Been seemingly piling on weight more easily these days. I’m not too sure that my metabolism has changed too much, it’s just that I think I’m eating more properly these days.

Went to the gym yesterday for the first time in 4 or 5 years. Started out with the treadmill, and strangely, it feels weird moving my feet and not actually displacing distance. I had to jump off the treadmill twice as the sensation between my feet and the rolling rubber below me seemed out of sync. Not sure if it’s a lack of confidence in keeping up with the speed of the treadmill but it’s been a long while since I’ve run any distance. Will just keep at it to get back some stamina. Still want to do a half marathon some day.

Friend made me do a whole bunch of weight exercises as well. Today my arms and torso are hurting. I can still move without creaking too much, which is a good sign. Was sweating profusely around 30 minutes into the exercises. It feels good to sweat it out. My thighs have these overly tight muscles and I am not terribly flexible. Probably a little more stretching is needed over the next few weeks to get it going.

Heh, just waiting to see what results I get in the next few months.

Vyanne cooked a number of things for my arrival back in Melbourne. This was for Sunday brunch and is a chocolate tart. She also made a bunch of other delicious food and we sat in the backyard feasting.

* * *

So it was a whirlwind of events and I’m back in Melbourne. Was in KL for only a few days, but ate lots and met many friends plus family. Heh, friend brought me places to have drinks and said he only brought tourist to those places. I’m technically a tourist because I’m in and out of KL before I can warm up to the place.

Watched the Champions League final with Jack and a few other friends. Again it was drama to the end and Manchester United edged out Chelsea with a penalty shootout. That’s really a lottery as they say since anyone in either team can slip up or the keepers can perform a miraculous save.

Anyway, back to Melbourne now. Not too bothered by the cold weather and find it bearable still. Maybe it’s also because I’m a bit heavier now and all the fats are keeping me warm. Have a mental plan to do a little more exercise over the next few months.

Heh, anyway, being back in Melbourne now I have to work out my daily routines. Lots of things on my to do list, but they all seem to be ongoing projects. Just feeling very motivated to get things done now, and no excuses since I’m already back. Have already started reading some books, managed to operate on 2 laptops and fixed one.

Will just be as busy this week as I was last week.

The rain broke in the early hours of the morning. It’s been raining 4 out of the last 5 days in NYC and I wasn’t quite happy with the weather. I don’t mind the rain so much but when I want to be out and about, it gets in the way.

I woke up to my last day in NYC and hearing that the rain stopped, promptly got my gear out to go grab a sunrise shot. This was around 520am. Heh, made a dash for the Hudson river and grabbed the shot above.

* * *

Yesterday was my last day working for my company. On Thursday my boss announced to me that the Melbourne office had no position vacant for me. Heh, such are the times. A year ago at its peak, the company was putting in all stops to get me over to NYC. It was great for a couple of months, then the financial meltdown from subprime occurred. I’ve already seen 2 colleagues go, and without so much as a word of mention from anyone.

At the very least, I got to wish my farewells to the people I’ve been dealing with over the last year. I’ve only met 2 of them, from prime brokerage, the rest I’ve heard their voices over the phone, and I’m still curious as to what they look like. Heh. There is a sense of closure and managed to have a night out and drinks with colleagues on Thursday. Nothing fancy, no fanfare, unlike much of how it was a year ago when everything was going well, everything now for the company is viewed on a week by week basis to get through.

I was neither shocked nor upset when I was told. Surprisingly, I took it pretty well and the first thing I could think of was to thank my boss and shake his hand for having me here for a year. The overriding sense was the opportunity I was presented in the chance to work in NYC, and for that I am still very grateful. Heh, I’ve contributed as much as I knew how over the past year. I’ve learnt much about the business, how things work, and how to go about solving problems when they arise. Work aside, I’ve become far more confident as a person. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. There have been bad times, there have been good times. I have met some great people out here and they have helped me along the way. I only wished I would have come out of my shell a little more, but I find it easier to listen than to speak.

* * *

Heh, and as with tradition and habit, I have to finally start packing up my stuff for the trip home. Another 10 hours to accomplish this. I know I said I’d do it earlier, but motivation only kicks in as the clock starts ticking down. I am looking forward to going back home and as like the sunrise photo above, it will be a new beginning. I’m happy to close this chapter of life and start something fresh. Not sure what job prospects I have, or how tough it will be, but I don’t worry too much about it at the moment. I have a week to ponder it in the hot Malaysian climate.