Boxing day

about 8-9 years ago (i think.. or was i younger?) when i was in melbourne a cab driver told us that boxing day is about opening ur presents but all my presents have been opened. hehe... i'm not a very patient person.

it's 2pm... an hour since i woke up. what should i do? go myer? bock called me this morning to wake me up to go myer haha crazy... then he called me again to tell me there's HEAPS of people (he just kept waking me up for no good reason at all hahahha) so hmm... maybe i'll go anyway. i kinda feel like a good dinner tonight before i start at LG for the next 5 days... it'll b the last good dinner of 2007. hmm... or a night of watching not-so-good free to air TV programmes.

ahhh... christmas in melbourne... it hasn't been all bad. =) thanks to my wonderful friends: nancy, bock, gerry and of course joe and also his family and all the gifts. i called home last night to feel a bit of atmosphere across the phone hehe sounded like they had a very good meal though nothing too happening, probably cuz they were waiting to open presents haha... spoke to my grandma and i told her i'll see her in less than a month... ahhhh niceeeee.... oh here's a lil something CS just said to me. hehehe.... even i can't quite believe i haven't been home in a year.....

Ching Szuen says (14:14):so you really did manage to skip entire 2007 without coming back
Y says (14:14):tell me about it...
Ching Szuen says (14:14):hahaha
Ching Szuen says (14:15):and there i was, thinking you couldn't do it
Ching Szuen says (14:15):and my god, it's been a year already
Ching Szuen says (14:15):so fast

well time flies before u know it CS, i'll be bugging u to come to KL to have breakkie with me at 9am after we hang out till 3/4am the night before. haha... n of course we'd drag wong along. dun u guys just miss me. kekekeke...

ok i'll do as i was told, sleep late, wake up late (done that) and have the rest of the day off to go shopping.... ;)

my thoughts are my own...

Celebrations

Day before Christmas Eve...

My christmas celebrations started 2 nights ago.. it started with dinner at shark fin inn with lemongrass people... it was quite a good dinner. surprisingly enjoyable probably due to all that wine Michael brought... hehehe.... (i'm watching carols by candlelight right now and OMG, some singers should really look at themselves in the mirror n realize the dress they have on is TOO DAMN TIGHT! goodness......) anyway, it was a good night. after dinner the young ones went karaoke and welll.... karaoke is always fun for me. hehe... the pictures will speak for themselves. ;) here's a pic of half the attendace that night (floor staff).

left to right: Jenny, Edgar, Ven, Stephen, Shang, Wy Ching, Paula

left to right (standing): Paul, Michael
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Christmas eve...

Lunched with Tony and family and Garling, gogo staff... or should i say ex-gogo staff. even tony has resigned. lunch was dim sum at shark fin house. tony's 3 sons (damien, albert, larson) are incredibly cute (between the ages of 2-4). damien is so cheeky but soooo cute. hehe...

after lunch i went over to bock's place. we organized a 'small' christmas eve dinner at his house. i made 2 dishes, gerry and him prepared the meat and some other salads. well the food was amazing, esp the ham. bock roasted the ham for about an hour and every 15mins he had to take it out from the oven to glaze it and the end result:

beautiful isn't it? it taste just as beautiful. oh yes i must state, dear joe decorated the plate hehe.. and on the right side there's no decorations cuz it'll make it easier to cut the ham. ;)

all the food we had for 10 ppl. hehe... looks like estimation wasn't very good. :P

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Christmas Day

I woke up at 1pm today. hehe... i figured it's a day to relax and sleep in afterall everything is closed. i've already watched 1.5 christmas movies on TV. now it's carols by candlelight (repeat). i've got a christmas dinner tonight at joe's house =). tomorrow is boxing day, THE sale of the year... thinking if i wanna go but like ip said it'll be 'stampedeful' of ppl. maybe i will for once to see what it really is like...

anyway people....

HAVE A HAPPY CHRISTMAS!!!!

*Hugs & Kisses*

...

Just got home from LG and feeling extremely tired but happy that the holiday is finally here. a week off lab (except few random days when i have to go in for a few house)!! i'll spend the first couple of days celebrating christmas then i'd probably have a good rest before New Year's (expecting a mad night at LG). there's quite a lot of domestic work to do during my break. how i wish some nights when i walk into the house, the dishes are done, the place is tidy and the clothes are washed. i don't know if it's just me but there's a good feeling about walking into a neat and tidy house. it makes me feel balanced.... i'm not a obsessive compulsive person but still... i can't stand untidiness for too long... argh... time for a hot shower to get rid of this bad feeling.....

my thoughts are my own...

Christmas

it's that time of year again... the season to be jolly!!

yesterday was our departmental's christmas lunch. there was the 'end of year talk' given by the head of dept followed by buffet lunch (which we had to pay for mind u) and lots of alcohol. the talk was good, it's always good to know what the dept got up to throughout the year and where we are headed and how the university is changing. the uni is having a new generation of degrees starting next year. total change from the current system, sounds like a lot of work for the academic staff, nothing doing with me. i'm research staff. hehe...

after the talk we all sat around the tearoom and on the varanda for lunch. sometimes i feel such events are meant for ppl to mix around and talk to others but most of us sat with our own lab anyway. not that that's anything bad, i actually had a good time chit-chatting (gossiping) and drinking beer n wine... think we drank more than we ate (if the food isn't delicious enough for u to eat 25bucks worth, then drink to ur money's worth) haha.... after lunch few of us watch some others play cricket. from cricket it became a hmm... 'knocking beer bottles down' game. 3 ppl on one side, 10 beer bottles in the middle, knock em' down. hehe... that was pretty funny. my aiming was pretty shit i have to say. haha... n brad kept laughing at me but it was all good fun!! by the time we came back up to the lab it was 430pm. the only person that worked y'day was lori (from our lab). we actually came back up to the lab to pack up, took our bags n headed off to the pub n the party continued. hahaha.... but unfortunately (or fortunately.... i'd have gotten so drunk) i had to leave to go to LG. i had a good time, didn't expect myself to have such a ball at a dept event but well.... always expect the unexpected. ;)

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i was browsing thru goggle just now and came across this picture. straight away i tot of my family. they've been telling me about their christmas shoppings and what they bought for whom and at whose's house they r going to be at on the 24th, 25th n 26th n of course the 31st. ahhh how jealous i am...

i see my mum in this picture... hehe... buying presents for everyone in the family n how she'd have bags of presents in the car. of course it aint as ridiculous as this cartoon. my dad'd have gone crazy if we were to buy THAT many gifts. hehe... the money spent during christmas is well worth if u are with ur family/loved ones and everyone is enjoying themselves. presents bought during christmas are often lil gifts anyway. =)

this is the first year i'm away from home for christmas n new year. it feels rather different. i try not to think what plans i have as i do when i'm back home - thinking what to wear to this n that party, the food, noise, laughters, PRESENTS!! i guess i'm not used to.. being brought up in a family that celebrates everything...... this year just seems too quiet....

to think that this year i'd be spending christmas n new year's eve at LG.... the difference.... but in a way it's good. LG serves as such a distraction...

my thoughts are my own...

LG

Those of you who know what the title means i'm sure u'll know what and where i'm referring to.

yesterday was my first outing out with ppl from LG. there were Shang (chinese), Ven (m'sian), Edgar (indo'sian), Jenny (m'sian), Paul (indo'sian) and myself. sitting at a table by the yarra river having bbq sausage i found out that i was the oldest among the group which was rather surprising. shang, who's been in LG for 2yrs (the most loyal member of LG) is only 19! ven said he looks 25. hahaha...

it's amazing what gossip u hear from one outing. we talked about LG dh+wife and gosh... i was pretty shocked but some kinda expected. anyway, put that aside. from the bbq we went to a park near federation sq and played some volleyball/football... it was really funny cuz we played monkey. n i was the monkey for the longest time, even when shang tried to help me (by tackling the guys who had the ball), i still didn't manage to get hold of the ball. it was fun though! it's not something i do often, going to the park and playing with ball... like kids. ven was so cute, it was really weird seeing her so hyper and funny cuz she's got a 'chuen' face. she was so keen to go kayaking but when she found out u got to clean the canoe and all that she went 'don't want la! have to clean n all one' hahhaha.... after park we went to play some pool in the city...

while i was in the city i met 2 ppl that i haven't seen for a long time. one was 'xiao di' (lil brother), i used to work with him in gogo sushi. and the other was Yut! Yut!! this thai guy i worked/partied with at jasmine. i asked him what he's been up to n he told me he's married n when he said it, his wife walked towards us n i was pretty shocked..hehe yut never seemed like a marrying kinda guy.. the surprising thing was it's the same girl... it kinda makes u realize we r all not very young anymore, got to get stable at some point. hehehe...

being at LG brings back memories. it takes me back to when i was studying at uni. the first few years, how my social life got started in melbourne... it's tiring to be doing this but at the moment i kinda enjoy it. it's pretty refreshing in a way. i'm glad the ppl are nice, for now they r still nice. however, ppl u meet at such places are ppl u will eventually have to say goodbye to cuz they r only here temporarily....


my thoughts are my own...

Friday night

Precious friday nights... this week has been pretty boring for me but i was kept busy most nights. tonight is my night 'off' but i'm doing what i do everynight... playing bubbles. heh... i guess i could sleep early but it's not that early anymore, 11:30pm. got to wake up early to pick my aunty, uncle n 2 cousins from the aiport. gonna b busy entertaining them for the next 3 days. hmmm... maybe i'll go read n sleep? there's no one online to talk to either. shucks....

che, told u 'mm sai la', it went unnoticed.

Day at Kinglake

Yesterday the Brown (boss: Lori) and Jackson lab (boss: Dave) had a christmas BBQ party at Kinglake (day off at work woohoo!!). Lori and Dave have a family home up there. kinglake is about an hour drive from melbourne. Bock n i went together and it was pretty funny cuz well we kinda took the 'scenic drive' which meant we were going up the mountains driving on winding roads. the further i drove, the more worried bock got thinking we were lost. hehe... we did get lost but we found the house anyway. hehehehe....

each of us took a dish there. there was hmm... about 16 of us (excluding dave n lori) so imagine the food. we had a table of yummy food... sushi, spring rolls, potato salad, pumpkin salad, chickpea salad, bread... etc... and outside there was bbq.. sausages n meat. oh and the dessert.. there was choch cake, caramel mudcake, watermelon, strawberries, cherries, christmas pudding, fruitcake, ice cream... i seem to reember the dessert better. hehe... there was plenty of food! there were yum yum~~ the house is pretty cosy, 2 bedrooms, not too big situated on 10acres of land. everywhere surrounding the house were land... empty land.. and erm cows and FLIES! there was SO MANY of those annoying lil shits!! we couldn't have our lunch outside cuz the moment u place ur plate down the flies were all over it. so we ate in the house.

lunch pictures:

After all that food and dessert, everyone sat around relaxing. Brad, Bock n myself went out side to take a walk....

Cassie relaxing in the house

Brad mocking around outside the house

Since we had nothing to do after lunch, dave decided to show us his lil.. hmm... i have no idea what u call it... a lil tractor? anyway some of us took turns to drive it. i didn't cuz i was too scared i'd fall off going down the sloop, so lori took me for a ride hehe...

After all that fun... it was time for some work..... as u can see, we had to put the logs onto the trailer. i tried.. to pick up one with michelle and gosh it was heavy. dave got worried n came to help us cuz i was laughing so much i had no strength. after that, i just stood around watching. hehe.... We had a bit of a workout, not me really. i didn't help with the logs, instead i was peeling tree barks off to throw at bock. =p bock n i were stood about 5m away from each other n threw tree barks at each other. haha... it's either we aimed really badly or like bock said 'aerodynamics of the bark is not good' hahahha... besides that we were swinging our hands everywhere getting rid of flies on our faces. gosh those flies they should all just drop dead. after the workout, we went back to the house, had tea n coffee while the girls did the quiz. the men were busy outside.... n me? running around taking pictures hehe...we ended the day with a game of pictionary. there were 3 teams and it was pretty funny. especially when emily drew 'cockpit' that was hilarious.... i dun think i need to spell out what she drew. brad said there should b a age limit to this game hahaha...

we left kinglake at about 4pm. all in all it was a good fun day away from work. i guess it was even better since it was a weekday. hehe... ;)

Marina's 23rd!

Last Friday, Nancy, Marina and myself went out for dinner to celebrate Marina's 23rd birthday. We went to Meat Wine & Co. for some steak!! Food was pretty good, service was pretty good, ambience was hmm... all right, place is nice but a bit too noisy. the view though was very nice. Here are some pictures... =)

Birthday Girl

The 3 of us

Beef ribs for Marina

Potterhouse Steak for Nancy

Fillet Steak for Wy (a bit overcooked)

Nice view ya...along the Yarra River...There's no glass behind us or anything.

Dessert! and Pressie!!

The grinch

It's christmas time again, i was in melbourne city last night and bourke st was lit up so beautifully. there were stars hanging from the lamp post and silverish/blue lights all across the main bit of bourke st. myer christmas windows are now showing 'uno garden'. their christmas theme this year, i don't know the story but the little 'people' and animals in the garden looks cute. there's been talk of christmas lunches, kris kringles and christmas parties!! it's the season to be jolly, to forgive and forget, to give, to share, to be together and be happy!

some people don't know what's the big deal of christmas, or they simply cannot understand what's all the big fuss about. simply put, it's a time to promote goodwill and peace.

it's true, christmas is too commercialised. what isn't? don't be a grinch. but somehow there will always be a grinch somewhere. he/she just has to pull a long face, say some silly/mean things, influence others... and disrupt the harmony. WHY? are they so lonely or so angry with their own life that they take it out on people who are happy? they are envious of their joy hence it has to be ruined? i have absolutely no idea.... but what i know is, christmas is a time to be with family, close friends, have big dinners, parties, laugh, talk and appreciate the people around you.

Don't be a grinch, be a happy elf, or an angel, or santa, better still... just be a happy you!


my thoughts are my own...

24th birthday

I just had yet another memorable birthday.. =)

Thursday morning i woke up with smses of wishes from my parents, my aunts and my friends. went to work and got a pleasant surprise from YM, a plate of brunetti's cookies was delivered to my lab.

i had it together with a cake Lisa baked for me at morning tea. it's a norm that someone in the lab bakes for the birthday person. ;) after morning tea i went back to my desk and found a box of ferrero roche and a card - a surprise pressie from Brad!! hehe... the other exciting bit on thursday was the honours students hand in (thesis) day, the end of their torturous year. it's tradition in our dept to go to the pub to celebrate their hand in. so i went to the pub after work. was suppose to have a drink or 2 and head back home early to have dinner with joe. but.... in the end i needed him to pick me up. hehe... i wasn't drunk or anything, just didn't want to be a 'bloody idiot'. (aussie ad - drink and drive... you BLOODY IDIOT)...

my birthday dinner was specially prepared by joe. my fav noodles and cake! thank you joe! and also for the ipod nano pressie. hehe..

one dinner isn't enough for a greddy person like me so my celebration continued on to friday night. hehe... friday night 's dinner was at a chinese restaurant with a group of friends: Nancy, Marina, Lynn, Ryan, Bock, Gerry, Ip, Joe and myself. there was a lot of food, everyone was 'pa pa' (full) after dinner. After dinner we went for karaoke. =) sing, drink, laugh, go crazy! pictures!!!

before i load a heap of pictures i'd like to thank everyone that made my birthday as special as can be. my parents, sister, grandparents, aunty/uncles, cousins for their gifts, cards, smses and calls. my dear dear friends (wong, roger, han, su, waris, nasa, sarah, carol, sze kar...) in KL that called/smsed. friends in melb that wished me (n the vodka)! YM for being a sweetie (don't blame Mr. postman for the butterfly anymore). dear eve in perth - love ur card! Joe, for putting in so much effort and time for dinner, cake, card, gift and everything ;). Lynn for a very beautiful necklace. Nancy and Marina for what i need (but didn't have the cash to splash on it) it's a very good gift hehe and the crazy drinks at Shanghai's =p. Bock and Gerry for the giftcard and oh the cake! because of it, bock had to miss 10mins!!! of judge judy! hehe 真的辛苦你了林木，非常的感动， 谢谢你哦! Ip, for coming to dinner & K and a very interesting book. Lin Aun, Grace, VN and Chong, thank you for puffy cow! Lin Aun & Grace thanks for coming to K too, sorry i disappeared when u guys left... hehe Tate & Mark for coming to K... hm.... hope i didn't leave anyone out... anyway, a hearfelt THANK YOU to everyone for making me feel as special as ever, truly deepy appreciated! =)

Joe & Wy

Gerry, Wy & Bock

Ip, Joe & Wy

Ryan, Wy & Lynn

Look at the food!!!

surprise cake

They sang 'happy birthday' song so loud... so shy ok!!!

chocolate hair-thingy for melbourne cup! hehe..

yum yum cake...

Nancy & Wy at K

Grace, Lin Aun & Wy


This is me at the end of a crazy/happy night.. hehehhe....

p/s more pics in '...memories...'

my thoughts are my own...

Yun Yang Temple

Last Sunday I went to a temple in Narrewarren called Yun Yang Temple. it's about 45-50mins drive from the city. i was browsing through 'buddhist association' website when i came across this temple, the lanscape was so beautiful that i decided to go, also cuz it's been awhile since i've prayed.

the main temple isn't very big but it's built on a hill and below the hill is a big pond with beautiful landscape (as you see from the pics).

the temple was holding a special occasion when i was there. the grand master from taiwan came and 36 monks gathered for shows, singing and a feast. joe and i felt a bit out of place and the praying hall was restricted. had to wait awhile before we asked someone if we could pray... but it was a quick one. felt a bit akward as monks were sitting in a long row just outside the praying hall. i suppose it was fortunate that i went that day since it was such an auspicious event for the temple. =)

the mc introduced this erm... buddhist experience that anyone can attend if they wanted to - 2 weeks of being a monk. oh no no, don't worry. girls do not have to shave bald. hehe...
this temple has quite a lot of activities all year round.

before we left we took some pictures of the beautiful scenery. it reminded me of TVB series in the olden day era. i think wong will probably understand what i'm talking about. it's scenes where you see things like old master flying across to fight someone else and the water will gush up as they fly past. and most of those scenes have buddha statues in them..as if giving a more spiritual feel to their fights. haha...

this pic of me standing in the 'hut' looking away... if only i was wearing a embroidery dress with big sleeves, my hair long but braided at the top with elaborate gold hairpin. ahh... i'd look like i was waiting on my lover to return from his oh-so-manly-spiritual fight. =p

all right, enough of my day dreaming. i am bored at work. it's 4pm. guess i'll pack up and head to northland for a bit of window shopping.....


my thoughts are my own...