Merry Xmas!

So another year has passed by and this year, it's no different! Before I forget, merry xmas to all out there! May your wishes come true.

Sometimes we make wishes that are tremendously materialistic - like, "I hope to have a 30 inch LCD TV" or "I hope my parents will get me the latest mobile phone with 3G function" when for many people out there, their only wish is survival and passing each day. Working in devastated nations or in places where rescue is required must change the perspective of life. Suddenly everything in our very fast-paced materialistic life seems... blah. It just makes us wonder why we spent so much time worrying about whether we will be getting a big/small bonus, or whether you will be able to go holidaying in the new year of 2007 etc etc... When others out there just wish to have shelter over their heads.

The mini flood that struck the flower gardens in Thomson Road last week made me ponder about those who are currently stuck in floods in Johor province. Rescue efforts are going on and up to 8 people have perished in the floods. Is Mother Nature telling us that the world is coming to an end? The tsunami last year was a sobering reminder that when it comes down to it, we humans are weak and easily destroyed. So what if there are billions of us around? Only a handful of people, like the conservationists, realise that humans are destroying this world around us. This world which has given us everything - gorgeous scenery, food, a house to live in - and yet the way we ravish it in return, just for our own pleasures... must make it seem that we are highly ungrateful.

Though it seems that i'm really sad and affected by everything around us, I am determined to make others aware of the need for conservation. People may laugh or even shrug it off, but i think it's time I do something that i really feel passionate about. This shall be my new year's resolution, though i don't quite know how i'm going about it. I shall do something about it.

A very merry xmas to you all and to my darling, happy 1 year anniversary. (And a separate letter to you, my baby.)

Happy new year in advance!

Jewellery

I've gotten my hands on some jewellery and am selling them on ebay! They're brand new and really nice! Plus, they are unique and affordable - you can buy one to match each outfit!

Check out my stuff at

http://cgi.ebay.com.sg/Ethnic-earrings-jewellery-christmas-present-gift_W0QQitemZ140064915788QQihZ004QQcategoryZ15738QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Cheers!

Weddings galore!

Weddings weddings weddings! V and I have 7 weddings to attend in the next 5-6 weeks. Most of them are our UCL friends and some others include colleagues and an uncle! Yes, my uncle is getting married! A widower, he lost his wife 4 years ago to cancer and now is remarrying. How sweet! Makes me have hope that love can be found at any age.

It’s almost been a year since our wedding and I have to say, it’s been G-R-E-A-T! A fantastic learning journey so far, and am looking forward to the rest of the time we have together. Many people view weddings as romantic things. Some part of it is romantic, when the couple reveal how they met and how they fell in love and stare dreamily into each others’ eyes, but a lot of practical things are going on in the background just to make sure they can stare dreamily without having to worry about where the ang pow box is, whether the guests are enjoying the food etc etc. Many people have to be thanked for it to be a success. And I have to say, that ours was. When I look back at the photos, we have so many people to thank. It all ran so smoothly and best of all, the food was great. For a foodie like me, food is seriously important. So much so that when we went for food tasting, we spoke to the chef to give him direct feedback. He did a great job for the wedding, with feedback that the food was yum! By the way, it was at the Hotel Intercontinental, next to Bugis Junction. Many people did not know it was a 5 star hotel. But it is, in its own humble way. A peranakan hotel, it has a quiet charm to it, far different from the Ritz Carltons and the Four Seasons. Doesn’t mean it’s a whole lot cheaper. Even the suite was so cosy! Just like being at home, only you don’t have to clean up after! J

V has some friends coming over to our place today, so I’ve just finished sweeping and mopping the house and am waiting for the floor to dry before I tidy up the bedroom. Seriously, I’m such a slacker when it comes to housework. I can procrastinate till no end.

Anyway, V’s almost back so it’s time to go prepare lunch. I swear, I’m turning into a complete housewife!

Alerts aplenty

The date September 11 rings a bell in most heads because it changed the world: the whole world has become a playground for the terrorists who are targeting the Americans and foreigners in the name of Islam.

I have been following the series Zero Hour on National Geographic (Ch 11 on Cable TV) and it has been a chilling reminder of how easy it is to get on board an aircraft or in fact, to get into a country with seemingly strict immigration laws. Maybe the situation now is different, with threats of bombs coming from shoes – shoe bomber, and even contact lens solution – liquid explosives! It certainly has made air travel much less pleasurable and much more dangerous.

As I watch the series, which continues tonight, I am thankful for the peace we have in Singapore. I wonder how many people feel the same way. If we were living in America, things would be different. Even going to school might be a perilous journey, who knows?

I am also thankful that I have loved ones who are still alive and part of my life. When it comes down to it, I would rather spend each day with my loved ones, as if it were my last, then to do something independent and regret each day that you were apart from the people important to you. People say that we should live life to the fullest, and I try to live by that mantra, but seriously, with work in the way, our fullest life includes working 12 hour days and coming home late, only to have enough energy to eat dinner and then collapse on the bed afterward. Full, fat and unhealthy.

Which brings me to my next point/grouse. Work-life balance. I want to live a fulfilling life that doesn’t include slogging at work. Is that supposed to be the way we are challenged i.e. slogging greater hours makes you a better worker? I mean… it’s just not the way life is supposed to be led. Life is supposed to be full of fun, laughter and of course, some pain. But the pain should not come from Work! Work is just a way to pass our time.. wouldn’t we want to do something more interesting and satisfying e.g. going on a expedition to help poor children in 3rd world countries or going to explore unknown countries and communities? Work in an office is like being in pigeon hole – caught up and depressing. Which is why more and more therapists are needed to “counsel” people on the need to maintain a healthy balance between living life and work.

Why do people allow work to consume them? If not for the pleasure of it all, it must be for the money. Does it really show/mean that money drives the world? Money make the world go round? Why does it have to be that way??

** Note: Idealist alert!!

Anyway, enough ranting. I am feeling tired from dreaded work and want to nap. Time to go to the soft bean bag in my hall and zzz till V comes back to go jogging with me.
**Note: Fool alert! I am taking part in the 10km Standard Chartered Run…. L

simple vs complex

I am a complicated person. There are so many things that I want to do, but I cannot. There are so many things I wish I can do, but deemed socially unacceptable or morally wrong. Or at least I think society deems so. I hate being governed by rules, I want to do anything and everything just because! Yet we live in this practical world, where people can’t live without simple rules of life. Even living this life, there are rules! I don’t like it. I am an emotionally complicated person too. I am not a practical person. I do something because I want to, not because it is a calculated decision. If I want to go to the beach, I hope I don’t have to worry about the weather. And if it does rain when I get there, I guess I’ll just be in my bikini, playing in the rain, and enjoying every single moment of it.

Does that make me a simple person? Content with something so simple as unexpected rain? I think I just don’t fit in with the world around me. The world which seems to want us to be more complicated than we are. For instance, Shakespeare, I’m guessing, never meant many of the things that humans seem to interpret from his text, yet Literature students delve into every single line, read between every single word to find out what Shakespeare really meant. What if he only meant the obvious things? Does it mean he probably was less complicated and gifted than people believe? I don’t know…

There have been occasions in which I have taken the less traveled path, went down that path based on instinct alone, and it burnt me. So now I opt for the tried and tested route, safe and sound, knowing that the life will resemble a plateau, with few ups and downs and mostly staying along the flat line. But it doesn’t satisfy me. I want more. I want those ups and downs that come with the experience. I like the intensity of emotions – utter joy and jubilation and also along with it utter sorrow and desperation. I know it’s silly to also include the sorrow, but hey, it’s not realistic to say that we can only experience extreme and intense happiness. I seem to like being intense. Passion. Love. I can live on these two things alone. Give me Air to go with it too, please. Other than that, you can chuck out money, practicality and all the rules in the world. Such is the person I am.

V says I am simple, but the world is forcing me to be complicated. I am at friction with the world and myself. What an enviable state to be in… Anyone out there feels the same way? Let’s go jump in the sea in the middle of the night! After all, there are no sharks in Singapore waters, are there?

Happy postings!

I thought that since i am in a rather good mood, after having found my camera, that I will post up some pictures of some recent places Ive been to. Actually, some of them are months back, but still worth mentioning.

Jazz at Siloso Beach with Deirdre and
Lynette! (Free of charge)


Drinks with them, Chern Min and Grace
at KM8 (after Jazz). I love the cute tepee-
like thing we are sitting under.


My cousin Chris when he was back for
a visit. We're only 6 days apart in age.


A recent trip to Bali with V, my sis and
bro-in-law. Couldn't resist posing with
the statue, with flowers inserted in its
ears. The Balinese are such gentle pple.

Found!!

Guess what? Of all the lucky turns, my camera has been found! It was with my colleague, who had mistaken it for hers. Reading my distressed email, she checked her bag and it was in there, together with hers. Yahoo! At least I won’t have to buy one now.

Pictures will be up soon as I get my beloved cam back. Did you know I bought that camera with my first bonus in 2003, my first half year of work? It reminds me that I’ve actually been in the service for coming to 3 years now. Time does fly.

Lost my camera! :(

Just when I thought I’d upload some funny pictures, I cannot find my camera. I left it on my colleague’s table or mine, went around to talk to my colleagues, and voila, it is gone! Moan! Although it is 3 years old, it was bought with my first working salary! It has sentimental value, people, and sadly, I have been careless with it. I remember holding onto it so carefully till I reached the staffroom, knowing it’d not be safe when the students were around. Sadly, it seems that it’s not even safe in the staffroom. One can never be too careful.

I hope someone has taken it and kept it safely for me. My only consolation is that the LED light indicator showing when it has finished charging is spoilt. However, knowing me, it was far from being rendered ‘throwable’ or ‘replaceable’. I still enjoyed using it.

I’m just thankful that nothing sensitive is on the camera, just a shot of me and my colleagues. If anyone sees that picture, I hope they return it to me! I want my camera back… sigh. New camera for my birthday, anyone? I would be most appreciative and glad.

This is probably a wake up call for me, right? Time to be more careful with my belongings. Problem is, now, I’m just not in the mood to do anything. I keep trying to retrace my steps to see where it is, but somehow it just doesn’t add up! If I had left it on my colleague’s table or mine, it should be there. The office staff said no student had walked by. Oh, camera, where art thou? Moan.

Have already sent out an email to everyone, hoping against hope that someone has taken it by mistake. Though, it is also true, as my other colleague so rightly put it, who would take it and not realize it’s not theirs? Meaning, of course, that if it was taken, it was on purpose and I’d never see it again. I have to be realistic that it’s most probably gone. Whine!

If only there was a beeping device on it for me to trace it. Too many CSI movies do affect you in some way.

Cheesecakes and politics

Ok so I did promise to up some pics, so here they are. The first one you see is one of the cheesecake that I made. It tasted great then, but the texture left much to be desired. It was actually quite wobbly… because I had put cling film over it, causing it not to harden well. So anyway, I tried another recipe with longan and vanilla essence, which turned out nice, but a little too rich for me..Yes, even for me! So finally, the most recent test was the best! A full digestive crust with lots of butter, then lemon juice for the cheese mixture and once again, peaches for the top! It’ll be even nicer with strawberries, I guess.

My next attempt would be to make banana pudding. It’s very sinful though, so I’m waiting for the 3 cheesecakes (or part thereof) to be digested.

It’s been an interesting week at work. Lots of politics going on and the school management, I have to say, is overwhelmed at this moment. I am foreseeing a lot of movement and discontent. My guess is there will be a mini eruption sometime soon. When, exactly, I am not sure, but my sixth sense is sensing something. Am just glad that I will not be part of it. And am even more glad, that I stayed far away from it from the beginning. Thanks to my intuition.

My cheesecake! 

UCL Gang at our place 

What a week!

It’s been quite a week! The school just launched itself as a Centre of Excellence for the English Language just two days ago, and so many people were up to their necks in work. I guess you could say it was a success and many were saying that someone up there was watching over us. While I am not a believer in God, I guess things did somehow pull together. Somehow!

Next week’s not going to be any lighter though. I’ve got a presentation on Tuesday afternoon, which I have to prepare for, and on Wednesday I’m bringing my kids to the Zoo. That’ll be fun! I really do like going to the Zoo and seeing all the fascinating animals nature has to offer. I hope the kids don’t talk to their relatives. Chuckle.

After July is over, I bet we can all have a breather. It’s been a killer month, and so many trips out! First, it was the National Education show for all P5s, then it was Sungei Buloh for their learning journey, then the Zoo! Oh I’ve forgotten, they actually went to the Science Centre for a DNA lesson, which was very interesting. I do hope to be a student again. Speaking of which, I hope to be able to take a Masters in Counselling or counseling Psychology when I can, maybe after the bond (2.5 years to go, yippee!). Else, I think I’ll go nuts from all this working. Give me studying anytime, with pay! (In my dreams.. of course)

We went to the IKEA sale yesterday. It was great! So many things to buy, mostly things we need, but of course, many things we don’t need but WANT! I just love that store…. Especially all the beautiful colours. Did you watch the Amazing Race episode where they had to go the super huge store in Sweden? It was simply fantastic. Someone, fly me there now! I will never leave… Ha ha.

Oh, V’s calling me for a game of pool Ta ta for now!

Housewarmings

I was looking through my blog the other day and realized that I have not been blogging since 30th April! Wow, that’s a good two months without writing. It means I am happy. Haha.. Yes, people, I generally blog when I am upset. Beats me why I have not inspiration to write when I am happy. Perhaps I am just floating up there somewhere in the clouds!

That aside, V is back from Italy but soon due to go off somewhere else, for 4 days. At least it’s a very reasonable period to be away for, much less compared to the 3.5 months he was away for.

We’ve settled in nicely into our apartment and I’m so happy with it! The simple yet chic design has brought us many compliments. And of course, we have our designer to thank for it. And ourselves, of course. Anyway, yes, we’ve been having many housewarmings with small groups of friends. Most people want to use our pool table and others just sit around to chit chat, or enjoy our bean bag sofa. We seem to have many features in the house, but it still retains its simplicity. We also bought furniture that can easily be moved to accommodate the size of the group.

Recently, I had my cousins and their partners over for drinks on a Friday night, and I cooked mushrooms wrapped in bacon, chocolate fondue and also made a guacamole dip! All courtesy of allrecipes.com (www.allrecipes.com) It’s a website where people share recipes that are simple to prepare but taste oh so good! Two nights ago, I invited the UCL people over, and I made a no bake cheesecake which was yum! Although the texture wasn’t quite right, they all agreed it tasted good. I am so happy! Cooking is turning out to be my new passion. It nicely fits in with the fact that I’m an ultimate foodie and getting fatter everyday. Oops, don’t tell V.

Anyhow, my friends overseas, I hope that one day you can too come to see my beautiful apartment, because I am just so happy living in it. It brings me such joy to come home and find a place I am so comfortable with. Pictures soon to come.

Labourious Day

Tomorrow will be Labour Day! That means only 10 days to V’s return. I am ecstatic, to say the least. He’s back just in time for the Vesak day holiday… Hopefully there will also be an extra day to make up for the election holiday. Then we can have a 4 day weekend. Woo hoo!

Anyway, just found out that many of my friends are getting hitched! I guess it’s that time of our lives when people are settling down and making plans for the future. Watching a bunch of JC students on the MRT yesterday made me think of the time long ago, when our only worry was studying and the main focus was actually having fun with our friends. Then in University, it was the same, only Uni in London meant extra time for fun and less time for studying, which to me, was the right balance to maintain one’s sanity. Now, with worklife, there’s so such thing as pontang and writing letters to excuse us from work. It is really much more serious and every little thing that you do is scrutinized. I guess this is what they mean by going through various stages in life. When you finally leave a stage, all you have are memories, which you can look back upon, but mostly you do there’s a certain sense of finality to it. You can’t really turn back and say, “Hey, why didn’t I enjoy myself more?” or “Hey, why can’t we go back to feeling carefree?” There’s really no turning back time.

Well, to me, it’s a natural progression. I’m happy with my life right now. The only thing that is plaguing me is the fact that my job sometimes can get very frustrating and infuriating, and that many things are not within my control, like it or not. Of course, most people experience the same thing. Hopefully, one day, I will be owning my own business and being my own boss… rather than having to succumb to the leadership of someone else… Being unable to control certain decisions e.g. I want to wear jeans to work! I want to wear certain types of shoes etc etc.. can be very stifling.

Doing the final bit of packing now… Hope to finish in time for my badminton game tonight.

18 days and counting

Yeah! It’s the 22nd of April – which means my darling will be home soon! Exactly 18 days to go! Yes, I’ve started the countdown long before this actually, but soon it’ll be single digit. I simply cannot wait! The house is waiting for us to occupy… finally the real start to my married life. It’s so exciting! Yes, yes I’m gushing… but who wouldn’t if you have put so much into the house that you’ve always wanted and get to share it with the person you’ve decided to marry? Oh.. I’m sooo happy!

Oops, maybe for those who are reading this you might feel overwhelmed by the sudden gushing and mushiness. Heh. Well, I’m sorry then! You’ve just gotta put up with it. :P

The next few weeks see 2 public holidays – Vesak day and labour day. Labour Day is on the May the 1st and most probably I’ll be packing up the things in my house.. which I am supposed to be doing now, but am a little lazy. But on Vesak day, May 12th, he’ll be back! Oh joy of joy! Finally I will not have to do things on my own. It’s hard to be independent, yet at the same time, it’s not good to always be too dependent.. Why don’t I ever learn? Sigh

Ok.. enough rambling. I’m off to pack up the things that are under my bed. Accumulating under my bed and collecting dust! Must get most packing done by today, then finish marking.

6 weeks down

6 weeks down

8 weeks to go. I am encouraged! My hubby will be back soon and I won’t be alone anymore! Not that I’m lonely, just missing him dearly. While he has been away, I’ve had so many things to do! Work, the house and many other things to manage… It’s all a good challenge though. Thank goodness for friends and cousins who have been keeping me company.

Well, the good news is, the house is almost done and soon I’ll be able to move some stuff over! What’s left is the sofa… Am thinking of getting bean bags instead of sofas. This place has cool designs – www.beanbagmart.com and best of all, they have double seater sofas! ( Whee.

Anyway, the one week school holiday is over and actually I didn’t get much of a holiday – 3 day dance course and 1 day supplementary and preparation for school reopening has basically meant little time for enjoyment and meeting friends. Sniff sniff.

Back to school then. I might be posted out end of the year – am looking forward to that.

Week 2

It’s been 2 weeks since V’s been away and surprisingly, it hasn’t been as painful as I imagined. Sure it’s difficult and there’s this longing for him, but it’s not agonizing because I know he’s safe when he’s there. I’ve been busy with work and managing the renovation of the house while he’s away and it’s been pretty exciting!

We’ve more or less confirmed the design of the house and right now we’re awaiting HDB approval to break down a wall in the house so we can have an extra large seating area. I’m really looking forward to staying there and leading our lives together. Doesn’t it sound all so clichéd? Like a typical Singaporean couple – ROM, then get a flat, then settle down, then get kids?? The only difference is I’m not going to have kids anytime soon as I really want to enjoy my pool table!! Woo hoo!

Yes, we’ve bought a pool table and so instead of going out to pay for entertainment, we’re going to be watching DVDs, having a drink or playing pool with friends on weekends. Sounds so very exciting!! Yay.

Have lost my voice from a mixture of too much shouting to lack of rest. Serves me right I guess, thinking that working doubly hard while V is away would distract me from his absence. However, it has certainly helped me get a good night’s rest, and early, at that. V likes to sleep slightly later than me… He thinks sleep is a waste of time! :P I, on the other hand, really enjoy sleeping. Such a pleasurable activity.

Ok I gotta go clean up the house. It’s in a real mess!

Going away

My hubby’s been away for a week and he will be away for the next 13 weeks to come. It has passed rather slowly, especially the weekend that has just passed. Although I spent much of it sleeping, there was still something missing. It was just his presence. Missing him is different from missing a boyfriend. There is a strong sense of certainty and security, knowing that those 3 months only serve as a temporary absence of the physical person. We are united in spirit and the love grows stronger yet. Sound familiar? This time it’s different.

The next 13 weeks will be spent catching up with friends, school work and concentrating on the house renovation and packing up my things to move to the new block. When he returns, we’ll be all set to start our new life together. It’s so exciting! I guess all good things must wait. I’m seriously counting down.

If you think about it, 3 months is a short time, yet in 3 months many things can happen, really. Let’s make quick list..

1. My cousin Ethan would have put on some weight and my other cousin Adele would have learnt to walk.


2. The school kids would have gone through CA1, March holidays and be preparing for SA1.


3. My mom would have gone on two trips – Australia and India.


4. The house renovation would have been completed.


5. My hair would have grown 2 inches.


6. My dad’s friend, Vernon, would have left


7. I would have eaten at my mother-in-law’s place 7 times.

And the list goes on… Does time really fly? Perhaps when you’re having fun.. but when you’re working, that’s a different story, eh?

Alright, enough pondering. I’m off to bed. Sleep helps time pass faster – so for the next 3 months it’s going to be my best friend. Sleep early, wake up, go to work, come home, have dinner, watch a bit of TV, sleep. That’s going to be my routine for the weekdays. Saturday, Sunday, wake up at 11, have brunch, meet friends for afternoon shopping, arrange dinner at night. Sunday, have brunch again, watch CSI on TV, meet M-in law for dinner at V’s house. And another week passes.

I love my sleep. Night all!

Being Mrs Chan

It’s been awhile since I last posted… I’ve been busy! 2005 just over, meaning my wedding is actually over! I can’t believe it was only a few weeks ago, yet being plunged back into work makes it seem so far away. It was really a dream.. or at least it sure felt like it.

Pictures are up at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipipipo/sets

Many colleagues asked what I was doing back at work so quickly, but seriously do I have a choice? I can’t possibly take leave even during work days, so where’s the time? The honeymoon will have to wait.. Most probably to be in June.

Anyway, I’ve tried emailing most of you the photos, so if you didn’t get them, just click the link above! As I type this post, my long nails are getting in the way. It’s time they get a cut.

Just finished spring cleaning the house in prep for CNY. It’s going to be the first time I give out hong baos! I’m going to be broke! Ha ha. Although, I have to say I always enjoy CNY cos I get to eat all my favourite snacks and food. Yum yum. Yu sheng here I come! I still hv yet to buy my new clothes…

Will update more along the way, next week probably. Gotta go to mother-in-law’s place for dinner. Yes, I am now officially a Chan. (