Tisane For One

Good Customer Service Continued

2005-09-15T11:53:00.000+10:00

I wonder how far this situation will go?

I received the following email from another person at the Art Gallery:

Dear XXXXX

I have just returned from a conference to find your e-mail regarding the Margaret Preston Shop.

Please be assured that I will investigate this incident and get back to you as soon as I can.

It is a great help that you have given me the day and time of the incident.

Both the staff of the main and exhibition shops know that our policy is that the shops exist to enhance the gallery visitor's experience - even if sometimes this means things are operationally inconvenient.

Please let me apologise for the poor experience you have had and be assured I will contact you when I have investigated fully.

Regards
Manager – Merchandise and Publications

My wise husband did point something out though:

"Hopefully something good comes from this, i.e. better service for all customers. We can also hope that those 'responsible' for your misadventure get a chance to better themselves; indeed, it may have a positive impact on their personal as well as professional lives."

Do you see why I married him? :-)

The Importance of Good Customer Service...And of speaking out

2005-09-13T10:54:00.000+10:00

This may be a bit long so sit back and relax...

My original letter:

"To whom it may concern,

I want to inform you of my dissatisfaction with the service provided by shop staff at the Margaret Preston Exhibition on Saturday 9th of September 2005.

My companions (one of who is an Art Gallery of NSW patron) and I had been looking forward to attending this exhibition for quite some time. We were delighted by the exhibition itself and by the end of our visit were looking forward to purchasing some products. Unfortunately, by the time we made our way to the shop it was 4.55pm and so we knew that we had very little time or chance of actually purchasing anything. We decided to satisfy ourselves with a quick browse.
Imagine our surprise at being told as soon as we stepped into the shop that "We're shut now. Make your way to the exit" in a most rude manner. This was almost yelled at us from across the room by three very arrogant and bored-looking individuals - two young ladies with bright red hair and one young man. We were taken aback by their rudeness but made it known to them we only wanted to have a quick look around, and wouldn't be long. This, however, was met by exasperated looks and mumbling from those individuals.

Having worked in retail, I understand the importance of closing shops on time but I also understand that customer service is far more important than closing a shop on time. This attitude was markedly absent during our visit.

All that my companions and I wished for was the opportunity to browse some of the products, even if only for future reference. The behaviour displayed by your staff however, has led us to reconsider our support of the Gallery and if we feel induced to visit the gallery again, will do so with caution.

We eagerly anticipated and attended the Margaret Preston exhibition but unfortunately we were left with a very disappointing image of your customer service staff.

Sincerely,"

19 hours later - their response
"Dear Ms XXXXX

Thank you for your email.

I am very sorry that your visit to the Art Gallery was spoiled by the behaviour and attitude of members of our Gallery shop staff. We are all aware that working the Gallery is a privilege and that our shop people should support the GalleryÂs mission in every way we can Â my sincere apologies for our failure to do so when you and your friends visited.

Our Shop Supervisor is organising further training in end of day procedures to emphasise the importance of being courteous to our visitors at all times. I appreciate the clarity of your email and thank you for bringing this serious problem to our attention .

If you need any further information, or if I can help in any way please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Assistant Manager Gallery Shop"

My sister said they should give us some freebies but I will be satisfied knowing that something is being done about the situation. I'll see what happens next time I go there...

Worth the Wait?

2005-09-02T15:38:00.000+10:00

As per my last post - my life took an interesting turn at around this time last month. It is actually quite unbelievable that it has only been a month since it happened, but I am pleased to report that I have bounced back from retrenchment quite well.

Within 2 weeks I found myself employed again (albeit being a 1 month contract) and feeling good about myself again.

Not working is certainly not as much fun as you'd think. Sure, you get to sleep in and catch up on long overdue tasks but it is not for me - unless I was super rich and even then I have my doubts...

Anyway, I have been to many interviews, had a few offers and have more job things brewing, so at least that part of my life is settling down.

But I'd like to share something with you.

A few mornings ago, whilst doing yoga in my living room, I happened to look out of our balcony window. And lo - on the tree across from my balcony, a nest was being built. Yes, a bird's nest.
Not just any bird either but a magpie's nest - which means that if you have red hair or wear red, orange or green you'd be smart to keep away (the birds have a particular aversion to these colours because they are the only ones they can see).

Notwithstanding the bird's rather fearsome reputation, I have found myself fascinated by its progress. Now, its nest is clearly distinguished from the tree's branches. And today I saw the owner sitting in the nest (laying eggs perhaps?).

I honestly feel rather privileged to be party to this small miracle of nature. Mainly because lately I have just failed to appreciate things like this anymore - I have been so preoccupied with other 'matters of consequence', etc etc.

But I feel like I have been handed a reminder; a gift. Here is an animal doing what it takes to progress to its next stage in life...a little like what I have been forced to do. And heck, if the magpie can build its nest in a week, there is no reason why I can't get on with life either...

New Era

2005-07-25T10:02:00.000+10:00

Last wednesday I was retrenched. Again.
Can you believe that 3 out of the 4 jobs I have had as a full time employee have ended this way? What a pain.
I am sad, of course. I had made some good friends here and i LOVED what I did. I felt like I really matured.
But it is time to move on.
Another era ends and a new one begins.

New purchases

2005-07-13T12:20:00.000+10:00

Last week was a bittersweet week.

In the space of 72 hours I witnessed the London bombings, someone broke into my garage and tried to steal my car AND my mother got married. Crazy huh?
Now, I am happy for my dear ol' mum and Miguel (her husband - it feels too weird to call him step-father). I am happy that these two people, older, with grown-up kids can have another chance at love. Giving my mum away was very special too - how many kids can say they have done that? The best part of all was that they looked truly happy and seemed to enjoy the night's festivities. Now they are on their honeymoon, which I am proud to say was completely organised by me - no nasty phone calls in the middle of the night so I think all must be well :-)
On Sunday, I woke up late. My husband was set on spending the day indoors watching movies so I took myself out.

These followed me home...

Madeleine Peyroux

I am LOVING my new CD!

New book...

The book I have yet to begin which is worrying me a little because Harry Potter comes out in 3 days...

London

2005-07-08T10:58:00.000+10:00

Last night I sat watching a travel show and a news bulletin 'interrupted' the programme. Bomb blasts were reported to have happened in London tube stations and at least one bus. Number of fatalities were unknown and only an estimate number of injuries were provided. No one knew who was responsible. My husband and I feared for our friends there. We have been in touch with all but 2 and they are all safe. Thank God.

By this morning however, it was broadcast that the bombs were a result of terrorist attacks and the number of fatalities and injuries were much higher than first thought.

This morning, at 3.30am my husband and I were woken by the sound of our car alarm. Someone had broken into our garage and tried to open our car by first using a plastic coathanger and then by throwing a brick at the driver's side window. Thankfully, the window was not broken, only scratched. One mirror was also scratched but not broken. Cops came around and did their thing. Things are being sorted as I write this...

I am not scared or anything of the sort but just grateful that nothing happened to me or my husband. A human life is impossible to replace and really after what happened in London, an attempted break-in is such a minor thing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the British people in their time of need.

Make Poverty History

2005-06-30T09:49:00.000+10:00

Dear all,

Poverty may never be eradicated but there's no shame in trying.
At the moment campaigns around the world are in full swing trying to raise awareness of a very real and significant issue - Poverty.

Why is it that so much of our tax money can be so easily committed to war, weapons and useless investigations but it is so hard to allocate a greater amount to really important things like eradicating poverty? - And I am not talking just about poverty in places like Africa and Central America but in your own backyards in Australia, Sweden, USA, Norway, UK...

If you want to make a difference, there is no need to chain yourselves to a tree or donate all your income - visit either of these sites and sign the petitions, it is as simple as that.

http://www.one.org
Make Poverty History

If you want to learn about what the purpose of it all is, read:
What we want

If anything, you will learn something new.

Good luck cat!

2005-06-29T13:14:00.000+10:00

My husband is, at this moment, making a presentation which will result (I hope) in the end of his university days as an undergraduate student.

He has been at university for as long as I have known him, which is 7 years...a very long time if speaking about careers other than medicine.

But here he is now, about to finish his degree, and I could not be prouder.

He has worked very hard and his results have reflected that - I mean, how many people out there consistently score 90% and above throughout university?

Me? I was happy just to get over 60% :-)

I know it has been hard for him at times and I have had to play coach throughout his university life - encouraging him and supporting him. So, although this is the end of an era for him, I also feel it will be the end of an era for me. More importantly though, this means the start of bigger and better things for the two of us - minus the dark and heavy cloud of 'uni' hanging over our heads.

Congratulations Oyvind!

This is one of the countless sweet drawings my husband sends via MSN Messenger on a daily basis - A Picasso indeed :-)

High School Reunions

2005-06-24T09:32:00.000+10:00

A couple of days ago, an old high-school buddy of mine informed me that a 10 year high school reunion was being organised for the Class of '96 (do you remember that old TV show? Gillian Anderson (aka Scully) featured in one of the episodes).

Anyway, I was naturally excited about it all. I have not really kept in touch with many people from high-school because when I went to University I was the only one from my school doing my degree. So, I figure this high school reunion will be a fun way to catch up with people I have not seen in 10 years...

In high school I was a bit of an interesting character - I belonged to no 'crowd' but I was friendly with them all - must be the diplomat in me. I don't think I made anyone's life 'hell' but I guess I'll find out next year, when the reunion takes place. I really enjoyed high school - humiliations and all. I mean, how many of us had the 'perfect' experience?

Standouts include:
Year 7: allowing my mum to cut my hair right before school photos were taken...I was left with a 60s do gone very wrong! (She has not touched my hair since).

Year 8: having a HUGE RED ZIT on my nose that no amount of make up could disguise and so being called 'Rudolph' by a very mean girl (she got a nasty surprise the following year when she developed pretty bad acne that lasted beyond high school).

Year 9: finding out that my boyfriend at the time had cheated on me - nuff said.

Year 10: rekindling an old 'relationship' with a little boyfriend I had in year 8 (we had both determined in year 8 that we were too young for all this boyfriend/ girlfriend stuff).

Year 11: Being dumped, via letter, by aforementioned boyfriend from year 10 - and then bumping into him and his new girlfriend 2 weeks later after he had told me that the breakup was not due to a third-party. Also taking part in the school musical 'Grease' in the role of Cha-cha.

Year 12: Having the best year of my high school life - getting good marks, kissing new guys and on formal (prom) night attending as a free and single gal, and not being bothered by it in the least.

I think high school can be a defining moment for many people but not for all - thankfully! What you did then does not necessarily have to have a direct effect on your life now but I think that the values and beliefs you developed then certainly do...

I look forward to having a blast, sharing old stories and being proud of those who have succeeded. Naturally, I am going to check out "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" right before the event for inspiration :-)

Wedding Photos

2005-06-23T09:48:00.000+10:00

On Tuesday night, Oyvind and I went to pick up our professional wedding photographs.

Whilst it was fun to look at pretty pictures of ourselves and of our beautiful family and guests, a thought dawned on me - I am going to have to go through these albums many more times with family and friends over the next couple of months, at least!

Looking at the photos was not as exciting anymore.

BUT then I remembered that this was going to be much like when Oyvind and I have to tell the story of 'how we met'.

You see, when we first meet people they always ask us how we met. This is because I am a Salvadoran-born Aussie and Oyvind is Norwegian so they figure there is an interesting tale behind it all.

We try to take turns when we tell the story because it is a little complicated...and there are always lots of questions. And frankly, we are a little tired of telling it over and OVER again...

Every once in a while though, it strikes me that our story is very much 'out of the ordinary' and I try to look at it from a third-party perspective - it always impresses me. I bet if I heard our story for the first time I would think it quite unbelievable.

And so this attitude keeps me sane when I tell our story for the 100th time.

I am hoping this approach will work for wedding photograph showings too...

Forgive me friends, it has been 12 days...

2005-06-21T09:53:00.000+10:00

since my last update!
What is up with that? Let me summarise...

Ok, so on Saturday the 11th of June, my hubby, my dear friends S and J and S's husband A, headed to the lovely town of Bowral for some much needed R and R (That's rest and relaxation...)
We booked ourselves into Links House, located a few minutes' drive out of Bowral town centre, for a couple of nights.
On Saturday we had a hearty lunch at the Briar's Inn and chatted away. Catching up on life and fixing up the world's problems...Isn't that what you normally do when spending time with friends?
That evening, we headed to the movies to catch Brangelina work their stuff in Mr and Mrs Smith. Now this movie was not a masterpiece but just what you need when you don't want to think too much - agree?
On Sunday we headed to Wombeyan Caves, which are very beautiful limestone caves. The drive there was very..errr...interesting! Our drive, A, fancied himself a rally driver so we bounced around a lot. It was not so much fun after 40kms though. We had to stop a couple of times whilst some of us got our natural colour back...haha Nevertheless, it all proved much fun - we did, however, take the LONG and STRAIGHTER road back to our bed and breakfast.
That evening we ate a delicious dinner and the creme brulee crowd struck again (We are all creme brulee fans and tend to eat that whenever we gather) - they served a delicious creme brulee with rhubarb that went down a treat wit us...mmmmm!
Monday, our last day found us roaming Bowral town and playing Chinese Poker once again (just as I predicted, we all became addicted to the game by the end of the weekend). We then went to the movies again and this time watched Madagascar. This is very much a kids' movie but very cute and really, it is so much fun to go to the movies with dozens of kids laughing their heads off at exactly the same things you still find funny after all these years...
And so with that, our long weekend away was over. We had a great time - plenty of food and plenty of fun.

Last week was not much fun - work was busy as there were many people sick and on Thursday I succumbed to it all. I sent myself home and did not get back until today (Tuesday). I have spent my time in a haze of drugs and light-headedness, in and out of sleep. I tried to convince myself that it was all a cold but when I finally took myself to the doctor yesterday he chucked that theory out the window...I was diagnosed with a respiratory infection - what the?! So, onto antibiotics I was immediately placed. Can't say that I am feeling 'much better' but I am here at work, no longer contagious and being at home was boring the hell out of me.

Grego, thanks for your kind thoughts and wishes!

Oh, I have some exciting news but I'll save them for later...

Book review

2005-06-09T16:41:00.000+10:00

Ok, not really a review because my brain is fried at the moment and I want to go home ASAP but let me tell you a bit about the latest book I have read.
I finished it last night just before 1am and it is called "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult.

It is not one my favourites and something I probably wouldn't normally read but boy, was it an interesting tale. Basically, it is about a 13 year old girl who was designed specifically as a donor for her older sister who has a rare form of leukemia. The girl has undergone numerous procedures in order to save her sister time and again but now she has come to a point where she does not want to do it anymore. Catch is - her sister will definitely die if she stops donating.

This is, naturally, an oversimplified version of the events.

My least favourite character is the mother. She has a one-track mind, in my opinion. I am not a mother but I was amazed at how she could care so much about one kid and not the other two. How she could focus so entirely on one thing and neglect so much was beyond me. Perhaps it is because that I am not a mother that I don't understand.

naturally, the book makes you consider - what would you do in such a situation? Would you conceive a baby for the sole purpose of saving your other daughter's life? When is enough, enough? Could you live with a decision that causes death to others? What is morally and ethically right? Is there such as thing as absolutely right? or Fair even?

I did not cry reading this book, although I had expected to do so. Most of all, it made me sad. I hope to never be faced with such a situation as what the characters all went through but most of all, I hope to be strong enough to deal with things like this, should they ever come to pass. Knock on wood.

2005-06-07T16:15:00.000+10:00

Nala

And her name is...

2005-06-06T09:21:00.000+10:00

Nala - yes, our new car has a name.

Nala, you may remember, is Simba's friend in 'The Lion King'. My new Astra resembles her - she is golden and gorgeous...ahhh I am in Love :-)

Photos will be posted ASAP. In the meantime, you'll just have to take my word for it...

I'll be around until I am 98.9

2005-06-02T10:55:00.000+10:00

So, I have just completed a 'Healthspan Calculator' at www.agingresearch.org/calculator.

Based on my answers, it looks like I'll be alive and kicking until I am 98.9 :-) Not bad news I suppose although I would have loved to hit the 100 mark...hehe

Anyway, why don't you give it a go and let me know your results? It will be interesting to see what everyone else gets..

Wednesday

2005-06-01T15:08:00.000+10:00

Not much to report today. Got up super early to attend a breakfast seminar in the city - this meant that I was on the train before the sun was fully up. I do NOT miss train travel.

Looking forward to going out for a long walk this afternoon after work - and then once I have exercised my body, exercising my brain at Trivia Night - wish me luck!

PS. Did actually do something quasi interesting last night - rented 'Eternal Sunshine of the spotless Mind' - what a good film! I really enjoyed it. It was bittersweet and what I got out of it is that even messing with destiny/ God/ etc does not guarantee that certain things can be completely avoided or erased - did I get it right?

What colour are you?

2005-05-30T10:40:00.000+10:00

you are violet
#EE82EE

Your dominant hues are red and blue. You're confident and like showing people new ideas. You play well with others and can be very influential if you want to be.

Your saturation level is lower than average - You don't stress out over things and don't understand people who do. Finishing projects may sometimes be a challenge, but you schedule time as you see fit and the important things all happen in the end, even if not everyone sees your grand master plan.

Your outlook on life is bright. You see good things in situations where others may not be able to, and it frustrates you to see them get down on everything.

the spacefem.com html color quiz

My weekend

2005-05-30T10:13:00.000+10:00

I really love weekends that are mostly unplanned.
On Friday afternoon, I saw my sister off as she made her way to El Salvador for a holiday. Naturally, I was jealous as I would have loved to go along with her but such is life. Anyway, whilst at her place I ran into Mum, whom I had not seen in a couple of weeks. We then made plans to spend Sunday together.

On Saturday, the sun was shining gloriously. I woke Oyvind up and we went for our Saturday jog around the park. We stayed out there for almost an hour and half - so naturally, by the time we got home we were buggered! I made myself an omelet with dill and smoked salmon on the side - I know, a very meager breakfast, hehe.

I then got ready to go to Leichardt (Sydney's little Italy) to check out Almodovar's movie 'La Mala Educacion' but got there too late :-( I consoled myself by meeting up with my friend Ellen for some Italian Hot Chocolate. Now, Italian hot chocolate is very similar to Spanish hot chocolate, which is usually served as Breakfast or afternoon tea and accompanied by churros. Yum! This treat became my chocolate fix for the next 4 weeks...For more on Churros con chocolate - read here

I spent Saturday night at home alone. Hubby was out with my brother-in-law, so I took the opportunity to veg in front of the TV and watch 'All about my mother' - another Almodovar film. After 10 I got a call on my mobile - it was DD calling from Denmark! (DD is short for Dirty Dane which is also another name for my friend Martin.)

Anyway, DD and I chatted until the batteries on my phone died and I must say that chatting with him put a big smile on my face - I miss him terribly (and so does my hubby) but we will be seeing him in December so that keeps our spirits alive. DD is the biggest workaholic I have ever met but when one can pry him away from work he is one of my most favourite people to hang out with, so if you are reading this DD, stop working so bloody hard and be sure to take time off in December...

On Sunday I went over to mum's place. She was to teach me how to make 'Leche Asada', a traditional Chilean dessert. It is basically baked custard and tres simple to make. Ok, so my first go turned out OK but I think I can definitely perfect it - practise, practise, practise I say. And checking out different recipes on the net certainly helps :-)

After the cooking efforts, I went home, did some laundry and performed my weekly skin ritual - 1. Wash face with a mix of cleanser and sugar (This is to exfoliate)
2. Steam my face over a bowl of hot water and some herbs mixed (This is to purify)
3. Apply moisturising mask and rest.
4. Wash it off, apply my nightly eye cream and sleep...

And how was your weekend?

On 2005 and not feeling too old

2005-05-27T17:36:00.000+10:00

As I was out on my daily walk in the crisp late Autumn afternoon, my thoughts were on nothing in particular.

Until I saw a teenager riding his bike.

You see, he was wearing a rugby jersey with his school colours and the numbers '05' printed on the back. (Rugby jerseys are commonly worn by seniors in high school on their last year).

Anyway, I did a bit of quick maths in my head and it turns out that if the guy was 17, he would have been born on the same year that I arrived in Australia as yet another bright-eyed, bushy tailed migrant.

I halted my thoughts for a second. But if he is 17 that would make me...OLD!

I stopped this depressing thought before long though - of course I am not old!

Besides, I get my brand new car next weekend and it is my first ever, personally owned car. Also, with the car comes the loan and insurance contracts - also firsts. So, I conclude that I am not 'old' - I am barely in my mid 20s, I still get asked for ID at the liquor shop AND clubs, bars and pubs.

And so with a smile on my face I sign of for the week. Have a lovely weekend all!

On waiting and traveling

2005-05-26T10:33:00.000+10:00

Sometimes, well no, most of the time I feel as though I am waiting to travel somewhere. I think this is because I am one of those people who is a planner - I LOVE to have something to work towards, and trips (National or International) are my specialty. Just ask any of my friends and especially my husband.

Luckily for me, Oyvind goes along with most of my ideas!

My concrete travel plans for the future, at this point in time, include:
- A trip to the Southern Highlands over the June long weekend with some friends
- A trip to Norway, Denmark and possibly Hungary at the end of the year
- A trip to the US and El Salvador in August next year.

Travel plans that are not yet concrete include:
- A weekend getaway to see my friend Pipstar
- A romantic getaway during the October long weekend
- A trip to New Zealand sometime in Easter next year (We really want to do the Milford Track).

I often get teased for being such a planner and for being a bit of a control freak. This is hard for me to admit but I do accept it - yes I like to be control.

However, before you get the wrong idea about me, I like to plan only to get to a place. Once there I LOVE to just do whatever comes to mind - a joyflight on a WWI plane, Staying up with friends singing, drinking and laughing without planning it, taking a wrong turn on a trek and walking an extra 5 kms without needing to, giving my heart to a lovely guy on an airport lounge... The best thing is that all these experiences have worked out so well for me.

I think I may have found a balance that works for me - are you as anally retentive as I am when it comes to these things?

On Funny Fantasies

2005-05-25T11:09:00.000+10:00

Last night I got home at a reasonable hour. However, in the afternoon I had experienced really bad stomach cramps - no, not related to menstruation but I think it was something I ate.
Anyway, I had earlier called my husband to advise him that there would be no dinner as the chef was not fit for such duties.

I got home, lit some candles and decided that I would do some yoga. Perhaps my cramps could be helped by it?

It had been almost 2 months since I last did a yoga session and I had missed it terribly. The good news was that by the end of the session I felt a lot better. By this time, hubby had arrived at home and he had bought me chicken soup and a Kinder surprise. (Isn't he the best?)

We sat down in front of the TV and as I sipped my chicken soup an ad came on - it was for Mars Bars. Anyway, I won't go into a full description of the ad but it basically reminded me of this fantasy I have always had - to break into a public pool at night with a bunch of friends and to swim and muck around until the sun rises.

Am I weird for having such a fantasy? Has anyone out there actually done something like it?

At any rate, the fantasy is still on my to-do list so any suggestions or ideas would be most welcome.

On why there was no post yesterday

2005-05-24T08:40:00.000+10:00

When I was growing up, I was set on becoming a dentist. Yes. Really.

Looking back on it, I may have seemed like a very strange child to most people. Picture a 10 year old who dreams of becoming a dentist - very, very strange.

Anyway, I was so keen on the idea that used to have a 'dentist's chair' where I used to check my patients. These included my grandpa and the dog (Both were good sports about it though). I always advised my patients to look after their teeth and to brush regularly - so as to prevent cavities, etc.

Before the wedding, I went for my semiannual dental check up. Although I did not end up studying dentistry, some habits are good to keep. Now, I pride myself on my dental hygiene so it came as a surprise to find out that I would need not one, not two but FOUR fillings! How did this happen?! Upon expressing my puzzlement, the dentist had the nerve to suggest that I stop eating so many sweets and that I brush my teeth more often. The nerve! I heard somewhere that dentist have the highest suicide rates of any profession - well, I would have been glad to assist in her suicide. Grrr.

I resigned myself to my fate.

So, last week I had the first 2 fillings done (left side). Naturally, this involved numbing my gums. Now, this wasn't so bad - I had feeling back within the hour.

Yesterday, however, was a different story.
She numbed my right side so much that I had NO feeling on the whole right side of my face for 3 hours! Once I got some feeling back I got this throbbing headache that lasted for hours - I do believe that dentist was trying to kill me... Still, I will go back in 6 months (Not to her though, she can torture some other poor soul). Some habits are good to keep despite certain unpleasantness.

So, I was not up to my usual self and did not post anything yesterday...

The moral of the story is...Well, there is no moral. I brush my teeth and floss more than recommended, yet I still had to endure fillings.

Hmmm, well ok, if there is a moral of the story it is this:
Do not apply lip balm to your lips while one side of your face is still numb. It is just too bizarre a sight for words, especially the bit where you smack your lips together...

About getting around to things

2005-05-20T11:18:00.000+10:00

I have looked at my past blog entries and I seriously need pictures. My own pictures; not Google sourced varieties. Oh the shame.

I have been meaning to learn how to upload pictures onto my PC but I never get around to it - there is always too much on. Relatives to entertain, friends to counsel, a wedding to plan, a husband to spend time with - I have been swamped. And yes, I realise that these are excuses but that's just how it is.

Last Friday I posted my plans for last weekend. Out of the 9 things I listed, I achieved 7 - not bad really. Ok, I can do this. I must learn!

If I can manage to steal the computer from my husband (He is completing some papers for uni) and if I get around to purchasing a card reader - I should be able to start learning.

I have so much to share - I went shopping last night and bought the cutest green angora wraparound sweater...It irks me that I cannot share this with you. AGH!

A picture really is worth a thousand words but no one ever said anything about card readers and internet connections. I rest my case or should that be I start my case?

I think I need to start working now - it is almost lunch :-)

About Trivia

2005-05-19T09:15:00.000+10:00

We were running late.
As we entered the smoky and dimly lit pub, my husband and I searched for the table where our friends were. We found them soon enough, a few introductions were made and we sat down to business.

Ahhhh trivia.

It had been almost a year since I last had been to a trivia night. And it showed. I was rusty and slow. Soon enough though, I was literally shivering with excitement - oh boy had I missed it.

A couple of years ago. I went through a period when I would go to trivia every week without fail. Sometimes there were up to 4 of us and sometimes there was only one - me. My dedication to the cause was exemplary.

But our trivia host left - he got himself a 'real' job (he was completing his degree). It wasn't the same after that. A new host came on the scene but he was the most disgusting chauvinist imaginable. No more trivia for me.

Until last night. I had a ball! We ended up fourth so not even with a prize but it did not matter.
Wednesdays at 6.30pm - you know where I'll be.

About Walking

2005-05-18T14:23:00.000+10:00

Since moving to a new office in the suburbs, my work routine is a little different.

I get to wake up half an hour later than I used to and start work one hour earlier. As a result, I get to go home (on most days) one hour earlier than I used to.

It now only takes me 10-12 minutes to drive to work and 10-12 minutes to drive back. As opposed to an hour worth of travelling each way on cramped, smelly trains.

I love having the opportunity to start work when the sun is out and get home when the sun is still out. I am very lucky indeed - just ask anyone who lives and works in Sydney!

Added to all these benefits is that since we are in a rather pretty area, I am inclined to go out at lunchtime and walk for between 30 and 45 minutes. I did not get to do that when I worked in the CBD because it was too crowded and there were too many tempations around in the form of shops. Not only was I being deprived of extra sleep but I found myself spending a LOT more on clothes I really did not need - my purse was straining.

Walking in the 'burbs is a very nice experience. Although I generally take the same route, there is always something new happening. A house being built. A cat napping in the sun. A spider spinning a web. Leaves falling. School kids skipping school...

I am, obviously, very lucky to have all this but there are trade offs. The saddest one is not being able spend 2 extra hours each day with my husband as we ride the train to and from work.

*sigh*

Oh well, at least now he is getting an extremely varied dinner menu :-) And I am nurturing my love for trying out new recipes. It's all good.

About Heinz

2005-05-17T09:14:00.000+10:00

A couple of weeks ago, one of my work colleagues purchased some newly released Heinz sachet soups.

Since it is Autumn, I like to include more soups in my diet. Preferably home made but when all else fails a sachet soup will do the trick.

Anyway, these new soups looked pretty interesting and so I decided to give them a go. I purchased 4 different kinds: Pumpkin, creamy chicken, Minestrone and tomato soup. All the soups were pretty decent, except for the Minestrone. This soup was vile! It tasted like tomato paste watered down with vile pasta bits mixed in - yuck!

Instead of wallowing in self pity and since my computer was nearby when this all happened, I decided to visit the Australian Heinz site and leave a comment about my experience. I did not have any hopes of receiving any sort of acknowledgement but imagine my surprise last night...

After spending 11 hours working, driving through the rain and thinking of what to cook for lunch for today, I got home tired and not too cheery. I picked up the mail in the steady rain and there, slightly soggy, was an envelope addressed to me.

It was a letter from Heinz! They thanked me for taking the time to get in touch with them, providing them with feedback and apologised for the inconvenience. Further, they had reported the incident to their technical and production staff and to top it all off: They provided me with reimbursement for my purchase!

Ok, so it was only a cheque for $4.00 but it is the gesture that counts. Besides, I think that with that money I will purchase more soup.

Right after I change my name legally though.

The cheque was made out to my married name...*sigh*

Oh well, the point is: don't keep quiet, give feedback. I am not able to send you any cheques for your comments but you have my unending appreciation :-)

Recipe - Salvadorean Beans

2005-05-16T10:34:00.000+10:00

A special post for Amylou

I never really considered this before but Salvadorean food is quite Vegetarian-friendly. We LOVE our beans and corn and cheese - ok, so cheese is not strictly Vegetarian but you get my drift.

Anyway, you'd be happy to know that I did cook the yummy beans on Friday night and they were delicious! I love to make them and they are so easy to prepare, so here goes the recipe:

Ingredients
2 cans of red kidney beans (Approx 400gms each) - drain most of the liquid but leave a little bit
1 large green capsicum (pepper), chopped
1 - 2 large tomatoes finely chopped
2 large vegetable stock cubes
2 large sausages (Can be Cabannosi, soy, etc) sliced
1 Tablespoon of olive oil
Optional 3 green onions (also known as shallots) sliced

Preparation
1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan (medium to low heat) and add the tomatoes and green onions until soft.
2. Add the green capsicum (pepper) and cook for a couple of minutes.
3. Add the sausages and cook for a couple of minutes
4. Add the vegetable stock cubes but be sure to mince them with your hands beforehand (even distribution and all). Stir all vegetables and sausage for a couple of minutes or until the mixture thickens slightly.
5. Add the beans to the mix and stir. Turn the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes or until mixture thickens.
6. Serve with crusty bread and sour cream on the side and Fetta cheese crumbled on top.
7. Enjoy!

Note: With the beans, you can buy the dry ones and boil them yourself but using the canned ones is way easier and tastes just as good. If boiling kidney beans, don't forget to use a couple of whole garlic cloves and some salt.

On weekends

2005-05-13T18:15:00.000+10:00

I am still here only because I needed to print out some recipes and to update Tisane.
However, as I look at the damp darkness of a late Autumn evening in Sydney I rub my hands at the promise of the weekend. A chance to forget about systems and high energy levels.

I plan to begin my 48 hours of freedom by stopping at Harris Farm Markets and purchasing some crusty bread and perhaps some whole milk so that I can make some Norwegian waffles tomorrow morning.

Mmmm, waffles

But for dinner tonight I shall make some delicious Salvadoran style beans accompanied by plain scrambled eggs and some sour cream and fetta cheese on the side.

Once I have done that, I will sit down to watch "All about my mother" or "A room with a view" or both.

I will go to bed and sleep until the sun is just shining over the horizon. If weather permits, I may go for a jog around the park or else go to a Body Attack (choreographed fighting) class.

Then I will shop with my sister for some new winter tops.

Lastly, Oyvind and I will head to Pj Gallaghers to celebrate Daniel and Elke's return to OZ. Dan and Elke are some pals who have been in the UK and Europe the past year or so.

Sunday will be spent recovering and possibly shopping for a new bed.

I will end the day by cooking a fabulous meal.

Structured? Yes! Exciting? Perhaps to some.

Achievable? Of course not!

Monday will tell...

On Movies in December

2005-05-12T11:25:00.000+10:00

The Goblet of Fire

The other day I found myself watching a sneak peek preview of the new Harry Potter film - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but what can I say? It looks fantastic!

Granted, I am a Harry Potter fan (films and books) so my opinion is biased but I don't really care. I love movies and books into which you can be transported, whether the destination is Middle Earth, Florence, Vienna, Pemberley, The Cliffs on Insanity...

So, naturally, I really am looking forward to the film's release in December.

Other than Christmas and a trip overseas, I thought that Harry Potter would quench my desire for good things in December. Little did I know that also in December there is another film being released - The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. I thought the new Harry Potter film looked impressive...oh boy - TLTWTW kicks ass! Check out the trailer - it looks really magnificent. The WETA people have done it again - Lord of the Rings was no fluke.

Narnia

On Gnocchi

2005-05-12T10:29:00.000+10:00

I have an interesting relationship with gnocchi (Italian potato dumplings).

The first I ever heard of these was through a friend of mine of Uruguayan descent who mentioned that his mother made these a few times a week and that he was getting quite tired of them. I did not know exactly what they were but I had no interest in tasting them. Which was fine by me.

Gnocchi did not make an appearance in my life until many years later when my mother was with an Italian man. Mum learned to make some amazing food during that relationship - gnocchi, 'real' pizza, these ricotta dumplings whose name now escapes me...*sigh*

Anyway, I got to taste gnocchi during this period. They were pretty nice but not a favourite of mine. I felt that they were rather bland...

I forgot about gnocchi for a couple of years.

Last week, however, I was at Coles (supermarket chain) shopping for groceries when I happened upon the pasta aisle. There, among the pasta, were some ready made gnocchi. I decided to get a bag and see what I could do with it. A day later I decided to make my own sauce for it, or least throw some ingredients together to make a sauce.

I used a ready-made mushroom and tomato pasta sauce, slices of zucchini, chopped cabannosi. Tossed it in with the cooked gnocchi and voila - it was really yummy! The blandness of the gnocchi was a perfect backdrop to the delicious sauce. Who knows, perhaps one day I may be game enough to make my own gnocchi from scratch. Don't hold your breath though.

On School Uniforms

2005-05-11T12:59:00.000+10:00

It has been many years since I wore a school uniform...9 years in fact, but when I was driving to work this morning it ocurred to me that wearing a school uniform was always part of my school life. I mean, I wore a school uniform from when I first started school at the age of 4 (that's another story) to when I finished in 1996.

Then it occurred to me that there are people out there, like my husband, who never had to wear a school uniform at all.

Whatsmore, my husband has also told me that when he was at school in Norway they called their teachers by their first name, not Mr Smith (or should that be Mr Hansson, hehe) but Greg or Mike. That concept is so completely foreign to me that it sends my mind spinning.

Call me old-fashioned but I rather liked calling my teachers Mr or Ms. Oh, and I loved wearing a school uniform too.

The school uniform has now been relegated to a storage box but every once in a while it makes an appearance. No, I won't go into details.

On Salsa Dancing

2005-05-10T09:10:00.000+10:00

Last night, hubby and I went to a salsa dance class in our neighbourhood.
Now, I suppose I have an unfair advantage. I was born into the world of Latin dancing: Merengue, cumbia, salsa, mambo, etc. However, I was never taught how to dance with a partner and so when it comes down to it - I am as bad as the next person. But, I can feel the music and can bluff my way through it all.

So, this class was a chance for the two of us to spend time together, get fit and have fun. We tried to follow the steps as best as we could and I was pretty pleased with our efforts. We kept it simple and enjoyed ourselves - so much so that after class we stayed around for an extra hour. We went home only because it was getting late but I think we will go back next Monday.

Whilst dancing there I noticed the same thing I always notice when I see non-Hispanics/non-Latinos dancing their version of 'salsa' - way too much arm movement and fancy spins. THAT IS NOT HOW YOU DANCE SALSA PEOPLE!!!

This is definitely a bugbear of mine. It is so wrong. This is not ballroom dancing. That's not the point of salsa. You are supposed to be sexy and seductive but how can this be when you look like you are trying to scare flies away from your face? Besides, it is supposed to come from the heart and not look so choreographed. To all you budding 'salseros', please try to keep it simple. It really does look better.

The origins of tisane...

2005-05-09T17:05:00.000+10:00

are unfortunately unknown to me.

It was probably created by cavemen after they discovered that water on its own was pretty boring and so decided to put grass in it and then discovered that it still tasted pretty bad. And so decided to keep experimenting, until one day they found that herbs like peppermint infused in water made for a pretty refreshing beverage, not not mention the digestive benefits.

Or so I like to think. I honestly have no idea and Google was of no help. Besides, the word is French and so most of the result pages were in French. Perhaps the answer is buried there...

At any rate, what I basically know of tisane is the following:

Definition: Any tea that is made with herbs other than true tea, is called a tisane.

Tisanes or Herbal Infusions
Often referred to as herbal teas, but mostly don't actually contain any part of the Camillia sinensis plant in the blends. Tisanes use a variety of flowers. Berries, seeds, Peels, Leaves and roots of different plants. Some common tisane ingredients include:

Chamomile, ginseng, rose petals, hibiscus, peppermint, valerian, dandelion, lavender, aniseed, ginger and jasmine. Tisanes are typically caffeine-free.

Also, when I watched 'Le Divorce' there was mention of a particular tisane that was supposed to 'refresh' a woman's own natural scent. No idea if it works but I went ahead and bought the ingredients and I must say that it makes for a very fine drink...