and I get to dream a little. I spent a lot of time today "researching" market stalls and what it would be like, how I would do it, what I would need, the time, money, etc etc.

Its one of those things I think i want to do in the new financial year (yes, I have a list and it is growing significantly).

I will also need a lot of help so would need to see who would be able to help out and what not.

But I have to admit that it does sound quite exciting! Have always loved those sorts of challenges on Masterchef and holding little stalls and things so definitely up for it. Have even sussed out a couple of potential places where I'd like to try and sell!

OKay, so a fair bit can happen in 5 days.

I have knocked over pretty much every exciting bit of my to do list whilst on hiatus. there are a couple of boring bits left however, i am almost ready to become part of the employed workforce again methinks.

I went to Melbourne on the weekend for 2 days. Short, sweet and perfect. Mum loved it. and I loved it because I got a fair bit of shopping done. Winners all around. It was also perfect because I got to catch up with one of my mates Dee and we got to reminiscence of the evil that we once worked at. Haha! He and his wife also own a Florist and Cafe now. It is so rustic and beautiful and I wish that they lived in Sydney or vice versa because I would absolutely stock my goods on their counter!

Just some of the other knick knacks that his wifey handmade and sells. So talented!


I think yesterday was my 3rd or possibly 4th day of baking on break. To be honest, its getting a little tiny bit tiring (well, the cleaning and washing up part anyway). It always makes me happy to give to others something that I cant eat myself.

I make kickass Chocolate hazelnut fudge cookies yesterday. And they literally went like hot cakes. Wendie was like - make sure you save heaps for me this time. Also made macarons (again!).  And pandan chiffon cake. with real pandan essence from leaves this time. Need to master that bit! So a little baked out at the moment (a monetary incentive does always motivate one that little bit more...)

Felt a little like a delivery girl today meeting all these peeps in the city and cherry at uni! carl, PR, mandy, anna and nick. ohhh i am going to miss working in the city so much. :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(

Had offers of meeting them for lunch all around. so i had to decline all of them to be fair (that's a lie, i said no because im on a protein diet so pretty much can't eat jack).

i get to see the girls often and easy enough so wasn't too hassled by not speaking to them that much. but it meant a lot to see mr masters in baby sitting and my fairy godmother and knight in shining armour. oh, we need to stop joking that this is whole catching up thing is going to end. :( PR mentioned that she remembers my birthday... oh-oh.. so there may be a catch up then! I said to her, I am pretty sure her birthday preceeds mine!!! she's a sneaky one..

timing today was awesome. despite the 2 major accidents blocking the m5. dropped wendie off at her exam and ambled around the city and got back in time to pick her up. winner.

I can't believe its almost been a week since unemployment (termed loosely here!). I feel like I am not making the most of it. Well, ok, pretty much I have crossed off ONE thing on my 'to do' list. Time to get a move on...

Made myself brunch today complete with poached eggs and homemade hollandaise. I think I added a touch too much lemon juice. But it was still really really good. Didn't have traditional smoked salmon but found a fillet of terriyaki smoked salmon in the fridge which I flaked and reheated. A little salty but worked. The sauce thickened pretty quickly so had to reheat for Wendie when she finally got up.

So been doing a bit of research online. And I have found a few others like me who have started their own online cake business.

And are probs more successful!!

Coincidental that they are also professionals. So far, one was a lawyer and one works in finance and built their business on a website, facebook, word of mouth etc. Then progressed to markets, catering, dessert bars, high teas etc.

There's this girl in rockdale who does it. I'm so impressed and at the same time think that i can do it too! Her cakes are pretty expensive now too! But she has taken it on full time. And sells other things online like teas and accompaniments and hires out a lot of cake stands and decorations.

I am not ready to do that yet! But do want to build my customer base.

Whoever said the last week of your notice was easy. They were dead set WRONG.

Longest week that I have ever had in the history of my tenure/role/nightmare. And so many things are annoying me. :(

Have my support group going ...

"3 more days"
"3 more days"
"3 more days"
"3 more days"

ha ha. deep breaths.

Welcome to the second day of winter.... and more rain!

Invited Catherine over today for a baking sess. Warmed the house up with spice from our apple pies. Justin and Carmen caught on and brought Messina Ice Cream around 4. Yum yum yum. So we had afternoon tea and then they took away. As usual!

We made macarons too...

Earl Grey
Blueberry White Chocolate
Pandan Coconut
Malt

The malt ones were really really good. Going to add that to my list of flavours!

Weekend has gone by way too quickly for my liking.

Here's how mine went down...

Saturday pretty much slept the day away. Literally. Woke up at noon, was in bed by 10. HAHA i did go grocery shopping and baked a few batches of cookies in between. As well as making one awesome paella for dinner.

Sunday was a little sleep in following by a 6 hour baking session. A very indoor-sy kind of day. Rain, wind and cold. So glad the oven was warm and the smell was rustic. Love freshly baked pie.

5 days to go~