Winter is finally here...

June started off with some really nice weather hovering around 12 to 15 degree...just beautiful.   But on 13 June, it dropped for the 1st time to 7 degree and COLD and rainy.  It is amazing how individual acclimatized.  I actually enjoy when the temperature is between 12 to 15 degree!    A little cold but very comfortable when one starts some physical activities.   It's perfect for tennis and golfing!  

Finally had a roun

d of Golf with Hendro!   Yes, played at Albert Park on Queens Birthday, 9 June 2008...  The weather was crappy for once, a taste of real winter... wet, and especially muddy on the course.   On top of that, the real challenging part was the fact that I played 18 holes without grip (the club didn't manage to re-grip my clubs on time)!  My palms were so sore after the game, but I didn't do that badly, especially my irons.  Won't say the same for my woods and short game though... terrible.    

Sex & The City! 

It can't get any better than this:

Watching Sex & the City (2hrs 40 mins), accompanied by a bottle of Sparkling Wine, and dessert, in a Hoyts Director's Suite (similar to Gold Class)... with Laura!  That night (Tues, June 10) we had 2 bottles of wine.  The movie was great, better than I expected, rather I didn't know what to expect, so I thoroughly enjoyed it.   The whole Director's Suites experience was just unforgettable.  The best part was, it was the perfect movie to 

go with!  Real Sex and the City feel!  Inspired by the movie, I worn my 3 inches pair of RED boot (recently acquired at a discount) to work with a black dress... :-> just wanted to feel dressed up once in a while!  The stupid part was, I really couldn't walk too much with it, else my legs will give way.

Tennis

As usual, my number ONE passion and thus, had been quite enjoyable and my confidence did increase after a few wins recently.  Besides, my games, especially volleys have improved. Really happy with my volleys during the 2 matches I played.  In the recent one, I did some nice smashes and touch volleys which obviously won us a few points.   Happy, and my serves weren't that bad, only lost 1 service game throughout the 3 sets.   

In addition, signed up for a series of  Cardio Tennis on Sunday afternoon, organized and coached by a Singaporean. The 2 sessions attended were fun and the bonus is that 

I get to meet different members from Monash Tennis Club. Intend to continue as long as time permits.

Clifton Mixed Section 4 Team, had our season end celebration, for a good season even though we didn't make it to the Semis.   It was a commendable effort, and the best part was, we worked well as a team.  The chemistry is there...we will be moving on as a team in the next season.   Unfortunately not all members were presence but we enjoyed.  That night happened to be the Women Final of the French Open.  We stayed at a pub watching

 part of it and proceeding to my place to finish watching the match, which Ana won the title.  

Imagine this...

You parked your car, and after visiting the doctor and running some errands, you returned to pick up your car BUT, it gone! 

That was what actually happened to me today... I was shocked.  First I thought my car had been stolen, later did I realize that I had parked along a "CLEAR WAY" and my car had been "cleared", basically towed away!   My immediate thought was, "what will be my damage this time?  How much more will I be contributing to the Council's fund?   I know I can retrieve my car, but it's not going to be cheap.   Not knowing where my car is, I had to check with a few passer-by for advice on how to locate my car!   Was advise to call the City of Stonnington, which I did and they provided the collection address, and etc...  Everything was perfectly organized, of course, when it comes to $$.

Took a cab to 34 Cormwell St, and that cost me A$16, sigh.. tough luck.

Signed a A$281 credit card bill in order to retrieve my car, and guess what...

I had another FINE for parking on Clear Way, which will cost me another $110.   Total damage for the day?   A$400...   

How innocent?   I should have read the sign properly... my fault, but this is a very expensive lesson!   I would rather have 4 sessions of tennis or 12 sessions of Golf coaching with that amount!  SIGH.... what to do,  not a very auspicious day for me... definitely not when it is the day when I visited a GP in Melbourne for the 1st time... and he had told me that I am suffering from minor bronchitis!     so, a bad day... 4th June 2008.

To make matter worst... realized my Foxtel is not working... 

Funny, it only allow me to watch the Tennis channel, no matter what I do.   I have been watching tennis a lot, the French Open, but, why should that happened?  What could be the problem?  All I know is, I hope it will not cost me more damage than I already incurred! 

All I can hope for now is a Better Tomorrow. 

"Ming Tian Hui Gen Hau"

A good start already... Roger Federer is in the French Open Semi-Final!   Can't wait for him to hold the Trophy, I will be soooooo thrilled.

"Do not do UNTO others what you do not want others to do UNTO you", and ... vice versa
- The Golden Rule?

How true is this?
If only everybody in this world does that...there will be nothing but Peace and Happiness.

From 19 May to 31 May, how was it?
Busy, busy, busy....
Didn't quite recover from my earlier flu, and now, coughing! First time since long time ago! Gosh... affected my activities since I couldn't really run...even playing tennis is a pain! Hate it.

BOAT SHOW?
The saga of my drive to Surfer's Paradise Marriotts was indeed very "exciting". I was lost in the middle of the night, around 11.30pm, driving on dark roads and frantically seeking help using my mobile. The Hotel was not helpful, and honestly, I was worried for awhile... as the road was dark and quiet and you never know what will happen. Fortunately, I was able to locate a "Pub Motel" and seeked direction from a lady bartender. Only made my way safely to the hotel around 12 midnight, after close to 2 hours drive for a journey which should only take 1.5 hours!

Like the saying goes, "Been there, done that..." somehow this year's boat show was more torturous for me. Those Mega luxury boats are no longer that fascinating compared to last year when I first saw them... a bit "shua gu" then.
- Met one of the retired Dealer's manager, Ian. Had a good chat, and it's like seeing an old friend. Nice.
- News of the manager (from the same dealership) is leaving, sigh... challenging, one after another. My initial response was: "Am I surprise?" Then, reality kicks in... how the hell are we supposed to be supporting our customers? This goes on and on and on... I am tired.

EXERCISE & FITNESS
Was a bit slack during the boat show week but did squeezed in abotu 2 hours of tennis with Hendro, and I guess the best part was, I played so well and I beat him! Happy with the way I played....what can I say, wished I can do that well during competition.

2 PT with Tommy during the 2 weeks, not sufficient but they were good.
Finally a session of Tennis with Travis with my bad cough, wasn't quite enjoying as I was coughing badly... the cold air doesn't help at all.

Golf - Had my 1st re-fresher training with Michelle of Burnley Golf Club. She's good, and pointed out my mistakes, and reinstate my interest in golf again. The urge to want to play well is so overwhleming and for once, I can't wait to practise my swings at a driving range!
Also played 9-Holes with Laura at Burnley... funny course but did get some practise of my swings and a feel of my standard.

FOOD and Indulgence
Well, 2 weeks and only 3 sessions of fitness, what did I do the rest of the time?
Eat, eat and entertainment!
LURE - Brisbane. A nicely decorated restaurant. Like the ambience and the food was quite good too.
SHUCK - A wonderful restaurant on Main Beach, Gold Coast. Had dinner with a few dealers' personnel there, rather pricy but the food was good.
VERGE - On Spring St, Melbourne City. LOVE the dessert! It's fusion Japanese and very classy. Had dinner with a customer there, besides the good food, we had a good time chatting away.
GOSHEN - Korean BBQ at Glen Waverly. The dinner with Laura, after a good massage and golf game was really fantastic. Food's good... and waiter, especially cute! Cannot help laughing at his rolled uo t-shirt sleeves! Obviously trying to show off his muscles! But, he's really funny and cute.
One of his funny remark was: "... I was looking at you too!" Hahaha...
FOG - Australian cuisines, on Greville Streets, Prahan. Nice ambience, and quite good food.
==> Looks like I did a lot of eating these 2 weeks! Not forgetting the fact that all these mean I spent a lot this month!

VISITORS
K G Tay and Grace Chua were in town one after another... and those were the reasons for my indulgence! Good to catch up with colleagues, especially K G, it has been awhile.

... Winter is finally here.