Storms on Phill's birthday

Raging from Tuesday night to this morning was severe storms with speeds between 150-170km/h. I'm told that the speed for Hurricane Katrina is about 200km/h.

The winds were howling the entire night and I was so frightened that the house was going to collapse. Phill and I hardly got any sleep.

But when we woke up, we realise there was no power and when Phill dialled an enquiry line, we found out 30 other areas in our district was also without electricity.

Without much of a hot breakfast, we had a yoghurt bar instead, we decided to head to work and see if we might be able to get a shower there.

With Phill driving ahead of me, he suddenly stopped his car and told me to reverse. What had happened was a huge tree fell on our driveway, cutting off our route to the highway. There was no way out.
















We went home and Phill called the local council to ask them to clear the trees. We called our colleagues and bosses to say we are not able to be at work cos we couldn't get out.

We then scrambled for batteries to see if we could listen to the news on the wireless (radio). We finally managed to find 4 batteries and a radio that only needed that many to get it working after an extensive search.

I spent the morning drifting to sleep cos without a hot breakfast, a hot shower or even a working TV, it was abit boring and I was recovering from the loss of sleep the night before.

Finally at 10.30am, power came back on and I woke up with an excitement! The first thing Phill and I did was to have toasted bread and jam and he teased me that the jam he was having was kaya jam. I told him excitedly we mite be able to get some in Melbourne....aahhhh! Kaya Jam!

Later at 11am, we went to see if the tree was removed by the council but it was not. Instead, our neighbours had started working on it and were using a chainsaw to cut parts of the huge tree to clear a path through for our cars to drive out. We helped them for abit too but they really did the majority of the work.

I called Steve to say that I could drive to work now and if power was restored in Mansfield but he said there was no power so not to worry about going to work.

Phill and I spent the rest of the afternoon watching shows we recorded the past weekend and shortly after, my parents-in-law came home from Alexandra where they were since yesterday staying over at our family friends' home. Lucky they avoided the storm cos Alexandra wasn't affected.

My mum-in-law made a pavlova with mint chocolate on top for Phill's birthday and it was yummy! That is something we both look forward to....heehee!

Quite an eventful day for Phill's birthday but I sure am glad we got to spend it together the entire day.

However, I'm sure a little boy in Phill's class will be disappointed. He shares the same birthdate as Phill and for weeks he has been telling Phill, "not long now, Mr Brown, til both our birthdays".

Cute kid.

Racist comment

In the news today:
A racist comment by the New South Wales Opposition Liberal Leader, John Brogden, and two other indiscretions at a dinner to farewell retiring NSW Premier Bob Carr have left him shamed and apologetic, resigning as Leader of the party.

At the dinner, one newspaper report I read said that when he was asked what Bob Carr will be doing when he retired, John said something to the effect of Bob can go back to where his mail order bride comes from, for all he cared. Tsk! Tsk!

The Age Article

Helena Carr is Malaysian-born but she is not mail ordered. Then again, this is not the first of negative inference raised on mail order brides. There are some in our community and some do result in happy marriages.

Its just a different way people meet but it becomes an issue if deceit is involved. (boy, re-reading this sentence again and thinking abt it, it sure sounds like a bimbo statement. I think what I meant was if those mail order brides had a choice, they won't want to be "purchased" to be a bride.)

Crazy Monday!

Mondays are really crazy in the office. We start the day with lots of sports reports to type out. These reports are submitted by sports clubs representatives reporting on their weekend matches such as golf, tennis, footy (aussie rules football), netball, indoor bowls, etc, as well as the other news articles we are finishing up including weekend events.

I dread Mondays because I know the amount of work involved but on the day itself, all I want to do is to focus on the work and just keep working on it bit by bit until its done. And usually by 4.30pm, both Steve and I heave a sigh of relief and glad that its all done. It happens week after week after week. The exhilaration of getting it done is wonderful. A big smile on my face!

That leaves the rainfall report for tomorrow and that's the only thing we have to do, which takes 5 mins only. Yippeee!

Tank modelling

This is phill working intently on painting his tank with an airbrush. Its been 18 months since he bought the airbrush so to finally see him work on it was good. A good weather is needed to paint the tank though but cos it was windy today, he decided to paint it indoors but the fumes...phwoah! He spent the large part of the afternoon on it but it's not completed. I think Part 2 will be in a couple of weeks' time.

Seniors holding up our world

We got a weird request at work today. A lady came in to order a photo. It was a photo of an Anglican priest and his wife and the story was that they were leaving the town and heading to Melbourne. What the lady asked for was that the wife be chopped out of the photo cos she only wanted the priest in the pic (Anglican priests can marry in case anyone is wondering why he has a wife. =P) What a weird request!!!! Freaky!

On another note, I attended a Red Cross Annual General Meeting and saw that all the members of the Mansfield unit were mostly women and they were all much older women. There weren't any young members at all but I suppose they're all working. I've attended the meetings of several similar groups around town and its the same. And when they report their activities, my goodness, they do alot of stuff. Despite some of them struggling to walk, with a bad hip, and are half-walking and half-limping, their enthusiasm and drive are unmatched. What are we going to do without them? To me, they hold up our world.

Talk about perspective

I spent last night dreaming I was going from one panel beater to another to get a quote on how much it'll cost to repair my car so I didn't have that great a nite's sleep.

But then I had to interview a 83-year-old lady today for her wonderful work helping over 72 families who lost everything in a bush fire at the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia in Jan this year. She collects various household stuff and drives three days over 1200kms one-way to bring all the stuff to the families.

The average age of the farmers who lost everything is mid-60s so the older lady said that its difficult for them to restart their farming business again and some of them are so traumatised that they won't go to the door to take things that are given to them.

And then I think about my car, and I felt sadder for those families. I think my pain is subsiding. If I lost everything, my loved ones, my livelihood, my will to live, I think I have more of a right to be devastated.

Heartbroken....devastated!

I dented my car this afternoon trying to drive into my office carpark which is quite narrow. I looked at my side mirrors and it looked like there was enough space but when I surged forward, there was this crunching noise - I hit a wooden pole on my left. I knew I was in trouble. I reversed, made it into the car park and prayed that nothing was damaged. But it was, though not as bad as I thot it was. But cos of the damage, the whole left rear door would have to be replaced. I was stunned. I couldn't believe it could happen to me. Devastated. I can't quite put into words how I feel. I feel numb. I wished I could turn back time.

Immediately, I called the Mitsubishi dealer in Benalla whom we bought the car from and he said he could recommend a panel beater to me in Benalla cos there are good ones and bad ones. I said I'll go to him either tomorrow or Fri.

Being the anxious person I am, I also asked my colleagues for recommendations for panel beaters who would fix up my car in Mansfield. One of them quoted me $480 to replace the door, paint and repair it. That sounds like alot of money to me.....sob! Another panel beater said he'll have to check on the price of my door skin and will get back to me.

I feel really bad cos its a new car Phill bought me, brand new, straight from the factory. He has never bought himself a new car (actually he has only had 2 cars in his life cos he drove his first one for more than 10 years and it was really old, like more than 20 years old by the time he finished driving it) but he bought me one. I feel so bad, so sad, and cried heaps when I saw him at home. I couldn't stop crying. I feel like I've disappointed him. And it came at a time when he had called me at work earlier to say he got abit of extra money coming in and now, that has to go to the panel beater if it covers it. Its like money coming in and then now, we have to spend it. I hope I feel better soon. It feels like I've got a hole in my heart.

I know its a material possession but I wanted to prove to phill that I was able to take care of a new car he has bought me but......I pray its my first and last accident.

Mrs Brown

I watched an arts education play for the primary school kids this morning, took some pics and as I was leaving the theatre at the end of the performance, there was a group of really young students, maybe 6-7 years old, and one of the girl looked up at me and said "Bye, Mrs Brown". I said bye, smiled and walked off. But as I did, I wondered how she knew I was Mrs Brown. Did she see my name in the newspaper? At that age, is she interested in the paper? Did I hear it wrongly? Maybe she was saying something else? But it sure put me in a good mood, and I was smiling inside the whole day! I've never had a child call me Mrs Brown yet and it sounds so cute! =P

Strawberries

Phill came home today and said he bought some strawberry plants and big pots to grow them in so we can have fresh strawberries to eat. Ahhh.......my husband is getting to be a green thumb and enjoying the prospects of fresh produce right at our doorstep.

I've heard often from people who have gardens about how they'll plant certain things and how it taste so good but can never imagine myself doing so. But now with phill's enthusiasm, my interest mite be sparked. Now, I just have to overcome my fear of the unknown bugs, worms, and things that bite in the soil.

But for strawberries, my dad-in-law put potting mix in the big pots with the strawberry plants so that should be safe and I think I can do that.

I was trying to convince phill the past 2 weeks when we were planting trees and he talked about how we may need more trees, I said "maybe we can get cherry blossom trees". He laughed at me and said they're not native but it'll be nice though. I haven't been to Japan or China to see cherry blossoms so hoping to bring them to me.

Bye Bye...*sniff*

Our church had a farewell lunch today for a family who is moving to Melbourne cos of the father's work. Its abit sad for the church and for me cos I was beginning to know more about the couple. The dad is Egyptian and mum is Scottish and their kids are beautiful! When I asked to take a pic with the family, I held out my hand to hold their daughter, Lara's hand and she took my hand and was willing to take a pic, which her dad said is a miracle cos just the other day, she didn't want to take a pic with an old lady. I am flattered....heehee!

I went once to their house for bible study and their daughter, I think she's 3. Her name is Lara and she has this beautiful set of curls. Anyway, she could talk non-stop. But apparently, she was more hyperactive than usual that night. And she made me laugh so much, talking abt anything and everything!

We had a good lunch and there was a good spread but I only had a small pikelet (small pancake) with butter cos I feel bad for not bringing any food. I was going to but couldn't figure out what.

By the time I did my grocery shopping after church and went home, it was 2.10pm. Very unusually late. Church usually ends at 11.30am but cos of the lunch which was a good time to catch up with other church members.

Went home, had lunch and then Phill and I made rocky road, which is yummy! It is milk chocolate, with peanuts, marshmallows, glaced cherries, and it was yummy!!! I had to practise self-control not to eat the entire cake tin full of it. =P

We're definitely having fun baking new stuff each weekend. I am aiming for black forest cake one day. We'll just have to find an ingredient we think is not v common: kirsch.

Tree planting day

Phill and I planted about 20+ trees today.

He asked me mid-way through our tree-planting if I ever did imagine myself planting trees in Australia. I said it was fun but then again, I have no idea why, I got rather squeamish and didn't want to put my hands in the soil and cover each plant with it. Like I'll hold the plant, put up the guards, which involved 3 bamboo sticks and a plastic sheet to keep out the rabbits, wombats and other animals that will eat the plants. I think it got worse when I saw some bugs and worms in the soil but Phill still got his hands dirty, had soil under his fingernails. He's good!

Daffodil Day

A bouquet of Daffodils for my mum and aunt who survived cancer! Kudos to you for your courage and for blazing the trail!

It was Daffodil Day today and in support of cancer research, I bot 3 bouquets of daffodils and gave them each to my colleagues, Lynn and Dianne, as well as my mum-in-law.

According to the website, the daffodil was chosen as the symbol of hope for all touched by cancer because of its reputation as a hardy annual flower, pushing its way through the frozen earth after a long winter to herald the return of Spring, new life, vitality and growth.

I never really like Daffodils but they look really bright and pretty, being yellow in colour. I have a renewed appreciation for it and my colleague, Dianne, put her daffodils on her desk and I can look at it everyday now, til it withers.

Went up to Mt Buller today!!!

My colleague, Lynn, and I went up to Mt Buller today. I had to be there to attend a press conference cos they were announcing the new CEO for their board. Our company car is a 4-wheel drive but manual and I can't drive manual or rather, I can but I'll stall the car. So she offered to drive me up - so sweet of her! Turns out the CEO was the guy who is the acting CEO. A very nice guy whom I spoke to once on the telephone.

Anyway, heading up the 2nd time to Buller, I was abit apprehensive. Cos the 1st time was with Phill about 4 years ago and I felt sick whilst the bus was heading up the mountain. And when I was there, I felt like throwing up and turned really pale and couldn't walk very far cos I felt sick nearly the whole time. Anyway, as Lynn was driving up the mountain, she asked me if I get car sick and I remembered my previous experience and said I was just thinking about that.

But this time, I felt fine, felt great and not nauseous at all. Which was a great relief cos I want to be able to ski one day. And being up in the snow put me in a really good mood, even though it was very, very hazy and visibility was so poor, I couldn't see very much. Coming from such a hot country like Singapore, being around snow is a dream come true! A dream I had since I was young was to be able to touch snow.

And I met some of the people I call regularly for snow sports news. One of them was Sharon from the Buller Ski Lifts company and she asked if I ski and I said I thot I'll try tobogganning first. (Tobogan: A long, narrow, runnerless sled constructed of thin boards curled upward at the front end.) She laughed and said I should really try skiing. She's really nice. And her dad is the unofficial photographer for our paper - another nice person too. And then Sharon said to let her know whenever I was going up to Buller and she'll arrange things for me. Whoopeee! I mite just learn to ski faster than I thot I will.

Feeling better...

I was happier end of yesterday and also today. I felt that the workload was being shared as the person offered to attend two external events so I could concentrate writing my articles. That was nice and I appreciated it. And I find the joy of working coming back to me.

Last nite, Phill and I attended an office function. It was the Sports Star of the Year event where one out of 12 nominees chosen monthly would emerge as the Star of the Year. The winner was this 15 year old guy who's a sharp shooter. Anyway, Phill thot he was 22. But he's 15 and looks like he'll go far. Which is wonderful. He was so shy though.

We both had a good time and the food was very yummy! I had chicken and Phill had beef and it was yum, yum, yum! Cos my company paid for me, Phill had to pay $28 and cos he was raving about the food, I asked him if it was worth the $28 he paid and he said "oh, don't go there, gal" kiddingly. I understand his reaction cos we're saving right now to pay off the loan for my new car, the Mitsubishi Colt, and then saving up the deposit for a new house. So to him, any extra we spend on could go towards these 2 things.

Cheesecake and trees

We made the cheesecake today, finally! =O) It looked all messy and by the time we put the gelatine into the mix, it seems to have hardened abit. Being inexperienced, we decided to put it in somehow but then saw it was not dissolving and still lumpy. We then slot the non-bake cheesecake into the fridge and hoped for the best.

After that, I went and washed my car and Phill helped me which made it easier. It takes me usually slightly more than an hour but today, it was like 30 mins. Anyway, everytime I wash the car, he has to help me cos I can't reach the roof of my car or the top of the front windscreen.

Feeling real pleased that my car was all shiny and new, I suggested we go out to the fields to help his dad plant the trees we bought last weekend. His dad enjoys planting them but we feel guilty not doing part of the work ourselves. So in the howling and cold wind, we planted each of them and I said a prayer that they'll grow "big, strong, sturdy, and straight". We planted about 25 trees in 1 hour 45 mins and I felt like it was a great accomplishment. Perhaps we can do more the following weekend.

Amazing Love

We sang this hymn in church today and it no doubt touched me once again of God's immense love for us that I sometimes take for granted or forget the intensity and passion of his love. I love to sing hymns and this was one I haven't sung in ages. When I die, this is definitely one of the hymns I want sung at my wake/ funeral.

Amazing Love
1
And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood! Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
2
’Tis mystery all: th’ Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. ’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.
3
He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! ’Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
4
Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
5
No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Backstage Bazaar and Boys Toys Expo

For my work, Phill and I went to Mansfield this afternoon first to the backstage bazaar which is a little shop behind the cinema (pictured above). The cinema is just across from the road where my office is located. The place sells retro stuff, like old magazines and old-styled luggage, very English. I like and its only $2!!! But I refrain from buying cos now living with in-laws, we don't have very much space and I still feel like its their space so I'm trying not to mess it up anymore. =P

The house is very neat but with hubby and I, it sometimes gets too messy and I think my mum-in-law sometimes have to put up with this untidy trait of ours. I guess that's the little difference in living with someone else. I feel the pressure and stress of keeping it to a certain standard (but fail) and wish for the day I could have my space and just leave my clothes around. I guess I'll only frantically scurry and pack them up when there are guests....heehee! =P But it may be a different story once we have our own place. I may be such a neat freak it may frustrate the people around me. Hope not!

So anyway, back to that English-looking luggage, I told Melinda, shop-owner and she owns the Mansfield cinema too that I have my eye on the luggage and will be back to buy it.

After the backstage bazaar, we walked up to the sporting complex which is just ten minutes away and went to the Boys Toys Expo cos I had to cover that for the paper too. There weren't many people around. What was on display were like a supersized ute, tractors, toy cars, vintage cars and a V8 supercar. After looking at all the cars, Phill and I bot a sausage and onions in a slice of white bread for $2 each and it was yummy! One of the best I've tasted! It was crispy and hot and had the right flavour. I could eat more but didn't want to spend too much and to get fat. I can reserve my craving for another day.

And while we were sitting on plank of wood eating the sausages, phill asked:
"Did you see the ANZ bank stall in the expo."
Me: "Yes."
Phill: "Do you know how we can get the cute piggy bank?"
Me: "I think its for kids and if they sign up with the bank, they get the piggy bank."
Phill: "The piggy bank is cute."
Me: "I agree. Do you want me to ask them how we could get one too?"
Phill: "No, no. Its ok."

And that's why I like my hubby, we share the same tastes and he has no problems admitting to me that he likes cute piggy banks, just like I do. In fact, that was the one thing I eyed when I entered the expo.

The Play

Hubby and I went and watched a play tonite. He was abit reluctant initially and I said I am okay to go to it alone. But sweet guy that he is said, "You can't go to everything (that has to do with work) on your own. I'll go with you." So, at least, we got to spend some time together. *Big sMile*

Its titled "Its My Party (and I'll Die if I want to)" performed by a Benalla theatre group. Its about the father in a family who decided during his last few hours which happen to be on his birthday, to tell his family he's dying. Unbeknownst to him, his children have a few surprises of their own.

The play was not bad. There were some funny moments altho I thot the acting was uneven and the actors playing the dad and mum were stronger than the rest of the cast. The not as strong actors were not natural enuf cos they would say their lines, pause, then wait for the other person to say their lines. So the pauses were abit off-putting and detached me somewhat from the play. It was only then that I missed watching better quality theatre performances in my line of work back in Singapore at the arts council.

Struggle...

I struggle sometimes between what I ought to do and what I feel like doing.

Thinking about the uneven balance of work takes out the joy in me sometimes. I remember when I used to look forward to work but when its just me doing the running around, although I enjoy it most times, there are times when I wish the workload was shared.

Sometimes, I feel the tone of authority on me and know that the exertion of who's in charge is being exercised.

However, I appreciate the tips and contacts shared.

Then again, it sometimes gets to me that the person sits there on the chair and delegates the stories I should do while still sitting fixed on the seat not seemingly doing much or putting names to stories that did not seem to be written by the latter.

Its made worse sometimes when it seems that the person only wants to claim the important stories leaving me to write the pile of less important stories by virtue of where it goes in the paper.

I cared about that previously but have learned that the quality of my work should be more important than where it goes in the paper. I should be proud of the work I do. I can tell myself that on good days. On bad days, I just grumble and lament and also stand up to the person and make sure I'm not one to be bullied.

I am learning to be obedient if this is the process of maturity. In life, I'm sure I'll meet this type of person over and over again. What's the mature approach? I'm still learning and making mistakes and progress ...

Colddddd SNAP!

We woke up this morning to a frost-covered garden at home....brrrrr! The night was pretty cold that I was warm and cold throughout the night although thankfully, more warm than cold.

Here are some pics of how our garden, house, surrounding landscape looked like in a cold snap that doesn't happen very often.





























And Phill showing how the bird bath has turned to ice.....brrrrrr!





















Okay, I'm bringing out my emergency supply of King size duck-down blanket tonite. Looks like another cold one........*shiver*

Its sleeting! *where's the snow?* =O(

The sky looked rather dark earlier, at about 2.30pm. Looking out at the main window of my company, I thot the rain looked peculiar. Told Steve abt it and said it looked like its raining ice (that's the definition for sleet - Precipitation consisting of generally transparent frozen or partially frozen raindrops). He stared at it for abit and said yes, the raindrops looked abit chunky.















Anyway, we ran out together with our other colleague, Carmel, who's only just joined us. And we were standing outside the company, with me crazily snapping photos of the sleet. We were standing around joined by a staff member, Irene, from the printing shop nearby and wondered when it'll snow.

Anyway, Irene said the last time it really snowed in Mansfield was 34 years ago. She woke up one morning and found the clothes on her clothes line, trees and everything just covered in white snow.

34 years ago??!!! Could this be the end of the 34 years?

I doubt so. Looking out the window now, the sun is peeking through those storm clouds. And I have to head off to cover a meeting soon at Merrijig, which is like 15 mins drive away. I've not been to the place before but have been given directions. I hope I don't get lost. If I unknowingly drive past it, I'll just move to the side of the road when its possible and then do a U-turn and head back. That tends to be what I do when I'm at a new place.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....in Mansfield, please.

Happy National Day, Singapore!

Its strange that I don't get to celebrate National Day in Singapore - something I've done for the past 6 years after I came back from studies in Australia.

Did my own little celebration by singing "Majulah Singapura" to hubby when he woke up this morning but he mucked up the lyrics and sang his own Singapore anthem by inserting words like "Plaza Singapura". Distracted me enough to laugh and anyway, I really can't remember the lyrics to Majulah Singapura. I know there's a Mandarin version but have no idea how it starts either. See how hopeless I am of remembering anything that is not English unless I guess I commit it to memory or have it drilled into me.

Derek said this morning whilst chatting with me on Messenger that Singapore had its independence thrust into her so its abit forced to be celebrating it. I can understand that but I reckon its better than Australia who doesn't even have a national day to call its own. Well, it has Australia Day on 26 January but that's not the same as our National Day.

However, I didn't know what political freedom really means until I've been here, working and all. As long as there is no arguments about political affiliations, they do talk openly about politics, policies and their politicians. I can't say I am more astute in the area of politics but I guess I'm more aware of the issues around which I guess is helped in my line of work.

And also the fact back home, we watch like 3 different news bulletins on TV successively becos of Phill. From 5pm-6pm, 6-6.30pm, and 6.30pm-7pm. I get all "news-out"! And I think I "shut down" at the end of the 5pm-6pm news bulletin. =P

Its funny though how being away from Singapore makes me miss her, more so just things I'm familiar with and its a place where I feel right now I can be myself, be comfortable. I know with time, Mansfield (where I work), Benalla (where I go to church), Lima South (where I live and its between Mansfield and Benalla) will become more familiar to me than Singapore.

But one thing I'll never stop missing are my family (not just immediate family) and friends. I wish I could transport all of them to where I am. Maybe I won't miss Singapore so much then. Oh yah, and the food too, bring them all over, I say. =O)

Happy 40th birthday, Singapore! I wish for security, peace, safety, morality (in terms of see what the casino construction is doing to our morality. I feel like we've sold our soul), lots of fun, honesty and prosperity!

Planting trees is never fun but buying them are!

After church, went to fill up my car with petrol and when I came back to the car, there were a group of young guys in the car next to me and one of them was smiling at me. I smiled back but wondered why he was smiling at me?! Maybe he liked my car. =O)

Then, I went grocery shopping and picked out stuff for the cheesecake and banana smoothie Phill was making. Yum! Yum!

Interestingly enough, as I paid for my groceries, the cashier asked if I was making a cheesecake and I said yes but its my husband who is making it, not I. As I was moving away, she asked the customer behind me if he was making a stew. She got that right too as I took a quick glance at his stuff. Guess that helps keep boredom away by playing "Guess what they're cooking tonight".... =P

When I arrived home, had lunch, Phill and I went to the Agritree nursery just a few mins drive from where we live to buy 40 red box gum trees, 40 peppermint trees and 40 golden wattle trees. He plans to plant them along one part of our fence cos our neighbour has been building a house some distance away on the other side of the fence since last year. The house is still not completed yet though. Anyway, the trees will give us some privacy so they can't look in on our property. Hubby can't stand to have neighbours too close by. He prefers them out of sight.

It was fun buying the trees. They are so small at the moment but we will be planting them from next weekend onwards, maybe over 10 weeks. Maybe it gives me the feeling not so much a farmer's wife but a temporary tree-planter's wife. I don't think I'll be digging the ground with the pick but will help put the guards around each plant. At least, that should be easy and fun enough!

Upon returning home, we were going to make the cheesecake and realised we didn't have any whipped cream (we thot we did but Phill's mum had used it all for a cake she made yesterday). Shucks! And I was so looking forward to that. So that's postponed for the next weekend.

The banana smoothie we made tasted healthy enough but we put too much honey and the smell of the wheatgerm was a tad too strong. We'll try again another time, with only 2 tablespoons of honey and also just 1 tablespoon of wheatgerm (instead of the recommended 2 tablespoons).

Top 100 Movie Lines and more....

Hubby and I were talking abt the top 100 movie lines from a show we were watching last night.

Some of the famous lines were from Godfather, Casablanca, Clint Eastwood's movies and of course the top line was from Gone with the wind - "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn".

Then he decided that they had left out some of the better movie lines from a Chinese movie and a Hindi one too. These are what he thought were crucial lines that should have made it to the top 100.

Chinese movie:
"Love, please pass the rice."

Hindi movie:
"Love, please pass the pappadum."

*ROTFL*
Funny Hubby!

Helping Venilale, East Timor

A pic of my colleagues and I.

We had to take this pic to include in an upcoming edition for the newspaper, under the supplement "Know Your Local Trader".

(Left to right): Tarsha Souter (work experience journalist), Me, Elise Turner (advertising), Dianne Jenkins (layout and design), Lynn Plummer (administration), Carmel (advertising) and Steve (journalist).

I had to cover an after-hours event today.

It was one of several fund-raising events to help Venilale, an area in East Timor.

The Mansfield Shire (the area where I work) signed a friendship agreement with Venilale in May this year agreeing to implement several initiatives to help them.

The first was an exchange teacher from Venilale, Pedro Maria de Sousa, who arrived 3 weeks ago and is learning teaching techniques that he could pass on to his colleagues.

When I left home at 7pm to drive to Mansfield, hubby had this queer look on his face as I said bye at the main door. I think its a furrowed brow look, a worried look. I think he'll still look that way until I return home. Quite cute though that he's worried abt me - very touched!..... =O)

Returned home at 9.45pm, quite tired but happy with the photos I took and the write-up I have in mind.

It was strange though at the event when the Venilale teacher, Pedro, was making his speech.

Even hearing his accented English made me feel at home, like it was something familiar. I think being away from an environment that has many languages, hearing only English sometimes leaves me wanting more.

Stepping into the office and greeted by FISH!

*pics of Fish running around so much it was difficult for me to get snaps of her. my colleague tried to pat her to get her to stay still. These were abt the only successful shots I have of her*

What can make one happier than to start the working day with a warm lick and jumps up your leg? One of the guys in the workshop 2 doors away just had a new Jack Russell puppy called Fish. She's only 10 weeks old but so cute and she loves walking away from her owner and just jumping up at me and coming to our office. I love her! And I love the irony of her name - Fish! Heehee..... =O) When her owner tried to get her to follow him back to his workshop today, she bit him (not painful cos its still baby teeth) and then barked at him. She didn't want to go....awwww! sweet!!! =O)

I watched Frasier last nite with hubby and it was the episode of Frasier's dad going to a school to do some road safety lessons with his dog, Eddie. And Eddie was just so cute! And I was telling hubby about Fish!

Yesterday's seminar at Wangaratta was good. We learnt about how we should be careful, defamation laws, style of writing, and many legal cases were raised of how some journalists were sued and the arguments in the case.

Some of the new things I learnt was and which I thot were interesting:

• In one example, during one local election (much smaller scale than state elections), one elector (resident of the area) was very frustrated with one councillor that he went and printed a mock-up of a Qantas airticket. He wrote down all the frequent flyer trips he made and he made 2 other mock-ups of other things too and distributed them to other residents. Anyway, this councillor then brought him to court for defaming him. Thing is, in elections, under the democratic process, anything (true or false) could be said against a politician. The judge basically said that the politician was fair go. Wow, talk about a liberal process.....now I know!
• Even though I have a digital voice recorder, I have to ask the person I interview permission to record the interview and not assume that he should know that since he's speaking to a journalist, that it is being recorded. My other journalist colleague (its juz 2 of us) told me that I could make that assumption initially which he heard from one of the editor from the head office. But big bosses yesterday said we must state, to cover ourselves.

I enjoyed the session even though it was fairly long. But boy, the driving was tough. I don't have passengers in my car ever, except Phill, so when I had to drive my colleague and I to the Wangaratta office, I was really nervous. And after nearly 3 hours of driving, I was badly cramping on my right side. My shoulders and arms were really hurting. At one point driving down the country road, I veered too much to the left. I was frustrated with myself but later on realised that cos I was cramped badly on my right that I may have over-compensated on my left when steering.

I've got a major story on my hands today cos my colleague came in to tell my co-journalist and I about it. I was chasing this story since last week when she first told me so its my story. Anyway, I was pretty pissed off with my co-journalist cos when he heard the news that the "rumour" is confirmed, he called the chief editor straight away and told him about it, etc, and then when he put down the call, he asked who I've called so far, knowing full well I've been chasing the story since last week. He said the chief editor said it mite be a cover story or page 3 story. So without batting an eyelid, I asked him, "Are you doing the story now?".

I think he turned red for abit and said no. My colleague who gave us the story and him then were nice enough to suggest people I could interview.

Reason I was pissed off was cos yesterday, he had to go up the school to cover a story at 10.30am and anyway, at 11.10am, he realised he forgot all about it and asked me to go. I was not v happy cos now it will appear I was late. I offered to drive him there but he said he can't make it cos he's tied up. And now, cos this story that my colleague is giving us is turning out to be major, he wants to do it? Makes me think he only wants to do the important stories and leave the other stories to me. Hmph!

If this carries on for another month or so, I'll need to speak to him about it.

Oh, oh.....

It was a good time hanging out with my colleagues last night. We talked abt many things, from whether a lady should change to her married surname, cancer, the dangers of smoking (only 2 other colleagues and I do not smoke. one quit recently through hynoptism), about our competition - the other paper in our town - and general stuff. And this was over 5 small-medium pizzas (it fed us all), wine, beer and soft drinks (courtesy of me cos I'm allergic to alcohol).

Two bosses came over for the end-of-financial year party, one was the general manager and the other was the sales manager.

When talking abt wives who do or do not adopt their husband's surname, the general manager said he read some stats previously that marriages where the wives do not adopt their husband's surname are twice as likely to end in divorce than those who do. Like he explained, it may sometimes be an indication that the wife is a headstrong woman which may lead to problems later on in the marriage.

We talked from 5pm-8.30pm. It was my first company gathering and it was fun!!!

However, I did not do something which made me regret the whole night. I did not call hubby to say I'll be later home. I had told him I'll be home about 7pm so when I did not arrive home by then, he called me on my mobile several times. When I did reach home at like 8.50pm, he told me he had called me. I apologised and promised to call him in future. I did think about calling him but somehow thought that I'll be heading home soon and as time went on, it got later and later.....arrrggghhh! He was so nice about it, it made me feel bad for making him worry.

This is where I work...

The above pic is the building where I work, actually more like the left half of the building. The other half is made up of a printing shop and a pump shop.

And my office is just next to the police station which means I feel rather safe cos potential criminals won't be so inclined to make trouble just next to the police station!!! And the post office is next door to the police station and that's where I go nearly everyday to pick up my mail and that wonderful telephone connector thing to my digital voice recorder ~~~ YEAH!!!

I'm going off to a full-dress rehearsal at Mansfield Primary School in 1.5 hours' time as some kids from the school will be heading to Melbourne this weekend for a musical performance. I gotta cover it for the paper so I gotta go but it should be fun. Its from 12pm-3pm though and I doubt I'll be staying for that whole period. Maybe just one entire run of the performance which is about 4-5 mins long.

I have to go to the company's HQ at Wangaratta tomorrow afternoon for a training session. Both my colleague, Steve, and I have to be there at 2pm so we gotta start off at 12.30pm. Yes, it takes 1.5 hours to drive there and another 1.5 hours back. By the time I drive back, it'll be really dark and I HATE to drive in the dark cos I'm not a great driver at the moment. There are no streetlights cos its too expensive to light up the entire countryside, only reflectors on the road.

But something to look forward to this afternoon is that 2 bosses from HQ are coming over to bring our papers for us (we're supposed to pick up the papers once a month - other times, the Wangaratta staff helps us with the delivery) cos our newspapers are printed there and they're having a pizza and beer night here!! No beer or wine for me but pizza!!! I think I'll buy my own Coke!!!

Watched a UK show on Sun nite - "You Are What You Eat". Very scary....a nutritionist shows a person each episode how much they consume each week and its usually unhealthy, no-vegetables kinda diet. After watching that show on Sun, hubby asked me if I wanted some chocolates. I was so freaked out, I said, "No thanks, I think I'll have an orange instead."....then again, it'll wear off soon and I'll be back to my chips, chocs and soft drinks sometimes diet......=P

Happiness and Relief!

Can one be so happy over something so minor.

The result of quite a few nightmares whilst I was still in Singapore, I sure am glad I've got it settled.

I was unsettled when I had not bought my digital voice recorder, an essential item in my job as a journalist but when I realised I needed a set of wires to connect my recorder to the telephone, I panicked.

Calling up several stores around the area where I am in Australia did not bear fruit until I was told by a shop owner in Shepparton that my last resort will be an online store in Adelaide!!! So I did the dutiful, enquired online, was told if it does not work, I'll get a refund, placed my order and waited for the beautiful little package to arrive.

It did, this morning. I was really nervous getting it all connected. At the back of my mind was the thought it may not work. But it did!

Who would have thot a small device like that will cost so much A$97!!!



But the main thing is it works and I can now conduct my phone interviews in peace, knowing that I don't have to scribble like a madwoman..... =O) And most importantly, I have evidence if someone says I misrepresented him/her in my article.