Tuesday 26 November 2013
Sunday 24 November 2013
Indian for Dinner
After church my mum wanted to return to Spotlight AGAIN with some other mothers at church, and so Hamish and I went to the nearby McDonalds with Winston to pass the time away. It was also hot, so we thought it'd be a good idea to get something cool to drink. I have to say the frozen Sprite with a choice of different syrups was actually quite good!
An hour had passed and Spotlight closed, forcing our parents out. That's when we decided to all go out to dinner together. Nadine and Winston had seen a voucher on Groupon for Indian buffet at a restaurant nearby, so they rang to book a table and bought the voucher on the spot.
The rules of the voucher were that it included appetizers which we had to finish, and each of us could choose a main. If we wanted another one, we would have to finish everything before we could get the next one.
We all thought, oh yep that's cool we can do that! Let me tell you though it was a lot more difficult than it seemed!
The appetizers came on platters. Each were for two people, so we got four platters. There were kebabs, sausages and samosas which tasted really good.
We then had to choose which main we wanted to start off with. I originally chose lamb mince balls, but was asked if I could choose something else, so I chose one called the Special Curry. I can't quite remember what was in it, except lamb and chicken.
Our mums didn't manage to finish their curry sauce, and so we thought we wouldn't be allowed seconds...even though we did feel quite full by then!
We asked the waiter who had been really nice all night if we could order seconds, and while initially pointing at our mums' curry bowls, told us not to worry and so we ordered two more mains.
We had run out of rice and so we ordered some more, and I had too much rice put on my bowl! I was so full! I managed to finish it all in the end though!
Overall it was a pretty good deal and a good meal, and we really enjoyed the service there! We usually go to Chinese places for dinner, so it was good to try something different. If you're looking for good service and good curry, check out Simply Spice Restaurant!
An hour had passed and Spotlight closed, forcing our parents out. That's when we decided to all go out to dinner together. Nadine and Winston had seen a voucher on Groupon for Indian buffet at a restaurant nearby, so they rang to book a table and bought the voucher on the spot.
The rules of the voucher were that it included appetizers which we had to finish, and each of us could choose a main. If we wanted another one, we would have to finish everything before we could get the next one.
We all thought, oh yep that's cool we can do that! Let me tell you though it was a lot more difficult than it seemed!
We then had to choose which main we wanted to start off with. I originally chose lamb mince balls, but was asked if I could choose something else, so I chose one called the Special Curry. I can't quite remember what was in it, except lamb and chicken.
It was quite good. We got a basket of naan bread, and bowls of rice to add the curry to. While others at their meet first and were left with bowls of sauce, I added my sauce to the rice and ate that first so that I was left with the meat last.
Our mums didn't manage to finish their curry sauce, and so we thought we wouldn't be allowed seconds...even though we did feel quite full by then!
We asked the waiter who had been really nice all night if we could order seconds, and while initially pointing at our mums' curry bowls, told us not to worry and so we ordered two more mains.
We had run out of rice and so we ordered some more, and I had too much rice put on my bowl! I was so full! I managed to finish it all in the end though!
Overall it was a pretty good deal and a good meal, and we really enjoyed the service there! We usually go to Chinese places for dinner, so it was good to try something different. If you're looking for good service and good curry, check out Simply Spice Restaurant!
Friday 22 November 2013
Growing Taller
Unfortunately not me, but my sunflowers! :D
There's still now flowers, but at least they're growing taller! Now I just hope the wind doesn't blow them over or they snap...
Thursday 21 November 2013
A Week of Openings and Reopenings
This week has seen the local Spotlight store reopen, and a new Countdown supermarket open. That all means one thing - sales!
Yesterday my mum went to the Spotlight sale while I was at the gym. I went to find her afterwards and was surprised to see how packed Spotlight was! I don't think I've ever seen it that crowded before. I have to admit they were mainly older aged people there.
The aisles were quite narrow, especially for trolleys so I asked my mum if I could go to McDonald's while she continued to shop. I know, I know, undoing all my gym work!
Anyway, I went to McDonald's for a little feed. The girl at the counter recognised me and asked how I was doing, and how my brothers were doing! I didn't recognise her, but I just assumed it was probably from the countless Friday nights we go to McDonald's after youth group that she knew me! Now that's what I call good customer service!
Today was the opening of another Countdown supermarket. There is now at least four Countdowns within five minute of our house! This is the supermarket I actually applied for a job at. Countdown is gradually rolling out in-store pharmacies, and so I applied for a pharmacist position there. I never heard back, so I thought it'd be interesting to see what it's like and who's working there.
Once again this supermarket was pretty crowded. It seemed as though the staff were all getting used to their new jobs as well.
I was driving my mum into the carpark and was indicating to turn into a carpark that just became free. A car came from around the corner and I thought I'd let it pass before I turned into the carpark. The next thing I knew was the car driving straight into my car park! How rude! My mum leaned over to honk the horn before I quickly drove off so no one could see me (this car park was right opposite the entrance!). We eventually found another car park.
There were quite a few good deal today: four cans of baked beans/spaghetti for $2, a carton of eight 1.5L Coke/Diet Coke bottles for $10. Some people loaded their trolleys up with cans! There was a limit of one Coke carton per customer, but I saw one couple who each had a trolley with at least three cartons each! I'm guessing they own a dairy...
I ended up getting separated from my mum and walked around the whole supermarket three times before finding her. She's kinda short so is not the easiest person to spot in a crowd!
At least we came away with a trolley full of food! That always makes me happy!
Yesterday my mum went to the Spotlight sale while I was at the gym. I went to find her afterwards and was surprised to see how packed Spotlight was! I don't think I've ever seen it that crowded before. I have to admit they were mainly older aged people there.
The aisles were quite narrow, especially for trolleys so I asked my mum if I could go to McDonald's while she continued to shop. I know, I know, undoing all my gym work!
Anyway, I went to McDonald's for a little feed. The girl at the counter recognised me and asked how I was doing, and how my brothers were doing! I didn't recognise her, but I just assumed it was probably from the countless Friday nights we go to McDonald's after youth group that she knew me! Now that's what I call good customer service!
Today was the opening of another Countdown supermarket. There is now at least four Countdowns within five minute of our house! This is the supermarket I actually applied for a job at. Countdown is gradually rolling out in-store pharmacies, and so I applied for a pharmacist position there. I never heard back, so I thought it'd be interesting to see what it's like and who's working there.
Once again this supermarket was pretty crowded. It seemed as though the staff were all getting used to their new jobs as well.
There were quite a few good deal today: four cans of baked beans/spaghetti for $2, a carton of eight 1.5L Coke/Diet Coke bottles for $10. Some people loaded their trolleys up with cans! There was a limit of one Coke carton per customer, but I saw one couple who each had a trolley with at least three cartons each! I'm guessing they own a dairy...
I ended up getting separated from my mum and walked around the whole supermarket three times before finding her. She's kinda short so is not the easiest person to spot in a crowd!
At least we came away with a trolley full of food! That always makes me happy!
Monday 18 November 2013
Happy Belated Birthday Hamish!
Yesterday was actually Hamish's birthday, but because I was working all day and Aonghas had to work in the evening, we didn't get a chance to celebrate it. Usually our family goes out for dinner to celebrate.
We decided to go out for dinner tonight, since Aonghas has finished his uni job for the year which means he didn't have to work tonight. We were originally going to pick Hamish up from work, then go our favourite Chinese restaurant in Mt Albert, but we were having trouble getting in touch with Hamish. He's been having problems with his phone lately with the battery dying prematurely.
We only just managed to spot him waiting outside his work and picked him up, but by then it was quite late, so we changed our plans and went back to Carls Jr out west for dinner.
This would be the first time our dad had gone to Carls Jr! The burger I ordered was MASSIVE! I was definitely full afterwards!
Anyway, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAMISH!
We only just managed to spot him waiting outside his work and picked him up, but by then it was quite late, so we changed our plans and went back to Carls Jr out west for dinner.
This would be the first time our dad had gone to Carls Jr! The burger I ordered was MASSIVE! I was definitely full afterwards!
Saturday 16 November 2013
Fireworks go off with a Bang!
Tonight was the annual Waitakere Fireworks display at the Trusts Stadium. It almost didn't happen and was originally postponed, but fortunately it was un-postponed!
It's too expensive for us to pay to go in and watch the fireworks, but we're lucky our church is right across the road, so we can just watch them from there.
We showed up at about 8pm after dinner. We were originally tossing up between going out for dinner to celebrate Hamish's birthday (which is tomorrow), or just to eat in and celebrate it another time. We ended up staying home for dinner.
It was only once the stunt planes flew noisily over our house in formation that we started realising we should really get a move on!
As we drove to church, there were quite a few people sitting on the banks opposite the stadium ready to watch the fireworks for free. There must be a lot of cheap people like us in West Auckland!
When we got to church, the other fellowship was already there playing games. There were a few people from my own fellowship who had already shown up and joined in with them.
They were all sitting in a circle playing this game called Do You Love Your Neighbour? If you say 'yes', everyone has to swap seats, and the last person standing is stuck in the middle. If you say 'no', then only the two people beside you have to swap seats and you have to try swap seats with them without being the last person standing. Sound confusing? It was for me the first few times!
We were about to play this other game which required us to get into several teams. We were then given a few Chinese characters. Each team member would pick one character and call it out right at the same time, and the opposing team would have to guess what Chinese characters had been said and then use them to make a sentence or phrase.
We didn't get too far before the fireworks were about to start and we all rushed outside!
The fireworks started off slow and small, but they started to get bigger and bigger. Once again, car alarms were set off, and despite our car being parked at the far end of the car park, I had the beeper to turn it off every once in a while!
I'll let the photos do the talking though.
It's too expensive for us to pay to go in and watch the fireworks, but we're lucky our church is right across the road, so we can just watch them from there.
We showed up at about 8pm after dinner. We were originally tossing up between going out for dinner to celebrate Hamish's birthday (which is tomorrow), or just to eat in and celebrate it another time. We ended up staying home for dinner.
It was only once the stunt planes flew noisily over our house in formation that we started realising we should really get a move on!
As we drove to church, there were quite a few people sitting on the banks opposite the stadium ready to watch the fireworks for free. There must be a lot of cheap people like us in West Auckland!
When we got to church, the other fellowship was already there playing games. There were a few people from my own fellowship who had already shown up and joined in with them.
They were all sitting in a circle playing this game called Do You Love Your Neighbour? If you say 'yes', everyone has to swap seats, and the last person standing is stuck in the middle. If you say 'no', then only the two people beside you have to swap seats and you have to try swap seats with them without being the last person standing. Sound confusing? It was for me the first few times!
We were about to play this other game which required us to get into several teams. We were then given a few Chinese characters. Each team member would pick one character and call it out right at the same time, and the opposing team would have to guess what Chinese characters had been said and then use them to make a sentence or phrase.
The fireworks started off slow and small, but they started to get bigger and bigger. Once again, car alarms were set off, and despite our car being parked at the far end of the car park, I had the beeper to turn it off every once in a while!
I'll let the photos do the talking though.
Tuesday 5 November 2013
Pentatonix Power!
I have to admit to a new addiction in the past few days..Pentatonix! With all my free time I've been watching YouTube videos, and I've been hooked on their videos!
For those who haven't heard of them before, they are a 5-person acapella group, who originally entered an American TV competition called The Sing-Off and they won.
This is one of my favourite performances..
They have even done a cover of Royals by our local heroine, Lorde!
The guys who do the low parts and the percussion are amazing! Now I'm really starting to sound like a fan boy! I definitely wouldn't complain if they decided to pay New Zealand a visit though.
Saturday 2 November 2013
The Last of Uni...Again
I returned to uni this weekend for the final presentations of my postgrad course at university. I had one presentation to give on Saturday morning on a patient care plan, while my presentation on Sunday afternoon was on a clinical pharmacy service (I spoke on pharmacists being Quit Card providers).
I was quite anxious in the lead-up to the weekend, especially regarding my patient care plan as I had only just managed to get access to patient notes a week out after a two week fight with red tape. After reviewing the notes I only realised how much more there was to this case than I first expected! I was a little overwhelmed, and didn't know what to do!
Fortunately I managed to pull off a couple of over-nighters and come up with a care plan for this patient. I even managed some sleep the night before the presentation!
I was due to present early on the first Saturday morning. I started off a bit nervous, but pulled myself through. We had a time limit of 10 minutes, with a time penalty for every minute we spoke beyond 10 minutes 30 seconds. I had timed myself prior to the morning and my presentation was only nine minutes. I ended up speaking over time though! Yikes!
It was good to get it done early though, so I didn't have to worry for the rest of the day. I have to admit I was a bit tired though, and started dozing off a little! I was sitting at the back with one of my classmates.
He gave his presentation a little later in the afternoon, and after his presentation he told me he saw me dozing off during his presentation and tried to change the tone of his voice! I felt really bad about that! I bought myself a coffee at the next break to keep me awake for the rest of the afternoon! We didn't finish till 5.30pm, which meant a long nine hour day at uni!
The next day were the clinical pharmacy service presentations which were a bit more interesting to me. My presentation was right at the end of the day though, so I had a long wait. I was hoping to avoid going beyond the time limit this time though.
It was eventually my turn, and I gave my presentation. I ended up speaking for longer than yesterday! Noooo!!
At least it was all finally done. No more presentations, assignments or deadlines! Now the only thing to do is wait for the results to come out in about a month's time!
While I have been telling myself throughout this year that this will be the last time I go back to uni to study, I always find myself thinking about what I should study next! I think this time I should focus on finding a job first before considering any more study. I'm glad I did extra study this year though, as I have learnt quite a bit and it has helped me refresh my memory on quite a few things. I've also met quite a few cool people in my class!
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