Last few days of 2005

Time for a break. Pouring outside the office building now, which suits me just fine coz I had my 40-min run last evening with Beng See. Can’t imagine 2005 is left with only 2.5 days and 2006 is coming right in our faces. It’s very true that once you start working, your years will fly past just like that. 2000 doesn’t even sound very far to me.

I can’t seem to capture the magical feeling of the Christmas season anymore these years. I remember how my sis and I, as kids, loved the cooling weather come year-end and spend our time watching Mickey Mouse Christmas cartoons on TV. We never had a Christmas tree erected in our house, and never thought much about celebrating the festive with relatives and friends, but the feeling is just there. In comparison, now as we stroll down Orchard Road, the lightings and decorations have no appeal at all. The log cakes, turkey and ham also induce no drool of mine. What remains to be appreciated, I feel, is the gathering of loved ones, friends and relatives. Perhaps also the gingerbread men cookies that we didn’t used to dare eat. Haha, used to think it quite cruel to chew off arms and legs of a gingery man.

With the recent meet-up with friends, I’ve got to know quite a fair bit of gossips and news. There are lotsa pieces of happy news – one of my gang of seven got engaged, one of my dearest friends at work is attached and a colleague is pregnant. On the other hand, there are surprising bits which make my friends and I realise how typical our lives are. Some people have the courage to venture into new fields, and even do things their peers never would. Kudos.

In the end, I still think I prefer a moderate and simple, yet happy life.

Christmas Presents

I think we females like to list down the presents we got during Christmas, and then take pleasure in getting gifts from friends. To the male counterparts, this would be like.. "what's the big deal?" But women are women afterall. Wahaha.

This Christmas our very-famous artiste cousin gave Tian and I a bottle of perfume each - Givenchy 30 ml EDT and Valentino 30ml Parfum. The Givenchy is a limited edition somemore. My other cousin (elder sister of mentioned) gave us a mask too, which turns out to be coincidentally needy for the new Hiao-convert (that is me). Hoho, the best part is that both sis and I didn't turn up for that Christmas party cum gift exchange at our small aunt's place. And of course, our semi-cheapo family (bear with us, we're on our transformation path!) got only chocolates and some recycled gifts for the rest. Mama is a thrifty and cost-conscious virtuous mother.

WW got me a purple Zara top yeah. We were choosing between white and purple, yet decided on the latter coz it gives a more sexy feel (according to WW). ;) On Christmas Day we had zi cha dinner together with his family @ Mei Chin market. The food should be rather good; I didn’t really know as I was munching more on the yam slices than eating the main meat in the dishes. After that it was King Kong at Clementi cinema. Quite amazingly the scriptwriters managed to squeeze in many components of a movie into that 3-hours show. Parts of it were rather exaggerating, but we enjoyed it to bits, laughing our heads off. I was touched by King Kong’s little acts of gentleness. Imagine such a big beast being able to convey human emotions. Miraculous indeed, even though it’s just a show.

Kinda hard to pick up pace now that I am back at work. Somehow I’m thinking… if I venture into other career fields involving financial mathematics, how will it be?

Ok, very cliché, but a new year resolution list is snowballing:
a) Beauty make-up session
b) Making use of diary from Sher to jot down major international news and events
c) German language course/tennis lessons/yoga lessons (/ = ‘or’, can’t afford to do ‘and’)
d)

Funny Comics on Christmas

*lol* really very funny!

Spending $$ like nobody's business

Actually not that big an amount, but I spend just as I wish! Who cares?

Yesterday (X'mas eve) WW and I went to Great World City shopping centre to get some stuff and had a good meal. I got for myself:

i) Royal Jelly pills
My first try at pills though never used to believe in them. These are meant to smoothen out my skin as small bumps have started to surface.

ii) Vitasence pore clarifying essence
I've become hiao all over again! Wahahah. But hope this expensive 30ml stuff can treat my ever-lasting (so far) blackheads and also prevent pimples from popping up. Hormonal changes causing all these pimples; I didn't used to have them.

iii) Hearty Ichiban Boshi meal (treat for WW too!)
Always feeling very fortunate when eating @ Ichiban Boshi. Not everyone gets the chance to tuck into such good food k.

And happy that WW likes the leather name card holder I've gotten for him. Phew, I've gotten it correct to match Ah Tiao's tastes, heh.

It feels good to be able to spend as I wish, but gotta save up to pay for bro's $1550 new bicycle!! Where is fairness in this world?!

Heck care~ Gonna deduct from his ang pow $$. Wahahha

Helplessness

What does one do when faced with a helpless situation?

Be bochup and take things easy! Heck care about the consequences and don't blame urself or others. Some things are just meant to be lah. Whether it's bound to happen, you have no control over.

Which is, hmm, easier said than done.

I dunno why I take things so seriously and have this temper on the spur of the moment which I can't control. Mama always says no one can tolerate this easily-unleashed temper of mine, and I agree.. and am actually very scared of it. Sometimes I even thought of giving up everything so that it won't affect anyone else.

I give almost all credit for things turned worse (deterioration of my skin texture, viewing things more seriously than I should) to work. Expectations are high - the stupid scholar's role to fulfill, and there is a constant pressure to perform. So that lies the trick of switching between life within and outside work. If you treat your our-of-office life as seriously as you do to your social life, you'll bound to be in trouble.

Lalala.

Be happy and merry. Why care so much after all? Life is short!

What an uninteresting bunch of colleagues!

After my block leave, I made my way happily to work yesterday morning. There's this corporate-wide X'mas theme event going on, where every floor dresses up in colours of green and/or red and bring out their best performance to charm the judges. The best floor will win $500 in F&B vouchers, while the runner-up and second runner-up get $300 vouchers and $200 vouchers respectively.

But sadly, the 21st floor (my floor) was pathetic. Only a few cats were around, with most colleagues either on leave or away somewhere (maybe partying on their own). Perhaps that's because our floor consist of functions from two different groups - Operations and Technology. So there was no coordinated effort and the happening ones were away. Most of us were dressed in dark blue or black, and in jeans. I donned a olive green skirt with a black top (at least there were some greens in me!). So while other floors were merrily caroling away, we were obediently seated at our desks, typing gibberish stuff away.

But with the wild party animal in me, I ran off to 25th floor, my old home (娘家) and watched their performance. Quite cool leh. And they had a buffet lunch at the pantry area... if only I were still with them! But never mind! My other colleague and I resolved to hold a New Year's party. It ain't too late to party.

Met Sher for lunch yesterday during which she passed me two gifts! One souvenir each from Paris and Korea. Tks Sher! I told her the diary from Paris would serve as my "physical blog", where I can jot down my ideas and thoughts everyday. And yesh, I still want to play 通宵麻将. Who else is keen? :)

Yeah, it's Christmas eve today and though WW and I have no specific plans to spend this day, we'll just do what we like best. Maybe fly a kite. Christmas is nice with the spirit of giving and sharing, a time when friends show their concern explicitly and everyone feels warm. Yesterday Beng See gave me a box of chocolate early in the morning. So nice! I shared a box of Royce whole milk and white chocolate with my IA colleagues. Happy to see them enjoying it too.

Hanging out @ McCafe

The night view from my living room window. It was around 1230am and you can see quite a number of families were still awake.
The moon shining from behind the dark clouds. A slight feeling of ominous, but I like the backdrop, plus the orangish reflection in the skies.

This afternoon, I had the luxury of passing time leisurely. I took the golden opportunity (weekday afternoon ok.. wonderful) and cycled from home to East Coast Park McCafe.

Brought back some work from office, and took them along to McCafe
My favourite latte - Himalayan Tea Latte!

It was a day well-spent :)

Yann Arthus-Bertrand

While walking along Orchard Road one day last week, I came upon this long row of pictures on display. Good that they left the website address under the pictures, which then led me to introduce this great photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Just look at his aerial photos.

“Love Parade” in Tiergarten Park, Berlin, Germany
Neuschwanstein Castle, Bavaria, Germany
Storage area at the Daimler-Chrysler truck assembly plant, Worth am Rhein, near Karlsruhe, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

And his biography, extracted from his website http://www.yannarthusbertrand.com.

Biography
Born on March 13th, 1946, Yann ARTHUS-BERTRAND has always had a passion for nature. From age 17 to 20, he does a brief stint in the cinema, first as assistant director, then as an actor, playing with Michelle Morgan in “Dis-moi qui tu es” among others. In 1967, Yab settles in the centre of France where he is in charge of a nature reserve. At 30, he moves to Kenya with his wife, Anne, in order to study the behaviour of lions in the Massai Mara reserve. Feeling the need to tell the facts through images rather than writing, he then truly becomes a photographer... The experience is at the origin of his first book, Lions (1981), and gives him the opportunity to discover the beauty of the world from the air aboard a hot air balloon.

Upon his return to France, he becomes a photojournalist specialising in adventure, sports and nature. He has covered ten editions of the Paris-Dakar rally, produces each year the Roland Garros yearbook and takes photographs of nature lovers, such as Dian Fossey and her mountain gorillas in Rwanda. In 1989, he decides to gather 100 of the best French photographers and organise "3 days in France" – an event and a book. As his passion for aerial photography develops, his work is recognised internationally and his pictures are published in famed magazine such as Paris-Match, Geo, Life, National Geographic...

In 1991, he creates ALTITUDE, a visual data bank of aerial views gathering the work of photographers from all parts of the world. In 1995, under the patronage of the Ecological Science department of UNESCO, he embarks upon the ambitious project of creating a scientific data bank of the Earth seen from above. This continuing survey of the planet’s ecosystems seen from a new angle still constitutes an important part of his work; it is reflected in exhibitions and publications allowing the public at large to better comprehend sustainable development and what is at stake there. In parallel, Yab carries on with the systematic inventory of house pets and domestic breeds, photographing the animals in the studio or outdoors against a canvas backdrop.
Finally, in 2003, he launches the project “6 Billions Others” and sends three cameramen throughout the world to meet the people who live within places photographed from the air.

More.. breakfast and our eateries hangout

Some residual photos that I wasn’t able to upload just now:

Breakfast @ Coffee Bean, Bras Brasah
Waffles, scrabbled egg and toast. Yummy!
The guys in suits and hats are Jews. Quite a rare sight, but we managed to see them coz their synagogue are nearby.
Dear WW having his tea. Still feeling very fresh in the morning.
Night view of CBD

It is nice how settled our life seems yet we could progress steadily. Like how we have a set of eating places we frequent, with food we both savour. For vegetarian delights, we visit Yogihub, which leaves us 100% satisfied and happy after every meal. (Ok, perhaps only that time when they ran out of salsa sauce which left WW really disappointed.) For Chinese cuisine, we like Crystal Jade, usually with WW ordering hor fun or noodles, while I order porridge. We like hawker centres too for they bring about a different flavour all together. Ones that tickle our stomach juices include Margaret Drive food centre and Bedok 85. Bet lots will start drooling at the mention of the Bak Cuo Mee there. Also, there is the fish soup dish at Kim Seng Road coffeeshop. With these varied choices, there is no need to think about where else to go for our meals. And I can’t imagine being with someone who has a very different taste from mine. How can I enjoy my vegetarian food or simple fare at such ease and joy?

Wonder-Times

Been kinda like a getaway with WW, spending time with each other without disturbances and work worries on our mind. As usual, time passed by faster than we would like it to be, but that did not bother us coz there was no rush at all.

We had a chance to do what I like most – to have breakfast together. Furthermore, this time we did not settle for breakfast anywhere near our house; we went Jalan Kukoh for the delectable yam kueh and soon kueh; we also went Coffee Bean for its breakfast set the next morning. Having the whole day to ourselves is a rare enjoyment we get nowadays due to work, thus the opportunity for a whole day’s worth of time together is just simply marvellous.

Loving man gave me a bouquet of roses. :) We don’t usually celebrate monthly anniversaries, but this month’s has been a rather special one. Moreover it’s near Christmas, and the lightings and atmosphere around have contributed to the warm and magical feeling. Being the girlfriend who hugs at big furry stuffed bears in shopping malls and goes lingering at stores selling cute stuff, I appreciate and love the roses so! (Nan ren must be wondering what’s the big deal with flowers. Hee.)

We also talked quite a lot about life topics such as marriage, faithfulness and also a little more of each other’s rainbow-coloured past (those JC, NS [for him] and Uni times when life was more colourful). It feels so good to be able to connect deeply in thoughts and ideas with WW – one who can understand and never bears any grudges even if I said or do the wrong things.

We had the chance to take some lovely photos too. Can tell where they are taken from? Wong Tian not allowed to reveal. =P

Splendid CBD view
Sunset view
Marvel at the blend of sunset, night-blue skies and dark clouds
The orange lining from the sunset
Woo how old is that tree? (Park Emily)
Cool pose huh. Must thank the photographer~
Roses from WW
I like the smell of it, gingery!
Roof set up beside Crazy Horse Paris site

WW having his English tea

Though Man likes to joke and crap around sometimes, he has a very rational mind which is incomparable. Thus, I believe Man is even more matured than he thought he is. :)

Transformation in the Family

We used to eat small flat fishes with lotsa bones; now we eat Golden/Silver Pomfret. We used to dine at coffeeshops once in a blue moon; now we frequent Chinese restaurants for occasions and birthdays. Mama used to wear the same few dresses year after year (during CNY people must have noticed it); now she can shop at OG happily.

Yay, we’ve transformed!

Some photos:

WW and I have a penchant for city views seen from a great height

The city skyline on 40th story

Forfar Heights

Our maroon comforter

Wind chime from Prague

Messy table

Ice-cream Cake - unappreciated?

Doesn’t this look appetising?

Bro ate a little bit; Papa complained it was too big to go into the freezer; and Mama tried to squeeze pieces of it into airtight containers to place into the freezer. Haha, worst of all, I dared not eat the ice-cream bits coz of its fats.

Shall wait for the chocolate cum ice-cream monster to be back! Wong Tian, Swensen’s Cookies & Cream ice-cream cake is waiting for you!

Weekend Updates

I just can’t get down to doing work on a Monday morning, feeling so sleepy and wishing I were nuaing at home. Last week was a sleep-deprived week, having slept at 2am on one night and 3am on two nights. So Saturday night I went to bed at 9pm, dozed all the way till 8am in the morning. Woohoo!

This morning upon rising up from bed, I thought of the word “breakfast”. Why do they call our morning meal “breakfast” instead of something like “breadfirst”? When we pronounce it, “breakfast” does sound like “breadfirst” and word-wise, the latter makes more sense. The former word reminds me of Muslims breaking their Ramadan fast. Unless the word-originator took sleeping as a long fast for our stomachs.

Last evening I was at Monterey Park with WW and his family, on invitation by WW’s sis and bro-in-law for their new house-warming. They booked a BBQ pit, beng-ganged some chicken wings, prawns, lamb chops, sausages, stingrays, sweet potatoes, satays, fishballs and otahs. On top of those, they ordered catered food of bee hoon and fruits. Quite a spread, as you can see. But lazy us were sitting at the food table, helping ourselves to the BBQ-ed food. Anyway, the BBQ pits were electronic – they had temperature control features and need no fire-starting. Cool. Besides eating and chatting up a little with relatives, the gang did not do much except to simply enjoy the breezy sunset winds. The sunset was splendid though; a pity I didn’t capture it on camera though I’ve brought it along.

On Saturday, it was shopping at Expo John Little Warehouse sale with Papa Mama. We set off, with Papa Mama on their wheelchairs and me on legs, to Expo by the MRT. Thanks to SMRT’s thoughtfulness (I give them the benefit of the doubt, despite previous news forum articles of complaints raised by the handicapped community), Apa and Ama were able to travel easily to places using the MRT. So I was with them as a companion, not as a caretaker as they are as independent as can be.

We had lunch at Ma Lan Ramen at Expo at 230pm, so late that I was hungry till the point of being unsatisfied despite having finished my bowl of ramen. But I felt happy treating my parents and making sure they enjoy themselves.

Then it was a 3-hours shopping trip that followed, which left me feeling drained (plus I slept 5 hours the day before) and with wobbly legs. But still very fulfilling as we bought a set of maroon bedlinen – comforter, bedsheets, pillow cases and bolster cases – all in satin! Woo, can sleep like a queen!

Lunch-in & Cantonment Towers - photos

High-rise HDB apartments (as high as 30 stories!)
Skyline view on the 28th floor
That's me
My favourite meeting room for big groups
Market street area - the view from our 19th floor meeting room
Two of my male colleagues in Planning & Governance - Ebansha and Marcus
We ordered 933 Golden Pillow Curry Chicken for lunch on Fri
Haryanti, me and Peng Peng

My Take on California Fitness

Tks gers, I'll bear that in mind: work is secondary to balance in life. (And last night I slept at 3am coz was doing slides for work!)
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Since I don’t really have anything happening going on these days, let me open your eyes to the modern, high-end work-out place frequented by the busy executives and young rich kids these days.

My regular jogging partner couldn’t join me these two works (blame it on busy work), I’ve decided to continue my weekly after-work exercising in the gym. Happily using my LadyCard’s complimentary passes, I popped into California Fitness gym at Republic Plaza II on Wednesday evening.

Right at the front entrance, a reception counter with black beings (who ask them to have all-black polo tees as uniform) “welcomed” me. It was my first visit there, so was a little apprehensive and didn’t quite know the procedures. But of course I didn’t want others to know I’m that “suagu”, so I put on a false front and acted like I’m just going through the motion. The scene behind the counter wasn’t exactly that inviting – endless treadmill runs with small TV screens in front. Everything looks like components of a standard manufacturing machine in a factory.

After signing in with my pass, I followed the other women and headed down a small flight of stairs to the towel counter, exchanged towels with my towel pass, followed again the rest of the women to the changing room. In there were rows of lockers, changing rooms, bathing rooms, toilets, big mirrors and hair-dryers. Then I realised we need own key locks for the lockers since padlocks are not provided. Quite stupid huh. In the end I took the risk and dumped my barang barang into a locker near the hair-drying area (where more people hang around compared to the inner lockers). My wallet and valuables could have been easily stolen by anyone who noticed the absence of padlock. I must have been lucky to have all things intact at the end of the 2-hour workout session.

The equipment was insufficient for all’s needs, especially the static ones. And I couldn’t find the abdominal-cruncher equipment! How can they miss out such an important one? So I went running on the treadmill facing the glass window, but with blinds covering most of the beautiful city view, left for only a veiled view. I wasn’t able to go fast, with maximum allowable speed of 7.2 and limited inclination periods. But it’s good coz I can set any time period I wish to. So it was a 30 mins run for me.. shiok. Proceeded to the “tedious machine” (dunno its real name) and only managed a meager 10 mins. So siong! Gotta do strenuous leg steps with arm movements (hands grabbing the handlebars). No wonder I saw only guys using that equipment.

Bathing there is not that bad, they provide shampoo, conditioner and body foam. But I dare not use theirs in use it gets my hair entangled. And the women there don’t really care about privacy. They wrap towels, wear their undies and bras in front of everyone else without even glancing to see if there’s anyone whom they know nearby. Their “openness” is indeed quite eye-opening, just that you may not want to see lumpy pieces here and there.

In conclusion, I much prefer my breezy Marina Promenade and stone-pathed Bedok Reservoir track. Wanna soak in own sweat, even to smell it, feel it. Plus I get to see fellow joggers, including the hunky ones and sometimes ang mohs too! Extra motivation to run faster and catch up. =P

sinking

Nottoz lady has sunk into the deep abyss.





Yah, go put all the blame on work.





She will be back up soon.

It's all about perspectives

On a High

I’m on a high, listening to pop-style Christmas songs.

And it’s Friday today!

Just came out of a meeting with CIO and Management Accounting colleagues, and feeling empowered. :)

The weather’s cold to the extent of chilling, but I’m happy coz it brings along the atmosphere of Christmas. Woohoo~

Going shopping later this evening, yeah. This feeling of giving and sharing brings unlimited joy to all.

Now that the big news is out, our boss is bringing us for hi-tea at Goodwood Park Hotel later. Gradually, the festive mood is setting in, with lotsa parties thrown. There will be another one later at 530pm which is also to celebrate Bull Run success, and I’ll be getting my prize there for coming in 1st runner-up for the team relay. Yay, I can’t wait for December and Christmas!

Plus, today is pay-day!

WOOHOOOO

Land of Conformity

Fine weather at last after 3 days of relentless rain, which means I can go jogging later in the evening! Yay!

The papers Today mentioned about Singaporeans’ lack of creativity, while pointing out how innovative the Japanese are. The article mentioned the “banana guard”, which is a carrying case for a banana to prevent it from being damaged, designed by a Vancouver-based company. It also stated Singapore needs to encourage more creativity as we progress from doing things right to breaking new barriers.

I always thought our creativity is stifled in this small land. In school, we get spoon-fed with standard answers to typical questions, told to follow step-by-step methodologies and mathematical formulae, and even to the extent of memorising Chinese characters with their meanings, word for word. In the end, we get molded into standard diploma-holders or degree-holders, having the same mindset and being able to follow instructions very well.

And I’m suffering from the consequences now! Can’t seem to think up innovative suggestions, no artistic talents and no bright ideas on how to improve life as a whole. There are a lot of inconveniences in life which can be improved by smart ideas and innovative products, but

No surprise, we lot love conformity and avoid anything that appears different from the crowd. At the workplace, I was faced with circumstances where my comments have to be rephrased as they seemed too direct. During conversations, people don’t quite know how to respond to my frank opinions. Thus, I’ve been a more reserved employee now, speaking up only when necessary. Perhaps there is a need to change environment in time to come.

A Land of Colours

On the way back home from work, I was sandwiched between a Malay woman and an Indian woman in the MRT train. The distinctive smell was kinda unbearable for me but gotta tong. Her hair was all long and wavy, although it was tied up in a ponytail it didn’t fail to sweep my body whenever she made a movement. Bopian, I’m the penniless commoner cum public commuter.

Traveling in the MRT everyday reminds me of our multi-racial society. Just like today, getting stuck in between a Malay woman and an Indian woman (instead of a shuai Chinese or Ang Moh guy [sidetrack]) brought to my mind the issue of integrating different races in the same country. All along I thought this is a distinctive character of Singapore society, to have various racial groups living in the same community. But after the recent France riots, all other immigrant groups/ minority/ neglected groups surfaced in publicity and made us realise how they have been sidelined in their residing countries.

During the Europe trip last year, WW and I toured mostly tourist attractions rather than the locally-favoured small towns. Thus, we saw the better fronts presented by these countries – cultured performers, accordion players, painters, smart and courteous waiters and store assistants – and mostly are the European Whites rather than say Turks or Africans. However, when it comes to food, they are known for their “fast-food” – Kebaps. That’s a Turkish dish, and prepared by the Turks in small cafes and eateries. But kebaps are considered much a cheaper food alternative as compared to the European food (bratwurst in Germany; veal, goose meat and bread dumpling in Prague; some meaty stuff in Swiss) and other Chinese food served there. So hmm, those racial communities may be making their mark gradually in these second homes.

Yeah, so we should appreciate the racial diversity here better. I work together with a Malay lady and an Indian in my working team, and even benefit from an improvement in my spoken English. No more Singlish!

Land of Opportunities - ?

Happy to have the day off from work which gives me the time and space to do some self-reflection and pondering.

And we had a good workout at the neighbourhood gym, each running 40 mins on the treadmill and also some weight-lifting. And at the end of the session, I lost 0.3 kg (I know, that’s due to water loss, not fats loss). Crazy Tian was running at pace 10.8 (sorry, dunno what metrics that was in) and trying her best to lose her chocolate calories. Now my shoulder muscles are aching.

Last night I took cab back home, and the taxi uncle was telling me stories (as usual) about Singaporean youths and their laziness.

The young Singaporean lot may seem restless, lazy and lack perseverance, but I feel that’s because we don’t see a clear future ahead. There are differing opinions on whether this is a land of opportunities; even if it is, grasping it needs more than sheer determination and hard work. For a rather fresh grad like me, I still can't see the direction to steer ahead. I feel it's about gaining grounds in your area of speciality, in identifying what you do best in and strive hard in that line. Each of us have our special talent. For some it's hidden, for the lucky ones they know it since young. Imagine doing something you can handle better than others, add in a little more hard work and you'll be the best in the field. Perhaps it depends on whether your best talent leads you to a lucrative career. I don't think being a superb mathematician can fetch me big bucks.

Companies no longer used to be like those in older days, where staff loyalty and seniority matter. The hire and fire mentality companies adopt encourages staff to place themselves above corporate, to continuously look out for better opportunities, be it locally or overseas. We can't be blamed for our pessimism; we were born into the career life plagued with words like retrechment, wage cuts, middle managers crisis and see for ourselves the harsh reality of life. The harder we strive for survival, the more we seek for gratitude. Sometimes when not found, we dwindle in self-indulgence and all forms of therapy such as retail and beauty. The quest for gratification in all forms is relentless, never being able to satisfy our souls. That's why the credit card bingers.

Up till now, there is still no clear direction. When will our shady tunnel light up?

When a car brings you inconvenience

It defeats its original purpose to save time and efforts in transportation. When you get stuck in endless traffic jams, your car seems to be the worst thing you could have and you started wishing you were in the MRT instead. Your blood pressure rises, body heats up and heart beats faster worrying about the fuel consumption and getting cold feet about being stuck in the middle of CTE without fuel to go on.

So, why get a car that makes your blood boil?

Or are there any ways to avoid the horrible jams in crowded Singapore?

Back to the part about WW being stuck in traffic jams every time, I have decided to go to the west to meet him the next time. Knowing he gets stuck in the unbearable traffic jam makes my heart ache and I don’t quite like waiting at the bus stops not knowing when he’ll come by and how long more it will take. Knowing how heavy traffic jams are to fuel consumption doesn’t help too.

These irritations in life can really get to us, despite how we try to keep ourselves upbeat and optimistic. It spoils moods, dampens your spirits and makes a yellow day seems blue (or even black). There are just some days when you can’t help feel sway.

Well, tomorrow will be a better day!

Work Grumbles

I’m somewhat getting sick and tired juggling with my myriad of work demands – attending long 3 hours-plus meetings and minuting them, preparing Board papers and slides, collating data/info for management’s use, consolidating each Function’s targets and goals to a Group level, and doing miscellaneous work such as writing tank-you letters on behalf of my bosses. This work, though providing information knowledge to aid in my understanding of my organisation’s processes and workflow, do not serve specific motivation to me. Especially now that I have core work to do – certification for our organisation’s ITSM processes, I find it hard to keep focused at times.

No longer is the position of TEC Mgmt meeting secretary exciting to me. Being such a rookie, I can’t contribute much (okay, at times I could have chipped in with a few comments, but I worry about being politically correct), thus I keep quiet most of the time. Sometimes I do wish I can speak up more, but that’s just me. Unless I feel superior, the inertia just seems to stay.

So, will life be happier and more contented if we need not pursue such high ambitions? It’s mentally taxing having to push ourselves relentlessly. Grrr.

百份百男友

Two days later it will be bro’s 19th birthday. Last time we used to celebrate with cake and gifts but since last year we’ve gotten more practical – simply give cash. Which also means my sis and I, being the major contributors, will suffer burning holes in our pockets. And our dear brother is greedy. He wants a 1000 plus bucks bicycle (he just got a solid one for $2400 around a year back) and a high-end mobile phone packed with a digicam and PDA function. Every time he sees me, he will persistently nag me for money… as if I’m his money tree. But knowing my attention-seeking brother, he’s just pulling my leg and being out to irritate me. So, I’ll pack $100 in his “birthday ang pow” two days later.

Two days later it will also be our two-and-half years together, yay. We’ve seen each other through different life phases, evolving from when both of us are studying, to a period when I started my career life and him juggling with final year schoolwork stress, to now when both are working. He has helped me mould my character into a more patient (although I still flare up once in a while), more sensitive and a more compassionate person. He’s the lover with the best advice to give, through frank and sometimes harsh tones which make me remember the mistakes I make. A guy with no tempers at all (well, actually only twice when I threw intolerable tempers, heh), always thinks for me before himself, cooks ai xin maggi mee or spaghetti for me, and accepts me for who I am. The last aspect is tough k, at times even Mama says she couldn’t stand my weird temperament which swings from being angry/upset to being jovial in a matter of minutes. So, I’ll bear with the only character I get mad at sometimes – poking more criticisms into me when I need some consolation – and honor WW with a “百份百男友” award!
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Comics paint the best pictures..

Comics - Bird Flu

Handle Bar

I checked out some of the jigsaw puzzles at Bugis yesterday. Generally, all can be categorised into few series: (i) Winnie the Pooh, (ii) Mickey Mouse, (iii) Snoopy and Woodstock, and others including glow-in-the-dark night scenes or nature shots. I asked WW to choose one from the three categories, but he thought all of them are very kiddish coz they are of cartoon characters. He even made me pay ½ his yearly road tax (jokingly) for choosing such childish stuff. Heh, but jigsaws pictures look better than cartoon ones, with all those gradient colours and beautiful concepts. Now, which size should I get? 1000, 2000 or 4000 pieces?

We dropped by a bar – Handle Bar – later in the night. Located at an obscure place at Lock Road (very near Gillman’s Village), it was a pub unlike the usual. It’s frequented by ang mohs and serious bikers, some of them really gung-ho kinds with long ponytails wearing thick black leather vests. WW and I were one of the few locals around, but we kept to ourselves enjoying our Hoegaarden and Heinekein. The deco in the open-air bar represents that of a Cow-Boy bar with hanging t-shirts, lots of small posters or sign-boards and a pool-table at the middle. The best part is no smoke and no loud music.

It’s nice go chill out at a quiet bar and chatting away on our beers, even though I managed only 20% of my mug. Hee.

Wish List!

Work’s getting so busy that I can’t get a breather.

Sad to say, 80% of my work time this past week was devoted to Management Support. What is that? Things like being the secretary for our TEC Management fortnightly meeting, assisting the TEC Head (CIO) in preparing our Group’s performance plan – targets and goals for FY06 and the medium term – by working with the Function Heads and Management Accounting, and doing up presentation slides. What’s more, I have to impersonate him to fill up a survey administered by MIS Asia. How wonderful.

I want my main project to be kick-started real soon, but scoping it is tough. There are just too many initiatives and changes going on in our organisation. We’re in the stage of requirements specification with external consultants; we have two more potentials ones – one Singaporean firm and the other with ang moh consultants. Somehow I feel it may be tougher working with foreign firms.

No more mention about work. Christmas is coming soon! I have a new wish list, hee. Unlike Miss Shoezgal (=P), I don’t quite go for designer goods coz I have no money. Or maybe I can’t bear to part with my money.

Miss Nottoz’s wish list for Christmas:
(i) Panasonic VS6 mobile phone


Best thing is it has a red version. I like red. Also, a 2 mega-pixel camera with a 2.2-inch, 16M color screen.
(ii) 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle
There is a splendid one with Pooh family lying on the grassy slope, looking into the blue sky above filled with animal-formed clouds.

That isn’t a lot, right? I’m a self-contented lady.

I’m more wondering what to get for my loved ones and dear friends. :)