Finally Settling In...

Week of 9 April
Just enjoyed my first long Easter Weekend in Melbourne and surprisingly, it went passed real well without any degree of "boredom"!
My Sea Shipment finally got delivered on 10 April, 2007. About 45 days after they were loaded to the container from my home in Singapore! The days after that were just horrible... having only 5 hours of sleep for the next 3 days... rushing to unpack (59 boxes) before my brother's arrival. Gosh, I believe I had never been so efficient in my unpacking! Setting up the Sound Systems, Kitchen, Bedrooms and etc... was stuck in the apartment for more than 36 hours until I head out for my gym session. It was a much welcome break despite my initial reluctance.
Another 9 more hours of unpacking before finally setting out to fetch my bro and sis-in-law, arriving on the the early morning flight.
It was really nice finally seeing members of my family after more than a month in Melbourne , too much to talk, too much to do... in a place I can finally call HOME in Melbourne, filled with all the furnitures I chose and all my junks from Singapore.

Ideal Type of Sundays...

8 April, Easter Sunday
Has been an interesting and real busy week, both at work and at home! Just spent a wonderful Easter Sunday with Boon Whatt's family and Yonghao. We had dim sum in Chinatown and went for a Free Comedy show over at Federation Square. The weather was surprisingly nice for Autumn, it was actually HOT! Invited them over to my place after the show and ordered Pizza for dinner. It was an enjoyable day and guess the greatest gain is the fact that I learnt to take the tram for first time since I moved. The truth is... that will save me the trouble of driving to town! So from this day, I can call myself a Mebournian? Ha...

First Sailing Experience

3 April, Tuesday
Blue sky, sunshine, sail boat, great team, beer and scenery - All elements of a great Sailing Experience. A sailing challenge organised for our customers in conjunction with our Product Launch. Close to 10 boats competing, with about 14members in each team. Each member undertook a role, Navigator (Junior), Navigator (Senior), Skipper, Radio, Lookout and etc... to sail the boat to a few destination assigned. Out Of The Blue II - The name of the 35ft sail boat we were assigned, owned by a couple Chris & Lynn.

Undertook the interesting role of being Navigator and learned to navigate a boat using Latitude and Longitude... realised just how important that role can be in guiding the skipper in the right direction. Team work, that's what it is. An indeed fun and effective team building. What an experience, it is something I have always wanted to try... and I was given the opportunity in the Sunshine city of Brisbane!

Have you ever doubt yourself?

2 April, Monday - (Part II) Sanctuary Cove, Brisbane
Attended our company new product launch to a big group of customers...very impressive setup with nice display (right). My first since I took on this job. Very informative and indeed an eye-opener. Learned much about the new product, but also reinforced my ignorance of the industry and our customers. One of those days, where you could hardly walk with confidence. Sigh...
Nonetheless, it was very enlightening.

Black Monday

2 April, Monday (Part I)
The Fact: To catch a flight to Sydney at 6.05am...
The Plan: Relax, pack, update blog, and leave for airport around 4am, detour to office on the way to replicate my mails (having problem with my wireless).
The Encounter: Slept before packing and woke up at 4am! Damn...
Frantically packed up and rushed to the airport (check in counter close 30mins before departure, i.e 5.30am)... Managed to get out at 4.45am, risked being late cause I had to try getting a parking space at the airport Long-Term multi storey carpark. Speeding and risking getting fine, arrived and parked at 5.20am, figured my way through to the Departure Hall, it's 5.30am!
Can't check-in, no choice but to approach the Customer Assistance Desk... pleaded her to check me in, in reply: "...you shouldn't be late...". Anyway, managed my way again, huew! 10 mins later, I was already seated comfortably on the way to Sydney as "planned"! Ha!

A real trick on April Fool's Day!

1 April, Sunday...
It all started really well with my 2nd tennis session at Greensborough with Ian, Linda and Mark, on artificial grass. Nice weather and a good workout. Found a nice pastry shop in the suburb and bought a Fruit Flynn and a box of Rum Balls for my second session! My first bbq in Melbourne... yes, with Boon Whatt's family and 2 other Singaporeans, at Canning Park along Maribyrnong River! The weather is just wonderful...

From Central to East and back to the West, a few more new suburbs I explored. Really enjoyable. We were all stuffed, and after our Aussie bbq, went to BW's house and chatted till close to 9pm before heading back, to the long waited April Fool's Encounter!

As usual, I parked my car in my miserable lot and got off to unload my stuffs from the boot. This time however, I locked it, and eager to adjust my car, I close my boot with my handbag in the boot! Goodness, I was devastated! What the hell have I done? I just locked my keys in the damn car! I have a 6am flight to catch the next day and some packing to be done. Now, I am left with nothing (not even my mobile) except my apartment key! I cannot imagine if I have not taken out my apartment keys! In desperation, I went upstairs and no choice but to bother my neighbour and borrowed their phone to call for emergency roadside assistance! The good thing though is, I got to finally know my neighbour, Katherine with her son and daughter.
She was nice, and when the assistance called, she actually came over to alert me. In less than 5 minutes, he managed to help open my car door, and I was really relief! What a joke!
I got back not knowing yet another adventure is waiting for me...in just a few hours. stay tuned...

On a Positive note...

31 March, Saturday
Attended my first Spinning class in Fitness First, after several tries. I was glad I managed to get the last available bike! But the class was wonderful, really perspired and really worked the quads! Gosh, it really pushed me to work harder and I finally tried pedaling while standing! To most people, this is normal, but for me, it was a real miracle! I was never comfortable with bikes, and I don't think I ever will. Spinning may not be such a bad idea to satisfy my dream of cycling!