Archive for September 19th, 2008
Protected: We were no fun
Moscow Part I
Like I said, there are many things I have to catch up with.
And one of which, is the reason why I created this “category” – The vast out there, for.
Yeap, my Moscow 2008 trip.
Of course, the clues were there for all to find, with me constantly saying how out of my mind I was.
It was a lazy day at work, I remember, when I saw Ming’s nickname on his MSN.
He was going to Moscow, it said. For THE match, it said.
My jealousy was absolutely seething. I messaged him and congratulated on his luck, and started to whine about how I would love to be there too.
I then recounted 1999, when I was in UK, watching the final in a pub with then schoolmates, days before my A levels.
The adrenalin rush.. the punches in the air.
Then, he dropped the bomb.
He had an extra ticket.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And he has a friend there.
It was 7 days before the match, with the following Monday a public holiday.
I remember I could hardly breathe, before I ran into my manager’s cubicle(bear in mind I was barely 3 months in the company!!), and asked for leave.
Alas, with the match on Wednesday, I was part of the committee to hold an internal kick off meeting, which attendance was compulsory on Friday.
How like that?!
And with Ming’s flight is on Tuesday, thus it would mean my time window was very narrow.
But does anyone really think I care?
Of course I didn’t. After a flurry of phone calls, I booked my air ticket(if I wanted to be back for my meeting, the only airline I could take is SIA, and we all know that means a big hole in the pocket). I rushed home during lunch time, to submit my passport for visa application.
The very next day, I went down to Queensway, and the last piece of ladies’ jersey in sized S, was mine.
A lady was behind me, and I bet she would have strangled me on the spot when the uncle told her I took the last piece.
I was happy like don’t know what, I tell you.
Back to my visa. My travel agency was not that helpful, though they did send a courier down to collect other documents from me.
Though I know ticket holders were allowed into Russia without the need of a visa, but I ain’t gonna take my chances.
Thank God, the Russian Embassy was opened on Monday, which was my collection date with express processing.
I was in time for the morning flight on Tuesday.
The tight timeline means there wasn’t room for mistakes.
On Monday morning, I was one of the firsts to arrive to collect.
And… I walked away from the embassy with my head feeling absolutely light, and a skip in my steps. I sure I could have started some silly dance in the middle of the road.
When I blogged how it would be one of the highlights of my life, I had no idea.
And truly, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, that I would one day look back and say…
“Fucking hell! I was there.”
I am glad that I did not even hesitate, even for a moment.
Twenty-seventh
Just when I was going to change into my swimming gear… I hugged my pillow.
Before I knew it, it was a 3 hours nap I didn’t expect.
So I didn’t swim today.
And I am feeling damn hot, and uncomfortable. I am coughing too. Annoying.
***
Yeah, the one in March, I am talking about.
It has been like more than half a year, and I never quite gotten to blogging about it.
I think the problem with me is, whenever there are major occasions, I always tell myself I need lotsa time to chew on them, and then jot down what I think.
The sad thing is, time will pass, and by then, it no longer holds the memories together… and then.. it just dwindles to nothing but a memory maps out by plenty of pictures, as I try to recall it, and piecing it together.
The truth is, I remember feeling absolutely dejected this birthday, yet as I look back, I realise I forgot what were the most element to me – my friends.
Things have obviously changed drastically, and I can’t say I don’t miss us at all.
And then I remember the little things my friends did for me. And I remember Douglas O only singing the song I wanted to hear AFTER I stepped out of Le Baroque. Of course, Jiali even popped by for 5 minutes to just to give me a hug.
Come to think of it, it is the littlest things that mattered. And then when you are not careful, they can even slip away from you before you know it….
Birthdays are always bittersweet for me.
And here. The beautiful memories of my 27th(actually, I even have my 25th one in a draft somewhere…. but then, I think that will never come out).
It must be some couple of years ago, I thought to myself I wish I have the consistent bunch of people who will always be around for my birthday.
And then, I am glad to think that, Minibean will always be that constant factor 
Cos this time, I had her with me in Singapore after the ban on my mum’s visa was lifted.
It was, brilliant.
***
The week leading to my birthday was also the week when Thomas and Potato leaving…
We had a farewell dinner for Thomas(sheesh, I am now thinking about the pepper crab!!) at Esplanade.
And it was a feast!
And I am now sulking cos I have an urge for crabs again.
Potato joined us for a while, just to pass me… my birthday present! How sweet har, you tell me.
Us, at Esplanade. Nobody wanted to stand next to me then, they no love me!
Thomas kindly stood in just to well, stand beside the person whom everyone hates. Boohoo.
Then Potato passed me my present..
I think she looks very chio here.
But then not very chio here.
I didn’t open it until when we sat down at Harry’s.
JD aka Muthu trying to avoid the camera but not quite successfully.
And tadang! I am a party girl!!
Me with Effy.
Me trying to check out Effy’s…. Er tongs.
Potato is Yi tong, I also Yi tong, and one more we can PONG!
4 of us. Eh, that night we all very girly hor?
Looking back. All of us look back, once in a while.
I remember 2006, were them too.
***
That week was also… IT Show.
It was not the actual day, but I was greeted by…
Flowers! Red roses!
2 bouquets!
Giggles. So nice to receive flowers you know.
Especially, bloody red roses.
And with this bouquet, a cute office voodoo doll came with it.
A very nice friend of mine remembered how I was swooning how cute it was when we were out shopping, thank Glenn.
Afternoon was a trip to IT Show.
Saw pretty Sharon there.
And there was Sonia too.
I can never look slim next to her.
Also bumped into RJ, who was our emcee for a couple of events.
***
Then, came the actual day…
The voodoo doll is standing proudly behind in the picture. Oh, this picture was taken on the morning on my birthday, with May putting it there with a nice Polar puff as a morning surprise. Feeling so loved already!
It was also my lucky day as I sank my teeth into the OMG-I-AM-GOING-TO-HAVE-AN-ORGASM….
… Krispy Kreme Doughnut courtesy of Lynette, who came back from work trip …. I am not sure what it is, but it is the one with the lemon cream within. It was my 2nd encounter with Krispy Kreme(I was a KK virgin till JD aka Muthu offered me the glazed ones..), and then I found my true love.
Bliss lor, I tell you!
Then huh… JD sent me these. Giggles.
My name is Ting, not Ping, thank you very much.
Oh my GOD! Chap Sar Yio!
Somemore got Fatt Choy as the “eye”.
So happy can!
It was a farewell lunch for Jessie, who helped us lots even though she wasn’t directly under our company.
It was at TCC at Millenia Walk!
Us bunch!
My direct manager, Jessie, May, Daniel, Jemuel and me.
As thick-skinned as always, I joked that maybe can be my birthday celebration also.
I made all of them sing birthday song for me. Giggles.
I know, so thick-skinned! Where got people like that one?
So shameless.
I love the Aglio Oglio.
And gee, I was still using my Motorola Red back then.
Then, I waited aimlessly to head out after work.
Then, it was a nice dinner at Hoggies…(why why why you tell me! I am PMSsy now and I didn’t have dinner and then I am blogging about FOOD FOOD FOOD!)…
Steak, bloody steak. Man, I need one of those fixes.
The staff sang birthday song for me. So shy! I wasn’t so shy when I asked my boss and colleagues to sing for me earlier, so strange!
The lovely duo who spent the evening with me.
Then somebody did something so touching. She walked very very long to where we were, just to give me a sweaty hug and say happy birthday, before she had to rush off.
I don’t think anyone is looking at our faces anyway.
All of us trying to have slim arms.
I wearing the top she bought me for my birthday.
Then, we went Le Baroque!
And I got sabo-ed on stage.
So shy. I think he is so freaking HOT can.
And then he somemore held my hand.. my heart tried very very hard, but cannot be still..
Then he asked me what kind of guys I like.. I pointed at him. Giggles.
Luckily his wife not around.
Douglas O, you soooo hot!
And thank you. I heard my Lips of an Angel only AFTER I left.
David dropped by and he bought the ladies drinks.
And not just ordinary drinks..
Whatever that is, they were bracing themselves for it.
I tried whatever the last bits of it were..
And it was written all over my face.
And he gets an Ang Tiong for being so sweet.
We then made our way down to …. the pub where the other David was at.
I offered him a cupcake.. and I think that was the cupcake count before they faced a terrible fate and ended up smashing into the floor.
This cutie pie then sang for me.
A birthday song!
And he sang Crowded House’s Better be home soon.
The night was all the more sweeter.. when Jiali popped by just to give me a hug.
Thanks dear…
And I reached home to house the flowers into the lonely vase.
And, it will be yet another countdown, to my late 20s, in less than half a year’s time.
