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Beware of the bar stool

January 10th, 2011 by Scarlett Ting

I awe myself with the consistency of the posts, which would actually command much more consistency if I hadn’t been.. busy with the mundane.

Like, say, enjoying the absolutely lovely weather.

Apologies to you tourists who have heard so much about sunny Singapore, but I really love Singapore without the sun, and plenty of chills. I almost wanna take out my Burberry’s scarlet trenchcoat, just because I can, and I wouldn’t bake myself to death in it.

And the thought came by when I was mopping the floor, doing ironing, cleaning up the house and doing the usual auntie stuff.. chasing after Minibean as we rushed for the schoolbus as I was trying to tie her hair up nicely.

Unfortunately I don’t think it works if I squat by the toilet and handscrub my dad’s shirt and Minibean’s uniform, that would be totally overkill.

But I really did feel a tad cold today, probably because I realise how chilling it could be, like how some people are capable of making me feel.

Nonetheless, I love it cold, and I wish for more days like that!

***

Utilised my coupon from one of em discount sites for a facial today, and I must say that while the technology was not bad, the package wasn’t too shabby and I like that they weren’t too pushy. They tried to push as expected, but not harsh till it makes me feel intimidated.

But it was a good treat for myself nonetheless, and had coffee in town before rushing home in time to pick Minibean up from the school bus.

Minibean is doing one of those “cry on demand” thingy, which comes with tears and the whole package, just to act like she was upset when say, her baby pillow is held hostage.

It gets switch up just like that *snaps fingers* and is Mediacorp looking for a mini drama diva like this? Feel free to contact me.

She did the doe-eyes trick on me when she said something today before she burst out laughing, cos she knows it would work on me.

While she was reading Goldilocks and the 3 bears, I asked her why isn’t Mummy bear and Papa Bear sleeping in the same bed… and I started to question my own parenting skills. Hahaha.

She pinched my nipple and thought it was funny. Tsk.

***

With the steady flow of posts, it is a good indication that I ain’t having that much of a life over the weekend, which was exactly what I needed.

Searching for that lost momentum, and kicking into gear was quite a good thing.

Been rather productive with the schedule I keep these days, and I am finding it hard to bid this goodbye.

I probably have to soon.

On Saturday, however, I did manage to catch The Tourist, and despite its bad reviews, I found myself enjoying the movie and plot and lines. Of course, Venice was probably what sold me it.

There’s an classic old charm to the movie, and seeing a normal Johnny Depp, is actually quite refreshing and seeing him awkward, shy and abashed… gee, slurps.

I can’t say it is one of those movies which will wow you, but I certainly did enjoy it.

***

Was doing my ironing of one of my maxi dresses (teehee) today, when a major revelation dawned upon me.

Well you see, a decade ago, I told the then-ex-who ahem-popped-my-cherry that I would only ever consider marrying him if he could find the fabric which is the same as my baby pillow. Can’t you snigger enough about young, silly.. relationships?

For the uninitiated, my baby pillow has been with me since birth and has became torn with time. I still sleep with it and hug it every night. You can imagine how sexy it is whenever I date someone and they have to meet the notorious pillow which will take precedence over any of them.

So that was what I told the following serious exes too. And I actually had guys who really went to look for fabrics and brought back many and only pissed me off (cos of false hopes) cos they were never the same! You think I so easily bluff ah.

And when I was ironing my ASOS maxi dress (the one I chopped off 6 inches cos it was waaaayyy too long, imagine…), I realise…. OH MY GOD, it is THE fabric to my baby pillow, the fabric I have been looking for alllllllllllll my lifeeeeeee.

THE ONE IS FOUND.

But is that a sign that I will remain a spinster? Hohoho, since I was the one who eventually found it? Always depend on yourself, I say heh.

Then er, now, how ah? Sheesh, should have saved that 6 inches of fabric. Maybe buy another one then make into pillow case? Actually can huh? Make into a short mini-skirt and use the rest as my pilllllooooooow case. But then I still can’t bear to part with my 30 years-old one Sniffs.

But still very happy about this small small things. I can’t believe it takes such small things to make me this deliriously happy these days.

***

Sunday was rushing all sorts of things before a nice dinner and some gifts from Hong Kong which makes me need to keep to strict diet to wear a size S Ralph Lauren polo tee, in skinny cut no less. I need to shrink my brain a little to fit my head into it.

It was however, a nice and sweet evening to wrap up the week and start a new week.

This week is a hopeful one, I sincerely believe

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Acro Ballroom Aerialists

January 8th, 2011 by Scarlett Ting

After a tornado of events over the end of 2010 and to kick 2011 into gear, I was just glad to have Monday free of commitments and had a bit of space to finish writing some stuff, and just enjoy the quietness before Minibean started kindergarten 1.

So after a late night chat with Ming on Monday night, I was only too glad to head down to Shangri-La Hotel on the next day (4th January, Tuesday) to watch the lovely ladies in action to launch an exclusive, premier event at the hotel to lend my undying support for the girls who had became my mentors, and most importantly, gave me plenty of support and encouragement with their friendships.

I thought I was almost late for the event because I was taken for a long, long ride by the GPS which took me off the path and eventually I got fed up and went with my instinct instead.

I have to say, when it comes to directions, my instincts are often sneered at for the good reason that it belongs to a female, so it must be wrong when it is directions-related. Tsk!

My poor instincts are often so misunderstood.

Thankfully it guided me to Shangri-La just in time for the opening ceremony brought to you by Acro Polates’ aerialists!

*In tiny glee that I am somewhat an aerialists too, ahem*

The ever-graceful Sesomy, sexy Lydia and perfect Ann put on a grand show in the ballroom, with an amazing set up.

And gee, honestly, I didn’t know that being so upclose and seeing a pool of locals trained by local dance school to such amazing standards and elevating this art form to a higher level of grace and beauty and introducing it to the mass would bring this much pride and joy.

Since my photography skills pretty much need more room for improvement, I could only bring snippets of awesomeness since I wasn’t able to capture it in whole.

Lydia, looking amazing up there.

I love this picture of Sesomy, which I post up simply cos it doesn’t look like her, and I had a problem holding myself back from posting other pictures of her looking amazing just to respect her privacy.

Lydia and Ann wowing the crowd.

I can’t help but wonder if I ever will get to such standards, and some of them essentially had only trained by Acro Polates for slightly more than a year and their standards are advancing at such fabulous rates that I can’t help but be envious and hopeful. Despite the doubts of ever achieving such levels of fitness and grace and flexibility, their efforts and watching how they have evolved also kinda give me hope.

They have seriously came a long way since Acro first started aerial classes in Singapore before the trend got picked up by other studios, and I am also saying it because of knowing how these girls in person, their passion and dedication really impressed me, and they never cease to amaze with how patient and humble they are.

I am almost gushing, which was exactly what Jean and I did after I uploaded the pictures onto a private group.

Especially Sesomy(you can see Lydia’s sexy shadow at the back!), who looks every inch of amazing, Jean joked it was like we were gushing over some Korean heartthrob, and she was convinced I was turned on by Sesomy, which I must strongly deny that to protect my innocent image.

I guess I was just inspired and charmed by these 3. And in a lavish setting in the ballroom, it was all quite magnificent.

After their performance, I stayed around and decided to play photographer for the sake of it, and the girls were having out of the world styling, and being in the same room with the impossibly gorgeous Nadya Hutagalung (my ex would be envious, because he thought she is the most gorgeous woman on earth, and she really is a woman’s and a man’s dream and she’s genuine and kind!). She mother, I also mother, but I guess the world is truly unfair, and I shall learn to live with it, hahaha.

Some pictures taken in the room post performance:

Ann having a bit of “in the mood for love” thingy going on..

I really like the attitude she portrays here, besides her usual laughing self.

With her unique and pretty features, it is hard for the camera not to love Lydia, ironically it was the one in the dark that I really like.

Maybe cos it really outlines her pretty features even without showing all of them.

Wooohoo! I want one of those shirts!

The pretty Lydia.

Making us green with envy.

Another picture I like, though I should have really cropped the slippers, so unglamourous hahaha.

And what’s an event without Ming doing her thang?!

Yes.. even the door handle wasn’t spared from a shoulder mount!

Okay, now I shall go stretch a little and praying that I can be like them when I grow up!

Posted in Life's Fillers, Perk-me-ups | 1 Comment »

Her homework = my homework

January 7th, 2011 by Scarlett Ting

Today marks the very day Minibean got her first assignment home to do. Mathematic and Phonics.

Nope, I am not the kind of parents who seats my child on a throne of comfort channel-surfing while I try to pass off my handwriting as hers (no moolah for tutors, you see), and after today, I am dreading the days she has homework hereonforth.

I might just break down and cry now since it is foretelling the future decades to come.

***

The little one woke at 7ish, and shook me awake because she was afraid she might miss her school bus.

After I managed to get her to get more rest, she refused to get up when it was time to get ready later in the morning.

Tsk, such a contradiction at such a young age.

Breakfast beckoned after she left, and then I got into a conversation with Dad which will prove to be an attractive option, yet at the same time, my interest in his suggestion actually appalled me.

You see, he was suggesting for us to move, and the area is right in the vicinity of the popular school I would like to get Minibean in.

Oh yes freaking hell, I am actually thinking of getting Minibean into a popular school, what the hell is wrong with meeeeeeee?!

Then again, there are few schools which are more focused on character and moral building, Chinese teachings.. and from what I heard, is not as stressful as the other popular schools, which are more results-driven. Or maybe information to me is wrong, but so far, it offers the balance I was looking for.

To me, I surprised myself to even entertain the thoughts cos I remember when the others used to try to impose their thoughts on me about not letting Minibean losing out and blarblarblar, I used to get so defensively annoyed, because, seriously, Minibean crawled out of my vijayjay, not theirs.

Just because they too are mothers, and that they assume their ways of drilling their kids at a young age to deal with stress (“they NEED to do this, I got this girlfriend from RGS who didn’t want to stress her boy, then he is a total mess when he got into ACS for Primary 1!“) are very successful cos their kids listen to them don’t mean their way is the only way.

And some like to tell the family what I should do, just because they feel it is their places to say so, because their vijayjays had been more used produced more. Then seriously, China might want to teach France how to make Louis Vuitton their way.

(Totally random, as I am typing this entry, my kindergarten 1 classmate just messaged me over MSN, and he asked me how old is Minibean now. We are squealing over the fact that she is at the age when we first met each other! KNN, this classmate snatched my “number 1″ from me! We can’t believe we were ever that young. Gee…)

What was I saying? Ah. Minibean.

So anyway, I am entertaining my dad’s suggestion and I surprise myself I even entertain such thoughts.

The chat took a while and I was late in meeting Lee and Nick for mahjong all the way in the east, and what a leisurious (leisure + luxurious) noon with good company and good weather!

Rushed back home. Getting Minibean into the showers involved me stripping and showering with her as well, and I wanted to get her homework over and done with before she left for her grans for the weekend.

She did the mathematics one without incident, and then she got totally distracted and tried to wriggle her way out of her homework.

She defiantly started doodling to show her displeasure when her pleas for me to help her out with her homework were met with me explaining to her that this is for school and I won’t do that.

I am not sure if she was bored with the curriculum cos she had done all these at home ages ago and it was too repetitive for her, or she was simply being restless.

She started staring far ahead and not concentrating and tried to run around and blanking me out, until it was more like a workout session than a homework session.

I think she enjoyed it when we used to do it for fun, but when it becomes an obligation, it is in her blood for her to go against it.

Uh oh. Sounds very much like someone I know very well. You know, the person who writes in this blog? I think that’s her.

Yah, unfortunately.

And then it was quite natural for me to feel the same turn-off feeling by the homework, since I was never a fan, and I almost wanted to let her get away with not doing it, then I realised I am not her sister, I am her mother, and then I tried to coerce her into having some feeeeelings towards her homework, like make-belief it is the most fun thing to do in the world, but she’s smart like me, so she didn’t buy any of it.

Well.. at least she finished mathematics, though not by my merits, and she was more interested in me spelling bunny, butterfly and ball for her instead of writing Bs and bs on dotted lines.

(yes, she wanted me to write the Bs for her while she colours the pictures. HELLO, YOUNG LADY! Do I look like I like homework?!)

I fear the next time we have to do homework. Chinese next Tuesday. Keeping fingers crossed. *Whines*

It will get better, ahem, I er.. believe.

***

Minibean is good at doing this rag-doll act whenever she wanna throws a tantrum.

She did it today when she got cranky without her nap when the grandparents picked her up, as usual, she would get a tad out of hand whenever grans are around, cos what to do, they tend to think everything is okay and would rather spoil her.

She refused to wear pants underneath a really short dress because she had gone through a growing spurt in these recent months and she didn’t want to take the dress off.

She simply just collapse onto the floor and pretend to be the cursed sleeping beauty and when you carry her, she just goes limp like a rag doll and refused to respond to us.

She never quite has any problems saying goodbye, but today she cried non-stop even though she was heading out, and maybe the new school schedule (she used to reach home at 2.45pm, but now she only gets home at 4.30pm) takes a bit of getting used to.

Nonetheless, despite her tiny episodes, she has grown to be quite a sensible, loving, darling, especially when grans are not around.

***

I am looking forward to some me-time and catching up on series and blogging tonight before the new week starts.

***

I blogged till the above when I fell into a slumber. Drools, dreams and all. This 9+pm nap thing is really getting to me, isn’t it?

I had a really vivid dream which saw me forcing myself to wake, because I got such a fright, and it felt too real.

Sounds like one of those scary dreams I used to have.

The scary part is that, in the dream, it was the exact scenario as it was when I fell asleep. I was sleeping in the same position, hearing the same background, and SBB was doing whatever he was doing. So my body and mind was fooled into thinking it was the reality, and it WAS happening.

In the dream, Minibean was watching SBB playing the Xbox 360, and it was one of those moments I opened my eyes and found her sitting there.

Too tired to realise that she was already away for the weekend, I thought it was the reality.

I remember she somewhat turned to me, gave her cheeky smile, and then cheerily announced with plenty of gusto, “KANINA CHEEB.. (well you get the drift, it just seems wrong to type that my baybeeehhh said that)!” and it stunned the both of us, and apparently she had repeated it because one of us (probably me. BUT IN THE DREAMS OKAY, NOT IN REAL LIFE) had said it without realising she was around.

I was in so much shock that she was saying it, and that I actually woke up from the fright, relieved that it was just a bloody dream. Tell me it isn’t a nightmare, freaking hell!

Did I mention the other day she started saying “SHHHHHHIIITTTTTT!” like it was such a cutie word? Oh dear me.

I should start taking the MRT instead of driving her around.

I used to wonder how would I react if I hear her pick up curse words from school (no one swears in front of her!) or the playground, I thought I would laugh it off and guide her the right path and remind her one day when she grows up, maybe I’m just PMS-sy but I am so TOTALLY FREAKING OUT right now just because of the dream.

Someone better Xanax-ed me or knock me out with a club. Tsk.

***

Did I mention this afternoon when she was doing her homework, she was picked up by a boy?

She was checking the date on the handphone to find out today’s day and date to write on her assignment.

Suddenly the phone buzzed to life with an incoming message which says, “Daddy ritchell don’t want to borrow me her calculator!”

I realised it was a wrong message and thought it was quite funny when Minibean asked me who it was and the person called back.

The person then messaged to say sorry wrong message, and when the person called back again, Minibean picked up the phone and the 2 kiddos had the funniest phonecall ever.

“Hello.. what is your name?” the boy asked.

“My name is Charissa…”

Then Minibean turned a little shy and started to giggle and reply a little softer, and the boy thought he was talking to Lisa. The boy sounded about 9 (tsk, want to cheat using the calculator already huh?), and then Minibean started saying “you messaged wrongly!”

“Yah I know!” Eh, then why he called back ah?

They started talking in kiddo terms for maybe about 5 minutes, and then the killer question came in.

“You how many years old?” he asked.

“3 become 4!” Minibean cheerily replied.

“You 4 ah?” he wasn’t quite hearing it well, so after clearing up the air, he finally got what Minibean was trying to say.

After Minibean said yes….

….. the coward hung up immediately without saying bye!

!!!!!!!!!!!! The audacity. But I think this was the first time a stranger chatted up Minibean, and I thought that was the cutest thing ever (only because he was just a little boy!). If this happens 10 years later, KNN, see what happens to the boy lah!

Boys ah, all like that one ah? But okay lah, he knows how to stay away from jailbait.

Okay, not bad for my consistency for updating about the new year for me. Let’s hope I maintain the momentum and not fall into the temptation of doing all things chillaxing without Minibean around!

Posted in Life's Fillers, Minibeanism | No Comments »

And Minibean starts kindergarten..

January 7th, 2011 by Scarlett Ting

I probably am emotionally-overloaded now.

This is what happens when fatigue takes over and you went to bed by 9.30pm, and your body took it as a nap and you are now up at an ungodly hour after failing to lull your body back to sleep again.

Today (okay, technically yesterday – 6th Jan) marks the first day of Minibean’s kindergarten days, and even though she had been in the same school for her nursery 2 for a good half of last year, I still couldn’t help feeling like a panicky mum.

It is also the day I retire from chauffeuring duties and she is put onto the school bus.

Her hours are longer (fees are much higher, bleargh), and something just felt different.

She is such a grown up now, I worry the day she meets her first boyfriend.

She went on the bus without incident, got up, and got strapped in, waved and didn’t even look back when the school bus turned out of the car porch.

“That’s it?” I said morosely.

Why? Do you expect the school bus to linger for like half an hour so you can sniff and wail your goodbyes?

Gee, my daughter is cooler than me when it comes to saying goodbye.

Thankfully the school bus driver was the one who left a very good impression on me when Minibean first started school, he was always sweet (not the creepily so kind), had a way with children and helped out during the assembly to soothe crying kiddos. Honestly, I was damn happy when I saw he was the one sending Minibean to school amongst all the other bus drivers. It helps that his name is Uncle Ting. Hurhur.

Quickly got back home and change and drove down to her school to see her settling in, though along the way a fellow parent who was such a rude bugger at the carpark that he actually stared at me when I let him past when he didn’t want to give me way to reverse park, even though my hazard lights were on for a very long time.

Mr No Manners, I don’t expect courtesy out of you if you don’t have the decency to give some, even when you were behind me, you came right next to me and block my way when my hazard lights were on for a while (the car behind you actually had the courtesy to stay a long way behind so I could park), but I really think when you were trapped behind the other cars and stopped next to me, you didn’t have to stare at me as if you were going to bash me up when I moved to give you way. No courtesy, it’s okay, I don’t take for granted everyone has it, but the staring? I hope your child is not in the same class as Minibean.

From the way I was waving my byes from the windows and flying kisses, the new teacher expressed surprise when she knew she was not exactly new.

Must be thinking “then why mother still so kiasu?!”

She has 2 Nixon’s as classmates, and a Korean (I hope he is cute), and what’s with some names parents give their children these days? Then again, I shan’t complain much when the paper barely had space to contain her full name, which by the way is longer than the alphabet (oh.. are they going to learn writing their names soon…? Hmm..).

I still felt the same way I did the first time I sent her to school last year.

I watched her from afar, and it was only after she settled down, and was walking behind the pack as the teachers led them to wash their hands (I was silently worried she didn’t have a partner, but she was quick to grab the hand of a young boy.. a go-getter this one. Then I immediately thought ‘how dare you hold another boy’s hands and walk away from right under our noses like we didn’t matter? Pardon me.. I’m a mum!), and her good friend from her nursery class came over to grab her away from the boy.

I left unwillingly. I might have camped there at the corridor filled with anxious parents, looking into the glassed classrooms like it was an aquarium of their baby fishes learning to swim.

Went to IMM for lunch and rushed home in the rain feeling all tired from the lack of sleep.

I am not kidding when I say I sprinted down when her school bus arrived, and wanted to carry her, but thought that might embarrass her.

She replied “Everything I like!” when I asked her what she did in school today, and I hope she keeps this up for the next 17 – 20 years to come hurhurhur.

I decided to decorate her exercise book for communication purpose a little.. and looked through the notes and timetable from the teachers, only to realise she is going to get homework twice a week.

I could have fainted right there and then. You mean my baby is old enough to do homework?! I feel a little bad that I got her into this, but I decided to get over it cos I probably will feel this way for the next 17 – 20 years.

Got her showered and fed before putting her to sleep and she was sleeping so soundly in the rainy late noon, so I could actually cook for her without much incident.

Didn’t manage to get the nap I so craved before I made my way out for pole lessons, and ended up trapped in the horrid jam in Jurong till it was time for pole.

Then with a heavy bladder, I tried to make my way back home cos I’d be too late for the lesson anyway, and I reached home at 7pm (and I stay not far from where I was caught in the jam!) when my lesson started at 6.30pm.

The moment I got back home, didn’t wanna waste time so I made steak for the family, without a recipe, and dare I say it turned out quite fine!

I actually dug out sweet beans, potatoes, eggs, and threw in some condiments which made the steak turned out rather good with my guesstimation.

Coerced Minibean to finish a large bowl of porridge, larger than one I could finish myself, and she was treated with Jaffa cakes (running low on supply so sharing with her is a big sacrifice on my part, hahaha! And now she claims it is her favourite, not mine!) and Kinder Joy (which I bought last night out of guilt that she was starting school, and my Dad must be feeling really guilty cos he actually came home with 3!) which pretty much made her day.

She pooped. She drank water. And I was actually knocked out cold from the tiredness from the day.

She went to bed on time and without fuss after her usual stories (I wish she will stop requesting for Goldilocks!), and thank you for taking over when I needed it most.

I actually really love a great day like this.

Woke up from nap with a long chat with Cheyenne, that got me excited till I can’t go back to sleep. Tsk!

***

Decided to make another trip into Jaybee on Wednesday noon with Lee and Edmund, and thought it was quite a cool and spontaneous adventure to have.

I don’t feel as much guilt as I displayed my full auntie traits before them. Haha!

It was a nice afternoon spent with friends I adore, before rushing back for dinner so I could pick Minibean up.

On our way back, Edmund and I witnessed a magnificent display of a spider web of lightning, right before our eyes, like the entire sky was cracking apart. Lee was rubbing her eyes that split second and missed ALL OF IT!

It was a noon of cheapthrills, and I enjoy being in the company of people who appreciate my quirks for cheap thrills like this!

I managed to strike off a couple of things on my to-do-list (WTF! I actually draft up one when I never ever needed one!) after doing a couple of errands, and, that made me happy.

Oh. Totally random. Was looking for my favourite white shirt dress when it went MIA on me. I resorted to praying just to find it, which really says a lot about my desperation. Magnified with PMS hormones, I actually was so elated that I nearly teared when I finally found it today!

I spent 2 hours doing ALL ironing, going through pants and a grand total of 16 shirts after putting Minibean to bed when I got home after picking her up. Funny how I would rather iron Dad’s clothes and Minibean’s uniforms than to iron my dresses.

All laundry done, and I even managed to mop the floor once everyday. I am not sure why I take joy in fussing around the house when she is sleeping but I guess it is productive and therapeutic in a way, like an outlet of me-time, yet at the same time, she motivates me to do a lot of more things out of my comfort zone.

I know days like this probably have to come to an end for practical reasons, so the more I need more days like this.

Piece of advice. Do not wear cute underwear with cartoon prints. Your child might find it very fascinating to lift your skirt to keep looking at it.

***

Remind me to talk about Minibean rapping. Okay I am reminding myself here.

***

Remind me to talk about Shangri-La.

Remind me to talk about pretty dresses.

Remind me to talk about the phone.

Remind me to talk about Dad’s birthday.

Remind me to talk about the beautiful weddings.

Actually, I probably don’t need reminders to how beautiful the start of 2011 has been.

I hope it will set the pace for a better year than the last, and though we may not constantly be happy every day which makes happy new year a tad redundant, but may this year, better the last for all you peeps.

Posted in Life's Fillers, Minibeanism | No Comments »

Racing towards 2011

January 3rd, 2011 by Scarlett Ting

Hurhur, everyone has set their new year resolutions, recap the past year and I still uh, am trying to play catch up with 2010.

The surprising thing is, I failed to journal much about one of the more fabulous years I had.

So far, the start of 2011 has been plenty of joy, love, and hope, and put many things into perspective on how I am gonna take no shit, from anyone.

The dampener to 2011 is the fact that there are expectations, more often than not, unreasonable ones, that I have to fulfill.

I think it is always not the matter, nor the people involved, but the principles behind it that make me realise what I DO NOT want.

So fuck everyone’s expectations. I don’t have to agree with you just so your everest-sized ego can be stroked when my hands are only this small (I do have small hands okay, so everything looks big in it in comparison, ahem), I respect your views, when I voiced mine, it doesn’t mean I don’t agree with yours (unless I say so), but it is just my opinion, and I thought you would respect it like I had respected yours. I am not disagreeing with you, so why are you trying to get me to agree with you especially just because YOU think YOU are right? When I had said my piece, I am not trying to say you are wrong, really, I am just hoping for your understanding, you can disagree with me, but don’t try to change or belittle what I think just because it isn’t same as yours.

So that’s in a nutshell how my new year started and it wasn’t enough to ruin my New Year, cos the people involved just don’t mean enough, but it was enough to leave a taint to an otherwise awesome start to new year.

***

To beat the traffic jam on 29th December, I decided to brave Tuas 2nd link, all by myself.

I survived and I deserve a pat on my shoulder.

I remember going through the Smart Tag lane whereas everyone was queuing at Touch’n'Go, and in a moment of solitary insanity, I went “HEI! HEI! HEI!” and did a little victory dance for breezing through it whereas everyone was waiting.

Such cheapthrills. Tsk.

Was driving mum back and along the way, she gestured towards Jusco and we did an impromptu grocery trip, and I am now bloody hooked.

The Face Shop falsies are selling for 12.90 ringgit for 2 pairs (SERIOUSLY?! They are S$4.90 per pair locally, and that converts to less than S$5.50 for 2 pairs).

We had a nice lunch at Nando’s, before paying 1 ringgit for the carpark and head back to Singapore, not before getting my car fed with petrol (when I pumped my own, it was quite alright, until the attendant came over and spilled a huge amount onto the floor and the car!), and gotten stuck in a slight jam at 2nd link.

I think I could probably stuff my P-Plate up the exhaust pipes of those arrogant queue-cutters’ cars, because I actually managed to fend off all those rude drivers.

To me, simple rule, if you wanna cut in, if you signal, or if you bother to raise a hand, however half-heartedly, I would let you go, no issues.

But, if you try to edge me out aggressively, and bully just because you see the red/yellow triangle as a target, and refuse to even look at me, or worse, give me a look of disgust thinking that could intimidate me, then, sorry, I will not give in.

Then there are those who are all or the above, and on top of it, will try to come really close so they think you will be so afraid that you will back off… much like those childish stare down contest.. which was exactly what happened. This particular Mercs driver.

I didn’t let him get his way and I managed to fend him off, and allowed another driver into my lane, but the other driver actually politely gestured me on to move first (so nice!), and the Mercs driver tried edging him out instead.

Justice prevails and the other driver got ahead of him. Hehehe.

Tsk, why some drivers so rude oneeee!

It was a really pretty evening as we drove back as the sun was setting… and yet another heart-warming day out with the dowager.

Got back home and Minibean was her awesome self, and we snuck out for supper after she had slept.

I found late night western food, pork mee sua and BBQ stingray near my place!!! WOOHOOO!

***

30th December

Plenty of errands to do that saw me from west to central to east back to central, to west and back to central, and then to Clementi, and then to buy food and out again. Yet I forgot to pick up my Dad’s present which I sent for engraving that ended up with me driving back to town and feeling plenty of fatigue from the long drive.

Wanted to alter a few dresses, but was quoted $15 each, and I thought I might as well buy new ones.

So just as I was fretting about my New Year dresses or new clothes for special occasions with my alterations all left undone, I had some very special help, and I will write more about that soon!

Oh, I found fabulous Emperor’s chicken near my place. I am thinking I might just end up holing up in my area and not go anywhere anymore!

***

I am not sure if I will ever have the time to catch up with 2010, what’s more 2011.

Maybe the novelty of new years, resolutions and wishes had whizzed me by after realising how useless they truly are.

But I can only hope, and try my darnest best, to make each year, better than the last.

Posted in Life's Fillers | 2 Comments »

Chilly Cosy Christmas

December 29th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

(23rd December – 28th December)

Today’s weather was a purrrrrfeeeect 26 degrees, IN THE AFTERNOON. How awesome is that? I verbalised my yearning for Singapore to keep the good job up and it will be purrrrfeeeccctt country to be in.

I can do with no white Christmas, as long as it stays as beautiful as this.

This year’s Christmas turned out to be an exhausting affair, I have as much flair in shopping as much as David Beckham’s flair for ballet, and the constant search for the “perfect gift” proves to be as futile as the search for “the perfect one”.

After my IKEA shopping (yes, auntie buys Christmas gifts from IKEA, anything to avoid the suffocating crowd!), I barely had the time to breathe before rushing to the airport at 2.30am to pick up an aunt, and then head for a very fulfilling supper at Siglap’s Hong Kong cafe on a chilly night.

Went on to stay around for a chat till it was late (like 5ish) while getting 2 of my ASOS loots from her, cos I had sent them to her place to make use of the free next day delivery services.

I can barely contain my excitement though it quickly became disappointment I could barely mask when the 2 gorgeous pieces which arrived in the snow turned out to be…. a tad small for someone who had been overindulging in suppers and all things sinful.

What can I say? Serve her right? Dammit.

I have outgrew my size, and then I grew worried for my other ASOS orders….

Which proved my point when I woke up to find a parcel waiting for me on 23rd’s morning.

I couldn’t fit into one of the dresses (ha-blardyyy-ha, someone could die from my undisguised wrath), and they had sent one item that looks NOTHING like what I had ordered despite the name and product code matched.

Upset. Though I know I have no reason to, cos ASOS customer service had been nothing but great with their prompt replies (okay, only 3 of them are good), and that is despite the fact that it was snowing and much of their staff went not there, and I hadn’t spent all the much moolah since I was just sniffing through the sale items to look for bargains.

Headed out promptly to celebrate Eddie’s birthday at the office, where I gleefully helped Caryn to sign up ASOS account, and gave her instructions on how to do her online shopping. Like I tweeted, good friends introduce you to the site, cruel ones will sign up an account and drag you to an abyss of sin.

That girl, she is truly, truly a gem. I cannot say enough how much I admire her, how much I feel her presence always give me hope… and her resilience.. I have no words for. A girl I truly respect.

Printed some pictures, before rushing all the way down to Changi for a nice dinner.

If you guys hadn’t been to the Bark Cafe, with marvelous ambience to charm and good food to seduce, it is a cosy retreat worth checking out for the Easterners.

By evening time, each table was perimetered by guests, and why hadn’t I heard of it before?!

Rushed back to town right after to collect 60 over bucks of developed pictures. It was where I had bumped into an acquaintance, one of the nicest possible people I was blessed to meet at some point of my teenagehood early that evening.

She had since married the very guy she dated back then, when some of us friends were worried that he was nothing more than.. well, taking advantage of her niceness and innocence.

They have a boy now, and she eluded bliss, and deep down in my heart, I had a lingering guilt of listening to hearsay and judged him back then, and I didn’t say, but as I bade her goodbye, the words that never came out was, “Stay this happy always, I wish you and your family the very best…”

Sent Caryn home, and there was a moroseness that bugged me as the night drew to a close.

Made a detour to see Minibean, before rushing home to get all Christmas prep ready.

So can you imagine all the work needed to be done because Christmas eve is the very next dayyy?

Okay, you probably couldn’t but you would probably understand when I finally reveal what Christmas gifts I mustered out of my hemorrhaging bank account.

Not-so-subtle-hint:

***

Wait a minute.

I needed to deliver some Christmas goodies. So off I went to Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang.

I have to confess my guilt that I did the unthinkable. Succumbing to Body Shop for Christmas presents because it was so last minute when Jenn from Passion Chiffonier messaged me to meet up cos she and Ling had a Christmas present for me.

I nearly cried tears of shame when I saw it is a GORGEOUS BAG from GG5, because it was something that is severely lack in my bag collection – a classy bag that is worthy of formal dinners and all.

And yes, I used it on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Basically my pet bag because of the thoughts and style that went into it.

Which actually had people asking me where did I get the bag from (and I mean from professional tai-tais, not tai-lets in training hor), and showered praise on whoever had given it to me.

They liked the quality and were ooh-ing and ahh-ing over it.

I ended 23rd only when the sun of 24th reminded me I didn’t have that much time to rest before waking up to finish what I started.

Plus this and that (read: wrapping and other friends’ presents), the Alaskan crab/awesome lamb/tender steak/stuffed goose dinner was held up by our late arrival.

One little episode.

As I got into my car, I decided for a change that I shan’t be driving, so I got into the passenger side instead, which was rare, cos I often want to drive and staying in the passenger seat bores me.

As I got in, I saw a lizard lingering on my car’s body so I got up promptly.

Along the way, I turned to look out of the window, when I saw the lizard staring back at me, right beside my face.

If it was staring back at me, and I am not seeing it’s belly……….. KAAANNNNIIIINNNAAAAAHHH!

I gasped a loud “OH SHIT“, and didn’t dare to make a big fuss, cos the driver, as we know, is mortally afraid of lizards, and I am mortally afraid that he is behind the wheels.

But good also lah, cos or else, if the lizard was of that proximity to him as it was to me, I might need to stop on the expressway and resuscitate him.

And he did the very smart thing I didn’t want to do… he wound down the freaking window, which panicked the slimey lil thing, and caused it to… leapt onto what I was holding in my hands (sweater and iPad), and then as he did a sharp turn, it decided to nestle comfortably on my dress instead, which made me yelp, because as much as lizards are bearable to me, I resent the feeling of something wriggling around crawling on my bare skin.

Wearing a short dress, a tube one no less, makes me wonder why I didn’t wrap myself up for the chilly nights.

So, the staring contest started. It moved around on my dress, occasionally staring up at me with those eyes, and was cautious with its next move as I stared down at it.

It stayed still enough for me to start tweeting about it, and I think it got a little comfortable, almost like pleading me with its eyes to ask me to adopt it as pet.

I didn’t want to freak it until it start to run off around in my car, and in the process adjourning the Christmas celebrating to a hospital.

I almost wondered if I should just grab it and place it on my palm, and then bravely slide it out of the window. I didn’t.

I half suspected that as it was staring up at me, it had wanted to crawl up my dress via my tummy, but the climb would mean as arduous as conquering Mt Everest on a human level, so it gave up.

When the car stopped at the traffic light, metres away from destination, I was shoo-ed off the car and started jumping up and down to shake it off me.

I kept my head low so I didn’t have to find out the amused looks on the drivers who stopped behind my car.

Sorry dear, there is no way you would ever make it to my pet list.

***

Am I a bad mother to think that my offspring is too spoilt and pampered with the amount of gifts she gets every year, that I am starting to nag everyone to stop buying her gifts until she doesn’t take them for granted?

I am not kidding when I say her gifts always occupy an entire car’s boot, and since I ain’t rich enough to drive a ferrari which doesn’t have a bootie like mine (no pun, ahem, absolutely no pun there).. that says a lot.

Look at this charmer… and her little spawn. Ahem.

(And yes, I paired my bag with the dress I got from Passion Chiffonier!)

The dress on Minibean is a loot from the outlet store in Bicester Village, which is selling for a kill-people-set-fire price of 450. POUNDS. in Ralph Lauren store, which makes me think of ebaying it once Minibean grows out of it haha.

Can you believe it, she is going to kindergarten next week.

Which probably is a depressing news to her.

She is still such a baby to me…

And I am flooding you guys with her pictures, I know.

Here’s her with her Christmas present from us.

A lego camera which you can drop and it will be just fine. It can even stack on more lego pieces!

Last year was a never-ending task of taking pictures of her and her loots, so I don’t think I want the other presents to overshadow ours my memory card could have contained all those this year.

And the little penguin.

Cute ah! I want one of those!

I had unexpectedly received Chanel Gucci and Prada (not what you think they are, I WISH!) this year from the girls, and make-up from the guys (I swear it is like some coded, subliminal message they were trying to send).

So some stuff:

I thought these were just the best gifts. I find the red book a dud, though the How to be British was already telling me things I already know, but was really funny.

A great casual read (funny! witty! Love it!), which makes me have absolute no desire to ever own a Hermes Birkin. Then again, I ain’t gonna refuse one if you send one my way. Since nothing on my blog is legally binding, it is my female rights to change my mind in the future.

Now my car can show off its key.

Eye shadow from the boys.

From the 96 year-old Gong gong.

Make-up! An all in one box is just what I need.

Must be the most over-priced skin art, ever. It wasn’t that I don’t like or I don’t appreciate, but my first thought is, “why waste such moolah on meeee?” in the utter, unglamourous auntie way.

A new make up pouch from the ladies to replace last years (where I received TWO, and one still unused), which I suspect will become my card holder/cash purse.

I didn’t take the Uniqlo + Jil Sander zip up parka which probably makes me wanna travel again (I don’t care what you say about the snow…) nor the Ted Baker baggy dress which I wore for Christmas day.

Of course, the 550D..

And the in comparison stingy gifts in return to all the goodness above?

Which explains the late nights… an virgin attempt, so I forbid any nitpicking.

(Edited: Decide to post more pictures of the other frames, though there were two others, one which went to Lee, another that went to Cheyenne that I forgot to take picture of!)

Got home from Christmas Eve exhausted but went on to do a couple more… and I was just glad to find solace in my bed later on…

Spent Christmas noon with Minibean with her growing bored with some of her gifts already. Tsk.

Made the way down to James’ for a sumptuous meal and had my virgin game of Taboo, and I didn’t get Xanax-ed out this time round. Phew.

And yes Cheyenne, I will think of you everything I get down and dirrrrttttttyyyy in the future (until the bottle runs out).

I was just happy to clean out my closet and rearrange everything, which I hope will stay that way so I can tick spring cleaning off my list.

***

Sunday was church day.

Went to New Creation church with Minibean attending the children service.

I prayed. I prayed hard for my parents. I prayed hard for their healths. I prayed hard for Minibean. I made my grateful speech over and over again in my heart as I felt the liberation I never had, in the year of 2010, and am thankful for the chirpiness that is borderlining on annoying.

I can’t explain, but I am thankful, I felt free of a lot of emotional burdens and dare I say it, I am actually feeling, happy. In the real sense. I mean, a lot of things I cannot control, and there are things if hadn’t changed would have been ideal, but I think the friends I truly care about are in good places now.. and that’s good.

I actually feel rather fulfilled doing my own stuff, and it is actually busier and though it doesn’t bring home the dough (like, baking soda is, like, you know, like how awesome to rid of pee stains and order and bleaching those white clothes!), and playing a more major part in Minibean’s growth.

I feel my wits had been sharpened just by hanging around her.

***

Got back to prepare for boxing day tea where I baked scones and did waffles (not pre-mixed okay!). I think it gave me biceps from all those folding, stirring…

The comfort of home beckoned and I just couldn’t stop reading and enjoying the late night because it was such a bliss to be a homebody again.

***

I refused to get out of home on Monday, though I did manage to drag my sorry ass to meet Eunice for some pole action (still haven’t thank you for the bling polish!), though it wasn’t much of a lazy session of catching up with barely any pole action cos I feel my hamstring just wasn’t up to it.

Got home and after busied with the chores, I just read, assumed the role of Ninja chopping up fruits, be as angry as the birds, and ignored the lure of the internet and my phone.

LIKE HOW MUCH OF A LUXURY IS THAT?!

Speaking of which, I left my phone behind after visiting today and I didn’t even panic nor bother to pick it up, though I probably have to tomorrow.

***

I can’t even start to describe the beauty of today.

ASOS’ final loot, the biggest and cheapest (4 dresses for 50 pounds!) arrived and woke me up from my slumber and I FIT INTO EVERYONE OF THEM COMFORTABLY WITHOUT STOPPING MY BLOOD FLOW! *Sending flying kisses up to Heaven*

I immediately wore this casual piece out, and it actually reminded me of this:

(Which by the way, coincidentally is Passion Chiffonier’s latest collection launched today, and I am NOT paid to mention this, Christmas is all about giving! And I give my love to this dress! But yah lah, I also got guilt from getting Body Shop stuff that I promise myself I won’t ever get that for pressies, EVER)

While trying on the dress from ASOS similar to this dress from Passion Chiffonier, albeit a boring solid colour one, at the exact timing, Liwen messaged me to ask me about ASOS as I was wriggling out of my dresses I was trying on. And how coincidental is that?!

And from the way Ling and Jenn chose my Christmas present with impeccable taste, I can deffo see the reflection from this dress. Very pretty and special dress, and in the same design like the one I wore out today (except mine doesn’t have bubble hem).

Oh, got Sale on Passion Chiffonier too. You can be excused as you go browse. Come back later, will ya?

So the weather and everything gave me happy thoughts, which even the need to alter my dresses to shorten them (cos I am TOO short for them) did not dampen the positivity that I might actually start to flirt with female sales assistants EVERYWHERE.

Today got a few stuff done in town, Dad’s birthday present and birthday plans are settled, though I have to say.. it is not something I am used to cos we don’t celebrate birthdays in my household.

Though a pauper, I really want to make things special for him and mum this year.

Our family has this thing of celebrating all the big birthdays on the same year. 70th for Dad, 60th for Mum.

Thank goodness I picked the pressie for Dad in London, so it wasn’t something I have to worry about.

Knowing the right people also mean I have a special menu drafted up for his dinner (no sharks’ fins was my instruction).

Lunch at Raffles City, Dinner at Spizza (can I just mention Jalan Kayu’s Spizza has really warm service that makes you feel so at home?) where Minibean charmed the pants off everyone and she was on her best best best behavior. She has so much gems I need to share. And I can almost start a post on my counter-Minibeanism which sometimes I surprise myself (baby, you can’t shout or talk so loud in a restaurant like this, or else the chef might hear you and the food might not be that delicious anymore. Imagine: “What’s that sound? Whoooooops, did I just drop the tub of salt into the food?!” IT WORKED!) with however lame and however effective they are.

It was a lovely evening, though when we were walking into a place too far from the loos after she had drank too much water, we had no choice but to allow her to do it by the bush.. somewhere.

I had ambitiously thought I could finish 3 posts, and thought this would be a short post.

How wrong was I?

Nahbehly wrong.

Another long day of errands tomorrow. Praying no jam at causeway!!

Haven’t had more than 8 hours of sleep since don’t know when. I am in need of that break.

But while you excuse me, I need to go cut up some fruits.. damn the person who showed Minibean the game over Christmas.

And if I hadn’t said it, Merry Christmas everyone!

Maybe, have a great end to 2010, and a great start would be more apt!

Be safe, be good, be happy.

Love,

Ting (though I suspect I might be back soon with another post before the new year is ushered in. Fuck, I need to stop blabbering on. Did I say I am high on the festive season or something?)

Posted in Life's Fillers, MateriaLust, Perk-me-ups | 8 Comments »

Minibean to walk down the aisle

November 6th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

I feel as if my world had been turned upside down by fatigue for the past week, and found it almost impossible to gather much physical nor mental strength to do almost anything.

Alas, it was a hectic week and thank goodness for auto-pilot mode that pulled me through, and in the midst, a tiny break was planned and I am just glad I could get away for a while for a spontaneous trip that is… nothing short of packed and hectic too.

Monday went by with a meeting in the afternoon, a walk in Raffles City, drinks with the chaps at Ang Mo Kio, before a dinner in.

It was also the evening where she had her first fitting for her very first experience as a flower girl at a wedding few days short of her 4th birthday.

Strict instructions were given not to pass her nor the page boy any bling to take care of, or it might set off a very distressing search during the event.

Since the church doesn’t allow any flower throwing, she would probably have to slow march (Minibean is known to NOT take things slow) prim and proper-ly, and honestly, it is a challenging task ahead, and you hear it from her mother, no less.

And coincidentally, the dress is in her favourite colour – purple.

Though it was custom-made for her a few months back, and she had since grew a little. The can-can was a little too loose, so alteration had to be done.

She was a little shy and went off to a corner to pose.

Uhm… okay…

And the smart one had brought up that she doesn’t really have a pair of shoes to pair off this, and had requested for a pair of black “kok kok” shoes (yes, she wants heels, like seriously?!).

Think this is her feeble attempt at being “high fashion“.

Will update on how her first walk down the aisle goes, so it would be a good gauge for the others who are also thinking of hiring her for the same purpose would not regret their decisions heh.

I could hardly sleep well on Monday night for so many things that were filtering in and out of my mind, and mostly leaving a bad taste in my mouth with the worries they brought.

***

Was just glad everything fell into place and went on smoothly on Tuesday after lunch with Joly in town.

Mum was then back in Singapore after a long hiatus where I had gained so much peace that her arrival was something that brought much apprehension.

I fell into a nap that robbed me of my evening, though I did manage to do some planning and all, but seriously, where did all my energy get sucked to?

***

Had a nice lunch with Oldlee at Anchorpoint, and did the usual errands. It was also the very day I actually had this urge to call up to ask about availability of tickets, cos I was aware how much I actually needed a short getaway.

There were actually tickets, and I could go on a semi-solo holiday! Hesitated for a while, but did a tentative booking.

Got back home and tried to stay awake so I could have an early night for an event on Thursday.

But fatigue took over and I fell asleep at 8pm, and woke up when it was only 10ish. Seriously?!

So supper beckons and got nostalgic on the animated discussion of the “numerological” gangs of the past making their quite epic (fail) comeback.

And suddenly, I realised in the past what I would laugh off as silly, juvenile, has overtaken by the fact that I was wondering if this was the society Minibean was gonna be growing up in, where people would just assume choppers are the solution to problems and an icepack to their bruised egos, and thinking they can get away with it.

It was pretty ridiculous what some of the murderers’ friends had said on facebook, twitter, where they think a life lost was what the victim deserved. They failed to realise it was not sympathy to the victim, who might have his own wrongdoings, that made people feel the need for the murderers to be punished severely.

It was the fact that the murderers think other lives are worthless like these people online, and can be taken away as and when they like just to make a statement. If you guys think the chap deserved to die, then I could say same thing about those who are arrested deserve the death penalty too. Pretty much eliminate the rage to show that there is no room for such violence nor pettiness, and the stupidity of youngsters who think this is the only way to show they are macho-ness, when in fact, no one really cares, except those who really want to get rid of them.

And those friends who mocked the judicial system just because of their own narrow-mindedness (which is, to comment only when such happened to their own friends, and also brought up how “Singapore is a FINE country” with stupid laws in their justification how Singapore should abort the death penalty for their friends, seriously?!), and challenged the public as to who had the last laugh (to say those who are for the death penalty and spoke out online are just dogs who are just stupid cos everyone deserves a 2nd chance and he believes his friends will be safe and he would laugh at the others’ faces when they are freed).

And their friends all fail to see how this case has a huge social impact in a different way, that a precedence is likely to be set to curb the egos of the gangs out there. Many were assured and frivolous in their exchanges on public facebook walls that it would just be a simple charge of unlawful carrying of weapons and unlawful assembly and they would be fine.

Then they took it out on the deceased. They took it out on the Singapore government and what they deem are stupid laws. They took it out on the media for trying to hide truth (seriously, the conspiracy theory is laughable, hahaha not because I don’t believe media is not capable of that, but in this case..?). They took it out on the “online dogs”. They took it out on anything.

I am not sure what to think. That everyone has downplayed using violence and hacking to solve a problem, or that the youngsters think murder is child’s play? I just think it is natural that people want to protect friends, and they are right to hope for best, but to be irrationally taking out on everyone……. that just makes everyone else thinking the only way to make an example, is to hang those youngsters.

This was taken as a screenshot without mentioning who was the one who posted this. It was from a girl, an ex-classmate of one of the accused, who doesn’t look as if she is gang-related in any way.. but it is just saddening to see that when something like this happens, for a regular youngster, it was about all the wrong things (whether the victim is handsome?! Gosh!).

And.. yes we might not know what did Darren Ng do, to “ask for it” to the point you think “it serves him right“, but if you know, do share the story, because I am not sure if any story is good enough for anyone to buy that killing someone in cold blood in a public place with families and crowd is a justifiable action.

Even paedophiles and serial murderers who did wrongs did not get such from victims’ families.. so, really?

Then going by the theory, does that mean Darren Ng’s family would be right to send a sniper to kill them off when they are released from jail, should they be acquitted? Or that it would give the exactly right reasons for the other gang to revenge, no? Then, it will be a vicious cycle that makes this country no longer a safe one for anyone.

2 wrongs don’t make one right.

But I just feel damn old, though I have few friends who mentioned how it would have been a path they would have been taken, but at least they said they were glad they were not clouded by stupidity, and how it was a phase they had eventually outgrown. Truth is, either way, no one would walk away a hero from this.

The evening was made interesting with my trolling the net looking for the chants of various numbers that made me laugh at the nostalgia of it all.

Couldn’t sleep. Even when I crawled into the bed at 5ish, the 1001 things floating in my mind in between flashes of consciousness.. it was such torture!

***

It was 7ish when I had to wake up and feel little traces of grogginess, thank goodness.

Event was early in the east and at least it was nice and fuss-free and I managed to stay alert and awake throughout.

Feeling such restlessness, I decided to confirm my trip to get away from it all.

And I immediately felt a little lighter!

Then, when the news came in the noon of the Qantas plane, Christian and I were discussing how scary it would have been for the passengers.

To think yesterday on Friday, another flight encountered the same problem, with some of the passengers from Thursday in it (cos it was heading to Sydney too)! I think I would be freaking out and thinking about Final Destination man.

Christian was saying how Qantas would be hit real hard, and I suggested the possibility of Airbus (Rolls Royce) taking the hit too, and gee, the news of Rolls Royce taking a $1b hit today was evident it took a hit larger than we expected.

Then before I knew it, A380s were halted to go through thorough checks.

And did I mention I would be flying on an A380 too? Gulp. No good for my usual flight jitters.

But am just glad everyone was safe.

Went for a relaxing facial after the event in late noon, and the therapist was awesome though her skills left little to be desired.

She was not as good as my usual therapist (in fact her skills was really bad), but she made up with her niceness, giving me a massage room where I could use the body massager as she did facial for me, and she even gave me a shoulder massage and told me not to tell her sales person, who I remember to be like an irritating shark.

Nonetheless, it was a nice, relaxing session which I had craved.

I went to studio early to find myself so drowsy that I just fell asleep on one of the mattresses and napped, only to wake up feeling so totally groggy that I could barely stay awake.

Left studio for a talk session with Oldlee, James and Edmund at Elizabeth Park, and nearly fell into the water when a darn, fat cockroach ran past me, right before me, and thankfully didn’t crawl up my butt cos I was sitting down.

Supper at Lau Pat Sat, and I was just glad to be home safe.

***

Was a pretty nice day to sleep in though it didn’t happen until I manage to make Minibean napped in late noon.

Then once I napped, I could barely get up.

Somebody got to explain this fatigue to me.

Minibean challenged parenthood on Friday, and after more than an hour of dinner-feeding, we finally managed to leave home to join Naiveguy, Barffie, Ed, Cheyenne, Oldlee, King Meng and James at Lee’s place.

Caught the Walking Dead premiere, and it looked kinda promising. I dozed off despite the lengthy nap I had, before Mythbuster even finished its introduction to its latest episode.

And I am beginning to get a little panicky for the 101 things I have set out to do.

Okay, boring recap, and you wonder why there were so little posts. I think I am still pretty high from fatigue. Ting, out.

Posted in Life's Fillers, Minibeanism | No Comments »

Weekend takeaway

October 31st, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

It comes as a surprise that there isn’t any rain tonight, which is one of the things I much look forward to every night these days.

Didn’t feel like heading out on a Saturday night, especially with some plans coming up that would perhaps make me lead a more prudent life for a while, and if my computer has feet, I would probably be kissing them cos WHAT WOULD I DO WITHOUT IT?!

I indulged heavily on Indian takeaway after dialing for Thai Express.. oh yes it doesn’t quite make sense there until I called the number only to realise they are actually a third party delivery hotline, which leads me to head to hungrygowhere website and tell them I would call them back cos I changed my mind.

I missed those butter chicken and naan, and now I wish I had kept those leftovers cos I am blardy hungry at 3 freaking AM right now.

But Indian takeaway is so… awesome, and it is the first time I am calling for Indian takeaway locally and I totally dig how I washed down Saturday evening with plenty of oily, sinful delights, before continuing my obsessive relationship with my dettol and anything that shouts “anti-bacterial” on its packaging.

I believe it won’t be the last time I am getting Indian takeaway.

And then after I scrubbed the toilet tiles, it was CSI, followed by The Social Network. I felt a great distaste while watching the show and didn’t enjoy it as much as how others had raved about it, something about the show just makes me feel uncomfortable at some points I guess. It was okay and entertaining deffo, and OH GOD, if only there are really 2 Armie Hammers in real life…

Now I am trying to resist the temptation of looking for a next read. *taps fingernails*

***

Had dinner with Ed and B nearby my place on Friday night after an intended nap turned out to be a lengthy recuperation till the Halloween ghosts were already out in full force in the neighbourhood by the time I woke up.

I was just glad that it was weekend though I know I have to accomplish much more over this weekend than any other.

It was a quiet end to the week with fanciful weekdays earlier, so it was just perfect to be away from the crowd.

***

Took a train and did some reading to head to pole class on Thursday, and realised how lazy I had really gotten.

With pole, that is.

This level of pole saw me struggling quite a lil, especially after 2 months odd of healing for my left hamstring, and now I am perhaps just halfway through the healing of my right hamstring.

Feels a little handicapped by the injuries and a little demoralised at times, but am just glad that some of the stuff didn’t need to aggravate those pains in the affected areas.

BUT, it did bring lotsa other pains. And yes, here’s me looking damn chui.

I love The Swan! It probably is one of the easier poses with lotsa grace to it which obviously didn’t show on my constipated face.

My right inner thigh was streeeeeetttcccccchhhhhheeeeddd and torn. I already had a few tears and cuts on my left thigh, which look nothing less like multiple razor cuts, like how your skin cracked during extremely dry weather.

Then, the killer move, which was taught to us much earlier, but I had refused to try cos it was just so painful cos I couldn’t get the right “feeeeeling” to the grip.

When I finally did….

My face was scrunched like a prune and apparently I was trembling throughout the move because I had stayed there for like god knows how long before a few pictures were snapped.

See, not looking at the face would make the trick all the more appealing. Hahaha.

When I went to bed early next morning after finishing my read, I feel my knee a little sore, and then when I looked down, this is what I saw:

This is for every spot I tried to get the right “feeeeeeling” to the knee hold. And I didn’t even try it that much on Thursday! I don’t usually take pictures of the bruises cos they are always there anyway, but these polka dots did take me by surprise.

War scars! *thumps chest with ample pride*

I think I have to conceit that I am indeed getting old.

***

Took Minibean out on Wednesday evening to Suntec City and took plenty of pictures of her, which I would perhaps put up in an upcoming write-up, and after that, Joly and I dropped her off, before we joined the chaps for supper and some drinks at Balestier Bak Kut Teh.

While waiting for them to wrap up.

Looking all professional..

A candid shot which I did like hahaha.

Then we were trying to trial and error the cameras, and I am still trying to bond with the 550D though my tool seems little… giggles, tiny compare to the D90 lenses.

Dedy and his D90.

I bet Raymond is now itching for one too.

Round table discussion which I wasn’t even listening to.

Raymond wanted to express his “feelings”.

And finally, one for the road, one for the night.

Been a long while since one of those coffeeshop late night chats that went on till half past 2 in the morning, and it was nice and plenty of fun, cos perhaps it was one of the breathers I had needed.

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Eighteenth to Twenty-second

October 30th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

Eighteenth, the Monday

The Help was great.

So was time alone on the train with a good read.

Headed off to town for a slow stroll at City Hall in Robinson’s, and not finding anything to my liking.

Dinner with Minibean and the family, more reading. More CSI Miami.

Nineteenth, the Tuesday

Minibean was cranky.

This perhaps cheered her and myself up a little.

Flowers on another note, is not that exciting, are they?

Dinner was at Jurong Point’s Olive and Fig and she was just happy to run around and poke her noses into anything and everything, before I rushed off to studio for choreography after dropping them off at the Pasar Malam near my place.

Went home with 3 instructors who coincidentally all hailed from the west on board and someone joked should anything happen to us…. hohoho.

Return home to see her many new books, toys and stickers from the Pasar Malam. I have fond memories of Pasar Malam when I was young, and it brings great comfort that she derives so much joy from it too.

Twentieth, the Wednesday

This was how the day started. My baby pillow in one hand, and my baby in the other. Beautifully, that is.

Minibean headed to school and it was time to embrace my me-time and some hint of social life!

An early session of Chinese massage at Clementi with Eunice and Lydia after they had brought the idea up the night before on the way home, and it turned out to be quite fabulous.

Lydia and I then headed to Clementi central for lunch, where I bumped into Leony, who is also a blogger, and expecting her 3rd baby, and her son is actually Minibean’s classmate!

Alas, her son wouldn’t be going on to kindergarten classes at this school next year, and I will miss having someone around who makes me feel… a little less fearful of socialising with parents.

Lydia and I had a heavy lunch at this Japanese food place which serves pretty decent food at utterly economical pricing, and we were stunned when we ordered a side dish of teriyaki chicken for $4.80, a mountainous plate was served, and Lydia had to pack it home.

We then went on to NTUC and unleash the full auntiehood in us, and I actually felt pretty good to be not-so self conscious of my auntie-self with Lydia’s presence. We compared prices, spoke of veggies, even sharing tips of various products… and wondered if the Oral B toothbrush is more worthwhile to buy as a single, in a pack of 2, or a pack of 3, and then wanted to stab ourselves when we saw it much cheaper somewhere else.

We walked by a eyebrow threading place with groceries in hands and we scooted in to get our brows threaded on a luxuriously leisure weekday before I went on to pick Minibean up from school and spent a wonderful evening with her.

Was pretty tired by the end of the night and was just glad to be lulled to sleep by her story telling, only to wake up in the middle of the night and not able to return to sleep.

Bah.

So. I downloaded ebooks into the iPad, and thus, kick starting another bout of OCD, because reading is now so easy!

Twenty-first, the Thursday.

School day. Plenty of housework.

Got her home, napped with her, head off for pole, this time bringing her along!

Thanks to the awesome Jean who occupied her enough for me to have lesson in peace

After the lesson, she even had fun showing off her skills to Celestine and Ann.

Her feet looks so cute and tiny on the pole!

She got really creative with various poses on the pole and got us all laughing and giggling.

And I must say she is one strong young lady.

Was sending her to meet some friends for late dinner at Balestier Boon Tong Kee and she saw some shops still opened and some had closed for the day at Novena area.

“Mummy, why some open and some close?”

I didn’t answer cos I was trying to think of something logical and she came to my rescue with her brilliant reasoning, “Is it because they very hardworking so they want to work until very late?”

I don’t know why at that moment I just felt a very strong sense of pride and I wanted to hug her to let her know how proud I am of her.

***

Twenty-second, the Friday

The night was dinner-in without me cooking and time spent with the little mite!

I like this! Even though when I was younger I never had the chance to play with it, and I have to say all I need is a minute to scour for everything and if you cannot find any, just let me do it for you, which is exactly what Minibean did, and I would give her a little smirk everytime she asked for help.

What can I say? Your mummy is awesome!

Apart from that, bad news for me. My 450D motherboard is officially too expensive to repair. Not economically since the 2nd hand probably will sell for only $400 so spending $300 odd.. hmm I wasn’t sure if it was a good idea.

And you know me. I can bitch about how Canon is crap after the failure with 450D and all, especially with almost everyone around me now armed with D90… and all the blarblarblar about how getting a Nikon is better cos Canon had broke my heart into so many pieces over the years…

After everything I said, what can I say?

Except that, I’m cheap.

My new toy, 550D.

Me and the Canon didn’t get off to a good start, but I’m cheap that way.

Especially when I am too occupied with exploring it and forget all about the bad feelings that came with it.

And I do prefer the colours of the Canon to the Nikon. So oh well….

Unless, of course, it kaninabeh-ly disappoints me again, that is.

Well, only time will tell.

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My Saturday Hero

October 26th, 2010 by Scarlett Ting

The weather out there right now reminds me of the nice Saturday (23 October) which just passed. The one where it stormed and brought with it fresh air and plenty of comfortable chills.

It was a pretty special Saturday.

There was something special with the mundaneness of it all, and one that kept my mind overloading with thoughts that I couldn’t sleep at all till it was almost9.30am Sunday morning.

I know why.

My dad. My fabulous, fabulous father.

***

Dad returned home in late afternoon around 3pm after the Barley was boiled and the rice was fried, and left me with little time to prep the soup I had in mind.

The endless supply of Minibean’s favourite Kinder Joys kept Minibean pretty happy and was enough of a bribe for her to bond with my dad, something he had not had the luxury to do so in the past month my mum was in Jaybee.

Mum hasn’t exactly been easy, with her irrational phone calls coming in all too frequent these days.

Minibean used to go out with my parents all the time, and it is no secret how much my dad dotes on her. These days as I try, and still making the best effort to be a better mum to her, she has obviously grown more attached to me, and sometimes might snub my dad’s attempt to spend time with her.

Nonetheless, it was a Saturday when the thunders started to rumble in, and I was just trying to scrub the kitchen clean and bring in the laundry with Minibean running around in the hall.

We both jumped a little when it started to thunder.

She then whimpered and ran to me, afraid, telling me that she doesn’t like the thunder.

With me occupied, I thought it was the perfect timing to get her to run to our common hero, my dad.

My dad immediately told her that with him around, there is nothing she should be afraid, and I felt all warm and fuzzy when he said that.

I think one of the reasons I want her to spend time with dad is that my dad is obviously aging too quickly, and I also relive my memorable childhood with my dad with their interactions.

She cheekily asked for her Kinder joy which my dad was only too happy to oblige her requests despite the few frowns I gave.

I looked at their interactions for a little longer before I walked back to the kitchen with the washing.

By this time the storm was in full force. Just as I finished with almost everything, I was scrubbing the last wok when a loud one made me drop everything and wash my hands so I could just run back to my room, alone, and snug under the duvet.

I must have drifted off for a while, as Minibean had in the next room, sheltered and protected by her gong gong.

Gong gong later brought her out and relieved me of babysitting duties.

***

It was also the Saturday that Pudding, Eunice’s pup, who had went missing on Wednesday, was found.

She brought it along with her when she and her family went to the dog cafe and we went down to meet up with her when it was late.

It was a cooling night and it was a nice breather too.

***

Rushed to Vivocity to catch The Town at the theatre for midnight show only to realise we were late, and there was no ushers at the door to tear our tickets.

It was certainly a movie which went under the radar that was worth watching.

Many had raised a brow to hear Ben Affleck is the director, but this guy co-wrote Good Will Hunting and directed Gone Baby Gone, you have to give him more credits even though we all know his good friend Matt Damon is more of the actor between them.

He is quite an intelligent man which was cleverly disguised by the fact of that relationship with J Lo and the doomed Gigli.

I didn’t know what to expect, since reception to the movie is pretty lukewarm locally, and locals slammed it pretty hard for its reviews. I went with gut feel and thought I made a pretty good decision.

It was full of stellar cast, and entertaining with action.

And at times, it was pretty reflective of how life is just a struggle to change your destiny. You ended up graying the line of what’s right, and what’s wrong, and you actually wish the wrong to triumph in this case.

Don’t let Rebecca Hall’s yawn inducing performance mislead you.

Jeremy Rennar really impressed with his performance and I was so charmed, and eventually, heartbroken!

The very fascinating Pete Postlethwaite who always seem to leave a very lasting impression on me in every show I had seen him in, probably cos his looks is just so… exotic and at the same time, giving that extra draw into his acting?

Jon Hamm. Oh gosh. I so wanted to kick him in the balls so many times in the show, and yet wanna draw him in and do him, you know how wrong that sounds, but yet how right that feels when I watched the show?

Blake Lively was always a serious actress before her Gossip Girl stint and I was thinking it would be hard for people to come through and see her performance, but many did express shock for her acting, which actually was something I expected.

The role was intended for an older female but then she got it!

Apparently, her Boston accent was so authentic that Ben Affleck actually asked her which part of Boston was she from during the casting, and I thought she nailed it pretty well too.

***

Dad had lulled her to sleep by the time I got home, and I could chill to CSI and all and continued with my reading till dawn.

I couldn’t sleep. Could be the violent dreams, or that just the usual me overthinking about stuff.

I went into Dad’s room at 8.30am to see the both of them still sleeping soundly. I know Dad always leave home around half past 7, so I went in to check if he needed to leave soon so I could bring Minibean over to my room.

I straightened the blankets on both of them, and felt so much overwhelming love seeing the both of them sleeping.

I really want to go on a holiday with my parents and Minibean some day soon. I have been overlooking the fact that Dad’s pace has slowed down over the years, and I have no idea when did a slight limp set in.

It could have been there all the while, cos he walks with one of his shoulders stooped all these years, and his hunch might have aggravated it.

But it is age that had set in and exaggerated all the dread in his steps.

It is almost heartbreaking to see that he gets tired, and I wanna go explore the world and see the beauty out there with them, before he gets too tired to catch up.

I still remember how I was just 10 when I went for my first trip with my parents, to Hong Kong, and it was there at Ocean Park where both of us ran and chased each other, he was already 50 years old then, until a heart attack slowed him down dramatically 2 years later and we no longer take roller coasters ride together.

When we were in London and Paris when I was 17, I didn’t even take pictures with him. That was the last time we had ever travelled together.

If I ever have a place next time, I want it to be adorned with plenty of pictures depicting the love he and my mum have for me, for Minibean, and despite all the dysfunctions in the family, I believe they do.

It was these thoughts that occupied my mind and he woke up and we chatted, and he laughed everytime he recounted the silly things Minibean did, like how she wanted a Princess magazine (which she brought to me and asked me how to play Sudoku, how I explain to her man?!), a Polly Pocket car (I wanted Polly Pocket so much when I was younger but never owned one), and the bread and Kinder Joy while she was out, the liberation she had when Mummy is not around.

He paused and looked stressed whenever the topics broached my mum and his job, and a part of me selfishly want to bring them together through Minibean, yet a part of me can’t bear to do so with the stress I know she would bound to give us. And it was evident how at 3am earlier on, she had called and ranted irrationally with threats and whatnots again.

I know I had set out to mend the bridges with my mum this year, and sometimes it pulled off great results, only for her to become overbearing to destroy everything for everyone, and I am not sure how to go about it anymore.

Still, am not going to give up I supposed.

It is also harder to get into a conversation with dad these days with his hearing deteriorating, and he often replies something irrelevant cos he can’t really hear me right, and I find myself having to raise my voice to get it across to him, which sometimes is a challenge for him to understand me cos whenever I had to raise my voice, I find myself choked up a little cos I know this is age, and it will only get worse from here.

And maybe, it had already gotten a little worse each time, and I am afraid.

I am always afraid by morbid thoughts on life and the inevitable, but but I never thought aging to be this scary, and whenever he sounds so relented, so resigned, with a tinge of feeling not up to how he used to be, it is heartbreaking.

For a man so strong, and the support of everything for so long, his strength, his sturdiness, his independence and his sharp mind were what made him who he is, were what made him so authoritative, and I know he doesn’t want to slip into just another old man who will just get blunter, and feeling a sense of uselessness, with his self confidence eroded away by age.

I can’t say I know how it is, but I believe that’s how he feels. Like sometimes how I feel I used to be say, a certain level of “good” in something, and then no matter how much I try, how much I try to break out and go another level, I realise I can no longer get out of that bottle neck, and then because you have been to “good”, you know it is attainable, just that somehow, you can’t get it back again, and you feel so helpless, and useless…

It is because you had it, experienced it and owned it before, thus the loss is greater. Like say, pre-pregnancy waist with no loose skin (just to make the topic less heavy!), or the way you could fearlessly love the world, or the unadulterated happiness and optimism. You are comparing to no one but yourself.

It is just disappointing in its little ways, on your own terms.

I told myself I wanna have one of those precious talks with my dad. Recently, the few times I could sit down with him, we had one of those most interesting talks that I actually found out about him, his past.

Many times I drafted up blog posts in my dad to want to capture his stories, but everytime, the backlog just ate away all those.

One of the motivations for me to pick up my DSLR again and hone those skills.

I must do it someday. Maybe I should get a voice recorder.

I think about my parents aging and I want to cry.

So I tossed around in bed till it was almost 10am after I brought Minibean into the room, and heard the lonely door closed behind my as he went about his routines, like any other day.

Side note: Just heard his alarm clock went off in the next room as I am tying up this post at 5am, as he has to make a trip to Malacca to run his errand. I remember few years ago he tried retiring, and he told me he changed his mind cos his friend stopped working and became disconnected from the world, and then died shortly after and became too lonely. That was before Minibean came along. He told me he was going to retire next year, but changed his mind again, because he said the restlessness would be hard to bear.

He is someone I really, really respect.

God, do watch over him, his health and his safety as he travels. Make him strong and have a long, long life so he can watch Minibean grow up into a fine lady.

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Archive for the ‘Life’s Fillers’ Category

Beware of the bar stool

Acro Ballroom Aerialists

Her homework = my homework

And Minibean starts kindergarten..

Racing towards 2011

Chilly Cosy Christmas

Minibean to walk down the aisle

Weekend takeaway

Eighteenth to Twenty-second

My Saturday Hero

Scarlett Ting

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