Muah Chee's disappearing act

My hammie Muah Chee scared us by pulling the disappearing act from his cage this morning!

We went for breakfast and came back. Dad wanted to go disturb him and then he said Muah Chee is not in his cage. I thought he was hiding in the tube but no sign. And the gate to his first storey was not secured! Must have been me! I was cleaning up yesterday and I forgot to fasten it. How absent-minded of me.

We tried to hunt for it in the storeroom, under the sofas, behind shoe racks. I was worried that if he had gone to the kitchen, chances are he would fall into the drainage. I was thinking hard how to attract him if he was still surviving in the house.

Suddenly dad saw him and called us. I asked dad not to move so that Muah Chee won't run off! I tiptoed to where dad spotted him (beside our shoe cabinet) and there he was....standing there and looking up at dad! Hahahahaha...I slowly moved towards him, trying not to scare him into running away, then I caught him. I was so afraid he would bite me but I didn't care, rather than having him run away. Thank goodness he didn't bite. So I closed up, caught him and brought him back to his cage.

He dropped from the table top and I was worried he might injure his little limbs. Am still observing to see if he's limping. Looks ok so far leh. :)

29 Dec 2008 (10.24am)

Where is she?

Been searching for Xiaohei since 24 Dec afternoon. No sign of her at all! I went there 3 to 4 times yesterday at different times, and today about 3 to 4 times also. Getting worried again. I really have no idea where she could have gone to. We searched the benches, the bicycle parking area before the lift lobbies, shook the food container but ended up attracting other cats. Each search ended in disappointment and more worries.

I really miss my dear Chantek Xiaohei. She has been a princess at my block for a long long time and protected with so many people playing with her and patting her. Now they have suddenly relocated her to a new place. Could she have been living in fear and hiding somewhere I can't see?

Why can't people tolerate her? What kind of characters do these people 'possess'? What make them? She doesn't bite, she doesn't disturb. I am on the verge of swearing at them.

What other clues can I get from Town Council to help trace her whereabouts? I am really feeling very heartpain for Xiaohei. Will I ever find her and see her again? I really hope so. Ha, I will smack her backside if I find out she is enjoying life while I am here crying over her disappearance (I'd rather it's this). I just want to know she is well. I really can't let go. Too painful.

Wonder who and what can help me find her. Really miss her. Every time I come home, I still have the habit of looking around to see if she is running towards me or glancing at the door to see if she is trying to sneak into the house.

She is really a part of us. Will keep on looking for her.

26 Dec 2008 (9.50pm)

Search for Xiaohei begins

The Town Council has replied to assure us that Xiaohei has not been put to sleep and asked for my contact number so that they can contact me. They didn't call so that I called the Property Officer who was always not available.

Finally she returned my call yesterday slightly past 11am. She said that they had brought Xiaohei to another block and release her there. The block is just across a street to ours. I was hopeful again. She commented that Xiaohei is very nice cat, doesnt bite. But they couldn't help it due to complaints. That I understand. I just want to find Xiaohei. I shared that I was very worried they would kill her. The officer replied that they are not so cruel to do that. I should have probed more as to who brought her there and which part was she let off exactly, etc but I didn't as I was full of excitement to know where to start looking for her now.

As we were given halfday on Christmas eve, I came back and decided to share this with one of my neighbours who loved Xiaohei very much too. I went to their home and told them. They also thought Xiaohei must have been caught and put to sleep. The mum told me their daughter was also very worried about Xiaohei and almost wanted to cry. They said they would go find her when they go out later.

I went home waiting for hubby to come back, then we went to those cluster of blocks to try to hunt for the silly gal at about 3-plus pm. We saw other cats but no sign of Xiaohei. We even asked one man who was feeding those cats there. As our description of Xiaohei was not very accurate so didn't really find out much. I was so stupid to have forgotten to show him Xiaohei's picture from my handphone. I brought with me the bunch of keys and the container of food and we shook those while walking hoping to attract her, as that was what we usually do when she was at our place. Whenever she heard those, she would come running to us. Anyway, after the first round, I was disappointed. My hope was raised when I found one at our next block thinking it was Xiaohei. After scrutinising it for a while, we confirmed that wasn't Xiaohei.

Had actually wanted to go with hubby again early this morning to find her again but he had to go driving range last minute, so I went on my own after he left at about 6am. I wanted to try at different times of the day. I went round those 4 blocks and carpark but still no sign. So after half an hour, I walked back home, disappointed and worried once again. Later on when's it's brighter, I will go again.

I hope she hasn't ventured out of those areas. I also hope she hasn't gotten into fights with or chased away by those existing cats there.

My poor Xiaohei, where is she? She will be the best Christmas gift if I find her today.

Bless me, bless Xiaohei.

25 Dec 2008 (7.15am)

Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas again! Wishing one and all a Joyous Christmas, enjoy your day and relax!

HoHoHoHoHo....

25 Dec 2008 (6.58am)

Xiaohei Kungfu

Tough moments

(For those who really don't like to read my rattling about Xiaohei, please bear with me. I will post quite a bit here for the next couple of weeks at least, amongst other things, since I can only bear my sorrows and pain here. And if you do see me, don't talk to me about her yet, cos I am really upset and can't talk about her at the moment. Thanks for the understanding.)

I mentioned in one of my previous posts that this is the worse Deccember I have encountered. Jinx! What more can I say with the apex being the loss of Xiaohei. The year end is totally destroyed.

Think she is really gone. But I just wanna know where she is. Make sure she is ok. I miss her and worry about her a lot. There is no closure. Thinking about her makes me wanna cry but I can't express this to the two men at home. I can only manage things myself because I will probably only receive 'needles' from them. I am feeling terrible enough, don't need them to add more to the pain if they have nothing nicer to say. I can do it alone. I admire those who can take it so easily. I wish I can too because emotion burdens are very tough to handle. But that's the way I am. In my next life, I hope I can be a little cold-hearted.

Anyway, I am not going to let things end here. I had written to the town council to ask them what action have they taken against the cat, if they are really the ones behind it (in order to appease complainants). Had actually wanted to just go down to ask (since TC is just downstairs) but I am sure I will just break down in front of them. They had better reply to me within the 7 working days, as stated in the return email. And if they had brought it somewhere, they had better tell me where!

I wonder if I complain about people urinating in the lifts and stairways, will they boot out the culprit as well! And if I complain about my neighbour's dog barking, will they boot the dog out? Complainants always win, don't they?

The people who hate get their way, the people who love have to suffer in silence. Just because the cattie doesn't have an owner. WHAT THE HECK!!!

I am feeling so bad also because I am unable to protect her; because I never speak up for her (though dad did, to the TC people who came); because we 'chased' her out of our house when she entered; because I was unable to train her to poo and pee in the litter successfuly; because I was unable to make her go down to the void deck, where she had always been. Did I cause her harm indirectly? I really hope I wasn't her jinx, from the day she stepped upstairs. If I was, I am so damn sorry.

The silly gal - wherever you are, I am thinking of you and love you. Hope you are being well-taken care of and have other friends to play with. Don't fight! When I know where you are, I will visit you. :)

The state of dad's slippers outside our house. This is Xiaohei's claw scratching tool. She loves this pair of slippers. In the mornings, dad has to 'fight' with her for the slippers. Hahaha...

21 Dec 2008 (9.27am)

Xiaohei is gone again

I hope this time it's not for real.

She hasn't been seen since yesterday afternoon.
She didn't come back in the evening for food or drink.
She wasn't back by night.
She wasn't at the door when I opened the door to check at 3.00am.
She isn't at the door meowing this morning when I opened the door.

Is she really gone for good?
If she has just left us on her own accord because she has found a better place or has grown tired of us, I am fine.
If she has left because someone else has adopted her, I am fine.
If she has found a better place to play and wondered off, I am fine.
But if she has been caught by Town Council or someone else, for that matter, then I am very worried for her.
But how am I to know?

It's no use talking to the two men at home because whatever they say doesn't help to alleviate my worries and fears.
They make me feel worse. So I refuse to talk to them about this.
They are attached to Xiaohei too, but they are being practical, which I cannot accept at the height of my heywire emotions.
During Xiaohei's last MIA for the afternoon after Town Council visited, I was terribly worried too and was being 'told off' for getting too attach to the cattie. One say if she is going to be caught, let her be; the other say have already told me not to get too attach.
They are right, I am wrong; but I can't help it too.
WTH! Emotions ain't something you can switch on and off anytime anywhere, especially when you have a 'messed up' brain like mine.
I can't make anyone understand my feelings of why I get so emo over a cat.
She is just a cat, they say.
How do I know? Ask my brain!
Looks like I have to be worried and sad all by myself over this 'stupid' thing.
But I hope I am just worrying over nothing.
I am still waiting for the meow when I open the door.

If she is gone a wondering or at someone else' place, I hope to know where she is so that I can go see her.

If she is caught because of the complaints, then bless those who have directly or indirectly caused her to be captured.
I detest them!

I hope to know what's happened to her, but at the same time, fear to know what's happened to her.

Dear Xiaohei, if you are not coming back here again, know that we love you so much, wherever you are. But I still hope you will be back later, okie?

20 Dec 2008 (7.08am)

My Top 10 Irritants (Top no-nos with essentially zero tolerance)

1. People who yak yak yak non-stop into your ears. Essentially, there is no way to find the 'full stop' for you to intercept the conversation and you just have to bear with it till the speaker stops. This is really tiring.

2. People standing in the middle of the path you are walking when there are other places for them to shift their butts too.

3. People who stroll in front of you in a narrow path; or walk in twos or threes in a row, thus blocking the path. I wonder when they will look behind to realise they are hogging!

4. A wet kitchen - I still do not understand why some folks let the water drip off their hands to the floor when they can at least wipe off the wetness. The person who steps on the water will leave their wonderful foot prints, together with the dirt, all over the house.

5. Oily surfaces or floors - I can tolerate dust to some extent (and wet surfaces) but am very irked by oily places. Washed utensils that are still oily is also not acceptable. Some households have got oily table cloths (used to wipe off oils from tables, etc) that are not washed properly.

6. Finding the slippers meant for the bathroom/toilet outside it, at least at my home. Why can't people just leave what is meant for thetoilet inside the toilet??

7. Screaming kids - This can be in the form of a bunch of playing kids, or kids who are simply naughty. Whichever form it is, my whole body will tense up when I encounter such situations. Even one horrendous screaming child can cause my tension to accelerate. Even while writing this paragraph, I could feel my ears narrowing.

8. People following too closely behind me making me the road hogger. I will always walk to the side to get rid of the irritant behind.

9. People who distributes flyers. We are getting more and more of such people sticking out their hands in your paths. It is really very very very....and very irritating! Get off my way!

10. People trying to rush up trains and buses even when they are not crowded! Simply cannot understand. Crowded, they rush. Not crowded, also rush.

13 Dec 2008 (9.00pm)

Our celebration

Too tired to play with computer for the past 2 days. So didn't post this photo I took on 10 Dec. So these were our dinner in celebration of my wedding anniversary and dad's lunar birthday. Crab crab is yummy yummy. We also ordered fried mee suah as dad's birthday dish. Heh heh heh, are you salivating now??

13 Dec 2008 (1.54pm)

Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday

Today's double happiness and cause for double celebrations! So what's the occasions?

First, it is my 3rd wedding anniversary and also my dad's lunar birthday. We are gonna eat out tonight...perhaps have chilli crabs and fried mee suah! Heehee...

Can't believe it's already 3 years.

Gongxi gongxi...

10 Dec 2008 (8.57am)

My hair and me

For the past months, I thought I saw a trend in the way my hair 'behave'.

On work days, my hair curls all over the place and hair sticks out like I am a crazy woman. No matter how I blow or comb, it will also get to the messy stage.

But then, on weekends, it is neat like never before. No matter now I slept the night before, the curl doesn't get out of place and I feel very comfortable.

Any explanation? Or even my hair knows my mood and behaves accordingly? Heeheehee....


8 Dec 2008 (8.01pm)

A relaxing Saturday walk

I realise I have not been to Carrefour for years and thought, hey why not go today with dad. So off we went. The overhead bridge linking Citylink to Suntec City is now replaced with an underpass....and still it is a long walk!

Nice X'mas Tree at Suntec City!

I was trying to capture the 'water fall' but it's not very clear. It's really nice - just like the water is glittering.

At the Koi Garden.

We bought a $2 pack food for the Koi but well, they didn't really seem interested. May be due to two reasons - they have been overfed, or they are too fat to jump at the food, unlike the young ones. Years back when I visited, the Koi were mostly small ones. But today, they are all (I really mean ALL) big and fat!

6 Dec 2008 (8.40pm)

8 Most Undesirable Traits in Men and Women (my version)

8 Most Undesirable Traits in Men:

1. Petty
- Complains about nitty-gritty things under the sun. Such kind will keep yakking and yakking till you feel like slapping him.

2. Stingy
- Counts every pounds. Will certainly dampen people's moods when shopping.

3. Unable to keep P&C matters P&C
- Insensitive to people's needs to keep certain things private. Better keep mouth shut if you don't want the whole world to start knowing about the most private things in your lives.

4. Gossiping
- This is certainly like a woman's trait but it seems awkward to hear it from a guy. Ok, ok, some gossiping is normal, but some carry it too far and you can see how engross they are when they start to gossip.

5. Mums
- I don't mean 'quiet'. I mean men who hang the 'mummy this, mummy that' phrases on their lips. It is utterly irritating when overdone. Certain things can be verbalised at its minimum, while keep most in the hearts.

6. Obnoxious
- This is an absolutely unattractive trait. They boast, they talk big and they behave as if they know everything under the sun. Even if they are that smart, their behaviours will negate everything.

7. Chauvinist
- Men who think they are the superpower on earth and the other gender is pinned under their thumbs.

8. Yes-man
- Men with simply no guts to make occasional rejections to people, whether at work or at home.


8 Most Undesirable Traits in Women:

1. Tantrums
- Too frequent tantrums irritate the hell out of people around. (I hope I am not one of them)

2. Petty
- This is an undesirable trait both in men and women. Pick on the tiniest things on earth. A certain level of magnanimity is ideal. (I hope I am not talking about myself)

3. Rumour-monger
- Frequently spread remours about the most insignificant things about people, talk behind people's backs, gossipping, etc. Such are people who try to create havoc on earth.

4. Arrogance
- Walk with their eyes on their heads. Best to ignore them. Paying attention to them will only heighten their sense of arrogance.

5. Temperamental
- This can be due to many factors, namely a personal characteristics, life's stresses, medical conditions, etc. To a third party, the reasons may not be important as they only see the behaviour. Thus, this can be quite a damaging trait if done to the extreme.

6. Picky
- Especially when shopping. Will check things from outside in to inside out. Not that checking is wrong, but some things can really be ignored if they are insignificant. For a simple item, they can check till the cows come home and they still don't feel secure.

7. Insensitive to others' feelings
- Such are people who don't give face when criticising, especially to men. The words just get out of the mouths without much thought and filtering.

8. Indecisive
- Toggles between ideas, jump idea to idea, ask for opinions, but still cannot reach a conclusion. If others are involved in this decision-making process, will definitely create hell for everyone. (Phew, I have not gone to the extreme yet)

Of course, as human beings, we may show some of the above traits every now and then, here and there. But to overdo it and to carry it to the extreme will really make one undesirable. That's what the lists refer to - Extremes. Don't you think so?

6 Dec 2008 (10.09am)

Husband of hostage killed in Mumbai recalls last few agonising hours

I couldn't help it but was very touched by Michael Puhaindran's statements, as published in the Channelnewsasia website on 3 December 2008. It was a very sad but also very sweet account by him. I have extracted from the website to place it here.

The most touching sentence to me was: "....if I don't make it out of here I love you all."

A video clip is also available.

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Their final few weeks of marriage were truly the best time of his life. Breaking his silence for the first time, husband of Singaporean hostage Lo Hwei Yen killed in the Mumbai attacks, Michael Puhaindran gave an insight into the life of the 28-year-old.

Puhaindran proposed to Lo in the Maldives within eight months of meeting her.

He said: "Everything I did, I did for her. My whole life revolved around her and she truly was the meaning of my life."

But after a beautiful Bali wedding, things went horribly wrong last Wednesday.

The first sign of trouble came when Puhaindran received a call at midnight Singapore time when Lo heard gunshots while having dinner. "

About 15 minutes later, she or I called. We spoke. She said she was in a stairwell on the 10th floor and she was with security and some staff, and they were waiting for the police," he said.

After that phone call was a few agonising silent hours of waiting.

Then came another call in the early hours of the morning which confirmed Puhaindran's fears.

"She was talking in a very steady voice; she was extremely brave. Her voice didn't even waver. (She said) that she was being held hostage by gunmen and she said they were armed with machine guns and grenades," said Puhaindran.

He contacted Singapore authorities.

Then came the final call.

"She said they said they still see activity, still in a very steady voice and still talking to me. I was trying to remain calm as well. Only in her last sentence, she said 'please tell them to hurry up'. And that's when I couldn't really take it, and said that I love her very much, and she said the same thing. So at least the last words I said to her were those words," Puhaindran continued.

Puhaindran recalled her last final e-mail.

"This one came in about 6.36 am Singapore time. She ended off by saying if I don't make it out of here I love you all. Despite everything she was facing, she still had the strength and courage to tell her friends she loved them. I do want you to tell people she was a brave Singaporean," Puhaindran added.

Finally on Friday, he was let into the Oberoi hotel.

He said: "They were still detonating grenades. Initially they did not want us go back but MFA (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) got us permission to get to the 19th floor. Everything was pitch black because there was no electricity. The floors were slippery. I think the sprinklers must have gone off. Then (they) showed her to me and I was able to touch her cheek and she still looked very beautiful."

While questions remain unanswered about the siege, for many like Puhaindran who lost loved ones during the terror attacks, picking up the pieces from here will now be hardest.

"She would want me to live my life but it's going to be very hard,” said Puhaindran. -CNA/vm

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6 Dec 2008 (7.26am)

Is it suppose to be cold or hot this year end?

This was the condition at 11.38am yesterday morning. It became gloomy for a while as we were on our way to lunch, then came the wind and the rain. It didn't rain for long.

What happened after that? The weather became hot like crazy.

What a funny kind of climate for a year-end. Isn't it suppose to be cold, coupled with frequent rains?

1 Dec 2008 (4.08pm)

Funny things you receive from students

Saw these from another blog and thought they are really interesting. Would like to share these funny stuff with you.

30 Nov 2008 (1.41pm)

Life is unpredictable in a crazy world

It has been very shocking to hear of a fellow Singaporean being held hostage and subsequently killed by terrorists in Mumbai.

All the while, such incidents seem to be very far from us though they happen very frequently in other parts of the world to other people. But it has finally hit home. It has happened to one of our fellow citizens in a foreign land. It is really unfortunate and unnecessary.

The reality of terrorists threat has finally reached us all here (I hope we are awakened by this incident). For those who still do not believe it will happen to us, well...it has, and it's getting closer and closer to home.

And, we probably have to remember the fragility of life and treasure every moment of it for we do not know what will happen next. Treasure your loved ones, do the things you like and live life with some meanings. We do not know when we will be taken away from them, or they be taken away from us, though we really do not wish to see this happening to anyone of us.

Let us hope this will be the first and last incident.

28-year-old Singaporean lawyer Lo Hwei Yen, who was killed in Mumbai's Oberoi Hotel

29 Nov 2008 (10.54pm)

Fun with acronyms

Just thought of these funny words from our hospitals' acronyms. Hope you know them.

AH - Aye Ho (can recover)

CGH- Chio Gao Ho (laugh until recover)

KKH - Kang Kor Ho (difficult to recover)

NUH -Nuah Unchua Ho (lazy how to recover?)

SGH - Siao Gao Ho (crazy until recover)

TTSH - Tu Tu Sibeh Ho (injection very good)

IMH-Ini Mana Ho (this one no good)

29 Nov 2008 (9.12am)

She's back!

The silly gal is back, to my relief!! And guess what? She came back with a live bird! My god, she got the bird between her teeth amd came walking back. Thank goodness, the bird was not dead and later managed to escape.

Anyway, I pray that no mishap will befall upon Xiaohei. Some baddies have already complained about her presence.

Wonder if I don't feed her, will she go downstairs? Come on.....

28 Nov 2008 (9.02pm)

Where are you, Xiaohei?

Have you gone somewhere else to look for some fun? Are you just out for a while? Have you been caught by the baddies? Are you already somewhere else?

I hope I am not going to lose you forever from today. I thought we just saw you sleeping and we secretly took a pic of you?

Where are you, Xiaohei? Will you be back soon?

27 Nov 2008 (6.44pm)

At long last....it's time to change

This is a little pouch I got from my ex-colleague, Jas, as a Christmas present. Must have been 7 to 8 years already. Can you believe I have this with me for that long? I didn't want to change because of it's size and the material. The size is small enough for me to stuff all the notes and coins and cards. Convenience is the key. The texture is also very comfortable to the touch. It's soft and 'cuddly' (pardon me, I know it's too small to be cuddly, but cant find another word to describe).

I have been asked to change to a new pouch or wallet, but I just couldn't let it go. Even when the button had dropped off and some parts a little worn out.

But I think it's time to change. This is a good time to change EVERYTHING, hehehehe...


Really very compact! It has really served my purpose well. But it has come to a time when I really got to let it go and change to something new. Thanks Jas for the wonderful gift.

This will be my new little mobile wallet. I say mobile because I have another one perpetually in my handbag which carries things that I don't use as frequently. Bought this from Club Marc (Anchorpoint) for $6.90. There are two colours - bright orange and green. Finally decided to choose green. I have just transferred the notes and the cards to this new buddy. So where are my coins now?

Here! A cute little pouch which I have decided to store my coins! Thanks Irene for this gift. Muak Muak.

Everything has just fallen in place.

27 Nov 2008 (3.10pm)

Talk or not to talk?

When it's time to talk, talk. When it's time not to talk, don't talk. When you don't know whether it's time to talk or not to talk, then don't talk. Simple as that. But why can't we just follow this logic leh?

I have begun to realise that if you just shoot your mouth off, it creates more avenues for people to misquote you, add fuel to your words, spread your words unnecessarily. Even when talking to people whom you think you can trust can be a disaster. And especially for a person with a lousy memory like me, better keep my mouth shut cos sometimes I can't remember what I have said to people. But they can wor!! And it can cause me lots of agony and stress.

Sorry I can't get to specifics. If you get it, you get it. If you don't get it, try again. Hahahaha...

27 Nov 2008 (12.20pm)

Comfort eating?

I had some craving for this steamboat buffet tonight at AMK. We saw this when we were walking past this coffeeshop which is also selling the famous tiptop curry puffs. We seldom walked that way and all of a sudden, remembered there is this steamboat buffet.

I planned to eat lots of prawns and fishballs and those were just what I attacked! Surprising, I kept eating and eating, and even my hubby was full before I could even satisfy myself. When he was done, I was still not feeling full.

I think he and my dad were somewhat worried about the way I was eating and I was wondering too if I was eating to ease my stress. After I supposedly finish my meal, I was feeling the 'just full' effect. And now, as I am typing, I can feel my tummy is emptying again. We finished dinner at about 8.20pm!

Is it comfort eating? I don't know. That was a sudden craving I had and had satisfied it.

Can check out some of the pics here.

24 Nov 2008 (9.30pm)

After the rain...

I have been gazing into the sky more often lately. It's just like a painting that changes every day. You probably won't find exactly the same 'portrait' repeating itself. I wonder if I am waiting to see if I can find angels up there to help me out.

No angels, no fairies, just nice view that is enough to make me happy, anyway. Moreover, it's free. It's there all the time. What you need to do is to just lift your head upwards.

23 Nov 2008 (7.16pm)

My cuties

Finally managed to stick my new phone into Muah Chee's cage to take this pic of him after a while. This fat, crazy and wild hammie is so evasive that I have problem taking decent pics of him. This one is not good enough but that's about one of the best lor.

Doesn't Princess Xiaohei look cool and serious? Sometimes she is in this lazying mood and won't entertain you. But she appreciates a pat or two.

Took this picture this morning outside our door. Doesn't she look a dear?

23 Nov 2008 (5.09pm)

Early morning walk

We left home at about 6.15am this morning for a walk at a small park near our place. I love the feeling of getting out of house while the sky is still dark on a weekend morning for walks. Just feel great. Once the sky starts to brighten up, my mood will somehow be dampened. At this time of the year, it means I have to get out earlier than usual cos the sky brightens earlier than usual.


I saw this and love it immediately. Look at the wavy lines. So cool and peaceful.

Hubby helped me take another picture. Looks a little brighter here now.

After the walk, it's breakfast at Mcdonalds! Haven't taken my favourite muffins for a long time.

Still remember those days in poly when I met with my pal every Thur morning before lectures at King Albert Park Mc for breakfast. Irene hor?

It's gonna be Christmas soon...Ho Ho Ho!!!

22 Nov 2008 (3.31pm)

A new mindset for a new week

A reminder...again.

Don't despair over things not within my control

Just try to do what I can to clear work within my means and limited time

Whatever deadline I can't meet, I can't meet

I can only do so much to help myself and my work

I am just a human being with limited capacity to do so much

If I can't help you, I am not sorry

If I cause undue stress to myself, it is not worth it

If I have to be nagged at over the above, by all means

Cos...my plan is to move on...soon.

I hope I can do it. I must do it. Come on, gal.

16 Nov 2008 (8.45pm)

Guarding the door

That box was meant to be thrown away but the moment we placed it outside, Xiaohei started to explore it and got inside. So cute. It decided to stay in here for a while and refused to come out. Sigh....

15 Nov 2008 (3.57pm)

Try this eye test

FUN! THE OLDER YOU ARE THE EASIER IT IS. KIDS DON'T HAVE THE PATIENCE FOR IT...

Can you find the B(there are 2B's)? DON'T skip ...

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Once you've found the b Find the 1

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII1IIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Once you found the 1..............

Find the 6

9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999699999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999
9999999999999999999999999999999999

once youve found the 6..... Find the N (it's hard!!)

MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMNMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM
MMMMMMMMMMMMM

once you've found the N... Find the Q...

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOQOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

How do you find this eye test? I thought quite easy leh?

Calmness is the key

We are all living a a fast-moving society. Inevitably, we are faced with stressors from different sources - work, home, financial, relationships, etc...Different people cope with stress differently.

I am reminding myself again to learn to let go, to learn to accept things that I cannot control and more importantly, to learn to be a little 'thick skin'.

Was just surfing the net when I came across this website with the secret of instant calmness. It shares 3 ways to quieten the mind.

1. The deep breathe - Take a deep breath. Fill your belly and your chest as your inhale deeply. Then release the breath, letting it flow out naturally. Notice how your mind changes when you do this. The deep breath can help you in difficult situations. For example, if you feel a surge of anger and are just about to lash out, taking a deep breath allows you to retain control of yourself. Use the deep breath often during the day. It is especially useful when you are feeling uptight or angry: it can release you from the grip of strong emotions. When you take a deep breath, you regain an overview over what is happening. It’s as if you are call forth your innate power of wisdom.

2. The sigh - Another technique of instant calmness is the sigh. Draw the air in rapidly through your nose or mouth and expel it with a whoosh. Try it and notice what happens. The sigh is a release technique. Use it to let go of pent-up worries or to untangle the mind. For example, if you are at work and are trying to hold too many thoughts in your mind, simply stop what you are doing for a moment and sigh

3. The slow release - Inhale through your nose with energy and exhale through your mouth very slowly while counting to ten. As you breathe out, let your shoulders drop. This is a very powerful way to calm the mind and relax tension in the body. Use it if your mind is very scattered. For example, if you are meditating and find that your mind is running wild, take three slow release breaths to settle your mind.

I think all 3 ways tend to help you calm a bit but personally, I prefer the sigh method because it works like a ritual to get rid of your worries and anger and frustrations out from your system. Ionically, whenever we sigh, we are told not to sigh. But well, if it helps us calm down, why not? Just don't disturb people. Hahahaha...

Good luck to you, and to me.

12 Nov 2008 (6.37pm)

Our dark dark sky

This seems to be the norm these days. Bright and shiny one moment, dark and pouring the next.

I was home on half day and it was still very sunny when I reached home. Right after I sent two bamboos out to dry my clothes, it turned to what you see above!

Anyway, I love to look up into the sky to see what kind of amazing things I can find. I am attracted to 'hollows' like the one above. Heehee....

12 Nov 2008 (3.26pm)

A dark festive season

Throughout my working years, I have been enjoying the festive end of the year. It's the time of the year when everybody is in a festive mood and it lightens up your mood. So, every year, I look forward to the month of December. It is nothing but a holiday season, and a time to celebrate and party!

But not this year. This is my worst year end. With loads of backlogs to clear, I don't even know how to clear my annual leave. And this is the first time in my working life that I have so many days to clear (considering there is only 1.5 months to go). Instead of feeling joyous, I am feeling more pessimisstic and demoralised with each passing day.

So while everyone else is in a festive mood, I will be worrying about rushing and clearing my work. While everyone else is celebrating, I will be shutting myself up in anxiety. And while everyone else looks forward to a great start in the coming new year, I will be praying that I have enough time to clear the work, that have expired long ago, this year.

With the situations for the past months, I do not see any happy new year coming for me.

11 Nov 2008 (8.40pm)

What's wrong with them?

Mmmm....nice, nice.....I wanna tempt you.

*Faint*

10 Nov 2008 (8.57pm)

You can be this cool, too!

I wanna be cool, I wanna be cool...

I wanna let the breeze brush past me...

I wanna be cool, I wanna be cool..

I wanna see the world outside...

Whizzing past by you

10 Nov 2008 (8.53pm)

Maintaining my sanity at work

I am losing it again.

The situation is such that I have run out of time to do everything that I needed to do, and the whole world is already chasing me for things, or coming to chase me real soon.

How to cope with 2 persons' jobs with no light coming from the end of the tunnel and not even a hope to look for, in terms of making things better? I am on the verge of giving up.

I have started to feel very irritable by some sections within my office (will find a chance to grouse about this particular profession) and have lost my patience and even 'diplomacy' sometimes.

I am threading on time bombs (not one, but many) and I can be blown up into pieces anytime. I can't prioritize which bomb to defuse first because these time bombs are ticking concurrently. I can possibly only choose which bomb(s) I wish to be blown up by.

I am very disappointed that even superiors can't really do much to help. The 'biggest' boss probably don't know, or don't even care, the extend of the problems and implications, as long as the consequences do not float to him. For one, he is probably too 'elite' and high up up there to care about 'earthly' problems. I should consider myself blessed if he doesn't bother me with unnecessary burdens.

The immediate boss has her own stressors and also really can't do much. At times, I also feel not so good to keep grumbling to her.

My colleagues...well, have their own tasks to manage and worry about. One consolation is that I have a new colleague who is giving lots of help to assist some of my tasks.

Sometimes, I think...if the organisation is not interested to help you solve your basic problems, why should we bother to solve theirs? But then, when problem arises, the shit comes back to the 'do-er'. Anyone can give a simple lip service like 'just try your best', 'do what you can', and the likes. Anyway, I thank them for even trying to say these words. It may help relief myself mentally for a while, but nothing concrete.

As problems keep accumulating, I feel more negative about the situation, that solution is on the way to bail me out, anytime soon. Just like what a doctor will tell the family of a comatose patient - it can be a week, a month, a year, 5 years, or even forever.

For anything positive to come, my hope is dead. I am now just trying to cope with what I have to do, everyday, until I bail myself out, which I hope is soon before I become insane.

The only motivation to keep myself going is the bonus payout in January. After that, well, I hope to scram.

Good to yell it out here. Thanks for listening.

Time to feel blue for another week coming again...Sleeping on this day of the week is agonising, waking up the next day is painful. Can anyone sleep on Sundays to wake up on Friday evenings only, every week?

9 Nov 2008 (9.12pm)

A Relaxation Trip to Batam (Harris Resort)

Had another relaxing trip to Batam over the weekend. The original plan was to go in November but hubby saw me very very stress, so decided to bring forward the trip. Wish can go there more often. A nice getaway for a short trip.

Here's our room. It's facing the swimming pool. Can also see sun rise in the morning. The room was ok, except for a broken socket which we didn't really care.

Playing with mirror in the lift. Love to play with mirror images leh, can't help it.

Playing with this every time I stepped into the lift. Trying to get a better one than the last. Hahahahah....Also the only time we can take a picture with both of us.

Here's the pool. We stayed on the highest floor (well, we requested for high floor when we booked), that is the 5th floor! I love the pool leh. For a not too good swimmer like me, I am happy to have a big area where the depth is not more than 1.5meters, that is separated from the deep pool (2 meters)!! Shiok boy!!

Here's where the jacuzzi is supposed to be. But when we used the pool, er...like no jacuzzi leh. Anyway, see the water falling from the top? Was nice sitting underneath though. But this little pool is a little dirtier than the normal one. So we didn't stay long here. But but, nice hor?

Here's the pool!! The portion nearer to the screen is the less deep pool where I can float and swim freely! The one at the extreme right is the deep pool. Can you see some nets? Can also play water polo. Hehehe...And look at those 'beach chairs'. Very nice. Some look even like 'san lun che'. And then hor, the delightful thing was, the staff will leave towels and a bowl of mixed nuts on the table. So you could snack after your swim. Nice thought.

This is the leisure club. It houses a Jap/Korea restaurant (quite ex), karaoke, bowling alley, squash court, foot reflexology centre, meeting rooms and a souvenir shop, etc. When I stepped in, I thought that place seemed deserted and run down. But well, that might not be the peak period. See those huts on the building? That place is the massage centre and the huts are for massages for solos. Ambience quite good leh.

The sunrise view from our room!

Lots of mummies in the lobby as that was the halloween period. Luckily not scary enough to frighten me!

After we settled down on the first day, we took the free shuttle to Nagoya Hill Shopping Centre and headed straight to my Ayam Penyet stall! Mmmm.....the sambal is simply nice! But spicy lor. I don't quite like the fried tofu and another dunno what thing that came with the chicken though. I only enjoyed the chicken (so small until I wonder if it's a bird) and sambal!

This is the store we had ayam penyet.

This is the food street. This is only one side of it. Behind this is another stretch. There are also some restaurants upstairs. So basically, there is no lack of food here.

Look! There is still an A&W there! Have not seen this in Singapore for years! I had been eyeing it since our last visit. So am actually waiting to see how full I am after the ayam penyet before deciding whether I could patronise it.....

We were quite full after the ayam penyet, so we went for a walk and with some time left before the transport picked us up, we found a nice spot at A&W and ordered a root beer float and a duo fries (which consisted of curly fries and the normal fries). I really missed drinking the float.

This was one of our activities, other than bowling, swimming and massaging. Airgun shooting targets. Wah, my hand ached like hell after it till the next morning, then it became pain. But it was a fun try. Been wanting to try shooting for a long time. I was a little disappointed that they gave me a gun with a little faulty magazine.

Here's out targets. I managed to hit a bull's eye which I think was plain lucky. I didn't even know where the bullets went to! Hahahaha.....But at least, had a sense of achievement.

It's BBQ dinner by the beach on the second night. We paid S$30 per person. Hubby had made an advanced booking thus we had a table by the beach as well. There were a variety of food. BBQ, Mongolian BBQ, pasta, ice cream, etc...

Here are some of the food. The fish is food. Hubby said the sausages not nice and he didn't finish. Chicken wing was nice. I didn't quite like the baked tomatoes but hubby liked it. A little disappointed with the crab. The second one I took was quite soft and soggy. Prawns were nice too. I didn't try the pasta as I was kind of full. There was also live singing. Had actually took some pics of the spread they had, but the photos didn't turn out very well.

The centre table was where we set. Right in front is the sea. Well, it was really dark so couldn't really see anything. Overall, I still like the feel of dining here. Finishing our meal with an ice cream cone was simply heavenly!

I had been eyeing this since my first trip! Will target to try this at our next visit. If I am not wrong, I think it's $30 for a 10-minute flight. Can fly very high!! I like! Better than paying $10 for doing a flying fox. Don't you think so?

So much photos for now. Want more, let me know, I will try to see got anymore worth putting up or not.

4 Nov 2008 (9.00pm)