They start with Es and they end with Ys... and they have a draining effect on pockets.

I once lamented the lack of retail outlets here. This statement remains true but I've discovered the joys of eBay and Etsy.

These days I vegetate on the couch surfing for designer bags. My obsession began after I lost out on a bid for a very, very cheap, authentic Dior bag over a AUD2.50 difference at the very last second.

Since then, I've been cruising the website, in search of another underpriced bargain. This exasperates X to no end, as he associates shopping with the featherbrained, shallow female.

After losing out on another couple of other bids, I finally made my first eBay purchase, a lace Qi Pao, also known to most Malaysians as the cheongsam. I have a beautiful, hot pink kebaya sitting in my wardrobe. I spent my teenage years in a standard issue white and turquoise baju kurung combo, yet I've never owned one of these things before.

For those who have not (yet) gotten addicted to eBay, one usually makes payment via PayPal. Mine is linked to my bank account, therefore the money goes out in the form of an eCheque, which like a normal one, takes a couple of days to clear. You do have the option of linking a credit card to the account, wherefore the funds will clear immediately. Seeing as to how I can only pay my credit card bill in Malaysia (damn you, HSBC!), I opted not to.

Once the funds clear, the merchant will ship the package. I'm quite happy with my cheongsam, though the shipping cost more than half the price of the item.



While lurking about Etsy in search of a pin or two, I came across several noteworthy ones and ended up giving into temptation.

Alfresco (though we did sit inside)

We had a craving for Italian so X and I stopped by Surfer's Paradise where he's heard of a great ristorante from a friend of ours.

X: Peter says this place is really awesome.
Me: Peter also happens to be Swedish. They eat meatballs and raw herring. Do you really trust his judgment?
X: ...

Alfresco was packed. There was a table for two outside but I was freezing so we huddled near a heater and (im)patiently waited for an inside table to be cleared.



I had the Risotto Pescatore (AUD26.50) and X had the Fettucine Cabonara (AUD17.50). Both were pretty good. The seafood in my risotto was incredibly fresh, though the baby octopuses were a little rubbery. X's fettucine was incredibly eggy and satisfyingly al dente.



We both had hot chocolates which were yummy, but tummyache inducing. The service was swift, competely negating the need for garlic bread (most risottos I've had require 20 minutes or more of cooking time).

This park named after a guy with a German/ hotdog sounding name

X and I took a little stroll in this park nearby the other day. It's tucked (though "tucked" isn't the perfect verb - the place is probably 5 acres big) in between Elanora and Tallebudgera. Unfortunately my memory fails me on the actual name of the place.

It was just so beautiful though. A sprawl of lush green against the blue, blue sky, with numerous ponds/ lakes/ streams scattered across... I guess the only reason it wasn't packed with picnickers was due to the amount of free-running dogs and random plops of dog poo.

The other patrons were pretty friendly too. At least by Queensland standards.

For doggies to do a wee against. The place had an elaborate little canine playground installed. Momo and family will have such an awesome time here. Sigh.

At the office today...

Direct Superior: *gestures* This is Jan, she's the most important person in this building.

Very Important Visitors: *peep into room* Hello.

Me: *waves* Hello! I'm the most important person in this building.

VIV: ......

Direct Superior: If you don't take it from me, you can take it from her.

Anyone need a hanger?

Authentic Louis Vuitton coat hanger, roughly AUD2,035.00, possibly the most ridiculous item I've seen on eBay so far.

Time = Money

I'd originally made a vow to publish at least ten posts a month (barring terminal illness and broken digits), but it looks like I'll be breaking it this month. I've been swamped with work as my assistant conveniently decided to set up house in Melbourne during induction week.

200 confused and fickle minded students + inexperienced staff + lazy idiots
= me having to redo everything

Yet in spite of how I spend sleepless nights fretting about how things need to be done and how little time we have to do it, it's nothing like audit life back in Malaysia.

Pei and I are having an epic Facebook message conversation at the moment (I get free mobile access to Facebook until end August). She's looking for her first proper job and is disappointed about the salary situation in Malaysia. When I started corporate life 2 years ago, the 4 figures banked into my account every month excited me. I was able to buy things I couldn't before, eat at places I'd always deemed too expensive, fly to exotic locations (albeit on AirAsia) and generally, have a reasonably good life.

Yet I never managed to save any money. I lived with my parents. I contributed virtually nothing - in fact my mother was forever having to pay for household items. I didn't have an asset to my name, not even a hand me down car.

Here, it's a little different. I chip in to pay for day to day things, groceries. I fork out hundreds every month on transport (travelling 200km a day to and fro work involves a lot). I don't have as many friends, so I don't tend to go out as much. I've hit 20% in the tax bracket (hurray for tax refunds!). I don't fly overseas every 2 months or so anymore. Queensland's retail options are piss poor, so I hardly buy stuff (though it's sale season now and I just got the most awesome bodycon dress on sale and green heels that have put identical blisters on my big toes). And X and I just got smacked with the council rates, which at AUD997.00 for 6 months, is pretty darn horrifying. Renting is starting to look like a much better option.

In spite of the outflow, for the first time since I was 19, I'm saving money. Modest amounts really. A recent survey showed that only 40% of Aussies have enough money to survive beyond a month should they lose their regular source of income. True enough, TD expressed absolute horror when told her sick leave was unpaid as she was only a recent addition to the company.

How do Malaysians do it? I'm in absolute awe. I don't know how my parents managed to raise my brother and I, tertiary education and all. Mind you, we both went to semi-private schools too. How on earth does the average Malaysian, on a monthly pay packet of MYR3,000 - 5,000 manage to buy a house, two cars, raise 3 kids and ship them all overseas (with no welfare help too)? Just unbelievable really, considering the outrageous exchange rates.

And another point of contention is OT (I just read Jenny's latest post). I personally believe having to work overtime shows a failure somewhere in the system, be it the company culture, the processes in place, the resources allocated or the workers themselves. When I was in audit, I used to take a lot of shit for leaving "early", which would be 5.30pm, nevermind my employment contract stated 8.30am to 5.30pm as my official working hours. I mean, I always completed my work in time without having to resort to staying late, apart from a few occasions where changes were made last minute, resulting in stuff being reworked.

This whole "working overtime means the boss thinks I'm super hardworking nevermind I came in late and took a tea break, 2 cigarette breaks on top of an extended lunch and am now Facebooking while pretending to be researching stock quotes and then I leave at 8pm after working 5 hours effectively through the day it doesn't matter because I've been here almost 12 hours I hope I get a bonus" (the lack of punctuation is an effect of reading Susan Minot's Evening) concept is complete nonsense and is widely used in all parts of Asia.

At my current workplace, I get in at 8.45am and leave at 4.53pm everyday. My bosses do not admonish me. In fact, I'm appreciated for the effort I put in. I don't take coffee breaks and often am found having lunch hovering over my keyboard, whilst constantly being interrupted by a stream of receptionists and students. My workload is crazy and significantly worse than audit life. Yet I'm happy, because I get to compartmentalise my work and personal lives, 100 km away from each other.

It's a sad fact professionals in Malaysia work ridiculous hours. And it's a fact unlikely to change unless people start becoming more assertive about their (currently non existent) work rights.

How to wear pearls in a gazillion ways

... also known as I seriously wasn't taking this opportunity to take numerous photos of my chest. Not that there's much to take anyway.

So on my last trip to Sydney, I got a luscious string of black pearls from a lovely lady at Market City. The iridescent black pearls were uneven and oval, carefully stringed and knotted. I fell in love.

I shall pass on her How to Wear Pearls in a Million Ways kungfu to you.

Ingredient: Long string of pearls. Not sure how long because I'm too lazy to measure and I'll have four guests to entertain in the matter of minutes. It reaches my navel when worn in a single loop anyway.


Double loop.


Uneven double loop.

Um... super uneven double loop?


Triple strands. You might want to check first if this will be applicable to you. The lady told me I have an unusually slender neck.


Double knot.


Single knot.


Short single strand...


...with the rest running down your back. Good for fully backless evening dresses. Were I to demonstrate wearing the aforementioned garment, my (ultra conservative, extremely Chinese) mother would fly to Gold Coast in an instant to admonish me on matters of public indecency.


And as a hairband! It's surprisingly comfortable and stays on well. (Please ignore my fat arms. Winter clothing is too forgiving.

If you happen to know any other way to wear it, let me know!