Live . Laugh . Love

Five ♥ Languages

2011-11-15T12:30:00.001+08:00

Read this on Rachel's blog on thought it will be good to share it here too!

♥ ♥ ♥

WORDS OF AFFIRMATION

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

QUALITY TIME

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

RECEIVING GIFTS

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

ACTS OF SERVICE

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

PHYSICAL TOUCH

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

♥ ♥ ♥

You might roughly know what your love languages are after reading through the summary.

Confirm it with the 5 Love Languages Quiz!

I haven't done it yet because it is probably more fun to do it with Luffs!

Stay Away From Anger!

2011-11-04T17:50:00.007+08:00

Violet Jie sent an email on Stay Away From Anger and I really like one of the quotes from there :-

Patience with family is love.
Patience with others is respect.
Patience with self is confidence.
Patience with God is faith.

It is so true, isn't it?

-----------------------------------------

Anyway, I have been trying to blog diligently but work is just endless and I get home tired / burnt out every night. Luffs is really amazed how quick I fall asleep every night! Oppies. Haha~

72 Years Together!

2011-10-30T22:35:00.001+08:00

72 Years Together: The Couple Who Died Holding Hands

After 72 years of marriage, Norm and Gordon Yeager died within one hour of each other - and were buried in a single coffin.

Here's a love story for the ages - or the movies. Iowa couple Norma and Gordon Yeager were both in their 90s and had been married 72 years when they were hospitalized following a car accident. The nurses and doctor kept the two together in the intensive care unit, and they lay there, barely responsive but holding hands. Gordon passed away, and, exactly one hour later, Norma followed him, still holding his hand. "They just loved being together," says their son Dennis. "He always said, 'I can't go until she does because I gotta stay here for her.' And she would say the same thing." Here, a brief guide to their incredible story :-

Who was this extraordinary couple?
Ninety-year-old Norma and 94-year-old Gordon Yeager met while Norma was still in high school and Gordon was working at the Chevrolet Garage in State Center, Iowa. They were married on May 26, 1939, the day Norma graduated. They had four children together, one daughter and three sons. Tragically, their two middle children were killed in car accidents. "They believed in marriage," says their son, Dennis. "They chose each other and once they had committed, that was it."

How did they die?
Last Wednesday, as the couple was driving into town, Gordon mistakenly pulled out in front of another car. The Yeagers were rushed to the hospital following the collision and given a shared room in intensive care. Though they were "not really responsive," they held hands as they lay there, side-by-side. At 3:38 p.m, Gordon passed away, but, then, his family noticed his heart monitor was still beeping. "It was really strange," Dennis says. Then a nurse looked and saw that the couple's hands were still clasped. "Her heart was beating through him and [the monitor was] picking it up," Dennis says. At 4:48 p.m., one hour after her husband, Norma passed away as well. "Neither one of them would've wanted to be without each other," says their daughter, Donna Sheets. "We were very blessed, honestly, that they went this way."

How will they be buried?
At their funeral on Tuesday, Norma and Gordon shared a casket and held hands. Once cremated, their ashes will be mixed together. They are survived by their two children, Norma's sister, Virginia Keil, Gordon's brother, Roger, 14 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. "We don't hear love stories like Norma and Gordon's anymore," says Lindsay Mannering at The Stir. "We hear about lying, cheating, and divorce. Hopefully there are couples all over the world who share a similar story because I'd like to live in a world where this is the norm and not the exception."

Sources: Daily Mail, Huffington Post, The Stir

Beautiful Day!

2011-10-27T08:30:00.002+08:00

Because it is my birthday!

★ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME ★

La~La~La

♥ Happy 18.10 ♥

2011-10-18T00:00:00.003+08:00

♥ Happy 18.10 ♥

An anniversary is a time to celebrate
the joys of today,
the memories of yesterday, and
the hopes of tomorrow.

Thank you for being part of these joys, memories and hopes!

We Are Back!

2011-05-20T23:58:00.003+08:00

We are back in Singapore after our 3-week vacation!

Tons of pictures were taken and we really hope we can update this blog soon!

Stay tuned!

★ Annastasia Lee ★

2011-04-21T17:05:00.024+08:00

I was busy with my work just now when an email came in.

The subject read "Anna just passed away...".

The news took a while to sink in before I picked up the phone to give Maggie Jie a call.

This passing came too sudden and why was she taken away on her birthday?

But indeed, she has fought a good fight and I hope she has gone to a better place.

Anna, you will be remembered!

For Japan

2011-03-11T23:45:00.002+08:00

Drawn by Chibird

Chinese New Year 2011

2011-02-17T21:03:00.005+08:00

Today marks the last day of the CNY "season"!

05.02.2011 (Saturday)

大年初三

I was so happy that Luffs has agreed to make the 3rd day of CNY the stay-home-to-rest day! We practically did nothing the whole day other than going to New York New York for lunch and NTUC to get our lightbulb changed.

Dinner was together with 舅舅 and his family. We went back to Gim Tim where we had our reunion dinner with my maternal relatives 2 days before CNY.

Gim Tim
Blk 157 #01-546
Ang Mo Kio Ave 4
Tel: 6459 7766

The restaurant is mad crowded during CNY and luckily 舅母 managed to make a last minute reservation that morning. However, the dishes took pretty long to be served.

04.02.2011 (Friday)

大年初二

The second day of CNY was "allocated" to visiting relatives from my mum's side.

03.02.2011 (Thursday)

大年初一

It was our first CNY as married couple and of course there were changes to how the 'visitation' thingy went. The first day of CNY was spent visiting Luffs' relatives.

14.02 ♥

2011-02-14T00:00:00.004+08:00

Happy ♥ Day, Luffs!

When Things Go Wrong

2011-02-09T12:33:00.004+08:00

How apt it is for me to see this on some random blog!

Just how I am feeling now...

Photo taken from Deviant Art

When Things Go Wrong
By Anon

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out -
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.

From The Daily Love

你又大一岁了!

2011-02-08T00:00:00.005+08:00

Happy Birthday, Luffs!

金兔迎春

2011-02-03T00:00:00.002+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year!

Picture taken from Yoke Bakery.

All Prepared For CNY!

2011-02-01T21:50:00.000+08:00

I ♥ my CNY nails!

Colour is true to the first photo while the second is just to show how the "seashell" gel looks like!

So pretty right?

Combined 团圆饭!

2011-01-29T23:40:00.018+08:00

Luffs' mum suggested having a combined reunion dinner this year and off we went to Roland Restaurant. I have heard so many good reviews about this place but was alittle disappointed after the whole dinner experience this evening.

Oh well! All the photos turned out blur from my camera so I shall end this post with a photo of the yu sheng.

I Am Yummily Satisfied!

2011-01-18T23:24:00.017+08:00

It was a really good feeling to be back at Shangri-La Hotel - All the nice memories of 18 October 2010!

This time at Shang Palace for some yummy food!

We were ushered to the "寿眉" room.

Nice lighting!

The dining area which was nicely prepared for us!

The cosy lounge attached to the dining area!

The two fathers!

Time to get settled down and wait for the food to be served!

Uncle & Mum

The service was superb!

The waitress serving us saw that mum was cold, so she brought a shawl in for her.

A very unique tea cup, yah?

And how can I miss out the menu?

And now the food.

:)

Four Deluxe Appetiser Delight

What's beneath the cover?

Braised Superlative Shark's Fin!

Sauteed Lobster, Egg White, Crab Roe

Soon Hock, Shark's Bone Broth

Crisp Chicken "Hong Kong" Style

And those sticks were 馒头 which Luffs requested for me!

Hand-Made La Mian, Minced Meat Sauce Beijing Style

Three Treasures Dessert

The food was yummy and all of us had a really good time chatting and laughing.

And here's a photo of those who were present at the dinner!

When Work Gets Tough!

2011-01-07T16:45:00.001+08:00

"... Sometimes our work gets tough and at times we may feel discouraged but if we see this as a mission and not just a job, we will find the work worthwhile ..."

* I need some happy food to cheer me up! *

New Toy To Start The New Year!

2011-01-03T22:15:00.005+08:00

I was thrilled when the company decided to change my BlackBerry Bold 9000 away to the new BlackBerry Torch 9800.

To add to the excitement, SingTel actually delivered it to office on the first day of work!

This new toy works pretty much like an iPhone except for the additional keyboard which will come in handy when I reply emails.

Ok, point taken - I promise to work harder this year, boss! :)

I Want To ...

2011-01-02T20:40:00.000+08:00

2010 In 30 Answers

2011-01-01T20:38:00.005+08:00

1. What did you do in 2010 that you’d never done before?
I think I did many things in 2010 that I have never done before! Hehe… Things like working on our house renovation and planning for our wedding were 2 really major things I did.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember setting any new year resolutions for 2010 because they are never fulfilled. Likewise for 2011!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Luffs’ cousin (in-law) did!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God that 2010 has been kind.

5. What countries did you visit?
Australia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan - All for work trips!

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Galatians 5:22-23 --- I need more self-control (in fact all the fruit of the Spirit)!

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
18 October - It was the happiest day of my life and I totally miss this day!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing some 12 kg in 6 months for my big day!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Being distracted by the things around me.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No serious illness but the common flu / fever / sore throat at the end of the year was good enough to kill.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The carpet which is now sitting in my living room?!!! Hahaha…

12. Where did most of your money go?
Paying for the house renovation and buying things for the house but I guess it is all worth it.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our home sweet home! I was really excited to see the renovation works complete and I must say both Luffs and I were pretty happy with the ‘end product’.

14. What song(s) will always remind you of 2010?
Officially Missing You by Janice & Sonia!

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

i. Happier or sadder?
Happier. Because I am enjoying married life and I hope it stays this way.

ii. Thinner or fatter?
Thinner. I have been working hard to lose weight for the wedding and I am determined to stay this way.

iii. Richer or poorer?
Poorer in the monetary aspect - All thanks to the wedding and the house! But no regrets because I really enjoyed my wedding and totally love the house I am staying in now.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
I wished I have been more focused at work.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
I wished I have whined / complained less and also learn to stop letting the negativities of life get to me.

18. What was your favorite TV program?
None because I am often too tired to watch TV programs when I get home.

19. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don’t think so because it takes more energy to hate than it takes to love.

20. What was the best book you read?
I don’t like to read and the only ‘book’ I read is the bible so it has got to be the best book I have ever read.

21. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I still remember the lyrics to some of the songs which I used to listen when I was a lot younger. Haha!

22. What did you want and get?
iPhone 4 - Been wanting to get an iPhone for ages! Thanks to Luffs and Maggie Jie who fulfilled this wish for me.

23. What was your favorite film of this year?
I have only watched 6 movies in 2010 and I guess I enjoyed “The Karate Kid” the most.

24. What did you do on your birthday?
I went to work and met up with the family for steamboat dinner at Coca Suki Restaurant (Takashimaya outlet).

25. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
No fashion concept I supposed - I wear whatever I am comfortable in.

26. What kept you sane?
GOD! And also a loving husband, my ever-patient-and-helpful mother, my super cute sister and a handful of close friends.

27. What political issue stirred you the most?
The elections? Hahaha… Kidding!

28. Who did you miss?
My grandma - I wish she was still around just so that we can spend more time together.

29. Who was the best new person you met?
Hmm... The only new folks I met were for work purpose so none of them would qualify for this.

30. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010?
Marriage is a union of two people who wish to spend their lives together. It should be based upon an unconditional commitment and a sacrificial love for one another, and each party has to place the needs of others before the needs of self.

The Paradox Of Our Time

2010-12-31T00:10:00.003+08:00

Picture taken from http://pinterest.com/

2010 flew by too quickly and we should really take time to reflect what has happened over the past 1 year. I came across this "article" on the internet and thought that it would be quite apt to blog about it during this time of the year.

The Paradox Of Our Time

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.

Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember to say "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER ...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

Dr. Bob Moorehead is former pastor of Seattle's Overlake Christian Church.
He retired in 1998 after 29 years in that post. The essay appeared in 'Words Aptly Spoken,' Dr. Moorehead's 1995 collection of prayers, homilies, and monologues used in his sermons and radio broadcasts.

People who want to get rich fall into the trap of temptation & foolish, harmful desires that plunge us into ruin. If you make wealth the goal of your life, you'll soon be addicted to the phrase "just a little more".

Christmas Joy!

2010-12-25T00:00:00.006+08:00

The ♥ of my life,

I breath a life of joy
Because you are
The joy of my life!

Merry Christmas!

With ♥ from Lingz

Join The iPhone 4 Club!

2010-12-20T21:55:00.006+08:00

Thanks to Luffs and Maggie Jie, I am FINALLY in the Apple club after sooooooo many months of waiting! Luffs has been nagging at me to discard my Nokia E61i before it explodes and I believe this would be a good change after being such a long-time fan of Nokia.

Mr Orange, Mr Green and Mr Red are offering very competitive mobile data plans but I have to stick with Red because I am still bonded by the contract (only into my 17th month). Luffs got his iPhone 3GS back in December 2009 with Orange and he can't stop complaining about how lousy the reception is. Not sure if it is a phone or network problem but we decided to get him iPhone 4 too.

To add on to that, Maggie Jie has also gotten her phone replaced. So we are all happy iPhone users now. Harald, what are you waiting for? Hehehe...

First 2 Weeks Of December!

2010-12-10T23:36:00.020+08:00

Work Trips

I was in Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei the past 2 weeks. Seriously, going on back-to-back work trips is more tiring / taxing than I had imagined it to be!

Ho Chi Minh City
(30.11.10 - 03.12.10)

This was what I chose for my in-flight meal.

Bad choice because I could not eat the hash brown (potato is full of carbs) and the egg wasn't to my liking. So I ended up only taking the sausage.

-_-

My colleagues and I stayed at InterContinental Asiana Saigon this time! And it is alot nicer than the hotel we stayed previously.

The room came with free WIFI so I could Skype with Luffs and Maggie Jie / Mum every night.

The main purpose of this trip was to attend a port opening ceremony and also to meet up with some of our Vietnamese customers.

The ceremony was held on the second day and it was really an eye-opener for me!

Taipei
(05.12.10 - 07.12.10)

All SQ flights to Taipei were full that week and the only available flight was on Sunday 1.00 am (I reached Taipei at 5.30 am and it was obviously too early for check in).

The weather was chilling unlike Singapore and was not too cold.

As usual, it was Sheraton Taipei Hotel. By the way, do you know that all hotel rooms in Taiwan are non-smoking? Hehehe!

Loots for Day 1

Loots for Day 2

The Hi-Chew sweets cost only cost SGD 2 per pack which means SGD 0.40 per tube!

What's in the box?
(Scroll down further to see the answer!)

The box was delivered to the hotel, together with the below in a paper bag!

Time to head back to sunny Singapore!

Ice-cream after a meal - Yummy!

And this photo is for you, Juu.

This was only a 3-days-2-nights trip but I came back with a big luggage and a box!

And now... The box was actually packed with 12 boxes of 太阳饼!

Uncle's Birthday Dinner

Uncle's birthday dinner was held at Spice Peranakan and we were very privileged to have Joshua to cook for us.

I was in charge of picking the food that night and I hope everyone was happy with my choices.

Bakwan Kepiting

Ngo Hiang

Tofu Tempra

Babi Ponteh

Udang Nanas

Chap Chye

Ayam Buah Keluak

Ikan Goreng

Pan-Fried BBQ Sotong With Lady's Fingers

Har Cheong Gai

What's a brithday without a cake?!!!

:)

And lastly 2 group photos to end this lengthy post!

Let's Kinect!

2010-11-21T23:50:00.007+08:00

Our first 'indulgence' item for the house - Xbox 360 + Kinect!Kinect provides controller-free gaming so we get to move our full body i.e. it responds to how we move. Anyway, the 4GB bundle (as seen in the above picture) came with a free game so we bought 4 additional games and another wireless controller.

Luffs and Harald did the set-up when we got home and we had a good time working out / playing / perspiring / laughing. Totally hilarious and it was the first time I saw Mum laughed so hard and long!

♥ Our Pre-Wedding ♥

2010-11-19T00:00:00.013+08:00

Luffs and I were on a budget so we decided to give up Bali and went to Cameron Highlands for our pre-wedding shoot instead.

The whole experience was fun and we totally ♥ the cooling weather there. Ok, shall let the photos do the talking now!

Below are some of my favourite. :)

"Autumn" Love

"Summer" Love

First Date

Overall, Luffs and I like the "summer" love photos the most!

♥ Our Bridal Shoot ♥

2010-11-18T00:00:00.023+08:00

Time really flies - Luffs and I have been "customarily" married for a month! So while waiting for the actual day photos to be ready, below are some we have chosen from our bridal shoot in June.

We were pretty disappointed about how the photos turned out but still...

A BIG THANK YOU TO MUM AND PIE
for helping us out that day!

Studio Outfit 1 : Traditional Chinese Costume

Both of us felt that these 2 photos were the best among the whole lot of photos that were taken although we did not really like wearing the traditional attire.

Studio Outfit 2 : White Wedding Gown

I totally had no feel for this white gown after looking at the photos so I chose another one for my actual day wedding. * vainpot *

Anyway, we have no recollection on what we were laughing at but I guess the photographer managed to capture us very naturally.

Studio Outfit 3 : Maroon Evening Gown

Mum said that I looked old / matured in this outfit and hair-do. :(

Studio Outfit 4 : Gold / Champagne Evening Gown

I ♥ this gown which I wore during the wedding banquet!

Ourdoor Outfit : White Wedding Gown

Luffs and I felt that the outdoor shoot turned out better - What do you think?

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore

National Museum Of Singapore

Punggol

My Boyfriend / Brother / Son - Our Army

2010-11-15T23:00:00.000+08:00

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/arc/microsite-tvc.html#vid1-desc

Catch Ah Moles on TV!

Song // Officially Missing You

2010-11-11T23:20:00.002+08:00

Oh man!

Luffs got me hooked on this.

The girls (Sonia and Janice) are amazing!

Officially Missing You
(Tamia Washington-Hill)

All I hear is raindrops falling on the rooftop
Oh baby, tell me why’d you have to go
‘Cause this pain I feel it won’t go away
And today I’m officially missin’ you

I thought that from this heartache, I could escape
But I’ve had it long enough to know
There ain’t no way
And today I’m officially missing you

Ooh... Can’t nobody do it like you
Said every little thing you do, hey, baby
Said it stays on my mind
And I’m officially

All I do is lay around, two years full of tears
From looking at your face all over
Just a week ago you were my baby
Now I don’t even know you at all,
I don’t know you at all

Well, I wish that you would call me right now
So that I could get through to you somehow
But I guess it’s safe to say, baby
Safe to say that I’m officially missin’ you

Ooh... Can’t nobody do it like you
Said every little thing you do, hey, baby
Said it stays on my mind
And I’m officially

Well, I thought I could just get over you, baby
But I see there’s something I just can’t do
From the way you would hold me
To the sweet things you told me
I just can’t find a way to let go of you

Ooh... Can’t nobody do it like you
Said every little thing you do, hey, baby
Said it stays on my mind
And I’m officially

It’s official
Hoo, you know that I’m missin’ you, yeah, yes
All I hear is raindrops, oh, yeah
And I’m officially missin’ you

十月初四

2010-11-09T23:40:00.006+08:00

Mum never fails to forget my lunar calendar birthday and will definitely prepare 红鸡蛋 for me every year. Haha... But this year, I got more than just 2 red eggs. :)

She and Maggie Jie bought me a cake from Breadtalk. Oppies! They must have heard my complaint about not having a cake on 27 October. Hehe...

Mango EmpireAnd lastly (but most importantly)...

Mum prepared my favourite SHARK'S FIN SOUP!

Look at the chunky shark's fin in the soup! Sorry, I know we are supposed to conserve sharks but Maggie Jie and I simply ♥ this soup. And Harald / Luffs will always get a share of the soup too. How fortunate!

Happiness

2010-11-03T19:30:00.000+08:00

When I was 5 years old, my mom told me that happiness was the key to life.

When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down “happy”.

They told me I didn’t understand the assignment and I told them they didn’t understand life.

Mark 10:6-9

2010-10-20T00:10:00.005+08:00

Thank you for the blog entry, Juu!

Sorry that I did not put you with a table of hunks.

♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥

Mark 10:6-9 (King James Version)

⁶ But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

⁷ For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

⁸ And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

⁹ What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥

♥ 18.10.10 ♥

2010-10-18T00:00:00.002+08:00

Today is our day!

Nothing can be happier than today.

Peeing While Wearing The Dress

2010-10-08T23:15:00.000+08:00

All brides need to know how to pee when wearing their gown and I'm glad I saw this!

On Arrival At Your Venue

Open the door of the ladies' room and look in. If the floor is not clean, call the venue staff and ask to have it cleaned.

If the floor is clean, walk into the ladies' room and open the door of the handicapped stall. If the floor of the handicapped stall is not clean, call the venue staff and ask to have it cleaned.

This ensures that you will not later get the train/back of the dress dirty just by having it touch the floor.

When You Need To Go

Walk into the handicapped stall. Remove (don't just pull down) your underpants.

Facing the toilet, pull up the front of your dress to your waist.

Walk straight forward, so you are straddling the toilet, and sit down that way. The train / back of your dress will now be away from the toilet, so you won't get them wet or dirty.

Lean forward before peeing. That way, even if you drop the front of the dress onto the seat, you will not pee in its direction.

中秋节!

2010-09-22T00:00:00.010+08:00

Glad we made the right choice to get this year’s mooncake from 李白 (Sheraton Towers) - White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Egg Yolks! But I think I like the box / packaging more than the mooncakes. Oppies!

I am actually not a big fan of mooncakes but I have to agree that Goodwood Park Hotel sells really yummy snowskin mooncakes! They had 4 fruity flavours this year - D24 Durian / Mango with Pomelo / Cempedak / Apple Caramel but mum and I went for the safer choices of D24 Durian and Mango with Pomelo.

Secret Message

2010-09-18T00:00:00.002+08:00

Happy 49th Monthsary!

Only ONE more month to our wedding!

o.0

"Hot & Spicy" Date With Pie!

2010-09-17T23:50:00.003+08:00

Luffs and I met up with Pie to collect the mooncakes which she helped us order and as well as for dinner since Martin was overseas for his reservist. The man had a sudden craving for buffalo wings so we decided to head to Sunset Grill & Pub. The place was crowded because it was a Friday so we waited quite awhile for a table but the food was served pretty promptly.

Sunset Grill & Pub
140-B Piccadilly
Seletar Air Base, East Camp
Tel: 6482 0244

(Directions: From Piccadilly, turn into Lambeth Walk, Hampstead Gardens, Western Ave, into East Camp, all the way to Singapore Flying Club)

Level 1 & 4 Buffalo Wings

The main purpose of heading to Sunset Grill was to eat their buffalo wings. We had Level 3 and 5 the previous timeso we ordered Level 4 this time. We also ordered Level 1 (or rather I think it was Level 0) because Pie does not take spicy food. However, I was glad we had the non-spicy wings because Level 4 was too hot for me!

Fried Button Mushrooms

It was abit too oily for my liking but the taste was pretty good.

BBQ Combo (Chicken & Pork Ribs)

This was the only decent food we had that night (considering that the buffalo wings were too spicy and the mushrooms too oil). Both the roast chicken and pork ribs were fairly tender and tasty.

Love Is In The Air

2010-08-18T23:55:00.001+08:00

Luffs has been working really hard the past few months so I told him I would plan for this year's anniversary dinner. Hmm... Not a very creative surprise but I think Luffs was alittle taken aback that I have chosen sky dining because I am afraid of heights.

In order not to miss the sunset, I finished up my work on time and made Luffs drive to The Jewel Box. He still had no clue where dinner was supposed to be at and assumed it was one of the restaurants on Mount Faber. -_- !!!

Anyway, we took the valet parking and Luffs only realised we were going for sky dining when he saw this.

We were greeted by a friendly waitress, passed her the reservation confirmation and were given our welcome drink before going into the cable car.

Jewel Mocktail

Soup was served after we settled down before the cable car left Mount Faber.

Seasonal Potage Soup

My Love

There were 2 main courses to choose from during the reservation, so I picked both so that we can share. :) The main courses look pathetic because we had requested for them to change the mash potato to veggie.

Grilled Sea Bream

Homemade Chicken Confit

Below is a beautiful photo of Resorts World Sentosa taken by Luffs while we were in the cable car.

Click here for larger view.

We opted to have our dessert "on land" because we got abit bored after 2 rounds of cable car rides. We had a good time chatting at the outdoor eating area of Sapphire while enjoying the not-so-nice dessert, fruit campote (served with mint jelly).

Seriously, the food was nothing to rave about but both Luffs and I agreed that the money was well spent because of the experience and the company!

Shall end this post with another photo which Luffs took - Pretty, yah?

Click here for larger view.

♥

2010-08-18T00:00:00.020+08:00

♥ Happy 4th Anniversary ♥

iPhone 4 Review

2010-08-17T23:20:00.002+08:00

The below review is taken from Digital One.

The Good: New design is thinner and looks sleeker and more professional. Improved camera and sharper, vibrant screen make this phone a significant upgrade.

The Bad: Camera could have been better since 8- or even 12-megapixels are the industry standard for higher end smartphones of its class.

The Bottom Line: An outstanding smartphone enhanced by a cutting-edge operating system and an excellent app library.

Editor's Review
By Jasmine Osada 17-08-2010

Apple's latest smartphone has launched here amid much anticipation from fans and concern about the device's apparent reception problems.

We took the iPhone 4 for a spin and here's what we think :-

Look & Feel

The iPhone 4 is a gorgeous phone. While its overall look does not seem to stray far from the original candybar design, Apple has certainly made improvements to an existing formula that works, creating an even more visually impressive device.

The design, at least on the outside, is also now essentially a steel band sandwiched by two panels of glass.

Gone is the curved metal back cover found in previous generation iPhones - Apple had instead replaced this with a glossy, glass flat back panel.

The edges of the iPhone 4 are also very angular, a stark difference from the curved design in the previous generation of devices.

The final look is a much sleeker and slimmer iPhone.

I'll be honest - I am not quite a fan of the earlier curved and rounded look that the previous iPhones sported because it looks a little too untailored. The sharp, angular look of the iPhone 4 presents a professional, classy look that its predecessors lack.

The iPhone 4 is also a pretty hardy smartphone. Both glass panels are scratch-resistant, while the stainless steel band sandwiched between them is five times stronger than the industrial standard.

Features & Functions

Apple added plenty of upgrades and improvements to the iPhone 4 but one of the most outstanding improvements to the iPhone 4 is the new Retina display.

Text displayed on the screen is much sharper, the screen brighter and colours are more vibrant. Applications, websites, photos and videos all look fantastic on this phone.

The camera on the iPhone 4 also gets an upgrade - Pictures certainly look better through the 5-megapixel camera; and the LED flash is a practical, useful addition that perhaps came in a little late.

While its camera pictures are good, I felt that Apple could have done better here by actually upping the camera to an 8- or 12-megapixel one, which seems to be the standard in higher-end smartphones of late.

Another new addition to the iPhone 4 is its front-facing VGA camera, meant for use with its video conferencing application FaceTime.

Mobile video calls on the go aren't exactly an exciting new concept, but it is a nice feature to finally see on the iPhone. However, those planning to use FaceTime might have a very limited group of people to talk to depending on who they plan to contact.

This is due to the fact that FaceTime only works via Wi-fi, and only with a contact that is able to run the FaceTime program with you on his or her own iPhone 4.

If you are planning to do video chats with your fellow Yuppie iPhone 4 owner friends, the FaceTime feature is a useful addition. But if you're thinking about calling your Android or BlackBerry-totting friend or someone on a PC, you're out of luck.

Chances are though, that future third-party apps will address the demand for cross-platform video chats.

Performance

The iPhone 4's antenna and call-dropping issues are probably what potential iPhone 4 owners are most concerned about.

As Apple gave us their official Bumper case with our review set, we tried making calls with the protective rubber band on and off the phone to see if there was a difference.

The result - None of our calls were dropped, even if our reviewers held it "the wrong way" (holding the phone such that the antenna points are blocked by one's hand).

That said though, our iPhone 4 did show a significant drop in the number of signal bars when the bottom corner of the phone was covered. But this did not seem to affect call quality or the transfer of 3G data as our reviewer was browsing the Web.

Once the Bumper case goes on though, the problem disappears.

Running on Apple's latest iOS 4 operating system, the iPhone 4 is lightning fast compared to its predecessors.

Applications loaded quickly without lag and the phone was prompt in responding to commands.

The iOS 4's multi-tasking feature was also put into good use here as the iPhone 4 is capable of handling more workload without slowing down.

However, quite a number of applications, such as some chat programs will automatically log out once you've switched to another app. This is likely to change, however, once developers update their apps to take advantage of the new OS.

Those who use their phones intensively throughout the day will be glad to know that the battery life for the iPhone 4 has improved.

We managed to use the iPhone 4's voice, data and app functions for an entire workday and still got some juice left in the device. When subjected to more casual use, our review unit was able to last a good three days before requiring a battery charge.

The Verdict

The iPhone 4 is a visually stunning, powerful smartphone that is greatly enhanced by a cutting-edge operating system and supported by the largest app library in the market.

With the additions of previously lacking essential functions such as video call capabilities and a much improved camera with flash, the iPhone 4 has pretty much everything you need.

If you're looking for a smartphone for that comprises both functionality and design, then the iPhone 4 is your answer.

Haato ♥

2010-08-16T15:45:00.014+08:00

Received a pleasant surprise of milk ice-cream from Luffs!

Haato is a brand of gelato manufactured in Singapore created from traditional recipes from Japan - It is one of the first gelato counters in Singapore to offer gelato that is free from artificial colouring and preservatives.

Haato (The Central @ Clarke Quay)
6 Eu Tong Sen Street #01-74
The Central
Tel: 6225 6956

My ex-colleague introduced Haato's milk ice-cream to me when I was still working at Wheelock Place. That was the only flavour I ever tried but I simply ♥ it even though they also carry many other unusual flavours like green tea with red bean, sweet potato with honey and chestnut, wildberry etc.

Thank you so much, dear!

Nando's = Nothing Special

2010-08-15T23:48:00.018+08:00

The queue at Nando’s in Bugis Junction is testament to its popularity, but the long line can also be a turn off. So Luffs and I decided to head down to Nando's second outlet at Tanglin Mall but the queue wasn't short at all when we got there at slightly after 8 pm.

Nando's (Bugis)
200 Victoria Street #01-85/87
Bugis Junction
Tel: 6338 6555

Nando's (Tanglin)
13 Tanglin Road #01-14/15
Tanglin Mall
Tel: 6235 3555

Here's the Peri-O-Meter on the first page of the menu which allows you to “choose your heat before you eat”.

Each table was given 4 different types of sauces - ketchup, garlic, hot and extra peri peri. I personally found nothing too unusual about them because they tasted pretty normal.

Being on our no-carbo diet, Luffs and I could not order any chicken meal because they come with sides like chips, bread, rice etc. So we went with 2 'mains'.

1/2 Chicken @ $17.90
Butterfly cut chicken, marinated for 24 hours then flame-grilled.

I would have to agree that the chicken was nicely grilled, tender and juicy. Most importantly, it came with little fat! We had it with mild peri-peri but Luffs added the extra hot peri-peri sauce which was provided on the table.

Petisco @ $21.90
4 chicken wings marinated and flame-grilled, mini chicken thighs, olive, novo pita and 2 dips.

We took the hot peri-peri for this and I found it quite spicy but was disgusted how the chicken wings tasted burnt. The pita (shit, we took carbo!) was warm and fluffy and tasted good together with the dips. However, I wasn't a big fan of the fresh olives which came in green and black varieties.

That's all for the food. For drinks, we had their gourmet drinks - Sparkling Apple @ $3.90 and Madeira Red @ $3.90 - which tasted pretty good!

This marked our first visit to Nando's but Luffs and I agreed that Nando's is really just about good marketing.

Ambiance - 1/10
Service - 3/10
Food - 6/10

It is simply over-rated and over-priced!

** disappointed **

----------------------------------------------------------

All the photos / pictures in this entry are taken off the Internet.

Still In A Mess!

2010-08-14T22:40:00.002+08:00

My house!

It is still in a mess now but Kelvin and I can't wait to see our place done up.

Simple Human : Tool For Efficient Living

2010-08-12T23:35:00.003+08:00

Simple Human designs products for efficient living and everything looks so nice! I will drop by Home-Fix soon to see the range they carry in Singapore. I am sure they don't come cheap so probably just good for the eyes but bad for the pockets.

Bathroom

Adjustable Shower Caddy

The adjustable shower caddy makes room for tall bottles and accommodates plumbing with its unique adjustable shelves. Simply flip the tabs and slide shelves either up and down or side to side. Bottles can be stored upside down for easier dispensing. The caddy's multiple compartments include a soap dish, toothbrush/razor holder, and two hooks. A rubberized clamp and pivoting suction cup ensure secure installation.

Toilet Paper & Magazine Holder

This all-in-one storage solution has a stainless steel base that holds two jumbo toilet paper rolls and an adjustable, chrome-plated rack that holds magazines and newspapers within easy reach. A quick release knob makes changing the roll quick and easy.

Kitchen

Sink Caddy

This sink caddy keeps your sink area neat and everything you need within easy reach. Four suction cups and a wire ledge hanger provide a secure, non-slip grip to your sink. Removable plastic dividers store and organize sponges separately for faster drying.

Flip-Top DishrackThe dishrack adjusts to hold the different tools you use throughout the day. The compact top shelf adjusts to three different positions for convenenient storage and the shelf can be for quick access to glasses, or flip it up to make room for pots and pans.

Utensil Holder

This stainless steel utensil holder comes with a detachable spoon rest is always in reach at the front of the holder! A shallow front compartment holds shorter tools, like can openers, so they won't get lost at the bottom of the holder. The two deep compartments neatly store tall items.

The Sleepy Lamp

2010-08-09T12:11:00.002+08:00

The Sleepy Lamp is a sleek lighting design from Studio Klass that has a stand with a ladder design. It not only acts as a lamp but the stand is also functional enough to hold other items like books, clothes etc.

Would this look nice in our study room?

SALT

2010-08-08T23:07:00.011+08:00

GEN Planning Services (an authorized representative of HSBC Insurance Singapore Pte Ltd) had their client appreciation dinner last evening and all the guests were given free tickets for SALT.

Synopsis
As a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt (Jolie) swore an oath to duty, honor and country. Her loyalty will be tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. Salt goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Salt's efforts to prove her innocence only serve to cast doubt on her motives, as the hunt to uncover the truth behind her identity continues and the question remains: "Who Is Salt?"

Luffs and I enjoyed the movie - I like the fact that action came in real quickly because it helped to keep me awake in my seat. Haha! This movie delivered a lot of action, juicy espionage, mystery and superb thriller entertainment.

Angelina Jolie was essentially the female version of James Bond when you see her leap from bridges onto moving trucks etc or when you see how she ingeniously gets a cop to drive with the help of a stun gun! But more importantly she impressed me as an actress. All through this film, I was wondering if she really was the spy.

I am glad it is a public holiday tomorrow but it sucks to be ill over a long weekend.

August Arrives!

2010-08-02T23:51:00.006+08:00

Not much updates for the second half of July because Luffs and I were both busy with the house renovation and wedding preparations. Oh man! These 2 big-ticket items really shouldn't be coming together (my perfect sequence would be to get the house first then the wedding) but I am sure they are totally worth the stress that we are going through now.

Anyway, the long-awaited food tasting session was finally done and we were glad all went well. Hopefully the chefs will keep up to their standard on the actual day, yah?

Luffs and I decided not to post any food photo here so that our guests wouldn't know what food to expect. So here's 2 photos to keep you entertained for now!

Now we know why Maggie Jie is always misunderstood to be the younger sister.

Haha!

Only 3 Months Left!

2010-07-18T00:00:00.013+08:00

C O N T R O L . D I E T . E X E R C I S E

Luffs and I have been doing some serious dieting for the past 76 days (yes, I actually counted!) - We stayed away from carbo stuff like rice / noodles / bread and survived on dishes, soup and fruits. Now that we only have 3 months left, I really hope we will lose the fats and look good on our wedding day.

Wash Basins

2010-07-17T23:38:00.007+08:00

Saw this Duravit wash basin on the Home Concepts magazine (July 2010 issue) which Luffs bought. I love the fact that it comes with a tap platform and an integrated ceramic shelf (besides the bowl on left side) - This is definitely a good solution for the small bathrooms that we have at our new place!

Duravit Architec Handrinse Basin

This other basin is beautifully designed by Italian company ArtCeram and features a single 50 cm wide strip mounted to the wall, leaving floor space free for a more spacious feel. I like this too!

Two-In-One Turn-Around Loo

2010-07-13T23:19:00.003+08:00

Luffs and I have been looking around for a good WC (water closet) for our new house! Information overload and I am really in a dilemma which one to get.

Anyway, I chanced upon this two-in-one turn-around loo while doing my WC research. Interesting, yah?

Being fussy while using a public loo is quite justifiable coz your personal hygiene is at stake. The “Ultimate Clean Toilet” here is quite a unique concept that addresses the issue of hygiene and practicality. It’s a turn-around concept, where one side features a urinal and the other a sit-down commode. You can swivel-around this two-way design system with the flick of a button. It self-sanitizes using Steam and UV. I reckon it would be the ideal solution for Public Toilets, but its groovy style qualifies it for the rich-and-famous loos!

Designer: Young Sang Eun

The House!

2010-07-11T23:11:00.003+08:00

Getting the house ready to be in a liveable condition is not easy.

It involves plenty of burnt weekends and many on-the-spot decision-makings.

The Wedding Ring

2010-07-10T00:10:00.000+08:00

We are 100 days away from our big day!

Anyway, do you know the reason why we should wear our weddding ring on the fourth finger and not any others?

Here's a beautiful and convincing explanation given by the Chinese.

Thumb represents your parents
Second (Index) finger represents your siblings
Middle finger represents yourself
Fourth (Ring) finger represents your life partner
Last (Little) finger represents your children

First: Open your palms (face to face), bend the middle fingers and hold them together (back to back).

Second: Open and hold the remaining three fingers and the thumb (tip to tip).

Now, try to separate your thumbs (representing your parents) - They will open because your parents are not destined to live with you lifelong and have to leave you sooner or later.

Join your thumbs as before and separate your index fingers (representing your siblings) - They will also open because your brothers and sisters will have their own families and will have to lead their own separate lives.

Now join the index fingers and separate your little fingers (representing your children) - They will open too because the children also will get married and settle down on their own some day.

Finally, join your little fingers and try to separate your ring fingers (representing your spouse) - You will be surprised to see that you just CANNOT because husband and wife have to remain together all their lives, through thick and thin!

Toke!

2010-07-07T00:30:00.005+08:00

Blessed Birthday, Toke Man!

It is Toke's birthday today but he organised the dinner for us yesterday. The makan place was the cafe next to the library @ Esplanade.

Maggie Jie took pasta while I had Caesar Salad.

And a bowl of wanton soup for everyone to share.

Dinner was pretty light because we wanted to have dessert at Max Brenner Chocolate Bar!

Max Brenner Chocolate Bar
8 Raffles Avenue #01-06/08
Esplanade Mall
Tel: 6235 9556

Toke's 'birthday cake' was delicious.

Here's Nicholas looking satisfied with his Cookie Shake!

Yong Jian and I chose Fruit Smoothie which was definitely a good pick! All of us also shared a few other desserts which I did not take photos of - Intense Double Chocolate Fudge Cake / Munchies Waffles / Tutti-Fruitti Waffles.

Everything was nice but the bill came up to $75 plus which I felt was pretty expensive for desserts alone. Haha!

It was a pity that we did not take any group photo but I am sure everyone enjoyed themselves (eating and laughing at the silliest things).

:)

Eventful 2 Weeks!

2010-07-01T23:46:00.000+08:00

Oh man, I cannot believe it - We are already in July! The first 6 months of 2010 flew by without me realising.

Sorry for neglecting this space but work has been freaking busy so I cannot afford to blog during lunch and I am too tired when I get home!

Anyway, below is a summary of the last 2 weeks.

16.06.10 (Wednesday)

Luffs and I finally got the keys to our house! The original date for handing over was 16 March but we allowed the previous owners an extension of 3 months. Time to headache about the renovation!

18.06.10 (Friday)

It was my late dad’s 19th death anniversary so Maggie Jie and I took half day leave (Luffs took half day off-in-lieu) to visit the columbarium before going for my final gown fitting.

A long day full of things to do but we ended it with a nice dinner at Restaurant Teck Sing (JB) after our medicure / pedicure session at Holiday Plaza!

Here's Maggie Jie and I camwhoring while I dry my nails!

20.06.10 (Sunday)

Luffs and I had our pre-wedding shoot with the bridal shoot - It was a ‘back-breaking’ experience and I really hope the photos turn out alright because I can’t pose for nuts.

21.06.10 (Monday)

I flew off to Kuala Lumpur in the morning for some meetings and came in the evening.

22.06.10 (Tuesday)

I took the morning flight to Taipei with my big boss and a colleague from Australia.

My meal on board - I only took the fish and veggie because I am on a no-carbo diet!

We stayed at Sheraton Taipei Hotel.

23.06.10 (Wednesday)

Took Taiwan HSR to Tainan - Boss bought the business class seats so we were given a packet of nuts, a slice of honey cake and a bottle of water. The bento below was paid for! As usual, I only took everything except the rice.

24.06.10 (Thursday)

I am glad to be back from Taipei because I was totally exhausted.

Everything they served on board has carbo! So I am stuck with the meat and veggie (again!).

Haha... But I could not resist the temptation and took the ice-cream.

25.06.10 (Friday)

Saw a mini flood at my house area while going to work! Haha... What is happening to our country?

Anyway, the highlight of the week was night cycling! I think the last time Maggie Jie and I cycled was like 10 years back?

Maggie Jie and I still looking good and strong at our first stop because we were so looking forward to the food!

We started cycling from East Coast Park at about 10.40 pm --> Changi Village --> Downtown East --> Tampines --> Bedok Reservoir and finally got back to our starting point at 5 plus the next morning.

I felt accomplished after the whole session even though it was torturing / painful for the butt. I was glad Luffs came along although I did not give him a chance to say no. Oppies!

26.06.10 (Saturday)

Got home from night cycling, showered and went to bed with my wet hair! Woke up 3 hours later to bring my colleague from Australia on a mini tour around Singapore. Luffs played chauffeur the whole day.

We bought him to places which typical tourists do not get to go and ended the day at the Sands SkyPark. Thank you boss for paying for the tickets!

The view from the SkyPark was amazing! I want to get up there again.

For those who are interested, tickets are available at the ticketing counter located within the hotel lobby at Tower 3 and are priced at :-

S$20 for adults
S$14 for children (aged between 2 – 12 years)
S$17 for senior citizens (aged 55 years and above)

iPhone 4 Making Its Way To Singapore!

2010-06-28T23:53:00.003+08:00

The iPhone 4, which features video calling, a crisper resolution screen and the ability to shoot and edit high-definition quality video, went on sale in Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States last Thursday and Apple has sold more than 1.7 million new iPhones in the product's first three days on the market!

On top of that, iPhone 4 will be available in an additional 18 countries by the end of July: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

So register your interest with SingTel / M1 / Starhub now!

I have been waiting for this for the longest of time but now I am worried about the antenna / reception issue. Apple has designed silver edging on handsets to be part of the antenna system to improve signal strength but iPhone owners complained that holding the smartphone in a certain way cut signal strength.

iPhone Loses Reception When You Hold It By The Antenna Band

So does that mean that the phone will lose all signal if it is in a phone pouch / handbag?

Jaden Has Potential!

2010-06-13T23:50:00.012+08:00

Luffs and I caught The Karate Kid last night!

Synopsis
12-year-old Dre Parker could've been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother's latest career move has landed him in China. Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual - but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible. Even worse, Dre's feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng. In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts "the karate kid" on the floor with ease. With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han, who is secretly a master of kung fu. As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

This movie was not only really spectacular, but it followed the old storyline beautifully even though there were a few changes. Now I feel like watching the original movie all over again! It is true that some of us feel that we did not need a remake but this touching film stands on its own - It is one of those rare appeals-to-all-ages kind of movie!

I like the scenes with Taraji P. Henson (Mrs Parker) portraying her role as a single mother. She was helpless at times but she tried to be strong for her boy but yet she wasn't too sure how to make him feel right in a foreign land.

Seeing the emotions portrayed by Jaden Smith (starred as Dre Parker) - Hiding from bullies, getting his butt kicked for no reason, leaving his home, not having a dad, meeting a cute girl, and subsequently finding a friend / a father figure was the whole movie. Jaden showed an overpowering commitment in the way his small wiry body is sculpted with training, the way he executes his kung fu with efficient skills and the way he proves in every frame that he is a star!

Han Wen Wen (Mei Ying) is such a sweetheart - That is why I need to show 2 pictures of her! She was Jaden's young, violin-virtuoso love interest with a luminous smile and a lyrical laugh. I think Luffs secretly likes her too!

How can I miss out Jackie Chan?!! This show has definitely given him a more interesting and conflicted character to work with. It is strange at first to see the infinitely charming Jackie Chan (Mr Han) as a withdrawn, almost surly, old man but he gave the film the extra emotional power it needs to be a worthy tribute to its beloved predecessor.

Thumbs up for these actors / actresses and this is a must-watch movie because I totally enjoyed it!

I'm Excited!

2010-06-09T07:25:00.004+08:00

I could not sleep last night because of some issues at work but that did not stop me from reading up about iPhone 4.

Below is an article from Channel News Asia - Hooray!

Singapore Telcos To Offer iPhone 4 In Coming Months

SINGAPORE: Apple has unveiled its latest generation of iPhone in the US.

But consumers in Singapore will have to wait a little longer before it hits the stores here.

The three telcos, M1, SingTel and StarHub say they expect to offer iPhone 4 in the coming months.

The device is expected to retail at 199 US dollars when it is launched in the US.

It is not immediately clear how much iPhone 4 would cost in Singapore.

But analysts say it will be priced close to the current iPhone 3GS model, which could cost up to S$658 or S$668, depending on the different subscription plans offered by the three telcos.

Market watchers also believe Apple will offer the new iPhone to all the telcos, steering away from the exclusive-deal business model.

This will help the company achieve higher sales volume to regain market share from Google's Android phones.

Industry reports say that the Android is slowly taking over Apple's position in the smartphone market.

In the first quarter this year, the Android sold five million units in the US compared to Apple's eight million.

Analysts expect the local take-up rate of the iPhone 4 to be healthy.

One in three smartphones taken up in Singapore is an iPhone.

Apple will stagger the release dates of iPhone 4 in July for 18 countries and August for 24 countries.

iPhone 4

2010-06-08T13:04:00.005+08:00

Work hasn't been all smooth-sailing but this article on Yahoo cheered me up alittle.

======================================

Apple Unveils iPhone With Video ChatSAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – Apple unveiled a next-generation iPhone on Monday that features video chat, can shoot and edit high-definition quality video and has a crisper resolution screen.

"We are going to take the biggest leap since the original iPhone," Apple chief executive Steve Jobs said as he showed off the "iPhone 4" at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference here.

The iPhone 4 will go on sale on June 24 in Britain, France, Germany, Japan and the United States and will cost 199 dollars for the 16 gigabyte model and 299 dollars for the 32GB version.

The touchscreen smartphone, which comes in black and white versions, will be available in 18 other countries in July and 24 more in August.

The iPhone 4 includes more than 100 new features including a front-facing video camera to allow for video-conferencing between iPhones, a better still camera, an improved battery and a screen with significantly higher resolution.

To demonstrate the video chat program, called "FaceTime," Jobs, dressed in his trademark black turtleneck and blue jeans, called up Jonathan Ive, an Apple product designer, and held an iPhone-to-iPhone video conversation.

The iPhone 4 can also shoot and edit HD video. Randy Ubillos, Apple's chief architect for video applications, displayed an iMovie for iPhone video editing program available from Apple's App Store for 4.99 dollars.

Jobs touted the higher-resolution screen as a major leap forward. "There has never been a display like this on a phone," he said.

The 3.5-inch screen is the same size as on previous models but features 326 pixels per square inch, four times more pixels than the earlier iPhones.

"There is a magic number around 300 pixels per inch that is the limit of the human retina," Jobs said. "We are over that limit.

"That's going to set the standard for display for years to come."

The improved battery life allows for 40 percent more talk time, Jobs said, and the iPhone 4 -- at 9.3 millimeters or three-eighths of an inch -- is 24 percent thinner than the previous model, iPhone 3GS.

The iPhone 4, which runs on Apple's A4 processor, features a five-megapixel camera, an improvement on the previous three-megapixel camera.

Users will also have the option to use Microsoft's Bing as an Internet search engine in addition to Google and Yahoo! Google remains the default search engine.

Jobs joked that some of the attendees at the conference may have seen the iPhone 4 previously "because there have been a few photos around."

Technology blog Gizmodo obtained a prototype of the iPhone in April from a 21-year-old man who found it in a California beer garden, where it had been lost by an Apple software engineer, and published details of the device.

Apple launched the iPhone in 2007 and has sold more than 50 million as it battles Google's Android platform, the Blackberry from Canada's Research in Motion and others for the fast-growing market.

Before displaying the latest iPhone, Jobs said that more than five million digital books have been downloaded since Apple began selling its iPad tablet computer two months ago.

Jobs, who received a standing ovation as he walked on stage to address the more than 5,200 software developers attending the conference, said the 8,500 applications developed for the iPad have been downloaded more than 35 million times from Apple's App Store.

Apple has sold more than two million iPads since it went on sale in the United States in early April and in nine other countries late last month.

Jobs said that 225,000 applications for the iPhone and the iPod Touch were currently available and that five billion applications had been downloaded from the App Store as of last week.

The new iPhone received positive reviews from analysts, although most of the features were known already because of the Gizmodo leak.

Altimeter's Michael Gartenberg said Apple has "raised the bar once again by offering next year's technology at last year's prices.

"They are the first ones to make video chat easy and that will drive the sales," Gartenberg said.

Gartner analyst Carolina Milanesi said the iPhone 4 "keeps Apple ahead of the competition" by "driving software and hardware innovation hand in hand."

======================================

Do visit the Apple website to learn more about this cool gadget!

Will Singapore be one of the 18 countries to get it in July or at least in August? Please let it be because I have been waiting for so long! And of course, I hope the price wouldn't be too high.

I'm Back!

2010-06-05T23:40:00.000+08:00

Sorry for the long hiatus!

Work has been so busy ever since I returned from Melbourne and I am too tired / lazy to blog when I get home from work.

Melbourne

2010-05-08T08:00:00.001+08:00

The crazily (hot) weather in Singapore is making me happy / relieved that I am leaving for Melbourne tomorrow but yet I hate to be away from Luffs, away from home.

Anyway, I will be away from 09 - 23 May for a work trip and hopefully I can update this humble space when I am there.

Time to pack my luggage now!

See you!

Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant

2010-05-07T23:30:00.005+08:00

Maggie Jie and I decided to bring the family for porridge dinner at Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant (this place used to be at Kallang before they moved to Toa Payoh).

Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant
No 303 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
Toa Payoh Town Park
(Park car at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex)
Singapore 319393
Tel: 6346 4418

http://www.oasisbay.com.sg/

Here's what we ate!

Luffs and I are currently on a no-carbo diet so we only took the healthier dishes.

Hahaha!

Ip Man 2

2010-05-02T23:57:00.019+08:00

Weekends come and go just like that! How I wish we can have 2 weekdays and 5 weekends instead? Anyway, I nua-ed the weekend away at home (nothing unusual!) other than the times when I went out for meals, church and movie.

Talking about meals! Truthfully, I've never been such a huge fan of Xin Wang Hong Kong Café until this weekend. I visited them twice in 3 days (and will definitely go back for more) - I was at their airport outlet on Friday night with Luffs and his parents then Luffs and I brought mum to their Sun Plaza outlet just now for dinner!

Xin Wang Hong Kong Café
65 Airport Boulevard #04-02
Changi Airport Terminal 3 Viewing Mall
Tel: 6241 5201

Xin Wang Hong Kong Café
30 Sembawang Drive #01-01
Sun Plaza
Tel: 6484 3920

(No photos because I forgot to bring my camera out)

Luffs isn’t a big fan of coffee drinks but he likes Yuan Yang 鸳鸯 at Xin Wang - I hate it to the max because I cannot stand the slightest coffee taste!

We ordered Eel Porridge which is mad ♥ even though I wouldn’t say it is that fantastic. Luffs and I were surprised how well the eel blended with the porridge! Another main course which we had was their Spicy Minced Pork with Shanghai-Style Fried Rice which was nice too. Also, their Pork Chop Mee Sua in Papaya Soup was worth mentioning - The noodles tasted great even though the portion might be alittle small for big eaters. I dislike papaya but the soup was yummy.

It was movie time after dinner!

Luffs and I did not want to miss Ip Man 2 《叶问 2》 and I am glad I managed to get the tickets at Cathay (AMK Hub).

Synopsis
Ip Man arrives in Hong Kong and tries to propagate Wing Chun in the region. He faces rivalry from the local master of Hung Ga, Hung Jan Nam. After a few encounters with each other, Hung begins to respect Ip’s existence. One day Hung is beaten to death by an English boxer during a duel. In order to protect the dignity of Chinese martial arts, Ip challenges him.

The show not only portrayed Chinese martial arts, it also inculcated certain moral values that we all should learn in life.

人的地位，虽然有高低之分；但是人格，却无贵贱之别。
希望从今天开始我们可以学习互相尊重。

——叶问于胜利拳王之后的感言

Watching the movie did move me somehow - We all should be an “Ip Man” in our lives. He was gracious and humble no matter how hard life treated him and he gave everyone their due respect. So I believe 世界会变得越来越好 if everyone 都有一个高尚的人格。

Confessions Of A Chocoholic

2010-04-29T21:10:00.005+08:00

This is the fridge in my house!

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My mum survives on Cadbury Hazelnut Chocolate!

Hahaha...

Get Well Soon!

2010-04-28T20:05:00.001+08:00

I'm a bit under the weather lately and I really hope to recover soon.

Hachiko No. 2?

2010-04-25T23:55:00.000+08:00

Doggie Xiaohua's owner died over 4 months ago in an accident.

Xiaohua left home to look for him and finally found his owner's bike after 2 months of searching and he has been waiting there for his return.

Family members found out about this and wanted to remove the bike hoping that Xiaohua would come home. However, Xioahua got angry and would not let anyone remove the bike.

Dogs are truly man's best friend?

Rain Rain Go Away!

2010-04-23T19:40:00.029+08:00

This week's weather has been totally haywire - It would be bright and sunny in the morning / early afternoon, followed by heavy downpours at about 4 pm onwards (when it is approaching knock off time).

The view of the overcast sky seem pretty nice through my office window but the feeling of walking through the rain to the MRT station totally sucks. Seriously, it makes me wonder where all the rain water came from!

Rain aside, mum and I have been jogging around my house area now instead of the stadium because it closes at 8.30 pm. I really don't know if these jogs will help me lose weight because I have not lost any but I guess I will carry on exercising to make myself feel better.

Call me 'suay' or what but 3 freaking incidents / accidents actually happened on the last 3 consecutive nights during / after our jog!

20.04.10 (Tuesday)
A lizard dropped on my head while I was waiting for mum to open the door after our jog - It dropped so hard that I could hear a loud noise in my head when it fell. And of course the next thing to follow was my SCREAM!

21.04.10 (Wednesday)
Mum and I were jogging on the pavement beside the road when a rat ran past my feet and I think I accidentally stepped on its tail. My goosebumps stood up immediately when I saw the rat and I were screaming my head off.

22.04.10 (Thursday)
Mum and I were doing our usual jog when I stepped on something hard (with a loud cracking sound). I initially thought it was a branch / twig but mum felt that it was a snail - I refused to turn back to check but I hope the snail will forgive me because it was accidental. Sorry, snail!

The week hasn't been exactly smooth sailing but I really hope things will turn out well eventually.

* Lord, please give me wisdom to do the right thing and strength to carry on. *

44 Months ♥

2010-04-18T00:00:00.005+08:00

It's the 18th again.

Happy Monthsary, Luffs!

6 months left to our BIG day!

iPhone 4G Features Overview

2010-04-13T08:30:00.004+08:00

I still remember blogging about the new iPhone 4G features back in January.

Here's another article which I saw online about this amazing gadget.

iPhone 4G Features Overview, This is What You Can Do with New iPhone!
(Dated 12 April 2010)

Apple has announced its new operating system OS 4 for upcoming iPhone 4G which will be the update for current Apple iPhone 3Gs version. The new OS 4.0 is going to be a platform for some great features that you never would have imagined in an iPhone. iPhone 4G is expected to release this June as per industry reports. It’s still a big question about which Telecom Company is going to come up with iPhone. But many reports have already popped out on many popular internet pages about Verizon Wireless getting iPhone 4G this summer!

iPhone 4G, with its OS 4 operating system is going to make the dream of iPhone multitasking come true. When we talk about 2010 iPhone features, multitasking is going to top the list any day. iPhone multitasking can give an all new life to the iPhone. As we all know the current version of Apple iPhone and the older versions don’t feature multitasking. Multitasking allows you to operate more than one application at once. So with the new iPhone you can browse internet, check mails and even text your friends all at once.

New iPhone is also going to come up with a stunning 100 new features that you don’t see in iPhone before! Another impressive feature of iPhone 4G is OLED screen. Also you are going to create new folders in iPhone to organize your home screen. So you can easily organize your apps easily with this new feature. The new email box lets you check the mails of multiple accounts in one place. iPhone 4G is going to feature a front end camera, means you can video chat right from your iPhone.

iPhone OS 4.0 is going to feature a great gaming platform. Now you can play your favorite games on iPhone, and unique thing about it is you can play multi player games with your buddies and even can compete on a global gaming leader board. Most importantly, this time you are going to get apps for free on iPhone 4G. The newly developed iAds platform on iPhone OS 4.0 is going to allow iPhone to send out free apps.

iPhone 2010 version is going to change the usage environment of iPhone completely. Unlike before, iPhone 4G can be a powerful VOIP client as you can run apps like Skype on background. GPS, 3G support, 3.2-megapixel camera with built-in flash, removable battery and iChat software are some of the added attractions for iPhone 4G.

The Good Old Days!

2010-04-07T23:40:00.012+08:00

** Babes, I am so glad we finally met up after 14 years! **

I finally met up with my Primary school clique (just 3 of them actually) after sooooooooooo long - Dinner was at Sushi Tei because Valerie is a vegetarian.

Sushi Tei
252 North Bridge Road #03-13/14
Raffles City Shopping Centre
Tel: 6334 7887

I bought sunflowers for all of us since we don't get to meet up often (Shirley migrated to Australia).

:)

Lovely girls with pretty flowers - Cindy, Shirley and Valerie.

I ♥ this group photo.

And we ordered a table full of food!

Sashimi Salad

I think I don't mind having this everyday - It is nice and healthy!

Wakame Salad

That's Valerie pouring the rest of the dressing onto the salad.

Golden Roll

The mango wasn't too sweet or too sour - The taste was just right!

Tokachi

I ♥ the very fresh sashimi!

Cha Soba With Vegetable Tempura

Nothing really special about this but the cha soba portion is pretty big as compared to our Japanese F&B outlets.

We had a wonderful time chatting over food and green tea - It was really funny to think back about what we did in Primary school and laughing over these memories.

See you girls again soon and of course during my wedding!

Timbre @ The Arts House

2010-04-06T23:59:00.007+08:00

Visited Timbre @ The Arts House with some of my colleagues.

Timbre
1 Old Parliament Lane #01-04
The Arts House
Tel: 6336 3386

Louisiana Fries

These straight cut fries are tossed in cajun spices and served with tar tar sauce.

Buffalo Chicken Wings

The chickie wings are deep fried and topped with Timbre's very own devil's sauce which isn't very spicy. Haha!

Triple Mushroom Pizza

This was the pizza of the day that was included in the Happy Hour promotion.

Roasted Duck Pizza

I have been hearing good reviews about their roasted duck pizza and I am glad I finally tried it!

It is delicious lah - I like!

Kashmiri Lamb Kebabs

I did not try this because I totally dislike mutton, but Oliver said it was good.

2 photos outside Timbre before we headed to The Penny Black for round two of drinks.

Thanks dear for sending me home after my night out with them!

Mum's Birthday

2010-04-02T11:55:00.001+08:00

We had dinner at Din Tai Fung on mum’s actual birthday (which was yesterday) - Her treat this time round!

Din Tai Fung
9 Bishan Place #01-41
Junction 8 Shopping Centre
Tel: 6356 5228

As usual, there was a big crowd outside the outlet (waiting to be seated). Luffs and I were the last to arrive due to the jam on the road but at least the rest of them already had a table when we got there. It was Luffs’ first time there so he was pretty eager to try the food!

The food took awhile to come, so we took some photos.

Anyway, here’s what we had!

Fried Rice With Shrimps & Eggs

The fried rice is always so yummy, so we ordered 2 plates of this - Maybe we should try fried rice with pork chop the next time round!

Steamed Chicken Soup With Noodles

This was for Uncle. Awesome broth - And this makes the chicken soup such an easily enjoyable non-herbal soup!

Dan Dan Noodles

Luffs ordered this for himself - Noodles mixed in sesame and peanut! I didn’t really like it because peanut + noodle is just not a good combination.

Noodles With Minced Pork In Bean Sauce

I had this before and would still think that there are nicer 炸酱面 elsewhere.

Fried Pork Chop

It was nice and tender!

Steamed Pork Dumplings

We ordered 2 baskets (one small and one big) - So we got a total of 16 xiao long bao!

Look at Maggie Jie’s satisfied face!

Shrimp & Pork Shao-Mai

MAggie Jie and I are big fan of shao-mai but this dish was such a disappointment because it is totally a xiaolongbao-wannabe dish! It tasted just like xiao long bao with an additional prawn on the top.

I personally feel that the minced pork & glutinous rice shao-mai is so much better.

Yuan Yang Dumplings

We had this free because we were paying by Citibank credit card.

I would say that the red bean paste and yam paste combination worked out quite well!

Just when we thought we were done, the waitress came with this!

We had no idea what this was, but seems like Maggie Jie got Harald's order wrong. Haha...

Overall it was a good dinner and I ♥ eating with my family.

To My Dearest Mum...

2010-04-01T00:00:00.004+08:00

Blessed Birthday!

这些年来辛苦你了.

Thank you so much!

Dedicated To Mrs Chia

2010-03-31T22:40:00.002+08:00

I might not fully understand the pain that you are going through but we both know that our good Lord is our refuge and strength in times like this (Psalm 46:1).

Continue to look to Him and He will see you through, yah?

Keeping you in my prayers!

* hugz *

Seafood Paradise!

2010-03-30T23:15:00.043+08:00

After much consideration, Maggie Jie and I decided to bring the family to Seafood Paradise for mum's birthday dinner (her birthday falls on April's Fool Day).

Seafood Paradise
30, Raffles Avenue, #01-01
Singapore Flyer
Tel: 6336 5101

The restaurant has a nice and trendy renovation - The place was all quiet and peaceful when we arrived but soon got noisier when the whole place filled with diners. Also, we were impressed with their service even though the place was packed - The service staff were very polite and attentive to our needs (refilling our water promptly etc).

Anyway, we were spoilt for choices when we were going through the menu because everything looks good. It was painful having to choose but I am glad our choices were pretty good.

Here's what we had!

Appetiser

Seafood Supreme Fried Rice

Braised Vermicelli With Pork Trotters

Assam Fish Head

Double Boiled Black Chicken Soup With Ginseng

This was how the soup was served!

The menu said that the soup is for 2 - 4 pax but I think all 6 of us had a fair share of the soup.

Crisp-Fried Crystal Prawns With Salted Egg Yolk

This is a must-try!

Stewed Egg Plant With Minced Pork & Salted Fish In Claypot

Creamy Butter Crab

They were having 2-for-1 promotion if we use OCBC credit card to pay, so these 2 crabs only cost S$32++.

Longevity Buns

That's all for the food part and I will end off this post with some 'human' photos we took.

Here's the birthday girl!

Sisters!

* I hate my eyes *

Poor Luffs - He has been sick the past few days.

Get well soon, yah?

♥ It Hot

2010-03-24T12:25:00.010+08:00

EDITED (25.03.10)

I tried the fries!

My director went to the drive-thru to buy lunch, so I got her to buy one packet for my colleague and I to share.

Totally yummy with extra hot and spicy "powder", but fries are fattening!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

The McDonald's advertisement on the front page of 《我报》 is so tempting.

I want to try the hot & spicy shaker fries!

H E L P !

:(

Myoumi Salad House

2010-03-19T16:00:00.006+08:00

My colleague and I came across this new salad stall at Lau Pa Sat last week and decided to try their salad today!

Myoumi Salad House
Lau Pa Sat Festive Market
Street 2 Stall 15
Tel: 8448 2001

They currently have 12 types of salads and there is free delivery (within the Lau Pa Sat vicinity) for a minimum order of S$8.

So here's what we ordered :-

Cold Paste Salad with Sweet Mayo & Thai Chilli (S$4.90)

Unagi Salad with Japanese Sesame & Balsamic Vinegar (S$5.90)

You can add S$1.90 for their value meal which comes with a soup and side dish.

Overall the salads were good and I will try their Oriental Beef Salad the next time round.

:)

Claypot Fun Is 'Fun'!

2010-03-18T23:18:00.021+08:00

It has been awhile since Luffs and I 'celebrated' our monthsary, so Luffs decided to knock off earlier to pick me up from the airport before we headed for dinner.

We have no idea on where to go so Luffs suggested going to Big Splash to take a look and we eventually settled with Claypot Fun (managed by Jumbo).

Claypot Fun
902 East Coast Parkway Block B #01-11
Playground @ Big Splash
Tel: 6440 7975

Luffs totally ♥ the interiors of this chinese restaurnt.

There isn't many choices on the menu but sufficient to make us drool.

This is what we ordered!

All chosen by my ♥.

The juices came first to help quench our thirst.

Price: S$3.80 each

This is Luffs' favourite - Claypot Rice with Minced Pork & Salted Fish!

This dish is totally awesome, so it is a must try!

(Cantonese style claypot rice is different from the typical claypot rice that we eat outside - It is not come with black sauce but just some light sauce specially formulated by their chef.)

Price: S$10.80

The soup chosen was Lotus Root with Old Cucumber.

Price: S$5.20

Another dish which Luffs and I like alot - Sesame Chicken.

The dish is awesomely tasty but I wished the chicken was boneless.

Price: S$9.00

Time to pay for the delicious food we had.

Look at the 'cashier' sign - Totally old school lah!

Anyway, the total damage was S$35.70 after a 10 % discount. Not totally cheap for the kind of food we ate but Luffs and I agreed that we will definitely go back there again.

We took a slow walk along East Coast Park after the dinner and we were both glad that we could have some 'pak-tor' time because Luffs has been so busy ever since he started work.

Dear, thank you for taking time off your work today.

I ♥ you!

TGIW!

2010-03-17T06:00:00.000+08:00

HOORAY!

And I am heading to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow (again!).

Fortunately it is only a day trip.

:)

Hope the weekend comes soon.

The Second Appointment

2010-03-16T23:08:00.004+08:00

The completion of our resale transaction was scheduled for this afternoon at 3.45 pm - I was held back in office because of work, so Luffs and I were in a mad rush to reach HDB Hub on time.

Anyway, the whole signing progress should have been very short if not for the waiting time. Also, we should have been given the keys for our unit but we have agreed before hand that we will give the sellers another 2 months to move out.

So it is another round of waiting...

:(

Dinner @ Thai Accent

2010-03-14T23:40:00.012+08:00

I have been wanting to try the food at Thai Accent but Luffs has been so busy. And we finally made it there this evening for our late dinner! Mum went along with us because we went to Best Denki to look at electrical appliances for our new house.

Thai Accent
1 Harbourfront Walk #02-145/146
VivoCity
Tel: 6376 9282

Luffs had Green Curry with Thai Fragrant Steam Rice (the rice cost $1.50 but I think the rice is refillable, so you can top it up FOC). The portion of chicken was pretty generous so I felt that this dish is best shared between 2 or more people and the coconut milk inside the curry might make you sick.

I ordered Tom Yam Glass Noodles Soup with Seafood, - It was originally served with vermicelli but I have requested for it to be changed to glass noodles. Luckily I told the waitress that I want it less spicy. :)

Luffs and I choose the Claypot Glass Noodles with Prawn & Sliced Pork for mum. We all agreed that this dish is very tasty but can be slightly too oily. So request for less oil if you are ordering this!

We also added 2 sides which were pretty good.

The Thai Fish Cake was slightly spicy but nice!

The Pandan Leaves Chicken was yummy too.

However, the Thai Style Ice Kacang was a disappointment.

The restaurant is quite big with both indoor and outdoor seats and it has a very nice ambience. I totally ♥ the fact that it has a view of the sea facing Sentosa - We could see Resorts World Sentosa from where we are sitting!

I will definitely go back there again although the prices can be slightly more expensive than Thai Express.

The BIGGEST Loser

2010-03-10T08:20:00.000+08:00

HELP - I need to lose weight!

This guy is the winner for The Biggest Loser (Asia) show.

How did he do it?

David Gurnani, 25
Starting Weight: 161 Kg
Current Weight: 78 kg
Nationality: Indonesia

Standing tall at 6 feet, David is successful salesman who prides himself on his ability to convince others. This confident young man considers himself a kind person, also admits to being easily angered and having a short fuse.

David grew up with a big loving family, which has always supported him in every endeavor. He lives with his father and 2 siblings and he recently became engaged to a beautiful woman whom he loves dearly.

Ever since he was a small child David has been extremely overweight and has loved eating more than anything. As a result of excessive eating he has gained a huge amount of weight and is at the point where he feels heavy and uneasy carrying his weight around. Being a sports lover, David is disappointed that his weight has impaired him from playing lots of sports.

David loves his work, which sees him traveling around Indonesia as part of his job, and is actively involved with his local church ministry. He is concerned that being overweight is abuse to his body and is in contradiction to the teaching of his faith.

What is motivating him to lose weight for good? David reveals, “I want to honour God with my body, to look compatible to my fiancée, have good health and a long life, and make my family proud.”

***************************

From Yahoo :

Being the “Biggest Loser’ in Asia is certainly not a bad thing.

After all’s been said and done, the stars of Asia’s very own ‘Biggest Loser” series are beside themselves with joy. Though only one of them took the crown, there is no question that all of them feel like winners.

‘I feel great! I’m really happy for David (Gurnani) for winning it,” Malaysia’s Aaron Mokhtar told Yahoo! Southeast Asia in a phone interview.

Aaron, who took third place in the show after losing to the Philippines’ Carlos Miguel by a single point, is just happy to have lost the 60 kilograms that threatened his health just a few months back.

‘From the moment I first saw him (David), I knew there was no way I would win,“ Carlos admitted. “The amount of weight David lost was just staggering,” Carlos admitted.

Staggering is right. David lost 83 kg and now weighs only 78 kg.

But despite the suspected rift between the two, Carlos and David were happy to pat each other’s backs at the end of the day.

“I just thank God for this opportunity,” David says. “Carlos is one of those who pushed me to work hard, and I’m sure I pushed him too. But after the competition, we will always be friends. We got to know each other a little but later.”

Now that the show is over though, David plans to take a holiday, buy a house and plan his wedding. On the other hand, Carlos will return to his job as a less-diet-worried chef, while Aaron plans to teach his friends and family to cook and eat healthy.

So what’s next for our biggest winners? To live a fuller, healthier life. Sounds like a good plan.

***************************

Crabbies Affair!

2010-03-07T23:33:00.002+08:00

Luffs was craving for black pepper crabs when doing his showflat duty.

Ask and it shall be given!

:)

Here's the not-so-fantastic black pepper crabs which Luffs finished by himself.

And this box is the oh-so-dry salted egg crabs that mum, Maggie Jie and I shared.

Bought these crabs from the coffeeshop near my house, but they are nothing compared to those at Melben Seafood or Taman Sentosa.

Calling All Singaporeans!

2010-03-03T17:30:00.008+08:00

Article from Yahoo News :

S’poreans Should Check Their Names In Registers Of Electors Before Monday
Channel NewsAsia - 03 March 2010 (Wednesday)

SINGAPORE: Singapore citizens who have yet to check their names in the Registers of Electors are advised to do so before next Monday.

That is the last day for making claims and objections to rectify any errors in the Registers.

The Elections Department said about 13,000 names have been checked as of Monday, since the registers opened for inspection on February 23.

It has received 12 claims and two objections.

Ninety-three applied to be restored as voters.

There were also 619 applications for registration as overseas electors.

Registration as overseas electors is ongoing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

The registers of electors have been revised and are available for inspection at the Inspection Centres in Singapore and 9 Overseas Registration Centres from 23 February 2010 to 8 March 2010.

You can also check the registers online by logging on to the Elections Department website with your SingPass.

2D1N In KL

2010-03-02T23:40:00.000+08:00

The only thing I look forward to when I go on business trips is the hotels that I get to stay in. Oppies!

Anyway, I stayed in Mandarin Oriental this time and it is right next to KLCC!

Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

My boss was pretty impressed with the size of my luggage.

View from my room!

My deluxe city view (king) room came with 1 buffet breakfast and internet access daily, but I did not bring my laptop.

Anyway I was away for meetings, so the only time I spent in the room was for sleeping. Haha!

Dinner was with our business associates at Lai Po Heen - An elegant Chinese restaurant at Mandarin Oriental, specialising in contemporary Cantonese delicacies and dim sum.

The food was yummilicious and I had my favourite shark's fin soup! So you can guess how much the total meal cost for the 6 of us.

Seriously there isn't anything much to blog about since it is only 2D1N, so that's all for KL!

Anyway, Luffs and I decided to catch a movie after my return from KL.

Dear John tells the story of John Tryee (Channing Tatum), a young soldier home on leave, and Savannah Curtis (Amanda Seyfried), the idealistic college student he falls in love with during her spring vacation. Over the next seven tumultuous years, the couple is separated by John’s increasingly dangerous deployments. While meeting only sporadically, they stay in touch by sending a continuous stream of love letter overseas - correspondence that eventually triggers fateful consequences.

I have not read the novel but I'm pretty pleased with what I saw on screen. Firstly, Channing Tatum has really good looks and physique - Even Luffs agreed! The budding romance was not too cheesy with the build-up well paced and I like how family ties were thrown in (i.e. John's dad played by Richard Jenkins).

Blue!

2010-03-01T08:50:00.006+08:00

Monday blues!

And I am leaving for Kuala Lumpur in 4 hours' time.

Fortunately this business trip is only 2D1N.

Will update this space when I return.

Study Hard, Kenny Boy!

2010-02-28T23:45:00.001+08:00

Kenny Boy was back for the festivities!

And here we are sending him off at T3 on the last day of CNY.

The Goh family was present too!

So after 2 weeks of ang bao collecting + gambling + eating...

It's time to study hard, Kenny Boy!

My Bestie Is Married!

2010-02-27T22:51:00.005+08:00

Miss Cheung Pie Ling is now officially Mrs Martin Tan!

Here's the beautiful bride having her make-up and hair done by Ivy.

Pretty flowers for Miss Cheung!

Luffs and I were very glad to have witnessed their solemnization at the Singapore Flyer VIP Lounge.

Mrs Tan was so touched / happy / emotional that she cried so much that day.

Below are some photos of Mrs Tan with her family!

Anyway, the board below is drawn and coloured by Joyce's boyfriend.

Nice right?

And lastly, Mrs Tan's all-time favourite Bad Badtz Maru bride from her friends.

HAVE A BLISSFUL MARRIAGE, MR & MRS TAN!

鱼生 For 初七!

2010-02-20T21:30:00.004+08:00

初七 is 人日, so we had 鱼生 from Sakae Sushi.

They changed the colour of their box this year - From the usual green to red!

Agnes B!

2010-02-19T23:30:00.004+08:00

Jocelin just passed this to me!

The Japanese magazine came with a free Agnes B tote and pouch - I really wonder how Jocelin squeezed her iPhone into that little pouch.

I only like the pouch and the red plastic ♥ so Maggie Jie can use the tote as her lunch bag - Okie?

Luffs could not understand why girls would spend S$17.50 on a magazine they can't read and a lousy cloth bag.

Oppies!

Facebook?

2010-02-18T08:38:00.000+08:00

:)

TGIF!

Chinese New Year 2010

2010-02-17T23:13:00.040+08:00

How time flies and the holidays are over now!

Here are some pictures taken the last few days.

:)

16.02.10 (Tuesday)

大年初三

My family was done with our CNY visiting, so I practically nua-ed my whole day away while waiting for Luffs to come. Other than the time when 四姨 was at my place with my cousins, I think the rest of my time was spent watching TV and falling asleep in the living room.

Luffs dropped by in the evening and I brought him to my 大姨 and 三姨’s house to 拜年 before heading out for dinner with 舅舅 and his family.

舅舅 treated us to dinner at Happy Kampong Seafood - It was our second time there and the food is yummy!

Lo hei during CNY!

We had a feast!

This dish came last but I ate it even though I was too full.

I ♥ the sour taste of the fish!

Delicious!

15.02.10 (Monday)

大年初二

I decided to take out my CNY heels / flats collection before my stepbrothers came over. Hohoho… I have 12 new pairs this year - 10 pairs of heels and 2 pairs of flats! Maggie Jie thinks I am crazy to have so many but at the same time she is happy that she can borrow from me.

Anyway, here’s Dawn ‘advertising’ for Royce! Haha… :)

These are my 4 nieces - It is always nice to have them around because they are a fun bunch of young ladies!

And then it is time for family photos!

Having completed the visiting for my maternal side on Day 1, Day 2 is always for my paternal (stepdad) side. We started with Yishun to visit my 姑姑 after the guests left before heading to Pasir Ris to visit 嬸婆.

Luffs’ boss invited the whole team over to her place and I managed to convince Luffs that he should go. 老板开口, 哪里可以不去? So we went to her place for awhile before heading to visit Luffs’ 大伯父.

14.02.10 (Sunday)

大年初一

Was supposed to wake up for the usual worship session, but I overslept. :(

Anyway, we headed out quite early (as compared to previous years) because my stepbrothers will only come over on the second day of CNY.

We covered the following homes :-

二姨
大姨
三姨
四姨
舅舅
姑婆

All the houses were at Ang Mo Kio and Sembawang - How convenient!

Took these in the morning at 二姨’s house.

Oh my, Maggie Jie got big eyes! * jealous *

My 舅妈 and two 表妹!

I ♥ this family photo!

That's my mum with her two daughters!

Maggie Jie and me again - Don't we look alike?

** Rina, can you see the hairband which you bought for me? **

And finally Luffs and me!

Haha... And we were still taking photos while in the car!

That's all folks!

Oh well, that marks the end of the long CNY weekend.

Time to work hard for the 虎年!

♥ Luffs

2010-02-14T00:00:00.008+08:00

I ♥ you.

You know I do.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Reunion Lunch + Dinner

2010-02-13T23:30:00.011+08:00

除夕 is one of the most important occasions in Chinese culture because it marks the end of the Lunar Year and the start of a bright new year. The Chinese word "除" means to discard (去). The term, in essence, would mean to discard the old and herald the new. It is celebrated as a family affair, a time of reunion and thanksgiving.

Anyway, I started my day visiting Mount Vernon Columbarium with Mum and Maggie Jie before Luffs and I headed home to have reunion lunch with his family.

No photos of the lunch because I left my camera at home, but Mummy Sng prepared a big pot of delicious 盆菜 and 算盘子!

** Thanks Kenny Boy for the photos! **

盆菜

算盘子 (Abacus Seeds)

Chicken

Meat

A nice family photo before we started eating!

We then drove to Choa Chu Kang Cemetery to meet up with 舅舅 and his family and my mum to pay respect at Grandma's grave.

Lastly, my 除夕 ended with reunion dinner at my house which started at about 7pm after my stepbrothers arrived.

I ♥ my mum's sliced abalone!

We all ♥ the shark's fin soup too - It is a total must-have!

Droolicious steamboat prepared by my mum!

Thank you, both mothers! ♥

虎年来了!

2010-02-13T12:00:00.023+08:00

12 more hours to 虎年!

So here's wishing everyone a fun filled and prosperous Chinese New Year!

Anyway, Sentosa is having a spectacular collection of light displays this year instead of the usual Sentosa Flowers.

http://www.sentosa.com.sg/lights/

Lights of Spring
千灯迎春

Date: 13 - 21 February 2010

Time: 7.00 pm - 10.30 pm

Place: Areas around Imbiah Station, Imbiah Terrace, Merlion Walk, Images of Singapore Forecourt

Price: Free (Sentosa island admission payable separately)

Happy Family
A family of tigers, to usher in the Year of the Tiger, takes centre stage at the foot of the Merlion . Perched majestically on an elevated stand, the structures will be brought to life through the creative use of lights.

Togetherness
This illuminated sculpture features the popular intertwining unity rings, which represent togetherness, family bonding and eternal unity.

Fluidity
In a display of fluidity, lighted grass-like structures submerged in a pond, will sway gently amidst lit fiberglass floral displays. The ‘lit grass' resemble the Typha plant known for its resilience and adaptability.

Rings of Enchantment
Ten rings illuminated in vivid colours form a perfect photo backdrop. These rings represent popular wishes for the New Year - Happiness, Health, Abundance, Love, Harmony, Togetherness, Wealth, Longevity, Knowledge, and Peace.

Language of Love
Lovebirds can enjoy a blissful moment under the beautiful Victorian garden pavilion, where fairy lights twinkle softly against the lush foliage to create an air of tranquility and romance.

Map

Reunion Dinner @ 舅舅's House

2010-02-12T23:30:00.000+08:00

We had our first reunion dinner at 舅舅's place today.

With the passing away of Grandma, my uncle and aunties have decided that each family will take turns to open their house for CNY reunion dinner every year.

It started first with my house last year and this year 舅舅. Wonder who will be next?

Quite a good spread!

Thank you, 舅舅 and 舅母!

Salad Is Good!

2010-02-10T23:30:00.015+08:00

We finally met up with Rina and Jeffrey after many failed attempts!

Luffs asked me how we got to know each other and my reply was "wonders of technology". Hahaha... Right, Rina? :)

Anyway, we have agreed before hand that we would have salad at Coffee Bean (VivoCity) because CNY is round the corner and we need to fit into our new year clothes.

Luffs took Nicoise Salad while I had Caesar Salad.

I am surprised how these greens can be so yummilicious. Oppies... Maybe I should eat that more often since I need to diet for my big day in October.

Oh well, the four of us had a good chat over salad and drinks before heading to Best Denki to look at some electrical appliances for our new house. However, I think we ended up chatting more than sourcing.

Tangs was having some private sales, so we went to look for Rina's new year clothes. But we left Tangs with a new pillow for Luffs and Rina with 2 pillows (one for her and one for Jeffrey) and a watch from Skagen!

That's us queueing for payment while Rina and Jeffrey went looking for Fred Perry.

The watch Rina bought!Black Square with Glitz
Elegance draped in black. Signature Skagen mesh bands are plated in black. The slim, square shiny black stainless steel case has 12 indicators Made with CRYSTALLIZED - Swarovski Elements. The layered black Mother-of-Pearl dial has chrome indicators and hands.

Pretty, isn't it?

** Rina, next time must remember to take photos when we meet! **