reflections

Welcoming 2008

Despite initial plans to attend formal NYEve celebrations, Clare and I decided to welcome the new year with a small intimate dinner. We found ourselves enjoying a sumptuous feast at a Turkish restaurant - Effendy - a mere minute's walk from home. After satisfying our taste buds, we walked home and welcomed the New Year from the comfort of our lounge room.

It was a nice night and a nice start to the year. Joshua was at his grandparents, so he joined us over the phone. We watched the countdown on TV and the fireworks were mostly visible from our balcony. 

I am starting 2008 more in control of my life than I have ever been. I have a loving family around me, a wedding to organise, a job I enjoy and friends who in many ways are my second family. I am looking forward to this year.

I wish everyone a fantastic year where your dreams will continue to become a reality!

Bureaucracy

We often complain about government bureaucracy, generally with just cause. Recently, I was quite impressed with the efficiency of the Passport Office and I thought I would mention it.

If you read my previous post, you will know that I recently had to go to Fiji for a short visit. I was only given two days notice. When I got home on that day, I thought it would be a smart idea to look for my passport. We had moved house since the last time I used it, so I wasn't quite sure where it was.

I found it easily enough, but to my horror I realised that it had just expired. So first thing on the following morning I made my way to the Passport Office near Central. I was prepared to grovel and bribe, but to my surprise they didn't make a fuss about my special request. They didn't even insist on seeing my travel itinerary, which the travel agent was still working on. I submitted my express application at 9:30am on Thursday morning and they guaranteed that I would have the passport by 1pm on Friday.

When I got to my desk, there was an email confirming my express application and reiterating the next steps. I was already impressed with the service. To my surprise, barely 3 hours later I received an email by the Passport Office informing me that my passport was ready to be collected, nearly 24 hours earlier than they had promised. I was a little skeptical, but I went back and sure enough it was waiting for me, still warm from the printers. It is rare enough for the bureaucracy to deliver something on time let alone early, so I was very impressed.

The only quirk in the whole process was that they refused to accept the passport photos I had brought with me in the morning. They were the right size and format, but they said that I couldn't smile in the photo. Go figure!

Bula

A few weeks ago - on a Wednesday - James came to me and asked what I was upto over the weekend. I thought he was going to ask me over for dinner or something like that. Instead he asked me if I could go to Fiji for the weekend to attend the Fiji Business Excellence Awards.

I was a little surprised, but after speaking to Clare I agreed to go. I had never been to Fiji before. A rushed weekend trip wasn't the best way to experience a country, but I got a taste of it nevertheless.

I left Sydney on a 7am flight on Saturday and landed in Nadi early in the afternoon Fiji time. I was met by George at the airport and climbed into his taxi for the 4 hour drive to Nadi. I had the option of catching an internal flight on a small plane, but I wasn't brave enough. The drive was pleasant and I got to see some of the countryside.

We stopped a few times on the way. George bought local produce on the way including mangoes and prawns. We also stopped for lunch. I took the safe option and had fried chicken and chips. It was delicious, the Colonel would be green with envy.

After the long drive I had 1 hour to refresh myself before the conference. I had a great room on the ground floor, but little time to enjoy it. The french windows opened onto a small terrace and the water was lapping onto the wall. I was exhausted, but quickly got changed and went across the road to the function hall.

I was seated at one of the head tables with some prominent local and foreign guests. The guest of honour was Commodore Bainimarama - Fiji's military ruler - who was seated about 2 metres away from me. I was surprised to see that security was quite relaxed. There were no metal detectors, no soldiers toting guns and only one bodyguard discretely seated behind the Commodore. In most other countries in the world, security would be a heavy and menacing. Not in Fiji, there is no need. Violence isn't really part of the culture. A surprising statement considering the number of coups in the recent past. However, when you think about it, there was minimal bloodshed during the political strife. 

The night was fantastic. I was exhausted, but I managed to enjoy myself nevertheless. The food was delicious and my only regret was that I didn't get to try Kava. I didn't linger too late and left soon after the dancing began. After a short three hour sleep, it was time to get picked up by George for the 4 hour drive back to Nadi.

I got back to Sydney just after lunch on the Sunday. I had spent a total of 20 hours in Fiji, a big part of it in a car. Despite my lightning visit, I can see why it appeals to a lot of tourists. The streets feel safe, the people are friendly, the weather is hot and the water looked glorious.

Photo originally uploaded by smin.

Credit card fraud

I got an alarming call on Friday. The lady on the phone claimed to represent my bank and that they had received a security alert about my credit card. She wanted to verfiy some details. When asked to reveal some personal information about myself, I got a little suspicious and refused. She congratulated me on my vigilence and told me to call the normal support line for the bank. She wasn't a fraud.

When I called, I was informed that there was indeed a security alert on my card. Someone had attempted to use the card to make an online purchase. However, they had not been able to provide the correct verification code prompting the alert. They verified my last few transactions and cancelled the card.

I was impressed. I suffered no loss thanks to their vigilence. I will be inconvenienced over the weekend without a credit card, but its a small price to pay. Its not often that we get to compliment a bank.

Photo originally uploaded by Air force one.

Vertigo

A couple of weekends ago, Clare, Ophalemu and I went on a road trip with some friends - Tung, Sylvia, Simon, Joss and David. We boys took our bikes, the girls followed in the car with the kids. Great trip, great fun, good food, good company, too short.

We did the obligatory sight-seeing in Katoomba and went on the Sky Way. The views in the mountains are amazing and none more so than when you look down through the transparent floor of the Sky Way.

I was a little surprised to realise that I still had to fight vertigo. As a kid I couldn't bring myself to look down from any great height. However, when I became a teenager, I decided that I should no longer stop myself from climbing heights. The fear made no sense, so progressively I learned to control it and then overcome it. These days, I rarely feel fear when I look down from great heights.

However, looking down from the Sky Way I did feel that old twinge again. I guess you can never completely vanquish a phobia. It took me a few seconds to control it. When I did, I simply had to take this photo of Clare's foot framed against the forest hundreds of metres below us.

Hidden surprise

Clare, Ofelemu and I love our new place. Its big, spacious and filled with natural light. It already feels like home. However, we were a little dissappointed that the building didn't have a pool or a gym. A number of the other units we had shortlisted were in complexes with both, but this one didn't have any such facilities advertised.

The other weekend we decided to explore the building a little more. We were actually looking for clothes lines. The dryer is convenient, but it tends to ruin clothes. Finding nothing in the basement, we climbed to the top floor. We didn't find any clothes lines - we still have to use the dryer - but we found a rooftop pool. Its not huge, but with a bbq and great views, it looks like the perfect place to relax in the hot summer months.

We are still not sure why the pool wasn't advertised. Could it be that the owner and the agent don't know?

School Reunion

School reunions can be rather confronting. Last weekend I went to our 15th year reunion. I came to Australia mid way through Y11, and only went to school with this group for about a year and a half. But they were a big part of my life during that time and some still remain a big part of it.

We had a pretty good year. Sure we had friendship groups, but the groups weren't exclusive. I generally flitted and spent time with different groups. I hung out with the hip kids when I went clubbing, with the brainiacs for weekly tennis and philosophical discussions, with another group for weekly video nights (DVDs weren't around back then), with the frenchies for house parties, and so on.

It was interesting to see the changes 15 years later. Everyone had changed in different ways. Some of us had families, others were single, some were professionals, one ran a skydiving business, some of the girls were full time mums, one had become a professional rapper in the US.

The physical changes were amusing. There were several heavily pregnant women among the group. The dude with long dreadlocks at school now had gone bald. The skinny kid had piled on the pounds. The fat girl had lost weight and blossomed. Others remained more or less the same.

The highlight for me was to see Roman. We were good friends back at school, but had since lost contact. Recently I have been able to reconnect with many of my old school friends, but Roman had remained elusive. I am hoping to resume that friendship again.

How to kill your husband

I found this book on Clare's bedside table - How to Kill Your Husband. Should I be worried? 

Dethroned

Earlier this year I won my second cook off and proudly claimed the title of Iron Chef. I was challenged by Kylie and to my chagrin, I lost. I could blame it on a busy schedule that prevented me from practicing my dishes. I could blame it on Simon's weird phobias about fruit in mains. I could blame it on Clare for making sure the mains were weighted more than entree or dessert.

All complaints aside though, I was beaten fairly on the night by Kylie. She cooked some delicious dishes including a salad that even I could enjoy. Congratulations to the new title holder! I am looking forward to finally being a judge. 

Photo originally uploaded by dogfaceboy.

Oops - I missed my flight

My scheduled flight left early, leaving me behind. Apparently they wanted to leave ahead of the severe thunderstorms that have just hit Sydney. I was transferred onto another flight and I am now waiting along with hundreds of other passengers for the skies to clear and flights to resume.

The lounge is packed, I have never seen it this busy. Almost every seat is taken. I have to share my booth with two other passengers waiting for their flights. Can you imagine the horror? I am kidding, I am not that precious. But the wait is annoying.

On the bright side, the delay gave me enough time to have a decent breakfast of toast and bircher muesli. I have caught up on some urgent work matters and even had time to update my blog. Something I have been unable to do over the last few weeks. An engagement party or organise, house hunting, packing, auditions for a play and an unrelenting work schedule have all taken a toll.

Photo originally uploaded by mustachio_2k1.