Over the threshold

Well, everyone thought my writers block was not going to clear, however like all good chamgpange, the fermentation takes time and when you wait long enough there will be a good reaction, boom a flute full of pure passion. Lets just hope that this entry will be smooth and light, yet refreshing on the pallet as the seasons change and the buds and blooms of spring form a procession of beauty in our eyes.

I would like to welcome all returning readers and new readers to my blog and I hope that the reading will encourage you in your everyday lives and look at life in a way that turn a mundane train trip to a symphony of colour, sounds and smells.

So over the threshold, what does this mean? Literally when a newly married couple return from the blissful honeymoon and they enter the threshold of the new house a man must carry his bride over the threshold. There is great symbolism in this move, I have always wonder what it meant and I will try my best to explain what it means. Firstly, in ancient times it was believe the bride would carry her baggage, mainly emotional to the new relationship. Therefore, the bridegroom with all his strength must not let her toes touch the ground from the gate of the entrance to the atrium of the house. IF the bridegroom fails this, I am sorry to say you're going to be stuck with many hours of hmm hah from your beloved.

Since I did carry my bride over the threshold I have been blessed with only a few hours of hmm hah. I must admit marriage life is just great, it's like have your best friend hang out with you all the time, and when we heard we were getting another member to our family I was shocked, suprised and diselusion. simply wonderful I say.

However, over the threshold doesn't mean you can just sit back now that you are married> I have discovered marriage required you to step up your game even more. The great battle has only begun. keeping the passion intense between husband and wife presents new challenges. For passion time to happen you need to keep the enemy at bay.
These battles include the husband defeating the plague of dirty dishes from the west. I have some key strategies to defeat this enemy, and keeping your stamina for victory celebrations.
Firstly, meet the enemy in battle with the right frame of mind and a full belly. Like all great battles always attack the foot soldiers first, in this case the utensils, include forks, spoon and knives. Call for reinforcements from your lovely wife, you need a hand now to dry while you machine gun down the plates and bowls. As the battle goes on, your enemy will lodge wave after wave of 20tonne JD AM bombs, if you had a roast dinner with desert it's going to be a long battle. The best way to motivate yourself is always have a refreshing drink waiting for you in the supply depot for when the battle is won.

Once the main battle is over, it's time to clean surfaces and rinse down the collateral damage. Now you have a clean battlefield for the next time you face the enemy. Remember always rinse and if you have time wash and dry after all meals, so that you won't will have more time for intense passion.

However, just as soon as you begin to become complacent, your beloved is out to get you. It's an enemy from behind the lines. Here we go, how to combat this silent assassin, you don't know when or where but the answer is simple. Destroy it straight away, one of the greatest battles so far against has been the bombing of Shower harbour by the sunrise kamikaze bombers. This was a short and fast attack where she dumped large volumes of dirty bombs with speed and accuracy. The sheer size and speed of this attacked blocked Shower harbour so fast that the inhabitants where trapped. However, the ministry of interior defence had a newly develop weapon which was used for smaller attacks in the past. Shower harbour was clean and it was gleaming awaiting it's next attack.


With your brass gleaming, and the battle over for the time being, life at home is peaceful and surreal. One great man once said, peace time is blissful, when the battle was bloody. So the harder you fight the greater the victory.

I must admit marriage is just a spectacular vocation. There are soo many variables, life is just not the same everyday. One day you could be eating noodles, the next it could be ravioli, sometimes there is milk with cereals while other days it could be juice and croissants. Now I must make some recommendations about what to do over the next couple of days.

When I was proof reading my work, It came to me that I need to write a disclaimer saying to the men who do follow this advice and win their battles. THAT they might not be not guarantee passion time.




The weather in Sydney is expectant to be hot, so why not go to the beach. So pack a towel, some sun screen and some swimmers because swimming is menu, with sparking Shiraz. Sparkling Shiraz would be my drink of the spring season.
It's like drinking a Shiraz, with the peppering flavour, mixed with a bubbles, basically eating a Vietnamese seaweed salad, where you get the strong sour flavours but the light textures of the seaweed.
Next on the menu would be a 1 dollar cheese burger. I have been wondering how a cheese might taste like for 1 dollar. If you're not a cheese burger then I'll go for some soft shell crab.
Cheese burger, soft shell crab, and sparkling Shiraz what a combination.

So don't be indoors over the weekends, go for Spring, swimming, Sparkling Shiraz, cheese burger and Soft shell crab, get that down your Gob as my wife would say.


Thank you and see you again all.
Deo Gratias.

The bridegroom speaks to his bride

Salutations, welcome and hello I know everyone has been waiting for the next installment of According to Truong. I do apologise for not writing for the last month. But like my dad say don't kill a snake and leave its head because it will come back and bite you in the leg. So I don't like to write blogs which are a half attempt or it will come back and bite me.

So you are probably wondering why it has taken so long for a new blog entry, the reason being I am now married to my wife of 2 year courting. So thank you all for your well wishes and I am please to say that married life is the best.
On this special occasion, it brings me great privilege to share with you all the wedding speech have a lovely weekend and do go out and enjoy our lovely city of Sydney and surrounds.

Introduction and welcome

Today the 7^th of May the Year 2011, AD, a beautiful day, a wonderful day, a glorious day.

It’s a miracle to be here, Deo Gratias,

We give thanks to almighty God for all his blessing and graces for bringing together such fine people here to celebrate our wedding.

I would like to welcome everyone!! all you here present.

Especially our families, the Gresser’s and the Vu Nguyen’s.

Additionally a warm welcome to Lucy’s extended family who have travelled from far and wide to be with us today.

You so very kind to be here today Thank you.

Firstly I would like to say a few words in Vietnamese

Welcome.

Thank you.

Address to Family &bridal committee.

One this day, we would like to thank both our parents, for all the effort they have gone through from the start of our relationship to this point in time

our wedding.

I am overjoyed that God has blessed us both with such wonderful parents.

They are full of wisdom, they are caring and generous in whatever they do,

be it cooking roast chickens or spring rolls, to making skirting boards or floating floorboards. Lucy and I would like to thank you Mr and Mrs Gresser, and Mr and Mrs Vu Nguyen.

Secondly, a heartfelt thank you to my dear brother in law Fr Laurence Gresser, who from the very start, never lost interest in me and encouraged me in my faith to have the bravery and guts to take a risk.

He was there to support me from the early courtship to the moment I asked for her hand in marriage.

I know it has been a long and painful journey for the both of us, but through this pain and suffering

I know there has been many blessing and graces.

I personally know that in my pain I would remember always remember these words from our Lord Jesus Christ.

venite ad me omnes

qui laboratis et onerati

estis et ego

reficiam vos

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you.

Next on the list we have Father Wong, the man, the Priest, and a friend. Father Wong, has always been clear and concise with me,

Especially when I asked to join the seminary to become a priest, good stuff he turned me away. Father Wong’s marriage preparation classes were perfect for Lucy and me.

The reason for this was that, when you put two strong willed people together you are going to have an explosive situation with arguments. Marriage prep was our home ground where we fell in love all over again.

Monday morning emails at work were always Good morning darling, compared with Fridays’ blank ones.

Thank you Father Wong, and I look forward to using all the guidance from you in our marriage and I promise to listen more intently to all your sermons.

Now to our lovely bridal party sitting beside us.

As per the custom Ladies first and my heartfelt gratitude to all of Lucy’s beautiful bridesmaids.

I would like to start with Anne Oniel, she has been the circuit board of our relationship she is very logical and never makes rash decisions.

She has been wonderful helping with all the preparations for the wedding and her commitment towards organising family events.

Jane Gresser, without Jane I think Lucy and I would have not a safe haven to go to when we are upset with each other.

Jane and John have been inspirational to our relationship. We look up to Jane and John in times of happiness and sadness, I know that every time Lucy is upset with me for some bizarre reason she will always have a logical ear on the other end of the phone to talk to.

Beth Kendrick, Beth is not only a close friend of mine but she was the friend who introduced me initially Lucy.

I know you have been told by Lucy on numerous occasions of our meetings both at WYD 2008 and at PJ Gallagher. Where it was like “hi Truong this is my friend Lucy, and my reply was a humph,

Luckily for me, Beth was persistent to keep us together.

For the grunt and guts of this operation, the groomsmen.

Starting with Chistopher Wolter, not only did he single handily supervise the entire courtship, bachelor night and mass booklets.

He has also been a great moral support for us, our very own St Thomas Aquinas.

When Lucy did not want to go out with me,

Chris was the go to man for spontaneous un planned dates to Franks pizza or the White cockatoo hotel.

Secondly William Quach, he came a bit late to the relationship but has been my best from primary.

I am very proud to have such a backbone to rely on especially when Lucy and I feel like some Korean food or a nice pub meal at PJ Gallaghers in Strathfield. He has not only been a wonderful chaperone on our dates, but has allowed me to stay over to watch Chinese kung fu movies.

William has been a wonderful friend to us, and on this day I can say that his honesty and sticky by his principles has really shown through.

Lastly, Little Joey, all I can say is that without your 12^th birthday pool party, I wouldn’t be standing here marrying your beautiful aunty, thank you Joey for inviting me to your birthday.

Lucy

Well the moment you have all been waiting for the wedding speech, the big wedding speech from the bridegroom to his bride.

As you are all aware, It is I Truong the author of According to Truong series

The blog is a series of commentaries about relationships in this modern world where I can share insights about my own personal experience

However when I was preparing this speech I found out the only stumbling block was that I couldn’t possibility tell the world how beautiful, perfect and amiable Lucy my wife is

In such short wedding speech.

I would need to write volumes of books and classified them like the Britannica from amiable to bold, correct to honest, loving to mesmerizing, perfect to tantrums.

If I were to write these books, I still, Would have even more to say about Lucy.

But on this wedding day I would like to show the world a tiny glimpse of how wonderful Lucy really is.

It is such a tiny glimpse it can be compared to that of a hairline facture, so tiny, that only small atomic particles can pass through.

In these three chapters I would like everyone to sit or stand, or hold the hand of someone next to you and if you are inclined to weep maybe weep on a shoulder.

The three chapters are titled The Courtship, then the broken leg ordeal, and married life.

The courtship

Starting right here in this courtyard, coming back from a long journey in search of what life was all about.

I came out of the Latin mass stunt and daze like a doe eye deer.

But God works in mysterious ways.

From across the courtyard, there was a beaming smile and look of a reassurance coming from a beautiful blonde girl.

This was Lucy Gresser, teacher, sister of the priest, loved by many.

She approached me and talked with me, from that moment I knew this is the girl I will marry.

How come I was so blind the other times when I met her,

I was like Paul of Tarsus blinded by God until he reached Damascus.

It was as though after attending Latin mass, being blasted from the pulpit, the scales fell from my eyes.

I really wished they had fallen off the first time I met her at WYD.

I would still have my motorbike, and a healthy bank account soul searching is really expensive.

If I only knew, all I had to was go to my local Latin mass, open my eyes and see the beauty which was standing right in front of me.

Absoultely breathtaking

In the months that follwed, I had to see a doctor because I was diagnosed with AMORE LUCIA aegretudo commonly known as “I love Lucy” sickness.

This condition has a number of symptoms which include publicly declaring ones love for Lucy. Sleepless nights and endless frustrations about the countless rejections.

Many long car trips listening to Jane Austen audio books and researching Jane Austen.

And attending numerous Church functions here at Maternal heart.

There was only one cure for this, I thought to myself what I need to do is take a step back and let her decide.

She decided on the 13^th of December 2009 we had 2 weeks of official dating and she was off overseas, to return in late summer.

Oh my heart has not yearned for another as it yearn for Lucy’s home coming in those long weeks.

The broken leg.

Love was blossoming like that of a tulip, emerging from the cold earth is spring.

I was like a gazelle dashing through the savannah.

Not a predator in sight. The world was full of colour, dazzling smells and each date was better than the last.

With our love in full spring, I put my foot down on the gas pedal and headed straight for marriage.

No one was going to stop me, not even the good advice of family and friends.

We were two young lovers ready for marriage? Well I thought I was.

I had a completed checklist, girl, yes, house yes, job yes marriage OFCOURSE YES.

However, God has other plans for you. He is a funny man up there, making the weak strong and the strong weak. In my case.

As I was running to keep fit, I ignored the weather and slipped on wet cement. Not only did I break my leg, I broke it in two places and it required surgery.

Marriage was on hold for a while now.

At this stage of our relationship, Lucy fell in love with weak and helpless Truong, and I Truong fell in Love with Lucy all over again.

Her patience in attending to my body functions while lying their helplessly, in my hospital bed. Her many hours sitting by my side and retelling the endless love story of little nut brown hair and big nutbrown hare.

and how they vow to love each other not only to the moon, but back again.

So tireless was her love for me, she even combined my favourite foods into the same meal.

I know in my heart, blue stilton Cheese and Korean Pancake should taste really good but in my stomach that was a whole different affair.

In those months, she became my legs and through her I learnt true humility.

Lucy you are the most humble person I have ever met, and you are an example of our Lady bearing the cross with Jesus on the way to Calvary.

Lucy you were always there by my side ready to be my support when my suffering was greatest. Thank you

Without you Lucy, I think I would have not healed from my broken leg.

Married life

From this day forward according to Truong begins a new chapter and it will be titled according to Truong, doubled checked by Lucy!

What does married life mean to me? I have pondered over this question countless times, I have also read many books, consulted many people.

But married life to me simply means that under the guidance of the Holy Catholic church Lucy and I can express our love in a more deeper, more fulfilling and more intimately way.

That’s right you all know I am thinking about, making life.

Up to this point in my life, I have never truly understood what it means to trust someone with their whole being.

Body, mind and spirit, but I am confident that I can trust Lucy with all of these.

As we enter into marriage I know that I have someone to share the last scoop of ice cream with,

I know that when I am sick, I will have help getting to the bathroom.

I know that, when Lucy is happy, I will be happy and when she is sad, or upset my heart will be woeful.

Married life for us will be like two individuals, from different polar caps, meeting, joined by holy matrimony, and finally allowed to share a nice warm bath together.

I know in my heart that married life with Lucy will be the greatest adventure I have ever been on, an adventure that will never stop.

Hang on Wait aminute. However upon closer examination I must inform you that here written in the fine print I can see.

IT READS also included in this package 3-D polygrammic vision, ultra vectoring thrusters, and cosmic distortion functions, Best bundled deal I have ever signed up for. Gee whiz.

My dear Lucy, I am the luckiest man alive and I thank you for choosing me to be the man you will spend the rest of your life wife.

Dearest Lucy Margaret

I love you, not only the moon, but back again and again.

More thank you.

I know that at this point in time, we are all rearing to socialise but I have to say thank you to a few special people for making this day possible. All the behind the scene crew work. That’s right all the people helping with preparing the church on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

My 3 sisters, Hong Phuc, Kieu Diem, Hong Nhung and there lovely fiancés for the extra hours they have contributed to the wedding, Especially Robert who has done a marvellous job with printing out the Mass booklets.

Additionaly I would like to also thank them for just being my sisters, for all the happy, memories I have shared with them, as I start my new life with Lucy

I thank them for those happy times and wish them all the best with their upcoming weddings.

The maternal heart of Lewisham community, a really wonderful and special community

A special mention the Jakovics for bringing in the glamour and beauty for this occasion and all the meals we have had in their house.

The choir lead by Joanna Todys and Anthony Ellsmore without music I would be falling asleep at church so from me personally thank God for the choir.

To crown catering, and all the wonderful food they have provided to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

And one Final thank you to all who have prayed for us over the last 2 years,

All our deceased family and friends and all the saints up in heaven smiling upon us,

Especially

St Joseph, the role model for all men,

St Fancis Xavier my patron saint, we all know that if he were alive today, he would be super cool and drive a convertible

and St Lucy, who is the bearer of light that I will need to guide me in the darkness to the promise land.

Deo Gratias.

(Darling it's time we go forth to plight to each other our troth)

De profundis

Good morning, welcome and greetings. Firstly I would like to apologise to my loyal readers and thank you for returning to read the next installation of according to Truong. It's pretty much crunch time now, the wedding is only a number of days away. At present I am more anxious that excited, and spray painting at night really makes you dizzy at work. So once again I would like to thank you for returning.

So you are probably wondering what has happen to Truong over the last few weeks, well I can start by explaining the title of the blog De profundis, or Ps 129. During my short sojourn from the blog space I have been in deep contemplation about what to write about or simply put "I had writers block". Therefore, I have been crying out to the Lord for help, in my situation. Because he hears all that cry out to him, from the depths of our souls. Not only have I been struggling mentally but also physically with early mornings and late nights, but all is in place, Deo gratias!.



In this this blog, I would like to talk about the bliss of home improvement and how to avoid the hidden traps and arguments that will surely arise from it if you don't follow some advice about home improvement according to Truong


In this classic example, David and Sarah are soon to be husband and wife. David an average everyday office worker with great building dreams that rival those of King Solomon when building the great temple. So back from the hardware with paint and brush, saw and hammer, and a lovely new tool bag courtesy of Sarah. He has embarked on an endeavor to improve the home he has bought.

Sarah on the other hand, is liken to a Vietnamese refugee who has travelled all the way to Australia on a boat, and values every piece of paper, furniture, crockery and instruction manual. So if you need instructions on how to make a toasted sandwich from a Kambrook 400W sandwich press just send me an email and I will scan you a copy. Can you imagine an entire house of items that may have a use in the future? If you can you'll surely end up with dizzy spells.

Now for the situation Sarah has asked David to finish the house by April 11 so that she can bring her entire house over. So poor David is working day and night to complete it, however to get the electrical wiring and skirting boards he needs extra help, and extra helps means more time.
So when Sarah rocks up on April 11, there is a frantic rush to complete it. In this frantic effort there is much shouting and sitting in corners and quiet time between David and Sarah. Not a very blissful sight.. Home improvement, or relationship destroyer?


Now how to avoid being told off by Sarah, men you will have to follow these simple steps.
Start with fixing up the kitchen, starting cupboards hinges and clearing bench space for kitchen items. Women generally like to spend their time around items that are associated with tea and coffee. Go straight to the epicentre start the kitchen.
David on the other hand started off with the bedrooms, men you must fight your natural intentions here. David decision is an extremely logical one because newly married couples tend spend at least 10 hours a day in their bedroom, whilst the Kitchen spells tedium in CAPITAL, bold, Arial font .
It is also associated with washing up, pulling the plug out of a slimey sing and garbage duties, and if you're really unlucky stacking dishes in locations that seem too small or narrow for large serving plates to physically fit. So the mathematical formula for working out stacking consist of taking measurements of the object, then stuffing it in the 3D space. Therefore Applying Pythagoras' Theorem for the triangle ONP, we have:

OP	= √ ( (ON)2 + c2) = √(a2 + b2 + c2)

In summary David a logical fellow would have thought, yup bedroom 10 hours a day, number 1 priority, we can eat pizza for a few weeks. However in a relationship you will have to think of the other first. So if you are a male and use your brain at regular intervals, stop the logical express train at Summer Hill and say out aloud if the solution is logical then it's wrong.

After the kitchen move to the dinning and lounge areas. The second most important space for a woman. If the kitchen is the epicentre of a woman ie her attitude, temperament, persuasive nature, her sweet giggling, and most importantly her logic, then the dinning and lounge are her good bits, I don't know what women's good bits are but I'll find out eventually. Being a woman they like to highlight their good bits, it could be hair, eyes, or whatever is within the real of modesty.


In our situation, instead of focusing on the dinning and lounge David had started work on the bathroom, because in his mind, yup we will be using the can a fair few times a day so it is a code brown alert. As you know having a sanitised lavatory means less trips to it. So that's fail attempt number 2. Luckily for David it is only a small place with 2 bedrooms so he didn't get a hat trick of fails this time. Phew



The morale of this story is simple, a home is made up of two completely different people. Therefore there will be a huge conflict of ideas and goals. This can be explain through Allosteric enzymes (are enzymes that change their conformation upon binding of an effector. An allosteric enzyme is an oligomer whose biological activity is affected by altering the conformation(s) of its quaternary structure.) So basically the first stage is very difficult but after the first binding site has clear away, off you go to a blissful marriage.



Secondly Be clear and honest about time frame, budget and the usefulness of items before placing them in the shelves. And remember if you accidentally stuff up just keep your receipt for an exchange or refund at Bunnings, and if you accidentally place a tube of silicon in your pocket while juggling pieces of timber remember to go pay for it next time you go back.



Wow wee, What to do in Sydney this weekend? With the onslaught of winter around the corner it is an important time to clear the house of unnecessary clutter. So if you spend 3 hours throwing away items you could probably fit in a canoe or boat trip from 12pm down at the Heathcote boat hire in the Royal National Park.
It is the perfect time for boating at the moment because the weather is neither hot or cold, and the air is very still. So what are you waiting for, go on this boating trip.

Stone wall,

Hello, salutations, and welcome. We have come to another end to the working week. It has been such a marvellous week, marvellous because I am still here writing to you all. We better spare some prayers for our neighbours in Japan and the middle east where they are all suffering. You may have wonder why I have taken so long to write a blog. The simple answer is there has been a mental block. This mental block is like a stone jammed in between a brook and ranging torrent. You can see that even a small stone can block a mighty river, but for only a small amount of time. Well here comes the tide of thoughts that i wish to express.

If you have been following my life at the present time, you are aware that I will be married soon more precisely in May. I must add now it is a wedding with all the bells and whistles. This includes a solemn high mass in the Tridentine rite, can you believe it Truong. An immigrant from Vietnam, coming to Australia marrying the, most! beautiful girl in Australia, in Tridentine rite. The Tridentine rite is the mass for kings, queens, fl etchers, coopers and seam tress all are welcomed, when one decides to be joined in Holy matrimony. In summary it is just breathtaking and transcending. You are lifted by the angels to new internal heights and bought right down again with a thump and clump clump as you stubble your way with the Homily. I must say sometimes a Homily can even break ones leg in two places.

Well moving along, it is crunch time now and I have discovered a reoccurring trait that men all suffer from. It is the effect of building a wall, ever since God created man, men have always like to build. I was pretty sure Adam in the garden of eden was making a stone table and chair to sit on while he spoke to the animals. He would have even made a bridge so that he could cross the river dividing the garden, because no body wants soggy wet feet, especially if he had to carry even across all the time. In the modern sence all men like to build, a cave for our spouse, or that shed to gather our thoughts and sometimes a cubby house.
Generally our buildings shelter and nourish relationships but sometimes our buildings can be made to deter, and entrap feelings. These include building a wooden fence, a colorbond fence, a stone wall, or even a re-enforced concrete wall like that of the Berlin wall.


Let me spill out a situation here, David here likes to avoid conflict since the day of his wedding is coming up, and he knows to keep Sarah happy he will do everything he can to make her happy. For instance it is a beautiful Sunday afternoon, they have gone out for a lovely pub meal followed by conversation by the bay. Like always David, being a man always has little blemishes and tends to stuff up even a flawless Sunday. Sarah goes all out on him. I mean like a NATO air-strike, followed by long range toma hawk missiles. So what does poor David do? He puts up a temporary boundary, only a temporary one, a couple of mounds of dirt with a row of petunias to set up a small fence.


Over the week, communication has stopped so he decides to spend his time putting in wooden stakes into the ground. He pulls out the old Wattyl Solar guard and slowly paints the fence Federation green, with brown tips. It is a wonderful fence and he is happy with himself.
Sarah allows this to happen because she knows that if she waits long enough David will start to apologise and it will be all love and kisses. However she doesn't see the fence because she lives on the other side of town. On the other hand David is still admiring his handy work, he doesn't understand what had upset Sarah and to maintain the peace he ignores the situation.


As time moves on, David has made a few trips to Bunnings and the local flower power. He is ready to move onto the next stage of fence making, a brick wall. This is going to take time and poor Sarah hasn't heard from him in weeks. This is not a good situation, because once things are set in mortar then that spells the end of any relationship. So when you are at flower power don't buy the bricks David, buy a beautiful bouquet.

Gosh Truong is full of nonsense you probably are scratching your head. If you are then you must have dandruff, a great way to get rid of dandruff is to use Brylcreem with anti-dandruff protection. On a serious note here I want to address the issue of building up a boundary to avoid conflict, resulting in poor communication. In general, it might sound like a great idea at first to smooth things over but it has no fruits and your relationship is worst off. Men need to be explorers not to hide behind fences, we need to see what is the problem and hit it head on with carbon steel spear.

In this situation concerning David and Sarah, where David had already started building a fence there is still hope because a pickled fence always has slits. Beams of radiating love will always shine through and if David can see this, communication will resume and the exploration of the new territory will begin again. So let us not build fence or boundaries at all, because it is much better to live a life without regrets then to leave things to chance.

I know in my heart as I enter into marriage a part of me is very scared. It is like I am a sailor on The Santa Maria voyaging to the ends of the earth. I am so afraid, that looking beyond the horizon I can only see the edge of the water. Who knows where this journey goes, and building up fences, or a temporary dam can only stop my journey for a short time. It is only a matter of minutes, hours, days or if I am smart I can anchor for while, but in the end the boat will surge to the edge.

I thank everyone for their support of this blog without your patronage I would not have the motivation to really peel back the layers of my brain to express in blog form. Now everyone is wondering what on Earth there is to do in Sydney on the weekend? Gosh the list is endless but I have a few ideas that will be appealing most people in Sydney.

We are now officially at the end of summer day light savings time , Autumn is well and truly with us, the temperature is dropping and the south easterly winds is blowing at our sides. This is the perfect weather to head out to the Blue Mountains. One of the most beatutiful roads I have ever seen would be Falls Rd in Wentworth Falls, located 1 hour from Parramatta. The colour, smell, and feel of this area reaches into the soul. It drives a rusty nail into our broken human nature, we are only but children reaching out to hold onto the last part of summer, and when we grab it in our hands it slips away. We sometimes cry when this happens because happy memories are only just that, growing up and understanding change is another. So why not head up to the mountains for the last piece of warmth before the summer is gone. If you haven't been lucky in love lately maybe it's a chance you do not want to miss.

On the other hand the NRL season has just begun and pledge my support to the Parrmatta Eels. if you are a happy camper why not go out to a Friday/Saturday/Sunday or Monday game to support our national sport. Hear the cries, shouts, tears, and bones cracking as your local gladiators take to battle.

So enjoy the break, because I know everyone deserves a mini- holiday every 5 days.

Act 1 Scene 2?

Good morning, one and all, greetings and hello. If you have been waking up early lately you have realise that it is very dark, this is due to the sun being tired from it's hard work through out the summer. Providing sunlight to brown our skin and grow our barley. To make our bones healthy and our Abbey rich fragrant. So it's time for the sun to have a bit of a snooze.
That's right, Autumn is upon us once again and as we prepare ourselves for the winter and for the most holy season in the Church's calender, Lent and Easter. Goodness me, it was only Christmas last time I looked at my Vietnamese Ao Dai calender. Gosh, you have probably realise i can write a lot of rubbish, and there is much hot air that comes out of my mouth. But I can assure you this blog entry is worth it's weight in Vietnamese spring rolls. The information is jam packed and everyone will read it and go, yup good on ya Truong! , you do have some interesting insights on relationships and how to resolve conflict.Well you are probably wondering what this blog is going to be about, don't worry it's very simple. Act 1 Scene 2.

Act 1 scene 2, have you ever participated in a play, musical or choir? Well if you are a guy and haven't been in one, it's best to understand the concept, of "lets react that scene or re sing that verse!" because quite recently I have discovered a perfect way to resolve conflict. It's so simple and I wonder why I didn't think of it before. I am going to promise results here.

So here a typical situation, you are walking in a park with your beloved,you are both eating healthy carrots and apples. Since you are trying to look super fit for the big day. (Yup finally, the wedding invites are out!). The guy in this situation is Mack and his a very clumsy fellow, with arms like the stump of Huon Pine. Well Mack here has finished eating his apple and wants to dispose of it thoughtfully in the bin. So on the way to the bin he brushes past Felicity. Felicity is the total opposite of Mack, she is smaller in stature but loud in volume, she is generally correct and never loses an argument. Be that over directions, the temperature of the kettle, or where to put stamps on the envelope.
Here poor Mack is trying to keep his country neat and tidy, but a tidal wave (cause by underground seismic activity due to weeks of annoyance) of mistrust, and insecurity Felicity is out ranged because Mack acted as though she wasn't there. Felicity was just part of the trees and bushes along this park as he slightly brushed against her to maintain the current walking speed while trying to put an apple core in a bin.

You can see from the picture above, Mack is totally oblivious to how Felicity is feeling. Felicity is totally annoyed and it shows. However, he has a cool jacket.

Noooooooo the afternoon stroll has turned into a battle about, insecurity, love, selflessness, noticing me, ignoring me. There are two sides to this lovers tryst, on Mack's side of the fence, the straight and narrow with the classical "sorry darling i was just trying to do the right thing", and "I'm sorry", and on Felicity's side, you never notice me, I am just part of the scenery, don't you understand my feelings, the list goes on and it deepens..
I am sure each and everyone of us have gone through this situation before, where the man, in this case Mack, is doing the right thing for his country, but accidentally knocks his beloved out in the process. Sure his clumsy that's his nature. But to avoid crossing over the line with Felicty he sympathetically apologises. In Felicity's eyes this isn't good enough.

Well that's when Truong comes in to help poor Mack out, it's very easy, Act 1 scene 2,
Go back to the bin, reach in, take the apple out, go back to the point where you are about to put the apple in the bin, walk hand in hand with your beloved, then say " Sorry Floss, can we just pause a minute so i can put this apple in the bin" or if your short for words, sorry doll face, I am just going to put this apple in the bin, excuse me"

Simple, done, no arguments guarantee, this shows that Mack really loves Floss and he will do anything to not take the plunge into Mt Doom, to go battle with the Balrog, lets face it Gangdalf ain't here so you are in between a rock and a hard place, most likely inbetween a diamond mine and a volcano. These places are best to avoid unless you want to end up with burnt pancakes on Shrove tuesday. I for one, would like my pancakes with a dob of butter and Lyle's golden syrup.
So lets follow the simple rules of Act 1 Scene 2, mistake, unhappy beloved, rewind, replay, and resolved. Smiles all around.



Arrrrhhhh what to do in Sydney this weekend? It's going to be a big weekend, it's the last weekend before the no alcohol, no meat and no pleasure season of Lent, where we as Catholic try to give up something we like. So I am going to give you permission, for a four day assault on the senses to knock you silly and prepare yourselves for 40 days of fasting. with a 4 day feast a thon beginning on Saturday and ending of Shrove Tuesday.

Saturday, the big breakfast, Traditional English style. If you are a fan of the big breakfast, or the big fry up, or anything that is high in flavour and taste just head down to Ivan's deli, in Chester Hill for your supplies of Black Pudding, pork Sausages, bacon, eggs, beef sausages, baked beans, and polish bread. Then drive to a bottle store, get yourself some strong milk based alcohol then go onto a local park, put it all on a BBQ and eat away.
A great place to do this is Homebush park, because you can go for a stroll afterwards.



Sunday lunch. Have you ever walked home from the city via Petersham? Have you noticed wafting on the airwaves, the burning hickory smoke mixed with paprika, then your mouth begins to water. It is due to Petersham Portuguese chicken, this Sunday head down to any of the Petersham Portuguese chicken and feast till your Portuguese pot belly is puffed.

http://www.streetfood.com.au/2010/09/frango-petersham-charcoal-chicken.html



Monday, in the Truong Tradition for the love of Korean BBQ, catch a train to Strathfield head to Korean BBQ place near the Commonwealth bank, and get ready for a feast. Remember to buy lots of Soju, and bring lots of friends.



Tuesday, pancakes, crepes, and cognac. This is going to be a knock out combination so be prepared to be repented on Ash Wednesday. I like my crepes savoury and my pancakes sweet so Banh Xeo, would be an awesome addition to this.



Now friends, I hope you have a beautiful weekend and I look forward to hearing about your four days of feasting, for forty days of fasting.
Goodbye, fair well and until we meet again.