New year's resolutions

11 more days to go to year 2013!!!

I've just jotted down my new year's resolutions in my Doraemon notebook. Hehe.. It's more like short term SMART goals that I plan for the first half year. The 2nd half year seems to be slight far from now, so I won't think about it first.

There are some serious stuffs in the list 'cos according to my horoscope, few are saying that next year will be a great year to build my foundation for a better career. But they're also saying that my health star luck won't be so good. So I really need a lot of determination and full strength to carry on. Can I do it?? Let's see ba!! Usually I'd think, if others can do it, so do I! :D

Saving money is one of the continuous goal as I won't know when I'll need it, especially with my condition like this. And it's kind of weird as there would always be a period when I will need to spend lots of money at one shot. All kind of problems will just appear like that. This morning, I just broke my umbrella. Kekeke.... Usually it worked just fine whenever I need to use. And see dentist will be the biggest headache for the moment. Haiz..... It's not the first time and won't be the last one. Too many problems that I have. Hahahaha....

Maintain my weight is one of the resolutions. It always reminds me of the three new pants that I just bought. I bought it with current size that I am having now, so no way of gaining weight allowed!!

I will need a little short break. Still don't know where and when to go, but I'll plan for one, to go with my loved ones.

Well, see how much can I fulfill... Hehehe... Have you made one for yourself?? Think about it!

Blur like sotong

How was your weekend everyone? Mine was nothing unusual, except that I was so blurred like sotong – Urban dictionary: dumb like squid...used with "blur" which is a mental state somewhere between spacey, oblivious, and retarded ;D I was so blurred and didn’t realize what date was it on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, I went to dentist for checking up my teeth and also for washing. The doctor pressed me to do X-Ray and one small X-Ray costs me S$30. After that, she showed me the X-Ray result and she said, there were 2 teeth that I need to repair and each would cost S$900. If I go to the dentist nearby my area (newly opened and obviously this doctor works there) in the morning, she will give me 20% discount. If I go during weekend, the most she can give is only 5% discount. Wow! S$900 per tooth or $1,800 for two. Even after 20% discount (and 2 times half day leave), it will still cost me S$1,440. That’s the price I have to pay if I want to make my teeth beautiful and safer…… Haiz… maybe the doctor thought that I am one of those MPs who earn so much per month ah?

I was distracted with it and made me thinking of the AWS that will be received soon. AWS stands for Annual Wage Supplement (AWS), usually paid in December, also said as 13th month salary, given to full-time employee who is still working with a company as at 31st December 2012. The amount is equal to one month salary and usually I’d reserve this amount to pay the yearly insurance for my son. My mind was battling – should I spend it for my teeth or for my son’s insurance? Well, I know the answer though, definitely for my son’s insurance. Hahaha… But that thought just kept dangling in my mind.

We went to Hougang Mall after that. My son went to library to return the books, then we walked to other shops including Popular bookshop. I was thinking whether to buy books or not and I remembered of having $5 voucher from the last time Popular Book Fair in Expo. I was so stubborn not to take out the voucher from my wallet as I thought it wouldn’t expire so fast. At night, 10 pm, I was rearranging my wallet. I took out the Popular voucher and it’s written that the voucher was valid until 16th December. I was like… “Ahhhhh…. Today is 16th!! Why didn’t I take out the voucher just now and use it right away?????” It’s only $5 lah, but if we can save, why not right??? I was so regretting myself not taking out the voucher just now… So I threw the voucher away into my dustbin.

On Sunday, I woke up at 10am, but lazing around until almost 12 pm. It was cloudy outside. I started out my day cleaning my house: sweeping the floor, mopping it, washing two toilets, like the usual housewife, and then taking a bath. It was 2.30 pm. My son was hungry. I reheated the last night fried rice for him and cooked porridge for myself. I also stir-fried the bean sprout with chili, garlic, and carrot, trying to eat healthy hahaha…. Once done, I had my late lunch at 3pm. My chore didn’t stop there. I continued hanging the laundry, while I asked my son to fold the dried one. Then I was ironing clothes for an hour plus. Soooo tiring……. At 5.15pm it was finally over. I went into my son’s room, using computer for a while, then hubby came back home. He was asking us out for dinner at Compass Point.

So we all went out to Compass Point for dinner. After dinner, I walked alone shopping for Christmas presents while two of them walking themselves then went back home. I visited Popular bookshop again. I saw there was a board written 2nd book at 50% discount and it showed their magazine that the offer valid until 16 December. I was thinking, since the offer had over yesterday, why they still put the notice there? Weird… and also, how come there were still so many people there when the offer had ended?? In the end I didn’t buy anything there and went to other shops to find my Christmas presents and went back home at 9 pm plus.

This morning, I turned on my hand phone. I saw the date, 17th December 2012. Walaooooo…. I just realized that yesterday was 16th!!! And actually I still could use the voucher yesterday!! Hahaha…. I was so blurred lah!!! After shocked with the dentist high price offered and doing too much chores, I couldn’t even notice what date was on Saturday and Sunday. I was given the opportunity twice to use the voucher but I missed it! Hahaha… ya, maybe it’s not a fate yet to buy the book. Oooh.. I remember now why I was so mixed up with the date!! My son said the due date of his library book was on the 16th. And he returned the book on Saturday, so I was thinking that it was 16th December on Saturday. Alamak!!! Baobei lah… made ur Mom so blurred like sotong!!!

Anyway, it’s not about the $5 that I regretted, but why I was so ignorant about the dates? Haiz… It’s 17 December now. 4 more days to what people believe to be end of the world, 8 more days to Christmas, and exactly 2 weeks to end of the year. How time flies. I have to think about a new year resolutions soon. It’s a new week again! Some people is busy with their work, some people is having holiday. Whoever it is, hope you all enjoy the rest days of the year. Live a more meaningful life and be happy!!!

Fate of the pair of shoes

Here I am! Sitting on a director chair, under the bright moonshines in my house's balcony. Sipping the 4th glass of Terrazas des Los Andes - Reserva Torrontes 2010 - a white wine from Argentina. This afternoon hubby said that his Boss - who works in wine companies - passed him a bottle of wine. My hubby doesn't drink and his Boss knows that I drink hehe... So he gave it to me as a Christmas present. Thank you Boss!! :D

I went out to Chinatown after work. It was just a 10-minutes walk from my office. I wanted to buy working shoes and happened that there was a sale in the dept store there, but too bad there was no size available for the shoes I want. So maybe I will look for other shops to find for the same shoes. My foot size is considered big in Asia and it's kinda hard for me to find a suitable pair of shoes. Really need a good karma to find one hahaha... It reminded me of my first day in Bhutan.

I was preparing my luggage, to ensure that I brought enough clothes, underwear, raincoat jacket, sweater, toiletries, etc. But I forgot one thing to check, which was the condition of my shoes. I thought I would only need to wear the sport shoes and bring a pair of slippers to be used inside the hotel, so I didn't bring my other sandal shoes. I put my sport shoes inside the store room since we moved house in February, and I forgot to check its condition. I bought it around 2 years ago. Since I seldom use it, I thought it was still in good condition. Who knows, at first day reaching Bhutan, I found something wrong with it! The glues didn't stick anymore. The sole was coming out from my right shoe. OMG!!! When we visited the Simtokha Dzong, I walked without the right side of the sole, felt so embarassing!! But not sure if anyone noticed haha... We had to remove shoes when entering the Dzong some more. Alamak!!!

The leather at the outside layer of the shoes had also coming out. Wah... I was so panic!! My days were still long to go and yet my shoes condition were so bad!!! Some more I only brought slipper and I found it impolite to wear it in Bhutan since we had to visit some Dzong, temples and other government building.

After visiting the Simtokha Dzong, we were brought to a place to have lunch. I looked around. It looked like city area in Thimphu. I told one of the tour participants to inform the guide that I'd come back later as I needed to buy something. I looked around again. The restaurant was just at the opposite of the Stadium near the standing Buddha statue. I crossed the road and again, another part of the sole broke haha... I saw the clothes shop. Then, next to it, there was a shoe shop. Wah, lucky!! Said myself! But when I entered in, to my horror, the types of shoes sold were all woman's style shoes (those with high heels.. More suitable for partying), otherwise, the sizes were all small....... Hiks..... :"(

After looking around the shop, I asked the shopkeeper right away, "Do you have shoes with a big size??". I told her my size. And as expected, she shook her head. I had tried one shoe, but its biggest size was 8, too small for me. Then I saw the only pair of sport shoes. It was written "Nike." No other sport shoes available inside the store. It's shoelace's color was so eye-catching, as if it was there for so long waiting for me to notice! It didn't seem like the original Nike shoes and it didn't look like a woman shoes either. However, as I put in my feet into the shoes, it was just fitting into it nicely. Wow!! It wasn't very comfortable though, but I really had no choice!!!

 
I asked her, how much was it? She said, three thousand Ngultrum (or USD$55). As it was my first day in Bhutan, I really had no idea how much the money worth over there. I asked for discount and she said, no discount. Alas!!! Perhaps she could read my mind that I had no choice but to buy that pair of shoes!!! Haiz.... If I was given a choice, I would never pick that pair of shoes... Really!!!!

First, I was not sure if it was man or woman shoes. Second, it was not very comfortable. And third, the color was too striking!!! But too bad, I really had no other choice and didn't even have a power to bargain!!!! Hahaha.... I looked at my shoes and told her, 'Okay, I'll take this...' And paid her three thousand Ngultrum and asked her if I could dump my shoes in the rubbish bin inside her shop. She said, "Sure!"

Well, transaction was made and I could happily walk back to the building where the restaurant was located. I took the lift without knowing in which floor the restaurant was... But I guessed it was on 3rd floor, 'cos otherwise people would take a staircase... Hmm... Right enough. I found the place and entered it in. When I took my food from the buffet counter, Tshering, our guide was asking me where did I go? He thought I went missing on my first day in Bhutan... Hahaha.. I was just smiling, "No la... I went out buying something...", and sat down with my parents, enjoying my lunch, in peace.....

I knew it's far too expensive for that pair of shoes, but given in the situation I had, I was lucky enough to find one in the hundreds available there :D At least I could continue the rest of my journey peacefully.... :) So, now you believe that even buying shoes need a fate for me???

12.12.12

Good morning!!!

It’s a special day today!!! 

 

My son has been waiting for this day to come. Why? Because today it’s his birthday!

Happy Birthday Dear Baobei….. Wish your life be blessed with lots of love, happiness and more importantly, good health!!! He’s 10 now. How time flies… I can still recall the day he was born…

It was 12 December 2002. I admitted to hospital the night before as I needed to prepare for the Caesar surgery. I had to do the surgery since my baby’s head position was on top (breech). My mom said, when I was born, I was also like that. But my mom didn’t go through surgery and I was still born healthily hehe…

Early that morning, my hubby, Mom and my 3^rd sister went to hospital to give me support and encouragement.  I was so relaxed and calm. In my mind, I was thinking, whatever will be, will be…. Just go for it!!! At 9 am, wearing the hospital clothes, I was lying on the wheel bed. They pushed my bed and located me in one room, waiting for my turn. After a while, I started entering the operating theater. Lucky I had to take off my contact lens. I didn’t have to see the room so clearly. In blurred vision, it looked more like a dream rather than reality hahaha… :P The doctor asked me what was my name and my IC number, just in case they operated the wrong person.. haha…  It was a lady doctor.

The assisting nurse asked me to do curling position. They were going to inject me with the epidural anesthesia. I could feel the needle go through my spine. After the injection spread, I was back into lying position. Slowly I could feel numb at lower part of my body. I was still conscious. They blocked my view with a cloth, but I knew there were group of people attending my operation.

The knife was cutting my lower abdomen part. She was cutting it in horizontal line. I could feel water coming out and she was doing something like searching and pulling inside my stomach.

While doctor was busy doing their job, I was also busy praying. I remembered during Dhamma session, the speaker said, when giving birth, do the praying, to welcome the newborn to the world. Same like when people die, we also do the praying to send them off to the other world. So I chanted all Paritta that I knew, started from Namaskara Gatha, Vandanna, Tisarana, Pancasila, etc. I didn’t bother if the other nurses or doctor heard that as well. I just wanted my son to hear it :) After a while, I heard a sound of baby crying… waaa… waaa…. The baby finally came out to the world. The nurse came near to me and showed me the baby. I saw him crying, naked, and still covered with blood stains. My tears came out when seeing him. I saw his tiny fingers moving. I thanked Buddha for everything that my baby finally came out safely, normal and healthily to this world, and also my operation was running smooth and successful.

The nurse cleaned my baby and the doctor stitched my skin back. They weight the baby, put down the timing of birth, and brought him somewhere. After I was done, they pushed me back to the other room. I felt cold afterwards and needed some blanket to cover my body. After a while, they pushed me back to my normal ward. Hubby was waiting outside. Upon seeing me, he was smiling and told me how brave I was and thanked me for the entire thing I’d done. He also said he had seen the baby just now.

I requested the nurse to bring the baby to me for the breastfeeding. After 2 hours, the nurse brought the baby to me. I told them I was first time doing so and might not know if I could do it well. The nurse then helped me with the process. But my baby learned very fast. He could suck the milk as fast as he found it. Hahaha….  I breastfed him for 2 months then he drank powder milk (due to me going back to work).

For the rest 3 nights, I stayed in hospital until my wound dried up. My son was sleeping with me night and day so that I could breastfeed him.  I felt so blessed seeing him. He was such a good baby. He grew up slowly… one month, three months, six months, one year… two years.. three years.. and continue on…

Still remembered his first day going to nursery… going to kindergarten… going to Primary school... going here and there with me… Hehehe… In such short 10 years, he has been through a lot of things.

Two days ago, I browsed to see his photo archives. He was not at home (staying overnight at my brother’s house). My hubby, mother-in-law, sister-in-law and I were sitting down and watching his photo collections in the computer screen. We were laughing and smiling when seeing that. Such a big transformation!!! From a little cute baby, little cute boy, and now, giant boy!!! Hahaha…. Enjoy the video below :)

Baobei, just wanna let you know.. Be who you are! We’ll always love you!! I love you Baobei…. Hope you are happy with your life, always!!! Muachhhh......
 

Cycling to Waterway

I take a leave today so that I can spend more time with him on his special day :) This morning, he woke me up at 7am. My brother's daughter stayed here last night and she has brought her bicycle to our house. And no choice, despite I slept very late last night, I pushed myself to wake up and open my eyes. I didn't want to disappoint the two children. We took out the other 2 bicycles and got ourselves ready for morning cycling. 

The weather was cool. The sun slowly rose to the sky. Nice!! :) We took breakfast on our way back home. At first we wanted to eat at Popeye and KFC, but they were not opened yet. So we stopped at one coffee shop and had our breakfast there.Hope you enjoy the rest of the day honey!!! :)

Ban Mian and Steamed Dumpling

Birthday Boy with the Birthday Cake :)

When wine meets with chocolate

Fendant & Chocolate du Swiss

Wow!! Today is my day :)

I met up with Shelly for lunch at next door shopping mall. She just came back from Europe with her husband for holiday. And guess what she bought for me?? She bought a small bottle of Swiss wine, Trador Fendant AOC du Valais!!! Waaa... I'm so missed to taste the Swiss wine!!! Used to drink it while having raclette or fondue for our lunch or dinner in Swiss. Finally she was so kind-hearted bought that back to me. Merci beaucoup mon amie Shelly!!! Je t'aime!!! She also gave a chocolate for my Baobei and Eiffel Tower keychain for me.

I was studying Hotel Management many years back in Switzerland. My school is located in the Swiss Alps in the Canton du Valais, in a small tiny village, called Bluche. I spent 2.5 years staying there and another year in Geneva to do my service (as a waitress in Chinese restaurant) and kitchen training (dessert maker in Swiss restaurant).

Still can recall back my first day arriving in Geneva. We were fetched and took a bus for about 3 hours going up to the mountain, and it was snowing. What a wonderful feeling!!!

So many beautiful memories that I had over there. See how a small bottle of wine can bring me back all those memories??? Fyi, Swiss wine is not exported outside. That's why I only can depend on people who fly there to bring the wine back for me and this is the first one I've received since 11 years.... Hahaha....

Hey Tashi, if you manage to go there, please bring one big bottle of Fendant for me ok? We'll have it back in Bhutan when I visit you guys! ;D

Shelly asked me, what's so special about the wine?? I told her, I just miss it very much... Haven't got any chance to visit Bluche back in 11 years. Well, I do hope visiting there this year when there is a reunion, but so far no news announced yet... So, for a moment, let me enjoy this wine first... Ya.. I'll enjoy it tomorrow, on a special day... Fendent and I.... And let my son enjoys his chocolate.... :)