Singapore Grand Prix

After 2 years, finally I got my chance to go :) Well, I'm not crazy over it but it's always fun to attend some big event for the first time! Thanks to my ex-colleagues (connection, connection, connection... very important ;))!

Singapore might be renewed for holding more races but is it really helping our economy or probably just tourism? I have no clue, except that even we are getting a lot of tourists and revenue from the tickets and hotels, money has been spent setting it all up, the manpower and maybe to repair and maintain the roads too... What's in for the rest of us? Actually, nothing! Well, except if you get a free chance to watch it live... then maybe yes that's something.

To be honest, after attending the practice session on Friday, I STILL prefer to watch it on the TV. It was a rainy Friday afternoon, so the ground was wet and muddy... not very fun, but thanks to the great company I had, it was bearable :) Even the humidity almost killed us, we survived! The noise pollution was intense, even with those ear plugs on... I had to constantly stick them in but it wasn't of much use! We weren't that close to the track so no complaint about the air pollution from the burnt rubber, lol. Food and drinks were overpriced, so were all the merchandise... So what's so fun about it? I did enjoy the concert they laid out for us, it was Missy Elliot on Friday and she sure pleased the crowds.

I watched the qualifying and final back home in comfort and away from the noise, heat and people. It was far more pleasant. Give me another free ticket, I might go, but I'm not really going to pay that price to get myself suffering from all those again ;) LOL.

It was sad to see Hamilton out of the race but hey, that's racing... it happens! Button didn't seem as aggressive this year compared to the last... so I was kinda hoping for Webber to catch up from his initial 8th placing and he did :) So I guess that's the end of Grand Prix for me as I don't follow it after they left Singapore. Till next year!

Congrats Blair!!

My friend kindly invited me to his Bali wedding and I really wished I could go... Such an coincidence that I have fallen sick that weekend :( Wonder if it's a blessing in disguise? I have always wanted to attend an overseas wedding, but fret not, because one of my buddies is having hers in Sabah (don't ask me why this quirky location!)... and apparently, she made me maid of honour.

I feel very privileged to be a guest at Blair's solemnization, as it was meant for the immediate families and very few friends. A dinner for 16. Due to the fact that I wasn't attending the Bali wedding, I was then offered to attend in Singapore. I can still recall how I met him, it was through my friend, then ex-colleague Cynthia. They were having a blind date and having a coffee at Starbucks where I was supposed to meet Cynthia thereafter. Since then, I probably have known him for 2 years, and we even travelled to Kota Kinabalu, joined by the girlfriend (not Cynthia, of course) whom is now his wife.

Blair is an IT guy, and I think I can proudly call him a geek, because I'm sure he wouldn't mind :) Haha, I guess now he's one of the very left IT experts I have left in my social circle as the rest have retired and disappeared out of my life.

Blair had a very simple ceremony here, very short and sweet. No fuss. I guess Asians tend to put extra effort in a lot of the details and try to make it perfect and memorable. While for the foreigners, they like to get it done without much fuss. But the restaurant did put our names on the customised guests' menu at our allocated sitting, it was very nicely done. The 5 course dinner included foie gras, wild mushroom soup with gruyere toast and roast black cod fish accompanied with spinach and almond puree... Excellent food, and a beautiful night for a joyous occasion!

真讨厌

破财消灾。

Like the above Chinese saying goes... if you don't spend the money, the disaster won't go away. It's been always like this for me, whenever I'm sick, I need to spend to see a doctor or I'd never get better. And once I spent the money, the disease seemed to have bid its farewell or well almost. Life is just not very fair on me a lot of the times, what to do?

But at least, I adore my family doctor, he asks about my life all the time when I visit. He gives better medication than his wife who chucks me with medicine for kids. Today I got some positive bacteria as a consolation.

Thought of the day - my house is haunted. I told my parents and they were just laughing it off.

Not again!

Fever and headache were lurking around yesterday, I managed to win the hide-and-seek with them. I also took the po chai pills just to make sure the stomach won't run again.

It was alright till this morning, something seemed funny again. I ignored it, thinking the stomach upset was playing games with me again. I still managed to stay out for 11 hours before coming back home and doing 4 toilet runs in 4 hours... Damned! The worst has came true, it has returned :(

Took 6 fishing pills after 1st run, and another dose of po chai pills after the 3rd... It doesn't seem to work anymore, I hope it will give it a rest and let me sleep :( ARGH.

Tips

I just thought I would share these with all the fellow job seekers, and I did make one of the worst mistakes at my interview! Not bringing a copy of my resume, well the HR told me to bring nothing on the 2nd interview and they did have it on the 1st... Worse of all, I don't have a print out copy of it myself! Ermm, no point crying over spilled milk now, just hope there's still a chance :)

50 of the worst job interview mistakes
The 10 best questions to ask at a job interview
The worst mistake you can make on your resume

My head is about to burst

It all started from waking up at 6am, having cold feet and an stomachache... yesterday. At first I thought it was the interview giving me cold feet, but I felt unwell. Even after the episode, I came home and still felt something was wrong.

After 1 panadol extra, 6 fishing pills and 4 panamol... the upset stomach, fever and episodic headache are finally gone, hopefully for good! It's the one day I swallowed damn lots of pills on my own accord! Sometimes when I was really sick, I often wondered if I would wake up the next day... Life is so fragile, and so often not worth to think so much about.

Mamamia

A second interview... and it's with the company's CEO. How stress is that?

Shoo spammers

I just removed the chat box till I find a better one that will allow verification before posting and no posting of links. I've been getting too many rubbish messages from spammers and it's wasting my time removing the messages! Geez, don't you guys have better things to do???

Gift for myself ;)

While everyone else is busy earning money, I'm spending my hard earned savings... Yes, bad, I know. I will make sure I'll fill up the gap later. But recently, I'm in the mood to spend, by that it often means I'm feeling a little grumpy and thus the shopping mood.

So I am making this purchase as my own birthday present. Ha ha. A bit early, yes.

It's something I have always wanted. Don't kill me please!

A flip phone or some call it a clamshell!!!! And a Samsung GT S3600i! My only spare phone is a malfunctioning 8 years Samsung lady's flip phone or clamshell, which has already lost its antenna. I guess, a good enough reason for me to get one??? Well, I do have my favourite Blackberry at the moment, but it's under M1 contract which is I'm literally loaning from them for 2 years till I buy it off them at the end of my contract (still more than 1 year to go!). I remember how miserable I was when I lost my last phone and was struggling with the 8 year-old spare phone which would lose calls halfway through.

I had been searching for a red or gold Motorola Razr for the longest time, but a brand new will cost me maybe over S$300... I didn't want to spend that much for a spare phone. Or I call it a holiday phone. Guess what? This is less than half the price of a Razr. I walked by the Samsung shop some days back, saw it, and was captivated. It was not till I had walked into the store for 3 times at least before I finally decided to buy it. Yes, I did think for quite some time, walking back and forth. I love this sleek phone and its color. It's like champagne gold, with dark brown theme when you open the flip. A very basic and simple phone, no wifi, no 3G, lousy camera... but most importantly, it is a flip phone! I need just that, and the basic calling and messaging. It should satisfy me :)

p.s: I love Samsung, they are pretty long-lasting in my experience. I also love Blackberry & Sharp (not in Singapore sadly).

Autsch!

Is it wrong to expect the simple courtesy from friends? What has happened to the world these days?

People don't bother to reply to sms, even when they are busy, they can reply later? I always try to do it later if I'm not available. But I hate being ignored, it's plain rude. I rather use that one sms for someone else then!

People don't say thank you when you do something nice for them willingly. All right, I offered to help but after helping, not even a simple word of appreciation. For a friend of many years, sometimes it's quite disappointing.

At least for a consolation, I still have other better friends... :)

Pinky surprise!

Pink Domo with a Chocolate Cupcake card!

Thank you my sweetest friend, Joy! I have always been the one writing friends letters and cards and it is really nice to get one as a surprise :) I opened the mailbox today and was shocked to see a package addressed to me, and it's from the USA. It really brightens my day and yes, I heart that pink Domo as much as I heart my friend, Joy. She bought it at the recent comic conference she attended, and how sweet is that to still remember this dear friend back in Singapore!! I miss you much much much................

Au revoir

Just as my world was about to fall down, someone came just in time to help support the weight! I appreciate times like these when GOD really sends someone, to tell me that it's still worth waiting for and don't give up. Even if it's a stranger, or someone I barely know, someone thousands of miles away... but I feel it. He meant what he said and it was honest... it reached me deep inside. Thanks Guillaume - thank you for your existence and thank you for proving what I believe in exists.

Congrats Eylene :)

One of my close friends just got promoted from "single" to "married" today.... It was a beautiful wedding, and I was very honoured to be there as it was only a small function mainly for their families.

It was at Giraffe, the "glass" restaurant standing in the middle of Dhoby Ghaut. I had been there once, and I like the way they decorate it with many giraffe statues. Lunch was buffet style, with a great variety from cream of mushroom, potato salad, chicken salad, pennes in tomato sauce, butter rice with raisins, beef, deep fried fish cutlet, colorful peppers, chicken satay, eclairs, cream puffs, bread pudding and chocolate mousse. I didn't have everything of course, my tummy is already big enough :( Then we witnessed their solemnization. The bride was almost in tears!

In the recent years, I have only attended 3 friends' weddings. But this is different as she is a close friend of mine, the others are more like good friends that I catch up once in a while. Everytime during the wedding ceremonies, I would feel a little emotional... but I think I have gotten over it! It's the 4th wedding now. Instead, I feel truly happy for her when I see the happiness glowing from her face and how compatible they both look.

I hope this marks a great start for her second phase of life!

p.s: Another dinner and solemnization on Friday!!

I like being a geek

I got my geeky spectacles today. Thrilled. So I went around doing my stuff in my new big squarish glasses. And something quite funny happened today on the train home. I noticed this man sitting opposite me glancing at me. I didn't think of anything. Then my sister told me I had the leftover of the awesome Awfully Chocolate ice cream bits on my chin... I thought that must be it. Then at Tanah Merah, the man alighted... before he exited, he stood at the door and was looking at me again. So I looked his way and he actually winked at me. I actually felt flattered, I would be disgusted in the past... but anyway he wasn't horrible looking, so I reluctantly gave a smile. I didn't really know how to react then. I wonder now if anyone has befriended anyone you met on the train? What's the perfect excuse to get talking? :)

Are you fit to be choosy?

I am really turned off by someone when he tells me after looking at a picture of the opposite sex, she isn't his type. Well, we all have choices and preferences, I respect that. But telling me that just by looking at a picture, that is just shallow. If you judge a person by a photo, you're merely telling me you've read a book by just reading the title or looking at its cover! No wonder he hasn't been able to find a girlfriend for years, the problem with him is he thinks too highly of himself and expects something that is beyond his capability. Sorry for the ranting, but that's very childish behaviour and I reckon he's better off buying a Vietnamese wife by choosing from the catalogue. I don't like to matchmake and it isn't really my forte. Sometimes my friends happened to get together because they hit it off well. And no, I don't allow people to pick from pictures like they are ordering food from a menu. Don't give me the BULLSHIT someone is or is not your type from a photo, because then you're bloody shallow. He even had the guts to tell me another friend is prettier but too bad, she's beyond what he's capable of providing just because I know my friend too well. So disappointed with the species of men these days... If you don't meet someone in reality, don't give me the crap of "your type", because a relationship is not based on "your ideal image of a maiden". I just wish I had the courage to tell him, "Look at yourself in the mirror and ask if you're capable to attract the type you're WISHING for!".

Selamat Hari Raya

My dad views every man I go out with as a suspect for potential boyfriend! Thanks Dad, how trusting!!? Parents, they just can't wait to see their children get married off, isn't it?

I met up with Yus to check out Geylang Serai for Hari Raya festive mood... It was the first time in my life to visit the place during Ramandan. I feel like a mountain tortoise... like I have missed out all the vibes that was going on there in the past. Like Yus said, it's not the same anymore. The Malay Village is as quiet as mouse, with most people at the tiny food court and the food prices are not cheaper than elsewhere. I also didn't expect all the shopping to be in the form of local bazaar, local term we call it pasar malam. So everything almost were under the white tents... but we also explored a few malls and food places around Joo Chiat road. I especially like the 2nd storey hawker where there was a great variety of food and all halal I supposed. The lighting was pretty at night too and we had the colorful drinks which looked quite poisoned with artificial colorings. I chose the lime juice, because it was the most normal looking!! I also had my favourite deep fried banana balls, which must be giving me my dose of pimples outbreak now :( Then I also had the S$5 henna drawing on my hand, I love it :)

Joo Chiat Road

The colorful poisons

My henna drawing

It was nice catching up after so long... and we talked about my Europe plan next year! Well, I think there's definitely lots of homework to be done!! Yus, I hope you're up for it and thanks for introducing me the food I never tried before!

It's geeky time

It's very funny that today I went to the optometrist/optician and he after examining told me my eyesight has "improved". WOAH??! My "degrees" on both eyes have fallen, despite my increase in computer usage in the last 2 years. How strange!? But I decided to keep the prescription for the new spectacles as the ones I have now, as they work just great. I wonder how accurate that automated refractor is?? I saw the numbers on the slip and they differed quite a lot! It probably explained why I can still see without my glasses? LOL. Then I was asked to sit in a small corner where I had to read tiny letters and differentiate numbers on green and red background. I enjoy this much better than visiting a dentist ;)

Looking forward to my new geeky frames.

Yum (01) - Spicy cucumber

The other day, I went grocery shopping with mum (one of my favourite things). We picked up so many ingredients for the upcoming days. She decided to try doing up this dish which she had at her friend's. In the end, I was the one whipping it up! But it was a lovely try.... I think I could have finished the whole plate.

I never used to post entries on stuff I cooked. I have lost many of the good recipes I had since. Guess I should start compiling again.

Japanese cucumber fried with hae bee hiam

It's made from 3 long crispy Japanese cucumbers fried with hae bee hiam (or sambal udang kering in the malay terms) and mum added a tiny pinch of salt (it was already salty enough). Hae bee hiam is like a spicy mix from dried shrimps, shallots, chilli and garlic cloves. I pounded it myself using the stone pounder (mum likes it the traditional way, not today's electric blender).

Superfriend

Emotional needy friends are taxing. Why do some friends always give so little and expect so much in return? Life can be unfair but such friendship is equally as bad. One of my close friends really has the habit of asking me out last minute (especially when she is feeling down), and whenever I ask her to join my planned activities with others.. She always gives me the same excuse that she's not sociable. I am not borned sociable and no one truly is! She complains about no one being there for her when she needs, how about vice versa? Sometimes I can't help but feel sorry for her... I want to be there and try to, but there is so much you can ask from someone. Friendship is precious, especially one you put in so much effort and time but sometimes it evolves over time. There is so much you can do to make it work, but there is also so much you have no control over. I don't ask much from my friends, if you put in this much, I try to do the same... or even a little more if I can. But I am no super human, so don't have high expectations!

Mr Holmes

Sherlock Holmes certainly is a delight to watch.

It's a detective story based in London in the 1890s. They were still building the tower bridge!! LOL, it certainly brings back lots of fond memories of London, not to mention how much I miss the English & Scottish accent! Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) is an amazing character, he brings every scene to life and everything about him is unpredictable. I very much like how he remembered everything he came across and turned out to be some kind of evidence. John Watson (Jude Law) too, I'm so smitten with that side burn and moustache ;) I didn't realise he's Jude Law till the credits - Shame, I know. But I have to admit I'm not a sucker for pretty faces, which is why I didn't notice till now. I appreciate someone more for the style and character (E.g. my favourite Ewan McGregor). Lord Blackwood sure reminds me of someone I know... and that is not funny. In fact, pretty scary. It's 2 hours long and I just finished the movie, it certainly keeps me wide awake... very impressed and still very fascinated!

p.s: This reminds me that I always address a friend as Mr Holmes ever since the movie was out, well it is really his last name :) And he's English and a sheriff. Doesn't it kinda fit?

If you think...

money can make the world goes round???

Serving national service and getting money for recognition?! Geez... to think that the government can come up with this. My dad was thrilled hearing this, little did he know if he was even one of the "Some 300,000 Singaporeans" as quoted and bear in mind, those money are going into CPF, not cash! Read on (especially the comments).