Day??? Czeching out Prague...

By now you know I'm not that smrt. Hehe. Anyway you may have noticed I can't count. I don't know what day Berlin was but I don't think it was day 5. Meh. 

So we're in Prague. We arrived late afternoon and went up to Hradčany or Prague Castle (that's CARstle) which was amazing. It rained a little while we were there just enough for me to pull out my raincoat and then take it off again. Pretty muggy here.

Speaking of muggy, there are so many warnings about pickpockets around here we walked around all watching each other and side stepping everyone. After the castle we walked down through old town and had dinner in a side street NOT on the main square. And we still got ripped off. After our nice meal, beers and shared plate of deep fried cheese (god I hope my trainer isn't reading this) we got the bill and they slugged us an extra 300 czech doubloons or whatever the heck they are - for sitting outside. Oh and everyone got ripped off exchanging money too. 

Then we went back to the bus and out to the hostel - again split rooms but the girls I'm in with now are pretty quiet. Today was a completely free day for us because we were meeting up with my grandparents for lunch and not doing the optional cruise. So we slept in a bit and then caught the metro into the centre of Prague. What an experience! Nothing in English, well hardly anything. Very cool. Had breakfast at what I'm sure is the Czech version of Gloria Jeans. Had a pecan danish and a not too bad coffee. Yeah - danish for breakfast. Just walked around until lunch, up to the pendulum on the hill. There used to be a statue of Stalin up there but they took it down...for some reason. Then we met up with the grandparents and they shouted us a really nice lunch. It was really good to see them, and funny that its easier to meet up in Prague than Australia. 

We caught the metro back to our hostel and had a pizza and..more beer for dinner. Now I'm about to go to bed because tomorrow we head off to Munich - for more beer. Apparently if we have enough time on the way we're stopping off at a concentration camp. Sounds like if we're well behaved they will take us there as a special treat.

- Jen

Day 5 - Berlin

The trip was fairly un-eventful. We arrived in Berlin about 5pm and went to the holocaust memorial (memorial to the murdered jews of europe) which was pretty amazing. The man and I also had a quick look through the Tiergarten which is a huge garden that used to be the hunting grounds of nobility in Berlin. We also walked around the Brandenburg gate a bit too. We got to the hostel and they split boys and girls up - not cool. I think I might have known that was going to happen, but one couple didn't know and they weren't too happy. I was a bit bummed about it. Anyway after we got settled in we went down for dinner. Super very average. I ate two bites and then went and had a shower and chilled out a bit. By then I was pretty cranky. After my shower I headed up to the bar and it was pretty cool, 7th storey rooftop bar and nice weather. I wasn't in a drinking mood so had one and then did some washing and headed to bed early-ish. Everyone else was at the bar planning to have a few quiet ones but it turned into a huge night. The man and Paul were out until 3am until the bar shut. 

After a very average breakfast we headed out to meet our tour guide, Jeff for our walking tour of Berlin. I was really looking forward to it and I wasn't disappointed. We met at the Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels forum and he gave us a quick overview of Berlin's history. First he showed us the old palace of the republic which was destroyed when the Communists came into power and rebuilt as a people's palace. It has now been destroyed again and when rebuilt will have the same facade as the original palace. We then headed over to 'museum island' which funnily enough is an island full of museums. The man was drooling just a little bit. We then walked down Unter Den Linden and saw Humboldt University, State Opera House and the site of the Nazi book burnings. There is a glassed underground exhibit visible from the ground with empty bookcases that hold 20,000 books - the number that were burned. We then walked pst the US, UK, Russian and French embassies and around the Brandenburg gate again and took photos of the Reichstag. We had a morning tea break and bought pretzels and my first decent coffee since I left Melbourne - both of which were awesome. We saw some more of the Berlin wall and the Nazi air ministry. There was a topography of terrors exhibit on the site of the old SS and Gestapo headquarters that we didn't get time to see. Some of the other people on our tour made it there and said it was very graphic and detailed. 

Our guide had lots of stories about people going over the wall, one guy got himself and his wife and kid over on a flying fox type thing. We walked over to Hitlers bunker, well the site of Hitlers bunker. There wasn't much there just a patch of dirt and a small sign. Jeff explained that because there are still neo-nazis the Germans don't want to make a song and dance about the bunker as an attraction in case it is treated as a memorial. Then we walked down to Checkpoint Charlie and heard some more stories. Like one guy rented a convertible low enough that it could be driven beneath the guard gates so he sped through in that. Another guy heard about it and though it sounded like a good idea so he went and rented one and did the same thing. Turns out it was exactly the same car. Went through the Checkpoint Charlie museum but it was very average. 

Afternoon was free time and I told the man we could go to one museum so we headed off to the Pergamom museum. On the way we stopped at a street market and bought some kind of delicious wurst in a crusty bread roll, proper german food boo-yeah! We both loved it. The museum was good although we were tiring fast. Saw the reconstructed Ishtar gate (one of the gates to the city of Babylon). We didn't get to fully appreciate the museum but it was pretty good anyway.

Weather so far has been brilliant, I was in shorts and t-shirt and for an eskimo like me thats pretty good. We went back to our hostel for a shower before dinner, well I did - the man went to bed for a bit. We met up again (separate rooms remember) and went to find some dinner and bumped into Paul and Kara who joined us. Had a 'furnace potato' with curry chicken which was pretty good. The man had a schnitzel the size of a large plate. 

After that we went to our 'eye spy' night. The first part was good we went to the Bernauer Strasse which was the area with the most number of tunnels dug, saw part of the death strip which was especially creepy at night. The actual 'spy' part was very lame. The first bar we went to we got clues to get to the next one. Except the clues were more like instructions. The first bar was a shisha bar - we didn't try it though. We were wrecked after that so left to go back to the hostel and of course got lost. Well semi-lost its a bit hard to get lost in Berlin with the massive tv tower. 

Bed, up early to head off to Prague. Another average brecky. Warm milk with very average cereal. 

After we left Berlin we went to Dresden for an hour or so which was nice. It was really beautiful but we didn't have time to look around too much. We went and got another wurst for lunch but not as good as the one we had in Berlin. I seem to have gotten over my fear of white bread - temporarily at least anyway. Followed it off with an ice-cream from possibly the rudest guy in Germany. 

In Prague now.

- Jen

Day 4 - Amsterdam via White Cliffs of Dover, Calais and Belgium

Left this morning from the Royal National Hotel at 6.45am. George kindly dropped us off. Our tour manager Meche (Mecca) gave us our intro talk on the way to Dover. Saw the white cliffs of Dover on the ferry to Calais. Met some American girls who are on our tour, they are from Sacramento. I heard a girl behind me on the bus mention Albury and it turns out we went to the same high school and she graduated the year after me.

Got to Amsterdam and checked into our dingy looking hotel. For the man and I it was actually pretty decent, big enough room, nice comfy double bed, plasma tv and an ensuite. Apparently everyone else's rooms were very average*. We didn't even know until we were raving about how surprisingly good our room was. After dinner at the hotel (also average) we headed out into town. Meche explained the difference between coffee shops and regular cafes. For those who don't know, in Amsterdam coffee shops sell special cakes.

We stopped off at the Grasshopper - a coffee shop and went in and had a look. The smell of pot was very strong. But unfamiliar to me. Some people bought some joints and cakes and stuff but you had to smoke them at the place. Then went for a walk through the red light district which was interesting to say the least. After that we went to a bar but I was wrecked, I could hardly keep my eyes open so when Meche and Rocket (our driver) said they were heading back we went too (along with most of the group). We caught a tram back and it was a terrifying trip, about double the speed of our trams and they don't slow down - they just stop.

Our comfy bed was great! Got up had average breckie and headed out to Edam for our relaxing bike ride around the canals. The bikes were crazy as was our hilarious dutch guide Claudia. She called the bikes granny bikes because of the massive handlebars. The bikes were back pedal brakes and she told us about some groups ending up in the canal. I could see that happening what with 40 people on these bikes and cars all over the place. After the ride we drove down to a cheese and clogs place where they had a demonstration about how gouda cheese and clogs were made. Bought some awesome cheese.

After we came back we were dropped off for a free afternoon in Amsterdam. We went and checked out Anne Frank's house which was cool to see. Lots of steep staircases. There was a long queue to get in and we got talking to Taryn from Albs and Erin & Mel who have all moved over to the UK and are doing this tour before settling down to find work in London. We were commenting on the number of crazy dutch people on bikes when a big bearded guy on a bike came roaring up singing at the top of his lungs in dutch. When he got to the queue everyone scattered and was trying to move out of his way but there were too many people so mid-song he screamed 'SHIT' and hit the brakes. He pedalled off singing again while everyone else just cacked themselves. Funny stuff.

After Anne Frank we messaged the man's friend Muz who was in Amsterdam at the moment as well. We knew that because he'd called us a few days before in a rather giggly state. So we met up with him which was great - its awesome seeing a familiar face! We went and had a beer and some chips and mayonnaise which is a choice food in Amsterdam. See that 'choice' - we have been hanging out with too many New Zealanders. Everything is 'choice' and 'hey'..and if they are making fun of themselves -'cuz'. Muz took us for a walk around to find another drinking spot. Basically you pick a laneway and end up in a pub. He took us through a museum on the way and also a little courtyard thing with all these little picture blocks that used to be used like an address to identify a house. They were pretty cool. Also amazing are the way houses lean! Some forward and back and sideways.

We ended up sinking witbiers in a square, good beer. By the time we looked at our watch we realised we had 12 minutes to get to the boat for our canal cruise - on the other side of the CBD. In a mad panic we left at a quick walk, power walk, slow trot, run and then sprint. We left Muz for the last part of our sprint. We arrived to see everyone sitting around and not even Meche had arrived yet. It took me a long time to get my breath back. The cruise was really good and we started hanging out with Kara and Paul from NZ. After we went to the Chinese Sea Palace for a banquet dinner which was pretty good. Or the Chin Sea Palace as the sign says. Its a floating Chinese style palace. After dinner we went to a bar with other tour groups. A weird bar where the bartenders didn't know how to make nice shots. The man bought sambuca shots. Bad the man! We then walked around the city for about two hours before getting a taxi back to the hotel.

The driver said he knew where our hotel was which was good, but then five minutes later he goes 'we go to Rotterdam yes' and we all shouted 'NO!' we freaked out and then the guy literally cackled and Paul worked out he was taking the piss. While we were stopped traffic I glanced down the road to see a very white male arse next to a taxi a bit further up the road. We were giggling at that until the guy turned around and we all stopped and go '...is that...is that Meche'. The guy then took off down the street and then came back after the run. When he got back to the taxi the man got out and yelled 'MECHE....MECHE!!!!' - who then froze like a deer in the headlights. His taxi took off and our driver started chasing it! He only just beat us back to the hotel where we gave him heaps.

Went to bed, woke up. Had very average brecky then jumped on the bus to Berlin. Meche got 'dick of the day' for his nudie run. People can nominate you for saying or doing stupid things. Means you have to wear a jesters hat all day. On another tour a girl got DOD because she didn't know Mozart was dead. Everyone thought that was hilarious. Then I heard a girl on our bus go 'oh is he!' Far out.


- Jen




* Very average in my posts means really..REALLY bad.

Day 3 - The Catch Up

Okay, so we were going to go to the Tower of London but after our breakfast we felt too exhausted so we decided just to spend the day chilling out with Bridge and Rell. Unfortuantely Bridge was too sick to go to work. So we went back and put a movie on (flushed away if you are interested) and then instantly Rell, the man and I all passed out.

I woke up to Bridge doing some very stealthy commando rolls on and off the air mattress so she wouldn't wake Rell up. While Bridge was reading our Contiki docs she kindly pointed out that we actually had to be there that night for a pre-departure meeting. George-ous came home from work early so he and Bridge could go and buy a new air mattress as their one had a bad habit of 'dis-inflating'. The man tagged along leaving Rell and I to have a D&M and a catch up.

After George came back he kindly drove us in for our meeting, it was pretty cool seeing even more of London, we saw Australia House etc. After we got back Bridge and Rell had cooked a three course meal for us which was awesome. Bed early ready for Contiki the next day....

- Jen

Day 2 - 'We are all worms, but I do believe I am a glow worm'

This morning we got up, in London. We walked down to Sainsburys past Clapham Common and bought some fruit. Awesome fruit! Australia is missing out on good fruit! I had a peach which was the nicest peach I've ever had. Blueberries are ₤1!!

The man being such a nice guy asked the checkout girl how she was going and she said 'not good, I have a boil under my arm'. A lovely first encounter with an English person.

We caught a double decker into Trafalgar Square and walked around for a bit, saw the changing of the horse guards. Then we wandered down to Buckingham Palace but it was a bit crowded and not all that interesting. We walked (lots of walking..) back through Parliament and went to the war cabinets and Churchhill Museum which was really interesting (hence the title of this post).

The war rooms have been left exactly as they were the day the war ended and are reinforced with 6ft thick steel and concrete. Really cool.

After that we were starving, actually I was wobbling I was so hungry and we stumbled across a van that sells pancakes which you hold in a styrofoam cone. They were unreal! We walked over to the London Eye and had a look, then crossed back over the river and walked down...back to the pancakes.

We decided to go and find Gordon Brown but didn't realise you can't actually walk down Downing Street, there were a few too many police officers with machine guns for us.

After that we headed back and ended up spending the night at the pub where we had some nice english food. I had a steak pie and mash which was really nice. Lots of nice beers too!! We asked George and Bridget if they would be in our bridal party which made them really happy - well there was a few tears from George...

The most amazing thing happened while we were having tea. Rell our friend who is also overseas rang Bridge and said she had just flown into Heathrow and ended up coming over. So we asked her and Ben if they would be in the bridal party too! So everyone is now very excited about the wedding...

Right now we are in a cafe having bacon and eggs, and beans and then the man and I are off to the Tower of London.

Until later

- Jen

Day 1 - Stuck in Bangkok with the Suduko King

So here we are. Overseas finally. You know whats great about overseas??...They have the internets!

We are in Bangkok for 6 hours, and we still have a good four of them left. But 300 baht buys you an hour on the internet. I don't know if that is a lot of money or not and frankly I don't really care. While I blog, the man is looking up The Age online, or pretending to. He is probably googling how to be a Suduko Sorcerer. Just before he did a whole suduko in about ten minutes. It was an incredibly long ten minutes because while he was doing it I had to listen to an arab guy snore on the seat next to me and it was driving me nuts.

Next stop is London and we arrive at six pm tonight (25/8).

I had this trip all planned out in my head to be a short trip. See we left at 11:30 pm last night (24/8) and were due to arrive in Bangkok at 6am. In Jen's head thats pretty much just six hours. Then we were going to chill here in the airport for six hours, then fly out from here at midday arriving at Heathrow at six pm. Just chunks of tiny six hour trips.

Since then the hostess on our flight kindly pointed that our trip from Melbourne to Bangkok was actually nine hours long. That was when I twigged that this wasn't looking so good. But it gets worse. Our trip from here to London is actually TWELVE hours long. TWELVE. HOURS. LONG.

Not six. I blame it on my poor maths skills and my powerful ability to block out anything that might make me less excited about this trip.

The food on the plane was average. Luckily we had dinner before we left because the main on our flight was fish balls. Literally BALLS of fish. But they were sitting in a very nice green curry which I had a poke at. Breakfast was inedible. A cheese omelette for the man with a extremely dodgy looking chicken snag. It looked like grey and yellow goo. I ordered the noodles which were also extremely unappetising. So we ate two grapes and some warm melon.

One other funny thing that happened was the man and I watching the 'olympians' walking around the airport. They were dressed in blue and white tracksuit outfits with numbers on the back so we figured they must be on their way home from Beijing. Until I went to the toilet and number 793 was going through the bin in the bathrooom. Cleaners...

That's about it for now. We're going to go and investigate the coffee situation here, there is a black canyon coffee around which wasn't too bad last time I was here.

Until next time I make it on here..

- Jen

Testing

Testing - linked to facebook

Tell me the story of how you ended up here - SOTM July 2008

Yes you do get a song of the month for July. No, we still don't have the internet yet.

But anyway the song is 'Hospital Beds' by the Cold War Kids. And yes, Jase put me onto it about a hundred years ago but I only recently decided I like it. Maybe some music sounds better when you can play it as loud as you like and also use our new mac airport express gadget (courtesy of Angus).

The clip is here, look out for the bit in the middle, it reminds me of 'I got soul but I'm not a soldier' in the killers 'all these things I've done'.

- Jen

It's soon to be invitation only...

I know, I know - its been awhile. We still do not have the internet - and I have no idea when we will get it again. Or a phone line for that matter. Telstra are causing all kind of problems.

But as a new security measure I've decided that jentopia will soon be invitation only. I've inadvertently sent out a few invites already because - in true Jentopia style I changed the blog to invitation only - then forgot to blog about it before hand.

I'm more than happy to add anyone to the list at any time. My email address is jen_unsworth@hotmail.com. The invitation only thing will start in a few weeks.

Oh! And a big thanks to Tony for taking on the task of song of the month - for last month (12.09 AM).

Also - if I change it to invitation only - what do people who try to access my blog see? I'd like to be able to put a thing up about requesting access - just don't know if Blogger supports that.

-Jen

Please hold, this blog will be updated by the next available operator

Its Tuesday here and eight days until we have to be completely out of this place, and eight days until we can move into the new place.

Still hoping for early access to the new place, otherwise we will be double moving (putting our stuff in storage until we can move in). Where we will go while we're in limbo we're not sure.

I will be internetless for awhile, maybe a few weeks depending on how kind Exetel want to be.

- Jen

When he hears the firebell chime...

After Daniel's post the other day about old ad's on youtube I started exploring what other old things might be on there.

Plenty of fireman sam, postman pat, the raggy dolls, noddy and thomas the tank engine. Although re-watching fireman sam I'm not so sure he IS the hero next door.

For starters, just watching the intro:

- He gets up at 8:50am. What kind of bludger does that?
- Then he does a dangerous stair slide - obviously one that helps him get ready in 'seven seconds flat'. My question is why Sam (being a firefighter) hasn't just put in a pole?
- Then we see him checking himself out in the mirror.
- Apparently he's always on the scene, but then we see him lounging against his truck reading the paper
- Then he steals the paperboys skateboard
- Then the italian lady brings his lunch to him in his firetruck - something he could have gone and gotten himself if he wasn't so busy looking at himself in the mirror and reading the paper.
- Then he JUST makes it to work on time.

Clearly a bad influence on children. I hope Postman Pat might be better, but the guy is riding around with his cat in a truck! A cat with a beard!



- Jen

It is not like riding a bike.

Yesterday and today I decided to give riding to work ago. Much to the man's dismay I might add. He is convinced that I will get hit by a car, or fall off...or get hit by a car and fall off.

He has no faith whatsoever in my bike riding abilities. Doesn't he know I spent most of my childhood careening around Albury (and a couple of times Wodonga) on bikes - with nary an injury that I can remember. Bar a chipped tooth. But that happened when I was learning to ride. So it doesn't count.

Pause to wait for parents to insert comments on horrific bike riding injuries I may have forgotten.

Anyway the bike ride went okay. 42 minutes on Thursday morning and 25 today. Trick - avoid that pesky roundabout at the top of Elizabeth St.

Things I didn't know: Flemington Rd is a hill (to the Children's Hospital). Grattan St is a hill. Rathdowne St is a hill. Taxi drivers are pricks to cyclists.

I wouldn't mind doing it everyday except it is REALLY tiring. Well, it would be either ride or go to the gym - probably not both. Unless I spend all day eating to keep up with it.
My legs are wrecked right now. But its nice to be able to be outside in the kind-of sort-of fresh air.

- Jen

He's a well respected man about town, doing the best things so conservatively

After a big weekend back in Albury we finally had the opportunity to meet up with Craig and Pauline - Albury's biggest party animals it seems. Surprisingly I wasn't too nervous about meeting people off the internets (must be all those Grand Final BBQs), and they are just as genuine as they come across online.

You can see Craig's blog here and Pauline's blog here.

Originally from Rhyl in North Wales (I think thats right) they moved out here in July last year and live in Wodonga. I think they're liking it too! They have two beautiful girls, who they kindly labelled for us, Lowri and Robyn.

I've never seen more enthusiastic people about Albury. AND this is coming from people who live in Wodonga! I honestly think they should be on a big billboard on the Hume Freeway promoting Albury. Someone get cracking on photoshop and arrange that!

Anyway we are really looking forward to seeing them down in Melbourne or hopefully heading back to Albury for some more brews with them. The man even socialised! but thats not unusual because as he keeps telling me he 'is too a people person'! I'll believe that when I see him at a GF bbq!

- Jen

Sitting on the front porch of that home, stomping our feet on the wooden boards

Probably have to worry about locking the door though.

Maybe I should explain the start of some of my posts more, most of them are song lyrics.

Sorry for the delay in posting but we've been really busy lately. Bought some stuff.. like this.

Yeah I know. It was an absolute bargain and one of those flukey things that happens. It was the auction the man and I attended last weekend that I mentioned. Place got passed in and we swooped in like the little magpies we are. Or is that swooped in like the magpie I am and the bomber he is? Anyway with a bit of luck settlement will be 1 May...

Its so fast and for you readers it will come as a shock. I know. It's okay. It was so flukey because we'd gotten back from tramping around Brunswick and realised the auction was on. So we literally ran from our place to get there. If we hadn't of we would have missed out.

So there you go, no longer potentially homeless, we won't have to impose ourselves on the future in-laws, and the fleabags have a small backyard to try and kill each other in. Also, shiny floorboards! And 4 bedrooms. Thats a bedroom for Matilda, one for the man, one for me and a spare. Schroddy can sleep in the shed.

- Jen

'And all you see is where else you could be, when you're at home

And out on the street are so many possibilities...'

I might have chopped the end of the lyrics off there, but house hunting is making us realise there is so much out there and selling this place has not been a bad decision.

We still don't have anywhere to live, but we have vague ideas and plans. And backup plans.

This morning we went to an auction for a 4 bedroom, brand new house in our suburb - and we bid on it. The place should have gone for well over the $700k mark but got passed in at $550k. The man was one of the first few bidders while I stood next to him with what felt like my heart in my mouth. Terrifying. But fun anyway. It is out of our price range at $550k but still such an incredible bargain - to be able to move in somewhere that doesn't need work would be great.

We have a good idea of where we want to live now, after spending all week on realestate.com.au and google maps. Almost literally too. If we weren't at work - we were on websites or looking at places. We spent the whole morning walking around OFI's and auctions in Brunswick. Thats right, using some real estate jargon there. Still haven't figured out what ROW means though. One place said it had a ROW out to the street. I made one of my jokes and asked the man if that meant the place had a moat. As usual the man looked at me in disgust. Mum would laugh at that. A moat would be awesome. The cats hate water.

One place we are looking at needs to be attacked by the paint brush and carpet monster. Or the floorboard monster! But other than that its pretty nice. We'll see. Don't know about putting in an offer before auction now, especially after this mornings effort.

I now fully appreciate the public transport nightmare some people have to endure, living where they do. We looked closely out past Maribyrnong but we just do not think its right that it should take anyone more than an hour to get to work (using PT). Even though we could build a very nice house (thats right - a house) out there.

Also, Subway finally coughed up our bikes. The ones we ate subway for a week for. Haven't gone for a ride yet but they look decent. Doubt we'll ever eat Subway again though. They got delivered to the man at work so we had to go and pick them up at the hospital. There we were (well..there the man was) lugging a bike in a box around a hospital. We got some weird looks from nurses, like we were torturing the sick with the things they couldn't do. It's not like we were riding the bikes. Plan is to ride to work, well for the man at least. If I was organised enough I should keep all my work clothes for the week at work - and then ride in and shower. We'd save over $200 a month just there!

Well, I'm off to see some of the comedy festival tonight so I'd better go and get ready.

- Jen

Pretend like its the weekend now, and we could pretend it all the time

Thank you to all my Happy Birthday well wishers. Wish wellers?

Anyway, I had a really nice 24th birthday, didn't go to work so I slept in until 7:30am when the future in-laws rang to wish me happy birthday. Then the man decided as he was late for work already and he was still snotty he'd stay home. So I got my present - a whiz bang heart rate monitor early. It does all kinds of cool things. Mostly I just stayed in bed for three hours looking at it. I burned a whole 200 calories doing that.

After that tough workout we went to the pancake parlour for breakfast where I had my favourite bavarian apple buckwheat pancakes with ice-cream. And a hot chocolate.

Then we went to see a movie and stupidly picked 'be kind, rewind' - worst movie ever. It is in negative stars, star debt. Next time I go to the movies they should give ME money. When will I learn about Jack Black movies. Mind you the only other two we had narrowed down were Drillbit Taylor which is probably awful (when will I learn about Owen Wilson) and Vantage Point, which could be good but probably isn't. I'm a movie pessimist.

This afternoon we went and checked out a place for rent, along with half of the western suburbs. There was at least twenty people there. It was like a really boring house party. We'll still apply and see what happens. Do we mention we own Super Furry Animals? We're not sure.

Thinking about building. But lack of public transport would kill us. I'd get so fit though, walking from somewhere like Caroline Springs. I could give up going to the gym and just walk to work.

Anyway I'm still feeling rotten, but definitely better. I'll take another day off but then have to be back on Wednesday because I'm going down to Gippsland for the day. Will be a big day out on the road.

After the lamb roast the man cooked me for dinner he brought me out a little chocolate mudcake for dessert. Very nice!!

See, look how sick I look. I should email this into work instead of getting a doctors certificate. All pale and sickly looking I am.

....Schroddy has eyes only for cake.

- Jen

I had 15 people telling me to move, I got moving on my mind

So circumstances as they are we will be renting. Its only just through the hours I've spent trawling through realestate.com.au that I realise how awful real estate ads are. I do mean hours too...

Phrases like 'affordable in todays market' or 'previously a takeaway shop' slap me in the face as I write down phone numbers and agents names. Some are in such a good location and are so ridiculously cheap that you just have to click on the ad to check it out. Oh yep there we go, charming place with mysterious stain on the wall..and carpet. Lack of roof makes this villa with surrounding swamp irresistible. Well I made that up, but I'm sure I could find it.

Our problem is that we have to be close to (within walking distance of) public transport, has to be able to take pets and has to be less than $350 per week. Preferably, no actually this is not negotiable - it cannot be a suburb ending in the word 'meadows'.

I've got a huge list now to work with, lots of okay places in Brunswick actually, and Coburg. Few in Phlegmington and Pascoe Vale. One in Essendon.

I do regret forgetting about shiny new things like bathrooms and kitchens but after the man and I had to sleep in the lounge room last night because someone was having a party and it kept us (..well me) up, I still think we're doing the right thing. It would also be really really cool to build a house someday.

Besides like one of my friends said rental places are nothing a bottle of bleach won't fix.

I have only been looking west though, not east Melbourne at all. Although I am looking into Coburg/Brunswick so I'm getting there. Sort of. At least I'm getting good with my suburbs. I'm still hanging out to try Crust pizza so maybe if we moved close to one of those..

I would be happy if we got a place where the cats could go outside, even if its only while we are home. They fight all the time now, and while it is fun to watch and even though they're just playing (there goes Schroddy hissing now) it would be nice for them to be able to run around outside. Schroddy hisses so much its like living with a particularly vocal viper.

Anyway I'm off to bed, I am pretty sure I am taking tomorrow (my birthday!) off because I feel rotten with this cold and last time I went to work sick they sent me home anyway. Of course I'm due for my flu shot next week.

- Jen

He ain't heavy he's my brother

Like I mentioned in my last post Jase got me the Juno soundtrack for my birthday, along with a book and a card which he posted to me. Something he went to all the trouble to do, even though now he's probably living off the mushrooms in his hair because he can't afford to eat.

I was so surprised that I cried, because its nice to come home after a rough day at work to find someone has been thinking about you.

The worst part is I felt awful because I didn't get him anything for his birthday! I have been thinking about it and Jase I still don't know what to get you. What do you get someone who just acquired a Macbook?

It was while I was back in Albury just before Easter that my Nan defined exactly what Jase and I's relationship is. We were talking about one of my sisters friends and how they aren't in a relationship but they spend a lot of time together and care about each other. Nan said 'you know, its like you and Jason, like a brother'.

And that's exactly what he is. For a brother I think he's exceptionally nice. We've only had one argument over the doing the dishes which for a brother I think is pretty good. If he was a girl he'd be a bridesmaid at my wedding - and I still haven't ruled out putting him in a dress.

Even if we hardly see each other anymore, and we keep missing each other online, and we can't talk on the phone because we're both hopeless at it, we're still best mates.

So Jase, thankyou for my birthday present. I hope you aren't living off the mushies in your hair for too long.

- Jen

We sure are cute for two ugly people - SOTM March 2008

Phew. Cutting it a bit fine this month, luckily Jase helped out by sending me the Juno soundtrack for my birthday (tomorrow).

The song is 'Anyone Else But You' by the Mouldy Peaches

See here for the clip.

Can't wait for this to come out on DVD...maybe its out already! Jentopia's movie of the year for sure...


- Jen

p.s. Apologies for the short post but I have the flu (blaming the man) and I feel awful. The couch calls. Also Mum the man is making me soup for dinner.

Wombo no!

When I first caught sight of this article in The Age (online) I assumed that some dirty person had been 'interfering' with a wombat. Apparently the New Zealand man's complaint was that the wombat had 'interfered' with him. See here for the article.

The thing that made me burst out laughing at work was the picture attached to the article.



Oh dear.

- Jen

Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity..

Not quite. But it was a lot of fun. We went back to Berrigan (well the farm near Berrigan) for Friday and Saturday. Nice to get away even if it was just for a night. Zeke, the man's nephew got the bike for his 9th birthday and he kindly let me have a go on it. Perfect size really. When I put my feet on the footrests my knees just about came up to my ears. First time I've ridden a motorbike too so it was very much a learning experience.

Don't worry I didn't go very fast because a. I didn't know how to get it out of 1st gear and b. when the man told me how to get it out of 1st I was too scared. Especially because the helmet wouldn't fit on my head.

Came back this afternoon after lunch when 'the talk' re-commenced. Stay or go, buy soon or rent? Rent close or far?

Anyway life is fun. I do think that a motorbike is just about the best present you could get a nine year old boy though. Zeke wouldn't let me bring it home though, I figured I could ride it to work and park it next to my desk. Hmmm

- Jen

Under a wing and a prayer

Travelling back to Berrigan on Good Friday we saw two accidents. Well we think we did. The first looked pretty minor with a trailer losing its load of kids bikes just near the Craigieburn turnoff on the Hume. The second we came across was near Shepparton and we had to actually drive under the rotor of this:

Which was 'parked' in the middle of the highway. Apologies for quality of picture but the man took it through the car windscreen. The bugless part. Don't know how serious it was but the air ambulance chopper was there as well as about three ambulances and of course police. Didn't actually SEE an accident though which was a bit weird. Trucks were banked up on both sides of the road because as well figured out later they couldn't fit under the chopper.

Hope everyone was okay though.

That was the most eventful part of the trip considering we spent the rest of the time talking about what we are going to do now that we are homeless and all.

- Jen

But we can start again, you can depend on it

As I mentioned in my last post, big changes are afoot in the Unsworth/Fankhauser household. Namely that we don't have a house. This afternoon we sold our apartment.

I know. We also only have a short amount of time before we are homeless and I have to start picking people on my blogroll to live with. You guys all like cats right?

Basically someone offered us a 'tidy sum' for the place and its enough to pay off the mortgage, the brand new car we bought last year and solve our body corporate issues. Oh and still have more than enough left over to build savings for our next property adventure.

We're not sure what that is right now. Maybe we'll build, maybe we'll just save like the devil and buy again. We don't know where or when. It will involve property though.

We don't have to worry any more about body corporate problems and VCAT, I can sleep at night without thundering hooves overhead or the Moonee Ponds Cinema Centre on the other side of our bedroom wall. We also don't have to worry about interest rates.

It wasn't an easy decision. Almost everyone we asked hinted we shouldn't sell while at the same time saying 'its up to you guys though'. There were so many tears, firstly about which decision to make and then after I'd said 'okay I think we should sell', which came out like 'blubbblubbokayblubbblubbsniffthinkweshouldblubbsell', because I felt so sad because as much as we don't like living in an apartment its our home. The home we brought the little kittens back to, that I finished the grad program in, that the man proposed to me in, that the housemate used to live in... alright well it is just a home. But still.

In the end we decided that we can make a profit, we'll be happier without being so stressed about money (already I feel better), and we're so young. I'm not even 24 for another thirteen days!

The cats are going to freak out. God help us when we have a backyard.

Haven't signed the contract of sale yet, still organising section 32s etc. But it seems to be easier than I expected*.

Right now though I can't think anymore about it because I'm too tired...

- Jen

* This is going to come back and bite me I can just tell.

It keeps me running

It's just amazing what the threat of 10 burpees can make me do. There are three of us running towards two water bottles in the sand. Obviously last one there gets the burpees. The guy I beat DID have to carry a water cooler bottle with sand in it though.

- Jen

Something fishy about this

This is my Nan's smoked cod which we have every Easter. This weekend just gone I went back to Albury and seeing as Mum and I won't be there for next weekend we had our Good Friday lunch a few days early.

Dad chose( as he does every year) not to join us. Something about his gag reflex. I did very well this year, no bones to Mum's four. Clearly I am the favourite.

It was just about breakfast for me as I went out on Saturday night and also had a late night on Thursday night so a sleep in was in order. Apparently a cinema complex has opened in our apartment building and shows action movies until the early hours of the morning. I could do a whole sarcastic post about how wonderful it is. I'm not sure what other times they show movies but it seems to me that they just show them when I go to bed. I wonder if they have popcorn?

Alright well thats about half a post just there.

I apologise for the lack of posting but I have been very busy and something had to get put on hold, so far its been blogging and exercising. Up until the end of March is just going to be flat out and if I have time later I'll blog about why.

-Jen

Ready or not, here comes the drop - you feel lucky when you know where you are

Another bout of interest rate rises has left the man and I wondering if owning property is all its cracked up to be. We're not as badly affected as some people as our loan is mostly fixed, its just that when our three years runs out (in a year or so) then we might be in real trouble.

There are so many variables though, I might have gotten a promotion, the man might be Australian of the Year or.. I might be Jen and the man, well he might be the man. Interest rates could go up or down and the Melbourne property market might - as our real estate agent so eloquently put it, 'shit itself'.

We don't know whether to hold on to what we have considering there is lots of development happening here (however this also includes new apartment blocks), sell (for a profit) and rent, sell and buy a cheaper block and build in the 'burbs (we could be Rae and Tony's neighbours) or we could sell and move out of Melbourne altogether. Are these turbulent times normal and we should just grin and bear it? It's newspaper articles like this that worry me.

We don't have a clue! Some joker mentioned interest rates go down as well you know. Frog poo I say. Ever since we got a mortgage they've been on the uppity up.

Anyway, suggestions are welcome!

- Jen

The world was on fire and no one could save me but you.

Today, 8 March 2008 was our friends Nicole and Rick's wedding. Yep friends of ours getting married. Sc-ary!

They walked down the aisle together which was just the sweetest thing, I almost cried but managed to hold it together. Richards (Nicole) and I have been talking for awhile how we're going to go with the crying thing. She was fine! Obviously its just me we have to worry about!

Anyway the wedding was beautiful, at a really nice chapel in Geelong. Reception was good too, the man was even amenable to bit of a dance. Think he gave up when we remembered I can't dance. Still it was nice.

Now I'm here blogging off too much bubbly before bed. Better to blog than go to bed with the spins.

Also, two posts in a row where I've been drinking...I need to blog more I think. Not drink less..
- Jen

It's biliousness as usual in my corner of the kitchen

Last night was my sisters 21st. Was the most fun we've had on a Saturday night in ages!

It was a nice intimate party in Ballarat and we knew most of my sisters friends except for the alcohol vultures. Also got to meet the new boyfriend who was obviously packing it. He lived though. For now.

Speeches were good and then the man and I had to light the sparklers on the cake. Doesn't sound dangerous. But try as I might I could not get the thing to light! I think it was Dad who pointed out I was trying to light the wrong end. In the midst of the howls of laughter I turned the sparkler around and grabbed hold of the other end. The end I'd just spent five minutes applying a flame to.

It. was. hot!

I got more laughter instead of sympathy though. Everythings harder when tequila is involved. There was lots of shots. Its funny enough doing shots with your mother but even Nan got talked into having one!

We went out after and found ourselves at some pub where we found some articles of clothing someone had left on the floor. Following the rule that if its on the floor its yours* we acquired some warmer garments for our stumble to the next pub. Oh and bouncers still check my ID. Unlike the man who barely gets looked at.

After too many watermelon and vodka slices the man and I headed home. We walked about a block too far past our motel before we realised nothing looked familiar but we found our way back eventually. This morning my sister regaled us with tales of her not quite voluntary removal from the pub. Think there was a tantrum involved.

She also really liked her present of diving with the sharks, which will be another fun weekend. We get to drop her in a tank of sharks and take pictures!!

Now the man and I are back home having a very gentle Sunday afternoon. No sudden movements and we should be okay.

Oh! And good news, we finally used the camera! Pictures are on facebook if anyone is interested.

- Jen

I heart pushups...

EarlyMorning
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

I signed up for the four week 'crunch and grunt' training I mentioned earlier this month. It started this morning at 7:45am down at South Melbourne beach and being punctuality pete I got there at 7:10am (time of photo).

Looks nice doesn't it? Well it was not nice.

It. was. freezing!

I grabbed a jumper on the way out the door and its lucky I did otherwise, well otherwise I would have been even colder!!

Once the others got there though and we did our warm up of running down the beach and back I started to feel warmer (funny that). After what seemed like kilometers of walking lunges, kilometers of walking lunges + carrying sand filled water cooler bottles, pushups, dragging sand filled bottles, shoulder pressing sand bottles and of course burpees....I was ready to go for a swim, well almost.

Got my 'I heart pushups' t-shirt as well. Awesome.

And no Mum and Dad I still do not know where the fitness thing came from. Must have skipped quite a few generations.

I didn't mention on the way there how much I enjoyed the tram trip (#1 tram to the end of the Sth Melbourne Beach line) it was great seeing another part of Melbourne.

Afterwards we went to the South Melbourne Market for coffee. I kept an eye out for Tony and Mr High Riser. Of course I'm not sure what Mr HR looks like so that was difficult. But finally I've been to the South Melbourne Market! And no I did not get a dim sim.

One of the other 'grunties' was kind enough to drop me back at Flinders St making it extremely easy for me to get home. Starting to feel pretty sore now but am blogging because there is doof doof music coming from someones apartment and I can't sleep. Only 33 minutes until I'm 'allowed' to go and complain.

- Jen

If I had eyes - SOTM February 2007

Not such a tough decision this month. I was always pretty sure that it would be a Jack Johnson song from his new album Sleep Through The Static. It was a close run thing between 'if I had eyes' and another song from the same album, 'go on' but the piano sound won out. If I had eyes takes a little bit to get into the 'good part' but its the number one song I'm listening to at the moment.

And that's why its Song of the Month....

Click here to see & hear it.

- Jen

Dear Cat, we would like to advise you....

That your vet quota for the [insert period we haven't decided on] has been reached. Further veterinary visits may involve serious discussions about your future as a pet in this household. Also, you are now suspected of being the Backpack Bandit. You should probably consider not scratching either Human 1 or Human 2 they make you swallow tablets twice a day for the next few days as Human 2 is not particularly impressed with you right now. Human 1 still loves you.

Yours sincerely,
Human 1 and Human 2
-------------------------
After a scare that had me in tears intermittently for about 36 hours, it turns out that Matilda is fine. The blood test results I mentioned came out with a higher level of creatine than normal and the vet wanted to do a urine test. So of course jenu being jenu stressed out completely and stupidly googled creatine in cats. I should have known better because googling medical related things never ever ends well. Ever.

For 36 hours I thought her kidneys were failing and we'd have to put her down. I may have overreacted slightly.

But when you look into a face like this......

Note the shaved part of her neck. The man (Human 2) has taken to calling her Shavox. She's now sporting a cute bandage on her paw too so she looks pretty tough.
So this morning I had to take her to the vet for the teeth cleaning and urine sample. The vet told me to put her in her cage first thing so she couldn't go to the toilet. Not cool. Of course as soon as I put her in the cage she peed in it which meant handing over a urine soaked cat at the vets. I kind of think if there is $780 involved the vet can't get upset about a stinky cat (smelly cat!). The urine had a very familiar smell about it too. But to be fair to Matilda I'm not about to compare their urine to find out who the Backpack Bandit is. So far our investigations into the matter have been fruitless.

Anyway all is well now and I think it best that we avoid the vet until after our overseas trip.

- Jen

We bite and scratch and scream all night..

This morning was the kittennats annual checkup at the vet. It was not a fun time.

The man and I agreed when we got the cats that there was a 'limit'. I'd never heard of such a thing but basically you pick an amount and if there is something wrong with the cat (or animal) and it costs over 'the amount' then, well....well it doesn't end all that well for the cat.

Its an awful awful thing to have to think about and this morning when I had to take two very annoyed cats to the vet I hoped they would be okay (the man was at work). Schroddy is about twice the size of Matilda even though they seem to eat the same and the scales at the vet confirmed that Schroddy is 1.1kg heavier. The rest must just be bigger fur or something. The vet was shocked they were from the same litter.

So it turns out Matilda's teeth need cleaning. I didn't realise that was something I was supposed to be looking out for and she's got infected gums. You learn something new everyday. Apparently the $60 cat food they eat isn't good enough and they need something else. Surprise surprise teeth cleaning isn't cheap. $360! So back into her cage goes Matilda and out comes a very angry Schroddy (complete with hisses) for her needles and worming and her teeth need cleaning too. Luckily they're not infected like Till's so the new food should fix that.

The vet suggests a blood test for Tilly seeing she is so tiny and I agree. Didn't realise it would involve shaving part of her. This is the kind of cat who doesn't like being held normally let alone being wormed, having needles and then having two vets try and pin her down to shave her. Her claws won out and the vet asked if I minded if they gassed her. Matilda has about twenty razor sharp claws that she has no qualms about using so I agreed. Schroddy and I sat in the waiting room and then the vet called me back in to talk about how much money I wanted to spend on the blood tests. Turns out there are all kinds of different tests. The most expensive was $180 but then the vet said I could get the $80 one and then 'upgrade' if it showed anything dodgy. So I did that and she totalled up everything the cats had been through that morning and without the teeth cleaning for Till it came to $260.

But even if the teeth cleaning was more than the 'amount' I couldn't have a pet put down because of TARTAR! Awful! But its still a big dent in our bank balance. Especially seeing Schrod will have to have hers done soon enough. I guess thats what happens when you get pets.

They seem to have calmed down now, Schroddy stormed out of her cage when I got home, and Matilda just strolled out (she was a bit subdued from the gas). Now they're doing as cats do and napping.

Have to go and pick the man up from work now. Will advise him he just spent today and yesterday working for the vet.

- Jen

Square eyes.

I realised I do have some small amount of geekiness left in me. Gus who is staying with us for the weekend mentioned he had a spare 17 inch LCD lying around in the boot of his car. If we wanted it...

That's itunes we have sitting up there, for easy access. The man hasn't seen it yet but he's heaps geekier than me now anyway. Still waiting for him to notice the dual monitor awesomeness.

- Jen

Maybe get a blister on your little finger, maybe get a blister on your thumb

I actually thought Dire Straights 'money for nothing' had more to do with microwaves for some reason. Thats why my post was supposed to be about but googling the lyrics, the song seems to be about delivery of home appliances not the appliances themselves.

Aaaanyway...

Our microwave is growling at us. I thought it had always made the noise when the man mentioned it to me. But lately when microwaving things I'm becoming more and more freaked out by the noise. I sure wouldn't be using it if I was pregnant but so far my third eye has been more help than hindrance. I actually suspect the microwave is uprising against its use to heat three day old McDonalds cheeseburgers not to mention melting vegemite and cheese onto cruskits. I for one don't blame it. I just wish it didn't growl at me. Doesn't it know that I'm also against these things? They stink - for one, and two well its just not normal is it? IS IT?

Neither is eating McNuggets in packs greater than 12 (oh yes they do sell them in 20 packs). But these are things that I've resigned myself to accepting. Grudgingly. I'm going to be mad if I have to donate my heart because someone's is too full of cheeseburger to pump any blood.

Maybe a new mentally stronger microwave is in order. I wonder what they run at these days. Ours is so small that it only just fits a dinner plate in it. I bought it when I moved out of home but I suspect that for a microwave that its not had a particularly long life. My argument currently is (while I sit here sipping my microwaved hot milo) is that we don't need a microwave. My other half, thats the three day old cheeseburger fiend) disagrees.

We'll see. It's turning into the vacuum thing (sp?). Once it gets too loud I'll stop using it completely.

- Jen

Checkout chick on a power trip

After I finished buying some fruit and vegies this morning at the market near our place I stopped by Coles to pick up the necessities for tonights 'mexican' dinner (tacos). I don't think I looked like a criminal although I did look like a bit of a bogan I suppose. Trackies, rugby jumper and cons. I think I looked like any other yuppie on a Saturday morning.

So anyway the checkout chick is scanning my cereal, nescafe blend 43, eggs, chocolate bavarian, mango and the mexican stuff I actually went in there for when she asks to see my bags. Fair enough so I willingly showed her the bacon and the fruit & vegies I'd got from the market.

THEN she wants to see a receipt. I found the receipt for the bacon in my purse but couldn't find the one for the vegies (I actually don't think they gave me one). THEN she told me that next time I had to have my receipt blah blah blah blah blah blah. I felt like saying "does this enormous nice FRESH looking lettuce and these nice ripe red tomatoes look like they come from your store"? Far out, if they had nicer produce in Coles I would have bought it there in the first place! But of course I didn't say anything just went red (I think) and didn't say a word to her.

If it wasn't for the fact Coles is literally across the road I'd shop at Safeway (a block away).

End Coles rant.....for now.
- Jen

There is change, there is pace - and nothing is in its place.

I've been having a hell of a time at work lately, both good and bad kinds. Hell as in busy but interesting and even fun sometimes. Then there is also the hell when you have to just grin and bear it and go with the flow, which I'm not particularly good at.

We found out we might be moving to a different office which would mean I'd get to work about 8 minutes quicker but its on the other side of the city from my gym and favourite coffee haunt. I don't like change and would prefer to stay where I am, with the nice view and sunshiny window desk.

But what can you do. The fun and interesting parts of work are keeping me where I am and I know that for an almost 24 yr old I'm doing pretty well. Also realising that as much as people think age affects older people at work, it also has some influence for younger people. Clients can see that I'm young but it was only when I got talking to one the other day that they were shocked about how young.

Everything changes everyday from my job security to the work I'm doing and its starting to get me down a bit. But like I said, the fun and interesting parts are keeping me in it.

I had lunch today with my two work mates and we worked out there were three generations sitting at the table. Knowing how old I am, you figure out how old the other two were. And we all work together. Probably the fun part in the 'fun and interesting'.

Anyway I came home early to go and see a movie with the man who I feel like I hardly see anymore. Except he's still at work playing with mousies. So I thought I'd organise our contents insurance and had a very informative and enjoyable conversation with some guy at AAMI who sold me $372 of insurance. Would have been $525 if we didn't have our car insurance with them. There must be some wriggle room in insurance premium quotes... the man probably would have got it for $100 cheaper but I'm not as smooth a talker and our other insurance had already expired. Naughty busy people we are.

- Jen
p.s. Also screw you Commonwealth Bank. When our fixed rate is up we're going elsewhere. Probably. Maybe.

Matilda Bay - Rooftop Red Lager

Tried a Matilda Bay Rooftop Red Lager (an MBRRL) this afternoon. Was really nice. You read about toffee and caramel flavours and wonder sometimes if you're eating icecream or drinking beer - and then you taste the beer and it tastes like...beer. But this was different! For a start it looks like toffee, and it definitely had some kind of toffee-ness going on.

I really enjoyed it and think it would be great sitting down with some good quality dark chocolate.

Yes, drinking on a Thursday - starting the weekend a tad early.

- Jen

Review - Cafe Fidama

After this mornings tough but awesome effort we jumped in a couple of cars and went over to Yarraville for breakfast. Cafe Fidama to be precise. Wasn't bad but not great either. I was still very much cooling down so didn't have a coffee, just the salsa eggs on english muffins. I enquired about the type of bread they had not wanting to get some hideously evil spongey white bread appearing on my plate. I cannot stand white bread, bleccch. The waitress told me they only had sourdough bread, but I think she got confused by the table's look of dismay (about no wholegrain) so she added 'its smothered in butter'. Funny. Service wasn't great either. Yarraville was really nice though, its been awhile since I've been there and I forgot about all the cool cafes.

I didn't hate it but I'm betting Yarraville has much better to offer.

- Jen

Cause the chase is all you know, and she stopped running months ago

Its no secret that I take my fitness pretty seriously. I've been going to the gym regularly since January 2007 (see here) and after quitting my Maribyrnong gym and going to the one in the building I work in, I'm more 'addicted'. I've been thinking lately that I go too much and that I should cut back. At the moment I'm going once a week day doing different classes like spin, boxing and circuit with a day of weights. But when I sat down and thought about it I didn't want to quit any of my classes. Its also a social thing now too and there is a whole bunch of us that are in the same classes and we've got a pretty good friendship thing happening. A group of us were talking about it the other day how you spend all day in an office and it feels good to do something else and socialise with people who have similar interests.

I've made friends with my friday morning trainer and yesterday he invited me to come to a bootcamp type of thing he runs with his partner on Saturday mornings. Its a four week course called 'crunch and grunt'.This was the last week of the program so they were doing fitness tests comparing their scores to when they started.
I was really nervous but went along to Fawkner park this morning at 7:45am. I was pleasantly surprised by four other 'grunties' who weren't at all scary looking and who were very easy to talk to. There were chin ups and push ups and dips and sit ups and then...there was the beep test.

I haven't done the beep test since high school and it was still as boring and evil as I remembered. I'd hoped to do better than I did, an 8 (2 shuttles), and I could have done more probably a 9 or a bit more. For some reason I just stopped! But anyway I looked it up when I got home and 8 is pretty good. Then there was push ups, squat jumps, hill running, pull ups, more running etc for another 40 minutes.

So I think I might sign up for the next Crunch session in a few weeks, or maybe the one after. We've got weddings and 21sts in March so a bit busy! Although 7.45am on a Saturday morning frees up the rest of the day!

I don't know where the fitness thing came from because you wouldn't call our family sporty at all. Its hard to explain why its fun because describing it to people makes it sound like hell, but fun it is. I don't have a hobby and I work a lot so having something to do that I enjoy outside of work, that also keeps me fit can't be a bad thing.

Never fear jentopia readers, I'm still hopelessly addicted to coffee and dark chocolate. Yay for easter and dark chocolate lindt bunnies!

- Jen

Juno - jenTopia movie of the year?

Well I do SOTM here at jenTopia why not MOTM. (Movie of the Month..). Nah I'm not going to do MOTM. We went to the movies today and it costs $19.50 for me to go. That's $15.50 for the ticket and $4.00 for dark chocolate bullets.

Yes, the bullets are a necessity.

Anyway so we went to see Juno. I'm a big fan of Michael Cera who plays George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development which I'm currently hooked on. Bonus points because it also has Jason Bateman in it (Michael Bluth in the show).

But the movie was really focused on Juno, the girl who Bleeker (Michael Cera) gets pregnant.

At the end I didn't know whether I was clucky or if we should double our contraception. I think I had a hard time deciding because I was crying slightly. It was such a good movie though, really funny. One of those movies where you walk out and go 'that was awesome'.

I highly, highly recommend it. Just for the record I wasn't the only one in the audience sniffling at the end either.

- Jen

In the nose-bleed section.

So the man and I were settling in to eat dinner tonight (roast lamb & vegies in case you cared) when we heard all this music. Really loud music. It sounded like it was coming from outside the building so we were standing on the balcony trying to work out where the rock concert in Moonee Ponds was.

Well, its not in Moonee Ponds, its in Flemington. We can hear the big day out from our balcony! Boo-yah!

Well, not really. I'm pretty sure I heard Rage Against the Machine. But I already knew they were playing and it just sounded like angry rock music. But it probably was them! SUCH a pity the foo fighters aren't playing...

Yeah, we're hip! We're cool!

Edit: Just checked the big day out timetable - it IS Rage against the machine, pretty sure they're playing that killing in the name of song now.... Cats look bewildered.

- Jen

We've got the creepiest bar that I've ever seen.

On Friday night a friend and I went on a hunt for a particular bar. I am quite sure it is the creepiest bar in Melbourne and it wasn't one you would just stumble upon. Unless you frequent creepy alleys.

The Croft Institute is one of those Melbourne bars I've read so much about. Yeah yeah so there are bars down alleys. You hear about these places and how they are 'like, so hard to find'. Which makes them cool of course. However this was no exaggeration because as we were traipsing around the back of kitchens in Chinatown I really thought we were going the wrong way and quite possibly might end up as the meat in someone's sweet and sour something. Then after taking an alley off another alley right down the end in the shadows I saw a small sign on the wall.

It was well after 5pm on a Friday and as I was musing to myself about how these places would get any business we walked in to an almost empty bar. It had filled up a little by the time we left but yeah, the quietest bar I've seen on a Friday night.

The place has to be seen (and found really) to be believed. There are seats at lab benches (complete with sinks), the toilets have hospital beds in them and are referred to as the 'department of female hygiene'. I think they are a cocktail bar really because they had about 5 different beers ranging from hahn light to TEDs to Heineken as their exotic beer.

I could be a beer snob though.

Had the bar been packed I would have thought the whole hospital/insane asylum theme was funky but with the lack of people it was just plain creepy.

I recommend you check it out - in pairs.

- Jen

p.s. See the website for directions (department of environmental whereabouts).

And I'll get along with you - SOTM January 2008

Sit me down, shut me up, I'll calm down....and I'll get along with you.

Edit: Erm..Jase might have been nice enough to mention I didn't actually say who got SOTM.

It's 'you only live once' by The Strokes. Happy?

I've been listening to this song for ages, its always got a lot of airplay on my ipod but it wasn't until Jase mentioned it in a blog post that I went 'oh, thats the lyrics' and since then I skip through every song on my ipod to get to it. It even finally edged out 'Australia' by the Shins.

So I don't know why I struggled so much to find SOTM when it was staring me in the face the whole time. Either way I did get some good music with some suggestions taking my fancy.

Anyway click here for SOTM. I love the build up to the chorus. And the nice little riffy bit all the way through.

One other song I'm getting hooked on is Know your onion - by The Shins. Have a listen its got nice little different 'bits' to it.

Until next month..

- Jen

No time for a smart title.

I cannot believe what happened to me on the train this afternoon. I didn't get a seat, as usual which is no big deal. I didn't have anything to hang onto either but I was leaning against the wall between carriages so it wasn't a problem. Until we came out of North Melbourne and the train suddenly swayed and I almost fell over. I had to lean onto the side of the train (above someone sitting down) to balance myself. Okay a little embarrasing but not my fault.

THEN as I righted myself I looked over and some smug goateed man was laughing at me.

Did I mention this SMUG goateed man had a SEAT!

THEN because I'd caught him laughing at me he had to keep grinning at me, like Manny does in Black Books when he gets caught poking his tongue out at his boss. Didn't fall for that though I just fixed him with my brand new 'how dare you laugh at me when you have a seat you prick' look. Invented right on the spot.

What is WRONG with people! I could have hurt myself or someone else!

- Jen
p.s. Song of the month decided and coming soon. 7 comments! A jentopia record surely..(quiet Daniels and Rens).

Time to put the ear goggles on....no!

I am struggling. Realising that song of the month would be a perfect blog post I sat down and decided to work out what I'm enjoying at the moment. Nothing! I've got no new music. I've spent a good hour scouring iTunes looking for new stuff and I've got squat.

Suggesteroonies please! Not only for SOTM but for my poor ipod who is going to self destruct if it has to play any more of the songs on it right now.

Let me make you an offer you can't refuse. If I don't get some feedback SOTM is going to be a Maroon 5 song.

Probably the reason why I don't have any new music is because I've gotten back into reading. Recently finished the godfather. You will note above I'm putting my new mafia talk to good use. I'm hoping it will come in handy for wedding related negotiations.

Eagerly awaiting your suggestions

- Jen
p.s. I'm not joking about Maroon 5.

Bloggers Block.

I know. I know I'd said I'd update because I figured by the time I had to I would have something blog worthy. But I don't. I've got zip.

I was feeling guilty until I read Tony's post this morning and he is 100% correct, I could have blogged every day last week but it would have been 'got up. went to work. came home'. Not very interesting.

We just haven't been doing very much! The man is at work today, at the moment he's working 7 days a week which I think is wearing him out (understandably). Its not even helping our holiday savings because we've just been slugged a ton of bills. Someone forgot your car has to get insured and registered every year. Just when I was moaning about that we got our renewal for our contents insurance and the next instalment of our rates.

Anyway I'll sit here for a little bit longer, and maybe the flood gates will open. Keep checking and I'll update one day.

- Jen
p.s. new blogger template, yay or nay? Still have some work to do on it.

Dear Santa,

Octan
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

All I wanted for Christmas when I was about 10 was a Lego Octan petrol station. I couldn't get over how he could completely ignore my request when he knew wanted it so badly. In FACT I think I remember being in Big W on Christmas Eve and being devastated when there were no more Lego Octan Petrol Stations and someone mentioned maybe that was because Santa had them all. Which created just a little bit of FALSE HOPE ...SANTA.

We went back to Berrigan on the weekend and the man brought home all of his childhood lego. Which is creating a bit of a mess as there are half built pieces of pirate ships and trucks littering the apartment. The cats are excited though because they're bored of gnawing on star wars lego.

Its only really hard to cope with because I know my lego is so much better than his. Really, pirate ships?

Anyway this afternoon when I came home he presented me with what he'd found in toys-r-us.

So there Santa.

- Jen
p.s. updates on the weekend I promise!

Snakes alive!

snakeDead
Originally uploaded by trojen_hoarse

The man's brother woke up with this in his BED yesterday.

You wish I was joking!!!

I actually mean his bed too. His bed, in his house! With him in it.

He's fine, but there was an incident with the snake. And Chris. And a kayak paddle. Unfortuantely the snake didn't make it.

1.3m!! Never staying at his house!!



One more pic here
- Jen

p.s Will hopefully get time to update in more detail later this week

The most dangerous key on the board

The delete key.

Was working on a document all day at work today, its 6pm and I'm just tidying up some files when I hit delete, and then without thinking pressed yes. Then I realised I'd just deleted something I'd spent literally 8 hours working on.

Then I remembered, our pc's don't have a recycle bin.

Frantically I phoned our IT service desk because surely the document had to be somewhere. No, not it was not because I only created it today. It wasn't in temporary files, it wasn't anywhere.

All I could do was shake my head. It was so late I didn't even have anyone to complain to. The IT guy was everso helpful when he told me I 'had to be careful when you delete stuff'.

Gee thanks.

- Jen

2007 - year in review

Thought I'd continue the year in review thing I did last year.

January

- Find out Rae and Tony are pregnant 'with a twist'.
- Complete final grad program assessment
- Schroddy pees on bed
- Nelly the cat put to sleep
- Finally remember to roll over my super
- Knee starts to hurt..
- The man accepted to do PhD at Melbourne Uni
- Joined a gym

February
- We get windows vista - vista bites! Nothing works!!!
- The man proposes!!
- Start to make engagement party plans

March
- We take a trip to Canberra..Questacon was good...
- Get MRI on knee, remember how much I hate loud noises
- Go to career fair at Swinburne, this time on the other side of the table
- Turn 23, as mum says '23 is a nothing birthday'.

April
- Pies beat Tigers 17.9.115 - 13.11.90
- Our engagement party!

May
- High heels harry upstairs starts to grate on my nerves
- Have a yucky job interview

June
- Climb Sugarloaf (Mt Piper)

July
- Rae & Tony's twins born!
- Attacked by cat, suspect Schroddy - too scratched on face to go to work
- The man's front tooth falls out
- Launch attack on crazy high heeled folks upstairs
- Decide to start buying music, no more free illegal downloads
- Read and finish Harry Potter over the weekend

August
- The man does his ankle
- 'Everyone' leaves for overseas

September
- Another job interview
- Pies knocked out of finals

October
- Craigieburn line opens, however everyone still knows I live on the 'broadie' line.
- Grand Final bbq
- We bought our backpacks, minty fresh and clean smelling (note this is important for later)
- Drive to Canberra for the weekend with a mate
- Saw Melb Victory play at telstra dome

November
- Make some wedding plans
- Made some new friends, friends who like wii!
- Kevin Rudd is our new PM
- ANOTHER interview

December
- It RAINS
- The man gets weekend job
- Schroddy pees in my backpack. Backpack not so minty fresh.
- Fankhauser Christmas in Mansfield
- Cousin's wife gives birth to baby boy. Am shocked and confused because I would of thought she had to be pregnant to do that. In which case someone would of told me.
- Have awesome NYE

Looking back I had a great year, last year. Funnily enough even with the ring on my finger I forgot about 'the proposal'. Definitely the best thing to happen to me (us!) all year. I'm saying us. But the man did get a lot of new star wars lego so you never know.

- Jen

Wake up in the morning with a head like what you done

Had an awesome NYE. My sister and two of her friends (Mick and Chels), plus Gus and his girlfriend Laura and of course the man had tickets to the James Squire brewhouse at Docklands. Place was pretty good, we'd booked upstairs and it was all you could eat with prawns and steaks that weren't half bad. You had to fight over desserts though. As soon as they would refill the dessert table a bunch of seagulls would descend and then struggle off with 3 chocolate mousses and a couple of cheesecakes apiece. Well not actual seagulls but older women who sounded an awful lot like seagulls when the dessert trolley was wheeled over.



Midnight came and went but there wasn't even a countdown and I had to track the man down for a kiss. He looked confused so they obviously need to make more of a fuss there at midnight. He was wearing a streamer that he'd poked eyes into and tied around his head so he looked like some kind of drunk ninja turtle (Raphael if you must know). Although....Michelangelo is the party dude.

The fireworks were going off outside (literally just out on the water) but they go for so long that halfway through you kind of lose interest. Make them shorter I say! Save some money too.

Speaking of money the man and I did not win the $30 million on Saturday in tattslotto which we were a bit surprised about. We did win $43.55 though so I was stoked, I mean its not $30 million but it paid for the lotto ticket and then some.

Anyway...back to new years. Shots were consumed with Shellmatching me with tequila so she's not as soft as I thought she was. Some banana head was doing jager bombs which is silly, and some other gooses were doing black sambuca which is plain crazy.

The staff shut the bar down for ten minutes at midnight and told everyone it was last drinks. I consulted my ticket and it said open 7pm until late. I started to get worried they'd stuffed us around because they seriously looked like they were shutting up shop so Shell went over there and demanded they tell her that it just wasn't so. Apparently they were cleaning and would re-open in a few minutes. PHEW. Don't actually think we had any more to drink after that anyway!

EDIT: Apparently we did have a lot more to drink after that.

Went back to ours, public transport was easy only fifteen minute wait for a train, very easy. We sat in a carriage that was full of 'Jonahs', many a 'puck you miss' and the word 'bro' was bandied about by us. Bandied about after we got off the train of course.

Anyway, I'm up early re-hydrating and everyone else looks pretty seedy lying around asleep with their mouths open. The man'scooking bacon and eggs for breakfast so the grease should help!

Seriously really great new years though!

- Jen

The kittenats - one year on

I won't say that it seems like yesterday that we brought them home because it doesn't. We went out and got them from a shelter at Wallan. They had two brothers who had been adopted the day before and aftet them it was just the mother left. Obviously we took them both because how could you leave one behind, and as it was someone had a hard enough time taking them away from their mother at all. Thankfully the cat lady rang us the next day and said someone had adopted the mother as well.




To make matters worse one of them hadn't had the microchip put in when they were being desexed so the cat lady put the chip in, while one of us held the poor little thing, without any anaesthetic. Could be why Schroddy hates me! I never thought about that. Anyway they mewed all the way home, and Matilda freaked us out as she kept climbing the cage with her mouth open like she was silently screaming. The photo says it all.



Anyway despite the few accidents they've had (and the accidentlies on purpose)they've been a real bundle of fun. Both of them are keen to get out onto the balcony so they can go out on the roof again. So far we have thwarted any escape attempts.

We're having a bbq new years day for the stragglers staying here after our NYE in the city so I expect they'll have a blast on the roof again as they will be bound to get out.

- Jen
EDIT: the man tells me I am wrong (as usual) it was Matilda who got stabbed and HE was holding her. And that's why Matilda doesn't like being picked up...

Day trippers

Day before yesterday the man and I headed off to the beach. Decided to go to Torquay except I forgot about that little thing called traffic and just thought we'd head off whenever. Could have walked faster through Geelong but we got there in the end.

I've been there once but couldn't remember where the surf beaches were so we ended up at a beach that had more waves than Williamstown beach...just. I did actually get dumped which was exciting but I think it was because I tripped over, not because of the knee high wave. You just don't feel like you're having fun at the beach until you have salt water and/or sand in your nose.

Afterwards we stopped in at a friends house in Lara. Wait, stop. That sounds very grown up. 'Stopping off at a friends house'. They're a couple too and just moved in to the house that they built on a bit of land out there. Nicest house ever! Huge too. I was asking the man if we could have one and he pointed out the commute (which my friend makes everyday)...it is a long way. But such a nice area...

But thats right, we were supposed to win $30 million last night. We bought the ticket, just haven't checked yet. Oh well I'll go and cash that in later. I guess then I could buy a helicopter and fly to work. Yep, that sounds like a plan. Of course having $30 million dollars probably means we can just about afford a house in Moonee Ponds.

Anyway, was a very nice day out. Next time our friends are going to show us to good little kid pee free beaches.

- Jen