Random

I'm in the midst of exam period, with the first paper of this mini-term down three hours ago. And with my heart dismayed by many degrees. I flunked a huge part of a 25-marks question while it was supposed to be an easy paper! All those late nights made me more stupid. So I resolved to sleep early and if need be, to wake up earlier to study instead. After talking to WW on the phone, I felt better and felt I shouldn't think too much about that paper. Two more to go!

Come Friday night I'll be free! At least for the next three weeks, where we'll be taking our much-deserved break. All those 4.5 months of cheong-ing have been pretty tiring on our mind and soul.

Some pictures taken in the past two weeks below:

Summer in my arms. She's not quite used to people carrying her, but so far she's been quite guai in my hands.
Bak Kut Teh dinner with WW along Joo Chiat road. Good stuff!

WW says only black-soup bak kut teh tastes good.
WW the Happy :)

Bliss

Looking up into the sky, imprinting the fine intricate outline of each leaf and each crown onto the murky-white sky canvas, breathing in the air of freedom, looping the current favourite song in my ears. What a beautiful moment to relish. A moment worth the stop of time.

Wedding Preps

On Sunday WW and his mum accompanied me to Chinatown Middle St to get 过大礼 items for our wedding. Not knowing exactly what is needed, we went ahead with the shopkeeper's recommendation and bought all the potty, basin, bedside lamps and stuff. There was a part during the choosing of the fan (扇子) that got me quite irritated. Being the overly-considerate me, I was listening out for both WW's and his mum's opinions on which color to choose - gold or maroon - that led to some indecisiveness. When I chose maroon, I heard WW's mama said gold and I thought to myself "who's the one supposed to hold these fans on the wedding day?". So, you have to make some decisions by yourself and stand by it.

However, I do appreciate that they got me along in buying 四点金 after getting the 过大礼 items. WW's mama let me choose the jewellery I like and WW gave good recommendations based on his solid judgment. WW's mama got me a set of modern gold jewellery set which I can wear out on usual days. Happy!

With just one month to the wedding, things definitely need to be stepped up and any advance preparations wrapped up. I can feel the excitement seeping in already!

I.Want.This

眼色 - 林宥嘉

兜风

Can't bear to go home early on a full-lesson Saturday, I went around East Coast and Marine Parade area catching the dusk scenery. I think I still like the dusk best. The stirring moment, that slips away before you can immense enough in it.

Day Out with Apa Ama

It was shopping with Mama and Papa yesterday! We went to Shaw Tower to check out Mama's dress for my wedding banquet.

A carefree, free-spirited me at the Shaw Tower carpark with wind breezing in my face. Carefree coz it's only the second week into the new mini-term, which means that the school workload has not quite pick up yet.View of the CBD from the carparkThe unique boutique that is a fusion of retro and modernity. All their dresses are cheong sam-styled with a twist of modern favour.
Both Apa and I waited a long long time for Mama while she tried on the dresses.The tailor areaPretty pink retro bricks, behind which are the fitting rooms.
Mama trying out the dresses. This has the old-time ma-jie flavour.
Mama is going to wear this to my wedding banquet! :) I got this for her!
This has a very nice cutting, too bad it screams bright green.
Happy Mama
Mama likes this very much, but I refused to let her wear it for the dinner coz it's a little too casual. I wanted to buy this in addition to the red one, but Mama felt the price was too steep.Lunch at Ah Loy Thai at Shaw Tower. Check out Mama's twisted mouth, haha.Wahaha
Happy times. Must soak in the bliss while it lasts!

:)

Picture dug out from mobile photo folder, taken somewhere between Mar - Jun 08. WW will be back in three weeks' time!

In anticipation.. or issit pre-emption?

I came by for a night's stay. I informed my future dad-in-law about it on Fri, but was asking myself earlier this afternoon if I should give my future parents-in-law a call to let them know I'd be having lessons and would reach late. I decided not to, thinking it's time to get used to having this place as my new home, and to give the message to PILs that I'd be part of the family. I won't want to keep on reporting my movements or inform my family when I would be home and when not - that is what I deem a total lack of freedom.

So, I came over after school, to find the big door tightly locked! Even though I could get past the front gate, I couldn't get into the house. All other side doors were locked securely (it's a good thing) too. I shouted at my PIL's window: "Auntie", "Uncle" for a number of times, but it seemed their TV volume was blasting disco music. I called their house number to find it engaged. I called FIL's mobile number to find it turned off. Not a surprise. I toggled with WW's car switch so that there were the beep beep sounds, but apparently it sounded too far away for their notice. I rang the doorbell, no one came to the door. Summer barked, no one could hear (although I suspected the neighbours could). How pissed was I! In the end I called Wanyi (WW's sis) on her mobile phone and glad enough, she picked up and helped me open the door. NOW I DEMAND MY SET OF KEYS! (And perhaps some little consideration.)

So you can't blame me for worrying. About what my life will be like living with in-laws. I have no qualms about them at all; they're very friendly folks who make me feel at ease and take good care of me. I worry coz I know myself well enough. I like freedom too much, and adore the feeling of having control. Sometimes it saddens me knowing I have no say in how I want the common furniture to be arranged, or how I want my things to be placed in the common places (e.g. my shoes in the shoe cabinet). It's not that my new family members do not allow me so, but the resistant me just don't feel comfortable infringing on space not my own. I like ownership and sometimes would like to declare something as my own (and as WW's, but just for the two of us). But I know I won't have our own house, I won't have my own car, which means I will have obligations (for using things that are not my own).

But now I look at the positive side. With less ownership, I will have less obligation - financially. WW and I still have a space belonging to just the two of us - the bedroom and adjourning study room. We have our say on how we want it designed and on the furniture pieces. I know for sure I have WW's support in the things I do, and that will be a strong factor in making living together manageable and harmonious. Furthermore, I will be spared the housecleaning coz they have a maid. And I suppose living as a big family will help build up strong ties, be it between the family members or between spouses.

On the other hand, I'll definitely miss my Wong Tian and Apa, Ama, Shou Bi and Fluff. Boohoo :_(
Typing this makes me wanna cry oreadi. Boohoo :_(

It may seem like I worry a lot. These feelings and emotions come to me early, and they leave in due time. It's always better to pre-empt what is to come so that I can manage better and get an internal conviction early. Then I'll be all-ready to face the world.

Weekend Roundups

Me miss WW.

Now that my exams are over, my human feelings are back and again I feel kinda void and empty. I go out on the streets, thinking about what we usually do during the weekends and wanting WW to be by my side right at that moment. Will just have to count down to another 3 weeks plus. What a long time it is.

Since exams are over, my classmates and I took the chance to catch up on non-school matters. Yesterday was drinking with my fellow study mates and with one of the friendliest and most helpful senior. Today was dinner with some project mates and other classmates. Had a good time catching up with them. Some of them really seem to know about everything under the sun, from US politics to the latest sports news. So much that it seems they have mega-brain power and perhaps sleep little to have the time to keep updated on so much news.

Today afternoon was our family outing (except for Shou Bi who's mugging away in his hostel) at East Coast Park. It was great! We set off respectively in HC's and WW's cars, ferrying Apa and Ama's wheelchairs and a bicycle. We went to the far end of the park, trying to stay as far away as we could from the dark clouds looming. We didn't get to escape from the rain entirely, but was spared the heavy part of it. Tian and I did a half-an-hour run, followed by cycling and blading while Apa Ama wheeled down the pavements for some exercise and sweat out. Fluffy was happily doing her walk, and mostly dragging Apa's wheelchair too. Happy to bring parents out to somewhere they have not been to in a while. All the logistics were worth it.

After our run / cycle / blade / wheeling /walk. Tian drove her guy's car and I was driving WW's, aka my, car. (wahaha)Closer-up - Me with Tian, Apa and Ama, and a dao Fluff with her back facing the camera
Happy family~
Shou Bi shall join us the next time :)

Drinks at Durty Nelly's @ Marina Square with my study mates. We have a guru with us here. Keke

Dinner with another group @ Marina Square Waraku. Jeremy (far left) was supposed to bring his wife along. We all were anticipating! But were disappointed when she didn't turn up.
Will the next dinner or gathering be one-and-half months later? (The end of our next exams.)

The weekend ahead

My last exam paper for this mini-term will be over in 12 hours. It's been a stressful (what's new) and somewhat fuller-than-full-time-work mini-term for the previous six weeks. But somewhat I feel better this time round, perhaps getting more in-tuned with being a MFE student. And it helps heaps to have very smart and big-hearted classmates who are so willing to share and guide us along.

There will be more hanging out with my classmates in the coming weekend, although not in the usual classroom / library setting. Tomorrow a few of us will be hitting the pub and on Sunday another group of us will be having dinner in town. I so wanted to get WW along and introduce him to my classmates but he's still in Aussie exercising away. But I'm sure there will be a chance come end-Dec when the class goes off for the 3-weeks break.

My dear sisters are going to tailor-make their dresses tomorrow too. Again I would like to join them but my Saturdays are booked all the way to late Dec! Blame it on full-day Saturday lessons, 9am - 530pm except for a lunch break, starting next week.

But then again, I should not be blaming the course as I'm basking in this flexible, free and refreshing lifestyle.

同花顺

I've been listening to songs, new and old, while studying. This is a pretty nice one to keep me going.

Can't wait for exams to end next Saturday. :)
And how good it would be to keep getting 同花顺s in life.

Weekend parties

It was Sher's masquerade birthday party on Sat night @ Karma Kettle, Dempsey Road. I rented elaborated venetian masks for the occasion, and made Tian wear the same mask as me. Had a good time chatting and catching up with old friends from JC and secondary school. No hardcore drinking (which I couldn't anyway coz I was driving), but we had a cosy pleasant time nevertheless.

Like Sher said - old friends are gold. It always feels different hanging out with the friends of 10+ years back. The birthday girl was the one in white mask. I like their hand-held masks, they were very elegant!
With Minfen, Tian & Xinyi (Joy). You won't be able to tell who's behind that mask.

Tian and I

Today is baby Josh's second-year birthday, and we celebrated over dinner yesterday. The happy family of 3 (to-be-4) - Steph, XZ and Josh. I wish I have a little boy of that age oreadi, but WW and I still have some way to go.

Josh was shy and shunned the camera and crowds after we sang his bday song. Such a cute little boy, especially when he hastily said byebye to us, despite having his eyes fixed on a big balloon and not us, when we left.

Caught him playing Thomas the train from the cake

Another happy family of 3 - Sophia, Vincent and their baby Ian.
Little Ian is one obedient kid, seeking approval from Mama before eating his food. That's the birthday cake in his mouth.
Huifang & Huiling

Ah, good to be in touch with the world again and with old friends. Looking to more to come.

Walk in the park with Mama Papa

I had wanted to exercise at Bedok Reservoir with Papa Mama this evening, but I had a headache since morning and decided to forgo the run. Apa Ama then set off on their own but headed to our nearby Watermelon Park (as termed by Mama) instead. On my way back from my new place, I thought of joining them and went by to the park for a stroll while Apa Ama did some exercises at the station and went one round in the park.

It looked easy, but Mama could do only two times on this equipment. A pretty tough machine on the arms - you will need to lift yourself up using the handle bars.
Slack me in glasses and without my necessary minimal makeup - concealer.
Apa at the same machine. He did it with more ease.
Greens on Blue

Hot and sunny day! It was 6 plus in the evening and the sun was still hot.
Apa on the hip-swinging equipment
See Apa's leg movements
Of light and shadows
My dear Apa Ama

I've been spending most of my day doing homework (again!) today. It's getting really boring. Counting down half a year before I end the course in Singapore and head to Carnegie Mellon. Not that I look forward to the exchange at Carnegie Mellon, but I know then that it will be the beginning to the end. And there's a holiday trip I can look forward to in June next year. :)