Sister-Kind - A Year Later

 A Year Later

Part Ten of Sister-kind

A lot can happen in the space of a year, our lives inevitably change, love, family, accidents and lots and lots of hard work in between.

Speaking of work, career wise, in the first half of 2011 I worked as a Business Analyst for 6 months, then afterwards went back into the service desk in my former role, but in title only, as my work is now more about documentation or technical writing, it’s very task orientated and these tasks can also become mini projects that I need to prioritize other work around.

Earlier this year I finished my project work for my 2010 Front Line Management course and went to a graduation event earlier in March to get that piece of paper. In 2011 during first semester I went back into study at a Post Grad level within the Curtin Business School to study Management. I completed one unit – Business Ethics and scored a distinction for my efforts.

 I took the second semester off, I needed to, and I’ve spiraled a little bit, unsure of what I’m doing exactly or where I’d like to be. I’ll do an ITIL v3 ITSM course in December and that will round out my year in terms of study. I am unsure if I will continue studying, it couldn’t hurt if I did or didn’t. But a lot depends on the work environment as well.

I identify with work culture in a way I have never done so prior to coming home to Perth. I am a 9 – 5 worker. I work hard, I seek peer acceptance from my colleagues and I put all my creative energy there. At the end of the working day I come home and I try and self assess and be my own self for a few hours, before doing it all over again the next day.

I am interested in the type of worker I might become, I wonder will I go into some form of Process Management or will I go down the path of a Business Analyst within our ICT Project Office. I don’t know really. I’m unsure of what I want. I think that Relationship Management is interesting, I’d like to explore that, but I’m sure someone else will determine where I land, maybe I’ll do Incident Management, but I really can’t say for certain. Whatever I’m doing in terms of work I just want it to count towards something, a collaborative effort that is greater than myself for it to be meaningful. Otherwise I’ll drift, become bored, fuck, I’m already bored, there is no challenge or emphasis to make anything I do meaningful. I need a reason. Something to get me going. I’m talking about belief.

Though I must digress, as there is a lot of soul searching that affects my mood. I suppose it’s unfair to have the expectation that your daily work can provide purpose.
Day by day I look forward to the good times and I pray to let the bad times be far apart. This year, I’ve had some personal break throughs, I lost some weight which was good and I kept going to counselling. As a result I’m more centred, calm and I’ve started to form an acceptance of my place in the world, my part to play.

I use various outlets to spend my time, I draw graffiti, I’d like to paint with Lindsay sometime soon, my style is very personal now, I know exactly who I am doing this for and what I produce is all mine.
Graffiti freed me, it let me loose, it spawned other outlets too, my interest in film led towards discovering the process of film making, acting, directing and film writing. I plan to keep writing, maybe not scripts but more fiction. I’d like to write a novel someday.... or a dozen. I will make another film one day, right now I’m working on a frag video of my time playing video games, my best take downs, scores, kills.

As a coping mechanism watching movies and playing video games saved my life as much as did the discovery of music. It’s influence on me has had an affect on my writing, both in a serialised blog form or in the narrative form of fiction. You could also make the correlation that through my interest in film also fuelled my thirst for history, specifically the historical events that occurred during WW2.

Recently the therapy of building WW2 models has helped me to calm myself, to unwind, to free myself from stress. I realise that during the process that something in my head switches off, then I’m free to try out new ideas, push boundaries. It’s an outlet that is visual and I like it for what it is. It’s as powerful as the fondness I have for writing, telling stories and losing myself in my own fantasy world. I like to live my life like that too. To live in the film-like world, where everyone is upbeat, whip smart with their language and swish, stylish. But it’s a fantasy, and yet it serves it’s purpose.

While getting my though the days, weeks, hours, nothing is more important to me is to find true happiness and purpose. Be that as a member of my family or to find true love. I mean what is the point otherwise. The one thing I know to be absolutely true is that if you don’t love, you will never be happy.

But then there is family, family gives us our purpose, and when there is love it binds us to one another. Kelly. Kelly has done that for us all.

Kelly had her baby in May, John and Kelly named her – Lila. She is a beautiful baby girl with a lot of John’s features, so you can definitely tell who her daddy is.
Kelly is besotted with Lila, she is a wonderful mother and I have never seen my sister in this light before, if ever there was a shadow of a doubt, she is the stronger of us both.

When I came back from my last trip I went to see Kelly immediately to drop off the vanilla powder, we must have talked for three hours straight. I went into lavish descriptions about what it was like for me and I thanked her for being there in the emails, to be there for me personally.

So, fast forward a year later and I’m getting ready to go away again. Jeff and I have assembled a posse that consists of some of our internet friends - James and his wife Soli, Brendan from the Drunkards clan, Nathan from work and his friend Kym.There will be seven of us. Amigos. Stars.

And I for one can’t wait. I’m on the eve of my second overseas holiday, with only two days until I fly away. This whole year of work has been leading up to this one event, all the scrimping and saving. Some parts of my life have been put on hold and I’ve denied myself so much.
But soon...so very soon we can unwind, relax and for a time be free to enjoy ourselves.

In the lead up to this journey I look back to the crazy back and forth emails I shared with my sister when she and her family were in KL only a couple of months ago. Again these emails reveal our likenesses, our twin-ness, our crazy messed up family and the love we hold for one another and as fantastic as it might seem I know that in spite of all my soul searching , looking for a way to belong or to find purpose, I know that in my family, these questions are answered. My purpose is revealed in the way in which we belong to one another, bound by love. It’s this same bond of my sisters love that holds us all together and for me this beauty of life is that knowing it’s real.

*             *             *

Please enjoy the following emails.

Hey Kels,

You're probably there by now
How was the flight? Lila behave?
Did you find your Birki's yet?
Had any good food?

Love,

Brosef

Hi B,

Yes, we're here!!
I only just recovered from Friday ... today!
The flight was no worries.  Lila was really good actually.
We got thrown off the plane at the low cost terminal (LCCT) straight onto the tarmac (You gotta love Air Asia), and we walked what seemed like a mile in the heat to the (seemingly un-air-conditioned) terminal.

Lila was so funny - she was so shocked by the heat, she just laid there limp in my arms, prolly thinking WTF??!!
The Hotel Istana is great as always.

I had a migraine Friday night (from flying with a bad head cold) so that was a write off.

John took one for the team and drank himself stupid with our friends in the club lounge at cocktail hour, then wandered the streets, getting all nostalgic, acting like a drunk tour guide - ha ha 
It was johns b’day yesterday, so he took it pretty easy, and rolled out of bed about 9-ish whilst Lila saw fit to wake moi at 4.30am ... grrr

I hit the shops like a crazy person (Sungei Wang and BB Plaza) and spent as much money as i could spend in the 3 hours (!!!) Lila was asleep in her pram (guess she was tired, what with the early rise).  woohoo!!! shopping!! got the biggest rush.  Ellice (our friend) LOVES the shopping in KL ... who wouldnt?  had lunch at Deli France, then back to hotel for total body collapse.

Meanwhile, John and Rob went to some Aussie bar to watch the Eagles get flogged, then they went for a questionable massage before coming back to the hotel with a decided spring in his step ... hmmmm (just kidding - he assures me no R&T)

Then our lovely frame suppliers took us all out for dinner and spoiled us rotten with Peking duck and everything else under the sun.  They gave John a stunning royal Selangor pewter mug that was engraved.  He got thoroughly spoiled.  Lila could not settle in such a noisy restaurant and cried at pretty regular intervals (there was also TWO weddings on in the same restaurant) until we took the poor little munchkin home and to bed. 

By this time (as I do not cope with little sleep), I was ready to take someone out so went to bed pretty swiftly myself. Lila decided 5.50am was a more reasonable time to wake up mummy this morning so .... here i am writing this email while she has her first nap of the day :)

John, of course, is sleeping, though i have said I am having a break today, and getting a well deserved massage and pedicure on my skanky footsies :)

No Birkies yet, but will.  My black ones finally arrived from Germany 2 days before we went to KL, they feel terrific.

Off to either Times Square or KL tower today, then China Town tonight - woohoo!!! more shopping!!!

xoxoxox

Wow-wee sounds fan-fucking-tabulos Sis.

Your email had me laughing myself stupid.
I am so happy and jealous for you at the same time.

So u went Air Asia and got off at LCCT huh, hmmm maybe i should try them next time, save some moola.
Glad you scored your Birkis, you should buy another pair or else a pair of hush puppies flats.

Oh man on Friday I almost outted myself in such a big way, our lady Director was walking the floor and over her arm she had a red Grace Kelly bag, you know the one with the crocodile skin embossing. I was saying to Gavin, "Who does she think she is with that, don't you think it's a bit much, I mean.. I don't even think it's Hermes" Then Gavin falls into his big sister routine and says - "Oh you're such a bitch"
And the whole time the Director can hear this and she looks on over and just shakes her head as if to say, "boys boys boys"

Let me know how you get on at the pedicure and if you're going to get a haircut i'm told KLCC top floor there's a salon from a guy who used to cut celebs in the UK. Should be around $40 AUD.

Has Istana finished their renovations? Glad you're feeling better.

Take care,

Brosef

G-morn brew

Had a great day yesterday apart from an early morning bout of poo that didn’t end till I was a quivering sweaty mess (must be the sheer excess of food I have consumed since i got here)

LOVE KL though - what a fab place.

Went to Times Square via monorail to the theme park.  Our friends, Rob and Ellice, have a 5 yr old son, and he had a ball (and so did we!).  rob was feeling pretty green after disembarking the roller coaster (sissy), so we went to Wendy’s for lunch (the mushroom melt is fantastic) for some sustenance.  I have binged on junk food way too much.
Rob is determined to eat his way through KL even if it kills him ... he he.  i love that about him.  more of anything?  more of EVERYTHING!!!

Came back to hotel, lounged by the pool, then went to china town at 5pm, that place is crazy town.  We put Lila in the baby carrier (sort of like a back pack you wear on your front), and attempted to shop as best we could in the humidity and a baby that was melting.  Only stayed an hour, bought John some polo shirts, Dad’s red bull jacket, and 2 x leather belts for me, then back to hotel for cocktails. I put Lila to bed in her pram, then joined an already drunk John and Rob who were drinking for England (cocktails finished at 7.30 and we only got there at 6.45 so there was much making up to do apparently)

Rob had spotted a middle eastern restaurant just up from the hotel earlier in the day, so off we went there for dins.  Woooohhh!!  the food.  fantastic.  though we pondered upon going there on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 was disrespectful (though not intended).  Lots of men in there with 2 or 3 wives in tow.  John and Rob shared a hooker (i am not sure how you spell this) but it is a pipe bong looking thing that they put flavours in and you smoke it like some sort of pimp. We were assured there was nothing untoward in it, but after us all having a puff (and taking really lame photos of us all doing it), we were all a bit giggly and legged it back to the hotel to devour the rest of Johns birthday cake ... hrmmm

Lila woke at an extremely respectable time of 7am (my gorgeous daughter - so considerate) so i feel great today.
We have a meeting with our suppliers today - work?  pah!  so best get that over with ....

Our friends are going to KL tower whilst we do that then, if Lila will let mummy, will have a stroll around the Pavilion, which i haven’t been to yet on this trip.

I did not get my Birkies, nor a pedi, nor a rest yesterday.  travelling with a baby is not easy.  you can’t just do what you want when you want.  i am even yet to have coffee bean!!  Lila has been an awesome sport though, i have to say.  she coos and squeaks at everyone’s she sees, and she makes her mummy so proud.  I have been dressing her in an array of rompers that leave her chubster legs and arms free so she doesn’t get too hot and, i must say, she is the cutest baby i have ever seen J

x

Hey P-Sissy,

Your tale of the sweaty bog had me laughing myself stupid. It sounds as though you're eating some delicious food that can sometimes leave you a little schlepy as it passes.

I wondered whether the theme park at Times Square was okay, glad to know it is.
I never tried Wendy's, different to Wendy's in Aus I imagine?

So the weather is decent enough for lounging by the pool, that's awesome.

I can't believe everything you guys have managed to pack into a single day, that's amazing.

Petaling Street, all done in a n hour, must be  a new record. See any cool Fakes? when I was there last I was eyeing off some swish overnight bags, though i'm very happy with my LV you got me.
I might save and get a Mandarina Duck over nighter, not sure yet.

Drinking for England? well done JM. It's like fucking for virginity isn't it?
So polygamy is making a come back in KL, good to know, haha.
Smoking a hookah after some decent food must have made JM feel like he was Mega-Pimp.

Please wish JM a happy birthday for me, I was unawares until you mentioned the cake.

I can't believe how you guys can do it, be a family, travel for business, it's amazing to me, as far as married people I know, you guys are so cool, gives the rest of us something to aim for.

And little Lila is being so good for her mummy makes me happy too, love the chubster legs bit.

Find any clothing for her over there? I know you mentioned pumpkin patch in Garden City, do they have that brand there?

I know it can't be easy, but I sincerely hope that some your wish list gets fulfilled. And besides i'm there in around November so I can always pick something up for you.

Take care Sis, write me back if you can, sounds like it's wonderful over there right now, i'm so happy and jealous, (can you be both?)

Love,

Bru

Pudina,

Well, another sweaty moist day in fabulous KL, had another great day yesterday we met with our suppliers for a meeting and ordered some frames for the next 6 months, then they took us out for dim sum, while Rob, Ellice and Brandon meanwhile went to the KL tower

Our suppliers, Anny and Chin, have a gorg black Merc, and on the way to dim sum, Lila did an ENORMOUS fart, then proceeded to do a big poo I was rather embarrassed ... she was ..... not so, I had to do an awkward nappy change in a private dining room of this rather swanky restaurant they took us to.  I kind of love that kids don’t care whether these situations are cringe worthy or not ... he he

After lunch, we said goodbye, and met up with our friends at BB plaza, and hit the shops.  I was casually walking past a shoe shop, and BAM! saw the most sparkly over the top cougar town shoes i have ever seen.  the heart wants what the heart wants.  I purchased them IMMEDIATELY with the money you gave me.  It made me so happy.  Can shoes do that to you?

Ellice is going shopping mad here .... makes me so proud :)
I went to Parkson Grand and i had to hold myself back from going crazy buying clothes for Lila.  Everything is Kmart prices but David Jones quality.  ahhhhhhhhhhh

I was parched by now (also scoffed several donuts whilst shopping) so went to a wine bar, parked John and Rob with a large jug of Carlsberg (and Lila), and Ellice and I went to get our footsies eaten at the fish spa. I was a major sissy about the whole thing, and made lots of girlish exclamations as the fish feasted on my poor weary feet. There must have been so much dead skin on there, they prolly had to take breaks to barf ... feet were silky smooth afterwards though.  poor bloody fish .... what a job.

Went back to wine bar to find rob and john devouring a second LARGE jug of beer, whilst our very understanding of her daddy daughter slept in her pram. They both giggled like school boys, which I found a bit annoying, and told john he looked stupid, to which he found even more funny

took a stroll (mostly to sober the men up) through the Pavilion, which never ceases to amaze me how beautiful that place is, and got back to hotel to bath and feed Lila, then put her to bed in her pram (like i said - she is an amazingly flexible baby and we are so lucky), then went for cocktails.  i actually had a drink!  hit me like a tonne of bricks .... mummy can’t drink anymore ... sigh

Rob and John did some (more) drinking, and after cocktails went for an extremely long walk to see Petronas towers at night.  He took a million photos.  Then did a quick lap around KLCC.  Ellice and I went to LV and pretended we belonged in there even though I am sure we fooled no-one, particularly me with my sweaty face, and messy hair.  still - window shopping is free and i can always dream.  had dinner in the food hall there, then home to crash.

Lila is having her first nap of the day.  woke at 6.50am, so is not only gorgeous but extremely considerate of her tired mummy.  Now off to shower, then breakfast!!!

I’m going to try and get up Petronas towers today (unlikely), then taking Brandon to Petrosains (like sci-tech), then hopefully a victory lap of shopping ... our last night in KL - sob!

In answer to your question about china town - yes, some very nice luggage in there, but i have found an increasing amount of copy stuff in BB plaza and sungei wang, so maybe save youself the trouble (and dehydration) of china town.  dunno what the prices are like .... i am a bit over bargaining

x

Hey Sis,

You may call me Sir qweefs-a-lot as i've had the worst gas today, I've been walking around with whats feels like the hangover from a flu, it's left me feeling like crap.

Dunno who i picked this up from but i've had nausea, the dry heaves and headaches a-go-go, started Friday night and I had to take Monday off and I even left home early today, gay.

This morning I was a little brighter and these emails have been my true delight, it's really kept me going, thank you.

It's funny watching how these emails have played out, in how i'm now playing the part you did in my first overseas journey, my only wish is that the two of us could be there together someday, how awesome would that be, we'd tear those shopping malls apart, someday maybe someday.

Anyhoo I hope your last day is as enjoyable as your week has been, i hope you're able to get a few things you've wanted, glad you scored for aptly named 'cougar heels', ha-ha.

Let me know how you get on and Dad has asked me to drop by Thursday night...if that's cool. (say so if it isn't)

Luv,

Brosef

Boo,

That’s no good that you were sick.  you need to take better care of yourself.  you are always sick, and take too many days off work.  if you worked for me, i would fire your ass ,,, he he.  I hope you are feeling better now x

Today has gone lightening fast, and here we are in the club lounge, having a large gin, before leaving for the airport at 9.00pm.  dreading the midnight flight ... with a baby no less!!  grrr.  oh well, we'll cope, i guess.  i just dont want to be THAT parent with THE screaming baby, you know?

I had a pretty cruisy day today.  breakfast, packed, then whilst our friends went to batu caves, we took a final stroll to bb plaza, had lunch, got a pedi, then back to hotel to meet ellice, jumped in cab, then did a ridiculous speed shop at central market.  so, if you get a lovely pashmina for christmas ... thats why :)

I have had a wonderful hol though.  has been great.  are you dropping over after work, are you?

x

Hey Kel,

Yeah planning on it.
Tell me if i shouldn't.
You might be too zonked.

Is ok. 

See you later

x

THE END.