Stocking up for my mornings and my nights

Another down to earth post *warning*

Reached home near 7.15pm after missing the bus twice in a row. First I just got down from one, need to transfer, but I had to watch irritably as one just zoomed away just as I alighted. K fine, so this is a sign I should go look for dinner. It started drizzling. More signs for me to really go look for a warm dinner.

Walked to where Botak Jones is at, bad idea, full of people. I didnt want to eat Botak Jones (felt the standard had dropped) but as the weather was kinda cold, I wanted to eat soupy stuff. Since no seats, dabaoed and walked back to the bus stop. Just before I could cross the road to the bus stop, deja vu. My bus zoomed away again!

Basket! Had to sit there to wait for another one lor. Only got one bus from that bus stop. Reached home, ate and bathed. Then I went out again. This time to stock up for my nights.

Well its like this. I would go to Seng Shiong to buy about 5x1-litre pack of milo for my breakfast. Every morning, wake up, take out from fridge, drink 1-2 cups of it cos no appetite. Well its healthy cos full of vitamins and minerals. Only not very satisfying after a few hours cos the stomach hungry by then.

At nights, sometimes there are periods of work-related stress, or even just silly work issues that pops up just when I lie down on the bed to sleep. Hence cant fall asleep at all until very late... ie 2am++ cos the mind thinks and thinks, cant clear it when something pops in... Hence some nights, I down a Jolly Shandy to use that little bit of alcohol 0.5%, to dull the mind, so it will just stop thinking long enuff to fall asleep. So far it works like a charm. Unlike the unpleasant incident with drinking some Gin, cos I ran out of Shandy, I couldnt sleep cos of gin. Yar I had to go to NTUC at clementi central cos Seng Shiong dun stock shandy for some god-forsaken bloody reason. So bought 2 dozen enough for 4 weeks plus digestive biscuits. Will try eating that for breakfast tom.

Look forward to better sleep for now. At least I can knock myself with a shandy (my sandman) around 11pm+.

A plain day

Hmm nothing much to do now, feeling 'bored'

didnt bring work home,
dun feel like Mapling,
nothing online to watch, tv shows suck,
even ran out of Dvds to watch...

so only thing left is blog lor. *No wonder more active blogger, cos blog about mundane stuff from my mundane life*

How many of us can lead exciting lives, where everyday is a brand-new experience, everyday is sunny? Yar so whilst wallowing in the pain of things, its good to stop a while and look at the simpler pleasures of life. Its this little bits that help one to hang on.

I headed down to Orchard area after work to look for dinner. Smsed but in the end everybody's busy. Hence I alighted at Far East near 6pm and headed to Chahaya to makan. Well its like just eating alone, so dun want to go to crowded places eg Soupspoon or even cafes. Just a place that wont be crowded, and someone to serve you. Chahaya, cheap food, nice ice lemon tea and got people serve you. Everytime I go there, I would order this Hotplate Jiban Rice without fail. I've lost count of the number of times I ate it. The reason was the rest of the menu resembled normal food that can be found in every hawker stall.

Today a Chinese lady served me, I just asked her what is the 'specialty' or in Chinese- Zao Pai Cai for the fried section. She said 'alot' and mentioned first the Hokkien mee, so I ordered that. She didnt finish, first dish she mentioned, I just ordered, so didnt hear the rest. The verdict. Its really nice. At least better than my area one. Cos I just ate Hokkien mee yesterday, dabaoed home. The chilli is different from the typical chinese chilli used and its served piping hot. A delicious dinner. Next time, I'll try other stuff.

After eating, didnt feel like shopping or walking around, just hopped on a bus home.

A small happiness in a small, sorta way.

A long day of shopping at Vivo

Today went to Vivo with my mom and 2 sisters, firstly to look for brunch. That was near 12pm. We ate at this place that sold HK cuisine. Interestingly it sold fusion, jap, korean, pasta etc. My sis's treat cos she just got her bonus. I ate some Jap/Korean fusion Stone seafood rice. That's like a stone bowl heated up and inside had rice, baby octopus, unagi, mushroom, a few green peas, egg, kimchi veg plus a sauce to mix it all up. Taste like claypot rice after a while when the rice got a bit charred.

After lunch, we began the shopping. Surprisingly my sister and mom really know how to shop and get value for money. We walked past boutiques after boutiques. There are quite a few having sale and selling stuff for $10++. I was left carrying most of the bags cos I volunteered and also dun like those styles. Finally I also sucumbed and bought a cardigan-like jacket(like my green one)$22, a brand new 'green' wallet $20, 2 more stainless steel rings $16, MiniToons candy $3 and this...

A lion dance toy for $15,



from one of those stalls from China set up in the mall. It was the last day for them. Hence slightly cheaper. According to the Lion dance master who commented for the CNY lion dance competition which I watched, there are 3 colours for the Lion, following the Romance of the 3 Kingdom. White for Liu Bei, Green for Guan Yu and Black for Zhang Fei. But as technology progressed, more colourful types of lions appear, gold, silver, purple, etc etc. My sis bought a Green one.



In between that I treated them to Starbucks coffee $25, and lastly my own dinner $11. Think I've spent more than a $100 in total!!! *shocking*

All of us were having a field day. Each of us save one, spent more than $100. Buying things like watch, bags, clothes, 2lion dance toys, mongolia head-dress, traditional chinese table cloth for praying... not sure whether you've seen b4. It red with the Tian gong there and the 8 immortals on it. Seen one many many years ago in my childhood when my Grandma would put it out on the altar table to pray on special days. Yar my mom bought 3 different cloths. By the time we made our way back via cab, its near 10pm. Wow near 10hours just inside Vivo, with a short walk to Harbourfront for the rings. We ate bruch, tea and dinner in Vivo. A most fulfilling day.

Kinda envy my other sister, who wants to go to NUS to eat roti prata tom. The other 2 of us have to work. Though kinda miss a bit of NUS food but dun have the time to go there to eat. Maybe one of these days during a school holiday.

I'll sleep when I die

On Thursday, me and Tab agreed to go for early jap class so that she can go for her dance on Sat. We met up and ate at BK, after I had bought my 'hope' for the Ang Bao draw. After that we went to try out my wildly-acclaimed Green Tea Latte from Starbucks. Its a nice and milky and tea-ey drink (for those who drink milk) But that Starbucks ran out of green tea powder (just show how popular it is) we ended up with Black Tea Latte, which is okay too, tastes like english tea. We began marking a bit of our work that we had dabaoed. The reason why both of us didnt go home straight was that once we reached home, surely near 9pm, the Holiday-Book-Syndrome would strike. Or more aptly I-Have-Worked-Long-Enough-For-One-Day Syndrome, at least for my case. Whilst marking, we started cursing. OMG, this also dunno how to do. WTF, this one didnt finish and dare to hand in. GTH, this one who obviously didnt listen and just anyhow do... Need we say more. After one stack, enough was enough and we went back near 10pm.

I reached home and saw my sister still up. It was maybe near 11pm. I forgot our conversation. But something like I told her I was tired but yet didnt want to sleep yet cos dun want the day to be over, to which she replied, "I'll sleep when I die." Hmm an interesting quote. Apparently she got it from a show she watched. Yar there are days where I was so tired that I almost died (more of lying dead on the bed) :)
Oh yar later on I checked the Toto results. NOPE, no luck. 10 lucky buggers will wake up to being an instant millionaire. I will have to WAKE UP to the reality of life and work again. There goes the fantasy of throwing in the remaining bond amount money plus 3k change at the boss or the hiring of FH to do his peeing on the boss' table impersonation. Oh well.

Friday headed to town near 5pm to look desperately for food. Havent eaten a morsel for breakfast, lunch and fast approaching dinner. Managed to live thru the gastric pangs to get food eventually. Then me and Tab walked around for some retail therapy and later tried successfully for a Green Tea Latte at another Starbucks. A nice drink and we stoned at the Starbucks near Hereen. Thankfully the GTL is added to the main menu. Think I will be a fan for a while. We parted near 10pm. I reached home feeling the cumulated effect of fatique and fell asleep reading my new Starcraft novel on the bed, still wearing my glasses, lights on and windows opened. Hardly do that unless too tired to hear the noise and see the light.

Another I-dun-want-weekend-to-end post

A long week, where at work kinda feel unmotivated, hectic marking and stuff. Then late nights of sleeping due to my sister who came home later and later and later as the audit drew closer.

Her normal timing was near 10pm or 10.30pm usually cos she had to travel an hour too. Then it got later 11pm, 12am. On thursday, I called her near 12am to come home quickly. Cos work is never-ending even if you burn midnight oil for it. Health concerns too. Then I went to lie on the bed. Maybe half an hour later, she called me to bring down some change cos the taxi uncle didnt have change. Then I nagged her to come back earlier and to go to sleep before retiring myself.

Then on Friday, after reaching home after 12am++ from Tab's birthday celebration. I went online and called her. She intended to stay beyond 1.30am then. I told her to come back as quickly as she can. Burning 19hrs at work is not a joke. Then I remembered sleeping around 1.30am. Then next thing I knew was hearing the phone ringing. It was 6am. I grabbed it, and its my sister. She had forgotten to bring her keys and had stayed 2hrs at a nearby coffeeshop. She had called 2 times earlier but I didnt hear it. Haiyo, I had to tell her that she should have ringed until I wake up. Usually I am a light sleeper but Friday was very tiring for me. Been up since 7am, went for course, then went back to work with marking, lessons and staying back until 6pm++ b4 heading downtown. And I sleep with the door closed, so the phone sounds more muffled. She should have just let it ring until I wake. Signz. Nag her to let the phone ring more next time, hurry up to sleep, asked her if she needed to work on Sat, which she did and had to go in Sat near 9am. Huh? I told her if she overslept or what then just called in for mc and forget the shit man. I woke up near 11am and she was already gone, think she left near 9am.

I think in my starting days of working, I did have such stamina too. I had the energy to work until 6-7pm, rush to tuition, eating something light for dinner, have tutition until 9.30pm, then take the bus home and reach home near 11pm for 2-3 times a week, on weekday. Then Sat go for Jap class, then Sun 2 tuition plus later on went to Quetzal's place for beginner piano. Of course I didnt feel happy then, miserable in fact yet I could do it. Now some years from those days, I feel my energy has been burnt out. I cant do it anymore for extended period of time. Maybe a once-off day yar. But to carry it persistently eg Full day at work, then after work maybe around 5-6pm, travel to go for guitar or go to workout at a Clubfit gym for an hour, then travel an hour home. I dun think I can do it anymore.

Today's a Sunday and she is working a full day plus OT again. I asked her if she will be getting at least 2 days off for working on the weekend, which she said her boss had agreed. We'll see about that. My parents finally came back from Msia on Sat morning, after all the 'drama' at home. I had to keep these happenings from Mom, otherwise she'll be worried. I did talk to my sis, that if the job continues to be so demanding on time, yet have little prospects, do try to look for one in the meantime, while accumulating say 1/2 year work experience. Also her concern for working so late was that if they failed audit, then people will lose their jobs. My stance was that if they have to wipe people's ass, then those people will not learn. Next year can expect the same pile of shit and ass-wiping. Hope she will come back earlier tonight.

Sianz speaking of which I dun look forward to work myself too. My other sister is currently unemployed. She seems to be having a bit of a good time, though no income. She's meeting her friends for a movie, went Msia for 10days, bought a kite to fly at a park. I envy her. Of course she is actively searching for a job still. But its like a nice break from it all.

Sat
After Jap class, I went to Funan to buy a long tv cable wire, about 10m long, so that I can set up the cable to the computer table, instead of having it near the tv set. The reason was the wireless set up, had very weak signals cos it was quite a distance from the tv to our laptops, though both were in the same living room. After walking around the whole Challenger and finally buying it. I went to eat at the Food Junction on the 5th floor. Feeling a bit unwell, I decided to go for soupy stuff and ordered this Korean soup, its red but surprisingly not spicy, with rice. The taste is okay and not worth mentioning. The reason why I am writing about it is because of the chicken. Note the soup is Korean soup with Chicken. I fished around the soup and encountered some vermicillion, plenty of veg, and the egg but where's my chicken. Finally I scooped out one piece. Its tiny. A 1cm by 0.5cm tiny piece of chicken. 2 chews and its gone. Sighing to myself for the bad luck, I continued eating and trying to find the missing chicken. In the end, I found about 7-8 of such tiny pieces, regretted not ordering the Saba set where the fish was huge, was left with my mouth itching for the taste of meat, felt I had a very healthy meal indeed. Its kinda complex to feel so many things at one go. For those who want to try it, you know where to go for it.

But that's just the start of some kinda bad luck thingy. I walked down, wanting to look at the smaller shops to find a cheaper laptop fan than what Challenger offered, but most shops started closing. It was not even 8pm yet. Sianz. Then I slowly walked towards CityLink, towards Suntec Toys'R'Us to buy this thing for work *groanz*. When I reached the link to Suntec, it was closed on the 15th Feb onwards. Argh had to retrace my steps a bit to walk up via the Marina exit then walk up the Suntec bridge to Suntec. Had not gone to that belt of Suntec for quite long, and it was kinda of a long distance away. Finally after arriving there, I bought that item for $5. Something which I have to pay out of my own pocket. Kinda lame cos my pay aint that fantastic and its not my fault that the thing ran out b4 it reached my class.

Anyway by then I was feeling not so good. Like fatique kinda caught up and stomach was not feeling well. I dragged myself to walk towards Marina, hopeing to catch a bus, sit and stone comfortably. Yet when I walked out from Marina, with the Esplanade in sight, I stopped. Basket! Its the Chingay parade and the road infront of Esplande is condoned off, with people watching the floats as it passed. WTF! Obviously there was no bus to take and I had to walk all the way from Marina, through Citylink, to the MRT and take a mrt back. Cross the road to the makeshift bus station and take a bus home. By the time I reached home, its around 10pm. I was dead-tired, yet glad to be home. My dad offered this bacon-bakua to me. *there is this new bakua, where instead of pork or chicken meat, they use bacon to make. So its softer than the normal bakua cos if u remember how baccon looked like, where the strip of fat covers about half of the baccon* K I was still feeling meat-deprived, hence I took one and ate it. Shortly after I slept.

Sun

A pent up sense of frustration threatened to overwhelm me today. I was feeling kinda sian of it all. The work-groanz feeling, the I-dun-want-weekend-to-end feeling, why-am-I-not-free-cos-I-still-have-bond feeling. Nearing my limits type. I wanted to go out yet was still feeling very tired but couldnt sleep. Then I didnt know what to do with myself.

Finally near 4pm, I decided to setup the cable with wireless on the computer table, with that 10m long cable. I bought some paste-on-wall hook and basically pulled it along until it reached the computer table, pasted those hooks and rest the wire on the hook to prevent it from falling on the ground, being unsightly as well as a walking hazard. Lets just say whilst I was doing it, my dad keep on saying that pasting that hook at that particular spot would be good and that would be good. Basically he was trying to help by instructing me where to paste those hooks so that it would not be unsightly. Being told once is okay, twice-thrice still bearable. But after >4-5 times my temper which was already kinda raw, flared up. I told him to stop nagging whilst I struggle to paste those hooks as high as I could reach. I am not exactly tall and climbing up on my table, computer table, on a chair behind the door and trying to reach a tall spot are not easy tasks and have to climb here and there to adjust the long wire. By the time I got it set up, I just clammed up and went online. Didnt Maple. Just surfing and stoning.

Until now its 9pm, havent eaten, havent bathe. Guess its too late to decide where to go out to. Tom I am not going in early to mark. If I am not happy, I need some time for myself so that it wont compromise my work. To keep pple happy, sometimes I have to be happy too. Just dun like to have to keep feeling the stress of having some unmarked work and yet marking those work is painful. Feel compelled to go in earlier, and staying later yet in the end is less time for myself. Guess this is not what I want. Have to cut off at some point, guess this is one.

Its another 'lonely' valentine

In just a few more hours, it will be 14th Feb, valentine's day. Not that I will be celebrating it, given my still 'S' status.

Its been tiring for me, given the travelling plus sleeping late and waking early. Like today I reached home around 8pm, after eating and bathing and resting, its already 9.30pm. I am so stoned that I wish very very much indeed to go bed. Yet the thought of just sleeping and waking up to work again, puts me off.

Yar tom's valentine, OR Friendship day, yet I dun have the energy to do my balloon flowers... also not sure if I want to meet up on thurs itself to do something, cos the next day I have course in the morning, and meeting parents plus have to stay until near 6pm dismissal. Dunno if I can stand another late night.

Life is kinda unkinda and unpleasant at the moment, and its only half a week after the nice long enjoyable CNY. It seems to be heading more south to the dumps as the CA are coming soon and the stress of completing the lessons, plus revision. *groans* Please lemme tio Toto big big prize. BTW the 10m ang bao draw is on 21st Feb, remb to try your luck.

Habits and perspective changing?
One revealing thing is happening to me though. Previously I would wear my watch 24/7, cos I want to know the time esp when I wake up in the middle of the night, I want to know how much longer I can sleep. Also I wear those bracelets for protection, and also as a reminder that I still have a bond to serve. (currently standing at 1yr 4mths) In fact I wear both my watch and bracelets as accessories and have no problems with them.

Yet for reasons yet unfanthomable, nowadays after I bath and settle down at home, I would feel very uncomfortable wearing them. I would take them off and put them aside, only to wear them, just before I go off to work. Nowadays when I wake up at night, I dun want to know the time. When I am online, I dun want to see the time. Its like that Toto 4D tipper thingy which somehow worked last year but is not working at all this year. In fact I have 'no feel' despite still buying. I dun even like thurs anymore (Toto day) The only thing that can seem to perk me up is friday after work hours.

I seriously need to get in touch with my inner self and establish some sort of distraction that can help me brave through this remaining time. At this point of time, I am not keen about that connect plan thingy. My outlook is still til the end of the bond b4 I decided if I want to continue to stay on for another 2 years just to get that payout (that carrot is losing its appeal)

Its been 3weeks since I last went online to Maple. Dunno if I am kicked out of the guild. Hopefully soon the cold weather will change to spring (freezing my butt at my area, the morning and night winds are very cold) and the sakura will bloom. Another cycle of the year...

Day 3

Yup the wanderlust struck me n my sister and we went out around 3pm and headed to Bugis. We decided to go to the GuanYin temple to pray for ourselves and the family and qiu qian to ask about the tidings for this new year. Well its kinda of crowded with lots of people having the same idea. When we arrived, there was no qian, its only available from the 4th day of the new year. Oh well, still prayed for good health, and job prospects for the year, maybe even love for my sister.

Then we walked around the Pasar Malam place at Bugis, only to discover that it had 3 storeys! More of the small shops inside. Then headed to Bugis junction, only to realized that there is a huge Food Junction on the 3rd floor and the previous belt of small shops (like Hereen) has been converted into a dining belt full of restaurants and cafes. MOF, NYDC to name a few. Hmm its really been a while since I've walked along BJ.

Next we walked towards Suntec from BJ. Whilst walking, saw many old ulu buildings that turned out to be art places, eg that lousy run-down bungalow is a dance ensemble?? And that old building over there is a calligraphy association??? Somewhat like travelled back in time to a forgotten part of Spore where the buildings seriously reminds me of Msia.

At Suntec, we ate at the Fish n Co, then headed to Marina. Walked around Marina to take a look, went to a few of the small shops. Then headed to the Esplanade where the throngs of people seems to be heading. We intended to walk along the river to Central. That being the last stop before going home. Well there is a big carnival down at the river. Near the Padang area, with food stalls and stage performance. All in festive cheer. We just glanced and continued walking along. Fending off the touts with their offers of Chilli crab, I showed her where Pit Stop is at. Then we went up to Mind's cafe which is also nearby to see the rates. Its kinda cheap too. $2 per hour weekday and $2.50 per hour weekends. Didnt go in but its on the ground floor and seem nicely lit and stuff.

We continued walking off the dinner and reached Central, where we headed to the supermart and I stocked up on Green tea chocolate and Pocky. Asked if she wanted to continue, but sine we kinda tired from being out from 3pm, we headed back via MRT. By the time we reached home, its near 10pm. A whole day out walking. Yet it didnt seem as tiring.

Tom, or rather today, wont be going out. Will be staying indoors to recoup any loss of sleep from staying up late and stuff. Still got dabaoed work to do also... groanz
My sister watched Nana the movie, and I was catching bits while surfing the net. That explained the very late hour ne. Going to sleep soon.

Hope today never endz.

New Year, New Experiences

The CNY is a very muched welcomed break... almost wanted to collapse. Partly from the intensity and the adjusting to the new timing. I find myself going earlier and earlier and staying later and later, just to clear marking and some admin. Sadly couldnt finish my marking on cny eve, stayed until 1.30pm b4 the workplace closed. Still had one and a half stack of stuff to mark. Relucantly packed up the half stack, which is still sitting untouched in my bag. Reached home, dog-tired near 5pm after eating my very very late brunch outside. A meal of Udon with Tempura at Sumo in clementi. That nite had reunion dinner with family. My mom whipped up many typical dishes we usually eat, eg soup, pig trotters, prawns, bamboo shoot veg etc. They were only going back the next day to avoid the massive jam. This year, I am staying back for my 4th year (I think...)

1st day of CNY
Woke up around 10am, then ate the leftover from the new year feast the night before. Watched NTV7, malaysia channel which had more festive shows than what spore channel was offering. Watched this International Lion Dance competition hosted by Msia, and the champion troupe is from my hometown.

Later around 6.30pm, my sis and I decided to go out. This time, not to Chinatown or Clarke Quay cos went there last year and it was a ghost town. We headed to town. Surprisingly whilst the malls were closed, the cafes, small restaurants eg Swenson were open. For one, I know the cinema malls like Shaw and Cinelesiure are open for the bored people to watch those new movies opening. We went to Hereen first, HMV was open and had a CNY sale of sort. My youngest sister bought a Nana anime vcd. Then we headed to Cinelesiure where more shops were open esp the food outlets. We headed to the MiniToons where I saw this cup!

A Grumpy Cup!


The words reads (from the left clockwise)... Miner Back Pain, Hot Temper, Sleeping Bags and Cold Coffee


Plus its a huge cup! Bigger than my dear dear Green cup that had to be thrown away cos its chipped. For $9.50, I got myself a Grumpy cup. Think its a cup made for me, given I am kinda grouchy in the morning. Haha.

Later we ate at Pastamania and people watched. Somehow quite a few butches and gays? Then later we walked along Taka and took MRT home. Quite an interesting experience. Orchard is not as crowded, yet at certain places, its a bit crowded.




2nd Day of CNY
Woke up to another meal of trying to clear the leftover from the CNY eve feast. So far, both of us polished off the rice, soup, fish and one vege. Just got prawns, pig trotters, 2 more veg to go through... Whilst my youngest sister did her dabaoed work, watched tv, listened to music, I was playing Aoi, and having a Harry Potter movie marathon. Went through HP2,3 and 4. Didnt buy 5 yet.

Later near 6.30pm, we went out nearby for dinner. Murtabak and woon toon mee. Yikes, no more eating of cheena food, all charge 50cents extra. And it tasted real bad. The murtabak was delicious and the portion is big for $4. I asked my siter, if she wanted to go IMM, cos the shuttle bus is still in operation. So after dinner, we hopped on and headed there. Quite a number of shops were open. We walked around to digest off dinner. Headed to Diaso and stayed for a fair while. I didnt intend to buy anything for myself, was looking out for things to use in class or for work.

....until I saw a whole collection of cups, bowls with this very eye-pleasing sakura design. Its a simple design but yet it caught my eye.





It feels like a reminder that I cant go watch Sakura-watching in March/April period at all... signz at least until I am Educator no more.

A small dream is to sit under the Sakura trees, with a drink in one hand and peer up at the evening skies... enjoying the bliss of being able to just sit down and soak in the sight and letting the cool breeze blow across ones' face... A romantic dream bah... signz

Then I went in for a closer look. There is another design, the one on the right, with two bunnies sitting and looking at the moon. Its real nice and serene too. Decided to get one of each of the tea-cups. If I ever have to buy my own set of bowls and cups, guess it will definitely be a beautiful yet tranquil, Sakura set. Not bad, I get 2 nice cups, though they kinda small compared to Grumpy.

3 cups in 2 days. This year's CNY is definitely one with new experiences. Hope for more of such small and enjoyable moments.

Oh yar, also bought a pudding mix. Tom's culinary challenge is Caramel Pudding, jap style. Yeah!

More Do-It-Yourself-Cooking

Its now the morning of the morning b4 CNY and I am still up at this Obscene hour! Cos tom I have to wake around 5.30am, get out by 6am, reach by 7am. Siao... Dunno some collegues expect me to wear chiong sam top... Wake up so early still got time to go make oneself presentable meh? Siao... sleep already not enuff, still talk about dressing up or presentably... Even if I have the top, I dun have the bottom. I have not ironed out any pants yet. Even if have both, I dun intend to wear my ladies slippers to work. Wearing my sport shoes. Then what is the point? Bah... But this CNY can be memorable cos me and my sister tried making something.



Today after a damn long and hard and intense day of work, where I slogged marking and lessons, plus stayed back and mark and grab students for more work...

I reached home tired, hungry and sian again. Tom's going to be CNY eve yet the question is What time can I leave? There are at least 4 more stacks to finish marking. Want to clear them yet lugging them home to do so is not an option cos once I reach home, I wont do. So hope to pia thru them tom.

K I left off the story... went with sister to walk around and buy some stuff near our place. We ended up in Sheng Siong buying more snacks and even buying a Nian Gao. The brown one where you have to cut and fry. I had a brillant flash of inspiration to try to fry the Nian Gao. Once we got home, we cut it up, coat with a batter and fry it.

Err things didnt exactly go very smoothly. The Nian Gao we bought was a very soft one, making it hard to cut. So end up with very very uneven thickness. Then dunno need thick or thin slices. Then the batter... at first I mixed some flour with water. I asked my mom if the one I was making was okay. She said "Add more." I assumed was water, cos I was stirring it and proceeded to make a 'milk' out of my batter. Then laughed about it and poured it away to remake the batter. Then had a hell of a time, picking up the sticky pieces to dip in batter and fry. Erm the pieces look very very UnAppetizing. Even the both of us felt so after looking at the end product. My dad had alot of constructive feedback after eating a slice.

Then waited until my other sister came back and told her, got special food for her. Much like the special 'duck tongue' snack her collegues gave her yesterday. Along the same range. She ate the Gao and quite like it. I ate a few more. Hmm taste nicer when its cooled. Hmm different from when its warm. Oh well, still got a plate of it. Guess that will be my breakfast...

Its now 12.37am... I hope to have a good sleep until 5.30am then. Nite and advance CNY to all. No need ang bao, give me good luck to tio Toto.

Another weekend-going-to-be-over blues

Yar I noticed, if I post on sunday, its always about post-weekend blues.

Well cant help it that I am a bum at heart. I dun feel like working all out. I just wanna lay back on bed, snuggle under the warm comforter given the cold weather.

Weekend has been kinda good? Friday I was knocked out after a damn trying day. I reached clementi around 7pm+, cold, tired, hungry, drained. I walked into a cheap sushi place and ordered Udon with Tempura set. Umai! The hot soup warmed my cold body and the tempura tasted heavenly. Then I reached home, ate some more of the sushi rolls my dad bought. Then I was lying on the bed, reading the Jap notes for tom's test. That was what I last remembered...

The next day, I woke up around 8am, lost... Then it dawned on me, I slept at least 12hrs. A sleep so deep, most noises didnt reach me. Just that tired. Then I continued to study for Jap, unit 4. Half dozing off, half studying or more like, I finished one section, then slept. Wake up later to continue. Managed to go to the bank also near 11am. Then continued studying. Later slept 2-3pm. Woke up to get ready for Jap test.

Tab was already in the Burgerking studying. Most test she does better than me. My reasoning is that well I cant really retain stuff. Its like what I always tell her. Imagine my head is a container with many holes. Then I pour liquid ie the things I managed to study for jap, along the week. The moment the liquid enters, some of it starts spilling out. So by the time for the actual jap test, lets just say the container is not so full anymore and its not empty. Anyway I am not comparing to see whose better, think I am way past that age and also I encounter it everyday at work. Enuff of comparing. My aim is just to pass, do decently, so I dun have to retake.

Later we went for sushi dinner at IchibanBoshi@ Esplanade. They went off for concert. I headed to buy a ticket for Swedney Todd, but had to kill of 1.5hr. I tried walking around Marina. But you know me, I am just not much of a shopper. Pass by many shops, went in a few eg ActionCity, yet that only took 20mins.

I decided I yearned for a hot Green Tea Latte from Starbucks. Its a nice drink. Had it several months ago and its still available. So I headed to the Marina Starbucks but it was full of people. Then I remembered that Suntec had a much bigger one. I walked over, ordered the Largest cup of hot Green Tea Latte and sat down playing Aoi, listening to radio on Midori. Lets just say its a nicer way of chilling. Quite relaxing. The green tea helped to calm my unwell stomach (somehow had it the whole day)

But note to self next time, if I ever had to drink something b4 a movie, not to order the largest size and gulp it. Cos though I went to the ladies b4 the movie, halfway through, I had to go again. Didnt miss much but definitely something I dun usually do while watching movie. The movie is not bad, a bit gruesome but the ending a bit abrupt. By the time the movie ended, its time for the long ride home, via Nightrider and a cab near clementi. Still overall slightly cheaper than a weekday late movie plus a long cab ride home.

The funny thing is that when I reached home, I had enuff energy to watch this DVD series that my Dad bought - Ancient Worlds, which talks about the discovery how great ancient civilisations like Egypt, Mayan ended abruptly at the height of power. I finished watching from 12am+ til 3am+ then fell comfortably asleep with the warm comforter. Bloody cold weather, at least at my area, the winds very cold.

Today didnt do much but sleep, wake, watch more DVD, sleep. Then late afternoon, went to help buy and more importantly carry CNY shopping goods. Cos my sister n dad cant really carry heavy stuff, so I lug most of it whenever I can. Well that is my weight training also. I ended up buying my own supply of CNY stuff also. Esp that Camel brand, Wasabi peanuts. Its very nice. First tasted it at tab's place during that christmas gathering. Then later on I bought one more that was very well-received by my sisters too. The combination is just nice and the wasabi is just nice. Sometimes if not careful, you end up burning your tongue. Shiok.

This current song in my head
Stop and Stare by One Republic
Like the chorus part with the 'stop and stare' very nice. But the mtv kinda sucked. Just listen, no need to watch, no shuai ge, and also no plot.



The unhappy prospect tom is to wake up a bit earlier, to mark a dabaoed stack, still untouched. Get it out of the way b4 I go to work then I can clear more stuff while at work. Still struggling to adjust to the timetable and manning 2 main classes. At least its a short week. Looking forward to the public holiday soon.

Think I maybe left home alone this CNY. Looks like my parents are going back, one of my sis too. The other dunno yet. Most likely I'll end up watching LOTR (tab's one) cos my Dvds are loaned out to friends and collegues who havent returned to me. Yar I remembered last year, I watched LOTR also. Unless want to go watch those 2 movies opening near CNY, Ah Long movie and Slam Dunk movie, both in chinese. Dun mind some days of nuahing around. Food should not be a problem. Cos last year stayed back b4, there is still food available. If not, there is always cup noodles or I'll buy a few more food items by tuesday and whip up a simple meal for myself.