Merry Xmas

Xmas 2007 came and went. Potluck-cum-housewarming @ sec sch pal's abode, buffet dinner @ Carousel with IE buddies, drinks @ Dempsey, sushi tei with dad, midnite movie 'I am Legend' @ orchard, gym, a sprinkling of work, some pages of Paulo Coelho and afternoon naps. Nice. =)


candle burning bright @ house-warming


yummy home-made spread (except for bbq chic wings & fishballs)


xmas decor @ Royal Plaza on Scotts


drinks @ Oosh, Dempsey

The scene along Orchard Rd on xmas eve was not so nice though. Granted, there were definitely more groups of policemen making their patrols. But the foam spray cans remained a common sight, their pungently sweet contents (& ozone-destroying ingredients) filled the air every other second, accompanied by that terrible hissing sound. Metal cans & plastic bottles littered the pavements. Large groups of angsty teens with coloured, spiked hair, multiple piercings and challenging stares gathered and stared.. For a long long moment, it was hard to believe that I am in Singapore. I feel ashamed. Threatened. And pained. =P

Xmas - a time to appreciate & forgive.. Merry Xmas to you. =)

Seeing light again

After a long hiatus of >6mths, my oven finally awakened. In preparation for tonight's sec sch xmas-potluck gathering, I spent the afternoon tenderly (with just a wee bit of apprehension) turning out 12 berry yoghurt muffins & 12 chocolate chip-raisin muffins. And here they are:


berry yoghurt abv-left & choc-raisins below-right

Taste-test later!

Mummy goes shopping

Went shopping with gd pregnant friend yesterday. Sussed out clothes in both 'normal' and maternity shops. I must say, some of those clothes in maternity shops looked very nice! Slinky enough to tempt even very un-pregnant ladies into stroking them admiringly. =) The denim mini-skirts looked super sexy! Ah... may the designers only get better with time, such that when it's my turn, things will be even yummier. ;) Then, it'd take less of a bull to drag me into labor room.

Book Binge

And for the past few days, it's been a private midnite bonding with books. Wonderfully luxurious feeling, to be sprawled on the soft mattress, with the rain pelting on the windows from outside, covered with woolly blankets and flipping pages after pages of the paperback, with absolute, blissful disregard for the passing of time.. & usually, it'd be almost 3am when the lights go off. =P What a joy, just like back to those gd old days when I was still a carefree student! Am physically here much of this whole break, yet have already been to South Africa, Eygpt & etc etc in the mind. Bliss! Now... there's just enough time for perhaps 1 more book, and then the binge will have to wait till next March. =P

When you really sing

Watched Chen Weilian & his male buddy sing [zhou(3) chu(1) hei(1) an(4) ba(3) peng(2) you(3) - literally translated into 'walk out of darkness, my friend'] on tv just now and I can't help but shed some salty drops. I am no big fan of his, especially now that he's gone commercial and appeared so much more polished. Too polished. His simplicity & sincerity then was much more endearing...

But back to what I was saying - when he sung that song with his equally visually-challeneged pal, time seemed to have come to a stop. The whole song sounded so real, so raw, so stripped to its core, so choked full with unmasked emotions that it pains one to hear them sing (yet one definitely doesn't want them to stop). I mean, this is what it's all about, my friend. If you continue to do what you are best at (that is to touch hearts with your songs), and not get distracted by all the packaging/glamour/defence/image/worries abt marketability in general, things will work out like they are supposed to. Gd luck, and I'd remember the way both of you sang that song.

Mash

It's the hols. By right, there shd be more entries, since there's (ahem) more time and less stress. =P But oh well...

This period is always the most dreaded by many of us.. that impending countdown to reopening. 2 wks. To be frank, it's just 1 wk to go, since the last wk is always cramped with meetings to 'set the tone for the new yr'. The thought of that stack of work yet conquered almost always bring along a wave of horrendous guilt, alarm, and dread. But the fortunate thing is, the feeling will pass. As the wise men say, the first step is always the hardest. Start working, and the momentum will take over... =P Ah heavens... grant me that itsy bitsy power to press ahead now.

Checked out Settlers Cafe @ North Canal Rd over the wkend. For the non-puberscent yet still young-at-hearts like us, a cosy gathering over colourful, stimulating games is really quite a gd way to bond. 3hrs fly by and you find that you've only attempted 0.5% of all the games available in the cafe. [Fish, do they have such places in Freiburg?]

Finished The Alchemist. Will see what I can find in the library next. Also started on Jodi Picoult's Picture Perfect. A different style of writing - descriptive and detailed... sometimes a little too focused on the trivalities, I haven't decided if I like her yet.

Xmas season's here. Police is keeping a tight rein on drink-driving, and rightfully so, since it is peoples' lives at stake and we are but a super small nation of <4million 'originals' so everyone counts. =P Enjoy those sinful festive yummies, just try to workout a little and unblock those lipids-lined blood vessels after that. Coz the ang moh and chinese new years are but a couple more weeks away. We are in for the long haul, buddies.

And now, to ticking off some items on the 'To Do' list... Ahhhh....

Get A Life

And after endless days of torrential rains.. the sun finally peeked out a little from behind the clouds. Glorious! Even tho' they are just ultra weak rays, and for the shortest period of 1plus day (keep going, Mr Sun!).

Granted, rainy days are superb for lazing in beds, but the clothes need to dry and the shoes get wet in the numerous puddles on the roads, traffic slows to a crawl and trees threaten to fall. Hmmm, but then again, better a rainy season than no seasons at all to distinguish the days in a year. It would have been an utter bore if everyday's the same.

Just like in Life. If one is holding on to a job (no matter how cushy) with no ups & downs/highs & lows, I guess one is better off trading the place with a robot. Get a life, stretch yourself, experiment & experience!! Get some sun and some thunderstorms. Just remember to pack along the sunscreen & brolly as ammunition when the need arises.

p.s. Btw, I signed up for the 1yr gym membership. That's it, baby, it's time to seriously kick some a**.

p.s.2. Btw again, it was a test of my heart vs mind yesterday, as I watched the Sea Games highlights and saw Kenderick Lee do our red dot proud by emerging victorious against Boonsak Ponsana (the young, swoonsome Thai hero)!!! Yeah vs Weep... Catch our shuttler live today at the finals @ 4.30pm, against Indon champ. Gd luck.

The things ppl do

Didn't really think we are capable of doing this, but we did it anyways. A grp of us, pri sch pals, laid out groundsheet on the marbled floor of a large, busy, air-conditioned mall, next to the ceiling-to-floor window panes, spooning homecooked fried bee hoon, fried sotong balls, chicken wings, watermelon, grapes and potato chips onto our paper plates as ppl walked on by in the rain. In short, a picnic in the mall. People must have thought we were bonkus. Yeahahahahaha. Am just worried that someone had taken a video footage and posted it up on the all-powerful YouTube. We would hv become famous overnight, no doubt abt it. =P

Well, blame the torrential and unpredictable rains. Our class outing was supposed to be at Sentosa (yep, we shd not have challenged the seasons)... but we can't dump the food into bins, can we?? So there, a picnic from across the waterway then.

Thankfully, our subsequent activities were more 'normal' - kopi @ Pac Coffee, followed by mind games @ Settlers Cafe. Cool stuff, the latter. Packages to suit various needs. Games of various intensities and challenge to work those neurons. Plot in silence, scream in excitement and/or cry in agony... you can witness them all in the cafe. A great way to bond on a rainy afternoon.

And now, the brain needs to rest...

Customer Service

Man made rules/guidelines/criteria etc. Sometimes, organizations stick by them so rigidly, they p*** off customers big-time, and this is triply uncalled for esp if they are supposed to be service-oriented to begin with, such as a call centre, or an enquiry helpdesk of sorts. If the first tier cannot make the (right) decision, pls pass it on to the next level that can truly make a (reasonable) difference. Listen patiently, explain clearly without being defensive and address the issue using both logic (& empathy if needed), in a way that will leave the customer satisfied, and you can gurantee instant, positive, word-of-mouth publicity that'd go the miles. Do otherwise at your own peril.

Not every customer is unreasonable, rude and/or inconsiderate. Many times, we just want fair treatment, esp when it's the big organizations against small fries. Organizations should never underestimate the power of frontline staff. Starhub, very clearly, still has much to learn.

Body Care

Yesterday @ Suntec, 1hr of Body Combat (think martial arts + aerobics combined), followed by 1hr of Body Pump (think weights + controlled repetition)... and my arms & thighs nearly cramped at some pts during the sessions. Heart pounding as furiously as the workout music, sweat oozing like raw pearls from the skin pores, I can hear my muscles protesting under the long-absent strain. But ah... the feeling after is one of great achievement. No pressure from the rest of the group - save for a few muscle buffs (& of coz, the very well-toned instructor/ress), the others are a mix of working male & female execs and a sprinkling of retired men & rich local/expat tai-tais - 1 or 2 out of shape ones, but mainly within acceptable BMI, just not too toned... Push yourself, but not over your limits, and always under the watchful eyes of the Master.

2 more days to the end of my 1 wk free trial and I've got to decide whether to plonk that 4 digit figure into this fitness membership... Just worried that once term begins, I'd be overworking (an excuse??) & under-exercising yet again. Guess it all boils down to the D word. DISCIPLINE. Perhaps, I should take a pic of my (now) flabby arms/thighs, blow it up to A1 size, and hang it up on my bedroom wall. =P

Anyways, in case I may be boring you with all my descriptions of the various fitness experiences... breathe easy, I'm no self-absorbed ambassador for any chains/sessions/instructors, so will not doodle further/uneccessarily, unless I try out new stuff that packs punch. =)

Must admit though, the other reason for this new found dedication is the lessened sense of guilt that now comes with eating yummy-&-not-always-healthy food. At least, I know I will be working them off. Let me know if you wanna work out together. It can be a social activity too.

Hurray

S-Pop Hurray! Every mon, 7-9pm - a weekly showcase of the very best in S'pore Xinyao!

Oh man.. all the drool-worthys of the 1980s and 1990s, the perennial evergreens of chinese pop including my primary-school-period-superidol Eric Moo! Then there is Li Fei Hui, Jiu Jian, Chen Jiaming, Li Wei Song & Si Song, Ye Pei Fen etc etc all effortlessly crooning those wonderful wonderful songs with poetic lyrics and haunting melodies, many written by talented Liang Wern Fu. What bliss! TV is one of the most impt inventions on Mon nites. =) The perfect way to destress and chill. Ahh, die... I can see myself stepping into the category of the old & passe, just like how I used to make fun of papa & mama when they swooned as they watched their own idols (think Deng Li Jun & her comrades) sang.

Xiao(3) Ren(2) Wu(4) De(4) Xin(1) Sheng(1).. Guan(1) Huai(2) Fang(1) Shi(4).. Ai(4) Na(4) Me(4) Tong(4)... all these lovely songs sprang to life again tonite. The pop newbies - pls sit up straight, listen up and learn a thing or two from these seniors who have charmed the crowds >20yrs ago and who still definitely have more than a trick or two up their sleeves. Diamonds, all of them.

But of course, the enjoyment wouldn't be half as great without the company. Thanks gazillions, ML, for the wonderful company (as usual) and hospitality. Thanks for hanging around all these while and for being the ever-so-patient-and-objective analyst. I thank the 'power(s)-above' for our posting 4.5yrs ago.

It gets better

And the 2nd time round (this time @ Suntec), it didn't feel like my limbs are going to fall off and my bones are going to break apart. =) This 2nd venture, did 2.5km on threadmill, 150 stomach crunches and 1hr of pilates. Having a cute & toned pilates instructor with an infectious laughter helped further. Recovery period was way shorter than the first - at least I could sustain a further 4hrs on the feet scouring for good buys in the busy mall thereafter. The first time, I flatted out on bed immediately after. =P

Did quite a spot of card swiping - some xmas pressies for buddies and a cheery yellow+white Nike tank top at a big discounted price - will be part of my attire for 3rd visit. *beam beam*

Magarita @ Cafe Iguna continues to rule. Doubt there'd be another place serving up such silky smooth freeze with a punch.

And did you read today's Sunday Times? Mahjong is now all the rage amongst one united ppl, rdgless of race, language and religion. No wonder the sounds of click-clanking tiles have been resonating daily from within my neighbourhood recently. It'd be my turn soon to lay my table. Helps prevent Alzheimer, they say.

Ache

Ahh... that ache. That numbing yet sadistically satisfying ache in the thighs and arms. Was the result of my first venture into a fitness centre yesterday. Took up a 1 wk free trial after 1) buddies' endless cajoles, 2) sinful makan episodes while in KL, and 3) decision to get some health & shape back.

For a start, covered ~3.5km brisk-walking on treadmill while listening to Fish Leong on mp3, and joined a 1hr Ashtanga Yoga class. And that's all it took to give me that ache - a reflection of my non-activity over the past 3mths (save for the occasional laps in pool). Even the heartbeat rate shown on threadmill screen was telling - a whooping 120+ beats/min when parameters were set to the mere basic. *Toinnnnn*

But watch it, I'd be up and about in just a while. Let me check it out for a week, join some other classes and see if I'm game/inspired/determined enough to put my bunny in for the longer haul. Then, I'd go invest in a nice, sporty, gym-y outfit that costs oh-so-much.

Return

Am back.

What a cool 6 days in KL... =) 2 days on coach travel, 1.5 days on shopping, 1.5 days on work, 1 day on *gasp* mahjong (learnt a new version - the one to be played by 3 players, with only "tong(3)" tiles, and the oh-so-versatile 'fei(1)' tile). Glorious food, quality wine & a no. of kindly uncles & aunties for company... nice start.

And not to forget my roadtrip companion: Paulo Coelho's 'The Zahir' - a deep, reflective novel abt 'obsession and its potential to both fulfill dreams and destroy them'. I'm sold. It's amazing how someone can write deep things so simply and so concisely. I'd see what I can find in the library next.

In the days ahead, there'd likely be work, exercise, official events, some short trips and lots of reading. 2008, hold thy horse.

Just came to hear of the sad news upon return. Sincere condolences to the families of 1) the 5 dragon boat team victims, and 2) the ah ma whom I wrote abt in my 6 Nov entry. Tragically freak accidents, both. Preventable? ...

Life's simple pleasures

Scribbled this on my way to KL. 1.47pm

It's actually nice to go on a long bus journey alone. Took Aeroline. ~5.5hr. Could have been much faster but 1 middle-aged lady didn't feel too well halfway thru' the journey, so we had to pull over and wait for an ambulance to come fetch her to hospital (hopefully, she's ok now).

Think it'd be nice to do a long rail journey alone too. But of course, got to be similarly accompanied by MP3 player, gd books, warm jacket and a comfy seat (junk munchies optional). Then, I'm set. Icing will be great natural scenery along the way - mountains, seas, sky, low-lying (cottage) houses... =)

p.s. I could probably have done the same back home when dad's away. Still alone, with MP3, gd books, warm jacket, tucked in comfy bed, right? But neh.. it's different. Like some pathetic trapped animal, obsessively eyeing/being eyed by the mounds of hard copy/soft copy of work in the immediate vicinity, the mere thought of lying in bed to attend to one of life's simplest, most basic pleasure (= reading*) makes one feel almost like a sinner. =P On a journey, there is no sin, no guilt. This is perhaps the reason why ppl need getaways. Tragic.

I've just started on my 2nd Paulo Coelho book - 'The Zahir'. On a journey within a journey. Bliss.

* = reading books that you really want to read, that may have absolutely nothing to do with work but everything to do with interest/self-enlightenment/improvement/philosophy/hobby/travel/or whatever trivial pursuits, as long as they make u happy.

The past weekend's been busy:

With work (expectedly)
- marked files
- tidied reports
- cleaned house + toilets

With social activities (unexpectedly)
- colored hair @ home
- stayed over at changi chalet
- caught up with lost buddy @ vivo

Now, who says educators don't chill?


they've got hidden talents too - a pal's S$5K DJ set...


big, bright, nice x'mas tree @ vivo rooftop

Things sometimes just happen. For better or for worse.

Sheep Man & Bread Man

Yesterday, I brought some kiddos to far-flung upper serangoon road, to an academic institution to listen to Dr Alan Colman give a seminar on reproductive & therapeutic cloning. Yes, he is the famed stem cell expert who's behind Ms Dolly the sheep - the world's first cloned animal in 1997. He's now based in S'pore, recruited by our ever-efficient govt to be the Director of the Singapore Stem Cell Consortium and PI at the Institute of Medical Biology.

So you can imagine my excitement at the opportunity of getting up close & personal. =) Seriously though, the best thing is he didn't make things too complicated. My kiddos were able to understand him perfectly, and found the seminar interesting. For that, it's worth the long long journey up north... Been a long time since I've personally brought kiddos to science enrichment activities.. Nostalgia!

Here's Dr AC in action:





And the icing on cake was, as we were walking out of the institution's gate, we saw a scene out of the 1960/70's - an old, bent-over indian man peddling his brown-crusted baked bread with kaya & butter, in a square metal box, hinged on a 2-wheeled crikety bike!! Solid. He must have transported from my dad's childhood times. Bought bread for my kiddos who snapped away (politely) at old uncle and his wares. First time they have seen such 'roadside hawker'.



Bet you've never bought bread this way. =) Head down to 1033 Upper Serangoon Road and set up an ambush at abt 5.30pm then.

Right vs Wrong. Black vs White.

One day, it'd do me in.

This streak of mine that so clearly defines right from wrong, which in turn makes it so difficult to just ignore stuff and be happy sometimes... Principles that I hold strong (some say too strong). Values that I hold dear (and similarly, some say too dear). It pains me to see them being trampled on by others.

Yes, I do know that sometimes, my insistence at doing the 'right' makes me rigid like a silly robot. And I admit that, to those who openly, repeatedly, blatantly, arrogantly throw morally sound, guiding principles out of the window, I sometimes (forgive me) feel a slight twinge of contempt towards them. Of course, I'm no saint, not even a millionth part of one perhaps. Am just a fellow human being who's trying to do good instead of harm. All humans err, at some pts in time - this I understand. The question is - was it a genuine oversight or a purposeful act driven by some underlying sinister force?

One day, it'd do me in. I just know it. But does that mean I'm going to compromise and be as soft-boned/inconsiderate/wayang as 'those who can't be mentioned'?

Definitely not.

Looking at the way I'm turning out, I'd probably end up as some old, cranky, domineering, self-righteous spinster. Argh!!

The (humble) Cookie

Last week, I plonked over 50 precious bucks on 8 small packs of high-class cookies from Marks & Spencers, as a gesture of heart-felt appreciation to a group of colleagues who had, for the past 3mths, slogged for a certain event.

Well, the only other times when I had devoured M&S cookies was >4yrs ago, when a senior colleague bought them for us, and 2 mths ago when I was involved in some break-neck 8am to 6pm meetings. And both times, the cookies were sponsored. But man, did they impress.. So, this time round, decided to play Santa and spread the joy to others. The practical side of me had to contend with niggling extravagance of it all. I mean, $7.90 for 8 pcs of 6cm wide, 0.5cm thick (at most) cookies? But the foodie in me relented, encouraged by this 'dangerous' feeling that I've come to associate with 'well-being compensation' - having worked so hard, it's only understandable/right to spend on what will make you happy, as a form of hard-earned self-recognition.. =P

Anyways, one-way justifications aside, here is one M&S cookie that you may want to try if you are possessed by the same 'well-being compensation' mood (or call it anything you like):


Cranberry-Orange

Am not a huge cranberry fan, but this one's got my nod. Personally though, I swear by the Pistachio Almond one (no pics tho). That one is SHIOK!

OUCH

Eyebrow threading, have you tried it before??!

Today, was strolling past this row of shophouses in Clementi central when I saw this sign displayed outside a cosy little indian shop - $5 Eyebrow Threading, $10 Face, $15 Full Face, and then there's this picture of a beautiful indian lady holding a string of white thread in her hands & mouth.

Ok, to mark Deepavali (which was yesterday), I decided to give it a virgin go. Who knows, I may end up looking like that pretty poster gal, with her well-defined brows, large eyes, smooth skin, sharp nose.... right? =P

I've heard abt how painful threading can get, but thought I'm garang enough to tahan whatever pain they are going to inflict. I mean, I'm a toughie right, so bring it on! Alrights... it IS quite painful. But it's also super amazing how deftly the indian ladies can, with just a simple, humble string, pluck out all those ugly stray hair with a few swipes of their hands. Swoosh swoosh, to the left, to the right, and all the hair gets removed, roots and all, leaving behind silky smooth upper eye lids with nicely defined brows. Painful with a capital P (at one pt, a few millitres of tears threatened to spill out of eye sockets) but very effective and efficient. 5 min, it's all done. Cheap too - compared to the $15-$20 the Takashimaya cosmetic counter gals charge, with their scary blades and scissors.

Never underestimate the combination of the Indian lady and her humble string (absolutely no other equipment was used during the whole process). It's a skill that I hope will be passed on from generation to generation. That way, I can bring my children (if I end up having any) to experience this unique culture too.

The pain was worth it. Go try. You won't end up as pretty as the poster gal, but close. =)

Two Things

Number 1:
Witnessed a disturbing scene today. An elderly woman (80+ of age) lying on the ground, with blood flowing out of the wound on her head, joining the sizeable puddle of fresh, red liquid on the tiled floor. Think she's at most 1/4 conscious. Eyes closed, with mouth only slightly twitching. Crying relatives held up her limp body, trying to talk to/reassure her (and themselves) while waiting for the ambulance. The medic arrived, pulled an oxygen mask over her face, then stretchered her into the vehicle, leaving the bloody remnants. As I stared at the big red pool, I felt cold sweat form on my forehead, and a desire to vomit. This is, I think, the 2nd time I felt this way. The last I heard, this ah ma underwent surgery to remove the massive clots in her brain. 60% chance of making it. Give your own elderly relatives a hug today and tell them to always be very careful when walking.

Number 2:
Experienced a culture shock today. Chaired an ad hoc meeting (related to my new portfolio next year), thinking it'd be relatively smooth. Just make a few annoucements and give out some meaningful tasks, what's the big deal, right? How very wrong. I underestimated the 'aggressive' quotient of this group of personnel. And I probably also underestimated the 'sensitivity' of the matters discussed. The past 2 yrs had been about projects, free & easy, light & fluffy, continually evolving, limited only by how creative/daring you are, nothing really super tangible at stake. Starting from now, it's a whole new ball game, with a whole new bunch of ppl, and much much higher stakes. And today is my first lesson. It was really deflating when all the questions/'opposition' flew... thought I actually shrunk deeper into my seat. A half hr meeting turned into 1.5hr. Looking back, I now think it's a little comical. =P In for a tough ride, buddy, so better quickly wake up your idea, learn as much as you can, as quickly as you can, and manage as best as you can. Whew.... such a big difference from what I used to do/am doing. Haiz.. wonder if I can make it. =P

Ponder

Met up with my lab mate earlier.

He looked so much more cheerful and at peace with himself compared to 5yrs ago. So much more willing to share and so much less hurt. Comfortable with what he is doing, know where he is heading, happy with his life. Perhaps it's his finding of his soul mate, his counterpart, his complement, his stabilizer.

I appreciate the meet-up tonight because he's definitely not someone I'd say is 'voluntarily sociable'. The updates came freely and this is precious since he's always favored privacy. But, at the same time, I find myself pre-occupied after the meet up. I am awed, once again, by the power of love. And I wonder about destiny. Life is fair... or is it not?

And then, my previous entry abt the 3 different kinds of friendship provoked a friend into saying that she realised she 'had misunderstood the spirit of our friendship and caused me grief... and that it is sobering but she will accept it and move on.'

Believe it or not. I posted that part of the article on a whim. Without intention to send any subtle message to anyone. Just thought it thought-provoking. But then again.. it is indeed not wrong to think about the whole 'underlying issue'. Perhaps, she is right afterall. But so what? And what now? Questions... that perhaps know no mutually satisfying answers.

Paulo Coelho wrote - 'Each human being was given a virtue: the ability to choose. Anyone who fails to use this virtue transforms it into a curse, and others will choose for them.'

There may or may not be any link of that quote to all that I've written above. Somehow... I like the sound of it, here.

What kind of friend?

There's this article in today's papers that talked about friendship.

Said there are 3 kinds of friendship: (1) friendship based on utility - where we love people because they are useful, (2) friendship based on pleasure - where we love those whose company is pleasant, and (3) perfect friendship - where we love people for themselves, because we perceive them to be good.

In the words of Greek philosopher Aristotle: "Most differences arise between friends when they are not friends in the spirit in which they think they are."

Do you know your work friends from your nice friends from your good friends?

Cow

Woo hoo... the Biggest Boss will be happy. I earned my every cent of pay these few days.

Spent 8 solid hrs yesterday (SUNDAY) alternating between kiddos' write-ups and computer screen, typing in feedback, dreaming up questions and trying to help them with one last shove as they jog towards their presentation date.

Today, spent 10 full hrs (already minus-ed lunch & toilet breaks) cooped up in room with another 4 adult souls, poring through a 100pg IT document, clarifying steps and sequences. Left institution at 10pm. Then came home and did more work.

Inefficient? Nope. Can't think of a 'smarter/faster yet equally meaningful' way to tackle those tedious work.

Mad? Maybe. But for a greater cause..

If only the beneficiaries will realise and appreciate, and turn out right. Then all will be more than worth it.

Annual

Dinner 2007... Eat, Drink & Be Merry?


Fellow comrades


Me & HL

I remember the earlier dinners..

There was once @ Sentosa when a big group of us came all dressed up... really dressed up. Decked in costumes, wigs, props and all. Was a really fun, wild time.

Another time @ Oriental, a more subdued affair. Prim & proper.

Another time @ Equinox. Ppl came nicely dressed, elegant gowns & smart shirts. Guess at a dizzying height of 72nd floor, one just gotta look good.

This time, @ Traders. And I'd leave it at that. Don't be mistaken, I hv nothing against the place.

Writing and Reading

Think I'd soon be able to write in here more regularly. End of term is always crazy - with so many loose administrative ends to tie up, and instructions to dish out before the kiddos disappear and lose themselves over the next 2mths.

From next week though, the seas should become calmer. A few ripples here and there, but no big tsunamis I hope. Let the dust settle and the mind clear. Before the next big battle starts.

People are moving on. Or thinking of moving on. Life on earth is (rightly so) in a constant flux. One day, we'd all meet again (?). I'd like to introduce a book here - Paulo Coelho's 'Like the flowing river'. A collection of reflections and short stories, covering tales of living and dying, of destiny and choice, of love lost and found. Sometimes humourous, sometimes serious, but always profound, it explores what it means to be truly alive. A dear buddy had it sent over, and it has been my bedtime 'must-read' for a few days now (a couple of pages/short stories each time). Very light, easy to read and sprinkled with many back-to-the-basic, inspiring reminders... i'm really tempted to whip out my highlighter and make some notes. =P Do pick it up and flip thru' the pages should you come across it in the stores, and see if it speaks to you as it did to me.

2 things

2 things:

1) Yippee! =) V happy. You may think it silly, but I'm really glad that I'd finally be meeting up with my lab partner after these long 5+yrs (not counting the moments when he appeared at ma's wake...) Am really looking forward to catching up and hearing him talk about what had gone on in his life these yrs. Won't bet on him blabbering on and on since he's not the talkative sort (unlike moi). I'd probably be the one yakking away.. but then again, maybe I won't. I dunno. I wonder how much our lives have diverged (not that they have been much converged before). In a way, we were each other's guardian angels during that intense 6mth period holed up in sanitized lab. I know then that I can always call on him to appear should I get into trouble. Hopefully that still holds true today, and will remain so for many more yrs to come (hmmm, but then again, who am I to ask of that?). Anyways... don't think so much, just chill! It'd be good. =)

2) I realised (once again) that having a good voice quality can be a real lady killer trait. Just a few mins ago, some Prudential agent called, and although I rejected him (his offers to introduce some financial plans) in 10 secs flat, I found his voice mesmerizing. Otherwise, I would have given him just 5 secs. =) Morale of the story, if you have got a good voice, be a telemarketer/dee-jay/helpline staff and bring some cheer to the other party @ the end of the line.

Goodnights.

Coming to the end

The big event came and went. Would have been better if the emcee's more prepared + etc etc. Nonetheless, it's over... and we'd be buying the team a nice dinner to thank them all for their hard work these 3mths. Peranakan.. or Arabic.. or Mediterranean perhaps. Halal is the word.

One more week of formal lessons and that's it for Yr 2007. Next comes the onslaught of meetings of all sizes and shapes. "Where are you planning to go this Dec hols?" they ask. Dunno dunno dunno... Can't believe it's been a yr since New York getaway. It's so fast, it's gross. No big trips to exotic faraway lands this time (I'd save that for next yr perhaps). Maybe some roughing it out in developing SEA countries... we'd see.

Made an after-dinner visit to Corduroy Cafe @ Vivo yesterday. Said to be a 'french style patisserie that whips up sinful desserts, delicious hot chocolates and stellar coffees'. The desserts were indeed yummy - I had a zangy lemon tart-in-a-cup. But the milk infusion drinks were a real let down... dilute and not quite worthy of mention. Some mojito milk infusion even tasted like colgate mixed with marigold milk. =P The ambience was nice though, elegant and contemplative, with clocks of various countries hanging on one side of the wall and a wide display of magazines (including National Geographic) and international newspapers (USA Times, The International Herald etc) for browsing. Can check it out, but skip the milk drinks.


Lemon Tart


Some chocolate-in-chocolate dessert


Seating area - mix of plush armchairs & proper wooden chairs


Central pillar with (tasteful) pictures of various patterns/nature of kisses & the international papers hanging below

If you are happy and you know it...

One must know one's strengths and weaknesses, then capitalize on the former and draw attention away from the latter. Of course, the shang(4) jin(4)-ness in all of us says that we must first attempt to overcome our weak areas and further strengthen the strong ones, but if the effort proves futile / un-appreciated / agonzingly tedious, then one should not feel guilty reverting to the 'capitalize + draw attention away 'strategy.

Someone once said "Happiness at work is when your skills, interests, knowledge and beliefs are all aligned". Are you happy?

Timbre @ The Arts House

The first one's at Armenian Street, near Fort Canning. This is an expansion act. Nice location, facing Singapore River and Sir Stamford Raffles, tucked at one cosy corner of the Old Parliament House. It's got a kinda artsy, laidback feel, just like its Armenian counterpart.


Timbre @ The Arts House on a Sat nite


Homegrown bands


The 20+ to 30+yrs-ish audience

Sadly, it was a case of beautiful ambience and great live band jamming marred by bad service...

First, the service staff could not agree on what the kitchen had run out of (someone said everything's out except for salads and fried finger food, then half an hr later, a freshly toasted pizza appeared on our neighbour's table). Second, there was this ultimate champion waitress who'd demand for your credit card, with outstretched hands, to either 'close' or 'open' ur bill, 1 sec after your food arrived, with no explanation of rationale and a stoned cold look on her face. One poor foreigner who questioned further had his bill whisked right off his lap as he gingerly reached for his wallet, while still puzzling over why his credit card was demanded. Third, our request for bill took 40min to arrive, despite requests being made to 3 different service staff. Fourth, the drinks (magaritas & cocktails) were really bland. Fifth, customers are entitled to just one round of iced water throughout their patronage, strictly no refills.

Overall - nice ambience, nice music, but poor poor poor service. If you had to go there, it better be because you wanted to support homegrown bands. Skip the food. Get beer instead. Place ur credit card on the table for them to close/open/whatever the bill. Request for the bill 1hr in advance. Be mentally prepared, and it shall be a great night.

Eat, Drink & Be Merry...

Haven't written for long, because by the time I reached home (whether early or late), I'd have been so zombie-fied that all I want to/can do is to squeeze myself into a snug corner of the comfy sofa & stone, or unpack myself onto soft bed and zoom straight to la-la land. Perhaps, it's been too long since my last lesson with the kiddos, and I've forgotten just how energetic they can get. =P Or perhaps, it's all that preparations for this upcoming BIG event in institution. *good luck to us*

Anyways, managed to chill out at 2 new places recently - Ice Cold Beer (@ Emerald Hill area) and Brauhaus (@ United Square). [Fish, don't scold - I really only imbibe a small bottle, and will burn off all the unhealthy alcohol this long hari raya weekend]

Ice Cold Beer was only so-so. Noisy with lots of foreign expats. A bit too 'artificial' for me. Remembered wondering if it would end up being the target for some T-attack. The beer list wasn't super extensive either, so I guess unless you are near Centrepoint and want to try out places other than Alley Bar etc, it may be an option.


The 3 beers we tried

Brauhaus was great. Now, this is where you get a mind-blowing, eye-boggling beer list that stretched for 2 A5 pages, listed in alphabetical order, according to country's origin. Solid. I haven't seen up to 99% of them offered elsewhere. The food range, though comparatively less exhaustive, is still satisfying. Food was good - especially the sausages!! Juicy, bouncy, flavorful, very yummy! The pork knuckles though, can do better as the sides were a little tough. But the skin was crackling crisp, so that helped made up. Atmosphere at Brauhaus was cosy and rowdy in a safe sense, with live 80's music belted out by two 50+yrs matured men. =) A mix of expats, young working adults, and families patronize the restaurant-pub. Nice.


My 5% alc content Frankiszaner Dunkel


Half-eaten yummy sausages


Half a pork knuckle - enough to share

Ok, today will be a "go easy on the liver and stomach" day. I'd do my exercise and hopefully get some tan back again. You take care, and if in the mood for some german fare, can check out Brauhaus, or Baden (@ Holland V) or Brotzeit (@ Vivo City). All's good.

Where to?

A lazy sunday, that's what it is.

Within 4hrs, the sky screamed thunder and poured twice (big-time), but now the sun is beaming like nobody's business... Weirdo. Confused by the ding-dong, I decided to zzzz.. in preparation for the busy busy day tomorw.

My eyeball looks cool now. Back to its normal, even surface. No foreign sticky jello. Not decorated with burst red vessels. No more itch, nor tearing. All's well. Thanks for concern.

Today, the Sunday Times featured Chiang Mai as a destination for short getaways. Included bits on whitewater rafting, mountain biking, bamboo rafting, All Terrain Vehicle tours too. So, adventure junkies may want to check it out.

Eye Problem

And this is worse than the mushrooms-on-the-face (aka pimples).

Today, a blob of 'jelly' appeared on the surface of my right eye, and my vision was obstructed by abt 5-10%, esp at the lower right eye corner.

Was super focusedly marking the end-of-yr papers, when increasingly, there was this irritaing sensation in the eye, like an eyelash caught within the lens. So did the next natural thing - which is to rub and then try and blink out that irritant. When that didn't work, had to grudgingly walk to the loo and remove the lens and give it a thorough wash. No eyelash. No nothing. Repeated this on another 2 more trips to the loo within the next 15min. By then, the right eye was already red and tearing.

As I checked the loo mirror for one last time, *gasp* noticed a blob of bubble-like, viscous, translucent jello protruding out from the lower right eye surface. Got a shock! My lower right eye looked kinda deformed! No joke... was shocked. Initially thought the lens had broken, and that was part of the wreckage. But realised that gluey mess stayed there, sticky to touch, very much like the eye's inner viscous fluid. Gross....

Decided vision is more important than anything else, so asked for permission to leave the institution for home, to change outta lens, and see if I needed to check myself into emergency. =P In the taxi, the brain was whirling away - To go to polyclinic to get referral first, then to specialist? To check into hospital first then inform aunty (since dad's away in msia)? To claim from which and which insurance? To sms ppl to ferry over the remaining 10 stacks of marking? to... blah blah blah..

Lucky thing, the doc @ the GP near my block said it was no permanent damage. He said the blob of jello was quite big & visible, but is likely only due to either an infection or an allergy, and then launched into a 5min long lecture abt how one shd always clean one's hands before touching one's eyes... Gave me 2 days MC and a bottle of potent medicated eye drops that will soothe the inflammed conjunctiva. Said if the blob doesn't subside by Sat, to see him again.

I mean, I like this doc. Very steady, very reassuring, very intelligent-looking and sounding. But I'm glad that the eye drops are working. At least, the jello has somehow started fading back into the eyeball.. and the itch + pain is very much reduced.

Have I been a dirty fella, rubbing dirty hands into eyes?! Hmmm...

Anyways, I'd take the day off tomorw.. and if the eye can take it, I'd continue with the super focused marking.

You take care of your eye(s) too.

Give me mushrooms anytime.

Night Speak

And the pimples surfaced like mushrooms after rain.. It's not time for the hormones to wreck havoc, so why the invasion of the painful, ugly pimplys?? Arghh.. Going to splat generous blobs of Oil of Ulan on those molehills now.

Talking about mushrooms, I did a quick stir-fry of instant pasta this evening - mushroom + herb flavored, with fresh, sliced leg ham & diced shitake mushrooms thrown in. Didn't turn out too bad at all. But the accompanying Murphy's Irish Stout (bought from duty free 4mths ago) was flat and disappointing. Like drinking black, foamy, bitter, chilled water. =P

2 days since return to institution. It's been 7.30am to 6pm. Longer days, but somehow didn't managed to accomplish as much, in terms of actual quantity (and quality??) of work done. I wonder if it's due to all those distractions from the current divergence between different camps. The cracks are really beginning to show...

Rainbow Dance

And now there is a hint of COLOURS.

There used to be this long long period when all there is in my waredrobe are blacks, whites, beiges and greys (in that order). As colourless and predictable as clockwork. Then, suddenly a qn popped - why only so young yet colours are all so 'old' (read 'boring')? If you don't splash colours when young, and do that only when you are one old crikety aunty, one would probably assume you to be 'fried-in-the-brains'.. like the kopi-shop aunty (red, with pig-tails) in my previous post, if you remember. =P

I still love the blacks and whites - these are friendly classics that'd still be in vogue come another few turns of centuries. But I've recently added to the collection, an assortment of greens, blues, yellows and oranges. Colours.. a visual magnet for better days ahead?

Here and There

Going into the last few days/hours of attachment, I guess I have to be frank and say this (hopefully my bosses are not reading) - I've enjoyed the break from institution. I like the clear boundaries between "during work" and "after work". I appreciate the fact that efficient people get to have more 'personal' time as a result of the seemingly more flexible schedule. I am not disturbed by the decreased (quantity and quality of) interaction between colleagues. I don't mind the heightened sense of self-importance that comes with working at the rather heavily secured building. And I like the focus that seems to be associated with the various assignments.

But of course, there is this chance that all these are but a mirage. Being on attachment is not the same as doing it full-time on a full-blown, permanent stint. Upon confirmed relocation, tolerance level towards human errors and incompetencies will likely be lower. Focused tasks may seem microscopic and trival. Culture and customs may feel rigid, stiffling and totally unnecessary. One may bemoan the lack of human warmth and empathy. There may be unseen pressure to work through the nights with the 24hrs card access.

I know. Like the chinese saying goes: A needle cannot have 2 sharp ends. To those who choose to remain here, don't gripe. To those who choose to relocate, be mentally prepared and have a fruitful journey ahead. Me? I guess I'm stuck in middle ground.

Hog's Breath

Venue: Hog's Breath Cafe @ Holland V

Day/Time: Wed night

Event: Ad hoc Pri 6 gathering (for pals who've kept in touch for >16yrs)

Food: Australian Western (Hog = Pig, but there's no oink on the menu except for a rib dish...)

Tip: 30% off steaks & grills if you use UOB card & 1 for 1 happy hrs for beers till closing

Pics:


HB 2nd floor


Some of those who turned up


Grilled salmon


Steak sandwich

One of the pals brought along her dentist husband and guess what? He was the lab mate of my dear Hons yr lab mate. Small red dot indeed! CSZ, if you are reading this, his name is CKW and he said you had his bag. =P We both miss ya!

Celebrating?

Don't know about you, but I have never really liked mooncakes. Carrying lit lanterns - yes. Playing with candles - yes. Setting paper and any other flammable materials on fire - yes. And Mid Autumn is one of the rare times kiddos can legitimately be some sorta arsonist. =P

I remember the times, in the '80s and '90s, when almost the entire neighbourhood would turn up at the community centre and take part in some lantern procession plus rowdy telematch-type of games. I remember my dad (and many of my primary sch mates' dads) taking part in those super rough, ratten-like rope tug-of-war, heaving and pulling as if their lives depend on it, and ending up with red long abrasions on their forearms + triumpant winner smiles and goody bags with sweets, balloons, paper hats and more paper lanterns for their precious kiddos. There were no kampungs then, but the pseudo-kampung spirit was definitely thick in the air. I miss those days.

Today's Mid Autumn again (Happy Zhong(1) Qiu(1) to you), but it was quite a pathetic night. As we drove along Holland, West Coast, Kent Ridge, Clementi, Bukit Batok and back, I craned my neck and was only able to spot 2 lonely children carrying lanterns strolling along. No noisy, happy processions. No colourful lighted lanterns (paper or battery operated). In the market, amongst housing blocks, nothing. Zilch. The only 'crowd' I saw (thankfully) was the small group of 10 or so kids, running around at the playground beneath my block. But they too, were gone by now. And it's not even past 10pm. Last time, there would still be lots of noisy giggling, shouting, lighting of sparklers and burning of candles all the way till midnight.. I'd like to think Mt Faber, Chinese Gardens, Hong Lim Square and other playgrounds are more invaded.

Whatever it is, and however old you may be now, hope your night has been a colourful one. Go light a candle and twirl some paper lantern around its wooden stick.

Dempsey Hideout

Finally checked out that infamous, latest hippie place called Dempsey Hill, that last-time-used-to-be-CMPB-secluded-forest-clearing. Verdict?

Nice. It's got a classy, tranquil atmosphere, and lots of eye candy - nice cars, smart-looking execs of all nationalities, a couple of rows of well-lit cosy restaurants, delis, pubs and even an upmarket grocer shop. Food served - Mexican, American, English, Asian fusion, whatever... Buzzing with a kind of quiet, intimate calm, it'd a nice place to bring a date. Me and friend checked out the mexican place - "Margaritas" and took a stroll in the grocer shop.


Flowers & vine creeping up the pillar near where we sat


A modern twist to a colonial place


Al fresco @ Margaritas


Burrito with chicken, beans, cheese, veggies & dunno what


Lime margarita of course


Jones Grocer - wine, cheese, choc, bread, jams, oil...

Dempsey Hill, not for rowdy family get-togethers. And bring along that platinum card/wad of cash.

Meeting up

Gg meet an ex-colleague at her institution this friday. Been a long time since last met/chat/caught up. A little tentative. Not sure if it's going to be awkward, but I know I'd regret if I don't even ask... We used to all hang out together. ={ Alrights, not expecting miracles, just shun(4) qi(2) zi(4) ran(2) I guess.

Build it or Leave it?

Sianz.

My horoscope today says - 'It's a good time to check in with people whom you may not have daily contact with. You may need to build/re-build bridges so as to maintain a friendly office/social camaraderie.'

Don't know about you, but sometimes (and increasingly so??), I will get hit by a kinda super anti-social, rebellious, 'hermit-crab' mentality, when all I wanna do is to snug into my own shell and be oblivious to everyone and everything around. Why make the extra effort to reach out when people may mistaken you for having hidden agendas / not reciprocate in kind / persist with their pre-conceived notions etc etc?

Give life, not death. It's about how long one can continue to give life when continually bombarded with negatives.

A recent Sunday Times article had a line - 'You will not be happy if you do not know who you are, for you will just be what others think you are.' Pathetic state to be in. But sometimes, even if you know who you are and set out to be who you are, it won't necessarily bring you happiness. Just be thankful it doesn't bring you more misery.

cLoUdS

One lap for each naughty thing injested. And for the past 5 days, it's a total of 8 laps. Hmmmm... Someone said that, to be counted as really having exercised, one must work out till the moment one starts to get breathless. Check that out.

The sky today was so awfully cloudy, I couldn't spot a speck of blue. The layer of off-white fluffs was smeared right aross every visible inch. What a let-down.. and it has to happen on a day when I'm able to scoot off a little earlier. Bleh.

Beauti-food

Pause. And you'd find beauty. If you will just pause.


Flowers by the pavement along a road

Uncle just returned to the States, after slightly more than a week here. Family bonding through grief and, on a lighter note, through the traditional s'porean past-time - food.


Sin Ming Road Bak Kut Teh


& Teochew Steamed Fish

Will the dead blame the living?

I guess not... If one had gone in peace.

In a different pond (warning - boring work-related post ahead)

It's a nice change to get outta insitution and go on attachment once in a while. Change of surroundings, people, system, facilities, protocols, things that you are familiar with, slowly becoming complacent about and/or getting tired of. A break to gather new perspectives and be exposed to different working styles and objectives, so that one can return as a better woman.

Flexi working these 2 days as we prepare the huge log of logistics and documents for the large number of meetings, standardization discussions and report-writing sessions. Sounds like just another high-class clerk? I hope and actually believe it'd be many things more and deeper than that. Hope to glean a better understanding of this whole rigorous process of self-appraisal so that I wouldn't feel like a big, blind bat running into walls when the time for strategic planning and target setting come by.

Sounds like a big yawn yawn already? I must admit, it is an acquired taste, but one that will likely make me more oriented and more rightly focused, instead of constantly having to thread water in muddled seas and avoid the carnivorous sharks.

16 more days to go.

Random

2 days of prayers passed and 1.5 more days to go, before moving on to Bright Hill to be with the rest.

Chant, it's ok to chant along, even if one does not fully comprehend. Help guide the soul towards the right path.

Today, the block number came out in 4D. Should have guessed somewhat, since he was an occasional "dabbler" in the game of luck & intuition.

2 or 3 unknowns helped themselves to the food and drinks the past 2 days. But it's ok. How much can a person eat.. and drink?

With his passing, hope the living will forgive, even if they can never forget.

So long... farewell. Yet again.

And my uncle has just gone to join mama in the Heavens. Leaving behind all his aches, suffering and inconveniences. There are some who suddenly wept buckets of tears, out aloud. And there are others who watched the passing with a calm, composed mind. Grief balanced by a sense of relief that he no longer has to suffer so.

I wonder which is the lesser evil... to helplessly anticipate death as an ill aged, or to have life suddenly snuffed out as a young soul.

2.5yrs. 3 passings. Why should there be life when the final destination for all is death?

That thing called family

And it's a feast. A visit to a colleague's nest to check out his latest addition to family - a cute, wide-eyed baby gal who remained blissfully asleep admist the joyous ruckus created by her 2 toddler bros. Running around in never-ending circles with pillows and toothpaste, and scrambling over chairs and people, these 2 energizer bunnies are a force to reckon with. =)

Colleague is a male at ease with the kitchen. Had pita-like bread with meats, veg salad, homemade garlic sauce & yoghurt. Had roasted chic with potatoes & carrots. Had bandung, malay kueh, spiced masala chai and grapes. Had swensens blackforest ice-cream cake. Lucky I had the foresight to swim some laps in the pool prior, and to munch cornflakes for lunch. =P

It's great to see intact, happy families. I can only wish that it will be just as blissful when my turn comes.

To each his own

A friend's in Jakarta now and another's in Adelaide, both on exploratory trips with their bosses, to see if there's room for future collaboration with their organizations. Yet both may decide to throw in their towels and pursue alternate paths come the new year, with one of them possibly even moving on to another country (at least for a couple of yrs)... Hmmm.

Some may cry foul, and think it a misuse of opportunities bestowed. Some may be more explicit and label them as traitors with no sense of appreciation/responsibility, choosing to fly the coop when so much has been invested into them, most likely at the expense of others. I withhold my comments. I guess... to a certain extent, it is unavoidable that the young, bright AND competent get a bigger jab at all things good, and have the luxury to pick and choose.

It's a matter of balance, don't you think? Innate desire vs reality. Short term vs long term. Own goals vs society's expectations. Materialism vs altruism. A never-ending struggle with its goal posts ever-shifting according to one's age, experiences and perspectives.

Life is as such. So... make hay while the sun shines?

1st Sept

And the kids said thanks.

In those occasional times of disillusionment, the fraternity of 29,642 of us depend on such intangibles to pull us through. Cliched as it sounds, the ability to influence and touch young lives is what make this profession unique. And it's the interaction with these cheeky monkeys that make our days memorable, especially when the mundane administrative load and frightfully fast pace of change threaten to weaken our resolve.

So, a belated Happy Teachers' Day to all the brave warriors out there.

Jit(4) Nang(1) Jit(4) Buah(1)

881, huat(4) ah(3)!

And I went in hoping that it will not be too crass. Those colourful publicity posters of feather boa-clad girls haven't helped.

It was not too bad at all. The last bits managed to work those tear glands a bit, and it helped that pretty boy Qi Yi Wu's around (though his part, with his pet rooster, sometimes seemed "extra"). The best actress award must go to Aunty Ling - the ever-effervescent "manager" of the Papaya Sisters. Small Papaya's impressive too. I now have a heightened sense of respect for the Hokkien language.

A local production that's bursting with heartland flavour. Watch it, and you'd find the songs stuck in your head for some time to come.

7th lunar month

Halfway through the lunar 7th mth. Remember not to wander ard too late into the night if you can help it. Always good to listen to old grandmas' advice.

The scene of middle-aged adults/elderly burning incense, lighting joss sticks and offering prayers beneath HDB blocks, and of endless rows of flaming red candles being left, stuck upright into the soil is actually quite a "cultural" sight. Another small mosaic piece that goes into the big jigsaw of what it means to be a Singaporean chinese.

Getais, "bidding dinners", prayer offerings. Sure hope they'd last the years to come.

Old is new Gold?

Oh my... I sure hope I wouldn't get bullied when it's my turn to be old.

Was slurping down a healthy dinner of fish-meat-noodle-in-clear-soup just now when I got distracted by a sudden, continuous torrent of loud, rough muttering. Not quite comprehensible, I must admit. But from her gestures and the icy dagger stares thrown so obviously in one lone direction, it's not difficult to pinpoint the target of her unhappiness.

This pint-sized lady looked to be in her late fifties. Dressed, from head to toe, in red - red zebra-striped top, red capris with lace, red shoes. Side burns tied up with pink ribbons, remaining hair bunched up in various twists and butterfly patterns with red clips and elastic bands. Red lipstick. Pink eyeshadow. Puffy face. Sallow skin. Clutched 2 red handbags and lugged 1 more.

Yes, in all objectivity, she looked weird. But the point is, her actions (prior to her angry outburst) look coordinated and sane. She ordered her food, she bought her drink. She sat down and waited patiently, without disturbing anyone. That's the last bit I remember about her before I turned my attention to fishy noodles.

Apparently, the western food stall uncle brought her a wrong order. And somehow refused to change it. I don't know how it escalated. But the uncle eventually removed the food and never came back again. And the lady's fuse was blown. Threats about getting police to come... rants about others thinking she has got no money...

Argh... I couldn't finish my dinner. Felt sad, angry, resigned, worried, sympathetic all at the same time. Old age is not golden age, no matter what those gurus and politicians say. When one is old, weak, poor and alone, I think one is better off buried. =P

But... everyone's turn will come. Just try to hit at least 2 out of the 4. Old is a given. It's between weak, poor and alone now.

Squash e Bug

Sore throat on Fri nite and then it's unrelenting fever the whole weekend. Plus headache. Plus a cold. A potent bug at work. Doc gave me 2 days MC - today and tomorrow. And lots of colourful pills.

Think at least another 2 of my colleagues caught the same bug too. We all came down with fever since sat, and we were all given at least 2 days of MC. One of them checked into hospital. Viral fever. Me... I'm staying at home and gulping medicine. And sleeping... Lots of sleep. Perpetually tired. But nope, it's not dengue. No excruciating bone pain. No breakouts of rashes. Just the nagging fever, headache & irritating stuck nose.

Just checked work mail after a whole day in bed. And immediately got headache again. Wed, when I return, I'd have to be superwoman.

Tomorrow, another day of body in bed, brain with work. Stupid bug.

Talent... lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Came back from Talentime. This year, it's a popularity contest with results determined solely through sms-voting. The PR man won. I can already visualize him as a future politician doing his sunday neighbourhood walk-abouts.

Colleague brought along his cool, professional Nikon D200 SLR. Sleek. But with the long lens on, that beast weighs a ton. I nearly strained my arm muscle trying to tweak the focus without support. It's been over a decade since I last fiddled with real lenses. That time, digital photography was a myth. We used negatives. And we developed our own films in musky darkrooms...

A mysterious sore throat-fever bug hit around evening time. Am battling the budding symptoms now. Sian. Bugs somehow have this weekend-GPS built in. Argh.

Marly's back. Welcome home. =)

Control... Alternate... Delete... Error

Damn it. I dreamt of JL yesterday. Oh man... Heard of the movie - "Eternal Sunshine of the Beautiful Mind"? Looks like the deleting process has hit some bug. A morsel's left behind in some corner, and that despite the wheelock incident. Am amazed.

Going Gaga over Singapore Films

Caught the series of Singapore Films on Arts Central just now. Every Sunday in the month of Aug, from 9pm to 11pm. Filmed by Singaporeans, for Singaporeans. All supremely, poignantly executed.

Tan Pin Pin's Singapore Gaga is perhaps the most famed amongst the 3 screened tonight. Her ability to juxtapose and present ironically differing perspectives on the same established facts is admirable. She does not reveal personal judgements explicitly. Instead, she leads you to form your judgement. Powerful.

KC Teo's The Bus is very heartland-ish. One can instantly connect and feel for the various characters packed in that overcrowed, locked double-decker. One man doing his job, in the only way that he knows. Intention versus execution.

Anthony Chen's Ah Ma is the most difficult for me to swallow. Excruciating to watch scenes of death claiming one's loved one. That hooked-up respirator.. the beeping and finally silent monitor.. those bare seats. Even the female Ah Ma lead looked, at some angles, like my own grandma, I thought. The pain was searingly raw. A testament, perhaps, to the film's success.

People are our only resource.

The usual trumpeted triumphs aside, these film-makers who worked to produce such poignant, reflective pieces that tugged at locals' heartstrings, at the same time, thrusting our Little Red Dot into international film limelight, deserve more than just a standing ovation. Perhaps a National Day commendation medal of sorts, wouldn't you say?

Singapore, a city of Possibilities.

X'cuse me, can you dance?

I envy those who can dance.

I mean, really let go and dance, regardless of size, shape, pattern, degree of hand-eye-leg coordination etc. It takes real courage to stand out there in the open, let go of all inhibitions and gyrate those hips, sway those arms in the air, flip those hair forward, back and sideways, and be so utterly immersed in the savoring of music, blind to all gazes from audience. Anyone less confident will shudder and dig an instant sink-hole to fall into... Me? I like music, but I can't dance for nuts. Too clumsy. Too serious. Too mindful.

I guess I really do envy those who can dance.

NDP @ Marina Mandarin

Got a lucky invite (courtesy of dad’s kaki) to watch NDP from a suite on the 20th floor of Marina Mandarin, at an angle facing the waterfront stage, with a super unimpeded view of fireworks bursting in the nightsky. Ms Canon Ixus was put to test once more.

Suite really has got its suite service leh – there’s complimentary (though it’s all likely covered in that hefty room bill liao) red wine, choc-dipped strawberries, expresso machine + 6 different types of coffee beans, personalized bed-turning service, 2 balconies. Solid. =)

This year’s parade @ waterfront has got some rather nice “firsts” – the water stunts by Chinooks & navy ships were spectacular, and the night parachuting too was a welcomed twist. As usual, the fighter jets & flag fly-past were big crowd pleasers, and the fireworks finale was the perennial icing on the cake.

Snapped away pretty happily but think I haven’t explored the camera enough to fully unleash its prowess. =P


Parachuters in the day


State flag fly-past


Fighter jets doing their stuff


Navy boats' turn


Fireworks I


Fireworks II

The show was great BUT the getting there and going back was HIDEOUS. Absolute torture. The MRT and Citylink underpass were so jam packed with people, one could hardly breathe. The air was so stale and humidity so high… I felt like strangling myself. Really. Something needs to be done if the parade’s going to be held there for the next couple of years. I wonder how many people fainted in that chaotic sardine can tonight. On the way back (more than 1.5hrs past end of parade), hundreds were still swarming their way towards the MRT, so much so that the uniformed “human traffic directors” had to literally scream at people, through loud hailers, to “move to the left/move to the right/move move move move move!” Bad.

Anyways, these first-time glitches aside, I’d say that this waterfront parade had offered some nice highlights. And what can beat a 20th floor view of fireworks? =)

Sweet Countdown to National Day

Morphing into some voyeuristic food read, I know. But you can't blame me if those edible stuff just look that camera-friendly, can you? It's almost like they are tempting the phone camera with their vibrant splashes of colours & textures... I give up, here comes another food jot.

Half day today, celebrating National Day in advance. You can suss out fellow comrades - just zoom in on those groups, clad in red tops (various shades) + jeans/skirt/pants/berms bottoms, sauntering the grounds of shopping malls ard noon. 90% bulls eye.

After a non-too-yummy refreshment at institution, a group of us hopped over to wavy Vivo for a more decent lunch (@ Sushi Tei) & dessert break (@ Bakerzin). Ok, sorry Cedele, I'd have to take back the yummiest cake award (from your carrot cake) and pass it to Bakerzin's Strawberry Shortcake. Simply sublime! That fluffiness, that airy lightness of sponge, the subtle yet unmistakable sweet touch of strawberry cream, and those fresh succulent strawberries... one bite is enough to propel one to highest level of Heavens. Outta the world! (And this coming from someone who's always preferred choc in her cakes than strawberries)

Too bad, didn't manage to snap a shot of the strawberry shortcake before it got demolished. Snapped pics of their Strawberry Tart though - still a very decent choice too! Crunchy base, compact tart, generous serving of strawberries too. Just that it's more "jer lat" i.e. stomach-filling/heavy on the stomach.


Been a long time since I last visited Bakerzin


Sitting pretty - the Strawberry Tart


Another colleague's Profiteroles


Forest fruit freeze

Tomorrow evening, I'd be waiting to take pics of fireworks-lit skies.

A Sweet Treat

What better way to round up a working weekend than a sweet dessert treat?

@ Cedele, the answers are straightforward -


their world-class carrot cake with yummilicious frosting, smooth texture & a generous lining of freshly-toasted walnuts


the lusciously sensual chocolate-banana expresso cake, bitter-sweet with a delightful aftertaste

Worth the 10 extra laps of swim next week.