Love Oh Love

I know I haven't been blogging ever since... urg forget about it.

But recently many things happened.

I wouldn't say it fall bad on me. Something unlucky happened to one of my close friend, which made me realise the fine line between love, and a waste of your time. And not to mention, how love is being defined differently by many.

Many a times, I asked myself, "What is love?" or "What do I mean by being loved?"

I have not been into a relationship for a long time, which I am cognizant of how objective I can be when it comes to knowing what love is about. This is a good thing, at least I get to see it from a different perspective than those in love.

The story goes this way (I wrote from all I knew from another friend of mine):

Xan*'s been into a relationship with a decent girl, Debris, for a couple of years. Relationship was stable in the first few years until something happened. Both of them were separated reluctantly because the girl had to go overseas permanently to continue her studies.

Difference in timezone, busy with studies and other extra curriculum activities etc. Somehow the once close and steadfast relationship turned out into a disaster.

Xan* felt neglected and could not keep up with the relationship. Eventually, he met another girl, Sher*, at a club. Within weeks, they got together. Yet, Debris found out only weeks later when Xan updated his status of one of the social networking platforms*. Debris was devastated.

P/S: Xan* even mentioned that if Debris* is back to Sg for a holiday, he would spend time with her. Once she heads back the other end of the world, Xan* would go back to Sher*.

******

Shall just stop the story here because the rest were not related.

The thing is: Can anyone normal being able to let go years of strong relationship? Or does this story also exemplify how traditional and cliche am I? Isn't this love way too absurd and unconventional?

All I can say, I'm glad to be single, yet unavailable. If love is this way, then what is the real love?

Few Happenings in my life

These holidays have been quite a fulfilling one.

Shall tell you guys one big surprise which you might have not think of.

1. I TOOK DRIVING!

Ok, I know under my resolution list was to take up driving only after July, when my work ends, but well, life is indeed unpredictable.

One fine day, my dad drove my sis & I to CDC because my sister wanted to convert her foreign driving license to a local one. Well, from there, my parents kept on pestering me to take my first virgin basic theory test. Actually, I was really reluctant. I had no interest in driving at all!

Well, to make them feel happy, I decided to book the first basic theory test with 2 e-trial lessons, as well as 5 driving practical lessons.

Progress: So far so good, passed my BTT for the first time. Applied for PDL which costs just $25 for a period of 6months. And now I'm taking the 4th practical lessons already. Last week just started to drive on the road. Suddenly feel that I can drive too!

Well, you know, I really had no confidence in having to control such a big and costly gadget. Haha.

My instructor is named Michael anyway, he's a good & nice person though. Haha.

2. Philip is leaving for Hong Kong

This is quite a big news to me. My beloved brother, Philip, is leaving for Hong Kong after serving his NS to study Law. I am both sad & happy for him. The happy thing is, he can finalise his dream to be a lawyer. The sad thing is, after 3 years, he's leaving Sg for good. Which means to say, I would need to spend money on air ticket just to visit him. And we can't slack as we like anymore. So sad.

These few weeks, we have been hanging out with Bone & Nicholas. Bone introduced 2 more friends to us, one named Andy, the other named Joe.

Andy used to work in Starhub under CSSD also! What a coincidence. Joe is now working as a police stationed @ CCK if I'm not wrong.

We went out for supper, then played cards together, drink together.

There was once, Lip, Bone & I had a food marathon.

We were supposed to go 85 for supper. Took a bus down, 85 was closed! So surprising, which we had no idea why was it closed. So we went to 511, cabbed down, luckily it was opened. Ate Satay & Hokkien Mee. Lip & I felt that it wasn't "shiok" enough, so we cabbed down to Bedok Reservoir for Prata. After Prata, we went to meet Joe, to play cards.

This was just one of the outings. Haha, lazy to type by the way.

3. Nicholas's Chalet (10-11 March)

This cranky good friend of mine suddenly told me he's organising a chalet, and asked if I could make it. Of cause I will, since it's on the 10-11 March.

4. E35J Chalet (23-25 March)

Since we had not met up for quite some time together, I organised a chalet again on the 23-25 March. Venue still the same, people definintely still the same!

5. Bintan Trip with Starhub Colleagues (30 March - 1 Apr)

WOOHOO! I'm extremely happy about this because this is the first time I'm out of town with my friends! Many things happen to me this month, as well as work. Irene was transferred to SO dept, which was downstairs (I can still meet her for lunch btw!) , and I had to change supervisor because of that. I really liked her, because she's really a good TL, as well as she really take good care of me & TKD. (TKD & I happened to be under same supervisor).

This time, 8 people will be going - Irene, xLong, Randy, Eunice (Me), Ethel, Gilbert, TKD & Jeffrey!

To celebrate her departure, our Part-Time Team decided to celebrate it @ Fashion Bar!

And I got drunk, really more drunk than ever.

And 2 of my supervisors, Jen & Fred, with Sunny (one of my colleagues) had to bring me back home and dragged me directly to my bed!

Well, the following weekend, my another supervisor, Jonny, saw me, and shouted, "醉仙姑!" (Drunken Fairy).

Surprisingly, Jason, TKD also know I was drunk! News spread fast in the office lor.

The Mom Song. [Lyrics on Screen+Download]

Want your mom to be like this? Then, be more discipline in life! Haha! MUST SEE!

Timbre

Went for Timbre @ Arts House with a few good pals - Tx, Nicky & Js

Wanted to try the food there because one of my colleague, Ethel introduced to me about that place for their good food & relaxing ambience.

Food was really good, prices are reasonable as well.

Blue Hawaiian (Jiashi), Strawberry Margarita (Nicky), Lychee Martini (Me) & Bloody Mary(Tx)

Seafood Platter
Comes with big serving of mayonnaise & sweet chilli sauce

Stuffed Mushrooms

Stuffed with bits & pieces of bacons, cheese and other herbs.

Ubbery juicy!

Coming to Timbre, you must definitely try their Thin Crust Pizzas for just $17!

Their signature pizza - Roasted Duck.

Afterwhich, we took a stroll along Esplanade.

Went to find Dan since he's working there.

Slacked a lil @ the roof top

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Some great live band performing just outside Esplanade




Lastly, good friends remains forever!

Happy Hols!

*coughs coughs*

Seems like my blog is starting to stack up layers & layers of dust.

There are many plausible reasons why bloggers are not blogging frequently:

1. Lazy to blog
(Sometimes we do have the right to be one though.)

2. Nothing to blog about
(That would never happen to me)

3. Due to tight schedule between study & work
(Which I might be in such a situation)

and goes on and on and on...

And for me, I really have no idea that I've not been blogging!

Bascially for these holidays, I've been going out late @ night for supper with Nicky, Lip & Bone.

Got to know Andy & Joe, Bone's friend.

Coincidentally, Andy used to work @ Starhub also! @ Haw Par also!

We had some E35J outings, Out with Jiashi & Nicholas, meeting up the good old friends.

Shall be back for more!

Random

Recently, just added 2 new pair of earrings into my earrings collection.

Apart getting earrings from HOARD, Goldecestacy, I do get earrings from the reowned Angelicious Creations & Mistress of Glam.

Attractive part is, I love the materials they used. Finest materials, hygienic earrings hooks perfect for those with sensitive skin.

Creativity, originality, and innovation are also bits and pieces into making a complete pair of earrings.

For a dummy in handicraft, why bother wasting time doing DIY?

If you think it looks good, pay it!

Likewise, if you think the food looks good, eat it! (taken by food critic, Andrew Zimmern)

Recently, Jaq (Owner of A.C) decided to come fresh with a new series of collection - Punk Rock. If you have been a fan of her blogshop, or just happen to browse through, she is always creating earrings out of lovely & feminine flowers.

So I bought this.

Creative as it is, you can wear this triple pack in 3 different ways.

1st way- Smart Casual outfit

2nd way - Casual outfit

3rd - Ladies Night!

With different methods of wearing it, I don't think I get tired of my earrings!

******

Next, I have earrings from Mistress Of Glam.

Another pretty lady who has passion in making earrings!

Do you know how hard is it for me to get her earrings? Everytime I wanted something, it was sold out!

So now I know, if you want something good, grab it fast.

Black & White color - One word, Classic.

Even if now you have different kinds of earrings, you can also do a mix & match!

See below:

P/S: Btw, I just reserved one pair of earrings @ A.C. I guess I would need to buy 2 more earrings stand to fill them with!

New Collection

FINALLY.

I wanted to look for a bag desperately, but always not able to find a suitable one.

After hesitating, procrastinating for almost 6months, I have decided to add on a new series of collection.

I have always wanted to keep luxury items as one of my hobby or rather long-time collection. However, as a young adult who is currently still studying, I can't afford such a "rich" hobby.

God was kind to me, he gave me a good job (I would say more than satisfactory for a poly student), which this hobby I longed to keep with just started racing on the marathon.

Previous collections from Coach, to Hayden Harnett, and now to Longchamp.

By the way, I've recently bought a new brand (Hayden Harnett), which designs are relatively simple and classic. Prices are reasonable as well.

All thanks to my sister's friend, Doreen who brought all the way from NYC back to S'pore during the CNY vacation.

Eventually, I called up the store @ Paragon to check on the stock status for the first week

Unfortunately, Navy is out of stock! (Because Navy is one of the year's season color.)

However, the sales lady told me that there would be stocks coming in few days later, so I could call her back.

Today, I called her again, and she told me it's left with 2 pieces available only!

Supposedly, they are not able to make a reservation for me because since it's left with 2 pieces only, it has to be on a first-come-first-serve basis.

However, I assured the sales assistant that I would be going down TODAY, perhaps a few hours later.

As promised, took a cab down, grab the bag and go!

Finally got a chance to show artistic talent in photography. Quite pleased with this picture actually. (I know, self-praising is not convincing at all times. And my pink jacket spoils the whole picture.)

Cute enough, the sales lady wrapped it nicely into a gift box for me. I lied to her I'm giving it to someone else.

FYI, the actual color isn't much of what you see in this picture.

It's a little darker than this actually.

This logo is such a perfect match for my passion in this new hobby.

It's the beginning of the race!

P/S: Had a little chat with Yong while shopping @ paragon. I wanted to buy something somehow for someone. So I asked him, in the position as a man (Obviously he is, don't judge my brother!), what he thinks of certain cuttings for shirts at Armani Xchange. Told him I wanted to buy early, and being someone who has such a sharp tongue, he hit me back some questions with recoil. So I spoke louder than usual, and started scolded him. It was so embarrassing because the salesman beside me, was actually laughing at me! Afterall, it wasn't the real giggling, so I don't feel that insulted.

Reunion Dinner Part 2

After work, I've rushed down home for the 2nd reunion dinner.

This time, we had 'Yu Sheng'.

This is the initial part:

After looking at the plain Yu Sheng, we decided to add something more special to enhance the taste.

We bought & added fresh Japanese salmon & octopus. Something out of the box rather than the traditional and conservative way of "Low Hay".

This is the closer view. The salmon was really really good.

After topping up with crackers and sesame seeds, it is about time for "Low Hay"!

新年快乐！

万事如意！

身体健康！

出入平安！

招财进宝！

生意兴隆！

学业进步！

But don't ever say this,

财源（裁员）滚滚！

Haha!

Spread of home-cooked food.

Standard practice of Dad giving Granny red packet to show what it meant by 'filial piety'. (Correct me if I spelt it wrong).

After dinner, we sat down for some snacks like pineapple tarts.

These were made by Doreen (my sister's friend)'s mother. Every year, she would give us a free box of pineapple tarts.

Something cute to share with.

Biscuits moulded out into the character, "Playboy"!

Teppanyakki @ Home

This year's reunion dinner was a very very fulfilling one.

We decided not to go with the traditional way of doing a steamboat.

Instead, we had teppanyakki at home!

Other than teppanyakki, we had fish maw soup!

These are the preparations for the fish maw soup!

First, we had sea cucumber! I love sea cucumber.

Second, we had dried scallops!

Third, we had fresh scallops!

Nevertheless, we had fish maw, slices of thick abalone, fresh real crab meat etc.

And this is the end product!

Topped with fresh corriander leaves and spring onion.

Next, we had ingredients prepared for the teppanyakki.

Sweet Corn

Thin slices of pork

This is the end product.

We marinated the pork with korean paste and spices.

Fresh mushrooms! Great for grilling, topped with cheedar & morzerella cheese!

German sausages

Fresh squids

Our home's favourite! - Shisamo!

Not to forget something important, vegetables! To get rid of the greasy taste of the food.

Fresh big tiger prawns.

This is not normal bacon streaks you see in Cold Storage. This Korean Pork Belly! We bought it @ a Korean mart at Parkway.

Taste great marinated with wine!

Last but not least - sambal chilli!

Actually, there is one more sauce we added to dip with the Korean pork belly. It's actually a sauce made from salted beans, grinded into a sticky paste. It was really a perfect combination! We kept on eating non-stop.

Before eating, we needed to put it on our table. Be patient!

Tadah! We start our reunion dinner!

Not to forget, good wine!

Last but not least, Japanese desserts!

We bought this @ Parkway! It was really nice.

This is Dad w/ my granny.

Lastly, we ended the night with LOADS of cleaning at home.