Free fruit for kids at Woolies

It's only this year that I discovered that Woolworths gives free fruit for kids accompanying while grocery shopping! So, now whenever we are at Woolies, the kids get their choice of fruit from the allotted baskets (usually it's a choice of either a banana or an apple). I commend them for doing this incentive. It is a healthy snack option - we all know how kids are always (as in always!) hungry. We all know how impatient kids can get while grocery shopping! Offering this healthy treat is a good thing I cannot stress enough. I wish they have this in Manila too!

Ironic the healthy treat stand beside the chocolate treat one! At Macquarie Centre

Round the easter table

The family gathered around the big Easter lunch table is one thing I've been wanting to experience again. This year, we are celebrating Easter with hubby's parents and I'm sure their company will be enjoyed although we sadly anticipate the last few days of their holiday.

We are heading off to the Sydney Royal Easter Show, which would prove to be a fun family moment. Particularly for the little girl, who will experience the Easter Show for the first time this year. Surely I can imagine her squealing in delight, pointing at the animals on 'show'. With the rabbits taking center stage as far as she is concerned .. "wabby" as she calls those bunny rabbits.

Hubby would enjoy the Motocross show, featuring jaw dropping stunts and heart stopping motorcycle mid-air moments. There would be a few sports cars that would be doing their usual number as well = speed driving backwards, creating that dusty, amazing stunt. Ok, I do think this is quite fun too.

I'm sure though I will enjoy more the big tents that sell those fun showbags! A guide to various showbags to choose from get advertised in newspapers - enumerating what is inside the bags, etc. A lot of times the showbags get sold out quickly, so this should be our first stop on arrival! Sometimes the showbags include discount coupons, sweet treats, cool toys, etc. Showbag sponsors include: Magazine companies, Confectioneries, Softdrink makers, Toy makers, etc.

In the past, hubby and I enjoyed watching the Side Shows.. although I fing them a bit too gory and strange, we keep coming back to catch a glimpse of those entertaining performances!

Visiting the Easter Show reminds me of festivals that I used to attend back home, although not as similar to others, the whole ambience of being at a venue where the main purpose is to bond with the company you're with (family, friends, colleagues, etc). All that while enjoying the performances, rides, food (think fairy floss! aka cotton candy).. truly this weekend will be a fun way to welcome Easter. Of course, not forgetting the reason behind the season.

Taking photos

The past few days we've been going out during the day to take photos. We're lucky to have had really nice weather on saturday and sunday. We ended up going to the botanical gardens and the park a few blocks from our place. We also went around and did a bit of shopping again! Here's one picture I took. Not the best, but nonetheless I like it.

Where is Wally??

A few weeks ago hubby and I stayed for a few nights at a beach front property. That was one weekend that we enjoyed. The weather was perfect, was warm enough to enjoy the beach, cool enough to spend a few minutes on a picnic mat, etc. We did not have any tours planned, no itinerary whatsoever just plain and simple weekend of hanging out and enjoying each other's company. It was perfect! How I wish we could get on another getaway soon!

The heat is on!

For the past couple of weeks we've been having really warm to hot weather. As in hot spell. Last week we went to the beach for a few nights and on both days it was so packed. We did not sunbathe, but stayed under our new beach umbrella. We still got burnt tho. Especially me! Hubby just turned reddish brown, to think he already has man-ly dark skin he still got burnt! It was nice that we had our umbrella. We were discussing that we cannot imagine our previous beach lives without this. Now, obviously it will be a staple in our beach hopping days! See the photo below of Coogee beach with hundreds of people!!

Rain Rain go away

With the weird weather going on around everywhere, it is a bit difficult to keep up with what to wear. Out in the city today, the weather was quite nice to begin with, and then on our way home the weather got cool (borderline chilly with wind factor). Tonight got a bit worse, as hubby was on his way to work we could hear thunder so loud, and then it started to drizzle and then rain. This was a bit annoying, as I could not find our conjugal umbrella. I must have left it at work under my desk or it could be inside one of my millions of bags. Anyway, I don’t like it when hubby walks out in the cold, what more under the rainy on a cold night. Oh well, I suggested he take a cab instead, so he won’t have to brave the rain. He had his windbreaker on him, but he was just being stubborn to wear them, when he just wanted to carry an umbrella with him. We actually have bought quite a lot of this, but a lot of what one can buy here is not the strong kind. One of which even broke within seriously ten minutes of buying it.

I should probably order one from Manila, when my dad comes over, or something. Or, I should get hubby one of those sturdy mens raincoat, which is proven to stand the test of time at the same time is quite pleasing to the eye. For at least, this would save me from worrying about him and the cold nights.

Car Photo Circa 2008

Took this photo last year, one day I was with my family about town.

It happened so fast, a car whizzed past us, and I just snapped. I kind of liked how it turned out. And, the sepia tone created an even melodramatic old era photo-ish.

I must have taken so many photos with my SLR camera and as much as I want to try to organise them all, I can't seem to. Which is frutstrating. Well, at least I am trying to keep up to date with my scrapbooking. So far the latter is being updated.

Busy Sydney Intersection

In the heart of the city of Sydney there are a few intersections where people are allowed to criss cross the streets from all FOUR points (providing the lights are red in all car traffic direction-- see photo people criss crossing across the somewhat busy intersection). One of it is the intersection of George and Park Streets. This is usually considered the middle of the city, and it is where the Town Hall is located (see building in photo). This lovely architecture of a building witnessed and continues to witness various events such as: classical music concerts, rallies, Chinese new year performances, Bridal shows, to name a few at the top of my head which I have seen or attended. This major public venue has stood in its spot over a century! I am sure it would have an interesting history to it if I was patient enough to research on it.

The college I studied at when I first came to Sydney is located literally about 30 steps from the Town Hall, the Woolworths metro where I used to do a lot of my grocery shopping is just at the corner, coffee bonding moments with family and friends happened within this same block, countless dinner at McDonalds, at least five dozen films watched at the cinema within the same area, etc etc. A lot of my first few memories of Sydney life revolved around this photo.

One photo can ignite millions of memories for this writer, photographer, traveller, student, friend, lover, partner, etc. Really a picture can paint a thousand words. Perhaps even create a whole life story with just one photograph. The power of memory.

Lovely Christmas Pressies

Once in a while, my sister and I chat and we just exchange photos of pretty little things such, other wise known as Jewelry, Engagement Rings. We are both ring lovers. And since she is single but attached, and ever since we were young, she would obsess about getting engaged and tying the knot. Now she does it a little bit more often than me. Now that I am off the shelf, I don’t really indulge as much anymore. But of course, I still listen to her and comment on the lovely photos or links that she sends me about her current wish list goodie!

Just before Christmas, I was telling her to pick from a website what ring she wanted. Told her I’d get it for her for Christmas. And, asked her to pick other jewelry items for the rest of the family. And, then before ending the chat I told her to go and print them off the computer because these lovelies were my Christmas present!! She did, and gave the print out to the rest of my family! Haha! Oh well, I wish next year I could hand deliver my present to them. Although, most likely it will not be those expensive Diamonds or rubies!

A day late

:X

I am feeling a bit cross. I just missed the Visa pre-sale for Coldplay's Sydney concert in March 2009. I was so tempted to buy tickets to see them in Melbourne or Brisbane instead.. But then again, the concert's scheduled for the middle of the week! Hassle!!

Okay, I lie, at the moment there are Sydney seats. Single seats. Meaning no two seats seated together. So that's really no good!! :X

Should we just watch them in Melbourne???

Just Playing Games

I was reading through this Sydney magazine or brochure ( I think ) when I saw that there’s this mall along Darling Harbour which had a Laser tag venue located within the complex. I remembered the time when my siblings were here for vacation and thought to myself that I should have just brought them there, instead of having my friend drive us to the suburb about forty minutes away! Oh well, I should just keep a mental note on this for when they come visit me again. I am pretty sure we would not have to wear tactical pants or extreme protective outfits at this place, since Laser tag is not that dangerous anyway. But I will probably call the place just to double check, oh one can never tell nowadays what can or can’t be done or worn. Haha!

Winter is back today!

==========================
==========================
I am too cold to write much. See here.
==========================
==========================

You appreciate something when it's not there

That's the way it usually is. It's been just under two weeks that I haven't had proper internet at home! :X

I use my mobile 1 gig internet sparingly since I don't really know how much net I use normally for surfing or blogging. Good thing I can check my emails at work, so that means I don't have to when I get home!

One thing that I realised I am obsessed with now, checking either at work or on my mobile, is the current weather status!! I guess since we are in between seasons at the moment it helps me plan what I should wear. Just last week we had a couple of warm/hot days as in reaching 30+ degrees C. Now, we are again hitting 15/16 degrees!! But then again, you know how sometimes temperature inside the house is not necessarily reflecting how it is outside? Oh well.

I have to go, more updates soon!

Heeeellloooo Summer!

Okay, I may be too excited.. But the past few days we were all treated to nice warm weather. It may be all too good to be true yet. Only time will tell whether we are really welcoming summer days. I am excited and ready to plan summer trips!

On friday, as I was walking through the park in my jeans and sweater I felt the sun and decided to take my jumper off! It was that hot! I was thinking to myself, finally my skin would get a bit of colour again. Not that I am that white, or that I am intending to get sunburnt soon (I vowed to myself that since I am 30 now I will not expose my skin to too much sun anymore).

Cutting Corners

...is not at all the same as Cutting Cost.

I am just so annoyed with companies or management who would cut corners just to cut cost down. Oftentimes at the expense of quality. How annoying! My boyfriend and I talked about this particular big grocery chain in the middle of the city, who at 2 PM on a sunday afternoon had only one staff working on the till! And he was taking his time swiping and punching those numbers. Imagine the customer queue at that time. Took us a good 10 minutes just to buy that one bottle of water. There were other people in line who obviously were getting impatient too. This same thing happened to us last week as well. Same supermarket at about the same time. I would probably understand if it was a small town shop, but this was not one of those. Maybe they are wanting to lose their business to their competition a block away! Hmmm!

Cooold Sydney weather

We’ve been having just freezing cold weather recently, and I am so much looking forward to warmer days and nights! I know it’s still quite nice (say between 7 and 16 degrees celsius) and bearable compared to Europe or America winter. But still! I am just hoping I could hope on a plane and head to tropical country, or perhaps just go and check out Hilton head homes for sale, maybe it would be a lot warmer. Sometimes when it gets really chilly I just go to my boyfriend and tell him that maybe we should consider relocating to sunny Queensland (where it never really gets too cold). In the northern bit of Australia, it is always tropical and nice, just like Hilton head real estate, the prices of homes for sale Hilton head are a lot more affordable. In Sydney, I’ve read in the papers that there are more and more people buying together piece of land or property, like for example two couples purchasing a home together. It may not be ideal but with real estate being so high then it just makes sense to co-purchase property. I guess, I am just really griping and whingeing now because I am really cold!

Going Away (Party)

For young Australians it is common to go overseas to live for about a year or so. The culture encourages independence at a very young age, and a lot of them by the time they reach the legal age of eighteen would start moving out of their parents’ homes.

Last week a close colleague had a going away party at her nice posh house (looked like a designer home). Her boyfriend has been living in London for 2 years, and has just extended his work contract so they decided it’s time for her to move to London to live together. She invited all her close work mates, including one mature lady who lived on her own with only the company of her beloved dog who ate only the best dog food available. She couldn’t make it though as she had to take her dog to the veterinarian that evening.

At my colleague’s house, we were greeted with so much food, wine and her adorable parents (who even cooked for us!). It was such a nice night spent with colleagues. Too bad she’s leaving. Although of course for her it meant being reunited with her lover. I suppose all is for the best. Nowadays no one really stays put that long in one place. A move would happen to someone sooner or later. There are still a few though, who prefer to live and work in their hometown. I guess I’m not one of them!

World Youth Day in Sydney is Happening

Have you ever participated in a World Youth Day event? I have. If you have then you would know and understand the hype that comes with this celebration of World Youth Day in Sydney.

Did you know that until now, Manila still holds the record with 4 million WYD participants... I think Sydney now is just expecting about less than 200,000 delegates.

Nonetheless, living in the city hosting the event, one would feel the spirit coming alive. Well of course there are others who are protesting against this. Not everyone can be all pleased with this imperfect world we live in. Even the olympics, the dalai lama, G8 summit (etc) attracts protesters.

Anyway, I have been seeing a number of people in the streets, train station, malls, coffee shops who are obviously attending WYD (some have huge backpacker bags, uniform jackets with the logo, etc)... Some of them try to find their way around, some are just in awe with the city... One thing common in them is their glow. They have this sort of excitement in them that you can see brewing inside. I feel excited for them too. I am sad I won't be able to participate, but I just think to myself and say I had my chance and my turn in 1995 in Manila. I can say I maximised my experience back then. And so I cherish those memories. Now, I live in the city and just watch the delegates 'move'. In a way I will be with them in spirit. Wishing them the same if not more enriching experience as I had experienced during my first WYD in Manila.

World Youth Day Sydney is from July 15 to July 20, 2008. Activities are held in different venues in and around the city parameters. Activites such as catechism, vigil, masses, stations of the cross, etc.

Fortunately for me, from my office window we would be able to catch a glimpse of the happenings at Barangaroo (which is where the pope will be arriving to, and where the opening mass will be held). I will try to see if I can take photos and share them here.

On being tropical ~ A list

Having relocated to a country which has winter season, or rather a city which has got cold winter days, I have come up with my own ways to beat the cold days, or nights. Sydney's not known to have really cold winters, but for a tropical person like me, anything below 20 degrees celsius would have to be cold. I actually have gotten a bit better. I can do 18 degrees and still feel fine and dandy. But the other morning, it was about 5 degrees!! We all have ways to combat the cold weather... here's what I do to temporarily keep me warm.

• I take a long and hooooottt shower! Temporary warmth is better than none!
• I have a hot chocolate, and keep both my hands wrapped in the cup until I've absorbed all the heat.
• If I am at home, I just wear layers and layers of clothes beneath my blankie! I even use my PC sometimes don up with my hoodie, longsleeves, thick socks, scarf and to top that would be my wool blanket!
• Wash my hands with warm water!! nearly boiling! haha!
• If all else fails, then take whatever I'm doing and sit next to the heater!!
• Snuggle up and contain body heat! :)

PS> That week long trip to Mauritius was a great break from winterland Sydney! I am dreaming to be back there now...

Thoughts and more on Halloween Costume

I have spoken to my sister recently and we were just talking about the nice and fun holiday that she and my other siblings had in Australia. One of the activities that I booked them to go to was the Sydney Night Ghost Tour. This tour is quite popular in Sydney, as the owner and tour guide actually wore a Scary Halloween Costume. The husband and wife team would wear a vampire inspired costume. This couple was cool enough to wear their costume proudly prancing in Sydney’s streets, and have actually given me some cool Halloween costume ideas.

When I was new to the city, I have seen them around The Rocks area (which is an old district that was known for scary stories of ghosts and the like) in their outfit and found that interesting but weird. After all it was not anywhere near Halloween at that time. It was only later on that I found out they were conducting ghost tours that things made sense.

Nowadays it is not unusual to hold theme parties where the guests would have to come in their costumes. Whether it was Hollywood theme, or Super Heroes, or Movies. I was once invited to attend a couples theme party. I considered going with hubby, dressing us up in Superman and Supergirl costumes! I ended up not going to the party though because I was unwell.

In a few months, Halloween would be up. As a child, I remember loving to play dress up in costume, particularly during halloween. Going through my village doing trick or treat, dressed as a witch! It is such a shame though that trick or treating is not as popular as it is in America. People here don’t really celebrate it as much, otherwise, as old as I am now I would probably want to go in a sexy witch costume. Or, maybe not! But perhaps my future kids would love trick or treating as much as me.