fuchsia fragments

What a great start to the year...

Spent NYE and part of NYD on an A380 (so at midnight, we saw black! and then I returned to watching my movie from the comfort of my SkyBed with a glass of champagne).

New Years Day was family day - people came over for lunch and dinner and some stuff in between. I spent a lot of it in my room watching CSI and trying not to fall asleep and failing miserably at around 5 in the arvo. But only got an hour or so nap so still managed to get a good night's sleep for work the next day.

Wednesday is back to reality day. Work. Too soon and not so many people in the office. But so busy already. Payroll doesn't wait for anyone!

At least we were able to wear casual for the rest of the week.

Caught up my Mr very-soon-i-will-be-a-dad Carl for lunch at Jamie's on Friday. Yay... we finally made it there! Polenta chips are way way better at Fratelli's. And we don't understand the hype surrounding this little diner.

Got my first order for the year as well... Mango mousse cake for 2 birthdays completed on Friday evening.

And first impromptu Saturday for the year!

Planned yum cha in Cabramatta (it was SO good and SO cheap). Then home for a bit in the heat.

And then... Anita dragged Donna and I to POLE DANCING - sorry, the correct term it "Pole Yoga / Fitness". But WTF!?!?!? First exercise session of the year on a pole. Didn't attempt much and my muscles were aching!!!

Then we undid all the hard work at Bellos followed by Noggi and then followed by more Moochi. LOL.

It was also part of Anita's research for hew new biz.

I feel like I have so much paperwork to complete. Looks like I'll be home today!

But not so many interesting things have happened!

study. bake. gym. work. sleep.

that has pretty much been my life for the past 2 or 3 weeks...

But that's not to say there's absolutely nothing to report...

another work day, another resignation. lol i think thats 5 in the last 3 months?

and if i fail my last module, its because of Cake Boss!

Check out wynwyn's place for my latest creation!!!

Corporate team dinner on Friday. Tapas and Ivy!!!

It was a good night. I even survived the day with Nick winding me up all day about my exams results... i was more and more anxious by the hour. and he thought it was so funny...... results sent to me via sms just before dinner. All good!! YAY!!!!!!! more drinks!

we had wine and sangria (white wine sangria... best thing ever) to start and we headed on to the Ivy afterwards. it ended a bit premature due to a couple of things but still had a good time. shots and vodka. yum yum yum!! and the best thing is i didn't even spend any money. i guess that means its my turn next time!

and we are going to back it up this friday with our EOFY function. WOOOT!!!

ended up bumping into stephen from target on the train back. good to catch up. he's in a mid-tier firm so good to hear what's been going on with people life after target. and great to see so many people making the most of it.

Saturday... i got up so early considering. like 7. couldn't go back to sleep. slightly hungover. wanted to go run it off..... and it was raining?! so did some early shopping for a housewarming gift before going for a short gym session.

then went to kingsgrove for family friends housewarming. yummy authentic vietnamese food!!!

and that's when jan and donna called to say they were heading to my hood. best impromptu saturday arvo/evening ever!

- watched Prometheus. (don't bother, it was a waste of time, cringe-worthy)
- hung out at Michelle's place waiting for people to arrive
- waited outside Manmaruya Hurstville for like an hour to get a table for 8. during this time, we saw these street spots become available. so we hatched this not-so-elaborate plan to get the cars from the station to the street. LOL hilarious. first had to direct Donna in the lil VW (after watching an asian lady reverse into the pole at the carpark) and then i had to get out and direct Hui in her gigantic soccer mum car. HEHEHEHEE all the time whilst donna's lil red car hogged up in full asian style two spots!! excellent team effort!!! and by then, it was perfect timing cause table was available.
- had some pretty good japanese (i don't usually go to manmaruya if i had a choice. prefer kazuki on forest road) but it was good tonight. EXCELLENT SASHIMI and soft shell crab salad was really good too.
- and then... we headed on to brighton for Bay Vista. Didn't have to wait too long for a table. and oh... were our choices epic. gigantic ice cream, profiteroles and crepes drowned in maple syrup (i think there were berries at one stage). but the highlights? Tab's 'swiss hot chocolate' that solidified and Donna's peanut butter concrete. whoa. epic. like melted peanut butter ice cream..... in a tall glass.
- then we went back to michelles place and froze on the street whilst everyone said their goodbyes. :)

and then came home and had this massive heart 2 heart with my sister. <3

which meant that i woke up around 11 today. went for a 4k run... put no effort into it at all....

watched some netball. took nessie out. and a lil fat pug followed us home. so we played with it for a while...

and now winding down for another week!!!

you know you've pushed yourself hard when your legs start to cramp after a run.

so silly me...

said to myself, i'll be fine, it'll all ease out with a swim!

so off i go this arvo, did a few good laps. felt great straight after. legs felt great, muscles relaxed...

and boom.

get home, lounge around and by dinner i was so sore in my arms and chest, i don't know how i am going to be able to drag my body out of bed tomorrow.

where did i go wrong? :-( no upper body strength at all.

need to start conditioning all over... *sigh*

I went to the gym this morning *does a little dance*

broke the no-gym/lazy drought finally!!!

anyway, i think it was because i didn't actually sleep that well last night. not sure why.

i even managed to catch the express so i was the first to get to work on my pod at about 10 past. which goes to show that everyone else comes in just before 8:30. i am so sick of the BS that goes around. oh this person gets here way before 8 and they are never late, yadda yadda. bull-fking-sht!

plus i think it is so unfair that the "manager" can always take monday sickies but when someone is legitimately sick, they get so much slack for it that it (sometimes) isn't even worth the day off.

:-(

i dislike controlling people. some prime examples of that today. hah. sorry but i no longer report to you and ops and finance are TWO. SEPARATE. DIVISIONS.

gymmed it today. things change so quickly there... all the renovations, not so pleasant.

came back and because it was such a beautiful morning, took nessie for a run as well. well i ran and she tried to keep up the lazy animal!!!!! it was really nice :)

theyre putting gym machines/equipment at the mark - nice touch, not entirely sure if necessary. making it a bit like the hongkongese places now but... all about fitness and health right?

lots of people doing tai chi today too.

now just to settle into study mode!

(Alicia Keys - Doesn't Mean Anything)


went to the gym thursday and friday morning!!! woohooooo

and got employee of the quarter at company meeting. that's what i'm talking about!! =D =D =D =D =D

finally convinced someone to go watch Red Dog with me. and janny loved it too!!! phew!! considering there was only 8 people on the whole cinema!!! LOL!! thats poor form for a friday night.....

went a bit crazy at the candy bar... coke, popcorn and maltesers.. haha but the popcorn wasn't as good as the bevo one. bit stale.. like not fresh. and too salty.

went for a latte after... and the pattern on my froth looked like a dog!!! i was like.. its a sign!!! ..... lame. lol

went to dfo today. didn't buy much for myself but still burnt a good hole in my wallet. ouch ouch ouch.

good saturday overall. yum cha, dfo, retail therapy, playing with nessie... :)

wendie got these marcs booties. i am so jealous. they look even better than my trendy nine wests. argh!!! she got a whole heap of shiat actually.. that i paid for!!!

i got the military jacket i was pinning after since forever. and a top. boring.

sale were good. . . but not what we were looking for. or no sizes left.. like portmans.... some awesome stuff.... but absolutely no sizes :( :( :(

And for the first time ... I think I'm goingto have payroll finished in two days!!!! Albeit I am strting the day earlier and finishing later ... But how exciting!!! So pleased with myself

Apart from that I dont have much to say

Except that there were a lot of ppl up at 5 in the rain and dark going for morning walks and runs. Strange.

gym. full time work.

i'm actually looking forward to routine!

and the new job too!

:-)

Monday:

A million + 1 things to do at work. And spent most of the day on the phone to dear old Bob. They say it takes 14 times for something to become a habit. I called Bob at least 20 times today. And at times, I don't even know where all my hours, minutes and seconds go.

Dinner in bevo tonight. 3rd rock. For some strange reason, we decided to slip D2Ds. And just as we're seated at 3rd rock, Gools walks past. And we all freeze and stare at each other through the glass. He comes in to say Hello quickly. Turns out him and his other gay half were having dinner at D2Ds. So randomly coincidental! So we went to have coffee with them afterwards. Good times. Hilarious memories.


Tuesday:

I'm still wondering where all my time has gone. Come into work and I'm told I get to take either of the company cars out for a spin. =D

A lots of chinese whispers going on... very unimpressive.

I got the Prius cause we had a client meeting in Epping today. Good ride - after you figure out how to drive it. I think the meeting went well. We sold quite a few impressive value-adds. And its great to finally put a face to the voice.

The drive back into the city was stop-start. slow and tiring. So i played a lot with the controls on the car. :)

Assiette. Degustation. Tuna, thumbs up. Rabbit, thumbs down. And banana mousse and peanut brittle, hands down a winner.

So tired by the end. Wasn't sure how I would make it to Wednesday at the time.


Wednesday:

Still had the 5 am wake up. Still went to the gym. Functioned on coffee the morning. Was in limbo by early afternoon. Luckily, my TL was away on jury duty! Had time to catch up. As per the recent-usual, left the office late.

The only dine-at-home night of the week. And it was good food. Some time with the relos.


Thursday:

A day off! Feels like a lifetime since i had one. And what a gorgeous day albeit windy it was. I adore the South Coast.

Woronora Dam. Gerrigong. Bald Hill. Stanwell. Thirroul. Kiama. Kangaroo Valley. Moss Vale.

Fresh air, amazing drives and beautiful scenery. Cows, a blowhole and coastal towns.

A day to unwind and forget about the city life. Felt like a condensed sea change.

And dinner at my favourite chinese restaurant - Crown Dragon@ my favourite club. A new benchmark is set. And it smashes the old one.


Friday:

Finally, it's arrived! And the 13th too. Time to say goodbye to the relos. at 5am. So many ppl i know r jetting out today. I can't count them all on the fingers of one hand.

Half yearly review time. All good and on track.

Chinese whispers comes back to bite certain people in the arse. My team are getting along so well compared to others. Truths come out. The old vs. the new. I learnt some things that i didn't know about the company and more importantly, the people.

Friday drinkies. Non-alcoholic and just the one. Perfect way to unwind.

We all had somewhere to be so called it in early.

Had the best eating-out experience all week. Sahara. Burwood. Absolutely smashing Turkish cuisine - tabouli, shish, lamb, kebabs, salad, baklava - nom nom nom. And we ordered just the right amount. Unlike the table next to us. Wasters! Hilarious how we were checking them out the whole time. tehehehehe.

Inception. A combination of Juno, Titanic and 3rd Rock from the Sun. Pretty good. Not quite sure if its rave worthy.


Saturday Saturday:

Wasn't meant to be a sleep in. Because i was up at 7. really. I just decided to snuggle into my conforters. Another day in the backyard. Spent some time risking my life with an L-plater. Jan came over for a bit.

And another amazing dinner at Crown. Can't say no to free meals.

So much for getting things done.

And tomorrow is another partying day.

Good times.

i feel like im getting so much more out of my days.

5 am starts are fan-bubbling-tastic!

don't even need my coffees!! apple + tea. and that gets me through till about 11. woot woot.

flat out chit chat at work. i dont even notice the time flying by.

keeping up with 2 inboxes.. 3 tomomorrow. going way over and above. stayed back till 6 todays.

*yawn*

dove into the deep end today. we are a full team for the first time in 8 months (or so they have told me). its very different when u have people working all around you as opposed to just one or two. you can really feel the difference.

today must have been my lucky day with quotes. dealers were v quick in responding which meant i didnt have to chase them up and waste time. put through a whole heapppp of orders (thats good too cause it means we're getting $$$!) and managed to clear my emails annnnnnnddd do a whole bunch of compliance modules.

i thought my day was going pretty well. until my head started pounding and i made it worse by going out in the sun for a good half hour during my lunch break.. walked to circular quay and back. dumb.

i blame donna who dogged me for her supervisor who brings his dog to work. I HOPE HE WAS WORTH IT.

i come home and no one picks up the home or their mobile so i was getting ready to slooowllly trek it home when dad calls back and hes like.. whyd u hang up so fast? and im like...

... dude, it went to like voicemail.

anyway, turns out scout (allegedly but i'm willing to put money on this) somehow murdered one of my chickens. A BIG ONE TOO. so no doubt i was super angry and frustrated and irritated.

its not even about the poor chickies life. its about all the time and love and care that i put into raising these babies. i feed them everyday. i let them come out and play. i make sure they're warm at night. i make sure they have water. i make sure they have fresh bedding.

and POW.

she's dead. all cause scout (and nessie to a degree) can't be gentle around animals smaller than they are.

dad was even able to put an approx time to it cause he fed them around 4 and she was dead by 5:30.

sad.

so i tried to take it out at the gym. i swear those people were lucky that the body combat class is non-contact. although, i didn't have the energy to really work it today. just half assed attempt. everytime i threw a punch harder, i felt like my head was going to explode.