Bling Bling Shoes

Finally!!!

Da-taaah - my wedding shoes: just the right fit and colour, plus the right amount of bling and height for me. Got it at Robinsons, at a 20% discount and with a 'lifetime warranty' for displaced Swarovski crystals and/or straps.

Yippeee. =)

Disappointment

'Love 50%' is such a let-down. Can't decide if it's the stagnated puppy look of the female lead that made me cringe or the try-too-hard storyline... but I know I did not enjoy tonight's screening. Haiz, what a disappointment considering last week's pleasant surprise. Next Sunday, the final instalment of this home-produced series... hopefully, it'd be worth the electricity bill the next time round.

Wrapping Up

And I'm starting to clear my leave. Just 2 official work days left to go, but of course I'd still be checking and clearing work mail and matters up to 31 Dec. Will also have to start packing up soon, so that the new officer can take over the desk.

Hmmm, my 2 yr posting has passed quite quickly. No doubt there had been a fair share of challenging and hair-pulling moments, but it has been a wonderul period overall. Some think that by making the move 2 yrs ago, I have taken a detour but I feel otherwise and have no regrets at all. Am truly thankful for the great exposure, my super colleagues and my understanding bosses. =)

Will be catching up with those who matter, as well as cooking a few more meals for Dad, before I fly. This blog will of course still be active.

Cheers

In the mood for some homegrown Love Stories

Did you managed to catch the feature film 'Love in a cab' that was just screened on Channel U, 9-11pm? Produced by an independent local film company, 18g Pictures Pte Ltd, it traces the evolution of relationship between a pair of star-crossed beings over 10yrs of tangles involving cabs. Given the less-than-sterling reputation that local dramas has garnered, I was initially a little tentative about how this feature film would turn out. Thankfully, the storyline was heartwarmingly local but not cliched, the acting was believable, the comic illustrations were superb and the outcome inspiring. There was a fair share of poignant moments when one is made to reflect upon the film's subtle messages of love, missed chances, fate, yearning, filial piety, pragmatism, dreams and even consumerism, and that makes it well worth 2hrs of weekend time for me. I look forward to the remaining two feature films - 'Love 50%' and 'Lost and Found' to come, again by local film producers, for the subsequent 2 Sundays at 9pm. Join me, if you too are in the mood for some homegrown love stories. :)

For A & D

And these are the 2 bridesmaid dresses that I'd wear today, for a buddy's wedding.



Glad that the cough, fever and cold got under control. Otherwise, it'd be a mad scramble trying to get last min bridesmaid and emcee replacement. Hope there'd be no mess up on stage later.

To everlasting love, for A & D.

The Immersion

And I'm glad to be home.

It's definitely more challenging bringing adults overseas. The kind of demands they make is sometimes head-shakingly unfathomable. While majority behaved well most of the time, there were occasions when me and co-lead fantasized holding a few by their collars and giving them some good, hard, long shakes. Our blood pressures must have risen a few notches during the past 11 days in UK.

All said, Lincoln is a quaint, self-equipped town. London, in comparison, is almost as I remembered 12 yrs ago - cold, dark and gloomy, only busier, more touristy and less expensive now. There are many top musuems to visit and an amazing range of shops to satisfy the shopaholic. I had the good fortune of visiting the British Museum and the National Gallery, both of which are great, but I think I prefer New York's Metropolitan Musuem and Berlin's Pergamon Musuem.

Temperature had been near freezing, hovering between 0 and 5 deg everyday. It's chilly but at least that beats hot and sticky. Starting with bus journeys and school attachments at 7.30am and finishing with night debriefs that end around 9.30pm, it's been almost 2 wks of solid work in foreign land.

I am grateful for the warm hospitality and kind assistance rendered by our various partners and suppliers - hotels, academies, transport companies etc, and I'd remember the omnipresent dry British humor for sure. For now, it's back to nursing the cough...

To UK on Qantas

It's Deepavali today and I managed a good long sleep-in! =)

The past 2 days had been long long long, with marathon 4hr meetings and endless follow-up to well, follow-up on. =P Had wanted to make an evening visit to the office gym on two occasions but ended up driving home when night had long fallen on both days. I guess it's ok, since it'd be just another 8 more weeks to go (make that 4 after taking away the 2 wks that I'd be on an official work trip + 2 wks of leave).

Will be leaving for UK with 21 others for an immersion programme in a week's time. Be back in end Nov. Will continue to post if there's internet access and if there are interesting things to write about. Meantime, it's back to juggling those final work tasks and making sure that the handing over is smooth.

Oh, and pray, may Qantas not blow another engine, especially on flights to and fro London... =P [Updated on 6 Nov 2010 - And today, another engine trouble reported. 2 incidents in 2 days. OMG]

A further update on 10 Nov 2010 - we will be flying on a different carrier afterall. =P And now, to remember to make a trip to the money changer...

No More Haze

And so the haze has cleared. Both literally and figuratively. What a relief!

It's always painful when there's tension between loved ones, and I'm glad the struggle is over. Through this episode, I have learnt that (i) giving in does not equate to having lost, that (ii) at the end of the day, mutual happiness far outweighs one-sided joy, and that (iii) in the sacred instituition of marriage, the fine art of  give-and-take must be practised often and skilfully in order for the flame of love to continue burning brightly.

Emotionally, we now appreciate each other even more. Monetarily, we managed to save a significant bit for more practical use. Outcome-wise, with the due diligence put into research and a touch of good luck & timing, we managed to score a quality deal that offers just as much, if not more. It turned out to be a win-win situation afterall.

It's been tedious navigating through the haze, but we made it out and have become stronger because of it. When faced with future haze outbreaks, I'd be sure to remember the lessons learnt thus far.

The Past Week

20 Oct 2010 (Wed)
On a down day like this, looking at family pics brings tears to my eyes and a lump to the throat. While I feel blessed to be born into a loving family, the raw pain of separation is something to contend with. 5.5yrs down the road, I still miss my mum - and I’m glad I do, for otherwise how cold and heartless a creature I must have turned into?

When others turn their backs on me, she’d be around. She may not have high educational qualifications, but she has great common sense and social grace. She may demand for time and attention, but she’d always willingly gives more than she receives. There are, up to now, just a couple of regrets in my life, and one of them is my failure to provide more for her when she was around. As a beginning salarygirl, I worked too hard and earned too little back then. While recognition and opportunities may come my way, at the end of the day, I guess it’s just not worth it.

Thankfully, dad is still around, and pray, may that be so for many more years to come. I wonder what I'd do without him.

21 Oct 2010 (Thur)
Caught up with my good old fish pal again, this time over Korean authenticities. As usual, it was a totally comforting chat, though over not-so-comforting issues. I'm deeply appreciative of the fact that, despite having to battle her own demons, she's ever willing to listen and share the load. And the fact that she can see both perspectives and offers advice in her usual straightforward, non-patronising and non-judgemental style makes her a god's gift, particularly during bleak times. Coincidental as it may be, she is always somehow around at the right time. Perhaps our fates are interwinned. And may it remain so for a long time to come, in wherever lands we end up being.

23 Oct 2010 (Sat)
After 5 days of non-communication, the ice was finally broken yesterday evening. The issue was yet resolved but the breaking of ice was a big reliver. For someone whose language of love looks to be words (spoken or written), total news blackout is a real torture, something that shakes faith and causes sad loss of sanity. Love is such a double-edged sword. It has the capacity to elevate you to unfathomable heights of sweet passion, yet is also capable of plunging you into the deep abyss of pain and disappointment. Does this mean then, that one should retreat into hermit's hole in order to protect oneself? Pain aside, I think otherwise. If one has not experienced the different intensities of emotions - of happiness and sadness, of separation and unification, - one would have lived a life of a straight line. Completely safe and, perhaps, completely incomplete. So step out there, and do what the heart beckons. May the haze (pun intended) clears soon.

As to what may happen next

And the Board of Governors of one particular A family must be wondering just when it'd all end. What a busy busy year this has been for them, first the rugby brawl on field, then the fist fight at bus stop, next a shocking resignation by its high-profile leader, and now some steamy underaged in-toilet video... with all given prime coverage in the daily papers. Oh dear...

Just what may happen next?! =P

Blackbird

It didn't feel like it's been that long since I last stepped into SRT, but I just can't recall what my last play had been. Hmmm.... Am quite sure it's not the PillowMan. Was it Macbeth? Or Midsummer Night's Dream? Or what?? Argh.

Anyways, the 1.5hr act proved pretty intense... The acting by Emma Yong was wonderful, almost painful to watch. Daniel Jenkins was alrights, not disappointing but not outstanding either. This play, about a suffocating, illicit relationship between a 40yr old man and a 12yr old child, one that paralyzes them even after a gap of 15yrs, is disturbing but not to the extent of nightmare-inducing.

I would imagine there are all sorts of relationships and dynamics happening in various parts of our complex world. Life, may or may not be simply a matter of personal choice.   

My Next Phase In Life - 2nd & Final Instalment

Here are a few more pics of us at our ROM. =)

To sunny days ahead!

My Next Phase In Life!

We have officially moved into the next phase as husband and wife! =)

It was a small but beautiful affair at Swissotel Merchant Court Hotel. The weather was perfect - not sunny nor rainy. The guests were a very small group of family and close friends. The JP was a fatherly, humorous and accomodating man. Lunch was great at Ellenborough, we had our own sectioned corner. Our room was spacious and offered a good view of Clarke Quay. Things went smoothly and we really thoroughly enjoyed our day, despite some initial reservations.

I am now (officially and happily) Mrs Ho. Hahaha.

p.s. Sorry to friends who are reading this who had not been invited to the gathering. Both families wanted to keep the solemnization event small and fuss-free. Hope this would not jeopardize our friendship in any way. =P Will update on chinese banquet next year then!

Ahn-Nyeong Hah-Seh-Yo

After a long facilitation session and an evening visit to a fellow colleague who had just given birth, a grp of us decided to check out this authentic Korean restaurant along Lorong Kilat (in Bt Timah area) called Woori-Nara for some late night comfort food.

This place's been featured in the Straits Times for its supposedly heavenly Korean fried chicken (esp the Garlic Soy flavor), and it did not disappoint. =) Even at 10pm, there were several tables of natives enjoying their Kimchi soup, hotplate meats and beers.

And so the 6 of us munched, chomped and slurped our way through the pickled appetizers, hot plate pork, fried garlic soy chicken, seafood pancake, kimchi soup, korean noodles and steamed rice, washing them all down with crushed pear juices, fermented rich punches and orange sac juices. All for less than $20 each.

What a good way to end a long day. Check out the restaurant too, to get your dose of Korean comfort food.

When there is fog....

I'd like to believe that most, if not all, things happen for a reason.

Given, we may not be able to fully comprehend the causes and consequences there and then when they happen. Nor may we be able to completely agree with and accept the turn of events. But time and tide waits for no man. To survive and live a happier person or a person more at peace with himself (and with the world for that matter), we'd just have to keep faith and amble along, until the pieces of puzzle fall into place.

When decisions have got to be made, priorities come into play.

One of the best things in life, must be that we can live at peace with ourselves.

Back from Hokkaido

2010 looks set to be a year of travel. Well, at least do it while there's still a steady flow of income, isn't it? =P (In any case, PM just announced in his National Day message that bigger bonuses may be expected this year - hopefully!)

Anyways, just fulfiled dad's 2+yr wish of visiting Hokkaido. Brought him (and another long-time family friend) on a 7D6N package tour to beautiful Hokkaido. It's summer time over there, and with the great lake + mountain scenery, plus unforgettable giant crabs, super fresh sashimi & sea urchin & squid, amazingly wide range of irresistably kawaii (cute) sweets and tinklets, ultra polite service staff, super clean & high tech toilets with seat-warming and butt-washing facilities (even those public ones), who can blame Japan for it's relatively high cost of living.

And to cap it off, the tour group we were with had its mix of eccentric jokers (both young and old), led by a mafia-style (but harmless), gungo, straight-talking, multi-lingual Laotian tour guide. What a trip.

And oh, before I forget, Happy Birthday, Singapore! Stay clean, safe, energetic and cheery for many more 45yrs to come!

Hooooray!

It's finally over!! After months and months and months of hard work, cross-divisional straddles, convoluted communications, puffy eyebags, dramatic nightmares, raised blood pressures (and sometimes voices) and flying arrows, it's finally over!!

Of course, there are also good friendships forged, one-of-a-kind memories etched and laughter shared over many a rushed lunch. It was one hellava project. And to celebrate the end of it all, what better way than through beers, pizzas, buffalo wings, calamari, garlic mushrooms, chilli fries, cheesy nachos, fresh salad, bbq ribs and.... whatever they have on the Brewerkz menu!

And now, back to sanity and BED.

Into the last lap

For the next three days, I'm going to clock an average of 12hrs (or more) of critical work. But it's ok..... after that, I'd go give my hair its fresh coat of paint, I'd bring dad out for his fresh sashimi in the most authentic settings, I'd nuah in bed for 10hrs straight, I'd count down to all things bright and beautiful. For now, it's back to big black eyebags and fitful sleep.

Souped Up

Soup Spoon....

I used to like it quite a bit. I mean, comforting ang moh soup in a fluffy pastry bowl. Yum!

But I guess things started to change a little when news of that tragically gruesome "worker-hack-supervisor-to-death-in-kitchen-of-raffles-city-branch" hit the news some years back. I think I remembered seeing blood-stained floor tiles, either on the TV or in the papers. And I decided maybe I don't need to have ang moh soup that often.

So it was several years later today that I went back to Soup chain to give it another go. And of course, the choice has got to be Boston Clam Chowder. Who doesn't love Clam Chowder?!

But... 4.5hrs after that soupy dinner, my stomach is still working hard to digest the creamy goo. Too thick... too gooey... too difficult for my intestinal enzymes to break down. It feels like there is some big mass of semi-jellified lump in my tummy... Argh.

It's either the Soup recipe has been overly souped up, or I've aged and can no longer take to clam chowder soup... What a tragedy.

Just Need Sleep

What a loooooooooong looooooooong looooooong week.

I was zapped even before Monday ended. It's back to 11-12hrs work days. And all because my big project is into its climax stage. Rank and file are all highly strung and I'd (almost) jump each time my phone (or handphone) ring. My eyebags are so big and black, they make me look like some gothic gypsy overloading on eyeliner. And during this same period, unexpected (though not unpleasant) developments unfold. It was an absolute test of multi-tasking and brain-heart compartmentalization. More updates to come when things are better firmed up.

Counting down to the completion of my big project - 2 weeks. Though more assignments have already been lined up for me.

Counting down to the end of my posting - 6mths. And I'm already looking forward to the next new experience.

For now, it's time to hit the sack. I need sleep!! Restful, dreamless sleep!!

The Bipolarity of Cancerians

Chanced upon 2 magnets while browsing the East Shed Markets in Perth City.

The inscriptions that detailed our somewhat bipolar identities:

Cancer (Jun 22 to Jul 23)
Tenacious. Intuitive. Perceptive. Protective. Supportive. Encouraging. Caring & Kind. Helpful. Home-loving. Devoted. Dependable. Imaginative. Sensitive. Self-reliant. Compassionate. Nicer than everyone else.

Cancer (Jun 22 to Jul 23)
Suspicious. Introspective. Moody & Sulky. Touchy. Crabby. Over-sensitive. Needy. Clingy. Devious. Self-absorbed. Manipulative. Possessive. Always Procrastinating.

The Angel & The Devil.

I bought them both. For A$10. =P

Goodbye for real, Dawson

Oh, and just a follow-up on the Dawson project. The Chinese ethnic quota has been reached, so it's truly game over this time round.

It'd have to be other BTOs or DBSSs or resale flats. But... If I have a choice, I'd really not wish to end up in far-flung Punggol or Sengkang... no matter how small people tell me Spore is.

Nourished!

A wonderful 9D8N road trip to Perth, with beautiful natural sights, lovely weather and honey sweet memories. =)