The Bachelor...

Yes ladies....Mr Clooney is a single man once again.

Not sure why this information excites me, but it does.

He's just so DAMN handsome!

TV Dinners...

I recently discovered that I can't eat if there are animals on TV.

You know those nature documentaries where they show hyenas in their natural environs preying for their supper; zoomed in images of marsupials giving birth to their babies, or lions ripping chunks out of fresh carcasses?

If I'm sitting in front of the TV and eating my dinner, I just can't handle it.

Is that weird?

Grrrrrrrr...

I went to the bank the other day to change my loan arrangements, and when I asked if there were any fees associated with doing so, was told "no" as I had purchased a product for $340 that waived these fees.

Well wasn't I shocked when I checked my account this morning, to find that it had been debited $111.50!

So I phoned the lady I dealt with to query it, and her response was that it wasn't a bank fee...it was a government fee. THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT OK!!!!! Shouldn't banks be responsible for disclosing this information???

NOT happy!!!!!!!! >:o(

The classics...

I've decided I want to start reading more of the classics. I love reading in general, but I've not read much of the iconic works of the literary stalwarts. Take Jane Austen for instance. I love her stories, but I've only ever read one of her books - Pride and Prejudice. And Charles Dickens? I've read Great Expectations, but only because it was part of my year 12 curriculum, and if my memory serves me correctly, I only actually read half of it before turning to the Cliff's Notes for a summary!

Why do I want to read them? These stories have stood the test of time. Many of their themes are as relevant today as when they were written, and if they're not, they at least give us an insight into the thinking of the day. Every week, or even daily I'm sure, new novels are published, yet they flit in and off the shelves in an instant. You'll always find the classics in any book store in the world.


So with this thought in mind, I popped into the book store at Sydney Airport whilst waiting for my flight, and picked up a copy of J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. I didn't know anything about this book, nor the controversy that surrounded it when it was published in 1951. Having read it though, I can see why - whilst the subject matter, language and behaviour of the character wouldn't cause an eyelash to batter these days, it was pretty in your face for its time. Profanity, sexual references, blasphemy...it's got it all...imagine how that went down in 1950's America?!

Catcher in the Rye is essentially a first person overview of the life of a 16 year old boy, Holden Caulfield, on the brink of depression. It's set in late 1940's New York and recounts the 48 hours immediately after Holden's expulsion from boarding school - his experiences, his emotions, his though patterns, his opinions.

Despite the novel's worldwide popularity over the past 50 years, there has never been a film adaptation of it, not due to lack of interest, but rather the author's refusal to grant anyone the rights. Throughout the book though, I kept picturing Leonardo Di Caprio in the lead role and Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine) playing Holden's baby sister.

So that's one classic down and hundreds to go! Any recommendations on which one I should tackle next?

Bel returns as a married woman...

Wow! It's been a while. I think I've been putting off posting again simply because it's been so long! I've missed it though. So where do I start?

Let's start with the wedding. The big day was almost two months ago now. It was awesome, and as everyone who's been through it will say, it went by in a blur.

Nothing beats being surrounded by the love of family and friends who've been in your life for so long. It created such intense emotion for the whole day, which probably explains why I turned into a blubbering mess the moment I stepped foot in the chapel! I was reasonably calm and collected the entire morning, so I have no idea where the uncontrollable sobbing came from! Needless to say, I was very embarassed!! All our guests were laughing though, so at least my tears were entertaining - hahaha :o)

Both my mum and dad walked me down the aisle, and that was just so very special. I'm very glad I chose to do it that way.

And Nathan, my groom, looked hot - and I mean that in both senses! He was wiping beads of sweat from his forehead as I approached the altar (LOL), and he looked absolutely gorgeous in his suit. Have a look for yourself...

I guess each of our reactions was a result of nerves, despite us having been together for almost 10 years already! But we did have about 200 pairs of eyes on us, so that's our excuse!

I wish we could do it all over again - it was just such a fun and brilliant day. Hope our guests feel the same.

And life as a married woman? Well, it's exactly the same as life as a "single" woman co-habitating with her boyfriend for six years, except we each have an extra piece of jewellery and share the same surname! Which basically means life with Nathan is still brilliant...wouldn't change a thing, for now anyway ;o)

I'm getting married tomorrow.....

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!

Fancy that...

I just went to text a message to my sister, and I thought it was kinda funny that when I want to text the word "EAT", the word "FAT" came up first on the list.

Gotta love predictive text!!

I wonder how many people are affected by these kind of subliminal messages?

Happiness vs Sadness...

Just found out that Heath Ledger's wake was held at Indiana Tea House in Cottesloe....that's where I'm having my wedding reception.

And the Chaplain who presided over his memorial service, is the same one who will be marrying N and I.

That's all.

Only five weeks to go...

Butterflies are fluttering...

Bank accounts are struggling...

Moodiness is rearing its ugly head...

Sleep is intermittent...

"Special" songs are spinning through my head...

Plus, I've just discovered that my hairdresser's left the salon I'm booked in to for the big day!!!

But, I'm still excited to marry my boy... 'cos he's lovely.

RIP Heath...

Shock. Sadness. Disbelief. Grief. And I didn't even know him.

I, together with many around the world, mourn the loss of such an amazingly talented actor.

Being a fellow Australian (and from his hometown of Perth), I am really, really, really saddened by this news of a local boy done good, yet taken from this world waaaaaay too early.

How many of us aspire to fame and fortune? How many of us entertain the thought that "if only" we lived a celebrity lifestyle or had millions in the bank we'd be happy? Heath's premature death is proof that happiness and satisfaction are not necessarily part of the "Fame & Fortune" package.

My heart goes out to his family and friends, especially his 2-year old daughter Matilda. I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like for her to grow up not knowing her father.

Update: I've just read that Heath Ledger's family found out about his death via the media!!!!!! What is this world coming to?? Is there no respect for others anymore??? The media have taken it too far this time. I am utterly disgusted.

It is a truth universally acknowledged...

Jane Austen is one of my favourite authors, so I wasn't surprised that I absolutely LOVED Becoming Jane - a movie based on her life.

James McAvoy is the most charming, romantic gentleman (can't wait to see him in Atonement) and Anne Hathaway is really quite brilliant - she does an impressive English accent and her pale, porcelain skin and gentle features make her perfect in the role of Jane. I can't believe she was the star of those awful Princess Diaries! She's come a long way.

I've actually only read one of Jane Austen's novels - Pride and Prejudice - but I've read it three times (and seen a few movie adaptations of her others). I think it's the romantic in me that loves her work so much, and I also appreciate how she portrays the strength of her female protagonists. They believe in romance, but they're also prepared to fend for themselves...much like Austen herself. A good way to be I think.

She is an inspiration.

Who inspires you?

Excuses, excuses...

It's been a while since I last posted, and I'll admit that this isn't even a "real" post, as I'm only writing with excuses as to why I've been so blog lazy.

Two words: Wedding Brain.

It's the same as Baby Brain, but involves flowers, invitations, cake and a dress I will never wear again! And it's damn stressful trying to juggle it all on top of work and day to day living.

15 March is the big day - yaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you're all well.

Catch you soon!

Home sweet home....

Howdy all!

I'm back at home after a brilliant holiday.

New York was awesome, as usual, and made even better thanks to the wonderful Ming the Merciless from New York City Daily Photo. He played tour guide to us and showed us all the hip and happening spots in Downtown - his favourite part of NYC.

Our visit to NY wouldn't have been the same without you Ming, so thank you SO SO SO SO much for taking the time to meet up with us - hope I can return the favour one day, when you head to Oz! :o)

That's all for now.

Will update with pics and more travel stories soon.

But for now, I'll leave you with this hilarious billboard we saw at Guadalajara Airport.

Them Mexicans sure know how to keep busy in their own company....hahahahaha!!!

Around the world in 25 days...

Off on holidays.

See you when I return!

Take care.

"Oh, it's to die for".......REALLY???

What could you possibly want THAT much that you would "die" to have????

If you die, you don't actually get what you want anyway, so I don't understand why people say this.

There's a juice bar chain in Australia that has a range of "To Die For" yoghurts on its menu.....even if I was the biggest yoghurt fan on the planet, I'm pretty sure I would prefer to live and eat sorbet instead.

He was staying at a backpackers near mine....

I overheard this sentence in a conversation a few years ago.

Two girls were talking.

I walked past them.

Those words were all I heard.

I can't recall THEIR faces at all, but for some reason, this (part) sentence has stuck in my mind ever since.

No idea why.

But I'm still intrigued by the story that went with it.

One thing on his mind...

So George W. Bush is in Oz for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit.

Sydney's in high security, lock down mode. Residents have been granted a day off work today (Friday) and apparently traffic is in chaos as a result of major roads and intersections being blocked off.

With 21 world leaders in attendance, including China's President Hu Jintao and Russia's President Vladimir Putin, it's a high profile, international event, which you'd assume is of great significance to the Asia Pacific region.

So you'd expect the leader of the world's most powerful nation to have been adequately briefed on what was going on, and what event he was actually attending.

Enter George W.

"G'day and welcome to the OPEC Summit."

OPEC = Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Imagine!

Who would've EVER thought Mr Bush and his administration would have OIL on their minds.

What a joke.

Thanks for coming George W.

Now, please go home!

Bits and pieces...

1. I went to the supermarket at the weekend, and the girl at the checkout had hiccups. She asked me an interesting question....."Do mute people get hiccups?" I didn't have an answer for her.

2. Australian men's magazine Zoo Weekly has just launched a competition. The prize? Win a boob job for your girlfriend!!!!!! WHAT THE HELL?????

3. Two P-Plate (probationary) drivers drove into a tree and a light post near my house on Friday night. 8 people are now in hospital. When I hear stories of accidents involving P-Plate drivers, I've noticed that 9 times out of 10, these P-platers are driving Holden Commodores (with big V8 engines). Perhaps the only way to stop the insanity of losing an increasing number of young people in preventable road accidents, is to ban them from driving this type of car. One of my suggestions is to hand out pre-paid funeral service brochures to everyone who buys a Holden Commodore. Hell - why not offer a discounted funeral package so their friends get a good deal too. Goodness knows they're sure to be some of the passengers.

If you hadn't sensed it, I feel quite strongly about number 3. It makes me sad and angry every time I hear or watch the news and this kind of story appears, which is more often than not lately. The Office of Road Safety can talk about curfews etc all they want, but everything must come back to cause and effect - take away the Holden Commodore (the cause) and the effect will be different.

Finding Facebook....

I've discovered Facebook, and during the past couple weeks, have been spending my precious "blog" hours chatting to long lost friends on that.

Since that time the following has happened:

My sister has officially announced a Nerd Alert on my life.

I've tried on my first wedding dress.....very weird.

My boyfriend turned 33......he also wore the most bizarre jumper/sweater in the entire universe, which for some reason, I had never before encountered in the 8 and a half years we've been together. Where he's been hiding it all this time, I do not know, but I can understand why it was kept well away from broad daylight.

One of my most beautifully gorgeous friends welcomed baby number 3 into the world.

Another of my most beautifully gorgeous friends got engaged.

I picked up a cool black leather satchel I had on lay-by for 2 months.

And I had a cold.

It's amazing how much can happen in such a short time.

World clock.....

A friend emailed this World Clock to me today, but I'm not sure if watching it tick over is intriguing or depressing.

Poodwaddle.com (purveyor of this resource) claims stats were gathered from the World Health Organisation, CIA Factbook, US Census Bureau and other sources.

Check out the World Clock for yourself - http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

(Sorry, a direct link wouldn't work so you'll have to do a bit of a cut and paste job)