Do you wanna sleep with me?

This is one of my many careless woes stories. Heheh fooled ya didn't I with the post title!

It takes me really only about 15-20 mins journey on the train to the city. The whole process takes about half hour counting me walking to the station, waiting for the train OR letting a few train pass me by because I can’t bloody get in. Walking to my office.

Rinse and repeat twice a day on a week day.

During that 15-20mins, I kill time by either:

• Listening to music or if I forget my damn headphone
• Stare into space- outside not to someone’s face, they might think I fancy them
• Get some shut eye while trying not to drool or loop my head to someone shoulders
• Discreetly observe people

I can’t imagine if you had to commute over an hour just on the train.

And imagine if you didn’t get a seat from your station!

This morning, all 4 above mentioned and the funniest bit was last one.

This girl. Quite pretty, notice the big rock on her left hand, looks youngish, of some kind of ethnicity- Greek? Who knows

She obviously did not get enough sleep the night before because she was failing at staying awake.
She was bobbing a head quite viciously to the left, to the right, to the front and to the back.

I really thought her head was going to snap!

She does come out of her “coma” like state every so often, just to lop her head once again.

Oooo and you should see the girl’s look sitting on her right. She was pissed. Sleepy girl was squashing her. Only because sleepy boy on sleepy girl left’s was squashing sleepy girl (read the sentence slowly, I’m sure you’ll get it)

Pissed off girl was rolling her eyes, trying to move as far as she can from sleep girl. I think she was short of shoving sleepy girl away!

For pissed off girl sake, I did nearly fall into sleepy girl’s lap with my humongous bag when I got up and the train abruptly stopped. It was by accident okie. No intention to hurt anyone. I think I might have stepped on her toes!

Well till the next carless woes story!

"Wide Open Spaces" – Dixie Chicks

Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and a life of their own
A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Yes, I love The Dixie Chicks. I love their country music. And I love this particular song.

However it was today while listening to it, I really listen to the lyrics, and it bought a smile to my face and a small tear to my eye.

To find a dream and life of their own

Has it been nearly 4 year? 4 years ago, 25th of October 2005, 2 week before Raya. I left KL for Melbourne

A place in the clouds, a foundation of stone

Just to be with my man, and in turn also try out a career in Accounting.

Many precede and many will follow
A young girl's dream no longer hollow
It takes the shape of a place out west
But what it holds for her, she hasn't yet guessed

[Chorus:]
She needs wide open spaces
Room to make her big mistakes
She needs new faces
She knows the high stakes

Boy the mistakes I’ve made here! But it only makes me stronger. And yes I knew the high stakes that my relationship might not even last, but a girl gotta try.

And am I glad I did…

She traveled this road as a child
Wide eyed and grinning, she never tired
But now she won't be coming back with the rest
If these are life's lessons, she'll take this test

Hahaha wide eyed and grinning was definitely how I felt getting on that one way ticket to Melbourne.

[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the high stakes

As her folks drive away, her dad yells, "Check the oil!"
Mom stares out the window and says, "I'm leaving my girl"
She said, "It didn't seem like that long ago"
When she stood there and let her own folks know

Ahh this part is where I shed the tear because I know my mom was very very very crushed that I left. I know she still am. Now, retired, my brothers never at home. She gets lonely. I’m sad that she’s lonely.

[Repeat Chorus]
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes
She knows the highest stakes

I know the highest stakes.. I know what I was sacrificing. I know what I’m missing out.

And I need my wide open space…

23 is asking me about.. How I spent my stimulus package moooney

This is part of a mini series of 23 is asking me about.... Due to my lack of updating this said blog. 23 is what I fondly cally my favourite 2nd cousin-in-law.. she also happen to be the only girl 1st or 2nd cousin-in-law I have hehehe....)


If you are not currently working here in Australia, you will not be getting all giddy when an extra 900 Australia Dollars appeared in your bank account during the last few weeks.


Even in the anticipation of people waiting for their money, some fellow had all the time in his hands to create a website on how to blow you 900 bucks!
Heheh Check it’s description.





As always, I had my list of what shall I do/buy/see/go crazy. Discussions with my man how we can go halves on something big that the both of us can share.

And it came at such a great time. Between after the trip to Singapore till payday. Really kept me afloat. (for those who don’t know me, I do my budget monthly where I diligently allocate money to where it needs to be and keep quite a bare minimum to “spend” in the month, the rest, about 20-30% of my pay goes into my so called “high” interest online account)

However.. in the end, with about $200 going to various eating out, here and there, nothing too significant, I end up paying my CPA workshops and my credit cards.

Boooring kan…

So itulah cerita saya mengenai bagaimana saya menggunakan duit daripada government Australia.

Why I've been MIA...

As I mentioned before, it was because of so called preparing for exams and at the very same time (whyy whhhhy however no regrets) joined a running club that made me committed to meet up my group and trainer 4 times a week.

And in between I manage to squeeze, Jason Mraz concert, Comedy Festival shows and a trip to Singapore.

Wait that was just THAT week.

And now it’s work..

Oh dear, my eyes are bleeding analysing line after line, account after account of excel spreadsheets.

And all for what?

Fringe Benefit Tax

Say what?

For those in Malaysia (or anywhere else for that matter), here in Australia and in New Zealand, when you give an employee “benefits”, you, as the employer, have to pay taxes on that.

YUP MORE TAX.

So basically say you going for lunch or have coffee on the company account.

Fringe Benefit Tax (FBT for short mmkays)

So received tickets to theatre, shows, sport games.

FBT!

Car parking paid for.

FBT!

Basically anything that a benefit that does not comes under your taxable, assessable income, the EMPLOYER has to fork out the additional tax.

So imagine how back in Msia, the high flyers with their company cars, weekly luncheons, free holidays and accommodation.. imagine if each of those organisation have to pay tax on that!

At the highest bracket mind you. 46.5%

It’s not horror and such. There are a few exemptions but honestly that just covers the necessity like consumption of food and drinks at workplace, accommodation for employee having to live away from home while on project, certain medical but not anything excessive hence why in Aussieland you don’t get a see you doctor anytime card.

If anyone is reaaally interest to read up more on why I chose to do this (heheh not really by choice lah) check out the Australia Taxation Office (ATO) website.

Dateline is next week.. we are not going to make it.

So on top of that, there will be penalties and interest.

And we are still working on the amendment of 2007 and 2008 ones as well!

When will all this ennnnnnd?

Hehehe Kene Marah

It's seem I've actually have dedicated blog readers that want to read my every move, my every ranting and my every.. everyday life..

So when everytime that person click on a link into this blog, and see It's May Already of my last blog entry... Ooo naik meradang dier!

Siap kene maki hamun. Maybe that's why I've been coughing alot these days.

So this is my short blurt to say... hang on hang on.. stay loyal. I shall be updating soon.

till then...

It's May already???!!

Hahaha I really hope this won't be a normal occurrence. But believe me, It's been a mad mad month and I'm kinda glad I'm approaching serenity soon... or am i?

As per my post of exclaiming in surprise that APRIL is here... May came around!

But in short...

My exam is done and over.. It was yesterday.

I went to singapore and came back with great memories of fun, ben & jerry ice cream, pink dolphins, mates that I have missed so very much and 2 new shoes!

Jason Mraz was awesome. He sang all my fave song. Started with Rhapsody and ended with butterfly.. ahhhh

That same week just before leaving for Singapore I manage to catch the ever so hilarious Stephen K Amos and the not so funny Arj Barker. Will you believe I felt ASLEEP. Yes I did. Added that I was so tired that week, it wasn't funny!

My 8 K run and coincidental a very special day as well (Hint Hint, it's not ONLY Mother's Day) will be happening this Sunday. So far training has been great however I think my 45 mins for 8K is a distant dream...

My man will be joining together with me in that run. Hehehe see where he will fare albeitly he is fitter then me.. but endurance is another thing.

Work has been crazy but good crazy. Good crazy.

So yes my short update on me and till the next one.