…that’s all I could say right after our team meeting a few minutes ago.
Good news: We will only train about 20 groups next year and that the first group for 2009 will start on the 2nd week of February (yoohoo!). Such a big difference from how 2008 looked for us.
Not-so-good news: Our department had to cut 14 positions and our team will be greatly affected: 1 Training Administrator and 4 Project Officers will end their contracts on 31 December. I almost had a heart attack when I heard this…but what can we do??? None. Change is the only permanent thing in this world.
Good news: All 14 positions will just be moved to a different department…in the end, we still have jobs. At the end of the day, that is most important. I will miss those who will move but knowing our office, we will eventually find ourselves working with each other again.
There’s also some bit I learned about the state I’m working for, but I can’t divulge it. But to those who are living here in NSW I’ll leave you a piece of advice: please save save and save…and love your job. Count your blessings and at the same time, save your “blessings”. I know we say this all the time, I know that we know this…but it surely is more substanstial when you see changes happening around you (and you’re told that there will be more changes to come). It doesn’t hurt to do reality checks once in a while and heed pre-cautionary warnings.
Aussie Life
Had a nice weekend spent with relatives.
27 September 2008
Saturday morning was spent at Berrima to celebrate the feast day of our very own San Lorenzo Ruiz.
After the mass, we had a procession going to the Grotto. Another prayer session was held there for Mama Mary.
Chris and I explored Berrima, took photos of the different shrines/mini-chapels, before we joined our group for lunch.
Two of the shrines/mini-chapels that I liked.
Would love to go back here again for a more quiet and prayerful time with God. We joined an association called Aguman, who organized this trip so that the proceeds will go to school children in the Philippines. There were three big buses so you can just imagine how many Filipinos there were in Berrima last Saturday.
After lunch we went straight to Corbett Gardens in Bowral for the Tulips Festival. A first time for me and the Husband.
Tulips everywhere!!!
Corbett Gardens also featured different flowers…most of which I don’t know the name.
This was one of my favorite shot from the photos I took.
The weather was great! Very sunny, perfect for a day-out. Corbett Gardens is just a small to average sized garden so after exploring the whole lot, we just sat in a shaded area and relaxed a bit while eating paddle pops and ensaymada (our baon!).
Arrived home in time for dinner. Our usual Saturday night ritual involves watching a film and eating junk foods. This time we watched “What Happened In Vegas” (It was hilarious!) and ate Chippy (pinoy na pinoy). 🙂
28 September 2008
Sunday morning was spent doing laundry, tidying up our room and getting ready for the birthday lunch of our Tito Joey.
By 12:30pm we were at Tito Joey’s having lunch. And since this is a Filipino party, there’s always lots of food from salad, ulams and desserts of kakanin. Sarap!!!! They even had Danggit so I was a very happy camper!!!
Since this was a kapamilya’s party, lunch party became meryenda party….then dinner party. Ayos! So technically we were there the whole day. What’s good about parties like this is that I get to bond with the Titas, while Chris gets to bond with the Titos. Us ladies, we have the dining area all to ourselves, having tea or coffee with dessert, while the gentemen stays at the backyard having pulutan with beer. I also got to hang out with the kids in the rumpus room and got to watch Hellboy and Wall-E.
Back home at 7:30pm. Called my parents to say hello and update what’s happening in our respective countries. Chris and I were a bit tired but happy that we had another enjoyable weekend. Lights off at 10:00pm.
17 September 2008
Since it was Chris’ first time to celebrate his birthday in Sydney, I gave him an Aussie birthday celebration.
I took him to Featherdale Wildlife Park so he can finally see a Koala and experience feeding a Kangaroo.
The reason why I love bring “tourists” to Featherdale is because you get to at least touch a Koala and feed Kangaroos in this zoo.
It was a whole morning of communing with animals. Too bad Chris wasn’t able to see a Tasmanian Devil…it didn’t want to come out. But we saw the penguins, wombat, an albino kangaroo, a mother kangaroo with an albino baby kangaroo inside its womb, and my favorite the colorful Peacocks.
For the first time, I was able to see a Mother Koala cuddling her baby Koala. I told Chris he was very lucky to see it on his first visit to the zoo here.
After our zoo adventure, we went to Blacktown for lunch at Hog’s Breath Cafe. Syempre Aussie lunch din, so we had steak.
After our zoo adventure, we went to Blacktown for lunch at Hog’s Breath Cafe. Syempre Aussie lunch din, so we had steak.
For dinner we ordered Chinese take-away and celebrated at home with our relatives. For his cake, I got a Freddo Ice Cream Cake which we ate for dessert. 🙂
For more photos, please click here: Chris’ Aussie Birthday!
For more photos, please click here: Chris’ Aussie Birthday!
Sometimes you just have those mornings that are extraordinary…
Taken yesterday at Featherdale Wildlife Park, where I took Husband for his birthday. I took him there so he can experience feeding Kangaroos and to see Koalas (his first time!).
More kwentos and photos of the Husband’s birthday celebrations…he still has one more (post bday party) this coming Saturday ;). From the bottom of Chris’ heart, he sends his BIG thank you’s to all who greeted him. At bilang munting maybahay niya, maraming maraming salamat sa lahat ng nakaalala. Yun lang pow sa ngayon. Busy-busyhan muna ulit. Catch yah all later! 
If you ever pass by Blue Mountains or you’re there to explore one of the most scenic spots in New South Wales, pay a visit to the Blue Mountains Chocolate for a wonderful and delicious chocolatey experience.
How to Enjoy Blue Mountains Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Hot Chocolate:
Upon entrance to the cafe, you will find three bowls on top of the counter. Three bowls for the three kinds of chocolate they make: (1) milk chocolate; (2) white chocolate and (3) dark chocolate. Taste each chocolate and decide which you like best.
Order at the counter and pay. The cafe only serves handmade chocolates, hot chocolate, coffee, tea, ice cream and cakes. We asked if they serve sandwiches and they said no.
Chris and I each ordered a Hot Chocolate. When our orders arrived, it looked like this….
It was a four-piece set of glasswares and you’re supposed to mix your hot chocolate yourself. The tallest one is your fondue-looking glass. The small pitcher contains your milk while the small bowl contains your preferred chocolate. Mine was Milk Chocolate.
The chocolate looks yummy and tastes even yummier…sweetness is just right. It can be quite addicting as I somehow never noticed that I’ve been popping some into my mouth. So before I eat all my milk chocolate, I started mixing my hot chocolate.
Start with the milk, pour it in your fondue-looking glass. If you want to pour all your milk, that’s fine. If you want more, you can ask for a second serving of milk.
Drop in your chocolates.
Stir it, blend it and smell the chocolate aroma.
My favorite part is the spoon. Theirs is no ordinary spoon…
Because it has a hole on the other end.
So you can sip your hot chocolate with the use of your spoon. Very cool! 🙂 But be careful. Be sure that when you’re about to sip your hot chocolate, the other end of your spoon is not touching the surface of your glass, as it is very hot.
I enjoyed my hot chocolate and I really love the concept of do-it-yourself when it comes to food 🙂
Inside the cafe, you can also watch them make their chocolates. While we were about to leave, one of the staff [she was a Filipina :)] was cutting and packing the chocolates.
They have a huge selection of handmade chocolates to choose from. You can order them at the counter and eat inside the cafe…
or you can bring them home or put them in pretty boxes and give away to loved ones.
The also sell chocolate bars. They have a chocolate bar called Girth Control which says “the chocolate that will make you forget “IT” for 15 minutes.” hehehe.
Blue Mountans Chocolate is located 176 Lurline Street, Katoomba, Blue Mountains. You can also come here for chocolate making demonstrations, chocolate making courses and free chocolate tasting.
-o0o0o-
All photos by Chris and Ivy Sanchez. Visited Blue Mountains Cafe on 23 August 2008.
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