I can't quite point out any single special significance to the first two weeks of being married, only because I think being married is special regardless of time. But since I've had the previous entry titled 'My first week as a journo', I was actually asked to write 'My first week as a wife'! =P

I feel it rather odd for people to be asking the question "How's married life?" looking at the circumstances that I've been in while having moved to Sydney for off and on the last two years now. I think that the big move, having a new career and starting a new life altogether has made "getting married" a small part of a bigger picture. But not insignificantly small, rather meaningfully minute. If you'd been following the events of my life here long enough, I'm sure you'll understand what I mean.

I wouldn't have married if I wasn't here. And I wouldn't be here if I wasn't married.

But if you want something less complicated, I'm lovin' it! ^_~

***
Blog ini dituju khas kepada Pak Muteaudio yang telah memintanya. Heheh... Mute tidak meminta saya menulis dalam Bahasa Malaysia, tetapi saya ingat ia mungkin idea bagus bagi saya melatih bahasa ni sekali-sekala.

Zona Marie's at 10:45 PM | braincells (0)

Yes, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia began blogging yesterday. Welcome Tun, to the world of free speech and global interactivity.

Zona Marie's at 10:42 PM | braincells (0)

I had a big week at work... Well, I'm having big month technically! And my editor can't believe how calm I am. That plus my desk is still super clean and non-lived in yet. Though, she was impressed by the cask of white wine on my desk. Which isn't mine! Yeah, like you're going to believe that. =P

A week and a half into work and I've managed to work on two magazine stories and a web story. So begins my real foray into journalism in this new home down under. I couldn't be more proud of myself when my colleague posted my web story as an exclusive today!

IF exclusive: Industry leaders gear up for Australia 2020
The film industry is approaching the 2020 Summit with great optimism. Attendees Hal McElroy, Robert Connolly & Geoffrey Atherden speak with Inside Film about what they are bringing to the table.

The wedding is in exactly two weeks, and I've still a lot to do on the detail front. At least all the big things are out of the way, and we're set! Friends and family will start pouring into Sydney from Thursday on. It's going to get exciting. I just told Lee, I think that if it weren't for starting this new job now, I think I would've been stressed and needlessly nervous as hell about getting married. Heeh...

Mrs Sheppard... Hmm, I can't wait. *^_^*

Zona Marie's at 8:44 PM | braincells (4)

I'm beginning to think that my new life revolves around Easter blessings. Lately, I'd been so caught up with trying to sort the wedding preparations out, look for full time work while working as many hours as I could with the casual translation job that I had. The emotional side of the wedding was also beginning to overwhelm me as I realised my dad might not be coming to Sydney for the wedding.

Thank God for all the things that has happened in the last one week, that's changed all these gloomy skies to bright blue! I had wonderful friends and even strangers respond to my one wish in such generosity in the whole week; on the evening of Holy Thursday, I received a call saying that I got the job of journalist for a film magazine; and my brother called me last night to say that my dad is coming for the wedding! *^_^*

I even look back to remember two years ago on Holy Thursday as well, when Lee and I made "first click". Then in the following Easter season, Lee proposed. Now we're getting married this year, in the fourth week of Easter... *^_^* There's no doubting God's behind all this for sure!

Happy Easter everyone!

Zona Marie's at 3:53 PM | braincells (1)

It can happen, and it did!

It's 5am here in Sydney, and I woke to the sound of a text message from my dad. The election results so far are exciting. I'm watching the results from Malaysiakini here. Tks to U-en ^_~

Congratulations to Jeff Ooi on his win!!

Zona Marie's at 4:58 AM | braincells (3)

So like, I'm getting stressed out as the wedding date looms. Having no money saved up for a wedding that's less than three months away is depressing as I'm just clicking numbers on the excel budget file. *sigh* Having a casual job that doesn't quite have enough work do to for a full week isn't enough, obviously. I'm starting to feel useless, honestly. Not that my time's been entirely wasted though...

Besides toying with DIY wedding ideas, I've finally got my online jewellery store set up at --
www.midnitelily.com/jewels
I really need your *purchasing* support and the spreading the word around. Thanks!

Zona Marie's at 1:28 AM | braincells (0)

I'm turning 29 this Saturday, while my blog turns 7!

I got a casual job doing (you'd never guess) transcription of Bahasa Malaysia speech for a company up in Chatswood. I'm working among other Malaysian students. tsk. Doesn't help that I look like one too. =P

Here's wishing Gong Xi Fatt Cai!! Happy Lunar New Year to all celebrating. And a blessed Lent season as Ash Wednesday begins today.

Zona Marie's at 1:48 PM | braincells (5)

One thing I love about how organized Australian cities are, enough for any first timer to get around, is that you can find how to get from point A to point B online. There's StreetDirectory.com.au that pin-points you to the exact location based on address. And there's 131500.info - for all Sydney public transportation - which tells you how to get to and from your destination via the addresses or landmarks.

So, I'm looking at 131500.info on how to get to an interview destination tomorrow which is in North Sydney across the harbour. I decided to choose to leave from East Balmain wharf to take the ferry across, and gave those details. It gave me four options. One of which made me laugh so hard...

It suggested me to walk to the wharf across the harbour that's only 1.4km away, I'd be able to arrive at my destination in over half an hour.

Gawd...

Zona Marie's thoughts at 8:24 PM | braincells (4)

Wishing everyone a very Merry & Blessed Christmas, with many blessings to come in 2008! This isn't a belated Christmas wish mind you, because Christmas is celebrated from Dec 25th until Epiphany on Jan 6th.

Yes, I'm finally back in Sydney - for good. And we're on our way getting prepped for the wedding - which we decided will be a very quiet and private affair. It's been quite a dizzying transition, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet that I've moved here for good. It's probably the holiday season doing that. We'll see what happens around when the New Year swings in.

Lee and I took a walk around the city on Boxing Day to look at the decorations. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much decked out this year save for a big tree up on Martin Place (photo above). Although we did find this one that shows how Sydney does things differently: instead of a Santa on a sleigh, here's Santa on a boat... In the air, and what is prolly the tallest tree in the city... Hahah... Both were up in the air on a crane at Rozelle Bay.

Zona Marie's thoughts at 4:37 PM | braincells (7)

The following video is an independent account of the events that happened at the 'Lawyers For Freedom Of Assembly Bersama Rakyat' march from Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman to Bar Council building on December 9th, 2007 from 0745 hours to 0900 hours.

What is going on with Malaysia, when even lawyers get arrested for "obstruction of traffic" during their march in conjunction with International Human Rights Day?

Continue reading "Lawyers, activists detained for illegal march" »

Zona Marie's thoughts at 5:35 AM | braincells (0)