In-house electrician

While ate was mowing the lawn yesterday, a fuse blew taking out the power sockets in the garage, When ate checked the fuse, she couldn't find anything wrong with it so she just plugged it in the lounge and continued to mow the lawn. Later that night, I found out that it also took out the power in my bedroom, a wall in Ate's bedroom and a wall in the lounge. By the time I found out, it was already dark and I was too tired to do anything about it. So I plugged an extension wire from the dining room to my bedroom so I'd have power for my heater, lamp and laptop.

That night Daddy called to give instructions to how to fix the fuse. I thought it wasn't necessary because the builder showed us how it was done before we moved in. Also, what's the use of going to USP every Saturday for two years but to learn electricity and electronics. right?

So this afternoon, I went to work fixing the fuse. It was a really old fuse box. It didn't have the fuse like we have in the Phils that looks like batteries. These are even better because they're just wires wrapped around 2 terminals. All I had to do was isolate the fuse that was busted and replace the wire. In the process, I also identified where each socket is connected so that it would be easier to change the fuse next time. There was only one fuse that I failed to identify. Either its a spare fuse or the water heater or the plug in the shower. I wasn't able to test that one coz the power was too low and I didn't have a tester.

Next on my list the the dishwashing machine. The top drawer is leaking...hmm...

Baking dilemma

There was a scone making competition at work last week. Everyone was encouraged to bake scones. There was even a recipe book that we can all use.

Never thought baking would be difficult. How hard is it to measure the ingredients and mix them together. Let me tell you...never half a recipe when its the first time you've ever used it. The recipe says that the mixture can serve 12. The office competition only needed 6 scones. So I decided to bake only half a recipe. Ha! It was a complete failure. I put too many water and the butter didn't even mix well with the flour. Nevertheless, I baked it thinking that it might still go well. It didn't. It tasted like flour. yuck!

Oh well, I've never liked scones anyway.

But I need to prove to myself that I'm not a complete failure in baking. So I've decided I need to bake a good batch of chocolate chip cookies over the weekend. Will let you know how it goes. In the meantime, I need to go to Wendy's to buy my dinner.

Out of hibernation and shopping

I just recently came out of internet hibernation, if there is such a thing. For the past month, I had no desire to go online except to check for "urgent" emails and use google to text loved ones back home. Instead of going online, I've been occupied with reading books, chores, sleeping and shopping. Yes, I have been shopping!

At first, I was shopping to buy things for the balik bayan box which we'll be sending in time for Christmas. However, last weekend, when I was doing an inventory of my shopping list, I realized that I've been buying clothes for myself. yey! este..oh no!! I've been using the winter sale as an excuse to spruce up my wardrobe. They're good buys I tell you. I've never bought anything at full price. Nothing less than 50% discount. I'm so happy with the things I bought...especially the addidas climatech shirts at buy 1 take one (which Ate Don brought to Europe! I haven't even worn those yet) or the wool coat that was $120 last week but is now at $99 (full price was $220) or James August track pants (i just love the bags they put the clothes in). But this has got to STOP! *sigh*

I wonder how I'll do when with labor weekend and spring sale in October?? One last hurrah this weekend (perfume sale!) then I'll stop.

As for coming out of hibernation...I just hope for the best. The sun sets a little later each day. The temperature is getting warmer. The winter blues will soon be but a memory.

Sports Day

Work suddenly became a fun place today. To end the health and safety week awareness campaign, everyone was required to come in their favorite sports attire. I was concerned since most sports uniform were not really fit for the cold. Thank goodness for air con.

I was surprised at how everyone participated. One dressed as an equestrian, another wore a Vodafone Warriors (rubgy) uniform (google it), anothe came in roller blades, and our division came dressed as a soccer team.

Spring is here!

Today was a beautiful day to stay out in the sun. Did a bit of gardening. Never realized how relaxing it would be to weed a garden.

Since the rain has been keeping me indoors a lot, I brought a piece of the garden with me in the house. These are freesias. They smell good too!

End of winter sale

Yes, one month to go before winter ends and all stores are now having their sale to get rid of winter clothes and last years summer clothes. I haven't really been shopping much since I came to NZ because I have no money (LOL) and tinatamad ako and I have no idea what's cheap and expensive from NZ p.o.v.

But now, I have a vague idea. Anything below $15 is okay. $20 something must be good quality blouse...more than that dapat dress or pants or shoes...this is me being kuripot. I have no idea if people will agree with me or not. Ask Ate Don.

Anyway..everyday this week I have been rushing to the nearby outlet store do to my shopping. I get off work at 4:30. I reach the mall 4:45. Stores close at 5:00. Do the math! I do my shopping in 15 mins!!!! In other words, one store a day!!!! hahaha...

Pressure pero di ako napapagod. LOL

To make things easier, I head straight to the $10 below rack and get all available sizes, shapes and color. So mga ka-pamilya...alam nyo na ano pasalubong/xmas gifts nyo...hahahaha!!! Better yet text me your sizes na. As point of reference, I'm S/M or 8/10 depende sa brand. :p

Stormy weather and cookies

I wonder why my three recent posts are all about NZ weather...hehehe... Guess I'm still marveling at its difference with Davao weather. I'm now home alone listening to the strong wind and the rain drops hitting the window every time the wind blows.

There was a storm over the weekend with gale winds reaching over a hundred kph. Many of the seaside towns experienced floods and power outage. Good thing it wasn't too bad in the city. We even managed to watch the Dark Knight despite the news advising people to stay at home. Tigas ulo no?

Today the I didn't even notice the sunshine. It was cloudy and dreary. It could also be the reason why my day wasn't so good as well. I had tons of work. Don't get me wrong. I love to have a lot of things to do. The difference is that today, it was a lot of the small stuffs. Each vying for their attention. I couldn't stick to one task and concentrate cause the phone would ring or an email would pop up or someone would drop by needing something. My head is spinning just thinking about it. I hope tomorrow will be a better day.

Today, I also became the cookie lady. Our receptionist is on holiday and people assumed that I have the keys to the drawer where the cookies are kept. I don't have them. The HR lady does and she's keeping a tight lid on our cookie supply. There are 15 of us in the Finance Dept and we usually have 2 packs for morning tea and another 2 for afternoon tea. Since the receptionist went on holiday, we were down to 2 packs a day. Today, the HR lady said that we should stick to 1 pack a day because we don't have enough supplies and that the cookies are a privilege. Well well...she should hear my colleagues complain. They want their cookies badly. I was able to keep 1 pack today so hopefully, we'll have 2 packs for tomorrow. How I wish our receptionist is back.

Borders DVD Sale

Over the weekend, Borders was selling DVD box sets 30% off the full retail price.

Saturday night, we went to Borders before going to the movies. I wasn't interested in buying but since I was already in the store, I went to take a look at the box sets. I got all excited seeing the entire series of West Wing, Dawsons Creek, Star Trek, Twilight Zone and other shows that aren't shown anymore. Ate asked if I wanted to buy Dawson's Creek and I said no and walked away.

Lo and behold, Sunday afternoon came and I couldn't shake loose Ate's question. I've got the CDs back in Davao, did I really want a Dawson's Creek DVD? Will I be watching it or just keep it around as a collection? Am I wasting my money? I can't stop thinking about it. So an hour before closing time, I hoped in the car and drove to Sylvia Park to look for a Dawsons Creek Season 3 box set. I thought to myself, if i will be buying DC, it should be Season 3. So off to Borders I went. I searched and I searched and I searched. Hidden behind the stacks of DVDs I found it.

Was I happy with my purchase? Yes I am! I went on a DC marathon....It was a wondeful trip down memory lane. Andun pa rin ang kilig feeling. Call me names, I don't care. That was one of my favorite shows.

Next sale, I'm buying West Wing Season 1 and Charmed Season 6.

Car Trouble

When I left for work this morning, my car wouldn't start. The lights and radio were working so I new that it wasn't the battery. My problem was that the car is an automatic. I'm familiar with a manual but I have no idea how to troubleshoot an automatic.

I thought I was gonna be really late from work. Luckily, the car started after I tinkered with some wires under the hood and added water in the radiator. I didn't have any problems since. I was just 15 minutes late. *whew*

I think I really need to have the car checked but I have no money. hehehe... Will have it checked next month..promise....

Mid-winter

Brrr... its the middle of winter again. I think it's colder now than last year. One good thing is that the house is warmer than the apartment, so I get to stay warm in my bedroom. I rarely watch tv in the living area coz it's sooo cold outside. I don't want to move the heater from the bedroom just so I can watch an hour of tv.

Last Saturday, it was so cold that rain turned to hail 3 times that day. One in the morning, one in the afternoon and one at night. Temperature went down to as low as zero degrees celsius. That night, I just watched droplets of ice fall in front of my window. The lawn was littered with pebbles of ice. I can hear the wind howling. I was so happy that I stayed home and didn't have to suffer the cold outside.

This morning though was an experience I don't want repeated often. My car was covered in frost. The door was frozen shut!! I had to pour water all over the car to melt the ice. I had to trickle water around the door so that I can open the door. Once I was able to open the door, I turned on the the car heater so that warm air will hasten the melting of the ice on my windshield. For all my trouble, I was late going to work. *sigh* I need to wake up earlier tomorrow just in case there's frost again. I'm so happy I don't live in a place that snows.

End of the year road trip

pictures taken during the road trip...

I promised myself I would write a day to day entry on the trip. I guess that is why they say promises are meant to be broken. hehehe... but will try to write it down soon.

Road Trip