random thots...

it'll all be worth it...

2010-06-08T22:46:00.003+08:00

Wow... I haven't felt this excited in ages!!

My heartbeat quickens at the thought of Friday approaching.. Literally...

All the primping up makes me look forward to surprising him...

Waiting for these 3 days to pass in eager anticipation...

In the middle of sth, I'll break out into a wide smile.. =D

I'm so thankful to all my friends who are as happy for me..

I'm sure it'll all be worth it!!! =)

Shrek

2010-05-23T17:43:00.002+08:00

Loved the movie.. In 3D... =D
Moral of the story: Be contended with what you have.

Carpenters - Top of the World

Such a feelin's comin' over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won't be surprised if it's a dream

Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear
It's because you are here
You're the nearest thing to heaven that I've seen

(*) I'm on the top of the world lookin' down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I've found ever since you've been around
Your love's put me at the top of the world

Something in the wind has learned my name
And it's tellin' me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze
There's a pleasin' sense of happiness for me
There is only one wish on my mind
When this day is through I hope that I will find
That tomorrow will be just the same for you and me
All I need will be mine if you are here

Repeat (*) twice

Healthy...

2010-05-11T20:10:00.000+08:00

Mon - Yoga

Tue - Run with colleagues to flyer & back

Fri - Aerobics class with mum & cuzzie

July 25 - SHAPE run!! 5 km!!

http://www.shape.com.sg/promo/2010/shaperun/

I think i'm going crazy.. & building calf muscles... =D

Going crazy...

2010-05-02T20:37:00.003+08:00

If there's a knock on my door,

Whenever someone calls out my name,
Every time my phone rings,
Anytime any of the above happens,

I wish it were u.

I think I'm going crazy...
No..
I know I must be crazy..
~

Dedicated to my darlin Janice-y...

2010-05-01T19:45:00.000+08:00

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.

It's not warm when she's away.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

and she's always gone too long

anytime she goes away.

Wonder this time where she's gone,

wonder if she's gone to stay

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone

and this house just ain't no home

anytime she goes away.

And I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know, I know, I know, I know,

I know, I know, I know

Hey, I ought to leave the young thing alone,

but ain't no sunshine when she's gone,

ain't no sunshine when she's gone,

only darkness everyday.

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone,

and this house just ain't no home

anytime she goes away.

Anytime she goes away.

I miss u dear...

Ranjha Ranjha lyrics from Raavan movie (ARR magic)

2010-04-27T20:23:00.002+08:00

Song Name: Ranjha Ranjha
Film/Album: Raavan
Singer(s): Rekha Bhardwaj, Javed Ali, Anuradha Sriram
Music Director: A R Rahman
Lyricist: Gulzar

Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha saddo ni mainu heer na aakho koyi
(note: the above two lines are by Bulleh shah)
(I have been chanting the name of Ranjha so much that I myself have
become Ranjha)
(Call me Ranjha, there is nobody with the name Heer here)

Oo ranjha ranjha na kar heere jag badnami hoye
Patti patti jhar jaave par khushboo chup na hoye
(o Heer, don't chant the name of ranjha because it would lead to
infamy in the world)
(the petals of the flowers wither away, but the fragrance doesn't
become silent and is still there in withered petals)

Begunah pakda gaya (yaaro), ishq mein jakda gaya (yaaro)
Aankh ke dosh mein dil (yaaro), bewajah pakda gaya (yaaro)
(the one who was innocent got nabbed, o friends.)
(he got shackled in the love)
(it was a mistake of the eye that it saw the beloved, and it was the
heart that got caught for no reason)

Aankh se hatt ti nahin, arrey hatt ti nahin, arrey hatt ti nahin
Sotey sotey bolta hoon, kabhi bolte bolte sota hoon
Kya jaane kya hota hai, kabhi jalti aag dadolta hoon
Ek baar to aake dekhe woh bhi
(her image doesn't leave my eyes)
(I start to speak while asleep)
(whereas sometimes I fall asleep while talking)
(I don't know what happens to me)
(sometimes I explore burning fire)

Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha saddo ni mainu heer na aakho koyi
Oo ranjha ranjha na kar heere jag badnami hoye
Patti patti jhar jaave par khushboo chup na hoye

Jal ja, jal ja ishq mein jal ja, jale se kangan ho
Jalti raakh laga le maathe lagey to chandan hoye
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha saddo ni mainu heer na aakho koyi
(get ignited, get burnt, get burnt in the fire of love, by getting
burnt, one becomes a bracelet)
(by putting the burning ash to the forehead, it will feel cool like
sandalwood)

Waqt katt ta bhi nahin, waqt rukta bhi nahin
Dil hai sajde mein magar, ishq jhukta bhi nahin
Bina tere raatein, arrey raatein kyun lambhi lagti hain
Kabhi tera gussa, teri baatein kyun achchi lagti hain
Yeh jalte koyle, arrey koyle ab rakhna mushkil hai
(the time doesn't pass, the doesn't even stop)
(the heart is bowing to someone, but the love doesn't even stoop)
(without you, why do the nights appear longer)
(sometimes your anger, sometimes your talk, why do they feel good)
(these burning coals, it has now become difficult to keep them)

Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha saddo ni mainu heer na aakho koyi
Oo ranjha ranjha na kar heere jag badnami hoye
Patti patti jhar jaave par khushboo chup na hoye
Jal ja, jal ja ishq mein jal ja, jale se kangan ho
Jalti raakh laga le maathe lagey to chandan hoye

Chal, chal junoon chalte rahein, tu kahin theher nahin
Dil agar aa bhi gaya, woh tera shehar nahin
Bina tere saansein, arrey saansein kahin khatam na ho jaayein
Sabi teri yaadein, sabi yaadein kahin basam na ho jaayein
Sulagte koyle, arrey koyle ab bujhna mushkil hai

(let us move on together, o my madness, we keep on moving on, you
should not halt anywhere)
(if you heart likes a place, that is still not your destination)
(without you, hope the breaths don't get finished up)
(all your memories, all memories, hope they don't get burnt to ash)
(coals are burning, o coals, it is now difficult to stop burning)

Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha saddo ni mainu heer na aakho koyi
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi

Oo ranjha ranjha na kar heere jag badnami hoye
Patti patti jhar jaave par khushboo chup na hoye
Ranjha ranjha kardi ve main aape ranjha hoyi - 4 times

Cambodia tales...

2010-04-26T22:16:00.000+08:00

OMG!! how could everyone who told us how beautiful the place is not mention how scarily hot it is???!!!! I got heat stroke and almost died!! OK, that's an exaggeration. But truthfully, I suffered alot.. had fever, sorethroat, cold, runny nose... I had to keep popping pills like they were sweets.. arghhhh.. food sucked.. msg was their main ingredient...

But then there were moments.. of just astounding beauty... Sunset over the temple, sunrise at Angkor Wat, the beautiful sculptings on the walls, stories of Hinduism and Buddhism, the sad tales of how religions clashed back then itself.. Not to forget Happy Angkor Pizza.. hahah....

Someone betta give me a medal for having gone thru Cambodia.. But I feel confident to take on Nepal next.. Anyone interested?? =D

Yet another exotic destination... Cambodia...

2010-04-21T20:13:00.000+08:00

Siem Reap, here we come...

Maersketeers, I'm glad we've made this an annual event... =D

Happiness abounds...

2010-04-21T08:48:00.001+08:00

The whale has a bump, no! not a hump, but a queery kind of lump right opposite her rump. - courtesy of my pregnant fren...

Once upon a time, I thought all my frens were getting married.. Now, they're all getting pregnant!!! Happiness abounds...

Home...

2010-04-18T08:45:00.000+08:00

7th Heaven
When I see their happy faces,
smilin' back at me...
7th heaven
I know there's no greater feelin' than the love of family
Where can you go
When The world don't treat you right?
The answer is home!!!!!!!!!
That's the one place that you'll find,
7th heaven.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh!
7th Heaven
7th heaven

Dilbert's Words of Wisdom

2010-04-17T09:32:00.000+08:00

Dilbert's Words of Wisdom

- I can please only one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow isn't looking good, either.
- I love deadlines. I especially like the whooshing sound they make as they go flying by.
- I'd explain it to you, but your brain would explode.
- Tell me what you need and I'll tell you how to get along without it.
- I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.
- On the keyboard of life, always keep one finger on the Escape key.
- I don't suffer from stress. I'm a carrier.
- Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down to their level.
- Don't be irreplaceable --> if you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

- After any salary raise, you will have less money at the end of the month than you did before.

- You are always doing something marginal when the boss drops by your desk.

- If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done.

- When you don't know what to do, walk fast, carry a clipboard, and look worried.

Blindsided...

2010-04-16T12:27:00.000+08:00

I wish I were elsewhere right now...

-----
Written by Adrian Tan, author of The Teenage Textbook (1988), was the guest-of-honour at a recent NTU convocation ceremony. This was his speech to the graduating class of 2008.
-----

I must say thank you to the faculty and staff of the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information for inviting me to give your convocation address. It’s a wonderful honour and a privilege for me to speak here for ten minutes without fear of contradiction, defamation or retaliation. I say this as a Singaporean and more so as a husband.

My wife is a wonderful person and perfect in every way except one. She is the editor of a magazine. She corrects people for a living. She has honed her expert skills over a quarter of a century, mostly by practising at home during conversations between her and me.

On the other hand, I am a litigator. Essentially, I spend my day telling people how wrong they are. I make my living being disagreeable.

Nevertheless, there is perfect harmony in our matrimonial home. That is because when an editor and a litigator have an argument, the one who triumphs is always the wife.

And so I want to start by giving one piece of advice to the men: when you’ve already won her heart, you don’t need to win every argument.

Marriage is considered one milestone of life. Some of you may already be married. Some of you may never be married. Some of you will be married. Some of you will enjoy the experience so much, you will be married many, many times. Good for you.

The next big milestone in your life is today: your graduation. The end of education. You’re done learning.

You’ve probably been told the big lie that “Learning is a lifelong process” and that therefore you will continue studying and taking masters’ degrees and doctorates and professorships and so on. You know the sort of people who tell you that? Teachers. Don’t you think there is some measure of conflict of interest? They are in the business of learning, after all. Where would they be without you? They need you to be repeat customers.

The good news is that they’re wrong.

The bad news is that you don’t need further education because your entire life is over. It is gone. That may come as a shock to some of you. You’re in your teens or early twenties. People may tell you that you will live to be 70, 80, 90 years old. That is your life expectancy.

I love that term: life expectancy. We all understand the term to mean the average life span of a group of people. But I’m here to talk about a bigger idea, which is what you expect from your life.

You may be very happy to know that Singapore is currently ranked as the country with the third highest life expectancy. We are behind Andorra and Japan, and tied with San Marino. It seems quite clear why people in those countries, and ours, live so long. We share one thing in common: our football teams are all hopeless. There’s very little danger of any of our citizens having their pulses raised by watching us play in the World Cup. Spectators are more likely to be lulled into a gentle and restful nap.

Singaporeans have a life expectancy of 81.8 years. Singapore men live to an average of 79.21 years, while Singapore women live more than five years longer, probably to take into account the additional time they need to spend in the bathroom.

So here you are, in your twenties, thinking that you’ll have another 40 years to go. Four decades in which to live long and prosper.

Bad news. Read the papers. There are people dropping dead when they’re 50, 40, 30 years old. Or quite possibly just after finishing their convocation. They would be very disappointed that they didn’t meet their life expectancy.

I’m here to tell you this. Forget about your life expectancy.

After all, it’s calculated based on an average. And you never, ever want to expect being average.

Revisit those expectations. You might be looking forward to working, falling in love, marrying, raising a family. You are told that, as graduates, you should expect to find a job paying so much, where your hours are so much, where your responsibilities are so much.

That is what is expected of you. And if you live up to it, it will be an awful waste.

If you expect that, you will be limiting yourself. You will be living your life according to boundaries set by average people. I have nothing against average people. But no one should aspire to be them. And you don’t need years of education by the best minds in Singapore to prepare you to be average.

LIFE’S A MESS

What you should prepare for is mess. Life’s a mess. You are not entitled to expect anything from it. Life is not fair. Everything does not balance out in the end. Life happens, and you have no control over it. Good and bad things happen to you day by day, hour by hour, moment by moment. Your degree is a poor armour against fate.

Don’t expect anything. Erase all life expectancies. Just live. Your life is over as of today. At this point in time, you have grown as tall as you will ever be, you are physically the fittest you will ever be in your entire life and you are probably looking the best that you will ever look. This is as good as it gets. It is all downhill from here. Or up. No one knows.

What does this mean for you? It is good that your life is over.

Since your life is over, you are free. Let me tell you the many wonderful things that you can do when you are free.

RESIST THE TEMPTATION TO GET A JOB. INSTEAD, PLAY.

The most important is this: do not work.

Work is anything that you are compelled to do. By its very nature, it is undesirable.

Work kills. The Japanese have a term “Karoshi”, which means death from overwork. That’s the most dramatic form of how work can kill. But it can also kill you in more subtle ways. If you work, then day by day, bit by bit, your soul is chipped away, disintegrating until there’s nothing left. A rock has been ground into sand and dust.

There’s a common misconception that work is necessary. You will meet people working at miserable jobs. They tell you they are “making a living”. No, they’re not. They’re dying, frittering away their fast-extinguishing lives doing things which are, at best, meaningless and, at worst, harmful.

People will tell you that work ennobles you, that work lends you a certain dignity. Work makes you free. The slogan “Arbeit macht frei” was placed at the entrances to a number of Nazi concentration camps. Utter nonsense.

Do not waste the vast majority of your life doing something you hate so that you can spend the small remainder sliver of your life in modest comfort. You may never reach that end anyway.

Resist the temptation to get a job. Instead, play. Find something you enjoy doing. Do it. Over and over again. You will become good at it for two reasons: you like it, and you do it often. Soon, that will have value in itself.

I like arguing, and I love language. So, I became a litigator. I enjoy it and I would do it for free. If I didn’t do that, I would’ve been in some other type of work that still involved writing fiction – probably a sports journalist.

So what should you do? You will find your own niche. I don’t imagine you will need to look very hard. By this time in your life, you will have a very good idea of what you will want to do. In fact, I’ll go further and say the ideal situation would be that you will not be able to stop yourself pursuing your passions. By this time you should know what your obsessions are. If you enjoy showing off your knowledge and feeling superior, you might become a teacher.

Find that pursuit that will energise you, consume you, become an obsession. Each day, you must rise with a restless enthusiasm. If you don’t, you are working.

Most of you will end up in activities which involve communication. To those of you I have a second message: be wary of the truth. I’m not asking you to speak it, or write it, for there are times when it is dangerous or impossible to do those things. The truth has a great capacity to offend and injure, and you will find that the closer you are to someone, the more care you must take to disguise or even conceal the truth. Often, there is great virtue in being evasive, or equivocating. There is also great skill. Any child can blurt out the truth, without thought to the consequences. It takes great maturity to appreciate the value of silence.

In order to be wary of the truth, you must first know it. That requires great frankness to yourself. Never fool the person in the mirror.

BE HATED.

I have told you that your life is over, that you should not work, and that you should avoid telling the truth. I now say this to you: be hated.

It’s not as easy as it sounds. Do you know anyone who hates you? Yet every great figure who has contributed to the human race has been hated, not just by one person, but often by a great many. That hatred is so strong it has caused those great figures to be shunned, abused, murdered and in one famous instance, nailed to a cross.

One does not have to be evil to be hated. In fact, it’s often the case that one is hated precisely because one is trying to do right by one’s own convictions. It is far too easy to be liked, one merely has to be accommodating and hold no strong convictions. Then one will gravitate towards the centre and settle into the average. That cannot be your role. There are a great many bad people in the world, and if you are not offending them, you must be bad yourself. Popularity is a sure sign that you are doing something wrong.

LOVE ANOTHER HUMAN-BEING

The other side of the coin is this: fall in love.

I didn’t say “be loved”. That requires too much compromise. If one changes one’s looks, personality and values, one can be loved by anyone.

Rather, I exhort you to love another human being. It may seem odd for me to tell you this. You may expect it to happen naturally, without deliberation. That is false. Modern society is anti-love. We’ve taken a microscope to everyone to bring out their flaws and shortcomings. It far easier to find a reason not to love someone, than otherwise. Rejection requires only one reason. Love requires complete acceptance. It is hard work – the only kind of work that I find palatable.

Loving someone has great benefits. There is admiration, learning, attraction and something which, for the want of a better word, we call happiness. In loving someone, we become inspired to better ourselves in every way. We learn the truth worthlessness of material things. We celebrate being human. Loving is good for the soul.

Loving someone is therefore very important, and it is also important to choose the right person. Despite popular culture, love doesn’t happen by chance, at first sight, across a crowded dance floor. It grows slowly, sinking roots first before branching and blossoming. It is not a silly weed, but a mighty tree that weathers every storm.You will find, that when you have someone to love, that the face is less important than the brain, and the body is less important than the heart.

You will also find that it is no great tragedy if your love is not reciprocated. You are not doing it to be loved back. Its value is to inspire you.

Finally, you will find that there is no half-measure when it comes to loving someone. You either don’t, or you do with every cell in your body, completely and utterly, without reservation or apology. It consumes you, and you are reborn, all the better for it.

Don’t work. Avoid telling the truth. Be hated. Love someone.
~

age catches up...

2010-04-13T08:19:00.000+08:00

I'm old enough to buy a home PC... 8(

UPDATES: I've thought about it... I'm not ashamed of my age..

I only grow more confident with the added experience.. =P

Dresses...

2010-04-11T20:26:00.004+08:00

My bonitochico dresses are still not here!!! =(

UPDATE: they're here!!! Arrived on 14 Apr (Wed)!!!

& they're purrrrfect...

gd things come in small packages...

2010-04-10T09:48:00.001+08:00

Thought about it long and hard...

Especially after "Wax in the City" & "Wellness Village"...

But then I decided to take the risk...

So now, I have a package with Strip... =P

Long overdue updates...

2010-03-07T20:46:00.005+08:00

Hi all,

Long overdue.. Yeah, I know... *Yoda speaks* haha...

1. Official overseas trip

Doris & myself went to LA, SF & Seattle.. So much to update yet so lil time...

2. Re-org in PMO PSD

There's a major re-org in my organisation and it greatly impacts my portfolio and department.. We are now at major cross-roads and I have yet to determine the path to follow.. In fact, I hardly even have much idea of what the reorg looks like becos I was away in the USA on business...

UPDATES: I've made my choice & the coming week will be the revelation...

3. Return of the long-lost son

He's returning in April or May!! =) FOR GOOD!!! I'm soooo looking forward to it...

Luv,
Anu

.

happy song..

2010-01-15T18:41:00.001+08:00

In the mornin, the beautific mornin...

Suresh soars the sky...

(sung to the tune of "In the Jungle"...)

X'mas 09

2009-12-28T23:56:00.003+08:00

Xmas - tis the season to be jolly... Was busier than Deepavali even...

Had like a million parties and get-togethers to attend..

Zombified @ work..

iphone!!

2009-12-26T21:06:00.001+08:00

iPhone baby iphone!!! =D

another round of Tabooooooo... =P

2009-12-23T08:36:00.001+08:00

Here's a contender for Satti - Bobo in playing Taboo...

N: What do you say if you can't find sth...looking for 'what' in a haystack?
P: SHIT! (Ans - Needle)

N: Not badminton but ... ??
P: Karate!! (Ans - Tennis)

Other funny incidents during Sleepover @ Karthik's place:

K: (while driving on the road) KEEP LEFT!!! when he actually meant Turn Left on the expressway exit. =P

B: (at Prata Place @ Evans Road) "Extra milo powder for Milo dinosaur for lil sis pls.."

wahahahah...

Home alone..

2009-12-13T20:04:00.005+08:00

It was quite an experience being home alone.. Well, I was technically never ALONE cos my maid was home.. But still... Parents and bro were outta town on holidays... I had been left behind since I'd already blown 2 wks of my leave in Australia & NZ..

Anyways, I made sure that besides work, I was kept occupied tat whole 1 wk during the evenings so that I dun feel too lonely..

Day 1 - Went airport to send off cuzzie Gayu.. Had dinner with them (Kiran, Gayu & Banu) since her flight was delayed fr 2 hrs.. Took pics next to the Dynamite! haha... =)

Day 2 - Went for a run @ raffles place, to esplanade and around.. Met up with cuzzies (Kiran, Banu & Ranjev), had dinner & watched Taken @ Yishun.. Excellent movie.. Loved Liam Neeson in it.. But MY dad's betta! =P N we talked and talked til 2.30am!! Took a cab home & only managed catch a few winks before waking up at 6am for work again.. Totally stoned at work.. hahah..

Day 3 - Met up with the guys & Rani 4 dinner.. Totally bullied!! They are tryin to ruin my life.. They have promised me as much.. Y do I put up with it?? I have come to believe that it's true that if u are in an abusive r/ship, u simply go back for more.. U just can't live w/o them.. In this case, I just can't live w/o them.. =D

It was they to made me realise that 13 Dec was a Sun and not Sat. I was under the impression that 13 was a Sat n my parents were coming home then.. So when I found out this awful truth, I begged them to spend Sat with me... =P We made plans to meet up on Fri evenin..

Day 4 - Met lovelies Alicia & Ying Chia for dinner.. Alicia's leaving in Jan to pursue Medicine in Australia.. Will surely miss that babe!! =( Let me know when ur flight's confirmed babe.. I will try to make it to the airport..

Day 5 - Had meetings the entire day.. Came home earlier.. Blue Sky Friday... Met the bullies for dinner.. Sleepover at my place.. Played games all nite long.. Satti was the winner of the nite.. haha.. Pics uploaded in a private album in facebook... =P We went down to send off Rani @ 3am.. She couldnt stay all nite as she was leaving for Bintan the following day.. Then we went down at 8am for breakfast (prata) @ a coffeeshop..

Taboo
N : For breakfast, what do you eat with bread?
S : Toast! [Ans - Butter]

N : When I came for sleepover here, what do I bring with me to the toilet?
S : Suitcase! [Ans - Towel] {He claimed he didn't hear the 'to the toilet'}

K : What does Beema carry?
N : Gadam!! [Ans - Mace]

Charades
A : [walkin as though marching]
N : Marching! Walking!
A : [sashayed with hands on hips]
N : Miss World! Miss Universe!!
BINGO!!!

Poker
We all took turns being winners.. Posing with the chips..

Day 6 - Caught up on lost sleep.. As we had spent all nite awake, playing games..

Day 7 - Woke up at 5am & went to fetch parents from the airport.. They were an hr late cos of flight delay..

Looking forward to
- Dinner with Durkesh next wed..
- Sleepover over the wkend..
.

Chat with the other half...

2009-11-03T20:20:00.002+08:00

S was stressed studyin for his exams.. So I tried to cheer him up with some lame jokes.. Stuff I'd heard from frens.. =D

Me: Do u know stressed is desserts spelled backwards?
S: hahaha...
Me: char siew pau & plain pau went for a movie. It was so touchin that char siew pau cried thru'out the movie.. But plain pau didn't shed a single tear.. Y?
S: Not sure.. Y?
Me: Cos char siew pau has 'fillings'... muahahaha...

But this wasn't the highlight.. ;D

Me: Where can u find mickey mouse, donald duck n goofy on ur body?
S: brain, face (expressions) ??
Me: Nope.. Good guesses though.. Ans is dis-knee. *pointing to my knee*
S: hahaha... useless..
Me: which part of ur body can u find a gal's name?
S: wrist?
Me: Where got gal named 'wrist'? It's de knees (denise) *pointing to my knees*
S: I'm soooo gonna kill u..
Me: what edible item has no knees?
S: ....... hhahahahahahah.....
Me: MAYONNAISE!!! *mei yo knees

*rolls off chair laughing.. sorry peeps, pte joke..
.

Mummy love..

2009-11-03T19:30:00.002+08:00

My mum occasionally says things that are freakishly HILARIOUS.. Like once, I was lying on my parents bed watchin my mum dry her hair after her shower talkin abt somethings..

Me: Mum, see so many marriages are failing.. So I think it's betta that I live here @ home & S lives at his place.. N we continue to be bf/gf...
*trying to provoke a reaction from mum*

Mum: *long silence*

Me: Hello... No comments?

Mum: Smart people dun talk alot..

I was just stumped... hahahah... Then I literally fell off her bed laughing & ran to tell my bro what happened.. hahha..
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parents luv..

2009-11-02T22:16:00.001+08:00

Dad calls as I'm walkin home @ 8pm..
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Dad: Where r u?
Me: Walkin home...
Dad: Mum's still in office u know..
Me: hhaha.. I shouldve called her.. Could haf cabbed home with her..
Dad: I asked her to come home quick & she asked y, y, y? I said I missed her.. hahaha..
.
Gosh.. I've never seen a couple more in love.. =)
.

Wkend happenings...

2009-11-01T12:26:00.002+08:00

Yet another sleepless Fri nite.. 1-nite Chalet with PSD mates was awesome..
Can't rem half of wat we did but it was awesome.. Played Wii & cards & mahjong even..

Felt soooo sick on Sat and couldnt make it to Jivz place for Diwali gathering..
Still feelin sick actually..

Waiting for a certain someone's call now... Haiz..

wkend joy..

2009-10-26T08:41:00.002+08:00

After not meeting for months, this weekend really made up for it..

Midnite movie on Fri, brekkie at Thomson at 4am..

Hung out til 7am discussing themes!!.. Slept for 3 hrs only..

Went to hospital to visit my sweet niece (yet to be named)!!

I'm an athai (aunt) yet again!! =D

Went for dinner @ Deli Veg & hung out at West Coast Park til 1am..

Lucky there was Sunday to rest.. haha..

Gosh... Felt like I had a life once again..

woohoo.. who reads this?

2009-09-25T08:22:00.001+08:00

Wow.. my blog hits have reached 11000++!! Amazing!

To countdown or not to?

2009-09-20T12:01:00.000+08:00

100 more days til I see him..

Or so I thought.. Haiz..

in pain..

2009-09-17T20:05:00.003+08:00

I'm in pain..

Mind is super alert but it hurts to stretch my arms.. Feel so handicapped.

But I received a fruit basket that cheered me up..

Thanks everyone for your well wishes & for keeping me in your prayers!

whirlwind thoughts..

2009-09-07T22:55:00.002+08:00

Experiencing a myriad of emotions rite now..

Never did I expect this..

I wasn't prepared..

I'm still not prepared..

a recap of those memorable 18 days...

2009-09-01T08:36:00.107+08:00

This update is gonna be real lengthy.. It's of the 18 sweet days spent with my other half.. So for those who do not want to be bothered with details of where I went, what I did, how I felt.. u can stop reading here.. =)

I am writing this for myself.. For some therapeutic relief.. To read in the distant or near future n smile a silly smile to myself, recallin some incident.. *smile* Pics have all been uploaded in facebook..

13 Aug (Thurs)
My mum took leave tat day n accompanied me to the Budget Terminal where I had to take Tiger Airways flight to Perth, Australia.. I stood in the queue for a goodly 15mins before reaching the desk n went I got there, I was told that I needed a VISA to enter Australia! As I was preparing for the trip, I'd called Tiger n was told tat there was no need for a VISA! WTH! I thought that was it.. There goes my trip.. Turns out, I could apply for a VISA on the spot at Terminal 1, row 5 where there is a Customer Service counter for Qantas. So I left my mum @ the Budget airport with my luggage and rushed to Term 1. There, the counter staff had gone for lunch and I only had 1/2 hr left before check-in counter closed.. A helpful young lady, I think her name was Bharkat Nisha, helped me by calling the staff's hp and waited patiently with me and offered me alternative solns too.. (I really have to go back n thank her!) I could apply for a VISA online too.. But that mite not be processed immeidately but if the counter staff didn't return on time, I may have to resort to that.. But there was no way I could access Internet there.. So I called my bro to help me.. But luckily the staff returned on time and helped me process my VISA immediately and on the spot. With tat, I rushed back to Budget Terminal to check-in.. Took a cab to and fro.. Sorry to those taxi drivers who would have waited a long long time in the queue to only serve a distance of 3 mins.. Finally I was on board the plane, heading to Perth. I landed at 9pm and the boys came to pick me up.. Suresh had landed at 5pm earlier tat day.. Then we headed to Sathis' place, chatted, had dinner and finally went to bed at abt 1am.. Sathis asked us to wake up at a certain time cos he had to be in Uni at a certain timing and then I asked Aunty a silly qn.. I asked if she will bathe in the mornings! I meant to ask what time she would bathe in the mornin so that I wouldn't clash with her..

14 Aug (Fri)

Since Sathis had Uni, Suresh and I accompanied him to UWA. I bought books.. :) Satti showed us ard for a while and then left us to attend class.. Suresh and I walked to sit near Swan River and chatted.. Tog after so long.. we were content to sit in silence and just hug for a while.. Then Satti finished with class, picked us up.. we went home and picked up Aunty and went to have lunch at Macs!! My fav!! :) Then we went shopping, returned home, showered and went for bhajans @ a kindergarden sch... Then we came home, changed and went to visit the sights at Fremantle.. Bought Hungry Jacks for dinner and ate in the car.. It was raining so we didnt get out of the car.. so sad.. Came home, tried to watch Dostana but everyone fell asleep in Satti's rm.. I slept next to sweetheart..

15 Aug (Sat)

We went for breakfast at a nice lil cafe in a shopping mall with Aunty and Shiva.. Sathis had Uni so he didn't join us.. Shopped at Livingston.. Followed Aunty to buy meat and groceries.. Took a pic on a security camera when we stopped by a bank too.. haha.. Then we came home and took Honey for a walk! Fed the ducks at the nearby pond.. Only 3 ducks when we were there though.. We went to Priya babe's place for dinner.. Got lost on the way there a couple of times.. even with our GPS.. haha.. bcos the guys though BAYSWATER suburb was BASEWATER.. hahha.. and they didnt even ask me! We had appanjallara for dinner.. Priya's parents were in town and Aunty had cooked for us.. Priya's rm is amazing.. A gal's rm thru and thru.. On the way back, we got pulled over by cops.. It has happened the twice that I've gone overseas on my own.. Strange coincidence? haha.. They wanted to check the registration of the car and driver's license.. tats all.. No worries peeps.. Then we headed home without any further incidences and went to bed.. Satti gave up his bed to Suresh n me though.. such a sweety.. :) But we all still slept in the same rm.. Dun think otherwise ppl.. ;P

16 Aug (Sun)

This mornin we woke up at 9am and rushed to get ready for bhajans.. Beautiful altar with candles.. Then we went to tour Sathis dorm where he had stayed for 1 semester.. It was called St George's College.. There we met Akram, Satti's best fren.. nice polite n funny fella.. We had lunch together at Saigon restaurant.. and tat was followed by ice-cream.. Then we toured Kings Park.. Scenic views aplenty.. The Whispering wall & the DNA helix tower deserve special mention.. Then we came home for dinner.. Oh yeah, as we were driving away from Kings Park, we saw a plane above us with letters trailing it.. "Will you marry me?" or sth like tat.. So sweet.. N someone commented So expensive too.. hahah.. So we dropped off Akram @ the dorm & headed home.. Watched Vel and then ate Aunty's cooking.. Then we brought Honey for a walk.. After which we drove to another park and walked ard somemore.. When we came back, we sat ard chatting as it was Suresh's and my last nite in Perth.. Aunty and Satti were complainin that the house was going to be way toooo quiet.. and Satti said he was gonna suffer mild depression, withdrawals from us u see.. haha.. Even Honey was gonna miss us even though she didnt know we were gonna leave soon.. she kept following me ard.. i was so afraid that i'd trip over her.. So anyway, as we were talkin, I let the 'Jivz' cat out of the bag.. I'm sorrie.. :( I say it was all Satti's fault.. He and Suresh had been talkin to Prabhu over the fone and when he came back to the hall, he said he had some gd news and that Prabhu's mum n the gal's mum had spoken! N I brilliantly asked 'So, was this before or after the arangetram?' cos if it was before I knew wat they had spoken u see... Haiz.. Then Aunty caught the hint! Anyway, so we all had a gd laugh abt how I couldnt keep my mouth shut.. :( Then I packed.. N we headed to bed..

There were so many frying egg jokes.. and plenty other jokes that kept crackin us up.. I cant rem them all.. But remembering how we laughed til our sides hurt is enuf to put a smile on my face now.. I truly miss all of u..

17 Aug (Mon)

We woke up at 6.30am.. in order to catch our flight.. Our Virgin Blue flights would bring us from Perth to Brisbane and then to Wellington. @ Brisbane we had to take a skytrain from the Domestic to International airport. We had checked in late at Perth so we couldnt get to sit tog.. I was sooo sad.. It was our 1st flight tog.. But the seatin arrangement from Brisbane to Wellington was fixed such that we would sit tog.. So we were very happy.. Except Suresh wasnt feelin well, so he slept thruout the trip.. Couldnt make it to the mile-high club as such.. haha.. As these were budget flights, we had to buy our dinner on board the flight and they were out of hot dinners! so we ended up eating sandwiches and a Mars bar.. I felt so sick after tat.. urgh.. Had a sorethroat after tat.. The flight to Wellington was delayed for slightly over an hr! So poor Tim and Louis who were waiting for us @ Wellington airport also had to wait longer.. It was pretty costly to leave Suresh's car parked for 4 days at the airport so he had arranged for frens to come pick us up.. Anyway, as we reached Wellington and were clearing Customs, an Immigration officer stopped us and said we'd been selected as foreigners to be surveyed by Immigration. Wa lau! Think we terrorists ah?! Haiz.. So further delay before we could leave the airport..

18 Aug (Tues)

We only left the airport at 1am.. Bought some things at the dutyfree for his housemates.. It was a gd 2 hrs drive to his place and reached at 3am.. We both slept most of the way home.. Then Su had to wake up at 9am to go Uni.. So I also woke up and brushed teeth and had breakfast with Suresh.. Then after sendin him off, I unpacked my luggage and found that I'd left my hp charger back in Perth! Haiz.. Msged Satti to pass it to me when he picks me up on my way home to SG as I'll stopover at Perth.. I also set up my laptop to check my office emails.. However, I couldn't log onto the Internet cos I didnt know the password.. So I just used Suresh's laptop to check my personal emails on Gmail and surfed Facebook.. Suresh came back during his lunch break and bought me lunch from Bean cafe.. Then he gave me the password for his Internet and left for Uni in the afternoon.. I logged onto my office emails.. cleared my emails from 180++ with abt 30 spam! Then decided to watch a Duplicity online til Suresh came home.. Then Suresh came home.. Finally, I managed to see most of the housemates and got intro-ed to them.. Then Suresh and I went to Pompeii for dinner tat nite.. really nice ambience.. Suresh liked the pretty waitress too.. ;) Then we went to watch GI-Joe at Downtown Plaza.. Then we came home and spoke to Louis and Cathy before heading to bed..

19 Aug (Wed)

I only woke up at 10am! =) Sent Suresh off to sch and went back to bed and only woke up at 11.30am when Suresh came back with lunch for me from Subway (seafood; y dun they have it in SG??!!) before heading to Uni again at 12.40am.. Paras came to give him a ride to Uni.. I ate my lunch, read my book.. kept to myself like a mouse in the rm.. haha.. Suresh returned home at 5pm.. Felt like the gd lil wife, tending to the house as the hubby goes to work and returns.. haha.. We went to grab a few things at Warehouse, Pak&Save and Countdown.. Ate dinner at home.. cooked by Louis.. amazing really.. Started to watch a movie 'Acham Undu' but got scared 10mins into the movie.. So we went to bed.. :) Watched the old movie 'Bombay' instead.. I've never seen it before so I cried when the children got lost.. Suresh refused to tell me if they would be reunited with their family! I dun understand why this movie was banned??!! They could have simply censored some portions wat.. Haiz.. Nice movie.. I liked it.. Songs especially.. Comparable to Roja..

20 Aug (Thurs)

Woke up at 10am. Followed Suresh to the clinic for his medical for his Student Visa renewal. But he didnt have the necessary forms and photos so we planned to return early the following mornin. Went to his Uni to pick up the visa forms.. On the way home, we bought bagels (wonderful, yummy treats!) and watched ducks in the pond closeby.. Bought lunch (Seafood Noodles) as well and headed home.. After lunch at home, Suresh got dressed for Uni, picked up Paras and dropped me off at The Square.. & for the next 4 hrs, I did my shopping while he was in Uni studyin.. My legs weren't tired cos I was wearin appropriate footwear but my arms were tired!! From carryin all that shopping!! I was carryin at least 5 bags and they were all bulging!! =) I also managed to do my hair at a saloon for NZD20.. Suresh came to pick me up and we headed home.. Rested a while then headed to Yatai for a Jap dinner.. Yummy food seriously.. But too much tat we couldnt finish it.. Squid, scallop, chicken, egg, rice.. Slurps... :) Came home, rested, chatted with frens.. Planned our getaway for the following week. I cleared my office emails again while Suresh did his assignment.. Then we unpacked my shopping and went to bed..

21 Aug (Fri)

Woke up at 7am! Followed Suresh for his medical appointment for his visa renewal. Bought bagels again and headed home.. I was hooked on those yummy bagels!! After that Su left for sch.. I read my book again and surfed the Internet for a while.. The housemates had planned for a bbq tonite.. After Su came back, we went to fix the lightbulb inside the car cos that had fused and we were leavin the next day for our roadtrip.. We also stopped by Pak&Save to buy drinks back for the bbq.. On the way, I saw a license plate that said 'ANU13'.. The car was infront of us, then turned in a different direction from where we were heading so I couldnt get a pic!! How cool is tat??!! Oh by the way, I was in my shorts when we went shopping.. So I braved the winter in my cool shorts and had everyone staring at me! Then we returned home for the bbq! Attendees: Lionel, Tim, Wan, Louis, Cathy, Senthil, Vijee, Suresh and myself.. Since it was sooo cold, we had the bbq in the garage! :) Brought out the dining table and chairs and all.. :) Food was enjoyable..
Company was great.. Had loads of fun.. Laughed alot.. Tim's sexy shorts! Wan's passion for Taiwan and hate for China! Cathy and Indian gals! haha.. Not to forget the Nigerian kids.. Unfortunately Joe couldnt join us.. =) Then Suresh and I retired early cos we had to pack for our trip.. We were leaving early tmr..

22 Aug (Sat)

Supposed to wake up at 4.30am! Only woke up at 10am! haha.. Just like us.. haha.. :P Showered, got dressed, prayed, put Ganesha in Su's car, loaded our things and started out.. We first went to Milson flight sch where Su does his flights.. Spoke to Brandon Peet. We had to explain to him that I had surprised Su by comin down and had arranged a holiday as a surprise for him and as such Su won't be back til next Wed.. Peet was nice enuf and said go, go.. hahha.. Suresh showed me ard his campus.. I saw the simulators that he always talks abt.. N his planes.. Got to sit in them n take pics too.. :) KOOL.. Then we went to buy bagels to eat on route and finally embarked on our roadtrip.. It was 12.30pm by the time we left Palmy (Palmerston North)! haha.. I navigated with the map as Suresh drove.. We only reached Auckland at 8.30pm! Stopping only at Taupo for lunch.. N topping up of petrol.. Haha.. Took like an hr to find Xbase, the backpackers place where we were puttin up.. Then we checked in.. Got rm 913! It took us 3 freaking times to change the card before we could access the lifts and the countless times of travelling up and down the lifts before we could get to our rm.. It wasnt funny then.. But thinking back on it now.. yes it is.. ahha.. That was when we realised that we had lost Suresh's hp.. Haiz.. I think I lost it.. Suresh thought he lost it.. We couldnt rem at all.. But Suresh was so cool abt it and said it's fine.. It was a useless fone anyway.. I felt sooo bad.. then we planned a route to Dressmart the following day. Then we took a walk down from where we were stayin.. Had dinner at Nandos, remembering Perth.. Soooo many Indians ard here! Haiz.. then we walked back to our rm and on the way back, Suresh bought Dunkin Donuts and a Wendy's burger for himself cos he was still not full. Then we came back to leave them in the rm and left again to go walk-walk.. haha.. We went to Showgirls! hahah.. It's a female stripclub.. This Indian
stripper came up to me and shook her boobs at me.. and walah! removed her bikini in MY face! haha.. we had to put some money in her pants.. these girls were terrific.. They could do splits, dance ard the poles, hang upside down on the poles and stuff.. They completely stripped too.. It was sooooo weird.. haha.. Suresh & I only stayed til I finished my 1 drink.. Then we returned to our rm to sleep.. haha.. tat was a funny nite.. hahha.. Details only revealed in personal meet-up sessions with me.. haha.. ;P

23 Aug (Sun)

Woke up at 8.15am. Showered in common toilet.. Not many souls up at that time.. Guess they must all be tired from being awake at 3am++! So annoying.. it was sooo noisy in the middle of the nite.. Anyway, we checked out at 9am and drove to Auckland Dressmart and shopped there til 2pm. Bought loads of things.. Ate our lunch there as well.. Ate Indian food.. Not nice at all!! urgh.. Maybe we shd retire there n sell prata! haha.. There are plenty of Indians there! haiz.. We left Dressmart @ 2.30pm for Rotorua. Su and I plan routes well.. cos we manage to get on track of our route pretty well.. He thinks we'll do well if we were to join Amazing Race.. haha.. No Way! I need my comforts! :P We checked into Rotorua Xbase (Rm 1). Nice cosy homey rm.. with attached toilet and kitchen even.. But Suresh wasn't happy with it.. He didnt think it was hygenic or it had a strange smell or sth.. I felt completely at home cos he was with me.. :) So then we went to check out the movies.. But the cinema's last movie started at 6.20pm and we were there at 6.50pm.. Haiz.. it was a seriously boring town! :( Our rm didnt even have a TV.. when we wanted to change rms, we were told that there were NO tvs in any of the rms.. WTH.. So we went to dinner.. Guess where?! @ Nandos.. haha.. Then we went back to the rm and KO..

24 Aug (Mon)

Woke up at 9am. Showered and checked out.. Had breakfast at Macs and then drove to Okera Falls for white water rafting.. It was brilliant!! AWESOME!! Our guides were Nick and Ryan! It was so scenic and thrilling and the rapids were beautiful.. The highest was a Grade 5 7m waterfall.. After goin thru tat, Suresh wanted somemore thrilling rapids.. haha.. We wore fleece suits and wet suits on top of those to keep warm.. We were given shoes to keep the water out.... We looked like superheroes.. ahha.. :) Then we drove to Taupo. Stopped at Rotorua and bought KFC for lunch. We reached Taupo in 1.5hrs.. Checked into Taupo Xbase (Rm 301) which was the best so far!! Cleanliness and view wise.. Rested for a while and then went walk-walk.. Bought tix for the movie 'Inglourious Basterds'. Shopped a bit (bought 2 card games) and came back to the rm. We played the 2 games.. So much fun.. haha.. Su's addicted to them now.. :) We also caught an episode of 'Friends'.. :) Then we went to Hell's Pizza for dinner.. It's a really innovative restaurant.. Will upload some of their brochures.. Took lotsa pics and souvenirs from there.. We left the dinner in our rm and went to catch the movie.. It was bloody and gory.. but the storyline and ending was worth watching.. We came back to watch TV and eat dinner.. We also planned for tmr's trip.. N hit the bed..

25 Aug (Tues)

Woke up at 8.45am. Dressed and checked out. Went to Taupo Tandem Skydiving (TTS) at 10am but were told that weather wasnt lookin gd and we had been rescheduled for a later jump. Howeva, weather didnt improve so we were rescheduled again.. We had to call 1/2 hr before the jump to confirm our jump so that we didnt have to make a wasted trip down.. :) But the whole day was overcast and cloudy and even raining so we couldnt jump. So what we did was head back to check into Xbase Taupo ( Rm 306) again. Then we went for breakfast.. Yummy Macs again. While we were queing, an old man came up to us and tapped Suresh on the shoulder and told us that we had left the carlights on. That was soooo nice. When Suresh left to switch off the lights, he saw the old man and his wife go into Burger King (next door to Macs).. If it was SG, I doubt anyone would have gone out of his way to come tell us. Such a sweet old man.. He was sooo feeble too.. Walked reallli slowly.. Then we went to buy another card game and we were sooo hooked to the previous 2 we had bought.. Then we decided to kill more time by watchin another movie.. It's not like there's much else u can do there.. So we bought tix for 'District 9'. In total, we had been like rescheduled for the jump like 5 times.. And finally for the next mornin at 8.30am. We bought lunch from Pizza Hut and ate in our rm & played games and watched TV.. It was drizzling the whole day.. Then we went to watch District 9. It was a movie abt aliens who were called 'prawns'! eekkk.. We didnt have dinner cos lunch was soooo filling.. So we went to bed at midnite..

26 Aug (Wed)

Woke up at 7am to get ready for the jump and to check out. However when we called Lisa @ 7.40am. the weather still wasnt great.. so we were rescheduled for the 10.30am jump. So we went back to sleep.. haha.. Then we got up in time to check out.. It was also time to call and confirm the jump.. It was confirmed and we were sooo excited.. so we headed to TTS which was only 10mins away.. :D Once there, we chose the package we wanted and got geared up.. It was awesome!! simply AWESOME!!! You have to see the pics to understand.. It was sooo thrilling.. Then we went to grab a bite from BK @ Taupo and then headed to Gravity Canyon.. Howeva, when we got there, we only had a chance to see the place.. we had to return home cos Suresh mite have Uni the following day.. :( But it's ok.. I'd done 2 outta 3 things on my list.. :) So we headed home to Palmy.. Oh by the way, my landing for the skydive was beautiful.. Suresh had a slightly harder landing though.. So now his ass hurts.. poor su... We reached home abt 4pm.. Rested a while before bringing in all the things we had bought from the car.. Then we unpacked my luggage and tried to rearrange everything.. Then we went to have dinner and came back and tried to watch Kandasamy but we fell asleep. Su's ass hurts badly.. so we planned to go see the doc the next day... for his ass and my nose was bleeding too.. I was a lil worried tat it was cos I had hit myself on the head with the oar while white water raftin.. By the way, I and Su were sick most of the days and actually went to bed only after taking panadol and cough mixture.

27 Aug (Thurs)

Woke up at 9am ans showered. Timothy wanted to go see the doc for his eye as well.. so Su and I were waitin for him.. N finally, he said he wanted to go see Uni doc.. so Su and I left 1st.. I was a bit sad cos I kept thinkin abt how it was my last 2 days there.. We went to see the doc who was pretty nice.. haha.. She sent Su for an xray of his ass.. haha.. N the result was that he had a sprained ass! haha.. He just needs rest to recover.. Then we went to buy lunch and bagels.. N laminate the skydiving certs.. We also bought a NXD99 Nokia fone from Harvey Norman for Suresh.. we had already purchased a replacement sim card with the same no. at Auckland at a Vodafone shop next to Dressmart.. Then we came back, watched Kandasamy and ate lunch.. As it took long to load, after 2 hrs of the movie, we went to collect the laminated certs and went to Pak&Save to buy chocz for family.. We also bought lotto.. for 13.5mil.. haha.. Then we came home and continued to watch Kandasamy and eat our bagels.. We had dinner at home that nite with most of the guys.. Enjoyed myself watchin Wan and Lionel dare each other to eat wasabi and drink a glass filled to the brim with whiskey.. After dinner, Suresh revised for his sim cos he had 1 the next mornin. So I checked my office emails.. Had abt 200++ so was clearing those.. Then we went to bed..

28 Aug (Fri)

Woke up at 9am. Su was supposed to go complete his blood test for his medical for visa renewal but decided he'll do it the following wk cos he wanted to sleep in with me.. it was the last mornin we would share tog.. :( We showered, went to Macs to buy back breakfast.. Senthil and Vijee wanted to have lunch with us.. So we agreed to meet for lunch @ Herb garden/cafe.. So Su and I finished breakfast and Su left for his simulator and I transferred pics from my camera to his comp and vice versa. Then tried my best to pack up all my things. When Su got back after his sim, we all went to lunch @ Herb cafe. Louis drove Cathy, Tim, Su and myself. Senthil was already there with Vijee. It was a wonderful lunch.. and I took lotsa pics.. Senthil and Vijee had bought me a nice farewell gift.. so sweet of them.. On our way back, we stopped for ice-cream.. I love the Hokey-Pokey flavour! Then we came home and Suresh helped me repack everything.. And we went to Palmerston airport to weigh the luggage.. it was seriously overweight.. Haiz.. serves me rite!! :( We decided that Suresh would ship the luggage to me the following week. Now we're done with the packing. We had to sleep early as we had to make an early move cos my flight from Wellington is at 7am.

29 Aug (Sat)

Woke up at 3am! Quickly showered and left at 3.30am. Drove to Wellington and reached the airport at 5.30am and checked in. Managed to get aisle seats for all the Virgin airlines flights; Wellington-Brisbane, Brisbane-Melbourne, Melbourne-Perth. Since 1st leg of flights was an international flight, I had to collect my check-in luggage to clear customs in Australia. Then be transferred to the domestic airport as the next leg was a domestic flight. Clearing customs took way too long such that I was only left with 45 mins before my next flight departed. As there was a transfer desk @ the Brisbane airport, I was to check-in my luggage there and make my way to the domestic airport via the skytrain. Howeva, as I was queing to check in my luggage there, I was told that there was very lil time and I had to go directly to the domestiv airport myself, carryin all my luggage! I was told to either take the shuttle bus or skytrain. But my things were all too heavy.. N there was no sight of the free shuttle bus. So I decided to take a cab.. lucky Suresh called at that moment and gave me some moral support.. Cos I was ready to break down n cry.. I didnt wanna miss my flight.. Then the taxi driver scolded me!! :( Used all kinda vulgarities and cursed cos the distance is very short and he wouldnt earn much after waiting so long in the queue.. but still he could at least have empathised with my situation.. I hope there'll come a day when he has to rush to catch a connectin flight and feel how I felt.. :P I was extremely close to tears but Suresh told me that I should not give the driver that satisfaction. Anyway, Suresh and I had also made a pact not to cry.. So then we reached the domestic airport and he dropped me at the very beginning when the stupid Virgin check-in counters were rite at the other end! Lucky Satti asked me to keep some AUD on my way back in case I needed it.. So I had $$$ to pay tat arsehole of a driver.. Imagine otherwise.. *shudders* As he took my luggage out of his car, (at least he helped do tat!) there was a lady standing there, waiting for some1 i guess.. As the taxi moved away and I tried to carry all my luggage, she spoke to me and said sth like "Wonder what bug he has got up his ass, doesn't seem all that frenly eh?" And I was so glad to have found a nice lady. I just smiled at her and ran away.. I was rushin for my flight after all.. Then I realised that I had to walk the entire stretch of airport.. I was on the fone on 1 hand and tryin to drag the luggage on rollers with the hand luggage on top of the other one.. My arm felt like it was gonna be pulled out of its socket.. haiz.. then I saw the trolley to push luggages.. I wanted to weep with joy.. So I just dumped my luggage and ran to grab the trolley.. but guess wat.. it was freaking RENT-A-TROLLEY!!! But anyway with determination, I pushed on and reached the check-in counter. There I removed my laptop and checked in the other 2.. I couldnt deal with it anymore.. haiz.. There was a cap weight for luggage at 23kg.. and mine after removing my 3kg lappy was 25kg.. but the counter staff closed an eye and let me off without me having to pay for the excess luggage. When I rushed up to the gate, the flight was delayed! haiz.. all that rushing for nothin!! but it made me worry abt not catchin the next connecting flight.. Well, I was late. My flight from Melbourne to Perth was to depart at 2.45pm. I only landed in Melbourne at 2.45pm!! Luckily there was no need to clear customs or luggage here so I simply ran to the next gate! The announcement before we landed was quite funny though.. It went sth like this "If you are pleased with our services, pls leave your compliments with our staff. If there's anything that you aren't happy about, pls keep those to yourself. Thank you." hahah.. And they also made an announcement to let all those who have a connecting flight to Perth disembark first.. So I basically ran from gate to gate.. Haiz.. Did I mention that that flight had also been delayed.. haha.. Thank the good lord!! So I landed a lil late in Perth at 5.30pm. Sathis and Priya were waiting to pick me up and transport me to the international airport cos I had landed at the domestic airport. There, Aunty met us as well. I was sooo glad to see familiar faces and poured out my issues with all the flights before I got there.. We even went for dinner cos I had not had anythin to eat on the flights (only 2 small Pringles packets & a cup of orange juice).. I was hungry but didnt have the appetite.. u know wat I mean?... Anyway, we ate there and I told them bits and pieces of my hols in NZ.. Then Satti and I went to check in my luggage. I had to pay soooo much for excess baggage la.. haiz.. Then I hugged all and said my goodbyes and went to board the Tiger airways flight home.. There were some students seated next to me who were super noisy and gettin on my nerves.. All thru the flight!! haiz..

30 Aug (Sun)

When I landed, Suresh's parents, chinna paati and chinna thatha came to pick me up and send me home.. Sasi came under my block and helped me with the luggage.

4 flights, 4 take-offs, 4 landings.. seats that could hardly recline, food that was barely passable, uncomfortable sleeping positions, neck pain, back pain.. despite all this, I'd safely landed in sg.. thank god for that.. However, for the 1st time in my life I felt that I wasnt home..
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If you thought the countdown was over, u're wrong!

2009-08-28T08:08:00.001+08:00

I don't wanna leave..

I'm tired of being away from him...

But there's no choice.. "We have to do what we have to do.."
So I've started another countdown til Dec...
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I'm here!

2009-08-14T17:35:00.002+08:00

Living life, loving life...

Countdown continues...

2009-08-13T10:07:00.001+08:00

The day is here...

Only a matter of hrs before I see him now... =)

Countdown continues...

2009-08-12T08:59:00.000+08:00

Just 1 day more to go!!

Packed til 1am last nite...

Countdown continues...

2009-08-11T09:13:00.001+08:00

2 more days!!!

Gosh.. I really need to get on with my packing!!
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Countdown continues...

2009-08-10T09:12:00.000+08:00

3 more days!!

Granny's 68th bday today!

Countdown continues...

2009-08-09T15:49:00.003+08:00

4 more days!

Tired but thoroughly energized after Jivz arangetram.. (If tat makes any sense...)

Woke up early to talk to Naren n send him off though..

Countdown continues...

2009-08-08T08:23:00.000+08:00

ONLY 5 MORE DAYS.. less than a wk..

Can't wait to go Australia & NZ and put up a post from there!

Countdown continues..

2009-08-07T08:52:00.000+08:00

6 more days! =)

Happy National Day everyone..

Countdown continues...

2009-08-06T13:40:00.002+08:00

7 more days...

Freaking train was soooo delayed today.. Reached office soooo late.. Haiz...

Countdown continues...

2009-08-05T08:45:00.006+08:00

8 and a half days to go...

And my blog has registered 4000hits.. ;)

Countdown continues...

2009-08-04T08:49:00.003+08:00

9 MORE DAYS...

Growing more excited.. yet anxious abt work..

~

Countdown continues...

2009-08-03T21:30:00.003+08:00

10 more days to go...

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Countdown with Maersketeers...

2009-08-02T10:10:00.002+08:00

Wow.. 11 days to go..

I met with up the Maersketeers yest for lunch and ice-cream.. Enjoyed myself thoroughly.. N surprisingly got even more excited abt my trip..!! Even got tips to surprise Su in NZ.. ;) Thx luvs...

Oh yeah.. I'm crazy..

2009-07-31T08:28:00.001+08:00

ARRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH.... =(
Naked mole rat is right Jan...

M I crazy?

2009-07-30T19:13:00.001+08:00

Hmm.. I'm gonna do it.. Dreading it.. But daring to.. Will update tmr on how it went..

morning episodes continue...

2009-07-20T20:08:00.002+08:00

Bro sees a bus across the road.. Bus had just left the bus-stop.

Bro: See la.. I missed the bus cos of u..

Me: Yeah yeah.. dun worry.. another bus will come along soon..

Bro: Of cos another bus will come along.. I'm only concerned abt WHEN it will come along..

hahhahaha...

Another bus came into sight.. So he ran for the bus.. I strolled.. Didnt care to run in the morning.. carrying loads of things.. & he managed to board that bus.. As the bus was pulling away (I hadn't even reached the bus-stop yet) before another bus came along.. muahhaha... N I boarded tat bus...

:P Sasi..
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MIA

2009-07-18T18:20:00.006+08:00

I know.. I know.. I've been missing for a long time now.. But wat to do? Life is such.. Pardon me if this blog entry is jumbled up.. I'm just writin as things come into my mind.. It's my chance to update my frens on what's been happening in my life..

Nadia, fren from Mauritius.. She came, conquered my rm, teased me mercilessly, taught me French.. Miss her now.. Showing her ard.. now tat was fun.. we decided to take the cable car ride to Sentosa.. n she kept rocking it.. but I'm jumping the gun.. I shd first start with how I got her lost.. how I thought Mount Faber was Sentosa! well that stupid tours included a stop at jewel box! who in the world knew Jewel Box was a stop before reaching Sentosa! urgh!! So she decided I sucked as a guide.. so guess wat?! We stuck this crappy tour sticker on ourselves n stuck to a tour group with a guide who brought us ard Sentosa! I pretended I was from Mauritius as well! haha.. She taught me French.. wat else would we start with? swear words of cos.. haha.. go figure these out.. "gogot", "lichien"... Also taught me some sweet things.. "Donne moi un bisou"... We visited a temple in Clarke Quay.. haha.. Didnt realise she was Vegetarian til she got here.. so I had to cancel all my plans to bring her for seafood dinner.. n had to choose nice vegan restaurants.. unfortunately, we never made it there.. Sorry dearie.. Pics to be uploaded in FB soon..

Priya, from Aussieland.. We only managed to catch up with her ONCE! we were supposed to go shopping.. but every1 cancelled in the end.. Haiz.. Dun worry babe.. I'll catch up with u in Aug when I come there.. Soo excited abt it..

Graduation! I've gotten my MBA! I've slogged sooo hard for it.. So it was all the more worth it when I went on stage to collect tat cert! Pics to be uploaded in FB soon.. N that was wonderful period in my life.. Occasionally sucky with having Sats N Suns spent studyin.. Met the nicest babe Alicia! Met wonderful coursemates!.. Have the occasional meet ups too.. Had a great time for lunch the last time.. Next one is a BBQ in mid Aug though and I'll be outta town.. Awwww...

Work.. we're struggling.. 8.30pm's the earliest I leave office nowadays! But there's a light at the end of the tunnel.. all thanx to Kumz.. :) Looking forward to having her join us! Also, the merit increment was nice to have! kekeke.. By the way, it's Janice darlin's 24th today.. I hope she has a blast at her MJ themed party! It's barely been 4 mths since we've met.. But work has gelled us tog so much tat I love that babe to bits..

Suresh..... is asking me abt the kinda rocks I want.. =) that's gotten me all excited.. Even though I know tat its' not gonna happen soon.. my heart sorta skipped a beat when he asked.. haiz...

Aug trip.. Soooo lookin forward to these 2 wks! I'm heading to Aussieland first to catch up with some frens.. then heading to NZ with Suresh.. Now, some may call me crazy.. but I've decided to bring my work along with me.. Will be clearing work in NZ when Suresh is busy with sch.. =) Then we plan to do alot of things.. I betta do them all.. Have to check them off moi list.. This list I have "List of things to do before I turn 30!" Well, returning to the list.. skydiving, bungy-jumping, white-water rafting are the 3 things! =D

My fren Shuying sent me this link on the Orange ribbon project! Take ur time n send in ur pledge (dun worry, no $ involved) !! Log on to http://orangeribbon.onepeople.sg/2009/ now! Let's do our part for racial harmony!!

I miss my Maersk gfs! Come on gals! Time to meet up soon!

WOW.. Just found a bestie from PJC on fb.. Mai.. I've missed u soooo much babe..

& gosh... I've run out of steam...

~ Til later... Anu

thx 2 maersk...

2009-06-18T08:55:00.000+08:00

My Maersk gurlies are the best!
(disclaimer: all my other grps of frens - u know who u are - are the best too!)

With them ard, I have the guts to do what I would never consider doin otherwise..

Thanks u ladies.. for all ur support...

Room Revamp

2009-06-14T16:41:00.005+08:00

I've finally done it.. Prabhu would be soooo proud of me.. ;P

Here are the pics of my rm..

View from entrance of my room

View from the window, facing the entrance

My dressin table which I refuse to discard!! It's celebrating its 26th bday soon..

U just can't find such a wide mirror on the current dressing tables in the market now..

1st compartment for casual wear

Middle compartment for ethnic wear & gowns

3rd compartment for Office wear;

Separated by Bottoms -pants, Bottoms - skirts, Tops & Dresses

Not enuf clothes (nor wardrobe space) to categorise by colours yet..

I'm proud of maself.. Pat on my back.. =D

JESS & SIMIN!! :)

2009-05-13T08:49:00.003+08:00

This post is mainly for LP.. To update her on all tat she missed out yest.. ;P

Met Jess & Simin 4 dinner after soooo long!! Met @ Lil India mrt, went threading, & took the train back to Clarke Quay for dinner @ Waraku... =)

Talked til 10pm... Hardly knew the time flyin by.. Caught up on our lives too..

Can't believe the 1st thing we discussed was abt Sultry pics! We think they were pretty distasteful actually.. kekek.. Wat an oxymoron!

Annoying ppl who like to invite themselves to events where they are NOT wanted..

Won't forget abt our discussion on tat spectacular nite with the rose petals & fireworks! =) which revealed great secrets of Jess! which in turn made us wonder about LP's views..

Waiter with overlap!

LP, if u sense that we're talkin in code here, u're rite!! This is to torture u for not comin!! But I heard abt ur blister!! u poor thing.. But u can get the highlites from both of them la.. More reason for us to meet up again!

Luv, @nu
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Mon blues..

2009-05-11T08:40:00.001+08:00

Conversation between my bro & I this morning on the way to sch n work respectively..

Me: What do u want for ur 21st bday? [His bday is on Fri] Thought of getting you a Digicam. Wat say u?

Bro: Hmm.. I have no need for tat la..

Me: Ok, so wat do u want?

Bro: Oh yeah, I want a Smart phone!!

Me: WTH!! Wat in the world is tat? Ur fone stupid ah?

Bro: No la! Smart fone can use WiFi, can surf for free, check emails online, blah blah blah..

Me: Well, that I can get you when my contract is over! Too expensive without contract da.. So anything else u want?

Bro: Aiya, any electronic gadget can la..

Me: [Mornin brilliance shone thru my reply] Vacuum cleaner can?

Bro: Idiot! Tats an appliance! :P Sth smaller, compact, handheld kind can?

Me: [after deep thought] Calculator?

Bro: [starts laughin] Wah.. Wats up with u today? Y so funny?

It's a standing joke for my bro to blame me for leavin home late when we are always late cos of HIM! So naturally, we missed the bus la.. There’s a zebra crossin which we have to cross to get to the bus-stop and the bus had to wait cos we were crossin the zebra-crossing rite in front of it.. keke.. Then my bro said since we’ve missed the bus, lets slow down the bus by purposely walkin slowly in front of it.. I said why dun we lie down on the road n demand tat the bus driver open the doors for us.. Then another thot struck me, that when we jump up for the open doors of the bus, the driver will shut the doors n zoom past us.. My bro thought I was nuts! Dun blame him..! The Mon blues were havin an effect on me already…
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Cuzzins Outing 1 May 2009

2009-05-02T14:37:00.003+08:00

Cuzzins outing after a long long time.. =D

Thx to a few people... The wonderful organiser, Ranjev.. who managed to organise this after 3 mths!! Our parents for providing the funds.. N of cos, all cuzzins for making it!! =D

Rem June 20 (Sat)!! our next session...
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LDD Retreat 2009

2009-05-01T00:23:00.002+08:00

Tired after a long day's RETREAT!! =)

Had loads of fun.. Took lotsa pics too.. Will post them up once I get them..
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dreamz...

2009-04-30T07:29:00.000+08:00

I hope dreams do come true =D
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Y God Y??

2009-04-29T08:48:00.001+08:00

my fav phrase for the time being.. "Y God Y??" haha..

Came down with acute gastro blah sth crap blah.. (doc spoke too fast).. could hardly keep anything down the last couple of days.. I take a year to gain 1 kg.. Only to lose 2 kg over these 2 days!!!! GOSH!! Y aren’t u hearing my prayers god??!!

Went to see doc on Mon morning.. was sleepin after takin meds when Dad called.. He asked wat the doc said n all, then asked me a weird qn.. He asked if I had eaten pork.. So I thot hard n said “Yeah, on Fri.. Y?” He said “Dun eat pork n stay at home k..” Then he told me abt swine flu.. hahha.. I hadn’t heard abt it b4 then.. I thot that was funny.. haha.. =)
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grumbles

2009-04-26T14:30:00.004+08:00

Kena scolded by mum for high fone bill.. =(
But wat to do.. Went to Cebu & Batam last mth & had to call home wat.. Haiz..
Anyway, since mum pays it mthly wheneva its lesser than SGD80, I should not complain rite??! =D keke..
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strangeness in the world..

2009-04-24T08:40:00.003+08:00

Y do pple complain abt the weather when they can’t do anything abt it..?? Strange..

Just saw a lady outside of City Hall mrt as I was coming to work.. She was handin out flyers.. Normal, u would think.. She had her baby in a pram next to her.. Strange..
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=D happy...

2009-04-23T19:39:00.001+08:00

I went to collect my saree blouses yest.. had given them for tailoring to my FAV tailor, Aunty Janaki from Hari Om.. they look gorgeous!! =D
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OMG.. =D

2009-04-22T14:37:00.004+08:00

I want 1 too..

My fren/colleague is celebrating her 3rd wedding anni today!! "Congratz Ben!" Her husband just sent her this really huge bouquet.. on a stand summore.. like those u see when shops are newly opened!!

*hint hint* =D
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random..

2009-04-22T08:42:00.002+08:00

he: hey baby you there!
me: yes dear!!
he: what are you doing? why have you not been talking to me?
me: just got back from lunch.. eatin fruits now.. haha
he: stop lying to me! who is that fellow beside you?! tell me the truth?
me: hahah.. XXX!! haha..
he: avan sethan (translation: he's dead!)
he: i am comin to where ever he is staying and will throw a toothpick at him
me: haha... TOOTHPICK??!!
me: haha.. anyway, how come nowadays u call me baby often? not tat i mind.. =)
he: chumma.. why cannot is it? i am in NZ you see.. here every kutti is baby you know
me: Grrrr!!!

I ask for it sometimes... Haiz..
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MBA!! =D

2009-04-19T01:03:00.004+08:00

Wow… I’ve done it!! I’ve gotten my MBA!!! I just got an email from UniSA telling me that I’ve met all criteria for graduation!! WOOHOO.. all that slogging away on weekends.. all that assignments.. all that wkends of classes from 9am to 6pm!! Less hanging out with frens! Less shopping! Less slacking! GOSH.. I can’t believe it!! It’s finally over!! N I’ve done my parents proud once again! I can finally do this: Anuradha d/o Kabilar, BSc., MBA.

Congrats to all my coursemates!! Well done guys!! This MBA has done wonders for me!! I’ve made new friends, learnt to be more confident, lots more networks to rely on.. =) I’m also glad to have gone to Kaplan to have done this degree.. They have proven to be a reliable institution, handling all other details such that I have nothing else to worry abt N need only concentrate on my degree.. Thanks Merlinda! :D

Met my course-mates for lunch today @ Velocity.. Had fun..!! True celebration of MBA graduates!!

Planning to go Adelaide for graduation of cos!! =D Graduation ceremony in Adelaide is on 5 Apr @ 3pm @ Adelaide Festival Theatre. I’m soooooo excited!! Can’t wait!!

*************************************************

Thanks 4 calling to wish me Nagz!! Love ya gal..
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Keeping active.. physically & mentally..

2009-04-17T09:16:00.003+08:00

I’ve reset my mouse settings to manoeuvre the mouse using my non-dominant (left) hand.. Dunno why… Just decided to do it yesterday when I got to work.. Surprisingly it’s quite easy once u get the hang of it.. It’s supposed to improve hand-eye coordination and keep your brain active as your non-dominant hand has to play a bigger role now.. (I’m right-handed)..

Y dun U try it?? =D U can see how long it takes for u to master this particular skill.. Sometimes (when I'm not busy scribbling notes of meeting), I practise writing my name using my left hand.. I read somewhere that playing card games can also keep your mind active.. Read an article on this recently but can't trace it now.. So go ahead, do sth that keeps ur mind active now!!

Tats for the mental part.. Physically, my ABT (Abs, Butts & Thighs) fitness classes are comin to an end & I was wondering where n what to pursue next.. Surprisingly enuf, they started yoga classes in my office!! So as 1 ends, 1 begins.. Lucky me.. =D
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PHI trip on 27-30Mar

2009-04-04T01:40:00.023+08:00

CEBU.. I miss CEBU… Haiz.. LZH, KWT n SLI.. I miss u all too!!! I met LP @ Lakeside mrt @ 6.15am & we took the train down to Changi.. Plane was departing from Term 2 from SIN @ 930.. We were lookin ard the shops when the last call for our plane was made.. So we all ran for our plane.. as usual.. I’m ALWAYS running for planes… Was super excited n hyperactive on the plane.. took lotsa pics.. had lunch on plane as well.. wasn't tat great.. :P Loved the bun though.. haha.. ate lotsa bread thru’out the trip.. just ask the rest..

Once we landed n cleared customs, we saw signboard with a funny quote! Got reminded of Ali.. Ali, we missed u!! Anyway, the sign said.. “The best things in life are DUTY free” haha.. Pinoys are seriously funny.. There was a lady holding out a card with Liping’s name on it.. she directed us to the waiting car to take us to Parklane Hotel.. Nice quaint hotel with wonderful service.. besides there was Ayala shopping mall just next to it.. as big as Suntec.. we only had to JAYWALK 2 roads.. saw many jeepneys along the way.. For those of u who dunno wat a jeepney is.. pls see pic.. :)

PHI has plenty of security too.. not sure if it was to just create more employment.. There were security checks at every entrance of the mall.. there were like 6 people behind a cashier's counter! 1 to scan the items, 1 to pass it to another 1 to put it in a bag, 1 to take the money, 1 to staple to receipt to the bag & last 1 to pass me the bag!! haha.. We ate lunch @ Shakey's pizza.. Everything was suuuuppper SALTY!! We caught a movie too.. top floor was similar to our LIDO.. we watched 'Knowing' starring Nicholas cage... I would not recommend this alien movie to any1!! urghhhh!!! had dinner after that @ Giligan's restaurant! Their version of kangkong is alot different from ours..!! Went back to shower, change n head to a sleazy bar.. haha.. wasn't tat sleazy actually.. was called Club Pump.. paid 100 peso each = SGD3.50!! hahha... got us 4 free drinks too.. then we danced til 1am.. & walked back to our hotel.. 5 mins walkin distance only.. & went to bed..

Next mornin, we had breakfast @ the hotel itself.. lotsa pig soft toys ard the place.. we started talkin abt terrorism.. haha.. due to political n racial sensitivity, I’ll leave it out of here.. we left our luggage with concierge n went back to Ayala to shop some more!! Bought our fav fren Jess (CYP) her fav Mickey mouse slippers.. =D then had lunch @ Jollibee!!.. It's sth of a mix betw Macs & KFC.. haha.. n the dashing young mascot came to take pics with us!! haha.. he looked sooo gd.. he was there for a birthday party of a 2-yr old..
After lunch, we went back to the hotel to grab our luggage n take a cab to white sands resort.. our home for the next 3 days & 2 nites.. Checked in once we reached there n were directed to our rooms.. very East coast chalet-like.. There we freshened up & went to explore the beach n any water activities tat we could do.. it was low tide so simin ventured far far out.. n at one point in time, was surrounded by 5 guys who were tryin to sell their wares (trips to other islands n snorkellin n stuff la..).. then we decided to swim in the pool since we could not swim at the beach.. there were 2 pools there.. so we took the quieter one.. there was a nice jacuzzi rite next to the pool.. so we used it then got into the pool.. there were these reclining chairs in the pool that we could relax on.. took a few pics on tat.. oh yeah.. there was a wedding going on as well when we reached the resort.. so we took a pics of that.. saw lotsa filipinos with white men.. everywhere.. wonder y..

After swimmin, we went to shower and had dinner @ the hotel itself.. Supposedly it was a seafood buffet dinner.. but the only seafood there were fish and squid.. wat ever happened to prawns n lobster n crayfish n crabs??!! Anyway, so we ate like pork n chicken n fish n all.. i also had raw mangoes.. that was part of their starters.. YUMMY.. sth that my mum NEVER lets me eat.. EVER!! haha.. then we headed back to our rms.. played cards for awhile.. (cards gotten from Silkair..) We played taiti & hearts.. Kok weng taught us how to play hearts.. Interestin I must say.. then we went to bed.. woke up early the next day.. went for breakfast.. I just LURRRVVVVEEEEEE breakfast!! Bread, pastries, scrambled eggs, pancakes, koko krunch cereal...

Then we went to check out the prices offered by the hotel to bring us out to sea to snorkel.. but it was sooo expensive.. so we decided to go look 4 simin's guys from day b4 instead.. who offered their wares @ more attractive rates.. we found them by the beach.. agreed on a price with them.. went back to our rooms to grab our things n started out.. the security guard was quite strict cos we were leavin resort property n sneakin out to go on other snorkelling trips.. So, he made us sign some indemnity forms that wateva happened to us out there was not their responsibility.. then we went out to sea.. took lotsa pics.. went snorkellin.. I screamed all the time.. cos was sooo excited @ havin the fish so close to me, eating bread from my hand.. also did fishing.. I caught 2 fishes.. but thot the 2nd one was not a fish n let it go.. silly me..haha.. the pinoys laughed at me.. haha.. was soooo sunburnt!! even though we wore sunscreen!! My nose n back are peelin now.. GROSS! haiz..

We also went to have lunch on a floating restaurant.. but.. it cost sooo much 4 soooo lil!! so we decided it wasn't worth it.. & so headed back to the resort.. washed up.. went to front office & asked for recommendations for lunch places.. n were told to go to maribago grill for lunch.. the weather was very hot!! we were being sunburnt just walkin out of the resort to go grab lunch.. we walked across the road to Maribago grill.. a WONDERFUL restaurant with sumptious food & great ambience.. only setbacks were the mosquitoes n cats!! :P we ate lunch there.. were extremely exhausted so headed back to rms @4pm to sleep.. Only woke up @ 7pm!! :D & we went back to Maribago grill for dinner.. =) Only this time we sat @ a better place where the mosquitoes & cats couldn't get us.. enjoyed our meals n drinks.. I ate alot of pork on this trip though.. :) we also shared alot of stories over this last dinner.. we were sooo sad cos we had to leave the next day already.. haiz.. On our way back to the resort after dinner, we explored a 24hr korean grocery shop.. haha..

Next mornin, we woke up to have breakfast.. rushed to do last min packin.. then checked out of the resort.. when we were checkin out.. we saw these really cute guys.. ok ok.. Apparently only I thot they were cute.. haha.. I figured they were singaporeans too.. :) just knew.. dont ask me why or how.. well anyway, they had checked out 1st.. n so they took the 1st cab n left.. my frens were teasin me to go ask them to take a grp pic for us.. which of cos I didnt do.. Anyway, so we got our own cab n went to the airport.. Simin forgot that u can't carry liquids in hand luggage.. n she was carryin 3 tiny can drinks bought at the 24 hr korean grocery shop.. so Kok Weng had to down 2 bottles.. n Simin finished one.. only then were we were allowed to go thru..

Then while we were waitin to board the plane, guess who we saw??!! the CHECK OUT guys!! =D haha.. Simin was the voice of reason & LP was the DEVIL.. haha.. LP asked me to go take a pic with him n Simin kept remindin me of Suresh. They kept tellin me it was FATE!! haha.. On board the plane, they were seated rite in front of us!!! We were Row 18 and they were Row 17!! =D LP secretly tried to take pics of the guys.. when we got our food, the water's brand was Sunfresh.. cover the N & F & what do u get?? SURESH!! haha.. Simin said "he's watchin u!!" with the fingers to eyes to pointin at me.. haha.. that was super hilarious..

Haiz.. I miss CEBU... I miss my frens!

*For more pics, pls see my facebook.. =D

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Shamz, this is 4 u! =>

PSD Advance 2009

2009-03-26T20:18:00.003+08:00

PSD Advance was held on 23 Mar 2009.. Immediately after I came back from my quick getaway in Batam with frens.. It is an annual PSD event that is attended by PSD and CSC.. to discuss plans for the organisation for the year.. Senior Mgmt laid out the directions to take.. N each depts will take it & work on it in their own areas.. So, reason y I mention this is cos.. I was emcee for this event.. MP Zainudin Nordin was the GOH.. He spoke of the ground sentiments of Singaporeans during this economic downturn & some of the issues were really quite stark..

On sun nite, I was busy plannin wat to wear.. N in the end decided to stick to my lil black dress.. It's formal wear.. not party wear.. so no worries.. Mum's selection.. Gd choice though cos everyone commented on my dress.. They all said it was pretty.. I had to tell them the truth.. tat it was 12 yrs old!! =D
Anyway, the event went well.. Justin my co-emcee had plenty of experience doing such PSD events.. Had a gd time with him.. After tea break, the session got a bit more complicated though.. After PS's speech, participants had to break up for discussions.. & that wasnt in our speech.. we had to stick tat in.. There was an sms aspect to the session where pple could sms their thoughts to numbers flashed on the screens & we would flash selected comments.. Haiz.. quite messy.. But we managed to pull thru..

Everyone said it was a job well done.. So I was really glad.. My 1st day back @ work had been great!! Can't say the same for my other frens who had come to Batam with me.. But, I just wanna say, Hang in there babettes... It'll get betta! Luv ya'll..

Took pics after tat with frens.. Will post them once my fren scans them to me.. :D

BATAM...21-22Mar!!! =D

2009-03-26T19:36:00.003+08:00

I know I know.. I'm always soooo slow in updating my blog.. But wat can I do.. there's sooo much happening in life.. N not much time to pen down my thots.. Well, I have to say abt Batam though..

There was a grand total of 75 emails exchanged before we embarked on this 2day1nite journey!! I'm not kidding.. 75 emails.. Haha.. So, finally, we had booked a Spa package @ Holiday Inn..

Well, anyway.. we finally made it.. We made it to the ferry terminal (LATE as usual though!!), made the ferry trip, made our way to the hotel, lasted there for the 2d1n & made it back safe n sound too.. Didn't miss the ferry & mas selamat didnt attack Holiday Inn while we were there.. haha.. my darlin pessimistic frens' weird ideas..

I have to start at the beginning.. we were supposed to meet @ 7.20am @ Harbourfront PizzaHut.. cos thats the only landmark Shamz knew!! Doesn't matter how often we hang out @ Harbourfront or Vivo! I was there @ 7.10am!! Deepz came on time.. Knew I'd be on time & didn't wanna be late & make me wait.. @ least SHE had that courtesy!! the other 2 bums were late!! AS USUAL!! Shamz even overslept.. Wish we had left u behind gal! :P They (Vanz & Shamz) joined us 4 breakfast @ Macs.. Then we went to collect our ferry tickets & board the ferry.. Guess wat.. we were told tat our ferry was at 9.20am! But the actual ferry timing was 10.20am! We thought perhaps they had told us in Batam time (an hr behind SG).. So fine.. we went thru the gate & found out tat we were too early.. only those ferries leaving in the next 1/2 hr were supposed to go into thru the gates.. Haiz.. But they allowed us to pass thru.. Then we waited n waited n waited.. took pics in the meantime though.. Pics tat Vanz said she will send.. No sight of them til now.. N our boarding passes mentioned that our ferry was "Golden Image".. It was 10am.. N still no sight of "Golden Image".. Since we had been waitin for almost an hr for the damn ferry, we decided to go ask the staff @ the counter.. N they just kept sayin 'Hold on, it will be here soon.' However, there was another ferry heading to the same destination @ 10.20am.. So, we decided to heck it & boarded that ferry.. Crossin our fingers & praying tat we wouldn't be kicked off the ferry.. keke.. N we managed to make our way there!! haha..

Got ourselves a 2-bedroom suite.. Was wonderful!! We freshened up.. N left for Nagoya Hill, a shopping mall.. wanted to get some shopping done n lunch too.. We had to head back soon 4 our spa.. We ate @ Happiness Restaurant.. Turned out to be not so happy though.. Will tell u ltr on.. Keep readin.. :) Then did some shopping.. I bought 2 bags! :)

Then we had to rush back to hotel for our spa.. We had time for some sauna, steam bath & jacuzzi.. wonderful.. but we hadn't brought our cameras so couldnt get any pics.. Then we had to split.. 2 to a room for our actual massages.. Glad to know that Shamz enjoyed herself since it was her 1st time.. We had body scrubs and a body mask following tat.. OOhhh.. the mask smelt sooo yummy.. It was a honey milk mask.. we were left wrapped up after tat then told to shower.. It was hilarious when the masseuses asked us if we wanted to shower tog.. ahhah... [We told them NO of cos!!] After showering, we had a body massage.. tat was sooo relaxing.. Haiz.. Wat a life..

After that we returned to our rooms to relac the nite away.. Decided to order room service 4 dinner.. Weren't too keen on explorin Batam @ nite.. Haha.. Anyway, Deepz darlin fell sick.. N she vomited like thrice!! We hadn't even brought medications with us!! Haiz.. we were sooo worried.. But she pulled thru.. Amazingly!! She slept 4 like an hr while the other 3 of us had dinner.. N when she woke up.. she was as good as new! she didn't wanna spoil the nite for the rest of us.. N she kept up her gd spirits.. Learnt sth from her.. I got reminded of a chalet I attended over the Dec hols.. N how miserable I was cos I had injured my toe.. n probably made everyone else at the chalet miserable too.. So, SORRY guys!! (this apology goes out to those in the chalet, u know who u are!)

Then the rest of the nite was spent sharin secrets, hopes, dreams.. Shamz was annoying us all with "I'm tired!".. Shamz dear, I told Suresh tat he should be grateful I dun complain tat much.. haha.. He doesn't want u as set-up anymore!! hahahaha... Shamz had sth goin on with the balcony too.. Always kept goin to the balcony.. Too bad we had such a low floor.. Not that great a view from the balcony.. Locked her in the balcony once!! Have a great pic of her then.. starin @ us to let her go.. haha.. shall post that up..

Went to bed abt 4am.. Woke up @ 8am for breakfast.. Shamz was latest as usual! Ate for like an hr.. Will show the many plates on our table.. :) Returned to our rm to play charades, paatu varisai.. haha.. had fun... Then it was time to return home.... We left there with heavy hearts.. We all had to return to work the next day!! Tats y so sad.. Haiz..

Anyway, all in all, it was an enjoyable holiday.. Plannin to go further to either Bali or Bangkok next time.. Hopefully, Priya & Nagz can join us this time round.. Missed u babes..

airport confusion

2009-02-22T16:53:00.002+08:00

My grannies & aunt went to India for 2 wks.. They visited temples, and even attended one of our former maid's wedding.. =)

They returned today.. landed @ 8am.. but they only came out after collectin their baggage @ 10am!! Wonder why?? Some useless mango-idiot mistook my aunt's luggage as his n took it n left!! My aunt realised that there was a similar lookin luggage but wasnt hers.. (She knew it wasnt hers the min she carried it cos it was way too light.. haha.. She had bought many many bks..) So she had to go to the Lost & Found to make a report. U would think that my poor grannies could have come out at this point rite?! But NO!! they had to tag along with my aunt from office to office.. Even though we were waving them to come on out.. haha..

Then when she went to make a report.. the wonderful officers traced the owner using that barcode tag on tat bag.. That gundu was at the void deck of his blk already.. Haiz.. He was told to return the luggage intact to the airport n collect his own from the airport. The airport would deliver the luggage to my aunt's doorstep.. Then when she was comin out, my uncle told her to go back in to the lost n found dept n get a report to make an insurance claim for lost luggage. Lucky there's travel insurance to cover this! ;P

Anywaaaaaaaaaaaay, the main reason I woke up early (@ 6.20am!!!) to go to the airport was so tat I could have Mac breakfast in the airport!! =P So cos of all this nonsense, my stomach was grumbling for sooooo long.. We finally ate breakfast at 10am & only got home @ 11.30am!! :D

hair..

2009-02-14T21:14:00.003+08:00

I love short hair.. absolutely love it.. think it may have sth to do with the fact that I have always had long hair when I was young n mum refused to let me cut it.. back in the days when I needed mum's permission to do things.. =D

Hated those pigtails, ponytails.. wateva tails they were I've had them.. now I just love short hair.. =)

Latest hair cut..

Lunch with frens

Coffee break @ coffeebean with frens (though its only Shamz in the middle who is an addict)

weddings..

2009-02-14T20:46:00.006+08:00

There's just sth abt weddings..

My fren 'Marilyn' and myself went to a wedding studio to check out the packages they offer.. Marilyn & Dylan are getting hitched in Sep.. I went along cos I am 1 of the bridesmaids.. the other 2 couldn't make it.. We met up 4 dinner after tat though.. =) Ate at a restaurant suggested by the helpful lady at the wedding studio as she realised we were quite undecisive.. haha..

@ the wedding studio, we went thru loads of pics and the packages were described to us in detail.. the assistant was very very helpful.. very patient with all our questions too..

The gowns were gorgeous!! Marilyn looked sooooooooo lovely.. I also wanted to get married!! just so to try the gowns.. =) They were exquisite.. Seriously.. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pics.. Haiz.. Got to see some bridesmaids gowns too.. But they weren't that great.. Wonder why bridesmaids gowns are always so tacky.. :P got reminded of my cousin's wedding.. the bridesmaids' gowns were hilarious.. we were all rolling ard n laughin in the changing rm..

Anyway, Simin came to join us after that.. [Jess was busy shoppin for Vday.. can't blame her..] & we went for dinner.. @ Cumi Bali, an Indonesian restaurant.. some pics taken there..

& we also took some pics after dinner, just outside the restaurant.. attracted lots of unwarranted stares too.. :)

Reason 4 MIA..

2009-02-06T21:09:00.008+08:00

hi hi hi hi hi..

Too all those who've missed me.. I'm back! =)

The past 2 mths have been a very busy time 4 me..

Suresh was BACK u see.. hehe.. I missed him soooo much & I must say I enjoyed myself tremendously with him.. Not a moment to regret.. tats how it shd be.. Some pics with him during this break..

Then he left.. on 26 Jan (1st day of Chinese New Yr).. I'm soooo glad I was surrounded by my wonderful frens to comfort me then.. I love u ALL!! N for my frens who msged me to comfort me too.. Thanks Melvin & Jas 4 thinkin of me during ur new yr...

N now, work has taken a crazy turn n i'm super caught up with work to worry abt anythin else.. workin on wkends has become a norm too.. Haiz..

I've added a countdown timer to my blog.. to countdown the days, hrs, mins left before I can see him again..

PSD Friends and Family Day 2008

2008-11-25T18:25:00.003+08:00

To commemorate PSD's 25th anniversary, PSD had a family day at Sentosa instead of the usual D&D..

Pic = 1000 words =)

the trinity with airbrushed tattoos.. hehe.. Jas got a cat on her arm, I got a flower on my ankle & Shu hui got a butterfly on her arm! =)

we took part in the telematch.. can u see the RED BULL on our flag? yong kuan's magic..

Our RED team won the telematch!! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!! :)

prizes were lots & lots of Marks & Spencers Goodies!

M'sia has banned YOGA!!

2008-11-24T17:43:00.001+08:00

can u believe that?

will update ltr..

Esplanade shows.. in just a wk..

2008-11-06T10:29:00.003+08:00

I went to watch Russell Peters on Mon (3 Nov) & Avenue Q yesterday (5 Nov)..

Both were great!! =)

Russell is HILARIOUS.. was laughin so hard, my cheekbones hurt! lucky I didn't watch his new acts on youtube!! he even had some of Singaporeans doin the DDR! haha.. his jokes are racist, plenty of crude sexual humour.. but they r sooooo funny! We are all a bit racist and sth of a sadist.. hehe.. (a song from Avenue Q..)

When we were leaving the auditorium, I overheard this guy tellin his wife or gf that Russell is biased and terribly racist.. I was like "WAT? Hello..! Dun u know what this guy does as a standup comedian before u paid sooo much to watch him??" How much more ridiculous can u get!!

************************************************************************************

I went to watch Avenue Q with Sakthi.. Sakthi's hilarious.. keke..
(U aren't weird gal.. just different, rem that k.. luv ya neways.. )
We had dinner at TCC & dessert @ Haagen Dazs... yummy.. :)

Avenue Q is a muppet musical.. similar to Sesame Street, except that it's the adult version.. Even though there were pple holding up the muppets & were visibly moving their mouths, we were all concentrating on the muppets.. It wasn't just songs as I thot.. there was a whole story stringin the songs tog... we had a really great time..

All the way home, (to the mrt station at least), we were drunk on the songs.. "it sux to be me, it sux to be me, sucka sucka sucka sucka, it sux to be me.." hahaha.. =)

There was a very nice song called "There's a fine fine line.."
Here's the lyrics for it..

There's a fine, fine line between a lover and a friend;

There's a fine, fine line between reality and pretend;

And you never know 'til you reach the top if it was worth the uphill climb.

There's a fine, fine line between love

And a waste of time.

There's a fine, fine line between a fairy tale and a lie;

And there's a fine, fine line between "You're wonderful" and "Goodbye."

I guess if someone doesn't love you back it isn't such a crime,

But there's a fine, fine line between love

And a waste of your time.

And I don't have the time to waste on you anymore.

I don't think that you even know what you're looking for.
For my own sanity, I've got to close the door

And walk away...

Oh...

There's a fine, fine line between together and not

And there's a fine, fine line between what you wanted and what you got.

You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime...

There's a fine, fine line between love

And a waste of time.

I would recommend anyone & everyone to go for it.. They will only be here til 16 Nov.

Obama!! O-ba-ma.. O-ba-ma.. O-ba-ma...

2008-11-06T10:19:00.005+08:00

I can't really explain the excitement I feel for Obama having won.. but it's there nonetheless..

he has WON.. hahah... damn.. i wish i was there in person... I would be screamin myself hoarse..

here are some pics of THE MAN!...

frens..

2008-11-01T17:13:00.003+08:00

Just spoke to my long long time fren.. Maisarah from JC days.. (ok ok.. not so long ago..).. on MSN.. We were tryin to catch up on 2-3 yrs of our lives.. & we realised that there are sooo many things to catch up on.. We really HAVE to meet up gals..
I'll msg u gals k..

End of 2nd last sem classes

2008-11-01T16:43:00.002+08:00

:( no more classes with Intake 37!! soooo sadddd...

Will miss everybody.. Shall we all go for lunch after exam on Dec 7th? or is it mahjong at 'Mummy' Elena's place?

Pls do stay in touch everyone! =)
Congratulations in advance for having completed ur MBA!! too bad we can't attend graduation in Ozzieland together.. But all those who are going, share pics k.. oh.. n tips on accomodation & all too.. =)

DeepaRaya in PSD

2008-11-01T16:29:00.004+08:00

A couple of our departments celebrated DeepaRaya last Thurs @ The Den with lunch and games..

Was caught up with some work and went to the Den late.. So kena the last one in the 'broken telephone' game.. thats where they whisper a message from person to person and the last one is supposed to tell the final msg that he/she has gotten.. haha..
the message I got was "Murukku is a yummy snack for Diwali. The recipe for making it is 4 cups of flour, 1 cup of water, a pinch of salt and some ghee." Turns out the recipe was a whole lot longer.. hahah... So we got a bag of mini-Toblerone..

Then we had a dress-up competition.. guess who had to get dressed!! ME! haha... so we had 2 walk & parade ard.. music was provided as well.. tat won us another bag of mini Cadbury chocolates.. haha..

Will upload pics later.. once I can get my hands on them.. =)

Lunch was yummy.. I had rice & mee & laksa & dessert as well.. i ate 3 rounds tat day.. was super-sleepy after tat.. haha..

i've done it!!

2008-10-09T09:39:00.002+08:00

dear ladies n gentlemen.. dun get shocked!!

pls leave some consoling msgs for this lady goin thru mid life crisis!

finally some excitement in life.. still to come..

2008-10-07T21:12:00.002+08:00

i'm goin for a few events at the Esplanade.. my frens convinced me to!

Nov 3 - Russell Peters @ Suntec
Nov 5 - Avenue Q (go check out youtube)
Nov 15 - Pravin's event

I wish I can take shots at these events.. will love to share with all.. =)

facebook..

2008-10-05T16:03:00.002+08:00

I've finally done it... caved in.. given up.. Was issued an ultimatum to sign up for facebook or else.. GRRRR.. so i did it.. :P

so.. finally.. i'm here.. n wats so great??!
Just added like a million frens.. surely got more to add when I see them.. so for those who I haven't added, u can add me.. n i'll approve.. so long as I know u of cos..

F1 frenzy..

2008-09-23T12:10:00.002+08:00

I’m not sure how many of u know that I’m working as a usher for the F1 event.. Well, I used to usher at NUS UCC during my Uni days.. For the F1, the SG Grand Prix people got in touch with UCC mgmt and asked for ushers.. so even the senior ushers who’d left Uni and had started workin (like me!) were invited..

Yesterday evening was the recce of the area.. the ushers had to meet at the Singapore Flyer at 5.30pm.. A few frens & I met up at City Hall mrt @ 4.45pm.. We met Clarissa @ City Hall!! She & Abel had met for lunch as it was her birthday n the poor dear was goin home to give tuition! We took pics @ the mrt n all.. haha

Now, back to the walk to the SG flyer, it was freakin hot!! We were perspiring by the time we got to the flyer! There we ran to the air-conditioned restaurant.. haha.. then soon ran back out cos Abel had his camera out!! N we all wanted to be on it! Hehe..

So while the attendance takin was goin on.. N since the Grand Prix (GP) guys who were supposed to bring us on the recce were late! We took plenty of shots.. many many shots! :)

Here’s one of them.. It’s a pic of Team A.. taken by a Team C guy and edited to be a wonderful ‘video’ by a Team B guy.. Wat unity! =) I hope the blog can capture the ‘video’ effect of the pics.. Abel is Mr Pro Cameraman! Mr JingKai too… I miss all these guys! Can’t believe it has been ages since we caught up!

After the recce, we decided to go for dinner even though we were soooo tired .. actually we were planning this while waiting for the recce to start.. haha.. Hannah, with her compulsive obsessive laughter, had a craving for Jap pasta @ Shukodu @ City Link.. So we all trudged over.. Cheng Chuan, Hannah & myself walked over and booked the place while the rest got their cars from the various different locations (SG Flyer & Marina Sq) n got to CityLink. Ooh.. wat yummy delicious food..

Digressing: Alicia got me started on Jap food once.. and after that.. it seems like everywhere I go, my frens only wanna eat Jap food! Thus far, I’ve eaten @ Waraku, Sun&Moon, Shokudo, this Jap bakery (can’t rem the name)…
Well.. there are lots & lots & LOTS of pics of the food we ate.. we loved posing with our food..! There was a couple at the next table who were eatin Ice Kacang.. and we didn’t know which flavour it was.. so Yeefie dearest asked the waiter! Haha..
I’ll upload the pics as soon as Abel sends them to us! Else, Abel, rem that I’m gonna break into ur Facebook! =)

Oh yeah, how can I not mention Hanwen & Shufang! Long long ago, when I 1st joined UCC as an usher in 2004, seems like eons ago now.. there were this 2 people in Team A.. a boy called Hanwen and a gal called Shufang. A while after workin there, I realized that these 2 were a pair.. befriend 1, get another free! Well.. I just got to know today, that they got married earlier this yr!! N now they have signed up to work for the F1 tog!
Congrats Hanwen & ShuFang! Amazing people really.. Soooooooo happy for them!

Ok, now coming back to dinner.. So in total, there were 8 of us at dinner: ChengChuan, Abel, Jing Kai, Hanwen, Shufang, Yeefang, Hannah and myself!

Let me see if I can rem the catch phrases for the day:
“Food is like a magnet.. It draws me.. closer..”
“I’m SINGLE. Just don’t tell my boyfriend.”

Was in stitches the whole nite! They really crack me up.. I miiiiizzzzzzz these buddies!
We plan on either having a chalet or bbq at the end of the yr!

Wat an AWESOME weekend yet again!! Looking forward to the next one! =)

SURPRISE!

2008-09-21T10:15:00.008+08:00

My parents 25th wedding anniversary fell on 11/09/2008. I told them that I would bring them out for dinner on Sun (14/09/2008). They were under the impression that it was only gonna be the 6 of us.. mum, dad, granny, me, bro & maid.. However, my bro & I had planned sth else.. =)

Venue: Banana Leaf Apollo, Little India Arcade

Time: 7-10pm

Guests: 50! (didnt realise how big my family was til I sat down to make the list!)

Silver jubilee.. surprise!
My dad was still talking abt it the following wk.. =)

I’m glad I could do sth 4 them.. we had lotsa fun too.. here are some pics!

Stupid cake lady spelt my mum’s name wrongly! I WAS MAD!! but it was quite funny in the end.. haha.. the cake was delivious.. it’s Etoile Chocolate cake from Sweet Secrets.. it just melts in ur mouth.. it’s a combination of sponge and mousse cake.. yummy..

All liked the food as well.. Bro n I had gone there 2 wks earlier for food tasting.. ended up paying for all tat too!! Silly place... charges for food tasting.. honestly, I wouldn’t recommend tat place to anyone! :P

We hadn’t actually planned any programme for the day.. It was just supposed to be dinner and cake-cutting..
But on that day, the program went like this:
- Everyone arriving before my parents did.. very very surprising! A feat considering that it’s my family..
- Surprising my parents, hugging them, wishing them, giving them gifts..
- Getting everyone seated & Sasi giving his welcome speech.. totally spontaneous!
- Time for buffet dinner.. dessert (ice-cream) was yummy!
- Cake-cutting time..
- My parents requested that we all shd sing!! N so we did.. I was afraid that the restaurant owner was gonna come chase us out for making all that noise!! My family is sooo noisy!

It was also my uncle’s 55th bday 2 days before.. and so we celebrated that as well..

Actually there were so many occasions during those few days; lemme see if I rem all:
11th – my parents’ wedding anniversary
12th – my aunt & uncle’s wedding anniversary
12th – uncle’s 55th bday
12th – cousin’s 17th bday
13th – cousin’s 18th bday
13th – cousin’s wedding anniversary
Haiz.. I’m exhausted just typing out the list!

An absolutely awesome weekend!

Wisdom tooth extraction!

2008-09-01T11:24:00.007+08:00

I just got back from the dentist! I went for wisdom tooth extraction..

SO GROSS!

truth be told, the jab to numb the gums was more painful than the actual extraction of my wisdom teeth..

here are some pics..

such gross octopus like roots! eeewwwwwww....

I'm on soft diet now.. Haiz.. eating porridge only..
It hurts!!

Murphy’s Law

2008-08-30T23:03:00.000+08:00

I first heard this term from a gd fren of mine.. a long time back.. either when I was in secondary sch or JC.. oh.. those gd old days..

It basically means "if anything can go wrong, it will."

There are different versions to it too..
Here’s some..

- If anything simply cannot go wrong, it will anyway.
- If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something
- Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse
- Murphy's Law of ThermodynamicsThings get worse under pressure.
- The Murphy PhilosophySmile . . . tomorrow will be worse.
- Murphy's Law of ResearchEnough research will tend to support whatever theory.
- Murphy's Military Laws
If your advance is going well, you are walking into an ambush.
- Murphy's Technology Laws
A computer makes as many mistakes in two seconds as 20 men working 20 years make.
- Murphy's Love Laws
All the good ones are taken.
Availability is a function of time. The minute you get interested is the minute they find someone else.
- Murphy's Laws of sex
Before you find your handsome prince, you've got to kiss a lot of frogs.
- The chance of the bread falling with the buttered side down is directly proportional to the cost of the carpet.
- A valuable dropped item will always fall into an inaccessible place (a diamond ring down the drain, for example) - or into the garbage disposal while it is running.
- After you bought a replacement for something you've lost and searched for everywhere, you'll find the original.
- The other line always moves faster.
- The light at the end of the tunnel is a train
- Traffic is inversely proportional to how late you are, or are going to be.
- You will find an easy way to do it, after you've finished doing it.
- The wind will always blow opposite to your hairdo
- When you really need something, its either not available, or can't be found. When you don't need it, its either available, or lays around in plain sight.
- The difference between Stupidity and Genius is that Genius has its limits.
- Murphy's golden rule: whoever has the gold makes the rules.

I have no idea why I borught this up.. just felt like talking abt it.. =)

Six Thinking Hats - Edward de Bono

2008-08-30T23:00:00.002+08:00

This is 6 strategies of thinking identified by Edward de Bono..

White Hat - Facts
Red Hat - Emotional thinking
Yellow Hat - Positive thinking
Black Hat - Critical thinking
Green Hat - Creative thinking
Blue Hat - Big Picture, sort of looking at it from all the viewpoints.

This is basically to strategically solve a problem by looking at it from various angles. By focusing on a particular approach at any one time, the group can be more collaborative than if one person is reacting emotionally (Red hat) while another person is trying to be objective (White hat) and yet another person is being critical of the points which emerge from the discussion (Black hat).

Example:
The directors of a property company are looking at whether they should construct a new office building. Economy is doing well, and the amount of vacant office space is reducing sharply.

White Hat
- Trend in vacant office space, which shows a sharp reduction.
- By the time the office block would be completed, that there will be a severe shortage of office space.
- Current government projections show steady economic growth for at least the construction period.

Red Hat
- proposed building looks quite ugly.
- Though it is highly cost-effective, people may not like to work in it.

Black Hat
- government projections may be wrong
- Economy may be about to enter a 'cyclical downturn', in which case the office building may be empty for a long time.
- If the building is not attractive, then companies will choose to work in another better-looking building at the same rent.

Yellow Hat
- if the economy holds up and their projections are correct, the company stands to make a great deal of money
- If they are lucky, maybe they could sell the building before the next downturn, or rent to tenants on long-term leases that will last through any recession.

Green Hat
- consider whether they should change the design to make the building more pleasant
- they could build prestige offices that people would want to rent in any economic climate.
- they could invest the money in the short term to buy up property at a low cost when a recession comes.

Blue Hat
- used by the meeting's Chairperson to move between the different thinking styles.
- keep other members of the team from switching styles, or from criticizing other peoples' points.

This rational decision making process allows relevant emotion, negativity, positive thinking and even creativity. Thus, decisions made are more sound and resilient.

MARRIAGE!!! GREAT NEWS!!

2008-08-30T02:40:00.005+08:00

There's no word to describe exactly how I feel rite now!

One of my best fren just told us that she is plannin to get hitched in Jun '09. Hopefully, the 19th since that was the day they met.. how sweet!!! i hope that the date works out auspicious for u both! U shd haf seen the looks of joy on our faces when we heard the news! hey.. send me the pic we took earlier.. grinnin like Cheshire cats.. I wanna post it here..!

She was talkin of venues and guest list and attires! (actually more like we were talkin abt it..) We (my gfs n i) need to get the SAME sari 2 wear.. we haf to start shopping soon!! =) The bride-2-be got the idea after seeing Elizabeth Hurley's indian wedding with the bride's family in pink and groom's in orange.. Well, we can't refuse the bride-2-be, can we?! Unfortunately, I can't seem to find such an image on the net dear.. can u send me the pics if u haf them? I'll post it here.. Many sites only have images taken at the wedding in Wales.. According to many sites, women attending the wedding had been told to wear pink saris. Male guests including David Beckham and Elton John had to wear turbans and kurtas in orange.

My frens are also contemplating on gettin their own apartment.. naturally, we can haf sleepovers there.. haha.. Jokes aside, I think this is a major step and it is also the start of the rest of their lives together.. I couldnt get my jaw to shut close after I heard this! I can understand how overwhelming this must seem.. with all responsibilities kickin in..

As unofficial bridesmaids, we are gonna pitch in to plan the wedding of cos! First and foremost, we are gonna start a grp blog to document steps taken for the weddin as much as we can.. from the preparation to the actual wedding.. We will add to the blog a countdown timer of the date of the wedding once its been set.. then we will sit on the wedding committee chaired by the groom.. hehe..

hey gfs, haf i missed out anythin? I couldnt wait to get home n blog abt this!! Pls let me know.. there's SO MUCH to do.. SO LIL time!! there's less than a yr to plan this whole wedding!!

Deepz darling n Priveen bro.. We wish u all the best! WE LURVE U BOTH!

happy bday Simin...

2008-08-30T01:38:00.027+08:00

I thoroughly enjoyed dinner with my maersk gfs at the Sun Moon restaurant at Central.. wat a name! Happy Bday Simin! =)
esp the Tofu cheesecake! never thot i'd say this.. but Jap food is not too bad! (so long as its not raw!) haha..

the alphabet game..

2008-08-21T15:18:00.004+08:00

I recently had the chance to read ‘The Dangerous Alphabet’ by Neil Gaiman. It is a tale told in twenty-six alphabetical lines (the alphabet is not in sequence though).

This prompted me to write my own… hehe..
It’s not a story.. it’s not a poem either..
It’s just some things that I wrote as they came to mind..
It may not make much sense,
But then again, those who know me will tell u that that’s just me..

Anu is the gal who writes this tale
Beishu is a figment of a distant memory
Calendar days or working days.. to-may-to, to-mar-to.. (tomato)
Doughnuts are best coated with plain confectionary sugar
Examples are useful, I’ve learnt, to prove a point
Falling in love is sinful
Giving up is the easiest thing to do
Hearts should never be worn on sleeves
Ice-cream should be licked not eaten
Jockeys should learn to grow a few feet
K9s are dogs, wolves, jackals, foxes!
Lunch with my fav bunch I love
Myriad of emotions running thru my mind
‘Nobody is stupid in this world’ is my mum’s fav line
Obsolete is the next word
Please, pretty please with sugar on top
Queen I am.. so treat me as such
Roses are red, violets are blue is the most written poem in autograph bks
Shallow are the thoughts of a suspicious being
Thoughts are what matter, the battle’s already won
U haf to be gorgeous for the world to recognize u
Vanna White is so pretty on the Wheel of Fortune
What in heavens has gotten into me?!
Xmas is not around the corner
Y is the world so cruel to me?
Zilch is the word that comes to mind!

Y don't u try it too? =)

Silver Olympics medal after 48 yrs!

2008-08-20T17:02:00.005+08:00

I watched the table tennis match on Sun!
It was exciting at first.. but soon even though I was cheering them aloud, in my heart, I had already settled on the silver..

BUT a silver is still a medal! N I’m proud of these gals..

My dear fren wasn’t intereseted in watching it cos he said it's china vs china imports.. well.. I thot that was hilarious.. but I’m still proud of them..

Pulitzer Prize

2008-08-20T17:02:00.004+08:00

Kevin Carter, the photo-journalist who won the Pulitzer prize but died soon after (pple speculate tat he may haf commited suicide).

The picture distinctly illustrated the poverty of the country.. famine in Sudan in 1994.. But the qn on everyone’s mind was how he could walk away from that child.. There were a lot of comments that he was inhumane and cold-blooded to leave the child to die..

But who are we to judge him.. If I had been in his shoes, I may haf been scared to approach the child for fear that the vulture may attack me.. And maybe the child did not die at all.. Maybe he crawled to safety..

Digressing - I remember talking about this to my galfren in Maersk.. in the ladies.. haha.. rem SLI? Haha.. I miss u.. I miss our chats in the loo.. =) I miss callin u all by ur initials.. SLI, LZH, CYP.. we were the four musketeers.. 1 4 all, all 4 1.. rem LZH? Hahah..

Long awaited continuation of NZ trip..

2008-08-17T00:19:00.010+08:00

Hey Priyaz.. I just realised I havent actually updated much abt the NZ trip.. hehe..

well here are some pics.. will update more ltr..

I drove! haha.. way past the speed limit!! haha..

N Suresh got a ticket!! a speeding ticket.. it was lotsa fun being pulled over.. haha.. (Rogi, this does not reach ur mum's ears, ok!)

Our first meal which we both had a hand in.. rite from washin the veggies to washing the dirty dishes.. Here are some pics of that..

For those who weren't aware, Suresh n his housemates had a pet.. it was a freakin white mouse! Kudos to those who spot it..

A beautiful restaurant, Aqaba, where we had dinner once.. The two pillars in front of the restaurant were lited up with fire..

Here are some pics taken while travelling to different places in NZ.. Wellington, Taupo, Himatangi beach.. Everyone complained that we had the same pose in every picture.. Sorry guys.. but really.. I wish I had taken more now..

Check out the rainbow!

At the super windy beach.. I felt like I was literally gonna be blown away..

Playing with snow for the first time in my life..

I hope u enjoy the pics.. There's lots more.. =) but I've put up the nicer ones..

with regards to Longing..

2008-08-17T00:03:00.006+08:00

With regards to my last posting "Longing", my fren was askin who I was referring to..

I'd like to clarify that I'm talkin abt my beloved... Elmo!

Here's a pic of Elmo who has his own pillow next to mine.. on my bed..

My darlin bro also likes to torture my Elmo.. making him do headstands..

drowning him in the gap between my bed and wall.. and making him sky-dive from my aircon unit...

What torture my poor Elmo goes thru.. but without fail.. he always sleeps next to me..

i love my elmo! =)

Longing..

2008-08-14T10:06:00.002+08:00

I lie awake and watch you sleep,
am at ease as you breathe in deep.
Warmth of your body close to me I keep,
and there in your arms I fall asleep.

I hope to have dreams of you, my love.
Dreams of you, and you alone.
I long for it to be like this,
just like this, each and every night.

Friendship..

2008-08-14T09:12:00.000+08:00

I miss my frens.. I really really really miss my frens..

Most of us have started working.. & it’s so difficult to meet up.. plus we have other activities after work.. sometimes I wanna make the effort to call them n chat with them.. But either sth crops up or I just tell myself ltr.. after this show on tv or after this assignmt.. Haiz.. it’s a big deal to just chat 5mins on the fone now..

I remember the long conversations… the many conference calls.. =) the numerous pool games at Mambo (where I rarely held the cue stick.. my fault though).. the lunches at various Pizza Huts across this country.. the sleepovers..

A fren told me, earlier today, that to be a fren, you have to close both eyes.. Meaning you have to accept your fren with all his/her flaws.. I know I have plenty.. n I just wanna say “THANK U!” to all my frens for being my fren!! =)
Lets meet up for lunch someday SOON..

Olympics..

2008-08-11T18:01:00.000+08:00

It’s quite interesting that this year, Olympics and Singapore’s National Day are just a day apart! When I read the Straits Times before leaving for work today, I saw that our swimmer Tao Li had gotten into the finals for 100m breaststroke. It was being shown live at 10.24am on Channel 5 and Channel 601. I didn’t want to miss it... and luckily, I didn’t have to.. I managed to catch it on TV in my office pantry. Manged to convince a couple of colleagues to join me as well.. It was over before you could say ‘wat?’ And anyway, Tao Li came in 5th.

This reminds me of a time in Crescent Girls School when we had to be reporters for Special Olympics (or was it Paralympics?? Can’t remember now..)..

As a colleage put it to me, “There are a billion people in China; there are only 4 mil in Singapore. How will we produce as many talents as they can?” I saw a programme on TV which showed how children in China are trained from young. They were crying & being bent at all different angles and I even saw the trainer kick a boy.. It looked like torture to me.. How could they allow this? How can they allow such cruel things to happen just to earn medals?? There was an article in the newspaper about underage kids sent in for Olympics.. I wonder if that issue was resolved.. or was it a misunderstanding..
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSSP25419620080804

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cs-080727-olympics-chinese-team-gymnastics,0,1246777.story?track=rss

Oh.. and u shd check out this blog: http://womensbioethics.blogspot.com/

Tradition; Good or Bad??

2008-08-10T22:08:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was granny’s bday!! Happy Birthday Granny! =)
Everyone came over to celebrate the nation’s birthday and granny’s bday!

There was a programme on TV tat sparked off some hot topics in my home.. It was a debate on Indian traditions. These were some interesting topics that came up:

- Excluding widows from certain functions
- Arranged marriages
- Ceremonies before, during and after the wedding
- Ladies wearing the ‘thaali’ (nuptial string/mangalsutra) as a symbol of marriage
- Dowry

If one were to notice carefully, they all revolve around male domination… I feel that there are some that are close to the heart and affect us directly.. By ‘us’ I mean Indians in Singapore. I just wanna mention how I feel about these customs.

- Excluding widows from certain functions
This is a very real issue even in Singapore, where there are certain functions where widows are not allowed to attend or participate in. I think this is utter BS and that we should not even consider such a thing. For the benefit of my non-Indian frens, let me share an example with u. During a marriage, there are a few customary rituals which are carried out and widows can be present that they cannot participate. They cannot wear their ‘thaali’ or flowers in their hair or wear the ‘kumkum’. Let me post a question to all here.. What if it was your own mother? Would you exclude her from all these? The oldies always gossip and speak of how such misfortune may befall the to-be-bride.. But would not a bride want her mother’s blessings?? Hence, I think this is a ridiculous custom and I will not follow it. I’m extremely proud of my aunt who lost her husband of 22 years and refused to abide by all these ‘rules’. I want her to participate in my marriage and I will not take anything being said against her..

- Arranged marriages
Some lady for this topic mentioned that the honeymoon is the time to get to know your spouse. The unanimous reaction in my house was “WAT RUBBISH??!!” What happens if during that period, they realize that they can’t stand each other? They are already married for heaven’s sake! I’m so glad my parents agreed.. hehe.. ;)

- Ceremonies before, during and after the wedding
Some of these are pretty funny.. and have absolutely no logic, at least none that I or my mum or her mum know of.. Who breaks papaddums on each other’s heads? What a waste of food?! Think of all the poor people going hungry in Somalia! But there are some that I like too.. like playing with my spouse during the wedding, where we have to pick 2 objects from a pot of water.. so we have to dive our hands into it to fight for the items =) I’m fine with falling at my parents feet for blessings..

- Ladies wearing the ‘thaali’ (chain/malgalsutra) as a symbol of marriage
I’m not sure my parents agree with my viewpoint on this particular subject.. it’s quite sticky at home I have to say.. I dun think I wanna wear it.. I mean I’ll agree to wear it during the wedding.. but after tat I’ll probably not wear it.. Suresh, I know u have lotsa comments and I’m willing to compromise.. Some say it means subjugating women as they bow their heads down to let the guys tie the ‘thaali’. But to me, its not that cos the guys also fall at the ladies feet to wear the toe-rings for them wat.. For me, its more like an accessory. If our hearts are in unison, then why must we wear a symbol to identify that we are married? If they are worried that other men will propose to their wives; how abt vice-versa? Why not just be done with a wedding ring? How do u think the Chinese n Malay ladies survive? [Believe I may have spoken to some of my galfrens abt this b4..]

- Ceremonies before, during and after the wedding
This isn’t really practiced in Singapore; Hence I’m not gonna talk about it.. Can’t help but add that it is a ridiculous custom though!

Well, to sum it all up, there are some traditions that I love being an Indian.. but we should realize which are being carried out cos there is a reason behind it and which are being blindly followed.. N forget all that have no logic to it..

National Day!!

2008-08-08T12:30:00.003+08:00

I just celebrated National Day at the Treasury (my office)..

We sang the national anthem, took our pledge.. and of cos sang a couple of classics ("There was a time...", "Stand up for Singapore") I felt like crying!! I miss celebrating national day.. I miss waving the flag.. I miss swaying to the songs! be it tat it's just one day of the year, its a time when I truly feel united with the rest of the Singaporeans.. I feel sooooo SINGAPOREAN!!

But now that I'm in the Civil Service, I won't miss it anymore!! =)
too bad it's not half day though.. haha..

To all my Singaporean friends, Happy National Day!

Exciting details..

2008-08-03T13:05:00.003+08:00

Hey all, you should check out this website http://www.successwallpapers.com/ for free wallpapers with inspirational quotes.. Thanks Suresh for pointing it out to me..

A couple of days ago, after lunch with my colleagues.. we went shopping... I bought a earrings holder!! it's simply the best! sooo pretty and girlie... I immediately came home to hang all my earrings on it.. they were all previously stuffed in a box.. Here's a pic..

Only after hanging all my earrings do I realise that I've got sooo little.. ahha.. time to buy more! =) the kinda things that make me happy..

How abt a Book Club?

2008-07-26T13:56:00.010+08:00

Oh gosh!! Everyone should read “The Pillars of the Earth” by Ken Follett.. It’s amazing.. I couldn’t put it down at all..

Background about how I got to know about the book first.. I’d first heard about it on Oprah’s Book Club (Yes! I’m a member! :P ) So when I saw the book at the bookstore in the Airport on my way to NZ.. (N yes, incidentally, that is always my 1st stop at the airport) I immediately bought it.. But I did not read it till I was on my way back home 10 days later.. In Auckland, I decided to check in both my luggage and simply carry the book in hand. How silly of me rite! I went to the ladies and misplaced the book!!! So upsetting!! I returned to the ladies after I realized that I no longer held the book.. just 5 mins later! But the book was gone! I asked airport helpdesk and she helped me enquire with the lost n found section.. but there was no such book reported.. they said it’s as good as gone forever! I was so upset.. :( So what did I do?? I was at the airport! What else do u think I would have done?! I went to the bookstore there and bought the same book! I bought another book as well.. but I’ll talk about that ltr..

This book is set in the 12th century.. It centers on building the biggest cathedral in the world. Initially, I thought it might be boring... how can any story that centers around architecture be interesting rite?? Boy was I wrong! The story is woven spectacularly about a prior trying to build a cathedral amidst war, feuding kingdoms, selfish earls and lords and countesses, abandoned children, monks, heaven and hell… To me, it was an excellent read as it provided enough flavour to spice up the novel. There was some crying, some laughing.. I even got angry at some of the characters.. stupid Waleran Bigod for being so evil even though he is a bishop!, Hamleigh for taking over Shiring by deception and causing an innocent man to die and leave 2 children all alone in the world, even Prior Philip for being silly enough to fall for Waleran’s trick! But one thing I have to say is that I’ve learnt soooo very much. I really admire Aliena and Ellen.. Women who managed to overcome all odds to build a life for themselves.. Not to forget Jack, an odd boy who I can empathise with, who managed to overcome all obstacles to be the master builder (mason) he had always wanted to be after learning the trade from his stepfather Tom. It was absolutely astounding that even after he knew who his father’s murderers were, he did not even once consider revenge.. Just saw a quote that I thot I could mention here.. "You cannot get ahead while you are getting even." - Dick Armey

There is a lot more than what I’ve just mentioned here.. You really have to read the book to find out.

The sequel to this is “World Without End”. However, I haven’t read that yet.. I wanna savour “The Pillars of The Earth” first.. Perhaps even read it another time.. =)

Other recent books I’ve read (twice) are “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy and “A Suitable Boy” by Vikram Seth. It wouldn’t do them justice to casually mention them like this.. I have to dedicate entire entries for those! When am I ever going to have the time??!!

Another book I have on hand but yet to read is “Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts, a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escaped from prison and fled to India where he lived for 10 years.. This was also bought at Auckland airport.. I just happened to read somewhere that this is now being directed as a movie by Mira Nair starring Johnny Depp and Amitabh Bachchan. However, I feel that watching a movie is never equivalent to reading the book.. Movies restrict your visualization of how the novel/story goes.. When reading, you form your own image of characters, the surroundings.. It's just not the same watching a movie..

Oh.. by the way, I’m also interested in Anita Shreve’s “A Pilot’s Wife”. Maybe I shall buy that.. Times bookstore is just next door to my office.. Temptation at my doorstep!!

I just love reading thick thick books.. It’s sth I love to cuddle with in bed everynite b4 falling asleep. It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction when I finish a book that thick.. But almost immediately, I wanna read it all over again! :)

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"The beginning and end of all literary activity is the reproduction of the world that surrounds me by means of the world that is in me, all things being grasped, related, moulded and constructed in a personal form and an original manner." - Goerte