This morning, Brendan hit me on the arm while he was asleep.
He said he dreamt of THOUSANDS OF RED ANTS jumping up at him like he was in the movie INDIANA JONES. in his panic, he hammered the ants.
It was a full blow but only one punch so it was not as bad but i couldn't let up the chance to tease him.
So, anyway, at about the same time, I was having my own dream.
In my dream, my mom, sis & I were trapped by a man who was in the dream, my father, aka, my mom's husband. He had imprisoned us in a house and chained the "circumference" of the house. He warned us that if we remove the chain, the whole house would explode and we will perish along.
After being imprisoned for many hours, i discovered a loophole where one section of the chain was loose. we could actually just cross over it without touching the chain. so i hurriedly ask my sis and mom to back up and move, move fast before that monster man comes back. my sis and i could pack up easily as we had only one back-pack, but my mom, she had so many of her belongings scattered around, she was too disorganised to tidy her bag for the run. so in a way, it was a tensed atmosphere in my dream.
Just then, that monster man came back. he was a middle-aged man and was mid-built, chinese but tan. he was making a run for my sis while i hid out of his sight to trip him to break his chase.
then he began to run away from us, so i told my sis to charge at him, we dashed to pursue him and i bit him on his leg to cause him pain.
So anyway, in my dream, i told that man to stop behaving like a bully.
I reasoned with him that my mom didn't make an escape even though she had the chance.
If this ever sound vaguely familiar to you, i guess you might have guessed this has something to do with that episode where my mom, sis & i were caught in a traffic jam last Saturday morning.
Okay, that's just the main dream.
In between, i had an overlap dream of my two cousins Alex & Yang being captivated by terrorists at the shopping mall as new terroist recruits and they were being rounded up along with all the teen boys at the mall to go shoot the civilians. If they resist, they will be shot.
This probably had something to do with my uncle telling me that his entire family is gonna have a christian baptism this sunday at YMCA, which he had invited me to attend. he kept telling me that if i am not free, he can understand. you know, the easy reply is just to say im not free but that will not be the truth. sometimes, i have a problem about not being able to lie. I am such a "principled" ass that sometimes, i cannot lie. Like in this case, I do not wish to attend but I will feel bad if I say it cos he kept telling me it is a celebration for him and an important event in his life. Of course I am happy for him, it is just that I do not want to attend. So I am still finding my way to tell him.
My two cousins are going to be baptised and have their new names as John & Joseph.
I guess that was why I had the dream about them being rounded up.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Donations
Recently, there have been a few rounds of collection of funds for the disaster at Myanmar and China. I had earlier made some contribution through the temple and later on through my office.
There was somewhat of a discussion and mild annoyance among us in the office.
One chap does not wish to donate and another person kept telling him that he is "heartless".
I feel that donation is up to individual as there are many reasons why some don't participate.
some feel that they are lack of money themselves, some have doubt that the aid will reach the victims, some feel that China is already rich and could help its fellow people, while some others feel that this is fate or karma.
My colleague commented that Hong Kong Actor- Andy Lau is not generous as the newspaper published that he donated Taiwan NT 100,000 while Jay Chou donated NT 500,000 and our local singer JJ Lin gave NT 120,000 or somewhere along the line.
I pointed out that perhaps Andy has already made some huge donation through some other avenues which this report does not cover. but they just dismiss me.
they never like to hear me talk like this because they say i am always giving people the "benefit of a doubt".
As much as money could really be a relief, I believe if you could pray for them, it will also benefit.
Well, there is not much of a use to discuss on this with my colleagues who choose to believe whatever they want to believe. Sometimes, i am really the odd-ball from the ususal crowd but well, it should be okay.
There was somewhat of a discussion and mild annoyance among us in the office.
One chap does not wish to donate and another person kept telling him that he is "heartless".
I feel that donation is up to individual as there are many reasons why some don't participate.
some feel that they are lack of money themselves, some have doubt that the aid will reach the victims, some feel that China is already rich and could help its fellow people, while some others feel that this is fate or karma.
My colleague commented that Hong Kong Actor- Andy Lau is not generous as the newspaper published that he donated Taiwan NT 100,000 while Jay Chou donated NT 500,000 and our local singer JJ Lin gave NT 120,000 or somewhere along the line.
I pointed out that perhaps Andy has already made some huge donation through some other avenues which this report does not cover. but they just dismiss me.
they never like to hear me talk like this because they say i am always giving people the "benefit of a doubt".
As much as money could really be a relief, I believe if you could pray for them, it will also benefit.
Well, there is not much of a use to discuss on this with my colleagues who choose to believe whatever they want to believe. Sometimes, i am really the odd-ball from the ususal crowd but well, it should be okay.
Monday, May 26, 2008
One Hellava Weekend
Weekend started early on friday night when we went to "no sign board" seafood restaurant at Gelang. it was a dinner outing among a few of my colleagues, my boss was concerned that he was not invited. I mean, we really don't have to involve him if this is our own gathering do we? does he not know that we could crake more jokes without his presence? including jokes about him. Ha ha. well, anyway, we went ahead without him and few other characters. the food was okay, not bad, chilli crab and buttered prawns. On impulse, we went to my boss' home after dinner. you know me, i have a lot of impromptu moments. well, my boss' nephew- Jonathan was more than happy to have round two at his place, so off we went. sat at my boss' $10,000 Cellini sofa. i almost become a Cellini salesman when i was job hunting some years ago. they say the commission is good but i was not quite willing to do retail then. so anyway, that was just the beginning of my rather eventful weekend.
24th May
Saturday morning, we went to the temple to pray as it was my dad's second death anniversary. time flies. i always tell myself, to honour him is to live well. his blood runs in me, so i got to live well. this is just one of the ways i cope with. so anyway, the hi-light of the trip was that on the way back from the temple, my mom was extremely paranoid. because she was late for work and we were caught in a massive traffic jam throughout the entire expressway. she was blaming my sis for taking the route which was totally an unfair comment. she was like ants in a hot pan, scrambling for the phone to call to work several times. it was very sad to watch her behaving like that, so after 15 mins or so, i decided that this was the only chance i have to really tell her. i told her flatly that she has no peace of mind, and that the tension and pressure is built up because of her fear to communicate to her boss who is her brother who is my uncle and who rules like a dictator. in her mind, the fear about being late for work surmounted to such a level she was panicking and was behaving like a lunatic. for a person at age 60 to still succumb to such state of mind is so sad. what could be worse i asked her. i said if she were suddenly sick and is now in hospital, the work will still go on. they will find a way to let it go on, so nothing really is such a huge deal. is it really worth that she blames us for the situation she was in? but the message couldn't get through her head. she was still asking to take a bus along the way. it was a damn traffic jam and a bus is a worse idea. it pained me that i had to forcefully point out to her that god placed us in this exact moment, in this exact traffic jam and in this exact situation for a reason. i asked her to think about what is there to learn. i pointed out that had it been a breeze, there would be no issue. had it been smooth traffic, there will be no problem with her not informing her brother about the possibility of her being late. i told her she cannot shift the blame about whatever better route there could be because if the blame is shifted, it is endless, i can then say that we should set off at 6am and we won't be in such a situation. you must always say, "ok, so now how brown cow?" but in her heightened anxiety, she could not appreciate what i said.that's so much so of an emotional saturday morning.
i was tired and had a short nap at 3pm when i got home. woke up at 5 when brendan called to tell me my mini motor bike was services and ready to be transferred to della. della asked me to sell my bike to her for she had promised her son the bike but the shop does not carry this anymore. she begged me to let her have it. i had thought about it for a couple of days because firstly, i like the bike and it was one of my most joyous moment when brendan surprised me with it. it brought a lot of joy to me. but i have rarely used it in the last 2 years, so in a way, it was more like a prized toy. next, della is a single mom, her husband died of a car accident. she loves her son very much and naturally, more so as a single mom. she persuaded me to let go of my bike. i considered it through and through, and decided that i could manage without it as i hang on more on the momory of it rather than its practicality. plus i could still remember the joy i had when i was like 5 when my dad bought me this fabulous cool bicycle. 30 years on and i could still have that moment of delight in my heart. so i know how it feels like to receive your first bike. so, for one final moment, i took it for a spin. ran it through my car park and up and down the slopes and said goodbye to my bike.
After dinner at the hawker with brendan, we headed home to bathe and change. i was going out with my ex-boyfriend while he was heading to orchard towers to meet his old school friend and hangout at a pub with thai girls. how cool can we be? he sent me to my destination at DFS scotts and said hello to my ex. i took a snap of the two of them, though they looked like they were gonna fight but were actually chatting. i truely appreciate the understanding and freedom that bren gives me. i always tell him that first, we brought out the worst in both of us. then we grew to bring out the best in both of us. that's why we both love each other. so anyway, i was out with jon for a drink till late. he comes back like 2 or 3 times in a year as he is stationed at dalian, china. we talked so much about our work and some updates of our lives. it is really nice to have an old friend whom i can still chat with for hours. we talked about everthing from unit trust to the people in our lives, our work and our partners. it was easy when you're tipsy i guess. did you know that "Auld Lang Syne" was composed when the composer was drunk?
Sunday - 25 May
Went to my Grandpa's place to pass a bag i bought from BKK for Aunt Lily. She told me she had a fight with Julie where they hit each other, tools included Bamboo Sticks. it is terrible, these two spinster sisters are like 49 and 50++ years old and are resorting to punching each other?
Spent a while listening to Lily talk while i drank the fish soup cooked by my 80++++ grandpa. It was very very tasty and had no msg. I must really cook like that.
As it was past 1pm, by the time i get to the pool at Safra Mt. Faber, i may not get a deck chair, so i improvised by going to Delta Swimming Pool which was just 5 mins walk across the carpark. It must have been years since i last went to a public pool, i didn't know that they no longer limit the time you spend at the pool. (i remember the ticket used to let you be in there for 2 hours?). so anyway, there are like half a dozen of gays or gay looking men sun bathing there while i was the only woman in bikini. one chinese man (most likely singaporean) with his chinese national woman learning to swim. more like a date. and one caucasian reading the newspapers in the shade.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching korean vcd- coffee prince, which i felt was pretty lame. lame, lame.
24th May
Saturday morning, we went to the temple to pray as it was my dad's second death anniversary. time flies. i always tell myself, to honour him is to live well. his blood runs in me, so i got to live well. this is just one of the ways i cope with. so anyway, the hi-light of the trip was that on the way back from the temple, my mom was extremely paranoid. because she was late for work and we were caught in a massive traffic jam throughout the entire expressway. she was blaming my sis for taking the route which was totally an unfair comment. she was like ants in a hot pan, scrambling for the phone to call to work several times. it was very sad to watch her behaving like that, so after 15 mins or so, i decided that this was the only chance i have to really tell her. i told her flatly that she has no peace of mind, and that the tension and pressure is built up because of her fear to communicate to her boss who is her brother who is my uncle and who rules like a dictator. in her mind, the fear about being late for work surmounted to such a level she was panicking and was behaving like a lunatic. for a person at age 60 to still succumb to such state of mind is so sad. what could be worse i asked her. i said if she were suddenly sick and is now in hospital, the work will still go on. they will find a way to let it go on, so nothing really is such a huge deal. is it really worth that she blames us for the situation she was in? but the message couldn't get through her head. she was still asking to take a bus along the way. it was a damn traffic jam and a bus is a worse idea. it pained me that i had to forcefully point out to her that god placed us in this exact moment, in this exact traffic jam and in this exact situation for a reason. i asked her to think about what is there to learn. i pointed out that had it been a breeze, there would be no issue. had it been smooth traffic, there will be no problem with her not informing her brother about the possibility of her being late. i told her she cannot shift the blame about whatever better route there could be because if the blame is shifted, it is endless, i can then say that we should set off at 6am and we won't be in such a situation. you must always say, "ok, so now how brown cow?" but in her heightened anxiety, she could not appreciate what i said.that's so much so of an emotional saturday morning.
i was tired and had a short nap at 3pm when i got home. woke up at 5 when brendan called to tell me my mini motor bike was services and ready to be transferred to della. della asked me to sell my bike to her for she had promised her son the bike but the shop does not carry this anymore. she begged me to let her have it. i had thought about it for a couple of days because firstly, i like the bike and it was one of my most joyous moment when brendan surprised me with it. it brought a lot of joy to me. but i have rarely used it in the last 2 years, so in a way, it was more like a prized toy. next, della is a single mom, her husband died of a car accident. she loves her son very much and naturally, more so as a single mom. she persuaded me to let go of my bike. i considered it through and through, and decided that i could manage without it as i hang on more on the momory of it rather than its practicality. plus i could still remember the joy i had when i was like 5 when my dad bought me this fabulous cool bicycle. 30 years on and i could still have that moment of delight in my heart. so i know how it feels like to receive your first bike. so, for one final moment, i took it for a spin. ran it through my car park and up and down the slopes and said goodbye to my bike.
After dinner at the hawker with brendan, we headed home to bathe and change. i was going out with my ex-boyfriend while he was heading to orchard towers to meet his old school friend and hangout at a pub with thai girls. how cool can we be? he sent me to my destination at DFS scotts and said hello to my ex. i took a snap of the two of them, though they looked like they were gonna fight but were actually chatting. i truely appreciate the understanding and freedom that bren gives me. i always tell him that first, we brought out the worst in both of us. then we grew to bring out the best in both of us. that's why we both love each other. so anyway, i was out with jon for a drink till late. he comes back like 2 or 3 times in a year as he is stationed at dalian, china. we talked so much about our work and some updates of our lives. it is really nice to have an old friend whom i can still chat with for hours. we talked about everthing from unit trust to the people in our lives, our work and our partners. it was easy when you're tipsy i guess. did you know that "Auld Lang Syne" was composed when the composer was drunk?
Sunday - 25 May
Went to my Grandpa's place to pass a bag i bought from BKK for Aunt Lily. She told me she had a fight with Julie where they hit each other, tools included Bamboo Sticks. it is terrible, these two spinster sisters are like 49 and 50++ years old and are resorting to punching each other?
Spent a while listening to Lily talk while i drank the fish soup cooked by my 80++++ grandpa. It was very very tasty and had no msg. I must really cook like that.
As it was past 1pm, by the time i get to the pool at Safra Mt. Faber, i may not get a deck chair, so i improvised by going to Delta Swimming Pool which was just 5 mins walk across the carpark. It must have been years since i last went to a public pool, i didn't know that they no longer limit the time you spend at the pool. (i remember the ticket used to let you be in there for 2 hours?). so anyway, there are like half a dozen of gays or gay looking men sun bathing there while i was the only woman in bikini. one chinese man (most likely singaporean) with his chinese national woman learning to swim. more like a date. and one caucasian reading the newspapers in the shade.
The rest of the afternoon was spent watching korean vcd- coffee prince, which i felt was pretty lame. lame, lame.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Room from the top
Finally, one short holiday with mom!
My Favourite Buy!!! Nice T-shirt designed by this young couple. Good quality, soft and breathable. 160 bhat (S$7.20). Plus a matching cardi that cost,,,, 60 bhat (S$2.80)
Silhouette
View from our room (National Stadium on the left)
Bangkok 16 - 18 May 2008
Purple Lotus
Royal Palace & Wat. It was super crowded that day. Loads of Taiwanese & Malaysian Tourists. 
Royal Palace & Wat. It was super crowded that day. Loads of Taiwanese & Malaysian Tourists. 
Siam PARAGON
Arrival Hall- BKK, painting on the wall
Arrival Hall- BKK, painting on the wall
Siam@Siam Design Hotel & Spa
A very Nice & Hip Hotel, I do recommend this if you are visiting Bangkok. USD114 per person, per night with Fabulous Breakfast. Hotel is only one year old.
Ambience & staff are fabulous also.
10 mins walk to National Stadium MRT Station & MBK shopping area, about 20 mins walk to Siam Shopping Area. You can even take the public bus (No. 47) if you are game to visit the Royal Palace (20 to 30 mins bus ride).
Taxi to airport cost 400BHT only. (SGD 18)
Food, Glorious Food
Thai Green Curry, Fried Rice & Omelette
Always Coca Cola!
Always Coca Cola!
What is BKK without Tom Yam Soup? A must-have on our last day there.
Bangkok International Airport
I must warn you, we took one hour just to check-in for our flight back.Luckily we were not at row #2 cos it just shut itself with no reason and those poor people had to
disperse and stand in line again from the back!
The line at custom & immigration was no better. it will take you another hour just to get your passport stamped!
This airport is new, sometimes, new does not equate to efficient!
Monday, May 12, 2008
May, 11 Two Thousand Eight
I almost cried when i hugged Anna at the end of the night. not those tearing, watery cry but just an emotional choke. it's like, "ok, here you go, you're big girl now", you know, like i'm so happy that she has started a new chapter of her life and like, ok, move into the next door, that kind of feeling. you know, when you move, the previous door though not closed, is also somewhat ajar.
it is also probably that when anna knew johnny, i had the first hand stories of their courtship because at that time, we did our early childhood course together and spent 3 times a week together for a year. it was then that sheepish boyfriend came fetching her home after class some of the nights. and that was like four years ago. for the record, anna courted johnny first. ha ha ha. you go girl!
So anyway, i am so addicted to my cousins i want more and more of them all.
You know, there was just this photo in the montage, where all the cousins sat in a row at the waterfountain at Sentosa. there were like emmm.... twelve or fourteen of them? can't remember, but anyway, what struck me was ah liang holding 2 younger cousins in his arms, like his arms stretched across their shoulders. you see, da jie, er jie, ah liang & i are among the older ones. the bulk of the brood are younger than us by seven yrs and more. i had this message flashed across my heart the instant i saw the photo: "Oh, what took you guys so long?! (to grow up)
I mean, we were like "mothering" all of you, fussing with you, disciplining you, not forgetting all these while, we are "children" too. so we get into troubles together but we still ought to be mothering you.
Suddenly, the small, skinny or tiny chaps are all grown up, taller and bigger than us now.
you know, finally they are all grown up. they could even become my colleagues, my co-worker or for all you know, my boss!
Johnny.
not only the name fondly reminds me of my dad, johnny in himself is one nice chap.
am glad that he is now cousie-in-law, will try to get to know him more. ok. set.
Well, it is always amazing for me knowing that sometimes, when one stranger meets another, they string together people, blood and relatives, and we become stranger no more.
it is also probably that when anna knew johnny, i had the first hand stories of their courtship because at that time, we did our early childhood course together and spent 3 times a week together for a year. it was then that sheepish boyfriend came fetching her home after class some of the nights. and that was like four years ago. for the record, anna courted johnny first. ha ha ha. you go girl!
So anyway, i am so addicted to my cousins i want more and more of them all.
You know, there was just this photo in the montage, where all the cousins sat in a row at the waterfountain at Sentosa. there were like emmm.... twelve or fourteen of them? can't remember, but anyway, what struck me was ah liang holding 2 younger cousins in his arms, like his arms stretched across their shoulders. you see, da jie, er jie, ah liang & i are among the older ones. the bulk of the brood are younger than us by seven yrs and more. i had this message flashed across my heart the instant i saw the photo: "Oh, what took you guys so long?! (to grow up)
I mean, we were like "mothering" all of you, fussing with you, disciplining you, not forgetting all these while, we are "children" too. so we get into troubles together but we still ought to be mothering you.
Suddenly, the small, skinny or tiny chaps are all grown up, taller and bigger than us now.
you know, finally they are all grown up. they could even become my colleagues, my co-worker or for all you know, my boss!
Johnny.
not only the name fondly reminds me of my dad, johnny in himself is one nice chap.
am glad that he is now cousie-in-law, will try to get to know him more. ok. set.
Well, it is always amazing for me knowing that sometimes, when one stranger meets another, they string together people, blood and relatives, and we become stranger no more.
The Three Siblings
it's so funny,my aunts were all like consoling each other, saying that all the children "quee kiao" (kai qiao)
meaning the young have finally become sensible.
the aunts were like whispering to one another, about who-and-who helped with what-and-what for the wedding preparation. they were like so proud that wan jin & ah di re-arranged the pyramid of oranges as it was "not nicely arranged" what they are trying to say is that they take comfort that the children have become sensible, know how to care & part-take in family stuff, as well as stopped fighting among each other.
Two Monkeys
my sis & anna, both born in the year of the monkey.
grew up together, at least for the first couple of their toddling years, until we moved from Cairnhill to Serangoon.Brendan & I
look how weighty i have become.jenny asked me how many kilos i had put on. i said "four"
well, i'm just too lazy to combat my body now. will see how long i can go on like this.
bren's hair looks terrible. told him umpteen times to go get it cut. obviously, this advice had no effect.
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