fuchsia fragments

This past week, I've been reviewing quotes! I've been asked questions... and and and I'm going to get my own accounts instead of feeling like a 'consultant'. WOOHOOO!!! Albeit, the reason behind this is because there has been a resignation. But it's not for another 6 weeks so there will be (hypothetically) plenty of time for a handover.

Got my first taste of late nightlife in Tokyo. We had a few drinks with some colleagues and then a colleague and I went on to another bar for one more drink. And it really was one more drink! Tried to get the boss to come along but not this time. Anyway, we were hanging around Roppongi and there were not-so-welcome touts on every corner on the streets in Roppongi. So not cool and I would personally never venture to that part of town in the evening on my own. Anyways, we went to a Brazilian bar which did all these different types of Capirinhas - all looked really good! It wasn't all that busy for a Wednesday night so we had a bar table to ourselves and had a good chat. Good thing I remember things cause it will help me with working with the team later on!

Thursday's language class was a bit boring this week. All the students were different except one girl which was strange to me. Maybe a lot of people rotate days... I think I'll just keep going on Thursday evenings until work commitments get in the way.

It is sale time in a lot of the shops! I got a massive haul at H&M on Saturday evening... wasn't a lot of items but the majority were less than half price. I need to build my wardrobe here so it was a GREAT start! Think I should also plan my weekends so I see more. I was in Ueno today (absolutely hated it) and then Ginza (much more refined). I didn't realise until reading up on it that Ueno is one of the most run-down areas of Central Tokyo and I could feel it. It was just crowded and dirty and not exactly pleasant. A bit like China or HK maybe?

I also started using my smoothie machine. It's so awesome!!! Except now my fridge feels overstocked cause of all the fresh fruit and veg I have in there for my week's supply of juice. I have a tiny tiny fridge... and also I made pasta so I have midweek meals. Speaking of housework, I have designated Sunday evening to be ironing night. I HATE IRONING. And the dryer makes your clothes extra wrinkly. NOT COOL. It would be wise to buy clothes that don't require ironing...

One month away from home really isn't such a long time. It's the equivalent of a longer holiday and it many respects, a lot of the things can kind of just be 'put on hold' for a few days longer until you are home.

And during this time away I haven't felt bored yet. I still have so much of Tokyo that I can see and easily get to and spend time around. One thing is for sure: I haven't really experienced much of the Tokyo nightlife (since I'm really not that kind of person... on my own anyway) and after walking around shopping centres or tourist attractions for 7 or 8 hours straight, you're kind of tired by the time the evening rolls around.

It's hard to believe that I've already spent 3 weeks here. I've tried to do some things that the locals do  - still hard considering most of my colleagues do not live within Tokyo - and I've also done a number of touristy things. It's kind of obvious when you're at a tourist attraction. You don't hear much Japanese. In fact, its lots of mainland Chinese thrown in with the odd English phrase or two. I hear more American accents than Australian. I've managed to be at a couple of locations where there was some festival: Tokyo Dog Festival day yesterday for example. Pampered pooches everywhere but no matter how dolled up they look, I firmly believe that Nessie & Maxxie have a much happier life with a garden, real walks (not being pushed around in a stroller), real friends and real parks to see.

I've done a lot of shopping. And even more window shopping but I should probably assess the space in my suitcase before I go out this last weekend for last minute purchases. I think I have also done more shopping for others than for myself.

I've even managed to find a better supermarket and places where I will probably stock up on necessities when I come back. Toyko is not a cheap city and when you think about it, the subway for that matter is not cheap. 200 Yen or so for a 10 minute ride a few stations and if you are hopping on and off it a few times a day, that is easily over 1,000 Yen in transport fees. Of course, a taxi is even more expensive...

I've felt very safe here. I think I felt a slight tremor on Saturday evening in my building (wasn't sure if it was the washing machine though) as there was an earthquake off the south coast of Japan - very far from Tokyo. It kind of just highlights the need to be aware I guess. You can't very well live in fear.

I am definitely looking forward to some warmer weather although it has been very mild albeit wet. And Christmas BBQs and new year drinks. And I also am dreaming about Hawaii... I wonder when will be the next time we meet oh beautiful island(s).

Our boss is away this week. So his boss flew all the way from Singapore to babysit us! Jokes... I think it was just timing. No Krug this time although I do like Mark's honesty when he's around. Much respect for the man. Doesn't play the hardcore political game (at least not to your face).

It's been a busy 4 day week with Thursday and Friday being unusually busy! But I did manage to squeeze in a boozy lunch with our illustrious new CFO and my fav legal person at the Greens (owned by the same people who did the Grounds). And then the afternoon was shoe shopping! A bit of a team building / downtime for the ladies in the team.

I think we embarrassed ourselves in Christian Louboutin. Ha ha ha with one colleague saying 'We need to find the UGLIEST shoes in the store!' *cringe* But it was for a competition at work. And good fun.

Cocktails at Zeta Bar was awesome too.. just sitting there for a few hours and sipping cocktails. I'm there! The Singapore Mule was delicious and spicy and the same time. We had enough time to discuss non-work and work related topics. And how important development is. I totally agree... the aim is UP!

Just spent over a(nother) grand on wine... whoop whoop.

10 days, perfect length but wasn't on my list. At times wanted it to be shorter and at times longer but it was enough for 2 countries, modest shopping trips and time to eat up, sleep in and recharge.

Starting off with a rainy morning on HK Island and brunch with this gorgeous girl. Can't comment positively on the food or coffee but I could have been eating chalk and cheese and still be grinning! Miss her so much but rumor has it... that she may be back in October...




Night markets! Loads of yummy street food and exotic fruit, fried chicken, strawberries dipped in toffee, oyster omelettes, big sausage in little sausage, stinky tofu, noodles, mochi, pancakes, etc etc. They even have little theme park / arcade games for those who don't want to eat?

It's been another long week.....

We didn't see it coming at work but have been absolutely hammered with the amount of work that was required of us this week. Needless to say, this meant that there wasn't a day that I left the office before 7, if not close to. Considering a 8:30 start, it makes for a very long brain-power draining day.

I'm so so glad that I did manage to see the girls midweek and catch the new Xmen movie. A very welcome distraction and I feel like I hadn't caught up with some of them in a couple of months. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie too. I was never a big Xmen fan but this one had a stellar cast and well, it was just easy to follow although predictable.

What wasn't so fun was getting up way before dawn on Friday for a cake. Perhaps in hindsight, I should have said no. Embarrassingly spelt poor Jue's name wrong too. Oh dear... and it was only three letters. *sigh* But the cake was good.

Had yet another overdue catch up with my two non-Asians Madison & Sarah on Friday night. And as usual, we went Asian and went to Golden Century to be completely ripped off (well, to me as the token asian anyway). Sweet & Sour Pork @ $30 a dish??? And Chinese broccoli for $15? Come On!!!! Though the wine was very good - any sort of alcohol would have been fine at this stage! Was hilarious, they were completely disgusting by the fact that your live seafood was brought to your table in a bag for your approval before being taken into the kitchen. And then they saw lobster sashimi served with the head still on the platter taken to a table behind us. That didn't go down too well with them. But we thoroughly enjoyed our dishes, none of which contained live seafood :)

After, we went for a stroll along darling harbour and caught the 9 pm fireworks and a couple of bits of Vivid before heading to Cargo Bar for another drink before calling it a night. Had such a good time, i actually wouldn't have minded staying for another few despite probably being asleep on my feet! love the two girls... who knew that this dysfunctional and backwards workplace would give me so many unconditional friendships!

Had an excellent sleep last night! It does help when you are obliged to wake up super early on Saturday. So got up in my own time and then we went yum cha with grandma. Made my aunty sandy's surprise birthday cake (well planned team, well planned). She had no clue until after dinner when Justin made an excuse that he had to come by and pick up something from our place because he had forgotten. Hehehe. So well executed, I'm quite proud of us!

And one other thing that has made me feel special and loved this week is my mum. She's awesome always but this week we had a massive clean out of the house and my unofficial cake decorating area has never looked so neat, clean and ordered! AND... I love it when my mum goes shopping and buys me gifts! New clothes... just because. Ah.... working full time and still having things bought for me... gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling inside. :)

I had to think about what went on these past 48 hours.

It started with an early morning breakfast visit to IKEA (we've been going there lots lately!) with mama cheung and my sister. We had breakfast... *hint* got to look at the menu peeps, a coffee with cinnamon scroll is cheaper than a coffee on its own. And went for a mandatory loop around the complex. This week, we were there to buy SHOE CUPBOARDS!!!!! And we got them. So pro. 3 cupboards PLUS my bedside table fit in the Mazda with 3 passengers. Oh yeah.

Then we hitched a lift off J&C and we went to visit  (now) toddler Justin and baby Ethan. SOOOOOO much cuteness and baby smells. We were roped into helping lil Justin build a new train track with his epic thomas pieces. He literally had like... 10 Thomas models. And he knows who gave him which one! That's one smart kid. And nope, not weened off Thomas yet. He don't want anything to do with Cars or Lightning McQueen!

Baby Ethan is the cutest. He smiles at you when you hold him! Cutiepie. Apparently a bit of a puker too. Lucky that didn't happen.

Saturday arvo was nap time. Sooooo tired. Then Ari came over later for some homework. But he was pretty good.

Sunday baking! Haven't done that in awhile. Started at 10, was done around 4 but I stuffed one batch of macarons :'(. Was too busy talking to mum and completely forgot to add some sugar into my egg whites when beating so I made crater macaroons instead. Still taste good but oh... waste. Deflating.

Also made that chocolate and salted caramel ombre cake again. Sure is popular.

And Dad and I and Mum and Juzzy came over later to help us assemble those cupboards. Looks awesome. My shoes don't even fit in one (but i am limited to one cupboard). I think I should omit telling my mum that I have another 6 pairs at work... =/ Lols.

J&C came over for dindins. Watched the Voice, Masterchef and Bondi Rescue before calling it a night. Drank some cider, and some wine and lots of tea.

The house needs some tidying up and a bit of love. Need to make time for so many things.

If there is one thing I have learnt this year, it is that time is so priceless and you can't stretch yourself and sometimes, you need to actually spend time with little things that may be mundane and ordinary now but will one day be the formation of lifelong memories. I don't want to lose sight of that...

Caking, working, social drinking, tutoring, shopping... can't do it all. Feeling like I am living in a little bit of a dream and it all seems a little surreal.

I think its finally caught up with me. That there are only so many hours in a day. The need to sleep, to exercise, to work, to relax... its been a tough couple of weeks but I wouldn't have it any other way. Except maybe wish for a couple more sleep ins and shorter work days (dreaming!).

I can't wait to be fully on board with my new role. I'm not use to depending on others to do something that I would consider easy. But I will diligently and obediently follow all the rules and processes until such time as I am free to do it on my own. Even if it does drive me mad a little by little...

Local shopping centres just don't do it for me anymore. It feels rundown. The range isn't complete and things are always sold out. And with that, I have noticed my preference to move towards online shopping. And of course, shopping overseas. Although I think the latter has to do with the mindset that these things are easier done and money is easier to spend when one is on holidays.

Weekend has turned in to bit of a movie marathon!

Shadow Recruit

The Book Thief

American Hustle

Saving Mr Banks

Good way to spend some quiet time at home. But its ironic. The days I want to spend out, I am in. And the days I was quiet time, I'm out. . . ..

im no psychologist. i deal with numbers and variances. not the woulda, coulda, shoulda.

but i reckon there's a pattern to my spending habits. i go really really well for a long time without spending much and then boom. one day, i wake up and decide that i need a new phone, a new keyboard, new shoes, new hair dryer, and the list goes on. literally things just pop up and i don't rest until i have it, get it, buy it.

next on my radar although i have suppressed this for a long long time. new bed, new drawers and new table. but i reason with myself that if i move out within 2 years time, then i will not get the return so deserving of new furniture. lol. its working. for now.