I think I've found my inspiration

I bought Luke Nguyen's new book this arvo "The Songs of Sapa- Stories and Recipes from Vietnam" and while reading only the first 3 chapters on the train home, I'm reminded of my family back in Vietnam and how much I really miss them. I know I'm always mentioning this but I cant help it. All of the imagery that is written and photographed in this book just brings back all these memories of the time I was with my relatives.

From my trip when I was 11 years old, I still remember thinking "wow, they eat a lot" well actually they didnt eat a lot, just frequently through out the day, I think I would have had about 4-5 meals a day and at night my cousins would take me to these small shop fronts that sold creme caramels and yoghurt. Bliss (as Jenn would say it).

I will always remember my aunt waking me up early in the morning every single day to accompany her to the markets where we would buy ingredients for that day's breakfast and lunch. Seeing all the freshly caught fish still flipping around in an inch of water kept in woven baskets, the smell of freshly made soya bean milk and the sweaty fat butcher woman who blended in with all the the pork that was hung around her. I did get jaded after a while, but I'm glad she kept making me go, it was quite an experience seeing all the fresh produce (even if I didnt pay much attention at the time).

I didnt realise until I started reading this book, how much food tied my family together, the only time they were together and civilised was during meals. It's inspired me to start learning how to cook traditional Viet food and I cant wait to start. My uncle is still here so I can let him try, he already loves the food I cook so far (which means a lot to me) I hope he'll be proud of me and the rest of my family in Vietnam too. It's been hard, going through with my choice of being a chef, because I know that everyone wants me to go to uni so I can have a career where I wear a suit, but it keeps me going when I know they support me anyways and I really dont want to dissapoint them.

Focus girl.

I've been so distracted lately, I cant believe I let myself slack off. It's the final term before I'm off to Industry placement for 6 months, and I've lost confidence in my cooking skills, I dont know if it's because of me, my lack of study or my chef (but I couldnt blame another). It's got to be me, I've found myself losing my thoughts, sleep and even my belongings just because of him...

I need to prioritise, college, work, then romance. there's no other way, but it's so hard...I told myself not to do this, not to lose my way and I've found myself there. My boss told me the other day after I told him I couldnt work an extra shift "you used to always want to work..." *slap* focus! Starting from this week, study study study, while working working working. My boss has given me a load of extra shifts this week, before the long weekend, which means I've had to skips some classes and make up some classes. No time to see him. Must focus.

But it's his birthday this week...and he wants to spend it with me, damn it...I've started planning for it, stop! focus! ... i'll be ok, I know I will, I always am, I will not allow myself to fail, EVER.

Schedual for the next few weeks.

• See Luke Nguyen (co-owner of Red Lantern) at Cabra this weekend
• See David Thompson, Peter Gordon, Luke Nguyen and Pichet Ong at the International Food Fest the following weekend (which I still need to buy tickets for, so expensive though, but so worth it)
• Attend the Night Noodle Market in a few weeks at Hyde Park.

I do wish I had my camera to capture the whole experience, but I dont, sucks. It's a full few weeks coming up, including doing assignments that are all due at the same time and working heaps more, it is almost peek season after all. and my spare time will probably be spent with that dorky guy I call my boyfriend...

Suck-tastic week.

There's me, trying to help my uncle undent my car door today.

Why is it when one thing goes wrong, EVERYTHING seems to go wrong? What a sucky week.

This week:

• Monday: I lose my camera
• then I realise my USB is in the case that my camera is in
• Wednesday: I'm denied entry in my lecture just because my pants werent school bought (what the frick?)
• I lose my name tag (my third one this year (that's $75 in total))
• Friday: I forget my theory book
• I catch the last train home after work, fall asleep (from lack of sleep for the past two days) and miss my stop. I pay $20 for a 5min taxi drive (I swear, why arent there night rides in that area???) oh and it's 1.30 in the morning!
• Saturday: I wake up late to take my sister to tutoring.
• My car wont start, and sister is even more late
• Sunday: Sister forgets that the back window is broken and rolls down the window, which wont roll back up!!
• Car wont start again, Sis is in the driver's seat, car starts, car is in REVERSE, the car rolls backwards, with the driver's door open, Car does not fit through gates, Car door is now screwed. (it makes no sense, if gears are in Reverse, the car shouldnt be able to start-someone hates me).

Frick, Frick FRICCCCK!!!
In other news: My uncle from Vietnam arrived this morning. Really happy.

So Much Love

It's suppose to read "Happy death BRIGADE" one of my TADO stickers, but watevs

I've got such great friends. I lost my digital camera on Monday arvo, and I've been kinda hopeful that it would be found by the end of Wednesday...but it didnt. As the day grew nearer to the end, I began to realise that I may have lost my camera for good. I'm so sad. I bring that thing everywhere with me and now that I'm without it, it's just plain wrong. I got pretty upset today and all my friends have been trying to find it for the past two days, they're so sweet like that. Trying to recall when and where they saw it last, if I had accidentally put it into their convention bag (that we all went to on Monday). But nothing, and yesterday they made a notice for me to post around the college. They are so amazing, I really appreciate everything that they're doing for me, and it was entirely my fault that my camera is lost yet they still want to help me find it. I feel so lucky to have such loving friends around me.

"well we all can't come and go by bubble!"

Jenn and I went to the opening of Wicked last night, and it was, well wicked!

We've been waiting for this moment since I bought the tix for Jenn's birthday two months back and what happens? We're late!!! Stupid city and the lack of parking. So we missed the intro, dratz. Though as soon as we were able to get in, it was just "wow", an our seats were great -I was so worried our seats being so far back, we wouldnt be able to see jack, but it was perfect! almost.

The whole show was aaamazing, the actors, the costumes, the lighting, the props. Just astonishing. Jenn was on the edge of her seat the whole time. I enjoyed every minute of the show, except for...when Bert Newton (he played The Wonderful Wizard of OZ) had his solo, he was absolutely awful! and the song went for so loooooooooong :(. I hate to say it, but Rob Mills was actually good *gasp*. The whole show was just great great great.

The musical was different to the novel, some of the story changed (as they do, and the musical was lighter than the novel) but despite my expectations, the musical was wonderful as it's own.

I bought a whole bunch of merch after the show, well tried, we were first in line, but couldnt decide what to get and when we did finally decided, the computers die and they're only accepting cash and we had none! so we had to get out of line and find an ATM, bleh when we came back they were about to close, lucky the girl remembered us. I bought a CD, the program, a keyring (for my sister) and the Grimmerie (a book about the American musical, the actors, the props, just everything into making the musical).

After that we had ice cream, dinner, then maccas (in that order) and got home at about 4am. so much fun, back to what Jenn and I used to do in the old days (staying out super late for no reason).

20...at last

I had a really wonderful birthday. and I'm finally 20! finally... So much love from my family and friends today, really over whelming.

My college friends bought me a new school bag, they're sick of seeing my doggy bag from high school. LoL, so sweet. Also Pipe baked me a *cough* delicious birthday cake for me (which was totally awesome of him to try).

After a long day of college, I finally got changed into my dress (for dinner with Jenn), all of my college friends were so amazed that I could be so girly (yeah so shocking), they all gave me that "aw, she's finally growing up" look, I was blushing so much. They were all taking photos like it was a moment that would never come again. LoL

I was dressing up to go to Mad Cow restaurant (picture above) with Jenn, it was a last minute decision and I had actually wanted to go to this restaurant about two years ago and had forgotten about it until a few days ago. I just love the decor, all bright and spring like (what I so love). The food was just yummerlicious and I had a surprise in store for me at the end. When it was time for dessert, the waiter brought out my desert with a candle in it, I was so surprised and had thought they were just being hospitable. But Jenn revealed that she had arranged the restaurant to put a candle in my dessert so that I had something to blow out to signify my birthday (plus she wanted the candle smell...heh LoL). I was completely shocked that she could pull the whole thing off (I was the one who had made the reservations for the restuarant, not her). It was so nice of her and it made my evening. She has been so busy lately and that she had the time to do something like that, means so much.

Jenn bought me a chef's knife for my birthday(really unexpected). It had "true friends stab you in the front" engraved on it, awesomeness!! I love it, and I cant wait to start using it. no doubt, that knife will stick with me throughout my cooking career.

I had a grand birthday this year and I'm so happy that I'm surrounded by so many people who love me and take care of me, it means so much that you dont understand, with all the things that has happened to me over these past 20 years, good, bad and the terribly ugly, I've made it through with the love of those around me. I'm stronger, I'm more confident and I'm a better person. I thank all of you.