29 Dec 08

The month of December seems like a gathering month for me. I had many oppuntunities to meet up with friends whom I have not seen or heard from for ages. Let me do a recap:

- I meet up with Steve & Lee Ling

- I attended Edmund's wedding and met Darren & Gerald.

- I attended Choon How's wedding and met up with almost the whole ex-PCDians! *Wow*

- I visited Ms Yeo on Christmas

I had a gathering with the Care bears

Due to current workload, preparation for my new flat & weeks spent scouting for Christmas gifts, December's schedule have been rather packed! I have got no time to do many other stuff like making an appointment to do a Hair Treatment which I needed very badly; no time to book a schedule for Mani/Pedi; etc etc. There are friends who have been asking me for dinner but my schedule just couldn't fit them in :(

I made an effort to meet up a friend for dinner last night. It has been more than a year ago since we had a good chat. Distance indeed have drift us apart but I am really happy and appreciates that she has been asking me to arrange time for dinner with her. I was very paisei and had promised to make time to for her after she sent me an SMS last week. Firstly, I kept calling her name wrongly and when I msg her, it was for other purposes – not to ask her out. 2ndly, she said “I thot you wanted to say “llooks like we gotta meet up soon” but ... ... :( -- my actually msg was “looks like we've got to look arnd agn”

Therefore, we meet up for dinner. We did some catching up and she shared with me about her religion and in almost every 5 sentences she said, at least 3 sentences mentioned about her religion. *haha* I am happy that she has found a religion that she has faith in. She also told me that she has changed a lot ever since she joined her religion. She quit smoking and had mellow down on her temper, which is a good thing.

At the same time, I could also feel that she was trying to introduce her religion to me :)

Anyway, I have some thoughts after my conversation with her... ...

1. She highlighted that she doesn't understand why people get so tense when they are invited to church. (Good question!)

2. She was previously a Buddhist/Taoist and she couldn't understand why there are so many different statues to worship? In Christianity, there is only one god and that is Jesus Christ. Isn't it clearer? The rest of the god were created by men! (This doesn't sound wrong. I have heard stories of some deities like Ma Zhu, she was previously a human yah? Guan Yu was previously a soldier and after he was killed, people worship him for some reason.) In fact, there are many of such stories.

3. She also highlighted that people pay too much attention to Christian. According to her, there are people who made comments such as “Why is this Christian allowed to smoke and drink?”, “Why is this christian behaving like this or like that? etc etc... ... She questioned why people doesn't query about how a buddhist behave? When a buddhist failed to carry himself appropriately, people would not make remarks such as “why this buddhist is behaving like that?”. Instead, people will comment “why is this person behaving like that?”

29 Dec 08

The month of December seems like a gathering month for me. I had many oppuntunities to meet up with friends whom I have not seen or heard from for ages. Let me do a recap:

- I meet up with Steve & Lee Ling

- I attended Edmund's wedding and met Darren & Gerald.

- I attended Choon How's wedding and met up with almost the whole ex-PCDians! *Wow*

- I visited Ms Yeo on Christmas

- I had a gathering with the Care bears

Due to current workload, preparation for my new flat & weeks spent scouting for Christmas gifts, December's schedule have been rather packed! I have got no time to do many other stuff like making an appointment to do a Hair Treatment which I needed very badly; no time to book a schedule for Mani/Pedi; etc etc. There are friends who have been asking me for dinner but my schedule just couldn't fit them in :(

I made an effort to meet up a friend for dinner last night. It has been more than a year ago since we have had a good chat. Distance indeed have drift us apart but I am really happy and appreciates that she has been asking me to arrange time for dinner with her. I was very paisei and had promised to make time to for her after she sent me an SMS last week. Firstly, I kept calling her name wrongly and when I msg her, it was for other purposes – not to ask her out. 2ndly, she said “I thot you wanted to say “llooks like we gotta meet up soon” but ... ... :( -- my actually msg was “looks like we've got to look arnd agn”

Therefore, we meet up for dinner. We did some catching up and she shared with me about her religion and in almost every 5 sentences she said, at least 3 sentences mentioned about her religion. *haha* I am happy that she has found a religion that she has faith in. She also told me that she has changed a lot ever since she joined her religion. She quit smoking and had mellow down on her temper, which is a good thing.

At the same time, I could also feel that she was trying to introduce her religion to me :)

Anyway, she left me with some thoughts after our meeting... ...

1. She highlighted that she doesn't understand why people get so tense when they are invited to church. (Good question! Personally, I am reluctant to go into a church because I feel that I am not ready for the religion and the people there are very pushy. Just like when you go for some trial services and they will keep talking you into joining them. If you tell them you need time to consider, they will press you for an answer and wanna know your doubts.)
   

2. She was previously a Buddhist/Taoist but while she was in the midst of switching her religion, she began to question why there are so many different statues to worship in Buddhism? In Christianity, there is only one god and that is Jesus Christ. Isn't it clearer? The rest of the god were created by men! (This doesn't sound wrong. I have heard stories of some deities like Ma Zhu, she was previously a human yah? Guan Yu was previously a soldier and after he was killed, people worship him for some reason. In fact, there are many of such stories.)
   

3. She also highlighted that people pay too much attention to Christian. According to her, there are people who made comments such as “Why is this Christian allowed to smoke and drink?”, “Why is this christian behaving like this or like that? etc etc... ... She questioned why people doesn't query about how a buddhist behave? When a buddhist failed to carry himself appropriately, people would not make remarks such as “why is this buddhist behaving like that?”. Instead, people will comment “why is this person behaving like that?” (I think I have ever made such a comment "Is Muslim allowed to drink?" I think it is not just about Christian. In fact, I have not heard about people commenting about why are Christian like this and like that. Personally, I thought she feel that way because she is very conscious about how people think of her religion.)
   

4. She commented that everyone only criticise about Christian. No one reject the other religion because the demon will not destroy their own kind. (hmm... I respect the other religions and I trust that others should do so too.)

Jingle Bells... ...

Unlike previous years, this christmas was alittle different to me. It was some weird feeling which I can't describe.

It was raining Cats & Dogs in the morning. As usual, John sent me to work but I only reached office @ 9.15am (it's like 1h 15 mins late!!!), which means John reached office even later than me!!! We were stucked in the traffic along Mandai Road because some trees had fallen down and landed on the 3 lanes. None of the cars were able to move. Some drivers who didn't listen to Class 95 had no idea what caused the congestion. Hence, they got off their car with their umbrellas and made their way to the front to find out what happened. I definitely wouldn't get my butt off the car in such weather!

In fact, many people were late (not that they were stuck @ Mandai). Practically all the expressways have congestion. What's new? It was raining!!!

I am so tempted to take leave and just head home to sleep. Anyway, it was already so late... ... and I am so paisei to arrive late for work :(

MA came back from the medical centre shortly after I reached. He have had fever for many days and doesn't seems to recover even though he had seen the doctor and taken medication – Doctor from hospital said that he was suspected of Dengue! Guess he was still feeling unwell when he came to work so he made an appt to see the MO and was given 1-day MC.

I've served 3 MAs and he is the 1^st one who goes on MC when boss is around. *heh* Anyway, boss stayed til about 3pm before going home. I bet he has forgotten that all employees are entitled to work for 4 hrs on Christmas Eve!!!

I went off around 12.30pm and took a ride from Hsi Lyiang to Ms Yeo's house. It has been almost 2 years since I last meet up with her. I have always wanted to pay her a visit during Mooncake festival but never had the time to do so. I was determined to visit her this Christmas and I did it! I bought some gifts for her and her family. We had a chat but I hope we could still chat longer. I have got so much to tell her and I still needed lotsa her advice. She has watched me entered into this society at the age of 19 and seeing me grew up till 28! When she recalled, she also feel that it has been many years and I have definitely changed a lot. She also commented that I have become prettier and I dress better :) Good to hear that. Recently at Choon How's wedding, Sue also complimented that I have become prettier. Why did they only realise now?? *haha.. shameless me* Before I left, we gave me a hug.

I still remember that the first time she gave me a hug was on our last working day and the feeling wasn't good. Saddness crept into me. The 2^nd time when she gave me a hug before I took my leave, I was alittle relief but alittle sad at the same time too.

No one was around when I reached home. I began to wrap the remaining pressies and start preparing dinner when everyone came home. There were many more pressies this year for everyone :) I thank Buddha that life is slowly improving for us :)

Johnson helped to prepare the soup of the day while I re-heat the Smoked Chicken, Ham & Saugages. Dinner was good but it could be merrier if we had everyone joining us. Yogi had to return to Ipoh as his brother was getting married on that Sat. My brother had to meet his friends for Christmas dinner.

After dinner, it was Santa's time! Santa is supposed to give out pressies to everyone at home :) Mavis bought me a Piglet. *Hehe* I had actually pestered her to buy me one since my b'day in Nov this year! I love the Piglet very much because it is from my lovely Princess!!!

Little Joy had a pressie from us too. I believed she loves her new toy very much too :)

After Santa's time, each of us had a Magnum Ice Cream! *Yum Yum* We began to snack, drank beer (while Johnson had his Raspberry Volka *Yucks* and Mavis sipped on her F&N Grape) and watched TV.

Lastly, Thank you Santa Casper for taking the trouble to purposely make a trip over to my place on Christmas eve night to distribute pressies to us!!! :)

22 Dec 08 -- Blurry Day

Not that anyone is particularly blur on this day but everything seems so blurry to me :(

Give you a chance to be a smart guy -- Guess why it is so???

I left home w/o my spectacles and only realised it when Mavis asked "eh.. mummy, where is your glasses??"

*DUH* I forgotten my spectacles!!! How could I leave my glasses at home and not realising it until someone highlighted it to me???

Anyway, the day still goes on... ... We meet up with Derrick and I bet he must be thinking that I have my contacts on! However, shouldn't he also noticed that I need to really look closely at most of the stuff he has highlighted to me? (0_0)

Grace came and picked us up and went to look for lightings. Shortly after I got onto the car, Grace was so excited and asked "CONTACTS??"

"NOPE! I left my glasses at home!" I ever told her I wanted to try on to contacts but never had the courage to do so and I guess she probably thought I finally tried contacts.

At the lighting shop, the lightings on the ceilings were not that difficult to see as they were neither tiny nor small BUT when I was asking about the price, which was actually nicely labelled (hmm.. about font size 80 on Word) at the corner left of the lightings, the shop owner, Ellen, replied "It's indicated at the corner" (-_-") I didn't say a word and tried to make out what the fuck was written there. Grace told me the price and told Ellen with a grin "Judy forgot her glasses today!"

After everything, I took a cab to my bf's place. The Taxi Uncle wasn't exactly clear about the location, hence, I have to strain my eyes to look out and tell him the directions (0_0")

Afternoon sun was sooooo glaring and I only noticed it w/o my glasses!!! *Headache & Nauseas* My bf then took me to Causeway Point for Burger King and to do more christmas shopping!!!

W/o glassess, shopping becomes a chore! Everything seems so blurry and if I tried to focus too much, I will have headache and my eyes gets tired! TMD!!!

What a blurrrrrrrrry Day!!!

My Lunch Box!

I have been packing lunch to work almost everyday since I returned to work in late Nov. Hehe... ... I'm only taking a picture of my lunch box today because it has my fav Muar OTAK!!!

After a late feast @ Choon How's wedding last nite, I should only have so little for lunch :D

In any case if you are wondering... ... it's my mom who wake up very early in the morning to prepare my lunch box for me :) *Thank you mommy! (though you can be very irritating @ times!!!)

16 Dec 08 -- Exciting Day

I attended Choon How's wedding @ Raffles Swissotel today! 2 tables were filled with people who used to be from PAFF! How could I not be excited???

I left office @ about 1745 hrs today, which is considerably early though my knock off time should be 1730 hrs -- none of my colleagues had left yet! I meet up with Wan Hua @ South Entrance and took a cab down to Raffles City (though my darling had offered to send me to the hotel -- luckily he got the heart wor!)

Upon reaching, WH accompanied me to buy some gifts from MPH while we were waiting for Jen. Shortly after Jen arrived, we made our way to the ball room and it was about 7pm! *haha* We had actually arrived on time because the cocktail session starts @ 7pm.

The crowd started coming in shortly. The PAFFians were arriving one after another too! All the MROs & MRAs were invited. Mdm Ngoh was there too. Oh, Malcolm and Carin were there too :D All of us were busy chatting and catching up with each other. It seems more like a gathering for us :)

The solemnisation started @ 8.30pm -- an hr late :) but I thought Teachers should be punctual ;p Anyway, they had approx 48 tables, which is approx 480 guests! Wow... isn't that many!!

Choon How was very happy too and it is my first time seeing him in his contacts! Hmm... I just realised that I have sort of know him for 8 years!!

As Choon How & his wife graduated from Beijing University (they are specialised in Mandarin!!), the solemisation were in Mandarin while translation were showed on the PPS. It was a serious yet romantic moment. Besides exchanging their wedding vows, they also had to exchange a small paragraph of their loving vows!

The MCs for the wedding were damn professional (of course, they must be teachers!). They talked as if they were the MCs at a Speech Day in school!

As I have expected, during the "Yam Seng" part, besides the people on stage using the mike to say "Yam Seng", none of them at the floor had joined in! *Hehe* Teachers are educated people and couldn't stand noise!! Of course, they wouldn't join in yeah? :D

Besides focusing on the couple, people from the Pang Clan (the Groom's surname) were invited on to the stage to give a short speech and in 2 languages (one after another!) about their Pang Clan and etc etc (which we didn't really pay attention to)! Annoucement was also made that the Groom's dad had actually donated $2,255 (why not $2288??) from the Ang Bao collected to the Pang Clan association. Hmm... for a moment, I was wondered if I had been to a business associate dinner, a charity dinner or a wedding dinner??

WH is a vegetarian so Choon How has specially ordered vegetarian meals for her and some of her dishes were damn interesting (though I have no idea how delicious but ours definitely wasn't that good)!

Anyway, the dinner ended around 11.30pm and my bf came to pick me up and sent Sue and WH home as well. *Home Sweet Home*

WH's 1st dish -- The Cold Plate Combination

This surely look nice to me :)

The 2 balls are fried Potato + Sesame Walnuts

We couldn't understand what's the different between her desserts from ours? (-_-")

Our table has got 3 absentees while one needed to leave earlier

Sue is supposed to upload this picture onto her Facebook :)

The 3Js

13 Dec 08 -- Happening Day (Rainy)

I was hooked on to the exciting motive Evil Care Bear has in The SIMS 2 in my lappy and Elmo's career in Virtual Tennis on the PSP last night till 4+ before I turned in to bed. Slept for less than 2 hrs and we got to wake up and sent my mom and mavis to the tour group pick up point (Yes, they were going for a short trip in M'sia!). We reached home about 7am and continued to laze in bed. I began playing Virtual Tennis agn while my bf was persuading me to take a walk in the park and see those Uncles & Aunties do their morning exercises and to go for breakfast. However, when I finally decided to stop playing, he had dozed off. *Haha*

After playing for a while, I dozed off and only woke up @ 1100 hrs and rushed to wash up *Shit!! we've got an appt @ 12pm!!!*

My bf & I forsaked breakfast and made it in time for our Trial Shoot! We had a fun time during the shoot and didn't even feel a little bit of hunger!! *hehe*

First time I had my hair curled and I thought that it looked damn mature looking weird but then at least it's a totally different kinda image! :D

We only left the studio @ 4+ and went over to my new house -- supposed to collect a TV but also to show my bf how big my flat is :) Had "lunch" @ the coffee shop @ about 5 plus and head home to wash up and prepared for ANDY LAU's Wonderful World Tour Concert!!!

I was really excited and looking forward to this day! It's my 2nd time seeing Andy Lau in person and heard him singing live and talking to all of us in live and I finally got to see his "kids". Wow... ... It's something which I would want to remember for as long as my memory allows :D *I must really thank Johnson for bringing me there! Thank you Johnson!*

After the concert, we went for "dinner" with Oliver @ Lavender and Home Sweet Home... ...

12 Dec 08 -- A "Relaxable" Day

Everyone seems to be on leave or going for short holidays lately. It's the year end mood and I wanna sink into it as well; therefore, I have decided to take my OFF today!!!

My colleague left for Genting today. I sponsored my mom and mavis to Kluang for this weekend. Oliver just came back from Malacca and will be going to Phuket next weekend. *Everyone is going for a holiday* In one of Oliver's blog regarding his weekend trip to Malacca, I commented that I wanna go for a short trip too. *Johnson ignored my reply* so I am still hanging around on the little dot on the globe! :(

SINCE i didn't get to go for a short trip, I wanna go to a faraway place that is available on this little dot! After pestering my bf for weeks, he finally brought me to Jurong Point today!!! *hehehe*

I woke up @ 8+ and accompanied my bf to purchase his Textbook so that he can prepare for his exam which is scheduled next Tues (Hmm... why Clever People can attend lessons w/o textbook and only buying it a 4 days before the exam?)

Upon reaching Jurong Pt, we head to Coffee Bean for breakfast! What a nice way to start our day -- Sitting by the window, sipping my orange juice, chit chating with my darling and enjoying my breakfast while watching working adults like me rushing to work... ... *hehehe* Evil Care Bear in action agn!

Actually, my bf is not keen in bringing me to Jurong Point. He has only been there twice after living in this earth for almost 3 decades and he feels that Jurong Point is a lousy place! I kept telling him that Jurong Pt is a shopping centre similar to Suntec & Vivocity and most importantly, it has everything it should have in a shopping centre because it is built to cater for residents living in the far end of west area -- but he didn't believe me *HUMPH*

After breakfast, we went to shop around while waiting for SISTIC to start operations (and yes, they have SISTIC in Jurong Pt!). I bought some christmas gifts @ Disney Shop. Everything is just so pretty and adorable.

Oh ya... so exciting! Collected our tickets for ANDY LAU's WORLD TOUR CONCERT 2008! I am so damn fucking excited!!! and I will be so excited that I can't sleep tonight!!!

We also catch a movie - Four Christmases. Nice show! There were only 8 of us in a big cinema :D

After the movie, we went to do some banking and continued with our shopping. My sweet bf bought me an anklet and I love it so much!

We also spent about 1 hr plus in a shop purchasing gifts for both of us! The service of the sales gal was good and in the end, we bought something very pretty -- shall only blog about it after Christmas :D

Oh god... we were happily shopping and enjoying each other's company til we forgot to take our lunch and it was already 4+ when we realised it :p

We went to the Japanese Street to buy some Salmon (Belly) Sashimi and Chicken Balls Tori and Asparagus with Bacon Tori. *Yummy*

Thereafter, Oliver called and told us to pick him up @ Upper Thomson Road and then we head off for Laksa Steamboat. *Yummy* We haven't had it for a long long time.

After dinner, we went to Neebo Cafe for ice-cream, drinks and played Taboo! Hehe.. So much fun and laughter.

Home Sweet Home

10 Dec 08 -- Happy Day

It's a happy day because boss will be on o/s leave from tml onwards -- and I can concentrate on my un-finish work and complete them asap.

It's the time of the year agn -- CNY Reception!! I'm happy to announce that I have finished compiling my 700+ invitation for boss' vetting and once cleared, I will start sending out the invites :) *isn't that the most tedious part* (-_-") But I like events!! should have studied corp comms huh :p

It's a happy day because it's the annual gathering session for the MFAs agn and I always look forward to it because they are my good friends (or at least I treat them as mine)!! I have always been thankful that this bunch of friends were there to accompany me thru the years in PAFF.

Anyway, we just realised that our gathering is always scheduled at the end of the year (no idea why it is so too!) It was a fun night and we just keep laughing and laughing... ... Our happy days would always be remembered during our gatherings. Anyway, we didn't take any pictures because Lee Ling had her braces on -- but we shall take it when her braces has been removed :D

Anyway, we have been meeting for 3 consecutive years and I really appreciate their efforts in organising and meeting up with the group -- though there were only 3 (i.e. Steve, Lee Ling & I) of us this time round :) Jerry is still in Texas (where all the cow boys are) :p Rafael is in HK for a holiday while Alfred is in Aus (visiting David -- another one of us). Hmm.. I think we forgotten about Chris and Terrence (heh.. never mind, we will count them in during the next meeting -- Nov/Dec 09)

Talking about Chris -- I have seen him twice recently during my MC period -- probably because he has moved to Yishun -- but I could feel the distance (or probably because it was always in a rush when we met). Anyway, Chris is one whom I used to confide :) Before his ORD, he gave me a little clown (it's one of the figurine collectibles he had) as souvenir and wants me to remember to be happy whenever I see the clown. I placed the figurine in front of my desk :)

02 Dec 08 (Thursday) -- Rainy

I remembered drafting a post on the a/m last week but somehow it was not captured in Multiply. Anyway, I shall re-post my entry agn... ...

“I stayed up till quite late the night before to prepare for my exam which is scheduled today! I didn't study much this semester and I dun think I am gonna make it for this module but then on the other hand, I feel that it is a lot more on common knowledge and therefore, I should be able to apply and K.O. the exam paper! :p

I woke up @ 9 plus and continued with the revision – hoping to remember as much as possible. Heh... If only I could remember the notes thru “burn and drink”!

Meanwhile, my mommy was preparing lunch for me – my fav Tom Yam Soup! Had a quick lunch and set off for school.

The MRT was crowded though it was a weekday. There were many people who were like me -- “k-ing their notes” as if they were also doing some last minute revision. When the train reached Tanjong Pagar, we were all told to alight (for God knows why – it happened exactly a week ago when I was on my way to sch to sit for another paper). The staff (a young lady) walked in and alerted passengers to alight and wait for the next train. When the staff lightly patted on the thigh of this particular guy to wake him up from his nap, he smiled at her. As the staff continued walking thru to the other cabins, this guy continued to smile sweety, looking at the back of the staff and slowly made his way out to the platform. While we were waiting for the next train to arrive, he was still smiling to himself. *Strange* :p After a while, he realised that I was staring at him for a long time, he tried to stop smiling and quietly made his way out of my sight! *hehehe*

After exam, I had a plate of Mee Siam from Toast Box!

I was kinda hooked onto the mee siam but it's considerably expensive but then agn.. everything from that place is ex!!

I went home to change and prepared to go out again. *heh* I head off to Mandarin Marina to attend Edmund's wedding. Edmund also invited Alfred, Gerald, Jen & Johnson. Besides me and Gerald, the rest could not make it. Only 7 of pax filled the table and before the dinner ended, the table only left with Gerald and I!

The dinner only commenced @ 9pm and the hotel were rushing thru the whole ceremony.

We didn't really get a chance to have a talk with the Groom but from his Thank You speech :) we are sure that he hasn't changed abit :p Anyway, I sincerely wish that they have a blissful marriage :)

I was glad that an opportunity was given to meet up with Gerald again (the last time we had a dinner together was Feb 08) & we had a good chat!

My bf came to pick me up after he has attended to his stuff and also to congratulate the couple.

Home Sweet Home!!