Baby bloom.. February 27, 2008

In the life, we grow by stages, from babies, to toddler, to a playful child, then proceed to teenage, to adulthood then lastly to old age. As we goes thru the changes our conversation differs. From baby talk/cry to express what we felt to adult conversations, the topic that we spoke during childhood and adulthood also changes.

When we were young, we normally either spoke bout homework, teachers or mooing over some idols. As we grow older, we started talking bout careers path, ladies will talk bout guys and vice versa. When we reach adulthood, will be more into depth of the job that they are doing, financial, those that are attached will be talking bout wedding plans. Then proceeded on to marriage life then when they start a small family, will be about their children. When we get old, we will start on the topic of retirements, old age, grandsons/daughters.

Wow.. you can see all the stages that we goes through from whichever age stage we are now. Just attended a 100days celebration of my ex-colleague’s son last Sunday, at Marina Square. I was sitting with some of her other ex-colleagues and guess what is the topic discussed upon – child birth! Oh my god…

The words of epidural, caecerian or normal birth… all starts floating in the air. Since I never have those experience, I just kept quiet and listen to all of them. Was quite a learning experience and I suddenly realized that I have come to this stage in life where all my other friends will be talking of such topics. Oh man.. I finally realize that I am not as young as I think I was.. But I am not regretting, and will always enjoy my current life that I am having (without the stress of course!)

Intro… ? February 20, 2008

There is so many ways of making friends, normally from schools or workplace, meetings, parties, some through internet chatting, some by introduction from friends, relatives. Some that they can click with each other, will continue and be friends. Some still trying to introduce single people with another single with the hopes that they are able to get together and if they really to click  then they will end up be together.

A few months ago, my parent’s friend introduced the same hometown guy to me, with the hope that we will get along.. of course started as friends first. But after the first meeting, I realize that we might not suit as there are not much common topic. He, being a man of a few words, the evening with several stressful quiet moments as I have to keep finding topics to talk about.

Just because I travel, go out and do more activities, people always says that I am a “sam seng poh” in hokkien which meaning “wild girl”, and only girls that always stays at home is obediant… duh.. how boring.. So does that means those guys from the same hometown where everyone knows everyone can be sure that when they say they are good person and can really confirm that they are a good? So basically we can’t find someone that is out from the town, and must find those from the same hometown and getting someone to ask around in the hometown on how they are? good? ok please go out with him.  

Yes, I do admit that good person hard to come by, even if they are really good but when you meet the person, and you don’t feel comfortable or do not even have the inkling to go out with them, do you just go out with them again just because people says he is a good man, hard to come by, money not really a problem, must give them another chance?

I may be a single, and getting older as years goes by, not really sure if my parents really want to marry me off.. maybe to get rid of me or something.. keep pushing me to give this guy another chance. Yes, spinsters does have unique character by their own, but must it have to put ourselves in an auction?

Oh man.. sigh.. now with my elder bro is getting married and my second brother is on the way.. hopefully.. my parents will be busy with theirs and do stop bothering me with this one.. Mum & dad, it is not such a big issue to be alone and single, yes it may be lonely at times, but I kind of getting used to it. Life is not just finding a partner and simply getting one just because people says they are good person, which I am sure he is, but to me is a boring guy… If I really do give him another chance, I have to store up all the topics to cover all the odd silences. geez. sounds more like a chore to me! Then I will be thinking why I am wasting my time with a boring person and making him not enjoying himself because I am bored, where I would rather use that time and rest at home and he can spend his time with other new people!  People, please spare me!

A sad sad story.. February 17, 2008

There are so many types of movies: horror, comical, romance, action packed, triller and fantasy movies. Normally ladies would prefer to watch romance movies because they are always end with a happily ever after.

Yesterday me and a group of friends watch a sad romance movie called: P.S I Love You. This movie is about how the wife deals with the death of her husband, whom she still love him very much. The amazing part is how the husband has wrote her letters and planned for her for the next 1 year to guide her through her grief and to continue with her life.

There were several touching scenes in the movie that makes me cry.. ok ok.. yes.. sue me..I am an emotional person.. call me whatever.. crybaby but it just gets to me.. After the movie we went to have our dinner at a Soup Kitchen where we lou hei again and celebrated SP birthday. 

We got a love shape birthday cake for her and we got a present for her.. but might not be what she looking for.. hopefully she don’t really mind it and is the thoughts that counts… The day ends with a karaoke session at the nearby KBox in AMK hub Had some fun last night!

Lou Hei February 15, 2008

Every year during Chinese New Year, families will go either go to restaurant or they will make their own Lou Hei – a chinese salad with fresh fish meat. It is to bring luck to the family/company/department.

Every year, I will have at least 3 sessions of lou hei, one with my family members on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year, second time will just be the sales managers and the third time will be with my boss the entire sales department.

This year, we went to sakae sushi for the lou hei for the sales manager – small group, less budget, cheaper. Then for the entire department, we went to a chinese restaurant – Dragon Gate Restaurant at Harbourfront where they also have dim sum as well even though my boss is a muslim, but lucky she is not a stounch muslim.

By the end of the meal, all of us are so full, ordered to many dishes – ha kau, siew mai, chee chung fun (HK style), a plate of veg, noodles, century egg porridge, steamed carrot cake, BBQ pork bun, fried prawn and prawn roll. Some of them we even order a couple more serving.

The best part is my boss foot the entire bill.. yippee.. and we also accummulated some money to try our luck in the Ang Pow draw.. aiming for the $10million. If we won, then each of us get to take back $1.6mil! Wish us luck! Condo here I come!

Valentine day.. February 14, 2008

Every couples will remember and celebrate on some certain important dates: Birthdays, Christmas, New Years, Anniversary and of course Valentine day. This is a special days for couples to celebrate together. But also these are the days where for the singles, is the most boring days especially Valentine day

Every where you go, you see couples everywhere, flowers everywhere and balloons as well, will always a keep remining you that you are singles. Normally, either we go out with other friends who are singles or just go home! But this is also not an occasion to go out for meals, as all the restaurants, cafes, hotels will definitely take this opportunity to jack up the prices!

Just a wonder, must the couple only celebrate valentine day on the actual day itself? It is becoming too commercialize and meaningless, you will see people selling flowers, gifts, chocolates at a higher prices then the norm. Is it really worth paying?

What I think is much depends on the couple, everyday can be a valentine day, not necessary to wait for that 1 day in the entire year to celebrate or to show their love and care, rite?

CNY Outing… February 11, 2008

Karaoke is a favourite outing for many people, a place where people test their vocal strength and some will take this opportunity to gather around to catch up with one another. Different people sing different songs, some english pop songs, some Mandarin pop songs, some oldies either English or Mandarin and some even sings Hokkien Songs.

 Last night I went to karaoke with a different group of friends. One that I have never went karaoke with. It was a really eye-opening experience. We have a mix-lingual session, Mandarin, Cantonese, Hokkien (these sang by the rest of the people) while English (Mostly sang by me coz I can’t sing Mandarin songs due to unable to read the characters) and Malay songs (of course.. ehem.. sang by me). A really multi racial society indeed. Even though I have to admit, I am not a good singer, at some points, it will go out of tune but not as bad as (hopefully) by another guy, he likes to keep choosing those up-to-date Mandarin songs to sing but most of them are out of tune! It really spoils the whole songs as some of them, I have not even heard the original version yet. But overall, an exciting experience.

After the session had a late dinner/supper at a Hong Kong cafe before proceeding back home.. Even though I have to wake up early in the morning to go to work on Monday but really had fun last night.

Today, I bought my 2nd digital camera. A pink flat touch screen sony digital camera – T70. They actually come with 4 different colors: Black, white, silver and pink. This is the first time I buy such a girlie colour camera. But, I like it! I had a $100 cash voucher that I won from my company dinner and dance last year and they came with several free gifts as well – A mini tripod, a lens cleanser set, 2gb memory card as well as sony pouch! Yeh.. what a happy day… can’t wait for the battery to be fully charged so that I am able to play with my new toy… hmm….

Gong Xi Fa Cai! February 9, 2008

There are so many religions and cultures in this world, there are Chinese, Indians, Christians and Muslims being the main religions. Each of these religions has their own special day of celebration either start of the new year, the birth/death of their deity. As such, Indians celebrates Deepavali or Thaipusam, Muslims will celebrate the Hari Raya Aidilfiltri, Christians  celebrates Christmas Day while the Chinese would celebrate Chinese New Year.

Just 2 days ago, I was back to my hometown to celebrate the brand new year of the Rat, the starting of the 12 cycles: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat (Hei, that’s my year!), Chicken, Monkey, Dog and lastly the Pig.  We had our reunion lunch with my family members on the eve of the New Year and we had a sumptuous 12-course meal and that is not counting the deserts! That is a lot of food…but it is so yummy because they are all home cook food! This is an occasion where all the family members gathers around to catch up with each other as me and my 2nd brother doesn’t stay with my parents or even the same town. This is also the last day we are able to spring clean the house as on the 1st day of Chinese New Year, we are not suppose to use the clean the house as they believe that you will clean away the good luck! I was so happy that my mum made my favourite food at the last minute – My Butter Chocolate Chip Cake! YUM YUM… so siok… and of course she kept a small bottle of my favourite cookies for me as well, Nescafe cookies.. Double Happiness! Thanks Mum!…

Also on the eve, children have to stay as late as possible as they believe that it will ensure long life for their parents. With this thought, me, my brother,  my aunt and my mum played mahjong till 3am! wow! This is the first time we play together and hard to imaging my mum staying up so late! But sadly I lost.

The next day on the 1st day of Chinese New Year, in the morning, we will go to the temple to pray to wish for good wishes for the new year. When we were kids, we used to visit our other relatives on this day, but once we were all grown up, we don’t visit them anymore.. (sigh.. less ang pow now).. So guess what? We end up playing mahjong again (of course I was the one suggesting the activity, hoping to recoup my losses from the day before..however it does not turn out that way)

Due to I have to go back to Singapore on the 2nd day, we had a small gathering with a handful of my friends. It is so good to meet up with them, sharing the gossips and stories with them as this was like once a year event. We had some cakes and teas at the Secret Recipe before proceeding to a mamak stall for some roti plata and teh tarik.. Really had fun that night..

Back to Singapore yesterday, proceeded to visit my aunt (dad’s younger sis) then followed by my uncle (my mum’s brother). Is our usual practice that when we visit my uncle, we will have either a short or a long blackjack session. Luckily I won some money and able to cover my previous losses! Whew! .. In the evening, we went to a seafood restaurant at Defu Lane: Seafood Paradise for dinner, where we had 8-course dinner with “Lou Hei”, Shark fin soup.. yummy, steam fish, herbal chicken, cold dish, fried rice, sea cucumber with mushroom and veg and lastly the desert – longan and lycee (my favourite!). At the end of the meal, we were so bloated! Really need to start back my yoga.. and has to be very soon, or I will not dare to step up the weighing scale in near future if this continues!

Today, was a depressing day, you must be thinking why? I have to go back TO WORK! sob sob.. Even though just going back for just 1/2 day but is the waking up in the morning, going through your normal routine.. and it is just 3rd day of CHINESE NEW YEAR! Oh man.. life is so unfair! But then, life is never fair. So dutifully I went to work. Surprising, there are some idiots out there do call up (expecting people to work during Chinese New Year.. which there are.. like me.. ) for enquiries. Geez, don’t they have any life.. got nothing better to do but have to call and bother me.. urgh… Sigh… So basically today, it kills all my festive mood and there goes.. BUT it does not mean I will not go visiting asking for ang pows k.. Haha.. Here I comes!…

Ang Pow please… February 3, 2008

The days that children will always look forward to are school holidays, birthdays, Christmas and Chinese New Year. These are the days where they either get presents, get to go for trips with family and of course ANG POW! Only during Chinese New Year they get more goodies to enjoy and of course for certain countries they can play fire crackers!

For adults will be more busy, those that have a family, will have to get new clothes to get ready for their children, ang pows, household items and of course the tiring Spring Cleaning!. Of course especially ladies, we will take this opportunity to buy new clothes, shoes just for the festive season. The feeling on the 1st day we were our new clothes when we visit other relatives.

However as we get older, the festive moods is no longer there.

But we still uses this happy occasion to go out and get new clothes and shoes. I went with my friend to get some clothes for the occasion in Bugis. It was really fun, browsing from shops to shops, trying out outfit and I ended up with a yellow dress with a small jacket, kinda make me look very .. erm. innocent? who me? or like a small girl like my parents commented. Got a couple of T-shirts and bought a 3/4 pants to go with them.

Made some time to go shopping for shoes as well since my old pair has finally worn off after serving me about 1 year!  All ready set and go to celebrate the upcoming new year!

Lucky Draw.. February 3, 2008

Lucky draw seems to be on of the highlights in any formal dinners. It is a norm for every dinner and dance that they have lucky draws, but is the matter if the prizes are good – useful or not. There will also be some entertainment that they will engage an event company where they will host the entire events with jokes and games.

I just attended a dinner and dance at SwissOtel today food is so so nothing fantastic, and well as usual I do not have such luck in the lucky draws.. not even the 20th price! sigh..(But this is one dinner and dance that I wish I don’t win anything due to should there be any of my full time job colleagues attended the dinner I do not want them to know that I am there!) But the Host is very funny even though some of the games, I seen before in another dinner and dance that I attended last year but with different host different presentation. I stil find it very funny especially when you can still remember what happen the last time as well!

Of course even saying that, I still wonder, is that the only game left, don’t they have different games? Hmm.. well.. maybe due to this is a different company dinner and dance so might get the similar games.. Will wait and see if there is any new games in other dinner and dance then..

Wham! February 1, 2008

People always says Monday blue where people are always stony when they get to work. As the week goes by, the more energetic people gets as weekends gets closer. However, for me is the other way round.. sigh.. Normally Monday I am more energetic after the recharge during weekends but as the week progress to nearer to weekend.. instead of being energizing the more tired I am.

 Just this morning I got a shocking wake up call. The day starts pretty the same after turning off several snoozes before deciding to climb out from my bed (or rather mattress). While I was walking towards the pick up point at Vivocity where I have to take a bus from there to reach my work place, I heard footstep behind me, thinking that it might be one of my colleague, I looked back. Just that moment…

WHAM!

People say only ghost walk through the wall, I tried to walk through a big white pillar. Wow! I really see stars and had a major headache after that.. That really woke me up… lucky the place that I bang was at the side of my head so if there is a bruise at least it was being covered by my hair. But at that moment.. it was so painful! Geez..

That teach me a lesson.. never look back and walk.. After shaking up my brain this morning, hopefully will make my brain cells work better now!