Random Ramblings ...

I hope I am managing this relationship well. After several failed attempts I should have learnt from experiences and handle this better. But for some reason, I feel upset about myself. He has been so wonderful that I can never imagine being with anyone else. Yet I feel I do have a problem.

A couple should have physical closeness and intimacy, is it not? I do not mean in the sexual way. I mean gestures like hand-holding, hugging, kissing, putting arms around shoulder and body, calling each other and whispering sweet nothings. This is what every couple does.

Yet we do not do much of this. We can walk side by side and not hold hands. Even when we talk to friends in a group, we do not stick to each other. He does not call me just to talk sweet nothings nor have long lingering conversations.

So what is the problem? The problem is I find there is no problem! With my exs, we were lovey-dovey and sticky. I would get upset when the guy did not hold my hand or made me feel loved or ask me not to be too loving! I would always want to hold him and hug him and be physically close. Yet now we do not do much of this but I think nothing of it!

Does this mean I love him any less? Or I have not totally given myself whole-heartedly to love this time? The irony is that with all the passion I used to feel and all the lovey gestures, my past relationships just disintegrated, whereas now with all the lack of physical closeness and non-stickiness, I am more confident than ever that this relationship can last.

So why? If this can last, I should be even more passionate and show more love right? As it is, those not in the know think we are only good friends as we do not behave like a couple. There are people who think I am just toying with his feelings as I do not show that I love him.

I wonder how does one show love to someone else? By being lovey-dovey and kissing him in front of everyone? Then that is love? Do people think I am that sadistic to play with someone's feelings?

Maybe that is the way everyone else shows love. Afterall how can people tell you are together? By your actions. And only by being lovey-dovey do others get convinced that you are in love.

Even when we started off, there was no excitement or ecstasy, no feeling on top of the world like the previous times. In fact, we were great buddies, then suddenly felt perhaps could go to the next step and talked about it. That was it. This is the most indifferent relationship I ever entered!

But to me, a relationship is more than just lovey-dovey actions and declaring the love to the whole world. It is the security and confidence I feel when we are together that I know even without much loving gestures, we can still stay together.

One does not need public displays of love and affection to be in a solid relationship. There are those in long-distance relationships who barely get to see each other, yet the relationship may be even stronger than those who see each other everyday. It is how the couple handles the relationship and the resolve to commit that counts.

Still, that is not to say I do not crave for physical closeness and intimacy. I am but a girl, who appreciates romantic gestures, love songs, love poems, long phone conversations whispering sweet nothings, sweet actions and absolute sincerity.

I also want to declare to the world that I am in love and loving it! Hence even though a relationship takes more than physical displays of affection to work, I also want to love and be loved. Sometimes only by gestures like hand-holding, hugging and kissing can affirm that.

Yet why do I stop him whenever he wants to get a bit more chummy and a bit more sticky? Why do I feel reluctant to be physically close? Why do I not feel anything whenever he does not hold my hand? Why do I shy away whenever he wants to put his arm around me? Why do I cut off the phone conversations to just five minutes whenever he calls when I am tired?

I never used to be like this! I used to crave for the guy to call me, I used to feel loved just by the guy wanting to spend time with me! I used to feel as if I do not love the guy enough when it was clearly the guy who was not that into me! I used to drop everything whenever the guy called no matter how busy or tired I was! And I used to put the guy the first priority, clocked all my time reserved for him, even when he could disappear without any rhyme or reason and stood me up the whole day!

Now I have a man who puts me first in everything, yet why do I feel as if I do not want to revolve my life around him? Why do I feel as if I have other things to do than sit around waiting for him to call or ask me out? I should be more receptive, to be more passionate!

Which is why I say, I think I do have a major problem!

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Two Month Report

Whew! Finally I am done with my assignments! I have one due today and one due tomorrow, but I finished everything today! It had been such a busy week of rushing assignments, cycling lessons, practicing for a cycling challenge, making gula melaka, writing my talks, preparing for a Peranakan party and still keep my sanity at the same time!

It will be another busy week ahead. Lessons, Catholicism classes, Workshopping, cathechism and the ultimate big event - the OCBC Cycling Challenge next Sunday! I want so much to keep myself busy, but now I think I am way over my head!

I am no longer that young that I can keep myself so busy all the time! Now I hardly ever go by each day without feeling extremely lethargic and loss of energy. But guess what? I feel happy and fulfilled, more so than when I had nothing much to do!

Maybe I am finally living life to the fullest as I have always wished! Hopefully the last of the first quarter will be just as rich and fulfilling!

Peranakan Night!

The Peranakan party was a blast! Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly and I had a good time mingling and eating. There was quite a lot of food, from nonya cakes to Peranakan roti prata and of course the dessert of gula melaka, which a few had feedbacked that it was nice! So my efforts were not in vain!

There were about twenty people or so. Even though it was a Peranakan theme, not many dressed according to the theme. Most came in normal wear. I was the only one in full Peranakan wear, courtesy of my mum. The photo below shows me in my Peranakan wear but I do not think I look good in this photo.

See, I look really bulked up in this picture! Why is it that despite all my cutting down on food and cycling and whatnot, I still look so round? :-(

The "Test" I Failed

The "test" is over and I am disappointed to say that I failed. :-( What my dear and I planned was to cycle from my place to East Coast Park (according to him that takes only fifteen minutes or so), then from there cycle to Changi Village, have a nasi lemak feast and cycle from Changi Village back to my place.

I was actually able to cycle on my own out of my place. I even crossed three traffic junctions riding on my bicycle without much problems.

Then the pavement became slopy and the bicycle went askew. So I tried cycling on the street where the ground is flatter but a bus came in and I panicked.

Finally halfway through, I had to get a cab and transport both me and the bicycle to East Coast Park while my dear cycled the rest of the way.

Cycling in East Coast is always fun. It is even better cycling on your own! I was able to move off steadily. Then came the slopy pavements and I could not go through again. I had to get down and push my bicycle along.

For some reason, the handle on my bicycle went askew and it moved while I was cycling. As a result, I could not handle the handle and my dear had to cycle my bicycle back to the nearest bicycle shop and had it tightened.

Now that the handle was tightened, I was able to cycle steadily again. I could even make turns on winding lanes without falling or wobbling!

Until we came to a coastal stretch. For some reason something flew into my eye and the next thing I knew, I flew off my bicycle, headlong and flat on the ground!

Both my palms got cut and my right palm is still bleeding now. My right knee got bruised and I scratched my left knee. Thank goodness for a cycling helmet and long stretch pants, otherwise the casualty may be even more fatal! Now all I need are cycling gloves to protect my palms!

I cycled for a while after that along the winding stretch. But because my palms are both scratched and bleeding, I was not able to hold the bicycle handle anymore. Hence I decided to give up the route and took another cab back with my bicycle.

I hopped onto a cab and my dear went on his way to reach the stipulated destination. When I reached home, I asked the cab driver to drop my off at the beginning of my street and I cycled the remaining stretch back to my place.

So I have failed the test since I did not make the full journey. But I am still happy as after all the falls, bruises and injuries, I can finally cycle on my own without wobbling and can start and stop the bicycle rather steadily! Hopefully things will get better henceforth like handling the slopes, pavements, roads and cycling without hands!

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Making Sago Gula Melaka

I will be going to a Peranakan-themed pot luck party tomorrow night, so I was thinking what food to prepare. Initially I thought of making mee siam but it will be too time-consuming. Due to my schedule, I need to prepare the food tonight, store it then bring to the party tomorrow. Hence mee siam is not feasible and practical.

So I thought of sago gula melaka. It is easy to prepare with just a few ingredients, able to prepare in advance and makes a good dessert after all the food and partying.

Hence sago gula melaka it is. I had to make about twenty so I estimated the ingredients and bought them accordingly.

This evening, after the intensive cycling training, I started the preparation. This was the first time I am making sago gula melaka but luckily I did not do that badly (I think)!

A pity I did not manage to snap any photos otherwise the recipe will be more authentic! Initially I thought there would not be enough to go around but I was able to make twenty-four bowls!

This was the recipe I used :

2 packets or 600 grams of sago seeds
1 litre of water
1 kilograms of grated coconut
3 packets or 600 grams of gula melaka (brown sugar)
6 pandan leaves
2 teaspoons of salt
More water (for gula melaka and coconut)

1. Place the sago seeds into 1 litre of water and submerge for ten minutes.

2. Heat the sago seeds in the water under a low heat, stirring all the way until the mixture thickens.

3. Simmer the sago mixture.

4. Squeeze 250 mililitres of coconut milk from the grated coconut.

5. Pour the coconut milk with one teaspoon of salt into the sago mixture.

6. Stir until the mixture thickens until it cannot be stirred anymore.

7. Ladle out the sago mixture into individual containers and chill.

8. Melt the gula melaka in 600 mililitres of water and four pandan leaves, stirring the mixture along.

9. Once the sugar is all melted, strain the syrup into a bowl and leave it to settle.

10. Take the remaining coconut and drain out 500 mililitres of coconut milk.

11. Tie 2 pandan leaves into a knot and pour the coconut milk into a pot together with the pandan leaves.

13. Add in one teaspoon of salt into the coconut milk and heat it until the smell of the pandan leaves have been absorbed.

14. Pour the coconut milk into a bowl and leave it to set.

15. To serve, pour one tablespoon of gula melaka into each sago and top it off with some coconut milk.

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Never An Aching Hero(ine) ...

I cannot believe I actually did four hours of intensive cycling training today! I never knew I had the stamina for that! I took a day off work and went to the bicycle shop. Within the first half hour, I could cycle on my own without falling!

I have not wobbled or swerved or zigzagged even once! I did fall a couple times, banged into the wall once and had the handle knock into my chest. Other than that, no fatal casualties.

The guy is really good! At the end of the lesson, I could hop on the bicycle and pedal away, plus slowing down, turning, making u-turns and braking. I could even go over a hump a few times!

I was so happy! I thought finally I can move on my own without anyone's help. Until I reached home. When I tried out my bicycle, I wobbled, swerved and fell again!

I was despairing of ever learning how to master the bicycle. I thought I just went through four hours of intensive lesson and was able to cycle and turned without any help, yet how could I start falling again so fast?

So my dear, ever the sweet and loving guy he is, cycled my bicycle to the bicycle shop just down my street and had the basket removed, the handles twisted the other way, the front wheels and handbars tightened and the tyres changed.

Lo and behold, the bicycle became so much lighter and more manageable and I could start cycling steadily a bit again! Imagine just what a few modifications can do to a bicycle!

The real test will be tomorrow when I am having another cycling session with some friends. We will be cycling ten kilometres. Hopefully I can cycle on my own without falling and wobbling for once!

I am really keeping my fingers crossed that I can finally cycle properly without any guidance. I need to master this otherwise it will always be inconvenient where some things are concerned. I do hope I can cycle the full distance tomorrow without any upheavals!

However the downside is that I am now with aching arms, shoulders, back and legs. I believe my entire body will start to ache tomorrow. How am I to handle ten kilometres if my knees feel so wobbly and I can hardly lift my arms? :-(

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Sunset In The Way

I came almost face to face with the sun just now. Even while I am posting this the round orange sun sank behind some clouds, casting an orange hue and halo around the surroundings.

I have come across sunsets but never in such close proximity before. There I was on the top deck of the bus and right in front of me is the orange glow of a giant ball. Within that few seconds it got gobbled by the clouds.

Now dusk has fallen. And another day has just passed. I await the coming of a new day, the passing of dawn to dusk and from dusk to dawn, knowing I am unique and it is this uniqueness that make me special.

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Looking Forward To Presenting

During the last sub-committee meeting I went to in preparation for the CHOICE Asian Conference in October, one of the co-ordinators approached me and asked if I would like to be a presenter. I answered in the affirmative and before I knew it, I have been asked to observe the next weekend in March.

I am happy and excited of course, but at the same time having some mixed feelings. I am nervous on whether I will mess up the first weekend I observed and hence messed up my chances of actually being a presenter.

Or maybe I may not be good or articulate enough. Or I may say the wrong things while doing the group sessions and offend someone.

Still it is a new role and I am happy I can serve God in whichever way He wants. The first workshopping session will be next Friday. Hopefully all will turn out well!

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Professional Cycling Lessons

Finally, after all the wobbling, falling, zigzagging and whatnot, I decided to throw in the towel and hire a cycling coach.

I figured if I am to master this once and for all and traditional and normal methods do not work, it is best to get professional help.

So I called the number today. The guy gives lessons for all ages, from children to elderly. The lessons are structured into four lessons of one hour each. One can choose four lessons, two lessons of two hours each, or an intensive lesson of four hours straight.

He guarantees that one should be able to cycle without falling and wobbling after the four hours. If the person still needs help, he will then put in more hours as needed at no extra charge.

Seems like a good deal! Since I need a real crash course, I decided to go for the four hours intensive lesson. Yes, call me crazy, but I do not have the time to go for lessons four times. I need to master this within a week! It is long overdue and about time!

I will be having my lesson this Friday. Hopefully after this I cam finally cycle without falling or swerving!

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Treasure Cove!

People I have gone out with know never to let me enter a bookstore. Me in a bookstore is like a mouse in a cheese factory. Despite the number of books I have, I still manage to find more books which I want!

Last night we were supposed to watch the movie "Nine". Before the show started, we started browsing around the mall. Then I saw Harris and decided to go in. Before one knew it, I already picked out so many books I liked!

Thanks to my darling, I now have more books for my reading pleasure! Especially the treasures I found yesterday, which I have been looking high and low for!

See? The complete volume of Julia Child's Mastering The Art of French Cooking, as shown in the movie "Julie and Julia"

The almost entire Tudor series of Philippa Gregory, which includes
The Constant Princess, The Other Boleyn Girl, The Boleyn Inheritance,
The Queen's Fool, The Virgin's Lover and The Other Queen.

Now if only there is The Wise Woman, the collection will be complete!

Love Letters of Great Men and Women -
the one featured in Sex And The City

Actually, the one read by Carrie Bradshaw was just on "Love Letters Of Great Men", but this includes those by women too. I am always one for writing letters, I find writing letters so romantic and keeps the sparks alive in a relationship! Unfortunately, the few guys I have been with (except for one) find writing letters unnecessary and time-consuming! My current guy is also not a strong advocate in writing letters too! :-(

Looks like my resolve to reading more this year is going to come true!

A Fruitful Week!

It had been one fruitful week! Since it was still the Lunar New Year period, I had a series of gatherings. On Monday (the second day of the New Year), it was a gathering at my home for my dad's relatives, where we had a steamboat meal. On Friday, it was another gathering at my home for my mum's relatives, where we had another steamboat dinner.

On Saturday, we went to a friend's place for a Lunar New Year gathering. We had finger food, lots of booze and played cards. I won about S$12.00! On Sunday (yesterday), we went to another friend's place for lunch - this time to celebrate her son's first month. The baby is so cute and beautiful!

Then we went to IKEA. I was intending to get the glasses I like, but unfortunately, I was not able to find the design I wanted. Then we had a dinner of (what else?) Swedish meatballs and chicken wings! Yes yes, I know I have broken my resolve, so now I have to be even more vigilant on my promise!

Famous IKEA chicken wings and Swedish meatballs

Finally we went to watch the movie musical "Nine". While waiting for the movie, we went around and bought a few books! So it had been one fruitful week indeed!

P/S. By the way, the photo above was taken from my new Sony Cybershot. This was taken in Gourmet mode. Look how sharp the picture is in contrast with my former Olympus! Who says one needs a SLR to take such good photos?

Planning A Lesson

I am not sure if it is the New Year rush but for some reason I have been feeling so lethargic for the whole week that I actually missed all my lessons! Now I have to be even more disciplined and do my own readings to catch up.

I guess part of the reason I am so tired can be because this Sunday will be my turn to prepare and conduct lessons for the Cathechism class and I have yet to come up with any lesson plans!

I have not done any lesson plans for a long time. All those lesson plans which I needed to do when I was undergoing training and studies did not count much because when you actually graduate and go out to teach, you find that no lesson plans are needed as everyone just go according to what they feel most needed to cover during the lesson. Lesson plans became something redundant.

Hence I am not sure if I can still do a proper lesson plan. Besides the topic is on the Forty Days of Lent. I myself do not even know what Lent means to me, how am I to pass the knowledge on?

All I know about Lent is that it was a period of fasting which Jesus did for forty days and nights. Hence during Lent, Catholics are supposed to sacrifice something too.

Every year I just live as normal. This year I have resolved to give up my favourite food for Lent like chocolates, fried chicken wings. However my own resolve was already broken the second day itself!

If I am to guide the kids I ought to lead by example, and right now I do not think I make a fine example! :-p

So now it is back to the drawing board again. I need to start thinking what kind of lesson to conduct this weekend. Talk about doing things at the eleventh hour!

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At My Wit's End ...

I am all for marrige. I want to get married, only once. I know I want to get married ever since I was fifteen hence the first relationship (and subsequent ones) I always tried my best to make things work. That is also why my relationships are normally relatively long - the shortest one was about a year, the longest six years.

I am not like some who treat relationships lightly. If I make the choice to be with someone, I stick to it no matter what happens. If I do not believe in marriage, I would not have taken my relationships seriously.

Similarly I do not believe in divorce. Marriage to me is sacred. If I ever take the step to get married, it means I know what it entails and am prepared for everything that comes along with it, "for better or worse".

So since young, I already have an idea what I want out of a relationship and marriage. But when I was young I often let my emotions rule all which resulted in heartbreaks, tears and unhappiness.

Through the years I start sticking to what I want. I start looking for the best. I always have this vision that in my own relationship and marriage, I am on the best of terms with my partner's family. They treat me like their own daughter, we can go shopping, eating and travelling together as a family or even with just each other. I will have two reunions during festive occasions. It is just like having another family.

And that was what happened through the years. Half of what I wanted came true - the other half would be my partner doing the same thing - being part of my family, mingling with them, treating them as buddies.

Now the other half came true. I believe my parents really like him. In fact, the red packet my mum gave him is half the amount she gave me. First time she is so generous to my boyfriend! And my aunt and cousin gave him a red packet each too, even though he did not go visiting with us. They asked me to pass the red packet to him, and were equally generous to him.

This is a very good sign. Tonight he is invited to a reunion at my place with my dad's family. He has seen my dad's brother and a couple of my cousins and they have no issues with him. Tonight he would be seeing the rest. I believe there should not be any problem.

If only I can say the same for myself. The parents I have come across have always been warm and hospitable to me. They would bring me out for meals, shopping, call me to invite me to their place whenever they cooked too much or bought too much food, gave me nice things like snacks, bags, jewellery and clothing.

Of course whenever I visited them, I always brought something over, like fruit, food item or snacks. I really felt as if I was part of the family. When the relationship(s) ended, I felt bad for the parents that I would call them and thanked them for all they had done for me.

Which is why I do not quite relish the kind of situation I am in. I feel as if I am not in a whole relationship, only half. I was talking to my cousin last night and she told me how she first met her fiance's parents.

My cousin was here, he was in Sydney. When his parents knew about her, they specially made a trip down here to meet her. So she met them without him. They then brought her and her parents out for a meal.

His parents treat her very well. They cannot wait for them to get married, especially since the guy is the only son. They specially called her and invited her to Sydney, which was why she packed up and moved down under for a while.

Another cousin when her boyfriend was based in Hong Kong for a while, his parents met up with her and brought her out every week. During her wedding speech, she gave her immense gratitude to her in-laws who had been so kind and nice to her even when their only son was not around.

When I heard these accounts I could not help but wonder, have I done anything wrong to warrant this kind of treatment? I understand his parents can be protective, he being the only child and his parents revolve their lives around him.

Still must his parents blame me for everything - from him upgrading himself to getting more involved in religion to wanting to change job to aspiring for a better quality of life. Any normal person would want a better quality of life instead of being stuck where they are! Everyone should plan and predict the future!

Even when I offer to bring them out for a meal, or buy them food or cook for them, they refuse and do not like it. I offered to spend more time at his place and make a point to visit them, they said it is not necessary.

Then they say I must listen to them, give in to what they want before they can consider that I would bring them out and whatnot.

Give in to what? Listen to what? If it is going to their place and having a meal with them, did I not offer? Did I not set a day and time, said I would go over every Friday and Sunday? They are the ones who said not necessary!

I already have so many things on throughout the week. Only Fridays to Sundays I am free. Yet I offered to go to his place on Fridays and Sundays. If we go out on Saturdays, then I hardly have time to spend with my own parents.

But they still think if I am really sincere, I would go over everyday instead of fixing a day. They said if I do not go over it means I do not love him enough and will dump him one day.

How ridiculous can that be?! Do they expect me to stop work and everything else and go to his place everyday and not do anything just to show my sincerity?

Besides, I do not see how bringing them out for a meal and spending time hanging out with them relates to not giving in or listening to them. I am offering to do that! Why? Simply because they are my boyfriend's parents and I want to be nice to them!

Other parents will bring me out before I even offered or invite me to their house personally! They always make sure I am well fed! That is how my ex's parents treated me, how my cousins' and friends' in-laws treated them.

Whereas for me, I do not even get to have a meal with his parents even when I go to his place as his parents do not cook my share and they do not like to buy food back. They just stay in their room all the time and do not talk to me. It is already a brick wall to invite them out, to talk to them, let alone them offering anything!

I seriously wonder is it because I am of another race? But he has cousins who married Chinese too! Or is it because I am not a cradle Catholic like them? If it is then I will really be disappointed because a relationship is hard enough as it is without the race and religion issue coming into the picture.

During the usual family visiting this year, my relatives say since I have found someone I ought to settle down soon, do not drag on anymore. Other parents will say if you are with a girl and find her nice, then plan the next step since you are not getting any younger.

His parents? They told him why must he get married? Spend so much time with the girlfriend, may as well not go out and stay home and focus on the affairs at home.

I never have any qualms staying with my in-laws in the future. In fact I was brought up in a family where three generations live under one roof. Hence I am all for staying with the in-laws. That is why a lot of parents like me as they think it so rare for a girl to want to stay with the in-laws in this day and age.

So I would really want to improve my relations with his parents. In case we really get to stay together next time, I like us to be amicable and really part of the family, instead of strangers under the same roof. But I am now at my wit's end what else I can do to improve the relations since traditional methods do not work!

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The Odd Oddball

I do not know why I seem to be prone to meeting weird people. Somehow the kinds of people, guys especially, that I have met are odd in their own ways. So I despaired of ever finding a normal guy. I was prepared to give up and just stay single. But then again, I thought my dear was a weirdo too (he still is in some ways) when I first met him, and he did not turn out too bad in the end!

In any case, I do not really have a good impression of local Chinese guys. Those I know are either chauvinistic, autocratic, whiny, childish, mummy's boys or lacking in social graces.

Ok not just Chinese guys, local guys in general. I am not sure if it is due to the comfortable lifestyle we have that many local guys nowadays are too spoilt, throw tempers and think perverse thoughts if things do not go their way, or just not willing to strive and be stuck where they are.

That is why for a period of time I much rather prefer hanging out with foreigners as they give me a better impression than locals. I am not saying all foreigners are good or that all locals are bad, but somehow the ones I have met happen to be this case.

Luckily the weirdos I met have decreased and the more normal and decent people I have met have increased. I have a great group of fun-loving and nice friends whom we hang out with sometimes.

Hence when I come across the odd oddballs nowadays, I am more amused and bemused than anything else.

We all have our own quirks, some more than others, but this guy I know takes the cake! I am not the only one who finds him repulsive, the few times he joined my friends for outings, everyone also found him weird and requested never to invite him again!

The first time I met him was at a party I gave at my place last year. We did not talk much but after that, he sent me an email asking if I would like to attend the Cats musical.

Since I wanted to watch the musical, I agreed. Then he sent me another email, saying he had bought the tickets. If I could not make it that day, I could ask any of my other girl friends to replace and he would not ask them to pay. Whereas for me, it is up to me whether I wanted to pay as he "is a nice guy".

Nearing the day of the concert, he asked about dinner. Since he already paid for the tickets, I thought to pay for the dinner. So he suggested Tony Romas. I had a full lunch that day so I said I would not be eating much. He then ordered a seafood platter for four when there were only two of us.

He just ate and ate. When he could not finish, he actually asked the waitress to put the leftovers in a bag and he brought the food along into the theatre!

I could hardly believe it! The meal cost me S$98.00 but the cost is not the issue. The issue is that why must he order so much food when there were only two of us? And he packed the food into the theatre?

Besides, I did not know whether was it because I said I would buy dinner, hence the expensive meal? For normal people, if anyone is to buy me dinner, even if we pick a nice place, I would not order so much food or such an expensive meal. Not that I am being calculative but one does not take advantage of others like that. None of my friends do that even when I buy them a meal!

When we went into the musical, during the intermission, he asked how I would be going home. I told him it was the intermission hence I was not going home yet. He looked surprised that the concert was not over yet.

When the musical ended, he scooted off immediately without even saying goodbye as he wanted to catch the last bus, leaving me to walk ten minutes to the train station to go home.

A few weeks later he asked me for a movie. Since I happened to be free I agreed. After that he sent me a message, saying he had booked the tickets so since he would be paying for the show, why not I treat him to ice cream? I felt a bit disgusted after reading that. I have no qualms treating him but why must he make it sound as if I am obligated and must get him ice cream just because he got the tickets?

The day of the movie I was held up and told him to proceed with lunch first. When I reached the venue I met him at a shop where he was staring at fish on the big screen.

He told me he had not had lunch yet as he was waiting for me. So we went to a little cafe for lunch where I realised he chose that place because he had a voucher for a free meal.

After the meal he reminded me of the ice cream treat and brought me to Swensen's, but there was a private function that day. So we proceeded to Ben & Jerry's but it also had a private function.

Yet he still insisted on the ice cream and we went to Haagen Daz. He then ordered an ice cream set that cost S$24.00 and ate all up on his own, every bit on his plate!

I felt so disgusted! When we went into the movie I discovered he bought seats on the first row at the side, without even asking if the seats are ok. Who in the world will buy front row aisle seats in a cinema? Needless to say I had a sore neck after the show.

After that when he asked me for a show again, I told him I was watching already. When he asked again, I said the same thing. I did this partly because I was really watching the show already but also because I really did not enjoy his company.

Then he asked me, why did I not let him know I was already watching the show and why did I not ask him for movies anymore? That kind of riled me. Who in the world does he think he is that I must tell him what I do and only ask him for movie?! Does he own me that I cannot ask anyone else?!

My friends could not stand him as well. One movie outing we went on, someone bought popcorn for everyone. The guy sitting next to him later remarked he just took one big basket of popcorn all to himself and did not even offer to anyone. After the show, he just disappeared without saying bye to anyone as he needed to catch the bus before it was too late. Does he even know there is such a thing as a Night Rider and Night Owl services that cover all areas from eleven thirty to five in the morning?

Another time a group of us had a seafood dinner and durian outing. This weirdo kept saying it was his birthday. To me, it is no big deal disclosing your birthday but why do it in such a showy and expectant way?

So during the dinner, he asked if he could order bamboo clams as a birthday treat. It is fine with me since it was his birthday so I ordered for him.

When the food came, the guys said to let the ladies take the food first. So we girls took turns in taking the food on the lazy susie.

When it came to me, I was just taking some vegetables. Before my chopsticks even left the dish, suddenly that weirdo's chopsticks swooped in and he took a big chunk of vegetables from the same dish and just started eating.

I was so angry! Firstly it was so rude to just take when someone else had not finished taking. Secondly it was even ruder to take such a big chunk and start eating when the rest only took small chunks and waiting for everyone else. Thirdly it was so ungentlemanly to take first when everyone agreed to let the ladies take first!

What was the ultimate was that when his order of bamboo clams arrived, he ate up everything without leaving any for anyone else. And he did not even offer to pay for that dish! Yes I know it was his birthday and all but it was still no excuse not to have basic table manners!

When we finished dinner and went on to eat durians, he ate up all the seeds of the durian nearest to him when everyone else shared the durians amongst themselves!

Everyone was so angry with him that they specially requested not to invite him for any outing ever again!

So we never contacted him again. I thought I was finally rid of him until he suddenly messaged me two weeks back, asking if the evening show on 14 February or the morning show on 15 February would be better for me.

In the first place, since when have I even agreed to watch a show with him? In the second place, those dates are Lunar New Year, no one would be free. Surely he should know that, being a Chinese himself!

So I said it's Chinese New Year, I will not be free. Then a few days back, he messaged me again, saying he would book tickets for 16 February. He did not even deem to ask if I would be free or if I even want to meet him in the first place!

I told him 16th is still New Year period, so still not free. I thought finally he would get the message when this morning, I received another message from him, wishing me happy Valentine's Day (not Happy New Year) and said he would proceed to book tickets for the 16th today.

I was so angry! Which part of my messages did he not understand? I sent a message and told him off, saying he is not my valentine, that I am not free on the 16th, that I hate people who just make decisions for me without telling me and just assume I will go along.

Just who does this guy think he is?! Even my boyfriend never makes any decisions without telling me first. Whatever decisions he have, he always tells me or we discuss together. He does not assume I am free or take for granted I will definitely do as he asks.

That weirdo never replied after that. Hopefully he will never reply or contact me again! Good riddance! Oh and did I mention another big turn off is his body odour?

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Air Show 2010

Finally I have managed to upload some photos from the Air Show last Saturday - the one I got a sunburn from and for the rest of the week up to now, I still walk around with two tones on the arms.

Anyway here are some snippets from the Air Show, of the different variety of planes and the air display after that.

The entrance - with flags of various countries

Air Strip

Some examples of planes

Met some Trekkies and one happened to be our friend

Spocky!

With a Air Force captain

Power Ranger!

With two handsome American Air Force captains!

The Air Display

Helicopter somersaulting

It was an enjoyable and great display overall. I would not mind going back again if there is another one next year, but next time, I am going to overdose on sunblock and bring a canopy along with me!