Hiding place

I am a walking zombie today, thanks to the mere 4-hour zzz. My work scope is never stale and hinges a lot on newsflow and what’s happening in the industry, bla bla bla… My day could start off slow and easy with long breakfast, manicure during lunch but turn 180 degrees south after market close. Checking for announcements on the SGX website before I sleep has become a daily routine for me (and Marcel), even as applying my night moisturizer... As soon as there's any relevant news, I start working again.

So what is the aftermath cure to stay awake the following day? I head to the office library for a power nap. My usual quick fix to a zombified day. I have a yoga mat and pillow hidden among the books at a corner. The kind and understanding librarian would signal to me when I can ‘check in’ after she’s done with her filing.

I lock the door, off the lights, lay my mat on the floor, take off my shoes, set the alarm and there I go, onto my condensed dreamland... After 20 minutes, I subtly walk out of the library, passing my colleagues and back to my desk with a fresh face. Erm.., I think my boss sort of knows the quirky practice but has been kind to pretend ignorant.

*My pillow is orange & brown in colour, the white & red ones belong to my collegues

Big sun room

Recently SL introduced me to Café Beviamo, Paragon. The small hideout is located along the corridor of level 5 (Marks & Spencer end). I must say, it serves one of the best and affordable café latte in town, much better than PS café on level 3. Don’t be misled by the ‘ang moh’ crowd because the prices are not expensive. Go during the day and enjoy the sunlight shining through the big window panel against the greenery landscape outside. It feels like a big sun room.

SL, Aleve and I made a pact to return in December on our “Pretend-to-be-tai-tai” playday. We will dress up nicely, stroll along Orchard Road on a weekday, shop for Christmas presents, stop by Café Beviomo for a cuppa, foot massage, high tea... Can't wait!

*Café Beviamo has another outlet in Tanglin Mall.

Heavy heart

Sometime May this year, I sent a string of sms/emails to people in my circle asking for B+ blood donation for my colleague’s 2 year-old niece, Jill, battling cancer. To my pleasant surprise, the response was overwhelming and my colleague was touched and impressed by these forthcoming people... I’m not sure if any of them got called up by the hospital for the donation eventually.
Every now and then I would get updates from my colleague on Jill’s development and how she's coping with the chemo...

Today, I received news that Jill has passed away last Thursday.

I’m sad though I've not met Jill but it's like I know her from far... Her obituary reads, “(She) followed Jesus to the heavenly playground after a valiant battle with Malignant Rhabdoid Tumour”, with a photo of her in a big happy smile.

She has fought a good fight in faith and will be remembered as a tough cookie by a lot of people whom she’s never met.

My prayers go to her family… and thanks to those who have courageously availed themselves to help Jill...

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful” -2 Tim 4:7

*image from chookooloonks.com

Market talk

My supposedly-free 2nd half of November is now packed with reports lining up to be written...Marcel commented that he can't do what I do for a living. Neh, I disagree. Anyone can be an analyst. All you need is a healthy body to strive through some late nights, read up and good human relations to talk to the right people. The rest is up to divine intervention :) Don't get me wrong, I'm not belittling my job. It feels really good when a stock under my coverage moves in the direction in my favour. If it doesnt, sorry! Over a longer-term, I would be right - whatever that comes down will go up and vice versa :)

A market analyst is an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn't happen today!

Project rainbow

OUR recent daily breakfast conversation topics at work have been surrounding retrenchment and pay cuts like a broken record. So and so from XYZ, this and that person from ABC. Job cuts are happening at a breakneck speed in my industry. Some of my peers in other firms are not spared. Being too junior, one could be the first to go and being too senior, he or she could be considered as a "heavyweight" and targeted as the sacrificial lamb for the team. It's not about competence or loyalty anymore but a number game. It's sad but there's no point living in fear or constantly expecting judgement to happen like some around me...

Well, I've got nothing to hold on but on His grace. I'm going to start a project for myself called Project Rainbow - wear a rainbow on my head and not be a follower of the crowd with dark clouds over their heads... Ok ok this is a pure SK monologue, don't roll your eyes.

*image fr www.the6thdimension.com

He loves me, he loves me not

When I ask my husband: why do you love me. His answer is always the same- because you’re my wife (sigh, rolling my eyes).

Well, I have 22 things (today) that I love about my husband.

1. Jesus is his hero
2. He is my no. 1 fan
3. His wisdom
4. My friends can confide in him
5. His stamina to wake up at 6am every morning just to send me to work
6. Staying up till late (watching TV) to accompany me finish up my work
7. I can count on him at all times
8. His great photography skills (eg. pix on right)
9. He quietly clears all the hair that I dropped in the shower
10. Kids like him
11. His passion for laundry
12. He doesn’t leave his dirty laundry on the floor
13. He loves my cooking
14. He doesn’t nag at my chronically messiness
15. Good in planning holidays and excellent traveling companion
16. He writes well
17. He is efficient at work
18. Half-Hainanese convert
19. He has sexy calves
20. Handy man in the making
21. He downloads Chinese songs for me
22. He loves coriander & BCM
    
    
    

Sisterhood

They say that good girl friends tend to have their menstrual cycles coincide... Synchronous menstruation has been observed among mothers, sisters, daughters and friends who live together, and sometimes among women who simply work together. Hmm how about coincidental- syncrhonised attire??

2 days (in a row) of unplanned-synchronised-chopsticks-sisters attire

I have a dream

My top ten to-do (wish list) in the thirty forth year:-

1. Write a letter in French
2. Have a kid
3. Learn how to cook fish curry and rasam
4. Visit Israel
5. Foot massage my husband
6. Learn to use a DSLR camera
7. Bake a cake
8. Perm my hair
9. Picnic
10. A trip with my sister

My back up eleventh to twentieth things-to-do in the thirty forth year:-

1. Go for eye lasik
2. Visit my nephews-in-law or niece-in-law whom I’ve not met
3. Read every issue of The Economist
4. Add new pictures to the wall
5. A trip with friends
6. Decorate the attic
7. Plant a palm tree
8. Watch Sex And The City movie with wandalingam
9. Go for a swim
10. Take a walk on the beach

"I have a dream" - Martin Luther King, Jr. 1963

Let there be light

Since I'm on the subject of Yellow Light, I should do the restaurant justice to rave about it. As I said before, I'm biased and I'm proud to be so. I can easily name 10 dishes that topped any other Thai eateries in Singapore.

1. Miang Khum - condiments wrapped in "spider leaves". Best sauce so far in Singapore.
2. Nam Prik Ka Pi - raw vegetables with sambal (beats any Malay sambal).
3. Fried fish cake - note the subtle crunchiness from the long beans.
4. Poo Ja-stuffed crab meat with a touch of salted egg.
5. Fried salted egg- uniquely YL.
6. Steamed lime fish- ask for less spicy if you can't handle it.
7. Fried 3-flavoured fish- It's good! Pardon my lack of fancy vocab, I'm not a food critic after all..
8. Tang-hoon crab- the coriander root and garlic are hidden below.
9. Tom Yam soup- more flavourful than the usuals
10. Thap Thim Krawp- the all-time fav Red Rubbies. Ask to up size it with a scoop of coconut ice cream!

I don't know why this comes to mind :-Genesis 1:3-4 - And God said, let there be light, and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good...


Yellow Light Thai Food Restaurant
95 East Coast Road
6345 7324
Closed on Monday

I'm biased

I was looking forward for a romantic dinner and movie to celebrate the cliche 5-year coutrship anniversary. But how could I resist the last minute carrot dangled by Yeeling to meet BB Jeen? The chubby-cutie pie is too adorable to miss. So we decided to join the Teo family at our favourite hang out - Yellow Light, a hot spot for all occassions (birthdays, promotion, farewell, catch up, formal, informal). This is the place that I go for some spice and comfort food. I'm biased. I think it's the best Thai Restaurant in Singapore. Good food, good friends, I supposed we can save the candle-light dinner for next year...

Long vacation

My department secretary told me that it's the first time she sees someone with ZERO leave balance – yup that's me. It’s been a good year for me, praise God. I don't believe in delayed gratification. I've never had more than 2 days of leave carry forward in my entire working life. Why postpone joy if you can have it? I look forward to 2009 with 8 long-weekends in Singapore. So plan ahead fellow Kiasus!

New Year's Day -Thursday-1 January
*Chinese New Year- Monday, Tuesday - 26, 27 January
*Good Friday- Friday, 10 April
*Labour Day- Friday , 1 May
Vesak Day- Saturday, 9 May
*National Day- Sunday, 9 August
*Hari Raya Puasa- Sunday, 20 September
*Deepavali- Sunday, 15 November
*Hari Raya Haji- Friday, 27 November
*Christmas Day- Friday, 25 December

Gray matter

I'm obsessed with my hair, or rather my gray hair. Whenever I'm in front of a mirror, my hands would automatically go through my hair to see the sprouting gray hair hidden under. Sometimes I would pluck them if I manage to dispel the myth that plucking one causes two or three to grow back. Other times, I just stare at them, as if they would vanish under my intent look. This is a cyclical phase or obsession that happens every 6 months when my hair dye fades. Vanity and denial at work I guess.

It brings back memory of me helping my dad to pluck his gray hair when I was young (the picture shown could be taken before or after a hair-plucking-session). He used to tip me 5 cents for every hair that I pulled. Hmm... perhaps that was his way of imparting the value of money to me at a young age... Now he is proudly embracing going gray but I think my mom is still doing her dye-job. The day will come when I wear this badge of wisdom with pride like Meryl Streep in Devil Wears Prada. But for now, I'm still fantasizing being Ann Hathaway.

Simple resolution

I’m not big on Indian food EXCEPT my MIL’s fish curry and Rasam. I usually over eat when these 2 are cooked. Her fish curry is full flavoured and tangy. I guess it's extra tastier because it's homecooked! It's supposed to be simple to cook but I have yet to master the art. It was a disaster the last time we tried cooking it. Rasam is a simple soup with tamarind juice, added with tomatoe, garlic, chili and some spices. It’s appetizingly sour and good as a digestive drink, I was told.
"Learn to cook fish curry and Rasam" is now in my 2009 resolution list (self-development category).

Fusion wannabe

Bak Kut Teh to Penangite is usually herbal and dark in colour. It took me a while to acclimatize to the 'peppery' and clear Singapore style. I remember I felt so cheated when I had my 1st BKT in Singapore along Cantonment Road- that it’s nothing but pepper! Stupid Malaysian :)

Of course, I’ve grown to accept and enjoy the feistiness over the years.

BUT if you’re looking for a change or up for some herbs– try Leon Kee at Allexander Village, stall #01-18. The BKT is served in a claypot and rather ‘herby’.

Another must try is the avocado juice strategically located next to the BKT. The stall is called “KING OF AVOCADO” (talking about effective marketing). Remember to ask for less sweet if you're like me (no sweet tooth).

BKT + Avocado juice , I know it’s funky.. or is it fusion ? I never fully understand fusion anyway. I classify Fusion as food that is in Confusion and cooked using mixed ingredients. Chinese + Australian, Indian + German or if you want to open a restaurant that has everything , you call it Fusion.

So imagine, a glass of fresh smooth avocado juice (decorated with nice mint leave by the glass) and a bowl of aromatic pork ribs in herbal broth. Fusion??

Free for all

Thanks to miss know-it-all Siu Ling, I went to my first Club 21 Sale at the F1 Pit building (how convenient- the husband built the place, the wife used it).
It was an eye-opening experience. For a moment, I thought I was in air-conditioned Chat-Tut-Chat - crowded with women, men (straight and non), old and young (school kids in uniform included). As if the merchandise were FREE! Tai-tais forgot their etiquette, squatting on the floor and scraping through bags load of clothes. Some were trying on skirts and pants in the public (with NO mirror). DKNY, D&G, Jil Sander, Balenciaga were randomly chucked around like pasar-malam clothes, not as appetizing as their usual selves...
After queuing for 45mins, I finally got my CK winter jacket at $100 (UP: $699), not that I need one or traveling any time soon. But this is the only thing that fit and felt good on me without a mirror's help. It's psychological. I think I only felt good because it was fulfilling that it's at 85% discount. But the highlight was not the jacket, it was the phone conversations that I evesdropped on a tai-tai in the queue.
Conversation 1:
Taitai: Hi darling, today your lunch is corn beef sandwich ok? Mummy is very busy now. After your lunch, ask the driver to send you to xxxx, mummy is very busy.

Conversation 2:
Taitai: Hey xyz, remember the yellow Armani top that you wore to my house? What bra did you wear?
....
Taitai: Oh it's DKNY? How do you wear it?
....
Tai tai: Can you get me one the next time you see it? Get me a 36C. Err wait, I don't think my plastic surgeon can make it in time, just get me a 36B then. OK? remember, it's 36B.

It's done

Attended a 2-night service by Pastor Nerida Walker on “God’s plan for your pregnancy”. If you’re expecting the 7-steps to effective pregnancy sort of inspirational talks – you’ve got it wrong. Her sharing was simple yet powerful!
I walked away with 1 key message stuck in my head - “What does God say?”
The natural says “Your job is too stressful, it’s hard to get pregnant”, “Your back is too weak to be pregnant”, “It’s not easy you know.. we tried for years”.

BUT what does God say?

Exodus 23:26 ... "There shall be no one miscarrying or barren in your land..”
Genesis 1:28 “ Be fruitful and multiply,”
Luke 1: 37 “ For nothing will be impossible with God..”

It's done! I choose Him over the natural :)

Dirty laundry

I’m a slob. Yes I know. But not Marcel. 2 hours after touching down, he has efficiently unpacked his luggage and chilling out in front of the TV. Yet I can still see trails of my Europe trip lying around in the room... Early this morning, he’s already up and about finishing his laundry!!!
Yippee! The man of the house is finally back! (not because of his perfect laundry skills of course! tsk tsk tsk)

M: Did you not do laundry? Me: Yes of course. M: But there’re still a lot of clothes in the laundry basket. Me: Err.. oh because I only did half of it :)

WELCOME HOME!!

This is the day

Today in History – “Barack Obama being elected America's first black president”. Me talking about politics? Neh.. I know nuts about it. Not even the ones at home let alone the US. I learnt the difference between Democrats and Republicans from Brothers & Sisters. All I know is- Democrats hate wars, Republicans hate homosexuals.. or is it the other way round?? I didn't watch it for the politics, but more for the cute actors, the family drama, and the lovely American house decors on set . Sometimes I would pause and study how they display their pictures on the walls, the vases, the side tables, the humungous kitchen island..

Ahem.. got carried away.. Yes, I was talking about US presidents.. I know them, here and there:-

Lincoln - who can forget his beard? And his views on slavery

Nixon- first president to visit China in the 70's

Kennedy - beautiful wife, tragic death, father & son

Clinton - the juicy bit.

Bush - war and oil

OH well.. Whatever it is, I do know how to pray for Obama. For his safey especially. God bless him as we enter into an era of reformation and change (for the better, i hope).

Yet another phone call away

This needs to be shared before i forget... I just got a call from my father in- law to check if I'm ok while I slog away in the office..

FIL: hey are you still in the office?
SK: yup

FIL: busy ah?

SK: yup

SK: You ok? Do you need anything?

FIL: Oh no.. just call to say Hello and see if my daughter in-law is alright.. since my son is not around..

SK: Oh (touched).. I'm surviving haha

FIL: Ok then , better let you go.. Nothing else, just call to say Hello

So sweet!!!

*image: DailyCandy

December preview

I like November (caveat: the 2nd half of November after results season). It's a month BEFORE Christmas! It’s the birthday month for quite a number of people close to my heart. It’s a month of hope and longing for December.

Mind you, December is our informal holiday month in the office. It’s quiet and full with happy people…. Maybe it’s a festive month but more so because everyone is on holiday mood…. The atmosphere is exactly like “after-exam-before-long holidays” during school days. Some of us chat and chat, some AWOL with no consequences, some have breakfast that stretch to tea time, some travel pan-island for lunch, some shop and wrap presents, some even bring board games to play.. Of course you have one or two students who are ‘kiasu’ and already start their revision for next year’s syllabus! YES that’s our December here.

Oh ya! November is also my courtship anniversary with Marcel. But I can never remember the actual date- 14, 15 or 16th???

Give me green or orange but not blue

Don't think I ever had Monday blues before. Didn't really understand when people lament about it. Maybe because Sundays are usually spiritually filled and the effect would spillover to Mondays.. So I don't usually feel "blue" on Mondays. BUT today i felt it..

I know tomorrow will turn green or orange- my favourite colours..

**image fr. http://www.ckrother.com/

10 ways to decipher the animal book

This is MR. Shawn. – Sin Yee's precious (oh and the precious of the ENTIRE family of 10++). He's cheeky, he's funny, he's cute and he luuurves to read . His favourite animal now would be dog with his favourite word being 'daaawwgg'.. 'daawwgg'...'daawwgg'... Fun night and I'm still FULL ! Hope he still remembers aunty sookie the next time we meet!

Children are such blessings!