Got a little emotional going back on the train from Wollongong back to Sydney. Funny how when you are going to another country to live for a few years and the place you are going to miss more is not where you live, but somewhere an hour and a half away.
I've never really mentioned why I've "suddenly" decided to move away elsewhere, but this has been on the cards for a while now. The first hint was the announcement at this year's Mardi Gras Party. (Almost) 10 years in Australia and its time to move on, both emotionally and physically. If I don't detach myself now, I will not be able to grow as a person.
I will miss some things.
- The beach.
- The weather.
- The freedom of independent living.
- Some friends.
Things i probably will not miss much.
- 16 hour days doing factory trials in Brisbane.
- People getting bashed up on our street almost every weekend.
- Expensive public transport.
I was really excited about going to the GONG last week. As much as I've made out on a few blog entries about the area being exclusive royalty, it really is a place for us to go when we feel like a holiday. Iron Chef and Beryl always makes us feel welcome, from the welcome champagne (with candied hibiscus flowers, no less) to the little touches like bags of treats on our pillows.
We had a great time, but the more I enjoyed myself, the more I started counting down the last days I have left here. Ok, before I start making this out to be like some kind of obituary, I am thankful for the time I've had here. And of course living in Australia has given me the greatest gift I have been blessed to receive. I don't think I have to spell it out for you, if you know me well, you'd know who I'm talking about.
Ok, I must really blog about the Wollongong trip now. Using photo aids.
Some people don't like reading too much, they like pictures. Not enough gray matter to process words.
The lovely day began with a welcome drink of champagne with hibiscus flowers, very spa/zen....that was of course the first in a series of many many drinks that lasted us the whole night. 
After the thirst quencher, there was a prize presentation to the current President of the Grandmaster Wong Stalkers Association for her hard work in maintaining the fan club at its maximum membership capacity of 6.
Then there was a nice home-cooked dinner of roast lamb with assorted roast vegetables (no photos here as food disappeared before we had a chance to take the photo). Then there was drinking. And more drinking. And further drinking.
The next day, we woke up to whistling birds and beautiful sunshine, then we realised it was all in our heads. Residual alcohol can have that kind of effect. It was actually cold, cloudy and windy. But we decided to challenge the weather and do something outdoors. What better way to experience the Australian lifestyle than to have a BBQ with a flapping nice tablecloth, flying cutlery, rolling tomato sauce, fraying kitchen towels and sharing our food with a family of seagulls.....
It was fantastic, I enjoyed it immensely, although I did have a Chinese Restaurant moment, with the "waiters" clearing my plates and cutlery even before I've finished my wonderful meal.
I'm a swinger! Under the big blue skies!
Delightful spread. 2 sausages mysteriously disappeared when we were ready to serve. Suspect some white creatures with a liking for chips devoured them at one go.
Ok I admit it. This is a posed picture. I've learnt not to jostle with a true blue Australian at the barbeque plate. The Asian is always going to lose out. But if I were to be doing fried rice here, the Australian will quietly stand back.
Its hard to smile when you have 80km/h winds slamming in your faces.
I know, I know, I have shaved off that silly looking moustache since then. First kept it as a form of rebellion at work, but have since realised it was making me look stupid. I looked like a sleazy young man and I wasn't getting the Justin Timberlake look I was going for. Matt was happy to see it go......
We then went out for dinner that night at a Chinese Restaurant at Shelly's Club. Nice food and rather affordable too, considering we had 5-6 dishes and 2 bottles of wine (yes more drinking...).
And yes, got to catch up with the Lumleys too, which is always fun and often interesting.
Great trip, thanks once again Chef and Beryl....
I just had a light bulb flash in my mind. Why don't we (Chef, Beryl, GMW [wow, sounds posh!] and Matt) set up a bed and breakfast somewhere in Perth? Just a thought.....
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