Singapore Flyer...mishap

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20081224/tap-as-singapore-wheel-1st-ld-writethru-832f4ab.html

My fear factor heightens. Pun intended.

Chow Time with :B

:B is back from Japan again. As my annual leave is limited, this time I did not apply half-day to watch with her some hopefully-warped foreign film at Cathay Cineleisure.

Our catching-up was done over dinner of local food at Chomp Chomp and dessert at ICE.

Teachers

My apprehension builds up everyday as the school holiday approaches the end - my little girl is going to embark on a huge phase of her life - Primary One!

She is attending a "Mind Bender" class I signed up for her at the Community Club today. She has been showing signs of reluctance but last night, she finally voiced out her main concern - I hope the teacher is not too strict.

And then I realised...this is all there is, isn't it? One can't choose one's own teachers. We aim to enrol our kids in a reputable school but nobody can guarantee all the teachers it has are inspirational, motivating, naturally adoring children, etc etc. They can either make or break the child!

I'm so crossing my fingers!

Argh!

What do you do when one of your staff hangs a perpetually black face, directing at you?

Debut Read

Becks' 1st book by Enid Blyton. :)

PS: She managed to find the 'Seven O'Clock Tales' too.
So there leaves 'Six O'Clock', 'Eight O'Clock'...anymore?

Rainbow

I went to IKEA Tampines recently and went into a sneezing fit and suffered watery eyes. 2 years ago, it was the same at Science Centre. My greatest infallible enemy - dust mites. Call it my curse or plain hyper-sensitivity.

The demonstration convinced me to plonk S$3,300 on the cleaning system - Rainbow. Even RJ, my dear friend who gave the referral and who had bought one set herself sent me this text: "Welcome to the Sucker's Club".

Sucker? Maybe...but I'm merely looking for a solution to better the quality of my life, just like everyone else.

Going Down Under

Finally my folks took their (enviable) 'annual break'; they departed this morning for Sydney to visit sis. :)

Inflation

The epitome of inflation...One goreng pisang at Maxwell Market Food Market costs S$1.20!!!

Year-end Concert

365 days...do they fly by so fast?!

This year's concert brought about a gush of emotions. 1stly Travis was participating (my l'le boy has grown up so much and expressing him well!) and 2ndly it's Becks' last year (after 3 full years there) and one in which she was given the lead role in her class' musical play. She was a natural on stage!

Blindness

Thanks to WL for inviting me to the special screening on Tuesday, I got to watch a movie which turned out unexpectantly nice - Blindness. I should have given more credit to the director, knowing he's shot other highly-acclaimed movies, that it wasn't going to turn out a typical virus show. His analysis on the human behaviour was remarkable, as was his ironical ending. I wonder how one can visualise something so vivid when one does not have.

Enough of my attempt to be profound here. I was just glad for the freebie, the company and the fulfilment of my craving in Long John Silver's.

Pap Smear

It's a necessary evil which I really dislike. EEeeeEeeks!

If all goes well, at least it'll be done just once every 3 years.

Quote of the Day

Miffy: Do you love Mummy?
Becks: Yes...
M: Now? At 6 years old?
Becks: Yes.
M: At 16, 26, 36,....? (trying to act cute and smart alecky at the same time with the introduction of arithmetic progression)
Becks: I don't know!
M *feign shock and sadness*: Why not?!
Becks: I'm not 16 yet. How would I know? I'll let you know when I'm 16."

And this is when I realised - again - that my little girl is growing up fast...and outsmarting me.

From the lazy/uninspired

The blog is getting barren....................................................

For Next Milestone

It was surreal, again stepping into an old-designed primary school premise.

M and I took leave to make necessary arrangement for Becks' Primary 1 next year, buying books, school bag, uniforms, etc. We had to sit at an old table and chair in a classroom, shading those circles which you see only in MCQ exam sheets to provide personal particulars *gosh, when was the last time for me?!?*

Another Change?

I'm not sure if I'm ready to embrace this one yet but I realise it doesn't hurt to be open-minded. People may think I'm being psycho-ed but if the change leads to a possibility of freedom (from the regular 9-5 jobs and working under stinkin uninspired bosses who care only about their own pay package and ego), then WHAT is there to lose?

Being the risk-averse person I am, I will take baby steps. Baby but steps (towards a change)nonetheless.

Change

Even if they are lying....!!! My colleagues have passed nice comments about my hairstyle and I'm happy.

Yes, after 18 years, I made a change. I cut my hair above my shoulders. It's finally short! And strange that I feel so liberated.

Our Faceless Enemy

With the recall of more milk-based products made in China, it's certainly taught me one thing - to be more vigilant in reading labels.

While I was ordering my favourite beverage (Chinese teh-c), I couldn't resist asking 'uncle' (seller) outrightly which brand of evaporated and condensed milk he was using to prepare. Laugh if you must but he assured me it came from Thailand, showing me the can as evidence.

The world is made chaotic by mainly greed and ego. We find ourselves at 'war' with the faceless enemy, don't we? We can never win.

2008

In Chinese culture, '8' is regarded as auspicious. Really meh? This year alone, the world has been assaulted with one crisis after another - China milk crisis, huge financial crisis in US...affecting worldwide, political turmoil in Thailand, Malaysia, etc.

So what's the big deal?
But the Chinese won't change their minds, huh?

Sick

Deeno puked and poo-ed badly...until he bled. Is it time already? :(

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

I just returned from a short, packed business trip in Phnom Penh. I fell asleep while a nice hospitable staff there brought us on an introductory ride along Mekong River. Afterall, it was a business trip where every ounce of my energy was spent preparing presentation materials, presenting them, watching AXN, MTV and HBO till late nights and then fighting the fear of sleeping alone in the hotel room.

It's interesting that people can't get the pronunciation of this otherwise-believed-to-be-a-beautiful-capital-city right: "P-nom Pen", "Pom Pen", "F-nom Pen".

Unpredictability

With the collapse of The Lehman Brothers and sale of Merrill Lynch, I remember the one true statement in a movie many years ago that reminded us everything is unpredictable except for death and taxes.

My Piano

After almost a decade, I'm reunited with my good ole piano. My folks, ever so supportive of Becks learning the instrument had arranged for it to be transported to my place on Monday.

Now with its proximity, absence of Miss Chan (that fierce piano teacher of mine! But in retrospect, she was really talented and gave me lots of opportunities) and dreaded exams, I can see how fun playing the piano can be. Now to master Canon in D...

Mid-Autumn Festival *this time I got the name right*

It's the time of the year again when I have additional phobia, besides height. MOONCAKES!

Remembrance & Celebration

I just turned a year older. Nothing much to celebrate as one hits mid-life. But it's always heart-warming to realise close friends and family remember and bother to celebrate and wish in their own way, be it just short-message texting, receipt of birthday cards, simple lunch, a personal drive to wherever, surprised delivery of a 1kg-cake *thank you Mich!* and gift *Angie*.

PS: Photos will be uploaded in Facebook.

Loof

I was thinking of my usual selection of boring places to meet Anne for dinner when she told me, " Come, I bring you to where I usually chill out. It's a cool place."

OK, cool places are for cool people...and the last I checked, I am not cool. I don't even try to be but I didn't want to be a party-pooper, perhaps making her decide internally she will no longer hang out with me so of course I agreed - 100%.

It is a nice place. The drinks are not expensive and ambient music which I love is played. But I still think 'chill-out cool' places are not conducive to chat for long hours. The sofas may look plush but they lack the back-support! They are more aesthetic than aesthetic&functional.

OK, I'm complaining, a sign that I've aged (not gracefully)!

Cough Syrup

I haven't drunk any since I was young. It sends shivers down my spine, goose-bumps arising.

2 days ago, without any sign or symptoms, I found msyelf coughing out thick wads of yellow phelgm *where did it come from?!* The doctor gave me a bottom which I had to consume 10ml 3 times a day. The 1st mouthful had me holding in the syrup in my mouth for about 5 seconds before I dared to swallow.

Ew....
Phelgm, phelgm, go away, never come again another day...

Minuet in F by Mozart

Becks has started playing my Grade 1 pieces, the first being the above. Slowly but surely. I found my interest reviving since she is so determined to learn. I definitely didn't have half of it when I was her age.

To Infinity & Beyond?

The unit price of plain waffles just went up. Gosh, where's the ceiling?

Yes Sir, my "factory" is closed...

Singapore is definitely dynamic, constantly changing. The physical landscapes, the legislation, etc.

The recent announcement on the new maternity package has sparked off much reaction from individuals (newspapers and people around me) and companies (newspapers). I just know that based on my profile, my 'value' may have gone up with most companies so...no complaints. :P

*scratch scratch*

CF gave us 6 adults a Primary 3 (9 years old) Mathematics problem sum to solve. We were all stumped. Should I be worried?

Yakkety Yak Yak

Gosh, the women in my company just cannot stop talking. And guess what? It's always hovering around the same topics, on the same people (read: gossip). They thrive on that!

zzz...Spare me! I have so many REAL things to think about!

Mini "Olympics" 080808

Tick tock tick tock...Time really flies. Where did it all go?

Just last week, I went to the troops' kindergarten to attend their Sports Day. Shamelessly and courageously, I signed up for a parents' race with Becks (would have done for Mong if not for full registration).

It was eye-opening, finally being able to witness all the kiddies gather in a hall singing National Day songs, prancing to the beat of Christian songs (it is a Methodist kindergarten), having their tea time and getting ready for their sports event.

Frankly it wasn't all that enjoyable because it was all of 4 hours in the heat and most of the time, parents had to stand...but it was certainly an experience. Kudos to the principal for daring to go through logistical nightmare to materialise the event!

PS: See the parents dozing off toward the 3rd hour? Eh wait, why only the daddies?!

Service

The property agent who was so impressively efficient at first went 'wa lau' on me. That took the cake. When he found out we were 'slowing down' and not likely to sign the exclusive form with him, he got really aggressive. Whoa bugger, composure!

Strike 1...game over.

House-Viewing

Our first house-viewing...I mean flat-viewing. :P

It was overwhelming to realise we were actually doing it. I never imagined one event would lead to another. It was more of getting the hang of it, understanding what to look out for. It would be really near the school...and it's back to the East where I grew up. :)

OK, hopefully within 2 years...

Papaya Enzyme

Beginning of this year, my company organized a trip for the staff to visit TiTi Eco Farm and since then, most of my female colleagues got hooked with a product they were selling - papaya enzyme powder - due to a wide range of benefits it is believed to offer (of course the top attraction for most of them was weight loss...but really.....!!!).

Undaunted, unfazed, disinterested (one of them described the smell as that of vomit) for months, I finally decided to try after hearing so many of them rave and rant its benefits, so early this morning, marked my debut. It didn't taste and smell badly although there was still some getting used to.

I just don't want to battle with constipation anymore!

Home Schooling

My colleague bounced to my desk and chirped: "Good news! Our application is approved..."

He and his wife still belong to the minority which decides to homeschool their children. It's a huge commitment afterall and also not easy to qualify (I understand one of the spouses must not hold a full-time job and given the rising cost of living, please tell me how many of such people can afford to do so?!).

I'm very envious though in 2 aspects - they had the CHOICE and they went ahead with it and...they will have so much more time with their child! I see my colleagues so much more than my family!!!

True Blue Singaporean

Reference to an online news today, M and I are becoming a rare breed.

Wow, 30 years ago, who woulda thought? Worrying....

Random (again)

Gardenia's raisin buns with melted Laughing Cow's cream cheese is the best combination ever!

Yes I'm still at it...

Congratulations, Michy!

At 4pm, I received an sms - 1 sentence - bearing a significant news. It is official - Michy is engaged! :)

From the beginning when it was turbulent with what's-the-bastard's-name till today, I dare say I was there in tune with her emotions and the details. The journey was indeed long and treacherous but it wasn't in vain. It shows good things do happen to good girls.

This is the beginning of another (big) chapter of your life, gal...Congrats my friend.

Blast from the Past

15 years ago, I knew this person when I was looking for tuition assignment to earn extra personal allowance. Then we realised we were admitting into the same faculty in university and decided to join the same orientation camps and take the same modules.

I'm not sure how we let ourselves graduate without exchanging contact numbers. Then emails were not popular, much less cell phones with text-messaging service.

Today I spoke to Lisa again. She married the guy she was with back then, have 3 kids now and still sounds the same, remembering many significant details of my life.

Random

I wonder why people instinctively make the clucking sound to a baby (up to 15 months?). It's irritating.

P1 Registration

Let me update: the phone call did come. The waiting is done. The registration is completed and now the result is to arrive by tomorrow.

The outcome will lead to a significant change, actually, there are a few alternatives but they are all the same in that they point to one thing - COST.

Scary...

Clean Up Your Act

When did we last have the anti-littering campaign? You see, if we had, then citizens have truly forgotten to apply.

Walking along the usual path to the train station this morning, I was flanked on both sides with LITTER. I do see cleaners at work but I guess the rate at which rubbish is thrown is way faster than it takes for them to clean up!

Yums~~~

Perhaps it's because sis is not in Singapore now and thanks to this, mom finds the energy to whip out her best singular asset - cooking!!!

It was sis' birthday and how best to celebrate it but at home with the whole family over great Cantonese dishes (inclusive of one of her many signature soups)?

The picture doesn't even justify!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIS!!!

Moo Moo

I am in love...with Laughing Cow's cream cheese! One wedgie per day...

Le Treebird

Wassat again??!!?

Well, my uber-creative friend (which I think so...yes WL, I think so) has struck. This time in the form of e-entrepreneurship, a path trodded by many. I like the way her web-store is laid out and the way her items are named.

With a huge penchance for green bean soup, one can easily guess I'm buying the strap!

Go check it out yourself :)

From Downunder

Sis returns for a business meeting but not without a family dinner! And Tim Tams!

The Waiting Game

I hate waiting for The Phone Call. I thought only those involved in the dating game get to go through this agony, wondering if the guy/lady will contact you for that 1st or subsequent date. NO! As it turned out, M and I are still 'in the game', but a different one.

Torturous...

Ouch...

If you think your life sucks, wait till you wake up with a stiff neck, then you'll find that things spiral down pretty much from there.

Primary One Registration Exercise

The current bane of most pre-schoolers' parents' existence started yesterday. I am referring to the nation's widely-publicized P1 Registration Exercise.

WHICH PRIMARY SCHOOL WILL BECKS END UP IN?????????????????

I hate myself for believing this is the most important thing in my life right now. 2 decades ago, parents did not place an ounce of emphasis on elementary school. As long as the school was near home, nothing else matters.

Today, we shift house, we do volunteer work (school or GRC), we try to know the 'right people', etc. all in an attempt to admit your child into that primary school which has been branded to be coveted.

Truly in every aspect of life, there is a Louis Vuitton that we hope for.

The Sneetches

I love this story. It's still difficult to explain to Becks, not yet 6, the meaning of discrimination. But I tried my best...and wanted her to know that if we discriminate, it becomes our weakness and there will be people out there who can detect and take advantage of it.

How does a parent impart emotional intelligence and grade the quotient?

The Incredible Hulk

Liv Tyler has a truly beautiful face but her dialogue, being so plain and flat made her irritating throughout the movie.

Edward Norton, Edward Norton, Edward Norton...just watch it for him. :P

A Robotic Lover

Today I'm really free at work (and because I want to make such bold declarations in my blog, NOT a single colleague knows about this blog of mine!) so my mind (and finger) explored online news until I came across this disturbing article.

I know the world has gotten more liberalized and hence, paradoxically more complicated but a robot as one's sexual lover????? In 2050, my kids will still be in their 40s only. The girl in her sexual peak (still, right?), the boy....well.... I hope the day does not come when either one of them tells me: "Mummy, I would like you to meet my Wall-E. Press F1 to communicate in English, F2 in Mandarin...."

The One-cent Coin

The coincidence. Yesterday I tried to teach Becks money conversion. She asked what it meant by 100cents being equivalent to $1. So I told her it's 100 of 1-cent coins. She asked me how it looked like and I went to search for one. I couldn't find any at home...and I started to wonder where they had all gone.

Today's article reported contrary to my situation. 600 million are still out there kept by people!
"A penny saved is a penny earned" (Benjamin Franklin?) I guess.

Gal-Bonding Movie

We did it - Mich and I watched SATC on a weekday afternoon! A nice and lazy afternoon...

The cinema was filled with mainly females (expected) and 'victims of torture' (the females' boyfriend/husband/BMF).

A Thousand Splendid Suns

Undaunted by embarrassment arising from my own public emotional display, I had reserved online Hosseini's next book. I received notice that the book is ready for collection from the library today. Easy peasy!

Another Debut

We did it! Becks and I played a duet to My Heart Will Go On on the piano. Niceeeeeeeeeee...

A Day Out!

One really doesn't need to drive, spend much money to bring kids to the latest attractions during the school holidays.

Without M, I managed my 2 active troops well and took them to another New Town on a double-decker bus. Seated on the upper deck right in front, they excitedly took in all sights in the fullest view for 3o minutes. When we returned home, we took the MRT, travelling from one end of the island to another, changing platforms. I tried to make it more interesting and educational with my best of explanation and knowledge of things they observed.

On the way home, a blind man alighted at the same bus-stop with us. With nobody else available and heading the same direction, we helped him with his walking cane to his place. Becks, as usual, asked a lot of questions about him after we parted. I took the chance to help her understand about helping 'helpless strangers' and what can be defined as a good samaritan.

It was such fruitful 'excursion'...to me. I hope the troops felt the same way too, simply based on time well-spent with their mommy. :)

How to Say No Without Really Saying No

I think I saw a book with the above title under the Self-Improvement Section in a bookstore before...and remember scoffing at it, convinced it was 200 pages of bullsh*t.

Now, I'm not so sure anymore. It might contain tips which I might find handy in my daily work life now!

In the meantime, just beat it.................................!!!

And the point being...?

Did you read the article in yesterday's The Straits Times about a mother of a 6-year-old who packed her preschooler with courses and tuition during the school holidays? At the end of the article, she was quoted as saying that her girl could at least read secondary level essays now.

I'm wondering what her main objective is. Maybe 10 years on, she'll be interviewed again and the insane mother would proudly declare: "Victoria can now understand NASA reports at 1st glance and decode the Zodiac."

Randomness vs Organization

"Randomness is very difficult to achieve. Organization always merges back if you don't pay attention..."

- The Science of Sleep
(a must-see for its quirks)

Board Game Debut

My troops and I had our first game of Snakes 'N' Ladders together.

Chocolatey Heaven

Had a nice overdued lunch with DDD. She gave me a 'bag of heaven' which came in the form of numerous golden balls of F. Roche chocolates.

Yes I will remember to share with my troops!

PTM 2008

The feedback from their teachers was heartwarming. There is nothing to worry about my troops' academic progress and physical & mental development and I am very thankful for this blessing.

Apparently Becks has been extending her 'big sister' nature even outside home. She has been especially sensitive towards a new student who has difficulty in catching up especially in English (he is a Filipino) so she highlighted his problem to the teachers. She had also been observed to ensure this boy had his lunches properly.

As for Mong, well well, his 'best friend' appears to be a really sweet big-eyed girl called Nixie.
Kids start young in a lot of areas, don't they?

Iron Man

Didn't like it.

But make-up does wonders. I didn't realise Robert Downey Jr. can look so handsome.

Are you Black-berrized?

I've gotten addicted to Mr Bean's cheese pancake. It's all I ever think about, at each waking moment whenever my stomach is near growling.

Talk about addiction, I didn't catch the sample population that the survey had taken but I heard that "67% of the people brought their Blackberry into the toilet". 3 decades in this world and so much has changed. Makes me wonder what people will bring another 3 decades from now.

Happy Birthday

My papa turns 64 today...

The Kite Runner

I'm halfway through with the book. Thanks to WL's persistent recommendation (again), I finally plucked it up from the libary. God only knows how many times my eyes have grown swollen with tears. I better control myself or stop reading it in public!

Racism...NOT!

It's almost a daily ritual that the troops head downstairs to play with their good friends after their nap. After a month, I realised that it may not be such a good idea afterall. It turns out that their affable full-time caregiver, their paternal grandma is a RACIST. Honestly, there is nothing more worrying for me than to have my kids exposed to racism.

It's definitely retrogression!

Family Dinner

Sis came over for dinner and as usual, it was a fantastic meal cooked by Mrs Lee filled with the biggest and freshest fish and many different types of mushrooms. This is just a stop-over; she leaves on Thursday for the 2nd major chapter of her life...in Sydney.

As Easy As ABC?

Miffy: A...."aeh"...what begins with A? Apple? Ae....
Mong: Advertisement.
Miffy: ???!!!!

Miffy: C...it has 2 sounds. "K" and "Ce"....
Mong: Cotton! Cylinder!
Miffy: ???!!!!

I am guessing he picked those up from Nursery.

The "C"s

It's Facebook News again. Only recently did I realise there are close to 200 albums posted by my list of friends which are available for viewing. So I have gotten a bit more busy during office hours. :P

One of them caught my eye. She must be doing very well, featuring all the "C"s she has achieved - Car, Condo, Cash, Couture (bags, shoes, a glass case filled with jewellery?!) - but I wonder if it is a fine line between vaunting and sharing. WHAT IS YOUR POINT?

Bad Habit

I realised I have another perpetual bad habit besides nail-biting (this is old news).
Friends will know I love to snack. After a meal, there's definitely stomach for more things sweet. Whenever I enter a confectionary/hawker centre, I'll buy so many different pieces that there are bound to be left-overs, placed in the fridge...and then they are forgotten until....................

Catching-Up

I forget how nice it can get to chat with a friend at my place across the dining table, over pies and tea. These days we keep using the ones at Starbucks or some chic cafes.

See you again soon, :B. Try to make your return yearly.

Sight & Sound

I know we should love our fellowmen but I can't help observing them more closely and criticizing them. 2 Chinese women are often seen at the playground downstairs my place. 1 talking loudly over her cellphone, seated on the bench with her legs wiiiide apart (airing?!) and another once seen plucking her armpit hair (cheap and easy grooming?!).

Talk about 2 of our 5 senses assaulted. Ewww!

Pronunciation

I love to listen to CF, my company's HR Senior Manager pronounce some words: "children", "twelve".

Picture her, all serious-looking, not so-badly dressed, armed with a degree (and soon, MBA), fluent in English, Mandarin, Japanese and Hainanese, asking a candidate: "So do you have any chew-ren? How long have you worked? Chelve years?"

Proper pronunciation...It can make or break your image too. Back to basics, woman!

Undomestic Me

Jun, our domestic worker, finally left for The Philippines on 2 May midnight. Apprehension leading to this day has been built up, resulting in some nights of fitful sleep - I kid you not!

But I'm glad for the 'opportunity'. Since I had Becks, I have never done without a maid so the thought of doing everything domestic, ESPECIALLY cooking* freaks me out. You can't blame me. Since Home Economics at age 14, I have not even fried an egg. Vivid memories of my teacher giving criticisms over my Bombay Toast still haunt me.

So day 5 and counting...but certainly surviving well.

* Porridge on Sat was a disaster. Thanks to M, for his sensitive palate and rescue!

Resolution

I must scream at Becks less.............................. :P

In Abundance

Women are getting bolder....or maybe I'm just stuck in ice-old age. Cleavage, cleavage, cleavage!

A Fulfilling Day!

The day with :B was marked by 3 significant things - (1) endless beverages, (2) a warped movie and (3) well-spent with great friends.

It started with lunch and our TT. It was like a small reunion, back-dated to 3 years. Then we had teh-si, a before-dinner juice, iced water during dinner and hot drink for dessert. It's no wonder I felt bloated at the end of the day.

The movie - Taxidermia was my selection. OK, it was very hard to digest and it didn't help that it was in Hungarian with English subtitles. I wouldn't say it was really enjoyable but it was certainly UNIQUE in that the theme, though common and probably even easy to relate, was depicted in the most raw form. It reminded me of those many 'weird' shows which I watched with WL during Film Festival.

And finally, Mich and Say joined us. The last time us 4 gathered was about 1.5 years ago. I'm glad we are still around, enjoying good food and one another's company!

Official Day 1

The new Japanese Manager just arrived for his new assignment. Did I share? He has a habit of winking his eye and giving the thumbs-up sign whenever one does a favour for him. Maybe he's confused himself to be George Clooney.

Anyway, this morning, I was given the signature wink when we exchanged greetings. I better get used to it...for the long haul.

Age Gap

Quote: "Yea...he's 4 years younger. Actually acceptable age difference is 3 years max. 4 years is truly pushing it."

- SK, 34

The good news. SK, one of us 4, has been proposed. Her actually-not-boyfriend has proposed to her. Apparently he had bought the ring and kept in his bag for sometime before 'launching the attack'. But what was truly amazing and baffling was before that, SK and him were not dating exclusively. They hadn't held hands once during their many dates for a year now (so I assumed they had also never been intimate).

So...finally, it makes us Four Married Ones soon.

Au Revior

I met up with the 3 gals last night. As usual, it was great. The next one could be a long long time from now given that QT is going to shift to New Zealand for at least 2 years. Her husband got a new job there.

QT brought Xavier, her cute smiley 4-month boy. Commonly known among friends not to be one who is crazy about kids (except my own!), I kept carrying and communicating with him. Maybe also to ease QT's inconvenience while she ate her dinner *how nice I am as a friend eh!*. He was so responsive it was almost hard to let go in the end.

Now just dun ask me if my maternal instincts went on overdrive. It didn't!

Hair and Beauty

They tend to come in the same mold - fair, clear, porcelain complexion, naturally sweet-faced...and hairy arms. Hair that is long enough, like willows for the wind to blow.

There ought to be a case study to show the relation. The result could be interesting.

Nail Art (part 2)

It was one of the Taiwan business trips - I kid you not. That's why to advise 'never mix business with pleasure' is bullshit.

Nail Art (part 1)

A Sad News

Jun, my maid never made it to see her father one last time before his last breath. She was scheduled to return home from 2 to 16 May to see her whole family. Then she received a call through my mom's cell phone that her father had passed away the day before...in his sleep.

I got the news at 10am...and went on to attend my meeting with a damn heavy heart...

Energy Consumption

Working experience in the central area has changed. By this I mean there are now so many more retail areas for people to de-stress during lunch-time or after-office hours. MRT stations are also equipped with music to welcome commuters early in the morning. * seriously I wonder if it really helps? To make us feel more sophisticated as people working in an executive environment (as opposed to sad faraway industrial areas chucked in the corners of Singapore)?* Then there are small flat screens in the lifts of some office buildings, showing stock market performance, "Did You Know" segments and general affairs. When we get to our office during peak hours, the lift gets so packed I bet nobody is going to crane their necks to read that finger and toe nails take 6 months to grow fully from the nail bed to the top.

My point is - we must be consuming electricity exponentially in the past years! They say things that go up must come down. I don't have much faith where the price of crude oil is concerned. We can only grit our teeth and bear it...and pray we don't lose our jobs.

5th Anniversary

I broke my own record - today is exactly my 5th year in the same company...without much feeling of dread and boredom yet! But the road ahead remains uncertain...

Being a Chaperone

Whatever problems or obstacles faced, they dissolve the moment I see my troops upon reaching home before sunset.

They have found some good friends to play with every evening at the playground. Yesterday I was amused with myself for playing 'chaperone' to 6 kids...and I think - I can do this everyday!

Yummm~~~

Guilty as charged - I snacked. Less than an hour after I posted my last entry.

Right after a rather heavy lunch with Mich, we proceeded for teh si and kaya toast. Finally an outlet with thick crispy toast and enough rich & creamy kaya. I was starting to lose faith completely.

Like most people who are struggling with abstinence, I comfort myself that THERE IS ALWAYS TOMORROW.

PS: The charm bracelet is in my hands now. Nice! Do check out BNW!

It Is Time

You know it is time to....

1. Quit your bad habit (nail-chewing)
when your colleague passing by your workstation tells you :"Hey, stop biting your nail."
(Oops. Was I? In broad daylight when your GM was seated so near?)

2. Cut your hair
when your 5-year-old daughter had commented more than thrice during the weekend :"Mummy, why is your hair so messy?"
(oh....it's just the wind. Oh....it's the fashion these days - the just-got-out-of-bed fashion. Oh....*damn. I ran out of excuses*)

3. Buy more work clothes
when you spent more than 10 min every morning at your wardrobe, swinging hangers from left to right, right to left.

4. Buy more work clothes - part II
when you wonder when the next time you will go to your folks' place where you can run through your younger sis' wardrobe (she has A LOT of new clothes which she did not bring to Vietnam!).

5. Stop snacking
when your colleagues whom you see everyday commented that you have a double-chin and seemed to have put on weight (I thought the weight gain is subtle! Only my clothes are a bit tighter now...but my reflection in the mirror....)

6. Panic
when your GM doesn't care a thing you are saying anymore (because he's leaving soon!).
A few outstanding issues and project....how, who, what, when? I was almost going to take the initiative to take them up because shamefully, 2 of my staff have expressed concern over his, hence mine, nonchalance. Then I consulted 'some people'. M summed it up for me - "Don't be a hero".

Heros always die in the end, don't they?

Sophie Kinsella

Phew! Glad Mich has heard of and even has a collection of Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella! Hope she likes my gift...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FRIEND!

I love the author. Ever since I've stumbled upon her books in the library, I've been zooming straight to the KIN shelf to check if there are any others not on loan. She's nice-looking and she's got a great sense of humour. Now how many of our girlfriends belong to this category? :PPP

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

While I was battling with my sinus on the way to work - as usual! - I couldn't help but glance at the packet of facial tissue from which I had been pulling continuously pieces and pieces to save my morning. "Cutie" says the plastic...with a picture of a baby with black curly hair in diapers (wait, or is it a rikishi???).

I am amused. Who comes up with the designs? Imagine a group of guys in smart black Hugo Boss suits coming together for a meeting, working overtime daily, brainstorming designs that will capture the hearts of consumers. And finally, the CEO goes : "I like the baby! We go for that one!"

My Neighbour

There are some people in this world whom you should never have a run-in if your life depends on it. In-laws (especially MOTHER-in-law. It is an innate quality for most women to not forgive and/or forget), colleagues (you see them more often than you see anyone else), boss (you are f*cked! Forget about that increment...) and neighbours (they know who lives in your unit, what living style you adopt, what your underwear looks like).

I went through it, albeit a slight one (actually how should I define 'slight'? It's not like there's a meter to measure this sorta thing) last weekend.

For months I had tolerated with their frequent drilling, the screechy sound of furniture being dragged across the floor, their dog pit-pattering across, marbles dropping on the floor at anytime of the day...and night, etc. So while I was watching a movie in a blissful state and my troops were napping, this sudden loud drilling came directly above my head! I was shocked and angered. True enough, the troops were jolted from their slumberland and Mong was shrieking, inconsolable. That angered me even more, so I trudged upstairs immediately and rang the doorbell.

Once, twice...nothing. Then I heard a child's voice inside so I was certain at least an adult was home. I knocked on the wooden door a few times and finally, a crack opened. The face that met me wasn't polite. The attitude that accompanied it was even worse - she was haughty and defensive while explaining to me about decibels and that 'drilling was community noise'.

Community noise??!!! Drilling??? I told her I wasn't convinced because there are time restrictions and since it was a Sunday, actually no prolonged drilling should be allowed. She was almost close to slamming the door when she kept going, "You can check with NEA. OK?....OK?!" What was I to do? So I said "OK" and with that, she closed the door. *bitch!*

Seething, I called the neighbourhood police to confirm there is no 'acceptable decibel' but for drilling works to be carried out, it boiled down to how long and if the resident/s was tolerant enough. *ha! I win!* A few exciting options swam my mind. I could either get the police to check on them or slip in a note, quoting so-and-so about her being wrong. Well, luckily I managed to calm down and stay rationale within 10 seconds. No sense in worsening things with your neighbours. Also, I still had that lovely movie to complete...and Mong was already pacified and resuming his nap. So I went back to my normal life and decided to close the case.

The highlight of my Sunday.

LIFE

RJ told me she has been thinking about life. Well this was through sms so I did not ask further and neither did she elaborate. The first thing that went through my mind were a couple of words - osteoporosis and calcium.

Osteoporosis is one disorder that hits women and we should all be very concerned about delaying the process. Calcium is the key, right? I don't suppose the milk in my teh tarik and teh si counts, so other than that, I really don't consume milk or any other dairy products.

I need to get calcium pills pronto. What's a good brand? All the same isn't it??? It's just a matter of aggressive marketing and hence, different retail pricing (what does sis' voice keep ringing in my ear? FYI - she is in product marketing). So first, to battle with the Devil Procrastinator in me. *the problems that I have.....life...*

User Acceptance Testing

For a module which was going to be launched on 1 April and having presented to about 25 companies already, the fact that we are still going through UAT and the 3rd one is a fucking worrying sign.

It doesn't end. There were still observations to be rectified! By when, by when??????

The system developer seemed to be losing their steam. To be fair, they were very competent and great to work with at the start. After 2.5 years and a continuous series of phases, I guess every normal human being will get burnt out. But professionally speaking, should it even happen? Can we get our money back? :P

Zzz

I go to work today, bleary-eyed. It's been some time since my physical endurance has been put to the test. Mong had a temperature of 39C at 3:30am. After medication and sponging, by the time he fell asleep and I fell asleep, it must have been close to 6am already (I dared not look at the time!).

Luckily there is nothing major going on today. I have mastered the art of sleeping with my eyes open afterall..........

Get Butt Naked!

I have to post about one of my very few close friends who have not yet been claimed by exhausting motherhood and/or auntiness, one still with a lot of zest and healthy sense of fashion and entrepreneurship.

I met her over lunch and teh-si, always enjoyable with our crappiness, bitchiness, seriousness. She showed me a few pieces of accessories which she has bought for her e-shop, something which was conceived many years ago I believe, and finally born out of creativity, hard work and risk-taking.

Kudos, Mich! And congrats for finally taking the leap!

Beauty is Impermanent

Following M's footsteps, after watching Daniel Day-Lewis' sterling performance in There Will be Blood, I found myself interested, curious in fact to see him again in The Last of the Mohicans.

It actually felt weird to find him so attractive in the latter movie because he's not really there now. Then I did the Math and realised when it was filmed, he was a good 34 years old only (*hint hint* I turn 34 this year). No wonder the aura of manliness!

Beauty is truly impermanent. Hell 'yea! What did I expect??? At this point, some people may think I'm being shallow and cliche...the artsy people will go "his looks may have left but his craft gets better with age".

I don't disagree.

For ole times' sake?

Just met the gals for lunch and we were thinking up a list of secondary school classmates whom we wanted to see, either out of curiosity ("let's see who got fat and ugly" or "are you really that pretty or successful as so-and-so had claimed?") or genuine interest ("are you doing fine in life? I'll like to see you again after this").

The combination ended up seeming odd. I wonder if it can materialize!

F.A.T.

I saw my photos taken 4 years ago....thought I'd never say this about myself - I got fat!

Sunny Side Up!

The sun finally shines again this morning.

Que Sara Sara

Lunch was with my boss at Ma Maison Restaurant @ Central. It was organized personally to break the news officially to me that he is leaving on 1 May. I thought I was soaked in hell already. Looks like the journey to the ultimatum is nowhere near ending yet. It is likely I will report directly to the MD... petty emotional power-hungry...any more substitutes for HORROR?

Que sara sara....................................

To be or not to be...married

A few secondary school galfriends have located me in Facebook recently. I wonder why their first question tends to be: "Are you married? Have kids yet?" One of them was amusing. She added - "I'm not and don't intend to be."

OK OK! I wasn't asking!
(I don't care even if you die a virgin)

Taiwan (4-7 Mar)

I am easily coaxed in the company of energetic gal friends. Energetic for retail therapy, grooming, etc, that is. I did nail art for the first time. In Taiwan no less. All 10 fingernails in leopard spots, bright as day.

RRRRoarrr!!!

The business trip was mentally gruelling but thankfully, the testing completed half a day earlier which enabled us some free time. We woke up at 6:30am on the last day to catch a train to Taipei City, then to Danshui. Picture this....Raffles Place to Boon Lay.

No regrets. The weather and the scenery were fantastic.

Uppity Gourmet

On a lighter note, the dinner at Shang Palace on Friday night wasn't bad if you focus on the food SOLELY. I heard it cost about S$200 per person. I can live with that, given that I'll never splurge that kind of money on food.

Out on a LimP

5 days and Mas Selamat is still out there, on a limp.

It's really a big jolt to everything about Singapore. Can we reset? And how far back...in order to restore people's confidence?

Shangri-La=Torture

It happens when you have dinner, seated at the same table with 5 Japanese men who are management. It doesn't matter how good and expensive the food is, how fantastic the ambience is.

All of a sudden, I miss my plate of $3-chicken rice.

Basically, actually...(what talking you?!)

Have you encountered people who, in their effort to mask their nervousness or lack of fluency using the words 'actually' and 'basically' excessively (not necessarily both at the same time) in just a few sentences?

So I found myself very amused when I received a call from a lady who tried to make a sales pitch.

Bad me...I know she's just doing her job.

Manhunt of the Year

Biggest news ever in Singapore and nothing is reported about 'how' and 'why' it happened in the papers! I thought we were always taught to give comprehensive account of happenings with the 5 'W's and 1 'H' - who, what, when, where & why and how?!

I don't even spend 80c on newspapers now. Do you? :P

Latest

It is confirmed - Sis' next posting is Sydney.

Atheism-my problem

I've always been an atheist. But the moments that always make me wish I wasn't will be when I'm travelling in an airplane through turbulence and when I'm along the roads of a developing country where traffic is crazy.

Recently, I found myself holding my breath a lot and mumbling words but not knowing who to say them to.

To the Power of Infinity

Want the real definition? The number of kids in Brangelina's household.
She's pregnant again?!!

New Delhi

New Delhi was amazing. I mean if I disregarded the fact I went there with my boss, was insufficiently-clothed (weather information on the internet was wrong?!), had a physically taxing flight schedule, it impressed me that the city with a population of 14 million people did not have a single Starbucks outlet.

While the rest of the world has been invaded by the coffee culture, this city remains resilient. Staying at a hotel with a room rate of about S$400 per night, I didn't have MTV and HBO channels but movies and entertainment news pertaining only to their very own Bollywood stars.

India

You read it right - India trip. It's tonight, it's for business, it's barely 24 hours before I'll hit home again.

It is gonna be sooooo tiring. And it doesn't help that I hear horrifying stories concerning hygiene (whatever can I drink there????).

I hope SQ has nice movies for me to take my mind off things.

Ya-ya Sisterhood

Sis was back for one whole day yesterday. I was soooo glad my India trip was postponed to today, otherwise lunch-shopping-tea-more shopping with her would not have been possible!

She just returned from a 10-day leisure trip from Denmark and through her, my ignorance towards the country was alleviated. I confess I just realised:

1. Denmark people are not Dutch. They are Danish.

2. Denmark is known for Hans Christian Anderson (at least I remembered he wrote "Thumbelina" (refer to my email address*hee*), B&O and Danish cookies (those sold in nice tins in Cold Storage...but sis said Danish doesn't eat them!)

3. 1 krone has hearts on the coin and a hole in the centre of it.

4. Danish are effectively bi-lingual, English being one of them.

****

Sis will return to Ho Chi Minh this morning, back to the grind. She said her next job posting may be Sydney, Australia.

Shen's Visit

I can't possibly leave this out. Shen, having returned from Scotland, visited the troops at my place on 13 Feb. I marvelled at his way with them and their enthusiam with him. It is also not often that a friend sits with us at the dining table to enjoy a meal. For a tiny affair, I must say it gave me a great feeling!

"Lo Hei" Dinner

I always dread social events, worse if it's among people I'm not remotely close to. But I realised each time it is over, I'd be glad I went because it was personally fulfilling (I was involved in the lucky draw prize distribution and manning the venue).

The organizer is probably in her late 60s, a veteran in such events. For those born in the 70s, you'll probably remember "Er gu" in Kopi-O during SBC days. Notwithstanding oldies crooning old songs which were probably a huge hit in their hay days but left me completely clueless and bored, she held the show really well with her cute antics and jokes. And then there was the upbeat performance of 2 dancing 'sisters' who reminded me so much of the ones in "881" but were probably more than twice older with figure TO DIE FOR. With a change of 4 flamboyant costumes, besides having middle-aged men drooling in their seats, I was enraptured myself.

In the end, basic decoration in a HDB estate's multi-purpose hall as venue, nothing dampened anyone's spirits. It was a success!

Singapore Flyer

I haven't taken the cable car for at least 2 decades. My folks had been the ones who brought the troops to experience the thrill the past few times. It's not my lack of time, it's my phobic for heights.

With Singapore Flyer operating very soon and with all its hype, I wonder if I'll give it a miss in this lifetime or face my Fear Factor.

Go Green

I think many Singaporeans are still not very environmentally-friendly. I've noticed that they still do not reject plastic bags when buying a small item.

This morning on the way to work, I noticed an Executive lady struggling to chuck something into the dustbin. Curiosity overriding disgust, I peeped in and saw a few newspapers ("My Paper")!

Can meh??????

I'm not aiming to be the spokesperson of the latest green campaign but I do try my best. Maybe because nowadays when I'm out, I'm usually with my troops. To be a responsible parent emcompasses (almost) everything. It is rewarding whenever Becks, who's growing ever so fast, chimes each time she sees me rejecting a plastic bag: "Mummy, we don't need plastic bags all the time right? SAVE THE EARTH!"

Multi-tasking?

Eating Doritos cheese crackers and typing on the computer keyboard at the same time can be messy!

Duet

I forgot to share that after months of avoidance (on my part) and offer of physical and financial support from my parents, Becks has started taking up piano lessons since the beginning of this year.

It is heartening to know that more than a month later, more than 6 lessons later, she is still keen. Just a few days ago, she even asked if we could even play a duet one day!

I tell myself the moment she is progressing towards Grade 1, I will shift my piano from my parents' place to mine, albeit lack of space (!!!!). And perhaps with inspiration, I may just start taking up refresher lessons too.

Be My Parrot

"I love you mummy" Mong says it very well whenever I ask him to.

I wonder when he'll be too embarrassed to be my 'parrot' once he realises the true meaning. So for kicks, I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

Heels

The high-heeled shoes which women wear to work these days can be weapons. That piece of metallic-looking chunk! I'm lost in the world of fashion. Always has been.

CNY Cards

They come only electronically now. What with vibrant colours and motions...but they are not as impressive as the physical ones which we used to get plenty via the post. Who does it anymore these days?

My life...my job

I've become so boring now. Besides having expanded my vocabularly in cursing my boss, I can't seem to have a decent conversation with my close friends without complaining how sickeningly bad my working life is right now.

Anyway if I focus on the good side, at least I have a compatible colleague in the same project. We recently went to Shanghai for a meeting. My I-will-never-share-a-hotel-room-with-anyone policy collapsed when I entered the room and felt the creeps. I had never have bad vibes before, prior to this business trip.

Now business trips will take on a whole new different meaning...

Bak Kut Teh

I forgot how good it tasted. Had the one at Havelock Road. YUMMY!

Uganda

I kept wanting to post this but always ended up forgetting, only to remember whenever I was far from internet connection like crossing a road, bathing, buying stuff from Watsons, etc.

An article I read in a magazine has been imprinted in my mind since I read it last year.

Girls from very poor families in Uganda were constantly sucked in a vicious cycle of not being able to fulfil their educational pursuit. How so? Sanitary pads from international export became too costly for them so during their menstrual cycle, they couldn't go to school for about 10 days. But thankfully, now with cheaper alternatives from domestic production, they can afford the pads and are able to go to school to complete a level seamlessly.

There are so many issues in the world that we can never imagine because we take so many things for granted. We truly forget how lucky we are.

Stressssed

I'm quite stressed at work these days - I anticipate a potential staff crisis by April. Hope I'm wrong.

It doesn't help that I'll be leaving for Taipei and Shanghai for the whole of next week for work. I heard the latter country's winter is biting and Mich, having visited there recently came back sick for 3 days!

Praying Mantis

A huge praying mantis was in my dining area last night. 2nd one I've seen in my 33.5 years...

Go with the Flow

"If we don't change the direction we are headed, we will end up where we are going." Chinese Proverb.

- Nineteen Minutes
By Jodi Picoult

Which one???????

Hand Gesturing

I was amused by a woman in front of me, talking on the mobile phone, pointing somewhere with the index finger among other wild hand gestures, as if the person on the other line could SEE what she was pointing at.

Do people really forget?

Time for (real) work

After enjoying 3 half-days for festivities & a company event and annual leave clearance in Dec, I told myself when I woke up this morning that I WILL BE AT WORK - mentally!

Ever since realising my boss is a slave driver, I have been coping with a growing resentment. I don't want to channel it elsewhere, even on him. Work consumes so much of our time so I can't let it take over me like a virus.

Some Kind of Wonderful

"Your child may turn out to be one of the most wonderful people you will meet in life" (something like that)

- Bill Murray's character in Lost in Translation

1st Day

1.5 years ago, I blogged about my anxiety towards Mong's apparent speech delay. Of course things have improved much since. Time has also flown. He went to Nursery today - his first day! Though it was an emotional and physical (no kidding!) struggle, things went well. Thanks to my mom for ensuring that. Again, I emphasize family is best.

Don't forget that.