Misc & Random Events

To those who did email me, thank you for all those suggestions on Tassie.

just to keep the mouth watering, i've taken a few pictures of our big dinners over the last few months. our household tries to have a big dinner once a week. a big dinner is defined as cooking many many dishes (anything more than just fried rice is considered a big dinner). as usual, we have our frequent flyer joining us... Mr David Tan. we all figured that since we are all "tan"s, he is allowed in the house for dinner.

In no particular order, here are some pictures of our dinner. This is to prove... MUM, I'm EATING WELL!

Dinner 1: Baked Fish with Onions, Mushroom and Carrots + Mash Potato (yum my favourite) + Fried chicken + Salad

Dinner 2: Baked Chicken & Cheese rice - Jeremy's speciality + Baked fish (again) + Rack of Lamb (courteousy of David Tan) + Steam Vegs

Dinner 3: BBQ Stingray + Egg - done the Japanese way + Minced beef + Asparagus + Soup + chewy beef +???

Dinner 4: Nasi Lemak - The usual Coconut Rice, BBQ sting ray with a lot of sambal chilli, Luncheon Meat, Egg, Ikan Bilis & Peanut + KaiLan

Well well... that's our once a week attempt since January. It was more like one of our new years resolution to eat together more often.

Anyway, since this is so random, here's a picture of Joy and her dead plant.

Question: How long does it take for Joy to kill a Basil plant. Answer: 5 mins! - Just after it got back from the Market

Randomness again... this is at the belgian beer garden. The pipis was soooo good.

And this is what happens after a friday night overdose of alcohol. - since then... I've reformed. No more drinks on a Friday night. (for a while at least)

Tassie Ideas?

I have my Travel Tassie all organised and planned. Just waiting confirmation if all is good. If anyone has an suggestions about what to do, or what NOT to do (or not worth doing), please send me an email!

Well, the places of interest are:

• Duck Reach Power Station - That's not because I'm an engineer
• National Automobile Museum of Tasmania (no... it's not my thing)
• Meander Falls
• Liffey Falls
• St Helen's Point
• Bicheno
• Frecinet National Park
• Mt Amos
• Wineglass Bay
• Swansea
• Richmond
• Mt Wellington
• Mt Field
• Hobart
• the Office + David's farm
• Port Arthur
• Queenstown
• Cradle Mountain'
• Burnie??

Yes, all these places in 8-9 days. It should be more than enough. What else have we missed? Suggestions? Anyone?

No no, the overland trail shall be saved for a future trip. That would be too much for this trip.

trouble and more trouble

After more than a month of confirmation of my transfer, my boss finally found out that I'm leaving. He found out that his boss and his boss' boss have been organising my transfer. Well, basically, from now to the time I leave Melbourne, I'm not going to have a good time at work. Maybe I should hide in Dubai and minimise my time in Melbourne. But the melb office is paying my wages from now till then. how am i going to justify this... i'll find a way

It's really hard trying to dodge your boss in the corridor, pretending to read some papers whilst walking along the corridor, trying to dodge the awkardness at the lift lobby etc. He hates me. I bet he does.

I can't wait till I leave. Taking the month of April off from work... not the whole month, but almost. Heading back to Tassie again for a little bushwalking, sightseeing etc. March is going to be a long long month. I am just looking forward to April. That would be great. Can't wait. Over stressed now... ;(

Tassie

First destination after Tasmania was the office. It was a nice place. David had to go in to sort somethings out for Dubai office. Hence the destination. After all, we are located at a pretty good spot.

Stayed with David at his house. He's a WWOOF host. So I met a German wwoofer when she was staying at his place. Svenja is her name.

Salamanca Place was the first official - non-work related venue! Took a walk down the saturday market. There was quite a bit of things to see... but just not too interested. I did enjoy a Bratwhust though.

Richmond was the next destination. This place has a long history, and has this ancient charm attached to it... including the old gaol, the many heritage listed stone buildings etc. Of course being humans, it has been commercialised and there's been a few morden touches added to it.

Good old-new Richmond

The oldest bridge in Australia (or so they say).

Apparently, Richmond is quite haunted. Story goes like this. The convicts built this buidge many many years ago. At that time, the guard that was in charge was a total arse. So the prisoners killed him. So he's the headless ghost (this i made up) that roams the house adjacent to the bridge (this i did not make up... but it is so they say) - story courtesy of Jackie.

A reception by the river. Such a pretty setting!

A church on the hill - St. John's - The oldest Roman Catholic Church in Australia

View from Mt Wellington - the must-go place in tasmania when you visit. View of the whole of Hobart from one point.

At Mt Wellington

Jackie with the dogs Brooke, Bella and Piper

Dinner at the Swann's

At the fish farm.

That's Svenja

That is a large tree trunk

Up on the way to Mount Field, drove past the farms that grew hops for the beer industry. It's one of Tassie's dominant industry where they sell the hops to the international market too. That explains the vast field of hops. Apparently they take only about a year to grow UP.

Headed off to Mt Field for a bush walk. I must say, Jackie is a real environmentalist. She knows about everything from trees to roots to birds to wildlife etc. The list never ends.

A lunch break before our long walk

At Russell Falls

That's a larger tree trunk

Small little people in a large forest

Hide and seeeeek

With our host David and Jackie

Little Wallabie / Bettung?? I have no idea which is which.

At the Swann's residence...

Everything in the house is hand made by both David and Jackie. including doors, cabinets, kitchen, light fitting, car garage. It's all wood!

My favourite Light fitting - made of Deer's antlers.

DID YOU KNOW... that deers drop their antlers every year?

home sweeeeeet home

After being away for work... it feels so good to be back home again!!!

I am wondering when this flying in and out and up and down will stop.

The permanent offer is coming.... BUT!!!!

I think i need a change of environment.

What say you?

The Asian Culture?!?

A very interesting comment someone made (you-know-who-you-are). Is it an Asian thing that we gather in really big groups and share our food?

I suddenly thought of that comment because I was at ChongFoo's house for dinner with 16 other people just earlier in the evening. We had a feast. Big feast. Our great chef cleaned, scaled and cooked the fish - all in three different styles. I love the assam curry one. Perfect.

Back to my point... yes we asians do share our food, but that's because it's so much easier cooking in a whole pot/pan rather than individually! We're just working the best way around doing things the quickests.

As for gathering in big groups.... I don't know... Anyone has an answer to that?!?

You-Know-Who-You-Are... this post is for you to answer your queries!

OZ Day Wkend @ Lakes Entrance

Spent the whole of last week working and flying and working and flying. I should be in the airline industry. Not fun. Another long 300++km drive from Melbourne to Lakes Entrance was a lil dreadful. But it was a well worth drive. After the whole weekend ended, I was dead tired. I needed another long loooong weekend to rest!

Spent the days fishing by the pier. Was meant to hire a boat out to the Lake to fish, but wind was too strong, and the waters were too choppy! It was freezing too.

Preparing at our first fishing stop

That was with 4 layers on for Summer Fishing!

Took a walk along the beach... (supposedly the ninety mile beach, but of course we walked 90m rather than 90 miles)

Beach Posing?

I caught about 20 little fishes! There're heaps of tiny dumb fishes. Why did they bite my bait! I want the big ones! One of the reasons (but not the only reason) is because I like fish on my plate! I know I sound greedy. *grin*

Pier Fishing again - Guys @ work, while I just stand and watch. I'm a princess.

My tiny little dumb fish that was caught about 5 times! (maybe it's a different one, but looks the same to me anyway)

Maybe my fish misses meee

Last shot at the lookout!

It was a nice and tiring long weekend. Just the way I like it.

I'm finally picking my life pieces back together again.

Australia Day

Finally, the first public holiday of the year - AUSTRALIA DAY! (New Year doesn't count)

Didn't have any big plans at all. Weather forecasted a nice and sunny 26 degrees, and I just couldn't stay indoors. I got my golf game this morning with David Chen (there are just too many Davids around, so I had to do the last name thing) and yum cha with 10 others.

St Kilda Beach was the next destination.

Traffic was so bad... but as you can imagine, about a thousand people had the same plan too. After all the weather was fantastic for a day out at the beach. EeLeon and Eelaine flew their kite. The kite crash landed a few times, but after a while, it was up up and (not) away.

I bought a BIG HUGE Havaianas - the inflatable ones. YAY I have a huge slipper for my tiny feet.

I don't really know what to do with it. Maybe take it to the beach, inflate it in the little swimming pool i have at the apartment, or the moonlight cinemas at the gardens! It's huge, it's comfy and it's bright bright ORANGE!

That's Krissy and me - Not really sun tanning.

Nothing beats having a nice cold icecream cone under the warm sun. Had a huge Mango ice cream - YUM my favourite.

David and Andrew striking a pose for???!!?!?

Of course, buying a hug inflatable Havi has its disadvantage. Had to literally squeeze with it in the car. My poor Havis is half deflated. I need to buy a pump now.

That's it for now... It's Lake Entrance trippin tomorrow. We're going fishing. It's eating the fish that motivates me to catch a larger one! Woo hoooooo! Will update more!