Random 2 =)

This time, the post is random because I have too many things to note and I don’t know how to arrange them in a logical order. Haha..

I’m going to airport in few hours… My luggage is halfway done… I don’t know what flight I’m taking… and my sister just told me that the TWD I got is outdated and I have to get them exchange from Bank of Taiwan =.=’ These are too much for my poor single task mind…

I then remember that I haven’t blogged for 2 weeks… and decided to pour out some stuff before taking up the new one :) Hmm… where should I start?

I went back to my hometown on 16th December 2009. The day before, I managed to catch a short birthday dinner with my previous rotation team :D The invitation was at 7pm, and I reached there 10 mins before 10 T_T Nothing can be worse than that. I was really happy that they waited up for me… and totally can’t believe that they still saved up the food for me… even waited for me for the cake cutting. There were so much to do… so I ate, talked, and took pics at the same time…


Shakuntala’s @ Little India

Once I reached back home, I logged in to office and work.. Until… the next morning! I had no chance to sleep for a single minute. I can’t believe how fast the clock hits 5am, and I had to force myself to log off from office network, showered, called a cab, and went to airport…

I was only 20% conscious when I reached airport. My flight was at 7.30. I reached airport at 6.30. After checked in, I spent half an hour at AXS machine trying to pay my credit card bill. Then I walked to Terminal 3 to see a decoration which was promoted so much in radio and newspaper and everywhere. I reached there and stared at it for a full 1 min. Can’t figure out what it supposed to be.


Decoration @ Departure Hall, Terminal 3. Flower? Cherry with Wing? Peeled Orange?

After that, I passed through the immigration check point… and noticed that the time was… 7.10. The boarding gate close 10 mins before departure… and my departure is at 7.30.. Some simple maths told me that I have 10 mins to reach boarding gate. 10 mins. 600 seconds. And the place is at T2. I'm at T3.

OMG.

That’s when I was fully awake I guess. I run to the sky train, run through all the gates… and be the last to reach the boarding gate and board the plane. Yeah yeah. I didn’t notice if anyone was looking at me with grunt… I was just happy that I reached my seat... and I slept until I reached Medan…

Reached back medan, I slept for the whole day. My sister was frustrated with me because I haven’t bought any dress for tomorrow yet I spent my day sleeping… but my body just don’t want to corporate…

The next day, I miraculously found something to wear and I could make it to the wedding =) The happy bride is my cousin… my dear cousin who shared a room with me during my high school… my dear friend who taught me all a girl needs to know about guys… and my dear sister who scolded me as much as cared for me…


Happy Wedded Life, Fen.

I had my hair curled for that day… and I quite like it.. so the next day.. I went to… perm my hair. I was actually hesistating to either perm or straighten it. I asked the saloon people for advices, and they just asked me to try what I want… I think about it… and I decided to get it permed. At least if I don’t like it, I only have to survive for 2 months and get back my old hairstyle when I come back on CNY.


Can’t help but to think of myself on an electric chair, ready to be executed

The suffering ends in 2 hours. I looked at the end result don’t know of what to say.

On my fourth day in Medan, I went out with my friends, my two friends that I never forgot to contact every time I went back – Anita and Elizabeth. I have a fun day out with them… and they opened up my mind to more office life… the politics. I should be more thankful with what I have right now, really…

On my last day in Medan… I spent my time packing all my stuff back… I ensured that I have eaten all the mandatory food – Satay Padang, Nasi Padang, Nasi Goreng, Pizza Hut, Beef Ball Soup, Tiong Sim Noodle, Tabona Curry – and others I cant continue without drooling. I went to airport at around 6 after dinner and guess what… overweight!! – not myself, my luggage! Thanks god they don’t have weight limit for a passenger. The baggage allowance was 20kg… and I have almost 30kg… =.=’’

I was saved by two guys behind me, who offered to share the luggage with me. Thanks, Bros! After some time, I realized that one of them is my senior in NTU… I forgotten his name where he is still able to recall me T_T what a great junior I’m…

I reached back to SG on time, reached back home on time, and the next few days ahead was nothing but work and sleep and comments saying “Auntie!” to my new hairstyle.

On Christmas eve, I worked till 10pm… where most of people in office left after lunch itself. I went to Dwipin’s b’day after that… late as usual T___T after the celebration (for both birthday and Christmas), we went for the 3D Avatar… I can say that I was hardly awake… but I enjoyed the graphics a lot… The 3D effect made the movie really awesome =) Everyone was partially awake when the movie was over… we headed back home and I slept at around 5.30 am…

It was raining the next morning… My roomie and I slept like we have all the time in the world. I woke up at around 2.30. Felt a bit hungry, so had some soup before heading for the karaoke session.


The ladies – still feel awkward of my own hair v_v

The end of the karoeke sessions mark the end of the Christmas… I reached back home at around 12 am… did some packing… and sleep again..

Now is 26th.. and I’m few more hours to airport… time to end this post and start my preparation :)

Till next year,
ED

Random :)

Didn’t have any special thing I want to complain (good sign!) So just pick some random events that happen lately :)

Office live has been normal… seems like I started to get used to it. Bosses are on leave, but I was wrong to think that work will be less… T_T

I’m glad that I finally got the chance to visit Orchard.. Christmas has come early to Orchard this year, thanks to the APEC meeting. I totally agree that the decoration is much better than last year! I really can’t get enough of the Christmas trees… and I can see people with big camera and tripod all around. Suddenly I want to get a better camera.


Christmas @ Orchard, as glittering as it can be

Btw! Last week was my first time going to Mind Café, the sort of café with offer both food and games (Thanks to Calvin for organizing it). The place is really good for gathering. It was $8.9 for 3 hours with free flow of drinks :) Trust me the drinks are good. The 3 hours are not long at all.. During the last half hour, we’re trying to cover as many games as possible and finally given up on the Da Vinci Patterns Boardgames…


Pass the Bomb – my favorite game of the day

Yesterday, I watch a movie based from children story “Cloudy with a chance of meatballs” it was a cute short animation. Quite like it and I can’t help but imagining KFC falls down from the sky… Hmmmm… haha.. Anyway, I get to taste the new Black Pepper Chicken! Yes yes yes. I don’t know how KFC just seems to understand what I want :p the taste is really good. Had it together with my dear friends who only eat drumsticks... can imagine how satisfy (and guilty) I was after the meal.

I just finished packing my luggage into 2 full bags and 1 hand carry bag. I don’t believe I have so many things to bring home. I hardly shop anything!

Ok, time to redeem myself from the sinful KFC lunch. Swimming time :)

Away from SG from 16th – 20th Dec,
ED

Reflection of Year 2009

Have I just passed the first week of December? How can time fly so fast? T_T

This is near the end of the year… and normally I will be doing my yearly reflection at the end of the year… Since I will be away from Singapore next week and during the New Year eve, let me summarize them now… *digging through my archive.

Promise this will not be a lengthy post.

Looking back, I realized that a lot of things have happened to everyone surrounds me. Life after college is definitely much more complex and prone to changes. Around the year, I have heard of friends getting married, friends continuing to study overseas, friends getting promoted, friends going back to hometown, friends getting new job, friends getting hitched (hehehe) and lots more.

Whatever happened to my friends are actually an inseparable part to my life. However, for the sake of focus, I will limit this post just to myself. Busybody mode switched off for this post.

This is what my lucky star said about my fortune in year 2009


The yearly Chinese zodiac display @ Chinatown

When I was reading the above fortune at the start of the year, I was quite worried if I can survive this year. The fortune was quite bad in comparison with the other zodiac. Thanks God now is the last month of the year and I’m still here in my room, alive, typing blog :)

Ok, Proud or not, these are the 9 things happened to me in 2009:
1. Be home for Lunar New Year for the first time since I come to study in Singapore
2. Get my Permanent Resident and feel the pain of pension fund contribution
3. Complete the Mid Module Training, CIO Challenge (superbly memorable), End Module Training, and graduate from class 2008
4. Complete my rotation in 5 different teams at 3 different offices
5. Have my first cycling experience at East Coast Park, continue with the first hospital experience at Changi Hospital
6. Marry Panasonic Lumix LX 3 and send Sony DSC W70 home
7. Travel to Australia and catch the sand storm in Sydney
8. Meet Princess Aurelie and understand what love at the first sight is
9. (finally), I’m proudly announce that I learnt how to swim!! :D

And now... as tradition has it, here goes the yearly pic to sum everything up :)


Year 2009 - C'est La Vie

10. Be Kiasu more than ever,
ED

Whatever I am…

At the core, I’m just another soul longing for acceptance.

Trying too hard,
ED

Time for a new skin?

I was so tempted to change my current blog skin to this one below:


Rainbow Garden

Awesome design, awesome color, plus I have never use green in my template before... So why not?

I can do zero personalization. I will be using this like million other users on the net...

Here come the ego and I have to stick to my current theme until I feel creative enough to do a new one... haha...

This mark the end of my 3 days blog template hunting... I'm constantly amazed with the creativity of the designers... inspiring :)

Not yet,
ED

That’s it

Encrypted Anger...

ZZZZZ UXRKI XORIW EHJWH GBKLR SGOEQ WCIHE VKBGS VNOPA MWHMQ VPGWMUQQUI LMEQE XPFSA OKDKT CELFH IFKVN STGSS EUGWM GVCKR RGSMT LADGEGBBTH XUISM TCVHC DMXHC GPSOU CFBMQ JWWVG LNMTU VEJOD TTJSX OQXQOJWSMP AEDJN VIQCE FLOFN MPKJL FLFUH EEAUF KHGHE ABPBP QHMCB DPVXQWTFJA XCCBN BEULB PDVKU BOREG SRNIT JCOCU CRQNV PSKWH DHOAG CFBJHIDWLV XQGUK REQDG QUWWG AGKIN VOFSV KKHVG PGGMJ JGROL OEMTJ UJGOSGCRDN EDRQM BNTQJ LBOXQ OUVSF VPCMO HOJTV AHUPC NLNTV VKOGN GBNWTQJPVL IXEJS MQEIB VVVGV BUINU VHHMT IVRNE SJPVS LQBCL TIVFR WBDSQHREUL BDREN HDUBT SSJAH MSGOW TMTEK XQMXE RFEDC KDMKQ BGHAM HQIFJCHKAR QGSDA VKDES RATKS HRUVX WWLGM OXVLD MJRKT MBKTD BBSVG PERJDRJDAS IGQSA IGGEJ RGMJV SIUPI KCAIH TLMSL FFICB PUOGN TVJGN TRMJQTMRIH SKFPM RTRGV TDLVL TRRDC DUIQB EQMEB DXJAI TVSVC PIRVJ HMFJVHSMNC JRMSW WHQOT THBRB HQFCR LCSEW PPQIO DCMPK EIXDG LLJXS KIPJIJDFKE HGWHH MCMRJ FQOCU QDJEA TOXTS WQJOE RFRDL ARWTM MASUV JKXDNSHUFN EUXQX TXQLH JJMNA JQBTL JLEEM NAGBU AULAA UOOLL NHTIT SKBFNBIMLL QUHAX RVPQB RMWEH KMLMG XOLGV IVDKA CQFPE HTKMB IVGFL FQREASWBWL ELTUQ GOCDG GRDLX FCAJU PBTCF ACHXE ITMOV XPUKT NHDKT NWWLWXPQOJ UUBSD BFXOX UDVCA FVEHX REUGO DPIRH DWUIC MNWMS HRKVC HKGWSHTKWI XEHSR XLHMM IVJWK KALUI TFWIT VQXBC HSMLK EOPWD LOLLO KAEPXHHMIT RVCVE NMAKO SOTPS SNQUB XHURO BEIAG RJUGW TTQID EWOBM KMSQUJUORQ PSAKD MSAKI NCGON FWSWV RBHWU OCAVT KUJQX SSQCK LAHKL DBONBVIGPX OUDLU AIJUS UAATN SNQOB DIUPB MMHCQ VDEUN DQHNQ RSOKK TQOEUOWOKH WBTMC FLTLQ ECSDJ DUQKB FDEPJ TAWOJ KJUUQ JRRSE AWIIW JGFMGFOEFQ JGVCW IKIAP JSRSC UMCSP TGATH WSSWO GHQLF WKRFU GHMDH WMSGWDJVQO FVHEO TMSBX LSLPS VUEJK NXXEK MGGPA VQIVJ IMXDW TDKJJ RKTQTCFLBI TDEIH XHNDI RTDQL RLSPP JKBPB OPDHP WQEQK VMGTG RHAXT EDSQEKMFOP VCLTC GLNID GNGAP VDODI HHVWJ PTGQU RPRDA UKHQC LVPFB FAVISDTRDW BANWX RHETF JIXJH EGEPF LHJMR WXCUS CDKWG RNCBO AILLI LJMSFSTCVJ WPDRR MFQSF AWFDW OJMVB VSTNA MQAEW EJHUL FJCMA JXXEU IFRGUPUPEE JQSRK HJDFX XKKMM LKXCF HORDB AFBDG NKTFO EBZZZ YYYYY

... End of Encrypted Anger

So what now? The long weekend is just right to cure my broken heart because of this. I promised myself not to go to office on weekend anymore, unless someone directly requested for that.

On Friday, my heart still can’t detach from the office, and I worked from home =.=’ After few hours of working, I shutdown my PC and had a nice dinner with flatmates, follow by my long awaited movie session, starring Disney’s UP! Oh my, Russell is total cuteness =D

On Saturday, I woke up at almost 12, rushed to Bugis to pray and get some b’day present for my best friend, and reached just in time at Ang Mo Kio for Crabbing :D Based from our research, the place will be very crowded after 6, so we reached at around 5.30… which was just nice because the food come at around 6.15 =) The food is OK, nothing really special. Maybe I was putting too high of expectation as it’s said to be really good for the crabs. My mum’s cooking is some 20 – 30 points above it :p :p By the time we left, we can see a long queue formed at the entrance. Mellbern Seafood is the name of the restaurant… Incase anyone is adventurous enough and feel like going to Ang Mo Kio for some dining.



Picture taken after I finished all the food infront of me – he he he

After dinner, we continued with the KTV at KBOX. It was my first time there… and I would say that I still like Party World the best. We booked the place from 8pm to 3am, but everyone was losing their voice at around 1am… so we packed and left.


Girls rulez!

On Sunday, I again slept until 12pm. Hope that this wont happen tomorrow… but even if it happens, I guess I will still be alright as the bosses are on holiday. Muahahha… (evil’s horn popping out from my head)

Gonna enjoy the rest of the day :)
ED

Alive

21 Nov 2009 was a momentous day. It was a release date for a lot of projects, but for us, it’s a Go-Live date. It’s the first time we’re moving the application to production :) :) meaning we’re now able to access the application anywhere in internet. No more bounded to intranet.

I can’t describe my feeling when I access the production link for the first time. Everything looks so clean and perfect (until I clicked on a link and it brought me to a internal server error page. Thanks God it’s rectified in 10 mins). And guess what, I get the honor to create the very first invoice in the production! :) First! It’s an historic event for me. Haha. Thanks so much everyone for the privileges :) :)


The sacral link. Without the word cit, sit, uat and intranet.

I was excited most of the time that day.. I went to office in the afternoon and didn’t even realize that the time was 11.30 when the PM asked me to leave. Guess the food provided did affect my mood a lot. What can be better than Pizza Hut and KFC? And I was the one ordering. Make a guess what happen when I assumed everyone ate like my portion. We got the excess of 3 pan pizza and 1 family feast KFC T_T

Even after the Go-Live, I’m totally aware that the long hours work is not stopping here :( the next release is on the way. I really need a break… 3 weeks are as far as I can endure longer. I will definitely need a break after that. Guess I should just book my ticket home and care less about any other things.

Anyway, I had a bad luck with transports on that day. The bus passed when I was just about to cross the road to the bus stop. The next bus was so packed and the bell was not working properly. I managed to stop only at the next 2 bus stop after office… which resulted into 15 minutes walk under the sunny sun.

When I wanted to go home, I can’t find any taxi… I called and a taxi passed just after I hung up my phone. I went to the taxi saying I wanted to go to Hillview Avenue, but the taxi driver brought me to Orchard for no reason. I was so ready to explode, but the taxi driver himself was on a low mood based from the complex story he said about his wife and girlfriend. In the end, I reached back home after one hour ride...

Today… as usual, I have no energy to go out anywhere. I woke up at 11.30... made phone call to my parents, cleaned up the room, toilet, kitchen, living room (my normal behavior under stress: cleaning), had a late lunch of noodle, sausage, chips, chocolate (another normal behavior during stress: eating), and stick to my PC till now…

Going swimming now,
ED

Third Month

My parents called and asked why I’m still in office late at night
My sister called and questioned what I haven’t replied to her email
My brother called and shocked that I’m in office on weekend

I had to say sorry for missing my best friend’s birthday
I had to cancel my dinner appointment
I had to eliminate my weekend gathering

I haven’t got a chance to watch a movie with my flatmates
I haven’t got a chance to talk to my best friends
I haven’t got a chance to enjoy the beauty of Christmas decoration

I go to office canteen and see that I’m the only diner there
I glance through the office floor and see that I’m the only lady there
I leave office and can’t find any taxi around office area

I realize that I am such a minority.

I look at my watch and realize that the day has changed, my Friday is gone, I’m still in office, and I have to come back in less than 10 hours time.

Then I break down and cry.

I need rest. I need sleep. I need motivation. I need encouragement. Most importantly, I want my life back.

Saturated,
ED

Mars and Venus

I spent half a year reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, and finish hardly half of the book. It’s interesting and easy to follow… but in a way, I can always something better to do (e.g. sleeping). Finally, I decided to call for a break. I put the book on hold and read something light for the morning bus ride. I picked a communication / relationship book – Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

I heard about the book few years ago, but never thought that the book is as old as 1992. Some of them might not be relevant. They don’t have facebook and iphone back then. But anyway, I still decided to give the book a try.

The book started with a small funny story. Men, Martians, are from Mars. They discovered Venusians from their telescope. They felt in love and invented space travel and flew to Venus. The Venusians welcome the Martians and they spent months learning about each other and living together in harmony.

One fine day, they decided to fly to earth. But then something weird happens. Everyone woke up with a selective kind of amnesia. They forgot that they are from different world and suppose to be different. In one morning everything they learnt about each other are erased. And men and women have been in conflict since that day.

What a nice background to start a book :) finally I know the meaning of the title. Haha.. After that, I continued reading and finished the first chapter.

I can’t help but to think I’m from Mars :(

“While women fantasize about romance, men fantasize about powerful cars, faster computers, gadgets, gizmos, and new more powerful technology”

I can’t remember the last time I read a romance novel or watch a drama… but I can say that I just drool over iPhone few minutes ago, get a new camera few months ago, and looking for a right time to get a mac book.

Don’t want to feel so bad about myself; I excuse myself that the book is written 17 years ago, things might have changed since then :)

The key point of the first chapter is that man likes to do thing of his own. Asking for help is a show of weakness. Woman, on the other hand, like to share and offering help. The conflict happens when woman offered help and man felt offended because he thought the woman felt that he is weak.

Accessing myself, I feel that it’s very hard for me to ask for help, but I will be more than glad to help if someone asked me about anything… But I don’t normally sensitive enough to offer help, unless I’m requested to.

The book says that my personalities above are the key characteristics of Martians.

Few more chapters with all these contradicting examples, I’m going to switch back to Rich Dad Poor Dad. At least it doesn’t make me questioning myself that much.

Anyway, apart from book world, I’m doing ok in real world :) I watched 2012 which talked about the end of the world. After the movie, I felt that work is just a very small priority in life. If the end of the world is so near, we should spend most of our times with loves one, not by working 12hrs a day... motivation to work reduced by 50% on that day :p

On Saturday, I had a CEC 10 years gathering yesterday at Union Square, Amara. Not many people around, but I saw a lot of familiar faces. It has been a while… I can’t believe that I actually forgot some of my club member’s name! T_T


CEC 6th Management Committee

Ok, I’m almost late for dinner… till next week! :)

The Martianed’ Venusian,
ED

Passion and Patience

Passion has little to do with euphoria and everything to do with patience. It is not about feeling good. It is about endurance. Like patience, passion comes from the same Latin root: pati. It does not mean to flow with exuberance. It means to suffer.

- Mark Z. Danielewski (House of Leaves)

In the journey to find passion, hence patience.
ED

Yeah...

Once upon a time, there are two coworkers in the office…

One is a happy soul, who is satisfied with what he has, passionate of what he is doing, treasured his work, and has a good work – life balance.

Another is a challenger soul, who is always looking for opportunities, ready and often goes the extra mile (a.k.a OT) to get things done, and have a big curiosity to stuff beyond his scope of work.

The question is…

Which type of person are you? And are you ever satisfied with your type?

I heard so often of the argument between these two leagues. When you’re happy with what you’re doing, people will poke and say that you’re stagnant and not enhancing with your career life. When you go the extra mile, people will say that you’re workaholic, busybody who wants to know beyond what is required, and have no life except work.

It’s just impossible to satisfy all the different perspectives. But seriously… I’m getting too comfortable being in the first zone. I often questioned myself of how far should I go in pursuing the latter zone. I realized that once I’m in the latter zone, I’m married to my work, people set that high expectation of me, and I have little chance to turn back to the first…

By all means, I need enlightment.
ED

Restored.

Ok... I'm abit too much... but I really can't stand having something missing without fixing it...

So I redo my icons and find a new free image hosting... what else if not photobucket...

So I got it done... and it's 2.30 in the morning. I'm to work tomorrow omigosh.

Sometimes, I'm really amzed with myself... I know I'm gonna regretted this tomorrow when I'm all sleepy and dozing off in the office T_T

Anyway, just back from Eve's Wedding. She is stunningly beautiful :)

Happy wedded life, dear!
ED

Aaaa.. Geocities!!

I received multiple emails from Yahoo alerting that Geocities is closing soon and we're to pull out any data that we need from there...

I tried to recall what I saved there... can't remember anything but my funny website... so I ignored the alert...

Now after posting and notice something weird in my blogger display... I remember... I put my blog icons there!!! I linked them to Geocities!!

Now I have no way to retrieve my icons :( Thanks to my IE settings to always clear history when closing the browser, I don't even have it in my temporary internet files...

So either I have to redo the icons... or it's time for another blog skin revamp...

Hmm... think about it later... I'm getting late! T_T This is the risk of using free stuff... you have no one to sue.... hahaha...
ED

Hi, B!

Yet another week full of midnight taxi bills…

I just completed sticking my taxi bills for this month… and it goes to the record of SGD 230 T_T and it’s not even the full month… It started only after 9th Oct, with 2 days of training in between.

In conclusion, I’m taking taxi for every working day T_T with more than half goes high due to midnight surcharge… It’s not good… I feel totally isolated from outside world… my world is only home and office and pantry. Where is Orchard Bugis Westmall… where is swimming jogging cycling… where is movie shopping chatting… I miss my old routine. True that you won’t appreciate those small things till the day you can’t afford them…

Ok… at least I learnt something here… and I’m still waiting for the day when I go out from office and the shopping malls are still opened… Shaji, my dear colleague… I hope you enjoyed your two weeks holiday… Now come back to office soon!! We need you desperately… I really wish to see him in office this Monday… he will be the best gift for the month…. Hehehe…

Anyway, because of the long-hour days at work… I decided that I need another break this year… I applied for 2 leaves for this Dec. One for my cousin’s wedding ceremony back to my hometown, another one for the Taiwan New Year eve trip. I got only tentative approval, but I don’t care… I’m going to buy the ticket and confirm the tour :) so at least I have something to look forward to… I need motivation badly…

Again, it’s not that I didn’t like the work. I like what I’m doing… My boss was giving me a test few days back to decide on my scoring, and there I realized that I have learnt a tremendous amount of knowledge from these past 4 months... yeah… nothing comes easy…

Since I have not much update out from outside world, let me update what I know… hmm.. nothing much change at home… lights were always out when I reached back home. Our current owner has decided to sell the flat and the agent started to be hyper on this. We received 3 requests to open our door for agent this week alone. Not that I ever been in the home, but it starts to get annoying as people keep taking picture of your stuff :( I’m partly hoping that they sell the place soon and then I can move to somewhere nearer office… or perhaps better, move to office itself… :D then I will be the ultimate “terminal” for office version.

Office wise… hmm… not many thing changes. Glen is back and I’m entertained again with his latest cold jokes :D (I am seriously hoping he doesn’t read this). Since he went back to China for his b’day, we celebrated it when he is back… giving him the latest mouse from Apple… the Magic Mouse. I was so glad that the delivery came on time… The party was at that evening and the DHL people sent it at 5pm… My impression about the mouse? It’s a moveable track pad. Glen’s impression about the mouse? He didn’t know what the thing is for the first few minutes and still confused after reading the instructions. I guess I’m too geek and had picked too geek a gift T_T all the best in figuring out how to use it, Glen.


Happy Birthday Glen!
The remaining set of the pics are too violent and hence censored.

So… after the fun Friday night, I was only 25% awake in office on Saturday. I finished my work only at 9.30.. then hopped to Habour Front for a quick dinner before reaching back home at 11.30…

Sunday is always reserved to home relaxing now. I woke up at 12, took my lunch, called home, drolled over iPhone (3 out from 5 of my friends are using it, this is too much!), and now I shall get ready for Eve’s wedding celebration :D

Bye, A
ED

*Wondering if anyone figures out what is A and B.

iRelax

I’m listening to Michael buble latest album – Crazy Love. No specific songs that truly stuck to my mind, but the slow melodies are good enough to make me stay patient with the slow connection of office network.

This week is still the same with last week. On Monday, I went off from office at 11pm. Tuesday at 12am. Wednesday at 1am. Thursday, my mind was almost blank and I almost can’t do anything on Friday. This is definitely not a work life balance… :(

Anyway, I woke up late on Saturday and reached office only at 1pm. I had to cancel my 2-month appointment to donate blood because of this new Saturday-working arrangement. Well… I really hope that this is as much as what I have to forgo. My whole weekdays and Saturday. I don’t think I can take further request for work. Totally exhausted…

Today, I decided to have a proper rest and stay at home. Even so, my heart can’t really go away from work… so I login to office. Thanks God the application is down such that I can find my own excuse not to work. Haha..

During the end module training, there was one exercise asking us to draw a pie chart denoting the amount of time you spent on every activity. I was putting 75% on work and another 25% on friends and personal time. I guess I have to update the percentage from 75% to 90% now :(

But guess what. During the Friday networking event at ORQ, I was still so passionate of telling the potential grads of how fruitful it is to work here. Huahaha... Anyway, being at the side of employer feels different. You can talk whatever cross your mind and your counterparty will have to either agree or think of a good respond that won’t insult you. Haha... Guess what else… you can eat while they talk, but they have to listen to you with full attention. I feel quite nostalgic after the event… I went through all these 2 years ago. Wait. 2 years ago? I am THAT old now?

Can’t believe how fast time flies. I feel so far now from the student life… but definitely still not ready for the next. I can’t help but to jump in surprise whenever I heard that my friends are getting married. This transition is tough. I’m too comfortable with where I was and don’t feel like changing anything.

Ok… anyway… life goes on. Enjoy more about the present and worry less about the future :p

Argh, my application is up,
ED

(Un)officially Graduated

This week, more than 50% of my expenses are on Taxi =.=’ I don’t know if it’s fate or it’s because I hurt my knees and it made me lazy to walk. Haha.. anyway, I’m glad that my knees are getting better… I expect it to recover in another month. I’m so prone to wound recently. After my bicycle incident, I knocked my knees to swimming pool’s steps, and now I fell off chasing a bus. I might need to get flower shower to wash away my bad luck T_T

So… I had my End Module Training this week. The location is Mandarin Oriental. Poor me get confused of the different Mandarin around Singapore – Meritus Mandarin, Marina Mandarin, Mandarin Oriental – and was almost late for the first day because of that. The hotel is good. The decoration is better than the Swiss Hotel… but in term of training class, Swiss Hotel wins most of the grads heart. I myself love Mandarin Oriental more, and definitely in love with the room. Truly envy those grads which got the chance to stay in the hotel. Oh well, I least I got to lunch there for 2 days. Haha..


The accomodation. I wish I were hired by other country because of it.

The training was good. On first day, the instructor was talking about our career path, how to pick the suitable career based from our strength and weakness, how to plan the career for the next 5 years, etc. I like the second day training better, which was talking about being assertive, giving and receiving feedback, and how to be ‘politically correct’ in redirecting responsibility to other people. Haha… At the end of the day, both instructors are highlighting a lot on networking. I must agree that I can’t run away from this topic.

We have a 'graduation' celebration event on Wednesday, a chili crab dinner on Thursday, a graduate event on Friday, and I was totally exhaustive by Saturday. Thanks that Deepavali come at the right moment and I didn’t have to work on Saturday. Hehe..


The best Chili Crab I had in my life - No Signboard Restaurant, Esplanade


The girls and the lost man

Saturday and Sunday had been great for me :) I went out for most of the time. I went to watch a movie – (500) days of Summer. It was a story about a guy who was deeply in love with a girl… but after some time, the girl just seems to get bored and get married with another guy… 500 days are the time they spent together. The plot is pretty interesting… the way the film flipped through the random days and run the event of the day… was really unique. The jokes were funny and I laughed a lot through out the movie… but when the movie was over and we talked about the morale of the story… I have no answer to the question of why the lady dumped the guy just like that. Sometimes girls just get complicated, don’t they?

Ok, so now is 1am in the morning. Time to sleep :)

Listening to This is Us – Backstreet Boys,
ED

Shooting Star

It was a sunny Sunday. I was working in office listening to "No Matter What", chatting about Boyzone. Suddenly, my friend gave me a text saying that Stephen Gately, one of the two main vocalists in Boyzone, has passed away.

The mix of sadness and shock surrounded me, but especially, I felt spooky! What is the chance that I am listening to the 90s hits and talking about them and one of them died...?

After the spooky feeling is gone, I recalled how Stephen Gately used to be the only name I remembered from the boyband. I like his voice. I bought his single album and loved every song there. My favourite song from the band is... surprisingly, not from the band's greatest hits. It's his single. In one of the Disney OST for Hercules: Shooting Star.

No one seems to think too much of me here
And they're glad to tell it to my face
And they're right I'm not supposed to be here
I'm completely out of place

Somehow there has got to be a reason
Evening as I try to think it through
There's a bolt from the blue...

And I see a shooting star
Set apart from all the rest
While the other stars are standing still
He's on a quest...

... I love every single line of the song. It just fits so much to the movie :) The song used to accompany me during my exam time... and I still remember how I called the local radio station for half an hour only to request for this song. My first and last radio call OK!

So... Thanks for leaving me with a great memory :) May you rest in peace, Stephen Gately.
ED

Hi, Singapore...

This week has been tiring. Very tiring. And I’m demoralized. So much :( I am really wishing for a better next week. Else I might break down… emotionally and physically.

Anyway, at least I had a good Saturday… I went for lunch with friends @ Garuda, watched “Defending Caveman” show @ DBS Art Center, had dinner cum b’day celebration @ Bayang Clarkquay.


Cool Guy B'day @ Bayang Clark Quay

The show, Defending The Caveman, is a good show talking about the difference between a man and a woman. It said that it's in the gene. Man used to hunt. Hunting required the man to lock on a target and focus. That's why man are used to focus in one thing. On the contrary, women used to be gatherers. When gathering, they need to look at surrounding and everything... and that's the reason why ladies tend to be interested in almost everything... and that's why ladies love... shopping. It's a gathering act. It's on their blood. haha.

That's the core of the story. The narrator gives a lot of hilarious examples to explain the differences. I myself was particularly interested with one. He mentioned that ladies measured the quality of time they spent by the amount of information they gathered / the activities they do during the period. For guys, they measured it by how relaxed / enjoyed they are with the companion of each other. He mentioned that guys like invite their friends to come only to watch TV together. Where I myself... I will feel guilty if I ask my friend to come all the way to my home only to watch TV. It sounds insincere... haha..

The other point that he repeated several times is the fact that women are more into cooperation and men are more into negotiation. For instance, say you are at a party and the chip bowl is suddenly empty. If there’s a group of women, all of them will offer to refill it and often times they will even all do it together. However, if the same thing happens in a group of men, the excuses start flying - I brought the chips, it’s my house, I brought the dip, I got the beer, etc. until someone finally loses the negotiation and he ends up having to re-fill the chip bowl.

Altogether, it's a funny 2 hours show :) The show makes me think of how amazing a guy and gal can be a couple despite all the differences. haha...

Ok... enough about caveman... back to reality. The weekend is over and I have given both my precious friday night and sunday night to the office! T_T I'm not satisfied... I'm not. Let's watch Big Bang Theory to balance everything out :)

Laughing at the nerds (or myself),
ED

Australia - Travel Log (2)

In a blink… The holiday is over. In a blink… a week has passed and I realized that I haven’t updated my travel log since day 2. Now I can remember nothing more than the pics I took… so here they are…

23 September 2009

Happy Birthday Princess Aurelie :)


Habour Bridge after the dust storm – Honestly I don’t know why it’s so popular… Can’t find anything special.

24 September 2009


Happy Graduation, Master :)


Family dinner @ Korean BBQ

25 September 2009


"Cooking"


Sydney Aquarium


Amazing Pancakes on the rocks

26 September 2009


Aurelie’s B’day Party

27 September 2009

OMG I’m missing my picture for Sunday. Can’t find it anywhere :’( Went to Vihara and reached back home freezing

28 September 2009


DB Office Visit – I am wishing you a happy marriage, John!


Casino – The place where I won AUD 2. Fufufu…

29 September 2009


Gold Coast – Surfer Paradise

30 September 2009


Warner Bros – Movie World

1 October 2009


Sea World

2 October 2009


Around Sydney with AUD 17 Day Pass Transport

3 October 2009


Homemade Steamboat for the Mooncake Festival Dinner :)

4 October 2009


Sayonara Sydney. Thanks for giving me the 4kg fats.

... And I'm missing Princess Aurelie...
ED

Australia - Travel Log (1)

19 September 2009

Got a morning call from sister @ 9am. Continued dozing until 10.30am. Left at 12.30pm. Run back home from bus 176 3rd’s bus stop as I forgot to bring my mobile (Sigh). Took taxi to airport. Lunch @ Breek’s. Said bye to Inche who was leaving to Beijing at 4pm. Met up with my parent’s at Terminal 2. Shopped and relaxed at Terminal 3 until 7pm. Got my new partner in crime a.k.a Panasonic Lumix LX 3 at 7.30pm. Flight at 8.30 sharp.

On the flight, got my white wine and red wine and decided that I can’t finish any of them. Gave it to my dad and I enjoyed apple juice instead. The lamb stew was an awesome dinner, the Proposal was a great movie, and definitely, Mum and Dad were the best companion… The 8hrs flight was no more than a blink of eyes.


My favourite dining-in-the-sky time

20 September 2009
Reached Sydney as morning as 6am. Got through the strictest immigration that I ever passed and only smelt the Sydney air at 7am. Met my brother who drove us to his home. Greated by sweet Aurelie. Suddenly all the pain and bad memory at immigration disappeared. Just like the way they throw away the foods that my parents packed to trash bin. Gone. Just like that.

Slept from 9am to 12.30pm. Went for a walk at park. Went for lunch @ Fish’s Market. Took a look at the Chinatown Market. Went for dinner @ Hurricane’s Grill & Bar. Done for the day.

@ Defries Avenue Public Park

@ Sydney Fish Market

@ Sydney Paddy's Market


@ Hurricane's Grill & Bar

21 September 2009

Let’s pics do the talking…

@ Wildlife Park

@ Three Sisters Skyway & Science Railway

@ Jenolan Cave

22 September 2009


@ Australian Reptile Park

@ Hunter Valley Winery *Hiccup

@ Port Stephen Dolphin Watch


Awesome sandboarding at Sahara-like desert

Today, 23 September 2009
Happy Birthday, sweet Aurelie! :)
ED

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

It was love at the first sight.

I knew about it when my friend was considering of which to bring as his partner to London – an old loyal buddy, or a new slim one? I heard of how the new slim mesmerized him, but at that point of time, everything was merely a random talk...

Then I met it on the London training (my friend finally decided to bring both). Then I touched it. Then I saw how sharp it is. Then I just felt in love.

I was asking so much about it, thinking so much about it, looking at every possible occasion to meet it, but it was a full one year wait before I finally can say that it is mine…

Introducing my new love


Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Life has been much more colorful after its appearance. It has meet my family and I guess everyone just loves the way it acts. I don’t know how long this love will last, but for now, I just treasure the time we spent together :)

Thank you everyone who has made this happened. Thanks Mr K to introduce me to it. Thanks Mr W to join me in the hunting. Thanks Mr A to check it out when I almost lost hope.

And finally, thanks Dad for the final courage you gave that make me decided to pursue it.


First night @ Hurricane's Bar with family

Enjoying the honeymoon @ Sydney :)
ED

PS: No matter how much I sound wrong with being in love with it, please take note that it's still an 'it' for me. haha... :p

PS2: My proposal happened on 19th September, Changi Airport Terminal 3, with the engagement cost of SGD745. Sigh. I just hope that it's not high in maintenance.

Bye, Singapore

Now is 12pm… I will have to go to airport in another half an hour… my seat isn’t even booked yet.. but here I am blogging in my room. Hehe..

This has somehow become my habit… like few hours before flight; I will try to jot down something… just to ensure that my hibernation period won’t be too long too obvious.

I’m leaving for Australia today… finally after 10 years of desire of visiting my brother. I will be meeting my parents at the airport at 3pm, then have some shopping and dining together before the night flight at 8pm to Sydney.

See you again in the next two weeks :) Or perhaps later if I manage to get free internet at the airport :p
ED

09/09/09, 09:09:09

We have just passed through one of the rarest date combinations ever :) The number nine has the same pronunciation as ‘long’, and when you repeat it in Chinese; it has similar chime as forever to eternity… which hence believed to be an auspicious number…

Still! There are not many people getting married on this day. Why? Because it contradicts with another Chinese superstition… which is the misfortune you will get if you get married on the hungry ghost month… which unfortunately fell on this very month… well.

This is what happened when you live in the superstitious environment. Sometime they clash each other… Anyway, for me, I wake up one hour earlier to get a breakfast with colleagues at Starbucks inside the PSA building. I felt kind of excitement… the coffee was good… and managed to last me until the other 09:09:09 pm in the office. Haha.. T_T

Happy 09/09/09, 09:09:09!

This week, the fellows new grads are starting their training in London… I can’t believe that one year has passed. The training was good, still I remember nothing but the fun after training hour :p Hope that they will enjoy themselves to the fulleset… and no one encountered silly things like losing passport in a totally foreign country like me…

Office has been fine this week… time just flies in office. On Monday, I tried aerobic during lunch time with the other colleagues… it was fun, but my legs hurt badly on the next day, and I can hardly walk on the T + 2. Thanks that I only have one session per week, not like them who have it every other day. Really impressed with them… should tried to join them more :)

On Tuesday, the day after the aerobic, I finished the buddy meal in KFC… without a buddy =__=. Yeah. Thanks to my dear colleague who challenge me… and I just fell to the temptation. Say goodbye my Monday aerobic…

On Wednesday, on that auspicious day, I work until around 9 and run to Vivo to do weekly shopping. If only I can leave an hour earlier… I would have gone to Westmall instead. I spend 45 mins wandering in Vivo clueless of the shops location I have to go. They are all within 5 mins walking in Westmall… huh.. But anyway, I manage to get all the stuff I need… which is good :)

On Thursday, work until 8pm and have my dinner at Smoochies. I tried the burger and pizza… and totally like the way they serve the pizza. It’s thin, hot and cheesy :D I even like the Hawaiian pizza, which I normally avoid because of the pineapple. Hehe..

On Friday, my application was down from morning till 4pm… I didn’t expect that… and it totally ruined my list of testing for the day :( at around 8, I have to decide whether to stay in office and get a call from my friends every 5 mins or should I just go and leave everything for Monday… I chose the latter… I went to Raffles to meet up with Sabrina and Anand. It has been quite long since the last time I went to Raffles at night… all in sudden, the place feels so unfamiliar to me. A lot of executives are there… a lot of people in tie and suit, chatting over current economic stuff.

2 months outside from the CBD area. Do I want to go back? I don’t know… Sometimes I miss the place, but the new office is awesome for me too… Guess I just have to follow the path decided for me… :)

Saturday, I went to lunch @ Bugis.. a Korean Buffet for $20. It was super nice :D Can’t remember the last time I had buffet, so I totally go for this. The restaurant name is Aerang, if I didn’t spell it wrongly (too occupied with the food and forgot to notice the name). After that, we went for a dessert… again, I didn’t know the name of the place, but I totally love the dessert… I had alovera strawberry honey lime… which come out better than my expectation.

Korean Buffet for $20!

The hidden treasure within Bugis… Awesome Dessert~

At night, I went for dinner at Orchard… and went home after a dessert @ Haagen Dazs.

Sunday, I intended to wake up early and swim… but fail miserably. I woke up only at 9.. and the sun was already on the top of the head… so in the end I wait until 5pm to swim. After swimming, I rushed to Tatsu b’day party… happy b’day in advance, Tatsu Kun :) Happy 21st B’day… now you’re legal in doing the thing you’re doing :p huahahaa…


Happy Birthday in Advance, Tatsu Kun :)

My brother has started to send me itinerary at Sydney… together with Aurelie’s pics.. Oh dear.. I can’t stop looking at the photo… she is the cutest princess I ever seen… Can’t wait to meet her next week…. I just hope that I can pass this week peacefully. Hahaha…

Feel blessed to be the auntie for this cutie

Time to sleep..
ED