HAM SA

one reason why i love the weekends

2011-09-25T22:26:00.003+08:00

Time to bake! :D

Grand Canyon

2011-09-23T21:55:00.001+08:00

took a lil daytrip out to the skywalk while in las vegas early this month.

happy holidays!

2011-08-30T22:17:00.003+08:00

it's a public holiday so we get to stay home today!
the neighbour generously sent these over.
i'm not usually a big fan of cupcakes but,
these are just too pretty they seem to match the holiday :D happy hari raya! :)

this year

2011-08-28T20:54:00.001+08:00

we go on top of the world.

perfect day

2011-08-09T22:40:00.002+08:00

for a picnic.

Taking Stock

2011-07-18T21:24:00.005+08:00

i've so much to say,
yet not know where to start.
yesterday, I baked some bread.
in tiny loaf pans,
just since i was baking
and i got to decide.
too many things have passed i know;
just in the past couple of months alone,
the boyfriend and i backpacked to what must have been one of the prettiest places on earth - the pictures you see in the last few posts.i have graduated from university!!this month, i started on my first REAL job.
(lifesaving vacation jobs and internships don't really count)
had a picnic or two.
visited the railway tracks...
still, i know,
i have been living life while neglecting my lil space here.
i don't even think many visit anymore.
still, i like it here,
my lil space.
it's like a favourite spot in the attic you know,
kind of.
as much as i don't come here often,
it's still special and you tidy it and add some new knicknacks to it every once in awhile.
so pardon my frequent absence,
if you are still so good as to visit.

some things i love about chengdu

2011-07-02T12:50:00.001+08:00

one big reason why i like chengdu is that i get to sit in pretty gardens with the boyfriend and drinking a good cup of tea.
i love how they have still men going ard to help people dig their ears.
(no excuses about being lazy :p)i love the candy-drawing man who never seem to get distracted by the crowds around him.and of course, the tea dancing ladies with their long spouted teapots.among others.

Next Stop, Fairyland.

2011-06-27T10:55:00.008+08:00

With the mountain conquered,
we took an 8hr drive to Jiu Zhai Gou.Welcome to paradise.

Sneak Peek

2010-12-31T14:33:00.005+08:00

into the new year.Prepping for tmr's potluck.
countdown at the godsis's tonight,
can you believe it's already the end of 2010?!

Visiting changi

2010-12-22T23:09:00.005+08:00

made a lil trip down to the sleepy area a few weeks back.

Lil' bits of home

2010-08-08T01:08:00.002+08:00

Along the river seine

2010-07-25T21:11:00.004+08:00

backdated photos from recent trip.

chantilly

2010-07-18T23:03:00.003+08:00

home for a week.

saturday

2010-05-16T21:09:00.006+08:00

lazy day.

summer break from school

2010-05-05T01:05:00.003+08:00

start of internship this week.
some pics from the last 2 weeks of hols:
more baking.the last popiah stall left of the top 3 favouritesleft on the doorstep earlier today.
thanks babe. =))

from the kitchen

2010-03-29T08:49:00.003+08:00

be silly

2010-03-21T22:06:00.002+08:00

for tonight.

2010-03-09T00:09:00.000+08:00

After a while you learn
The subtle difference between
Holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't always mean security.

And you begin to learn
That kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes ahead
With the grace of a woman
Not the grief of a child

And you learn
To build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow's ground is
Too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way
Of falling down in mid flight

After a while you learn
That even sunshine burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden
And decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers

And you learn
That you really can endure
That you are really strong
And you really do have worth
And you learn and you learn
With every good bye you learn.

Veronica A. Shoffstall

step out

2010-02-06T20:23:00.001+08:00

fine day today.

in the kiln

2010-02-03T21:41:00.004+08:00

after the lil visit to the countryside,
miranda took tisa n i to a clay kiln nearby.
I must admit that i've never seen so much beautiful pottery all at the same place before!
All sorts from chinese styled to the peranakan ones n more contemporary types.
I think it must be the first time i've ever been inside a kiln too. =D

end of the week

2010-01-31T20:33:00.001+08:00

light a candle

2010-01-25T07:06:00.004+08:00

for those who died.
for in war, no one wins.backlog of photos from a couple weeks ago.
the changi war memorial and katong lunch w the stb peeps.

Gift for the fav aunt

2010-01-23T10:18:00.003+08:00

while everyone were getting into the swing of their schedules,
a little angel arrived..

the last week

2009-12-31T18:24:00.004+08:00

before the new year.
two lovely outings with this unbelievably great bunch of pple.and of course, with my favourite pple, aka the family.We're going to a potluck party tonight, and i've to run to put all our mini teriyaki burgers in the basket now.
Have a happy new year! =)

singapore flyer

2009-12-24T01:59:00.004+08:00

today.

red

2009-12-23T23:30:00.001+08:00

was the colour of the car whose tyre had a fat cat lying on it.
and red was the colour of the bathtub. =\(its a LIITTTTLLEE bit freaky when u throw in your bath ice cream and the tub turns a shade of deep red - kinda reminded me a lil of the prince of egypt show)
nia's green tea bath ice cream was a murky green. =O
returned last night from a relaxing getaway w the family in subang.
which was kinda nice. =D nana and her stash of krispy kreme.
(see big grin)

chinatown

2009-12-15T22:39:00.000+08:00

again today. =D

post exams (almost) w the grandies

2009-11-29T10:38:00.002+08:00

we couldn't hold a candle to the next table at last night's buffet.
*waves white flag*
xp

as raw as it gets

2009-11-20T10:06:00.000+08:00

mummy's friend gave her this during her weekend trip to manado.
and i thought I've seen birds' nest..
turns out i've only seen the ones fr the tcm shop. =\

of textiles and temples

2009-11-16T20:23:00.005+08:00

rosie took us out to the ethnic quarters today.
the stb gang's a great bunch and after today,
i cant wait to spend the rest of the week with them! =D
first stop: lil india!
after a tummy-satisfying indian breakfast,
check out the gorgeous sarees.
(i have this thing about sarees..)visited a few places today:
indian temple
arab streetthe sultan mosque.and the buddha tooth relic temple in chinatown.did i mention that one thing i love about the lil red dot is that,
you can spend a day in so many different cultures anytime u fancy?
gotta run cos grandy's popping by with brownies for us now.
have a great great week! =D

spreadable biscuits

2009-11-01T13:36:00.002+08:00

new jar of speculoos. =D

knit basics

2009-10-06T21:35:00.003+08:00

knitting class with sa n nia today at knotty bicsie's.
we had a great time learning how to knit our mobile pouches with betsy today.
ah finally,
I can start knitting beyond the casting on stage.
(which i was only capable of before xD)
oh the possibilities..

knock on the door

2009-10-04T19:24:00.005+08:00

just when i was thinking of what to cook tonight,
dinner arrives from next door. =)

megazip

2009-09-24T17:35:00.000+08:00

This post is over a month late but still,
nia and randy generously let me tagged along on their lil adventure.
thanks to randy's brilliant suggestion,
we spent a great afternoon at the megazip!
(that's me being extremely happy to be tagging along =D)and randy too lazy to move anymore:nah kidding,
he was good!see how skilfully he handles the red balloon?nana too small... xpi almost fell off my tightrope when i saw her.
hee-hee! =Dbut hey, small's good too,
as she proves with her agile leap across: after we completed the three levels of obstacle course,
we all got to do the jump!
(kinda like peter pan walking the plank)last stop was the megazip flying fox itself.
nia and i got to do tandem.
i was happy cos its a first;
we each went alone for the bungy jump 7 years ago.
had a weird preconception that we might hit eachother. =\perfect ending.
(Photos 2,3,4 courtesy of nia's camera)

another part of me

2009-08-15T02:43:00.010+08:00

that's my twinnie. =)we're so different,
yet all the same.
mummi used to say if only she could mix us up like a ball of dough,
then split us up again,
we'll be perfectly balanced.
what an idea. =D21 years now,
she's been my playmate - from barbies to pretend and costumes and swanlake (cos we wanted to learn ballet but nv did),
my thrillseeker - fr monkeybars in babytime to jumping off cliffs together,
my avid fan and supporter - the only one who is actually willing to try my sometimes icky icky food experiments,my partner in crime - remember our tissue paper phase when we were 4? when we used to sneak into the kitchen to eat the paper towel? =D
my fellow foodie monster - who's the only one who'll finish the cheesecakes and pies and choc cakes with me, x)my late-night-still-can't-sleep companion - who'll share her bed with me as we sip green tea and watch movies on the laptop together,
and my literary side - who else actually writes you poetry when you're feeling sad? i'll do her math calculations and currency convertions anytime; she's been the linguistic half since we were lil.love her to bits. =))

look ma!

2009-08-09T21:56:00.001+08:00

and our oven amazed me by accommodating mummy's dinner pizza today.
ok, the sides got folded a liiitttlle bit but,
wow!
i feel like a mother (me), proud of her lil baby (the oven)! =D
*pats oven lovingly*

WX's 21st bbq

2009-08-09T14:33:00.001+08:00

after our special outing last week,
weixin held a bbq for all her friends last night.[Pics fr stephie]

bday outing

2009-08-07T23:18:00.003+08:00

with the favourite aunt today.
from happy meals and swensens fries to now,
high teas and pedicures.
i'll tell you about this sweet person sometime,
for its suppertime now.
pina colada crumble pie hot fr the oven.
we've been crazy about coconuts lately. x)

finally!

2009-07-30T12:57:00.005+08:00

blogger's picture uploader is working again.
apologies for the sudden boom of backdated posts,
i had them typed out but saved them for after i could add the pictures.
explains the old dates.
anyway, i had to have a picture for this post too, so don't mind the random picture:
nia's cyclo ice cream,
from when we were having sundaes in hanoi one particularly hot morning.
have a great day! =)

good morning

2009-07-27T09:50:00.000+08:00

Spiced carrot muffins topped w almond butter.
love the smell lingering in the kitchen now.

halong bay

2009-07-26T22:00:00.000+08:00

We spent a night on a junk in halong bay w lots of great company.fishing.caving.swimming.

vietnam

2009-07-26T09:48:00.001+08:00

came home on Friday.
weather was blazing most of the time except for when it rained.thap cam-our fav drink of all we tried thereso much so,
we had to each have a glass almost every day in we were in Hanoi.
seconds on the other days.yum. =)
then again,
anything cold goes in that heat.I did prefer hue to Hanoi..
it was much more serene.
sapa and halong bay were lovely too.
i hope you had a great two weeks past.
mine was lovely, having spent it w nia n mummy.
lunch w the grandies and aunt chelsia later – she’s preggies!!! =D

stocking up

2009-07-09T10:43:00.008+08:00

for (lil) poppy.literally frozen dinners and breakfasts.
herbal soups and soups.
salmon/chicken/beef and brown rice bentos.
chocolate and blueberry muffins..
the pancakes come with their lil individual portions of honey and butter too.that's my mummy for you. =D
flight tonight,
be back in two weeks!

poppy's day

2009-07-07T23:08:00.002+08:00

after 4 days of celebration,
she finally turns 16 today.
awhile ago she was tinier than her schoolbag.

creature of habit

2009-06-29T10:42:00.007+08:00

new duvet design.
i say new design not new duvet because nia n i have been buying the same design for our new duvets ever since we had our room ten years ago.
some things just grow on you.
like tt pair of old birks you don't wanna throw out cos its so comfy.
(until which it falls apart and then you go out to buy an exact same new pair)
or the usual order at the restaurant.
(speaking of which i finally ordered e rawa thosai instead of my usual paper thosai for breakfast yest; it convinced me tt the fave's always a good bet)
its good to try new things but..
some things are nice being familiar.

basil

2009-06-13T11:42:00.003+08:00

got her while doing groceries this morning.
smells like pesto. =)

home

2009-06-07T19:44:00.004+08:00

kite-flying with the sisters and grandies today. =))

I'm back home on sunny lil singapore,
as most of you know by now.
sorry for the lack of updates,
as i've been blissfully occupied with spending time with the family
before mummi left for hokkaido yesterday.
europe was lovely,
but nothing's like being with family,
speaking of whom were crazily sweet enough to come fetch me at the airport with colourful homemade banners. ;)
exaggeration i know,
but how i love them dearies.

and boy,
am i made it to the airport with all 47kg of my luggage.
many strangers to thank,
without whom I wouldn't have been able to make it all the way from school to there.
its heartwarming how kind people are.

For now, i'll be enjoying the hot weather,
which have been doing wonders for my allergies;
my face's starting to heal now,
and my hands are almost all cured too.
For those who finds it too hot for comfort,
its the perfect excuse for some frozen treats.
Have a great week ahead! =)

basque country

2009-06-01T13:11:00.009+08:00

i stopped by the beaches of san sebastian before taking the bus to bilbao.
these two gems of a town are found in the spanish borders of basque country.
i must have went to more bars than i've ever been to in 2days,
for even breakfast was taken in a bar!i think the only food i ate outside that wasnt fr a bar were churros from a lil cafe.the pintxos tango.i couldn't resist going from bar to bar for the different pintxos.
the only problem w not understanding the language is that sometimes w food,
you get more than u ask for.
morcillas are not a kind of seafood.its pig's blood sausage.=O
a 20mins trainride off bilbao is the lil town of leioa.
who was having their annual umore azoka, translated literally as humour fair, the evening i visited.
in bilbao, the guggenheim musuem itself was as worthy of visit as the art exhibitions it held.there i stayed with antxoka and douglas.
both of whom made my visit particularly memorable by driving me out one afternoon to see all the lil seaside towns and countrysides with their sweet friend melissa.tho it was raining, it was lots of fun.
finally,
the last stop in spain found me at areeta's peunte colgante.this unesco site holds the first mechanical bridge in the world.
overnight train trip back.triple decker! =D

lake como

2009-05-18T02:18:00.016+08:00

we took a day trip fr milan to visit bellagio and verenna.lunch break.

royal slumber

2009-05-10T21:37:00.000+08:00

i had never thought that i would be so thrilled by beds.

and his name is LOVE.

2009-05-09T09:14:00.003+08:00

visiting cupid.

Visiting Champagne

2009-05-03T17:27:00.002+08:00

The school organised a trip to champagne yest.First stop was the cathedrale in reims.But of course, the champagne stole the show.
First tastes at lunch.
stopped at mercier to peek at their cellers after,
where we had a lil tour in their celler train.
(you'll need one of these if you owned 18km of cellers too.)the tasting.long cruise ride.

easter break

2009-04-19T21:04:00.011+08:00

i'm back after the easter break which found me in brussels n beaune.
beaune was gorgeous n it was easy to fall in love with the lil town.
but before i go on to tt, welcome to brussels,
to the land of choc, waffles, mussels, and fries (w mayo of course)all these flags are actually the clothes of lil mannekan pis.
the peeing statue of whom i shall not display,
as i am still baffled how throngs of pple actually come flock to see a lil boy pee.
but surrounding him you'll find many lil shops selling choc, waffles n this: a street vendor selling escargots easter sunday outside the church.the mussels were GOOD. tender yet chewy, and the portions huge.
hidden in my lil pot you'll nv guess..no less than 73 whole mussels.
unbelievable how they fit so many in.
after all the bread n fries w mayo accompanying it and e late lunch, i couldn't fit the last 5 shellfishes into my tummy no more.
very very satisfying.brussels also had a morning antique mkt.
the treasures you'll find, i tell you..hints of the european parliment.and i got the yummiest waffles from the man here, who amazingly managed to combine crisp and soft w caramel edges wo being jawbreaking sweet.
(apparently these are liégeois waffles though,
belgium waffles are traditionally rectangular,
but i did see more of this kind in brussels..)the atomium.and a peek at one of brussel's beer,
courtesy of nick's order.

paris morning

2009-04-06T04:34:00.007+08:00

i love the mornings in paris.
especially at the markets.
today was more busy than normal.
the marathon. =Oleaving them behind,
signs of easter approaching.. this man's selling honeycakes.
they taste scarily similar to huat kway.
no, really.my fav. the organic market. =)lots of bio food ard. onli tried the leaven bread here tho.
each mouthful is a delicious burst of fresh garlic.
the chicken lady.
i joined the queue for this.

At last

2009-04-05T03:30:00.000+08:00

feels like spring now.

go where the crowd gathers

2009-03-29T04:33:00.004+08:00

and there you'll find,
a man with his guitar,
and music that can take you away.

start

2009-03-22T21:15:00.004+08:00

here.
point zero; where everything's measured from. saw a few of the wallace fountains today.
i'll fill my bottle someday,
when i figure out how to use it. =D long day today.
visited marie antoinette's cell in the conciergie.
the rich can act pay for better cells,
others slp on straw.
too many churches later,
i found myself in the gardens of luxembourg.
w lil sailboats tt remind me of enid blyton strawberries fr the mkt. =)

almost like home

2009-03-15T05:27:00.003+08:00

thanks to yan,
i had a great dinner today.with a sunny side up. =)
thank you!

the louvre

2009-03-14T23:10:00.007+08:00

after the cemetery,
a good part of the evening found us at the louvretoo many things to see in a single place,
not a time to play favourites.mona lisa was a difficult date tho,
with the crowd ard and barricade..
the whole afternoon could be spent just admiring the ceilings.ok, time for a dinner stop.

Treats from Medieval times

2009-03-07T02:51:00.005+08:00

What knights snack on : What knights eat: Where the ladies in waiting get their supplies: Meanwhile, the children play:

Toulouse

2009-03-07T02:44:00.001+08:00

Welcome

Thank you

2009-02-24T19:46:00.008+08:00

for your well wishes!
i've arrived safe and sound
(altho a lil sore fr having sat on my butt for 13hrs =p)
i'm now 7hrs younger than you are! =D
to sa: thanks for coming down dear, tho we missed each other by a min,
you're a dear! *muack!*
thank you to those who came sent me off,
despite the unearthly hr.
thank you to those who wanted to but i discouraged not to.
thank you also to everyone who sent me their blessings.
to old man for the lil hamper you made. =)
and to mummi, lil poppy and nia.
and the relatives who helped me survive my overweight luggage crisis.
(it was still overweight but at least i got onto the flight.) =D after dragging my luggages thru immigration
and the 1 1/2hr taxi ride that could hav paid for dinner for two at the ritz..
i reached school! =)
will post pics soon!

Going away

2009-02-22T19:41:00.000+08:00

See you in four months!!
=)

Party Favors

2009-02-16T22:30:00.002+08:00

For the godbrother who turns 11 today.
We had lotsa fun assembling these: lil titbits fr yesteryear. i felt like santa,
carrying the loot to his party yesterday.=))

posties get together.

2009-02-08T15:18:00.000+08:00

finally!
one year after rae's farewell.full attendance. =D
i love each and every postie. x))

me time

2009-02-02T22:24:00.001+08:00

today.

the feast continues..

2009-01-31T21:07:00.007+08:00

(mummi's pineapple tarts pic stolen off nia's camera)
its been seven consecutive days of eating, getting together and catchin up.
(except for thurs which found mummi and i curled up in her bed)
as much as i love parties,
i've to admit that right now,
i'm a teensy bit tired.
still, it was fun.

anyway, i haven't realli taken much pics except for today.the babies visited and we got them this:randy n nia made good babysitters.
the parents even offered nia a babysitting job! =D
we also learnt nv to leave tam w any of them.
for we found them in a circle holding cards and shaking stuff as soon as we left them in her room all alone with her.it was such a sight, you should have seen. =D

i'm going to hav an early night today.
aunt's hse tmr.
happy chinese new year!

tradition

2009-01-19T19:55:00.005+08:00

we've been having lots of fun preparing for chinese new year.
decorated the house on sat while mummi spring-cleaned.
made lil bouquets too. oh n did i mention i love peeling ginkgo? =D
sunday baking.
our tradition of baking kueh lapis:
mummi mixes the batter.
i do the layers. now i really cant wait for cny. =))

freshly baked

2009-01-14T19:30:00.005+08:00

how mummi woke me from my afternoon nap today.no words required.
=)

potluck at stephie's

2009-01-11T15:58:00.004+08:00

it was like the old days at steph's hse again.
we even got to watch our old project presentations!
more pics here.

fine lil day

2009-01-03T23:43:00.001+08:00

the afternoon found me by the river today.
nia and i had each gotten the exact same camera earlier.
the salesgirl was GOOD.
she knew her stuff and convinced us to switch to nikon fr our intended lumix.

was reading when this grp of camera wielding pple came along,
trigger happy.
attempted to join in in testing the new gadget...
until the birds started poo-pooing above where i sat.
no seriously, ALOT of poo for such lil bodies.
=D

dinner w old man made for a pleasant evening.
=))

nia's fav pic fr my lil stash: aka the suicide. =p

Financial Planning

2009-01-02T11:15:00.004+08:00

being caught up with the preparations for france,
i thought i better come up with a budget so that i'll have an idea of what i'm set out for.

*rub hands*
i can't help but admit.
these numbers and calculations do thrill me.
exel does make things easier.
just link link link link everything..
there!
final total. =D

Before 2009 arrives..

2008-12-31T10:57:00.003+08:00

so we got back in the wee hours of the morning one day before the new yr.

it was a good trip,
and rather cold.
saw us well bundled up.
good to be hm tho,
nice to be in shorts again.

anyway,
the trip was kinda a lil gathering for our 3 families.
esther flew down fr las vegas one day b4 us,
so we saw her family when we arrived in shanghai.

not much shopping,
lots of sightseeing,
musuems, bridges, gardens, rivers, lil alleys.
i like. =D
lots of food.
lots of restaurants,
street food.
(hot sweet potatoes fresh by the roadside-finger warmers)
tried new stuff.
duck's tongue, duck's feet, lil quails, smelly tofu..

went over to visit suzhou, nanjing, yangzhou.
i thought suzhou was my favourite tho.

we'll be spending a lovely lazy new years eve this yr.
shopping and korean dinner out.
followed by desserts and bottle popping at hm to avoid the crowds.
new year's luncheon at claire's tmr with all the newborns.

Have a great new year celebration. =)

Vacation

2008-12-19T00:24:00.002+08:00

spending wintertime in shanghai.
in the meantime..
MERRY XMAS!

p.s: welcome hm postie dear! =D

garden outing

2008-12-17T00:01:00.006+08:00

perfect morning amist days of stormy weather.
time to step out a lil.
Nana's giant daffodails fr e wishing chair: =D

embroidery

2008-12-16T07:00:00.002+08:00

finally completed: sore fingers fr three nights of stitching.
time to catch up on slp.
=))

health checkup

2008-12-11T13:44:00.004+08:00

blood tests and i don't mix.

*nurse applies alcohol*
t: i think i better warn you the last time i fainted.
n: maybe you were afraid.
t: i'm not sure, maybe its cos they took the same vein twice the same day.
n: dun worry, i'll choose a good vein for you.
t: ok.

n: you've got good veins.
t: ya, they're very obvious. Is it because i carry heavy stuff often?
n: nope, some people are like that.
t: oh. *makes mental note to tell mummi*

*one tube filled*
*second tube done*
*blurry*
...
t: eh, ok warning now.

*wakes up on bed*
(which is much better a location than the last time which found me on the floor)
t: i don't think it was fear.
n: It wasn't. Are u feeling better? i didn't manage to take the third tube, u'll have to return later.
t: i think i'm fine now. thanks.
n: Glucose or milo? hmm. the veins on the other arm's not so clear.
t: Glucose, thanks. but will it affect the reading? its ok, you can draw fr the same arm.
n: Hmm ok then, i'll draw quickly so tt you can have your drink.
*professionally draws a third tube*

new toy

2008-12-04T15:56:00.003+08:00

guess who was peeping at me when i got hm?
aunt dropped by while i was out.

holland V

2008-11-30T19:05:00.005+08:00

tried another sushi tei outlet.
lazy day. =)

u know poppy's hm

2008-11-30T04:00:00.001+08:00

when the living rm's in a mess.no walking space too.

the naughty sister is hm!! =))
got supper while waiting - flight got delayed.love the present she got for nia.more green stuff for mi to add to collection. =)

okay, sleep time.

Oh My.

2008-11-27T14:09:00.004+08:00

i don't mean to sound like a pessimist here but the situation on both the political and economic front seem to enjoy taking the headlines these days.
with the credit crisis and job cut news dying down,
fresh headlines like the terrorist attacks in mumbai on british and american travellers arise.

anyway, closer to home..
lil poppy is stuck in thailand.
the plan was to fly to chiangmai and return via a direct flight.
but with the 2nd airport in bangkok being mobbed by protesters,i don't see how she can now.
hmm. swim back?
oh well, we'll see.

and there's lots to watch really.
especially w the PAD bent on standing their ground:
unless the prime minister resigns THEN they'll decide whether they want to negotiate.
i don't see how anything can be solved unless one party backs down.
this is getting to be a game of who can hold out longer.
aka may the last one standing win

i hope they resolve this soon.
i do like the friendly people there.
and i really dont think its fair to the common folk,
not when tourism plays such a key role in their economy.
oh ya.
and so that poppy doesn't get stranded too long.
(as much as the girl's having fun with all her friends with her.)

study day 1

2008-11-15T22:05:00.003+08:00

3 solid hours of quality time with my beloved notes today.
shopping with mummi after.

fav grampsies

2008-11-14T20:50:00.006+08:00

sushi tei dinner with the grampsies from the next block. =D

Oodles of Noodles

2008-11-09T18:54:00.007+08:00

OH MY.
this is SOCIALLY unacceptable but i tink i just fell in love with e pad thai i cooked for dinner.
WHAT ARROGANCE!
yes i noe, please pardon me while i go on.
=D

anyway.
it all started with the bag of glass noodles my uncle bought us fr thailand.
its thicker than the usual ones we eat here (a lil wider than fettucine)
and i've been eyeing the loot since two weeks ago.
like day dreaming on how i wanna cook it.
(yes, weird i noe.
But i kinda hav a habit of doing that quite alot, i've realised)
so after having kway teow in my BàhChorMee breakfast yest,
i decided noodles will be on the menu tonight.

i wish i had taken a picture of it so you cud see.
but since i didn't i shall attempt to describe it.
just to convince you. =DD

i started off with mincing lots of garlic and shallots.
and alongside i set my noodles to cook.
into the cold water it goes after to make it nice and springy.
so there i was adding beansprouts and lil cubes of beancurd i prefried.
and LOTS of eggs with mushroom and stuff.

[How i LOVE eggs.
tho i admit this dish

i had one morning at bf w e girls got me off them for the rest of the day.
it was too, umm
EGGY when i had them sitting in my stomach.
the twin felt the same after hers

went in.]
k sidetracked a lil.
i rounded up with fish sauce and.
there you go.

the result was a mess of noodles with lots of ingredients.
not wet, yet moist enough for everything to be coated with a layer of flavourful grease without being oily.
the noodles were chewy and OH MAN, I TELL YOU..
nono, really!
i've got three witnesses to testify!

btw, if you've read till this part:
*pats you on the back*
XD

eye tattoo

2008-11-08T14:37:00.003+08:00

SEE?
the world's first eye tattoo.
OUCH.

obama

2008-11-07T13:46:00.003+08:00

i'm happy obama won.
don't get me wrong, mcain's history and experiences are impressive to come by.
but really, that man's not so into economics.
so i guess in a time like this, obama would seem the better choice.

lots of work to clear in your inbox, MR President.

coporate OSIM 2008

2008-11-01T21:04:00.005+08:00

that's our hero for the day!
=D
and so randy, nia n i went down to support the fella at east coast today.
swim..bike..
yes its him!
see the wheel?
i double checked.
=Drun!
there he goes.proudly off we whisked him off for a good refuel after.*beams*

GREEN is IN!

2008-10-25T20:00:00.005+08:00

i'm feeling a lil wonki now.
so indulge me.
x)

ladies and gentleman,
je me présente..
Le gang vert!!

oh how i love green.
got myself a new green pencilcase yest.
new member of the stationary gang =D

and my lil green accessories..

you will know which of the stuff in the kitchen are mine too.

not forgetting the notebooks, schedule book, diary and namecard holder..

oh how i'll love to go on and on..
my old yoga mat (i got a pink one for the bday this yr), 3 of my tube tops are green (plain GREEN, striped GREEN and floral green =D)..

oh alrite, enough of green now.

coffee, tea, or PEE?

2008-10-23T15:58:00.004+08:00

oh my.
i'm resisting the temptation to put up more food pics today.
everytime i make some stuff i cant help but snap a few pics of it.
i noe. =p

had a gorgeous morning out with two mummi's today.
woke up earli this morning cos mummi thot i was poppy and woke mi up.
my room was freezing last nite so hopped over to mummi's.
(nana polar bear) =p
went down to lil india for thosais and meetup w mummi's best friend.
aisle browsing b4 heading down to thomson for indonesian lunch.
oh spices and chilli and curry i tell you..
with chendol and avocado milkshake.
=D

anyway, i've been bz doing up my complementary medicine yest.
>
say YUM!
but reali,there might be some truth in its effectiveness.
=D
anyway, here's a video if you happen to be interested.

fine lil day

2008-10-17T23:41:00.003+08:00

breakfast from a fellow bus52 fri regular.
thanks! *waves* =D

perfect day for a read at the park.

the body speaks.

2008-10-14T00:43:00.002+08:00

7DEC2008
Standard Chartered Marathon
this year,
i'll be cheering.
=))

Repose.

2008-10-11T18:55:00.004+08:00

deathwish

2008-10-10T03:39:00.001+08:00

its scary sometimes when you realise how fragile life is.
someone fr poppy's sch fell from the building today (yesterday.)
whether or not there's more to it,
you cant deny that such incidents nv fail to stir you.
at least not when the person seems so starkingly associated with people ard you.
not when the person in question is a mere 16 year old.

and then it leads you to wonder how it all came to be.
maybe sometimes the motivation behind it isnt so hard to understand after all.
perhaps, its just crossing the fine line of:
i'm too tired to go on anymore.
hopes abandoned.

then again, who's to judge.
i have to admit:
this thought DISTURBS me.
i mean, do most pple hav at least a point in time where they entertain such thoughts?

Aunt Nicole Visits

2008-10-05T23:37:00.007+08:00

posties catch up

2008-10-03T22:18:00.007+08:00

the posties (minus rae)met up over lunch on sunday.
i miss you rae. =)

so when sarah sent us pics yest,
i cudnt help but:
check out her cool new gadget!
* all together now, everyone say WOAH...*

and apparently, the steam makes the pics develop faster.

Vicki Cristina Barcelona

2008-10-02T18:00:00.006+08:00

i tagged along on mummi's outing with her best friend today.
caught "Vicki Cristina Barcelona".
the rest were a lil disappointed with the abrupt ending,
and it got draggy at the last part.
did enjoy the show tho.
there was controversy and sadistic passion.
complete with artistic talent we all secretly yearn for.
not forgetting the eye candies.
penélope cruz and scarlet johansson.
with barcelona as the backdrop,
oh and did i mention that the way the artist guy (Christopher Evan Welch) seduces women in the show is well.
well i tink the show touches the romantic secret fantasies few get to live out in today's hectic society.
sigh... x))

had a light lunch after all the popcorn.
(lido has the best popcorn, trust me)
the jap food at isetan supermarket is yum.
and you save money too!
(hey this is good advice)

Hari Raya Puasa

2008-10-01T21:37:00.005+08:00

my family has a wonderful habit of using every excuse they can find as a reason to celebrate and hold gatherings.
the public holiday found us over a lovely steamboat lunch with the aunt and uncle today.

Hari raya puasa today.
marking the end of the ramadan period,
mummi had busied herself with preparing some kuehs for our neighbour last sunday.

for the muslims, Hari Raya is a time to reconcile and renew relationships with others.
Another greeting used for this day besides the more well-known "Selamat Hari Raya" is "maaf zahir dan batin" which sort of means "I seek forgiveness (from you) physically and spiritually".
the latter greeting kinda appeals to me.
it just seems munificent.

our malay aunty from next door came over in the evening with yummies for our dinner.
she makes the most delicious beef rendang that is so tender, it literally melts in your mouth.
and her gravies, i tell you, i drink them up.
i'm not kidding,
my godmother once bought 15 big bottles of her sambal chilli!

Exams

2008-09-30T21:09:00.000+08:00

all the lights in the hall and poppy's room were switched on in the middle of the night yest.
I found the lil dear asleep at her desk in her attempt to stay up to study.
though its true that kids these days have endless opportunities,
i've gotta admit they dont have it easy either.

had my complementary medicine midterm today.
i scribbled everything in pencil before starting in ink proper.
at the end of the hour,
3 of the 4 essays were completed.
secretly proud of myself still.
i had dedicated the bulk of my studying in recess week to it.
results of 3 days worth of focused concentration:

Choices

2008-09-29T16:08:00.000+08:00

coincidentally,two special persons had both reminded me something recently.

bjorny had this quotation by Dr Suess:
"Be who you are and say what you feel,
because those who mind don't matter,
and those who matter don't mind"

while nia's reminder came in a poem,
lovingly and beautifully written by her
which she cheekily stuffed into my bag while i was preparing our lazy sunday bf yesterday.

and maybe they both are right.

i think after awhile we all learn to distinguish what realli matters to us.
For there is only so much we can follow of others
and one day you finally realise that
hey, you know what?
the choices are really YOURS to make.

some things you learn to hold on to.
and others.
well, you choose to let go.

Then again,
there will be those things you choose to put off,
not because they are any less important to you,
but simply just cause the time aint right yet.

just like the sowing of seeds that have to wait till spring arrives,
after the melting of winter snow.