Didn't quite work out

Unfortunately the resurrection of this blog during this Singapore/HK/CHina trip didn't exactly eventuate.

It was difficult to find free internet access, but really if you had the choice of going bargain clothes shopping, cheap eating and internet, I'd know what I'd choose :)

As expected, we bought a new, bigger suitcase in HK to fit all our new purchases. Also as expected I didn't fare too well with the China water, food and weather. I literally almost passed out whilst travelling on the underground train in Guangzhou. Unlike HK, although the trains are overly crowded, the MTR network in China has yet to make the air ventilation units work properly under such conditions.

I must just be allergic to China as ever single time I've been back there I've fallen sick. It isn't the most livible country in the world. The pollution is unbearable at times, and if you're not used to the way people behave in this culture you'll be caught off guard. The sight of a road blockade by Chinese military officials, rifles and all on the side of the road is common, as is the tooting of horns, lack of ability of drivers to merge and pedestrians walking along and across the freeways carrying goods on a trolley or pushbike. (sometimes 3 couches, have pictures to prove this)

Will definitely be back to HK in the next couple of years though. Food was great, shopping fantastic.

Changi Internet

We've been in Singapore for 3.5 days. About to depart for Hong Kong later this afternoon.

I don't think we paid more than $10 between the two of us for a meal in these last few days. I will miss the extremely cheap and tasty food over here.

There were too many instances on this trip where people assumed I was a local and could speak Mandarin. I've lost count as to how many people spoke to me in Mandarin, both in Singapore and Malaysia. (took a day trip to Malacca on Monday. Only downside to this was that I spent an hour in the immigration cue to come back to Singapore later that night)

Other interesting sights I didn't get to see in 2004 when I was last here were: trucks licensed to carry up to 20 people in the back of their utes, (mainly Indians), the same cleaners and shop-assistants at the local Koptiam food court (24 hours) day in day out, and having dinner with Diana, my friend from QUT days, now married and living here.

8 mins left on the clock. Will try and post more frequently in HK, but that depends on whether I can find cheap, free internet.

Watch this SPACE!

The imminent departure to an overseas destination in a few days warrants the resurrection of this forgotton little blog.

If you are still reading this then I say thanks for doing so.

Stay tuned.

Temporarily un-frozen blog to give election update

Nice to see a mix of politics with science-fiction stories.

Election Night At Our Place

*Donk*

As big a Star Wars fan I am, I only stumbled across this gem recently.

Revolution

I have unfortunately joined up to the Facebook revolution and have neglected this humble blog.

It is really quite childish in some respects, with the giving of random 'gifts' on the computer (throwing a sheep, using the force, headbutting people, giving flowers etc)

The thing that drew me in, which isn't a unique thing, was that you can find high school friends, ex-work colleagues, acquaintances from uni and random people you have met or known in the past.

And unfortunately it is addictive!!

An aside, have a very busy weekend coming up, with 2 weddings tomorrow (Brad and Rachel and then Doug and Trish), and a 21st birthday party on Sunday arvo/night.

I really am not getting enough rest these days and starting to feel like an old hag.

Too-da-loo

Average Asian

Courtesy of Youtube.

Give us Asians a break!

MeMe

I've apparently been tagged to complete this meme.

Rules for this 8 interesting things post:

* Each player must post these rules to begin the meme.
* Each player starts with eight random facts or habits about themselves.
* People who get tagged must blog about their eight things and post these rules.
* At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
* Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


One problem I do have is that I don't know eight people who have blogs. Some of the ones in the links have since been deaded and no longer used. Oh well, see how I go...


1) I LOVE the Original Star Wars Trilogy, and only that. I do not like the new movies. Harrison Ford all the way!


2) I don't watch much TV, but have been occasionally watching Ugly Betty, Sea Patrol and That 70s Show. Yes, I'm a dag but that's only because SBS won't show the old episodes of Inspector Rex anymore, with Detective Alexander Brantner.


3) My most recent gift from my husband was a toy light-saber he got at the Ekka.


4) Alter-ego is Darth Nolla.


5) Am Left-handed, however.....


6) Use my right hand for using chopsticks, playing softball, cricket and computer mouse


7) I like the Idea of North, a four-pronged acapella singing group from Sydney. Am going to their DVD release concert at the Powerhouse later this month.


8) I have unfortunately joined the Facebook revolution.


Now, the only people who still use their blogs are:


Joshi
Kate
Nathan & Mareesa (e.g. a post each)
Scott (bc your wife started all this!)
Jeff

The following I shall tag on Facebook:

Richard
Selena

How you can pick a Tourist

You are carrying a map of the city and constantly stopping at corners or in the middle of the street/path/crossing to refer to it.

You have a large camera bag slung over your shoulder

Asking for the cheapest train tickets and day tripper prices at the train station

You take photos of buildings

You ride on a irridecent bright orange double-decker bus with the words 'City Sights and Tours' emblazoned on the sides

Getting boxes of Krispy Kreme donuts at the airport to take home.

And finally the most obvious giveaway:

You go to the local Chinatown BBQ House, order 4.5 kg of chinese pork/liver sausages and 2 large, WHOLE and UNCUT Roast Ducks.

Projects

It will be a week tonight since moving into our house.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, the list of projects has been slowly increasing....

Bathroom
Deck and pergola
Carport
Sunken Rumpus
Veggie patch

and *ahem* a Games Room for playing air hockey/foozeball/cards/chess/Munchkin/Mahjong :)

Methinks I need a 2nd-year architectural student to do some sketches for me.

Road Trip 2007

Packing up house aside, some pics from our road trip through the Newell, Golden and Pacific Hwys:

Family Wedding at Moree (Amelia and Grant)

On the way up the mountain to the Siding Spring Observatory (near Coonabarabran).

These planet boards are strategically placed (starting from the observatory) at exactly the same distance the real planets are to the sun. The sun's position being the observatory. However, no-one told them that Pluto had been disqualified so the board still stands.

We couldn't get into this observatory which was reserved only for the 'elite'. However, we were able to access a smaller one at Skywatch to view Jupiter and its moons, plus a few other stars, in 2 degree chill.

Saw some Siamangs from East Asia (this is the mum) playing lawn bowls at Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo (Their distinctly-harsh monkey noises can be heard 4 kms away.)

Sleeping Hippo

Warning to all parents (Hunter Valley Gardens)

Country Peak Hour (en route to Branxton)

Adult-only fun

2,300ish kilometres later, we're back and packing up, in readiness for our move into our very own 3 bedroom renovated worker's cottage in Mansfield.

Darth Nolla's recruit

For those in the know, I just simply had to put this in.

I wonder where it is that you can buy a Darth Vadar voice distorter??

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22068611-2,00.html

Off on another adventure

We will be out of action for about a week, as we head off on a road-trip through central NSW shortly.

Many a winter's weather and sleet/snow on roads are awaiting.......

If we can get internet access, will post some photos for the duration of the trip.

Home of Quality Cinema

How could I have forgotten the Home of Quality Cinema that is Dendy.

Someone at work has a double pass for tomorrow night's advance screening of some French movie I've forgotten the name of already.

MovienamesIcan'tpronounce aside, I do remember myself saying that I was going to commit myself to see more cultured, art-house, non-mainstream movies at Dendy.

The last one I saw was Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress in 2004.

Must find an opportunity to break this drought.

The Doc is in.......

*Note- does not have any personal references*

Just in a therapist type of mood. Maybe because the Simpsons episode that was on TV whilst eating dinner was one where Bart goes to see a psychologist, after he scares his classmates with this story about some eerie person that attacks people and eats their brains. (also the Sound of Music episode)

I saw an advertisement on SBS I think recently, about a new TV doco called 'Divorce Stories'.

As the title indicates, it is a doco comprising of a number of couples that have had relationship problems, stopped loving their respective partner, and have taken the road to divorce because of it.

Some excerpts of the doco showed couples saying "They just don't love each other anymore", "He/She has decided to take this certain road, and I just don't want to follow", "It's just too hard to live with them cause they don't change their ways", and 'We still want to be and remain friends, but just don't want to be married anymore."

I've seen too many clients in the 6 years doing my profession who have chosen to divorce or have a trial/mutual/amicable separation. Some that you have worked closely with for a number of years and then suddenly say they are heading down this path still shocks me.

To think that the view in society nowadays is to see something you want, you have to do what it takes (even going into debt in some cases) to get what you want, and once you've had your fun it just gets thrown away, and you start searching for something else. It really is very sad to see some relationships head down this path too.

a little bit of cheer

Got a couple of surprises recently:

A piece of yellow metal chain

A "Complete Book of Fishing Baits and Rigs"

A yabby pump

A small glass bowl with some water and rocks in it

A little, colourful red Betta named "Gus"

I'm getting a hunch.....maybe they want me to go catch some fish, and use Gus as bait?

Poor little Gus.....

So over it

Some things don't uplift me as they do others.

Some things I'm quite over to tell u the truth.

The thought has come across my mind on whether a change is necessary, even when it appears to be the easiest way out.

Ever since hearing Don Carson speak at a recent Fri night session, I've been drawn to the despair of not receiving the solid biblical teachings I had been used to many years ago. To see and witness others revelling in the topical issues but yet fail to know the word of God for what it really says and how it is applied, saddens me greatly.

Meeting with some friends over the weekend at a BBQ, the topic of the Old Testament came up in conversation. This was mainly stemmed from a recent message with a 1 Kings passage that was talking about Elijah and the Mt Carmel incident, and then how he had fled to get away from Jezebel and was despairing in the desert.

The talk was basically on spiritual depression, and how life can get us down and is not always rosy as we want it to be. The topic itself was OK, but I honestly could not see the link to the 1 Kings passage at all. Ignorant I may have been, so could someone point me in the right direction on this?

Back to the BBQ conversation, a few of us were reminiscing about the studies we did in FiGS with the kids from the OT. Some of us were talking about the book of Judges and how the FiGS kids really enjoyed these, as they were nothing like what they had heard of before.

The Qs raised, was how rarely the OT is taught in Sunday School nowadays, and how some of us there at the BBQ knew heaps about the OT, when others who come to bible studies and go to church don't know much about OT history at all.

I'm not saying any of this as a means of bragging, but oh how I and others who may agree with me, long for some renewal in today's churches.

I really am so over topicals and songs with bridges in them that go on and on and on....

30 years on

It's a Friday night after a very hard week at work.

What's a more fitting way to waltz into the weekend by having a yummy pasta dinner cooked by yours truly, and then celebrating 30 years to the day, of the world release of Star Wars Ep 4.

In my allegiance to this 'little' science-fiction project, I'm watching the DVD as I type.

*brb**brbrb* *whistle**blblb* as R2D2 would say!!!

CPA Ceremony

A week or two ago, we were able to experience a freebie offered to J, probably for the last time: a piece of paper and a cocktail function.

With piece of paper

I guess in reality, this little piece of paper probably did cost an arm and a leg in terms of course fees charged bi-annually.

With advertising, paid for by........ !

Also hint to W that we should indeed be going places- Melbourne, HK and Singapore to name a few!

Tinkering

A good photographer has the ability to identify and capture items from a different prespective.

There was a recent discussion about how you can pick a good photographer:

* Straight, standing upfront shots are avoided where necessary
* Use of natural front/background lighting (or use of another photographer's flash in your photo, depending on your timing)
* Angles
* Element of Risk (such as lying flat on your belly on a road, as a car is heading towards you, or climbing a tree that is bearing down a cliff-face to get a panoramic shot of the surrounding islands)

W has been tinkering with a few shots.