From today onwards, I'm a gym virgin no more!
Finally got my lazy ass to SPH's gym on the 7th floor this morning. Didn't have anything urgent to clear for today so I decided I could afford some me time before work. Besides I really ballooned quite a bit from my China & Bangkok holiday.... just had a scan through my bangkok photos... bleargh...
Fortunately there wasn't anyone at the gym so I could play around with the machines. Never used any gym equipment b4 cuz I always zao PE lessons in JC and thot that my daily walk to sch when I was at uni was more than sufficient exercise...
Managed to run 3.5km on the treadmill and did 50 crunches. Didn't take too long... about 35 minutes in total. Running on a treadmill is so much ezier than doing rounds in the park. Think I lasted longer and didn't feel as tired. Pretty good to listen to my ipod & think about stuff while jogging too.
Just that it was a little disappointing to find that after all that running I only burnt off 250 calories.... will be more careful with the rubbish I stuff into my mouth in future.
Hopefully I can keep up this routine at least twice a week. Aiming for 5km next! Kiez no more skiving at work so that I can have more me time in future... toodles...
Friday, January 05, 2007
Sunday, December 31, 2006
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 :)
I'm off to Bangkok in 5 hours... b back on the 4th...till den :)
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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...
Monday, December 25, 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
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?
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..
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...
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...
Sunday, December 17, 2006
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.
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.
Friday, December 15, 2006
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？
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？
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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 :(
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 :(
Monday, December 11, 2006
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？
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....
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....
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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...
"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...
Monday, December 04, 2006
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
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!
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/
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/
Friday, December 01, 2006
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
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
Monday, November 27, 2006
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...
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...
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
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。
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!
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!
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