I admire friends who have driven interstate here in this country. I wonder what it is like to go on a 8 hour road trip here for example, to drive up to the sunny state up north. The first thing on our mind would be whether our old car can take it! We would need to be fully prepared like getting a tire changer in our car boot and make sure the necessary tools are there. Hopefully we can do a long driving trip like this some day.

Frankly, I think we might do road trips across the Tasman sea first rather than locally here because the landscape in our neighbouring country is simply breathtaking. We have always talked about renting a campervan and drive the whole of the south island. That day shall happen but it is just a matter of time. Better if we could arrange for some family members to fly over and join us for the trip. Now, the first step is to save up for that dream road trip of ours.

Have you heard of Pinchme? If it interests you, Pinchme is a website where you can pinch a free sample. It was really easy for me to obtain samples in the first two weeks after it first launched. Not so now, because the number of members has multiplied and within seconds of new samples being released, they’re snapped all snapped and out of stock *LOL*

Nevertheless it is very nice to be able to have a go at getting some freebies and we’re not talking about the usual tiny little sachets or viles here, we’re talking either full sized samples or miniature samples in tubs, tubes, bottles, etc. I wonder if I could get any samples tomorrow (released on Tuesdays only but at staggered hours).

I do not follow the anticipation of rate cuts or increase as eagerly as I did a year or two back. Mainly because I don’t really have time to think about that as much. However, one can’t miss the news about rates speculations in the papers as it usually makes the major headlines anyway.

So the latest I read was that interest rates needs to be cut and it is only a matter of time. Good news for mortgage holders no doubt but I wonder how about those who keeps their money in fixed deposits? It will no longer be an attractive option for investment anymore.

Will people prefer to buy gold as a more secure investment instead? If we had invested in gold a decade ago, the returns would have been great by now. Well, not like we had the funds back then (and now) anyway. One thing for sure, I am definitely keeping all my gold jewelries and appreciate them so much more now than ever!

So it was the first day back to school. As usual, the transition back to school was effortless. I count my blessings. If anything, I wish the school holidays were longer so I could sleep in more, LOL. Yes easy for me to say because I have only one kid. Have I got two kids, the dynamics would be totally different. I probably would not even be able to find time to type this!

It is all good, being back to school that is. DD is very eager to see her friends again and getting back to routine. I think kids these days really love school. It’s awesome. And as for me, I guess I have that little bit more time to clean the house and tidy up the forever piling mess.

I love collecting costume jewelleries especially necklaces and bracelets eventhough they are mostly stacked away and out of sight, out of mind! Many still unworn – I will get to them someday. Come to think of it, I have not been wearing my rings for years now, especially my wedding one because it is too tight already!

The thought of getting new matching tungsten wedding bands for both me and hubby did cross my mind. It would be nice to get them for our wedding anniversary end of the year.

The reason we both stopped wearing our bands was because at that time, we were terribly busy with our then new home with lots of DIY works throughout the years and fiddling with our newborn back then. We could not be bothered with taking the rings off and putting them back on when we wash our hands, etc. But now we have no excuse not to wear our bands anymore since our newborn is now a school aged child and DIY work has become an occasional thing. So there I go, a reason to get ourselves something beautiful to put on!

I must admit, I love reading up on celebrity goss and other star bloggers especially the juicy part about how they look before and after surgeries. All of them look fantastic after! One thing that amazes me is that plastic surgery has become so common even amongst non celebrities! And the kind of surgeries available is pretty amazing. Mind blowing what some people chose to do.

I am not all for nor against plastic surgeries. Everyone is entitled to their own choices but like I said, most of them look very amazing post surgery. I love looking at their photos.

I think it is almost time that the cooler days will take over, since we are officially into the second month of Autumn in a few day’s time. I know it doesn’t actually get cold until May (based on previous years’ weather patterns) but it is not too early to get organized and be on the lookout for specials. I might need to buy lightweight fleece jackets for my growing darling daughter and possibly myself too.

This Autumn has been a bit too warm for my liking, it actually feels more like summer with temps at times hitting an average of 30C and beyond or in the high 20’s. Every year during Summer and Autumn, I couldn’t wait for Winter. But when Winter finally arrives, I couldn’t wait for warmer months. Fickle minded, I know. Anyway, I am kinda tired from the hot and humid weather now though I know for sure I am gonna regret saying this when I will find it difficult to get out of bed in the mornings due to the cold temps.

I spent the evening propagating three bunches of miniature Agapanthus from our garden bed. I spreaded them along the whole garden bed which was bare before (besides the three existing Agapanthus). They were a gift from my parents in law four years ago when they came to visit. I didn’t like the plants one bit because they looked like grass to me. Well, my opinion of that changed after seeing how drought tolerant they are. In that four years, they not only survived but thrived and multiplied! Believe me, I didn’t water them not even once for an entire year and they’re still thriving!

Nowadays I tend to look for plants that are drought tolerant and loves full sun as I am tired of having so many plants died over the years due to the sun, not to mention, money down the drain too. Next I would like to plant are succulents.

Fortunately not my guests but one of our next door neighbours occasionally have a party of some kind, more of a family affair I think because it usually involves lots of cooking at the backyard and chitter chatter till wee hours of the morning ie 2am – 3am! How inconsiderate! I mean they could at least have talked and laughed inside the house and in closed doors so that the noise is confined to within the home only.

But no, they had to make all the noises outside. Poor us, worse when we live in a single storey home and our bedrooms are all on ground level. We could hear them even with all our windows closed. At times like that, I would be desperate to surf online for trumpets for sale at wwbw in the hope of getting one and playing it out loud back to the noisy guests of the neighbours! Let them have a taste of their own medicine. Gosh I sound so evil.

Fortunately, noisy occasions like that only takes place twice a year at max. Like I said, it is not the neighbours but their guests.

Scored another freebie last week ie a 500ml bottle Heinz Tomato Ketchup courtesy of Coles’ pricing error. One the shelf was the yellow tag showing it on special for $1.89 but when I checked out, it scanned as $2.29. So I took my receipt and the ketchup to the information counter and they were more than happy to check the pricing for me.

It turned out that the special price tag was for last week’s promo and they have not removed it yet. However, as per their policy, if they make a pricing error (in this case the tag gave customers the wrong impression that the product is for that price on the tag), they refund the customer in full.

So I got back my $2.29 and the ketchup was mine to keep for free. For the umpteenth time, thanks Coles for yet another free product.  I treat it as a customer loyalty bonus.

Much to my dismay, my DH is not a DIY person but I think maybe he is trying his best to be one. Well, for once, he fixed the leaking tap in our ensuite last night. I know it is no biggie for other men, but to him it is a winner. He does not do big DIY stuff as it requires handling of wood, sawing, drilling, etc which is usually followed by dust. Why? It is because of his severe allergy. Having said that, he still braves his way to deal with dirt, cement, etc when need be.

However, I can see myself doing more DIY work than him, if only I know how. Give me some time and the right tools, I am more than willing to learn. Can you imagine me using vices and other tools like a pro? I guess not. We shall see, I have set my sight in painting chairs to white with roses painted on it. I am on the lookout for discarded wooden chairs around the neighbourhood. I will also need to learn reupholstering. Exciting.

I spent two hours cleaning two 80cm wide floor to ceiling venetian blinds in my bedroom, plus vacuum under the bed. It’s not very fun to have to clean each slat. Come to think of it, I think this is the first time in 7 years that I have cleaned these blinds thoroughly, shame on me, I know. Whereas, I have cleaned blinds in other bedrooms of the house but not my bedroom. Well, I am glad it’s done!

Now I have the ensuite and the bathroom vanity cupboards to organize as we took everything out last night when DH fixed our leaking taps. It is pretty amazing how many things came out of those vanities especially the one in our ensuite. Gosh, some things I have even forgotten about just cause it’s been tucked away. I am sure I will enjoy putting them back in and finding long lost items in the process LOL.

It is quite impossible to shield children from being exposed to all sorts of cigars these days. Billboards, magazines, internet, etc all carry adverts for cigars every now and then. How do you keep the little ones from being curious about this smoke that carries no benefit to health?

Whether it is commercial or handmade cigars, health wise, they are all a no-no in my dictionary. Interestingly, affluent people in the corporate world are often seen to like showing off the type of cigars they have, to business partners or clients.

Honestly, when someone smoked a cigar in my ex-boss’ office, I had to hold my breath when I had to go in to clear the room after they left. Oh how I do not miss that lingering one of a kind smell at all.

Would you believe it? It’s the third month of the year already! I’m kinda expecting it. In fact, this year shall pass swiftly for us. In a bit over a week, it will be Easter Hat parade at DD’s school, and then Easter Holidays thereafter. School holidays to follow and then what d’ya know, it’ll be Term 2 already! And, and … then the mid year sale will start everywhere which means that’s half the year gone! Oh no!

Truly this is how I feel as I creep closer to the big five O or Hawaii Five O as my friend would say it, haha!

Everything is modernised these days, including churches. For me, the memory of sitting on the pews at church each Sunday is quite nostalgic. Those were the days when I was in primary school. The old church setting was quite different to modern Pentecostal churches.

With modern churches now, you do not see the good old pews but instead you get nice padded comfy seats. Hundreds of them. With chairs, you could easily move them around. It is so easy to buy church chairs online and plus, you can even use these chairs for the home or at other premises. They look classy and of course comfy.

Personally, I would consider buying several of such chairs for my home, perhaps two in the living room and one for my bedroom. I know, church members might ask if I got those chairs from the church.