(i) One of the Japanese airlines is called "All Nippon Airways" (ANA). The chinese translation is:
ALL = 全
Nippon (Japan)=日
Airways = 空
I wonder how an airline called "全日空" (whole day empty) can make money...
(ii) I passed by a shop selling TOTO/4D at Bishan last week. The shop name is call “南发”. I wonder how many people queuing in that shop actually took notice of the shop name....
Friday, February 24, 2012
"Mummy, the car can drive by itself!"
Whenever I drive Lynn alone (without WK), she sits in the front passenger seat. Last weekend, we were approaching a traffic light that just turned red. There is no car in front of us, but I stopped the car about 2 meters from the traffic light. I took my hands off the steering wheel, and then lifted my foot off the break slightly, so the car rolled forward a bit. Then Lynn exclaimed "Mummy, the car can drive by itself". I stepped on the break to stop the roll forward, and look at her with a wicked smile on my face. I realized that she didn't know that we control the car with both hands and feet, and she thought that the car is controlled by managing the steering wheels with hands only. I was in a playful mood, so I told her "Really? You must say "Car, drive!", then the car will drive by itself!" She was still a bit stunned, but then she recovered slightly, decided to give it a try, and so said "Car, drive!". After she said that, I quietly and slowly lifted my leg off the break again, and so the car rolled forward again. She was very excited and said "See, the car drove by itself! I must tell Popo the big news!!"
Friday, February 17, 2012
WP/YSL saga
I only become aware of some politics last year due to the GE. Before that I was totally ignorant. Not only me, a lot of other people that I knew expressed their opinion, no matter how humble, about our country's GE, our country's leader, our fears and frustrations, and of course our opposition party.
In overall, I'm a PAP supporter. However, I really think very highly of LTK and some of his party members. If i were in Hougang or Aljunied, I may not vote for PAP.
It's a terrible set back for WP. I think no matter what they do now, they have lost my trust. I'm disappointed because I thought highly of YSL. After the GE results last year, I kept asking/telling everyone "did you hear YSL's victory speech? This guy 有前途！ He thanked the Hougang people, then he thanked his mentor...." I thought he's a great politician, someone who had worked the ground and won over the people and his mentor's heart and vote. I don't want to judge his private life which I don't know. However, I think the way he handled this shows that he's not suitable to be our leader.
I also want to be thankful that our other leaders are good man.
In overall, I'm a PAP supporter. However, I really think very highly of LTK and some of his party members. If i were in Hougang or Aljunied, I may not vote for PAP.
It's a terrible set back for WP. I think no matter what they do now, they have lost my trust. I'm disappointed because I thought highly of YSL. After the GE results last year, I kept asking/telling everyone "did you hear YSL's victory speech? This guy 有前途！ He thanked the Hougang people, then he thanked his mentor...." I thought he's a great politician, someone who had worked the ground and won over the people and his mentor's heart and vote. I don't want to judge his private life which I don't know. However, I think the way he handled this shows that he's not suitable to be our leader.
I also want to be thankful that our other leaders are good man.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
So much to update
Not sure where to start.
There's a saying "times flies". Well, these 2 weeks, time "moved", not "flew". Cos I've been enjoying life, at a relaxed pace. Things that I've done so far since I came back from my seoul trip (last Wed) were:
i) Unpack my luggage over 1 week instead of 1 day
Last year when I traveled for work, I usually unpack my luggage in a few hours or within one day at most. I don't bring a lot of clothes or accessories for biz trips, so unpacking were easy. This time round, since I'm "jobless" after coming back from my seoul trip, there's just no urgency to unpack. Also since this is a shopping trip, there were a lot of purchases to put away. For example gifts need to be distributed to various people, and new clothes need to be washed before they go into the cabinet. The super "nuar" pace for unpacking really signify the start of my jobless state!
ii) Clean Lynn's toy boxes
I do this occasionally (once a few months). During the weekend that I was in Seoul, there's a family gathering at my place (Yuan Xiao), so the toys were all mixed up in different boxes. I think I'm a compulsive sorter, haha.. Although I scold Lynn for not sorting the toys, I never attempted to instill the discipline in her with much force. I suspect its actually because I enjoy sorting, hahah!
[I always think that Lynn takes after me a lot. However, I always wonder if this thinking is true or not. She's still young, so of course she places her things all over the place (i.e., not very organized). I always wonder when she grows up and have a home of her own, whether it will be messy like WK mum's, or full of stuff like my mum's or organized like my.. I wonder when she becomes a teenager, what will her style be like and what will her room be like. I always clash with my mum when I was a teenager (and in fact even now!), cos I'm very very territorial when it comes to my room, meaning I never let anyone touch the way I organize things.]
iii) Pack unwanted clothes for giving away
Like I say, I'm a compulsive sorter. One thing that I wish to achieve during this break is to pack my house. Other than clearing out stuff that I don't want/need, I also hope to remind myself to buy less. One of my new resolution, which is to lessen my carbon footprint on mother earth.
iv) Burning petrol, cash card balance and parking coupons
I learn that my biggest spending when jobless is parking cost!! Everyday I spend about $6 to $7 on parking!
In the day, I'm don't spend much time at home, because I don't enjoy having someone else at home with me. This is not targeted towards WK's mum; even if it's my own mum I will still feel "scrutinized".
So I end up hanging out most of my time. Unlike last time when I always take the public transport, nowadays I so used to driving everywhere. Most parts of Spore have parking charges of $0.5 per half hour. Really heartache.. Got to strategize my traveling for next week onwards liao.. Save money and save the earth.
v) Exercise
Went to NUSS gym/pool for 2 continuous days already. Going for a run at TPY stadium later today.
There was once I told my friends, that "my age is not a secret; my weight is!". They all laughed. Every woman has her weakness/insecurity/obsession, I guess my is weight. I'm not fat I know, that's why I call it my obsession. The problem is that I don't control it well, so it yo-yos a lot, going from 52 kg (4 yrs ago), to 49kg (when I did my 2nd 10km run in 2009), then balloon back to 53kg now, due to 2 yrs of crazy working schedule and meals on planes. So I'm back to my weight loss plans again.. So the bigger challenge is not slimming down, but keeping slim forever.. Ha, looks like this is going to be my yearly resolution (positive point of view), or life long battle (negative point of view!)
vi) 泡 ／ 混 TPY and Bishan library
Aircon + free wifi + desk and power point for laptop. So far, I cleared emails and apply for jobs. Going forward, I will be updating blogs too. Got 2 trips to do (Perth Oct 2011 and Seoul), before I go for my next trip, to Shanghai, on the last day of Feb!
vii) Errants/others
Open OCBC a/c for Lynn; clear mails/bills; scout for a home safe deposit box, piano lesson for Lynn, MPM maths; facial and hair treatment; read newspaper; read on investment; sign up for free CPF public talk on health insurance; etc.. etc.. etc.. etc..
OK.. I have taken a big risk to "slow down to smell the flowers". Of course I'm enjoying myself right now. I wonder how I'm going to judge or measure the "return" on this break. Most importantly, got to be true to myself.
Will blog again..
There's a saying "times flies". Well, these 2 weeks, time "moved", not "flew". Cos I've been enjoying life, at a relaxed pace. Things that I've done so far since I came back from my seoul trip (last Wed) were:
i) Unpack my luggage over 1 week instead of 1 day
Last year when I traveled for work, I usually unpack my luggage in a few hours or within one day at most. I don't bring a lot of clothes or accessories for biz trips, so unpacking were easy. This time round, since I'm "jobless" after coming back from my seoul trip, there's just no urgency to unpack. Also since this is a shopping trip, there were a lot of purchases to put away. For example gifts need to be distributed to various people, and new clothes need to be washed before they go into the cabinet. The super "nuar" pace for unpacking really signify the start of my jobless state!
ii) Clean Lynn's toy boxes
I do this occasionally (once a few months). During the weekend that I was in Seoul, there's a family gathering at my place (Yuan Xiao), so the toys were all mixed up in different boxes. I think I'm a compulsive sorter, haha.. Although I scold Lynn for not sorting the toys, I never attempted to instill the discipline in her with much force. I suspect its actually because I enjoy sorting, hahah!
[I always think that Lynn takes after me a lot. However, I always wonder if this thinking is true or not. She's still young, so of course she places her things all over the place (i.e., not very organized). I always wonder when she grows up and have a home of her own, whether it will be messy like WK mum's, or full of stuff like my mum's or organized like my.. I wonder when she becomes a teenager, what will her style be like and what will her room be like. I always clash with my mum when I was a teenager (and in fact even now!), cos I'm very very territorial when it comes to my room, meaning I never let anyone touch the way I organize things.]
iii) Pack unwanted clothes for giving away
Like I say, I'm a compulsive sorter. One thing that I wish to achieve during this break is to pack my house. Other than clearing out stuff that I don't want/need, I also hope to remind myself to buy less. One of my new resolution, which is to lessen my carbon footprint on mother earth.
iv) Burning petrol, cash card balance and parking coupons
I learn that my biggest spending when jobless is parking cost!! Everyday I spend about $6 to $7 on parking!
In the day, I'm don't spend much time at home, because I don't enjoy having someone else at home with me. This is not targeted towards WK's mum; even if it's my own mum I will still feel "scrutinized".
So I end up hanging out most of my time. Unlike last time when I always take the public transport, nowadays I so used to driving everywhere. Most parts of Spore have parking charges of $0.5 per half hour. Really heartache.. Got to strategize my traveling for next week onwards liao.. Save money and save the earth.
v) Exercise
Went to NUSS gym/pool for 2 continuous days already. Going for a run at TPY stadium later today.
There was once I told my friends, that "my age is not a secret; my weight is!". They all laughed. Every woman has her weakness/insecurity/obsession, I guess my is weight. I'm not fat I know, that's why I call it my obsession. The problem is that I don't control it well, so it yo-yos a lot, going from 52 kg (4 yrs ago), to 49kg (when I did my 2nd 10km run in 2009), then balloon back to 53kg now, due to 2 yrs of crazy working schedule and meals on planes. So I'm back to my weight loss plans again.. So the bigger challenge is not slimming down, but keeping slim forever.. Ha, looks like this is going to be my yearly resolution (positive point of view), or life long battle (negative point of view!)
vi) 泡 ／ 混 TPY and Bishan library
Aircon + free wifi + desk and power point for laptop. So far, I cleared emails and apply for jobs. Going forward, I will be updating blogs too. Got 2 trips to do (Perth Oct 2011 and Seoul), before I go for my next trip, to Shanghai, on the last day of Feb!
vii) Errants/others
Open OCBC a/c for Lynn; clear mails/bills; scout for a home safe deposit box, piano lesson for Lynn, MPM maths; facial and hair treatment; read newspaper; read on investment; sign up for free CPF public talk on health insurance; etc.. etc.. etc.. etc..
OK.. I have taken a big risk to "slow down to smell the flowers". Of course I'm enjoying myself right now. I wonder how I'm going to judge or measure the "return" on this break. Most importantly, got to be true to myself.
Will blog again..
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Last day at GF
Finally, after a very long and hectic 3 months, today is my last day at GF. A lot of mixed feelings, because one on hand I'm the one who initated the parting, on the other hand I really can't bear to leave a lot of people here. It's not a clean break. Well, could be that it's not meant to be a clean break right from the first day when I gave the letter.
I stayed up to 2am yesterday night to clear my laptop of personal stuff, and to draft the goodbye/thank you emails. It's sad to say goodbye.
Now, I finally close the page on this wonderful chapter in my life.
(I thought of writing about what I'm going to do tomorrow and during the break, but I think this posting should end here. Another chapter will begin right away, but let me linger at this chapter's ending for a while more....)
I stayed up to 2am yesterday night to clear my laptop of personal stuff, and to draft the goodbye/thank you emails. It's sad to say goodbye.
Now, I finally close the page on this wonderful chapter in my life.
(I thought of writing about what I'm going to do tomorrow and during the break, but I think this posting should end here. Another chapter will begin right away, but let me linger at this chapter's ending for a while more....)
Sunday, January 29, 2012
CNY 2012
CNY is over. Good things come to an end, as will bad things and all things. I guess, I can only look forward to next year.
I enjoy CNY, which is not too busy but not too boring for me. This year is not very different from past years, so I will just do some pic postings, and whatever comes to my mind..
Day 0, CNY eve, last Sunday. It was a leisure Sunday morning, so we went Macrichie to feed fish.
We couldn't find any fish, and we were hungry, so we eat the biscuits instead
Lynn saw this sign (I was walking way behind her), and she very excited called out to me to say that she knew why there was no fish. She told me that all the fishes were eaten by the birds..
At about 4pm, I brought Lynn to my grandma's house, and I went to TPY central to collect Yu Sheng. When I came back I saw Lynn and my grandma helping out with making "Suan Pan Zi", so I quickly snap a photo. I think this will be a very valuable photo for remembrance sake for a long time to come.
That night, after the reunion dinner, we celebrated WS's bd with an ice cream cake. The BD girl is camera shy without her makeup, so there's only photo of her very pretty cake.
Day 1 of CNY. We are usually very well rested, cos we never watch the variety show/do the count down on CNY eve. We did only 3 stops (my grandma, my dad at Stirling road, and my mum at Bishan) during that day. We took there photos during our way home:
That evening, May's family came for dinner. Mabel stayed at our place overnight and we set off for Malacca early on Day 2 morning.
Day 2
Our day started at 5am. Lynn was too excited to sleep well; WK's mum complained that she woke up multiple times at 3am and 4am. We started our journey at 6am, and reached Malacca at 840am.
I did a post on blog on that morning. [For some strange reasons, I can't find those photos that I took on that morning (which I already posted on that morning's blog posting) in my iphone now]
That day, as both Mabel and Lynn were there at the same time to terrorize the dog, cousin Jie actually locked the dog in the room. It was only on day 2 and 3 that Lynn actually got to play with the dog, hahah...
During lunch, Lynn used the chopstick to "scoup" the beehoon out of the bowl quite successfully.
Ater lunch, we went house visitings.
Baby payapa tree at 4th aunt's house:
Along the way to Ni cousin's house, there a lotus pond. 4th Aunt actually pluck 2 lotus flower out of the pond.
During dinner that evening, we took this pic of WK's mum with her 3 other sisters. Only the elder sis is not in this pic:
Day 3
In the morning we went to Malacca's famous Jonker street for a short walk. Here's some street deco, and a pic of a bakery sunning the pineapple tarts:
Day 4
We left Malacca at 9am, and went home to wash up and rest. In mid afternoon, we went Woodlands to visit Lynn's Nanny and WK's aunt. By then, all visitings were done.
On Friday night, I played some Mahjong at a colleague's house and won some money. Yesterday (Sat) some friends came, and today (Sun), WK has a friends' gathering. Tomorrow I'm having dept CNY loh hei lunch. So much for the Dragon year CNY. Till next year..
I enjoy CNY, which is not too busy but not too boring for me. This year is not very different from past years, so I will just do some pic postings, and whatever comes to my mind..
Day 0, CNY eve, last Sunday. It was a leisure Sunday morning, so we went Macrichie to feed fish.
We couldn't find any fish, and we were hungry, so we eat the biscuits instead
Lynn saw this sign (I was walking way behind her), and she very excited called out to me to say that she knew why there was no fish. She told me that all the fishes were eaten by the birds..
At about 4pm, I brought Lynn to my grandma's house, and I went to TPY central to collect Yu Sheng. When I came back I saw Lynn and my grandma helping out with making "Suan Pan Zi", so I quickly snap a photo. I think this will be a very valuable photo for remembrance sake for a long time to come.
Day 1 of CNY. We are usually very well rested, cos we never watch the variety show/do the count down on CNY eve. We did only 3 stops (my grandma, my dad at Stirling road, and my mum at Bishan) during that day. We took there photos during our way home:
Day 2
Our day started at 5am. Lynn was too excited to sleep well; WK's mum complained that she woke up multiple times at 3am and 4am. We started our journey at 6am, and reached Malacca at 840am.
I did a post on blog on that morning. [For some strange reasons, I can't find those photos that I took on that morning (which I already posted on that morning's blog posting) in my iphone now]
That day, as both Mabel and Lynn were there at the same time to terrorize the dog, cousin Jie actually locked the dog in the room. It was only on day 2 and 3 that Lynn actually got to play with the dog, hahah...
During lunch, Lynn used the chopstick to "scoup" the beehoon out of the bowl quite successfully.
Baby payapa tree at 4th aunt's house:
Day 3
In the morning we went to Malacca's famous Jonker street for a short walk. Here's some street deco, and a pic of a bakery sunning the pineapple tarts:
Day 4
We left Malacca at 9am, and went home to wash up and rest. In mid afternoon, we went Woodlands to visit Lynn's Nanny and WK's aunt. By then, all visitings were done.
On Friday night, I played some Mahjong at a colleague's house and won some money. Yesterday (Sat) some friends came, and today (Sun), WK has a friends' gathering. Tomorrow I'm having dept CNY loh hei lunch. So much for the Dragon year CNY. Till next year..
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
This is the feeling
Last week is considered my last week at Gf. As mentioned, I was extremely busy. I came to realise its because there is actually no end to work (emails keep coming in, issues keep popping up). So in order to put an end to whatever work I have by my last day, I chalked up a lot of hours last week. I'm a morning person, so I went office early and got the front row lot most of the days.
On Monday morning, I put out an out of office message about my last day. On Friday morning I sent out an email announcement to all who work with me about my last day and my replacement. Got a handful of replies, all of them touching my hearts. One of them is from this guy call Martin from our Germany office, which I was very glad to receive. I made quite a few promises to keep in touch. It's going to take me some effort to do that, cos I'm those who seldom SMS, email or arrange for meet ups, haha..
This Friday n 4 days next week, I will still go back office, just to do hand over. My replacement got the exact words for the arrangement, which is I am only visible to her and the team, and invisible to the rest. I am happy with this arrangement, cos I will have proper time to clear my reminding work, to clear my personal stuff from my computer, and to say goodbye, without any new work coming in.
Today is Tuesday, day 2 of cny, and I'm in malacca typing this post. The last 3 days have been busy doing all the usual cny stuff. This morning we woke up at 5, drove off at 6, and reached malacca at 845. I love travelling early to beat the jam and the sun. The sacrifice is worth it cos I can catch up on my sleep in the day.
From the time we reached till now, I have not been doing much. Ate some breakfast, watch the kids play, set up wifi, and blog. This is the feeling! This is the break I've been longing for..
On Monday morning, I put out an out of office message about my last day. On Friday morning I sent out an email announcement to all who work with me about my last day and my replacement. Got a handful of replies, all of them touching my hearts. One of them is from this guy call Martin from our Germany office, which I was very glad to receive. I made quite a few promises to keep in touch. It's going to take me some effort to do that, cos I'm those who seldom SMS, email or arrange for meet ups, haha..
This Friday n 4 days next week, I will still go back office, just to do hand over. My replacement got the exact words for the arrangement, which is I am only visible to her and the team, and invisible to the rest. I am happy with this arrangement, cos I will have proper time to clear my reminding work, to clear my personal stuff from my computer, and to say goodbye, without any new work coming in.
Today is Tuesday, day 2 of cny, and I'm in malacca typing this post. The last 3 days have been busy doing all the usual cny stuff. This morning we woke up at 5, drove off at 6, and reached malacca at 845. I love travelling early to beat the jam and the sun. The sacrifice is worth it cos I can catch up on my sleep in the day.
From the time we reached till now, I have not been doing much. Ate some breakfast, watch the kids play, set up wifi, and blog. This is the feeling! This is the break I've been longing for..
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