What Do You Think You Are?

Wednesday 29 October 2008



Tough times for me now :(


I have to list my forward year goals and key responsibilities for 2009.


Self evaluation is important and one must pay attention to every little detail and how you word your answers to each question. So, do i be honest and rate myself as 'excellent' which i do think i really am for some of tasks/jobs done? Or do i stay humble and give myself a 'solid' which is like stepping in the middle ground for just in case i over-rated my capabilities? Like how some might say 'thick skin'?


I received quite a good appraisal feedback for year 2007 from my peers, heads and those i work closely with. So this time round, it'll be interesting to know how i fare and whether am i considered a consistent performer.


Alrighty, now back to working on the system to complete the toughest job for 2008 - completing my year end self appraisal.



Babybird's Birthday

Wednesday 22 October 2008



Babybird was supposed to go to my office with me in the morning of his birthday but he overslept. Hence i went to work as usual and only picked him up after lunch to the office. Strawberry Aud, his future 'MIL'... inside joke :) bought a lovely chocolate (was it mousse cake?) from Bakerzin to celebrate his seventh birthday.


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Big kisses to Dora, Scarlett, Strawberry Aud, Mommie Pammie, Shir, Chris and Garage Koko for celebrating his birthday and the many ang pows. I'll be sure to bring him to the office again next year on his birthday! Champion gave him an ang pow with a US$100 bill and Babybird asked me innocently, "Mommy, is this monopoly money?" Goodness.


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You know, i kept telling Shane, one cm more to go, and he would have hurt his eyes :(


Finally, for dinner that nite, i decided to go to a more familiar restaurant - Restaurant Ember. The service was superb and Sabrina, the person-in-charge is one of the best i've met.


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Looking at the menu, he couldn't decide what he wanted.


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Second present for the nite - a science project kit. The first was a magic kit. Science and magic, his current flavours of the month.


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Just can't stop looking at it.


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Everything taste good @ Ember, even their bread. Hot and fresh, straight from the oven. Goes very well with olive oil. I even asked for a second one.


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Shane had a mushroom soup.


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Yummy!!


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Shane ordered this as his appetizer, fried tofu.


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Mine, foie gras with orange sauce.


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Our favourites - steak.


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I told Sabrina to ask the Chef to find me the smallest piece for Shane (coz i knew Shane won't be able to finish all by himself and i don't want to waste food) but still they gave him quite a big one. Ember has one of the best steak in town, i really mean it!


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Shane has perfected his steak cutting skill :)


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Babybird enjoying his steak


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I'm bad at describing food, obviously i can't be a food critic coz all i can tell you about this steak is "it was very smooth and done just right to my liking - medium rare" :)


Ember is located at:
Hotel 1929
50 Keong Saik Road
Telephone: 6347 1928



Here are two vids i made for my Babybird's birthday celebration last year, looked how much he has grown!



Tokyo Disneyland, Japan



Science Center, Singapore



OktoberSixteen

Thursday 16 October 2008



Finally, after many weeks of sleepless nites, technical glitches, html struggles, trials, testings, css scripts, liquid templates and the uncountable self-inflicted pains (like banging my head on the wall), i am ecstatically thrilled to officially launch my little e-store:





It's my accessories site, lovingly handmade by me of course :)


So now, you can go tell your mothers, grandmothers, wives, girlfriends, sisters, aunts, partners, everyone you can think of.


I know my store may not be that professionally done like many of the beautiful e-stores on the net you can find because yours truly can only afford to hire the cheapest designer and one she can trust and bully to do all her biddings wihout feeling guilty. Haha.


You see, Yours Truly hired Yours Truly :) So really, if things are not working fine when it should, or if you are a html master or have brilliant ideas to enhance and make my store better, will you please, please, send me an email?


Right now, my little mind is bursting with too many creative ideas that I cannot wait to share them with you. From the setting up of this store to hand making all the accessories, photographing and editing them and to how each purchase will be packaged and shipped, every single detail has been dealt with great effort and care. As i embark on this journey, at the same time, i humbly invite everyone of you to walk along with me.


With regards to my store name, it didn't take me very long to come out with it. And OktoberSixteen means a lot to me.


It not only is an avenue for my creative ideas to flow unrestrictedly (beauty is subjective isn't it?) but most importantly, the name marked a significant event in my life - the birth of my Shining Star.


Hence, OktoberSixteen is launched today on October 16, 2008 to coincide with my Shining Star's birthday. And another coincidental reason i just discovered is my Shining Star turns seven today. Well, not that i didn't know he turns seven but seven happens to be my lucky number.


So it seems that everything is laying out nicely for me at this moment (okay, with the exception of Shane's minor fall) and now if money can drop from the sky, my life would be perfect!


I'm off to work later today and my Shining Star will be coming with me. I plan to take him for a romantic dinner after work, just the two of us, to celebrate his birthday and the launch of OktoberSixteen. I like to introduce him to some interesting local 'fine dining'. You will never believe this but i made two reservations at two different restaurants. Till now, i haven't quite make up my mind yet on which to go. Depending on my mood at 5pm, i might just cancel both and go on a different direction.


That's just me, the spontaneous indecisive girl that sometimes can turn a little evil (dependingonthetargets).



Shane



Aiyoh!

Wednesday 15 October 2008



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My baby bird had a minor fall in school today :(



Auld Lang Syne

Sunday 12 October 2008



Rewatched Sex and The City (the movie) again...how many times is it now? Everytime it ends, i feel a pang of sadness, as if i just lost a good friend. The HBO version stood by me in my times of darkness and i'm reminded of just how blessed it is to have good friends around.


Good friends who painted my small one room apartment together when i first decided to start a new life with Shane. Good friend who, despite being midnite at that time, came all the way from one end of Singapore to the other end just so she can take me and Shane away. She even got her hubby to activate his friends to drive their cars to where i was staying before coz yours truly had luggages big and small and one car was not enough. Or good friend who didn't mind massaging my oily head when i had a real bad headache but couldn't take panadols coz i was pregnant with Shane. You may think it's nothing, but my dear readers, we were at Burger King then and it was packed with watchful people!


I miss my friends, although some are still near me, but there are a few who are so far away from me now. At one part of the movie, the part where this song was played - the new year's eve nite where Carrie got out of bed, braved the cold and went to Miranda's apartment. Remember that scene?


One should never be alone on new year's eve. It's a taboo. A big no no! Which was why i started my own tradition when Shane was born, that is, we will always spend the last day of the year and the beginning of the new one together. And i hope this tradition will last as long as i live.


Watching Shane make silly faces, singing silly songs, saying silly things to make me laugh, slow dancing with me, these were some of the best moments of my life. And not forgetting his constant request to marry me. Really, how sweet can that be? Do you guys say that to your mommy too when you were young? Nah, you probably can't remember.


Come Thursday, Shane is officially seven. Growing up without a constant father figure proved to be some struggles for Shane at times. I remember something he told me when we were waiting to take the cable car ride in Seaworld, Brisbane. Shane saw another family where the father was carrying a little boy hugging a teddy bear and he said to me, "Mommy, if only i have a papa here with us, then he can protect us on the cable car. But i don't have." That moment, my eyes gave way to two large tears.


I have always done my very best for him and i'm glad to be still doing the same. Although ex-man was never there for us, but it never once brought us to despair. Instead, it fused both me and Shane so tightly together that we almost become one. And that itself gives me strength to continue till now. I can never forget how his innocent eyes used to tear when i told him i'm getting old. To him, being old equates to dying. He wants me to be always with him and i have to reassure him i will always be with him as long as he wants me to. And should i return to God far earlier than expected, i will be his special angel and always be there to protect him.


I live for the moment, i care nought for tomorrow or yesterday and i know all the beautiful moments will come to an end. When my baby bird's wings are strong enough and ready to fly away from our cosy nest, all these bittersweet memories will then be my companion in my journey to the end. It's inevitable. It will happen one day and i hate to think of that.


My Shane is the star of my life. He has many talents that i'm pretty proud of. He's smart in his little way and he can remember the most amazing things i said, which sometimes can be rather embarrasing.


As for me, getting emotional is my number one talent. Now let me go dry my tears.



From My Sony Ericsson W890i

Friday 10 October 2008



I was clearing out the memory stick on my phone. Didn't know i have so many pics in there. So here are a couple to start your weekend!



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The best Thai food - First Thai @ 23 Purvis Street.


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The best Lychee Martini in Town? Only at Harry's Bar. It taste sweeter and the alcohol content is just right.


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I only drink warm water actually, unless it's Lychee Martini :)


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My new BB Bold came in a cool jet black box. Even its battery is fully jet black too. Smart!


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It also came with a leather slip-in pouch.


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I know what love is, do you?


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Not sure why i took this.


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My kiddo loves Japanese food, especially Agedashi tofu.


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Look at his face... Haha.. he's just so adorable.


Btw, i have a party coming up next month:


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We received no black, handcrafted with silver calligraphy invite but a one for all big notice stuck on the wall. There is no need to blindfold us too coz the venue was stated there for all to see. We have to come dressed as Fairytales character. Do you think there'll be security dressed up as centaurs or chauffeurs dressed up as Hermes?


Guess what i'll be wearing? Nay, i will not come dressed as Maenad, for why would i choose to be some wild, insane women who could not be reasoned with and who indulged in copious amounts of violence, bloodletting, sexual activity, self-intoxication, and mutilation.


I prefer my costume to be fun and i found two nice outfits from Secret Costumes. But what will i come as?


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Will i be Sexy Card ? (from Alice in Wonderland)


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or will i be Cuddly Lion? (from Wizard of Oz)


Naturally, i will let you know after the party of course :)


Btw, I don't like the new facebook. Do you like it? I prefer the old layout where you can "see all at one go". Now, i have to click on the many different tabs in order to see what other interesting stuffs my friends are up to. So cumbersome!!!


And, Champion is finally on Facebook too!! How exciting for him. However, teaching him to use it is like teaching a chicken how to fly. Stressful. Haha.. but he's a smart cookie, and i'm a good teacher, so he definitely will do well in FB.


* * *


Janice: My online shop is launching soon, i'm excited about it too :)

Daisy: The one at Carrefour can only make plain popcorn. I like my popcorn slightly sweet. It's not very big too. Remember, i may want to sell popcorn next time.. haha

Shufang: Meee too!! i love GV's popcorn and actually i never think i will fall in love with this easy-to-get-fat snack.

DDOS: Thank you...

Via: Thanks but i don't do link exchange. if i really like a site, i will add them to 'Blogs i Read' on the sidebar. Sorry but hope you understand :) Btw your site has a lot of food pics and they looked so delicious. It's making me hungry now and that's not good coz i'm suppose to be on a diet!

Terrence: Hope this weekend will be a great one for you.

Jason: Thank you!

Workingholic: Are you back in Singapore?? and i thot that should be spelt as "kam siah"? But gumxia definitely sounds more like the hokkien 'thank you' as compared to cumcia, that sounds quite rude right?? haha

Kat: I went to Robinson but couldn't find. Shall try Tangs this weekend. Hmmmm why didn't i think of Tangs?? Thanks for reminding!

BLT: Babe, go get BB Bold. You won't regret it!!!



Huh???

Friday 3 October 2008



Becks was asking me something on email today. I thought i had replied him when i saw my reply was still sitting in my draft folder. Immediately i clicked 'sent' and that was already three hours after receiving his email. Then another three hours later, he replied. Just one word.


Cumcia


Shoot, was he mad at me for replying him three hours late? It was only three hours, not three days. And that must be a new rude word he learnt in his motherland. Goodness, London must be getting too colorful for him.


I was about to ask him back rudely what the hell was he supposed to mean by that when i paused and thought, could it be 'Thank You' in the hokkien dialect?


Haha, that was it, in view of his coming back next month for a few days, Becks was practising his dialect! And yes, that was his hokkien version of 'Thank You'. Spelt like that. Cumcia.


I felt so silly then. Thank God i didn't reply anything rude in retaliation. I have quite a temper too you know.


Well, since i'm on the topic of Becks, let me show you some pics from his latest adventure, that lucky brat. This time, he wandered off to nomadic Mongolia.


All pictures shown here are stolen from his facebook, courtesy of his other mates. His Royal Highness is not known to carry any form of photography equipment with him, except maybe his camera phone but that could have been dropped ten thousand times while flipping cartwheels front-to-back and back-to-front in clubs. Not a very reliable camera i tell you :)


Anyway, here you go:


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Don't you think this could pass off as a CD album cover for some rock band?



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Becks is still single, very available and driving a Porsche, so if you would like to add youself to his already growing female fans base, please drop me an email. I will see what i can do.


There is certainly no need to 'cumcia' me.


Haha :)


Ps: All new fans must pass an audition conducted by Sister Scarlett... xxx



Addicted to Popcorn

Wednesday 1 October 2008



I once said i don't enjoy eating popcorn unless i'm at the movies (see here). But this has since changed. I'm into eating popcorn now. It all started when Shane has his usual violin and drum classes on Saturday. There were free popcorns given by the management. Once Shane couldn't finish his pack and since i always preached to him not to waste food, i must set a good example. I finished the popcorn for him and now, i'm addicted to it. It's like new discovery for me. I can eat the whole pack by myself, not sharing one single bit with Shane. Sometimes i even nudged him to go get another one for me as it's actually for kids not for big buffaloes like me.


Last Saturday, after i finished my usual pack of popcorn, like a pregnant woman, i craved for more. So I went to the cinema and bought myself a regular size popcorn while Shane was in the music class. That regular size cost me $7! I find it ridiculous paying so much for popcorn and reckoned that i should buy my own popcorn making machine. So today, i'm going round town searching for one.


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I'm going to get something like this.


If i can't get one from Singapore or Malaysia, i will consider buying from Neiman Marcus. I gather if i make one 'regular sized' pack a day, i would sort of 'recover' back what i paid for the machine (plus shipping) by my thirtieth home-made pack. Isn't it so? And if i get bored with my job, i will go sell popcorn. And if you happen to see me selling my popcorn, come get one free pack from me. i will also give you a free can of coke to go along with your popcorn. I know, i'm so generous :)


While i go searching for my popcorn machine, i leave you with this song- คิดถึงเธอทุกที (ที่อยู่คนเดียว) by Calories Blah Blah.


This is the other version of the same song i introduced few months back by Koh Mr. Saxman, featuring Jennifer Kim. I'm not sure which one i prefer most, i do like the jazzy lazy version by Mr. Saxman but i like this duet cover by Calories too.


Visit this link here to hear Mr. Saxman version and tell me which one you like.