Times when we get ourselves into a rut

Friday, December 29, 2006 @ 1:42 AM

Christmas 2006

Tuesday, December 26, 2006 @ 11:39 PM

was marked by merry strains of Happy Birthday...

by heartfelt pledges of love, "Will you marry me?"

and by the warm, pulsing beat of life seeping away...

as the chill sets into bones long gone cold.

As I stared down into the face of Uncle Tan tonight, it all felt so surreal. That familiar face, painted to make it appear flushed with life, was devoid of just that. It had been a very long time since I last saw him, probably a year or two. He was always so generous and loved treating us to dou hua or little snacks here and there. It was often an especially merry affair if he did happen to strike lottery.

And with Uncle Tan having brought in so many obituary advertisements as a living, it was certainly unnerving to see his picture on print for a change.

Life is so unpredictable. And the scary thing is, it can happen to anyone around you. =(

If Only

Friday, December 22, 2006 @ 2:03 PM

Sometimes I wish I were a different kind of person.

Someone frank, straight-to-the-point and doesn't mince her words.

Someone who pays no heed to what people think of her.

Someone who's impulsive and doesn't think of the long term.

Someone who grasps every opportunity.

Someone who doesn't need to hide her true feelings with nonchalance.

Then perhaps, I would be more whole.

Finally the sky clears

Wednesday, December 20, 2006 @ 6:34 PM

after two days of incessant rain and I see the sun!

Never thought I would miss sunlight so much. While I was out this afternoon, I stepped out into the sun and the heat enveloped me like a comforting blanket. Bliss.

Life after I started clearing leave... has been kind of laidback, yet I feel like there is so much I want to do and time is ticking away. 2007 beckons and it seems like an official crossover into adulthood. I know I know, I already turned 21 like months ago but it had not felt like the real thing then. Next year will be when I really grow up.

In the past two weeks, I've also learnt the importance of the gift of the gab. Speaking well gives you that edge in making that first impression. Oh well, it's something I got to pick up along the way.

And I now declare myself an official Wentworth Miller fan. *heartz*

Xmasy farewell for the team

And overdue pics for my IKEA Tampines trip!

Car queue that snaked all the way...

Guess what, this was the waiting line behind us for the IKEA restaurant.

Spaghettis, meatballs and chicken wings!

The cavernous warehouse!

The Junk Queen

Wednesday, December 06, 2006 @ 4:41 PM

I really am, literally the junk queen.

Am on leave today so I thought I would began some cleaning up. The problem with me is that I am too sentimental. I keep anything and everything for memory's sake. I also do spring cleaning only once in a blue moon, hence the accumulation of items which lose their value over time. Tsk.

Chucking old stuff is always an interesting chore. I found myself assailed by memories of my sch days as I went through my drawers today. Angel vs Mortal letters and old CCA schedules, who should take charge of photography or videography for events like the combined schools' sports meet with TCHS... When you are young, you actually write letters to tell virtual strangers about your daily lives, about the books you are reading for class, bitch about classmates you don't like with relish. Don't think I can open up to people that easily anymore.

I also found my primary sch prefect notebook, with hand-drawn columns of names, class and crimes committed. I wielded that little blue notebook, endorsed with the school stamp, like it was the ultimate weapon. I was like a little sadist who enjoyed 'booking' troublemakers, leveraging on the fear factor of the discipline mistresses who terrified the entire school population. Hah.

I still remember the selection exercise at the end of P2, where nominated students had to go through an interview with the discipline mistresses. Imagine la, at 8 years old, having to face the stern faces of the infamous Ms F, Mrs G and Ms S. One by one, we were supposed to go up and answer questions. I was asked why I wanted to be a prefect. And introverted me, awed by their presence, softly mumbled,
"So that when the students run, I can tell them to stop."
Sheesh... thinking back, I find this reason really hilarious. Wanna be a prefect coz you want to stop younger kids from running about in the school?!

I really need to find better excuses. And clean up my room more often.

P.S I found my old tamagotchi too! :p

IKEA Madness

Sunday, December 03, 2006 @ 12:23 PM

Woahhh, Wahhh and Soo Nice!

3 words which we kept hearing throughout our trip to IKEA Tampines, on its first day of opening. Pure madness I tell you, as we jostled with families - aunties and ah mas, kids and teenagers. Naive me had assumed that it was a weekday, so would only get really crowded in the evening after people knock off rite? Wrong. It was the school holidays! Seems like I've been detached from school life for too long.

There were shuttle buses from several designated MRT stations, which we didn't spot at all. The crowd started to manifest as we neared the huge warehouse store, 1.5 times the size of IKEA Alexandra. Long lines of cars queueing to enter and snail trails of people walking in and out of it. Basically, there were queues for everything. Feel like a pee? Pls Q. Want to get a bite of sweden meatballs? Pls Q. There was this old auntie who approached us as we were in a queue for the restaurant, asking if dining was free for that day. Hah, we wished so too!

We fell in love with splendid walk-in wardrobes and gorgeous vanity dressing tables. Imagine, mirrors on all sides so you can turn and see yourself from all angles! Just perfect for a girl to dress up.

I tried out all the pillows on display as well, all the while worrying about the bacteria that I would pick up. I took off my shoes and fitted them into the portable shoerack, just to test it out. And after much internal debate, I bought them home.

Trips to IKEA are always fun, minus the jostling and queueing. Meanwhile, visit IKEA Alexandra for any of your furnishing needs!