Happy 27th Birthday to Me!

Yesterday, Super Junior Assistant Photographer was at a Zumba Event :)
I was so conscious of my own presence that I was hesitant to walk up the stage or to the front of the hall initially, but things got better after a short while of being thrown into a sea of unfamiliar faces - Even I was surprised at myself for actually adapting to the environment.


Most photos were a flop and a total embarrassment especially when placed side by side with the main photographer's, but my most salient achievement in the 2 hours was that my camera elicited a number of excited responses from the participants.

 Shamelessly presenting to you the few photos taken by yours truly, the Super Junior Assistant Photographer who brought nothing but more trouble to Main Photographer.

Yes! I was with him, now a professional photographer!

Upon seeing him, the sense of familiarity came back and I realised that I missed being his intern so much!  

He shared again his knowledge with me and this time it was not on BioInformatics, but his other passion, Photography. 

FREE PHOTOGRAPHY LESSON AGAIN LOL.

Am always a fan of someone who is unassuming, down-to-earth and loves to nurture the young.

(LOL okay I'm not young anymore)

Supper with him was how I spent counting down to my birthday (Although he has forgotten my birthday but I forgive him lol)!

Happy 18th Birthday to me!

Hi dears! I neglected my blog again, I'm so sorry! 
Promise that for the next few days when boss is away, I will update you as much as possible! Will update this entry when I have more time. 

Let me proclaim to you that life has never been better~~ YAY!
Knee is recovering well, Simba recovered, found motivation in my job, found role models in my workplace, met the nicest people in SOSD (faith in humanity restored!), and went to do a house visit at a former MP's place for a dog (she is one inspiring and lovely lady)!

I guess you got bored from me shamelessly wishing myself Happy Birthday at this space every April. And YA~~ After so many years, it is still my 18th birthday! 



1) Camera Lens

This year, I did myself a favor by buying something that costs an arm and a leg for my birthday - a camera lens, something that I always wanted to get but held back for the longest time! Reviews rave about Cathay Photo so I had to check it out myself and this is why I love forums - they never lie, the service is awesome! 

Nikon F1.8 50mm, specially designed for taking portrait photographs and I'm gonna make good use of it for my coming birthday celebration. 
I'm the only lady in the entire shop! Photography seems to be more of a hobby for guys. :D



2) Flowy Grecian Wedding Dress from a blog that gathers ideas for wedding gowns:

Although I need to be alot taller to look good in this.. 

Hmmmm... 

I still have time to choose something I like...

I don't have to be so uptight and all panicky...

3) Aravind Eye Care

Some interesting quotes to share:

"An average surgeon with the right attitude can do wonders for you."

"The contents are better than the container."

(Elaborate on these later. Have to sleep for now!)

Kayden, Happy Birthday!

My nephew's 2 years old!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAYDEN TOH!

(An opinion I have kept to myself for the longest time but couldn't keep it any longer: Why do hairdressers like to cut babies' hair to a crew cut? Come on, hairdressers, you can do better!)

Now Kayden is going through the stage where he starts to imitate what we say and do, so upon seeing us try to get him to blow out the candles, he spontaneously pressed his lips together. The result was of course a pool of saliva which landed on parts of the cake. Eeewwww!

Hope you grow up to be an inspiring individual who is well-liked and respected by others! :D

Do you always meet a talkative friend all throughout your life? 

I think I have met another again. LOL.

Simon, my ex NTU coursemate, just joined our department. COOL. I ran into him 2 weeks ago in our office (either the office is big or I am just too blur.) 

He is one talkative person... and now I have someone to drive me home after work YAY.

And I saw my ex school teacher, Mr Jacky Tan, at the palliative care forum; he just joined the company as a Medical Social Worker! I was smiling to him throughout the forum and Colleague Evon smiled at him with me too. After much persuasion from colleagues, I mustered enough courage to go over and greet him, and although he couldn't recall who I am anymore, but at least he noticed us smiling away at him even when we were a hundred miles apart.

Me: "So sad he couldn't recognise me anymore."

Evon: "Of course la, he got so many students!"

Me: "He used to teach me Physics!!"

Evon: "Maybe this is his passion!"

Me: "Physics???"

Evon (rolled eyes): "NOOOO, I mean helping people. His passion is to help people la."

Niceeee.. My ex teacher is always helping people, in one way or another. :D

"You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."

 -quotes-lover.com

Another piece of good news to share!
The photographer in SOSD, who has been in the photography line for 19 years, is conducting a photography crash course for us for free (so that we can help take photos of the dogs in future adoption drives)..!
It's no doubt a dream come true; I mean, photography class from a professional photographer that can easily fetch $600 per student is now offered for free?
:D
Basic equation of my life:
Photography + FREE Stuff = DREAM COME TRUE!
(Okay don't judge me, I am human.)

The Wedding Gown

Tried on a few gowns before signing with the bridal studio :D
Proudly presented to Colleague Michelle (who just got married) my contract which Simba and I signed with acquiescence to the wedding coordinators' fierce persuasion, but to my surprise, she went "AHHHHH, HJ you should have asked me along! I would have asked for more things for YOU!!" LOL.


I came into the studio, fell in love with it and set my mind on it. Although I might not have gotten everything's worth, but overall my wedding package is pretty good. After all, what matters the most is not the price tag that comes along with it or everything I can squeeze out of it, but it's whether the bridal studio's style matches what I'm looking for. :D


The wedding coordinator got me to describe the sort of gown I like, and after some brief introduction of myself and elucidation of that perfect dress, she defines my style as "Romantic".


After what seems like a thousand years of browsing through the catalogue, I pointed (see below) out what I thought is iconic in the olden days, and she explained that this is translucent so she got me something similar but is opaque lol.

Fell in love with the embellishment on the gown and the sashay bottom, though a bit of layering, lace, ruffles or frills will be great too! Maybe I will add on a piece of off-shoulder cloth on my arm (it's so cool the cloth is detachable)!

Just as I thought the feeling of slipping into a gown would be nothing but blissful, to the contrary, when I saw myself wearing a gown for the first time in front of the ceiling-length mirror, I felt utterly, absolutely insecure in an environment filled with other customers since I looked so tanned in that pure white dress and weird without much make-up on. LOL. My shoulders went all the way down I was practically hunching and the coordinator reassured me and said while she adjusted my posture, "The thing about wearing a gown is that the bride wearing it should feel beautiful and confident in it. Everyone will be looking at you the moment you walk into the hall, so you can't be hunching this way." Hmmm..

U know, actually u don't need to trim your tummy unless u choose a mermaid cutting gown! For all other types of cutting, they design it such that your waist looks way smaller than it actually is! Lol no time left so I'm going to focus on arm slimming only!

Cousin said she wants to tag along the next time I go for gown fitting LOL! Told her that I wanted a toga but she advised me against it, saying that it will not be as elegant as other gowns.. Hmmm.. What do u think? I love Grecian... If you watched Thor 2, U must have noticed the gown that Natalie Portman wore in ancient Greece. :D

Autonomy & Mastery

One of the benefits that you can reap from a young, growing organisation is that you find yourself surrounded by opportunities to stretch your potential and mature along with the organisation, and this means you get to climb up the career ladder quicker. However, this also means you need to thrive as fast as you could but at the same time know how to pace yourself so that you don't burn out (which is unfortunately something I'm struggling with.)

"Change is the only constant." was what Boss said to me. 
"For the next 5 years, we are going to do more. I give you the autonomy ah, and you have to learn how to manage everything yourself and eventually gain mastery. I'm not saying that everything is gonna be smooth, in fact I'm telling you that the process is going to be painful, and I want you to learn from it."


4 months now and I am exhausted. Lol.
This was never what I wanted nor expected. I JUST WANNA BE A HOUSEWIFE!

I found 3 more aspiring housewives-to-be at my workplace and this is us not paying attention in the cooking class. 

It's not easy to find an inspiring boss whom you greatly respect and nice colleagues. So ya.. I'm going to stay in this and be as dynamic as I can be until Simba strike it rich!

S.E.A Aquarium

FINALLY... the S.E.A Aquarium on my first official OFF day. Okay, I admit I'm SLOW, don't judge me, let it go ok!


Here are some of the photos:
:D
They will come with a description later (sorry dears, I'm still not good at time management)!

TELL YOU SOMETHING EXCITING! I somehow landed myself in a small assignment to take photographs of an event in April! :D Thank you for the opportunity!
COOL! I'M SO EXCITED!

Running Man, Bridal Studio, Wedding Banquet Venue.

Running Man Ep 188.
Running Man went to Australia! Made me feel like going Gold Coast too (especially when my colleagues Iris and Evon will be going there (separately) this coming May.) 

Thanks to High Definition Technology, the kangaroos and esp koalas on screen are so cute!!!!

Rain is on this week's episode and I didn't know he can be so funny beneath his stolid exterior as portrayed in his previous concerts!

RICO-A-MONA Bridal.
The assigned bridal studio that will be providing my gowns, make-up and hair-do. I was actually debating between them and La Belle Couture, but what gave them the edge over the latter was their solid reviews mainly from my colleague Michelle and few other friends (whose perception of beauty is similar to mine).
Yes, it is one of the studios along Tanjong Pagar Rd, found in the heart of alternating bridal shops and Korean BBQ restaurants. :)



Rendezvous Hotel.
After sorting out several concerns, we eliminated Marina Mandarin, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La and a few others from our list of potential wedding banquet venues, and eventually settled on either Four Seasons Hotel or Goodwood Park Hotel. But due to parental objections (on my side) regarding the escalated costs, we have to confine our choices to hotels that were minus a star. 

And finally... We compromised and Rendezvous Hotel was the best choice made out of this compromise. They allowed for our wedding to be held in a ballroom (Simba only wants a ballroom), was well-received by the previous users on food and service (my concern), gave a reasonable price quote (my parents' concerns), had no pillars in the ballroom and no additional charges for another projector (photographer's concern), and was reliable based on its long history (his parents' concerns).

A Chinese wedding (or any other wedding) is never easy since it is never up to 2 persons and is organised based on a collective decision.

"Think about what you want, not what others want from you."

Something my ex-internship supervisor said to me tonight (Yea he still keeps in contact with me, he's so cool!).

It's nice to have someone listen to you once in a while. I find myself encouraging new friends (lol it's weird that some people whom I just got to know came to me with their problems) and guiding them through their problems, but don't feel comfortable talking to them about my insecurities. 

The moment he asked me, "How are you?", I began to flood the chat with my never-ending messages, knowing that he will offer some sound advice. I told him that I need to step out of my comfort zone to be more effective at work, and went on and on about it... My boss' expectations, the company culture, my awkwardness... blah blah blah...

And he casually said, "idk la, perhaps i older so wiser ma. I learnt something... Think about what you want, not what others want from you."

These words really hit me hard. Yea, how many of you and I are guilty of pleasing people all our lives that we forgot that we are actually living out our lives, that we play the main lead of our lives, and that, you and I, we, are writing our own destiny?

Together by AndroidsinBoots

The wedding video that makes Simba say "Yes! Let's engage this videographer!" the moment it ended

when we fall in love (Split-Day-Edit) from AndroidsinBoots (Still+Motion) on Vimeo.


Simba's ex hall friend just got married on 1st March and the theme for her gate crash is Running Man! AHHHHHHHH~~ They went to Korea for their wedding photoshoot and look totally like Koreans in the shoot! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I ALSO WANT!

:(

Now in order not to be a big copycat, I have to make my gate crash's theme either "The Walking Dead" or "The Big Bang Theory"! LOLOL!

Dress the best men and bridesmaids like zombies on my wedding day? Should I? I'm gonna dress like corpse bride!

People in the workplace

During our orientation, one of the slides that was flashed pointed out 4 types of people in the workplace.

Out of 10 people in the workplace, there will be:

1) 2 people who make the world go round (the achiever),

2) 4 people who watch the world go round (the complacent one),

3) 3 people who don't know the world is going round (the blur one),

4) and 1 person who slows down the world (the rotten apple).

I'm type 3! Lol! Fortunately CEO only talks about identifying type 4 and exiting them. 

Types 1, 2 and 3 are safe!

Social Work, Adoption Drives

Part time Post Graduate Diploma in Social Work, NUS, 1.5 year.

Should I? More importantly, can I afford the time?

:D

Taken by SOSD photographer:

Adoption drive 12th Jan, Cornerstone Cafe.

Brandon. Applaud this guy who comes to every of our drive in hope to one day find a dog he loves! 

He has been so persistent that every vollie knows who he is.

And 皇天不负苦心人， finally today at Pet Expo he brought a puppy home for a 1-week homestay!

One of our vollies, Sylvia, who was in-charge of one playpen together with me and a few others. 

Pups are always so food alert, aren't they?

"Adopt me! I used to be a street dog, and I didn't eat or sleep well for the first few months of my life. All I ask for in the next 10 to 15 years is that you give me care, and I will always stay by your side and will always love you."

Some pet lovers brought their own dogs along too!

Vollies of Playpen C!

Adoption drive 23rd Feb, at SOSD Rehab Centre

Yes, he was here again.

Kids interacting with Shinny, our shelter dog.

Our 1 month old pups, just rescued from Jurong industrial area!

"Dear future adopter, when will you come... and be my angel?"

Potential adopter filling up her particulars for me!

LOL. Talking to a boy who wishes to be a vollie!

Yes, I'm an awkward person and I'm proud to be one!

AndroidsinBoots & Naumi Hotel

AndroidsinBoots Wedding. ~6,500 likes on Facebook and rated 4.5/5 by 63 satisfied customers.
It was the photography studio handpicked for our ROM wedding as its works are phenomenal!
Unlike Mojoideas, my most preferred studio which did not rely on its outward appearance to make its mark, the splendour of AndroidsinBoots made my day the moment I entered. The photographer is an art of his own; he is one of those students I saw in School of Art, Design & Media during my NTU days! The bold dress sense & that scarily perfect English. U know what I mean! And he's one handsome young man. Lol.

And am I so right! The photographer & videographer are from NUS & NTU Arts School respectively (I'm definitely not a stalker, I just need to do a background check on the people I will hire for my big day.)

Like Mojoideas, the photographer & videographer are brothers who own the business together! :D 

Impressed by the the wedding videos the photographer played for us on their studio's big screen, and wants to engage them on the spot. Their style incorporates vintage, sentimental and some form of nostalgia, and their works reminded us of the films I watched just to scrape through my Arts & Humanities modules.

Simba prefers AndroidsinBoots over Mojoideas but for me it's the other way around! But it's okay cos we will be engaging both and I have absolute faith in both photographers/videographers that they will do an exceptional job! I'm over the moon that as packed as their schedule is, they happen to be available to document our big day. I'm counting my blessings.. :D And thank god I have picked up an innate OCD-like behaviour from Simba about 5 years ago, so I plan ahead of time now.

Click here to access an album in their Facebook page to get a feel of how their newly set up studio looks like!
And click here to view one of their many marvellous works. :D

Of course, not all is perfect. I was contemplating on whether to engage them at first as the photographer who met us was a bit awkward with us, and was afraid that these awkwardness may extend to my wedding day. However, Simba spoke up for him and said that not everyone is a conversationalist, even for people who run their own business and 1 out of 3 of us is an introvert. So okie lo... Let's just give him a shot. :)


Moving on...
Cloud 9 Pool & Bar @ Naumi Hotel is the venue chosen to hold our solemnization. :) :)

We went down to the sky bar and were very pleased with the service and most of all, the view.
Few pictures we took using his iPhone 5. 

If you plan to have an event in the hotel, they provide you with complimentary beer of your choice from the bar.

I regretted not bringing my digital camera along that day, as iPhone 5's camera doesn't do justice to the beauty of the backdrop seen from the bar. 

See you guys there on 7th Sept at 6pm! :D

And we bought a resistance trainer from Mustafa Centre, after I've seen it in some of Running Man's games. Here is Mr Showy with all his ostentatious poses.

Stationary Bike in my room; Mr Showy bought gym and physiotherapy nearer to me. :D

Lexie, our rescued dog.

I was featured in a Pet Taxi's Facebook page after I took Lexie, our rescued dog to the vet using its service.

Lexie looked so funny and still cos she gets carsick too, just like me! She freaks out completely whenever a car door is open; I had to calm her down before carrying her (I'm strong, she is 10.1kg!) into the car. 

We have found Lexie a new fosterer and we hope that someday this nice family can adopt her. :D

If you know of anyone who wishes to adopt her, let me know ok?

Breed: Mongrel

Gender: Female

Age: 4 months old

Personality: Friendly and likes attention

Rescued from: Sungei Kadut

Paper trained and listen to commands.

Don't mind my messy hair. Lol. Simba and I had been walking this hyperactive dog for 2 hours before we finally can get a cab! Simba had to run with her at times to keep up.
:D

Engineer

Awesome news to share:

Simba's request for transfer to the engineering department has been granted! :D

He will be officially an Project Management Engineer by Apr this year.

:)

Okie tell u something that I became stupidly worried (apparently now I know it's over nothing) when he broke the news to me. 

Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled.. Until I came to the realization that Engineers work with a higher health hazard risk than some of us. 

A friend of mine who used to work as an Engineer at DSTA gave me the feeling that the position takes you into experiencing cool stuff since she gets to leave her foot prints on top of physical airplanes! 

But then again it's so dangerous walking on a plane!

This led to me thinking that simba is gonna learn how to do checks on planes and some military vehicles. 

I went on to think about the accidents that have occurred on Engineers for the past ten years, and one of the most recent was the one on the navy ship; the Engineer lost both his arms and legs on one typical day of doing his routine checks.

Of course I'm not going to stop him from pursuing something he might enjoy but I would always want to give my 20 cents worth (although he already knew these common sense stuff).

"On site... U need to be especially careful and not be your usual blur self. Be alert at all times ok?"

"U know, sometimes when u wish for something and one day when u finally lay your hands on it, u start to find that maybe that something isn't so great afterall." (Cos Simba didn't study aerospace engineering, so it might be tough u see!)

In the end, after a million years, he told me that he's not gonna be engineer engineer. Instead his position is more to management. 

It's no wonder I don't perform at work; I spent time worrying about things that don't exist. Lol!

Photography Shoot booked & Volunteering.

We booked our pre-wedding photography and actual wedding shoots already! Ever since I saw their works for my primary school friend's wedding, I concluded that they are the best! I tried following a few other photography studios on Facebook and giving them a chance to beat this one, but they were incomparable.

They were booked by another couple on our ROM day (sad), so we will be engaging another studio which I thought was good. Regardless of this, we were still thankful that we will have them for our pre-wedding and actual wedding shoots. Although their rates are relatively steep, but I believe in their skills, service and quality especially after having met the videographer in person. He is warm-hearted, and passionate about nothing but photography. I was so excited when we paid him our deposit (although $3,088 of our savings was gone in a flash.)

Introducing to you.... Mojoideas!
They have garnered 8,900 likes and been rated 4/5 on Facebook by 259 satisfied customers.
They are a pair of brothers who started this business from scratch 9 years ago. The videographer whom we met explained that the term "mojo" means ideas and is a combination of his and his brother's initials. 
Their studio is a war site but that's a good sign, cos artistic people are disorganised and don't need to depend on image to earn money.
Do look through their works and tell me how you rate them.
(BTW, the videographer is Henry Thia's son-in-law. :D)



One of the leading benefits reaped from volunteering is that it brings you joy. After volunteering for 2 months now, I must say I agree with it. It's unexplainable happiness seeing people being so passionate about something and in my case, about dogs. Being passionate about seemingly nothing, I could never understand how it feels like to be passionate. The fellow volunteers volunteer because of their love for dogs and this spirit of giving in terms of time and effort is admirable! 

The enthusiasm of potential adopters were palpable; they really wish to pass our screening and adopt our rescued dogs. 

Honestly I did not volunteer with a pure heart. I volunteer mainly to be spiritually happy. And I volunteer because I wanted it to be a stepping stone to pursue a career in social and community development next time. But now that I'm in a volunteer organisation, I feel a prolonged sense of guilt because the volunteers' actions have proved to me that they are much more selfless and sympathetic than my self-centredness. I'm ashamed to come with such intentions when they could spend so much time to help the animals. To give the dogs a place where they can call home, they would do anything and everything they can. Once they receive reports about a dog being abused, they would rush down to the scene to investigate and take away the animal if they find the owner unsuitable for giving it a home. 

I don't know if they are doing well in their own professions, but I guess they are, cos they are so patient in guiding us, the newcomers, on how to proceed from each step and to handle every tough situation with grace. Knowing them is really a blessing. :D

Who should I believe?

Our wedding dates are fixed, and we are very excited to announce our big day! Mark your calendar for these 2 very very important days alright?

Solemnisation Date: 7th Sep 2014 

Customary Wedding Date: 26th Sep 2015

Dear poly friends, I will definitely invite you guys for my solemnisation if the venue permits a maximum seating of 30 people. If not, I will see you at the wedding dinner next year!

My first kill for something branded is a Prada wallet for Simba. Despite my audacious effort to stride into the high ceiling shop (looking like a country bumpkin), making a beeline for that timeless piece and unintentionally made the salesgirl beam with delight, Mao Mao told me that the ungrateful Simba expressed deep dissatisfaction; he said it is utterly lousy as it has neither an extra flap nor a coin pouch!

When I confronted Simba, he explained to me that Mao Mao was the one who critically remarked that the wallet was without additional card slots and coin holder, and he just nodded to the fact. According to him it was Mao who inferred that both of them reached a consensus that the gift was atrociously insincere.

So now, friends, who should I trust?

My friend of 9 years or my boyfriend of 5 years?

I'm so so confused.

Wedding Dates Selection & 八字 Consultation

Hi dears! :D

Here's hoping that you will spend your weekend with awesomeness!

Just for laughs:

We were at Nex's Danro Japanese Hotpot when we found bear heads to eat! I love it, especially when we get 10% off the total bill right after I flashed my MOF card. So much for aspiring to be a slim bride. LOL.


Year 2014 will be a marvellous year, because...


In Simba's last consultation with his Endocrinologist, we welcomed the year of 2014 with such gratitude when the doctor announced that Simba's full recovery (Cortisol levels have now regained back to normal)! Simba has been directing a few months of his time and effort towards convalescing after the surgery, and they weren't wasted at all!




Here's the healthy him, back to his normal self, at KSL Malaysia. :~) No words can express how indebted I feel to God for his recovery. :)
Now what's left is just for him to gain back his normal weight and yes he's good to go! 
He has downgraded to PES C because of the disease and was thrilled that he will not be engaging in any outdoor activities for his ICT next week. Lol.


Year 2014 will be great also because the Fengshui Master said so! We've spent $490 just to meet him for 2 hours yesterday for both the wedding dates selection and 八字 fortune telling! He gave us a few dates to pick from but I'll announce the decided ones after I can confirm the availability of our potential photographer for the 2 days. (I actually let the photographer choose from the range of our potential wedding dates, but all I can blame is myself for being anal about my selection of photographers and would go all the way to have that particular one shoot my wedding. He is almost fully booked for year 2015 and already robbed of his free time. So fellow Singaporeans, WHY U NO GIVE THE POOR PHOTOGRAPHER A BREAK?)

Although I'm taking the Fengshui advice with a pinch of salt, but it was pretty interesting hearing him predict my life.

My life, according to the Fengshui Master as well as an iPhone app (Surprisingly they spoke of the same thing), has begun its goodness on me since I turned 23 and it's gonna stay smooth for the rest of my life (from age 23 to 83). However, he made it perfectly clear that a smooth life doesn't mean riches; it just means happiness. :D I am not gonna be filthy rich, and have to work harder than others to earn the same income. To sum up, I lead a smooth life with ordinary returns from it (like normal income, normal 桃花, won't 克夫 nor 旺夫).

Simba's life isn't as smooth as mine, and because of it, our marriage will suffer trials and tribulations from when he turned 38 until he's 58. The master went on to say that our fights will be close to a battle on a battlefield as we are both egoistic and strong-headed, but we are fine now because Simba is still giving in to me. Lol! A word of advice from him to us for us to take some time to master the art of compromising with each other.
Most importantly, our 八字没有相克, which is great news!
And the coolest of all will also be that Simba and I will be close to our kids. :D


In case you didn't know, my interview with SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs) came through and now I am officially a volunteer! I will be at the Adoption Drive at Bishan Park this Sun (12th Jan) from 12pm to 4pm, so do come support me if you are free! And don't buy dogs, instead give one of our adorable, friendly dogs a new lease of life!

Happy New 2014!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This year is an exceptionally great year because this is the year we are getting married!

Greetings from Clarke Quay on New Year's Eve. 

This year his new year's resolution is for me to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Some of his ground rules include no coloured drinks, no coffee, no chocolates, no sweets, no ice cream, fried food once a month and no wine/beer. All these rules will stand for a year and could only be broken if I am out with friends (I don't want to be a spoilsport and be an outcast of the society!)

Greetings from Grandstand and PasarBella on New Year's Day.

It was supposed to say Grandstand. I promised Simba that I would try to enhance this photo until the wording behind me shows "Grandstand" but whatever, I can make up for it by telling you where I went to.

Oh please greet my dad if you pass by James' Butchery & Co. He has been working there since the opening of PasarBella. :D

Diet, New Job & Dimsum!

Jun Wen was not at all supportive nor eager when I became in the thick of my plans to lose few kilograms. In fact, he was rather annoyed. His exact words were "做人开心就好，何必把自己搞得那么辛苦?"

He doesn't understand, I love attending weddings, even more so my own wedding; everything including my diet plans has to, by hook or by crook, go according to plan.

To sabotage my plans, he proposed that we eat out a hearty meal for dinner every Sunday (and let down the creator of the food guide pyramid). Another reason he came up with this rule was because I'm not in favour of snacks or supper on weekdays. Hence, feeling guilty that he was still hungry when I wasn't, he would adamantly not eat and slept with a half empty stomach on weekdays.

Last Sunday Victor's Kitchen, a humble place renowned for its custard buns, was where he decided to have the hearty dinner. Simba happened to come across this place, as it is opposite a Gundam shop where his geeky friend frequents. Although the food was served a little cold, it was wickedly good.

Shrimp Roll




Overestimated ourselves once more so with a 100% full stomach we spent 20 minutes slowly munching on the leftovers.




Steamed chicken in Chinese wine.



Prawn dumplings

Teochew dumplings



Custard buns, the main character.

Smiling on the outside, but was worried about my weight inside. I mean real business this time.

Siew Mai. 

It was a mess because...

He took one of them out and displaced the rest.


Christmas & Dieting Dilemma

As known to all, Christmas signifies giving and sharing, which means many chocolates and snacks will lead themselves on my desk. Today I ate so many chips I had to clutch my tummy all the way back home (I can't reject anyone since I'm still a newbie in the workplace, I should be totally nice!). 

"Dear colleagues, I know you mean well but please refrain from putting any snack or chocolate on my table as my wedding is drawing near."

New Job

Time in the hospital flew past because of the endless (motivational) meetings, orientations and rapport building. I'm now 3 weeks into my new job!

Being the only Research person in my department was a total brand-new feeling; afterall I'm helping the Operations department do research. But I was very grateful that everything has already been clearly planned out and organized before I came and it's like they are just waiting for me to come and fill in whatever they need.

My office is filled with Operations Executives and mostly ladies! Their dress sense is top-notch; I find myself glancing a little too long at what they wear everyday. 

They would spend every penny on anything that catches their attention, just like how I used to! 

They don't exercise and eat plenty of snacks. Jack & Jill's spicy potato chips used to be my favourite when I was in Primary but gave them up after learning from Health Education that they do nothing but harm to my body. 
I was indeed fascinated by how large their appetite is! One was sitting in front of me in the office (the partition that separates us is transparent) and I have never seen her stop eating before. She later confessed that the snacks given by our common colleague were too tempting, so I gave her mine and she accepted it without any sort of hesitation. She offered me chocolates from her pack again and again but I had to remind her that I'm on diet!!

One ate up Salted Caramel's waffle with ice cream after our Christmas dinner (she said she wasn't full from the dinner when she had steak). I watched in fascination (and horror) as she gobbled up her dessert and I must have stared a bit too hard and long that she told me not to judge her and not to react as if she is a monster! 

They are not afraid to speak out during meetings and this is some solid confidence that I should master! 

People in the office would come forward personally to introduce themselves. 

Doctors in my team are approachable too and being attached to them was an inspiring experience since I watched them teach nurses in the nursing homes we collaborated with. 

Christmas dinner with new colleagues :D

I'm smiling again! The people at work are kind and this is all it matters. Choosing to leave my last job was the best choice I have ever made. I deserve to be happy and love myself, and love the peace I'm having now; I don't have to endure any bit of the meanness anymore! :) I was taught never to be someone who can't control her anger, as this type of person loses in every single situation and is unlikeable, but now if ever there is one lesson that I will take home from my previous workplace, it will be to defend myself. My New Year resolution for the year of 2014 is to be kind but firm and to have the tenacity to see it through!

Anyway, I have moved on, and am feeling alive again with my emotions kept in check, and every new day is a day to be thankful for!

My friends, if you are currently in an unmanageable situation that keeps you unsatisfied and unhappy, I suggest you change your situation. U have a choice to be happy and more importantly u deserve to be happy, so if it takes getting out of the situation instead of salvaging it, by all means do it.

My workload is manageable too, as an Admin Assistant is here to assist me with data collection and she is really good-natured and capable. Love her! Now I can go home on time and spend time with my loved ones!

:D

Merry Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

It's the time of the year again!

Merry Christmas!

I have not quit blogging. Just busy!