Stepping into the new year with a late bang!

Towards the end of 2013, I was down with a bad bout of flu and ended up nursing it for two long weeks. 2014 came along but I was in such a lousy mood that I only occupied myself with work and lots of rest.

As the first week of 2014 crawled by, my flu slowly left me and I was in a fairly better mood. Into the second week of 2014, my birthday came along and I am blessed to have been treated on three separate occasions by the people dearest to me. Thank you very much. All of you know who you are :)

Not forgetting the presents and cards I received – Somehow or rather, I was extremely touched by the gifts I received this year round. The sincerity from the cards had me re-reading them several times. Genuine words which come from the bottom of the hearts mean very much to me. Many thanks to the senders of the cards <3

The one gift, which is a limited edition music box, brought a large smile to my face. The thought and effort to obtain the music box made my heart melt. And I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised even though I kind of knew what was coming. Even the effort to obtain the lychee martini cake, which was part of the birthday celebration, drove my happiness meter up by several notches. You know who you are and I really would like to express my special thanks to you! *Hugs*

My birthday had been made extremely special by all of you. I can’t further express how grateful I am to all of you for spending time with me this week as my birth date drew nearer.

And of course, thank you to all who took the effort to send simple or elaborated text messages. I’m happy you all remembered :)

In the month of December

It seems like a post per month is now the way forward given the increasing number of commitments I have to juggle with in recent months. At times, I fantasize about having Hermoine’s time turner necklace to duplicate myself with the objective of spending time with various people amidst building my career.

The last week of November was spent in Kuala Lumpur for a three-day training course which left me extremely tired after the plane ride. Though it was a short flight, I was so lethargic that I had to skip my regular volunteering session at WGS. The body is no longer like before where I could stay awake into the wee hours of the morning and take part in multiple activities within a day. I have to admit age is catching up. Haha..

Sneaking into December, the month of Christmas joy and sharing left lots of people in a holiday mood. I was no exception. As Christmas neared, work was not my priority. Another primary reason was that my emotions were thrown off tangent after a client lodged a complaint against me for something not quite within my control and my boss was not exactly happy about that. I’m still trying to get over this absurd episode which I hope will blow over soon.

And so, I indulged in some CNY shopping despite it being a season for Christmas. I spent a huge bomb on several dresses which I think will have to keep me company for a long time until the value of the dresses are deemed to be fully depreciated. Lol. For the first time, retail therapy really helped take off some of the negative vibes treading in my veins.

That aside, I was extremely happy to hear fabulous news from various people. On one occasion, my tears welled up in my eyes only because I was too happy. Such episodes rarely happened which goes to show I was overjoyed for my dearest friend :)))

Baby and I met up for her birthday celebration at Li Bai @ Sheraton Towers. We had Cantonese cuisine and a great time catching up. I thought the beef fillet was the best. Baby, I hope you had a wonderful time and enjoyed the courses we had :D *muacks*

Despite the commitments I have, I managed to spend some time exploring Gardens by the Bay. Another tick off my to-do list for 2013. I think I fulfilled my two items on the 2013 list – visiting SEA Aquarium and Gardens by the Bay. Yay! Thanks to my friends who created memories of these two attractions with me :)

On the eve of Christmas, RSPID held its annual Christmas BBQ. This time round, HS was more than a thousand miles away and so we held our BBQ at Shuyi’s place. A new pit and therefore, a need to adapt to the unfamiliar equipment. Burns~~~ There went our first batch of food. Oops. But the BBQ went very well still and all of us had a great time catching up with one another. Such gatherings are really useful avenues to bond everyone together amidst our busy schedules.

Round two BBQ came on Christmas day with a better spread of food and brand new company. A lovely night with extremely friendly and hospitable people. And Max the dog to play with us. I realised I aren’t as afraid of dogs as I had initially thought. Thanks to Daddy’s previous golden retriever, I believed it allayed my fear of dogs in a way. But I dearly miss Daddy’s best friend. Hope you are somewhere up there safe in the arms of the protector.

Hope everyone had a joyous and blessed Christmas with lots of happy returns! Happy Boxing Day!

Yesterday, someone advised me to live my life beyond building my career. According to him, we only live each day once and therefore, life should not always revolve around work. Looking back to the past weeks of November, I trust I had not allowed work to consume me entirely.

Yes, the past weeks had been extremely hellish. Due to multiple factors, work streamed in endlessly. Juggling two handful of projects over a forty hour work week was definitely insufficient to handle and manage them all. Putting in the extra hours yet again became a norm.

In spite of the hectic work schedule, some time was set aside for various activities below.

• Dabbled in D.I.Y pancakes at Nook House of Pancake with Baby, CB, KK and XX
• Attended Bro’s R.O.M.
• Caught Three Peas in a Pod
• Met up with Baby for a chat
• Met up with BY and KK for ba kut teh at Seng Poh Road
• Bade farewell to my secretary and manager over dinner
• Celebrated Bro’s and Mummy’s birthdays
• Exercised through my weekly swimming sessions
• Participated in RSPID-WE sessions

I guess how one leads his/her life is self defined. From my point of view, life continues to be good as long as quality time can be spent with family and friends :)

Birthday @ Equinox

Ah Tiang’s birthday was celebrated at Equinox @ Swissotel. As Equinox is located on the 70th storey of Swissotel, the window seats provided a spectacular view of the skyscrapers. With the night lights shimmering, it was a beautiful sight to behold.

View from above

Equinox is well established and one of the better fine dining places in town. Indeed, it lived up to its name primarily because of the ambience and the service rendered. The service crew was extremely polite and well trained. They took the effort to explain each dish before serving which was very different from other dining experiences I have had. A plus point for that.

The quality of the food cannot be disputed. The premium wagyu beef cheek and lamb loin melted in my mouth. Even the grilled barramundi was excellent.  I wished the portions were bigger. Haha.. The taste of the food was better than mediocre but not that fantastic that will make one go back for more.

Not forgetting, the unique food designs and creations of the chefs.

Wagyu beef cheek

Lamb loin

Barramundi

Definitely a place for those who wish to be away from the buzz in shopping malls and enjoy some peace and quiet in the centre of the bustling island. Be ready to have your wallets ripped apart if you have not budgeted more than SGD 100 per pax (especially if you are accompanying your meals with glasses of wine).

2013 Dinner & Dance

In the months leading up to the annual Dinner & Dance (D&D), the marketing collateral did a wonderful job in mystifying employees with catchy slogans and booze. Many younger employees of the company were looking forward to a night of free flow booze and dance.

The much awaited for D&D finally arrived. 4 October 2013, 7:00 pm – Let the party begin!

On hindsight, I was secretly thankful I missed three hours of D&D owing to work commitments. By the time I made my way to Tanjong Beach Club, crowds of people were gathered everywhere on the beach. My funky department took centre stage at the dance floor (I meant sand). They were a crazy and enthusiastic bunch who danced through the night. I applaud their unstoppable levels of energy which never seemed to run out even after three hours of dancing.

For once, I felt socially awkward. The atmosphere was great but I was not able to blend in well. My boss and manager were really sweet and took me to dance. Given my extreme lack of coordination, I constantly banged my head into my arms as each of them swung me around. Many other attempts to get me moving came to naught. I declare myself to be a total dance idiot. I’m better cut out for sports than dance.

Many older folks from the company left by the time I reached the venue. I guessed clubbing ain’t the trend for our older peers. (I think I could relate to them.) Probably some agogo would have done some justice to their generation.

For once, dancing was recognised as part of the D&D. By that, I meant we always only fulfilled the dinner segment of D&D but never dancing. This year, the organising committee cast the limelight on the dance segment which strongly overshadowed the dinner segment. The dinner buffet was mediocre at best.

Notwithstanding, this year’s D&D is definitely a win in the eyes of the younger crowd. And everyone could easily identify the hidden clubbers within the firm. Good job organising committee!

Of work and holidays

I did a quick check to the entry I last posted and was amazed by the speed at which September came and left. I wondered if my life had been such a mad rush that I simply lost track of time.

Work

Despite my application for a 1.5 week break from work, my workload refused to decrease toward the end of the month. Conversely, my workload increased substantially to the point I clocked an average of 14 hours per day. As such, my commitment to this blog was shelved. I guess that’s the price to pay before one can truly enjoy his/her break. Notwithstanding, I continue to enjoy the career I’m building.

Towards the end of September, salary reviews and performance bonuses were announced. Little did I expect my bosses to be so generous. Receiving good news made my holiday all the better. Monetary rewards are definitely one of the sources of motivation but I would say I am still largely driven by the intrinsic benefits my work brings. Elated :)

Penang trip

Our virgin family trip to Penang was wonderful. How unfortunate that our planned trip to Hong Kong was disrupted by Typhoon Usagi. Nonetheless, Bro and I decided to plan an impromptu trip to Penang. It definitely was worth the time and money. Spending quality time with the family and seeing the smiles on my parents’ faces warmed my heart deeply. That’s all that matters now.

I was pleasantly surprised by the number of places of interest in Penang. My impression of Penang always revolved around food.  Visiting sites were never part of the picture. Kek Lok Si Temple and the Peranakan House showcased intricate architectural workmanship which left my family in awe.

Family <3

The Butterfly Park was extremely educational while the Penang Hill was a place for relaxation. And we spotted the Kachang Putih cart which is no longer available in Singapore! Yummy peanuts brought back good old memories.

Kachang putih cart!

UK Farm trip 

Subsequent to the Penang trip, RSPID and WE travelled to the UK Agro Farm in Kluang. It was the time of the year to create another set of memories for the trainees, caregivers and volunteers. I was thankful to be assigned to Malcom for the time spent with the little one was wonderfully good. His persistence to prove he is still a boy left us laughing heartily. Oh Malcom~

Meet-up

Not forgetting the Korean BBQ buffet with XX and Baby. I hereby declare I’m a true omnivore rather than a carnivore. Meat no longer entice me as much as before. I guess moderation on all categories of food works better for my stomach. Nevertheless, hanging out with XX and Baby is always entertaining :)

H.A.P.P.Y Me

Coincidentally, two public holidays fell back to back and the nation was rewarded a four-day break. Whilst many took the opportunity to travel abroad, many of those who remained in Singapore had their fair share of activities to keep them occupied.

National Day

National Day was spent with good friends over brunch and desserts. Selfish Gene Cafe recommended by Iron Lady Chef was somewhat value for money but I doubt I will visit the cafe again. Nothing special or noteworthy. Desserts at Flor Patisserie along Duxton Hill were satiable! I loved the Cocao Royal chocolate cake best! Rich, dark chocolate taste!

Thereafter, I adjourned to the office to complete some backlogged work. Never mind that some of us went back to work on a public holiday. The satisfaction derived from the completion of several tasks was welcoming.

Watching snippets of the National Day Parade and the grandeur display of fireworks from the office whilst enjoying our impromptu mini party was way more enjoyable than catching the parade on TV. The continuous explosion of colours lit up the night skies and enhanced the majesty of the skyscrapers in the CBD area. A beautiful sight worthy to be entrenched in my memory.

Weekend

Saturday was equally well spent. FFL and I went for a refreshing swim followed by lunch at Sakae Sushi. Thanks FFL for the treat! :D

Session was next! For the past two weeks, I was attached to a new trainee whom I thought was quite a challenge. Various attempts to coax her into participating in the planned activities were at times in vain. The same approach which proved to be successful in certain instances did not work its magic very well. Tough nut to crack. Haha.. Hopefully further interactions will bridge the distance between us and gather more positive responses from her.

As always, I was happy to see Malcom again! With him taking the initiation to approach me on his own accord pleasantly surprised me. And he surprised me yet again when he told Granny he wants to wear the tee-shirt I bought for him next week :) He will always be the little brother I will never have. Love him to bits.

Dinner was at Crystal Jade Dining IN at VivoCity. Thanks KK for the treat! :D The food was reasonably good.

Such social settings are not my forte and having to entertain a little here and there made me somewhat uncomfortable. Nonetheless, I viewed it as a good practice to further my field of work. Networking networking networking.

Happy to see KK’s parents again. They appeared to be more cheerful compared to the last time we met :) Awesome! Children will constantly be every parent’s worries~

Sunday came relatively quickly. With the past few days preoccupied with multiple activities, spending quality time with my family became my topmost priority (even though that meant sacrificing the extremely rare fried rice prepared by KK. Haha). This only stresses the importance of family to me. A priceless gem which never will be made available for exchange.

Taking a hand at whipping a meal for the family made the time spent even more worthwhile :) *Hugs Daddy and Mummy*

Second work anniversary

In commemoration of our second year in the department, the three musketeers and I were granted official leave from work to spend a day out together. Yay! (for the leave)

Honestly speaking, my Caucasian bosses are atypical in comparison to the usual Singaporean bosses. They are generous, take care of the department’s welfare and interests, open to new ideas, encourage top-down and bottom-up comments / feedback, etc. I dare say my department’s culture is far better than the overall organisational culture. Therefore, for these positive factors I hold my bosses in high regard and continue to stay on the job.

Completion of our second year without any drop out is quite a feat given the high turn over rate in our industry.

The day kicked start with lunch at Shangri-la Hotel. In all due respect, Shangri-la Hotel is posh and classy tended by courteous and polite staff. The toilets are beautiful, extremely clean and warm towels are made available for users to wipe dry their hands. Definitely one of the best toilet services I had experienced. However, buffet lunch at  The Line was not exactly impressive.

The food lacked punch and was at most mediocre. Probably the hype about buffet at The Line set expectations too high and we ended up being disappointed. I am sure there are better buffets in Singapore for the price per head (SGD 49++ for a week day lunch buffet). Many have misconceptions of  expensive dining equating to tasty, good quality food with exceptional service and ambience. Unfortunately, I beg to differ. Time and again, I did not exit restaurants / hotels particularly impressed. I will not comment on the quality but taste is always lacking in such expensive dining. Service isn’t all that wonderful and neither does the ambience make up for the lack lustre variety of food.

Despicable Me 2 followed right after lunch. In a hurried attempt to be in time for the movie, we cabbed down to Cineleisure. J.I.T. Agnes and the minions continue to be crowd pleasers. My impression of Gru changed from bad to good after the first instalment. In his case, change was influenced by external factors and eventually self defined. Awesome. However, the mutation of the adorable minions was disturbing. Haha.. I did not expect that coming from this instalment. Nonetheless, the minions made my day with the “Underwear” song. Love ’em. And once again, the evil was defeated and the good rules the world.

One of the guys was craving for wine and we ended up at The Wine Connection. The doctor-abiding me avoided wine whilst the rest savoured their glasses of white wine. A pity but it beats inducing a spinning world. Over drinks, we played card games and chatted. How adult like. Lol.

By then, night had fallen and it was time for dinner. Shinjuku Restaurant was the chosen one but nothing spectacular. Usual Japanese fare with slightly steeper prices.

And finally, chillax and McDonald’s.

Dead beat.

ACID 2013

ACID 2013 was relatively dissimilar from previous years. New segments of activities were introduced whilst typical activities such as ice breakers were scrapped. Basically, ACID 2013 screamed change.

Objectively speaking, I viewed the changes positively. The committee went ahead to initiate changes without any precedence to guide us, sliced through boundaries, thought out of the box and and delivered to the contentment of the participating projects.

However, certain volunteers felt too much change was experimented. I guess views are largely different given the myriad of personalities but we will continue to take into account the feedback received. Only then can we improve and deliver our optimal best.

To me, it isn’t so much about whether the activities are challenging enough and successfully executed. In all honesty, the delight of the trainees is the best gift I take away from each ACID. I recall several weeks prior to ACID, trainees approached me with queries about my ACID attendance. Their eagerness for the big event to come was evident on their faces. Therefore, regardless of my participation as a camper or the committee, all I yearn for is the trainees to enjoy every bit of the camp with the urge to return next year. That is the main reason for my annual ACID participation.

Going forward, I am almost certain I will no longer be part of the ACID committee largely due to work commitment and in part, my personal limitations. Therefore, I am grateful to have the opportunities to work together with two teams of highly committed individuals who went beyond their call of duty to organise ACID 2012 and 2013.

Great effort and teamwork by Xiu Xia and the committee of ACID 2013!

Ups and downs

The loss

The week started off on a sombre note.

Life is truly unpredictable. While we execute our daily routines, we could very well lose the person sitting on the couch beside us the next instance. At this moment, you simply wished reality was purely surreal.

Her sudden demise caught everyone by surprise and left the family unprepared. The dad was unable to come to terms with the loss. A woman whom he expected to accompany him through the later years of his life left him without saying her final goodbye. My heart went out to him upon seeing his red, teary eyes and look of despondence. Grief was written all over his face. This is definitely a huge blow to him and the children. Thankfully, the children seemed to be coping relatively well with the loss.

“My dear friend, the strength and maturity you portrayed despite the sudden loss of your mum deserve my utmost respect. You go, girl!” *Hugs*

Wedding anniversary

Daddy’s and Mummy’s wedding anniversary arrived again! Another milestone has been achieved in their longstanding marriage. And the love between them only gets stronger with each passing day.

Given the special occasion, celebrations were held at Peach Garden @ Novena Gardens. It was a close knitted affair enjoyed by all present.

Part of the enjoyment sprouted from the opportunity to relish the taste of the Peking duck! I have lost count the number of years since I last bit into that succulent and crisp Peking duck skin. A mouth watering dish we finally get to savour.

Happy anniversary! Cheers to many more years of bliss and love! ♥♥♥

Timbre

I finally fulfilled an overdue meet-up with Habibi and Soonie after months of postponement.

As the following day was a PH, Timbre @ The Substation was packed and the buzz around us did not sit very well with me. Honestly, I would have preferred somewhere quieter after a long day of work. But well, setting aside one’s own preferences to maintain harmony within the group has always been a part of me. It’s not a big deal after all.

Notwithstanding, chit-chats with Soonie never fail to liven me. Her bubbly and cutesy nature continues to be her identity. Now that she has a bf, she exudes even more of that aura. Sweet, lovable Soonie :D

Let’s have another meet-up in the months to come.