You do not deserve her

I met Hai at KFC in Parkway yesterday before my accompaniment class with his students. As we sat down at our table, we became aware of this middle-aged lady scolding a person with short bowl-cut hair. At first I thought that person was the lady's eldest son but after a while I was wondering why the 'eldest son' was feeding his 'brother' when the boy, who looked like he was 8 or 9 years old, seemed competent enough to feed himself.

The scolding went on and on for about 5 minutes, the lady saying stuff like

"Cannot move ah? Must push a button then you'll move? So stupid" or "So now you think you very clever lah..."

The 'son' kept quiet and just continued feeding the boy. And at this point, I felt something was wrong here. Then they stood up to leave and I discovered, the 'son' was actually the lady's maid.

The woman then asked the maid to clean her daughter's mouth (who again, at the age of maybe 7 or 8, was old enough to do something as simple as clean her own mouth), but the daughter ran away from the maid and hid behind her mom.

By then, both me and Hai were openly staring at the lady, which probably saved the maid from more scolding (because the daughter ran away from the maid, resulting in the maid not being able to wipe her mouth? Madness!!!). The lady just took the piece of tissue from the maid and cleaned her daughter's mouth. WHICH SHE SHOULD HAVE DONE IN THE FIRST PLACE! I mean, who's the mother here? And surely, this should be a simple enough task?!

Following that, mother, son and daughter left the fast food restaurant, leaving the poor maid to get the bags. I say bags in plural, because there sure were lots of bags for ONE person to carry. Oh but of course! For she had to carry three people's bags!

Lets count the bags shall we?

1 huge canvas bag filled with groceries (probably the lady's)

2 small bags - the kind that kids bring for music/tuition classes and definitely not the heavy school bags and DEFINITELY not very heavy and so the kids should have carried their bags themselves!

2 big red plastic bags

1 white grocery bag

So that was about 6 bags the maid had to carry, whilst the lady carried her handbag, and the kids carried nothing, and jauntily walked away, leaving the maid to struggle to pick up everything on her own and try to follow.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you feeling indignant now?

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh i forgot, the lady DID come back, but not to help. Rather she demanded that the maid check to see if she dropped anything. And then she walked off again.

I can't stand this type of people. People who think that since they've already paid for their maid, she has to be at their beck and call and do EVERYTHING for them.

A maid only does everything for you when you are:

a) disabled/bed-ridden
b) too fricking lazy
c) think that you are her queen/ruler

And you, lily-assed lady, are lazier than a sloth, with an attitude worse than even the worst divas I've met on stage.

You, who look healthy and strong enough and yet, you have never spared a thought for your maid and her situation. I don't think you even view her as a human being. Paying your maid does not mean you OWN her. Nobody OWNS anybody. Get that straight!

There should be a law for such people to disallow them from hiring a maid.

And you so do not deserve her.

Soap is back!!!

And to celebrate his coming back to (me)Singapore, we went out for high tea or rather, lunch at The Shangri-La! It was a very relaxing two hours at the Rose Veranda. We each had a pot of fragrant tea and dined on salmon sashimi, smoked duck and kueh pie tee, just to name a few.

Our favourite Kueh Pie Tee. Crispy shell and very tasty fillings. The crispy shell is a winner! psst! Isn't my phone's camera fantastic!!! ♪♪

The first and last time I'll ever eat a macaroon. Just too sweet for even MY sweet tooth. But the presentation is gorgeous!

A favourite of mine: Mango and Mint. Tastes somewhat like a mojito ♥

The scone was a little too buttery for my liking (I prefer the one at L'espresso)

And of course our obligatory individual and couple shot! LOL!

My very flattering pic of the day! ♥

The price for both of us, including taxes was just under $56. Which comes to about $28 per pax.
Surprised? Well, Shangri-La is having a 39 promotion. Just book your reservation for a date within 39 days from your date of booking, and you get 39% off their buffet rates!

Here's the promotion webpage!

I think I'll try The Line next! *rubs my tummy in anticipation*

Beautiful Sunday and a beautiful blog post

Yesterday was Sunday the 14th of August, the day when the ex-vballers of SRJC (and their spouses) met again and reconnected after such a long looongg while!

This day will remain imprinted on my mind for years and years to come. Hopefully we don't have too long to wait for yet another outing!

Love you guys!!

To end off this post, I'd like to share with you a post from another blog. I came across this sweet one on bleubird's (Miss James) blog written by her partner for her on her birthday.

Read this post and I guarantee you'll feel mushy all over.

No blues yet for this week! Hurrah!

High Tea at L'espresso

Today was a very special family outing (minus my Mummy coz she's working) as we seldom eat at buffets! We got our Dad to come along with us as L'espresso was having a promotion with UOB cards where one adult dines free with every three adults!

Service was good - our dirty plates were collected very promptly, water was served when asked for without much waiting time!

And now for the food! L'espresso serves an English afternoon high tea, so the spread was mostly sandwiches, scones and desserts like cakes, creme brulee and tarts. There were also some asian fare like fried prawn fritters, yam and chicken rolls and also my favourite mango and pomelo!!

We were there for about an hour and a half, the longest my family has ever sat down for a meal! So happy that my dad was there with us today! ♪♪

Chocolate fondue and mango pomelo! ♥♥

Creme Brulee - Eunice's fave!

The smoked salmon was very flavorful! Isaac and I took so much of it!

Foie gras pate sandwich!

The obligatory individual shots.

Papa looks so cute here!!!

Its now 8pm and I'm still feeling sooooo stuffed! What a wonderful day today!! ♫

Losing Weight with Indomie!

Yes you saw right. Losing weight with Indomie :)

As you all know, I've been on a mission to lose weight for the past like six years or so, successful in losing weight about 3-4 years ago, and then, as is inevitable, like what comes up must go down, the needle on the weighing machine has steadily been going up.

So, I've started going to the gym regularly, but its just not helping me lose weight fast enough.

Enter the Indomie diet! Hurrah!

The INDOMIE diet. This diet is a good weight loss program diet, not too healthy, but works.

The INDOMIE diet involves eating one pack of INDOMIE, the small pack, three times daily. A pack of INDOMIE contains approximately 321 calories. So if you eat three packs per day, you are eating less than a thousand calories per day, and your body would be forced to use its stored fat for energy. It is however a dangerous diet, as your body would be starved of nutrients, and diets of less than 100calories per day are extremely dangerous.

When you are on the INDOMIE diet, you take one INDOMIE three times daily, with no additions, except what came with. No salt, maggi, sardines and all the other stuff you would normally add.

You would do this on alternate days, so if you eat just INDOMIE today, then tomorrow, you eat your normal balanced diet, in small amounts too, to ensure you don't get malnutrition.

The INDOMIE DIET if done for two months, will help you lose a considerable amount of weight.

via africanweightloss blog

I just bought three packs of Indomie and I'm going to try it! Of course, in order to make the meal more healthy, I'm going to consume the Indomie with a side portion of salad (no dressing).

Luckily for me, I love Indomie!!!! woohoo!

Congratulate me....

on having gone to the gym regularly for 5 consecutive weeks. And i'm not even growing tired of it yet!

I recently signed up at Amore and gave up my membership at Fitness First. I gave myself quite a hard time over that decision. I guess the real reason why I held on to the FF membership all this time was because I thought it was cool and a "status symbol". I'm not kidding! People do actually view gym memberships as status symbols too - not everyone can afford spending $150 on gym memberships monthly (and not go to the gym, like me).

Anyways, so I signed up at Amore as I wanted to a)lose weight and b)start going to the gym regularly. Figured that as the gym was at Tampines One, and so accessible from my house, I'd go regularly. Turns out that the classes at Amore and thoroughly enjoyable. Once I started, I was hooked!

I still think about Fitness First sometimes and just wonder why I was so stupid to hold on to that membership for so long!

Day Eight of Home Exile

I'm only writing this post on day eight because I finally feel well enough.

I started getting high fever last Saturday night after Rissi's wedding and I took panadol, thinking that this time would be the same as anytime - I'd wake up the next day feeling back to normal. Well, the next three days was a nightmare, my fevers came and went and I started popping panadols like crazy. Stupid me didn't want to see a doctor for fear of being warded and not being able to be at the SYF for my kids on Thursday.

Finally on Tuesday night, I consulted a doctor who told me it was my inflamed tonsils causing the problem.....still didn't help. The next afternoon I asked my Dad to bring me to see my family doctor who didn't know what to make of it. He gave me medicine and asked me to come back if they weren't effective. At night I went back to my family doctor (see, I was desperate. I needed to get better by Thursday which was D-Day, SYF day!!!) and you know what he told my mom?? Send me to hospital.

Damn it!

So off I went to Changi General. I must have looked pretty bad because when my dad dropped me and my mom off at the lobby and I was slowly walking in, this lady quickly pulled her husband aside like I had SARS or something. pfft! That made me feel worse than I already was. Then Soap appeared and I was so happy!! Apparently my sister told him I was on the way to hospital. He was actually on the way to my house to surprise me and immediately went to the hospital instead.

The nurse took my temperature (39.5) and immediately hustled me to the fever room. Then the real nightmare began. I reached the hospital at 9pm and only left at 11.30pm. With a high fever, sweating, and not having bathed before going, I was a wreck. I think I looked like some crazy woman with lank, wet hair. I took an x-ray and waited again. The worst part is the waiting. I really hated the waiting. And finally, FINALLY, the doctor called me into the room again and explained that I had a lung infection (some upper mid level pneumonia). WHOA. I was like wait a minute....so serious meh? Then she said no need to be warded and then thats it. No telling me what to do like don't sleep in air con room or don't eat this or that. I think I left feeling more confused than ever. Not to mention haggard and dirty and sweaty...eew

SIGH. That's why I hate hospitals!

So here I am on Day Eight.

SYF came and went without me being there for the kids :( and I really realised how attached they were to me.

I missed the opportunity to perform at Esplanade Waterfront (a venue which I've been longing to perform at).

BUT! I spent more time at home and my mom has cooked dinner for two nights in a row! And Soap has spent more time at my house too!!

Luckily I have no more fevers. Hurray to no more sweating and changing of my entire set of clothes at 3am! and again at 5am.

OMG!!

P/s: Sorry for the long long post!

Lets Drink to the newest Pub in the suburb!

Harry's has opened its little doors in Tampines Grande! Hooray! Now we can have a little tipple nearer to our homes minus the unfriendly cab charges!!

I had that little tipple with Ah Eng tonight. Was great fun....reminiscing about our teachers, friends and happenings at SRJC and talking about our lives today. I think we laughed too loud!

We have come such a long way me and you.

I lost my shoes

Last Wednesday, after my gamelan session at Haig Girls, I was packing up to leave when one of my girls (this cute little Pri. 2 girl) came up to me and proclaimed

"Miss Tan! I lost my shoes!"

My first thought was "who wants your smelly shoes!" Then I looked down at her feet and saw she had shoes on! I pointed at them and she quickly replied

"These are my sister's shoes! And now she has no shoes to wear home!"

Aw so sweet right? Sisterly love. So anyways, we proceeded to find her shoes but they were nowhere to be seen...until another girl piped up

"I know what must have happened! The shoes must have fell downstairs, then someone picked them up and brought them to the office!!"

I thought "yah right, how far-fetched is that? More like someone hid them" But anyways, not to hurt that little detective's feelings, we immediately dispatched someone to the office.

And.....the shoes were there.

How awesome. The innocent child could see so clearly when we adults could not.

We lost the ability to think and feel simply as we grew older.

I am ashamed.

Sunday brunches are made for these

After a hearty breakfast of minced meat noodle (for Soap) and abalone noodles for yours truly at Upper Thomson, we head to Little Part 1 Cafe a little further down on Jasmine Road and enter our second part of Sunday brunch heaven.


Apple Crumble, Hot Chocolate with toasted (they really make a difference toasted) marshmallows and my never-fail choice of Rosebud Tea. The Sunday paper and old books sitting on the shelves.






I want to do this over and over again.

My PDL is here!!

I've finally gone to get my PDL and thus far taking one big step in the direction of fulfilling New Year's resolution No. 1! Hooray!!

I wanted to get this PDL thing over and done with in the first week of the year so that when all my schools and piano kids start next week, I won't procrastinate - which trust me, I'm so good at.

Well, toodles for now. I just had to share this nugget of good news :)

For those who haven't got their license, or PDL - you know who you are...get it now!!!! ok not now now, but soon!!!

okay bye.

2010!!

Well happy new year guys!!! Without really feeling it, we're suddenly into the 3rd day of the new year!

Today is our 2nd year anniversary and we didn't do anything really grand. Just spent some quiet time together, catching up on movies, having two surprise breakfasts and cleaning up his room. Odd way of celebrating ya? I guess we're too lazy to really plan something grand and I'm just really really glad that we could spend our actual day of anniversary physically together.

So what are your new year resolutions? Or are you still thinking about it?

Mine are:

1. To start learning how to drive.

2. Finish paying up one of my loans by the end of this year.

3. Finish spring cleaning my room! (for those in the know, i'm still only 40% done, after 3 months)

4. Catch up with my friends more!

So there you have it. Keep it simple and real. And I just might have a chance to complete all 4 resolutions!

I'm leaving you with this quote:

"Be always at war with your vices,
at peace with your neighbours and
let each new year find you a better man"
- Benjamin Franklin

Happy New Year!!

My first and only Christmas mail of 2009....

...comes from (surprisingly) a male cousin of mine. Come to think of it, he's my financial/insurance agent as well, so it isn't that shocking after all.

Its been hours since I tore open that square piece of envelope quickly but carefully and I can still feel that pumping excitement of getting a piece of snail mail from someone.

I remember going through my mental phonebook, scrolling up and down, thinking who could this be from. There were a few suspects, though the sender was surely a pleasant surprise. And he thoughtfully penned a short paragraph to me and my family instead of just writing Merry Christmas-seal envelope-affix stamp-send and made my whole family (we were in the lift, see I couldn't wait to get home to open it!) smile.

So thanks Jeremy for the wonderful wonderful card and for making my day!

loves.

xoxo

Christmas is coming...

I made a New Year's resolution to send out Christmas cards this year and guess what? I have! OMG am so excited right now!

I took some pics of the stuff and cards (yes you do get presents through snail mail too how about that!) I sent out (will post them up soon coz I just wanted to get this post out today). Hope you guys like what I got for you!

For those who didn't receive anything from me, there's still next year!!

I've been thinking of setting up another blogsite dedicated just to snail mail. I definitely do not want letter-writing/paper mail to die out!

What have you recently got in the mail other than adverts and bills? Any letters from your friends? Cards?

My grand total of letters from friends and cards is....TWO. And both were wedding invites. Sigh. There is really so much pleasure derived from reading a letter ON PAPER. It would really make my day. *not so subtle hint...LOL*

I believe in paying it forward, so before paper mail makes my day, I should make the first move and send out paper mail!

What would be a cool blog address?

ThankyouMrPostman.blogspot.com??

Or Ilovesnailmail.blogspot.com?

Ideas are welcome!

I just googled and these are a few websites that deal with their love of snail mail!

http://snailmailfriend4life.wordpress.com/
http://www.vivasnailmail.com/
http://welovesnailmail.webs.com/apps/blog/
http://missivemaven.blogspot.com/

And look out for more snail mail coming your way this year!! (methinks I need an address book)


On a solemn note..RIP Brittany Murphy. You will be missed. I loved your wacky antics on camera and your smile.

Way too many celebrities are leaving us this year.

Dragonfly, JB and Enoki mushrooms

I know they don't really go together, but the title of this post pretty much sums up my life for the past two days.

Monday night, Soap was asked to sub for Velvet band's drummer at Dragonfly, so we were there from 9pm to about 5am. And when we got out of the place, not a cab was in sight. For the first time in my life, I've to wait for a cab after clubbing (sort of). Don't ask me what time I woke up today.

St James seems to have undergone a revamp. Otherwise, its been a pretty long time since I've last been. Check out Dragonfly when I first walked in.


Cool huh? Looks super classy. Or maybe its my camera.LOL.

And because I was there for so long. I pretty much started playing around with my handy camera phone.


I tried to zoom in on Soap but my camera's zoom like sucks lah. Anyways, you can just make out Soap's face without his usual smile coz he's very very stressed. LOL!

I especially love this one of Velvet's bassist, Xiang. Colours damn nice.

Lawrence

Kaili aka Jolin. lol.

Simon.

If you're thinking why they look so familiar...its because all of them are from the most recent season of Superband!! Hahaa...Soap included!

Out of point but I must say I really love my phone. I think the camera is damn power!!! Don't you think so??! All the photos in this post were taken by my wonderful phone!! okok back on course....the post continues....

So when we finally got up the next day, we decided to go to JB before Soap's overseas leave expires on Thursday. I bought three pairs of gorgeous heels. I can't wait to wear them but they are so high I just know I'll get calf cramp!

Here's one of them. Love the soft buttery leather feel of these gorgeous grey heels which translates to no blisters!! woot~


Soap bought 3 tops at Padini at great prices (don't we just love sales) and we got Christmas gifts for his siblings - they liked their gifts. phew~

For supper, he cooked this Enoki mushroom dish that was a complete gastronomic delight! (my fellow Enoki mushroom fans - Xin and Cindy will be so jealous)

Needless to say, I finished the whole dish! yum yum~

Hamster running

I've been going to the gym everyday (well almost everyday, except today) at 10.30am to run. For those who know me, this comes as a surprise for

a. I don't wake up early
b. I hate running

But many people have been telling me that if I want to lose weight, I have to exercise before my first meal (coz stored body fat will be the first to be burnt off) and running is the best way to lose weight. So I've decided to try this out for a few weeks and see if any thing comes out of it even if I feel like a hamster running in a cage.

And since its so early in the morning (for me, at least) and i'll be perspiring like a pig very shortly after, I don't bathe before going out. TMI! I can hear you say. But strangely, to be going out without bathing and not a smudge of makeup on the face can be quite liberating!

On another note, I am sick. And Soap is sick too. So we're BOTH stuck at his house. Sigh.

What's the best way of curing a sore throat??

Quick Update

- Playtime is over. Phew! I can now celebrate not having to wake up at 6.30am!

- My phone has gave up its ghost, forcing my hand to change to a new phone when I'm ever so reluctant to. Is this a sign of getting old? This reliance on the old comfort zone and hesitance to change to something new and foreign. I don't even want to go figure out all these blackberry/twitter/qwerty pad stuff.

- Update to the update above: I now have a Samsung Pixon phone. I can't wait to take peektures with its 8MP camera!!!


I'm waiting for Sony Ericsson's launch of their almighty Satio phone. Its said to have 12MP camera function and music player function in one handheld set! Its not in the market yet I think. When its out...I might get it. Or not. Let's see if i'm comfortable with the Pixon yet. :)

- My next big job will be forming up a World Music programme for schools under Meiyin's Laras Ethno. Very glad as I'll be getting some extra moosh for this gig. Yayness!

- Have started going back to the gym again. This time with my gym buddy Serene! We have lots of fun as usual. I like the regularity of gymming and then having lunch with her. See? Comfort zone again. I have too many of them.

- Found out that Marcus (Mr Soccer Captain) from SRJC is staying in my block, two floors above me! He's been asking me out to catch up! I don't know why our schedules always clash and we don't get to meet.

I think thats all for now. Too many updates in just a week. I still love my life though. :)

Have a great week ahead!

The Weekend is Over....

and I'm already looking forward to the next one.

For two things specifically: first and foremost, Soap books out of camp on Saturday and Cozycot's Holy Grail party starts on Saturday!

Although I'm still thinking whether to go. Can't stand crowds.

Day Eight without Soap

(via Chotda)

Had Sakae buffet lunch with Emily and Serene today. So full!

While still on the subject of sushi, allow me to divert and present you with these:

Sushi minicakes! (via hello naomi)

If that's not cute enough for you....

Sushi handpainted cookies! (via whipped bakeshop)

These darlings won't find their way into my mouth for sure. I'd rather preserve and display them!

After lunch, we went our separate ways to teach and then me and Serene met up at Orchard to explore ION and to shop at Far East Plaza.

ION is humongous! I do not for a second doubt that I will get lost here. In fact, we got a little lost while finding our way to Wheelock via the underpass.

Bought myself three dresses today. Its been such a long time shopping with a girl at a shopping centre! I finally understand why some girls still choose to shop at physical shops when shopping online is clearly easier. You get to try on the clothes and get to touch what kinda material the garment is made of. Also, the camaraderie one gets from shopping together is irreplaceable.

I got to check out the Best of Blogshops store at Far East. I think its a great business idea. But i felt that the shop space was too cramped and goods weren't laid out as nicely as I would have preferred.

Soap called while I was at the Blogshop store and we talked for a while. Lights out in a while he said so again, our conversation was very short. Wonder what it will do to our relationship in the long run - these hurried calls.

But! I'll get to see him for two and a half days starting tomorrow evening! Yayness!!!

Day Seven without Soap

Been doing a lot of meetups with friends lately and today wasn't any different.

Finally managed to catch up with Siannie over brekkie at Macs and we squeezed an hour of window shopping. Cannot believe the total lack of clothing options these days. Nothing we saw appealed to our eyes.

After teaching, I headed down to City Hall to meet Cindy, Ken and Meixin for dinner at Popeyes' at the Flyer.

After dinner, we made a vid for Ken's wedding. Damn fun. Haven't done this kinda of thing in a long while and Xin is still as drama as ever.

Showcasing our gifts from Cindy on our heads!

I missed you guys.