Up We Go!

I just got back from another great training session.

And I am now an FM Instructor Certifier.

What is that? In more simple terms, sales-teacher-trainer.

The best bit about it is that I've been wanting to get into training for the best part of this year. It's just crazy that it's actually sales training - especially since I haven't even finished my own. I'mr eally looking forward to the variation that it's gonna provide to my schedule though - in my last job I was bored after a month and the novelty of being an ALT for a couple of years also wore of quickly....to the point that by the end of the first year, I really disliked my job. By the middle of the second year, I hated it. And by the end I couldn't stand it.

So yah, it feels good to actually like what I'm doing and developing all these skills that I didn't even know I had. I'm meeting some fantastic people along the way too and making some really good freinds.

Awesomeness.

xx

Booked

Yes, I know I promised but I couldn't go to the gym today.

First day of THAT time of the month.

Cramps.

Oooowwwwww!!!

Well, it's as good an excuse as any! Haha!

I spent this evening booking internal flights and buses for my trip to Oz.

I can't believe that it's only a matter of weeks until I will be there. So looking forward to getting a tan and just chilling on the beach with a book. Or 10.

:D

Uh Oh

I've been hit with the lazy bug.

I haven't been to the gym for a couple of weeks now. I was gonna go tonight but I'm just KNACKERED and seriously can't be arsed to go. Plus I don't wanna force myself to go and then be absolutely shattered at work tomorrow - it's just not worth it.

From Sunday. I promise!

Only a month to get my bikini body on!

From Sunday. I promise.

Yes.

xx

What A Weekend

I really had a great time this weekend in Seoul.

Catching up with a good friend, SHOPPING, clubbing, getting blind drunk, hardcore belly laughs - it was awesome.

Seoul is a really beautiful city. A night the lights are just stunning. So many colours and just seriously pretty - in that respect it definitely has the edge over Tokyo.

While I was there, it was seriously reminiscent of when I first came to Japan. The lack of English there hits you pretty much right away and I was back to relying on gesture communication and broken words. How HARD is Korean to pronounce?! When I was walking around by myself, even saying "excuse me" to ask someone for directions went misunderstood. I just got blank stares back - it's crazy!

I hit the shops hard. Not clothes, not bags, not shoes....but....SKINCARE PRODUCTS!!! I am now in possession of so many high brand anti ageing creams and am soooo chuffed at how cheap they were. I loaded up on lotions, potions and make up in duty free - although I am NEVER gonna get it in LOTTE and pick it up at the airport EVER AGAIN. It was just long queues and chaos and at that stupid time in the morning that I was in the airport, that was the last thing I needed.

Back to the grind tomorrow.

*sigh*

xx

Off Again

Nothing like listening to slow jamz while packing for a break.

I'm leaving in 20 minutes to go to Korea. I AM excited but I'm petrified because it's supposed to be FREEZING over there. And you all know how much I hate the winter and the cold weather. Yet it doesn't seem to affect what I pack in my suitcase. I figure if you take a big jacket then it doesn't really matter what you wear underneath. LOL!

Either way I wanna go shopping and get some new clothes anyway so it's a win win situation. Haha!

See y'all in a few days.

xx

WWWWHHHHHAAAATTTTTT??????

I am completely and utterly dumbfounded by Simon Cowell on this year's X-Factor.

Where are the bitchy nasty comments that we all know and love?!

5 times in the bottom and he saves Katie AGAIN. Like seriously - WTF?! In the past, if someone has been in the bottom more than twice he's all over that and gets rid of them.

What is going on?!

I can't stand Katie and her attention grabbing antics. She just needs a punch in the face. And so does Simon for supporting her. And so does Cheryl for putting her through in the first place!!

Unbelievable! I wish I had the will to boycott the show! LOL!

xx

Wowzers!

My goodness me.

I've literally spent HOURS online trying to work out the best way to get around OZ. I've compared costs of a million different routes and my head is spinning.

BUT

I think I have it worked out. I've even looked at availability of hotels to make sure that I don't get screwed over when booking my bus tickets and flights. It's gonna be a bit of a whirlwind trip...well, the last 5/6 days will be anyway but you know me! I like to get in as much as possible! =)

Just really excited bout getting the chance to just kick back and enjoy the beach for a few weeks. Feeling way to white right now!

I've already been thinking about travel plans for next year as well. It's gonna be a big one that's for sure. The beauty of having such a flexible job....*sigh*

Now I need to plan my trip to Korea next week!

xx

The Colours of Autumn

These are just a few of the gorgeous pictures I took in Nikko.

I just wanted you to see the colours more than anything!!

So pretty.

xx

Nikko

So I told you I was driving up to Nikko on Wednesday.

What a wicked fun road trip! Even though I was up earlier than I would've been if I had gone to work, it was such a nice, smooth easy drive out of the city and into the countryside.

The leaves around the temples were gorgeous. Even though they had already fallen in the mountains, the drive up this crazy windy road was so much fun and I nearly hit a monkey that just ran out in from of the car. Even crazier was the weather. It started out gorgeously sunny and then around 3ish, it just got FREEZING. When we drove into the mountains, it started to snow. I was sooo not prepared for that.

I can't imagine doing as much as we did without a car. The station is so far away from the sights and even though there are buses, it must be such a pain to have to wait around for them. Plus the fact that some of the attractions out of Nikko city are really far away from the bus stops - I mean, who's gonna walk to an outdoor onsen in the arse end of nowhere in the dark!?

That was such a nice way to finish of the day. On the way back we made a stop in Utsunomiya and still made it back to Tokyo in good time. I've been knackered ever since though, coz I still had to get up at 5am the next day to go to work.

*sigh*

Can't believe how CHEAP it was to rent a car! So gonna go on another road trip before the winter bargain offer is up. In the meantime, I'll be off to Korea next week to hang out for a few days. It will be much needed time off.

Pictures to come as soon as I've charged my camera battery!

xx

Start As You Mean To Go On

I just got back from the gym and am aching but feeling awesome.

3 times this week!!! I'm so proud that I've been forcing myself to go - even though I feel sooo tired after work.

It's the initial getting out of the house that's the problem. Once I'm walking and when I get in the studio, I feel fine. I just hope this is the end of my month long bout of laziness! It's one of those things where you get motivated for a while and then all it takes is not to go once and then it escalates from there.

On a completely different (and random) note, don't you just LOVE it when you have a great smelling shampoo?! LOL! I can't stop sniffing my hair!

LMAO!

Night.

xx

OMG! It's REAL?!!?

I've never been one to wear real fur. In fact, it's actually against my morals to wear real fur.

So you can imagine my horror when I discovered that I've been wearing a real fur collar for about 3 weeks!!!

I was with a friend this evening and was showing her my collar and crooning about how unbelievably soft it was and she was telling me that she thinks it looks and feels like real fur. Everyone has been commenting on how expensive it looks but I hadn't thought anything of it...except that I'd made a much better choice than the other girls that I have seen wearing "fur" collars.

So I pulled it off to show her the label...which I had never actually read...and there it was written in Japanese...."CHINESE RACOON (REAL)".

Man, I threw it on the table so fast you would've wondered what the hell was going on. It was at least 20 minutes before I could even touch it again as I watched my friend stroking it and rubbing her face in it.

Yuck.

I only put it back on again because it's so cold outside! My friend is trying to justify it by saying that there are plenty of Chinese racoons out there. The collar is absolutely stunning and I love it so much, but I'm just absolutely disgusted with it right now!! It wasn't exactly cheap so I don't wanna just discard it...even if it is real fur.

I wish I never looked at that label now! Sometimes ignorance really is bliss!

xx

Back Behind the Wheel

As if it wasn't exciting enough that I'm heading up to Nikko next week....

...my friend and I have decided to rent a car and drive up there!!! Well, I'll be the one doing all the driving but you know what I mean! It's gonna be a really gorgeous drive as well - take in some stunning scenery, make stops wherever we like - much more interesting than taking the train!

It's mroe expensive but I definitely think that it'll be worth it...I hope. Just waiting to see if the car rental company are gonna be a little more flexible on their winter bargain pick up times!

I pulled out my Japan Lonely Planet for the first time in 2 years - so much to see and do here! I really need to get on it.

xx

Fighto!!!!

I FINALLY dragged my arse to the gym today.

For about 2 hours I found every excuse not to go but I just put myself through the motions and got my arse out of the door.

I have a feeling I should've eased myself back into in though instead of jumping straight back into the advanced aerobics class! It was so hard!! And even though I feel GREAT right now, I know tomorrow I am going to be absolutely exhausted.

But the fight for the bikini body has begun. In my month of laziness, I have managed to put on a kilo...not that I mind - it's all gone straight to my arse and for the first time EVER, I have a fabulously round and bouncy back off! Haha! At last! Something to shake on the dance floor. =) However, I need to tone up and get fit - stairs are killing me more than ever before.

You always just feel so great after a really hardcore workout - but tomorrow I have one hell of a busy day so I hope I'm not too knackered and aching after this evening's antics.

Night all!

xx