Today started off with a long boardroom meeting, which got me reflective of this position of mine as it went on, and I chewed on the figures and bytes rattled off.

It was a long train of thoughts.

Where do I head next?

What do I want to go next?

In the midst of it, the thunder and tappings from the raindrops reminded me that the end of the year has arrived, as it gets chillier, and rainier.

The plan to have a nice seafood lunch was thwarted by the fact that the restaurant we were supposed to make a stroll to, was no longer weather-friendly.

The contigency plan was for us to head to a newly opened Japanese restaurant at The Sail, Yamada.

It was one of the worst foodie experience I ever had. I have pretty high threshold for crappy services, but the thing is, they weren’t rude, so that itself should be commendable, but then the fact that the services were so bad it surpasses bad attitude or terrible food, which the eatery, well, thank goodness, have neither.

It was so bad, that I have no idea how to even start.

All I remember was being busy feeling hungry throughout the meal, and getting really confused after repeating our orders for the umpteenth time.

We ended up ordering more because we grew increasingly hungry, and we don’t remember what we ordered cos those we ordered simply weren’t served….. until of course, towards the end.

Firstly.

When we first reached, we were split into 2 tables, with most of the team in the VIP room, and some of us overflowed to a more cosy booth seat, which 6 of us squeezed into.

On the table, the wasabi jar was empty. The chopsticks were on the next table. So I had to go over to the other table to get the wasabi, soy sauce, and chopsticks.

Then, we made our orders of starters and bento sets, which the server seemed confident of her order-taking, and we waited.

Then we waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And waited.

First to serve, was the tempura.

Okay.

And soft-shell crab. Which was miserable 2 piece of soft-shell crabs. So we added another order of 2 plates, to share amongst the other 4 colleagues.

Then, the first to be served was a plate of sushi, which a co-worker ordered, which was supposed to be the sides to her soba.

And then, we waited.

After everyone had their order served, the starters started trickling in.

Our orders of green tea were forgotten.

So everyone got their hot green tea after a long wait later.

Then, my cold green tea took another 10 minutes after their hot green tea was served, to reach me.

I checked my order of Bento. They said they check with the chef (most used excuse for the day), and it was going to be ready.

After I waited, and waited, my colleague checked again, and she came back with her earlier order, she actually did NOT take down my order at all. So what the….? Then told me it was going to be ready for what?

So she served the miso soup to me first. Then she said it comes with all the set.

And then she was confused where to leave it, because she realised they didn’t serve any miso soup to ANYONE prior to that.

By now, a colleague of mine had finished his meal.

He asked for his dessert to be served. The dessert he had earlier order, since the rest of us were still eating (with poor me munching on the other sides). The server said okay, and left.

He was then served with his miso soup, and then the server came back to tell him the chef said it was not available. Uhm…. okay. So she suggested the ice-cream instead. All of us looked at each other utterly amused, cos she didn’t mention the item was not available.

So my colleague said okay to the ice-cream and she said she would go get it.

Okay, with this colleague already finished with his lunch, my other colleague’s soba, was still not there, and her sushi were already all polished off the plate.

Poor me was offered bits and pieces from my colleagues’ bento.

And then, the additional order of soft-shell crabs arrived.

First plate was served. They must have very small fryer cos it couldn’t accomodate 4.

And, we all burst out laughing incredulously when it was served.

This plate of 2 crabs, have no legs.

SERIOUSLY!

NO LEGS?!

It was about this time, when my colleague’s soba was finally served, and I was closed to being full from all the discussions of how poorly organised they were.

And my other colleague asked about his ice-cream. The server asked, “You want ice-cream?”

All of us replied, “Yes, he ordered just now!”

She replied as if he didn’t order, and then went on to get the ice-cream prompt. Prompt enough before my main was served. Only saving grace so far.

It was the same tone as she implying I didn’t order my bento when she came back to inform we only placed 4 sets instead of 5. With my colleagues repeating my orders, I am quite sure they heard the server acknowledging the order.

If you think we were rude, we weren’t. We were just trying not to laugh miserably, cos the service was one of its kind.

The next plate of crabs arrived, and these 2 were not handicapped!

And my bento finally arrived, just as the group from the VIP room were leaving.

My colleague had to ask for the tempura sauce.

And then, our other starters, century egg tofu and california roll were served.

SERIOUSLY!

Starters were served AFTER everything?

I shall not mention how we didn’t get a spoon throughout and cos we were so tired of waiting that no one asked.

We self-helped ourselves for the mayonnaise sauce.

The chawanmushi were hard, not moist and springy. I could do better, really.

The century egg tofu was pretty good.

BUT, at the end of it, we were told that they were told off by someone with an acid tongue in the VIP room for their poor service.

So it wasn’t our orders that were messed up.

I can’t believe we passed Palm Beach for this. Boohoo. I want black pepper crabs!

The lunch was dragged on for longer than it should cos of the slow and flawed service, and everyone consensus was we should never return.

It was just unfortunate that it was an experience that no one would want to go through, and with the owner apologising saying it was too big a group, I just think the excuse didn’t quite hold up, because if you think too many people is a problem for you, then it should be a good problem you should have a solution for.

But it was the basic things that fell through the net (table set up and all), and it made it a very hectic and very confusing dining experience for us.

***

So that was the buzz of the day until tea time when a colleague and I went for kopi session, and I was informed of his due departure.

I was feeling quite shocked, since his presence has brought some life to the team. His reasoning seems to make lotsa sense, and I wish him all the best.

It led to a series of other thoughts, and by a twist of fate, intercepted by the beauty of serendipity (which I was strongly shown these 3 days), a topic I brought up during the session, had a ready answer when we got back to office.

I told him a stumbling block of mine I needed to move forward, and he was approached by a friend, and somehow some constellation was in my favour, and it was just what we had spoken about mere minutes ago!

By evening, I left work to head to Suntec area to have dinner with the guys at Millenia’s Walk Bakerzin, and the discussion went on later than expected.

But it was peppered by surprises when I first bumped into Lauren (who was from Hwachong), and then the mega surprise later, when I bumped into a friend who used to mean awful lot to me, yet haven’t seen in years and years.

For 3 days straight, my past is seriously haunting me.

I bumped into Quanbin who was with 2 of his JC mates, one of whom was a common friend back in those days.

Yaocheng’s first response was “Why you still look the same?!”

I was like “Should I be glad with that?”

When they went in, Lauren recognised them and struck a conversation (since same college). Talk about small world.

I mean, it was incredibly creepy for me especially that a holy-mama-moomoo cow reunion happened just the night before.

I messaged Jiali and her first response was “CREEPY!” since she had called to ask about Windows 7 just earlier and we were speaking about how my blast from the past was really eerie on Thursday night.

And on Thursday night, the friends I hung out with were just mentioning about this friend of ours.

And now, I chance upon another 2 friends whom she shares.

Those were the days.

Seriously.

I am overwhelmed with a big bout of nostalgia.

Those were the days. Man, those were the days.

Of letters, airmails, airports, carefreeness, and plenty of innocent sweetness in the heart. Of course, the impromptu appearance at their doorsteps with my excess baggages in tow to announce my arrival back for holidays and giving them the biggest hugs….. hey, those days were shit amazing man. And these were the very people who had made shit load of differences in my life.

If I pull my fingers away from the keyboard now and just reach other to the drawer 2 inches beneath my wrist, there sits a card from Quanbin, and it has been there for.. years.

Unfortunately, people drift along the way, with different paths taken in life. I miss Quanbin very much as a friend, but somehow the sad truth is as we grow up, the distance grew. Is it because the line is more obvious cos, essentially our thoughts are manified and womanified along the way?

Hmm. Some things I may never have answers but I was just very excited to see them, really.

Got back home and have a great great shower and fall into the comfort of bag shopping.

I think the timeline is too short for me to do spree, so I shall go ahead and get things I have been wanting to get.

There are plenty for me to chew on this weekend.

Tuesdays have routinely became my “chui” days. Makeupless and glasses-framed, with the comfortablest of tops and a snug pair of jeans, I commend my courage not to stay off the camera.

A photographer in the making – Her perspective.

Last Tuesday was a farewell dinner for Nilofar.

Nilofar’s name reminds me of an ex-schoolmate of mine who was from Iran, whom my ex-housemate had a serious lesbian crush on. We went to stay over in Nilofar’s hall during one of our last months in London, and I bet my housemate creamed her panties badly.

Okay. I digress.

Nilofar recently got married and will be moving to London with her husband.

The group got together to bid their farewells to her, also to finally reward themselves after an intense week was over.

We were duly informed that the original meeting place – Funan Swensen’s had ceased operations (and none of us knew!), and had to switch the location to Raffles City, where we sat at a pizza joint, simply because it made sense to avoid the queueing up at others.

A small treat for the fabulous Minibean:

I love browsing and choosing shoes for her, though she always does a fantastic job herself by grabbing anything off the shelves and rid of her shoes to try them the moment she saw something she likes.

And the thing is, she always tries and plays the clothes/toys and all, but she never quite meant to buy them. A scrooge cautious spender like Mummy, good job!

Nonetheless, I bought her this pair of shoes for her ever-growing feet, simply because I loveeee them myself. Almost grab another pair of Adidas pinkies but they were out of size.

And then, here are some of the lovely shots from the gathering

She went ahead to strike poses despite her initial shyness.

I really looooveeee this picture of hers. At least this time her short hair-cut wasn’t as hideous as the last time.

No darling, it will be some time before you could do the flip-hair-in-the-air-smothering-diva look.

I swear she wasn’t forced to do so.

In the midst of it, she pouted her lips like the adults always do, and look abundantly comical as she insisted I turned towards her so she could cup my face in her tiny hands, and plant a big, wet smacker onto my lips.

With the hamsup Uncle Edy making a move on her.

Pretending to be an absolute shu nu.

What does she do when you give her a lemon?

Hmm…

She happily sucks on it and shudders to the sourness, and yet tirelessly do so till she managed to squeeze out the last bit of juice. She loves it!

On a side note, one of the proudest things she did, like when everyone else is eagerly showing off their children first art pieces… I shall show off her first photography attempt!

Like.. capturing the lecherous uncle in action.

Took a candid shot just as everyone was looking at her, and in frame!

Gives some sparkle to the chilli sauce bottle.

Gives an arty feel to the picture and yet framing up everyone in there.

It looks like some kind of posed pictures!

She could probably be a food journalist someday, taking pictures of her drinks and food!

Trying to take a camera-shy Mummy clinging on to her pillow.

Or even abstract photography isn’t a problem to her.

She hasn’t quite grasped the concept of Macro yet though to have a clear shot of the sheep.

An eye for details.. like the patterns on Mummy’s frames.

Showing the location of where we spent a happy evening at.

And these pictures are proudly brought to you by:

Minibean!

Who obviously has yet to acquire the expert skills of self-taken shot from Mummy.

She has probably seen me doing so many times that she ended the session by doing this. Giggles. So cute.

While at the carpark, the trigger-happy tot was trying to crawl out by a sunroof, and playing hide-and-seek with the watching adults before we bade goodnight to everyone.

***

Orchard Central

Went for a meeting this morning only to realise it was a tentatively meeting and I ended up waiting for another hour and half before we could get things started over lunch.

But I managed to explore the mall and found the rooftop garden I failed to locate the last time I was there.

Me with big nose cos… cos.. cos.. of the sun. Hahaha.

Trying to be less geeky. Key word is TRYING.

It was just after the rain.. and the breeze was just so refreshing.

It wasn’t spacious considering how it was at the top of a building right smack in the centre of town. If only the scenery is less of the concrete jungle and buzz.

I took a walk, and tried to overcome my fear of the escalators, cos there were just so many of them.

The darn automated doors just couldn’t detect me and I was so annoyed that I had to wave my hands in the air a few times to get them moving.

I can’t wait for the Kuriya to be opened then I can meet my customers there for lunch. -evil grin-

A worker chilling after a rainy morning,

Some arty thing with a wired man climbing up my fear.

Flower in the pond with the reflection of the gloomy skies.

And finally, my favourite shot, an up-the-ass shot of the earlier art piece hanging in the air.

Couldn’t wait to get back to office so I could get the other work stuff out of the way, and replaying Zhang Shao Han’s Bu Tong and Dai Ai Ling’s Dui De Ren over and over again, blasting away.

Tuesday:

Some cheeky fella holding on to a 2D brush.

Wednesday:

Lovely Janice who kept the show going.

Thursday:

Very unflattering picture of yours truly, but melikes

Friday:

OOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCHHHHHH. Zap. Zap. Zap.

Saturday:

ZzzzZzzzzz. -Snore grunt drool-

-Flip book-

-Click click click Bejeweled-

Met up with an air steward friend who is based in Dubai on Saturday evening at Adam Road hawker centre (damn the long queue for desserts, which I was sorely disappointed to learn the black glutinous rice I wanted was already finished. Then again, the auntie and uncle there are so friendly!), and the wanderlust was roused yet again.

He suggested a bike trip round Europe next year, and then it suddenly spurred me on to want to fulfill the Europe roadtrip I had planned 3 years ago, before the plans were thwarted by…. a fortunate case of Minibean.

I was reminded one of my favourite songs, ever (yes yes, I have so many favourites, but this is up there, like birds so high). Charlene’s Never been to me.

And then I remember what I had wanted to do, to fulfill the places mentioned in the songs, which I have never been to ANY.

Ooh, I’ve been to Georgia and California and
Anywhere I could run
Took the hand of a preacher man and we
Made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces
Because I had to be free
I’ve been to paradise
But I’ve never been to me

We spoke about sashaying down New York ala Sex and the City, and the endless Broadway geniosity, with him particularly mentioning how Lion King is a must watch.

And he threw the notion for me to join the airlines, and I pooh-poohed them immediately with me getting on age, laughing it off with my secret dream of spending my life jet-setting on business class (I not greedy! No need first class! And I promise I won’t purposely take pictures of the ticket stubs to show the world!)  as a passenger. Though we all know it is just to pre-empt what I would never be.

Ooh, I’ve been to Nice and the isle of Greece
While I sipped champagne on a yacht
I moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo
And showed ‘em what I’ve got
I’ve been undressed by kings
And I’ve seen some things that a woman ain’t s’posed to see
I’ve been to paradise
But I’ve never been to me

And yes, I want to go to the countries mentioned in the song, along with many other countries I have been reading about their rich histories, tantalising scandals, and how a decision by a man, a powerful one most of the time, could shape the world into the way it is today.

I think I can only hope to get heavily pregnant, and give birth on the plane, so that both me and the child (sorry, Minibean! I will buy your ticket, k?) could travel for free on the airline, entire lifetime!

Dang. I should have done that when I was 16 or something. Tsk!

It was a nice evening out, chilling.

I was missing Sepang more.

Sunday:

Monkeys! Who were unusually camera shy.

I already spoke about it, who wants to hear a naggy, repetitive old hag?

Monday:

Back to slogging.

Iced Earl Grey at Raffle’s Place Coffee Club.

Dinner at Casa Roma was satisfying.

And done with book-flipping.

Oh, and someone incredibly nice was co-erced offering to do my banner.

I am just glad to find some inspiration in my latest read, that my adrenaline had fuelled me.

I needed just that after a dream-filled sleep made me toss for most part of my slumber.

And, the gist of the dream?

Work and midnight launch.

-shudders at the reminder-

I did something I hadn’t had the chance to do, nor the energy to do in a long, long while.

I stayed up till 9am this morning and enjoyed feeling the day slowly gaining colour.

It was quite satisfying to experience that all over again.

I owe it to the 12 hours of sleep over Friday night, and the liberty to catch up on all the what-nots to chill to my heart’s delights.

If you asked me what I had done, I won’t be able to tell you anything substantial nor productive, but it is just the mindless little stuff that got me going, catching up on CSIs (hey! New season of Lie to me is out too!), and Hong Kong dramas alike. Sailing through the book and making it a resolution to complete it by tonight is also another one. Editing pictures to get them blog-ready, changing blog skin. Mulling over the fact that I wasn’t in Sepang with MovieTicketDispenser (and exclaiming about this common nice chap we know and how it is so impossible to meet someone THIS nice anymore) as it had been a long time since we last caught up with our busy schedules recently.

It sounded like everything I would have done every other weekend, but it was one weekend I could feel less tension around.

Spent the day with a sumptuous dinner with Minibean, and that little lady prefers broccoli, baby tomato and sweet beans over some of the fried stuff and meat. Her insistent on downing massive amount of fruits and water was something that made me thankful for the fact that she isn’t that fussy an eater.

So far, she enjoys spicy food (and mustard!), pomelo (despite its bitterness) and lemon (!)… not forgetting all the sugar-high inducing stuff. And an ardent fan of durian. Seriously, I feel a superficial pride out of her gregarious and adventurous appetite.

She has became such a talkative lass that during a recent cab ride, the uncle had to sit through her ramblings, and when she finally got tired and all, the uncle panicked and asked “Why has she suddenly gone quiet? Is she okay???“, probably afraid that the adult had clubbed her silent.

This little one is a piece of art, I tell you.

***

Was enjoying the breezy evening while waiting for the food.

The warm, gentle rays and all made it a perfect Sunday afternoon.

I don’t know how the conversation brought to monkeys, cos I mentioned how I am not the ones who can bear living in landed properties cos of creepy crawlies and all, and only high-rise apartments are my cup of tea, coupled in with a joke of it is just me pre-empting failure cos I would never be able to afford one.

And I am a real sucker for views.. so, yup.

Oh. As I was saying.

Just as the topic of monkeys was brought up.

One little bugger snuck up onto a car nearby, and another one followed closely behind as it climbed up from the side of another car, making a leap to join its companion.

And then another.

And another.

A group of 7 stood proudly before me, and I waved goodbye enthusiastically, just like how Minibean waved happily at the aloof kitty today (Pussy cat so cutttttttteee, cooed Minibean).

As much as I know how monkeys are a nuisance to residents, just like how we find squirrels cute and they are treated like rats in London, I still felt my day lifted up by this sweet case of serendipity.

***

Gonna bookend my evening with a nice Cornetto chocolate ice-cream, and perhaps be back with more I have been wanting to journal, but have yet to do so.

This is like a routine of my boring little space.

Muttering on of mindless little things that bring me peace and joy that seem too lacklustre to others, and then will try to push myself a little to come up with more.

I was looking hard at this space and wondering what is the next thing I should fill here with, and then what came to me was a total blankness.

Then I decided I have to start the ball rolling, cos there are updates, but I am just too cosy up in my solitary to be sharing. And then, there is this need to want to push myself out of the comfort zone and to start on my monologue here, so I don’t miss out documenting stuff.. and as usual, I am a perfect picture of irony.

I had comfortably squirrel away into my own shell, and just enjoying the enlightening book that I have been reading, and catching up with the latest season of CSIs. My obsession with Bejeweled is pretty much wearing off as well.

Nothing seems to be able to give me the adrenaline high that the hectic past weeks had given me. Somehow, I am feeling kinda restless, yet I am just terribly glad to be resting.. yet, something seems to be missing.

I have yet to put my finger on what’s wrong though. I have a heavy suspicion is my inability to make it to MotoGP this time round, and if things had gone the way it should be, I would have already touched down, and reached the hotel by now, greeting the warm friends whom I haven’t seen for years.

I need to find that sense of adventure back, rather than to be trapped in this boring monotonicity. If it was couple of years back, I would now be packing my bags and heading straight to the bus terminal/airport, and make my own way up.

Must be getting old lah!

I haven’t been in the most social of moods, and the requirement of me to do so, had swung me from one extreme to the other constantly in the past weeks, but the consolation is that I managed to squeeze in some chillax sessions in between, and spending some time with the spawn.

It is as if with every social episode with regards to work, I need to compensate with more rest or more indulgence in me-time for me to maintain the balance.

Will be bringing the spawn to work next Friday, and I can’t wait to do so!

***

Reading The Devil Within is no mean feat. There are some explanations, some revelations, though most of it, could be something I already am so well-aware of, just that someone is much more competent at putting them down to words.

It almost becomes too… distracting by my own thoughts and the constant reminder to brace myself so not to get too… well, affected by the book.

I am so going to start on another book over this weekend or else I will be sucked into the whirlpool when the new week starts.

***

You know ah, I was so tired last week that my brows were unkempt, and I left my armpit hair un-plucked. I was only reminded of it when I felt prickish.

Finally managed to go ahead with all the necessary hair removal thingy, and I did something I have never done in a long, long while.

REALLY LONG WHILE.

And I realise I really DO NOT have the patience… to do facials.

Seriously! How do you girls lie there for hours and not move?!

I mean it was nice to have someone to do shoulder massage and facial massage, but when I had a mask over my face and I was supposed to lie there like a dead corpse, I just couldn’t relax like how such pampering sessions should be.

Man.

I couldn’t even squirm when my you-know-where was taser-ed by the merciless IPL.

The worse was, I thought I shall pamper myself and erase the fatigue away by concluding the week with a facial and hair removal, but I realised maintainence work for a lady is much more tiring than the work week itself.

By the time I had finished, it was almost 10pm, and I grumbled to myself that whoever who suggested I should go for such to relax and to “rejuvenate” myself ought to be sued for misrepresenting cos I walked out more drained than usual, and it was a Friday evening, for Christ’s sake!

And what’s with the redness post-facials?! And what’s with the confusing names of different kind of facials? And do they really make any differences? Seriously?

At the end of it, I thought what really felt good was the thought and the “gesture” of spending money on myself, that’s about it.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAARRR!

I will stick to massages from hereonforth.

Or food shall suffice, actually.

***

I didn’t manage to go for my high tea session, of course. Because I ended up rushing work and rushing between places and appointment that a leisure high tea was impossible.

And of course, I ain’t destined to lead the life of a taitai when independence is such an important element to being female these days.

***

Why did I start writing? Why have I lost the motivation to write?

Maybe because I have failed to find space to express myself?

Maybe because I can’t express myself the way I did in the past?

Or maybe, there is just an inability within me to express myself well via words.

Or just that, words are always double-edged swords, and they can’t always be what they seem, or come across as what they truly mean.

***

I saw someone who meant much in my life yesterday, in the midst of running around town.

There was some kind of gladness to see that things had spanned out well for everyone from the past, though the overthinker in me stopped me from heading up for a hi.

I looked on from a distant, like I always do.

***

I dreamt of a very beautiful rainbow in the sky last night.

It was a rainbow that was in the darkness of the night, and I remember trying to meddle with my camera to try to snap it.

I remember waking up with the beauty of the rainbow still ringing in my mind.

***

And here, are the pictures from Botanic Gardens on 15th October, when my aunt got hitched.

That’s me with the cheeky bundle,who actually went ahead to lie on the dirty pavement just so I would go over and appease her after I insisted on her picking up the rubbish and I ain’t gonna help her with it.

As usual, Daddy was quick to give in to her demands (what’s with men and them spoiling their little girls). I was very happy to take picture with my dad and Minibean, because come to think of it, we haven’t have had much pictures taken together.

If all things go well, and my dad’s schedule permits, I shall make it happen next January, and I will get a better camera just for the occasion.

When taking this picture, a tourist stopped and told us how beautiful the moment is. And if you realise, the spawn still have her eyes fixated on the camera when we were taking the shot.

Tsk tsk.

And yes, my mum has once again snipped off her hair without my permission, and I was quite annoyed with it, though I have reached a phase in my life that I am more resigned to everything than anything anymore just to preserve the peace in it.

Ah well, whatever it takes to trudge on with life, isn’t it?