A one-live cat’s life

20/11/2009-Bridgette bought her house finally! For celebrations, we met at Grasshopper.  An Artsy “bar” set-up on a side street hidden, at Underwood Street off Dalley Street.  It’s a Temporary Laneway bar where there is no real bar, they make cocktails with Absolute vodka, named like grasshopper, greenhouse, etc.  They mix it in Plastic jars and put your initials on it, that if you come back for more with your jar, you get a discount of 2 AUD.  I Think its a bit off of 12Dollar cocktail, having to stand or sit on milk crates and no nibbles, unless you sneak some of your own.

21/11/2009-After the Woodtsock Pancake’s on the run breakfast hosted by Tristan and Tami, where I did not run but had two pancaks with ice cream, I was invited by Tomi to join them, Adrian, and her Japanese friends Yuka and Kenhji (sp?) to go sailling around the harbor!  This is the first time I have seen Adrian sailboat that he bought in QLD.  It was a warm day.  We set off from Balmain towards Sydney Harbor.  It was a 2 hours ride, having not much winds we were on the engine for some parts.  I got the chance to maneuver the boat going to destination where we end up in a beach below Sydney Harbor National Park which coincidentally was a nudist beach!  We had a swim (with cossies!) and Yuka who is a chef at Pen cafe in Pyrmont, prepared yummy gourmet sandwiches, then we set off back to Balmain.

22/11/2009- SriChinmoy 7Kms at centennial Park

23/11/2009 - Watched Time Traveller’s Wife after a chinese dinner at Sea Bay in Pitt St., with Sissi, Asa, Tez and Sebastian.  Which I find the book is still better, as always, and it was a major tear jerker! Even the males cried!  Few modicfications from the book. Sad ending.

It has been a hectic weekend for me but i love it.  Its been packed with 3 runs and resting in between.

Resting means going out, socializing and leaving life.  Yep, that’s after a 5 day/7 hour work time.

Friday was after participating the culmination of the Sydney Twilight Series of Cool running, I went out for drinks and dinner by Terry’s friends birthday, Mathew, to Pyrmont Bridge Hotel.

Pyrmont Bridge Hotel.Its a familiar name of a pub as work is just near I suppose, but I have never been here.  I just learned that its the pub I always pass by when I go to Darling harbor and cross the Pyrmont Bridge, just before the Maritime Museum.  The birthday boy had the rooftop reserved for his night, he was pretty sloshed everyone buying him a drink, although the Asian owner did charge more and did not tell the party ahead of hand of his conditions for renting the roof top.  That got settled.  We had pub dinner of chicken burger and chips and fish and chips. The bouncers were alright, then we were moved us down to level two after 11pm as residents around the area would complain bout noise if they keep us there.  And that I learned that this pub is 24/7! wow. rating: ***

The London Hotel.  Saturday arvo, after the Woodstock Handicap and doing some errands and dropping off change of clothes of me and Tomomi to John Dawling’s house at Balmain, I thought of having a good early tea at London Hotel.  I always pass by this Pub whenever I wanted to do hill runs at Darling street at the end of Thorton Park.  It is actually a torture on the part of steep climb to the roundabout where this pub is, wanting not to stop seeing people drinking their cold beer at the veranda, and its always full.  So I thought this must be a good pub.  Had burger and beer, where they serve Blue Tongue on tap.  Its a very noisy pub, lots of people talking, music at the background, Telly with sports, pool tables and poker machines.  I think there are lots of Londoners who often go there and catch up with their mates.  Its also a dog friendly hotel, where having have sat there for 2 hours I saw 4 dog/dog owner got a table inside without being hassled by the staff. rating: ***

Tarongga Zoo.  This has been a mission that has been canceled last week. After the long run to Cronulla at lunch time we finally decided to go to the zoo.  I went here with my cousin Sue Ann and his family last October.  I did like it.  Now went with Terry and surprising i saw different animals as this were the side that has been closed when we were there last October.  I did not get to see the chimpanzees as it is one of my faves as we ran out of time.  It was also interesting trip as this month is when the Sydney Harbor gets busy with Cruise ships, and there were 3 big ships at the harbor during the trip.

Just yesterday when I realized I already have been working with the company i am with for four years last Feb 1!  I was not even aware not until I saw what date it is yesterday.

Funny huh.  Yes I once forgot my birthday that was my 22nd I think.  Now I forgot my job anniversary.  Congratulations to me, this is the longest i made it through a job :)!

I’ve had 4 jobs after this, this is my fifth in my almost nine years of my career.  It was usual that when i reach the 2nd year i get bored and i wanted to find better work.  Never did I feel that way with this job.  I am also thankful I still belong with them.  two and a half years from the mother company and a year and a half with the merger, two sites, stayed on the same team ever since i joined.

Not long enough, last Tuesday, they announced that they will soon start the downsizing again of the company because of the “global economic crisis”.  But they told us (i was not in that meeting i was out working for a project) that Oz office will be least affected.  Well still who knows.

By the 3rd week of November, I thought of putting a few Christmas Ornaments in my flat in Rozelle as even I will be spending my Christmas Holidays with my Family in the Philippines.  That at least 2 weeks before I leave for Philippines, there’s this Christmas feeling in my “home” in Oz.

It just seem that it has been 4 years that I have been always overseas whenever the December or Christmas season begins.  That I always do look forward seeing the festive, Christmasy feeling back in the Philippines.  Lights, Christmas Carols, Family and school friend Reunions, food which i can not describe the feeling to anyone abroad who asks me how Philippine Christmas is. It does feel Christmassy minus the snow.

Last year of 2007, 12 days before the Christmas eve I was on my own backpacking around the South East Asia met a lot of wonderful people.  And brought two travellers with me back to my parents house, whom I think became my good friends.  Went to Sagada and these Dutch and English friends of mine seem to have enjoyed the Holidays here, which is very different from the winter Christmas Holidays back in their homes.

Now I am back home again.  It was a very sad/happy feeling or melancholic for me.  Very different from what I felt from the past whenever I come back overseas.  Arriving at the airport, seeing old friends immediately at the airport, seeing my family, days after going back to Makati, my former work area and home, visited my flat, meeting with my friends, shopping at the malls just walking at the place where I used to be at, and running at my former highschool/elementary University campus.  It has not been too long for 8 months but i think i did miss a lot of people, the enviroment and the place a lot.  I am sure it is going to be the same when i go back to Oz.

So far, I have just been lazing around, waking up late, eating lots at least still able to do runs at my old school oval, shopping for my God children, wrapping gifts.

I thought of cooking something healthy for the Christmas lunch/dinner and the family Reunion on my father’s side that the family always do celebrate on the 28th of December.   Do a few more shopping of clothes and shoes as I do not have the small size aside from the kid size when i get back home in Oz.  Just right now, I am enjoying the Christmassy feeling while it last.  As I know it is always supposed to be different if i opted to stay back in Sydney and celebrate the holidays alone.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Two months has passed when the Spring season has started. Strange that it was still cold for me, specially withe the chilly breeze of Sydney, yet on day one, some people shed of their winter clothing and started wearing their singlets and shorts!

Aside from that, I did like the scenery as the trees went back from brown to green, and sidewalks filled with fallen flowers instead of dead brown leaves, and just flowers blooming everywhere, so colorful!

Locals say this Spring has a weird weather, one day we got 32 degrees and one day we get 19 and rainy. At least I haven’t not really placed my winter clothes away yet so it was convenient for me but have to be always ready to have an umbrella and shirt under a jumper in case the weather changes within the day (Melbourne weather they say-4 seasons in a day).

What I am enjoying most this Spring is the festivals. So far I went to 4 of them already. I thought it was a good time to go look for Christmas pressies and food!

Floriade - In Canberra
- flowers everywhere, very nice
- booths
- Shopped? - nothing

Balmain Arts and Craft show
- Nice display of paints, and crafts, and auction items from sports figures from footy to car racing
- Shopped: Christmas cards

The Newtown Music Festival
- crowded, lots of music going on and dancing and performances, with the midget ponies for the kids and jumping castle, more for grown up kind of festival

- Shopped - a small leather wallet for myself and food

The Glebe Street Fair
- crowded, lots of shops and food, performances
- Shopped - pendants, ring, jewelry hanger and food

The Drummoyne Family Fair
- not very crowded but the most kid-friendly festival i saw. Jumping castle, booths, trampoline, ride, slides, etc.

- Shopped: table runner for Christmas

This weekend no festivals going on, but i might be going to Palm beach.

As listed in my might-run-races, I have been contemplating if I would be running any of the fun runs this Sunday. Eyeing on Maroubra Fun Run, since this is the most accessible run, I was convincing myself to already register. But, it has been a tough week for me at work s i was having doubt.

It has been 2 weeks of 24/7 on call support an 3 consecutive days that have been working at least 18 hours, my body started to be on strike. Missing and forgetting Woodstock runs on Wednesday morning, Friday morning and the Club’s Saturday run. The Saturday even was a plan to get a longer run before joining which I was meaning to run and run longer before the 9Km one in Balmain, My physical body just can not get up. Frustrating, but what can I do.

Then on Friday morning, John sent me an email he is going to do the fun run, which confirmed myself to do the 8KM, after convincing myself to join even on a late start of 930 and temperature forecast at 29 degrees. Yes, I already have been mindful of the temperature as the heat from last Sunday is too hot for me. (Humid hot in Manila is very different in stinging hot sun rays).

Anyway, on Sunday, I did get up at 715, quick shower, had coffee, banana and a chocolate cookie, sugar loading, that is how i call it. A few stretching and by 757, John was already at my area. We drove to Maroubra ariving 30 minutes past 8am and so we are early by an hour even it it means registering on the day.

As explained by John, this fun run is similar to the one in Gladesville, a fun run sponsored by the Rotary Club, and does includes a fair.

And he was right. Race starts with at least 5 meter parade with the bagpipe band then they fire the gun. Just like the race in Brighton, narrow start, with all the 4km walkers and runners starting with the 8KM runners at the same time. I needed to struggle and run off-road. On the first left, you can see a hill. So what’s with this hills on a Rotary run?! :p. Was not super hill, tolerable not until you turn left and keep turning left the Hills seem to get steeper and bigger. that just made me puff and huff. Near the 8km runabout, you can hear the bagpipes and is a very steep downhill, that there is no way you can fly and take advantage of the hill as it steep and just end up knocking yourself over. Better to finish the race bruise free I told myself. I psyched myself that I still can do another round of those hills.

I tried my best to run as same pace as my first lap. I think i did slow down a bit on the hills, nearly giving up wanting to walk, but I just did not. The heat was hotter and all you can think is to get the race over and done with! 2 ladies caught up with me when it is nearly 500 meters away from the chute, although i did over took 3 people ahead of me initially nearing the finish. 3 meters from the chute I heard John called my name, yey! I finished the race without walking.

The organizers had a bit of a challenge sorting out the results as it was their first time to use the timing chips. Where the results came in by almost midnight the same day. The race I say is very well organized, maybe just lacking a few marshals directing and stopping the vehicles passing through and people cutting through the routes. Two water stops for an 8km race is enough. What I did like is at the finish chutes, marshals assist in taking off the chip, enough chairs where the runners can sit and take their chips off and marshals escorting runners out of the finish chute which prevented runners from crowding in the chute which usually happen in all races. Aside from that is the October fest mood, beer, food stalls, clothes, jewelry and handicraft stalls, camel ride , jumping castle and trampoline after the race made the event very festive.

John and I left the event after learning that the awarding will happen by 12 noon which is too late and John is 2nd on his age category.

For myself, Not bad that I was aiming to finish at 40 minutes more or less but the hills would have made it more difficult. BUT! I made it at 40.16 minutes chip time. Still 16 seconds over my target, I am happy, I really feel I made big improvements on speed compared 6/7 months ago and even with feeling a bit of arthritic pain on my left leg since my long run last Thursday.

Event: Maroubra Fun Run
Location: Maroubra, NSW, Australia
Distance: 8KM
Gun time: 40.34
Chip time:40.16

Results
8KM Run
4Km Run
4KM walk