Reflection on 2007

Today is the last day of the year.

I must say this year is one of the best years.

Family. All is well and in harmony.

Love Relationship is great. Tied the knot with Stevie this year and definitely less quarrels.

Career is fulfilling. Finally received opportunities and recognition this year. Sense of acheivement.

Money. Not a problem. Though last year and this year savings have decreased but far from money crisis. Well, bulk of the money went to travelling (one of my hobbies). Went to Genting with Jacq and Ah lai, Japan and Hong Kong with Janice, Taiwan with Jacq and Bali with Stevie. So, I guess is money well spent (Can't wait for the next trip). Due to money sense received from my parents since young (always save for rainy days), still manage to have some money left.

Health was ok. Occasional Flu. Guess due to the additional stress from work.

Overall, year 2007 is Great!! Hopes this continue for the next year and also the year after next and further. Just went to Temple to Thank Tai Sui this afternoon for the great year.

I love 2007!

Janice Princess (A Special Gift on Boxing day)

Finally, Janice has given birth to her little princess on 26 Dec 2007.

A special gift to herself on boxing day.

Little Nicole is healthy and bubbly when we visited her in the hospital.

She is petite and a strong gal like her mum. Only occassional cries when she is hungry or cold.

No more backahces, no more swollen foot, no more vomitting, no more dizzy spells and no more discomfort for Janice. Her nightmare is finally over and she can look forward to take care of her precious litte one. Best....we can all finally go have a huge sashimi spread.

Nicole is still too young. Her features are still not distinct yet, so can't really tell who she looks like. Have phobia of carrying small babies, they all look sooo fragile. Well, even though i don't get to carry her, but i'm sure the little princess will be very familier with me. How can she forget the voice that gossip to her mum day in and day out? Hahaha, my voice must be a lalaby to her by now. Can't wait till she gets older and able to talk (like Rachel daughter, Rae, getting prettier and smarter each day), then we can all go out together.

Hmmm... seems like a good year for kids. Everyone around me is having a baby.

Elaine have a baby gal this year.
Just went to Ying Ling baby gal 1 month shower as well today.
Janice just gave birth on boxing day
Janice's Sis and my sis is expecting their baby boy next feb.

My very first nephew, Zhi An...Zhi An.., aunty is waiting for you to give u your big Ang Bow.

Relax Week

It is the end of the year and time to clear all my leave.

The projects are finally over and can take sometime off before it starts again next year.

This week has been most relaxing. No client complains, chasers and the same old queries over and over again. No juggling between day-to-day work and project. No bargaining and negotiating between the teams, etc.

Finally some ME time!

Christmas time is definitely all about gifts.

Received the usual Chocolates (which i finished in no time) and sweet smelling products from Crabtree and Evelyn and Bodyshop.

Influenced by the Christmas Spirits, I just can't help but went on a small shopping spree and got myself some gifts as well:
1) a cute cardholder (to keep all the important contacts)
2) red Addidas shirt (red Stevie's favorite color)
3) a pair of silver ballerina pumps (finally!!)
4) satin dress (loved the material, feels so good on the skin)
5) Yazuku Moon book (which received many good book reviews)
6) Bra from Women Secret (took almost the whole week, cos i hate bras with sponge and it must definitely be machine-washable)
7) 2 bedsheets from Aussino
8) tailor-made a pink shirt
9) teddy bear from Build- a Bear (Love at first sight, most handsome bear i've seen)

And finally found time to use the gift vouchers received.

Went for a 3 hours massage and spa by The Retreat for rejuvenation. Sponsored by my Sister and her hubby for my ROM. Overall, the massage is too soft. I prefer a more resort or Bali setting (found them more soothing and relaxing) and prefer massage that emphasize on the pressure points. But at least the massage oil did clear my block nose (which is blocked for 5 days since i took my leave) and the staff are very friendly and attentive.

Also, went to for Asian Buffet at Ritz. Sponsored by my colleagues for my Birthday. The variety is extensive but we are definitely getting too old for buffets. Did a small sample on all the food presented and i'm too full to go for a second round on the food that i like. Used to be able to go for 3rd and fourth rounds. Stevie is worst....he didn't even manage to sample all the food.

Time to go spend more time with Stevie before he goes to Macau. Missed him already even though he is still here.

Dinner & Dance 2007

Went to 2 Dinner & Dance this year.

Overall, both were very fun but hard luck. Last year, more than half our table got the lucky draw prizes. And being one of the lucky ones, I won $200 dining vouchers. This year I thought the chances will increase as i attended 2 dinners instead of 1 (once with my ex-team for the IB dinner and another with my current team for the WM dinner). But such let-down, hoping to get the top prize as it is always a trip with some cash. Prayed really hard but i didn't even come close. Didn't even received a single prize.

But the good news is bonus will be good this year. Despite the US write-off, the management is still very positive. So Celebration!! It is drinks, drinks and more drinks. Cheers, cheers and more cheers around the table for big Big BIG Bonus!!! And phototaking with some weird shots (must be the drinks).

Good news, good food, big smiles and high-spirits all around. The team really needed that. Well, we deserve it. After all, we all have worked really hard this year with the surge in volumes. Hopefully, the high spirits continues on. Can't wait to hear the good news in Jan when the results for the bonus is out. Then more celebrations again!

Queue Number for HDB

Our queue number is out for HDB and as expected our queue number is way off the number of flats available.

Queue number 1109. With only 300++ flats available, the chances of getting the flat we want is very slim (probably our queue number hitting the 4D top prize has a higher chance).

I guess it is not a very bad news. At least i'm save from all administrative stuff that follows and we can look forward to house hunting again when Stevie comes back. Hopefully by then we have save enough money to buy a decent condominium and still be able to live luxuriously.

Stevie if you are looking at this. This is a BIG HINT to save some money!! Saving must not be in your dictionary. Money in your hands is like a water flowing out from a running tap.

Stevie just scared the hell out of me!! That silly man shouted suddenly just because Man U scores a point (match againt Everton). Just cannot understand him, he can be sooo emotionless at times and get so hype out over a match. When it comes to soccer, I must agree with his grandma. Just cannot understand why 22 grown-up men must go after 1 ball. His grandma even suggested to throw in another 21 balls. Well, I can enjoy a soccer match too, but it must be an exciting one to keep me interested. Otherwise, i definitely chose to do something else.

And now he is pissed off again cos Everton scores a point. Totally a cancer (unpredictable mood swings).

Stevie First Time in Macau

Well, this will be my 'virgin' post in my own blog, in fact, in any other blog too. Being an internet (computer and Blog) idiot, never really attempt to start my own blog until my wifey decided that we should have one (so that we can communicated thru the blog when i'm in Macau?!?!).

After hearing so much about Macau from my friends, colleagues and bosses, I'm quite worried about moving there for 2 years. Stories like gangsters, mobsters and pros everywhere down the streets makes me worried as a newbie in a new country. Comments like "there's NOTHING you can do there in macau, except for casinos and sauna and massages" often to be the most common 'advice'.....hmmm....... Nonetheless, this is once-a-lifetime opportunity for me in my early career path which i find it hard to resist, even my wifey is not coming along. The last time when we are in 2 different countries were when i just got enlisted in army and she is studying in Australia (1.5yrs) and when she finished her honors while I was still doing my grad (0.5yrs). It was not easy, especially during my national service, but we rode it thru the good and bad times ;). As much as i really want her to give up her job to come over, hmm, i think i will just let her 'suffer' for a few more years of working life before 'converting' her to be a taitai bah ... muahahahaha.

10 Dec 2007 is my first day in Macau. True enough, there's really nothing much to do there. But the security and pros is not as bad as mentioned. Walked the Chinatown, gambled in few casinos, went to a few tourist attractions and drank a few beers in a pub at Fisherman Wharf(Macau version of Boat Quay)....hmm..... not too bad. I am not anti-social, but i can be quite a loner who can do things all by myself, so it was not really too bad a situation for me living by myself in Macau for 2 years with no friends and pubs and drinking and mahjong kakis.

Almost forgot to mention... they gave me a junior suite for my hotel stay, and i must really say that it is damned big lah....

Actually, with the help of my bros and wifey, we've come up with a few entertainment to keep myself busy. First, cable TV and this will settle my Sat and Sun evening (EPL!!!! MAN U RULZZZZ!!!). Sat afternoon, gocery shopping and laundry. Sun afternoon, buy a console and engross in a good RPG game. Well, knowing myself well enough, i no need to plan for morning activities....muahahaha. Weekdays evening is easy-peassy.... might just pop in to any pub/club at Venetian for happy hour or a get-together session with my colleagues after work. Or msn my wifey using a webcam, which i just bought hehehe.

The initial trip to Macau was very fruitful as i brought a lot of tourist leaflet back and there are 3 activities that i will be spending time on.....karting (love it since young), rifle-range (exciting) (oso got piston) and golfing (still learning). So, actually, it will be quite easy to get by (bah?!).

That's all, wifey... reporting over hehe.

House Hunting begins again

Our house hunting begins again and this is already the 4th time we have applied.

The first 3 times we were no where near getting the house.

The first time we were so engross in house-searching we went to all the flats available. It was soo tiring but fun. The second time and third time we just waited for our queue number to be announced first. Each time when it is our turn there is no more house left at all.

Hopefully this time round we can get our dream house finally. Please please please give us a good queue number as this is our last chance as we were over the limit set by HDB.

We nearly could not get our HLE approved, but Stevie when to HDB for appeal.

Don't know how he do it. I highly suspect he must have sold his backside to the officer.

Well finger-crossed and hope for the best.

Conservative Parents - Staying Overnight

My parents have always been very conservative.

When I was in secondary school, from the conversation I had with my friends, I knew they were more conservative/traditional than other parents. Not allowing us to go out with friends that they don't know, must be home before dinner, cannot have boyfriends until you finish education, etc.

The most extreme measure my mum took was to track on the phone calls we had. If the call lasted more than 15 mins or if it is a guy that calls, my mum will be loitering outside our rooms trying to get a glimpse of our conversation or picking up the other line and hoping we do not realise (which we always do and we will have to ask her to put down). This can be hilarous at times as the topic of my parents can be the talk highlight with friends as most of them think my parents behaviour is "interesting".

I hadn't once thought that my parents behaviour is irritating maybe i am already accustomed to them poking their nose into everyone's business or because I do not have many secrets kept from my parents. Even though my parents discourage having relationship at young age, I still share with my mum about the crushes I had on guys in school.

To me the most unforgettable event is when Stevie came to our house for the first time. Poor Steve, as he is the first guy I brought home and also I haven't finish my education, the whole episode was quite intense. During the whole time he was in my house, my mum just glared at him without a word. My dad tried to be friendly and asked him the same questions over and over again. And Poor Stevie was like a statue the whole time not daring to move an inch. Well, it's not as if i didn't warn him but he insisted meeting the parents is very important and after resisting for 6 months I relented and agreed.

Well, as we grow older, the "rules" are unspoken but we knew very well the boundaries we had. One of the "rules" was that staying overnight is not allowed. I knew that after the Solemnisation this "rule" will still stand as my parents thinks that only after the traditional tea ceremony then we are considered married. Even after the somenisation my mum is still asking when are we getting married (which refers to the tea ceremony).

Well, last week was the first time i tried to push my luck. Stevie was staying over on Thursday and Friday and each time he announce to his mum that he will be staying over, I cannot help but notice a tint of disappointment on her face. So on Saturday night, I called my dad and told him i would be staying over at Steve instead. My dad immediately in the state of panic, asking for reason, persuading me to go home, etc. Once he knew he cannot convince me, he passed the phone to my mum thinking that he will be getting the support. Surprisingly, my mum just acknowledges and hang up without any question ask. I can just imagine my dad's desperate face.

From my dad's reaction, I knew that I cannot be doing this too often.

Bad Dreams Again

Love to daydream.....
But had a bad dream yet again.

What do dreams mean?

Why do people have dreams?

Do they reflect what we are worrying about sub-consciously or are they omens?

Well to be less superstitious and of course to make myself feel better, I chose to believe that dreams are the former. Rather, then I chose to believe, I should say experience indicates they are not omens as my nightmares never actually came true.

When I was younger, I dreamt that I was falling out of the bed, being chased by monster (watched too many scary movies), teeth falling out (had braces on at that time and I heard people with braces often had the same dream), failing my Additional Mathematics (which is totally impossible as I always top that for my class). Not one of the above came true.

Recently, have been having recurring dreams. Well, it could be a problem which I am not addressing and hence keeps coming back to haunt me?

Hopefully, this would be over soon.

Our Solemisation Cake

ROM Photo Album

Our Solemisation 19 October 2007

All because of a Cockroach!!

Since young cockroach has been one of my greatest fear.

Whenever, I see one I will always move silently and quickly away and rally a troop of army (consisting of my sister, brother, sometimes my maid and me) to dispose off the pest.

To concur the phobia, I have taken a good hard look at the pest and try to convince myself several times that there is nothing disgusting and frightening about it. There is actually no big weird eyes popping up looking at me, no hairy disgusting leg, no smell, no noise, and it does not bite, etc. So what is there to be afraid of?

All fails and till this age, I’m still the small girl I used to be whenever a cockroach appears.

On Wednesday night after our gals night out, i was hoping to get a good rest as my throat is already slightly sore. As usual, I quietly entered the house as it is already 1am. I was about to close the door when I saw the pest just behind the door. Quickly, I went in search of my weapons. Holdings 2 Baygon each in both hands, I went to my brother (playing computer games) to gather support.

Passing 1 of the Baygon to him, we aimed steadily at the pest. My brother gave the command and at the count of 3, both of us started to spray at the pest. The pest moved across the door and flew. Panic struck as the pest was not in sight and I am definitely not going to share room with it. The thought of it moving across my body while I sleep just sent shivers all over my body.

I keep asking “Where is it? Where is it?”

My brother gave the worst reply ever “ON YOU!!!”

I cannot stop screaming and was jumping up and down in the middle of the night.

My foolish brother didn’t even have the audacity to wait till the cockroach is off my body before he continues his attack. Hence, some of the spray went into my mouth. At this point, the commotion has awakened my mum. She stomped into the room and picked up the cockroach, broke it into half and threw it in the toilet bowl. All this while scolding my brother and I for making a din because of a cockroach.

The next day, I woke up and have the worst sore throat ever. Must be all the screaming and the Baygon (despite rinsing my mouth several times after the ordeal) that aggravated my sore throat.

Well, all this because of a cockroach.

Janice ~ You look Best when you Smile

Make a slide show, scrapbook or ecard

Stevie the Soccer Fan!!

Cooking Oils

GOOD COOKING OILS

Sunflower Seed Oil (246°C)
Sunflower seed oil is a light yellow color and has a mild flavor.
Health: 69% Omega-6 oils

Soybean Oil (241°C)
Soybean oil is inexpensive and has several healthy attributes including high levels of polyunsaturated (including omega-3 fatty acid) and monounsaturated fats and it is fairly low in saturated fat.

Corn Oil (236°C)
It has a light golden color and is almost tasteless and odorless so it is also a good choice for baking.
Health: 25% Omega-6 oils

Canola Oil (238°C)
It has the lowest level of saturated fat of any edible oil and has one of the highest levels of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat.

It also contains a high level of omega-3 fatty acids, which is a polyunsaturated fat that helps to decrease the risk of heart disease and lowers blood pressure.

Because it is mildly flavored and inexpensively priced, canola oil is an excellent choice for cooking or baking, or as an ingredient for salad dressings.

Health Benefit: 10% Omega-3 oils

Peanut Oil (231°C)
Refined peanut oil has a high smoke point so it is an excellent choice for sautéing and frying. It does not absorb or transfer flavors from food during the cooking process.

It is also high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which makes it a healthy oil to use for cooking or as a base for dressings.

Health: 22% Omega-6.

Note - some are sensitive to irritants in this oil.

Vegetable Oil
Vegetable oil usually consists of a highly refined blend of various oils such as soybean, corn, and sunflower or it may consist of only one type of oil.

The label may or may not list the types of oil contained within the blend, so the consumer will often never know exactly what they are purchasing.

Olive Oil
It is one of the most versatile oils for cooking and it enhances the taste of many foods. It is an excellent alternative to butter or margarine as a condiment or for use in food preparation.

• Extra-virgin olive oil (190°C) comes from the first pressing of the olives, contains no more than 0.8% acidity, and is judged to have a superior taste. There can be no refined oil in extra-virgin olive oil.
• Virgin olive oil (215°C) has an acidity less than 2%, and judged to have a good taste. There can be no refined oil in virgin olive oil.
• Pure olive oil. (225°C) Oils labeled as Pure olive oil or Olive oil are usually a blend of refined olive oil and one of the above two categories of virgin olive oil.
• Olive oil is a blend of virgin oil and refined oil, containing no more than 1.5% acidity. It commonly lacks a strong flavor.
• Olive-pomace oil is a blend of refined pomace olive oil and possibly some virgin oil. It is fit for consumption, but it may not be called olive oil. Olive-pomace oil is rarely found in a grocery store; it is often used for certain kinds of cooking in restaurants.
• Lampante oil is olive oil not used for consumption; lampante comes from olive oil's ancient use as fuel in oil-burning lamps. Lampante oil is mostly used in the industrial market.

Label wording
Olive oil vendors choose the wording on their labels very carefully.

• "Cold Pressed" Extra Virgin Olive Oil is generally considered the best grade of olive oil. As the name suggests, it is obtained without heating the pressed mass. Heating frees more of the oil but lowers the quality of the resulting oil. Cold Pressed Extra Virgin olive oil is best suited to specialist uses such as salad dressings. Olive oil has a low smoke point (200°F for fancy flavorful grades, and 400°F for the cheap refined grades) and so is not well suited for cooking at high temperatures. Blended oils containing olive oil are available and combine to make a higher smoke point.
• "First cold press" means that the oil in bottles with this label is the first oil that came from the first press of the olives. The word cold is important because if heat is used, the olive oil's chemistry is changed.
  "From hand-picked olives" may indicate that the oil is of better quality, since producers harvesting olives by mechanical methods are inclined to leave olives to over-ripen in order to increase yield.
  "100% Pure Olive Oil" is often the lowest quality available in a retail store: better grades would have "virgin" on the label.
• "Made from refined olive oils" suggests that the essence was captured, but in fact means that the taste and acidity were chemically produced.
• "Light olive oil" actually means refined olive oil, not a lower fat content.

In addition to the basic grades, olive oil differs from one country or region to another because of the types of olives that are grown, the environmental factors of the area, the harvesting methods, the time of the harvest, and the pressing techniques. These factors all contribute to the individual characteristics of the olive oil. Some of the characteristics found in olive oils produced in some of the major olive growing areas are:

Spain: golden-yellow, fruity, aromatic, almondy. This type of oil is ideal for salads, sauces and frying. This oil adds flavor to sautéed fish dishes.

• Italy: deep green, peppery, herbal, grassy. These oils are blended to stand up to ripe tomatoes, roasted vegetables, meat and chewy pasta dishes.
• Greece: green, strong, aromatic. This style of oil works well with stews, soups and steamed vegetables. Drizzle over soups and stews to enhance the flavor.
• France: pale, sweet, mild, light
• Portugal: golden, strong, fully ripe
• California: mild, light, fruity. This oil is good for frying and sautéing.

When used for cooking, the healthy aspects of olive oil do not change as the oil is heated.

Olive oil is good source of the antioxidant, vitamin E. It contains 1.6 mg. of vitamin E per tablespoon, which is 8% of the recommended daily allowance.

Health: 76% Omega-9, many heart benefits; countless studies extoll this

Non-hydrogenated Soft Margarine

BAD COOKING OIL

The following "bad" oils contain high percentage of trans fat or saturated fats. Some, such as coconut oil, even contain more saturated fats than animal products!

Vegetable Shortening, Hard margarine, Butter, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Coconut Oil