Friday five

Kate from Kate as of Late regularly makes Friday fives posts and invited people to join her in writing about five random things that pop in your head and would like to share. As I don't really know what subject to write about today, I thought I'd join her Friday Five posts.

So here you go, my Friday Five's:

1. At last the working week is over! Right now I'm fed up with going all the way to Brussels and this week just has been very busy and stressful, so I can't wait for a relaxing weekend! And very much looking forward to going out tonight with the girls for some birthday celebrations. We'll also be talking about our trip to Spain, which is in September. Still a while away, but I'm really looking forward to it, as it's been a whole year since I've been anywhere. And I do love to travel. But yay, tonight party fun time. And possible tomorrow! I'm on a roll here.

2.

Everything is now in order to go ahead and book my flight to Australia for December! I have my visa card, and I checked with my boss if I can take the time off, and I can! Checked the flight, and it should costs me just over 1500 euro, which is quite a lot but o well. I'm not a big spender and I like to save up, so spending that much at once will hurt a little! But I'm super excited about it, and I can't wait to see Perth and surroundings and hang out with my Aussie friends. My mom is not too fond of the plan, she says she'll be worried about me the whole time and thinks it's way too far, but my mom is very protective, and I'm sure I'll be perfectly safe. YAY Australia ! I feel superadventurous doing this on my own, and it's going to be so great to spend xmas and new year in the sun on the other side of the world, and get away from everything at home. Hope I don't fall in love with the country too much, or I might not want to go home :D

3. Almost summer sales! Finally I can use the money I got from my parents for my birthday and get some nice things! I'm going to need loads, a lot of my summer clothes could use some updating and I need to get a few bits and pieces for my travels as well. It'll be hot in Spain and even hotter in Australia, so I could use some really light things. And some more work clothes. As it's an embassy, I like to look presentable. But I'm not a very casual wear type of person anyway, you won't see me in a pair of trainers. I'm quite girly, I refused to wear trousers when I was three, and for years after, because trousers were too boyish haha. Unless the trousers had flowers on them, then it was ok :D I got over that though :p Although I still wear a lot more skirts and dresses than trousers.

4. No more new episodes of all my series ! :( I'm very fond of tv, as it's my way of relaxing after a looong day at work, and now that summer is here, all the series I was watching have ended until autumn, so I'm stuck to watching random things on the discovery channel and animal planet. But True Blood is starting their new season in a few day, sos hooray, at least one thing, and I do love True Blood (not just because of the sexy vampires I swear ;), it's a very exciting series, although there's quite a bit of nudity and blood and gore. But I'm no prude, and I love the books as well.

5. I've run out of things to say umm. Seriously getting bored here, not much to do this afternoon. Been amusing myself by answering questions on Yahoo answers. Some of the questions are quite hilarious I must say, it really shows you how weird/dumb/uneducated/pervy people are.
Here are some examples:

The Gandalf one I found particularly funny :p


Have a great weekend everyone!

Will I ever see Australia?

No, I don't mean the film (although I've seen it, it's great!). I mean the huge country on the other side of the world, thousands of miles away!
You might have noticed that one of my bucket list items is to go to Australia (mainly to see my long time Australian friend)! He's been asking for years to come and visit, but as it's a huge planeflight away it's not that easy. Difficulties up to now were:
- their summer is our winter, and back in the day our winter was exam time and in our summer he has no holiday
- it is very expensive and will probably cost a few thousand euro, with the flight, accommodation, food, drinks, etc..
- Finding nobody to come with me
- My mom freaking out over the idea of me going there alone

As my situation has changed and I'm now out of college and working, the money issue has been resolved, YAY! Problem nr three and problem nr four are unfortunately still an issue. I had hoped to go with a friend, but as she lives by herself she was not able to say yes in the end due to the high costs :( Mom still is an unhappy camper about me flying there alone and is inventing all sorts of scenarios, like my friend might abandon me there, then what! or I might get attacked at airport while transferring in foreign country, then what! or something happens and everyone is on other side of world, then what! le SIGH. Mothers.

Also an issue is if work would allow me to take perhaps three weeks off in a row. I guess two weeks could work, but for a nearly 24 hour plane journey, I want some decent time there and do lots of exploring. It might be possible, I haven't really asked yet, so it might not be an issue after all.

I would really LOVE to go in the not so far future though, the timing would be great. Still living at home gives me lots of opportunity to save up a lot of money, I'm not married with kids (which probably complicates 24-hour plane trips) and I've never been outside of Europe and have been dying to get a chance to do so, as everyone around seems to be making far-away trips. And I'm jealous!!

Of course, as it's a gigantic country compared to tiny Belgium, I won't be able to see the whole country. My friend lives in Perth, so Perth it is! Has anyone ever been there? If so, tell me what it was like! It is of course a giant city, but as I'd have a guide, I'd be able to do lots of exploring and see amazing things that you can't find in Europe. At the time my friend was still game I did lots of research about nearby things I wanted to visit. These are some of those places, makes you want to jump on that plane right now don't you think?

Needless to say, I was disappointed when it fell through, but my friend needed the money and it is very expensive. Being broke when you come back is not so fun. Of course I know my Aussi friend would make sure I don't get eaten by snakes and other Australian wildlife, but try and tell that to my mom :p If she doesn't know the person, they are potentially dangerous :D And it's so hard to find someone who's willing to come, my circle of friends is so adventure-lacking.

I do hope I make it some time soon, it would be a dream come true, and such a big adventure! Although I can imagine a 24 hour plane journey by myself might potentially suck big time. And the summer heat there might very well make me unable to move, I'm determined it would be so much fun! I remember presenting an oral assignment (pick a country and talk about it) in the first year of secondary school, and my choice was Australia. It's a sign! Australia should be my first out-of-Europe trip.

I will get there, eventually!