Eighth year of Christmas

2002 - with my NJ class, at Qianli's house
2003 - we were wrapping hampers for $$!
2004 - staycation at Ritz Carlton
2005 - Tokyo
2006 - Hong Kong
2007 - with my NJ class, at my house
2008 - with my NJ class, at East Coast Sunkist chalet
2009 - staycation at St Regis

2010...... I realised this is the first Christmas not spent with you....
May this be the first and the last time.
Nevertheless, the coming Chinese New Year will be my first Chinese New Year with you in 5 years!
For now, hope you have a great time in Perth dear!

2010 - Places Revisited

I realised I haven't documented on any of my trips for 2010.. omg, pure laziness or what. Here's a summary!

April - Beijing and Dandong China

Beijing's Niao Cao (Bird's nest)


Climbed the Great Wall - Wo shi tiao hao han!

Dandong - that near to North Korea, we were.

May - Colorado, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, USA

Ah C graduated! Finally!

Garden of Gods

3rd Disneyland (Los Angeles)! - 1st Tokyo Japan, 2nd Florida USA



1st limo ride~
luggage overload. HAHAHAHA

View of the fountain from our room at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Nov - Bali Indonesia
(lost my camera on the last day of the trips so not much photos :[ )

Where we stayed: Komaneka villa @ Bisma (picture "koped" from website :D)


Poan cooking class (photo sent to us by fellow traveller in cooking class - only pic we have from the trip! :S)

November - Perth (Melly Cat's wedding!!!) & Sydney, Australia
Cape leewin lighthouse - 2nd time there! (last visit June 2008)

Jump shot! (there is no one photo joyce jumped at the same time as us.. lousy~)


Siao zar bos.... the wind is not that strong.

Lisa's favourite look.

Melly's dinner reception @ Saracen Estate winery


Playful bride

Love this pic.. macham posing for some calendar! haha.

Escape Incognito, Margaret River -the groom and bride's house for 3 nights (bbq party!)



Tea reception @ The Goose, Busselton

Beach @ Bunker's Bay, Dunsborough

Spent my first day (a Sunday) in Sydney lying in Ning's bed cos I had food poisoning... but next few days were fun!
Sydney Harbour by night




Lunch@ Firestick cafe, Hunter Valley... Yummy!!


My dear Ning ning~~ (Lunch @ Flat White)

Ended off Sydney with a trip to Sydney Fish Market (and was almost late for my flight back to Perth)

Travelled for work.
Travelled with Ah C.
Travelled with family.
Travelled with friends.
Travelled on my own.
Looking forward to trips in 2011!

The beginning of umemployment

I officially mark today as the 7th day of my unemployment. Haha! So how have my days been? Here's a summary:

7th Oct - detox day:survived on fruits alone and nua-ed at the home the entire day (figured i will not have energy to do anything with only fruits in my stomach)

8th Oct - Facial in the morning (after 6 months) and went to take a look at Coach+Kate Spade handbags sale at Suntec Convention Centre, which was boring - nothing beats factor outlets in the States! Went for Jap make up class for three hours till 9.30pm and then joined Ah c and his course mates at this German bar at Millenia Walk for Oktoberfest(stayed till 12am without wanting to fall asleep! Can feel my energy picking up... hehe).

Weekends - usual

11th and 12 Oct - Stayed home: Went to the gym, watched TV/DVD, helped in (a bit) of housework, picked Ah C's sis up from school and helped with her upcoming exams, did and revised Jap.

Anyway, yesterday was me and Ah C's 8th year anniversary! We went for a dinner date (he requested to book out from camp). He drove so we went to Michelangelo's at Chip Bee Gardens followed by 2am Dessert Bar at Holland village. Seems like we haven't really been on a date for some time - you know, not going somewhere to eat just because we are hungry and need to eat.. but more of picking a nice place and spending time together? =) Looking forward to more days like this.

Last night's dinner also gave me a new perception. In the past three years, sure I have been going to some of the highly rated places (which are normally quite expensive as well), but i have never enjoyed dinner as much as last night. When I was working, I went to expensive places because I felt that I had to treat myself better for working so hard. Hence, i was ready to pay higher prices for "good" food. However, I learnt yesterday that a good meal is not just about the food itself, but also about the person u are eating with, the mood you are in, and the memories that the place could create for you. We can go to a 'nice" place and say "oh I have been there before" and "ya, the food is not bad" and then probably try something new next time (new restaurants pop up every other day). But there are places where we will want to go again and again simply because they are meaningful.

i am enjoying my days now.. not bored yet. But I already know I am not the kind to stay at home and do nothing in the future. I am still deciding what to do.. will update again when I have more concrete plans!

Think positive, always.

In no way is it the end of the world.
Light is always at the end of the tunnel.
It is up to us whether we want to walk till the end.
Drag ur feet if u must.
Stop for a rest if you have to.
But never say you cannot do it without trying.

Obstacles in life are meant for us to overcome and become stronger,
and not cry that its the end of the world.

Utilise our energy in celebration and not in despair =)

Count our blessings.

Despite the fact that there are many unhappy moments in my current job, I am lucky to be blessed with many other things which made life so much better..

We just have to learn to count our blessings.

3 months to go - the BIG DAY

Have been so busy the past one month I had no time to update this abandoned blog of mine.

Realised I have not been taking much photos lately even though I have been hanging out with friends the last few weekends. I think its a sign that I am tired... overwhelmed by so many things going on at one go.. till my schedule is so lined up all the way till July. I have never encountered this before! Have been busy before, but not juggling so many things at one time! Maybe that explains my acne outbreak. sigh. and my stomach has not been feeling very well lately, indigestion and stuff.

Just take a look at what is coming up the next three months:
1. flying off to Beijing this sunday for job assignment. spending one week in dandong, at the borders between China and North Korea (hope I come back alive), 1.5 weeks in Anshan, and finally back in Beijing head office. by the time i am back in Singapore its already 1 May or so.
2. and the following during the three weeks back in singapore:
- collect my pre-wedding shoot album (just called ytd and they say its not ready and i prob can get it only after i come back from my work trip)
- print invitation cards, finalise guest lists
- decide on wedding favours
- shop for wedding stuff (dowry, shoes, bedsheets and a million more things)
- plan programme for wedding
- gather and have a meal with all my jie-meis
3. Fly off to USA on 22 May for 10 days. be back only on 3 June.. and that leaves me one month to wedding
4. I can't go on this list anymore...

I want to sleep more.

Facial rescue

I have been very bad (facial) skin problem since the start of this year... outbreaks, and pimple scars that wouldn't go away.. and as the wedding draws nearer and the problem is getting worse, I decided to seek the help of a dermatologist. Guess how much did my first appointment cost... a freaking $520!!!! $520 better be well spent hence i am posting on this as part the monitoring mechanism.. and then decide if its all worth it.

Ok, given a second chance (after knowing it will cost $520), I figured i will still go. Cos my problem is really quite serious... just look at all the scars on my forehead which wouldn't go away (even after applying boscia recovery anti-oxidant cream and clarins spot corrector). and new pimples keep popping out! ok sorry the picture quite gross...

So this is the highly-raved-about DRX clinic which one of my managers recommended..

And I was given 20days supply of antibiotics and bought following skincare products...

3 weeks later will go back for second Consultation. Hopefully my face is clear and glowing by then!