musings of a goddazz

thinking about Daddy on Father's Day

2010-06-20T00:25:00.003+08:00

When most filial children will be celebrating Father's Day with their fathers today, I will be thinking of my father and wondering how my family would celebrate it with him if he were still here with us.

It has been ten years since he passed away, a long time, but not too faint in my memory. The first Father's Day after his passing, the only thing I remembered was Mummy and I crying as we left church because we were reminded of him after the priest gave a special blessing to all the fathers. Since then, I have teared at every Father's Day blessing, because I wish I could celebrate with him or at least buy him a decent gift.

Daddy has always been a great influence in my life. I have inherited his spirit of adventure and curiosity, generosity, quirkiness, artistic streak, dreaminess, desire to look good and be 'cool' all the time, and appreciation for life's little pleasures. Not all the above are good for me, but thankfully I have inherited more practical, down-to-earth traits from Mummy, which serve to temper the wilder and wackier side of me. Even though Daddy is not with us now, there is still a lot of him in me. I have a natural tendency to think of the craziest things, not just when I have free time, but also during very stressful moments. I am always thinking of trying and doing new things, and how to surprise and delight people. This crazy zest for life is Daddy's legacy. It is the most precious gift he has given me.

I often wonder what I would be doing with him or saying to him if he were physically here. Would we hang out together as often as we did and talk as much about what is happening in the world? I think so, and more. I think I might shop and eat more with him than I am doing now, and he might pay for some of it. Now that I have fractured my toe, I wouldn't be surprised if he carries me up and down the stairs instead of letting me use my crutches. If I am not using my crutches, he would hold my hand as we walk. He would buy me anything I want to eat, just like what Mummy is doing now. He would help me look for the sandals I need to wear to two of my good friends' weddings in two to three weeks time. He would take me to the shops and pay for my sandals. And he would treat me to something yummy or decadent after the shopping. If I am tired, he will carry me on his back while I hold onto my shopping till we get in the car and head for home. And he would do all of this in crowded Orchard Road, even if it is a bit embarrassing to be seen carrying a grown up girl and her shopping. That is who he is.

If I could celebrate Father's Day with him, I would cook him a meal at home and give him a nice shirt or cuff links. And I would joke with him that he has to pamper me more because I am treating him so special. He would laugh and take me out for a nice meal soon after.

Daddy, even if it is not possible to celebrate this special day with you, I know you are with me in spirit not just today, but every moment of my life. I will continue to make you proud and happy by leading each day as you want me to live. Gently, kindly, generously, thoughtfully, joyfully, passionately, lovingly, wisely. Happy Father's Day to the coolest dad in the world! I love you.

Click here to read more about Daddy

ode to ah ma

2010-01-03T19:28:00.003+08:00

Today is my maternal grandma's (referred to affectionately as 'Ah Ma') first death anniversary. I began writing this ode to her shortly after she passed away, but never got round to finishing it. Here it is now, one year after she left us (Ah Ma, please forgive the lateness) and not very well written in my opinion, but at the very least, it comes from my heart...

Ah Ma looked after me from when I was a baby till I was 12 years old. I would stay at her house on weekdays and go home only on weekends. Among all her grandchildren, I spent the most time with her and that time was always precious and beautiful.

I remember with fondness how she would pick me up from PAP Kindergarten and we would pass the provision shop selling Kaka, my favourite childhood snack. I always clamoured for it and she, like any good grandmother concerned for her grandchildren's health, would buy a pack for me only once a week. I will never forget those Kaka moments of sheer delight and joy. Kaka is merely a $0.30 pack of flavoured corn snacks, but to me then, it was truly a little piece of heaven. Ah Ma knew that and was more than happy to indulge me, albeit once a week (ok actually sometimes more often, but only if I was good). Kaka was not the only thing she rationed; Myojo chicken flavoured instant noodles was the other thing I absolutely loved. I would request for it ever so often and unlike the Kaka, was strictly permitted only one portion a week. Ah Ma would cook the noodles with tender loving care and drop a beautiful egg in them. Oh how absolutely delicious they tasted! The other things I will miss are her popiah, fried chicken wings, fried wanton, fried oyster (without the oyster :P) and super fragrant Nonya dumplings which she used to make by the hundreds in time for the Dumpling Festival. Whatever Ah Ma cooked always tasted good as she put all her love into it (even if it was only instant noodles!), and that is how I hope to cook and bake for the rest of my life.

The one thing about Ah Ma that touched our lives was how she was always thinking about others. Even though she was Taoist, she requested for Buddhist funeral rites as the latter would be a lot less noisy and thus cause less disturbance to neighbours during the wake. When I visited her in hospital on Christmas day, the first thing she said to me was "Merry Christmas" with a smile, trying to appear cheerful so her visitors wouldn't be saddened by her frail and sickened state. She also asked my aunt to buy Kit Kat bars for the nurses as a little token for working so hard, plus a cake for Christmas as they were slaving through a public holiday. Being the sort of person who didn't like to trouble or inconvenience others, she felt bad for having spoilt our plans to have a Christmas gathering. But really, there wasn't a need to. You don't fall sick on purpose and get admitted to hospital voluntarily. Ah Ma was just being considerate.

While Ah Ma was in hospital, she was approached by a young medical officer who wanted to conduct on her, of all things, a HIV test! I do not know the specific details of this, save that it was 'a requirement' and that he was merely following orders. My aunt thought it was ridiculous (and of course it is!) that a HIV test was a requirement for an 80 year old woman and protested vehemently, but Ah Ma, even in her condition, was kind enough to want to grant the young greenhorn his request as she felt he was "so poor thing, give him chance lah". My aunt managed to get her out of it in the end. This incident will always be for us, an amusing and poignant memory.

Ah Ma showed us how to love. She was always gentle, always tender, always kind. Once when I stayed over at her house and she woke up in the wee hours of the morning to discover me working on an essay, she heated up some essence of chicken for me instead of going back to sleep. I guess she realised I wouldn't listen to her telling me to go to bed, so she did the next best thing - help me stay awake. I was really touched.

Even when we were all grown up, Ah Ma liked to dish out food for us during meals at her house - something we should be doing for her instead. My aunts would then chide her for spoiling us and she would smile quietly and go back to eating her own food. I think Ah Ma couldn't help herself. It was in her nature to do things for others. It made her happy.

When I broke down in front of her in hospital saying sorry for not visiting her enough, she shook her head, said she didn't mind at all and used her cold, frail hands to wipe away the tears from my cheeks. She told me not to cry as it would make her even more sad. I was very moved and it took me a long time to stop crying and collect myself before I could leave the hospital in a calm state. Even at her weakest, Ah Ma did not display the needy symptoms that many patients exhibit. She wanted to ease our hearts more than we wanted to comfort her.

Ah Ma had quite a cute sense of humour. I loved ketchup as a child (and I still do) and would always mix my fried rice with it till the rice turned red. She was frequently amused by this and always joked that she should give me a bottle of Maggi ketchup for my birthday. I guess I wouldn't have minded, but of course she never did that. I just got to have all the ketchup I wanted whenever she cooked fried rice or chicken wings. When I had my first asymmetrical haircut, she looked at me and said, "Why, you don't have enough money to cut the other (longer) side is it?" I had to explain to her that I wanted it cut this way and her reply to that was an amused "so funny".

One of the greatest things my extended family and I will remember Ah Ma for is that she was, unarguably, the unifying force in the family. Every few weeks, we would all gather at her home for a big homecooked meal, usually because she had to cook to offer food for some Taoist festival or to commemorate the death anniversary of our ancestors. She never imposed her beliefs on us, choosing instead to ensure that we were happily fed. Shortly before she passed away, she instructed my eldest uncle to keep up with and initiate these gatherings. I am happy to note that our family is still meeting on public holidays and important festive occasions, except that instead of Ah Ma cooking, every family now contributes at least one dish. No repeats are allowed in order to encourage us to improve on our culinary skills. I know Ah Ma would definitely approve!

I remember Ah Ma for all the above and thank God for His gift of her to us. I know the best way to celebrate her life would be to live out all that she stood for and to love as she had loved. So here's to the best grandma in the world... Ah Ma, you will live in our hearts forever!

my birthday wish list

2009-05-24T00:52:00.003+08:00

Am shamelessly publishing this in the hope that I get what I want. So terrible, so shameless right :P? *rubs hands in anticipation*

What I really want...

Mamma Mia (the movie) soundtrack
any CD by Stefanie Sun
Corrinne May's first two CDs (I already have Beautiful Seed and The Gift)
any CD by The Bird and The Bee (except Ray Guns are not Just the Future)
any jazz/lounge/bossa nova/world music CDs

What I do not mind receiving...

Havaianas slippers (the ones with the thin straps; gold or navy blue preferred in size 39-40)
funky T-shirt
L'Occitane En Provence Crushed Grape Polish
L'Occitane En Provence Lavender Clarifying Shampoo

Make goddazz happy on her birthday!

the glory of minions

2009-04-18T15:30:00.000+08:00

The glory of minions lies in...

their ability to do the things their bosses cannot do, e.g. operate the shredder and photocopy machine, design their own powerpoint slides, call up some big shot's PA.
their willingness to work their asses off to fix anything and everything, e.g. blotting out the facial imperfections of all directors' pictures to be included in the company's annual report.
their infinite patience in situations that are an ultimate waste of time, e.g. listening to the CEO preach about efficiency and productivity when all he does is swivel in his cushy leather armchair.
their fortitude in cleaning up the mess that other people have created and doing other people's work (because saying no would diminish them to lower minions).
their eagerness to help and go beyond the call of duty in the name of efficiency and unity at the workplace.
their humility in knowing their place, nothing more, nothing less, and in performing all that is expected of them (and more) in the great scheme of things.

Oh hail minion, thou art noble and indispensable because who would top up the creamer at the coffee corner and fix the temperamental photocopier if thou art gone? Thou art that little spoke in the bicycle wheel that holds it fast and makes it turn.

If thou art not a minion but sit high up lofty in the clouds, remember that thy glory shines forth as the fruit of minions' toil and labour. Remember (pause) the glory of minions.

my christmas wish list

2008-11-02T00:12:00.001+08:00

Seeing that posting my birthday wish list on my blog met with some success, I have decided to publish my Christmas wish list. Dear reader, you will realise that I do this with most practical and not greedy considerations. You do not want to risk wasting your money on something I do not care for and worse still, won't use. So here it is, in all its humble glory...

What I really want
Actually, what I really want this year are CDs. Simple as that. I need more music to bop to and inspire me :)

Sex and the City soundtrack
Mamma Mia! (the movie) soundtrack
any CD by Stefanie Sun
Corrinne May's first 2 albums (I already have Beautiful Seed and The Gift)
any jazz CDs
any lounge CDs
any French music (even rap is acceptable!)
any bossa nova CDs
any world music CDs

To understand what sort of music I am looking for, just walk into Prints or anthropology at the basement of Raffles City. That's pretty much it!

What I do not mind receiving

aromatherapy essential oils (citrus and light, refreshing scents e.g. lemon, green tea and bergamot are preferred. i also like light floral scents like rose and jasmine. sandalwood is not bad. sweet, overpowering scents give me a headache)
eau de toilette (see above for preferred scents)
shower gel and body scrub (see above for preferred scents)
funky T-shirts
shawls (those that actually keep me warm as opposed to being merely decorative are preferred)
bags (those of you who know my style can be brave enough to attempt this one)
accessories (everybody knows i am an accessory laden goddazz!)
books (I actually read very slowly, but if you feel a certain book will speak to me, then go ahead and get it!)
edibles like cookies, chocolate, honey and cake, but no candy canes, fruit cake, alcohol, tea or coffee

What I do not want (please take note!)

soft toys
candles
handphone charms/chains
moisturiser
hand cream
lip balm
coin purse

If in doubt, do ask. One request though, if you want to 'chope' and get me any of the soundtracks, let me know so no one else will do the same. I hope this exercise will be successful. Be generous. You know I will be, hee hee :)

the unstylish urban

2008-08-02T22:59:00.000+08:00

Many of my fashion-forward friends agree with me that the looking good column in The Straits Times' Thursday supplement Urban is terribly off-the-mark when it comes to judging who actually dresses well. Week after week I cease to be impressed with the quality of good lookers featured.

Urban seems to like featuring tai tais or tai tai wannabes dripping with 5-figure sum watches, glittering jewellery and designer clothes. Many of them look showy and basking in their wealth. Why else would they reveal the cost of what they're wearing?

Apart from the ostentatious lot, Urban also likes to feature nondescript people in very normal tops, jeans and berms, and most shockingly, flip flops! Nothing wrong with flip flops, but you mean there are so few good dressers out there that there is no choice but to feature people who don't have a unique sense of style?

It also irks me that some people featured are so arrogant that they answer "Of course!" to the question "Do you think you're good looking?". The other extreme is people who say they don't look good at all, which is totally lacking in self-confidence and speaks of how poor a judge Urban has been of truly stylish people.

Lastly, the people featured are always picked from some high society event. Surely there are good lookers Urban can pick off the street instead of featuring only those who can afford to or have the fortune of attending such atas events. Urban's choice clearly reeks of elitism.

Having said all of the above, I still enjoy reading Urban very much as it keeps me in the know of what is going on in the fashion world, what's good to eat and a little bit about design and style. It's like my weekly magazine that I don't need to buy or subscribe to. Fash hag is hilarious and sharply critical without openly embarrassing those being criticised--exactly the kind of criticism I like to engage in myself! In other words, there is a little bit of fash hag in goddazz :P

I hope Urban keeps up the good work of informing its readers. It desperately needs to get its act together, however, in featuring more stylish good lookers. Which begs the question--how can we say someone has a keen sense of style when style is such a subjective thing? Yet the majority still recognises uniqueness and good design when they see it. Do we take the cue from fashion designers and those who keep their toes on the latest trends? Possibly. I like to believe that some of us are blessed with a keener sense of aesthetics and style than others. I believe a unique style can be nurtured and developed and it becomes even more distinct as one becomes more confident and sure of one's identity.

I strongly advocate looking good everyday no matter how tired or lazy one is. Humans are superficial creatures and first impressions really count. It doesn't mean one has to spend a pile on clothes and make-up, but at least looking neat and decent should become a habit. After all, dressing well is also a form of courtesy to the people you meet. I also sometimes tell people that even if I have a bad day in the office, at least I know I look good. Ah, a simple pleasure in life. And best of all, you do not need to fork out a million bucks.

happy birthday to me :)

2008-07-01T23:11:00.000+08:00

This year I had one of the most memorable birthdays. I received a record 16 happy birthday SMSes and struggled to reply to all of them throughout the day. Wonder if it's cos of Facebook, another great perk of this earth shattering creation :P. Wonderful to know that some people whom I didn't expect would remember, somehow did :)

I spent the day going for a full body scrub and massage, lunch at my favourite cafe Toast and then to watch The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Very exciting, but sadly lacking the magical fantasy feel of the first. Still, some thrilling moments and oh, Peter is really quite charming and cute in an arrogant laddish sort of way. I do not find Prince Caspian as delicious as my friend thinks. His playboy look is so not appealing. I digress...

After the movie, I joined Mum and bro for evening mass to give thanks to God for guiding and blessing me all these 27 years. And then it was off to teppanyaki dinner at Keyaki, Pan Pacific. This place does wonderful teppanyaki, but it will set you back about $100 nett per person for a teppanyaki set meal (I feel 2 people should share a set as the amount of food is really a lot). We had chawanmushi; minced salmon salad; miso soup; salmon; tenderloin beef steak; scallops wrapped in omelette; lobster, prawns, mushrooms, leek and tofu cooked in a delicious stock made from prawns, lobster, fish and chicken; bean sprouts; fried rice and rum and raisin ice cream with honey dew. The chef also made a special arrangement to give me a slice of tiramisu as a birthday icing on the cake. I was bursting at the end of the meal and am sure it contributed to my gasy tummy a few days later--punishment for eating too much!

This was not the only meal treat I got. Angela and Alex treated me to a delicious fish and chip lunch the next day and Vivien and Matthew brought me to French restaurant Au Petit Salut for a lavish dinner the same night! I had clam soup served in an espresso cup and flavoured with saffron, garnished with saffron threads on the top, lobster salad (with the whole lobster!), foie gras, tenderloin steak, dark chocolate and grand marnier souffle and a chocolate lava cake with a lighted candle as an extra birthday treat. The food was really fabulous and I'm so touched by my friends' generosity :) On top of that, I received 2 presents from them--an ethnic looking bag with a kimono-like pattern from H&M in Hong Kong, and a deep purple fabric cover notebook from Prints, as Vivien says, for all my creative doodling. I am glad she thinks I am artistically inclined. She insists I can draw, but I really don't think much of my doodling abilities.

I am glad that people actually read my post on what I want for my birthday. So I got my first Lisa Ono CD and Gab is passing me the Amelie soundtrack soon--yipee! More cool music on the way. Also Di decided to pay for a retro green shirt for me when we went shopping. Thank you for the love, everyone. I never expected my birthday to be so big this year. It's not so bad turning 27, an age that I feel is neither too young nor too old. I'm at a point in my life where I am totally at peace with myself and the world, am sure of myself and confident of my abilities and self-worth. I'm also glad to say I've never really made a big mistake in my life. I'm going to keep celebrating and enjoying life, and loving the people who mean the world to me. You know who you are :)

what i want for my birthday

2008-05-04T13:49:00.003+08:00

Those of you who know me know that I'd rather get you what you really want for your birthday, than engage in some roundabout guessing game. True, surprises are nice (and by all means, do surprise me!), but I don't believe in wasting money on something the receiver might not like.

In true practical fashion, this is goddazz's wishlist for those who care to look:

any CD by Stefanie Sun and Lisa Ono (have been wanting to buy their CDs for the longest time but haven't gotten round to doing it)
CDs by any other jazz greats, jazz compilations, lounge music or French music (the kind you hear in chi chi la la shops or occasionally, in Delifrance)
Corrinne May's 1st 2 albums (I already have The Gift and Beautiful Seed, thanks to 2 sweet people in my life :))
a black medium sized handbag that can take me from work to play (not an A4 size document bag; this is really hard to find and I take my hat off to whoever succeeds)
an aromatherapy burner, preferably with an unconventional design (e.g. funky), needs to be easy to maintain (not white, no glass that might be smeared with soot or metal that is likely to rust from washing). my guess is earthenware or porcelain will be easiest to clean and maintain, but surprising alternatives are always welcome

* to avoid duplication, please let me know if you're getting me one of the above. Gab has already gotten me the Amelie soundtrack, so I deleted it from the list

Apart from the material, what I really wish for is good health, a greater love of God and others and the result, a peace that permeates the soul, radiates from the heart and an anchor that will not be shaken when storms come. Happy birthday on the way!

restaurant blacklist

2008-05-04T13:23:00.000+08:00

Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge (Takashimaya Level 2)

This is not meant to be a slam fest but I do feel I need to alert people who think these are great places to go (oops!).

First up, the Royal Copenhagen Tea Lounge, favourite of many Japanese tai tais and winner of some such 'best tea place award' by a women's magazine. Despite a number of rave reviews, its exceptionally pretty blue and white china, and warm and genteel ambience, this place leaves much to be desired for the following reasons:

my poor friend's teacup arrived with a pucker of red berry lipstick. an unwelcome kiss indeed!
scones are served with a mess that I would describe as red gelatinous jelly instead of the usual high fruit content jam--eeks! hardly fit for royalty; Her Majesty would be deeply displeased :P scones with jelly are the ultimate crime against true scone lovers!
when I asked the waitress what the 'UV tea' tasted like, she looked at me blankly and said 'no idea, haven't tasted it before'. Later I found out that even though we had 3 different types of tea on the table, they all tasted and smelt the same. Extremely disappointing for a TEA place!
a green tea cake that looks like beautiful green moss but is dry and crumbly when you get to the bottom; oh dear, too much cold air do not maketh moist moss!

Blacklisted restaurant no 2 is Sketchers at Bugis Junction (sorry could not find a picture). Just as, if not more, horrific!

a jumbo appetiser platter that we think is good enough to feed at least 4, but to our horror, the jumbo is a pea of overfried snacks you could do better to cook yourself at home
STALE rubbery seafood in the seafood marinara linguine
steak drenched in a mountain of creamy mayonnaise sauce. I feel like the cow died an unjustified death only to be drowned in a viscous pond.
the wait for our food was about 20 minutes despite the restaurant being empty cept for 2 tables. I cannot imagine how long we'd need to wait if it were full!

Enough said. Now AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!! You have been warned.

happy easter

2008-03-23T21:48:00.002+08:00

This Easter is especially meaningful for me as I feel as if I’ve “risen from the tomb” together with my Lord Jesus. I resolved to surrender more and more to God at the start of Lent, to let Him take greater charge of my life so that I would feel even more free and at peace. No unnecessary stress, no need for worry as even if I am not in control, the Lord is steering my ship to safety.

During Lent, I forked out more time to read the Bible and let God speak to me through His word. I attended stations of the cross to have a glimpse of the Lord’s suffering and through it, His great love for mankind. It was a beautiful time for reflection and through it, I often heard Him speaking to me of His love, assurance and everlasting faithfulness. That I was His beloved child, that there were many great things in store for me, but also that He expected a lot from me with the blessings and gifts I had received from Him.

I stayed away from chocolate during the six weeks of Lent, thinking it was a small and realistic thing to give up. There were many times when the saliva rolled, but thankfully I managed to resist. Staying away from chocolate helped me to remember how fortunate I was, to be able to enjoy the good things in life. And yes, to appreciate these little things, to count every little good thing as a blessing. So it was with great excitement when I bit into my first chocolate treat—a chocolate hot cross bun from Sweet Secrets. Chocolate has never tasted this good and thank God, now I’m enjoying it again! In moderation, of course :P

The Lord’s rising at Easter is also a reflection of my own rising. A rising to greater peace of mind, trust in His divine providence and a happiness that the world cannot give. There is a feeling of lightness, of freedom and an anchor in His spirit. A heart more open and sensitive to the needs of others, a deeper awareness of God’s real and close presence in my life, a weaker attachment to material things (shopping urge has gone down by a notch :)) and a realisation that happiness comes from within. It is not something I need to depend on others to give, but for God to be in the centre of my life, in my heart. And then all things will fall into place. Yes indeed, no sweeter than now is the psalm “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.” Let me sing, dance and rejoice with you, oh Lord, for I have risen with you :)!

speed dating--observations

2007-11-03T21:16:00.000+08:00

Angel and I were at Chocolate Factory at Robertson Walk for tea today and we were fortunate enough to observe a speed dating session. It's my first time seeing such a thing take place and it was really amusing! Both Angel and I are guilty of being judgmental snobs, though I have to admit it was very fun watching what was going on and making comments about people's dressing and behaviour.

There were about 24 couples seated in long-table fashion (tables each seating two, joined together) and each girl would start meeting one guy. After 10 minutes, the guys would move one seat down to meet another girl. Some guys dressed quite decently, but there were quite a number who didn't have a clue how to dress. They wore T-shirts that are fit only for sleeping in at home and some tucked in their shirts, sporting the very 'toot' look. So not cool. One guy started smoking even before everything started and we were like oh dear, this is a no-no as many girls don't like guys who smoke. Angel commented that maybe he was nervous and needed a tobacco perk. I spotted someone whom I had worked with before and was disappointed that he didn't do something about his floppy hair because it makes him look super ah beng. Maybe the organiser should have given them each a style bible for men before they went on the date.

Most of the girls looked quite decent, but they were all fashionably late. Don't know if the guys minded! It was interesting to observe how each couple interacted. Some were super engaged the minute they met and Angel spotted a guy dominating the conversation, even catching the attention of the girl next door! Two-timing, tsk tsk. And there was one guy who looked so dejected while waiting for his date to turn up. He slumped in his seat when she arrived and didn't even bother to engage her in conversation. Guys, this is a no-no. A girl must always feel appreciated!

Chocolate Factory served everyone with orange paper cups of drink (probably something chocolate). But oh, this is so UNSEXY for a dating session! Something as significant as this should call for the use of glass at least. Angel noted that such sessions should be held at night when there is candlelight, which makes not so attractive people look vaguely more attractive. Hmm... I dunno about that but I suppose the candlelight does help a bit. Angel also noticed that there was a form that the speed dating coordinator was ticking off. There were 2 columns--'keen' and 'not keen'. I suppose it's for recording who is interested in who. Haha, interesting.

This motley crew of speed daters attracted the attention of not just us two voyeuristic creatures. A lady at the next table actually fished out her digicam and held it high up to try snapping a picture of what was going on! Gosh, not very discreet. But I have to add that observing a speed dating session is highly amusing. Angel was contemplating ordering another dessert just to sit in the cafe longer to observe more. After all, we were seated in a really strategic position :)

Really glad to have caught all the action, though it made us both aware of how judgmental we could be of people's appearance and behaviour. Must guard against this even as we continue to aspire to yuppie-dom and chi-chi-ness :P I still hope to observe another speed dating session, though. It's really really fun and very laughter provoking. Hopefully some people hit it off well today and won't have to end up going for another orchestrated session. I imagine that it must be really stressful for some. Hats off to them for having the guts to do this and be subject to the voyeurism of everyone around!

domestic goddess in the making

2007-10-28T20:33:00.000+08:00

roast chicken with lemon and onions by yours truly!

Those of you who know me know that it has always been my ambition to be a domestic goddess. Not the housewife who loves to cook and clean meticulously and worry over what flowers look best in her living room, but one whom the following tasks are a piece of cake--cooking for 20 over people, cleaning the house till it shines, arranging everything such that it has its own place and having it all look like some interior designer was behind it. Yes, that is my ambition, apart from dreaming now and then of being a rock chick. That dream still hasn’t died.

I have decided to constantly and gradually work towards domestic goddessity, first by improving my cooking repertoire. I think this is the most challenging of all the tasks I have listed above. Cleaning the house and having it look fantastic overall is not such a difficult thing, especially for someone with a keen aesthetic eye, which I confidently claim to possess. Of course, this could be developed further with greater exposure to design, contrast, colour, texture, fabric, etc. I am not going to neglect this aspect, but sharpening my cooking skills is something much more pertinent at this point in time.

So I resolve to cook for friends (you know who you are!) as often as is possible. Cooking or baking is something that most people can do only when they are inspired and in the mood for it. If you had a bad week at work or just quarrelled with someone, you can forget about making the perfect strawberry shortcake. The texture is more likely to turn out heavy instead of effortlessly light as you would not have the patience to sift your flour properly and beat the mixture carefully to achieve the desired texture.

So it was with a great celebratory mood that I cooked for Angel, Alex and Carol yesterday as I had just returned from a glorious 4-day holiday in Bangkok last weekend. It was one of the best holidays I’ve had. Watch this space for my Bangkok SHIOK! daily diary posts. Feeling totally refreshed, rejuvenated and bursting with energy, I was in the perfect mood to cook up a storm. The night before, I drew up a detailed schedule of what I needed to do on the actual day so as not to fall behind schedule and to ensure that I could complete everything I wanted to do. It looked something like this:

7.00am wake up
7.00 – 8.20am breakfast, to buy plastic disposable containers, lemons, flowers and beef bones opposite
8.20am leave for half-hour service at Novena
9.00 – 9.30am service at Novena
9.30am – 10.30am buy spring chicken, dory fillets, thyme, red capsicum and Perrier water from Cold Storage at Novena Square, baguette from Delifrance, my lunch and reach home
10.30 – 11.30am marinate chicken and dory fillets
11.30am – 12.30pm make French onion soup
12.30 – 1.30pm lunch
1.30 – 2.30pm do laundry
2.30 – 3.30pm clean house
3.30 – 4.30pm nap
4.30 – 5.30pm finish up some office work
5.30pm cut orange slices and place in water, chill
6.00pm prepare potato dish
6.45pm put chicken in oven
7.00pm slice capsicum and marinate
7.15pm put capsicum in oven together with the chicken
7.45pm heat up French onion soup, prepare cheddar cheese baguette croutons
8.00pm dinner

I veered slightly off the schedule, having no time to nap, but it turned out ok in the end. I could do without the sleep as there was some adrenaline running and I just had to constantly feed myself some sugar now and then. I had leftover tiramusu for lunch (it was supposed to be bread but I thought I’d better finish it up as it was taking up precious space in my chiller) and maybe all the sugar and coffee in that helped.

This was the first time in my life cleaning a whole chicken and marinating it. When I took the bird out of its packaging, I noticed that they tucked the wings into its cavity and eeeks… its head too! I screamed when I pulled it out. I thought the supermarket people had cut it off, but there it was with the eyes shut and comb intact. I tried to cut it off with a knife but had to resort to using a chopper to do the severing. I got the job done with some slow and steady sawing and was glad to finally throw the whole thing into the trash. I tried as far as possible not to let my bare hands touch it, using knives to transfer it to the waste paper basket. Cleaning a chicken is not a pleasant experience, trimming the fat and meticulously pulling out the stray feathers. Chopping off the head was a tad traumatic, but no way was it going to convert me to vegetarianism as I love meat too much! Sorry, bird :P Once the cleaning was out of the way, everything was smooth-a-sailing.

I had to resort to using beef cubes for the French onion soup, something I wanted to actively avoid as I hate making things from quick fixes. Nevertheless, it was necessary as the oxtail bones and onions didn’t seem to be yielding any flavour to the soup. Two beef cubes later, the soup tasted significantly more salty, but I had to fry one more big onion and add it to the soup to sweeten it. The result was fantastic as my friends loved the soup and had second helpings. I will try adding more onions and beef bones in future.

The chicken also turned out beautifully, not oily and bursting with lemon flavour. The Cajun blackened fish was a tad bitter with a generous dose of paprika and Cayenne pepper (I didn’t add garlic salt as in the recipe because there was no more in the kitchen), but it’s fiery flavour went down well. The new potatoes were sweet and flavourful. Very pleased with the results on my first try!

I decided to give drinking water a zesty twist by adding Thai green lemon slices to one jug and orange slices to another. It tasted very refreshing and you can do this for your guests. So easy and the results are fantastic. Buy sparkling Perrier for added choice.

I am very pleased with being able to cook a great meal as well as clean the house and do laundry all by myself in a day. It feels like I’ve moved up the ladder in the quest to domestic goddessity, or shall I say, goddazzity. Now I need to challenge myself further by cooking for about 10 people and trying out new dishes. Nothing too complicated. I believe in being able to produce great food without going through too much labour. So friends, if you have something that you love, ask me to try making it or hand me a good recipe you see somewhere. I’m game!

For the lucky few who get invited to my home, expect more scrumptious meals as I strive to be a domestic goddess :P. Pottering about in the house has never been this fun!

my episode in A&E--eeeks!

2007-09-28T09:46:00.000+08:00

There is only one time in my life when I was quite sick—in April 2005 when I almost contracted bronchitis after about three weeks or so of respiratory congestion as a result of a prolonged cough, accumulation of phlegm and a clogged up nose.

The other health alarm began on 4 September. I’ve had bad headaches, dizziness and nausea as part of a virus attack about three or four times before and this time it felt like that. So I went to my GP, got the usual diagnosis and took his medicine. The way this virus works is I get a really bad headache, feel extremely fatigued, lie in bed for a day and the next day, I feel perfectly fine. It’s as if the virus never happened. So it was with this. I went back to work the next day and everything went on as usual. I even went for the office’s weekly brisk walk on Friday and enjoyed every bit of it without feeling any hint of weakness. Then the weekend came and I felt fatigued again, with a throbbing headache and dizziness for the whole of Sunday.

Early next week I began to feel it creeping back and this ended up in a 2-day MC at home, which didn’t help in reducing the symptoms. By Sunday I was back to my GP asking why I wasn’t well yet and he suggested going to Tan Tock Seng Hospital’s (TTSH) A&E to do a check. They would probably conduct a blood test just to investigate further. I should’ve been ok by now if it was a virus, he said. Going to A&E would help clear up the fog. So I went on Monday after a mild headache came to plague me. I decided enough was enough and I was dying to know what was going on, so I called a cab and made the journey on my own, armed with a water bottle, jacket and the day’s newspapers (it would be at least a 3-hour wait).

Monday is traditionally a busy day for TTSH A&E, so I was quite thankful to be seen by a staff nurse for a preliminary invitation within 10 minutes of paying my $80 emergency attendance fee and seeing a medical officer (according to my doctor friend, she’s probably a houseman) about half an hour later. She decided there was no need for a blood test after asking me a series of symptom-related questions. I just had to take a urine test to check for any infections and she would jab me with a strong painkiller to take away the headaches, dizziness and nausea. She put me in one of those wheeled hospital beds, jabbed me with a plastic tube-like thing at the back of my right elbow and left it in there for what would be 2.5 hours. I would be placed in an observation room and she would examine me in 2 hours and decide if I needed to be warded. WARDED! Woh, this is getting feverish. But I was optimistic about my chances of going home as I felt quite fine, though I wondered how long I was going to be stuck at the hospital.

After the jab, she wheeled me to a central area where other patients like me were lying in hospital beds and nurses were keying things into electronic machines, checking their charts, giving them their medicine and pushing them on to where they were supposed to go next. The doctor disappeared out of sight and I lay at 45 degrees for a while before a nurse came to give me my medicine (to minimise any gastric symptoms due to the strength of the painkiller).

This marked the start of my long wait. I took out my mobile, called Mum to tell her what was going on and then sat up and read the newspapers. Shortly after, a nurse came to wheel me to the observation room, a place more crowded than where I previously was, with the beds lined up side by side and filling the room. I sat and read slowly for awhile before the food auntie came, asking each of us if we wanted any dinner (this was 5.45pm) as we didn’t know how long we were going to stay and we’d better take some food in case we were stuck here till evening. I didn’t want any porridge so I asked for milo and biscuits. She gave me a Gardenia vanilla bun as well. I was a little nibbly and ate to pass the time while reading about how Fusionopolis is going to turn science fiction into reality (no offence against scientific research, but the article was quite boring to me and I was like yawn, next. Like, how come there isn’t anything exciting in home news?).

Wait wait wait. In between newspaper reading, more patients are wheeled into the room, many of them elderly and with tubes stuck in them. I find out from the food auntie that those with the blue charts (like me) were under observation while those with the pink charts were waiting to be admitted. A patient with a severe back pain is asked if she wishes to transfer to Alexandra Hospital as there are not enough beds for her today. An 87 year-old grandma is wheeled next to me and her Filipino domestic caretaker says she’s being admitted for diarrhoea. She also has dementia and her husband was just admitted a few days ago. I notice that she speaks to her ‘ah po’ in Hokkien and compliment her on her language skills. I don’t even speak as well as she does. She says she took about two months to grasp the basics from speaking to ah po. Now this is one talented Filipino maid!

Wait wait wait and it’s 6pm. Great! Doctor is supposed to come see me. She is nowhere in sight. Three times I ask the nurses to call for her and I’m told hang on awhile, maybe she’s busy. More newspaper reading till she finally shows up at 7 with dried blood on her lips (I was told she was caught up with an emergency case) and asks me to go and pee in a container again as they only did the pregnancy urine test. They need more pee to check for infection. So I go and pee and wait again. Then she comes back and says I can be discharged, she’ll give me paracetamol for headache and medicine for dizziness/nausea and the hospital would arrange for a follow-up appointment with a neurologist. For the moment, the diagnosis was that my symptoms were caused by tension as there was nothing to suggest any brain-related ailment (PHEW!), bacterial infection or pregnancy (very DUH but ok they have to test for this). I am so relieved I don’t have to be warded! I get out and wait for about 15 minutes at the pharmacy for my medication. By the time I leave the hospital, It’s 8pm. I just spent 5 hours in TTSH!!!!!!!!!

It was such a relief walking out of hospital as waiting around with a needle inside me and surrounded by people who are all more sick than I am is not a relishing feeling. Also, being wheeled around without telling me where I’m going is a particularly lost experience. Add to that the uncertainty of how long I’m going to be stuck around and you get lingering waves of er… do these people really know what they’re doing? I’m sure they did as the mess of activity around me was perhaps just a clockwork system that appeared chaotic, just that I didn’t understand how it worked. I’m just glad I’ve recovered and I didn’t have to be warded.

A few observations about A&E:

A&E in Singapore is not really a place for pure A&E cases. This is corroborated by my doctor friend who says uneducated Singaporeans go to A&E for a non-emergency case, which clogs up the place and lengthens the wait. Seriously, there was no REAL emergency I observed while I was there, though most of the patients in beds that I saw looked legitimate enough to come to hospital.
Given the nature of activity at A&E, try at all odds to avoid going there as it can be quite an uncomfortable experience for a first-timer. No one likes to go to hospital and A&E is probably one of the worst places to go as things may be just that little bit more chaotic (especially on busy days when they have a tight bed situation) than say at a specialist clinic.
I didn’t know they give you free food in A&E! It’s not great food but it’s not bad either. At least they don’t allow you to starve while you’re waiting. That rocks.
It would help alot if doctors and nurses explained adequately to patients what they were in for the whole time they are there. Admittedly it may be unclear how long a patient is going to stay and what will happen to them ultimately, but at least a quick orientation would instantly put the patient at ease. More than a week after my visit, the National Healthcare Group called me to do a survey on customer service at TTSH A&E and I told them I wouldn’t want to go back unless I really had no choice because the experience is just very disorientating and scary!

I never thought I’d have to end up in A&E, but oh well. At least I know what to expect if I ever have to land up there again, touch wood! I’m just glad to say I’ve returned to the pink of health (just did pilates on Tuesday, will brisk walk today). Now I just have to see what the neurologist says (appointment is end October), though I think it won’t be much. *crosses fingers*

captivated by corrinne

2007-09-02T23:11:00.000+08:00

Corrinne May is a genius and an angel! I heard about her from a friend who is a fan, but I'd never heard her songs, except for once when one of her songs was buzzing in a noisy Pastamania outlet. The first time I heard her sing was at a Christian music concert by Chris de Silva at the Church of St Mary of the Angels. Corrinne was sitting quietly in the audience enjoying the music and the organiser asked her to sing at the end of it. I'm so glad she agreed! She sang Love Song for #1 and Five Loaves and Two Fishes from her latest album, Beautiful Seed. Even though it was impromptu, she performed beautifully, as if it was her own concert!

I was totally captivated, mesmerised and spellbound. No other singer has touched my heart like her. Now I regret not getting my picture taken with her. A friend who was with me was so delighted after taking a picture with her and getting her autograph. She said Corrinne was very obliging and asked each person coming up to get her autograph his/her name so she could address the autograph personally to him/her. Needless to say, the audience (many of whom I suspect had not even heard of her) clapped enthusiastically. Even though she'd only sung two songs, it felt as if the concert was hers as she crowned its ending with true feeling and sincerity in that honey vanilla voice.

Boy was so sweet to give me Beautiful Seed just three days after the concert and I raved to him about Corrinne. I was so delighted I kept on squealing on the way to lunch with him and listened to it everyday in the office. The songs still continue to grow on me and buzz in my head when I'm not listening to them. I think what distinguishes Corrinne as a true musician is not just her beautiful voice and playing of the piano, but her sincerity that speaks to listeners through her meaningful and moving lyrics. Each song has a message that can touch the core of one's heart. Her music is moving, hauntingly wistful and beautiful, and... Too wonderful for me to describe in words. It just IS.

Thank you, Corrinne, for your music. You are a great gift to your fans and all who've just started to listen to you. Continue to make music that touches our hearts and souls. You are an inspiration and my heroine! Come back to Singapore to perform soon so I can hear you live again. Gosh, I can't believe I'm still blown away...

a lesson in upgrading

2007-07-15T23:18:00.000+08:00

This is the authorities' (I'm guessing the town council) way of 'upgrading' a housing estate--"condominiumising" a driveway by naming it something vaguely French and making sure the sign is big and bright green by the main road so the whole world knows how high class this neighbourhood is.

Lessons in upgrading:

Times New Roman is a very unsexy font to grace a driveway with. Contrary to all stylist intentions, it actually conveys an uptight, snobby, stiff upper-lip image. If you want to upgrade, at least do it in style.
Not all condominiums have elegant names. Case in point--The Rafflesia (like, what's with the association with the world's smelliest flower?), Thomson 800 (this sounds like a relative of S11 kopitiam) and Garlick Ville (yes garlic is an awfully flavourful condiment, but all this makes you think about is garlic breath. EWE). A HDB estate doesn't need to associate itself with a condominium to prove its worth. And what's the deal with condos anyway? You pay for a measly swimming pool, security guards who can't actually run after thieves and other miscellaneous things that you might not use.
Naming a driveway 'De Courtyard' sure makes it easy for residents to decide on a place to meet. Like, how can you miss it? Doesn't do wonders for the chic factor, though. One more thing, how does a few potted plants and red-brick road qualify as a courtyard?
Residents don't need no high-class sign to upgrade their estate. The basics like covered walkways so you don't get soaked in the rain, hangout places, railings and those stoney massage foot reflexology patches for the elderly, study corners for students, safer playgrounds for the kids, etc, will suffice.
French, if used in the wrong way, might make you sound really cheap. Now, can we spray paint the sign to make an artistic point for street graffiti? I think the authorities might freak out. YOU GO, DE COURTYARD :P :P :P!!!!

my initiation into sneakerhood

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

I've never been into sneakers, but thanks to a friend who introduced me to limited edition designer ones, I picked up this neat pair of Pumas (can you spot the puma?) by Alexander Van Lobbe for $199 from Venue @ The Heeren. According to the salesman, they were originally $549! Super comfy, leather and made in Italy, I really feel WOH walking in them, with an added bounce to boot. A friend said they look like English china, but artistic and funky at the same time. I couldn't agree more. Another said I look like I'm walking on clouds, to which I replied amusedly "How celestial!" with a royal wave and dazzling smile--how apt for a goddazz :P!

Have never spent this much on a pair of shoes before (my shoes are usually less than $40 and they actually look good), so it feels kinda surreal. But I do think they're worth every cent. Designer, limited edition, a work of art... NO REGRETS! Now I just have to go on austerity drive (i.e. no shopping) for at least 2 months. I CAN DO IT!

Japanese can do good English, no?

2007-07-02T01:50:00.000+08:00

On a poster in the World War II section of the Singapore History Gallery, National Museum:

"That unforgettable embrace under the beautiful moon with the warmth of HER shapely body nestled against yours: that blood tingling kiss: that overpowering sense of passion that sweeps over you--these and many other pleasant memories you'll be able to relive again if you'll throw down your arms, surrender and prepare to get out of this hell-hole."

These words are printed against the backdrop of an American soldier smooching his girl on a bed, with the full moon above them. The poster was produced and air-dropped by the Japanese to land in the hands of Allied soldiers, part of Japanese propaganda to force them to surrender.

Now you have to admit this is English fluency at its best, coming from a country that till today is known to produce stationery printed with English words that make no sense. Example: "I fly the sky you and me" on a sky blue pencil box with clouds in the background. And such passionate language! All this coming out of a 1940s era industrialising Japan. New historical insight for me.

life is good when...

2007-07-02T01:48:00.000+08:00

you are ordered by your boss to shop at Orchard Road and not return to the office after going to the Hilton to attend some event that was postponed but which the organisers did not inform you about. And this was like 2.30pm on a Wednesday afternoon. He said it was only a couple of hours and I should 'go rest'.

It felt kind of weird to hit the town in suit-skirt and heels (it's one of those business-y events), but I felt an awesome sense of freedom as I treated myself to some gelato (2 flavours, roasted almond and Ferrero Rocher-ish chocolate) and later hopped over to Takashimaya to grab some essentials.

I realise now that I can't have it any better, and that my new job can really be like a little dream sometimes (minus the bad days, not so enjoyable assignments and little frustrations that you get with any job). Do I deserve it? Yes, after all the tears and sweat from the last. And I know this is like copying off McDonald's, but I am truly LOVIN' IT :)

this busty phenomenon

2007-06-18T00:19:00.000+08:00

The bestselling item at The Natural Source is... breast firming cream! This could mean one or some of the following:

There's a sizeable number of women out there with miserable prune-like breasts that really need shaping up. If so, SAD :(!
Breast firming is a slow-but-sure-growing hobby among women here--EEEKS! What kind of hobby is that?!
This cream can really PUMP IT UP!
Silicone is becoming passe.
DIY is the new in, forget the babes from the bust enhancement beauty parlours :P
Oranges not enough. Grapefruits are IT. Think bouncy and all the associated things--fresh, zesty with a bitter tang, juicy, girly pink :)... Ok that's a bit far-fetched, oops! Getting frivolous, tsk tsk.
Maybe the men with moobs are using it too? HORROR OF HORRORS! But it could be true. Just think, if people can't shed the flab, they firm it up so it looks taut. EEEEWE.
Maybe I should do some investigative work with The Natural Source people to find out what's the big busty deal.

The reason for this post? I was genuinely amused and thought it would be fun to theorise about the origins of the breast firming phenomenon :)

houses on feet

2007-05-13T21:17:00.000+08:00

what I did before I started the new job :-)

starting afresh

2007-05-06T21:36:00.002+08:00

Three days into the new job and it's been a breath of fresh air--just great! I can already feel the energy, the challenge, the excitement. It's wonderful. Having been holed in a high-walled cubicle for 2.5 years, I wondered if I would be able to adjust to an open concept office where I wouldn't have the privacy to sneak a few winks of sleep or check the mirror for eye dirt :P I actually don't mind the open concept as there's lots of buzz and the laughter from my colleagues infects the whole office. I suppose the noise helps to keep me awake too. But maybe I won't say the same when I have to concentrate on some important task! Akan datang.

What's great about this place? I'm free to be myself, I have the licence to be wacky wild funky creative, I can approach my really cool and easygoing boss for guidance whenever and whatever, and everyone smiles and laughs alot. There is PASSION, PURPOSE, HUMILITY and SINCERITY. And because of all this, there is buzz and more importantly, meaning. It's not about the money, but being happy doing what I'm doing and getting a gentle rush in my veins on the way to work. As the big boss says as she passes my desk and smiles, "Cool". Yes, COOL indeed. I can't wait.

on food courts

2007-05-06T21:23:00.000+08:00

Have you ever wondered how we have allowed the contemptuous species of air-conditioned food courts to flourish, despite Singapore's glaring status as a food paradise? It is no big secret that our people would travel from one end of the island to another in hot pursuit of the best hawker food, or even teh tarik! Given this, how could we allow the existence of such junk and expensive fare from our (I hate to say it but I must) sterile food courts? And not only that, how is it that these places are always packed during meal times? Surely it is not the frozen seafood in the claypot noodles or the MSG-laden yong tau foo soup that has mesmerised the crowd? I think it is the lure of air-conditioned comfort (another stark global warming reminder) and sheer convenience that's drawing the masses.

For one thing, the food served at these places is tolerable, even good at times. Someone pointed out to me that the hokkien mee from the VivoCity food court is really something. But I'm sure I'm not alone in feeling that $4+ for a bowl of measly portioned beef noodles is unjustified. And have you noticed that much of the soup coming from these places is just MSG water? Of course food from the good old hawker centre has MSG as well but the soup doesn't scream AJINOMOTO as much. I will not go on about the instant noodles the Korean and Japanese stalls pass off as ramen!

My main gripe about food courts is how most of the stalls serve up sub-standard fare in measly portions and charge at least $0.50 more (yes I know we must pay for air-conditioning but can you spare a few more stalks of vegetables?) than hawker centres. The horrible thing is that our people tolerate this and even perpetuate the life of these stinking stalls. Though of course if you are a really stinky stall (read BAD food) you might eventually die out. I'm not saying we should avoid food courts altogether (Food Republic at Wisma Atria is one shining success example as it actually offers decent food though at higher prices), but we shouldn't allow lousy food at lousy prices to have its place, that's if we still want to be a food paradise. In other words, can we have more gourmands and can we stop eating food that just doesn't make the mark? Are you willing to forgo air-conditioned comfort for a cheaper, tastier bowl of wanton mee? That remains to be seen, but if we really want to live up to our food rep, the war against bad food must start and Singaporeans just have to start sharpening their taste buds. After all, if there's one thing we should be number one at, it should be food--so basic, so simple, something even the poorest bloke can enjoy.

Tourists and non-Singaporeans: I hope you know by now that the best hawker food is not to be found in our food courts, but in REAL hawker centres. NOT Newton Hawker Centre where they overcharge you! If you really must go to a food court, go to the better ones (there aren't many but Wisma's Food Republic might satisfy) or risk the same crappy experience many Singaporeans have gone through but are too bochap (translated literally as don't care) to complain about.

It is my sincere hope that great hawker food (and at great prices) will not become extinct a few decades from now. And if food courts continue to thrive (of course they will; global warming only gets worse, sadly!), I hope the stinky stalls actually do something to pull up their socks. And fellow Singaporeans, can you please not be cannot-make-it by eating cannot-make-it food? Only then can we be TRUE BLUE MAKAN PARADISE, best in the region. PLEASE hor.

5 May

2007-05-05T22:01:00.000+08:00

Four years ago, Boy and I got together on this day and got attached. It was beautiful and simple and lasted much longer than we thought--3 years, 1 month and 25 days. Even though it had to end, we wouldn't have wanted it any other way. Four years on, we remember this day with fondness and I, with little sadness. Because we have moved on and remain the best buddies ever. We call each other whenever, hang out and talk with no awkwardness but a great understanding. There is frankness, sincerity, affection and concern all in the right doses.

Thank you Boy for everything. You really rock as my irreplaceable burger buddy! And you know what really rocks? That we are going to celebrate our buddy-hood on the day we broke up last year. Now, that is WAY COOL man.

a new me

2007-04-01T22:22:00.001+08:00

I haven't blogged for the longest time. I guess work just overwhelmed me and I didn't feel inspired. Or when I was inspired I didn't have the energy. But now things are different. Yes folks, I FINALLY GOT A NEW JOB :)! I've been waiting for this for the longest time and the feeling is just incredible.

For months I'd been stagnating, doing work like a robot (i.e. follow every step of the SOP and you'll get there), running around for people who do not matter to me (which has little meaning except that they are important) and stuck in a rut with no room for creativity or growth. Yes, the high-walled cubicle I sat in was the physical manifestation of the psychological and mental jail in which I was trapped. It probably isn't as bad as it sounds, but I felt just that very often--trapped with no other way to look but outside. I needed to set my foot upon a greener pasture and secure it as my foothold.

This new job came at an unexpected time. I had applied for it in January and to be honest, I wasn't terribly keen on it. After a month, I thought I didn't stand a chance since they needed someone with at least five years experience. And what did it matter, it wasn't as if I was dying to get it. Then the call came in March and I jumped at the chance, especially since no one had called me up for interviews. I thought, maybe this is my break. And it was! The interview went more like a chat--the questions they asked were as if I had already gotten the job and were getting to know me better. On the same day, I bumped into one of the interviewers on the bus. It was a psychic moment. He smiled and said: "Is this a sign? By the way, you will be hearing good news from our HR in the next two weeks, but probably sooner." My heart missed a beat. "Are you sure?", I asked just before alighting. He nodded firmly and I got off the bus feeling lighter than I had felt in a long time.

When the call finally came, I was ecstatic. I knew this was it. My cage was finally open and I could fly out, but not without tying things up where I was and of course, getting through the whole awkward tender process. Thankfully my boss didn't freak out and though it's not complete yet, I know the end is very near. I haven't started on the new job but am assimilating and getting to know the people already, which includes a tea treat from the big boss and a fun session with my colleagues-to-be. BRILLIANT :)! I can just feel like the real me, or perhaps, the new me, is emerging. It's sad that my current job had closed me up for much of the week to who I really was. I wasn't able to be myself. This place I'm going to is cool, creative, fun and full of passionate individuals. This is the place I was meant to be and though I will not look back, I am thankful for the opportunities and experience I had with my current job, which gave me the platform to fly.

I'm really looking forward to the real me, to this place where I can dream a little wilder, smile, dance and sing a little more and serve people who matter. Thank you God, indeed you are faithful and worthy of the highest praise! This new energy, this joy and peace I feel, I'm speechless. It's YOU :)!

the first awesome day of the year

2007-01-23T23:41:00.001+08:00

2007 didn't start off on a very good note. In fact, it started off real bad. I was thrown into a bottleneck of work right from day 2 at work and the first 2 weeks were just pure madness. Working till my eyes couldn't open, having dinner at earliest 9.30pm and not having any appetite because I was so exhausted. I really hated work because the tasks felt so meaningless, at least one thing would go wrong every day, people were asking me for help and I had to turn them away because I was too busy and well, the people at the top just do not see how much pain they are causing small fry like me when they make last minute requests. Yup, sadly this happens everywhere. I badly wanted to start my job search, but I had no time because I had to bring work back over the weekend. On top of that, I skipped visiting Ah Ma because I had to finish my work and that made me feel really lousy.

I prayed and cried to God for help, and He didn't fail me. After the bottleneck cleared, I am finding this week a refreshing breeze. I'm actually FREE at work, having the luxury to clean up my desk, read the newspapers or chat with colleagues in the corridor. I know this lull will at most last for two weeks before another xiong period, but hey, two weeks is quite a long time :)

20 Jan was the first awesome day of the year, the day when I cast work totally aside and just indulged in pleasure after pleasure. My friend Arielbubble had a little LELONG at a nail spa shophouse in Circular Road, selling clothes and accessories from her overseas travels. I bought a total of 3 tops, 1 dress, 2 necklaces and a handbag, and did the first pedicure in my life, all for $169.50. Not a bad deal at all. And this is excluding the top and dress I bought in the morning before lunch :P

It felt so good to pamper myself after two weeks of hell. Sitting in a comfy chair, soaking my feet in warm soapy water and listening to chic French music was really bliss. On top of that, there was cake, nonya kueh, fruit and Arielbubble's mum's home-made pineapple tarts to feast on. And before that, I just had a sinful nasi padang lunch with the most sedap dishes ever (from Sinar Pagi Nasi Padang at Circular Road, extremely sedap but quite expensive; treat yourself to this once in awhile). BBQ chicken in coconut sauce, squid in squid ink (this looked scary as the sauce was all black but it tasted so sweet and heavenly), tauhu telor (huge tofu fried to a crisp with a fragrant egg flavour and drenched in peanut sauce), stir-fried vegetables, curry and belacan to go with our rice. PLUS, I had BK croissanwich meal for breakfast! And... a huge potluck party with lots of seafood at Ah Ma's after the pedicure. OH HOW SINFUL!

My verdict on pedicures--a great way to pamper oneself, though I'd rather spend the money on a good meal. I think they're only worth it if you want to do nail art and your feet need a good scrubbing. But yes, I'm definitely hooked and it'll be another few months before I go for my next one. Maybe I'll ask the nail artist to paint a cat on my big toes the next time :)

The last weekend I finally started on my long overdue job search. I sent out 7 resumes in 2 days. Hopefully something comes out of it. In any case, I've just discussed with my gal pal to try doing an online baking business. This is something that my friends have been clamouring I should do for awhile, but I've always resisted it for fear that it would kill my hobby. Don't know why I suddenly feel the urge to do it, but it sure is some big project to fire me up for the whole of this year. So dear friends, you can expect to be guinea pigs for the next few months as gal pal and me perfect our recipes. We've already got a mini battle plan in mind. And it will be SWEET :)

So I guess 2007 is turning out to be not bad after all. I just hope there won't be any storms worse than that of the first 2 weeks. Indeed God is faithful and He will make a way for me. I am very hopeful :)

What Rocked In 2006

2006-12-30T23:27:00.001+08:00

I was talking to a good friend today and he noted that many people our age seem to be in the situation of looking for meaning in life, asking themselves what they are doing and what they should be doing in order to be happy. Is this a quarter-life crisis or what? I don't know. Maybe people in their middle age are also facing this. My friend asked how our parents managed to survive 30 years in the same job, while we get bored after two years on the job. I said different generation, different expectations. I guess the previous generation were contented with just being able to earn enough for their families. Enjoying their job was just a bonus, to some, even a dream. But we of the comfortable generation who didn't really have to suffer much (suffering is equivalent to mugging like hell for the A levels) dream of bigger things. Which is not wrong, as long as you're not in some land in Enid Blyton's The Folk Of The Faraway Tree.

The horrible thing about asking yourself what you should be doing to be happy is that it's an often difficult question, and may take a lifetime to answer. Your concept of happiness also changes with time. I guess what is important is for us to be able to find happiness in simple things. A meal with a friend, a nice quiet afternoon to yourself, picking strawberries, walking on the beach... These are things that can be very pleasurable in themselves. I believe that it's very difficult to be happy if one cannot find joy in simple things. Having said that, we should still keep on searching for that little pot of gold, which I believe is findable. Just don't expect it to deliver you to cloud nine.

I just hope that I'll be able to find a job next year that'll be a little more exciting, stimulating and challenging. It's not asking for too much, for people like me cannot live a monotonous, contented, stable life of boredom. There is hope yet, for I've got some ideas and contacts already. We'll see how it goes. But for now, I have to say I'm quite happy with my life. God has been great to me this year it's just amazing. Before I say goodbye to 2006, here are the ten things I should thank God for. He totally kicks ass!

1. My breakup with Boy turned out to be a blessing in disguise because instead of being awkward strangers, now we are such good friends. In fact, Boy is my best guy friend and irreplaceable because he is just a rocking cool dude, out of this world and as crazy as me.

2. I survived a year of madness at work. No need to elaborate, but let's just say God is giving me strength to get on when I feel like crashing on my laptop.

3. I went to Bangkok FOC, thanks to a nomination for an exchange trip. It was great and I will go back again next year.

4. I still managed to enjoy Hong Kong, even though I was sick throughout my holiday. The food is truly awesome and I will forever miss the desserts, which I really hope will make their way to Singapore soon.

5. Ah Ma (Granny) went through a successful cataract operation and is recuperating well.

6. I am in the pink of health, according to my comprehensive health test results. My GP says 'very good, no need to worry.' My eyes are also very healthy, given my high myopia. My optometrist is impressed with their state and said I could not ask for any better.

7. My skin is getting better and better, thanks to my facial auntie who is the greatest discovery of 2006! She is the reason why my skin is glowing every day even when I don't get enough sleep. On top of that, she cooks for me every time I go and have a facial.

8. I discovered the joys of working out in the office gym. I look forward to a tauter, toner, stronger me as I'm beginning to be addicted to exercise! Now the challenge is to try to bring it up to three times a week (gym, yoga + brisk walk).

9. I discovered Cookie Man, which bakes the best cookies I have tasted in my life. Please watch this space for a separate food review on Cookie Man. The fortunate few who received cookies for Christmas will understand what I mean. Man, these cookies are ADDICTIVE.

10. I am an even more optimistic person, thanks to a greater faith, hope and trust in our Creator who is true to His word. Indeed, God is faithful to those who love Him, and He is never outdone in generosity. Every time I made an effort to spend time with Him, I was duly rewarded with a peace that is indescribable, a peace that transcends everything. Now, if that is not out of this world, then I don't know what is.

Thank you Lord and may I shine forth in 2007 with the grace of your Holy Spirit. Happy New Year to all!

Extract on Love

2006-12-03T20:38:00.000+08:00

I read this in the booklet of a wedding mass I attended yesterday. It's really meaningful, so I'm leaving it here in cyberspace for the rest of you to get inspired:

AN EXTRACT FROM CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN
BY LOUIS DE BERNIERES

Love is a temporary madness,
it erupts like a volcano and then subsides.
And when it subsides you have to make a decision.
You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together
that it is inconceivable that you should ever part.
Because this is what love is.
Love is not breathlessness,
it is not excitement,
it is not the promulgation of eternal passion.
That is just being "in love", which any fool can do.
Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away,
and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.
Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground,
and when all the pretty blossoms have fallen from their branches,
they find that they are one tree and not two.

Thank you to the happy couple JJ for this! It has really touched my heart.

Dim Sum never dies

2006-11-20T09:39:00.000+08:00

I watched Little Shop Of Horrors yesterday and it didn't disappoint. This is the fourth Dim Sum Dollies instalment and the dollies proved that they are still as hot, sexy, cute and funny as ever. Indeed, the secret to dim sum success is this sizzling trio, made up of the best three theatre actresses in Singapore. Emma, Selina and Pam are already stage divas on their own. Put them together and they deliver a powerful punch of boundless energy, perfect comedic timing and girlie oomph.

I was surprised to see less of them in Little Shop. Hossan was the star of the show, with his pathetic but sweet and lovable character. Known more for his ability to make people laugh, he revealed his other acting sword-- stirring up tender emotions in the hearts of the audience. Despite the dollies' secondary role in Little Shop, their every appearance shined as they delivered roles from ah lians to stewardesses to parking pontianaks with the smooth confidence of stage veterans. Each dolly possesses her own charm--Selina is a boisterous and hearty char siew pau, Emma, a sweet, tasty and satisfying egg tart and Pam, a steaming hot xiao long bao that explodes with the most amazing flavour. It is heartening to see that the dim sum spirit is still alive and well. I'm waiting to see if they progress from steaming to sizzling next year. These girls should upgrade themselves to form Singapore's very own Chilli Padi Sirens; who needs the Spice Girls?!

I must congratulate Dream Academy for a very successful and accessible production, one that reached out to every age group. Even children could reflect on the simple message and enjoy the catchy music and wonderful puppetry (the orchid is a bombshell, both in size and in the way it sings like a rock star). I was feeling quite sleepy before the show, but once it started, my senses heightened. There was never a dull moment as the pace never slackened; on the contrary, it picked up and loosened at the right times. Granted that it wasn't very original as the production was adapted, but what the team did was to make it Singaporean, and that will always go down well with the audience, with or without Singlish. I also should not forget the lovely Audrey (I do not know her real name), who played her saccharine sweet and battered woman role to great aplomb, but what really shined was her powerful vocals.

Being the Dim Sum Dolly groupie that I am, I bought a T-shirt and got it signed by the dollies themselves. I also begged for a picture with them that's now the wallpaper for my handphone. Looking at us smiling babes sure helps perk up my day :) Keep the treats coming, girls, and don't break up, if not eating har kau and siew mai will never be the same again.

Christmas Wish List

2006-11-19T16:22:00.000+08:00

Knowing that some of you kind souls are planning to get me stuff for Christmas, I thought I would do the practical thing and state what I really want, what I don't mind having and what I don't want just to make your job easier. I hope this little experiment works. If it does, I will proceed to draw up this list annually. Here goes...

What I really want for Christmas

Body scrub (refreshing flavours preferred, e.g. lemon, kiwi, citrus, the kind that will make you 'wake up' in the shower). I like the ones which don't make my skin feel oily after application.
A straw bag big enough to hold an A4 size file/Today size newspaper/small book, small umbrella, water bottle, sweater/shawl. I've been searching for this FOREVER in Singapore and Bangkok, but haven't found the right one yet. Colour should be light straw; a 'basket' bag is good but it shouldn't be too heavy as it's meant to be my 'reading' bag containing reading material to peruse through on the move.
A Laura Fygi CD. Any one, and it's better if most of the songs are not in English.
Kimono like tops

What I don't mind for Christmas

Body Shop's ylang ylang shower gel or any other fruity smelling shower gel (doesn't have to be from Body Shop) but don't get me the following because I already have it--cranberry, bergamot, candy citrus, moonflower.
Accessories. After all, what's a goddazz without her bling? Those of you who know me should know what kind I like. Dangly earrings are always welcome, but not too heavy ones. Rustic looking necklaces (wood, string, twine, beads, crystal-like precious stones) rock too, the more unique the better, but not bizarre please! I do not want to look like a vine just grew on my neck!
Food or food vouchers. When all else fails, you know this one will please anybody. I do not like fruit cake, Christmas pudding and mince pies though. Chocolates, cake (everything except banana), biscuits and cookies are perfect for my sweet tooth :) Heck, why not get me a hamper :P
Funky tees (small or XS)
Wraparound skirts (waist is 28 inch, yes I know you don't believe it but it's true)
Cardigans (any colour except yellow, white, orange, grey and brown)
Slippers (size 8)
Handbags, including evening ones (but not too teeny weeny please!)
Shawls (those that actually keep people warm as opposed to just being decorative are preferred)
Jazz CDs
Nail polish
Shoe vouchers :) :) :) (Nine West, Pretty Fit, Novo, VNC)
Clothes vouchers (Mango, Zara, Mphosis, Fond Hugs...)
Bolster

What I do not want for Christmas

Soft toys
Candles
Aromatherapy burners and aromatherapy oil
Photo frames
Cookbooks (too many at home)
Books (also too many, need to find time to read those at home first); BUT if the book is very me, I will welcome it with open arms :)
Handphone chains
Moisturiser (too much at home)
Hand cream (too much at home)
Lip balm
Key chains

So how, comprehensive enough? If in doubt, consult me! But try to do it tactfully such that I wouldn't have a clue what I'm gonna get from you. The worst thing would be that you lead me on and I think I'm going to get a fantastic gift, then I get a tissue packet holder or something :P

Bittersweet...

2006-10-15T11:34:00.000+08:00

My cousin tied the knot today, the first to get married in the family and rightly, an occasion for great joy. It was a simple, elegant and moving affair. I arrived at Sentosa's Beaufort Hotel at 9am and began helping to scatter flowers and petals to line the red carpet along which the bride and groom would walk to their solemnisation. It was hot in this little garden called the Cinnamon/Ginger Terrace and as I bent to perform my delicate act, I was soon perspiring profusely. Thankfully my makeup didn't melt (this is MAC, originally created for the stage and meant to withstand heat, light and sweat of course) as I did my calf stretching "morning exercise". It felt great to be doing this for her as she is a wonderful person and my heart raced with anticipation as the "I do" drew closer.

And so the hour arrived. She looked perfect, radiant in an elegant white backless gown which showed off her svelte figure, nothing like some brides who don't even look like themselves because they've undergone some extreme makeover. The groom looked energetic, happy and at ease. But as soon as she walked along the red carpet with her arm tucked under her dad's, my tears started to well. They were tears of joy, for this jie jie whom I looked up to as a child and still look up to, but also tears of sadness.

For most who do not know, this day is especially poignant as exactly six years ago, my dad left this earth at the stroke of midnight. I do not wish to go into the details, but suffice to say it was sudden and that my family accepted it, dealing well with his departure with the grace of God. I realised then that that beautiful picture of cousin and my uncle would never come true for me. For one thing, I do not even know if and when that day will come. I haven't found the right one yet but am hopeful. And if that day does come, who will give me away? No uncle would do, as of course, no one can replace that very special place that my dad has in my heart. We had a very special relationship--we learnt how to sail together, shopped for clothes for me, had coffee in Starbucks, watched musicals and plays and talked about the affairs of the world with relish. And I was Daddy's little girl in every sense of the word. When Mum wanted her way, she would always go through me.

Even though none of that exists now, I thank God for my dad and the precious time we had together. Soon after his passing, I was determined to celebrate his life in mine, to always live out the things he stood for--youthfulness (he thought nothing of learning how to roller blade, wearing funky tees and even contemplated having a ponytail at age 40+), vitality, passion, dreaminess, uniqueness, style, adventure, love for nature (he would wait for painfully shy penguins to appear, even if they took forever, just to see them in their natural habitat) and more. I am glad to say I have done him proud as I always have, and will continue to do so. But as my heart beat with joy for my cousin, it also ached with great sadness, for the dad I will always miss, for the beautiful scene that will never happen. The tears fell heavier and faster when my uncle ended his speech with a word to the groom to "please take care of her, we love her very much". It was the first time I had seen him cry and I knew my dad would do the same if he were alive. He always has a soft spot for me.

But I can take comfort in the fact that dad is in a better place, a place even more beautiful than the human mind can imagine. He is looking down at me every day, and liking very much what he sees. He is alive not just in heaven but here; his blood and spirit rushes through my veins. And the things he didn't get to do on this earth are accomplished through me. So now I smile, thinking of his pride for his little girl, and truly happy for cousin and her hubby JJ, who really make a smashing pair. Cheers to the happy couple, and to my dad. To the coolest, sweetest, funkiest dad on earth... you ROCK my world!

Karaoke is not enough - I wanna be a rock chick

2006-08-26T17:37:00.000+08:00

I had this strong urge to be a rock chick as I left the house last Saturday to catch a play with a friend. This is something I've always quietly dreamed of, on and off, but it seems like the passion is really firing up now.

I realise that if I can't find much meaning in work (everything about the job is, frankly, nothing much to complain about except for the lack of meaning), I need to find it outside.

I really miss performing, the adrenaline I get before going onstage, and the high when I'm playing with the audience. That high is something I believe one can't get from doing anything else. Fellow actors and singers, you know what I'm talking about. You can feel it rushing through your blood. I remember the days when I used to juggle rehearsals with studies and still managed to do my homework and get the grades I wanted. Maybe I can do that now, except that the circumstances are different. I'm a working girl, I have less time on my hands. But knowing I have that little time will mean I'll treasure every precious moment and use it to the fullest, which hopefully translates into a slick performance!

The question now is, how do I start? Anybody needs a chick in your band :P? I once did Kelly Osbourne's Papa Don't Preach. But no, I don't look or sound like her, thank God!

Am really looking forward to the day when I can fire up the stage with like-minded souls, free spirits who dare to dream the same little dream I have. Till then, I'll keep dreaming and searching for how to make this real.

Kaka -- The Love of My Childhood

2006-08-14T14:15:00.000+08:00

Does anybody remember this?

I had my first taste of Kaka after 19 long years last week. I wouldn't describe it as heavenly, but it sure brought back many beautiful memories. It all started out like this...

Long ago when I was schooling at PAP kindergarten, Ah Ma (my maternal grandma) used to pick me up from school and on the way home, we would pass the provision shop which always had Kaka prominently displayed on its shelves. There were three flavours--chicken, durian (yes, DURIAN!) and unfortunately, I can't remember the last one. If you are a diehard Kaka lover, pray reveal the mystery flavour! My all-time favourite was and will always be, chicken.

I don't know what made me so hooked onto this snack. Maybe it was because Ah Ma would only let me have it once a week (when I was a good girl), just like I could only have Myojo instant noodles once a week. Or maybe it just couldn't compare to any other snack! I like to think it's a combination of both.

Kaka disappeared from the provision shops when I entered primary school and since its disappearance, I thought I had lost it forever. So sad--my $0.30 weekly indulgence obliterated from the face of the earth! I stopped hoping, but whenever I passed the spot where it used to be sold, my heart never stopped yearning.

Boy heard of my love affair and decided to find it for me. Apparently he'd seen it in some provision shops in the heartland. My heart skipped a beat, but I didn't hope too much. When he presented it to me after we broke up, I cried and cried. Here it was in front of my eyes--that same old chilli red packet with the two chickens and lollipop design. Retro as ever and to me, totally VINTAGE!

So it was with much excitement that I popped the first Kaka ball into my mouth. The Kaka ball was light, puffy and crisp, and to my surprise, lightly salted. It seems that the manufacturer has changed just one thing--making it healthier :)! Ok lah, slightly healthier. Kaka is still artificially flavoured.

Thank you, Boy, for keeping your promise to find Kaka for me. Now every time I pick up a Kaka packet, I will be reminded of the sweet childlike innocence of our relationship, one of the many fond memories I will always have of our time together.

Seeing that the Kaka packet design is a real classic, I am thinking it's not a bad idea to print it on a T-shirt. A Kaka tee would be like a walking ad for an Asian Frito Lay. And you can bet I'll be the first one to wear it. Anyone keen to join the Kaka Fan Club :P?

Of parents and children

2006-07-08T13:28:00.000+08:00

The Mr Brown saga this week just goes to show that our government is not serious (at least for now) about a "light touch approach" with regard to new media. More like a "press button hard and short circuit to stop people from seeing the light" approach. Netizens are of course very sore about Mr Brown's column being suspended and everyone is swearing on the Internet, but as my good friend said, one good thing about this is that Rockson has started blogging again. Since everybody is so gloomy about this, let me try and do a mild Rockson...

Today is first time in a long long time I feel paiseh to be a Singaporean. Most of my life I feel damn proud to be Singaporean. We are world first in so many things and people say our gahmen is world class also. I agree.

The way I see our gahmen is like they are damn good parents who work damn hard for their chilren. They love ah boy ah girl so much they give them good education and then when they go university they suddenly got their own brain and become very smart, even smarter than their parents. This is not a bad thing. So many chilren smarter than their parents what. Problem is, ah boy ah girl once they got their own brain sometimes start to joke about things they see. After all, ah boy say, nowsadays life is so stressful joke a bit is quite shiok. And ah girl say doesn't mean we become so smart must talk like chao PSC scholar. We study so hard still got heartlander heart, cannot be so serious all the time if not life is for squat. As long as don't hurt anybody is no harm. So ah boy ah girl never commit crime but just want to play play say a bit of funny things only then daddy mummy buoy song. They say: "Wah, I sacrifice so much for you and yet you dare to say this kind of thing. I damn heart pain man." (beat chest) "From now, you better tiam tiam and respect your lao pei lao bu."

Ah boy ah girl hear this damn heart pain and stress also. From now say a bit of funny thing kena scolding. Might as well don't talk lah! What I have to say to daddy mummy is, take it easy man. Better for your high blood. The world change already, your ah girl ah boy got their own brain you must accept. You can force them to tiam tiam but no way you can change their brain. The more you want to force, the more they want to climb over your head. One day they kick you out of the house how? Now that will be true heart pain (beat your chest some more). You must think about your future. So long your chilren feel safe in your arms, so long they trust you. Now because they just joke a bit and you buoy song they don't trust you anymore. That's why they say sometimes in life we step the wrong way cannot gostan anymore. You want to go back to old times when ah boy ah girl run into your arms? Sweet dreams lah.

I feel sad for gahmen. Because as I say, daddy mummy are good parents. Just that Singaporean got kiasu in their genes, sometimes very difficult to let go of chilren. Ah boy ah girl will always be chilren to them, don't care even if they got phd, get married and got their own chilren also cannot change things one. Let go is always hard. But then the world change, we also must change. Must start talking to ah boy ah girl and know what they are thinking. Must read their brain try to understand why they think different. Maybe it is like this, don't care how many donkey years people still got generation gap problem. Maybe must wait for new generation to take over then got change.

I dunno lah. Now got screw up very difficult to fix. Some more people when they angry cannot stop scolding and cannot see the truth. Our gahmen is very the powerful, but too powerful also the people become rebellious want to fight. Few years later we see how come got so many people is Chee Soon Juan kao bei type of pattern then it is really sad case man.

So what to do now, you say? Everybody take it easy lah. As Chinese say, xin1 jing4 zi4 ran2 liang2. Only when your heart is peaceful, then your brain can think properly and then you can say things not so rash. I hope one day Singapore can really become first world. When Singaporeans can watch NDP on high-definition vodcast don't care where you are in the world. And everybody hold Singapore flag high, wave and sing song. Nice and peaceful, not bad right? Now ah boy ah girl and daddy mummy must cool down, have good talk, eat nice dinner at Crystal Jade and make up. After all, we are one big family right? I hope so lah :)

A Breakup, A New Beginning...

2006-07-02T14:14:00.000+08:00

After three long years, I'm single again. Boy and I decided to split yesterday after a good heart-to-heart discussion. There were tears, but not as many as I thought there would be. There was some sadness, but more relief and peace at the soundness of our decision. We decided that we were still young and needed to meet more people in order to be surer of what we want in a life partner, and in life. I'm glad we parted as good friends who love each other dearly and who can feel comfortable having a chat or just joking about things common to us both.

I never thought a breakup could be this smooth-sailing. After all, three years is a long time and we did share many beautiful moments together and in the process, learnt so much more about ourselves. It still feels a little surreal but I'm slowly easing into singlehood and finding it very refreshing. It's like a big load is off my shoulders and I don't have to worry about how much money to save for a wedding or a house, how much I need to grow up, how much more responsible I need to be, etc. Right now I'm just looking forward to making new friends, doing new things, strengthening my existing friendships, travelling to new places, even contemplating a career switch... I'm excited about starting this new journey and so is Boy.

My first day of singlehood was carefree and very enjoyable. I met an old friend for lunch, visited DFS for the first time (my, didn't know the ground floor is so touristy!), tried on lip gloss about 12 times before buying one from Stila and celebrated with a cool gelato treat. We decided to watch The Marriage of Figaro by the Singapore Lyric Opera since we have never been to an opera. The Marriage of Figaro is incidentally one of the most performed operas. Hopefully it'll be comprehensible and an enjoyable experience. We also discussed the possibility of going to the US / Canada / Korea / Japan next year. Terribly excited about this and hope it comes true. It'll be another adventure, albeit different from our thrilling escapade to the Big Apple, which we miss terribly. We both suffer from severe bagel and cream cheese withdrawal symptoms. Are there really no good bagels in Singapore? I am afraid I have to believe so, unless someone knows better and is willing to enlighten us.

Boy, I trust you are feeling as good as I am. I wish you all the best and thank you for the past four years too. If I had the choice to turn back time, I wouldn't have wanted things to be different. Now, let us live life to the full and embrace adventure, excitement and all the things we stand for. Now is the time. Carpe diem and bon voyage!

Boy's breakup post

What I've Learnt About Weddings

2006-04-03T14:21:00.000+08:00

What I'm saying here is perhaps not new, but I thought it would be nice to list it in black and white, especially since I've been to quite a number of weddings in the past year. Here goes:

1. Weddings are inherently highly emotional events. If not for the couple getting married, then for the parents. And I can't help but tear, even if I'm not very close to the couple. The atmosphere is always so overwhelmingly joyous that alamak, taboleh tahan lah ;p Sheesh I wonder what will happen at my own!

2. The more elaborate the wedding, the more stressful. Yes it's an obvious and very DUH thing to say but seriously, looking at the amount of hair people pull out of their heads because of their wedding, I think it's wiser to have a simple, cosy, manageable one.

3. Wedding dinners (especially those big Chinese banquet ones) are often very meaningless affairs (no offence to anyone who's held one!) and are more for satisfying the couple's parents and relatives than anything else. I am honestly sick and tired of the same old cold dish sharks fin formula, the dinner starting at 8.45 (wah so lucky!), bad emceeing (e.g. "Do you know how much the groom loves the bride or not? Very much leh. I give you an example...") and lack of intimacy (poor couple's got to distribute their energies over God knows how many guests!). Then again, if you don't have a choice but to hold one, I don't blame you. Sometimes it's the parents' call. Now let's see, how many more Chinese wedding dinners do I have to go for... EEEEEEEEE

4. Er... does anyone actually take notice of the groom? Of his trembling kanchiong face while he waits for the bride, of the amount of sweat trickling down his forehead (I handed a whole pack of tissue to my friend recently!), of his really slick suit, of his shoes? Clearly, the men don't get it on their big day. Is this good or bad I wonder...

5. The choice of music for your wedding can make or break the event. I remember a band singing Michael Learns To Rock's 25 Minutes during a wedding dinner. HOW BAD IS THAT?!!!! "Boy, I missed your kisses, all the time your kisses, 25 minutes too late..." Enough said.

6. Even the best hotels can screw up. I had seasoned octopus (part of the cold dish) at the Grand Hyatt during a wedding dinner. Yummy absolutely scrumptious! But guess what happened when I got home. Diarrhoea three times with me bending my head over while sitting on the toilet bowl. Not to mention curling up like a prawn and trying to sleep but not succeeding because my brain kept telling me, "Get up, you need to shit!"

7. Does it really matter what shoes the bride wears? Because no one can see them anyway. Er yes, because if she wears stilts and doesn't know how to walk properly in them, she will make the biggest boo boo on the biggest day in her life. Yes it matters if you are crazy about shoes like I am. Hell, if you are so mad about shoes you jolly well wear a dress that's short enough to show them off!

8. Some wedding photo albums can be the ultimate CHEESEBALL. Picture this... An elegant shot with the couple perfectly poised, but the words "Love is such a precious moment" running over the page. Sala sala sala (buzzer sound)

9. If you're thinking of throwing big money on your wedding, perhaps it might be wiser to throw it on your house? After all, the King Coil mattress on your master bed will last longer than the sharksfin and almond jelly.

10. A wedding is just a day. A marriage is a lifetime. The more weddings I attend, the more this message is reinforced in my head. Getting married is a really grown-up thing to do and it takes alot to say "I do" because that "I do" is for a lifetime. Unless you mean it to last till your energy fizzles out. After the bride's bouquet wilts, after the groom recovers from his "yam seng" hangover and after the guests finish their dessert, it's get real time - a life together, roses warts and all. I choose to love you no matter what. Tough? It won't mean anything if it were not a challenge.

So when is it my turn? Not so soon, in case you were hoping. *grins* But I hope you enjoyed and identified with my list.

What DO I do?

2006-03-27T14:50:00.000+08:00

What do you do when you have a job that's just a job? When it gets really mundane and meaningless? When it pays your bills but at the end of the day, gives no satisfaction? What do you do if you feel like leaving but can't cos you'll be killing your colleagues whom you love (we're already short-handed as it is)? What do you do if this job isn't slave driving and allows you to have a life but makes you feel empty at the end of the week?

Maybe I need to give this a little more time. Maybe I should work it out till time's up. Maybe work will be more purposeful, more meaningful if I post to another department. Maybe I'm just young and unexposed. Maybe there's something better yet... Maybe maybe... WHAT DO I DO? Lead a double life? Sheesh. Tell me.

Falling In Love with Franz

2006-03-05T16:39:00.000+08:00

I'm not a fan of Franz Ferdinand. I didn't even know they existed until Life! first announced they were coming to Singapore and that the most expensive ticket to their concert was only $90. I went for the concert because my boyfriend urged me to go with him and his buddies. It was worth it in the end, not just cos the band rocked (oh it was like coke rushing through my veins!) but more so, because they turned out very unexpectedly to be such nice guys. Warm, smiley and with no bad boy celebrity airs about them. How do I know? Later... But let's begin right from the start when I was catching the bus to the Indoor Stadium.

I left work at about 6.20pm and rushed to the Raffles Hotel bus stop to wait for no 16. It was taking awhile. I'd finished two of my Bread Talk buns before the bus arrived and to my horror, it was packed like sardines! I had overheard the conversation of two girls behind me and knew they were going to the same place. So as the bus drove off I turned around and asked if they would like to share a cab with me to the stadium. They said sure and we ran across to the taxi stand to hail a cab. Thankfully we got one in ten minutes and the ride was surprisingly smooth.

I got to the stadium by 7pm (concert supposed to start at 8) and the lines were already forming! I realised that I had bit my lip in excitement and it was bleeding. How glam is that ;p Anyhow, it took awhile to get in and when it finally started, the crowd went wild. Lots of screaming, hands in the air and a girl sitting on someone's shoulders. Needless to say, I screamed, jumped and waved too. The money you pay and the things to do to feel young ;p

This band is so hot. They didn't play it cool like so many bands with attitude do, but kept on smiling, waving and getting near the yelping chicks in the mosh pit. And I think they jump around so much that they can afford to wear what is known as cigarette pants and slim slick CHIC shirts. Lead vocalist Alex Kapranos was wearing a black shirt with hot pink flowers on it. SMART. Really refreshing to watch a band that doesn't dress like they came out of the rubbish dump.

I actually chased them to their hotel! It felt so juvenile to cram in an overcrowded car at the risk of being caught by traffic police but oh sweet sweet it surely was! Thanks to the guys who are crazy about the band and who thought there was nothing to lose hunting them down. What amazed me was that they came in with no minders at all and were extremely obliging to their fans. They stationed themselves at different corners in the lounge and kept on signing autographs, posing for photos and even chatting to fans on mobile phones. The manager was obviously dissed at the disturbance this was causing to hotel guests (actually they were more amused than upset) and told Alex to 'siam'. "Respect these people here" was his stout reply and that set the tone for the rest of the evening. More than respect did they give the fans. Love, warmth, smiles, hugs... The teenyboppers must've felt like kings and queens!

I should've jostled with the crowd, but I let the boys have their fun snapping photos and grabbing autographs. But as the band left for their after-show party, I felt a little tinge of regret for not trying to kiss Alex! Not cos I'm mad about him but just for the thrill of it. What a waste! Next time perhaps when he's hotter, slicker and still as warm :) The boyfriend had better luck. As the van they were travelling in drove off, he ran and stretched out his hand to touch Alex's. What a moment!

A brush with the stars. Surreal and yet so real. Because the Franz boys wanted it that way. Now I'm really falling in love...

OASIS TICKETS FOR SALE!

2006-02-06T08:18:00.000+08:00

I'm selling 2 $162 tickets to Oasis live in concert. It's happening @ Singapore Indoor Stadium, Thurs 23 Feb, 8pm. Best spot in the house - right in front of the stage!

Interested parties, do leave a message here and I'll get in touch with you. Help me spread the word around too. These tickets MUST GO!

Life On The Other Side

2006-02-06T08:08:00.000+08:00

This year was easily the worst Chinese New Year I celebrated in my life. Sick? No, EXHAUSTED. The week before was hell at work. I worked 12 hour days from Mon to Fri and stared at my laptop till my eyes and head felt like exploding. I think I only ate two proper dinners the entire week. The other times it was no dinner (too exhausted) or digestive biscuits stored in the office for nibbling. Needless to say, the zits kept popping and people were asking me in the lift if I had been OT-ing alot.

I was so burnt that I slept through the entire Chinese New Year and ate almost zero New Year goodies (itchy throat on the first day). I didn't even have energy to get out of the house to buy lunch! I thought, gosh, just a week of slogging can reduce me to this. What am I doing this for? Am I a pathetic weakling who can't tahan corporate life? How about exploring life on the other side? Who is to say that someone who doesn't have a regular job (and income) is worse off than me? Maybe these people enjoy what they're doing? Maybe they're happier? Maybe a simpler life (not that mine is complicated, hectic sometimes, rather) is just what many people need, but they're refusing to acknowledge it.

What a little crisis at work has done is to force me to consider the option of living life on the other side. To go against the grain, to do the unconventional. To do what I don't know yet but it sure feels liberating and exciting. To do what my heart desires and not what the world thinks is respectable. To be cool, the way I want it. And not to delay this, but to simply take the plunge when my heart tells me to go for it. Easier said than done, of course. But at least I have this at the back of my mind. That one day, if I find life too strenuous and something else is beckoning, then I might just take the plunge. It helps too that a special someone said to me, "If you jump, I jump." Now, that really got me thrilled.

Having said that, life at work's not all bad. It's just that it's very cyclical and tremendously hectic periods drive me very close to the cliff. There's alot of good my organisation is doing and if I sit down and look hard enough, there is meaning in each little task. Not without psycho-ing myself though. I've decided to just be as positive as I can, to laugh more and to enjoy the company of my wonderful colleagues. Yes girls, you make me feel like coming in in the morning :)

For now, life goes on. I'm going to work it out here before deciding what it is I'm called to do (and hopefully enjoy) in this life. But at least I know there's another life to make my only life (yes we only have ONE shot at it!) a little star in the universe.

A Great Way to Start the New Year

2006-01-03T14:30:00.000+08:00

Today I had a great time. I had finished a report that was a month overdue yesterday in only two hours, much faster than I expected. I celebrated with a Cornetto and went to bed at 2am this morning after a sugar high. I got up at 10 and left the house early to grab good tickets for The Chronicles of Narnia. After getting us good seats, I went to Osmose to punch two extra holes in a belt, wore it and met Diana at the Taka taxi stand. We stepped into one of her favourite shoe shops, On Pedder, and she bought a pair of Helmut Lang snakeskin heels at half price. That's Diana, forever shoe crazy. I aspire to be like this woman one day when my pay multiplies by four, haha. When my shoe collection expands beyond the current 19 pairs and when I get my own place next time, I will get a huge cabinet just to store all my beauties :)

Lunch was at the Mezzanine at Hyatt, a decadent treat from Diana. We had each a bowl of shellfish bisque with cognac and prawns and shared a roasted whole fish with herbs and olive oil as well as a lightly stir fried spinach salad with raisins and pine nuts. Absolutely delicious! The bread we had was perfect as well. I'm definitely coming back again to treat someone special. Love the atmosphere too. Utter luxury. Thank you so much Diana, you're the best!

After lunch we walked around a bit before the movie. And of course I forgave McDonald's (see earlier post "I forgave McDonald's today") by buying a cup of tea to bring in to the cinema. Narnia is a great movie, both for kids and adults. I really loved the music, scenery, battle scene and the little girl Lucy. Tilda Swinton rocks too as the White Witch. There were many emotional moments too and I teared at those. Great acting and pacing. And of course, good values such as honour, sacrifice, love and loyalty pervade and give the movie added depth. I'd give Narnia 4 stars. And since Diana says the book is good, I think I will read it. Can anyone who has the series lend it to me? This is one way to spend less, one of my New Year resolutions, hee.

Am looking forward to watching Memoirs of A Geisha with Diana and more decadent meals and shopping! Thank you dear for introducing me to Kiehl's and Mac's Lip Glass in Viva Glam 5. Now I need more money to fuel my materialistic desires (and genuine health and aesthetic NEEDS)! For now, I really should stay away from the shops and try to eat cheap lunches, at least till the ang pau money comes in. Hurry up now, Chinese New Year!

But yes, what a wonderful way to start the New Year. Tomorrow it's back to the corporate world. But at least I'll step into the office cheerful and full of optimism. I just hope that no one dampens my spirits this week. I believe I'll survive it. If anything bad happens, at least I'll have nice new clothes to wear, heh. It'll be good :)

I've forgiven McDonald's today

2006-01-03T13:47:00.000+08:00

What is this all about? Some of you may know that I've refused to patronise McDonald's for quite a long awhile. I stopped buying anything from McDonald's since July 2004 because they refused to accept a discount coupon I used, saying it was a "printing error". In other words, McDonald's had fooled everyone who came that day with the coupons expecting to get a discount on their meals. The manager said they were recalling all the coupons and putting an ad in the papers to apologise for the "printing error". They would also issue new coupons. Well and good. I asked if McDonald's would give me a full refund for the breakfast I ordered and she said she had to leave the finance department to settle that with me. She took down my number and I got a call a few days later. They said they couldn't give me a refund but they would send me a set of new coupons with two extra complimentary coupons. I said ok and gave them my postal address. The coupons never came and after that I decided I'd boycott McDonald's because they probably didn't keep their word. Is it likely the coupons got lost in the mail? Highly unlikely. Or they could've gotten my address wrong or somebody could've forgotten to post my coupons. Anyhow I saw it as a case of neglect and I felt cheated because they never delivered what they said they would.

The reason for my McDonald's boycott largely stems from this incident, but also part of it comes from my watching Super Size Me. True, the movie is obviously biased and nobody would be so stupid as to eat McDonald's for every meal for a month. But there were things McDonald's did that I thought were quite irresponsible. McDonald's came up with "healthier" options that were in fact higher in fat and this was not made known to the public. They also refused to grant an interview to the man who made the movie, Morgan Spurlock, which denied them the chance to clear the air and basically gave him the licence to smear the name of McDonald's any way he liked. I find that very strange for an organisation so skilled in its marketing. McDonald's has also been sued for announcing that it would stop use fatty oils by a certain date but in fact did this later than the announced date. So much for all this bad publicity.

But things have since changed, at least in Singapore. I'm glad McDonald's is waking up and finally taking some responsibility. A week ago The Straits Times reported that McDonald's is going to make nutritional information of its items known in its restaurants. It's working with the Health Promotion Board to do this. This is in addition to trying to make its food healthier. It has added apples and yogurt to the menu some time ago and introduced rice burgers recently. Good on you, McDonald's! You should be taking the lead, given the fact that you're after all the king of the fast food empire. No one can fault you for serving unhealthy food, but at least you're telling your customers how healthy or unhealthy your food is. That way nobody can fault you for giving people heart attacks. And maybe you'll have the last laugh, instead of Morgan Spurlock. Hopefully the rest of the fast food chains follow suit. And hopefully there'll be less obese children in Singapore, in a few years time.

Thank you McDonald's, and for your move, I forgave you today by buying a cup of hot tea to take to see The Chronicles of Narnia. Feels good to know I'll be able to eat all the things I like on your menu again--chicken McNuggets, hot fudge sundae, fries, McChicken, filet-o-fish, lemon lime juice and of course, who could forget your very satisfying Big Breakfast? I miss all that and I can't wait to try the new things on your menu. Make sure your healthier options are tasty too, and oh, it would help if your burgers tasted less synthetic. Now, that would really establish you as true king of the fast food universe. I'm waiting to see what more magic you can do. Go on and shine!

A New Year, A New Beginning

2006-01-02T07:32:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year! I begin the new year with high-spirited optimism, having ended 2005 on a good note. Here's what was significant for me last year:

I started blogging. Yah I know I was quite late in jumping on the blogging bandwagon but better late than never right? I'm glad I did as I find blogging extremely therapeutic, though I really wish I could blog as and when I want to.
I did well at work. I've been working for a year and even though things are not always rosy, I am generally pleased (and more importantly, the important people up there are pleased) with my performance.
I strengthened and renewed old friendships. I made time for those who matter to me and that has definitely paid off. Though I didn't get many Christmas cards last year, I still got SMSes from old friends with festive greetings. And the occasional "how are you doing" SMS.
I made a new friend :) I will not reveal her identity here but I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. She's young, cute and hip, which totally gels with my personality :)
I visited the greatest city on earth, NEW YORK! It was a whirlwind holiday I will never forget and as mentioned in my earlier posts, I'LL BE BACK. It just felt very liberating to be out of the country alone, finding our own way and deciding what we wanted to do on our own. Not to mention the great food and shopping. New York is paradise for the uber cool, hip and forward-looking individualist. Which is not always bad. And New Yorkers are not as rude and cold as Londoners. PLUS, New York is cheaper. Ok I am gushing.
I went on my first overseas working trip to of all places, London! Though it was quite tiring and I only had 2 hours of free time, it was a great experience. I had just started working and didn't expect to be sent overseas so quickly. I remember my comfy, plush and elegant hotel room, walking the streets in the refreshing zero degrees cold, the quaint little cafe near my hotel where I had great caesar salad with thin cheddar shavings and riding all over London in bumpy cabs.
I probably shopped the most in 2005. This is what happens when you start working and suddenly have much more disposable income. Suddenly everything on the shelves is within your reach. Having said that, I do not regret shopping that much. I just have to remember to use everything in order to get my money's worth!
I listen to the radio more often now thanks to the opening of Lush 99.5. This station is the coolest station I've ever listened to in my life and I will continue to listen to it for a long time. Right now I just need a little radio I can put in my office cubicle so the music can permeate my being every minute at work. It will put me in a good mood I am sure.

With 2005 gone and memories still fresh in my mind, here's my list of New Year resolutions, which I really hope to keep to:

Keep my faith going strong. I'm glad I've grown closer to God over the past year and it's been a truly wonderful experience. He has blessed me with so many good things and insights about myself. I hope to read more Christian literature and keep up with my prayer life.
Read more books. I am a very ill-disciplined reader when it comes to books. I never have enough time to read all my newspapers and I tend to feel newspapers are more important reading material than books. But that is not necessarily true. One way to balance this is to watch the news for a snappier update and try to read at least 4 pages of a book everyday. Hopefully this will work out. I've already started on a book a few days ago and it's very interesting so I'll keep going.
Whatever happens in the office, don't work myself sick. I've done this at least three times last year and it wasn't a pleasant sight. I just paralysed myself, which is very silly of course. This year I am trying to be positive about every task I'm given. Easier said than done but I figured that if I don't adopt this attitude, I'll be falling sick every so often and getting depressed as a result. Sad that it took so many bouts of illness to wake me up, but then some people learn the hard way. I hope my health will be better this year, which will mean trying not to take everything so seriously and not reacting negatively once something vaguely threatening happens.
Try out more new recipes. Last year I was too tired over the weekend to try out all the delicious recipes I cut out from Today. I hope to cook more this year and not only try Western dishes, but try to cook a complete Chinese meal all by myself. This includes steamed fish and soup. My long-term goal is to become a domestic goddess! This is going to take a long time, but I'm sure it can happen :)
Bake more for my colleagues and friends!
Spend less, save more. That means buying less clothes. I'll have to prevent myself from walking into the shops. Easier said than done. Already by 1pm today I have shopped and spent $34.10 on 2 pairs of socks, a top and a bag. As they say, a leopard never changes its spots. We'll see if I can.
Clean up my room once a week. I've always been very lazy about this. I only bother to clean up when the table gets very cluttered. I should wipe the dust away during the weekends and throw away old mail.
Exercise more regularly or more intensively. Visit the gym or maybe sign up for a yoga course. If you know of a gd inexpensive yoga class, pls let me know!

What I'd really like to do in 2006:

Maybe take up a cake decorating course and become a famous cake artist through word of mouth, hee ;p
Club. I have clubbed less than 5 times in my entire life and the last time I went clubbing was in 2000 to Mambo Night at Zouk. Now that the authorities have imposed smoke-free legislation on pubs and clubs, to come into effect this year, I hope to be able to behave like a teenager again.
Participate in more interesting activities like going for the Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie instead of the normal Singaporean watch a movie, shop and eat routine.
Try out more new food places. I hope to try one new place every month.
Ideally, gallavant in UK and France with a friend AND go to a nearby resort. Ever since I started working, I realise how important holidays are.
Blog more often.

Welcome 2006! I hope it'll be a great year for you and the world.

Back With A Bounce!

2005-11-28T14:38:00.000+08:00

I'm back with a bounce! Back from the illness and sadness of early last week, when I was so down because of work. Yes, work is always cyclical. There are periods when I happily dress up for work and smile to everyone in the office for the whole day, but there are days when I can't be bothered about how I look, can't keep my eyes open regardless of how much essence of chicken or Chinese tea I drink and cry at the end of the day because I'm just so exhausted and harassed.

Well, things are still the same. There's the same amount of work, the same people who irritate and frustrate me, the same circumstances I can't change. But I think I'm learning how to manage it better. When I returned to work from MC on Thursday, there was an awful lot to do but I told myself to take it easy and just do one thing at a time. I could barely drag myself out of bed that morning, but somehow when I started doing work, I gained a new energy that had been lacking on those two days that I'd been sick. Thank God for answering my prayers for help! I can't explain it. I just felt better even with the situation as it is in the office. But yes I'm still hoping for a replacement for my colleague. For that day when I will no longer have to do someone else's work.

I had a really great time yesterday too. After attending the 11am novena where I took time to pray for about 25 minutes in the beautiful silence of the church, I had a nice yuppie lunch alone (caesar chicken salad, pumpkin and tofu salad and a strawberry banana smoothie) at one of my favourite cafes, Toast at Ngee Ann City. For those of you who go for salads, sandwiches and desserts and are longing for a bit of peace and quiet, head for Toast, a member of the Marmalade group. Prices are a little steep but still affordable at less than $10 for a sandwich/wrap/salad. Not surprisingly, Toast has a huge yuppie and expat clientele. The interior's also a cheery strawberry milk colour and cosy. Where is Toast? It's a well-kept secret. Head for the taxi stand from inside Ngee Ann City. Once you exit to street level, turn right and keep walking. You'll hit Toast in no time.

After lunch, I headed to Kallang Theatre to watch RENT with an honours classmate. The beginning was a little slow, but the pace and energy picked up and it was on the whole, quite an enjoyable show. Karen Mok disappointed though, with her "sandy" voice. I can't believe she qualified as a member of a musical cast! But credit does go to her for playing the part of Mimi well. RENT's a great musical and I'm glad they brought the original cast from New York here.

After RENT I joined my cousins, aunt and brother for dinner at Tony Roma's Suntec and dessert after at NYDC. It was a treat from my aunt for those whose birthdays fall in November. We had a wonderful time just enjoying the food and laughing about the little things in life. My spirits liftes significantly too from walking through the shops at Suntec with Christmas carols ringing in my ears.

I have decided to play really hard every weekend, given that I'm going to work like a crazy horse (pardon the bad pun, there's been so much hype on this lately) on weekdays. I believe that's the only way I can recharge for yet another intense week at work. Tomorrow is the start of another busy week. It won't be easy but I believe that with God at my side, I can afford to smile a bit more, not take things so hard and just simply, manage. God, help me to hang in there!

The Beautiful People at Giordano

2005-11-28T14:08:00.000+08:00

There's been alot of talk lately about how to improve the really pathetic service standards in Singapore. In relation to this topic, I'd like to commend the beautiful people at Giordano who are eternally smiley, helpful and just a joy to be around. It's as if every Giordano salesgirl/boy has popped a 'happy' pill before they start work. I'm always greeted with a smile and "can I help you with anything", and mind you it's not said in a resigned, obligatory tone, but in a really sincere way. That's what I like about Giordano staff. They're REAL, they love their job and they really just want to help you get the right clothes.

Yesterday I popped in to the Junction 8 outlet and was greeted by the same two smiley girls who've served me before. I have to say that they're both quite good-looking and their cheeriness is infectious so they can make you (especially if you're a guy) buy something even if you're not planning on spending any money. I bought a white T-shirt that was worth $14, but one of the salesgirls gave me a discount, so I ended up paying $11.90 instead. I asked her "why so good give me discount". She smiled shyly and said, "Oh nothing lah, I always see you here mah." I protested, saying I haven't bought that many things from this particular outlet. Then she blushed and said: "Oh, we (her and another salesgirl) just like you very much because we find you very pretty lah. We are also human you know." When I heard that, I beamed from ear to ear and blushed with the reply: "Aiyah, I have bad skin." She smiled and said: "No lah, still very pretty!" Wow, so I AM pretty despite having zitty skin. That's certainly boosted my esteem by a mile especially since my 5-year battle with acne has always been a thorn in my flesh.

The above episode serves to reinforce what is already common knowledge: good-looking people more often have it their way. But I believe that no matter how you look, Giordano staff will be nice to you under most circumstances. Kudos to the management for training your staff well. They deserve to be Singapore's good service ambassadors. Giordano, you're my friend always. But my favourite is still the sweet and pretty girl at the Junction 8 outlet who made my day :)

Sick

2005-11-23T06:53:00.000+08:00

I'm down with a virus attack. A sign of working too hard. Can you believe I was so delighted to be declared sick by the doctor yesterday night? Brilliant! An MC to force me to vegetate at home and stay away from the office.

It's been tough. A colleague just left and most of her work has been handed over to me. Worse, I don't know when a replacement is going to come in, which means I have to tahan the extra workload for an indefinite period. I'm very tired, I've been staying late, I've been harassed by phone calls and emails to help others with this and that. I really just want to get away from it all. I feel like quitting sometimes.

God, help me to tide over this difficult period. To find meaning in my work, to not complain about the mountain that sits on my table, to not get so easily overwhelmed, to not bring my unhappiness back home, to not let it affect my weekend. Help me to find you in the chaos, to remember you are still with me through the encouraging words of my friends. Help me to get well soon, to be renewed by your divine strength, and to get up and going with the power of your spirit. Help me, oh God!

3G--What's the big deal?

2005-10-24T12:54:00.000+08:00

I am quite delighted to learn of the low takeup rate for 3G services in Singapore. I'm sure the telcos are not smiling, having had their hopes so high on this new generation technology for mobile phones. For the uninitiated, 3G is short for third-generation technology, which allows one to watch videos, surf the Net and do other supposedly cool things on your mobile.

Earlier this year, the telcos went all out to promote 3G services, with each telco offering something a little different in order to woo customers. There's even been a 3G drama starring Sly. It's the first 3G drama to be produced in Asia and consists of just a few 3-minute episodes. Big deal.

What's so cool about being able to watch movies on the go? Isn't TV Mobile enough to irritate commuters who just want to have some peace and quiet on the bus home? Our society is so hungry for technology and gadgets that we are beginning to lose our soul (not that we had any in the first place). Why aren't kids reading? Because the only thing that interests them is computer games (and punching on their mobile phone). It's sad that gadgets now interest us more than human beings. Do we really want to degenerate into mindless digitally-consumed beings?

So my point is, we really don't need 3G. Unless you need to watch movies or check out ESPN on the go for a living. Years ago everyone functioned just fine without mobile phones. But things have changed. Mobiles are so crucial in speeding up communication now. They serve their purpose, but somewhere, we need to draw the line. As for me, I'm just happy to call, sms and use my phone as an alarm clock. No way to 3G. A waste of money, uncalled for indulgence, and to me, the symbol of our mindless digital generation.

Gaming, A SPORT?!!!

2005-10-24T12:19:00.000+08:00

Singapore is gearing up to be a gaming hub. And the Government wants to promote online gaming as a healthy sport. WHAT?! Yes, a SPORT! Just this week The New Paper featured the members of Team Singapore, who will be representing Singapore in the World Cyber Games this November. One of the members said he needs to work out in order to be in top form. So yes, gamers are not balls of flab but actually sporty people. This is new to me, and even with what that guy said, I'm not totally convinced. Isn't gaming a nicer term for sitting in front of the computer and playing games?

Am I ill-informed, myopic or both? Is gaming worth promoting only because it's going to bring in big bucks for the economy? What are the benefits of playing computer games six hours in a stretch? Does it really make you more mentally fit (and physically as well)? Maybe the newspapers should probe further and publish articles on the benefits and ills of gaming. As far as I'm concerned, I think there are more enriching activities than spoiling one's eyesight in front of the comp. Gamers who are are reading this, please feel free to enlighten me.

Pining For New York

2005-10-24T11:57:00.000+08:00

Yes I am pining for New York. I visited one of the world's most amazing cities during the first two weeks of October and boy, it was the greatest escapade I've ever had. A great escape from the monotony and meaningless existence of the office, from the familiar (and therefore sometimes boring) surroundings of home, from the damned humidity. From it all.

No wonder people say it's hardest to return to the office after a long holiday. You don't feel like working one bit. Now I know how it feels. It's just a bad time to work now. We're up to our necks with work, short-handed and just not in the best of spirits. In other words, morale is low. But we trudge on. And everything's made harder by me missing New York.

Every morning when I wake up, I think of nothing but delicious (albeit chewy) New York bagels with a heap of cream cheese. I can't stop thinking of this magical city, even though it isn't particularly charming. I miss the vibe, the buzz, the flashing neon billboards in Times Square, the Disney-like Hershey's store, the grimy subway, seeing ladies walk around in boots, the museums. I'm definitely going back. I just don't know when. But I'm glad my boyfriend is equally New York crazy, so I'm sure we'll get our act together and maybe I'll get to see my beloved Big Apple soon.

Till then, I'm in denial and doing things that will make me think I'm in New York. Last Friday I went to NYDC and this week I'm going to have great pizza. Just to get a tiny bite of the Big Apple.

Somebody tell me where to find great bagels in Singapore, and all things New York!

Screen Singapore: Great show but where’s the audience?

2005-09-26T13:43:00.000+08:00

The curators and organisers of Screen Singapore are to be praised for putting up a great showcase of films. The films that were screened during this month-long festival are all made in Singapore and reflect the Singapore of the past before independence right up to the present. Apart from documenting Singapore’s little known film history, Screen Singapore has allowed audiences to better understand the social and physical transformations of our nation over the years. In addition, the curators made special effort to include English subtitles for the older Malay films (produced in the 1950s and 1960s) in order to increase their accessibility.

Despite these efforts, attendance at screenings for the older films was very poor. I watched four of such films and the best attendance record was but a miserable eight individuals. This was in contrast to the popularity received by the contemporary films such as Forever Fever, 15 and The Maid. Poor attendance for the older films cannot be attributed to poor publicity for Screen Singapore. The festival was well publicised in the Straits Times, Lianhe Zaobao and Today. People who read about Screen Singapore and who were interested in it would have been able to obtain film details from the website, brochures or ticketing venues.

As no particular films were specially highlighted through these channels, it is likely that people actively chose to watch the contemporary ones that were better known and perhaps perceived as more entertaining than the earlier films. This is a shame as the earlier films have captured valuable snippets of Singapore’s past not just for the reminiscing of the older generation, but also for the understanding and appreciation of younger Singaporeans. Are Singaporeans just not interested in our heritage, too weaned on a diet of mainstream films, or both?

And how ironic it is that Screen Singapore was the brainchild of a Frenchman and not a Singaporean! This guy has taken pains to collect 360 over Singapore-made films and is in the midst of writing a book on Singapore film. Where is the passionate Singaporean film buff? Are local filmmakers too busy making their own films to bother about showcasing films of the past?

I certainly hope to see Screen Singapore make a comeback next year, and for older films to still be included in the festival. How can we make more people appreciate them? Perhaps the most effective way is to do a special on older films in ST Life!, plus some reviews (and before the screenings, mind you, not after!). If even this doesn’t work, I don’t know what else to say.

Water Off A Duck's Back

2005-08-13T07:51:00.000+08:00

There are some people in this life whose only goal it seems is to criticise, put others down, make them feel like minions, yada yada. Someone like that decided to pop my party pooper today. It is at times like these that I have to say to myself 'water off a duck's back' and 'sleep over it' because these people are just not worth getting upset over. So yes, I am going to sleep now.

The Ugly Boss

2005-08-04T13:25:00.000+08:00

My colleagues and I were chatting the other day about the ugly bosses we have had the misfortune to meet. So here's a list for your reading pleasure. For simplicity's sake, let's name the ugly boss Mr Ub (yah give me 2 cents for creativity ;p).

Mr Ub...
1. may be earning loads but a) tries to hitch a ride to save on petrol and parking, b) appear generous by giving a treat but gets his peers or WORSE, subordinates to chip in, c) complains about how poor he is living in a semi-d to his HDB dweller subordinates and d) anything more you'd like to add?

2. will say everything's ok when you check with him but on the day itself, complain about how badly everything is done, say "you all ah, must learn" and on top of that, explain how it should be done HIS way

3. displays really bad meeting etiquette. For starters, he a) turns up for almost all meetings late, with the excuse that he's really busy, b) smses openly, c) picks up his ringing handphone and says "hi I'm in a meeting, what's up and oh how are you yada yada yada...", d) opens wide his broadsheet/tabloid size newspaper and reads it as if the people around him are non-existent, including his superiors (now we're really getting somewhere!!! and yes I've actually seen it happen!), e) dismisses/shoots down what other people say in the most rude and discouraging fashion and f) doesn't read the agenda or papers before the meeting and comes in asking "eh, so what is this about ah?" (wah boss, how to respect you like that?)

4. acts like a spoilt brat by insisting that you change the meeting room even though all other rooms are fully booked

5. reproaches you for not doing things this way when they were never supposed to be done this way in the first place

6. has grand ideas and great ambitions but no consideration for the extent of slavery imposed upon his subordinates in carrying out the big plan

7.openly criticises his peers or other colleagues in front of you (so yes, you read his enemies like an open book)

8. makes you run around like a mouse high on blue cheese then tells you he doesn't need the work you just submitted

9. says you're calculative when you ask for time off in lieu of hours worked over the weekend

10. gets you to do the legwork at the eleventh hour when he's the one who works last minute

But above all, Mr Ub needs your compassion, understanding and forgiveness because deep inside, he's lonely up there, empty and hurting inside. And he can't find a way out, which is why he's ugly on the outside. So be a little gentler to Mr Ub today, though of course don't allow him to walk all over you. Mr Ub, I hope you're reading this.

Raining Tea

2005-07-21T12:03:00.000+08:00

You must be thinking, what the hell is this? It says 'raining tea' on a sign outside the V Tea Room (at the Esplanade, very near the taxi stand and diagonally opposite Harry's Bar). This means as long as it's raining outside, you get a free pot of tea (yes any flavour at all, gourmet ones included, plus infinite refills!!!) with any slice of cake. Now isn't that brilliant? Only because the V Tea Room is NOT CHEAP and the teas are like, ok, you have to drink to believe ;p

When my friend and I saw this sign, it had just stopped raining. But we thought we'd give it a shot. We asked the waitress 'if it was still raining' (haha don't we sound like idiots?) and she said 'let me check with my matron'. Gosh how Victorian is that? The matron said yes it's still raining although no one was carrying umbrellas and we trooped delightfully into the cafe like little princesses :)

I am not exaggerating when I say it's a terrific experience getting a pot of free tea, and of all places, in the V Tea Room. It's the tea, the waitresses' uniforms, the whole Venetian ambience, the music, the rose petals on each table, the elegant tea tray, the little 'wooden book' in which they store the sugar cubes... luxurious (and I have to add, TAI TAI) to the max! I ordered the macadamia bourbon again (this one you die die MUST try!) and we drank until we had to pee! We also shared a slice of earl grey cake garnished with rose petals, emanating with bergamot essence and melt-in-the-mouth with a little light custard (are you droooling yet?). The bill came up to $4 nett for each person. Sweet sweet deal as we probably downed 12 cups of tea in all. Now you know where to go when it rains. And isn't it comforting to know you've got a pot of tea to warm you up :)? Unlimited tea, unlimited sugar, drink until you pee... you get the idea!

Faith

2005-07-03T14:35:00.000+08:00

Faith conquers all. Cliched but true. The woman in the wheelchair in Singapore Gaga who sings and sells tissue paper at MRT stations is one such example. The film shows her singing her 'Jesus songs' with such joy and enthusiasm. I can't imagine myself doing something like that. Not that I'm endorsing what she does. In fact I don't totally approve of it because it would definitely piss off some non-Christians. But her simple, unwavering faith in God has really touched me. In the film, she says that she doesn't sell much tissue paper every day and to pass the time, she sings her 'Jesus songs' to make herself feel happy. At the end of the day, even if her sales are poor, she doesn't feel so bad because 'God always provides'. She even urged Tan Pin Pin to believe in Jesus as 'you will be very happy. I am not lying to you'.

This woman's faith in divine providence is truly admirable. She leads a simple life and it doesn't matter whether or not her sales are poor. She's just happy to sing her 'Jesus songs'. Can I do that? More often than not, when things go wrong at work (and they did on Friday), I sink into a little pit and fret for a bit, wondering if I can get through the next few days. I know I need to trust in the Lord's providence and saving power, but I often fall short. I'm now inspired by this woman who's shown that one can be happy even in dire consequences as long as one has simple faith. Lord, grant me this simple faith in you, that I might not waver in the face of adversity, but instead triumph above all odds and give you glory.

Singapore Gaga

2005-07-03T14:33:00.000+08:00

I watched Singapore Gaga at the Substation today. For the uninitiated, Singapore Gaga is a 55 min documentary by local film-maker Tan Pin Pin. The documentary contains snippets of authentic Singapore life that if not captured on film, would hardly be noticed by the average Singaporean. The film features interesting people like the wheelchair bound woman who sings her "buy my tissue paper" Hokkien song, the old man Ying who thinks he's a "national treasure" and performs a harmonica act accompanied with one-hand juggling and clog stomping in MRT stations and Margaret Leng Tan, a Singaporean who's moved to New York and does absolutely nothing for four minutes or so as part of her performance onstage.

Singapore Gaga is just excellent. Tan is really clever at putting little snippets together in just the right way to say something about society: Singaporeans' indifference towards buskers, handicapped or not, the lack of freedom to perform as a busker (Ying was seized and apparently ill-treated by police) and the government's irreversible stance with regards to the dialect policy. As I watched the film, I was both delighted by the authentically Singaporean scenes as well as the undertones that Tan had subtly inserted. The film also has a fair bit of humorous moments. You have to watch it!

Sadly, local good quality films like Tan's rarely get their day in the cinema. I was talking to the marketing guy from Substation who said it's not commercially viable to show such films in the cinemas. How can these films get the exposure they need then? Most Singaporeans aim for the Hollywood blockbusters and can't be bothered to check out lesser known documentaries. So films like Tan's are only seen by a niche group of people--those who are already interested in the arts and who actively seek out what's happening in the arts scene. Singapore Gaga was quite poorly publicised, despite the fact that it has been invited to the Rotterdam International Film Festival and enjoyed a fair bit of attention in the foreign press. Why has it not received the same fame back home? According to the Substation, they did try to market the film to the local newspapers, but only The New Paper and the Straits Times picked it up and even then, Sunday Lifestyle made very brief mention of the film without stating how to get tickets and when it was showing. If the local media and cinema operators do not give the necessary support to such local films, how is the Singapore film industry going to develop? Whether it's commercially viable or not, cinema operators should do something to promote local films. I'm sure they can afford it especially after the recent increase in ticket prices (damn the money suckers!). I'm still waiting for Singapore Gaga to make it to the big screen. The Substation says they're trying to push for it. I hope it won't take too long.

For more information on Singapore Gaga, check out www.singaporegaga.com

Mango Madness!

2005-06-24T13:40:00.000+08:00

This week I have visited Mango four times. Yes, no kidding. I'm no die-hard Mango fan but the Mango sale begins this week and my crazy colleagues have influenced me, so fortunately (or unfortunately) there's no turning back. Three of us went to chope clothes on Monday at the Wisma outlet, only to go to the Raffles City one on Tuesday to chope some more. Yes, smart shoppers know that different outlets have different clothes. Choping means that you get to choose what you really want before the sale so that you don't have to jostle with the rest of the crowd during the sale. The wonderful thing, though, is that after finding out the discount on the first day of the sale, one can decide whether or not one wants to buy the choped item. Yes they do not force you to buy!

Today we split ourselves into two teams and headed separately to the two outlets during lunch. It was utter madness with clothes stacked like sardines, thrown all over the floor and girls changing in front of mirrors. I purposely wore a tight-fitting top and skirt that allowed me to try clothes in front of the mirror. In addition to the clothes I had reserved earlier, I picked out another skirt. Even after the mad rush during lunch, we still hadn't had enough. We decided to head for the Shaw outlet after work in my colleague's car.

It was even crazier at Shaw with people queueing to get into the outlet and with staff sealing customers' belongings in big plastic bags to prevent people from shoplifting. My colleague helped me to grab a red top I was eyeing and once that was done, I hastily made my exit. Enough heat from the lights and warm bodies and enough blasting music for the day! All in all, I bought two tops and two skirts and am very happy with my purchases. Mango's got some really good deals when they run a sale and it's no wonder that makes all the girls go crazy. Too bad I didn't see anyone stripping down to their underwear though, heheh. I heard that happened last year. Thankfully, this time people were quite disciplined and didn't push, though I sensed frustration in the overworked staff's voices as they kept shouting 'excuse me'.

Hopefully my exciting episode at Mango marks the end of my Great Singapore Sale shopping spree. By this time I've spent so much that I'm afraid of shopping! Better save up for my trip to NY in Sept. That's gonna cost me more than a month's salary but heck. Pleasure above savings for the moment ;p

Have Car Cannot Drive

2005-06-20T13:56:00.000+08:00

No, it doesn't mean that I have a car but I don't have a driving licence. Instead, it's like this... I started off today on a bad note. Was trying to unlock the car but couldn't do it successfully via the 'press button on key' method so I manually turned the key instead. Then I set the alarm off and couldn't stop it. Every time I unlocked the car using this method the car alarm would go off. It was tremendously frustrating and in the end I took a cab to church instead of driving because I was afraid I could not turn off the alarm in case it chose to go off suddenly. Wasted one hour of my time travelling by public transport instead of driving and man, I was so peeved! Mum is going to ask the car agent what is going on. Hope I never have to encounter this alarm business again. UGH. I tried to comfort myself by thinking about how I'd contribute to the taxi driver's salary and that I'd get extra exercise and vitamin D by walking in the sun. And yes, I did all of that. Am going to make sure I eat cheaper meals this week though because cab fare is not cheap (I don't take a cab unless it's absolutely necessary so it hurts)!

Having said that, this new car (an economical Toyota Vios) is still quite a nice drive. The engine's very silent and it's more aesthetic than our old car, with a sleek modern interior, more comfy seats and a sexy shiny red coat to boot. The steering wheel also requires less force to turn and the accelerator and brakes are very sensitive. But it can never beat our old Honda City in terms of engine power. It just doesn't feel as shiok as a Honda when the car is going at 70km/h and above. Nevertheless, I cannot complain. This car costs less to maintain and still does the job, provided it does not cry molest out of the blue! And oh, all Vios cars are female because they require the driver to be very gentle on the accelerator and brakes. They're like young ladies.

Today is also Father's Day and I always feel a little sad because my father passed away in 2000 and I will never get the chance to treat him to a nice meal or give him presents using my hard-earned money. Anyway I have come to terms with his passing and I know he is in a place where there can be no suffering or pain. And I know that even though he isn't here with me on earth, he's watching my every move and is tremendously proud of me, as always. Happy Father's Day, Daddy.

On a positive note, I had the opportunity to blog alot today, which is a luxury I've missed out on for the past two weeks. I also went for a swim in the evening and bought a pair of big shiny heart-shaped earrings from Perlini's Silver at half price ($12.50, U.P.= $25), courtesy of the birthday voucher they sent me. Bless the Perlini folks, they sure know how to make their customers happy :)

Yoshinoya Sucks!

2005-06-20T06:44:00.000+08:00

Yoshinoya's food is nothing to shout about. But I was craving for a Japanese rice bowl last Sunday and thought heck, just give it a try and see if it has pulled up its socks ever since the last time I ate there. True to my expectations, it hadn't.

I have no personal agenda against Yoshinoya but have always wondered how it can claim to be Japan's number one beef bowl when its beef lacks fragrance, its vegetables are tasteless, its miso soup is powdery and tastes worse than the instant kind and its teriyaki chicken is inauthentic. And no I'm not saying this because I am a picky gourmet foodie. I may enjoy good food but I am definitely not atas when it comes to eating.

But seriously, this is the sad state of Yoshinoya and I have always remembered it to be so. It wouldn't be so sad if it did not claim to be Japan's number one beef bowl but to do so and not live up to its name is literally shooting itself in the foot. Doesn't matter if it prides itself on clean interiors and a hip, modern ambience. The food just doesn't measure up. I really wonder what a Japanese would think of Yoshinoya after trying the food there.

Like many other eateries, Yoshinoya has feedback forms for customers. I filled up one expressing my opinions as expressed above and left my email address. The feedback forms are addressed to Yoshinoya's general manager. I'm still waiting for him/her to contact me and convince me that I should continue to support Japan's number one beef bowl. Till then, this beef bowl and the campaign accompanying it will remain a joke at Yoshinoya's own expense. How's that for laughs?

A Lazy Leisurely Saturday :)

2005-06-19T14:45:00.000+08:00

Today was one of the most pleasant Saturdays I've ever had in a long time, save for the 33 degrees sweltering heat. I bought an intricate embroidered bag for $29.50 (YES YES it was 50% off, this sale is terrific!!!) from Urban Warehouse at Orchard Emerald and that put me in a real good mood, albeit slightly guilty for the unanticipated expense.

My boyfriend and I decided to go to Tanjong Pagar and check out the eateries there for lunch instead of heading for boring old Orchard/City Hall/Bugis and getting bumped into by the crowds. It was a wise decision as Tanjong Pagar was quiet and sleepy and there was hardly anybody walking in the area.

We had a leisurely lunch at a Korean restaurant along Peck Seah Street and had the whole place to ourselves. We got to sit on the floor with cushions. The food was also delicious and came in generous portions. I learnt that in Korean restaurants in Korea, every meal comes with appetizers that may even be topped up with no additional charge. At this restaurant we got five appetizers including the ubiquitous kimchi. That's wonderful! Now if only Chinese restaurants could serve more than just peanuts and pickles.

After lunch we strolled from Tanjong Pagar into Chinatown passing an interesting mix of shops that included Dermalogica and Tong Heng which sells traditional Chinese pastries such as egg tarts and lao3 puo2 bing3. We also glanced through Thieves Market, which is a little alley opposite China Square where people lay all sorts of things on the ground for sale, ranging from old Nokia phones to yellowing Chinese romance novels. Quite interesting and worth a visit if you're in the area.

The afternoon was so enjoyable because it was simple and leisurely and I like the idea of walking around aimlessly without a plan. The heat proved too much to bear, though, and we took an air-con break in the McDonald's at Circular Road. Desperate for a drink, I bought Heaven and Earth's new white tea from 7-Eleven nearby and found it to be delightfully refreshing. Try try, I recommend! Less sweet than bottled green tea, lighter than jasmine tea and with a very pleasant floral essence.

From the 7-Eleven we parted ways, I to the Arts House to view an Australian glass exhibition and my boyfriend to meet up with his friends. It was a pleasant surprise to run into an acquaintance of mine in the bookshop of the Arts House and we chatted for a good 20 minutes. For those of you who don't know, the bookshop Earshot was set up to promote Singapore literature. It doesn't aim to make profits but simply to provide a platform for Singapore writers to promote their work. Earshot's prices are similar to those in major bookstores here and one can have a cuppa or meal while browsing through the volumes (the bookshop and restaurant are one). They've got books on MM Lee, Mrs Lee's Cookbook, books on Singapore's history, comics and even Stefanie Sun concert DVDs. Great idea I think but hopefully it'll pull off. There are also plans to showcase local artists once a month. For example, local bands can apply to play there. The Arts House is within walking distance of my workplace, so it's pretty convenient to hop over for a $6.60 set lunch, to watch a movie or view an exhibition. Am looking forward to more programmes as a result of this new initiative.

The day ended with a dinner treat from a friend at the quaint, luxurious and very tai tai V Tea Room at the Esplanade. The V Tea Room is situated at street level diagonally opposite Harry's Bar and near the pushcart stalls. Am impressed how every effort is made to create a Venetian experience here. Sitting in a carved chair with curly legs, I felt like I was in a European cafe. The waitresses' uniforms are black with white aprons, the walls are adorned with fancy dress party masks and the furniture is very European. Each table is decorated not with a vase of flowers but with three red rose petals arranged in a triangle. Reservations are also indicated by placing a half-body mannequin on the seat. This is one upmarket place with a refillable pot of tea for two at $12++ and cakes between $7.50-$15++ a piece! The more expensive ones have liqueur such as Bailey's in them. The service staff are friendly, very attentive and truly delighted to serve customers. It was refreshing to experience such good service. I also like the tea tray that they use to serve each table. Among the items on the tray are white and brown sugar cubes and even dried longans that are supposed to go with tea.

My friend and I shared the omelette loaf with bacon, the winter pear cake with vanilla ice cream and a pot of macadamia bourbon tea. The food was not fantastic (7 out of 10) but the tea had a pleasant vanilla and orange aroma and was wonderfully sweet on the palate. I'll be coming back again, but only after I receive my bonus. Excellent place for pampering a loved one, for a romantic date or an afternoon tea with a close friend. Be prepared to spend about $20 odd per person for a meal and dessert or below $20 for tea and cake. I only wish they had Coffee Bean prices ;P

Super Shopper!

2005-06-17T14:01:00.000+08:00

Wow it feels great to be able to blog again! To my readers out there, sorry for the prolonged absence. For the past two weeks I haven't blogged for a number of reasons: too tired to write at the end of the work day, too busy meeting up with friends for dinner and shopping (YES SHOPPING!), and had my home Internet access cut over the past few days (horror of horrors!). I must say I've experienced withdrawal symptoms from not being able to blog. Such is the allure of blogging, won't be surprised if it progresses (or shall I say degenerates?) from addiction to world wide epidemic!

Anyway, the title of this post is Super Shopper and here is why...

After grabbing a number of fantastic buys during the beginning of the Great S'pore Sale (hereafter referred to as GSS), I felt a little guilty and thought I should tone down. And yes, everything in the stores seemed unexciting after my initial craze. I thought I wasn't going to report any more damage on my blog and diary, but guess the GSS is THE sale after all and I soon found new things to pump up my retail high. The breakdown in the past week as follows: black capris with satin floral detail at the knees from Bysi ($26), 2 cotton tops which look like an artist drew on them for $9.90 each from pushcart stall at Junction 8, black handbag from Tangs Studio ($0 cos I used a voucher, heh ;p) and white handbag with green floral detail and leather strap from Accessories ($23.90). Now isn't all that a steal?!!!

And you know, either STB or MediaCorp or both are really smart, because now there's a show called Super Shopper hosted by Pam Oei on Thursdays, 8.30 on Channel 5. There couldn't have been a better timing! After picking up my two handbags today, I got home and turned on the TV while having dinner and lo and behold, Pam appears before my eyes. I have to confess that Pam is my idol. I've even told her that to her face and she was so shy she hid behind a pillar! But it's cool that she still recognises me in public and I feel like a 14 year old having a lesbian crush when she waves back to me, eeks!

Anyway, Pam is a joy to watch as she's so incredibly funny, perky and every bit the diva as she flits from shop to shop. I thought the show would just feature clothes, shoes and the like, but Pam actually went for facial light therapy and body firming at Expressions (the treatment supposedly burns fat equivalent to the fat burnt from 360 push ups?!!!) and took a trip for just $95 to a kelong in Batam! That's it. I'll be staying home Thursday nights to watch Pam religiously, or so I hope! This show's truly dedicated to all the super shoppers (and closet super shoppers) out there. The producers couldn't have found a better host. Pam is IT and she RAAAAWKS!!!

The Sale Worth Waiting For

2005-05-31T12:07:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-23T14:40:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-22T13:00:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-19T13:50:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-19T13:00:00.000+08:00

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

2005-05-14T14:45:00.000+08:00

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!

2005-05-10T12:00:00.000+08:00

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.