Nelson Bay, Port Stephens

Ah ... sun, sea and sand ... it is the time of the year (well, at least down under).

A day trip to Nelson Bay Port Stephens is not an ordinary weekend, specially when spent with friends close to our hearts. We shared good laughs and experienced a couple firsts - sand boarding and whale-watching. The photos sure do speak for themselves.

Floriade 2007

We recently graced the Floriade in Canberra, showcasing millions of blooms as backdrop to Australia's annual spring festival. It was a 3-hour drive from our place but was not too bad for we enjoyed the great view, the mood, as well as the company of friends. Here are just some of my favorite photos from the day.

It's Been Two Years ...

... since we braved the big leap from a life full of comfort and complacency to a life full of uncertainties, discovery, independence and total couple immersion when we decided to migrate & settle in the land down under. It's never been a bedful of roses but it is the kind of life we see ourselves growing old to, it is the quality of life we have ever wanted, it is the life we choose to share together.

Well, we didn't want to show how much we've physically changed, but what the heck, it's fun to show some Then & Now pics so here's the best that i can do.

Happy Two Years in Australia ... to us!

Watching Josh Live

Just came from Josh Groban's supposed last night concert in Sydney (it's been extended for 1 more night tomorrow) and I have two words: SUPERB & YUMMY!

Can't get enough of him, he came back to the stage three times until the audience stopped screaming and stomping feets! He was undoubtedly worthy of the Opera House.

Crunch Time

My friends insist I'm confused about this weekend's special day. We all know it is my better half's birthday but they say I don't get it.

It all started when I asked him for his birthday gift wish list. He couldn't think of anything he wanted, so I kept suggesting whatever crossed my mind and nothing seemed to get his approval. But September flew by quickly and this week was panic week!

So I started frequenting shops - taking quick breaks to the nearby mall during lunch. However, I would never find a perfect gift BUT, read this, I would always find something to purchase for myself - nothing fancy each time (food, sunnies, tops, bangles, etc.) but I did spend a lot for myself looking for that perfect gift! Hehehe and of course to take that guilt away, I would always show him what I got (it works!).

Well, it is Friday, and yet I haven't found him a perfect gift. Talk about crunch time!

Yalang naubos na yata ang budget? Oh no!

my new Campus

Our company is currently relocating over 6, 500 employees around Sydney to a common work place called the "x Campus". It has 6 low-rise buildings built in an area thought to be the Silicon Valley of Sydney. This project is huge and relocation started in Aug and runs thru to end of Oct this year. In fact the Prime Minister is set to grace the opening ceremony this Tuesday as this marks a big milestone in the history of Australia. OK - enough of that blah about my employer - its not part of my JD.

As I was walking to the parking this afternoon when I finished work, my mobile in my hand, I quickly took a couple of snaps of the new place.


Above is a shot of building B (there's A-F) where the Bistro is. There was a band playing when I took this photo - and even with the long weekend, it is packed with Friday after-work drinkers.


And above is where I usually spend one-third of my weekdays. Lucky building isn't it?

a Snowy weekend

This is one of the most unforgettable weekends we've ever had. Commencing on the Friday the 13th of July 2007, we drove 5-6 hours south of Sydney towards the beautiful winter holiday destination - the Perisher Valley.





The forecast for the full weekend ranged from 0 to -6 and true enough it was freezing cold (fine day though) but nothing stopped us from enjoying the ultimate snow experience Perisher had to offer.




The booze, the food, the ride, the snow, the fun, the laughter, the company, the (very accommodating & friendly) Perisher people, will always be remembered.



Thanks Perisher, we will be back for sure!

This and a whole lot more are what's keeping our weekend occupied. Our car, (The BEAST), has conquered the Snowy Mountains!

We turned 5!

That's right, and below are some photos from our simple celebration. Thanks to everyone who remembered.

Mama's YesterYear

One year ago, on this very day, Mama succumbed to her fight against Cancer of the Colon, with Liver metastasis, at the age of 54. It was at cockcrow Easter Tuesday.

Allow me to recount what happened last year:

Apr 10, 2006 - Holy Monday. Mama started showing signs of organ failures when she was denied of chemotherapy. She started with memory & judgement lapses, restlessness, eyesight blurs then she gradually lost the sense of touch, her facial appearance changed and she'd started craving for food she was never fond of before.

We were in Adelaide for the holy week but I've been kept up to date of what has been happenning and I've been told every now and then to keep on praying for mama for she's been acting really different.

Apr 15, 2006- Black Saturday. Mama was brought to the UST hospital from La Union after a week-long of deterioration. We've been informed after initial checks that she was having internal bleeding and that she may go after one major bleed. I got so emotionally weak, I attempted to talk to her on the phone but all I could tell her was I love her. I cried a river as I was miles away and could do nothing from where I was. It was the time my greatest migrant's fear was tested. This was when I wished Philippines was just an hour's flight away.

Apr 16, 2006 - Easter Sunday, we were back in Sydney and I got ready for my flight to Manila the next day. I called back home and spoke to Mama informing her that I'm coming home. When she asked why, I told her "for vacation". She replied back and said in Ilocano - "hala paspasam ngarud" ("hurry up then"). I told her "I love you Mama" and she said "I love you too".

Apr 17, 2006- Easter Monday, I travelled from Sydney to Manila. It felt like the flight was taking forever. I landed 5:30pm, went straight to the hospital ... it was a painful sight but rather than waste my time crying, I talked to her, told her how much I love her, how much I miss her ... I kept on talking to her, though I know she was listening she would not talk. I was told that since she woke up that day, she had not spoken a word. She would just moan but she could no longer speak any word. We decided to transport her back to La Union at 9:30pm. On the way home, in the ambulance with my sis & aunt, she called out & said "Dadddddyyyy".

Apr 18, 2006 - Easter Tuesday, we arrived home at 2:00am. After an hour, she started making sounds as if she was giving her last bilins. We were all beside her trying to figure out what she was saying - we said out loud what we knew she wanted to tell us and she would sound louder for concurrence. She did this for an hour or so until her voice was coarse. When her voice started fading, we each told our piece - we were all beside her in bed until she breathed her last.

It was a graceful exit for Mama when God claimed her back at about 4:25am.

Mama, I know you are at peace now with the Lord watching us from above. I miss you so much and you know you will forever have a special place in my heart. Happy birthday in your new-life! I love you.

Feature: LaMesa Restaurant, Sydney

We first heard about LaMesa restaurant from a friend and since we are both "frustrated food-critic by profession", we wasted no time and tried it the weekend soon after. We were their "buena-mano" that Sunday as we arrived straight from our usual 9:30am mass - we were there 11am. The place is not that big - it can probably host just around 40 people comfortably. After 10mins, we were joined by a non-Filipino lady (who sounded like she frequents the place as she knew straight away what to order) then followed by a young Filipino family, familiar faces - who we later found out also go to the same church.

Deciding what to order took us longer than expected -- we wanted to try most of the items in the menu but 2 people can only eat so much. In the end, we settled with the crispy pata and the lumpiang sariwa and boy was it yum! The vinegar-sauce that came with the pata was just perfect.

Raquel & Rey, the owners from Bulacan (which apparently explains why their crispy pata is their specialty), were there serving & chatting with the customers without being intimidating.

Soon after, a family of like 12 arrived and occupied the long table :) that was a good feast for they tried what we would have wanted - kare-kare, pork barbecue and more that were out of sight from where we were sitting haha. There were 2 other non-Filipino couples who arrived for lunch which means that business must be really very good for LaMesa.

For rating from 1-5, 5 being the best, I'd rate LaMesa:

4 - for food, the halo-halo dessert could be better
3 - for the place, they need to improve their exhaust system so you don't smell like crispy-pata after your lunch; parking is a bit of a walk from the place since they are located in the main Pittwater road
4 - for the service

Generally, our experience was very good. We would love to be back.


As of November 2006

LaMesa Philippine Cuisine
Shop 2, 874 Pittwater Road (corner of Oaks Avenue)
Dee Why NSW 2099
Tel No. (02) 9972 9877
Dine-in and Take Away
B.Y.O.

Trading Hours
Lunch: 11:00 am – 03:00 pm
Dinner: Sun – Thur 05:00 pm – 09:00 pm / Fri – Sat 05:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Prices are GST inclusive – No MSG added
10% Discount for Take Away Orders
Free Home Delivery: Minimum Order $30 (Limited areas only)

M E N U

APPETISERS
 Lumpiang shanghai (6): Deep fried spring rolls with minced meat & vegies - $6.50
 Okoy (shrimp cake) (4): Deep fried patties made of shrimps, shredded sweet potato & pumpkin served with chilli vinegar sauce - $5.80
 Pork/chicken bbq (4): Grilled pork/chicken skewers served with chilli vinegar sauce - $7.50
 Fried quail eggs (8): Fried quail eggs coated in batter & served with chilli vinegar sauce - $5.80
 Beef tapa (6): Fried tender beef pieces served with chilli vinegar sauce - $6.50
 Mixed entrée: Mixed serving of spring roll, pork/chicken skewer, prawn cake, fried quail egg & beef tapa - $6.80

MAINS

Chicken
 Adobo chicken: Tender chicken fillets simmered in sugar cane vinegar, soy sauce, garlic & black pepper (a most popular Philippine dish) - $11.90
 Apritada chicken: Chicken fillets sauteed in tomatoes, sliced potatoes & capsicum - $12.90
 Arroz valenciana: A rice dish baked in coconut milk with tender chicken pieces & strips of capsicum & raisins, bay leaves & mixed spices. (Good for two) - $19.90 / (Good for four) - $34.90
 Chicken with coconut milk: Tender chicken fillets cooked in coconut milk with red hot chillies, onions & ginger - $12.90
 Chicken pastel: Creamy chicken dish with button mushrooms & cashew nuts - $12.90

Pork
 Pork adobo: Tender pork fillets simmered in sugar cane vinegar, soy sauce, garlic & black pepper (a most popular Philippine dish) - $11.90
 Menudo: Tender pork pices sauteed in tomato paste & liver pate with potato cubes, carrot cubes, raisins & diced capsicums - $12.90
 Pork chop (coated): Deep fried pork chop coated with a delicious batter - $11.90
 Embotido: Steamed traditional pork meat loaf served with sweet tomato sauce - $10.90
 Tocino: Sweetened pork served with chilli vinegar sauce - $11.90
 Skinless longanisa: Traditional skinless sausages made of mince pork served with chilli vinegar sauce & pickled green papaya - $11.90
 Crispy pata: Deep fried tender pork hock with crispy skin - $16.90
 Lechong kawali (roast pork): Crispy fried pork belly served with traditional gravy sauce - $12.90
 Sinigang na baboy: Tender pork chunks cooked in tamarind soup with vegetables - $14.90

Beef
 Caldereta: Tender beef pieces cooked with liver pate, tomato paste, garlic, bay leaves, peppercorns, olives & strips of red capsicum - $12.90
 Bistik: Tender beef pieces lightly fried & simmered in its own marinade, served with thickened marinade sauce & topped with onion rings - $12.90
 Tapa: Fried tender beef pieces marinated in mixed Philippine spices - $12.90
 Kare-Kare: Oxtail cooked in peanut sauce with vegetables - $15.90
 Mechado: A rich beef stew cooked in soy sauce, peppercorns, tomato sauce & bay leaves & topped with fried sliced potatoes - $13.90

Seafood
 Boulabaise: Philippine verson of the famous French soup – rich creamy soup with mixed seafoods (crab, prawns, mussels, fish cubes, calamari) - $19.90
 Tinolang yaman ng karagatan: Mixed seafood (crab, prawns, mussels, fish cubes, calamari) cooked in lemon grass, onions, garlic & ginger - $18.90
 Sinigang na hipon: Prawns cooked in tamarind soup & onions - $16.90
 Tinolang tahong: Mussels cooked with ginger, garlic & onions - $13.90
 Whole bream fish (grilled/fried) : Fresh bream fish grilled/fried served with pickled green papaya - $16.90
 Rellenong bangus (stuffed fish) : Whole milkfish stuffed with is own meat flavoured with spices - $21.90
 Daing na bangus (2): Fried marinated milkfish served with hot chilli vinegar sauce - $13.90
 Barramundi sarsiado: Fried barramundi topped with sauteed egg & tomato sauce - $21.90
 Escabeche (sweet & sour fish) : Fried ocean perch topped with homemade sweet & sour sauce - $21.90
 Seafood paella: Philippine version of the famous Spanish paella – a rice dish baked in tomatoes & coconut cream with mixed seafood. (Good for two) - $25.90 / (Good for four) - $43.90
 Seafood & meat torta: Omelette with mixed seafood, minced pork & shallots - $12.90
 Camaron rebosado: Deshelled king prawns dipped in a delicious batter & deep fried - $16.90
 Hilabos na hipon: King green prawns in shells cooked in their own water with a dash of butter & chopped garlic & shallots - $16.90
 Hot chilli prawns: Large deshelled prawns cooked in hot chilli & fresh tomatoes - $16.90
 Adobong pusit (hot chilli squid) : Squid sauteed in garlic, onions, tomatoes & red hot chillies - $13.90
 Spicy calamari: Fried calamari slices topped with capsicum strips & chilli seeds - $13.90
 Stuffed crab: Stuffed crab shells (2) with delicious mixture of crab meat, minced pork & shallots served with sweet chilli sauce - $16.90
 Hot chilli crab: Fresh blue swimmer crab cooked in ginger, garlic & hot chillies - $19.90

Noodles
 Pansit bihon: A steaming mound of sauteed rice noodles with mixed vegetables & slices of tender meat & prawns - $12.90
 Pansit luglug: Rice noodles in homemade sauce sprinkled with smoked fish flakes topped with fried tofu slices, shrimps & sliced boiled egg - $13.90
 Pansit canton: Sauteed flour noodles with tender chicken pieces & mixed vegies - $12.90
 Sotanghon: Sauteed soybean noodles with tender chicken pieces & slices of carrots, beans & cabbage - $12.90

Vegetables
 Lumpiang sariwa (2): Homemade crepes filled with vegetables & chicken pieces topped with homemade sweet sauce, crushed peanuts & crushed garlic - $10.80
 Beef with vegetables: Tender beef fillets sauteed with a mixture of vegetables - $12.90
 Seafood with vegetables: Seafood chunks sauteed with a mixture of vegetables - $12.90
 Ginisang sitaw sa baboy: Long beans sauteed with pork strips in garlic, tomatoes & onions - $11.90
 Pinakbet: Mixed vegetables (eggplant, long beans, pumpkin, bitter melon) & pork strips sauteed in ‘bagoong’ (shrimp paste) - $12.90
 Stuffed eggplant: Stuffed with minced pork & wrapped in fried scrambled egg - $10.80
 Tofu with mixed vegetables: Tofu cubes & mixed vegies sauteed in traditional sauces - $9.80
 Chopsuey: Tender chicken fillets with mixed vegetables - $12.90

Rice
 Plain boiled rice (unlimited) - $2.50
 Garlic rice - $4.20
 Fried rice - $5.50

Desserts
 Halo-halo: Sweetened exotic fruits topped with shaved ice, milk & ice cream - $6.80
 Leche flan: Vanilla flavoured egg custard - $4.80
 Special biko (with langka & buko) : Rice cake with slices of young coconut & jackfruit - $3.80
 Cassava cake: Baked cassava topped with sweetened milk - $3.80
 Turon: Fried ladyfinger banana wrapped in pastry with sliced jackfruit - $4.50
 Ube yam: Sweetened baked yam - $3.80

Happy Easter

I hope all of you and your families enjoyed the Easter celebrations. As for us, we just stayed at home most of the long Easter weekend.

On Friday, we watched Ben-Hur (my first time) & realized it joins the Ten Commandments & Passion of Christ in the ranks of Good Friday movies. We attended the Passion Mass & Veneration of the Cross at 3pm. Our parish priest, Fr. John, in his homily focused on the importance of the cross in our lives and how thru the cross we experience the glory of love. Although the church was packed (we were standing at the back) it was so solemn that everyone was touched by his words. I was teary-eyed after the sermon.

My cousin (who stayed w/ us for 2 months) moved to her own apartment on Saturday morning so we helped her transport her stuff. Memories of our move last year came rushing back, I hope it will be awhile before we'll have to do that again ... and hopefully not until I've done some spring-cleaning!

On Easter Sunday, we joined our friends celebrate the baptism of their first child, Wolfgang Kris. The mood was festive, more so like Christmas, and just the best day for Christenings! Our friends imported their mum from Phil to help in the early months of their first child, so the lunch we shared were genuine lutong-bahay pinoy food c/o the mum. Yum!

Hubby & I just cruised around the city on Easter Monday. We were kinda interested about the Easter show but we ended up in DFO & we did some shopping (ok, ok, more of me while hubby was in the bookstore).

I'd say it was a quiet long weekend for us ... something new as we always did long drives from Manila to La Union back in Phil & a Sydney-Adelaide (+ unplanned Phils - another story) trip last year; and something we actually prefer doing so as to focus on the more important things of the Easter season (ok except the shopping hehe).

Hunter & Wollongong

Last weekend, we went on our first out-of-town drive up North, to Hunter Valley, where world-class wines & cheese are beyond expectations and picturesque country-side sceneries are a common sight.

This weekend, we opted for a shorter drive down South, to the coastal towns of Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Gerringong, and much to our surprise they were breathtakingly beautiful! We forgot how hot & humid it was, we got snap-happy under the sun for more than an hour. It was a shame that we just had 1 camera, with everyone taking turns to take fave landscape photos.

Here are some snaps from the two weekends.

Time's up!

If everything works out fine, and with God's grace, I will be back into the work-force again next week.

The four months of being a woman of leisure just flew by so quickly. I was so blessed to have spent wonderful quality times with family and friends visiting (1 from UK, 2 from Phil & 3 from US to attend cuz's wedding, 6 from Adelaide & Melbourne, 2 from Perth); to have travelled FREE with hubby during his business trip; to have visited family and friends back home; and of course, not to mention, having had too much "ME" time. God has been really good!




I will miss the "occasional" siestas, the TV-series & Koreanobela saga (me on a cold night reading subtitles of the Koreanobela!),





internet-surfing, chatting, weekday shopping, mid-day cooking, and just recently driving around when everyone's working!

{On an afternoon last week, I braved the weekday Sydney traffic and drove to the city to pickup hubby thru the scenic drive via the Eastern suburbs, DeeWhy & Manly Beach route. I did get lost on the way (ended up on the tunnel crossing the city) but found my way to hubby's office just in time as his meeting finished.}



So I guess playtime's up! Someone has indeed dragged me back to work :)

Wheels

After months of planning, shopping & waiting, "the car" was finally in our hands. When hubby arrived from his biz trip, we went straight to the dealer to pick it up. The feeling on the way was inexplicable. It was a mixture of excitement & anxiousness for me but more of the former for hubby. When we saw it, it was everything we expected it to be - worthy of the photo-op.

We quickly setup the tomtom (thank God for GPS!) and took "the car" for a spin. First stop was the airport - where the cousins were waiting. Then we drove straight to our friends down south (L, E&N), same people who welcomed us in OZ airport 17 months ago, and they were all nice to share our happiness.

It's been 17 months of "public-transport" & "hired-car" for us so it will be awhile before we get used to owning a private one. I will surely miss the long walks but I believe it's about time we discover more of what OZ has to offer. "Sakay na!"

Full-house

March 10, 2007

It was my newly-wed cousin's birthday (Natasha's) and she, together with her husband, left for Brisbane from Sydney. They were here for 3 days accompanied by her brother - also my cousin - from Melbourne, just chilling out before embarking on their round-the-world honeymoon trip. We were full-house but we all had a wonderful time, mostly at home, watching DVDs, feasting on food, and just having fun.

Crazy about YouTube

I've been crazily watching pinoy shows from youtube for a couple of days now. I was surprised at the quality of the videos, some of which even playing upto 40mins!

This all started when I browsed the Inquirer news reporting that the record-breaking most popular youtube video was the Kris-James-Hope issue. I then tried to search for that and discovered some other pinoy shows - tsismis and variety shows.

My faves include the "Deal or No Deal" and "Bulagaan" clips. Just can't get enough of them ... haha. Oh no, somebody drag me back to work please!

Reminiscing

Cleaning up iPhoto Library and found some shots that made me smile today. I wish I can work out as much as I did 5 years ago for my curves have now turned to bulges. Sigh! Those were the days.

Sick or not?

I think I am sick. Not physically sick but something's wrong with me.
-----------
I am going to a baby-shower tomorrow and I am over-organizing it. I am not even supposed to be organizing, I was just invited! When I got the invite I quickly asked what the theme was, if there was a registry, if there were games ... I have all these ideas and I've pressured the organizer so much. I was harsh. With all my calls, emails, SMS, I could hear her say, get off my back please! But I can't help myself, I am sick.
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A friend sends me an email and I reply back with a novel. I over-analyze her message, I read between the lines and I itemize what she needs. After sending my reply, I read my sent message over and over again and I wait for a reply. I am sick.
-----------
What is wrong with me ... am i sick? Or do I just miss work? Am I sick or do I just miss my hubby? Am I sick or am I odd?

5 Things About Me

Here are five things you probably don't know about me:

1) I am neat-freak (edited from "generally OC"). At night when everyone has gone to bed, I check to ensure that all throw-pillows are resting in the sofa the way I want them to be. I make sure all dining chairs are moved towards the table and are all aligned. I put away the clean undies by colors. I need the toilet bowls to be white-clean. I hate clutter on the floor. But almost always I am lazy to clean. So in the kitchen, I put aluminum foil on the stove top and put cling wrap on the kitchen wall tiles then just change them weekly.

2) I have a problem about sharing my personal stuff. I have been psyching myself against this since I went into a dormitory in college, but I guess no-one ever really changes totally. Some stuff I still do not feel comfortable sharing are my pillows, towels, comb, clothes, shoes, slippers, bags, lunchbox, tupperwares, my desktop, electronic gadgets.

3) I am not friendly but once I consider someone a friend, I do not give up on her easily. I give her the benefit of the doubt when she hurts me. I respect her fully - her feelings, beliefs, time, plans.

4) I do not force people. When they say No, I leave them be.

5) I am clingy. When hubby and I am on the couch watching tellie or on the bed sleeping, I need to feel that he's beside me, even if it means only our arms, our legs or our backs touching.

There you go. Hope you let me learn more about you too.

Happy V-day!

Fresh out of the oven ...

Weekend Visitors

Been busy since we got back, trying to catch up with laundry, chores, e-mails, posts and last weekend, on our first weekend back, my aunt came to Sydney for holidays. She was travelling with her husband, our wedding ninong sponsor, who was here for business trip. My 2nd-degree niece is also in Sydney from Adelaide trying out for job opportunities so we all got together and drove around the city on the Sunday. One of our stops was the famous Bondi Beach. Check this out ...

B-day in Beijing

I slept in and woke up at 10am today. Missing the hotel breakfast, I just munched on the left over red bean pastry I bought from the local bake shop yesterday then I started to prepare for bargain shopping in no other than the bargain shoppers paradise - the Silk Street. The last (& first) time I was here the shops were all in the sidewalk similar to what we have in Quiapo, Manila but now they've all been moved to a multi-level building. Check this out ...



I was at this building from 12 to 5pm and was back at the hotel just before Manny finished work. For dinner, hubby brought me to one of the chic new restaurants in Beijing and we both enjoyed the good food and conversation, with me sharing how I won and lost on bargains today.



That was how my day was spent ... I am officially out of the Roman calendar (uh-oh) but I have so much to be thankful for - one just waking up each morning feeling at peace, happy and healthy is already a blessing from God; living & spending quality time with my loved ones is another and the list could go on. I also have some fervent prayers waiting to be answered but I know He hears them and will grant them in His perfect time.

To everyone who remembered, thank you!

Coming Home

Yes, that is one facet of my out-of-work experience and has always been part of the game. We've planned for me to join hubby at least once on his trips to Hong Kong & Beijing and there isn't a better timing than this.

First, I turn a year older during the trip and forecast says it's going to be an unusual winter bday celebration going from +3 to -8 celsius. May not be fun for some but something different we get to experience together (can someone remind me of this post please when I start to whinge? hehe). Second, this trip is 3-weeks long allowing me time to swing by Philippines for a 10-day catch-up with my family & loved ones.

Sweet! So to all those dear to me, I will surely see you back home. Fishballs, dirty ice cream, tupig, mangga, facial, salon, spa, hot humid weather, and bum-tarat-tarat whatever that is .. here I come!

Grey's Season 3 in 3 days!

I was envious of friends who told me they've seen Grey's Season 3 so after NY-day we started downloading the files ;) and voila, in 3 days I've been made up to date :) . Well there were just 11 episodes so far so I guess that's not bad at all because that was in between laundry, ironing, cleaning, changing linens, shopping (groceries, just wanted to clear that!) & cooking - in fact I just finished cooking dinner for tonight and its just 2pm, ha!

I am so enjoying the woman of leisure in me right now. How long this will last is perhaps up to me (hmm, if not the bank account)!

So I guess I have to start picking up on where we left off on Prison Break.

Happy 2007!

How did we welcome 2007?

Hubby & I decided to just watch the NY eve Sydney fireworks from the tellie as watching it live seemed to require a lot more planning than we thought. We have neighbor friends, Mae & Alex with 3-year old son Rafael celebrating their first OZ NY, who had to be onsite by 6pm to get a decent spot. They witnessed the family fireworks at 9pm live but re-affirmed our decision to stay home instead as the crowd was getting worse.

We then invited them for bubbles and pasta over at our place & we jointly watched the 12midnight fireworks from the tellie. The impromptu NY eve get-together turned out quite a good idea after-all, since both of us didn't have families to celebrate with. The booze helped build the festive mood and we stayed up exchanging experiences in the land down under till past 2am - when 3-yo boy couldn't stop himself and blurted "Daddy, let's go".

The morning after, hubby & I were visited by our dear friends, and movie-buddies, Leng & Sherwin for NY lunch. Hubby prepared maki sushi (which was not bad for a beginner, thanks to our friend chaz) and we caught up with each other's holiday happenings & family and relatives stories while watching XMEN1.5 all over again.

It was a simple NY celebration for us yet the kind of thing we'd like to keep doing as there's nothing better than sharing quality time with your loved ones, friends included.

Happy New Year everyone and may 2007 bring as much blessings, less pain and more happiness in our lives. God bless!