The Sale Worth Waiting For

Once a year, for a month, something happens on our tiny island to make our women (and men!) go a little crazy. No it's not the John Little Sale, but the GREAT SINGAPORE SALE!!! More and more I am beginning to think they (the Singapore Tourism Board and gang) didn't call it 'great' for nothing. Everywhere prices are slashed so liberally that the shopper in you just cannot resist picking up something. And it has to be great because nothing can force couch potatoes to do an Orchard Rd marathon cum boost to the economy.

The sale began last Friday and I didn't get terribly excited until my colleague fished out The Straits Times' Great Singapore Sale special, flipped through it and alerted the entire office to a hot pink bag at a red hot price. Coincidentally, Friday was also Eat With Your Family Day and so we were given the permission to leave office at 4.30. Yes, you can guess what I'm going to say already... the shopaholics in us decided to use the opportunity to hit the stores and just go crazy. As luck would have it, I didn't manage to leave till 6 (shall not go into the details here lest it becomes a ranting and raving session), which made me all the more eager to head for the shops. My loot for the day was just a $9.90 (U.P. $26.90) passion fruit body scrub from Body Shop, but it was thrilling enough to make me go on a spree over the weekend. The damage: $134.78 for the scrub, 3 tops, a skirt, a pair of earrings and a pair of slippers. And guess what? I STILL WANT MORE!

That's the power of this great sale. It spreads the disease of compulsive buying like SARS. And even the men are not spared from the madness. On my frenzied spree on Saturday, I noticed so many glum-faced men holding bags, their blank stares shooting through the shop windows. Poor guys! Imagine how they have to tolerate this, and not for a month, but two (this year's sale is EXTENDED)!

To all the shopaholics out there, this is your day. But pace yourself as it's going to be eight weeks of jostling with the crowd, aching calves and yes let's not forget, dwindling bank accounts. As for me, I think I better lay off the malls for a bit. But today Perlini's Silver just sent me a 50% discount voucher for ANYTHING in their store, so looks like the cycle is gonna repeat itself. Watch this space for more damage ;-P

A Girl's Day

I woke up early today at 6.45. I love waking up early cos it means I have the whole morning to play with, and yes, to read the newspapers, which I always have little time for. Attended a wonderful mass at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (the choir there rocks!) with a good friend and after that we went window shopping which turned into ACTUAL shopping, oops! Some more the Great S'pore Sale isn't here yet. But I got a pretty good deal. Two pairs of olive green pants from U2 at 25% off. Why two? Because one has a glossy sheen and cool belt and the other, a gorgeous ribbon scarf that goes around the waist, the colour of which goes very well with the matt olive green. Ok I know I sound frivolous, but if you see them on me, you'll understand why I got them! Also bought a totally funky tee with a hot pink background and women on it that look like the characters on Delifrance's plastic bags. Was smiling from ear to ear after the buys. The wonders of retail therapy (especially if the purchase is unexpected)! It's like blood shooting all over inside my body and the effect is a nice glowy feeling that can show up as pinkness on cheeks. I wonder when I will ever tire of shopping... Can picture you the reader tsk tsk tsking and muttering 'oh how frivolous!', heheh.

In the evening I cooked up a feast with a friend at home. Herbed chicken with grape sauce, a recipe from Today. Grapes and chicken may sound gross to you, but the dish can actually pass off as some atas French main course from a coffeehouse! We ate like dogs (it was SOOOO delicious!) and watched The Divorce. Average movie but light-hearted and funny enough for a lovely girl's night. This won't be the last ;p Am already thinking I should do steak for the next cookout session.

Aspiring cooks out there: Today's got some really SWELL recipes. If you can whip up something that tastes like it comes out of a restaurant, then it must be really gd! Trust me the foodie :-P

Of Laundry & Prawn Noodles

I had a whole pile of washing to do today, and it wasn't the throw-in-the-machine and sit back kind. It's what most people dread--hand washing! Not that I haven't done it before, but this is probably the first time I've hand washed so many pieces of clothing before (Mummy's not around, remember?). Wah tiring man. I spent 2 over hours rinsing the soap out of my garments and because I didn't use rubber gloves, the skin on my hands split like paper cuts :o Ok maybe I'm doing it wrong. Mum always says I put too much soap in the soak which is why I need to rinse so much. Technicalities technicalities, but she has a point.

Anyway, I heard from my aunt today that there is such a thing as a washing machine with a hand wash function. When I heard that, my heart leaped. No hand washing forever? No aching arms? Gosh it sounds like housewife heaven! Apparently, these dream machines do all the work and they can even wash skimpy and fragile outfits like satin slips, *eyes pop out*. There are also 'hard' a la padded laundry bags that can fit two wire bras. Just throw them in the machine (any machine, not just the dream one) and voila, they come out fine. Mum has got to hear about these great laundry inventions; it will save her hell of alot of time and effort!

So much for laundry. In the evening I went with two aunts and two uncles to watch my cousin perform with her acapella group at West Coast Park. This girl is really growing up. She's always been on the quiet side but she proved that she can perform confidently onstage. And yes, she's got a voice with potential that just needs a bit of tweaking to take off. The group was amateurish but their enthusiasm and positive attitude stands them in good stead. Am looking forward to see her grow with them :)

Following the performance, I joined the aunts and uncles for a simple dinner of prawn noodles at a coffeeshop along Upper Bukit Timah Rd. Simple food and simple fellowship but it meant so much. I realise how precious a little gathering like this is. I've never been super close to this group of aunts and uncles (and I've never been very interested in their company), but now I understand the importance of keeping in touch, catching up, just having a simple meal. And I'm sure it means the world to my cousin to have family support! As a performer, I know that very well. So, uncle, auntie, cousin, you'll be seeing me more often and gladder for it :)

so cannot make it

What a blur sotong blogger I am! Some of you may have read my very first post 'Convert to the Blogging World', but sad to say I deleted the entire blog by accident. Before that, as an excited little virgin to the blogging world (and to Blogger), I happily created about five or six blogs all with the same title. In short, I went a little wild trying to figure out how things work and ended up with some embarrassing blunders, *blushes*.

I am proud to say that as of today, I have made significant progress. I now know how to delete blogs created out of sheer excitement and to put up a new one to replace the old. That's why you're reading this now (just in case you are as cannot make it as me ;p).

Does anyone want to help me out by telling me how to retrieve 'Convert to the Blogging World'? *looks at you with pleading eyes*

The Wonders of a Course

I was *SO* looking forward to my three-day course, beginning today, because as you would've gathered from my 13 May post, I was experiencing burnout. I got up today feeling significantly different. Somehow I felt more energetic. For a minute, I was like, where did that headache go? Strange too that despite the energy, I felt full and didn't eat breakfast. Those of you who know me know how much I love food and that I never skip breakfast. So it was a strange feeling, but nevertheless, I digress...

What a refreshing break from the office to just sit and take in what the lecturers were saying. And it wasn't just listening, but seeing how what they were saying tied in so closely with my work. I found out how to do things better and it gave me a much-needed 'rejuvenation shot' in the butt. I thought, hey, I'm going to go back to the office refreshed and though not an eager beaver (heaven forbid!), at least I'd feel positive about getting into gear again.

On top of that, the food was just *GREAT*, with the participants pigging out at the coffeehouse buffet for 2 out of the 3 lunches! They really fed us well and for tea breaks (morning and afternoon!), we had super fudgey rich brownies, curry puffs to beat Old Chang Kee and cheesecake that melted in our mouths and diffused into our tongues. I also had a good time chatting with the very amiable and open participants, who gladly shared their experiences during the sessions.

Praise God for this wonderful break :)! Bursting with gratefulness, I attended evening mass in thanksgiving after the course ended at 5pm. Was blessed with peace, serenity and the hope that there is a God who's holding my hand no matter what happens.

WHY COORDINATION COUNTS

What really was icing on the cake was on the second day when three ladies complimented me on my dressing. I was very suitably coordinated, with a sky blue skirt, neon sky blue dangly earrings (disco look, but fine on me in the office), white shirt, white handbag and pale green flat pumps that make me look like a girl in the meadows. Short of squealing (these are adults trying to contain their excitement), they said I looked '*so* pretty and sweet'. One of them even remarked that I looked like I was going to shoot an MTV! Ok I think that's really pushing it, but I hope you see why coordination counts. It sure made me feel like a million bucks and of course, a true goddazz as always :-P

Star At A Wedding

I took leave today to attend a good friend's wedding. It was well timed as I badly needed a break. Before this I had been suffering from tension headaches everyday (even on weekends!) and extreme fatigue, all stress-induced and self-induced. Silly me, but more on that later...

I felt a little ambivalent about attending the wedding dinner. On the one hand, I was really excited about seeing my already chiobu friend transform into a stunning bride and of course, the prospect of a yummy eight course (or was it ten?) dinner is enough to cheer up a weary soul. On the other hand, I wasn't too thrilled by the possibility of sitting down to a table of strangers, who might, horror of horrors, be downright boring or anything else I cannot imagine.

As it turned out, I spotted only one acquaintance at the dinner and sat down to a table of complete strangers. But they were pleasant (and dare I say interesting, lively and humorous!) enough and I found myself chatting merrily to at least half the table. The usual 'get to know you' topics surfaced, like 'are you working and where' and 'how do you know the bride/groom'. In the midst of my conversation with the lady sitting next to me, I revealed that I was experiencing burnout at work and that it was causing my 'blueness'. Her simple but insightful reply really struck a chord in me, and because of what she said, I crown her the star at the wedding (to me only of course, no offence to the bride!). The star because she was my light in the greying shades (not darkness--I was nowhere near that kind of desperation). It may sound cheesy and cliched to you, but I can't think of a better metaphor at the moment. Your suggestions are welcome! How about silver ball (it's a sweet in case you don't know) on the wedding cake? Haha, I can never stop thinking about food ;p

Anyhow, she said that in life, we only have two choices. To laugh or to cry. She said she chose to laugh (she really did laugh alot, haha!). You may say that's over-simplifying things, but she has a point. She also reminded me to remain strong in faith. The gist--If you think about what Jesus has suffered, there really isn't anything to be unhappy about. If anybody in this world should be unhappy, it should be God. However intolerable one's suffering, it cannot be worse than our Lord's crucifixion and dying on the cross. He has conquered all and therefore He will win the battle for us. Not that I don't know this already, but I just needed someone to say it to my face. I needed a reminder.

Thank God for this angel who said the right thing at the right time! I was so moved that I told her she was truly a gift from God, sent specially to sit beside me and remind me of His loving presence.

I left the dinner still a little tired but with a lighter heart. The company was great (must add that her husband's a real joker!), the food was a 7/10 (which is pretty gd!) and the bride (it seems I totally forgot about her but no!) was radiant in an unflashy (though glittering!) copper cheongsam. Must mention that she looked HONEST TO MY HEART *STUNNING* in her wedding photos. Overheard a guest saying that she posed like a professional model. To the bride: didn't know you're such a good flirt with the camera. Then again, we learn new things everyday ;0)

What a sucky day!

Today wasn't such a good day. Terribly busy in the morning doing the newspapers. I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT WHEN THERE IS ALOT OF NEWS TO SUMMARIZE. On top of that I had a massive headache and no panadol. It lasted from morning to night without ceasing, thanks to the pile of news in the morning. UGH. I also feel a little sad cos I'll be alone at home for the next two weeks. Mum and bro are flying off tonight for a pilgrimage. Funny how I thought being alone was no big deal till a few days ago when it really sank in. I guess I thought I wouldn't miss them but now I do. Was on the phone with mum just now and I got a little teary when she said "I love you". Was also trying to sound like I wasn't going to cry. I suspect she knew cos she said that two weeks isn't a very long time and "we'll be back soon". I love my mum.