SarahN – Page 13 – Live To List

March 9, 2015January 7, 2021

4 days to go!

The countdown is til I move back to my normal office. It’s all very uncertain, as I’ve applied for another role (not at my normal office location, this time, south, but with a car as part of the package). So I’m not sure if this will be a short term stop over or part of a longer ‘settling back in’. In any case, I’m not regretting turning down the promotion ‘up north’. I still woke today, dreading the commute. I still cursed the sweatiness hustling to not miss my train. And I cursed again as I got home 12 hours since I’d left, knowing I have yet more hours to work to get some time off for a funeral on Friday.

2015 Random 002 — Oh I went to the zoo… this is a seal

All I can hope is this move in work will mean a more regular return to blogging! Though I note other professional women amongst my readership have slowed down blogging too, which makes me feel foolish to boast having more time! Thanks for making me feel normal, in my irregular posting, Lucinda, Fiona and Amanda – Dar & Laura you put us all to shame, what IS your secret?

2015 Random 005 — Sunday brunch view (Scarborough beach, WA)

Outside of work, I spent four days in Perth with the BF last weekend… it was totally last minute (as in, the flight disappeared from being sold online within the time I was looking at it!) It was an expensive last minutes decision, but critical to my mental health, so I’m glad I did it. The BF spent the remainder of the week in Perth, so I ‘stayed over’ with my empty nester parents much to their delight. Of course, they spoilt me, with breakfast (fruit salad, yoghurt and toast) set out for me. And waking me gently rather than an alarm. And dropping me at the station, or picking me up from the airport during peak hour. So I felt like a special someone for a little while, which was just what I needed.

I’ve totally forgot to share my embarrassing surfing lesson photos with you – I have to more lessons to look like a pro (and lose 10kg I’ve gained of late!) Still, it was a fun and exhausting work out. And the weather was far nice that the picture, but it did turn at the end, and lovely at the start 😀 A cyclone or two have delayed me from going back the past two weekends. But I did pilates in the park, and a run, a first in a long time. My body is screaming, let me assure you!

How are y’all?

February 21, 2015May 24, 2018

Push has come to shove

So… work:

This week marked my six month anniversary of being a manager of my team of six in northern Sydney. And at the end of the week, I was offered the opportunity to make the management role permanent.

Ironic – as I didn’t apply for the role. I applied for advertisement for six roles at the same level, at three locations, one being where I’ve been working. Like other applicants, I opted for the locations that suited me. Alas, it seems like no one *read* that part.

The informal story is – I wasn’t meritorious enough to get the role in location I preferred. Interestingly, that means I’m offered something I didn’t ask for.

Truth be told, this was the most probable of the scenarios I’d envisioned!

My loyal readers, you’ll recall my first foray into management, titled I’m not ready for management. (which I followed with this post, and this). That was just a YEAR ago.

My first foray was a short six week period. Then I went into acting as a Senior Engineer, with no staff reporting to me, but a higher pay scale and added responsibilities (like formal disciplinary interviews and ethics training). As the restructure continued to unfurl, I was moved to a more northern location, for what I saw as a short term stop gap for the business. And exactly six months, almost to the day, the applications are submitted, the interviews are completed, and the offers are imminent (I’m lead to believe I have a jump on those?!)

But true to my word then, and now. It’s not right for me.

What I do know is, I CAN be a manager. I have valuable skills beyond my first few years in the section, where I was a paperwork machine. I can track and manage progress on any number of fronts. I can empathetically support staff, all but one, older than me, and the complexity of humans and their lives – difficult pregnancies, ill partners, children with ongoing health concerns, staff with health issues! I’ve balanced the responsiveness needed for our section, against a team with all their competing personal needs. And, I’d like to say, we’ve *killed* it. Myself included, we came to form a section with about 3 years COMBINED of experience in the skills in the portfolio. That’s basically saying we built from the ground up.

I’ve learnt to balance, and come to enjoy, the commitments beyond managing my team. I sit of a few committees, and despite my relative youth, I come to feel I have something to offer. I have a strong understanding of what ‘my people’ do, and how to relate that to people rolling out new technology. Or the committee who drafts the ‘Rules’. And on a committee when I work to implement legislation that’s neigh on impossible to implement in the financial climate, but alas, due to the Black Saturday Bushfires, we must do, and without a moment of delay. Through all these, I’ve exposed myself to far more people than ever before, and I have a far greater understanding of all the moving parts of the business. I am gobsmacked to find the level below the COO, knows my name in a meeting. Gosh the COO “reply all” to an email, and I was CCed in, just this morning (yes, Saturday!). I feel like saying no now isn’t the end of my future. Maybe I’ll be wrong. But I’m confident in myself and my value, to this business. And if not to this business, I now trust I can add value elsewhere.

Strange side note – I was searching my COO, and his linkedin profile shows he did a MBA (only recently) in a very prestigious French institute. And he did his undergraduate degree where I did… Well there you go!

What are your thoughts?

February 14, 2015January 7, 2021

The 30th Birthday Dinner Party

This was the party to end all parties. It had every element I could hope for, and of course, nothing I wouldn’t want. You might recall a teaser post here.

The morning was frantic. I got a fake tan. Then for the two hours waiting for it to set, I finished my jigsaw puzzle, cause I was not packing it up half done!

I needed two additional tables, and one (nail biting-ly) only arrived at 3pm, thanks to some wonderful friends up the road! You’ll notice I made meters upon meters of bunting as you can see in the background.

I also had three friends arriving from interstate. Sadly I could only fit one in to stay here, and she arrived at the same time as the last table. Another guest helped out with picking up the three cakes at 4pm and dropping them by. Sadly I forgot to take photographs of the cake 🙁

One was nutty, another was maple and apple, another chocolate.

Oh, so these were bios of all my guests... save for two — Oh, so these were bios of all my guests… save for two

I knew not all my friends had met one another, as two came from school days, another two from my trips to Paris, and others from university. With this in mind, and a desire to ‘give back’ to my wonderful friends, each person had a small bio/highlight reel written up for them. I thought the early guests could ‘busy’ themselves finding the bio that matched them, but in the mean time, find out about other guests. On the other side of the card was their name. Inside the card, was their seat number. I’ve never been a seating plan gal, but I didn’t want new friends to feel like they had nothing in common with those around them, so I tried to socially engineer 😉

Everyone loved the entree… I thought I had enough white crockery borrowed from my parents and a friend, but alas, I forgot about the side plates… and I similarly was under resourced with tumblers and cutlery. Thankfully the caterers had some in their van, and luckily avoided those costs!

The best thing about catering were the two waiters who cleared everything and kept all the glasses filled.

There is nothing I like more than a sparkler, and for $5 I got 80! That was enough for us all to enjoy countless!

Let's get this sparkle started — Let’s get this sparkle started

My dad, isn't he lovely — My dad, isn’t he lovely

We're friends cause we share the excitement about the same things! — We’re friends cause we share the excitement about the same things!

I invited 16 guests to join me for a sit down dinner party in my home. I got the event fully catered, with three canapes (or two, after decorating resulted in me upturning the dish of arancini balls!), one entree and alternate mains. Then I bought three different cakes from Adriano Zumbo, a celebrity patisserie.

You’ll remember (or know) I’m not keen on stuff. Well, my brother and his girlfriend MADE me a 3 and a 0 pinata and filled it with candy. That’s an activity/experience combined with a consumable I love!

I don't look scary here — I don’t look scary here

They filled the pinata SO full they couldn’t hang it without it breaking the string, so my daring brother held it! Much to the amusement of my guests AND the neighbours and their guests who were also having a dinner on their facing balcony!

No event of mine would be complete without some craft. Or with flowers. And sparklers. Oh how I love sparklers.

The other surprise arranged for me was a video tribute. My friend had contacted my facebook ‘friend’ list, and perhaps even some of you bloggers! She asked for a short video, and she stitched together with facebook photos. I was totally surprised, and had Dar from An Exacting Life come to life. Interestingly, she was mistaken by my family by another Canadian friend we have! An Israeli friend dialled in (and then there were embarrassing photos of us with mud on us from when I visited her!).

It was a wonderful evening, and pretty stress free thanks to the amazing caterers and help from friends and family. I feel honoured to have such wonderful people around me, and that extends to my readers, who were duly talked about too!

February 12, 2015January 7, 2021

The real birthday

This will be a two part series (can it really be a series with two parts?). The real day of my birthday. And the day of my party!

The birthday selfie - streaming TV whilst awaiting a GP appointment — The birthday selfie – streaming TV whilst awaiting a GP appointment

So, the real birthday started with a horrible cold. That’s what a 15 hour flight with a sick mother will do to you! The BF (unbeknownst to me) had planned a surprise night for me, and none of it had a contingency plan for be staying home from work in bed all day! I reassured him that I would be ok in the evening, but that I most certainly wasn’t going to work.

He’d hoped to pack a bag when I was at work, and take it with him to work. He also planned to lay out an outfit and a note that said a car was picking me up at 7.10pm. In reality, the bag packing happened when he got home from work (and dispatched me to the sofa). I realised something was amiss when I was putting on my make up – the toothbrushes weren’t in the holder! I am a detective!

Battered chicken wing - neither of us usually eat chicken wings, but agreed this was wonderful, and the garlic butter the perfect addition — Battered chicken wing – neither of us usually eat chicken wings, but agreed this was wonderful, and the garlic butter the perfect addition

Anyhow, he laid out my clothing, and a lovely black Audi picked us up, and whisked us to Rockpool, another three hatted restaurant like Aria and Quay where I’ve previously celebrated birthday dinners with family and friends. Unrelated, Rockpool is one of my father’s clients.

Yum, but eclipsed by chicken wings served at the same time

There, we indulged in nine courses, which was one too many. How? Well, let’s just say the dessert wine made an appearance much later in the night… seems too many wines, plus cold and flu medication wasn’t ideal.

From memory, this is the dish I recall as the 'best'. The edamame puree against the crunch of the disc... mmm — From memory, this is the dish I recall as the ‘best’. The edamame puree against the crunch of the disc… mmm

After dinner, Rich walked/propped me up, and took me to the Sofitel, a short walk from Rockpool. In the room was a lovely bunch of flower from Rich’s parents. His mother stays at the Sofitel when she comes to Sydney, so it all seemed very well orchestrated. The BF has of course ensured there was a FULL buffet breakfast. Knowing me oh so well! Seems a hangover dampens my spirits for a buffet, but I did have a hash brown, pancakes, fruit, bircher museli… so I did put in a good effort!

I feel I need to keep writing, as I have more food photos…

Something... crispy skinned salmon perhaps? (see why I take a menu photo now?) — Something… crispy skinned salmon perhaps? (see why I take a menu photo now?)

Bread and butter. I know, I couldn't let it not get a photo! — Bread and butter. I know, I couldn’t let it not get a photo!

Again, cool but recollection hazy by this stage!

Salad... they evidently don't know us. Wine, yes they do! — Salad… they evidently don’t know us. Wine, yes they do!

And another dessert - with sweet potato in it. Pretty sure teh BF's was better — And another dessert – with sweet potato in it. Pretty sure teh BF’s was better

Food envy of the BF's chocolatey dessert — Food envy of the BF’s chocolatey dessert

The whole dinner was a complete surprise. We’d disagreed about spending some Christmas money on a ‘fancy dinner’ so I was touched that the BF would organise all this given he’s not as keen on fine dining. He even ate the seafood!

Any favourites?

February 9, 2015January 7, 2021

Portland is funny

I love this idea - no waste! — I love this idea – no waste!

US 2015 631 — If it wasn’t pink, the BF might have got one of these

I promise, I will FIND time to post all about my FABULOUS birthday dinner on Saturday, and one blogger/reader friend who got in on the biggest secret surprise of all – wow, I was gob smacked.

February 3, 2015January 7, 2021

Pretty stuff seen in the US

Target cushion - I want — Target cushion – I want

This was a window display, too cute to pass without a photo

Salt & Shake bathroom - cool no? A former film theatre I think — Salt & Shake bathroom – cool no? A former film theatre I think

Schoolhouse Electric - a failed bus trip missed it on the outbound. But well worth the effort — Schoolhouse Electric – a failed bus trip missed it on the outbound. But well worth the effort

I'll take that all thanks! — I’ll take that all thanks!

I'd like the globe for a certain birthday party — I’d like the globe for a certain birthday party

Too cute... my terrarium has died :( — Too cute… my terrarium has died 🙁

February 2, 2015January 7, 2021

You can buy this?

Surely these products don’t sell…

Well at least they make the healthy stuff look appealing

I didn't have any the first visit... the second visit, I wasn't so strong — I didn’t have any the first visit… the second visit, I wasn’t so strong

You can't buy crabs in our deli — You can’t buy crabs in our deli

This is what I did for Val Day last year!

Yes, I'd like those too — Yes, I’d like those too

US 2015 579 — Never seen an ice cream version of these

WHAT THE? But you know, I wanted to try them.

I want one - these are in grocery stores — I want one – these are in grocery stores

We seldom even find normal pretzels in Australia, but then all these choices!

What the... it's a thing, I found out — What the… it’s a thing, I found out

Cute... though I believe out of season... — Cute… though I believe out of season…

This is obscene - and so not that practical as a catering item, as it was pitched — This is obscene – and so not that practical as a catering item, as it was pitched

That is not for human consumption is it?

Sweet with savoury - this combo is too weird — Sweet with savoury – this combo is too weird

Wow, when powdered mash is just too hard

What’s the weirdest thing in this post for you, or the weirdest thing you’ve seen sold in a grocery store?

February 1, 2015January 7, 2021

Selfie a day in the US of A

Day 1 - the mecca of clothes is found — Day 1 – the mecca of clothes is found

Mum attempting to selfie for me (does not work!)

What are those kids doing with that sea lion

A place I didn't get a selfie — A place I didn’t get a selfie

It's even pretty from afar — It’s even pretty from afar

A day exploring alone... armed with coffee — A day exploring alone… armed with coffee

Powell's book - a book store to end all book stores — Powell’s book – a book store to end all book stores

I am calm... now I have donuts! — I am calm… now I have donuts!

Opps I've been forgetting, on the MAX in Portland — Opps I’ve been forgetting, on the MAX in Portland

January 27, 2015January 7, 2021

I’ve been hiding in the US

It feels like a long time since I blogged.

Mainly cause I’ve been exhausted. Work takes it out of me. I don’t like it. And I even don’t like it when I get back from two weeks of recharging (or should that be refueling) holiday in the US. I’ve had one day back, and I realise all too quickly everything that’s wrong with the culture due to the ongoing restructure. The pressures of work were spilling into my home too, and it’s nothing to say of the things on my BF’s mind – his work’s really ramped up too!

So it was nice to have two weeks away with my mother in the US. We spent about 10 days in San Francisco and then four days in Portland, OR. It was a lovely refreshing cool time, without much rain (but alas, SYDNEY! It’s bucketed down since I returned early on Australia Day – that walk to and from the station is less pleasurable with an umbrella!)

I ate everything that was

caramel flavoured
cinnamon flavoured
maple flavoured
cheesecake-y
weirdly flavoured, like honey lavendar or caramel with bacon

Voodoo donuts in Portland - maple bacon mmm — Voodoo donuts in Portland – maple bacon mmm

I’ve now rounded out to a whole number in weight, and it’s ghastly! Even more ghastly that in a handful of days I’ll be 30, and a week later, I’ll host a fabulous dinner party, complete with catering, gown, map themed decadence. Reckon I can drop 10kg in two weeks? (I’m not serious, but I am eating healthier!)

Oh, and did I share? For Christmas, I got SURFING LESSONS – I’m sure I did. Anyhow, I have to fit that in at some stage, I’m really looking forward to giving it a whirl once the sun is out…

I think I’ll do some grouping of my holidays photos, I’m thinking of posts

all the food
weird things about America (mainly text that one!)
you can buy that?
pretty stuff – houses mainly, but some art too
signs that I love, or just don’t get!
a selfie (almost) every day

As always, I’ve been reading y’all – I’m just useless at commenting when not on the laptop. I’ll work on that!

January 10, 2015May 24, 2018

Guerilla concrete art

As regular readers would know, I notice things on my walks around inner city Sydney, like this.

In the past few months, there’s been a cluster of concrete art around scaffolding in my local area. They must have excess, so they cast it into fun shapes. i noticed some of the ‘older’ ones have been chipped away, perhaps removed by the true property owners? Who knows… But for you enjoyment: