Money money MoneY

I'm feeling very guilty.

In this recent months of dire straights and financial difficulties (where depending on the bank ) the standard variable rate home loan is at 9.58 per cent , BF and I have been spending like there is no tmr.

Things spent over the past few weeks -

1. Golf set - for him (from me)
2. A golf putter - for him
3. A golf driver - for him
4. Snowboarding boots - for him
5. Snowboarding pants - for me
6. Snowboarding hoodie - for me
7. Snowboard bags - from me for us
8. Flight tickets to Japan for 2 (from him for us)
9. Accommodation deposit for Japan for 2 (from him for us)
10. Leather boots - for me
11. Snowboarding trip - Mt Buller for 2
12. A Hugo Boss suit - for him (I'm expensing 1/2)
13. A Hugo Boss shirt - for him
14. 5 sessions with the personal trainer - for me
15. Some beauty products purchase - Kose, Clinique, Benefit

This does not cover my unexpected trip to Malaysia and the medical and other miscellaneous expenses that came with.

On top of that, my best friend is coming to Mel later on for a month, a mates wedding, a few more snowboarding trips, our trip to Europe coming up in October, trip to Malaysia next Easter for the wedding preps and the trip later the same yr for our wedding.

On top of that we both want new snowboarding jackets and have yet to finalise our tix and accommodations for Bruges and Amsterdam and football tix for a Premier League match in England. OMG!

Don't get me wrong - it is not like we are strapped for cash and we have all this debt on credit - we don't. The credit rating is still pristine and we are not struggling to pay the mortgage + bills. We also put away money monthly although saying that, without all these "expenses", the bank balance would have been much healthier if you know what I mean. Yeah, yeah - I know that we can't take it to the grave yadda yadda but perhaps.. mayhaps.. hmmm..

Yeah it will be nice to have a bigger place but that means getting a bigger mortgage. Or if we go down the other track of saying it will be nice to go out on every weekend like what I used to do before, it literally means drinking the money away PLUS most probably feeling like shit the next day.

It is a lifestyle choice now isn't it?

Living in "sin"

Coming from an Asian background, it was never in my grand scheme of things to feasibly think that there would be a point in time in my very degenerate future that I would be living in sin (or so would my relatives think if they ever find out) before *gasp horror* marriage.

*Yes*, I miiggght have on a few occasions (in my terrible 20's) mentioned to my folks that living together was a much more appealing option rather than being shackled in matrimony but never in their mind (and mine!) did I ever think that I would be one of those who would. I was a "good girl" after all ... albeit a few discretion's here and there.

Fast forward 10 yrs later and I am now very much ensconced in a rship, my parents are aware that we are living together (my relatives do not, his do) and after close to a yr of being...I now understand why a lot of live-in-couples never do make it down the aisle of matrimony. Hell, I would be happy to remain as is if it wasn't for these reasons:

1. The disapproval from my parents would be thaaaat high
2. I already have the rock on my finger

In my opinion, (of which I completely understand) is that lot of my friends who are in these said rships are that either 1 or both parties are afraid. After all, why rock the status quo? It is an interesting discussion this one? I mean, why is it that we are afraid of change? My rationality is, if one can get along NOW..living together, seeing each others good and bad, getting used to each others idiosyncrasy etc, why not make it permanent?

Yes, I understand the argument where it might be suggested that ppl change - but hell, what is one (or both parties) looking for? Looking (or waiting) for something better to come along perhaps? It simply does not make sense!

Furthermore, if one is to bring a child into the equation - yes, I understand that its all "acceptable' now for 2 ppl to have kids without marriage but I personally am old-fashioned that way. No kids without marriage. Side note - we still haven't decided whether we want kids at this point.

Anyways, yes - I am living in sin... here.

No - I think if I was still in Malaysia, it would not have happened. *shhh..ppl will talk after all!!*

This June I am into....

Busy busy period so taking a note of a fellow blogger who keeps things short and sweet... this June I am into:

Wearing: Tights especially fishnet ones. Its winter, its colder but that doesn't mean I have to be wearing pants all the time.

Eating: Home-made chicken congee made with my slow-cooker. A bit of spring onion, plenty of ginger, a dash of soy-sauce and white pepper and away we go!

Listening: Estelle feat Kanye West - catchy; with plenty of hooks to keep one captivated.

Watching: How I met your Mother season 3.. its the new Friends!

Enjoying: Just living. Sometimes one takes things for granted. Its the lil things that matter, really.

Planning: Whether I can afford to go on another holiday in Japan in January09 when I'm going to Europe in Nov08 and trips back home for wedding plans next yr.

**************************************
Am currently in Sydney and sneaking a breather ...

FREE GIFT!! - Paying it forward

It has been a while and things has just been a complete chaos over the past 2 months - but I have always been reading other peoples blogs which includes one from sourrain.

What it is:

This idea is based on the movie Paying it Forward, if someone does you a good turn, you pay it forward doing three good deeds to three other persons, requesting that they do the same and pass it on. The theory is that the world would be a better person by the good deed power of three.

I will be putting together some ‘care packages’ which will include due to the nature of my work bits and pieces from my work travels around Australia ~ or items which might be Australian in nature e.g. Tim Tam's, postcards, a eucalyptus leaf etc. This is really the least I can do for the support and comments that I have got from my blog (new and old)

How do I participate:

Leave a comment on this post (I will leave this open till month end) and I will pick a minimum of three names to send packages out. If I only get 1 comment - well, you will be the lucky one!

When will I get it?

I will probably be sending this out asap but it depends on where I go over the next 3 months. I have a coupla trips to Sydney coming up as well as to Darwin and of course some nic-nacs from Melbourne. Obviously, if you’re in Australia, the package will probably reach you in a day or two rather than taking up to three months. Yes, this is open to all my readers irregardless of where you live.

I will be sending out items in a a few months *promise!* which means you should receive it about a few weeks after the posting have gone through. Who knows - you might want to open it as a surprise on Christmas morning instead.

What is the catch?

The catch is that upon receiving the package, you promise to do the same on your blog. If you do not have a blog, a token sum donated to my chosen charity would be very much appreciated.

I have questions!!

Then please email mirebella at gmail dot com

Can I specify my gifts?

I am not Santarina so sorry - no! I will try my very best to provide a happy surprise rather than a nasty one.

PS: Please either leave your email address on the comment or email me at the above mentioned email otherwise I will not be able to get in touch with you!

Whoo Hooo !

Pic courtesy from Soccernet.com

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!

- And my beloved Giggsy scores the winning penalty AND makes his record of 758 appearances for Manchester United to become the club's all-time leader in appearances

A little bit of happiness

After all the drama's and going-on's - these new addition to my shoe cupboard added some cheer to my otherwise downer week. Wore it to work this Friday and *yes*, I did add an additional skip, hop, jump to the step.

p/s: Dad is still in hospital, albeit recovering.

Bad things come in 3's

Its been a hectic, long drawn past few weeks - lack of sleep, long nights, very stressful.

The reason ? Dad was involved in a bad accident and I rushed back to give support to Mum and help in any way possible. It was not even his freaking fault. It was a head-on collusion no doubt but due to the driver coming from the opposite loosing control on a notorious blind corner (and it was raining!), spinning and hitting the car coming from the other side (the car driven by Dad).

In a nutshell - Dad suffered/suffers a fractured skull, his right leg broken in 3 places.

• If one thinks about it, it might seem like he got off lightly if not for the fact that Dad has always had an irregular heartbeat.
• And the med's that he is on thins the blood.
• Which means until the docs need to take him off the meds to start the thicken his blood again so that surgery could be done on his leg
• Which means it adds more pressure on his heart as it now needs to work harder as the blood is getting thicker.

Its a Catch-22 situation innit?

• It took a good 10 days before the doc's even dared to take dad to the operation theatre.
• 10 days where his leg was in "freefall".
• 10 days where is thigh bone was so jarred that it was 1 cm apart
• 10 days where his shattered bone was so jagged that it was cutting into his muscle.
• 10 days where no pain-killers could be given due to his heart-condition
• 10 days where there could have been a possibility of catching an infection
• 10 days where he DID get water in the lungs

We needed a neuro-surgeon so Dad was rushed to Pantai Medical Centre in Melaka which is a good 2 hrs away from home. Hence my 2 weeks was spent at the hospital - and thats it. I was such a regular face that the hospital cafeteria workers knew my drink of choice; and the local convenience store kept my daily reads booked as newspapers sell like hot cakes.

It has been 3 weeks since the accident and thankfully Dad is on the road to recovery. He is still in rehab with daily visits to the physio. He has metal rods now going through his bones (his new name from me IronMan) but he is slow on the uptake and he is a shell of the man he was.

It has not been an easy few weeks.

I pity Mum who has to bear the brunt of the responsibility now. It will take a minimum of 6 months till Dad will be back on his feet - and his rehabilitation has been much slower than expected.

I think it is a fear in most children to get a phone call that relays the news of a parent's demise/accident etc. To watch from the sidelines and not being to do anything but to support and pray.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.