It's the last day of the year.
Too many thoughts in my mind. It's all a blur.
Good things, great things, not so good things, horrible things, fantastic things, yada yada.
Special dates and months. People. Events. Countries. Relatives. Colours. Scents. Emotions.
So much to say. Nothing to say.
I can only pray and have faith that 2010 be a great year for myself, my friends and and of course my loved ones.
It's been a great ride in 2009. Bumpy at times but nevertheless a great ride.
I hope for the road ahead to be equally fun and equally rewarding and smoother...:)
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Marcomm FAIL
I saw Guardian's ad on the MRT train today. It was quite interesting. It read as:
"Do you know? The average person's body has enough iron to make a 3-inch nail and carbon to make 90 pencils?
And right next to this huge ad, there was another tagline which read as:
"Enjoy the freedom of having instant ideas for better living. DIY"
Hmm.
Seriously wonder what's their objective. No link at all between the two taglines.
"Do you know? The average person's body has enough iron to make a 3-inch nail and carbon to make 90 pencils?
And right next to this huge ad, there was another tagline which read as:
"Enjoy the freedom of having instant ideas for better living. DIY"
Hmm.
Seriously wonder what's their objective. No link at all between the two taglines.
English Lessons
My English has been on a rapid decline.
I can't pronounce words properly. I can't type proper grammar.
Big time shit! haha....considering I need to do alot of writing for a living.
I've been having various questions on the language in recent months...and here's another one.
Should it be "Did you know?" or "Do you know?"
Imagine this being used as the main tagline in an advert. Which should be the correct one?
Hmm mm...to me...both are right, but the former sounds better....
But still, I'm no expert.
Wonder if K can give me an explanation...hehe.
I can't pronounce words properly. I can't type proper grammar.
Big time shit! haha....considering I need to do alot of writing for a living.
I've been having various questions on the language in recent months...and here's another one.
Should it be "Did you know?" or "Do you know?"
Imagine this being used as the main tagline in an advert. Which should be the correct one?
Hmm mm...to me...both are right, but the former sounds better....
But still, I'm no expert.
Wonder if K can give me an explanation...hehe.
Rusty Brain
I can be rather absent-minded.
But I've been fucking absent-minded for the last 2 weeks lah!!
Argh. Could it be due to lack of sleep? Maybe. I've been surviving on an average of 6 hours of sleep each day quite often over the past weeks. Because of all the festivities and gatherings and what not.
I packed pressies for Ally & PQ last night. Despite reaching home at midnight after a wedding dinner. I saw the pressies on my desk this morning and reminded myself to bring them.
And when I reached Tampines MRT station. I realised with dismay that my hands were empty...and all I was carrying was my trusty little cardigan...Argh!
But I've been fucking absent-minded for the last 2 weeks lah!!
Argh. Could it be due to lack of sleep? Maybe. I've been surviving on an average of 6 hours of sleep each day quite often over the past weeks. Because of all the festivities and gatherings and what not.
I packed pressies for Ally & PQ last night. Despite reaching home at midnight after a wedding dinner. I saw the pressies on my desk this morning and reminded myself to bring them.
And when I reached Tampines MRT station. I realised with dismay that my hands were empty...and all I was carrying was my trusty little cardigan...Argh!
Flagellation
I tend to think too much and beat myself up over the smallest thing.
Not quite good for the ego, confidence and mind.
Doing too much of this over the last few weeks. No idea why.
Year-end nostalgia making me emo?
Not quite good for the ego, confidence and mind.
Doing too much of this over the last few weeks. No idea why.
Year-end nostalgia making me emo?
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
uuhhh *delicate fingers to forehead*
I feel like those delicate damsels from those Chinese novels set in ancient times.
Those ladies who are delicate and frail and cannot get overly excited else they'll feel out of breath.
Too much food and comings and goings and entertaining and chatter over the last week has left me a little tired...
Woke feeling ok but I dozed off like a pig on the train to work. Reached office and saw some mails arrowing more work to me. Bleah.
And then I discovered I had a slight sore throat when I tried to speak and ended up sounding a little hoarse.
Okok, just a few more days to go...mind over body!
I will not be sick when I herald in the new year!
Those ladies who are delicate and frail and cannot get overly excited else they'll feel out of breath.
Too much food and comings and goings and entertaining and chatter over the last week has left me a little tired...
Woke feeling ok but I dozed off like a pig on the train to work. Reached office and saw some mails arrowing more work to me. Bleah.
And then I discovered I had a slight sore throat when I tried to speak and ended up sounding a little hoarse.
Okok, just a few more days to go...mind over body!
I will not be sick when I herald in the new year!
Monday, December 28, 2009
XiaXue's Love Story
To be frank. I don’t read Xiaxue’s blog. Not at all.
I don’t know why but for some strange reason this afternoon, I thought I’d pop in to have a look. And then I came across this rather wonderful love story of hers, which she posted just 8 days ago, on 20th December.
http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/2009/12/love-story.html
Go on have a good read. It’s a long entry, but it’s not boring.
Maybe after reading the entry, it’ll add that dash of optimistic hope which we all need to have from time to time. We have enough cynicism and skepticism in our lives already.
Nothing like a sprinkle of hope and a good ol’ dash of lurrrvveeee to brighten our day…:)
I know...cos I have my daily doses...hee.
I don’t know why but for some strange reason this afternoon, I thought I’d pop in to have a look. And then I came across this rather wonderful love story of hers, which she posted just 8 days ago, on 20th December.
http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/2009/12/love-story.html
Go on have a good read. It’s a long entry, but it’s not boring.
Maybe after reading the entry, it’ll add that dash of optimistic hope which we all need to have from time to time. We have enough cynicism and skepticism in our lives already.
Nothing like a sprinkle of hope and a good ol’ dash of lurrrvveeee to brighten our day…:)
I know...cos I have my daily doses...hee.
Weighty Conversations
Admin Lady (AL): Eh, you're so thin! You look dehydrated! Like very dry like that.
Me: Huh? Got meh? You mean I look shrivelled??
AL: Ya, dry dry like that. Like got no water inside you.
Me: ????
AL: But you're pretty so still not so bad. But you must try to be fairer.
Me: Err...orh ok. But I'm always this colour what.
AL: No lah, when you first came in you were fairer. Must try to get fairer ok!!
Me: Err...orh ok.
AL: Ya ya, else later look like Malay.
Me: ...........
==========
Ee Hong: I think she's lost weight. Looking a little thin.
Sasi: No lah, I think she's put on abit.
Both: Wave your arms leh. Got bye-bye syndrome or not?
Me: .........
==========
Me: Am I fat? Or just nice?
Granny: You're just nice lah! Too thin not good. Like that just nice. Got abit of meat here and there.
Me: ..........
==========
Me: *squeezes upper arm*
Me: I'm bui bui.
Baby: No lah, you're not fat.
Me: Orh hee.
Baby: Even if you're fat I'll still love you.
Me: .............
Me: Huh? Got meh? You mean I look shrivelled??
AL: Ya, dry dry like that. Like got no water inside you.
Me: ????
AL: But you're pretty so still not so bad. But you must try to be fairer.
Me: Err...orh ok. But I'm always this colour what.
AL: No lah, when you first came in you were fairer. Must try to get fairer ok!!
Me: Err...orh ok.
AL: Ya ya, else later look like Malay.
Me: ...........
==========
Ee Hong: I think she's lost weight. Looking a little thin.
Sasi: No lah, I think she's put on abit.
Both: Wave your arms leh. Got bye-bye syndrome or not?
Me: .........
==========
Me: Am I fat? Or just nice?
Granny: You're just nice lah! Too thin not good. Like that just nice. Got abit of meat here and there.
Me: ..........
==========
Me: *squeezes upper arm*
Me: I'm bui bui.
Baby: No lah, you're not fat.
Me: Orh hee.
Baby: Even if you're fat I'll still love you.
Me: .............
*burp*
The last few days have been heavy-going. Lol. On the stomach that is.
So much food, so much good food! Lots of ham, sausages, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, sushi, veggies, pumpkin soup, clam chowder…haha…
There's quite a bit of ham left in the fridge...It'll be my breakfast for the next few days at least....gosh...
I told myself I need to lie low for the next few weeks and go easy on the intake. Else the waistline will go on an expansion spree. I need to start running again too argh!! My last run was SCM…and that was 3 weeks ago hahaha...
I know! I’ll go for a run on 1st Jan 2010!! Good healthy start to the new year!! Woot!
So much food, so much good food! Lots of ham, sausages, chicken, turkey, beef, pork, sushi, veggies, pumpkin soup, clam chowder…haha…
There's quite a bit of ham left in the fridge...It'll be my breakfast for the next few days at least....gosh...
I told myself I need to lie low for the next few weeks and go easy on the intake. Else the waistline will go on an expansion spree. I need to start running again too argh!! My last run was SCM…and that was 3 weeks ago hahaha...
I know! I’ll go for a run on 1st Jan 2010!! Good healthy start to the new year!! Woot!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Shucks. I am Auntified~!!
I really feel like an auntie now.
I spent 5 minutes scolding someone this afternoon.
And then I just spent 20minutes nagging at the same person. To get her to buck up.
To get her to get her act together. To get her to understand that no one can help her unless she helps herself first.
If need be. I will nag more.
If I see anymore big lapses, she will get it from me worse.
I spent 5 minutes scolding someone this afternoon.
And then I just spent 20minutes nagging at the same person. To get her to buck up.
To get her to get her act together. To get her to understand that no one can help her unless she helps herself first.
If need be. I will nag more.
If I see anymore big lapses, she will get it from me worse.
Choco!
The Royce Chocolate Store below my office tower was swarmed with people during lunchtime today. Lol...and I think the staff weren't very well-prepared for it.
They looked harried and frantic serving customers, settling payments, answering queries, doing crowd control, wrapping presents, shooing away playing kids from the store, etc.
Business is brisk for them during such festive occassions and during Valentine's Day.
Guess the tons that they are earning during these few months of the year is enough to cover their costs of operations for the remaining months of the year where only a handful of people patronise them.
Hehe. I was a customer of theirs just now too...
*munch munch* ;p
They looked harried and frantic serving customers, settling payments, answering queries, doing crowd control, wrapping presents, shooing away playing kids from the store, etc.
Business is brisk for them during such festive occassions and during Valentine's Day.
Guess the tons that they are earning during these few months of the year is enough to cover their costs of operations for the remaining months of the year where only a handful of people patronise them.
Hehe. I was a customer of theirs just now too...
*munch munch* ;p
Monday, December 21, 2009
Losing patience
Really losing patience. It’s really not that difficult to find a place to have a gathering. There’s TONS of restaurants in Singapore.
Wah lau. You’re not working yet. I am. Stop bugging me during the day. I can’t be entertaining you online all the time and giving you suggestions of where to go for the gathering and what to eat.
Sheesh. And I’m not gonna give any more suggestions next time. None of it gets considered anyway.
You’ve “organized” this thing for 2 weeks already. Till today you're still asking me where should we go, what should we eat, which venue has good parking space...
What the?????!!!!!!
Argh.
ERA
I've always liked ERA and their gregorian-chant-like music.
Back in my uni days when I was doing choreography work for pageants, I used a number of their songs for catwalks and poses because I felt their songs had more drama and impact ahaha.
Whilst listening to their songs a few days ago, I found myself subconsciously counting beats and seeing how I could use them in a showcase of pageant contestants lol...
Here's two of their lesser known songs...Hymne and Enae Volare Mezzo.
Back in my uni days when I was doing choreography work for pageants, I used a number of their songs for catwalks and poses because I felt their songs had more drama and impact ahaha.
Whilst listening to their songs a few days ago, I found myself subconsciously counting beats and seeing how I could use them in a showcase of pageant contestants lol...
Here's two of their lesser known songs...Hymne and Enae Volare Mezzo.
GO AWAY QUICK!!!
Uh oh. Not good.
Pimple outbreak...!
It's Xmas week and I've started the Monday of the week with 6 pimples!!
*wails*
Pimple outbreak...!
It's Xmas week and I've started the Monday of the week with 6 pimples!!
*wails*
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Doormat
Not feeling too good today. Feeling angsty and emo.
Anyhow, was researching on the word "doormat" when I came across an interesting blog.
Maintained by a middle-aged lady who's had quite a few experiences n her life I think.
I didn't have the time to read through her posts...
But reading one prompted me to share her blog with others.
www.lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat.com
Anyhow, was researching on the word "doormat" when I came across an interesting blog.
Maintained by a middle-aged lady who's had quite a few experiences n her life I think.
I didn't have the time to read through her posts...
But reading one prompted me to share her blog with others.
www.lessonsfromarecoveringdoormat.com
Time
You think the days go by slowly when you’re in school.
Your days are occupied by schoolwork, games, friends and nagging parents.
You spend the days wondering when the semester will end and when the holidays will arrive.
Then you get older, you get into tertiary school.
You start to wonder if time passes a little more quickly now.
You spend your days on projects, tutorials, friends, significant others. And yes, the nagging parents are still there.
You finally graduate and step into the world of working adults and are part of the statistic contributing to the country's economy.
You know now that time does indeed pass much faster than before.
You spend your days eagerly learning, trying to prove yourself to the whole world, meeting up with friends, spending newfound wealth, enjoying life, getting acquainted with restaurants and places you’d hardly go to as a student because you didn’t have much funds.
You’ve been in the workforce for a few years now.
You start wondering if time can slow down a little.
You find yourself gasping for breath at times with the long list of things seeking your attention.
You spend your days rushing deadlines, getting bogged down by bosses and colleagues, playing catch-up with friends, getting occupied with the increasing number of bills, running errands, losing contact with some people, wondering about your own life and future, thinking about other issues, trying to stay fit and healthy amidst it all, yada yada yada…
It seems the older we get the faster time passes us by.
Your days are occupied by schoolwork, games, friends and nagging parents.
You spend the days wondering when the semester will end and when the holidays will arrive.
Then you get older, you get into tertiary school.
You start to wonder if time passes a little more quickly now.
You spend your days on projects, tutorials, friends, significant others. And yes, the nagging parents are still there.
You finally graduate and step into the world of working adults and are part of the statistic contributing to the country's economy.
You know now that time does indeed pass much faster than before.
You spend your days eagerly learning, trying to prove yourself to the whole world, meeting up with friends, spending newfound wealth, enjoying life, getting acquainted with restaurants and places you’d hardly go to as a student because you didn’t have much funds.
You’ve been in the workforce for a few years now.
You start wondering if time can slow down a little.
You find yourself gasping for breath at times with the long list of things seeking your attention.
You spend your days rushing deadlines, getting bogged down by bosses and colleagues, playing catch-up with friends, getting occupied with the increasing number of bills, running errands, losing contact with some people, wondering about your own life and future, thinking about other issues, trying to stay fit and healthy amidst it all, yada yada yada…
It seems the older we get the faster time passes us by.
Uncontacted Tribes
A lot of information condensed into a 3:47m video. It gets a little choppy and abrupt at times but still a good, interesting and informational video.
I know there are tribes around in the rest of the world and even in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia. But I never knew there are uncontacted tribes elsewhere in Latin America, the Pacific Islands and the Africas….
Interesting…
Wonder how they live, what they do, how they feed, what languages they speak, etc…
I know there are tribes around in the rest of the world and even in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia. But I never knew there are uncontacted tribes elsewhere in Latin America, the Pacific Islands and the Africas….
Interesting…
Wonder how they live, what they do, how they feed, what languages they speak, etc…
Morning Gripes
I don’t enjoy Christmas group gift exchanges.
And especially not when you’re exchanging gifts with a bunch of folks you don’t really know.
I mean, I love Christmas and all but I find the concept of such group gift exchanges rather superficial and just for the “sake of doing it”. And how am I supposed to get a nice heartfelt gift when I don’t know who the hell I am giving it to?? The whole exercise only results in the boosting of the economy by that little bit but potentially increases wastage by a whole lot.
End result = costs outweigh benefits.
i.e. NOT WORTH DOING.
If it’s buying for my family, I also find it a tad cumbersome but I’ll still do it.
I’d rather just have a quiet gathering with some food and drinks and chill. In the words of the Gen Z…Chillax….
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Longer Than - Dan Fogelberg
This song suddenly popped up in my head this morning. I remember that I when I first heard this song when I was little, I thought it was a tad boring. But over the years, I've grown to appreciate it much more. Mellow and soothing.. :)
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens
I've been in love with you.
Stronger than any mountain cathedral
Truer than any tree ever grew
Deeper than any forest primeval
I am in love with you.
I'll bring fire in the winters
You'll send showers in the springs
We'll fly through the falls and summers
With love on our wings.
Through the years as the fire starts to mellow
Burning lines in the book of our lives
Though the binding cracks and the pages start to yellow
I'll be in love with you.
I'll be in love with you.
Longer than there've been fishes in the ocean
Higher than any bird ever flew
Longer than there've been stars up in the heavens
I've been in love with you
I am in love with you..
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Blackie!
Ok. I did it again. I got myself another black dress.
It's my 7th black dress.
But but but.
Given a choice between electric blue, electric pink and black...the only logical choice is to take black right?
Yes. Ok, I'm convinced.
Yay!
It's my 7th black dress.
But but but.
Given a choice between electric blue, electric pink and black...the only logical choice is to take black right?
Yes. Ok, I'm convinced.
Yay!
HELP!
Uh-oh, I’m surrounded by Twilight fans in office.
My female lunch kakis are talking about it almost everyday!!
HELP!
My female lunch kakis are talking about it almost everyday!!
HELP!
Coll the Troll
I don't like it when some anal person comes to me early in the morning and bugs me about non-consequential stuff.
And why bug me about finance issues when you're the finance person and SUPPOSED to be doing such consolidations???????????????
Seriously, WTF.
She really has a way of making my BP rise.
And why bug me about finance issues when you're the finance person and SUPPOSED to be doing such consolidations???????????????
Seriously, WTF.
She really has a way of making my BP rise.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Footsie!
I really should go bathe now. And scrub my foot at the same time.
Giving K a pseudo pedicure last evening has motivated me to give my own pair of feet a good pick-me-up session with both the foot scrub and a pumice stone.
I'll prolly drown my feet in moisturiser later on too....:)
One should not neglect one's feet (and legs).
Because they're the ones who will carry you around everywhere till you're old.
Giving K a pseudo pedicure last evening has motivated me to give my own pair of feet a good pick-me-up session with both the foot scrub and a pumice stone.
I'll prolly drown my feet in moisturiser later on too....:)
One should not neglect one's feet (and legs).
Because they're the ones who will carry you around everywhere till you're old.
Read rhymes with eat
I used to have a voracious appetite.
For books that is.
Now I only have a voracious appetite.
For food.
Not healthy at all.
Hmm.
Wonder what made my brain synapses go through such a 180 degree change.
Maybe because read rhymes with eat.
And "eat" is a command which the brain takes shorter to process given that it has only 3-letters (compared to 4 letters).
Hence. The brain subconsciously prefers that I eat than I read. :)
Wah! I'm so smart I admire myself.
......
....
...
...
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not.
.
..
...
....Hehe.
For books that is.
Now I only have a voracious appetite.
For food.
Not healthy at all.
Hmm.
Wonder what made my brain synapses go through such a 180 degree change.
Maybe because read rhymes with eat.
And "eat" is a command which the brain takes shorter to process given that it has only 3-letters (compared to 4 letters).
Hence. The brain subconsciously prefers that I eat than I read. :)
Wah! I'm so smart I admire myself.
......
....
...
...
..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Not.
.
..
...
....Hehe.
Experiments do pay off!
Golden Pear - diced
Lettuce - cut into bite-sized strips
Pommery mustard - aka wholegrain mustard
Mix all together and you get a great perk me up salad!! :)))))
*chomp chomp chomp*
*grins*
Lettuce - cut into bite-sized strips
Pommery mustard - aka wholegrain mustard
Mix all together and you get a great perk me up salad!! :)))))
*chomp chomp chomp*
*grins*
dollars and cents
It is always a motivation to check your bank account early in the morning and see that your pay has already come in. :)
It is also a motivation to see that the AWS has come in too! :)
It is also a motivation to see that the AWS has come in too! :)
Ok, I don't feel as bad now about spending money liao. Muahahhaha!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Admin Matters
Insurance
I think I really need to sit down and consolidate whatever insurance policies I have.
Be it health, life, travel, accident.
Gosh. It scares me that I don't have a clear inkling what I' m covered for and what I'm not.
And what existing policies I have at the moment...
Forex
I've got too much foreign currencies in my hands now. Korean won, Chinese renminbi, Mexican peso, Phillipine peso, US dollars, Euro, Indonesian rupiah, Vietnamese dong, etc....
I need to change them back to Sing dollars! Didn't realise so much liquidity is held up in all these currencies...
I think I really need to sit down and consolidate whatever insurance policies I have.
Be it health, life, travel, accident.
Gosh. It scares me that I don't have a clear inkling what I' m covered for and what I'm not.
And what existing policies I have at the moment...
Forex
I've got too much foreign currencies in my hands now. Korean won, Chinese renminbi, Mexican peso, Phillipine peso, US dollars, Euro, Indonesian rupiah, Vietnamese dong, etc....
I need to change them back to Sing dollars! Didn't realise so much liquidity is held up in all these currencies...
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Info Info
Currently reading up & researching on:
- Sponsoring a child in a 3rd world country
- Honour Killings
- The Cold Storage Management Trainee Programme
- Jobs ;p
- Sponsoring a child in a 3rd world country
- Honour Killings
- The Cold Storage Management Trainee Programme
- Jobs ;p
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Bleah!
Feeling somewhat harrassed.
My boss is supposed to be on holiday with his wife in BKK. But the way he is hounding myself and some others, it's like as it he never went away. If I were his wife, I'd be screaming my head off at him by now.
He spent the whole morning on Saturday calling me 3-4 times and SMS-ing me.
He sent me SMS-es yesterday morning.
And he sent me an SMS at 3am last night while I was sleeping. I woke with a shock.
What the hell? Others need to sleep even if you don't leh....I'm a full-fledged zombie today..
He's sent me 4 SMS-es this morning. And it's not even 11am yet...
I will not marry a workaholic. Even if I unknowingly marry one, I'll drill it into the other half's head that there needs to be work-life balance.
My boss is supposed to be on holiday with his wife in BKK. But the way he is hounding myself and some others, it's like as it he never went away. If I were his wife, I'd be screaming my head off at him by now.
He spent the whole morning on Saturday calling me 3-4 times and SMS-ing me.
He sent me SMS-es yesterday morning.
And he sent me an SMS at 3am last night while I was sleeping. I woke with a shock.
What the hell? Others need to sleep even if you don't leh....I'm a full-fledged zombie today..
He's sent me 4 SMS-es this morning. And it's not even 11am yet...
I will not marry a workaholic. Even if I unknowingly marry one, I'll drill it into the other half's head that there needs to be work-life balance.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
My Birthday!
These are some very very overdue pictures....;)
I had a very lovely dinner with K over at Dozo in Valley Point.
I'd been there before already and loved the place.
Iwanted K to experience the place for himself and so we ended up going there for my birthday dinner.
I had a very lovely dinner with K over at Dozo in Valley Point.
I'd been there before already and loved the place.
Iwanted K to experience the place for himself and so we ended up going there for my birthday dinner.
A lovely bouquet of white roses to start the evening with..:)
Starters. Left: A Dollop of Cream on Smoked Salmon. Centre: Fresh Seared Scallop with Truffle Sauce. Right: Foie Gras with Bread.
Sliced Tuna Sashimi with Asparagus
Crab Salad
I loved how this flower looked on the plate as a decorative piece!
Bamboo Clam with Truffle Sauce by the side
Escargot with Cheese
Lobster Bisque
Beef on Hot Stone
Herb-crusted Prawns
A surprise for me from the restaurant! It was really a nice touch on top of their already excellent service.
Brownie with vanilla ice-cream. Heavenly.
Refreshing fruit tea to wash it all down....:)
Brownie with vanilla ice-cream. Heavenly.
Refreshing fruit tea to wash it all down....:)SCM 2009 - Women's 10km
I completed the Women’s 10km Standard Chartered Run this morning.
My first time completing a 10km run. Well, it was more like a walk-run-walk kind of thing. But still, I completed it and it was around the timeframe I thought I would complete the run.
I thought I would feel good about completing the run. I don’t know why but it felt a little empty and less of an accomplishment compared to when I finished the 5.8km Yellow Ribbon Prison Run back in September.
I spent a good part of the whole afternoon and evening curled up in bed resting. I didn’t feel good physically. I didn’t prepare nor train for the run properly and I think I over-exerted myself. I didn’t have a good breakfast before the run too.
I’ve got a sore upper right thigh now and am walking a little like a duck or penguin. Not quite sure how I’m gonna walk to office tomorrow. Hmm.
Some other things have been running through my mind. I’ve been thinking and asking myself these. What’s the purpose of me joining these runs? For fun? For leisure? To challenge myself? Who am I trying to prove things to? Myself? Others? What am I trying to prove? That I’m not a weakling? So what if I complete these runs? So what? Then what?
A part of me thinks I’m over-compensating for my younger years during which I was not allowed to do any physical activities (due to a mis-diagnosis of a heart condition). Another part of me thinks I am doing these to prove (to no one in particular? I don’t know really…) that maybe I’m not some princess who can’t do such things.
I’m feeling damn shacked out now and yet another part of me is saying that perhaps I should admit to myself that I can’t compare myself to others who are more physically fit.
Ok, I am babbling already. Sigh.
My first time completing a 10km run. Well, it was more like a walk-run-walk kind of thing. But still, I completed it and it was around the timeframe I thought I would complete the run.
I thought I would feel good about completing the run. I don’t know why but it felt a little empty and less of an accomplishment compared to when I finished the 5.8km Yellow Ribbon Prison Run back in September.
I spent a good part of the whole afternoon and evening curled up in bed resting. I didn’t feel good physically. I didn’t prepare nor train for the run properly and I think I over-exerted myself. I didn’t have a good breakfast before the run too.
I’ve got a sore upper right thigh now and am walking a little like a duck or penguin. Not quite sure how I’m gonna walk to office tomorrow. Hmm.
Some other things have been running through my mind. I’ve been thinking and asking myself these. What’s the purpose of me joining these runs? For fun? For leisure? To challenge myself? Who am I trying to prove things to? Myself? Others? What am I trying to prove? That I’m not a weakling? So what if I complete these runs? So what? Then what?
A part of me thinks I’m over-compensating for my younger years during which I was not allowed to do any physical activities (due to a mis-diagnosis of a heart condition). Another part of me thinks I am doing these to prove (to no one in particular? I don’t know really…) that maybe I’m not some princess who can’t do such things.
I’m feeling damn shacked out now and yet another part of me is saying that perhaps I should admit to myself that I can’t compare myself to others who are more physically fit.
Ok, I am babbling already. Sigh.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
???
My boss cc-es me for both financial stuff and tech stuff.
Like what is exactly my job role??
Am I supposed to know and handle these things tooooo????
A staff who mans the general enquiry mailbox asks me for help with technical questions and operational questions which come in. Her boss (i.e. my peer aka The Coll aka the finance/admin manager) does not know how to answer most of these questions. I end up helping this staff out.
Why am I doing someone else’s job?
My vendor gets me to help out sometimes when they can’t find my tech manager.
I end up knowing how to do simple technical things now.
What exactly is my job role???
Like what is exactly my job role??
Am I supposed to know and handle these things tooooo????
A staff who mans the general enquiry mailbox asks me for help with technical questions and operational questions which come in. Her boss (i.e. my peer aka The Coll aka the finance/admin manager) does not know how to answer most of these questions. I end up helping this staff out.
Why am I doing someone else’s job?
My vendor gets me to help out sometimes when they can’t find my tech manager.
I end up knowing how to do simple technical things now.
What exactly is my job role???
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
RAWR!
I woke today raring to go. A little tired still but with enough adrenalin to get me up and about.
It felt good. Hell, it felt GREAT! Haha..
And then I heard a wonderful piece of news on the radio this morning.
Class 95 is available again on the Internet!!
It's been almost 9 months since they took it off the Net and apparently they've received considerable feedback from listeners wanting to have it back online. And so voila, they're back online....Wheee!!
Did my French homework whilst on the train to work and revised for the next lesson.
(Fell asleep on my textbook last night though haha...)
Stepped into office and cleared up a paper for submission already.
Time to "kill" off the other items on my to-do list...:)
It felt good. Hell, it felt GREAT! Haha..
And then I heard a wonderful piece of news on the radio this morning.
Class 95 is available again on the Internet!!
It's been almost 9 months since they took it off the Net and apparently they've received considerable feedback from listeners wanting to have it back online. And so voila, they're back online....Wheee!!
Did my French homework whilst on the train to work and revised for the next lesson.
(Fell asleep on my textbook last night though haha...)
Stepped into office and cleared up a paper for submission already.
Time to "kill" off the other items on my to-do list...:)
La Fin de L'Annee
Voila, it’s December already. Feeling nostalgic and pensive.
Maybe it’s the weather, the coolness and the general feeling of year-end approaching. Year-end brings Christmas along with it, which I love. At the same time, it brings with it questions and thoughts of how much one has achieved or experienced in the past months or year as well.
Looking back, it has been a rather eventful year and time has zoomed by in a jiffy. Right from 1st Jan till now. Friends, work, family and self…enough has happened to keep me on a constant whir. So much so that I feel as if time has never passed by faster than over the last 11 months.
I remember mentioning that it seems as if the older one gets, the more occupied one seems to get. Haha. I’m not sure about others but it sure does seem like that for me. :)
Friends. Reconnected with some, lost some and made new ones. Got disappointed with some others as well. But I guess at the end of the day you know who are the ones who really matter. I used to be more proactive in maintaining relationships. Unknowingly, I’ve somehow taken sort of a backseat this year. Maybe I’ve just grown more anti-social? Haha..
Family. Same old same old. Parents still drive me up (and over) the wall sometimes I still feel awkward with my nephew. And I’ve been on my weekly visits to my granny’s nursing home for 2 years and more now. Mum’s getting better after her recent kidney stone blasting. Dad’s gonna be discharged today after 20 days in hospital. A cousin’s had a cyst removed from her ovary and a distant relative has been diagnosed with kidney failure.
Work. Abit of a love-hate relationship here haha. Travels have been interesting definitely and I can’t gripe about that for sure. Being given the opportunity to fly around for work was something which I used to think would never happen to me. Projects have been assigned to me over the past year and one of them has been the cause of my edginess over the last months and probably will for the next few weeks/months as well. The boss can be a pain in the ass at times and a nice guy at other times. A bright spark was when I had a promotion and a corresponding increment. Woot! Haha…
Self. Set some targets at the start of the year, met some, barely reached some, en route to reaching some and had to write off some other stuff due to changes in circumstances and direction. Glad I took up blading. It was something which I’d wanted to do for close to 8 years. Along the way these past 11 months, I’d taken a few tumbles for sure, both literally and metaphorically. I can’t say I’ve grown 100% wiser as a result but I‘ve definitely learnt some things along the way that should be in everyone’s “guidebook to life”. I’m still learning everyday though and I’m glad I’ve got K around me, to catch me should I fall.
K. My beacon of light. Haha…who’s brought me many a good thing and shown me quite a number of stuff as well. It hasn’t entirely been smooth-sailing and I’d be lying through my teeth if I said it was. But still, it’s a walk we’ve chosen to take with each other and kudos goes to my king for bestowing much kind patience towards my idiosyncracies. ;p
Onward we march towards 2010 and yet another year ahead. What comes forth? What lies ahead? I guess no amount of planning will prepare us entirely for the unforseen.
So oh well, let’s take it slow and steady….In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my warm cup of tea and lovely cookies. :)
Maybe it’s the weather, the coolness and the general feeling of year-end approaching. Year-end brings Christmas along with it, which I love. At the same time, it brings with it questions and thoughts of how much one has achieved or experienced in the past months or year as well.
Looking back, it has been a rather eventful year and time has zoomed by in a jiffy. Right from 1st Jan till now. Friends, work, family and self…enough has happened to keep me on a constant whir. So much so that I feel as if time has never passed by faster than over the last 11 months.
I remember mentioning that it seems as if the older one gets, the more occupied one seems to get. Haha. I’m not sure about others but it sure does seem like that for me. :)
Friends. Reconnected with some, lost some and made new ones. Got disappointed with some others as well. But I guess at the end of the day you know who are the ones who really matter. I used to be more proactive in maintaining relationships. Unknowingly, I’ve somehow taken sort of a backseat this year. Maybe I’ve just grown more anti-social? Haha..
Family. Same old same old. Parents still drive me up (and over) the wall sometimes I still feel awkward with my nephew. And I’ve been on my weekly visits to my granny’s nursing home for 2 years and more now. Mum’s getting better after her recent kidney stone blasting. Dad’s gonna be discharged today after 20 days in hospital. A cousin’s had a cyst removed from her ovary and a distant relative has been diagnosed with kidney failure.
Work. Abit of a love-hate relationship here haha. Travels have been interesting definitely and I can’t gripe about that for sure. Being given the opportunity to fly around for work was something which I used to think would never happen to me. Projects have been assigned to me over the past year and one of them has been the cause of my edginess over the last months and probably will for the next few weeks/months as well. The boss can be a pain in the ass at times and a nice guy at other times. A bright spark was when I had a promotion and a corresponding increment. Woot! Haha…
Self. Set some targets at the start of the year, met some, barely reached some, en route to reaching some and had to write off some other stuff due to changes in circumstances and direction. Glad I took up blading. It was something which I’d wanted to do for close to 8 years. Along the way these past 11 months, I’d taken a few tumbles for sure, both literally and metaphorically. I can’t say I’ve grown 100% wiser as a result but I‘ve definitely learnt some things along the way that should be in everyone’s “guidebook to life”. I’m still learning everyday though and I’m glad I’ve got K around me, to catch me should I fall.
K. My beacon of light. Haha…who’s brought me many a good thing and shown me quite a number of stuff as well. It hasn’t entirely been smooth-sailing and I’d be lying through my teeth if I said it was. But still, it’s a walk we’ve chosen to take with each other and kudos goes to my king for bestowing much kind patience towards my idiosyncracies. ;p
Onward we march towards 2010 and yet another year ahead. What comes forth? What lies ahead? I guess no amount of planning will prepare us entirely for the unforseen.
So oh well, let’s take it slow and steady….In the meantime, I’ll enjoy my warm cup of tea and lovely cookies. :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
snippets
- I multi-task a little too much at times. No wonder my mind runs all over the place all the time.
- I get very anal about keeping to certain habits. I bore myself sometimes.
- I stalk Gabriel Mendes' website too much. www.gabrielmendes.net
- I don't take care of myself well enough. Sniff.
- I love my food. Burp.
- I think I've got more potential than I think I have. Wait. I think I have means I'm thinking only and actually don't have? Or I actually have? Hmm. Need to think through.
- I think & imagine too much at times. To my own detriment.
- I am a closet narcissist. Wait. I just said it. Means I'm not a closet narcissit anymore. Ok. I'm a narcissist.
- I love my baby. And my baby loves me.
- I enjoy many genres of music. Except techno.
- I really do try to be more lady-like. Except that. It's easier not to.
- I have a short fuse. I count myself lucky that my blood pressure is perfect at 110/70 all these years.
- I have learnt French for 3 years. And still know nuts about the grammar.
- I enjoy squeezing blackheads. Oh the thrill of seeing one evicted out of its pore of a home.
- I might have OCD. I find myself constantly making lists. Not that I can remember them anyway, unless I write it down. I make a list of the lists I have. Is that normal?
- I whine. Too much.
- I daydream. Too little these days.
- I need to sleep.
Saltwater - Julian Lennon
K & I were talking about "green" songs that day. Songs that touch on environmental issues, mother earth, yada yada. He listed a few like "Heal The World", "We Are The World", etc.
I told him about this song. He said he'd never heard of it. So well, here goes the video...I liked this song alot when it first came out.
p/s: If you think the singer looks alot like the late John Lennon of The Beatles, you're right, Julian Lennon is John's son.
I told him about this song. He said he'd never heard of it. So well, here goes the video...I liked this song alot when it first came out.
p/s: If you think the singer looks alot like the late John Lennon of The Beatles, you're right, Julian Lennon is John's son.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Aspiring chefs
T'was a weekend of culinary adventures...:)
What we made:
Fresh pasta
That's right, freshly made spaghetti and fettucine..lovingly kneaded from semolina flour and eggs and olive oil. Carefully rolled through a pasta machine and tenderly cut with the very same machine. :) Hehe...I think we're doing good in our adventures!
Banana Walnut Cake
Ok, so I cheated on this one. I bought good ol' Betty Crocker's mix. But hey, I still had to mix in all the mashed banana and eggs and blah blah blah ok.. haha.
This turned out good, but I think there was not enough mashed banana mixed in. Good & fragrant when eaten hot from the oven.
Mussel & Clam Stew
Oh what can I say...this was absolutely lovely. The shells were simmered in a soup base made of light chicken broth and a small bottle of white wine. More sweetness came in the form of lovely carrots, celery and onions, all diced up into little cubes.
Next up:
Hmm..let me see. I want to bake foccacia bread and brownie cake...and K wants to make Chinese la mian. Oh yah, I just bought the dough mix for blueberry muffins too heheheheh....
What we made:
Fresh pasta
That's right, freshly made spaghetti and fettucine..lovingly kneaded from semolina flour and eggs and olive oil. Carefully rolled through a pasta machine and tenderly cut with the very same machine. :) Hehe...I think we're doing good in our adventures!
Banana Walnut Cake
Ok, so I cheated on this one. I bought good ol' Betty Crocker's mix. But hey, I still had to mix in all the mashed banana and eggs and blah blah blah ok.. haha.
This turned out good, but I think there was not enough mashed banana mixed in. Good & fragrant when eaten hot from the oven.
Mussel & Clam Stew
Oh what can I say...this was absolutely lovely. The shells were simmered in a soup base made of light chicken broth and a small bottle of white wine. More sweetness came in the form of lovely carrots, celery and onions, all diced up into little cubes.
Next up:
Hmm..let me see. I want to bake foccacia bread and brownie cake...and K wants to make Chinese la mian. Oh yah, I just bought the dough mix for blueberry muffins too heheheheh....
Mon papa
The dad has been in hospital for 18 days now. Or was it 19? I can't remember anymore, lost track.
Zipping between work & SGH, home & SGH, home & work, work & home...
The number of cab rides I've been on in this single month has exceeded the number of cab rides I've had in the entire year...
There's news that he may be discharged on Tuesday. Hope so.
But we'll need to rent a machine for him. Some sort of a breathing apparatus.
At a rate of $1,200 a month.
O-U-C-H.
:(
Zipping between work & SGH, home & SGH, home & work, work & home...
The number of cab rides I've been on in this single month has exceeded the number of cab rides I've had in the entire year...
There's news that he may be discharged on Tuesday. Hope so.
But we'll need to rent a machine for him. Some sort of a breathing apparatus.
At a rate of $1,200 a month.
O-U-C-H.
:(
Thursday, November 26, 2009
You parle french?
The more I learn French, the more I get my words missed up at times. Probably because the words are spelt quite similarly at times and they sometime sounds rather similar too.
I was making a list of things to buy just now. And ended up writing “herbs” as “herbes” and “et” instead of “and”.
Lol..but am still glad that despite our broken sentences and horrible grammar, we still manage to get our thoughts across to the teacher. Haha.
Come to think of it, it’s 3 years since I started learning the language. Wah, I’ve never lasted that long in something haha.
I was making a list of things to buy just now. And ended up writing “herbs” as “herbes” and “et” instead of “and”.
Lol..but am still glad that despite our broken sentences and horrible grammar, we still manage to get our thoughts across to the teacher. Haha.
Come to think of it, it’s 3 years since I started learning the language. Wah, I’ve never lasted that long in something haha.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
food....
Friday has been designated as baking day and pasta making day...
Hee..looking forward to it...
I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who's ever made fresh pasta!
So after Friday, I'll start bragging about it perhaps hahahha. ;p
And oh yes, banana walnut bread is also on the menu...
Though I'm cheating a little by using good ol Betty Crocker's ready recipe lol...
Hee..looking forward to it...
I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who's ever made fresh pasta!
So after Friday, I'll start bragging about it perhaps hahahha. ;p
And oh yes, banana walnut bread is also on the menu...
Though I'm cheating a little by using good ol Betty Crocker's ready recipe lol...
Doughy Shell
Feeling a tad bit stretched...
With various things vying for attention...
Feel guilty at times for neglecting some aspects...
Feel frustrated at other times when some aspects waste my time..
Wish I could be an energiser bunny...
With bountiful enery to zip here and there...
And be everywhere all at once..
So that I can please everyone and cover all that I want to settle and do..
Not sure how some of those entrepreneurs juggle their time and stuff..
Either they are really full of energy..
Or they choose to sacrifice some aspects of their lives..
Or maybe they are just focused and driven people who don't mind losing out on some aspects...
Am sounding a little off here..
But believe you me..
I'm still doing my best and tackling the whole gamut..
Although with a little too many tired yawns than usual..;p
With various things vying for attention...
Feel guilty at times for neglecting some aspects...
Feel frustrated at other times when some aspects waste my time..
Wish I could be an energiser bunny...
With bountiful enery to zip here and there...
And be everywhere all at once..
So that I can please everyone and cover all that I want to settle and do..
Not sure how some of those entrepreneurs juggle their time and stuff..
Either they are really full of energy..
Or they choose to sacrifice some aspects of their lives..
Or maybe they are just focused and driven people who don't mind losing out on some aspects...
Am sounding a little off here..
But believe you me..
I'm still doing my best and tackling the whole gamut..
Although with a little too many tired yawns than usual..;p
Need to.
Write 5 papers for upcoming Board meeting.
Settle system stuff.
Settle the many queries coming in on a daily basis.
Deflect arrows from The Coll who practices "taiji" whenever she has the chance to.
Settle workplan submission to HQ.
yada
yada
yada
blah
blah
blah
...
...
...
*wails*
Settle system stuff.
Settle the many queries coming in on a daily basis.
Deflect arrows from The Coll who practices "taiji" whenever she has the chance to.
Settle workplan submission to HQ.
yada
yada
yada
blah
blah
blah
...
...
...
*wails*
Monday, November 23, 2009
When some get repressed too much......
Extracted from ST Online.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_457999.html
==========
TEHERAN - IRAN'S moral police have arrested a dozen couples for engaging in illicit sexual acts, including swapping of partners, the conservative Jomhuri Eslami reported on Monday.
The report said the couples and another individual were running a website, Iran Multiplication, which was aimed at promoting illicit sexual relations.
The couples were said to have carried out sexual acts in the presence of each other and several times with multiple partners, the report added.
Those arrested held university degrees, while some were government employees and had children. The paper gave no further details about their identities or when or where they were arrested.
Extra-marital sex is illegal in Iran where Islamic sharia law is the principal source of legislation. If found guilty of adultery, those arrested in the crackdown face being stoned to death. Reports of partner-swapping are a rarity in conservative Iran, but in March the elite Revolutionary Guards said it had launched a crackdown on several groups who had set up anti-Islamic and pornographic Internet sites.
The Guards, set up to defend the ideals of the Islamic republic, said they have 'dismantled several networks that had set up anti-religious, anti-revolution and obscene Internet sites'. Among those also targeted are people deemed to be Satan worshippers, while moral police often also carry out raids on concerts and parties as part of their tough crackdown on 'un-Islamic' attire and behaviour. -- AFP
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_457999.html
==========
TEHERAN - IRAN'S moral police have arrested a dozen couples for engaging in illicit sexual acts, including swapping of partners, the conservative Jomhuri Eslami reported on Monday.
The report said the couples and another individual were running a website, Iran Multiplication, which was aimed at promoting illicit sexual relations.
The couples were said to have carried out sexual acts in the presence of each other and several times with multiple partners, the report added.
Those arrested held university degrees, while some were government employees and had children. The paper gave no further details about their identities or when or where they were arrested.
Extra-marital sex is illegal in Iran where Islamic sharia law is the principal source of legislation. If found guilty of adultery, those arrested in the crackdown face being stoned to death. Reports of partner-swapping are a rarity in conservative Iran, but in March the elite Revolutionary Guards said it had launched a crackdown on several groups who had set up anti-Islamic and pornographic Internet sites.
The Guards, set up to defend the ideals of the Islamic republic, said they have 'dismantled several networks that had set up anti-religious, anti-revolution and obscene Internet sites'. Among those also targeted are people deemed to be Satan worshippers, while moral police often also carry out raids on concerts and parties as part of their tough crackdown on 'un-Islamic' attire and behaviour. -- AFP
Arcana - Love Eternal
Arcana is a Swedish neoclassical group. Stumbled upon their songs on Youtube and found them quite interesting...:)
Here's one of their songs "Love Eternal"
Here's one of their songs "Love Eternal"
Updates
The Dad is not doing too good again. Had attacks of breathlessness again yesterday.
The Mum was upset.
Sigh. Hope he gets well soon enough to be discharged.
The Mum was upset.
Sigh. Hope he gets well soon enough to be discharged.
Bleah..
I apologise.
For taking you for granted
For disregarding your feelings so many a time
For ignoring your hints and signs of unhappiness
It was right of you to blow up at me
I take full responsibility
For the discomfort and unpleasantness
I’m sorry Tummy.
No more beer with oily food next time.
For taking you for granted
For disregarding your feelings so many a time
For ignoring your hints and signs of unhappiness
It was right of you to blow up at me
I take full responsibility
For the discomfort and unpleasantness
I’m sorry Tummy.
No more beer with oily food next time.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
*poot*
My tum has been on a slow protest the last week or so. I’ve been eating less. Just as well anyway haha, considering how I’ve shocked some people by the amount I take in as a lady.
But anyway, K & I went to try out a Malay kopitiam yesterday evening. I had an egg and onion prata as well as a kosong prata for dinner . Couldn’t finish both and so K was activated to clear the plate for me. (Not nice to waste food mah…;p) Anyway, K obliged rather happily and quite promptly in less than 3 minutes, the plate was empty…:)
Anyway, the oil must have wreaked a little havoc on my stomach for I felt bloated for a long time, even this morning.
And err. Egg and onion prata. Onions. Produce. Gas.
I’ve been expelling since last night. Till now.
Time to perfect the art of discretion.
But anyway, K & I went to try out a Malay kopitiam yesterday evening. I had an egg and onion prata as well as a kosong prata for dinner . Couldn’t finish both and so K was activated to clear the plate for me. (Not nice to waste food mah…;p) Anyway, K obliged rather happily and quite promptly in less than 3 minutes, the plate was empty…:)
Anyway, the oil must have wreaked a little havoc on my stomach for I felt bloated for a long time, even this morning.
And err. Egg and onion prata. Onions. Produce. Gas.
I’ve been expelling since last night. Till now.
Time to perfect the art of discretion.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Kylie Kylie!
Just a sudden thought.
I wonder if Kylie Minogue has had Botox or any other form of cosmetic surgery..hmm. ;p
She's one hot lady at age 41.
Ok, I will aspire to be half (or 1/3?) as hot as her at age 41.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Day 5 – 16th Nov
Popped by during lunch and it was sort of like a miraculous transformation from last evening.
He looked much better and was propped up in a chair. Respiratory machine was taken off him as they wanted him to try drinking some milo and taking some porridge. His first meal in over 4 days.
He was talking and complaining, joking and laughing, teasing and disturbing the nurses.
Ok, he’s doing much better.
But he was supposed to be put back on the respiratory machine after his meal. Didn’t stay long enough to see that being done though.
Day 4 – Sunday 15th Nov.
Dad wasn’t doing well at all.
He couldn’t breathe on his own and needed to be hooked up to a machine. A contraption was fixed to his face and it was uncomfortable for him. Breathing was such a chore for him as well.
He was frowning, grimacing at times and generally feeling low and lethargic.
He couldn’t breathe on his own and needed to be hooked up to a machine. A contraption was fixed to his face and it was uncomfortable for him. Breathing was such a chore for him as well.
He was frowning, grimacing at times and generally feeling low and lethargic.
To date
0.25
1.5
3.5
0.25
2.25
Number of years I have stayed in each job I’ve held so far.
Ever since graduation
1.5
3.5
0.25
2.25
Number of years I have stayed in each job I’ve held so far.
Ever since graduation
the blues
Haphazardness. Piecemeal decisions.
Whim and fancy. No holistic picture.
Not enough people. No clear roles amongst existing people.
No strategy??
If that’s the case, then……
How the hell do we grow further?
In name. Pte Ltd.
In role. Regulator.
In essence. Stat board.
In truth. Government.
Whim and fancy. No holistic picture.
Not enough people. No clear roles amongst existing people.
No strategy??
If that’s the case, then……
How the hell do we grow further?
In name. Pte Ltd.
In role. Regulator.
In essence. Stat board.
In truth. Government.
Friday, November 13, 2009
I'm an Auntie
Aunt Agony that is.
I was Aunt Agony this morning way before 10am even arrived.
My admin lady came crying to me. Apparently she heard news about someone badmouthing her. And that someone who did the deed was a guy whom she liked alot and treated almost like her son.
She said it hurts a lot. I can understand how she feels.
Coincidentally, this guy is someone whom I’ve distanced myself with ever since more than 6 months ago. We used to be ok-ok with each other and sometimes went for afternoon coffee breaks in a group. But over time, I couldn’t stand his attitude and felt he was just one big asshole who takes and takes and doesn’t give back.
He’s also someone who has a “I’m always right and the whole world is wrong” kind of attitude. He judges too much and can’t see two sides of a coin. Which I find strange given that he’s taking part-time legal studies.
She asked me if she should talk to him or just ignore him and not bother with him anymore. I told her this “Why even bother to try to be nice to people who do not appreciate it and who turn around to bite you instead?” Especially for a guy who doesn’t really listen to others.
She’s stopped crying. I hope she’ll feel better by this afternoon.
I was Aunt Agony this morning way before 10am even arrived.
My admin lady came crying to me. Apparently she heard news about someone badmouthing her. And that someone who did the deed was a guy whom she liked alot and treated almost like her son.
She said it hurts a lot. I can understand how she feels.
Coincidentally, this guy is someone whom I’ve distanced myself with ever since more than 6 months ago. We used to be ok-ok with each other and sometimes went for afternoon coffee breaks in a group. But over time, I couldn’t stand his attitude and felt he was just one big asshole who takes and takes and doesn’t give back.
He’s also someone who has a “I’m always right and the whole world is wrong” kind of attitude. He judges too much and can’t see two sides of a coin. Which I find strange given that he’s taking part-time legal studies.
She asked me if she should talk to him or just ignore him and not bother with him anymore. I told her this “Why even bother to try to be nice to people who do not appreciate it and who turn around to bite you instead?” Especially for a guy who doesn’t really listen to others.
She’s stopped crying. I hope she’ll feel better by this afternoon.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
SGH II
There's always a first time for everything. Tonight would go down in the history books as the first time ever in my 29 years of existence that I took an MRT train ride with both my brother and mum. It felt a little surreal actually haha.
We were going home together after visiting my Dad in SGH....
Dad's op went well but because a major organ (the heart) is involved, he has to be in ICU till tomorrow night at least.
He had just woken up from his GA when I was there at around 715pm. We could see that he was still very very groggy and he was also grimacing in pain., from two 5 cm long slits cut into the sides of his chest.
The pain must have been quite bad because the seinor staff nurse, a Burmese lady, admistered painkillers for him. Elevated levels of painkiller shots. Any higher and he would have to be put on morphine, which is not a good thing.
Anyway, we couldn't go in to see him just now as he still had his breathing tube in his throat. Hospital policy that if it were still in his throat, visitors can't go in. So there we were, mum and I standing outside his glass room window staring in.
I went down later and Adrian came up. Hopsital policy again. No more than 2 visitors at any one time.
Will pop by tomorrow again to see him....
We were going home together after visiting my Dad in SGH....
Dad's op went well but because a major organ (the heart) is involved, he has to be in ICU till tomorrow night at least.
He had just woken up from his GA when I was there at around 715pm. We could see that he was still very very groggy and he was also grimacing in pain., from two 5 cm long slits cut into the sides of his chest.
The pain must have been quite bad because the seinor staff nurse, a Burmese lady, admistered painkillers for him. Elevated levels of painkiller shots. Any higher and he would have to be put on morphine, which is not a good thing.
Anyway, we couldn't go in to see him just now as he still had his breathing tube in his throat. Hospital policy that if it were still in his throat, visitors can't go in. So there we were, mum and I standing outside his glass room window staring in.
I went down later and Adrian came up. Hopsital policy again. No more than 2 visitors at any one time.
Will pop by tomorrow again to see him....
Greece oh Greece, I want to meet you too!
Daniel dropped me a few MSN messages on Tuesday. Goondu! Haha…
He was enjoying a cuppa in his hotel balcony in Crete, Greece and was gloating over the fact that they upgraded him to a suite because they had no other rooms. :)
Lucky guy! This is one fella who’s got everything going smoothly for him eversince he was born. The gods must love him a lot too haha.
He was enjoying a cuppa in his hotel balcony in Crete, Greece and was gloating over the fact that they upgraded him to a suite because they had no other rooms. :)
Lucky guy! This is one fella who’s got everything going smoothly for him eversince he was born. The gods must love him a lot too haha.
SGH
I did a brain scan last week and went back to see John Thomas yesterday afternoon. Spent a grand total of 2 minutes in his consultation room and was subsequently discharged from his clinic. Cost me $62 for that 2 minutes lol…
But whatever it is. I’m glad that the next time he wants to see me will only be in 4 years’ time. :) Woot!
4 years is a long time. I wonder what I’d be in 4 years’ time, what things would I have seen and experienced, what would I be doing at that point in time? Hmm…I’d be 33 by then for sure ha.
======
Heading to SGH again this evening and tomorrow evening to visit Dad.
But whatever it is. I’m glad that the next time he wants to see me will only be in 4 years’ time. :) Woot!
4 years is a long time. I wonder what I’d be in 4 years’ time, what things would I have seen and experienced, what would I be doing at that point in time? Hmm…I’d be 33 by then for sure ha.
======
Heading to SGH again this evening and tomorrow evening to visit Dad.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Les parents
When I was very young, I used to think that my parents were tough tough infallible creatures. Strong, healthy, ready to fight the world and ready to defend me if bad people wanted to get me.
Years go by and everyone has gotten older (and wiser haha). I know definitely that they are not right in all matters and they are only knowledgeable in certain areas.
And well, the older they get, visits to the hospital seem to be occurring more.
Both just went to the hospital’s A&E because the mother was feeling unwell with cramps and diarrhoea. With her kidney stone blasting procedure having taken place just only last week, she was freaking out and worried that the cramps might be a side effect of the procedure.
Anyway, both are back at home already. Apparently the prescribed antibiotics were causing those side effects. Strange, I've never ever heard of antibiotics having such side effects. Hmm.
The father’s going to be admitted to SGH tomorrow for a heart procedure scheduled on Thursday. Will probably be in ICU on Thursday night and Friday morning. Hopefully he can be transferred back to the normal wards by Friday afternoon or Saturday.
Health is important. So very important.
Must take care of oneself.
Years go by and everyone has gotten older (and wiser haha). I know definitely that they are not right in all matters and they are only knowledgeable in certain areas.
And well, the older they get, visits to the hospital seem to be occurring more.
Both just went to the hospital’s A&E because the mother was feeling unwell with cramps and diarrhoea. With her kidney stone blasting procedure having taken place just only last week, she was freaking out and worried that the cramps might be a side effect of the procedure.
Anyway, both are back at home already. Apparently the prescribed antibiotics were causing those side effects. Strange, I've never ever heard of antibiotics having such side effects. Hmm.
The father’s going to be admitted to SGH tomorrow for a heart procedure scheduled on Thursday. Will probably be in ICU on Thursday night and Friday morning. Hopefully he can be transferred back to the normal wards by Friday afternoon or Saturday.
Health is important. So very important.
Must take care of oneself.
Mai Tumse Pyar Karti Hu
Le sens des mots si-dessus est "Je t'aime" en la langue Hindi.
Il y a deja plus que demi-annee. Ni tres vite mais ni lentement aussi.
Merci beaucoup bebe. Pour etre ici avec moi toujours.
Je t'aime tellement...:)
No more no more *wails*
Louis Prima and Gia Maione
They don’t do songs like how they did in the 40s and 50s no more.
Jive, swing, jazz no more.
Sam Butera. Chet Baker. Dean Martin.
Big names no more.
Sax and trumpets no more.
What a waste.
For these songs are good stuff.
Real good stuff.
They don’t do songs like how they did in the 40s and 50s no more.
Jive, swing, jazz no more.
Sam Butera. Chet Baker. Dean Martin.
Big names no more.
Sax and trumpets no more.
What a waste.
For these songs are good stuff.
Real good stuff.
Monday, November 09, 2009
vagueness
"Open to interpretation."
Don't quite like this phrase.
Strange thing is that in the course of my work today.
I've heard it twice already. Said by different people in different organisations.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
lumiere
A single light crept silently
Into the dimness
A single bright spot illuminating
The otherwise dull vacumn
And it sits there growing
In intensity and volume
Pulsating
Engulfing
The dimness has gone away
Light takes its place
Into the dimness
A single bright spot illuminating
The otherwise dull vacumn
And it sits there growing
In intensity and volume
Pulsating
Engulfing
The dimness has gone away
Light takes its place
pics!
www.gabrielmendes.net
Hehe...Look at the post which reads as "Daniel and Yanling - MARRIED".
Hehe...he's the photographer who was covering the event and there's a pic posted up on his website. A pic of all of us "brothers" in the background and Daniel in the foreground.
I look strangely demure. hmm.....
Hehe...Look at the post which reads as "Daniel and Yanling - MARRIED".
Hehe...he's the photographer who was covering the event and there's a pic posted up on his website. A pic of all of us "brothers" in the background and Daniel in the foreground.
I look strangely demure. hmm.....
Times Have Changed
Here I am sitting in my room listening to jazz classics from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.
And my Dad is sitting in his room, watching youtube videos of "Nobody" by the Wondergirls.
OMG.
What is this world coming to???
I'm singing "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Blue Spanish Eyes" while walking about the house.
And my Dad's humming "Nobody".
Sheesh.
He's getting extremely entrenched in Korean stuff.
Watching Korean shows on KBS on cable and chasing Korean dramas.
My mum can't even be bothered haha. And he's chasing all these shows on a daily basis.
I don't even know what's going on in the K-entertainment world and he knows.
Gosh.
Times have changed.
And my Dad is sitting in his room, watching youtube videos of "Nobody" by the Wondergirls.
OMG.
What is this world coming to???
I'm singing "Fly Me to the Moon" and "Blue Spanish Eyes" while walking about the house.
And my Dad's humming "Nobody".
Sheesh.
He's getting extremely entrenched in Korean stuff.
Watching Korean shows on KBS on cable and chasing Korean dramas.
My mum can't even be bothered haha. And he's chasing all these shows on a daily basis.
I don't even know what's going on in the K-entertainment world and he knows.
Gosh.
Times have changed.
Lazy Sunday mornings
It's been awhile since I could wake up late and laze around and take my own sweet time with things and not have to rush about for errands and appointments.
Love this feeling.
Woke at 10am this morning and rolled about in bed for awhile before getting up.
Doing French homework and listening to music now. Painting my nails at the same time too.
Will be cooking lunch for myself soon too...:)
Eversince mum had her kidney stone blasting on the Tuesday just past, she's declared herself medically unfit for household chores and cooking haha.
Dad has been heading out to the kopitiam and having a blast of a time enjoying all the sinful foods which he'd not have had if my mum were cooking haha.
And I've been cooking for myself as and when I can hee...:)
I like lazy Sunday mornings...
Love this feeling.
Woke at 10am this morning and rolled about in bed for awhile before getting up.
Doing French homework and listening to music now. Painting my nails at the same time too.
Will be cooking lunch for myself soon too...:)
Eversince mum had her kidney stone blasting on the Tuesday just past, she's declared herself medically unfit for household chores and cooking haha.
Dad has been heading out to the kopitiam and having a blast of a time enjoying all the sinful foods which he'd not have had if my mum were cooking haha.
And I've been cooking for myself as and when I can hee...:)
I like lazy Sunday mornings...
Friday, November 06, 2009
First thing I saw in the mail this morning.
Haha.But I think it varies from organisation to organisation though.
Is this what you would call Determination and Faith?
Determination, Grit, Faith and Strength
or
Stubbornness and Foolishness
You decide.
I'm a little torn between both descriptions.
Though the first description weighs more heavily on me. :)
Got this article off StraitsTimes.com
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_451040.html
===============
Passed Exam on 950th Try
SEOUL - A WOMAN in South Korea who tried to pass the written exam for a driver's licence with near-daily attempts since April 2005 has finally succeeded on her 950th time.
The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won (S$5,900) in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out of a possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.
Ms Cha Sa Soon, 68, finally passed the written exam with a score of 60 on Wednesday, said Choi Young Chul, a police official at the drivers' licence agency in Jeonju, 210km south of Seoul.
Police said Ms Cha took the test hundreds of times, but had no specific total. Local media said she took the test 950 times.
Now she must pass a driving test before getting her license, Mr Choi said. Repeated calls to Ms Cha seeking comment went unanswered. She told the Korea Times newspaper she needed the licence for her vegetable-selling business.
or
Stubbornness and Foolishness
You decide.
I'm a little torn between both descriptions.
Though the first description weighs more heavily on me. :)
Got this article off StraitsTimes.com
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_451040.html
===============
Passed Exam on 950th Try
SEOUL - A WOMAN in South Korea who tried to pass the written exam for a driver's licence with near-daily attempts since April 2005 has finally succeeded on her 950th time.
The aspiring driver spent more than 5 million won (S$5,900) in application fees, but until now had failed to score the minimum 60 out of a possible 100 points needed to get behind the wheel for a driving test.
Ms Cha Sa Soon, 68, finally passed the written exam with a score of 60 on Wednesday, said Choi Young Chul, a police official at the drivers' licence agency in Jeonju, 210km south of Seoul.
Police said Ms Cha took the test hundreds of times, but had no specific total. Local media said she took the test 950 times.
Now she must pass a driving test before getting her license, Mr Choi said. Repeated calls to Ms Cha seeking comment went unanswered. She told the Korea Times newspaper she needed the licence for her vegetable-selling business.
Thursday, November 05, 2009
幸福小女人
平时已经觉得我很幸福， 因为有了K在我身旁。可是昨天晚上更是觉得又开心又幸福。为什么呢？因为K为我准备了一个丰富的晚餐。
昨天放了工后就搭了地铁到他家去。 看着他满头大汗的在厨房里，皱着眉头认真的忙着， 心里突然间有了个很温心的感觉。我的宝贝还真像个厨师！哈哈！ :D
昨天放了工后就搭了地铁到他家去。 看着他满头大汗的在厨房里，皱着眉头认真的忙着， 心里突然间有了个很温心的感觉。我的宝贝还真像个厨师！哈哈！ :D
Spaghetti in Cream Cheese Sauce with Holland White Mushrooms and Prawns and Italian Herbs.
*slurp* 嗬嗬! ;p
宝贝万岁！ :)
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Monday, November 02, 2009
shelly and the brain
Time flies by real quickly. It's been 4 years since I went for my brain op.
I can't remember all of the proceedings of that entir eperiod already. I used to be able to remember....
It was years ago that I last met up with John Thomas (JT), the neurosurgeon who sliced me up, stiched me back up wonderfully and basically fixed me.
He looked the same, with the same laid-back sense of humour. Just a little more pudgy. He recommended me to go for a scan just for a look at the aneurysm and if the metal clipping did its job like it was supposed to.
And just like that. $800 flew away from me. That 20-minute scan procedure cost me that much.
I was a little upset actually. "Heart pain" was more like it.
K put it as "Buying a peace of mind".
I know that too. Just couldn't help feeling a little sore that it was so expensive...
Speaking of sore. The procedure involved 2 blasts of medicine and colour dye being injected into me through a plug which was inserted into a major vein on my right elbow.
Definitely uncomfortable, with some amount of pain felt when the dye and medicine was injected into the vein. Thankfully it was just 2 quick injections.
That area has the slight tinge of a blue-black bruise now and still feels a little sore...can't lift anything too heavy too. But I'm sure it'll get better in a day or two.
Going back to see JT next week.
I've got faith. That everything will be aye-okay and that the problem spot is more than adequately solved.
(Just hope that there won't be anymore needles and plugs. choi choi choi.)
I can't remember all of the proceedings of that entir eperiod already. I used to be able to remember....
It was years ago that I last met up with John Thomas (JT), the neurosurgeon who sliced me up, stiched me back up wonderfully and basically fixed me.
He looked the same, with the same laid-back sense of humour. Just a little more pudgy. He recommended me to go for a scan just for a look at the aneurysm and if the metal clipping did its job like it was supposed to.
And just like that. $800 flew away from me. That 20-minute scan procedure cost me that much.
I was a little upset actually. "Heart pain" was more like it.
K put it as "Buying a peace of mind".
I know that too. Just couldn't help feeling a little sore that it was so expensive...
Speaking of sore. The procedure involved 2 blasts of medicine and colour dye being injected into me through a plug which was inserted into a major vein on my right elbow.
Definitely uncomfortable, with some amount of pain felt when the dye and medicine was injected into the vein. Thankfully it was just 2 quick injections.
That area has the slight tinge of a blue-black bruise now and still feels a little sore...can't lift anything too heavy too. But I'm sure it'll get better in a day or two.
Going back to see JT next week.
I've got faith. That everything will be aye-okay and that the problem spot is more than adequately solved.
(Just hope that there won't be anymore needles and plugs. choi choi choi.)
..............
Feeling pensive and nostalgic.
I guess the last 2 weeks have been pretty busy for me.
Overseas meeting. Dinners. Work and projects.
Personal stuff. School. Family.
So much so that when I have a little bit more time on my hands this evening,
I end up feeling pensive...
Hey Bro!
I spent almost the whole day on Sunday being part of Daniel's "brother" wedding entourage.
It was a good and fun experience. ;p Albeit a little awkward at times because I didn't really know the rest of the brothers well enough except for 2 of them.
Anyhow, us 8 "xiong dis" managed to pull through the entire day...:)
I feel very happy for Dan & YL. Don't know why. Maybe it's because I know what they've been through. Mayube it's because I was there listening to Daniel during his break up and during the period of time he decided to go after YL.
Am just glad for them that everything turned out fine and dandy. They looked so much in bliss yesterday and the understanding they have of each other and for each other is just amazing.
I guess there is sunshine after the rain afterall. :)
=========
Dan's wedding is probably the 6th wedding that I'm helping out in, either as a "brother" or a "sister" or as the wedding coordinator. And out of these 6 times, I was sitting at the reception as well for probably 3 or 4 times.
Lol, there's a saying that one should not be a bridesmaid for more than 3 times. Hmm, looks like I've exceeded the said threshold amount by twice the amount. And I've even been a groomsman.
Haha.
It was a good and fun experience. ;p Albeit a little awkward at times because I didn't really know the rest of the brothers well enough except for 2 of them.
Anyhow, us 8 "xiong dis" managed to pull through the entire day...:)
I feel very happy for Dan & YL. Don't know why. Maybe it's because I know what they've been through. Mayube it's because I was there listening to Daniel during his break up and during the period of time he decided to go after YL.
Am just glad for them that everything turned out fine and dandy. They looked so much in bliss yesterday and the understanding they have of each other and for each other is just amazing.
I guess there is sunshine after the rain afterall. :)
=========
Dan's wedding is probably the 6th wedding that I'm helping out in, either as a "brother" or a "sister" or as the wedding coordinator. And out of these 6 times, I was sitting at the reception as well for probably 3 or 4 times.
Lol, there's a saying that one should not be a bridesmaid for more than 3 times. Hmm, looks like I've exceeded the said threshold amount by twice the amount. And I've even been a groomsman.
Haha.
party? hmm..
An occassional drink with friends for catch up or just for a chill session seems nice to me.
Not frequent weekly guzzling. Don't really understand some folks who head out to "cheong" every weekend.
But yeah, different people lead different lives and have different preferences.
Am I getting old? Hmm mm....
TH jio-ed me to go to the upcoming Zoukout. My immediate answer was no.
It's just not my kind of thing to head there for such an event. Not too keen on it.
Oh well. Am I getting old? Hmm mm...
Not frequent weekly guzzling. Don't really understand some folks who head out to "cheong" every weekend.
But yeah, different people lead different lives and have different preferences.
Am I getting old? Hmm mm....
TH jio-ed me to go to the upcoming Zoukout. My immediate answer was no.
It's just not my kind of thing to head there for such an event. Not too keen on it.
Oh well. Am I getting old? Hmm mm...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
hmmm...
Grate grate grate.
It's getting more grating.
The more interaction we have, the more I feel the "grate".
The more my nerves get irritated and the more I feel I need to control myself.
Not good. When this is your teammate you're talking about.
Not good at all. Been feeling this for a few months already.
Eversince May or June...Hmm.
good morning to the world!
Ok, this is the 4th ICANN meeting I’ve attended and by far the most busy and tiring. I’m surprised I’m getting by on an average of 5-6 hours’ of sleep everyday. I feel a little zonked out here and there but am still holding out well enough.
With an involvement in 2 mini events and another 5-6 separate appointments with various companies, I’m thinking that this is the most fruitful of all the ICANNs I’ve attended so far too. :)
I love the food here. Loads of beef. Yum yum. Loads of kimchi. Yum yum. Loads of garlic and onions. Yum yum. Loads of spicy tofu soup. Yum yum. Heheheh…
I’m still amazed by the number of cosmetics shops there are here. On one single street alone, there can be multiples of Face Shop, Skin Food, Missha, Innisfree, Body Shop, Etude House. There can be 2 or 3 branches of the same brand name on a single avenue and each branch will still have many ladies jostling for space inside haha.
I love these shops!! Went on a rampage and am now equipped with close to 40 pieces of masks and various bottles of BB cream, moisturizer and other products.
With an involvement in 2 mini events and another 5-6 separate appointments with various companies, I’m thinking that this is the most fruitful of all the ICANNs I’ve attended so far too. :)
I love the food here. Loads of beef. Yum yum. Loads of kimchi. Yum yum. Loads of garlic and onions. Yum yum. Loads of spicy tofu soup. Yum yum. Heheheh…
I’m still amazed by the number of cosmetics shops there are here. On one single street alone, there can be multiples of Face Shop, Skin Food, Missha, Innisfree, Body Shop, Etude House. There can be 2 or 3 branches of the same brand name on a single avenue and each branch will still have many ladies jostling for space inside haha.
I love these shops!! Went on a rampage and am now equipped with close to 40 pieces of masks and various bottles of BB cream, moisturizer and other products.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Resting in room for a little while before heading out for another appointment
Sitting here in different meetings and sessions over the last few days has reconfirmed some of the things which I’d come to learn.
1. Caucasians really have a knack of talking a lot. One simple point to bring across is expressed in 9 or 10 long sentences.
2. But well, those who can talk well and those can talk for long and those who can talk loud, are usually the ones who get further and higher.
3. Some Caucasians really have a cocky attitude and most of them come from the States. I had a meeting with a company in the morning. Started and based in the US but with companies in Germany, Japan and some other European countries. 3 of them versus one of me. CEO was a young guy, probably in his 30s. Relatively good-looking with a typical cocky attitude. Lots of snide smiles between him and the other guy, who was Spanish I think. Only the lady was nice enough and was sincere in her smiles……
4. With point 3 said though, there are also those Caucasians who are sincere, genuine and take the effort to accommodate their ways to those of Asians or who bother to keep relationships going with you. I definitely appreciate the sincerity of these folks. :)
5. “Guan xi” is really deeply rooted in the blood of Asians. Building relationships, eating and drinking and having fun together are so very common.
I am also getting a little irritated by the aggressiveness of a certain someone. And his enthusiasm. I don’t know how to put it in words. Maybe he’s gotten passionate about his work over the last year or so. But the way he speaks now about work is grating on me a little.
1. Caucasians really have a knack of talking a lot. One simple point to bring across is expressed in 9 or 10 long sentences.
2. But well, those who can talk well and those can talk for long and those who can talk loud, are usually the ones who get further and higher.
3. Some Caucasians really have a cocky attitude and most of them come from the States. I had a meeting with a company in the morning. Started and based in the US but with companies in Germany, Japan and some other European countries. 3 of them versus one of me. CEO was a young guy, probably in his 30s. Relatively good-looking with a typical cocky attitude. Lots of snide smiles between him and the other guy, who was Spanish I think. Only the lady was nice enough and was sincere in her smiles……
4. With point 3 said though, there are also those Caucasians who are sincere, genuine and take the effort to accommodate their ways to those of Asians or who bother to keep relationships going with you. I definitely appreciate the sincerity of these folks. :)
5. “Guan xi” is really deeply rooted in the blood of Asians. Building relationships, eating and drinking and having fun together are so very common.
I am also getting a little irritated by the aggressiveness of a certain someone. And his enthusiasm. I don’t know how to put it in words. Maybe he’s gotten passionate about his work over the last year or so. But the way he speaks now about work is grating on me a little.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Day 1 - Kimchi overdose
Landed in Seoul around 6:55am this morning. Meaning it was about SG 5:55am.
Just some quick observations about Korea....
Just some quick observations about Korea....
- There are many couples who like to wear couple-outfits i.e. top matches, bottom matches, and sometimes even footwear matches as well
- Kimchi is so prevalent in each and every meal that I thank God I can take spicy stuff. In a strange way, kimchi has somehow not made my stomach feel worse. Yay!
- Their Insadong area is very much like Taipei's Shilin Night Market, just 3 times bigger and 5 times less dirty. I love this area and couldn't stop myself from grabbing knick-knacks...:)
- I like the way the country is so "digitised" and so forward in its approach towards IT. Loads of digital billboards everywhere. Alot of things seem to be quite IT-oriented...They've got the world's highest broadband penetration rate.
- Most people here can't speak English for nuts and those who can speak a smattering of the language can only count in it and speak words like "5 thousand dollars".
- They dress in a less quirky manner than the Japs.
- Most Korean girls look the same.
- Korean guys ain't that good-looking, well, at least the average guy on the street.
- I absolutely dig the grilled meats here and the BBQ meats.
Till here, I need to buy facial products for myself and my brother tomorrow....Face Shop, Skin Food, Etude House and Missha shops aplenty...:)
Plus the supermarket downstairs seems very interesting. Will make an efort to pop by there too...
Friday, October 23, 2009
yip yip yip yip
Been a little high strung ever since I came back from Europe. I think it’s because of…
- My project which is due to be launched very soon but there are still things which are pending. Argh.
- Big auntie is approaching.
- Tension from over-zealous folks at home.
- Rush for things to be prepared adn arranged for the upcoming meeting in Seoul.
- Trying to keep fit but can’t seem to be achieving much in running. haha.
- Anticipated mad rush for the project and personal stuff when I come back from Seoul.
I feel like an ant running around lol...!!!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Philippe Jarrousky
My new fav. :)
Philippe Jarrousky, a French counter-tenor.
Singing Vivaldi's aria "Vedro con miodiletto".
Accompanied by the Matheus Ensemble
And directed by Jean-Christophe Spinosi.
He has collaborated with Jean-Christophe & the Matheus ensemble for the last 5-6 years.
Enjoy! For those who are open to listening to opera that is haha...;p
Philippe Jarrousky, a French counter-tenor.
Singing Vivaldi's aria "Vedro con miodiletto".
Accompanied by the Matheus Ensemble
And directed by Jean-Christophe Spinosi.
He has collaborated with Jean-Christophe & the Matheus ensemble for the last 5-6 years.
Enjoy! For those who are open to listening to opera that is haha...;p
toofy
Oh yes. I'd like to share this lovely blog and spread the happiness around.
This blog has brought me smiles aplenty and I hope it does the same for others out there as well. :)
www.mymilktoof.blogspot.com
It's amazing.
It's lovely.
It's so darn cute and...
It's god-damn creative!
This blog has brought me smiles aplenty and I hope it does the same for others out there as well. :)
www.mymilktoof.blogspot.com
It's amazing.
It's lovely.
It's so darn cute and...
It's god-damn creative!
Still not too good
:( Hope I’ll be ok by the time I fly off on Friday night.
Self-medicated and popped flu medicine last night. Thought I’d be concussed and have a good night of sleep but it turned out otherwise. I woke up a grand total of 4 times during the night, became a certified zombie this morning and ended up going to office 40minutes later than usual.
*whines*
Was instructed by the significant other to take more vege. And so the obedient me had fish porridge for lunch today, together with a packet of plain stir-fried green vegetables gotten from the “cai-fan” stall. Cost me $1.50 just to get that bunch of vege…
Having my nose slightly blocked apparently renders my brain being slower and more careless than usual. Sent an email to the boss yesterday evening with loads of errors in dates and months and other details. Gosh. I’d slap myself if I were him.
I shall endeavour to be more alert today despite the stuffy muffy feeling.
GANBATTE!
Self-medicated and popped flu medicine last night. Thought I’d be concussed and have a good night of sleep but it turned out otherwise. I woke up a grand total of 4 times during the night, became a certified zombie this morning and ended up going to office 40minutes later than usual.
*whines*
Was instructed by the significant other to take more vege. And so the obedient me had fish porridge for lunch today, together with a packet of plain stir-fried green vegetables gotten from the “cai-fan” stall. Cost me $1.50 just to get that bunch of vege…
Having my nose slightly blocked apparently renders my brain being slower and more careless than usual. Sent an email to the boss yesterday evening with loads of errors in dates and months and other details. Gosh. I’d slap myself if I were him.
I shall endeavour to be more alert today despite the stuffy muffy feeling.
GANBATTE!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Shells attract oldies
I attract uncles and aunties.
A Taiwanese uncle openly hit on me during my Sydney trip in June. It was rather embarrassing because we were at a dinner table. A Taiwanese uncle is now stalking my FB site.
And when I came back to office from my Europe trip, at least 4 aunties came by my cubicle one by one asking me how come I was not in office for so long, where I went, how was it, etc.
When I was in Fontainebleau (outskirts of Paris), an auntie kept smiling at me on the public bus and eventually started a conversation with me.
Shucks.
A Taiwanese uncle openly hit on me during my Sydney trip in June. It was rather embarrassing because we were at a dinner table. A Taiwanese uncle is now stalking my FB site.
And when I came back to office from my Europe trip, at least 4 aunties came by my cubicle one by one asking me how come I was not in office for so long, where I went, how was it, etc.
When I was in Fontainebleau (outskirts of Paris), an auntie kept smiling at me on the public bus and eventually started a conversation with me.
Shucks.
It's the shell's turn to feel under the weather
K was not feeling well over the weekend but he's gotten better yesterday already.
Now it's my turn. Had a strange bout of flatulence and slight diarrhoea yesterday evening.
And woke with a sore throat and a runny right nostril this morning.
Hence, macaroni for me for lunch today. Really light but still very tasty.
I love Boon Tong Kee's macaroni~!
Now it's my turn. Had a strange bout of flatulence and slight diarrhoea yesterday evening.
And woke with a sore throat and a runny right nostril this morning.
Hence, macaroni for me for lunch today. Really light but still very tasty.
I love Boon Tong Kee's macaroni~!
Get It On!
I wasn't feeling very good this morning.
Both pysically and emotionally but seeing this video totally made me laugh out loud!
It's amazing what these creative folks can come up with!
HAHAHHAHHAHA....enjoy the vid!
p/s: Turn on the volume. :)
Both pysically and emotionally but seeing this video totally made me laugh out loud!
It's amazing what these creative folks can come up with!
HAHAHHAHHAHA....enjoy the vid!
p/s: Turn on the volume. :)
Monday, October 19, 2009
All men are jerks. (Oh well, almost)
This has been a recent topic amongst myself and some girlfriends. Perhaps I shouldn’t say recent because the phrase has been uttered by us since a year or more ago. It died down after awhile and in the recent past week or so, it’s been revived again because of a situation a friend unwittingly got herself into.
It’s a universal fact most men think with their head. The one down there I mean. That is, if they even think at all. A guy friend once told me, it’s a constant challenge for the bigger head to try to reign over the smaller head. With discipline and will and sheer effort.
I don’t know. Is that true? The older I get, the more instances I see, hear, witness of men acting like dumbasses. Is it in their make?
But oh well, with all that said, to cut the men a little slack and to avoid sounding like an old spinster, I won’t deny that there are women out there who are bitches as well.
Lily Allen - Fuck You
I really do like this song as it's rather catchy. My head can't help but bob to the tune of it. :) Her songs are nice! Nicer than Lady Gaga's :)
Friday, October 16, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Tolerance?
I find my heart and mind not as open as it should be to embrace some "shortcomings" of others. Disclaimer: I am no saint, I am no perfect person. So I know I have my own areas of lacking.
Just wondering how tolerant I should be as a person. Hmm...
"Shortcomings" are in inverted commas because they might be shortcomings to some, might not be to others.....or maybe I am just being picky.Quotes
There was an email thread this morning about a staff apologising to me and another manager for a mistake made.
I've gleaned this from some of the ensuing emails which were sent. Which I find rather true.
I've gleaned this from some of the ensuing emails which were sent. Which I find rather true.
"Don’t worry about failure, worry about the chances you’ll miss when you don’t even try"
"When you make an effort to understand, you will learn better."
"When you make an effort to understand, you will learn better."
Question Time
What is the best way to market oneself in an organization?
I am not the kind to engage in a “see and be seen” modus operandi. Nor am I one to spend time licking the bosses’ shoes. But somehow, these two methods seem to be the fastest way to move ahead. At least from what I’ve observed.
I’ve been in both the private and public sectors and that seems the quickest way to move up the ranks or get into the good books of the bosses. The quiet hardworking worker may or may not get his/her just recognition unless the boss is a perceptive and partial person.
I used to think that being hardworking and delivering well is good enough. Till an ex-boss, Guin, said to me “You need to put yourself out more and let the ones in management see you more.”
A little digression. Work, can get a little complex. Aside from the work itself, there’s politics and people dynamics to contend with. How energy consuming sometimes. Which is why I usually choose to hide in my own corner and just work.
Which brings me back to the first question again. What is the best way to market oneself in an organization if one prefers to be the quiet worker and not the worker with the gregarious (whether real or reel) outlook? Hmm.
I am not the kind to engage in a “see and be seen” modus operandi. Nor am I one to spend time licking the bosses’ shoes. But somehow, these two methods seem to be the fastest way to move ahead. At least from what I’ve observed.
I’ve been in both the private and public sectors and that seems the quickest way to move up the ranks or get into the good books of the bosses. The quiet hardworking worker may or may not get his/her just recognition unless the boss is a perceptive and partial person.
I used to think that being hardworking and delivering well is good enough. Till an ex-boss, Guin, said to me “You need to put yourself out more and let the ones in management see you more.”
A little digression. Work, can get a little complex. Aside from the work itself, there’s politics and people dynamics to contend with. How energy consuming sometimes. Which is why I usually choose to hide in my own corner and just work.
Which brings me back to the first question again. What is the best way to market oneself in an organization if one prefers to be the quiet worker and not the worker with the gregarious (whether real or reel) outlook? Hmm.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Happy Hatchday! (well, soon.)
Interestingly, I was telling K that day...that this is the last year that I will be in my 20s.
Yeps, I'll be hitting my 29th birthday soon.
Looking at the numeral brings me some thoughts. I wonder what the future will bring for me. I wonder if I will go maniacal when I hit 30 next year. And I wonder if I need to start being more health conscious.
Mainly, I reminisce. I do have some small regrets here and there. Like how I could have done better at certain things, how I could have achieved much more than now, how I set airy goals for myself only to fall because I did not make good on my own words or I did not know how to go about making things happen, how i could have blah blah blah...you get the drift.
I think about how when I was younger I'd look at the corporate executives walking around office buildings and I'd tell myself that "Wow. I want to be like them. Working, earning and generally enjoying life." How naive and innocent haha.
I'm the one walking around office buildings now and wondering how I wish I could be young again and carefree and just enjoying life haha. The ironies of life. :)
I've never celebrated my birthday with a mad party or a drunken escapade or a dance-through-the-night marathon. And I've never really understood why some choose that way of celebration. Ah well, to each his own, I shall respect their preferences haha.
Simplicity for me is best I guess. Everyday life is sometimes hectic enough as it is I don't want to complicate things with sore feet, a hangover and alcohol-induced memory loss. Simple meals in the company of loved ones and friends and of course K.
Looking forward to Friday night with K, Sat with K and the Frenchies, Sunday with sec sch peeps and next Monday with my cousin. Meals, meals, meals. I hear calories ringing their way into my blood stream but what the heck. haha.
I'm 29 in a few days. I'm looking forward to things to come.
I've yet to reach my peak and voila, there's electricity in the air. :)
Yeps, I'll be hitting my 29th birthday soon.
Looking at the numeral brings me some thoughts. I wonder what the future will bring for me. I wonder if I will go maniacal when I hit 30 next year. And I wonder if I need to start being more health conscious.
Mainly, I reminisce. I do have some small regrets here and there. Like how I could have done better at certain things, how I could have achieved much more than now, how I set airy goals for myself only to fall because I did not make good on my own words or I did not know how to go about making things happen, how i could have blah blah blah...you get the drift.
I think about how when I was younger I'd look at the corporate executives walking around office buildings and I'd tell myself that "Wow. I want to be like them. Working, earning and generally enjoying life." How naive and innocent haha.
I'm the one walking around office buildings now and wondering how I wish I could be young again and carefree and just enjoying life haha. The ironies of life. :)
I've never celebrated my birthday with a mad party or a drunken escapade or a dance-through-the-night marathon. And I've never really understood why some choose that way of celebration. Ah well, to each his own, I shall respect their preferences haha.
Simplicity for me is best I guess. Everyday life is sometimes hectic enough as it is I don't want to complicate things with sore feet, a hangover and alcohol-induced memory loss. Simple meals in the company of loved ones and friends and of course K.
Looking forward to Friday night with K, Sat with K and the Frenchies, Sunday with sec sch peeps and next Monday with my cousin. Meals, meals, meals. I hear calories ringing their way into my blood stream but what the heck. haha.
I'm 29 in a few days. I'm looking forward to things to come.
I've yet to reach my peak and voila, there's electricity in the air. :)
CPDRC
And now, I'm gonna spam my own blog with a few videos. (There's too many to be put up at a shot haha.) Because I think it's quite a meaningful thing which has been done here. Alternative rehabilitation methods. Inmates from the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center Dance group perform monthly for visitors and their friends and relatives.
Loads of practice and coordination needed. I think they've put in alot of effort and big big kudos to them! And I hope you'll enjoy the vids as much as I did. :)
Michael Jackson medley
Nobody
Jai Ho
Thriller
Loads of practice and coordination needed. I think they've put in alot of effort and big big kudos to them! And I hope you'll enjoy the vids as much as I did. :)
Michael Jackson medley
Nobody
Jai Ho
Thriller
Sunday, October 11, 2009
What sound does a hippo make?
I was flipping Recruit earlier on and was amused to see one of my ex-companies hiring.
There was a whole long list of job openings so much so I began to wonder if there was a mass exodus of staff from the company again...lol.
Some of the positions include:
Tour Operations Managers & Execs
Marcomm & Brand Manager
Business Development Managers & Execs
Web Marketeer
Graphic Designer
Think some of you should know by now which company this is haha.
There was a whole long list of job openings so much so I began to wonder if there was a mass exodus of staff from the company again...lol.
Some of the positions include:
Tour Operations Managers & Execs
Marcomm & Brand Manager
Business Development Managers & Execs
Web Marketeer
Graphic Designer
Think some of you should know by now which company this is haha.
No Matter What
I was a fan of Boyzone back in 1997-1998. I remember cutting out little photos of them from newspapers and magazines, and pasting them everywhere.
I had posters of them on my walls and when my cupboard, shifted them to the insides of the my cupboards so that when I opened my cupboard in the morning, I'd see them.
I gushed over Stephen Gately and Ronan Keating mainly. Shane Lynch had some attention from me but it was mainly Stephen & Ronan.
I cast them aside when I entered uni and didn't really bother much about them thereafter.
Still, it's a little sad to hear of Stephen Gately's death.
A sudden death apparently. In Majorca on 10th October. No further details as yet.
And I was just in Barcelona about slightly over a week ago. We were in the same country....gosh.
RIP Stephen.
I had posters of them on my walls and when my cupboard, shifted them to the insides of the my cupboards so that when I opened my cupboard in the morning, I'd see them.
I gushed over Stephen Gately and Ronan Keating mainly. Shane Lynch had some attention from me but it was mainly Stephen & Ronan.
I cast them aside when I entered uni and didn't really bother much about them thereafter.
Still, it's a little sad to hear of Stephen Gately's death.
A sudden death apparently. In Majorca on 10th October. No further details as yet.
And I was just in Barcelona about slightly over a week ago. We were in the same country....gosh.
RIP Stephen.
Friday, October 09, 2009
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHH
I have a 58 year-old male boss who is in a perpetual state of menopause.
Period.
(opps, no pun intended.)
Period.
(opps, no pun intended.)
Hmmm...
Some people can get rather insistent on their own views and thoughts. And when they get that way, sometimes they raise their voices (whether consciously or subconsciously), sometimes they just adopt a more agressive physical stance.
Anyway, I think there’s a variety of reasons why some people can get rather insistent but there are some major ones which stand out.
- Plain old stubbornness
- Not wanting to “lose” in a discussion or a small argument
- Confidence (or overconfidence?) in one’s ability and thought
- Plain old muddleheaded-ness (is there such a word?)
Just my two cents' worth.
Food for thought. Do you get this way?
Sigh
A little upset.
I thought I could have a nice, hot simple meal in office whilst clearing my work. For me, a good meal is a source of motivation in a way...
My fav century egg with minced meat porridge turned out horrible and tasteless because a different guy was cooking it today.
And the Chinese pear which I bought was overripe. More mushy than crunchy. Either they kept it overnight or it was overripe.
Whatever it is. I feel a little shortchanged now. :(
Thank god K is bringing me for supper at Blk 85 tonight.
I thought I could have a nice, hot simple meal in office whilst clearing my work. For me, a good meal is a source of motivation in a way...
My fav century egg with minced meat porridge turned out horrible and tasteless because a different guy was cooking it today.
And the Chinese pear which I bought was overripe. More mushy than crunchy. Either they kept it overnight or it was overripe.
Whatever it is. I feel a little shortchanged now. :(
Thank god K is bringing me for supper at Blk 85 tonight.
Thursday, October 08, 2009
How would you react if you were the interviewer?
I was thinking of something whilst on the way home yestreday. I wonder how a job interviewer would react if I gave him or her such an answer in the following scenario.
Interviewer: So tell me, what do you think are your weaknesses?
Me: Oh, eggs, mushrooms and chicken wings.
(Disclaimer: Of course I'd follow up with the proper answer later on lah... haha.)
Interviewer: So tell me, what do you think are your weaknesses?
Me: Oh, eggs, mushrooms and chicken wings.
(Disclaimer: Of course I'd follow up with the proper answer later on lah... haha.)
I realise that...
- My pockets are getting dry and will get drier in the next few months. There's 3 one-month-old baby celebrations this week alone and there'll be 2 upcoming weddings,and Xmas is coming...
- I might be too accomodative sometimes.
- One should still try to smile despite having shit poured all over you. Easier said than done though.
- My back view probably looks like thousands of other Chinese girls in Singapore.
- It's been 3 weeks (or more) since I went jogging. Uh-oh..how to prepare for 10km SCM?
- Even when you do good and get nothing in return, you should still try doing good. And that's a paradoxical truth of life.
- I am blessed to have a wonderful bunch of friends, family and my Knight.
- I miss K alot now.
- Alot of people live in the past. I am one of them. Need to learn how to be more forward looking.
- I should probably be slogging my butt off now but I am not. Uh-oh...
- A pimple has sprouted on my nose.
- SQ is still the best airline I've taken. Not that I've taken many others though hahaa..
- I' d better get back to work NOW....hmmm then again...there should be time for just one more short post right? hmm mm....
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Me Back
16 days, 4 cities, 750 photos, numerous sandwiches and dozens of cathedrals later, I am back in Singapore.
I am back at work. After clearing 1200 emails and 6 files on my table, I MIGHT be back here.
In the meantime, I’ll slog away…body in SG, mind in Europe.
I am back at work. After clearing 1200 emails and 6 files on my table, I MIGHT be back here.
In the meantime, I’ll slog away…body in SG, mind in Europe.
Sunday, October 04, 2009
Bye Barcelona, Bonjour Paris Again
By the time we left Barcelona, we were already tired from the trip. For me, it was sore feet, tired eyes from the glare of the sun at times and a lower back which ached at times. Haha, I seem old suddenly.
We went to a hill called Tibidabo on our last day there. It was a long way there, about an hour-plus by public transport (metro, bus, then tram). But it was surprisingly beautiful place which overlooked the city. A cathedral sat atop the hill and atop the cathedral, there was a statue of Jesus, almost like the “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro.
There was an amusement park there too, complete with carousels and Viking rides. It felt as if we were transported back in time to the 1950s where such fairs were commonplace in UK. What was missing was clowns walking around and cotton candy machines haha.
I've tried the Fideguay and the Seafood Paella in Spain. And all I have for them is applause haha. :) Hehe, those with a preference for more salty stuff will like them too.
We left Barcelona early yesterday morning. And reached Paris about 9 hours later in the evening. Trundled through loads of towns and finally reached sometime around 530pm.
It was extremely cold today. So cold till my fingers were frozen. Toes were half frozen in my shoes too haha. And my lower back acted up again in the cold weather. K had to bear with a grumpy me lol.
Nothing particularly exciting today though haha. Tomorrow will be more exciting. With a boat ride along the La Seine planned and a special dinner reservation at this mini island within the city. The island's called Chalet des Iles.
Till here.
We went to a hill called Tibidabo on our last day there. It was a long way there, about an hour-plus by public transport (metro, bus, then tram). But it was surprisingly beautiful place which overlooked the city. A cathedral sat atop the hill and atop the cathedral, there was a statue of Jesus, almost like the “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro.
There was an amusement park there too, complete with carousels and Viking rides. It felt as if we were transported back in time to the 1950s where such fairs were commonplace in UK. What was missing was clowns walking around and cotton candy machines haha.
I've tried the Fideguay and the Seafood Paella in Spain. And all I have for them is applause haha. :) Hehe, those with a preference for more salty stuff will like them too.
We left Barcelona early yesterday morning. And reached Paris about 9 hours later in the evening. Trundled through loads of towns and finally reached sometime around 530pm.
It was extremely cold today. So cold till my fingers were frozen. Toes were half frozen in my shoes too haha. And my lower back acted up again in the cold weather. K had to bear with a grumpy me lol.
Nothing particularly exciting today though haha. Tomorrow will be more exciting. With a boat ride along the La Seine planned and a special dinner reservation at this mini island within the city. The island's called Chalet des Iles.
Till here.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Bonjour! Hola!
It's only been 9 days but it feels like an awfully long time since I last penned any notes within this space.
It feels a little surreal right now. To be sitting on a bed with lovely flowery sheets and with Spanish programmes running on TV. Yeps, I'm in Barcelona right now.
The weather's rather cool here. Bright and sunny but still cooling with occassional winds blowing. That's temperate weather for you. It's doing good for my skin definitely. The oil glands are not in overdrive. :)
K & I flew off on the night of the 20th of September. Paris was our first stop, my second time there and his first. We did the usual rounds of places and touristy hotspots like the Musee du Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The weather was cold. K loved it but I was feeling quite grumpy at times haha. For a person used to being in a 30C environment, 18C suddenly felt quite cold. ;p The mornings and evenings were especially cold.
Meals were simple. Sandwiches and baguettes filled our days. Oh yes, and crepes too! Lovely lovely crepes! Made fresh on the spot right in front of you, wrapped up steaming hot in foil or paper and passed right into your waiting hands. These were the more reasonably priced meals we could think of haha. Such is the life of a weaker currency. (It's about 1 euro to 2.08 SGD by the way.) A baguette cost about 3.90 to 5 euro. Crepes were usually about 3-plus euro.
From Paris, we also spent some time visited outskirt towns like Fontainebleau (where INSEAD is situated) and the Versailles area.
We bid farewell to Paris after about 3 nights and trundled our way on a high-speed train to Nice. I'd never been on a train before (unless you count the MRT haha). It was a nice experience watching the fields, terrains, hills, mountains, roads, buildings go past you in more than a jiffy. And it felt nice to have K sitting by my side. :)
Nice was about 4 hours from Paris. It was much warmer there, much to my delight. The days were absolutley sunny and I was glad I brought my shades and sunscreen. (Yes, I have taken to using sunscreen. For those whose mouth are agape right now, that's a whole story on its own.)
Anyway, yes, Nice was so sunny I had a tanline running straight across my chest from wearing a tube. Haha. The place was lovely. Stunning stunning views of the whole town and the sea too from a hilly tourist spot called the Colline du Chateau. We visited a monastery on top of another hilly area called the Cimiez Hills. Out of the numerous cathedrals we'd seen, that was my favourite. I spent some time sending silent prayers to Mother Mary and Jesus, some on behalf of Granny.
Being a coastal town, Nice's beaches were almost always populated with hordes of people tanning. Topless men (and ladies) dotted the sandy beaches. K was complaining of old sagging titties hanging (pun intended) around the area. Anyway, the waters were so nice! A blue-green aqua colour reflecting slivers of sunlight...I've never ever seen blue coastal waters. Those we have in SG are just um, brown? Or grey?
The architecture in Nice was pretty. Very very pretty. For lack of a better word. Especially in the section of Nice called Vieux-Nice (Old Nice). Old alleyways, criss-crossing each other, cobbled streets, wooden doors with brass or cast-iron locks and knobs. Small little verandahs cordoned by iron railings, some with vines trailing through them or creeping up the brick walls.
Quaint bistros and restaurants all along the streets and nestled in quiet corners. Old folks walking their dogs or just sitting around. People enjoying a cuppa with their pals at one of the ubiquitous cafes. There was just this huge iota of charm and cosiness oozing from that part of town. I loved the place! :)
We spent half a day over in Monaco, which was about an hour's ride away from Nice by bus. Monaco is technically a country on its own. And all I can say is that it's filled with rich people haha. The number of expensive cars we saw was horrendous! Haha...loads of BMWs, Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins, Mercedes, Maseratis, Ferraris, Porsches, blah blah blah...
From Nice, our poor butts spent another 8 hours on an old train to go into Barcelona, with an hour's stopover in Montpeiller, a town in the south of France. Our first day was spent shopping haha. We had the intention of looking for lunch at McDonald's because we saw it on the map. Somehow, we stumbled across a huge shopping area. Streets and streets of shops. I know some people who would go berserk in such a place haha. We spent quite awhile in H&M (H&M is to Europe what Uniqlo is to Japan, but of better fashion and higher quality), Mango and Zara just to name a few shops.
We've tried out paellas and fidueas and will be trying out a tapas meal tomorrow. :) yum yum.
We've got about 2 more days here before we haul our butts back to dear old Paris where we'll be hitting the streets of Champs-Elysees and Le Marais, climbing up the Eiffel Tower, traversing the old corridors of the Basilic Sacre-Coeur cathedral and riding in a boat down the La Seine river.
Till here for now...:) It is 1040pm in Barcelona. 440am in SG.
It feels a little surreal right now. To be sitting on a bed with lovely flowery sheets and with Spanish programmes running on TV. Yeps, I'm in Barcelona right now.
The weather's rather cool here. Bright and sunny but still cooling with occassional winds blowing. That's temperate weather for you. It's doing good for my skin definitely. The oil glands are not in overdrive. :)
K & I flew off on the night of the 20th of September. Paris was our first stop, my second time there and his first. We did the usual rounds of places and touristy hotspots like the Musee du Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral. The weather was cold. K loved it but I was feeling quite grumpy at times haha. For a person used to being in a 30C environment, 18C suddenly felt quite cold. ;p The mornings and evenings were especially cold.
Meals were simple. Sandwiches and baguettes filled our days. Oh yes, and crepes too! Lovely lovely crepes! Made fresh on the spot right in front of you, wrapped up steaming hot in foil or paper and passed right into your waiting hands. These were the more reasonably priced meals we could think of haha. Such is the life of a weaker currency. (It's about 1 euro to 2.08 SGD by the way.) A baguette cost about 3.90 to 5 euro. Crepes were usually about 3-plus euro.
From Paris, we also spent some time visited outskirt towns like Fontainebleau (where INSEAD is situated) and the Versailles area.
We bid farewell to Paris after about 3 nights and trundled our way on a high-speed train to Nice. I'd never been on a train before (unless you count the MRT haha). It was a nice experience watching the fields, terrains, hills, mountains, roads, buildings go past you in more than a jiffy. And it felt nice to have K sitting by my side. :)
Nice was about 4 hours from Paris. It was much warmer there, much to my delight. The days were absolutley sunny and I was glad I brought my shades and sunscreen. (Yes, I have taken to using sunscreen. For those whose mouth are agape right now, that's a whole story on its own.)
Anyway, yes, Nice was so sunny I had a tanline running straight across my chest from wearing a tube. Haha. The place was lovely. Stunning stunning views of the whole town and the sea too from a hilly tourist spot called the Colline du Chateau. We visited a monastery on top of another hilly area called the Cimiez Hills. Out of the numerous cathedrals we'd seen, that was my favourite. I spent some time sending silent prayers to Mother Mary and Jesus, some on behalf of Granny.
Being a coastal town, Nice's beaches were almost always populated with hordes of people tanning. Topless men (and ladies) dotted the sandy beaches. K was complaining of old sagging titties hanging (pun intended) around the area. Anyway, the waters were so nice! A blue-green aqua colour reflecting slivers of sunlight...I've never ever seen blue coastal waters. Those we have in SG are just um, brown? Or grey?
The architecture in Nice was pretty. Very very pretty. For lack of a better word. Especially in the section of Nice called Vieux-Nice (Old Nice). Old alleyways, criss-crossing each other, cobbled streets, wooden doors with brass or cast-iron locks and knobs. Small little verandahs cordoned by iron railings, some with vines trailing through them or creeping up the brick walls.
Quaint bistros and restaurants all along the streets and nestled in quiet corners. Old folks walking their dogs or just sitting around. People enjoying a cuppa with their pals at one of the ubiquitous cafes. There was just this huge iota of charm and cosiness oozing from that part of town. I loved the place! :)
We spent half a day over in Monaco, which was about an hour's ride away from Nice by bus. Monaco is technically a country on its own. And all I can say is that it's filled with rich people haha. The number of expensive cars we saw was horrendous! Haha...loads of BMWs, Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins, Mercedes, Maseratis, Ferraris, Porsches, blah blah blah...
From Nice, our poor butts spent another 8 hours on an old train to go into Barcelona, with an hour's stopover in Montpeiller, a town in the south of France. Our first day was spent shopping haha. We had the intention of looking for lunch at McDonald's because we saw it on the map. Somehow, we stumbled across a huge shopping area. Streets and streets of shops. I know some people who would go berserk in such a place haha. We spent quite awhile in H&M (H&M is to Europe what Uniqlo is to Japan, but of better fashion and higher quality), Mango and Zara just to name a few shops.
We've tried out paellas and fidueas and will be trying out a tapas meal tomorrow. :) yum yum.
We've got about 2 more days here before we haul our butts back to dear old Paris where we'll be hitting the streets of Champs-Elysees and Le Marais, climbing up the Eiffel Tower, traversing the old corridors of the Basilic Sacre-Coeur cathedral and riding in a boat down the La Seine river.
Till here for now...:) It is 1040pm in Barcelona. 440am in SG.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Lameness
Haha, I seriously wonder why or how these people have so much time to do these things? Lol..a cheap way of lame entertainment. Not good for kids though, the standard of english is not good at all haha.
We'll pick kutus from each other's hair
I came across this hilarious parody of The Wondergirls hit single "I Want Nobody But You"...
And this cover version was done by no other than....Mr Brown! hahahah...
Th elyrics were really funny and had me laughing like a hyene hahha...Enjoy the vid!
check out the rap portion at the end. ;p
And this cover version was done by no other than....Mr Brown! hahahah...
Th elyrics were really funny and had me laughing like a hyene hahha...Enjoy the vid!
check out the rap portion at the end. ;p
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Dementia
This video has been circulating on Facebook.
Watching it brought me tears. Not only because of hte storyline, but also of how it reminds me of my own granny when she gets a little "off".
Have a watch.
Going Home
Watching it brought me tears. Not only because of hte storyline, but also of how it reminds me of my own granny when she gets a little "off".
Have a watch.
Going Home
Friday, September 18, 2009
cuzzie
Just got the news that my cousin's intending to get married. Sometime on or after March 2011.
Happy for her...:)
Hope their flat and everything will be smooth-sailing...
She said something to me though. Which got me a little worried hmm.
"I hope I did not make the wrong choice. Sigh"
And this was not the first time she mentioned that to me.
Hope her mind gets sorted out...
Happy for her...:)
Hope their flat and everything will be smooth-sailing...
She said something to me though. Which got me a little worried hmm.
"I hope I did not make the wrong choice. Sigh"
And this was not the first time she mentioned that to me.
Hope her mind gets sorted out...
Thursday, September 17, 2009
miffy shell
A little miffed.
Incident #1:
I offered to help a friend buy LV back for his wife because he told me before that he really wanted to give his wife some nice stuff. And he did mention to me before to let him know if I were to go to Europe again. He sent me an email with 3 items today. One item, and it was the most expensive item, was for his sister. Didn't even offer to give me some cash as partial payment first. I macham delivery girl. Am gonna get $$ from them first before I fly off.
Incident #2:
I have become the unofficial Nokia handphone charger lender. There's a guy who comes to borrow it at least 3 times a week. Not that I don't want to help. But it's starting to irk a little that it has become such a regular basis. Maybe I should start charging him.
Incident #3:
When you talk to me about non-work stuff and I am not responding. It means I AM BUSY and I NEED TO WORK. Why do I always have to tell you straight in the face that I NEED TO WORK?
==========
I'm hormonal. AGAIN.
Ok, time to go home.
Incident #1:
I offered to help a friend buy LV back for his wife because he told me before that he really wanted to give his wife some nice stuff. And he did mention to me before to let him know if I were to go to Europe again. He sent me an email with 3 items today. One item, and it was the most expensive item, was for his sister. Didn't even offer to give me some cash as partial payment first. I macham delivery girl. Am gonna get $$ from them first before I fly off.
Incident #2:
I have become the unofficial Nokia handphone charger lender. There's a guy who comes to borrow it at least 3 times a week. Not that I don't want to help. But it's starting to irk a little that it has become such a regular basis. Maybe I should start charging him.
Incident #3:
When you talk to me about non-work stuff and I am not responding. It means I AM BUSY and I NEED TO WORK. Why do I always have to tell you straight in the face that I NEED TO WORK?
==========
I'm hormonal. AGAIN.
Ok, time to go home.
Zua
I think I'm heaty.
Lips are red and feel like as if they're about to crack and peel anytime.
Not good. :(
I was uber thirsty yesterday and constantly guzzled water. I feel less thirsty today but lips feel a little sore...hmm mm...
Lips are red and feel like as if they're about to crack and peel anytime.
Not good. :(
I was uber thirsty yesterday and constantly guzzled water. I feel less thirsty today but lips feel a little sore...hmm mm...
law-gor-WHAT??
I came across this word today. And thought it to be an interesting one.
Logorrhea.
Means "incessant talkativeness" or "incoherent repetitive speech".
Pronounced as "Law-guh-ree-uh".
And it reminds me of diarrhoea.
hmm. ;p
Logorrhea.
Means "incessant talkativeness" or "incoherent repetitive speech".
Pronounced as "Law-guh-ree-uh".
And it reminds me of diarrhoea.
hmm. ;p
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