Farewell 10, Welcome 11

Today is the last day of 2010. With just a few more hours to go to 2011, it is time to do an annual reflection on how the year had gone.

2010 had been a fruitful year as there seems to be something on every month. This was the year I took the plunge to become a cathechist in church, as well as the year I became a CHOICE presenter, and also the year I finally learnt how to cycle on my own without falling off the bike.

This was also the year I decided to go back to school once and for all after several deferments and had to juggle with a full-time job, church involvement and part-time studies. There were times when I almost could not cope but still, I have managed to clear all my modules and able to take on the maximum number of modules allowed next semester.

This was also the year my paternal grandma suffered a major fall and am now bedridden and wheelchair bound. I miss the time when she could still move around and sit watching television and napping in her favourite reclining chair.

Now upon reflection, I thought through what I have achieved in 2010 :

January - Officially a Cathechist after induction as a cathechist during Cathechical Sunday

February - Lunar New Year and learnt how to cycle without falling

March - Cycling Challenge, which I could not complete in the end, and CHOICE presenter

April - Did not do much but was busy with assignments and watched the "Chicago" musical

May - Examination time

June - Attended a Cathechist Retreat

July - Took up a group tuition job, sang at a church choir concert and attended a CHOICE Annual Retreat

August - Involved in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games

September - Again busy with assignments

October - CHOICE Asian Conference and attended the Engaged Encounter

November - Examination again and changed my job

December - Standard Chartered Marathon which we could not attend in the end and took up an individual tutoring job

As can be seen, this had really been a fruitful year indeed. Hopefully the upcoming year will be even better and more fruitful!

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Is Print Media Obsolete?

Will print media soon be extinct? Nowadays with modern technology like the Internet, Amazon kindle, iPad, smartphones and other kinds of electronic media, do people still read books and magazines since now everything can be found online?

But I notice not many people read. I do not know about other countries but here, not many people I know actually read. Or rather read for leisure. Whatever reading they do will be for school or work, or else read on how to make money. Hence writers like Nicholas Sparks will never be able to survive here as there is no market for fiction books.

Because not many people read, when they have kids, they do not encourage their kids to read too. And when these kids have kids, they, too, do not read. And the generation goes on.

Which is sad, is it not? Are people getting so materialistic now that as long as it is not a money-making venture, no one bothers to improve their knowledge in other ways? Or else they say why bother buying books when everything can be read off the screen?

Hence the new generation will never be exposed to all the great books we have read, like Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl, two authors I have loved in my childhood days.

How can a screen be compared to the feeling of a book in your hands? How can a screen be as portable as a paperback while travelling?

How can anyone not be lost in the beauty of the language when a great writer publishes a page turner and one simply cannot put down the books?

Reading is one of the most pleasurable things in life. Somehow Dan Brown or John Grisham just seem different on the screen as compared to having the actual book in one's hands.

And that is what I will teach my future children as well - to actually read from a book, and not just from the smartphone or iPad or kindle or Internet. To me, nothing beats having a book in your hands and devouring page after page after page until the end.

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The Paths Of Lovers ...

I always thought my "soul sister" and I are very similar. Now even our boyfriends are similar - both the same age, born in the same quarter, about the same height and both are crazy over swords and swordfights. No wonder I always feel a kindred spirit with her.

But anyway this is not just about me and her. It is about me and him (my dear that is). I know he and I are similar in certain ways - both quirky and crazy, both care about the same things in life, both like to do the same things in life.

But definitely we are very different when it comes to temperament and planning things - I am the kind who wants to get things done in the shortest time possible and plan everything to the last detail so I can get over and done with and ensure everything go smoothly, whereas he is so laid back that even with some pushing, he cannot seem to get things done. Or is that just a typical trait of men?

At times I wonder, if we have not met, what will happen to me now? Probably still single and enjoying life but mourning over my singlehood at the same time. Which was a big irony because I really did not want to know him the first time I met him. He did not fit into my kind of "ideal guy". There were more negative impressions than positive ones. Yet now I really cannot foresee myself being with anyone else. Despite all his irritating ways, he is just so perfect for me.

Even though I only met him two and half years back, our paths have probably crossed a long time ago. When I was very young, I used to stay with my aunt's family at this block of flats near the beach. He used to stay in the same area too, just a few blocks away. We probably played in the same playground in between the blocks of flats.

We went to the same clinic and frequented the same book store since they were both in the same area as my aunt's place. I studied in a convent in front of my aunt's place and he studied in the boys' school opposite. We hung out in the same shopping mall during our study years.

We even attended the same church when young, and now we both switch to another church (before we knew each other) and are attending the same church in our adulthood. We both love the same stretch of beach which we grew up on.

What is most amazing is that a period of time when I took up taekwondo classes in my younger years, he was actually in the same class! And we did not know until now!

We have also been living around the same area for most of our lives. We also used to go to the same photo studio in the same neighbourhood to develop films or take photos. Hence, even though he is four years older, our paths could have likely crossed without us even knowing!

A mighty big coincidence, is it not? I wonder is it due to the hand of God? Somehow He could have let us come across each other without us even knowing and now let us meet each other without even deliberately seeking each other out.

At times I wonder, what if we have met each other earlier? Would we still have been together? Thinking back, if I had met him earlier, it would never have worked out between us. God really knows the right time for us to meet because if it had been any earlier, both of us would have been in a messed up stage and probably would not have bothered to keep in touch.

He let us meet after I have experienced certain things in life and am more emotionally stable to be able to handle a relationship, especially one with upheavals due to different race, culture, upbringing and temperaments.

He let us meet after he has experienced certain things in life too and am more able to keep things going despite my temperament as anyone who is less emotionally stable will never have been able to handle it.

Maybe it is the hand of God or just the work of fate, but whatever it is, I am truly glad we met each other at the time we did.

God really knows, is it not? He gives the right time and chance to everyone. Just like if my "soul sister" did not apply for a certain job, she would never have met the love of her life too. And this came shortly after someone else went out of her life.

So with the new year, I wish both of us and both of them to be even stronger in our love!

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Christmas Visiting

It has been a real tiring week. Because Eurasians are big on Christmas - they celebrate Christmas the way Chinese celebrate Lunar New Year - I got to join in the festivities as well.

Christmas Eve, we were supposed to go for the normal midnight mass, but since we had to go to his aunt's place to countdown, we went for the early evening mass instead before dropping by his aunt's place. Everyone was dressed in their best and there was feasting and partying, with everyone going around shaking hands and kissing each other on both cheeks, wishing "Merry Christmas" when midnight struck.

Christmas Day, I spent the day with his parents at his place and helped entertain his relatives that came over to visit. Boxing Day we decided to take it easy even though his parents went to visit his dad's relatives.

Monday I was again over at his place and waited for his other relatives on his mum's side to visit his place. Tuesday, he brought me to two of his cousin's place to visit. Wednesday (yesterday), we went to visit another one of his cousins, all on his mum's side!

Come to think of it, I have not seen the relatives on his dad's side. He himself is not that close to them. My family is more close knit as I know all my cousins on both sides pretty well.

In any case, when Eurasians visit each other, they had to shake hands, kiss each other on both cheeks and say "Compliments of the season". I never knew this. He says only Eurasians will know this custom.

All these visiting have really tired me out because we went after work and stayed for a few hours at least. Hence I have been reaching home past midnight for the past few days. Just a few years back, I never had a problem staying up late. Now it seems that I am really too old to keep staying up late!

But it was a good experience. One only learns another culture when one gets immersed into it. Compared to my family who does not celebrate Christmas, this is the only way I can experience a "real" Christmas - surrounded by family and loved ones.

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Dumb Or Dumber?

Today marks my first month with the new company. Culture wise I would say it is better than the previous companies I have worked for since it is an American company hence I am more able to relate to the way they do things.

Work wise it is very intense. Everyone is so busy. I am much busier than before but it is preferable to having nothing much to do. Because it is a healthcare company that deals with people's lives, we need to be all the more careful when we agree to any transaction. Any wrong step can cause us to be sued in millions.

Colleagues wise they are really good. I have been made to feel very welcome on my first day. The Executive Assistant of my department has been so wonderful that I am really overwhelmed!

Yet why do I keep making mistakes? The kind of work is similar to what I have been doing. Afterall how different does a document look? There will always be standard terms and conditions and clauses.

No one ever had any issues with my drafting at all. Yet now everyday someone picks on my drafting, saying I should not do this or that. What makes things worse is that one boss can say my drafting is perfect yet the other boss can say I should do it this and that way.

This should not be an issue except now I seem to be making mistakes everyday! If it is not the way I draft the agreement, it is the phrasing, the language, even things like whether the key word should be reflected in capitals or small letters! All of a sudden, whatever I have learnt and experienced became undone!

I feel so bad because I was hired on the basis that they feel I can do the work. Now I am making mistakes everyday! I have never made so many mistakes before! Everyone is so busy, why should they be obligated to keep checking my work and telling me I have mistakes? Sooner or later, they will think I actually cannot work and terminate me!

First time in my life I feel so dumb and helpless. I have never felt so useless where my job is concerned at all! So much so that I even dreamt that the big boss came to my place with my immediate boss in tow and fired me on the spot! It will really be a nightmare come true if that happens!

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Petit Toilette ...

The advantage of working in a centralized area is that everything one needs and wants are at one's fingertips. Today I came across a few shops in the shopping mall opposite my office offering lessons in jewelry-making, scrapbooking and knitting - three things I like to pick up. Now I have no worries anymore because all these lessons are just a stone's throw away and I can always go after work!

Then I came across a post-Christmas sale on toiletries. I have been looking out for miniature bottles of toiletries so I can bring them along for retreats and traveling and not pack in anything bulky anymore.

I managed to find a set of six miniature shower creams from Marks and Spencers. It is the new Floral Collection and the smell is so fragrant and sweet! The set consists of two Magnolia, one Rose, Lavendar, Camellia and Iris shower creams. And they smell just as heavenly!

Then I went to The Body Shop and found the perfect travel kit, consisting of five miniature bottles of one Peppermint Foot Lotion, Cocoa Butter Hand and Body Lotion, Almond Oil Conditioning Hand Wash, Coconut Shower Cream and White Musk Shower Gel. All catered for from top to toe!

The best is they are so small and handy that I can just pack them into a pouch and they will not take up so much space! Finally I can lighten a bit of my load while travelling and still get pampered from head to toe!

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Orlando In May

It is confirmed. I will be going to Orlando in May for a global conference with the global Legal team from the head office in Boston. Because it is considered a big scale event, I need to get my flight and accommodations booked early.

Hence my flight details have been tentatively booked. I will be flying our local carrier, Business Class, to New York, then take a connecting flight on Continental Airlines to Orlando, First Class.

I will leave on 2 May in the morning and reach Orlando in the evening of 2 May. Then I will return on the evening of 6 May and reach home on 8 May early morning.

This is so exciting! First time in my life I am entitled to take Business Class and First Class! When I took a look at the total cost, I did a double take. The total cost of the entire flight is more than twice my monthly income! No wonder I can never have the chance to take anything more than Economy.

We will be staying at one of the hotels at SeaWorld and have the chance to watch the famous Cirque du Soleil. Working for a multinational corporation is really different from a local company.

I am so looking forward to this trip, that is, if I do not get terminated before that!

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Getting Used To New Schedule

I have never worked in the central area so this new office is a welcome change. However I realise I am actually feeling more tired than before!

One reason can be I start work earlier. I used to start work at nine and would reach office around half past eight, but now I start work at half past eight which means I have to reach the office at eight, which means I have to wake up an hour earlier.

Not only that, even though I officially end work at half past five in the evening, normally I would only go off after six. Work is ongoing and I was totally shagged by the time lunch time arrived.

Still I think I am getting the hang of it. If I cannot cope now, how am I to cope when school starts again? Furthermore, I have to start scheduling exercise time as well so I can start slimming down since all attempts are futile.

Hopefully I can get used to this new schedule soon!

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Christmas Greetings

Wishing Everyone A Very Merry Christmas And A Wonderful Year Ahead!

Have A Great Party Filled With Spiritual Tidings And Remember That Our Saviour Was Born On This Day!

Last night's sermon was very good. The priest said the forty-two generations before Jesus was born was filled with "scandals". There were adulterers, thieves, blasphemers.

Yet in the end Jesus was born to save mankind from sins. He was born of Mary because she was the Immaculate Conception (born without sin).

Hence no matter what sins we had, we should just pray to Jesus to save us and cleanse our sins.

Very true indeed! I know many Christians (this include Catholics too to make it more politically correct) tend to sit on the high horse and start judging harshly. They will start preaching that this and that is not right as those are sins.

But we are human. We are not perfect. We are not born without sins. We will always have the temptation. So when someone commits a major sin in the eyes of the Church, then what? Should we then give the person a chance to turn over a new leaf and not judge, or should we then condemn and ostracize the person?

In any case, what makes others think the one who sinned felt happy? Perhaps the sinner felt so guilty that he / she felt God will never ever forgive the actions. We will never be able to understand how a person will feel unless we are in the exact situation.

Like what the priest said, this was why Jesus was born. The sins would be forgiven and the person can start over.

Which is why I said it is a very good sermon as I felt as if the message was for me. The many mistakes I made in the past, I could remember one which got me into a lot of trouble with the people around me, resulting in those same people (who call themselves Christians) judging me and ruining my name in public. Even though this was all past, that period of time was not a nice experience and I never want to go through that again!

Still I always wonder whether I could be completely forgiven. The things I do for church and religious activities is partly to improve my faith and partly to atone for my sins. Afterall, I cannot even completely forgive myself even after all these years!

But since the priest said Jesus was born and all sins would be forgiven, it gives me hope that I can finally overcome that little issue and be brave to face up to that aspect of the past. Maybe I can finally start forgiving myself totally!

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Celebrations On The Eve

It has been a wonderful Christmas Eve so far. We had an office party today for Christmas lunch. My office had an open house where parents could bring their kids in and the kids were having a blast going around wishing everyone Merry Christmas and distributing candy. I got another gift from my colleague - an orange-flavoured Body Butter, which I feel bad about because I have not prepared many gifts this year.

Then my dear specially ordered a log cake and brought it to my place. My mum asked him to choose three gifts for himself - a Christmas cake, a basket of honey-baked ham, and a bottle of wine.

I thought he would choose the ham because firstly, it is his favourite, and secondly, what is Christmas without honey-baked ham? Besides it is expensive and not sold any other time of the year. So anyone would have chosen the ham because it is such a rare opportunity one can get the ham for free. (Although if it is me, I would have chosen the cake instead because it is more likely the cake would be utilized than the ham.)

So I was expecting him to choose the ham but he chose the bottle of wine instead, and my mum packaged a bottle of Brown Brothers' Cienna (what else?) for him.

When I queried him, he said yes, anyone else would have chosen the ham, but he felt he should leave the best things for us hence chose the wine instead as it is the lower cost between the two.

I could not help grinning from ear to ear when I heard that as I was just so happy inside!

We will be attending mass then going to his aunt's place for a Christmas celebration later on. I am in such a good mood now that I am just so looking forward to the Christmas weekend!

Have a happy Christmas, everyone!

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Cell-Less ...

I left my mobile phone behind last night. I was about to meet friends and after texting them, I forgot to put my mobile phone back in my bag. Imagine my mini panic attack when I found the phone missing! I was worried anyone could have taken it since it is an Apple after all.

Yet I did not really break down or had withdrawal symptoms. Somehow I knew my phone was safe. I even relishes not having a phone and not be a slave to checking texts and mails. It became a rather peaceful night without being tied to the gadget.

People nowadays cannot live without their mobile phones, especially smartphones where it is not just a normal phone for calling and texting, it can be used for games, checking of mails and social portals, online chatting, current affairs, surfing the net, reading. Just about everything can be done on the phone on the go. Is it any wonder why some, especially a certain WDC, are so addicted to this gadget and get so upset when the phone even leaves his sight for even five minutes?

In any case, when I reached home last night, the person who kept my mobile phone called my home twice, leaving her number and asked me to pick it up from her. Luckily she is working very near my office so I went to pick up my phone from her earlier. All is intact!

I have to make a point not to be so careless again!

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Completed Another Semester!

Finally the examination results are out! And I managed to pass. Besides the paper which I withdrew from (and will be resitting the next time round), I did well enough to take on the maximum load again next semester. Which means if all goes well, I can finally complete the which course by end of 2012!

What a semester this had been! After all my stress, sweat and whatnot, at last my efforts were rewarded. As expected, the modules that require 100% coursework fare better than the one that required a written examination. Looks like I really cannot take examination!

Hopefully I can do well enough to graduate with top honours this time round!

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Crocs Crocs

I have always resisted buying Crocs because I find them ugly, hard to match and expensive. I do not find it worth it to spend that amount on shoes like that, even though those who love Crocs swear by their durability and comfort.

Today while having lunch with my colleagues, they met a former colleague who is now working in Crocs. She would be entitled to staff discount so we went to the nearest outlet to check it out.

That was when I realise Crocs have very pretty designs nowadays. I saw a pair of ballet flats that are shiny and can be used for work and parties. Wearing that on your feet, no one can tell it is Crocs!

I decided to try it on, and it is really fitting and comfortable! I can walk around in this the whole day without having any blisters or pain or whatnot! The shoes are so comfortable that I can even sleep in them!

The best thing was that the former colleague could let us use her staff rate and we could get the shoes at only half the price! A very good deal!

So I finally bought a pair of Crocs (which really do not look anything like the normal Crocs) as this kind of good deal may not come again. I can wear that to office and other functions too!

No wonder it is such a popular brand amongst the young and old alike!

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Volunteering For Chingay

I will be involved in the Chingay procession next year, not as a dancer but a volunteer. I suspect it will be something like what I did for the Youth Olympics a few months back.

Actually it was my dear who signed us up for this. I did not know we would get selected so when the notice came that we were put down as volunteers, it was kind of a surprise. But I still decide to go ahead because how many other times can one have this kind of opportunity?

A brief overview : Chingay is a dance procession held on the first weekend after Chinese New Year to celebrate the Festival. Some people liken it to a mini Mardi Gras but I feel there is no basis for comparison. Still the procession will go on for about the whole evening.

We have received our volunteer dates. There would be three rehearsals before the actual procession so I foresee myself busy again in January and February!

Hopefully this will be even more fun than the Youth Olympics!

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Pre-Christmas Gifts ...

The past few days I have been receiving quite a few Christmas gifts when Christmas is still about a week more. Last Saturday I had a lunch gathering with friends and I received nice gifts from them - a set of tea light candles and a unique photo holder that can act as a coaster too.

Today I received gifts from my outgoing General Counsel and my immediate boss - two Lancome perfumes, a box of chocolates and a Kiehl's Number One lip balm.

But the best is a white gold necklace with a double heart pendant given by my dear! Wow.. I have been really pampered this year, and Christmas is not even here yet! Time to start giving back too!

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Happy Anniversary My Sweet Love!

Happy Anniversary my sweet love!
For you, I thank the lord above

You are my hope, inspiration & love
Words can’t explain how much I love you
Word’s can’t explain how much I care
& the only thing I can tell you
Is that I love you

The many memories that we share together
Means so much to me
And in the years to come

I look forward in sharing my life and more loving memories with you

Whenever I look into your eyes
I can see how beautiful the world is
Because with your ever radiating growing love
I cannot help myself to love you more & more each day

Nothing in this world can ever be so more important than you
Thank you for being with me
Just knowing that you are my darling

Makes my days ever so bright
Happy Anniversary my Sweet Love!

Of Wine And Spirits

I am more a wine person than a beer person. While my dear will douse beer after beer (especially his favorite and limited Erdinger White), I much rather drunk wine (red wine) than beer.

I do not really have a big threshold for alcohol so I always have to watch myself. Sometimes even after drinking just one glass of white wine or red wine, I will start to get high.

Until I discover Brown Brothers' Cienna red wine. When I first drank this wine, I find it sweet, fruity, clear and not much trace of alcohol. Actually the alcohol content is not that low - about seven percent - but because the wine is so sweet and refreshing, I do not feel high.

Soon I was addicted. Then my whole family got addicted. My dear got addicted. My mum's colleagues got addicted. Last I heard, my close friend loves this wine too.

The thing is after drinking this wine, somehow all other wines taste horrible to me. From now on, I am only taking Brown Brothers' Cienna red wine whenever I drink!

I heard the Moscato is nice too, but I have yet to try it. One day I must try the Brown Brothers' Moscato white wine as well as the Moscato Rose. Then I can have the complete collection and not take any other kinds of wine anymore!

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Trying Out MARCOM

Today we went for a meeting for the Public Relations and Communications group of CHARIS. CHARIS is a branch of Caritas (the Catholic Humanitarian and social mission group), and CHARIS was newly set up to help coordinate mission trips and outreach to the poor and marginalized.

In any case, it was a meeting consisting of volunteers. There were three aspects - print media in the Catholic Newsletter, website design and maintenance, as well as helping out at the Humanitarian Day next year.

For those who chose the third option, it would be more of a MARCOM role, as we would need to distribute flyers, write and publish on the Catholic Newsletter, do fund-raising, marketing and even public relations.

Sounds interesting and something I like to do, so I volunteered for the Humanitarian Day while he chose writing for Catholic Newsletter.

I have always been interested in the communications line, but now after so many years of doing unrelated stuff, it will be hard to start over in the communications line with no experience and relevant qualifications.

Hence the only time I can be involved is to try out MARCOM and other forms of media communications in other ways. I am not sure if I will be able to handle this since it is a totally new thing for me, but since this is part of my initiative to contribute my part to make a difference, I just hope I will be able to do it well.

I was told the Humanitarian Day group would contact us separately to schedule a meeting and brief us on what is required. Think this is going to be another exciting thing!

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My "武林秘籍"

I cannot believe I found this! For those who grew up watching Hong Kong swordfighting serials will probably recognize this as one of those "pugilistic manuals" which those swordsman learn from.

My favorite is always the "玉女心经" from the Return of the Condor Heroes. This was the skill where the Little Dragon Maiden inherited from her teacher, a skill only to be passed on to women. However since her only disciple Yang Guo was male, she had to impart the skill to him. Once they mastered the skill, they became more formidable than before.

So when I came across the book which shopping earlier on, I got so excited. And then I realise the pages are blank. In other words, I can use it as a notebook, journal, sketchpad or whichever way I like.

Perhaps I should just use a Chinese paintbrush to write inside to make it seem like a real pugilistic manual!

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Spiritual Or Material?

A few days back, I was asked to take on another tutoring assignment for a Primary Six kid, guiding him in English, Mathematics and Science. It will be for twice a week, an hour and a half each for each session.

Later on, I was asked if I could also tutor his younger sister at the same time. So it would be one after another during the weekends. In other words, it will be three hours per session, six hours per week. And the parents were willing to pay. If I took it up, it will be another almost a thousand a month and I need more cash at this point in time for the near future.

However the parents could not cater to my timing. I wanted Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons, but they wanted Saturday and Sunday mornings as they said Sunday afternoons would be their family day.

However, I will only be able to make it on Sunday afternoons as Sunday mornings is when I have Cathechism and then singing for mass later on.

My dear said I am being stupid by throwing away such a good extra income. He said I can always switch to Saturday evening Cathechism and attend sunset mass after that. Moreover I am not being paid for Cathechism.

Still, even though I am not being paid for this, I have already committed myself and nothing can replace the time with God.

Besides, just like others have their family days, I, too, have my own family time too. If both my weekends are burnt, then when am I going to have time for my family, my boyfriend and myself?

In the end, we could not come to a compromise and I had to give up the tutoring assignment. Yes it is very painful. Where else can I get another one thousand a month just by an extra six hours a week?

But I do not regret my decision. Nothing is more important to me than my spiritual and family life, and if I am to choose again, I will still choose God and family over materialism.

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A Different Wedding Celebration

The past weekend seemed to be rather popular dates for weddings. On Saturday, I went for my friend's wedding and on Sunday it was the wedding of my dear's friend.

The wedding on Saturday was special because it was a traditional Indian ceremony held in a temple. This was the first time I was going to something like this so I had no idea what to do.

When we reached the temple, we had to first take out our shoes. Then music started and the groom had to go through some rites. After that the bride came in but she was ushered into a room at the back of the temple by her "sisters".

After that the groom was also led to the back of the temple by his "brother". The temple master (not sure if this is how he is to be addressed) then continued the music and the ceremony without the presence of the bride and groom.

A while later, the bridal couple appeared again with a change in clothes. This time they were seated side by side with garlands put on their necks. I must say, the Indian saris are beautiful! The girls look really elegant in them!

After the rites were conducted, we were given dry yellow rice to be thrown to the bridal couple. I was told this was to bless the couple. The bridal couple then had to walk one round the hall of the temple and that concluded the ceremony.

Reception was at the community centre next to the temple. It was a buffet lunch of Indian cuisine. It was a simple yet memorable wedding because this is something different for me.

Compared to the run-of-the-mill Chinese banquet I attended the following day, this Indian wedding is one of the most beautiful wedding ceremonies I have ever attended, because there is no fanciful stuff, no expensive ballrooms and no cheesy photo montages of what they look like as kids. It is just on a couple who are in love with each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together.

And that, is how a wedding should be and getting married is like, instead of the big broadcast to show off to everyone and anyone. It is the bridal couple's affair after all what they want to do and what food they want to serve, and not anyone else's business.

If I ever get married, it is my business who I invite, what kind of food I want to serve and where I want to hold my wedding. It is also my business whether I want to showcase a photo montage and what kind of music to be played.

If there are people who are not happy and have things to say, then they are welcome not to attend, because getting married is the first day of the rest of my life as I join in matrimony to the man I am spending the rest of my life with, and not a mere wedding ceremony just for show to everyone and anyone.

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Christmas Shopping Done!

For the past few years, I have found it a hassle doing Christmas shopping. What is it that I can get people which they already not have? One cannot give shoes or clothes or bags because everyone's taste and preference is different. Neither can one give jewellery or cosmetics or gadgets because they probably have nicer and more expensive ones.

So I stopped doing Christmas shopping altogether. However when my closest girlfriends started with a Christmas gathering last year and I realise I was the only one who did not give away gifts, I felt really really bad. Christmas is the time for giving after all, so how can I just receive and not give?

Hence this year when we are planning another Christmas get-together, I decided to do some Christmas shopping in order to get them something. After sourcing for so many things, I decided to stick with the most practical one - body wash and perfume set. At least I know eveyone will get to use that no matter what!

Just as well my company gave everyone ninety dollars worth of shopping vouchers as door gifts during the recent Dinner and Dance so I could just utilize all! I managed to get gift sets for my two best friends as well as another gift set for Mr DC's mother.

I have also gotten a Christmas gift for him. As for the rest of the guys - his father and the husbands of my friends, I have no idea what to give as it is rather hard to buy things for men since the variety is so much lesser. As I said, what can I give that they already do not have nor their wives have not given them?

But at least I am happy that I have gotten my Christmas shopping done! So now all I am waiting for is the day we get-together and exchange gifts! Looking forward to that!

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How To Kill Time On Public Transport

I have forgotten how taking public transport on my own is like already. Three years back when I had to take an hour bus journey back from my workplace to my home, I would always sleep, or if lucky enough to have colleagues in the same bus, we would talk to each other.

Last year when I moved back to the Central Business District, it was never a problem thinking up what to do on the train because the journey was only twenty minutes. I could always just relax and enjoy the scenery going by.

Then when I moved to an industrial park, it was another long journey back of two buses and more than an hour's journey. However I did not need to face the long journey on my own as my dear would always accompany me home.

Now that I have moved to town, it is much easier getting home. I only need to take a train ride of less than half hour. However because the stations are underground this time hence no scenery to see, I have to start thinking up ways to utilize my time while travelling.

With modern technology, there is no privacy anymore. Anyone on the train or bus can be just caught on a camera phone or video and the photos and clipped uploaded on the mass blogging platform or YouTube. So we have to be even more vigilant with our behaviour in public.

That means no more looking over people's shoulders while they are reading or smiling at amusing scenes or hankering for seats. All kinds of "undesirable" behavior can make one famous without even knowing it.

So what else can we do while on a moving bus or train?

1. Read. This has always been a favorite pastime of mine. We can read anytime anywhere, sitting down, standing up, even walking and crossing the street.

However due to public scrutiny (one never knows who is watching you nowadays!), we have to be more selective over the kind of books we read. Normally I do not care. I read anything I can get my hands on, be it comics or children's books.

But now I have to choose my reading material more carefully as I do not wish to end up starring in a YouTube video on full-grown mature adults who still read kiddy books like any three-year-old.

2. Note down things. Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with so many things to do. So while commuting, I would remember and note down appointments and schedules so I can clear my mind. Otherwise my mind is in a whirl with too many things to remember!

3. Write. With the blogger installed on a smartphone, you can write and blog anytime you like!

4. Check emails and surf the Internet. Okay, this is not really recommended as it will only make you a slave to your gadget. Do this only when you really have time to kill and if there is no one else with you. Otherwise it is actually very rude to play with your phone or any gadget when someone is with you (unless you are replying text messages but do that quickly too).

5. Last but not least, sleep! After a hard day's work and you feel so drained, what can be better than a nap, especially if you are one of the lucky ones who managed to get a seat? But do be careful not to miss your stop otherwise you will have to take another round back!

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Why Can Magazines Not Come In Proper Sizes?

Sometime ago, a fellow blogger wrote about the irritating adverts at the side of a female magazine and she took a pair of scissors to cut that flap away so the magazine can be carried around more easily.

Two days back, I went to do my annual purchase of magazines. I would read women's magazines off and on if I come across any articles that interest me but it is only during December that I will get the whole lot as the Christmas bumper issues are really good. I have been doing that every year for the past five years or so.

So I went into 7-11 and bought Her World, Female, CLEO, Simply Her and The Woman's Weekly. All other magazines are packed as compactly as possible to ensure ease of carrying, except for CLEO, which came in this kind of packaging :

Arrrgh! Does the distributor not know it is so hard to carry around? Even after I removed all the "freebies", it is still too big to carry around.

Why can female magazines not come in smaller sizes for ease of carrying instead of the bulky packages they come in? Maybe I should just start subscribing again so the magazines can be sent to my home and I can then save the trouble of lugging back such bulky packages in the future!

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Celebrating Christmas ...

At the Advent sharing today, we were talking about Christmas and how each one used to celebrate Christmas. I always listen in envy whenever someone mentions about their Christmas tree, decorations, parties and gatherings, because my family does not celebrate Christmas.

I never have a Christmas tree nor decorations because my parents do not see the need for those. Hence I could only read books and imagine how decorating a Christmas tree and baking a pie would be like.

The Christmas trees and parties I came across were those of my relatives. When we were still young, we would be invited to a Christmas party during the eve at my aunt's place, especially when my Australian relatives were back visiting. There would be games, presents, Christmas goodies and of course the tree!

Some of my relatives would take turns hosting, so we would go to a different party every year. Now that we are all grown and most of my cousins have married with some living abroad, we do not have these parties for the past several years anymore.

So this year, my Christmas wish is to have an old-fashioned Christmas. There will be a Christmas tree which I want to decorate from scratch, decorations around and outside the house, snow falling outside, and come Christmas Eve, everyone in the family will come back and we will feast on roast beef, Christmas pudding, singing carols by the fire and spreading some cheer.

A simple wish, but who am I kidding? Where I stay there is no old-fashioned Christmas, no snow falling down, no door-to-door carol singers, no fireplace, and no Christmas pudding. Oh well... I can still dream, can I not?

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Curled Up!

The trouble with cutting my hair is that my curls will start to come back. Since young, I have had natural wavy hair. Even when my hair was long, it would curl whichever way, hence quite hard to maintain.

Finally when I reached my mid-twenties, I decided to have it straightened. So I went for my first rebonding job. First time I had straight hair and first time my hair became so neat and manageable!

I love my straight hair so much that I would have a rebounding job every two years. Right now my hair had gone through three rebounding jobs and it is still intact with no traces of chemical after effects.

This time round, because I cut it off until above the shoulders, I decided not to rebond since the hair is so short. But because of this, I have to settle with my hair curling up again.

A few years back, a guy I was kind of going out with gave me a set of Philips hair stylers as a gift. Inside there are interchangeable consoles for the different hair stylers, like straightening iron, curling tong, crimper, soft wave and hard wave.

In short, I can use those to make my hair straight, wavy, curly, ringlets, straight on top but curly at the tips. However I am a self-confessed lazy bum. Why should I bother creating my own hairstyle when the professionals can do it so much better for me?

Still, that set is rather useful if I need to attend a formal event and it is light and handy enough to be packed in a luggage bag. So perhaps from now on, I should start experimenting with different hairstyles as and when the occasion calls for it!

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End Of An Exciting Week

I was supposed to go for the Standard Chartered Marathon today but because my dear is down with flu and I have a big blister on my big toe, we decided to skip it. Oh well... There is always next year!

Despite this, it has been a real exciting week! I started my new job at a new work place at a swanky area. So I got to rediscovering all the cool places, underground tunnels and secret passages leading to short cuts to food centers which I have never known they existed!

Then I started doing some work and it was a real challenge! I think I am really doing brain work this time round instead of "cut and paste" kind of work.

Then it was the Dinner and Dance of a classy and humorous affair. And finally, it was the first session of the new tuition assignment.

Can anything get more exciting than this? How I wish my days are filled with excitement always!

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Door To Door Tuition

I have not given tuition for quite a while, except for the two-month stint at a tuition centre conducting English lessons for a group of four children earlier this year. I have always been looking out for tutoring assignments and have applied for quite a lot but most of the time I have not been able to get it.

Recently, I applied for a job tutoring a kindergarten boy English. He will be going to primary school next year. A week later the agent replied and said I got the job and was asked to start the first lesson today.

So I went over to the boy's abode earlier. He seems a rather bright boy, able to speak and read well. However there are some phonics and grammar which he is still unsure about and his mother would like him to familiarize himself with the consonants and pronunciation of the words.

Today, being the first lesson, I went through some reading and common words with him, then had a chat with the mother. Overall the boy is not too bad, except he cannot sit still like a typical kid. I have come across worse kids.

The agent initially fixed the tuition day as every Saturday, three in the afternoon, once a week, an hour and a half each. However I prefer not to disrupt Saturday afternoons so I had the time switched to every Tuesday at half past seven in the evening, so I can drop by after work, and the parent is fine with it.

This Tuesday will be my second lesson. Hopefully the next session will go smoother than this first one!

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A Black Tie Affair

My new colleagues said I am very lucky to join the company at this time because I came in just in time to attend the company's Dinner and Dance earlier on. Due to this, all those who were attending were able to be released from work at three in the afternoon.

The theme is Black Tie / Evening Wear, so I wore my black strappy gown with a cross back, together with crystal earrings and necklace.

When I reached the ballroom, I was served canapes and cocktails in the reception area. I noticed that everyone was dressed to the theme, ladies were in formal gowns and four-inch stilettos and some even went for a makeover and hairdo session, and the men were dressed in suits with bow ties.

When it was time to enter the ballroom, I saw that it was nicely decorated. We had a menu of western fine dining dishes with alternative entrees. The emcee was really great and the entertainer was good too!

As with any company event, the dinner started off with the awards ceremony, followed by the entertaining show, and the lucky draws. Food was served along the way.

The lucky draw prizes were highly sought after - four iPod Touches, two iPads, two iPhone 4s, one MacBook Air and three travel vouchers of one thousand five to two thousand five. To the disappointment of my dear, I did not manage to win any of the iPads. To the disappointment of myself, I did not manage to win the MacBook Air.

The door gifts consist of twenty dollars worth of taxi vouchers and ninety dollars worth of shopping vouchers. Great, I can get my Christmas shopping done already!

The whole event ended near to midnight. After that I called a cab back and used up two of the cab vouchers. It had been a fun and interesting event, I only hope all other Dinner and Dance can be just as fun and classy!

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Public Transport Fiasco

In July, our transport authority started charging bus and train fares according to distance and not stages. Hence the transport expenses have increased overall.

Few weeks back, the new distance fares turned out to be a blunder. Apparently the distance between certain bus stops have been miscalculated, so many commuters from July to now have been either overcharged or undercharged. It seems like the overcharged amount is about three hundred thousand!

Now our transport authority has published a notification on the affected bus stops and service numbers, asking all this who have travelled on the buses on those routes to have a refund starting from 18 December onwards. We can just tap our card and get a refund without even needing to give the serial number of the card!

In the first place, how would we know if we have travelled along this routes on which dates? I cannot even remember where I went last week!

In the second place, anyone and everyone can just have a refund, whether they have taken the affected buses and travelled on the affected routes. Who is to monitor?

This is quite a fiasco for the authority in question. I only hope the act can be cleaned up and nothing of this sort happens again! It is commuters like us who suffer the brunt of increasing costs, especially since we take public transport all the time!

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Perverts Again!

Just when I thought the perverts have all been caught, in just one week, there are articles on perverts again!

This thirty-six year-old married man had been arrested for taking upstart photos of ladies. He would skulk around some shopping malls, go up the escalator and then take photos and videos of ladies above him, then load the photos and videos in his office computer. How stupid can one get?

Another guy was arrested for hiding in a ladies toilet at a gaming mall at midnight then peeping at a girl when she went to the toilet.

Yet another young guy was arrested for outrage of modesty of some of the girls in his school and when the police searched his room, they found women's sexy lingerie in his possession.

Why are men so sicko? Or rather, why are they stupid enough to get caught? No wonder there are so many perverts nowadays!

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Minor Hacking Incident

I thought after all the security measures, my account would be safe from getting hacked. A few months back, my dear's accounts (Facebook, email and instant messenging) got hacked. His email started sending out weird things and "he" was chatting via Facebook making advances to some of the girls in his Friends list.

One of them happened to be my schoolmate so I got to know about it, but the time which he was allegedly making advances online was when he was away serving the country and had no access to the Internet at all.

The thing was that the hacker knew all his personal information, changed his email name to mine (and made our friends so confused), and even went so far to disclose information about us (like our anniversary) to the people he chatted with, which was why they thought it was really him (Mr DC).

In any case I told him it was because his account was so public, so anyone could just access his information so easily and readily. I am not sure if he changed his account privacy as yet.

My account, on the other hand, is private, as in only those whom I have added or who have added me as Friends will be able to have access to all my information like photos, messages and biodata. I do not see the reason why I need to disclose all my whatever specifics to every Tom, Dick and Harry, or every Jane, Pam and Mary.

So I got a big shock when Facebook sent me a message when I was going into my account, saying there had been a recent access to my account at an unrecognized location! The system even mapped out where in the world my account had been accessed, which was near Chicago!

I wad told to log out and change my password. But when I tried logging in again, suddenly I realise I could not access it anymore! My account got suspended! I was told to log in from a proper computer and follow the instructions there.

So that was what I did when I reached home. The instructions were to change my password (again!) and then log in again. This time round I managed to access.

Luckily my account was not messed up in any way! I really do not wish to be blamed for any unsolicited and uncalled-for messages by anyone!

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Drained And Shagged ...

What a day! I have started doing some work after the past two days of familiarization of stuff. I came in excited and full of confidence of being able to handle the work well. Yet after today somehow I am not that sure anymore.

The work is interesting but because the company is in the medical and pharmaceutical industry, there are quite a lot of medical terms, hence I was quite lost. Yes the work is challenging but already I made quite a bit of mistakes! Who knows the company may just terminate my services!

Which is why I am feeling do drained and shagged right now! I feel as if all my brain cells have died! But I am sure I can get used to it soon!

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Last Month Of The Year

Finally December has arrived. The past eleven months just flew by! Normally the last month of the year is full of pomp and fanfare because it is the month of Christmas!

I remember when I was young, my mum would bring me Christmas shopping together with my aunt and cousin. I used to like going shopping with her.

However when I grew older, shopping with my mum became a drag. Somehow I do not have the patience to go into shop after shop after shop and in the end did not even get a single thing. I much rather see something I like, go into the shop, try it on, get it if it fits and go off. Which is why I hardly ever go window shopping.

This December will mark my first month at my new job. I have yet to know if I can remain here. Of course I hope to but perhaps the company may think I do not meet their standards hence terminate my services.

In any case, I am sure looking forward to Christmas and the coming New Year ahead! A new year always means new hopes and new ideals!

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Wedding Vs Marriage

For the past five years, I have attended quite a number of weddings, be they relatives or friends. I have attended weddings held here in church or banquets in ballrooms (most common), or a solemnisation followed by a reception, wedding dinners and wedding lunches. I have also attended weddings overseas.

The most memorable one is still my cousin's wedding in Australia. It is simple, yet classy, sophisticated and elegant. Because it is a simple ceremony without all the pomp, yet at the same time classy enough with the reception at a venue facing the Sydney harbour, it stuck in my mind as something different. I always tell myself if I ever get married, I will want my wedding to be just like that - simple but classy, instead of the usual Chinese banquet where innocent sharks have to die just to satisfy the guests.

The concept of a wedding differs from individual to individual. To some, because it is a once-in-a-lifetime affair and girls have dreamt of being a fairytale princess since young, so the only time they can be a fairytale princess is during their own weddings where they dress up as brides.

To others, they do not wish to have a fuss and just have a simple legalization without telling anyone so no one would ever know they got married until they declare.

But weddings, be they big do or a small do, are only but one day. Of course I can understand that because a wedding is just that one day, many would want that day running as smoothly and as perfectly as possible. After all, it is just that one day in a person's life that he or she can be the centre of all attention.

How many of us actually remember the weddings we attended? I know I can barely remember most, save for the one in Sydney. Somehow that one is etched in my mind even though it has been eight years. Maybe because this one impressed me enough to make me yearn to model after it.

But after the wedding, what then? Is it the end? What many people fail to realise is that after all the stress and frustration of preparing a wedding and getting married, it is the life after that that truly matters.

I always thought the wedding day is the first day of the rest of my life. A marriage is for a lifetime, not the degradation which many people view as nowadays. If the couple cannot be committed to make it work and cower at the sign of any problems, then do not spend the time and money getting married for show.

A wedding is between two people, but a marriage involves other parties, like parents, in-laws, both sets of families and children. No doubt when a couple get married, they are forming a new family on their own. Their priorities should be with each other and no longer their parents. But parents and families should not be totally out of the picture as well.

Hence, is it better to have a big wedding but after that have no idea that it is a marriage, or a small wedding yet knowing how to handle a marriage after that? Each of us will have our own preferences.

For me, I want a marriage for life, not just a wedding for a day.

Blondie - The Comic Strip

Lately I have been exploring comics. Graphic novels, comics, manga, they are all the same. I used to read some Japanese comics (translated into Chinese), as well as American comics. My favourites are still Kindaichi (fantastic sleuthing mind), Archie (and his gang), Foxtrot, Dilbert, Cathy to name a few.

Recently I have been reading Blondie. I have known about this comic strip since young when it appeared in the Sunday papers. Through the years, I never fail to read this comic strip. However, about two years back, the strip stopped running in the Sunday papers. Hence I went to do some research and turns out that the comic is still running, and have been running for about eighty years in fact!

The reason I love Blondie is because it is a family strip. The main character Dagwood (Blondie's husband) is a clumsy bumbling employee, forever getting picked on by his boss with no increment through the years, loves eating and napping, and most importantly, loves his wife and kids dearly. His wife is always first in his life, so he refuses to work overtime or go for drinks with his co-workers just to go home and have dinner with his wife and kids.

With such a plot, who can not love the strip? How I wish I can have a Dagwood Bumstead as my husband too - despite the clumsiness, laziness, quirkiness and idiocy, he is one family man who loves his wife dearly. It will be good if my guy can model himself after Dagwood Bumstead!

Red Hot Chilli Night!

Last Saturday we went for a party at The Arena. There was a Revel night going on and the dresscode was "Red Hot Chilli". In any case, we went there just for fun, to mingle, drink and dance, as an unwind from our recent examinations.

There was quite a huge turnout. But one thing I notice is the single guys there somehow just keep to themselves and do not wish to approach the single ladies. Is it any wonder then that they remain single, if the guys just get scared off by sophisticated and confident ladies?

A pity we did not manage to stay further. The event ended around ten in the evening, and we went off after that after a few dances. In any case, there are some photos I took during the event!

The stage showing the "Revel" event

The bar counter

The drinks and dance floor

Finger food of pizza

Cheers! (with a glass of red wine)

First Day At Regional Role

Today was my first day at my new job. The Executive Assistant brought me around and introduced me to some of the key people. When I reached the office, the receptionist brought me to the pantry and helped me make cereal as well as showed me what was available.

When I reached my desk, it was all cleared, with my name plate, stationery organized into little compartments, a laptop with another desktop with a big screen and a telephone bearing my name. Very organized! First time I actually went into a company that is so organized!

I am in the Asia Pacific Legal Department, which means I handle the Asian region, Greater China, as well as Australia and New Zealand. This office is the Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters, hence all the big shots (President of Asia, Vice President of Emerging Markets, Asia Pacific Regional Financial Controller) sit at my level near my department.

My immediate superior (the Senior Legal Counsel) sent a mass email to the department, saying to bring me out to lunch. So almost the whole team went to the shopping mall opposite to eat Thai food.

The people here seems interesting. Throughout lunch, the conversation was on a museum exhibition, plays, travel, exhibitions, degustation and holiday plans. Definitely more interesting than the people I had been used to. At least the topics are what I enjoy, instead of the usual lottery, hawker fare, chasing girls / guys and army life.

I was told there would be a Dinner and Dance this Friday and the Deputy General Counsel invited me along. The theme is Black Tie. I heard last year's theme for the Dinner and Dance was a Silk Road theme. How interesting!

Around the end of the day, my immediate superior came to talk to me. He told me of a global law conference next May, held in Florida. The whole legal team would go meet up with the legal team of the American head office. Wow! This is so exciting!

Maybe it is still too early to tell as I have no idea how the people here are like or their working styles, but I do believe I can grow to like this place. At least I hope this will be a better place to work than my previous two places!

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Cathechism Course - Day Of Recollection

Today is the Cathechist's Day of Recollection so I went for a course for Cathechists.

The turnout was really good, bigger than expected. The course covered the essence of religious education on children, the problems faced and how to overcome them.

Some of the problems faced are :

1. Parents who dumped the kids in Cathechism and viewed Cathechists as baby-sitters

2. Parents who are not receptive or cooperative in supporting the Church's Faith Formation programs

3. Parents who do not practice the faith wholeheartedly despite the Cathechists guiding and teaching the children

I guess the biggest problem is, despite what we teach the kids, how we tell them that they must pray in the proper way, they must go to church, they must uphold the days of obligation, etc, if their parents do not view religion as important and do not practice at home, the cathechists' hands are then tied somewhat.

Which makes me rather ashamed that there are still times when I do not practice my faith. For instance, I do not uphold the days of obligation as well. This makes me more determined to make it a point to practice my religion wholeheartedly. Afterall, I must practice what I preach, right?

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New Image For New Job

Now that my paper is finally over, and I am starting my new job this coming Monday, I thought what better time to adapt a new image than now?

So I had my tresses snipped off earlier on. My hair which grew to almost hip length. I had it cut until shoulder length, to get rid of the fading highlights, and did a layered fringe.

Those who have seen my new image all commented I look younger and more refreshed! Just nice I am going for a Revel party tonight so it is the right time to debut my new image!

Here is my new image below, taken at the Revel night which I will post in my next entry. I feel much more light-headed already!

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My Shakespeare Paper

Finally the paper is over! Tonight was my Shakespeare paper, with one extract from Othello and one from Aphra Behn's The Rover. We had to choose either one and critique on the extract with regards to themes, languages, tone and performance potential.

The next question would be a comparison of two plays - Henry V, As You Like It, Othello and The Rover. However, the play we chose in the first question could not be used anymore in the second question.

To be honest, I panicked when I saw the paper. I had no idea how I started writing, nor how I managed to write so much, nor what I was writing. I did not even know whether I was on the right track!

I can only hope and pray that I can pass this well enough to pull up my overall grade!

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Bidding Farewell ...

Finally it is the day for me to bid farewell to my colleagues. Before I went to work this morning, I bought three boxes of big chocolate chip and double chocolate muffins to distribute to all my colleagues. As customary, everyone wished me all the best etc etc etc.

My boss brought me out for a farewell lunch yesterday. Today as I was doing clearance like returning laptops and whatnot, I had a chance to talk to some of my colleagues. Before I left, I said goodbye to the Chief Finance Officer (again) and the Chief Executive Officer.

Hence I left with good feelings, unlike my previous place. I will sure miss this place as the working environment is not too bad and most of the people are nice. I just hope my next place will be just as good or better!

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Night Of The Exam

Tonight is THE night! The night of the battle, where I still have no confident whether I can pass based on the past year papers. I was looking through the past year papers and there were at least two questions where I had no idea what they were talking about!

This semester really has not gone well for me. I can only hope and pray that I can at least still manage to pass enough to take on maximum load again the next semester. Otherwise the duration will be held back again!

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Another Pervert!

Why are there so many perverts lately? First there was the case of the local government scholar studying in England getting caught having a fetish for child pornography (apparently some of those were rated four out of five for hardcoreness).

A search into his background indicated he was ever punished back in school for being a peeping Tom when he was caught in the girl's toilet. However the school thought he had been punished, hence decided to give him a second chance, so this was not put on record, which was why he could get the scholarship in the first place. Does it mean as long as your grades are good you can then get away with murder?

Then I was kind of violated on the bus on Monday. And I still have not forgiven DC for just laughing off the matter and teasing me the whole night instead of showing me some care and concern! His girlfriend got violated, for goodness sake! Does he think it is a very funny matter?

Then there was the report yesterday on the male principal of a very prestigious boys' school here, who was suspended but now fired. Apparently he was coming onto a male teacher, who reported him for sexual harassment.

Today I received an article about this guy working in the police force. He took photos of his female colleagues, masturbated to their photos and dropped his semen into their drinks when they were away, and secretly filmed them drinking their drinks mixed with his semen - all during office hours!

Then he was caught trying to take a photo up his colleague's skirt and she managed to wrestle the phone from him and saw the incriminating photos, hence made a report. A search on his harddisk showed the clips he filmed.

In the first place, did the girls not find their drinks looking or tasting funny and still drank the whole thing? In the second place (not that I am condoning his actions), why was he so stupid to do all those in the office and save into his computer, instead of being discreet? Of course he will sure be busted!

So now the psychopaths are government scholars, school principals and police officers. Goodness, what is the world coming to?

And the common factor in these? The perpetrators are all MEN! Am I then right to say that men are bastards and women's problems occur because of men? Come to think of it, if there are no men, perhaps our lives will be much easier and not suffer so much!

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Chimney Pot!

I was on the bus on my way home earlier when this old man who was reeking of a strong smell of smoke came on board and sat next to me. It was so unbearable that I had to hold my breath! Why must he board the bus when he is a walking chimney?

If people want to smoke, why can they not just refrain from smoking just before they step into any form of public transport? Why must they step into the bus or train reeking of smoke throughout their bodies?

Do they know more people get affected and die of second hand smoke than actual smokers? If people do not care about their lives, at least be considerate to those who do care and do not wish to die a premature death!

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Feeling Violated ....

I cannot believe what happened to me yesterday! I was on the bus on the way to claim the kit for the upcoming Standard Chartered Marathon, when I felt someone's fingers stroking my hair from behind. I quickly sat forward, but those fingers moved to my neck and started stroking my neck.

Since it was quitting time, the bus was very crowded hence I could not stand up nor change places. I could only lean forward, feeling uncomfortable since I was sitting at the edge of the seat. The person behind then clasped a piece of paper in his fingers, but his hand never once retracted. I was moving sideways to prevent him from touching me again, and yet every chance he had, he would stroke my hair and neck.

I could scream of course, but the problem was that he was doing it so subtly that there was no proof whatsoever he ever violated or took advantage of me in any way. Yet I felt violated. It was clearly an outrage of modesty, the way his fingers were moving around. There is no reason why he could not put his hands on his lap or on the seat of the bus, instead of putting his hand over to my seat!

Finally he reached his stop, thank goodness! I thought I could finally sit properly again, when he threw that piece of paper he was holding onto my seat before he alighted. Out of curiosity and as proof in case anything happened, I opened the paper and saw his name and his number written on it.

Smart! Very smart! By doing this, I can easily lodge a report since I have his name and number, except in any court of law, there is no proof of any outrage of modesty. It was a crowded bus, people would lean forward and the hand could just slip out in a more comfortable position. I could not even sue!

This is one reason why I hate taking public transport! But what to do, it is the only means of transport I can have, since I am too poor to get my own car, and the guy I am with is not rich enough to get a car too. Unless I stay home everyday and not go out at all, otherwise this is my only mode of moving around for a long time yet.

I really hate men! Why do they think they can just touch a girl and get away with it?! The worst thing is, the guy I am with just laughed it off and kept teasing me about being "attractive to old men" when I told him my ordeal, when all I needed was some comfort and him sticking up for me! What is the use of being with someone if he cannot even protect me?

My Last Week

This is my last week in my current workplace. There is hardly anything much to do already. I just need to hand over stuff that is still pending, other than that, there is hardly anything much anymore.

I have already started preparing for my new job. First, I have gotten two new dresses to wear, one on the first day of my new job. Second, I have prepared the shoes to wear, and the bag to carry. Third, I will be getting a hair cut this weekend, after my paper on Friday, just before I enter the new office. Fourth, I have prepared the makeup and skincare products I would need.

A new place normally marks a new start, just like when I joined this company more than one and a half years ago. That time, I went back to the Central Business District, rushing together with the yuppies and white collars, enjoying life with food aplenty. Then when we moved out of the Business District to an industrial park, life is still quite enjoyable as we would then carpool and drive out to find food every lunch hour.

Now I will be moving to Orchard Road, where the office is smacked in the middle of Orchard Road, across the street from the hip drinking holes and chill-out places, a stone's throw away from condominium developments inhibited by expatriates, and right in the midst of the shopping belt.

I know some of my colleagues envy me for being able to find work there, but actually to me, I find it no big deal. As long as the company pays me well, I am able to find nice people to work with and there are lots of cheap, good and nice eating places where I will not need to worry where to lunch, that is good enough for me.

Meanwhile, I look forward to finishing my last week at my current place, hopefully without any glitches!

What Constitutes Proper Upbringing?

Lately there seems to be an influx of problems involving youths. Just when five youths hacked another youth to death on Halloween night, in a matter of weeks, there have been more youth slashing incidents in two parts of the country. When interviewed, there are youths who said they bring knives out "just in case". Just in case of what? In case they do need to kill someone?

Last week there was another incident involving a scholar. Due to his outstanding grades and curricular activities, he won a Ministry of Education scholarship to England to further his studies. But he was caught on campus surfing pornography involving children as young as six, indicating pedophilia tendencies. A background search indicated that he was caught peeping at girls in his school's toilet before, but because he had been punished, the school never put it on record, hoping he would change.

Now because of this, his scholarship would be terminated. His future is as good as gone. I am not sure if he would be charged since in general, the world frowns heavily upon pedophiles. One can commit murder but once one molests or rapes a little kid, he would be ostracised by everyone, even the hardcore prisoners themselves.

All these incidents made me rather sad indeed. What are the kids coming to that they think it right to do as they please? I wonder is it because of the lack of discipline, or the lack of control? Or is it the parents themselves simply have no time to monitor the kids, and as long as the kids do okay in school that is all that matters?

It makes me wonder, will I be able to cope if I ever do have kids in the future? How will my own children turn out to be? What is the success of a parent? People always say the success of a child is on how he turns out in life, but would that not be the success of a parent if he / she is able to bring a child up properly?

What, then, constitutes a proper upbringing? Why would two kids from exactly the same family and upbringing turn out different? Is it really to do with the parents or just the character and personality of the child?

Deferring An Exam

I was supposed to be taking my first paper last night, but because I am still suffering the after effects of the illness, ie feeling lethargic, lack of energy, loss of appetite and still a tad weak, that in the end I decided to defer the paper. I have not had the energy to study for it at all, and if I take the paper, I will probably fail.

Hence it is better that I defer than I fail, because if I defer, the grade will just be reflected as "Withdrawn" and I just need to resit the next time round, whereas if I fail, the grade will be reflected as "F" and that will pull my entire Grade Point Average down.

So all I need now is to focus on my next paper next week. It will be a Shakespeare paper, thus I am more confident as more familiar with the subject matter. Hopefully I can do better for this paper so at least my grades will be pulled up a bit!

Appeal For Prayers ....

My prayers never really come true. Nevertheless, I would still like to pray and appeal for prayers for all the disaster-prone areas of the region : Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand.

There have been volcanoes, earthquakes, floods, typhoons, forest fires. The elements that work for you can work against you too. There have been many people dead, dying and left homeless. We come from such a priviledged society, perhaps it is time to give back to the community what we have.

So please pray for a miracle and that these victims of disasters will be able to see the light and move on in their lives again!

Cathechist Thanksgiving Mass

Two Saturdays ago, we had the Thanksgiving Mass and dinner for the Cathechists in the church. I had to attend the sunset mass for this. It was a normal mass, except there was a section thanking the cathechists and appealing for more cathechists.

Around the end, the cathechists were asked to stand up and be prayed over. The priest also asked the congregation to recognise our efforts in guiding the children and forming their faith. No one knows just how thankless the job is, especially when we face kids who are not receptive and parents who are not bothered enough.

Nevertheless, despite the number of cathechists who have dropped out, I have decided to continue. I will still be taking Primary Five next year, perhaps I will try out another year and see if I want to switch to another level after that.

I hope next year will go by more smoothly than this year and the next batch of children will be better than this!

Simple Pleasures ....

I remember back in my school days, I used to crave for the simple pleasures in life - just being with the guy I loved, accompanying him on his gym and track routines, staying by his side while he did his own things. As long as I could accompany him, it did not matter where we went or what we did, even if it was an activity that bored me to tears.

As we grow up and as each of us become more affluent in our own ways, as we make our way in life, life experiences change us. Situations change us. Jobs change us. Our characters get moulded. Some of us become more aggressive. Some of us become stronger. Some of us crumble and become weaker. Some of us, the lucky ones, are simply unaffected.

Hence, the simple pleasures in life may no longer just be waiting for your loved one to come home. It may become a night of degustation to some. It may become a car ride into unchartered territory. It may become an overseas trip to a lone resort island somewhere in the Indian Ocean to some.

That is the price of growing up. The so-called "simple pleasures" in life suddenly become much bigger-scaled. It is not enough to just watch a movie and have a hawker meal anymore. It is the trend to go for fine dining. It is not enough to just have a picnic to celebrate your birthday or anniversary anymore. It is the trend to go overseas for that occasion. It is not enough to just receive flowers for Valentine's Day anymore. It is the trend to receive Louis Vuitton handbags and platinum jewellery. It is not enough to go on long bus or train rides to go anywhere anymore. It is the trend to have a car and be driven around.

As people become more affluent, these became the "simple pleasures". Anything below that is what teenagers or kids do. Anyone who is a grown up is more sophisticated than that. Hence, the simple pleasures in life is no longer just accompanying your loved one everywhere and anywhere. It is to ensure my time is also fulfilled and not a total waste.

I guess everyone goes through these phases. I used to think the simple pleasures in life is to just accompany my man, and I still do think the simple pleasures in life is to accompany my man. Except the mode is now different.

Unfortunately, he has not quite grown out of his teenage ways on what he views as the simple pleasures in life, hence his way of accompanying and my way of accompanying are very different. His is the teenage way, while mine is the supposedly grown up sophisticated way.

Who is right, who is wrong? Neither, it is just a matter of preference. Although I really prefer he starts growing up and starts indulging in the simple pleasures in life - the sophisticated way, and not the teenage way anymore.

River View ...

Two weeks ago, I went for a family lunch with a magnificent view over the Central Business District and Singapore River. I managed to take some photos of the skyline, which is not something we can see everyday, unless one happens to be working in one of those skyscrapers around the business district.

The Singapore River, flanked by the bridge, conserved shophouses and City Hall

The Padang in the background

City Hall area

The City Hall area with Benjamin Sheares Bridge and the Esplanade on the right

The Singapore Art Museum at Empress Place

The new Supreme Court

City Hall Building with the old Supreme Court (and St Andrew's Cathedral in the background)

The famous "durians" - Esplanade Theatre and Concert Hall

Suntec City and Convention Centre

Cavenagh Bridge (front) and Benjamin Sheares Bridge (back)

The Marina Bay floating platform

The building with the colourful windows is the Ministry of Communication and the Arts (the former National Police Headquarters)

The Padang with the Singapore Recreation Club

Time To Revise

I really got sick at the wrong time, just when I am in the midst of studying for a paper this week. In fact, this Thursday is my first paper, and I have no idea if I can pass. I have already passed the coursework section by the skin of my teeth, and all I need to do is to focus and do well on the examination.

But as all things go, sometimes the best laid plans often come to nought. I finished my last project only on 3rd November. I thought of giving myself the weekend off to unwind and recharge before studying. No one should begrudge me this priviledge right, especially after such a hard semester.

I thought of starting my revision last week. Then I got so sick that I could not do anything at all. And now by the time I am almost recovered and well enough to actually study, the examination starts this Thursday.

Now I am really panicking! Just when I got well, I have to get stressed up again! It should be a time for rest because I just got well, yet I have to do this battle. I really wonder how long more my body can take rushing like this, not to mention the CGPA being pulled down if I do not do well!

O God, please please please grant me a miracle!

I Lost Four Kilograms!

I cannot believe I actually lost four kilograms after last week! It must have been all the non-eating, soft diet and perspiration I have had! No wonder people tend to look slimmer after a bad illness. Now my pants do not feel that tight anymore and my dear said I do have a slimmer silhouette.

Unfortunately, my tummy bulge is still there and I have still yet to fit into some more of my pants. At least it gives me the motivation to try to shed off the rest in a shorter time! Looks like I have to live on more soupy diet and not eating much from now on!

What An Ordeal!

I had the biggest scare of my life last week. Last Tuesday (9 November), I woke up feeling chilly. I thought it was due to the weather as there was a storm brewing for the night and it was a very rainy morning. I went to work as usual, feeling sleepier than before, but again, it was the kind of weather that would put people back to sleep in an instant.

Around the middle part of the morning, I went to the bathroom. All of a sudden I blacked out. I did not know what transpired, but by the time I opened my eyes, I was sitting on the floor of the cubicle, leaning against the wall. I could barely move, and could not stand at all! Luckily at that moment, a colleague came in and I asked for help. She happened to be sitting at my side, so she asked me to wait and she asked a few more colleagues to help. So the office manager, one of the legal personnel and her came in, and my boss asked permission to go in too.

They helped me out of the bathroom and called a cab for me. They packed my bag and escorted me downstairs where the cab was waiting and sent me home. When I reached home, I plonked on the bed and slept until the afternoon. Then I went to see a doctor. I was running a fever, body ache, muscle ache, cold chills, giddy, loss of appetite and weak. I had a fever of thirty-nine degree celsius.

The doctor gave me sick leave all the way to Thursday, and he said if my fever had not subsided by then, I would have to go back and do a dengue test. That really freaked me out! When I reached home, the next couple of days, I was flat out in bed! I could not do anything at all, except to sleep and lie down. I could not eat, could not read, could not even walk about. I could only lie in bed, lapsing in and out of consciousness. I lived on half a bowl of oatmeal, half a bowl of porridge and half a bowl of soup everyday, together with lots of medication and water.

On Friday, I thought I recovered enough to go to work, but I was still feeling weak, and in the end, I had to leave early and go back to sleep again. Saturday again I was sleeping throughout. But the fever had shown signs of subsiding by then, although I started having gastric reflux from not eating much.

Sunday (yesterday) I was again in bed. By the time Sunday afternoon came around, I was well enough to at least move about the house without collapsing. My fever had by then subsided and I managed to get my appetite back a bit, that I was able to go to my dear's mum's birthday party on Sunday (last) night.

Today, I am back at work. Although still feeling a bit groggy and weak from lack of food, at least I am finally up and about again! What an ordeal! Thank goodness, I never ever want to go through that in my life again!