Probably so…

Out of the blue, Hon had a dream – a dream both she and I would never have imagined to be created. To her, it was so real that she clearly remembered it after she woke up.

Then, strange questions were posted to me by another friend. I was at a loss in responding to them. All that was swimming in my mind was “Why these questions?”. What had they observed or what did I do to make them think that way?

Nevermind that, I’m only eager to know that mysterious reason. Yet I have to feign igorance and pretend I knew nothing. As much as I would like to understand the basis for making that remark, I know it is highly impossible.

Confused and uncertain… Probably this would die off after some time but meanwhile, I would enjoy what life has to offer me.  

 

Pre-Lunar New Year Specials

Departmental Celebration

In welcoming the Year of the Dragon, associates from my department organised a simple Lunar New Year (LNY) celebration for everyone. Prosperity toss, better known as Yu Sheng, was the highlight. It was greatly favoured by the expatriates who surprisingly loved the mixture of sauces, shredded raw vegetables, peanuts, crackers and sashimi.

Apart from the lunch which accompanied the prosperity toss, group activities were planned to inculcate the spirit of the LNY. Lottery tickets were issued by the Partner to have a go at striking rich. Apparently, reporting to work is still necessary at this point in time. Until we truly get our hands on the big bucks, we got to secure the iron rice bowl we are holding on to.

RSPIDians Celebration

Chin Boon invited a group of us to his place for LNY steamboat. Thanks!

It was a cosy affair with close friends. I kinda enjoyed the entire process from the preparation to the consumption and cleaning up. Amazingly, we were filled pretty quickly despite having no carb-rich staples. Still, it was good fun listening to the conversations around the table as we ate.

 

With LNY just a day away, i would like to wish everyone a prosperous and joyous new year with many happy returns! 新年快乐！

 

Welcoming 2012

2011 ended with a farewell meal for Rhong-er who is leaving for Shanghai in a few days’ time. Away from home for half a year, i believe a homely person like her would be home sick before long. Haha.. Nonetheless, i hope she will have a jolly good time in China, experiencing a culture different from her homeland, interacting with the citizens, learning the way of life made possible with this opportunity. Take care and bon voyage gal!

Stepping into 2012, much remains the same. Life continues on the way it has been all this while. I do not foresee any major changes in 2012 except taking on new roles and responsibilities, and obtaining new experiences every now and then – mostly from work.

People have been asking me about my new year resolutions for 2012. My reply always ends up with, “I do not have one.”

In the past, resolutions were made only because i followed suit. In reality, they did not serve to be my motivation for any of the years. I ended up not fulfilling any of the goals i made on 1 January. What’s more, i tend to forget the resolutions i made after a few months. Haha.. Since they always end up as empty self-promises, i’ve learnt to just live life as it is. Taking one step at a time, setting short term goals (self defined to be between three months and two years) which i know can reasonably be achieved…

But one thing is for sure – i am going to visit two of the latest additions in Singapore 2012. The first would be USS and the other would be Gardens by the Bay. These are the two places i yearn to visit since i learnt of their existence.

I’m harbouring the thought of an overseas trip in May to clear my annual leave. Yet, my family doesn’t seem keen on travelling. Friends are the next best alternatives. When papa brought up the idea of visiting New Zealand, i was really excited. Haha.. solely because New Zealand has been one of the places of intent since a couple of years back. However, the costs involved is going to ruin one of my future plans. Dilemma.

Given that i’m pretty sure with what i want to do in 2012, i don’t exactly need a new year resolution from what i’ve written, isn’t it? Haha :p 2012 will be a better year with great experiences and adventures. I look forward to the remaining 364 days :D

Even today, it had a been a great day catching up with all my Poly friends. Tennis with bro and Chris followed by lunch with Bao Bao, Soonie, Xing Juan, Xhi Ween and Guan Hong. Thank you for the company :D A day like this is sufficient to make my heart contented. Heh..

Happy new year everyone! May you have a fruitful year filled with happiness, love and bliss. Most importantly, wishing all of you good health!

 

X’mas 2011

A simple Christmas celebration was held at Punggol Park with the RSPIDians. Although the skies loomed with dark clouds every now and then, we were undeterred by the pouring rain. Thankfully the rain relented; stopped for most parts of the time we were there. Umbrellas were fished out from the bags just in case the rain found us again.

I would say the barbeque was a success. Most of the food was pretty well cooked. The guys at the pit did a fantastic job! Kudos to all of you!

Apart from the food, everyone had a jolly good time interacting with one another. Although there were close to 25 people, we enjoyed one another’s company. Awkwardness and unfamiliarity did not surface. Most if not all were close enough to chat and joke around throughout the night. I guess that was the crux of the celebration. Bonding was key. Occasions are always convenient excuses to get everyone together. Haha..

Following the barbeque was gift exchange! I’m so glad Qi-er had my gift. Haha! At least she can put the photoframe at her workstation. Hope you like it, my dear!

And i received Shu Jing’s gift. I really loved it. Well thought of and i see them remaining functional for a long time. The plushie would be kept at home for stress relieving purposes. Haha! As for the Starbucks card, it will definitely be put to good use at work :D Thank you so much SJ2! You rock!

Christmas celebration for this year ended there and then. Nevertheless, the following two days were well spent with work and family. Even engaged myself in tennis with Bro and Chris this morning. It’s been awhile :D Thereafter was family lunch! Heartened that my family enjoyed the food.

Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day! 

 

Nearing the End

In a week’s time, the world will bid goodbye to 2011 and welcome 2012 with open arms. Looking back, each and every one of us had come a long way.

A word to appropriately describe my 2011 would be ‘eventful’. Like any typical year, there were many ups and downs. However, this year is slightly more special.

In the first half of 2011, i was caught up with school and volunteering. Much of my time was spent on books and planning for RSPID sessions. Week in and week out, the same routine took place. Sometimes, i felt drained from the truckload of work. Yet at the end of it all, the sense of satisfaction made every effort worthwhile.

In the second half of 2011, i put on my royal blue gown and mortar board. I’ve successfully graduated from University! That marked the end of my journey as a student and signalled my entrance into a new phase of life. The transition from a student to a working adult wasn’t as difficult to bridge as i had thought it out to be. There were times where i missed school but the enjoyment worklife brings made up for it.

Many working opportunities were presented to me over the six month period. I’m thankful to all the good souls who gave me multiple chances to showcase my capabilities. I’m also thankful for the feedback i received from my colleagues. Hard work does pay off.

Not forgetting the opportunities to dine extravangantly which i never once did when i was a student. Haha.. The taste of earning one’s own money is extremely satisfying. Now is my chance to repay my parents who had been and continue to be so selfless all these years.

Of course there’s this little something which would be kept safely in my heart. It’s impossible to forget, at least not for now, the good times shared. I really wish we would be able to communicate like how we used to. I don’t like the way it is now but i find it extremely difficult to bridge the gap.

Adding on to the memories of 2011 was my birthday. Primarily because my birthday was celebrated over a week. Felt grander than China’s celebration of the Lunar New Year. Haha! Many thanks to my wonderful friends who threw celebrations for me one after another. And the gifts too! :)

Not missing out my time in Taiwan and Kuala Lumpur! Had a raving good time with most of my friends in these countries. They were eye openers for me especially when my world for the past 22 years was only Singapore. Great experiences of a lifetime :)

Family wise, everything has been hmmm… well generally. In our extended family, we just celebrated the marriage of my cousin. Happy happy.

Before 2011 ends, i would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all family members, friends and colleagues who made this year a particularly eventful one for me. New experiences are gained with each passing day. Thank you!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all! May the new year bring you abundance of joy and success!

 

Staff Welfare

Twice this week, my lunch meals were taken care of. And they were taken care of really well. For the same project i was working on, i was entitled to two free meals with the second made possible by an intern.

On the first occasion, the project team dined at Moomba, an Italian restaurant at 52 Circular Road. From the menu, nothing looked exactly appetising. We ordered two loaves of bread to kickstart our meal. Charcoal walnut and baked cheese loaves. I particularly liked the charcoal walnut bread though it was blackened. There’s a reason it is named charcoal. Crisp on the outside and extremely soft on the inside. Adding on to that was the fragrance emitted from the bread. It lingered in the mouth. Superb.

Soup of the day was vegetable soup with sliced chicken. I decided to have a shot at it. I’m glad i made that choice. It was one of the best soups i’ve tasted in a long while. Thick and rich with bite-sized chunks (not slices) of chicken. Simply awesome. Given the impressive appetisers, expectations for the main course rose by a notch.

Unfortunately, my expectations were too high. The main course (New Zealand salmon) fell short of it. Nonetheless, it was still good; succulent, tender and grilled well. 

To end it off, we had desserts. By the time i was done with main course, my stomach was nearly rupturing. Rejecting desserts on a treat wasn’t a very nice gesture. Haha.. And so, i picked lemon sorbet which was darn sour. Thankfully for the fruits which accompanied the ice-cream… 

Over the meal, we had a good chat. Although the topics seems casual enough, the words that flowed from one person to the other were filled with maturity and insights. I admire the way my colleagues speak and carry themselves. I strongly believe it takes lots of experience and training to attain their levels. Still, it was a good opportunity to know my colleagues better and bond together as a team.

On the second occasion, the intern and i went to Yamada Restaurant & Sushi Bar @ The Sail for lunch. Even though the budget per pax was pretty high, we felt obliged to order cheaper food. Haha.. Even so, the bill choked up to nearly S$60. If i have to make a comparison between the two restaurants, the Italian food sat better with me. Despite my liking for Japanese food, there are places which serve better Japanese food for similar prices. 

All in all, i’m glad that the intern enjoyed herself. It feels strange speaking from a working adult’s perspective to a student when i was in her shoes not too long ago. New phases in life truly bring about changes to a person’s lifestyles and mindsets.  

Happy me :) Getting to try out new types of food every now and then. Such opportunities do not come by often. Haha.. this is what i reckon as staff welfare :)

 

YY’s Birthday Party

I thought birthday parties in recognition of the first milestone of our lives have long been over until Yen Yee’s invitation came along. Haha.. it’s been awhile since i received invites to the celebration of adulthood. Or is it liberation? It’s to one’s discretion :)

The party was held in the eastern part of Singapore (only Eric is happy about it) at one of the condominiums hidden by blocks of flats. The host and star of the night was clad in a crimson red dress, accompanied with a pair of silver heels. She looked great! Make-up do wonders, seriously.

Despite the heavy downpour, many of her friends made the effort to grace her event. However you treat others is how the others will treat you in turn. I’m sure girls similar to YY would gather the likes of many others. The shy and quiet kind who vocalise only when necessary… Haha..

Buffet style dinner was served. A large Rive Gauche cake stole her limelight for a second. It was so big that a second serving was sufficient for all present guests.

She was really sweet to have prepared a souvenir for every guest in memory of her birthday. Thoughtful :)

Thanks YY! Happy 21st!  

 

堂哥的婚礼

堂哥的婚姻缘分终于到了。虽然在恋爱的道路上遇到了不少波折，他仍然坚持下去。在不久前，爸爸收到了他的喜帖。一个我不曾想过会娶老婆的堂哥终算找到了他所认定的终生伴侣。心里是多么的高兴。恭喜恭喜！

The customary lunch of the newly wed couple was a simple and pleasant one. Videos of their solemnisation and wedding ceremony in Phuket were played. The wedding ceremony was held outdoors on a vast grass patch. White flowers littered the wedding aisle, complementing the seemingly endless blue skies. Adding to that was the white washed wedding arch decorated with similar flowers. When night fell, the skies lit up with a burst of fireworks. It’s like a dream come true for the romantic.

Apart from the videos, we were serenaded with two classic love ballads by a wedding singer. She was awesome. Her vocals were rich and suited the songs she selected.

A total of seven dishes were served. Shark’s fin soup was not the typical starchy kind. Real shark’s fin coupled with abalone, scallop, chicken and fish maw. All of which added richness to the broth. The other dishes were equally as good, if not better. A delectable lunch.

Enjoyed the time spent catching up with my cousins, uncles and aunties during the reception. For the first time, i met my cousin-in-law’s family members. By coincidence, my cousin-in-law’s brother is working in CBD as well and i saw him once without knowing who he was. What a small small world. To think he is an aspiring lawyer. Just like his sister, both are equally intelligent and successful people. Full of admiration. Will i ever be like them?

Anyways, as cousin put it, it was a good time for all to gather. Haha.. which was very true. Wishing cousin a blissful marriage filled with everlasting love :))

 

Meet-up

How long haven’t we met? Perhaps i should be asking, “When did we last meet?”

When time whizzes past like there’s no tomorrow, it’s easy to lose track of time. I can’t even recall the last meet-up i had with the girls.

We have all been so busy to the extent that we have walked into the next phase of our lives unknowingly. The meet-up on Tuesday clearly showed how little i know about the happenings in their lives now. While we used to have been really close friends during our Poly days, the separation over the past three years have stretched the distance between us.

I haven’t been active in attending the meet-ups, much less organising them. Thankfully there was Stephie/Bao Bao who took the effort to arrange a night for the six of us to gather. Unfortunately, Sher couldn’t make it. Seeing Stephie, Soonie and ‘Lainee again brought back good memories of the days where we chased after project deadlines, rushed assignments, getting jittery for exams, bitching and people watching. Those were the times where we enjoyed one another’s company so so much.

Things have changed now. Or perhaps, it’s just me; i have changed. But i’ll never forget this group of girls who brought so much joy to my Poly days. Thank you!

 

人海中遇見你

想要在人海茫茫中寻找一个属于你的他真不容易。

有时付出的越多，伤得越重。

与其放进百分之百的心思在未成功的道途上，不如把心思放在其他的目标。生活会显得灿烂一些。

我学懂了。你呢？