It was a daily practice for me to open the door and let my cats roam along the corridor for awhile. But today, I seriously regreted doing so. 5 minutes without supervision, ASHLEY WENT MISSING!!!!!
Dear's birthday was on the 23rd April but it happened to be the day for my submission too. Thus, we celebrated it on Friday instead and this time round, I was the one to arrange for dinner. (since when was it not me anyway?) I chose Hanabi Japanese Restaurant as I heard from my friends that their food was quite good and their reviews on hungrygowhere.com were not bad too. $35++ for ala carte buffet. Furthermore, they had 10% discount for DBS cardholders. Not bad a deal. So, Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, it shall be. 
For $35, the buffet was really worth it. There were over 100 dishes to choose from and most of them were really tasty and up to standard. Especially the miso soup which actually had salmon in it, the kimchi with pork belly, the fried rice with unagi (Dear said he did not have such nice fried rice for a long time) and a lot more others. I only took pictures of some of the dishes as I was busy eating away.
One of the reasons that I chose this restaurant is that it serves a complimentary sushi cake as birthday treat for customers. As Dear does not like to eat cakes, I thought this sushi cake
might be a good replacement instead. In case you are wondering what a sushi cake is, here's how it looks like:
It is actually salmon strips on a coloured-glutinous rice cake mixed with fish roe. Happy Birthday, Dear Dear!!!!!! *muackzzzzzzz*Hanabi Japanese Restaurant 4* out of 5*
April 25, 2008
Losses
After more than a month's torment and lack of sleep, I should be sleeping like there is no tomorrow. However, I woke up at 6am today, feeling energised. For no apparent reason, I decided to read through my diary which I had deserted for almost two years.
Like what Wenyao said, diaries are for depressed people. Indeed, it is when you are at your lowest point, you want to vent your emotions via a medium. Usually, it will be people who are close to you. However, sometimes there are some matters which you just cannot confide in your friends, or you feel that you should not trouble your friends all the time. Thus, you start writing diary.
I started my diary when I broke up with Mr. Ex-boyfriend in November 2003. Looking back at those ramblings I wrote, I recalled how miserable I was and now I realise how foolish I was.
I am very grateful to my friends who were by my side. Sicong was one of them. He said something which I had totally forgotten till I read one of the entries. He tried to console me by using my favourite tau huay. He said I should look forward in my life like the way I look forward to my Rochor tau huay. I have tasted it before and like it, so I should live on and look forward to it again. He was actually very satisfied with this analogy. Now that I recall, it makes some sense but....tau huay? hmmm...I do not have much craving to it now anyway. But still, thanx Sicong! I know you have tried your best. I appreciate it. hee.
The later entries narrated my most depressed moments of my life when Papa was hospitalised and eventually left us. When I was reading the entries of the breakup, I was actually rather calm and composed. However, the moment I started reading the first entry about Papa, tears welled up my eyes.
When Papa was hospitalised, hopes were harboured that he will be well again. The doctor was confident that he would survive but there were chances that he would be paralyzed or become a vegetable. As long as he lives on, nothing else matters. We would be there to help him recover. As long as he lives on.
Countless needles and tubes pierced through his body and it pains to see the ever-mighty Papa in such vulnerability and misery. It hurts. Even now. It is a struggle to write with my tears rolling profusely as I recall the pain and misery undergone.
I told Papa to hang on there and be strong. And I think he heard me. I knew we could get over this together.
However, the next day, there was a total change of situation. The doctor was not optimistic if he could survive. As the days went by, my hopes diminished. I knew that Papa was struggling and it really hurt to see him in such torment.
Almost everyone was prepared for him to leave. But I wasn’t. Mummy and Papa’s sister went home to pray to the ancestors, hoping they would bring Papa to them and take care of him. Mei was calling funeral parlours to check out the pricing. Papa was still struggling to stay alive and you guys were preparing for his death?!?!?! Anger and disappointment overwhelmed me.
In the end, all hopes were abandoned. The doctor decided to transfer Papa out of ICU to the normal ward. All the other patients were alive and kicking, except for Papa. He looked even more miserable than in ICU. He was gasping for air and sweating profusely. I could no longer bear with it. I knew I had to let go. I told Papa to stop struggling. He could go and did not have to worry about us.
That night, he left us.
Without waiting for us to bid him farewell.
For the first time after a week of misery and struggle, his face looked peaceful.
He had gone. For a better place I hope.
I have learnt to cherish the people around me. Always be thankful of what you have. You may be unhappy that your parents are unreasonable, your sliblings may be unappreciative, or your friends may have done something to piss you off, but no matter what, they are people who are dear to you. Treasure them before you lose them. If not you will be filled with regrets, like me.
I did not even have a family photo taken with Papa.
Life is no longer the same without Papa around. Mei is hardly at home now too. Mei, if you see this, I hope you will be home more often. Spend more time with Mummy or even me before it is too late. I guess that is what Papa wished for too.
It has been almost four years but I knew he is still with us all this while.
I miss you, Papa.
And I hope you are doing fine now.
Though I have never told you this before,
I love you, Papa.
I really do.
April 24, 2008
De-Hibernation
A month of pain and suffering has finally ended. I have submitted and presented my thesis today. YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My friends often asked me, "Why are you always so last minute?" Seriously, I have no idea. Perhaps it is because I had no choice? It seems that the rest of my architect mates are the same too. That is the life of architects? It is not because I want to do things in the last minute but there are just too many things to do. Design is not like mathematics where there is a fixed solution to it. Once you get it, that's it. Design is something that can never be finalised. Changes and improvements can be infinite. So till we are pushed to the limit, we are constantly working on it. The dateline is the limit. As long as we still have the last minute, we will still be working.
This time round, I engaged some help for my model. I am not really proud to say that I got help for my project but I need to give some credits to them. Dear helped me with the site model during the weekends. He could not help me with the actual model as he had to work. Thus, I engaged some "newbies" to help me instead. They are Sicong, Moreen and Junie.
Junie cutting relentlessly in my messy room aka warzoneThe Ape who can't cut for nuts, is eating snake.
YEEEEAAAA!!!!!!!!!! I am really grateful of the help they rendered, especially Moreen and Junie. They spent 2 nights helping me and were deprived from sleeping. Furthermore, their delicate hands were exhausted from all those cutting and marred with glue stains. Junie even stained her white pants which I felt really guilty about. Too bad Sicong could only help out for a day. He was the professional PVC sheet cutter, after wasting half of the sheet though. But still, thanx!!! It is not only the physical help they gave, their company also gave me motivation to work through the nights. Not to forget, Dear who spent 3 weekends to do the site model. Thanks alot peeps!!!! *muackzzzzzzzz*
After two nights of model-making, I was on my own and I finally managed to finish the model. Here's the final product:Re-Housing the Foreign WorkersProposed redevelopment of Jurong Apartments
Final Model
My presentation panels
The crit did not turn out as bad as I thought. My pessimism helped again. I just hope that I will not be selected for the external crit. *fingers crossed*
After crit, I intended to go home and sleep my life away but upon entry into the warzone, I just could not do so. With the energy I had after drinking a can of coke (which is the only meal I had for the whole day), I spent 2 hours clearing up the whole house.
Original state of room restored
Ashley finally got to rest at his fave spot again
IT'S OVER!!!!!!!!!
TIME TO DEHIBERNATE!!!!!!!!!
April 18, 2008
Fate v.s. Timing
After chatting online with Moreen for the entire night, I decided to put my after-thoughts of the conversation we had into words (while waiting for the delivery of my McGriddles which I actually paid for $8.75!!!).
It is often said that fate and timing are important in relationships. It made sense to me but I never really put much thought into it. Till today.
To quote Moreen: "Nothing in this world that is worth having, comes easy." True indeed. Fate has brought two people together as friends. However, for the relationship to develop beyond friendship, effort is not enough. Time is a crucial factor as well.
It was not easy for Dear and me to be together too. Or rather to get back together again. We used to be a couple 10 years ago (oh my god, I feel so old suddenly!) when we were still in secondary school. Out of infatuation, I accepted him but left him heartbroken after half a year.
Over the years, I simply refused to give him a chance to rekindle our relationship despite his constant efforts. However, after 8 years and having ended a heartbreaking relationship, I decided to give it a try again. This was because Dear and I have changed. He has become a man whom I am willing to commit myself to. I have become a woman who has different expectations of her partner.
8 years ago, I would never have accepted him.
10 years later, I feel blissful to have found him.
However, if I had knew something, that may not be the case.
If I knew things were not the way I had thought to be;
If accidents did not happen;
If….
Things would have changed.
Fate had brought Mr. Ex-Boyfriend and I together but the wrong timing did not allow the relationship to last.
Or to rekindle it.
Instead, it allowed another relationship to flower.
And what does the future behold?
It is a matter of meeting the right person and executing the right actions at the right timing.
Or perhaps there is nothing we can do about it too. There are just some things that we have no control over.
Like I always say, let nature takes its course then.
April 17, 2008
D1 - Higher Chinese Lessons
I was in my secondary school.
It was time for Higher Chinese lesson.
We had to make our way to another classroom.
However, I got lost.
I kept running.
And climbing stairs.
Finally, I found the class.
I saw familiar faces such as Jorgina and Wendy.
Peculiar.
I actually saw them rather than other friends whom I am closer with.
Then I realised I forgot to bring my textbooks.
I started running again.
And climbing stairs.
It was exhausting.
I got back to my class and got the books.
Now to go back for the Higher Chinese class again.
More running.
More climbing.
And before I can get back to class.
The bell rang.
I felt lost.
And I woke up.
Feeling lost.
April 15, 2008
Hibernation
It's 7am now.
My mother has gone for work.
So are my friends who are working.
Dear should be waking up soon. (time for morning call)
Some of my non-architecture friends are asleep.
My cats are asleep too.
I am still awake.
Yes.
It's 7am.
*signs*
April 10, 2008
Stupid Ashley
Trust me, I totally went crazy. I searched the entire block and combed the entire void deck, hoping one out of those 20 odd cats was Ashley. After more than an hour of searching and crying, I knew there was nothing I could do but to go home, hoping for a kind soul to bring him back to me again.
I decided to make a poster and paste in the various corners of my neighbourhood.
As I was making it, I was wondering where Ashley could be hiding. Will he starve to death? Will he be bullied by the stray cats? Will he be traumatised with the walking strangers? He must have jumped into someone's house and hiding in a corner. If not, there was no way why I could not find him at all. After printing the stack of posters, I decided I should go and search for him again and to my surprise, a Malay neighbour came knocking on my door.
I was thinking, "Did he find my Ashley?!?!?!?!?!?"
YES, HE DID!!!!!!!!!!!
Ashley actually went to the unit just above my floor and was hiding in the toilet!!! When I went into the unit, the toilet door was actually closed. The female neighbour was too afraid of him. hahahahahaha.
When I saw Ashley in the toilet, the joy of recovering something which is precious to you, was beyond words. Ashley is back with me again. My stupid naughty Ashley boy. My dearest Ashley boy.
Though it was less than 2 hours, it felt like eternity. I could hardly concentrate on my work. Buffy too.When Ashley was away, she kept meowing and stared blankly at the door, seemingly hoping to see Ashley at the opposite side. Now that he is back, the couple is re-united again. And I am so thankful that stupid Ashley did not wander off too far and was smart enough to hide in a unit where the owner knew that he was my cat. And of course, I am most grateful to the neighbour who found him. Ahhhhhhh.....I am so so so relieved right now, with fat Ashley lying on the floor beside me.
And what am I supposed to do with the posters now?
Mummy took one as memento.
Or should I keep them for future use?
*touchwood*I LOVE MY ASHLEY BOY!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't leave Mummy again k?
*muackzzzzz*
April 9, 2008
Happy 61st Birthday, Mummy!!!
I had no choice but to leave the house again today as it is Mummy's birthday. We decided to bring her to try Korean food this time round. After much research on Hungrygowhere.com, we headed to Shillawon at Suntec for Korean BBQ Buffet dinner which costs only $23.50 nett!!!
Overall, the buffet was rather worth it. We even had a private room to ourselves. The food was quite tasty, especially the BBQ beef which really tasted fabulous when wrapped with lettuce. Not forgetting the spicy soups served in stone hotpot and the side dishes. Yum yum yum. Definitely worth coming back again.
Shillawon 4* out of 5*
BiBimBap
Hungry carnivores...
Mummy is 61 years old today!
Idiots in using metal utensils
Full attendance
Pinkies on the way to carpark
(check out Mummy's bulging tummy)
Happy 61st Birthday, Mummy!!!
April 8, 2008
FuckingWho says the word "Fucking" is a vulgarity?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fucking,_Austria
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hGtvNoOR4Y
Fucking is actually a village in Austria.
Interesting.
So guys, shall we go Fucking sometime?
April 6, 2008
Swiss Chill-out@Timbre
Friday was a rare occasion as the Swiss gang actually met up for a chill-out session@Timbre. Drinking is just not the forte for some of them. Met up with some people who I hardly meet or never even met before. The people who turns up usually comes in "variety" whenever Zeming is the organiser.
Zeming was even called onto stage to perform with another 2 birthday girls, despite his birthday being last month. The band played "Square Room" (which is the song playing now) and they were asked to dance along. But apparently, the 3 of them have never gone for mambo before and knew nuts about it. After the singer demonstrated the dance steps, they finally managed to put up a "performance" which was videotaped down. 5 minutes of fame for Zeming. haha..
Overall, it was a rather fun night, considering that there was alcohol. Who doesn’t have fun after drinking anyway? Hee..
Now I know why buddy didn't post this pic in her blog...
She said I looked hiao but I think I looked really ugly here...
Zeming!!! Keep your tongue away from me!!!!
Another goner on my head....
Talk on phone also wana take...
Drunkard eating tofu of Xiujiao
The Ladies of the Night
The Attendees
This would be my last outing. I swear!!!! Hibernate!!!!
April 4, 2008
Weird Dreams
I have been having weird dreams lately. Really weird dreams.
Quarrelled with Dear with all my friends present;
Went to a lousy Disneyland hotel in Singapore with Pinkies;
Stuck in a lift which fell from great height;
Walking around with Dear as spirits;
Dreaming that one of my favourite artistes was my boyfriend;
My ex-boyfriend.
Usually, I will wake up and forget about the dreams. Nowadays, the dreams remained too vivid for me to do so.
What's wrong with me?
Could it be the stress?
Or the caffeine?
Haiz.
Maybe I can blog about the details of these weird dreams. hmmm....
:: CLEANSING ::
Origins A Perfect World
B.Liv Glow and Shine
B.Liv Squeaky Clean
:: SKINCARE ::
Origins A Perfect World Toner
Botos Serum
B.Liv Shrink and Tighten
B.Liv Off With Those Heads
:: EYECARE ::
Origins High Potency Eye Cream
Faceshop Collagen Eye Patch
Shu E Lash Repair
:: COSMETICS ::
BRTC BB Cream
Skinfood loose powder
Loreal Mineral powder
Clinique Blusher
Majolica Mascara
:: MONTHLY SUPPLEMENTS ::
Meiji Collagen
Multi-vitamins
Vitamin C
