A GOOD LIFE

Inspiration

2011-11-05T17:14:00.002+08:00

I love the way how comfortable he is in his own skin and that him, despite being so different from everyone else, made him the success he is today. So I bought the book and loved loved loved it! I think overall he managed to advise on how a gal should proceed to make her life her own instead of trying to live her life like someone else – I think that’s a mistake which a lot of girls make (ok, I’m too lazy to fall into that but I need to snap out of my lethargic mode and lazy life!) Some of his tips which I think are so great…

Have a signature style – when people see something, they associate that with you
Be really neat and organized, whether it’s at home or at work
Be five minutes ahead!

Birthday

2011-11-05T17:13:00.002+08:00

Last year of my twenties and a big step forward because I’m getting married this year! Honestly a bit apprehensive and not sure of what to expect and hence, I wish to keep a record of my growing in this next phase of life.

The celebrations started a week before – when I start meeting up friends and having great long meals and conversations. These girls are a huge part of my life and I feel incredibly blessed to meet them and becoming such good friends that we can talk to each other without reservation on all topics. Lovely small presents… incredibly thoughtful that fit me to a T!

On my actual birthday, we picked up my Coach bag! Philip, the guy from LovesCoach is a pretty nice chap. We went to pick up first at Fortuna Hotel but the bag has an obvious scratch on the leather so I called him up and he immediately agreed to swap for another piece which he has at his place. So we drove over and picked up the bag! Pretty happy with the service that I got!

Since his place was over at the East, we also went here to grab a meal (R by then was hungry and grumpy). The food came quite fast, but the main highlight – fries (I had curry) weren’t fantastic although R loved his and gobbled up everything. I still want to try their famous Nutella tart though, so will definitely pop by again!

And we finally got to catch up with my lovely cuzzie and her family plus an impromptu dinner outing to JB Pekin Restaurant hahaha! I know… we are so random! We dropped off a huge load of magazines at her place and then decided to go JB for dinner! R and I went back to get our passports and change $$$ at Bishan J8 and then he went back to his place for a quick shower. And the dinner was lovely… steamed herbal chicken (again), steamed prawns with garlic (again), stir-fried pea shoots, steamed Hong Kong style garoupa, egg omelet and sea coconut for dessert! We then adjourned to City Square for a spot of shopping (didn’t buy anything) and reached home at around 12+am… utterly random and so us!
Presents received so far…

Masks and good luck charm from Japan (for marriage preparation)
TWG tea (New York! God, how I love that city!)
Earrings from Isetan
Black/grey Swarovski pendant necklace

And nope, R didn’t get me anything because he brought me to a really nice dinner at Dozo and a small bunch of flowers besides. I was really disappointed though, and although I tried to cheer myself up thinking of the dinner at Dozo, it still wasn’t quite enough. But I have since recovered and he’s going to get me this!!!

I have tons of accessories and I figure that this will be really good to have all my jewelry in the same place so that I can remember what I have got! Since we are going to share his bedroom and I have lots of stuff, I figure this is fantastic storage plus a full-length mirror to boot! Will place my order tomorrow yay!!!

p.s. he has finally agreed to let me get the camera – I should have one before the end of the month!!!! Triple yay yay yay!!!

New Year Resolutions

2011-11-05T17:11:00.002+08:00

Be punctual!
Exercise 3 times a week!
Be a good wifey
Cook
Write
Dance
Read
Sew
Declutter
Fluff up!

Think I’m done.

Still to do...

2011-11-05T17:10:00.000+08:00

Date – check : 20 March 2011 (Sunday)
Venue – check : Pan Pacific Hotel (free upgrade to Pacific Ballroom yippee!)
Wedding, mothers’, sisters’, jiemeis’… all the ladies are taken care of! – check : Allure Charix (we are so lucky Anna is the boy’s cuz-in-law!)
Flowers, photographer, videographer, MUA – check : Allure Charix (all taken care of by Anna!)
Wedding bands – check : Goldheart and Poh Heng (lurve luurrrve them! We have two wedding bands each – one white gold and one gold)
Dowry jewellery set – check : Poh Heng of course! Nice dainty set that can be worn other than wedding day.
Boys’ suits – check : Daniel from Men’s Tradition. Fitting next week!
Wedding shoes – check : His from Aldo (really nice classic pair) and mine from Charlotte at Robinsons!

Some major stuff still pending… which we are kinda dragging our feet over…

Finalise the guestlist – it’s a MAJOR headache.
Guo Da Li – We will source from here, here, here and here
Setting up his bedroom and buying furniture – can only do the actual physical moving after 15 days of CNY…
An Chuang – again… no bed ha!
Lunch caterer – thinking of Manna Pot! But still not fixed as I read on the forum that the food is usually not enough. Both our families are not small eaters…
Register with ROM – meeting up with Gary this Saturday
Shop for gold accessories for tea ceremony – probably after CNY
Shop for bridal accessories and groom’s cufflinks
Finalize wedding day program and Krabi mini-honeymoon itinerary!

Erm ok… *deep breath* I need to think of something fluffy… like my wedding dress!!!

It’s MTM based on Rivini’s Brini gown… *LOVES!!!*

I also MTM an apple-green cheongsam and a red jeweled toga evening dress. (where’s my camera?!?!?! *wails*)

And just to sidetrack a bit, just placed an order for this from lovescoach… just right for CNY!!!

AND…. I’m thinking of getting one of the following Kate Spade iPhone cases…from here. Leaning towards Lady Cocktail… what do you think?

Busy busy

2011-11-05T17:07:00.003+08:00

Went to JB yesterday for R’s car servicing (2 hours) and then had a yummy lunch at Pekin Restaurant! It’s somewhere around Taman Sentosa and we ordered herbal chicken, steamed prawns with garlic sauce and stir-fried french beans…. really delicious! Afterwards we had a plate of fruit (mango, watermelon and honeydew) and the total bill came to less than S$30!

After it was shopping at Coupe De Marriage to source for the wedding dowry and gifts. My dowry, his part plus the An Chuang stuff all came up to about S$160? Much cheaper than what we have seen around the shops in Singapore! Think we’ll just one more round of research and then proceed to buy from there after CNY.

Had his RM10 car wash (which included vacuuming!) and then we went to City Square to shop around a bit… mainly to look at shoes and bags for me but we chanced upon that elusive make up case!!!!

It’s so pretty in pale pink and just the right size to store all my make up (will upload photos later)! I did a fair bit of spring cleaning yesterday and am shocked at the amount of makeup that I had accumulated over the years! A lot of them were unusable and had to throw away! Some of them were brand new and not even used yet! That’s what this case serves as too – I know what make up I have on hand and will lessen garbage in the future. Hee.

Ok! Going for birthday dinner with my family at Prima Revolving Restaurant! Will upload pics next round!

Last year's Christmas Shopping

2011-11-05T17:05:00.000+08:00

Time just flew past… and Christmas was over in a flash. I remember how happy I was the Sunday before last, doing last-minute Christmas shopping (well, it was supposed to be wedding shoe-shopping, but I spent over $500 without buying the shoes – they were an excuse to shop the next day and I finally got them at Robinsons City Hall during Monday lunchtime hour!), trawling the whole of Orchard Road with W and happily swiping away the plastic. I really want to take down the pictures of what I had bought, but the desired camera is still MIA so here’s the list with web-ready images instead:

1. Pair of colourful (mainly blue and red) disco bling earrings at Isetan Wisma ($12) – thinking of wearing them for CNY

2. Diamante silver bangle from Helen (~$14) – inspired by Sofia Coppola in advert for her LV line of bags… check out the diamond bracelet on her right wrist.

3. One cologne (Givenchy Summer Play Limited Edition) for R and two perfumes for me ($250)… love the pretty and feminine scents and packaging! Can just imagine these two bottles sitting pretty on my new dresser in his room! Btw, he loves his Xmas present too! Plus I got two free bags – one laptop satchel which I wrapped as a Xmas exchange present, and another white carry bag with a flower pattern embossed on it. Totally worth it!!!

4. Two biographies from Kinokuniya (~$60) – got a 20% discount as W is a member!

5. Shiseido eyelash curler ($18) and Intelligent Nutrients Lip Balm ($28) from Tangs. Couldn’t bear to throw away my BodyShop eyelash curler as it was a gift from Cuzzie 10 years ago… but it was dull and rusty and I finally had to lay it to rest. The latter because I tend to eat up everything that is put on my lips so I figure organic (never mind the price) is the way to go.

6. Two tubes of hand cream for R’s mum and sis as Xmas presents.

7. One Picard brown and black reversible belt ($65) – originally intended for R, but he’s too fat so passed on to my bro instead ;P

8. White leather BB key pouch and card case ($80) – have been aiming this for the longest time! My current key pouch is too bulky and the keys tend to slip out and scratch the rest of my stuff. However, I’m saving it to use when he passes me a copy of his house keys.

9. Etude House Petit Darling Eyeshadow in a soft pink ($8 – W has the 7% membership discount again!) to add to my collection of matte eyeshadows – I can’t really take shimmery stuff as my eyelids are extremely oily.

We then finally adjourned to Grandma’s Restaurant Paragon to have a good dinner and rest after walking for about 3.5 hours straight. If only I bought my Canon S95 then as an early birthday present to myself… the day would have been perfect.

Random... but happy day :)

2011-11-05T17:00:00.001+08:00

Weather was great, office was quiet… altogether a peaceful and uneventful day….but the following made me happy…

1. My colleague brought her Canon S95 today and I was trying it out plus seeing her photos. Convinced more than ever that it’s the right choice over Lumix LX5 as it’s so compact and yet packs such a punch! We traded info also on the shops in Funan which matches YL’s descriptions exactly! Love YL for all the godly information that she possesses and which I can sponge off haha!

2. R came down to meet me for lunch today… sweet! Although his friend D butted in and joined us at Red Pig along Amoy Street ($11 set lunch deal AND it’s yummy!), altogether a nice warm fuzzy feeling just to see him in the middle of the day. *loves*
3. Had KFC for dinner… Think my appetite is successfully decreasing as this is the FIRST, and I repeat, the FIRST TIME that I can ever bear to let my fried chicken go uneaten, and yet still satisfy my craving. But R got a tummy upset from all the black pepper that was firing up his stomach ;P

4. R’s mum got an iPhone 4 and I was busily helping her set up new email and FB accounts. I really do like the feeling of starting from scratch again!

5. Bought Taiwan make up artist guru Kevin’s make up book set from Popular at $26.95 together with MINA magazine. The former is really very informative and detailed… I can finally understand why one needs so many beauty paraphernalia – just to achieve a “simple and fuss-free” look needs so many products and shading techniques! I can foresee another beauty spending spree coming up…

6. R said he’s going to get me a make up case for my birthday when I asked him for Canon S95… :S so I have been diligently browsing (making the best out of the situation) and TA DAH! The perfect case from Sephora! Retailing at US$98 at Amazon, but I’m wondering would it be cheaper to buy from Sephora here? I should probably get one for my sis too as she’s more of a beauty junkie than me (she has all sorts of beauty products in every part of the house). Time to pay GWC a visit plus bring my parents to Cz’Zar once again!

This is pretty cute too… I prefer this shade of pink actually, and the price is very reasonable – but it ran out of stock and they have no idea when it will be available…

This is nice as well… but black lace for make up box seems a bit weird for me… and doesn’t seem to fit in with our imaginary house decor (Hamptons style…baby)… plus it’s out of stock too….

7. Stumbled upon another interesting blog where the girl is so very quirky and yet so comfortable with herself and her own unique style. She loves traveling, does a fair bit of detailed research on her trips and is a foodie! She also likes crafting (she’s archi-trained) so she and her hubby DIY a fair bit of their wedding props and they turned out gorgeous! I love talented people…. opposites attract here you see… ;P

A new start...

2010-07-01T21:35:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow is a brand new start... And I'm confident that I will do better than before...

Happy happy days...

2010-06-29T01:03:00.000+08:00

Clearing the last of my leave (although it was spent in pain and discomfort)... and then 30 June 2010!!! A fresh new start for everything! :)

I've been reading through lots of home decorating blogs lately from Canada and it amazes me how hands-on and creative some of those ladies are... and how incredibly beautiful their homes look with creativity and character. I then tried to find some home decorating blogs from Singapore but the few that I found were brief, concise and sad to say, ugly in my opinion. I think I differ greatly from most Singaporeans' idea of a nicely decorated home! Check out this simple and pretty space... http://canadiancottage.blogspot.com/

I am inspired to start blogging about my impending house renovations next year... although I foresee a lot of arguments with MB who unfortunately does fall into the category of most Singaporeans as to what he thinks is nice. It's all laminates, plastic, steel, glass and spotlights... yuck! I hate all of the five except for glass (but not excessive of course). Fortunately, he has given me carte blanche to decorate the place and so far, the few ideas that I have are ok with him after a bit of a sulking... ;P

It might be a bit too late to write about my 2010 resolutions but I'm going by the financial year which is 30 June. Since, it's 1 day away, here goes:

1. Exercise regularly. I'm hoping to hit a 5-day workout eventually.
2. Do little acts of kindness.
3. Be well-groomed

Countdown to 30 June 2010... 1 more day...

A mad rush.... to 30 June 2010

2010-06-22T23:49:00.000+08:00

A mad rush today after coming back from a short weekend break in Genting... Didn't really want to go in the first place but my father was so enthusiastic about my last trip with the family before I get married off next year that I went along with it, taking a coach up on Friday night myself after a great dinner and girls' night out with Ms T and the Aussie girls... Love 'em and their humour... Haven't felt this revitalised with good conversation and food concurrently for a long time! Next one should be coming up this Thursday with Shimenpai at Illuma.

And of course coming back and got caught up in a mad whirl of things... mainly 2 sets of accounts waiting to be signed off by 30 June 2010 and some final billing to be done. And of course was grilled and fried from one end to another from morning till night.... *BIG SIGH*...

But looking on the bright side, 30 June is coming next Wed! Can't wait and then it's a brand new year and brand new start all over.... :)

Sunday... working in office

2010-06-13T17:07:00.000+08:00

I have recently turned down a firm offer, thinking to myself that I'm worth more than that. Am I???

I'm working overtime for free... on a Sunday when it should be spent with loved ones and last weekend was burnt on work as well. I think sometimes I focus too much on the $$$ in absolute terms without thinking how much sacrifice/sleep/scoldings is needed to earn that. Is it worth it???

Should I start measuring in less absolute terms?

Hope next week is a good week!

First post in 2010

2010-06-09T02:10:00.000+08:00

After all these years, I don't think I totally get what life is all about. But I'm pretty sure it isn't working at 2:07am trying to review 2 sets of financial statements which totally add no value to my life as to whether they are accurate and complete. Hence, an impromptu desire to update my blog and settings and to set things right in a small way... so that I'll gradually move myself out of my current rut and truly live a good life...

In the meantime, back to work until I've found my escape... leave next Friday to Genting with family!!!

2009-10-26T01:42:00.000+08:00

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... :(

2009-06-12T22:44:00.000+08:00

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! :)

2009-06-11T00:12:00.000+08:00

First update since Melbourne

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

Jogged 1.6km... walked 0.8km last evening with MB
45 crunches after the jog and walk
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.
Back facial at Theresa's
Chilled out at Borders with lovely books on interior design about storage, kitchens and bathrooms for 2 hours
Bought a $1 cup of honey green tea and zipped down to City Hall via Bus 36 in less than 30 min
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*
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.
Had Red Berry tea afterwards at Coffee Club at Millenia Walk and talked somemore.
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! ;)

2007-09-17T21:03:00.000+08:00

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

2007-09-12T22:32:00.000+08:00

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

2007-03-18T15:32:00.000+08:00

10 things

Tassie trip - poor Mich got stranded at Melbourne airport due to some very last-minute packing by me....SORRY SORRY SORRY
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
Re-lived NCC days when slept in cramped hostel room except at night when it was reverberating with noisy snores from M and DT
Had dinner with Diana at cool little Spag Tree restaurant with live musician - pix to come
Treated my little Indo pirate to dinner who'd brought me Gray's Anatomy DVDs
Forgot to wish Miss Twinklen......Happy 25th BIRTHDAY!!!! WELCOME TO MY CLUB!!!
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
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
Consistent anxiety attacks when doing Tax EP - how the fuck am I going to pass tax???!!!
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....=)

2007-02-26T19:38:00.000+08:00

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

2007-02-23T23:45:00.000+08:00

New career, new toy, for the new year

Am seriously contemplating job as full-time make-up artist/Barbie groomer...

Check out my Barbie...

Barbie likes to sleep with a soft toy on top...(it's an innocent comment *innocent look - blink blink*)

She's a "Naughty Devil" by stealing the mascot my sis gave....

So I gave her blues one day...

and grays the next...

and now she's gonna make me pay....*scuttling off to hide*

2007-02-23T23:19:00.000+08:00

CNY in Melbourne

Diet plan burst its budget as usual when it comes to CNY - non-stop full-on bingeing spree. Not entirely lack of self-control but rather self-comfort by trying to simulate scenarios back home, ahem, so stop shaking heads everyone!

Check out our steamboat dinner full of processed food with exception of fresh prawns and scallops, veg and mushrooms

Mich a.k.a. spoilt brat who doesn't eat prawns unless they are shelled - guess who shelled and deveined the prawns???!!! HMPH

3 girls and a hotpot

Contemplating 4th/5th rounds while Mich yakked happily away

Incidentally, new year's eve was one of the hottest days in Melbourne (the next day was the hottest day - EVER!) and we were cooking along with the steamboat - had to switch on air-conditioner later for fear of (heat) manslaughter. And subsequently watched TV, munched on honey-roasted macademia nuts and drinking wine while we counted down the new year with fireworks over the Melbourne Royal Botanical Gardens in the background. Once again, 新年快乐，心想事成！！！

2007-02-13T17:55:00.000+08:00

CNY....moody...homesick/foodsick/atmospherick

I miss:

Bak gua... TERRIBLY...also - pineapple tarts, kueh lapis, eggrolls, nut cookies, almond cookies, white sugar cookies, fried sweet cake, my mum's deep-fried meatballs
Blaring of CNY songs over everywhere you go now in Singapore - whether it's shopping for new clothes, bags, shoes or filching the many goodies on display - I actually like to hear the songs - it's not CNY without them
Shopping with friends for new clothes, shoes and bags - Mich doesn't like to shop! *wail*
Contributing to the reunion dinner menu - we are having a processed food steamboat reunion dinner
$$$$ - Ang baos, gambling - mahjong, cards whatever
Slacking for two days at least - now totally moody and no inclination to work - plus CNY's eve got to go spend bloody whole day at bloody tax lecture - just shoot me
Counting down with my entire extended family - over mahjong and plentitude of snacks - HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!! *gong gong*

I don't miss:

Springcleaning (my mother goes bonkers when it comes to CNY)
Going to relatives' houses and nodding politely at the "When are you going to find someone?"s, "You seem to have grown fat/shrunk/matured (a.k.a. OLD & HAGGARD)"s

Overall missing home very much - there's nothing to look forward to at this point in time and realised that I'll be spending next CNY in Melbourne as well - hard to get leave during peak. HAIZ

Mood: Depressed

Food log: Biscuits from office pantry, soba with hardboiled egg, broccoli and carrots, pineapple, grapes, crackers with cottage cheese (I need MEAT - bak gua bak gua, wru)

2007-02-08T20:41:00.000+08:00

Updates these past two weeks - busy...and eating out

Been totally washed out at work - working later (alright it's still before 9pm ;P) hours straight after the Sydney trip but worse is having to stuggle with issues like consolidation and minority interests (did I mention before that I almost failed my uni course for consolidation and MI accounting - currently reliving those days when I felt like a complete dork) - client has 8 levels of consolidation btw... and minority interests at different levels plus they bought back one level of the minority interests within this half-year! Oh... and did I mention dividend payouts at the different levels? !~#$%^&*

Still, found time to chill out with Mich who recently developed a fetish of eating out started from last Tuesday evening when we drove past this one-for-one Italian restaurant *blink blink*. In a flash, we were inside the restaurant to find it crammed full of similar bargain hunters.

Seafood risotto with prawns, mussels and squid - a tad too salty and soggy for my liking

Mich and her chicken parma with roast potatoes and vegetables

Mich had a relatively easy week - being home earlier to wind down a bit before popping over to my client's place on Wed. Went to our all-time fave Hongkong cafe Dessert House for dinner - only time of the year when we can find seats during dinner time coz all the international students are back home for the holidays - love these moments of quiet dinners with a friend at a bustling cafe - something frequently done in Singapore but not so much here due to retirement costs planning.

Sped through the week and Friday dinner with Joey at Sofia in Camberwell! It's a cosy Italian family joint situated in a nice little suburb with the right mix of shops and cafes. Great food, prices and servings! Definitely coming back here again! ;P

First comes the appetiser - fried calamari with tatare sauce - crunchy and sweet

Next comes the entre size (can you believe it?!) Sofia spaghetti with scallops, prawns and chicken tossed in garlic, olive oil and chili powder - spicy and tasty

Our main course - Potterhouse steak with mushroom sauce and roasted vegetables - I'm becoming a beef convert though still not a fan of the bloody side

See how full the restaurant is - everybody sure had a whale of a time tucking in!!!

Proceeded to Giogio for coffee afterwards - first time dining alfresco though best not to do it regularly as breathing in second-hand smoke. Sat past midnight chatting and giggling away - weather's real good in Melbourne recently - grey with just a little chill in the air

Saturday - my first official private dancing class at Malvern - drove there despite unsure of location but nevertheless arrived safely and in good time for lesson. Rhumba is slow and romantic while cha-cha is fast and sensual - love my dance class and my patient dance teacher who's taller than me (even when I'm in heels) - it helps that he's not painful to look at too ;P

Picked up Mich at home and went grocery shopping at Vic Mkt - Mich was tramautised by the fact that we bought grapes for $1.60 a kg instead $1.29 at another stall and pounced on a $2 box of white peaches on sale - just threw away the whole lot today due to all turning mouldy and attracting whole lot of fruit flies (told you so *twiddling thumbs*)

Lunch at Jap cafe opposite Dessert House after Vic Mkt - good value for $$ - but Mich picked the wrong bento set - apparently shellfish was not quite the fish she had imagined haha!

Sped home afterwards in anticipation of spending the whole afternoon watching the rest of 老婆大人 but intention was momentarily postponed while Mich showered and I called Miss T (who is officially coming over to Melbourne to work in April!!!!!). Subsequently, Mich snoozed off in the bath tub and I postrate on my bed until the next morning before church and badminton respectively... there are now officially two oinks in the house (you should recall previously it was just one in the house and the other in the car...occasionally ;P)

2007-02-05T20:05:00.000+08:00

Sydney (part 3!)

Our marvellous hosts and group couple - HY and Haz - they make people wanna get married too - My dream guy please refer -> 老婆大人 - others need not apply ha!

The big German band playing a different rousing tune at each table to celebrate each dinner party's - birthday, engagement etc. We were booed coz we were mainly just there for the food and beer. Kudos to our mateship though! ;P

After the big dinner which sees many drunken faces and bawdy behaviour, we are all geared up and ready to go for our first big gambling session of the night - the greyhound races!

Scary Mich after a big night out with beer - don't go anywhere near her when she's drunk and carrying such a big beer mug....unless you are much loved by her as in my case. Haha!

Session began with scouting out the hounds and checking the odds at the betting stations - my first bet was a spot-on! Unfortunately, the luck didn't carry over to the next race where I actually chucked in $2 for a combined group bet. =( Better luck in wait for me as we were rounded up to the Starcity Casino by the Gambler Ringleader (M** - under threat not to reveal name and character/behaviour simultaneously) where I won $22.50!!!

Sunday - first stop was Yum Cha and then a bit of shopping where I bought 2 tops for $15 at Supre - first shopping in a long while! Like the fact they are both black (slimming), casual and flatter my long upper torso! Mich did heaps of shopping too - at the shopping centre and later at Paddy's market (Sydney's Vic Mkt).

Here we are at the Sydney Rocks weekend market to do more shopping

My best and only buy at the Sydney Rocks weekend market - this kooky, whimsical handmade porcelain dish which reminds me of my Bro and Sis. Placed on it is a quaint matchbox musical box that needs to be wound up to hear its tinkling tunes - present from Germany by my beloved cousin Suz who's getting married this June (Gary's a real lucky guy!)

Looks just right placed with my perfume collection - all girly stuff!

Had an early dinner afterwards at Pancakes on the Rocks - of course we had to try the pancakes! (And many others besides...;P) before going back HY and Haz's place to pack up and hence ending our Sydney trip blog entry

Some thoughts about the Sydney trip:

Great Sydney hosts!!! Thanks so much for renting the car, planning the itinerary, accommodation etc - inspired to do better next time round (sorry Max, we weren't inspired back then - only keen on the scones ;P)
Surprising great fun although initially a tad apprehensive about hanging out with such a huge group for so many days
Looking forward to Tasmania trip coming March - keep a lookout for the entry!

2007-02-04T07:33:00.000+08:00

Sydney (part 2)

A big day at Hunter Valley (valley of wine, gourmet food and chocs) started off good with minimal delays relative for such a huge group and proceeded to Glepe for a big breakfast at a brekkie place recommended by the Sydney people.

From left: HY, Darrel, Angela, Max, Mich, Me, Haz, Darren, Aiwei

Check out the big brekkie that Mich and I shared - sausages, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, toast, spinach and tomatoes. The other plate was smoked salmon and eggs Benedict with ham on English muffins covered with Hollandaise sauce.

Of course verything must be completed by coffee or hot choc!

Then begins our long long drive to Hunter Valley where I admit - I'm a lousy road trip companion coz all I ever do is sleep - the rest of the guys were great though (Max was the driver and doing most of the entertaining and the rest managed to entertain him and reciprocate his jokes enough to keep him awake throughout the whole trip ;P)

Stopover at Newcastle - an idyllic little town for a dose of real ginger beer recommended by Darren. Beer was surprising light and refreshing - great drink on such a blazing hot day. True difference between Singaporeans and Aussies reflected in Darren's obvious longing to drink beer out in the sun (he's nuts) while the rest (feigning ignorance) dumped themselves on the comfortable couch in the air-conditioned indoors.

Lunch on the go - Harry's Pies!

Stopped at a famous roadside stall to fill up on pies/sausages to prepare for a big drinking binge later - we (the girls) had chicken/beef pies with mashed potato and peas with gravy. Delicious!

The guys mostly filled up on sausages - Max was initially on a high from rejecting offers of pies but subsequently could not ignore tempting parades of gastronomic bliss.

Max - the gigantic chipmunk tucking into a gigantic sausage roll

First stop at Hunter Valley - The Chocolate Factory, my fave where we loaded up on chocs and lollies. Ate strawberries covered in milk chocolate and bought a packet of pure Belgian indulgence - milk, white and dark chocolate coins and one packet of cookies and cream (boohoo to my diet!)

First winery stop at Tempus Two - a really cool place where bottles and bottles were displayed on the glass shelves under soft lighting and a Latino bearded chap was strumming his electric guitar to popular Latin songs, accompanied by a huge Alsatian. Everybody (except me - still had bad memories of Milawa) eagerly tasted wines and consequently bought a whole lot more in drunken stupor.

Second winery stop at Lindemans where again, more $$ spent and more rowdy behaviour. Brewing clouds in the air and charged atmosphere as reached Irongate (Max's sole purpose in Hunter Valley to get some sweet wines for his sis) at 4+ pm to find it closed at 4pm. Crazy behaviour officially took place in form of imitating slim Greek maidens by plump chipmunks ;P

After the tiring afternoon (for which I've spent most sleeping in the car - too much sleep can be tiring ;P), went to our much-anticipated German meat and beer feast at Sydney Rocks - Lowenbrau where waiters and waitresses dress up in cute outfits and danced to the big band music played by a live band. The restaurant had a real country-house feel to it with cosy wood furnishings and blue-and-white checked napkins

Whole gang except Kevan who's slogging away in office on a Saturday (don't go Sydney to work folks!)

The big meat and beer feast - just look at the meats in the different cuts and cooked versions!

2007-01-31T20:46:00.000+08:00

Sydney!!! Great food, company and sightseeing!!! (part 1)

One of my happiest and most enjoyable short holidays to date - a CA secondee gathering in Sydney during the Australia Day long weekend where me, Mich, Darrel, Angela (from Adelaide) flew down to Sydney Friday morning and met up with HY, Haz (HY's wife), Max, Kevan, Aiwei and Darren. Almost missed the morning flight - Mich and I had stayed up till about 2am to watch the first 3 episodes of 老婆大人 (TBVI's HK serial starring Jessica Hester Hsuan and Sunny Chan) and subsequently zonked out until 4am when Darrel rang up our apartment and jolted us into frenzied chaos of last-minute frantic packing and stuffing of bags. Whizzed down to Avalon airport in our little Daihatsu Charade to catch the 6am flight where Mich and I snoozed on most of the 1hr flight to Sydney.

Half-asleep at Avalon Airport despite Mich's best efforts with her respiratory brew - cuppa latte

After waiting for Angela (she arrived 1hr later than us), we bundled into a cab and sped off to HY's luxurious one-bedder apartment in the heart of the city - the place where all 9 or 10 of us showered, slept and generally pottered around for the 3 days.

HY and Haz's cosy little apartment - Mich making herself at home and engrossed in reading trashy celebrity gossip rags

The 7 secondees together for the first time in Aussieland!

The complete CA secondee family with Haz (HY's wife)

First stop - Sydney Fish Market - the fave haunt of my dreams when craving for seafood. Thanks to the Sydney people who generously treated us to loads of fresh sashimi, prawns, fish and chips, calamari, fresh oysters, seafood platter etc etc. Special mention must go to the fresh orange juice - great complement to a good meal! Really couldn't bear to leave the market - have decided to mark this as a landmark Sydney stop to get my seafood fix. ;P

First-timers at Sydney Fish Market (except Max but he likes to be photographed - oh well ;P)

Fresh oysters by the box - best eaten drizzled with dash of lemon juice and tobasco sauce

Prawns and lobsters by the crate - deliciously sweet and crunchy

Seafood platters galore - GGGAAAHHHHH!!!

Preparing for our feast - must bring own sauces such as wasabi, soya sauce, tobasco and tartar or otherwise will feel like carrot head upon purchases at Fish Market

Second stop - Birkenhead. Had dozed off in the car and therefore mistakenly thought that we had reached Bondi Beach (due to misleading tiny strip of blue sea in the distance). Enthusiastically disappeared into Coles and bought a dozen bottles of mineral water for our beach junk food picnic only to discover much later that we were actually at Birkenhead to do factory outlet shopping (had to bear the guffaws and hysterical shrills of laughter by the rest when they realised my innocent blunder though I graciously bore it all and stood composed amongst the shrieking hyenas around me *distant applause - thank you everybody*)! Have to admit that Sydney shopping is much better in Melbourne where I could never bring myself to buy much stuff - having put on weight and thus looks fat in everything notwithstanding - designs and prices put me off big time. Ended up on wooden bench with Mich, Darren and Max drinking the 12 bottles of mineral water while the rest did their shopping (clothes, books, shoes - you name it, they've got it). Wandered around and took photographs before adjourning to Bondi Beach.

Rows of yachts

HY and Mich - fellow QBH counsellees (notice sea in background - proof of my legitimate blunder ;P)

Have never seen so many bikini babes nor lean-abs hunks in my entire life (even managed to glimpse a topless sunbather though would never have noticed if Darren, like the true Aussie bloke he is, pointed it out to all of us). Not a beach experience I'm keen to try in the near future though - it was approaching 40 degree celsius and was wearing thick jeans and black long-sleeved top with track shoes and socks. Was cajoled into venturing barefoot into the sand and enormous waves by HY - got my jeans soaked in the process, tramped 150m barefoot to the sand-filled washroom to wash my feet as best as I could and finally pulled on my socks over damp feet and sand-coated jeans over legs. Darn. Oh alright, had to confess it was bloody good fun prancing around in the waves, giggling and screaming delightedly with the others like a bunch of toddlers at the beach for the first time. (refer to DQ blog for more pics and details - brain was too sun-fried to remember taking pics)

Unbelievably crowded and full of gorgeous people

Fried Mars bar - looks like Goreng Pisang coated with powdery white sugar - yes?

Tucking in - sticky hot chocolate streams out at first bite - absolutely decadent

Had a pre-dinner snack of fried Mars bar at a fish and chippery joint at Bondi beach though I preferred the UK version that they sell at Raffles City and Far East Plaza. Nevertheless, ate a fair portion which didn't spoil my appetite when we ordered take-out ribs, chicken wings and baked potatoes and chips at Hurricane. ;P Dinner was fun as all of us sat/squatted around like a group of sunburnt and sweaty labourers on newspapers spread out on HY's balcony and devoured the chargrilled meats and potatoes. Witty repertoire was exchanged and much appreciated as we got to know each other's appetites (Max's) and appreciation of wits (mine) and humour (the rest) haha!

After clearing up and lolling around a bit (which is natural after a big meal of course), we popped out for a spot of spectecular fireworks over the Darling Harbour bridge and after that returned with numb legs and arms (aching from holding up camera to film fireworks for prolonged period a.k.a. 10min) for a much-needed rest in preparation for a big day at Hunter Valley (to be continued).

Episode of the day:
All was quiet in the still of the night when a muffled scream emerged from the bedroom. Turns out Max was sleeping on the floor beside the bed when he awoke suddenly to find Darren (previously sleeping on the bed) straddling him and loosed a shriek. "Darren! What the @#$@%^& are you doing on top of me???!!!"

Nobody really knew what happened but the two of them were sneakily close after the incident - noticeably attempted going to the restroom together at the brekkie place in Glepe and returning alone to HY's place to shower - no comments - thou shall arrive at thou own conclusion haha!

2007-01-29T18:33:00.000+08:00

Australia Open 2007...FEDERER REIGNS

Was super excited about my first Grand Slam attendance (will go again next year - woohoo!) but the Nadal-Gonzales quarter-final match was not as good as expected. Only a 3-set match when I was all prepared to camp out there for the night although Mich was as pleased as a bear who found a honey-pot coz Gonzales won (gggrrrr....no concept of stretching the dollar) - hmph.

A$85 for 3 sets - HAIZ

YOU GO FEDERER!!!! PHEE WHEE!!!

Mich and Mich (her colleague)

Tossing to serve

From left: 1 Gonzales supporter, 1 hardcore Federer fan and 2 super hardcore Nadal stalkers

Afterwards was the mixed doubles of which we watched a couple of games and adjourned to Tien Ren Cafe (this Taiwanese cafe which opens till 2am everyday) for a late supper - cold noodles with chicken chop while Mich had ice tea and tea jelly with honey.

Depressed mood - diet failure

2007-01-23T20:34:00.000+08:00

Lots of first times this week!

Just played approximately 2 hours of badminton last Sunday - my first time since secondary school days. Went along with a bunch of colleagues (most of whom I've never seen before in office) and some of their badminton kakis to play at Monash Campus, Caulfield (thanks Yenny! - for the ride). End results were $1 for the booking fee, flushed cheeks, an adrenaline rush plus sore, aching butt, thighs and arms the second day. Great workout - feeling so pleased with myself that unless weekend trips away or on holiday elsewhere - this is going to be my little afternoon Sunday routine. Lalalalala... ;P

Better yet, had my first dancing class at Malvern today where I was shown some basic rhumba, cha-cha and salsa steps. Have always promised myself that I would learn dancing somehow (improves posture and self-confidence plus great workout again!) and glad that in Australia, met someone with more enthusiasm than me (Jessie) who would go for dance classes almost 3/4 times a week. Work pace is more relaxed too so there's more time to take up other activities here - I have also begun reading and currently on Thackeray's Vanity Fair. Not too far gone though - going to bring to Sydney this weekend if I can't get to sleep (probably can't if Mich is going to keep me awake with her sleeptalking a.k.a. shrieking out Botak's name throughout the night haha!).

And then, two more exciting events - my first time to be physically present at a Grand Slam event ever - the Australian Open 2007!!! Have been avidly following tennis matches since dunno when and have been known to ditch outings and shopping for a good match - have no doubt Mich is beginning to be influenced by me as was screaming at the TV, hurling around her beloved Xiaobai and jumping up and down on the sofa at yesterday's 5-set match between Nadal and Murray (she was rooting for Murray btw - guess she can really test her lung limits tomorrow keke). Praying that tomorrow's match-up of Nadal and Gonzales will be 5-set as well - might as well get our money's worth and be zombies at work the next day.

And best of all is that this week is a short weekend so heading off to Sydney Friday morning to catch the 6am flight! Not much sleep expected on Thursday night and we are going out for dinner - no plans in the pipe yet but should be somewhere nice and then afterwards should be coming back and catching some great matches again. Yay yay!!!

P.S. Life's not a bed of roses down here as now at 12:25am going to start working on two files but recalled while waiting along St Kilda Road waiting for Jessie to pick me up and seeing the rows of trees against the peaceful sunset, only happy thoughts floated through my mind - I'm a real lucky gal =)

2007-01-20T20:54:00.000+08:00

LAZY SATURDAY

Watched The African Queen after the last night's big feast at Pig and Whistle - hmm...Katherine Hepburn wasn't as hot as I'd thought she was. Nonetheless, watched it to the end (Mich dumped me on the couch 5min into the movie - she had fallen asleep 2min earlier) and slept till 2pm today. Got up and cooked a vegetarian lunch - porridge cooked with carrots, steamed tofu with cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with spring onions and chili and flavoured with dark soya sauce and sesame oil, and lastly, stir-fried button mushrooms and snow peas with butter and garlic.

Finished off with fresh pineapple and passionfruit yoghurt but think both of us suffered from meat withdrawal symptoms as at around 11pm started toasting BBQ pork (bak gua) that Mich had smuggled back in her luggage.

Watched two more classics in the afternoon - Dial M for Murder and Notorious (Mich napped again - now I know what I need to do to put her to sleep for a few hours). But I've developed one new obsession - CARY GRANT is my new leading man!!! He's so freaking dashing I can't stand it (admitted that I spent hours stalking him on the net - I can't imagine why Sophia Loren dumped him for Carlo Ponti) - thankfully my remaining 2 classics are all starring him woohoo!!!

And now just watched finish the Hewitt-Gonzales match which the latter emerged victorious - he played really good tennis (Mich was shouting bawdy remarks at the TV screen agitatedly whenever Hewitt scored a point - she thinks he's too kao bei - ahem!). Now tomorrow there's badminton coming up and my first dancing class next Tue! Keke, now off to brush my teeth and off to bed!

Ciao

2007-01-20T19:05:00.000+08:00

BIRTHDAY GIRL....BIRTHDAY WEEK

Monday marked my official entry into the mid-20s *boohoo!* and we popped out for dinner at the nearby Southgate complex (there are really a whole wide range of good restaurants there - aim to try the Red Emperor sometime - just thinking of it makes me hungry) for some Japanese food. It was a real fancy restaurant and we are about the youngest people there save for the teenage waitresses. The food was fabulous - no complaints here and me and Mich ate our way through one banquet set meal and another variety bento (lots of fresh sashimi was involved - I ate most of it) - check out the yummy goods below:

Birthday girl - officially into mid-20s - looks it too...hmph

Mich pretending to enjoy eating sashimi - she hates anything raw - I ate most of it - haha

3 different types of sashimi, assorted tempura, great teriyaki chicken and california rolls (think Mich likes them - the california rolls) We also had marinated beef teriyaki slices that are so tender - I'm almost converted (I'm usually a non-beef eater)

After paying the hefty bill (thanks Mich! for the birthday treat! ;P) and hauling our hefty stomachs home, we had another mini-celebration at home where Mich had baked me a butter cake (from cake-mix, but nevertheless thoughtful and tasty). We couldn't bring ourselves to eat cake further so just made a few wishes, blew out the candle, lolled a bit on the couch and went to bed - happy birthday to me! Ha!

Mich trying to stop me from gobbling up the cake - her masterpiece

I in turn attempted to scare her away from my cake by offering one of my birthday kisses - she was undeterred - hmmm...

Work front was hectic this week with me working in the office till 9pm one day - had to get the goods out for Standards SM (Senior Manager - a.k.a. Sado-Masochist - he's a pedantic workaholic) coz he's going to be one of my main appraisers for my push to be senior this June (I hate all this pushing to be senior thing - why can't they just make it automatic?!) but managed to get off early on Friday evening to go down Mornington Peninsula (1+ hr drive from Melbourne) to have a delicious dinner at the Pig and Whistle Tavern with Joey and Mich.

The restaurant was set above a mountain top with a breathtaking view of the surrounding rolling mountains (btw, a weekend trip to one of the Mornington vineyards is coming up with some colleagues so stay tuned for more delicious wines and gourmet food!). The road up was freakishly steep and the car was trembling in fear (we were trembling inside) while going up the approx. 70-degree winding slope on auto gear. Finally reached the place safely and found it half-full of tanned and relaxed families and old people - all either on holiday or retired (think 1+ hr drive on Friday night after work a bit too much for most Melbournians - only 3 cuckoo girls from Singapore game enough to do it ;P). The restaurant was set with fine dining china and glasses, with white tableclothes and allbut the ceilings and rafters were hung full of various antique pint beer mugs (restaurant is famous for having 120 different kinds of beer - that's why Mich is keen) and decorated with quirky posters.

Mich and Joey in front of Pig and Whistle - note that it's still light despite being 830pm - plus we made it all in one piece! ;P

Poster 1 reads: Beer is what enabled ugly people to have sex from 1862 (haha, how true!)

Poster 2 reads: It's time to pick up a new hobby (that's Mich's piece)

After some deliberation (it sells the 2nd best steak in Melbourne), we settled on beef medallions with scallops and prawns, a spicy seafood linguine, and fried calamari.

First comes bread - freshly baked and crusty, lightly glazed with butter with scattered seeds on top, to be dipped with olive oil and vinegar - it was so good, Joey ordered seconds

The comes the appetiser - tender and fried calamari on a bed of rocket leaves lightly tossed with olive oil and french dressing, garnished with sundried tomatoes speckled with freshly ground black pepper and garlic - YUM

Seafood linguine with prawns and scallops in a spicy creamy sauce with garlic, wine wine and mixed herbs

The steak medallions wonderfully done to a moist tender finish, complete with baked new potatoes and sweet potatoes. Prawns and scallops were heaped over it, all covered with a sticky cream sauce infused with cheese and herbs

The best finish - an extremely rich and moist Belgian chocolate mousse cake served with double cream. The inside is pure Belgian white and dark chocolate mousse set in delicate layers and complete with a solid chocolate casing with choclate flakes on top

P.S Last post was just something which I've picked off my friend's blog - diagnosis totally untrue if you ask me - I'm a GOOD GOOD girl albeit hot too ;P

2007-01-15T22:47:00.000+08:00

2007-01-14T21:09:00.000+08:00

Food!!! and happily whizzing around town until...bloody hell

Had dinner at around 9pm on Friday with Mich and Joey (Joey's our new colleague in Mich's work department) at an Indian place at Burwood Highway - Rich Mahal - a fave hangout of Monash uni students. Each of us ordered a teh tarik (it seems that sugar and condensed milk costs nothing) and then an egg prata with chicken curry, chicken mutarbak (hmm, hope I got the spelling right) and something like Indian fried rice called Roti Kuttu (if I get the name right).

Looks and tastes authentic - but in MUCH bigger portions

Food is delicious and due to the place closing at 10pm, we were chased out by the waiters who were banging their mops and buckets around us. We were then taken for a car cruise by Joey to the Monash campus and then after adjourned to Chadstone (one of the biggest shopping malls in Melbourne - shoppers, take note!) for coffee and tea (Joey had afficiado, Mich latte and tea for me). Reached home at around 12 plus and we subsequently settled down on the couch to watch my classics - think Mich is slowly getting influenced as she did not doze off this time round - haha! (ok, I dozed off while she was watching Ewan McGregor's biking road trip - haiz, think it's gen gap - boohoo!)

Woke up 12+ the next day - got into a real frenzy coz supposed to be picked up at 12:45 by Jessie (client) but managed to reach there on time - whew! Think my preparation skills are getting real smooth and quick! Unfortunately Eastern Freeway became Eastern Blockedway as most stupid of most stupid acts - to re-tar 3 out of 4 lanes on a freaking Sat afternoon!!! Reached the Golden Dragon Palace super late - poor Lil - she was starving alone in the waiting area - at least we were starving together in the car without any tempting wafts of food. But it was well worth the wait - the dim sum is the best I've tasted so far in Melbourne - think it's going to be my new fave yum cha place from now on albeit a tad expensive (A$25 for each person) but can't say whether Mich will like it better than New Royal Garden coz didn't help her try out the egg tarts (yup, she goes for the egg tarts every time).

Two pretty Shanghainese girls - with v. diff. styles

Came back to find Mich lazing on the couch (she woke up at 4pm - oink) watching DVD *apparently on recommendation of Miss L* - glanced over and saw a threesome orgy happening on screen and hurriedly disappeared into the safety of my room, only to re-discover it has no lock!!! Ggggaaahhhhh!!! Slept real badly at night and dreamt of someone's weight on me.

First normal Sunday morning just as before as we zipped around town doing grocery shopping at Vic Mkt, Safeway and Asian supermart. Check out the ruthless road babe in her shady shades as she dashes red lights and truimphs in victory.

Ended up doing lunch at Chinatown at a new roast meats cafe (Mich had a sodium-laden fried rice and me a roast duck noodle - surprising good) and went back to car.... a A$50 parking ticket taped on every car in the parking lot - @!#!$%^&*

The ruthless road babe can't beat the merciless Melbourne traffic Nazi - concurred that no other area of Melbourne can this type of efficiency be seen - once again - @!#$%^&*

2007-01-11T23:17:00.000+08:00

Oct 06 - Missy A (part 1)

Presenting Missy A:

Hot shot lawyer, bambi eyes, sharp wits, mischevious, cheeky, gambolling kitten perfectly capable of amusing herself (and others in the process)

Staunch friends, late-night after-work dinners at Suntec, fellow snoozers in A Maths class, Bedok hangouters and Kenny Rogers lovers (at now defunct Tampines branch)

Friend of little animals (except birds in all forms), loves her dog - a soft toy named Doggie, and her rabbit - extremely battered/maimed soft toy named Canary

Wants to go HK and stalk Raymond Lam Fung - you're alone on this

My first house guest last year - Missy A whom I've known for a decade (yes honey, we are old) - popped down for a visit and together we travelled the Great Ocean Road and Grampians (it's my first time too!) in a 1-litre 14 year old Daihatsu charade with no air-conditioning (scarier tales to come later).

Now just some little bitty pieces as I gave Missy A a modest tour of Melbourne and gorged ourselves silly ;P

Merrily drunk after attending our company's Oktober Fest and dancing on the bridge over Yarra River - Melbrat (as now no longer in Melbourne - Missy L, Mich, moi and Missy A)

(guy obviously supernatural occurence as looks ghoulish and nowhere near species of normal association)

We were mistaken for Koreans at this really fab and authentic Korean restaurant between Russell and Spring St (Rathdowne St area) - waiter started babbling in intelligible Korean when tallying up our bill. See my small eyes - the waiter probably thought I'm the before-surgery and Missy A the after-surgery. Hmph.

Relaxing at St Kilda Beach - we had cakes and coffee at the famous cake shop whose front window was laden with dainty and delicious little desserts and chocs - pity forgot to take pics and make you people envious ;P

Guess who's the tourist? Un-synchronised actions of the Melbourne Mafia at the Sunny Ridge Strawberry Farm vs cutesy Japanese/Korean hatter

RGS girls reunited - 9 years later at Melbourne - and enjoying ourselves tremendously - see below:

Check out the knitted strawberry tea cosy complete with stalks and leaves.

We had their Devonshire scones with strawberry jam and cream, plus a double scoop of ice-cream/sherbet each - yummy!

4 v. hungry and slightly cranky girls outside Han's Palace (Burwood Highway) - unanimous vote that New Royal Garden still wins hands down although punctuality is of utmost importance (and sometimes a pain) at the latter

2007-01-11T21:15:00.000+08:00

Potential Roomie Reunion!!!

Miss T has got a phone interview with the Melbourne office tomorrow!!! Gosh, am so freaking excited and credos to my darling and efficient SDM who expedited the process (did I mention that he's pretty cute as well ;P). Had a call with her just now running through the potential interview questions - if all goes well, we can relive our days as uni roomies - we have lived v. well together btw so no potential bloodshed - plus Miss T is a stylish, dressy chick so have lots of nice stuff to borrow! Think Mich would be relieved to have a chatterbox in the house instead of my monosyllabic murmurings - trust me Mich, Miss T talks 10x of me - did I mention I love her? Keke

Appointments lined up this weekend include dinner with J and Mich on Friday and yum cha on Sat with clients and colleagues at this place called Golden Dragon, Doncaster - good social start to the new year. *happy*

Food log:

Breakfast: Honey water, one slice toast with Nutella
Lunch: One slice bread with tuna, 1 Tim Tam
Dinner: Small serving of soba (Mich can testify), two pieces of BBQ pork, 1 Tim Tam
Night: Honey water

Hmm, can do better by not eating dinner so late and no more buying of Tim Tams once this packet is finished. Just dying to go Queen Vic and get fruits and veg - fridge currently stuffed with processed food (frozen nuggets, fish fillets, calamari) and junk (all kinds of biscuits and snacks - probably forgot to mention Mich is a.k.a. JQ - Junkie Queen)

2007-01-09T15:45:00.000+08:00

Bad weather today - super smoky outside due to bush fires in the country which are then blown into the city and then just hanging around here. Just a walk for less than 5min left me with a sneezy nose and a scratchy throat. Mich attempted to persuade me to go jogging with her - think she's gunning for 2 weeks' MC as she had chicken pox already and shingles seemed unlikely.

Managed to convince her that best to pray for shingles instead of simulating lung cancer symptons and we ended up going to VideoEzy for $1 DVD Tuesday night. Mich borrowed 8 DVDs - one's crap from Hongkong named Election although there are lots of big names there; mine's 3 and all old films - Casablanca, Pygmalion and To Catch A Thief. I love old films - both Chinese and English - they make me all warm and fuzzy inside plus some temporary attempt at old-school elegance and glamour.

Anyway main purpose today - just thought would give you guys who haven't been to our Melbourne apartment a little sneak preview.

My little collection of perfumes - Kenzo Flower, Gucci Envy, Clinique Happy, DKNY Woman, Hugo Boss Woman (as all can see - the need to expressly declare that I'm a Woman), Dior Pure Poison (my fave!), Estee Lauder Pleasures and Tommy Girl (for my preppy streak).

The little shoes are a souvenir bought from the Tulip Festival in October standing atop the sundial clock that Melbrat left behind.

My study area littered with everything but study materials - just like uni days

Toilet vanity counter overflowing with bottles and jars - we are girls - essentially vain

One empty bed since Melbrat left - boohoo!!!

Living room with sofabed - passed down from Ming to Daryl and now to us - also fav place of Melbrat and Mich when they zonked out watching tv

Messy messy kitchen but many a delicious meal was whipped up - thank you for your applause - I was the manual dishwasher

Special mention for that little black machine at the left-hand side - Mich's respirator - her beloved coffee machine and with whom she would spend most evenings with, enthusiastically stirring her brew

Food log: 3 chocolate TimTams & a small packet of salted roasted peanuts - v. bad - must do better tomorrow.

2007-01-09T04:38:00.000+08:00

Just reached Melbourne yesterday morning at about local time 8am and after cabbing back with Mich, took a quick shower and jumped straight to work. Luckily the senior has already done most of the work and I didn't have to do from everything from scratch - hahahahahah, life's good to me!!! =P

Rest of the day was spent doing appraisals, discussion with my Staff Development Manager (SDM) and napping a bit at home during lunchtime.

Did the following things after work:

Changed bedsheets
Did laundry
Washed dishes, cups, waterbottle
Vacuumed entire house
Cleaned toilet
Ironed clothes
Paid bills
Sent in Miss T's resume (got up at 4am today - can't sleep dunno why - probably missed Melbrat too much - missed having her flopping around the house, groaning of exhaustion of being a student haha)

Food log: Didn't eat anything the whole of yesterday - plane food not counted. Just had a slice of toasted white bread with Nutella - that's going to be all for today - keeping resolution#1 firmly in mind

2007-01-04T00:43:00.000+08:00

New Year Resolutions 2007

Healthy living a.k.a. LOSE WEIGHT - I have 10kg to waste - hmph.
Learn ballroom and Latin street dancing, mainly Salsa - vigorous exercise = weight loss
Be punctual - realised that setting watch/clock 15min earlier does not help
Play badminton every weekend - I have bought the equipment!!!
Read extensively - gonna visit the public library every week
Pick up Cantonese - time to know how to order dim sum and understand potential insults
Save $$$ - Aussie ING savings IR is 6% - refer to Singapore's 0.125%?
Pass 3 CA modules - HAIZ

2007-01-03T02:08:00.000+08:00

Upon the recommendation of 10 from Shimenpai........TADAH!!!!! My first tech baby - the Canon Ixus 850IS which costs me a whopping $670 from a little camera shop in Funan. But thanks to 10, managed to squeeze a few freebies i.e. camera kit etc so slight mollification obtained for the thrifty MM (Mini-me) in me.

And now - the first few pics of the year taken at the annual T-Bar HQ BBQ - which is an annual tradition usually held during the Christmas/New Year holiday season (plenty of leave to accommodate the working coolies a.k.a. moi and Ms W). The day usually starts at around 11 or 12 at Bedok MRT to trawl around the various supermarkets (NTUC, Giant, ShopnSave) for our BBQ ggodies and after which the early people a.k.a. not moi (refer to NY resolutions) will all pile into a vehicle and start preparing for battle at the T-Bar HQ.

The main scene of fun is gathered around the kitchen lit by a small TV set perched pecariously on a cupboard blaring out dated TCS serials and Taiwanese Hokkien drama serials - the first junk intake of the day, while we chopped, skinned and ploughed away laboriously. In the meantime, the latest "social issues and current affairs" (SICA) of celebrity and friends/acquaintances would be discussed as everyone updated everyone on everyone's happenings or unhappenings.

As usual, stuffed ourselves silly with the following: fried calamari, fried button mushrooms, chickie wings and tenders, cheese-stuffed and Taiwanese sausages, chicken and pork satay, potato and egg salad, cucumber wrapped in bacon and skewered, corn on the cob, home-made strawberry cheesecake and creme brulee, teh tarik and jackfruit, longans and mangoes...not to mention the king prawns and other frozen foodstuffs that nobody has the guts/ability to attempt opening the marinated packets....

The T-Bar gang - Blackie/Bangla (who'd given dodgy excuses of being busy on a public holiday?!?!) + T-Bar Headmaster's GF (who made us the fabulous creme brulee and strawberry cheesecake!!!)

2006-12-25T04:44:00.000+08:00

Ok, my blog is finally set up after 6 months in Melbourne, Aussie and now I'm back in Singapore again for a 3-week break before returning to Melbourne for 1.5 more years. For a period before my departure for Aussieland on 29 June 06, I was enthusiastically promising people left, right and centre that yes, I'll be faithfully blogging everything and loading pictures up so that everyone of you back here will be updated about my happenings in Aussieland - not that it's been very exciting yet (picture me snoozing - snugly wrapped in a big comforter - most of the time). Well you guessed it guys - I'm late - again (I promise - again - to kick this bad habit). But better late than never right? So here goes - my first posting. I promise as soon as I grab the best offer of digital cameras, I'll make up for the lost entries.