Day 3 – Day 5

I needn’t work on Day 3, coz boss is pantang about starting work on the 3rd day of CNY. Still, I wasn’t doing nothing; was replying emails from home and also helping my colleague who was away to do up a contract. While having a Whatsapp session with LC and E, as YX had called for the traditional birthday dinner treat on the 25th, and we have yet to buy a present. Oops.

YX was having difficulty in getting a restaurant coz a lot were closed on the 2nd day which he couldn’t book in advance, so he finally settled on Middle Eastern food at Shaw Towers – Sofra.

Discovered on the way to dinner that E had bought a strawberry shortcake – which was kind of him, except that he didn’t know that YX doesn’t like strawberries at all. Dang dang dang~

In the end, we stopped by the Gateway’s Starbucks, hoping that we could get another whole cake – no luck. Reached the destination, and finally decided that a piece of cake is better than no cake, so got a slice from the Starbucks there. At least the strawberry shortcake will not go to waste, coz we can eat those while YX ate the one slice.

And I don’t know if it was a mistake, or the bakery gave an extra candle, so I took the small candle from the big cake and stuck it on the small one. Just nice. Yay.

Oh YX, you didn’t know what you were missing out. That one was definitely better than your cake.

It was back to work on Day 4, but I spent the whole day on the graphics for the fair. Well, not much mood to work too.

A called for an impromptu MJ session at his place on Friday. Which dragged to start from 10pm to 11pm. Coz neighbour WL was running late.

In the end, I started the game with high winnings, and ended with losing the most as the game progresses. Not that it matters, it was quite an enjoyable MJ session as we seldom engage in the game during normal days except during CNY. We took some time to finish one round though – nearly 3 hours.

Call me pantang, but I shouldn’t have started messaging during the game, coz things went downhill thereafter. What a distraction.

Into CNY

Busy all the way into CNY…praying on the eve at my auntie’s place, where my grandma used to stay. All the food preparation, squeezing of 20+ people in a what used to be a 2 room flat (went to 3-room coz of upgrading), doing lou hei around a small table (I was squatting down with my mei mei to let those behind us to stick their hand thru and blocking my head with a paper plate in case the veggies flies…hee hee), then doing the washing up after everyone had eaten.

I left my mani and pedi till the eve coz the past few days needed a lot of washing up and if done too early, the polish would have gone off.

And my mummy also helped Cinnamon dress up!

YX exclaimed that she looked very pretty when he saw the photo. Heh.

On CNY, however, she gave us quite a scare. Hours before going off for visiting at my uncle’s, she puked bile and stayed in shock. Thereafter she was just lying at one place, kept drinking water, and even treats couldn’t excite her. She was just lethargic and looking at things with disinterest. And the amount of water she kept taking in, scared me. Called her, no response, when she usually would come to me the moment I said her name.

Nevertheless I brought her out.

At my uncle’s place, she started to puke again, this time just clear water. Which was then a relief for me coz she started to go back to her normal self, walking around non stop, and even sniffing in the air enjoying the aroma of food. I guessed she kept drinking water to help herself vomit out the discomfort. After 2 more times of puking water, she was back to the usual dash for food, trotting around non stop and following me behind. Super relieved.

Good to see my cousins, my nieces and nephews again. This year, I thought the dim sum lunch was quite good (starting to drool now thinking back about it).

Day 2 was a visit to the temple where my grandparents’ tablets were laid to rest, which used to be a Day 1 affair. However this year we stayed later at my uncle’s, coz my parents were ferrying my 2nd auntie and uncle around so there was no time to go to the temple before it closes for the day.

Lunch was a visit to my big boss’ place. And met his sisters who are still working in my previous companies. Spoke a bit with them. And there was a band going on, surprisingly led by one of my colleague’s brother. Wow. Now I know the artistic genes run in their family. Boss’ sisters also started to get ‘high’ and belted out a Hokkien song 爱拼才会赢.

And just see the view outside from the 24th floor.

Seriously, his place became like a viewing gallery, and lots of phototaking sessions ongoing.

But this place, sooooooooo difficult to find. The entrance of the condo was so inside, and I passed by 2 times before I saw the super can’t-really-be-seen wordings as I passed along Grange Road.

Didn’t manage to gamble much this year though.

Showers of blessings after some bad encounters

Dropped by Bukit Panjang Plaza in the afternoon with my sis. Went to Daiso to shop which made me nearly vomit blood at the cashier counter. This lady who was the assistant was counting the number of items I have, which should have been easy. But for some reason, she counted only 3 items out of 9, then asked me if I wanna pay all the items together. This was kinda weird coz I’m like the one who carried all these stuff, and there was no one I knew beside me, why ask such a stupid question? The ultimate was she lost count after that, which was pissing me off coz what’s so difficult to count like 9 items? The cashier also started counting on her own, and confused her even more. It took like 3 mins to pay for 9 items I got.

It was raining heavily outside by then I was done, and so we walked around a bit to NTUC coz the Japanese green tea had run out at home. Queued for some time, and this lady came from the next queue and stood in front of me. I thought since she was carrying only 2 bots of mineral water so I let her be. But my sis started questioning her why she jumped queue (there was also a long queue behind us) and she mumbled something inaudible. Then she went behind us to queue, in front of the long queue behind. Trying to act blur, this lady.

The rain was still super heavy by then we were done, so we started looking for a brolly to buy. We found a few shops selling, but ended up at Daiso again to buy the umbrella coz all we needed was to shelter from the open rain at some parts.

We decided to take a bus since the walk to the LRT station was some distance away and in the rain, but unfortunately none of us could remember the bus number for the bus stop under my block as we take the LRT more often. So in the end we took the wrong bus and had to transfer to LRT later. So dumb. Hee hee.

After a while, the rain stopped, and showed a terrific view outside. 2 rainbows, one super big and bright. The other a faint appearance just behind. Have not seen such a big and bright one before so took a photo of it.

Despite the suay things, the day ended with a good note. Beautiful.

Busy Friday

Woke up in time today to receive my beautician’s sms that she’s on her way to the shop and I could come in 1 hour earlier for my facial. Exactly what I wanted.

She didn’t pick on my pimples as much as she used to. Think she knows it’s too near to CNY that it will not subside in time.

Bought lunch to deliver to G’s auntie, and got stuck in the jam for an hour, crawling under the limited visibility on the road.

Could hear ambulances on both directions of the PIE. Quite a task to move safely out of the ambulance’s way in the heavy rain because the cars came continuously in the heavy traffic.

Finally reached home, and got to work almost immediately as my mum was waiting for me to help, and also the purpose for taking leave today. We worked quite smoothly and just managed to finish 4 hours later, with more than 400 pcs of prawn balls.

The dogs had a taste of it too, hee hee. In fact, they were such darlings coz they just sat there quietly without disturbing, watching us wrap the prawn balls. At times they would get excited on hearing the lid covers of the pots being opened and start smelling the aroma in the air.

My mum always make these during CNY period because my aunties and uncles liked them very much and so she would distribute them in packs. But as years passes, she finds it more tedious to wrap them coz of the old ailment of her wrist.

And yes, I stole a few of them. I pick those ugly ones to eat, those which burst open when I tied them too tightly during production just now. Not many of those though.

The day of dangerous driving, and my angpow collection

Finally the meeting was over, but today started not so smoothly.

First, the roads outside to the expressways were jammed. I had to slowly inch my way out and the cars actually took it to leave me a space to come out from the small lane. I had to also inch out to the opposite lane coz the cars were blocking my view to be able to see the oncoming cars.

Then on ECP this car was driving so slowly on a merging lane so I overtook her. Ok, probably it was a bit gangster on my part. His boyfriend/husband showed me the middle finger in return. Thanks for hogging the lane.

Nearer to office, this Merc for god knows what reason, was on the right most lane, driving so slow, and on the line. I decided to change to the lane next to his, and since he looked like he was unsure where to go and seems like coming into my lane, I hooted just for safety’s sake, to inform that I’m passing through so that he will not suddenly come into my lane and bang into me. He took it that I was horning at him unnecessarily that he showed me the WTF handsign. In the end I saw him trying to squeeze into the filter lane at the last minute. Oh, WTF to you too.

Meeting was ok, but it looks like I might be travelling quite a bit, which I don’t really fancy. I’ll see how it goes.

The meeting took 3/4 of the day, and by then I was too tired to continue with anything more. On leave on Friday. Yayness. But still got one last thing on my list to do. Which I have not having any mood  to do yet, unfortunately. And deadline end of this week. Technically Friday.

Rush for work

I didn’t polish my car, didn’t clean up my table, haven’t finished my budget report (still struggling and meeting is tomorrow morning), haven’t done the poster for the food fair….

Now I’m still rushing my report but it’s a bit difficult to do due to the half available reports. Think I gonna just try to remember what I did a year ago.

I’m starting to panic a bit right now. WTF. I’m nervous coz I’m not sure if I could finish my stuff and that I’m on leave on Friday.

Gonna stay up late later, and wake up earlier tomorrow coz the meeting’s tomorrow early morning. And just in case I arrive late tomorrow I set up the projector just now before I left office so that there’s no time wasted tomorrow morning and I don’t need to rush.

Now back to work.

I’m sleepy…

Shit.

Half a month onwards…

The past week just flashed past me. I didn’t notice how fast time passed and I got no idea what day it was everyday. I was so caught up with work and with packing the stuff for the food fair in Feb. Thank goodness for my colleagues who helped me pack the stuff during the days I went to Malaysia, else I’ll be flat if I had done it all by myself. I thought that I would be resting during the weekend, but I ended up with further lack of sleep instead.

Went for cycling last Friday for the first time. G had bought another bicycle and I ‘inherited’ his old one (actually he’s still riding that bicycle), and for the first time again I took it for my first cycling trip ever. On the roads. From home to the park.

It took a lot of getting used to. First, I didn’t know how to change the gears on the bicycle, and so I was taking like 1/2 of the lane along the road. I couldn’t really check my blind spot, coz I would then start to wobble and lose control to ride straight if I try to look behind. So it was quite a feat to take as little space of the lane as possible, while not letting myself get banged by the drivers on the road.

Then the seat was like super hard. My butt was feeling sore while riding to ECP for dinner. And the riding thereafter in the park made it worse. I was actually doubting if I could ride back home.

And inevitably, it felt painful whenever I sit down for the next 2 days. But seriously the cycling didn’t really use up much of my calories from whatever was consumed during dinner. Hee hee.

Passed by a small lane on the way back and because I was trying to duck a sudden plant that had a stalk of leaves that came in the way of my face, I ducked and closed my eyes in defence, and no prize for guessing what happened next.

I ran myself into the wall on my right side.

And lost a bit of skin on my right arm. Yes, so dumb I know.

As CNY approaches…

Still having sore throat. Didn’t have time to go see a doctor actually. Must try to nurse it back soon, though it’s a bit difficult coz of the bak kwa. Heh.

G was sick too and went to see doc, but didn’t take any medicine from him. Hur hur. He’s kinda recovered now though.

E was asking me about some diving stuff to buy for Y’s birthday, and screamed at me on why I didn’t go see doctor when he asked if I was better.

My mom cooked some herbal tea for me yesterday, which G bought for me some time ago, supposedly to cure sore throat. Something which contained a BUMBLE BEE. It tasted very 甘苦 but at the same time, super sour. Major YUCKS. But still managed to finish off a mug of it. In stages. From super hot till it nearly became room temperature.

So super tired today. Too many things to clear but still didn’t manage to clear all stuff. I’m running out of time.

Had to go for late lunch today. So just grabbed something from Cedele which Ling was waxing lyrical about, and like her, I gave the thumbs up for it. Presenting the Thai Rice Salad.

Is a Monday special salad, quite filling and tasty, with the lemongrass giving a refreshing scent with each crunchy bite. I opted for the soup+salad set today coz I always have a weakness for soup, which turned out to be a good lunch though I was eating and working at my desk the same time. Saffron clam chowder. I thought she mistakenly gave me the pumpkin soup coz it was orangey in colour (forgot the saffron) and sweet like pumpkin, until I saw the clams in there.

I’m trying to find a top to match my paperbag skirt to wear for CNY. I wanted to find something simple like a tank or spag top, but didn’t manage to get anything. The best thing is, I got 2 other sets of clothes for the 2nd day visit and for starting work. Need to get something soon. At the same time, I’m fervently blog shopping, hoping for some luck to find something I wanted. Till today, no luck though.

Haven’t done my hair yet too!! *panic mode*

Going to take leave on the Friday before CNY too, to help my mom make the traditional 虾枣. Also, under special requests of my aunties and uncles, she had to make curry for the buffet lunch on CNY, coz my they were craving for it.

Looking forward to CNY. But before that, gotta chiong for my work these 2 weeks.

Gambatte.

All about food

*Warning! Not for the hungry stomach*

Been eating a lot since the start of the new year. Not a very good sign for my resolutions *ahem*.

I’ve always favourited the papaya soup noodles at Xing Wang HK Cafe because of the milky texture and the sweetness of the soup. Never fail me.

G had a craving for this for days and so we went to have it. Despite being sore-throated and all. And it did cause him to lose his voice a few days after eating this sinful, rich but yummy peanut butter bread.

From 2011 to 2012

Hotel room – love the bay window!

TV watching

Bathroom

Dinner venue

Bedrock

My drink – APE

Party pack

Our breads

Sauteed garlic

Tomato soup

Frencn onion soup

My rack of lamb…yumz

What a way…

… to start work on a New Year.

Fell sick. It started yesterday afternoon I was feeling funny and super lethargic. I thought I was lacking water so I downed a can of H2O, which helped. Then it came back again so I had no choice but to sleep, after popping a flu pill, coz I was starting to ache.

Woke up 2 hours later feeling better, and good enough to go out for dinner.

When it was time to sleep again, I took another pill again, which after that I had a hard time trying to fall asleep coz the headache starting coming in. My eyes were also hurting at the lids and nose drippy. Had to stuff tissue up the nose so that I don’t have to concentrate on it.

Only fell asleep past 2am.

And go to work.

I realised that there were also quite a group of people falling sick yesterday. Caught the flu bug together.

Happy 2012 everyone.

Reflections & new wishes

Am in the hotel room now lazing alongside the bay window. NYE was peaceful but enjoyable, but that will be for another post.

Taking time to reflect what went on in 2011.

• Worked on NYE and New Year, for the last project of my previous company.
• For the first time in 10 years, I gave up my first full time job to another company, albeit still the same people (almost). More challenges, new post and more stuff to learn and do. It seemed like just recently that I’m in this job but look, I’m nearly 1 year in the job.
• I see people in their true colours when I left the company. Some ties were maintained, but some friendships were changed in a way that it’ll never be the same again.
• Took my parents out for a movie for the first time as I started work later than most people. It was very enjoyable.
• Attended my first Songkran festival in Bangkok.
• Genting trip with my family (minus youngest sis) – not been to Genting like for many many years.
• Went for the BMW 7P+ event and learnt to cook my own appetiser. Miss the cooking times. Should find time to do more cooking. Tried chili ice cream for the first time too at the event.
• Attended the BMW 640 & 650 launch at Keppel Bay. I had the chance to drive the 640 for a short period of time.
• Group trip with buddies to HK, though attendees were lesser than usual but it was always good with good company.
• Tried Shashlik for the first time after hearing many things about it.
• First time to Macau and China – family trip. And the 2nd trip in the month of August.
• Took family photos like finally, after procrastinating for so many years – in our grad gowns.
• Took over A&P also in the company.
• First time I took a flight to Dubai by myself – though I met my colleague over there.
• Bought my Instax, and first branded bag online.
• First trip to Europe – to Koln.
• First time taking the bullet train in Europe. Was quite an experience.
• Faced up to some relationship issues and was grateful to my friends and buddies who helped tide over the difficult times.
• Adopted Mickey whom I found in the Venetian Macau. And from then he follows me when I am travelling or not at home.
• Saw my first eclipse, also the first lunar eclipse.
• Attended first movie tie-in event organised by BMW – watched MI4.

Things I plan to do this year:

• Sleep early, take better care of my health and eating habits.
• Spend more time with my parents. I try to go for breakfast every Sunday with them, something which I am still doing now.
• Concentrate more on A&P though I need to be more organised and divide time properly with my sales part.
• Go to Paris! I hope to go to Paris this Oct – will be the first time if so.
• Buddies trip – tentatively in June. We hope to do at least one every year.
• Go for Myanmar trip with G. Not sure when yet, but have to do it this year.
• Improve myself whether in mind or health – probably time to go ahead finally with the yoga class, and to stay positive in things. Or even go for cooking classes.
• Learn not to be too hopeful or expect too much about things or from people. If I want things to happen, I must first learn to work hard for it.

I hope 2012 will be a better year for me, my family and close ones, and for my buddies. And most importantly, good health for them all.

Long Christmas hols

Spent Christmas eve lounging around at home coz G went on the cruise with his dad. Went to shop a while in the afternoon but it was super full with people doing last minute shopping. Gave up after a while coz there were sales everywhere and trying on clothes seemed rather a bad idea with the long queues everywhere.

It was quite nice hanging around at home coz the weather was quite cold after the long lasting rain. And it was good too coz I finally got what I wanted after waiting for 2 days – something regarding work. And thankfully I was still awake when I received those photos at 4am.

My dinner on Christmas eve – lovingly made by my mommy.

Seriously we were all stuffed with all the eating in the day so all we wanted was something simple at the end of the day. And the doggies were all stuffed like us. I know that coz Caramel was dozing off quite early and Cinnamon was walking ever so slowly around my place.

Christmas in office

Totally Christmas mood today. Wore my new super high heels to work despite having a painful knee on Wednesday which made me wear flats yesterday.

My killer 5-inchies.

The luncheon today was not that up to standard. First, they (or rather he) arrived late coz he couldn’t find the lift, then there’s only one person who delivered and did the set up.

Food unfortunately I felt was not a lot despite some not here / not eating. I told everyone that I was unable to order from the usual caterer coz they were fully booked today, so the food was a bit disappointing. I thought the free log cake that came together with the food was the best of all!

Oh wells, I must still give some credit to the turkey. It was not too hard or dry despite its sheer size.

We had a cake cutting session for one colleague’s birthday, as well as the gift exchange session. It was quite a commotion, but I think some presents, despite not something which is totally useful, did bring some laughter to all of us. I have not opened my present yet, so not sure what contained in there.

I came into office today with a present on my table too: