*mymodernfairytale

Patience

2010-07-30T18:27:00.000+08:00

I admit I'm not exactly someone you'll describe as patient.

It may seem almost ironic since my line of work certainly requires an exceptional amount of patience from me.

These days I've been lazing at home, my patience has been unexpectedly put to the test.

Why?

Because my mum is learning Facebook.

My ideal afternoon involves me lazing on the sofa with a good book in hand, sipping Earl Grey Tea, with jazz music playing softly in the background.

While I never had much time to indulge like this during school term, these few weeks before I began on my new job seemed a perfect time for such self-indulgence. Well...or so I thought.

Every couple of minutes, mum would scream " Meimei!!! Why my facebook....", " Why I cannot add friends ah?" " How to reply my friend's message ah?"..... And I'll reluctantly run over to her room to troubleshoot. It's been almost a week now, and she throws me the same questions day after day.

While I wasn't exactly pleased to be torn away from my haven again and again, I told myself, mom was simply trying to pick up a new "skill", trying to keep up with the times, and catch up with a few old classmates.... I really feel 不孝 for feeling irritated, but sometimes I can't help it. So while it was hard to be all chirpy about it each time she called me in, I did try to explain her doubts in all ways I can, with hope that she'll finally understand. After all, I probably subjected her to the same torture throughout the years she brought me up.

Sigh... there she goes again...

"I'm coming mum..."

(I really should try to be less grumpy.... I'll regret totally this one day...)

OOPS

2010-07-29T05:05:00.001+08:00

Happy mood ---> decides to change blogskin ---> went to google "blogskins" --> nothing caught my eye --> bad mood ---> decides to create own blogskin --> went to customize banner on photoshop ---> :) ---> went to customize pokka dots all over the background ---> :D ---> 5.12am ---> :X ---> zzzzzzzz

(goodness, I'm going crazy)

Random happy mood

2010-07-29T01:36:00.000+08:00

Today it's one of those random happy days that I wish would never end!
I say random because nothing really happened today....
Haha!
And I actually talked to a few snails along my way home because I wanted ~~someone~~ something to share my happiness!

Okay, I admit, I am strange...

A new beginning.

2010-07-25T23:41:00.000+08:00

Oh my goodness, I'm down to one last week before I start on my job!!
I'm sooooo excited to get started, but also mad nervous!

你永远都不知道。。。

2010-06-25T22:56:00.000+08:00

你值十分

s.l.o.w.

2010-06-18T01:58:00.000+08:00

On hindsight, the arduous journey to complete my Honours Thesis taught me more that I could have expected. Months later, I'm still surprised at what I took away from the experience.

Would I go through that again? Hell no.
(Okay, maybe yes. But certainly not with the naive ambition of trying to challenge current understandings and push knowledge frontiers this time round)

But since there's no point harping over spilt milk, and since I miraculously passed (yippee doodle yipee yay!), I guess I should be thankful.

Maybe the whole experience drained the life out of me so much then, that it made me double cherish the freedom and time I have on my hands now. Surprisingly, I'm feeling no sense of emptiness watching time pass me by. I'm quietly enjoying the newfound slow pace of life. I once am convinced that I had to be doing sometime all the time. I'll be so afraid of boredom, to see a blank schedule on my organiser, I fill all my free time with gatherings, dinners, activities - my way of living life to its fullest. But maybe life doesn't have to be like that.... (Well, at least for one more month. I'll go look for a job after :P)

Been there, done that.

2010-06-15T01:54:00.000+08:00

All that's left to do is to wait 6 years :)

comfort zones

2010-04-28T02:00:00.001+08:00

When I was in primary school, I was made monitress.Not because I was the epitome of good behaviour, but conversely, because I happened to be hopping around the class on one foot when my form teacher was selecting someone to lead the class.

I helped the teachers run errands after errands, led the class back to the classroom after assembly, made public announcements and even raised the Singapore flag every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I doubt my primary school friends would ever term me a shy kid - I was outgoing, loud, and popular then. But no one then knew that it took a lot out of me to handle the demands asked of a monitress.

I remembered that my form teacher used to frequently ask me to head over to another class to pass a message to other teachers. Sounds effortless. But I had to calm myself down, count 1 to 10 outside the class and make myself take deep breaths before I knock on the doors of another class. It seems silly now to think of how much self-psycho-ing I needed to convince myself to do something as simple as stepping into another class. But then, that really seemed like a daunting task.

Now to think of it, I really appreciate being made monitress (thank you Mrs Wong, though you'll never read this). And I firmly believe that I'll never have gotten to where I am now, if not for that opportunity. It's really the first time I understood what it meant to be put out of my comfort zone, which paved the way for me to try out new things beyond what I think I can do from then on.

Accepting this post has really pushed me to do things I would never have imagined doing. While it gives me a great sense of achievement afterwards, others would never see how much self-psycho-ing it takes me to do many things. I got no idea why my comfort zone has such a small radius. Why does so many things fall beyond my comfort zone?!

What prompted this post? A new challenge.
It's not really often that I get an opportunity like this, but the challenge scares me like no other.
Grrrrr. Pass it up? or face my fears?

sometimes.

2010-04-26T02:12:00.000+08:00

It's one of those times I wish I could re-live my life.
Maybe things wouldn't be like this.
Bah.

除旧迎新

2010-04-19T01:15:00.001+08:00

I miss my bouncy curls

But I LOVE my new short bob!!

:)

2010-04-15T00:56:00.005+08:00

要想在充满挫折和失败的日子当中寻找快乐

要学会知足常乐

你学会了吗？

When I thought all was lost

2010-01-21T13:28:00.001+08:00

I was woken up this morning by a glimpse of hope :)

The waiting game.

2010-01-21T05:33:00.001+08:00

Actually, I've not been well.
School hasn't been fine.
I don't want to put on a strong front anymore.
I don't want to lie when people ask me how's school.
Well, ITS REALLY NOT GOING WELL.
Thesis has been bothering me. It's haunting me, draining me dry.
I don't think I've ever felt like this.
I'm this close to giving up.
I really need the approvals.
What keeps me awake all night ever since school started is the anxiety that I'll have to drop my thesis if I don't get the approvals
I wish I could do something more
But I've done everything
And my fate lies in the hands of others
And no matter how I struggle, how many hours I'm willing to stay awake to do work, there's nothing else I can do about it, except to wait.
W.A.I.T
I'll give it one more week.
I wouldn't be able to hang on. I've no energy to hang on anymore.
I'll abandon my thesis.
I've worked really hard for it for the past 6 months
And it's all good till here.
GIVE ME MY APPROVALS.
I wish it would end here.
I wish I could just quit.
But I'm distraught just thinking of what lies ahead? What would I say to my parents?
Maybe I'll graduate one semester late? Would I even graduate?
I don't know
And I'm running out of time.
I shudder to think of the other set of approvals I'll have to get even after I drop thesis.
GIVE ME MY APPROVALS
What have I gotten myself into, really.
I'm running out of time.
I'm waiting.
I spend every waking moment experiencing the anxiety of waiting. It's truly excruciating to say the least. I don't think I've ever felt this sick. Not being able to do anything but wait makes you lose sleep, appetite, and all your optimism in life. It takes the blue out of the sky, the colours out of the sights.
The clock is ticking- a stark reminder that I'm running out of time.
I'm tired of waiting already.
One week.
And I'm not going to wait anymore. I don't think my poor heart can take anymore waiting.
One week.
And I'll give up.
GIVE ME MY APPROVALS ALREADY
PLEASE

" Why don't you blog?"

2010-01-12T01:53:00.004+08:00

Cheeky asked me why I don't blog nowadays.

And quite frankly, that question caught me off guard, and my first thought was actually " OH YA, I ACTUALLY HAVE A BLOG"

Been caught up with all the nitty gritty work, event after event, it almost seems like I wouldn't have a free moment to really collect my thoughts.

But here I am, after a full day of meaningful productive work on my thesis, trying to think of what to say in this terribly neglected space, feeling relatively satisfied at how my first day of school went.

It's pretty late, and my thoughts are random and tangential, and I honestly cannot be bothered to organise them in coherent sentences, so I'm just going to be very random and say whatever comes to my mind. Ah! Why don't I try to think of new year resolutions! I know it's already 12 days into 2010, but I don't have time to think of new year resolutions lah!

1) I need to work hard for this! Which basically translates to

Earn money [Good degree --> get a good job --> "big" money]

+ Save money [ Less online shopping and less taxi]

I hope all works out. Wish me luck!

2) Work really hard this semester.

I can still vividly remember my first semester in NUS.

Which makes it all the more intimidating that I'm embarking on the final phase of this wonderful journey. I look back at the past 3 and a half years and think of the the " I wish I had worked harder" moments, smile at the "I GOT AN A!" moments, and feel all nostalgic. I need to work a miracle this semester. And I'm determined to see that miracle through to leave NUS with no regrets. Why why why, do we have only 24 hours a day.....

Oh ya, I need to speak up in class this semester!!!! I shall aim to contribute one smart comment per seminar this semester. To all gods/deities/ higher beings up there/ ancestors up there: Please let all brilliant questions and thoughts fill my mind, so that I have the courage to proclaim them to the class with gusto!

3) Work hard at relationships.

I need to learn to be a better friend. I always forget the birthdays of those who matter. I'm lazy with writing christmas/new year/birthday cards or notes. I'm stingy and don't give enough presents to those I love. I'm not asking people out enough! Forgive me my friends! It's amazing you guys are still there for me through my ups and downs! I promise 2010 will be different!

I need to be a better girlfriend too! Learn to listen (I know I keep cutting you off, sorry! :S), to keep my promises, to be more accommodating and giving. And to never stop working at our relationship. I'm sure 2010 will be an exciting one for us :)

4) EXERCISE

This makes it to to each and every of my new year resolution/ birthday resolution etc etc. But it's one I always don't follow through. (random thought: I just polled myself inside my head, whether asking me not to cab at all is easier or asking me to exercise is easier. Erm. I have no answer for now. I will mull over this while I sleep laters.) I'm so sick of procrastinating on this, I'm going to make this work this year! So hopefully my 2011 resolution will evolve to be "KEEP ON EXERCISING!" haha :p

5) SLEEP EARLY

I don't know why this didn't make to my previous new year resolutions, for I sleep at unearthly hours like 4am almost everyday. So I'm going to sleep before 2am as much as I can for 2010 (OOPS, IT'S LIKE 2.34AM AS I BLOG)..... for better health, clearer skin and whatever benefits sleep brings. AIYA, I shall go sleep now to show my commitment to my new year resolutions. (is this too abrupt? haha. GOOD NIGHT PEOPLE)

9 roses for eternity

2009-09-27T13:07:00.004+08:00

I love attending weddings.

Weddings are such beautiful occasions. They're a couple's testament to love, honour and cherish each other for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, everyday onwards.

But I enjoy some weddings more than others.

Especially weddings where you can truly feel that the bride and groom deeply love each other. That doesn't necessarily translate to endless hugs and kisses, declarations of love, crooning love ballets. But it's really something as simple as the way they look at each other. That look can move me to tears. That gaze gives me that warm, fuzzy feeling and sends tingles all down my spine. But sometimes, I attend a wedding, and wonder if the couple is getting married for the right reasons. Do people really get married because it's time to get married? Do they feel pressured that it's time to do so because they've been attending way too of their friends have wed? I don't know why it certainly feels that way sometimes. And I really hate feeling that way, because it kills all the beauty of a wedding.

A friend recently mentioned that she'll marry anyone when she's 28. It's funny, because right before she said this, she was listing a whole list of criteria that she has in mind even before dating any guy. She rambles off her precise criteria - perfect height (11cm taller), perfect age (4 years older), caucasian, physique, religion, intellect... And at the end of it, I was telling her she effectively just eliminated everyone I ever knew. But surprisingly, she wasn't bothered. She looked at me with such great certainty that she won't settle for less....not until she's 28 at least.

Then I got friends who already joined SDU because they're concerned that they won't be able to find any guy to date now that they're working in a female-dominated office (and also because SDU offers wonderful dining privileges... but still...). These are friends that actively proclaim they are single and looking. They tell me every single time we meet where they've looked in vain, how no one even seems to fit the basic criteria. Actually, what they want seems fairly reasonable. They explain that they can't afford to set standards or they'll be left on the shelves.

I sometimes chuckle when I hear girls talk about their criteria. I've this friend, who's damn loud and rah-rah. She's damn straightforward, can be curt at times, but she'll be out in your face if she has a problem with you. And there she goes saying she wants someone who's louder than her (i seriously can't imagine anyone louder than her)....and later she continues to say that, but then he can't be too loud because she is loud and needs to talk a lot. And in my head i was like -_- ...

haha.

...

2009-09-27T02:34:00.003+08:00

It's 2.34am. I just got home from one of my social gatherings.

I'm feeling so exhausted.

It was really refreshing to hear from girls whose experiences are in ways so different from yours.

But I wasn't in the mood to engage in any conversation.

I smiled absent-mindedly, nodded mindlessly, stared in the distance.

It's been 24 hrs.

Any longer, and I'll get used to it.

Like never before

2009-07-15T12:12:00.002+08:00

It's getting overwhelming...
Another phase of my life has begun, and part of me is still reluctant to accept the new changes to my life.
It almost seems too good to be true, the opportunities I've always needed presented right in front of me. Just after proudly patting myself on the back, for taking a step forward, my decision appears to have led to so many more opportunities knocking on my door - opportunities I've been waiting for, for what seemed like a long time.

It would really appear that when these opportunities come, I'll be eager and elated. But I find myself holding on to my past, refusing to take on new responsibilities, face new challenges, take new risks. I really didn't expect changing to be that difficult.

So day by day, I try a little harder to ease into my new responsibilites. Day by day, I try not to excape, not to hate what I have to do. Maybe things will get better.

Still... I hate growing up. Argh.

A Tag

2009-06-23T03:13:00.006+08:00

I got reminded of a tag I read on facebook sometime ago, about things you want to say to different people, without explicitly naming them. I was pretty drawn to the idea, so I thought I'll try... The process was surprisingly liberating.

Sometimes I wonder if we'll ever be friends again.

I'm glad we hugged goodbye.

I've been summoning enough courage for the past 10 years to apologize to you the next time we meet.

I couldn’t ask for a better friend.

Thanks for letting me go.

I owe my success today to that decision you made 15 years ago.

I've never dared to ask you about her because I fear the truth.

Your mistake ruined my dream.

I wish you would see how gorgeous you are to me.

Your expectations crush me.

Sometimes, I think I deserve it more than you do.

New friends

2009-06-18T14:10:00.002+08:00

Without even me realising it, it's been months since I've first got news that I was selected to be the pioneer batch of young women leaders in a newly founded women society.

From the initially stressful rounds of selection, to the countless bonding outings, to our recent elections, it's been a roller coaster ride.

And I'm growing to love these new friends.

We started as strangers, from different universities, thrust together, and told to build a society. It was admittedly awkward to begin with. We had to organise bonding sessions week after week, simply to get to know each other, to learn names of 29 others, and to see who had the makings of a president to lead the organisation before the impending elections.

We had meals together, played board games together, went fishing together, and soon grew to be pretty close. Admittedly, it was pretty intimidating just to mingle around with these successful women. Some had their own companies, others had brilliant CVs what swept me off my feet. Discussion sessions were intense and draining, simply because everyone made such great contributions and threw out meaningful considerations that it was almost difficult to come to a consensus. Everyone was passionate about the cause, and radiating with devotion and commitment, it was truly encouraging.

The over-night retreat at SMU that I helped to organise was a great success. And I really do believe that we all got to learn a lot more about each other after that. I was surprised how much you can learn about someone in just a 2D1N retreat - how you can see someone's character ravel throughout the camp. I saw women power, I saw brilliant women strategize, I saw women plot and scheme. All boils down to politics again I guess.

But still, I'm glad to have met everyone of them! I was a little dejected at how my life was turning out, worried about its lack of direction, apprehensive about my future before I met these like-minded friends. And now, everything seems brighter just to know that I'm not alone.

I love my new friends! :)

:)

2009-06-18T01:02:00.002+08:00

I haven't updated this space for ages.

Which doesn't come as a surprise really, if anyone has seen me gone through the past semester in school.

It's been a torture. It drained all my energy, my enthusiasm in life, brought out the skeptic in me and things that I really didn't see in myself for a long time.

The last time I got so frustrated with my studies was probably my struggle with math in JC (trigonometric tsskkk -_-). This semester, those killer modules really made me want to quit on several occasions, and stop trying. I wouldn't describe myself as a quitter, but I was on the edge of being one.

GAH! I'm just glad the semester's over.

And I'm exceptionally proud of myself for working so darn hard.

Additionally, I've never enjoyed my holidays more!

It's been amazing to say the least

Mopping around the house, waking late, hanging out with friends, reading...

I'm really glad I finally got time to pick up the paint brush too:)

I made a conscious decision not to rush into a holiday job or internship the moment the semester ended. It wasn't an easy decision really and I deliberated upon the issue for quite some time. Simply because there seems to be a fine line between getting a well-deserved break and an excuse for slacking.

But now I'm pretty thankful for the break :) And I'm ready to take on next semester.

Killer modules, you all better watch out!!!

1-month internship in July coming up!

:)

2009-02-19T23:34:00.002+08:00

I must be the luckiest girl in the world, ever.

All through my undergraduate days, I've sometimes looked back and my life and lamented at my lack of achievement. Sometimes, I can't seem to fall asleep at night, spending hours reflecting on what I should have done, what I could have done better...

I end up sitting through the night, trying to think of ways to "turn my life around" and configure plans to reassure myself that I'll be fine.

My lack of success, is perhaps more relative than absolute... But it has always been a concern I wanted to proactively address.

Which was why I was really honoured to be given a chance to prove myself in this young women leader's forum. An event so exclusive, only a few lucky souls like myself were given the chance to attend. So far, I've attended 2 forums, and sat through dialogues with community and business female leaders. Hearing about their success stories were deeply inspiring, exceptionally empowering to say the least. And I walk out of every session brimming with hope that perhaps, I'll succeed one day. I really got to thank FASS for putting me through this. It's only the beginning, but it's already given me so much hope and faith in the future, a potentially life-changing experience.

Best still, after reviewing my application and after reviewing my performance at the dialogue sessions, I was accepted into the mentoring program and the Executive Committee! They just informed me yesterday!!! And till this moment, I'm still in a state of disbelief! Where else can you get a chance to get a CEO of a bank or a prominent community leader as mentors?

AHHHHH! Please pardon my excitement people. I really wanted to share my joy!

Finally, finally, finally, I felt I've achieved something my parents would be truly proud of.

My Valentine

2009-02-19T23:10:00.003+08:00

Valentine's Day happens to fall on a Saturday this year.

Supposedly a good thing, because it no longer meant squeezing time for dinner at atrociously crowded places after a long day at school.

And to say the truth, I've been so overwhelmingly busy this semester, with my renewed determination to do well, that it only dawned upon me a few days before that I had absolutely zero plans lined up for the day.

Marco's been so caught up with school work too... so we decided to deviate from our "norm" this time.

I had wanted to mug the day away really. I thought it was a perfect day to catch up with my work while others celebrate the day. (oops, I'm damn competitive!!). And I proposed that we practice "food-court-disation " this year to save money. But Marco refused and insisted we shouldn't mug despite me bringing up that suggestion more than 3 times. haha.

So, no huge surprises. No lavish plans for the day.

Just a simple dinner at Boat Quay (thank goodness our last minute reservation was accepted), and a budget karaoke session to sing our hearts out.

And practical presents that we needed for school.

I don't really know what got into me really, but I belted out a wide range of children songs that day.

"Three blind mice, three blind mice... See how they run, see how they run...."

" One little, two little, three little Indians...."

Silly really, but they really made my day!

And dinner was darn good! I hadn't eaten ribs that nice for a long time! And the meal was surprisingly budget for that kind of ambience. Will definitely visit the place again.

I really enjoyed the day actually. I really didn't expect how well the day turned out despite our simple plans.

So here's a huge Thank You, to you, for being such perfect company, because everything turned out perfect :)

It's Week 4...

2009-02-02T23:28:00.003+08:00

But it feels like Week 11 or something...

I'm crushing under the workload.

Maybe Dad's right.

I shouldn't set such high expectations for myself this semester.

I met with someone recently

And that someone really made me change my whole perspective on my life path.

I could whine on and on about how life's unfair.

But life is afterall, a marathon, not a sprint.

And our talk just made me realise, I just have to work harder to achieve what that someone was given.

I got to thank that someone really. Suddenly, my life for the few years seems to have taken on a clear direction.

Sigh. Back to my law cases. Got no time to be sick... Enough with those long nights :(

4 Men

2009-01-23T11:10:00.002+08:00

Last night, I went to bed with 4 men studying outside my door.

This morning I woke up to 4 men sleeping outside my door, with their laptops in front of them, tired from a whole night of programming. They were really silent throughout the night though, and I'm thankful I still got my good night sleep.

It's so amusing to witness the transformation really. A few years ago, these boys were playing gameboys and playstations outside my door....Noisy little screaming boys...

我的弟弟长大了!

A loss

2009-01-17T00:11:00.003+08:00

Almost a year ago, I bought myself a watch from a small pushcart in Jurong Entertainment Centre.
It was nothing fancy, really. Just a really plain, sleek gold watch.

But it has since became one important accessory in my dresser.

This gold piece started my love affair with the colour actually, and I soon began to build my wardrobe around it. Clothes. Bags with gold buckles. Sandals with gold details...

I lost my watch while travelling in New York about 2 months back.

And believe it or not, the heartache resembles a painful breakup. The pain never seems to truly fade.

Afterall, there're so many things that remind me of the watch. My outfits never seem complete without the watch. It almost feels like something's missing all the time.

It was made worse with the fact that Jurong Entertainment Centre had to be scheduled for demolition when I was away...

And hence my efforts to buy another one of the gold watch came in futile.

I still try my luck at every pushcart I see now (even those in Batam), but I've never had the luck to see that design again.The closest I ever came, was a similar design in silver. I had to buy the watch. But it was almost difficult to match it with the stuff in my wardrobe.

Self-reproach creeps in once in a while.

And I blame myself for never really treasuring my watch.

I bought the watch for twenty-six dollars. A tad more than what I'll normally pay for a watch. But now, I'll actually pay much more to get my watch back.

Maybe one day I'll see my watch again... Or maybe one day I'll fall in love with another one..

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

Batam

2009-01-15T23:48:00.006+08:00

A short getaway to Batam to energize ourselves for the upcoming academic term really does wonders. 4 days 3 nights of taking in the beauty of nature, enjoying the sea breeze, amazing seafood and pure indulgence. A perfect hideaway to escape the city. I'm missing that place already!

Best of all, the whole trip was part of an amazing deal we found online, so it really didn't take much of a toil on whatever's left of my savings.

Cultural performances...

When was the last time you spent lazy afternoons playing chess and scrabble...

We visited 3 shopping centres at Batam with another couple (Jesslyn and Nicholas).... Shopping there isn't worth raving about. But they bought A LOT OF STUFF! Marco and I pretty much settled for window-shopping, cafe-hopping. and hours and hours of great conversation... We had the chance to talk about everything that's been bugging us (thesis, career, school..)... and I really appreciated how we were able to do things without having to worry about time and nitty gritty errands.

The seafood there was amazing though. I'm so craving for the calamari and chilli crab there.

And how could we miss A &W! Amazing rootbeer float!

Cheap steak!

One of my favourite moments in Batam was dinner at the Sunset Beach Restaurant. We were seated at this hut, looking out to the sea, enjoying the seabreeze and yummicious food, while arguing over silly things like whether there were crocodiles in the waters beneath us...

We had wanted to go for a swim at the resort's swimming pool, but it was down for general cleaning. But guess what!!! The manager took us to the private jaccuci/ sauna room, and treated us to a full-body massage for free in a private hut! The massage was damn GOOD okay. It was so refreshing. And I felt so pampered! The whole experience actually kinda motivated both of us to work hard and earn more money in order to afford more of such indulgences. I'm definitely going back for the massage, seriously.

Another day was well-spent doing sea sports like parasailing, canoeing, and go-karting!

There isn't much nightlife to talk about in Batam. So we spent our last evening having a quiet retreat by the beach. A romantic dinner of grilled meat + seafood with a cup of Baileys to top it off! I was totally dreading the return to Singapore actually. It was utter bliss to be able to slow life's pace a bit and enjoy the simply pleasures of life with someone special.

Oh well. it's time to face reality. Back to school! Too much partying and travelling in Canada for a whole semester is not good when it comes to finding the motivation for this semester. It's like I can't remember when was the last time I really mugged. Oh well, I got to get my momentum back!

What goes around comes around...

2008-12-26T01:48:00.002+08:00

I spent hours today trying to find THE perfect blogskin.

I googled and looked through hundreds of skins at blogskins.com...

But nothing caught my eye. None was perfect.

So, I made up my mind to customise my own blogskin instead, in my bid to create perfection.

I spent the following few hours painstakingly trying to find THE perfect images, THE perfect layout, THE perfect quotes, colours, fonts....

Time check: 2.13am.

Blog Preview. Click. Stare.

I give up. Far from perfection. I begin to question whether there's ever going to be perfection. Perhaps...but at least not anytime soon.

I'll stick with the current blogskin for now. I can't believe I spent half a day doing nothing.

HEY PEOPLE!

2008-08-29T09:16:00.002+08:00

Greetings from Canada!!! :)

FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY, I get some internet in my room and I can finally start blogging about Canada.

Head over to " http://www.yourdawnismydusk.blogspot.com/ " to see pictures and updates about me for the next 4 months ahead!

I'm still in the process of uploading photos so I'll blog there within the next day or so lah! :)

I miss you all like crazy!!

LOADS OF LOVE,
from a freezing maymay

Heritage Fest 08

2008-08-15T22:01:00.000+08:00

I've always wanted to join an amazing race of some sort.... Not surprisingly, I'm looking forward to the part where I get to work my brains and navigate around.

I couldn't get enough people to join the SMRT challenge last year... and I'll be overseas for this year's challenge.. so when I chanced on the Singapore Heritage Festival amazing race event, I immediately formed my team!
Cheeks was super on, and agreed immediately.
Unfortunately, by some stroke of luck, everyone I contacted were either busy with school/ CCAs/ not interested in national education/ lazy to run/ don't wanna sweat etc etc...
In the end, I roped in my ever enthusiastic little cousin who roped in his best friend to join...
So the 2 pair of best friends joined as Team "Chicks and Geeks". :)

And gosh was it tiring having to choing around all areas of Singapore in search of checkpoints. My whole body was aching for days after that!
The event was a magnificent display of cheeky's map reading/ analytical/ navigational skills.
And my bus guide came in handy too!
But because we were lazy to run all around the island + the fact that many teams cheated.. we had to be contented with just a random lucky draw win of 12 cans of drinks ( thanks to JJ, the sponsor of the event. ) haha!

After that, cheeky and I headed to Swensens, determined to rest our poor and aching feet and enjoying the air con! We're both watching our weight (actually I know a lot of people who are too), she had this fruit yoghurt shake and I had my caesar salad! And we had some serious brainstorming session for Leon and YM's birthday celebrations/ presents!

So thank you cheeky, once more, for joining this with me!! I had so much fun! =) Let's prepare for the SMRT challenge next year alrights? :) Any takers??

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Marco had tickets to this Heritage Fest concert at the Esplanade.... And I was super excited over the dress code "Ethnic Chic" :) I was also really looking forward to an opportunity to dress up prettily after being in the routine of wearing formal office clothes 5 days a week...

Haiya! But as usual, everyone didn't make the effort to dress according to theme! Only a few men were decked out in their batik shirts... Women were like in pretty designer dresses lah, which made me (the only soul super dressed to theme ) feel so underdressed!

We went early because I wanted to check out this crazily pretty cafe at Esplanade serving tea. Pretty nice place to just chill and have exotic tea if you feel like splurging..

You know it was funny how Marco was snapping photos with me (a lot of photos), without realising that in the backdrop of the photo was the sign " No Photography Allowed"! heh :P
And nothing beats good zi- char at Glutton's Bay! Free fireworks too! :)

Oh well, I think I'm super supportive of the Singapore Heritage Festival. They should make me their ambassador or something..

Till then.. I got to go pack my bag!! :)

About leaving

2008-08-14T11:55:00.003+08:00

I woke up this morning, by the alarm of my handphone...
I stared sleepily at the screen, trying to click 'Snooze' so I could catch a few more minutes of sweet slumber..
But the date on the screen of my phone jolted my memory- a reality that I'll be leaving in 10 days.
I eat my breakfast at the dining table.
And the date printed on the morning papers again reminds me of my impending departure..
I'm so constantly reminded of what day of the month it is everyday by various things and it kinda scares me how soon I'll be leaving Singapore to a far far away land... Its realy a mix of excitement and a bit of apprehension. I told Marco I'm not ready to leave Singapore. And he told me I'll never be.. Guess he's right..

A recent death of a close relative in the family probably explains why I'm feeling all gloomy these days.
My uncle's death was so sudden, mysterious even.
He just left home one afternoon and never came back. 2 days later, he was found drowned in a canal.
I helped out at the wake every day after work. My auntie cried and cried and its the first time I truly understood how someone could cry her voice hoarse... She hugged everyone, with tears streaming down her face. All she said was " He was a good man, a loving husband, a wonderful father.".
Sigh... how heartbreaking.

Maybe its the whole mood of the wake made me truly worry about not making it back from Canada...
I told my mum lets hang out on monday- it be the last time we go shopping together if I don't get back.
"CHOY" my mum said, and started nagging at me for saying stuff like that.

"Let's not quarrel from now till I'm back", I told Marco, " I don't want the last memories of us to be littered with petty quarrels, in case I don't make it back..

Gosh, this are some seriously gloomy thoughts... . Okay lah, I'm sure I'm just being silly and I'll be OKAY! I should psycho myself to start thinking positive thoughts, like how Canada and her cold winter winds are beckoning me :P

Oh, I saw my primary 6 form teacher, Mrs Lim, at the wake!
She was a good friend of my uncle's daughter and I haven't seen her in years and years and years!
For all who doesn't know, I really enjoyed my days in my neighbourhood primary school and the Primary 5/6 days were particularly memorable because of Mrs Lim. It was on hindsight that I realised how inspirational and how pivotal she was in shaping me to what I am today. And it was also her that made me want to be a teacher since I was young, because I realised how good teachers really made adifference in the lives of children and their future, like how Mrs Lim changed my life.. Her lessons were never boring- she played games during classes, told us nice stories and also brought our class to win every single singing competition / storytelling competition/ sports event organised by the school.

She first introduced me to Vincent Van Gogh in primary 6 and my interest in art started ever since. I remember her playing "Starry Starry Night" in class, twice, and the assignment was to draw anything we wanted after hearing that song.. In fact, it was also her encouragement that gave me the courage to pursue art in secondary school all the way till JC. It was an emotional farewell as wthe class left school after PSLE. We cried, she cried, and not long after she left to teach in HK..

My mum went up to Mrs Lim at the wake today. Mum had tears in her eyes as she held Mrs Lim's hands, and thanked her for moulding me into what I am today. Mrs Lim was hugging her and telling her that she has a wonderful daughter. Super eotional! But my mum always wanted to thanks Mrs Lim and like almost a decade later, she finally had the chance!

I saw my Primary 6 Chinese teacher too! memories of endless chinese comprehensions and spelling tests came to mind! Attending wakes are like attending mini-reunions huh? (though i really don't wish for more wakes). Anyways, I'm still in awe at at impeccable mastery of the Chinese language!

Heh! and more good news! As I am drafting this entry, ITS MY LAST DAY OF WORK!!! *jumps, screams, hops and flips*.. Finally finally finally, i have time to pack my lugguage, sleep late and wake up even later! :)
going off for a mini-celebration tonight!
Eating at the Shokudo (is this even spelt right?) restaurant at the basement of Raffles City, then heading for some super duper nice crepes! Caaaaaaaannnnnnnnn't WAIT!

2008-07-27T15:02:00.002+08:00

I'm slowly warming up to the idea of having to drag myself out of bed when it's still dark, get out of the house at 6 plus, hop on a packed bus with (too many) students and other working adults.. rush to get on the lift with many others, and then plonk myself in front of the computer for hours and hours and hours, freezing in my seat and waiting rather impatiently for 6 o clock to strike.

My office's pantry has a really nice view! It overlooks the Singapore Polo Club so I see horses everytime I look down! :)

This is my first office job, and I'm so NOT loving the fact that I have to stare at the computer screen for what seem like decades, till my eyes tear, in a bid to complete my work. I now swear by the eye exercises taught to us in primary school. They were once thought to be really silly, but now these eye massages are my saviour!!As some of you may know about my spine/back condition, my back isn't coping so well with the heels and all the sitting around in the office for hours..

A few days before work, I opened my bursting closet and stared hard at my collection of clothes (which I've carefully colour-coded! yay)... And to my horror, I only found ONE shirt that could pass off as being formal.. Serious shopping needed..

Thank goodness This Fashion didn't close down and Cotton On has a super super sale... cos most of my formal clothes were picked off their racks with gusto. Its still feels weird to be wearing a buttoned shirt tucked into my high waisted silky pants or skirt and then strutting off to work, not in my beloved Charles and Keith Sandals, but in my heels! here's me on my first day of work! =) marco treated me to ajisen for dinner that day! hoorays!

Probably due of my limited collection of office wear, I actually have to use the weekends to try out all the outfits first, rate them out of ten, then plan what to wear for the following week.. a safeguard against being late for work every morning. Seriously dislike the attire restrictions!! Which is why I make it a point to deck out in shorts and casual stuff during weekends. Am I becoming one of those so-called sloppy singaporeans? heh.

I was on the brink of dozing off during the first week of work, just because I slept at 2am the nights before to watch my CSIs.... and what nots.. I was so terribly sleepy I had to resort to catching some sleep in the toilet a couple of times :( I think I'm old..

On the other hand, I like the feeling of working independently among the rest... listening to the conversations that go around the office, replying emails and public queries, I even like pretending to work when I'm really just slacking.. It's also quite cool to receive work-related emails when you check your mail the first thing in the morning. Suddenly, you feel important, with a sense of mission even!

I kinda have the "best" seat in the office- in front of all my big bosses (all thanks to the marvellous hexagonal structure of the building), which means it's a true challenge to find opportunities to slack (aka: MSN/ surf random sites like stomp.sg/ blog). And hotmail is disabled lah!

I'm missing my freedom!!! Office jobs are so not for me, and so not me... I can't talk loudly, I can't move around to much, I don't have any other form of entertainment other than my walkman (which is supposedly not a problem, cos I'm not supposed to be entertaining myself during work anyway). I really don't understand how one can sit in front of the computer and work and work for so long!! Which is why the best thing about work is 6pm- the end of all the boredom, cold (cos my office's freezing), and rigidness( i can't exactly prance around, sing and dance...)..I'll wait till like 6.10 (so that it won't be so obvious I'm desperate to leave) and then strut out of office quietly because I'm always the first to go! I feel kinda guilty and slack for leaving first all the time.. but Marco argued that interns shouldn't set the benchmark for leaving the office too late, cos the bosses are supposed to leave after me... But I don't have that much work to stay overtime la!

Quote of the day, by my boss to us, poor employees : " Enormous problem, fight fight fight!"

I think the most stressful thing about the job is not exactly the work that I'm doing, but social relations. Like how I'm always worried I won't make friends in school on the first week of every semester, I was a little apprehensive when I first stepped into the office..
I'm working in an all female department, with the exception of my big big boss and another male staff..Contrary to my expectations that my office would be full of mature, older employees, I was surprised to find that most of my colleagues are young and trendy 26-27 year olds! Colleagues are really nice and friendly people...But that doesn't really translate into me being able to really truly click with all of them. It's really times like these that I really appreciate all my good friends- and how we can easily be tuned to the same frequency when it comes to conversational topics, humour, activities..

I remember one lunch time topic with my colleagues was on the different types of cheese and how to cook tomatoes.Hmm...
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Things were ok initially I guess... Nothing really exciting or worth raving about... I went for lunch with a few fellow interns, but my days really got better when a fellow intern from my department came back from leave.

Her name's Melody. And it was REALLY REALLY coincidental that we share the same surname! Actually she's the first friend of mine to share my surname! She's a PSC scholar, studying medicine! Despite her being much smarter than me, we get along pretty well, and I'm really thankful she's around to brighten up my hours at the office! Everyone's so serious around here and seem like they got mountains of things to get done, it's almost difficult to find someone to lunch with cos everyone packs lunch back to the office! But I absolutely refuse to spend another minute in the office unless necessary! So, I get out of the office all the time with my ten million toilet/ slack breaks...

As I'm completing this entry, it's Melody's last day at work.. and i'm so gonna miss her..

P/s: Its kinda scary to know I'm leaving Singapore for Canada in less than a month...

Kockee

2008-06-30T01:19:00.006+08:00

It's probably about time to dedicate an entry to a really really good friend of mine whom I've known for more than half my life - yenlin :)

I don't really remember when exactly in primary school did we start call each other "kockee"and where the nickname came about , but the name has stuck with us since, for 9 years and counting... And so the entry shall be dedicated to Kockee!

Beginnings

We first met in Primary 4, in a speech and drama class that our parents sent us to. I didn't really have tuition when I was in primary school, but I remember being sent to loads of enrichment classes- abacus, ballet, yoga, drawing, poetry..... Anyways, we two were randomly chosen to be a group (which we named, The Smarties) and tadah, memories of our friendship pretty much started ever since.

A Common Passion for Fine Arts

We were both in the Young Artists' Club for many years and so we met every Sunday for art lessons at Boon Lay Art Centre. She was really good at drawing and painting, and its really through her guidance that I've improved so much during the years.

I remember our teacher bringing us out to paint landscapes during the school holidays. He would have a list of dates and outing timings written down on the board, and we would choose any 3 to go to.. It was kinda like an exam for us, because our grades for these outdoor painting sessions determined if we could advance to the next level.

Me and kocke would choose our spot in a park, or at the void deck, roll out our picnic mats, lay out our painting stuff neatly in front of us and begin painting, while curious passerbys stare at the big crowd of us in our yellow shirts. Anxious parents would sit with their children, either to fan them or to buy snacks for them when they're hungry.

After completing our masterpieces, we would join the LOOOONG queue in front of the teacher, to let the teacher grade our pieces. The teacher has a habit of walking around the park/ void decks to check on us, and he's always not an a fixed place, and so you'll probably see us scrambling around the flats to look for him ...

"LONG SI TING! " My teacher would boom when it's my turn at the queue.His voice still brings shudders down my spine. He would stare at my painting for a while, while other kpo parents stand behind him to look..And the aunties would already begin to mumble comments behind me..

It's almost impossible to get the teacher to grade your painting at the first try. He'll probably scream comments like " why did you draw the ugly dustbin in?" or "why is this corner so empty", shove the painting back to us, (which is a cue that we must run back to edit it before bringing it back to him again, which means REJOINING THE LONG QUEUE). :P I remember cursing him again and again cos he made me run around back and forth all the time.. And it was then we started calling him " lao3 yao1 guai4" (old monster)..and we've referred to him as that ever since..

Sigh, so nostalgic..

Our 1 mark difference in PSLE score led us to different secondary schools. Luck was seldom on her side.. I got an A for Math despite struggling with the subject all year round, and her grades would have been straight A+s if not for her B in Maths, which was surprisingly unexpected. And so she ended in Nanhua, me in RV..

We made an effort to keep our friendship going and so wrote loads of letters to each other then.. and till date, I've kept hundreds and hundreds of them.. She's never forgotten my birthdays, and presents are always accompanied with a hand-drawn card, with long heartwarming messages.

We catch up once in a while now.. and most of the time, she's introducing me to good food, it's almost impossible to diet when out with her. Deserts after steamboat, ice-cream after buffets..

And the recent outing with her to swensens had a big nice chocolate fondue after dinner! To think I thought, for once I could be healthy and just eat my SALAD in swensens!

That probably sums up our long friendship....

7 x 3 = 21

2008-06-29T01:23:00.004+08:00

I was at grandpa's house for my little cousin's birthday!
My grandparents cooked up a feast, I tell you. I counted 13 dishes altogether- with fish, chicken wings, pork,pepper crab, chilli crab, lamb, a lot of different vegetables... And then there was jelly, sago and the cake for desert! Its so ruining my fitness plan!!

I'm on a serious mission to cut carbs just in case I gain weight over in Canada, so I've been eating super healthy stuff and exercising everyday (to prepare myself for a marathon too..)
So I'm eating loads of salad these days.. with yoghurt dressing. (cos i've banned myself from mayo! )and for the first time my yongtaufu has so much veg!

Oops,I've digressed! Back to the birthday!
My cousin's only 7! I feel so old already! My 7th birthday seemed like centuries ago!can the cute carebear cake make me feel any older... The loads of birthday presents. The kid feels rich with $10! I'll be feeling so broke with that amount..The birthday boy! =)

The gang of us! =) We can all solve rubik's cube!!
On a side note, I think I bought a lot of cheap stuff from Cotton On this GSS-! Like this top! And a lot of tees! All for $5 only! And all the $10 shorts, skirts, cardigans! Not that big a hole in my pocket this year..

Grandpa..
He suddenly seems so much older than I remembered him to be...

Snapshots

2008-06-24T02:09:00.002+08:00

A few random snapshots of my life.
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Father's Day :

Dad wanted to go to this Teochew Restaurant at Bukit Batok, but it was still packed at 8.30, so we headed straight to IMM! I was like secretly super happy that Dad chose to eat Aijisen cos I was so so so so so craving for the crayfish ramen there then!
Haha, its weird how I only eat the crayfish ramen at aijisen, the pure chocolate ice-blended in coffee bean, only the chicken mcnuggets meal in Mac, the sotongfish head in Old Chang Kee, the Chicken Royale Baked Pasta in Pizzahut and almost nothing else in these places.

Ordered this chestnut desert with vanila ice-cream there that was super yummy! But everyone agreed it looked kinda gross. haha =)
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Cousins

The cousins went out for a boardgames session at The Pitstop Cafe, and Marco came along! Really fun!It was difficult trying to find games to accomodate to my little cousin though!
Note Jonathan's hairstyle- his hair got chopped off when he went back to reservice, and let's just say its erm, controversial. hah =)

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Outing with Sharon

I went out with Sharon that day, for a simple meal in Toa Payoh...

Guess she enjoys the company and someone to really hear her talk about her life- a life so simple, she practically repeats the same thing to me everytime we talk.. And its been almost 2 years and nothing has really changed.

She'll talk about her school, how people not play with her sometimes, or about her Sundays at Church. And my response would somehow be the same,but it seems she enjoys telling me about them anyway..

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Swimming at JE Swimming Complex

Went swimming with Marco that day as part of my fitness plan! Haha, I wanted to act cute and young that day, so I plaited my hair! A little bimbotic, but who cares. haha.

My skin's becoming more tan, despite the sunblock! I think I like myself a little whiter.

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ANYWAYS!!!!! I'M SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER HAPPY, and i wanted to share my joy with you guys! =)

NUS sent me this letter to inform me I've received the Wee Mon Cheng Bronze Medal cos of my academic results for the past sem/year! =) So i'm due for a prize presentation before I leave for Canada! I'm super happy, cos its so unexpected! I'm thinking of what to wear.. hmmmmmm

Oh ya, I booked my air tickets already.. I'm leaving for Canada on 24th August and I'll prob be back on the 31st of December or something! =) Eeks, suddenly its down to 2 months before I leave Singapore..

A date with myself

2008-06-20T23:08:00.005+08:00

I have almost 10 days till my internship officially begins..

Plus, the boyfriend is off to volunteer camp, law camp, and countless meetings, which really left me with a lot of time for myself..

Been starting a "keep-fit" regime these days... catching up on the storybooks I bought and not read, packing my room a dozen times ( I'm the kinda person who loves packing my room), and of course, just roaming the streets alone.

I used to think I didn't really enjoy being alone.
But it appears that random alone-ness is pretty refreshing too!

So, on a whim, I went off to the Viet Nam! Exhibition!
The feeling of walking around exhibits in the empty halls makes me feel uber refined! haha =)

I took random photos of the exhibits and I spent sometime getting some nice shots of myself and the exhibits! I had all the time in the world to get good shots cos the place was like sooooooooooooooooo empty! Oh ya! i had to take a photo with this guy below! I think he's a super smart scholar or something- so hopefully he will enlighten me!then of course, must end off my date with some reading, while having nice iced chocolate at a coffee place! =)

There's something uplifting about spending the day with myself that I cant really express..

But let's just say I think i should do this more often!

Reading about you

2008-06-17T23:24:00.004+08:00

Its curiousity, I guess, that drives me to read about people's lives.

Scrolling through their photographs, reading about their weekends, their ups and downs- provides me with some insight as to that someone, who would otherwise be a total stranger.

I'm probably not alone..

But its only in recent times, that I begin to think that I do this too much for my own good.

Cos it seems like everyone has such perfect little lives, perfect boyfriends, they party every night, go for magnificent and lovely dinners (that would probably blow a hole in my pocket for months)..

They wear the most beautiful and expensive clothes, some of them are models, some of them are pageant queens.. Of course, not all of them are like that, but I guess there's always something that I envy about them.

Maybe reading about their lives gives me a benchmark to judge my life, and myself.

I should really stop comparing..

Family bonds

2008-06-16T00:27:00.003+08:00

I'm really thankful that grandpa made it through the major operation..

But it pains me to see the huge cuts and stitches all over his neck and throat, with tubes all over..

I don't know.

Kinda lost for words whenever I think of his situation.

Argh.

So helpless

LIFE

2008-06-12T09:56:00.003+08:00

LIFE LIFE LIFE
seems to thrive on springing surprises on people when they least expect it.
Its as though someone up there plays these kinda practical jokes on the humans on the planet all the time- I can practically feel "his" evil laughter now.....

Its like when you need a cab, its nowhere in sight for a long long time.
And when you don't need one, cabs are flooding around the roads..

So, what's the purpose of this entry.

Yesterday, i was excited and blogged about me getting a job, and starting on Fridy cos my internship emails were ignored for 2 weeks?

Well, I GOT THE MCYS INTERNSHIP!!
*faints*

Eeks, just after the happiness of getting that job, I'm faced with the horrible task of "quitting" just before I'm supposed to start. I hope I won't become the bitching target of that office for centuries...

Meanwhile, hoorays!! hello social enterprise! =)

Work

2008-06-11T21:03:00.003+08:00

I'm procrastinating about my Bali Trip post.. (heh)
Meanwhile, I got a job on a whim! I'm got kinda tired waiting for the internship emails, so i decided i might as well get a job first! LOUSY like hell pay, but at least the job location's near my house, and I get paid!! Hoorays!

So say hello to me- Mavis Long- the Customer Service Officer at a Community Centre!! Need courses for tai-chi or cooking anyone?? =)

The Birthday Trip

2008-06-05T01:09:00.008+08:00

As some of you may know, the wonderful boyfriend surprised me with a trip to Bali for my birthday, and told me only a few days before we were supposed to depart! How nice of him!

(YES i know i'm lucky =)] Apparently, he "made friends" with my dad by messaging him like a month or 2 before my birthday and they exchanged messages, to get approval for our trip!

For someone who needs to pack her lugguage at least a week or two beforehand, it got me pretty "gan jiong", because I take ages to plan my wardrobe! This time, the planning was harder, cos my wardrobe screams pretty frocks and flowery tops and skirts, which totally doesn't fit the Bali beach theme! I had a few days to make myself seem like beach babe! so I bought this cute flower hairpin, a tankini, a retro AA sunglass. And thanks to the recent Cotton On sale (50% !!!!!), i bought loads of pretty tops there!!! like 5-$10 ones!!! super pretty happy.
I'm super lazy to write long captions. haha.

Made this diary for our Bali trip..

Really happy at the airport, in shorts!! I think its the first time I boarded a plane in shorts! but it felt super weird to pack jeans into my lugguage- I'm going to the beach for goodness sake!

ppppppppppsttttttt: didn't he look super "toot" in secondary school? haha! Look at that china-doll haircut!! He looked like that when I first met him!!!
And even though it was time to like go to our boarding gate, greedy me still insisted on having waffles at gelare cos ITS TUESDAY!!!

This is how you collect lugguages at the airport. Someone would like take all of them out and line them beside the lugguage conveyor belt. The airport was surprisingly erm, not pretty. And Marco commented that they have shopping-centre-like tile flooring.

Haiyo!!! This is damn chaotic. I think I stood there, frozen for 3 seconds when I stepped out of that airport! This is only one portion of the crowds of people there. We had to walk from one end to the other end looking for our names!! its super scary! Its like our new year countdown party or something lah! haha =) The hotel actually had a driver, drive his car to fetch us both only!! Felt so superly pampered!

Tadah! We reached into the hotel at 10 something at night, changed into our Cotton-On shirts that I bought and headed out to countdown to my birthday! the shirts are only $5 (*goes crazy*). Dinner was like how super good...AND CHEAP! And I had a drink or two...

OH NO! I look drunk!! haha =) you guys know my alcohol tolerance is like how super low lah!!

But anyways, I like the feeling of being a little tipsy on my birthday, especially since I don't really party in Singapore. heh.

28/5/08Next morning, woke up and went out bright and early for our free tour of Bali! What i really enjoy about the trip was that most of the time, we travel in small groups!! We were expecting a huge bus, but it turned out only to have 2 more other people on a small van! =) Like if we wanted dinner, the restaurant would like come and pick us both up and send us to our restaurant! so nice right!!!

We had trouble remembering to tip everyone though. eeks.

They got these interesting signs in front of houses stating how many like adults and children they have in each home.

Some homes are really pretty! I think they got like temples in each house, and they pray like 3 times a day or something! Some women just stay home to prepare offerings like EVERYDAY...

I think I was quite taken aback when I realised we would be visiting a volcano in Bali! I know I'm like so sua-ku, but heh, Bali's certainly not famous for this right? I don't even remember what the volcano is called! I just know like it was super breath-taking! Definitely one of my favourite moments in the whole trip! And it was super windy up there! Kinda like Genting! I was freezing in my shorts!

We went for a swim in the hotel pool! very nice! they had like sand in some parts of the swimming pool, and in the middle of the pool there would be a place to play beach volleyball and there's even a little stall in the pool- so you can like drink cocktail while in the pool! How heavenly right!

Having heard that we should not miss the stunning sunsets in Bali, marco and I headed for this place by the beach to have dinner! =)

Quite an experience I would say! A little more pricey compared to the cheap food you find all around Bali, but it was sooooooooooooooo worth it! Its still cheap by singapore standards!!

Thinking back, I think being overseas with him really was a test of our relationship.

I wouldn't say we survived and experienced the whole trip without any quarrels, but I'm really glad most of the memories were really blissful!

I'm missing bali already! ESPECIALLY THE FOOD!!!

Bali anyone?? =)

The 21st

2008-05-27T00:27:00.007+08:00

I haven't received my birthday party photos from Jason yet, but I thought I should actually pen an entry down to revive my quiet blog.. so maybe i'll post the photos when i get back from Bali.

Seriously, I never thought I'll have like a blast on my 21st birthday. Its totally beyond my expectationsI just thought it'll be just another one of those birthdays that slip away in a second.

But its amazing how wonderful and overwhelming my 21st has been. Truly made beautiful by Marco and all of my lovely friends and family! I feel so so loved !!! I think birthdays are so ego-boosting (haha)

After a long decision, I finally made the decision to have a birthday party (possibly inspired by Alvin's party).. And then i was thrown into the decision of churning out the invites list and then sending out sms invites. Its seriously not easy to be a host- i possibly discussed the invites list and who should come to talk to who, who would be left out and everything, and i'm really sorry if some of ya did not receive my sms (either due to my overlook or the screwed up sms service). But I really do love all my friends.=)

Then it was down to the location of the party. I can't emphasize how long i spent goggling and yahoo-ing every night on sites like yum.sg or hungrygowhere.com. I think I can easily name 100 restaurants and their reviews and what they're recommended for.. thanks to my research. I don't think I've even worked so hard for termpapers. heh.

Ask Marco and you'll know how many options i had, and how i eliminated them cos I wanted something special. The party was almost held at the MINT toy museum but due to the bad service and delay in sending me the proposal, I moved the party over to The Central. It was by a stroke of luck that I saw this restaurant, while surfing facebook and clicking at people's photos. I was attacted by the simple vintage deco! And it was also by a stroke of luck that I managed to recognise the background in the photo as Clarke Quay and ta dah, the venue was set.

Then came the task of coordinating the food, budget, drinks, games, decorations.And of course, I must look pretty too, so as expected, loads of brain cells died because of that. a few hours before the party, i went for this free makeup thing by sasa and i almost died cos the "professional" "painted" my face in so many shades I thought i looked like i was some mountain tribe in war paint. So there was a mad rush to buy makeup remover wipes. I loved how my hair looked that day, I totally need to re-perm my hair before i head for Canada!

And mavis being mavis, then spent hours everyday to create the little mini people, the letters and everything I've given to ya all, as well as the decorations on the wall. I added in the "21 facts I bet you didn't know about Mavis" at the last minute cos I think the wall was too bare, and I'm glad you guys enjoyed reading how weird I am..

I hope everyone that came enjoyed the party cos loads of effort and planning went into it. I must apologise for the lack of walking space or anything I've overlooked.. *hugs* I totally love the presents you guys gave me!!!!!!

(ps: cheeks and xuefen: the jumping rabbit made me laugh for super long, and the purple crocodile is now permanently in my bag so that i can show other pple! haha)

------------------

I must really thank my parents, my lovely brother and all my relatives too.

Especially Dad!! who gave me a Visa card and treated all of us to Carnivore (sinful like anything!). awwwwwww... Its really difficult to describe this sense of bliss I have around me, even though my birthday its not here. but it does feel like I've been celebrating for ages cos I'm filled to the brim with loads of love and happiness.

_____________

To Marco:

Last but not least, I'll like to thank my special someone (I wonder if you'll be reading this). i think I've probably nagged at you for spending so much money on my birthday presents more than I've thanked you for making this 21st so memorable, but everything really wouldn't have been possible without you. The scale of your project was really beyond anything I imagined- you actually manage to contact friends that I haven't even said hello to in almost 8 years... and i still made you go through the torture of having to tell me one clue a day (and most of the time asking for more)..

And everyone has been telling me how sweet you are, so I'm glad all my friends love you too, because I can't be more glad that they do..

Thank you sweetheart! saya cinta pada mu =)

--

Do visit http://www.happybirthdaymavis.sg/ if you haven't, to see the work of the crazily romantic boyfriend. And thanks for all your well-wishes my friends!!! Mavis Long can't be more happy to have friends like you all!!

ps: lala! i'm so happy to see your well-wishes!!! i miss you like crazy!

As part of my birthday surprise that the boyfriend has been hiding, I'm off to Bali for sweet escapade with him tomorrow! tata~

As promised...

2008-03-14T16:07:00.009+08:00

You know how people say babies are only cute when they're not yours
I had this sudden insight last night while doing research on my development psychology essay:
Babies are ONLY CUTE when you don't study and write essays about their development all day long.
For now, babies are killing me..

-------------------

V-DAY

Anyways, here's a belated entry about my Valentine's Day =)
Its long overdue, but its still something i wanna blog about..
We went to Sentosa this year for our celebrations...

As well as to take photographs of the pretty flowers at the Garden festival as well as photographs for a STOMP photo competition.

Truckload of photos ahead!

The Garden Festival..

Crowded...

After that, we went to take the Luge ride! and the sky-ride! Super fun.

Anyone wanna go back with me ??

Here's a terrified me at the back of our 2-seater bicycle. haha.

We went to this green field where we took some photos for a V-day photography competition.. and here's one of my personal favourites
And the entry we submitted won!! hoorays.

--------------

Anyway people, one reason why i've been so busy is cos i recently set up a blogshop to sell off all the clothes that I don't like or not suitable for me.
So.. if you guys have any clothes that are like not suitable (old and new also okay) already and you don't want to throw them away, give them to me okay? heh =)

i love nicky

2008-02-26T22:32:00.006+08:00

Who is Nicky?
Haha.
He's my hairdresser!
And a really nice and great one at that...
All it took is a trip to the salon that made appreciate the value of good service.
I walked out of the salon, beaming, and telling myself over and over again that I must go back to find him everytime I need a haircut.
And that good feeling has been lasting for days!
so happy.
___________________________
On a side note, I've been suffering under my huge workload. I can't remember a time where i watched CSI properly, or had the time to sit down and browse blogs or chill out at cafes instead of mugging in them. So irritated.
For like one day, i was excited that my three mid-terms and countless presentations were over. But But right after that day, i realised to my horror that my research papers were due like SOON.. and it gives me no motivation to know that right after working hard for those research papers, another round of tests were coming, followed immediately by the EXAMS!
goodness!

___
Anyway I'm also suffering cos my beloved camera, the one with the pretty floral wrapping finally decide to leave me and died on me!
It showed symptoms like months ago when it vibrated uncontrollably then its life ended when it dropped into a bowl of erm laska from Lerk Thai.
so i'm camera-less and feeling like my life isn't documented during this period.
recommendations for new camera?

I'll blog about my valentine's day and my surprise soon k! after tomorrow. For now, let me drown in citing references for infant development.
argh.

dong dong dong QIANG

2008-02-09T15:20:00.000+08:00

I'm not particularly excited about CNY this year maybe because I'm not particularly looking forward to see and greet a houseful of relatives that I don't really know- many of which don't remember who I am, what's my name, whose daughter I am. But to them, I'm probably someone that would appear in their houses once a year to get my ang baos.
But some part of me still loves chinese new year. For one, I finally get a break from school, get a chance to buy new clothes that cost a weeny bit more, new shoes and get together with my cousins for a day out..

So let's begin with the reunion dinner at grandpa's house. I love that house because grandma, like me, adorns her house with bright coloured things and photographs- photographs at document our growth, our parent's childhood, their graduation photos, travel photos and many many ancient memories.

Here's a proud me with my creation before it gets eaten. Ours has an extra packet of crispy biscuits for the kids to enjoy =DAnd here's the grandparents! lovely people. I kinda feel that age's catching up on them bit by bit. more white hairs, they walk more slowly now, they feel tired easily. Its kinda sad really, that its already a fact that they'll be leaving me one day.
Here's the spread! Its a lot more food than those on the table. But the table has no more space for the plates. We normally have enough for lunch and dinner the next day, but they're really great cooks.

Bright and early the next morning , i woke up and started to get ready, wear my nice green dress and make my hair. Please say my didi looks great cos i was his fashion consultant! haha =D
And as usual, we made our way to my grandparents house. And again as usual, we began taking a lot of photos using my camera. And soon, as usual, grandma and jon are going to ask me for the photographs (jon in soft copy and grandma in hardcopy). haha :P

Every year, there would be this period of time after we visit this particular relative's house that we cousins would leave for a day out, leaving the adults to gamble away. We always start brainstorming where to go right after new year has ended because there's always no conclusion and no great ideas. This year, the decision was relatively easier because lunch served at that house was all spicy food, hence where would hungry cousins go? To eat of course! so we ended up at Jurong Point's Fish and Co! Jon kindly asked Marco to join us, so we made a gang of 6.

After we were fed, we headed to the arcade where 6 of us played photohunt and bishi bashi. More hands make bishi bashi easier to win! we were all good at different things! and i was very excited because i seldom get to make it through to the last few stages of the whole game!

Marco treated us to ice-cream later, and yea, we had to head off to another relative's house in the evening.

The day ended with blackjack and lots of winnings! =D i got like 10 blackjacks within 2 hours! i'm a happy girl =) HAPPY CNY people!

food for thought

2008-01-26T23:52:00.000+08:00

Haven't really been in a blogging mood recently

I've been desperately trying to inject a certain discipline in my life- on when to sleep, when to wake up, when to go swimming, when to jog, when to stand and sit, how to treat life, treat people...

its pretty tiring to get myself to be more disciplined

but oh well, its making me feel better about myself...

watching more of the Tyra Show works too =)

Many situations have been bothering me..things involving to people i know

i got to know a new friend through lunch just recently.. and the conversation with her got me thinking a lot..

She's tall, pretty, thin, rich, model, beauty queen..

And she was telling me she spends almost 1500 per month, with a monthly allowance from her parents of $500, with her earning the rest to support her spendings.

For once, i got nothing in common to talk to her when it comes to shopping

Because i pride myself on cheap and nice finds in bazaars, flea markets and far east plaza, I practically didn't dare to speak while she tells me about her spending habits

she was asking me about my belt and i was smiling and said i bought it for 3 dollars.

and she was telling me how her belts are from zara and each cost more than 80 each.

and she mainly eats at restaurants (tts why we didn't eat at the sch canteen) and goes for monthly facials, clubs frequently..

i had to smile politely when she asked me to go to spa with her.. with me feeling like i was in another league as time went by

we're 2 girls of the same age, but we lead so different lives!

i can't help but be envious (afterall, the grass is always greener on the other side).. and i really wonder how that life would be.

haha. the closest i came to the high life is this! (thanks to the boyfriend)

High tea!!!

even the ice cream has like so many toppings to go with it!! (i'm so excited! anyone wanna come along this time? its 20 + dollars only !)

look at those cakes!awwwww

___________________

another incident, involved a friend breaking up with her boyfriend who she was with for quite some time, for another guy,

a guy she met for the most a month or two perhaps?

i saw them hugging one day at the mrt station, which confirmed that fact and i dunno why i was actually quite disturbed..

the scene remained in my mind for several days

and i dunno why i feel so heartbroken, whenever i think about the ex-boyfriend

sigh.

___________________

anyway, on a happier note, i'm glad new year is here!!! =D

feel so happy seeing new year decorations everywhere!

yays. looking forward to the long weekend!

festive love

2008-01-08T13:06:00.000+08:00

As crowds of people chose to welcome 2008 with a bang, mine past by relatively quietly..
A quiet dinner at Essential Brew with the boyfriend.
I'm really glad the dinner allowed me to dress up!
I've been wearing nothing but tees and shorts and flip-flops for the entire time I was in Cambodia..
I miss my wardrobe, my necklaces, i miss having earrings on my ears, i miss my skirts and jeans!

Beautiful ambience, lovely company, good conversation, delicious food, and some cocktail to round it up..

I think i really look forward to 2008. New year, new resolutions, new experiences ahead.
My new year resolutions seem to be the same old ones i had last year
but let's hope I stick to them this year.
2007 has been really challenging, especially for school
Struggled through the hard work but i'm glad everything paid off
Its amazing how I've grown in the past year
but i'm learnt so much from so many experiences, i'm a different person all together
i think i've learnt not to mind a lot of things- not to be so uptight and conscious over social interactions , that i don't have to be the centre of attraction in a crowd everytime to be loved..
i'm still apprehensive about the new semester though.
I still plough through the class lists to see if there's anyone to sit beside me during lectures
it would freak me out to find that i take half of my modules alone in the past
but oh well,
its time to find some new friends...
so let's be optimistic about it.
i'm going to the gym now (shall not break my new yr resolutions barely a week past the 2008 :P)
so..
i'm looking forward to the clique outing on sat!!!
=D loves

some random photos to share

2008-01-02T22:37:00.000+08:00

Here's a photo of me at 3am in Changi Airport with my lugguage.
it weighed a surprising 15kg! it must be the food and sweets i brought along for the kids...
But after shopping there..
[erm.. tell me i didn't buy a lot...]
this photo was taken just halfway through the trip...
and filling up my extra bag with new stuff (i bought like 7 pairs of shoes for me and my family)
i was certain i would exceed the lugguage weight limit
so i began to throw away old clothes!
haha. luckily my luggage weighed 20.4kg at the end of the trip- not overweight!
This was a photograph taken of my hand at the end of painting one day.
i took extra long baths there to get rid of all these everyday!Towards the end of the trip, the leaders brought us to this place called Dead Fish!
its an old creaky place, which was really scary because it was kinda dangerous
my friend almost fell down 3 stories cos the place was really sqeezy and one bad step could send you down to...

THIS...Eeks!

Cambodia

2007-12-27T18:34:00.000+08:00

YOYOYO!
I'm BACK!!
it feels good to be back in modern civilisation, seriously.
though i must say cambodia is a lovely country - peaceful, serene and friendly.
its a place where people smile at you when you smile at them on the streets, where kids wave at passing cars, a place with simple pleasures, nice people.
i'll miss the tuk-tuks
the squeezy vans
the kids that clamour for your hugs, wave excitedly and say hello when you arrive and leave
the kids that cry when you say goodbye
the kids at are so easily contented with so little.
i cannot forget the mosquitos that dive ever so often into my food
the grasshoppers that jump around me as i sit in the hotel
the houseflies in the van
though i can't imagine myself living in cambodia for longer than i already have.
i miss singapore food, i miss modern entertainment, i miss technology!
photos coming up!!!

its the first time i alighted from a plane like that! i didn't even have this in mongolia! haha. so the whole group of us singaporeans were busy snapping away at this "rare experience".

can you believe this is the international airport?
Ooh, this is the room i shared with a friend! the boutique guesthouse was really pretty, much better than expected! its a project by the organisation we're helping, so we got the guesthouse at a special rate! the place's not fully renovated though..pictures of the lovely countryside...

and the things i love most about Cambodia- all the street kids, village kids...

its saddening when you learn about the stories behind these children- children who have been abused, sold for 100 US dollars, discarded.

this little kid i'm carrying is HIV positive..heard she only has a few more years to live and i couldn't help but grieve at the thought. left with a heavy heart.. :( i think i'll go back to Cambodia very soon to take more presents to the children, to give them more hugs, more love, and a little more attention..

i can't help but feel really blessed. and really fortunate.

Utter-rubbish

2007-12-11T21:30:00.000+08:00

Marco accompanied me to various Singapore Design Festival art exhibions and they had really interesting designs there!

i think designers are amazing people.. they always explore and push new boundaries that one would probably never think of

See this...

I dunno if the picture is clear enough, but this is a biscuit with various demarkations on it (1, 2, 3) to tell you how to eat the biscuit (as in which bites to take first and subsequently) .

Isn't that weird? haha! And look at this sofa! a bit errie ah...haha.
This one is a design from Japan- disposible toilets! its supposed to be environmentally friendly cos all cardboard boxes will be marked with instructions on how to convert it into a disposible toilet, so people won't throw the boxes away... -_- a bit controversial ..don't really think its practical.

On another note..

I'm leaving for Cambodia soon.. Kinda having mixed feelings over it. Really excited about going there to see new sights, and help the locals.. But as with every overseas trip I've gone for, the anticipation is matched by strong emotions of missing everyone back here.

.. i hope i'll be back safely... think the recent dragonboat accident at Cambodia really made me see that i shouldn't take that for granted..

Bon Voyage to myself =) *muacks* be back on the 28th! with lots of nice pictures to share.

miss me k! =D

Perfection

2007-12-08T01:14:00.000+08:00

It's amazing how when some people come together, they form a perfect blend, the best companions you could ever ask for to spend an evening with.
Loads of laughter, lame jokes, joking around, bitching, finding out about the latest affairs, having supper, and simply just enjoying everyone's company.
With everyone really appreciating the night, and not wanting to leave....

I miss you guys tremendously already..

HOORAYS to more friend's love! I'm meeting lala for mac breakfast tomorrow! =D

Leaving for Cambodia in less than a week..

Ps: Cheeks, hope you like the preview of my curls!! with uneven fringe somemore =)

reborn

2007-12-04T16:59:00.000+08:00

I think i have a threshold for sustaining a single hairstyle- can't seem to sustain anything for too long, before my whole body craves change.

my straight hair has been boring me for such a long time, i didn't even wait till the last exam was over to get rid of it ..
so while my health psychology paper looms dangerously close by, i popped by a new salon for some hair change!

actually i don't really like how salons smell
nor do i like sitting down for hours there reading the magazines there probably because i bought most of them and read them all before that already..
but stepping out of the salon for me is like being reborn, being transformed into another person!
I don't really restrict what the stylist does to my hair
so this time, i simply told her i wanted a different look,that that i was open to anything she'll proposed.
i think marco almost didn't recognise me
and i think opinions would vary a lot but oh well... =) the girl's happy...

show you guys pictures another time.. heh. alternatively, you guys can ask me out soon to check it out. (this is a hint to ask me out after exams)

i think i got so excited i forgot mugging for a long while...sigh..

joke of the day

2007-11-26T13:33:00.001+08:00

i thought i might as well share a joke that i heard
wonder if you guys heard of this one before
(read this aloud to get the joke k :P)
the joke was abit racist so i modified it a bit . haha.

okay.. it goes something like this..
__________________________________

On one episode of NS outfield, a commander took 3 of his cadets out to the jungle..
so they reach their campsite and the commander said to his first cadet: " Cadet! you are responsible for pitching all the tents!"

and he said to the second cadet :" You! you're responsible for gathering food and water!"

and he said to the third cadet [Ah Beng]: " You in charge of the supplies okay!"

and they were given 2 hours to complete their tasks and were supposed to meet back at the same place..

after 2 hours, the commander only saw the first 2 cadets..
Puzzled, he asked them whether they seen Ah Beng..

Suddenly, Ah Beng jumped out and said: " SUPPLIES!"

( surprise)

_______________________________________________________
get it?? :) haha.
oops i hope making fun of someone's poor english doesn't give me bad karma. haha.

a crappy entry

2007-11-26T13:24:00.000+08:00

I'm like slacking in the library, in front of a computer terminal with everyone seemingly doing some serious mugging around me..
so i decided to just type some random words to try and constitute a blog entry. haha
this is to please lala, who is too stressed ( i miss you my friend)
and to to destress yours truly..

eh.. okay i just decided to blog about the muggers around me.

girl number 1: at computer terminal C7
cute hair, mugger specs with a huge stack of notes in front of her
i took a random peek and eew, it was filled with tiny maths equations (not my cup of tea..)
but she's typing something really slowly..
like really slowly
(somewhat like my mum who types using like 1 finger)
i think she's falling asleep..
but a guy comes up to her and talks to her and asks her out for lunch and she readily agrees and like prances up immediately... looks like she would do anything to get out from the mugging.
( shit..i'm hungry)

boy number 2: at computer terminal C10

me makes me scared i have't studied enough cos he got a greater amount of books and stacks of worksheet..
(a very handsome angmoh walks past at this moment. weeee weet.. i think he looks like leonardo di caprio..)
he is in a very ugly ah-pek-sit-at-coffee-shop pose..
looks abit scruffled
like he's been mugging here for ages and have no time to bathe
erm. his sense of fashion.....(no comments)
i can't believe someone would wear socks with slippers nowadays.
way to go.

aiyo! i realise i'm stereotyping..
no..i'm guess i'm just bored.
haha.

Silly Me

2007-11-19T18:17:00.001+08:00

I've been laughing a lot at myself lately. Heh.
I wonder if people do more silly things when they're stressed..

Up my portfolio.. i introduce...

Case 1:

Was going to dance lessons with Marco on Sunday.
Typical day, crowded train, we board the train at Jurong East and grabbed ourselves a corner...
I really forgot what we were talking about that day, but we were really engrossed...
At one point, the train jerked and i grabbed ' his hand'...
But we were really engrossed right.. so i held on and on, putting all the weight of my bag on that hand..
Until, marco raised up both his hands enthusiastically to talk to me...
OH OH.....
dramatically, like they do in the shows...
My eyes opened wide in shock...and i lowered my vision slowly.........
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
I saw myself holding a wrinkled arm..that was so not familiar
Silly me grabbed an auntie's arm and held that arm for minutes lah!
MALU LIKE HELL!!!!
oh my gosh
no wonder the auntie looked at me like once...
she must have thought i was damn weird!
but the auntie was really nice.. and she didn't even tell me i was holding the wrong arm.
haha!!!
i scrurried away of course~
feeling silly :P

Case 2:

just recently only, i was so bored from studying for hours at JE library so i immediately went off to JEC to catch a movie...
i was in the mood for some brainless chick flick, so i caught Bratz!
I miss watching movies alone!
haha.. that's beside the point..
anyway, JE cinema plays really nice music before the adverts and movies start..
and they were really hip, upbeat songs..
So i sat myself down, and just went along singing Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" ....
Got myself super high. haha
screaming " hey hey you you, i don't like your girlfriend....no way no way..."
Then thing, they suddenly cut the song off.
And i couldn't keep the last few words in my mouth..
So i think everyone in the cinema heard those last few words of lyrics...
damn loud lor.. -__-
Panic, instincts took over, started coughing, to pretend i was coughing and not singing...
On hindsight, that was damn lame lah..
but it got me laughing quite a bit. haha

i think i'm going crazy. i'm entertaining myself all the time!
haha

Random pictures

2007-11-19T00:40:00.000+08:00

I was talking to a random friend one day..
And somehow the topics got to the gazillion magazines I buy religiously every month..
Huge stacks of them, occupying shelves and shelves in my room..
And she was shocked I didn't bother sending in the lucky draw coupons..
So i told her i was lazy to cut those coupons out, the stamps needed money, plus, so many girls would do just that and I'll probably have no chance of winning at all..

But somehow her words enlightend me and for the first time i sent in some coupons ...and TADAH!!! I WON!!!
it was as though i got some educational bursury lah.
They sent me a letter and asked me to collect it from genting lane..
I won some perfume that costs hundreds of dollars (how can a perfume cost that much?!)
And even though I don't really use perfumes, its FREE mah (minus the stamps)...so off i trudged to Genting Lane to get my prize
Its super duper whoooper ULU, and off at the other part of the island..
but oh well, its free right i won't complain...
So i got this thing home...
2 bottles of heavy French perfume...

I won. I'm happy. and by right, i should believe that I'm actually lucky and I actually have a chance of being picked right. And by right, i should continue sending in those coupons right...

But i didn't. Half of me was lazy to get my butt over to genting lane ever again.
And the other half of me believed that I won't win again and they gave me a prize to bait me into wasting money on stamps and sending in more of my coupons. lol. university has made me skeptical..

The Season

2007-11-14T00:34:00.000+08:00

Its the breakup season...
It must be..
There has been so much breakups, tears, quarrels and separations these days... its almost scary..

What would make a woman have an affair 6 months after her marriage..
I seriously don't understand.
I've never thought affairs should be condemned ..but 6 months after the marriage? it makes me wonder if she understood what's marriage all about..
did she forget for that moment why she loved the man?
did she expect she'll lose her husband? the man that loves her so much?
No wonder, elders say we don't respect the institution of marriage anymore..

What would make a couple quarrel loudly over trivial issues in the public?
I witnessed a guy scolding his girlfriend for replying an sms to her guy friend.
They sat there at the food court and just screamed at each other for 2 hours.
Where's the love?

It saddens me when people don't take a step back and treasure what they have..

Even the TV programmes are all showing all these sappy drama serials...
7pm show, 9pm show..
:(
i think i'll stick to CSI..

breathe

2007-11-14T00:14:00.000+08:00

The most dreaded week in school finally came to end, and once more, I'm returning here to type some gibberish before returning to my too-intellectual-for-me statistics..

The warrior
I got to experience what it felt like to be stared at, and given weird looks on the street for the past 3 days.
I had 4 vaccinations in preparation for my trip to Cambodia in school lah!
One on each arm, and one on each thigh.
My friends called me a injection warrior, i just felt paralysed and so shaken at my "combo" set.
Pretty hard to swallow...
But nurse was nice, gave me time to rest, and kept distracting me with lame questions while she pushed that needle in..
Ew..I could never ever do that job.
Tetanus shot was so deadly, i was walking with a limp really really slowly for the past few days...
Had to keep to the side of walkways for fear of blocking roads..
Although practically everyone took a look at my leg then up onto my face...
Felt so AA..
I danced with a limp too.. terrible choice...
but i didn't want to miss dance lessons..

Oh well.. its much better now =)
Shan't complain!

I'M PISSED

2007-10-25T21:39:00.000+08:00

WITH MYSELF COS I LOST MY PHONE AGAIN!

:(

sad-happy memories

2007-10-25T20:04:00.000+08:00

MAVIS SHALL TALK ABOUT THE HAPPY STUFF FIRST

Here are some photos I haven't posted!

I met up with Jamie for some mugging (erm..relatively productive mugging)... and we were discussing where to go for exchange programme next year..

We decided on Canada and we're still deciding which university to go...

Shortlisted are.. University of British Columbia and York University for now..

OR should maybe we just go for cheaper alternatives like Hong Kong..

My friend wanna go to Thailand and she just realised that the university she's interested has a school uniform! and a cute one somemore! haha..

We cousins had an outing to the boardgames cafe at Clarke Quay on some random sat.. pretty fun! After that, Jon had to leave for tuition and the rest of us went to the Istana openhouse cos i wanted to visit Marco who was on duty there (suay suay lor).. but it was surprisingly fun... we went around saying we're stepping on high-class grass, washing our legs with high-class water. haha. but the place's so beautiful!!! some people even had picnics there and some even flew kites!

There's Marco! My cousin Nicholas said he wanted to take a photo with a policeman so haha.. doesn't this picture look damn funny... I told Nic it looked like he received a Good Citizen Award lor.haha =DSpeaking of Marco, I'm going to spill some beans about him (poor boyfriend...all my friends have to know about his failed attempt..)

Okay we were practicing our ballroom dance at Cityhall some day and he saw some teens doing breakdance and he was like ... " i can do a baby freeze too!!!" .Well it appears he learnt breakdancing when he was in JC before so...the boyfriend attempts to show me what he learnt years and years ago... (With subtitles)

"ARRRGGGGGGH...GET MY BODY UP... UPPPPPP!!!"AIYAH!!! FAIL! *looks left and right to make sure no one sees**OKAAY.. ALMOST UP...HEAD'S HURTING..BUT CANNOT "THROW-FACE"!!*
YAY!!! QUICK ! TAKE PHOTO TAKE PHOTO!!! (haha)

On a sadder note...

Dad's just gone over to USA to work-cum-study for almost one month... and it's his departure that made our whole family realise how dependent we are on him.

Mum got no one to help her carry stuff, bitch about work and open her shop on weekends.

Brother got no one to consult over matters and he gotta take care of the family, on dad's instructions.

For me, it just feels terribly empty that no one's asking me how's my studies, no one to fetch me from school when i end late...

And dad left notes for us.. mum was to take care of grandpa and grandma and not let them work too hard...

I'm supposed to talk to mum more often and not let her feel lonely..

and brother had the enormous reponsibility of taking care of everyone and repair all the broken lamps and everything that spoils lah.

Its so hard being a good father/ son/ husband...

Everyone seems to depend on you for something...

Gosh, I miss my dad! I think the accident changed my dad quite a bit. He's more concerned about everyone...Maybe its only near the brink of death when you learn to treasure loved ones more... =D

1 month to exams.... *boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo*

sometimes..

2007-10-18T22:15:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I feel secretly excited whenever I take a non-airconditioned bus...

Take an open window and wait for the wind to ruffle my hair and blow upon my face..

Its kinda therapeutic I guess...

Makes me forget about work for a while... and just quietly ...enjoy the breeze..

Kellogg's Cornflakes

2007-10-12T16:37:00.000+08:00

You guys know Kellogg's cornflakes? Like this one below?

It was created for the weirdest reason!!

Just Thursday, we were learning about sexual disorders during Abnormal Psychology tutorial today ...(i think more pple turned up cos the topic was interesting. lol) And everyone was like thinking what the hell was this picture of a big bowl of cereal printed in our lecture notes..

Apparently, people during that time thought that the cause for mental disorders was excessive sex. So they tried to prevent people from having sex overdose by controlling their diet, making it as bland and uninteresting as possible... so TADAH...kellogg's cornflakes the savior!

It has now evolved into many yummy flavours (like yummy frootloops and yummy honeystars).. but who would have thought it was created for that!! =)

" it won't happen to me"

2007-10-06T23:04:00.000+08:00

We flip the papers and watch the news everyday, and find dozens of accidents happening everyday around the world.
Car accidents, natural disasters, people get killed by a falling tree..
Some lose their lives over the weirdest reasons.. as though at that point of time, they're meant to leave the world, and some force would take their life away at that precise moment, no matter what they're doing.
I think the scariest thing about death is when death is abrupt and unexpected.
Yes, we often say we don't take our loved ones for granted. We're busy like hell, our weekends are burnt and we're so stressed up with homework CCA and so many activities, its hard to take some time off to spend it with our parents or someone we love so dearly.
Its only during times when we almost lose them, that we really feel scared of losing them.

Feeling kinda depressed. I came home from my hall on Saturday morning only to find dad in bed. He gave me a smile, asked about school and my lectures...
And he told me he had a car accident yesterday
Some bus crashed into his car when he was waiting for a right turn.
The bus driver apologised profusely because he wasn't paying attention and didn't notice my dad in the other lane while overtaking..
Dad's car is in a horrible state, his back is hurt and the blood vessels in his eyes burst or something. so his eyes are terribly red.
I'm pretty worried.

He rented a car, and just now, a day after his accident, he had a minor accident again!
Our family was on his rented car, outside Miramar hotel (we were going there for a buffet to celebrate my brother's birthday). Dad was turning right, when he spotted a cyclist who was cycling past him in the opposite direction. The cyclist acknowledged dad and turned right to avoid dad's car, but apparently the man didn't control his bike properly because he had loads of heavy newspaper behind on his bike, and he hit a coach!!

Dad felt really bad cos the man was quite old and he was hurt so he went down to give the man some money for his injuries even though its not his fault. The man even asked for more money cos his bike is spoilt... but dad being dad, gave it to him..

Poor dad. i think he's feeling pretty traumatised. 2 accidents in 2 days.

Its almost like some force is trying to take him away from me. And that thought is really scary.
Mum sort of sensed something bad was going to happen and she's been going to the temple everyday this week before the accident. I'm going to pray for him tomorrow...

i should just stop thinking that bad things won't happen to people around me.. and start appreciating their concern and love a lot more..

First day of dance school

2007-09-25T00:43:00.000+08:00

Balloom dancing lessons finally started...

I think the last time I had dance lessons was in primary school, when I was in Chinese Dance (ohmygod, that feels like centuries ago..)

Anyway, I was really really nervous when I stepped into the studio and changed into my stockings ( I haven't worn those for ages..) Marco was a bundle of nerves himself as we looked at the other learning couples sway to their cha-cha music...

Turned out the couples that have registered just happened not to be able to make it for the 1st lesson so we had a private lesson on the waltz with instructor Robin..

Learning to listen to the music, basic footwork and looking the part was pretty heavy!

Marco has to train his arms more now to hold them up for ages.

And I need to remember all my lefts, rights, fronts, backs, heel-toe, toe-heel instructions

Looking forward to lessons though..

I feel graceful already.. haha.

The many emotions of Mavis Long

2007-09-18T17:57:00.000+08:00

They say pictures tell a thousand words...

I sure didn't realise I could display so many forms of emotions until I looked at all these photos ...

Pouting lips I realise its not nice..so here's the "gimme-back the camera" expression...

Here's a crazy toothy grin =D
Here's the proud glee kinda look ( anyway, the drinks at some HK cafe in IMM rocks...brings me back to my HK trip days...)

Anyway as you can see i'm really excited about the drinks i'm still posing with them!
This was taken at some Jap restaurant at Funan IT mall...

"okok enough...stop taking my pictures..i can't decide what to eat..."
"Eh....i still haven't decided what to eat..." "EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...........WHY YOU STILL TAKING PICTURES!!"

Okok lah, enough of posting unglam pictures... I'm actually very lady-like, so here's a really nice SMILEEEEE =D with super pasta in JP.hehe...okay..enough pictures.. I'm taking the camera back!!!

I don't know why so many of my weird emotions and poses are taken with food.. maybe I can write a paper on this (haha, madness, i think i'm stressed...)

I shall put an unglam photo of Marco too...so as to reduce the impact of my unglam entry...
Please note his shirt. It says "mo2 wang3" and I laugh at it everytime...Here're more photos on some East Coast Park family outing to celebrate grandma's birthday..

Bridge fever!!!
I wonder what older people wish for..

They sure had alot of birthday wishes in their lives...

Latest hotspot and favourite haunt is the board games cafe.
I find any excuse to get there...

So happy that NUS students have discounts there.

This is some weird hanging monkeys game where you throw the dice to decide which coloured stick you take out..and you're not supposed to let the monkeys hang on it drop..
Look what happened to my turn!!!

so many dropped!!!!!!

serious strategy games....

Thats my brother, some weird game and his new haircut!

And of course, a picture of the homely scene of the K-box outing we had..
Ladies night at Clementi.
Thanks to Jamie the organiser..
Hey cheeks....please come back soon..k-box sessions are just weird without you..
I'll pick out all your fav songs and realise you're not there to sing it with me..

random pictures of food and nice places

2007-08-31T14:32:00.000+08:00

I don't really have time to think of meaningful things to blog but i got loads of photos i haven't posted so let the pictures do the talking lah (its my excuse for being lazy..) Its really fascinating how time can pass you by so quickly when you're filled with work to do. I propose a 4-day work week! haha =)

Some random candlelight dinner at CHIJMES =) Its a very nice place but I kinda felt i didn't know what I was eating.. it was super super dark! the waitors had to use torchlights to show us the menus. haha..so much for the romantic ambience huh! I probably attracted everyone's attention with all my flash photography anyway. haha:P

Dessert at Ben and Jerry's!!!
I think i've only eaten icecream from there like twice in my life (its a hint for pple to jio me there) and its really yummy!! I'm blogging this from the shop near my hostel that sells delicious waffle icecream. I needed to "siam" cos alot of uncles were up there to change my curtains...

ohya! that day i was taking the school's internal shuttle bus when a car crashed into us!after all the screams and dispersing... many of us immediately whipped out our mobile phones and cameras and snapped away =) It was pretty funny..

Random comment: I love the food at Asian Kitchen. haha.On another note, i'll be leaving for Cambodia in December for OCIP for a little more than 2 weeks.. teaching kids in the orphanage... will also be exploring Angkor Wat (so exotic right???).. and I'm really excited about the trip cos its totally initiated by students.

The only thing that turns me off is the 3 vaccinations i have to take on top of the malaria pills i have to eat before i leave..

I was doing this local CIP for the past weekend too, which got me so tired i missed MAF (:( :( :( )
Teaching some kids in a Malay Home in faraway Eunos.The kids are sent there by the government because their parents are deemed to be unfit to take care of them...Its much more challenging than the kids i ever handled in my kindergarten..
And it makes me think of how important upbringing is..
The primary 1 and 2 children were pointing third fingers and telling people the f-word all day. Clay pieces we made for them were thrown and smashed to pieces, stolen and destroyed by the group.. and we spent the days pulling apart fighting children and trying our very best to entertain them...
Musical chairs turned violent almost immediately.
Passing the message failed cos they children passed vulgar messages..
And painting clay figurines turned out to be really messy (i think they painted everything on their body (hair included) except the figurines..)

SIGHHHHHHHHHH...................it really really made me rethink my ambition of being a kindergarten teacher.

saya cinta pada mu =) thanks for being through everything with me.
sometimes i really wonder how other couples "function"
do they have trouble thinking of places to have dinner like us?
do they see each other as often as us?
do the girlfriends make their boyfriends play stupid silly games like us?

Maybe answers will come someday. Meanwhile, i'm contented ...
Contented with simple things we do and share.
Contented I'm never lonely anymore =)

FINALLY...some spare time to blog...

2007-08-29T23:44:00.000+08:00

I always have "great ambitions" about mugging really hard and not missing a single reading before school reopens... And I'll get really excited for school to begin because I wanna prove my worth, prove that I'll be more hardworking and all that... BUT... it only takes a few weeks to realise that everything is too much to handle I always have "great ambitions" about mugging really hard and not missing a single reading before school reopens... And I'll get really excited for school to begin because I wanna prove my worth, prove that I'll be more hardworking and all that... BUT... it only takes a few weeks to realise that everything is too much to handle!!! I'm lagging behind readings and its only week 3... Ew...I'm not a successful mugger. But at least i FINALLY have the time to come here and blog for a weeny while before I continue my attempt to mug... *yawn* My modules this semester are surprisingly boring... facts facts facts ... I almost throttled my lecturer today in this module called "Understanding the Universe"... I think he just did well enough to top my charts in the "bad lecturers" segment.. i don't think I ever understood him...ever... hmmm..i don't even remember his name.. oh well... I'm just gonna try and pass all that physics calculation and understand the marvel of the workings of the universe MYSELF!!! Jiayou Mavis!!!! JIA YOU!!! _____________________________________________________
I'll post some long dated photos first ! =)

My new home in school!! Prince George's Park... Pretty nice view eh! And its quiet, has a supermarket, 2 foodcourts/ canteens, jogging tracks, gyms....At least i don't need to take ages to get to school..

CHEAP THRILLS SUNDAY

Cheap thrills Sunday is a day where me and marco try to go dating on a budget...
So, here's us at SUNGEI BULOH!! =) I'm adopting the "I may be fair, but I'm actually sporty" mantra so I'm like motivating myself to do more of other exercises other than shopping and swimming..

I so miss wearing my Hwa Chong PE tee... so that's me in it =D i feel young again!! weeee

I think we barely began when i started screaming when i saw THIS...The monitor lizard kinda freaked me out cos its not erm very friendly looking, so I was frantically looking around for that thing all throughout the journey...and we saw THREE of them altogether!!! The snakes and crocodiles I was initially worried about didn't even come out but I was actually preoccupied by those lizards lah~

After that, we went to his house to whip up a feast of erm...dumplings macaroni!! =D Yummilicious, but we cooked one share too many -_- I love cooking!!!! anyone wanna try?? =D

Then another day, we went to watch "Grease", at the National Museum's Garden! Everyone had their mats out, and brought lots of food and even wine to picnic while enjoying the movie under the banyan tree! =) wonderful experience.. But Singaporeans ah are really kiasu lah! When it started raining, no one wanted to leave and seek shelter. Everyone hung on to their patch of grass right in front of the screen lor! Those who stood up to walk, walked back quickly for their spot on the grass lah! To think I thought i'll stand a chance of better seats! Chey!!!

____________________________________________

I met up with Jamie some Tuesday for lunch where we watched the filming of Hey! Gorgeous =) I haven't seen her for ages!! I look like i have a big head beside her!!! *grumpy*

I hope I have time to update soon... but let me just end this post with MY NEW STRAPLESS SLIPPER!!!! isn't it cool??? The base actually sticks to my foot pretty well =D Its supposed to prevent tan lines but erm...that doesn't apply to me :P!!!

OHYAH!! and my new specs =P (don't ask me why i got one more when i have almost perfect eyesight...I just got so tempted!!)

I really miss you guys, my friends =)

And cheeks...especially you...

Peeks

2007-08-06T22:48:00.000+08:00

I made an album of the trip that Marco and I had...
You can get the album from me if you wanna see everything else, but here are a few moments and snapshots =)

I'm getting more and more addicted to getting away from reality...eh oh..

What great timing huh, just when school's reopening.. (did i mention bidding's making me slightly murderous.. *roars*)

Whatever lah...Things will work out hopefully !!!

Enjoy =)

-----------------------------------------------

Changi Airport at 6am...sleepy but stillllllll EXCITED!!!!! =D

We were trying to use sign language to show the letters HK when the plane touchd down...but I think it looks wrong...! Xuefen!!! I need revision !!!! :S

Checked into the hotel...its a pretty nice 4-star hotel, smack in the centre of town (where all the shopping is!!!!!) ... got it at a pretty reasonable price cos the hotel is having a promotion after its renovation so ...YAYS =)Pretty sights of HK...Queueing to get up to Victoria's Peak.. =)
The famous Wong Tai Sin Temple ..
I finally understood why girls in countries like HK and Taiwan receive huge bouquets of flowers. I used to be so envious whenever i turn on the TV and see the girls receiving these HUGE bouquets of flowers.. and I thought guys there were more generous or something..

But after a visit to the flower market there....i realised the flowers there are super super super cheap!!!! =) so Marco bought a small stalk for me which I got it flown back with me.. super cheap!!!!!!!

Repulse Bay, on a hot and sunny morning ... Ooooooh... Ocean Park!!! =) Its a really beautiful place...

Acting like seals...Shopping at Temple Street! I walked the streets 3 times to spend all my money! haha =)see... Those are the stuff I bought!!! cheap thrills... I'm super happy...*grins*

Oh well..everything just suddenly ended and we're thrown back to reality.. I see books and my messy room instead of having nothing to do and people to make the room...

hello reality...I'm saving up to escape you again!!!!! Anyone wanna escape with me this time ?? =)

National Day Preview

2007-08-06T00:02:00.000+08:00

Thought I'll squeeze in one entry before I post the one about the trip...
Marco's dad managed to get us tickets for the National Day preview! VIP seats!! hoorays...
I love Singapore and I absolutely love National Day celebratins =)

Ate a nice huge lunch at Miss Clarity Cafe before we went. I read about the cafe while I was blog-surfing and its really a very bright, sunny and colourful, happy place. Makes me very happy with their splashes of pink, purple, yellow and green.

Then we need to find our way there....
EASY!!! Follow the crowd that's dressed in red =)
HAPPILY SETTLED DOWN...
OH YA!! I'm totally malu.. I thought this lion thing was a mask... It was a pretty funny thing to appear in the NDP goodie bag!! So.. i took a lot of pictures with this "mask" ... BUT!! after looking around, it turned out to be a cap. -_- Creativity overdose...
Security's pretty strict... I felt like I was in the airport.. I know its a weird thought... but I kinda like walking through the metal detector and being scanned by the female officer... woohooo.

Little snippets of the performance....

My favourite segment of the show =)

The lovely fireworks...

You can never get enough of them...

"More more" screams the crowd

Claps, cheers, and endless exclaimations...

Then the moment's gone...

And you secretly look forward to next year's display again..

HAPPY!

The Earth Day weekend

2007-07-31T19:58:00.000+08:00

I realised i kept this entry in drafts instead of publishing it...

Silly me... So behold the long belated entry :P

Remember the Earth Day or Save the Environment weekend or something on 7 or 8 July?

I went to ICA to get my passports renewed for my Hong Kong trip.. and its a whooping 70 dollars!!! Not to mention the looooooooooooooooooooonnnng queues :S You practically queue, get a number, queue again, fill up something, and queue again!!!

Then i went to Bugis with Marco to get him a green shirt for Earth Day since he had a gathering that afternoon... Loved the drinks from the Tea Shake Hut!!

After that, we parted and I met up with Yihan and Tanjong Pagar for our trip to the Red Dot Museum. There's a really cool flea market there every first sat and sun of the month and there're really alot of artsy stuff, mainly by local designers..

I got a new laptop bag from fabrix cases! costly but worth it!!! =D It was delivered to my house by a week. I was practically rushing home everyday to wait for it. haha. Silly me.

Pretty right??? I customised mine with handles so I can carry it like a bag too *drools* I'm still excited over it! haha.

After that, we met up with Zhiqi to go shopping at the Central, which was kinda disappointing cos I couldn't really find anything to get..
Then, came the class outing, which turned out more to be a clique outing. But oh well, it was fun playing THIS =)
CLASSIC.
I think we'll be playing this for a long time. grins.
I still have a silly smile on my face whenever I think of the game.

1? 1? 2? 2? all! all!

This was followed by dinner at Manhattan Fish Market, more catching up and our mindless walk around Singapore.

I almost died that night wearing heels :S

OH well, more class outings please???

13 Aug 2007

2007-07-29T23:53:00.001+08:00

School's reopening soon...and I'm kinda having mixed feelings over that fact.
Well, I'm excited to be thrown back into a disciplined life, pushed back to hit the books and I really miss the library and endless mugging sessions at the cafes..
And of course, the chance to meet new friends and say hello to old ones too.

Yet, I'm worried about my CAP, about whether I'll get the modules I bidded for, whether I'll graduate, about whether I have friends for the modules I chose, whether I'll have friends for lunch, and simply whether I'll enjoy school this semester. All the jitterbugs are getting to me... *shudders*

The King~

2007-07-15T16:12:00.000+08:00

90 bucks can buy a lot of things.
It can get me 2 pretty Forever 21 tops or one nice dress..
Or it can get me 4 or 5 cheaper tops.
90 bucks can also get me a nice delicious meal, loads of chocolates and nice presents..

But I got the Jacky Cheung concert ticket at the Indoor Stadium instead.
I got to admit I was initially apprehensive, but I went for the concert eventually, because I thought this would probably be the last time he'll come to Singapore anyway.

Being a serious dedicated bunch of concert gang, me zhiqi jias and kok went to zhiqi's house to do our "homework" and revised all his songs. Gathered all the CDs and Karaoke VCDs we could find and spent an afternoon lazing around, serenating ourselves in his voice. Oh ya, Xuefen just "chapped" in to hang out. haha.

Here's the real actual day!!!
Everyone was totally anticipating THE DAY...
And its finally came..
I thought the 90 bucks was worth it in less than 10 songs.
Amazing voice, charming personality, loving father and husband...
I was brought to a high, my whole body felt like dancing when he danced yet I was touched to tears when he sang his ballads.
I wonder what it feels to have a heavenly king as a father...
Even a simple greeting sounds melodious, what more a lullaby!!!!
What a bliss.

my mum said..

2007-07-12T20:58:00.000+08:00

MY MUM SAID I'M A COW!!!!

Cos I used to regurgitate (aka spitting out food I consumed) for more than a year when i was young!!! I must really hate food...

MOOOOOOOOooooo

Why Xuefen is scared of walking under trees...(with images)

2007-07-01T22:50:00.000+08:00

=D Xuefen's gonna kill me for this but i decided to share a story about why Xuefen is afraid of walking under trees now. So guys, when you're out with her, remember not to walk under trees k !!

WHY?? Let me tell you a story...

The story goes like this...

One day, Xuefen and I were walking to Yew Tee Community Club cos we were supposed to work part-time at the student care centre there for one day
So off we went, from our office, towards Yew Tee CC, which was about say 15 minutes away if we stroll leisurely there..

The path we walked was lined by huge raintrees.. what to do..Singapore's a green country- there're trees and nice flowers everywhere.. So we took a nice shady leisurely stroll under those trees cos we were kinda early. (everything seems so nice and peaceful right?...but a nice story gotta have a climax...so read on!)

We were engrossed in our conversation, laughing away.Then Xuefen suddenly bent over and used her file to furiously scrap the back of her neck repeatedly. And i was like totally amused and bewildered cos she looked really funny and she kept saying " you3 dong1 xi1~~ you3 dong1 xi1"... I totally didn't know what was happening so i just stared at her lor.But after a while...something dropped with a thud on the ground..

A HUGE DUSTY-LOOKING LIZARD!!!! A GAZILLION TIMES MORE DISGUSTING THAN THE HOUSE LIZARD YOU FIND AT HOME!!!

Of course, I'm seriously too freaked out and disgusted to put up a picture of a real lizard, so make do with this erm, less scary one.

Just bear in mind that what dropped was bigger and a hell lot more disgusting..

Instinctively, me and Xuefen immediately stared in shock at each other for a few moments....

(less passionately than this image but aiya, we were just staring at each other okay..)

and what did we do??? RUN LAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RUN LIKE HELL!! AND ADD IN SOME HYSTERICAL SCREAMING.... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

And when we were calm enough to stop..we realised... WE REACHED!!! =D haha. with Xuefen still freaked out and grumpy...

Lizard jokes became our conversation for the next few days, with me grossing her out of course. heh. I'm mean!!! I promise to love you more after this entry darling!! =D love me still k =) I feel like the producer of like Crime Watch of something...remind civilians to beware walking under trees =D haha!

Random updates

2007-06-25T16:47:00.000+08:00

Sharon and I went out that day and she wanted to eat sushi... And i was praying there was Suki Sushi at Toa Payoh cos it's prob the only sushi restaurant i enjoy..But oh well...i guess it fits well into my diet plan.Look at what i ate and what she ate... WHAT TO DO... i really don't like seaweed.. Ask me what's best at Ichiban and i'll probably say the Mango Tango drink. Heh

Marco and I went shopping one day at FarEast Plaza for a shirt for him to wear to his brother's wedding and we tried this nice store called "Mian4 Zhong1 Mian4" (loosely translated as noodles in noodles) and its really kinda good! =D Mavis is happy. Someone go eat this one with me one day after shopping?? Plleeeeeaaasssee??
I might as well post some pictures of the wedding Marco took for me..Isn't it pretty? The wedding's at Amara hotel.. Isn't his sister super pretty?? I totally totally love her blue gown!! She said its only a hundred plus dollars only *drooollll* is my birthday coming????

We also made Father's Day cards at my house on the day itself. I miss art so much!! Here's me with mine, and him with his card! pardon his sleepy look, he did a simple one, took away all the details he said he'll add and plonked into bed, into deep slumber lah!!!

P/S : I saw this damn cute wedding car today. Its looks very comical. Haha. Budget maybe?? :P

Appearances

2007-06-24T19:28:00.001+08:00

Appearances don't matter?

Probably only people with above average looks would think so...

Of course, people always tell you that what matters is what you have inside.

No doubt, it motivates one to have a good heart, be a good person..

And its really encouraging, because you can't do anything about how you look (unless you have the money), but you can try to be a nice person so people would like you.

Yet, at first sight, when a first impression is formed, even for that few seconds, what matters is your appearance.

Strangers that pass by everyday would probably judge you based on how you look- the taxi-driver, the stall vendor, the random passerby.

Its so cruel, yet that's how the mind works.

When you're pretty and pleasant looking, people like you first then judge your personality more positively.

When you're not, people don't like you and then judge you through coloured lens.

When such comments are voiced out.

Its a reminder that looks do matter...

I should stop being naive and think it doesn't.. =)

Star-gazing

2007-06-23T23:06:00.000+08:00

Its one of those days, that my tears drop, for no particular reason.

A sense of being hugely overwhelmed by the happenings of life.

So i drowned myself in Michael Buble's new album, sitting comfortably on the chairs by the poolside, the wind ruffling my hair.

I love looking up at the night sky on a windy night.

Its as though the sight makes me fall in love with the world again, the beauty of everything.

I remember during one of the earlier dates Marco and I had, we sat by the beach and looked up at this same scene of the night sky.I was really excited and pointed out the brightest stars.

...Only to hear him clarify then that those bright ones were actually satellites.

How unromantic, I thought. Guys in drama serials aren't supposed to even say that line...

I was probably grumpy about it for a long time and from then on, I started saying "Hey, look at that satellite" instead of "Look at that star"..as a reminder of how unromantic he was that time.haha.

But tonight I realised, that because of him, I now appreciate seeing the faintly glowing stars in the night sky even more.

And tonight, this very night....star-gazing was never more beautiful..=)

How To Avoid Military Service

2007-06-21T21:35:00.000+08:00

I wanted to share this article Marco showed me the other day which I thought was pretty funny. Enjoy this piece of "logic" and reasoning =D A confusing piece of family relations...I think i was stuck right at the beginning!!!.I'm such a "goondu" at this kinda stuff. haha.

-----------------------------------
Presenting, a translation of a letter sent by a young Croatian man to the Croatian Minister of Defence to avoid military service ...

--------------------------

Dear Minister

Please allow me to explain my situation in hope that you'll be able to resolve my case.
I'm expecting to get the call to service in the Croation Army.

I am 23 and i married a 47 year old widow who has a 26 year daughter. her daughter subsequently married my father. By marrying my wife's daughter, my father became my son-in-law. In the same time, my wife is a mother-in-law of my father and her daughter is now also my step-mother.

In September, my wife and i had a son. Clearly, this child is a brother of my father's wife and thus a brother-in-law of my father. In the same time, my son is also my uncle because he is a brother of my step-mother.

In October, my father's wife had a son as well. This child is also my brother because he is a son of my father. But i am the step-father of my wife's daughter and also a brother of her son whose father is also my father. Thus my father's son is also my step-grand son because he is a son of my wife's daughter. Consequently, I am a brother of my own step-grand son, so I am also my own step-father. however, according to the law, not more than two consequtive generations of fathers and sons can be called for military duty simultaneously, so i should be relieved from military duty.

=======================================================

The reply read:

The applicant is permanently relieved from military duty due to possible mental problems and mental instability caused by the chaotic situation within his family.

Updates

2007-06-15T16:49:00.000+08:00

K-BOX
I thought I'll finish up this draft while waiting for "Beauty and the Geek" to be aired..
I'm on leave today! that's why I'm so energetic to pen another post and post another load of photos.
My family went to K-box to celebrate Papa's day! They apparently haven't got enough of the previous karaoke session and decided to pay a weeny bit more to go somewhere better, somewhere not so "lao-kok-kok"...
We tried the buffet karoke promotion package at Marina and heh..here we are!!..
WORK
Me and Xuefen decided to make a card and help burn a CD for SF, a lady in the office whom we are supposed to help, cos her wedding's coming up! aw...
That day Marco's dad help pronounce a couple husband and wife in the office.. I got no idea why they decided to solemise in the office but haha..oh well. it was such a blissful event =)

1 YEAR
The end of our one year anniversary marks the one year anniversary of his NS and hence,me, the trying- hard-to-be-a-good-girlfriend took the chance to treat him to Billy Bombers. And haha, yea, the bill was a bomb too, to someone who's trying to desperately save. Argh, i didn't realise how difficult it was to even save like 50 bucks a month.. It REALLY DIDN'T HELP THAT IT WAS THE GREAT SINGAPORE SALE AND EVERYTHING'S SO WORTH IT!!!! i didn't deliberately go on shopping trips but i bought at least 6 tops, 4 necklaces, 3 earrings, 2 pairs of shoes yada yada yada(you get the picture huh..) ..HOW!!!

Really yummy food, but in huge servings. Love the cookies and cream milkshake lovely xuefen recommended! wahhhhhhhhhhh..... billy bombers anyone? Date me out for milkshake!! Oh no.. its 1am and i'm gonna be up by 7 for work... eh oh..

AS PROMISED...

2007-06-15T13:24:00.001+08:00

MY "NONG NONG AGO" BELATED BIRTHDAY ENTRY

FORTUNE RESTAURANT

Celebrations with my lovelies at Fortune restaurant. Most of them were late (cos they were doing last minute preparations) so i had loads of time to zi-pai at the busstop. =Phaha. but kokky and mao came soon and they entertained me. haha. But they were in for a surprise too.Homely dinner, heartwarming talks. Its so nice to be surrounded by friends on your birthday! and i miss KAP! its like back to JC day, a memory that seems so long ago..

But i love you all, everyone of you, loads =) Thanks for always loving me! *BIG HUGS*

(p/s: i overdressed!!! :P DUH...as usual. ..haha)

And one really shouldn't have too many birthday celebrations...who can jian fei like that?

WARNING: UNGLAM! (haha!!).. This, everyone...is my lovely lovely bestie =D

SECRET GARDEN

Some pictures of me, yihan and xiaofeng at the "Secret Garden", with my bouquet and my tiramisu cake..

Haha, we sang birthday songs to each other cos we didn't have time to celebrate each other's birthdays. How disruptive. haha, i guess we really spoilt the ambience there :P OOPS...

Anyone who enjoys some really beautiful outdoor dining or want some quiet date, should really make their way there. Need to book early though, i heard the restaurants really popular.

We asked a waitor to take a photo for us and in the end, we found the waitor pretty cute, so we took a photo with him too. Wahaha =D

I have to keep secret how Marco celebrate my birthday for me...(pls don't ask me) but let's just say we took a little "holiday" out of the busy city life into a quiet retreat for a day..

But we ate loads of good food! heh! =D and I think i smile the prettiest when i take photo with food :P

FIRST YEAR ANNIVERSARY

we thought really hard how we wanted to spend the first year anniversary together and we decided to keep it really homely since he's spent a bomb on my birthday surprise already ..

(ps: its weird how people give me surprises when i don't ask for them, but whine when i ask for one. haha!!! =D so can i love surprises not??)

Anyway, i wanted to get vases from IMM for my room so off we went!!! So we spent the morning shopping around (IMM's real nice now).. the afternoon painting the vases and the evening cooking... PASTA!! so proud of us!

Random work photos...

of me and xuefen's stash in office and of our attempt to take photo with the MP's photograph on the wall in the office. heh

the crazy things we do...

today we classified stoning into 2 types- unconsious stoning and conscious stoning.

Anyone know the difference? :P hehe.

=D lalalalala~

sorry guys!

2007-06-14T13:22:00.000+08:00

Hey guys, i know promised to put up my birthday post, but as some of you may know, i've been busy tying up some "issues" and i seriously haven't been touching my laptop much and hence, the lack of posts. I'm sooo sorry!! I'll upload the truckload of photos up tomorrow!

I'm working now actually, but there's nothing to do and no one's around. so me and xuefen are creating havoc by doing our own stuff, using the company's resources :P So I thought i'll stop by for a short post to thank you all for giving me such a wonderful birthday!
I wanna thank...

Zhiqi and Xuefen: for planning my birthday dinner at Fortune, for taking effort to make a big nice card, shop for my present and get my the vouchers. Not to forget the deliciously sinful chocolate cake and loads of love, care, photos and smiles.

Lala, Jing, Jias, Kok, Mao, Zi Qian, Yiming: for turning up at my birthday dinner and being nice to me throughout dinner and exceptionally so on my special day.
Of course, i must thanks Kok and Mao for entertaining me while i waited at the busstop for the rest to arrive
And Mao for sending me home cos we ended past 11. *big hugs* Mao rocks.

Then, there's Yihan and Xiaofeng whom brought me to Secret Garden for this beautiful dinner, with loads of greenery, followed by board games..It was kinda werid for us three to be at Secret Garden cos almost everyone around us was out on this romantic date and we were like making a commotion trying to take pretty photos and catch up. haha. But I loved the flowers and actually i was damn paiseh they spent alot of money, time and effort for me. *Guilty*..i think i'm such a bad friend... whine. I haven't had time to go shopping with them, buy proper presents them on their birthdays and make nice cards too.

All in all, I LOVE YOU ALL, AND THANKS FOR LOVING ME TOO! =D
So birthday's over. long over. which means the next one is COMING SOON!!!
hoorays.
life is great!

28 May 2007- The Big Two

2007-05-28T09:46:00.000+08:00

Hoorays! Its finally my birthday today! And before i start whining that it's going to be over soon..Let me just indulge in being princess for this special day... just one day!

Well,just only if you have the same birthday as me, can you can have the same privilege of blogging a totally narcissistic post! i'll be blogging again during the wekend about all my celebations but let me just do something i've wanted to do for a long time. haha.

You know how most girls...okay some girls..OKAY..just myself, like to take photos all the time of myself cos at that certain moment you think you actually look pretty decent? but then, you have no where to display them or show them to people or you can't blog about it 364 days of the year cos people will think you're vain and they won't like you..

Except....ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!! =D

i know you all love me enough to still love me despite this post (pls still love me!!!) ...haha

*Grins*

On a random sidenote...
A few days after my birthday marks the first year anniversary between marco and me..

So he got us the chocolate!!
i have the chocolate phone and the chocolate necklace now..
its pretty cool actually! i like the whole idea of it..
the necklace is packed in the form of a chocolate! like kit kat..bout hundred over bucks..

Break it into two...becomes two pendents, one for each of us.

So happy together~~~~

anyway i thought of this method of taking backview by leaving the camera on the floor then start walking away from it..

HEh.. i do all sorts of thing that make pple stare... i was just praying them pple will not steal my cam. haha. okok i'll blog about my birthday celebrations by the weekend lah! =D procrastinate, i shall not!

updates

2007-05-28T00:36:00.000+08:00

Guilty as charged!!

Been procrastinating until its almost becoming a habit!

Heh! I'm getting used to work with Xuefen..

She's the reason why things don't get too boring around there..

We play bingo while photocopying..connect four while cutting and stapling and have our radio on all the time..and talk a lot. haha. actually, a lot of the conversation revolves around what we're eating for lunch today tomorrow and next week.

We compiled a list on the things we like best about work..:

1. FANG4 GONG1~~ (when work ends..)

2. Pay Day ($$$$$$)

3. On-Leave Days (woohoo)

4. Lunch! =D

5. Photocopying (totally brainless..leaves loads of time for play!)

Are we lazy or what??

And She really spoils me!!! reminds me of good food all the time, and shops on impulse like me!! please let me have the discipline to save some of the job's pay for my perm before school reopen! i miss my curls badly..

its been a month!~

2007-05-13T11:42:00.000+08:00

REALITY CHECK!!

MESSY room since everything's back from the hall..

Its so surreal and amazing cos the fact that I don't have a hostel to go back to hasn't really sunk in yet..but I guess its time to get used to my room..

Will probably finish packing everything, repaint the whole room with Marco's help and settle down here... (its so weird that i'm settling down in my own house. haha)
BYE BOOKS!!! HELLO HOLIDAYS!!!

I look back on my photos and I'm amazed how active I was while mugging for the finals..I practically studied everywhere..these are just a few of those I particularly frequent more often.

West Coast Park

The swimming pool..downstairs....

Holland Village's Coffee Bean... Starbucks!

MOS Burger...The Art Cafe at Esplanade Library..its one of my favourite haunts now! its so beautiful and serene...

Here're some random photos on lala's birthday.. =) something i really enjoyed a lot.. despite not having studied more than 3/4 of the notes i brought there...its nice to have so many close friends around you before an exam...Truth and more truth anyone??

I'm always whining all year long that my birthday is coming..

I don't know why I look forward to it so much to even whine one day after its passed..but yea.. I LOVE BIRTHDAYS!

my family decided to combine my birthday celebrations with mother's day celebrations so we went to sing karaoke and eat dinner and some cheena restaurant!! =D

The mothers and me! (Don't i look so out of place..)

Me and Grandma (she's the representative of the mothers. heh)

See the cake- it says " happy mother's day and happy 20th birthday" -- so long!! haha

More random outings...

Me with Marco at Manhattan Fish Market at The Central..

Look at some lunch i prepared.. i know the combination of food is weird..but i just cooked everything in my house's pathetic fridge..

I'm starting work with Xuefen like tomorrow...admin stuff at a grass root organisation..

Its pretty fun!.. got to handle some meet the people session with the MP too..

Let's hope work's fine and I'll be happy..HOORAYS! =)

late night posting

2007-04-13T02:23:00.000+08:00

My sleeping habits are getting weirder.

This semester especially...

I sleep every alternate night...and today just happens to be a night where i just can't put myself to bed.

I've even resorting to asking people "How do you sleep?" and they'll say something like count sheep or think of nothing...but doing those can make me lie in bed for hours till sunlight streams through the window binds..

shrugs.

maybe i'm superwoman.

haha. one good thing is that i can wash my clothes late at night and the best washing machine there is MINE!!!=)

anyway i'm moving out of my hall after this semester.

i'm really feeling all nostalgic over it.

I'm moving out right after exams and i decided to start packing tonight cos i got too many things to bring back i need days.

sigh.

i've somehow shown more attachment to this place than home..

and i'm sad i'm leaving this haven of my own.

its like my retreat...a place a look forward to going after a long day at school..

the hardest thing about moving into the hall turns out to be leaving it..

look at these bags.. i've barely cleared a few drawrs and shelves..

Still got the clothes, bags, shoes, food and files :S AND MY TELEVISION ,PRINTER, RADIO AND SPEAKERS SOMEMORE!!!

Its so scary how a truckload of stuff can be stuffed in my tiny hostel!!!

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. shall go mug now...since i can't sleep anyway...

to lala: when you read this...your final exam will probably be over!!! =) gong xi gong xi. can't wait to go out with you =)

loads of love to everyone else ..