not myself

Had a pretty good day today since it was my day off

went for a health check and all was healthy

meet 2 lovely friends for afternoon tea

made lagsana for dinner

listened to good music

chatted with friends and cousins

had a short call back home

watched a movie and had warm milk and love letters for supper

despite all those...i'm still feeling empty...


why..............................................


mayb I'm home sick...

* I will complete my assignment research and readings for all my assignments tomorrow. I promise!*

Afternoon tea in Paris

Had afternoon tea with one of my Palmy friends at my suburb on Sunday. We visited a quaint lil French cafe tucked in a small corner. This cafe specialises in Crepes! It has all sorts of fillings..from ordinary, honey/jam to lice cream with liquor, to savory filled crepes. All decently priced! AB ordered Salmon crepe with nutella hot chocolate, while I had the Nicouse crepe which had ratatoulie and special sausages, and a cup of latte. Both crepes were served with fresh rocket salad. The food was so inviting, that I forgot about taking pictures!!

Both flatmates were away for the weekend, leaving me home alone. But JC's back now!! The house's less lifeless now =)

Despite the delicious food and good company, I'm feeling so drained from night shifts!! haven't recovered from the lack of sleep I had yesterday...and unable to nap tonight...hopefully, I'm able to last my last night!!

Snore................................

eye vee!

been working with IV pumps so much, I'm certain I can hear them at home too!!!

Working on night shift the past few nights and life has been turned upside down. Sleeping when the day is starting, and working when everyone is out partying/sleeping.

D's Birthday is today. A big Birthday shout out to you D!! Hope you have an awesomer year, and may God continue to shower you abundant blessings and protect you always and everywhere. Love you heaps always!! XOXO

Lamb stew!!

Second attempt of lamb stew!

Lamb was not strong or smelly, nor was it chewy or tough.

Carrots and mushrooms still had their crunchy texture.

Potatoes were soft, and pasta was just right!

Sauce was not too tomato-ish...

All in all, not as good as mom's but at least it taste better than my 1st try!

On another note, I went to the community pool after dinner and got myself a concession pass! Burned off some calories and hopefully built some muscle, got out all wobbly and nearly collapsed at the car park. WEAK!!! Definitely need more practice and do more laps!

Luncheon with Ivor

Met up with Ivor for luncheon on Sat, and we went to Cuba st to find a place to eat. It was the first time since we met 4 years ago, that we've actually sat down and had a meal together. After all these years of being in the same city, it's only when I move to Welly, that we made an initiative to meet up.

Anyways, we went to this Itallian place called Caffe Italiano. What attracted us to that place was that it had a range of desserts displayed on the covered counter! Tiramisu, tarts, etc etc... but they also have pastas, pizzas and a breakfast menu as well. Ivor had bolognase pasta, while I had the lagsana. The best part about this place it that they have half price on pastas on Monday and Tuesday nights! you sure can expect to find me there on those nights!

Bolognase

lagsana


Although, I did find the pastas a tad bit too salty for my taste buds...but overall, the service was quick and the staff were FAB! Although the price were slightly on the step side, the portions were just enough to fill you. Definitely not a bad place to check out if you're looking for a quick Italian meal and don't mind paying more.

Inserted my 1st nasogastric tube ever and it went well! Baby was upset and cried, but after 1 unsuccessful attempt, I tried the other nostril, it slide in perfectly.

I hope she would feed, gain enough energy and weight, recover fast, and go home!!

Church tomorrow morning and contemplating whether to get the cardi from town...

A Heavy Heart

went back to Palmy for a short day trip this afternoon. Arrived and had lunch with Kiddo at Cuba Cafe, then went to pay a house call to uncle and auntie. Sat and chatted with auntie and ended up falling asleep while we were watching the food channel and wasted my precious time in Palmy!!! Woke up just in time to go for dinner with JX and DO at Fujiyama. AC, HH & JC joined co0incidentally too...so it was a merry table.

It's quite a reasonable Japanese restaurant, that DO's rather fond of and often eating there after church.

After that, we had hot chocolate for dessert at Chocolato, a nice ice cream parlor that opened last year, and has been increasing in patrons. They serve Belgian hot chocolate and make their own sorbets and gelatoes. There, the boys were sharing their army day stories and joked around till it was time to go our separate ways.

Leaving Palmy was a hard choice cause there were still so many more friends I wanted to go visit and spend time with, but cause I didn't want to drive late and had work the next day, I had to force myself from turning the car around. The 1st hour back to Welly was really hard...If this is going to keep up, I'm going to dread going back to Palmy again...

As much as I enjoy my new life in Welly, I can't deny that I'm still very fond of Palmy!!!

Part time

I signed an agreement at work that I would study part time as part of my professional development, so I'm taking 1 paper to work towards a post grad dip with a local tertiary institution. This paper is stretched into 2 semesters.

For the 1st semester, we have to set 6 learning objectives, which we're required to research on, demonstrate and discuss our learnings to a senior staff to get it checked off. After which, we have to write a long report on the whole experience. That's only for one learning objective thank goodness.

As for the second semester, we're suppose to review a clinical case and I'm guessing more research and writing, along with completing a professional portfolio for the year.

So apart from reading up hospital policies and protocols, I've got those assignments to complete. Doesn't seem to heavy...considering the work load we've been through in school and uni days. It'll be easy peasy...right??

On another note, having my days off again! A short trip to Palmy for a 21st and back to Welly for a fun night in town. Better get back to completing my 1st load of assignment, before heading out to do more exploring at Lower Hutt/Petone and back to dear old Palmy.

Exploring Welly pt 1

Since I've pretty much settled into my new flat and I had my days off yesterday and today, I decided to do some exploring.

Sunday
I decided to explore the other side of the hill! I'm living in Newtown area, and the other side is Kilbernie. There's 2 supermarkets (Woolies, & Pak & Save), and an asian supermarket, and several rows of shops and banks. The night lights in that area is also quite nice, especially from the hills as it overlooks the airport...I also found out where the national zoo is and a hockey stadium, which are in Newtown area.

*In Kilbernie. multistory flat reminds me of English homes haha...
the hill at the back is the hill that sits between Kilbernie and Newtown*

Monday
The weather was so much better that the past few days! Bright, clear sunny day! Still cold though...so I drove all the way out to Moa Point and to Miramar, which is the southern part of Welly, past the airport. They're both in different directions though.

* one of the viewing points*

*one of the many tiny bays at Moa point. The Lady was playing fetch with her dog*

Later in the evening, I tried taking the bus to town, but ended up walking a good 15mins into town. And met with CC for the 1st time in a year! We had hot chocolate in Scopa Caffe Cucina and it was amazing...it wasn't those powdered hot choco mixed with warmed milk or melted chocolate in milk either. It was like chocolate pudding...it was really silky smooth and dreamy...not the kinda you'd get sick off after a whole mug! Will definitely go back there for seconds, thirds and more!!

Todays weather is kinda unpredictable, one minute dark and gloomy, bright and sunny the next. Today's study and work day, so being a good girl so I can enjoy my days off which is just starting tomorrow night!! haha..

*The view outside my window today*

Ring Ring

Since I've been calling home so much more often now, I'm considering using Skype to call landlines instead cause it would be so much cheaper now that they have the unlimited calls to "worldwide" landlines/mobiles for just AUD15.99.

The only problem is, it does not include Malaysian mobiles and to buy the credit, I have to pay in AUD monthly. So at the moment, I'm just using my vodafone prepaid to call malaysian landlines at any time of the day for just $2 an hour, and the line is pretty clear.

What I would be worried about using Skype is that there would be interference with the connection. As it is, both end of the line are having a hard enough time understanding each other.

Any one been using Skype to call landlines or mobile?

My angel in dreams

I still can't fathom that dreams are the only place I can see you now...
U bid me goodbye the night after you left, looking more beautiful and serene that ever.
Tonight you came again,
comforting me and giving me a long hug for the lonesome time I'm having,
Despite being the furthers apart from Earth,
you're still the "mother" figure I can't have at this point of time.
A dream so real I could even still taste you perfectly made butter fruit cake as I woke up.
I believe you're watching over me,
holding my hand and giving me encouragement and hugs along the way.
Thank you so much for loving me,
I promise I wouldn't let you down.
I love you auntie!
and we all miss you very dearly...

.

*image taken from Kristine Sendy*

Mad vs Calm

Yesterday's work was insane!! Although we had reasonable patient load, the shift still manage to pull the carpet off under our feet and left us collapsed on the ground! On the start of the shift, we had to escort 2 of our patient to theater, then we had another 2 patients that was on 4/24 IV cares, 1-4/24 obs to do, then we had admissions after admissions, and phones ringing off the hook the whole night, and that was with 2 spare pair of hands...we all ended up having late and short dinners and a late night...

Today on the other hand, was much more relaxing...we had 2 patient each, and lots of time to restock and clean the rooms, check the equipments, do some educational readings, and I even manage to do some work related quizzes and find out how challenging it can be to plan your next roster!

Loving working life! For now at least heheh....social aint too bad too...gotta catch up with my classmates for brunch, watch part of a Hindi movie with my flatties, and had a short chat with Mr Landlord..

Lose nut

Exhausted

Drained

Hungry

Sore

Stressed


but some how...still looking forward for more!

Dunkin' Donuts

Just because I feel very mean today.... =P

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Box of a dozen. Bravarian Creme & Strawberry Jam..Yummmmmm
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Sufficient to sustain me for 6 days, with 2 for each day!

Devanport

Alright, on arrival to Auck domestic airport, I had to wait 4 hours for my aunt to arrive via SQ...while wait, I decided to have sushi for dinner. A box of 6 piece sushi box cost $13!!! Forget it..So i opted for McD instead.. I never realised that Auck internation airport had a viewing lounge..so i went to have a look and killed my time there. Wasn't much of a view...could only see one small section of the airport...lousy..so I called home and had a long talk with mom.

Finally my aunt arrived, and we took the taxi to the motel, the whole ride cost us $60 for a short 10min ride...cut throat! Eventually we reached the motel at 1130pm and was greeted by my cousins. Her kids were having their "afternoon" nap and was woken up while we were having our supper.

Next day we started out late cause the kids slept in. We arrived town at 12 and caught the ferry to Devonport. Was the twin's 1st time on the ferry, so they quite enjoyed it. Weather was kind of uncertain. Drizzling here and there as it pleased. But that didn't deter us from roaming the streets. We met up wit C's school friends and they brought us up mt Vic and brown's Bay for a late lunch, followed by a quick stop at their home. They sent us to our car and we went back to the motel.

Amazing view of the city centre

lunch at one of Brown's Bay Cafe

Breakfast the next day was super! We had persimmons, hard boied eggs, toasts, bacon, portabellow mushrooms, avacado, cheese and warm milk....after that we had to check out and we went on our separate ways. They headed off to Corommandel while I went to meet with MD for lunch and then made my way back to Welly...

That's my real quick vacation

with my crazy nieces!!

Long wkend!!

Had a 4 day weekend this week, but it seemed longer than 4 days...cause it started on friday evening, and still going till now...hence I decided to go on a holiday! Was away from home for the whole weekend, which would explain why there were no updates!

but i'll explain more another time...right now, I'm freezing to death not because I'm being mean on electricity bills, but because I've got a un-usable heater sitting in my room. I was rushing out of my Palmy home when my uncle passed me a box which looked like a fan heater, then opening it after 3 days from receiving it, I found out that there's no wires connected to the heater that I could plug into the socket!! Believe me, I tipped the box upside down and inside out, and there wasn't and wires to be connected. God bless me, that I dont freeze to death overnight!! So I'm off to the Briscoes tomorrow to get a decent heater, and maybe a duvet cover too...

back to life

Been living without internet access for the past few days and it has made me realise how much I depend on the internet with my everyday life...its a means of:

- connecting with friends and family
- finding directions, maps
- keeping informed with world events
- looking up new words
- entertainment
- WORK related information!!

But I'm back on now with the help of my very lovely flatmate DJ! =)

Anyways, I've finally settled into my new room! Absolutely love this place...pictures are as posted on my facebook.

works been goin fine, 4 days of generic orientation and will be starting my 1st day on the ward tomorrow! Oh so excited!! =) Then after work, I'll be heading straight back to Palmy to meet up with my cousin and bring more belongings down. I'll throw my large duvet and heater as well!