Photos from latest trip to Japan and HK

First set of photos up from my recent holiday to Japan and HK

http://picasaweb.google.com/jasonchanoz/JapanHK07Set1OsakaAndNiseko

month of April

Salsa, salsa, salsa - I have started going to salsa clubs this last month, and it really is helping me to get better, especially as I start to feel a bit more confident about asking people I do not know to dance. There is just so much to learn though - I wish I could learn quicker and more...

opportunities, opportunites - I was offered a chance to work for a software company that is trying to establish itself in the US. Working out of Boston, doing the travelling sales/implementation gig around the US. Big money, big responsibility, but I turned it down. It was a difficult choice - but I'm just not sure I could handle the stress and the demands of a job like that.

month of february

Sneeze..cough...splutter...cough some more...lie in bed.
That was my story the last 2 weeks of February. Laid low by a persistent infection I took 1 week off work, stopped going out, stopped doing most things and stayed indoors, but caught up on some movies I hadn't seen at the cinemas. Most surprising movie was probably Sin City - much better than I expected. I'm just starting to feel like my old self now though as I'm getting better.
...
Celebrated Sue and Marcs wedding the last week of February. It was a beautiful ceremony in mckell park followed by an afternoon snooze for my sick self, followed then by a Chinese banquet reception in Maxim's in Bankstown. Weddings always have the capacity to make me do some real self assessment on where I am in life and how I'm doing at achieving my goals. One can only hope this can lead to me taking steps to make my goals happen.
...
Its time I committed to making the move overseas next year. The thought of it is very exciting..overseas travel, meeting new people, new places to see and things to do. And yet I'm unable to commit myself to doing it. I just like keeping my options open I guess.
...
I've just extended my work contract for another 3 months. After almost 2 months of unsuccessful job hunting I had to decide to continue looking (and hope I find something before April) or secure at least more time to look for a job in comfort. Ironically I will probably have to start looking for another job again in just a month and a half's time. Good news is at least there is work to do now and I did get a pay rise :). And I can continue to look for the right job for my next contract.
...
Passed the 3 month mark in my apartment - marked by receiving our first electricity bill! It feels like home now, but I'll admit it hasn't had as much impact on my lifestyle as I thought. I find I watch ALOT of TV now (which is not a great thing), as opposed to spending more time out and about.
...
That pretty much sums up some of my preoccupations recently. AND I lost my sunglasses today! Time for some retail therapy.

And now for something more boring

It has occurred to me (in the toilet today) that I'd like to put down on hard drive my thoughts and ideas on software delivery and requirements analysis process. * yawn * Every company I've worked for and every project I've been on has faced the same challenges of getting this process right - implying that the end product delivered to users is what they actually want, and it is delivered in a relatively efficient manner.
And being a BA I've generally been at the center of this dilemma. While I've gained some experience in how to do it properly, its really a patchwork of ideas that might make more sense if I try to discuss them in an organised fashion.
Anyway, just wanted to put this on record to remind myself to do this at some stage :)
* yawn *
I'll try to fit in some personal angst when I do write it to give it a bit of drama.
btw can't believe I'm not going to do some boarding in the northern winter this year!

A fitter better me

An eating plan
Glucosamine
Multi-Vitamins
Protein Drinks
and possibly omega oils and creatine.
This is what has happened to my diet since starting on my program with my personal trainer. I'm also now training with her 2x a week rather than just the one, hoping that it will mean I get more consistent results from my gym sessions.
I admit I am enjoying going to the gym at the moment, but it is putting time pressure on me before and after work (lucky my work isn't too strenuous), and I don't know how long I can continue paying for personal training sessions!
And I do feel better and less sluggish/unhealthy, I feel I am getting a little stronger, plus I have put on I think 2kgs since I started it.
Personal training looks like a good profession to be in at the moment..the trainers at the gym don't seem short on clients, and my trainer works solid 7am to 8pm some days! Suckers like me paying good money for someone to tell us how to lift some metal weights :)

Doosh Doosh Doosh Doo-Doosh Doosh Doosh

I've been going to the big summer time raves I've been saying I wanted to go to for the last few years.
It started off with Parklife late last year, followed by a massive Jamiroquai concert, then Field Day on new years day (although that really wasn't that good - hung over and too hot..not a good combination) and just yesterday the Big Day Out.
I'm by no means a groupie, I'm starting to know the names of big dj's out there now, but it is still a matter of experimentation to see what dj's I like.
I realise that maybe I'm a bit out of it as far as what the 'coolest/hippest' music is today hehe - I found it hard yesterday to really get into any of the day time acts just because I hadn't heard of half of them until I walked into the arena and saw them.
Day time acts that were memorable included a Japanese girl called Mu. On stage with ponytail, short tartan skirt and dressed in black. She rapped in Japanese, and in between did weird gyrating dance moves that included at one stage the robot, the pull-yourself-by-the-hair move and the humping-imaginery-towel between the legs move. There was DJ John Ferris, who pretty much played what I remember to be happy hardcore techno (which I haven't heard in a club in ages!). And probably the other surprisingly good act was the Fast Crew.
In the evening, stayed to hear the 3 songs I knew from Franz Ferdinand before leaving, but then the night finished well with '2 many dj's' - they went off!

2005 Review

It's all about the best and worst of this, that and everything in the newspapers of late. Best and Worst songs, best and worst movies, best and worst events. So in that spirit I thought I'd do the good and bad of my year 05.

January: Good and Bad After resigning from my job and returning home from Hong Kong. I spend most of January in Melbourne. Happy to be free of the stress, unsure of what I'll be doing next.
Also in January: Good Went to Australian Open for the first time.
February: Gooooood! Japan ski adventure. 3 weeks in snow heaven in Niseko, Hokkaido. Sleeping, snowboarding, eating with a bit of drinking thrown in. What a life. Want to go back again.
March: Good but painful Spent the month studying and doing assignments and exams to finish off my 5 years in the making graduate diploma in finance. 5 years wow. And I don't even know if I want to pursue the paths that this degree offers for me now.
April: Good ... in the beginning Found myself contract work within one week of looking..it pays to know the right people. Pay was way beyond my expectations. And seemed like a good place to work.
May: Good My birthday was going to pass with a wimper...until my good friend rounded up my friends for a night out on the town. It was a good night. I think it pays to celebrate your birthday no matter how you feel.
June, July, August Good and mediocre Went to NZ for the first time! With a motley crew...and had a great time. Snow was a bit crap but company was great. Must go back again when snow is better. Was also in the midst of a winning streak with the oztag team. Subsequently had to miss our semi-final appearance due to aforementioned NZ trip but we came back to lend our hand to a disappointing defeat in the grand final to our arch nemesis throughout the season. Starting to feel disinterested and disillusioned at work. I've mentioned this in previous blogs. Will not bore you with the details again.
September, October, November: Nothing of note to mention these months. I'm preoccupied with deciding what I'm going to do with myself in the following year work wise. Do I find a new permie job? Do I find a new contract job? Do I go back and study Marketing?
End November: Goood Finally moved out of home - found a great place in Pyrmont after 6 weeks of looking. Will look forward to the experience here. I wonder whether this will alleviate some of my boredom?
December: Surprisingly Good I've made the decision to look for a new job - contract or otherwise. I actually started this entry before xmas holidays. Since then I've been on a good trip to Jervis bay, and had a great nye to see in 2006
Happy New years everyone. Wishing you all great things for 2006. Make it a good one, I know I'll be trying to as well.