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.