Having a piece of lasagne at 11pm at night. But bah!!! Haha…
Had the best time at Sorrento @ Mornington Peninsula today. The 12 of us visited both the ocean and the bay beaches on either ends of the Ocean Beach Road. Spent 5 hours under the sun. Swimming, eating, sun bathing, sleeping, laughing, exploring, running, diving, hiding under the umbrella to cool, frisbee-ing, “walking” in water with my hands cos the water was so shallow, climbing “rock cliffs”, putting layers and layers of sunscreen on.
Ok the craziest thing I did today was jumping off a huge rock into a natural pool at the ocean beach. The base of the pool is sand, and is surrounded by rocks. As the tides are changing, it flushes water into the pool. High tide probably submerges the entire pool. People were climbing up to the rock and jumping off. At first me and my girls were too afraid to do it. I climbed up the rock with Michelle, saying “I jus wanna see from up here”. And once we got up there, Mich changed her mind and passed her sunnies to Sabine who was below us, and so did I. Mich jumped first, pinching her nose with one hand, and off she went. I stared down as Mich swam away, I was getting cold feet but decided what the heck, lets do it and in I went. Water went up my nose but the splash was exhilarating. It was great.
(these photos were taken almost a year ago during another trip to sorrento!) the one with my feet n me standing is at the rock pool i was describing
Balancing work n play… The sun is calling out to me. But I will go back to the lab. To make up for the Monday that jus past that I took off to go on a road trip with my girlies. Cos Tuesday was Melbourne Cup day public holiday.
That’s Tif’s favourite scent from Bath & Body works.
Anyway, had the best dinner with Tif. Simple, fresh, wholesome vegetarian. A huge tofu burger with LOTSA greens (and reds: beetroot, orange: carrots), a haloumi/caramelised capsicum & onions/rocket pizza. Best. Each of us had a glass of fresh juice. Not pricey. Invigorating. BEST. Vegie Bar along Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Decided to drop by the market on my way to work. I felt I desperately needed blueberries but ended up not buying them as they were $4.50 a punnet. Well what was I expecting? That’s how much they usually cost anyway. So I settled with a $2 punnet of strawberries and 3 golden kiwis. A cauliflower and salmon cutlet for dinner too. Walking to work now, up the slope. have a feeling today is gonna be a nice day despite the slight pain in my left hip.
We only live once. Try something new once in a while. Something you’ve always wanted to do but didn’t really had the guts too or think it wouldnt suit you.
,……….
Fay’s first ice skating experience.
Jo’s first time up the Thousand Steps at Mt Dandenongs National Park.
Sabine’s first Korean meal.
Sabine’s short hair cut that she’s been wanting to try out.
I’ve been wearing my braces for one year and 10 months now!! Yippee time flies.. Can’t wait to see my pearly white metal-trackless again.. I’m at the detailing stage now. Hv an appt in 15mins, wonder what I will b told. Excited anyway!!
Time is really precious. And I’m already past the age (~20) of the maximum number of brain cells I’m ever gonna have and from here it’s all downhill. No time to waste. Make good use of those brain cells now…
I explain to my friends I have no time for drama series, they take up too much time! See, it’s at least 20 episodes per series, thats about 20 hours per series. Some of my friends are really fruitful & productive at other times of the day, so watching drama series is a good way to spend their rest & relax time… As for me, 24 hours in a day is already not enough… I wished I had more, then again, I’d be like a total robot. I’d rather breathe in some fresh air or lay in the park if I had that time then to watch a series actually. Jus unwind.
I think I’m getting back the feeling of loving work as before
It’s spring time (10 days into spring). It’s been raining alot the past few days but thankfully good weather (low twenties) is coming our way this weekend! Thinking of going swimming Then to Williamstown, west of the city just a few km’s out. Its beside the beach and have some nice cafes there.
Whatever Philippe Steiner & Kumi (and/or Mdm Chua) did to my back… it’s doing something. I feel a little bit better. Plus the exercises that I’ve been doing (though not diligently enough).
Work’s picking up speed. Yay.
Baked banana choco muffins + lemon shortbread last night and wanted to bring stuff in to work for others but forgot that there’s morning tea provided today so bad timing!
Last night, I got to Yafyaf’s place late for dinner due to work commitments. The girls had finished their meals (very yummy) and were watching a korean drama series dubbed in Mandarin. I’m not a big fan of drama series cos I don’t have that much time to follow through something for so many hours. I prefer watching movies or short series like Scrubs. Anyway, in the show, there was an old man who was critically ill and doctors and family were worried he wasn’t gonna make it this time. But there was one person he longed to see before he leave: his longlost grand daughter (whom he abandoned or gave away or something I’m not sure, and he felt really guilty and was afraid she has died already). The grandson of this old man promised to find her (his cousin). In the end he brought an acquintance (a girl who is very good at lying) to pretend to be the grand daughter. When he finally saw the “grand daughter” he was so moved and emotional. I felt my heart wrenched to see him so. And he looked like he felt ready to “go”.
It was then I thought of my grandpa. And I know it sounds emo but Mariah Carey’s song “Bye bye” almost truly reflects how I feel about my grandma & grandpa.
This is for my peoples who just lost somebody
Your best friend, your baby, your man, or your lady
Put your hand way up high
We will never say bye (no, no, no)
Mamas, daddies, sisters, brothers, friends and cousins
This is for my peoples who lost their grandmothers
Lift your head to the sky ’cause we will never say bye
As a child there were them times
I didn’t get it but you kept me in line
I didn’t know why you didn’t show up sometimes
On Sunday mornings, and I missed you
But I’m glad we talked through
All them grown folk things
Separation brings
You never let me know it
You never let it show because
You loved me and obviously
There’s so much more left to say
If you were with me today face to face
[Chorus:]
I never knew I could hurt like this
And everyday life goes on like
“I wish I could talk to you for awhile”
Miss you but I try not to cry
As time goes by
And it’s true that you’ve reached a better place
Still I’d give the world to see your face
And I’m right here next to you
But it’s like you’re gone too soon
Now the hardest thing to do is say bye bye
And you never got the chance to see how good I’ve done
And you never got to see me back at number one
I wish that you were here to celebrate together
I wish that we could spend the holidays together
I remember when you used to tuck me in at night
With the Teddy Bear you gave to me that I held so tight
I thought you were so strong
You’d make it through whatever
It’s so hard to accept the fact you’re gone forever
Our saturday beach outing was fantastic… as usual… beach outings are almost always fantastic unless it’s the wrong weather. Which sometimes do happen. Like that time we chose a 20 degree day to go fishing at the beach. I know 20 degrees celcius doesnt sound really cold/warm, but most of the time, Melbourne get southerly winds = cold winds from the Antarctic ocean side. That day I was determined to jump into the water, cos if I don’t, then I can’t really consider myself as having been to the beach. Anyway, the waves were so strong I only tried to swim for 20 seconds and for the next 10 minutes just tried to stay afloat by trapping water. We didn’t catch anything on the hook as expected but it was fun nonetheless. Not fantastic, but good enough.
Soooooo anyway, back to saturday’s beach outing, which was fantastic. Just us girls. Nimnim & Taxi didnt’ bring their bathers so that just stayed on the beach reading & playing Nintendo DS respectively. Yaf, Oj & I spent about 20 minutes waddling about in the clear water and we realised our limbs look really white underwater and pondered on how fun it would be if we had a waterproof camera. It wasn’t long before Nimnim & Taxi had to leave to make it back to the city for their other dinner/party dates. Yafyaf brought an extra book so I read 2 chapters and listened to some music before I fell asleep, under the warm summer rays and cool breeze caressing my skin. I must have dreamt of something… and woke up and made some weird noises that I make when I wake up but don’t want to wake yet. It was so nice laying there on the beach; it wasn’t too crowded (& not to isolated either). My weird noises woke Yaf & Oj. We sat there for a few minutes, dazed and stoned and not really willing to make a move. We wanted to savour the summer sun for just a little longer.
I’m just daydreaming nightdreaming about my next beach outing now. Saturday’s go-kart day. We’ve been planning this for a few months now (the last time we were to go too many people pulled out at the last minute and the whole thing was cancelled 45 minutes beforehand & the place is actually an hour drive away and had already paid a deposit). Sunday’s Sustainable Living Festival. So can’t really do beach this weekend… BAH! But its’ such lovely weather these few days! Maximum of 24-31 degrees celcius all week!
I thought I’d write a long post for this long awaited come back from my half-a-year-MIA. But its 12.40am and I have to get up in 5 hours and 20 mins so I shall make it a quick one. Well, a lot has happened since my last post so I don’t know where to start. Talking about “come back”, I just got back from Singapore for a 2 week holiday. It was certainly one of the best holidays ever because there were so many things to be merry about. Most importantly the whole family was together.
I’m currently suffering from a semi-serious bout of homesickness. Its so bad I dreamt about it last night and it made me feel nauseous during my sleep. I dreamt that I have a ticket to fly back to Singapore next week. I was panicking so badly cos there is no way my supervisors would be happy with that. Hence I was trying so hard to get the flight dates changed but the airlines kept refusing it. So I felt so sucky: I wanted to go back so badly, people I wanna see again, I have a ticket back, I know I shouldn’t but somehow the circumstances meant I had to go back or forfeit the ticket all together. I’m missing everyone so dearly already.
I really don’t know how everyday of my 2 week break went by so quickly. 5 days of crazi-busy in Hongkong where I spent some quality time with relatives and the remaining of the time I was totally pigged & shopped out. 8 days totally devoted to family time & Lunar New Year celebrations (& preparations) and 2 days for meeting some dear dear friends. Why are holidays never long enough? Never long enough to do what I wanna do, to relax, to spend more time with loved ones, so many things left undone, words unsaid. Somehow every time I’m on holidays away from Melbourne, I feel like I’m removed from reality. Like everything’s a dream and unreal and that when the holidays are over I be thrown back to reality, my “normal” life. Each holiday is so short yet so packed with memorable experiences.
Thankfully I have friends here who know exactly how I feel. Reunion with them tomorrow ;p
I know I said this was gonna be a short entry… so I shall end it here.
Two more weeks till the annual St Vincent’s Postgrad Student Society retreat. (1-3 Aug) This year it’s gonna bd held at Phillip Island (the last 3 years were in Portsea). Me and KM have been conveniently and happily distracted from lab work to get things organised from t-shirts to speakers. Fingers crossed for good weather in the middle of Melbournian winter.
Bon dropped by Melbourne for a few days. Lovely to spend sometime with my favorite younger sister.
