CNY 2010

We really should take more photos together as a family. Here's one from CNY this year.

Moving Woes

Not liking this bit of moving at all. We're running into a whole string of random problems.

1. We didn't get the house in JKT that I adore, which means we have to house hunt again when we arrive in JKT and pray really hard that we'll be able to find something that we like within 60 days else then we'll have whole different set of problems.

2. In order for Cooper to enter JKT, he has to receive a rabis vaccine 30 days before he arrives in Indonesia. Except that for some warped reason the entire country of New Zealand has run out of the vaccine. Can you beat that? This is the epitomy of Murphy's Law.

3. Our two-year work visa in NZ expires in a couple of weeks' time. We're heading off to a two-week vacation to Vegas and LA this Sunday (yay!) but we might not be able to get back into the country after our trip from the US (boo.) No loss to me really except that Cooper will be feeling rather sorry for himself that no one came for him at the kennel!

Latest Update: House Hunting in JKT

I found a place in JKT that I really, really adore! We're now just waiting for the owner to come back from overseas in order for us to sign the lease but but but... we also found out that there's another interested party. Darn. I really want that house!

Selamat Pagi Jakarta!

It's funny how life works. Just when I was getting comfortable living in NZ, coming to accept how some things work there even though they still bug the hell out of me, we have to move.

It's definitely different here in Jakarta. It's 5am in the morning (I'm jet lagging and have been awake since 3.30am. My husband is of course happily snoring away. He can sleep anytime at anywhere. I envy that.) I look out of the window and all I see is this gray smog blanketing the entire city. I never knew how blue the skies are until NZ. When you take photos of the skies in NZ, it's like someone has already gone and photoshopped the photos because the colours are so intense. Here, everything looks washed out, the colours are slightly off kilter.

You know you're back in Asia when there are people to do everything for you. Step off the airplane, someone picks you up, someone else picks up your bag, escorts you to your car, loads the bags and then chauffeurs you to the hotel, checks you in. All without you lifting a pinkie. Some people might find it awesome but it makes me a little uncomfortable. It's almost as if we've stepped back in time and slavery was still acceptable.

So it's house hunting day today. I'm really looking forward to it. Can't wait to see what JKT has to offer!

First Of Many Lasts

Today is my last day of work in Morningstar. Sent out an email to my fund managers to inform them of the change and to introduce the new guy. Received lots of replies and well wishes so that made me feel a little warm and fuzzy inside. Having said that, I'm not sorry to leave. It was nothing like quitting my job at Bloomberg, where I had some really good times and I was leaving so many friends behind.

So it seems like it's really happening.

Jakarta, here we come!

Please Go Away...

I'm referring to my eczema. It's ugly and painful and oozy. Now I have ugly legs. Hate it hate it hate it! 

Flying Roach - 0. Me - 1.

So we've moved our bed into the den because we've sold half our furniture online and it's nice to have a fireplace in our bedroom.

The thing I didn't realise was that I was sharing my new bedroom with a flying roach! ARGGGHHHH! It's black, it's huge and it FLIES! Plus Stephen is travelling so it's just me versus evil flying roach. It finally croaked and died only after I chased it around and used half the spray bottle. For now, it's me - 1 and evil flying roach - 0. Yay me!

Going, Going, Gone!

Sold my Mini Cooper today. Sob. I'm going to miss my car! Sob.