tax time
This year was the first time I've had an accountant do my tax return. I had a mixed reaction to the experience.
The office was a drab, empty shell with furniture from the 70s, so nix the view of the professional grey carpet office with halogen lights and bright green pot plant in the corner for that human touch.
My accountant also wasn't nearly as devious as I expected (I have mental images of people whose life mission is to screw the government out of every penny that they possibly can), so goodbye to that stereotype too.
However she did fulfil every unpleasant visual image of a person that I could think of - overweight, unattractive and unprofessionally dressed. I think she may have had gravy stains on her floral top, but I'm not sure.
It wasn't a wholly inspiring visit, but I guess I saved some money on my tax. A learning experience for next year.
the hunter: food + wine country
I went on a trip to the Hunter this weekend. It was all pretty last minute - we had only got the accommodation sorted earlier in the week - but after a mere 73 emails to organise the time, place, and what provisions we were going to bring, we were sorted.
Amusingly, there were 6 people on the trip, all currently single, and of those six, four of them were ex-couples... myself included. You work out the odds on that one.
The weather was gorgeous, with sunny blue skies and no clouds anywhere. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to curl up and sleep in the car because it's slightly cool outside, but drowsily warm inside. :)
We found our accommodation without too much trouble, and the place was HUGE! Four bedrooms with a king bed and three queen beds, a living/dining room, kitchen, and carpeted lounge. Bunny & I ended up sharing the king bed because there was a bed shortage, but on the plus side we got an ensuite.
Highlights included lunch at Terroir at Hungerford Hill, which was amazing. The wedges, sourdough toast with marscapone, and tempura prawns were fantastic. The mains were all delicious, but I think the best was the beef wagyu which was cooked so tenderly that it just fell apart over its base of "paris mash" (not entirely sure what that is, but it's tasty.) The view was lovely, with a sort of Tuscan/Hunter feel. The full sun gave Khanh a glasses tan though...
We visited the cheese factory, chocolate shops and jams and bought a truly decandent array of foods including double brie, grape vine ashed brie, smoked applebox cheese, sourdough loaf, baguette, crackers, three types of fudge, olive oil, dukkah (a dipping mix of nut and seed), deluxe chocolates, and the vino! Saturday night we skipped the fancy dinner and lounged around instead.
Normally when you get a bunch of people together, add some alcohol and leave to brew, you expect some deep conversations happening, but we didn't really get around to that portion of the night (note: may have been a result of aforementioned exes, but we cannot confirm). If not for Bunny, it might have been a wasted chance!
I'm going to miss all these people when I leave - I'm especially sad that I never really got to know Khanh and Bunny until recently. The weekend just highlighted the fact that my uni group is cool... since the group is smaller, people are getting a lot closer and a lot of stuff seems to happen spur of the moment. It's all fun and impetuous and everything that I need in my life right now.
Yay for the Hunter - good for the 0retrospective soul :)
the hunt for a black suit
I've spent the past several months looking for a new suit, which I'll need for interviews and things once I'm in London.
This is a seriously impossible task.
Firstly, I'm short. Every single suit that I try needs about three inches chopped off the arms (double that for pants). And then add the trouble that they never seem to fit properly at the shoulder for me, which makes suit hunting twice as difficult.
Secondly, I don't really like frills, and for some bizarre reason this season's suits are on frill speed or something. Find a nice jacket, only to find out they've hidden frills on the back. Or on the hem. Or at bizarre intervals around the skirt. (what's going on?!)
Thirdly, I know I'm only going to wear it about three times, so I don't want to be spending a huge amount on it.
All this combines to make suit shopping an awful but necessary experience.
Arggghhh! :(
fun and pizza
I had some fantastic pizza at Pizza Mario in east sydney tonight. The buffalo mozzarella magherita is heavenly!
This is on top of the superb desserts I had last Saturday night at The Dinner Party. Khanh had made the world's best caramel and portugese tarts, Bunny had some homemade lamingtons with lots (and lots) of fresh cream, AND we also had a hazelnut chocolate self saucing pudding which had an entire bottle of nutella in the sauce. It was delicious!
We had much fun playing taboo - I think we went through both sides of every single card in the pack.
Ian is a... jerk?Something you don't want to happen to you... Simon?Cam and I ate leftover sourdough with mushroom and egg the next day. So very tasty :)
