Friday, October 27, 2006

...into the Fire...

An old friend called me up yesterday. Wanted to know if I was looking to get back into practice. Somewhere small, with a convivial atmosphere (ok, so he didn’t really use the word, “convivial”. More along the lines of “not so much politicking”), manageable workload, and a pay cheque commensurate with the smaller amount of stress.

I turned him down. I’m already working amongst a small(ish) group of people, in a convivial atmosphere, with a manageable workload, and a pay cheque commensurate with the smaller amount of stress.

Nothing he could tempt me with. But thanks for remembering me! :-)

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Pause




"What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare."
- Leisure
William Henry Davies

Thanks for the reminder, friend.

Perspective

“A frog in love would not be enchanted to learn that her beloved had turned into Prince Charming.”
- Mason Cooley

Monday, October 23, 2006

Lazy Day

The crickets were singing. Kids laughed as they pushed each other on the tyre hanging from a tree. The bacon, fried to a crisp, was washed down with a cold ginger beer. A little slice of tranquility the government spared.










Shopping List

I suspect my job is not burning up all my energy...

Walking down the aisle of life, pushing a trolley before me, shopping list in hand for the skills I would like to pick up before I check out :-

• Riding a motorbike
• Conversational Japanese
• Rock climbing
• Pop piano
• Baking something
• Mixing a cocktail
• Performing CPR (correctly)
• Giving a full body massage
• Ballroom dancing

The shopping list will grow as each item gets picked off the shelves and put into the trolley.

Shopping is never about NEED, you know?

Friday, October 20, 2006

108

I remember the giant mural of a forest on one wall of the living room.

I remember the white Saarinen-lookalike tulip-shaped dining table and chairs.

I remember the shadows playing on the bedroom wall at night, after lights out.

I remember being so small I could curl up inside the seat of the white pastille chair and hide there.

I remember climbing up the wooden screen built between the pillars that support the car porch shelter and peering into the plantar boxes there.

I remember the rambutan tree growing from the neighbour's house abutting the back of our house, reaching over the fence into our space. And I remember eating the rambutans from that tree.

I remember riding the bicycle down the sloping driveway, gathering speed as I zoomed out onto the road right outside the house.

I remember losing one-and-a-half front teeth when I lost my balance on my brother's bicycle and fell face first onto road (that, and a whole lot of blood). I remember Po-po soothing my tears away.

I remember being sent to crawl into the drains outside the house to pick up the shuttlecock that had gone astray in a game of badminton.

I remember being pushed around the car porch whilst sitting on one of those plastic trays they pack Christmas hamper goodies in (makeshift go-kart!).

I remember the little yellow creeper flowers that grew on the chain-link fence that stretched down the driveway.

I remember clinging on as the gate was swung open and close (it took so little to amuse us then!).

I remember feeding milk to the stray cat that used to come round every morning, mewing piteously (so I imagined) at the gate.

I remember climbing onto the dining chair to look on top of the fridge for my school badge.

I remember being so sleepy one day as I walked down the stairs, I slipped and fell the last few steps.

This house was bought the year I was born. Posted by Picasa

Monday, October 16, 2006

Getting in touch with my inner Ah Lian


Hairdresser : "I'll give you creative highlights."
Me : "What's creative highlights?"
Hairdresser : "Neh, like not normal highlights lor!"

The painting behind me, btw, is a purchase from Vietnam. Yet another starving artist. I fell in love with the texture in the painting. Bought 2 pieces, and gave one to another friend for house-warming.

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Weather Report : Keep holding your breath



As I was traversing the island on the ECP this morning, I passed the exit for Prince Edward Road, and a sense of deja vu tugged at the fringes of my memory.That was the exit I would take every weekend, on my way into the office, in a previous life.*pat on back* Congratulations to self for chucking in THAT old life.

In my new life, I'd just had a dip in the pool (struggled through 4 laps in a 25m pool. But hey, the new swimsuit not only looked good, but they stayed ON throughout the swim!), and was on my way to get my hair cut and coloured. Now I have Ah Lian highlights!

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Holiday Dreaming

Down Under for Christmas...to go or not to go? *dilemna* Posted by Picasa

Hit by a wave of restlessness this morning, I surfed through the budget airlines’ websites, looking for cheap options for a quick getaway. In my mind’s eye, I saw lazy days spent at a poolside (must be the new swimsuit I just got, influencing my fantasies), with a book on my lap (as opposed to the usual iBook on my lap).

Sunday, October 08, 2006

The Spoils of War

Spent yesterday afternoon egging someone to shop unreservedly.

Retribution : I ended up on a spree today...


Y, I blame you for the dress purchase!






A weekend spent bingeing.

Last nite, we finally checked out Corduroy and Finch. HAD to try the sirloin burger, because they said on the menu that they were the people who created "Uber-burger". Yums.

Creme Caramel for dessert


Big breakfast at Book Cafe this morning. Miraculously, we awoke to a haze-less day. Must've been one BIG gust of wind!

Dinner at Waraku at Katong Village. V's birthday celebration.

*slurp* (The "Wagamama" shot)

Friday, October 06, 2006

The Look of Acrid Smell

The week that passed was spent printing and binding papers ad nauseum for the meetings yesterday and today. I think I've added 3 more papercuts to the collection on my hands (容易受伤的女人). And my right bicep looks just a tad more toned than my left one (according to my prejudiced eye).

Spent a long and tedious day, holed up in an offsite meeting, followed closely by a board meeting (it's not easy, the life of an "official powerpoint page changer"). Dragged my starved and tired body over to class after the meetings. They have "free" food at class during the break, you see, so I thought that would be a good reason not to skive classes. Haha. So I eschewed slumped-in-front-of-tv-nite for a lousy tuna sandwich and a styrofoam cup of tea. *Sigh*

Being in tonight's class was like being in a time warp - the time just wouldn't pass! *Groan* Regrets!! Should've skived class!! Greeted by this sight when we went to get my car after class FINALLY ended.



Thanks to the Sumatran fires, our little corner of the world has been shrouded in a dense haze, with the acrid smell of smoke detected even by my very insensitive nose! *gag*

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Weather Report - Overcast skies

Air quality - the pits!