Day 6

Yesterday had to be the roughest day of my 2.5-year career. It started with one guy trying to 'smoke' me as he handed over his assignments (he's quitting). A pity this guy hasn't learnt his lesson after being co-workers with me for at least a year. I hate it when people try to play such games with me. The more you try to 'smoke' me the more determined I will be to smoke out every damm thing you're trying to hide.

I wasn't too rattled then, but unfortunately I was rattled by another incident in the afternoon that left me nearly in tears. Some other guy had the nerve to give me a dressing down in public when he hasn't got his facts right. My boss hasn't even raised his/her voice at me in the past 2 years! Fella even subsequently sat beside me and made scarcastic remarks before I was about to deliver a presentation. *humpf* Seniority doesn't give you the right to throw your weight around, and it doesn't mean you can get away such rude behaviour by "sending your apologies".

In any case, I'm over with yesterday. Glad that the weekend started well with no Jap class and more time for rest and relaxation. Had a great day, off to bed now.....:]

Day 5

This is a week full of mishaps. First I cut my finger with the chopper. Second I sustained a bruise when I banged my hand against the glass table. Then another bruise when the clothes pole fell on my feet. I got a bump from hitting my head against the kitchen cabinet. And I got cut by frozen prawns....it's so classic yet so awful at the same time...

Anw I pray pray pray that the tour agent would be able to get us to Korea. They still need 5 more people. Hope they can pull the numbers by the end of the month cos I wanna go skiing and to eat authentic bibimbap. lol.

Hmm am listening to the soundtrack from Burlesque now. Just 3 days ago I didn't know who Cher was. The ST column described her as "not a day older since the day botox was invented", lol. what an amazing feat. The movie didn't disappoint. Cher did the opening of Welcome to Burlesque. The lady does look like she was a beauty in her heydays. I was staring more at her than Christina Aguilera during the show. Haha. Her singing was pretty awesome too.

Day 4

This weekend I went to the Peranakan Museum as Mum won 2 complimentary tickets to the museum from some contest. Had I known earlier that the admission ticket was so affordable (only $6!!) perhaps I would've spent one of my lazy weekends there instead of complaining of having nowhere to go.

The museum is pretty small with not many exhibits to see. Whatever if there is just enough to cover the key aspects of Peranakan culture and lifestyle. Actually to me there is not much difference between the Peranakan culture and Chinese culture, apart from their well-known form-fitting attire, and their love for secondary colours. In fact, I thought that it is not as flavorful as the Chinese culture. The tour was interesting mainly because of the presentation and maintenance of the exhibits, and the outstanding volunteer guides. We were lucky to have quite a pretty lady that spoke in elegant albeit halting English.

More interesting things ensued at home. For the second time Leng and I succeeded at making quiche :) It was quite funny really cos midway in cooking we ran out of gas so we had to scrap all plans of using the stove and bake everything. We also made this really unfair pact that I'd cut the brocoli while she bought the milk. Leng again got the longer end of the stick when I was forced to revealed to her the secret ingredients that went into marinating the chicken....

 Nice roasted chicken drumsticks for dinner.

And prawn + brocoli quiche.

Day 3

It's the new year, but I wanted to continue on the Japan trip post from last year. I came across a review in the ST that made me recall that I hadn't blogged about the best birthday dish I ever had....omg, it's totally impardonable that I'd forgotten about the fantastic unagi don in Nagoya!! It was such a great feat, for 3 people who couldn't speak proper Japanese to actually survived Nagoya together and sought out the most famous dish in the city.

"Hitsumabushi as it is served at the Atsuta Horaiken restaurant in Nagoya city. The dish is split into four portions: the first, eaten plain; the second, with spring onions, seaweed and wasabi; the third, with a clear stock."

This was what I had on my 25th Birthday spent in Nagoya. We had no idea Horaiken was that famous. The exterior of the eatery looked really boring. But in retrospect, we did queue for a very long time. It was our last lunch there and so no qualms when we splurged on the lunch. Would definitely want to go back there and relish it again.

Source: http://www.houraiken.com/hitsumabusi.html

Day 2

New Year Resolutions for 2011
1. Swear off buffets (didn't meet this target last year, but the no. had dropped so it stays)
2. Exercise more (since moving to the new office i keep feeling hungry, got to counter that with more exercise)
3. Find time to rest (still got a long road ahead, got to find time to recharge)
4. Be nice to people (going to be stretched this year, but still keeping my cool is important)
5. Laugh and smile more (to feel younger and more positive)

Day 1 of 2011

Libra Outlook for 2011 (from Yahoo)

Oh the lessons you have endured over the course of 2010. You're not the same people-pleasing darling you were a mere 12 months ago. On the contrary darling -- you are in the midst of a powerful process of cultivating the kind of backbone that makes greatness. Thanks to big daddy Saturn you're learning your lessons well in relinquishing laziness, strengthening discipline, and realizing your authority. You're taking yourself more seriously in the arenas where it matters most. (Read: career and getting paid what you're worth.)

Relationships bring plenty of passion, drama and unexpected plot twists especially during the spring. By the time May rolls around you'll be dealing with an unprecedented amount of planetary energy firing up your relationship sector. With six planets including Venus, your ruler and Jupiter, the planet of abundance lining up in your partnership sector you'll be anything but lonely. The challenge lies in staying true to your own needs without getting lost in the persuasive me-me-me demands of your significant others.


Although some of Saturn's lessons will weigh in on a heavier note and perhaps depriving you of any former easy-outs or shortcuts, you have the uncanny ability to take it all in stride. There's something to be said for the inherent Libran laid-back approach to life's challenges. But under current planetary duress you may join the ranks of the stressful millions in your quest for regaining inner peace and unshakable equilibrium. Forever striving for that elusive balance, you're being put through the cosmic ringer when it comes to finding and holding your own with others. But you will get there Libra -- just you wait and see!