fuchsia fragments

In the whirlwind that is December, it has been a crazy month of working, trying to bake and organizing a very short trip home for the holidays.

It started with what to get everyone in the office for Christmas (next year, I will be more prepared and get things when I am back in Australia!). I managed to make a few gingerbread houses and some gingerbread trees for everyone as well as safe bets of nuts and hand cream! Think it went down well...

Then there was the last minute decision to fly home for 6 days whilst supporting SEA at the same time! So short, so tiring but so worth it. There is truly no place like home with crazy family gatherings that seem to grow in size every time.

And every time that I come home, there is usually a flurry of the same announcements. When I was home from Japan, it was wedding invitations and this time, it was the "I'm having a baby" announcements. So far, know of 4 babies due in July and 1 coming in April... how exciting!

Then, as it is still a PH in Sydney today (not that I get Australian PH anymore), I came back to work to a whole bunch of gifts and warm wishes on my desk. Certainly makes coming back to work a lot easier! And got some pretty cool stuff (and lots of food).

Ah... what a blessing to have little rays of sunshine, ambient temperatures and an awesome caterer (i.e. me!). Oh and each other, friends and family, etc etc. ;)

Here's a lovely shot of my sis, my cheekiest nephew and myself at the ceremony.


The hills is a long drive from St George. Add a car accident and weekend traffic and it's pretty horrendous. In both directions. Nonetheless, we were prepared and left with enough time to get there early enough to help set up the stuff I'd helped make - macarons, biscotti, cookies, cake pops and cupcakes.

All I am going to say is that their helpers weren't as helpful as required. So my sister and I stepped in like the amazing cousins that we are.

Did not expect the food to go so quickly. I made double what they asked. And I'm so bummed that I completely forgot to take a photo. Oh wells. There may be another wedding, another time, another couple (of course). A lot of people lingered so the food didn't. There was hot catering too, that went like hot cakes.

Have to say, there were so teary moments and some rather funny ones.

Reception for us was like... yep, okay, we'll babysit the kids! HAHAHA Carmen's bouquet throwing was such an anti-climax. We had full prepared (as a joke to liven things up) to jump on the other girls AFL-style and full make a hilarious scene... only for her to throw the bouquet... into the lights above and fall at the feet of the girl who most desperately and I mean desperately wanted the bouquet. Too funny! Maybe we should have tackled her? Carmen wanted to re-do it and said girl was like 'No! It's mine!'. I guess she wants to get married... like really really soon???

Otherwise, it was a lovely night as you'd expect.

Oh and cake you ask?

AMAZEBALLS. . .

 #fantasticday

I had a 2 day on-boarding workshop. It was last minute and it meant working late to ensure that my work was done and deadlines met. Throw in all the IT issues that come with changing profile and as warned, it was a nightmare. But I made it to Friday afternoon. Cake, nibbles and wine!

So wasn't really up for much on Friday night. Seemed half the office was of that mind too anyway so headed home to be a good daughter and grand-daughter and have dinner with my parents and grandma.

Then decided to have a massive soak in the bath tub with candles and Matterhorn. Couldn't think of a better evening really.

Finally got to pick up my cake supplies from Sylvania today. Good thing they had it in stock! Had pho with grandma for lunch (haven't done that in a couple of months!) and now chilling.

This is turning out to be a pretty awesome weekend!

It sometimes heartbreaking see a grown man cry. And even harder for a cousin / brother to say goodbye to the youngest in their generation. So many tears shed yet so many laughs as well.

Sad times and happy times bring extended families together. And got to witness that today as well as (finally, after hearing so many stories) meeting people who have touched my life in ways I can't even start to imagine. If only it were under happier circumstances.

A beautiful ceremony and thoughtful and loving memories. Thankful to have had to chance to be here and say goodbye.

Gone too soon... rip liane xx

I love spending time with my family and this weekend was one of them!

Even if it means having to play wii all afternoon with my godbrother and play mario kart and mario brothers over and over again!

Tonight, had dinner with grandma and family. Turned it to like dinner for 11 which is awesome. Meant grandma had no excuse not to eat as there was plenty of food. She is so cute... she tried to help us set the table. ngaw.

Justin and Carmen came over too. Asked who the tray of cookies on the bench were for. I said he could take some home. He said, don't worry i will. Then asked (jokingly of course) if he could have the whole tray. HAHA... good one.

And Joyce and Donna stopped by late afternoon on their way back from road trip. Looking a little worse for wear. So we fed them coconuts. And chocolate chip cookies. And take home brownie cupcakes. Oh, the service you get at my place. :)

Also had a bittermelon, capsicum, cucumber, celery and green apple juice today. it's like a detox thing. drinking that in the afternoon in hot hot weather made me want to gag. i think i went overboard with the capsicum? That and the smell of rich buttery baked goods did not go well together. Drank a litre of sparkling water with fresh lemon to compensate. Didn't really work..

Taking advantage of my pro-activeness, I also (finally) cleaned the fish tank. The pump's broken but did what i could. Water's still cloudy as there is a lot of particles to settle but its looking a lot better. I think i'm going to leave the UV light on 24/7 for a few weeks to allow the plants to regrow.

Went with mum to Costco this morning. Not my kind of shop. So many people (and it was early so it wasn't even that busy) and to many XL trolleys. Then went to Alexandria and Victoria's Basement. That shop is like my kind of shop. Got two massive awesome drink dispensers for wendie's birthday.

Can't wait to mix some cocktails up!!!

And...

STAY TUNED FOR AN INTRODUCTION TO THE NEWEST MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY.

luvluvluvluvluvluv