Had a wonderful day yesterday catching up with friends in Sorrento and Blairgowrie. Lunch and drinks at the Conti was nice and allowed me to see and chat with people I haven't seen in a few years. One of them had gone on to have a 3rd baby and I'd mistakenly thought it was the same baby we'd seen before we left. Good god, stupid.
Anyway, best friend F turns up late but orders wine for the two of us and all is well. I do feel a little out of place, because these ladies seem to live their lives together, doing the same social things with kids and husbands. I'm not surprised to see myself feeling a little bit envious, because I'm thinking to myself, I could have been a part of all this... this could have been my life too. However, I know enough about life to also know that the grass is not always greener on the other side and that even though this little social get together is very pleasant, it is not the total sum of their lives and that they too would have their own problems. They do, however, live in one of the most beautiful places in Australia and I definitely envy that.
After lunch, it was back to a friends place for a cup of tea and a chat. Our daughters were amazing, picking up where they left off 4 years ago when they were just 4 years old. My daughter was confident, smiley and very social - quite different to how she is in Malaysia and we left with her voicing her thoughts to me in a little secret whisper to my ear "Mummy, I feel better here because I can understand everyone". I do think she would love to go to school here, but I didn't say that. I said something diplomatic like, well in malaysia, at least we get to learn chinese.
Dinner time came around and we met F and P and their daughter at the park. Again the girls seemed to just pick up where they left off 4 years ago. It's amazing to watch them all grow into beautiful young girls able to swap stories of school life and other things. Now, these people are the barbecue champions. Their sausages and chops always taste great - maybe it't the wine that always seems to be flowing but sitting there, watching the sunset change the sky from pink to dark purple, chatting and laughing made for a memorable night.
After that, the kids and I moved on to meander round the local shopping mall and we saw something we don't see in Malaysia - an almost empty shopping centre. In Malaysia, the shops are always full - really full, so to see this one almost empty was very strange indeed.
Arrived home at about 10.30, camera full of memories and happily tired from such a big day.
Must do it again when we're home next. :)
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Day 2, 3, 4
It's going by so fast. We're already on day 4 and I feel like I've only just gotten here. Actually, the feeling changes from "I feel like I've never left" to "I feel like I've just gotten here.
Have caught up with the two friends who live here and whom I've known for a very long time. It's always interesting to compare what our lives are like now, to what we thought they'd be like. I certainly didn't imagine I'd be living in a foreign country. Then I'm sure one of my friends didn't imagine she'd be taking care of her parents full time and doing sprint car racing. It's funny how things work out.
Yesterday we went to the Science museum, Scienceworks. This is a great place for kids (and adults who just can't fathom how things work). It costs next to nothing to get in and the exhibitions are interactive, educational and great fun. The best part though was the Planetarium. My daughter wants to be a scientist when she grows up, so I thought if there was one place I should take her, it should be this one. We weren't disappointed. It was the best thing we'd seen in a long time. You lie back in your seat and watch the huge dome screen come alive with amazing images of the earth and beyond. It really does feel like you are there. My daughter's eyes couldn't open up wide enough to let it all in and the narration was regularly interrupted by a series of Wow's coming from her. The wow factor was really high though.
More interesting was that mum and dad came with me (my dad is usually content to stay at home umless the activities include 10 pin bowling or playing cards) and they thought it was wonderful.
So it was a nice day out....until daughter decided to crack the shits shortly after because her brother was teasing her. Not only did she get mad at him but at everyone else. Ugggh, she really knows how to push my buttons and they were pushed. I was cranky all the way home, knowing....knowing... I shouldn't be and that, being the parent, I should be cool calm and collected. I was eventually but not before late in the night and was helped by 2 glasses of red wine, some cheese and good company. I thought I might spiral into one of my moods but managed to cut it off by distracting myself.
So here I can acknowledge to almost ex (who doesn't read this), no it doesn't just happen around you, it happens around other people and situations too.
Day 4 - Went for an early coffee appointment with a friend and then back home to wade through my stuff and sort the keeper from the chuckers (ie do I keep it, do I chuck it). I kept the sentimental stuff I'd been hanging on to for a long time and threw out a lot more stuff. Almost ex's wedding suit and a few other things of his went the way of the charity bin. Tomorrow morning is file sorting and my lovely dad is going to shred them for me.
In the afternoon, kids had a great time at mumbo jumbo, local indoor playground with friend and her boy. Spent a blissful 3 hours chatting while kids played "somewhere over there". Very relaxing indeed. Dinner was pizza at my sister's house (the place with the lovely comfy sofa where I intend to snooze one afternoon if I get time.)
Tomorrow is Sorrento, on the Mornington peninsula, one of my favourite places in the whole world and where two of my friends still live. It's beautiful there and we'll be leaving at around ten. I've still got to get organised, can't let these things slacken off (getting organised I mean). There's still lots to do so for now, til saturday, it's cheers and goodnight.
Have caught up with the two friends who live here and whom I've known for a very long time. It's always interesting to compare what our lives are like now, to what we thought they'd be like. I certainly didn't imagine I'd be living in a foreign country. Then I'm sure one of my friends didn't imagine she'd be taking care of her parents full time and doing sprint car racing. It's funny how things work out.
Yesterday we went to the Science museum, Scienceworks. This is a great place for kids (and adults who just can't fathom how things work). It costs next to nothing to get in and the exhibitions are interactive, educational and great fun. The best part though was the Planetarium. My daughter wants to be a scientist when she grows up, so I thought if there was one place I should take her, it should be this one. We weren't disappointed. It was the best thing we'd seen in a long time. You lie back in your seat and watch the huge dome screen come alive with amazing images of the earth and beyond. It really does feel like you are there. My daughter's eyes couldn't open up wide enough to let it all in and the narration was regularly interrupted by a series of Wow's coming from her. The wow factor was really high though.
More interesting was that mum and dad came with me (my dad is usually content to stay at home umless the activities include 10 pin bowling or playing cards) and they thought it was wonderful.
So it was a nice day out....until daughter decided to crack the shits shortly after because her brother was teasing her. Not only did she get mad at him but at everyone else. Ugggh, she really knows how to push my buttons and they were pushed. I was cranky all the way home, knowing....knowing... I shouldn't be and that, being the parent, I should be cool calm and collected. I was eventually but not before late in the night and was helped by 2 glasses of red wine, some cheese and good company. I thought I might spiral into one of my moods but managed to cut it off by distracting myself.
So here I can acknowledge to almost ex (who doesn't read this), no it doesn't just happen around you, it happens around other people and situations too.
Day 4 - Went for an early coffee appointment with a friend and then back home to wade through my stuff and sort the keeper from the chuckers (ie do I keep it, do I chuck it). I kept the sentimental stuff I'd been hanging on to for a long time and threw out a lot more stuff. Almost ex's wedding suit and a few other things of his went the way of the charity bin. Tomorrow morning is file sorting and my lovely dad is going to shred them for me.
In the afternoon, kids had a great time at mumbo jumbo, local indoor playground with friend and her boy. Spent a blissful 3 hours chatting while kids played "somewhere over there". Very relaxing indeed. Dinner was pizza at my sister's house (the place with the lovely comfy sofa where I intend to snooze one afternoon if I get time.)
Tomorrow is Sorrento, on the Mornington peninsula, one of my favourite places in the whole world and where two of my friends still live. It's beautiful there and we'll be leaving at around ten. I've still got to get organised, can't let these things slacken off (getting organised I mean). There's still lots to do so for now, til saturday, it's cheers and goodnight.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Day 1
After a bit of a sleep in, I find I'm not in a rush to go anywhere really, but son wants to show daughter around K-mart and daughter has asked if we can start doing those "tourist things".
We spent the morning doing puzzles from the newspaper, playing, reading and chatting. Drove to the local shopping centre at midday and walked around, browsing shops and the toy section of Kmart. Lunch cravings hit at 1pm, so sat down and daughter had her first real hot-dog which she thought was very yummy.
Browsed the bookshop after (we have great bookshops) and bought some groceries. Was saying to mum if we hang around long enough, I should run into someone I know and wouldn't you know it, a few minutes later, I run into Melissa whose son went to pre-school with my son, last time we were here.
Later in the day, mum takes kids to park and I went with sis to pick up her kids from school and look at her computer which seems to have contracted a nasty virus. Oh well, shit happens!
Mum and kids arrive there later on and daughter, who we thought was allergic to cats, is not reacting to the cat at all. In fact, her usual terror of all things animal is taking a brave backseat while she takes deep breaths. My family are animal people, but my own family are not. We've never even had a dog, though we did have fish for a while, pre kids. Daughter has been scared of animals since she was a baby, though I don't know why. Anyway, she coped especially well with the presence of a loose cat in the house and the snake moving around in it's tank. I was very proud of her.
After dinner at mum's, I take the kids to see a friend who I've known since highschool, but have only reconnected with her last year when I came back home. The kids have a great time together and we catch up over two cups of coffee and can't believe how fast time has gone since I was last here. It's strange, but I always have a lot to say to her, despite almost ex's opinion that my conversation skills are sorely lacking.
Kids got tired around 9, so I thought great, I'm in for an early night, but no, they got a second wind after announcing they were hungry and so we didn't get to sleep til around midnight - maybe they are still on Malaysian time which is 2 hours behind us.
We spent the morning doing puzzles from the newspaper, playing, reading and chatting. Drove to the local shopping centre at midday and walked around, browsing shops and the toy section of Kmart. Lunch cravings hit at 1pm, so sat down and daughter had her first real hot-dog which she thought was very yummy.
Browsed the bookshop after (we have great bookshops) and bought some groceries. Was saying to mum if we hang around long enough, I should run into someone I know and wouldn't you know it, a few minutes later, I run into Melissa whose son went to pre-school with my son, last time we were here.
Later in the day, mum takes kids to park and I went with sis to pick up her kids from school and look at her computer which seems to have contracted a nasty virus. Oh well, shit happens!
Mum and kids arrive there later on and daughter, who we thought was allergic to cats, is not reacting to the cat at all. In fact, her usual terror of all things animal is taking a brave backseat while she takes deep breaths. My family are animal people, but my own family are not. We've never even had a dog, though we did have fish for a while, pre kids. Daughter has been scared of animals since she was a baby, though I don't know why. Anyway, she coped especially well with the presence of a loose cat in the house and the snake moving around in it's tank. I was very proud of her.
After dinner at mum's, I take the kids to see a friend who I've known since highschool, but have only reconnected with her last year when I came back home. The kids have a great time together and we catch up over two cups of coffee and can't believe how fast time has gone since I was last here. It's strange, but I always have a lot to say to her, despite almost ex's opinion that my conversation skills are sorely lacking.
Kids got tired around 9, so I thought great, I'm in for an early night, but no, they got a second wind after announcing they were hungry and so we didn't get to sleep til around midnight - maybe they are still on Malaysian time which is 2 hours behind us.
Monday, May 26, 2008
we're back home
Well, here we are, me and the kids at mum's place. The flight wasn't too bad, though the food quality has gone down to the point of being almost inedible. I've never had much of a problem with airline food. We usually fly Malaysian Airlines and it's been OK. It's not a restaurant after all, and we seemed to have enough things to eat that were quite tasty.
I flew qantas once from Singapore and the food was really good, pasta with vegetables, fresh salad etc. I don't know if it actually was that good or whether I was influenced by the fact that I was on holidays by myself for the first time in a very long time.
Anyway, the kids slept and I slept for about an hour. Dad picked us up and I tried not to cry. I didn't want to seem to relieved to be home, lest they think my situation in Malaysia is worse than it really is.
Got home and it's honestly like I never left - except that the kitchen's been renovated, but the feeling of being here and slipping into the routine of life was too easy. My sis and kids came to see us during lunch and her kids are never very excitable, so it was all a bit ho hum - at least that's what is seemed like from the outside. I was glad to see my sister though, she's always got some drama happening that needs dealing with - sometimes they are good things (husband just got a new job, though it's in Kalgoorlie and she lives in western suburbs, Vic) and sometimes they're not so good (youngest child needs occupational therapy), but she deals with it.
It's hard not to eat too much here and I'll have to be careful - fresh cheese, ham and wholegrain breads, mashed potatoes and lamb, pork and mountains of lovely minced beef in the window at the butchers. Everythings so clean and lovely. At the deli, smoked fish, breads and pastas to die for. Yummo.
Time to go. Dinner's early here - 5 bloody 30. Still it's getting dark and cold so I'm sure the kids won't mind. Mum's on a timetable though, so must run.
cheers
I flew qantas once from Singapore and the food was really good, pasta with vegetables, fresh salad etc. I don't know if it actually was that good or whether I was influenced by the fact that I was on holidays by myself for the first time in a very long time.
Anyway, the kids slept and I slept for about an hour. Dad picked us up and I tried not to cry. I didn't want to seem to relieved to be home, lest they think my situation in Malaysia is worse than it really is.
Got home and it's honestly like I never left - except that the kitchen's been renovated, but the feeling of being here and slipping into the routine of life was too easy. My sis and kids came to see us during lunch and her kids are never very excitable, so it was all a bit ho hum - at least that's what is seemed like from the outside. I was glad to see my sister though, she's always got some drama happening that needs dealing with - sometimes they are good things (husband just got a new job, though it's in Kalgoorlie and she lives in western suburbs, Vic) and sometimes they're not so good (youngest child needs occupational therapy), but she deals with it.
It's hard not to eat too much here and I'll have to be careful - fresh cheese, ham and wholegrain breads, mashed potatoes and lamb, pork and mountains of lovely minced beef in the window at the butchers. Everythings so clean and lovely. At the deli, smoked fish, breads and pastas to die for. Yummo.
Time to go. Dinner's early here - 5 bloody 30. Still it's getting dark and cold so I'm sure the kids won't mind. Mum's on a timetable though, so must run.
cheers
Friday, May 23, 2008
cow squeezers???
Scene: In the shower, with my son in the bath (actually a big plastic tub) next to me:
Me: Now, head back, come on
Son: Mummy, why you got those cow squeezers? (pointing to my chest)
Me: (Trying to keep a straight face.) What are you talking about?
Son: Those, those cow squeezer things, like what cows got?
Me: Oh..... these, well there to give babies milk.
Son: Can I have some?
Me:...... No, definitely not, you are much too old!!!!!
I think it's time we all start taking separate showers.
Me: Now, head back, come on
Son: Mummy, why you got those cow squeezers? (pointing to my chest)
Me: (Trying to keep a straight face.) What are you talking about?
Son: Those, those cow squeezer things, like what cows got?
Me: Oh..... these, well there to give babies milk.
Son: Can I have some?
Me:...... No, definitely not, you are much too old!!!!!
I think it's time we all start taking separate showers.
Internet Banking
Why are all my internet banking sites so slow???????????????? Jeeeeez, I rely on this stuff to pay some ongoing bills that I still have at home and it's frustrating the shit out of me that I can't even get a balance within ten minutes. AARRRRGh. Vic Teachers union, nab and commbank, where are you and what the fuck's happening.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
And by the way, I do like American Idol
My morning, planning a study session with my exam encumbered daughter, was hijacked when I was flicking through the tv channels.
I don't normally watch reality TV - Big brother, top model, apprentice etc are just not my thing. But, I confess, I've been watching American Idol, season 7 right from the very start. From the excruciating auditions to the exciting finale between the Davids Archuleta and Cook. I wasn't expecting it to be on so early in the day and so when I found it, I had to watch it to see who won.
I really thought the young David would win, what with all those screaming fans and all. I preferred the other David. He's more my style of music, older and a bit more seasoned. His arrangements were so original and everytime (well almost) he sang, I thought "this man is a rockstar" -
Woooooo- hoo. He looked like a rockstar and performed like one and he met every challenge they gave him ie he sang 'the first time ever I saw your face' and I'm sure no-one expected him to sing a ballad so well - soft, yet still retaining that rockstar-ish quality. Mmmmm, love it.
So when he won this morning, I thought "this is going to be a good day (I don't know which part of my brain relates my life with David Cook's, but oh well).
And actually it did turn out to be a rather good day. The cleaner came, lunch was nice (bought not cooked), packed a little more, signed my son up for afternoon day care (Only 30 dollars a month people for 3 afternoons and they will feed and bath him and teach him chinese - a good deal), taught my students, heard from a person I'd been wondering about via my blog and will be cooking a simple pasta dinner tonight - the last meal I have to cook before we leave.
So of course all of this is pointing to one thing - I'm going on holidays very soon. YAY. I know I keep harping on about it, but I just can't wait to soak up my family and see everybody again.
And now I'm off to pack a little more and get dinner cooked.
Cheers
PS
I told my sis that I watch American Idol and she said "I don't watch that trash" and I said "so, what do you watch" and she said "median"............. Touche!
I don't normally watch reality TV - Big brother, top model, apprentice etc are just not my thing. But, I confess, I've been watching American Idol, season 7 right from the very start. From the excruciating auditions to the exciting finale between the Davids Archuleta and Cook. I wasn't expecting it to be on so early in the day and so when I found it, I had to watch it to see who won.
I really thought the young David would win, what with all those screaming fans and all. I preferred the other David. He's more my style of music, older and a bit more seasoned. His arrangements were so original and everytime (well almost) he sang, I thought "this man is a rockstar" -
Woooooo- hoo. He looked like a rockstar and performed like one and he met every challenge they gave him ie he sang 'the first time ever I saw your face' and I'm sure no-one expected him to sing a ballad so well - soft, yet still retaining that rockstar-ish quality. Mmmmm, love it.
So when he won this morning, I thought "this is going to be a good day (I don't know which part of my brain relates my life with David Cook's, but oh well).
And actually it did turn out to be a rather good day. The cleaner came, lunch was nice (bought not cooked), packed a little more, signed my son up for afternoon day care (Only 30 dollars a month people for 3 afternoons and they will feed and bath him and teach him chinese - a good deal), taught my students, heard from a person I'd been wondering about via my blog and will be cooking a simple pasta dinner tonight - the last meal I have to cook before we leave.
So of course all of this is pointing to one thing - I'm going on holidays very soon. YAY. I know I keep harping on about it, but I just can't wait to soak up my family and see everybody again.
And now I'm off to pack a little more and get dinner cooked.
Cheers
PS
I told my sis that I watch American Idol and she said "I don't watch that trash" and I said "so, what do you watch" and she said "median"............. Touche!
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