The White Rabbit Trail

A week before my birthday, I received gift from 'White Rabbit committee' member no. 1



What was odd, was the enclosing card had a enigma message... follow the white rabbit???

I (and my mum) spent some time pondering this. Sure there was a white rabbit on the front cover of the rabbit, but it certainly doesn't look like it is going anywhere.

Sure enough, two weeks later, a white rabbit showed up at my letterbox.

and what does the white rabbit tell me to do?? Have ramen with Dan... well.... not often I have the pleasure of following instructions given by a white rabbit, when such opportunity present to oneself, what does one do?


Here's Dan, eating ramen, (p.s. thank you so much for agreeing to have this photo taken). and as so happens, he presented me with....


A lovely (and stylish) card written by all four members of the 'White Rabbit committee". There were the usual encouraging words such as repetition of the words 'old', 'wise' and 'wrinkles'. There were also very heart warming birthday wishes.

The White Rabbit Trail crosses 2 countries, 3 cities and exchanged hands with 4 people (5 including mine). that is no easy feat.


Thank you so much for all the people involved. It was mysterious, fun, thoughtful and frankly pure genius! I had so much fun guessing what was coming next. Thank you so much for these wonderful gifts, I feel grateful to have friends like you. :)

Birthday Photos

This year my birthday somewhat didn't go according to plan. Just as well my birthday plan consisted of bumming around, taking dad to meet Danny at Lloyds Elsemore so Danny can show my dad how to operate his motorbike. Then go to Vinnies for dinner with parents and Danny.

The plan was disrupted when Dad decided to strip down our wall the day before my birthday, so on my birthday he needed hire a trailer and dispose of the wall. Meanwhile we had to clear out the plants that has been growing for x number of years between the striped down wall and the retaining wall. So on the morning, I got all suited up in mum's work cloths, with a garden knife in one hand and started chopping down the plant. One embarrassing scream and two bugs on me later, uncle Dean who came to help Dad carrying the wall rescued mum and I suggesting we should hire equipment to get rid of the plants instead of doing it by hand (yay for uncle Dean). I then happily got placed on lunch duty and made lunch for everyone. Needless to say kitchen is a far happier place for me than garden would ever be.

Dinner went according to plan. We went to Vinnies on Jervois road which my colleague raved about few months earlier. I have to say, I was impressed. I've been to a couple of fine dining before but the service of Vinnies just brought it to a whole new level. Each plate that was served were explained in detail what the dish is. It just add a wow factor to the whole dining experience.

The entree came and went before I remember to take photos. I had scallops and crayfish with an amazing lobster bisque sauce.

then there's our main (notice my mum and i are wearing matching colours. I had venison that was cooked perfectly (medium rare) with things i can no longer remember. lol


then came the dessert platter. there as lavender creme brulee with a wonderful flavour of honey. a trio of ice cream, garden mint and chocolate chips, somethign i can't remember and buffalo yoghurt. then on the right corner is parfeit with meringue, and finished with chocolate fondant on the left.

then the restaurant gave me a special passionfruit marshmallow with a little candle on top for my birthday (how sweet). what a nice way to finish off the night.

A less geekly blog...

More precisely a photoblog!

of the cake I made when I went to Danny's house for dinner. Moist chocolate cake with mascopone cream with strawberry and pomegranate topping. :)

Renovation Final

This post is long overdue, as I keep telling ppl to come to my blog to check out my newly renovated house, when I actually haven't posted them up yet. :P Ooops my mistake. Anyway, enjoy the photos. :D

The front entrance

The living room

The dining room

The kitchen

Window side of kitchen

The family room

My bedroom

Emily's bedroom

Staircase

The guestroom

Dad's study

Master bedroom

Renovation Part 2

I haven't had access to my computer for a few days so I had forgotten which 'day' of the renovation these photos were taken, but I am sure it was last weekend when stage 1 of renovation is completed, and we were emptying out furnitures in stage 2 rooms into the newly completed stage 1 rooms. :)

Living room in it's serene green colour.

Extending to the kitchen, with new cupboard doors (not shown) and our new fridge.

Same green colour going all the way to the family room.

The hallway and all of the 3rd floor in its glorious modern grey.

Emily's room (my old room, which was also her old room... ok long story) is done in a pale pink.

And that's the same room when some the furnitures has been moved into it. I can assure you it's a lot more cramp now than it was whe the photo was taken. :P

And the next room is all emptied out for a make over. :)

There are many happy thing that I am super excited about in this renovation. Our guest room will no longer have seasame street wall paper and a bright blue curtain with ducks and farm houses. Our kitchen sink is going to be replaced with a bigger one! (try washing a pot that doesn't fit into the sink! it's a nightmare!!!). New carpets!!!! and no more plastery ceiling which from time to time falls down little pieces here and there.

Heheh more exciting updates when ... I get around to it. As things stands this shoudl all be completed by next weekend. YAY~~~

Renovation

Renovation Day 1

Renovation Day 7

Ceiling is done

Walls had 1 base coating

and 2nd layer plastering.

More update soon. :)

I love New Zealand

I love New Zealand! The way how any random photo is post card perfect!




ok... I will admit I used the 'painting' option in my phone for more artistic look to some of these photos.
But scenery after scenery, NZ is just too beautiful that it shows up so amazing in photos.. even if the photographer is crappy like me.

I love New Zealand... :)

Graduation, Finally

9th May 2008, I Lucy finally graduated, thus drawing an end to my academic life. I received my Massey graduation certificate a few days before my ceremony, which makes my graduation day a proper finale to my university life.

If I am totally honest, having deferred my graduation for a year makes me feel less excited about it all. Almost felt as if I was attending someone else's graduation. Most of the ppl who I studied with weren't there, but I am still grateful that ppl went in lengths to make it a special day for me. Like my mum convinced me that we should get a professional photos taken. Daddy who shouted us a family dinner afterwards. Emily who took half day off work so she can attend my graduation. Simon who had to rush from Downtown to Townhall to catch me before my ceremony, and many friends who couldn't be there with me, but had express their congradulations through calls/txts/emails. I really appreciate them all! Thank you so much. Then there is Danny who volunteeringly became my stuff carrier and camera man for the day, and trust me! he had a hard job. There were times where he had to juggle 2 huge cameras, 3 bags whilst taking photos (which he had to held using 2 hands).

So here's my round of applause to my darling camera man/luggage bag for the day.

The day started with a march, which due to the rain I was almost were not going to attend at the last minute. But Candy convinced me otherwise. Had a pleasant walk from Albert park to Queen street catching up with a few ppl. The rain hold out for most of the walk and only started to spit towards the end of the walk.

Candy and I at the front of Aotea centre.

Whilst dispersing at the end of the march, I had a little catch up session with few ppl from the "chemistry group".

Then it was almost time for brunch, but before that I made a desperate call to go to Hannahs and got a party feet for my poor feet that was already suffering in Emily's shoes.

I first made a visit to the BSc brunch at the marquee, and on the way there I saw Pam, who told me that the Chemistry brunch is at the Science Centre... make sense I just totally forgot to check the finer detail on my brunch invitation. But walked to the marquee regardless to pick up my grad bear (thanks Danny) (which according to the Food sci director when I was taking a photo with him, is the "most important thing") Anyway, from the walk to science centre, I bumped into 2 of my college mates whom I have not spoken to since well.. college. It was a pleasant surprise and great to see they are both doing well.

Gemma, me and Grant outside of the marquee.

Whilst outside Thomas building, I coincidently got a txt from Dan and said he'll catch up with me if I have time. So I promptly called him... and there he is. World knows how..er... camera phobic (ok maybe that's an exaggeration) Dan is, but he took a photo with me anyway.

But Dan wouldn't be Dan without... while.. I think the photo speaks for itself.

A big disappointment of the day I guess was when walking into science centre and seeing... all the free food I been dreaming about is all GONE!!!! except for 4 tiny pieces of carrot cake. I crawl my way to devour 2 pieces of carrot cake, I was damn starving by then. I was hoping to see more of my classmates at the chemistry brunch, but to my disappointment, I didn't see ANY! Had a chat with my lecturers non-the-less and Sajith who was my ex-colleague/ex-demonstrator. Then, it was on the run to meet my family and get my photos taken at the Townhall.

Again, thanks to Simon for walking all this way to see me (and the flower which..... that was probabily the last I saw of it :P), Emily for taking the day off, and Danny whom finally had a chance to get a tiny break from the camera and all the stuff I was carrying.

The ceremony was.... probably what I expected. I have been in 2 ceremonies, and was fully aware of the long list of names to be called, and sore hands from all the clapping. But at least this time, I get to be applauded to, if only for a few second. I had a huge fear of tripping, or doing somethign embarrasing on stage, but I am glad to say it didn't happen. YAY~~~

After the ceremony, my day was drawing to an end except for one last mission. Take photos with Tina!!

and here it is! her parenst got her a huge spongebob! isn't that sweet. By then the weather had turned for worse, at least I was glad I could wear my trencher, which turned out to be quite water-proof.

That pretty much concluded my graduation. It ended with a very nice family meal, several more camera shots and...

What's more important in a special occasion like this, than spending quality time with the family.