Today is Friday. Yes, I state the obvious.

We just had Spizza for lunch in the office, so after my earlier restless state, I am now restless and sleepy – perfect combination. Methinks I haven’t eaten pizza for ages!

I should have brought along my portable hard drive so I could dabble in my new found novelty excitement of being able to upload pictures onto WordPress in my desired sizes. But since I don’t have it, the next 3 hours are going to pass a tad more slowly as I await the hour of 5.30pm (when I go downstairs to watch Survivor on TV ;p)

I have also taken on an organised streak and begun to clear my bedroom – managed to get 3 bags of rubbish/recyclable items from a single cupboard with files and other stuff. I even cleared my 2 wardrobes! And found about 100 hangers with no clothes on them – so I can now at least find some clothes, when I had previously been relegated to choosing clothes from memory – because it was just too much hassle to exert [quite a lot of] muscle power just to shift the clothes from side to side along the rail and see what forgotten gems I had in the midst.

I also wrote a post on Sakae Sushi (somewhat like a promotional ad) – stay tuned! Coming up next!

I’d told myself that the goal was to have at least a post a month – Oops, I missed by a day.

It’s an extremely sleepy afternoon. But lo-and-behold – In all my internet savvy-ness, I’ve learned how to resize and upload pictures direct using wordpress! So here goes, in a flurry of randomness (because my organised nature doesn’t permit me to separate different pictures taken at different times, in different posts). Pictures speak a thousand words, especially when one is sleepy and incoherent. Enjoy!

We took part in the Bike Rally around Singapore again this year! Bum was aching after, but a really fun ride

I have a cat. His name is Ginger. He likes to roll on the floor. We don't usually let him into the house as he is a stray cat (all the more why he always tries to sneak in)

I also have a very cute goddaughter whose name is Selene. She makes me laugh.

This is my other niece - Caitlyn. She seems to enjoy playing with Ion. I figure it's mainly because they're both on the same wavelength, and his antics are endlessly funny to her.

Here they are again, sitting under my loft bed. You can see they're both enjoying themselves!

Family portrait - Well, kind of. This was taken at my Grandma's 88th birthday party on August 9 this year! Yes, she shares the same date as Singapore's birthday.

This is us at the Hard Rock Cafe in KL - Yes, we love to eat!

Ooh, look, more food. Ion's birthday this year on 2 Aug! This is the better version of Fish and Co's seafood platter.

Mum and I. Any resemblance? We are at Quentin's Eurasian Restaurant, on a Sunday afternoon.

Here are the other two at lunch!

Ok! There’s my attempt at loading photos.

More to come in October!

I have recently discovered that it’s pretty fun to upload pictures on Facebook, for the simple reason that it’s much easier to tag people and have the entire album sent to them for viewing, than sending huge files over the internet. On the other hand, it also breeds the possibility of a lack of quality control because the ease inevitably leads to uploading obsene numbers of photos at one go, with repeated similar photos appearing one after the other. Nevertheless, a thumbs up for facebook photos.

I have also just learned that I can resize photos on the MS 07 Powerpoint. Which means that I can also upload photos on this blog! Unfortunately, the MS Powerpoint is on my other laptop, which explains the lack of photos.

I have just returned from KL, and relished some good food. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy the tonnes of food at rather nice prices (the exchange rate was 2.44rm to S$1), because I am having wisdom tooth trouble. So, my recent dilemma is – Is it worth the 5 days of discomfort and soupy food to get it extracted through surgery, or should I just let it grow? I am making my way to the dentist tomorrow for a verdict/suggestion.

Mcdonalds!

Ion had a wonderful time at his surprise Mcdonalds party And he had a great time on his actual day with just the 2 of us at Big Fish East Coast restaurant as well.

I think photos Should be coming soon!

As soon as I switch laptops.

I forgot to write about our trip to Bangkok. It was fun – some shopping, some relaxing, and LOTS of eating

Our shopping escapades took us to Chatuchak market, Suan Lom night market, and Platinum Mall (shopping centre). It was funny, how at Platinum mall, the coffee places consisted mainly of tired men sitting alone on various chairs, while their wives scoured the mall for good deals. And at Chatuchak, the weather was kind to us – because it was cloudy and rainy, I managed to last in the market for a grand total of about 3.5 hours (I lasted only 1.5 hours the last time I went to Bangkok, to the aircon comfort of a shopping mall, because it was too hot).

We also went to Chinatown for seafood – picture this: 5 people in a seafood restaurant – we ordered:

- Huge bbq prawns (10 pcs)
- Chilli crab
- Black pepper squid
- Tom yum seafood soup
- Oyster omelette
- Seafood glass noodles (again with huge prawns inside)
- Seafood fried rice
- Snails
- Clams
- Cockles
- Big Thai coconuts

Yes, I didn’t eat some of them. But anyway, for all that, we paid about S$100, and it was enough to feed all 5 of us.

And then, we all went for a damn good and relaxing Thai massage – 2 hours, for S$20 per person.

I wish we were back in Thailand…………

[afternote: I have been trying to upload photos but the network is really slow.  Photos in the next post!]

Supermum

I’d written a post some time ago about a select superhero.

Introducing…. SUPERMUM!

Supermum, like the rest of us, has only 24 hours a day.

But somehow, she manages to fit many more things than most other individuals would. Perhaps it is because, out of love, she wakes up at 4.30am 3 times a week. And below is a glimpse of some of supermum’s many roles.

1. Grandmother and carer to 2 lovely nieces (the ones in Singapore) – these are the 2 she wakes up at 4.30am for, just to start caring for them at 6.30am
2. Carer of the household – it is no easy feat to keep a double storey house in pristine condition – and we have lived there for the past 18 years
a. Wash the clothes
b. Iron the clothes
c. Vacuum the floor
d. Mop the floor
e. Cook nice dinners
3. A vet
a. Feed the cats
b. Take the cat to the vet when he is unwell
c. Give the cat antibiotics and treat his wounds
d. Pander to the cat when he meows like a forlorn soul outside the door

Always in a rush to get things done, to get to places, to complete multiple tasks. What a tough act to follow. While I can envision myself playing with the cats, feeding them, and perhaps even treating them when they are unwell, I have told a certain him that next time, in a separate house, I would probably do the laundry twice a month. And that was before I added the disclaimer to say that – actually, probably would only do it when I run out of clothes to wear. [afternote: Since I have 2 wardrobes of clothes, that was a very direct hint that, since he would run out of clothes first, no guesses about who would need to do the washing.]

Even superheroes need a break!

We are going to Bangkok tomorrow!

It’s our first trip to anywhere remotely further than Malaysia.

Why you never bring me anywhere?!?! Humph.

Methinks I am going to be very tired because I usually sleep late, but our flight leaves at 6.30am tomorrow morning. Haha.

Will be back on Monday night – plane touches down at 11.30pm – and then I need to be at a course by 8.30am on Tuesday morning. And Wednesday too. Argh.

L… Is for the way you look, at me

O… Is for the only one, I see

V… Is very very, extraordinary

E… Is even more than anyone that you adore…

The song L.O.V.E. by Nat King Cole has simple lyrics, and is perhaps somewhat cheesy, depending on how you look at it.

I was never one for soppy love songs – I always thought the heartbreak and sorrowful songs sounded more catchy.

I don’t know whether it’s age, or whether it’s just a different way of looking at things. While I may not yet be ready for marriage, to settle down totally and have all the related things that come with it like having a family and kids, etc, I have begun to look at things somewhat differently.

It’s difficult to find a guy who will set his pride aside

It’s difficult to find a guy who never loses his cool

It’s difficult to find a guy who believes in trying, and in trying again

It’s easy to take such guys for granted.

You make me laugh, you make me cry, you make me sad, you make me mad.

I’ve run away so many times but there has always been something to draw me back. Thank you for being that wonderful person, for being the nagging force I can’t get out of my mind, for being my best friend, for being there for me.

I love you.

I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew – 3+ years, and 2 just about a year old.

They are really cute.

And by cute, I don’t mean ugly but adorable, but rather, bundles of endearing, simply hilarious individuals that can bring people together like nothing or no one else can.

And even though I do not have kids of my own, and don’t experience the ‘downside’ – i.e. the screams, the tantrums, the sleepless nights, I do see how wonderfully rewarding it can be to have little shadows trailing in one’s footsteps.

And it’s also rather nice to see how fond my 3+ (going on 4) year old niece is of a certain individual – who is rather irritating at times to me, but also the one who has won my heart (at most times ) with persistence, and a quiet calm, completely unlike my highly irritable, explosive nature. That same persistence has won that little 4 year old over – and it looks like it will stay for at least a while to come – until her attention shifts over to something (or someone) – who can keep her attention and make her squeal with laughter.

I just told him yesterday that only 4 year olds like him because he can identify with them. He told me that 25 year olds like him too – and in 2010-26, 2011-27, 2012-28 year olds will. Rather annoying, but also immensely endearing.

…you start to hear that the people around you are all getting married. And then you know you’re really getting older when…

…you start to hear that those younger than you are getting married.

Then again, as I prepare to attend a number of weddings in the upcoming months, I realise ever more so that I love weddings and what they represent – love, hope, anticipation, and excitement for the future.

Sometimes, I think that’s what a lot of people need and sometimes neglect to recognise in life when external circumstances get them down – maybe all it takes is to change perspectives, look at life from a different angle, and tell oneself that tomorrow is a new day, it comes perfect and unclean, it brings renewed hope, and it hopes we have learnt something from yesterday.

Congratulations to all the lovely couples in the world who are getting engaged and married!

I think it’s been more than 2 years since I last got a fever. Then to suddenly get a fever that shoots up to 39.1 – not a very good feeling.

But anyway, feeling much better today. Thank goodness it’s also the weekend so there’s more time to rest and sleep sufficiently. A constant reminder after this :

Insufficient Rest = Reduced immunity.

Now going to lie on the sofa. Toodles!