throw up

Finally, the weekend is here, and I haven't really got anything planned, except to meet up with friends tonight for dinner. Mr Happy insists we go to this Japanese buffet place tonight. I had Japanese on Thursday night for dinner with Grumpy and Dopey. Then yesterday, Dopey and I had Japanese for lunch in the city. And tonight, Japanese buffet with Mr Happy. 

As of tomorrow, I will probably not want to have Japanese food ever again.

This reminds me of pasta. After Grumpy and I spent 7 days in Italy, we have been avoiding pasta since. But that was in August last year. So maybe we should start having pasta again.. 

I was telling Little Miss Drink-A-Lot recently that if I see one more wedding picture on Facebook, I was going to throw up. Seriously. Then I wake up this morning, log on to Facebook and find out I've been tagged in a wedding picture I attended recently.. 

I guess its not too bad if I'm in the pictures.. 

But while I was just browsing the Internet, I stumbled upon a wedding photographer's website.. and I saw this picture here:

Isn't it beautiful? 

No, I don't know her. Yes, she is a stranger. But I love how she's got her dog in her wedding photos..  and that is what I want for my wedding photos!

I pick up the phone and ring Grumpy immediately (he's at work) "You won't believe what I just saw!!! I want this photographer for our wedding!"

I don't really remember what his responses were, but there were many 'No's'. Such a party pooper.

Yes and No

It has been one month since I arrived back home to Melbourne. It has been a crazy month.

Am I happy to be home? Yes and No. 

Its great to be back with loved ones, I've sort of settled back in comfortably now. Oooh to be able to sleep on my Sealy Posturepedic is an added bonus. 

But I must admit, I do miss Dublin a lot - it was a different lifestyle over there. Europe is amazing, and I can only hope that I will have the opportunity to return there some day.

When I left Dublin, it was minus 2. At Dublin airport, the plane couldn't take off on time because there were frost on the windows, we had to wait for the ground staff to de-ice it.

After that was completed, we were ready to take off, a passenger in economy found a guy unconscious. So we went back to the parking bays and waited for the paramedics.

I told myself, maybe this is a sign that I wasn't meant to leave? 

With only a 3 hour transit in Abu Dhabi this time round, and due to the fact we were delayed in Dublin, I pretty much had only an hour there. Wasted no time to book in for a neck and shoulder massage at the Etihad lounge.

Then as we prepared to depart Abu Dhabi to Sydney, a little boy in Business refused to put on his seat belt. I tell myself, I'm 26 years old, and I work soooo hard... to earn a Business Class flight paid by my company, why is this two year old here with me in Business, screaming at the top of his lungs? Finally after the kid calmed down, we were okay to take off. But it wasn't any more pleasant during my 13 hour flight as my sleep was occasionally interrupted by crying intervals every now and then. Arab kids should really have their own childrens business class section. 

Arrived Sydney and it was like 31 degrees. Minus two, then 31. Fabulous. 

One of my luggages did not arrive with me to Australia. Why does this always happen? Everytime someone does an Aus - Europe, Europe - Aus trip, you are bound to lose one (or all) of your suitcases. Happened to Grumpy when he arrived Dublin, and many other of my colleagues. I got my bag about 2 weeks later, and until today, I haven't unpacked the suitcase. I'm terrible. Maybe I'm secretly wishing that my company sends me back to Dublin soon, and I can just take the bag with me without much hassle? *wishful thinking*

What was the first thing I did when I returned? Got my nails done. Bliss! Then a haircut for Aud50. Cheap as chips. My haircuts in Dublin would set me back at least 60 euros each time. 

Then the weekend came, and Grumpy organised a short getaway to Apollo bay. It was great. I caught up on my sleeping. It was so peaceful over there.

But.. after that trip, I started work again. I was given a new account. A brand new client, big portfolio, and boy, it came with a lot of madness. I do love it though, I love a challenge, and so far, things are going well. Client is happy, my bosses are happy..I'm exhausted, but happy I guess. I am hopeful that things can continue this way at work. Still a circus, but I've sort of accepted it now. 

Attended a disastrous beach wedding, but it turned out well at the end. Just because of the weather (it was pouring all day), everyone was so emotional.

Then there were Christmas parties. 

This is me and Little Miss-whats-for-lunch at our company party at Taxi in Federation Square. It was such a good night. Its nice to have a buddy again.. every morning, we literally go for coffee (+toast) runs together, lunches, then in the afternoon, smoothie breaks.. hahaha sounds like we don't do any work.

This is me and Grumpy at his company's party. Jells park, with lots of food and people yelling 'Sixer!!!' at cricket. Good fun. I didn't know my chinese boyfriend could play cricket. 

As Christmas approached, we had our annual Christmas party which Grumpy plans about six months prior. We were pleased to have his sister spend Christmas with us. She's so lovely... 

And at our Christmas party, like everyone else, we played guitar heroes - complete with guitars, microphone for vocals, and the drum set. I refuse to post this picture up on Facebook as I don't want to conform! Everyone is playing this too! bugger, not special anymore :p It is a lot of fun though.

We were fortunate that our neighbours lent us one of their Christmas trees. Yes, credit crunch time. We couldn't afford to buy one, so what the hell, we borrowed one. It looks nice. Our first 'borrowed' tree in our new home.

I don't know, it doesn't stand straight, so Grumpy did something to it, which makes it tilt to the left even more. The leaning christmas tree of Melbourne.

Grumpy spent a lot of time on the turkey and leg of pork. 

Overall, the christmas party turned out really well. Everyone enjoyed the food, and I tell myself, this is why its good to be home!

And of course I have my dog back now. 

survey in Melbourne

Came in to work this morning, and I got this email from my close friend at work back in Australia:

Dear Trouble,

I have taken a survey in Melbourne and no one wants you to come back….particularly Emmett!

Thought you should know.

*Sydney Boy*

Too funny! He has always called me Trouble, and is probably missing me a lot and counting down the days to my return! hahaha.. Sydney boy is a very dear friend of mine. We were able to meet up in London back in September, which was great. We are constantly texting each other, which drives Grumpy nuts. But thing is, he is your typical Australian gay friend!! He is based in Sydney, but was in Melbourne working with me for about a year. He loved.. absolutely loved, drawing on my arm. I used to go home with pen marks all over my arm, and Grumpy would literally go "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AT WORK?!" hahahaThis is his work (see below), although this time, not on my arm:

If there's one thing I look forward to upon my return to work in the circus in Melbourne, it would have to be the good friends I have in the Melbourne office..

It is all about me

Time flies so quickly.. I can't believe it. I've only got 3 more weeks left here in Ireland, I'm running out of time! So much to do, both at work and at home (haven't packed at all).

I've been working til late most nights, stressing out and stuff.

After work I go home, too lazy to do anything, I grab takeaway, and watch Dawson's Creek DVDs. 

But no complains to be honest, I'm enjoying my remaining time here in Dublin. 

Weekends, it is all about me. 

Saturdays - I wake up, then I go for a run around the canal (temperatures are about 2 degrees, I swear I look like a running eskimo), then I get some breakfast, then I'm off shopping in town for the entire day. Shopping in Dublin is amazing... expensive, but it is great because they have so many wonderful labels here which we don't get back in Australia. For clothes, I love to go to Topshop, H&M and Zara. A lot of my food shopping I do at Marks & Spencer foodhall. Seriously I could just live there. They make great microwavable meals - all portions for one (sad, I know). They are actually quite pricey, but what the hell.. thats why I get an allowance here in Europe anyways. I don't buy fruits & veggies in its natural form anymore, I get the ready cut and mixed ones from M&S, packed in nice containers, it makes life so much easier! I love M&S!

Sundays - I sleep in and I run in the afternoons instead. After a run, I fill up the tub with hot water, pour all the bath foams from my Europe hotels collection, I bring my macbook into the bathroom (I can only imagine Grumpy's face if I accidently drop it in the tub!), pop my Duffy CD and just soak in my bubble bath til I prune!

Reality is, as much as I'm loving everything as it is at the moment,  I don't think I can live like this forever, I will end up broke, and become a lonely spinster. 

Although, I am sure of this >>> give me a month (tops) back in Australia, and I will wish I am back here in Dublin!

Friday night at the races

Well folks, that’s one weekend down, another five to go. Actually its six, but that sixth weekend I’ll be in the plane making my way home, so really, its only five more weekends left here in Ireland. 

Friday night I went to the dog races. It was an event that was organised by work, all paid for by the company, for all departments. I wasn’t too keen at first, because I told Paddy it was mean, and I am one person that is ALL for the dogs. Everyone assured me that it is fine, that the dogs really enjoy running and it is a lot of fun. After all, its free drinks all paid for by work! I said “But if any of the dogs get injured while racing, I’m sure they get put to sleep” Paddy said “Aww Jules, it’s the same thing, I mean, you could be walking a dog down the road and the dog could still break a leg” I replied “I bet they get locked up in cages as well” They were like “Nahhh they get treated really well” Okay okay count me in.

Irish greyhound racing is really popular here, and its like a family event really. The mum’s and dad’s bring their kids here for a gamble and everyone enjoys watching the dogs chase an artificial hare. 

I forgot to bring my camera along with me (bummer), but here is a picture I got from Google. This was the greyhound stadium I went to. They have special packages and you can even enjoy a nice dinner and a glass of wine while watching the dogs.

Before we went to the races, we made a pitstop at a pub. Which is mandatory for Irish standards. And while we were all at the pub, I think the boys had at least 4 pints each. It was mad, I am convinced that they started drinking from a young age… before they even started crawling. 

At the races, I placed two bets, I didn’t win anything, but some of the others did. Greyhound racing is different to the horses, the dogs are so fast but their tracks are shorter and it all happens so quickly. There were 11 races in total. 

By the end of the last race, after a few drinks, (considering the lousy drunk I was) I was a happy camper. Everyone else I knew drank like a fish, and all the goss from work was coming out from every direction. Little Miss Frenchie (a French girl I sat next to for the first few months when I started work here) was rather drunk, and she is the type that gets Emo-drunk. Hahaha it was quite funny, she started talking about the shitburgers she’s had at work, and she was sobbing away. I was like “Whats a shitburger?” Paddy was like “You know Jules, when everything is going wrong at work, and you just had a bite of that shitburger? That’s a shitburger" Hahaha didn’t make any sense, but by that time, I’m sure he was sipping he’s 12^th pint. 

You would think the night would end there, but it didn’t. They wouldn’t let me go home. We all made our way to a club. I was like “A club?! You have clubbing in Ireland?!” Of course WE have clubs in Ireland. Well, sorry, I thought it was only pubs in Ireland. 

It was a lot of fun at the club, called DTwo. These Irish lads were dancing like there was no tomorrow. My entire working life, I’ve never seen my workmates dance like that before, it was absolutely hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. 

When I finally called it a night, I hopped on a cab and headed home. I don’t know what it was, I reckon all that alcohol in me, I couldn’t remember exactly my conversation with the old Irish cab driver, but when we arrived at my apartment, I was about to pay the cab fare, which was something like 13.50 euros, he said to me “Because you are such a lovely young lady, I’ll only charge you 11 euros”. I have never had a discount on my cab fare before, ever! I said to him “Because you are such a lovely man, I’ll give you 12 euros!” That was a deal, and he gave me his phone number and he said “You give me a call the next time you need a cab!” I said “Okay you can take me to the airport when I head home to Australia!” Only in Ireland, you’ll meet lovely people from all walks of life! 

A typical day at work

Part of living and working here in Ireland, is that I meet the local people and I learn a lot.. I learn about their culture, their language, their history, their country and their lives. You don't really get that when you're just traveling on a holiday, I mean, the hotel concierge doesn't really count. 

And over here in Ireland, I have met people that either love Australia, or absolutely hate Australia. The 'love' Australia part, is normal, I mean I have met so many Irish people while working in the Melbourne office. But the people that absolutely hate Australia, of course you won't meet them in Australia, are absolutely hilarious. The guy that sits right in front of me, Paddy (okay, he's real name is not Paddy) is your typical Irish guy that does not like anything about Australia.

"There are only convicts in Australia, Jules" 

I reply "You can criticise Australia as much as you want Paddy, I don't care because I am not Australian"

"Yes you are Jules, YOU live there, YOU are Australian"

Me "No Paddy, I am Malaysian, I live in Australia but I am Malaysian"

"No you're not, you live in Australia, YOU are Australian"

Then he goes "Streuth Jules, Streuuuuthh"

I say to him "Paddy, I have lived in Australia for 6 years now, I have never heard of the word Streuth before" 

"Streuuuuuuth Jules"

A word he probably picked up from Home and Away. 

"Seriously Paddy, we never use that word in Melbourne"

Paddy replies "What a shocker Jules....!!" hahaha again, a word that is very commonly used in Australia.

"Yes Streuuuuthhh Paddy, streeuuuth"

"What a shocker, Jules... You've had an absolute shocker Jules"

Oh shut up Paddy. Streuth Jules.

Everyday we have the same conversation, over and over again. All good craic. (Craic is an Irish slang, for... fun). I know my boss is sitting next to us, muttering under her breath "don't these two have any work to do?"

Feck It

I have been counting down the days as to when I return home to Melbourne…. I’ve had my fair share of fun.. 7 more weeks to go! No more visitors, so its just me myself and I now. No more travelling as well. I am so broke! I could squeeze one last trip because Ireland has a bank holiday at end of the month, but really, its no fun traveling to a different country alone. I am keen on going to Spain, but I will probably give it a miss.

It wasn’t a good day today. I mean work was grand and stuff, but I had to give confirmation to my Melbourne boss that I would return to the office soon, and resume my normal role… sad sad sad… but then again, it would be too good to be true if I had everything MY way, would it? Not only that, the two major projects I am involved in, has been delayed… which might probably mean I will leave before it finishes. That sucks. Oh well. Someone from the London office asked if I were interested in a role there after Dublin? No no no no… I mean it would be great, but no… I have a personal life and commitments! I dare not even explore that option to London because it just messes up my head.

Times like these I look at my photo album to cheer myself up, apart from throwing all my frustrations at Grumpy.

Grumpy at the Ha’penny bridge in Dublin. Its short for ‘half a penny’, the story is… back then, to cross to the other side of the bridge, you need to pay half a penny.

 

Grumpy and his love for a good pint of Guinness.

 

This was when we went to this tapas bar. Tapas in Australia would mean small portions of food, but look at the serve of this! Yummm.. we were meant to go for a tour outside of Dublin, but decided to just stay back in the city and relax and stuff ourselves with food and beer.

 This would have to be my favourite picture of them all. Hahaha he looks hilarious! Classic.

Grumpy loved the music on the streets of Dublin. You can listen to traditional Irish folk music in pubs, and its absolutely amazing, the ambience, the crowd, the music, it was lots of fun.

 

This is a hotel and pub. Called the Schoolhouse Hotel. It used to be a school. Lovely place.

We’d kick start our session with a Baby Guinness each. Tastes really nice for a shot, because it has Baileys in it.

And then it goes straight to my head…

And we go home drunk... and took a picture of me with heaps of Chanel bags, which Grumpy bought from Dublin’s high-end department store. He bought that many Chanel bags, the sales assistant in Chanel said to me “you are one lucky lady” like… hello…. They are not all for me!!!!! The other bag on the right is a Bottega Veneta bag which was purchased from Harvey Nichols in London. Not mine again..but for his mum. It was quite crazy, Europe is so expensive yet his family thought these bags were cheap compared to KL. Grumpy was clearly the bag lady here in Europe.

All good fun. But of course, all good things must come to an end… Like how an Irish would say.. ahhh feck it, Jules, feck it!