List of bad news in July 2011

As promised, I'll list down all the bad news I had in this past weeks. Honest to god, these few weeks has been the most farcical and turbulent weeks I had in years! 


It started on the day when I got my final MBA results.. It ain't pleasant. I do not care what others say but I do set a high standard for myself. To get two Credits is just plain disappointment. It brought my WAM all the way down to another grade! That's how devastating it is. Then my dearest homie's result came out similar to mine too and SHE got disappointed as well. Blah!! To make matters worse, on that bloody same day, we found out that we are required to vacate our lovely homey apartment, the one we are thankful for each single day, within two months time coz the landlord decides to sell his house. Otherwise, we'll get served. Geez... This is my third house already and it obviously does not contribute to my homesickness at all if I keep hopping from one to another like a bunny! 


Then I received a letter from Auz Fed Police that states that my application for a police check is unsuccessful coz I paid the wrong amount! Silly me... Idiot really. That's $34 vanishing into thin air (or at least I thought so at the time) and another two weeks of waiting time. 


As we begin to search for a new apartment, we realises that the market rent had increased! From $350 per week to $380! And you even get a smaller unit... That's a whole lot of difference dude! Its $1,560 extra a year! For an unemployed graduate like myself, its like holding hell in a hand-basket.


On top of that, I've been hit with the reality that my Uni's completion letter & transcript would take at least a month to be finalised. Now.. the problem is, I can't even begin to apply for a residency without those documents. Plus, I can't apply for jobs without proof that I'm applying for residency. Its a causal effect, yes.


Other negative news were like.. my cousin have bad news that she yet to share with me, my previous office is in a hiccup and I've to attend an IELTS course to improve my writing (more expenses!!). Yeap. It's been a roller coaster ride. I suppose I'll just keep hogging my blog to improve myself and hopefully reflect those little advancements in the next IELTS test.


Oh, but it wasn't ALL bad news. This week we had a bucket of sunshine thrown to us. And I'll simply need to address that in the next post to create more suspense. Hehhe!! Ciaoz~

Final trimester holiday!

So my mom went back a couple of weeks ago. I admit, I did had teary eyes.. after four weeks with her that turned out to be miraculously amazing, I was reluctant to let her go. My dad would obviously think otherwise. I did write her this sweet letter on the day she left and hope it would be able to convey what I felt inside. I love my mom. Having her here made this place bearable and made me believe that everything will be fine. Don’t wanna be melodramatic and all but yes, I do have occasional home sickness.

Anyway, soon after Mom left for home, my dearest cousin Su Wei came to visit. Although I did not have a good quiet time with her to pour our heart to each other but overall, it is rather pleasant. We had lots to eat and I even brought her shopping, an act I rarely practice myself. I always wished she would stay in Melbourne. How nice would that be! We can have weekend dinner together and I can only imagine all those fun we could have! Sigh.. In fact, I had a confession to make… I actually discreetly wished she would not do well in her exams only so that she would stay longer in Auz. I know… shame on me. I am being such a selfish biatch.

Life after Su Wei left me for Adelaide was quite volatile actually.. everything seems to tumble down in New York minutes although there were glimpses of light somewhere in the middle. Zooming past those negative stuff (I promise to spill the nitty gritty once I get it all sorted) I’ll share my good, positive news. First of all, we got an all free tour to Yarra Valley from dear Billy. Hehee.. It was amazing. I personally bought a bottle of Moscato and Cabernet. I honestly wish to keep the Moscato till Mom’s visit in October. She loves that dessert wine as I do. Then, I manage to pass all my papers.. PASS.. not excel. And lastly, I got news that one of my paper will be publish!! Oh yeah!!! Really unexpected and I have all my assignment members to thank for. Though my lecturer might argues that we still need a lot of improvements but nevertheless, we got publish!! Muahahhaha! A good ending to this blog post. =)

Salute!

Today was a beautiful day; with the sun up high on full blast, clear blue sky and the reduced level of turbine power. So I decided to grab my notes and Mom out for a nice walk at the park and naively thought of doing some readings. Even had Mom brought her story book along. The plan was to visit the Shrine of Remembrance and followed by a tour of the Royal Melbourne Botanical Garden. The Garden part did not work out in the end, and so was my reading. Anyhow there was a ceremony at the Shrine today and while we were sniffing around, we heard some gun shots. Here’s the funny part:

(After three gun shots.. BANG, BANG, BANG)

Mom: Hmm.. there must be sending someone off today. Three gun salute.

Ean: Yeah? Wow.. We are attending some soldier’s funeral! Cool! (thinking mom should know all these military stuff since Dad was in the Air Force last time)

(another gun shot)

Ean: eh.. Four? I thought you said three? Auz must be doing it different.

(still followed by subsequent gun shots.. By the time it reaches the seventh/eighth ones..)

Mom: Wah!! This fella must be some ‘big potato’ ya! So many gun shots for him. Usually Three only!

Ean: Wah!! So happy that we can attend big shot’s funeral.. =) May he rest in peace.

Later that evening, as we were skyping with Dad, we told him of the privilege of attending a ‘big shot’ funeral that had Twelve gun shots. He must be pretty high ranking since he has four times the usual Salute! Then dad said this:

Dad: Funeral usually only got 12 or 24 Salute la…. Don’t have three one.

………….. The end ……………

 

( If you squeeze your eye really small, you should be able to see Mom and I. )

Visitor from home.

Did I mention that my mom’s here for the month in conjunction to my exams which start in 4 days times? No? Well, now I have.

My dearest mommy had been here for 2 weeks now and she had done a fabulous job in fattening me up. After all, that IS her primary objective. Secondary objective, improve her beloved daughter’s health. In which, she is going on a highway speed with that. Mind you, Auz highway not Msian highway. Msian highway allows you to go as fast as 200 km/h without getting caught, Auz highway; the minute you exceeded 112 km/h you will get a bill in your post box the next week. But I do see signs of me getting healthier or rather so fat that my dark circles are covered by my cheek fats!! LOL! Mom’s tertiary objective is probably losing some weight herself. She had been walking a LOT and refuse to take the trams giving excuses that (i) the weather make it nice to walk even though its raining and would probably hail, (ii) its not worth to pay the $3 and (iii) I need to exercise! (yeap, she drag me along for afternoon walks).

But having her make this place felt so much more like home. Every time I come home from work/uni, I can smell that dinner is ready (complete with home cooked soup!). If I’m cold, I can always snuggle over. When I’ve headache or rather fake headaches, I can bermanja-manja and she would massage my head. I’m so blessed. =)

My Bday celebration!!

Best Birthday EVER! Started off on 30^th March, 11 pm when my homies and I were supposedly have a couple of shots to celebrate the coming of my 23^rd Birthday. Then suddenly the door bell buzzes… BUZZZ!! Terence went to have a look and told us that it was our irritating neighbours again. But then he walked over to the door and in comes two familiar faces; Tash and David! Yeap, I shrieked. How sweet of them to come over (with six of bottles of beer). No wonder Tika was busy cleaning the house in the evening. She’s just too adorable. *ku chi ku chi*

Near to 12 am, I decided to prepare a shot of tequila for everyone. But Terence kicked me out and asked me to stay in the living room instead. Innocently, I thought it was because of my birthday and he didn’t want me to do things myself. So I was chatting with David in the living room (should have notice that Tika and Tash was missing) when suddenly the birthday song started playing in Tika’s lappy. Then out of nowhere, my friends from DIS popped up from the front door singing the Birthday song for me!! There was a cake even! Owwwhhh~~~ Yeap, I shrieked again. It was so touching that I nearly cried. There were Shelley, Molly, Louise, Avnit, Siddharth, Rock and Jeremy. Love u guys!!

My Birth-Day was amazing as well. Met Jill Jill for lunch at this fancy pastry café nearby Mont Albert, accompanied by her mom and brother. It has been ages since I’ve catch up with her so meeting during this auspicious day was just perfect. Thanks for the treat! After lunch, went over to the Drop In Station for another surprise. I got a $100 MAC (the cosmetic) voucher from the team!! Muahahhahaha!!!!  How I love my colleague. Muackz! Oh yeah, Tika gave me pressie as well. A yacht trip for two down at Mornington Peninsular to see dolphins!!!!! Hohohohoohoho!!

Dinner was planned by Terence. Went to a Chinese restaurant on Smith St and I’m telling you, they serve the best Peking Duck in Victoria! The skin was crispy and tasteful. The meat was stir fry to perfection with the bean curds. YUMMY! After dinner, we head to Crown for a session in the arcade. Hehe. I’m still a kid.. but we also stopped by at the casino for 1 round of Roulette in which we lost $6 and got a $1 chip for a souvenir or rather a Birthday gift? Hehhehe.

 

I’ve no idea why Terence is not in this picture

Last trimester!

Work had been exhausting. I know I should not complain considering the hefty wages that they are generously paying me but seriously.. Auditing was tiring but this is a whole different thing. When I was in Audit, I was just a small potato. Its not like I am a big potato now, but just that I had to make more decisions and most of this decisions has ripple effects! But in any case I still like the job, especially when I get to make a video out of it in the coming week. Muahahhaa!!

Studies were even worse!! Bloody effing 13 assessments in a trimester. With online test, financial reports and an aim to publish my group’s journal! I’m speechless. I am so scared and fearful of my studies that I am starting to study in Week 2. Not to mention starting my assignment as well. I go to uni every single day at 8 am and comes back around 6 pm.. On Tuesday, I come home at 9 pm. What is happening to my honey-moon-and-totally-easy-student-life? Sigh... Oh oh!! Its not entirely bad news though. For my last trimester, I got a HD in my HRM!! I know for some folks out there it is an easy thing but trust me when I say that this HD was hard earned and entirely relied on my good karmas. Thank you Buddha!

The house is also an issue. Had been packed! Let’s leave it at that. =)

AND THEN.. there is this job application thing. I had been applying to Graduate Programs around the Big 4 for a week now. Aiming for Audit again.. I know a lot of my friends would say that I am crazy (including my sceptical boyfriend) but I cannot help it. Audit is my passion! At least for this few years. Do not ask why I love Audit coz I am not sure myself. I just felt happy auditing firms. Crazy eh? Anyway, this ‘filling up application thing’ and almost ‘begging to be hired’ is so stressful. Of course, the awareness that I am after all a foreigner here is not making it any easier. Sometimes it made me wonder that wouldn’t it be so much more easier if I just go straight back to Malaysia? But... one can’t give up without trying right?

And finally!! One of my favourite Darlings (you know who you are) is getting married! Yeap!! She’s finally tying the knots!!! I’m so absolutely happy for her. Although I did dropped a tear (or ten..) when I heard the news, I am really happy for her. HONEST!! Her fiancée is undoubtedly a loving one and he treasures her to bits. So I wish them the best of married life and may the fiancée allows me see my Darling when I am back in Malaysia.

See ya next time!!

Under the stars

As we reach the roof top, there are already rows of beach seats nicely arranged facing the stage while the sounds of waves crushing the beach and the heated game of volleyball is still audible. As the ‘egg yolk’ slowly sinks into the horizon, the band starts to play some of their signature songs. Eventually, the sounds from the beach fade away and replaced by the intriguing beats that moves our body.

Right in front of us is this huge white screen that shaped like a TV and far back is a stall selling nothing but the usual alcoholic drinks.

By 9 pm onwards, the seats are all filled up and the host went on stage to brief us on emergency exits, toilets and switching off the cellphone. As soon as that is over, the movie finally started. With the tiny stars shining above and sea gulls flying around causing a ‘shooting star’ effect, it was indeed a nice romantic evening to spent with my Honey. Though the temperature was a ridiculous 10C for summer and the seats are so far apart that snuggling was impossible, it was still absolutely sweet.

And yeap, I’m talking about the Open Air Cinema in St.Kilda. Definitely one of the attractions to try when you are in Melbourne.