Botanic Gardens

Haven't been there in a while, went there over the weekend 'cos tj's parents wanted to bring a family from china there. had to wake up way too early to get there, but it was refreshing to feel the sun, see blue skies and feel the refreshing morning breeze, but afterwards it got way way way too hot. the orchid gardens were lovely though, i highly recommend a visit

love this pic though quite a bit of shadows. see how brilliantly he smiles now tt his teeth are done?

in the VIP orchid gardens

a japanese willow tree, unfortunately the bark was filled with carvings

the two naughty boys

singapore's national flower: vanda miss joaquim

by a mini waterfall

white fairy orchids, love it's white simplicity

in the mist house, with tons of colourful orchids

Simplicity works best

A summary of Vday. Basically a scam for lovers, over-commercialised, as if a bouquet of flowers (overpriced), a box of chocolates (also overpriced), a mass-produced set dinner (normally western food) can display how much you actually love someone. Nonetheless, girls will always look enviously at those who were lucky enough to receive a huge bouquet of flowers from their significant other.

This year in an effort to avoid the crowds tj decided to cook me a vday dinner at his bro’s place, which means his bro and dasao were automatically invited. He went to buy food in the afternoon and I arrived early evening to help.

It was a simple dinner, mushroom soup with baguette, salad with vinegarette dressing, boiled new potatoes served with herbs, sour cream and bacon bits, black pepper ribeye steak, walnut cake with baileys. Sounds like a lot, but easy to prepare (especially if you buy canned soups, premixed packets and ready walnut cake). Most importantly, it tasted great and it was fun preparing the food together. Lots of great wine and company made the dinner even more special.

Looks great doesn't it?

Memories of CNY

Though not as romantic as Christmas, I’ve always loved CNY for it’s traditional (and sometimes obiang) festivities. I mean who can resist all that yummy new year goodies, new clothes and ang bao? Not to mention Bak Kwa and pineapple tarts, the best inventions EVER.

Even the associated “irritants” like spring-cleaning, superstitions and the recent invention of techno-CNY songs that assault your ears when out shopping for goodies, are somewhat bearable and add to the festive mood. While out shopping at Chinatown last Friday, I discovered (to tj’s amazement) that I can remember A LOT of CNY songs, even down to the lyrics! Either I remember lyrics really well, or my communist primary and secondary school background is showing it’s evil roots ;)

My family is pretty big on superstition and tradition. So while we don’t really do well on ang bao earnings (cos for our family, ang bao is just a token sum), we have tons of food (we pray like a lot of times to the different Chinese Gods) and even have a gathering i.e. gambling session.

CNY is also a time when my deceased grandmother would “visit” us, especially at night after we baked all our pineapple tarts there’ll be this characteristic smell tt will float past her room so that everyone there would know that she’s back.

Now that I’m older, part of the new year preparations fall onto me. Helping my mum buy and prepare new year goodies, some home improvement mini-projects around the house, and yes I’m still supposed to clean my room.

One week left to CNY. Let the mad rushes to cut hair, buy clothes and shoes, stock up on food and goodies, clean the house, change money to put into ang baos, wash and polish the cars etc. continue…

Two different directions

The two facets of my life are heading in different directions.

Socially it’s great, having lotsa fun during the weekends, meeting up and catching up with a lot of friends. Lindy hop, chilling out, attending junmei’s wedding (congrats babe, really happy for you), cha’s bday (eh weijia is really sweet, don’t bully him ok?) and of course the upcoming Vday, CNY, and our 2.5 years anniversary… =)

But work wise, it’s becoming demoralizing. My pregnant colleague’s pregnancy is in danger, she’s still in her first trimester so everything’s quite dangerous, and she hasn’t been feeling well in a while (fever, no appetite i.e. puking out whatever she’s eating and she always looks pale and washed out). She had complications in her first pregnancy so naturally she’s worried. Last Friday she started to bleed quite a lot, so it was very scary cos of the risk of miscarriage. Thankfully the baby’s still fine, but she’s now on one week bedrest MC, which might be extended depending on the situation.

I really wish her well, she’s been trying hard for this baby (7 years?) and she really wants it, and when I see her suffering so much then I realize the greatness of a mother’s love and the sacrifices they’re willing to go through.

Thing is she’s been very hush hush about her pregnancy ‘cos she doesn’t wanna explain to others and I think cos she was worried that it might not be stable etc. so ppl start asking me what’s going on with her but it’s not really up to me to tell, and I don’t really like to evade other’s questions, or lie for that matter. Second thing is that my boss used to give her a lot of work but now that she’s not around he’s conveniently cc-ing me in all her stuff, which I don’t mind covering for her, but I have this feeling that she’ll be leaving the company soon, leaving me with all the work, plus my dept just took on an additional portfolio handling the affairs of another subsidiary… Before she joined my department she was very willing to quit and be a taitai and try for no. 2 already… plus she doesn’t like working with my boss…

Then yesterday out of the blue my other colleague (in the neighbouring dept, one of my lunch partners) tendered his resignation after 6 months. He was weary of this environment here and how his boss is being difficult, even controlling when she wants him to take his leave, so he was so fed up he tendered. A bit unexpected for me, my other lunch partner saw it coming but didn’t think it’ll be so soon, and she’s stressed out too cos her section is seriously shorthanded after one staff went on indefinite MC for depression, and now that he’s gone she’s gonna take over his stuff too… she really needs a break cos I can see how she always looks stressed out now…

I need a real holiday… complete with the beach, a spa/massage, good food and shopping… BKK anyone?