Christmas 2011

24-25/12/2011

Our usual Christmas celebration, will be meeting up at my house for our usual self-prepared steamboat dinner. This year is something different, we decided to celebrate in a hotel room. Some searching around, we decided on Re! Hotel which has got a wonderfully Retro theme to it. No matter it's the lift, lobby or rooms. There are other themes to choose from though, if you prefer not to sleep in a surrounding of Fushia Pink. 

This Christmas gathering is rather strange, cause after Claire checked in the hotel, Dar and I reached, then all 3 of us went out, Dar and I to Tiong Bahru and Claire to Jurong.-.-" Some sort of gathering huh?

Soon, Dephil arrived, Dar, Dephil and I laze around in the hotel room while watching Prince Of Tennis (Btw, complimentary Wifi) for an hour or so before looking around for our Christmas dinner.

Further, our idea of Christmas dinner arises as I saw this Korean BBQ buffet around Tiong Bahru on our way out earlier. Finally we settled on this "Ko Ryo Jeong" Korean Restaurant at International Plaza. Which foodie reviews said it's authentic enough. 

Being a boring person who normally only eat the more conventional food like Kopitiam, normal Western restaurants, this Christmas dinner will be an interesting one. 

Making our way to International Plaza was the start of the "strange" Christmas 2011. We met an interesting cab driver, who asked us whether we are singing Christmas carols! We thought, whoa~ do we have the word "choir" tattoo-ed on us? How did he know we sing? Then he continued to coerce us into singing a few songs for him. Unwilling, we tried to divert his attention by talking about other things, but this cab uncle won't give up. He said he learnt singing back when he was young and so is very interested in us. Even making an offer to sing to us! In the end, he sang a very impressive Santa Lucia for our Christmas, we really appreciate his vocals but preferred not to be blasted in a cab. ;p

Our Christmas Dinner! Ginseng Chicken Soup set, beef rice, hot plate chicken, Kimchi Noodles! Damn full!
Love the Ginseng Chicken, clear taste that is not too oily, fragrance of the Chicken and Ginseng absorbed by the glutinous rice stuffed in the chicken, can make a meal by itself anytime. The side dishes that came with the set were not bad too, though most of them spicy so I didn't try.

Hot plate chicken and pork were not bad, meat tender though too little in portion. Not exactly delicious but it will do way~~~~~ better than the one Dar ate at Tiong Bahru Kopitiam.

Full from dinner and laughter, we now ponder over where we should be going or doing next. Don't want to go down Orchard, where the crowd of foreigners will swam us. And hey! what is Christmas without log cakes~? So we set on our task to get log cakes or cakes. Google was your best friend but nowadays, iPhones (with workable 3G and network that doesn't go down when you need it) surpassed that.

According to some searches by Claire, there seems to be a place that sells nice pastries down Maxwell, which is actually walkable from International Plaza, so the 4 of us walked the deserted roads down Maxwell, when it began to rain.

In countries where they snow instead, this will be a beautiful sight ~ we're happy tonight~ walking in a winter wonderland~~ 

.     .     .

Then we found the shop closed. ;(( aw~~~~ We now wonder where we should go next. In the middle of nowhere, shops are in the midst of closing, without cake and drenched. Still very determined on our mission to get cakes~~ we decided to take a bus to Bugis!

Satisfied that we bought cakes (not log cakes~ just cakes from TCC), we decided to go back to the hotel, which was quite inaccessible if not by cab. Hence it's another walk in the rain to the hotel, in my new cardigan and a body full of rashes. Yea~ I've gotten some rashes, rather unsightly, Friday at work, unsure of what triggered it but the rashes quickly became full blown, covering my elbows, knee caps, trunk and neck. Big, swollen and damn itchy that tormented me cause I can't scratch them and I can't fall asleep.

Won't be showing you the photos though, cos here's food again!

Sleeping at 4am watching old old hong kong movies on the Star channel, we woke up with just enough time to wash up, pack and let Claire/Dephil down a bottle of wine each.

Then we had our brunch at Re!Fill in the hotel.


Again, it's a color that Claire won't fancy.

and these are mine! Though Dar took the potato, some of the meat + corn cob -.-"

There's supposed to be a 10% discount but we forgot to make use of the voucher when we made our payment. 

Google spreads Christmas Cheer~

Can't see snow in Singapore?

Open your browser, go to www.google.com.sg and search for "Let It Snow" in the search box ~~
watch the pleasant surprise~!

Search only "Let It Snow" and no other versions orh~

9th Yr Anniversary & Dept CNY Lou Hei~

Yesterday was our 9th year anniversary into our relationship and also the 3rd year anniversary into our marriage. There weren't any celebrations as Dar needs to work. But I received yet another bouquet of sunflowers. This time, it was delivered to our house. I'm glad, not because he gave me my favourite. But cause this bouquet was bought online and delivered. This is not usually what Dar will do as he will not normally take the time to search.

Our 9 years were not without quarrels, not without difficulty, not fairy tale-liked and definitely not lovey-dovey all the way. I also won't say "I hoped" our marriage or faithfulness will last till forever. As I feel that this should be THE basic thought before and during the marriage for all couples.

But I do hoped that our communication and understanding of each other will improve as time goes. I believed these are more important than whether we earn big money or whether we have big houses or even children (By fate).

Happy Anniversary orh~~

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Department "Lou Hei" ............. "1.......2.....3.......... HUAT AH~~~~~~!

My portion with the "Abalone" that Siew was so excited about ... heheh

Buffet Lunch

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About through the planning for our trip to Taiwan, having decided on the 民宿to stay in 台北and 花莲, now we'll just have to book them. Surprisingly, they are quite cheap at a cost of S$27 per night per person.

Now we'll just have to book the train tickets from 台北to花莲and also for the return trip to 桃园airport and of course, most importantly--save money and then we can be on our way.

Have gotten a list of places to visit though we really don't have a specific aim. Sight see-ing? Shopping? Goumet?

Or all of them?

But I don't mind some suggestions though~ Thanks in advance ;)

恭贺新禧Happy Chinese New Year~~

It's Chinese New Year~! The holiday that we would have loved to go through when we were kids ... but dread to go through when we became adults ... especially once you are an adult and married without kids ... hahaha

(One of the rare CNY deco in our house)

In the past people will go "When are you getting married, when are you getting married, when ..... " like a robot .. especially the older generations. I will just take it that there is a generation gap and they don't really know how to break into a Wii game or Mayday conversation with you so the only thing they can do is ask you a question they can talk much on while you have nothing to answer.

(My curtain tie which I used the paper rose I made. Who says deco needs to be expensive?)

Once you became an adult and gotten married, they will start to ask :"When are you going to have a kid, when are you going to have a kid, when ..." (oh well, you got the idea~) The way you can get them to shut up is to tell them that you needed money to "rear" a kid or kids and they could help by sending donations to you (cash preferred though I don't mind some expensive kinds like gold).

Jokes aside (though they are really quite real in life)... Chinese new year or CNY is really not quite the same as before for me. Friends around me and myself are getting less and less active in organizing outings and house visits. Most probably due to marriages and also the enlargement of our social circles. There are simply too many houses to visit, too little angbaos to get... ;p in fact, house visiting became more expensive given that those who are married are required to give angbaos!

So our house rules apply, my husband and I only give ang baos to our maternal and paternal parents and grandparents, our direct-related-in-blood-unmarried siblings and direct-related-in-blood kids who are at least 5 years younger than us. Its not good to say this but we do save a lot of money ... so sorry ah friends~

Had been stuffing and stuffing and stuffing myself silly with unhealthy food for the past few days ... Gosh I feel fat eh ... Just came back from dinner with my parents and siblings, my parents in law and siblings in law. And I've got a new but not so new phone for the new year!~ cause I exchanged my ice cream phone for my sister's viewty ... hehe .. new phone at no cost~


Time really flies when you wanted to enjoy it, going back to work on Weds for the mad rush before closing. This leaves me less than 1 day to spend nua-ing at home. Sometimes I think I'm better off without this holidays. ... nevertheless, enjoy while you can~

Its christmas~~!

Okies~ Christmas is round the corner again~ Lots of things have changed during the past year and one of the most obvious change would be the drastic reduction of blog posts.

I've always been known to my mother for having "3 minutes fever" (in chinese but I'm not allowed to blog in Chinese... oh well~~) It anyway, it means having short lived interest in something. Perhaps blogging is one of that something. Or maybe it has got something to do with being married (excu~~~ses! I started blogging AFTER marriage~).
Hey, since this IS an excuse so just accept it k? What else can you do to me? *bleah*

Lolx~ I won't stop blogging... if I have things to blog. But nowadays not a lot of things interest me any more and this is probably the main reason why I reduced my blog posts. Of cos, taking lesser photos and difficulty in uploading photos post a part too... -.-"

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Have just finished a caroling session at Heartland mall 18th and 19th Dec 09. Didn't do very well on the first day, in fact its my worst performance.

The 2nd day was ok since we had some warm ups in the afternoon for a performance for Grant-A-Wish project at Ulu Pandan CC. By the time we started performance, I was quite high. Although it wasn't my best performance too but definitely better (way~ way~) than the first day.... Had fun with the reindeer horns we bought at Watson's too.

(don't know what I was doing with my mouth like that)

But this is the first time I try out so many solos. I didn't believe I could do it though and was quite stressed up almost breaking down. However, I could always do it when I sing alone and without using strength which was impossible during a performance. My "high-ness" saved me and kept my resonance and my stamina up so that I can finish the gig(s).

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Couldn't fight with THIS choir though...
a few of my fav carols....


Enjoy and have a merry merry Christmas ... remember to get pressies for your loved ones~!

I love this~

Jul's Bdae

Went to Jul's 21st birthday at Water Cross~ ;D

Happy hatchday Jul~
21st is a hard to come by age and an age that flies too fast...
I can still remember my 21st birthday ...
when I was still in NTU ... in my 2nd year and preparing for projects...
Somehow I didn't feel it was a lost that I did not celebrate ... its seems like I've never cared much for my birthday (as long as I have pressies~~~!!~~) lolx.
A sensitive age .. THE 21st~ when you are allowed to watch porn and whatever legally but still too young for the adults to consider you an adult ...

hehe....

Say Goodbye

31/12/2008
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How do I say goodbye to what we had?
The good times that made us laugh
Outweigh the bad.

I thought we'd get to see forever
But forever's gone away
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

I don't know where this road
Is going to lead
All I know is where we've been
And what we've been through.

If we get to see tomorrow
I hope it's worth all the wait
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

And I'll take with me the memories
To be my sunshine after the rain
It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.

Its gonna be a new year~ though this song sounds sad (Oh well, the lyrics seems sad) hey wait~! This song IS sad.....

Well, 2008 is going to end soon and its not going to come back no matter whether its a good year or bad year .. 2008 is full of memories for me:-

1. 7th year (and not itching) anniversary in Feb 2008 (its going to be ongoing!)

2. Our wedding dinner in Mar 2008 at KL

3. A change of job in May 2008

4. Death of family member in May 2008

5.Wedding of Anson, Judy, Shunxiang, Xiaotian, Zhiyang, Rongshen

6. Achievements for Sounds Easy singing for the Singapore Arts Fest at Jurong Point and the recent All Saints Nursing Home

though :-

its sad that happy moments became memories ...

and sad moments became the past and

we are all growing older . . .

there are lots more to look forward to in 2009

like Jamie's wedding (Congratz!!)

New songs....

a Baby (?) (perhaps . . . well I hoped)

new friends~

and new challenges~!

and of course, to end 2008 we must...

say sorry to all the visible (and invisible) enemies I knowingly and unknowingly made .... sorry sorry forgive me~~

say thank you to all people who helped me before (no matter how tiny) ... especially my family members... and friends (Claire, Phil, June, Renshi, Judy, Cinti, Yif, Jamie, Jianfa . . . ) and the list goes on ...

Tata 2008!*wave~~~!* I hoped you are happy having me with ya~~

Lastly, a video I enjoyed a lot from Straight No Chaser

Judy Judy~

29/12/08
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20th Dec is Judy's Wedding Day~~ Yeah~! Big Day! Hence this post is totally~~~~~ about Judy... The Judy I've known since Secondary Sch (12 years~ 12 years~~!) The Judy who is always so straight with people you'll know she won't ever lie to you or back stab you... the Judy who's always the life of the party~~~ The councillors days ... etc etc ...


So we had our hen's party~~ First at Fosters for a lovely dinner... we had wanted to dedicate a song for Judy but since the performer did not know how to sing, he sang another song for her in Spanish... though none of us know what he meant but since the song is nice... it doesn't matter so much ;D

Was quite a fun night since we seldom actually meet up each other though we have always remain in contact. Actually they are the only group of friends from Sec sch who still remain close to me after all these years....


Next is to Wala Wala! Being the clubbing queen of the group, this stop is inevitable.... chatting while enjoying the drinks and the cool wind... it was an enjoyable night.... ;D


It was at this place that we planned what games we are going to make Vernon go through before he can get to Judy ;P


7 (+3) games! A total of 2 stages: A Jie Mei stage and Judy Stage


We got to know Vernon via Judy and I have to say, he is really a very good guy~~ Judy's so lucky to get someone like him ;D (Way to Go Girl~!) However, knowing Vernon and playing games are 2 different things though we do try to make things meaningful for him and not just trying to embarress him .. In fact, there weren't anything embarressing for him ..(More for his brothers)


Ermm... yes, those are wings~! Fairy wings that our pretty bride borrowed from her company event for us ;D No doubt we had eyes staring at us ... but .............. Hack AH!

How I wish . .

Yoz ... and a few more days to the New Year. Its a new year and a new beginning. Have you thought up of your NYR : New Year Resolution(s)? Mine will remain the same throughout all the years though I have never met it since upteen years ago. Haha!

Can you guess what it is then? Of course, my ever ongoing plans to be slim! (and its still on going) How I wished, I can get into that pair of jeans in my wardrobe. Even though we all know that curvy women have to wear bootlegs and flares and the blah blah blah, there's always the tiny little voice in our hearts whispering "Skinny, skinny~" Ok, I know a lot of people will say, if I have a ti~~ny bit more will power, I will be able to slim down. Maybe I should wish for more will power .... or or maybe the ability to sleep lesser or beautiful skin or .... hmm the list just gets longer doesn't it?

Merry Xmas!