Saturday, December 24, 2005

Been Tagged By Laundry Days

Rules of the game:
1. Post 5 weird/random stuff abt yourself
2. At the end, list the names of 5 ppl who you want next to this and leave a comment "YOU ARE TAGGED" in their blogs and tell them to read your blog for rules!

Weird/ Random Stuff about myself
  1. I kept my fingernails long for only four months in my entire life. Yes, I self-confess to be a nail-biter. One who does not need a nail cutter but immaculately keep it short with my efficient nail-biting skills. I do it in times of stress and periods whereby I am deep in thought. But you know, I managed to keep it long from the months of August till December till recently, I hear news that my employment is unconfirmed and I am back to the whole job-hunt again. Felt shit and pissed. Hah...I bit them all-off instantly. Pretty dumb.
  2. I used to be fat! I was in periods of obesity from age 9 till 17. The heaviest I reached was 68 kg. Yes. A whopping 68kg. I don't know what got over me but I started my intense exercise regime during the holidays when I was 17. Lost more than 10kg for that two months. I was insane. I exercised everynight in my room for three hours, jumping fanatically to any beat of the music. Well, it paid off....
  3. I am not interested in dating at the moment. Since May, my love life has been complicated. I have been broken-hearted, asked to go out on numerous dates and hook-ups and I am kinda sick of it. Simultaneously, I am and have been romantically linked. It's like this vicious cycle. I don't want to hurt men and friends and in turn, I don't want to be hurt by them. I feel terrible rejecting "them" in general because most of them are my friends to begin with. I am not plagued by the notion that my biological clock is ticking. In other words, I don't give a damn (hah...maybe for this while). I just detest people blaring their mouths off "Oh Grace. It's that time of your life when you should think of settling down." I am not worried....so why should "you"?
  4. I pamper myself a lot more recently. I have been lavishly indulging in massages, pedicures (french), bikini waxes (oops, did I say that?), gym exercising, reading and writing more frequently. Possibly due to more time to myself.
  5. I regret quitting the NUS choir after attending practices for two times. I went for the audition and fortunately got in as a second alto. However, due to the over-zealous and fervent nature of the choir members, I called it quits after the second attendance. The choir had this super enthusiatic attitude and I have not seen so many "stepford wives" smiles and it intimidated me. Oh well......

Friends who are tagged

  • Samurai Cat
  • Jane Doe
  • Cadaverique
  • ClemCube
  • Samantha

Friday, December 23, 2005

The Christmas Gathering











Thanks everyone for taking time to attend the Christmas dinner at my place. I'm glad to see all of you. I'm taking time to rest now...dead-beat! Here are some snapshots!

Bye Michael!






Two days back, Michael (Mike) stopovered in Singapore for three days when he was making his way from Florence (Italy) back to his hometown in Melbourne (Australia). He was in Florence for a student exchange programme studying art renaissance. It's interesting how our friendship started two and half years back in St. Gallen (Switzerland). As some of you know, I enjoy writing essays and one essay won me an all expense paid trip to a student conference at University of St. Gallen. I met him at the Zurich airport and we were introduced to one another as our arrival timings were similar. He came from K.L. and with another Malaysian counterpart, we started conversing about Teh Tarik and the lifestyle in S.E.A. Well, I forged strong friendships over in St. Gallen and till now, I still keep in contact with some of them. It's totally amazing how things have changed in our lives. It feels to an extent that I am one of the less accomplished people amongst these "scholars".

Michael will soon undertake his honours course where he envisions to continue to Phd in the near future. Meantime, he is an entrepreneur, having a mining business in Liberia. I admire his tenacity and courage as it takes hefty risks to do business (let alone MINING!) in Liberia where the political situition may be perceived to be unsound (well, it is). Recently this year when I was in Melbourne, he invited me to attend his seminar entitled "Student by day, Businessman by night."

I met Borko , a Marcedonian in a corporate dinner organized by the conference. I shared a table with him, together with Michael and Ales...and the rest, of which I am not too sure what they are doing now. He is now a lecturer in a local university and is working in the European Union too.

Ales recently got married and held a beautiful wedding in Slovenia (attended by Borko too). I am sure he is doing well in his career too.

Okays, back to Michael's tourist visiting in Singapore. Brought him to waterloo street for fortune telling where I did the translation, National Orchid Gardens, Holland Village, NUS, watched a local play called "Oi! Sleeping Beauty!", had Teh Tarik and Prata, Indian cuisine at Uncle Samy's, Singapore's Sling at Long Bar (Raffles Hotel), shopping sights......

Michael will soon embark on his honours year where it will take him to India for three months to do some research....

Sunday, December 18, 2005

My Mum

When I was eight, my teacher assigned me homework and I was told to write a short essay entitled "My Mother". You see, my knowledge of vocabulary was limited at that time and I embarked my essay with this sentence, "My mother is short and fat." This sentence was innocent and frank in a child's perpective. However, to this day, my mum still remembers this statement. Left a subtle hurtful impression. Well, seventeen years down the road, I don't deny the statement that I made ages ago but I have much better things to say now.

A tribute to my Mum for all she has done in 2005

There is no other person I love more besides my mum. She embodies the person I wanna be and I am thankful that she's in my life. THANKS for:
  1. Listening to my whinges whenever I feel empty or hurt.
  2. Calling me everyday asking me how I am or whether I have taken my lunch. Hah... I know you miss me.
  3. Being patient and tolerant when I tease you or call you names like "big ball or panda". (No ill intentions, just love to see you smile and laugh).
  4. Letting me play with your rotund tummy and portly ass, and occasionally disheveled hair.
  5. Being supportive even when I do the most ridiculous or irrational thing for love and passion.
  6. Working hard religiously everyday from dawn till dusk and keeping the family together.
  7. Popping notes mysteriously into my purse when I am unemployed.
  8. All the nightly converstions with you: the rants of work, life and men.
  9. Your thougtfulness. You have a heart of gold and would help anyone relentlessly when in need.
  10. Worrying and praying for me.
  11. Brewing soups weekly for me.
  12. Allowing me to lie on your bed and creating a tousled clutter after that.
  13. Supporting my globetrotting habits.
  14. Giving me sound advice.
  15. Lending me your shoulder to cry on in the lowest point of my life this year. I know you come in my room in the wee hours of the morning to check on me.
  16. Being the one who keeps the family finances and business well.
  17. Indulging much laughter with me when I blast the music and start dancing like a lunatic!

Because of you, I am able to pursue my life with passion, independence and enrich it with meaning and love. All I wish is good health and happiness for you in the coming year....Ma, exercise and eat lesser. Use Exel for book-keeping (instead of using the old fashioned way of penning the accounts on paper).

Sunday, December 11, 2005

Away for Christmas and New Year!


Ladies and Gentlemen, I am officially away for the festive season! Booked myself a ticket to Winter Austria. Yes...a beautiful place where Sigmund Freud (A renowned psychologist) once resided, the country where classical music originated (thanks to Mozart, Beethoven, and Haydn), the place where "sound of music" began....


It can be thought as an irrational and impulsive move. Heh! But, freezing as it shall be, it will be a brilliant, romantic and breathtaking vacation.To the snow-capped peaks, glistening lakes, Kaffeehaus (coffee house), Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal), here I come.....

Prost (Cheers)!

Christmas Party at the family centre



The family centre organized a Christmas party for the kids. Immediate family members were invited too. We had goodie bags, pastries, cakes and drinks. It was heartwarming to see parents shed all shyness and played games such as charades enthusiastically with their kids. Other activities include designing of family portrait, drawing and interacting with other families. It reflects how much these parents love their kids and are so willing to fork out quality time to shower affection.

Bye david!









Bade farewell to a very good friend of mine, David at the airport today. He stopovered in Singapore from Perth, heading back home to England to spend his Christmas holidays. Well, I consider myself to be a an efficient guide , brought him to the touristy, the ugly, the mundane, the exciting, the vibrant, the colourful parts of singapore, sampling foods of all sorts.

And David, frog legs and liverpool rock! As dismal as it may sound, Man Utd. is on the polar end!

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Christmas Pressie from Big One


Went to tutor Little One today and got a christmas pressie from Big One! Very touched. So much love during Christmas....

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Amazoning too much

I am guessing I have approximately 3 more weeks before embarking work. To be honest, I have been enjoying this lifestyle. At home, it's either reading on my bed, or on the net surfing. I feel constrained in time, yet much things to do. Just today, I learnt different types of architectural buildings just by surfing. The different types range from the romanesque, neo-classical, barouque, renaissance, modern, post-modern to gothic...very interesting.

Recently, I have been amazoning a hefty bit and even purchased stuff (mainly books and dvds). Gotta cut down on the purchasing.....

C is for .....


C is for Christmas Catering.
(Abundance flow of yummy delights and intoxicating alcohol.)

C
is for Chuckling Clause.
(Mr. Santa will greet you with welcoming arms.)

C
is for Cakes, Chocolates, Cards and Candles.
(A manna of sweet treats, games and a relaxed setting.)

C
is for Chipper Conversations and Cosy Company.
(A good time to reunite with friends and catch up.)

C
is for Cheery Carols.
(The songs for joy and mirth.)

C
is for Christmas Celebration.
(At my place on the 23rd Dec, 7.30pm.)

C
you in your Cool Chic outfits....

C
......

One down...one more to go.



Hah...Passed my theory boating theory test today after the second try. What a breezy week!

Sunday, December 04, 2005

Got the job!


I broke the unemployment cycle today. Finally..Yes! Miss Picky and Fastidious found a job as an operational risk consultant! Quite a gruelling interview with Mister. I prepared this presentation on Basel II (a regulatory structure where banks need to adhere) for days. The presentation started off bumpy, but ended delectably. Major thanks to my cousin Kai An for the extra notes and Black for vetting through my presentation. My efforts paid off!

Now I just got to wait until Christmas for Mister to find me a position and tie down the final details. I am so happy, gone are the days of uncertainty and cannonade of questions thrown at you "Have you found a job? What are you looking for? When is your next interview?"

To all my friends, thanks for all the encouragement!