Dinner @ Braza Chirrascaria Darling Quarter

Braza Churrascaria is the bar, inspired by one of the most popular places in Rio de Janeiro (Lapa) takes its name, Braza Lapa Bar, which is an attraction not to be missed - presenting the first Cachaça Bar in Australia (Original Brazilian Spirit made of Sugar Cane), a selection of more than 80 types of beers and up to 160 types of wines - everything followed by a delicious Bar menu, which was made to match perfectly with this variety of drinks. It's a good option for those, who are just walking around Darling Harbour and are simply after a relaxing time.

Opening Hours

 

Lunch: everyday 12 - 3.30 pm

Dinner: everyday 5.00 pm till late

Phone: (02) 9286-3733

Fax: (02)  9286-3755

1-25 Harbour St, Darling Quarter 

Darling Harbour NSW 2000 

Website: www.braza.com.au

Gilchrist Park Kingsgrove

Day Trip to Wollongong

I haven't been to Wollongong for more than 10 years now and It hasn't changed much at all.

We met our friends from morning until 2pm then drove to the Lighthouse and Belmore Basin.  We had fish and chips at Le Vending and played water with their dad and uncle. I was sitting on the picnic mat and writing this blog and amazingly completed another two beauty blogposts here (http://beautyisflirtywhatyouthink.blogspot.com.au).  It was a relax and beautiful Sunday after all.

After the swim, the kids went to the Foreshore Playground which was just opposite to Le Vendi cafe.

Lanterns of the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition - Chinese New Year 2015

Chinese New Year is a visual event and special event. I remember when I was little my family used to go back to my parents' hometown for celebration.  My grandma cooked lovely hometown dishes.  All of us had long-life noodle with chicken soup and one egg. After dinner, all the kids will play fireworks with surround neighbourhood and on the street, eating Chinese New Year specially made cookies, nuts, cakes and nibble and also we received red packets from the elderly.  Just right before midnight, my dad and uncles (my grandma had 8 kids; 2 daughters and 6 sons and each of them avg 2-3 kids, can you imagine how big my family is?!), they will prepare a special fireworks just like what you saw in New Year Eve but smaller scale.  At that time, everyone was allowed to buy those firework until people misused and the government tighten the rules.

My family is now in Sydney and I have 2 young kids.  We still keep this traditional event at home (without the fireworks of course!).  We clean out the house before Chinese New Year because no cleaning on the first and second day because my mum said that you will sweep away the money and happiness. 😊

This year, Sydney will host a series of larger than life lanterns will come to Australia for the first time and be on display next to Sydney Harbour for ten days, to correspond with the annual event.

Created by Chinese artist Xia Nan for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, these larger than life lanterns also include women and children arranged in family groups. Fashioned out of fabric and wire, they have all the delicacy of a traditional Chinese lantern, on a scale that inspires awe. With 90 2.1 metre high warriors and two horses glowing in brilliant bursts of colour, this is a sight not to be missed.

The Lanterns of the Terracotta Warriors have previously only been shown in China and the United Kingdom, and are in Australia for the first time as part of the City of Sydney’s Chinese New Year Festival. Illuminated against the beauty of Sydney Harbour for ten days and nights only, this unique exhibition is an unforgettable experience.  

For more information about this event, head to http://www.sydneychinesenewyear.com/festival-program/terracotta-warrior-exhibition/

The Lanterns of the Terracotta  Exhibition will be held from 13 February 2015- 22 February 2015.  Light will be turned on at dusk until Midnight at Dawes Point, Hickson Road Reserve.  Entry is free.

I will definitely bring my kids to see this lifetime event.  

Are you going to bring your kids there? Let me know if you are, may be we could meet up for coffee? 😃

Lilian

DateFri 13 - Sun 2

Father Casey's 50ths Party!!

We were very lucky this year to attend Father Casey's 50th Birthday.  My daughter, Pearl was participating a secret surprise dance.  She had been in training for 5x Thursdays  and she got to know other bigger kids that she enjoyed ti be around.

After 5pm Saturday Mass we headed to St Ursula High School Hall.  The weather was unpredictable as it was raining heavily and thumderstone. It didn't stop everyone. 

When we reached the hall, the place was decorated beautifully and very systematic arranged so no cluttered and all the youth helpers and ursherettes were very helpful.  We chose table No. 26 so we could see the performance closely.  The food area was arranged like a buffet style and divided to three sections with the same food - 10 courses! We had 100 tables on that night therefore 30tables for each section.  It was so smooth and impressed thata everyone had every good as ursherettes served everyone equally and very efficient! 

We had so many entertainment for Father Casey, karaoke, singing, video and we had Father from Rome to come and celebrate with us, what a privilege!

The whole event finished with delicious dessert, coffee and tea.  It was nearly 10pm and everyone were in the dance floor.  It was a special night for my family. My husband and I agreed this was the best party we had ever been.

Have a great weekend!

Regards,

Lilian

FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND BELIEVE YOU CAN ACHIEVE

From last 13 months I had four secondments Assistant to Chief Actuarial to General Manager of People & Culture.  Then 12 months supported 3 Heads of and a Senior Manager and now Executive General Manager. It was challenging, stretching and amazing.  I never gave up believing that all my efforts would lead to my dream job.  It wasn’t easy, I’ve worked hard on my brand, my reputation and I’ve networked my butt off.  But I got the result I wanted so, if you want something, you might have to work for it but you have to believe it’s out there and you have to go after it.

Have a great week! 

Lilian xx

"we’ve always done it this way”

I have started a new secondment role in a company that in transition merging to the new and bigger company where I came from originally, which I have more advantage as I am already know the systems and also the culture of the company.  I was talking with another Personal Assistant about the Christmas preparation at work.  She suggested to do cupcakes with Christmassy decor. I acknowledged her that it was a brilliant Idea but why don't we have a few quotes of doing others such as butter biscuits with Christmasy Shapes, either Santa face or Christmas tree and sugar coated with nice wrapping or we could do cake pop with red and white decor as it goes with Christmas Party Theme this year.  Please also note that we just had cupcakes for another event last week.  We could give out this present in Christmas Party Day.  

She insisted to do on first day of December and cupcake choice and her response was "we’ve always done it this way”.

So  do I do?  I listen more than I talk.  I explore and ask questions.  I let people tell me “we’ve always done it this way” and allow them their voice.  I’m there to help and support people through their individual transitions.  I put myself in their shoes because change is traumatic.  I try to make their journey easier and I help them understand the WHY.  The “why” is so important when it comes to managing change; the more we understand WHY we are doing something the more likely we are to accept it, embrace it and grow.

As a Personal Assistant, I’ve always enjoyed learning new ways of working; I love development and mentoring and hopefully one day I could do coaching; feedback is a great motivator for me.  I’m currently in a period of huge transition and learning. My Executive General Manager has five direct reports and Ieads a team of more than 60 people in different states and I’ve got a brief to encourage new behaviours and change the way we work.  I have a challenge ahead of me (I love a challenge!).

I use the curve of change tool to illustrate the four stages of change.

• Stage 1: shock, denial
• Stage 2: fear, anger, resistance
• Stage 3: acceptance, optimism
• Stage 4: embrace, rebuild

So let’s change those habits and embrace the WHY.  Once we understand the WHY, we can move onto the HOW (and that’s the really exciting bit).