gnatweds

A note from a 21-year-old

2010-06-01T22:22:00.003+08:00

I discovered this in a stack of old notes. I wrote this in July 1997. And posted it to a political website which I believed would truely hear the cry for change and work things from within.
Ah. What a world of difference since then. And how strange, especially because I started YouthInk a little less than a decade later, having forgotten most of the fire and passion that youth can bring.

I laugh a little at the pomposity of the language, the warped logic and gaping holes in reasoning, but inside, I think my heart breaks a little to "watch" this young soul so impassioned and alive. And I fear I have become exactly what I hated so much in 1997. To keep this memory alive just a little longer, and to remind myself what could have been, am going to be rather maudlin and retype it. So bear with me here. If you're reading this, I must think you are rather special since this blog is so completely unknown and outdated :) I must have told you the address to it.

Well, it's a strange period in my life, where again, I have to re-examine what it means to be alive. A job that pays the bills (well), is perfectly respectable and yet ultimately, makes me feel completely empty is part of this. I am thankful for the job but you know what, it doesn't matter a whit whether I am there or not. I am not making the slightest difference. Perhaps I overthink and overestimate myself, and maybe I should be happy that i have something where the bills are paid, I get to go to Yoga, I have great colleagues and a great boss, but there is fundamentally something missing.

Yet I fear to let this security go. I know I need the $, for all the trappings of a middle class life, I am cash poor and very worried about the future.
I wish I knew the answers. And I hope one will come to me soon.

But let me give you the insight of a 21-year-old anyway. Actually, I think I would have been 20 going on 21. Ahhh. I feel old again now.

OF RIBBONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

A few months ago, NUS students created a stir of sorts when they opted not to use technical surveys to make their point. Instead, they bravely elected to wear little pieces of ruban noir, twisted into half mobious bands in a non-vocal yet visible protest against a realignment of the fee structure of tertiary education.

Yes, it was the Black Ribbon Protest (BRP).

Reaction was mixed. Some rapped the students for being "selfish"; painting them as self centred individuals who could not see the larger picture. Admonishing them with the well-known adage "put society before self". Many others dismissed the BRP as meaningless and attributed it to youthful folly. Even more predicted the quick end of such juvenile access. Indeed, this dire prediction was tellingly accurate. Barely two days later, The Straits Times ran an article about how the BRP was fizzling out. Apathy had replaced indignation; the symbol had run aground. It was a sad day as some undergraduates expressed a reluctance to wear that simple black band. A warped fear that some sort of reprisal would befall them if they openly "revolted".

In our reluctance to take on responsibility for decisions, our culture of compliance to the general norms, we may have become complacent. The government continually exhorts us to keep excelling in our competitive advantages, decrying the price of falling behind. But the very fact that we need such constant reminders is a penetrating insight into the apathetic and almost nonchalant attitudes that many of us possess with the actual mechanisms of the country. Ultimately, everyone wants to own property, vehicles and consumer goods, like everyone else. Of course, coffeeshop talk still runs amuck with vicious whisperings of various faults of the system, and the administration, or whatever you might please. And yet, for all the talk and bravado, there is no action. And no better plans.

Because you know, we really have nothing much to holler about. We don't talk of starvation, but whether we will be able to upgrade to a larger flat or condominium. We don't worry about the country erupting into flames of war but which category can our kids fall under in the Primary One registration. We have peace, stability, prosperity, efficiency; the very foundations of our country had been judiciously laid down and planned.
We of the latter generation stand to reap what they have sown and yet we clamour for more benefits, more tax rebates, more, more, more...

Our outstretched hand belies the hard work and cautious planning that has gotten us to this stage, we hardly think about our integrated society even as Northern Ireland tries yet once again to resolve decades of bloodbath between racially homogenous people separated by religion.

Forgive me if I sound a tad moralizing, believe me as I reread this article I am typing out at 2 am. It sounds as if I am on a moralistic high. It's just that sometimes the insane obsessions of our culture with grades, schools, upgrades,"kia-suism" (to use the vernacular) are frankly disturbing. However, I can hardly claim to be immune to this desires for prosperity and elitism myself. I want to drive a faster car (a Porsche Boxster would be nice) note from 2010 nat: i think i was part-time driving a then 19 year old 600 cc Subaru with holes in the floor which was the family car. it did not have hubcabs cos my dad sold them for some cash, but it ran a perfectly respectable 70 kmh top speed. It could however not get up the benjamin sheares bridge without completely depressing the pedal to the metal on 1st gear. hey we were poor but i had dreams!
I want to live in a bigger apartment. I succumb to mass mentality and irresponsibility too. But that does not exclude me from a difficult recognition - a social awareness and the responsibility that comes with it.

Perhaps in hindsight the BRP can be seen in a positive light. For a long time, nobody would have even bothered to try to send a signal. In a way, this may symbolize the awakening of our civic-minded potential. Instead of it being a manifestation of the egocentrism and indulgence of youth, the BRP perhaps signals the younger Singaporeans' needs for greater accountability, greater participation and ultimately, a greater role in the decision-making process. This is not unlike the vision that our Prime Minister spoke of when he contended for the development of a civil minded society in Singapore.

But I think we must get a few things right in the beginning. We need awareness and conciousness. Without them, we are bereft of a fighting chance to prove our mettle.

Post wakeboarding

2009-08-11T23:36:00.002+08:00

ow.

ow.

ow.

Am finding bits that I never thought could hurt again - eg, this spot on the inside of my waist. But thankfully my legs are alright, even if my butt is aching. Yep, the pains of growing old man

But finally was able to use the bindings I bought months ago! And ah well, our rarely used boards finally hit water again. It's all good I suppose?

Okay, promise will post pictures of the recent trips soon.

Entertainment for the night: Watch the vid below. Apparently he did not sing it; but whatever lah, he still looks cuter than the apparently original foursome who sang it.

Happy National Day I think

2009-08-10T23:18:00.003+08:00

Y'day was National Day. I had an event and so had to work. Dragged Gene along. He was distinctly unamused.

Next week, I am a duty manager at one of our show flats. So will be on duty from 3 pm to ... dum dum da duuummmm 11 pm.

And the week after, I am on course, which will go on from Thursday to Saturday evening. (expected to end around 5 pm)

Bah.

As my pal says, "Eh, I thought you stopped being a journalist cos you wanted your weekends back? This is worse than newsroom man. You on duty every weekend!"

Sigh.

But the nice bit about the national day weekend (even though we spent it here and not up north because there was an event) was the sleeping in every morning. Bliss.

And I finally went on the new-ish wakeboard, okay okay we haven't been doing the whole wakeboarding thing very often, with my new bindings, which arrived a few months ago! Let's just say I think I will ache big time tomorrow.

Blog soon.

Eh? Whaa? Huh?

2009-08-08T22:35:00.005+08:00

The bewildered faces say it all. We're currently in the midst of watching this Korean movie at G's parents place. It's called The host, and apparently won wide acclaim at Cannes and in Korea in 2006: all i can say is that all of us are going wtf? huh? at the plot.

We're also all coming up with wild suppositions at why the monster is doing the stuff that he is doing and reasons for the weird scenes that appear.

Eg: "eh why lidat"
"maybe it storing the bodies so can eat them when in a certain state what"
"No leh, it chomped the ones earlier fresh"
"I think got babies somewhere"

And...

"can't they shoot it from a distance?"
"No lah, its a shotgun"

Also

"wha, a backflip. The monster a bit show-offy hor?"

or

"who the fuck are those pple!!??"

and finally the one line that said it all - Wylyn in response to the many beer cans being opened during dialogues: "You reckon that this movie was made with some alcohol money?"

Hahhahahah

anyway, this is the coolest bit at the beginning.

The other bit that is annoying. kena saboed by journo friend and got crucified by bosses this am. Perspectives from the other side. but knnccb. i thought he was a friend.

Anyway. blog again tomorrow. Gotta work. Dragging Gene down too.

Omigawd, am I back?

2009-08-06T00:01:00.002+08:00

Ohhh kaaay. This is truely weird. This is familiar and yet not familiar. I cannot remember any html codes anymore and I have to use the compose page rather than the html page. Wow.

It's been like... what almost a year since I last blogged. Am sure there are no more readers here - but you know what? That's okay, cos I think it's time to get back to this. For me. Moi. My memories.

Gosh knows that my brain is deteriorating faster than blue cheese in a hot room. I can't remember stuff nowadays, I pause in mid sentence cos my brain just took a break and I have no idea what I was just saying. I reckon, this is actually a good way of getting my experiences down on a fairly stable medium (hey, its up in cyberspace and google crashing and losing everything is oh well, a lot less likely than say, me crashing my hard disk for instance.)

Speaking of which... my computer that served me so well in the USA is dying a slow and painful death. It takes 40 minutes to completely start up and do all the scans. It has about 1 MB of free space... you get the idea. It's almost like watching a dear pet die. It's like... sad, but inevitable cos so many memories are tied up to it - as inanimate as it is. Like sitting at the window, looking out into snow... that kind of thing.

Anyway; I reckon I should do a brief update since the last post eh?

1) Yes. I am still working as a PR manager. Am being thrown more curve balls now, gotta help with a retail project now. And its actually causing quite a lot of work and grief. Eg there will be an event this Sunday. National Day. And to think I left journalism to get free weekends and national holidays. Geez.

2) We bought a home. No, its not from my company. It's on the Singapore River. Should be nice. But Arrrgggghhhh we are SO in debt. arrrggghhhhh. I am too freaked to buy stuff anymore. Am feeling guilt everytime I buy something (er, that said, I capitualted after 4 months, I bought gerald durrell to re-read and fables - after an intro to the series from an ex)

Okay okay, I am already anticipating your questions.
a) We move in at the end of the year; after the current tenant leaves and we do a spot of renovations
b) We signed the deal in March, and it became legally ours on June 22 2009
c) Yes, we will have a spare bed, but call/email first so that we actually er make sure there's less of a mess.
d) Yes, am living with my in laws at the moment
e) Yes, I am excited but am also freaked out at dealing with Gene's mess again. You know, the walking tornado...

3) The hair has gone from wavy to really curly, bohemian to straight and corporate-y, and a bob (!) Yes, I am one of those women who take it out on their hair when they want a change

4) Since the Nam Hai last year, we have had a few holidays *big cheesy grin*. Including China (I know us, in China. Unbelievable!) where we saw the world's largest turd (ask us in person). But just two weeks ago, we took a week long driving thing in Malaysia! SO unglam right? But my gosh it was fun. The guys got it right with the Malaysia Truely Asia thing. So much great food, culture, art, shopping. Aiyoh. So much fun.
Of course it helped that we splurged and went fairly lux. Muahahhahah.

Gah. There is a bottle of cashews sitting on the desk - taunting me.

Basket.

I am not going to eat them. am Not. Nooooo.

Last night, caught the DVD of Gabriel

The chap's kinda cute (Andy Whitfield) but lookee what a google search brought me to. He'll be in this made for TV thing. Looks bloody violent, but strangely good...

Check it out

A Call/SMS please!

2008-10-31T15:19:00.003+08:00

May the death of a 1000 fleabites, horrible STDs and a stomachache befall the person who took my phone.

I am now bereft of ALL your contact numbers.

GARRRRRRRRRRRRH

So if you're reading this: please call or sms me so I get your numbers again!

SOOOO annoying. Not to mention friggin expensive

A badge of photos

2008-10-07T00:42:00.004+08:00

www.flickr.com

Latest holiday photos from Vietnam. Will blog abt it sometime. But you can see photos first.

US$700 billion and thanks, facebook. Really. Grrr.

2008-09-26T23:53:00.008+08:00

Save the Cheerleader. Save the World.

In this case: Save the collapsing financial institutions of Wall Street and er. *maybe* that will save the world.

The number being bounced around is amazing: US$700 billion to buy up all the bad debt. Say that with me. 7-0-0 B-i-l-l-i-o-n

It's taken about a week for some semblance of an agreement between the Republicans and Democrats to emerge. Unsurprisingly some politicians have been slow on their feet to agree to anything. This being an election year, the ordainary man on the street is likely to vote out any incumbant who appears to want to bail out the financial fat cats. Frankly this sounds mean but hands up, who actually feels sympathy for the banker who used to earn oscene amounts, ahd all the perks, lived the fast life, had the best bonuses (and lets not talk about severance pay). Sure this is a stereotype, but hey, a Lehmann banker - being in one of the big four back then - won't have been too far away from this ideal really.

Think that the bankers reveled in that image a wee bit too much. And now, the aura of invincibility and all-powerfulness has been stripped away, the grumbles from the hoi polloi have become a roar. Marie Antoinette anyone?
But again, does it surprise anyone that the sentiment backlash is so strong?

And of course, many voices including Bono's have waded into the drama.

"It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable treatable disease and hunger," the U2 lead singer told Clinton's fourth annual philanthropic summit in New York. "That's mad, that is mad."

Okay, the good news: $16 billion has been pledged by some rich chaps to help the poor during the time of crisis.

But what really worries me is how the heck is the US gonna actually afford the bill? I mean, this in addition to the two wars they are waging? (PS doncha think its ironic that the Americans are getting mired in the Afghan muck the same way that the Soviets got mired. The Soviets had to retreat after many painful years of learning that the locals had a way of fighting a guerilla way. Oh I also believe the US supplied the Afghans with arms... you'd know them as the Taliban today... back then as well)

It seems like a recipe for economic disaster. How and when will the balance of payments even out again? Such a huge deficit is so hard to understand. I really hope for everyone's sake that I am a really bad economist and everything will be good again.

Okay, waiting for one half of Gnatweds to call. yeah, my other half is at the f1 track! He also appeared in the papers last week (ewr, well, yeah, maybe I DID have something to do with that)they were interviewing pple who were working in the first ever Sg grand prix

Typically Kiasu Singapore has managed to get a whole bunch of consultants to man these fast intervention vehicles. ie they get there when someone crashes and they have to do whatever to keep him alive. How they managed to hoodwink so many doctors to volunteer so much of their time over so many days? I have no idea.

Oh, and yeah. About Facebook. The social phenomena that it is. It was bound to happen sometime. Some old photos of me have surfaced.
Groan.

One friend said: "You are the hope for all geeks in the world."
Another just laughed and said: "Omiiiigggaaaawwwwd".

I am trying to grin, but bah.

I love this!!!!!

2008-09-20T11:55:00.004+08:00

It kinda makes me wanna break into my own song:

I love the rainfall
I love the yoga stretch
I love the great white beaches
I love gin tonics while watching sunsets!
Boom di ah da boom di ah dah

An update at last

2008-09-08T23:08:00.002+08:00

At last. An update. Yes, I know this blog has been silent for a looooong time. Apart from the strange Prince Nuada pix there's nothing new.

Have gotten quite a number of sms-es, emails and facebook nudges reminding me. I know. I know.

Been tired. Been busy. Think of every lame excuse you can. Yeah.

Sorry gnatweds readers.

I have not really felt the need to blog recently. Well, more accurately, haven't felt the urge, inclination or inspiration.

But I'll try for a decent post on what has been happening since Dad passed away and I started new job.

I don't miss the newsroom. Not quite yet. But it is very challenging to try to get people to understand what the media is about.

Have been travelling a bit on the job, London twice, Jakarta and Bangkok once each in the fourth plus months since I've joined. Fun and whooaa? Not quite. Travelling for work, especially when you're not quite entitled to business class is REALLY no fun. Travelling for 14 hours to stay in London for 48 and then flying another 13 hours back REALLLY REALLLLLLY isn't fun at all. Jet lagged both ways and then you come back to helluva backlog of work.

I have also transformed a wee bit i think over the past few months. Wearing these suits and doing the whole corporate thing. I even wear eye makeup now and gasp... foundation. It's shocking. People who know me in my previous incarnation will know how I never actually wore makeup to work! Now I have sparkly eyes and curled eyelashes and a chignon all the time. Gene calls the sparkly eyeshadow pixie dust/fairy dust and he keeps wondering why this fairy/pixie can't grant him wishes... like a Ferrari 630. But as fun as it sounds, its not that much fun when you're expected to look like this. Been real busy cos the darned company has SOOOOOOOO many arms - property, retail malls, hotels, leasing, industrial etc etc.

Speaking of rides, now I drive Gene's very respectable Volvo (passed mom the Peugeot 307). He rolls his eyes at my parking skills BUT in my defence, it is HUGE and it doesn't have reverse parking sensors (Gene says they look ugly... the little sensor dots) AND i manage to drive it better into the lot than Gene ever did (he used to park with the car sticking a mile out of the lot cos he'd be too conservative backing in).

Driving into the CBD every day is costing an effing fortune. Nowadays I catch myself thinking about what times I can or cannot move through XX or YY or ZZ areas. Freaky.

Oh. Been catching up with people on FB. Amazing lah this FB thing. I have found my old RGPS mates (frankly, its been, what? 20 years since we have seen each other and we manage to get together thanks to that lil tech and social networking miracle) and think I have a secondary school one coming up as well. So if you're reading this and we're still not friends on FB, add me quick!

As a couple:
Well. We've moved back into Gene's parents' place. Out of the four bedrooms in this semi-d, we've taken over three. The attic's now the bedroom, we've converted Gene's old bedroom into a a walk-in closet and there's the study. We're like fungi, sapping off the nutrients of the parent plant. Bully for us right?
But we miss throwing parties a la 2005.
Saving up for a home eventually, but working for a property developer now, I can safely say it ain't gonna go down as far as you think unless some catastrophic crisis hits.

Speaking of which, watch out for new launches soon. Cryptic I know.

Anyway, me and Gene are rediscovering the balance in the relationship. We have realised who is the taitai in the family. Yep, you guessed right. It's Gene. He gets off work in time to go for swims and yoga classes. And he does get that wee bit grumpy cos I work till 8 or 9 pm.

We've been having loads of fun with the Lotus. He's bought it a new present - a nose ring. Er, yes, email him to find out what I mean. It really is a nose ring. And he spent a coupla hundred on it. There's a Lotus club that is quite active and its really hilarious hanging out with them.This Sunday, Gene will help open the new Kallang expressway tunnel, by giving rides to underprividleged kids with SR Nathan in attendance. So schweet hor? It's also an excuse for the petrol heads to gather lah. We've also taken a course up in Sepang learning how to make doughnuts. But embarrassingly, I dun have enough power to yank up the handbrake enough to make a nice turn.

Oh! i lost my iPod Nano and Gene got me a new one. La la! its gooood. The third gen Nano I mean. Oh and of course, looove you G for buying me new toy. Its got such a nice screen!

He really has been such a schweetheart (even if he sounds like a grumpy bear now cos he's caught a coronavirus and is snuffling). We've been hanging out often at Klee on portsdown road - we like the drinks (read v strong and yummy) very much. And recently we found White Rabbit in the Dempsey area. Drinks need a bit of help, but we think it will get there. Nice atmosphere though. Nothing beats a good Tze Char though or a Bak Kut Teh late at night - and we keep reminding ourselves how lucky we are. In Rochester, we wouldn't have gotten anything that late at night save MacD's!!!

He's also getting pretty darned good at Yoga. Ooo gasp of gasps... we've signed up for Tai Chi. Er, don't think we'll get very far, but at least we paid up for the course, which should give us some extra motivation... some... Not quite the same lah as yoga in the middle of town in chi chi studio. We have to go to Bedok early on sat morning and the teacher speaks mandarin almost exclusively. wha piaks.

Alright am pooped. Long day again tommorow. Gotta get a whole bunch of press releases that I have done translated into... RUSSIAN. How the heck am I gonna vet, I have no idea. Will cross the bridge when I come to it.

Okay aidos mi amigos

Till the next update (which u'll prob have to bug me for again)

Nat

hellboy2-prince nuada

2008-07-22T01:00:00.001+08:00

hellboy2-prince nuada, originally uploaded by kenmoo.

Squeaks.... expire...

My new fav man

2008-07-22T00:57:00.001+08:00

OMG HOT, originally uploaded by locopuff.

Gosh Luke Goss is hot. yup, that my friends is one half of Bros. Remember? his newest incarnation as prince nuada in hellboy... oh yummmmy.

Long weekend

2008-05-20T10:04:00.001+08:00

It struck me: I actually have my weekends back again, like every other normal proletariat worker.

No more guessing and second guessing whether I'd be put on duty (yaay), no more freaking out about the strength of my news pages on monday -- whomever was duty editing on Sunday, and if you're reading this, it was a real struggle to find Home Cover right? Cheap haircuts at a Bedok reservoir shop?? on H1? erh...okaayyy, but man

The weekend was suitably debauched: Friday night, it was yoga and then drinks at a very nice Klee on Portsdown road. Definitely loved the whole experience - bespoke cocktails etc.

Saturday: a tough yoga class, fab fried chicken at lucky plaza, shopping, and I - the bimbo that I am - went to get my hair blown out and styled. Very gratifying to receive the comments I did - but one DID go "You must be in PR".... errhhh. Then, there were drinks on Sat night - we were trying to relive our halycon days of youth - with classmates from a decade ago. Hence my current vocab = we were shouting insults over the phone at one of our mates who decided that he had to attend an auction instead - calling him a bourgeois sellout. hahahah

Sunday - simply too much pain to exercise. So the proletariat bourgeoisie that we are, we went hunting for cars - well, more like we went oogling at cars.Then dinner with mom - which was fab. Then, sat down for beer at Red Dot brewhouse at Dempsey. Well, the beer is nothing if not novel - there's a green one, they call... monster green. Not too expensive, so hummm.. will remain an option, provided one can get parking space there.

(can u tell there's a pattern already, drinks, eat, drinks, drinks...).

Then last night we had a meal to end all meals. Am still full from yesterday's crabs, sambal stingray, mantous etc etc. yes, F-A-T is a big bugbear now.

Okay, now, after my happy three days, its back to the grind. Blagh.

Kisses

Nat

Adjusting to a whole new life

2008-05-14T18:34:00.001+08:00

Alright. It's week 2 into my new job as a corporate communications manager, and man, I am sleepy.

Primarily because these days I am up around 7 am to dress up and put on the layers of make up so I can be on the road by 8 am.

Arriving at 8.30 am in the office, fully coiffed and in corporate mode is well, unusual for me to say the least.

Okay, before I go into the sordid details: Have you watched Iron Man?

If you haven't: do! do! Fallen in love with Robert Downy Jr all over again. Oops, sorry gene.

We always knew that he could act, and he was pretty good on screen - and he did buff up for the role as well.

Gwen P - sigh, not much I can say there. Wasn't horribly inspired, but then again, how does one hold up against the likes to Downey Jr. That said, Jeff Bridges, wasn;t too bad. A tad bit of overacting towards the end, but hey!

Watched that on Friday with Gene and Mom. Mom liked it but said the ending was a bit abrupt, I thought it was fine. Gene strangely didn't think the movie was so hot. But then again, he likes B-grades. Snigger.

Another part of the new life: we've moved back to Gene's parents' place. Sigh. It's strange not having your own place after years on our own, but his parents are being really nice about it.

Am feeling massive guilt about not spending enough time with mom though.

But its been kinda hard. Splitting myself in different directions; new home, new job, mom and all... its been a little bit tough. Sometimes I feel as if I'm going to split at the seams or die from the guilt.

Anyway, I gotta run, have to go help babysit someone at a cocktail affair. Ah the things we do for our jobs!

Ciao for now

Okay okay

2008-05-02T18:41:00.002+08:00

As the title oh so cleverly aludes to, we're okay.

Things have been real busy -a bit tooo busy actually. Been a whirlwind of packing, (we move out of our rented apartment tomorrow, part of the resurgent relive-in-with-parents generation because we refuse to pay anything more than $2,000 in rent, and these days, that gets you not very far at all)

It's back to Gene's parents' place. We've basically taken over three bedrooms. We're getting the attic, with the attached bath, his old bedroom is now a walk in wardrobe, or it will be after the wardrobe and the clothes get to his place, and his study... his going to be my study.
Dunno how or why his parents let us do this to them.

Mom's still a bit fragile. she's living day to day, in her own words: Am trying to encourage her to think beyond this year, what she wants to do in her later years.

I'm starting work on monday (realise that there were a lot of things I haven't done, including going to the dentist and hairdressers - my coiff's a mess). I'll have to be in a suit with full closed toe shoes. Yup, welcome to the corporate world.

And oh, okay okay, am succumbing to the nagging to post something up on the blog.

Yesterday, Gene turned 37! didn't organise a big ass thing - just some of his work mates for wine.
Must do a huge ass party like mad thing a la his infamous 33rd - er, you will know what I;m talking about if you were there. But getting old lah, no energy to go do this kind of thing liao.

Anyway, gotta run. More things to do...

Nat

When it rains, it pours.

2008-04-17T21:29:00.002+08:00

This is surreal.

Eugene's grandma passed away today.

She was 89. And she had been bedridden for a few years from a stroke, so in a way, it was a release from this world.

Actually she was rushed to NUH the day my dad died.

Gene's okay, think he's pretty sanguine, because like I mentioned before, it was a release and she went peacefully with family around her.

On our side, Mom's dealing with the grief. Pray for her. She's attending bible classes, think it will help.

Okay, just an update. And yes, we're like... "whaaat??" too.

The aftermath

2008-04-13T13:21:00.004+08:00

Today, we will scatter dad's ashes in the sea, to free him from this world.

It has been trying and absolutely exhausting.

But I think he would have been chuffed at the number of people who turned up at the wake.
He was surrounded by the flower garden of wreaths that appeared, and neighbours, army mates from way back, and people he had touched through the years all came.

Think the one moment that got me was when his army mate snapped a smart salute to him at the crematorium. That really really meant a lot.

Thanks everyone who sent condolences. It will take time, but I really think that the message from him would be "smile!". And we have to live our lives still.

And as morbid as it may seem, at least now Gene and I know what to do for each other when we go... heh

Nat

In Loving Memory

2008-04-08T16:31:00.006+08:00

George Soh Yew Bin
Jul 3, 1935 - Apr 8, 2008

My father passed away this morning.

He was an officer, a gentleman, a husband and one heck of a gregarious character who had stories aplenty to tell us all.
For some of us, his tales of training at Sandhurst, then plowing through the Malayan jungles during the Konfrontasi, then building up the SAF were nothing short of the extraordinary.
He will be remembered for his sense of humour, his wonderful empathy for his pets and his amazing ability to make everyone feel at ease.

But for me, my father was the sweetie, who asked for "que sera sera" at my wedding, because we used to sing it together when I was a little girl. Who cried as he gave me away and who was always concerned about how his children and granchildren did in life.

Daddy, I miss you already.

Diary of a traveller in Japan

2008-04-04T16:27:00.000+08:00

This post is several days late - mainly because I couldn't figure out the Japanese signs enough to get on the Net on the first night, and the second night we (meaning me and my friend Eri) were in a traditional Ryokan in the Japanese country (read, what Internet?)

Anyway, it was a painful start when I left on Wed morning to catch the Northwest flight - dragged self out of bed at 3.15 am, caught a cab, completely shocked at the taxi bill by the time I got to T1. And face... lines and lines of security checks. Damned. American carrier + missing JI leader who threatened to blas Changi Airport off the face of this earth = stupid questions by security staff way too early in the morning.

Sheesh and NW leaves so early that its travellers don't even get to enjoy the legendary shopping of Changi cos everything was closed! Save for the bookshop.

Gee

Anyway. the flight was fine, caught snippets of flims while flitting in and out of sleep. Sporadic moments of lucidity - wonderfully - coincided with the meal services. Hit Tokyo early, but clearing the immigration was a nightmare.

Eri-Chan was waiting for me as i got out of the gate. Such a sweetheart she is, considering that it costs over 70 bucks for a return trip to the Airport!

The first thing I noticed getting out of the airport area? Cherry blossoms galore! Yup, I have hit cherry blossom season straight on. PS: The Japanese are nuts about the season. Whole segments on the news at night is devoted to whether the day after should be a good time to go admire the sakura. PS, while Cherry Blossoms in full bloom are nice - but the Japanese think that when the petals start falling is the bee's knees when it comes to admiring the trees. PS: individual blooms are actually white, but together they form that delicate pale pink that we associate the blossoms with.

Within the first three hours of hitting Tokyo, I was admiring the sakura at Ueno Park, munching on REAL takoyaki balls - not quite the stuff they have in Takashimaya heh, and some delicious soupy thing they call Oden. Then it was off to a traditional japanese tea house for cloudy sake, but it is VERY sweet. Weird, never tasted anything like it

Met Eri's parents on the first night - man, her mom outdid herself with dinner - it was brilliant. Her parents are absolutely fun and hilarious. Eri's dad would fit right in in America with his liberal views, and he's quite the comic actor. despite not being able to speak a single word of english, and me not able to manage anything in Japanese - they were wonderfully entertaining and lots of fun.

Yesterday, we went to Hakone, and indulged in hot baths. Now I know the proper etiquette its not quite as intimidating, but maaaan, they sit in the hot water for AGES.

Anyway, the traditional dinners are huge - and the breakfasts too! It was quite an eye opener. And of course, all done super traditional style. And you eat in your own room, not in some cavernous dining hall. Which makes it all very intimate and nice, i can see why... ahem... the train to Hakone (the area) is called... Romance Car. I'm not joking.

Did a couple of touristy things too like get on a pirate ship right out of Pirates of the Caribbean in the nearby Ahi lake. Hahahha. Visited a shinto shrine and all. It definitely makes a difference having a native Japanese speaker around I tell you...

Alright enough with the Japanese update. Off to do some real work online - getting quotes from movers as I gotta move out soon.

Nat

It did happen afterall

2008-04-01T00:20:00.002+08:00

So I was out of the office and on my merry way when I get several frantic calls.

My lovely colleagues Judith and Ai-Lien HAD bought tea afterall.

So had to turn back, and had the tea rigamarole as well. *laughs* ah well, after all my grumpiness that it shouldn't happen etc etc

It was very nice, and very sweet. Stayed for another hour or so, then there was another goodbye do later in the evening.

Man, I will miss the people in there soooo much. Remember when you next read The Straits Times, there are many people in there who are doing their best to give you the best they can, under whatever constraints they may face - like unco-operative newsmakers.

And they are very decent people too. :)

12.20 pm on my last day at SPH

2008-03-31T12:29:00.001+08:00

There's an incredible sense of anxiety - to get away, and early.

I want to slink off today, quietly, and leave this all behind me.

Nevermind about the flashy tea or snacks. I was contemplating it, but think I would like to simply go.

Then, I'll go do yoga! *hehe* it's all planned.

Strange, thought I might have felt more at the moment of departure, but no, I am just anticipating an incredible release and relief.

I think that once I decided that this was not for me anymore, any enthusiasm I had for the job simply died, and without interest or passion, this becomes a real pain.

Hopefully wherever I end up, I will re-experience that drive and ambition to do well.

I don't think I sparkled as a reporter - never did make it as one of those instantly recognizable names, never did play that game, but instead, I was always the one valued because I got the job done, and done well. They did reward me, and they did give me the chance to start stuff that is still in the papers, like YouthInk and all, but hah, in the bigger scheme of things, its so.... minor!

Gosh, you'd have reckoned that i'd achieve more by now! nevermind! Up and on, and to better things.

What exactly, I still wonder, but I hope it all turns out well.

On the family front, Dad got discharged, but he'll have to continue the dialysis.

He's being such a grump that he's chasing away the very people who'd come to see him and offer comfort.

He now wants a wheelchair. Told mom to go ahead, I'll take up the cost.

A very uncharitable part of me wonders cynically if they realise that the regular HDB hawker centre is not going to be disabled-friendly.

Nor is the estate they live in wheelchair friendly too.

Strangely, in contrast, my grandad refused to touch the wheelchair when he was alive.

Despite the weakness from a stroke or two, he absolutely hated the idea and preferred his walking cane, or the domestic helper as a crutch.

Suspect he saw it as the ultimate symbol of old age and weakness.

I am absolutely praying that the domestic helper comes in soon. Supposed to be some time this week. It will relieve some of the strain from my mother.

And yes, I also acknowledge that I am not - either by choice or circumstance - able to relieve any of her burden.

So here are some lessons for old age.

1) If you spend 20 years of your life doing no exercise, smoking, drinking and sedentary, do not expect to get away with it.

2) Get health checks. And often. Even if it may seem like you've become hypochrondriac.

3) If and when you do get sick and your body starts to fail, try to participate in your healing/treatment process by understanding what is going on.

4) And try not to chase the people who care for you away.

What a gloomy post. Bah.

Nat

Internal and external memory

2008-03-21T15:48:00.007+08:00

Whoooaa. Hello everyone.

Apologies for the blogging silence - despite all my promises to do otherwise.

The last weekend and week has been an absolute blast. It started with a wonderful session on Fri the 12th when we went to see this amazing chap Vusi Mahlasela.

We first got to know about him through the intense and powerful movie Amandla! which chronicles how music helped put the revolution against Apartheid on its track. He is one of the key figures and despite having been imprisoned and tortured by the authorities in those dark days, he has embraced the message of forgiveness. There is very little bitterness in him, which is amazing considering his experiences.

And that sense of forgiveness was very palpable when we went to South Africa in late 2005. The vacuum left by apartheid could have so easily been filled with hate, vengence and spite. But the South Africans have gone the other path - as Vusi said during the gig, the forgiveness only helps one heal. And that is a powerful thought. Not to demand recompense, or view life as a zero sum game - he wins, I lose, but there's a bigger picture to healing one own's life by letting go of these aggravations.

New age-y i know. But truely, the ability to let go and view life more holistically is something I am learning and I suspect getting better at. And I like the concept of releasing all the crap and venom that has been pent up inside. Hey, maybe the whole Yoga thing is working?!

Just in case you haven't made the link, this bit is all about the internal memory I referred to in the title of this post! Hehhehe.

By the way, Vusi's new Guiding Star album is WONDERFUL. Go get/listen etc and er well, if you're able to catch a Paul Simon concert in Brooklyn, he'll be performing too.

Except... the two pints of Guinness I had before the (was training up for Sunday's St Patrick's bash here) gig almost knocked me out.

But the training helped! Sporting green outfits, we went drinking! We got hats and stuff.
And thankfully, there was none of that awful green beer like last year's experience, but there were pints and pints and pints of Guinness! Twas goooood.

After much lubrication, I went home to dine with my family - and devoured buah keluak. Hahhaha, it was a great great day.

By the way, think we're finally rubbing off on Eugene. He's finally developed some Peranakan tastebuds and acquired a taste for those dark nuts. He's also attempted to re-embrace his Straits Chinese heritage by insisting he is a Baba and hence is exempt from housework. *grr* It doesn't work that way dude.

Anyhow, the week passed by fairly ok, sneaked in a couple of yoga sessions and my physio has given me a clean(er) bill of health... as those numb-hand episodes aren't happening anymore. I still have that darned slipped disc but the symptoms and weakness and pain seem to be disappearing, so it's brilliant.

Then, I got news that I can actually leave the company early - which means an entire month, at least, of a break. Think am going diving with Ai-lien, followed by Vietnam with Gene, where hopefully we can meet Tarn How and l.c., the question is if I should go to Japan in early April then.

Thing is, a good friend of mine (we met in Club Med about 5 years ago) is in town looking for a job. Eri's here till end of the month, and then she'll go back to Japan before permanently relocating here, so maybe ... just maybe... I can squeeze in a few days in Tokyo with her.

Dad's more amenable to the whole dialysis thing. Mom will get some domestic help (me and dennis are sharing the cost - arghk, reminds me that I have to get some cash over for all the deposits etc).

So its been a great week. (save for the fact that am awfully hung over from partying till the wee hours of the morning with her yesterday)

The only issue is that I am getting f-a-t. Wonder weight of 46 kg is loooong gone. Think am back up to 49 - 50 kgs. Gark.

And oh, Eugene's external memory (aka his PDA) reminded him this morning: He proposed four years ago today. in a private villa in Bali, And he came bearing flowers ... awww... so schweeet right?

Several things however are looming up: and if you pray, please help - that Dad will keep up the momentum and go for treatment; that mom keeps up her strength and spirit looking after papa; that I will make a wise and appropriate decision when it comes to my next job; and that we make a good and wise decision about (and be able to find) our next apartment.

Hugs to everyone
Nat

tai tai??

2008-03-06T23:08:00.000+08:00

Hahahahhah. The first posted reply to the big update "bloggone it" was a good friend asking me if I was going to be a Tai Tai.

Sniggers

Not that I haven't nursed the new ambition - Yoga Tai Tai in Singapore - siiighhh (as opposed to Tai Tai in Rochester, MN, where mind you I suspect the better term would have been "gym-rat housewife")
but
a) Gene'd prob flip out
b) I need money lah
c) Some of the new job prospects sound pretty fun
d) Gene'll flip out

Heh

But yes, it's an amazingly liberating experience to quit. Taking things slow and exploring options.

Am glad for this transition personally, but work - well yeah "work" - IS driving me bonkers!!!!

Bloggone it!

2008-03-06T21:03:00.001+08:00

Was reminded through email yesterday that this blog seems to have gone to the happy blogging hunting grounds.

Alright, I admit, I have been ridiculously lazy, awfully unmotivated and completely uninterested in writing in general.

Hahahah, yeah, you can imagine what I'm like at work if I'm like this with the blog

Things have moved dramatically since the last post.

First up: dad's not doing so good. He's heart's not getting any better, and we've had a few scares with his legs bloating up and turning tender. He's also been told that he has to go for dialysis, yep, its pretty much end stage renal failure when you have to go for dialysis. He's pretty much on the path to multiple organ failure. It really is now a matter of time. I don't know why it hasn't really hit the rest of the family, but it's a very very dodgy situation.

SGH is supposed to be arranging the whole vein operations etc so that he can get permanent tubes in his arms, but because it was taking such a long while, he and mum have turned to alternative therapies - some qi gong thing - and now he doesn't want to go for dialysis. Frankly, it is up to him but sigh. This is a tough sitch.

Then: i have quit SPH! yeah serving out notice. last day in april and then am off to explore the big wide world - ie i dunno what i'm gonna do yet

its sheer torture right now though - am totally switched off.

What else.... hummm...

several interesting things
- had a weird period where my leg went numb - it was apparently cos I had a really bad flu through CNY
- we went to watch Chingay: tickets to padang seats - it was weird. There was a skit involving people dressed as mediaval soldiers storming a castle. Totally... huh...
good bits were the fireworks and the chinese firecrackers - 1st time I saw those too.
- we also caught the ultra campy dim sum dollies. Bought tixes for mom and dad and am glad to report they liked it very much.

Highlights of the year so far
- Forrest - this amazing restaurant in Orchidville, Mandai and their milk crabs, Whaaa
- Yoga! fua, we've been going quite a bit. Strangely addictive. But my shoulders are now totally sore.

alright... that's the update. But big one though. Grins

Sigh

2008-01-03T23:58:00.000+08:00

Talk about things happening in a bunch

So dad couldn't get his stent done today. Despite them actually taking his bloods about a week ago, only yesterday did someone bother to look and ta-dah, his kidneys have been affected by the heart meds. Jeezuz.
So he was admitted in a hurry yesterday. And he was v grumpy when I went to spend time with him - and no wonder, instead of taking one step forward, its like a step back. He's been asking why no one saw the test results before that... humm wonder if there's a case for litigation here. Anyway, he's in for 10001 scans and tests. Hope he gets better soon, and the kidneys aren't damaged permanently.
The stent has to be postponed until they can sort this out.

THEN!
My dad's older bro, has been in ICU for 10 days!
He had fallen after coming back from my cousin's place on Christmas or Christmas Eve.

Sigh, that side of the family decided not to say anything for the longest time to us cos they were worried about dad. My point is that if you don't tell him then, if something *touch wood* should happen to uncle, man - now that's when he'd prob keel over from anger.

Uncle Henry looks like he's a lil bit out of it. He's got tubes sticking in and out etc etc so of course the family's all like.... whoa... on edge.

Arghk.

Watta start to the new year.

And Gene is getting sicker.

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T22:32:00.000+08:00

Wow, finally 2007 is over and done with... but my husband, and several good friends are down with the flu!
The poor man is so sick but he still thinks he wants to go to work tomorrow. *sigh*
Had a hard time trying to tuck him into bed just now. Stubborn as a mule that one.

But am hoping that I can fend off the germs from everyone till Thurs! Cos that's when dad goes for his heart stent, some risk there cos his artery is angled some fangled way. (ooo, that rhymed)

Last night, on the eve, we were on the rooftop of the Esplanade building - had an invite to the private party, we drove in early, so we got in before all the roads closed down.
We took the MRT, met some of G's mates for drinks, then we took the MRT back. Man, the crowds who were there to catch the fireworks was insane!!!!!

But on the rooftop, it was nice and civil. The view was fantastic.
But think G drank a bit too much, and was feeling a wee bit off, even though he didn't let on that he was feeling weird till after we got home!

And as we left, we took the top of the lotus down - erh, that may have been a bad move in hindsight. The car was the centre of attraction for the hordes of people who were trying to leave the esplanade on foot!!! Aiyo, so many pple gawked and took photos and videos. Sooo pai seh.

Today, I made him sign up for yoga.... so we're both going to try that for the new year.
I am supposed to do it cos it is supposed to help in my healing for the slipped discs, says the physio. I guess it can't hurt. Expensive as heck, but sigh, it should do me some good.

Initially, Gene was like... "wwwhaaat? you want me to do yoga????"

We did a class when we were in Bali last month, and that was really good, so he was a wee bit more open to the idea. So it took a bit of prodding, but after we signed up, we did our very first class in the late afternoon!
Think he likes it... thankfully!

So that's yet another activity that we can do together.

am hoping for a better year ahead, with less health worries and more love and money!
Heh, yes, the bonus is definitely necessary this year. Feeling the pinch still from being away from work for 10 months.
It's so scary to think how much I need this salary.

*ulps*

And how things can go so so sooo wrong if i can't work for a length of time.

Okay, will try to set aside those negative thoughts for now, and focus on love and the good things now.

Kisses to everyone, from Nat and Gene

My fav photos and moments of 2007

2008-01-01T22:00:00.000+08:00

Please feel free to click on anyone of them which will bring you to my Flickr Set.

www.flickr.com

gnatweds' fAVS07 photoset

On the eve of 2008

2007-12-30T23:04:00.000+08:00

Man, I don't know whether I'm happy or sad that 2007 is almost over.
It's passed by so fast, it's awfully scary.
And there have been really awful things that have happened, but at the same time, there have been experiences that I have been profoundly grateful for and very contented about:

So for what it's worth; here's my round up of the year.

Gnat's bites of 2007

The best

- Gene is currently possibly the happiest consultant in NUH. Yep, he made consultant and he's got himself a new ride. Her name is Lotus "Snowy Elizabeth" Elise.
- Mom and Dad were baptised on Christmas Day. And they were on the front page of ST too (the wonders of having a daughter working in the paper... and the ignominy too)
- making it down a black diamond ski skope - albeit it was a mistake, cos we didn't check out the runs until we took the skilift, by then, it was TOO late and we HAD to get down.
- Hitting my wonder wight of 46 kgs (lightest since before JC!)
- Coming back to Singapore and of course enjoying the largesse of cheap hawker food.
- Coming back to Friends and Family, but having friends from Rochy come visit too!
- Coming back to my car!!!!
- Going hog wild shopping in my last few weeks in America
- Diving and seeing Mola Mola (!) in Bali
- Jaunting around Berlin and Germany

The worst

- Falling while snowboarding and limping around for a month. Plus the crutches were rubbing my underarms raw.
- The series of health scares for the family, Dad's heart condition was revealed and my darned slipped discs are still causing numbness in my left arm and leg
- Watching my bank account drain away while I wasn't working.
- Eating uncontrollably and watching my weight balloon back to original (crap!)
- The death of a good pal from JC. He was one of the five national sportsmen who drowned in Cambodia after their dragonboat flipped over. He was 31 years old.
- TS's cancer diagnosis - we're wishing you love and support, TS if you're reading this
- Coming back to 12 to 14 hour work days and finding out that I kinda suck at this job. Plus weekend and night duties. And a sucky pay.
- My massive acne outbreak, which is thankfully getting a bit better. The beautician figures its the moving from one place to another etc etc type of stress.
- Moving boxes and boxes of stuff from Rochester, MN home and finding out that thinsg have gone missing.
- Leaving the good pals we made in Rochester.

Ho ho ho... Merry Christmas

2007-12-14T18:43:00.000+08:00

See what I got for Christmas. Nope, no wine, no cookies, no food this year (and a couple of diaries) but someone sent me... a mini Christmas tree.
It even has a label saying its mine.
Stole some decorations from colleagues and tah dahhhhh...

How pathetic am I right?

Plus, the tree will prob die since I have abosolutely NO green fingers whatsoever. But for now, its cute!

The newsroom is insane right now with all the ads and bumper editions. Not thaaat fun with the added stress.
The bumper issues simply mean that its getting closer and closer to dec 25. But it also reminds me.... aaack, haven't done Christmas shopping for the moms and dads.

But we have decided to buy some gifts for some poor elderly folk with the Boy's Brigade Sharity Gift Box... It's actually very humbling when you realise that all they want is a pail, a mop and some washing liquid for Christmas. And these are 80 year olds...

Things like that kinda make you take stock.

So I have tried not to complain (too much) about our lives. And I actually will admit that I do enjoy my life and what I have.

I think many of us have to realise that we are far luckier and blessed than many others - yes, there's always someone ahead of you; but catching up really what you want to do? Cos hey, after you caught up, there's someone else ahead again.

So, anyway, just in case I don't manage to post again for the next few days. Merry Christmas everyone, and spare a thought for someone else this season ok?

Hugs,
Nat.

Incredibly bad electronic luck

2007-12-09T23:29:00.000+08:00

Okay, we've been having a spate of really bad luck with electronica. Well, to be specific, Gene's had a really bad spate where everything he touches breaks down - PDAs, Phones, Cars... he even pressed the lift button, and it stopped working.

It's kinda rubbed off on me, and my mobile phone bloody went on the blink. Had to wait hours at the service centre, only to be told that i'd have to wait hours again when I came back the next day to collect it. Geez.... but the upshot of it all is that my phone has lost all my numbers. Its back to factory settings. Sheesh. So if you read this and you wnat to send me your mobile number, mesg me k?

It also brought into focus how bloody dependent i am on the object. (which is why G is suffering loads right now - his PDA phone thing has been on the blink for 2 weeks)

Apart from that, with the combination of dad's diagnosis of a dodgy heart, work and sheer laziness, I haven't exercised for yonks and am getting fat. Seriously, have missed a month of kick boxzing and i suspect I may not go back.

Ah well... still continuing with the physiotherapy... so does that count? hurhur

Will prob need a liposuction soon.

The good bit is that dad's thing meant that family flew back from the world over, the bad thing is that the risk factors for surgery for him are waaaay high. We're still dealing with it.

The wonderful thing is that I probably will have his genes for uber high cholesterol. Heart attack here I come, and of course, as I get older, the mortality of life is finally beginning to sink in.

Ok ok, enough with the sad stuff
the good bits in the last few weeks:
Arlina and TS got married - told them that they need a new addition quickly so they can be AT&T.
Wy - one of my bestest friends from keryonks ago - is back for hols
Mark aka barts, another friend from years ago in Normanton Park, he taught this very un-cordinated person how to play tennis - er, i use "play" very loosely here since through no fault of his, I suck at the game. I refuse to run after balls... if anything they should be running after me right? right? Hahahha. Ok ok, corny.

Oops, back to work, post again soon

Life and Death

2007-11-27T02:06:00.000+08:00

It's a particular peculiarity of this job - we come face to face with human tragedy, often chasing it for that great read in the next day's papers. But ever so often, it's someone I know.

It happened before. I was a young reporter, doing an afternoon shift and I was called upon on a Sunday evening to caption some pictures that a freelancer had brought in. It was good pictures of an accident. The Beemer was wrapped around the tree, and although we never published that one picture, there was a shot where you could see the driver and you knew that he was in trouble. His face had swelled up, and well, he looked quite the mess.
So I nonchalantly called the SCDF and got the story down pat... and the next morning, Gene was receiving calls from all over. The driver was a good friend of his from med school - it pretty much shook me up.

And its happened again. Five young men on the Singapore team participating in a Dragon Boat race in Cambodia died after their boat capsized on Friday. One of them I knew from JC.

Then, over the last few days, the reporters were unable to claw up anything about one of the boys. And so, his Secondary School teacher started a blog about him. Guess what? I also know her from JC. Her husband is also from my JC and I think he knows the former victim well.

I guess its true that there are only so many degrees of separation in Singapore. But really...

Then, Dad on Thursday was diagnosed with heart failure. He had a mild heart attack apparently and had been hospitalised so that the docs could get a stent or something in.
But the news just keeps getting worse and worse: The procedure yesterday revealed that three vessels apparently, and I say apparently, because its too hard getting 2nd hand news from my parents, are fairly blocked and they want to do open heart surgery instead of stents.

To be fair, am sure my mom and dad are worried sick, but man, my temper exploded when they kept saying its "very serious" without talking to the consultant and understand the situation fully. Instead, they relied on... get this... the opinion of a friggin houseman who is a friend of my nephew's. Don't get me wrong, am sure the boy is brilliant and yes, open heart surgery is not something to just wave on by.
But I take umbrage at going on opinions when I haven't actually heard a good explanation of what his condition actually is, what the options are or what the risk/benefit analysis is.

gaaahk.

Can u tell I'm seriously annoyed here?

But at the same time, I am annoyed at myself because I yelled at my mom - who must be feeling the stress of all this. She's tired herself completely out from the last 5 days that dad's been in hospital and she is liable to get sick herself. Sigh.

So am annoyed and guilted out that I am annoyed. Geez.

I need a psychiatrist.

And man... realllllyyy need to go to my physiotherapist again man; my arm's gone numb again. Damned.

Nov 06

2007-11-06T16:54:00.001+08:00

We're officially two, and I'm well... well and good into my third decade.

What a difference a year or two makes.

Happy anniversary G.

Nov 6 2005

It is also... yes... my Birthday.

Yep, we did it all on the same day.
I guess this way my husband has no choice but to remember the date.
Thank you to everyone who sent me mesgs today. Truly I am surprised and touched that people remember and care enough. Thanks everyone.

Am really like... wow... okay, words are failing me... and considering my profession, that says a lot.

And this was last year in Rochester. From left, Rachel, Tow Shung and me - three of us all share the same birthday. Yup, Nov 6.
What are the chances that a small group of expat Singaporeans and Malaysians in a small mid-west town would share the same birthday right?

Nov 6 2006

It's quite different this year. :)

Had an MRI this morning at SGH. It was actually not claustrophobic at all despite G's fearsome stories of his own scan. And I almost fell asleep in the machine despite the loud sounds and thrumming. (they are checking out my cervical spine to see if they can see whether they can spot where a nerve is being pinched)

But this year, my thoughts are with Tow Shung. He was one of the boys we had over for dinners, went to do silly things and had huge makans with when we were there.

Unfortunately, YS was diagnosed with the big C just a few weeks ago. He was an Oncology resident at the Mayo Clinic - now he's trying to get well - and all my thoughts and hugs are with him today.

We're checking his updates on his site.

A year slips by

2007-11-05T02:02:00.000+08:00

One more day and we'd have been married two years.

Wow. Who woulda thought. Us, married. Still surreal man. Still going "huh"? too.
Did I ever write about how G's classmates (docs) all for some reason thought I was his junior medical officer or something? Wonder what his rep is at work for them to think that *big mischievous grin*
hehehhe, yeah, I know, I rib him and rip into him a lot, but isn't that what marriage is about?

In the meantime, I'm kinda counting the aches and pains am accumulating just before my 31st birthday.
My knee's pretttttty shot up from this weekend, could hardly climb stairs today. Why you ask? I;m asking myself that too. Didn't do anything that spectacular, the regular 20 k blading run at east coast (it's seriously v doable on the blades and no am not being modest) managed to kill it yesterday and Sunday morning's kickboxing certainly didn't help. maybe I really should take those glucosamine supplements a tad bit more regularly.
Am going for a couple of tests which might reveal that I have some kind of slipped disc or something in my neck; am not tooo bothered at that - yet - but I am bummed that it will take up most of the morning of my bday. And I had taken leave thinking that I'd be able to sleep in! Darn it!

There's hope yet - might not have to work on Deepavali (8th) but i think I prob will otherwise my colleague will have a mother of a week with 6 days on. (she's scheduled for next sunday). Ah well.

PS: we rediscovered Elamay - who sang at our wedding. We thought she was good then... she's blinking more than fabulous now. Had a great night listening to Jazz and knocking back the single malts on Sat.

okay, m pretty zonked. post again on Tues. Cheers!

Sobering news

2007-10-30T00:04:00.000+08:00

We just heard that a good friend back in Rochester is down with the big C. Yup, he's going for chemotherapy, which I believe should have started a few hours ago (US time).
it's surreal, sombre and sobering because the dude whom we talked cock with, had over for dinners etc etc shares my birthday and he's oh, all of 28.
Jeez.

That took us a few evenings to just try to digest the news from Rochester. The good news is that he still has a sense of humor, and his updates on his online journal which is how the rest of us are finding out how things go are peppered with his sardonic dry wit. Which is great by my reckoning.

In the same spirit, am going to try to keep the tone of this post light - if it comes across a wee bit forced and fake. Bear with me ok? Am a lousy writer at work, at midnight. (waiting for the pages to clear)

Apart from all that - this few weeks have been immensely busy and well, there have been close shaves of one sort or another...here's a quick recap

a) back from Berlin - incredibly pleased with holiday, but not so hot at the prospect of writing about it. Promised Life! I'd deliver a travel piece by the end of the month. Well, it's the end of the month. 'Nuff said.

b) Gene's shaven and shorn - the new haircut suits him, even if he thinks he looks more than ever like Sonic the Hedgehog.

c)My own coiff has undergone some medusa-esque preening - thanks to George, our hairdresser, who's done it again. Why do I keep falling for that line "try something different lah!"
No, you ain't getting any photos either.

d) Started kickboxing classes - brilliant for the aerobics but my knees are probably shorn to bits... they creak every morning now and getting up is hard these days.

e)am a pimple patch. Call me the pimple patch kid.

f)We've been on a hawker food binge - blagh, the other day we ate $8 worth of Hokkien Mee. Now, in the hawker food context, $8 equates to a LLLOOOOT of mee. Let's just say that i think I may have OD-ed on Hokkien fried noodles.

g) The hermits that we are - despite lovely plans to catch all sorts of musical acts and gigs, and several invites to rather chi chi social dos - we fell into trance-like snoozes every night of the weekend. Pathetic I know.

f) Had a party at Himiko Court for a few of Gene's colleagues last Wednesday. Seven people finished 2 bottles of good single malt, and 7 bottles of wine, 1 half bottle of lemoncello and a beer. Yep, some people were preeeeettty darned sloshed. Okay, make that two people were sloshed. Luckily no one threw up but I had a LOT of glasses to wash that night (I was clean up gal). G fell asleep - he was sooo gone/tired - before our last guests, who are good pals so its okay, left.

g)Gene is convinced that i tried to poison him. Inveigled him to going to an organic cafe for lunch on Sunday, what I didn't tell him until he was actually eating was that everything, including the laksa he was sucking up, was vegan. :) He had an upset tummy after that and said it was probably cos he had too much vegetables.
I think he just has IBS and was stressed at the thought that he ate so healthy.

alright, am pooped and need to pee

too much info am sure to be putting online, but hey, I'm zonked. Its 1236 am

Night

Back from Berlin

2007-10-11T22:47:00.001+08:00

IMG_0350, originally uploaded by gnatweds.

Just touched down a couple of hours ago from Germany.
We spent a week there - most of it in Berlin, but many hours zipping around the Autobahn, the Rhinelands, Potsdam and Cologne.

Will post more when am less groggy.

But a few FAQs will be answered first:

1. Why were you there?
Gene took the European exam and attended a conference. I was there for the beer. Grins. And it was a good break from work. We were there for about a week. (No, not enough time!)

2. Was it fun?
It was a BLAST. Surprisingly but yeah.

3. What's the best part?
Oh wow. There's so much to tell - majestic castles or Scholsses atop craggy peaks overlooking long winding roads; friendly people; a wonderful quirky hotel; the brilliant foodand even better beer.

This is the Brandenburg Tor (gate) set in the heart of Berlin. More photos on the flickr badge on the right hand column,

We'll post soon.

My sentiments exactly

2007-10-03T02:18:00.000+08:00

Crack book

2007-09-28T00:09:00.000+08:00

We're both now on crack book (aka Face book) and hence, there are very weird conversations now.
Eg
G: "Will you please pet my porpoise"
N: "If I pet your pet, will you become a pirate so I get more gold coins?"
N: "PS, did you see that cow I hurled at you?"

Am here, really...

2007-09-13T21:54:00.000+08:00

We're still alive and well. Promise.
I know you wouldn't have known that going by the postings, but yes, we're good.

Eating a whole bunch - rediscovering the wonders of hawker food here. Just back from Zion Road's char kuay teow; or luak, prawn mee and ter huang kiam chye.

Yes, that IS a lot.

Well, been working a lot of nights - somehow have been perenially short handed all of August and now, still working 3 or 4 nights per week AND sundays.

A six-day work week sucks - Mayo-ites, how the heck do you do it?

Everyone's been commenting on the sudden sprouting of white hair on my head, and i have a terrible breakout. I attribute it to the 1001 stresses of being in charge of the darned paper at nights!
Plus, my sleep cycle's gone all wonky - still trying to get up early enough to work out though despite the fact that I only sleep at 3 or 4. But of course, sometimes it simply doesn't work.

G and I don't get to see each other very much anymore. But that's okay, he's got studying to do (sommore exams in Berlin next month!) -- planning to go along and chill out for a bit. I might not walk Berlin a lot methinks, probably will want to sit in a beer garten - the idea of a huge beer and a good book sounds REALLY good for some reason. Gene can go on his conference and I'll cuddle up to a good weiss. *heh*

But today, I decided that a 10 hour day was decent and left at 8 pm! Yay! *laughs*

But its not all been about work - we had a few nights out with May Ling who visited from Rochester; there were a couple of nice fancy parties at Sentosa's il Lido, and there was this bash on the beach as well; followed by a night out at Clarke Quay.
Dunno whether you've heard of nightlife.sg? They've got a pretty good plan to drive up hits on the site: A photog comes around to the nightspot, takes a head shot or two, hands you a card and tells you to check out the site. Pretty good plan huh?
Well, China bar was fun anyway. Good music. Think we'll be back.

Sigh, wANT... no NEEEEEED holiday pref with day-long spa experience thrown in...

ok la; will post again sometime.

What DO anaesthetists do??

2007-09-12T22:22:00.001+08:00

Aww.. no red and white party

2007-08-10T17:35:00.000+08:00

Our red and white party went bust this year. Some may remember the big bashes we threw at Coronation Rd and Rochester in 2005 and 2006 respectively, where all the drinks and food were red and white?

Ah, how time flies.

But this year, I was duty editing and in charge of the parade coverage and G was working in CT-ICU.

Sigh. No party this year I guess. Ah well. C'est La Vie.

Gnat-becks

2007-08-08T23:00:00.001+08:00

IMG_0242, originally uploaded by gnatweds.

Gene in his new haircut and look

Not bad at all eh?

oh noooo....

2007-08-05T23:27:00.000+08:00

We just went for a haircut with our regular hair-man, George. Yes, both of us at the same time...

And at first, I thought nothing of it. I asked for Eugene to look completely new and hip, and my hair to go shorter - and we both liked the haircuts very much.

Then; it struck me this morning while I was blade-ing (and Gene was haring off on a 40 km bike ride) at east coast: argghhh, he made Gene look like D. Beckham and my do is faintly like his wife's.
Arrgggghhh...

Bah

2007-08-03T11:33:00.000+08:00

It's not fair; the weight is just sloughing off Dr G while I have to contend with the yo-yo effect!

Like there's a physiological conspiracy here. We exercise, do the diet, cut out carbs - and we lose a mere kilo at best, and within a week put it back on again with the water rentention.

The males just cut out sugar from their coffees in the morning and they lose like five kilos. It's annoying I swear.

sniggers

2007-07-22T18:59:00.000+08:00

After weeks of chasing the Tays, they've updated their blog with enough wedding photos to keep me quiet(er) and to save them from the perennial nagging about having photos of bunny rabbits up forever.

Am shamelessly stealing from their blog to put up their photo here.

So scheweeet hor?
To Yvonne and Vinnie - many many many happy returns of the day. Huge hugs for everything. And I can't tell you how glad I am to see both of you soo contented and happy together like this.

But, dear readers, as much as I lurve them... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I'm still gonna give them grief for a looong time. I was there in Rochester when they were going "noooo! nooooo! no posed shots! So fake! Eugh." ROTFL.

And yes, I can attest to Yvonne's admission that they said "Over my dead body am I going to walk in with the dry ice".... sniggers.

Okay okay, look, I am insanely critical of the de riguer Chinese wedding here - that's just me selfishly imposing my views on the rest of the world lah. The truth is that the little ahemm touches like dry ice probably flicks someone's bic. So technically, I shouldn't comment...

But if I didn't... I wouldn't be Nat! *grin*.

By the way, this is what I wrote in September 2005 (!). Click this link to see full post.

(My diatribe against the regular wedding started way back then lah... )

The Usual Singaporean Wedding:

The groom arrives at the Brides home at some unearthly hour of the morning accompanied by his posse of "brothers". (NB: Please note that this means that the bride has to wake up three hours in advance to get prettified - there may be some accompanying rituals like hair combing yadadadada - the reasons for which this uncultured clout has no idea about)

The brothers are stopped at the door by the bride's own posse of "sisters".

Sounds bad yet?

The brothers have to barter/buy/try everything possible to get through the sisters - this usually involves extremely embarrassing stunts, horrible hot sauce concoctions and money changing hands before the groom is allowed to get to his bride.

But all this has to happen before a magic hour - else it would be horribly unlucky for the couple - when they'd have to leave for the groom's place.There they will kneel and serve tea to 1001 relatives who will give blessings of many children - *shudders*.

THEN, they have to go back to the bride's home to serve tea to her 1001 relatives - who will also most likely call down wishes from the heavens for children. (she also changes her outfit - apparently it is tres unlucky to wear the same gown)(BTW, this uncultured lout actually knows this little factiod: The bride back in those feudal days would only go home three days later, but the entire thing has been compressed to fit the modern day and age)

If they have their own home, they then go there and sometimes have strange ceremonies which involve children rolling around the nuptial bed - again, its this archaic fertility rite. Sometimes there are even live chickens involved. A cock and a hen are thrown under the bed - the first to emerge is a clue to the sex of the couple's first child.

What is it about children and marriages anyway? Isn't it supposed to be ahem about the couple???

They then get transported in a garishly decorated car with fountains of ribbons, half wilted flowers and occasionally scary looking dolls to the designated hotel where the 10 course Chinese dinner is held. The car is parked right outside the hotel - mainly as a way to show it off: ahem.

If course, there are often more than 2 weddings at the hotel on any given night SO it just means that there are a lot of rather sorry looking mercs, BMWs and Jags drooping with flowers in the driveway.These dinners usually feature ... ugh.... shark's fin soup! *triple shudders and annoyance*But the dinners have to start with a de riguer slide show showing the couple's entire life story in pictures - usually starting with baby pixes.

Geez. Okay, if this corniness is not enough, there's usually a grand entrance of the couple, complete with dry ice. Sigh.

Halfway through this extremely protracted affair - the bride changes into another outfit.By this time, its 10 pm and the guests are raring to go home, the couple is exhausted but noooo: its not the end.There's the yam seng ceremony, a couple of speeches AND the mandatory table photos where guests huddle into a scrimmage at one end of the table, the bride and groom joins them and the photographer takes the obligatory shot.

Wha liaus. I'll let you find out for yourselves how many of these milestones actually happen on our wedding dinners.

-------

As you can tell it was an extremely vituperative post. Hahahha, savage critism is just so... me.

But now more mellow lah. The Tays looked charming together at the dinner; Yvonne looked fabulous; and it was sweet to see them make each other and their families oh-so-happy.

Am still gonna give them grief for a while though ahahhahahhah *tease*

And that said. Despite our best efforts, we were sabo-ed. Had to do a yum seng at one of our dinners - luckily not at both. And I did change out of the uber fluffy wedding gown for something for comfy too.

Plus, one nice plus at the Tay's wedding at the Shang earlier this month? The Cape Mentelle definitely passed the palate test!

That'd be me going yuuummmmy! Pix again stolen from Yvonne's blog. I had quite a few of those that night.

on a brighter note...

2007-07-20T16:45:00.000+08:00

Check out the pretty innards of our little vanity box in the bathroom! G did very very well shopping at Bath & Body works' sale to buy all the lovely soaps and stuff!!!! (yes, he lugged them home!!! Good ah?)

Pen in Pants

2007-07-19T22:15:00.000+08:00

The brilliant boy put a pen in his pants and dumped the lot into the washing machine.
It's a damned bad habit.

He does NOT empty out handkerchiefs, pens, and yes, thumb drives - he left ANOTHER one - in his pockets and of course, I just do the laundry.

My theory is that if I have to do the laundry after I come back from work at 2 am... am not going to go through the pile to pull out the pockets. :)

But that means that whoops, the pants have an ink splotch that is not removable... my fingers were blue, and i got ink on my white top... but it didn't come out!
Out damned spot! Out! *can you tell I'm trying to do my Lady MacBeth impression?)

(As for Dr G. Him? actually touch laundry? and spots? And clean?? hahahahhahahah... althouuughhh I have pointed out to him that this one-sidedness when it comes to cleaning will rapidly become a problem with the marriage because I have other things to do with my life now than keep home - no it's not Rochester anymore - but we'll see if he pays attention to what I'm saying.)

C

2007-07-17T16:43:00.000+08:00

So, G is in a good mood today.

Why?

Considering that I am on duty till 1 or 2 am tonight, it's sure not because of my oh-so-pleasant company.

G's just moved a couple of alphabets to C

Confused? Give him a call.

lao liao!

2007-07-16T12:53:00.000+08:00

Here's another footnote to the last post: On Saturday, G had his 10-year reunion of his medical school class of '97.

It was at Safra Mount Faber - the military has a lot of money to come up with such a swish, fancy schmancy clubhouse located right smack in the heartlands. Despite its name, its actually in Telok Blangah, not really Mount Faber...

Buffet style AND there was a magic show. I jest you not. We were way overdressed; some appeared in bermudas and polo shirts... but noooo, Dr Goh told me to wear "something black".
Sigh.

But why a magic show you ask? Think the young chap was there to entertain the multitudes of kiddies:
His classmates have produced many many, MANY kiddies in the decade since they left school.

One of his mates thought i was ... ahem... his medical officer. (ahem... G, what have you been up to? Others were completely shell shocked that Gene was actually married and yet others were wondering just how old I was - apparently G has rep from way back for dating young things.
I dunno whether to feel happy or insulted that Gene tried to save my honour by telling them that I was 33. Heeeello. Grrr. He just added two years to my age...

As weird as it was, I think Gene had a blast meeting up with the chaps again, and of course, after that we were off to the Bellini Room at St James Power Station... where i think eight or 10 people - people kept flitting back and forth from the various rooms - polished off two bottles of Glenlivet single malt and we were starting on the Chivas Regal when a concensus was called that we'd try to get into the Ministry of Sound instead.

But here's the weird part right? remember how I say that all these people I used to know in school are just reappearing like mushrooms? It happened again! I meet people who used to live in the same hall etc etc etc, of course, they are married to docs too... but think about it. There's no three degrees of separation between people here in Sg, try more like two or one!!

We finished up the night at 3, mainly because I was about completely zonked by then and my feet were killing me (wearing my 4 inch stilettos) and I had completely gone hoarse. But like good weekend warriors that we are; Sunday was fully packed as well.

Ran/Swam, shopped - splurged on Massimo Dutti, well actually, Gene splurged on me getting Massimo Dutti - drank a bottle of prosecco at Tanglin Village and had very satisfying yong tau foo for lunch and banana leaf Indian dinner (samy's curry - yah, they have a website! happening ah?)

Of course, by Sunday night, G knocked out by 930 pm. Hehe. Nowadays must account for age when we go chiong lah.

The State of (parental) Being

2007-07-13T21:07:00.000+08:00

Weird title, I know. It was going to be a philosophy-esque type entry about Being.
Which is different from being... note the capitals...

Okay, nevermind!!! It's too late and I am still at work for this to actually make any sense, heck, I don't even think I make sense on a normal-ish day.

I just heard that a schoolmate of mine from University just had his baby daughter! Congrats SHK! I also remember attending their wedding which was just after ours.
Mr Gene and Gina Wee are also going to get a wee Wee soon! Sorry, couldn't help it.

Just tells you how life is quickly moving on. Just years ago, it was all about convocation ceremonies, meet ups at bars... then it was weddings, and meet ups in wine/whisky lounges. Now, its births, kiddies and meet ups over dinner!

Wha piang. That said. I refuse to give up my wine/whisky. And no, you're not going to catch us trotting on that particular, perculiar path of parenthood anytime soon.

Somehow, the stars have made it possible to meet a whole bunch of people from my previous lives all in the space of the two months since I got back from the US - Secondary school mates; JC mates; uni mates; ex-s; pple I met as a journo in my early years at the paper...
Why just in two months? When I went by for years without meeting them before that? I have no idea at all.

And it seems to me that life has really gone by. Whatever happened to my 20s?
Geez, and of course, you can also track the progression of life in your friends and what has happened to them since you last met.

Ah well.

Hey, on a strange note - fate again?: I interviewed the ~~president~~ CEO thanks TK! of Mayo Clinic today. The desk is so short of hands, and I decided that I would actually volunteer - joyous joy at the ability to get out of the office and do an interview again.
Am so desk bound these days its not funny. All meals are eaten in short order in front of the screen. Scary but true. I have an image of my bum becoming ginormous with all this sitting down. alluva sudden.. pfft! huge.

PS: Gene's doing his first call back home tonight. Note the date. Hurhur.

The Eagle Has Landed

2007-07-05T09:01:00.000+08:00

"Control tower, this is Gnat-Oh-One. We have Touchdown."

Gene is currently making himself comfy; working on his computer in the living room, while muching on breakfast of wan tan mee - hiam jiou juay - and having brilliant coffee - made by our very own coffee machine.

Yep. He's BACK. Albeit, with a small kerfuffle with one piece of luggage.

The mess has also been transferred 20,000 miles into our new place. Attempting to keep it in control but think that's going to be a futile effort.

Sigh. Gene. If you read this. The floor is NOT a closet.

This reunion has been surreal: we look very different (we're both impressed by how two months can change both physiques), we're also behaving differently (well waddaya expect? Not a limpet hanger on a la Rochester liao) and we're exploring this new-ish relationship again - its like dating all over again. We're actually holding hands. *gasp!* when we go out. Talk about renewal.

Of course, right now, am off work, so we have time to rediscover all the things we like together and exercise like bunnies together. He's swum and biked (we just have to convince him to run and he can do a marathon) extensively while I have been lifting.

We're going to try out our new wakeboards in about an hour's time.
Of course, today is a bit cloudy while the last few days have been really nice and sunny; its just arse luck.

It's been a hectic three days since he arrived early on Tuesday morning. But that said; have managed to catch Oosh and St James' Power Station already. That boy can run on very very little sleep now. Not quite lil ole me.

PS: He promises that he will keep up his bloglet. Well, eventually anyway.

Last bit of final countdown

2007-07-02T23:53:00.000+08:00

Dr Yvonne Chung in her wedding finery at Shangri-La last night.

And yes folks, it was realllyyyy funny because Dr Chung and Dr Tay had everything they said they didn't want back in Rochester.

And I mean, the works. The 30 plus table wedding dinner at top hotel, with dry ice entry with the wedding march playing, a wedding car hired specifically for wedding, pre-dinner shots at the marina in the sun, and rather glamorous shots of them looking lovey dovey at each other - all looped in a slide show thing. Hahahhahahahahha.

Awww, am teasing. Despite all this, they looked really good, my phone camera doesn't do Yvonne justice. But am hoping that they'll put up more pixes on their blog. This will force them to finally update their bit of cyberspace... since I'm kinda tired of looking at the rabbits!!!! Hahahhahaha.

Plus, the author of freshspottedmushroom is touching down at Changi Airport in.. oh... an hour's time. Now... to plot and plan my way out of this office. Yep, still here.

Top eats

2007-06-28T00:36:00.000+08:00

Okay okay, I owe Team Williams. Here's my top-eats-before-you-die recommendations

In no particular ranking:

Bebek Betutu at Crossroads Cafe in Ubud, Bali.
This is a smoked/fried duck dish with plenty of Balinese spices stuffed into the lil un. It's considered a speciality of the island. We've had a couple of versions of this dish, even at the famed Dirty Duck restaurant which is supposed to serve the best version of the dish on Bali.

Nah. Stick to Crossroads Cafe which is just a few steps away from the main market there.

Oh, ps, if you're on that beautiful island, try out the babi guling too - roasted piglet. Yums.
Well, you also have to go to La Luciola, on Seminyak Beach if you're in Bali and looking for a good meal. It's not cheap and its Italian fare, but hey, the restaurant sits on a beach and you can see/hear the tide crashing just metres away. 10 points for ambience, maybe 8 for the food now - still good, but it seemed better four years ago.

Cloudberries in Sweden. Fairly rare, since they only grow at certain times in the Artic. But we had these at a *gasp* Michelin Star restaurant in the town of Malmo, in the south of Sweden. They're small, yellow when ripe and a bit tart, sweet and bitter all at the same time. perfectly complemented the vanilla ice cream though - yes, it was real vanilla and hand-churned ice cream - all the lovely pod bits in the ice cream. Decadent but amazing.
This restuarant also had this amazing cold soup with warm salmon bits in it. The melange of flavours and the contrast in textures, taste and yes, temperatures, was quite out of this world.

La Carbonara in Rome, Italy. This is a restaurant that's been around since 1912, and supposedly, came up with the original version of... you guessed it, carbonara pasta. This one was just coated with cheese and egg yolk - none of this creamy sauce thing that somehow became associated with the dish. Of course the extremely fatty pancetta - ham - bits were quite heavenly. Each small tiny piece glistened with a large layer of lucious fat. Yums.
I can't show you what the dish there looks like, but here's a map of where it is, at least.
PS: dress up. And nicely.
They are all Italians dining in the restaurant, and they wear three-piece suits to lunch, and you really don't fit in with jeans and ugly jackets.

Real gelato from a gelateria in Italy. Preferably in a small-ish town, like Bolzano, where there ain't that many tourists.

Coke Chicken in Chiang Mai. I have no idea what this woman puts into the stuff but its a small stall near the night market. It's supposedly coca cola, but it's soooooo addictive (we kept going back repeatedly for this stuff in our four days there) that I have to wonder if its the other sort of coke. It's a spicy noodle soup dish, and I MEAN spicy, and the nice old lady and gent running the store cannot speak a word of English. But wha, must try it once before you die - definitely.

"Maguro Steak" in some suburb of Tokyo. Yes, it was tuna and cooked lightly in some sauce; fua.... eyepopping flavour in this absurdly small little place. It was recommended in the Lonely Planet - suspect because its the only one in that area that had a menu in "English" that you could point at to order and the proprietors didn't mind stupid Gai Jin walking in and fumbling up all the proper etiquette for food. I can't remember the name because I don't have the Japan Lonely Planet with me, and there's no way I'll find it on the Net.

Harbor View restuarant in Pepin, Wisconsin. This small little restaurant has fans who will fly in from New York etc etc just to eat there. It doesn't take reservations, just show up and take your chances. It also opens and closes at very specific hours. Its menu changes regularly - but what I had was simply superb. A friend had fish that melted right in your mouth, and I had a huge chicken dish. It sits right in front of the mighty Mississippi, but is in a town so obscure and the position so remote that you'll definitely need a GPS to find it.

Le Dalat in Bangkok's garlic king prawn. You get one prawn but man oh man is it big. And the garlic on top. Fuaaaaaaa.

Cow and Chicken pho in Richmond, Melbourne. It has a name, but this shop is better known for the cartoon characters it puts up in its window. The cow looks suspiciously like the laughing cow trademark used by a brand of cheese, but anyway, the beef in the pho is fantastic and the broth it comes with is amazing. Stuff in a couple of springs of basil, squirt lots of Siricha hot sauce - this garlicky chili sauce - and you've got a meal that you'll want again, and again and again.

This is a bit esoteric - but a "meal" to have before you die? Take a safari tour out into the plains of Botswana, settle down for sundowners, have some antelope jerky and a stiff, oh sooo stiff G&T.

Eh, but some of the best things can be found here man! Once at least before you die: pig trotters at East Coast Parkway food centre. They sell out damned super fast and there's a looong queue. But good lah.

good grief...

2007-06-26T18:30:00.001+08:00

If it looks like a bomb went off in the apartment, you're half right. The force of destruction is called Eugene aka my husband who has managed to leave his imprint (read mess) throughout the place in MN. Read his extremely funny entry on Fresh Spotted Mushroom

He is threatening to move the mess halfway around the world into our what is currently reasonably neat place in Singapore. *gulp*

Great stuff

2007-06-26T00:21:00.000+08:00

http://www.arcadetown.com/relationshiprevenge/game.asp

It's wonderful. I know that the ballistic one on the male fantasy list would def affect me!

Beaut....

2007-06-24T21:29:00.000+08:00

Its a v10. 612 brake horsepower. 0-60 miles in 3.9 seconds.

Yes, have Top Gear on cable now... and was damned inspired after watching the show. Gosh, its damned beautiful. BUT only 1,260 or something manufactured and production stopped in April 2006.

JUST had to find a clip on YouTube to letcha see what I was getting off on this afternoon.

Swoon.

Speaking of cars... G's got a nice ride at the mo. No, not quite the Carrera GT. It's an all-american Mustang.
Check out his bloglet - well, there is something to be said about a convertible in summer; ah, the good life?! Heh, after what he's been through in the last two weeks, he definitely earned it.

But ah, I must say... the American aesthetic, not quite there lah... the lines not as sexy for some reason. Even the Corvette. Dunno why - its like... hummm... looking at a pretty but nondescript model, you'll look at the bums, butt, face and say, yeah, nice, but with an Italian - think Ferraris and Lambos and Masers, or yes, the very German but strangely sexy Porsche - in comparision, it like getting hit in the solar plexus with a centrespread of Angelina Jolie or Jennifer Biel or Jessica Alba. That kind of thing.

Gosh, I love watching Top Gear. There's another episode on now, and they are putting a jag, porsche and beemer through their paces on a beach. They're spinning all over the place, it looks sooo fun.

Ah dang. Programme finished liao.

okay, till I get excited about something else again. bye!

At last... and tagged(!)

2007-06-24T09:00:00.000+08:00

At last, Gene will be back in about a week's time.

At last, have finally settled Internet connection and cable TV connections - it was a project of nightmarish complexity as several accounts had to be moved, new equipment received etc etc.

At last, I can plonk down and have channel V on while I type/work.

At last, his study is set up.

At last, I am blogging at Himiko Court without having to warjack.

Erh, at last, I am blogging.

BUT of course, there are a few things that have decided to go pot as well.
For one, the coffee machine, that's been in storage for a year, has decided to act up. The grinder won't start and the technicians are only available to come next week, during the week.
In the day.
Right... with the hours I'm keeping at work, this is going to be a challenge.

Plus, my knee is really beginning to act up. Owww.
Plus, we just lost another supe at work, so will have to do night duties very regularly now.
And I have been rostered for National Day AND sundays the entire month of Aug.

This is going to be fun. *eeeps*

G's parents are just as anxious - they've laundered his entire wardrobe, yes they've ironed his jeans too, in anticipation of his return. And sunning all his pillows etc etc etc. (they were quite aghast when i told them he doesn't wear jeans anymore)

Oh, and they were about to take his new columbia pants to a tailor to make them shorter (!) and I went ... erh... so they say they'll hem them pants first rather than cutting the fabric...
erh...
Ok, I hope they don't do it, but how do you fight against parents who adore him so much and are so anxious to do everything up nicely for him?

Me? Think am anxious in another way. I had a strange dream of him really fit and thin last night. All flat abs and all. And very nicely tanned.
Erh, yes, he was shirtless. Hey, I can have dreams about my husband if I want to! Well, if they occur anyway. It's legit!

Ah, okay, its almost 6 pm - the day has just flown by with the 1001 things to do - off to bring mom and dad out for makan. Mom turned 62 on June 20 and Dad turns 72 on July 3.

PS; Teamwilliams - thanks for the tag (!) - but wha biangs, must go and wrack brains about it... I can think of a few right now. La Carbonara in Rome, and Coke Chicken in Chiang Mai. Maybe Bebek Betutu in Crossroads Cafe in Ubud, Bali and maybe lamb in Capetown... But erh... erh... The Iron Skillet's country fried steak not so happening the last time we stopped by a outlet in Wisconsin. Gotta go think. We've had culinary adventures galore. But, nowadays, am not v inspired by food at all.

I'll go think of an appropriate response to the tag. Till the next entry, bye!

Crashing

2007-06-16T23:10:00.000+08:00

This is a post about crashing... no not quite the car kind, have had enough of those thank you very much, but its about the amazing ability of the body to just fall asleep, even when you're willing for it to get up and go to the gym.

It's been a rainy day - one of those never-ending rain type ones, when the drops just simply don't quit. It's been a constant drizzle; and very humid of course. The frogs and/or toads in the estate landscaping ponds are going absolutely ape shit calling to each other. Think their mating season is on.

There is something to be said about cocooning oneself in a fluffy comforter, air conditioning turned on, and a curtain of rain pouring down outside the window. Extremely sleep inducing. *yawwwwn*

Was supposed to have brought mom and dad out to Sentosa tonight, but with the rain and all, we just went to Sebastien's - this french outlet in Greenwood Ave, instead.
Would have had Gene's fav Duck Confit but, am feeling a bit fat and bloated so (had multiple pratas and fish head curry laate at night after work)
So instead, had a brilliant salad nicoise. It's still good after these years.
Parking is, also as per normal, quite the bitch at Greenwood.

PS: Pple have been asking. Thanks. am perfectly okay, my car took the damage.
My wallet is also feeling it *grins*

But Gene gets back in about two weeks and erh, two days!
That also means that Vince and Yvonne have two weeks to the big wedding dinner;
And that I have two weeks to buy Dad a birthday present.

Alright... lets hope the next week is better - and more disciplined (gym-wise) for me!

Bah

2007-06-14T11:35:00.000+08:00

I ruined the side of my car.
Going through repairs now at Peugeot.
Will cost, but it will teach me good lesson!
I was waaaaaaaay too tired to drive properly - I was trying to get out of the office carpark when I whacked the side into a pillar.
Sigh.

Feeling rather bereft without vehicle - like kena handicapped like that. Living with mom and dad for a few days because... they will send me to work in the am. Man, i hope I get the car back soon. I feel very very lost without it! (oh dear, is that a seriously bourgeois whine or what)

Despressed.
Going through some cash therapy with online shopping - although technically I shouldn't since the repairs will also cost $ but hahahah, this is for sanity's sake! Well, that's the story I'm going to stand by anyway.

Poor husband. His luggage is going to be bulging with MY purchases!!!!

Speaking of whom - the man is seriously very very very overworked! Someone call him to check that he's actually getting some food!

Fortnight's highlights... well kinda.

2007-06-12T00:36:00.000+08:00

Gosh, its getting harder and harder to come up with a witty headline for my blog posts - Fortnight's highlights was the best I could come up with... except it's been more than a fortnight, and not everything in this post is a highlight.

Am tired. Took a month to sap all the energy gained from a year's no pay leave and doing jack shit.
Am at work, its midnight on June 12.

But anyway: The highlights - in somewhat chronological order:

Great hen's night out with Carrie, Alana and Karen A (even if slightly depressing cos we talked about husbands and the problems with we have/had with them)
Receiving the boxes of stuff I shipped from America; All eight boxes arrived safely, including our wakeboards and snowboards.

Yippeee, except, the prices of wakeboarding have gone up tremendously. From about $80 an hour the last time we sent (about a year ago) to $110 per hour now. Gee.

meeting KL-ites Alan and Gillian at PS Cafe;

It was great fun to see the two again... gosh, guys, think we've known each other for what? 8 or 9 years now?

meeting Yvonne and Vince on a boat which was moored at the exact same spot that the Rising Tide was on Nov 6 2005;

The poor dear is very tired too; looong hours at SNEC plus the upcoming wedding... hur hur, as per normal lah... it's always the bride that has to freak out and plan everything cos the groom doesn't bother very much hor?

But onedegree15 - the Marina at Sentosa Cove - has changed dramatically since we got married back in nov 2005! I still remember the towering cranes, and now, its a pretty building, complete with lit pool and nice lights and glass everywhere. A wee bit hot during the day (as I was coming in) but brilliantly pretty at night.

hanging out with Judith and Ailien at the new place,
meeting up with Lionel and getting presents from the US (he visited the folks in Rochie and was pressed into being a mule for all my goodies);

meeting up with Den and Rosi - they celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary! Congrats and well done guys!; more or less moving into my new place,

doing my first lot of laundry there (wait... this is supposed to be a list of highlights! hummm) and anyway.... have done a heckuva lot more since then.

Going rollerblading with Kok Min on the East Coast Parkway for the first time in at least 13 or 14 months.

There is something to be sad about having cold coconut on a hot hot hot day. And esp if you'd been blading for a while.

Got Vince into the papers. He's pleased, so okay, am pleased too

Went to Jude and Carrie's wedding - saw old friends Neil, Simon, Wendy and Reese there
Hanging out in the Bellini Room with Judith and discovering - gasp - for the 1st time in 10 years can fit into this particular skirt.

Don't worry, this phenomenon hasn't lasted. Today, I pigged out on lunch of mee koon kueh, then snacked on doughnut, tau sar pao, and chocolate and coffee. Then ate dinner of yong tau foo with helping of fish cake fritters on the side.

Speaking of pigging out: Check out this immense Jap spread Chang, Judith and I had on a sunday about two weeks ago...

I tell you we ate so much! I feel like the incredible tick. Sucking up all the local foodie goodness to bloat up for a while, coming back down and bloating again.

Ai-Lien and I looking a bit chee-cham tired at about 10 pm just now. She'd been working oh, about 13 hours by then. Me? Am just chee cham ugly esp with my eyebags the size of timbucktoo.

Yikes!

2007-05-26T23:53:00.000+08:00

Just got my pay and am now extremely depressed.

Let's just say that it will cover rent, car installment and parents' allowance.

Everything else will make me run into a deficit.
Thing is, I just lost my transport allowance, etc etc, because now I don't produce enough stories anymore - well, there ya go, I just took a massive pay cut (about 10 per cent) to work longer hours and to take bigger shellings.
Am so effing brilliant, it hurts.

It's bloody damned tragic that eight years into the company, just the act of buying food will send me into the red.

No wonder so many of us are leaving.

I love the job, I just hate that we get punished for loving it enough to stay.

Okay I shouldn't rant. It is my own fault, I DID buy the car when prices were relatively high back in 2001, and I do want my own place to call my own. Call it aspirations of the middle class lah - I want these luxuries of life; but as I have quickly realised - I actually am in no position to afford it.

Wha what a let down. Am already in my 30's and I am still unable to do these things. I am pathetic. Esp since my peers who were smarter in math are now making oodles of cash in the finance sector.

As you can tell, am feeling rather sorry for myself. hahahha.

But apart from the rather cloying self pity, I think its a real issue for people my generation - we're kinda of stuck in this middle-class squeeze.

I shudder to think what would happen if I even contemplated starting a family with this kind of finances. No dear readers, I am not having and I do not want to have a kid.

I'll try to explain my point about the crunch of my generation:

On one hand, we're awfully Asian - we still think in terms of filial piety... c'mon we were all brainwashed by those bloody chinese textbooks filled with all these stories abt soldiers who tattoo their backs with some filial piety thingie and we were told stories about how good, filial boys gave the larger peaches to their grandad.

And part of that entire thing is that we will take care of our parents and be grateful to them for bringing us up - so most of us are under some obligation, the extent varies of course, to support our parents financially or give them a little allowance, or to make sure that they they hale and happy.

BUT we're also not Asian enough to be completely comfortable about living with our parents/parents in law after we marry. We still have aspirations to our own homes etc etc. Why?

Well, this is my take:

When you marry - you kinda grow up.
It signals the time when we have to emerge from the cocoon of our parents' homes and start making your own life decisions - and essentially, you grow up.
You become reponsible, you realise that you have to pay bills, and it forces you to plan and really take charge.

But if you're going to go back and stay with your parents - as well meaning as that is - it is like a retardation of any growing up you might have achieved previously.
And yes, your bed, laundry and food will be done and prepared for you. And as pleasant as that situation is, it may negates any independence you might have learnt/achieved while living in your own place.

Plus, you also get used to having your own stuff and kitchen... so even though I love my mom to bits, its hard cooking in her kitchen. It's just *not mine*.

You know, I'll probably will have to swallow these words in a few months' time.
If property prices keep spiraling upwards, then I guess it really is a pipe dream to even consider having my own pad. And yes, we'll haveta move in with our parents.

Ah well. *Gnat gets sideswiped by the reality of her life.*

Editors note: If this post is not entirely coherent, it could be due to the fact that the said writer had about 3 or 4 hours' sleep last night after a night out with the girls. The writer would also like to add that she had a fabulous time celebrating C's Hen Night; but she wishes that drinks here in Singapore were cheaper. She is also aghast at the thought that she has to wake up early again tomorrow - Sunday - morning to move stuff into her rented apartment.

When a plastic surgeon offers his opinion...

2007-05-25T00:52:00.000+08:00

Great. I have a "great tip" but maybe "could do with more structure".

This, coming from a plastic surgeon, can be quite mortifying.

Okay lah, he didn't mean it in a ... erh, mean way - forgive the alliterations, had my 5th or 6th glass of Riseling just an hour ago - but wah liau. This is what happens when you hang out with docs n one of them had to be a plastics guy.

Great, my nose somehow got into the conversation. It's not perfect, I know, and yes, it had previously earned the moniker "ski-jump for ants" but wahliau, now I am seriously considering a rhinoplasty man! Er, along with boob augmentation.

Sigh.

How long do I have to wait again????

2007-05-22T23:57:00.000+08:00

Okay okay, I hear the howls of protest at the non-update of the blog.

Echoo - heeloooo - I get it. Hahah. Snort.

But dear readers, you are not the only ones who have had to play a waiting game in the erh... last 10 days or so. In fact, the waiting game is a realllyy appropriate theme for this particular post.

So it started last week: I had to pick up my new biometric passport - there was less than six months' left on the old one - and they do destroy the new passport if you don't go down and pick it up personally within the stated time period. And yes, you will lose the $70 you paid for the application anyway.

After one failed, and expensive, attempt to pick it up (the queue was waaaay too long and I stupidly took a cab there - so I had to hail one to get back to the office after I stalked out of the immigration office in an absolute huff). I went again early one rainy morning - anticipating that I couldn't go that far wrong because every sane Singaporean would want to avoid the awful weather.

I was half right. Despite it being relatively empty (I got a parking lot and I managed to get a queue number very quickly), it was a shockingly pathetic feeling when I realised that there were a 128 people in front of me - and I had no book! Nothing to read! arrrggghhh

This was 40 minutes into the wait. My number... was get this... 2392. Yes, I almost drove myself insane with the rather limited games on my mobile phone. And hence, the photo too.

Government efficiency? You have got to be kidding. And this, according to a friendly security guard I was bitching to, was one of the better days he'd seen.

It's almost ironic. Because they give you rebates and ask you to apply via Internet or Post, but still subject you to a 2-hour wait on a good day. Hummm... there is something in this equation that doesn't seem quite right.

Oh, but at least there was a fun-er waiting game over the weekend.

The FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Man U.

Now, am not ordinarily a football-watching girl, but there I was at Muddy Murphy's, watching this interminably long game - the winning and only goal came in the 117th minute! - and it really was quite a wait for the game to be over so decent conversation could resume again.

Awful shot, but at least it shows how crowded the pub was - and yes, *somehow* I too managed to get sucked into watching bits of the game. Enough now to know who Rio Ferdinand is and that Drogba is French.

Okay. Right. I amused myself while waiting for my colleagues to finish with the game by popping in my iTunes ear phones and drinking copious amounts of wine.

Cyn and Dom (seated). Dom, by the way, was the one who wanted drinks in the first place - but then insisted that we go to a place with a TV - he had forgotten the Game was on when he proposed drinkie-poos you see. Why agree to a football night? Simple. He is my boss. Hahahah!

Ailien (left) looking as interested as she could look. Yup, you guessed it folks, she ain't a footie fan either.
And Sharon, who after suggesting that I retake her photo, proceeds to rasp the camera - right. Guess which pix made it cyberspace... hahahahhaha. The temptation was too great.

Oh, the object of my affections the entire night.

yes, quite unlike Gene's choice tipples as described on freshspottedmushroom, this one... ahem... let's just say, its not quite going to play in the big league anytime soon. But it was relatively cheap - well, SGD40 is cheap here lah. I know, I know, I can buy an amazing bottle with that money back in Rochester - but back there I didn't have any money!

The ironies of life!

Speaking of cheap and dear: Whoa, check out the price of this tiny pack of US cherries. (love fresh cherries).

Yup, 10 bucks for less than 500 g. Ouch! That was my treat to myself over the weekend. Couldn't bring self to buy anything else - there were these gorgeous plums at the supermarket, but they were going for... cough... gak... choke.. SGD2 each!

Well, just a cutesy picture to end off this post:

The Force be with you, young Jedi, may. Huurrmm?

Well, I can't do Yoda-speak well, but you get the idea. That, by the way, is the extremely spoiled cat getting a rub down after her fortnightly bath.

Party central?!?

2007-05-13T21:42:00.000+08:00

Today, me and a friend mosey'd on down to Sentosa, and while KM8 on Tanjung Beach was sadly deserted and devoid of happening people (re: my post last year where all the beautiful people had 2 be there kinda thing), the new Cafe Del Mar (above) on Siloso beach was nice and populated by a tanned and lithe crowd. But it was not that crowded that we couldn't find seats.

And yes, all the women were in tiny Bikinis - I was waaay overdressed in my shorts and t-shirt.

Okay okay, actually not everyone was lithe... in fact some really really shouldn't wear tiny thong things. I can't help noticing stuff! I mean if you decide to wear tiny swim things (am talking about both the males and females) at a place so obviously set up for people watching, then, I mean, of course we the spectators are going to gossip. AND esp if you parade back and forth the area!

Let's just say that there was this chap in a tiny green speedo, and went he bent over to pick up his kid, I had to look away, and fast. Eugh.

The view from the patio, overlooking the pool. Great lounge/buddha bar-esque type music while we were there, chomping down on tres expensive salads and tapas. Sigh. We have great places to hang out in in Singapore. I just wish that I had more money to spend on them!

Yes... the money is going ... tah dah! the new apartment - some prelim pictures. Ooo. This could technically become our next party central?!?

Okay, right now, it really needs a little help... but I think we can whip up something with a few pretty lights and chairs and stuff... Hummmm. We'll see. If I can ever get down to wrapping my head around moving in that is. Sigh.

There isn't any leave/off days I can take to accomplish all this. Ah well... guess I'll just have to try to move in ever so slowly, bit by little bit until I have a halfway decent place. Anyone volunteering to help?

Heheh. Dun shy to offer!

On a rainy Sunday

2007-05-13T12:53:00.000+08:00

Sunday, rainy Sunday.

The rain is so heavy you can hardly see through the curtain of water sloshing down from the heavens. Yup, one of those oh-so-sticky days. The humidity has gone through the roof with the rain, so I'm grumpily blogging in an air-conditioned capsule hoping the mugginess will dissipate.

I signed the hand over documents yesterday so officially I am a tenant at my new place, I should be moving stuff today but am totally zapped by this damned cough/flu crap. Trying to cough up the gunk in my lungs isn't fun at all.

BUT I did get this linctus from the docs... and it knocks me out! So that is brilliant!

The aunts are here today and playing a rather noisy round of mah jong, despite ensconcing self in air-conditioned room. Am going to look for an exit strategy tout suite...

Till another day...
Nat

PS: Gene's Bloglet has been updated!

Impressed...

2007-05-10T17:00:00.000+08:00

Okay, I'm just gonna say this once (well, okay, maybe a lot more than once) but THANK YOU for stopping by the blog!

Today, I was floored when I got two emails from friends here (whom I was not in contact with before I came back) and they *knew* to email me at the work address because - gasp - they read it here! AND there was a comment from a friend I haven't seen in keryonks! Helloooo everyyoonnnne!

Wha. Seriously. Am floored. So Thank You again. Erh, not that I know if this blog's still gonna get traffic now that I'm home and erh, G has his own bloglet... "fresh-hatched" no less! ... but I'll try to keep it up somewhat and hopefully you'll still be, erh, somewhat amused too

Nat (whose sore throat is just getting worse! Despite the - blagh - starfruit and Chinese li fruit juice)

Fresh spotted mushroom

2007-05-09T21:43:00.000+08:00

Hear Ye, Hear Ye!

Okay lah, drama I know, but BIG news! Gene has started his own blog about living in Minnesota. By himself.
Doing his own laundry.
And eating his own cooking.

Muahahhahahah.

Well, actually the above statement is unfair. It was just fun typing it though - get a little dig in while I am 20,000 miles away. *grin* When else right?
Gene's actually a pretty darn good cook - erh, but he kinda went a little out of practice in MN - That said, I still think he cook(ed) up yummy stuff.

Anyway, the link is http://freshspottedmushroom.blogspot.com

Link it! Save to your bookmarks! He's *actually* not bad at all - well, the first post anyway - can actually see his character coming through the writing. So, wha... am fairly impressed.

PS: If I had to guess, I'd say a spotted mushroom is some kind of hallucinogen? Correct G?

Temper tantrum

2007-05-08T23:42:00.000+08:00

Today was my first day back at work. And I have to admit it was really nice to see such familiar faces and afterall, I did spend a large part of my 20s in the newsroom!

The hair was a hit, so maybe I'll keep it short for some time to come. Everyone says I'm more "glam" now. *Roll eyes* but they mean it in a nice way, so I should just accept the compliment at face value. I dunno, I think I'm just getting antsy.

Speaking of getting antsy, today, I completely lost my temper during my computer training session. Yep, they switched the OS while I was away. Joy of joys. I know. The trainer was being really condescending; he's an old chap and he was giving me that - you young newbie rookie, let uncle teach you - kinda thing. Like... erh... dude. I kinda lost it... I whacked back very bitchily... ah well. What did you expect of me right? Sigh...

Plus he spoke suuuper slow. Like what could hv been done in 2 hours, he took 6 hrs to do. Eg: " Thhiiiiiisss iiiis a caar-ton. Yoouuu puulllll dooowwwn thhhis menuuuu..."
Ouch man. That also, for some reason, really got on my nerves.

Maybe I'm grumpy because I am getting a sore throat. As the Chinese would say, am feeling rather "heat-y".

Withdrawal

2007-05-08T02:00:00.000+08:00

Hummm... am suffering from USA withdrawal.

No, it's far more specific than that. It's WALMART withdrawal!

Man, in retrospect the shopping in the US is fabulous, and yes, the ability to drive up into Walmart and get every darned thing you need. Fua.....Am desperately looking for a clarifying shampoo - the type you use once a week to get all the products off type. Watson's. Nada. Guardian. Nada. Sigh, even when I went to my hairdressing salon, they only had the sort of oily hair.

So am getting online and shopping like mad. My poor hubby's going to have to lug stuff back for me.

Am currently surfing to sites like Bluefly and trying my best to resist. Luckily, Charlotte Russe isn't online-shopping ready, else, think I'd go stir crazy.

OH, am currently very hooked onto rings... pretty pretty rings and jewelery. Some sites of mention include The Carrot Box and The Naughty Secretary Club.

BUT I'll have to be a tad more circumspect with money now.

Over the last week, I have been looking at rental places and with the help of our friend and agent, have managed to find a decent unit in Pandan Valley, Mt Sinai Drive. Its an old-ish apartment but that means it actually has a decent sized kitchen! Smallish balcony and two rather large rooms. It also comes partially furnished, which means that there is a ready made sofa and dining set.

Ah well.

Okay, I gotta run, plenty to do and a gym to hit this pm. Oh! Am also seeing an Osteopath for back pain. Wei, if you're reading this, hurry back so I can go to you instead. This British chap is kinda creepy. Ugh.

It's kinda unfair, G is losing pounds while I am piling them back on with all this great food here. DARN!

Hahhahah.

Kisses everyone

N

Sleep deprived ravings from an island

2007-04-30T02:32:00.000+08:00

Yawwwn. It's 2.30 am and my body clock is all weird.

It served me well on Saturday night when me and my friend, Arti, hit St James Power Station which is the hottest club in Singapore right now, and as its name suggests, is a converted colonial-era building which also used to be a power station.

We were up till 5 and then only got back at 6-some in the am thanks to the pouring rain and the paucity of taxis.

On friday night, I met a few of my colleagues at Oosh. This spanking new eatery and drinking spot in Dempsey road, and oh boy, is it pretty. It is huge at 11,000 sq ft but both St James and Oosh are pricey! Esp in comparision to prices in say, Mickey's Bar in Rochester. Admittedly, the ambience is erhm not quite the same, but 14 SGD (USD 9) for a bottle of Hoegaarden is rather ouch, doncha think?

During the day, I have been trying to seek out accomodations for me and the spouse - who seems to be determined to eat all the fast food he can find in Rochester. Hummm. But apparently, he has also done his first load of laundry! *clap clap*

It's not quite all fun and games here - lots of bills, errands and processes to do. Including renewing my passport and IC (blagh)... oh well.
That said, it's great to see the pals from home again, esp, driving my own car while doing all these errands. Heh, I still keep reach for the gear hand-lever a la Squeaky when my gear shift is now on the left hand side. And its nice when your car actually has a zippy pick up. But parking lots here are small.

Of course, the questions everyone puts to me are: are you happy to be back/Did you like Rochester/Why did you leave Gene?

So I'll answer them here and now in hopes that maybe I won't have to repeat myself like a broken record (not that I won't if I am asked, but ... :) )
Yep, am happy. There's lovely food, my friends, family all here for me. I know where to go and what to do; and yes, it really feels nice to be back.
But I do leave Rochester with a tinge of regret - I made great friends there, it is a pretty scenic country and there are lovely places to go to if you drive out, and its consumerism heaven. The Walmarts and Hy-Vees are amazing for the sheer variety and freshness of produce. And what you can't get locally, you can always buy online. And shipping is free. Wooo. And you can buy songs off iTunes. Rochester could do with more eateries and more places to go to just hang out a la Oosh, and oh yes, more malls and people, but in all, it was an interesting experience.
I left because I need to find us a place for us to live in and I wanted to start work again. It's amazing how much your own ego and self-confidence is tied to achieving something - and in my case, I guess I have no other benchmark than my career. I mean keeping house and going to the gym and cooking everyday was fine and good, but it kinda takes a toll on you psychologically and emotionally. And of course, the dwindling finances were not doing my mental health any good :)

Conclusion: I feel like I am being an awful wife leaving G to fend for himself, but I can tell that my sanity is returning.
Now, I just have to find myself an affordable health club and I think things will be good.

Alright, have blogged enough tonight.

Cheers,
N

SCORE!

2007-04-27T09:47:00.000+08:00

JUST had tah mee pok - hiam jiou juay juay.

Twas oily as anything and there was ... pork lard in it too.

Whoohooo.

It is a very visceral feeling of home right now. There is nothing like food to a Singaporean to remind us of what we missed being away.

N

G - if you're reading this. Sorry darling, just had to blog about it. Erhm... Ribs and fried chicken ain't so bad, really! Kisses. Heh.

Oh the Humidity!

2007-04-27T03:24:00.000+08:00

Hi folks.
Am back in Singapore. And my gawd, the humidity. euughghh. it's playing havoc with my hair which wants to curl up and die but my skin feels much better!

It was a tearful goodbye to Gene (well, for me anyway) at Minneapolis, and though the flight was good (great seat in B class) it was still hard to sleep without the requisite chemical helpers. The wine I consumed (copious amounts of Champagne and Bordeaux) helped a little, but managed about 5 to 6 hours sleep in the total 30-some hours travelling.

Its 3 am in the morning here (4 pm Rochester) and yes, my sleep cycle is screwed.

Today, went to this spanking new mall - Viviocity for lunch with Judith, and then I crashed for a while only to wake up to a gorgeous Buah Keluak dinner. Then at midnight, I get a call from my
pals at SPH and off I went for a pint!

Watta difference about 18,000 miles make!

Am happy but sad at the same time because I miss Gene - who incidently had KFC, then Hunan Wok Express for dinner in the two days I have been away.... hummm. Wish he had Rochy all tied up and done with so we'd be together again.

Rochesterites - I do miss you guys - Carrie, you be strong. Lynette - babe, miss our lunches already (!) Mei & Horng, thank you guys sossosoos much- TK, ET, George etc etc... guys, you are in my prayers and thoughts. TK and Kristin, will see you soon!

In the meantime, just a note to say that am back safe and gee, its been a good 20 hours so far.

Kisses
N

PS: You know its tropical when there are frogs croaking and cicadas going nuts outside your window.

PPS: My parents' stupid cat hisses at me now

The final countdown

2007-04-21T07:29:00.000+08:00

Okay, first up, many apologies for the long silence on the blog - am sure it's annoying to check this page and there are still no updates.

To make up for it, this will be a looooong and extremely mundane post full of uber bimbotic declarations.

Alright: first lemme come up with a list of excuses why I haven't been blogging: With my departure date just days away... *wooohooo* I have been up to my ears in stuff.

It's amazing what you realise you want/have to do when you have little time left.

The biggest thing was of course, the shipping, of the boxes-ful of stuff that we (okay okay, mostly I) managed to accumulate. Eg winter coats, snowboard pants, towels, bed linen - don't laugh, bedding here is ridiculously better and cheaper here, like 350 to 400 threadcount sheets for between 20 to 50 bucks. Like... whaa?
Then, there were the snowboards, and the snowboarding boots, and the winter boots... AND my 15 pairs of shoes (don't mock my weakness lah), and many many many clothes.

Found a shipper and so far its been not bad - althhoooouuughh had several apoplectic moments with the documentation, esp when Eugene decide that it would be a good idea to get wakeboards here too at the very last minute, despite me suggesting that weeks before), and I had a couple more of those moments of sheer white fury when the shippers made me wait hours and hours and hours for the pick up. Then, a couple more when I found what the Singapore port charges, then what it would take for them to deliver to my doorstep. SIGH.

So the days were filled up with documentation, packing (oh gawwwwd, packing... grimace! Packing eight boxes, sounds easy? NOT; when everything is ultra bulky and there were last minute things to add...arrgghhh - mentally scarred) So, that is excuse number 1.

Excuse no 2: Am getting fat so was hitting the gym like every day. So... hehe, yah, anyway, can that be excuse number 2 for not blogging, pretty please?

Then, there's the awesome amount of shopping that I have done over the last four weeks - most notably at Coach because my aunts wanted bags. I spent so much that I got a hand-written thank you card from the salespeople at the shop. Yes, that much.

Plus, of course, I had to get my final visit to the outlet shops in... which meant spending yet more money on Polo Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole etc etc and I found Endless.com - which is a brilliant shoe shopping site. Check out this brand "naughty monkey" which I have completely fallen in love with.

And yes, I did stop over at Mall of America for Coach, H&M, Sephora, Nordstrom's, Aldos, Charlotte Russe etc etc etc

Not to mention the fact that I have been stocking up on books from Amazon etc etc

In other words, my bank account is suffering badly and my bags are packed to groaning-type full. I still say that shopping here is cheaper and better quality than back in Sg, but of course, I say that also because Minnesota does not have a sales tax on apparel. So what you see on the price tag is what you pay. Which, I realise, does make a big difference.

I have also gotten my hair cut here - realise that it's still cheaper than back in Sg - and I have finally found a decent hairstylist here in Rochester. Would you believe that I have refused to step into a salon here at all before last month? Stems from the first week, when we walked past this supposedly top salon here and smelt burning hair, then I went there for a wax and it was baaad.
(I arrive Thursday morning in Sg, and Fri Morning, I have an appointment at Strip. Desperate huh? Monday, I go to my facial appointment. Again, haven't done that in about 10 months or so. Too much information? Thought so!)

The water here is unfortunately a bit hard (minerally) so, I have had a problem with breakouts the whooole damned year. Hopefully, it will get better when I go home.

And of course, we had to stay over in the cities once before I left - found this great place called The Grand Hotel and it was really nice. It was just a bit sad because the city and streets were deserted and all the shops were shut because it was Easter Sunday.
But taking advantge of the quiet, we wandered around St Paul a bit and found (yes, true to form) a nice bar to chill out at. Trust Gnat to revert to barfly mode at a drop of a hat.

Of course, had to visit the very picturesque Lanesboro one last time, (we actually went for an hour long walk! along the Root River Trail) and of course, there were the last peeks into Walmart and Target to make sure that I wasn't missing anything in the suburban America shopping experience.

And of course, this is in no way minor, but thought I'd leave it further down to spare all our car nut friends reading this a little bit of pain. Gene sold the Porsche on Monday. Yup, the red baby is gone.

The good news is that although he was a bit sad at first, he was eventually more relieved than anything else after he saw the bill for repairs the car would have needed. Seriously, it's like pouring water into a leaky bucket. It still runs good but gosh, master cylinder something or other leak, plus this and that... gak.
The other good bit is that it is going to a man who really wanted that model of Porsche and knows his stuff - so the baby is in good hands, and I think he will restore it to greater glories - so the Porsche is in good hands. Some consolation at least.

The bad bit is that Gene is bitten bad by the sportscar bug. Now, he REALLY wants either the Lotus Elise or another Porsche - probably the Boxster. But economics seem to favour the Elise at the moment... road tax will not be as bad... it's a 1.8 L vs the 3 something L, plus servicing at Porsche is like pulling out an eyetooth each time...
What do you think dear readers? Do leave us a comment and tell us what Gene should get when we get home!

PS: He misses buying watches too.

PPS It DID snow. In april. NBCB. After a spell of 20 plus degrees, it dropped down to -3 deg C and SNOWED. What can you say, except, boy is weather variable here or WHAT.

Oh, my article about learning to golf appeared in the health supplement of The Straits Times - and good grief - no less than eight people wrote to ask how they could get lessons from the chap who gave me lessons. Like... didn't the picture where I was in full winter gear hint that, maybe, just maybe, it wasn't in Singapore? Well, can't blame 'em I suppose... so I had to very nicely write to each one to say sorry ah, neither me nor Mr Pohler are actually in Singapore... but I think one of them got a bit annoyed. AWwwwwwwww. heh.

Of course, the last two weekends have been a litany of meet ups and goodbyes to everyone. It's been good, weird, but good.

Ah well.

Till Singapore.

Nat

(PS: Eugene is quite serious about trawling the aisles of the grocery mart here for all the instant food known to man)

Sigh.

Free Broadband from Google.

2007-04-02T02:54:00.000+08:00

Revolutionary piece of technology from Google!
Guaranteed free Broadband.

Sniggers.

Brrr??

2007-03-31T01:58:00.000+08:00

Winter is biting back - after all those exultations about the advent of spring, and the sunny 20 plus degrees days we got last weekend, it's karma and winter backlash time.

It's rainy, dreary and the high is 8 deg C. Much better than -20 deg C I grant you, but when you've had a taste of 20 plus degrees, this kinda is saaaaaaaaaaad.

Very very unwilling to do very much at ALL - but as luck would have it I have to pack and clean house thoroughly (like-clean out-fridge-type-thoroughly)... sighs, so that we get the renter's deposit back.

Would you believe it? Next wed, it's supposed to *SNOW*

Eh, one third of the year is over liao... huccome I am still cold? *sighs*

Anyway, on to final countdown, everything moving by in a blur.

Shippers will come pick up boxes in a few days.

The end is nigh!

PS: Anyone has any suggs on what to get G for his birthday? AP watches and Porsches are out of budget.

Nat

Blast from the past part deux

2007-03-24T11:35:00.000+08:00

Guess what I found! Ai-Lien, Arti, Pete, Tarns, Chris - I still think you guys did a superb job, and its the bestest page 1 I have ever seen.

This by the way, was the wedding favor we gave our guests back in Nov 2005 (!!! Cor has it been that long ago) - it is a bit uncoventional, but I thought, who really wants to eat dried up fruit cake? Hahahha.

Golf strokes

2007-03-24T00:19:00.000+08:00

So I'm trying out golf right?
Judith alerted me to this extremely funny clip. Kudos to Robin Williams here.

Blast from the past...

2007-03-22T10:48:00.001+08:00

IMG_3236, originally uploaded by gnatweds.

Okay, we were sitting together having a drink, discussing the pros and cons of getting a lotus Elise vs a Porsche - and I was browsing through our Flickr "africa" set... when we spotted this photo. (we were there for our honeymoon)

G was obviously in darned good form when he took this.

We were in a Mokoro canoe in a small stream of the Okavango.

This is what G has to say of the shot:
"I was sitting there with the camera in my lap wondering what bug would be next to well, bug me... when that shot came up, I went *shit*... it was like that National Geographic shot in that split second and my brain was yelling at me "TAKE IT TAKE IT" - so I did."
"It was really transient though, a second later it was gone... "

'Tis Spring... erh, really.

2007-03-20T15:10:00.000+08:00

So, it's Spring.

Well, according to the Vernal Equinox anyway. The wha? Equi-wha? you say?

Here's an excerpt from a New York Times Science page article today:

Our clocks may have already “sprung forward” in a dubious attempt at energy conservation, but please, let’s not lose track of the far weightier astronomical event that ushers in spring proper — even when the event has trouble keeping track of itself.

A couple of weeks ago, I checked a wall calendar and noted that this year the vernal equinox falls on Tuesday, March 20, happily the publication date of this column. Not long afterward, however, my eye chanced upon another calendrical reference to the equinox — March 21.

I quickly consulted every one of my household’s 13 calendars: 6 put the equinox on March 20, 6 on March 21. As for the potential tie-breaker, my daughter’s “Star Trek” calendar, it had nothing to say about a geo-fixated occasion like the equinox, though it did point out that March 22 is the birthday of William “Captain Kirk” Shatner.

Now, we’re all accustomed to the general shiftiness of the four seasons, and the fact that their start dates in the third week of March, June, September and December may move a day or two from one year to the next. This is to be expected from our attempts to synchronize our rigid annual schedules with the gravitational nuances of Earth’s transit around the Sun.

But as I soon discovered in my attempt to resolve the calendar crisis, the vernal equinox in 2007 has the added snag of arriving at the querulous hour of just seven minutes past midnight, universal time, on March 21. Coordinated Universal Time is what used to be called Greenwich Mean Time, but the new name doesn’t make it any more universal than it ever was, and it remains a time zone centered in Britain. For those of us in the United States, the vernal equinox arrives while it is still the evening of March 20."

So there it is. As of the evening of March 20. It's Spring. And PS; if you think I'm some astrology whizz, think again, I was only prompted to think about Spring when I heard the DJ go on and on about it on the local station while I was driving - ahem, and get this, it's actually called... Kroc 106.3. And you thought the stations back home had cheesy names??

(PS: our fav station here in MN is Cities 97. Go have a listen if you're free - er, preferably in the daytime here, just minus 13 hours from Sg time)

And back to the topic at hand, well, the weather seems to be obeying the rules somewhat this time: It's -2 deg C out now, but in two days, the highs will reach a whopping 12 deg C. Everyone say it with me... "whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa".

heh.

Am I crazy?

2007-03-20T14:20:00.000+08:00

So, a good friend and colleague from home was aghast when I said that I couldn't wait to go home to work...
Was I mad? Did the Minnesota Winter burn all the sense from my brain?

I'd have to say, actually, Yes. Winter was bloody awful, I was depressed and stuck at home with a bum hip, that must have done something to my pysche. Prolly a lot weirder and pyscho now (cue dramatic Bates Motel soundtrack music)...

But, really, why do I want to go back to WORK? Well, I miss the independence that work offers me, a lot of your self image and ego I realise, is tied up with what you (try to) achieve in your career - well, in my case anyway. I hate to say it, but I miss the thrill of the hunt, and despite the intense deadlines, or maybe it is in spite of it - because the newsroom does become a pretty lean machine when something big happens and we all have to pitch in to cover it - it is a place where people do bond. And gosh, I miss the people at work.

Yup, there you have it. Why I want to go back to work (yes, that four-letter word). Cause I miss the hanging out with my pals in the newsroom; I miss earning my own money, I miss having nice lunches (whoohoo), I miss buying coffee in the am from Spinellis to wake up from my stupor, I miss the late night bitch sessions....

Hahah. Two weeks into work, and I will probably totally regret feeling like this now.

N

Green beer... and other (mis)adventures

2007-03-19T12:49:00.000+08:00

On Saturday, the nation caught St Patrick's day fever, Rochester included. There were people dressed in green everywhere - not least because some shops offered discounts of up to 10 per cent if you wore the colour...

Then, there were leprechauns (!) on the street corners waving to passing cars - yes, yes, to be specific, people dressed up in leprechaun costumes - I couldn't help it, I waved back while laughing out loud in the car.

We decided to hit the local Irish Pub where a huge tent had been erected to contain the masses of celebrants, just because Gene was extra keen to drink green beer. Don't ask me why, I really don't quite know either.

So here's the Green Beer.

And that's Gene looking distinctly unamused: heheheheh. The beer was awful, think they just dumped a vat of some nuclear-green thing into very flat beer, and served it at 2.75 a pop... eh, you need to add tips for the bartender too leh, so it was expensive beer at about 3.75 a pop - that's about five or six bucks Sing. Anyway, it was five or six bucks Sing down the drain cos G was totally dying to get out of there - he wore his nice Zegna shirt and Polo corduroys and the chappies at the pub were wearing their hunting vests... We were literally flies in potato soup, wait, make that croutons, since we are really yellow now with our super-faded tans.... and one of the flies was super overdressed. Hurhurhur. Hence the super "get-me-outta-here-now!" look. I chortled at him the entire night.

But to make up for it, there was a great house party that night, we were invited by an Irish cardiologist that I met a week earlier, she's got such a British-isles type name.. Aisling. Anyway, she and four other Irish chaps and ladies here decided to throw a good old fashioned st pat's party - read a party with LOTS of booze, notably Guinness.

It felt like something right out of our "functions" back in those days of our youth - c'mon everyone, you remember them right? the house parties usually thrown by richie rich kids? And they'd hire like sound systems and all?

This had all the elements - sound system with this pounding bass, strobe lights AND a disco ball. We had a blast, not least because it was so international. I mean, we don't usually realize this, but Rochy IS quite a melting pot of different nationalities, and last night felt like quite the United Nations: Irish (or course), Americans (well, we are here in MN after all), Indian, Italian, Czech, Canadians, Greek, Lebanese... you get the idea... and everyone bopping to Irish jig music and Europop/dance/techno. Gives the idea of world harmony quite a filip don't you think?

Then today, we went up to the cities to positively gorge on dimsum... *burp* let's just say I got so full that I felt that if I had eaten another bitem everything would have spewed up. THAT bad.

Completely bloated and with doggy bag in tow (told you we overextended ourselves with the ordering), we headed off to see the car show in Minneapolis - where Gene fell in love all over again with the Lotus Elise, eyeballed the Porsche Targa and the Cayman S.

THEN we caught the movie 300. It's a must watch, and its absolutely eye candy galore for us women. Finally, I say! Finally we get to oooogle at the men on the screen.
Gene sniffs that it makes the movie like Chippendales. Humpf, no-one says anything disparaging abt movies which put up gorgeous woman bodies up on screen for the MEN to oogle now, do they?

Heh, that said, I liked the movie, cause the film making was aboslutely wonderful - new techniques, the lighting is wonderful, great new angles etc (okay, the cuties did have something to do with it too especially... *Swoooon*... Tom Wisdom).

But (spoilers ahead) good grief, I don't think the Immortals had ahem metal face masks that made them look like fans of the Joker. Drugs, yes, face masks like that? No. And I understand the image of Xerxes came straight out of a graphic novel by Frank Miller (of Sin City etc etc fame), but whoa, he just looked like Kumar (boom-boom-room Kumar) to me.

That said, the battle of Thermopylae has always been this wonderful premise, and I'm glad someone did a cool job of it. Bits I didn't like? All that going on about democracy etc etc etc, and how they were fighting for a future for freedom.

Erhm, Sparta used slaves. Hello. That's why they had to maintain the warrior breed of Spartans so that the slaves - who did ahem everything and eventually controlled the economy of the city state - wouldn't revolt. Martial law anyone? Geez. But true, they did inspire the rest of the city states to get off their butts,a nd therefore Athenian style or shall we say inspired democracy managed to survive... yada yada and then the rest is, as they say, history.

But all that said and done, doncha think Sparta is horribly intriguing? I remember being fascinated, almost gruesomely so, during my A levels history class by how the Spartans abandoned their weak, deformed babies, or threw them off a cliff. So committed were they to this idea of martial strength and law. But eugh, I also remember almost tearing up my book when I had to remember details like the many Athenian leaders and the Persian-Hellenic battles. Gak.

Alright alright, have rambled on enough. Go watch the show :)

I had to...

2007-03-15T12:24:00.001+08:00

IMGP2038, originally uploaded by gnatweds.

Recently went through G's storage archive and added more pixes of us to the flickr "memories" set ... found this one. Super could not resist putting this up. It is SO typically Gene doncha think? Someone captured this quiet moment during his MO conversion course... even in military greens, it's hard to tear that PDA out of his grasp. And for people who know him, isn't it such a typical Gene face when he's concentrating? Note the gloomy gus expression.

Flickr

2007-03-15T12:20:00.001+08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

So....

2007-03-13T11:28:00.000+08:00

Hi folks.

I must say things are looking up here in Rochester, MN - not least because we've booked our respective flights back home.

Am a lucky girl, G had enough miles to upgrade himself AND get me a business class one way ticket back to Sg! Yaaaaaaaay! I leave on April 24 and arrive in Sg on April 26... so who's free to meet up then?

G comes home in July.

So, now, am a bit busy with making sure everything's packed, finding a shipper etc etc etc.

Oh, and its also definitely transitioning to Spring - the weather is positively balmy at 3 deg C. No need to wear the extra coat during the days now, and the snow is finally melting. No more snowboarding maybe, (which is sad) but winter was TOUGH and shoveling snow sucked big time.

Speaking of snowboarding - two weekends ago, we decided to get ourselves to Afton Alps - which is one of the bigger ski areas near the twin cities with 18 chair lifts. Check out the trail map on the website. It was great fun, especially since it had snowed the day before, but it was real crowded - and because we were so new to the place, we were super blur on which runs to take, plus the signages were mighty confusing as well.

To make a long story short - we think we went down our first black diamond - erh, completely by mistake. The best part is that we didn't even realise that we took a black diamond slope until later when we were having our requisite end-of-the-day-beer at one of the chalets and we were checking out the map again when, we went... uh oh... did we actually do that?

It was steep! And there were a couple of skiers sprawled out on the snow, the snow patrol had to come and toboggan them down to the medic station... and a couple behind us in the line for the ski lifts gave us this incredulous looks when they thought it was our first time on snowboards (miscomm - it was our first time at Afton Alps) but we didn't put two and two together until much much later...

okay, okay, it's called being chao gong.

In the meantime, buying all my barang barang to bring home - if nothing else, this year will have done wonders for my wardrobe but not much for my bank account.

If you want something, better email me quick!

What else? hummm....

oh, G's lost a lot of weight - he's on call once every three days and he gets very little sleep on these horrible calls. Although he snorted huffily when I told him today that he was a lot less rotund around the middle now, the poor boy is just too tired most days to eat properly.

Alright, that's the update for now.

Hugs

Checking off the winter list

2007-03-02T04:54:00.000+08:00

okay, I think I have managed to do almost everything that winter entails.

I've made a snow angel, pelted Eugene with snowballs, we made a mini snowman, gone snowboarding, experienced -40 deg C, been afflicted by Seasonal Affective Disorder - SAD; I've shoveled (v heavy) snow, scraped off layers of ice from the car, yanked/kicked open the frozen car door (yes, ice encrusted the thing), driven in blizzard-like conditions, spun on icy roads; gotten whacked by sleet (ouch)...

What we haven't done: Ice fishing (erhhh...); snowmobiling (hummm) and winter bonfires (dunno where).

The little snowman

It's very annoying when you spend almost an hour shoveling out your driveway, then hours later, you get another few inches that you need to get ff. And we realise, yes, you actually need to shovel, because otherwise the cars can't get out of the garage. One of our neighbours got stuck and Gene and a couple of others helped push the car out of the piled up snow.

We got something like 15 to 16 inches a few days ago, and it's expected to hit 21 inches by the time the current one blows over by Saturday. Oh, and there's a difference in the kind of snow you get early and late on in the season. Now, when its close to the freezing point, the white stuff is not fluffy - its very heavy and moist. Good for snowmen and snowballs but sucky for cleaning up.

Ironically, Eugene - who loves it - and says "Bring IT ON!" to snow storms is missing this massive snowfall happening right now.... he's on call at the hospital.

I jest you not when I say you couldn't see 20 m in front of you while driving. Forget road signs - can't see them, and when the road crews try to clear the streets, they leave piles as high as buildings.

Interestingly, people here pile into grocery stores and gas stations when the weatherman predicts a big snow storm. We did our own stocking up - of beer and wine.

But - wait - it's not all that bad. I take it back. On Sunday we went boarding and the stuff was so deep we sank into our knees in it and it was wonderful - and it didn't hurt at all if you wiped out.

But in the absence of sunny weather - I've started golfing lessons at the indoor golf dome across the street. Yes, when we first came, we were wondering how to procure a rocket launcher to destroy that ugly thing that we have a full view of from our home. Open the door and you see it.

The view from the bedroom window.

But now, I reckon, maybe it's a sign that we should learn how to play the game anyway - well, it becomes a sign when you have nothing else better to learn.

I shan't make fun of golfers anymore... it's tough! Think too much and the swing goes all funny and don't think and it goes funny too. I've only swung at balls (very cathartic, this whacking balls thing) for two lessons... but it's actually kind of fun. Gasp. But I dunno, it seems a pretty tough game man, its just so counter-intuitive, your left arm is dominant when you wanna whack the ball, and usually, you'd want to use your right arm to send it to the rafters. Ah well.

This has definitely been a year for learning new things - snowboarding, golfing, yoga, proper swimming techniques. I should be grateful, I don't think I would have been able to dabble in all this if I were working back home. But in a strange, strange way, I do miss my working life very badly. It's very human to not like something when you're in the thick of it, but when you're not, you miss it and think it was brilliant. Like school, and work, and Singapore. Hahaha. In a few months, I'll prolly miss the carefree(er) life I'm currently leading here in Rochester huh?

Think this is the epitomy of the phrase "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence"...

Back from the Sun - into the perfect storm

2007-02-24T04:33:00.000+08:00

We were just in Orlando, Fl over the weekend - and it was great. The first few days were chilly - it hovered around 0 to 5 deg C then it warmed up - man it feels good to feel the sun again.

I am a sun baby, I can't help it. There was fabulous shopping - gnerk, put a real dent in my a/c.

And we returned on a crappy flight (delays galore - and we had to hire a rental to get back to Rochester from MN because the flight was sooooo late)to a huge winter storm that is brewing right now. Just got bits of hail and the supermarkets are packed with people stocking up in anticipation of the snow that's coming our way in the next two days.

Wonderful.
Bleah.

-38 deg C and counting

2007-02-06T14:25:00.000+08:00

Most dangerous bit of winter is here. Yes, with wind chill its averaging around -35 to -38 deg c. Weather warnings abound about having to wear gloves and hat if venturing outside lest you get frostbitten. Joy. But on the upside, the days are getting longer (sunset 545 pm!) yay! And gnat is closer to going home.

Hurhur

2007-02-03T01:29:00.000+08:00

Wy has just chided me for losing my snese of tropical reality after calling 7 deg C balmy. heheh. Can't help it lar, (see? still have my Singaporean accent) it hit -28 deg C this morning, and we're currently on -18 deg C, windchill makes it feel like -25 deg C.

Amazing how nonchalant you get about the cold when you have to live in it!

Well, actually I don't live IN it.
Am attempting to not move out unless absolutely necessary from the home which is set at a constant 20 deg C.
Yup, your math is right folks. There is a difference of 40 deg C from the inside and the outside.

:)

It's been a long time

2007-01-30T01:12:00.000+08:00

Hi folks,

I know, its been a looooong time since this blog has been updated.

My bad.

The last two weeks have been frustrating. The hip was taking forever to heal - guess, am about 95 per cent now - G made fun of my gait, and went snowboarding twice without me. Wasn't able to go to the gym much and that made me sooo paranoid about my food intake.

*tragic*

But will never take the ability to stand and walk for granted again. Doing everything is tough - cooking, laundry, getting dressed etc etc - when you've erhm literally got only one leg to stand on.

Also, the American health care system is waaaay expensive. That trip to the A&E cost about 2G. They took 6 x-rays and I had a consultation. That's IT.
Yes, although it only cost us 45 bucks from our wallet and the rest was covered by G's insurance - but can you imagine if you don't have the means to pay for insurance? (Its not cheap and many Americans can't afford it) - it means die die also won't go to the doctor. Pun fully intended in that sentence.

But on the upside, we're seeing a bit more snow these days. Well, at least flurries. The temperatures are fluctuating like mad. Right now its a balmy -7 deg C and last night it was -18 deg C.

eh, will update in a bit. Am running late with chores and there's a yoga class at the gym.

-24 deg C

2007-01-16T23:31:00.001+08:00

whaaaa. It's -24 deg C. New record for cold for us man.

Injury meter: 5

2007-01-16T11:31:00.000+08:00

Okay, had my bad snowboarding accident - gene had to go to A&E once, so I guess it was my turn.
It wasn't that dramatic a fall but I think I twisted something or snapped something or did something crazy to my hip. No, they don't see any fractures on the x-ray, which is good news.

But had to be tobogganed down the hill by the Ski Patrol which would have been embarassing and/or fun if I actually remembered any of it. All I remember was this awful pain haze.

Couldn't put weight on the leg on Saturday (when I fell) and yesterday.

Today, am beginning to be able to put a wee bit of weight on it again, though stairs are a challenge. Baths are painful and I have to sit down to try any kind of dressing manoeuvres.

On the upside, the painkillers are lovely. On the downside, am tripping all over these crutches.

Going to see another doc for follow up tomorrow. Hopefully, it will all be good news and I will be up and right as rain in a few days.

It is *finally* snowing and I really really don't want to miss that.

Wish me luck.

Chuffed!

2007-01-03T02:58:00.000+08:00

It was a great start to 2007.

After eating our way through the wee hours of 2006 at our friend's place with the rest of the Singaporean/Malaysian gang here... here's a photo at the party... (NB: there was Sarawak Laksa, Chye Tow Kuay, pork ball congee, chee kuay, fried springrolls, AND ice kachang... yes, we ate many helpings.)

We decided to burn off some of the calories with a session of snowboarding on the very first day of the new year... plus, we thought, might as well take advantage of the small snow fall Rochester managed to get.

And I'm glad to report that both of us are totally stoked and chuffed at our session yesterday - it went really well. We can link our turns now and can control at least how fast/slow we wanna go and the direction! Hahhaha. Pretty important if we want to go down slopes.

Plus! This is our sixth and longest run! Previously, we were either too pooped or too injured to continue after one hour, but this time we went for three hours.

So as you can tell, it's quite a nice jump in pace and relative skill. We can finally see light at the end of this learning curve tunnel!

These are our lovely boards. As promised, a pix of them - and isn't Gene's horribly garang? There's like this wraith on it. Very cool. Mine is, like I said, in the Singaporean National colours. Hahhaha.
Will buy an outfit to match the board when I finally manage to get down the slopes with some kind of style. Hahahahha.

This is Steeplechase. Nice ah? It's the nearest skiing slope to Rochester - approx 15 minutes away.

Me taking a Diet Coke break... phew... yes, the Ford Explorer, even though it has given us quite a bit of grief in the last few months, has come into its own: it can bash through snow and gravel AND hold those boards/boots/paraphernalia AND give us a perch to have a break too.

Me, and my beaaauuuttiifoool board: very happy after great run on the slopes. Will I say the same after I crash hard again, I wonder?

Oh, remember our little injury meter? It's hovering between a 0.5 to 1. We're both sore - in a good way - from the extended workout, and some injuries are yet to heal properly. Case in point: Check out my funny-shade-of-green/purple knees...

Happy New Year!

2007-01-01T16:53:00.000+08:00

Happy New 2007!

Just came back from a party where I ate waaaaaaaaaaaaay too much. Sigh. Whatever happened to drinking too much?

But on a good note its *finally* snowing. Very mild but finally!
There's apparently a blizzard up north but here, its pretty tame... hummm must be getting used to the temps. Only -1 deg C at the mo.

With any luck, it simply means getting some boarding time tomorrow! YAAAAYYY!

My knees are a funny shade of green

2006-12-28T00:52:00.000+08:00

We went to try out our snowboarding gear again; and I have to report that it is extremely fun but extremely crushing for our weary old bones.

Out of three lessons we've had so far, two of em were taught by 16-17 year olds. And they are going like, yeah, just keep practicing. Erhm... the 16 year old body is tres differenet from the 30some-year-old body!

For instance, I crashed on my knees so often that now I have knees sporting bruises you would not believe. They cover the entire kneecap, I jest you not.

I also whacked the back of my head really hard.... think land on butt then whiplash down to bonk head. Lucky no concussion, got super bad headache but am okay. My neck on the other hand is stiff as a board.

Gene's wrist is better but his shoulder and thumb are now iffy.

So, just cos we're sadistically enjoying the new sport, we're starting an injury meter.
0 = we're getting good! we managed not to hurt ourselves at all.
1 = muscle aches from the exercise, or minor stuff sure can walk and laugh about it the next day. 2 = injuries, wake up groaning. Need to pop painkiller type.
3 = more serious, must wear some kind of supporting splint thing, and need to pop pills.
4 = wha piangs, kena whacked damned hard, need to visit doc.
5 = must get to A&E.

So right now... gnat's combined injury meter is about 2.5

hehe. Onward ho to more adventures!

Santa Claus is coming... with vodka jellies

2006-12-26T12:16:00.000+08:00

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

And true to style, we bought oh, about $200 worth of booze - wine, rum, scotch and vodka - for the holiday season.

KL-ites: check out the size of that Skyy bottle! Guess what? It's was only about US$16. Hummm. Do you wonder why we drink so much here? Oh, by the way, that stuffed toy is something Gene bought on impulse for Halloween. He thought it was cute.

And being the good Santas Clauses that we are, we decided to bring the folks here a bit of Christmas spirit (well, literally) and good cheer.

Ta-dahhhh! Vodka Jellies! Thanks to master chef Gene, they were whipped up in a flash, and were pretty to boot. The first test batch were however so strong that they got even us choking on the alcoholic fumes. So the next batch were made at half strength; could be stronger, but we were too worried about sending the people here to St Mary's Hospital for alc poisoning...

But they did sit ever so pretty inside our fridge though! Want a recipe? Use about one cup water and more than half a cup of vodka, but don't go to a full cup. That's going to be waaaaaay tough to eat. NB: I had one of those super strength ones and turned beet red within minutes.

Tis has been a quiet few days for us. Despite all our good intentions to snowboard, the last time we went (on Thursday) Gene took a reallllllly bad spill.
So much so that I thought his arm was fractured when I saw and heard the slamming of his arm on the slope.

Actually, it was crappy weather to go out snowboarding - it had rained and the slopes were all icy. But we were too gian to try out our new equipment so we went anyway. Bad move.

G refused to go to A&E that night, but he went the next day, and they apparently took a gadzillion x-rays and turns out that he didn't fracture anything.

But am forcing the chap to wear his wrist braces and/or bandage for the time being.

Don't know when we'll hit the snow slopes again - not that there's any of the white stuff falling by the way. It has been a totally not-white christmas.

And according to the locals, warmer than its ever been. It's a La Nina thing apparently, but all the better for me because it did dip to -12 deg C for a couple of days in early December and gawd, that was tough.

Hope your Christmas went okay? Drop us an email sometime and tell us all about it sometime.
We're missing the scene back home. Here, everything is shut down tight for the holidays, it's almost like a ghost town but on the upside, the post Christmas sales start tomorrow. *yay*

Zouch!

2006-12-21T13:27:00.000+08:00

Zouch! We just went and spent more than we meant to. Hummm... when does that NOT happen with us? Sigh, us (me in particular) and money are simply meant to be parted.

With a dreary day here in Minnesota, we forewent the ski slopes and went to "see" snowboard packages instead in the cities. We ended up buying our equipment. G says he will take photos tomorrow when the light is au naturel and better.

G's board and bindings very very garang; there's a spectacular illustration on his.
Mine are, apart from being horribly expensive, in Singapore's National Colours. I jest you not.

Curious are we, dear readers? wait for pix!

So, this just gives us extra motivation to hit the slopes. It's an expensive sport, but wait, all our sports are... diving, wakeboarding... I sense a pattern here, do you?

Speaking of spending, the last week has been a happy oh so happy one. I got shoes for Christmas! And a pair I ordered from Amazon also arrived. Happy happy day! *gnat is delirious with joy* As Ms Chang so aptly puts it... call me Imelda Soh, dahlinks.

Anyway, Christmas and the New Year is coming up. And for the first time in years, Gene and I (well, me by default anyways) are off the entire Christmas weekend. Will blog about what happens to us in the next few days.

Waiting for the snow and the white Christmas to happen. So far, its just been averaging about 0 to -2 deg C and there is none of the white stuff.

Oh man!!!!!

2006-12-20T07:31:00.000+08:00

Oh man oh man oh man. I am finally back!
Smartly, after being tempted by the "all-new blogger" tag, I switched to the gmail account. And ta-effing-da. I was locked out for 2 weeks.

After fiddling and fiddling with cookies, security settings and blah blah de blah - am finally back with Mozilla Firefox. First impressions: It's pretty darned good!

And well, I guess I am back on the blog. Poor G will have to do the same (switch to a gmail id).. lets see if he needs to get Firefox as well...

Anyway! The update: We've been bitten by the snowboarding bug - and we're on the verge of buying equipment, if only because renting is 25 to 29 bucks per time. This is not inclusive of the ski lift fees and lessons. Gak.

Oh man, it feels good to access the blog all over again....

Update

2006-12-12T01:56:00.000+08:00

Ok, a quick update:

Mom and Dad have arrived safely back in Singapore after a whirlwind two and a half weeks here. Brought them to Lutsen - a snowy mountain in the north shore of Minnesota - to see snow, and all we got was rain.

But the upside is that we definitely got some pounds piled on because of the fabulous food mom cooked up: Babi Ponteh, Kuah Lada, Laksa, Mee Siam, har cheong kai...shiok man. Gene and I, erhm, theoretically know how to make mom's Laksa now. Theoretically.
The folks here in Rochy also got to sample mom's cooking and they were suitably impressed; and whacked the food... amazing how much laksa can be consumed in one night.

As mentioned earlier - we haven't had much snow, but the hour mom and dad was due to go to the airport, there was a brief snow shower! So, at least they got to see the white stuff.

Christmas season is in full swing. It's pretty organic here - not the organised hullabaloo like in Orchard Road. People are putting up lights on their homes and you can see lit Christmas trees everywhere. Shopping Malls are chock full of people too! Managed to find G a gift (phew) after missing several birthdays and Christmases because I never manage to find him a nice enough present. Though last year, he did get a beautiful leather laptop bag thing which he never uses!
*sigh*

Yesterday, G and I tried snowboarding for the first time. It's a pretty good deal... three days worth of passes, equipment and two lessons for US$89 each. Our first lesson was like one and a half hours long and honestly, it was completely exhausting. It was like learning to wakeboard all over again, we were fumbly and awkward and totally out of our depth. And the morning after is just as bad as a wakeboarding morning after - discovering new muscles I never thought actually existed. There are also huge bruises in unmentionable places. That said, think we need more "surface time"... so maybe we'll get to do it in the next couple of days.

But a more urgent task is to fix up the Porsche. We have been having a pretty bad run of luck with our vehicles. The Ford has had to be fixed one too many times and now we just want to sell it. The karma with that one not that good. Then, just on Saturday, the Porsche started acting up.
Gah.

Okay, gotta go. Lots of laundry, and the apartment is filthy by my reckoning. Plus need to go get some groceries as we're cooking tonight.

Remember us and wish us a smoothier time with the cars. We're thinking about everyone back home (and yes, whining about how much we want to go home too) and in case I don't get a chance to blog in next couple of days: Merry Christmas!

If you're wondering...

2006-11-22T14:49:00.000+08:00

... why there's the awful silence on the blog?

Sorry lah, but my parents - The Sohs - are in Rochy, MN. They arrived Sunday midnight/monday morning.
Heh, maybe G thinks nothing's going on but I have been a tad bitty bit stressed out.

Even though I'm officially middle aged, there's nothing like a visit from your mom to get you cleaning up the apartment like mad - lest she casts a disparaging eye over the film of dust that's collected on some improbable crevice.
Drove Gene mad with the cleaning and packing - he has bits of everything, from books to documents to receipts ALL over the place. This obviously creates some conflict, I want to be able to see the table again, but he says that if I clean up the mess he won't be able to find stuff he *strategically* placed in the mess.
Eg: "I know that I put the document under that pile of papers, next to the nail clipper, diagonal from the bronch textbook. If you move it, I won't know where it is..."

You get the idea.

Mom and Dad are staying in the spare room while here - which means I'm getting used to sharing a bathroom with gene again. I tell ya, I'm getting spoiled, I REALLY like having my own closet and bathroom.

Heh, having own bathroom also means that I don't *ahem* have to see the mess in his bathroom and what I don't see, I don't know, and what I don't know; I don't have to clean up after ... although this has backfired on me I realise. When you erhm, *enforce* ignorance for a while, you kinda get pay back... big time. Let's just say I had to clean up gunk a colour that i never knew existed on this earth during the recent before-parents-arrive-cleaning exercise.

But having own bathroom also means that everything in there is all yours! And you can also put in touches you like... like scented soap here and hand towels there without upsetting your partner's space and barang barang. It's lurvely! And if there is a decent closet that you can walk into nearby, even better!

There are some things and concepts I'm definitely plotting and planning to bring home.

Anyway, back to mom and dad. So far (It's been two days) they've seen a bit of the town, the countryside and a casino...
Yah lah, typical Asian parents, they wanted to see the Casinos. In all truthfulness, I have no real affinity for the places. But today, I lucked out.
I put money in the $1 slot machines - not knowing that they were $1 games and relatively high value ones - and won $3 the first round. Cashed out immediately and bought a beer for $2.45 (but had to leave a dollar tip). Looked around for parents to pass them the beer but no luck. The casino was quite large. After trudging back and forth for about 25 minutes, and not finding them.
I sat down again at the same machine, fed in $20 note and on the first try won $10.
Cashed out again... so that $10 paid for... uhm... coffee we had earlier. Pathetic huh?

Eugene is lucking out with home cooked breakfasts prepared by my mom; and I have been kicked back into Sous Chef mode - ie cutting up stuff while mom - as jet lagged as she is - supervises with a keen eye and does the actual frying. I personally this is a rather tragic-comic combination of lurve, ie my poor child, let mommy do it AND complete dismay at my ability, ie my poor child, she's never going to get what being a good nonya cook is, let mommy do it.

Anyhoos, It's 1 am. Am off to bed. Expect a little more radio silence for a while from moi, but will encourage G to blog if he's not too busy. Cheers!

Ho Huuuuum...

2006-11-21T10:32:00.000+08:00

No blog updates

Nothing is happening man, nothing.

here's hopping it snows really hard soon.

Snow angel

2006-11-11T08:26:00.000+08:00

Art: As requested, I made a snow angel.... The snow was deep enough!

We only frolicked in the snow at night, cos heh, a bit pai seh to do so in the middle of the day when everyone's looking. Made snowballs ran around sinking into the stuff and then slipped back into warm confines of the apartment and promptly shed snow everywhere on carpet hahahhahahah.