Idol wannabes

We had our annual conference on the weekend. Usually its a massive thing with close to 1000 people attending, this year its been split up into smaller departments to make it easier to organise. They've also cut down on the "team bonding" activities after last years Survivor Themed day that had everyone exhausted and near drowned. Actually, there was no team bonding exercises! Woohoo!! The conference was held in Sydney this year at Sheraton on the Park. The last time I was here, it was for a hen's night. This time, things were less hectic so I was able to check-in and relax a bit:

My room

Comes with a couch and office space

The bathroom

There was a break in the schedule to allow free time after most of the presentations were over. Originally our Manager was going to organise a group activity, but most people wanted to do their own thing. As since the presentations finished an hour early, I quickly booked myself in for a half hour massage plus a one hour facial. You know, to get the toxins out of my skin so I could put some more in during the night without upsetting the balance. Plus you gotta pamper yourself every now and then.

After that, I went and did a bit of shopping, grabbed myself a coffee and strolled back to the hotel. I had a nice relaxing shower, laid in bed and watched some TV. Around 6pm, I got a phone call from my other workmates inviting me to their room for some pre-pre-dinner drinks. Thats right, drinks before pre-dinner drinks. After a few vodkas, we were all dressed and ready for our dinner. Last year the theme was Class of 2006, this year it was Idol. Come dressed as your favourite pop star! We even held Idol auditions last month to have a bunch of finalists perform on the night! So who did I go as?

Take a guess.....we're a girl band...and we're controversial...

We all got loaded into a bus and transported to a "secret dinner location". Not so secret since the word going around was the Four Season's Hotel. As we walked into the foyer, I hear a loud hysterical screaming. It sounds like me at a concert. I quickly looked around to see what celebrity was in the foyer when it hit me. The celebrities were us. Thats right, they hired a bunch of people to be a mob of screaming fans. As we walked the red carpet, we were mobbed, asked for signatures whilst the "paparazzi" shoved their camera in our face. The whole time all you hear is "OMG!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!! I LOVE YOUR SONGS!! OMG!!! AHHHHHH!!!"

Us trying to get through the "fans"

Once we got through the "fans", we started hitting the alcohol. There was beautiful tempura prawns floating around and plenty of alcohol......which was EXACTLY what I needed after seeing some of the costumes...which included leather pants and a dog collar. I couldn't bare to look let alone take photos...but here are a few tame ones:

Kyle and Marcia Hines

The main hall finally opened and we were greeted by a set similar to Australian Idol. OK.....maybe not as good, but close enough!


And guess who we had as our MC for the night?

Me and Mark Holden

Yes! They hired Mark Holden for the night! There were rumors that he was floating around, but I didn't believe it until I saw him with my own eyes!

Ontop of that, the performances on the night was spectacular! My favourite had to be one of the guys who was playing the guitar and jamming with the band as he was singing (I had a real soft spot for guys who can play the guitar......)

The winner

So that was the entertainment, but what blog entry is mine without some photos of food. So what did we have on the night?

Tasting of Tasmania Salmon, Confit, Beetroot jam, Smoked Salmon and Caper Tartar; Gravelax of Salmon, Fennel Puree

Open Faced Ravioli of Peking Duck, Asian mushrooms and wilted greens, lemongrass cream

Aged beef sirloin, Buckwheat Polenta, Mushroom puree, snap peas and spiced coppa

Lemon and garlic baked baby chicken, Risotto of Asparagus and Broad bean, pumpkin crisp

Pistachio Praline Mousse and Soft Dacquoise

Apple Strudel with Blackcurrent sauce, white cinnamon ice cream

Petite Fours that disappeared in the blink of an eye!

The party was absolutely fantastic. The food was great, there was excellent entertainment and there was free flowing alcohol all night!

Sober...

Still sober......

Errr.....yeah...

Partay!!

The drinks stopped coming out closer to mid night. Most of the stuff had been packed away and if you wanted alcohol, you needed to ask the staff instead of snatching a bottle out of a bucket and downing it. (Which is probably a good thing!) Of course, that didn't stop me going to the after party back at the Sheraton which ended around 3am. I went to bed around 2am, but woke up at 4:30am and basically tossed and turned all night. I don't know why I couldn't sleep! The mattress was heavenly, and with the 800+ thread count sheets, I should've slept like a baby! But I couldn't sleep, and the lack of sleep was making me so sick that I basically sat up in bed until about 7am when I decided to shower and head out for breakfast.

Unfortunately, the lack of sleep was hitting worse than any alcohol could and I couldn't stomach any food. I don't understand! I'm at the Sheraton, faced with row after row of mouth watering food, I was hungry, but I couldn't eat!!! Hello?? Stomach?? Are you there??? What the hell is wrong with you??

Of that plate, I had about 3-4 beans, 1/4 of a sausage and then I was done. Not even greasy food could make me feel better! Meanwhile, my workmates managed to scoff about 3-4 plates EACH. And each plate had double the amount of food I had! It was nuts! I was so kicking myself! But I knew if I put any food in my mouth, it would not end nicely. Instead, I rushed back to my hotel room, grabbed my bags and checked out. I was at home and bed before 9am. After a nice long nap, I woke up ready to battle a tiger! After a big bowl of comforting Pho, I still needed something to settle my stomach. So I headed to Maccas. Thats right, when hung over, Maccas is the way to go.

It was an absolutely fantastic weekend and I can't wait for the next one! Its good to be appreciated by your company and rewarded every now and then! :)