Happy New Year!

Here's wishing everybody a blessed and wonderful 2007!

I'm off to Bangkok in 5 hours... b back on the 4th...till den :)

in love again...

Roberto Cavalli velvet brocade mary janes

n this other green/gold brocade pair at Nine West which is on sale...

Someone please stop me...

Merry Xmas

To the visitors of my humble home:

Have a blessed Xmas :)


illustration by Jianwei e 色叔叔

What type of cake are you?

Was musing to a friend how I wished life was a piece of cake.

In return, I was asked if my life was a piece of cake, what would it be? Cheesecake, Black forest? And whether I would want to have my cake and eat it too?

Hmm...tough one.

Cheesecake: My life is pretty rich I must say as I experience and learn quite a bit of new things on a daily, if not, weekly basis with my kind of job. However, as time goes by, it can be pretty mundane n predictable.

Blackforest: I admit I have a split personality. Can't decide whether I'll like to be pleasing like the chocolate sponge cake, or smooth like the creamy bits or to be naughty, spicy & exotic like the cherries that gives the taste buds a different kick. Perhaps that is why my colleagues say that I'm an oxymoron....claiming that i'm sane when i'm actually half mad.

Tiramisu: I love alcohol and I need caffine (from tea though) to keep me going in the day...It also happens to be my favourite dessert (remembered someone telling me that it's not considered a cake) There's more than what meets the eye :) You have to know me well to find out how strong the rum is(Courtesy of AT).

Durian cake: Either you like me or you don't. I'm an acquired taste. (Courtesy of AT)

As for wanting to have my cake and eat it too, I must say I'm guilty of it sometimes. I thrive under pressure. Only when I'm overwhelmed with stuff will I be more motivated to complete my tasks on hand.

Besides, Comedian George Carlin once critiqued this idiom by saying, "When people say, 'Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too.' What good is a cake you can't eat? What should I eat, someone else's cake instead?"

What type of cake are you?

:)

Fun conversation I had with my lesbo partner Boo...miss living with u gal...(we used to icq each even though we were 2m apart...)

yun says:

all i want for xmas is prince charming

Twinkle says:

hahaha..
Twinkle says:

i buy barbie's ken for you..
Twinkle says:

hahaha..
Twinkle says:

prince charming...
Twinkle says:

/hehe
yun says:

ya rite...
yun says:

mite as well say buy frog for me
yun says:

kiss already become prince
Twinkle says:

hahaha..
Twinkle says:

also can..
Twinkle says:

but it might be a bit messy for you only..

最熟悉的陌生人

事隔一个多月，昨天再次碰到他，心情还是不由自主地变得很沉重。
只是打了招呼，没和他交谈，但可感觉他对我有着强烈的厌恶。

可能当时我的所作所为真的令你很气愤，以致到了今天还是耿耿于怀。这里还是希望得到你的原谅。
真的不要求什么，只想挽回这段友情。

我很喜欢萧亚轩的《最熟悉的陌生人》，每回到KTV都必唱。昨天我真正体验了这首歌所传达的情感。

最熟悉的陌生人
萧亚轩

还记得吗
窗外那被月光染亮的海洋
你还记得吗
是爱让彼此把夜点亮
为何后来我们用沉默取代依赖
曾经朗朗星空
渐渐阴霾
心碎离开
转身回到最初荒凉里等待
为了寂寞
是否找个人填心中空白
我们变成了世上
最熟悉的陌生人
今后各自曲折
各自悲哀
只怪我们爱得那么汹涌
爱得那么深
于是梦醒了搁浅了沉默了挥手了
却回不了神
如果当初在交会时能忍住了
激动的灵魂
也许今夜我不会让自己在思念里
沉沦
心碎离开
转身回到最初荒凉里等待
为了寂寞
是否找个人填心中空白
我们变成了世上
最熟悉的陌生人
今后各自曲折
各自悲哀
只怪我们爱得那么汹涌
爱得那么深
于是梦醒了搁浅了沉默了挥手了
却回不了神
如果当初在交会时能忍住了
激动的灵魂
也许今夜我不会让自己在思念里
沉沦
我们变成了世上最熟悉的陌生人
今后各自曲折
各自悲哀?
只怪我们爱得那么汹涌
爱得那么深
于是梦醒了搁浅了沉默了挥手了
却回不了神
如果当初在交会时能忍住了...

Happiness is...

- Sipping hot chocolate / gingerbread latte on a rainy day, looking at the crowds shuffle by you.
Perfection would be sitting next to a fire place with some friends or just by myself reading a gd book...If only I was in London... Happiness is otherwise known here as that warm fuzzy feeling.

- Fettucine & Tiramisu @ Menotti's. Ever since I stepped foot in Menotti's 3 months ago, I constantly have cravings for their creamy Fettucine & the ever so delightful tiramisu. Simply yummilicious. Love sitting next to the window n people watch. This place also holds the best memory I have of 2006...... It was gd while it lasted.

- Chilling with friends @ Oosh or Altivo. 2 very different places but both give the feeling of tranquility. Situated in the heart of the city yet away from the hustle n bustle of urban life. Try hideouts like these if you feel like you need to catch your breath and leaving the country to a resort is not a viable option.

- Afternoon English Tea @ English Rose Cafe. Warm scones with butter, jam & cream and a pot of Earl Gray...brings back memories of London which are always memories of happy times for me. Hmm...come to think of it, I didn't have scones very often, scones were for breakfast while marmite n cheese on toast with Earl Gray were my staple afternoon tea after school. Idyllic Times.

- Shopping for the entire day. Retail therapy is the miracle cure to depression, stress n all forms of illness. Shopping and Relationships work the same way in my dictionary. Unique items and great buys appear when you aren't looking. Same for love. Love comes knocking when you least expect it. Happiness is when fate brings magic and pleasant surprises into one's life.

- Driving around aimlessly. I don't own a car yet but I hope to buy one soon. Driving gives me a sense of freedom and independence. Freedom I've been yearning for ever since returning from London. It gives me time of solitude for reflection and enables me to go to places further away to experience new things. Independence simply cuz I'm in control.

羡慕他人的一天

　　今天真是一个让我很羡慕他人的一天。
　　一大清早进办公室，有一名很久没聊天的朋友突然通过MSN给我发了一个劲爆的消息：我们的旧同学今天要结婚了。
　　朋友结婚嘛，有什么好大惊小怪？
　　这名朋友是香港名模，丈夫来自香港豪门，婚礼被誉为香港世纪婚礼，简直就是现代Cinderella story。
　　在LSE念硕士的时候，我们四女一男属于同一个study group。我们开始并不知道她的身份，只觉得她好漂亮。后来从其他同学知道后，也没有向她证实，觉得没有必要。
　　她虽然是明星级人物，穿戴名牌上学，有个有钱有势的男友，但一点架子都没有，也没有要求我们给予她什么特别待遇。Study notes做得好完整。还记得考试前，我曾经到她家与她温习statistics。当时她的妈妈专程从香港飞到伦敦来照顾她，煮了好多好好吃的东西给我们，现在记起来都会流口水。
　　只可惜过去一年来工作太忙，毕业各自回国后就没有什么联络。
　　今天听到她的婚讯，真是为她高兴。祝两位白头偕老，早生贵子！
－－－－
　　没过多久，坐在我旁边的同事宇宁带了一大袋东西来到办公室。
　　原来她的爸爸在看了她写的恋物志后，买了一个圣诞袜子，装了一些小玩具和糖果，老远从新山来到新加坡送给她，当作“稿费”。
　　温暖牌礼物，真令人羡慕。

－－－－
　　唉，这样的爱情，亲情，何时也能如此倦顾我啊？

I want a teddy bear...

Been wanting a big, brown, soft teddy bear for the last couple of weeks...actually anything I can hug when I feel lonely and a punching bag when I feel frustrated...

This is something I'm sure my mum will never approve of considering I've got so many stuff toys lying around at home already...guess it's Christmas n i've been seeing lots of cuddly bears everywhere I go :(

圣诞节的省钱招数

还有两个多星期就是圣诞节了，圣诞礼物还没买，圣诞卡片也还没时间寄出，所以过去的周末就上网看有些什么美美的ecard可以寄，无意中发现这则有趣的圣诞节省钱秘笈，这里和大家分享一下。

每年的圣诞节都是热闹喜气的,大街小巷都是人头攒动,而精明的商家(不管是卖衣服的,卖食品的,还是卖礼品的),都鼓足了劲,想趁着节日的升温大捞一笔,所以在这个时候唯一要做的就是---看紧你的钱包,让它在不被小偷惦记的同时,也不要成为商家的猎物!

1. 千万不要为了所谓的浪漫,去光顾西餐店(包括咖啡屋等等),他们早就准备好了磨得噌亮的大刀,等待能够痛宰你一刀!要想享受烛光晚餐的惬意,可以买原材料在家里做嘛,要是非要有摇曳多姿的烛光,也可以去买一个漂亮的烛台啊,不但经济实惠,还可以一直用到老,也算是给家里增添固定资产啊!

2. 千万不要去商场,在商家精心策划和准备下,很少能够有人可以抵挡琳琅满目的商品诱惑,人多地少,空气自然不会好,且不说把时间耗费在漫长的交款队伍中是多么无聊,就单凭在商场人流中挑选自己心仪的东西的艰难险阻,就可以领略到沙丁鱼般的拥挤!

3. 千万不要去超市,别以为过节折扣多,商家的手段是层出不穷的,总有办法诱导你去选择一些根本不需要的东西,自己还觉得占了很大的便宜.其实羊毛出在羊身上,俗话说得好,买的不如卖的精,对于天生对购物就有特殊感情的女性来说,直接不去考验自己的意志是省钱的不二法门!

4. 千万不要去娱乐场所,他们也早就为您准备了足够多的诱惑和新奇,如果您就是想好好玩,不计较成本,那么此条及以上数条对您都不实用,要是您认为不该花的不能花,那您还可以继续往下看!

5. 千万不要去看电影,什么迎节、无极之类的大片，商业炒做的痕迹太重,看了也许会失望,再说在假日去看大片,至少又得让口袋破一个大洞?　还是省下来好,在温馨浪漫的圣诞节咱不受这个刺激,关键是为了省钱嘛!

　　其实圣诞节不用去凑热闹,最后建议,不妨在周末和家人好好欢聚一堂,在家做顿好吃的,家人不在一起的朋友呢,给远方的爸妈打个电话,聊聊家常，不是更好吗？

Bags & Shoes

Fellow online serial shopper GH asked me today how many bags & shoes I owned. Hmm... tricky...

Put it this way, I'm a self-confessed shoe addict and bag whore. Call me shallow and materialistic, but one of my aims in life is to overtake Imelda Marcos and I see branded bags as a form of investment, the way some people view red wine as alternative investment.

My personal record: 4 pairs of shoes in 2+ hours (okie.. they were 5-10 GBP each so i'm not that bad really...). Highest expenditure on a bag: 600 GBP on my pink Chanel Reporter Cambon.

It seems that I'm not alone in my quest. A recent survey by UK research firm Mintel found that one in 10 UK women - 2.6 million women aged 16 and up - are aspiring Carrie Bradshaws. They currently own at least 30 pairs of shoes - one for every day of the month. Me...hmm...haven't taken stock of the no. of shoes I have in Singapore, but in London, I definitely can walk out of my room in a different shoe for a month if I wanted to.

GH says i outta get a job like Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada...totally agree... but having said that I'll rather be the legendary fashion editrix Miranda Priestly...minus the catyness of course!

Either that or I'll need to find myself a rich husband and lead a tai tai life...easier said then done though...think it's probably easier to work my way up n become Miranda...

Pointless and irrelevant post... Probably cuz of the spillover effect from the people I followed at Paragon today... keep a look out for My Paper either on Wed or Thurs if u wanna know what I did.... hee hee...

ciao....

Gals have it better?

A friend, YC, wrote this in one of our mass emails:
"it's perfectly okay for girls to make male-bashing remarks (in fact one can even get applauded for that) while guys doing the reverse would be labelled misogynists and bigots. kinda to make up for centuries of oppression I guess. boy, it's so hard to be male these days. must be breadwinner, treat women with respect and equality, go army, carry heavy stuff....."

Do gals necessary have it better? I beg to differ.
Remember colleague YN saying a couple of days ago that guys can never quite understand the pain & suffering gals go thru during that time of the month, child bearing & child birth. In return for a painless, less disruptive life, think it's only fair that gals be forgiven for our PMS, mood swings n wat not, not forgetting having the privilege to have a dig at our "better half" ehz...life would be so boring if everything went the macho way won't it? :p

PYC: there u go... no need to be jealous of Xi anymore... u got ur much "awaited" mention on my blog :) hee hee...

I miss London...

Boo hoo... my lucky neighbour @ work, Mervin is heading to London on Wed... boy I miss the city esp during this time of the year when it's cold n chilly n gets dark at 3pm... yeah i know i'm mad...

Merv has only 3 days there and asked what's the single thing that he must do there... well no prizes for wat i said... shopping of cuz...there's nothing like dashing from shop to shop starting from Oxford Street all the way to the end of Bond street n not forgetting Regent Street along the way. If I have time, I'll head down to Covent Garden too from Regent Street...that's my usual shopping route n exercise routine :p Oh, if u need food, stop by Chinatown...I miss the fusion style chinese food (Chinese Experience) n the dim sum (Royal Dragon, Golden Dragon) there...

More on the topic of shopping, there's a daily battle going on in my mind whether to go to the library or go shopping after sch... I'm such a disaster ehz...I love shopping on my own so I can take in the sights properly n try out every shoe in all the wonderful shoe shops there... somehow i can never bring myself to buy any shoes in singapore...while i can buy 4 pairs at a go in London (they were 5 quid each btw... i'm a shopaholic but i know my limits...) I miss Kurt Geiger, Faith & Shelly's...miss Selfridges & Harrods during sales... if u're patient enough to dig thru the piles n look thru every asle, u're bound to find some gd bargains there...

The supermarkets are a must go too... miss the rows n rows of ready made food, esp the ones at Marks & Spencers... miss the large variety of cereals, chocolates, tidbits, fruit juices, alcohol n toiletries @ Tesco & Sainsbury... i esp miss grocery shopping at 2am in the morning.... i can stay for 2 hours at a go... there's just so much to see n to agonise over too with my limited budget... Oh oh... not forgetting the lovely markets like Borough Market, Spitalfields Market, Camden Town, Nottinghill Gate... there's so much going on...craving for fresh oysters, lovely brownies, flans & pastries, pizzas & baguettes n freshly brewed coffee along with quirky items to look see...I miss kebabs too... i know i'm weird...

Merv also asked how he could get to his hotel n whether he should take the cab or Heathrow Express... even after the bombings n all I would say that I miss taking the tube n esp the london buses...wouldn't even bother about his 2 options...love observing ppl on the tube n looking out of the windows of the buses...every street every turn, it's so different. There'll always be something that will catch ur eye. Every time u pass by a place, there's always something new u'll pick out.

He said that his travel companion is concerned about needing to walk for long distances... all i can say is, walking in London is a pleasure... walk ard, take in the sights & breathe...it's refreshing...I used to walk for everywhere in London, for miles on my shopping escapades especially, all the way from Russell Square to the end of Bond street n den back...kills my legs totally but definitely worth it...even better if u have a cup of mocha from Cafe Nero in ur hands or gingerbread latte from Starbucks...sip slowly, walk at ur own pace n smell the hustle n bustle...If it's sunny, remember to look up n enjoy the clear blue skies...u will never be able to get it here...

Talking about Oxford Street, I miss going to church in London. The sermons and services at All Souls at the cross road of Oxford Street n Regent Street were simply lovely...somehow i can never find the feeling back here in sg...miss the All Souls orchestra & choir too...always looked forward to services with them once a month...spiritually uplifting no matter how bad ur week has been...

As you guys can probably tell by now, i'm suffering from London withdrawal symptons yet again. If i ever get to go to London or work in London, I'll jump at the opportunity.

I miss London so so much....I hate u merv! :p (kiddin, have fun there, hopefully u'll fall in love with it as much as i did...)


p/s: this is not the end ...just that I'm totally knackered after a long day's work... shall continue to bore everyone with my london musings another day :p

Change blog design

Have been getting comments lately from frens n readers tt my humble home is pretty tough to navigate n definitely not office frenly... will be doing something about it once I get some time on my hands... definitely before the end of this year I promise.

So just bear with me for a bit... clearer, less distracting layout coming up! Suggestions are welcomed!

Bdae in Pix

Had lotsa fun in the last 3 days n I got my hair dyed red! Thanx to the ppl out there who made it possible... haven't had so much fun in a long time!

Will try to put everything down in words soon... in the meantime, do check out the pix on my flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/yunfairy/

24!

The "dreaded" day has arrived...I've officially bid farewell to 23 and am 24 as of this moment!

Thanks to the sweet souls out there: AT, KY, YX n YN for remembering.

Haven't accomplished very much in the past year other than trying to adjust to adult working life, so my goal in the next 365 days is to make every day count!

I know it's one month premature for any new year resolutions to be made but these are the things i'll like to accomplish in the coming year:
1. Get my first car!
2. Start saving up for a house, hopefully by 2008 I'll be able to own a studio apartment.
3. Travel more... London is definitely on the list...
4. Take CFA I or embark on my part-time PHD
5. Spend more quality time with my family and friends

That seems like an awful lot...anyhow, I'm gonna make sure I have a smashing day today! I'm planning to get my hair coloured n gonna meet some frens for shopping followed by dinner at Oosh...hee hee....

Hmmm... only thing is that i'm still stuck at office now...hopefully this is not a sign of things in the coming year....:p

Quarter-life crisis

In four days time, I'll be bidding adios to being 23.

The past year has been a roller coaster ride for me. Haven't been through so many ups and downs in 365 days for as long as my memory can serve me. Had a drastic change in my career, death scares of two of my grandparents, meeting someone who mattered very much as a mentor n friend and then screwing things up after having a break down due to stress. Not forgetting passing up on opportunities that on hindsight I should have taken up.

With all these commotion happening in my life, I was telling some friends over the weekend that I'm definitely not looking forward to add another digit to my age as it'll only mean that I'm one step closer to meeting my quarter-life crisis. After entering adult life and coming to terms with its responsibilities, I somehow found myself stuck in a world of career stagnation and extreme insecurity.

Read somewhere online that a primary cause of the stress associated with the "quarter-life crisis" is financial in nature. Real wages for most people have been dropping since the 1970s and most professions have become highly competitive. Positions of relative security – such as tenured positions at universities and "partner" status at law firms – have dwindled in number. This, combined with excessive downsizing, means that many people will never experience occupational security in their lives, and this is doubly unlikely in young adulthood. Generation X that I belong to unfortunately is the first generation to meet with this uncertain "New Economy" en masse.

Property has never been less affordable--especially in the cities, where we must go to compete for jobs. This contributes to a sense of rootlessness. In turn, this impacts on relationships with friends and potential partners--not that most twentysomethings have time for sex.

The era when a professional career meant a life of occupational security – thus allowing an individual to proceed to establish an "inner life" – is coming to a crashing end. Financial professionals are often expected to spend at least 80 hours per week in the office, and people in the legal, medical, educational, and managerial professions may average more than 60. In most cases, these long hours are de facto involuntary, reflecting economic and social insecurity. While these ills plague adults at all ages, their worst victims are ambitious, unestablished young adults.

In The Cheating Culture, David Callahan illustrates that these ills of excessive competition and insecurity do not always end once one becomes established – by being awarded tenure or "partner" status – and therefore the "quarter-life crisis" may actually extend beyond young adulthood. Some measure of financial security – which usually requires occupational security – is necessary for psychological development. Some have theorized that insecurity in the "New Economy" will place many in a state of, effectively, perpetual adolescence, and that the rampant and competitive consumerism of the 1990s and 2000s indicates that this is already taking place.

Having said all that, I guess it's not all doom and gloom. A friend said in return, most people don't reach 100 anyway, so I have nothing to fret as I've perhaps been through this dark patch in my life already and things will only look up from here.

On a separate note, my mind starts to wonder whether I'll prefer dying young or to live a ripe long life and experience lots of crisis like mid-life, old age etc. ... oh well... No one can have the best of all worlds...

爱人和被爱

　　被爱是幸福的。爱人总是痛苦的。
　　好不容易调试好心情再次说服自己积极面对眼前的挑战，却还是被浇了一身冷水。
　　说我爱逃避现实，又或者自暴自弃也好，又不由自主地开始想念过去。过去几个月一直浮现在脑海里的念头又再次浮现。
　　是我过去被宠坏了吗？过去眼前是大把的机会，背后有疼爱我的人。如今放眼看去，一直觉得战战兢兢，不知几时会踏上导火线而惹来一身祸。
　　咬紧牙根深呼吸看来不是长久的办法。
现在，也许金钱才能够买到我渴望的快乐。

The One, Right Person Wrong Time or Wrong Person Right Time?

Some old frens of mine from good old JC days are trying to find out whether the people that they are dating are "The One"....one said if she's able to do boring stuff with the person and doesn't find anyone else she hopes to marry even more, the person will be the one, another said if a guy is willing to change for a girl then she is the one, a third mentioned about how much a person is "valued", the more valuable, the more likely he/she is the one.

Honestly, I really am clueless about how to identify "The One". For me, before i start any relationship, unless I see it going somewhere, i.e. end up with marriage at the end of the road, i won't take the plunge. The other is always the one for me I guess.

Was chatting to one of the old frens earlier and the conversation moved on to finding the right person. Relationship is a matter of timing and depending on which school you subscribe to, when things don't work out, it's either the right person but the wrong time ; or the wrong person but the right time.

As he said, if you're not with the right person, it'll feel like you are swimming in tar. I can't agree more. No matter which direction you take it's always gonna be a sticky, murky, dead end.

To him, he subscribes to the case where it's the right person but the wrong time as we are all only 24, or going to 24 in my case, considerably young and things are going pretty well regardless of whether we've met who we think is Mr or Miss Right or not...My take on this is that although things may seem to be progressing well but it's not at it's best. It's always nice to have someone to share your life with regardless of which point in life u belong to. To me, it's the right time all the time, just that the person may not be the right one who would stick with you true the good times and bad for eternity. But hopefully, things are like what he said, n our group of 6 wouldn't have to end up x years later still meeting the wrong person at the right time.

Some pretty random stuff to fill my long absence from blogging.... came back early Sunday morning and have tons of things to attend to....haven't had time to organise my fotos from the trip. All in all a pretty gd trip n i'm definitely much better now... will post pictures of my adventures n misadventures (heads up: it has to do with my hair... look out for pictures... if i decide to put them up...too embarassing) once i manage to steal some time! Watch out for it!

Leaving on a jet plane...

Leaving for China in just a couple of hours for work. Just started with my packing...guess i'll just have to sleep on the plane later...

Had a crazy day at work... starting with the Singapore Motorshow 2006 at 830am in the morning at suntec... interesting stuff but i was so dead beat by the end of the day that i can't think straight and was struggling extremely hard to file my stories. Imagine being on your feet all the while from 745am (time I took the train from home) all the way till 5+pm when i got back into office, during which i was trying to drag 10 odd press kits everywhere i went... dreadful...

After all that i've seen at the show today, i'm pretty certain on buying the Suzuki Swift once I get my 13th month at the end of this year. Too bad they aren't doing the lavender/pink version anymore... i'll just have to settle for the yellow one! My fav colour anyway :) It's gonna be a costly investment n gonna be a struggle with my pay now but I guess i'm buying time with a car n definitely will be able to go out more and enjoy life the way i should, instead of what i've been doing for the past couple of weeks... moping around n feeling sorry for myself :) Fingers x that COE prices go back down....:p

Still taking deep breaths after Monday but I'm doing fine moving on. Won't deny that deep down a part of me is still hoping for a miracle...guess no one can really predict what lies ahead so it's nice to harbour some hope for something you desire...i've learnt that fate is a crazy word...just have to make sure it doesn't get the better of me n remain just as memories...

Been doing some self reflection lately after all that has happened...Must say I haven't been myself for the last 2-3 months. I've been told I'm a cheerful, determined and optimistic person b4... but i've been totally opposite after national day it seems. Perhaps that's why I've been screwing things up, making ppl ard me frustrated and lady luck hasn't been on my side. Ppl whom I haven't been treating well the last couple of months, please accept my apologies. Sorry! This trip is gonna be one that i'll try to put everything in the past, be happy again so that I can come back to a new start.

Leaving on a jet plane, dumping all my unhappiness in the Yangtze river n gonna return a happier person!

B4 i continue with my packing...Considering how forgetful I am... Xi equal if u're reading this, Happy Birthday in advance! Can't wait for chuan to come back next Jan...hopefully our kkn trip works out :) Miss u guys like crazy...BIG HUGZ...can't believe it's been 7 years already......we're all getting old!

Toodles ppl.... till next week :)

p/s: uploaded a couple of fotos to keep all of u entertained while i'm away... enjoy!

一年了

　　今天是我加入报馆满一周年的日子。
　　一个多星期前从老总手中接过confirmation letter，心里百感交集。365天，觉得过得好漫长。
　　这一年来，我好像坐了一个很长很长的过山车，途中有起有落，一直都不知道前方会有些什么样的高潮或低谷在等着我。每一天都过得很刺激，有些时候甚至觉得惊险万分。
　　2005年11月7日，我踏入社会，成为《新明日报》的社会新闻记者。那也是我5年前，在领报馆奖学金之前，第一个实习的地方。
　　还记得上班第一天，我的第一个任务是处理Durex的性调查报告；这也是一些同事给我“性专家”外号的开始。在这之后我多次被点秋香，报道有关性展览Sexpo和男性不举不育问题等。
　　工作的第二个星期，我遇到了事业上的第一个挫折。去年11月中旬，NKF事件已步入完结阶段，经过无数次的NKF记者会后，在等待审计报告出炉的当儿，11月15日的记者会看似历常，也许因为这样主任才安排我这个新手去采访。
　　岂料，我那天的新闻运超“好”，竟然在记者会上被我问出有关慈善演出的节目制作费问题，成为第一个报出这个消息的媒体。但我的这个第一个头版新闻却让我哭上了一整夜。当天下午接到公关的不客气电话，晚上回家开电视，看到电视新闻对我的文章指指点点的，朋友和父母看到了之后发简讯给我，质问我发生了什么事，来自多方的打击真的把我吓得几乎崩溃。花了一整晚设法联络主任，大哭一场后，当晚我第一次因工作而失眠。直到隔天看到各大报章的报道和我所写的没有出路，我才放下心中的大石。
　　NKF事件到了12月转淡后，我就开始为大选做准备工作。由于主任认为大选将在12月底或1月初进行，和本地政治脱节了整4年多，错过了上一届大选的我，打从向前辈燕燕和桂娥拿到一堆资料后，便分秒必争地苦读硬背。
　　12月中，主任安排我进行第一个政治访问，对象是反对党风云人物谢镜丰。没想到，他在访问的时候叫了党员拍下当时的情景，在圣诞节到来的时候，把照片当成明信片寄给了我。收到的时候，真的难以置信，同事还取笑我被他”偷拍“，所幸不是裸照，令我哭笑不得。这张照片之后就挂在我的桌前，抬头看到的时候总是会会心一笑。
　　不知不觉，12月、1月、2月一一都过去了，总理一直都没有宣布大选。到了那个时候，可以炒的新闻都给我们媒体给炒烂了。在这个时候，我很幸运地发掘了有关Old Ford Factory走宝的新闻。为了写这则新闻，我花了好长的时间和精力翻阅历史书籍，老远跑到南大找一名历史教授，同时也很不容易争取到和国家文物局进行访问。但一切的努力都是值得的，我从中获益不浅。这篇investigative report是我至今最满意的作品，被提名新闻奖。只可惜出街当天和牛奶猪枪杀案硬碰硬而被埋没了。
　　来到了3月，某一天下午被现在的老总新迪叫去聊天，邀请我加入《我报》。这么难得的机会，我当时想都没想就一口答应了。老实说，点头答应后，回到坐位看了看周围，开始觉得依依不舍。毕竟旧同事和老板都对我很好，这么样走了好像背叛了他们似的。
　　4月1日，我正式加入《我报》，开始了我事业的另一个篇章。半年多下来，虽然工作时间和工作量是过去的一倍，我当时的决定，我很肯定，并没有错。办新报纸并不是所有媒体人所能体验得到的，我很庆幸有这个难得的机会。
　　大家苦等已久的大选终于定在5月6日举行。新组成的《我报》团队各自回到之前的东家帮忙。
　　3个多星期忙忙碌碌地为大选奔波是我这一年的最大收获。在詹时中的群众大会，我体验了气派。陪伴刘程强巡回选区，体会什么是自信。与刘锡明前去开票，了解什么叫做坚强和无奈。
　　大选之后，《我报》引擎便如火如荼地开动了，但一班同事也不忘忙里偷闲，趁长周末到吉隆坡共度美好时光，拉近了彼此之间的距离，让接下来2个多星期的备战少了陌生的隔膜。大班人一同出游还是我的头一次，感觉很好，希望下来有机会再来。
　　忙着忙着，6月1日很快地到来了。玩真的和之前的dry run的心情完全不一样，压力也多了一层。一路走着，我们一直在fine tune整个《我报》的运作，几乎每个星期都有变数。也许因为当时有很多存稿的关系，创刊的那个月，《我报》家庭在下班后会到酒店看足球或唱KTV，让我回想起在伦敦工作时，每个星期五下班后与同事们喝酒聚餐的欢愉时光。后来大家可能都累坏了，之后再也没有这样的活动了。真可惜。
　　接下来的5个月，财经、汽车、时尚、美食、教育、Hot news、本地新闻、爆料、娱乐等我都有机会尝试。令我觉得满意的是Singapore Encyclopedia、Potong Pasir争议街道和Act of God的报道，还有自己想出来的古怪财经专题。时间过得很充实。如果要说挫折，那就是一直碰到手气坏的时候，什么人都联络不到。
　　上周末和同事颖佳聊天，谈起工作快满一年的事，他建议我在这一天买片蛋糕慰劳慰劳自己。
　　今天下午他问我吃下的时候有什么感觉。虽然买了蛋糕，但因为一整天忙着处理财经和热点新闻，我到现在才有机会尝一口。
　　感觉嘛...酸甜苦辣，全一次过地从口中涌入心里。下来的路还远着呢。
　　新的一年又会是什么样子的？就留意这个空间吧。

老天是公平的

　　经过狂风暴雨的一天，和一名很久没聊天的长辈通了电话，现在心情平静了许多。
　　我把过去三个月来所发生的事情都告诉了他，会相命的他淡淡地说，“信不信由你，这是你命中注定的事。”
　　他说小妹我，命水还不错，在课业和事业方面都比一般人来得顺利，虽然偶尔会遇到一些小挫折，但总是会有贵人伸出援手拉我一把；唯独感情方面总是触礁，事事不顺。
　　听到这里，我安静了一会儿，设法去理解和接受他的这番话。
　　也许察觉到我满头污水，长辈接着语重心长地说，“不要心急。30岁啦。你30岁才会结婚，28、29岁在工作上会碰到能够达到你的要求，而且能忍受你工作时间和性质的人。耐心点吧。”
　　长辈也说，我这个人对另一半的要求蛮高的，教育水平要和我的相近，沉稳，要有幽默感，能够成为我的避风港，一般的阿猫阿狗我是看不上的。虽然条件设得很高，但不乏追求者，只是接触了之后，就会知道我是个带刺的玫瑰，对于感情过于重视，一踏步就会深陷其中，并不如他们想象中的完美，以致后来不欢而散。
　　当时，听到这番话我真的很惊讶。我一直以为自己是一个凭感觉走的人，对于另一半的条件也没有像一些朋友一样会去定下一个清单，根本没有什么要求。怎么知道，我的潜意识却背叛了我的心，自己拟了一份清单，列出这些超高的条件，以致我在处理感情问题时会变得很过份。
　　长辈说，把精神放在工作和事业上吧。我同意。最近工作上并不是很顺利，想联络的人都无法上手，开始有点自暴自弃。现在是时候重拾过去的冲劲，再次向前迈进。明天是我加入报馆满一年的日子了，终于等到这一天，也是新一页掀开的最好时刻。
　　放下电话后，脑海里一直闪着这样一句话：老天是公平的。有一好，没有两好。所以，总不能要求事业和爱情都同样有成吧。只能庆幸妈妈生下我的时候是五官端正，没有残缺，这些年来都平安成长，短短的人生比很多很多人来得一帆风顺。
　　把这些全都写出来，一方面是给予自己前进的动力，另一方面则是想考验这个说法是否属实。不是我半信半疑，只是好奇。
　　唉，深呼吸，凡事耐心点吧。

Hope

Someone once told me that in life everything and anything can change at any time, so keep hoping.

I've been hanging on to that hope for the last two months now but reality found it's way and hit me today. Now I'll like to change the above statement to: Hope is just a stumbling block that prevents you from putting the past aside and moving on.

Thanks for giving me the closure today that I needed. Sorry to have caused any unhappiness or inconvenience in the process.

Feeling bitter but definitely much better now.

sleepless fri nite/sat morning...

Finally concluded a long impossible week. Many things happened this week, most I rather not talk about and hope to forget. It certainly felt like the longest week ever in my life. Now that I'm so looking forward to hiding in my bed, so that I can keep away from the rest of the world, I end up with eyes wide opened, feeling crankier than ever.

Seriously, I need to sleep so I can wake up earlier 2moro to go for a much needed jog. I need to get the bad energy out of my systems and get some fresh air back into my brain so I can think straight. Hopefully meeting LF & JT for lunch n K for dinner later on will do me some gd. Retail therapy sounds mightly appealing too.

Going for a JC sch mate's wedding on Sunday. Call me silly, but fingers x that an auspicious occasion such as this will bring some positive energy back into my life. I definitely could do with some luck b4 moving into next week.

Leaving for China on Friday morning for a 10 day junket/working trip. Haven't gone to the embassy to do my visa (was supposed to do it today but I had to go into office early to work on my motoring page cuz the material only came in late last nite...) and have to stock up on biz features b4 i leave. The thought of being stuck on a cruise ship for 4 days is beginning to scare me. Brings back bad memories of being stuck on a semi-cruise ship at Crete last April. Anyone who would like to loan me a gd book to while away time? For sanity sake, I don't wanna end up reading another Game theory book again.

K, i'm gonna give my pillow another go. Hopefully this time it won't choose to fail me yet again.

　　今天早上听2530的未来听到这一句对白：
　　“我放手因为我放心。”
　　经典。
　　我想我暂时还没有办法做得到，但我会努力。

网球对手

　　最近心情真的很不好。
　　同事YT开导我的时候说了一些蛮有意思的话，就记录在这边，当作是给自己的提醒，也给予心烦的人一些启示。
　　有些事情是无法勉强的。
　　如果球在对手的手上，如果他选择不继续打下去，你无法做些什么。继续站在球场的另一边等上一辈子，也未必有结果。游戏已结束，有时候就得学习认命，然后深呼吸，勇敢地走下去。过些时日，也许会找到另一个球场，还有一个愿意与你较量，资格更好的对手。
　　柳暗花明又一村。

可怜的公关

　　又有人选择跳轨结束生命。
　　说我无情也好，说我偏心也罢，发生这样的事情，我想最无辜最可怜的应该是SMRT的公关，而并非自杀者的家人。
　　毕竟，她与事故无关，也没有办法避免悲剧发生，却得去收拾残局，应付媒体，乘客，警方，死者家属和公司。而且跳轨者偏偏选择在下班时间了事，延长了她的工作时间，对她一点也不公平。
　　寻死有很多办法，何必选择给人添麻烦的方式呢？
　　难道是希望一举成名或博取同情？
　　人是善忘的，钱是会花完的，取得的“名利”只是暂时性的。

后果

　　最近，我的心情并不是很美。
　　星期五提早下班回家，原本是想好好休息，但不知怎么的，也许是因为再也憋不住心口那股闷气，竟然选择放纵，让自己的情绪失控。
　　放肆的那一刻，心头的不悦全流了出来，感觉如释重负，但没想到泪痕干了之后，在我的心留下的是一道更深，而且无法弥补的伤痕。
　　这次的放肆，让我失去了身边一个很重要的人。
　　无礼取闹的那一刻，这个人刚好就在电话的另一端。当时，已经失去理智的我，什么话都听不进去，只懂得拿对方来出气。冷静下来以后，回想起自己说的气话和举动，真是幼稚透顶。
　　由于拿我没办法，对方又担心自己说的话会让我左拐右弯的，索性不理我，让我自己冷静下来。也许后来想想后觉得我面目可憎吧，对方选择保持距离。因为我的撒野，现在觉得彼此之间好像建起了一道墙。
　　这个局面都是我一手造成的，无法埋怨任何人。只能说，这是个惨痛的教训。以后在让火山爆发之前，要先给自己思考和呼吸的时间和机会，否则后果将是使自己觉得更难受。
　　不知道你还有没有再上这里看看。如过有的话，还是要跟你道歉：真的很对不起，我真的不是故意的。不要不理我，好吗？

hee hee....

My week in pictures

Aside from battling with the haze n cough n moodiness, I've had a pretty "eventful" week....

Was away most of the week on course at INSEAD and staking out TTSH... grandma was taken ill ....

But it wasn't all that bad... relatives who migrated flew back in from Australia & UK... rare get together so I managed to get to see cousins I knew was in existence but have never seen before... (my mum has 12 other siblings...cool rite?)


My Business Journalism coursemates


Dodge Viper @ Dodge Caliber launch


Me, Godma (Aunt Vicky) & Aunt Shireen @ TTSH (bad selfshot :p)


Me & Godma @ Newton Circus hawker centre


Me & Grandpa whoz 84 this year... fellow doggie :)


Cute cousin Cassidy & his mum (Aunt Susan) & dad (Uncle Sam). First time I got to see him!


Cassidy again! Only 21 months but don't underestimate him....he's real smart & a big eater! Look at his bib!!!


Cassidy in action

Sorry would have liked to write more but i'm not really in the mood to talk very much lately....Can't wait for Thurs, going with my best fren to Taiwan for a couple of days... I need some time out....

投资股票

在网上看到这么一句蛮有意思的话和大家分享：要找遗憾，请上股市，要想刺激，请上股市，要磨炼心态，也请上股市。

Death by Cough

I'm dying.....
Cause of death: Cough
Been coughing like crazy for about 2 weeks... no matter how much I sleep n despite finishing all my medication i'm still coughing...seen the doctor again today... totally bizarre... he told me to change strategy, instead of sleeping i shud go talk a walk at east coast park to get air into my lungs..... hmmm.....not with the haze?!?

Thanks to all who left msgs for me, how thoughtful :) Appreciate it very much.

I'm trying very hard to get well... got tons of work 2 finish n can't work properly cuz I can't talk for long without my throat starting to itch again....Maybe it's the same theory as trying too hard.... perhaps i shudn't try....

10大爆笑SMS

在网上找资料时发现这则趣文，和大家分享一下，蛮好笑的！

1、跟你做了这么久的朋友，你一直都很关心我，我却时常给你添麻烦，真不知该怎么服答你。所以，下辈子你作牛作马，我一定拔草给你吃。

2、如果你是流星我就追定你，如果你是卫星我就等待你，如果你是恒星我就恋上你，可惜你是――猩猩！

3、遇到你，是我心动的开始；爱上你，是我幸福的选择；拥有你，是我最珍贵的财富；踏入红毯，是我永恒的动力。遗憾的是――我传错人了。

4、因为你，我相信命运的安排，也许这一切都是上天注定，冥冥之中牵引着我俩。现在的我想说的是――我上辈子是造了什么孽呀？

5、由明天开始，市里决定清除所有长相丑陋、有损市容的弱智青年！你赶快收拾东西，出去避避风头，千万别跟人说是我通知你的，切记！不必言谢！

6、上帝看见你口渴，创造了水；上帝看见你饿，创造了米；上帝看见你没有可爱的朋友， 创造了我；然而他也看见这世界上没有白痴，顺便也创造你。

7、想你是件快乐的事！爱你是我永远要做的事！把你放在心上是我一直在做的事！不过，骗你是正在发生的事！

8、根据统计，超过99.9%长得像猪头的人都用大拇指来按钮看短信！嘿嘿，不用换手了，已经来不及了啦，猪头！

9、如果长得漂亮是一种错，我已经铸成大错；如果聪明是一种罪，我已经犯下滔天大罪， 做人可真难。但你就好啦，既没错又没罪，我真羡慕你！

10、如果说烧一年的香可以与你相遇，烧3年的香可以与你相识，烧10年的香可以与你相惜。 所以，为了我下辈子的幸福，我愿意――改信基督

Sick :(

Haven't been this sick for a long time...... feels really horrible man. My head's spinning, can't talk properly without coughing like mad, have a temperature n feeling weak all over...It's the weekend n all i've done is sleep :( I even missed church today cuz I woke up super late....guilty.....

After coughing for two weeks I've finally decided to go to the doctor's on Friday... hate seeing doctors cuz they have nothing but bad news all the time...
Doctor said I contracted a viral infection of the throat and gave me cough mixure, cough relief drops and antibiotics... i've been putting off the antibiotics for the last 2 days cuz they look huge n disgusting, think it's time i take them or i'll never recover....

Hoping for a better week starting tomorrow... haven't had much luck with interviewees this week....

Computer crashed again!!!! Arghh....

My computer decided to go into hibernation out of a sudden again!!!!!

Pisses me off totally cuz I'm used to typing in notepad and there is no autosave function. Doesn't help that I don't have the habit of saving whatever I type every few minutes. Just lost a 900+ words article which I'm suppose to submit at 7pm... totally sucky...starting from scratch again on my off day at 6.50pm is totally @&*%&#*(%&)#&%)...

sighz... but who else to blame but stupid me... maybe I shud start using 文韬 to type my articles....

Or perhaps the computer technician is right... my seat is jinxed... that's why my computer shuts down on it's own n my light flickers like disco lights whenever I turn it on.

女人女人

原本是上个星期六刊登在“站在企业顶峰的女人”这篇报道中的“记者有话说”。但我这个长气鬼，写了太多，所以后来没有版位挤入。丢掉可惜，所以就放在这里啦:p

女人女人

　　刘哓庆有句名言，做人难，做女人更难，做名女人更是难上加难。
　　尽管已经没有传统观念的束缚，新加坡人对成功女性的要求仍旧是苛刻的。要成功，她们就得入得了厨房，出得了厅堂，同时具备贤妻良母、职业妇女、社区领袖这三重角色。她们得要把每一个角色扮演得恰到好处，绝不能顾此失彼。
　　希望拆除职场‘玻璃天花板’的同时，社会也能给予女性更大的包容，在同等的基础与男性一较高低。
　　女人的潜力无限，少了诸多要求，就能够让更多的女性在社会上崭露头角，她们所能取得的成功将会为人类世界创造更伟大的成就。

**有人在看了我的报道后问我是否是个feminist...在这里强调，我不是女权主义者，只是希望男女能够真正平等，能够平起平坐。有了这样的平衡，也许世界和社会上就会出现少些偏激...

怎样做个“坏”女人

Found this on the web while looking for stuff... interesting....

一本《“坏”女人有人爱》(WHY MEN LOVE BITCHES)的亚马逊书店热卖书被引进国内，教导时髦女性如何变“坏”。

　　在这个词语含义变化莫测的时代，“坏”女人在每个人眼里都有不同的理解，此书中的“坏”并非指什么心狠手辣或者乱搞或者女强人或者对男人有虐待情结之意，也更不是BITCH的原始含义。坏女人是指与乖乖女相对立的、外表绚烂内心坚强，总之让男人神魂颠倒的魅力女性。书中通过100条魅力法则来塑造坏女人，它的重点目标读者是在条条框框里作茧自缚的乖乖女。本专题权且摘录部分重要法则，辅以现实案例以及剖析，为坏女人的崛起添砖加瓦。

　　1.漫不经心

　　被男人团团围住的女人，并没有什么特别之处。很多时候，她们不过是表现得漫不经心。乖乖女一般会说：我不想游戏人生。她就让男人明白了，她多么怕他抛弃她。如果一个女子午夜驱车去看一个男人的时候，她的车顶上只缺少一个霓虹灯标志：送货上门。

　　警惕法则：漫不经心并非旁若无人，如果那种若即若离的尺度没有把握好，很有可能把一个挺在意的男人搞丢了。

　　2.故意不打电话

　　有时男人故意不打电话，他只是想看一看你的反应。想试探关系的深浅，这是男人的一种本能反应。请尽量别说：“你为什么不给我电话”或者“为什么一个星期都没有你的音讯”。假如你表现得若无其事，目空一切，就是最令他折服的秘方。

　　警惕法则：一些很有名气的时尚刊物会出以下馊主意，建议女孩子在他想不到的地方，比如背包或者抽屉里塞张小纸条，写一首小诗夹在他的雨刷上，甚至通过外送比萨给他带来惊喜。做了这一切之后，女孩子又能得到什么？

　　3.妈妈／妓女综合症

　　如果你令他窒息，他就会进入防御模式，为了他的自由，他会寻找逃逸之路。这来源于心理学领域的症状“妈妈／妓女综合症”：可靠＋乏味＋妈妈＝不来电；难以捉摸＋善变＋妓女＝迸发爱的激情。禁止母爱色彩的方式：不要盘查他，不要问他谁的电话，不要催促他上班别迟到，等等。不要让男人说：她是个好女人，可我就是没感觉。

　　警惕法则：简单说，难以捉摸可以保持你的魅力，但不要善变到令他反感乃至绝望的地步。

　　4.苦中求乐

　　 每个男人的首选都是性爱；至于是否需要女朋友，则是后话。只要你不让他轻易得逞，就会在不知不觉间，成为他的女朋友。

　　警惕法则：对性爱的拒绝要做到可以享受性感但拒绝彻底的放开，千万不要做到让他以为你性冷淡。

　　5.经济法则

　　如果你在经济上不能自立，他永远不会真正地尊重你。许多女人有一个梦想，有一位身穿盔甲的骑士愿意替自己支付所有的账单。问题是，他支付了之后，就会发号施令。即便你和一个非常成功的男人约会，你也要让他感觉到，如果你受了虐待，你会毫不犹豫地收拾行李，搬出豪宅，住进自己的单身宿舍。

　　警惕法则：经济的自尊不能刻意，乃至带来仇富心态或者看不起男人的财富。这样只能被男人视为天生的贱命。

　　6.简单明了

　　男人尊重说话简明扼要的女人，因为男人之间的交流就是如此。坏女人会采用直奔主题的方式，乖乖女则不同，她会把整个心都掏出来，可他什么都没听到，却让他看透了她的贫乏。

　　警惕法则：和男人初次见面，不要滔滔不绝地说话，这会显得你很自卑。也不要因为紧张而不停地说话，保持冷静和从容使你看上去更有吸引力。

　　7.真正享受性爱

　　在优秀男人的梦想中，总有一个真正享受性爱的女人。乖乖女容易犯下不诚实的错误，在第一次上床之后，他会问她有多少个男朋友，她会照本宣科地回答：我只有三个。甚至还添油加醋地补充：第一个伤害了我，第二个没有你那么好，第三个，哦，只有三十秒就不行了！第四个，哦，没有第四个……好吧，确实还有第四个，当我们之间什么都没发生。

　　坏女人只会回答：我有过的男人，一定比不上你有过的女人多。当他向你炫耀过去的艳遇时，怎么办？你要说：亲爱的，我可不是你提到的那些人之一，请不要告诉我其他女人的事。如果此刻你表现得和别的女人争风吃醋，你就是在贬低自己。

　　警惕法则：请记住一条适合于卧室内外的法则：男人已经习惯了没有安全感的女人，这就是你要与众不同的全部理由。如果他引出其他女人的话题，你可以在谈话中漫不经心地透露：如果任何女人能从我这里抢走一个男人，那她就尽可能拥有他，因为我根本不在意这样的男人。

　　纵观此书，一身冷汗，说到底这是一本关于男人与女人冷战的兵书。最佳的战场是发生在美国的欲望都市，当然也可以延伸到所有喜欢欲望都市的男男女女。比如在中国，必然有一部分女人对成为独立的魅力女人孜孜以求。

　　法则很多，但想成为坏女人，只要抓住10个特点。保持独立，不论是CEO还是女招待，都要有真诚的生活；不纠缠对方；神秘莫测，不要亮出自己的底牌；让他心急难挨；不让他看见自己的狼狈相；自主安排自己的时间；保持幽默感；相当自信，对某些事情的热情超过对他的需要；珍爱自己的身体。有了这些，成为爱情的常胜将军有点言过其实，成为生活的胜者则一点不过分。

　　但我也不相信女性看过这些魅力法则之后马上就能领悟其奥妙，因为每一条法则都不是赤条条想学就能学到手，它是要掌握火候的，学过了或者学走火入魔了，则有可能适得其反。比如说，学独立有可能成高傲，学神秘莫测有可能学成不守信用，学拖延性爱有可能学成性冷淡，学单刀直入有可能学成女强人形象，学漫不经心有可能学成不靠谱，等等。我相信，像所有领域的学问一样，有的女性一触即通，有的只能东施效颦。如果是后者，不学可能会更可爱一点。

　　那些学到位的女性，或者天生就知道这些的坏女人，他们身边的男人，我估计就只有做牛做马的份，只有做奴隶的命。

解闷

　　最近有个新发现：深呼吸，然后大大地叹气，可以把心中的闷气排除体外。
　　忠告：这只是temporary measure。至于真正能够解闷的方法，我还在寻找。有没有人要为我指点迷经？
　　
　　唉，我看这个blog可以改名为“我的黑暗心情日记”了......

Bangkok 28

Hmm...working on the coup at the moment... just had to write this cuz it's so weird, the 4 ppl i interviewed today were all 28 years old.... n the person my colleague YT interviewed was also 28.

What's this with 28 year old Singaporean males heading for Bangkok...hmmm...

Not forgetting to all the kind souls who responded for my urgent plea for interviewees and the 4 of you for being so kind to spare me a couple of mins! It's ppl like u guys who make my job so much ezier! Big THANKS :)

London Fashion Week

London Fashion Week is here again!
http://www.londonfashionweek.co.uk/
I remember checking it out while studying in London although the entrance fee was a ridiculously sky high 10 quid (= S$30)! & that the stuff that I bought there were either sold off on ebay or still left untouched (my Lulu Guinness umbrella & Georgina Goodman shoes.... they cost a bomb, prob the most expensive pair of shoes in my extensive collection...just can't bear to wear them....) But I remember having the best manicure ever in that tent... so far none of the manicurist i've been to in Singapore can ever match up to the Nails Inc. (think it's this... can't quite remember the name... it's been a year...) gals using their crabtree & evelyn stuff!

Which reminds me, my handcreams from crabtree & eveyln are still in the boxes in my room...

Been putting off with unpacking for nearly a year now... it seems that once you leave Singapore and return, you find that you can never really fit back in again.

Having said that, if I keep putting it off, I'll never settle back in here ever, which is definitely not what I want. Right, I need to start unpacking my life this weekend. Resolution.
.
.
.
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Gee... how random is this post? Probably as screwed up & mixed up as my feelings now....

《爱要怎么说》

失恋的人，看别人幸福开心的感觉是什么...我能够告诉你：心在滴血，一点也不好受。

回家的途中，在老爸的车里听着Class 95的怀旧情歌和甜蜜的点歌记语，每一句歌词，每一个字，感觉都像一根根的刺，捅入我的心。

到家开电视，电视上播放的正巧是新节目《爱要怎么说》。见证海枯石烂的爱情开花结果，以我现实中寂寞孤独的生活有着天渊之别，使我那颗受伤的心，更退了一步沉入万丈深渊。

老天，即使是造化弄人也不必如此挖苦和折磨心碎的人。

黑夜里独自寂寞：
好痛...
好想你...

dog died....:(

　　有看我的第一篇《恋物志》的读者，还记得我那只被我“虐待”的小狗吗？
　　boo hoo hoo...我刚发现它终于被我捏坏了，肚子破了两个大洞:(
　　有没有人要送一个新的解压武器给我》
　　这几天做什么都不顺利，坏事更是接踵而来。
　　听人常说，Bad things come in threes....it's been more than three things already... 放过我吧!!! :(((((

心烦的时候你会做什么呢？

　　当你心烦的时候会做些什么呢？
　　去海边吹吹风？
　　去购物，进行retail therapy？
　　睡上三天三夜？
　　大吃大喝？
　　或以所有？
　　我通常会选择购物，因为海边太远，心烦会失眠，食不知味。但要这么做，只有周末才有这样的奢侈。如果在工作，不吐不快的我会把全部的东西全都写出来。不过，如果你像我一样患有手痒症的话，后果不堪设想。
　　古人说，在同一个地方绊倒过两次的人是愚蠢的。同样的错误，我不只犯一次，但还是选择重蹈覆辙。
　　我想我是活该的大笨蛋。
　　我讨厌现在的自己。
　　看样子，这个周末，我得去大扫特扫了......
　　（还好星期六需要做的事情，会用去大半天，否则我可以预见我的口袋可要活受罪了！）

　　To Xi/LJ: free Sun? SOS...Retail therapy beckons...

男人都靠不住？

　　女生聚在一起，谈话课题八九不离男生或寻找终身伴侣。
　　我的一名朋友最近和交往多年的男朋友分手了。前男友背叛了她，和新认识的女同事跑了。
　　在安慰这名朋友的当儿，我们几个女生都不仅感叹现代感情的脆弱。
　　现代人面对感情，一般都会采取合得来就在一起，不合就各分东西的心态。碰到什么问题，绝对不会像父母亲那一辈能为了家庭，为了长辈而忍耐或体谅。能够共患难见真情的夫妻，我想快成为绝种的稀有品种了。
　　想起已故的前总统黄金辉与王鼎昌，以及开国元勋Rajaratnam，他们与太太的恩爱，现代感情中除非是患难夫妻，恐怕很难媲美。还记得，黄金辉总统的外孙女林慧敏在他的葬礼的悼文中曾说，黄金辉的一生就是爱的故事。
　　自己是否能够找到一个能和我们相守到老的另一半，我无法保证也不敢去想。

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
以上是我几个星期前写的，只是一直都没有放上网。

昨晚和你谈天之后，我又失眠了。
你说，一切是造化弄人，而我却不喜欢向所谓的fate低头认输。
我过去和你一样认为：是你的就是你的，不是你的，怎么挽留也没有用。
但现在面对眼前的问题，我的言语举动却和我的心背道而驰。也许正如你说，我需要理清自己的生活，为自己就不应该凡事那么执着。
男人靠不住，身为女人的就要懂得坚强，为自己而活。
这句话，你应该会同意吧？

ipod 30GB @ only S$428. Darn!

Shucks.... feel super cheated now... ipod new generation 30GB going at only S$428. I got mine at S$488 :(

tummyache :(

My stomach's been churning since Friday... feel like dying already but I hate going to the doctors... how..........sighz.............

期待好难耐

　　好不容易熬到星期五，但今天不知怎么的，全身好像长了刺似的，一直坐立不安，比每逢星期一努力摆脱Monday Blues还要吃力。
　　这个周末安排好了许多节目，好期待。
明天约了朋友吃饭看电影，星期天早上上教堂，下午会去Zouk的Flea Market，晚上托Mervin的福，会去看韩国组合Shinhwa的演唱会。
也许期待比忍耐更难耐吧。
　　唉，但在去逍遥之前我得先完成汽车稿和明天的Hot News，否则就得人头落地了。Later peeps!

Comex 2006

Went to Comex 2006 today and finally decided to give up my lovely companion (Canon Powershot A80) for it's younger n sleeker counterpart the Canon IXUS 60! My bag will weigh much lighter starting Monday! Can't wait!... hmmm but i'm not quite ready to give up the powershot to my mum... love the revolving LCD screen (great for narcissistic me... totally love self shots!) and the replaceable AA batteries.



Paid S$520 for my Canon IXUS 60 and got the following freebies: 1 1 GB SD card, 2 512mb SD cards, Canon Pro bag, Cleaning kit, IXUS leather case, mini tripod and 1 pack of screen protectors. I didn't get ripped off rite?

Spent super a lot of money today... besides the IXUS, I also got myself an ipod!



Never really intended to buy an ipod since I already got myself an ipod-lookalike, 1 GB Korean MP4 player that has radio function just last November for $120 at some IT fair at Suntec.

Well, put it this way, the Apple booth next to the Canon booth caught my eye and I liked the sales girl's service and attitude, so I gave in and got my very first 30 GB Video ipod at $488 (figured it's more worth it than a nano going at $325 for just a 4GB without video function). Manage to get a red leather casing with protective covers and a 3 pin adapter ($54) for free. Hopefully this is a good buy too and that Apple doesn't decide to drop the prices of ipod further (altho chances r quite big considering microsoft n toshiba r planning to launch MP3s and iriver & Creative powering up their gears too....).

Call it my occupational hazzard, my mind runs over time for smart spending articles in My Paper wherever I go... so here you go ppl, Smart Spending Tips for Comex (N.B. TStrictly for bimbos like me.... guys who know their stuff will prob not need this....)
1. Go Sunday afternoon (the stuff that u r eyeing mite not be available if u go too late) if u aren't put off by the crowds, if not Saturday at 8.30pm (closing time 9pm) will be a great alternative. Trust me, u can shop way pass 9pm (I left at 945pm today....) minus the crowds n much much better service from the sales person trying to clinch the last deal for the day but only if u already know what u want.
2. Don't settle for the free gifts that are stated, it pays to be greedy n ask for more...
3. Heard from my frens, not sure how true this is, worth a try: Go to Sim Lim when everyone else is focused on Comex and negotiate by saying that the guys at Comex have offered u a better deal...)

Adidas Media Sale Preview

The hopeless shopaholic i.e. ME, has been at work again.

Got an invite last nite from the Fulford guys (THANKS! Oh, and not forgetting the wonderful Eric from Adidas! Thanks for everything dude :) Appreciate your help for everything all these while!) saying that there's gonna be a Adidas media sale preview today at Raffles City from 730-9pm. Was struggling the whole nite yesterday and almost the whole day today whether to go for it. So I've been pretty productive the whole day, finished my motoring article, stock picks n sti in record time!

Since it's actually more of a want than a need, I was still struggling like mad at 730pm whether to rush down to shop or to go for dinner with my colleagues...... Didn't help that I've got colleagues who know my weakness for shopping and tempted me to go ahead since I already had an idea of the stuff I wanted. Bosses gave me the go ahead provided that I bought Macs back for them, so nice rite :)

So I finally rushed down at 8pm, reached there at about 820pm and grabbed the following that I've been eyeing for months ('xcept the last item):


Betty Boop Adicolor Shoes


Miss Piggy Adicolor Hoodie

Wanted to get the Betty Boop Hoodie originally but somehow it looked weird on me. Just at that point of time, the following caught my eye. Although it's a man's jacket, I just had to get it:

Nice? Brings back the gd old days when I was one free bird in London living as I please....

Got onto the MRT after that n reached Braddell just before 9pm. Queued for Macs for my bosses n got back to my desk at 915pm. Not bad rite?

Kiez now back to work... or else you guys won't have any hot news and biz feature to read for Saturday!!!!

Cool...

You Should Drive a Saturn Sky

You're sleek and smooth, and you need a car to match your hot persona. Besides, sometimes you want your top up - and sometimes you want it down.

What 2007 Car Should You Drive?

生日快乐

　　我知道你时不时会上这里来逛逛，所以想借这个地方告诉你，我没忘记今天是你的生日。
　　当初不欢而散，真的伤透了我的心，我还曾经发誓绝不原谅你。
　　事隔两年多，我想通了，继续恨你只会显得我幼稚。更何况，我现在过的比过去来得好多了，所以早就应该谢谢你当初释放了我。
　　原谅你，也很感谢你给我的回忆。生日快乐。

众醉独醒，独自精彩

Getting to know myself

Was sent this by a fren some time back, never had a chance to do it till insomnia decided to hit me today.... so here goes:

Get to know yourself better (http://www.quizbox.com/personality/test82.aspx)

Your view on yourself:

You are intelligent, honest and sweet. You are friendly to everybody and don't like conflict. Because you're so cheerful and fun people are naturally attracted to you and like to talk to you.

---That's nice to know... hopefully i can keep it that way...

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:

You are a true romantic. When you are in love, you will do anything and everything to keep your love true.

---hmm.... I've always dreamt of falling in love at first sight & then lead a happily ever after life with mr right... does that count?

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:

You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you might that person.

---True.

The seriousness of your love:

Your have very sensible tactics when approaching the opposite sex. In many ways people find your straightforwardness attractive, so you will find yourself with plenty of dates.

---hmmm................doesn't seem to happen....

Your views on education

Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

---Very true... would definitely want to go back to sch to get my phd at some point

The right job for you:

You have plenty of dream jobs but have little chance of doing any of them if you don't focus on something in particular. You need to choose something and go for it to be happy and achieve success.

---True...Seems like i really have a concentration problem...

How do you view success:

You are confident that you will be successful in your chosen career and nothing will stop you from trying.

---Somewhat true

What are you most afraid of:

You are afraid of things that you cannot control. Sometimes you show your anger to cover up how you feel.

---Very true.

Who is your true self:

You are full of energy and confidence. You are unpredictable, with moods changing as quickly as an ocean. You might occasionally be calm and still, but never for long.

---hmmmm................Perhaps I just suffer from PMS all the time...:p

Of Boomerangs & Personal Finance

还记得中学念德文时，老师告诉我们，德国的年轻人，16岁就回被父母”赶“出家门，要他们开始自力更生。在我国，一般的年轻人则只会在婚后离家，所以我一直都不明白西方为人父母者为何那么忍心。

今天有朋友就电邮以下这样一篇东西给我：
Boomerang is an American slang term that refers to an adult who has moved back in with his or her parents (who are part of the baby boomer generation) instead of living independently. The phrase, when applied to an individual, makes reference to the fact that the person lived independently for a period, but subsequently returned home due to the financial costs associated with maintaining a separate household.

While boomer parents may be pleased emotionally to have their boomerangs back in the household, boomerangs can often pose a significant financial burden on their parents. This can result in a reduction in retirement savings for the boomerang's parents, leaving them with the decision to either postpone their own retirement or have their children help out with the household expenses.

Other countries have adopted similar slang to represent this domestic phenomenon. In Italy, the term "mammon", or "mama's boys"is used, while the Japanese refer to them as "parasaito shinguru", or "parasite singles". In the U.K., children boomeranging back home has given rise to the acronym KIPPERS (or kids in parents' pockets eroding retirement savings).

变成负担就算是吸血害虫，现在清楚理由其实很简单：父母和孩子之间谈钱也是会伤感情。

LA pix

Most of my LA photos & the rest of my Japan photos r up on flickr...ran out of space yet again... will post the rest soon somehow...

Thanks incognito bane for recommending fotopic but I found it a pain to use... my mac stalls after 16 pictures each time so I gave up....any more suggestions?

好久不见了...

　　好久没有真正写blog了...大家还好吗？
　　过了那么久，不知道还有没有人想看我最后几天的LA游记。如果没有request，我想我就不去update那则blog了，反正去的地方都是一些standard的旅游景点，唯一“有趣”的是我竟然在最后一天“有幸”地连续遇上车祸、被LAPD录口供、见证示威游行等。
　　两个星期的逍遥时光，因为没有租车，一部分的时间又是跟着旅行团，大部分的时间都花在巴士上。庆幸有这个空档，让我终于有机会独处冷静地反思过去9个月的点点滴滴。

（想了一个晚上，我决定把这个部分delete掉。敬请原谅。我会尽早再写个完整的blog。）
　　

I've visited 9% of the world!

Saw this on a fren's blog & decided to try it out:



visited 22 countries (9%)

create your own visited country map

I need to finish Europe, start Latin America & Africa....

It's crazy that I'm thinking of holidaying again given that i'm still sick & sore all over from my sun burn....oh well....

LA Times Part 2

Right... the long overdue post that I owe:

Day 3: Downtown LA & Hollywood
Who said LA was too rough & is impossible to go by public transport from Orange County? Lots of patience & being alert at all times is all that u need and all it costs is 3USD!

Woke up really early, took the hotel bus to Disneyland to change a metro bus into downtown LA. Went by Knotts Berry Farm / Staples Center etc. along the way. Got off at 7th Street to visit the visitor's information counter n got a wad of brochures & bus maps for LA, Hollywood & Santa Monica. Walked ard the area for awhile b4 taking the metro rail to Union Station. Visited Little Mexico (had really nice tacos there for lunch), Chinatown, Little Tokyo, Civic Center, Lady of Angels Church (or something along those lines....), Pershing Square, Grand Central Market, Angel's Flight, Million Dollar Theatre etc. all on foot in about 2-3 hours.... that's what i call travelling... hate to waste time while travelling cuz i'll prob not go back to that place again...

After which we took the metro rail to Hollywood/ Highland and checked out the world famous Kodak Theatre & Chinese Grausman Theatre where the Oscars r held, not forgetting the Hollywood stars walkway as well as doing the touristy thing of taking fotos with the stars... matched my hands with Steven Spielberg's and was next to Britney's star... hee hee.... i love bubble gum pop :p ....

Went on a Celebrity House bus tour as well... 2 hours $27 guess it was alrite... went to quite a lot of places like Justin Timerlake's home, saw Eva Longoria's Pink house, Quentin Tarentino's neverending brick walled fence home, Tom Cruise's place with lots of paparrazi parked outside, Beverly Hills hotel, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills... pretty eventful huh? Tried spotting Paris HIlton or someone famous since my fav trashy sites alwiz have them shopping all the time....but didn't spot any....better luck next time.... our guide was fantastic I must say, he's a standup comedian called Little Larry, check out his myspace... interesting stuff: www.myspace.com/littlelarry25



After the tour, I went to get Disneyland & Universal Studios tickets for my bro n myself from the info counter so i don't have to queue for the next 2 days, then we proceeded to take a picture of the hollywood sign from the shopping center's viewing gallery. Then came the highlight of the day: shopping at Farmer's Market & the Grove... too bad i only had an hour at that place so i only managed to get a Forever 21 Jap looking top n a piece of hair accesory + a homemade icecream ... forever 21 is so cheap!!!! everything is about 20+ dollars... compared to the minimum $50+ that we have to pay here in sg.... not forgetting greater variety as well... checked out Abercrombie but didn't have time to try stuff on or I would definitely grab a couple of skirts & jackets home ... loved the shop layout... very very cool stuff but a tad too dark i feel...The Grove is definitely a must go if u drop by West Hollywood... great shopping for both guys n gals... great food at the market too... u wun be disappointed.... trust me on this one!

Caught the 1007pm last bus back to Orange County in the nick of time n got back to the hotel at about midnite... pretty satisfied but wished I had more time at the Grove....:p well i guess it was gd for my wallet...

(rite i need to pop out for a bit.... will finish this when I return 2nite.....)

Day 4: Disneyland

Day 5: Universal Studios

Day 6: The Block @ Orange & Long Beach

Day 7: Santa Monica

Japan photos r up!

Okie... not all my japan fotos... only 2 days out of the 4.... exceeded my flickr limit already... contemplating about an upgrade to pro but i wun need so much space once i'm back at work.... guess i'll have to find another place to host my pictures... any suggestions??

Update on the rest of LA coming rite up.... once i'm done with procrastinating at home tt is.... hee hee.....

LA Times

Hi ppl... sorry was too tired to blog yesterday so I'm gonna combine 2 days of shopping into one blog entry...here goes:

Day 1: The OC Pilgrimage
I love the show The OC and was pretty pleased when I heard that my hotel was gonna be in Orange County. But having stepped foot in here, I can tell u that it's one of the most ulu places on this planet man... besides Disneyland & Knotts Berry Farm there isn't very much to do around this place. The hotel personnels except for one wasn't very helpful either in giving directions, insisting that I need to drive in order to get my way ard n i shudn't go to Downtown LA alone as it's full of muggers...

That aside, I managed to get on a public bus that runs just outside the hotel and asked for directions from the bus driver. Managed to somehow get myself down to Newport Beach & Bilbao Island.. home of the OC :) Having seen it for myself, I now truly understand why ppl say that LA is about beaches n shopping (besides Disneyland & Hollywood)...the beaches were sprawling, blue skies, blue sea, nice soft sand, ppl surfing... it's my kind of place :) There were lots of ppl fishing at the pier as well n this guy actually caught this huge stingray about 1m long... amazing stuff... he threw it back into the sea with the help of others at the pier if u're wondering. Oh and there was this shop near the beach which sells the OC stuff, took a picture with the director chairs with the names of the OC characters on it.

After frolicking about the beach, I took the bus to this place called Fashion Island... cool huh? It's located opposite the opening scene of the OC (this row of houses situated along a cliff) it's so so so huge... it's about 5 suntec city malls put together... amazing stuff, there's Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, Macy's, Nike Goddess (i couldn't find it though), BCBG, Victoria Secrets, etc. .... got a Laundry by Shelli Segal dress at $75 (original was $250) from Neiman Marcus & a Bloomingdales Little Brown Bag :) Got back to the hotel close 2 midnite & watched Sex & the city, Southpark & movies on HBO... nice stuff...

Day 2: Desert trail
Today I went to this really huge factory outlet in the middle of the desert at Palm Springs called Desert Hills Premium Shopping Outlet. Surrounded by mountains & the desert, it's a really "cool" experience shopping there with it's over 250 shops n all... heaven for shopping queen here...hee hee...

I must say being in the middle of a desert in summer was truly an experience... it was freaking hot!!!!! Was practically fried in there... way hotter than Singapore...so I ducked from one shop to another to stay in air conditioning....as a result I got lots of stuff n burnt a huge hole in my pocket in my 6 hours that I was there:

1. Ferragamo pumps (US$120 from $260)
2. Marc Jacobs flats (US$105 from $220)
3. BCBG top (US$40 from $70)
4. Miss Sixty Jeans (US$80 from $120)
5. Coach contact lense case (US$30 from $60)
6. 3 pairs of Nike socks (US$8 from $13)
7. Adidas cap (US$5 from $13)
8. Blueberry Green Tea Frappacino from Starbucks ($3.30)

Am so not gonna shop for the next 2 months at least after this trip man... but at least i havent been shopping apart from the mango sale in the last 2 months so I guess I'm entitled to do so ehz?

Okiez gotta call it a day here as I need to call a fren to see if I can meet up with her while i'm in LA... miss her so much...

Later guys! Ta~

Goodbye Prof Silverstone

Roger Silverstone, 15 June 1945 – 16 July 2006
Convenor, Department of Media and Communications, LSE
The faculty, staff and students mourn the sudden passing of Roger Silverstone, who died peacefully on 16 July surrounded by his family. Roger had undergone corrective surgery last week but died of complications on Sunday morning. This news has come as a profound shock to all of us in Roger’s Department of Media and Communications, the wider LSE community, and will deeply affect very many people around the world whose lives were touched by Roger.

Will always remember the lectures that u gave us for MC400 & for helping me out with some parts of my dissertation. Can't thank you enough. Rest in peace professor. We'll miss u.

Hi from LA & summary of Japan trip

Hi guys... finally got internet access... hope all of u didn't miss me too much! Just got into LA...living in orange county so it's miles from everywhere n the bell man insisted that i shouldn't head down to Downtown LA on my own... grr.... so maybe i'll just have to be contented with Disneyland & Knott's Berry Farm if i don't take those package tours.... we'll see what I can do...

Now for the long awaited rundown of my Japan trip: Warning.... LONG POST!

Let's see...
Day One in Japan: Kinugawa
Very first place I went was the Nikko Samurai Village... honestly it was a joke .... reminds me of the old Tang Dynasty City I went in Singapore as a child...fortunately the teppanyaki lunch kinda made up for it...

Next up was Kegon Falls (one of Japan's biggest waterfalls), Lake Chuzenji and the Irohazaka road known as the Zig-zag driveway... i must really take my hat off to our bus driver... the turns were really sharp n imagine having to manouvere a long bus through... boy.... would love to test drive on such tracks though... would be fun...

In the evening, we stayed in a resort hotel in Kinugawa... although the hotel & room was pretty old & run down but I got to stay in this amazing traditional japanese room!!!! I even slept on a tatami... best of all... it comes with it's very own public bath (wen1 quan2)... was pretty hesistant initially about walking about in my birthday suit but once I got into the open air bath, I'm glad i plucked up the courage.

Day Two: Tokyo
We headed down to tokyo early in the morning... stopped at Asakysa & Nakamise Street first... interesting shopping street with loads of souvenirs & food... too bad i didn't have time to check out this nearby street which sells rubber food (i'm just super amazed by the rubber food displays that almost every restaurant in japan has... esp the ones with the chopsticks holding up the ramen in midair... simply unbelievable)

After which, we headed to Odaiba and passed by the Rainbow bridge... hmm nothing very spectacular... oh n u wun believe it... the tour guide actually arranged for us to have italian food for lunch... Italian food in Japan?!?! it just doesn't taste anywhere near.... more of a half way pt btw italian n jap food... just imagine jap rice used to cook risotto... ewww....)

But I was truly impressed by the next stop & spent over an hour there... the Toyota Showcase at Odaiba Waterfront... very interesting... they have the full range of toyotas in there n lexus... super duper chio sport cars... futuristic display models, f1 cars, the full range of hybrid cars n u can even test drive their mini hybrid car within the building itself... too bad the queue was too long n i didn't have time or i would have gone for it...

Next up was supposed to be Ginza and I was totally looking for it but my group consists mainly of aunties n they aren't appreciative of the sony gallery, shiseido gallery n the interesting upmarket malls so they insisted we give it a miss ... after we got off the bus!... So we actually got off, walked for 100m while they complained nonstop to the tourguide and the tour guide had to get the bus to turn back n pick us up again.... argghhhh.....

The tourguide then arranged for us to check out the shops at Shinjuku but we were caught in this big traffic jam for about an hour ... must say the underground malls r really impressive...tons of stuff & all the better as they're having their summer sale now.... bought 2 dresses ;p Checked out the camera shops above ground as well... prices weren't as competitive as I thought it would be so i didn't manage to get a new camera (tt means more money for my shopping)... was planning to get a Lumix or a Canon IXUS...

Went to a chinese restaurant for dinner opposite our hotel... half decent so i wun complain...after that went to check out Ikebukuro... interesting place with lots of drinking places n pachincos (casinos)... it was a friday evening n u could see hordes of japanese men drinking their sorrows away... walked into this shop selling basic ammenities n found really cool make up stuff like a eye brow shaper in a Y shape. There was a lady who was busking in a square nearby... she sounded really great....got back into the hotel near midnite n the roads were still filled with ppl & neon lights...

Day Three: Mt Fuji
Worst day of my entire Japan trip.... spent almost the entire day on the bus... think my butt must have grown an inch at least from all that sitting....we were caught in traffic enroute from Tokyo to Mt Fuji, what should been a 2 hour drive, turned out to be 6 hour trip... the jam was so bad that the bus was hardly moving so some of the aunties on the bus who couldn't hold their piss in well actually managed to cajole the bus driver to give up his trash bin so that they could pee at the back of the bus... crude i know but i just had to write it as it didn't help that i was sitting at the back where the aircon was spoilt n had to smell their piss.... cuz the journey took longer than expected, the trip to Owakudani Valley was cancelled... was so looking forward to see gushing sulfurous steam from the ground.... we headed to mt fuji straight after we emerged from the massive jam but the weather was bad at Hakone...so we could only see half of Mt Fuji from afar... fortunately we were able to see it's peak after the driver drove us up to the 5th stop of the mountain... as it was a saturday, there were tons of ppl walking up the mountain with a stick... nice place though... as for mt fuji... it was alrite i guess... the alps n mountains in austria & leichtenstein were more impressive....

After that, we headed back to Hakone for dinner and then to a factory outlet at Gotemba... super super huge with lots of gd brands but they were all at least 2 or 3 seasons behind and the prices weren't exactly that attractive so i only got this interesting straw hat n nothing else... amazing ehz? (i'm saving my money for the US shopping outlet... hee hee... heading out to Desert Hills Shopping Outlet at Palm Springs on Tues... can't wait!!!!)

As there were malaysians who were gonna take JAL from Hanade Airport to LA on our bus, we had to drop them off in Tokyo before heading back to our hotel in Narita... n guess what... another traffic jam, so by the time who got back to our hotel it was 130am!

The bad karma didn't stop there.... wanted to take off my contact lenses in the bus on the way back but couldn't locate my glasses... searched high n low for it as i rememberd transfering it to my backpack from my sling bag... got the tourguide to call the hotel to check n it was there.... so i had to make the decision of saying bye bye to it or head down to tokyo early in the morning to get it before I fly off to LA as the travel agency said it will only pick it up after I leave and I'll only get it in a month's time when their tour guides next stop by in Singapore, couldn't do courier service as it was a sunday.... when i told them i'll get it myself ...they kept discouraging me saying that I can't do it as i'm just a gal....

Day Four: Tokyo / Narita
Wanting to prove my worth (& it was my fault any way... really can't recall how it happened... it's the first time such things have happened to me as i'm usually very very careful with my luggage) ... I woke up at 6am, had a quick breakfast n told my mum i was taking off to tokyo... armed with instructions from the hotel concierge i managed to find my way to the train station, get a ticket, get on a train n then walk to the hotel in 1h 20min ... all thanks to my trusty Lonely Planet. Wanted to head down to Harajuku originally as I heard it was a hip n happening place on a sunday but since it was still early i walked around Ikebukuro again... explored a bit further this time so I managed to see the 2nd toyota showroom, sunshine city, sanrio store, parco + many more shopping malls... got really carried away by the shopping malls so I didn't make it to Harajuku in the end (nvm... that means i'll be back!) ... found the much touted Burberry Blue Label store n got myself a bag & a wallet (SM i got ur hp chains!!! saw some really cool Vivienne Westwood bags as well but they were all oddly shaped n not in the fabric u wanted so i didn't get any for u...paiseh...) Went to the supermkt after that n got myself green tea-red bean pancakes and tako pochi balls... yummy....

Then the horror started...japan's railway system is the messiest i've seen in my life man... having backpacked across many countries in europe i've never seen any this confusing b4.... so many lines & so many entrances.... firstly I got off at the wrong stop to change trains... was suppose to stop at Nippori but got off one stop earlier at Nishi-Nippori... when i finally got to the right station, i boarded the slow train instead of the limited express train... boy my heart was beating like crazy while the train crawled through each n every station on the line... finally got to a large station at Aota n hopped off the train. I was running very very late at that time.. .was suppose to be back at the hotel at 3.15pm but I wasn't even at the halfway pt at 2.50pm...fortunately i met this kind lady with 3 kids at the station. I asked if i could borrow her fone n she agreed instantly without asking what for... but her battery ran out so she ran off to look for her husband at another corner who was carrying a child... they both ran towards me so i could quickly make a call to my tour guide before the express train comes...they r really angels man.... bless them..... I think they must have guessed why I borrowed their fone....so they even redialled the no. later to find out if i managed to get to my hotel safely n in time... such sweet ppl.... thank you very much! Got back to the hotel at about 4pm and boarded the shuttle bus with the tour guide to meet the rest of the group who left at 330pm... was just in time to check in with my mum n bro as it was their turn next in the queue. Last few hours were spent loitering around the hotel, buying stuff from UNIQLO (i'm impressed that they sell kimonos too....cheap rough material though....) n the small shops ard.. got myself my fav pocky in interesting flavours: Mixed Fruit & For Men (Bitter chocolate).... pocky was my favourite-- and still is one of my favourite snacks---as a child, if u have a chance to see my childhood pictures, u'll catch me with a pack about 80% of the time... hee hee (okie... next lian wu zhi i write will be on pocky ....tt is after i complete the one about my infamous dog....)

Well... that's the end of my 4 full days in japan... nothing very exciting isn't it?All in all it's been a hell of a trip the last couple of days...remind me never ever to go on a packaged tour....it seems that I travel for miles everyday and just get a glimpse of things before I get hurried off somewhere else...Hopefully this LA trip will be different... right... gotta go... need to wake up real early 2moro...

Catch u guys later! Hope this long post made up for my absence =)

hi from tokyo!

Hi everyone, i'm in tokyo now!

Wanted to blog last nite but the internet was down... running off in a couple of seconds for Mt Fuji. 　Ｔｈａｔ’ｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｇｒｏｕｐ．．．　ｗｏｎ’ｔ　ｄｏ　ｉｔ　ｅｖｅｒ　ａｇａｉｎ．．．．

Will blog when I　ｎｅｘｔ　ｇｅｔ　ａ　ｃｈａｎｃｅ！Ｄｏｎ’ｔ　ｍｉｓｓ　ｍｅ　ｔｏｏ　ｍｕｃｈ！！！！

Ｓｅｅ　ｙａ！

Hi from Changi Airport

Hey peeps, missed me yet? At the airport waiting for my flight so I thot i'll drop by for a bit.

Tried the new Absolut Grapefruit at the liquor counter... great liquor if anyone is into drinking :) Apparently not available in town yet, so if u've got frens who mite be coming back into the country, get them to get a bottle for u. Highly recommended.

Somehow it still doesn't seem like i'm going on holiday yet but just glad that i sort of managed to complete the stuff that I needed to clear b4 i go. Thanks to the rest of u, esp YM & Merv who made it possible by helping me out here & there!

Kiez i'm off to buy an adapter now so that I can charge my camera batteries when I get to Tokyo & LA. Catch all of u soon! Will definitely drop by again when i get the chance.

Later guys ;) See ya!

放假去了！

　　再过几个小时，我就要放假去了。
　　老实说，我一点也不兴奋。
　　为了能够让自己接下来无忧无虑地走天下去，过去几天，我都提早到办公室，很迟才离开，甚至星期六、星期天都回来报到。
　　虽然说，没有我，报纸还是照出，世界还会继续旋转，但身性责任感比较重，不喜欢留一大堆烂摊子给别人收拾。能在之前做的，我都会尽量完成。
　　所以我说，工作期间放假，不一定是好事。与同事M谈起，她也有同感。
　　放假其实只是把接下来需要完成的事carry forward而已，所以你在放假之前要比平日更努力更stress。放假后回来后，还得清一大堆的email等，又要重新调试自己的心理回到work mood。
　　想到这里，还是不放假好多了。
　　不写了，我得赶完手上的这条稿，否则就要赶不上飞机了。
　　See all of u in 2 weeks time! 如果有机会的话，我会pop in to say hi :)

Superman

　　昨天刚和朋友看了Superman。这真的是一出feel good电影。一整个星期生病+stress+一连串不愉快事件，心情很不漂亮，但看了之后全都消失得无影无踪(hmm.... maybe it's the co. too... if u're reading this ;) Thanks!)。
　　很想成为Lois Lane。她不单是超棒的记者、有个可爱懂事的孩子、疼爱她的同居，还有对她念念不忘、死心塌地、能为她牺牲一切的超人。
　　我和她一样是记者，脾气一样倔强，做新闻时也一样执著，就不知道office里是否有个undercover的Superman在守护着我？报馆里，好朋友好同事是有的，但好像还没有遇上一个6feet4，而且长得很帅的牛肉蛋糕。
　　唉，还是不要做我的白日梦了。星期三就要放假去了，有一大堆的工作要在这三天内清完。寻找Superman就留在我的童话世界里，等有闲情逸致的时候再重温吧。
　　我会去tokyo和LA，any suggestions or advice?尤其是shopping & eating!

7 July

　　已经一年了。
　　但还是很清楚地记得一年前的现在，在Bloomberg实习的我正在打电话联络分析师谈伦敦连环大爆炸对英镑和gilts (UK bonds)的影响会有多大，他们或同事有没有困在tube里或死伤，下班后打算怎么回家。
　　忙忙碌碌地追问别人的安危，却完全忘了自己，对事件也没有什么感觉。
　　直到英国市场中午闭市后，终于有空档才惊觉原来第一和第二个爆炸地点离我的办公室其实近在咫尺，走5分钟就到了，而巴士爆炸的地点离开我家也只不过2分钟。幸好我的工作时间是凌晨6时到下午4时，不然很可能就上了那个巴士。回过神的那一刻便赶紧联络上家人让他们知道我安好无恙。
　　我的4年留学生涯，由9/11开始，以7/7结束。
　　去念书之前在电视上目睹两架客机撞入纽约的WTC，父母开始操心，提醒我时时都要提高警惕。有前科之鉴，在伦敦念书四年，已经有心理准备有一天会发生恐怖袭击事件，何况那里的治安不是很好。只是袭击的方式和规模有些令人意外。在事后与当地的朋友聊起，由于伦敦市区没有高楼耸立，大家都猜测袭击者会在tube里放毒气，杀伤力和造成的瘫痪肯定比较大。
　　那天下了班，不敢搭车回家，步行到一个住在办公室附近朋友的家过夜。
　　接下来几天也都是步行45分钟旅程上下班、上学、上超级市场、上教堂。后来觉得逃避公共交通工具不是办法，何况我又附了整个月的bus pass。
　　还记得，每当巴士在车站停下来，巴士上的人都会不由自主地把目光投向入口处，查看上车的人是否有背着超大的背包或外表可疑。曾不只一次目睹头上戴着头饰的中东人被巴士上的人认定是可疑的恐怖份子，当众被轰赶下车。
　　能把每个人变得坐立不安、精神恍忽，我想恐怖份子已达到它们的目的了。生活没有保障，要时时怀疑身边的人，真的很累。
　　过去一年里，陆陆续续看到恐怖活动被揭穿的消息。有时候不仅猜疑，这些是不是法治当局的伎俩。恐怖主义防不胜防，恐怖份子总会在你最意想不到的时候悄悄地找上门，拥有最好的武器到最后也会无用武之地。因此，唯一可以打的是心理战术，看哪一方的人比较强硬、在惶恐不安里生存得比较久。
　　7/7后的伦敦确实改变了不少。恐怖袭击事件没有打击到伦敦市民，反而起了团结的作用，在这场心理战争中成为最后的胜利者。
　　许多伦敦市民都曾经历90年代的爱尔兰共和军攻击，7/7事件只不过是它们人生的美梦中多出来的一场恶梦。几个月“睡醒”后，重拾信心为未来继续努力奋斗。
　　老实说，如果7/7事件发生在新加坡，我没有信心新加坡人能够和伦敦市民一样能够一起从阴霾中走出来，即使会，也要花一段好长的时间。
　　打的是心理战术，没有遭遇暴风大雨，娇生惯养的新加坡人，相信即使有再多的演习还是会不堪一击。当坏人入侵我们这个comfort zone时，丑恶、自私、怕输的心态肯定必露无疑。最担心的是，伦敦事件发生后巴士上的情况会在新加坡发生，什么multiculturalism的课都会抛出窗外。
　　我个人认为，问题就出在新加坡人对自己所属的社会缺乏ownership。Social ownership不是周末看到有人在路边筹款，或是电视上播放慈善演出，捐点钱就算是为社会作出贡献。Social ownership需要将心比心，是对社会对周遭的人和事物产生感情所培养出来的归属感。许多新加坡人只知道为求生而奔波，连自己住家或办公室里的邻居是谁都不知道。
　　虽然说患难见真情，可是如果邻居也需要等到发生事情时才能做到这样真的有点可悲。
　　离国庆日还有一个月，也许今年你能给国家最好的生日礼物就是先认识你周围的人，然后真正去为这个社会作出付出。这才是真正能够抵抗恶势力的最佳招数。

Grrrr.....

　　Prepare for a long long long rant if u wanna read this:
　　The past week has been pretty rough... starting with the England match....had a group of Portugal fans who were standing behind my chair kicking & shaking my chair till I almost fell off....felt even worse when England lost... After which, an inconsiderate taxi driver chased my fren and I off our called-cab bcuz he wasn't willing to drop my fren off on the way to my place or he'll not make it home in time for the Brazil-France match. Chasing 2 gals off the cab after driving a distance at 2.30am in the morning is just totally unacceptable!
　　Following day, not sure what I ate for breakfast or lunch on Sunday morning but I had such a bad stomach upset that I couldn't enjoy my weekly dinner with my family.
　　The start of the week kicked off pretty well as I was able to clear quite a bit of work and then what seemed like it's gonna be a good week started turning sour.
　　Went for a test drive on Monday & somehow due to my carelessness & ditzyness, I managed to misplace my driving licence somehow... and then yesterday I got ticked off and chased away by someone that I once respected. I was merely trying to play fair with regards to the situation mind u if u or ur counterparts are reading this. I could have gone ahead with the article without consulting you at all if I was what you deemed me as.
　　Finally today. Woke up feeling a bit queasy... thought i'll be fine later on as I started real early today trying hard to clear work before I leave for my holiday next week. Thought i'll get better after lunch but I just sank deeper and started to see lights flashing and my head spinning round in circles.
　　Went upstairs to see the doctor and she asked if I watched soccer & didn't have enough sleep. When I left the clinic and bumped into my 2 ex-bosses, they too asked the same thing!!!! To set the record straight......I didn't stay up to watch soccer!!! Decided that there's no point in watching it anymore since my fav England is out and now that matches are played at an unearthly hour of 3am Singapore time. I value my sleep more....
　　Okiez think I've gotten everything out of my system... time to get back to finish up my immediate work and go home for some rest. Tomorrow is gonna be a better day. Fingers x.
　　

《媒体人时评》

针对我今天的《媒体人时评》，有读者SMS《我报》说：
+659750xxxx: 致《我报》记者李韵琳：你说每当政府或任何机构政策或措施时，很多人都会Complain,只是all talk no action？想请问你，国民能take什么action？有那些大团或机构体可以为人民讨个公道的？还有，你说如真的要抗议德士车资起价，那就下定决心该搭巴士或地铁。再请问你，如果巴士与地铁再起价呢？那国民是不是要改骑脚车或途步来表示抗议？《圆圆》

我想说：
　　问题就出在这里：国人总是认为凡事都无能为力，还没有开始想办法就给自己判死刑。即使没有机构像CASE可以帮助人民请命，如果意志坚定的一群人真的想达到理想，它们是可以自己组织团体，合作力量大。
　　如果一个人或一群人觉得交通车资起价真的不合理，不搭交通工具，用步行或骑脚车，这些难道行不通吗？何况，新加坡没有那么大，步行或骑脚车上班出街应该不成问题，只是看你愿不愿意在时间和精力上付出，还要看个人是不是很坚定想为自己的信念讨个公道。在国外，自立组织，或应不满交通费上涨而改用步行或骑脚车的人很多。
　　介绍你一个网站，看一看外国人是怎么表达不满（许多作法虽然在新加坡行不通，但这并不代表完全不能抗议，关键就在于我们是否有创意。）：http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/actionnetwork/A1930916

很谢谢你的意见。非常喜欢这样的互动，代表有人在看我的文章！

Hopeless with Birthdays...

　　Sighz...I'm totally hopeless with Birthdays. It's the second time in a month that a fren has to sms/call me to remind me that it's another fren's birthday. Unlike what some people think, I believe Birthdays are special and should be celebrated with a big bang and I'll be really upset if ppl forget my bdae but I'm just totally hopeless when it comes to remembering dates. An ex-boyfriend used to get really angry with me for forgetting our anniversary but it's really not intentional.
　　Ok, I must admit, sometimes my work does take over my life and that I do not have a very good memory in general (Ppl i've met, pls don't kill me or get offended if I were to walk pass without saying hi... I genuinely can't remember!!!!). Besides my immediate family's birthdays and a few frens' (can count with 1 hand) ... the rest I really can't recall. I've tried writing them down before but after a while they end up everywhere, one book here, another there that I don't actually keep track.
　　Hmm... maybe I really should keep a notebook just for birthdays of close frens/colleagues/ family...i've tried the online birthday alarm in case u wanna suggest that to me but not many people subscribe to it so I gave up...
　　Enough of rambling....Happy Birthday Zwen! See you & the rest on Sunday!

How much is too much?

I'm usually not a fan of flats (... love 3 inch heels to bits....) but aren't they pretty? But the above Pedro Garcia Isaura Ballet Flat with Crystal Chain comes with a price tag of US$426.00.
When buying stuff that you like how much is too much really? Does quality & style come first or your psychological price barrier?
Probably the latter for me.....

习惯性的逆来顺受

　　下周一开始，德士车资将调高，我周围的人怨声四起。对此，我觉得有些懊恼。不是因为我认为车资调整不合理，而是因为发怨言的人。
　　他们现在提出意见，或是抨击政策是因为他们真的觉得不合理吗？还是纯粹为了反对而反对？又或者这是个可以让他们发泄发牢骚的课题，他们认为这样能行使自己的发言权？
　　在本地，每当政府或任何机构改变政策或措施，开始的时候都会有很多人会complain。可是，到头来都只是all talk no action。过了几个星期，即使是当初最强力反对的人也会开始resign to their fate，默默忍受，渐渐学习去习惯，然后变得理所当然。
　　新加坡人总是对改变或在发表不满时抱着三分钟热度，在意兴阑珊或没有得到想要的效果之后就会放弃，逆来顺受地去学着去习惯。对事物能这样，对自己的前途和未来我想多少也持有同样的态度。
　　人们总是希望能在新加坡看到改变和进步，可是这是需要有推动力和实际行动的，三言两语是不足以move a mountain，即使move a sandhill也寸步难移。
　　如果要在这个竞争激烈的环球环境生存下来，确保我国可以长长久久地繁荣下去，人民的习惯性的逆来顺受需要检讨。

奇瑞QQ

　　当记者需要常常往外跑，有一辆车代步，可以省时省力。　　
　　入行半年多来，托YM的福有得去test drive不同的车，时不时都会有买车的念头。几个月前听说中国车将进口到我国，而且价格低廉，所以对昨天的media launch满心期待。　　
　　老实说，我和一般人一样对中国制品有所保留，所以一进入展销室，我就迫不及待地坐进车里想抢先摸清车子的质感。　　
　　拥车证成功标价下跌，以7年贷款期来说，每月分期付款在400元以下的小型车子让许多过去买不起车，或第一次买车的人一圆拥车梦。车商也看准这是个新市场，纷纷引进廉价小型车。
　　不谈Vertex为何想避开QQ的china roots不谈（Made in china的image是跳进黄河也洗不清的。刻意回避反而让人开始想它们是否有意想掩饰些什么...），3万多的车价是蛮诱人，有冲动想把它买回家，但坐在车里的那片刻，想象自己在公路上行驶就开始有些迟疑。　
　　油价频频飙升、可怕的ERP、积少成多的停车费，定期的维修费，这些都是钱。虽然分期付款我负担得起，加上其他的肯定会使我沦为汽车的奴隶。　　
　　就如去逛大减价一样，不是所有便宜的东西都值得搬回家。即使物超所值，如果带回家会成为我的负担，我宁可不要。

Perfect Wedding Dress & Dresses...

Found my perfect wedding dress & the complementary cocktail dress/ROM dress/dinner dress!!!!

BUT....

I need to lose weight, grow taller & get someone to marry me....& unfortunately, all of it doesn't seem possible =p


Wedding Dress =)

cocktail dress/ROM dress/dinner dress

Enough of daydreaming... back to reality:
Totally into dresses @ the moment & it doesn't help that I'm working on it for next week's fashion page....

Found this while researching on the web!

Great vintage looking dresses for dirt cheap prices IMO:

Of which, my fav dress is this:

I'm beyond hope... hee hee...

Pasar Malam

　　报馆对面的pasar malam今天开业了。下午WJ就打来问要不要从那里打包午餐进来。晚上我们几个更难得忙里偷闲到那里去买晚餐，换个地方和口味。
　　非常喜欢pasar malam，因为可以吃到妈妈在家里不准我吃的台湾香肠，还有牛油味香浓的corn in a cup和ultra sinful的Ramly Burger。更重要的，在办公室里困了一整天，下去走一圈，透一透气，回到座位感觉轻松多了，更有精神坚持久一点。
　　尽管每个pasar malam卖的东西大同小异，不是零食就是枕头、睡衣、玩具等，自己大多时候除了零食也没打算买些其他的东西，但每回看到家里附近搭起帐篷，都会心跳加速，欣喜若狂。
　　除了勾起小时候和妈妈弟弟在晚餐后逛pasar malam的童年记忆，它也让我找回Johor 108档和泰国路边摊的度假休闲感觉。还有，每当组屋楼下有pasar malam时，平日闭门不见人影的左邻右舍也会突然出现，让我有机会看看他们的庐山真面目。
　　帆布搭起的帐篷不管是外观或里头卖的东西虽然与现代化的新加坡有些格格不入，但在夜生活有些单调的新加坡，却增添了些许亲切纯朴的communal living色彩。
　　希望时间的快车不会把这个不入时的夜市遗弃在时光隧道里，让我有一天当了老太太之后，还能带着孙子在晚餐后一起去找回儿时的记忆。

新加坡的Canary wharf

　　JTC今天安排了新记者到它们管辖的地方走走，从中了解它们的运作，让我获益不浅。
　　除了有幸能踏上Jurong Island，见识见识Rochester Park长得什么样之外，还让我在这个小岛上找回伦敦的影子。
　　新加坡有伦敦的影子？是的。就在Buona Vista地铁站附近one north里的Biopolis。
　　Biopolis号称本地第一个真正把工作、学习、消闲和住宅融于一体的大型发展计划。它拥有最尖端科技设备，是进入未来生活的一个门户。
很多年前在早报财经组实习的时候曾经来过，那时候这里是荒山野岭。想不到我几年的离开，这里已悄悄地摇身一变成为我朝思暮想地方的化身，让我无限惊喜。
　　这里的建筑依山丘而建，建筑形状不规则，建筑与建筑之间的距离很小，还有空中走道(sky bridge)衔接，马路铺的是cobbled stones，open space则有浅浅的小溪穿流和青翠的green spaces。坐在装潢前卫的餐厅里，望着外头的alfresco dining区，仿佛自己又回到一年前在为London 2012工作时，于伦敦Canary Wharf工作用餐的时光。
　 Canary Wharf位于River Thames南部的docklands新开发区，由英国著名建筑师Norman Foster设计。那里未经修饰的粗犷石灰配上钢铁和玻璃，有一种后现代风格的工业感，好像建筑师有意为我们示范未来世界的模样。
　　虽然Biopolis并非出自Norman Foster这位名家之手，但这里矗立的7个建筑物充分显现深受器械时代的影响，使用了大量的钢铁和玻璃，营造了与Canary Wharf同样的一种高科技的未来感。
　　听JTC的公关说，建筑这个地方，它们破了很多传统规格。
　　希望建筑方面取得突破只是个开始。很期待。

　　
Biopolis @ onenorth

Monday Blues...

　　说出来一定会被人说我生在福中不知福，但真的有些开始想念旧东家的一个周日、一个周末的休息日安排。
　　以前总是埋怨别人周末休假但我还需要回到公司来上班，多渴望自己能在周末休假，与其他朋友的假日相同，可以多出去见见他们，而且从星期五就开始holiday mood一路到星期天晚上，感觉休息的时间好像长一点。过去的休假总会在4pm结束，因为要在那个时候打电话回去公司问隔天的工作，也就从那一刻开始为明天做准备。
　　来到《我报》，几个星期下来却开始嫌弃没有其他媒体人有的privilege。周末去逛街、吃饭总是人挤人，要到银行或到政府机构办点事那里却没人上班。还有，因为周末从星期五晚上开始，出去的次数比过去多，花的钱也跟着增加，人也比过去累。所以到了星期一，就会有一般上班族的Monday Blues。
　　想来想去，其实周日休息周末工作没有什么不好，因为工作量没有那么大，大家的心情也比较轻松，不会5个工作日都是紧崩的，有时候还可以提早回家，而周日休假虽然没有办法约家人朋友出去，却有机会真正在家中休息看书。
　　说归说，如果叫我一时间又回到旧有的安排，现在已经被宠坏的我肯定又会开始呻吟了。
　　人生中有许多事有一好没有两好，只要能给自己时间和机会去适应，从中欣赏和爱惜它的好，简单的满足就会使这个世界成为一个better place。
　　唉，Monday Blues是美丽的烦恼。

B型

瑱玲知道我非常喜欢本地歌手林俊杰和韩国演员李东健，昨天下班后把它们的图片和杂志write-up放在我桌上送给我。其中一个有关李东健的报道，在谈到他的戏《B型男友》也附上了一个小小的心理测验。看来，我还是个标准的B型人。请看以下分解：
◆男性心目中的标准新娘
1：Ａ
2：Ｏ
3：Ｂ
4：ＡＢ
◆理想女友
1：Ｏ
2：Ａ
3：Ｂ
4：ＡＢ
◆容易红杏出墙的血型
1：Ｂ
2：Ｏ
3：ＡＢ
4：Ａ
◆倾向于结婚的血型
1：Ａ
2：Ｏ
3：Ｂ
4：ＡＢ
◆没有时间观念
1：Ｂ
2：Ｏ
3：ＡＢ
4：Ａ
◆记忆力最好
1：Ｏ
2：ＡＢ
3：Ａ
4：Ｂ
◆孤身一人在沙漠中也能顽强生存的人
1：Ｂ
2：Ａ
3：ＡＢ
4：Ｏ

无聊的post，轻轻松松结束忙碌的一个星期。Thank God it's Friday =)

Al Jazeera

Heard that a uni classmate of mine is currently working at the Al Jazeera London Bureau... WOW... wonder how that feels... would probably be more intense if she was there at the height of the beheadings about a year or 2 ago...gee...

Comparatively, what I'm doing here is child's play man...

Dear Mr Chia...

　　主任好几天前叫我联络前非选区议员谢镜丰了解他的近况。对这份差事，我挣扎了好一段时间。
　　谢镜丰是我入行第一个采访的反对党人士。大选时被指定“跟”着他，与他的关系还算不错。圣诞节期间，他还把一张我访问他的照片记给了我。
　　我很清楚刚过去大选的落败对他的打击不小，而他在宣布退出政坛时，也一再强调要平淡度日，不想再扑光。这次的访问也如此。
　　虽然在一些人的眼中他可能是个轻言放弃的人，但对于这个几经波折的认真政客，他的离开还是叫许多人难过，也了解他的处境。尽管还有些人对他的所作所为冷嘲热讽，但大多数都是出自一片关爱之心。
　　Dear Mr. Chia,
希望明天将刊登的新闻不会带给你太大的困扰。Just like to say, there are many people out there who still care a lot about you. 希望你这次的休息是为了在以后能够走更远的路。
　　Take care & Don't forget to sign my book as you promised when we next meet!

On Da Vinci & Colours...

　　Currently working on a piece on Adidas for this Fri's fashion column & came across this quote by the master Leonardo Da Vinci used on the adicolor adverts:
　　“For those colours which you wish to be beautiful, always first prepare a pure white ground.”
　　“您所期望的绚丽色泽，总是基于纯白色的铺垫。”

　　Reflecting on it, 人生不也是如此吗？
　　一个洁白的canvas有无限的possibilities,　任由上色者创造自己的一片天空。人也一样，如果没有包袱，一身清，不必介意他人的期盼，可以自由发挥，给人耳目一新的感觉。要在一个已经被涂上颜色的canvas或背景复杂上的人创造出惊艳，就无法那么做了。

　　Was into art at some point during secondary school and came across "The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci". In it there was a section on the reflection of colours with 2 perspectives by the master:

PERSPECTIVE 1:

Every object devoid of colour in itself is more or less tinged by the colour [of the object] placed opposite. This may be seen by experience, inasmuch as any object which mirrors another assumes the colour of the object mirrored in it. And if the surface thus partially coloured is white the portion which has a red reflection will appear red, or any other colour, whether bright or dark.

PERSPECTIVE 2:

Every opaque and colourless body assumes the hue of the colour reflected on it; as happens with a white wall.

　　无奈的，即使一个人希望做个blank canvas，力保个人的纯洁纯真，还是会被周遭环境所影响或牵连。虽然说人贵自重，要出淤泥而不染却不是一个人的事。正如工作、结婚等也往往无法依据个人的选择或决定。

　　在现今这个讲求个人化的时代里，我们是否真正的能寻找到自我？还是只是通过个性化的衣着和艺术寻找发泄的途径，做垂死的挣扎？

:p

After today, I can vulge that it's not fun at all trying to write a food review when you're feeling sick and having diarrheoa.

Don't get me wrong, there was nothing wrong with the food, in fact it was superb... best chawanmushi i ever had in my life... just that the thought of food just made things worse...

I can only blame myself for it, having had a crazy weekend.... craziest i had in months and definitely one of the best sessions i've had... but not a gd idea to mix beer with liquor (mental note for future weekends....)

Best memory of the night was going to 7 eleven to get a bottle of sminorff & coke/sprite/miranda orange and stood around outside after that to mix our own drinks b4 heading to MOS. I know it's cheapskate but it brings back great memories of London , especially the stash I had in my room....

Had a great weekend with a bunch of really nice frens from uni... so sad that they'll all be heading back to London in early July to work.... gonna miss them...oh well... guess the least I can do now is to treasure their company while they're around... looking forward to Saturday again!

My Sat :)








... but first I need to get quite a few articles out of the way......must stop procrastinating.......

This is so cute!

Courtesy of one of my fav sites:www.catwalkqueen.tv

当仰慕的人再次现身

　　曾经在求学时喜欢上一个男生，觉得他人品不错，是我喜欢的那种外表斯文，有冲劲、有理想的那一类型。虽然身为现代女性，总觉得追求、交往这种事还是等男方来主动比较好，何况当时也没有真正和他说话，对他也不是很熟悉，所以也没有作出暗示或表示，后来就这样不了了之。　　
　　最近，这个男生又重新出现在我的生命中，我们之间的交情也比以往深，让我有些不知所措。不知道该听从自己的心还是要坚持理性应对。
　　虽然已经事隔多年，以为自己已忘了他，但最近见到他，还是会不由自主地心跳加速，平时讲个不停的嘴巴也会开始结巴起来。心里已好久没有那种甜滋滋的少女情怀。
　　可是，我始终觉得a crush should always remain a crush. When fantasy becomes reality, it loses its magic。尽管我现在没有意思和他交往，但如果把当初的事和目前复杂的心情说出来，可能连朋友都没得做。
　　所以，还是做朋友好了...一切顺其自然。
　　如果与仰慕的人再次重逢，你会怎么做？

...

　　看到朋友的MSN nick上写了这么样的一句歌词：我的心挣脱了爱,跟随着夕阳迈进了海洋。
　　对于感情和人生，很多人都有着不必要的执著，包括我自己在内。
　　The more you hang on, the worse it gets and gradually you'll start losing yourself.
　　能够理性地从烦心的事抽身，将自己的心释放出来，把过去的不愉快流放，就能够有一个新的开始。自己也会变得更坚强，更清楚自己要前往的方向。
　　X加油哦！我也会加油的......
　　希望我们的烦恼能够随着夕阳消失，新一天的日出快快到来。

送上这首歌给你，共勉之...很想念JC时K歌的日子...

《我要快乐》 - 张惠妹

又被爱伤了一遍
无所谓当作成长
刚刚走开的人
烟还点着味道却淡了
我并不是天生爱寂寞
却比任何人都多
就算把世界给我
我还是一无所有
我要快乐我要能睡的安稳
有些人不抱了才温暖
离开了才不恨我早应该割舍
我要快乐哪怕笑的再大声
心不是热的全都是假的
只有眼泪是真的
把从前想了一遍
谢谢了伤我的人
想做乐观的人
每种雨声听了都不冷
我并不是天生爱寂寞
却比任何人都多
就算把世界给我
我还是一无所有
我要快乐我要能睡的安稳
有些人不抱了才温暖
离开了才不恨我早应该割舍
我要快乐哪怕笑的再大声
心不是热的全都是假的
我的决定是对的