New beginnings...

Have just signed up for California Fitness for 3 years (2 months free!) plus a trainer for 30 sessions (with 5 free!)... at least I'm making my money work harder! The early morning training sessions are really tough... having to reach Raffles Place by 7:30am and that's only because ICPAS starts at 9:30am. Dad didn't fetch me so I actually took the feeder bus and train myself, squeezing with the rest of the world. Reminds me of primary school days when I take the bus myself (haha yes, it's been that long). It's amazing how many people start the day so early and even more amazing to see people already sweating it out at the gym!

Anyway, the point is for the next two weekdays, sessions are fixed at 7am so I will reach office late at 9am. ;P

It's too early to say that it's money well-spent coz I haven't seen the effects yet (currently weighing in at 64.3kg when target aim is 54kg), but I'm definitely feeling more energetic and taking on life with more zest (that is, other than work for which I feel like taking MC everyday upon waking up, and last Friday I did take MC but it's for a legitimate reason). The morning exercise part also helps to get exercise out of the way so that evening can be reserved for late work nights *gloomy gloomy* and other activities.

MB has also joined the Safra gym and is hard at exercise almost everyday trying to get in shape for his IBPT ($200 for silver - I've since encouraged him to go for gold to get $400 instead haha!). On a separate note, glad that his Liverpool finally found their form against ManU tonight!

This is depressing considering after this entry I got to go right back to work trying to review finish a file so that partner can review tomorrow. Tons of work waiting for me when I go back office tomorrow... so not looking forward to it... :(

Dad's birthday... and more jogging

Had a 9-course dinner at Tai Seng Restaurant just now for Dad's birthday celebration together with MB, AK and family... hmm... food is just so-so with a hefty price tag of $338 for 10. But Mum was eager to try out newspaper adverts so we just go along - it's time to place other adverts strategically in her view....

Jogged 1.6km yesterday and walked another 1.6km... this can get really addictive! I'm kind of looking forward to the next jogging session. The not-so-great would be the 3 sets of 15 crunches after... :( MB is making me work really hard! He specially took leave today to spend some time with me and I woke up at 12:30pm instead... hahahaha... he was really pissed coz he woke up at 8+ and was waiting for me all morning but was placated by much cajoling and pitiful looks. He's really sweet though, buying the Aviva tickets and braving the crowds in the PC Show at Suntec with me. He's now got a headache and has gone back early to rest... hahahah... so much for bragging about his stamina!

Have gotten an Imation 320GB external disk drive each for both Dad and myself. Very satisfied with my purchase and looking forward to filling it up! Also went cosmetic shopping at The Face Shop (currently having a 20% storewide plus 5% for members!!!) and was busily poking around with the salesgirl while MB hammered away at his BB... hmm... think I'm going to swop my MAC powder for something Asian-based.

Also thinking of jogging tomorrow morning before going to the market with Mum (she was raving about this store which sells outdated high-end watches at a low price, and I'm considering a cheap alternative to Cartier). And dim sum lunch with JC bunch and Aviva match tomorrow! Can't wait! :)

First update since Melbourne

This is my first update since Melbourne... but felt so inspired to blog after spending such blissful 2 days....

1. Jogged 1.6km... walked 0.8km last evening with MB
2. 45 crunches after the jog and walk
3. Woke up at 1pm today and dashed off for a quick lunch of prawn noodles and soya bean milk with Daddy at the Lorong 8 market after which he dropped me off at Roxy Square.
4. Back facial at Theresa's
5. Chilled out at Borders with lovely books on interior design about storage, kitchens and bathrooms for 2 hours
6. Bought a $1 cup of honey green tea and zipped down to City Hall via Bus 36 in less than 30 min
7. Sipped my tea and shopped for 15min at Robinsons. Bought a cute Suisui pouch for overseas travelling use... it's multi-coloured with 3 zips and a card compartment!!! So pretty a package for less than $10!!!! *I've snagged a good deal.... smirk smirk*
8. Met Loi and walked over to Marina Square for dinner at Kenny Rogers. Placed my usual order of quarter chicken and macaroni and cheese and potato salad. Returned black umbrella to her.
9. Had Red Berry tea afterwards at Coffee Club at Millenia Walk and talked somemore.
10. Got picked up by MB and dropped Loi at City Hall. Talked to MB for about 40 min in the car after which he successfully badgered me into planning Friday's activities... *kns*

All in all... HAPPINESS!!!!!!

p.s. More updates to come! ;)

Quick updates

Think it's best to start off small after such a long break so some quick wins before working a bit so that tmrw won't be so such a bad day for my senior mgr... and myself....

I adore him... he looks like Snoopy's owner and has a wonderful response to my best attempts at jokes....

SM: There are alot of people who are not in office today - I keep getting these out-of-office notifications... wonder what's happening...

Me: Oh don't worry... it just shows how popular you are...

SM: ......

Me: I was kidding!

SM: ......

Me: *uh oh*

But last weekend was just fabulous! On Saturday had Keith's farewell brunch at Market Lane and then went shopping afterwards... (of course I came back with loads of goodies!!!). Later that night had my first PJ party at Jessie's house with Miss T, Lillian, Yvonne and Celia. Everyone brought their PJs and some homecooked stuff (I did chicken curry) to pig out and we sat around her cosy little living room and watched the second season of "So You Think You can Dance" on her computer. The contestants are really good this time round and don't I love Sarah and Lacey!!! Think they are both real gorgeous!!!

Then of course, the usual stuffing our faces...bitching about work, guys.....and the lack of them....good ones anyway....comparing notes on beauty and health... planning an expedition to get some posture corrector back braces this coming weekend... plus the Melbourne Royal Show this Saturday as well as upcoming BBQs and the Melbourne Cup!!!

Funny thing is I thought this was a stayover and packed all my toiletries and stuff... only to realise later when Lillian refused a second drink saying she had to drive back that this was not a stayover... which everyone else realised except for me....sometimes, I don't think there's anyone else more fatheaded than me... ;P

BACK!!!!! with a vengence.....

Ok, have been berated and nagged at by several fans of my blog who have yet to see any updates of my happenings in Down Under for the past five months and finally, my tender heart can't withstand the torment of seeing them deprived of their favourite online reading material for much longer.....;P

But more importantly, have been inspired by many of my blogger friends esp. DQ who keeps such frequent (and yummy!) updates of his blog and has the energy to participate in so many activities besides!!!

Before launching real proper into some long overdue updates, HERE'S TO JACKS..... guess who I saw at the Melbourne International Airport last night????? *drumroll*

One of our fave soccer players - the Argentina Soccer Captain XAVIER ZANETTI!!!!!! *screams in excitement!* I ADORE HIM!!!!!! For those who need a brief introduction to my soccer traits, second to Paolo Maldini, he's my fave soccer player and yes Jacks....only you will know how much and how long I've adored him... after Maldini... haha ;P

It was so surreal... we were fetching Joey to the airport (for 2 blissful weeks in Spore - boohoo!)and Mich was waiting in the car while I helped Joey with her "few things" to check in and all of a sudden, all the blue and white soccer jerseys of the entire Argentina team were checking in the business class opposite us!!!

I stood frozen to the ground while hyperventilating on the spot at the immediate spotting of Xavier - super good-looking, well-built plus oozing with charisma to boot..... until it struck me... GGGAAAAAHHHHH!!!! I FORGOT TO BRING MY CAMERA!!!!! BOOHOOO!!!!!

So all I could do was watch around 10 soccer fans (donning identical jerseys) taking NUMEROUS pics with the individual players and Joey smugly announcing that she'll be sitting in the same plane with them (at close range!!!) and wave goodbye to me merrily while tripping in her excitement to follow them through the gates.... it's alright Joey.... I'll sit next to Takeshi Kaneshiro someday I promise... bleah ;P

The Argentina Soccer Team - obviously for information purposes only... haha

10 things

1. Tassie trip - poor Mich got stranded at Melbourne airport due to some very last-minute packing by me....SORRY SORRY SORRY
2. Due to last-minute packing, forgot to bring warm, cuddly fleece sweater to Tassie in below 10-degree weather....was forced to simulate super-sized rugger with D's yellow-bee rugger pullover...thanks to D's generosity
3. Re-lived NCC days when slept in cramped hostel room except at night when it was reverberating with noisy snores from M and DT
4. Had dinner with Diana at cool little Spag Tree restaurant with live musician - pix to come
5. Treated my little Indo pirate to dinner who'd brought me Gray's Anatomy DVDs
6. Forgot to wish Miss Twinklen......Happy 25th BIRTHDAY!!!! WELCOME TO MY CLUB!!!
7. Sumptuous dinner at French restaurant in Crown with Spore partner and rest of secondees...we are conscientiously scouting out other nice places (aka places we would never wanna pay ourselves) to bring future partners coming to Melbourne
8. Agreed to spend Sunday afternoon when Miss T first arrived to poach Aussie talents to Spore....sorry Miss T...not much choice here but will chuck you at shopping mall first...;P
9. Consistent anxiety attacks when doing Tax EP - how the fuck am I going to pass tax???!!!
10. And FINALLY....just submitted Tax EP after spending ~35 bloody hours cooped up in office room on a weekend!!!! WHOOOPPPPEEEEE!!!! and now it's time for Unit 3 quiz....HAIZ

MANY THANKS TO THE DILIGENT AND CONSCIENTIOUS PPL WHO HELPED US OUT TREMENDOUSLY...U KNOW WHO YOU ARE....=)

Pain in my pocket....

Have spent the last two weekends on a huge shopping spree...think adds up to about $900 in all! Bought 6 pairs of workpants, 2 shirts, 3 casual tops and 1 denim bermudas and one black pair of working shoes...not to mention Clinique lipgloss and Estee Lauder lipstick!

Feeling after was one of euphoria...extreme happiness...immense satisfaction...and full of achievement like somehow, over the spending process, I've turned into some immaculately-groomed and made-up glamour chick - that's the power of shopping for you...;P

Previous weekends were just eating, shopping of groceries and doing housework...how not to feel like some misused housewife...haiz...but last two weekends were really good for me although that does mean that I won't be shopping for a long long time....so Miss T, will shop with you as an observer and not a participant - doesn't matter I won't be bored - it makes me feel happy too - to see girlfriends buying pretty stuff and dressing up...

And now I feel super refreshed and ready to take on the world! Haha!It does help that this week is pretty relaxing for me and next two weeks are AT if everything remains status quo! Finally, for the first time in dunno how long since the start of work last July....AT here I come! *hugs and kisses*

p.s. Miss T, you definitely will have happier stuff to write about in your journal when you're working here...;P