Don’t normally talk about work, but today we had drinks outside on the balcony of our office (we reside on the top most floor). Heh, it has a nice view overlooking the Melbourne Cricket Grounds (MCG).

The fantastic bit about this balcony is that there are a set of speakers built onto the side of the walls and it’s hooked up to a CD player. So we are enjoying tunes while lounging on the outdoor furniture on the balcony. There were cheese and crackers, grapes in its natural state and fermented into wine.

Then we talked about travelling. One of my colleague’s goal in life was to travel to more countries than her age was. Heh, she’s been to 50 odd countries already, and she’s nowhere near that age. I counted how many I’ve been to. Malaysia (obviously), Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and China. That’s not a very large number, but I still feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel to so many places.

* * *

Things to do over the next week or so.

Build Destiny and a new computer (the picture shows a DFI Socket 939 Nforce 4 Motherboard box). Heh.

Heh, today is one of those days. Survived it, albeit with a slight scrape.

Rather tired from work I guess. Had trouble sleeping the night before, due to the 3 hour time difference in Malaysia. At 130am, I was still wide awake, as it was only 930 in KL. Read some stuff in the dark to tire my eyes a bit. Got a jolt from the alarm clock this morning. Heh, I could really feel my heart pumping from the sudden scare. Normally, I’d wake up instinctively and immediately alert. Still trying to get used to getting up early again.

Work was the usual stuff. Colleagues are happy to see me and not too much has changed over the last 3 weeks (thankfully). Overall an uneventful day, and recalled how the work was supposed to be done. However, I was constantly absent minded. It was rather cold this morning and wore a jacket to work. Only remembered I had forgotten it when I saw the lift door close. That led to me punching out $100 from the ATM machine and not taking my money. Ouch. Only recalled when I nearly finished dinner with friends, and recalled the motions I went through. Didn’t remember me putting the money into my wallet. Sure enough, there was nothing in there when I checked it. Heh, brief insanity I guess. Was hungry and mind was thinking of 101 other things at the time.

This was not the first time I’ve forgotten something. On my way back to KL, during the security check I had to remove my hunk of a cube to go through the x-ray. My tripod dropped and a kind man had to run after me to return it to me at the gate terminal. I’ve also left my PDA at the post office before, only remembering I had forgotten it a day later (which shows how much I use the thing, heh). Luckily for me, nobody wanted it and I collected it the following day. Leaving $100 at an ATM machine is like banking in a cheque with the word “Cash” on it. Free for all.

$100 is okay. It smarts, but I’ve lost money for dumber reasons. Like the time I bought a tram ticket, went home and changed my pants. Left the ticket on the table. Took a tram back to the city and got caught on the last stop before I got off. I was confident I had the ticket and I felt my brain freezing when I couldn’t find it. I paid for the ticket and still got fined for $150, which I felt was unfair, but it seemed justified by my carelessness.

Lessons to be learnt in life I guess. Heh, I remember a time when I was very careful with all my belongings. Every now and then, I’d check to see that I had my wallet, my phone and keys on me. My life was like that once, not taking risks with losing things. You just don’t want to bear the burden of the cost of replacing something (and you think at times about things that can’t be replaced). I’ve grown a little more lax over the years. Still usually careful, but there are always times where there is a lapse of concentration because you’re always thinking of something and somewhere else.

Heh, only a word of advice to myself. Focus when you’re doing something and try not to get distracted (advice I’ve given before).

Heh, sitting at the airport terminal now waiting for my flight (entry typed courtesy of O2 Mini). Coming home, the transition wasn’t hard. The faces, customs and culture were familiar. Going back to Melbourne I’m feeling a little reluctant, leaving behind family.

I will miss the cantonese series on Astro, even if I don’t follow them. It’s still something I can identify with. It will be a lot quieter at my grandma’s place, as my uncle’s youngest daughter will also be studying overseas this year. It will be especially quiet at home as my brothers have long been working and hardly have the time to come home for dinner. Heh, I brought some mumbling and grumbling while I was home.

Soon it will all be routine again. Heh, that is contrary to what I believe though, as I feel things can change in any instant so if it means something to you, cherish it.

Would just like to get pass the first day back at work tomorrow. Murphy’s law states that what can go wrong will go wrong. Heh, but I keep reminding myself to be optimistic.

Plane’s being boarded. Time to go.

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On the plane, decided against trying to sleep through the entire flight. The rest wasn’t that good the night I flew back. Flipped through the in-flight entertainment magazine. Watched The Legend of Zorro and Elizabethtown. Heh, Zorro had a predictable plot but the scenes were well directed, and it’s really a feel good movie. Elizabethtown is unique. I’m not sure what the reviews for the movie were, but I selected this movie out of so many others only because of Kirsten Dunst. Heh. She’s cute. Never figured Orlando Bloom could act outside of being Legolas (his performances were a little flat in Pirates of the Carribbean), but he did well in this movie. It’s also one of those feel good movies, and while some of the things would never happen in real life (it is a movie anyway), how the story unfolds itself is quite charming. Worth a watch.

Reminded by my cousins that I had lou sang a year ago and I wonder why it’s the flights back to Melbourne I decide to take a peek at the screen in front of me. Malaysian Airlines may not have it, or maybe I just missed the 15 days of CNY by one day.

On the menu I had scrambled eggs and chicken sausage. Had plenty of orange juice and sour coffee. Bread was cold and hard, not like the soft, yum stuff my mom bakes.

* * *

12 hours later, give or take, since the timezone difference of 3 hours ate up what existing moments I had left.

Sitting in front of my Melbourne PC now. 3 weeks later and I’m not used to the keyboard, how loud it is etc etc. Ok, sort of getting used to it now. Broadband feels very snappy, something I don’t need getting used to. Looking at the time and feeling I ought to go to bed. Okay, I would really like tomorrow to pass me by without incident.