My Stories, My Songs

I kept humming this melody when I was at work last week. This melody simply brings back so much beautiful childhood memories and my JC Graduation Trip to Hong Kong. Come to think of it, Disney's Productions has such a huge impact in my life, without me noticing. They play important roles in weaving my past and present together, creating many threads for me to trace back to my childhood. Little Mermaid, Lion King, Mulan... ... (credit to non-Disney Robin Hood too) each reminds me of different times of my childhood. :)

Disney creates magic in my life.

An Important Message: Road Safety

I chanced upon this taxi parked outside my company toilet when I was rushing to the restroom. I bet this car will be scrapped and wonder how is the driver now. I urge everyone, to practice road safety by being more courteous on the road. Personally, I think most Singaporean drivers are very un-courteous and impolite. Turn on the Forgiveness and Generosity in you when you are driving. Let me give the simplest example, if any vehicle wishes to cut into your lane, just let it cut. I have witnessed many drivers being 'difficult' to others on the road. That's a very childish act that showed how petty you are as a driver. And usually you are petty as a driver, you are over every other things in life. Other than Petty drivers, there is another kind - Reckless driver than often speed on the road. Whenever your vehicle speed increases, your stupidity generally also increases. Don't forget, Road are predominantly built for travelling, moving from places to places ONLY. Don't play on it, it's more hazardous than fire - If you think, road accidents kill more people than fire accidents.

It is totally unworthy to spend your life or other people's life on the road. Car Crash is one of the most uncreative way to die and no one is gonna pity you. Most importantly, you still cannot reach your destination.

Don't play on the road.

Afterall, Life can only be played once and you cannot afford to lose.

Being a Siew Mai

I was facing some technical difficulties uploading these photo the past few days. Finally, it's over!!! Anyway, here are some photo I took at Arts Camp 2009 last week. I enjoyed the camp especially gathering with my old friends and meeting new friends. Meanwhile, I am trying to squeeze some time out of my tight schedule to meet my OG(Orientation Group). We are called Siew Mai.

Well, something worthed sharing was that I was one of the OGL (L for Leaders).

God knows why so all my friends around me think I have what it takes to the OGL. Maybe they saw it in my crazy and hyper personality. That's not totally correct, I would say. Because I don't show this side of myself under such a new environment with new people. Anyway, about being an OGL, I rate myself 5.5/10. I did a very moderate and rather responsible role, but lacked plenty of initiative in Cheering. I could if I wanted to, but I was not in the "Com'on!!! 大家跟我一起Cheer!!!!" mood plus, I am not exactly such person. :)

(Above) In the midst of playing games, all over Singapore and all around campus.

(above) The Fresh and the Fresher.

(Above) Blindfolded Siew Mais meeting their Also-Blindfolded Secret Pals. Counsellors had so much fun here imposing as their In-The-Dark-Secret-Pals!!!

Mask

I have just finished a 5 days Arts Camp. Fortunately, there was not outbreak of H1N1 in my camp and if not I would have been cancelled like other camps in NUS. I enjoyed the camp. Not so much of the activities, more of the people there. :)

Not being in office for 3 working days, things have changed quite abit. H1N1 seemed to be spreading into the community during my isolation in Arts Camp. One staff in my office building was infected and my company took more stringent measures such as issuing fruits, Vitamin C to each and everyone of us. Even temporary staff like me got a bottle of Vitamin C. Temperate screening went on a routine 2 times per day.

The most hateful measure was to get everyone to wear mask during work. I am feeling very uncomfortable with it because it is very suffocating. Practically, I inhale 90% of the CO2 that I just exhaled, and repeatedly breathing in my own CO2, I get so giddy and dizzy... ... and lose concentration...

A Home is not a Hotel

It has been a really long while since I last posted something more personal, like what am I busy with. I have indeed been extremely busy. So busy that I told my mum that I "No one has the right to give me excuse that he/she is very busy" because, no one is more busy that me nowadays. Basically, I spent more than 15 hours outdoor on very normal weekdays:

1. 7.30am - Leave house
2. 8.30am - Start work
3. 7.30pm - Start tuition
4. 9.30pm - End tuition

Given that my tuition usually last longer than planned and the travelling time, I usually reach home after 10pm. After my really-late-dinner, some superficial personal & family time as well as net-surfing, I will sleep at about 1am. And I fall into deep sleep really really really quickly. Before I had time to toss and turn, I am already unconscious. This routine repeats for all my five weekdays. Even if I have no tuition, I will usually required to do some OTs though I try my best to avoid that.

That's boring my weekdays are. My weekends are reserved for very precious moment for my family and friends. I am trying my very best to spend more than at home because, my home is not a hotel, it's a home. It's not a place where people come, sleep and leave. A home is not just a shelter, it's a place where family spend time together, create and build relationship.

(Above) In case you are interested in how my work desk looks like, here is it!!! This was taken when my dear red metal bottle was still alive.

Take More Photos

I had been a long time Julie, Joel and I met together at the same time. I thought it was at least 3 months. Everyone had been busy with our respective responsilities such as school work, exams and work. After leaving Avonda and Para from a disappointing Adidas Sale @ Kovan but wonderful lunch at Manhattan Fish Market @ J8, I spent the rest of the evening with Julie & Joel at Toa Payoh, chilling out, doing nothing. This was truly enjoyable.

I feels that everyone should take more photos when you are young, putting your memories, youth and beauty into pictures. Afterall, whatever pictures they are, as pictures get older, they get more valuable. I will understand this better when your memory starts to fail you...

Water Expands at 0°C - 4°C

Sometimes, the stupidest mistake is made by the smartest people. I am not implying that I am the smartest person, but I thought I studied Science and I should know that "Water Expands at 0°C - 4°C". And this is like primary school science.

My office pantry has a kettle that is used to store hot water and cool under room temperature. As its heating coil is very rusty, I don't drink the water from it. I brought my own metal water bottle to store hot water and let it cool. One faster method is to put it into the freezer so that I can have cooler water to drink quickly. Today, because I was so busy from 9.30am onwards. I left my 1-week-old bottle, filled FULLY with water in the freezer unattended. After lunch, when I was finally free to take it out... ....

CRACK....

What a waste... I did not want to use this metal bottle initially but changed my mind because I am running out of water bottle. This bottle was a sourveir from my college and I only started using it less week ago, after another fatal story of my 3-years-old-thick-plastic water bottle which I got from army. How can I forget the fact that "Water Expands at 0°C - 4°C" ?!?!?

我怎么可以对我的母校痛下毒手!!!

我就这样把它活生生地打入冷宫... 让它包庇在苦寒地狱中...

我真的是丧尽天良啊!!!

Nobody by Mr Brown

I love this video. I admire Mr Brown's creativity. His creativity is not jus pure creativity. He bothered to rhme his lyrics and match them with the dance moves. It totals up to Creativity + Brain. I understand why our PM Lee praised him. Bravo!!! Two Thumbs Up!

The Different Excellency of Buffets

I met Joel today for dinner at Novena's Ichiban Boshi without Julie, because she was busily preparing for her exams. One of the most memorable things he mentioned was about buffets. This topic started after I told him that I went for my 2nd Aunt's 80th Birthday Celebration on Friday and they prepared one of the BEST home buffets I ever had in my entire life!!!

Joel was explaining the different grades of Excellent Buffets:

Level 1 (C+): Your Guests Eat The Food without Complaint

Level 2 (B-): Your Guests Eat Alot of The Food

Level 3 (B ): Your Guests Praise that The Food Without You Asking Them

Level 4 (A ): Your Guests want the contact of the Caterer

Level 5 (A+): Your Guests Want To "Ta-Bao" the leftover home



I thought my 2nd Aunt's 80th Birthday Buffet exceeded Level 5 BECAUSE... There were guests like my 8th Aunt, who asked for the recipe of some of the dishes. I will post a blog on this when I get the photos from my cousins. Hence, I shall create the next highest grading

Level 6 (Olympics Gold Level): People Wanna Learn Your Culinary Skills

After all, being host is not difficult, but being a memorable and excellent host that leave a mark in people's mind is not easy. There are many home buffets I had and the Bests & Worst were all remembered. So far, if you are ask to name a few of the most memorable and recent buffets, I remembered Jia Wei's 21st Birthday, Ker Shin's 21st Birthday and Mei Theng 21st Birthday. The common thing about these memorable buffets, including my 2nd Aunt's, was that they had one of my favorite caterers, N********. In addition, all of them had another separate table of dishes, where their family showed off their 看家本领 - the "拼了老命 to prepare the best food for your guest" section and this part that requires the MOST effort and time.

• Mei Theng's Dad, who is the chief chef of Shangari La Hotel, prepared the buffet himself and it was undoubtably wonderful and popular. I can still remember his Chilli Sauce Squid and Curry Chicken.



• Ker Shin's family had a separate table of nice Hainanese Food including Hainan Chicken Rice. With the ongoing BBQ and late after dinner, someone who BBQ-ing a huge piece of 烧肉 for the guests to eat it with Red Wine and Beer.



• Jia Wei's 21st Birthday had a table of home-cooked Vegetarian Food for the vegetarian guests. I thought it was very thoughtful. And I don't know why, I could not forget his Fried Chicken Wings and Mahjong Design Cake . His was also the buffet when I 1st tried my favorite caterer's food.

Basically, like what my mum taught me " 请人一定要有心". Sincerity is really really important. One very obvious way that sincerity can be protrayed and seen by your guests is through the preparation effort of the venue and food (food especially). The host needs to think for the guests and prepare what the guests can eat and enjoy eating. One good example is vegetarian food for vegetarians. The host must also constantly reflect what will make the guests happy. :) For my 2nd Aunt's Party, they even have door gifts for the children!!! :) My sister-in-law made the Kong-Ba-Bao, aka Braised Pork with Bun, all by herself, even the bread/bun was made by her because she knows the older generation will like it!!!

舍得

舍 得... 舍 得... 能 舍 就 能 得 .

Dream Bubble

The day was nothing extravagant, but it was a day when I did ALL the relaxing and simple things I enjoy. It was the most relaxing day so far. I love this "What shall I do for tomorrow" feeling... The person was accompanied me the entire day as well as chatting with me until 11.30pm the previous night was none other than Jia Wei.

11pm - woke up 1pm - Lunch at J8 2pm - Table Tennis at Bishan Stadium 4pm - Swimming and Chilling in Bishan Swimming Complex under the sun!!! 7pm - Bing En joined Jia Wei and I after his work at my house for dinner prepared by my mum. 8pm - Dessert and playing Bluff at one of my new favorite cafe in Serangoon Garden. The Bluff game brought back memories of the days in Perhentian last year. It was a great feeling.

The whole day was like a dream but burst rather quickly. I enjoyed it thoroughly though something ironic happened in the noon that almost spoilt my day. It was a best thing happened at the wrong time - I finally got a job and would be starting work IMMEDIATELY the next day. It simply meant "End of Holiday, SIAN!". The news came so abruptly and almost totally devastate my wonderful day.

Thank 天 It's Friday!!!

Thank 天 It's Friday!!! :) I spend both my thursday and friday mainly with Jia Wei. Thursday was table tennis at his house then tuition with my JC kid. Friday was swimming at Bishan Swimming Complex, followed by Majong at his house.

AND.... I made the Legendary Majong Super Combo, "Cum Cum Hu". The feeling of drawing 4 sets of idental tiles ALL by myself without 'pong-ing/Gang-ing' was AMAZING, specially when I drew the last winning tile, the feeling was MAGICAL + AMAZING. I just CANNOT BELIEVE myself holding THAT tile!!!!

After my triumph was dessert session with some of my TAU Family members, Chancy, Chau Ting and Wei Hao at a Serangoon Garden dessert shop, which three of them STRONGLY RECOMMEND. Actually, my da jie also recommended long long ago but i just did not get the chance to visit the shop. Indeed, the price was very reasonable and portion was pretty huge. I will definitely go back again!

Wei Hao love his durian mousse so so so much and it was nice. But, I would still stick with my aunt's Durian Mousse Cake. My aunt's Durian Mousse Cake is, I think, 1,230,989 times more duriany than that durian mousse.

We were there sharing very interesting childhood games that we no longer play now, and it brought back a hurricane of wonderful childhood memories. Wei Hao's games were very 'Zek Arc" - involving testing frogs's IQ and prove if they will jump off the window ledge from 12th story. In case, you are also not sure of the answer, please don't test. Wei Hao had confirmed with multiple attempts that frogs are stupid and will hop down from 12th story if they are put on the window ledge...

The discussion ended as late as 11.15pm, then I returned home with 3 packets of my favorite Genuine (there is a less genuinely-nice stall there) Chomp Chomp Hokkien Mee. :)

My Wednesday was Fantastic as well!

I am a person difficult to pleased but these people in my life are just so amazing. Three of us treated Jia Wei dinner for his 22nd Birthday and Bing En brought all of us to a really really nice restaurant in Liang Court selling cheap and delicious Italian-Japanese Food. This fitted exactly, nicely, wonderful to my liking + craving + preference for Wednesday. Despite the food being quite salty, overall, its still very finger-licking good.

Four of us being together were just so fun. We shifted our buttocks to Clark Quay (Again! I am having many good memories at Clark Quay). We walked the same place as where I walked with Avonda & Para on Monday. Then, we sat down beside the river and... played a childish & school-orientation-like game which was extremely exciting, fun and memorable!!! I shall leave the details of the game out and credit to Jia Wei for introducing this game. My night ended near 11pm after Yew Boon had to rush home because "his little nonya was forced to kneel on durian shell".... :)

I am so pleased with my day again. Sometimes, I just cannot believe myself, I am in heaven these 3 days?

My Tuesday was a Wonderful too!

No Photos - I spent my noon playing badminton at Bishan Stadium with my NUS friends. Ming Wei came all the way down from Jurong for the game. On my way to Bishan Stadium, I happened to be thinking about Jia Wei and immediately, "Knock Knock!!!", Jia Wei appeared in the Bishan Gym saying hello to me. OH MY 天!!! That's so co-incidental!!! This is really 心想事成!!! That's so 神 !!!! Moreover, another piece of good news is, I played really really well despite not playing since last semester(we played the professional/competitive kind of badmiton, get it?)

I urge everyone reading my blog, to exercise REGULARLY because exercising not only keep you fit & healthy, it makes you feel Great!!!

Great! = Confident, Healthy, Looking Fabulous

You will shine and glow from head to toe from the moment you wake up till you sleep.

After my thrilling badminton session was a really nice lunch with some of the TAU family members, including Wei Hao, Chancy and Chau Ting. Let me explain why my lunch was nice!

1. We haven't met all together for many weeks.
2. Lunch venue was at J8, just a stone throw away from the stadium
3. Manhattan Fish Market serves really fresh and good Seafood. I think it's even better than that "Fish & *"
4. Service was plausible too.
5. Unknowingly, we received alot of discount for different reasons which made our lunch very valued for money.
6. We were given voucher after the meal, and I will definitely go back again!

After lunch was tuition with my new student (who is very obedient & cooperative) and a night jog back home!!!

It is a day well-spent and fulfilling.

Can my day be so fulfilling everyday? + a full time job!!!