problem solved

The dog is now back from the groomers looking like a million bucks.

Mon chien...

Mummy, i need a bath... and a hair cut !

running running

Today I made the most of the beautiful weather. It was a gorgeous 19 degrees and sunny, perfect weather for running.

Now that Spring has kicked in, I choose to go running at the Tan during lunch. I think I’m the only person I know that doesn’t have a gym membership. (Why pay when you can run in a park for free?)

Jules: I’m going running at the Tan today.

Sydney boy: Whats the Tan?

Jules: The Botanical gardens. We call it the Tan.

Sydney boy: Oh in Sydney we call the Botanical gardens, the Botanical gardens.

Jules: Yea, well over here, we call it the Tan.

Sydney boy: In Sydney we call it the Botanical gardens.

Yes ok. We could spend half a day arguing about which city is best, but lets not ruin my mood for the nice weather.

Anyways, I’m one that likes to run by myself. And so I have my ipod with me. And I just realized I don’t have a playlist for running. So I put it on shuffle, and one of the songs that came up was Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley. That is SOOO NOT a running song. I really need some songs that makes me want to sprint all the way around the Tan. Hehe coz half the time I’m walking…

A few things came into my head while running today.

1. There are so many hotties that go running at lunch. Little Miss Whats-for-lunch reckons that the only reason I choose to go running.

2. Why do people bring their mobile phones to the Tan? Leave it at the office. Its annoying. I leave mine at my desk. Then I tell Little Miss Whats-for-lunch to ring the police if I’m not back by 2 hours. Hopefully she doesn’t have a big lunch and totally forget about me.

3. Running rules that apply should be the same as on the road.. just like when we are driving. Keep left unless overtaking. GAWDD!

4. I absolutely can’t stand people that run in groups, friends, whatever…. hogging up a whole footpath. If you want to run with your mates, that’s fine. Just do it in a line rather than a row. Coz then you’re in my way. And you shouldn’t be talking so much when running. If you want to talk, go and have a cup of coffee instead.

5. Running is not fun when you have a cold and flu.

6. I wonder if I’ll be like the mums, who drive to the Tan, come out their four-wheel drive, take out a baby pram, and the baby (of course), tie the dog to the pram, and brisk walk around the Tan….

Hmm…

Whats for lunch today, Jules?

I’m still in the office…

And in the office, I’m constantly eating… it doesn’t help that I sit very close to Little Miss Whats-for-lunch who asks what we’re going to eat for lunch each day at 8.30am.

She took a lolly from my desk just before and sent me an email after.

Little Miss Whats-for-lunch: Your lolly tastes yuck

Jules: Give it back.

Little Miss Whats-for-lunch: Too late all gone

Jules: Always the case.

Little Miss Whats-for-lunch: Stop taking those BPs jules

(BPs meaning bitch pills…..)

enough of work already...

I came in to work today and was immediately greeted by this reminder when I logged on to my email.

First thing that came across my mind was.. party time! My best friend is coming from Syd to visit! YAYY!!!!!!

And then it dawned on me.. OMG, my life is dictated by my Outlook calendar. How pathetic is that?

Which explains why I haven’t been blogging much.

Coz I’ve been so caught up at work. I look like a miserable zombie. I had to run to the department store during lunch to buy emergency concealer for clubbing tonight. To hide my undereye circles. I look like crap. Seriously.

Its been work work work.. late nights, weekends…

I sent an email to one of my closest friends here just before.. we work in the same project together. I asked her how to make a traditional filipino style fruit salad. I’m having a housewarming party tomorrow, where she’s not invited to. And she knows it. Hahaha no, really, its Grumpy’s housewarming party. Its mainly Grumpy’s friends thats coming.

Jules: Hey, can you please find out the recipe to that yummy fruit salad?

Little Miss Filo: OK, let me email my family.

2 mins later.

Little Miss Filo: Below is the status of your query. Further investigation is needed and you will be informed shortly.

Jules: OK, so I’ll put this as ‘Outstanding’. When do you think you can provide an answer? Have you tested this? Are you comfortable with providing me this recipe?

Little Miss Filo: Flag it as Pending status..... Answer will be provided today. I have tested the final outcome and have validated it. I am comfortable with providing you this recipe however I am not able answer your queries relating to the technical aspects of this product.

OMG!!! WHAT the hell?!?!??! Work has gotten the best of us. We really need to get out of the office!!!!! and get our lives back!

Time with the out-laws

Since moving into our new home, it is only normal that our parents come by to Melbourne for a holiday and primarily, to make sure that money (for the house) wasn't spent on expensive cars, handbags and clothes instead....

I had my 'out-laws' visit recently. Grumpy's father and Bashful (Grumpy's older brother) came to stay with us for approximately 2 weeks.

Historically, I've never had much contact with them for as long as I've been with Grumpy. No conflicts or anything serious, but its just due to their 'more quiet than normal' nature.

Although not much has changed since, I'm actually glad to say that Grumpy's father and Bashful has been opened up more towards me this time round. Mainly for 2 reasons.

Number 1, I've been on my best behaviour (or at least I'd like to think so - patient, no tempers flaring, diligently cleaning the house, making their stay as comfortable as possible).

Number 2, I've been on my BEST behaviour (I took 2 days of annual leave to spend time with them. One day out of the two, Grumpy was away at work, so it was just me, Grumpy's dad and Bashful).

I'm posting some pictures of the time spent here with the 'in-laws'.


This is actually one of my favourite pictures. Grumpy's dad has always been more on the reserved side, rarely expressing affection out in the open and generally, not much of a 'dog' person at all. But guess what? He loves the dog. MY dog. Anyone who likes MY dog remains on my good books.

Bashful, Grumpy's father, Grumpy & I at a Belgian restaurant.

The two most important things in Grumpy's life. Family and Beer.

Also, I asked some people at work about the wineries at the Yarra Valley and so, I was able to come up with a definitive plan for a trip to the vineyards. It consisted of start times, finish times, which roads to use, which vineyards to visit and where to have lunch. The trip turned out to be a success. More pictures...

Domaine Chandon. Beautiful winery. Came with a free tour as well. 'Free' izzz goooddd.

I have to stop dressing up looking like a 30-something suburban mum with 2 kids in a Kathmandu vest on my days off work. My brother, Dopey, is constantly reminding me that.

This is where the champagne go through the 'riddling' process.

This is a guy cleaning the wine barrels.

I told Grumpy this would be a lovely place to hold a wedding reception. Spectacular views.

Giant Steps - This is where we had lunch.

And we resumed to another winery.

Gorgeous blue skies, the sun was shining ..... the start of Spring. My favourite time of the year.

I have no wine tasting skills whatsoever. Everything tastes the same to me, although I generally prefer white compared to red. I pick a bottle based on the price first, then I check out the year, the packaging, and if it came from a winery that sounds familiar.

The out-laws have left. For some weird reason, I didn't feel the least bit annoyed with them or felt like their presence was any bit of an inconvenience. I sometimes feel that when some family members (apart from Mum and Dad) come to visit. I know, I'm bad but its true. Maybe I should stop calling them the 'out-laws' now.

party

Malaysia celebrated its 50th year of independence on 2 Fridays ago, on 31st August 2007. It is a different feeling though, living here in Australia, yet feeling proud to be Malaysian, and most importantly, missing home. I text-ed my Malaysian friends here first thing in the morning, just to remind them of Merdeka day. That Friday night, we had a party for everyone at work (totally not related to Merdeka Day). But before I took off to head to the party that evening, I logged on to thestar.com.my to look at the photos of the events in Malaysia... to remind me why I still call Malaysia 'home'! Apart from that, it was just like any other day.

It was a pretty fun night....

Cheap champagne = massive headache.

Here are some pictures.

Jules & the girlies.

This is me doing the Posh Spice pout. This guy who sits in front of me reckons it was more of a Drunk Spice pout.

We played Celebrity Heads. Person with the sticky on their foreheads are meant to guess who they are... "Am I male?" "Am I American?" "Am I a pop star?" "Am I in sports?"

Audience only provides 'Yes/No' answers.

"Am I a celebrity?" well duh, hence the game.. Celebrity heads.

I know, I look so red-faced here. Damn the alcohol.

One thing for sure, despite the fact that champers goes straight to my head, I am proud to say that at least I don't end up like a complete idiot in front of my colleagues and then being the topic of everyone's emails on Monday morning. I may be a cheap drunk, but I am no tragic drunk.