Quest for Happyness

happy new year!

2011-01-02T08:33:00.000-08:00

so we decided to go to countdown at marina bay at the end... nice fireworks... went out shopping.. took it easy... was thinking where we went for past years' countdowns.. haha.. couldn't rem... bad memories we both have... :p

anyway, it's a new year.. 2010 went past very fast.. it went on ok.. like my sis said, there isn't really a bad year.. the year could have been worst.. and we should be grateful that it was ok.. i agree. i think many things could have been a lot worst...

december was fun.. went to HK with a big tummy... took ferry to macau, forced our way up to the peak, went shopping and all.. it was fun... hehe.. taking the sub load flight was tough but worthwhile.. hehe... came back to sg first without sayang and managed to pick him... hehe..

after hk then went to stay at changi hotel with the family.. booked five rooms in total.. fun.. went to ubin and drank coconut juice.. nice... hehe..

nearly lost my oakleys cos i threw it down the rubbish chute by mistake.. fainted... sayang had to get himself dirty cos of me... :p

sorry sayang...

took it slow in 2010.. got married, got the house renovated and then got pregnant.. a little rushed it may seem but i think it's ok.. some plans had to change but well, life goes on...

can't wait to see baby.. not sure wat kind of mother i'll be.. hopefully baby will grow up well... off to sleep.. need to get myself mentally prepared for work... shall try to dream of baby's name again.. dreamt last nite but can't rem.. :p

nite all..

happy new year...

there's a clamp on my head

2010-05-05T02:44:00.000-07:00

and it's being tighten as i am doing my work and trying to handle all that i need to do. my ppt slides are due today.. it is not ready. i am tired. like extremely. it is worrying.

i do not want my body to give up on me just yet. i am still young. i have many i have yet to do..

i know i probably should just go get my work done.. i'll do so. soon.

i am blessed with love from family and hubs.. i am thankful that i am able to do my work still. sometimes it is hard to handle.. and i feel like the head is being clamped. i do not like it..

i hope i can emerge from this all unscathed and not burnt out. i need a break. like seriously. so many things to oversee. no life at all.

i had a good time on 1 May by the way.. the romantic date did not turn out to be exactly very romantic, but the surprises were good.. i thoroughly enjoyed the night... it was nice... i know i said i want to go home, but it was really a nice sweet date... :P think i need chicken essence even for a date. haha. extreme tiredness felt all the time.............

argghhghhghghghhhggghghghh...

but it's all going to be ok, right?? trying to be a little more optimistic here.. alright... time to get back to work... :0

i wish for time to sleep and do all that i need to do...

2010-04-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

hehe.. tat is kind of like my own birthday wish. haha.. but not in these exact words. cannot say exactly or it might not come true? haha...

getting a bit too tired about all these.. haiz.. and the body is not as able to handle all the abuse i am inflicting on myself. hmm.. i have aged..

metabolism rate has slowed down... can feel the fats accumulating.. haha.. maybe ppl will think that i am trying to be funny by saying this but really, i do eat my meals. i may not eat too much as my digestive system is not exactly in the best of shape, but i do eat and i cannot go without food except when fasting that is.

anyway, i am just rambling on... trying to think positive thoughts. happy to know that out clothes rack could be up soon.. hehe.. no more hanging at the windows... the walls will be filled with mostly my clothes. haha. should really be determined to clear out clothes i have not worn for the longest time. haha... or maybe just change a new wardrobe altogether?? haha..

time is flying by so quickly and i am feeling like i am lagging way behind... need to geta hold of myself and get moving. i need something to walk me up. i need to get chicken essence. arghhhhh....

i want to run away. stay at home and be a recluse sounds good too... life is too short to be always feeling tired... haiz.

i am 28 years old

2010-04-14T00:11:00.000-07:00

woo hoo.. i am 28 years old. my little ever so cute and adorable nephew sang me a birthday song last nite and cut his cake toy and shared it with me. he saw my mum and aunt giving me red packets and he decided that he wanted to give me one too! he went to ask my mum for $2 and gave me a red packets!! haha... very funny... he really felt bad that the red packet was empty! he frowned and ran to the room to ask my mum.. i'm very touched... hehe.. then he passed me the present my sis was to give me. he passed it to me and told me it was a watch. haha... oh and he opened the present on my behalf too.. :p

but he is so cute lah.. and clever. too many examples. its amazing! wonder what my sister feeds him! hehe.. she has taught him well..

i got a new cute little camera from moe and hubby... a kate spade bag from myself... a nice baby g watch from my sis and love from many...

thanks... although i jumped out of bed at 6.30 today, i reached sch on time.. the art room check is cleared... just one more day tomorrow...

later going for dinner. i dunno where to go yet! and a movie although sound good, may take up too much time... hmmm... oh well.. i have to get work done and then get ready for the nite! maybe i should drink my coffee now! :)

what can i do?

2010-03-03T06:03:00.000-08:00

to lessen dear's pain? its very worrying and heart aching to see yang waking up in pain and not being able to concentrate on his studies cos of the pain... and now tat we are almost going to move in, it is very worrying... i just hope yang will give his leg time to get well and when we do move, we'll do so at a comfortable pace... :)

i shall go to sleep.. will wake up together with yang later. at about 4. do some work while yang studies at his place... muacks.

love u dear...

cant wait for all the lights to be up! :)

Waiting for time to pass..

2009-12-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

I love holidays. Like the thrill of just not having to go work if I dun feel like it and just rotting away.. It's a good feeling. Year end hold are the best. Travelling, family gatherings and all. It's good.. There's also the bonus.. Makes me feel that all that shit that happens throughout the year is ok afterall. We are all just slaves, aren't we? Working to earn our keep, bowing down to rules and at times, unreasonable bosses who think tat everything can be done effortlessly and that work is the most impt of all about family and satisfaction.

Been sitting at ya kun for 15 min and I see many ppl with weird habits. Have I really been out so little? Haha. Maybe. No time to obsere wat ppl do. This angmo found it hard to swallow the half-boiled egg. This lady came with her husband and son. She ordered two drinks and drank both, leaving none for her husband and son. This old couple came in and the elderly lady took the bread apart, scrutinized the bread for some time before she took a bite. Wonder what was she looking at? A little girl about Emre's age is trying to lick her mum everywhere! I'm sure her mum tasted real sweet! :p

Have to wait till 5 Jan to change to the iPhone 3Gs. So many things to do. Hmmm. Maybe it's not good to sit and think about things. I just get worried yet wun do much about it. Haha. Anyway, time to got for a colleague's wedding lunch at m hotel. I hope the walk from the mrt station is not long. The heels are killing me... :p

so sleepy now.

2009-11-30T05:42:00.000-08:00

waiting for the time to go to the airport to pick Mr R. hopefully i will not fall asleep driving!

getting the keys next monday! yippee... very excited. so many things to do. :p will bring laptop to genting to do work. haha. next two days will be in sch to clear work though. and need to clean my extremely messy table and art room. haiz.

haiz. i need a better system of storage and compartmentalisation of my documents and all... argggh...

hopefully i can blog soon again with pictures of my cleaned up table, art room and own bedroom.

not many days left to the event in dec and then the 2nd event in jan. house needs to be cleaned up!!

hmmm.. i am sleepy...

gtg...

slack..

brain-dead...

bowled badly today.. :p

oh my goodness

2009-11-20T23:30:00.000-08:00

IT'S THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR! OH MAN! OH MY GOODNESS! IT'S OVER! pardon the caps. kind of excited. haha. yet kind of melow cos it has been an eventful year. been pretty much down on my luck. yes, i did pass my last exam and graduated... but there were many really unlucky events.

1) hp screen cracked when i dropped on the floor on the day i was due to trade it in for the iphone. i was $300 dollars poorer cos of tat.
2) made new retainers cos i lost them. $200 poorer
3) scratched jazzie's front bumper at hdb hub
4) nearly cos the side skirting to come off at mscp in august. $100 poorer
5) can't rem other things tat i did tat made me fork out lots of money. :(

haiz. luck no good at lucky draws. even keys also haven't collect. haiz. why like this?
to make up for the trip i won last year? haiz.

guess i can't complain... haiz. u win some, u lose some.

still think tat i did not learn to keep my mouth shut at certain times.

i'm just not a ppl person. guess it has got to do with upbringing. not the best but i dun think it's the worse. still cant complain. maybe i'm in this world so other ppl will appreciate those really nice ppl better. haha.

one more month to the solemnisation. need to print cards soon and settle the guest list. hmm.. havent book buffet yet! oops...

need to lie down.back ache. :p

Absence..

2009-10-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

I must have been busy to not be blogging since 12 aug! Haha. Now blogging cos I have some time and there's nothing else I can do. Stuck. It's almost the end of the year. I wonder if I made any resolutions this year? Wonder if I managed to keep to any? Haha. I dun remember. It has been an eventful year. Some ups but quite a lot of downs. It's quite tough in fact. But life goes on. I wake up every morning and follow a sort of a routine and somehow get past the day and go back to sleep often feeling tired and extremely exhausted. Sometimes it hurts to be so tired. The body shows signals like falling sick and just being generally
not cooperative at all. Maybe I need proper exercise.

On the work front, I have to resort to being like a factory worker. Just do and do and not think. First it was tree trunks and then it is namecard holders. There goes this sat as well. 8 to 3!

On the home front, it has been good. Sometimes just feel happy coming home to see many ppl and of course my gave nephew. Haha. Only one actualli. He is funny and cheeky. Naughty at times but like my mum says, it's better for him to be naughty and cheeky than blur and unresponsive! Haha. He really makes my day sometimes. Am often impressed by his wide vocabulary and ability to think and respond so quickly! Although I can't get work done with him around, the time spent with him is worthwhile. :)

Supposed to be getting stuff ready for the two big events but have been really caught up with other things. At least the photos have been taken. Need to do the layout and get it printed. Née to get stuff from dear and pass him stuff as well. He is extremely busy though. Haiz. Poor thing. Wonder if he has time to rest?? Hmmm. Wonder eat else I can do to help him? :)

ok. Got to go.. Busy times ahead...

maeshmallow love..

2009-08-12T03:03:00.000-07:00

bought some marshmallows for my pupils. they loved it. got them to write a poem about the marshmallows they ate. one of the, was really funny! :) i had a good good laugh!

Marshmallows
Are
Really
Sweet.
"Hello
Marshmallows," I
Always say,
Leaning against the
Little table.
"Oh no," my mother always say,
"Will you please stop talking to the marshmallows? What a
Silly boy!"

haha, just got quite thrilled by it somehow. haha

anyway, tired. sleepy.. can't wait to go home... phew. i am having a tring week! next week will be bad too... haiz.

admiration

2009-07-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

like wat my facebook status says, "Meijie Jerine deeply admires the elderly lady featured on Tuesday Report. I am amazed by her strength and girth in facing life challenges. I'm ashamed of myself..."

i am indeed ashamed of how micro my view has been. true, i have been to do something to help others before, but i think it is not enough..

that elderly lady is tough. so is my paternal grandma we affectionately call Ah Ma, and my mum.

that elderly lady sells her stuff at sungei road. she has six children she raised on her own when her husband died of cancer when she was 31. she slogged very hard, worked many jobs and although illiterate, she brought them up well. now, none of them give her any money. she cooks from a rice cokker to save on gas and the best part is, she volunteers at a hospice twice a week taking care of the terminally ill. she is 79 years old.

my grandma too, brought up five children on her own after my grandfather fell from the roof while my grandma was still pregnant with my youngest uncle. i cannot imagine how big a blow that is but my grandma is strong. life dealt her one blow after another. till today, she has no idea my father is gone. hmm. come to think of it, i think i wrote of this before. still, i am filled with deepest admiration for her. i wish she could be happier now...

hmm.. i got to go.. got to rest some today. tomorrow will be back to fighting battles at work. i should take my mc fully, shouldn't i? :p

so long...

2009-06-17T03:19:00.000-07:00

it's been so long.. last i blogged was a month back? oh man..

i am having a backache from bending over the whole afternoon.

still stuck in sch. havent pack for bintan. need to do stuff tonight. no sleep man. faintz. tom still need to come sch before going to bintan. alamak. i am so going to sleep lots when i'm there.. but i dun think it's possible. quite excited but also quite sad. after tat it's back to reality. one more sem to go before the next hols. haha.. and i'm so looking forward to the next hols alreadi. haha...

went for photoshoot on 13 june. woke up to red skies, thunder lightning and heavy rain.. lucky it all stopped in time. haha

funny to be so made up the whole day! yang looks silm in his suit! haha... nice.. still waiting to see the pics. not really in a hurry but still.. excited.

next day had a photography lesson at sembawang. taught kids how to use film cameras. they must think we are very backward! haha. still it was fun. but damn tiring. after that had sk8 and shoot at bishan park. lots of sun. i am not good at taking pictures. maybe i should quit. haha.

my manicure barely lasted an hour. haha... ruined the first one after like 15 mins? and the rest are like in bad shape after one night. i am so not meant to do all this girly stuff.. haha.

i am so going to eat, slack and laze around in bintan. i dun want to start work... :( i'm scared of all that is coming.. *trembling in fear*

yang's head..

2009-05-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

he was hurt at work. haiz. got a shock when i saw his sms. haiz.

i am tired and so so busy. i cannot breathe. i am off to reflect and meditate in bed..

bye..

as i said on FB, i am disturbed.

2009-04-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

I am extremely revolted... watched Taken earlier and i think i in shock. Not tat i do not know that such things are happening. just when it is put in front of my face that i get the full impact. i felt like puking. not from the dirt and grim, but the sadness that in many places around the world, my fellow species have to suffer untold misery. I am sad. extremely sad. the scene at the construction site is enough to make all fathers want to protect their daughters, make mothers not want their daughters to leave their sight for one sec, makes me so angry with the people behind it all. Exploiting others to satisfy their own sick whims and fancies. I am mad.

there are ppl on the streets who blame the women working at geylang for breaking up families, for tempting men away from their homes and wives. have they ever thought why did they have to resort to the means of making a living? i do not think it is fun selling one's body or making a career out of it. although one can argue that it's the men's fault then, sometimes they just have needs and they resort to these means when they have no outlet. then whose fault?

not finding an answer. just expressing my views. I felt terrible watching the show. I felt like just working everyday and coming home, worrying about minor stuffs when there are bigger issues out there in the world. maybe like dear said, we are all born with a purpose in life, but i am disgusted with the world...

all we do is mind our own business. those who claim to want to do good for others turn out to be rather corrupted somehow.. those who write in FB about how they hate SG yet dun do anything about it except to whine and act all sissy. i thank my lucky stars i can walk around town in the middle of the night, that i can go where i want to on my own, that i feel safe and secure knowing that my chances of returning home at the end of the day is very high and that of my loved ones as well.

be thankful for wat we have. we may have our shortcomings but no one is perfect. it is up to us to make a difference. stop whining. i love SG and I am proud of it.

turned 27..

2009-04-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

it was an eventful day. it was quite traumatising at work. some fighting, flinging og bags, handphone flying.. all not done by me... haha.. i may get angry easily, but still rational enough. haha.. maybe when older will get worse...

last friday there was a family bbq! it was a surprise party for me! but i found out anyway. haha.. but it was fun. we haven't had a bbq for some time! the food was great.. sushi made by my sis, pizza by pizza hut, marianted meat by my mum, desert by my aunt and sausages... yummy... makes me want to have another bbq now! haha.. thanks for the lovely gifts, sis and cousins... :) thanks for the ang baos too, mum aunts and grandma.. :)

then had a busy weekend. had a competition at the CC. tiring. i'm quite scared of eggs now. haha. saw about a few hundred eggs and the participants

had dinner at Ministry of Food at Bugis. the jap food was good! yummy.. the soba was excellent. have been eating the cold soba so often. haha... :) i love it... thanks for the lovely bag ross.. nice... :) very cute...

rat picked me up at about 5 plus. i was surprised to see he bought a bear holding a rose for me! that was unexpected! hehe... but so nice.. :)then he gave me one of his prized camera knowing tat i am such a clumsy person. haha.. i'll try to be good and take good care of it. hehe...

we went to Gillman Village. It is a nice place! the ambience was good! wow.... We went to Little Bali. http://www.littlebali.com/ there is a restaurant area and a bar area. very interesting. we were dinning with lots of plants, squirrels and mozzies. haha... :) not bad. the food was great. they serve thai, indian and balinese food. we ordered a balinese seafood platter. it was very good. the food was made with much care. yummy.... next time we should have the thai and indian platter too! :) we spent about 60 on the meal for 2. the food and ambience was well-worth the money! :)

we then made our way to marina barrage. it was quite crowded for a weekday nite and there was workers cutting the grass. it was dark! wonder how they see whether they cut properly or not. haha..

went home and i saw that there was a big gift for me! it is a crumpler camera/laptop backpack! always wanted one but as it is quite ex, i have been holding off.. woo hoo... i got the black one. lovely.... :) now we can bring our cameras overseas with ease.. :) woo hoo... :) https://www.crumpler.com.sg/flash/flash.aspx#/english/product-details/sinking-barge-si04a.html

i went to sleep... really tired.. and happy... now back to work. i have to mark the compos! ahhhh.....

turning 27...

2009-04-12T18:18:00.000-07:00

went to tomb sweep yesterday. been a long time since i went. very very long time ago.. it was an eye opener. i drove my uncles and sunts there. the road were so narrow.. my goodness.... haiz.

after that had the easter egg painting competition. it was ok. glad its over. faintz... lucky had so many colleagues' help... phew..

am so tired. just had another cup of coffee ans it's only 9.22am. had my first at 6.3am.. guess it is cos the first cup was too diluted.

going for dinner with my sec sch frens. wonder wat we are having..

received this two pics from yang this morning. so cute. haha..

thanks dear.

oh.. meant to say something about turning 27. haha. feel old. and my uncles and aunts were like shocked i'm alreadi so old. oh well.

i love that new ad by Yasmin about the family.. i felt sad watching it the first time.. now i still watch it whenever it comes on.. lovely.. i think the concept is great.. :) go to thinkfamily.org if you have not watched it before.. nice..

gtg.. i feel old and tired...

time and tide waits for no man...

2009-04-05T19:09:00.000-07:00

been really busy these days. also not so sure with what. glad the art pieces are done. photos submitted. now can only hope for the best. need to get some results! haiz.

diy-ed the shoes. got it customised but i added some embellishments to it. will post pics when i have time to edit the pics. haha. have to get the gown for the solemnisation soon. no time! :p

saw a 4 car chain collision on fri nite. then saw one 8-car chain collision on sat afternoon. this morning saw a cyclist who most likely got knocked down by a car on my way to school. he was just lying on the side of the road. his bicycle was a mangled mess. there were other drivers attending to him. we continued on our way to work. haiz.

it's scary.. really dangerous to drive... :(

there were other things i wanted to blog about.. but i forgot! short term memory.. haiz. i need to get my last unisim essay done soon. now avoiding my 2nd boss at work. i owe him stuff. haha.. oh well..

Earth hour

2009-03-28T06:01:00.000-07:00

Sitting in the living room in the dark. Oh. Forget I wanted to cut hair. Oh. I think I'm taking a nap. Later watching a chick flick at the new shopping mall in bugis, illumo. Tix only six dollars! Yippee.
It's 9.00. Half hour more to end of earth hour. Wanted to go esplanade to see the concert but really tired. Tot of resting at home. Just being lazy. I've been having clammy palms these few days. Very uncomfortable. Weird. Hope it's nothing. Dun think it's stress or anxiety causing this. Hmmm.
The syf pieces are near to completion. We have pushed the kids quite hard. Now can only hope for the best that the firing turns out ok.
Work is no good. Many things are piling up cos of the syf. How to catch up? Faintz. Will try to do wat I need to do tom. Will turn on aircon and hide in my mum's room!
It's too hot! Ahahahahh.. Drove by Dover cres last nite. The drop off point is up. Corridor lights are on. Woo.. Hoo.. I'm sleeping for a while. It's very hot..

my essay..

2009-03-17T15:33:00.001-07:00

woke up all too ealry to do my essay.. hope to complete it before 10am.. or at least most of it.. have to go school/work.. it's my second last essay at sim.. kind of happy.. now i can think of getting down to doing other things on weekday nites! yippee.. hopefully work does not get anymore shitty... :p

giving myself a few more minutes of surfing time before getting down to writing. hehe... done surfing.. better start. i have 3 hours! hurry hurry....

the artworks are not turning out well.. need to redo one piece.. haiz... looks like our goal is difficult to attain.......... haiz..... :(

congrats girl!

2009-03-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

a colleague got married today.. and i was the photographer... and i went back to the old times and took the photos using a film SLR. haha... who till uses film man?? and i'm now hoping all the pictures turn out nice... haiz.. worried.. will collect tom.. worried....

didn't know wat to get for the couple and decided to do some DIY.. think it turned out alright.. didn't give money or vouchers cos it seemed better to get her a gift as her husband was paying for the lunch reception.. it was hot but i like.. a beach wedding is romantic.. haha..

i'm sleepy now and it's like 8...well.. i've been waking up early... and rushing and rushing.. i hope to sleep really early as tom i'll be in school from 7 to 7.. i hope to clean my table, mark, swim, collect the film and settle the books... haiz..

i have an essay to do too.. it's due on wed.. and i know how to do.. just dun feel like it.. haiz...

so many things to do, so little time.. hope i can get a tan before the week is up.. maybe will go cycle one of these days.. east coast will be good.. too bad yang not around.. oh well..

some random pics.. oh i need to finish my bnw roll.. so can develop... hmm.. i'm excited to see the man i made from clay left over...wooo... think it'll be ready by tues... tom i'll go see.. hopefully can gte my new laptop tom.. i need to do work. hmm..

wonder how dear is doing?? his tripod was left in the plane by ky.. haiz.. how can?? poor dear.. hope he gets it back... hugs..

it's the hols..

2009-03-14T07:34:00.000-07:00

it's the start of the holiday and my dear has left for Aceh!!!! i was supposed to go with him, but i chose not to as i have a mountain of work to do (and it's literal). haiz.. so i sent him off today and made my way to bugis.. was tempted not to go but i'm glad i went lah. went to get a gift for a fren getting married tom.. not sure if it's wise... but i think better then giving an ang pao.. hmm.. her husband can pay.. hehe...

but i am sleepy now.. i'll work on it tom morning...

hope u dun fall sick in aceh.. hope ur bad throat feeling goes away!! hugs...

i'm sleeping.. nite...

looking forward to the one day desaru trip on friday.. missing my lecture yet again. haha... die lah.. wat if the lecturer talks about exam qns?? hmm..one essay due on wed..

die.. no time no time.. one week is way too short.....

19 more days before i say goodbye to my p-plate...

2009-03-01T02:57:00.000-08:00

woots... 19more days to go.. time flies.. damn.. feel old..

sick again.. down with a cough and headache.. fever too.. tat's two bouts of sickness in this month alone! the last was during my 2 day conference on 3 and 4 feb.. damn damn...

think i drank too much chicken essence... too heaty man... haiz. think will see doc tom night.. wanted to see tis morning but i was lazy to drag myself out of the house.. in the end i spent 3 hours reading one week worth of newspapers.. had no time to read.. was dead tired by the time i reached home the past week.. and next two weeks will be the same.. oh man... this is terrible....

haven't had time to do much... haiz.. tempted to go buy some clothes.. need to get some tops for going out and work.. haiz..

poor merlion got struck by lightning... nature is scary... it's not even a very tall structure... it could easily have been a person... hmmm..

going to buy some food from downstairs... dunno wat to eat...

wonder if i should go to sleep tonight with more panadol?? no thermometer at home to measure if i have fever... it's nice and cool after the rain.. hmmm.. just random tots.. maybe going down to walk walk is a good idea.. shall eat then come back and record a story.. i sound like a frog though.. but oh well.. shall buy honey... hehehe... or the pi pa gao maybe... :)

dipping down way low....

2009-02-11T02:17:00.000-08:00

it has been been a smooth start since the start of the year. in fact it has been bad. i am at one of my lowest point at work. i am not motivated to do anything and am so tired all the time. having 4 hours of cca, 2 hours of supp lessons, 3 hours of meeting each week is bad. in fact, it is terrible. apart from marking, i have not been able to do anything else. all i want to do is to go home early, slack, sleep and drag myself out of bed. gone are those days when i could stay up to do work, rush out things asap with no delay, be on time for submission.

i am slack. i admit it. i have gotten so tired of things that i just want to drop everything and just go. i lose my cool easily and all day i just show one irritated face. does not help that i hurt my right thumb before cny, fell sick for a while and today i scalded my left hand in school. the pain was excruciating. it was just water from the water cooler. i was distracted for just one sec and i was scalded. the water was really really hot... it's still red now and tender to touch.

i need to pick myself up. i started the year positive and recharged. i am now lost and behind time.i need to buck up and buck up quick. it will start now.just downed a bottle of chic essence. i intend to get lots of sour stuff. i need to go get my butt moving,. do some sports. feel fat and lethagic. this sucks. i better stop dwelling in my own misery. lots of deadline.

bloody................................. h***....................................................

last day of the rat year..

2009-01-24T21:41:00.000-08:00

it's cny eve! i love the cny. haha.. i even love cleaning the windows.. must be mad. haha.. but it really do. just dun like it when my bro just sits there or goes out and when we remind him he has to do his part, he gets frusttrated. hello, u stay in the house too! damn..

got many cuts.. from all the sharp corners in the kitchen clean up. now fingers are tender.. haha.. i only do this once a year.. inexperienced. haha..

house is all red. made lanterns. changed the curtains. the living room one is a little too dark. hmm.. think need to part it in a different way so it allows more light in. shall do that after the first two days.

going to change the bedsheets now. shall do all except my bro's. ;p he can do it later himself. i love the new bedsheets. hehehe... so many different types of pineapple tarts at home,. scary.. tom shall get all to eat and eat... hehehe..

happy cny to all.. gong xi fa cai!! yeah!! new clothes tom!! woohoo..

it's a new beginning...

2009-01-21T05:58:00.000-08:00

Obama is the man.. the president.. the one... he's a very charming man.. handsome..

the first lady is pretty! she has this regal air.. very charming too.. they are definitely very charming together...

i am sleepy.. meant to write more but never mind.. maybe during cny.. tom and fri will be very tiring.. :(

sat and sun need to do lots of cleaning..

looking forward to cny.. i like cny.. tiring, but i like.. hee.. need to charge my battery..for camera..

i'm sleeping.. it's late..

my family's first holiday...

2009-01-18T00:51:00.000-08:00

saw pictures of my family's trip to genting.. it's the first ever trip we took together.. i think my sis helped to pay or something.. i cannot remember.. but thanks so much, mum and sis... i still remember us watching tv in the room and freezing.. tat time the hot water had to be taken from the dispenser along the lobby.. it was interesting.. :) we looked rather old fashioned last time. haha.. it was funny..

anyway, u know how things always happen in threes? haha.. today i was third time careless. haiz.. i decided to help with the spring cleaning and i just started not long when misforutune struck. i was clearing the bookshelf a whole shelf of encyclopedia fell on my thumbs. had to pull them out from between the planks. damn.. it was painful. so painful i didn't know whether to cry or laugh.. quickly took ice and gave it the ice treatment. supposed to elevate and also to bandage but decided not to as it would hinder the clearing. anyway, i'll look weird with both thumbs bandaged. :p

now both thumbs are swollen. and cannot really bend them or use them to do much. packed up the shelf, the keys shelf, the tv console and the area below the study table. damn, there was so much dust... and all that lizard shit. damn... tidied up all the wires and cleared all the dust... now backache. threw away lots of things. heh heh.. left them outside of the door for my bro to help throw away.. but he has gone to a birthday party and will clear later... haiz. if not for my thumbs, i'll do it myself.. oh well, good to make him to something. next weekend he better help. haiz..

hoping next week will go on ok. after new year work will pile up and things will just get worse. i'm hoping for the best... haiz.. tot can go picnice today.. the weather is good.. but clearin comes first lah... haiz...

the lengths parents go to for their children

2009-01-16T21:18:00.000-08:00

@sim now waiting for yang to finish his recall at maju camp. it's orientation day for the new students of unisim. funny.. i see many parents fighting to carry their kids's books and materials they just collected. eh, hello, the kids are not like 7 or 8 years old. more like 22 or 23 years old or older. they can carry their own books! seriously! then there was another dad who insisted on filling in the son's registration form. eh.. he is old enough to fill in the form! my goodness... been thru ns and all.. tsk tsk.. come on.. let them manage their own matters. they can handle it..

the itunes on my iphone does not work after i installed the updates. eh, updates are supposed to help not make things worse. silly. should have just ignored the message to update the phone. hope it clears in a few days like what other users say on the net. damn.

the new army uniforms looks weird. hmm.. very giddy to look at it for long. maybe it's to make all the enemies giddy? haha..

cny is coming, mum's aches and pains are not going away. doc says it's serious. he even suspected hep A! oh man.. sounds serious... hope mum gets better soon.. next sat and sun will be helping mum to clean the house. haiz..

the weeks ahead look daunting.. it's syf year.. we need to win a gold.. we have to or we are dead meat....

a suai story

2009-01-08T21:56:00.000-08:00

cannot believe my luck. it's only 9 days into the year. i'm trying to look on the bright side. i really am.

i lost my retainers on 30 dec. i just made new ones yesterday. cost me 200. i am due to get my iphone tonight with a trade in of my w960i phone. but guess wat. i dropped the phone and the screen cracked. how to trade it in? haiz. i'm trying to see if i can trade in my k800i. haiz. wat tough luck. :(

i'm phoneless. and very sad...

moving on...

2009-01-03T19:00:00.000-08:00

new year came by and went off in a jiffy.
party's over, the fun's been had.
work's piling after a day.
lives lost each day,
often in a blink of an eye.

did you say "i love u" to the ones you love?
did you apologise when something wrong was said?
did you live life like there's no tomorrow?
did you live life truly and honestly?

regret not the bad decsions made,
fret not the mess created.
pity not those who had to go,
cry not for what's not said or done.
it's time to move on.

starting work soon. and i have a day to get a mountain high pile of work to do. read a blog about a young 30 year old pretty lady dying from cancer. sad.. had to write down some thoughts i have in my head since i came back from holidays. it's back to reality. sounds terrible. haha.. indeed the year did not start very well. i left for hk in a hurry. i left things unsaid and undone. i came back for a while and then rushed off again. i still left things unsettled as i was unsure. damn my insecurities and fickle-mindedness. serves me right. haha. now to make up for the mess. hope to clear everything soon.

things have changed. ppl come and go. ppl move on. guess the only way is to brave on all storms and turbulence. hopefully will not get hurt too much or cause others to be hurt in the process. life is such...

2009!

2009-01-01T00:07:00.000-08:00

wow.. saw pictures of the fireworks last night! amazing! must have been the best in years! wow.. think everyone needed that boost.. with the hope that everything picks up in 09.. let's all keep our fingers crossed!

i just went to the singtel shop online and bought an iphone. haha.. my other boyfriend, M_ _, will pay for the phone. haha.. it'll arrive on 9 jan 09! well, i decided to get it so soon cos my phone is not working well. something is not right with the touch screen function.. causes sms and calls to be disrupted.. hee hee.. and i'll get to surf net at wireless.sg places.. haha.. yippee...

i also did housekeeping for my work email. it'll soon be choked up with emails. i need to make space for them. haha.. it's going to be a crazy year. i'm trembling at the thought of it.. tom will need to be in school earli.. after that there'll be a wedding dinner at swissotel. wow.. i think i'll just wear watever i'm wearing to the dinner to school. haha.. shock everyone? hee hee.. well well.. see how first. hmm..

still lots of work to do. hmm.. i'll better focus. shall have dinner first and then it's work all the way! i got no shoes to wear with my dress. damn. over enthusiastic in throwing away shoes. hmm.. how how?? panic. haha...

dinner is calling.. stomach is growling... getting the jitters..

last day of 08...

2008-12-31T03:21:00.001-08:00

last year today i spent it at home doing work. this year, i spent it resting and trying to get over the fact that work is starting soon. 09 will be exciting.. hopefully it'll be exciting good and not bad.. 08 has been good for me, i must say. mostly highs, but the one low made it very sad

highs
1. the trip to states was great. never tot i would be there so soon. it was excellent. still feel it was all a dream...
2. the hk trip was enriching. although i'm in my p's bad books because of it, it was gratifying for me and fufilled my dream of going to work overseas. haha.. maybe next time will go and work for a longer time. who knows? one day i hope to..
3. i took out my braces.. but i just lost my retainers. need to make new ones. heard it's really ex. haiz. damn. so careless of me..
4. i bought a bicycle and then sold it. haha.. i didn't get to use it. ;p
5. made the big decision to get a flat and managed to get one at a good location.. it's only on the third floor but ok lah.. oh supposed to email hdb to ask to get the flat as early as possible.. hmm..
6. passed my exams and made it to the last sem at unisim. i'm alreadi planning to go study other things after the degree. tot of doing graphic design. haha.. crazy..
7. i passed my driving test in 3 months! that was definitely a high. yippeee.. but i must admit i was prouder of myself when i passed my class 2b riding test!

low
1. the passing of Angeline. still rem the moment i got the call, how i drove like mad to the hospital, got stopped by the TP on the way to check if i used legal off-peak car coupon, how it hurt to watch her lie in bed with all the tubes and how painful it was to watch her breathe her last, saying a silent goodbye while watching her devastated parents and relatives cry their hearts out losing the one they loved so much... it was really too much to bear. wat happened that day is still fresh in my mind..

in 09, i hope things will be ok.. keeping my fingers crossed..

i meant to do work today.. but realli tired.. hmm.. maybe tom... i just dun feel like doing to work...

give myself a break... :)

To USA and back...

2008-12-26T15:03:00.000-08:00

wow.. time flies when u are having fun! back after almost 13 days of holidays in the states. first time i've been out of asia... wow.. the onli thing i didn't like so much was the bloddy long flights to and fro.. coupled with bad service from the airline staff, it was quite terrible..

oh, just remembered i need to go pay my school fees for my last sem at sim.. i'm excitedto be done with it.i have learnt lost, but i have also given up lots for it.. hmm..

anyway, back to the trip.. it was great. we started with a 6 hour flight to Tokyo Narita Airport, then took the connecting 11 hour flight to Los Angeles.. Northwest airline is not so good ah.. personal opinion. service was quite bad.. there were good service staff, but the black sheep left a bitter after taste. we were picked up and went to our hotel at Anaheim, the Wnydham hotel. during our trip, the hotel actually changed their name to be Anaheim Park Hotel. hee hee..

doing some shopping..

the area that we lived in was cool. it had lots of shops that allowed us to get alot of the things we wanted.. there was the party shop, sports authority, henry's supermarket, vans shoe shop, tilly's clothes shop, avenue clothes shop, marshall's, target, one dollar shop and so on. there were lots of food places too.. we could try all sorts of fast food. haha.. and there was chinese take out.. like those in the shows... haha.. the orange chicken, black pepper chicken and mushroom chicken with veg and chow mien soon became my favourite! Panda Express was good.. saved our days many a times after our overdose of burgers and chinese buffet. haha.. food is expensive there...

the next two days after we arrived were spent at Disneyland and California Adventure. it was damn cool... never been to disneyland before.. it was great.. found out that the disneyland LA was the first ever.. although it rained on the first day we went and it was bloody cold, we had fun going for the rides and leaving the park with our teeth chattering and shivers till we reached our room... brrrr.... it was cold...

on the fourth day, we woke up late, but somehow made it on time to go for our Las Vegas trip.. a 5 hour journey turned into a 14 hour nightmare as we were stuck. the freeway closed and entry and exit points to vegas were closed.. all because of a freak snow storm that hit vegas, a desert oasis. it was the first time it snowed in about 15 years and the first time it snowed so much in close to 30 years... it caught everyone unaware and because they did not have all the snow removing equipment, vegas authorities closed its doors... airport was shut down, ppl were trapped. we spent the night in Laughlin a town just outsdie Vegas. the tour guide could not give proper answers and the ppl on the bus were pissed and tired of being trapped in the bus... hmmm.. could have been better managed. the next day, we were supposed to go to Grand Canyon.. but our tour guide decided not to go.. and so we didn't. we went to vegas, checked into the hotel Riveria and had lunch. ratnor and i decided that we needed to do some walking after sitting in the bus for so long and we left the tour group to explore on our own.. we went shopping! haha.. went to the Coach Factory Outlet at Vegas and bought so many bags! was helping my sis, aunts and some friends to get some bags.. didn't mange to help everyone get as the designs were off season ones.. my aplogies if i didn;t manage to get any!

the next day, we went back to LA. did some sightseeing of the casinos in Vagas then left.. on our way back, we went to Barstow for more outlet shopping! there i bought some more. haha...
snow-capped mountains...

on the seventh day, we went to San Francisco.. went to Monetery Bay, 17 Miles.. beautiful.. caught the sunset there.. lovely.. then went to check in the Raddison Hotel in Dublin. nice place.. finally free internet... haha... we were like addicts on cold turkey let loose.. leapt onto the laptop and iphone and started surfing.. haha.. next day, it rained and we went to the Golden gate Bridge.. yet again, we bailed out from the tour group and went exploring on our own.. we went to borders at Union Square then went to Pier 39. walked in the freezing rain and had our dinner. by then we were all wet but very happy we left the group.. we took the BART back to Dublin and then took a cab to out hotel.. it was convenient! :)

on day 9, we went to Yosemite National Park to see snow! wow... it was lovely.. for the first time i played with snow and it was fun! haha... amazing experience.. :)

day 10, 11 and 12 were spent shopping.. we rented the car for one day and drove to downtown LA.. roads were crowded with cars.. everyone was doing last moinute shoppin! madness... on xmas eve, we did ourlast minute shooping too and then bought food back for our own xmas dinner. all the shops were closed by 6pm.. everyone was home celebrating!

the next day, we embraked on our long journey back home.. 12 hours from LA to Tokyo then 7 hours from Tokyo back to SG.. phew... flight from tokyo was delayed for three hours.. haiz.. oh well..

at the Narita Airport..

i have to get stuffs done today.. wonder if i should sleep first. haha...

just to share, i have three new cameras! haha.. the white is from ratnor, the ultra small one is from ross and the Nishika is a 3D camera we found in LA selling for a very good price! hahha... woo hoo..

sleep or no sleep? hmm..

HK Attachment Day 26 - 29

2008-12-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

my bags are bursting. there's no space for more.. and i still have some things i want to get at the airport. damn. shall carry in my hand.hopefully the airline dun throw me off the plane. :( going to showere for one more time, change and then go out for a last photo shoot then i'm off to the airport. well, i can't wait to go home. hk is a nice place. i had a great time here, but it's been too long.. i still have work to do back in sg.. been restless.

frankly, i dun mind working here. just tat it's tough when can't be there for frens or family if need be. i miss my loved ones.. it will be good to work here. the allowance is good. opportunities are there. it's a matter of wanting to do it or not. maybe in a few years time. i might return. to see if my painting survived and also to seek out a living here. the school is a nice place to work at. interesting ppl one might meet. not bad at all..

in 28 days, i took almost all forms of public transport here. the MTR, the double deck bus, single deck bus, minibus, taxi, light rail train, tram, ferry, sampan.. i've done it! hee..i've been to the peak, the wetland park, macau, aberdeen, lan kwai fong, ngong ping, lantau island, tsim sha tsui, ap liu st, sham sui po, kwai fong, wan chai, chentral, sheung wan, tai koo, mei foo, and so many i have not enough time to list..

it has been a good one month away... i had time to reflect.. to learn more and to apply them back into my work.. hopefully i remember them.. eg.. observation, experimentation, practice, composition & describe, analyse, interpret, evaluate. there's more.. like use of art history stories to teach the kids, going thru the process in detail, not rushing..

i think there's a lot to be done. like clearing my super messy art room, clearing my messy table.. i actually managed to keep it tidy for a year.. seriously.. i've never been this tidy before until after i left for hk.. got colleagues to return files to me.. i can so imagine each file balancing precariously on my table.. haha..

i'll try to upload more pics after i go back.. to those who have been reading my journey in hk, thank you for sharing my thoughts.. it has been a great experience.. it's time to go home.. i miss my bed.. the room is always cold here.. even with the blankets, i'm still cold.. haiz.. low threshold for the cold.. haha..

oops.. got to go! :) bye.. see u all back in sg! :)

HK Attachment Day 25

2008-12-05T05:19:00.000-08:00

I made it unscathed to Day 25! Yippee... :) ok, i did get very dry skin and scratched till there were some scars, but it's fine... i finished my painting! oh.. mentioned that yesterday. haha.. here's the painting....

it's not a very good painting,but it'll do lah.. that's my standard onli ah.. hahaha.. i usually paint less complicated stuff.. haha... only got photos as a keepsake. the actual painting will be hung up in the school. hopefully not stored away in some storeroom! hee hee.. maybe one day if i come back to the school, i'll be able to see it? hee hee.

i went to Tai Koo to the Cityplaza.. it's a very big mall.. very very big.. like taka together with paragon and maybe even wisma put together.. haha.. they have expensive stuff there and a jap supermarket. not bad.. hey sis, i went to that jap supermarket and also the normal Wellcome supermarket. they have huggies, pampers and nepia. dun have mummy poko. all sold between HK80 to HK100. about S$16 to 20. hee.. never buy diapers before. not sure if ex or not. hee hee.. before that i went to causeway bay. very crowded. there's few malls there with nice clothes and all.. sogo there is big.. i didn't go in. maybe tom. tom need to get stuffs and meet the vp and some colleagues for dinner. think sunday i will go to the wetland park. no more shopping after tom. haha... mei you qian!! haiz.

very sleepy.. it's been a long long long long week... my top right eyelid has been twitching for two days..hmm..

HK Attachment Day 24 + Day 23

2008-12-04T07:01:00.000-08:00

yesterday i didn'y blog. why? eh.. i dun rem.. oh.. was preparing the slides for today's assembly talk.. it went on ok. the kids were excited about their camp but they did try their best ah! hee hee.. not bad lah.. at least it's done..

oh.. i'm done with the painting for the school. think i'll bring it to school tom. cos monday got more things to bring! i'm glad it is done.it's not too good but i am tired.. back aching from sitting down and painting from about 5 till now.. haha.. i'm done. yippee.. camera no batt.charging.. will take pic and post.. tom perhaps.. now got to worry about things back in sg and all the reflection and all that i need to do.. also, need to pack and get the things i need to get before going back.. hmm..oh, sis, i'll write the list for u when i'm done with my stuff k?? :)

oh.. have to do budget for next year. due tom.. haiz.. tom then do.. i'm tired now.. need to pack up.. very messy... i'm going to sleep soon.. really tired this week... :(

i'm going to miss hk..hee hee.. but i wan to go back!!

HK Attachment Day 22 + Day 21 + Day 20

2008-12-02T01:51:00.000-08:00

i think it's Day 22 anyway.. haha.. lost count. didn't post on sunday and monday cos i had an unexpected guest! it was my dearest! haha.. oh more about him later..

on sunday, day 20, i went to the Stanley Market. i took bus number 6 there and it was a terrible ride. i was motion sick even after i reached the hotel again in the afternoon. haha.. the bus 260 i took was better and i would recommend everyone to pay that HK$2 extra for an easier ride. or bring lots of sour stuff to prevent all that nausea.. :p

so i walked around stanley market and took pictures. it was a clear day cos the monsoon winds blew all the haze away (seriously, i'm not exaggerating, but pollution levels are still in the VERY unhealthy level).. the weekend was surprisingly clear.. it was very sunny but also cold. weird to wear so many layers, feel cold but also very warm at the same time. think i'm not suited for the cold weather.. so dry.. my ankles are swollen, maybe due to walking too much and there's scratches cos i have been scratching unconsciously... oh well.. i've never applied so much moisturiser before!

after that i came back to the room. finished preparing the stuffs for my presentation today then was surfing net when someone knocked on my door! i looked thru the peephole and lo and behold, it was my man! haha... actually i knew he was coming. i called his home when he couldn't be reached on the phone as he was on the flight and his brother gave him away! hee hee.. heard his brother got scolded by his wife.. hee.. sorry about that. think it must have slipped his mind.. haha.. anyway, it was great to have company!! i was very happy! so we went out for some supper!

on monday, i rushed back after work and we went out.. walked and walked alot! haha.. why are we always walking? cannot take bus? haha.. we had ice cream from the Mr Softee van! hee hee.. ice cream in such cold weather was good.. yummy.. the cone was great. we had yoshinoya! :) went to pageone to buy a photography book. very worth the money and the trip there! woo hoo.. :)

today had the assembly talk.. it went one well i guess. the students really had fun and they really are adorable. haha.. told them to keep the removed side of the double-sided tape in their pockets so they dun litter and they really did! really very cute.. :) one more talk on thurs, this time to the p3 and p4. hopefully it'll be ok too! keeping my fingers crossed.

cameback early to call my family later! yippee.. hope to see them all! :) next week this time i should be reaching changi airport! i can't wait! it's been a very very good experience here, but it's time to go home!!! woo hoo..

HK Attachment Day 19

2008-11-29T07:26:00.000-08:00

I didn't post yesterday as it was just a day of teaching then back to the hotel. wanted to go out after eating, but was tired.. stay in to prepare for next week's assembly talks. Still not done yet! hmm...

I woke up early today to meet some teachers from the school to go for this Refugee Experience at Crossroads Hong Kong. It is a non-profit organisation that serves as a platform for businesses to help those in need. It functions like Food from the Heart in Singapore in the way that it matches the needs to what businesses can provide. Crossroads helps in 4 different ways, Global Distribution, Global Hands, Global Handicrafts, Global Village. Global Distribution is to collect donated items then sending them to countries that need them, Global Hands links for-profit and non-profit orgs to combat global need, Global Handicrafts ensures fair trade by setting prices of items based on what the ppl who make/plant them deserve to get and Global Village provides people with experiences to allow them to feel for those in need. They have the Blindness experience, the aids experience, the refugee experience and others.. the one i attended is the refugee experience. It was an eye-opener. it was a simulation with us playing the roles of the ppl in Afghanistan and the volunteers there acted as the soldiers. It was a scary experience. We were shouted at, pushed about and made to feel helpless. It made me think how we are really lucky where we are. It must be terrible to live in constant fear and being clueless about the future. I took on the role of a 17 year old woman called Maryam. I was married and pregnant with no money. The women had to wear head scarves, couldn't talk to men unless they are immediate family and just treated like dirt. It made me think of the Afghan women raped and then killed or punished even though they didn't want or deserve to be raped. I started to feel angry for them. we are humans too, aren't we? why are we still treated like that?

anyway, the whole point of the refugee experience was to feel and understand the refugees. i had a better understanding of the world and the ugliness of it all. However, i am glad there are ppl who still care enough to do all these. One day, i hope to do more. there are many ways to go about it. i would like to do something more... hmm.. dear! shall we?? hee hee..
visit http://www.crossroads.org.hk/ for more info!

received a call and heard about the 28 year old lawyer who was held hostage and then killed in Mumbai. I was shocked. The news hit home and it was a blow. Why? I just read the news and saw her picture. she's young and pretty.. i am sorry she had to leave in such a manner. my deepest condolences... :(

on a lighter note, i went to Lantau Island after the experience. it was nice.. i like that place! took the cable car from Tung Chung Station and went up! the cable cars started like 6 months ago? it's cool.. damn cold up on the mountains! it was sunny, but realli cold too! very weird. the retuen trip costs HK$88. quite worth it. the trip back was really cold as the sun has set and the cable car was swaying in the winds.. woo.. a little scary but the trip was worth it! enjoyed the trip there! the Buddha statue was huge! very grand too! saw Anita Mui's final resting place too..

after that went to eat at Food Republic. Yup, the same one in Singapore. the food was expensive! but it's the only eating place there! in the same mall, there are factory outlets of all sorts! Polo Ralph, Giodarno, Espirit, Puma, Adiddas and so on.. but i didn't get anything.. haha... nearly bought a pair pf shoes for my nephew! but no size. too small. haiz.. oh well.. the espirit there is big! but it was crowded.. too many ppl.. was tired so no mood to squeeze with all the ppl.

my skin is very dry even though i've been applying moisturizer!! must apply more!! so so so dry!! haiz.. tom i'll go out for a while then come back to do work. hmm.. not much time to do alreadi. must hurry... heard my nephew has been taking my bears to sleepwith him.. so sweet.. hee hee.. can't wait to see him again!!!

postings pics maybe tom. see how! hee hee.. got to do work! busy!!! nite..

HK Attachment Day 17

2008-11-27T06:29:00.000-08:00

I am stressed. I am so darn stressed.. :(

went to get the scissors and i am glad to announce it has been bought!! ah hahahaha... one task down.. but after buying the two pairs, i'm down to my last HK$700 to last me till the 9 dec. can sign card, but no cash. sad man. haha.. anyone want to contribute to my sustain jerine fund? haha... just kidding. Just read the news about the lesser bonus.. oh economy pls pick urself up! or next year will have pay cut alreadi! dun do this to me and all other teachers! we work our asses off!!

i am stressed. i have lots to do before i go back.i still have places to go and things to get but am short. hmm.. spent my money mostly on travel and food. haiz.. i haven't gotten to buying clothes for next year! haha... oh well.. recession is bad... :(

i think i am going to sleep. tom will try to leave school early then go to either stanley market or tai koo then come back to the room to do my stuff.. will sleep by 11. damn cold.. tom lowest will be 13.. the winds are bad... think i need to get some gloves. the winds in the morning are piercing cold.. brrrr....

i like Fu Yuen St. it's actualli next to the ladies market. great place. got time can walk by the flower market. love the flowers there.. walked there again today.. there was also some hk movie filming.. got two famous actors!! but i dunno their name. the usual ones for those fighting and gangs movie. will post their pics! exciting!! it was a highlight!! haha.. woopeee...

pics finally..

filming at mongkok.. there were many umbrellas and many ppl stopped to look!

Hk Attachment Day 16

2008-11-26T06:20:00.000-08:00

ahhhhh... 12 more days... my painting is not done.. the canvas is still blank! damn... and all i want to do is to go out after work.. haha.. to window shop.. haha.. on a tight budget till the end of my trip! haiz..

today went to look for the scissors again! and i think i finally got a good clue! managed to get an address to go get the scissors! shall go tom after work.it was late when i got the address. haha.. then after that i went to kwai fong station and went into kwai chung plaza just next to the station.. wow... that place is great for shopping! the clothes are fashionable and not expensive if u bargain and check out the stores before buying! lots of shoes and bags! but now winter clothes on sale so.. nothing much to buy for me.. guess the selection during other seasons will be great! hee hee.. :) it's really a great place... i like.. it's worth the journey there.. great!

just finished my apple.. today's lunch was normal. dinner i had steamed rice with chicken and yam.not bad.. now very full.. cos ate quite late..

took pics today but all has got to do with work.not going to post here.. hopefully tom will have something to post? hee hee.. intend to go walk some more but will have to come back early to do work! ok..got to go do my action plan for next year. due on 1 dec. but weekend busy. better do now... :)

HK Attachment Day 15

2008-11-25T06:25:00.000-08:00

ok! i just taught and taught then rushed work and all.. feel productive but lonely!

rushed back after work, bought takeways.. tot can meet my family online! but everyone was occupied. no one was home.. quite seldom.. haiz.. guess have to wait till next week.

got two designs done for the birthday cards for emre. dear sis, choose one design! or want both also can! want to change colour or wat just email me? hee hee... thanks..

i took a picture of lunch.. and many pictures of students doing art but never mind lah.. lunch was good. had red bean soup.. with glutinous rice ball. yummy.. it was some thai noodle today.. and a banana.. i think i dun even eat such balanced meals back in sg..

Design A (Mickey)

Design B (Pooh)

lazy to eat my apple.will eat tom.. 3 apples for 2 dollars. expensive? tonight i shall sleep earlier. last nite slept at about 1am.. cos had a late nite conference with my colleague about the action plans for next year. haha.. no wonder i had a headache today. tom might be cold.. friday supposed to be like fourteen degrees.. will i be warm enough? hmm.. wonder if my mum needs winter wear? it'll be cold when they all come here. hmm..

i am tired.. shall email my colleague i'll not meet her online today.. heee... tom got cca again. the cca lasts only one and a half hours. i like. hee.. short and sweet.

HK Attachment Day 14

2008-11-24T03:53:00.000-08:00

it's day 14! midway thru my trip!! ah.. i'm going home soon! haha.. but before i go i have lots of things to finish! oh, what did i get myself into?? dumb ass... some kind soul pls stop me before i get myself into all these funny things again! lots of reflections to write and have to do presentation cos they paid for my trip.. hmm.. no pics today.. actualli have 1 but again, i'm lazy. haha.. it was about lunch today. fish and chips. hee hee.. they eat ketchap here with their fries. haha... i like..

think the most challenging part of my trip is the need to paint a picture for the school. come on. who am i to paint? haha.. all the art teachers are artists who hold their own exhibitions! haha.. just out to embarass myself only.. oh i am so dead.

watching tv in hotel tonight. the other teacher, went out to eat and asked me to go, but i declined. not keen to spend so much money on food! heh heh.. would like to buy some clothes for work and new year next year.. hope can find some not expensive ones..

oh oh..i have to go get some designs done! but my images are in school! i'm sorry my dear sis.. my external hard disk is at school. i meant to do the designs and send u tonight..will be delayed. my apologies.. will try to send u tom! will onlu be going out on fri and thurs after school, sat going to do some voluntary work. sunday going to lantau island.woo.. all packed.maybe i shoule get started on my painting.. :p

HK Attachment Day 13

2008-11-23T05:25:00.000-08:00

it's day 13! yippee.. just came back from spotlight. thought i would stay in the whole day but i think i got sick of sitting down. haha.. i made my way to kowloon bay and was impressed with the mall there. then i walked to Megabox where spotlight was. there i found popular (their things are more expensive than sg's popular), an ice skating rink, lots of restaurants, lots of maternity wear, lots of clothes for the young and the rich, spotlight, big but neater than sg's.. the escalator there is confusing. probably cos it's a big place.. i still can't find the scissors that my third aunt needs! Ma, can ask third aunt where she got it from? at least narrow the search down for me? i have been to so many places to look for it!! ask her!!!

but it was good lah. in the process i actually discovered lots of places. it has been interesting. but it is starting to be a little nerve-wrecking for me! onli 2 more weeks to go! bought a canvas for the painting i'm supposed to do for the school. i bet it will be an abstract piece. haha.. the kind that u look but dun understand yet dun dare to ask cos if ask like will look silly? hahaha... a long week ahead. i have many classes to teach. keeping my fingers crossed so i dun mess up anything! haiz..

tot of angie at the rink. will always remember the ultra short skirt she wore to ice skating once when we were in sec school.. miss her and those days.. we had fun, didn't we? hey, anyone up for ice skting one day? hee hee.. hopefully will not break any bones. hee hee.. old already..

some pics to share!

lokking forward to next weekend. i'm going to tung chung and ngong ping to see the gold buddha! hopefully not too ex to go there! excited to see the place! there's stanley market to go, kwai fong, wong tai sin, fu yuan st, taipo market, and the beach at tai koo. i need to go back to the flower market to get some plants and vases to make container gardens for my mentors here. they like plants and i think it'll be an interesting gift! hopefully! many places to go! have to squeeze in somehow!

sleeping now.. it's not even ten. haha... i have been up for less than 12 hours today. haha.. i woke up at ten thirty.. tom can't be late.. set many alarms! hee hee..

HK Attachment Day 12

2008-11-22T06:50:00.000-08:00

the day did not dawn too bright and too clear.. it was foggy/misty/smoggy, however it should be called.. just not clear? haha.. i planned to go to macau and the other teacher here was keen to follow me... i would have preferred to go alone.. i think i can entertain myself better than entertain someone i dunno.. haiz.. anyway, i became her part time photographer.. she also likes to take pictures, but only if she's in it.. she told me herself not long after we left the hotel.. hmm.. ok.. i can bear with that.. no prob at all..

i'm still feeling the motion of the ferry now that i'm typing... haha... macau is a nice place although not so easy to get around. hk is better. the road names in macau is in portuguese. quite difficult to read.. we got up a bus.. she wanted to join a guided tour, but i didn't want to.. i told her she could go ahead but she didn't want to. we alighted along some street and walked. we walked into a very beautiful gold coloured hotel/casino, the Grand Lisboa. It was really very nice outside and inside!!! wow.... the lights, all that gold.. wow.... we walked into the casino... it's big! my mum would have been happy in there! the ppl were changing big amounts of money! the aunties, the young, the old men.. all sorts... i wanted to watch the ppl play the big-small and she wanted to see the jackpot, so i told her to go ahead.. again, she didn't. haiz.. oh.. i forgot to say this, we actually took two different ferries to macau. haha.. it was not intentional. we both queued up to buy the tickets. i bought mine first and then she did. after we bought, we realised that i was the last person to buy a seat in the 1135 ferry and she was the first to buy the 1150 ferry. haiz.. i tried to change with ppl, but nobody wanted to change.. so we went separately.

in macau

buildings

hotel/casino

anyway, we met at the other side and we went around. we came to a stall selling food that was like yong tau foo, only that the gravy was curry and we stood at the roadside to eat. i wanted to eat. she didn't realli want to, but she still followed... oh man.. now i feel like a mean person.. but she wanted to follow. i didn't force her too! anyway, it was great.. loved it... hee hee.. the mushrooms and the tofu were great.. yummy... we walked to the busy part of the city and had fun eating all the peanut candy and all... lots of free food for sampling.. i ate lots of peanut candy for free! haha.. bought two packets.i dunno how to bring it all back! maybe when my mum and sis come to hk they can buy? airport have.. hee hee.. i also had this bun that is grilled with chicken and spring onion inside.. yummy... we walked on somemore, did some shopping and the came to this ruined church building.. i caught a beautiful sunset there... lovely.....

food

church on the hill

sunset

took the ferry back and then made our way to the hotel.. tom i'm going to stay in to do work.. probably will not go out.. i need to not spend too much money.. on a budget... haiz... barely enough to survive... not enough for shoppin... :( couldn't find a ncie jacket for emre.. walked into all the espirit and bossini... couldn't see any very ncie ones... searched the net for pics for his cards, have some.. will work on them tom...

will upload the pics tom.. tired now... wanted to type first so i dun forget the day.... hee hee..

nite ppl.. i miss you, you and you... hee hee.. nite dear.. sleepy...

HK Attachment Day 11 (delayed...)

2008-11-22T06:34:00.001-08:00

Hello! It was a busy busy day. i had only 20 minutes for lunch. rushed like mad.. ran up six storeys upon realising that i was going to be late. my legs were complaining, threatening to cramp up.. but they held on. taught the classes and in between i was watching some videos on youtube. watching "Huan huan ai" and "devil beside you". i watched the shows before, but i was keen to watch again... so i did. haha.. so romantic. can't stand myself sometimes... :P

after classes, i came back to change into more comfortable clothes and then left to get a camera at lomographyasia. it's a birthday pressie for ratnor! i showed him via skype alreadi so it's no secret. hope he likes it! :) the box is nice.. but rather fragile.. need to be careful.. i'm afraid there is alreadi a small little dent.. so sorry dear... hee hee..

after that i went off to kowloon area. i went to Ap liu street at Sham Shui Po. It was great! it's an interesting place with second hand stuff, tools and electrical appliances. there was a stall selling lights that were so bright it was blinding.. after that i got hungry and i went down to Mongkok to look for the same octopus.. i think i'm addicted. hee hee.. i love that octopus... wonder if there's any of such a stall near my hotel? i'll eat that often. i then went down to temple street at jordan. nothing much. ladies market at mong kok is definitely more interesting and more things to see and buy! more food too! hee hee..walked along a very crowded and busy nathan road and took a bus back home.. by then i was realli tired.. from all that running up stairs and all.. phew...

so that marked my 11th day... my nose is still bleeding.. just s little blood at a time, not the dripping kind, but annoying all the same.. too dry! been drinking the ginseng tea my aunt passed to rat to pass to ross to pass to me.. it's great. i've managed to not get a sore throat! hee hee.. hope it stays this way! :) i miss home..

lunch

lomo shop

hip shots

ap liu street

rest of the pics are on film.. when i do develope them i'll post! :)

HK Attachment Day 10 + photos from day 8 and 9 - photos from today

2008-11-20T03:27:00.000-08:00

haha.. long title i know... hee.. today didn't even take one photo! oh actualli i did but it was on my hp.. hahaha.. lazy to bluetooth over. heh heh..

today started teaching all three classes on my own. guess i managed ok.. the kids realli like the stories about the artists! it's great! i like the stories too.. shall think of a way to get those stories!

the day went on ok.. did some chinese brush painting. tom need to teach the p2 class. hoping all goes well.. keep my fingers crossed! really testing my limited art making skills!!

found out the exhibition we took part in won a prize! lucky they never ask all 8 of us to share one camera. we get one tee each.. limited edition maybe? hee hee... would love a camera, but then again, it's just for the fun of it all.. realli fun! hee hee... next year we do one together dear? muackz..

came back early to the hotel. think tom i will drop by some market in the kowloon area straight after sch then sat go walk more and sunday too... i have some work to do though.. hmm.. lazy.. not today! haha..

cold.. and eyes are dry.. makes me sleepy...feel like munching some biscuits.. hee hee..

lunch day 8

lunch day 9

photography club outing

ross leaving

it's friday tom.. 18 more days to go before i go back to sg!

HK Attachment Day 9

2008-11-19T06:15:00.000-08:00

back from the airport after sending rosslyn back to sg! hee hee.. i have pics.. still can't decide if want to post or not.. haha... lazy.. sleepy.. heard it's going to be like 15 degrees c tom.. wooooo... today was cold! they are showing this taiwan drama "huan huan ai" here every nite at 9.30pm and although i watched it before, i still enjoy watching it very very much! it's a very nice show! super romantic and although the ending is good, it is way too short a time after all that trials and tribulations to get together!

anyway.. i'm sleepy... long day tom! lots to do!

nites.. :)

HK Attachment Day 8

2008-11-18T06:13:00.000-08:00

i didn't take photos today! actualli one.. about food for lunch.. but i lazy. hee hee.. maybe tom.. tom going for learning journey with the students. have to bring one group of students to take photos at Aberdeen. Hopefully i dun lose anyone. scary.. i miss my school kids. they are better behaved. at least they are not rude and obnoxious. i miss singaporeans.. i managed to skype with my family! but a pity the resolution was bad.. couldn't really see the faces but really happy to speak to all of them! Emre is cute! now he can say many words! realli want to give him a big big hug! Hopefully he does not break out in tears! Hee hee..

today we just walked around the hotel after i came back.. hopefully ross is not bored. she went to many places! i have to go to many places to go! the weekends like not enough alreadi! haiz..

going to start teaching tom or thurs.. a little nervous.. i'm worried about the management of the kids.. not my strong points.. oh well! it's wat i'm here for isn't it? to challenge myself and to learn as much as i can.. it's an eye opener.. lots of things happening back in sg at work. hopefully everything will turn out to be ok.. some things are like worse than i tot.. think i'm going to lose touch with my work place when i go back.. again, i'm hoping things will be ok.. haiz..

sleepy... think i'll sleep soon... nite ppl... :) take care!

HK Attachment Day 7

2008-11-17T06:52:00.000-08:00

we went up to the peak! haha... took the tram up! it was fun! think today is the day i walked the least haha... really tired from walking! finally take a break!

lunch in school today was ramen! yummy.. really nice...

and we didn't pay to go into the madam Tussands Museum.. we took pictures outside.. we are on a budget! and really, wax figures are not my cup of tea, although i would like to see Mr LKY.. hee hee.. the view up the peak was great but it was not a clear nite.. still managed a decent pic i think.. it was realli realli cold! ross realli liked the wind.. for menot so lah. haha.. lucky i brought my jacket! think i would have froze to death!

it was realli warm these two days.. heard it'll turn cold. everyone has told me to be prepared! woo... think ross had lots of fun walking around and shoppin! she realli explored!!! :) happy for her!

i miss home... i want to go home!

HK Attachment Day 6

2008-11-16T06:32:00.000-08:00

went to pick Ross up from the airport then went to bring her around.. we went to Kowloon, ladies market.. haha.. of course we did buy quite a bit of stuff.. we had grilled octopus there... it's great! i think i wan to go back there to eat again.. really really yummy.... woooo.... set.. going back there again.. :) lovely..... woo hoo... maybe before i come back i go there and buy back to sg?? will it spoil? haha...

then we went to harbour city.. the clocks there are lovely!! so so so so many.. sunset was good too... :)

long day at at school tom.. going to have lesson obs then art club.. think it'll be fun.. hee hee.. :)

we are hoping to go up to the peak after school tom! woo hoo.. and have yoshinoya before we go! :) lovely..

world's longest hanging bridge.. on the way to the airport...

at ladies' market..

taking ferry back to the hk island...

back in wan chai... coach shop in central...

Hk Attachment Day 5

2008-11-15T04:04:00.000-08:00

my legs are so tired and sore from all that walking! they dun feel like mine anymore! ahhh...

went to the Western Market in Shueng Wan to look for this shop called Lomographyasia. it was still closed when i reached there.. hehe.. opened late! they opened about 11.45 instead of 11 as stated in the website.. found out that the prices are the same as online.. hmm... like the bag there.. haha

then went to look for sewing shops to find this scissors for my aunt.. eh.. it is still not found yet.. nobody knows where to get... then i went to stanley street in central.. this time to look for film and to continue the search for the scissors.. but to no avail... again, the ppl dunno where to buy.. and i am starting to think that the ppl in hk are kind of self-centered and not tat helpful.. maybe they think i'm from china and thus treat me like crap.. haiz.. terrible. then i left central to go to Times Square in Causeway Bay.. by then i was already very tired.. i sat down to rest my legs and to finish reading my book.. haiz... bought some stuff from a stationary shop.. i love these shops... wonderful things to buy.. seriously thinking how to bring them all back.. maybe shall go to the post office and post it back first? hmm.. scary though.. lost how? very ex how?? haiz..

was so tired that i didn't take much pictures... maybe when i'm feeling more energetic!

on the way...

going to rest my legs.. ross coming tom... need to walk some more! ahhhhhh... i miss home... i miss having ppl to talk to... haiz...

HK Attachment Day 4

2008-11-14T04:45:00.000-08:00

feeling awake from the nai cha (milk tea) drank at about 4 plus.. went to yum cha (drink tea) with the VP of the SIS HK and the VP from St Gabs on attachment as well...had the opportunity to tag along on a school visit to a School of Creativity in Kowloon. First time i left the HK Island since arriving here! The school is a little like SOTA, but they are not as well structured and established yet.. only two years old and although it provides alternatives for the students here, but there's a lot they have to look into.. but still.. it was interesting! after tat went with the two vps to walk around (yes, walk and walk and walk) took the MTR down to Mongkok and went to see the Flower Market.. Then we walked all the way to Nathan Road where all the shopping action takes place! but i didn't buy anything. haha.... we had egg tart and tea at a cafe which had long queue.. then we walked some more till The VP at the school decided to bring us to take the ferry back to HK Island so we can go for dinner and head back to our homes.. that VP is fit! she's due for retirement next year but walks fast and is all energetic! wow...

the ferry ride was great... the skyline is beautiful... :) back at wan chai, we went to eat at this shop selling roast meat. has roast duck and chicken rice.. lovely... had to wash the chopsticks and all.. haha.. exciting...

lots of pics of flowers today! :) lovely... and the ppl are ok with u taking pics... nice folks...
lunch at school comes with a fruit or yoghurt, soup, veg, and the main course.. every day got 5 different choices! i like the food but there are many teachers who dun.. dun understand why.. the soup is really good...

at the school of creativity

some interesting sights...

the dog was realli cute... haha...

lovely lovely flowers!

HK Attachment Day 3 (delayed)

2008-11-14T04:30:00.000-08:00

delayed cos i fell asleep before i finished uploading and editing the size of the photos! i even missed the skype call with dear! sorry dear!! hee hee.. but i managed to skype with my mum, aunt and cousin.. lovely! it was nice seeing them and hearing them! i miss home!!! but it has been gret here too.. think i'm going to be damn fit by the time i go back! been walking lots and lots as usual...

today school was pretty normal.. observed art lessons and 1 science lesson. it was conducted by a teacher from England. It was a science lesson about how to drop the egg from the second floor and not let it break! think the pupils had lots of fun.. :)

after that came back to wan chai and walked around a bit to explore the area.. found a place to cut hair.. will most prob do it on sat. hair is too long and messy. i look terrible at times.. hahaha...

shall let the pictures do the talking... :)

church next to my hotel...

artland.. smaller version of art friend!

shoe shop with cheap boots and shoes..might drop by there!

at the wet market in wanchai.. stumbled upon it... everything is very fresh!

SIS HK... lovely place.. on the side of a hill so it does get quite cold on cold days! heard next week will be cold.. brrr... i love their computer lab! it's all apple computers!!! lovely!

HK Attachment Day 2

2008-11-12T06:06:00.000-08:00

Hello.... Day 2.. it was cold in the morning... brrrr... lucky got my trenchcoat.. hee hee.. had mac.. did not want to be late so just bought food from across my hotel.. nearby... heee.. tonight i bought raisin bread.. will have that.. lunch was rice at the school cafeteria. not bad. rice with chicken and veg.. got water cress soup..not bad.. considering that it costs S$5, it better be good. had a long day climbing up and down stairs today.. the school buidling is like 13 storeys high altogether. classrooms mainly on the top few floors. there's lift, but the two teachers i'm attached to like to climb stairs, so no choice lah.. climb together.. after school had cca. photography club today.. not bad... all mac computers.. amazing... and the art programme is good. a lot of art history and art appreciation.very good ah... lots to learn.

after school went to aberdeen on a bumboat. went to recee the place i'm bringing some kids to for a learning journey with two other teachers for photography field trip next wed.. interesting. quite fun to walk.had dinner of noodles. not bad...
then went to get a pair of flats.. the climbing stairs is realli tiring... walked and walked so far to find a shoe shop... haiz...

the cost of living here is realli quite high... everything is ex... haiz... more thansg actualli.. so fair it has been good.. but i miss home..

the pictures are random.. lazy to arrange.. tired... hee hee...

HK Attachment Day 1

2008-11-11T03:09:00.000-08:00

flight: Cathay Pacific CX710
Departed SG: 0815hrs
Arrived HK: 1130hrs
Time taken to clear the immigration: 1hr 30mins (no kidding)

Made my own way to The Wesley and checked in at 1500hrs. Took the airport express and walked to the hotel lugging close to my 30kg luggage.

saw a banana peel on the otherwise very clean train!

It was fun.. hee hee.. tiring but it was exciting.. felt like a backpacker.. had to slang so the service staff actually paid more attention to me. haiz.
my first meal in hk was a baked potato.. it reminded meof my sec school days so i chose to eat it.. hee hee

reached the hotel after all tat walking and worry tat i'll be lost..

the small small room i'll call home for 28 nites...

went to check out the school location and how to get there.. came back to the hotel area and did some grocery shopping..

now realli tired.. going to lie in bed..... most prob will sleep like soon... it's on 1930 hrs... aiyoh.... wanted to go out to get more stuff.... but realli tired.. will keep all that shopping for tom! hee hee.. cannot spend all my money.. can hear yang's voice in my head telling me so.. hee..

miss yang.. and emre... and family... and frens (in no particular order) ...miss my pupils too... i think my p is not too pleased with me.. oh well.. hopefully he'll forget by the time i see him, which will most prob be next year.. haha... looks like there's lots of stuff to be done... will need the rest!

the past weeks were terrible.. hectic.. and tiring... i have neglected many things and many ppl... realli asked too much at times and asked too much from the ppl whowere helping me... i realli feel terrible.. haiz.. really am very very grateful to all... thank you so so so so much.... thank you...

think i'll sleep... talk to u tom nite dear? :) nite ppl... i miss sg... hk is ok... cold... today's temp is about 22 degrees C. not bad.. cool and my trenchcoat came in useful.. hee he.. :) happy..

some quotes..

2008-11-06T21:46:00.000-08:00

"If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile... her look.. her way"

"Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity wiping my cheeks dry"

"love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love all through love's eternity"

- Elizabeth Barret Browning, Sonnets from the Portuguese XIV

"And yet the crowd that gather at her side
Are plae, and every gazer holds his breath.
Eyes fill with tears unbidden for the bride -
The biride of Death"

- Letitia Elizabeth London, A Suttee

"She had lived
A sort of cage-bird life, born in a cage
Accounting that to leap from perch to perch
Was act and joy enough for any bird"

"I, alas,
A wild bird scarcely fledged, was brought to her cage,
And there she was to meet me. Very kind.
Bring the clean water; give out the fresh seed."

Elizabeth Barret Browning, Aurora Leigh

"I am the pillars of the house
The keystone of the arch am I"

"I am the fire upon the hearth,
I am the light of the good sun."

"I am their light of love alive"

"I am the house from floor to roof"

"I am their wall against all danger"

- Katherine Tynan, Any Woman

"I shall never get you put together entirely"

"Thirty years now I have laboured
To dredge the slit from your throat
I am none the wiser"

Sylvia Plath, The Colossus

"Dying is an art,like everything else,
I do it exceptionally well.

I do it so it feels like hell
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've got a call"

"Out of the ash
I rise with my red hair
Ans I eat men like air"

Sylvia Plath, Lady Lazarus

"I write in praise of the solitary act"

"No need to set the scene,
dress up (or undress), make speeches."

Fluer Adcock, Against Coupling

"And de people pouring out from de undrground system
Like beans"

"I don't really know where I belaang"

Wherever I hang my knickers - thet's my home"

Grace Nichols, Wherever I Hang

"Ain't I a woman"

"I could work as much
and eat as much as a man-
when I could get to it -
and bear the lash as well"

Erlene Stetson, Ain't I a woman

the time has come...

2008-10-31T05:41:00.000-07:00

it's the end of the month! happy halloween!

exams are near and here i am typing a blog entry.

:P

i can't stand drivers who come so near behind then swerve suddenly to the left or the right. wat happes if i so happen to move to the same side? bloody drivers. usually male i must say. hello, i'm female but it does not mean i'm a bad driver! maybe just slow.. but oh well. safer ok????

just ranting. going to get chased from here soon. just a short post. looks like i'll need to make my own way home after arriving in sg on 9 dec.. rat's having his common test the same nite! hee hee.. oh well.. cab it shall be! :/

excited yet apprehensive! mixed feelings. guess i need to get past my exams first. haiz.

carrying my heavy bag here and there and not studying much. i'm so dead... :(

the day breaks bright and cheery...

2008-10-08T20:58:00.000-07:00

woo hoo.. woo hoo..

i need to finish one essay soon.

so i can start on the other.

hk trip is confirmed. i am excited about travelling on my own, although a little apprehensive as well.. it seems scary...

got to go make payment for the us trip soon too... oh well..

going to eat then do essay! woo hoo... dinner tonight at fish and co... woo hoo...

tom skippin class... tsk tsk...

the blame game

2008-10-01T17:11:00.000-07:00

Just what was china thinking about went they covered up the whole tainted milk scandal and then started blaming everyone but themselves. How can they do this to the most innocent of all, the babies, who are helpless and could not have done anything to prevent themselves from falling ill.

Just what were the authorities doing? probably accepting bribes and eating organic food while the children suffered. their small frail bodies cannot take this kind of suffering. it's painful even for us adults. imagine what it is like for them. bloody hell, why resort to such despicable measures just to earn money and to pass the tests for adequate nutrients levels in the milk powder?

now it seems dangerous to be eating anything with diary ingredients in them. and actualli lots of food do have diary ingredients..

i cannot beleive just how selfsih humans can get. for personal gain, they have no qualms about putting in poison (i say it's poison because it kills) into what ppl are eating/drinking. i am disgusted by the way china is handling the matter. seriously, they are doing a bad job, so terrible a job that they should not be forgiven.

think we should all plant our own veg and rear our own goats and cows for milk, chickens for eggs and meat. think we will survive if we go back to the old times.. since we can now have vege and fruit gardens in our housing estate, i think it's fine to have goats, cows and hens too.. our children will benefit.. they will not be like frogs in the well and the onli farm animals they might have seen before would be cats and dogs..

u suck big time, china..

flight details... for HK..

2008-09-29T19:22:00.000-07:00

To Hong Kong
Date: Tue, Nov 11
Flight: CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, CX 0710
From: SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE (SIN) Departs: 8:15am
To: HONG KONG, HONG KONG S A R (HKG) Arrives: 11:55am
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1 Duration: 3 hour(s) and 40 minute(s)
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 1 Class: Economy

To Singapore
Date: Tue, Dec 9
Flights: CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, CX 0711
From: HONG KONG, HONG KONG S A R (HKG) Departs: 4:00pm
To: SINGAPORE, SINGAPORE (SIN) Arrives: 7:50pm
Departure Terminal: TERMINAL 1 Duration: 3 hour(s) and 50 minute(s)
Arrival Terminal: TERMINAL 1 Class: Economy

something to share..

2008-09-28T02:02:00.001-07:00

went to watch f1.. walked so far.... went to jurong to get my camera then back to f1 again.. haha.. madness.. walked so much i felt weak in the knees.. turned pale and decided that it was time to go back home.. it was alreadi midnight by then.. but it felt good to be part of the action and crowd.. crazy.. so many foreigners.. haha.. the lights were damn bright and the ppl were enthusiastic.. many ppl found all sorts of places to catch some action without have to pay.. but there's usually a price to pay. either have to climb up slopes, squeeze and jostle yet can't see much or stand at some hidden stairway and have no air to breathe.. haha..

and oh.. i got my dslr.. happy... now need to get lens.. haiz.. think wait till the govt give some money then go get some second hand lens...

managed to clear some work.. now doing some crocs design. haha.. happy to be doing it.. it's not about winning but the process ya??? haha.. but the $2000 cash prize is attractive... haha... can buy more coach bags eh? hee hee..

everything is messy.. the living room, my room.. haiz... i'm such a messy person... my table at work is messy too... haiz... i want to go hk to get lots of stuff not related to school. haha... they school has ulterior motives and so do i.. haha... i'm going to enjoy the free trip and do my best not to embarrass myself or my school... hoping for the best...

some pics to share..
sunset from tpy bridge..

my cute little nephew.. ok, he's not exactly little, but he sure is very very very cute! :) love him to bits...

heart shape pizza

heart shape chicken fillet

i wan to have a collection of heart shape food! :) unintentional ones will be best! :)

it's been a month..

2008-09-17T17:17:00.000-07:00

since i last posted anything! where did i go? basically looking for time to sleep. haha.. been tired. essays due and all. i'm glad it's all coming to an end next year if everything goes well. it has been fruitful. i like to grow in terms of knowledge. think too kaypoh already. haha..

have to say this year has been exciting. a tad too exciting actualli. just paid the 5% downpayment for the flat. i'm 5k poorer and rat is 17k poorer for now.. of couirse it will all be wiped out next year, so it does not matter actualli. then was notified that i'll be away from 11 nov to 9 dec. going hk for a work attachment. i am actualli very worried. very scared and nervous. legs are soft and i was stunned for a while. so stunned i deceided to take a nap... didn't expect to get it. hmm.

after that will be a trip to states from 14 dec to 27 dec.. with the economy of states in this state, i'm wondering if it is actualli a good idea to go there... oh well.. keeping fingers crossed. hopefully there will not be much discrimination and all.. just want to see the place, take photos, buy coach bags and other stuff that are cheaper over there than here.

no money. cash is very tied.. need to budget for reno, solemnisation, banquet, furniture.. all to be done by the end of next year. a little bit of a rush here cos of this additional ten thousand grant that hdb gave.. need to submit the marriage cert then they will give key. then dun want to wait till 2011 to do the banquet so think need to rush... alamak... think need to move into an empty house.. haha.. this is bad.. wonder if there's budget template for wedding? think it will be very diy. dun think will get BS, PS will ask friends to do, video will ask friend, and so on.. will need lots of help..

it's getting exciting.. and i am getting a little lost. cannot imagine how to get them ready for exam, mark, do report book remarks, plan for the deco for prize giving, exhibit ceramics, finish art dept review, do action plan for next year, plan for teaching in hk and plan for trip in states.. think after tat need to take one month mc.. haha.. i am really really quite scared...

finally some photographs after so long!

2008-08-14T08:21:00.000-07:00

Finally!! took me so long to post photographs! lots of things to post! shall start with my nephew, followed by Anna's baby, Jayvon, new place at dover crescent, a painted bull, recent floral art competition.. and i see if can find more pictures to post. did some back ups sometime back so now files abit messy... tot of selling my macbook. need an upgrade.. but i'll wait till the end of the year. see if there are offers with the broadband plan. my contract has finished, but i have yet to change plan or recontract cos i am hoping there will be some macbook offers... keeping my fingers crossed...

Playing during dinner time...

Q: How much do you want? A: Just a little

Anna's baby born on 080808! Cool!

see my house? hope they dun plant trees in front of the windows...

nearly went blind painting this.. bull run anyone?

the bird cage floral arrangment.. i love this... seriously...

the broken fan, tyre and broken chair.. 1st prize..

looks like next year will be an exciting year.. going to finish my degree by june if nothing goes wrong.. wonder what criteria to meet before they offer the honours? i can also continue to study for honours, but i dun think i will. enough of studying! and the modules to get the honours dun attract me at all.. but it's tempting in a way still..

time to sleep.. finally posted photos, didn't do any work after all though i came back early today.. but i needed the sleep... i can't function when i'm sleep deprived.. i dunno how others do it, but i can't.. i find myself a hazard on the road at times.. but so far so good... :)

sleeping in 13 mins.. haha... exactly... looking forward to art course tom..

so..

2008-08-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

so we missed that olympic medal by that zero point something second...
it was so near yet so far... but we are proud of u Tao Li. U have done us proud.. and if the media reported correctly, u said you wanted to win a medal for us. I think that was nice of u to say.. u gave singapore a nice present by creating an asian record and then became the first ever singaporean to stand at the start line of the A finals at the Olympics Meet, a place where the best in the WORLD gather.. u are one of the best!

never mind that she was not born here.. well, our forefathers were not from here as well... we may be a place where many come and go.. but i am sure there are many who have now made this small island their home, a place they truly want to be... i have many things to thank for just by being singaporean.. haha... i am not being blindly patriotic... i do believe in our govt and most of all, our people... :)

time to sleep... headache.. it's a short week. long day tom... hmm.. and the day after tom too....

i love SG!

2008-08-11T00:31:00.000-07:00

i love singapore. haha.. i solemnly declare my love for this small little island home of mine... the love was renewed at the NDP on 090808. it was great.. the black knights were cool. if i have a son, will he be a pilot? haha... a colleague gave birth on 080808. coolness. natural birth, not induced nor caesarean. damn cool. he's cute...

can't wait for my pay to come in.. i aim to finish my essay by 7. then will concentrate on digging out stuffs to sell. hmm.. i hope to make some money.

photo soon... hopefully... i need a camera.... haiz..

out of asia.. into the world..

2008-08-03T02:09:00.000-07:00

took one step towards globalisation. booked a trip to USA. 14 days trip to Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Fransico at the NATAS fair.. it was a tough choice between europe and usa.. after taking into consideration length of stay as well as money for spending, we decided to go for usa.. going to start changing whatever money i have into us dollars. i would like to buy a coach bag.. and other things that can be bought from the factory outlet there.. the trip is actualli 13 days, but we added a day. so we can take photos. we'll be away from 14 dec to 27 dec.. i am excited...

thanks dear for the sacrifice.. i'm sorry about the lack of leave for ur exams. i promise i will help u with anything i can help u with.. do try not to take on too much responsibilities and try to leave time for urself and studies ok?? thank you for agreeing.. i am indeed very excited to go to a cold place and maybe there will be snow? hope i dun freeze my ass off..

hope u are enjoying urself at singfest.. so glad u got to go in the end.. happy and excited for u.. u got to see jason mraz! hee hee..

istana was crowded... there was food for everyone.. unexpected.. not bad. hee hee. many ppl helped out. happy. maybe next year we'll stay out... hmm..

i need to do the following
1) principles of learning assignment due 8 aug
2) lit assignment due 12 aug
3) buy a dslr for photo taking in sept
4) save money for shopping in the states
5) pay credit card bills
6) pay insurance premium

all involve money which i am lacking.. haiz... sad.. after working for coming 5 years still short of cash and earning miserable bucks. haiz..

life is such...

a phenomenon..

2008-07-26T21:33:00.001-07:00

i guess it is kind of right to say that singaporeans are schizo. In the TNP article "Are we schizo?" (pp 10 - 11, 27 July 2008), it is mentioned that we are a model for a "growing worldwide phenomenon" where although highly educated and well-travelled, we have little qualms about trading "some freedoms in return for prosperity or security", thereby creating a pact between ourselves and the government or the worldly matters. we react in ways that others might view as being weird or laid-back. we do not riot when fuel prices go up, we do not camp outside some ministry agency when the rice prices shot up incredibly.. we just sat back and waited, stock up on sacks and sacks of rice (there were four 10kg sacks lying around my house at one point in time), all we probably do is to write in to forum to complain. we may seem resign, but frankly, what can we do otherwise? we bear the pain of the rising costs, we just go to work every day knowing that without work we will not survive... not the most healthy way, but wat to do?

oh well..

it's sunday and glad that yesterday's event went well.. touched that Ross and WL came by, as well as Liz and family.. haha... tiring man... damn siong.... glad all went quite well.. the team won first in the floral art comp. i can't wait to go see... maybe will drop by today... hmmm.. :) no camera... think will take my k800i out... hee heee.. :)

oh well.. back to marking and then make plans to go out while i still can.. one essay due on 8 aug and another on 12 aug. i am so dead. :(

my braces are off...

2008-07-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

yippee... took my braces off on wed, 230708 at about 3pm.. but haven't had time to write about it. been really busy.... i dun get to sit at my table in the office anymore... :( back to my teeth... wow... feels great man.. but i am worried about having the teeth move again.. will try my best to wear the retainers diligently... haiz..

this week must be the worst week.. open house, art lessons for exchange pupils, floral art comp, start of my lessons at unisim etc etc.. and the list goes on for some more... just lazy to name them all..

strating to feel that i am quite silly to cramp in 3 module this semester.. total of 7 essays to write and 3 exams in nov. what the hell... but next year life will be better, only on module left (if i successfully make it thru this sem tat is..)

want to drop by dover to see house... hee.. but busy. haiz. tsk tsk.. oh well...

waiting to go natas fair to book tour.. looking forward to tour... can't wait for the hols.. hopefully will make it thru the semester in one piece. haiz... nervous... once again.. was too slack at the beginning of this year.. now suffering from having enjoyed too much.

going to work tomorrow.. will be running around like a chicken without a head. :P

it's sunday again

2008-07-13T04:43:00.001-07:00

and there's the blues...

what's the use of working hard? do ppl actually appreciate it? one colleague said this on friday and i have been thinking. is it worth it to lose sleep over work, to give up meeting frens or going out when there's work to rush? i think it is not.. and maybe we have all been finding ways to get away from it all in our own ways. a few take refuge in their religion, going all out for activities they like, some just keep buying things, some just want to rest.

and queenstown is realli a little far... but it is a nice place...and it's best to get it while we can instead of waiting for opportunities that might not even materialise. with the cost of fuel going up, it realli is quite worrying.. everything is getting more expensive. money is never enough.. paid my school fees and i am broke before my pay day is even over... maybe i can find wat i dun wear in my wardrobe and sell them off. money can be used to fund my shopping? haha.. i do hope to save up for a digital camera soon. need a small one for work. haiz. but it must be good too.. so i'm not jumping into it.. selling my macbook too. i need one with better specs. if dun sell then no money. how like this?

ate too much over the weekend. need to lose weight. damn. no energy. waiting for school to start. it's going to be painful... ouch...

there's more to type.. but time is running out..

a roof

2008-07-10T05:37:00.000-07:00

yup.. we got it. finally.. ready in about 2010... yippee.. we were lucky... :) it was a nerve-wrecking wait... hee hee..

happy.. back ache.. from sitting for too long and not sleeping properly... i need to sleep. :P

left my thumb drive at the printing shop. going back there again on sat, haiz. all tat trouble. hmm..

i want to eat... waiting for dear's class to end.... hmm.. sleep once i get home. sure fat.. tsk tsk...

let's see..

2008-07-05T17:46:00.000-07:00

it's the end of week 2 and the beginning of week 3. can't wait for the end of week 10. it's been well, frankly, rather terrible. shoulder aches, eyes that refuse to open, body that refuses to be dragged out of bed and a mind that is degenerating. haha.. sounds pretty bad ya? haha.. it is just about to get worse. school is starting soon, about the same time as one of the major events. how to stay awake in lecture and tutorial? guess i'll be eating and drinking lots of processed and unhealthy stuff to stay awake. tsk tsk tsk..

went for a skipping event yesterday. skip 10 times and this particular organisation donates 1 bowl of rice to the needy. well, i skipped 401 times and that makes my donation amount to 40 bowls. hee hee. it is was fun. many people were impressed when it was our turn to skip. those in the rope skipping team could skip so well and so fast, everyone was surprised. the top skipper managed a whooping 904 turns in 10 minutes. amazing stuff..

sometimes it's disheartening to know that there are some educators out there that do not understand why there is a need for some to receive more help than others. sometimes it only takes one to feel a little more for others to make this world a better place. if educators are not able to feel for others, how then do they educate the young? are we all that narrow-minded? are we no better than just beings who only care and feel for ourselves, learning just how best to survive in this selfish world? isn't it sad? i have to say, i was disappointed. Yes, one can say that they are not aware of the extent of the suffering of others. but did they even bother to find out? did they open their eyes and their hearts to see and feel for them? there is more that can be done.

shall not dwell on this anymore. i have to get down to work. wanted to post some pictures. lazy...

been busy

2008-06-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

the first week of work was quite bad. been so busy. haiz. and i think it will onli get worse. made my boss pissed. but hope he's not angry now. i did do wat he wanted me to do in the end. haha. and i had to be very thick skinned to face his reprimands and carry on with discussing with him about other matters. haiz. sometimes one learns in the hard way. wat to do? oh well. next week it will be just as bad i think. week 3 does not seem like a great week as well... although i do hope 10 july will be a day of good news. keeping my fingers crossed.

tom will be another long day. haiz. it's a tough life! ah...

i am not thinking about tom. work to be done but i'm not doing. :p

it's the end of the hols..

2008-06-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

the time has come.. for all school-going children to pack their school bags, lay out their uniforms and get ready for school. some face the tasks with dread, some with excitement.

I am facing all these with a slight sense of dread. deadlines to meet, projects to rush, events to organise and all. I was moaning and groaning for the past few days, upset that the days just flew by and tomorrow it's back to work.

i have to say i had a good holiday.. had a short break, went to sentosa twice (wanted to get a tan on both occasions, but nope, didn't manage to get tan at all), spent time doing nothing much, spent days walking around malls and not buying anything cos just so broke, going for a mini photo shoot and went to learn how to draw caricatures. got to say i rested well. however, just the tot of going back to work makes me tired. haha.. terrible, i know..

supposed to go to the bird park today but it rained and we changed plans. we went to cineleisure and stumbled upon a free photoshoot at ishop there. took about 2o plus photos then select some to edit and get them printed onto post cards. the cards will be sent to us in about 10 days. no payment was necessary. think they just wanted to promote their products. it was cool. we were dressed for the bird park and not a photoshoot. nonetheless, we had fun laughing at ourselves. the photos turned out ok for such an impromptu decision to go for it. it was fun. :)

think i'm off to bed very soon. it's going to be a long long long day tom. all the best!

end of hols...

2008-06-20T10:33:00.001-07:00

it's the end.. the hols went by in a flash. tsk. where did all the time fly?

i dunno where to find the energy required for work.. tsk.

tempted to go HK to work. 3 years. can i bear to? wow.. my grandma, mum, sis, bro, nephew, aunts, cousins, frens and other loved ones... yang is keen to go there too. maybe he can work at the airport there.. hmm. not bad.. but stilll.. sg is a great place to live in.... i might complain, but it's home...

dunno how to approach my boss too. he will not be pleased.. tsk. but no one is indispensable. There's someone who can take over my job. she'll do a great job. maybe even better. hmmm.. one push factor...

oh well... will check when is the posting due to start. can onli go after i finish unisim and get emplaced. hmm...

sleepy..but can't sleep. hair is not dry. tsk.

trivia 5: Sloth

2008-06-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

A sloth sleeps 19 hours a day.

A sloth passes motion once a week.

The fur of the sloth is home to many beetles, algae, parasites etc, because they move so slowly.

watching animal planet. somehow my brother managed to tune to this channel. haha.. very interesting channel. watching how animals commit the 7 deadly sins, greed, pride, lust, gluttony, wrath, envy and sloth..

the komodo dragons commit the gluttony sin the the most! they eat everything and a lot of everything. they kill its pray very very slowly... the saliva contains deadly bacteria. when an animal is bitten, the bacteria travels into the blood and kills the animal s.l.o.w.l.y......

supposed to go to the bird park today.. but due to a very sleepy person, the plan is scraped. well.. it's ok and good in that i can do my work.. pros and cons ah.. my free ticket expires 24 june. hope to go before it expires. one ticket is $18!

there's a gig later.. hope no need to wait and wait. tomorrow i have to wake up early and go work. just heard something that thoroughly spoils my day. thoroughly disappointed. i have nothing to say.

Desserts

2008-06-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

want to go to these two places to try the desserts there. should be good. Obolo and 2am:dessertbar

off to do work. late by about 3 hours. haha. slacker.

trivia 4: bananas

2008-06-12T05:50:00.000-07:00

A cluster of bananas is called a hand and consists of 10 to 20 bananas, which are known as fingers.

The word 'banan' is Arabic for finger.

Banana plants are the largest plants on earth without a woody stem. They are actually giant herbs of the same family as lilies, orchids and palms.

Bananas have no fat, cholesterol or sodium.

Depression: According to a recent survey amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

i didn't know bananas were this good... well well.. next time i'll do more chocolate bananas at BBQ! they taste good.. really!! especially when the chocolate is slightly burnt and becomes a little crunchy... with the soft, sweet and delicious bananas, they are a heavenly pair... slightly bitter chocolate, sweet, lovely tasting bananas... simply mouth-watering.... maybe a BBQ soon? hee hee..

realised that my SE W960I looks good, and one would be easily deceived into thinking that the camera is good as well... tsk tsk.. on screen, the pictures look great, but when uploaded to the computer, they look terrible. never had that kind of trouble with my cybershot phone, k800i. haiz. looks like i'll bring that with me if i know i am going to take photos with my hp... tsk.. tempted to get the SE G900. trade in my phone and i'll need to top up about 350 to get that phone with no contract extension.. but well.. i am not that crazy, or rich for that matter. haha.

some pictures..
my nephew -

us at the southern ridges.. nice name eh?

a lovely tasting wine.. delicious..

paper steamboat at sakae sushi.. they changed the menu at the changi sakae sushi.. not as nice as before... :(

at the Big Idea fair.. i look short.. appeared in 8days... haha...

a very funny movie: Kung Fu Panda!! Po is cute... :)

a car with my initials... haha.. belongs to the king of johor actualli.. i'm honoured... hee

i'm going to school early tomorrow to continue my work. for 12 hours flat. haha... it's time for some intense work... tsk tsk..

Trivia No. 3 - coffee related

2008-06-06T06:13:00.000-07:00

A scientific report form the University of California found that the steam rising from a cup of coffee contains the same amounts of antioxidants as three oranges. The antioxidants are heterocyclic compounds which prevents cancer and heart disease. It's good for you!

After the decaffeinating process, processing companies no longer throw the caffeine away; they sell it to pharmaceutical companies to get panadol

Coffee, as a world commodity, is second only to oil.

went shopping and bought 2 shirts and one long blouse.. think next time i will shop more at this shop in amk hub. nice clothes. not too ex too.. quite broke... hee...

some names.. :)
hernetta, hernelyn, hernidia

haha.. woo hoo...

2008-06-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

i forgot to post trivia last nite. hehe.. again, i forgot wat i wanted to post.. haiz. today i was thinking wat yesterday's trivia was, so never think of one today. ha ha.. excuses.. i am just lazy..

got a call in the afternoon... from some NS guy informing me that i managed to get 4 tickets for the National Day Parade, ACTUAL DAY. woo hoo.. first time getting thru the ballot!!! woo hoo... haha... i was slpeeing when he called.. now then feel happy.. mum asked to to go buy lottery. maybe... maybe... will see how... hee hee...

when is the 8days person going to tell me where and when i'm going for the Europe trip... nervous.... hee hee...

oh. oh.. trivia 2 is...

2008-06-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

to make sure that ur vocal cords do not get damaged, try not to clear ur throat unnecessarily. also, do give ur cords a steam. of course, not to put it into the steamer and steam. when drinking a cup of warm beverage, breathe in deeply and let the warm vapours moist the cords. try also not to regurgitate food that has reached the stomach. the stomach acids actually burn the vocal cords during the reflux action and flow into the air pipe. damaged vocal cords causes you to lose ur voice and if left untreated, u might have to see a voice therapist or live with a hoarse voice..

not feeling particularly eloquent today.. mouth hurts from the rubber bands pulling the teeth back.. first the back, now the teeth. haiz. tough life. isn't life already painful enough?

my cute nephew... hee hee.. and my mama... :)

Trivial No. 2

2008-06-03T07:01:00.000-07:00

i forgot wat my second trivial is.. just now i remembered, but now i dun.. eh.. when i do then i will update.

tsk tsk.. failing memory..

back is better now.. i can stand straight and walk properly now. haha..

now, wat was the trivial? haiz..

Trivia 1: sorbet vs sherbet

2008-06-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

going to start posting some trivia... hopefully everyday.. hee hee..

tat day we were eating ice monster and i said that sherbet should be spelt as sorbet.. well.. i was not exactly right but also not exactly wrong.. guess it can be used interchangeably... :)

Sorbet is often confused with Water Ice, Italian ice, and Sherbet. The FDA does not have a classification for sorbet as it is a synonym for sherbet. Sherbet in the United States must also include dairy ingredients such as milk or cream to reach a milkfat content between 1% and 2%. Products with higher milkfat content are defined as ice cream; products with lower milkfat content are defined as water ice.[3] Although the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in the United States, the use of the term "sorbet" is unregulated and is most commonly used to with non-dairy, fruit juice "water ice" products.[4]
The word "Sorbet" (pron. IPA: /sɔrˈbeɪ, ˈsɔrbɨt, sɔrˈbɛt/) is French (pron. IPA: [sɔʀˈbɛ]) for the Ottoman Turkish word "Sherbet".[5] Sorbets/sherbets may also contain alcohol, which lowers the freezing temperature, resulting in a softer texture.
Whereas ice cream has air whipped into it, sorbet has almost none, which makes for a dense and extremely flavourful product. Sorbet is served as a non-fat or low-fat (sometimes 3% fat) alternative to ice cream.
In Italy a virtually identical dish called granita is made, which is only really different from sorbet in that it has a crunchier texture because of the freezing process. As the liquid freezes, it forms noticeably large-size crystals, which should not be present in sorbet because of the stirring. Granita is also often sharded with a fork to give an even crunchier texture when served.
Agraz is a type of sorbet, usually associated with the Maghreb and north Africa. It is made from almonds, verjuice, and sugar. It has a strongly acidic flavour, because of the verjuice. (Larousse Gastronomique)

stay tune for more trivia tomorrow...

ps. my back still aches.. entertaining thoughts of admitting myself into A&E. haha..

I am

2008-05-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

having difficulty standing up straight and walking.. i am in so much pain i wish i can just lie in bed and not work on anything.. i am entertaining thoughts of being wheelchair bound.. i am letting my mind wander to the extremes... i am in pain...

from a game of tennis to aches this bad.... i think i dun want to play tennis anymore... then wat am i to do with the racket? haha.. i think rock climbing is less pain inducing for me... it realli is bad.. so bad tat i dun even feel like walking to the toilet... or even to shift to the sofa just a step away... the pain is making me not feel like talking.. i'm fine when sitting down.. the pain sets in when i try to stand up.. maybe i should just stand and not sit down at all. sob sob....

i am going to start on work. website, design for some brochures and all. i will get started, dun need to stand up and i'll do it.. maybe i should just wheel myself everywhere on my ikea chair... going to my room seems like a daunting task though..uphills and downhills to conquer... haiz.

i think i am going to drink another coffee... or maybe i'll just lie down and rest a while...

i'm so glad it's the hols.. but one week is over alreadi.. sadness...

Din = Dean

2008-05-29T22:47:00.000-07:00

so Din,or rather Dean, went on to sign on and on 26 December 2007, he became a civil servant, serving the nation and as he proclaimed loudly on 28 May 2008, he will defend singapore with his life!

well, signing on is no big deal, but going to the SISPEC course and getting the Honour Graduate at the age of 26 when all the others still look pubescent is a big deal. standing out as the best amongst over 200 (i think) trainees is definitely an experience! like the chinese saying goes, the ginger is still best when aged. being the parade commander was just the icing on the cake.. Excellent stuff, Dean.. hee hee.. (although u will still be better known as Din to me, but then again, it's just a matter of change in vowels.)

all the best in ur army career! Happy u had the guts to go for what u want and looks like the future is burning brightly ahead for you! :)

it's the holidays and here i am slacking away.. yippee... must enjoy while i still can ya? the future looks bleak and filled with tasks that look daunting and oh so irritating at times...

la la la.. it's a beautiful day.. very hot outside but freezing cold inside the library.. it's amazing what aircon can do! :) brrrr...

i am going places..

2008-05-26T05:58:00.000-07:00

off to somewhere for a trip soon...dunno where yet... somewhere in malaysia for a short break.. hee.. it's the hols.. yippeeee.... :) and i have been slacking...

after the short trip,i think i will be off to......

E
U
R
O
P
E

haha..

holding onto the letter i got after taking part in the Scan and Win contest organised by 8days at their roadshow on 24 and 25 may.. i was thinking how nice it would be if i got the 7 days 6 nights trips for two to Europe and just held on to that wish.. the man before me won a weekend stay at Amara Sentosa Resort. when they scanned my card and the picture showed the trip to europe, everyone was stunned. i was stunned. hands were shaking.. heart was pumping so fast. couldn't smile properly for the camera.. haha.. and i thought i would never get to be the one that wins the grand prize at contests!! well.. now all i have is the letter to go get the prize.. think i will still be doubtful till i actually board the plane and fly there.. till then.. more updates when i collect the prize! woo hoo..

thank you to whoever it is up there who is smiling down on me.. thank you, thank you... happiness.... :)

and just received a call from Martin saying that Din did really well and will pass out as the top cadet this Wednesday.. seems like he signed on for the right cause! we had our doubts but well, u go Din! Great job! will be there to witness ur proud moment! :)

just viewed this video on youtube.. touching...

the world is more beautiful because of them..

it's the day of my exam..

2008-05-15T19:10:00.000-07:00

and i am still typing a blog entry although i realli should be studying? yeah... in 12 hours my misery should be over for now.. i have so many things i need to do after 10.30 tonight, prepare mother's day gifts, scan some pics, do up schedule for work next week, complete lesson plan, do mid year reviews etc.. lots and lots to do.. and i amalready thinking of them although i realli should be studying..

well, i am panicking. it's going to be tough remembering quotes and all with one whole novel (Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev) and many many poems by William Blake (about 30 poems) as well as women poets like Anna Laetitia Barbauld - The rights of Women, Joanne Baillie -A Mother to her waking Infant, Felicia Hemans - An Indian Woman's Death Song and The Grave of a Poetess, Mary Matilda Betham - The Power of Women. these are just four of the fourteen poets i can choose from and 5 of the about 30 poems there are to study. can't even exactly the author's name and titles much less the quotes..i am so dead... haha...

cannot wait to go take photos too, although my photos still suck.. oh, and also to set up website... need to come up with the layout and all then get Ross to help.. after that can get my bro to maintain? he's very free now. playing games on his laptop till it crashed beyond help. haha.he has no choice but to use the desktop now.. hogging the table in the living room. hmmm..

reading the newspapers and see lots of dead ppl..especially children.. the ppl in china and myanmar must be in pain, physical and emotional pain.. it's tough seeing one dead person, not to mention the many that the rescuers see for the past few days...hmm..

ok.. back to my notes and books... 9 more hours to go.. wonder if i will come out early because i have things to write and wrote all that i can or come out early because i have nothing to write? hmm.. hope it is the former and not latter. scary...

3 exams at the end of this year in november. wonder if i can take so many days of exam leave? hmmm.. should be ah... i hope... hope i will be done with studying by june 2009. :) cannot wait.. wan to do kickboxing after that. hee hee. i'm thinking way to far... i need to get past tonight with at least a C. but if it'sonly a C, my GPA will drop.. hmm.. tsk tsk...

it's been a while...

2008-05-07T06:40:00.000-07:00

still reeling from shock of losing a fren. remembered the times we climbed ophir together and ran around tekong, causing everyone to be quite shocked when we emerged first runners up for the orienteering competition, and how she brought much laughter and also torture in a way... though we were not exactly close but we did not lose contact totally. i miss her...

i want to change job. i also want to do something for the ppl displaced by the natural disaster in Myammar. 20000 ppl have died already... the people there are suffering a double blow... hmmm.. wat can be done?

time to study... exam in a week's time. i am not doing much about it. i dunno. damn slack. damn damn slack.. and this is going to be one of the most difficult exam..

need to do some work for school first. will study tomorrow after work. i promise i will study. haiz. life is tough...

An Angel has left us

2008-04-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

Angel is the one in blue...

An angel has left us.
For a better place.

Swiftly she was taken,
away from all who loved her.

She left behind sorrows and hurt,
questions unanswered.

A future so bright ahead,
diminished so suddenly.

A beautiful life she has led,
one that brought us much joy and laughter.

Remembering the times we spent together,
brings tears to our eyes.

Looking at photos from the past,
wondering why our Angel didn't smile.

Yet to me and to many,
the smile was always there.

Farewell, our dear Angel,
may you be happy where you are.

Fear not, our sweetest Angel,
you will always be in our hearts.

We will miss you always,
deep down inside us.

Ah Yeeeeeeee....

2008-04-21T08:26:00.000-07:00

my dear little nephew called out and waved goodbye when he saw me pick up the keys to open the door.. woo hoo... i was exhilarated! yippee.. that felt great!

so cute my nephew. he's one smart little boy. charming, bright and very quick to respond to ppl and things around him.. love him to bits

photos taken on my fisheye2 camera... yipee... i like. now need to buy colour splash. hee hee..

Some pictures from my new camera - Diana+

2008-04-19T21:43:00.000-07:00

I like the square-ness of the photos.. I like... hee hee..

being a driver...

2008-04-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

is not too fun. haiz. can go places, but very dangerous... i am dangerous. haha.

having some blues.. tired from work and disillusioned... was looking at the ppl at the airport and thinking just wat it is like to be in another job... i like my job, but it is so draining tat it hurts at times.

turning 26 soon. feel like an old folk. haha. time for bed... long day tom. going to do planting... woooots..

i passed my driving!

2008-03-20T07:10:00.000-07:00

woo hoo.... know the demerit points is not to be proud of, but i am happy i made it. hee hee.. i'm surevmy colleagues will do a better job. haha. they are steady and calm. i just wanted to learn fast so tat i can help to drive. hee. but i am always worried. haiz. must learn not to worry and just drive! always think the car is longer and wider than it actually is. tat explains why i always slow down. haha. too cautious..

i can sleep well tonight. didn't sleep well last nite. even dreamt tat i onli got 39 for my essay. nightmare. haiz. onli get dreams when i dun sleep properly. think need to buy better pillows.

no man is an island.. without the support and encouragement of my loved ones and colleagues, i would not have passed my driving. thank you ppl... love u all lots.. thanks for listening to my story of how i knowck the poles down. i cannot believe i actualli did. haha... the sounds of the poles dropping are haunting me...

2008-03-09T03:13:00.000-07:00

hadfun at the lomotion gathering. i hope the photos i took will look great. think i might ask my colleagues to help buy a lomo camera from HK.heard it's cheaper. hmm.. hee hee..

a gown tat i like. lovely. like the colour and the roses... looks yummy. haha..

i am watching tv today. lazy. took a nap when i could have done other things. think i'm getting old...

driving in 08

2008-03-06T07:12:00.000-08:00

tat's my new tagline. haha. just changed my driving test date from 22 may to 20 march. haha. i dunno if it is a right choice. i think it is cos by the time mat comes by, i would have forgotten how to drive. i want to be able to drive so i can go and get things done when dear allows me to drive his car! haha.. woo hoo.. i am looking forward to it.. :)

my second assignment is due on 17 march. then 19 march will go choose flat if there are still available flats. 20 march go take test. think it's too much excitment in a day. ha ha.. amazing...

hope eveything turns out well.. i am keeping my fingers crossed... i need lots of luck then. may the force be with me... too exciting. think cannot sleep tonight... have tutorial tomorrow nite. think i'll be sleepy. shall wear nice clothes to work tom. hee hee.. shall go choose now...

the man of the moment is...

2008-03-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

Mas Selamat Bin Kastari. he walks with a limp in his left leg, is 1.58m tall. A red alert has been sent out by the Interpol. the first ever mass MMS sending by the 3 giant telcos has taken place yeasterday. pictures of him put up everywhere. Everyone is talking about him. Army men, policemen, special task force men out looking for him everywhere. lives are disrupted. everyone is on their toes, looking at others suspiciously. some racial tension is apparent. but i think most of us are still rational and understand that wat a small group of radicals are doingdoes not equate to the need for condemnation of all those of the same religion.

'nuff said. think there's no need to ask why he escaped. just find him and put him behind bars and life goes on. we pick ourselves up, aplogise for our shortcomings and continue to work hard to improve. even the best makes mistakes. it is human to err. we learn from these mistakes and move on.

on a persoanl note, watched Leap Years with a bunch of close frens last night. i enjoyed the show. it was good. i'm a romantic at heart. good old romantic shows are good. the thai guy was attractive, although i still prefer men with short or even no hair. i like the way his eyes spoke. haha. wong li lin was good. her acting was natural and i can understand why dear likes her so much. :)

went for driving this morning. not good. i'm lucky to pass. hope the actual test will go on well. haiz. so tired now. goin to sleep then do work. lots and lots.. :(

nite.

Singapore will host YOG 2010!

2008-02-21T05:20:00.000-08:00

Yes! We did it! We are going to host the YOG! YES! I guessed all along that we will get to host the games. it probably sounds complacent but i think we are well-suited to host the games! woo hoo.. we may be small, but we are mighty! well well... think the games will be a great exciting event. steady ah singapore!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/330241/1/.html

got the queue number.. not as good as we wanted it to be... and not as bad as i tot... 761 out of 10900 plus applicants. not bad ah. heee heee.. first time. now on the look out again.. was hoping we'll be one time lucky. heee.. well well..

can't wait to finish my lomo film! wooo... think this time i got pictures taken in better lighting. hope they turn out well. want to see the pictures of the birdies i took. exciting.

we actualli jumped for joy when we saw the announcement. haha... it felt good. :) like how we felt excited when they allowed the F1 to be held here and when the singaporean duo cliched the top spot for the amazing race. we do have lots to be proud of. i love singapore! :) (i'll love singapore more if they let me buy a flat tat i want... hee hee.)

went to the museum to see naked men and women yesterday. not too bad. hee hee.. it was fun! now looking forward to planting! must get to work... been lazy. hmmm...

my latest toy.. courtesy of dear!

2008-02-18T20:19:00.003-08:00

woo hoo... my old lomo camera spoilt and i got a new one! now it's even cuter! hee hee.. yippee.... going to take pictures and hopefully this time it'll stay fine! i dug out an old crumpler which the lomo can fit in just so very nicely... lovely.. managed to find even though i was running late this morning. hee hee.. now it is well protected... thank you for getting me another one. it was a lovely surprise.. i was realli tired and sleepy last nite but my sleep kept getting interrupted. hee hee.. but it's all good. lucky i could wake up. hee...

managed to complete my essay and submit on time. phew. it was rather painful doing it actualli. haiz.. forgot how to write lit essays alreadi. a colleague just lent me a book so i do not need to buy it. happy. hee hee. i'll take good care of the books. :) shoulders are aching. back is aching. so many complaints.

good luck for ur exam today my dear! :) all the best! hope you will do well! jia you! hee hee... I'll be at ur sch waiting for u! if i can drive, i can go pick u up! haha.. but too bad. no such luck. we'll go for prata at al azhar then we'll make our own way home? heee.. :) love u dear. muackz...

lots of love! :)

do you feel the love?

2008-02-14T04:51:00.000-08:00

it's a LOVE-ly day. passed by toen on my way back and saw many men carrying bouquets of flowers. to think that they went to the extent of buying the overly priced bouquets for their loved ones, yet the women do not hold on to the bouquets themselves, can be quite sad. Why? haha... This is not a case of sour grapes. i just find it funny. haha.. the flowers are so expensive... jewellery or branded bags would be better! heard from a colleague there's fifty percent sale at gold heart... a diamond ring sounds great. she bought one for herself and one for her mum... cool... i got a gift tat i got to choose... hee hee... it's still wrapped up realli nicely and i do not want to open it yet.... hee hee...

mine has a dark brown stripe instead of the white. can't find another picture..

i am slowly saving up for coach bag. something tat is small for going out... can put the necessities...something like this...

my lit essay is due on monday. and i have not written a single word. stress id coming from work and studies. and many other aspects. just how tough can life get?? :(

i should be more productive with my work. i think i will go sleep then get up early to do work. dunno where to start. i still need to think of a gift for dear. hmmm.. tat's quite troubling...... hmmm...

made key chains for my colleagues. think i can make and sell for money? back up plan just in case i quit? haiz...

learning by reflections is the way to get things done. i shall reflect more frequently and improve on myself. maybe a new resolution? i have been neglecting my bicycle. :( no time, no opportunity to cycle to work. haiz.

it's still new year.. should try to be more optimistic... haiz... tough tough...

CNY 08

2008-02-08T07:17:00.000-08:00

one more picture that i missed out earlier, that of my aunt audrey and emre. cute...

cny this year at my grandma's and my place. too bad dear couldn't join us! it was a day spent eating, drinking and some gambling. just a little... :)

pics of vietnam 07 continued...

2008-02-08T07:00:00.001-08:00

that's all for vietnam.. hee hee... others are still in bigger file sizes.. no timeto make them smaller. hee hee... one day i'll do it.. one day. haha....

finally, some pics of vietnam trip 08

2008-02-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

have been lazy. did not upload photos from my cf card till today. haha. here are some pictures of the vietnam trip... might upload some of my bangkok trip if have time ah. heee... enjoy...