
My continuing journey in the land down under, living my life the way I wanted it to be, starting anew without the baggage of the past, and wishing to share my fondness of this country with my family whom I left behind.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Sunday, October 18, 2009
my not-so-fun sunday
i cooked choysum with bits of chicken and finished the entire dish alone! :-)
Seeing the dirty, sticky kitchen, I decided to do some cleaning. Its so nice to see the grease and grime of the stove top all wiped clean.
Our room is also a mess, with falling hair all over, so I did a quick vacuum. Its not yet that tidy but its getting there. :-)
After three hours, I check my phone and there it was --- hubby sent a message that he was online and waiting for me! So i missed our quality internet time together but not to worry coz he's coming home soon. I can't wait for Thursday. :-)
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Snail Mail
Today, i got this from my Bebe. How I wish I'm with him now, exploring New Zealand...
We'll be back Bebe, don't worry! :D
Monday, October 12, 2009
Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi (amost...)
Yahoo, finally we have our oath schedule.
I am eligible for citizenship since Feb but I wanted to take the oath with hubby so I deferred it and only applied when he is already eligible too. This posed a tiny problem on my part because i didnt realized my Phil passport will expire in Jan 2010, and overseas trip is not possible as of the moment. I missed the NZ trip with hubby, but looking at the bigger picture, i think was a blessing in disguise coz I now have time to study for my upcoming exam (which I have been putting off for a long time, hahaha).
Anyhow, its finally here. Another milestone, another step in fulfilling our Australian dream.
Thank you Lord for all the blessings, we can never thank you enough.
New CityRail Timetable
Going home is even worst! They changed the time 8 minutes early than the normal one! There's no way I can catch the 4:37 train, unless I leave the ofc at 4:25!!! Next train comes at 4:52 but the connection is better I guess. It allows me almost 3 minutes to change platform....but still, I want my old train schedule back!!!
God help us commuters on Monday when the school reopens again.
~~~~
my cpa exam is coming up. it'll be on the 23rd of Oct. After my exam, there's so much more to do... im excited!!!
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Morning Tea with International Flavor
1 - true blue Aussie with a Russian ex-hubby
1 - Slovak origin with an Aussie hubby
2 - Filipinos
2 - Fijian Indians
1 - Indian
1 - Armenian
1 - Kenyan
2 - Chinese
1 - Korean
With this diverse culture, we decided to have a morning tea with each one bringing a dish from their own country... and here are what we had last Wednesday (too bad I didn't get the name of the food, hehehe)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Sandstorm in Sydney
Friday, September 18, 2009
New Name
I spoke to soon. hahaha. sorry dear receptionist.
ps... the flower below my name was from my previous seatmate Catherine. When I moved from Trade Spend to GL, I also moved seats. And when I was cleaning my new desk and putting on my things, everyone commented how empty my wall looks like coz I dont have any photos nor paper on it. So, she drew these two flowers on a post it note and sticky taped it to my wall. hehehe. so cute of her.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Hanap Bahay
simple lang naman gusto ko --- mura, may train, 3 rooms, may konting backyard...
pero bakit wala? meron ngang malapit sa train, pero di kagandahan. meron maganda, pero malayo. meron maganda, malapit, 3 rooms pero ang mahal naman.
haayyy.
ilang sabado naba kami nag h-house viewing? ay, ang tanong pala dapat ay ilang buwan na ba kaming nag h-house viewing? Gusto ko na sumigaw "I want my Saturdays back!!!".
sabi nila, ganyan daw talaga. tyaga. pasensya. at dasal. madaming madaming dasal.
pero kahit na wala pa din kaming nahahanap, kahit na minsan gusto ko na mag give-up, sige pa din, hanap pa din ng hanap. malay mo, isang araw, pag gising mo, yung matagal mo nang hinahanap, andyan na, ibibigay na ni Lord sayo.
Mabait si Lord. Alam nya kelan ang tamang panahon na magkabahay kayo. Di bale nang bumaba ang First HOme Owners Grant sa Sept 30. May December 30 pa naman. May next year. Malay mo, bumaba din ang presyo ng mga bahay. At yung minimithi mong mura, malapit sa tren, tatlong kwarto at may konting back yard ay abot kamay mo na. :-)
Sana lang, wag akong makatagpo ng swapang na Property Agent.
Sana, sana, sana.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
The Hanna Kids
When their parents were still alive, a family friend sent a letter to ACA and asked for help, maybe for rent assistance for the family or money to pay medical bills. The Mom has breast cancer while the Dad has prostate cancer. A lot of people donated money and soon they have enough to cover the house rent for the entire year. But sadly, the Mom died and the Dad followed six days later, leaving the Hannas orphaned. Dad's dying wish was for the kids to have their own home.
The story touched a lot of Australians, and in true spirit of mateship, everyone contributed money, time and talent to make the the Dad's wish come true.
Almost half a million were deposited to the Hannas bank account, enough for them to buy their own place... but it did not end there! The house was renovated by volunteers, furnished by good samaritan so that the 5 kids, aged 5 to 18, can have a fresh start.
They aired the house renovation yesterday (it took them 10 days to do a renovation which would normally take 4 months!) and the first glimpse of the family today and I just can't stop crying. Truly, there are still good people around. I am so proud to be living in this country...
Full story here: http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=447883&showcomments=true
--- im still crying while making this entry ----
Thursday, July 09, 2009
you know you're fat when
... and this actually happened to me today! its really time to get serious in my exercise!!! can i blame winter for making me crave food every minute? on the contrary, i would be very happy if indeed I am preggers, hehehehe...
Monday, July 06, 2009
The One
how can a negotiation be called as such if only one party is doing the negotiating while the other jut won't budge?!?
if you're property has been in the market for over a month, and no one is offering the $ you wanted, it only means its overpriced.
im still hopeful... there's one in there waiting to be found, the one that is suited for us, the one the He reserved for us.
Only now did I realized how elusive that ONE is... :D
mood: i-ka-career ko na ang paghahanap sa DA WAN. hahahahaha
Friday, July 03, 2009
not a millionaire... for now. :D
there'll be more lotto draws to come, hahaha.
by the way, i ate like a pig this week. Thursday was our lunch out for Duncan who will join Speedibake. I ate seafood fetuccini and Santorini Pasta and it was sooooo filling!!! Dinner was at Pancake on the Rocks as we officially welcome Tanya S here in Sydney. I had my favorite Mexicana Crepe. I was bloating by the time I arrived home. We had morning tea for Duncan this morning and I ate spring rolls, cake, cheese and some vegie sticks. Then Friday night drinks followed at 4pm... And this is not the end of my pig out week... tom, we are heading to Chatswood for Noemie's baby shower and I bet there'll be overflowing food again. I seriously need to burn all these calories. Agie, lets jooogggg/ runnnnnnnnn, and I mean really go out and sweat it out, let's not fake it by doing the running in Wii, hehehe. Pero, another note, pag super lamig pa din sa Sunday, mag wii Fitness coach na lang ulit tayo. :D
mood: heavily bloated (if there is such a term as "heavily bloated")
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I got a D!
This got me excited to enrol in two subjects this term and hopeful advance to CPA status by next year.
now, if only I'll win that lotto, i need not study na gyud! hahahaha. ma bore naman kko pag di na ko mag study so para dili sila makabalo nga millionaire nako puhon, mag study lang japun ko, hehehe. dream na lang permi Gracy! :D
Money money money
http://livenews.com.au/news/oz-lotto-jackpot-reaches-record-90-million/2009/6/24/210962
This Tuesday, Oz lotto jackpot hit $90M, the biggest so far in history. And, judging by the long queues in any news agency, Im thinking the prize would eventually be more than $100M! Now, that's a lot of money.
If I would win this lotto, i've already promised that 10% would go to the church (Hubby and I agreed to split it between our parishes in Bukidnon and Bohol). Now, the rest of the money would go to buying a house, buying investment properties, touring US and Europe etc etc. The list could go on and on.
We can all dream big and this one is something I wouldn't leave to dreaming alone but I actually went out to buy a ticket for myself. Now, along with millions of Australians, I am hoping and praying to win. Its okay to share the prize with 90 other Aussies, or even hundreds, as long as its the jackpot we're sharing.
Im keeping my fingers crosses and asking my lucky angels to be by my side come Tuesday night for the draw. :-)
Mood: Hopeful.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
How far is Manila???
Thursday, May 07, 2009
Exam After Thoughts
After my exam, i have heaps of things to do which I should start doing pronto!!! Might as well write it down here, lest I forget. :D
1. Finalize my super overdue photos for the album and for distribution to family and friends. Grabe, til now haven't chosen pa gyud uy!
2. Look for a house. (Dear God, please help us find the perfect house for us. Must be near a station in a safe sub-urb (Meadowbank or West Ryde, hehe), affordable and within our budget, preferably a villa but a 3 bedder apt unit is also ok. I know dear God that You will help us in our search. Thank you. Amen.)
3. Study for my Learners Driver License.
4. After getting the Learners, do the practical exam.
5. Pass the driving test (after doing the compulsory 120 hours of driving lesson) within the year!
6. Save for my planned US trip.
7. Save for my parents trip here.
8. Study for my next CPA subject. Try to finish 2 more next term.
9. Do my wii workout regularly.
10. Did i say look for a house na? hehe
11. Study Fotografia! make use of the SLR camera I bought a few months back. ;-)
The list is quiet long and daunting but I know, one by one, i can delete this from my To Do List and transfer to my Done List with God's guidance and of course with the help of my Agers. We'll do all these together and I can't wait to see the fruition of our dreams.
oh, and the last on my list but definitely the most important ----
12. To have a baby!!!
o sya, nood muna ng Wolverine. :P
Monday, May 04, 2009
House Arrest (but not because of Swine Flu)
I can't wait for Thursday pm --- shopping time and of course my exam will be finished by then. But for now, i need to look at my study materials again.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
same company, new job
they gave me a teeny-weeny increase in salary.
i hope i will be doing more in this role than my previous one. or i think, i should follow my colleague's advise: don't work too fast, otherwise you'll end up doing nothing for the rest of the week! i don't know, im just so used to being a fast worker but at the same time, i'm a big-time procrastinator. if i dislike doing something, i put it off to the last minute until i don't have a choice but to actually do it --- translation: deadline's fast approaching, do your work or you're a dead meat.
i've been working here for two years and im loving the pressure-free environment, the people i work with and the company in general. but if they pay me more, will love them more too! hahahaha. As long as I can leave the office at 4:30 on the dot, im happy to stay here.
on another note, my cpa exam is fast approaching and i just finished all my readings. Should have done this two weeks ago but everytime i turn on my computer, im more inclined to play games in Facebook ---scramble and bejewelled - than study my materials. I should have given up facebook during lent but just couldn't do it. gave up wii instead. haha. so much for my sacrifice. but, in my defense, i made good of my promise of not playing wii. now, im back to it, even bought an extra remote so agie and I can play tennis against each other. its a fun game. almost all of our Sundays are spent at home, playing wii. but i haven't progressed much in my studies, waaaaahhhh...
barely 3 weeks left, i need to focus now (or should i say cram???).
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Horoscope
Fundamental shifts are happening in the realms of work, authority and career. They are appropriate shifts that are worth understanding. Look beyond the surface to the creative changes that are being brought to fruition in you.
How true this is! I'm loving my current work but sometimes it gets so boring since I don't have much to do. But last Monday, my colleague talked to me about some changes in the team and that our manager specifically told him to let me know that the changes will be good for me (why she didn't tell me herself, i do not know --- i took sickie last Friday so that might be the reason).
Though I'm not a believer of horoscopes, this one is just too real to ignore. :D I'm keeping my fingers crossed...
Thursday, March 12, 2009
New Life (Lives)
BABY BOOM IN OZ!!!
All my married friends in Chatswood are having a baby - Ruthie is due to give birth anytime soon... then Noemie is on her 3rd month, and I just learned that Lanie too is preggy! I hope i'll be next, hahaha.
Back home, my elder sister had a miscarriage last year. It would have been her second baby after nine long years but sadly, we lost the little angel (gi wak-wak daw, i dunno). My younger sister also had a miscarriage last weekend. She has been so busy with her thesis in the last couple of weeks. She needed to do some revisions, had to travel to Cagayan de Oro and she's back at work too that her body just didn't cope with the stress level she's experiencing. Sad thing is, she didn't know she was pregnant! She bled on the bus on the way home and thought its her normal period but when tummy ache just didnt go away, they had to admit her to the hospital. After some tests, they said she lost the baby... sad, sad.
But its not all bad news. I also learned last weekend that my sister-in-law, who lives in Butuan, is also pregnant!!! Its her third time but the first two, she also lost it. The first one was due to a miscarriage on her first trimester, the second one, didn't develop well inside the tummy. They did everything they could, went through the pregnancy even if they knew from the ultrasound that the baby only have one arm and one leg and have a weak heart. But during the 8th month, the baby didn't survive. Our little Atasha was born dead and is now in heaven praying for all of us. My sis-in-law is still experiencing difficult pregnancy but she's coping well. They've been waiting for this baby for 5 years and we are all praying for the health of both the baby and the mommy. We all know our little Angels in heaven are looking after the life growing inside Jen's tummy and I just knew that this time around, it'll be perfect. But I still continue to pray for her everyday...
I hope im next in line... :D
Friday, February 27, 2009
Commuter Tale #1
I realized that there are so many stories worth telling about my journey so I decided to come up with my Commuter Tales. I will try to write about my train/bus travel experiences that i find exciting, and hopefully will be able to have enough material for my very own book, nyahahaha. Anyway, here goes the first one:
Commuter Tale 1: Being First Doesn't Mean You Always Get the Best Prize
26Feb 09, 4:45 pm train from Macquarie Park to Epping, then change from Epping for a service to Meadowbank.

Sunday, January 25, 2009
Finally!!!
The day went by pretty quickly, and before i knew it, we're back at the hotel as Mr. and Mrs. :-)
It rained during the day (our was an afternoon wedding) but by the time I arrived at the Monastery of the Transfiguration, the rain stopped!!! I was able to walk down the (extended) aisle as slowly as I possibly can. :D
As I look back, there were glitches during the day (guests not showing up, cake not to my liking, etc etc) but I still think ours was a very nice wedding. Our families and friends were there to witness the start of our new life together and that what matters most.
Thanks to our family and friends who helped us in preparation and for travelling miles away to be with us on that day. You all ROCKED!!!
Photos are uploaded at: http://gracymae.multiply.com/photos
Video can be found at: http://vimeo.com/2876468
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
more photos
Monday, November 17, 2008
Im back!!!
Anyway, in three weeks time we'll be in Manila na. Im excited to be home after almost two years here and I cant wait to see my family and friends. Most of all, im excited as the BIG Day is coming soon!!!
Updates on my preps:
Invites - sent out to Manila and overseas friends. Simple yet elegant ang comment. Yahoo! hirap kaya pag overseas ang communications mo sa printer, buti na lang Printlane was so easy to talk to, bilis pa gumawa!
Guestbook - ordered it from Blurb.com. Im so proud of this kasi ako gumawa nito.
Dress - sana nasimulan na ni Benjie, hehe.
Shoes - Got it from Nine West which was 70% off the original price. Baka mapalitan ko pa sya when I go to Manila kasi baka di mag match sa gown ko. We'll buy Agie's shoes in Manila at sana naka sale ang Florsheim, hehe.
Give aways - So glad Papemelroti has an online shop, di na ako nahirapan sa logistics and they delivered it on time too.
I've paid the Caterer, church, photo and video (down payment). Kulang ko na lang is my make up, florist, cake and program. Kaya n to pag uwi namin!!!
I only got two photos to show. Im so tamad these days, dont even know how to use my new-ish camera, haaay. Di bale, sisipagin din ako soon.
Front and back cover of the guestbook i ordered online at Blurb.com. The photo didnt do justice to the actual photobook!!!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Wedding Prep Updates
As of today, we have booked our photo/video, church and reception and have sent our Save the Date cards (our labour of love). Yes, this is a DIY project. I surfed the net for some designs. As we are having the wedding in the province, we opted to send the Save the Date cards to those in Manila and overseas so they can prepare/ plan in advance and give us heads up if they will be attending the wedding or not. Since this involves travelling for most of our guests, we came up with the idea of sending Boarding Pass STD (weird, STD, hahaha).
I surf the net for the lay-out, bought printer and stationery, some paints (a last minute addition since after we have printed the envelope, we realized the front cover is too-wedding-y that we need to "ërase" it with a paint") and started the project.
I did the lay-out and the printing while Agie did most of the cutting. We both help in the painting. It looks so amateurish but we are proud of what we did. I hope those who received them (we printed only 20 and sent it in the mail while the rest will be receiving electronic versions of it) will appreciate it even if it was not professionally made.
Monastery and the Map to Malaybalay
Boarding Pass 1
Boarding Pass 2Boarding Pass 3
I'm in the middle of doing the lay-out for our give-aways, sana ma send na ni Bryan ang pix na hinihingi ko. :-)
yun lang, back to reading my cpa materials. :-)
Thursday, March 06, 2008
My life in GOOGLE
1. Name of a pet.
2. My nickname.
3. A bad habit of mine.
4. Where I live.
6. My last name:

7. Fave cartoon character.
8. My name

10. Age on my next bday.
11. My first job.

12. Favorite color.
13. My birthplace.
14. My favorite food (which I miss dearly!!!)
15. Love of my life.

Wednesday, March 05, 2008
A little too late post
Im getting married!!! Yes, Agie did finally popped the question last Dec 28 and I, without hesitation, said Yes. La na nako sya gipalisod-lisod kaybasin mag change ang mind, hahaha. He was a bit nervous when he asked me to open the gift he had for me (on the pretense that I gave him lots of pressies for his bday and xmas that he felt he need to give me more!).
Ang sweet ni Agers. And he bought me a ring that he placed in the tea set I was eyeing at Victoria Basement. Since he bought the ring in an Aussie Jewelry shop, the size fits Aussie women too. And that being said, the ring is too large for my dainty finger. We had to have the ring resized. And since andun na kami, I asked Agie if we can exchange the ring na rin coz what he bought was more of an anniversary/wedding ring rather than an engagement ring. He reasoned he likes it more than a solitaire, hehe. Sabi ko na lang, similar ring na lang for our wedding ring and solitaire for my engagement ring, buti pumayag. :D

We didnt tell anyone yet that we got engaged on that day until masabi namin sa parents namin. When my turn to tell my Mom, she was a little bit shocked pero my Dad was happy coz he thought di na ako mag aasawa,hehehe. After nag sink in na magpapakasal na ako, they are excited na to do the preps.
I wanted a simple wedding pero pinagtatawanan ako ni Agie coz ang dami ko na daw ka artehang nalalaman na hindi na daw simple ang gusto ko,hahahaha. Yan ang nagagawa ng too much surfing at reading emails from w@wie.
Mahirap ang preparation kasi overseas kami dalawa and once lang kami uuwi, 3 weeks before our wedding date. But, with the help of friends and family, we can pull this off.
Yun lang. im at loss for words... sa susunod dami pa ako i-k-kwento. sana di ma preempt ang invites ko,hehehe.
yun lang.
love you Agie and cheers to our new life together! :D
...now back to reading Module 4 of CPA 108, haaay buhay estudyante nga naman.










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