Reunion Dinner

What a tiring day! Starting from god knows what time, my phone been ringing and in-laws chasing to go back to prepare for CNY. Never in my life we start preparing Steamboat at 2pm in the afternoon. I thought steamboat is super easy to prepare? Just slice the meat, cut the vegetable, open the can-food, voila! DONE. Didn't know that require to prepare 4 hours in advance.

As usual, hubby was the only one who is busy preparing for the big event. (all other kids missing) I try to hang around looking busy, taking shots to avoid being called to help out.

We had huge huge prawns for dinner. They costed $32 per kg for 8 which meant that every prawn equal to $4. Father bought $100 worth of big prawns for 20 over people tonight. Lousy me. I only ate 1.

The whole dinner fed twenty over persons. We had 4 steamboats including 1 "mala huoguo",sharkfin soup, fried sea cucumber etc. We have chinese and indonesian guests eating with us.

Spring Cleaning

Chores I did today
1. Change bedsheets
2. Clean toilet
3. Wipe my pianos
4. Pack my study table
5. Hide all my makeup and clean my dressing table
6. Sweep the floor


Gong Xi Fai Cai!!

What Chin Chow can do!

Last night was really terrible. Went Blk 500 plus Bedok North to enjoy our usual supper feast everytime Miao came back from Chengdu. As usual, my eyes bigger than my stomach and end up ordering too much food for 3 of us. We had a not so small mountain of Ngor Hiong with plain bee hoon, Rojak, BBQ stingray and fried hokkien mee. Arh..... all my favourite! Yum yum.

Then me, itchy backside went to order Chin Chow drink while the rest ordered freshly squeeze sugar cane juice. Miao scolded me saying the chin chow must be the left over from morning. Hey.. I don care. I was craving for chin chow and chin chow i must have!

To my horror! While i was about 1 mouthful from emptying my chin chow drink, i bit on something hard and long! I spit it out and discovered a long, thin, metal string which suspiciously look like it belongs to my mum's metal scrub she used for the basin! Immediately i felt sick and lost whatever appetite i have for the remaining food. Die.. how many strands did i swallow? Shites.. I don't think the digestive system can digest metal and what if it flow along the arteries and piece my heart!?? I'm going to die.. die.. die...heart pain now *ouch*

Needless to say, and no prize for guessing. I felt sick and diarrhea the whole day. All along, Cat has been cursed with a weak stomach and now with the "extras" , my stomach is protesting! So this cat spend the whole day running in and out of the toilets. On the brighter side, airport toilets are well known for their superb cleanliness so I don't mind this tiny inconvenience.

P.S -I still feel sick.

Devious Me

Managed to convince teacher that i am confused about his instructions last week and didn't practise. Haha.. managed to get away with it and he looked quite sympathetic. I wonder how the other students take it but then i am really struggling with the song. Teacher told me that some students were terrible. Can't even play both hand if the base clef notes are missing. At least i can play. So don't fall into the "lousy" category.

Well, concert is getting closer. Teacher simpified the chords and taught me slowly how to hit the keys. Now at least i have an idea. Just spend 30 mins practising on my clavinova and my fingers protesting in pain. I think i must have hit the keys too hard. Finally, teacher told me he is classically trained. Confirmed my suspicions! But then I am really impressed he could achieve this level through listening! I was told to practise more songs at home and also play with other people to improve my skills. Give me more reasons to organise more jamming session in office. HB must be thrilled!

So happy today.. Counting down for my Miao to come back tomorrow!!

Shortlived Passion

Hah... just one friend commented i have shortlived passion. Always "cheong" headlong into something interesting than later the interest fizzled out. Today is my pop piano class AGAIN! Yours truly has yet to practice so i dread to see my teacher's face! and feeling all soooo guilty because the date for the concert is looming near!

Without Wheels!

Finally after so many years, I encountered my very first difficulty of getting a cab. Last night, my office colleagues held a farewell dinner cum drinking session at Millenia walk. Paulanders is cool! I love the music. Must go again with my cat gang.

Anyway, I was so tired at 1120 so i bid an early farewell leaving the guys and gals behind. Hanqi and Cindy followed. Cindy intend to share a cab with me as we are all the Easterners. We walked to Suntec Convention taxi stand and the queue was frightening! Hell.. better call a cab rather than queue my way to god know what time. Surprised! Comfort actually addressed me by Ms Gan when my call went through. Funny...after so many years they still have my records! :p

However to my horror.. no taxi driver picked my call. I exhaust the maximum time allowed and the line went dead. Frustrated, Cindy and me walked along the suntec boulevard for 15 mins trying to hail a cab without success. Along the way, I wanted to take a direct bus but then later realised the last bus has gone! #$@% I chased after Cindy from Suntec bus-top to Fountain of Fortune! From there we walked to Suntec tower 2 while trying to hail a cab along the way.

So stressful! I was abit cheese off because i wanted to pick up my car from home. If i have wheels, prolly singing my lungs out along the ECP right now (while driving)!

Finally, after many futile efforts we managed to hob into a cab (on call) and reached home by 12.20am.

Thick skin at work

Cat Flying have a knack of being "arrowed" portfolios that are really out of my scope. Just today, I was told to quickly rush out a special scope tender. I am not trained in these area but somehow all these "special" projects knows how to land on my tiny lap.

I must have missed the small line that read "Applicant must possess thick skin. Able to beg would be an added advantage" when applying for the job. Shites! Now got to resort to cold calling consultants for test marketing and (as of today) even resort to begging for information so that i could draft my documents. How sad!!

On the brighter side, these are good exposure. Though difficult at first but the more i do, more i learn. No birds learn how to fly without falling right? Maybe soon i will become an expert. Haha... (provide i survive the whole project)

Tomorrow I am tagging along my colleagues to Wisma. Hsiaoyun said the Char Kway Teow in Food Republic is a must try. I must plan a way to sneak off to taka to pick up my watch...hehe

Hurray! tomorrow is friday!!

Lobbying for Feedback

Today was another uneventful day at work. Nothing much goes about in the office and I went to close a tender. Imagine me, myself and myself as the only person with no assistant to help me. Compare to my another colleague, the whole team of them were there and 5 males!! I was the only officer for my project and the submissions were many times more than theirs. Even the Tender Closing Committee "Policeman" commented that I need more help. Fortunately, the guys helped me carry the voluminous files and submission back to office. But hey... I did all the folding and recording myself. A huge feat... haha considering 5 mens were having difficulty doing it while i am doing it myself. Even finished faster than them too! Haha...

Anyway spoken to one gal regarding the company recent HR policies. For obvious confidential reasons, I can't reveal much but was complaining about the unfairness. Fortunately, the gal advised methods we can voice our displeasure. Apparently, other divisions are doing the same thing and bugging out HR dept.

Went back and spread the words to those unfortunate and unhappy staff. Shall decide to do a petition and complain to our EC champions. Maybe even write a letter to HR! If i get my pay reinstated.. hehehe.... got more money to buy make up!! Haha.... next.. I'm eyeing a Tag Watch. I think a watch is better than a LV bag....

Pray pray that our feedbacks will be heard...and actions taken!!

Ohh.... I can almost feel my bag now.... heeeee....

He is LOST!

Oh.. had breakfast with lacy cat and spookie mouse today. Was chatting on interesting topic on friend's relationship. Was stunned to know that a friend of ours, (Lost Cat) who can queue 1 hour for free parking lot in order to save $2 carparking in shopping centre. Not because Lost Cat is poor (how can a car owner be poor??) nor stingy because Lost can afford very up-market and high-tech surround sound system in the car and decked out in branded outfits.

One thing my cat gang and I are simply bewildered is, Lost's weird habit. Lost will take out his HDB parking label to hide before driving out in the morning and then put back the label when returns for the night. Is it sporting a HDB label uncool nowadays? Anyway, this cat read that such behaviour is very common now especially among the young. Haha... Cat really salute this determination to remember everyday. What if forget to put back? Then? Kenna fine....

Cat Flying would like to think that this group of people suffer from "Lost Syndrome". On one hand, they would like to appear rich and affluent and on the other hand (while no one is looking) source for the cheapest deal. I think at the end of the day, all the blame should goes to the society. Due to competitiveness and to outdo each other, we try our best to portray our best in order to impress. That explain why lost syndrome very common among us..

So, beware ladies, if you think you have hooked a rich man (all branded and drive a decent car, with no HDB parking label) THINK AGAIN. You might have met a Lost Cat!

I admit - Even myself also have the same syndrome. Otherwise won't be lemming for branded bags...(i can't afford it!)

The Song has been decided!

So, the song has been decided. I have choosen a classic. An old and familar tune from Wizard of the Oz. Everyone young and old should know how the tune goes. In fact, when i was deciding what to play for the concert (organised by the school for beginners to build up their guts) there were so many ideas. Some said play canto pop, beatles, jacky cheung etc etc... Initially I was keen to play "Love is Eternal" from Jacky Cheung's musical but my teacher don't know the song! Dur..... so no one to figure out how the chords!!

By accident, I told my teacher I am sick of playing chinese song. So I suggested playing an english song. That's how Over the Rainbow came about and he said I could play this for my concert. However, he wants me to play it the lounge way. No more 1,5,8 beat. He said since i am very ambitious, I should do the lounge way. (i call it lounge way cos' there's no other description to it, bear with me). Anyway, he said it is quite difficult for me to do it within 2 months but if can't master it, then he shall simplify the song in time for the concert.

Hey.. who said I can't. I am hardworking and I told him I will take up the challenge. Haha... must strive to be the best performer in the concert. though I humbly told him he cannot demand too unrealistic expectation.... (secretly shall go diligently practise so as to impress him abit) hehehe.....

Office Cat

To say office fashion is boring, is so very true. Yours truly has never ever been a fashion addict nor a trend setter in any fashion and to be worse, called an auntie before. However, my clothes, accessories, shoes etc (it seems) has been the much talk about topic in the office lately. Not the negative kind, mind you but suddenly this cat found herself being crown the office style queen!

I shall update what i wore to office today and let you be the judge. It was a cold and wet morning. Thanks to spookiemouse, I got a long, silky pink scarf which I wore around my neck (where else?) match it with a black top (body hugging type) and long black pants with thin white stripes. Due to the wet weather, I wore leather boots of ankle high length which i doubt would be obvious underneath my long pants. No way I would wear open toes shoes in this weather.. Yucks.. the water puddles!!

Makeup was very minimal as usual. I brush (must highlight not applied) my compact powder, line my eye with MAC fluidline "bo-peep" , no mascara (sorry saresha! too lazy :p), MAC "cheek" blusher, MAC Spike eye brow pencil and Clarins lipstick #08.

Anyway, overall I don't find it too dressy. Just that the scarf might be alittle bit unusual as you hardly can see anyone wearing it in such weather. Hey.. but it's the coldest month of the year, and working in the airport I am sure no one would give a hoot about the scarf! I even braved bus no 34 to work and the stares of the commuters!

Comments were.. from lady colleagues "wow... so chio ar.. where you going".. "winter liao"..and when I was walking to the ladies, one male colleague said "fashion parade, model coming ".... (speechless) I can only conclude. Singapore fashion is so very boring. Either that or those people in my office are real boring. Fortunately at the end, my registry and admin clerk were appreciative. Told me i look smart today! And i think i saw some male passerby casting me appreciative glances! hahaha.. :p

Enough for today... Thanks god its friday tomorrow!! It's dress down day!! yeah...

Music in the Cat

Rain rain... the whole island has been raining continously since saturday. The cat loves this weather. Ooh.... sleep sleep...

Ar.. finally got the time to practise my piano. After 8th lessons i am nowhere near in accomplishing my goal of being a pop pianist. Very discouraging and my paws already hurting for tinkling the ivory keys for a long period. Still no improvement.Sigh...

My teacher Andrew must be a big fan of the Superstar Idol. Kept teaching me the "Tong Hua". One week is ok. But after 2/3 weeks, I am simply running out of patience. Doesn't mind whether i am playing it the lounge or the proper pop way, my neighbours and myself protesting.. We are all suffering from Tong Hua fatigue!!

Took a long time trying to figure out the notes of Stephanie Sun "YingxinRen" (aka invisible men). The melody was a breeze but the chords killing me. After 1 hour going at it, I decide to surrender. This cat is simply not up to the mark.. Give up give up! Wave my white flag (^-^)P

And my colleague has the cheek to call me not to slag. Said i must find new songs to play.. argh... regret. Should have volunteered to contribute my voice rather than the keyboard. Regret big time. Now i still have to do homework for the monthly jamming session in office. (not forgetting my real homework from school)

I better sleep away all the blues.. Today's a holiday afterall!

New Year New Catsolution!

Yeoooo.. New year new resolution. Though it's one week late, this cat decide that she shall fly high in the sky and try something new in year 2006.

One cat friend msned me yesterday saying her new year resolution is to find a hubby to marry. Can this be a resolution?? Can a hubby just drop from the sky before the next new year for her? or maybe SDU will present her on her next birthday!!??

Speaking of this cat friend. She has alot of adventures and ideals that none of my cat gang can understand nor comprehend. I shall strive to narrate more of my cat friend (can we call her lacy cat?) in my coming blogs.

Side comment
Asked a cat gang to describe our lacy cat, and i was given "out of this world" Help!!! anyone can please suggest words that share the same meaning??