THE ROAD IS FINALLY OPENED!

Holy Mother of God! I got a call early this morning....and it was from my migration agent

MY PR APPLICATION IS OFFICIALLY APPROVED!

I AM OFFICIALLY AN AUSTRALIAN PERMANENET RESIDENCY!

I have waited almost 9 months plus for it...had been looking forward to this day since 2 freaking years ago....and the stork has finally arrived with this precious baby for me!

It was more to having a sense of relief than happy excited actually. A friend asked if I have jumped up and down 10 times already since I got the news. And the answer is just a simple "no" because after all the trouble and obstacles and choices I had to make to come to this conclusion....I am just relieved that the road is finally opened. Opened for me to walked further on until I meet another decision in residency again: To stay or to go.

But regardless, I do feel a bit solemn after the excitement of getting the news. It's like I could see myself finally asking myself, "So, the day has finally arrived. Worth all the wait?"

Now, thankfully, everything seemed to worked out these 2 years, Mum's fully recovered from her battle with cancer devil, school fees paid, made new besties on the way and finally......the DAY has arrived.

Can you see the clear path ahead?? What's next in the menu then? Bring it on!

TERENCE GOT ME!

**UPDATE AGAIN....**
Ok, Peachy got me too with her chemical peel post. And all the while I did not realise there was a text at the end of the post which is only visible when highlighted saying its a hoax. And Miss Smart Ass here went totally off the alert mode, thinking her previous post about the protect your browser part WAS the real prank. There was a link to click in which I did not because I was thinking it will pop up a YOU ARE SUCH A FOOL webpage if I ever did....*DUH*

And now that there are so many pranks going around AnD, every post dated 1st April IS a prank!

**UPDATE**

Being such a fool, or having already made a fool outta myself, I still kinda feel skeptical about Terence's 'confession'.....wickedly weird prank man!

It's 2 days past April's Fool Day and the aftermath from that was a LOT of "ooooo"s and "what!!?!?!?!"s. I was surprised by the amount of pranks laid down in everyone's blog! I had to admit that I wasn't really in in full-alert mode in anticipating all the jokes but having the habit of scrolling down the whole page to make sure its been loaded completely saved me from a lot of surprises.....

I checked Kenny Sia's blog on the foolish day itself but his prank din really get me....due to my bad habits mentioned above. Kenny Sia to stop blogging!?!?! That would be like Paris Hilton minus the sex video! Or Amy Winehouse without crack!

Then there was Daniel's blog.....it would have got me if I had checked it on the 1st, coz subtle atmosphere of the whole blog & story seem believeable. But somehow, the photo seem weird on my second glance. Ok, up to here, I still think I am indeed quite vigilant about this whole Fool's Day shit.

And then, there was Andrew Lin's post about his wife being pregnant....

But, the ultimate shocker was Terence's. It totally FREAKED the shit outta me, that I almost called my sis who's still fast asleep because she's 3 hrs behind.

Halfway through reading the blog, I quickly scrolled back up to see the date the blog was posted.....ok, 1st April, so it MIGHT be a joke. But the way he put it, plus the photos...I was like, "mmm...wait a minute....is this for REAL?" I thought Terence was gonna announce he's turning gay or had a fetish of dressing up as a woman or something for a moment but it wasn't until the end paragraph that it became too unbelieveable that it convinced me it WAS indeed a joke.

Right, good, I am the fool now...and what's worst, I am still a fool despite after 3 days past 1st April....FOOL, FOOL, FOOL!

***NOTE TO SELF: Never ever blog hop on the first week of April...EVER!***

A while ago, someone even read on the newspaper that dim sum cart pusher actually needs a license to operate the cart, like a drving license for cart or something. It was almost so convincing that few years later when you mention this on a random occasion, people still had to think twice if it was real.

Despite all the pranks I've got myself into, there are indeed some news that you wished it was a hoax....like Leslie Cheung's passing on few years back. But it proves the latter, which was tragic, so that was the last I ever 'celebrated' April Fool's Day...

Or there also are some news that you wish it isn't a joke....like a friend getting engaged! (congrats, nia!)

Oh, well.....1st April is never a good date to break any news to anyone anyway. Happy Belated April Fool's Day!

DINNER @ MEAT & WINE CO

Dinner #2 was held yesterday nite at the Meat & Wine Co. at Darling Harbour, courtesy of CynTheGeishaGal to celebrate her graduation from the Masters of Commerce in Business Strategy.

It's actually my 4th time patronising the restaurant and I must say, pork ribs is a MUST to order everytime we are there. I always love the atmosphere there, esp the wine decos on the swirling stairs.





We were sitted in a posh private room at the upper level and ordered 2 reds to start off the night. Devil's Lair 2006 Shiraz Cab Sav Merlot had a more fruity side while the Stella Bella 2005 Shiraz had a more dry and smooth side.

My fave for the night....the Stella Bella 05 Shiraz from WA...

We started off with entrees consisting of mixed bread platter (bruschettas, garlic bread & herbs bread), Salt & Pepper Calamari & peri-peri Prawns. I still manage to snap a shot of the bread platter but by the time the calamari and the prawns came, we were all too hungry to even bother to snap pics anymore.....

I was pretty worn off by the time we are done with the entrees....it was a busy day at the office, then bus schedule was totally out, I only reach the city at 2:40, rush to Pearson's to get flowers for Cyn on behalf of Ed. By the time I pick up the bouquet, I had missed the bus. Cyn called and told me she had to leave at 3:30 to collect the gown.....damn, it was already 3:05! I hail a cab home, usher Rooney up to the rooftop for a quick walk, pack all my makeups and left home again at 3:25! The city was jammed, dumb drivers along the way, we reach Uni at 4:25, just in time to get the gown!

Oh, speaking of the flowers, I was pretty happy with my choice instead of the roses they offered me. I picked the orchids (which cost $35 each btw...but it was totally worth it as it only arrive that morning plus it looks more classy than the normal boring roses & lilies we see at Graduation.*perfect*) You'll have to agree with me when you see the pic....

P/S...I hope Ed's happy with the selection though....coz he was the one paying for it! =)

Oooo.....let's divert back to the dinner.....sorry, got carried away. Where was I? Ooo, tired after the entree, I only ordered a lite main which is the pan fried giant prawns with steamed rice & peri-peri sauce on the side...

So, instead of the full-rack pork ribs.....

or the half rack beef ribs....
I ordered this:

Was very satisfied with my order, just nice portion and the prawns were very fresh! The service was pretty good throughout the night, with the waitress constantly checking if we needed a refill of wine and water, or if the food was alright or if we needed anything extra.

However, by the time we are done with our mains, we were all stuffed up that we couldn't have dessert anymore....so we just stayed on for some bonding sessions....but got pretty uncomfortable because the waitress was constantly asking if she could bring us the bill. We replied that we would be going downstairs to pay it when we are ready but she insisted in bringing the bill up so we could 'check' them before proceeding with the payment.

Overall, pleasant dining environment and of course, again, food was delicious, wine was smooth, fun company...wat else can you ask for! I could have sat there the whole nite layan-ing the music with every sip of wine.....

Again......thanks for the dinner Cyn & Happy Graduation again! *hugssss*

P/S....Why aren't you still not back yet, my fren?

GOLDEN CENTURY

It's been those weeks where you keep getting dinner invites & you keep feeling guilty about all the calories and cholestrol intake. But, we never say no to good food, rite?

**WARNING: If drooling persist after 3 pictures, close off the window immediately. Except you, Edward....DROOL as much as you wish! Muahahahahahah**

HW won the Easter Poker Tournament last Monday & picked up a whooping $27k. So we were given the honour to join him on a nice decent Chinese dinner at Golden Century.

The Golden Century Restaurant has been named Best Chinese Restaurant by the Sydney Morning Herald on numerous occasions....and prob one of the finer Chinese restaurant in the City...and we had always joked about having Lobster 'sang mee' whenever we step foot into the casino, which never happened because we never win at casinos.

Boiled live prawns.....

HK-style roast pigeons....

Live pipis (cooked, of course!)...

2 course Peking duck (including San Choy Bow)

Braised oyster mushroom with vege...

& the winner of the ULTIMATE DISH OF THE NIGHT....*drum roll*

LOBSTER SASHIMI!

&....

The LEGENDARY LOBSTER SANG MEE.....

Finally we accomplished it! & now we all reckon that if he ever wins the World Poker Tournament, we'll be dining at Tetsuyas straight for 30-days! Food was good, the company was fun, we all enjoyed ourselves that night.....

Thanks again HW (if you ever read this!)

=)

P/S....Make you wanna fly home now, my fren??

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!

I'm extremely busy today...too busy to even stop to replenish my low energy level. Hop outta bed at 6:30 this morning, just in time to reach work at 8:00am SHARP. Been running ard the office since!

Burning 15 CDs on the other room, so running there every now & then to change CD

Editing some letter templates and printing them

Photocopy my drafts into letterheads

Making calls to chase up some queries

Compiling those SLM packs to be HAND DELIVERED!
Accounts to be paid

And I've got till 2pm to juggle them around so I can leave on time. It's C's graduation big day today & I gotta rush to the city to get E's pressie for her, rush home to bring Rooney for a short walk, freshen up my make up, rush out back to the city again in time to meet up with C...

So its RUSH, RUSH & MORE RUSH THROUGHOUT THE DAY!
And I can't wait for dinner at Meat & Wine Co. tonite.....perfect end to a busy day!

Meanwhile......

***Happy Graduation my Dear Friend!***

Valentine's Day? Have it the non-commercial way....

Can you feeeeeel that lub is in the air today? I got off the bus today in Crows Nest being greeted with swarms of balloon floating romantically outside a florist shop....With the biggest one being an insect-looking creature with a BIG "I love every inch of you" labelled at his belly. I begin to wonder, "Has Valentine's Day always incorporates red roses, floating heart-shaped balloons, tacky pressies and extravagant dinner sets?"

Being the lonely soul in the office today racking my brains up on those Valentine's Day ornaments, I googled up the history of this day and discovered many versions of it. One of it being said that Valentine was a priest during the 3rd century of the Rome empire. During that time, Emperor Claudius II suddenly saw the potential of single young men in war and battlefield. They fought with greater bravery and loaded with amplified loyalty as compared to those with other halves. Hence, the Emperor outlawed marriage for young men. This is when the great Valentine stood up and realise how unfair this whole outlawed marriage thing and secretly perform marriage ceremonies for young lovers in complete secrecy. When the Emperor discovered what had been happening, he ordered Valentine be killed immediately.

While Valentine was in jail, he fell in love with a young girl who often visited him during his imprisonment. Before he was sentenced to death, he wrote one final letter to this girl and signing off as "From Your Valentine". Hence Valentine's Day came up to honour the bravery and heroic deed Valentine had died for, all in the name of love.

Legend ended here. I read other versions as well but not so much of a surprise, there wasn't any mentions of lavious dinners, bouquet of roses and all those ornaments you see on the street. So where do all those 'brilliant ideas' came from? My answer: Those smart business-minded entrpreneurs. This holy day of showing your love has evolved to be the lucky day for doubled-profit-earnings for businesses around the world. Usual dinner sets, gift pack and a variety of flowers have now been given romantic names and their price rocketed up. Roses usually only $10 soar up to $30, dinner for two that normally cost $60 now shot up to $120.

To my opinion, why splurge a fortune for just one day? If you really love someone, showering her with gifts, dinners and flowers can happen at any day, not necessarily just on Valentine's Day! Its arguable if you are going after a girl and wanna show your interest by doing so on V-Day but for couples, I think its a mere act of gesture to spend a whopping amount just for this day. By following those commercialised rituals of splurging on expensive so-called valentine's meals, indulging in bunches and bunches of roses and running around malls racking the most romantic gift you can find, it's not an act of love but an invisible support you are showing to those businesses that you agree on them charging a higher price for their products on this very special day. So, my suggestion: Do it the simple way, do it the traditional way. Show it with a hug or a kiss. Love is not a mathematical element so it does not measure itself by how expensive your gift is, how pricey the meal is or how big of bunch of flowers you have in your arms. It's the thoughts that count.

So, feel free to let loose some softie, lovey-dovey side of you today. Make Saint Valentine proud by showing how much someone means to you by sending a hug or just a mere peck on the cheek. Use the mighty power of body language and words for once.

And since love comes in various forms, you might wanna do your part by calling or sms-ing your parents, your besties, your siblings, all your dearest ones to spread some lub around! Remember, its not about spending money today, its about telling people around you how much you love and cherished them.

Finally, no matter what way you chose to express yourself, I still wanna wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day!