80s Flashback

I was hit by a double dose of 80s flashback! I went to the 'Tears for Fears' and 'Spandau Ballet' concert this weekend.

I enjoyed TFF more as I knew more of their songs (i.e. Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Shout, Head Over Heels, Woman in Chains, and more). I thought I knew a lot of SB's songs but I only knew these: Gold, True, Communication, Round and Round).

Abseiling

The day after the horse races, we drove to Glenworth Valley, about 1.5hrs from Sydney (around Gosford area) and tried abseiling. New experiences for me this weekend.

It was really scary at first especially when you get to the ledge and you have to support yourself by putting one hand behind your back and supporting yourself (of course, someone is belaying you, too).

We started off at 6m, then 15m, and last was a 23m height with a cave down below. It was fun!

Check that off my list!!!

Races at the Royal Randwick - Autumn Carnival 2010

I got 10 tickets to watch the horse race which was sponsored by my company, David Jones, at the member's lounge. I've always wanted to check out the races where you get to dress up and bet on the horses. And so we did! I spent about $40 and got about 50% ROI. Not bad and we enjoyed it! Got the tickets for Free!!!

McDonald's after Good Friday

Just like last year, after fasting and eating no meat on Good Friday, we drove to McDonald's at midnight for a midnight snack. I think we'll make this a tradition every year now. He he.

When I first arrived in Australia, my coworker kept saying that she went to Mackers for breakfast this morning. I never knew what Mackers was. We called it Mickeydees (if that's even how you spell it) in the US. Or McDo in the Philippines.

Surprise Bday Party!!!

Grace organized a surprise birthday party for Michelle one Sunday. She made sure Michelle was gonna come before she invited everyone else. Well, everyone else showed up except for the Guest of Honor.

Childcare Playsession

I've been taking a childcare course at TAFE since February to get my certificate. This past Saturday, we had a playsession and we learned to make playdough and paint from scratch. Its so easy and cheap to make and most importantly, fun for kids and adults.

Here are the recipes:

playdough

cooked:

2 cups plain flour

1 cup salt

4 tbsp cream of tartar

2 tbsp oil

2 cups water

colouring (add color to water before pouring to mixture)

mix ingredients together and cook gently over low heat. stir all the time until it thickens.

uncooked:

4 cups flour

1 cup salt

1 tbsp oil

2 cups water

colouring (add color to water before pouring to mixture)

mix ingredients together. add flour if dough is sticky

PAINT

cornflour paste

add 2 cups cornflour and stir a small amount of cold water and mix til smooth, watery consistency (kindda like milk)

carefully and slowly add boiling water stirring continuously until thickens. mix til smooth paste. add color

ENJOY!!!

Aussie Citizenship

In celebration of me getting my aussie citizenship, my friends gave me a few small gifts:

1. An aussie flag

2. Top 100 Aussie songs of all time

3. My own bottle of vegemite (which I like)

4. A quiz on Aussie Slang (don't even get me started on this. I'm not even up to speed on American slang. Maybe its a good thing)

Am waiting for them to buy me the drinks...and believe me, if I had to try all the beers in Australia, it will take me forever.

God save the Queen!

Miranda Kerr

David Jones had their Winter Fashion Launch and I got to volunteer to be a seat filler / usher. You know how in the Oscars, when the audience goes to the toilet, they have seat fillers so when the camera points to the audience, it looks like the place is full? Well, some of our guests didn't show up so I sat on the audience next to top Aussie designers and celebs...I don't really know them.

Miranda Kerr is our company's ambassador and she was the opening runway model for the fashion show. So exciting!!! This is the closest I will ever be to a Victoria Secret Model.

Citizenship Test

I passed my Australian citizenship test!!! Woohooo!!!!

My Birthday Cakes!!!

I had too many bday celebrations this year. My first cake is a tiramisu (c/o Sovanni). The first celebration is with my Legion of Mary group at St Mary's Cathedral.

Then at work, they bought me a personalized sized cake (chocolate yummy cake!!! I should have taken a picture of it).

On my actual bday, Mei made such a beautiful, almost professional cake. She's been taking professional classes and taking courses from YouTube. She said she'll make my wedding cake...by then, she'll be a PRO!!!

Two days later, Mei made another bday cake for me and LJ to share for our bdays (see left picture). I cooked a Mexican dinner just for the Alviar cousins + Mei. This one really looks cute. She made two of these on one day.

The third and last cake that Mei made me is for the big birthday celebration (see right). Gosh, too much practice on me, Mei.

Symphony at the Domain

I can finally complete all the free concerts at the Domain every start of the summer season. I've done the Carols at the Domain, Free Opera and Jazz, Tropfest...and the last one, the Symphony!!!

All morning, the weather was about 40 degrees. We thought, if we get there by 4pm, there should be a lot of good spots for us to sit since the weather would have turned off a lot of people. And sure we did get a good spot. At around 5pm, it started to rain so hard!!! Ay yah!!! Bernadette and I were wearing white. We decided, let's go to David Jones (my company) to buy some change of clothes...while we left everybody else in the rain. Haha! We were at the department store for about an hour. When we finally got out and got changed, the sun started to come out. Geez!

Anyway, we enjoyed the night. Just a drizzle here and there.

More of Surrounding Adelaide

Glenelg - apparently a cool, hang out place near the beach. We went to the beach and made a sand castle. That's Noli and LJ looking like fetuses inside an ovary (probably not biologically correct) but we all thought it was funny!!!

Here's another picture of Glenelg - I think the picture on the left just ruins the whole thing. Haha!!!

Port Adelaide - nice Lighthouse! There are ferries on this port where it will take you to see dolphins. Sometimes, they would have movie nights with the lighthouse as its backdrop. Next to it is a huge warehouse which they've turned into a flea market. This is where I bought my first books of the Chronicles of Narnia. I have yet to complete my collection of all 7 books.

There's definitely more to see in Adelaide. I wish I had a few more days there.

Mt Lofty & Handorf

The view of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, from Mt Lofty.

Then we headed to Handorf, a little German town, just a few minutes away. The Germans first settled in South Australia and made this place their home with the traditional Budweiser horse carriages, a Brauhaus (brewery), shops selling cuckoo clocks, puppets, and of course, we had some schnitzels, and sauerkrauts, and beer (well, not me).

Its a cute little town that reminds of this Danish town in California called Solvang.

Granite Island, Victor Harbour

Boxing Day in Adelaide - Dec 26, 2009

Alviar cousins and I went to Victor Harbour where they have Granite Island...an island full of granite stone (you know, like the one you put on your kitchen countertop).

I would have to pick this picture of my nephew, Rafael, as the best one...standing on a big piece of granite stone. The inspiration - we were listening to Michael Jackson on the way to Victor Harbour.

Xmas in Adelaide - 2009

We spent Xmas in Adelaide, South Australia, with cousin Noli and family this 2009. We arrived on Xmas day when everything was closed. It was a ghost town, which was good! We drove around the city with no hassle.

Adelaide is where the free settlers immigrated to when they first came to Australia. It is the capital city of South Australia. It is also called the city of churches...it seemed like every block, they had a church...different denominations.

(picture was taken infront of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church)

Pulp Fiction

When was the last time you saw the movie 'Pulp Fiction' on the big screen?

We went to Centennial Park for the Moonlight Cinema to watch the movie on a big screen outdoors.  We had our picnic blankets, our food, and drinks.  We almost didn't make it.  The projector wasn't working when we got there and it started to drizzle.  Fortunately, they were able to fix the projector just before sundown and it was only a light drizzle.  The movie finished at midnight and that's when it started to rain hard.  So lucky!!!

Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's has invaded Australia. Their location in Sydney is at Manly beach.

We went there one day and all of a sudden, my friend screamed!!! My friends were so excited...and so was everyone else. There was a long queue outside. Gosh, its been years since I've had Ben&Jerry's. So I ordered my favorite, chunky monkey!!!

Unknown fact: did you know that Ben Stiller's dad is Jerry Stiller, George Costanzas dad in "Seinfeld"? Ben & Jerry!!!

Nov 18, 2009

I don't know the subject of my blog.

Anyway, I met up with a friend of mine visiting from the US.  We had lunch at St James Hotel, just near work.  While we were ordering, I asked this guy if they were wrestlers coz their manager looks familiar from the World Wrestling Federation (yea, I used to watch that).  He said, yes, and they were in Sydney for Hulkamania.  

So who was their manager?

Jimmy Hart - still wearing those dark sunglasses, as usual. 

Archery

Have you tried archery before? Something I've never done before.

So I went to the Olympic Park, got my gears (nothing really but an arm guard so the string doesn't scratch on your skin). I had a 1.5 hour lesson and an extra free lesson while waiting for my friend.

This sport gets tiring on your arms. Once you've positioned yourself, you should just hang on to the arrow for 4-5 seconds then let go. Otherwise, your arms get tired and they get wobbly. Another tip: if your arrows keep hitting high, move your bullseye on your bow higher. And vice versa (confusing). And keep your hands just below your chin while your tumb and pinkie are tucked in your palms.

I hit the yellow bullseye a few times! Yay!!! And some, completely went over the target far and beyond.

Happy Halloween!!!

How did she do that?!?!?