Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Some songs simply mean so much

Like New Radical’s You Get What You Give, which reminds me of the JC days spent with my fellow HnF provisional instructors – Chris, WT & Tian – hanging around in the school gym and doing our schoolwork in the study rooms. Then there’s Savage Garden’s To the Moon and Back, which brings me back to those secondary school ice-skating days with Zhou Yun and Xin. And with Martika’s Toy Soldiers, I get teleported to the VJC canteen table, listening to Stephie’s dating stories before the start of our lessons.

M2M’s Pretty Boy brings back memorable times with RH orientation folks. We were young and silly, willing to follow the regime set up by our RH seniors. I still remember that photo taken with Joan and Sher in our silly Rag Day costume.

Michelle Branch’s The Game of Love, with Santana lending the base, brings a smile to my face as that first date at the pool / billiard outlet with WW seems like only yesterday again.

Songs are so amazing. They connect our souls and entrench our memories in the various phases of our lives, forever.

Monday, June 16, 2008

Busy busy week!

It’s gonna be a busy week ahead, leading to the big event of our lives!

Wed it’s going to be fun with the gers – dinner and drinks. NO SABO PLS! I need a week to recover from excessive alcohol dosage!

Thu it’s going to be lotsa running around, from buying wedding shoes at Sixth Ave (cool huh, next time I’ll use my bungalow as my home-base bakery), to collecting marriage certificate at ROM, to appointment with my lovely bridal gown designer, and lastly to the accommodative neighbourhood florist to check out her range of flowers.

Fri I still need to work half-day (good thing it’s Friday!). Will then meet Tian for nails pampering (manicure & pedicure), then to check out facial packages. You won’t believe I’ve never done a facial before. I don’t even want to start, but, this is one of the many sacrifices of a bride-to-be. Friday evening I’ll collect my hand bouquet for use during the actual solemnization on Sat morning.

Hope everything’s prepared. So many things in preparation for solemnization; can you imagine how the customary and actual day will be like? Good thing we ladies know how to soak in the happiness of this busy-ness!

Thursday, June 12, 2008

真虚伪

It feels demoralising every time I complete my appraisal with my sup. It’s obvious we judge work differently and I feel it’s no point doing my own grading. The outcome will be as expected. Last year, although assessed by the same sup, I had a second-level sup who recognises my work (not that the direct doesn’t, but it just isn’t reflected at all on paper) and pushes for my ranking. This year, I’m not so sure. Furthermore, I will not be of value to the team anymore since I’ll be going on my study break.

Again, I’m reminded of the fact that you have to be wa-yang, yaya at work. It no longer suffices to deliver good result, but you need to be damn proud of it and announce to the whole wide world. It’s so faked.

So, shall I put on my mighty cynical hat and hone my politicking skills during the next one year?


真虚伪

Monday, June 09, 2008

Gathering @ Feng's house

We had a cosy gathering at Feng & Jason's house to celebrate Feng's bday and to chill out with some karaoke and mahjong. It was Jun's exact birthday but she was in Perth with her dear Michael. They must be happily spending time together. =) Ivan missed out the fun, but hope his tummy is okay by now!

Their hyper friendly terrier - Scruffy. She jumps onto everything - the sofa, the cushions, and us.Happy birthday Feng! One more year older!

WW adores Scruffy for she lets him flip her over without struggling.
Scruffy's busy licking away at my palm
Mr Lock & Wong Tian. Sweet little pair.


A little more than a week to go. I'm excited!

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Divine Yoga

This feeling is really different.

Even before the benefits of the entire yoga session are reaped, the serenity and peace of it have being felt.

When I shut out those noisy thoughts, concentrate on achieving balance and strength, and immense myself in the tranquility, my mind would go back to those young and carefree days. It was as if the time clock turned back and that the secondary school days were back. The sounds of activity outside that little quaint shop-house room became crisp and clear. The comfortable heat of the sun moderated the coldness from my earlier hours in the office. I was at peace with myself, and in that moment, felt myself lift out of the numbness of the lifestyle you call working.

That explains why I have been going for regular lunch-time yoga, once a week. This special moment of being with oneself erases the hectic two-hour rush. It is elating knowing there are more such moments to come – the relish of regained freedom.