My New Toy

Eversince I've booked our US holidays, I've been meaning to buy myself a point and shoot camera because my SLR is just too bulky to bring around. Agie agreed to me buying it because I told him that I will use my Amex points to pay off the camera.

I'm really partial to Canon (mainly because that's the brand of my SLR which I still dont know how to use, haha) so I just shopped around for a good deal. I went to Dick Smith in Chatswood in early November but the sales assistant told me to come back in 3 weeks time because prices will be slashed by then to get rid of their stocks as they are moving to a new location. This will also work in my favor because I can claim the GST paid if I show it to Customs when I travel to the US in December. The only requirement for GST refund is that receipt amount should be at least $300 and the purchase date is no later than 30 days before travel date.

Fast forward to the third week.
I went to Dick Smith yesterday, excited to buy the camera (the ticket price in November was $357, down from $396) and hoping for a good discount. When I went to the camera sections, the stand is absolutely empty!!! I asked the sales assistant where all the Powershot went and he said they have already moved it to their new store which is opening in 3 weeks time! Hmm, not good. I went to their smaller store in Westfield and found the same camera now priced at $377.
:(

It's just too expensive for me, considering I need to buy a camera pouch and a spare SD card so I went to JB Hifi to see if they have better prices than Dick Smith. I saw the camera I was after and it was marked down to $345! Not bad considering I was ready to spend $350 for it. Then i looked for a pouch and found one for $25. I told the sales assistant if she can give me a deal if I buy the camera and the pouch together. She did some calculations and told me she can give the camera for $321 but no discount on the pouch. I didn't think twice and bought the camera then and there. The camera would've cost $396 but with the discount and the GST refund (around $32), it now only cost me $289 and if I'll deduct the cost of the Travel Photography book that comes with the camera, the final price would go down to $255. Not bad hey? My AMEX points can very much cover my camera puchase. hehehe.

I had a post-birthday dinner with Perla today and of course we tested my new Powershot 120IS. Aren't we gorgeous???

I can't wait to document our US trip. :-)

Late Train, again!

I do not like the new timetables! My train has been cancelled today again! I have to wait for 30 mins for the next (running late) train. I wish we could all go back to the old timetable --- when the Epping to Chatswood link was not yet integrated to the Sydney network. Because it operated on its own, any delays happening in the network will not affect the on time running of the train and thus making it more reliable. And its not as crowded as it is now and the trains were new and very well maintained.

With the new timetable, my travel time became longer, trains were replaced with the old ones and if we do get the newer ones, it's become filthy!!!

Can we all go back to the old ways please??? A 3 minute improvement in the journey time of some lines is not significant at all!

Boo City Rail. :(

The Blue Wall

And the renovations started!

I am not too sure if I can pull off a feature wall considering I already got a chocoloate-brown lounge. But what the heck, I can always repaint the wall to another color if this one will not match. :-)

the transformation from this...

to this!

color: Bristol Paint's Faraway Sky.

We ended up hiring someone to do the painting of the entire house as we realized we don't have time to do it ourselves.

Next on the list is the carpet installation which I have booked for Saturyday, 21st of Nov. But I think I have a big problem --- I just read the Terms of Conditions that we need to inform the Body Corporate 21 days in advance if we plan to do floor covering renovation. Oh no!!! I need to call them tom and advise them of my plan (and to make drama drama daw nga I didnt know about the 21 days advance info). If they will not allow the installation, I have no choice but to postpone it. :(

Hopefully, everything will go smoothly so we can move on the 6th of Dec, otherwise, gahol na sa oras and might move na lang next year.

Fingers crossed that they will allow an earlier installation though...

The new Aussies

we are one but we are many

and from all the lands on earth we come,

we share a dream, and sing with one voice.

I am, you are, we are Australian.

After a long wait, Agie and I finally took our Citizenship pledge and got our Citizenship certificates on November 12 at Ryde Civic Centre. It amazed me to know that there were 25 countries represented in the ceremony, just another proof that everyone wants to live in Australia! :D The councilor who read the names apologized in advance for any pronunciation errors, and quiet a few were really tongue-twister type of names. hehe.


Temperature was a very hot 30 degrees in the afternoon! We don't want to be late so we booked a cab to fetch us at 6:10 but it did not come!!! and suddenly, there was a heavy downpour. We decided to commute to the venue (train and bus) and in 30 minutes, we were filling out our Electoral Forms at the Civic Centre. At around 8:45, the ceremony was over and we went for a celebratory dinner in an Italian Resto. Pasta was blah, but they had a very nice pizza.

Thanks to Cesar for coming with us and for being our official photographer. Di bale, pag ikaw na ang mag-o-Oath, sa masarap na restaurant na tayo kakain, hehehe. Too bad we didn't get have any photos together, anuvah!

Commuter Tale # 2

City rail announcer during this morning's travel at Epping underground station:

"Do not run into an incoming train, you might trip over and break your neck. And that can ruin your weekend!"

Very well said City Rail! First time I heard people laughing while waiting for the train.

Best.Announcement.Ever.

its all about love

my horoscope from yesterday's mx:




im optimistic.
work, money, health.
come my way.
you're all very much welcome. :D