The Road Less Travelled

2008-12-08T23:28:00.003+08:00

CIP – Construction in Progress

We've finalised the theme, colour palette, the nitti gritties and the big burly men are at work!

Except they are not really around today cos its a public holiday.

They had to erect scaffoldings in my puny master bedroom to paint the 6m high ceiling. Plans for a mezzanine level for the high ceilings were shelved because of time and monetary constraints.

I obviously will not have sufficient wardrobe space with this cupboard they call a "walk-in wardrobe" :

Hamsam would have to put his clothes in the storeroom.

The kitchen divider is the cause of our constant (major) disagreements. I think its a white elephant that makes the already-small place look even more claustrophobic!

He thinks I'm over-reacting and he can actually live with it.

Its like the Berlin wall. And it needs to go down!

My Maggie mee cooking stove.

Don't expect me to whip up a feast with this cute lil' two-hood stove if you guys ever drop by!

Accompanied by an equally quaint sink.

I guess I will use it to wash the chopsticks used for the Maggie mee and the wine glasses.

Its a race against time to have the house completed by Christmas... The walls are still monochrome for now. But the colours go on next week!

We finally bought our couch today!! After weeks of shopping for that perfect laze, we nailed it down. For a great bargain too!

He slouched in it and visualised watching the tv on it while I lie on it and imagined reading on it.

Either ways, it was perfect!

It was of the right size, the right height, the right depth.

And the right price!

We also got a Pottery Barn look-alike ottoman for a fraction of its original cost! It felt like an episode of Friends where Rachael got a Pottery Barn furniture but had to lie to Phoebe that it was from the flea market. Except ours is the other way round. And I'm not lying. It is at a flea market price!

Meanwhile, I'm still swamped with work!!! And I'm having such a bad migrane right now that I don't think I can bring myself to turn on the lappie to work!

More updates on Loflita next week!

2008-11-13T23:01:00.002+08:00

NO! I have not disappeared into oblivion!!

I've just been VERY utterly caught up with work, wedding prep and housing renovation.

Massive juggling act I've got going on here.

Its just 14 more weeks to 14th Feb 2009. YEEKS!!! Lots lots not done!
1. Target weight not achieved.
2. Gowns not altered
3. Florist and caterer not selected (I've not even counted the no. of pews in church!)
4. Guest list not finalised
5. Cards not printed
6. Testimonials and vows not written (the pastor is so chasing me for it)
7. Songs not selected
8. Renovations blueprint not finalised (I want my house by Christmas)

Blah, blah, and more blah...

Seriously, my work is eating into my social life... But I can't complain since the job market is so bad out there and I ought to be thankful for my iron rice bowl.

I've incurred obscene losses in the stock market and a mortgage to pay off. Yeah! I've never loved my job more.

Till then, I'm sure facets of my life will appear on a very public domain, commonly known as Facebook.

Meanwhile, watch out for that wedding invite!

2008-09-01T22:50:00.004+08:00

Back in the Scene

It seems like I only blog whenever I make a major purchase.

Its my Sony Ericsson C902 5 Megapixel CyberShot phone this time!!

I've to thank Spunkice and her boundless generosity in lending me her sturdy (I dropped it 1001 times) and dependable, albeit very old, Nokia (dunno what model) phone for almost a year.

I'm so proud of my resistance to temptation to just buy any "form-over-function" phone, and waited patiently for the much anticipated SE C902. I heard about its arrival to our shores in Feb. It arrived in July but was too expensive for a poor and underpaid auditor like me to afford. So, I waited and waited and waited...till yesterday!!

Got it for about $650 without line.

The camera is so fantastic that I think I do not have to get a point and shoot (P&S) camera after all!

My Pentax P&S is due for retirement. The pictures are increasingly grainy. But it has served me well through these years. I'm not complaining and I still believe that Pentax makes great P&S cameras.

Maiden pictures below taken by my C902 at the Nike Human Race.

Disclaimer for my phone and Niko. All the pictures on my blog are resized oddly and manually. Hence the distorted pixels. They originally look fab on screen or when developed!

The long wait...

My Running Mates for the race.

At Daddy's place. A.K.A Our Baggage Counter for the run. Hence the odd backdrop.

I've no gripes about the photos but a lot to complain about the race.

It was the longest wait ever for the race to flag off. Delayed by about half an hour.

Some parts of the route were ridiculously narrow...and the organisers have the brains to put a water point at a very narrow walkway. Precious minutes were wasted "queuing" for a sip, or merely just wanting to get past.

I'm not going to offer any excuses, but I clocked one of the worst ever timings in my life for the run. And its no fault of Ruby's.

Utterly disappointing.

Anyway, it time to put the past behind and look forward to upcoming races!

I've been very tied up with trainings and games for the past week. Its has been an alternate between basketball and netball through the week.

I'm playing the Semis for basketball tmw, and hopefully the Finals on Wed. Its then Netball trg on Thurs and the tournament on Sat.

And futsal end of the month!

It feels like I'm still in school, but I'm not young anymore!! My joints are aching and I'm getting too dark to be healthy for my aging skin.

HamSam's supportive words of encouragement for my games: Would the firm be paying you even $10k if you bring back the Gold?

2008-07-27T23:27:00.003+08:00

Lofty Ambitions

I'm a home owner at last!

After months of tiring house hunting, we finally put down the cheque and bought our humble abode.

By God's grace and sheer negotiation prowess, we manage to buy the unit at a price we never thought possible. The location was ideal, the size is not excessive, the timing is right, and most importantly, it was love at first sight.

Being a home owner changes my perspective on certain things in my life.
I might have to postpone the Chanel 2.55 till my 30th birthday, or I might not be able to get that Golf GTI as my first car, or I might just have to think twice about the next time I splurge on clothes.

Ironically, I bought the house during lunch last week (greatest lunch purchase ever in my life)

Its officially called Residences @ Jansen, but I'm calling it Loflita. Somewhat like lolita, but the root word being Loft because of the high ceilings.

So come Feb'09, I would be setting up my home at 29 Jansen Road.
Meanwhile, watch this space for progress of Loflita's Extreme Makeover!

For now, the BEFORE pictures:

2008-07-13T19:58:00.001+08:00

Vice

Feed me this and I'm a happy girl.

2008-06-30T22:54:00.004+08:00

All Good Things Come to An End

Breakup song of the week. Heard it in the car one evening.

I'm not putting Nelly's video cos we all know how who she is already. Instead, check out this talented lady (Marie Digby) of Irish and Japanese parentage who sings it very well acoustic!,

Click here for her video.

Honestly what will become of me
Don't like reality
It's way too clear to me
But really life is dandy
We are what we don't see
Missed everything daydreaming

[Chorus]

Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Flames to dust
Lovers to friends
Why do all good things come to an end
Come to an end come to an
Why do all good things come to end?
Come to an end come to end
Why do all good things come to an end?

2008-06-22T22:00:00.005+08:00

Break-up

I caught the show starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston for the second time one night when I was home.

Watching the show again gave me new perspective...about the things they argue about. Its scary and sobering how the issues they fight about is not uncommon in the real life.

The sadest scene in the movie (I feel) is when Gary (Vince)apologised and asked for a reconciliation but Brooke (Jennifer) told him that because she was always the one giving in the relationship, right then, she had nothing left in her to give anymore.

Then the strangest thing happened on my way to work on Sat. I was plugged in to my ipod which was on shuffle mode and it unbelievably shuffled a medley of breakup songs!

I wouldn't have realised it had I not been heightened to the whole break-up fever.

The medley is as such:

1. Eleanor - Low Millions
2. Nothing Lasts Forever – Maroon 5
3. Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt
4. With or without you – U2
5. Through with you – Maroon 5

Anyway, my favourite of the 5 was Eleanor. Its versatile and yet very personal. Just change the name from Eleanor to __________. Highly recommended!

And I won't call you baby anymore

Won't call you baby like i did before

Won't call you baby anymore..... Eleanor

I can't seem to embed the video, but click here for the link to it.

2008-06-17T00:09:00.003+08:00

Xi(3)

It doesn't feel any different with a brother getting married. Maybe because he is still staying with us! Their pad (across the street) would only be ready in 2009, hence he and his wifey are staying with us for the moment.

Some photos from the wedding (taken by yours truely on Niko):

The customary kids jumping. I would never adhere to that custom. Seriously... letting brats trample on a spanking new orthopaedic Simmons?!?

She is too cute to resist. Lorna is going to be my flower girl.

Wide open wonder:

The kids do not understand why are the adults giving a red packet just for a sip of tea.

It was a mad rush for me that day as the reception was a lunch thingy. So right after the tea ceremony, I had to rush to get my hair and make-up done. The script was only thought about the night before, with zilch rehearsal!

In the end, all I had time was for a wash and blow at the salon and DIY make-up, aided by Spunkice.

I slipped into the LBD, jumped into my black pumps and I was set for the show!

Me and my co-host:

The newly weds:

The proud Daddy and Mummy:

The babes who played with me since childhood and have also seen my brother grow up to the man he is today.

Lorna's brother, Lowell. He is a fire-cracker!

After our hosting duties came to an end, HamSam decided to pose as George Lam (sans the moustache and a Tiger in place of a stout):

And I'm shamelessly posing as Jessica Alba with a Tiger correctly this time (but sans the killer figure):

Warning: Photo Whoring coming up next!

In the helpers room (which my brother had lovingly offered it to me and my friends!):

The only two in black:

In the toilet of the Bridal Suite:

Cotton "Marshmellows"

He needs to seek help for his addiction! This is the first thing he does when he enters the hotel room. Not just this room, its ALL hotel rooms, around the world, including my bedroom.

I'm breaking it into two entries...simply because its video watching time!! Tonight, its Run Fat Boy Run.

Note to self: I need to run.

2008-06-03T00:23:00.002+08:00

Wedding Fever

Not mine, but my brother's. It's this SAT. And my calendar is filled with activities leading up to the day!

Food tasting

My personal favourites.

But we all know that the food would not turn out as nice on the actual day when they mass-cook everything...

And I'm the MC for the day! I hope my parents save some food for me at every course.

D-Day (Dowry Day)

It was the first event that I brought Niko to. Due to a lack of willing models, all I had were pictures of kids. People close to me would know that I rarely bother to pay any attention to kids as they are more often than not, brats.

I'm slowly trying to be receptive to them, reminding myself that they are but kids.

Pictures of kids...

The best kiddy shot of the day:

Its really not all about me!

Him getting the jitters seeing all the planning that goes into a wedding:

Accidental studio shot (with the curtains as the backdrop):

Not quite accidental actually. I was trying on Gary's lenses and flash. The effect is really different with the upgrades! I'm tempted...

Going to get my hair done tmw, hit the gym the next day, get my nails done the day after next, collect the wine, rehearse for the day etc.

Counting down...

2008-05-25T22:19:00.003+08:00

Popping the Cork

I was at the supermarket with HamSam over the weekend and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the champagne going for half price! The shelf was almost wiped out except for about 3 bottles.

We couldn't resist and bought one on whim.

But we've since designated that bubbly for popping when we finally buy a house.

The house-hunting is really dreadful.

Its monday tmw...but its my last week of work before I commence my 3 week leave!!!!!!

Its probably going to be a hard week though. Sigh....the peak never ends. Where is the "post" in the Peak?!?

Anyway, pictures from the firm's annual Post Peak Party below.

2008-05-12T22:33:00.001+08:00

New beginnings

Gone are the days of lacklustre photography like this:

The blah photo has got nothing to do with the lovable subjects. The picture was taken in office just before we set off for the JP Morgan run!

We were all smiles to be able to skive-off work officially that day!

Anyway, meet my new baby, (very unimaginatively christened) Niko!

I've yet to bring it out for a field trip, but it will make its first trip abroad this June!

2008-04-06T23:52:00.001+08:00

Ruby

My new ride!

Check out her rims:

Yes, I'm too poor to afford a car (and the ERP gantries!).

Ruby gave me a spring to each step, allowing me to take wider and more purposeful strides in my run. Somehow, my legs feel alive and stronger in her. I even managed to shave 5 mins off my run this evening!

2008-03-30T22:29:00.003+08:00

Alas…At Last!

Its booked!

After weeks of shopping and endless squeezing into the mannequin/model-fitted gowns, I've finally decided on The Gown.

I've effectively gone one full circle and settled for one of the first few shops I visited from the start of this arduous gown-hunting exercise with Vanilla.

The gown is from Silhouette.

The cell-phone taken photo is obviously not doing justice to my gown. I'm going back there with an SLR to have another shot taken one of these days.

And I was sans make-up that day, hence the faceless shot.

What's left for me to do is to shed those pounds!!!!! I'm hesitant about getting the gown altered BIGGER to fit me...I've about 9 more months to whip myself into shape.

The picture of the gown is going to be the wallpaper for my cellphone and desktop (and maybe in the bedside table frame too) for the coming months...this is to constantly remind myself about the ultimate Goal.

Now that I can put a check in the box beside "Gown" in my wedding to-do checklist, it's the photographers next. I forsee that being another headache.

Coincidentally, Vanilla also got hers booked there last week. We have been trotting the wedding boutiques together for the past weeks...and we both decided on the same shop in the end!

2008-03-24T22:05:00.002+08:00

Slider

You know you have lost a fair bit of weight when the ring that used to fit snugly now slides effortlessly off your finger.

Should I perhaps bargain for an upgrade while getting it resized?

2008-03-09T23:37:00.004+08:00

Wedding Hunt

It was Week Two of bridal gown shopping last Sat with Vanilla. Last week, we systematically covered shops at the Cantonment and Tanjong Pagar enclave (although none made our hearts flutter or captivated us).

A common observation of male sales personnel in a bridal shop or wedding gown designers, they all have broken wrists and walk with a twist.

My gaydar was always on full alert!

Joel and Ailin was coincidentally free and in town that Saturday too! It very hard to catch those two jet-setting busy bees. We had so much to catch up on. Marriage, Babaies, Houses, Rolexes and Cars....

:P

Anyhows, we were more purposeful last Saturday, visiting only that one shop at Stamford House and falling in love with the gowns right away. The much raved about shop is definitely high, if not top, on our shortlisted wedding designers. As what they always say, I had a "connection" with the designer and he knows what I'm as a person and what suits my persona best. I was so comfortable with him (so much so that I had no qualms with him zipping up my gown!) and his comments were highly constructive (none of the sales pitch nonsense).

It was love at first sight for me with that particular gown. It's almost like the gown was designed especially for me...and it was calling out to me when we went back there for a second time that day. When I tried it on again, I felt the bond and empowerment. Like a superhero costume, the gown fitted me like a glove...

I should stop ranting and snapping myself out of it.

It was the first time HamSam saw me try on any gowns and that silly boy was having "pre-pre-pre wedding jitters", complete with sweaty palms.

Vanilla's dream of a whimsical fairy tale wedding was realised when she tried on a whole collection of "mosquito net" (I'm quoting her fiancé) gowns. Imagine the gown won by the bride in the movie Enchanted. Of course, the gowns in the shop were way more modern than the puffed-up sleeves ensemble of the lead actress in the movie.

It suits her though. She's always the princess in our group. And when I presented myself in that same sweet princessy gown (complete with a equally sweet baby pink bow), everyone shook their heads in disapproval, with some breaking out in absurd laughter.

I've very honest friends.

All we need to do now is to convince the guys about how "reasonable" and "value-for-money" the whole deal is.

Before presenting the price list for the wedding gowns to the guys...It was all smiles and love was (still) in the air...

HORRORS! DAYLIGHT ROBBERY! *vehement reactions*

Along with the lines of "I'm going to terminate the supplementary card tmw".

Boys will be boys....Come on guys! Suck it up and be a man! It's only once in a lifetime and you would not want to dissappoint the one you love so dearly on that one special day in her life right?!? Its time to step up and be a gentleman!

Haha...Ok, damage control now.

I was totally kidding. I love you dear and Gan will make a great husband!

We had a (very long) game of pool after the feasting on the hogs and two servings of fish! Thanks to Spunkice's CFH (Customer From Hell) stunt, we got a fish on the house and a 10% discount off the total bill to boot! (Service at the Chijimes branch was seriously below par) Once again, the Oscar goes to her. Move along Helen Miren and make way for the new drama queen!

The abandoned ques....

All for the desserts!!

They serve the best apple crumble I've ever eaten. Definitely worth running an hour on the treadmill for.

What a fantastic weekend!

2008-03-05T22:40:00.003+08:00

Aldesco Menu

Tossed some buttercups, sunflower seeds and cheery tomatos with Wafu sauce.

Perfecto.

2008-03-03T23:28:00.006+08:00

Sleep Through The Static

Currently playing in my ipod

Jack Johnson

He is to me what my (zero calorie) Pistachio B&Js does for me.

I've been VERY busy...and VERY swamped with work. Pls bear with me....

2008-02-10T23:31:00.000+08:00

HUAT!!

I'm collecting ang pows with a vengeance this year. Because it could possibly be my very last year of collection!

Its time to start accruing for the ang pows I've to give out in the near future.

This year's tally (minus the big ticket ones) is mediocre.... Looks like I've to rely on the stock market to perform well when it opens tmw....

And I've engaged in so much snacking during this CNY period that I think I've very well used up my snacking quota for the first half of 2008. I feel soooooooooooo unhealthy and I'm starting to have an aversion to bak kua.

The girls at my place.

We had a ball of time shouting (broken, directly-translated Chinese idioms) and tossing.

Pictionary was never that competitive!

We just sat around, sipped green tea (and wine for me...I think I'm going to admit myself into rehab one day), and simply just chatted and caught up with each other.

It was a simple, quiet and meaningful evening.

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Tile shuffling with the kolics!

It was an intense mah-jong session with the inevitable office gossips. There's always a new discovery at every get-together. Am I so oblivious to the happenings around me, or am I so disconnected at my client's place that I'm always the last one to know stuff!?!

We had dinner at a Korean joint @ East Coast. I seldom eat Korean food because I'm not a fan of Kim Chi. But I'm a HUGE fan of the Korean BBQ!!! The black angus beef was ultra tender and juicy!

They've these really nifty Made-In-Korea hand towels in the form of little tablets (or "coins" as labelled)...which expands with water to form wet towels!

I'm easily amused.

The Twins and Edison. Heh...

Me: Shall we go have dinner at Black Angus one day?
HamSam: Why not let's just have beef hor-fun?

2008-02-03T23:55:00.000+08:00

King of Spades

My bag has arrived just in time for CNY!! Many thanks to my church mate whom I shall not name because she likes to keep a secret identity due to her equally secretive work location. For convenience sake, I shall call her...Oillie (derived from the root word Oil...but Oily sounds gross).

I've been keeping myself very updated on Oillie's travelogue for obvious reasons.

But that's not to say I do not genuinely treasure our friendship and that I do really look forward Oillie's homecoming. She's my worthy opponent in scrabble and fellow queen of sarcasm.

Now that I've cleared the air and got that out of the way, let me rave about my bag!

Its not found in Singapore and its only available in the 5th Avenue store in NY. And but of cos, its in my favourite shade of brown. Not forgetting, it is a great deal because of the weak Greenback!

The smell of the leather is intoxicating and the feel of the soft distressed leather is simply heaven to touch.

Its the PERFECT size. Enough for a book, a vanity pouch, a bottle of water and the essentials....it might not be the IT bag of the season for Fash Hag, but it definitely is THE bag of 2008 thus far (at least till that someone makes a trip to Paris mid year).

I had my first salad tossing for CNY this evening with the church peeps. It was great fellowshipping with everyone. And surprisingly, there's no Monday blues for me this Sunday evening. Maybe because it would be a short work week coming up. I would have gladly taken the two and half days off if I could, but work is kindda hectic lately.

High tea with the girls last month at Merchant Court.

Why do I look so dark even with all the sunscreen I'm diligently putting on?

The Entourage is making its rounds on the third day of CNY. Its time to stock up on the wine and cheese girls!

2008-01-19T11:51:00.000+08:00

27 Dresses

I love the show. I don't care what the critics have to say, but I'm giving it a "must-watch" and "two-thumbs up"...for the amazing script and the brilliant acting by Katherine Hiegl, who incidentally has just topped my list for favourite actress!

"Ah, how very refreshing! A man who doesn't believe in marriage."

2008-01-03T21:56:00.000+08:00

War-drobe

Gay symbol he might be, but this is the guy that all guys must (or at least TRY) to learn from in terms of simple basic grooming and dressing.

Its not vanity. Its about being presentable and appropriate.

And also about R.E.S.P.E.C.T.

A tip for all stylishly-challenged males: start off by reading this week’s issue of Urban in The Straits Times.

2007-12-27T23:06:00.000+08:00

Smorgasbord of celebrations

The office peeps couldn't help but hold the ever so cheesy Christmas exchange this year.

Me and Ms Shopaholic wanted to circumvent the system and nominate each other as secret admirers so we'll get gifts for each other, since we already are going to do so anyway.

But thanks to the insane workload during the week leading to the event, I forgot to nominate her and was thus being admitted to the sweepstakes of gift exchange and was chosen to buy a gift for the boss.

..........

My Pre- Arranged Secret Admirer:

Although it was well over the allocated budget for my grade (which in my opinion can only get a box of fake Ferrero Rocher chocs from Watsons), there is nothing a bottle of wine from my collection can't do. I mean...what else would you give to a wine/beer guzzling brit?!?

My two colleagues who look like celebrities! Somewhat.

Try matching! (I do not look like anyone. No, not even Sandra Oh.)

The Border's 30% voucher came in handy during that period. I got some books for friends and I got myself many books!

My bookshelf is slowly but surely running out of space. I'll have to live with it for the moment till I get my own pad and have floor to ceiling shelves built!

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CPA games award presentation at Singapore Cricket Club's Bar and Billiard Room.

Its no biggie that we were the first ladies to step into that room. Not like I would have clamoured to be in it before anyway. Seriously, it probably was all just about men and their egos.

The bar which recently admits ladies is merely a basement in that club house. If you can look past the history of it being an all exclusive men's only club, there is not much to go there for actually.

It has a dinghy feel and I thought the place smelt musky even. Maybe it just me (and it being an underground basement).

My beloved netball girls!

Its sad that there are so few of us left. This is just the reality of the working world where people come and go so fast. We are not in school anymore....where no matter what, we play together for a couple of years.

Well...it has been an unbelievable run we had for the past 3 years. I hope I can play on for the forth...but...

let me just end off awkwardly by saying "it was good while it lasted".

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If there is anything one must do before the year ends, it would be to visit the National Museum for the Lourve exhibition of the Greek Masterpieces.

If you are not as learned about Greek sculptures as arty farty HamSam, join a guided museum tour (which is conducted hourly on weekends).

The sculpture that best represents him.

The Narcissist

And if you are at the museum, do also catch the GroovisionsSin exhibition. You would like it if you are a fan of Andy Warhol's art. The pop culture is definitely catching up and growing on me!

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Dinner at Stiff Chilli

It was shopaholic's turn to introduce us to a nice eatery...and she chose this quaint Italian restaurant along the most unlikely of places, Jalan Besar. It is identifiable by the huge chilli on the wall....and the numerous chilli padis hanging around the entrance of the restaurant.

The owner hails from a Balinese origin....hence the walls of the restaurant are lined with old pictures of their village in Bali. The pictures are almost primeval with all the bushmen-nudity. The decor of the place is antiqued with a slight quirkiness, trademarked by their food basket lamps.

They could probably improve on their ambience by playing some nice music. To me, music is everything. It makes or break something.

The only music I hear that evening was that strains of karoake music from a neighbouring ktv pub along the street.

The food is value for money with it being reasonably priced and gastronomically delicious. Their thin-crust wood-oven-fired pizzas are a must-try. We had the squid-ink pasta (without the black unsightly teeth because the ink is in the pasta! Brilliant idea isn't?), airflown Italian sausages pizza and chilli padi tiger prawns pasta.

Do also try their home-made ice cream. Particularly the trademark chilli chocolate ice-cream (its spicy!)

I know. Poseur. Wateva.

A Quiet Family Christmas

With a home-made log and nice wine to boot. Together with the company of your loved ones...it was a superlative Christmas.

I miss my SE K800i and I hate Nokia.

2007-12-18T13:56:00.000+08:00

Wedding Etc.

I should back-track one wedding because I realise that I have a wedding before Ailin's....and that is...

Jeffery and Jessie's (3rd Nov 2007)

Jeff is a friend of HamSam...and through the numerous studying sessions we had at the Lee Wee Nam library, we became friends.

Their militarised affair at the Fullerton was tastefully done.

No wedding is complete without me ransacking their bridal suite!

On our way up...we couldn't resist a photo moment in the well polished elevator doors.

The boys monkeying around in the room...and even stealing a banana from the couple's fruit basket.

I'm in love with the coffee machine in the suite! And the different types of ground coffee available to pop into the machine. It took sheer determination to pull myself away from the machine without making a cuppa for myself.

Narcissist HamSam

It was his attempt to look like a motivational life coach. Heh...attempt failed.

One for the cellphone's wallpaper.

All the pictures on that night was taken using my trusty SE k800i...which I have since traded-in for the new Nokia 6500 slide. Let's just hope the 3.2mp Carl Zeiss camera would work wonders for me too.

Not posting pictures of two weddings that followed, for lack thereof of them. They were weddings of some family friends with the foggies.

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Kelvin and Sophie (24th Nov 2007)

Sophie was my bible study leader in my formative years. Together with Spunkice and Vanilla, we definitely caused her much headache then...but without her patience and guidance, we wouldn't be what and where we are today!

The solemnisation at our church...

The banquet @ Merchant Court

The food was sumptuous and the live band...err....lively. :P

I met up with so many old friends. People whom I think I will only ever see again at my wedding.

Its amazing (and alarming) that so many of the married folks are carrying a toddler (or toddlerS). What happened to (first few yrs of) blissful marriage without kids!?!?

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Melvin and Grace (8th Dec 2007)

Grace and Melvin are my cell group mates from church.

They beat us to the altar at an alarming pace. When HamSam and I first joined the cell....they weren't together yet.

Now, 2 yrs down the road, they are hitched!

Their wedding was contemporary and out of the ordinary. Black (and white of course) was the theme of the wedding. Thankfully their parents are open-minded enough to embrace the colour choice of their wedding!

Melvin – The Groom, the Performer, the Host and the Fashionista

Grace – The subservient Bride

The Corsaged-Girls

The bodyguards

My personal bodyguard.

And that about sums it all for the Wedding Fiesta of 2007. Its time to bring out the wedding cheklist to start planning for mine!

Do email me any useful tips, materials, website etc. I can use!

2007-12-11T22:42:00.000+08:00

Weddings Galore (Part 1)

Finally, I attended the last wedding of the year-end wedding season last Saturday. I guess there would come a point in time where you would be so numb to all the weddings attended that it no longer moves you...

But these weddings definitely give me the impetus to start thinking about what I should do about mine. I'm consoling myself with the excuse that I need not worry about it yet because it is not going to be till 2009. Pleeeeennnnttttyyyy of time..... NOT.

Not that the pictures aren't already floating around in Facebook (which by the way is a smashing tool to share pictures and irritate friends by tagging them in ugly moments), here are the weddings of my friends once again (in chronological order)!

Andrew and Ailin (24 Nov 2007)

Ailin is the one and only bride I know of who deliberately put on weight and fatten herself up (from a stick figurine) for her wedding. Isn't she a beauty??

With Joel (The Maid)

The expectant Groom and his ally.

Look at how lovingly she looks at him...Awww...

From Day...

To Night....

In the bridal suite with a magnificent view of the city skyline.

With Andrew...the groom with the love-sick puppy eyes

Is it me or does he always look grouchy in photos with me?!?

As compared to pictures of him with other girls!?!? *fuming*

Table Mates

And on an unrelated but worrying note....I'm turning into a she-male!!!!

Posting one wedding is taking longer than I expected...Hence I'm going to have to divide the post into a few entries. Watch out for Part 2!

I caught David Sanborn in concert last night! He is such an amazing performer and a definite maestro with the Sax. And needless to say, he is so much sexier than Kenny G (I don't like guys with flowy and curly locks).

Yes, I'm sitting at the FIRST row...

2007-11-20T23:07:00.000+08:00

These girls make me stop eating...

And stick a finger down the back of my throat...NOT!

12th Annual Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

Alessandra Ambrosio (My fav!)

Heidi Klum

Adriana Lima

What's the Secret to their fab bods!?!

2007-10-21T23:08:00.000+08:00

At last...

We have reached the 4th Quarter of 2008. It doesn't really feel like the close of a year for me because my life (which is taken up so much by work) is influenced by when the promotions and bonuses takes place (in June).

But the last quarter is typically marked with many festivities. And this year in particular, its weddings.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining and of cos' I'm glad to receive invites to join the couples in celebrating their holy matrimony...but when I work out the sums of the cash outflows for all the upcoming weddings, I might just run into a deficit for the month!

I've to forgo the bag I was drooling over, I've to eat cha soba at home more often (helps in the diet too), and I've to stare and bid my funds/shares to appreciate! !

Warning: Haphazard thoughts/writing coming up.

Btw, I absolutely similar sentiments as Sumiko Tan's article in the Sunday Times about the modern undomesticated woman. She represents the many working women of today. Please read it and force your bfs/fiances/husbands to do so too.

Sumiko is better than me. I don't even know how to turn normal instant noodles into Char Siew noodles like her...All I can manage is idiot-proof cha soba. Believe it or not, I can't even work the rice cooker to cook a decent bowl of rice.

And its definitely true that we can't compare ourselves to ladies belonging to mummy's era. They have all the time in the world to hone their culinary skills. I get back home at 12am and I'll be lucky if I have yoghurt to line my stomach with.

So unless my husband is rich enough to make me a stay home "house"-wife, he should not expect to come home to an immaculately dusted house with a scrumptious home-cooked meal laid out on the table. Even then, he should chip in and help with the roster too. There should not be a strict demarcation between the study and the kitchen these days.

All I can say is that there is a long way to go with indoctrinating this guy in particular about the ways of The Modern Household.

The closest we get to Bondi.

Its far from it actually (the Banglas spoiled the landscape).

But we improvise and make do...

On the day my very tiresome reporting was over and done with, HamSam dropped by my work place just to have dinner with me. It's a rare occurrence since he works at an extreme end of the island.

We had dinner at the bar across the street!

The Fish and (humongous) Chips is definitely worth trying again. Crazy Hour (which is even better than Happy Hour) prices are reasonable too. Great place to unwind after a hard day at work.

A typical Saturday for me would be like this:

Morning: Breakfast (not in bed).
Late Morning: Gym
Late Noon: Office/Shopping/Reading
Evening: Dinner
Night: After-dinner drinks (Wine please).
Late Night: Sleep

Its a routine that I'm never tired of and I look forward to it every day of the week!

This was After-Gym drinks, reading and napping (for the beauty queen) last Saturday.

Nope. We do not have the same specs. He was trying to shed off his casanovic image to look like a bookworm.

He has irritatingly 20/20 vision.

Dinner @ Dempsey.

I must say we are very lucky to be able to have a dinner seating without reservations at PS. Cafe on a Saturday evening.

The food is great...and I'm still wondering how can a clothing retailer be so successfully diversified in their restaurant foray. The menu is seasonal, so do check back maybe every quarter (I can't stand the financial geek in me talking about time in terms of quarters) for new savoury creations.

The ambience gives a feel like I'm eating in someone's summer getaway. The roof is corrugated zinc, with white washed wooden pines and uncovered bricks lining the walls. Together with the understated warm lights and the floor-to-ceiling glass windows, the atmosphere is perfect for a relaxed and romantic date with that special someone.

(Tip: Do not go alfresco if your legs aren't covered. The lush greenery at Dempsey Hill is a haven for mosquitoes!)

I'm starting work in a new department tmw. Taking a 6-week break from Assurance. I'll be having a short stint (and thus improving my resume of course) at Advisory - Corporate Restructuring.

I'm totally excited about it. It's been a long while since I do not have the Sunday Turquoise.

2007-09-20T14:55:00.000+08:00

NEW!

I've added my Facebook profile link. Hook me up if you are on it too!

And don't ask me what wind blew me there.....*coughs lynn*

Cobwebs instead of ear wax would have been accumulating in my ears if I really was listening to Chris Botti all these while...

I was just too busy to change.

Its Jill Scott now!

And since I'm in the business of crunching numbers, what better book to read than Greenspan's Age of Turbulence.

Quote of the moment:

"Here's the user ID and password for my Fundsupermart account instead."

-- When asked why I do not get a supplementary card to his new credit card.

2007-09-19T21:33:00.000+08:00

Penitence

Is it cos they feel bad??

A beautiful bouquet from the Avnet team! They are such sweet darlings...

But I can't reciprocate their fondness for my presence in the office....cos I simply do not miss work/office!!

I have to hit the gym and run despite my throat hurting with every breath I take because these delectable soft-icey-creamy dough have formed my staple food!

Can you believe it?! My wrist is still bruised ever since that damn yakult-needle was pulled out from my vein!!

My current read:

Slow Man by J.M Coetzee

A thought provoking novel about loss, love and death.

2007-09-14T13:06:00.000+08:00

Raspy Throat

I'm discharged from the hospital today. Despite a clear indication on the planner that I'm on medical leave for the next two weeks, I still get swamped with email from managers about work.

Where's the respect for the individual?!? Ironically, its one of the firm's core values. Its little things like these that makes me loathe work so much.

And the straw that broke the camel's back is an email from the manager with the subject header: "Call Me" when he jolly well knows I'm going for a throat surgery and hence obviously my speech would be impaired.

I killed time in the hospital reading books and playing Soduko. Not that I can talk much on the phone either and the tv hanging above only serves up local fanfare. No Ch16 T&L!

HamSam bought teddy with a sunflower to brighten up the otherwise gloomy ward.

The girls visited and brought me tonics, book and an African Daisy. I'm not posting any pictures cos' I look ghostly in the pukish pink hospital attire with zero makeup.

And let me raise the goosebumps with this picture of my swollen and bruised vein after the yakult-straw-thick drip needle is removed.

It hurts so much more to remove it than to insert it!!!!

My last days gorging and drinking before I underwent the surgery and am now only subjected to gooey-soft bland stuff.

At the opening of Attica's Ladies night with Fiak and Spunkice. It was truly a night of memorable silliness!

And girls, when are we going to redeem the free spa voucher?!?

Sunday branch at......Graze!!

The food truly did live up to my heightened expectations (with it being featured on ChubbyHubby). Servings were reasonably large too. Should be enough for the boys.

I'm not a professional food blogger. So pardon the photo quality (taken on my trusty old Pentax) and for not remembering the exact name of the dish.

First up, the banana and berries pancakes. Do not be fooled by the charred appearance of the pancakes because I believe they are deliberately done so by the chef. There is no burnt taste but only rich buttery pastry which blends so well with the puree-like textured bananas. The chilled rich vanilla ice-cream served alongside the warm pancakes was truly worth the calories!

Next up is the bratwursts, poached eggs, salad, mushrooms and baked potatoes (I'm just naming the things on the plate).

I dunno how they do the eggs but its one of those things I can never replicate at home. It was between this dish and the other chef's recommendation of Eggs Benedict. But since I do not eat raw/smoked salmon, so we didn't order that dish. But I would think its lovely cos almost every table was served with Eggs Benedict that morning.

The last must try at Graze is the Cast Iron Pan.

The runny yoke mixed with the grilled mushroom and baked beans with a heavenly combination. I had the bacons all to myself cos' the fat conscious gfs of mine have a strong aversion to unnecessary saturated fats. This is one dish I would definitely go back for again!

And we sipped tea and catch up leisurely onto a lazy Sunday afternoon...

Spizza @ Club Street.

Unknown to many.....Spizza, a seemingly commercialized pizza joint with a few outlets all round the island, serves some amazing value-for-money pizzas! They serve thin-crust authentically baked in brick oven pizzas (a sharp contrast to the other overly commercialized Pizza eatery in a Hut that bakes equally overly-stuffed pizza in conventional ovens).

I lurve the black truffle pizza! The truffles is amazingly fragrant.

It was just a Monday dinner with Spunkice and Kelly. Ended off the evening with my last bottle of wine before my operation.

As always, some random pictures in my phone....

Sending off Fudgey at the airport. That lucky dude is off to red wine paradise Bordeaux! Check out the witty tag-line on his tee .

Senior’s Conference, Asmara Resort Spa @ Sentosa.

I think an Amazing Race theme for corporate team building events is over-rated! How exciting can finding clues on tiny island Sentosa?!

The birthday boy with this birthday time piece.

And it is one of those rare good days where he is not grouchy behind the wheels.

And....

CONGRATS VANILLA for joining me in Team Engaged!!

2007-08-26T22:47:00.000+08:00

I want a Wedding by Clear Blue Waters too!

And I do not want it at artificially created Sentosa or by some swimming pool.

Girls just love looking at wedding pictures and the boys just balk at them. HamSam was one of the boys.

We were at a gathering with the cellgroup mates at Pam's cosy abode on Sat. Together with the lush greenery in her garden, and the wood panels that lined the walls...we felt like we were in some tree house. What was lacking was a fireplace.

We made pizza for dinner. Ok, I admit I didn't play much part in it...but the rest of the girls, and especially Pam, made the pizza dough from scratch! I'm truly impressed.

Its obvious I was a bystander. I merely helped sprinkle the cheddar...and errr...eat.

The pizza fresh from the oven!

And more eating! The Cheetos would make fabulous curls!

Not matching (he finds it disgusting that couples wear cheesy couple shirts), but similar, outfits!

After our bellies were stuffed full with pizza, we sat down to watch Pam's wedding videos and photos!

I felt like some techie idiot or mountain terrapin. I've never seen a computer screen via a tv!

Pam got married at Hawaii!! Awwww....*envious*

Just looking at the photos and videos makes me excited (and HamSam apprehensive) about marriage. I was warned that it's a lot of preparation and hard work...and I'm still not doing anything about it!

I need an impetus....and there seems to be none. With the insane work schedules....I do not understand how people in my line get married blissfully. But the whole marriage rant calls for another entry. Not here.

A group shot before we called it a night...

2007-08-15T00:34:00.000+08:00

Its all About Sustenance...

I've photos in my phone from events as far back as my birthday. Did some spring cleaning and figured I should post some of it up.

Dinner on my birthday was simple (it was a mid-week work day) but memorable nonetheless.

A plan to dine at Equinox was shelved and we decided to be "down to earth" and dined at ground floor Pregos instead. *corny*

He doesn't wear pink enough. I personally think its a nice colour on him...but the chauvanist in him thinks its sissy.

They serve very tasty (thanks to SpunkIce and her mum for influencing me to use this understated word to describe good food) focaccia bread with an equally wicked (and that term is thanks to Jamie Oliver) dip to match. Do ask for the French (puzzling why French instead of Italian) butter to spread. Its heavenly! Also, the balsamic vinger and olive oil dip is not to be forgotten.

With such amazing starters, I do not have to elaborate or rant about how the main courses fared. It's a must try for contemporary Italian food fans.

We headed for wine and desserts after dinner. His phone was unusually busy that evening and I was getting rather peeved as the evening draws on. The food was the only saving grace.

We headed to another "down-t0-earth" restaurant and popped a bottle of Italian cab sauv and digged into Italian pizza (which was complementary with the bottle of wine). Halfway through, they appeared!!

SpunkIce and Bullet-mouthed Fudgey dropped by after their French class to give me a surprise for my birthday! It was unexpected! SpunkIce is truly the Goddess of Surprises. She never fails to pull off a surprise for the girls' birthdays. And I'm openly announcing that we won't be able to top her in terms of sneaky surprises. It would be a very overt birthday celebration for her when the time comes.

Turns out HamSam was coordinating with them, and updating them about our whereabouts that evening! Hence the incessant messages...

And the darlings got me a birthday cookie with a personalized face that resembles me with my new hairdo (except my hair isn't pink)! Its too cute!

With the desserts being half-priced after 10pm, we went over-board and ordered a whole range of Italian desserts! Of cos there was also a slice of cake with a candle for me to blow off/spit at!

The guy who made the day special. I love you guys!

There are more photos...and I realize they all belong to one genre.

Food.

I finally tried the recommended (by my trusty Chubby Hubby) ramen at Central. I forgot the name of the restaurant, but it's the one on the same level as Waruku.

The broth was subtly sweet. No or minimal msg in the soup as I didn't feel overly parched despite drinking every drop of it.

They close at 3.30pm for the lunch serving. We made it at 3pm.

He's a happy ramen boy.

See...pink is not that bad ain't it??

More random pictures of food I've eaten the past few days.

Japanese Kit-Kat from a kolic. Cha Kitkat (green tea) is my favourite. In fact, I like all things Cha!

Dinner (vongole) we ordered in for a late night at work. Beats having KFC, Macs or Sakae Sushi....all of which we were so sick of eating when working late!

Uncle Sam's claypot! I rushed there with my kolics at 1145am to avoid the insane lunch crowd that is almost inevitable daily at Uncle Sam's. Besides the famous claypot concoctions they serve, do try the soups brewed there. Its natural (i.e. not masked heavily with pepper or msg) and clear!

My favourite Ben & Jerry's Ice cream flavour! This reminds me.... I'm going for a surgery to remove the tonsils that has been irritating and causing me extreme discomfort and excruciating pain. And the doc says I should get all my friends to visit me at the ward with ice-creams cos' that apparently soothes the throat after the operation. *Hint Hint*

A friday evening dinner at Chijmes.

At some gay joint on National Day's eve with some friends!

Him seeking refuge outside...

I'm salivating just by blogging about all that food!

This picture keeps me grounded.

I can't help but change the lyrics of the song to "...don't you wish your girlfriend is FAT like me" whenever I see this picture.

Why am I blogging at this hour on a weekday?? Cos' I'm on course for the week!!!

Lego building even at our age!

The Bookworm signing off with my current read:

2007-07-23T20:24:00.000+08:00

An Engaging Affair

The reason I'm blogging on a Monday is because I'm on MC! My tonsils are infected again. Its not fair! I have been a good girl... limiting my coffee intake, having chilli sparingly, not consuming KFC (ok fine, I don't eat that anyway)....And yet the tonsils are infected again!!

The bacteria is getting really resistant to the antibiotics. I've since been upgraded from 50mg, to 200mg...and now I'm popping the 500mg antibiotics. It's rather worrying....What if the bacteria gets immune to the 500mg?! There is bound to be a day where nothing helps anymore.

I'm going to be seeing the ENT specialist to consider removing the tonsils altogether.

Anyway, enough of that sordid stuff.

Pictures from my Engagement gig!

We were at Barstop. And very ironically, there was a speed dating session going on that evening. The "participants" were all in masks. It's hilarious! Angie (below) was so worried cos' she thought all my guests must come in masks.

Candy-sweet-Candice queued 45mins to get me donuts!

A little background story before the next picture. Just before he popped The Question on that special evening...Chloe popped into our Moment and very inquisitively asked what is going on.. Sam was dumbfounded by her intrusion.

Chloe, the intruder to the proposal!

With some of the beaus. (Clockwise: No nonsense J.Gan, Cheeky J.Lee, Proper J.Lee and Cleo bachelor Champ)

Joey in a dress for the first time in her life! Thanks for gracing the occasion with your virgin dress experience babe!

This is what a lil' Moet bubbly does to us all...

A proper shot after the bubbly laughter has diffused...

Sam and the ladies...

Lastly, my ever youthful and gay (gay as in happy. What were u guys thinking!??) fiancé.

Thinking back....guess the 4 bottle of wine and one 1 bottle of champagne could be one of the contributing factors to my tonsil infection.

*Burps* *Sheepish smile*

2007-07-10T22:59:00.000+08:00

Someone Like You

I've been searching a long time
For someone exactly like you
I've been travelling all around the world
Waiting for you to come through.
Someone like you makes it
All worth while

Someone like you keeps me satisfied.
Someone exactly like you.

I've been travellin' a hard road
Lookin' for someone exactly like you
I've been carryin' my heavy load
Waiting for the light to come
Shining through.

Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps me satisfied
Someone exactly like you.

I've been doin' some soul searching
To find out where you're at
I've been up and down the highway
In all kinds of foreign lands

Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps me satisfied.

I've been all around the world
Marching to the beat of a different drum.
But just lately I have realized.
The best is yet to come.

Someone like you makes it
All worth while
Someone like you keeps me satisfied.
Someone exactly like you.

2007-07-09T22:19:00.000+08:00

Off the Shelf

Finally I can get around to blogging it and shouting it from the cyber-mountain top.

I'M ENGAGED!!

Its has been a long journey and we've come thus far...And on that special day, with that special gift, we are going to take the next step in our relationship. The next level where we share our lives and love.

I love you...

2007-06-27T14:47:00.000+08:00

My holiday breakfast...

It gets me outta bed every morning!

2007-06-24T23:18:00.000+08:00

Light-headed

Before:

I went for the snip because the split tresses were distracting and irritating the hell outta me.

After:

He likes it still...although I'm not looking any closer to his ideal of a subservient girl.

What the heck!

2007-06-18T23:25:00.000+08:00

Closer

Tonight one of those evenings where I didn't feel like going out to meet the world and its human-lings.

I vegetated in front of the telly with a bottle of Riesling and one of my favourite movies, Closer.

Yes, I BOUGHT over the copy from Video Ezy...

I get new insights each time I watch it. It was my 4th time this evening.

Is withholding the truth an act of cowardice and deviousness, or a magnanimous act of protecting loved ones from hurt?

Would you want to know the truth if it hurts?

He was in high-spirits last weekend cos' we were watching Fantastic 4. I have to watch such action flicks with him but yet I caught Music and Lyrics (his most hated genre: Romantic Comedies) on dvd. Where is fairness in the world?!?!

Hanging out at Spunkice's new pad with her bullet-mouth (he speaks VERY fast) boyfriend (a.k.a Fudgey). It was Choya night!

2007-06-17T23:50:00.000+08:00

Ache

I was bed-ridden the whole Sunday. I can't even get myself up (literally since my bed is VERY low lying) from bed for church this morning.

This is as a result of the very intensive (no beginners classes were available, hence we jumped in straight to imtermediate) PBT workout class in the gym on Sat. Jess and myself were itching to work out that weekend and so we ambitiously signed up for two classes.

I'm seriously the weakest and wobbiest piece of lard around in class. My legs were trembling uncontrollably during the killer lunges we had to do.

It was really embarrassing.

Needless to say, we skipped the second class.

What do they always say, no pain no gain!!!

I WILL PERSEVERE!

2007-06-13T23:52:00.000+08:00

Akan Datang

*blows cobwebs off*

As with every year, I'm on my one month leave from work. Our "Makers" had made us "Robots" go on a mandatory rest so as not to smoke up or malfunction in the coming peak.

Just back from my holidays. And I hate the gobshite weather of Singapore.

I won't be blogging much about my trip for reasons I can't mention on the WORLD wide web. Close friends of course will get to see the pictures and travelog I'm compiling since I'm on a MONTH's leave.

Today marks one of the very rare days where I can get to the pool with the sun up. It has been too long....

With the bright and cheery sun up, I managed 40 laps.

As if the reason behind subjecting my body to the insane work-out schedule is not obvious enough, I desperately need to lose the holiday weight!

I'm so fat I think my skin is bursting with the sluggish, molten lard flowing underneath.

HOW!? How am I ever going to complete the Osim Tri this coming July at all?!?

2007-05-17T12:45:00.000+08:00

Al Desk Co Dining

Home-cooked (not made) Cha Soba by yours truely.

Forgot the wasabi. Darn.

2007-05-02T21:15:00.000+08:00

Congratulations Eunice & Adriel!

The bunch of ugly dark netball girls with suicidal hairdos have all evolved and grown up....and MARRIED!

2007-04-22T21:05:00.000+08:00

Resounding Empty Vessel

Yet another sporadic entry of mine...

No prizes for guessing the cause of my hiatus from blogging. I'm running the last lap...just two more months to promotion. These two months seems so hard to get through.

I can't help but adopt the "I'm better than thou" attitude, but seriously...I can't take such inefficiencies and sometimes, the painfully stark incompetence.

If only there aren't so many bureaucracies and politics involved in the working world...working life might actually be bearable.

Last week, I "abetted" in the resignation of my closest kolic at work. It feels like she has been liberated.

Take care buddy....I'll miss you at work for sure.

Would I be using that letter come June?

Its better than port. The best way to end dinner....Baileys Mint.. with Chris Botti live in concert.

2007-03-14T23:36:00.000+08:00

I just needed some time alone.

I know I won't be able to sleep. So, i jogged till my feet blistered and popped open a bottle of wine.

Sometimes I don't know what is it that I want from you anymore.

Goodnight.

2007-03-09T23:23:00.000+08:00

Mime

Sometimes I feel like I'm someone inside a muted TV. Like watching Aguilera singing till her veins pop out on her neck...but with the volume off.

There are many things I would like to write about, but I just can't do so. I have been thinking of writing in another blog, or stop doing so altogether.

As it is pretty obvious from my very irregular posts, I'm busy with work...and there isn't much I can talk about anyway.

My toe was off a couple of weeks back...and I got back into the game last week. With very thickly padded socks and well trimmed toe nails, I enjoyed every bit of the game, and came out unscathed!

Looks like I can't watch my Chris Botti Live dvd tonight...Meeting the cell group at the Zoo for an outing...

And Zouk @ night for Jo's farewell CELEBRATION (leaving the firm is always a joyous occasion!).

Someone take me there!

And to the gym after that...

I'm having so much cha soba these days (for diet and convenience reasons) that I feel like a horse with all the buckwheat I'm consuming.

Chill...

2007-01-29T22:56:00.000+08:00

Shattered

I hate the state of my jaundiced and brittle toe nails.

Vanity battle scar from netball.

The broken big toe nail is a result of cumulative stresses to the nail from all the e-brakes I do for the sake of dodging my opponents.

The third toe is just a victim of circumstances.

I'm not the gung-ho sort who would pull off the offending dangler and be done with it once and for all.

So, I'm living with the dead and broken toe nail, bidding the healthy portion to grow faster such that the busted former would just painlessly drop off.

Which might take months...

I'm so conscious of my naked un-pedicured toes....I'm sure the commuters on the subway were staring at them when I go open-toed.

I know its probably all in the mind. But I'm not taking any chances and I'm sticking my feet, together with the mangled toes, into pumps!

Until the day I can once again have gloriously beautiful toe nails, never shall I unnecessarily expose the ugly toelings!

2007-01-21T22:39:00.000+08:00

Shhhh....

The utmost peak has arrived. Work hours have been crazy...

Not that I already post very frequently. But I guess, until the peak is over, expect less ranting from me.

Photobucket is finally up. So here are the pictures that I had wanted to post since LAST YEAR.

Cosy NYE06 countdown with close friends. None of the wasted clubbing madness this year. Not like I have been doing that the past years either. I'm thankful for the friends I have in my life....They keep me grounded and helps me retain some sanity in the midst of all these work madness.

Our money is on Couple 3 (counting from the left) getting to the altar first! *winks*

Popped a bottle of Icewine...and played the good ol' game of charades. Guys vs. Girls.

Naturally, the girls being the smarter of the gender, won. :P

Dinner with kolics. All of us happened to be on leave at the same time!

And mahjong too!

I lurve year-end leave clearance. I don't even want to encash the leave....its not worth working your ass off for that pittance.

Shopping with the girls this weekend at an off-beaten track. Away from the typical Orchard crowd, we were at Chinatown!

We had the famed frog porridge at People's Park Complex. Luckily we reserved the froggies at around 4pm....cos they were all sold out by dinner time! I used to patronize the stall a lot when they just opened. It wasn't very well-known then. But overtime, by word of mouth, EVERYONE knew about it and crowds started to flock there.

You would never be able to feast on the amphibians if you do not call for a reservation at least hours before.

Lesson learnt: Do not tell the whole world about good food.

So much has changed at the People's Park food centre. The upstairs especially. It has become a youth haven for cheap bargains.

A place that used to sell mainly cloth and "mature" ladies clothes...now it has transformed itself dramatically, giving places like Far East or Heeren a run for their money.

Yesterday was pay day (newly revised pay!) And off we were to Suits and U! Do not snigger at the cheesy name of this shop at People's Park Shopping Centre (not COMPLEX)...cos the suits they sell are not only fashionable, but most importantly, CHEAP! And the quality is not compromised for the price you pay.

I never got my suits from anywhere else ever since I was introduced to that shop. Unless I'm earning the pay of a partner, I don't think I can afford suits from Blum, Massimo Dutti or CK anytime soon.

A weekend is never complete without a bottle of vino!

At Robertson Quay with Darevurls and Hamsam.

Wine Network @ Damsey...this time with Vanilla.

I have been watching the Prison Break (Season 1) serial the past week. Its addictive! I can't find the time to watch at home, cos when I get back at hours after midnight, every ounce of strength I have left is used for showering and hitting the sack.

This is where my ipod Video comes in handy. Making use of the traveling time on the subway, I manage to finish all 22 episodes in about 1 week or so.

That is all made possible because of Fudgey! (Psst: Do you have Season 2?? And your hard drive is still with me! *smiles abashedly* Will pass to you when I'm there for Ramus one day yah!)

Putting Entourage (Season 1, 2 and 3!) on hold cos' I'm just starting on Grey's Anatomy (Season 1 and 2). I know I'm abit backdated on these (believe it anot, I have not caught Desperate Housewives 2!)...but what am I to do when my work hours are so punishing.

CNY is coming and I need to lose some weight!

A small problem though: I have two cracked toe nails from netball!! I can't wear covered toes shoes to work, much less put on a pair of trackies to run!

How to lose weight?!?

I expect a lot more grilling this CNY from relatives about my marital status. Especially so now that my brother has proposed and is getting hitched this year.

What do they not understand that being together with someone for 4+ years doesn't automatically mean I have to be married anytime soon. I'm only in my early 20s...my wombs are not withering up like a dried prune yet. And seriously, given the nature of my job...its impossible and very unhealthy to bring up a child at this time of my life. Until the work environment of mine gets more family-friendly, the Singapore govt should not expect a boom in child birth...but rather they should fret over the aging population problem.

No pressures yah dear....just venting.

Give me a break....

2007-01-07T20:53:00.000+08:00

Omnibus

Entry below is meant to be posted on the 25th December 2006...but severely delayed till now because of the connection problems, photobucket upgrade and of cos, the festivities.

I think Christmas feasting is worse than 1 week of work at an industrial estate with mixed vegetable RICE for lunch and dinner.

All the log cakes, turkeys, hams, wine, champs, spirits....Don't even get me started on the chocolates!

I was at church this morning an hour earlier than necessary cos' I got the service timing mixed up! It turns out the timing, as advised by dear Mr HamSam, is the timing for his choir to meet for practice before service commences!

I'm very anal about precious sleeping time...cos obviously I ain't a morning person.

I had Christmas lunch with his folks which I was totally stuffed! We were still so filled at dinnertime that we only drove out to share a salad for dinner.

Currently reading: Acts of Faith.

With each passing day, we are drawing closer to the end of one lap in the race of life. Press on.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Entry meant for the New Year's Day. Once again delayed cos of.....a myraid of reasons.

Now that all the party poppers and frills have landed on the ground, its time to clean up and start the new year.

I should be looking forward to it with great enthusiasm and anticipation. But somehow, I'm not. Maybe because I have been away from work for such a long time that I just don't want to start the madness all over again.

Why don't I have the feeling like I have at the start of a new school term? I looked forward to meeting my friends in school again, I looked forward to leafing through the new text books, I looked forward to having trainings after school....

Sadly, there is NOTHING I look forward to at work. It just brings home the bread to fill my tummy (abit too much at times I admit) and puts clothes on my back.

New Year's Resolutions.

Made a few. Shared them with close friends. Sorta like helping me be accountable for them.

I would love to load up some pictures of new year's eve and all but Photobucket is really screwing up big time. I need to find an alternative source of image upload webbie. And I think the New Blogger isn't working for me too.

Technology hates me.

Current Read:

Its interesting how the author raves about how the choice of using a blue or black ink pen to fill out a form could result in life-threatening consequences.

The quirky morbidness tickles and is rather plausible at a stretch. But take it with a pinch of salt..and beware of the cynic coming out of you.

Coffee or Tea? What difference does it make? Think again....

Perhaps I should have gotten the Worse Case Scenario calendar at Borders the other day.

Fodder for the press or food for thought: The greatest hero and villain of 2006 is both George Bush.

2006-12-18T01:39:00.000+08:00

I'M "OUT OF TOWN"

Not answering any calls with a 6213 prefix till next year.

Caught Corrinne May in concert last Saturday @ the Esplanade. It was her Christmas concert. I won't take anything away from her singing...cos she's wonderful as it is, but she does need to put in more work on her showmanship.

She didn't really connect with the audience and it doesn't help that I was seated in the circle seat! (The picture taken shows my view from my seat) :(

Her Christmas stories were rather predictable...and the introduction to each song had a very weak link to the song itself.

Kudos to her for the subtle evangelism...but I wonder how many in the audience could fully grasp the meaning of the song titled Five Loaves and Two Fishes.

It was an enjoyable evening nonetheless. We went for wine @ Barfly after the concert. It's been a while since we have actually done the whole date thingy after all these years...

Checked out the new clubs at The Cannary with my "best-est" kolics (my apologies for sounding so juvenile!) on Friday (and Sat as mentioned above). Its probably a blessing in disguise we had to work late...cos entry was free to the whole stretch of clubs after 10pm.

We got a nice spot outside Fashion Bar and talked the whole night through. Thirst quenched of cos by the free flow of drinks that evening. :)

And being the opening night, there were many who dressed up befitting to the occasion...which bodes well for us cause we had a great time people ~~watching~~ scrutinizing too!

Countless number of fashion faux paus. The people that follow fashion sooooo blindly...its exasperating.

I finally got a chance to be in office for lunch on Friday last week.....so with Shopaholic, we had sandwich at Pret a Manger.

The mushroom soup is a MUST-TRY! Ironically, the sandwich is just mediocre. Granted the varieties are aplenty, but the serving is rather pathetic. Would a full fledged grown up man be full with just 2 slices of bread?!?

The two of us looked around the whole place and noticed no one had TWO servings of sandwiches...and being the very bashful and society-conforming ladies we are, we each had only 1 serving of sandwich too!

Supplemented with soup of cos.

Shopaholic had to have soya bean during teatime to quell her hunger...

I've not gotten so many Christmas presents for friends and exchanges...but I'm not exactly keen on thronging with the Orchard crowd to get them. Hopefully, going on a weekday would alleviate some of the madness.

I chanced upon a interesting, albeit useless, Christmas gift idea in a chocolate shop @ Vivo.

A chocolate shavings maker!

I'm just not into such an atas way of eating chocolate. It's the good ol' munching and savouring for me.

The new year is coming....
Let's recapture the magic yah?

2006-12-03T23:07:00.000+08:00

Chatterbox

The past week has been hell. Working till almost mid-night every day of the week.

I did not manage to get any runs in the whole week.

Thankfully, despite all the horrid canteen mixed vegetable rice for lunch and dinner @ the client's place for 5 consecutive days, I have not tipped off the scales much! I'm so jinxing myself by verbalizing this thought out.

I've finally changed the tagboard. Now you guys can post your shout-outs....slam my entries or empathize with me.

Gift shopping for the girls on Sat. The two greenies!!!

Don't forget this friday girls.

Fiak> PLS BRING MY MAC!!!!

So, its public news that there is a pay revision for the number crunching slaves. I must say its long overdue.

But I reckon the amount is pretty meagre....I'm not expecting any major changes to my lifestyle.

I'm not going to be having foie gras or white truffles for dinner...nor am I going to book myself a mini cooper next month. Also, I'm not going to don a Piaget on my wrist anytime soon...and I can only indulge in that Gucci once a year or Coach twice a year.

To sum up, the revision is pathetic!

I'm still better off working at Macdonalds.

Enough lamenting...I should count my blessings instead. 1, err...2, 3....?

Pictures of past events below. Won't bore the readers with any silly details. The pictures say so much more.

2006-11-17T15:29:00.000+08:00

I'm happy....I should be.

But somehow I just hate myself for allowing certain things to happen.

Life is about choices.

What if you make the wrong one?

Time waits for no man and there’s simply no turning back.

Congratulations to a certain someone on her pending nuptials.

2006-11-05T23:18:00.000+08:00

Celebrations

How can I forget my Futsal Team???

The ass-kicking Studs and Lasses!

Celebratory cocktail @ Kazbar this Wed (8th Nov) for all CPA games participants...and especially medal winners *ahem*!

(",)

2006-11-05T00:23:00.000+08:00

Time-deprived

Yes....the damn tag board is irritating me as much as it is irritating whoever that visits my blog.

As most of you should have guessed it by my long absence, I AM VERY BUSY.

With work mainly....amongst many other personal matters.

I'm still alive though.

Much has happened over the month of October.

SpunkIce and Fiak's bday celebration:

We got them some Coach paraphernalia. Dinner @ Gatsby (no hair wax as door gifts) and after-dinner party @ Thumpers.

Boy, was SpunkIce sloshed.....tsk tsk.

Mooncake Festival dinner

I don't recall eating any mooncakes that night. Guess the haze (PSI>100) put us off. We could even smell the ashes indoors in Swissotel.
Bleahh....

Its scary how time flies by. Soon I'll hear the sleigh bells ringing...

2006-10-09T22:02:00.000+08:00

Futsal

I have got the:

1) requisite number of girls to complete the team,

2) gloves for the keeper,

3) balls, and

4) jerseys!

Now we are ready to kick some butts on Sat!

2006-10-04T23:24:00.003+08:00

Chin-Wag

It seems like I would only ever blog when I'm on leave. And yes....I'm on leave again!!

The only perk of my job is that we get lots of leave. I have probably taken more than a month's worth of leave for the year.

But its not a bonus....its merely payback time given the ungodly hours that we slog!

I've just gotten back from a dept trip @ boring ol' bintan. Most pictures are not with me...Only those on the ferry.

Rach, Stef and Me (Before we got really quesy from the choppy ride).

We checked out the new club, Silk. It would be the next best thing to Zouk you can have in Bintan. And to make the night sweeter, drinks was on the bosses!

Our DFS Vodka was relatively untouched throughout the whole trip! (We had to pour it into mineral water bottles to get it through customs)

I'm detoxing and getting the alcohol outta my system. Three continuous days of binge drinking is detrimental to your body, trust me.

Looking at the new comers who have so much unbridled joy, I'm reminded of myself one year back. Life was still beautiful and carefree then.

One year on, we are tired, jaded, and scarred....

I need a career, not a job.

Gonna be having dinner (and I'm sure mooncakes) with some of my gfs this Friday. Open Cell cum Potluck cum Mooncake festival celebration with the cell peeps on Sat @ Botanica Gardens.

Haven been there since I was a kid! Should be fun...

Would it be futsal, ultimate freesbie or tennis? Let's get our butts moving girls!

2006-09-21T21:32:00.000+08:00

Buttered

Work has been fantabulous this week!!!!

A never before departure from work at 5pm!! *Shhh..*

Managed to hit the gym and got some workout done.

3 sets of cardio (row, glide and run), 3 sets of weight training (hamstring curls, quad press and free weights for arms) and 3 repetitions of crunches.

That should work away my lunch.

Company trip coming up at the end of the month. My Bridgestone Tyres should be non-existent when I put on a bathing suit.

Pictures from Butterfactory last weekend with the netball girls.

Stef, Chea, Me, Jo and Kat

Burnt Victims

The only dude of the evening, Chea's stud, Loyld (top right in black). I'm posting the pictures despite me looking really silly. Heh. That's what too much sun (and perhaps alcohol) does to you.

Despite the strenuous games in the day, surprisingly we can still boogey the whole night.

Energizer Bunnies.

2006-09-17T20:35:00.000+08:00

DEFENDING Champions!!

It was great teamwork and the rest was history.

Celebration party in the night with the teammates @ Butterfactory.

The reality is still settling in...but a harsher reality has already sunk into me.

I start work tomorrow.

2006-09-08T01:13:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong Part II

Before I continue with the ramblings about my trip, lemme first send me wishes to two very important people in my life.

Happy Birthday Dearie and Mummy!! Their birthdays were respectively on the 7th and 4th of September.

I had dinner with Mummy, Brother bear, his gf and HamSam last weekend @ Mushroom Pot. My mum is a huge fan of those fungus.

And dinner on the actual day of HamSam's birthday @ Hog's Breath Cafe. Succulent steak....and they are very thoughtful to include the serving size of 200gm steak for ladies (like me!) in their menu option.

I have not got him a gift. Even my mum is nagging @ me to get him one. After 4 years, I just can't think of anything else to get HIM. If only I'm a guy....I would never run out of stuff to get my gf!

So back to the trip. As mentioned before, there's no better way to start the day in HK than with Tim Sum!

I refuse to take pictures in the morning. My sleepy eyes and horrible hair scares myself.

Shopping @ Causeway Bay. So many new shops have sprung up in the area since the last time I was there with the girls (when we are just about 16 or 18). Island Beverly is a place not to be missed.

Times Square. Lane Crawford and Sogo are still around.

More roasted delights. Looking back at these pictures of me gorging...I shudder. Pushes me to work out harder.

The day where we accomplished a lot.

Started off with leisure shopping @ the sprawling IFC complexes @ Central. Didn't get anything cos' it was mainly labels there. Kindda broke already then. Had to change more money, but it was purely for subsistence purposes.

A cuppa and 40 winks later (yes....i actually dozed off @ Starbucks!), we made an impromptu decision to head to Shen Zhen!

After making all the enquiries @ the train stations, we bought the train tickets and were Shen Zhen bound!

Suffice to say I didn't take any pictures @ SZ. I'm not gonna reveal the reason in this not very personal blog, ask me in person why that is so.

We met up with Jess & Alvin in the evening to go to Victoria Peak together.

We took the tram up. Exhilarating ride! The tram (which does not have any safety barriers along the "railway") was 45 degrees to the ground as it scaled the mountain to the peak!

View from the Top:

My trusty old Pentax still works wonders.

At the Victoria Peak place, there is also the Madamn Trussad wax museum. We didn't go for it...but lucky for baby, there was Bruce on display outside!

I have a picture of me frolicking with Bruce! Its probably still with Jess....

We went for a VERY SUMPTOUS dinner at this famous restaurant in HK @ LKF. So famous that I forgot the name!!

Everyone was dressed to the nines (gents in suits, ladies in cheongsam or dresses), except us...in our touristy get up!

No pictures because my camera batt went flat and Jess has yet to send me the pictures. But anyway, we had Roast Pigeon and Roast Goose (which they are famous for), and many others.... *burps*

The bill was obscene but we were satisfied!

I think it's the second last day. We went back to shop at places we didn't have the time or energy to finish previously.

My favourite dessert! Mango Sago Puree.

Dragon Fruit rose:

I miss the desserts in HK already!!!!

Last tourist spot we visited. The Star Ferry Pier.

I wonder if the statue doubles up as a lamp post in the night.

The postcard boy:

Below is the famous spot where many TVB drama serials have had their suicide scenes filmed. I was trying to get HamSam to pose by sitting at the edge of the steps and looking melancholic, but he chickened out!

Aqua Luna. One of the tourist sightseeing cum restaurant refurbished junkie docked by the pier.

Neat concept, but I will never be able to appreciate dining onboard a ship. It just screams NAUSEA!

Outside the architecturally intriguing HK Museum.

Yes...HamSam has been a very helpful darling throughout the shopping trips. I mean you gotta strike a deal with your man. For example, a pit stop (a.k.a dessert or snacks) every X m walked...or a foot rub at the end of the day.

But he's really sweet...cos he was the one who gave me back and foot rubs every day!

Its no joke man...my ankles hurt big time!

Down to the last day!

More mango-themed desserts. Mango Puree with Pomelo and Mango Pancake. YUMMY!!

Wife and Husband Biscuits. For the folks.

Some Barbies on display @ Langham. My favourite is the Burberry Barbie, although the Juicy Couture ones looks kindda funky in green and pink. But they all look scary isn't? I was never the barbie kindda girl when I was young.

My only memory was cutting off all the hair on my barbie in a fit of anger. The hair keeps getting tangled!!

A little quirky fact: There's this habit Hong Kong-ers have before they eat. They wash all their cutleries in the chinese tea given. Be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

On the first day we arrived, baby was so parched from all the walking, so when we were offered the customary-legendary tea, he gulped it all down!

Then the stall owner started to give him weird stares. On closer observation of our neighbouring patrons, we realized that the tea was never meant to be drunk!

We picked up the custom fast (monkey see monkey do)...dipping all our cutlery in the tea before every meal!

I should try doing that the next time I dine @ Crystal Jade!

Homeward bound on the Airport Express.

Argghhh....he's watching cartoons (and ignoring me) again!!!!

DFS must-buys:

6 long days of endless shopping, eating and fun....

I'll sign off my HK travel entry with a picture of the skyline I took from the pier. Did it using the panaromic function in my cam. But the lighting is not very consistent in the frames...hence the dark shadows.

Its rather wide, so I'm letting it cut across the blog.

Anyone heading out there soon, please do ask me for travel tips and advice! I'll be more than happy to dispense!

2006-09-04T00:07:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong Part I

The damage is severe.

~~Feeding~~ Grazing on grass to fill my stomach these days.

Here's a picture summary of my shopping and feasting frenzy in HK.

HK Bound. Inflight entertainment was in the form of OC and Desperate Housewives episodes from my ipod video.

We took the Airport Express (only 15mins!) as opposed to hailing a cab (45mins) to get to Kowloon. But the downside: the train ride costs us 90HKD (S$18) each! So expensive!! I mean ...a MRT train ride from Boon Lay to Changi Airport would only set us back a max of S$2 plus right?!!?

Onboard the Airport Express Train. I know...it looks exactly like the plane ride.

Did a bit of touristy stuff on the first day. Visited the Avenue of Stars. The Asian equivalent of Hollywood Walk of Fame (or so I think that is what it is called...)

His favourite kung fu idol, Bruce. The others were just insignificant stars being trampled upon by tourists.

Of course no day is complete without a spot of shopping in HK. So even on the first day, we shopped! And boy did I shopped....

Our expressions from the Coach splurge.

But all is forgotten when the food arrives!

Roast duck, Char siew, Wanton Noodles....What more can I ask for....(but I'm starting to regret now. More on that later.)

And the credit card bill has arrived in the mail. The Coach bag sitting innocently in the corner is starting to give me nightmares.

A common sight in HK.

Mahjong Parlours!

HamSam's hands were itching to wash some ivory tiles.

Shops start business pretty late in HK, because they close rather late. So there wasn't really a need to wake up at an unearthly hour to carpe diem.

The essential start to everyday:

Tim Sum!!

The inexhaustible varieties keeps us coming back for more every morning!

A typical street in Kowloon.

Check out the dirty grey buildings! Ewww...

It looks much more beautiful in the night with all the bright billboards. To me, they are just esthetically pleasing since I can't read most of the CHINESE signs. So, branding the logo helps alot.

It truly is a city that never sleeps. Even @ 1am...the "busyness" of the street is equivalent to that of Singapore @ 10pm.

The new Langham Place @ Mong Kok. It's a MEGAmall with 12 stories of shopping!

The much talked about Xpresscalator which spans across 4 stories. I could take a seat on the steps for a quick respite for my aching feet.

A break from all the local roasted delicacies.

We tried The Spaghetti Place. It's all over HK. But it failed to impress. The standard is probably the Pasta Mania equivalent in S'pore. No where near Garibaldi's pasta.

Seems like his first ride on the MTR.

That boyish grin....its hard to be angry with him.

Met up with Jess and Alvin, and together with Henry and wifey, we went to Lan Kwai Fong to experience the clubbing scene @ Hong Kong.

The Hei Hei and Ha Ha (weird names if you ask me...Zouk is so tres chic) club were closed for private functions! So we ended up at the neighbouring club, Sugar. It was R&B night....which is not my night. But the company was fun!

ALL girls in HK are skinny (definitely not a sweeping statement!). In a very sour puss fashion, that bodes well for me too....since at all the sales, there was always the unwanted large sizes for overweight girls like me. Hmmpphh!

There's much more to blog about and more pictures to post....but I'm dead tired. Long day today. Church --> Gym --> Mummy's bday dinner @ Mushroom Pot.

I'm on a DIET!!! I desperately need to lose all the roast duck/goose/pigeon/chicken, tim sum and desserts from the holiday! So I'm morphing into a gym rat for this period.

Look out for Hong Kong Part II!

2006-08-20T22:16:00.000+08:00

I will survive!

I'm still alive...barely though....

I had a US reporting and a SOX sign-off for my client in the past week. It's murderous and I'm glad its over.

Its been almost a month since I last blogged. And lots have happened of course. Sorry Fudgey a.k.a Mr SMU (haha...crowning you already!), but my goldfish memory can only contain that much.

Sustained yet another toe-bruise from netball training yesterday. I must schedule a foot reflex session soon....and a more long-term solution: to get a cross-trainers with a snugger fit.

But the bruised toe is the least of my concern this week. It is overshadowed by the 5 major bruises I have on both knees!

Got them from a Series of Unfortunate Events, namely @ the Zoo, from a vino session with the kolics, and from netball!

Its hideous and looks like I can't do without my dark stockings next week.

Lots of pictures from the past month. In no particular order and in a haphazardly random fashion:

NDP. My second parade....with the first being when I was still a toddler.

The past weekend had been a lot of feasting and tears. I had 3, and counting, farewell dinners and parties.

Sbeh headed to the west coast. It's sad...and demoralizing, but people do move on and I have learnt to embrace that fact and get on with life.

The most exquisite Japanese dinner I ever had. And lesson learnt: Never mix Asahi with Sakae.

Jlim's farewell:

I lurve the lobster spag @ Menotti's.

Teabreaks would never be the same again without you joyce....cos' no other senior would let us go off for such long tea breaks!!

KF and ZR's farewell:

The shrinking group from my batch. It is just slightly over a year we have been at the firm...and only half of us are left.

Dinner @ Village and wine @ Ice Cold.

All these farewells is making the whole mood so somber. Would it be me next?

On to happier transient moments: Community Day @ the Zoo!

It has been at least 16 years since I last went to the zoo. I was more excited than the kid I was accompanying that day! I was transfixed at the animal shows while my kid was falling asleep.

Don's pie for lunch with Shopaholic.

Its yummylicious!

SpunkIce and myself finally met up with our old friend. Stan the Man.

We had lunch @ New York New York (which sucks big time. Please do not go there.) and desserts @ NYDC (cos NYNY sucked).

There were lots of startling revelations.....mostly from the StanMan. I mean...how interesting can us underpaid corporate slaves be? There's no meaning to our lives. I speak for myself. Dunno abt SpunkIce tho...but of late, I'm feeling kindda bumped about this whole work thingy. I just can't see myself doing what I'm doing for the next 3 years. Its not only unfulfilling, it also doesn't pay well!

Ah well...enough moping...

It is a great week ahead. Flying off on Friday. Three course for the week. So its only a one day work week! WHOOOOTS!!

2006-07-23T23:03:00.000+08:00

Gastronomia

The weekend is coming to an end. Tomorrow the toil starts again.

Tough week ahead.

Typing with a bruised finger. Got it from the netball games @ yesterday's Corporate Challenge.

Caught up with my old coach there. She has certainly aged a lot since the days when I was still a teeny booper under her training.

But it is heartening to still know she's still playing/coaching the game. It certainly gives no excuse to people of my age who complain of rusty bones and aching joints.

No pictures from all the games....cos' we were really tired out! Totally unglam for picture whoring.

We didn't win the Corporate Challenge Tournament.

I'm not being sour, but people in our profession really do not have the time and luxury to train like the other companies do.

They hire professional coaches and train once every week.

We just do it in the name of fun. It's a welcoming reprieve from our work.

But I can proudly say it was only the first time my team didn't walk away as champions!

My team came in champs for last Sat's inter-unit competition!

All these games are good training for the upcoming tournament to come. And of course good opportunities to built team rapport.

Just when I thought I can finally intensify on my skin whitening attempts and go for a fresh pedicure and manicure, the team captain has announced that we are starting training for CPA games next month...

Random pictures from the previous weekends. Incidentally, I spent two consecutive weekend evenings at Holland Village (HV). One can never get sick of the many fine eateries that place has to offer.

We went Mexican yesterday. Al Patio restaurant (across Gelare; diagonal to Wala) at Lorong Mambong (a.k.a HV).

Highly recommended!! Ambience can be improved. But when you get a whiff of the bbq meat on the hotplates, the ambience would be the last thing on your mind.

The many faces of contentment:

We started with a "reverse pizza". I can't remember the real name of that starter. But essentially, its like a pizza except the meat and other fillings were INSIDE.

Main course was like a popiah session of sorts. The beef, lamp, and chicken on hotplates have to be wrapped in the light and fluffy chapatti looking skin.

A little bit of hands on...but I'm not complaining.

It doesn't look like it, but we were freezing our asses off in Eski Bar decked out in berms and capris:

The only bag that he would sling on his shoulders. Argh....He's such a chauvinist.

Did you know that the Ikea restaurant now has staff allocating the seats and you would have to queue to get in?

No more rude stares from hungry people waiting for your table!

I can't wait for this hellish work period to be over. Trying very hard to save (what's left of) my bonus for the shopping madness in the Great Hong Kong Sale come August.

Takes a lot of restrain. But I must!

Signing off with a picture from a couple of weeks back. Thanks for the prezzie girls!

2006-07-20T23:19:00.000+08:00

New Additions

1) The most obvious being I changed my picture. The previous one was a tad bit ~~nerdy~~ outdated.

2) Added two new bloggers on my list of "Chummies". Dorealmoo and Ber-Ger.

Ber-Ger is my hottest-towering cousin! :P

I'm terribly sorry for using a default Windows sample picture. Please send me a beautiful picture of urself if you want me to change the link picture (I reformatted my comp, hence I have archived all pictures taken with you previously!)

Doreal> I hope you are alright with ur Photoshop-stylized pic. Do let me know if you want me to change it or put more blur/mosiac (to conceal ur identity even further) yah!

3) A new "Knicky Link" is added. My all time favourite foodie blogger: Chubby Hubby!

His cooking is so inspirational.

4) A visible counter.

My old one just disappeared one fine day. I started with 88,888 for auspicious reasons. And also because its pretty close to the figures as recorded on my invisible counter.

I'm home from work early (9pm) today. That explains why I have some time on hand to modify my blog!

More pictures from promo dinner next time. Outz.

2006-07-20T12:15:00.000+08:00

Aye Aye Captain

HS: Love you baby...You light up my life.
Me: Like a flickering candle or a megawatt light bulb?
HS: Like a lighthouse on a stormy sea! Savvy?

He's on a Pirates of the Caribbean overdose.

2006-07-10T23:04:00.000+08:00

www.back@work.com

Bumper load entry filled with pictures!

I'm so back-dated with my entries cos' I have been rather busy lately. I foresee myself being even more overwhelmed with work in the coming period till mid August. I keep myself going by setting my eyes in the near future where I would be jetting off to HK for the Great Summer Sale after this engagement.

Our SPA getaway.

No lounging in the sun is complete without Dilbert.

I need more back rubs. Incidentally, my WHOLE body is aching. Right down to my fingers! I had a struggle brushing my teeth this morning.

Netball training last Sat was a refreshing change in my workout routine of gym and running. When I last checked with my kolic, I wasn't the only one suffering from the holistic aches.

So I guess we office girls should get out and play more often!

I will have to cut off my beautifully manicured nails this Sat. All because of the netball game. Drats

We were both featuring nails in OPI's Chick Flick Red.

We happen to have a lot of Superman paraphernalia that day. SpunkIce just came from some Superman opening thingy. By the way, the Superman movie is such a bore. I dozed off at some point. It's hardly believable he can lift up an entire island himself isn't?

Still baby was transfixed.

I finally tried the self-cooked Pepper Lunch. Had it for Dinner (who says we can't have it for DINNER?)

I find the rice overly buttery. They put a sizeable nougat of butter (hidden tactfully from sight amongst the rice) on the rice for you to "blend" it in while "cooking" your meal. If that is not unhealthy enough, the only intake of vegetables you would get from the meal is the pathetic sprinkle of corn kernels.

He's a garbage bin. He eats anything.

After engulfing ourselves in the fumes from the Pepper Lunch dinner, baby drove us to Arab Street for after dinner drinks.

Arabian Friday Night

Minus the Shee-sa (~~smoking~~ inhaling and exhaling from a washing machine pipe), we had Arabian teas.

HamSam's shot glass for tea.

Life's indulgences:

Left: Mango Orange Smoothie. Right: FootSpa Massager.

Action Packed Weekends ahead. SHAPE Run, Corporate Games and Company Sports Day!

2006-07-06T22:50:00.000+08:00

Spelling Bee

Here's what I chanced upon while redeeming my credit card points.

"....simply have a QUITE dinner for two..."

Actually the points per $X voucher redeemption ratio is really pathetic and definitely would not allow me to have QUITE a dinner for myself...much less for TWO.

Unless they meant QUIET?

2006-06-27T23:53:00.000+08:00

Ole!

It was an evening of startling revelations when I met up with the ol' PSM girls.

Admittedly, some were predictable, but some news really got me shell-shocked. We had a great time catching up nevertheless.

Please click here for the (unedited) pictures.

The girls and the boys met up last Saturday for TDD (Tripe Dinner Date). After abandoning the idea of dining at the atas Rochester Park (combined with staggered arrival of 5mins to air kiss), we met up at our favourite heartland chill-out area, Serangoon Gardens. Local fanfare at Chomp Chomp.

Once again, Spunkice was over-dressed! She lives by the motto: "Its always better to be overdressed than underdressed".

Fudgey brought his very retro Holiday board game to Coconut Groove where we had good wholesome whacky fun with smoothies.

And the soccer fanatics (Spunkice, Fudgey and HamSam) adjourned to my place for the World Cup Mania. We didn't get to catch ANY goals as the only 2 goals of the game scored by Germany were done in the first 10 mins. All of which we were sitting in the car waiting for dear Spunkice to dig her lenses out.

With Vanilla and Gan (sorry Spunkice, we didn't exactly take a pic together and you have not sent out the photos too! For once, I beat you to it and have already sent out the link to the photo album!) .

The Boys. Or more affectionately known as the Love of Our Lives.

Its nice to have come out together with our SOs once in a while. There is a distinct difference between the things we girls talk about and the serious stuff (apart from senseless soccer) the boys talk about.

But its sad that times like this would be getting harder as we grow older when we would be so embroiled with work and in future, family.

We are missing some of our close friends. It takes two to clap in a friendship. It comes to a point in time where we would get tired.

What would it take to get together again?

I hold my friends close at heart and I treasure my friendships a lot.

Let's not give up trying yah!

Its Day 3 of my leave. Hit the gym and pool today. I think the last time I wade in the pool is about 4 months back!

Off to make myself a peach smoothie.

It's the Avnet Barby tmw!

2006-06-24T00:15:00.000+08:00

The Aligator Pear

There's nothing like sipping an ice-cold avocado smoothie with a good book on my day of rest.

Yes folks, my leave starts today. Till 4th July.

Having a lot of activities lined up. TDD on Sat, Avnet barby on Wed, Spa Getaway with HamSam over the next weekend.

Met up with some ol' navteen pals this evening. More on that in the next entry.

Here I'm having slurped up my glass of avocado smoothie and feeling all good and naturally healthy. So I went to google: "Benefits of Avocado".

HORRORS OF ALL HORRORS!!
This is what is said on a website: "Avoid eating large amounts of avocado if you'd like to lose weight, because they are high in calories."

*GASP*

Not wanting to believe it. I continued reading other sites.

"Although the calorie count of the avocado is large, there being 165 calories in l00g (40z), it is of excellent nutritional worth"

Ok....It gets better. Some sites cushion the fatty fact with a whole lot of other nutritional benefits.

"Sometimes the avocado will be avoided due to its reputation for being high in fat. It is important to be educated in the types of fats because some fats can be good for you!
The fat in avocados is monounsaturated fat (unsaturated fatty acid whose carbon chain has one double or triple valence bond per molecule) which is simple for the human body to digest and break down."

To sum up, its good if taken in moderation. (Darn...I dumped a whole avocado into my blender!)

Do try it though...Its pure heaven. I don't have an exact recipe for it, but its easy to make. So here it is:

Serves 1 thirsty slurper (or 2 diet freaks)

1. "De-seed" (DUH!) 1 avocado and scrape the flesh out using a spoon.

A little thing about choosing the avocado. Make sure its DARK green. A bright green avocado might look so nice on the shelf, but avoid those. Its not ripe and it tastes bitter. Imagine soured milk. Yucks!

2. A few teaspoons of honey (the healthier alternative) or caster sugar to sweeten.

3. A cup of Fresh Milk (low fat of course!). Try not to get the HL or Daisy kind because the vanilla taste in the milk will over-power the subtle sweetness of the avocado. I recommend Master or Marigold.

4. Dump all those in a blender and blitz it!

5. Slurp away.

2006-06-18T22:40:00.000+08:00

Project Runway

I'm so terribly full now that its bordering on the point of contentment and queasiness.

My family of 4 plus my bro's gf (HamSam had his own family dinner to attend) had our Father's Day dinner at daddy's favourite frog place.

We had to pre-reserve it a day in advance. The whole place was closed to public except for reservations made the day before.

Its disgusting that we ate a total of 12 froggies!!!! (I think I had about 3 frogs in my own personal claypot!)

I'm gonna have nightmares of the leaping amphibians tonight.

No pixs because I forgotten to bring the cam! Darn. My daddy is not that big on photos anyway. Oh well... I shall let him off the hook since its Father's Day after all.

We had an after dinner stroll at the newly refurbished People's Park Complex. Its looking so much snazzier and distinctively cleaner.

Its amazing what cool finds they have there. I would have spent more time with my mummy and bro's gf if not for the guys being utterly bored stiff.

My buys for the evening at the so-much-cooler (literally too) People's Park Complex:

I got the Ralph Lauren/ Raoul looking fabric for less than $10! I'm sending it to my tailor to have it made into a shirt. And I couldn't resist the (very matching!) sweet looking buttons too. Got a set of 8 for under a $1.

I feel like I'm in Project Runway!

I also got X yard (not revealing it!! Very sensitive issue!) of ribbon for only about $2 (or less...I'm not really bothering...it is a very negligible amount). It goes with anything!! As a belt on my mini or jeans, as a sash on my pants, or a waist belt on a dress.

Endless possibilities!

I'm definitely going back there one day and get more prints and colours. Or even better still, I could get those unsellable remnants for free! It pays to network with the stall owners.

If I go on any longer, you guys would hate me for being such an airhead bimbo.

On a different note altogether, my deepest condolences to Kaifeng and his family for the passing of his dad who has gone Home to the Father.

2006-06-11T22:26:00.000+08:00

Girls' Night In

It has (and it still is) a rainy weekend.

Met up with Vanilla for dinner and futile shopping on Friday...and as if dinner wasn't enough, we had a mini slumber party of sorts! Stayed over her place...and talked...just like old times when we were still in our teens.

Yes....we do share a fitting room.

But despite our 10 odd years of friendship, we only watched our FIRST soccer match together that night. It was the opening World Cup Match. But girls being girls, we were not really concentrating on the 4-4-2 strategy played by Germany or Costa Rica (tt's CRC my dear). Despite our eyes riveted the TV...we chatted about stuff....stuff about life.

It's a new engagement for me tomorrow. I'm a little apprehensive. News has it that the manager isn't an easy person to work with. It would be two weeks of hell. I'm missing the fantastic Avnet Team already...

Alrighties, I gotta go dig out my spare make up. I left my critical and highly essential makeup pouch at Vanilla's place. I can't go to work on the first day of my new engagement sans makeup!

TDD on Thursday!

Current Read:

Selling it after I'm done. Check out my auctions to purchase it.

2006-06-07T22:34:00.000+08:00

Thank You

Sometimes, it's important to stop our crazy race of life and count your blessings.

If we do not, we will not last long.

I may not like a lot of things about my job (sucky pay, horrible hours, incompetent clients, demanding deadlines ....), but there are many desirable aspects of it that we don't get in other professions. We can't just have it all. Give and take.

I'm thankful that I was able to make it to cell meeting yesterday. It takes a lot of sacrifice on my part to make it for cell, but I come out a happier person after each session.

Consider it pure joy when you are put under trials. We will come out stronger when we have overcome it. So do not try to get out of anything prematurely...

Let's get moving!

So when's TDD girls?

2006-06-02T18:03:00.000+08:00

Running in SPACE

Hellish week. I've been pulling consecutive late nighters the past week. But all is good because I do not have to work or bring back work this weekend!

I can finally shop at ease without work bogging at the back of my mind. But I might need to curb my spending. The credit card bill came up to almost a thousand!

I don't get to meet my dearest that often anymore. But I'm taking it in my stride and looking at it positively. Everyone needs some time apart to do their own things (Me: Work/Run/Shop, Him: Gym/Gym/Gym).

"The healthiest, happiest relationships are those where both partners have the freedom to enjoy life apart from each other".

This evening, he's having his singing practice in church, and I'm heading to the gym!

Looking forward to the Shape Run (and the goodies!).

2006-05-21T23:23:00.000+08:00

Home Alone

The foggies are away on a holiday for slightly over a week. So I'm pretty much left to fend for myself.

I bought a loaf of softmeal bread, ham and my favourite Laughing Cow cheese. That would be my breakfast everyday for the coming week.

Also, it's the first time I'm working the washing machine in my home. My mum didn't leave me instructions! So after some fiddling with the controls and deliberating over what sort of clothes can go together in the same run, I got the machine churning.

It isn't rocket science, but its little things like laundry, taking out the trash, and having breakfast prepared every morning that I take for granted. I'm starting to learn to appreciate my mum lots more. I miss my mummy!

Thankfully, HamSam is on study leave the coming week. So he can probably pick me up from work and we could have dinner together. That is if I do not have to work late.

Last Friday's outing with the Avnet Team was great fun. Although the dinner started a little late @ 9pm, the meal was sumptuous. It was all possible thanks to KF's dad for generously giving us such a huge discount.

We played Taboo thereafter in the private room, while VT was crooning away on the Karaoke set. Taboo is fun!!!

Lunch with the cell group this afternoon after service. It's encouraging to see the bond amongst us, even after the splitting of the cell. Once again, I can't make it to cell this week. I'm having a meeting with my manager in the evening for my appraisal.

Pls pray for my workload on Tuesdays especially so I can make it for cell. And also the appraisal for my work performance in the firm thus far!

Counting down the days to my parent's return...

DVDs of the week:

Friday Night Lights

Bringing Down the House

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

2006-05-14T23:13:00.000+08:00

Ms MaGoo

On one hand he complains about me being fat. On the other, he buys me Ben and Jerry's Cookie Dough.

I'm confused.

The long weekend is over. Was it the last long weekend for the year?

Finally got my lenses sorted out. No more geek me.

My optometrist said that my eyesight is worsening at an alarming rate. Just late last year when I had my eyes checked for a new pair of specs, the degree was an average of 500+ per eye, with only the left eye needing correction for atheistic (however that is spelt. It's what makes you blind at night).

Barely 5 months later, my degree in both eyes has shot up to 700!!! And I now need to correct the atheistic in my RIGHT eye too because it had exceed the 100 mark.

I'm morphing into Bat Woman.

2006-05-02T21:36:00.000+08:00

Dating 101

Long weekends are truly God sent. I'm well rested.

I will vote for the Party that promises to make Monday a mandatory day of rest!

I think I'm pretty lucky. I will actually get to vote at the young, tender age of 23. Despite it being a democratic country we live in, I hear some of us at the age of 30+ has never voted before and will never get to vote in the coming elections.

Less is More. I think I should not expound my political views here. VERY sensitive (and costly).

The Company's post party was....ok.

Alright, it's mediocre.

But a great time to bond (and rub shoulders) with your bosses. What more do you expect out of a company function?

The Avnet Team:

The manager and senior on the job rocks! (too bad they don't read my blog)

We had an enjoyable evening at Pamdemoniom! Pam Oei ischt Rocks! I ischt Cool!

It was back-to-basics for us. Things couples do on their first few dates (when all things are still disguised with a rose-tinted hue).

He picked me up at my place. We went for the concert and had a nice dinner after that.

Ok, I ommitted the part where we had a very stressful time driving on the CTE (due to the horrible jam and heavy rain) and were running late for the show. Other than that, everything was perfect.

We sat by the sea after dinner...enjoyed the cubanova music, watched the salsa dancers.

Had ice cream @ Haagen before a slow relaxing ride (more because of the slight jam at the CTE!) home.

We wanted to have a bottle of merlot....but HamSam flushes red real fast. He didn't want to risk getting a brush with the law.

He had to get back early to get some much needed rest for his singing rehearsal in church the next morning.

Dessert cum Supper (my 5km jog prior to that gone to waste) @ Ice3 on Sunday with no Monday blues! I'm officially a fan of their peach smoothie.

We've booked the airplane tics for our getaway in Aug!

2006-04-26T22:41:00.000+08:00

I'm back!!

This was meant to be posted on Monday. But Blogger was having some problems. So here is the backdated entry:

I got my comp settled out finally....its a huge burden off my chest.

Its like being given a new lease of life!

Took a day of rest today (my 2nd long weekend....the next coming up this labour day!) and had my tresses done up.

My stylist refused to give me a shocking red colour ala Marcia Cross on the premise that I’m not the fairest of them all. Red does not complement tan skin tones.

So as a compromise (and retaining my patronage), she concocted a variant of colour to suit me.

TADA!

The warm lighting is not the least bit flattering to the subtle hues of red and brown.

I lurve it nontheless!

A very packed week ahead:

Tues: Cell meeting. HamSam is leading the word this week. I love him....and his zealous love for God.

Wed: The JP Morgan Run. Watch me crawl like a slug towards the finishing line.

Fri: The firm's Post Peak “Dansu Dansu Konichiwa” Party. It is gonna be a blast (I hope)...but I need to get my white powder and big ribbon sorted out first.

Sat: I've got tics to

It has been a while since we both caught a play/standup/concert. I'm definitely looking forward to it!

So there...that's a sneak peak into my week.

Congratulations to Mrs Zach who have completed her all her papers and is finally done with school! Meet up soon for our long overdue champers!

----------------------------------------------------------

The run was rejuvenating today! Thank God for holding the rain and blessing us with the cool weather. It was nice bumping into some old school mates too....

I'm still surprised that my firm actually won the best t-shirt design.

It's a pity I didn't bring my cam...No PICTURES!!!!

I will snap a pic of the BEST DESIGNED t-shirt when it is out of the laundry.

OUTZ.

2006-04-19T10:42:00.000+08:00

Operation Re-format : Failed.

Someone....Anyone?!?! Pls help me!

2006-04-17T13:47:00.000+08:00

All In A Day's Work

I had a good rest over the long weekend. Thankfully, I wasn't called back to work on any of those days...my senior was nice enough.

Recap of the prior week:

Tues: We surprised Vanilla @ her hall on her birthday. Despite speaking in Morse Codes with Gan to coordinate the whole surprise, she still smelt a rat! Darn!!

But she was still moved to tears. Awwwww....

Will post the pics when I actually get them....

Vanilla > Pls send me the pics!!

Friday: Attended the 9am Traditional Good Friday service!!! Haven sung hymns for a while.

We headed to town for brunch....it was the earliest I have ever been in town for a long time....the shops weren't even opened yet. Baby was so tired that he slept in the midst of ~~reading~~ drooling over a Torque magazine at Starbucks. How he manages enter Slumber Land with a double espresso baffles me.

Saturday: Tried re-formatting my comp....But I took a whole day just to back up my stuff (songs, pics, videos, documents etc.). I hate re-formatting!

But since my finances are rather tight, it does not permit me to splurge on a new lappie. The cheaper alternative would be a re-formatting of my old one.

Sunday: Attended the 11am service. We couldn't make it for the 6am Sunrise service. *yawns*

It was a rather touching service with a very powerful testimonial and many accepted Christ. PTL!

Went for a swim with baby...but *surprise surprise* it started to pour shortly after.

Went back and continued with Operation Re-format. And the result as at today (Mon 1:35 pm) : Incomplete.

The moment I logged on after the first re-format, I was bombarded with all sort of worms, horses and what not. @#$%% WHY ARE PEOPLE SO EVIL THESE DAYS!!!?!!?

So, this evening when I'm back, I will be attempting to continue with Operation Re-format AGAIN. And this time, I will install my S$78 (!!!!!) Anti-virus suite prior to logging on to the Evil Web. It takes lots of skill actually. Like a chicken and egg thing, I have to log on to the Evil Web to register my anti virus before it takes effect, and within that short span of time, all sorts of damn virus will attack my poor lappie like a locust plague! Not to mention the time needed to get the Windows update and firewall set up.

Perhaps I should do a dry run to really familiarise myself with the steps. Yah....I will.

Oh well....back to work. My lunch siesta is up.

2006-04-03T22:34:00.000+08:00

Two Days' Notice

You know your work is demanding when you need to give a two days' notice for going to the gym.

Here's the team:

I lurve big engagements!

The very conducive and spacious environment I work in everyday:

My favourite accounting geek, Steffie!

I'm sorry guys...but looks like I can't make it for cell tmw.....

2006-04-02T22:53:00.000+08:00

Book Worm

I became her fan when I read her first book, Elegance, last year. Her witty writing is slightly similar to that of Marian Keyes...and it also hints of Tony Parson's reflective writing style. It's a smooth hybrid.

The wait for the paperback edition is a long one.

I almost got it at the airport in Jan when I was travelling out for work...but since I took so long to decide if I could live with the bulki-ness of a hardcover, I was late for boarding..and thus had to make a pass.

But anyhows, I have it now. I can't wait to start reading! .....After I finish my mountain pile of work waiting to be done.....

My latest bargain discovery at Amazon.com! It's known as Bargain Books! Check out the amazing bargain books section here and your life will never be the same again!

HamSam is so gonna roll his eyes. His affectionate nick for me: Bookworm

Have a great week ahead.

2006-03-26T22:47:00.000+08:00

Poison Ivy

I have only one month more before I kick start my first marathon of 2006. I'll be doing the:

Although its only a puny 5.6km, but considering someone who has been pretty much dormant for the past 4 months due to a freakish sit-up back sprain and of late, an unfortunate case of food poisoning (from seemingly innocent prawn noodles!)

It may seem like I'm just justifying my tardiness...and I'm guilty as charged.

But cut me some slack too alright....which normal person can still put on her trackies and head out for a run at 10pm after a long and tiring day at work???

I can't believe the love of my life who should accept me for who I'm actually had the audacity to ask me if I'm joining him in the gym today....merely a day after I had puked my entire gall bladder dry!

I have since stayed away from weighing scales.

Ignorance is bliss.

2006-03-15T23:42:00.000+08:00

I Love You?

The past few weekends were smashing.

So much so that I have forgotten to rest. I will make it a point to just stay in this coming weekend.

If I can help it.

Kings of Convenience is sold out before I can even find the time to buy the tics to their gig!! Arghhh!!!

Recap of the weekends:

At the beach last Sunday. Didn't get much of a tan ...it was an overcast Sunday.

Farewell dinner with Chunxi and family last Friday. He was my cell leader...leaving for China to labour for the Lord. Their kiddo, Jedi, who has a legion of adoring fans will be greatly missed.

M.O.S with SpunkIce and Mrs Zach. Joined later by Darevurls and Angie. The only "casualty" was SpunkIce...Tsk tsk...

It's great that ure back Mrs Zach...

Netball gathering of all batches. It could have been at least 7 years since I last saw some of my seniors and It was fabulous that we met up once again after all these years...although some generations weren't represented, but I'm still very thankful for being able to just meet up with those present.
My coach (in the middle) has not aged one bit since I last saw her in Sec 4!

The next time we meet would be either at a wedding or a baby shower!

My attempt at being domesticated. Tried emulating Jamie Oliver by tossing the French beans in the pan....but I ended up with half the beans on the stove. Nevertheless, Hamsam still swept the plates clean....proclaiming that I'm the best cook in the world!

Ok, I may have misquoted him and put those words in his mouth.

I had a tiff with Hamsam last Sat. Tiff might be an understatement, but I'll leave it as that.

We both have issues we need to work on.

Although we have since made up, but are the cracks really mended? Or are they merely concealed?

2006-03-05T00:17:00.000+08:00

I love the Weekends

The fat lady sang on Friday.

I didn't get to meet up with dearie till today because work was a fire drill. Five consecutive days pulling the late nighter. Got home at around 2am every night...crawled into bed by 3am...and started the whole dance routine again the next day at 9am.

That pretty much sums up the week.

For this reason, I did not manage to do ANY runs or gym at all. The company should change the dental allowance into sliming or even optical allowance(I'm going blind from staring at the computer screen 15 hours each day)

Many ask me: "why are you wasting your youth working like this?"

Its not a waste.

I believe it's a step for bigger things to come in the future.

Hitting the shores with SpunkIce tmw....let it be a glorious day.

2006-02-19T00:34:00.000+08:00

Mumble Mumble

The impromptu meet up on Friday with the girlies was great. I tink we should do more of such meetings. But there's always the stupid saying: if we fail to plan, we plan to fail.

Feck it.

Anyways, we had our AGM, albeit only 4 directors were present.

Here's the minutes of the meeting:

I will be posting it in our Groups soon yah...or even on our blog!

Company CNY dinner some time back...

The customary Chinese salad

Stressed-out faces.

ok....maybe I look a notch happier than the rest...but its more the wine that's working.

The next party to look forward to....the Post Peak Party (PPP).

He snapped at a "financial consultant" on a roadshow who was very persistent on finding out about our saving habits.

Well...what I can say is that a hungry man is an angry man.

My impish cousin. Can you see the cheekiness oozing outta that smile?

2006-02-14T22:53:00.000+08:00

8 days

The 2005 Cheena New Year has finally come to an end on Sunday.We had some relatives over at my place...I was the assigned bartender for the evening.

Well...I only served concoctions of vodka, Black Russian, Khalua, Baileys and wine. Not the 1001 varieties of poison you find in Jook.

Speaking of which, I witnessed (or rather heard since I'm too busy to appreciate it visually) the CNY fireworks outta my client's window for 4 nights the past week. Couldn't make it to cell on Tuesday because of work. Its starting.

Today is the much abhorrent day....gruesome twosome.

We are not huge suckers for such occasions. He was in church for singing practice and I was catching up on my sleep at home.

Its my dad's birthday and his mum's too. I haven got time to get presents for either of them.

Big celebration this weekend. My parent's silver jubilee. Their 25th anniversary. A lot of logistical details to settle. A long list of attendees to confirm and I haven ordered the multi-tiered cake.

I can't say 24 hours is enough.

2006-02-06T23:19:00.000+08:00

Thank You for the beautiful evening sunset

Thank God for the 7pm knock-off time this week.

Vanilla suggested creating a blog for us. Sorta like a newsletter to keep each other informed of what's happening in our lives. Since we lead such busy lives....we hardly have time to meet up. So it might be a good idea.

And seeing that I'm getting busier with work...my posts are getting more and more infrequent. Perhaps, I should just open up the blogging space to them. But part of me feels strangely possessive about my blog. Like a mother, giving up her child is difficult.

This child of mine was conceived about 3 yrs ago with the help of midwife, Kimchi Chan. It has come a long way...from plain standard blogger templates, to downloaded blogskins...and the present self-designed-from-scratch blog!

Will sleep on it and ponder about the feasibility of sharing my baby with 6 other surrogate mums.

Meanwhile, the CNY visitation pictures!

Finally we made it possible to visit each other's houses this CNY. We have been putting it off for far too long!

The Road Trip

My first ride with SpunkIce at the driver's seat. Keep up the good work girl! But you could do more with the braking....I would have puked myself silly if it is to Jurong!

The Houses

I can't emphasize enough that Mahjong is a healthy game for the mind....if money is not involved.

CNY Department Dinner tmw!

2006-01-28T13:14:00.000+08:00

Sabbath

Finally, a day of rest.

It's a rare sunny day. Very tempted to hit the waters but my back still hurts.

I'm feeling very lousy and grouchy these days due to the severe lack or should I say zilch exercise done.

I have not been doing any running or gym since the year started with my sprained back.

According to the doc, back injuries takes a while to recover from. Well done.
Meanwhile, I would have to content with my amorphous frame for CNY.

As promised, pictures of the PS (Phony Shang).

The view outside my window. It reminds me of home. Looks like the esplanade with the thorn-windows closed.

Where I spent 10 days bunking in...

The bed on the left is my designated work bed (with my laptop pls!) and the one on the right is the designated slumber bed.

It was a bumpy flight there...rough weather and turbulence.

My preferred in-flight entertainment:

Quick update, the Tai-Chi Master is quitting the sect!!!! WHoooopies!!!

Enjoy the warmth of the family reunion this CNY!

2006-01-13T23:33:00.000+08:00

Temporal Bliss

Life's been treating me pretty well here...

Feels like a holiday although its a work trip. But I guess anything other than the work pattern in S'pore is a luxury.

We're putting up at the Shang... doesn't feel like one though. Its like a phony Shang...you will get what I mean when I post the pictures up.

Just settling down after supper with the team. Have work to catch up on tonight...but we're starting late tmw...so I can sleep in.

It takes some getting used to sleeping on a king size bed alone...and having the whole room to yourself. I'm missing the trips I take with the girls where we always have connecting rooms and the "accounting" session at the end of the day on one of the beds.

The silence and space makes lonliness even more stark.

The engagement team is great...an all girls ensemble. Its good that everyone is very supportive and helpful. At long last, a reprieve from the horror the past few months.

Gotta get started on my work...

Miss you love.

2006-01-10T23:50:00.000+08:00

At the PEAK

When they say: "wait till you experience the PEAK", I didn't really grasp the enormity of that sentence.

I do now.

It means surviving on only 4 hours of sleep each day.

It means working on Saturdays and Sundays....including Public Holidays.

It means forfeiting your MC even though your doctor instructed you to rest.

In a nutshell : I HATE MY JOB.

Not that many don't already know I dislike it right from the start...and not that it pays so well that all I'm suffering is worth it.

Why then do so many graduates still torment themselves and get into this line???

The last I checked, all my kolics' morale are at a all time low. Suicidal nicks replace the once festive greetings on their MSN.

This job is akin to dying....including digging your own grave before that.

But death is binary. On/Off.

The work is however killing me...slowly....but surely.

My bags are packed. Jetting off for more hellish work in a foreign land.

Till den.....keep me in your prayers please.

2006-01-01T13:19:00.000+08:00

Its a Wrap!

I spent my NYE at the A&E department. How interesting.

Had a sprained back. Thank God its not a slipped disc though...

Dearie was sweet enough to stay in with me...skipping the party at Fullerton we were suppose to attend. He was looking forward to it so much...now I feel bad about it.

On to happier things....
The Christmas pictures from SpunkIce as promised:

Grocery shopping

Which would be cheaper? Gobi or Sahara?

Didn't they say too many cooks will spoil the broth? But none of us is a true cook!

What a spread!

HUNGRY!!!

Christmas exchange

The Receiver and the Giver

The pioneer crepe. A failed attempt as evident from the burnt edges.

Doesn't it resemble a ram??

The camera was maxed out of memory space...so we couldn't take pictures of the perfectly browned and round crepes we made thereafter!

Friends Forever!

Darevurls, you were greatly missed!

2005-12-28T01:25:00.000+08:00

P.A.R.T.I.E.S

First up, prezzie from my dearest:

As much as he bemoans about the absurdity of expensive powder which girls sprinkle on their faces, he got it for me too...out of love I hope.

With the cell groupies

It was an overload of meat. I had to go on a veggie detox the day after!

The all time favourite get together game: Charades!

With the typical sexist grouping of Mars vs Venus.

Let me reiterate again, the girls won because we are good, not because the game ~~master~~ mistress is from Venus!

What is a Christmas gathering without carols...

Dearie lurves his gift. Its his best-est pal now...

It comes as a huge surprise to them that he likes Bob. They cannot fathom how such a grown ALPHA male could possibly adore cutesy Bob.

But I'm not surprised. Many get fooled by his supposed macho image....

Its freaky that I see the uncanny resemblance more and more each day:

Had a church luncheon with his foggies....I'm paranoid about appearing in pictures with his family (extended ones were present that afternoon too!).

A lot of what-ifs go through my mind....

Not posting up the pics for paranoia reasons.

With my girlfriends

Finally we get to meet up...minus Darevurls tho....

Jap cuisine was the order of the evening. We rolled sushi, had udon and cha soba! All that was lacking was Sakae....we had a healthier and more economical replacement of green tea.

The crepe-making attempt was hilarious....but a valiant effort nonetheless...

More on it when I get the pictures from SpunkIce.

Got myself a late Christmas present in the form of a mobile phone! It was love at first sight for me!

I have this feeling that I have once again gone into deficit for the month....I'm so not looking forward to receiving the credit card bill.....For an accountant, I'm really lousy with my finances!

2005-12-22T23:56:00.000+08:00

Me! Me!

I realized it has been a week since I last blogged.

Its getting harder and harder these days to keep up with regular posts. But that is not important....

what is important is that I'M ON LEAVE FROM TODAY TILL 3RD JAN 2006!!!

WHOOOTSS!!

My well deserved (at least I think so) break from dreadful work.

To celebrate the start of my break, I checked out the new club, Ministry of Sound last evening with SpunkIce. I have to concede that the place is a little over-rated...but nevertheless a cool place to let loose once in a while.

Not the sort of place where you would pay pilgrimage to every week faithfully.

The Siam Kids meeting finally materialized on Tuesday. Together with SpunkIce and her darling, we had hotpot at Bugis. I went crazy with the fish maw...while baby and Fudgey stuffed themselves silly with beef sukiyaki and the goosebump-ish beef thingy!

We ended the evening at Grapevine. Topic of the day: Are we dating Alpha Males?

It's comforting, in a sadistic way, to know I'm not the only one suffering under the traits of a typical Alpha Male!

Lurve my nails!

And here's my Meme contribution to Linda's call for all myopic comrades to unite:

sexyspeckyblogger

2005-12-15T23:22:00.000+08:00

You know you should seek help when you would forsake lunch just so you can go for the Mango sale.

Its Friday tomorrow!

2005-12-11T22:11:00.000+08:00

Re-charged!

Found a freeware to convert videos into formats compatible with my ipod! Whoopies!

and....

I manage to get out of working with the Tai Chi Master! Double Whooopppie!

We caught Coach Carter on DVD this weekend....

Never thought I would cry at such a show...but I guess its because I can totally relate to the film.

It brings back alot of memories about my netball training days...

I'm glad that I choose that path...despite my horrible buckled knee. Thanks for the good times girls!

The festive period is round the corner...with all the upcoming feasting at pot lucks and dinners, its time for some serious workout!!

Back to the grind tommorrow...

I'm at S'pore Power this coming week, anyone is the vicinity...call me for lunch or dinner!

2005-12-06T23:21:00.000+08:00

Move aside Nano...

Here's Giga!!

Just kidding! Thankfully Apple is not as predictable and uncool (as reaCtive) to call it that. The iPod Video is my latest tech toy...and I will get to watch Desperate Housewives and Lost on the way to work in the subway!

Like SpongeBob who finds 101 ways to play with a simple piece of paper, he too has found 102 ways to keep himself entertained with my picture frame. Here are 4 of them:

Met up with the cell this evening to discuss the leadership and of course the upcoming Christmas Potty!

It is a gross misconception that auditors are good with money. Why am I entrusted with the responsibility of collecting the money when I can't count to save my life?!?

2005-11-30T22:10:00.000+08:00

The Unofficial (and Biased) Medical Census 2005

After almost two weeks of survey @ the hospital, here are the statisitcs!

1 out of 10 doctors is cute*. The remaining 9 fit into Category CMI.

1 out of 50 doctors is not bespectacled.

5 out of 10 doctors have only salad for lunch.

Its my last day at the hospital on friday. Will make it a point to go on a shopping spree at the pharmacy with the staff pass! Its like STOREWIDE 20%!

Should I just get Multi-vitamins pills for the christmas exchanges coming up???

* I have relaxed the criteria by alot...if not, the numbers would be pathetic. Not like it already isn't so. Also, this only applies to guys since about 95% of them are males.

2005-11-25T22:38:00.000+08:00

@#$%%^@$!!&**%^&*!!

Its a Friday evening and I'm still at work with no dinner!

2005-11-21T22:41:00.000+08:00

Dilbert, I Hate You!

Just being at the hospital makes me feel sick.

But I'm not complaining cos' my office is just across the room where all the young cute housemen congregate in between shifts! *grins*

I wouldn't mind keeping my door ajar all day!

And it felt like homecoming for me today at the hospital. Reminds me of the period when I had all my opts and rehab thereafter...freakily fond memories.

Last weekend was smashing. Seems like so much was accomplished...to me at least.

I managed to squeeze in a workout and a run...not a long dist tho'.

Anyway, Spunkie,Stan Chart Mara 12km???

Test drove a few cars too...I'm really torn between the choices. Have been reading forums and reviews all my free time on the WWW.

My indulgences over the past week.

My fav. jap conveyor belt: Sushi Tei

Baby had his salmon in a bowl that looks more like a monk's dish to collect alms in!

I'm not doing myself justice if I do not have my yakitori don!

My addiction and HIS MacDonalds.

With my bro and his gf.

They are lucky! They get to go on a all expenses paid trip to HK courtesy of my dad...and I can't go cos'...I'm simply too busy to take any leave! I have so much accumulated OT leave...but what's the point if I will never have the chance to clear them or cash them?!?! *ARGGHHHH*

On our stay home DVD night, we caught Alfie. Jude Law's version. I think he must have played his role too well in real life too. Sienna Miller must surely agree with me on that! It's a must watch show for all casanovas out there. All is but futile....at the end of the day, there is no inner peace.

Anyway, I caught I Love Huckabees on DVD too. VERY nice show. Rated 5 stars in LIFE! when they reviewed it. Do not bother if you are not into existential philosophy. You will fall asleep in 5 mins tops.

HamSam picked up a PINK shirt. An advice from Alfie.

And a baby blue one too...just for Mondays.

Its almost becoming a weekly affair, reading over a cuppa. But the scary thing is....he re-reads his Dilbert comics.

We had time to kill before dinner with the foggies and my granny.

As much as I tried talking to him over cuppa, I still can't win over Dilbert, Wally and gang for his attention. I give up.

So here's a shot of my latest bold stitch purchase! White heelies....I like!!

Wedding Invitation @ The Fullerton. On Boxing Day. December will be a month I'm going to be utterly broke.

So, What's it all about?

2005-11-16T23:09:00.000+08:00

Get Off My Back!

It has been a very eventful (literally with many events happening in the course of the week!) week so far....

I'm feeling more and more constrained by the transparency of the WWW. My blog is no longer truely a diary of the olden days...where I can write anything and everything I want and no one would know.

For reasons like this, I cannot disclose the momentous event that happened during the week.

Anyway, I had a bad day at work. Didn't expect it to happen so fast, but my back hurts from a stab wound....

Sigh....I'm learning to watch my back from now onwards.

2005-11-12T21:39:00.000+08:00

Frap Me!

A lazy Saturday....we just plonked at the cafe and read. He with his Dilbert (he's back at it now after he proudly finished Six Sigma for Dummies) and me with my novel. Anyway, Buckie's new Christmas drink, the Peppermint Frap, is superb! Its a must try!!!

Cell meeting during the week was encouraging. Baby led worship (acapella!) and Weihao shared The Word. The attendance was encouraging and I can see we are really starting to bond. Looking forward to the Christmas potty!

I haven got around to meeting the girls in a long while. The previous meeting was cancelled at the eleventh hour (due to Spunkie's halloween party at zouk and I was at work till 12am anyway).

Its really hard to get 7 busy lasses together and I'm not absolving myself of any blame!

Pls girls!! We must meet up soon after the exams yah...and I promise I will try my best to squirm outta work!

Gotta run...baby's honking already!

2005-11-05T15:52:00.000+08:00

Groove Along...

The past week has been good. How wouldn't it be good given all the holidays in between it right?

Took the day off on Friday....and I'm well-rested.

Manage to squeeze in some badly-needed runs too....I'm so endorphins-deprived these days.

Running with house pumping in my headphones. Its from the Bargrooves compilation baby got me. (HIGHLY RECCOMENDED for all house music lovers by the way!) I find that I cover more mileage at greater ease with House. It must be the beats that gets me going!

Baby is off for his spa session with his like-minded metro sexual pal, Legolas. Sure I like a well-groomed guy, but I just hope he stops at trimming his eyebrows!

He is gonna be starting his new job this coming Monday. He has got new shirts from the tailor and I added one to his collection from Raoul as his gift for our anniversary. He's quite particular about his shirts, from the fit, cutting to the cloth. I would like to think its more of a occupational hazard than it is him being atas!

Finally, my first big-faced watch! And it tells me the date!

I'm such a goldfish that you can tell me the date 5 mins ago and I can still forget what the date is today! It is hampering my productivity at work!

*ok...I admit I'm blowing things outta proportion.....but the memory thing is grave!*

We looked around a fair bit before deciding on this piece. The bold stitches won my heart. I have a fetish for bold stitches. Although it might not be a Piaget or Omega...but I adore it! Thanks love!

Getting ready for China.

No, I'm not a JLO fan...and btw, word has it that her's are REAL animal fur!! That's so evil!!!

Before all the animal activists come hunting me down...mine is faux fur on suede.

My pathetic allowance doesn't permit me a real fur coat anyway.

My multi-faceted love:

Geeky Sam

He's attempting the pondering-clasped-hand stance perfected by many politicians. Or is it only Thaksin Shinawatra?

DJ Ali-G Sam

Complete with that cocky smirk! Wipe it off already!!

Act-Cute-Kawaii Sam

Big-headed shots that resembles those of the ever popular Jap neoprints machines. But he seems to be posing more for my digicam than his mobile-cam! POSUER!

Off to enjoy my weekend!

Have a cuppa and laze ya...

2005-11-01T02:03:00.000+08:00

Trick or Treat

I spent my Halloween in the office!! No...I wasn't going around treat or tricking my kolics, instead the figures on my screen were tricking me and treating me hell!!

I only left the office at 11:30pm! And I didn't have dinner cos' initially I had dinner plans with Darevurls in the evening...

But I only had my dinner/supper at 12am!

sigh...all these late night snacking is gonna make me heap up on the pounds.

Speaking of which...let me relate an alarming story:

I had originally planned to accompany SpunkIce & Fudgey, HamSam &his pals to the Halloween party at Zouk. SpunkIce suggested we wear our cheerleading uniform together. So I dug in my storeroom for my archived uniforms and costumes and found the memorable blue cheerleading outfit.

I happily pranced to my room...and I almost broke out into the routine that we practiced so hard for for the IHG cheerleading competition.

To my utmost disbelieve and horror, I couldn't fit into the uniform!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The top never went past my seemingly expanded head and the skirt never got up to my waist!!!

I could cheat and wear the skirt from my head downwards, but what about the top!?!?! I can't fathom how my head can expand so drastically in circumference!

This is how we look...back then in our snugly-fitted costume and super-lian hairdo!

This pic was taken by our "Sista" in our hostel room using the door curtain as the backdrop!

Anyhows, I didn't want to go back to Zouk again actually. I was there last Friday and boy was it crazy! All I know was I ended up at baby's place at 4am puking my guts out!

I was there with my teammates after the ceremony. Indochine plans was ditched cos' the girls felt like jiggling

The championship trophy and its 12 miniatures!

We made a pact...to keep the trophy for the next 4 years. I would love that!

But... I hope I would still be around in the firm though...

My face mask is cracking up...gotta wash it off.

More on what we got each other for our anniversary in the next post!