Melbourne is extremely likeable. Except for the weather. I packed for summer; instead most days have been Brisbane winter. Been eating almost non-stop.

Landed straight into a family xmas gathering in Brissie, where aunt Rebekah made the best rendang in Queensland. Attended Sunday service the next morning. Got into Melbourne about 5pm, dropped off my bags and went to Roy’s aunt’s in Mt Waverly for xmas eve dinner. Stuffed my face before I went back to Lynn’s and crashed out.

The next day I went to uncle Tony’s in Toorak for xmas lunch. It was a crazy experience. I got to help out in the kitchen, imagine that! We had fresh tiger prawns with lemon and japanese mayonnaise dip for starters and a glass of Moet. Then cucumber and mint soup with prawn; it was so awesome. Didn’t think I’d like cucumber (I don’t even eat cucumber) but I did. It came with fresh bread with buerre, followed by ham on the bone with orange glaze, roast turkey with liver stuffing, roast pork, sauteed greens with sea salt and garlic cloves, roast potatoes and a really moist xmas pudding with thickened cream for dessert with fresh homemade shortbread and mince pies. Uncle Tony also makes a mean mango daiquiri. Met heaps of Melbourne foodies there, including a bunch of famous chefs. Speaking of chefs, I was reading Anthony Bourdain’s new book that Tiff loaned me, and Bourdain mentioned Raymond from Fenix. I met Raymond on my last trip! I’m so stoked, because me and Tiff were talking about the name-dropping in the book, and I can’t wait to tell her I met one of them in person!

Managed to catch Alcee and Alex on xmas eve then caught up again for drinks on xmas day at Gin Palace before heading off to Seven, which funnily had a Macedonian night. Poor girl, can’t believe she had chicken pox and wasn’t allowed to return home, LOL. I’ve never had chicken pox before. Went crazy shopping on Boxing Day with the girls with Lynn coming straight off her flight! They are hilarious. I bought 4 pairs of shoes and 2 bags. Unfortunately I still haven’t replaced my broken black bag. But there’s hope. The whole city is on sale. The girls are great company. We made Steve cook all of us roast for dinner and only left after 6 bottles of wine.

Shopped some more with Phuong today. Managed to buy a dress. Fell in love with a bag in Furla that I really wish I could afford. Wanted more shoes but I think I will have space issues when I pack to go back. Had really good jap rolls at Kenzen at GPO and for dinner I made cream peppercorn steak, incidently something uncle Tony taught me to make early last year. The meat here is soooooo fresh. FIllet cooked medium rare. Absolute heaven. Accompanied by a bottle of Moscato and strawberry fruche for dessert.

I swear, I am going to be much heavier when I get back. Going horse riding tomorrow, can’t wait! I haven’t been on a horse for years.

Thought I’d be asleep at this hour. I made the effort to free my time to at least catch up on some sleep, so that I’d get off the plane not looking like something the cat dragged home, but it seems partying through the night would’ve been a better idea. I am exhausted but my mind is unrest. I have that nagging feeling that I might have forgotten to do something important.

Got my nails done. M.A.C’s Senegal is the perfect, blood-dripping hue of red. These days I like bold. (Yes Dean, we spoke about this.)

Was really touched when Roy called earlier to make sure I had a place to bunk in Brisbane. You sweetheart, can’t wait to see you and Phuong again!

I’ve got a 2 am craving for sashimi, and no WoW for two weeks.

I refuse to shut down my MacBook. :(

Had our company x’mas dinner party last night. I must have been working so much that I am completely deluded, I work for a bunch of party animals, don’t know what made me think I would be able to leave early and join the girls at Mambo. We had tequila shots upon entry, and a few more before dinner started while waiting for late comers, and a few more during dinner. And then there were buckets of ice being poured on people, thrown around, loud singing (and yelling and laughing), and more drinking. I got drenched in whiskey, beer and champagne poured on my head.. I vaguely remember the flaming lambourghini, the beer sculling, and the three-in-a-row vodka shots, and the 5-second Chivas with Tze Khay. And the tequila. Ugh. New staff were terrified, interns were amused and the restaurant staff were not impressed at all. It’s amazing we’re not banned from the place. Thank God for Tiff who sent us happy drunks back.

Don’t know what I am doing in the office at 9. And I don’t think anyone remembers dinner.

What was your company party like?

Sooo.. much.. work.

Four.. more.. days.

Been listening to alot of Stacey Kent lately, thanks to Benji-boo. In the past month she’s taken up most of my iPod time along with Janet Seidel. I have given up on listening to the radio on the way to work.
(Note to self: time to digitize your Sinatra collection)

Ironically, today I came across a track I’ve never paid attention to before. I guess I’ll have to change my plan which was originally by Sinatra (I think), but Stacey Kent’s version is pretty sweet.

I need new music.

I have been listening to alot of rap and hip-hop also; The Herbaliser, Run DMC, Grandmaster Flash, Dilated Peoples, Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, Jurassic 5.. I loooove The Herbaliser. Jake Wherry is heavily influenced by jazz and James Brown.. just my kind of man. Am trying to find out who did the vocals for one of their tracks, The Blend. Her voice is seeeeeeriously sweet. And 8pt Agenda is rock solid.

Can someone get me their new Take London album for Christmas? Someone should bring them to KL for a live act, that would rock too.