Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Where Am I?

Pretty confused these few days! I couldn't even figure out if it's Wednesday, Thursday or Friday today! It definitely looks like Friday today because of the Labour Day holiday on 1 May tomorrow.

I've got 4 events projects concurrently going on and in each project, and liaising with an average of 20-25 speakers or so is no joke. It's not the physical work that is stressful, but it's really the not knowing what's ahead and what is to come that is causing me much stress -- couldn't find any more words to describe that feeling. And I just hope that some people will not raise unnecessary stupid questions/ideas that kill brain cells. Sometimes, I wish they could at least try to switch ON and let the circuit run in their brains abit. If everyone use just 5% of their brains, then the world will be a better place for you and for me and the entire human race. (now join me in singing to the song "Heal the World" by Michael Jackson.)

I prayed that God will help me to increase my brain storage and processing speed and also to get 7-11 to open an outlet within my campus, so that I can purchase a cup of Slurpee anytime and experience "brain freeze", just in case it gets overheated.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Ben & Jerry's Free Ice-cream Day

It's my second year of queueing for the Ben & Jerry's strawberry cheesecake ice-cream at the outlet in Raffles City!

It didn't take us long to figure out where exactly was the end of the snaking queue, which was lined with working adults and students. How could I forget that Singapore is famous for queueing! The queue was long, yet fast. Anyway, it's all worth it! It's definitely one of those days (other than the year-end bonus payout day) that I've been straining my neck and looking forward to!

However, I'm not sure if the ice-cream servers are just excited as me! I do really pitied the young gals bending their backs and scooping out the hard frozen ice-cream. It's really a back-and-arm breaking job! I can imagine all of them will be groaning in pain and plastering ko-yok on their bodies! :P And sorry, if I'm too engrossed eating my ice-cream and forgot to thank you gals earlier.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Barina's Missing - Missing Barina

The office was extremely cold and dim this morning. Rina’s door was closed and the physical day light that shines out from her room was missing. Although the radio was on, but the silence was somehow getting louder and louder. We cracked a few jokes, but Rina’s asthmatic laughter wasn’t there to complement it. It is not one of those typical Monday blues, but the reality of Rina's absence finally sank in today. She is not on time off, leave or mc, but she is physically not working here anymore.


Last Friday, was Rina’s last day. When we had lunch at the Botanical Gardens, but the atmosphere was a bit unnatural, as if we were trying hard to avoid something. The most unbearable time was the final minutes to 6 o’clock. I promised to make her cry, but joined her instead when we hugged each other, just before she left. She is more than a colleague to me, but a friend. It is with reluctance that I have to let her go, but I still give her my blessings, as this would be the best for her.



Although the two and a half years that we spent together may be short, but thanks to the many events that ARI had, that we spent many hours of communicating, getting to know one another and of course bitching around, while mending the secretariat desk, hanging out together at events dinner and working during the weekends.


With so much time spend together, we shared the same radio frequency and often come into the office dressing in the same colour combinations, nearly the same hairstyle (until recently); and had similiar likings for URS shoes, Coffee Beans Ice Blended Coffee and recently makan (which explains my weight gain). Eventually, their love of food has rubbed on me. (By the way, Rina's taste buds are expensive!) She is simply fantastic with food, always trying out new restaurants and thus able to recommend many alternative event dinner venues. We knew each other's favourite colours, taste buds, special anniversaries and even families members. We even have the same hairdresser! We started doing things together, such as blogging, attending courses, going to pee at the same time (often competing over the 2 cubicles at the office) and the most rediculous thing would be having our periods (dai yi ma) around the same time - I liken that to Tsumami warnings.

I really wonder the reason why we are called – THE EVENTS TEAM. I don’t think the main reason is the complimentary sort, about having being associated with the great teamwork kind. But more likely that it is easier to call for the 3 of us at one go, rather than for Rina, Aly & Val individually … hehe. Sometimes, when they call for one person, they got 3 responses - in echos. Yeah, and we made a lot of noise together too.


Sometimes, the researchers are confused, who is the main person that they should go to for events. Actually, it is to Rina first, as she is the senior in terms of position. However, we do not have a very clear and deep line that was drawn between the 3 of us. We respected of each other for who we are and tapping on each other strengths and helping out on each other's weakness. Hehe...they knew how I hated writing "very polite emails" and I'll take more than an hour just to do that, and both will kindly help me with the vetting or even drafting, as it’s a breeze for them. Another example - Aly and I are very particular (but most of the time paranoid) about layout and formatting and my poor supervisor always kanna lashing from the both of us, before we took over her event program and changed it completely, until she cannot recognize it.


We recognized that praises is not enough to maintain a relationship, but being able to take criticisms with the thought of improving oneself and spurring each other to excel in our work. That's why I think we made a name for ourselves during the last 2 years and is known as the THE EVENTS TEAM. However, things will never be the same again - without Rina. It's that synergy – that unspoken thought – that spirit of giving – that “automatic” pro-activeness. I remembered during my trying period last year of picking up driving again to be my kid's chauffeur - morning, noon & night, after more than 12 years of absence of driving. Before I could even open my mouth, they were already offering their help, which I greatly appreciate.

All I wanna say is “Thank you, RINA for being you. And all the best in your endeavoures.”


Sunday, April 27, 2008

Fun with Genetics

Recently, I've signed Bryan up for Mindchamps, to help him pick up some learning technics and most of all the right attitude to learning, cos life is all about - LEARN, UNLEARN & RE-LEARN.

Every week, we need to do a home-based project together. And last week, we had to do an activity called CROSSING ANIMALS, which is to encourage the child to apply his/her imagination to create a new animal by crossing 2 animals. (Eg. duck + cheetah = ducktah)


I especially like the 2 new creations from the Savage Chickens

snail + alligator = SNAILIGATOR
crab + rabbits = CRABBITS .... "They were sure to pinch your buns!"


Saturday, April 26, 2008

Getting Organised for the Peak Period

I think I should also start making some space for my recent chio-bu studio make-over mugshot (to constantly remind myself to stay poised and ladylike, and to always keep my cool), my kiddos pixs (just in case, I missed them during one of those overnight camps) and lastly my cutesy stuff toys (to give me the much needed warmth in the superbly cold office) :P !

Friday, April 25, 2008

My Events Calendar for 2008


So I guess I won't be hearing from you guys envying me that I'm always on time off, annual leave or training course, cos I'll probably be grounded for the next 4 months. That's why I taking whatever opportunities to start my clearing leave here and there.

Aly was reminding me the other day to start stocking up on Maggie noodles, just in case, we've got no time for lunch. I even have a sleeping bag in my office ready for overnight camps. But no to worry about missing on my favourite TV programs, cos the office has a huge Plasma TV and not forgetting aircon 24/7.

Below is my events calendar from now till beginning of January 2009.
Those in higlighted in orange are the ones that I'll be anchoring.

12-13 Jun 2008 Workshop on Social and Health Challenges of Population Aging
19-20 Jun 2008 Buddhism and the Crises of Nation-States in Asia
26-27 Jun 2008 International Workshop on 'Autonomy and Armed Separatism in South and Southeast Asia
10-11 Jul 2008 Reassessing the Origins of the Cold War in Southeast Asia: A Roundtable on the Sixtieth Anniversary of 1948
28-29 Jul 2008 3rd Singapore Graduate Forum on Southeast Asia Studies
31 Jul-1 Aug 2008 Workshop on "Return" in Asia: Experiences, Ideologies and Politics
4-5 Aug 2008 Conference on Resilience and Transformation of Families in Asia
14-16 Aug 2008 Workshop on "Icons in Motion: New Directions in the Study of Religious Iconography"
11 Sep 2008 Asia Trends 2008
22-23 Sep 2008 Migration and Diversity in Asian Context
24-26 Nov 2008 Workshop on Early Economic and Cultural Exchange across the Bay of Bengal
5-7 Dec 2008 5th Great Asian Street Symposium 2008 (GASS) - FUTURE-ASIAN-SPACE
End 2008/Early 2009 Religion, Ethics & Law in Asia Workshop Series I: Making Islamic Layers/Judges in Malaysia and Indonesia
8-10 Jan 2009 Converging Forces, Conflicting Values: Rethinking Heritage in Asia

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

More "Char Bor"?



BREAKTHROUGH! I cut my fringe and had my hair permed last night.

The last time I permed my hair was during my secondary school prom night. It was so disastrous that it haunted me for years.

Seeing Carol permed her hair recently, made my hair itch a little. However, must thank my "very" encouraging colleagues, who even accompanied me there. However, having them around can be a quite a pain :P Don't know who is actually having a hair cut, they were literally making decisions for me. But I trust their them lah!

They say I look more "char bor" (ladylike) now -- except when I start to talk or walk. *piak*

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Excursion to the New T3 Airport


Secondary school friends from Paya Lebar MGS
We called ourselves - The GILA Group


Celebrating Alvena's birthday at the new T3 Airport. The Kopitiam foodcourt at basement 2 was very crowded that night. Only in Singapore, will you find local people traveling all the way there to have a meal. (Gee, I'm one of them)

The viewing gallery is such a disapointment.
It is being separated by the 2nd floor departure hall lobby.

Birthday gal, Aunty Nana and the kids.

That's what went behind the scene of taking picture of the kids.
2 cheerleaders & 1 photographer

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Bakers in the Making

Carol called yesterday and asked me if my kiddos and I wanna baked some rock buns/fruit cakes on Sunday. I was so proud to share with her that I've got the receipe still, as I have inherited my younger sis's Home Economics textbook from her Secondary 1 days (1990, I think) It's really ancient!

Carol was the patient chief chef that afternoon, giving instructions and teaching the kids to pour, measure, sieve flour; and eventually came the utlimate step -- the rub-in-method of the butter into the flour, which is a disaster in the making. The kids got so much dough on their fingers and we eventually ask them to stop and to wash their hands. Although the receipe mentioned that the portion was sufficient for 24 cookies, but we ended with 16 cookies instead.

Heheh...you wouldn't want to know what goes behind the kitchen and also the extra germs that were added into the mixture! It looks as if the kids are playing their regular Playdoh. Erh.. Gavin didn't dare try the buns at all.

Since we have some ingredients left, Carol and I decided to bake another lot of muffins, but this time round without the kids; they were busy watching TV already.

Don't they look yummy to you? But Carol commented that the taste was horrendous and they taste nothing like muffins at all. Hehe... confessions here! I forgot to add salt to it. :P

Friday, April 4, 2008

A Special Stamp on My Passport

I've recently got a special "Guilt-free approval to travel without husband & kids" stamp on my passport, supported and endorsed by my most honorable Minister of Manpower cum Home Affairs. (I thought I better penned this down in black and white and all colours, while the stamp is still valid.)

At the Good Friday service on 22 March, Pastor was sharing to the husbands about releasing the woman to where God wants them to be and not be bogged down by housework and the kids. And that just confirmed what we shared earlier in the afternoon, just before attending the service.

Gavin was sharing with me that he met a former colleague, who had enlightened him about spending time with our own parents. With the passing of his dad 2 years back, he did experience regrets of not spending more time with him. And for the first time, he had actually verbally released me to go and join my parents in their annual travel -- without him and the kids. He agreed to babysit the kids for me.

Frankly speaking, I didn’t dare dream of traveling alone, as I’m worried and guilty of leaving Gavin to cope with the kids by all by himself. Thank goodness, Gavin also realized that I probably won’t be able to enjoy my time with my parents, if I were to travel with my kiddos, as my eyes will suddenly multiply by 8 folds and turn into a 16-eyed disco-lights ball monster.

Finance is the other factor, thus, over the years, it’s either all go or all don’t go. Anyway, it’s not cheap traveling as a family. The last time, I estimated having to spend more than $2K just to the Genting Highlands, and it’s not even that far away. Anyway, I have learnt from my previous trip to Batam that kids are easily contended with the simple activities. And guess what? The kids enjoyed swimming and Pizza Hut most when they were at Batam. And I can do all on the green, green grass of home on the island called Singapore.

When Gavin was in his twenties, he had the opportunities of travelling together with his parents and sis to the US, Europe and Japan. And suddenly both of us only began to realize that I didn’t have that opportunity. Yah, what have I been doing in my twenties? After graduating, it’s like starting on a new career path which paid peanuts as a freshie and after that got to start saving for wedding. Then, got married at 25, the life got a bit mundane with changing of diapers, feeding the kids, housework and now coaching in the kids’ studies.

It’s never too late. I think now is the time to relax. My parents too, slogged in early years of their marriage and now, they are always traveling and doing things together, as if their second “pak-tor”.

Hehe… sometimes, I joked with my colleagues how I wished our company could send us overseas (except to Aceh and on Adam Air flights) to organize an event and I could take extend my stay there and travel a bit … hehe Before my mind started to wonder elsewhere, Gavin reminded me that he only allows me to travel with my parents, so that it will be meaningful and not for my own leisure trips with friends. Hmm, he can read my mind. I sometimes wonder if there is a cloud caption floating above my head.

So sisters, let’s arrange to join mum and dad to somewhere this year shall we? We haven’t done that together since secondary school days. I think the last time was donkey years ago to either Indonesia or Thailand?

Thursday, April 3, 2008

On the Rosier Side


I'm very suprised and touched when Gavin bought me a get-well-soon rose today as I was down with a very bad stomache and puked thrice during the last 2 days. (No, I'm not pregnant!)

In fact, last week, he bought me a stalk after our Church Senior Pastor gave a family talk during Santification Week (the Good Friday weekend) to the husbands to love their wives , not only through words, but also through actions.

That first flower was chosen by Joel and paid by daddy. But the best part is knowing that Gavin was following up with regards to our conversation, which we left off during Valentine's Day this year. He added on that he finally found a stalk that is not only big and beautiful but also cheap and it only cost him $1. I wished he would just simply smiled and keep the finer details to himself.

I remembered he mentioned 2 days before Valentine's Day that a stalk of rose cost $3. And I purposely reminded him on Valentine's Day itself that the rate per stalk actually went up to $7. I didn't even bother asking him about where's mine, as I knew along that I married a very practical man.

Actually, there were 2 ocassions, which I still remembered vividly. Once, when we were on a group outing to Cameron Highlands, after much perstering, he finally bought me a bouquet of small champagne roses - all wrapped up in newspaper. And the second occassion was of course the compulsory wedding bouquet of champagne roses (my favourite), which I think was part of the wedding package.

After that, my husband went on to add that it doesn't have to be on Valentine's Day to receive flowers and it's better than none right? Yeah right! In my heart, I was thinking -- one stalk a month, for 12 months. I'll probably have to wait for a year to accumulate my dozen of dried roses.

Stalk 1 - 28 March
Stalk 2 - 2 April
And still counting
.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Baby No .3


Didn’t you know meh? That’s my number 3 - Jolene.

No lah, that’s Joel all wrapped around in my pink towel. And he hates it when I call him "Jolene", and I often threaten him with the name change, if he is to continue with his crying spasms.

Actually during my last 2 pregnancies, I did plan for names for both sexes. So you can imagine, how bored I am when I'm pregnant that I started naming my child even before I knew the gender of the baby. And if I were to have a gal, I would call her - Ethel.

Recently, a close friend of mine from secondary school gave birth to set of twins. She also has a boy prior to the twin’s arrival. In addition to that, another of our friend from the same GILA gang is pregnant again with her third child.

No wonder I'm having this nightmares of those 2 gals cajolling me to join them in the pro-MCYS policy: “Ai, come join us leh. We are all having 3 children! The new quota for our GILA gang is 3."

And my old naggy neighbours have from time to time persuaded me to take a gamble and to try for a gal. I cannot take a chance of having yet another boy. This type of gamble is for life man! I've long decided to close my factory, mainly because of the lack in childcare help. My hands are really full with the 2+1 boys at home. Nothing will make me “dong san zai qi” (means to stage a comeback).

However, I’m still excited for Angela and I sincerely rejoice with her. Indeed, this child is God-planned and he/she will bring the blessing of God to the family.

Wow! Our GILA group consisting of 10 adults and 8 kids (and 1 forthcoming) are really booming with children. It can be quite a challenge nowadays to source for a place for gatherings.

This picture was taken in 2006
Thanks Nana, for the correction.
You always have
a super memory with dates.

Missing from the pictures are: Judy (who was stationed overseas) and
the new additions to our group Shayna and Aaron & Asher (twins)