Attack of the Stilettos

It is finally in the news. I think years ago, I observed and blogged about the menancing structure of the heels women wear these days that could jolly well double-up as a weapon when the women are provoked.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/ap/20100211/twl-eu-britain-stiletto-stabbing-c8e2916.html

OUCH!

JB

Shen is back and off we went for our 'annual trip' to JB!

No more horror films please, guys.
The caramel popcorn can stay.

PS: Wow, I still remember my password to assess my blogspot. :P

Little Red Dot

I was having a discussion with CF about international business etiquette this morning, how some of our colleagues seem to lack.

My interest was triggered and I went to google it to learn more about this understated subject. Finding this website, I clicked on Asia intending to learn more about Singapore - my home country. And....what?! It's not on the world map yet????? Is the website outdated? Or simply, it is recognized that Singapore has no culture of its own at all? :P

Monopoly-Singapore Edition

We got this classic board game for Becks' 7th birthday and had our debut play on Saturday sans Travis.

M and I realised we have completely forgotten the rules of the game that it's not as straight-forward. No wonder it is recommended for those above 8 years old...maybe even older! But Becks was quite psyched already, asking when after her exams she could play again.

Hear ye, hear ye?

This news - PSLE 2009 - is it new? I seem to be reading news concerning the furore that arises from Math papers almost every year.

"However, the parents’ fear of poor grades for their children may be unfounded since they will be compared against the entire cohort’s performance."
- so the point (to set difficult questions) being???

SSDD* lah...









* same shit different day

Handle With Care

Jodi Picoult's latest had me in tears.
Pick it up to read!

PS: I don't want to gender stereotype but her novels are likely targetted and appreciated by females.

Reality Bites

Travis likes this 8-year-old boy, Zann. For almost a year, after kindergarten, they would play together until Zann's school bus arrived and whisked him away for his afternoon session.

So naturally his shifting house has affected Travis.

I didn't realise how much until I asked him yesterday if he still saw Zann *what was I thinking, right?*.
He shook his head and gave the most forlorn expression. I consoled him by saying, "Old friends don't go, new friends don't come" to which he dejectedly replied, "I don't want new friends."

Aww.........................

While my heart goes out to me, well he's on a life journey afterall. His mother is still on it, learning to face differing emotions and managing them.

Chin Chin

Most locals would know this renowned Hainanese Chicken Rice coffeeshop along Purvis Street.

CF sked me what I felt like eating today after our 'shopping expedition' at Robinsons (she on retail therapy, me on the road of desperation to get a pair of shoes for this Sunday's wedding dinner)...so after considering the area, I suggested 'Chin Chin'.

CF, armed with all her eloquence in Japanese, laughed at my pronunciation^ and advised that I never say that to a Japanese man.

Luckily recently when I asked the young trainee for lunch, intending that he tries local cuisine, I didn't go, "Iwata-san, you heard of Chin Chin? Want to try?"


^ Chinchi is the male's *ahem* anatomy

The Big Connection

One thing had led to another....

On 20 Sep, it became official that Nanny is Travis' godmother!
I don't know what to expect or should be expected but when I agreed, there was just one basic criteria in my mind which I believe she can fulfil - responsibility.

11 years on, I never imagined Nanny to turn out to be this connected to me.

Boo!

Recently I have an inexplicable thirst for horror movies. Know any good ones? ;)

Dry Run

We did the dry run at the hotel yesterday. It helps when the other emcee is full of initiative.

I'm not sure how prepared/ill-prepared we are...but after the session, we concluded we are certainly doing up an EMERGENCY script. What constitutes an 'emergency'? Murphy Law hits when one least expects it! Have I gotten myself into more than what I've bargained for? Afterall I did offer my help....:x

Slip...of the Tongue

Because of a confrontation at work, I learnt about Freudian slip. Sometimes I wonder if it helps at all to know the truth.

Stigma

Recently a colleague came across a female vendor who was 'difficult' so she made a comment about the vendor - "I'm sure she's not married yet."

I shot her a glance, reminding her candidly that she had to be careful in saying that, as well as, the volume of her voice because out of 8, 1 of us is not married yet (at age 30).

I'm just amused that in today's context, there are still a number of people who think that marriage is the 'be all, end all'. Surely a lot of females are self-sufficient and long to exercise their independence. And I've read about 30ish women being comfortable in their own skin, 40 is the
new 20, life begins after 50 (Susan Boyle?).

Regardless. Stigma is a powerful thing.

Wild Rocket@Mt Emily (on 25 Aug)

TL, where are the photos???????

I loved the fact we sang birthday songs to each other simultaneously over a pathetic single candle-lit cheese cake (compliments of the restaurant nonetheless). From nice chic ambience to good ole reliable Jalan Kayu for iced Milo Dinosaur in one night!

Visit by "Nanny"

I had a rare treat yesterday. Nanny called me to chat at 3ish and suggested to meet me to go home together and paid my troops and M a visit. The spontaniety and her company was very much appreciated!

With Ole Tiger gone for 10 days on a tight-marketing schedule to Europe soon, I hope to see her again. She could be Travis' god-ma! (let's see what the guy says after the fax)

PS: She could be my only friend with whom I share so many nicknames. Now, how did it all begin?

Gooey

Travis has been suffering from very thick phlegm. The condition has worsened over the days. :(
Anything consumed is out in seconds with the thick colourless goo. Well, I'll never look at a bowl of tau suan the same way again............................................

When You Say Nothing At All

I just received an email from L, a good friend of mine, informing the new product range she's offering for sale in her Multi-level Marketing business to 'friends and acquaintances'. The email started with an introduction about seldom approaching friends, etc. BUT.

That powerful conjunction.

Not surprising to mention after that, the email rolled into a piece of full-fledged sales pitch. Zzzz...

I have heard, read this before and find it so irritating. Please, in the end, you still did and will still continue to do so...and I'll understand.
Because it's sales and while I'm sure you are doing it for passion and fun, at the end of the day, who wouldn't want to make money out of that passion and fun unless you are Mother Teresa right? So why not just be frank about it and don't use that line at all?

-"You say it best...when you say nothing at all"
Ronan Keating - When You Say Nothing At All, Notting Hill Soundtrack

3008

"Happy Birthday to meeeeeeeeee......!"

The big 4-0 is looming on the horizon. When you look at it mathematically, it's unbelievable but on the inside, I really don't feel very much different 10-15 years ago. If you like drama, try watching Elegy. In one scene where Sir Ben Kingsley's character was struggling with age, he said something along the lines and I realised it really couldn't be further from the truth.

I was yelling at Travis for irritating his sister and he grabbed my sleeve, looking at me intently saying, "Mummy, today is your birthday. You are not supposed to get angry!" The sentence was said slowly with deliberation. And it struck me how fast he is growing (naturally - everyday is a reminder!) and glibness could be part of him. Probably as most ageing mothers go, I'll say my troops are an indication to my biggest achievement.

Great Food + Great Friends = Spontaneous Combustion

Lunch: Christina at Sakae, Dinner: Toon Lee at Wild Rocket.
Great foodie gathering with great ole friends in a day.

1st Experience

Travis, being 5 has not experienced goose bumps before-I just realised.
The other day when the air conditioner was turned on, he suddenly took my hand to run over his arm, saying "Mom, it's rough and scaly. I have scales." (Incidently we just borrowed a book about Reptiles)

So like any other circumstance when I try to be his English teacher, I corrected him saying ,"They are called goose bumps. The correct phrase is 'goose bumps are rising on my arm'."

:P