Liberté

Enough of slacking, it’s getting a little too bored in here.

Barely a week has passed since I have regained my freedom, and I’m all ready to move on. Oh gosh, why do all friends have to go to school/work? Can’t there be a remnant few to slack with me? I need new activities to keep me occupied!

I have no idea what this picture is doing here but I just find it so cute.

After accomplishing all the things that I have been yearning to do so badly, it leaves me with nothing much to look forward to tomorrow.

Stuff that I have always wanted to do but have no time to… Swimming, sun-tannng, shopping, reading in a cafe, catching up with pple, watching movies, sleeping (too much till i get a headache) yada yada…

+++ CRASHING A FRIEND’S LECTURE?!?!?!?!?!!!  *gasps!*

ALL ACCOMPLISHED!!!

WITHIN A WEEK!!

So pls, can someone give me a suggestion, what should I do tomorrow??? It can be quite a chore thinking of how I should entertain myself.

Yeah, it’s not like I am gonna idle for the rest of my life. Like c’mon, I’m awaiting my good news (keeping my fingers crossed) from my prospect company. So meantime, JUST SLACK, GUILTLESSLY!

This was taken eoooonnnsssssssssss ago with Yong Ling. My love for green tea latte has never cease. And guess what, I discovered a new place that sells awesome green tea latte, Ochacha at Paragon!

It’s a cozy place to hang out with a bunch of girlies or if you are bored like me, to just enjoy a good read right in the heart of the city.

Aha! Right on!

Once again, this is taken eoonnsss ago while I still have a job to occupy a huge chunk of my time and more than that, a salary to afford these raw prawn and sashimi!

One thing I’ll definitely miss-that is the FAMOUS BAH CHOR MEE from Circular Road. No joke, it’s so yummilicious that I can have this for lunch for 3 days a week. Poor colleagues (like Jassine ) who are always being dragged along by me to join in this boring routine. *giggles*

Oh wells, that sums up the week that has just passed. SO EXCITING COS i FINISHED WHAT I NEED TO DO FOR ONE MONTH ALL WITHIN A WEEK!!!

Hmmm… maybe I can attempt cooking tomorrow. Or better not as many would say. It’s still safer to buy take-aways.

Till then, please pray for God’s leading and His special favor to be upon me! Cheers!

Crying Over Spilled Milk?

All Roll Into One

It has taken a toll on my peanut memory trying to recall what happened over the past months that are worth recording. Thank God for photos! It aids greatly in the regurgitation process

Perth- June

Isn’t it amazing? Total distance driven: 1272km!!!

Such an awesome trip with the 2 boys, till now, I still reminisce the cool weather, awesome adventure and sights.

Shaw Tower-June

This is one kinda must-try ice cream when you are in Bugis area. It has lotsa funny flavours. I really mean outta the world flavours like black sesame, apple pie, sarsi, grapefruit and granny’s favourite which  I have no clue what kinda flavour that is!!! Anyhow, it’s cheap and yummy so a definite must-try when you’re at Shaw Tower!

Have you seen a more expensive box of grapes than these? A whooping $128 for a box of Japanese grapes. I recalled someone telling me something like it’s super sweet and the core has a tinge of red wine. Don’t know how true is that till I try..

The most special homecooked seafood dinner I have ever tasted. It came as a more-than-pleasant surprise after my Perth trip. *beams* √ one more point to the score board

Purple sweet potato

Oops taken only when the flower is about to wither. √ one point for surprising me with the flowers. √ another one  for making sure that your presence is felt while you are away for your business trip.

Raffles Place during lunch

Body Shop launched their new product, Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow & Body Mist at Chervon House. The highlight of this launch is the POWER NAP CONTEST! Check out that uncle sleeping like a dead log on the elevated bed. I swear this is not an act. I am dead certain he has been sleeping for quite a while before I came. Too bad I wasn’t daring enough to give it a shot. But this is extremely amusing for me!

Yummilicious lunch along Circular Rd. Subsequent lunches were yummy as well but too hungry and tired to snap anymore pictures. LOL

Saddle Club- August

Hidden in the lush greenery with fabulous ambience and real horses in sight, it’s sure a delight for two.

√ one more point for bringing me here.

Bakerzin August Promo!

Panna cotta with strawberries!

Tutti fruitti

All these goodness are going for half price! Oops, it’s only in the month of August. Hope you had your fills already!

Last but not least,

eCR Status: The eCR SYSTEM is not accessible to you because you have graduated. CONGRATULATIONS! (GRD)

YAYNESS!!!!

I am finally a graduate! After so long, all the pains of going for lectures, feeling guilty when I miss class or tests and even prelims, the months of mugging like a nerdy slug and panic during and after exam, IT IS FINALLY OVERRRRRRR!!!

To add on to my exuberance, this year’s results is the BEST of my 3 yrs in SIM! Though prior to this, each time I walked out of the exam hall, I had the feeling I was gonna flunk it, the results say otherwise! Thank God for pulling me through those shady mugging period. When all joy is gone, His omnipresence is one good reason to stay afloat. Praise God! For
I alone could not have achieve all these. Surely, unmistakably, it must be His goodness and doings.

Thank God oh-so-much!!! With that, I shall empty my cupboard of any remnant-notes! Yayness~

3 cheers to weekends! I never knew how to appreciate it till workload always threaten to crush me during weekdays. Alright, it’s sleeping time. I will force myself to sleep till noon. Wooohooooooo!

It’s Just Stuff

Some fun I had, while I went missing virtually..

Awesomely cool!

I can’t believe I have started work for 3 weeks already. Time flies. Many things happened and rolled by faster than I can grasp.

First, it was work. The thing about being self reliant/sufficient is that sometimes our best effort don’t get us where we wanna go. Even by trying very hard, we fall short of our expectation. That was lesson #1 for week 1 of work- to be grounded in God and my being is not based on achievement nor merits.

Week 2 paints a tougher picture. What big shoes I hafta fill! Everyone have requirement of themselves. It’s just a matter of to what extend. In this, I don’t allow myself much room for mistakes. Also, the fight against the need for achievement is always raging in me.  All it took was just one mistake at work to shake me up. Thankfully, for all the reminders, I looked up and saw a greater purpose and meaning in life.

Week 3 seems like a whirlpool. I thought I have been at it for years. But c’mon it’s only 3 weeks so why am I fretting? One particular day I was super edgy. With many things in mind; circumstances just made me soooo frustrated. Imagine with me… Many people came by the office for training of some sort. All of whom do not have the pass to enter the office. Seated nearest to the door, it became my responsibility to be the bell girl. Fine, I resign to fate.. I didn’t choose to sit so near to the door.. For an undisclosed reason, I have 2 phones on my table of which it never fail to drive me up the wall, especially when they both ring at the same time! I remembered vividly, while trying to reply a simple email which shouldn’t take me more than 2 minutes, I opened the door at least twice, picked up the phone more than thrice, replied sms to various people, talked to colleagues etc… All in all, my simple task has been interrupted so many times that I think it took me around 15 minutes or so (if not more). How productive. Whoever said that technology makes us more time-saving and efficient should think twice about their statement. Is it not becoming a highly irritable distraction?

Amidst all the rowdiness, I found sanity in the Lord as usual and also from my daily reading of When The Game is Over, It All Goes Back Into The Box. If you happen to identify with me, please do yourself a favour and grab this jewel from the nearest Christian bookstore. I guarantee you will be savouring it from page to page.

Some of the extracts which is too good to miss…

♣

People go through life, get stuff, and then they die, leaving all their stuff behind. What happens to it? The kids argue over it. The kids-who haven’t die yet, who are really just pre-dead people- go over their parents’ house. They pick through their parents’ old stuff like vultures, deciding which stuff they want to take to their houses. They say to themselves, “Now this is my stuff.” Then they die- and some new vultures came for it. People come and go. Nations go to war over stuff, families split apart because of stuff. Husbands and wives argue more about stuff than any other single issue. Prisons are full of street thugs and CEOs who committed crimes to acquire it. Why? It’s only stuff. Houses and hotels are the crowning jewels in Monopoly. But the moment the game ends they go back in the box. So it is with all our stuff…

♣

Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. Sydney Harris

♣

I know of a few more dramatic examples of regret than the life of the great Scottish essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle. He wrote eloquently about the illusions of being Master of the Board: “Many men eat finer cookery, drink dearer liquors, but in the heart of them, what increase of blessedness is there? Are they better, more beautiful, stronger, braver? Are they even what they call “happier”? Do they look with satisfaction on more things and human faces in this God’s Earth; do more things and human faces look with satisfaction on them? Not so.”

To know this truth in our heads does not guarantee that we will live it. A few years before he wrote these words, Carlyle had married his secretary, Jane Welsh. She was highly intelligent and attractive, and she continued to serve as Carlyle’s secretary after their marriage.

Some time after their marriage, Jane became ill. Carlyle, who was perhaps not much tempted by money, was deeply devoted to his work. He did not seem to notice his wife’s ill health much. He was absorbed in what he was doing and allowed her to continue working. But she had cancer; eventually she was confined to her bed. Although Carlyle truly loved her, he found that he did not have much time to stay with her or much attention to give to her.

After several years of this, Jane died. The day of her funeral was stormy; they carried her body to the churchyard for burial through the rain and mud. Carlyle later returned to a house that was suddenly, shatteringly empty. Hw went upstairs to Jane’s room and sat in the chair next to her bed, the chair he had had so little time for. He noticed her diary lying next to her bed and began reading it. On one entire page she had written one single line: “Yesterday he spent an hour with me and it was like heaven; I love him so.”

A reality that he had somehow been too blind to see now revealed itself with a crushing clarity. He had been too busy to notice how much he meant to Jane. He thought of all the times he had been preoccupied with his work and simply failed to notice her. He had not seen her suffering. He had not seen  her love.

Thomas turned the page of Jane’s diary. He read the words that would break his heart, that he could never forget: “I have listened all day for his steps in the hall, but now it is late and I guess he won’t come today.”

He read a little more in her book and then put it back on the table and ran out of the house. Friends finally found him back at the churchyard kneeling in the earth at the side of her grave., covered with mud. His eyes red from weeping; tears were rolling down his face. “If only I had known, if only I had known,” he cried.

After Jane’s death, Carlyle made little attempt to write again. The historian lived another fifteen years but he lived them “weary, bored, and a partial recluse.”

♣

I wept.

Down Under

Perhaps the longest time interval ever that I stopped updating my space. Yeah, I didn’t find an Australian guy and stay there for good. Just busy engaging in real life lately.

This post sits in the draft category for way too long.. Time to revive it!

Some of the remarkable moments in Perth…

Second morning in Perth, first morning after a caravan sleep. While the boys are still curled up like a cocoon under their cozy blankets, my human alarm clock has already drawn me out from under the cover. It’s a morning like no other. The air is crisp and the cool gentle breeze engulfed my whole body the moment I jumped out from the caravan. “Good morning PERTH!!”

It could have been the most perfect weather to do Quiet time in the caravan park if not for the chilling wind that started blowing so strongly. Barely half an hour, it became unbearable to sit at the playground, reading without getting frostbite. So into the my warm and fuzzy campervan I retreated.

Yet, that morning is a memorable one. A special friend called from Singapore! This is just the beginning of something fantastic.

Among the many photos I took, this tree simply stands out from the rest. Good enough to be a postcard photo. At least for me.

The activity which I loved the most- forest canoeing.

Home of the Busselton. Besides getting to flex our muscles a little (rowing down the river), another awesome thing that happened gotta be the splendid landscape.

My simply awesome fantabulous travel mates

*Gasp*

Rainbow!

My most favourite rainbow of all! Double rainbow

That particular day is just a wonderful bliss- a rainbow chasing day. Never in my life have I seen rainbow so many times a day, in so many different forms and spectrum. It was simply amazing. I wish everyday that I may relish those moments again.

Rainbow chaser by day, star gazer by night. The stars in Aussie is spectacular. The dimly lit countryside, sometimes in pitch darkness gives little hint of life form. Yet, in that kinda ambience, the stars shone all the more brightly. The entire sky, yes the ENTIRE sky, is filled with nothing but stars! As far as your eyes can see, your neck can stretch, there, the stars promise to set you awestruck. Personally, I have a thing with stars. Therefore,the night view on the very last night of our trip gripped me with much joy, gratitude and amazement.

In summary, this trip is such a wonderful blessing that I will not trade it for anything else in this world. So, everyone should go on a caravan trip once in their lifetime! ♥

Prelude

I heard people marvelled at how numerous the stars were outside Singapore. Others boasted about seeing shooting stars the whole night. I have never seen any of those until last night. It is real. Totally speechless by the beauty of the sky that was sprinkled with stars all across, as far as your eyes can see. And I managed to catch 4 shooting stars. That’s life worth living for.

It was also my first time catching a proper sun rise. The view is spectacular. I am in awe of the Maker. ♥

What a prelude of what’s to come.

Till then, see ya in a week’s time.

Verner Panton

Cool, I like this one! Have been trying to shed off the weight I put on during this extended exam period, but my mouth just won’t stop munching on those chips and CHOCOLATESSS!!!

More photos on GDOP

Aggie, my lovely mentor, always. ♥

Hannah Montana! Everytime I think of you, the song Forever will keep spinning in my head and and, what happened @ Pasir Ris Park last year will always be part of my fondest memory. ♥

Elle and Clairah, my ever so beautiful princesses. ♥

Awesome!! Finally my shades has arrived! Will be sooo glad to collect it tomorrow! Wooohoooooo! Instead of fire iridium lens, it’s gonna be ruby iridium along with some other customisation. I can proudly say this is my one of a kind shades!! Just as I thought it was lost in the mail (cos it took them more than 3 months to ship here) and I’ll hafta make do with my bling bling shades for Aussie (which is so not suitable so outdoor), ta-dah!! Yeah, good things happened to those who wait (and wait long enough)!

This is a season to get artsy fartsy. Anybody wanna join me in this tomorrow? Text me k

Till then, I think I should be studying… 

When The Clock Strikes Twelve…

Everything goes back to normal. But before that, relishing the moments of  fun and indulgence

Galbiati Gourmet Deli (Rail Mall)

Lovely lovely smoked salmon

Cheesy egg w Portobello mushroom. Simple yet yummy, looks like something I can try learning how to make.

Post ESAP (this is way overdue)

Right after ESAP,  Ziwan and I were so ecstatic! And we just gotta make fun of this birthday boy who also took the same paper!

Crazy as we are, we started singing him a birthday song in the crowded train! Who cares right?! So long we had fun!

Of cos he is embarrassed!!

In the end, his face and ear turned red! Mission accomplished! A few things to note here:

1. Don’t ever offend women, cos some said their fangs are more poisonous than the most venomous serpent!
2. Don’t stray into me and Ziwan’s path after a draining examination unless you wanna be make fun of! (which we will gladly do that anytime of the day!)

Cheers! Hope you like your birthday song, Kunquan!

And also,  we celebrated Jules’ birthday @ Sofra. Awesome-ness!

Youth GDOP was great! That’s some of my ex CG girls, so so pleased to see how they are all growing up gracefully!

As the clock strikes twelve, everything goes back to normal. So it’s back to my studying mode again. One thing for sure, the past few days seem so magical.

Much Ado About Nothing

How cool does a picnic and play sound like to you? And when you have them together, it is double the bliss!

Every few times in a year, or whenever there is a very special occasion, I’ll try to whip up a dish. So this time round, with  much effort, Salmon-bacon w cream sauce.

What could possibly go wrong, went wrong. Or so I think. But I am still glad at least it looked decent.

Love, laughter, conspiracy and drama.

‘Shakespeare in the Park’ returns this May with a sumptuous take on one of the greatest comedies of all time.

Bring a picnic basket and blanket and lie under the stars as the park comes to life like you have never seen before.

In 2007, over 20,000 people came to SRT’s landmark production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Fort Canning Park. This year’s Much Ado About Nothing promises to be twice as much fun.

Whether you want to enjoy a wonderful romantic comedy, be part of a historic event, or just have a picnic, this will be a spectacular evening for young and old.

Much Ado about Nothing is of one of Shakespeare’s best known, light-hearted comedies. The play follows the obstacle filled courtships of two romances – Hero and Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice. The brilliance of the main plot witnesses Hero and Claudio falling in love at first sight; but as with any immediate attraction, they have a lot to learn about each other. This is accompanied with the humorous bickering of Beatrice and Benedick in their “merry war” of the sexes.

The quintessential romantic comedy is layered with witty and hilarious character interaction between the two couples, as well as a streak of darkness from Don John who conspires against Hero and Claudio’s wedding. In the end though, does it all turn out to be “much ado about nothing”?

The witty exchanges between the actors are splendid! But the Shakespearean English is a little hard to catch. Should have done some reading up before that

Dempsey House

Check out the link above. This wonderful evening is completed with tea surrounded by the serene nature. It spells too awesome to be true.

Attitude.

Attitude, unlike any other academic fields or life skills, cannot be taught. It frustrates me very much when someone instead of assuming responsibilities when in the wrong, chose to shaft the blame to others. It’s as though the whole world ought to treat them well. Get a life, cos no one owes you a living. Lest you change your stinky attitude, you’ll probably face the same problem everywhere you go.

To this other person who frustrates me just as much. You seem to have a liking on other people’s possession. Be it human or objects. But like what A said, and she said it best, “Time will tell.” That happened to be something which I kept telling myself too.  Ultimately, one day, you will be exasperated from all your acts and realised that you have no one by your side. As for now, though I have lost something which was once of dear value to me, it kinda loses its meaning holding on to it. You can have it all. But your joy won’t be for long. I sometimes wonder, in trying to acquire all these to yourself, are you genuinely happy? What’s the point of winning this one victory and losing everything else? I wish you luck in the acquisition of your next trophy.

Totally! How can I be doing nothing on my post-ESAP-pre-Strategy day! So here’s the list of my accomplishment:

1. Grocery shopping for the picnic tomorrow
2. Swimming in the blazing sun
3. Visit the National Museum for the Christian Lacroix  Exhibition
4. Ransack Frankie’s office (it was a failure, I ended up tidying it)
5. A well deserved Italian dinner w Frankie
6. Yong Ling’s surprise party!

Christian Lacroix

These pink tanks greeted me at the entrance

One of my fav dresses

Gorgeous!

Creative imagination

Was a tad too late, shall go back another day for this exhibition. Anyone keen?

The amount of photos I took at the exhibition is crazy! Go visit my facebook for more ya

Yong Ling’s surprise party!

The happy birthday girl!

Frankie and Yongling

Caleb, YL & Shern

Valery, YL & I

Me, YL & Sam

Boys will be boys

Once again, check out my facebook  for the entire album.

Yup, lotsa running around but I am enjoying my limited freedom to the max! Phewww! That’s an exhaustive list but wait till tomorrow. More happening stuff up next. I am attempting to cook. Yeah cook! And I can’t wait for the picnic at Fort Canning while watching Much Ado About Nothing See, life is so exciting without exam!

Saw this on the web, it’s so funny that I hafta put it up!

Ending here with some quotes which I find them really cool,

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm
wrinkles the soul. ~ Samuel Ullman

If I could wish for my life to be perfect,
it would be tempting but I would have to decline,
for life would no longer teach me anything.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadows. ~Helen Keller