Glimpse of Me

Ok I have nothing better to do. So decided to post this pic of a section of my bedroom. This is taken on 31 May 2007.

Welcome to my inner sanctuary. It is messy now as I keep adding more things (read = shopaholic).

Bedsheets - most would recognize it as being from IKEA. Quite common.

Clock - yes, I took the picture about 10mins to midnight. It is a clock shaped like an alarm clock and is an Alice in Wonderland design. I bought it in Canada, so I brought it back with me when I came back to Singapore.

Laptop - my new Samsung Q35. The ladies laptop which was featured in red previously. This is a newer version and only came in silver. So boring. But I like the small size - 12" only. I have on a chat window (not sure who I was chatting with - don't remember the pic) and the webpage is CC as some may recognize.

The bottom shelf is my mini alcohol "cabinet". I keep my stash there. It shares space with my essential oils and massage oils.

The top and middle shelves are home to my soft toys. Hey, at least I don't have them on my bed. They used to reside on my bed. Now only cushions and pillows are allowed on bed.

Soft toys - maybe I don't really have them when I was younger, so I kept these, which I got when I was 16/17 and older. Still a child at heart :p The frog (Hot Fudge) was a farewell gift from Ginger when I left for Canada. The mouse (Strawberry Sundae) was also a farewell gift from my cousins. It has traveled with me across the Pacific Ocean many times as I took it along in the plane every time I flew. Next to the Hot Fudge is a Care Bear (Tenderheart) which was a Christmas gift when I was 10. It was stored in its clear plastic bag and tucked into the closet. I only took it out a few years back. Hence its pristine condition. The pig next to it is a Christmas gift from my nephew a few years back too.

The dog is a gift from Yiyong in Canada, not sure if it was meant as a Christmas gift or what. The tiny bear with GUND attached is a graduation gift from Peter (probably lost in the wilderness of Peru, no one has heard from him in ages). Behind that is the Graduation Bear from SFU which I bought to celebrate. The bear in the center with a frame of yellow roses is a birthday gift from my sister. She went to Harrods in London and bought it for me and shipped it over. The cost of shipping actually cost more than the bear itself! The bear next to it with a scarf is a bear from

La Senza which I bought in Canada during the Christmas season. I think it was for a good cause.

The bear on the other side wearing a red sweater is a gwp for buying Giorgio Beverly Hills fragrance. The rest of the soft toys are miscellaneous purchases.

Phew! That is a long description of my babies. The figurines spelling out my name is my birthday present from a gf. The ceramic Angel jewelry container was a present from the Australian family whom I stayed with. Close family friends of my godma, and they owned a garden statues factory/workshop. They also own a farm up in the Adelaide Hills. Coolness.

There are my 4 Tocca candles which I ordered from Beauty Habit and the Decleor body lotion - a freebie and I have not opened it. You can also see my tower of CDs. Yes, I still buy CDs, then ripped them into mp3 to be played in my mini ipod.

Moving on to the low table, I like my Sony stereo which is tuned to FM Power 98. Music and Lyrics CD is inside. I like that it comes with a remote so I can switch it on and off as I like. The huge picture collage was a farewell gift from friends in Canada. Really touched by that as it contained pictures of us "Viva gang" and also my stay from beginning till end. Sweet. The picture just in front of that was taken at my sister's wedding dinner. And the one before it was my graduation picture with the Viva gang.

There are many candles and tealights scattered on the low table. They are lit when I want to chill. The "swan" and burner are used when I want to relax and breathe in the soothing vapors of the essential oils. The crystal tealight globe was a Christmas gift Norie bought for me on her first trip to Sweden with Stefan.

The frame containing the silhoutte was of me when I was 19. That was done in Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Look like me? No? The bigger photo frame was a Christmas gift during the "snatch Christmas gift exchange" at Norie's party in 2006. The very top was a pic of Jenny and I in Cameron Highlands. Below that was of Geri and I during our D&D in 2005. Next to that was the very first time I met the girls from CC - dinner organized by Agnes. Above that was at Via Mar, half the people from the 1st outing was there. My close friends :)

There is the turquoise case with the polka dot ribbon. I bought that only for the case. Inside it contained the La Source hand therapy cream, cuticle cream and gloves from Crabtree and Evelyn. All untouched. That was a Limited Edition case to celebrate International Women Day.

Behind the stereo is the vase I bought in Bangkok Chatuchak Market during my first visit. It is made of mango wood. Not meant to store water - I tried and it kinda became damp, and the white lilies I put in became stained with the woodcolor. So now it only contained the fake/dried flowers which I bought from IKEA. Peeking out from behind the big photo frame is a purple @ clock which I bought in Australia. It is no longer working, hence it is being chucked behind.

Ok, that is all I think. A very lengthy description of my little slice of heaven in my room.

I've no idea why the spaces between lines are not showing.

Gobi Desserts

I read about Gobi in the papers many moons back but as it was located at Katong Mall, which I hardly go to, I didn't have the chance to try its creations. Gobi serves desserts in bite sized pieces so you can try a little of everything. Wonderful idea!

You can buy them in either a box of 6 or 12.

With the opening of Central at Clarke Quay, Gobi has a store there, facing the road. Great location! Especially since the desserts need to be chilled within 2 hours of purchase.

It was finally opened when I was at Central on Friday. It was still under renovations when I was in Central the last few visits. I popped into there and dragged Davis in :p Literally like a kid in a candy store, I wanted to try everything!

In the end, Davis and I shared a box of mini macaroons. There are 4 flavors in there: mint chocolate, orange, strawberry and almond. Almond is the worst tasting of all, maybe it is the synthetic taste of almond? Strawberry is the tastiest, followed by orange and then mint chocolate. But overall, I didn't really like the mini macaroons. Too sweet.

For the box of 6 desserts, I chose the following:

Sweet Somethings, Oomph

Dark Angel - A must-have for all chocoholics. pure chocolate heaven embedded in moist rich chocolate cake.
This is really good! I like it, rich dark chocolate cake.

Sweet Somethings - Pink macaron shells encase fresh strawberries and cream.

I love this! The tart strawberries contrasted so well with the fresh cream and the macarons lent a right touch. Much better than the mini macarons.

Opera - The ultimate coffee dessert. The perfect blend of joconde, coffee cream, dark chococlate ganache with just the right crunch to top it off.

A must-have if you love coffee. Can't go wrong with it.

Between the Sheets - Malibu milk chocolate ganache sandwiched between delicate sheets of dark chocolate and feullitine praline sits on a meringue base.

Davis' fave! Not really mine, too milk chocolatey for me.

Cactus - Sitting on a cinnamon crunch, is chestnut nestled in a cone of dark and light sponge crushed with dark chocolate ganache, custard and rum-soaked raisins covered with a milk chocolate and roasted diced almonds.

I didn't like this at all. Only one not finished. The rum is definitely overpowering but perfect for those who like alcohol, I supposed. I don't like chestnut either, somehow the whole combination is just so wrong for me.

Oomph - Luscious cherry enrobed in raspberry chocolate ganache encased in dark chocolate crunch.

This is really nice! Raspberry or cherry with dark chocolate is fantastic!

Oomph, Between the sheets, Dark angel

Cactus, Opera

The service was good too. I wanted to take pictures of the desserts before they melted when the staff asked if we would like to eat them in the store. It is not a big store with only that lone table with 2 chairs. She also served us water without us asking for it. That is real good service. The decor is nice. I love the tiny tea service set, seemed to be meant for doll house.

Location:
http://www.gobi.com.sg/

Canele

I went to Canele at Robertson Walk with Sheryn for some tea and desserts. I like the place, cosy with fabulous desserts. I love the boxes - pink and black! I like :D

I was all chocolate out from the desserts I have been having the past few days. Bad me. So we ordered Strawberry Shortcake and a Rose Meringue to try. I had the Sweet Meadows tea (a fusion of camomile and thyme lemon) which was really good. Soothing, relaxing.

The strawberry shortcake was so good! Moist sponge cake with cream which was not too rich or buttery yet with a slightly heavy texture. The strawberries were a mixture of tart and sweetness, making it a refreshing change on the palate. Nice!

The rose meringue was super sweet. It reminded me of the icing on the small button biscuits which you could buy back in the good old days at the local bakery stores. We didn't finish the meringue at all as we just got that to try and taste.

The other cakes looked so tantalizing. I would definitely want to try other stuff some time and to try the macaroons too. I am on a macaroon hunt now :p

Location:

11 Unity Street, #01-09

Robertson Walk

Singapore 237995

Tel: (65) 6738-8145
http://www.canele.com.sg

Other branch

B1-25 Paragon

290 Orchard Road
Tel: (65) 6733-8893

Haircut!

I have not cut my hair in a long time. I am such a "low maintenance" girl for hair that I usually only visit my hair stylist twice a year. Once for color, and once for perm. No cuts in between.

Recently I noticed my hair has been getting all tangled up and got into my way when I sleep that it is annoying. The hot weather didn't help either.

So I made an appointment with my regular stylist at X-Trim to do a color and cut today. Despite making an appointment for 3pm, I was kept waiting till close to 4pm when I got the chance to ask my stylist about the wait. As I am meeting Sheryn at 6pm I told him I will just do a cut.

So finally I was led to shampoo my hair - Edward did a great job with the shampoo, I didn't have the heart to tell him he didn't really have to use too much strength (then again, maybe he wasn't using strength at all) as I was already all "relaxed" out with the massages I have been having since Thursday (3 consecutive days of massages ;p).

So shampoo, blowdry straight before cutting. I have not seen my hair poker straight for so long.

What do you think? So straight!

It still took some time to cut and I am not sure how many inches I loped it off. But from waist length, it is now slightly above mid-back, maybe 2-3 inches below the shoulders now.

After the cut, still slightly straight, but you can see the curls trying to get out.

I decided to keep it straight for the day, just for a change. My hair is not naturally straight, so if I want it straight, I will need to do a straightener. Not sure if I prefer straight or with waves. But it is definitely a weight off my head for now.

Wheel of Fortune

You are The Wheel of Fortune

Good fortune and happiness but sometimes a species of
intoxication with success

The Wheel of Fortune is all about big things, luck, change, fortune. Almost always good fortune. You are lucky in all things that you do and happy with the things that come to you. Be careful that success does not go to your head however. Sometimes luck can change.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

Update on Customer Service Saga

Well there really isn't much to tell except that the matter has been resolved.

I sent the feedback/complaint to the company which handled the redemption program for Microsoft promotion late Monday night, cc-ing all the relevant parties (Microsoft SG and USA, Ingram Micro and SiS Technologies). The GM replied to my email on Tuesday afternoon apologizing and agreed to courier the vouchers to me that day.

He came and we talked about what happened that day and how the matter could be resolved amicably if his staff was trained properly on customer service. He agreed and said all staff was actually briefed to honor the timing stated on the brochure for Microsoft promotion since the brochures were already printed. He said I was the first Microsoft customer to encounter that, I am not sure how true that was since his staff said I was not the only one who dropped by after office hours.

In any case, he made a personal trip to my office to drop off the vouchers and he also gave me a $10 Tony Roma's voucher. Showed that he does know what to do to try to salvage the situation. So the issue has been resolved and I wish him luck in hiring staff who will be more pro-customer service. Other wise it will be tough for his business to succeed.

I'm a Dreamer!

Sheryn sent me this cool personality test. Try it out if you are free. It is quite fun to read what I am, and to a certain extent I think it is pretty accurate :)

Mood - Dreamer
Fun - Escape Artist
Habits - New Wave Puritan
Love - Nice N' Cheesy

Mood - Dreamer
You're a bit of the romantic and has the taste for the exotic. You love feeling the sea breeze in your hair, sun on your skin...Slip those shoes off...You like to kick back. When it comes to art, you appreciate natural beauty. You take time to soak up the nature favoring the coastline and countryside to the city galleries. As for music, it's the soundtrack to your world. You like to unwind and switch off: it gives you a break from reality. Your choice of treat shows you crave relaxation. Maybe you live a pampered life - or maybe you're so busy you don't seem to get any time to yourself. When you are tense, you need a little help to unwind.

Fun - Escape Artist
Life is exhausting and you seem to never get enough rest - poor thing! Working hard or playing hard, you just have to get more rest... For kicks nothing beats an adrenaline rush. You like to take risks and push limits, you're confident and brave - life is for the living. When it comes to holidays, you reckon they should always be indulgent - a very special treat and to recharge your batteries in luxurious surroundings as well as spending quality time with family and friends. What grosses you out? You like things to be clean, neat and smelling sweet - that's not too much to ask...is it?

Habits - New Wave Puritan
Even if you have a healthy approach to life, you still have your little vices to keep you going. It is all part of the routine, you're a creature of habit. Your choice of drink shows that on the whole you care about your health and make sure you're putting the right stuff in. As for the home, you have very cool and contemporary taste. You have a simple approach to style, but you like things to have their place.

Love - Nice N' Cheesy
You are a real romantic and a bit of a dreamer. OK, life may not be a movie, but what's wrong with thinking it is? When you think of freedom - you think of the opportunity in the city. Big enough to house all your ambitions, where people can be whoever they want.

Yep. That's me. Pretty true.

Other options:
MOOD
Dreamer - Always drifting off, their imagination takes control. They have big ideas, and a cool calm manner.
Go-Getter - Living life two steps ahead of the others, they are racing ahead. Sometimes they need to be told it's good to slow down.
Easy Rider - Always taking life as it comes, and living in the moment. They don't get fazed by life...they just breeze through.
Wild Cat - They live life to the full, take any opportunity as given to them. Always first to take the plunge, they are bold and sometimes a little wild.
Sofisticat - They like to live the high life; mixing in the right circles; always look their best; they like to impress and make an impact.

FUN
Conqueror - They are full of ambition, and energy - cavalier and always moving onto the next level.
Worker Bee - Their ambition drives them through life - work is their no. 1 priority. They are diligent and committed.
Escape Artist - They are forever slipping off, getting away from the rat race, and recharging those batteries. Independent, and thoughtful - they know themselves well.
Thriller - They can make the best of any situation - always a lot of fun to be around. They love to laugh, and have a bit of naughty side.

HABITS
Junkie Monkey - They don't have rules, and they don't like restrictions. They make their own choices, and do as they please. For them pleasure always comes first.
Back to Basics - They are striving for a simpler life, they do without disposable trends - they are inspired by nature and longevity.
High Time Roller - They are only seen in the best, and the finest, they love top quality, high-end glamor. Always adding a touch of sophistication to the proceedings.
New Wave Puritan - They are strict, organized and ever so neat- they practice the art of self-discipline. They like things done simply but with an eye to details.

LOVE
Touchy Feely - Love for them is about human contact - the nitty gritty. They are very physical - a high sex drive demands plenty of attention.
Nice N' Cheesy - Flowers and chocolates are the way to their heart. Chivalry is not dead, they expect to woo or be wooed - love like it is in the movies.
Home Soul - Their heart is always at their nest, they place real importance on friendships. They are family-minded, and forge strong relationships.
Love Bug - They are the type to fall in love a thousand times a day. Their feelings snowball quickly, and they are full of passion.

Sweet Thing

The first thing a colleague said to me when she walked into the office and saw me was - what happened to your cross? I never realized people saw and noticed what I wore and not wore. Told her I lost it and I had no idea where it was.

I had to pick up some pictures for a client's project after lunch. When I got back to my desk, there was a cake from Bakerzin. My colleague had bought that for me - she felt I needed some chocolate loving after the loss of my cross. That was so thoughtful and sweet of her.

She bought me Lavende - Lavender infused dark chocolate mousse cake. The lavender to calm and relax me, I supposed. It was good - dark chocolate.

Thanks, SA. It really made my day :)

The Cross I Bear

I chanced upon this pic and saw my cross. My precious silver cross - a plain creation, unadorned with diamantes or crystals or other stones. It is just pure silver, slightly tarnished at the sides - I tend to clean it once every few months. Next to it is the star - a blue silver star which paint has since peeled off - my baptism gift in 2000.

The simple cross has a weight which is hardly found in others. The pendants sold in the shops tend to be lightweight and filmsy. I am sentimental, I hardly throw away my things, especially those close to my heart.

This cross was with me when I first accepted Christ formally in 1990. It was with me when I went to Canada to study. It was with me when I first started working and all the way till now. I rarely took it off, unless necessary e.g. at the spa. I seldom buy necklaces as accessories as the cross was all I needed.

I have changed the clasp on the chain several times as it kept breaking. I never thought of buying a new chain either as I still love the current one. The last time I changed the clasp was just a few months ago. I went to many jewelry shops trying to change the clasp but it seemed like most do not use silver now. Finally I found one which could change it, and it was white gold. I would rather repair it than to buy a new one.

That is how much I treasure my necklace and cross, and how much the cross meant to me.

Bad bad day

Today is absolutely the worst day of my life - or at least in 2007. It started off average but took the turn for the worse after my session at Decleor at Raffles Hotel.

I finally bought the Microsoft Office 2007 today, and the SA told me there is a promotion running and I could redeem some departmental store vouchers for buying that. The redemption office is at Burlington Square and is opened till 6pm on weekends. He gave me the flyer with the contact details and opening hours.

As it was around 520pm when I left Raffles Hotel, I thought I would go to Burlington Square to redeem the vouchers as it was fairly nearby. And it is quite an inconvenient location so I didn't want to make a trip down purposely just for that another day.

I walked towards Bras Basah Complex and hopped onto a taxi. I realized I lost my cross and star pendants after I alighted from the cab. The necklace was hanging loose. I went back to the driveway to search and there was nothing on the ground. Felt real upset and sad about losing that, especially so since I didn't get a receipt, and so didn't have the cab license plate number. But I wasn't sure if I lost them in the cab or when walking out of Raffles Hotel.

I called Decleor and asked them to check if they were there, but nada. So sigh...really down about it as I had been wearing the cross pendant for close to 20 yrs now. I have resisted buying a new cross pendant as nothing can replace that, there is a bond for me. I always hold it, twiddle with it, and it brings me comfort in times of stress. I am grateful I didn't lose the chain too, that will be another blow to me. The star pendant was a baptism gift but the significance paled to the cross.

I will be calling the Lost and Found department of the cab company tomorrow as they are only opened from Monday to Friday. Keeping fingers crossed that I could get them but I know the chances are highly unlikely.

So that is 1 part of the bad day. It continued.

Finally found the unit of the redemption store for the vouchers and it was closed! WTH?! On the glass doors, it said opened till 430pm on weekends. The information on the flyer does not tally. Before reaching the destination, I called the store but no one picked up the phone at all. And there was no answering machine saying they are closed.

There were still people in the store and one guy came over to say they are closed and they can't give me the vouchers. With me losing the pendants, I was not in the best of mood and now I get this answer - sorry, no can do. come back another day. I was majorly pissed off with the standard spiel. I don't want that, give me some solutions, people.

I already wasted my time and cab fare coming down and you tell me sorry come back another day. Don't they make exceptions? Don't they offer other alternatives? The best they can do is the come back another day. I asked to speak to the person in charge. She was ineffective too. First we were having a conversation through the locked glass doors, plus there were some construction work going on. I could barely hear her. She said the same thing. Can't open the door, or get the vouchers cos they have done the closing and did not have the vouchers. Asked where they were, said in the safe and they can't open it. {not sure how true that is - i worked in retail before}

Basically I could barely hear her, and the guy came over again. I asked to speak to someone else, he said no one else. I asked for contact details of someone I can talk to. They dilly dally and deliberated before finally giving me a slip of paper with the company's name and same tel number (which I called and no one picked up).

Hello? That is the best they can do? I requested for an email address and someone to attention to. Then another girl came over and said to attention to her. I told her no point since she is standing there and doing nothing. She was so belligerent in her attitude and made it seemed like it is MY fault for going down to her office when it was already closed and not HER fault I wasted my time going down. And also MY fault for calling after office hours. I told her I called the office first before going down but no one picked up the phone. First she said oh they only have 1 line and that was why it was engaged. I said it rang and rang and no one picked up. Then she said oh, they turned off the ringer after 430pm. And again MADE it my fault that the phone was not answered at all.

Her attitude just infuriated me. The condescending tone and why bother me attitude was terrible. She just refused to empathized with the customers. Said it is the fault of the retailers for not informing customers of the change in operating hours. [blame shifter] And that many other people came down too, and they told them the same thing - come back another day.

So I asked her for the boss's name so that I can attention to him. I am not even sure if she gave me the right name cos she hem and haw before spitting out a name, and when I asked for a last name, she had to ask her colleagues. Errr.....wouldn't you know the name right off the top of your head? And the email she gave was a generic email - according to her it is the email for complaints.

So she knows I will be making a complaint. She wants me to blame the retailer too.

I am going to do research on the company and then I will be writing a formal letter of complaint to the company and to Microsoft and Ingram Micro (name on the flyer) on the promotion, as well as the customer service rendered.

Points to note:
1. Change of promotion informtion not communicated to customers or updated on the flyers.
2. Flyers still displayed prominently in the store.
3. If to blame, retailers...the advertising/promotion department should have brief all retailers and to provide stickers with correct information to paste over existing flyers or at least re-print new flyers.
4. Promotion only started from 19 April and is to run till 30 June. Where is the QC for promotional copy text? Microsoft has a huge marcom/pr department. What happened?
5. Attitude of staff from the redemption store. Can't even offer alternatives or solutions.

What made me mad was that I am in this line. I was in retail before. I ran promotions. I gave away store vouchers before. I briefed all staff on all promotions. I handled complaints from tough customers when they called the hotline when my staff couldn't handle it. I KNOW what it is like. It just galled me when someone tried to pull a fast one on me.

Plus now I am even closer to the media. I know what works. I know if I could, I could write in to the Forum page, to CASE. And I know people who work in Microsoft. Microsoft is very pro-customer service.

I spoke to them before regarding some other matters and they troubleshoot my problem and did not rest until it was resolved. They even called me back a few days later to check on my satisfaction on their service. Now that is what I called delighting the customer.

I just wanted the staff to empathize about my situation, not made it seemed like my fault for not knowing they are closed. If possible, they should have the empowerment to release the vouchers on the spot. If not, they should have the initiative to mail the vouchers over. I used to do that when I was in retail. We would either mail out to their home or leave it somewhere convenient for them to pick up. Or we would give some other vouchers for the hassle/trouble they encountered.

Instead I just got the come back another day. You are not the only one who came down and we told them to come back again. There is nothing we can do. No point complaining. I wonder what they would be if I do belong to THE "Lee" family of Singapore. And it was so damn rude to have the entire conversation through the glass doors.

Thai Accent @ Vivocity

I like the tagline - Hospitality with a Heart.

Davis recommended this Thai restaurant at Vivocity - Thai Accent. She raved about the iced tea. Bearing that in mind, while looking for a place for dinner today, we decided to try it. We thought of Kim Gary (long line as usual) and White Dog Cafe (menu is boring - pasta, mains and sandwiches) but decided to check out Thai Accent.

The place is surprisingly big inside, which explained the lack of queue. We were seated somewhere in the middle, and could still look out the glass windows and enjoy the waterfront view.

We ordered lots of food and it was only 2 of us. Lol. We must have been hungry - I only had cereal and 2 sticks of chicken the entire day. Or it could be after a few hours of shopping, so we needed sustenance.

Decided to try the pineapple fried rice with shrimps, stir-fried chicken with basil leaves, green curry chicken and kailan with salted fish, plus a plate of steamed rice. Yes, all that for 2 of us. But we didn't finish them all, too much. We also ordered the famed Thai iced tea. We found out there will be a 30 cents charge for a glass of refillable water (hot/cold), but that will be waived if you order drinks from the menu.
The green curry chicken was very spicy, generous serving of eggplants and chicken and some bits of string beans. Nice. The kailan was usual, not much pieces of salted fish at all. The portion was small for the veggies though.

The chicken basil was pretty good, but nothing can beat the one I had from the roadside stall in Bangkok. That was the ultimate.

The pineapple fried rice with prawns was a disappointment. Slightly below average. I think Thai Express does a better job.
The Thai iced tea was really good, as raved by Davis. Fresh tea, and I liked that you get to mix it yourself, with the different layers.

I will like to go back again to try other dishes. Very good service though, with waiters coming around to ask if you needed refill for the rice or water. Friendly staff.

Location

Thai Accent

#02-145/146, VivoCity

Tel: +65 6376 9282

www.seacuisine.com.my

Down Memory Lane

Saw this from a forum. I think I read this before from elsewhere and thought I'd re-post this again. Kudos to the creator who actually remembered all these.

To those born in the 1970s and 1980s (in Singapore):

You grew up watching He-man, MASK, Transformers, Silver Hawk and Mickey Mouse.
Not to forget Ninja Turtles, Care bears, My Little Pony and Smurfs too...
You grew up brushing your teeth with a mug in Primary school during recess time.
You will squat by a drain with all your classmates beside you, and brush yourteeth with a coloured mug. The teachers said you must brush each side 10 times too.
You know what SBC stands for.
You pay 40 cents for Chocolate or Strawberry MILK every week in class.
You watch a very popular Malay dubbed Japanese drama on RTM1 about schoolgirls who possess powerful skills in volleyball called Meoro Attack.
You find your friends with pagers and handphones cool in Secondary school.
SBS buses used to be non-airconditioned. The bus seats are made of wood and the cushion is red. The big red bell gives a loud "BEEP!" when pressed...
Bus fares barely reached 50 cents.
There are colourful tickets for TIBS buses.
The conductor will check for tickets by using a machine which punches a hole in the ticket. Envelopes were given to us to donate to Sharity Elephant every Children's Day.
You've probably read Young Generation magazine.
You know who's Vinny the little vampire and Acai the constable.
You were there when they first introduced MRT here. You went for the first ride with your parents and you would kneel on the seat to catch the scenery.
Movie tickets used to cost only $3.50. (if we did watch movies then.)
Gals are fascinated by Strawberry Short Cake and Barbie Dolls.
You learn to laugh like The Count in Sesame Street .
You longed to buy tibits called Kaka (20 cents perpack), and Ding Dang / Tora (50 cents per box), that had a toy in it and it changes every week.
Not forgetting the 15 cents animal crackers and the ring pop, where the lollipop is the diamond on the ring.
You watched TV2 (also known as Channel 10) cartoons because Channel 5 never had enough cartoons for you.
Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, Famous Five and Secret Seven are probably the thickest story books you ever thought you have read.
Even Sweet Valley High, Malory Towers. And R.S.Stine andGoosebump series were probably the scariest story you ever read.
KFC used to be a high class restaurant that served food in plates and lets you use metal forks and knives.
The most vulgar thing you said was asshole and idiot and THE MOST EXTREME WAS 'super white'...
you just couldn't bring yourself to say the Hokkien relative.
Catching was the IN thing and twist as the magic word.
Your English workbooks was made of some damn poor quality paper that was smooth and yellow. There was once the craze over Tamiya cars and toy dispensers where you had to slot in a coin and twist the knob, while your other hand anticipated the toy to appear.
20 cents for colourful rubber balls and 50 cents / 1 dollar for toys in plastic egg shells.
The only computer lessons in school involved funny pixellised characters in 16 colours walking about trying to teach you maths.
Waterbottles were slinged around your neck and a must everywhere you go.
Boys loved to play soccer with small plastic balls in the basketball court.
Teng-teng, five stones, chapteh, hentam bola and zero point were all the rage with the girls and boys too...
Science was fun with the balsam and the angsana being the most important plants of our lives, guppies and swordtail being the most important fish.
Who can forget Ahmad, Bala, Sumei and John, eternalized in our minds from the textbooks. Even Mr Wally & Mr. Yakki. What abt Miss Lala???
And Zaki and Tini in Malay Textbooks?
We carry out experiments of our own to get yourself badges for being a Young Zoologist/Botanist etc.
Every Children's day and National day you either get pins or pens with 'Happy Children's Day 1993' or dumbfiles with 'Happy National Day 1994'.
In Primary six you had to play buddy for the younger kids like big sister and brother.
We wear BM2000, BATA, or Pallas shoes.
Your form teacher taught you Maths, Science and English.
The worksheets were made of brown rough paper of poor quality.
You went to school in slippers and a raincoat when it rained, and you find a dry spot in the school to sit down, dry your feet, and wear your dry and warm socks and shoes.
School dismissal time was normally around 1 pm.
There would be spelling tests and mental sums to do almost everyday.
Your friends considered you lucky and rich if your parents gave you $3 or more for pocket money everyday.
You see Wee Kim Wee's face in the school hall.
You freak out when the teacher tells you to line up according to height and hold hands with the corresponding boy or girl.
Boys like to catch fighting spiders.
Collecting and battling erasers was a pastime for boys.
Autograph books were loaded with "Best Wishes","Forget Me Not", and small poems like"Birds fly high, hard to catch. Friend like you, hard to forget".
Class monitors and prefects loved to say "You talk somemore, I write your name ah!"
There were at least 40 people in one class.
Large, colourful schoolbags were carried.
You brought every single book to school, even thoughthere was one thing called the timetable.

Sure bring back memories of schooldays. Adding a few:
~You dread the time when schoolmates/classmates came into the classroom holding the dental cards and calling your name.
~You were a member of the Bookworm Club.
~One-leg was also a popular game during recess.
~Besides Sweet Valley High, Sweet Dreams series was also the rage.
~You had to bring a book for "Silent Reading" period before school started.
~You know all the "National Day" songs like "Stand Up for Singapore", "We Are Singapore", "Count On Me, Singapore" etc

N.Y.D.C

Raspberry lemonade (I think)

I have not been to NYDC in ages. Was at Holland Village with Sheryn to celebrate her belated birthday a few weeks back and decided to just go there for some drinks or snacks.

We shared the Spud-nik potato skins and Fowl Play - fried chicken wings.


I quite like the potato skins, which is full of bacon bits and topped with cheese. The chicken wings were not bad, run-of-the-mill. The appetitizer I like from NYDC was the baked mushrooms but it is no longer on the menu. Darn it. Reason given was the huge mushrooms were not easily available in Singapore now.



LOCATION:
30 Lorong Mamong
Tel:6469 2998
Operating Hours:11:30 am - 12 am (Daily)11:30 am - 2 am (Friday & Saturday)
http://www.nydc.com.sg/index.html (for other outlets)

Olive Bistro @ IBP

I think Olive Bistro probably sees more customers who are working in the International Business Park buildings rather than drop-in customers. Tucked away in a corner of the Nordic European Centre, Olive Bistro serves the usual western food fare.

I like the full-length glass windows with the greenery outside. It is relaxing to be there after a hard day at work or even during coffee breaks. I had a late lunch over there, around 4pm (yes, it is tea-time) and not much was left.

Ordered the tex-mex wrap (I think that was the name) and a mango roulade for dessert. I was not much impressed with the food. Pretty average, nothing to raved about. I will probably only eat there again if I am hungry after meeting with client. Maybe I should try the pies next time since it seemed like they are part of the Pie Shoppe.

Location

Olive Bistro @ IBP :
3 International Business Park, #01-20 Nordic European Centre, Singapore 609927
Tel: 6890 6698 Fax: 6890 6697
Email: enquiry@thepieshoppe.com

Of Bags and Shoes

It must be a full moon or what. Cos I have been spending and spending. It is crazy. Or it is all the pent-up "want" for shopping. Lol. But it is specific shopping. Only on shoes and bags.


I have been searching for flats or low-heeled sandals/shoes for the longest time. I realized I am not that keen to wear my heels now especially since I have to walk up and down at least 4 flights of stairs at the underpass to work. Plus after spraining my ankle, I found myself loving my Birkies. I wish I can wear them everyday to work. Lol.


So yeah, I managed to buy 1 pair of low heeled shoes a couple of months back, but barely 4 wears, the rubber sole came off and I have yet to get it fixed. Hence the search continues...until Monday. Went to Substance with colleagues and saw some gorgeous shoes. So cute. Bought 3 pairs - 2 flats (pink glitters and teal green ribboned) and 1 polka dot heels. Before that, I already bought 1 pair at Tangs the Friday before.


So I should be contented, and I am. But somehow shoes and bags always go together. It is like buying eyeshadows with blushers and lipglosses or moisturizer with eye-gel. Received an sms about the Bebe sale and Denise Lassler (some brand from NY which I never heard of) at Isetan Scotts and the promo of additional 10% off with Citibank cards. Didn't think much of it until I saw the email from Citibank about the promotion. The bag featured looked not bad, like a Birkin.


Popped by Isetan Scotts last night to check it out. It was 910pm by then, so it was not crowded at all. 2 bags caught my eye. The fushcia bag and the teal green bag. Not sure why I am so into colors lately, then saw the light tan bag. It kinda grow on you and I quite like it too. Decided to buy a dirty beige bag too for my mom. It looked nice on the owner when she modeled it for me. That was apparently the bestseller in NY. It was quite a good bargain as they were clearing the stocks to make space for new collection when they opened their own boutique.


Not posting the prices else my sister will nag at me ;p

IPL for underarm

After my favorite therapist has left Lifespa, I am trying to finish up my package there and so made an appointment for IPL (intense pulse light) for the underarms. I thought that would be a safe spot to try since the area is smaller and not in an obvious place.

It was with great trepidation that I entered the treatment room. I had no idea what to expect and had always thought it to be painful, something akin to ant bites. The therapist assured me it would not take long and would be painless.

She started off with dry shaving the area, before cleaning it and then applying a cooling gel. The gel was so cold it numbed the entire area. Maybe that was why I didn't feel any pain at all when the zapping started.

Now I am quite tempted to sign up for an IPL package. She said it might take 8-12 sessions for the hair follicles to be dormant. It is not a permanent treatment, a common perception due to uninformed sales consultants at various places, and the hair could grow back again after 2-3 years or later (depends on individual). It is so convenient, just zap and go. Waxing is much more painful and there is the redness to deal with. I also like that IPL will lighten the skin too.

Let's see if my negotiation skills will be good enough to get to a price I am comfortable with ;)

Cute Cupcakes Stuff

I was surfing the web when I chanced upon these cuties. Sili-Feet Reusable Silicone baking cups. How cute is that?

Then also saw this cupcake wristlet from Barry's Farm. Quite cute though a bit plain.

Oh, how smart is this? A Cup-a-cake container. I wonder if the frosting will still be smudged though.

And finally, someone got it right. Make cupcake, not war. Available from Johnny Cupcakes.

Santa Fe Tex-Mex Grill on board Stewords Riverboat

The Stewords Riverboat has moved from Sentosa to Marina South Pier. For those who like the rocking sensation of a boat, this will be a perfect venue for dining out. There are 2 restaurants on the boat - Santa Fe and Breaking Bread (opening late May 2007) - and a private dining area, inclusive of a cabin with attached bathroom and outdoor jacuzzi.

I am not an expert on Tex-Mex food and frankly, I can't really tell the difference between it and Mexican food. I like my quesadillas, burritos, fajitas and chips with cheese dip or salsa.

There was a media event last week and I got to try some of the dishes. I like the quesadillas, delicious with the guacamole and sour cream. The mushroom soup is creamy with real shiitake mushrooms. The bbq babyback ribs really slipped off the bones. Very tender and no-porky taste/smell at all.

The fajitas is good, the beef is made from striploin cuts. Soft, not hard at all. The tex-mex chicken is also tender, I can cut it using my fork. The enchilada is a bit too sour for my liking. The chocolate truffle cake is really nice!

As I am prone to motion sickness, I think I will stick to eating at the Santa Fe outside Far East Plaza. But the Riverboat is great for a different dining location and has excellent view of the clear sea and lush greenery and beautiful sunset. Plus there is the private dining area, perfect for private parties with friends.

The CaffeBar - Parkway Parade

I chanced upon this cafe while in Parkway today and decided to try it after I saw a review by Ah Yoke from ST. He has been known to be an elusive food critic and is extremely hard to invite him for a food tasting session.

I didn't read the article but just walked in to try. The place is right in the middle of an atrium, so you get to watch shoppers going about their business. I ordered the seafood spaghetti alio olio as I was not in the mood for tomato or cream based sauce.

I always think it is the mark of a great chef if the food is still nice without much seasoning or gravy or sauce to cover up the freshness of the ingredients. I liked the pasta - the spaghetti was al dente and it was infused with the subtle flavors of olive oil, herbs and garlic. There was a generous serving of seafood - crayfish, 2 prawns (shelled body with head intact), sliced squids (nicely done, not rubbery, almost like having it raw) and baby clams and whole chillies (spicy!).

The dessert I ordered was not that fantastic. Maybe it was too big for one person. I had the creme brulee lightly fused with earl grey tea. The creme brulee was thick and smooth. I loved breaking the burnt sugar and digging into the custard. Also ordered a viennese cappuccino which was topped with whipped cream and dusted with cocoa powder. That was nice though the coffee could be better?

The Performer

You Are An ESFP

The Performer You are a natural performer and happiest when you're entertaining others. A great friend, you are generous, fun-loving and optimistic. You love to laugh - and you like almost all people equally. You accept life as it is, and you do your best to make each day fantastic. You would make a good actor, designer, or counselor.

What's Your Personality Type?

New Lingerie from La Senza

I finally got my stuff from La Senza today. Yay! I ordered a babydoll, a slip and a kimono wrap. I don't know why, but somehow satin always attracted me. I love the feel of slippery and cool satin against bare skin.

Que Seurat Mesh Babydoll

Sexy but this is a bit scratchy due to the mesh material. It is tough too and not that elastic. Time to lose weight again.

Allure Modal Slip

This is stretchy and very comfortable. The material is similar to terry cloth. Nice!

Serenity Satin Kimono

This is delicious! I love it. Now I have 5 satin wraps thing. 2 black, 1 red, 1 deep plum and now lilac. Not that I wear them all the time, but it is nice to know I have them

There was a sale online and I got all these 3 for only S$60 or so. Good deal since it is retailing for S$55 each.

Cars - or lack of

I am never really that into cars. To me, they are just a mode of transport and as long as it can get me to my destination and not break down on me, I am happy.

Recently I was lemming to get my own car. That stemmed from knowing my friend just bought her own car, and she only got her driving license last year (I think). So I was curious to see what is actually available on the market and the price range.

I typically don't bother reading the car pages in the papers nor do I check out the prices in the classified. The only time I read that was way back in SFU when again, I was tempted to get a car then. Lol.

So I was checking out the small cars, I much prefer those than typical sedans. And I would love to get a 2-door car too. My dream car would be the Mazda Miata - I always saw it parked outside my apartment in Canada. So cute, tiny car zipping around. Searched more online and found out the 2nd generation is now known as Mazda RX5 or something. In Singapore the cost is exorbitant and so way out of my budget. I am not that keen on other Japanese cars, maybe I am influenced by others or what I am currently driving (Dad's car) - but continental or American is much better. Heavier and with weight.

But the thought of buying cars totally got dropped when I was confronted with the reality of rush hour traffic. It absolutely sucks! I can't believe it took me close to an hour to get to the airport from Novena. Maybe my fault for not knowing the best route (CTE to TPE to airport), but the line of cars on the CTE, waiting to get onto PIE was horrendous!

Anyway, the marking of the roads / signs was not clear and I somehow got off the line for the PIE and went onto Upper Serangoon road instead. And over there it was not much better. Long line of cars again. So yeah, that was strike 1 against buying a car.

Strike 2 was the next day when I took taxi from home to International Business Park to visit a client. Again, the traffic was bad and the charges on the ERP was astronomically crazy! $3.50 to use the CTE past Braddell I think.

Strike 3 was when I did my math. Even if I take taxis home from work everyday and from town, I doubt my total cost on transport will exceed $300/$400 per month. Currently I think my transport cost is between $180 to $300 per month.

If I buy a car, I will be paying around $800 - $1k per month (instalment plus gas, parking and other charges). Errr.....I really think I would derive much enjoyment using that on spa massages and travel :p

Plus I think I much prefer off-peak driving, and if I really need to go somewhere inaccessible, I could always use my Dad's car :)

But if someone wants to surprise me with a Miata, I would gladly accept too ;p

An Amazing Sight

It is a pity I couldn't snap a picture when I saw this. So I was driving away from the airport after dropping my parents off on Saturday, when there loomed a SIA jet.

I only noticed it when I was pretty close to the flyover. I never expect that flyover to be a runway above the regular road.

It was amazing, seeing the jumbo jet (or whatever it is) seemingly gliding on the runway flyover right above the road I was driving on. It was huge and yet small. The width of the flyover runway is not that wide, in my opinion, yet it could contain the wings of the plane.

I slowed down and when out of under the flyover, I sneaked peeks at the plane via the rearview mirror. Absolutely breathtaking. And I am not even a fan of planes!

King of Pentacles

King of Pentacles
On this card we see a man seated on a throne. He looks regal and sophisticated. He holds a scepter in his left hand and a Pentacle in his right hand. This man is very serious about financial security and has made the accumulation of funds his main preoccupation in life. He is very proud of his achievements and willing to show others his prized possessions. At this time in his life he is probably aged around late thirties to early forties. His work may involve him in the field of banking or the stock-market. The main aim of his life is to be financially secure and then he can relax in his later years in luxury and comfort. Appearances are important to him and to this end he dresses very conservatively and smartly. Comfort is also a factor in his well made and expensive attire. The aim is to appear wealthy, which is his ultimate goal. Usually he rides the wave of success in mid life and is therefore able to display an air of authority and confidence in his position. Others respect him for his determination and passion to succeed. He has mastered his life successfully and is usually married with a few children. His wife is conscious of his material desires and needs and accepts her role as the caretaker of all he owns.

10 of Cups

Ten of Cups
This card shows a cup, held in a man’s hand, and joined by a woman’s hand, as they appear to be about to sip together from the liquid in the cup, as if sharing in a celebration of some wonderful event. There is a rainbow in the background and several tall, green trees, some shrubs, beside a river and with mountains in the far distance. The sky is blue and the day looks warm as in Springtime. There are 9 cups across the sky in front of the rainbow. This card symbolises great happiness and contentment. Two people are brought together in unison and peace to share a special time in their lives. A joint project has obviously reached fruition and they are proud of their achievements and wish to celebrate in grand style. If you draw this card you may rest assured, that even though it took a long time to get where you are, it has all been worth the effort and the energy expended. You can relax in your new found comfort zone and pursue your other objectives with peace of mind, knowing that your life is now more secure than it has ever been.

Carrot Cake

I learnt to like carrot cake when in Canada. I love the way the different textures meld in the mouth. The soft sponginess of the cake mixed with the crunchiness of the nuts and grated carrots and fruits. But the best part is the frosting! The cream cheese frosting somehow just complements the cake.

I don't remember where this carrot cake was from. But could be from Toast at Ngee Ann City. Look at the thick cream cheese frosting and generous nuts and fruits in there. Simply divine! Perfect with a cup of tea (unsweetened).

Tea, anyone?

Rows of Tulips

My favorite flower is the tulip. I love to see them swaying in the breeze in the fields or gardens. You know when Spring is here - flowers will start peeking out. It is always a startling sight on the roads in Canada to see the flowers (usually scattered areas) growing.



I quite like this picture, taken at Skagit Valley, WA, about 10 years ago. I didn't realize how much I blend in till the picture was printed. Lol. There is a garden nearby with all varieties of tulips in different colors.

SB Thos @ Raffles City

I always walked past SB Thos but the little cafe in the corner of Raffles City / Raffles the Plaza area just never really screamed out "we are open for meals". One would usually see the counter with cakes and cookies that you thought they only sell baked goods.

Then I read about it serving sandwiches and light snacks like pies, quiches, muffins etc, so I always wanted to try but never got the opportunity until recently.

We were there early, just slightly after 1130am so the place was not crowded at all. We got a table by the side of the glass railing, so it overlooked the foyer of the escalators coming up to Raffles City Convention Centre via Swissotel the Stamford.

I originally ordered Busy Ben which has tandoori chicken, apple ratia and mint chutney, but they ran out of it. So I changed it to S B Club. That includes roasted chicken, smoked ham, bacon and fried egg. The sandwich came a side of potato salad and some greens. I think the bread (I think I asked for sourdough) was toasted for too long that it was very hard and crispy and it just scraped the roof of the mouth, making it very hard to eat.

I would say the food is average, but it is a nice place to be if you want some place quiet or just for simple food.

Decision Cube

For the days when you do not know what you want to do. Throw the Jeffrey Parker Decision Cube and let it decide your plans.

* Lunch with the girls
* Shop till you drop
* Me, me, me day
* Romantic dinner
* Chick flick
* Out on the town

Nice things to do and great to have it decided for you. They should have another one - day at the spa. Now that will be heaven.

Laptop Sleeve

This is a neat idea. I should have seen this earlier before I went off to Phuket. I don't carry a proper laptop case as it is usually so bulky and ugly. I prefer something which looks like a normal bag which is sleek and slim.

Since the only bag I have which has a bit of cushion is my backpack, I carried my laptop using that. At times I was still concerned about the laptop as the sides were not cushioned much.

But with Chelsey Henry Laptop Sleeve, I can just dump my laptop inside and put it in any of my regular bags. Wonder if something similar is sold in Singapore.

Paul Frank Bicycle

This is just so retro-cute! The aqua blue and pink and flowers print are so pretty! It makes me want to ride a bicycle again, and I have not cycled in a long while. Not since 1994 when the bicylce was my mode of transportation in Oakville. Getting around was only by bike. Peer pressure then. Lol. If you drive or take the bus, you will not get to hang out with those who biked around. Hahaha. But it made one more fit and toned, so there are pluses to cycling daily.

The Surfin' Party Bicycle by Nirve retails for US$340 (woah!) and featured Julius & Friends graphics by Paul Frank. The front basket certainly brings back memories of childhood. Hehe.

Cycling, anyone?

EQ - 147 (Woah!)

Your EQ is 147

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick! 51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese. 71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely. 91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that. 111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt. 131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin. 150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

MAC Pret-a-Porter Brush Set

Sometimes it is a case of follow the crowd, monkey sees, monkey does thing, and sometimes it works and other times, it doesn't. So I bought the MAC Pret-a-Porter brush set without any knowledge of what it is and why it is good. All I know was it came highly recommended by my friend as well as the MA at the counter. I am not really into brushes as I am quite happy with my current EL brush set (fit to be retired as they are going to be 10 years old soon), plus I really prefer to use my fingers for eyeshadow application.

Doing some research online now, it seemed like the brush set was released last Christmas and was an online exclusive thing retailing at US$217.

The set is a black satin brush roll appliquéd with black beads and a velvet fasten. It contained 8 essential brushes. For the face: the 129 Powder/Blush, 187 Duo-Fibre Face and 190 Foundation. For the eyes: the 213 Fluff, 219 Pencil, 224 Tapered Blending and 266 Small Angle. For the lips: the 318 retractable Lip Brush.

I am not sure how soon I will be trying them out but likely when I have more time to play with the makeup I have.

P.S. I tried the Zandra Rhodes eye palette and I love it! The colors are gorgeous. Only drawback is the layout of strips instead of squares. I always find it harder to get the colors when they are in strips.