HAPPY NEWWWWwwwww YEARrrrrrrrr!

恭喜发财，身体健康，万事如意！

(Gong Xi Fa Cai, Good Health, May All Things go Your Way!)

To all dear lovely friends, the New Year 2008 is soon coming to a close, let's us welcome Year 2009 with open hearts and hope that everything would be smooth sailing, everyone's health is at its' best and so on!

Guess what I have been up to recently? Something unglamourous, shocking and truly strange...

Hubby and I have been going "crazy" prawning, in case you don't know, it is prawn catching. We have been at reservoirs' legal fishing spots to catch prawns and baby crayfishs / lobsters, we have managed to get a good catch of about 20 crayfishs / lobsters so far. This is shocking becos we have never been into fishing, I am still twitching and don't even dare to touch my own catch! But, somehow, it's just so fun that we are hooked on it crazely at the moment. We have even got a guy friend of ours into this new found hobby. His aquarium is full of the baby crayfishs peeping from into the wood pieces he had provided for them to hide in. Hubby and I have got 3 little fish tanks to keep ours in.

We have got 2 red ones and 2 blue ones (with a red streak on each claws) living in one of our bigger tank, while the rest of the babies are residing in the other 2 tanks. I will post of photos of them in here soon.

Just the last trip, we ventured down to Kranji Reservoir at around 5:30pm and found that on the other side where the nature reserve is, people are digging for la la (clams) in the low tide mud. I persuaded hubby and our friend to go take a look at what the crowds were doing, found them having bucketfulls of la la. But if you are as scare of earthworms (big fat red ones) as me, complete with yucky sinking dirty mud, then forget it. By the time we were through, our feet were just so dirty and covered in mud, I felt all squisy seeing big fat red earthworms everywhere on the mud!

The walk was still great, I found many marine lifes along the mud which is nearer to the water edge, seems like corals which actually opens up into a flower... Then, there were a lot of horse shoes (a kind of crab) around.

If you like such stuff, bring your family or friends down. Be sure to check up on the low tide timing and be extra cautious not to venture out too far.

It's Christmas Eve, following by Christmas Day...

How's everyone of you?

It's Christmas Eve and Christmas Day the next,

have you bought all the necessary gifts?

I have been busy preparing for my colleagues, friends and most importantly, my three little sons. Finally, it's time for me to take a short break.

I wish all of you Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Love,

Eileen

Nothing in life is perfect, I am trying to be strong each day...

A lady walks into Tiffany's. She browses around, spots a beautiful diamond bracelet and walks over to inspect it. As she bends over to inspect the bracelet more closely, she inadvertently breaks wind.

Very embarresed, she looks around nervously to see if anyone has noticed her little accident and prays that a sales person doesn't pop up right now.

As she turns around, her worst nightmare materializes in the form of a salesman standing right behind her.

Cool as a cucumber and displaying complete professionalism, the salesman greets the lady with,

'Good day, Madam. How may we help you today?'

Very uncomfortably, but hoping that the salesman may just not have been there at the time of her little 'accident', she asks,

'Sir, what is the price of this lovely bracelet?'

He answers,

'Madam, if you farted just looking at it, you're going to shit yourself when I tell you the price.'

How many times have I been sad, as in real sad, this year 2008? I know that nothing's perfect in life, it's the salt and pepper occassionally that will make you appreciate your life better. I have a family, my husband and 3 lovely kids, including a house, a maid and a car... There is my career that I can't complain much about in this gloomy economy, friends both good and bad to balance out each other...

Okay, it's Christmas Eve tomorrow and I'm feeling really down. Something happened, and I am very very upset right now, I need to find someone to talk to, but I can't seem to find that someone. How many colors can you see around you? I can only see a shade of grey. 我的世界是灰色的，一片黑暗的。

My life has dropped to a the deepest of the deep, just the other day, someone was still sending me something about whether it's possible to cry when you are underwater. Yes, I am certain it's possible.

Bringing You WINTER from Sundsvall

Snowy white winter, so very magical and mysterious, I am going to save up very hard to spend at least a week of winter in a snowy white country! My boss sent me some photos of his hometown Sundsvall in Switzerland, now it's winter and snow is everywhere, this will be so till March 2009.


Look at the all the white snows covering the trees, it's freezing cold and animals such as the porcupines, the bears, the snakes, all are hiding up somewhere sleeping.

Look at the moon! White as the snow, hanging up high in the sky, shining down. It's so so magical.

During winter time, the daylight is short, darkness approaches so quickly that it sort of turns people lazy and depress. Sort of makes you felt like going to sleep early and no mood to do any other stuff such as shopping and taking a walk in the dark out on the snow...

All the snow needs to be clear away, especially when your car is cover fully in snow, one needs to ensure it's not going to freeze your engine. Walkway needs to be clear too, so that one could travel around.

Alright, it might not be much fun for people whom lives in such countries where months of the year are spent getting all freeze up and not able to travel much with all the snow. But I still love it! Just like how my boss love our sunny island and getting all sun tan to get his skin damage! haha!

He hates the part of ensuring the house is equipped with well working heat insulation and heating system during winter, wearing thick clothes and having problems with laundry (the part in getting them dry), being stuck at home most of the time when everywhere is covered thickly in snow, day turns to night so fast that it makes him depress... haha! That's the different pespective of views when each side of the penny thought that the other side is always better.

It's December once again! The lovely month of the year which is just great for a escape from our daily slogging at work. Are you thinking of escaping to a quiet relaxing place which allows you to leave all the stress which you have been carrying for the past one year?

I am thinking of doing just this, a voice inside me is telling me to escape, break loose from the daily timetable of reporting at work lifestyle. I'm dreaming of a lovely sandy beach complete with gentle blue sea for me to take a dip in. Just like a hermit crab, relaxing in it's own world.

Green palmy trees surrounding me as I relax, birds chipping away and the bright sunlight shining down on me. So Zen and Calmy on the soul.

FRIDAY!!!

Yes! It's good old friday, my favourite day of the week, and Monday's Hari Raya Haji which means that it's going to be 3 days of rest away from the office.

I finally got the confirmation this week, that I'm confirmed entry to the course which I have applied for. The lessons are going to be twice a week and in all, it would be for 20 months. The company's sponsoring me for the course, I'm going to be bond for 6 months, that means I would have to work for the company for 26 months, I hope nothing bad happens during this period to make my life unbearable. Really grateful to my business unit bosses' support, they have been encouraging me to go for it. Hope I don't fail the exams and disappoint anyone. It's going to be tough since my brain cells seem to be deteriorating rather badly nowadays. Haha!! Alrite, perhaps it's my 3 sons whom have been taking all the calciums and brain cells from me over the past few years?

It's highly likely and logical...

Oh, I'm feeling so sleepy, been yawning away since after my lunch hour... the sleeping bugs are going round, Lay Peng is feeling sleepy too. Perhaps it's cause the office is just too quiet? Most of the guys are travelling except for Pow and Janetud, so it's only 4 of us at our business unit section.

Later after work, I still got to attend the 1st teambuilding session at the institute, following by another session tomorrow morning... Agrrrhhhh, already feeling lazy just imagining myself taking the mrt downtown again to the institute on a weekend morning. It feels so much like going to work.

Counting down to Christmas 2008!

Christmas 2008 is approaching.....

Hubby and I were at IMM's Giant supermart over the weekends and we came across Christmas Trees that weren't too costly... We bought one at the height of 70 inches at $12.99. Plus a box of blue and silver decors going at $26.90 and musical flicking lights at $23.50. We were thinking of giving our 3 little boys something to remind them of their childhood christmas, since hubby and I did not have any christmas tree in our homes before.

The kids were excited when we got home, it took quite a while for me to get the tree standing up, pulling at the branches and trying to make them look bushy... (I'm already dreading the job of keeping it after christmas and was telling hubby perhaps we can keep it till Chinese New Year to hang red packets!). The 3 kids were gathering round and trying to help, I told them they could help hang up the decors after mummy's finished struggling to pull out the branches in making them look like a tree.

I choosed to place the tree in the living room, but Christopher asked me why we can't place it in our other living room which is just outside our bedrooms... kids will be kids, always having funny ideals, I had to tell him that it wouldn't be the centre of attraction if it's kept in the living room away from the main door.

Finally, I'm done trying to make the tree look bushy, it's time to put up the decors. The 3 boys were all excited and started to hang up the stars, balls and everything else. The result, the tree ends up looking like a grape tree, with 3 to 4 balls hanging together at the tip of one branch. Hubby and I had to laugh, the kids were all happy and proud while mummy started to tell them that some parts of the tree looks bare and they have to adjust the "grapes" to look more spread out and even... haha!!

Finally, all decors and the lights were up! We switched on the power and WOW! Everone loves it, the kids were very happy and they asked me where's the presents to put under the tree... Luckily Hubby and I purchased advance Christmas gifts for the 3 of them, and they were allowed to place them under the tree : )

A little about my Company's 2008 Dinner

My colleagues, my joy, this is one family I have been with for one year three months. Alrite, there's Bjorn, Lay Peng, Pow, Benny, Ang, Nelson, Murugan and Janetud. Year 2008 year end dinner was a joy and lovely evening at Orchard Hotel's Lavender 2 ballroom on 24th November 2008. What makes a good dinner would comprise of whom you are dining with, and in this case, I have the joy of sharing a table with people I love.

Lay Peng was my best buddy in the office, this is a rare find. Especially considering she's my senior whom's been with the company for ten over years.

She's always guiding me along, patient, kind, wise, lovely, pretty and everything. How often is it that you could actually find a buddy whom treats you like a sister in the work place? I am appreciating her alot and one of the factor that makes me looking forward to each day at work, would be her and the other great guys in our business group. Haha, I am getting all sentimental on a Monday afternoon. This is so strange, perhaps it's the powerful lunch I had just a short while ago and the chicken rice is doing something funny to me??! Nelson, whom you won't see in the photos here, is my boss in charge initially...

But well, things kind of change and following, there's some reporting changes in our work. Oh well, anyway, he's still my boss. A kind bespectacle teochew man who is always busy, with piles of paper on his work desk... Something funny too, he's got about 4 - 5 suitcases in his room, each is designated for which countries and length of stay he would be on a business trip. I remember one of my 3 sons asking him why his room is so messy when they were visiting me in the office one day. Haha, kids would be kids, so frank and innocent.


Then, there's Mr. Bjorn and Mr. Benny, two swedish men. Mr. Bjorn is our business unit's vice president and Mr. Benny's our senior inspector. Both are rare men whom doesn't womanize, rare because to me, all Ang-Mos are flirts and womanizers. Haha, sorry!!! Opppppps.... Benny's very cute, he's sometimes shy when I tease him about his Singaporean chinese gf, he's sweet becos he's always offering us lovely sweets from Sweden when he's back from his home trips. There's the unique black swedish sweets which taste salty!

There's Janetud, a Thai nationality whom is firm and sometimes joke with us alot, a good homely guy. Pow and Ang is really good uncles, they took good care of me and Lay Peng, always stuffing us with food such as you-tias, han ji beng and cakes... I'm seriously getting so fat. Murugan's an Indian and he's seriously funny too, he can do serious stuff of yoga, bending over into half, touching his forehead against his knee caps. Perfect and wow!

Wednesday - 26th November 2008 (One more month to Chirstmas)

It wasn't so bad a week after all, 无惊无险, it's mid week already. Look at the above cuties, I just received email from xin.sg that I have won them! Wow, to win in this contest, there is spamming involved (the more entries you sent in, the more chances of winning). I actually thought I did not spam much???! Anyway, most probably not much people like the cuties as much as I do.

I love the dog bone crayons and the watch, haha, aren't they cute?

More more prizes for me please!!!

A very tiring Tuesday *Yawn Yawn*

I am super tired today, my eyelips could not bring themselves to be lifted up today, and I see eyebags! A late Sunday night from attending the Channel 8's 45th anniversary event, following by a company annual dinner last night which ended at about 2200 hours, it proved to be a stress. My face features are showing the after effects symptoms already.

Dinner of 5 tables was held at Orchard Hotel's Lavendar 2 ballroom, with a Chinese wedding going on just at the opposite Orchard Grand Ballroom. Kind of a bad arrangement as the reception is just facing our ballroom and guests are a bit confused as to whether the settings of standing tall tables with peanuts and drinks are for which side of the guests.

The dinner was good, with courses of dishes such as cold dish comprising of tempura prawns / fish cake scallops / baby squids / jelly fish strips / thin slices of tender roasted duck, thick sharks fin soup with big chuncks of crab meat, big fresh scallops on simmered veggies, big dry scallop too on another dish, steamed fish, E-fu noodles and so on. Services were good, our plates were changed after each dish, serving staff were pleasantly polite. One bad point would be the E-fu noodles, it was badly done and soggy with gravy, look really unpleasant.

Another highlight of the night, the lucky draw prizes which were a disappointment. With 18 prizes going from a pair of movie tickets, 4 tickets to the Singapore Flyer, $30 voucher to Ben and Jerry Ice-cream, F&B vouchers to Taiwan Porridge and $250 Starhub vouchers, etc. I am totally thankful that I have won much better prizes elsewhere.

The washroom for the ladies, it was lovely done up and well maintained. We brought along 2 cartons of red wine and they were finished up by our guys, quite a few were tipsy so we guessed most of them would be late in reaching the office the next day. Atmosphere were great, everyone were joyful and enjoying themselves.

Today, I ended up really tiring and hope I don't doze off... must go for more tea and coffee to brace myself up eventhough they don't seem to have any effect in keeping me awake even when I took them before sleep...

Blue Monday!

Oh my god!!!! Monday, and first thing I open up my office email to check, I found I have won a pair of JJ Party's tickets from Our Voice Box which was sent to me on Saturday, 22nd November 2008. The party was on 23rd November 2008, I missed it!

Agrrrrrhhhh.... so sad! What to do, at least I went to attend the Channel 8's 45th anniversary celebration on 23rd November 2008, which was yesterday. Loads of fans from where we were seated at the upper viewing gallery, they were blowing the whistles, screaming, shouting, waving their favourite actors / actresses posters! Lovely high power atmosphere from all their high powered energy... Hubby and I felt young again just by sitting among them.

Yesterday was Sunday, it's been a sort of unlucky encounters with a rather rude uncle in the morning at the NTUC supermart. He was grumbling away that I am blocking him when I was standing in line at the queue right in front of him, oh please, I stabbed him back real hard in response to his english, that if he can't queue, better stay at home and sleep. He was so angry, next I proceed to open my wallet and flash out my stash of gold credit cards as he was paying money and realised he didn't have enough. Then I said loudly, no money then still want to buy things! I was really angry at such rude people whom actually tries to rumble away in english, I sympathise with his wife whom was with him trying to ask him to shut up and have patience.

Over in the evening, at mediacorp, we were queuing to get into the studio. Then 3 aunties suddenly stood next to me and tried to squeeze in with us at the queue, I was really shocked. I stared daggers at them and told them to queue but they ignored. Aggrrr.... perhaps my face display a sign that said, please cut queue when you see me or I will be upset!

But overall, hubby and I were in at the studio and enjoyed the great show put up by all the very capable backstage staff whom were changing the back drops and props at every advertisements! The actresses and actors were ever so lovely and entertaining!

Weekly Updates - Week 47

Today's Monday, the super I don't like it day of the week...
Monday - Unbearable, dragging myself to work day
Tuesday - Teeny itshy bit of feeling better than Monday, still unbearable though
Wednesday - Whole lot better, getting the mood to work already
Thursday - Resigning myself to work already, feeling loads better
Friday - Opps, just when I'm feeling better at work already, I'm looking forward to weekends

Past Saturday have been good, Patrick Hubby suddenly got this weird feeling of doing up a small celebration with good food at home! He decided on fried chicken wings, fishballs, sushi rolls, spring rolls, curry puffs, fried prawn ball, etc... I asked our dear sis Chean Pin to join in the fun! Concidentally, she's suffering from serious loss of blood and stomach cramps since her aunt's visiting her for the month. Poor girl, anywhere I forced her to join in, we picked her up in our car with Bryan before going off to the supermart for mass purchase of all the necessary ingredients...

Over at the supermart, we went round with our trolley sourcing high and low for the ingredients. We lugged all the stuff home, with Chean Pin still suffering from her yucky symptons. Me and hubby proceeded with the necessary preparation once we reached home, we got Chean Pin to relax in our room with the kids screaming and jumping around her. Hubby decided to warm a bottle of chicken essence to give to her in case she faint, we still cannot figure out why she's so skinny. Whenever she goes out with our family, my 3 sons look overfed whenever they are standing together... people must be gossiping we are horrible dad and mum whom gave all the good foods to our sons while the daughter is deprive of good food and works like a cinderella at home!! She's alarmingly skinny to the bones, you could practically snap her hand in two like a stick.

Hubby was really good today, he took care of all the frying stuff while Chean Pin and I settle the sushi roll stuff. We had luncheon meat cut into strips / japanese cucumber / tuna / carrot strips / egg / etc. Chean Pin did most of the rolling up while I was in charge of the cutting part. I got her to pack some home for her dad and mum.

Finishing with the cooking, hubby proceeded to do food presentation, ensuring all food were arranged nicely on plates before laying them on the table. The kids were excited and started to gather around, we proceeded to gobble up the food. Great day, relaxing at home with your lovely family members round a table of piping hot food.

Chean Pin had to be packed off home at about 1830hours since she's not staying due to her visiting aunt! No choice, hubby and I drove her back home after we stopped over at Salvation Army's Family Thrift Store. Tons of stuff there and first time we visited, hubby is wary of that place which might be filled with fleas since most of the stuff are donated by people. But I assure him that the stuff are cleaned up properly and we are just going to take a look. Many stuff there, imagine a knee lenght winter jacket with lovely fur trimmings around the cap area, going only for S$30!!! Wow!

Sunday, lazy lazy stay at home day, hubby and I only went out of the house to buy breakfast. And in the evening, when we decided to go pack dinner home, the car wouldn't start! Agrhhh! Hubby was in a really foul mood, we proceeded to walk to the market and he grumbled away about what could be the problem and how is he going to be absence from work when it's a Monday the next day.... But by the time we are having dinner, he's starting to feel better, and he decided to apply for leave to stay home so the car technician guy could drop by to check on the car.

(The next morning....) technician came to check, luckily it's only the battery problem and not some costly faults! *sigh of relief*

Back on my feet after a war against Fever!

Yes, I'm recovering well enough in time for the weekends... though I still have a little throbbing headache someplace in my brain. Hope this wasn't as a result of perhaps my brain being burnt from all the high fevers going on.

It's been a rather uneventful week saved for little glintchy stuff... How many times in our life must we meet with poor souls whom doesn't have the slightest ashamed of themself stuff? I was on the train this morning and as usual, it's packed like sandines, irritating people with huge ugly bags shoving into other people and acting as if "It's only right"! Hubby was on reservist for 2 weeks and I have been taking the train to and fro work (back to days of the "before we have a car").

I was lucky I managed to get a seat when someone seated near where I was standing, alighted. And on two mornings, I encountered a lady shouting away "Please move to the centre". I looked and trust me, she's most probably blind or desperately in need of a pair of thick thick glasses, the train's practically filled with people right to the brim of the door and she's asking people to move to the centre of the train so she could get herself in. I can understand and forgive the train driver when he made announcement since there are cases where people just leave the train empty in some areas and love to stand next to the door and even in geniune cases of "packed sandines" trains, the poor driver can't possibly see for himself. But the lady is definitely unforgiveable, totally authorising and rude from the loud command of her voice, she should do self reflection on this. This morning, I overheard a little girl's voice saying just the same stuff. Perhaps her mother lost her voice from shouting the past few days and this is her daughter assisting her now...

Good and Bad things come together

This week started off good enough, except by Monday afternoon, I was getting all cold and freezing in the office. I thought the airconditioner was on too strongly, but my bosses were all feeling warm. That was when I knew I was sick, freezing and trembling away, with a terrible margarine throbbing away in my head... I forced myself home on the mrt, travelling through the neverending 14 mrt stations before getting off and walked in a blurry state home for 15 minutes.
Hubby packed me off to the doctor that evening, the 3 kids follow suit as they were down with flu too. All 4 of us at our usual family clinic, I actually asked the doctor once whether he's considering giving our family a membership card for the countless times we have actually seen him. Doctor declare me at 39.5 degrees high fever, I felt totally wasted and awful. The fever came and go, I would be shivering with cold under a thick blanket one moment and the next I would be sweating away, this cycle went on for a few times till this morning. Now, I'm still feeling goggy, perhaps from the effect of taking nothing except for a piece of bread and water since Monday...

This morning, I came in to the office, switched on my computer and found the Rednano Laptop Skin which comes free, have arrived and I can collect it anytime... then Xin.sg dropped email to informed that I have won a pair of Concert passes to Y2J 神木与瞳 for this coming Saturday 15 Nov 2008 performance at the Lunar Asian Fusion Bar! Coming in to my blog site, lovely Quachee told me that I have been choosen to win Ken Lyen's CD!

Thank you to all whom actually tries making me feel better eventhough I'm feeling rotton from all the fever and cold stuff...

Madagascar - Escape to Africa

Are you an adult whom watches cartoon?

Then you have to catch hold of MADAGASCAR - ESCAPE TO AFRICA!

The movie is wonderfully done up and plotted, I was at the preview over in Cineleisure last night having won a pair of tickets to it. The official release date of the movie would be 13th November 2008.

Hubby brought along Christopher and Bryan to fetch me from work before we proceeded to Cineleisure for dinner before the movie's showtime at 7:45pm. There was only a pair of tickets, so I have decided to shop around with Bryan while Christopher is accompanied by his dad. I was hanging around outside after they have gone in, and the lovely organisation actually still have leftover tickets since some winners did not show up. I was kindly offered to go in with Bryan. Thank you, lovely lady with the sweet smile and kind heart.

We were blessed to be in the theatre, the cartoon movie was wonderful. Adults and children were all immersed in the movie! There were laughter, the movie managed to tickle the funny bones of both adults and kids. My sons actually love it, the seatings at Cineleisure was so comfortable and spacious.

All the animal characters in the movie was so lively and funny, we ended up loving all of them. There are movies which only capture the hearts of the children, yet this movie cleverly capture the hearts of both young and old.

My Applauses, complete with my hubby whom would give a cartoon the miss, yet he loves this movie too! Our kids are now singing "Move it, Move it"! Haha!!!!

Got watch it, it's really good movie.

Year 2008 - Two months to Year End Countdown

Have you ever sit back and reflect on the daily stuff that might have happened to you or people surrounding you? Most probably, we haven't, I myself for one am already so busy with juggling a full day work and getting back home in the evening to spend the bit of the time with my kids... Why the hell would I care about reflecting back on past incidents?

Everyday news reports, television dramas, things happening around us...

As year 2008 approaches to an end soon in less than 2 months' time, occassionally, thoughts have been creeping and crawling from somewhere deep of my mind.

1. Eversince I started my working life after school, I have been "FORSAKING" my friends. This is even more true when I started my family, I found myself with neither the heart nor the strength to make time for my friends.

2. I'm growing old, the clock is ticking away and I realised that I haven't been going for regular facials!! OMG! That's really horrifying, I would looking like a forty years old by the time I reached thirty years of age (which is soon)?

3. I found myself behaving like an army officer back at home, shouting commands and discipling my kids in a loud unladylike voice?!! More OMGssss....

4. I found myself dressing more like an auntie at home when I'm not working, just think, t-shirts and shorts most of the times!!! Ugly color fainting t-shirts!

5. I found my eyes shagging and getting smaller, while the eyebags are like growing in sizes!
Arggghhhh!

6. My S$300 plus hair cut once every two months are decreasing and I'm getting lazy to keep lengthy hair!

7. I have been guilty of not exercising at all for at least 4 years! My only exercising would be walking to and fro home & MRT Station, standing for 14 MRT stops in between home and office, that is if hubby doesn't drive me. Other exercise routine would be walking while
shopping and marketing... okay okay, I know whoever is reading this now, are shaking your head in disbelief!

8. The uncountable number of times I have cursed at drivers in another vehicles for the sudden swering of their vehicles, their tailgating my vehicle and many more.

9. The uncountable number of times I have been grumbling about evil colleagues in the office! Trust me, I am forced into this, from the many little unbearable stuff they are doing, I have tried my best to ignore and ignore.

10. The fact that I always felt that my money is never enough! Why does the lottery luck always goes to other people while I'm filthy poor?

11. I have been dropping my handphone countless times, and it's protesting by shutting itself from me whenever it's sulking. And the worse part, it's still a year before my mobile's contract is due for an upgrade in order to get a new phone that doesn't sulk.

12. The goldfishes I have been rearing, are dying and dying as I replaced them. Why can't I just get goldfishes that last and grows up to be like the huge fat babies as in the aquarium shop?

Are you still reading up to this point? If you are still reading this, I really appreciate your patience in letting me pour my fustrations onto you. Think I have much more than this, but rain is not working that good now...

I need to be doing more reflections.....................

My Dear Little Sister, Ms. Teh Chean Pin

Today, let me do a formal brief introduction of my little sister, Ms. Teh Chean Pin.

She's so adorable and have been babysit by my family since she's as small as a month's old, I will go dig out some of her baby photos for your viewing pleasure sometime soon.

This is Chean Pin, now she's all grown up....

(She could be auntie act cute)

(She could be so innocently cute)

Time flies, she's in secondary school already, and even took part in the School Superstar Contest 2007!

Let's go through some of the photos available, enjoy!

(Can you spot Chean Pin among the contestants?) (Finally, her turn to go onstage)

(The grand stage, Chean Pin's first national competition!)

(She's just so beautifully cute and adorable)

Yes, I know you are enjoying and laughing or giggling, but Chean Pin must be cursing away under her breath....

I'm going to find one weekend to dig out all her baby photos and post it here when I can find the time!!!!! HAHAHA! So so evil!

Wet Rainy Morning - 30th October 2008

Yes!! I am finally going for further studying, yes, it took me at least a year to really pluck up the courage and made decision that my brain should be working agan after having left school for an estimatin of 10 years.

I pray that my brain is not rusty, my mind is still able to concentrate. It just seems like my brain is not working as good as before I had my 3 sons. It's going to be a 20 months course into Human Resources, twice a week's evening lessons are going to be keeping me busy after work. My boss have agreed to sponsor me for the course, it's going to be a bond of 6 months after the course end in Year 2010!!! Well, at least I save on the course fees, let's hope I could make my mind and brain work really hard and don't flunk any of the exams during this period.



FAMILY

Oh dear, recently my 3 sons seems to have some sort of rashes... I have tried antiseptic cream, baby powder and given them more bath than usual, but they just don't seem to go away!!! And kids being kids, reminders telling them not to scratch doesn't work well. Let's just hope they would be fine soon.

How I wish I could have a holiday soon, but judging by the economic crisis recently, it's best I put the plan aside. Money would be important during this period, just in case there could be an unforeseen retrenchment in the company. With 3 kids, it's really hard to be travelling overseas too.

WINNER of the 60" LG LCD TV

Winner of an LG 60" Full HD Plasma TV is ........

Nicholas Yap

Congratulations!!When I called Nicholas, he couldn't believe he won the humongous TV. I was expecting 'ultra high' reaction but there was none. *disappointed*Nicholas explained that he has never won anything in hs life, even at his company's Annual Dinner & Dance, so he doesn't know how to react. hahaha......

3 other consolation prizes will be given to the following contestants for their correct answers to the NHB posts. Each wins a one-year Individual Pass (worth S$60) sponsored by National Heritage Board.

Cavin Song

sweetots

The Young Businessman

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The so very lucky winner of the grand 60" LG LCD Television set is out!! WOW!! Congrats to Nicholas Yap, he is sure one lucky guy. And he's an accidental reader of EastCoastLife's blog, out of the 383 entries received for the contest.

I have been very lucky too!! :) I'm the proud winner for the 3 consolation prizes!!! YIPEE!!! I have won a 1-Year Individual Pass sponsored by the National Heritage Board which is worth S$60.00!

For more details and exciting articles by blogger EastCoastLife, do visit her blog page.

Final day tomorrow to the LG 60 inches LCD TV Prize

Just back from dinner at Carousel with hubby dearest, I showed him about EastCoastLife's collaboration with LG to give out the LG 60 inches LCD TV prize. As always, hubby felt my luck is never good, he told me I better save my time and stop dreaming. But you could see his interest in the eyes lor.... haha! Okay okay, I'm like a pig head sometimes : )

Just let me dream about the lovely grand 60 INCHES LCD TV hanging in my house tonight, I would be jumping with joy, hubby would be at a loss for words in disbelief, my 3 kids would be admiring the huge screen in awe. Their cartoon characters would be many times expanded and best is, I could hang the TV high on the wall, save from their bicycles banging into my tv console!!

The celebration, and like EastCoastLife's relatives and friends, mine would be visiting too and admiring upclose at the huge LCD set. I would be the proud owner of something which I don't think I would ever have the courage to fork out the money to buy it with.

My elderly mum and dad would be able to see better the television programme without having to strain their eyes out.

Haha, it would be good to just dream of owning even if I don't win it.

Good luck to everyone and Double of Luck to myself : )

LG 60 Inches LCD TV

Folks, let's countdown to the closing of the LG's contest set up by Ms. EastCoastLife for the grand 60 inches LCD TV set!! How many of you here have posted your entry to her? I just mailed out mine this morning, hope it reaches her without going MIA (missing in action).

Let's see, maybe I can dream about winning it...

I would be pinching myself to see if I'm dreaming, I would be running to hubby with the good news and he would be saying it's another scam, just like the time I told him I won a pair of Formula One tickets. Only my 3 little sons would be asking me how big is 60 inches, what is it like and so on... at least, there's the 3 little imps to humor me at times when I desperately need someone to.

Let's see, I have won some stuff recently:-

i) Movie Tickets
ii) Survivor Kit by a Cable TV Show
iii) A pair of Padang Grandstand Tickets to the Singapore Formula One 2008
iv) S$200 Takashimaya shopping vouchers from AIP Survey

Perhaps my luck would be good enough to win more stuff? In this economic downturn, it really helps to supplement my family which comprises of 3 little boys. Trust me, they wolf down food like there's no tomorrow, perhaps they thought their mum and dad are money printing machines? haha! Okay, just trying to make you laugh. But trust me, my 3 little boys are like little ants and they are hyper sensitive to food and knows when I'm opening the fridge or cupboards for food. :)

EastCoastLife / LG Contest

I finally completed the answers and put them down in writting onto a white A4 paper, now it's safely sealed in an envelope ready for mailing out to EastCoastLife.

For you pals out there whom have not done so, please do so by 4pm this afternoon! Visit her blog and find out more http://eastcoastlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/eastcoastlife-is-giving-away-60-lg-hd.html

How's it going for everyone else? Guess what, I had a tough time finding Question 9, and then I saw it at the corner of my eye. Guess I need to have my eyesight check soon. Perhaps my perfect eyesight is failing me with the constant glaring at the computer screen from morning to evening five days a week?!!

During the reading through of EastCoastLife's blog, you would find many interesting points in her life. The interesting events she's been to, the friends she's having and setting up a Kampong Spirit Lifestyle. I'm ashamed that I have hardly at time with 3 boys and my work on hand, friends are fast dimenishing in my life...??! *sigh*

Haha, I love the one about her and Elmo having a tea session, BRAVO! Good photo that cheer me up of her acting out as the "lazy girl" with the bread hanging round her neck. I will be following up on her blog frequently.

GOOD LUCK TO THE WINNER!!!! Cheers!!!!

Wow, I came across this interesting blog spot of Eastcoastlife, she's one writer whom expresses her views freely and appears to be a really joyful person.

Just a while back, she started a contest to give away a 60 inches LG LCD Television Set! What a giver, she believes that giving is a joy. Don't believe me? Visit her BLOG and you will be convinced!!!!!!! She's pretty too, it's hard to find someone who looks good both outside and inside nowadays.

http://eastcoastlife.blogspot.com/2008/09/eastcoastlife-is-giving-away-60-lg-hd.html

Perhaps I might be lucky enough to win the prize for my family? Pray god I am in the luck, house desperately needs a new television set.

News Update

Friday, finally another day before the weekends, the favourite day of the week.

Our family was kind of busy last week, we had a great 2 nights stay at Hilton Hotel's executive room. The kids were simply excited. Each night costs S$1,050++ during the F1 period, if boss hadn't been unable to make it, I would never have to chance to afford such expensive accommodation in my life time.

I won a pair of Padang Grandstand tickets, but decided to get it off since I am not really a great fan of the event.

It's been busy weekends as my parent's house are undergoing new coats of paint, so I have been working my arm / neck / body muscle very hard. Could hardly lift my arms at all after each weekends of painting the walls and ceilings. Finally, 3 rooms were completed, next would be the living room, the balcony... *tiring*

More updates would be in place soon...

Updates Updates...

Let's see, I have been talking about the Mid-Autumn Festival, the mooncakes and so on...
It might shock you, but after some calculations, my family have actually consumed 2 boxes of snowskin mooncakes, 3 boxes of baked skin mooncakes!! Well, what to do, there are 3 young boys at home whom always seem to be hungry. Like for instances, they could have just finished their dinner, and still continue if you place biscuits / sweets / cakes / ice cream / etc, in front of them. Since mooncake is something sweet and the look is fanciful, definitely they are fancinated by it.

The weather continues to be looking all bright and sunny, no more gloomy and wet weather for now. I finally put my hands on the steering wheels again! The last was when I passed my driving test 2 months ago. Patrick hubby finally found the courage to let me lay my hands on the car for a short drive around. Still, my driving skills definitely need more polishing up. And I don't think I would ever learn how to park the car. I must find time to go back for further refresher course with my instructor.

During lunch yesterday, my colleague Lay Peng and I went to the Popular bookstore. I came across this book that is really wonderful about making mooncakes! There is baked skin / snow skin and even jelly mooncake receipe!!!! Wow! And it's selling for S$9.90, I am still thinking whether I should get it... maybe I can try making mooncakes on next year's mid-autumn? But it's like 12 months away... Or perhaps, I could use the receipe on other moulds such as winnie the pooh or hello kitty shape, to make cute jelly? Let me consider...

At work, things aren't exactly smooth... I have been asking friends and contacts whether they would perhaps be thinking of getting Formula One tickets? But no luck : ( I am wondering how it's possible to find a buyer for the Stamford Grandstand tickets I am holding... I am selling the tickets at the original prices of S$998.00 per piece, but guess it's too costly for just any person to get for the event...

Well, there are never a smooth sailing path, but things will eventually work out someway or another...

Lovely Sunny Week after a week of RAINS...

Sunny!!!!!

Finally, it's sunny, the sun is out after a week of rains and storms... I was thinking it would never end, the wet wet feeling of walking in the rain, your shoes getting wet and perhaps earthworms getting stuck to your legs. The house full of damp clothes that just can't seem to be dry. My clothes are finally getting crisp dry under the sun.



Family

It's life as usual for the kids and my work. The Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching [14th September 2008], lovely occassion for people to find excuse of stuffing themselves silly with mooncakes. There are all kinds of mooncakes, jelly mooncakes / snow skin mooncakes / baked skin mooncakes / etc. The list goes on, there's all sorts of fillings too, fruits / bird nests / ginseng / lotus paste / salted egg yolk / durian / ice cream / cheese / chocolate / mango / yam / yogurt / curry / sambal prawn and lots more. I have been buying for my parents, in-laws, my workplace, etc. It's a period of spending money again. But trust me, after a while, you just get sick of the mooncakes, they are forever too sweet from overdose with sugar.

I have been catching up with friends recently, this is rare since I have been keeping to my family life and work life. It just seems that after 3 kids, time for friends just seems hard to find. Imagine that for 5 days a week from Monday to Friday after waking up at 7:00am in the morning, getting ready for work and leaving the house to return only at 6:30pm in the evening. You find 3 kids screaming "Mum" at the door once you step in, there are hardly time for friends and anytime else. Saturday and Sunday are times for the marketing and the kids since you often feel the guilt slipping in after neglecting them for 5 days a week when you are at work.

Anyway, back to my friends Christine, Daphne and Agatha : )
Christine is a long lost buddy whom I haven't been able to meet with for 2 years eversince she followed her husband to France for his work. But now they are back and we managed to meet a few weeks ago just with her screaming my name when she saw me and I as usual just walk blindly around... thank god for the arrangement of us banging into each other with luck! I truly miss this buddy, she's my pal eversince our school days. What follows are a string of sms and lovely dinner that have us catching up.
Daphne is another pal from my ex employer of the past. She's given birth to her 3rd child!!! Finally, I'm not the only one in my friends group with 3 kids :p Haha! I carried her baby girl whom just turn 1 month of age at her celebratory party, a very lovely child.
Agatha, my lovely gal pal, also just gave birth to her 3rd baby!! Haha!!!!! A very lovely baby boy, I just visited them at the hospital too. Now, I have 2 buddy to form a gang of the motherhood with 3 kids. Trust me, having 3 kids is a big deal in this age of time. Everyone is trying to struggle with only 1 kid and are always shock when I told them I have 3.

Okay, that's the current updates for now, I will try my best to be back with more updates from time to time.

Cheers!!!!!!

A Horrible Week

It's been a horrible week as my title said!

I am so sick I can't feel my limbs, can't think straight, no mood for anything.
My nose is so blocked, I have been using like 2 boxes of Kleenex tissue, yet the yucky fluid is still there. From all the sniffing, my nose are sore and red, flanking pieces of dry skin from all the rubbing are just so unsightly.

Medicines doesn't seem to be working one bit, I feel so tired, yet when I had difficulty falling asleep. *sigh* Hope the virus goes away soon, my fingers have been busy at getting the flanky pieces of dry skin away from my nose... I look so so ugly.

Got a medical leave from work yesterday, back in the office today and trying to make myself in forcus. I really don't want to spread the virus to my colleagues, but I can't stay away from work long either... Hope they don't blame me.

Dark Gloomy Day - 19th August 2008

I'm sick, no mood for anything or whatsoever, no appetite and my nose is sore from all the rubbings I am having with tissues.

It's a bad bad flu, serious running nose, signs of a sore throat is appearing too. Oh god, I can see the dryness around my nose that is causing peeling. I am trying loads of water, but it doesn't seems to work. The medicines just doesn't seem to be working too.

Nights of waking up to drink water have been making me look bloated! Argh!!!! Okay, okay, I'm complaining, but I just feel so irritated! And I have always had bad reactions to flu medicines, I feel my heart jumping faster than usual and being so restless when I am just so tired. I feel myself waking up countless amount of times last night when I feel so tiring that I think I will die.

Still got to pull myself to work, I don't want to be seen using up the medical leaves when it is only August now, still 4 months to end of the year. What if I fall even sicker than now, I would have no more medical leave to apply then.

Office have been in a bit state of a chaos as usual. Guess this is unavoidable when there are different business units sharing the same space and getting use to each other takes quite a bit of a time... let's just pray that things would be working out good as everyone tries to get along. *sigh*

Okay, time to sniff out my nose again, think I have used up at least 2 boxes of tissues!!!

Wet Rainy Days in Singapore

That's it!
I have been observing that it always rain just after our car was given a quick 10 minutes wipe when we are lazy or just after a major sweating shampoo wash... is this just a coincidence or what?!! Just last evening, Patrick and the maid did a major bubble bath and wiping for the car, and after that, there's a light drizzling for 5 minutes. Just plain Horrible!

Wonderful news to share, I obtained my driving license, the much converted paper! On my first try at the scary driving test on 4th July 2008 morning, with a very very pressured mind, I proceeded with the pre test warm up which follow with the test. After the warm up driving lesson, my instructor parked the vehicle 139 at Lot 18, he told me that all test car parked at this lot have never failed to pass the test. I am still wondering if he is just pulling my leg or telling me the truth... We proceeded to the 2nd level where he told me to wait in a room with other test candidates, the metal chairs in the room was really uncomfortable as we waited like pigs being taken to the slaughter house.

About 10 minutes later, 3 officers came in, they proceeded with the drawing of lots to determine each candidates' test route. I drew test route 6, which needs me to go straight pass Teck Whye and turning in to Teck Whye past the Post Office...

Next, we were told to take a seat while waiting for the officer conducting the test. In a nervous state of mind, I heard my name being called, the tester did not wear a black sunglasses as I have imagined him to be. He is a elderly, rosy cheek man. The total difference from the stern tester I have been imagining for the past weeks. We proceeded to the car, he told me to relax and treat it as a normal lesson. Definitely, I must have look very nervous wrecked to him... At the end of the drive, he asked me to follow him to a room where other candidates have already finished and are getting their driving reviews from the testers. He marked me a demerit points of 10, and gave me a Passed!!!! Man, was I delighted! I thank and thank him, a very touchy moment for me. Thank you, God!

Patrick hubby tried out my driving skills on the night itself, he said I totally sucked and wonder how in God's name did I managed to pass the test. I told him that I just can't get used to our Nissan Sunny, since my driving lessons were always conducted via Honda Civic. Just another excuse...

I definitely needs more practices... *sign*

Bright Sunny Monday

Finally, after a rainy weekends, seems like a mini storm has been visiting Singapore. Deafening thunders, bolts of threatening lightings across the sky and eerie wind hallowing away...

Finally, today everyone woke up to a bright sunny morning, a good start for the first day of school. At least the students would not have to get all wet on the first day of school, imagine sitting in the classes for hours with soaking wet shoes!

Wow, a good start to Monday @ work for me too, only bad thing is to see the technician and Accounts Manager coming to me about getting their copier again... Been pestering about how good their copier is!! I just can't get the point of how good a copier is if the end product of it's printout is going to be purple when it shows blue on our computer screen... my patient's running thinner and thinner.

Guess some people's concept of color just isn't quite there, I just don't understand what is the use of getting a printer that doesn't print out colors that are at least close to what we see on screen. No choice, have to just see how things go, anywhere the copier company's leaving a test set in our office for 2 weeks.

Another Monday [Fair Weather]

Family

Saturday, woke up at 8:00 in the morning to get ready for breakfast with hubby and youngest son Bryan before going for my driving lesson at 9:50hr, I got to complete the practical lesson's final evaluation before my driving test on 4th July 2008. Youngest son Bryan just need to smile at you and your heart sort of melt, his two small white "rabbit" tooth are just so cute. His two older brothers are still sleeping away...

Hubby and Bryan decided to wait at the driving centre for me, so patient of them both, really touchy and very relived that I have managed to get past the evaluation lesson eventhough hubby have told me in advance that the instructor would always give a pass no matter what...
After the lesson, we went home and laze around, the 3 boys started their usual practice of running around the house with their toys. They ensure that they must complete the required noise volume for the day before they are asked to turn in to bed for their sleep at night. Rest of the days are pretty spent relaxing and catching some shows on the television.

Sunday, woke up bright and early @ 07:15 to make a trip with hubby to the market. 3 kids are still sleeping like a log, guess they play too much yesterday. We walked around the wet market and got enough vegetables and meat stuff to last us for the coming week. A decision to have our breakfast saw us sitting down for a meal of heavenly piping hot pig intestine / beancurd / pig skin / egg complete with the noodle. Finishing this by 08:15, we went to the nearby clinic to get a queue number for our domestic maid, her check up is due.

Got a number 4 for the queue, got to rush back home to keep all the marketing products before bringing her to the clinic for the check up. What a coincidence, my mum and dad happens to be sitting in the clinic when I reach there. Turns out there's a long queue and mum got number 12... I decided to bring mum in with us at queue number 4 and trying not to act obvious about it in front of other patients. Luckily the doctor is our usual family doctor and the counter nurses are very friendly with me.

Finishing the check up and bidding farewell to dad and mum, Sukamti and I walked home to waiting hubby and 3 kids at home. Turns out they are relaxing and talking about silly stuff that kids normally rumble about, complete with all the "Whys". It's almost 12:00 noon, the kids start with their bath and lunch of pastas. At about 2:30 afternoon, hubby and I suddenly had cravings for Xiao Long Pao, we drove to Crystal Jade at Jurong Point to satisfy our cravings. We ordered fried crispy eel, xiao long pao and another type of dumplings complete with a bowl of fried ribs noodles for hubby. YUMMY!! The trip ended wonderfully with a shop around at the toys r rus before our trip home.

Conclusion, a wonderful relaxing weekends! Luckily I did not give in to temptations of visiting the PC show, the thought of crushing with other people at the show is really disheartening.

12th June 2008, Fair Weather after a Stormy Day yesterday

Fairly good morning, traffic on the road was good, perhaps it's the school holiday and a huge number of parents are taking leave from work to keep their kids company.

A quiet morning in the office, everyone's staring away at the computer screen typing away. A good start to the morning, received an email from an ex-colleague, I finally found time to pick up the phone and dialed her number yesterday evening.

Overtime, I found myself increasing the distance from my friends. Laziness is everywhere, I no longer write snail mail to my friends / no christmas or new year cards / no picking up the phone to keep in touch / etc. It's just work and the family that I am keeping myself occupy with. Perhaps with 3 little boys that are forever running around the house and competing to create noise, that I am sort of energy drained to do other things.

Things in the office are still working as per normal except for the occassional things that some people came up with that you would either find amusing or hair grabbing. Guess there's going to be some "clowns" whom can always be found in any company to "spice" up people's life! Luckily I have enough experiences to try to cope with such people.

Hope everything's going to be wonderful especially since the weekends are approaching.

A Horrible Week It's Been

Life
It's been a bad week so far, today's Thursday, things have been going downhill since Monday.
My maternal grandma passed away in her sleep yesterday, 9th April 2008, in the wee morning at 5:30am.
Seems like she has taken a turn for the worse since Tuesday, 8th April 2008. None of the aunts whom are in Malaysia with grandma, inform of her condition for fear of false alarm. Only when grandma left, did they call to my mum in Singapore, and also to the rest of the other 2 aunts.
Grandma is at the age of 88 this year, just past her birthday a few months back. She's been only able to lie in back and unable to talk since a few years back, it's only when she has a really bad bed sore which just seems to get worse that she's taken a turn for the worse.
Mum was crying when she called me in the morning to tell me of the bad news. I immediately informed to my boss and colleagues about having to take urgent leave for the day, mum and I were soon on the way back to Malaysia.
We reached there almost 2 hours later at 9:45am, grandma's body was already back at her old home after transporting back from the old folk's home. A few aunts and uncles were there. Grandma had 13 children and many many grandchildren plus grand grand children but a lot were absent. Shortly into the afternoon, another aunt came, she cry and shout for grandma from the main road into the house which is build on a piece of land surrounded by plants and trees.
Later part of the afternoon, another aunt came, complete with her husband, son and daughter. They said they came to stay till the funeral is over. Everyone started to say how filial who and who is to have come.
I believe grandma lying at the altar, is very very sad to see and hear all these. When she was at the old folks home and sick, not much people visit her. The grandchildren can hardly be seen, but at the funeral wake, people started to show up. It is very very sad.
My husband rush over from his trip in Penang after alighting from his flight in Singapore, he told one of my aunt that he does not visit my grandma only after her death. He has been visiting to grandma as much as possible at the old folks home whenever we can while she was alive. This sounds untactful but it's the truth.
It's really disheartening to see people's true colours during such occassion.