Baby Isaac's arrival

Baby Isaac arrived on 20th November =) Brownie and I were so excited that morning. I kept on coming down the hours, then minutes before I was wheeled into the operating theatre. The anaesthetist asked me to breathe deeply and then I was knocked out.

When I woke up, I was already in my ward, a bit weak but very conscious and hungry (fast for a good 12 hours because of the operation). One hour later, the nurse came in with Isaac....he looked so cute in the bassinet. I am a mummy now!! For 38 weeks I carried him in my womb and now there he is sleeping so soundly ...Life is a miracle, from the fusion of sperm and egg to a group of cells and then voila! a child is born

5 more days !

It had been a good one and a half weeks. I have been eating, watching cable, resting at home, mind totally free from work and catching up on my readings. Haven't been reading any books (apart from those required for my work) for some time. Life's really good and maybe Porkie should consider being a full time housewife. * idea!!

Boy boy is doing well too, gaining weight steadily in my womb. He has been very active too. Giving me painful kicks and nudges when I least expects it. ;-) Went for my weekly checkup today and dr asked if I am excited. Ya, excited and a bit scared cos it will be a c section under general anaesthesia. 5 more days to go and Brownie and I will be cradling boy boy in our arms.

Counting down

I am getting restless these days. More and more restless. Aimlessly going through the motions of my work, just to make sure things are in order. I have no mood for anything. My aim now? Just to finish my research report and internal staff seminar.

Nothing gets moi more excited than the days when I have to go for my weekly scans. Seeing my little darling on the screen makes me so happy. Little one, grow strong, well and healthy. You will be seeing daddy and mummy soon ....in a couple of weeks' time....

Perfect Melancholy

Remember i mentioned about this personality test i did last week? I belong to this category: Perfect Melancholy

a) Emotions
-Strengths: Deep and thoughtful, Analytical, serious and purposeful, artistic and talented, sensitive to others, self-sacrificing, conscientious, idealistic, philosophical and poetic

-Weakness: Remembers the negative, moody and depressed, low self-image, too introspective,has selective hearing, guilt feelings, persecution complex, off into another world

b) Work
-Strengths: Schedule oriented, perfectionist, detail conscious, orderly and organised, neat and tidy, sees details, finds creative solutions, likes charts, graphs, figures and lists

-Weakness: Depressed over imperfection, not people oriented,chooses difficult work, spends too much time planning, self depreciating, hard to please, deep need for approvals, standards often too high

c) Friends
-Strengths: Makes friends cautiously, content to stay in the background, aviods causing attention, faithful anf devoted, will listen to complaints, can solve other's problems, deep concern for people

-Weakness: Lives through others, insecure socially, withdrawn and remote, critical of others, holds back affection, suspicious of others, unforgiving skeptical of compliments, full of contradiction

Company's retreat

Last friday was my first retreat with my office. We played the SCS version of "Shi (2) zi (4) jie(1) kou (3). It was ok, at least it was a good break from office. We did not manage to go look for any award winning food outlets. Our aim was simple: Get to places with the minimial amount of petrol and get to our final destination fast and then rest there. It was tiring for me...with boy boy and having to walk around. I was so glad when we finally reached 19 East Coast Road (our final destination) at close to 2pm, one hour ahead of the scheduled time.

The second part of our retreat was a personality test and a short discussion of what we hope to see in terms of team and program synergy in 2007 and also how far we had achieve some of the goals we've set few years back. It then sets me thinking:if the session is about thinking ahead and how much we hope we can achieve, why then is the day called a retreat?

The beauty of motherhood

Like the roots of a plant, they creep slowly up. Extending forward and sideways, enveloping the area. They are silent, no signs of them creeping but when you finally discover them...Eeeks!!! The reddish brown streaks staring back at you angrily at the mirror...OMIGOSH...stretch marks....

Cyclops

I seem to be complaining a lot these days. Here's one more complain.

Some people in this world is just plain "bu zi tong". They can sit there and use their eye power while others are doing work. They will not feel embarassed or uncomfortable. Maybe their hide is thick enough or maybe they simply don't find it wrong to be a cyclops!!

Work is just a transaction

I always believe that work is nothing but a transaction. Monetary benefits in exchange for your labour. You work from 9 to 6, exchange these 8 hours of your labour for salary, CPF, bonus, leave and medical benefits. That's all.

I don't believe in going the extra mile for the company unless they are willing to go that extra mile for you. But hey, isn't that also an exchange?

Juicy Lobsters

Last saturday, my tail, underground, P zai, Uncle Babu, Brownie and me went to the international seafood buffet @ Greenhouse, Ritz Calton.

Very good spread.....Bread of all kind (walnut, cheese sticks, hard rolls etc), different types of cheese to go with your bread. Then they have the sushi corner...don't really know if it is nice cos it is raw and I can't touch raw stuff for the time being. Then they have the lobster corner..It is power man!! The lobsters are thrown into hot soup and then boil until cooked. The result? Juicy, tender lobster meat and when served with a special butter sauce...it is simply heaven. Next comes the prawns, scallops, mussels, fish, crabs ...it is simply too much to describe. Oh yes and the dessert corner, they have a wide selection of chocolate pralines, tiramisu, chocoloate cakes and many more.

Yummy!!

Sexlicious....

On Monday night, I went to the Esplanade, to watch local director, Beatrice Chia-Richmond's recreation of the highly aclaim Liza Minnelli's Oscar classic, Cabaret.

Went with great expectations, amidst all the hype about the production - posing in her bra and panties Beatrice Chia-Richmond; pretty boy Fei Xiang; Frederick Lee's flamboyant costumes.....Oh, it must be good...ticket sales were striving (or maybe I should say, good marketing skills?)

Our seats were good.....right at the centre and at a very comfortable eye level, I can see Fei Xiang's wrinkles underneath the thick stage makeup.

8.10pm - Cabaret opens with MC's cheeky note. Impressive stage props, ranchy dance moves and seductive lines pronouced with the distinct German accent.....oh yes, of course and how can I miss out those costumes on the cast's body - so Frederick Lee!

The stars failed to impress. Fei Xiang's voice wasn't as powerful, deep and rich as I had expected. Emma Yong's voice broke as she strained to reach a high note in the last few moments.

Karen Tan, as usual, never fail to impress. She is GOOD....one word and nothing else.

Coldplay comes to Singapore

Last week, Brownie received 3 complimentary tics to Coldplay concert from his client. Coldplay? Who are they? Hmm...never heard of this band before...anyways since it's free...why not?

Before this evening's concert, Porkie did my homework. Went to their official website and found out that they are an Australian band, apparently now on world tour. Before the concert, I asked my brother, "So who's Coldplay and what songs they sing?" My brother mumbled some words that sounded totally foreign to me. I stared blankly at him and he finally got frustrated and said,"they are not your era!"

Half an hour later, sitting in the fully packed indoor stadium, Coldplay burst onto the stage, belting out songs which really sounded alien to me. What's more, the music was loud and I was busy covering Boy Boy with my shawl *hmm..mother's instict huh?

Then, I heard something familiar...."Look at the stars, look how they shine for you ...." Hey, I know this song...., who says I am dinosaur?!!

Open your eyes and see !!

Why must it always be me to cover counter duty?

Why must it always be me who answers the phone when our recep is not around? Is everyone deaf??

Just because I dun see cases and dun go to schools, I am the one who is always available to do counter. I also have my own work to do. This is so sickening! I am not piss because I have to do it, I am piss because I am always the one being asked to do it. Everyone should take turns.

I bought a four -leaf clover

Four-leaf Clover Poem
Author: Ella Higginson
I know a place where the sun is like goldand the cherries bloom forth in the snow;
And down underneath is the loveliest place,
Where the four-leaf clovers grow.
One leaf is for FAITH,
And one is for HOPE,
And one is for LOVE you know;
And GOD put another in for LUCK:
If you search you will find where they grow.
But you must have FAITH,And you must have HOPE,You must LOVE and be strong and so...
If you work and you wait,
You will find the place
Where the FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS grow!

Strange that I can find peace and serenity in such a place

I was in my office toilet. It was dark, yet not pitch black, there was still rays of lights streaming in through the windows. It was quiet, yet not dead silence.

As I sat there and concentrate on my business. Suddenly I heard something!

Sounds were coming out from a leaking pipe. I scanned the pipes for signs of leakages yet I could not find any. No water dripping out from the taps either. Could the leakage come from within?

Anyways, that is not the important thing. What I want to blog about was the magical sound of the leaking pipe. The sound of a drop and sometimes many drops of water dripping, hitting another body of water. Clear and glistering. The auditory effect was heavenly. I was instantly transported to a forest with a flowing stream.

Totally theraputic and relaxing.

How I wish I have more time to sleep

Haven't been blogging much lately. Partly because of work and partly because I am too tired after work. Few weeks ago, I fell asleep whilst eating my dinner. For a person who loves food....you can imagine how tired I was.

Shack week

This week is very hectic but i am glad today's friday. After 3 days of merry making during the labour day hols (played mahjong labouriously for 2 days, went to JB to cut hair on Sunday), tuesday morning was terrible. I simply refuse to wake up. My eyelids were fast shut when my alarm clock rang.

Wed - Can't do what I originally set out to accomplish - to finish constructing a questionnaire for Project A. Because my paranoid colleague was very stressed up over tommorrow's meeting that she wants a discussion to prepare ourselves for the "battle"

Thursday - Glad I could wake up slightly later (extra half an hour of beauty sleep) cos' meeting was rather near my place. From 9.30am to 1pm - the three of us "battled" it out with representatives from XXXX and XXX. Came out feeling totally drained. Back to office, brainstromed on the questionnaire for Project B. Totally exhausted!!

Friday - Finally I got the chance to work on Project A. Very satisfied with myself. I finished constructing the questionnaire. Devoted the whole morning to it and my table was like a battleground.

hmm...ah...nothing...like dat loh !??@#

Yesterday conducted a focus group in one of the secondary school - Sec 1 express students. Not the best of the best focus group I have conducted. In that hour long discussion, I was met with frequent shrugging of shoulders, numerous "like dat loh" and countless "dunno leh". Managed to get some information out from them but not as rich as I would like it to be.

Today still have another group...the sec 2 kids....Ganbatte ne!!

Do I miss those days??!!

It is a cold afternoon...I am in my office, doing statistics. Getting a bit tired staring at the SPSS and keying in data....makes me think of those days at my previous workplace. Less structured, more carefree....I can shift to the library or those benches in one of the secluded corners if I am sick of the fishbowl. Can't do it now. Well....i can go still go to the library but now that it is so faraway......Even the nearest one, NUS, seems ulu.....But am not complaining. Things been going on pretty good for me. Boss is understanding, colleagues are fun loving and the work is what I like...Serious, no complains

NUS canteen

I was at NUS this afternoon, needed to borrow some books for work as well as to return books. As I have not eaten lunch earlier, I went to the Arts Canteen to grab a bite.

Same location, quite the same stalls but different feel. As I sat on the bench, eating chicken chop with mash potatoes and people watch, I cant help to think how quick time flies. Imagine I was just an undergraduate gobbling down my food, rushing for the next lecture to a postgraduate eating food from whatever stalls that remained open in the evenings to now a researcher enjoying every morsel of food at a leisurely pace. *Love Life

Pig out at Ellenborough

Yesterday, the four of us went out to Ellenborough Market Cafe to celebrate Underground's birthday. It is the usual pig out session...w ate till our stomachs were digusting round.

Towards the end, we started playing with our food...

Is this love?

Corinthians 13: 4-7
Love is patient
Love is kind
It does not boast
It is not proud,
It is not self seeking
It is not easily angered
It keeps no record of wrongs
Love does not delight in evil
But rejoices with the truth
It always protects, always trusts,
Always hopes, always perseveres.

Nails in the fence

Let me tell you a story....

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that everytime he lose his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence. the first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learnt to control his anger, the number of nail hammered daily gradually dwindled down.

He discovered that it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy did not lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took his son bu the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. the fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there."

Self improvement

A quote sent out by my big boss:

To attract attractive people, you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on them, you go to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract.

- Jim Rohn

Thinking about Narcissism

A man so consumed with his own image that he drowns in it. Does he have any best friend to mirror back a healthy review of himself? And why is it that we can see our friends perfectly but when it comes to ourself, no matter how hard we look, do we ever see ourselves clearly?

* from sex and the city

What is the meaning of soulmate?

Soulmate - two little words, one BIG concept.

Someone, somewhere, is holding the key to your heart and your dream house.

All you have to do it to find them. So where is this person? And if you love someone and it did not work out, does that mean they weren't your soulmate or where they just a runner up in this game show called "Happily ever after?" And as you move from this age box to another age box, and the contestants get fewer and fewer, are your chances of finding your soulmate less and less?

Soul mates, reality or torture devices?

A day of "zhuang kwang-s"

8th Jan 2006 - A day when my tail got married and a day filled with "zhuang kwang-s" (ZK)

ZK number 1 - Pepe and I overslept!! We were supposed to be at Tail's place by 7am. Guess what I only woke up at 7.10am, after someone sms me wrongly and the sms beep woke me up. To think that I was so afraid of that I will oversleep and woke up once at 2.30am and 4.30am.....

ZK number 2 - Photographer was left behind!! After Babu fetched tail from her place, we set off for Babu's place. A series of miscommunications led to the photographer being left behind and one of the brothers gotta go back and fetch him....

ZK number 3 - Money money where art thou? All of us happily checked in and settled into the hotel rooms, awaiting the evening events. Went to Tail's room and she told me that they left the money boxes in the house.....

ZK number 4 - First time MC, was nervous but once on stage, everything was ok and went smoothly until the second march in......MC went faster than the actual event. They were supposed to "pop" champagne before I annouce family members up on stage. Too excited and called for the family members before the couple pop champagne....

Times flies, doesn't it?

Havent been writing for so long. Busy with things...Busy with what? Wendy and Edmund came, so busy "playing" with them; Festive season, so busy stuffing myself silly with gorgeous food; Tail got married, so busy with devising games to takan Uncle Babu; Just so busy!!!!

One night in late Dec, I was transferring some of the important dates onto my new diary, 2006 diary....As I was transferring, the events that had happened came floating into my mind. Friends' birthday and how we celebrated them; Countless tuitions and how I juggled them with my work and many more. Time really flies. All these seemed so fresh in my memories yet they happened a year ago.