Six years later..

Recently got a gym membership from the cash cow Fitness First. I'm like six years late.. as everyone had their FF membership ages ago.

I was always one that refused to pay for a gym membership, choosing the local park instead. Fresh air... the smell of grass, trees, watching the kids play soccer, families with their pet dogs...

But the weather has been quite bad lately, and so I have now conformed and am getting my credit card deducted fortnightly some ridiculous amount of money!

I've been to the gym 3 times already. And I swear, there are no fat people in my gym. I'm dead serious. The people that run alongside with me on the treadmill are all either skinny, or have amazing bodies. They all look fit as a fiddle.. and I tell myself "Run faster Jules, run faster!"

Had my first Body Jam class today.. it was bad. And I thought I could dance!

My poor baby. He hasn't been too pleased about his new 'I-now-have-a-gym-membership' mum. I promise to still take him to the park.

average wedding

It puzzles me sometimes... how Grumpy picks the most 'suitable' times of the day to discuss wedding plans.

We did the guest list while having teriyaki beef with rice and salmon ramen at Wagamama before a movie. I was planning on a wedding of 50 people. Our list is now 75.

Sometimes he emails me at work with some random comments about the wedding.

Today, before he was getting picked up to go out for a drink with his mates, he talks about wedding cost. So I told him, the average Australian wedding costs more than $50,000. He was... not happy Jan!!

And then I showed him the article on news.com.au 

Here are some key points:

What Aussie couples are spending on their nuptials: 

* $49,202 on their wedding, up $10,000 from 2006

So okay.. where are we going to get $49,202... that will be a mystery..

* Average wedding costs 25 per cent more than in 2006, 76 per cent more than 2001

I guess we factor in the inflation and stuff..

* Couples spend an average $10,476 on reception, inviting 97 guests at $108 per head

This one, I sort of agree.. the venues I've been looking at, in fact, cost more than $108 per head.

* Average spending on wedding dress up from $1900 in 2006 to $2220

* 36 per cent of brides spend $2000-$4000 on wedding gown, while 12 per cent spend more than $4000. 

I still haven't got a clue on what type of a dress I want. Mum told me, girl, get something simple you can wear a few times.. What?! You want me to recycle my wedding dress? In fact I had a similar discussion with Dopey's friends and they were saying I should just rent one. They were B-O-Y-S,  of course. Might as well just buy something from Kookai and wear it for the wedding.

* Less than one third tie the knot in a church 

I don't mind this one, because I'm not a Christian.

* More than half opt for outdoor civil ceremonies 

Very risky, especially with unpredictable weather.

* Bride's average age at first marriage is 27.6, 29.6 for men

Yeah, that's us. Average. Average people. Pfftt

* More than one third marry interstate - nine per cent overseas

There have been many people here in Melbourne asking me "Where is it?" 

Me, "Where is what?" 

Where is the wedding? 

Of course I will have one in Melbourne and one in Malaysia. Everyone (especially friends at work) seems more interested in the Malaysia one. I wonder why. I start telling people now the Melbourne one is cancelled, then everyone can make their way to Malaysia for a holiday.... 

* One in five grooms have skin and hair treatments ahead of wedding

I hope Grumpy will be one of the five grooms. I call him Jimbo now, because he looks like Jim Carrey in Me, Myself and Irene. 

* Average engagement lasts 16.7 months

Okay, then what happens after that? The wedding is off? Oh dear.. But I have been warned about this. About people that have been engaged for 5 years... they're never getting married.

* Cost of a bride's engagement ring up 15 per cent, with average costing $5116

Plus Grumpy had to pay for an air ticket to Europe, 30 hours of travel (and transit), lost luggage and no sleep. Priceless. 

* Wedding band is up 25 per cent for the bride, costing an average $1507, and up 28 per cent for groom at $1096. 

I don't know, recently.. I have a tendency to look at people's wedding bands.. strangers in the train... at work, in meetings, I look at my colleagues fingers.. my bosses.. weird.

* Average spending on a cake is $387. 

My cousin had cupcakes for her wedding cake, and it was so delicious. Very common these days. I ate both my share and Grumpy's, and wanted more..

pilates with Carlos

CNY was spent with Grumpy's extended family here in Melbourne. This little prince charming is the son of Grumpy's cousin.

I absolutely love this photo. When he was playing the organ with his bum. That was before we all got told off by some horrible aunt. Haha note how gorgeous the girl on the right is.... She's so sweet, she gives all of us a toothache.

My package from Dublin arrived recently. It was some stuff I could not take with me at that time, because my luggage was well and truly over the 30kg limit. My old boss from Dublin also surprised me with a gift - the entire box set of Dawson's Creek. I know, I know, Dawsons Creek is sooo old. But I like it. She lent me Seasons 1-3 over there, and I watched them all in Dublin. When I got back to Australia, I bought Season 4. Cost me a whopping $50.. jeeeeeesus. I was contemplating to get Season 5, only because it was expensive.

And then she gave me the entire set, Seasons 1-6! I was very happy indeed. BTW, I waited for four seasons for Pacey to pop Joey's (Katie Holmes) cherry and while I haven't finished Season 4 yet, Dawson is still a virgin! And that is one of the little things I like about Dawson's Creek. It is nothing like that tv show which everyone is watching... what is it called again? Oh rite.. Gossip Girl...

Grumpy and I have been going thru some crazy highs and lows in our relationship. Seriously, we can't stop fighting. He blames my hormones, I blame.... him. But we're okay for now.

And while he attempts to pick up a new hobby called golf, I got myself a gym membership! So far I've only been to the gym once. Today at work, I told the guy next sitting next to me, that while I am very interested in attending gym classes, I am nervous at the same time. Reason being, I've never been to a gym class before, and I'm just worried I will look like an idiot. His response was "Jules, if you can go to Ireland for six months on your own, I'm sure you can manage an hour in gym class" Okay, so that's Thursday nights pilates with Carlos.

Work has been going quite well for me personally. While the message that is always being sent out is 'recruitment freeze' and cost cutting, smaller bonuses this year too, the good news is, I was recently promoted! I am quite pleased about it. This promotion is quite an interesting one as I will no longer report to the Absolute Retard.. what a relief! I will soon report to bosses in Europe and will be supporting the Asia Pacific region - Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. Fingers crossed, I hope the new role will work out well for me.