Retail therapy works wonders

My week hasn't been the ideal week, with my main two obstacles being nothing but obstacles...

1. Winter

I'll try not to turn this into I-hate-winter blog, but let me tell you, snow in a big city sucks. For those who have only seen snow in the mountains, who have snowboarded through heavenly powder snow, created snow angels, witness pretty crystals on your gloves... for a big city after a snow storm, it's like that for one day. It is gorgeous, especially if the sun is shining after the storm. I don't manage the shoveling in our household though, and I don't drive here, so I can't give my experiences for the first day of a snow dump.

The day after the snow storm, the simple walk down the road ends up being a hike. Car tires carve these wonderful big hurdle-like ridges that you have to clamber over.

The third day... the third day is pretty depressing. My walk to the gym doubled in time, because the the big-hurdle-like ridges are now great lakes. The Chinese have a saying that says "Stomping in a puddle even when you see it", excuse my Chinese, but it means something like... "jumping into trouble even when you see it" But if we were to take the literal translation, that was me!!!. I see a big puddle , I see the lights change, and I have to grit my teeth and stomp through the puddle just to cross the road. We're not talking about glacier snow here, this is dirty snow on the side of the road that has created a pulp with leftover autumn leaves, and absorbed all the mud and grime from car tires (the stuff that hasn't already landed on me). Crossing the street elsewhere is out of the question, the snow banks are so high you would risk climbing over only to slip on the road in front of a car.

My mesh sneakers was no help, 10 steps down the road and already my socks and feet are soaked. I refuse to wear my lovely winter boots out because they come back with salt from the roads (used to melt the ice) that eat into the leather. My poor shoes.

2. Work (or lack of)

If I haven't explained it before, I haven't been pro actively looking for work in the last month because I need to apply for a work visa at the beginning of January and be legally able to work before I can apply for jobs. Fortunately I had some contacts who kindly referred me to a couple of firms in Toronto that were happy to interview me. This week being the week of bad news, I didn't get either job! One was finance related which I don't have the skills for, nor does it interest me. The second role was HR related - not my core skill, but I did have a little experience that I can expand on, I was really interested in it, and it would have been a welcome departure from IT. But once IT, to a stranger, you will always be IT. I guess now, I really will have to dig out the job sites and start hunting - in the new year anyway. I'm not in desperate times, and I still want to be picky, so fingers crossed I have something lined up before the end of February.

And for those who don't know - I've decided to stay in Toronto. It's a lot easier for me to set myself up, I have friends here, a place to live. I resent comments (although far and few between) that I am giving up and opting for ease and laziness. To be entirely honest, I think I loved telling people that I was moving to the glitzy glamorous city of New York rather than loving the city itself. Five years ago, I would have loved it there, but my last two visits had me wishing that it was a shorter trip. I don't sport the attitude nor the energy to make the most of the place. A great city that I plan to visit often to see my wonderful friends, eat and shop up, but not one that I can call home. Maybe if Toronto doesn't work out, it might be option number 2, we'll see.

So being a long arduous week, finding out that my unemployment status has not changed, I hit downtown - a nice long lunch, and shopping spree. Now I am a proud owner of boots that I can stomp around puddles in, and a nice thick winter jacket that I can snowboard with, but doesn't have an overly sporty edge so I can wear normally. And mission accomplished on Christmas Shopping!!! Retail therapy is great a band-aid to slight depression, well only until the Amex bill comes in.

The calm after the storm

This is what stands between me and food, coffee and bus stop the day after the snow storm =( It might not be obvious, but some piles of snow are almost the same height as me! At least the sun was out and it actually looked quite pretty.

"I'll check with 'rarara' and let you know..."

Replace 'rarara' being your girlfriend, boyfriend, dog or cat.

I used to get that response a lot when I ask friends whether they are free to meet up on a certain day. It used to annoy me to no end when I regularly get the same response from the same people. I figure it's fine to decline an invitation if you have plans already, but if you don't, you're a free man / woman to do as you please, and doing as you please does not need permission from your partner. If they wanted the date, they should have put dibs on it first.

I'm not that harsh on everyone, just close friends who should know better than palming you off instead of telling you the truth - that they have no interest in the event, you're boring, you smell.

However, now that I actually live in the same city as my partner... I find it quite convenient to pull this line out when I want to decline an invite with no valid reason. It's terrible. It's hypocrisy I know - but this is only reserved for desperate times (when invited to see a chick-flick, RnB clubbing...).

Well at least I know now that it wasn't because I smell (I think).

... and another year wiser

It always takes a little trigger for someone to snap out of it and realise that self pity is pointless and there is nothing like planning, purpose and action to get out of a rut. But that's being dramatic.

I'm far from being in a rut, and my birthday was hardly a life changing event. Whether it was just good timing, or it really was a pivot to get over my boredom, I've decided to get off my butt and do something constructive with my time.

So this week is the start of my new gym membership, and I'm proud to say that I spent two hours at the gym yesterday (never mind that half the time was spent in the change room and sauna - love the sauna!). I'm also yet to start the make-over upstairs at Gord's house. It's recently been vacated, and we're using the opportunity to do a few quick-wins with a lick of new paint, change of colour schemes, and bright new lighting.

My other resolution was to get up earlier in the morning - because for someone who complains of being bored, I actually don't have enough hours in the day to the basic stuff I plan to do. And I haven't even started the job hunt yet. So with new additions to my agenda, I'm aiming to get up at 10am - hardly early, but goals need to be achievable, and I'm being realistic. Unfortunately, I'm yet to reach my goal - not sure why, but my eye-lids are so heavy in the morning and my ETA (estimated time for alertness) still hovers around the midday mark.

It's a start, and it'll keep me busy for the next few weeks until I can apply for a work visa in January, and then start looking for work Toronto. The you'll hear a different type of complaining!

'tis the season to be jolly...

I'm not a romantic. I'm a realist. So when I think snow, I don't think soft flurries floating down to squeals of children (god forbid) playing in the yard making frosty the snowman.

I'm thinking... fumbling of gloves, scarves for practicality and not fashion, and how to safely get across the pavement without falling flat on my face (or shoulder popping out of socket) in front of a line-up of cars... because I know what all the bored drivers at the lights will be doing - checking out the pedestrians who are fighting against the wind and clambering over small but lethal piles of snow to get to the side-walk.

I haven't quite worked out what the best approach is... to test with the toes before lowering the rest of the foot when crossing glossy pavements, or to land the whole foot at once for stability. I miss my Merrel outdoor shoes, although they haven't been at all trustworthy in the past, it would do more good here than collecting dust under my bed.

Before the snowstorm hit

Overnight transformation to this

Gord put to work whilst I cheer him on from inside

New York Madness

When I think New York City, I think sight-seeing, shows and shopping. Being my third visit to the Big Apple, sight-seeing was not high on my agenda. The writers' strike meant there were no shows. Which unfortunately (for my wallet), left me with only shopping to occupy my time.

So with the agenda set, I was keen to put the best effort that my bargain-shopping-career had seen yet. So I joined thousands of post-Thanksgiving shoppers at Woodbury Outlets for the Midnight Madness sale. Doors open at midnight, and eager shoppers queue up in sub-zero temperatures to get extra discount off already reduced outlet prices. We got there at 2am and shopped for 12 hours straight until 2pm the next day.

Ofcourse, such an operation required careful planning:
- We had Navigator Jany (thanks Jany!!!!), who traced our path on the map, and made sure that we visited all the shops we had circled
- Navigator Jany also doubled up as Queue-up Jany who lined up for the impossibly long check-out line while we shoppers raced around the store and back before Jany got to the front
- Singlet tops were key. Forget change rooms, we stripped our ten layers off down to our singlets and tried clothes on in the middle of the store, and
- When waiting for fellow shoppers, 5 minute power naps on lounges is the secret to shopping longevity.

Funnily enough, I actually felt fine, until 2pm when I started to dwindle. Now I understand the adrenalin experienced by athletes.

Contrary to the above, New York wasn't just about the shopping (so I try to explain). I managed to catch-up with friends, either visiting from London, or who have settled in NY. My girlfriends from TO were also in town to celebrate a 30th birthday. This meant a lot of eating and (a little) drinking. Food in NY is fantastic, and it helps to know locals, and not being a poor backpacker this time to enjoy all the amazing restaurants and bars the city has to offer. My only complaint is that there weren't enough cafes. In my opinion, greasy American diners should not call themselves cafes. Nor should any other establishment that can't make a decent coffee.

I also experienced my first Thanksgiving in North America. We glimpsed part of the Thanksgiving Parade where huge balloons and floats were paraded through the city, and Bec's roast turkey was a success at Thanksgiving dinner.

I'm back in TO now. The little colour that was left on the trees are now ash grey - it's started to snowing, although I've been told that dandruff does not count as snow. This is definitely a winter I am not looking forward to!

Does unemployment count as a holiday?

Europe is well and definately over. I arrived in Toronto two days ago and had my first interview today. What can I say, interviews are a drag. I even had to go out a buy a new ironing board just so I can straighten up my suit that has seen nothing but the bottom of my banged up suitcase for the last few weeks.

Interview went ok I guess, since I am going back tomorrow to meet with the business. A one hour interview, a one hour written test, and lunch with the Director... not even the free lunch makes up for the three long hours I have to sit through! Even if I do get an offer, this is all pending on me being able to get Permenant Residency... this was no where on my grand plan, but has managed to creep it's way to the top of the list if I am ever to work in TO.

My first interview and I'm already getting a headache. Just to make myself feel even better, I wouldn't let myself eat this muffin that was calling for me from the coffee table until I had sent out all the job-hunt related emails I needed to send out. Man that muffin was hard work.

The weather has somehow followed me from Croatia to TO... I experienced the first snowflakes this season, and it's only Autumn! This is going to be a long winter. The thickest jacket I have ever owned in my life can't even keep the biting cold wind out.

Don't get me wrong, it was great coming home (my other home), seeing the boy, and getting pampered.

I blame the weather.

When we were twelve...

I have done nothing but eat and drink in the last few days, and my muffin top is a testament to this (the race isn't over yet, chisin!).

Unplanned Sydney-sider sightings (USSS) have now increased, with an +1 to Sighting B (Jean), and now a Sighting C, good old Kiat from back in the uni days. He was passing our yum cha table - I haven't seen this guy in years, but knew through the grapevine he had made the move to London. I know, I shouldn't be so surprised, but it gets me every time.

Speaking of hooking up with people from the past, I'm liking Facebook more and more these days. Although I say I have no interest in going to my high school reunion, because after all, you keep in touch with the ones that matter... I could not hide my excitement when I came across a stack of people from my primary school years. I am currently chatting to one of my closest friends from probably the most important developmental years of my life (when I used to hate school holidays and lie awake in excitement the night before a new term starts... I've gained a life since then...).

Primary school was never about sitting in lessons and taking tests. It was about little lunches and big lunches, about what show and tell to share and friends to hang out with. It's when you're allowed to be naive and naivety is just a lesson, never a loss. It's where our personalities start to shape, but not entirely defined - you really can't tell how someone will turn out by age 12 (look at how fine this shy class-dag with the bowl hair cut turned out!).

I guess that's why I'm so intrigued with my primary school pals. Especially since my recent trip to Croatia made me want to track down my 'best friend' from when I was 5 years old. Dear Ana was from Croatia and raved on about it all the time. Each time I went to a new Croatian town, I would wonder if she was from there and wished I had only asked.

I'm beginning to change my tune about not caring for people that I have lost touch with. I used to think it was a choice that was made, even if it was circumstantial by way of laziness. How could I be so wrong?

The different faces of Croatia

Zagreb is not only capital of Croatia, party central, but the city is a big cafe itself. Everywhere you turn, there are cafes with outdoor seating, pretty people decked out in the latest European fashion, beer or coffee in one hand and cigarette in another. I felt rather unglamorous in comparison.

My next stop was at Plitvice Lakes National Park - a wonderland where lakes spill into each other creating cascades of waterfalls at every corner. If you don't know, I love waterfalls... and I saw hundreds in one day embedded into a kaleidescope of yellows, oranges, greens and browns from the Autumn leaves. I can only imagine what the park would be like on a clear and sunny day and had my fingers crossed for the next day. The bright light shining through the crack in the curtain in the morning was promising, but when I threw open the blinds, the patchwork of colours was replaced with a thick blanket of white snow. Apparently it didn't even snow last year, and when it does, it is usually in December.

Although it ruined my plans to see the rest of the lakes, it was sort of a pleasant surprise to see the first snowfall, and gave me an excuse to stay in the hotel room I splurged on, equivalent to 4 nights stay in a hostel! Keen to make the most of it, I spread my toiletries out on the spanking clean ensuite bathroom, took two long hot showers... long enough to make me panic that I had caused the momentary blackout in the hotel midway through one of these guilty pleasures. But the lights went on again, and I turned the hot water up some more.

The rest of my trip in the small coastal town on Zadar was less eventful... I was excited to travel on my own for a bit, perhaps it's the whole thought of being independent, or maybe it seems more an adventure... but when you are in a small town with all too much time, I missed having someone there to chat and kill idle time with. I guess, journeys are better shared with someone.

The Rusty Traveller

I've spent the last 5 days in Croatia, which is absolutely gorgeous. My arrival here was not without drama, my rusty travel street sense was put to the test as soon as I arrived at Dubrovnik airport. Withdrawing money from the atm, I managed to walk away with all the dosh, but left my receipt and keycard behind! Lucky for me, I was still loitering around and realised when the next person walked up to the atm. Well it takes an incident like this to make me ultra careful the rest of the trip. Incidents like these only ever happen once.

So back to the travels - Dubrovnik lives up to the hype, with the city walls being the highlight of the trip so far. Looking over the rooftops of Old Town, and being able to just turn around to see the dramatic translucent aqua to deep blue of the sea, makes me realise that lugging heavy luggage, running for the plane, and waiting in long queues through customs is well worth it. The Adriatic Coast is amazing, and the bus ride from one coastal city to another is breathtakingly beautiful. I can't think of anything less cliche to say about the water... it dazzles, yup, dazzles in sun!




Mim left yesterday to return to London and I'm on my own for the next 5 days. I'm starting my lone tour by taking an unplanned trip away from the Dalmatia coast to the country's capital, Zagreb. So far, no hitches. I'm havng a rough time getting used to the cold which is a far cry from the sun and blue sky of the coastal towns. Tomorrow I am off the Plitvice National Park which is meant to have some really spectacular lake though. Can't wait to post som photos up when I get back to London!

London Encounters

So, I'm walking down the street three days into my visit to London. We're heading to the best Vietnamese phó place in town (phó was pretty good, but the vermicelli was so so, and the coconut juice cringe worthy...), and on the way there, I look up and see an old acquaintance and fellow M2 bus patron, Liz, strolling in the opposite direction! I haven't seen this woman in ages, and to be honest, actually forgot her name in my excitement. I was 80% sure it was Liz, and called it out anyway, which to my relief she answered to. Funny, I was wondering that day, whether I would bump into someone on the streets if London considering there are so many Sydney-siders there. So after catching up over a few short minutes, I walked away shaking my head still amazed that I had bumped into someone on the other side of the world.

10 minutes later, as I'm waiting for my meal, blabbering away to Mim at the table, who should walk in? Another Sydney acquaintance, Jean! Not sure whether to get up and run over, stand up and shout, or just continue blabbering to Mim, I see the waiter walk over to her. And ofcourse, there were no spare tables in the entire restaurant... my dilemma was resolved as the waiter led Jean and her companion - who I later discovered also works with some ex colleagues of mine... what a night...

So that three days into my visit. Not sure why I am so surprised, I guess it's always nice to bump into a familiar face, let alone in another city.

Big Trip (Somewhere) - Take II

Status at 5am (approx. 10 hours before flight departure):
- luggage packed and over-wieght
- parcels ready to be shipped despite 12am drama with not having enough brown paper to wrap weet-bix cartons (disaster diverted - thank god for little brown take-away bags and great patchwork skills!)
- tax returns... they suck, not yet finished and I'm already owing a weeks' worth of travel money!

This blog has been on extended holidays since 2004 (because I haven't)... but it's back... typos, bad grammar, travel and foolish stories (which most definately aren't based on my foolish actions).

This is my next big trip, destination unknown but most likely to be a revisting the Big TO, or even the Big Apple. In smart traveller style - first I'm off to blow all my money in Europe before I find a job to earn it.

So please, jump on and share my rararas from the other side of the world. Drop me a blah blah blah, a long email or a phone call.

I'll be sure to miss everyone - I'm feeling it already.