2011: A look back

I don't think I've ever done a post like this but given the whirlwind year I've had, I thought it might be a good idea to reflect back on some of it. My busy days and weeks barely give my any time to reflect.

Work has been good this year in that I have learnt a lot. And I'm still growing. I find that I am enjoying seeing most of my clients. There are the odd few I don't look forward to. And I'm getting a whole lot of satisfaction. Of course, towards the end of the year, I started to feel the effects on my health. And realised that as much as I care about my clients, I have to be a tad selfish and look after myself too. And that means, no more bringing work home in the form of reports. All in all though, it has been a much better year work-wise compared to 2010 where I found myself stuck in a job that seemed to be getting nowehere after the first few months resulting in my jumping ship after 8 months or so. But this one's a keeper. One year and 4 months on, I am still enjoying it.

On the personal front, I started going to the gym again after almost 6 years. And the results have shown a bit. My mood is definitely a lot better. And I have lost some weight [although I fear that in this Christmas period, I may have put it all back on!] It has been enjoyable and something I am glad to say, I kept up even during the winter months. Since the change in daylight savings, I have been going at 6 in the morning and finding that it works out a lot better...I prefer coming home after a tiring day of work!

Pebbles entered my life in the second half of the year. And every moment with her has been precious. Her presence in the house is something I just can't even begin to describe. In fact, as I write this post, she has been at the vet since 9 a.m. for a desexing surgery and I couldn't focus on anything until I called the vet an hour ago to find out how things went. [Apparently went well...]. Apart from my anxiety about her welfare, I find the unit so empty without her prancing around or shadowing me. I guess it's something I've learnt this year --- to care for someone so utterly dependent on me.

I had a bit of travel this year too. Early on in the year, I went to Hervey Bay for a week. And then in June, visited my family back in India. Hervey Bay was beautiful. Bombay was nostalgic. Met up with the family. Felt good that mum seemed to be doing better. Was sick through most of my trip there. Got to attend my best friend from high school's wedding. Had the question about marriage posed to me more often than I liked. Fought with the grandmother. Who finally left this earth in November. 

Times spent with friends and loved ones were precious moments for me this year. Whether it was movies at the Dendy with R, catching up with C in the city, having A come up from Melbourne for a weekend, games evenings and nights with the girls, Thursday night dinner and shopping with N, dinner once a month with J, time with my mum, dad and sis, moments with best friends like M from college...all moments I hold close to my heart. And I'm very grateful for.

Things that could have gone better probably would be my finances. Somehow, for some reason, I find that no matter how frugal I am, there isn't much money saved! And I am not someone who impulsively spends. I reckon the cost of living is going through the roof! Apart from that, a better work-life balance is certainly required. I have been bringing home reports this year which has not helped this. And finally, if the one team that won the cricket world cup hadn't won it, it would have been even better!

All in all, I am so grateful for the life I have. For the year I've had. Yes, there have been downs but there have also been a lot of ups. And after all, what is life without these ups and downs?

So thanks 2011. You've been all right.

And 2012. I look forward to what you have in store.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Aussie Author Challenge 2012

Following the completion of the 2011 challenge, I've decided to take up the 2012 Aussie Author Challenge at Booklover Book Reviews.

The challenge has two levels:

TOURIST: Read and review 3 books by at least 2 different Australian authors

DINKY DI: Read and review 12 books by at least 6 different Australian authors

I will aim to of course read 12 books but only time will tell whether or not I am successful. This challenge is not just for Australians...anyone else around the world is free to sign up. So if you are even the slightest bit interested, go ahead and sign up. Don't forget to put up the badge on your blog either!

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

2011 Aussie Author Challenge - Complete

I completed the 2011 Aussie Author Challenge [with about 5 days to spare!] at the True Blue Level. The True Blue reader was supposed to read 12 books by at least 9 different Aussie authors. And here's my list for the year:

1. The Messenger by Markus Zusak
2. Cloudstreet by Tim Winton
3. Wanting by Richard Flanagan
4. A Fraction of the Whole by Steve Toltz 
5. Beautiful Malice by Rebecca James  
6. Rhubarb by Craig Silvey  
7. Faces in the Clouds by Matt Nable  
8. A Fortunate Life by A. B. Facey  
9. The Tattooed Man by Alex Palmer  
10. The Boat by Nam Le  
11. The World Beneath by Cate Kennedy 
12. Truth by Peter Temple

So there it is! 12 books by 12 different authors. I think I am going to take up their 2012 challenge too as it has been great reading authors I haven't read before. Of course, I did have my share of disappointments but I think I also found authors I would love to read more of. Looking forward to doing more of it in 2012.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Truth

...by Peter Temple.

Inspector Stephen Villani is the head of Homicide. He is called to a swanky hotel where a young woman --- a girl --- is lying dead. Possibly a prostitute. However, the hotel owners don't want to make a big deal of the death. They respect their clients' privacy and given the recent opening, want it to be big. And news like this is detrimental to their prospects. So begins a cover up. And more murders. Villani and his team attempt to solve the murders while at the same time, he has to deal with personal issues --- a failing (or failed?) marriage, a 15 year old daughter gone astray, a brother who is possibly dealing with bikies and drugs and a father who won't leave his property despite bushfire threats. The whole case gets very political with the important people possibly involved and trying to get Villani off the case. To no avail.

This book won the Miles Franklin Award and the Victorian Premier Literary award in 2010. All I found myself thinking was --- how??? Am I missing something? The book didn't do much for me at all. There were too many characters and I got lost as to who was who. It seems like a fast paced action that probably would be more suited to the TV than to a book because you just get lost. Villani's character is probably the only one that seems to grow and that the reader gets an insight into. Everyone else is just there. I don't know if that makes much sense. But honestly, I struggled to read this book and even the ending wasn't worth it for me.

I rate it 1/5. If you have read the book, please tell me if I'm missing something!!!

***This has been written as part of the 2011 Aussie Author Challenge***

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Merry Christmas

On this special day, I wish you all...

Great food...

Source

Great wine...

Source

Great sweets...

Source

Great company...

Source

Great presents under the tree...

Source

Wishing all my readers a Merry Christmas! 

And now I'm off to the beach to kickstart my summer [finally!!] and my Christmas Day!

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Blood Donation

I donated blood for the very first time in my life yesterday! For someone who hates even having blood tests, it was a big deal. I went with a couple of colleagues from work to a blood donation centre nearby after work yesterday.

It's an interesting process. If you've never given blood before, you have a couple of questionnaires to complete including your basic details and a health history. Following that, you are taken to an interview room and interviewed by one of the staff. Basically, it's just them cross-checking the information and clarifying if you have answered 'yes' to some of the questions. If they are satisfied with your responses and with your height and weight, the next step is a prick on the finger to get a quick blood sample to check for iron levels and some other stuff I have no clue about.

Finally, you are taken into the room to actually donate the blood. The ladies at the centre I went to were great. Knowing that I had never donated and that I was anxious, they did their best to put me at ease. And you know what? It just hurts for a second when the needle is inserted into your vein. Of course, you have to have it in for about 10 mins while about 500 mls of your blood is taken. Given that I'm very queasy at the sight of blood, I just didn't look at it being sucked through. Once you are done giving all that blood, they get you to wait on the chair for another 5 mins or so and then ask you to have something cold to drink [which they provide] to replenish yourself. All in all, it's a process that takes about 30 mins to an hour if you've never done it before. It's quicker if you have.

I am glad I did it. I am now keen on doing it more often. I think given the shortage of blood and knowing how important it is, I might as well do my bit while I am healthy. I also know that last year when mum had to go through her open heart surgery, she needed a whole lot of blood. And I'm sure there are many other people like her.

So if you are in Australia and are healthy, please do your bit and give blood. You can find your nearest Red Cross Blood Donor Service through here. They also have a questionnaire about whether you are capable of giving blood or not and also talk about what to do before [drink lots of water, eat something]. You can also do a bit of Christmas giving this year by giving blood!

It's something so small that can mean something big!

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Are we losing our skills?

With the rapid pace at which technology is advancing these days, I tend to wonder --- are we losing out on essential skills? Life has become a breeze for most of us with so many technological gadgets within our reach. If I think about my house alone, I have a microwave oven, a blender, a food processer, a laptop, TV, music system, washing machine and fridge. Most of these have become essentials. To the point where when I found out a friend of mine doens't have a microwave, I asked her how she reheated her food! [Duh...stove top!]

Apart from what I have though, there are several more gadgets that people use and it's some of these that make me wonder whether we are slowly losing skills. Take for instance, the Navmans or TomToms to help with the directions. I don't own one. I use a street directory with actual maps instead. And while I admit that my map reading skills aren't the best, they have definitely improved. Plus once I do take a new route, after the first or second time, I am able to recognise the way to get there. On the other hand, a dear friend of mine, N has had a TomTom now for a couple of years. And she is so reliant on it that she doesn't actually focus on the landmarks etc to help her remember the route. To the point where she was in a relationship with a guy and even after 8 months, would punch his address into the TomTom everytime she visited his place!

The other loss of skill that concerns me is basic mathematical skills. Kids nowadays use calculators most of the time. To the point where mental arithmetic is a skill not honed by many. Maths was never really my strong point. But when it comes to dividing the bill after dinner with a group of friends, I'm the one they look to as I can be quicker than the calculator. And no, I'm not saying that I have great mathematical skills...all I'm saying is that my basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills have been honed enough throughout the years so as to not have to always depend on the calculator [I still need the calculator for large sums!!] I find myself wondering more so about kids these days. What with calculators and spell check, are they ever going to learn the basics? Possibly not if one of my psychology lecturers is to be believed. He used to be appalled by the atrocious spellings by postgrad students.

The rate at which we are going, kids are probably also going to lose gross motor skills [thanks to spending more time pressing buttons than kicking or catching a ball], handwriting skills [with all that typing, who needs to write!], speech and social skills [with all the texting and facebooking and twittering, who needs to speak face to face] and finally, thinking and reasoning skills [thanks to all the googling and getting your answers and mindnumbing reality TV].

Technology is great with so many things available so quickly at the touch of a button. But at the same time, are we depleting parts of our brains that used to do things technology now does for us?

After all, if you don't use it, you lose it!

Until next time,

Cheers!!!
 

Moments that make it worthwhile...

Driving home after work. Tired. Hungry. Listening to the radio. I turn into one of the side streets I take regularly. A little kid on the footpath --- possibly about 5 or 6 years of age --- waves out to me and keeps waving. How can you not smile and wave back? And so I did.

**********

Terminating with a client who has achieved their goals. They give me a Christmas present. After a day of seeing 6 clients along with having allergies and sniffling and sneezing all day, I get home tired and weary. And look at the card attached to the Chrissy hamper. And the heartfelt words of thanks from the adolescent make me cry. And also realise why I do the work I do. Not for the thanks. But for being able to make a difference in someone's life.

**********

The impatient meowing when I walk up the stairs --- Pebbles knows when I'm home from the sound of the garage door. And the purring and rubbing against my feet once I am indoors. The little kiss. And the shadowing until I play with her.

**********

Receiving a Kris Kringle pressie from a friend who knows you so very well. And knows the colours of nailpolishes you love thanks to window shopping once a month and trying on a whole load of stuff!

**********

Sharing an office space with a colleague who you know you can trust to rant about a couple of others you both don't like. Enjoying those 'ranting' moments listening to each other. And warning each other if someone else is coming along. Despite an age difference that never seems to be there!

**********

Telling a certain someone exactly what you want for Christmas (because you know their memory isn't great when it comes to your hints) and they say they'll get that and something else as a surprise.

**********

Wearing a top you haven't worn since 2006 and finding that it still fits perfectly and that you can still feel sexy on the weekend hanging out with friends!

**********

Despite the crankiness that comes from being oh-so-tired at the end of the year, these are just some moments that make life seem so worthwhile!

Do share some of your moments...

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Saturday arvo nap

I had a lovely relaxing Saturday at home yesterday [Apart from the driving test in the morning]. And so did Pebbles. As you can see below.

Her sleeping poses were too cute for me to pass up a photo op! And yes, she has grown! She turns 5 months tomorrow and she's still as gorgeous as ever!

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Fully licensed

I'm officially a fully-licensed driver after passing my Driver Qualification Test this morning.

For those who don't know, in NSW you progress from your Learner's to a Provisional 1 license (aka Red P) which you hold for at least a year and then  after a computerised test progress to Provisional 2 license (aka Green P) which you hold for at least 24 months and only then, after sitting another computerised test, progress to a full license.

So yes, no more plates on my car. No more trying to remember to swap plates when I use a work car. No more worrying about excess penalties just because "I'm a P-plater". No more limiting my speed to just 100 kph in 110 kph zones. And no more zero blood alcohol level [although knowing myself, I probably will still not drink even a glass of wine and drive!] And most importantly, no more driving tests!!!

I was quite nervous during the test [so what else is new?] and half the test was about knowledge and the other half involved driving scenarios where you had to touch the screen if you had to slow down or if it was safe to turn etc. And an amusing thing that occured in one of those driving scenario questions was where the scene was for me to find a safe gap to turn right and I had seen one when this other car came at a higher speed from the opposite direction --- which resulted in me swearing as I would in real life! I doubt anyone heard though! Hehe...how's that for taking the test seriously?

I opted for a 3 year license. And I kinda regret it. Why you ask? Well, as always, the picture! Apparently now you can't wear your glasses for the photo. So here I am getting my picture taken without my glasses, unable to smile showing my teeth and recovering from a whole day of allergies yesterday...which means, puffy eyes! Sigh.

Oh and with this license, I cross out another thing on my 30 by 30 list!

Until next timem

Cheers!!!

Gratitude Photo Challenge: Day 3

No, I haven't forgotten this challenge! The theme for Day 3 is Happiness.

The above photo was taken by my friend JC on the day I officially became an Australian citizen. And yes, the badge is courtesy her. I wore it all night (after the ceremony). It was a year and a half ago and still fills me with happiness to think about it. The smile on my face was another sign [but I couldn't post that up here!] I also remember it fondly for the wonderful company by dear friends who shared that weeknight with me...

Simple things make me happy... :)

Until next time,

Cheers!!! 

The dreaded HSC results

The Higher School Certificate results (Year 12) are out today for students across NSW. And boy, does it bring back memories!

About 10 years ago, around May-June, I remember receiving my HSC results back in India. Even more anxiety-provoking than that were my School Certificate results (Year 10). I remember being pleasantly surprised with my Year 10 results and upset at my English marks (Yes, I cried!). I also remember being very unhappy with my HSC results and worrying whether I would get Psychology as one of my subject options for my B.A.

I still remember having to give my HSC exams. I threw up the morning of my Economics paper. I was anxious during my Maths and Psychology exams. I also remember the day I had Sociology and Maths on the same day...I don't think I was able to feel my hands after that! [I was never good at giving exams! Anxiety tended to get to me] I would always work hard but somehow, with some papers, the nerves would win and I would blank out. I would forget what I had learnt.

To cut a long story short, I hated exams. I never understood the need to learn things by rote. And I would without fail let anxiety get the better of me [Hell, that even happened in my Third year B.A. exams!]

And now, I see clients going through similar issues.

The thing that no one...particularly teachers...tells you back when you are sitting for your HSC or SSC exams is this --- there is more to life than these exams! And no one, no one asks you for your marks when you go for a job interview! And how you go in these exams doesn't determine how you go at university! Instead, the mantra from teachers and parents appears to be that if you don't do well, your life is finished. And you know what? Sadly, some youngsters take it to heart.

Why can't parents and teachers just tell adolescents that they should work hard and leave it at that? Why the catastrophic threats? And especially in countries like Australia where there are so many options even if you don't get a great HSC result!

But yet, I see time and again, young people constantly worried about their HSC. Thinking if they don't do well it will be the end of the world. And having to explain to these sceptical youngsters that they do have options. That maybe, if they don't get into Sydney Uni, does not mean they won't get into any uni. That their severe anxiety is only going to hinder their final performance. That the HSC is not testing your true abilities but rather your ability to memorise and write quickly.

If only I had been told that.

I probably would not have wasted so many hours of my life throwing up and catastrophising.

If only...


How did you go with exams? Do you have any memorable moments to share?

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

An Epidemic

Right from the tender age of six

All she ever wanted to be

Was someone famous, someone well known ---

Like a model or on reality TV

Since the ambitions started early
She made it a point
To look after her appearance
And check that nothing was out of joint

She watched every morsel
And cross-checked the calories
And unlike every other kid
Stayed away from chips and lollies

As she blossomed into adolescence
Her body began to change
The breasts and hips freaked her out
For as a model, she’d look strange

She decreased her food intake
And only ate when cajoled by mum
But then she’d throw it all up
Unbeknownst to anyone

Fitness became a passion
And she’d weigh herself each day
After running for several miles
And pumping weights away

She’d do about a hundred crunches
Working out those abs
The end result was skin and bones
And not an ounce of flab

She was proud to be a size zero
Like several idols she adored
The concerns of friends and well-wishers
She suitably ignored

Her day of fame finally arrived
Though not the way she wanted
She made the local news
After at the shops she collapsed

The doctors weren’t sure she’d live
Her heart was very weak
All the starving and exercise
Was killing her, so to speak

Alas! this epidemic is rampant
The need to be famous and thin
Leading men and women world over
To loathe the skin they’re in

How do we stop this disease?
How can we feel content?
Can we ever be happy the way we are
And cherish life instead?

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Unbelieveable Summer in Sydney

December. It's when summer starts in Australia. The sweltering heat. The blue skies. The occasional thunderstorm to cool things down. The beautiful beaches.

Except. It's nothing like summer at the moment. 8 days into the season and I'm still wearing my jacket and cardigans. I'm still longing for hot food to warm me up. I'm still wearing my winter pyjamas to bed. And I'm still yearning for those blue skies and the beach. I still haven't been able to get that gorgeous tan I start to get around this time of the year.

Because...it is so not summer. It's cold and rainy and wet. The temperature today is 21 degrees. Over the last three days it was ranging from 15 to 19 degrees. And apparently this is going to continue into next week as well.

I am so sick of it. I thought the whole world was taking about global warming --- isn't that supposed to mean the world is getting warmer? [Forgive my ignorance...I haven't paid much any attention to the debate] So how do you explain freezing temperatures in summer? Explain that you climate change experts. I am even more disgruntled because my friends and I had planned on having our pre-Christmas Christmas [yes, we do that] this coming weekend by the beach with a picnic and everything. And now that's ruined. Along with the plan of getting a tan.

So if anyone tells me the world is getting hotter...beware. I will physically hurt you. [I am in that mood thanks to lack of sunshine!]

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

An Isolated World

Lunch, George Tooker, 1964, Columbus Museum of Art

A crowd of people
Lunching together
Never a word did say
Yet they passed
One another
Every working day

A crowd of people
Walking busy streets
No eye contact made
Listening to music
Talking on phones
Of surroundings, unaware

A crowd of people
On the 7 a.m. train
Reading the news of the day
No sound uttered
No smiles exchanged
Regulars remaining unacknowledged

A world of 7 billion
And growing ever more
Taking up all the space
Yet the paradox
Is despite the crowd
We are all the more isolated

***This has been written for Magpie Tales 94***

Until next time,

Cheers!!!

Same-sex marriage: Legalise it already!

Over the last few weeks the issue about same-sex marriage has once again reared its head. Time and again, our pre-historic pollies continue to argue that marriage is a union between a man and a woman.

It's sad to see Julia Gillard, our first woman PM, still against same-sex marriage despite most in her party favouring it...and despite having a politician in a prime position in a same-sex relationship. In a way to try and please everyone, Ms Gillard decided to have a conscience vote on gay marriage. Whatever that might be.

In this day and age, you have to wonder why a developed nation like ours still has a problem legalising same-sex marriage. The argument about spoiling the 'sanctity' of marriage fails big time when you have heterosexual couples marrying for publicity. I'm sure there are homosexual couples whose marriages would last longer than that. And who would be getting married for love rather than publicity. Then there's the stupid and ignorant argument made by people about how legalising same-sex marriage would stretch to having to legalise polygamy, or beastiality or any other such fetish. Again...what a crock of shit! No one tries to explain how legalising gay marriage would result in the others. It's just clutching at whatever straws they can. People also continue to use the argument that legalising gay marriage would equate to legalising paedophilia or incest. To those ignorant people I'd like to say: There is a big difference. Paedophilia involves a non-consenting individual. A same-sex relationship (and therefore marriage) is between two consenting adults. And of course, finally, there's always the argument about how God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. To which I would say: it wasn't God who made any of us. We evolved from apes. Read Darwin.

So following all that, I would like to reiterate --- what's wrong with same-sex marriage? If two consenting adults are in love and want to get married, they should be allowed to. It shouldn't matter whether they are man and woman or man and man or woman and woman. I personally am not the biggest fan of marriage as my readers know. But I do think people should have a choice whether or not they want to get married.

I would like to end with this plea to Julia Gillard --- legalise same-sex marriage. It's a big change you can make. And show people you were worth being elected. After all, the carbon tax fiasco has screwed your popularity. You can change that now.

Edited to add: I read the more updated news where during the conscience vote, it seems that Labor leaders appear to back same-sex marriage. Here's to keeping our fingers crossed that it does get through parliament some time within the next 6 to 12 months.

Until next time,

Cheers!!!