Day 13

This sort of videos are all the rage now. Super creative and engaging, it takes real talent to produce this.

Day 12

This week I had conversations with 6 different men on different occassions, we talked about work, politics, life, and other random stuff. I also sat in a car listening to 3 men crack jokes about their weight, about a joker who just found out that he was 25, about another joker with a business plan that defied the law of thermodynamics, and other lame jokes. Keeping up conversations men is quite challenging to me, from initiating topics, finding common ground, breaking akward silences, trying not to sound stupid, being cautious that your body language doesn't make you come across as a prude, etc. But once in a while, if you find someone who can offer you an intellectually stimulating conversation, I think it can quite refreshing.

Equally uplifting is when the people around you read you correctly, or in this case help you read yourself correctly. Previously, I used to stumble over the question "how would you describe yourself". This week, when I was posed this question I answered "grounded". No doubt there was a leading question just before this that probably made me throw out the word "grounded" so quickly, but never have I felt so comfortable with any answer I have ever given to this question. So finally, at long last, I think I nailed the right answer. :)

There are a thousand and one little things that will determine whether your day goes "yippee" or "pttfff". Smiles, retail therapy, good food, engaging company, mindless chatter, intellectual stimulation, a shoulder to lean on, makes it into the first group. Despodent looks, boring company, being nagged at, claustrophobic environment, cold weather, ignorant fools, belong to the second.

Day 11

Seems like it was just yesterday when we whipped up a special dinner (seafood fried rice with sides) to see Liang off to BMT, but in reality he has spent 2 whole weeks in camp. But well, at least it gave everyone a reason to come home for dinner to catch up with him, and also gave my parents something to fuss over this weekend.

These 2 weeks been pretty hectic (which week isn't) with our new bosses coming in and the announcement of the new sme defn. Fortunately we had a break on Friday when our group went to USS for bonding session. We ran about in teams, trying to complete all the stations for the scavager hunt. It was quite fun actually, not to mention extremely sweet when our team walked away with the first prize (a combination of 93% luck, 5% wits, and 2% perspiration)! Winning is sweet, esp when it's least expected. And I was not the only one who felt this way. Someone actually texted me after midnight to tell me that she was still feeling high from the win and cldn't sleep! lol.

Day 10

All attention is turned on Japan this week as the country struggles to cope with the tragic combination of a quake, tsunami, and nuclear crisis. News about the unrest in Libya and Egypt takes a backseat. It's unfortunate for any country to encounter such a calamity, furthermore a country so beautiful and so rich in culture, and with such a huge stake in the world market.

I heard over the radio that some Japanese have said that it was "lucky" that this happened to Japan and not some other country. This is because no other country in the world is as prepared to deal with such a situation as efficiently and calmly as the Japanese. Amidst the chaos, there is some kind of orderliness. No one screaming or brawling in the streets as we saw during the 04 tsunami which hit India and Indonesia. No looting of supermarkets. Supermarkets band together to offer free drinks to the needy, shoppers help to replace fallen items back on the shelves. Households offer whatever little food they have to passerbys. No littering about the evacuation shelters. And neat queues to buy petrol which is limited to USD2 per car. Neat queues too and no unruly behavior at train stations where the frequency of the train service are reduced and , people are forced to take the stairs because the elevators are non-operational in a bid to save electricity. The Yakuza coming out to direct traffic flows....

With everyone behaving so responsibly and sensibly despite what has happened, Japan is shining example of crisis management.

Day 9

What green fingers I have....

This is my african violet which bloomed last week...

And this is my colleague's....lol

Day 8

I just love charts like this. Simple, readable, attractive.

Day 8

We had a nice cny lunch at Jumbo today. The service there was pretty good I must say. Did a recording of all the lines recited by the waitress as she prepared the Yu Shang.

Day 7

We finally had something exciting going on at the new office! Last Friday, we had staff gathering in the morning, followed by a lion dance performance, and then a lunch buffet which spanned 4 levels. It was literally "eat your way up". Cool, fun day followed by a busy but good weekend.

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!

Day 17

We ushered in the new year at our new office in the uber-ulu FP. I can't believe that my life next year will be dictated by the shuttle bus schedule as it has been for the past 3 days. :S

 Behold my new workspace... with its open concept

 New but cramped

 The pile of things that didn't make the cabinets

"Fishbone" design layout

Day 16

December is a month of feasting, and cooking!

Baked some muffins for xmas. They're self-made, not from cake mix. Finally succeeded after 2 attempts. The first batch didn't rise enough cos of the leavening powder in the self-raising flour. The second batch came out much prettier as it "mushroomed" more. Together with the delightful wrapping that Liang bought, they make for wonderful gifts!

Last night I also succeeded making broccoli and cheese quiche. It was spectacular. I didn't hv any idea what to cook with the brocoli and cheese in the fridge so I went online to google. Got lots of results for brocoli and cheese soup *eeew*, but eventually found a recipe for quiche. Leng and I watched a 3 min video before trying it out. Luckily it beat all expectations, even the crust was great. :)

Day 15- We're moving

Pictures before the BIG MOVE. I'll definitely miss my roomy cube, the standing cabinet, the wall shelves, close proximity to the washrooms and pantry...

Day 14

Took a day-off work today to go to the dentist. Am secretly pleased with myself for discovering the shortest bus route to the polyclinic. It was a bit of a disappointment that I didn't need any fillings. The receipt read : Polishing (simple), Scaling (simple), Consultation (short). "Simple" and "short" is a wonderful thing, but for someone who took leave just to be in the dentist's office for less than 10 mins, you kinda feel shortchanged. I'm increasingly conscious of the fact that I'm developing some kind of a 'bad habit' which sees me enjoying the 'royal treatments' at the dentist, hair saloon, TCM clinic etc. haha.
(btw the list doesn't include the doctors'. maybe it's bcos there are too few doctors to patients they need to keep the consultations short, but I find that the interactions is too impersonal for my liking.)

My boss told us some time ago about the 5 Languages of Love: Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, Acts of Service, Physical Touch. Without doing an assessment test, I think it's clear which I'm drawn to. lol

Anyway the rest of the day went well too. Caught some shut-eye and was able to read the book MN lent me. Plus, I succeeded in baking chicken wings for dinner! :) Looking fwd to more off days.

Day 13

A 45 min talk revealed that the past 25 years of my life has been all in vain. My mum knows so much about "the other me" but she knows nothing about "me". I need a spokesperson.

Day 12

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wah lau i am so jealous of both of you
you get to spend time with my fave mti person
and he gets to spend time with my fave spring person
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It's colleagues like these u count on for smiles in depressing times.