Cupcake Memories: Life in Sydney, Australia

I do occasionally watch mtvs online but hardly watch tv series or movies on the internet because I can’t pause it for too long and then continue when I am free. A friend once asked me how to download youtube videos and I told her it was impossible to do so. How wrong was I. Of course you could do it nowadays with the correct software or application.

It is easier to watch something saved on your hardware rather than live streaming so that you could stop whenever you want to and continue at your leisure. But for now, I certainly can’t afford to spend much time watching anything.

Gosh, do I feel tired right now. And I didn’t even do the hosting but merely took my little girl for a play date with her school mates. We left home at 10.30am, picked up another mother and her little girl. Then off we went to another mom’s place who hosted the play date. She served us lunch as well. We love gathering at her place as she always had us well fed and I kid you not. Which means she’s raised the bar for the rest of us mothers when it’s is our turn to host *LOL*

Anyway after leaving the play date at 2pm, I sent the other mother back but my little girl and hers wanted to continue playing – gosh! So we stayed at this mother’s house and let them play – watched Rio on their 3D TV and then played on the iPad. Gosh kids these days! We finally got to leave at 4.30pm. Came home, showered my girl and prepared dinner.

How could I be tired when all I did was drink espressos, eat and talk the whole day long??  I feel ashamed, *LOL*

I so wish I would be starting a new career this year as most of my local friends have already gotten themselves jobs. Some are even taking up courses to better the chances of landing a good career like in Dietician or Nutritionist Jobs.

For me, it would be preferable to work from home as I do not have the heart to send my girl to before and after school care. I do hope I would be more organized and focused this year on what direction I am heading now that my girl is into her second year at school.

I wish all mothers who are seeking a career this year, all the very best in your job hunt.

This year sure did not start off with a bang for us. It was a quiet new years. Amazingly none of the immediate neighbours held a party. In previous years, any one of the neighbours would hold a huge party with blasting music way past midnight. Phew, thank goodness it was a quiet as a mouse this year. I am assuming they must all have gone to party at their friends’.

We didn’t go to watch any fireworks either, at the request of our little girl. She is afraid of the firework sounds and was not interested to watch it. We also didn’t bother to count down on TV. Just hope that this new year will be as peaceful as how the day one of new year began.

It has been quite awhile since we went to a house party with over 50 people and last night was it. It was good because for the first time, we went to a party filled with my fellow countrymen, which spelled good food and not to mention, noisy (in a good way). Thanks to my good friend who invited me to her cousin’s party and little did I know that her cousin actually remembered who I am whereas I didn’t. Other big parties we went to did not have any of our fellow countrymen at all, so this was a complete change for us.

Anyway, it was this huge house located near our suburb. We had the chance to roam around their beautiful garden. There was no pool but I am sure some of their neighbours would have one. I wonder why the cousin didn’t have a swimming pool? Is it because of the cost of installing houston fences around the pool area? Judging by the size of the house, cost didn’t seem to be a factor to them. I guess the maintenance part must be tedious. Maybe I will ask them the next time round.

It’s Boxing Day! Shoppers (especially those shopping for high end products) must be waiting for this day every year. Me too but not that much … only as much as my budget allows. Generally I only pick up things that would be useful and seem like a good bargain. As I discovered, the prices get reduced further after the Boxing Day sale when they have Stocktake sale or year end sale or New Year’s sale … gosh, whichever name the retailers come up with.

The only other “want” item outstanding in my list is a tower fan. I’ve already bought an Sunbeam iron to replace my current 7 year old one. Thank goodness there are no more household items we desperately need. It will just be a leisure bargain hunt if any.

It has been such a long time since I had a girls gathering without kids. It was good. I just wish my house is more pleasant to host the girls – maybe some time next year. Anyway, it was nice to catch up and be able to talk about everything, from school, cultures, life to getting the best insurance quotes from http://wholesaleinsurance.net while being fed with lots of yummy foods by our gracious host.

My friend has set a standard which I think none in our group could surpass! Muffins, samosas, expressos, roti and curries! I’d better improve on my baking and cooking skills before it is my turn to play host.

Finally completed installing and making use of all the Christmas lights we have got, didn’t think it was possible as we had earlier scratched our heads about power points. Gosh and you wonder how others with hundreds of lights and decors, managed to connect everything safely.

I noticed several of the usual houses that had lights every year, did not bother to install them this year. I am guessing it must be the rainy weather that is putting many people off. I can understand that. In fact, I told DH not to bother too, since the weather is unstable. But he did it anyway.

I must say, I am one of those spouses who have stopped buying Christmas gifts for their better half. Well in my case, it is rather difficult to get anything for someone who is fussy about what he wears. There is no way I could buy him a shirt, pants, cap, etc that is to his liking.

I wonder if he would be thrilled to receive a couple of cool and stylish stainless steel watches as accessories to his work attire? Not entirely sure about him but I loved watches when I was doing 9 to 5.  Well I sure hope those watches would put a smile on his face and that he’ll love the gifts.

To be honest, I had actually given up hope with meeting friends whom I could “click” with in an instant where I currently am. I thought I could never meet friends with much similarities anymore given the multicultural backgrounds people here came from. You know it’s not easy to relate to other people’s cultures and backgrounds, etc.

Thank goodness I am most fortunate to have met several new friends from DD’s school whom I could click with almost immediately. And the interesting thing is each one of us are from a different country, yet we feel so close due to our migrant backgrounds. We relate to the difficulties and experiences we face as migrants and I love so much to learn about their countries and culture, why they moved here, etc. I hope I’d be able to get to know more mothers of other nationalities next year when DD has new classmates so that our “international club” could grow bigger.