Busy Week

It's been an incredibly busy week chez Zanna but will say that at the end of it I felt I had managed to achieve lots. Work has been just so busy - lots of project son the go, several VIPs visiting plus my assignment for my Dip Bus was almost due. I haven't really enjoyed this unit - the presenter for the workshop wasn't very inspiring, the subject Continuous Improvement is OK but for our organisation because we use Six Sigma and Lean (which won't mean anything to you unless your organisation happens to use these business tools) the focus of the unit is these two business tools - which happen to be brilliant if you're actually involved in the process side of things - like making aluminium - but harder to get your head round when you're involved in service and support! I normally come home after the three day workshop and do the bulk of my assignment so that by the time the coaching day comes up - about half way through the 6 weeks we given to do the assignment - I just take on board the advice from our facilitator and tweak it all a bit and it's ready to hand in. Of course this time we had the 3 day workshop then the very next day we took off for Vietnam so by the time got back from there it was coaching day and I hadn't even looked at it, then I was sick for a couple of days and work was full on and I was starting to feel very negative about the whole thing. However this past week I had a couple of sessions with the team who are helping me with my project and also a couple of meetings with my boss (who happens to be a Six Sigma Black Belt (a guru) so I got lots of direction and assistance from him and the net result was that I wound up my assignment on Friday afternoon at work - meaning I didn't have to spend all weekend finishing it off. Phew - lovely feeling. I also had my annual work performance assessment this week - the first with my new boss - it was really good and he only had good things to say about me (in fact most of them were actually excellent) so that always spurs you on when the going's getting a bit tough. Friday night we went to a Cheese and Wine night with some of the team Bloss works with - lots of fun. I'm trying to keep off alcohol as much as possible so I opted to drive so only had tiny sips during the tasting and two half glasses during the rest of the evening. The photo below shows Jess who raided the hostess's hat collection and I - we were all trying on hats - I adore hats!

Saturday morning was the final day of footy for Josh so we went along to watch him play. Curtis was in a foul mood but I managed to catch one pic of him looking reasonable happy

Below we have Josh intent on the game from the bench - the entire team take it in turns to spend five minutes or so off the field

His mum had said to him to make sure when he was presented with his trophy that he turned and looked at her and smiled so she could get a photo - so like the good guy he is - he did!

No 2 son is back - he got here last Sunday afternoon - very sick - think (in fact know as he freely admits it) he'd been burning the candle at both ends for the past 3 months and it had all caught up on him - end result a visit to the doctor and a diagnosis of bronchitis. He's coming good now and he and No 1 son have gone to Melbourne this weekend to their step brother's wedding. Be nice for the two of them to spend time on their own and also to catch up with their Dad. He also has a girlfriend in Brazil - first serious sounding relationship he's had in years - no shortage of female company but nothing beyond a couple of nights out. This girl looks and sounds delightful and of course this means that he's trying to source more work in Brazil but the commissioning job he had in mind for October has fallen through so he's having to explore other avenues and countries which might mean that in the short term he'll get Luana (gorgeous name) to come here for a couple of weeks. Her mother is Brazilian and father English so she's bilingual and has travelled around the world a fair bit with her father's work - went to an English speaking school in Portugal and spent two years in Miami. She's just finished a business degree at Uni and is looking forward to using her qualification - she's been working on this project for the past couple of years (the project Clive was working on) as a bilingual secretary to see her through uni but she agreed she'd stay to the end of the project which is running way behind schedule so she's 'over it' now and can't wait to start looking for more challenging work. So I'm really happy for Clive - and it looks like Brazil might come rattling up the list of places we want to visit!!

Health and exercise - well like I said I've been keeping away from the alcohol all week - had a couple on Friday night as I said and another couple last night but will stop again now. Last week the scales stayed the same but given the birthday weekend I was quite happy with that. Doesn't look like anything exciting happening so far this week but weigh day is tomorrow. I've been going to the gym three days a week for the last two weeks. I do a circuit programme Monday and Friday mornings and cardio on Wednesday. Worked quite hard on Wednesday and had lots of pain for the next two days so Friday morning was a struggle but all good again now and ready to go again tomorrow. I'm finding that getting up half an hour earlier and going then is working out pretty well for me - although I'm finding it best to come home for a shower before work rather than showering there - it gives me the opportunity to do something with my hair which otherwise would look dreadful for the whole day at work and I hate that!

Just about finished all the renovations downstairs and guess what - the upstairs shower is leaking and it's coming through the nice newly painted ceiling downstairs! Give you the shxts. Renovating the upstairs bathroom was on the master plan but not till next year - my mum, sister and brother in law are coming for a month over Christmas so thought we'd leave that particular mess and upheaval till after they'd been. But it's not to be - so need to get things moving this week to get the job underway.

And that my lovelies is what my week has been like - a biggy but a goody!

Love Z xx

Birthday Girl

Hi peoples, Just a quick hello from me today - too busy enjoying myself. It's my birthday today and I'm having a lovely day. So far have had a lovely card and voucher for a facial from Bloss, then the florist arrived with a gorgeous arrangement of flowers - isn't he a love!! I've had phone calls from my grandson and both elder and younger sons - the youngest one from the airport in Brisbane - he's arriving home at 1pm this afternoon after his 3 month spell in Brazil - and isn't that just the loveliest thing to have happen on our birthday. It's been a great weekend so far - started with mudcake with the team at work on Friday - we always have a cake for people's birthdays. Then yesterday I had lunch with a couple of friends at the Yacht Club - and while there got a beautiful pair of gold earrings from Shaz - my bestie. Last night Bloss and I went for dinner to a local restaurant where I got a single red rose and a balloon! Tonight Grant, Tiff and the boys and Clive, Craig and I are heading off to one of the Chinese restaurants in town for tea - so how's that for celebrating in style! In other news - got back to work for a couple of days then was sick - have had a good run this winter but finally got caught! So was off work for 2 days. But fine again now. This meant that I had to delay my start at the gym - but only by a couple of days. So I started last Monday and managed Mon, Wed and Fri - and the timing fits well (go when the gym opens at 5.30am and am finished in time to shower and be at work for starting time at 7am) so planning on this becoming a routine part of life from now on. Weightwise since coming back from Vietnam I'm now down 1.6kgs with tomorrow being weigh in day again - not sure how that will go - have been a bit wicked this weekend. Although on reflection not really evil - had a couple of wines on Friday night and last night with Bloss and shared an entree of battered cuttlefish with chilli plum sauce - always a favourite at that restaurnt, had chicken breast stuffed with a yummy cheese (forget the name of it) and chive sauce, and then Bloss and I shared lemon meringue cheesecake - and that was to die for! But other than that meal everything else has been on track so shouldn't be too bad! And now a few photos for you - At the yacht club yesterday with a friend My gorgeous flowers from Bloss This was the painting I got a while ago which was destined for the entry hall once the tiling had been done. And this is the painting we bought in Vietnam which I just picked up from the framer's yesterday - really happy with it. I just love abstract paintings - you can see so many different things in them.

OK - that's it for me for this week - hope everyone is having fun. Take care Z xx

Views of Vietnam - Long Newsy Post

Alright chaps -now to give you a bit of a rundown on how we found Vietnam and what we got up to. We arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC or Saigon as it was formerly known) around 9pm on the Saturday night. Our transfer was waiting for us and off we went into our hotel. HCMC has a population of 9million and 5million motorbikes! So our first impression of driving in the city was that it was bedlam - an accident waiting to happen. However after a day or so we realised that although the bikes swarm around like bees (Bloss's description) and everyone beeps their horn constantly - they are actually driving quite slowing at only around 25/30kph and they are fully aware of their surroundings, and in fact there are apparently hardly ever any accidents in the city. Certainly there was no evidence of prangs and bangs on the cars (not like say Bali). Crossing the road is a mastered art - I had read in the Lonely Planet that the worst thing you can do is make a run for it - the best way is just to set off from the pavement when there seems a slight slackening off in the traffic and then just slowly make your way across the road thus allowing the traffic the opportunity to divert around you! We actually got quite good at it.

Here come the swarming bees!

Street scene in HCMC Our hotel was really nice - quite old - built in 1930 but had been refurbished and was quite lovely. Even had a fresh orchid growing in our room. The staff there and in fact everywhere we went were excellent - incredibly friendly and keen to help you. The next day we headed back out to the airport around lunchtime and flew to Hanoi. We were staying in a lovely little boutique type hotel in the Old Quarter. This is an area that had 36 streets each of which was devoted to selling a different commodity eg flowers, lacquer ware, shoes, tinware, wood, embroidery etc. This is still pretty much the case today. The streets are quite narrow with lots of activity. Because houses are rated on the size of their frontage, they have very narrow fronts but go quite high and a long way back - looks quite weird!

One of the tall skinny houses After a night in Hanoi, we were picked up the next day where we had private car transport to Halong Bay (about 2 hours away). There we were taken out at about 12noon on a tender boat to a beautiful big junk moored in the bay. This was home for the next 24 hours. We had lunch, dinner, breakfast and lunch the next day on board. There were about 30 of us on board with some magnificent staff who really looked after us - there were several different nationalities (Spanish, Dutch, German, Japanese, French and Australian) and it was amazing how well we all got to know each other in the space of 24 hours. As well as the meals we visited a huge grotto with magnificent stalactites and stalagmites, an artificially created beach, a hidden bay which could only be reached by sailing through a small gap in the rock. We also cruised around the bay - over 3000 limestone islands - quite beautiful. We had a lovely cabin with double bed, aircon and our own bathroom. This little treat including all meals cost us $145 each including our private car transport to and from Hanoi.

Taking home the shopping!

The entrance to the hidden bay

The view from the cave at the top of the Grotto Next day it was back to Hanoi for another night - we had only taken backpacks with us on the junk and left our cases at the hotel. We spent the afternoon walking around the Old Quarter and down to the Lake and the Temple there. We had a nice meal that night in a little restaurant just down from the hotel.

At the temple by the lake in Hanoi On the plane again next day to Nha Trang. This is where we had treated ourselves to a bit of luxury and as you'll have gathered from my earlier post it certainly lived up to expectations. We didn't get up to much here - we took full advantage of all the comforts and lazed around the pool, had a jacuzzi, enjoyed the fabulous breakfasts and I had a wonderful holistic massage - felt just great. We walked around the town one day and another afternoon we went to the markets there - they weren't that great but fun to visit anyway. There is a very nice sailing club there - great favourite with the backpackers and tourist alike. We had a lovely cold beer there one lunchtime and dinner there on the beach one night.

The entrance to the spa All too soon our three nights there were over and it was time to head back to HCMC. We stayed at the same hotel where they greeted us like old friends - a lovely touch. There is no doubt mind you that Aussies (even if not by birth!) seem to be pretty well liked around world. On the next day, Sunday, we hit the pavements and explored the shopping possibilities. We found a large department store where although the prices were fixed, they were open to a bit of negotiation. We then continued walking and found the Ben Thanh Market - this is a huge area of market stall - under cover - but a lot of tarps and corrugated iron so hot as hell. There were many bargains to be had here and you've seen most of mine. Prices were pretty good and the people great fun to barter with. That night we headed out to the Vietnam House for dinner - you've seen the pics. Monday we had arranged to have a tour to the tunnels at Cu Chi. I had full intentions of going into the tunnels (and Bloss was the one who wasn't sure about it) but when it came down to it - climbing 10 metres down stairs underground then having to stoop and keep my elbows by my side and follow one guide, with Bloss behind me and another guide behind him, and pitch black - claustrophobia kicked in - I didn't even realise that I had that tendency. Anyway the idea of being confined like that for 30 metres before I could get to the surface again freaked me so I didn't go. And Bloss said thank goodness 'cos he didn't want to go either! But nonetheless our visit was fascinating - we had a brilliant guide who was very knowledgeable and it gives you a different perspective on the whole thing. The Vietnamese people were very wily, clever and full of initiative as well as being very small and the Americans must have really struggled to cope with their ingenuity.

One of the hidden entrances to the tunnels - check it out alongside Bloss's Size 12

I got just inside here before I freaked In the afternoon after we got back to HCMC we visited the War Remnants Museum. I found this a very unsettling experience. There are old plans, weapons etc which didn't bother me. But there are also lots of pictures and information on those who were burned with napalm and then the aftermath of Agent Orange. We had already seen at first hand (we visited a couple of large centres for handicapped people where they make lots of crafts) the effects a generation on of this defoliant. The handicaps are dreadful - young people with no eye/s, partial limbs, or no limbs and on it goes. Seeing those photos in the museum just made me so sad and left me questioning why - that war didn't appear to change anything but left this devastation in Vietnam and hundreds of families in US, Australia and New Zealand either lost loved ones or had them come home severely injured sometimes physically but more often with terrible mental scarring. I don't have any answers but it certainly was a humbling experience for me and made me more aware than ever of the terrible waste of war - I acknowledge mind you that this is not a black and white subject and I don't want to get into a debate over it. Our little guide who was the son of a peasant farmer in the Mekong Delta who had gone to uni and was now extremely proud to be a tour guide (and who had fantastic English) had recommended a French restaurant (remember Vietnam was formerly French) called Le Mekong - so we went there for dinner and it was wonderful.

Lots of lovely bonsai around Our last day - we paid for an extra half day so that allowed us to check out at 6pm - money very well spent - otherwise you have to be out at 12noon and our flight wasn't till nearly 10pm at night so you end up losing that day. We didn't - got ourselves organised then went off shopping again then ended up lunching at a little cafe we'd found a couple of days earlier where the staff were just lovely. Then after a few final Tiger Beers we headed back to our room to do the final packing and have a shower and change and off to the airport.

The lovely guys at the Ciao Cafe

Another wonderful holiday in the annals of the Travelling Tart!! Whilst I've enjoyed everywhere we've been in the past on holiday and would happily go back again we don't usually as there are too many other place in the world we want to visit but could maybe make an exception this time - we still haven't visited the Mekong Delta or Sapa in the north and of course we're just next door to Cambodia and the magnificent Angkor Wat. I've peppered this with a few photos but if you want to see them all click on the link in my sidebar and it will take you to my Picasa web albums where you can view them as a slide show. Changing the subject completely - eating has been spot on since I got back, no alcohol and I signed up for a year's membership at the gym and did my assessment tonight and have a neat program which I plan to start Friday morning before work. Smokin!!!! Take care everyone Love Z xx

Shopping in Vietnam

Well back to home sweet home tonight - and despite having a long haul back - left HCMC last night at 9.30pm and home via Sydney and Brisbane and finally back here around 5pm, we're both not feeling too bad. The painter has been here as planned but isn't finished yet (not quite as planned) but doesn't matter too much apart from the fact that the washing machine is buried beneath dust covers and I have a humungous pile of washing to do! I thought I'd do a little shopping post for all you like minded people. I've taken photos of most of the goodies we brought back - good job we took a couple of empty bags in our suitcases! Then next post I'll tell you a bit about our holiday other than just food and shopping which is all I've rabbited on about up to now. The shopping was pretty good - I still love Hong Kong and Thailand for shopping but this was pretty good too and some real bargains. Of course you have to barter which (she says modestly) I'm pretty good at - we all have a bit of a laugh and Bloss tells them what hard woman I am! I don't know that I always get the rock bottom prices but they're so cheap that it's a bit pointless to start haggling over 20cents which is what some people come down to. If I feel I've got a bargain then I'm happy!

Well of course I couldn't possibly have a holiday without buying some shoes. In fact I had to throw two pairs out while away as they gave up the ghost so I didn't feel at all guilty buying another couple of pairs. These cost me about $24 for both pairs

These are lovely little shawl/scarves - great for over a little black dress or black top to change the look. These were about $5 each. The last photo shows me wearing the orange one.

Did a bit of a job lot so not quite sure what each of these were worth - there are two sets of three little change purses (Louis Vuitton copies) and one wallet - I think the sets of change purses were about $4 each set.

Had to get a toy for my grandsons - these worked out about $16 dollars each - came with battery and make all sorts of noises and voices when you shake them. Had to take the batman one out of the box to shut it up otherwise we'd probably have had a security alert with all the sounds they make!

Didn't find Vietnam as good as HK for kid's clothes but picked up a couple Lacoste for the boys and also a Diesel and Billabong for their Dad - Dad's were about $6 each and the boys were probably around $7 each but they are decent material

Tiffany - my DiL loves shoes too so got her a couple of pairs - $8 for both pairs

A few bits and pieces here - got 2 pairs of little pearl earrings - can't remember how much. Couple of pairs of designer sunglasses - about $10 for both. The little wooden trays on the side have little incense cones and a tiny ceramic dish to sit them in to burn them - kinda got hooked on these after the ones at the Ana Mandara in Nha Trang. ($1 each)

There's lots and lots of beautiful lacquer ware. The colour hasn't quite come out right in this - it's a beautiful rich ruby red. It's a large box with a lacquered lid and inside are 8 place mates, 8 coasters and 8 napkin rings - and I was sorely in need of some new table mats. $30

Think I might have told you that one wall of my office is covered in pictures of places we'v travelled to. This is for the wall - it depicts a junk in Halong Bay (where we sailed last week). $2

A set of three prints I couldn't resist - they'll probably go on the wall too - about $12 for the three - couldn't be bothered bargaining that day.

Loved these and bought about 20 of them - they were about $2 each - don't know if you can see the ones at the back clearly - they have pictures of lingerie embroidered on them and words like Lingerie, Underwear and Petite Linge. I thought they'd be a lovely little gift for some of my friends and team.

Tiffany is a teacher and covers the Vietnam War in Social studies so she wanted as much info as I could get for her - so got these two books. I'll tell you about the tunnels in another post.

Some more lacquerware - got these for two close friends - thought they'd be nice on their dressing table - think each pair was around $10 And we bought another oil painting - obviously will need to get it stretched again but I have a spot in mind for it in the lounge room. It's called the "Four Seasons' and supposedly represents the seasons. $38. This photo doesn't do these justice - it's a beautiful little PJ set in satin - an XL mind you which will fit Tiff (who's an 8/10!!!) but the sizes are so different in Vietnam as they are such a tiny race. These were only $4. As I said my laptop bag died so I bought a new one and then decided to buy the backpack too. I do rather like LV as you might gather. Laptop bag around $30 and the backpack about the same I think.

Bloss got a few new shirts

And some new jocks!

And here's me wearing the orange shawl

Hope you enjoyed shopping with me

Take care

Z xx

Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City

Last night we had dinner here in Ho Chi Minh city - it was awesome and I thought I'd do the same as Maria and share it with you all. We were in a restaurant just up the street from our hotel called the Vietnam House and there was a great menu with pictures of all the choices. Since we wanted to sample as much as possible we opted for one of the set menus and below is what we got.

First course - pork ball, mince in seaweed, spring roll and seafood

Second course - spicy squid

Third course - prawn meat served on a sugar cane stick with very fine pasta - looked like a lint bandage!

Fourth course - Seafood kebab - calamari, prawn and fish in a satay type sauce

Fifth course - duck breast in orange sauce

Sixth course - steamboat with fish, chicken, beef, prawn, noodles and vegies

Seventh course - creme caramel

And then to top it all off we headed for Gloria Jeans for a coffee and yet mre indulgence. And yes I feel fat!! Will say that this is the only really wicked day we've had and we were starving since all we'd had since breakfast was an ice cream which was served in a tea cup - see below.

We're having a wonderful time - it's been very hot here but fortunately doesn't bother us too much as it's a very similar tropical heat to that we have in tropical Queensland. We hit the markets yesterday - bought some lovely lacquerware for gifts, and a few other bits and pieces which I'll post pictures of later. Haven't bought that much for myself - just for a change but did get a Louis Vuitton copy laptop bag (mine died at Nha Trang when the strap fell off) and a LV back pack bag. Oh and just remembered - another abstract oil painting - going to run out of walls shortly!!

We're off to visit the tunnels at Cu Chi today - think it will be very interesting. Breakfast time now.

Byeeee
Love Z xx