Papa's bday & some random photos

It was Papa's bday last Tue and we celebrated with a lunch the Sunday before and cake-cutting on the day itself. Papa turns 56 this year. Don't know what kind of life I would lead when I turn 56. But it seems Dad is having a good time of his life :)

Papa happily singing his birthday song

See the big fat ang pow under Apa's fingers? We the filial daughters (and son, who is mugging away in NTU hall)

Greedy mama!

And some random photos from the last two months.

NDP 2008. See the big round heart drawn by the F16s?
Fave Summer the Dog
After grooming she looked more adorable. Worth the $51.

This was funny. Shasha sniffing at the butt of an indifferent Summer.中秋月圆. Actually it was one day post mid-autumn, where the moon was even rounder.

I bought the same top in orange. And spent a whopping $300+ on shopping yesterday. I need to stock up for one mini-term's worth of clothes. That's about 1.5 months. And also, it served as a form of retail therapy and to make up for the lack of "life" in the past two weeks.

Happy that WW is back. Gotta grab hold of him before he flies off to Aussie for another two months come this Sunday.

On school and modules

Yesterday's Corporate Finance was over. There were sections of the lecture notes I skimmed over thinking they won't be tested and they came out in the exam paper to many's surprise. So I think I have lost some 10 marks there. There were other questions I didn't quite know how to explain, but just smoked my way through. My grade for this module would probably not be good. But I'm glad it's over. This was one of the modules I don't have confidence in.

Today's exam is on Calculus, which hopefully *cross fingers* I can score, since the topic is not totally green. I recall I got A+ for Calculus I in uni. Haha.

After this evening, there are two more papers to go. Statistics tomorrow evening and Asset Pricing Theory on Sat. Next Tue we'll be starting our first lesson of mini-term 2 (so monumental since it marks the end of the start - mini-term 1). Pre-lesson, there are three stacks of notes waiting to be read. Assignments for the module (derivative securities) are all up. I suppose I'll be seeing a lot of my classmates in school from now onwards, spending lotsa time solving assignments together.

On a happier note, WW will be back tomorrow morning! Time to get back my life and time for more happy moments together :)

Exam crunch!

Four exam papers in a row, from this evening to Sat afternoon - it's crazy!
I'm walking around the house like a zombie now. And to think that next round of new modules will start next week, straight after exams. This is more no-life than working!

But I'm not regretting, coz I get to work at my own pace at the place of my choice. Hopefully after graduating from the course, it could give me more career choices too. Life is about having more choices, right? You then get the freedom to choose.

My late night blogs are back!

I'm back with my late-night blogs.

Had lessons till 1045pm just now, later than the usual 10pm as this was the last lesson before we close this module with its exam next week. As usual, I feel somewhat more stupid and more worried on Wed nights. Last week it was from trying to understand the case study and today it's due to the APT tutorial which there were some parts I still could not fully comprehend. Wed nights are no good, and I have to bear with it till Fri night when I'll start feeling a little smarter (because I will convince myself that I understand Statistics stuff).

Every so often, I'll have to remind myself the reason and motivation behind this path. Another pushing factor is the complaints I hear from classmates - I'm not the only one feeling stupid in the course.

It's weird how distant I now feel from the times when I used to lead the working lifestyle. In a way, I've been through the process and understand how working life feels, but the experience seems so far back and does not relate personally anymore. Thus, it's hard to weigh the pros and cons of taking full-time studies and putting work aside. But one thing I really appreciate now is the energy I still have at the end of the day. Like how I can study without feeling sleepy and grouchy. In fact, my mind is fully awake and alert at the end of lessons (held in the night) - the result of intriguing mathematics and lots of brain-twisting.

I'm going to the temple on Friday. And if time allows, every day next week too.

Studying into the wee hours... back to the old times

Ah, the wee hours of the day are still the best. I'm enjoying the golden moments, studying hard for coming exams next week. The radio is on, tuned in to the golden classics frequency, and the music is pleasantly breaking the silence of the early morning. Another chapter to go before I turn in to bed.

Last Thursday was a special day of its own. My dear sis and I had a great time together doing yoga in the afternoons and with her fetching me around in HC's car. It has been a while since both of us hang out together, and it's uncanny how we always get along perfectly well with each other. Perhaps because we started our bonding since in mama's womb. :)

WW has set off for Australia last evening but will be back in ten days' time. Although it won't be long till I meet him again, I couldn't help but feel emotional and sad, especially on Sunday (the one precious day of the week where we can devote entire time to ourselves). Furthermore, whenever I think of his next trip of two months from late Sep onwards, I feel a tinge of sadness and wonder how I can cope with my study stress while he's away. Just gotta grit teeth, bite lips, and hang in there.

:(

It's no fun... been a month but it feels like ages and I'm oreadi starting to count down.

Swamped with tutorials, assignments, projects and readings. My blog entries will be like this - short paragraphs with little content - till I get it over and done with. In some 10 months' time!

What is the definition of Success?

MFE student life is apparently not easy.

Lecturers have high expectations of us and take it that we have the required math foundations. Thus some of the tutorials are extremely difficult and we'll have to approach the professors to get our solutions. And to think we've spent days working on that one problem! Everyday to me has become a tutorial-chasing and catching-up game. All other things have been shifted to low priority and have to be cut down. Except for personal time spent with loved ones. That is why I'm not too pleased with the make-up lesson scheduled this Sat afternoon.

My supervisor (from work) called to inform of my appraisal grade earlier today. I wasn't too happy with it initially, thinking I must been have shortchanged due to my absence from work. But as I was running mightily on the treadmill thinking of the rationale, I came to accept the fact that it should be a fair judgment, given the expectations that I won't be contributing this FY and that my team was a mess last year before the new boss came in. Let's see how bonus compares the rest and I'll decide on my next move. I'll expect they compensate for it next year before I rejoin the company.

WW has been pretty stressed and unmotivated at work recently. I can't think of any way to help relieve this stress permanently, unless the day comes when he can leave where he is now. How can we ever break out of this race and routine lifestyle? Is it only the weekends we can look forward to, and the sparse holidays in between? Why can't we find the spirit and motivation to look forward to everyday?

Back to the appraisal, I feel inferior comparing with peers and upset that I might be lagging a lot behind when I rejoin the company. But, perhaps as a self-consolation, I'm glad of the fact that I'll be happily settling down into marriage this year and that I have the support of WW and my family. And even though I'm struggling through this year with an extremely-difficult course, I'll come out of it a stronger, and hopefully, a more valuable person. Perhaps, there really isn't a perfect well-rounded case when you get it all. There has got to be some sacrifices for other pursues. It matters then what you prioritise as important and really will have to drop the others.

Well, it ain't always easy. Just gotta take things in your stride and laugh all the unhappy stuff off!

School starts!

We had our lesson #2 today, on Corporate Finance. The first was OO Programming conducted on Mon. Going back to the 3-hrs long lectures (conducted seminar-style) was somewhat tiring and gave me a flavor of the marathon-meetings we used to have back at work. The first lesson in Corporate Finance gave us a list of 12 readings for this first lesson which span articles from the Journal of Finance to some four chapters of the recommended textbook. Tomorrow I'll be busy zapping readings and printing course materials from the NTU library. Going back to student life - reliving the nostalgia yet grounded by the fact that I'm still a corporate slave.

However, no complaints still as I'll be sun-basking away, leading the flexible and free-styled life I've yearned for!

Sneak previews

Revealing...

.. photos taken by my make-up artist Sharon Tan during photo shoot yesterday. Actual studio and outdoor shoots will be ready in a month's time or so, currently under our photographer Benny Ang's fine editing.

With lovely Cymbidium orchids in hair
This is going to be the sweet simple hairdo to go with my wedding gown.
I'm willing to show only a picture of my evening gown for now, as likely I won't be wearing it for our lunch reception but only to our dinner banquet (where only relatives and perhaps my jiemeis will attend).The many months of mane-keeping has not gone to waste.
Sharon was so proud of her works that she requested me to pose for these photos.

That's all for viewing!

Witness the transformation

View from the Flyer, 24 May 2008

Anticipating the rise of a new empire - the Integrated Resort and the Marina Bay Gardens.

Quiz

Personality quiz taken from this link. Pretty accurate. (Tks Jun for promoting the link!)

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Your view on yourself:

You are intelligent, honest and sweet. You are friendly to everybody and don't like conflict. Because you're so cheerful and fun people are naturally attracted to you and like to talk to you.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You like serious, smart and determined people. You don't judge a book by its cover, so good-looking people aren't necessarily your style. This makes you an attractive person in many people's eyes.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

The seriousness of your love:

You are very serious about relationships and aren't interested in wasting time with people you don't really like. If you meet the right person, you will fall deeply and beautifully in love.

Your views on education

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:

You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:

You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:

You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Breathing in the air of freedom

Since last Thu, I have been released from work and have enjoyed my days tremendously. Last Thu and Fri saw me studying hard for the Maths prep exam on Sat. After the exam I went home to pack some stuff to bring over to WW's place (for the gradual move-in) and waited for WW to come over after his work to pick me up for dinner together. WW and I spent Sunday with his family, including his elder sis, hubby and baby who went over. We also had Sunday dinner with my family, all members present. We are going to treasure this regular Sunday dinner very much, especially when I'll be moving to my new home come Jan.

With this newfound freedom at hand, I'll be catching up on my yoga sessions since I've skipped three weeks of them while busy attending Maths prep lessons. This morning I checked out the flagship Absolute Yoga studio at River Valley Point and courageously attended the session conducted in Japanese. I thought "Jap Hot C" meant a new series of Japanese-style yoga, but who would have guessed that it's an entire class of Japanese students with a Japanese instructor and lesson conducted in Japanese! Good thing the poses were not new and I could secretly blend into the class. Most of the students were married (ok, I admit I go around observing the wedding band on people's finger), probably tai-tais of the wealthy Japanese men who moved to Singapore. What good lives!

Tomorrow - my first ever facial in my life!

Lovely gift from a dear friend

Thank you my dear friend, for the lovely gift for our ROM - a blanket knitted with our names. It was indeed a special gift that is filled with so much warmth. Much appreciated! :)

Mer-mer and Me

When we first saw her at the pet shop, she was a messy ball of fur with slightly pitiable eyes. In comparison, the tear-drop-eyed beagle in the adjacent cage looked more adorable. Good thing (WW’s sis) saw the beauty in the fur ball and brought her home after she successfully raised sufficient money. The shop owner named her “Winter”, but we thought it was too cold a name and I suggested “Summer”. From then on, she is living in that bright and sunny name, sometimes also in various variations such as Mer-mer.

Those days when WW and family used to live temporarily in Hillside Drive, Mer-mer had to sleep in the foyer, in a moist condition given the lack of direct sunlight and plants growing at the side. Weeks after she arrived, her skin got very bad with worms eating it away. WW and sis brought her to the vet, who suggested she be put to sleep. But hey, she’s such a lovely cute puppy, how could we bear to do this to her?

It was a fortunate thing WW’s family moved soon after, to their new house which presented a much better living condition for Mer. She’s now running around the foyer most of the time, if she’s not in the cage. We will often let her into the house too.

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Mer is like a mischievous little kid, running around and swerving away from you every time you try to catch her. When WW parks his car outside the house, Mer will stick her head out between the gate grills and wait patiently for us to step into the foyer. I always laugh at her and her funny actions – she does this leap like she’s flying in mid-air when hopping out of the main door to the foyer. And secretly I think she likes us to laugh at her.

She’s also a smart dog, picking up words and expressions rather quickly. (That’s why she loves me so much!) A stern “No” from WW’s dad would send her flying out of the living room, and she can even retract back into her own cage when instructed a “cage cage”. There was once I said “walk walk” to her, but went upstairs to get some stuff and left her in the living room. She was so anxious that she started whining and barking rather furiously, which was quite a rare thing. WW and I were laughing our bellies out at her. And clever of Mer to not do the same when WW tries to cheat her. She was indifferent to WW’s suggestions of a walk – so clever to see through WW.

The lovely one

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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.

How will it be like?

Feeling lethargic these days, having slept less from the online research I’ve been doing during the nights. There’s just so much to prepare and the vast pool of information online just makes the choosing process more tedious. Not that I’m complaining though, I like looking through beautiful and sweet stuff and to soak in people’s happiness.

As the day when we’ll swear our vows to each other approaches, I’m asking myself more and more of the fundamental questions. In some ways, we’re not a pair of sticky couple who need to be with the other every other day, since we both need our personal space now and then. Thus seeing each other everyday would be a major change for both of us. Although I won’t be moving in till the customary seven months later, the idea of having to blend with each other’s lifestyle has already hit on me. Especially, when I have to live with the in-laws. I suppose no one, other than another in the same situation, would ever know understand how this experience would be. Well, sometimes I wish I don’t have to think so far. Seems like I badly need the marriage preparation course.

Thank you mama papa tian & ww!

Did my trial make-up with my wedding make-up artist at home tonight. Wong Tian rushed work to come back earlier; WW dropped by despite his busy work and fatigue; Mama being the enthusiastic and beauty critic for me - I'm touched and happy to have my loved ones showing their concern for me and my wedding preps. And Papa, who usually is quite bochap about beauty and the like, popped in and took a look.

=)

累

I feel tired worrying for him, wondering what is happening now and if things are fine. He must be too tired to drop me a note and may not realise I'm worrying for him. Sometimes I wish I could receive an sms or two of the positive progress rather than just the bad news.

从不知道为个人担忧也会是种累。

30 days!

30 more days! The ticker has ceased counting in terms of months and it was quite a shock seeing the count down in terms of days.

Excited to think of the big commitment both WW and I are going to make to each other 30 days later. Wonder if the man is feeling the anxiety. And will I, the freedom-loving soul, fantasize of being a runaway bride on the big day? Okay, maybe not that exaggerated, but I’ll definitely feel some cold feet, as much as I look forward to the special day.

I’ve got to remind WW how soon our ROM date is now. I honestly hope he is fully and mentally prepared!

Family outing @ Henderson Waves

It has been a joyous weekend, well-spent with WW and our families.

This morning we went on an early visit to 光明山 temple with WW and his family. I really have the Buddhas to thank. We then had breakfast at Bukit Timah food centre.

This afternoon my whole family and WW explored the newly-opened Henderson Waves, Hilltop Walk and Mount Faber Walk. The sun was still splendidly hot at 5ish pm, but we had a great time still and enjoyed the sunset on our way back. Next Sat we all are heading to Singapore Flyer, credits to Mama who won the tickets!

The Wong Family

So happy to have WW with us!
Me and WW on the Henderson Wave bridge
Look at Shou Bi's long and flowing hair!
Looking ahead
View from the bridge. Is it a good thing that they did away with see-through floors?


Shou Bi and WW posing away, waiting for me to capture the previous two artistic shots. Wahaha
Wong Tian and me
At Jewel Box.
Dinner at Siglap's 福林酿豆腐
Yippie

The Nan Ren's house

The beautiful fountain which gives soothing water flow sounds that can be heard from WW's room.
Lovely Summer the Westie
Sneaky little one quenching its thirst at the fountainEying her favourite food - apple

Wahaha

The sunset view at the balcony
The table, benches and chairs were WW's gifts to his family, especially to his mother as Mothers' Day gift. And I paid half the amount!

No easy task choosing a gown that pleases us both!

Last Friday's tea session with the scholar potentials proved very fruitful. Their confidence rubbed onto me, which resulted in the spurt of warm air around me for the few days into the weekend.

Some of the candidates appeared to be different from what I expected from their CVs. But the two outstanding ones still shone through as promised. And I must say, the one really stood above all with her skills and experience, accomplished parallel to that of a wise adult.

During the weekend WW went with me for bridal gowns trial. I have been doing my research online and had my eyes fixed on just this one Bridal Studio - Margaret Brides - and wasted no time physically checking out others. The first visit on Sat gave us an idea of the types of wedding gowns she provides and the second visit with WW, Tian and her beau gave us a few designs to choose from. I was initially perplexed having to decide between the designs I like and the ones WW fancies. Now we haven't made the decision but I've come to a compromise since the Man has exquisitely fine taste. I trust he knows what is best for me!

I'm the Nationalist

It's interesting to read the application form write-ups by the young scholar potentials. They are so full of dreams that you feel somewhat more alive simply by reading their write-ups. Again, I'm amazed at how those of that nationality fight so hard, so aggressively, to make themselves stand out. The (irritating) long essays that span an additional two pages as compared to the other four-pages application forms. The extravagant written showcase of their starling academic performance. The fierce wrestle to clinch the specials awards in school and mighty grabbing of all the A's there can be. It's like it'd kill without straight A's.

You can call me a "nationalist", I don't care. (My colleague gave me that term. I prefer to believe I'm a nationalist - the patriotic kind.) There's just this part of me which wants to yell it out loud. How am I to tolerate this when I step back into the school come July?

On Good Leadership

I had a chat with a manager from another team in the organisation. And I realised the importance of good leadership in driving the members of the team in their work and in creating a strong and open culture.

A leader with a vision and the ability to drive the team to greater heights fosters unity in the team and a sharing and learning environment. With that, the people under him or her are able to find motivation, drive and passion in their work. There would not be the mundaneness and the usual dread to come to work. It seems I have not felt that passion for sometime now.

I felt happy coming out of that chat. I have the ability to push for new frontiers and to make things happen. I can see some future in my future.

From this point onwards, life will only get more exciting.

Emotions

The pace at work has been quite stifling. Not that I find it hard to breathe, but because it is simply too slow! It is understandable, considering we have a new boss since the start of this year who has yet to give our team a clear direction forward. For me it isn’t so bad, I have my plans for the next half of the year, but I wonder how my teammates feel.

I’m again wondering how numbed to events I have become. I got into the course, which I thought was quite a feat given my less-than excellent mathematics results, but was not as elated as I expected upon receiving the news. Have I been taught not to harbor high hopes such that there are no expectations to match upon? Have the emotional undulations and the extremities that come with them been lost in me? Nevertheless, I have to find back the spirit of submitting and admitting to my true emotions.

Still, I feel the 1 month plus wait is kinda long. Can't wait to wear that band on my finger and to be more integral in his life!

Embarking on a new journey

I'll be back to school for a year, full-time, come July this year. It's going to be very tough with a lot of brain-cracking expected, but I've committed myself to put in all my best and not give up.

Apart from my lucky stars & my supportive sis, I really have to thank WW for believing in me and giving me the reassurance. He believed in me even at times when I didn't believe in myself.

I'm going to the temple this weekend. And will do my daimuku chanting. =)

Our Wedding Bands

To wear it, it requires commitment of a lifetime =)

In two months' time, it'll fit comfortably in the finger leading to my heart, being with me timelessly.

I miss my bed

I have a throbbing headache since I woke up this morning. I can feel my immunity going down with the slight itchiness in my throat and with the fatigue in my body. Am listening to Chopin’s Ballade in G minor, wishing I were lying on the bed, or at the piano playing the splendid piece.

We’ve been busier making arrangements and planning for the Big Event. We bought our wedding bands, much to our great satisfaction and joy. The rings come slightly steep-priced, but its comfort and weight are incomparable. After some frustration and with WW’s sis’ help, we managed to source for a hotel ballroom for the banquet. Oh, it’s all about 排场。

In a week’s time, I will know what to do with my future.

Uncertainty

I'm getting increasingly frustrated at the situation I'm in. While I would like things to be more certain so that I can plan ahead, things just seem to be so uncertain and looking somewhat disappointing. All my grand plans may just be smashed, but at least I have one great thing going good :) Perhaps it is meant to be for me to devote all attention and time to planning and executing this big event?

Just don't understand how come things seem to be going my way but in the end everything becomes tentative. Perhaps I should consult a fengshui master. And at the end of the day when I don't get what I am aiming for, I could be put in an embarrassing spot. Just gotta 隔开面子，厚着脸皮。有时做人要学会不要脸。Maybe it's meant for me to do my baking business?

Maybe's are dangling in the air.

About blings

It was a happy moment yesterday seeing my friend chose the significant big rock for his gf. Although he burnt a big hole in his pocket, he was both anticipative and happy after making the purchase. I was asked along to Larry Jewellery to do a direct comparison between my bling from Blue Nile and the one with the Lazare cut in Larry. He needed some internal persuasion and conviction to be sure he had got the best deal. Congrats to my friend and (especially) his fiancee-to-be!

Happy that WW is back from his work trip to Australia. It sure felt like a long while since he's been away but now that he's back in Singapore we can spend our precious weekends together again :) There is quite a lot on our agenda this weekend - hotels / restaurants recees!