Not quite sure what it’s called, but I always noticed the purple tree on my way back home from work. Heh, now I actually have the chance to take a picture of it as I walked from work to the centre of Footscray to catch a bus back.

It’s been a while since I’ve taken any bus anywhere. Never tried it in NYC, and according to Vyanne, it seemed quite pricey compared to taking the subway.

There is a sort of tranquility taking public transport. You’re not always needing to be alert to watch for traffic, pedestrians, obstacles etc. I had time to glance out the window and absorbed the view. It also gave me time to think about everyday stuff.

* * *

I have grown out of my shell I suppose. Everytime I move on to a new environment, I try to rise to the challenge. Perhaps it’s the colleagues I have, and the type of work I do as well as my prior experience and all the advice I’ve received over the years.

I think as recently as NYC, asking me to do something unfamiliar would frighten me. I always felt uncomfortable when I didn’t know what to expect. With the bus to work, I just checked some timetables, some routes, and I was happily sitting in one, expecting myself to reach my destination intact. Heh, it may seem trivial to you but I’ve always functioned better being able to anticipate what I needed to do.

It’s been gradual, as over the years I became less and less timid at asking questions about things. I always assumed that I was meant to know everything, and I’d look silly if I didn’t know what was going on. Better to keep quiet and slowly figure it out than to ask outright. It got me along, but it was a slow and arduous process. Heh, I figured that it’s easier to ask questions and maybe I’m still afraid to look silly at times, but it’s knowing how to ask the right kind of questions to make yourself look sensible that helps.

* * *

Have this positive feeling these days. Heh, always manage to find the silver lining in most things. Work started out a little mundane, but as you go along and figure things out, you find that you find that you can contribute more. I feel a little more accomplished when I can help out, and the positives in life keeps me motivated to do more.

A few more days to the end of the year. Heh, thinking of a trip to Adelaide. The plans aren’t quite set in stone yet but I’m keen to go. Seems like there’s lots to see on Kangaroo Island that I missed on my previous trip.

Will just keep busy in the meantime.

Chorizo and baked eggs. Something a little different for breakfast, instead of the usual poached eggs on toast with greasy sausages and bacon. Eating is such a wonder, but I miss home cooked food most of all. Heh, it’s the simple dishes that I grew up with that I enjoy the most.

* * *

Starting to ask other questions at work. These days I have this entirely different attitude towards things I do. I don’t take things for granted and nothing is too silly to ask. Well, at least I try to think of a smart way to ask questions so it doesn’t seem like I’m not terribly bright. Heh.

Work is all about accounting and I’m still getting the hang of why things are done in a certain way. I’m curious all the time and I have great colleagues who have been very helpful with imparting their knowledge to me.

* * *

Did something bad to my car and I’ve mentioned it enough times that I’m just writing it here as a note to self to be more careful. It wasn’t an accident involving others, just me being terribly careless and scraping my car against a pillar in my very own parking area.

I fear the repair bill will be ginormous as I’ve already been quoted an astronomical figure at one of the smash repair shops I went to. It’s just an expensive lesson learnt. Meanwhile I’ve sort of figured out public transport routes for the next few days to get my car fixed proper in time for the holiday season.

* * *

I blame my carelessness on post exam trauma. Took the exam on Sunday and it was exhausting. I’m not convinced that if you gave me another 20 days to study that it would have made a difference. I’m just not really the studying kind to absorb multiple streams of info and apply it instantaneously in an exam. By the afternoon paper at around 3pm, I was already just waiting for it to end, and tried as best I could to answer the paper. Heh, failing or passing, I’m not looking forward to either. The former only because I wasted the last 3 months studying for an exam I was sort of doomed to fail. If I do pass, it means the Level II paper somewhere down the road. Won’t have to worry about these things until late Jan at most.

* * *

Suddenly started eyeing a phone yesterday while at work. The Apple iPhone is a no show no my carrier and it’s been 16 months since I got my previous phone. Heh, the idea of wanting one has dwindled over the past few months. It’s a fun phone to have, but I have identified the Nokia e71 as a strong contender. Beefier battery with everything but the kitchen sink built in. Heh, just need to sign on for another 24 month plan to get the phone inexpensively. Now with 3G, roaming data access is a cool way to keep wired.

* * *

Heh, dozing off as I’m typing this. It’s quite comfortable in the dark with an Eee PC just churning out posts. *yawn*

Cousins went trout fishing the other day. It’s my dinner tonight. Just using one of Jamie Oliver’s simple recipes. Butter, parsley, olive oil, salt and pepper. Mmm.. tasted pretty decent. Trout is tasty, just a little bony so it does make it a little difficult to eat.

* * *

I find I’m the kind of person who would rather get it wrong once but fix it and never get it wrong again. Unfortunately exams don’t quite work that way, as you only get one chance to prove yourself. Heh, only a day left to cram whatever I need into my brain. Not terribly keen on studying anymore and my last ditch attempt is to just do sample questions. Can’t wait for Sunday to be over.