Sally Cheong : Still Missed, Always Loved

EDIT: I wrote this post yesterday, scheduled to go live today, before the tragic discovery of Miss Meagher's body.  I almost decided not to go ahead with posting this, and I hope you don't think it is in bad taste because that it my very last intention, but I decided that the horrible discovery only highlights more than ever how absolutely serious these cases are.  

When I found out the news this morning, I bawled my eyes out. I cried for Jill, I cried for my dear friend, I cried for those tragically lost and found under terrible circumstances, I cried for those never to be seen again, I cried for the families of victims and the families who would never get to discover the fate of their loved ones, and I will admit I cried for my own pain over the years. Please don't think I'm trying to take away from the tragedy that has happened; but there are so many more cases like this one, and they all deserve a voice too and there are so many families seeking resolution.  

RIP Jill Meagher.  I didn't know you, but your story was very close to my heart, and I wished and hoped for your safety. I hope you're in a better place now, where no one can harm you ever again.

There has been a recent media frenzy lately about the disappearance of Jill Meagher.  It's been so terrible hearing all of the news.  All the attention, footage and investigations following the case will hopefully mean that they will be able to find more witnesses to help lead to her whereabouts, and she can be brought home safely soon.

I hope you don't think that I'm being opportunistic, but seeing this story played out through the news and social media has been a very personal reminder for me. 

In the early hours of the 2nd of April, 2008 my dear friend Sally Sze Wan Cheong went missing from her home in Oakleigh South and has not been seen or heard from since.  She was last seen in their family home around 3am by one of her sisters, and when she failed to turn up for work at the family business the next day, the alarm was raised. 

She left the house somewhere between those times with her wallet, phone, iPod, car keys and a blanket that she had had since she was a baby... however, that is where the clues end.  Her phone was switched off by noon, her credit cards and bank account remain untouched, and her car was still parked safely in its spot when I went to see the family shortly after her disappearance.

Sally was a gorgeous girl, with an infectious laugh, and the carest, kindest, most trusting nature.  Perhaps a little too trusting.  When we met in the first week of high school, she was a timid little soul but we connected and became firm friends.  She wasn't a fan of public speaking, but would chatter away to me with ease, so I would be her voice during class when we were required to speak out loud.  As time progressed, we added friends to our group and developed quite a social circle.  Before I knew it, Sally would be the one to approach newcomers to the school and invite them to join us during lunch breaks.  Over the years, she blossomed from that timid little girl I had first met into the most likeable social butterfly. 

Sally was everyone's friend.  You would be hard pressed to find a person who did not like her.  Actually, scrap that.  You just would not be able to; it was impossible.  She was known for her love of cameras, and she would follow you around the hallways just hoping to snap a candid shot.  We formed our own "family" at school, and she was my twin sister, and a better one I could not have asked for.  I know this whole spiel sounds like something people say in hindsight, to not speak ill of those gone, but every single word of this is the truth.  The only fault I can find with her is the fact that she was TOO good; too friendly and too caring, and since she was everyone's friend I had to share her time with a million others!

I suppose that's one of the things that could have been a downfall in the end and lead to her disappearance.  She had so many friends and was so caring and trusting, and would try to help anyone in need, no questions asked.  We can only assume she crossed paths with the wrong type of person, and would not have suspected a thing because she only ever saw the good in people. 

Her family and friends still live in the hope that she is out there somewhere, and will some day eventually return home to us safely.  So I guess this is the point of my post...

I'm asking if you could please keep your eyes and ears peeled.

This media attention for Jill Meagher means that every person in Melbourne is keeping a watchful eye, hoping to find clues to assist in the case.  Please be on the look out for one more person, and perhaps help find an answer to our questions?

I know that four years is a very long time to be gone, but we're still hopeful, and every extra pair of eyes that are looking out for her helps our chances.

The worst thing about when someone goes missing like this is the uncertainty.  Friends and family don't know whether to grieve, or remain positive and hopeful.  There is no closure on the matter.  We don't know whether she suffered, or whether she is still suffering.  We don't know if we'll ever see her again, and we don't know what more there is that we can do to try and find her. 

But what we do know is that we are hoping with ever fibre of our being that she is happy and safe, and that some day she will return home to us.  That day, should it ever eventuate, will be the most joyous of occasions. 

Sally, if you're out there, we still love you and miss you more than ever.  All we want is for you to be back with us where you belong.  You're never too far from my thoughts, and no matter how much time goes by I won't ever stop hoping I'll see your pretty face again.  My biggest wish for you is that you're happy, and most importantly that you're safe.  Please come home! xxxxxxxx

What a Weekend!

We had a rather eventful weekend, which resulted in two ambulances careening up our driveway at 5:30 in the morning to wheel away a rather sorry feeling patient. 

We had a few friends over on Saturday who decided to bunk in for the night, after dinner and perhaps a few too many drinks.  A few hours after we had all tucked ourselves into bed, my friend's fiance required a bathroom stop, but unfortunately in his half-asleep and possibly slightly still intoxicated state, forgot where he was and turned left instead of right at the bedroom door and proceeded to try and walk straight down the stair case.  Unfortunately, attempting to walk down steps instead of actually stepping down them meant he ended up tumbling down the entire flight, hitting the bannister with such force that he somehow dislodged and dented it, and continued tumbling down until he landed face first into the tiled floor at the bottom.

I was woken up by the sound of my friend screaming in panic whilst her fiance was bleeding heavily from a massive gash in his neck.  The sheer force of the fall meant that he split right through all layers, to the point where the jaw bone and other innards were visible. 

Almost luckily, I had crawled into bed that night (or morning) minus any clothing, as I'd stored my pyjamas in the spare room upstairs were my friends were sleeping.  This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as if I had been fully clothed I would most likely to have been the first one out the door to see what the commotion was about.  Instead, I roused Liam from his slumber (no mean feat!) and let him investigate. 

Whilst he did this, I ran to the wardrobe to find some clothing while Liam was on the phone to emergency services.  I could hear him describing the amount of blood all over the floors, and as I frantically fumbled around to find some pants, it dawned on me that the worst possible thing I could do for everyone would be to go out and try to "help".  Let me put it this way - not long ago my mother ended up passing out and hitting her head on the side of the wall, face planting into the tiles giving herself a nice big black eye, all as a result of the sight of a little blood oozing from a small cut on her hand.  We are NOTORIOUSLY bad at handling the sight of blood in my family, and the carnage at the bottom of my steps would almost certainly mean that there would be two people lying on the ground to take care of rather than one!

Thank God for Liam and his calm demeanour!  He has seen enough blood in his lifetime that the sight that greeted him left him completely unphased.  He was so great with it, as he calmly assessed the situation and tried to calm down my friends while they waited for the ambulance.  Unfortunately all I could do was listen to it from the bedroom, but he handled it all with such ease and managed to stay level-headed.  I was so proud of the way he looked after everyone, and kept everyone calm until the paramedics arrived!

Thankfully there was no permanent damage done.  Numerous tests were done, and although surgery was required to mend the gigantic gash it should all heal up nicely save for some scarring.  But as Liam says, chicks dig scars! :)

Anyway... now for the more mundane parts of my weekend! Friday night.

This -

Plus this -

Equals this!

Liam cooked up this yummy paella for dinner.  I have leftovers for lunch today, and I am so looking forward to it! I usually take care of all the cooking in our house because I love it, but I think from now on I'm going to make him cook for me once a week!

I didn't completely reounce my duties in the kitchen, however!

I baked a big batch of these scrummy choc-chip cookies to fill my cookie jar with!  It was such an easy and tasty recipe that I decided to do a few batches and handed them out to my new neighbours and family.  More to come on the cookies later!

Liam was absolutely ecstatic with a Hawthorn win this weekend, which means a Sydney vs Hawthorn Grand Final next week!  We're holding a BBQ, and Liam has already started decorating the house in preparation...

I'm really looking forward to having some of our closest friends come over to watch what should be a riveting game next week! I only hope to rain will hold off... PLEASE Melbourne!

What are your plans for the big day next weekend? xx

The Early Bird Gets the Worm!

I was awake bright and early on Saturday morning.

Not because I had to be.  I didn't have any pressing business to attend to, or anywhere I had to be.  Liam left early for work, but I was free to laze around and have a mega sleep-in.  But I didn't. 

I didn't, because I couldn't breathe. 
It's hard to breathe when you have this fatty lying across your body, compressing your lungs!

But with a face like that, it's hard to stay mad!

I decided to start my day with a long soak in the hot tub.  I've been coming down with a fluey sort of cold, and the steaming hot water did wonders for my aching muscles!

We were having friends over on Saturday night, so I headed to the shops to pick up some supplies.  While I was there, I decided it was time to get some fresh flowers to replace the drooping bunches that I bought last week.  I managed to find these native buds for a mere $4! What a bargain. 

I also picked up some gorgeous yellow lilies for the top of my step cabinet, but I forgot to take a photo.  They look fabulous though!  I've got a beautiful healthy looking stem which I picked out of last week's bunch sitting on the coffee table too.  As I mentioned in my previous post, the natural lighting in the house is fabulous and that with the addition of fresh flowers scattered throughout the house it almost feels like you're outside enjoying the sunshine, from the comfort of my own living room!

Saturday night's activities involved copious amounts of alcohol, some oldschool Atari battles, and dancing around the back deck trying to learn the choreography from internet tutorials to Oppa Gangnam Style.  If you haven't seen it yet (perhaps you've had your head buried in the sand?) you should YouTube it quick smart!

We ordered some Vietnamese take away from the restaurant around the corner, but beer, cider, red bull & vodka, and perfecting our Gangnam Style took precedence.  Rocket didn't mind though, because it meant there were plenty of leftovers for his dinner the next day!

No where it my pet care manuals does it give me serving suggestions for noodles, so I made sure to cut them up into small pieces so he wouldn't choke on them.  With the speed that he wolfed down his dinner, I can safely say that Rocket did not object to the way I served his dinner, and it appears he is partial to some egg wonton noodles, and combination beef pho!

The humans of the house however, had a spicy green chicken curry for sustenance.

My lovely mother text me early on Sunday to tell me that she had spent her morning in the kitchen whipping up a curry and spaghetti bolognaise for the week.  She also kindly informed me that I could swing by at any point that day, and collect my serve of each.  I do not object!

And before we know it, and all too quickly, yet another weekend is gone!  Four and a half days until the next one... bring it ON!

I shall end this post with some words of wisdom, and the motto from my weekend.

Do it.

Ageing Like A Fine Wine...

Happy Birthday, to my darling man!   

This weekend my partner in crime turned the ripe ol' age of 27.  Whilst it means we're approaching the big 3-0 and are advancing way too fast in age for my liking, it was also a relief as it put to an end the "older woman" jokes he has been using since my birthday last month. 

On Saturday night, we headed out for dinner with friends and then to watch a fantastic Hawks victory over the Saints.  We booked a table at our regular pre-game haunt, and indulged in a few bevvies before heading over to the MCG.

I chose the caesar salad with Indian-spiced chicken.  

Liam decided on his usual favourite (what a surprise!) chicken parma.  You know the blogging-world is taking over your life when your boyfriend's meal is placed in front of him and he immediately cries out "oh no - the steam trap, the steam trap!" (a term which I picked up from one of my favourite food blogs) and hurriedly picks his parma up off the chips and onto a separate plate!

After the game, we headed out for a few drinks and I discovered that the amount of photos I take for this blog seems to be in direct correlation with the number of alcoholic beverages I consume.  Research has shown that the higher the drink consumption, the more likely I am to forget about taking a few snaps here and there.  However! Once past a certain number of beverages, happy snaps will often rise up to an all time high.  Although none will be suitable for the public eye.

On Sunday, we headed to Liam's parents place for lunch.  We were feeling rather worse for wear, as you can tell from the above picture where Liam is all decked out in tracky dacks and hasn't bothered to fix his hair at all!  So charming.  Also, note Mark in the background helping Liam blow out the candles on the cake!

Liam's mum cooked us a fabulous Indian feast, and this gorgeous cupcake-cake! 

How cute is it?! Hudson 'Hawka' Knights stands proudly amongst the Hawthorn-themed cupcakes with little goal post candles at each end! There were two types of cupcakes to choose from - chocolate and apricot jam with buttercream frosting.  YUM

As you can see, Liam was too impatient for me to even take a photo before grabbing his birthday cupcake! I can't blame him too much. They were so tasty!

We brought Rocket along with us, to play with the two dogs that Liam's parents have.  

After hours of chasing each other around the garden, they finally tired themselves out and we were able to have a moment of quiet

When we got back to my parent's place for dinner, we discovered that my cousin had been busy baking that day and had put together this little treat! 

Again, Liam couldn't resist long enough for me to take a photo, so there is a huge chunk taken out of the cookie! He's especially looking forward to the big birthday cookie, which he as dubbed as a 'Liam-sized cookie' and has declared to me that all food for him should come in this size.

Next weekend, I'm taking him away for the weekend to celebrate!  The two of us, and our crazy ginger-dog are going to head up to the Gouldburn Valley for a weekend of exploring and relaxation! 

I promise, regardless of how many beverages are consumed over the course of the weekend, that I will take plenty of snapshots to share! :)
 

ANZAC Day 2012

The night before ANZAC Day was a miserable, cold rainy evening with no change in sight unfortunately! It was the perfect evening to be snuggled up warm inside, while the rain pelted down and the wind hurtled around outside. 

I decided that there was nothing better on such an evening than a hearty meal to warm us up!

Unfortunately, with the weather only seeming to be getting worse, after filling our bellies we had to leave the comfort of the couch to head down to the shops in search of a pair of gumboots!

Kmart was the only shop still open, and after calling around none of the stores seemed to stock ladies wellies.  The only option was to trek out to a Kmart which confirmed that they stocked men's gumboots.  When we got there however, they didn't have any of those either! Everyone else must have had the same idea.  Lucky for me, my feet are just small enough to fit into kid's shoes.  I am now the proud owner of a child's pair of wellingtons!

The need for this wet weather gear was the Dawn Service early the next morning.  We had hoped the weather would improve for the occasion, but decided to be prepared just in case.  Unfortunately, the weather did not get any better.

Ponchos, raincoats and umbrellas were also required!

Despite the miserable weather however, there was still a decent turn out for the service.  I was so proud of the amount of people who still turned up to show their respect, to remember our fallen heroes lost and to honour the brave souls who have fought for our country.

It was amazing that, despite the large crowd, how sombre the atmosphere was and the appropriate silence.  As dawn broke, there was an eerie silence with only the rustle of a plastic poncho or a muffled cough to interrupt the reading.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning -

We will remember them.

As always, the Eternal Flame burned on...

After the service, the crowds gathered around the flame.  It also had the added advantage of being the warmest place to be, in the cold dreary weather!

After the service, we had some time to kill before meeting friends so we decided to take a wander around the city.  As we wandered down Swanston Street, there were obviously other ANZAC Day proceedings going on, as we saw all these army vehicles parked on the road. 

We wandered a little further along, and came across this cute little old-school news stand :

Only this one was not selling newspapers! We were intrigued, and although we initially walked straight past it, curiousity got the better of us and we did a double-take and wandered back up to the stall.

A little French creperie!

It was fantastic! Inside the stand they had set up a mini kitchen with two large crepe hotplates.  To the left of the stand, you can see a wooden hinged door with the quaint menu painted on it listing all your options. And yes, the young lady taking your order and the crepe chef really are French!

We chose a Nutella & almond crepe first up, and upon eating it decided that what we really needed was a salted caramel crepe to accompany it! And boy, am I glad we made that decision.

The Nutella crepe was wonderful - filled with gooey chocolatey-hazelnut goodness with a crunch of almonds encased by a slightly crisp outer layer.  The salted caramel on the other hand, was just as delicious, but completely different! This crepe had not been cooked as long, which resulted in pillowy mouthful of chewy crepe goodness which just melted in your mouth.

YUM. Cannot recommend this little creperie enough! They've only been open for two weeks, but I'd hurry along if I were you! It won't be long until the masses find out about this little gem and you'll be battling your way for delicious crepey goodness!

You'd think that would be enough pancakes for one day, right?  Apparently not. 

Lured in by a spruiker and a two-for-one offer, Liam decided that he needed short stacks to fill his belly! I, on the other hand, can never go to a Pancake Parlour without ordering a savoury cheese & potato pancake.  Although it is delicious, crisp fluffy pancake chunks smothered in a rich mushroom sauce and spread with a little sour cream, I always struggle with the whole plate.  With my belly already half-full, I conceded defeat and left half the pancake on the plate. Oh, the shame...

I tried to avert my attention from the burning shame and the still full plate in front of me, and instead focused on touching up my nails which were all dolled up for the big ANZAC Day match.  While I did this, I handed Liam a bottle of (cherry-scented!) red nail polish which I had just picked up, and instructed him to suitably jazz up my plain black gumboots.

Ta-da!! I think he did a fairly decent job given the limited resources! And yes, those are Essendon footy socks you can see tucked under my boots :)

You might be wondering about the odd lights under my feet in the above picture.  After stuffing ourselves full of pancakes, we met up with friends and headed to Galactic Circus!

We each bought an hourly play card, which I wasted most of playing Guitar Hero! I'm not sure I never play it at home, but felt compelled to in an arcade surrounded by plenty of other good games!

Before long, it was time to head to the MCG for a thrilling game of football! As you can see from above, my nails and shoes were decked out in suitable attire, and you can bet that the rest of me was too! I wore my Essendon hoodie, which was covered by my guernsey all wrapped up with my member's scarf! If anything can be said for me, when it comes to the football I certainly do not do things by halves!

We had fantastic seats, although the continuing rain meant we did get a little wet! Again, I was stunned by how silent close to 87,000 people can be! During the moment of silence, there was not a peep throughout the entire stadium.  It was so quite that you could hear the rope on the flag pole knocking it in the breeze! Amazing.

What an exciting game, but ultimately for a mad Bombers supporter such as myself, what a disappointment. The Essendon boys fought their way back towards the end of the match, and for a brief moment there I thought we had won the match! But especially where an ANZAC Day clash is concerned, you can never be too sure! With just over a minute to go, Collingwood kicked that heart-breaking goal to win by 1 point. Although it was a crushing moment of defeat when the siren sounded, I was so proud! I'm looking forward to seeing where we can take it this season.

So, there you have it! My ANZAC Day was spent filled with a good mixture of things which I feel reflect the essence of the day for many people.  Most importantly, the day is about remembering and honouring those who have lost so much in the name of our country.  It's a chance to thank them and remember them, for the opportunity they have given us to enjoy days such as this. But as a Melbourne girl, no ANZAC Day would be complete without the hype and the buzz surrounding this big match of AFL. 

What did you get up to, and what does ANZAC Day mean to you?

Let the Birthday Weekend Commence!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful weekend!

Mine was fantastic.  I got spoilt rotten, and Liam put together a memorable weekend of surprises!
I will update you about all that in another post soon.

On Friday night, we headed to my Aunt's house for dinner.  She does an a-MAZ-ing risotto, one of my favourites, which was on the menu for the evening! Not before snacking on dips, crackers and smoked salmon though. YUM.  Surprisingly, I actually didn't get any photos of the snacks or dinner! I know, I'm amazed too.

I did, however, get a few snaps of my gorgeous little dining companions! 

In her own words, upon seeing the photo - "Oh aww, I look so cheeky!"

After which she promptly turned around and, with a voice full of attitude, yelled out "LIAM! Don't put your hands in my photo again. You stop ruining my photos, now!" If there is one thing that can be said for that girl, she is a sassy little miss, and will give some poor bloke a run for his money and a permanent headache in the future!

Her little brother is quite the opposite though - a real chilled out little fella! 

Here he is, happily snacking on a cracker! The only time I even heard a peep from him was to let me know he'd finished his cracker and would please like another one!

He did look a little perplexed each time I reached for the smoked salmon, wondering why he was not receiving any, however he would happily go back to his plain cracker.  

Here he is whinging because each mouthful is not coming fast enough!

He sure loves his food, and ate his share of risotto like a little champion.  

Straight after which he totally devoured a baby pudding for dessert! What a little guts :) <3

After dinner (having eaten far too much!) I was lying in the living room, playing with toys and having a conversation with my little cousin when my presence was requested in the dining room.  

Adeline grabbed my hand, and dragged me in to a darkened room, lit up only by the glow of candles sitting on top of a yummy looking mango cheesecake! Yum. What a sweet surprise!

As I was trying to take this picture, a little girl was also vying for my attention... "Cat... Cat... Cat!" 

I quickly took the photo and turned my attention to her.  "Here! Take a photo of my cake too!" 

Happy to oblige. 

During dinner, I was interrupted with requests to take photos. Poser! I'll leave you with one more...

"Oh, look at me! I look so wild!" 

Isn't she scary? :)

Camping : Part 2

We woke up to another beautifully warm and sunny day.  First things first, it was time for breakfast! 

And what says Sunday more than a lazy Sunday brunch? 

The boys set to work cooking snags, bacon, fried eggs and toasting the bread for our meal.  The beauty of camping is, much like a BBQ, it's the one of the rare times when it's macho for a man to be taking care of all the cooking.  G and I sat back and relaxed (yes, of course I was in the hammock!) while we waited for our food to be served.

We made a couple of new friends, who happily joined us for breakfast.

They stayed behind and held fort at camp while we headed off for another trip down the rapids!

Liam packed up the ute - strapping in the tubes, lilos and floaty devices and then laid down a tarp for us to sit on comfortably.  We all piled in the back of the ute, and set off down the road! 

This is the first time ever that he's allowed me to ride in the back of the ute. I attempted to do this once, on the way home from the shops.  He wouldn't unlock the door, so I yelled out "FINE, I'LL RIDE IN THE BACK!" and he replied with "FINE!" so I climbed into the tray.  He thought I was pretending, so he got into the driver's seat and began backing out of the parking spot.  As he reversed out, he looked back at me expecting me to be freaking out, but instead I smiled and waved. He promptly stopped the car, got out and demanded that I get into the passenger seat!

Yay for finally getting to ride in the tray! It was good fun, taking in the beautiful view, smelling the fresh country air and chattering away to my best friend.

This trip down the rapids I was a little more co-ordinated and only fell off my lilo once! And that was only because I was too busy blabbing away (typical!) to notice the big rock coming up right in front of me.  

We got back to camp, and decided we were enjoying floating too much.  Liam got a big rope, tied G's lilo and mine together, and anchored us onto a rock so we wouldn't float away downstream.  Then before heading off with Mark for another attempt at fishing, he placed a yummy blackcurrant cider into my hands.  Have I EVER mentioned how much I love that boy?!

By this time, most of the other families had left so we were uninterrupted out there.  It was so peaceful, just floating out in the middle of the river, drink in hand.  At one point, we even fell asleep! It was lovely, but I did have a few angry patches of red sunburnt skin to show for it.

The beautiful view from both directions... it didn't matter which way I floated off - it was win-win!

Liam came back from his fishing expedition, and LOOK! He'd caught a giant friendly killer whale!

I got back to camp to find that G had taken over my hammock! MY hammock, remember?! I think Mark and G spent a lot of the weekend waiting for me to get up from my seat so that the could pounce! Definitely  a very comfortable hammock.  (You can't tell I loved that hammock, or anything!)

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and soon enough it was time to pack up and go home.  It's hard to believe the how compact our home for the weekend can become... the boys took the tent down and shoved it into its tiny bag, and all that was left was the lonely little door mat :(

We're heading back up there with a few more friends for Liam's birthday, and I am already hanging out in anticipation! Not to mention our overseas trip which is coming up before then!

So tell me... where's your favourite camping spot?