Two.:.Four.:.Six

It's Christmas' Eve and I've decided to be a little more diligent to pen down the other part of the trip that happened more than six months ago... I've said Madrid was not worth a second visit (in my opinion) but am glad Barcelona didn't leave such an impression. It's definitely more vibrant and the weather's much better. This is our first hotel. First day back at Barcelona was a Sunday and all shopping outlets were closed. We could only settle for window shopping and I certainly didn't expect myself ending up at Miu Miu days later to get a bag I saw on display. We also went for our first tapas at Tapa Tapa and fell in love with it immediately! Sangria got us happy too although I'm still not good with alcohol. Day two was city tour and some shopping :) I used to think such tour is a waste of money but it covers a lot of places, at least the tourist ones so if you do not have much time (but need to put aside two full days if you...

I like my December... 1) To be filled with joyous celebrations, of Christmas and of achievements in the past year 2) To end with a well deserved break 3) To be excited and prepared for the new year 4) To rain less - it's a pain in the ass when you need a cab! 5) To be the time when I look back and feel great about the year that is going to end soon I like December, after June of course. Do you?

Death. Loss. It just continues. A few weeks ago, we received an email about the sudden death of a colleague's brother. He was found dead alone on his bed. Last Friday, an ex colleague and her husband died in a bike accident, leaving behind two young boys. Too many sudden deaths lately. What a year it has been. Is there something you have always wanted to do but not? Perhaps it's time to.

What's the real meaning of life? People always say that when one's life is lived to the fullest, there shouldn't be much regrets. Do you agree? I don't quite agree. Perhaps I'm greedy or somewhat naive. I believe you need to have lived supposedly long enough to have led a fulfilling life. To be able to experience the things you want to do, to have misses and gains, to be sad and happy, to have dealt with pain and losses, to have struggled and to have done so much more. And these would require at least 60 to 70 years, no? Of course, there are always those who have lived beyond those ages and still behave like a child or have led a meaningless life. And of course, there are those fortunate ones who would have achieved more than others at an earlier age. Indeed, age is a number and shouldn't determine one's life. So really, how do you define life? How do you deal with the losses? And I'm talking about losing your loved ones, losing faith, hope, love....

I've been quiet the whole of August and September and this has never happened. Well, it's because there are more of other things that have happened... Work is still as busy. No, it's been the busiest since. What's next seriously? My mother in-law suffered a sudden stroke and has been in the hospital for more than a month. There's also the few closed ones with their own medical problems. Health is so important yet so taken granted for most of the time. I will eat well. I will exercise. I will go for medical check up. But I haven't. I need a long break in December. Till then, I'm hanging in there.

We departed on 31 May and arrived that morning (Barcelona time) after 13hrs of flight. Thanks to the cough syrup and flu pill (I was really unwell), I slept throughout and wasn't quite affected by the turbulence. I can't decide if direct flight works better but other than the sore knees from being cramped up in my seat, I had no major complaints. Maybe except that I didn't have my free ice-cream and chocolate!  Barcelona airport was quiet, filled with lots of shredded paper and our suspicion was confirmed on the board - there was a strike - which didn't affect us much fortunately. With 3hrs to kill before our next flight to Madrid, we roamed around the airport - had some coffee, found a spot to bask under the sun and took some silly jump shots. Thereafter, we decided to check in but the counter was empty and we thought it wasn't time yet. We continued to roam around and checked in like 30mins before boarding time? Boy, i...

Can't believe I only have one entry in June. Not that I have nothing to document, I just wish I have more time and dilligence. If you are not blogging for money or hardcore interest, it's really easy to go 'astray' isn't it? Well, let me share more about the recent events first.... Someone once told me that I can't find true friends at work. I didn't quite believe that. My mom has told me to not share too much. A little reservation is good she said. I didn't quite believe that. My Grumpy always tell me to not be that trusting. I didn't quite believe that too. I always believe the good in people. If you don't do me harm or I've not seen the mean and evil side of you, you are generally a good person to me. As much as my fierce/arrogant/unapproachable front has caused much misunderstanding, I'm really a harmless person. I don't stir shit. I don't like confrontations. If I don't like you, I stay away from you. It's th...

Because there are lots of celebration. My mom's birthday. My mother in-law's birthday. Father's Day. My birthday (ok, I admit, I'm more excited about this cos I'm that self-centered at times) Because it's mid-year. Like you have completed half of the race. This June, there are quite a bit going on and worth remembering... We just came back from Spain. I attended my first International Conference. I have my first Loewe. I bought my second Miu Miu. My office is moving. I'm celebrating the last of my twenties. Perhaps it's time for changes soon. But for now, life is good. Because I constantly remind myself to count my blessings.

Last weekend before the month ends and before we head to Spain. Itinerary not exactly ready, luggages not packed (but bought yesterday at Taka sale and with the vouchers! We only paid $1.20 for two American Tourister!), mentally not prepared for the long haul flight and things to clear at work.... I wish I'm more excited. But the good thing is my dad's fine now and I believe I would enjoy myself in Spain :)

Why is that as you grow older, you'd find it very hard to keep track of time? How often do you find yourself saying, "It's 6pm already?! / It's Friday? / It's May?!" and wonder where did all the time go? When we were younger, all we have to take note of are the school holidays, examination dates, CCA days and friends' birthdays. In those days without mobile phones, if you say you'd meet at a certain place at a certain time, you'd appear at the said time, perhaps just a little late. No texting of sorry, will be 15mins late or sorry, still stuck in meeting, etc. But now, with technology advancing and us getting older, 'time' is not as straight forward. You need to take note of the meetings, work trips, deadlines, dental appointment and so much more. Mobile phones have became a need. People seldom talk because there's whatsapp and facebook. People rarely people-watch because their phones are more entertaining, be it in the train, on ...

I had wanted my dad to be smarter, to teach me the things I didn't know. I had wanted my dad to be more reasonable, to not use violence (well sort of) as a parenting tool. I had wanted my dad to be anyone but himself. But now, all I want is for my dad to be healthy...

Hopefully it will end well with our Barcelona trip....

Just came back from one of my favourite countries and this has to be the best so far in terms of shopping & eating! Tuesday upon arrival - steamboat (they call it 'da bin lou') Wednesday - Tsui Wah (their cafe), steamboat again at 11pm! Thursday night - Dim Sum, Macau Restaurant at 10+pm! Friday - Macs + chips (trashy food), porridge at 11pm! Saturday - HK style breakfast Wednesday - 2hrs of shopping at Wanchai + late night shopping at Mongkok Thursday - Shopping at TST + late night shopping at Causeway Bay Friday - Shopping at Marc Jacobs + late night shopping at Mongkok If I continue with such lifestyle, I'd be really fat, unhealthy, tired and broke! But all's well spent. Because the cheapest item I bought is only HK$5! And it's decent, good quality stuff. I'm done shopping at Far East, really. With the savings I get, I can afford an air ticket to HK. Till the next, I need to wash, iron the clothes and decide what to wear first :) ...

Yes, I've been battling with these two demons lately. First the need to attain perfection although I'm clearly aware of its non-existence. Then the insecurity that comes with it because I know I can't reach perfection. This is frustrating...

After 2 years plus of waiting, 2 months plus of talking to the designers and another 2 months plus of renovation, we have moved in last Saturday. The kitchen that looks fully equipped but when will I ever use it? We'll see.  The tiny bedroom. Comfy bed but the pillows are too soft!  My favourite and the most expensive corner. My favourite piece of furniture. I'm so in love and proud of the new place but the constant cleaning and washing is quite a killer. I take it as a stress reliever and a form of exercise. For now that is.

I have this friend, who, whenever we meet on a workday night, is always 2 to 3 hours late because she simply has too much work. I used to wonder why. Like seriously that busy meh? Now I know why. Because I'm becoming her! I lost count of the number of times Mr Grumpy had to wait for me. I cannot remember when was the last time I left before 7pm because I have finished the work for the day and not because I had something more important to attend to and had 'no choice' but to leave. In the past one week or so, I felt very suffocated. And fearful because there seems to be too many things, too little time. I'm scared of screwing things up again, scared that I'm not giving my best. I started to doubt myself. That I'm just bad with time management and that there's someone who can do my job better than I do and I'm just not that someone. I'm probably going crazy. Or I'm probably right. I know I'm not the only one who's busy. Every...

The following Thursday after my screw up, we received news that we are going back to square one. Someone in the team is leaving. And that someone just unfriend me on facebook, ha. Seriously? Not that it matters to me but it just shows what kind of person you are. May the next better player come on board soon! And thank 'you' for doing this so that my screw up seems kinda nothing now.

One of the clips at the event last Thursday died on me. In front of my bosses. The day for me to shine turned into one that I fell hard in front of everyone. It could have been a good one but one grave mistake ruined it all and I had no one to blame (sort of) but myself. Oh well, one's gotta move on eventually so it's a day to remember, a mistake not to be repeated, a lesson for all. March is busy all over again. Two work trips to Philippines and moving. I can't wait for it to end.

I've always been a last minute person. In the family, I'm known to be the one who will only dash in the final lap and eventually make it to the finishing line. While it seems quite effortlessly for me most of the time, I lost many opportunities of doing better. I always think and know I'm capable of better if only I have tried harder and earlier. Yet, I just let it be. That's why I never blame anyone but myself. I'm my own competitor. Although I must say my current job and boss have pushed me further. I'm not as last minute as before and I'm more time and deadline pressurized over the years. I haven't been quite at ease the past few weeks because of the events happening next week and next month. The good thing is I'm almost there and I can't wait to reach the finishing line.

I didn't recover on Monday. Was coughing STILL throughout the week but I think I'm FINALLY done with it. Very soon. Bless the Chinese medicine :) Last week was one with tension, high level of stress and new challenges. I really have to be more mindful of my words. Often easily misunderstood, misinterpreted. Yesterday was fun though. S and I spent half a day searching for work stuff, from Jurong East to Clementi to Alexandra we went but weren't too lucky, boo hoo. Ended the day with cycling at East Coast, dinner at Jumbo (which wasn't too expensive) and an impromptu durian feast! with the girls at work. It was a surprisingly good outing and quite a while since I last did something together with a bunch of colleagues. And you know it's good when people thanked you for organising and were talking about the next one. I hardly succeed in organising something for a big group of people so this is quite something and I'm looking forward to the next. Really...

this is my 567th post - just something random. i've been sick the entire week - fever on Mon, sore throat on Tues, runny nose on Wed, super blocked nose on Thur, cough + blocked nose on Fri and today, I'm still unwell.... and guess what? I worked throughout the week. Am I hardworking or what? i should be well when Mon comes :) going for my overdue haircut later and can't quite decide what i want to do with those boring locks. i'll end up looking the same anyway. never thought i would be so happy saying this - Feb is finally a travel-free month! the new place is coming together and i'm simply too excited. just short of the few items and we are almost complete. march, will you arrive sooner? have a great weekend everyone!

I was told last month that I may get a promotion sooner than I thought and as much as I was really excited, I wasn't quite ready to celebrate. You know, nothing's quite for sure most of the time. Our payday falls on the 27th of each month and everyone was waiting anxiously for not just the pay cheque but more of the bonus. Each year, we will receive a letter telling us how much our bonuses and increment are. So I knew the moment of truth would be here by 27th. And I waited quite patiently the past few days, at times wondering if I would really get my promotion now and other times, brushing off the idea so as to avoid major disappointment. We had an event yesterday morning and I thought I saw the letters lying on my boss' desk. I checked her face - not much clue. And then I got busy at the event. When we were back in the office, I wanted to see her first but was told to be the second one. I thought maybe that's a sign of good news. True enough, it was good news. ...

And I've yet to prepare the ang pows! Some bad habits never change... What do you like about Chinese New Year? For the younger me, it was wearing the gold accessories on the eve, having new clothes. collecting ang pows, the soft drinks, goodies, visiting great grandma and having dinner at the staircase with all other cousins. Years later, things changed. I no longer find gold fashionable. I don't need a reason for new clothes. (In fact sometime during those puberty years, it was a chore to shop because my age and body were not matching and there were some years I was fatter!) I, of course have stopped collecting ang pows. I don't even like soft drinks that much and pineapple tarts no longer excite me as much as before. Great grandma passed away when I was 15 and we stopped visiting my mum's aunts. Dinner is only at the dining table, silly. I missed those fun, carefree days. But I still enjoy the CNY today. Playing cards, mahjong, visiting with everyone w...

How do you define love? What in a partner do you see to consider him or her as the right one? How did you first fall in love? How do you stay in love? I wish nothing but the best for you. What if you are the best that is ever going to be? I will find someone better than you. What if this someone doesn't exist? To be in love is more than just hugs and kisses. Each couple has a different formula to make it work or break. And everyone has a right to love and to be loved. Why do some people cheat? Why do some fall out of love? Why do some love the 'wrong' ones? Why do some fall in love so easily? A lot of whys but who can answer these? I think I've said before... people around me are in all sort of relationship. There's one who obviously still feels a little something for the 10-year old ex but can't find the heart to forgive and forget the arguments. There's another one who decided to come out of the closet. There's one who is hangin...

Lotus Resort & Spa, where I spent 3 nights at. January was a peak period so a lot of hotels were fully booked. Lotus not no exception but the strange thing, you don't see people around. I guess most were out sight-seeing. I didn't do much on my first day because of the heat and I wasn't adventurous enough to venture on my own. I spent my first day checking out the restaurants that we were to visit, buying souvenirs for our guests and back at the hotel checking emails, eating fries, watching HBO and sleeping. I got a free upgrade to their suite perhaps because I booked 18 rooms in total. It was too big for my liking but I slept like a baby on my first night ironically. Woke up to the phone ringing only to realise it was the TV. Yes, I leave the TV on when I sleep in hotel rooms alone. I have no weekend wear, no proper shoes for such trip. So I bought the outfit a day before the trip at Springfield's sale. It's so comfortable I don't even care if ...