Ambitiously, I set out to overachieve over the weekend.

The only few things I had seen success are:

1. screwing my body clock beyond repair, and with sheer spitefulness,  it decides to take revenge on my metabolism rate by slowing it to almost a halt. Pfft.
2. I finally finish with the hotels booking for the trip (fuck, yeah!) though I should have booked EVERYTHING by the time Monday greets me. Damn. Oh hi Monday, you’re fucking early. Oh well, at least the hotel part is settled… now, uhm.. the transfer in between and other miscellaneous bookings. There’s always coming weekend. Oh wait. I would be in Phuket. Nevermind there’s always the next. But oh fuck, that’s the weekend I will be leaving.
3. I played mahjong to curb the gambler’s itch. Achievement unlocked. And I won. Grand total of 25 buckeroos. There’s no negative to this positive, so I am happy.
4. Karaoke with Jo (yes, I finally met up with her!) and Jean. I got lost in Joo Chiat and Katong area for 45 minutes, Jo got on a direct bus that wasn’t as direct as she assumed it was, Jean was awesomely sweet to go get dinner for us, and thus though we were supposed to meet at 7pm, and that I only reached at 7.45pm, I was still the earliest.
5. Verbal diarrhea-ing on this god-forsaken place. Twice. I should get a medal for battling laziness and the lure of my sexy, seductive duvet. *smirks proudly and pats self on back* The only but is.. one of the posts should be here more than 2 years ago, but but but.. better late than never right?!
6. This is a feat I should be most proud of. Which explains why I am here at 4am in the morning, writing my 2nd post in less than 12 hours. I finished half a loaf of bread. In less than 10 minutes just a moment ago. I had to stop myself before I go on to finish the next piece… I am now carbo-filled and guilt-filled at the same time, because if you refer to 1), my metabolism rate is asleep and that means I am on my way to self-destruction and am screwed beyond redemption. *WAILLLLLLLLLLLLS*

Well I am supposed to be stretching now to alleviate the guilt but I am convincing myself that typing this post is more fulfilling than actual working out… so here I am.

Now, compare it to the list I WAS supposed to achieve:

1) Finish all my planning for my upcoming trip with the family. I even wrote a proposal, printed out all the necessary information and did up an excel budgeting sheet. Thus far, I only finished with the hotel planning… well at least that means I have my route ready and a confirmation of the places I am bringing them! *Self consolation*

2) Start shopping for stuff for parents + Minibean + myself to deal with potential snow…. there’s always another 2 weeks for that…. But we need to start to pack, because the intense travelling between places would mean there would be plenty of transfers and we need to travel light. BUT HOW TO TRAVEL LIGHT IN WINTER YOU TELL ME?! Fine.. will try.

3) Finish with my work proposal. I brought the folder back, and it lays faithfully on the floor since Friday evening.

4) Finish reading The White Tiger. It is busy keeping my work folder company over the weekend, snuggling right next to it on the floor, cruelly neglected by me too.

5) Sleep well and tune my body clock back to normal. 2 words: Hur hur hur.

6) Play mahjong.

7) Hold my own concert. Karaoke made up for it.

Sttttrreeeeetttcccchhhhhh and exercise. Verdict? Ha. Ha. Ha.

***

Thursday saw a frustrated me after Manchester United performed rubbish-ly. It was the moment I believe the title hopes were snipped off cos you just couldn’t feel anyone has his heart in it to win it.

The irony of it was when this pleasant not to mention impeccably-timed surprise was the first thing I saw when I reached office on Thursday.

My Christmas present from Cheyenne who just returned from her holidays in London. She had asked me what I wanted on her previous trip and I had said a scarf from Old Trafford. Thank you babe!

I used to own one when I was 15, given to me by my then relief Mathematics teacher which I had given away in Moscow in 2008.

AND THEN THEY GO ON DISAPPOINTING ME LIKE THAT! MOCKERY!

But, thankfully they bucked up and kicked the Blues’ asses today so I am praying hard for a turn in the tide in our favour for the rest of the league season.

Am glad to start gaining the momentum at work since holiday season is technically over, but then seeing that the company trip to Phuket is just days away and the Europe trip is less than 2 weeks ago… I am quite sure it is gonna be quite disruptive.

DOESN’T MATTER. Seizing the moment and not leave room for regrets is more important than anything else. Not to mention how important this family trip is for me this time round, so I know it is a good call on my part. Money can be slowly earned.

I finally went for a long over-due massage on Thursday, and it was one which didn’t make me moan and cry for help, so I know it is still lacking in the oomph factor that I am looking for. I wonder where did my male Thai masseuse go. Life hasn’t been the same since that shop in Far East closed down.

For the past couple of months I had been dealing with my jetlag, there wasn’t a day I slept like the way I slept on Thursday night.

I fell asleep at hours human beings are supposed to be sleeping, and I slept through soundly for 12 hours! I can’t verbalise bliss so I ain’t even gonna try.

***

Friday came and it started with storytelling to Minibean…. when Minibeanism struck yet again.

“Mummy, we are going to London right? We are going to Rome Italy also right? Are we going to China, Kenya and New York also?“

What the…. of course not!

“Then can we go Kenya, New York and China together?” What she meant was, can we fly to London and then go to Rome, and then continue on the journey to China, Kenya and New York.

Seriously my dear, look at me. Look at my face. Closely. WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE TO YOU?!

Just like tonight, I joked to her that she’s gonna sleep on the street, the horror on her face was evident as she shrilled in pure dramatic fashion, “BUT I LIKE HOTEL! I DON’T WANT TO SLEEP ON THE STREETS!”

I asked if she was going to pay for the hotel and she went, “Nooo, you will pay for it, Mummy, you choose a nice hotel okay?”

Spoilt brat alert. Tsk.

That was the day a brave friend of mine, to protect her identity, I shall code name her.. well, JeyNerd, brought her giant steel balls to Auckland and of course it would mean she had went on with a bang.

I think I feel responsible for encouraging craziness in my friends. Which explains my decision to take the plunge as well for my upcoming London trip. For all of you out there who think we are crazy, it’s okay, because -delusional- we have giant steel balls and you have none.

I felt a sense of relief when I finally finish my budgeting for one of my proposals (a new territory for me, thus the jitters consumed me!). Gave my boss a lift before returning home to spend time with Minibean, who as usual, would be the death of me.

I was sneaking a bar of mini-magnum ice-cream into my room when she noticed it, and I gave her a raised brow as she was nearing it, and immediately, she turned cocky and boasted, “Hmph, neh neh neh boo boo *sticks tongues out and hands next to cheeks* I already had ice cream just now, Gong gong already given it to me. HA. HA.”

Yes, she does a perfect HA. HA. And she stood there defiantly and gave me a cheeky defiant look.

I smacked her bum and in mocked anger threatened to scold my dad and tell him not to give her ice-cream next time.

This was when she gave a smirk and even more cocky look, in a confident and victorious tone, “NOOOO! Gong gong will give me EVERYTHING I WANT. HA.HA.”

PULLS. HAIR. OUT.

After she went to sleep, I dozed off early as well though I had set the candles up, and prepared myself for a night of television and reading.

I woke half an hour later to find myself a tad too drowsy to do serious reading and decided to do research for the trip and book the hotel.

You won’t believe that I ended up spending 6 hours online to book 5 hotels, and eventually, I only managed to book 2.

Reason being I am incredibly picky when it comes to hotels and they have to fulfill the below criteria. After reading you will know why it takes me 6 hours to find something close to what I am looking for. Keep the sniggering to yourself:

• Preferably SGD120 and below. And yes, I know Europe tends to be a little more expensive but then I am on a tight budget!
• Rates to include breakfasts, only because my parents are traveling or else normally I don’t really care cos I won’t wake up in time for breakfasts anyway. Heh.
• Free wifi, not limited to just the lobby, but in the room. I am willing to make do with free cable internet.
• Rooms that offer kids below 12 to stay for free with an extra bed. Rare, but I am willing to make do with rooms that do not charge for kids who stay in the same room sharing the same bed. Most hotels charge 30 – 80 euros per addition pax, which would make the hotels way beyond my SGD120 budget.
• Accessibility is important as well. Must be near train station if we are travelling by train. Must be near tourists centre if we are driving. And must have free/lower parking rates.
• Must be of a certain standard set down by myself. Rooms must be cosy and presentable. Modern, chic and sleek take precedence over old-style hotels woodiness. If it’s B&B, it must be less than SGD 80.
• Must have 2 rooms available.
• I will also look out for hotels with views.
• Those destinations I am unsure of must offer flexibility of cancelling options. Those I am certain to travel to I am willing to lock down with those no refund deals if I like the hotels enough.

So what happens if the above is impossible to find?

Well, of course I will source till the last hotel to make sure none fulfill all of the above before I start to narrow down the short-listed ones.

I am willing to compromise no breakfasts, which means I can explore local cafes with the family, and normally breakfasts are charged more than 15 Euros per person, and that would mean more savings if we eat elsewhere.

I am proud to announce all the hotels I had booked in various cities offer free wifi. HALLELUJAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

In fact I had one hotel that costs me S$140 for 2 double rooms, I am happy like a birdie!

The only hotel that exceeded my budget was the reason why I stayed up for 2 nights to look for better bargains and wanted it to be 4 stars and a view. Of course to top it off with all of the above, it was almost possible, I could almost get a suite but the problem is… most of the hotels only had one room with a view to spare but I needed 2.

Eventually I doubled my budget just for this one city, though I found few that fit my budget… I refused to settle for anything less.

When I travelled to Europe in Aug/Sep last year, the hotels we stayed in Amsterdam, Schwangau, Nuremberg and Prague were all below S$120 and they turned out awesome and unexpectedly nice and decent. Except that I forgot to look out for the fact that Schwangau’s B&B was with shared bathroom.

Okay, from the above you probably can see how age has made me an absolute auntie.

***

I saw daylight when I finally tore myself away from the monitor on Saturday morning. I only woke almost at 5pm.

You tell me, how to be nice to my body clock?!

Went off to meet Jo and Jean for karaoke session and we stood in the chilly, heavier-than-usual breeze at the junction of the roads for a dreamy chat before we went off.

I thank God for friends who don’t judge and don’t look on to me like a freak when I do things on a whim.

Rushed off to Lee’s place for mahjong with Robin, and I was educated on “distance from Thailand to Singapore”. Often when they are playing, they would ask if any of us is “near” to calling it a game. So sometimes when you have really shitty hand, you can say you are probably… in America or something.

I honestly thought I had a quite a while to go but apparently I need to sync my relativity to theirs HAHAHAHA.

I didn’t get home till it was 9plus in the morning and I was still energetic and awake!

I might well be on US timing than UK timing these days. I might as well leave it for another 2 weeks and I will be super well-adjusted when I return to London.

Nevermind.

I got all my hotels booked today but am re-evaluating some of my more pricey options to see if I can find better deals.

When I saw Dad in the evening looking tired, I was a lil concern and he told me he played mahjong till 5am yesterday and lost $1000+.

Which wasn’t the point. The point was, when they asked him to play again early this noon, instead of resting, he went to play.

He stopped when he won back what he lost, and then went to win somemore moolah.

I don’t know what to say, ahem, but except that I believe I am not a gambler, but perhaps I was born one. It’s in my genes. I cannot help it.

I feel a tinge of sadness knowing I will be going to Phuket and missing out on mahjong this week. I think I might be able to squeeze in one on Friday before I fly off on a Saturday night the following week. But fret not, I have arranged for a session in London with some sweet underaged young boys, and I told Robin and Lee to wait for my glorious mahjong-deprived return.

Just when I thought I would be prepped for a long day of work tomorrow, I am now still awake, with half a loaf of bread undigested in me.

Let the countdown begin.

5 more hours before Minibean goes off to her first day in school.

4 more days to Phuket, woohooooooooooooooooo!

12 more days before I will finally get to show Minibean London – the place that I hold closely to my heart.

And maybe, she and my parents might just be able to see snow, which I believe will make their trip a memorable one…