Scandinavian Cuisine

We had North European food earlier on. Actually Western food is about the same everywhere, thus the Scandinavian restaurant we were in serves pretty normal Western food. The place itself looks rather classy, but quiet. We seem to be the only four customers there!

We ordered a set meal each. There are two sets, a cheaper one and a more expensive one. The cheaper set consists of a soup, sorbet, choice of main course, dessert and coffee or tea. The more expensive set consists of all the above, with the addition of foie gras, and caviar garnishing for one of the main courses.

All of us ordered the cheaper set. The servings are just right, not too big, as compared to other Western restaurants. Two of us (including me) had Norwegian Salmon, Onion Soup, Tea and Carrot Cake. All my favourite dishes! The salmon is good!

The other two had Ribeye Steak, Onion Soup, Coffee and their own choice of desserts. His steak is just right, medium rare, unlike the medium-but-turned-out-rare steak we had in Hooters the night before.

It is a good place to recommend for anyone looking for a cosy dining experience. The place is called Abof Cafe and Restaurant at Millenia Walk, somewhere near Outback Steakhouse. The food and ambience is good, be it for two people, or a small group.

TANGO!

We went for our first Tango class today. I first came across Tango after watching "True Lies", and found it fascinating, especially with the rose. Then I watched some ballroom dancing segments and found Tango rather interesting. Since he is interested as well, we signed up together.

There are only about seven of us in the class (perhaps more, but maybe the rest did not turn up). We have a pair of instructors teaching us, one male and one female. Apparently, Tango is a social dance with close bodily contact, so we have to ensure we are very close to our partners. As with most dances, the man will lead, and the woman will follow, but the man has to ensure that his partner is close to him at all times, with her arms bent comfortably on his arms and shoulders.

That was the first time we were in such close proximity with each other. It is a bit nervous for both of us as he had never held me that close before. I am not one who is comfortable having such close bodily contact with someone I have no feelings for, which explains why I put a lot of jerks off since they always think I play hard to get.

But of course, with him it is different since we have been meeting up quite frequently. I was a bit nervous at first since it was the first time he was holding me and I am not sure just how he would feel. But the initial nervousness faded away as we tried out the dance steps and he tried to lead me. I became more and more at ease. That should be how people dance - being at ease and comfortable with the partner.

We kept changing partners. Since there was a variety of heights, we had to adjust accordingly to the height of the leader and try to follow through. All in all, it was an interesting lesson, and from the looks of the demonstration at the end of the class, the successive lessons will get more interesting. Really looking forward to the next class!

HOOTERS!

Finally I got to try out Hooters after thinking of going there for ages. I am not sure whether it was because we chose a seat outside the restaurant next to the river, but the overall experience is not that fantastic. Perhaps inside the restaurant the ambience may be better?

Of course, Hooters is famous for the waitresses in their scantily-clad attire. The waitresses are heavily made-up, with sleek and silky hair, wearing tight tank tops and mini shorts. But the service left much to be desired. The waitress serving us made a face when our friend asked her a few more questions pertaining to his order. She looked so grumpy as if she could not be bothered to take our orders!

The food is not that great as well. Hooters is famous for its chicken wings, so we ordered two plates of ten chicken wings each, one with the normal Teriyaki sauce, the other with the Medium buttery spicy sauce, as appetizers.

The drinks are good too. I had two glasses of Hooty-fruity, a mocktail, consisting of orange juice, soursop juice, calamansi juice, grenadine and blended milk. Sweet and delicious, just like drinking a thin milkshake!

We ordered a New Zealand Sirloin Steak, Medium, to share. Our friend ordered crab's legs and his girlfriend a grilled chicken with spaghetti carbonara. The crab's legs are not that fresh, so they were not that delicious, and our steak turned out more rare than medium.

Overall, it is not a good experience for me. With so much hype over Hooters, it is a rather disappointing experience. Perhaps it is a good place to chill out over drinks and finger food, but not for dining.

Road Tests!

I went for a series of road tests today. First I tried the BMW 320. The interior is sleek and comfortable. There is the auto Manual gear but the gear handle has to be turned a few times to engage the Manual gear. Even though the car looks nice, it does not seem to be easy to drive, as the engine gets bumpy and the passenger will not sit in comfort.

I saw the BMW Z4 Roadster convertible in the shop, and I was almost drooling over it! Beautiful car, although not very practical as it is only a two-seater. If anyone is to spend a 6-figure sum on a car, it makes more sense for the car to be able to take in more passengers, instead of just for two.

Secondly, I tried the Mercedes-Benz C200 Kompressor. Now, that is a great car! Sleek, chic, smooth, comfortable, and great to travel on the road, for both the driver and passenger. The engine is so smooth and soft that one can hardly feel the car moving at all! It is that smooth! And it comes with a keyless entry, so one had no worries about car thefts anymore!

The third car I tried was the new Toyota Camry 2.4. I am used to a Camry, since my parents drive a Camry too (the older version), so I do not find any difference between the new and the old versions. Even the seats and dashboard look the same.

Next, I tried the Lexus IS250. That is another great car! Smooth, sleek, chic and advanced. The seats are air-conditioned, so even if the car was left in the hot sun for the whole day, the driver will feel cool once he sat in the car.

It also operates on keyless entry and driving. And there are two air-conditioners - one for the driver and one for the front passenger. It is also a good car to go up and down hills, as it does not jerk that badly and everyone is ensured of a smooth and uneventful ride throughout.

I saw the Lexus SC430 in the store, and went into the driver's seat to sit and look. That car is a dream! Four-seater, size of a normal saloon, reasonable rate for a convertible, and it is the type of car that makes heads turn when a person is driving it. But that is only a dream, as I know I can never afford it in this lifetime.

I actually wanted to stop after trying out the Lexus, but then we passed by the Mini Cooper shop. And since I always wanted to try out a Mini Cooper, I went in to try a Mini Cooper S. Now, that is a powerful car! For such a small car, it is running on 175 horsepower. So I can speed without banging into anyone as the car is small, so easier to control.

Small, powerful and deadly! Plus the dashboard is reminiscent of those retro times, which looks really cute! Now, that is the type of car I like! If I ever get the Mini Cooper, I will paint it in the design of a British flag! The only gripe is that because it is such a small car, it will be hard to take in passengers as if anyone else drives, he has to adjust the seat all the way to the back just to allow space for his feet. Thus, no one can sit behind him.

However, when I tried getting into the driver's seat, it is just perfect for me. I need not even adjust the seat, everything is perfect, from the height to the leg space to the mirror. This is really a car designed for puny people like me! No wonder it is so popular nowadays, as it is fast, cute, and suits smaller size people!

I wanted to stop after trying out the Mini Cooper, but since I went by the Audi shop, I decided to try out one more car, so I tried the Audi A4. That is also another smooth car, but not as good as the Mercedes or the Lexus, and definitely not as good as the Mini Cooper!

If I am to rank (not including the Mini Cooper and Camry), of all the luxury cars, I will say Lexus tops my list, followed by the Mercedes, then Audi and finally BMW. My friend thinks the Mercedes is tops, followed by the Lexus.

Come to think of it, there is not much of a price difference between the Mercedes and the Lexus. So perhaps it is more practical to get the Mercedes after all, if I ever decide to get a luxury car, since it is not much of a difference as compared to a Lexus, and yet it is a grander car.

On The Road!

Finally I am on the road! As in, driving on the road. Okay, it is not the first time I was driving on the road, as I had gone through the routes numerous times while undergoing Manual lessons, but with Auto cars, the feeling is different. I could focus more on the traffic and the direction the roads lead instead of thinking and observing when to change gear.

Needless to say, my driving lessons are getting better. The car just flows along the traffic, and I just need to know when to brake and when to turn. I feel more confident driving, instead of being so flustered on when to change gear and when to engage the clutch that I neglected everything else.

Now with an Auto car, all worries are thrown out. All I need to focus on is the traffic condition and which lane to turn into. I never know I can drive so well and confidently. Maybe I will be able to get my license sooner than expected!

How Loud Is Too Loud?

I came across this article in Yahoo! about office irritants, which I can so relate to! I do have people in my office that behave this way. For me, my phone is always on vibration, I eat out most of the time, I do not use speaker phone, and my PC volume is way down. Hopefully no one ever complains about me! :-p

By : Tara Weiss, Wednesday 18th July 2007

While working at a weekly newspaper in Wisconsin, Angela Kargus became intimately acquainted with a co-worker's personal life. Kargus learned about her fertility problems, that her dog urinates all over the carpet and that she does indeed have a regular menstrual cycle. You're right to think these are the kind of personal details shared over a cup of coffee or on a friend's couch. Unfortunately, that's not what happened. Kargus and her co-worker aren't even friends. But her co-worker is a classic workplace loud talker. She yapped on her cellphone throughout the day with friends and, quite frequently, her mother.

This probably sounds familiar. Office loud talkers are everywhere, and the worst part is, they probably don't even realize they've been labeled as such. To the unknowing, here's a tip: Proper decorum calls for people to take personal conversations outside the office or into the hallway, especially since so many workplaces are in an open format where only top managers have offices (and doors they can close). We're not all so lucky. In fact, the office loud talker certainly isn't the only pet peeve known to cubicle land. Among the more popular (or, actually, unpopular) are using a speakerphone with the door open or while in a public area; leaving the kitchen a mess; bringing potent-smelling food for lunch; and leaving the sound on the computer so everyone hears the ding of an instant message.

Despite the laundry list of complaints, the loud talker wins the award for most annoying. Of 2,318 people surveyed in March 2006 by Harris Interactive and Randstad, 32% say an office loud talker is their biggest pet peeve. Coming in a close second at 30% is using an annoying cellphone ringtone; 22% said speakerphones are their No. 1 peeve.

As for Kargus and her colleagues, no one in the newsroom ever complained directly to their co-worker. Kargus was nervous that her co-worker would get upset and seek retribution or that it would create a tense atmosphere. Worse than the conversations that reduced Kargus' ability to concentrate was her co-worker's annoying cellphone ring: the Mexican Hat Dance. "Writing is something you need to be in that zone to do," says Kargus, now director of media relations at the American Chiropractic Association. "Having the Mexican Hat Dance ringing breaks you out of
the zone."

Not saying anything to the co-worker was a mistake, says Barbara Pachter, an executive coach who specializes in business etiquette. It's just a matter of saying it in the right tone of voice. "Be polite yet powerful," says Pachter, author of When the Little Things Count ... and They Always Count. Do that by saying what's bothering you and explaining the effect it has on your work. Then ask the person to either lower his or her voice or take personal calls out of the office. Then, ask if that's OK, to make sure the other person understands and will comply.

Pachter offers a more specific example: "Hey, you might not realize--I hear your conversation and it's distracting to me. I'm having a hard time working. Could you please lower your voice? OK?" For a situation like the one Kargus found herself in with her former co-worker, you can even make a joke out of hearing personal details. Say something like: "I don't think you want me to know that about you." For repeat offenders, just give them a reminder by saying, "Remember that conversation we had the other day? Your voice is getting loud again."

Randstad, the staffing organization that contracted the pet peeve survey, takes workplace etiquette so seriously it incorporates it into new-hire seminars. Newsrooms, like the one Kargus worked in, are one extreme. They tend to be loud, open workplaces. The environment at Randstad is the opposite extreme. Personal cellphones must be on vibrate or silent the minute employees walk in the door. If they're not, someone will likely send a note that says, "Remember the rule? Turn your ringer off." To maintain a "professional" atmosphere, employees are only allowed to have two personal pictures on their desks.

Private rooms are provided where employees can make personal calls. And on some floors at every sixth desk, there is a table where four or five people can do work together. "We do that so there isn't that socializing that distracts other employees," says Genia Spencer, Randstad's managing director of human resources.

It's not likely most offices will go to that extreme or that it would even work. In the meantime, remember this: Silence your cellphone, eat smelly lunches in the cafeteria, turn the volume down on your computer and close the door when you use speakerphone! It will make for a much happier and productive workplace.

Moral of the story : ALWAYS BE CONSIDERATE TO YOUR CO-WORKERS!

A Night At The Gym

Contrary to what a lot of people think, I have stepped into a gym before. I used to be with a couple of guys who spent their time working out, so occasionally I would go to the gym with them to try my hand at the machines available, although I am never a fan of gym workouts.

Due to the two week gym membership which just expired, we went for a trial session with a personal trainer, who took our body profiles, including our height, weight, muscle mass and body fat. Somehow I have shrunk two centimetres (as if I am not short enough already), but lost another half a kilogram from the last time I measured.

My muscle mass is low, body fat high, although not as high as last year already, so it seems like the slimming treatments do work to a certain extent. Thus, the trainer said that I should build up my muscle mass and lose more body fat to have a flatter tummy and more toned legs and arms. He should build up more muscle mass to make his body more proportionate and well-toned, with six packs! :-D

So we started on our routine. First, it was a session on a machine that will help build our chest muscles. We used our hands to clutch at the sides, then used chest muscles (not shoulders or arms) to pull the edges towards us. We had to do that fifteen times! If you think it is easy, think again. Using chest muscles is much more difficult than shoulders, as we had to keep our shoulders and arms constant, and not move them.

Next, we had to lift weights. We were placed in front of a mirror with our backs facing the mirror, then lift weights with our elbows remaining constant on the mirror. This exercises the upper and lower arms. It is much easier lifting the elbows instead of having them fixed at the mirror! Again, we had to lift up the weights fifteen times.

Our third exercise involved our leg muscles. We had to lie on our backs, suspend our legs on a big exercise ball, then bend our knees and balance our feet at the edge of the ball WITHOUT the ball moving. Again, if our leg muscles are not strong enough, the ball will move, then it will be hard to balance.

Next, we had to suspend ourselves standing up on another machine, placing our arms at the side handles. Then we had to push our arms down and life our lower bodies up, while bending our knees at the same time. This cannot be achieved if one do not have strong arm and chest muscles. Needless to say, I almost could not do it.

Our last exercise was sitting down on a mat, pulling the handles at the side of a wall. It is something like rowing a boat, except the legs have to remain straight and we had to pull the ropes and arch our bodies back, without moving other parts of the body.

All in all, it was a useful, albeit very intense, session. From there, I finally realise exactly just how unfit I really am. These gym tips are useful for us, as we can use them to practice our own gym routines at the gym at his place. At least with an exercise partner there is more motivation to keep fit!

Gesundheit!

I am almost mono-lingual. Besides English and some Chinese, I cannot speak nor understand any other language, despite the fact that I am rather intrigued by Bahasa, Japanese, Korean, and the European languages of French, German and Italian.

Reading wise, it is still okay as after all, if the letters are in English, or more precisely, the Latin alphabet, it is not too hard to read or make out the pronunciation. Which is why I am able to sing in Italian or German or French without much of a difficulty, even if I have absolutely no idea what I am singing or reading!

Although I had absolutely no idea what was going on, I still went to a German church service last Sunday. He has taken some German back in school, so he can read and understand German, even though he seldom speaks. And he has always wanted to experience the German service, so I went along.

It was just a normal traditional service. There are procedures of course, since it is of a different denomination altogether, but other than that, the structure of the service is pretty similar to a Catholic or some other traditional church services. There is still the opening hymn, preaching by the Pastor, the Apostle's Creed, prayers, more hymns and closing prayer.

Even though I have absolutely no idea what the sermon was about, I was able to fit in as I just followed the rest of the congregation when to sing and when to pray. The song list and hymn book were given to us beforehand, so we were able to follow the songs to a certain extent too.

Of course, it helps that I have a translator next to me. At least with his help, I was able to have an idea what the song(s) and prayers were about. Later he gave me an idea of what the sermon was about as well.

A pretty interesting experience, I should say. This is quite a good way to learn a new language. He mentioned that he may want to go for the German service again, which I concur, as sometimes it is good to explore something new instead of always sticking with the same routine. It is a good way to expand one's horizons too.

Body Stretch!

In just a week, I have gone to a series of Yoga lessons. We signed up for a beginner's Yoga after we received our two weeks trial gym membership, so the first session was on Gentle Yoga. It was gentle indeed. The studio was cooling, and the exercises were not too intense. At least I could still stretch and bend a little.

The exercises involved stretching of the arms and legs, as well as the back. There was one part where we had to lie on our backs, lift up our hips, and stretch our legs to a forty-five degree angle. It may sound easy, but actually it needs lots of balance and coordination with our hip and back muscles.

And if the muscles there are almost non-existent or not in much use, it will be hard to stay at a forty-five degree angle, as the whole body would either start vibrating or the legs would fall back to the mat. Same goes for the part where we had to put our palms on the mat and push our body up from the back.

The instructor was patient though. He really made sure that everyone was doing the right stretching and exercises. The first session was good, as in we got to know which part of the body to stretch. There was soothing music in the background, so at the end of the session, I felt really calm and relaxed, that I was even able to exercise a bit on the exercise bike and treadmill for a while.

We then booked another session a few days later, this time two Yoga sessions back to back. The first was a Hot Yoga class, where there was more intense stretching in a room with a temperature of thirty-seven degree celsius. Needless to say, most of us were perspiring within ten minutes into the class.

The next was a Hatha Yoga (I think), where the movements were faster and more routine, then the last twenty minutes were spent lying down on the mat, closing our eyes and just relaxing. The instructor was speaking to us in a soothing voice, letting us think of peace and tranquility.

I tried doing Yoga on my bed during the weekend, but somehow it was not as comfortable as doing it on a mat. Thus, I went to buy a Yoga mat yesterday. It just so happens that my company's gallery is selling Yoga mats, and I am entitled to a staff discount, so I bought it at a much lower price as compared to those selling at sports stores. So now I can practice Yoga at home, and hopefully lose more weight!

A Mid-Autumn Night's Dream

When I was young, I used to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at my maternal grandmother's place. We kids would take our dinner, some moon cakes, then go out into the garden to play with lanterns. The lanterns ranged from big to small, colourful to plain.

I remember we had to compete who would get the biggest and most colourful lantern. It was on a first-come-first-serve basis, so being the slow eater I am, I always end up with the leftover lanterns. :-(

But those were fun days. We stopped doing that when my two cousins passed away one after another. Then my uncle decided to knock down the house and build a new one in its place, so they moved out for a few years. After that, we grew up and became too old to play with lanterns anymore.

My favourite type of moon cakes is the green pandan flavoured skin with pure lotus, no egg yolks. Somehow I dislike egg yolks in my moon cake. I know most people prefer yolks in their moon cakes, but to me, I dislike yolks per se. Even when I eat hard-boiled eggs or bull's eye, not to mention sunny-side up, I always take just the egg whites and leave the yolks.

When I was in secondary school, I started having a fantasy for Mid-Autumn day. It had been my dream on the night itself, take a stroll along the beach with a special someone. We would then sit on a breakwater or the sand, eating moon cakes and moon-gazing.

We would just sit and enjoy each other's company, looking at the moon, not saying a word. At times, just keeping quiet and being there with each other is more enjoyable than talking to each other. A couple need not talk to each other every second of the day, what matters is they enjoy each other's company no matter what they do.

Alas, my dream had not come true. The guys I used to date all find it a waste of time doing that. They rather stay home or do other things. In any case, they do not treat the Lantern Festival as such a big deal, whereas I was brought up to honour such festivals.

When I said this to the guy I am currently seeing, he found the idea nice and interesting. We did talk about doing that, but then other things cropped up. We had dinner, played tennis (singles this time), then ate moon cake while drinking tea with one of his flat mates. So we never did manage to go moon-gazing.

But that does not matter. What matters is we spent time with each other. We had a good tennis session, a fun time eating moon cakes, drinking tea and interacting with his flat mate. One can have fun anywhere, anytime, doing anything, as long as it is with a person that matters. But a pity not many people can understand this concept.

又大一岁的心声

不知不觉已经在这间公司熬了一年。 其实不能说是熬，因为工作什么时候是轻松的呢? 无论做什么工都是一样的。 很多人埋怨工作不顺利， 不被上司看上， 但如果劝他们换工作， 他们又觉得没这个必要， 因为新工作可能会更糟。 其实每个工作都是糟， 看要怎么适应。 如果我想做自己真正喜欢的事，那我就没钱赚了！ 钱虽不是万能， 但也得要有的吃，有的穿，过个不是太辛苦的生活才适当。

时间真的过得很快， 转眼我又快要再大一岁了。 想一想我这几年到底做了什么呢？ 差不多三年内换了几次工，不过还好最近在工作上有了一点成就。 老板虽然麻烦， 不过习惯就好了。 他工作方面要求高， 不过为人并不怎样，起码不是那种随便骂人或炒人的上司。 在这间公司我也觉得舒服， 如果可以的话，我可能会在这长久， 不过如果有更好的公司愿意用高薪聘请我， 我可能会跳槽。

回想这几年，私生活方面也没什么成就，反而搞得一塌糊涂。幸亏近几个月生活比较平静，没以往那么混乱，所以也觉得比较心平气和。感情方面也顺其自然，目前发展的还好，希望能在发展下去，说不定他可能会是我的理想伴侣呢！

希望我的新一年能过得更好，无论在生活上，工作上或感情上，样样都能心想事成，更上一层楼。一年内能发生很多事情，我希望新一年发生的事都会是好事！ 好事多多， 越来越多， 坏事离开，越远越好！

Religious, Superstition Or Ridicule?

Some time last week, there was some news going around that a certain tree in the West part of the island is growing new bark. That itself is nothing sensational, except the new bark was growing over the old bark, making the new bark protrude due to lack of space (I think), resulting in that particular part looking like a monkey's head.

So people, being what they are, rushed there immediately as they think it is a sign that something good will happen. Some go there to pray for winning numbers, some just to pray as they believe the spirit of the Monkey God lies hidden in the tree, and some just to take a look.

Is this superstitious or religious? That something so common, albeit a little strange in shape and structure, can trigger such a crowd? Perhaps to the people involved, they truly believe that there is some sort of a spiritual presence, especially in light of the Hungry Ghost Festival coming to an end.

Anyway everyone is entitled to their own beliefs. Just like people in Lourdes believed they actually sighted a vision of the Virgin Mary. Perhaps she did or did not appear all those years ago, but people chose to believe she did. So in the context of the tree, people also chose to believe it was a sign of the spirit of the Monkey God.

But what borders on superstition, and what borders on religion? That is a rather grey area. What borders on ridicule as well? Recently, the completion of the big temple somewhere near the middle part of the island caused an uproar, as it is named the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, yet some people said it should not be named that as no Buddha's tooth was used.

To me, it is just a name, in respect of Buddha. Does it matter that it is not a literal name? There are so many churches called Blessed Virgin or Immaculate Heart or Holy Jesus or Holy Spirit, but does that mean there is really Mary or the Holy Spirit in the church?

There are all kinds of names used for religious purposes for buildings, but that is just a name, a place for people to worship. Just like the Goddess of Mercy temple, one wonders if there is a real Goddess of Mercy in there? So must people make such a big deal of what a religious building is named?

Yearning To Be A Parent

One of my good friends just had a daughter. He got married last November, or shall I say, he and his wife solemnised their marriage in May 2005 and only had the ceremonial banquet last November. They have been staying together ever since the solemnisation, so technically, the baby came after two years, and not immediately.

He was so excited about it, that the moment his daughter was born, he sent me (and I believe all his friends) a message with the photo of the newborn. She is so cute! She looks like his wife I think. At least I cannot see any of his features on her. But then again, all newborns look the same, the resemblance will start to appear only around a few weeks later or so.

I am so happy for both of them! Both have the same mentality of settling down early and have kids early. He is my age and she is three years younger, and she has declared she will not have anymore kids after thirty.

Well, for a woman, it is still best to have kids early. The later a woman has kids, the harder and more complicated it is for her. Besides, having kids at a younger age is better for the woman, both physically and mentally. She can still snap back into shape easier, and has the energy to run after and keep up with the children.

Which is why I always wanted to settle down and have kids early. Just a pity it is not meant to be. And from the looks of things, it will be impossible for me to get married and have kids before I turn thirty.

So maybe I shall make it my next goal, to get married and have kids before thirty-five. Plus I would like to wait at least a year or two before having kids so that my partner and I can get used to each other first. Which means in this case, I have to be married by the due date I set myself. Just a few more years to go, perhaps there is still a chance?

Another Small Coincidence!

Life is just so full of coincidences. Perhaps the Earth is round, which makes it small, so ultimately people will just keep going around in circles and never fall off the edge, since a sphere hardly has an edge in the first place.

Or perhaps this country / island is simply too small, that in the end, people along the street may be people you know. Which is why it is always better to remain on good terms with others, as one never knows who one meets along the way. That person could be your new boss, or your life partner.

Even in the company I am working for, despite having so many employees, there have been a couple of coincidences. The former Legal Counsel for Business Development (which incidentally, is a different department from Group Legal altogether, as they are only doing negotiations and contracts for new projects whereas we are doing everything else) happened to be in the same batch as me.

Not only that, one of her closest friends happened to be my secondary school classmate, who later became a law school mate. So when she mentioned me, my classmate remembers me as the nerdy goody type (HMMMMM!!!).

And she (the former BDLC) is getting married to this guy, who is tall, dark, handsome, rich, and heir to a listed company, whose father happens to be the owner of the company the guy I am seeing is working in. Complicated? Well, a remarkable coincidence actually.

The lawyer who took over her place as the new BDLC was a few years my senior in secondary school. She did some relief teaching after completing her 'A' levels, and she happened to be my English Literature teacher for a term back when I was in Secondary Two. I remember her name, how she looked like (although a bit different now that she is married with kids) and that she went to do law.

Her two younger sisters were in the same school as well, and I remember them as they were both prefects. The second sister was the Head Prefect when I was in Secondary One, and the youngest sister was a year older than me and was in the Prefectorial Committee when I just joined the Prefectorial Board in upper secondary.

Not only that, all three were in the same Mathematics Enrichment class I attended for a while back. Now, that really is a remarkable coincidence of the world being too small, that one never knows who meets who later on, even if years down the road.

Of course, since I am never close to any of them, ie I know them by sight and name, not personally, she does not remember who I am, because it had been fifteen years at least when I last saw her. Maybe I have a good memory, or maybe I just happen to be able to remember names and faces, that I was the one who sort of recognised her first, and confirmed her identity.

But it is quite a scary thought, is it not, that someone you met decades ago could in the end work in the same company as you, and may even become your superior. Luckily I was never the type who gave trouble, or perhaps most people I know are never the type to bear grudges, so I have a rather easy time getting along and picking up where we left off.

Like Vs Love

My brother asked me an interesting question the other day, "How do you know you merely like a person, and how do you know it is love?" Hmmmm... hard to answer. And he asked me of all people. Does he not know my history, how I always infused like into love?

I think after all these years, I have more or less differentiated mere like with deep love. If you like someone, you will want to be with the person, you will want to do things to make the person happy, you will want to enjoy his company.

But liking someone is on the surface, very superficial. You like a person, you will want to keep talking to the person, you will want to bring him to see your friends and family members, you will want to hang out together. That is about it.

But when like develops into love, that will be when you want to spend your life with the person. You will want to take care of him, be there for him. Your heart will palpitate each time he calls, each time he messages. You will want to read his messages over and over again, remember every word and never get tired of them.

You cannot wait to see him, or be in his arms. You want more than anything for him to give you a hug, an embrace, a shoulder to cry on. He will be the first person you think of when you awake, and the last person you think of before you go to bed. You will want to wake up next to him. You will want him to be the first person you see when you open your eyes in the morning.

You will accept whatever he does, however different he is. You will want to have his children, raise kids together, grow old together. And if you are separated for whatever reason, it hurts like hell, as he will always be in your mind, and you miss him so much that you cannot wait for the time when you lay eyes on him again.

You will want to be there for him, through happiness and sadness. You will be happy when he is happy, sad when he is sad, hurt when he is hurt. And even when there are difficulties like financial woes, family woes, you will still be willing to stand by him and support him through everything, brave the storms together.

And that is love. Not just mere hand-holding or physical intimacy, but real, deep, committed love. And this applies to guys as well, not just girls. I used to think I was in love in the past, but in the end all I had were just feelings of like, especially in my last two relationships. I liked the guys a lot, but those feelings never developed into love. Instead they became stagnated and faded even.

Love normally occurs if both parties like each other so much that one day they realise they want to be together, and the feelings just happen. These happen only when both are so comfortable with each other, they are such great friends that it becomes so natural to get together. Needless to say, love occurs only when the couple has reached the stage of deep liking for each other, not just on a superficial level.

I guess in one's life time, there will be many people whom one likes, but probably only one or two whom one loves. And for the love to occur, it is perhaps only those God-chosen ones for one to love and for the other to love back. One day he / she may just wake up and realise that all of a sudden, he / she want to spend the life with this person. Then that is truly love.

Another Pushy Marketeer

I received a call from a fitness centre, saying I am eligible for a two-week membership pass to use the facilities and any of the courses. I could bring along a friend and he / she would have the same priviledges. So we went to check out the offer last night.

I must say, the fitness centre itself has very good facilities and the decorations are very zen-like, just as if we were stepping into a discotheque. The lights are dimmed and bright at alternate intervals, and certain angles are flickering, which cause my eyes to flicker too. The overall effect is too glaring for my liking.

We went to explore the premises, looked through the machines, sat on the massage chair (which was so comfortable that I was so reluctant to get up), then the "real thing" began. We were sat down and the consultant talked to us about fitness packages and courses, and their promotional rates.

We spent about two hours in the centre, trying to push the consultant and trainer away into telling us to sign up for packages. We kept saying we had budget and time constraint, yet they kept lowering the prices and trying to convince us that we only needed an hour or so per week.

In the end I got really irritated, and the poor guy was trying to fend off more pushiness from the consultant in question. But at least we did get a two-week free membership to the centre, so we will be going back this weekend to try out the Yoga class. Not to mention free gifts of a hand mirror and water bottle each.

Even though I considered it quite a waste of time, the offers and promotions are pretty good actually. But if I am to sign up for a gym membership, I really do not know if I can be committed enough to attend on a regular basis. I rather do other kinds of exercises which I like, like tennis for instance!

Fantastic News For A Chocoholic!

Cadbury is tying up with the Children's Cancer Foundation to raise funds. Besides the S$10,000.00 pledged, Cadbury will donate a certain amount for every wrapper returned! Great news for me, as now I can eat chocolate to my heart's content and for a purpose too!

For the past few days, I have been encouraging my family and friends to buy chocolate off the rack. And it has to be Cadbury chocolate, not anything else. And I told them not to throw away the wrappers. Bring to Watsons or selected places to exchange the wrappers, and we will do our own little part in bringing joy to the kids.

Right now, I have bought about four Cadbury chocolates. Three diary milk and one dream. So please buy as many Cadbury chocolates as possible. Even if you dislike chocolate, can always buy it for someone who likes, and keep the wrapper!

Another Tribute To Another Great Figure

Another great woman had passed on. In just a week, two public figures are gone. She had lived a good life at least, believing in her cause of preventing animal testing and saving the environment.

Although I am not one who uses her range of cosmetics, except the occasional lip gloss and eau de toilette, I salute her cause and admire her for putting her life's work into what she is passionate about.

That should be what life is. Having dreams and visions, believing in a cause and actually doing it. Not the normal complaints, grumbles and gripes of most people, or rather, most locals. Perhaps it is now time to think of the secret dream I had, which I have confided in him, and he said we could both work towards that.

What other dreams would I have, do I hear people asking? Besides writing the book which is in process, settling down and having a good family, pursuing higher education, having the chance to live overseas, what else do I want to do?

This secret dream involves a vision I have carved out for myself, something I always wanted to do in light of the vast interests I have. I have only told one other person prior to this, and he treated it as a joke, as something too unrealistic. Which got me very disappointed. So I never told anyone else until recently, and instead of laughing, he made it a goal for both of us. Which made me very happy.

So what exactly is this vision? Since it has not been materialised yet, and unlikely to be materialised in the near future (ie the next five years or so), it is not time yet to reveal. However, when the time comes and when there is a remote possibility that my vision can come true, all will be revealed in good time. Meanwhile, what I can do is just continue working towards it and hope for the best.

Quest For Lifelong Learning

The MBA briefing got me thinking : most of those who attended the briefing were foreigners, ie foreigners who studied here. I hardly see anyone born and bred here attending the briefing. In fact, most people I know who pursue a Masters or even PhD are foreigners. Only one out of ten people I know who are locals pursue a Masters or PhD.

Why is that so? Is it because in general locals are too comfortable with where they are? They are satisfied with just a degree, or even less, and do not wish to pursue anything higher? Some tell me that they are getting old, too tiring and difficult to study anymore. Some say they do not have the brains, it was already a big struggle completing their studies in the first place.

What I feel is that these are the ones who are too used to their comfort zones that they are not willing to upgrade or learn more things. Learning things may not be just academic, they can be a lot of other activities, like singing, dancing, music, yoga, sushi-making, etc. Yet it is hard for me to find someone to even go dancing with or play music with.

Which is why I enjoy his company so much, because he is one person who adheres to enjoying life and learning more things. We play music together, sing together, will be going dancing together, play tennis, bowling and pool together, even cook together. He is even willing to look through my stamp collection! It is good to have someone who shares your interests and do not mind doing things together with you.

Unfortunately, not many people are like that. Most are not willing to learn new things, or to explore places. They rather do the same things day in, day out, and get stuck in a boring routine. I always get scoffed at for wanting to do so many things, but to me, that is the enjoyment I get out of life.

Maybe because I grow up in a family where it is a given attitude to upgrade. My cousins are either first-class honours or Masters, with a couple pursuing PhD even. We were sent to enrichment classes like piano, speech and drama, dance, sports. Our television and games time were restricted and replaced by books. With nothing else to do, we could only read.

Anyone who did not even think of having an honours degree was frowned upon, which is why sometimes I still feel a little awkward talking to my relatives. And most pursue post-graduate courses after a while, whether they are still single or even after they are married.

The thirst for learning and knowledge is very abundant in my family. And the people they marry have the same attitudes towards learning and upgrading. Perhaps it is just as well none of my past relationships work out. They will never be able to assimilate.

What I am trying to say is that there are so many things in life worth trying. I am not talking about the negative things like smoking or gambling, or fooling around having one-night stands, but other more interesting activities. Yet somehow a lot choose to make a mess of their lives by doing all the negative things, but scoff at things which are good and beneficial. And I find it so sad indeed, to not being able to live life to the fullest in the good way.

MBA Briefing

We went for a briefing for the Master in Business Administration program at the Chicago Graduate School of Business last night. The course is impressive! Of course, no doubt the presenter had to make it impressive to attract students, but the course itself has a pretty good reputation, with the school being one of the top where MBAs are concerned.

Needless to say, the selection criteria is very stringent. Besides an excellent academic track record (I am already out of this category), high GMAT scores, five years of work experience, preferably in an established company, there will also be Powerpoint presentations of how we describe ourselves, as well as an interview. During the presentation, the selection committee does not wish to see fanciful videos or graphics; rather on how one can make the content simple yet brings a good message across. Tough!

Anyway I went for the briefing just to take a look. He is the one that wishes to apply, and I believe he stands a pretty good chance. Those who got selected will have to do the course full-time on-campus for two years, which means they will be studying and living in Chicago. Cool!

There are three intakes - October, January and May. International students were advised to make the first two intakes, as May will be too much of a rush to get everything prepared since the semester starts in August. The presenter refused to give a quote on exactly how many applications received per intake, but she did say last year only eight Singapore-based applicants were selected from all three intakes. I believe there should be hundreds of applicants per intake!

Now that his piano examination is over, we will be concentrating on studying for the GMAT. He is taking for the purpose of applying for the course, whereas I am taking just for the sake of it, to assess my standard and see how brainy (and vice versa) I actually am. This was the same purpose of me taking the SAT all those years ago, just to see where I stand in light of the smarter people around me.

Sharing A Complete Life

My favourite journalist has done it again! Another article from the heart! That is the kind of writing I like, from the heart, and not just mere reporting of facts and figures. Of course, there are those who prefer facts and figures and avoid anything too emotional. Different strokes for different folks.

Her article on Sunday was pretty interesting. After all these years of swearing off guys, with all her feminist values and being free and single, she finally realises that as age catches on, she will want a mate too. She is someone whom no one can ever believe will ever say that, but she now feels she needs a man to make her life complete.

Does age really changes a person's mentality? My mum has a few friends her age or older, all did not see the need to settle down and have a family of their own in their younger years. They wanted to have freedom to do whatever they liked, to travel the world.

Now, after all the travelling and being successful in their careers, they feel lonely, and regretted not actively looking for a mate, a companion to be with. It is as if life no longer has any meaning for them, and there is nothing else to look forward to in the future except a bleak retirement.

That is sad, is it not? Not being able to look forward to spending the life with a soul mate. Perhaps one may not find it so necessary in the younger days, after all there is work and other activities to keep one busy. There are also one's dreams to keep one occupied.

But when one has done whatever one wanted to do, has fulfilled all the dreams, has travelled the world over (perhaps more than once even), and is now middle aged, with work becoming routine, waiting for retirement, and no longer has that many friends to hang out with because everyone is either married or parents, then perhaps he / she will start to look back and wonder where his / her life is going?

Like the article mentions, there are always pets, or nieces and nephews, or even friends, but all these can never replace the kind of love one shares with one's mate, or with one's children. Besides, doing things together with a partner is much more fulfilling and satisfying than merely doing things on one's own.

True, a woman needs a man to a certain extent, and I do believe a man needs a woman too. Not just as a mere boyfriend or girlfriend to hang out with, but something more, like a lifetime companion, a partner.

At the end of the day, we like someone to go home to, to do things together with, to talk to, to wake up with, go to bed with, someone to be there for and there with, someone to support and someone to show support. It is like having a twenty-four hour best friend for the rest of our lives.

Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to find such a mate. Many people end up marrying the wrong person, then either divorce or choose to stay on and suffer. There are those who will rather not marry than to risk marrying the wrong person.

But being together only goes two ways - either grow together or grow apart. People who grow together are those where both parties put in the effort to maintain. Those that grow apart are those who no longer want to put in the effort to keep the relationship going.

When is being with someone so easy anyway? Do people think just because they like each other, they get married and that is it? No matter how well two people get along, how "compatible" they are, both still have to compromise, accommodate and tolerate. Live and let live.

But that is what a lot of people are not willing to do. Rather than going all out to cater to others, they rather be on their own and live life the way they want, without any consideration to anyone else.

Yes, getting along with people, being responsible for others, is never easy. But once that is achieved, everything else will flow smoothly and the result will be beautiful and lasting. Humans are after all social animals. We cannot do without interaction, and life is all the more complete with someone to share it with.

Coping With Bereavement

I read an article in the Sunday Lifestyle yesterday which really brought tears into my eyes. The story is so heart-wrenching that it might as well have been one of those out of the Chicken Soup series. (By the way, our local Chicken Soup makes a good read too, there are stories inside which let us ponder and reflect, although my personal favourite is the Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul, no guessing why!)

The article tells of how a couple came to terms with the loss of their three children - two stillborn, and one did not survive after a few days. As I read it, I started crying. Imagine how painful it must be to lose one child, let alone three! How it must have killed the mother to carry the children, give birth to them only to witness their deaths, all the more since it was so hard for the mother to conceive in the natural way.

The couple in question coped with their loss by remembering their babies, blogging about their feelings and how they were coping. My heart reaches out to them, and I hope they will be able to be blessed with more children, normal ones, along the way.

People cope with loss in different ways. Some people keep their sadness in their hearts, some express out their feelings, some blame the whole world (I always wonder why!), some blame whoever whom they feel have no right to grieve (who is anyone to say who has the right or no right to grieve anyway?), and some will do more, like volunteering for charity, all in the memories of the loss loved ones.

And that is why I am writing a book. The story was already formulated many years back, but I need to make the plot longer for a novel size. The story is in memory of my late cousin who died of leukaemia at the age of ten.

I saw how she went for chemotherapy treatments, how her beautiful luscious hair dropped, how she struggled to keep alive in the hospital with all the tubes and needles sticking into her. Perhaps that was how I developed a fear for needles.

I remember visiting her in the hospital. She was only a few months younger than me. She was my favourite cousin. I could not bear to see her that way, and cried each time I saw her. When my mum told me she passed away, I cried. I went to her funeral, saw her in the coffin, dressed and made up like an angel, and I just could not stop crying.

Years later, I understood what illness it was she succumbed to, and wondered why did this happen? I researched on cancer and how it came about. Each time I had a nose bleed (not that often anyway) I would panic. Each time when I had an anaemia attack and the doctor told me that I have very low red blood cells, I would panic.

On the sixth anniversary of her death, I started to think of doing something in her memory. I thought of composing a song initially, but that would be too depressing. So I thought of writing a story. And now, finally, I am putting pen to paper all the skeletal plots I formulated all those years ago to weave into an actual tale.

I am not sure just how well my book can sell, or if it can even be published in the first place, but in the event if it does get published and sell, I want the proceeds to go to the Children's Cancer Foundation, especially for the Leukaemia stricken. That is the only thing I can ever do for her.

Financial Loss ....

Just when I told myself to stop being such an airhead, I did another brainless thing. I went for a series of meetings in town a couple of weeks back. I took cabs from my office to the other office, and to a third office. All in all, the cab fares cost me about S$40.00.

I was supposed to claim transport expenses upon my return to office the next day. Being the procrastinator I was (still am), and due to the fact that our Petty Cash and Claims person comes in only once a week or once every two weeks, I held on to the receipts for a while more, thinking that I would write out the claims just before my Accounts colleague came in.

Then I got to clearing my room and my bag(s), and threw out all the receipts I had. I thought I finally got to tidying my things for once, when I realised I threw out the taxi receipts too! Which means I am not able to claim anything as I could not justify that I have gone to these places nor incurred these amounts.

S$40.00 down the drain! That amount can last me for a week or so! And talking of money, the plans for a car has to be shelved for the time being, in light of more immediate future commitments of buying a place.

A housing loan will be drastically decreased if one has a car loan concurrently. Having one's own home and a roof over the head is still more important than a set of wheels to ferry myself here and there. So I have to continue with public transport for the time being until further notice, much further notice.

Planning A Weekend Getaway

September 10th, and I have officially completed one year in this firm. Quite an achievement actually, as considering my employment history for the past couple of years or so, I have never been in a company for more than half a year, mostly not by choice.

And because I have been slogging and slaving away for this company the past year, I can finally claim my entitlement in the form of a complimentary stay in any of the resorts around the world! Plus half price on all food and beverages in the resorts!

I have a certain yearly rebate, but it is quite impossible to use it all up, because after all, how many times do one really get to go to exotic places and stay in resorts, even for free? Besides I am only entitled for a maximum of three nights per resort per stay for the year.

A plan is in the works. Since Hari Raya Puasa will be on a Saturday, I get to claim an off day anytime during the week within one month from the day, so I am thinking of claiming the off day during the Deepavali weekend, then we can go away for a few days, perhaps to Bintan or Phuket.

What is surprising is that my mum never even disapprove when I told her we (needless to say, the person I am going with is of the opposite gender who is not any of my immediate family members, at least for now) may be planning a weekend getaway. She just told me to ensure I get the air fare or ferry ticket confirmed and that I have enough off days.

Hmmmm.... All these years of not allowing me to go on a trip on my own or even with a female friend, and she never say anything this time, even though she knows I am only booking one room for both of us! Looks like I can look forward to better times ahead!

My First Driving Lesson (Again)

So I finally got my Advance Theory test booked! My test will be after the sixth November, which means I need to buy an updated book and try out the tests online in the next couple of months. It took me a few tries before I finally passed the last time round. This time round, I aim to pass after the first try.

I had my first Auto lesson today. After about three years or so not being behind the wheel, I was a nervous freak. I could not even remember how to steer the wheel properly! My instructor told me that an Auto car is not as stressful as the car can move on its own once the brake is released. It does not need so many controls as a Manual car, so I should not feel so nervous behind the wheel.

The car I am having for my lessons is a Toyota Vios 1.5. It will be the same car for when I take my examination. Today was the first lesson, so all I did was to turn round and round the carpark. I played with the handle, adjusted to N, D, P and R. I tried reversing, driving, turning right and left, and parking and stopping the car.

One thing I am trying to figure out is that in reversing, how can one gauge the distance behind the car behind? How would I know I can still reverse, or that I will not knock into the car behind me? In the car, it is hard to estimate even when I turned my head behind to see.

Overall, it was a good lesson. Not much hope of actually driving in one year's time though at the rate I am going and with all the nervousness behind the wheel, but I shall see how it goes. Meanwhile, I will take the lessons diligently, and hopefully I can really drive soon!

Tribute To A Great Cultural Artist

Another great music legend had passed on, or to quote the guy, "Another bright star had fallen". Life is so fragile indeed. One moment a person may be alive and kicking, the next he / she may just kick the bucket without any notice. When I heard and read about the news, I was saddened. His was the voice that got me into operatic and classical singing.

Now that he is no longer around, somehow the Three Tenors (Two now) do not have the same feel anymore without the biggest third of the trio. And the cultural scene will no longer have a great icon to look up to. But his voice will live on, I believe, in many people's memories.

Adopting A Duck

My company is tying up with one of our vendors for a Duck Adoption Programme, so the guy and I have adopted a duck. We received a certificate with our duck's serial number, which will be involved in the Great Singapore Duck Race this Saturday, as well as a mini souvenir duck for keeps.

If our duck is the first to cross the finish line, we will get to win S$10,000.00 in cash as first prize. On one hand, this duck adoption thing is supposed to be for charity, yet on the other hand, so much money can be given away. People may make noise if I say this, but I rather the sum, or at least a fraction of it, be given to charity instead.

All I need to do now is to think of a name for our duck. Shall I be corny and call it Ducky? Or Donald? Or even Scrooge? ;-p

Portobello ....

There is this little restaurant called Portobelle Cafe somewhere in town. The few times I went around that area, I overlooked that place. Honestly, it is rather easy to overlook if no one knows it exists, because it is a very small place, just a few tables inside, and a few outside. If I did not come across a restaurant review recently raving about the food at this place and the address, I would never have noticed it as well!

The interior is pretty cosy, with a Mediterranean feel, considering the place sells Mediterranean and Mexican cuisine after all. No rabbit meat though. I ordered a Moussaka, which is essentially a dish consisting of eggplants and beef stew of sorts. I must say, the food is yummy, and the service is good too!

Just as well we went for an early dinner, otherwise there would be no more places later on as the seats were all reserved. I guess for such a small place with limited seating, it will be almost impossible to get a seat without any prior reservation. Next time I shall go there later on in the night, so I can eat in candlelight!

Financing In Reality

I used to be so idealistic until a dash of reality jolted me back to my senses. One never really knows how much financing one needs until one sets down to plan for the future. For instance, I have discovered that if I am to buy a place and a car, the monthly instalments will probably be more than my entire months' salary per se.

And a car loan lasts for ten years, whereas a housing loan (for those my age and younger) can go as long as forty years. Add in the interest incurred, and I will probably take three lifetimes to pay off everything.

Of course, with a combined income, things are easier, depending on how much the partner is earning. But even with a dual income, the monthly instalments for a house and a car is pretty taxing too.

So after deducting housing and car expenses, come to think of it, the amount left is hardly enough to actually save up for the rest of the future. Now I can start to understand why a lot of couples do not wish to have kids, or do not wish to have more kids, as even if they do not have a car, the housing expenses itself is enough to set them back quite a bit. Whatever that is left is hardly enough to take care of one child.

That is not to say I will follow in their footsteps. For me, I want kids more than anything else, as children will give so much more joy to a couple's lives and relationship. It is just a matter of putting aside some money and time to effectively nurture a child.

Wheels And Deals

I am planning to buy a car. I can hear voices already, calling me crazy, mad, cuckoo, etc. Afterall, I have yet to get my driving license, so why would I want to buy something so expensive and not useful to me?

Well, buying a car need not necessarily be used by myself alone. The car can be for my family members, especially if my mum is using her car and my dad needs to go somewhere. It is also useful for our big gatherings where we need more cars to drive people around. Also, it can be shared between him and me, and if I do get the car before I get my license, he can always use it first.

We bought a motoring magazine on Sunday, and flipped through the prices. The Entitlement Certificate seems way down, so it seems like a great opportunity to get a car. Initially I was thinking of the Mazda 2, but from feedback it is not an easy car to drive, especially for beginner (and clumsy) drivers.

Then I thought of the Mini Cooper or the Volkswagen Beetle, but these are small and expensive. I also thought of the new Chery QQ, but that car is still new in the market so may not be that reliable.

So I was thinking of the Toyota Yaris, but that is too small. He will like something with a big enough boot at least to cater to a golf bag, and three passengers at the back. So in the end we settled for the Toyota Corolla Altis.

Not too big, not too small, just nice for about six people (although it will be a wee bit squeezy) and the boot has a big enough space for bags after a day of shopping. Besides, Toyota cars are still the most reliable, according to most people.

Now all I need to find out is whether I have enough financing to get the car, and a car loan at the same time, as well as whether I will have enough credit to pay off the instalments for a ten-year tenure. Hopefully I will be able to get a decent car soon!

A Rare Phenomenon?

Some time last week, I was on my way home at night when I happened to look up into the sky. That day happened to have a round moon, one of those few days of the month when the moon is bright and round and big.

Perhaps it was my imagination, but when I looked up at the moon, it was surrounded by an aura of dark shadow. It was a dark round shadow with the moon right in the middle, and the surrounding clouds outside the ring of the shadow. In other words, there was nothing else inside the shadow except for the moon, it was just a dark patch.

I confirmed what I saw when I pointed it out to him and he affirmed it. It was something quite out of the ordinary, as I have never seen anything like that before. No, it was not an eclipse either.

A few days later, I brought this up to my youngest brother, and he told me that there was a report going around about the moon and Mars being very close to each other that night. Perhaps that was what I saw, Mars. It was nothing special, but an astronomical phenomenon all the same, and very rare to see two planets so close together. Wonder when I would ever have the chance for another sighting like that?

A Different Church Experience

So inspired I was with the church performance, that I decided to take a look at how other churches will be like, so I went to his church on Sunday. Thankfully he goes to a traditional service and not the charismatic Praise and Worship service. Somehow we prefer the more solemn traditional service and not the noisy Praise and Worship service with lots of people speaking in tongues.

The experience is not unlike a Catholic church. In fact, the songs and prayers are almost the same as those of Catholic masses. Of course, in a Catholic mass, there will be more procedures, as we do not just pray to Jesus and God, but also to honour Mary, whereas other Christian churches do not include the honouring of Mary.

Even the way Communion is partaken is very similar, except in a Catholic church, one goes in front and the priest will hand the wafer, whereas in a Christian church, one has to kneel down in front of the altar and the wafer with a small cup of drink is given. Communion is partaken every week for baptised Catholics, but only once a month in a Christian church.

I know religion is a very sensitive topic to many people. There are those staunch Christians who, for some reason or another, seem to be against Catholics and always proclaim that Catholics are not real Christians, simply because we include Mary in our prayers. And to many Catholics, they are against Christians as they think that Catholics are the true religion, after all, Catholics are the first Christians, and all others are not.

I shall reserve any comment regarding that, in case I tread on sensitive ground and cause any offense and unhappiness to others. For me, why I chose to be Catholic and not another denomination simply because since young, I have been influenced, be it my school environment, my cousin, and even the guys I went out with.

As I grow older I started to learn more about Christianity per se. I have attended charismatic churches, preached by friends who are staunch Christians, went to charismatic Christian performances, traditional services. I could have gone to any other church and get baptised in any other denomination, but somehow I still feel most comfortable in a Catholic church, attending a Catholic mass, which is why in the end I got baptised as one.

To me, I feel that whichever church one attends does not matter. What matters is how one behaves, how true one is to the religion. There are many Christians, be they Catholics or any other denomination, who do not behave like one. They go fooling around, having one night stands, backstabbing others, making a mess of their lives.

I am not judging, but if someone claims to be in a certain religion and claims to be so staunch and active in the church yet behaves in a way totally uncalled for, one wonders just how "true" that person is in the first place.

So yes, once in a while, I may go to a different church, but when it comes to a normal mass or my wedding, it will be in a Catholic church of course! Because that is where I truly belong. That is where I want to get married in, baptise my children in, and bury in.

Amazing Grace ....

The church performance was beautiful! It was not a mere church performance, but an amazing spiritual experience, where the best gospel hymns were sung, as well as a conferment of a doctorate title for the choir director for his years and contribution to sacred music. All the while I have been singing along to gospel hymns, this is the first time I actually feel sacred music coming to live!

Since it was such an honourable occasion, everyone of us had to adhere to a certain dress code. I wore my sleeveless lavender long dress, after deciding between this, my silver sequinned sleeveless dress and the plum strapless dress which I wore in Malta.

Men always have it so easy. Just a normal long-sleeve shirt, pants, belt and tie, with cufflinks! If I dress like that everyday, I need not have to fret about what to wear on any occasion! Too many choices is not necessarily a good thing!

The choir really put in lots of effort into this event. One can see that the members are really committed, as everyone helped to organise and coordinate the event in one way or another. The members are so committed that even their entire families are in the choir! Now that is quite something indeed!

After the performance, there was a buffet reception on the church grounds. There was champagne and finger food. Since it had been a long day for both of us, we ate a bit and went home after that. I will not mind going through such a great experience again! So inspired I was with the performance that I resolve to be more spiritual in future!

Being Stood Up ....

It had been another busy, tedious, stressful, fast-paced week. Why is it when major transactions start, they all start coming in at the same time? Just when I thought I could finally wrap up one matter, two or three more start coming concurrently, so one could barely take a break from the first one before having to deal with the rest. *Sigh* Such is working life, slaving away all the time!

Firstly, I would like to wish all teachers a happy belated Teacher's Day! Saturday, 1st September, I received quite a few messages wishing me a happy Teacher's Day, but I should not be included anymore considering it has been more than three years since I left the service.

In the interim, the school I was teaching in has had a new Principal, the students I taught have since graduated, my close friend there had married and moved to England, and some of my peers have left the service.

Teachers are getting more and more overworked, underpaid, under-recognised and under-appreciated. No wonder the turnover rate is getting higher and higher, as no matter how much passion one had, it just fizzles out after a while and all one feels is drained and despair.

Anyway, I went to SIM University to submit all my documents that day. At least that is a load off my mind! Now I can just sit back, relax and hopefully the news will come soon whether I am able to go back into my course.

I went there for another purpose. A friend of mine wanted to attend the Open House as she is interested in some of the courses offered. So she asked me to go along and sort of show her around. Since I had a rather tight Saturday, attending the church performance in the evening and helping the guy with his preparation of his upcoming piano examination during the day, I told her I could only meet her in the morning.

So we settled for eleven. I was already a bit late in reaching the place. I sent her a message, apologising that I would be about ten minutes' late. There was no reply from her. When I reached the entrance of the campus, she was nowhere in sight. So I called her and she did not pick up the phone.

I went to the Administration Office and did the necessary, then wandered around the campus. I called her a few more times, but still my calls were unanswered. I waited until noon, then decided to go off. Knowing her, she was probably either still asleep or she forgot to bring her phone out.

I received a message from her around two, apologising profusely that she had indeed overslept. Just as I expected! But come to think of it, in the past, I would have really just waited there like an idiot, even if I got so frustrated waiting and wondering when if the other person would arrive.

But this time, I went off. I figured that if the other person is not going to be responsible enough to keep to the timing and what he / she promised, and did not even have the courtesy to inform me in advance whether the appointment is still on or off, why should I waste my day waiting around? I have better things to do with my time!