Ubin Fiesta!

This post's gonna consist more of pictures rather than words. Took a trip to ubin on (Last Saturday 1st april, nothing to do april's fool) to vist my grand dad's tomb. It's becoming a yearly or bi-annual event for the extended family, as we met up early for breakfast at Changi's village. After tombsweeping this year, we extended the program to island cycling, of cos, offering me the chance to go shooting pics. =)
Not in any particular order cos i hate to sort them out and risk them being deleted. It happened already.
ON BOARD!!!!!!


we took the ferry with a group of boy scouts. Apparently there's some event going on in ubin. Somewhat like amazing race.but no car, no bicycles, just maps and their backpacks... Haha, we led some of them into the cemetery later on. There was actually a checkpoint there!
You do know how rare it is to see roads without markings. Streets without streets lamp,to be replaced by tall coconut trees ... and of cos, the absence of traffic lights and dustbins. Ah... greenery and the country.


Okay, trying to act all sporty and glamourish at the same time. taken in the mini van which ferrys us to cemetry. Surprisingly, this year, Ubin's Mosquitoes Blood donation drive din really get to me!=) Yeah!!!!!And know what? It turns out the driver is some relatives of relatives of relatives of my mummy and uncle. Everyone in ubin is family. Somesort or another.

Took this in black and white cos it feels right. Surprisingly, i actually had a picture of this in another angle in colour two YEars ago!!! when i was still doing my IA and camping with IA friends. Amazing. See?

But the most amazing has yet to come. just Watch...*

Ok, the thing is, i took a picture of this little boy who stays in ubin. prob only about 3 years old or something. Wanted to post his picture up, but afraid it's prob not very nice when i din get his permission/ or that of his parents. I wanted to say, i recognize him, cos i met him two years ago in the same place! i even had a picture of him two years ago!!!! imagine meeting him again, sitting down and talking to him. Actually he was more interested in my mum... and her bee hoon. Well, too bad. i' shall post other pictures instead
Pink flower!
We cycled to this farm where there's live prawns for sale. it means.... u buy them, and they stay that way hours after u leave pulau ubin, and back to ur kovan home to untie the packaging to see them alive.. and yes, kicking. oh, that's my aunty in orange. And my cousin(her daughter) further up front... and my mum and sis and uncle..,.. and urs truely laggin behind to ...take the picture.
Doesn this look like something u see on a field trip? some educational tour or something?
Mummy stopping to get some sea water. Yes, that's a bottle she's carrying to collect the sea water.

kinda like this pic too. Uncle squatting, and the girls seem to be well covered and shaded by that palm tree or coconut tree leaves....I took it in the adjacent bank of the swamp. My uncle was trying to catch some mudhopper. Which, i tot the correct term is mudskipper. I still think i'm right, tho i din argue. The three ladies keeping a safe distance while my aunt was guarding our bicycles.
What my aunt was guarding! haha, kidding, there were this other group of youngsters who stopped by for a break.
How's this for an attempt? fine, after several attempts? Trying to play with the macros and blurring the background.... i'm Proud of my work.
some of the places we cycled past- NPCC residential camp. These height elements brought back wonderful memories.

Crabs! Looking at these pic, still brings back the satisfaction i had, tasting those yummylicious crab meat. No heavily seasoned sauces, not chilli crab or black pepper.. just simply the fresh sweet taste of crab meat!! background: the two Ubin kids- mum and her baby brother-my uncle! They cant wait to start attacking the crabs!
Something tells me, my mum was thinking about her childhood in ubin, a sense of nostalgia as she bid goodbye to the island-the place thats becoming lesser and lesser of how she pictured it to be with urban development
my mum, i can understand, but my sister?! Haha, candid shot taken of her. Think she was hungry, and hot, and probably wondering when we can cycle to our next destination. Note: taken before crabs meal. I like this pic of her. Thinking mood.
Yeah... C-O-C-O-N-U-T! sweetest they have taste, according to our panel or judges. Hooey skipped the coconut and opt for that packet of green tea. My Mum was so delighted that she started playing drums with those coconuts. Tniaoz. I think they are delirious from the heat or something.
Aint this the cutest little kitten u have seen in ages? Blue eyes... my cousin wanted to smuggle her back in her backpack. We had the approval from the locals, but not our parents. Aunt has an allergy to kittens, cats, dogs. But she din realize, my cousin is going to get a dog on her second' month's pay. I heard she's eyeing a big dog- either a goldern retriever or german shepherd. Uh Oh.....

Letter from a friend

Found this letter from my b2. Brought back much-deserved memories. Just have to blog it out.
Thanks b2, for making my first three months in JC so memorable. To think it has been about 7 years since she wrote this.

Memories

"Remember the path we used to walk

All the way to school we'd talk
In fact we would travel so "fast"
That even couples would go past

Remember the early morning time
In the canteen so full of grime
We'd sit and sip ice coffee
And wait for time to hit 7:30

Remember the lectures we sat through
We'd take turns to doze and drool
While the other stayed awake and took notes
Or from vandalised tables copied quotes

Remember " Cheer up, it's only school
Think of what you can do after school"
These famous quotes of seniors past
That helped others through 2 years to last

Remember who muh we anticipated
During last period with breaths held bated
To meet at that happening place
That bright yellow Smiley face

Remember the times we used to wait
For air-con 74s outside the gate
On the bus our voices rang clear
Our conversation free for all to hear

These memories of the days we've shared
Those times of which our souls we bared
They'll stay with me forever
I pray they'll leave me never"

Hugs. May those memories never fade...

Think

To take or not to Take?

A little step, which may bring me places, or will it crush me to pieces*ok exaggeration noted*

Life and it's many decisions. Some aint that small.

*Pondering mood*

Something like this

Something about singing sappy old songs, raunchy pop tunes, listening to new songs, blabbering tunes cos one hasnt quite figure out the lyrics.

Seeing sister jumping on the sofa coach, oblivious to the surrounding.

Brother shyly trying out those songs he's been practicing on his guitars, humming the tunes at home.

All sloppy dressed, me wearing berms and an adidas top, with a nike top to cover that bad hair day.

Drinking tiger draft, tequila sunrise and sherry temple, chicken wings and sashimi.

Best company for an afternoon: fun-loving siblings.

deriwyah

!well went presentation the hope
luck good
~haywired

A date with modern Da Vinci and Mozart

Post dued

Due to the slow response from job interviews, coupled with the fact that hooey was getting really restless. She decided, perhaps she should start working on something. A part time, or even a new niche. What a good way to surprise her family when they return from malaysia if hooey manage to embark something new and make a living out of it.

So, after servicing her camera today(sunday, lonely sunday only with the company of my vehicle)... hooey decided to walk about and do something she hasn done before. Too bad, she serviced her camera before she gone for the walk, cos the weather was good, the kind you wont perspire and could still walk around with the patience to find a good spot to take some snapshots. Nevertheless, nokicam came to the rescue.
How's this for an artistic angle?

As part of the inspiration process and role playing, hooey went ahead with only a old chang kee curry puff and vitasoy for lunch.What to do when one's broke and jobless and keen to start anew? Thrifty is a virtue. Remember that. Hiaks

This is hooey's first masterpiece and you must understand how much courage it took to just sit alone by the breakwater while one is surrounded by either lingering couples or families with little running kids, or some young punks listening to Rock.

Yes, i have decided to do thiS!

Hooey just went ahead and started her work, dirtying her fingers with musty colours. She worked with the landscape, the water and the trees. Perhaps alit ambitious for a beginner, and she was seen referring to her guide book now and then. Every few minute she could not help but check her immediate surroundings to see if anyone was watching her.Two young punks sitting near her mimicked her actions, much to her annoyance.

But hey, as the waves catch on, so did her interest and determination to finish the picture. No doubt, it looked really childish and hardly like the real thing. But she grew less conscious as she start dabbing with the colours, exploring with new colours. She remembered calling ruffy before she started, explaining how embarrasing it would be if someone would to spot her drawing.

Her theory: A young kid/ or childrens playing with crayons in a public place is normal. An act of creativity and fun. They are entitled to draw and doodle. To come up with green skies and purple faces. But an adult, Alone with crayons looking at skyscrapers, u expect her to either be good/ to come up with something "whoa".. or prob think she's a bit pyscho, if not an inspiring art student, which again will simply mean her work should be of some standard.

Yes, no doubt, i should post up my masterpiece if i'm not ashamed of it right? Haha, here goes.
Before colors... still in the process

How the hell did i put myself on a benchmark measured, steoreotyped by age and norms, and not what i truely desire?Heck...

After 2 hours of dirtying her fingers,

So, go ahead and have a good laugh. Even if she fails to be pull a Da Vinci, she manages to crack u up.

The poor artist-wannabe was delighted to find an outdoor concert going on at esplanade. Hey, what do ya know... it's turning out to be agreat night! A night of arts and music as evident from the below pictures. For those who's interested,You wont see those again at esplanade. I've checked.

Rock on!!!!!!Dance to the tunes!
i love the grand piano. Wish i could take a picture with that stick figure.
a thing for drums!

The hopeless romantic acoustic guitarist. Love the settings.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Last few days whizzed past me like pages of an interesting book.
Met up/caught up with some friends. Some by chance, some arranged.
It was as tho, i missed a huge chunk or chapters off their lives ever since i started working overseas, and now it's all coming back to me.

Had sushi with my misses. I'm not really a sushi girl, not any good with those raw sashimi and good richness japanese food. But i'm good with those fried cooked food, nibble bit here and there and i had fun listening, contributing to a meal of updates, gossips, laments and cheers.

I met up with another old friend whom i haven met in eons. The last time we went out on a one-one basis was like.. let's see...2 years ago? Went for a drink at Babyface, One Fullerton. Quite a good place to chill out and listen to the ocassional jazz, sappy songs and between breaks, to catch up on our recent events. There's not much to say when one's not working(on my part) but it was good to offer a listening ear to listen to problems and issues. We toasted to life's events and turnings. Laughed at how things have changed, i gave a silent prayer that life has been good to me so far. As i listened, i wondered how unique and yet common our lives take on. How seemingly distance and yet, intricately connected in a way not many see. How you may share an encounter so similar to someone so vastly different from you, of which you prob will never know its connection if not a session of just chatting, catching up over a gold rum and red wine. *yes, i wish i could say lychee martini. yummy*

Missed chilling session with ruffy. Well, ours more like caffeine joints during the day. *sighs*
Gosh, seems so long since we done that. The last time i was chilling in the same country with him, i was alone at this chic cafe near Siam Paragon. Interesting alright, but a tad alone. Sobz.

Next day after my chill-out session, i went back to NTU for career fair. Okay, seems weird to be back there afterall, i was there for last year's career fair. It was nice alone, looking around, being stopped by financial planners of cos. As i was formally dressed ( scheduled to go for an interview), one even mistook me for one of the booth exhibitors' employees. Of cos, I love this part when i was asked:...

Staff A ( of XXX company): Excuse me, are u a graduating student?
Me:No..(haha, they think i'm younger!with that answer)
Staff A: Oh, are you interested in knowing more about XYZ?
Me: No, i've heard about it.
Staff A: How about leaving your contacts in the event you want to find out more?
Me: Oh, i've done that already...Last year!
(hiaks)

I had this difficult episode of struggling to get away from a financial planner when a friend came to my rescue ( with a loud "Hi, jingwen!" and she just helped brush that guy off and took me hand in hand away!=) hiaks, great seeing some juniors and was giving advice on finding job early and stuffs when i suddenly realize, she's an IA Student and She took half day leave to find out the latest JOb Markets. Geez, should keep my mouth shut when there are people more informed than me. SOme kinda senior i am.=P Shared some stuffs with her, walked around and haha, she was telling me all about the freebies.(which surprisingly, i wasnt impressed at all)

After we parted aways and i continued walking around... was enjoying the fact that i was somewhat a stranger to this familiar place, when i was stopped again in my tracks by a hall friend, whom i used to work in the same committee with. Kinda funny, we spoke more yesterday than we did throughout my hall stay. As we walked around, I asked him about hall (to be frank, i was hardly involved in hall stuffs so to me, i was amazed that i stil have hall friends that i can bump into and started chatting).

As i listened to some of the hall events, the people that i know (who) but dont know them personally, recalling some of the activities i used to join( hall hockey, netball and softball), hearing him talk about FYP over a cup of ice ribena... i felt a tinge of regret for not being more active in hall. Not that i had a choice since i was heavily involved in archery during my first year. We chatted abit more and he told me about the new halls with air-conditioning. Looks pretty condo like to me. (but give me a chance, i'll still stay back in the normal dorms) More communal living. More like poor students, hoping about rooms, be it borrowing mop, watching Tv, chatting with others, playing bridge, downoading. Hehe.

We exchanged contacts and parted ways. Kinda like playing board games, U leave this point( this square ) and you take a few steps and you might bump into another player, and interact. Then by roll of dice, in real life, it's by chances of fate or events, you leave that spot and you moved on... till you meet again.

On another separate ocassion, i met up with another old friend for dinner at Tiong Bahru.
This old friend marks many years of memories. It was good to meet up after a period of not really speaking much to each other. Some quiet pauses in between chats, prob awkward, prob weird, but in all, it was a good time just seeing another old familiar face.

There's one thing about me i have learnt about myself for the past few days. Prob enlightened by a friend over rum at babyface.
Cherish is a word that comes in and out of my life. I cherished and i forgot. And then, something happened and i cherished. Something/ someone struck me, and i remembered.

I'm more rational than i tot. Ability to separate personal and work is something i din see myself until i seen others.

I'm quite a forgetter when i'm occupied. No, i'm not coming up with excuses. For these are mere facts which i have seen and experienced for myself.

I've forgotten my outing with the girls yesterday at carl's junior. My phone was down and i guess they were trying to contact me while i was out. I was too caught up with my stuffs that i've forgotten about it. Girls' if your reading this, I'm sorry. It slipped off my mind and i shant deny it.=( This date was informed by hunny wenny a week ago, and it din register. To think i was telling her how i spent last week at carl's junior too with the boardgamers. Same place, same time, just one week apart.

I always tot i was good with dates and outings. I never see the point of needing an organizer to note down certain appointments (cos seriously, if i really want an organizer, i will find it filled to the brim.. aka when i was working back then). If not, it seemed pointless to have a relatively blank page all the time with the ocassional...

" Threading at 6.30 pm. Meet at Little India Mrt."
" Arranged to meet with Clericians. Time unknown. Venue Unknown. "
or " Grocery shopping. Check fridge for list"

I wont go to the organizer day by day to check what i have since it will be empty. I wake up, i do what i feel like doing and i get my things done.

Cos, usually i live by the day. I dont arrange like way before and then i forget. But this time, I felt bad that the girls' went back carls jnr to find me when they couldn contact me, thanks tinkering for asking about me and hunnywenny for checking on me when my phone finally came alive after being recharged at midnight.

Well, it's time to grab a bite aka my lunch. After bro's back, will drive him to register Advanced Theory Driving (haha) and then it's off to Threading.

No Prize for guessing venue and time.

Let's not be calculative

Can you imagine this is what our A levels Students today will be using???

It costs a whopping $200 plus!!!!! It's called... A Graphing calculator. With graphing storage memory of dunno how many MB. When did we start associating MB with Calculators??

Check how calculators have evolved, the prices especially...Below is prob one of the calculators you last used. I din even Hit this stage...

With its Distinct Big Round Button(era). Doesn Look Any Modern if you asked me.
Fortunately or unfortunately, i din even used the one above. In my whole student life, i had only 2 calculators. And thou remained faithful to them...

Let me find their pics...

Mine... is ( after 5 mins of surfing) i still cant find the pictures.. even ebay seems to invalidate their existance. Geez... how could it be?

Will u prefer to go Back to the olden days of just wood and black beans?
haha.. gotta drive mum to work or else i would have continue...

Eureka!

A morning wake up call

She woke up with the ringing from her mobile. Assumed it's a call from a company for an interview, she tried to sound awake, putting her most chirpy, alert voice.

Me: " Hi!"
Person: "Hi, is this ms Zhang Jingwen?"
Me: "Yes... (surely this gotta be an interview)"
Person: "Hi, this is to inform you that ur appointment with the dentist is fixed on 27th Apr 8am"
Me: " Oh... 27th Apr 8 am .. Right. Thanks.
Person: "Bye"
Me: "Bye" (@#$% Had to wait so long just because i missed the march appointment!! drats, my sleep)
And Suddenly...
Sister from the upper bunk: " what? So late for an interview?!"
Me: " no lah... ( amazed that the girl was awake all these while)

To do List

To Do List:

1. Wake up brush teeth and wash face
2. Greet parents and search for breakfast
- no breakfast on table, then proceed to make cup of coffee
- if up for exercising, walk to the coffeshop across the road to find food
3. While waiting for water to boil, gather clean laundry from washing machine and hang at the front yard
4. Fold clothes
5. Clear the rubbish bins around the house.
6. Turn on cable tv and watched the shows missed previous evening
7. Drink up my daily dosage of own-decocted coffee
8. Education, read newspapers, particulary targetting the RECRUIT
9. Massaging the piano keys
10. List of proper things to do, up in head.
11. Procastinating item 10

Mermaid

It's quiet times like this which spot hooey blogging.

Watching a touching movie called "mermaid" now. This makes the 3rd or 4th time hooey is watching this. And probably many more times i read the story off reader''s digest.

Mental block. Rather, too distracted by the internet chats, the TV and emails. When was the last time you used the computer without turning on the internet? Speaking of internet, i just watched an episode of "Judging Amy". Interesting job, but sure aint fun.

Argh, i simply cant blog further when i'm so into the show. And it's really kinda silly when you already know what's to expect and what are the lines to come.

BLTR(bloglater)

3- storey dream

hooey just came back from a short tour inside a 3 1/2 storey house, just behind my old, rugged abode.

This 3 1/2 storey has just revealed its look to the public, having removed those blue huge construction canvass so we are talking about an empty shell with no furnishing in as yet. The contractor saw us lingering outside its premises and invited us in! yippiE!!!!Talk about Premier viewing eh....

it was Huge, Artistically conceptualized... and echos bounced to and fro like little molecules.

It's the first time hooey experienced something like this, stepping into another white-washed, clean world where everything is up to one's imaginations. As i step into the house, what greeted me was this sunk in- zen-like pool that spans across the living room with a platform for one to cross over. One can only picture fish, pebbles, floating petals, candles and greenery just crossing that.

Then the RoomS!! and the number of Toilets they have built! Those big Winows!!!!darn, i lost count and my sister was even voicing out loud as to who stays in which room.. and given the size of my family, i am surprised there were SURPLUS when it comes to the number of bedrooms! jacuzzi-like bathtubs, walls that made of nothing but windows. AN ATTIC bedroom!!! which my sister eyed! and a holding area for roof garden bbq at the top, which views span across to the nearby SRJC. one can only picture inviting friends, or family alike sipping a nice cup of tea after a long day of work, sitting on deck chairs and taking a step back, looking into the skies above. *long sigh..............*

We *my parents and me and me sister* haha, were so enthralled in our own thoughts, conjuring up images ... some silently, some aloud... when the contractor told my dad that this unit has been purchased! All 4 of us were aghast at the thought. First, it's not as tho we had the money, but we were really keen in the unit. and Secondly, it's horrified to know someone actually bought this when we were still in the stage of daydreaming, standing in the very place we pictured those dreams. @##$$.

Well, we found out that an enginner and his architect brother bought over this land from its previous owner, demolished, built and came up with this unit's concept. Lovely, unique concept by the way. And my mum started wondering how come of 4 kids, none turned out to be an architect. Bleah, not as if this electrical engineer daughter of hers could do much anyway.

HAHA, i'm just happy now, cos i've seen a dream home. (not those show room made ready flats, with arty farty furnishing which could WOWed me anytime, BUT which hardly shows ones individuality in the interior design) . This Is like a clean fresh sleet, (of cos i love the exterior appearance with windows, wooden frames, rounded roof) a pure white canvass, an unique structure, waiting for one's furnishing and imagination to fill up the spaces. Shucks that it's been bought.... boohoo ( maybe i can really good neighbours with whoever's moving in)

Anyone a debbie travis wannabe?

Hmm... now, where was that brochure i saw about this 3-storey dream home at Yio Chu Kang?

Groovy moves

Time to add some colors to the blog...
What better way to illustrate this celebration of freedom? Dancing water!

Pictures taken at the Musical Foutain!







may the two greatest elements combine: water and fire coexisting in a magnificent stance!
In the event your're interested in seeing them for urself,

Time slots: 7.40 pm and 8.40 pm

my 101th post

hey

help me out will ya? click on the link below and let me know better about myself and how others see me.. prob help out loads for a girl who's actively embarking her career!hiaks.

http://kevan.org/johari?name=hooey

i'm heading off to thailand Bangkok next week!!!yippie yoo!!!

Unsung Heroes: Engineers

Yes, the engineer is up to no good again.

Hmm..tell me i'm not alone on this, but i'm starting to see Engineers as an unique hybrid.

They have been stereotyped (i'm taking a defensive role already) to be

1. Systematic aka Rigid
2. Analytical aka Boring
3. ... have i listed alll?

Well, but yet, being an engineer myself and hanging out with engineers (haha, the phrase itself sounds alit pathetic already) aint what many perceived to be like.

No, we dont discuss equations or start our conversations circumventing formuales or Newton's law.

We dont flash our latest, newly aclaimed model of Venier Calipers (refresh: that's a measurement tool which everyone should have used one point or another in our educated life) or calculators which boost capabilities such as Integrations and Differentiation of Exponential formulaes to the Power of Trigonometrical Power series.
****
**
*

We hide them from one another.

Haha, Gotcha din i?

Oh, please dont add that engineers have a dry sense of humour. Even if we do, i believe that's a higher level of enlightenment when one can laugh at oneself, and not worried of being laughed at. one notch up that Maslow's pyramid.

Engineers are interesting because, i believe (disclaimer: These are merely my thoughts and should not be taken as references or facts watsoever)

.... the bulk of us are unsure of what we want. Beneath the surface of precise and sysematic organized roles we play, many often go around pondering inside. Thoughts far more complexed than formulaes. So, you can never fully understand an engineer or claim you know his/ her personality just from their career profile.

Cant you see? While figuring what they want ( and they will continue to do so once they start, like macham we are programmed in our DNA the moment we chose this course)... they can still go on with their every day life of working that machine, generating source codes, developing that program, testing the equipment, wearing that bubblesuit, breathing the air in the cleanroom, implementing the systems, building the infrastructure, procuring the items, studying the specifications, all for the greater good.

Amazing?

Engineers' minds are fascinating. So structured and yet, so lost. So Developed and yet So raw.

Yes, we chose Engineering because it seems safe and it's afterall, a professional. Ah, the big "P" word. Follow the crowd. Stick with the majority. Ladiladila blah blah blah....

Even if it's not really cut out for you in the end, you gain like-minded friends who understand how's its like. To be in troubled waters.

We aim to do well in life, i mean who doesn, and engineering is a process, a mean to how we measure our success. *yes i cant help but think of vernier calipers again*. Read a couple of blogs, and if you have the chance and time to do so, you'll realize there are many engineers with perspectives in life. Engineers with their brand of philosophy and thinking, governed by their own laws. Every engineer is different inside. And if you get to see both sides, you should congratulate yourself on finding someone real.

People who earn a decent, stable pay and deep inside wanting something more in life, which often (not money). Cos, comeon, if we are all about money, we would have gone with the big boys and power ladies in Banking and Finance.

We earn enough for keeps, prob put alit investment here and there ( nothing too big or serious ), we aim for a car and flat. We worked our way up slowly but surely. Steadfast and Duty-bound. We dont have to worry that there's no work to do, cos work never ends.

No, we dont club or pub often, or maybe it's even safe to say Never for some, but hey, we never have to worry about being seen drunk in an unslightly manner or worry that we say something stupid about work or spills the beans in a state of drunken stupor. No worries for hangover or how to face the world the next morning at work. AND AND, even if we do get drunk, what are the odds that your colleagues are around with you? What are the odds that they are sober enough to take out their MP3/4 player to record what you say, or Horrifying worst thought, pull out that videocam to record? Dont say we dont go to happening places.

no we dont go to places.

Many of us fly to places. And it does get a lit more relaxed when one's overseas. Best if it's a big place where one can explore on weekends. We do get to places, not stuck or rigid, rooted to one place as many like to think. KRIS Flyers? I bet besides those businessmen with fat cheques, and thick cigars, the next bulk in line, gotta be us.

We try to work from 9 till 5 but never till we are 95 cos as we all know, like all things, engineering is everchanging, Demand and supply.What's feasible in 2005 is ousted in 2010. Haha. So, we do go for training, courses to learn, to upgrade till our brain can do us no more. (cos our brains are one of the most overly taxed)

Constantly figuring amidst that look of stability and bored exterior, perhaps contemplating the tot of backstabbing, complaining within that unscheming, harmless, bespectacled creature working on his/her report due.

It's alit like Superman you know? Only, we dont possess unearthly powers or wear red underpant out. Yes, we dont pull people out of derailed trains. We build the train system that transport them but will be better known as "the people who build the derailed train system".

We are the underdogs, the unsung heroes.A struggle with inner self while mainting peace and order outside.

Hmm... i think i should stop.

Own space

it's another working morning over at tanjong p.

For once, i can declare i have my own office --own room. Correction-- Whole level.

Haha, the rest are working in the third floor while i'm the lone soul working on the 2nd.

All is quiet with the exception of my lappie's sounds.

Flight plan

Anyone got any lobang for air tic to bangkok?

It's monday morning 8 something

Finally started work after a long nice break, thanks but no thanks to my illness, think i became weaker after leaving school. Now, one flu is enough to warrant me a fever coupled with MCs plus the horrifying fact that it might be yet another episode of the dengue fever.

Well, today's pretty normal. Took the public commute. Was amused by a man who was standing in the same carriage as me, near the door but he faced the opposite direction of everyone else standing in the carriage. Then it dawned on me how everyone tend to conform and stand facing the same direction (usually facing the side where the door opens) and i was wondering how he could stand facing the other direction with the rest of us grouchy monday working crowd facing him.(even more so, the guy who's directly infront and just a few inches away from him. Imagine: two man facing each other in a confirmed crowded platform). geez

Yes, i am that easily amused. simple mind.

Another sight. Girl reading with earphones that doesn serve their rightful purpose, but well, at least she was listening to something i dont mind. "Time of my life"--a track taken off "Dirty Dancing"

2 dozens of candles please

Many thanks to friends who remembered this day of the year which is getting less and less significant as the time pass. Darn, year of the dog. my year. The last time it was dog year, i was in dorky specs and sporting a retro hair-do that will put many to shame. Spent it with the same people who seen me in those days,(von t especially). Thanks girls!

Also, many thanks to those who helped me do free publicity about this day.by declaring this day on their msn nick.

eg. 1. CCL-Happy Birthday Dear
2. Hanwen- Happy Birthday Jingwen and Siang
p/s: Siang is hunnywenny's bro. we Share the same birthday
3. Ira
4.pires7

of cos, made even more sweet and memorable when i went back home and my baby brothers sang birthday song and prepared the cake for me. yes, i know they are not babies anymore, but to me, they always will be.=)


Picture taken by me.Party of three.


me and my 24th birthday cake.=)

will post pics up soon. It's more for me to relish the moments as i turn.. 25, 26 , 27.. too much to bear. It's made even harder when ur one of the first few in ur batch. When ur leading the those born in the year of the Dog. Haha.

Tiredzz, shall go zzz soon.24 -here i come. Hope that when i turn 25, i will look back on this year with respect, memories and love for life.

p/s: i hope this tiredness has nothing to do with the fact that i'm turning old.

A gnawing tot

i seriously need to go to a cold country.
Freezing cold. which i'll take for a breeze
Snow, which i'll take for petals
I want to don in winter clothings, gloves, mufflers and all
Darn, i need to go to a winterwonderland

Current Affairs

Comes to the point when i dont know how to blog such that the contents turned out exactly what i want. To a point in time, i want to be happy reading my work and not just dread releasing it for the mere thought of purging it out of my system, finding it repulsive to read it again.

So, instead of trying a way to start penning. I'll do this.

1. Current Music: Soundtrack of "Stepmum"
2. Current Background: Star Movie" Stepmum"
3. Place: Mum's bedroom on ikea arm chair
4. Outfit: my St Nicks' PE Tshirt and AJ's shorts
5. Last food ate: Curry chicken rice which mum bought from outside(lunch which happen to be my breakfast)
6. Time i woke up: 1. plus pm
7. Time i slept last night: 3.plus am
8. Time i got home last night: 2 plus am this morning
24 hour question
9. Most interesting thing done for the past 24 hours: went threading for the first time with von w at Little India!
10. Most boring thing done for the past 24 hours: waiting for a consultant.
11. Most interesting food: Crepe at the fountain place restaurant at erm.. Raffles Place shopping center basement.

12. Most repelling fact: i'm turning 24. (yes, trying to play with the 24 hour thingy. 24 24). and No, this is not a hint whatso ever. and Yes, since i'm on the topic.. why not?i'm turning 24 peepz.
13. Ok, stop the 24 hour issue

14. Current book: The time traveller's wife
15. Current line: Dont' ask me
16. Current wish-list activity: Throwing a huge snow ball.
17. Plans for tom: A date with my parents to watch "memoirs of geisha"
18. Supposed to : windsurfing at 11 am today
19. Most crazy idea: Playing with the tot of time-travelling. Trying to find a loophole. or blackhole. or void. In the book, it was mentioned that time-travellers dont reveal themselves. I'm telling u now. I'm trustworthy. Reveal if you are.
20. Last alcoholic drink: Ice wine. my two brothers polished the bottle i bought leaving me with like.. 3 cm tall icewine.
21. Wish-list season: Autumn.
22. Most updated current wish-list activity: Autumn-playing on a swing, sipping wine, with a pinic basket full of my fav fruit-strawberry. coloured leaves, with my camera.
23. What's around me: My sister updating my mum on her dinner-cum-dance. Discovery channel.
24. Stopping at this number. becos i'm approaching this number and also, i ran out of ideas.

Great Expectations

My life is changing.

I' think i'm understanding myself a tad more. Seeing myself in a worse light.

I'm not that nice. And i can be totally in a world of my own.

And strangely, i am starting to admire that glow of defiant streak.

discovery channel

was really in a mood to blog last night, but the internet connection was not working and i fell asleep trying to connect with my laptop on lappie as i lied on bed.

This wireless network connection, or rather the lack of it continued till this evening when i had to stay outside my room( sit outside along the corridor) trying to get connected to the world. A battle with time ( in the afternoon) as i had to send out an urgent Urgent mail to a cilent.

Now that i'm connected, i find it hard to blog out the things i wanted to say last night. The moment is gone. The inspiration, the mood, the frantic typing all gone with the moment.

Now, i just want to board the plane back home. Had a relatively expensive dinner just now at '24 hours'--this cool cafe, where i can soak in the relaxing music, wide selection of newspapers, enjoy a nice cup of ice-blended mocha and of cos the nice comfy environment. It's interesting to note that beside this cafe is COFFEE BEAN and this particular outlet is emtpy. The staffs seemed bored and one was spotted sketching as we walked past. I'm not sure about the prices of their beverages, but that they had "LADIES NIGHT" for CoFFEE Bean. Highly amused by the sign. 10 % off for all ladies from 5 pm -11.30 pm/

Beside this, i spent the whole of yesterday evening having dinner near south china sea. Parked the car right along the breakwater. Yes, this is a luxury u dun enjoy in singapore, and ate nasi lemak as I listened to the waves. Had to take my mind off work. Had a really stressful week, clocking in about an average of 12 hours/days. The sea was the only solitude i could seek. Sounds depressing huh, haha, but at least i found a way to get out of depression.

Eating on the breakwater reminds me of hunnywenny and jeff. We three used to spend lotsa time together back in college. We went to marina bay after school and we will buy food and drinks and just sit on the breakwater as we eat and laugh. Sure miss those days. Silly jokes, sharing nothing too serious but significant memories that came flooding to mind as i sat down yesterday watching the horizon.

right.. blabbering again.=)

the deed is done

i am released.

Conviction to give up

well well, a lapse of 10 days since i last blogged a.ka. for the last 10 days i was so

1. too busy to blog
2. enjoying too much to stop what i'm doing to blog
3. nothing remotely interesting has popped to mind
4. brain has stop function and started stoning.

it's worth a guess. And seriously, at this current moment. it's 'All of the above except #2'

There's a conspiracy theory coming up. Wait, it's already in session. And the members involved cant wait to execute it out. and Hey, before the authorities are alerted or any of u start calling the police. No, i'm not talking about splunging a terrorist attack. No worries. Skycrapers are still safe to work in. it's my job. i'm resigning!

It's still not carried out yet. I've been lacking opportunities to do so, and with every passing day, the conviction to carry out this mission is brewing stronger. I have never felt so determined about quitting. HAHA, talk about oxymoron.

Sorries folks, hooey's life really hectic for the past days. when i meant hectic, i meant working at the cilent's office for 15 hours. with only about 1 hour to pee, to walk to ur car, to have ur LUNCH and DInner- kinda hectic. with about 5 hours of zzz. i'm about to crack.

missing loads at home.
boohoo. i'm jeering everyone.

13 going 30

What is this thing about success/riches and love?Why cant we have both?

How many movies did u watch when success/wealth and love lie on extreme ends?
Aka, how many rich bastards with unfulfilled souls do u see alongside with the poor happy people? The contented huge family, versus the Disguistingly rich only child with 4 walls, multiple corridors, garages which run out of space for his/her cars which he/she can only drive one at a time? Let's not forget the plenty of entertainment gadgets and no enlightening/fun-loving souls with him/her?

Sure, many will argue that success is not measured by wealth. Yes i agree, but in today world's especially in a country where there arent many realms that you can measure, qualify your life
..How then do you justify your existance? what are your feel-good factors? and how many of these things/factors last or do not require monetary assistance to sustain?

A laid by person, i live each day as it is, pretty contented with the little world i'm blessed in with a huge happy family aka yes, i'm no poor little rich girl. And yet, there will be the times, i dream my future of living a comfortable luxurious life. I have no wish to be the richest saddest fool around, but definitely a life where i can afford to take a trip once (correction, leisure trip) in a while, spurlging once in a while without feeling guilty or worried of how i'm about to settle the bills, doing mental calculation of how long i can keep pushing off those deadlines.


In a nutshell, i want to be RICH (not VERY RICH) and Successful but have no wish to sacrifice my current mindset of living each day.

U know how when ur successful, u lose ur life. Your schedules are packed with meetings, dinners with people who dont really matter in ur life but matters to your pocket. You spend hours in office, overseas, coming back to a home which u spend a fortune furnishing but collect no memories but dust? Hmm, i'll take that back, if you're that rich to employ a housekeeper to keep the house clean for... nobody.


The typical scenario 1: You are rich, beautiful/handsome or will be ( becos u can afford to look good) -- yes, even if u dont, u know u can always count on plastics. You grow apart from your family, u get ur own apartment, u hang out late with colleagues, bosses, potential bosses, u sleep late cos u still have to do your work after all those meetings. U wake up early, u go to work. Ur work piles up, u worked through the weekends. Ur become bad-tempered because you're sleep- deprived. Ur parents' call with concern which u treat as constant naggings. U decided to filter your calls... taking in only business calls. You eat sandwiches alone in the company toilet cubicle on festive seasons cos you dont deserve to head home, and you dont know how to cook becos of ur hectic schedule and there's no one to share the holiday except for the security personnels who are on duty. Sure, u can fly to places just to be with strangers, surrounded by unfamiliar faces. Yes, dramatisation noted as usual, but hey, just following the movie line.

Typical Scenario 2: You value ur personal time. U knock off punctually, rather u dont work till there's no more public transport available. You are able to arrange dinners with friends. hang out with ur family over fruits platter, talk with ur sweet heart before u zzz. You wake up early, go to work, joke with ur colleagues, bad-mouth that highly driven individual who has no time for play and just eager to hit the next higher income bracket. Your boss doesn recognize ur talent because you dont make the extra to show, and hence he/she forgets you conveniently when an opening for a senior position pops up. You're grateful he/she smiles at you but cant remember your name. You have friends who jio you for tea-break and pop u a sms to head back office when the boss is in sight.-- you earn an average salary and u are loved.

I am not all that prepared to work THAT Hard but i'm not all that ready to change my mindset. Fine. Inertia sets in. I' do not wish to be That HIGHLy-DRIVEn that i drive a BMW and at the same time, Drive my family away from me. I know for a fact too, if i continue to stay like this, i will have nothing but empty dreams and baskets full of regrets.

I am your average Singaporean young adult.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad. U know the drift.

How is it that i'm thinking of all these now? I have no wish to waste this life. Movies, books have taught us that life is too short to be wasted on just plain dreaming. And yet, they dont show you how to get it started.

How do i measure success? By happiness and how good i feel about myself and the people around me, by love.. my ability to love and being loved. Fortunately and unfortunately, i truely feel good only when i accomplished something. Conquered something difficult, when i'm doing something really challenging but i know is worth fighting for. Sadly, i haven had that feeling ever since i left school. Sense of achievement!So next, wealth. I am so so so shallow right. Comeon, stop deceiving yourself.

I am just being your average Singaporen young adult.

Tutankhamen

Seeing Stars?

Something is wrong with blogger tonight. cant seem to post the pics i want. Well flying too tom.. update again once i reach brunei.

happy new year to all! may 2006 be a better year!-)

zzzz

05-06: Unlimited things with limited time

xmas feel-it's good to be flying home for xmas!

It's amazing how hooey has stopped blogging the moment she reached singapore dont ya think?

Fine, it's not amazing. It's pretty logical. As what miss chua will put it. Jing has the following motto in mind -- UNLIMITED things to do with LIMITED time.

It's true. For the first time in ages, sleep not longer matters. I can stay up and out (usually) till 3 -4 am and wake up at 9 am the next morning to start the new day. Meeting up with people that matter so much to me. Let's have a recap of what has been going on.



23 dec: Touch down! Straight to office to work my @ss off till 11 plus before lugging my Barang Barang back home.

24 dec: Work from home till 10.40 pm then met up with mr ruffy for a xmas count down prata. A short drive around eastern singapore, and nothing beats a simple delicious warm prata with hot drink!

25 dec(XMAS 2005): Drove family to golden mile as they board the coach to KL-Genting. Before heading back home alone. (Something about xmas and the movie HOME ALONE). Fine, my cat was with me.
Mr Ruffy and me had an interesting Pasta Dinner!=) a failed attempt at movie-marathon for me.

26 dec: piano tinkering... CANON D. Up to Genting Highlands! I board the coach with a neighbour ( my bros' good pal of a decade ). At first, i tot it will be weird hanging out with a 18-year old but he turned out to be pretty easy, good company.

27 dec 6.30am: Arrived at Genting Highland--First World. ZZZZ... but Nope, no zzz cos i'm off to wake up the sleepy souls of my family as i dragged them out of bed to have breakfast(TIMSUM). And then of cos, the rollercoaster games, the screams, the crowds.... i lost $ at the casino. DARN. so much for playing with probability.

28dec 10am: Made our way down of the cool genting highlands. By cool, i'm talking about 17 degrees celcius cool. Yes, i know, what kinda trip did i make right? spending less than 30 hours up in genting.

29 dec: Work. Full Stop.THURSDAY! meet up with Hunny Wenny! GOSH, long time long time no see.. thanks girl. Had a fantastic girls' talk, eating good ol' pasta from Spagheddis and scrumptious cakes from Bakers Inn!

Finally a glimpse @ orchard xmas lightings!


30 dec: Work. Dinner with family. First Home cooked Meal in a month!!!!! Bak Gu teh!=) and buttered cauliflowers! Then.. i went off to Ministry of Sound (MoS). Thanks so much to mr ruffy and his pals for going early to queue up. Felt bad, cos by the time i reached ( my sis drove me there)=), mr ruffy was already ahead of the queue.. which is LONG LONG LONG LONG LELONG.... and he had to ask people to go ahead first several times when i haven arrived.Oopsie.




MoS is Huge. Love the decor, pretty systematic and no bawling, or people puking or what not, but the ventilation at the retro room can sure be improved. =) in all, interesting experience, took few pics with my camera phone. But guess i have been in brunei for too long, that i kinda toned down alittle when it comes to late night out, especially clubbing. Had to leave early to rest, while the rest continued their night at geylang for supper!Slept at 3.30 am (safely tucked in bed)

31 dec (NYE): woke up at 9 am. Contacted miss chua and miss lim to see if they are able to make it earlier for cycling at eastcoast. ( Yes, i wanted to maximise the day. Start AEAP: ( As early as possible). in the end bus- waiting, girls bitching, girls waiting, two good pals hugging and screaming at delight upon sighting each other at the bus stop, girls munching lunch at Eastcoast MAcs, girls taking silly snapshots... we ended up only cycling *me blading* at only 1pm.


It rained, we got Stuck at food center halfway, a drink of sugar cane juice, lamenting the weather, pondering the next phase of our lives. Thinking if new year resolutions are anything but dreams... the rain eventually lighten and we made our way back to the rental shop.

Then Hooey took cab to Thengz's place for games saga! played two games, which proved interesting... i like the game landlord! Thengz seriously can start a settler's pad at his place man. Darn nice, a good venue for cook-out and SPA!!! i must so arrange it with Shannie one day!=) one of my " to- do List" for 2006. Hopefully!!!!!=)

Me and Ruffy had a short countdown with Milo (his very friendly jack russell) and then it's OFF again for Hooey to go over vonny's Place for our annual sleepover!!!! i reached her place at about 1.20 am and then we chatted, played more games, till 4 am before HOOEY finally CONCUSSED till 10 am. Me being the meanie, woke the rest up ( dint want to waste the day away.. especially the first day of 2006) and the four of us went to prata place outside her house for the First Breakfast for 2006!!!

it was nice having old pals sitting together over breakfast talking, relishing about moments in the old year, and making plans, welcoming the new year. The weather was refreshing, having showered in the night and i felt totally at ease. Jeli my b2, knew u will be missing on our sleep-over. U are very much missed.=). We spoke about:

1. Travel plans at the end of the year. Start saving Girl.
2. Accounting, doing our own little financial planning and getting tips from our Treasurer!
3. our career... or not.
4. BONUS.. or not.
5. Geez, me lamenting on our age. hiaks
6. Some outdoor activites. the girls want a tan!!!=)

and yup, hooey took a cab ( AGAIN! this is bad... i'm taking cabs like nobody's business once i'm back in singapore) and then it's back home .. blogging having made plans for tonight' movie date! haha...


Exciting aint it?

hiaks. LOVE MY MOTTO!!!!