Sunday, February 27, 2011

Home.


{Me and my mum}












I delved deep into the archives and danced latin with the bride (we met over 10 years ago when we took latin dancing classes together) and even tried a spot of Greek dancing.

And... after multiple failed attempts at years of weddings... I, finally, caught the bouquet.


Now my task is just to sit and wait, right?

p.s. I may have looked a little desperate while catching it.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Going back.



Tomorrow I fly to my home city of Sydney, to stay with my family for two months, and return to the job I left behind when I followed Mr Right to Hong Kong.

I'm literally going back to my old life.

Two years ago, I moved to Hong Kong as a nervous little thing, peeking out from behind my boyfriend's shoulder and riddled with anxiety that I'd made the wrong decision.

I loved my job and was terrified I'd rocked the boat too far this time and that I'd be sunk.

How wrong I was. It wouldn't be the first time.

{What I used to do for work... hang out with guys like these}

While it took the better part of two years to detox from the hardship of leaving a fun job I had worked so hard to achieve, it took merely hours to realise I had made the right decision. I fell in love with Hong Kong overnight - she knew I was frightened and she pulled out the big guns and charmed me.

Now, a much-loved staff member at my old job is taking two months off work, and I have been invited back to cover her leave.

Is this not like falling back into bed with an ex for a moment in time? Even if you want to, you wonder what's the point?

Well the point is, there are many advantages to doing this... I get to help out my colleagues, I get to spend two months wrapped up in family (who knows how long I will be separated from them), I get to refresh my skills in a business I'd like to work in again one day, and I get to enjoy all the fun sides of the job I once had. For a blink in time.

Of course, I'm also very torn to leave Hong Kong... my life is here now; my home, my friends, my dogs, and most of all, my man. God's gift of webcam is much appreciated at the moment - thank heavens Hong Kong and Australia are in the same time zone.

So off I go... to sleep in a bed I slept in for countless years, to drive through the same roads I drove through for even more (have I forgotten how to drive?? It's been two years!), to spend wonderful time with family and friends without watching the clock like a hawk, and to wander the halls of my old workplace once again.

Roll out the red carpet baby, I'm stepping back into my old shoes, rocking the boat (yet again) and going home.

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

{Click here for my first ever blog post.}


Monday, February 21, 2011

Our weekend.





Saturday's laziness called for brunch down at our local Western-style cafe, followed by a loooong massage.

Several hours later I was clinking Mohitos with some of my closest friends here as a sort of a temporary "farwell" gathering as I'm about to leave this city for awhile... nervous! Will blog about that soon.

Much later that same evening (it might have been *cough* the next morning) we were tearing up the dance floor to one of my favourite cover bands. Too much fun.

And this is exactly why Sunday didn't involve too much effort - a walk with the dogs, tacos, popcorn in bed and American Idol.

Yes... that is all it takes for me to worry about being pulled over by the Fun Police.

How was your weekend?

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Horrified.




As a journalist myself, who is not brave enough to do what she does, I have immense respect for her.


Lara has refused to allow her looks to dominate her reputation and has continued to pursue what we all know is a dangerous job... an Egyptian journalist has already died covering these same events, at least 52 journalists have been attacked in Egypt already, and 44 journalists were killed and 145 imprisoned in 2010.

But what sort of impact does abuse and violence as brutal as this have on a person like Lara?

Will it convince her to turn away from conflict zones?
Will it fuel her anger and cause her to become even more determined?
Will she now question her safety in comparison to male journalists?

This video is Lara to a tee... smart, determined, a little frustrated and funny. She's awesome.

Wishing her strength and a speedy recovery.


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Puppy love.

Tuesday Model Muse... and stuff.











Speaking of love, I'm not feeling any of it for work this week... my plate is overloading and I've got long days to take me right through until the weekend; uni assignment due dates are looming; emails piling up: can't we just go back to Disney World? I mean, is the idea so outrageous?? Someone has to go on Space Mountain, it can't just go round and round by itself...

I am loving tweets, blogs and photos from NY Fashion Week... I was lucky to be invited to the Australian version every year when I worked as an entertainment reporter in Sydney and it had such a buzz... models, designers, make up artists, media, buyers, celebrities, seriously chic looking people blowing air kisses and toasting their own fabulousness. Vacuous but addictive.

Getting up early in the morning is killing me at the moment. Just awful. Horrendous.

Anything else you need to know? And how are you?


Monday, February 14, 2011

Friday, February 11, 2011

My new fashion obsession.







My current muse?

Marc Jacobs; incredible designer in his own right and Creative Director for Louis Vuitton.

Oh Marc, we love you.

It's all about the unfussed block colours, geometric femininity and slight undertones of aggression.

It's feisty and I like it.

That's why I love Marc all the more for giving us Marc by Marc Jacobs - one of the best diffusion lines in the business.

It's basically him, but cheaper. Still not cheap... but cheaper.

So, happy Monday Marc and all you fashionistas.








365 days.


Sometime in late 2009 I started this blog, Diary of a Girl Abroad.

It had a standard blogger template and no readers, followers, or any real 'pizazz' at all.

It was meant to document my move to Hong Kong for family and friends, so I wouldn't have to keep writing ten thousand emails, saying what I was "up to."

After a few posts, I was wondering if it was all worth it, when I received a tweet from a girl called Belinda (Mrs Kypo from Cupcakes, Frocks and Pink)... she said, "Love your blog!"

I had no idea how she even found me (still don't) amongst an abyss of endless wonderful blogs, but it inspired me to keep writing.

I honestly think if that tweet hadn't arrived I might have given up.

Thank you Belinda!


At first I wondered if I had the photographic chops to take an interesting(ish) shot each day for a whole year... but then decided it was too fun an idea to pass up.


365 days later - it's all over. Looking back at all the photos is not unlike poring over an old diary... the oldest photos feel like a lifetime ago already and it's wonderful to go through each one and remember what we did for a year.

Wow, I take a lot of holidays! :-)

And Mrs Kypo has a wonderful life with beautiful children (and hubby).

We are both truly blessed and Belinda has become a very close and important friend.

So now I'm stepping down and Belinda's continuing her project with a new partner for Year Two.

I know I'll be watching each day!

Miss you already Mrs Kypo and Sequins, Stilettos and Sparkles.

I heart you.

MWAH.

Thursday, February 10, 2011




Wednesday, February 9, 2011

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