#oh wow i have work at 8:30 tomorrow yey

[ktzart]

who are you fooling? your heart is bleeding

[chut-je-dors]

What’s your favourite Beatles album? And what do u think of all the boys post-beatles stuff?

oh god no don’t do this to me

currently my fav album is rubber soul, but it depends a lot. but rubber soul has been my fave for some time now - i love how it’s the transition point between their boy band image and the psychedelic era, and of course their song writing skills just shine on that album. (and ringo gets credit!!! yEY)

as for the post-beatles stuff, well, i love it. i’ve been especially been listening to ringo’s solo stuff lately, since i wasn’t that familiar with it aside from the few hits, and i gotta say that overall it’s a very pleasant experience. you can just put a ringo album on when you’re having a bad day and somehow.... after 30 minutes you don’t feel so bad :) currently my favourite songs of his are King of the Kingdom, Give It A Try, Gone Are The Days and No-No Song which is just pure gold. Overall my favourite album from him is probably Liverpool 8, but I can’t really say since my opinion might change tomorrow!

Paul’s solo stuff is terrific of course, which makes it difficult is that he’s got so many great albums that I really can’t choose a favourite. I’ve been listening to Off The Wall a lot in the past few months... Flowers In The Dirt might be my favourite overall. also Egypt Station has quickly become one of my favourite things. It’s amazing that Paul has managed to keep up such a level of quality in his songwriting over the years; even if his album might have been a flop back when it came out, in these days they are mostly pleasant to listen to, with little specific quirks in them that makes you wanna listen to them again and again.

For George, I usually go a few months without listening to a whole album of his (only his songs on my playlists) and then I listen to something like Cloud Nine (which is my favourite album of his) and go “WOW WHY DON’T I LISTEN TO HIM MORE HE’S SO UNDERRATE I S2G”. Each and every time. i swear,, there’s something about him that just, sort of makes you forget his pure talent whenever you aren’t hearing his songs. He has some weaker albums, but if we’re comparing to the usual level of songwriters and artists.... amazing stuff. I really love him! I love his funky phase, and of course we can’t forget the Traveling Wilburys where he did some of his best work! My lovely son

As for John, I find I can enjoy his albums as long as Yoko isn’t singing (sorry Yoko - I don’t hate her even though she definitely has her faults, but... that voice..................). Walls And Bridges is definitely my favourite from him. I don’t listen to John’s solo work as often as the others’ because I tend to get lost into his lyrics, and then I forget everything else that I’m doing at the time. I really need to sit down and deliberately listen to his songs. I think John has written some of the most beautiful songs (Love, Imagine, Jealous Guy) and I have a real soft spot for Double Fantasy because all of John’s songs on that album??? MAGNIFICENT. It also makes me really sad, because all that potential? All the creative energy that was coming back? So even though John might be my fav beatle, I listen to him the least.... but I can’t really hear his solo stuff without thinking what... happened, well, so. But well I think I’m gonna listen to Watching The Wheels on my deathbed because that song? my absolute favourite. Probably one of my favourite songs EVER.

[wanderbitesbybobbie]

SO THIS IS SYDNEY: Expat Stories - Life, Work, and School Abroad

SYDNEY DIARIES:

So basically, I am writing this post at 12:12 AM AEST because first, I can’t sleep. Second, I want a clear documentation (in writing) of how messed up my sleeping pattern is because of my current job and school schedule. But I am thankful for my current job. I really am. I love how chill the cafe is. I don’t mind waking up really early for about 2 to 3 times a week, and finishing early as well.  But, I am in the process of adjusting because I got used to being alive and awake at 1 in the morning. But now, I have to be asleep at around 7 or 8 so I can wake up and function at 3 in the morning. That’s kind of a drastic change for me. So surprise, surprise! My sleeping pattern is all over the place. Hahaha. Anyway, all I can do is just imagine myself one day, sipping on a cold glass of champagne, maybe in a 5-star resort somewhere, reading my previous blogs and telling myself, “Awwww… those were the days when I was slaving my butt out trying to gain all those experience.”

Here goes my random stories that have accumulated throughout the past week. IT’S OCTOBER ALREADY IN A FEW HOURS!!!! WHERE HAVE I BEEN? WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING? WHERE HAVE ALL THE DAYS GONE? I DIDN’T SEE THEM COMING BY! IT HAS BEEN SUPER FAST!

22 September 2018 AN UBER DRIVER GAVE ME A FREE RIDE TO WORK!!!

Today, I woke up at 3 AM as usual after a seemingly 4-5 hours of sleep. Of course it wasn’t enough for a 10-hour shift. I kept yawning like a lion the whole day. But anyway, I woke up at 3, prepared for work, and headed out. I was running late for some reason or maybe I was too slow in the bathroom, pondering about life while I was brushing my teeth. It added up about 7 mins on my usual routine. I started walking down the road as my workplace is merely a 20-minute walking distance from where I live. My earphones were plugged in with Dua Lipa playing. Suddenly, out of nowhere, this white Ford sedan pulled over at my side of the road. I wasn’t paying attention, it’s super early in the morning so I kept walking. Then, I noticed the lady driver signalling me to come to her. I pulled my earphones off and walked to her passenger side. I thought she was lost so I was preparing to make my brains work for directions. So the conversation went this way:

Uber Driver: Hi! Are you on your way to the train station? (with her passenger window down)

Me: Yeah. (Because… maybe, she doesn’t know where the train station is so I was pointing to that direction.) 

UD: I’m going that way. Do you want a free lift?

Me: (Thinking… Hmmm… Maybe it won’t hurt if I get a free ride. Besides, I’m almost late.) Oh, that would be awesome, thank you. I’m actually going near the station, near KFC, a little bit further down by the junction. 

She nodded, and opened the passenger door. So I got in her car.

UD: I saw you cross the road. I slowed down when I saw you and I was trying to call you, but you wouldn’t look back. I was thinking if I was gonna take you in. Then you started walking fast, and I said, omigosh she’s too petite to be walking this dark, alone on the streets. Yup. I’m taking her in. 

Me: Hahaha I’m fine. I’m like this every other day. 

UD: What? Walking alone on the street? Where are you going this early? I’m Michelle by the way. I’m an Uber driver. I just had a very wonderful night on the road, so I want to share the good vibes before I go home. 

Me: Wow. That’s good. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Michelle. I’m Barbara. I’m on my way to work. 

UD: Oh, KFC opens that early?

Me: Hahaha No. I’m a pastry chef. I work at the cafe in front of KFC. We open at 6:30. So I have to start doing the breads and muffins at 4. 

We drove for about 5 minutes and we were almost there. 

UD (whose name is Michelle): Wow. That’s very admirable. You’re doing good for humanity. I can’t even wake up early to make myself an egg for breakfast and you’re doing breakfast for the entire Bondi. Yup! I made the right decision of giving you a lift. I feel like I helped humanity too. (We both laughed.)

As we were about to approach my workplace, I said my heartfelt thanks. 

Me: This is my stop. Thank you so much. God bless you. 

UD: You too. You are a blessing. Have a good day ahead.

Me: You as well. Have a good day ahead. Thanks again. 

So I ended up being 5 minutes early than the head chef, and the shop was still closed. But, that’s ok. I would have been about 10 minutes late if she didn’t give me a ride. The day started well and ended well.

26 September 2018 I WAS GIVEN SATURDAY OFF!!! OH YEAAHHH!!!

Today is one of those days when I just had an anxiety attack two nights ago and I am still recovering from that blank feeling, but I got to force myself to function for work. I literally had to compose myself and drag myself to be a normal human being. So I did my usual breakfast routine. I made the brioche dough, popped it in a box for proofing, did the scones, baked some muffins, made some Cinnamon and Nutella Rolls, made donuts, made sourdough, made heaps of carrot cakes (got myself a scorching burn in the process), prepared some date balls for rolling, and all of a sudden… the head chef said to me… “I just confirmed your Monday.” My face lit. Then he followed up with “You don’t have to work on Saturday.” Whooootttt! Wait what? “This Saturday or next Saturday?” So my brain got a little bit excited. Man, that’s 4 days rest starting Friday! Whoa! “This coming Saturday.” He replied. OMG! What a bliss!!! So, I just realized… Honey, that’s the rest of your Spring break, because you won’t feel any break when you start with your hotel training. Hahaha. Enjoy!

29 September 2018 MY MOST EMBARRASSING DAY IN SYDNEY! FREE EVERYTHING! HOLIDAY INN AND SOFITEL WANTS YOU!

I woke up and started the day with a massive headache. I kept sneezing. The weather is as fickle as it could be. One day, it’s sunny, next day, it’s rainy and the temperature would drop from 23 to 11 in a snap. Anyway, Thursday is a school day for me, but not your average “school day” like Finance Tuesdays. I get to run as Front of House/F&B for lunch service at The Apprentice Restaurant (which my school owns and it’s being run by students including the chefs). I was wearing my uniform and this day marked my most embarrassing experience I’ve ever had in Sydney. So my F&B uniform is a black skirt, white blouse, and a coat, just like how you would see any other hoteliers. I was wearing black stockings and black shorts underneath my skirt. The sun was out, but I stopped for a bit to wear my coat as it wasn’t as warm as I expected it to be. I honestly don’t know how it happened. I crossed two intersections already. To my surprise, I looked down. I saw my skirt up my thighs, and my shorts saying hello to the world. I was like WTF!!!! I pulled my skirt down and casually walked really fast. I was super embarrassed I didn’t want to look sideways or even look back to see if someone was looking. Hahahaha. I literally have no idea how long it has been like that. I was pretty sure I pulled my skirt down before I left the house. Anyway, I received a free box of white chocolate macadamia cookies at the train station. They were campaigning for something, and I didn’t read it. I just took the cookies. Shame on me! Hahahaha. I started being conscious wearing that skirt. I kept on looking down my thighs the whole time!

As I arrived at The Apprentice, my teacher noticed I’ve got a bit of a flu. So he instructed me to make myself a cup of tea with a squeeze of lemon. Cool! Instant breakfast! Free tea from school plus free cookies from the train station. Not bad for a Thursday! I was supposed to be serving 7 people but my table of 4 did not arrive for their reservation, and 1 person from my table of 3 couldn’t make it so I ended up serving two people only and apparently one of them was the person I was looking for to talk about my hotel work placement. God is good! The moment he saw me, he said, “Hi Barbara. How’s it going?” I smiled at him and said, “Hi Tony. Holiday Inn just called me. I’ll be having a chat with them tomorrow at the hotel for the roster.” “Oh great. But the reason I want to have a chat with you is because Sofitel wants you as well. See, you have options. So tell me whatever you have in mind with your schedule, OK? Because I can easily talk to Sofitel and tell them if you’re interested as well.” I gave my best smile, quickly nodded, and said thanks. Wow! What did I do to deserve this kind of opportunity? Again, THANK YOU LORD. And thanks for the free food ALWAYS.

30 September 2018 FRI-YEY!!!! SPRING BREAK!!!

It’s the start of our Spring Break for this semester. Friday is the start of my 4-day break… out of the many breaks (hopefully, in the future… when I’m not as broke anymore. Hahaha). It’s one fine day. I went to Holiday Inn and confirmed my schedule. I went for a uniform fitting and attended a mini “briefing”. I have decided to push with Sofitel as well, but I’ll finish Holiday Inn first. I don’t know if I’m going the right direction for my career, but yes. I want to try both. I mean, I love being a pastry chef… but I also love the hospitality industry in general. Just the thought of being in a hotel everyday gives me that really fancy feeling. It’s a positive feeling, so my receptors say it’s a good one. Hahaha. I spent the rest of my Friday with my cousin. We pigged out, rode the most expensive Ferris Wheel ride I’ve ever had in my whole life (but the view of the entire Harbour was worth it), talked about life, our dreams, our plans for 2019. I don’t know, but I am really excited for what lies ahead.

2017 and 2018 might not be the best, but I have a feeling that 2019 would be a breakthrough. I’m claiming it. It’s a positive feeling again, and it’s good, right? 🙂

OK. I gotta get some shut-eyes. I plan to walk by the beach if the sun is out and weather is warm the moment I wake up. We’ll see. I am updating this from time to time actually. It’s just that there are days when I would start to write, but I would end up malfunctioning (if you know what I mean). That’s another story to tell. I hope I get some time to update this again soon! Thanks for reading my non-sense train of thoughts. 🙂

SO THIS IS SYDNEY: Expat Stories – Life, Work, and School Abroad was originally published on WanderBitesByBobbie