Spring Cleaning

You know how some friends just take you for granted? How some just don't put in that little bit of effort to upkeep relationships? You know, these so called friends? Those that ask you out only when there are no other people more interesting and available. Those that make you few like some kind of gap filler.

I think I have wasted enough time and have been pretty patient with them. I had given more than enough chances and benefit of the doubt. I decided that I should put in my energy on people who are genuine. Most of us will have so called friends like that. Those that are interested in you because you are fresh and a little bit of a novelty to these people, like entertainment. You got a sell-by date. So, I am saying adios to these people. I hate having to feel like some kind of
When I think about some friends, it brings a certain warmth to your heart. You will be smiling inside and out. They make you feel all nice and soft and great. I love my friends! I have a close set of friends whom I can talk about anything and nothing at all, whom I know I can run to to whine and complain or just plain gossip. I love them to bits, and I would be so sad if they are not around me anymore. Makes me think about Seinfeld, just less offbeat and kooky. You know that you are important to them without them having to tell you that. They make you feel that. Sometimes, they do the simplest things and that would touched you in the deepest way possible. These friends are hard to come by, and honestly, you don't need that many of these gems in your life.

With that done, I can focus on the things and people that matter most!
Phew!

Comfort Food

My brother highly recommended the triple chocolate cereal, so i bought it. Eat it with chocolate milk, very POWER. At the risk of having nose bleeds, I will just stick to normal low fat milk. I can eat cereals any day of the time. Supper, in front of the TV, afternoon reading the papers. It is one of those comfort food. We are such creature of comforts...

Apple and cinnamon go really well don't you think? I can't think of a better match for apples than cinnamon. It is one of those classic food pairings. Like thyme and chicken or basil and tomatoes. The smell always puts a smile on my face. I love having some really hot apple crumble with vanilla ice cream on a rainy day! One of life's pleasures! I remember Ken and I would always go down to the Black Jack Cafe (when it was still below Hard Rock Cafe and when they were still carrying Kate Spade) for just that after school. Brings back good memories for me.

I love a huge greasy juicy burgers when I am really hungry. I like the satiated feeling I get after I am done wolfing down the burger. Another comfort food of mine.
I love bak changs too, I don't eat it often, usually just on dun wu jie, but I love it no less.
I love love love that chicken rice stall in Ubi Ave! I used to eat it ever so often when I was living there. I still make my way there, braving the horrid Eunos traffic just to have that. It was such a family affair.

The ultimate comfort for me has got to be my mum's chicken curry, very healthy, she uses part coconut milk, part low fat milk, some curry purists will scoff at this, but I ADORE IT! It must be accompanied with her fried bee hoon. Shioka-doo-da-doos! Most times now, she only cooks either items, so when there is curry and no bee hoon, I love eating mee sua drenched in a pool of curry. Heavenly, although bizarre sounding, it is really yummy!

Speaking in Tongues

I signed up for a Japanese language course. A short one, if I am really into it, I might take up the higher elementary class. I think I might be turning into a japophile. An anglicised one. An anglicised japophile or a japadised(so lame) anglophile?
Lessons start next month!

Give Thanks

Often, in our uber busy lives, we forget about the people around us who love us. Often, we are too caught up with everyday life or get into some sort of comfortable routine that doesn't seem to include people who should be included more.

Relationships, all kinds, take effort. Don't expect anything to blossom or even stay the same if no efforts have been put into them. Relationships are like plants, gotta give some attention or they will wilt and die. I know, sounds a little corny, I got this quote from an ultra perspective friend of mine a decade ago! How I love this friend!

I should make it a point to visit my grandma more, call my aunt up to chat or even lunch. hahaha. My dearest friends, I need to get them out more. I can be such a lazy person, sometimes I just like staying at home.

The Rescuing Hug

Both twins were in separate incubators, with one twin fighting for her life. The nurses tried everything to make the weaker one feel better. Nothing seemed to work. Against the rules of the hospital, a nurse placed the babies together. The healthier twin placed an arm over her sister, in an embrace of sorts. She got better! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww........

Heart warming stuff eh?

Have you hugged someone today?

Growing Pains

I am lucky.

Singaporeans of my generation had it good. We do not have to worry about world wars nor do we have to struggle as hard as our grandparents or parents. We do not have to work as young as 12 in some hot and humid, overcrowded sweat shops. Our lives have been, in all honesty, very comfortable. We had Mcdonald's (oh, that is some kind of necessary evil right?) TV, radio, Cds, cassettes, walkmans, disc-mans, and nintendo. We could go out and play with our neighbours, school wasn't that tough, life was pretty relaxed and uncomplicated.

Look at what the kids have to deal with now. Tutorials after tutorials. Extra lessons, enrichment lessons, holiday camps, musical classes, ballet. swimming, TKD, phonics ( I gotta admit, learning phonics is GOOD ) and the list goes on. It is damn hard being a kid these days. I learnt from my mum that there is this child who attends 2 sessions of preschool a day! WAH LAU! SIAO!
It has gotten so competitive now for kids, or at least for their parents. Sigh, sometimes, these parents live their dreams through their children. So unhealthy, I hope I do not turn into one of these monster parents next time.

There are people my age who say that children these days take their comfortable lives for granted. They have hand phones when they are just 8 or internet 24 hours a day, the latest game consoles and maids to clean up their mess. Well, you know what? Times have changed, these are the stuff that have become a big part of our everyday lives, just because we do not have such things in the past does not mean that children now can't. Does that too, mean that since our parents had to start earning their pocket money at the age of 12, that we had to too? Or that they had no tv as children, we shouldn't too?

Ridiculous. I would give my child a hand phone when he is 8 if I think it will make my life and his life easier. I don't see why some people kick up such a fuss over it. It is just a phone, you have one too! Why, you 30 year old can have one, a 10 year old cannot meh? Please lah, stop thinking that you are the more deserving one can? I mean, of course you gotta restrict their use too, but I don't see why I have to bar it totally. Just because kids now may appear to have a more comfortable lives now doesn't mean that they take it for granted. How many kids do you know to pass that judgement? And how do you know that they lead cushy lives?
Isn't that what your parents used to tell you too? "You have it so good you do not even know it."????

I believe that every generation has its own struggles, stop comparing and whining. At least, school wasn't that stressful. Ice cream can be bought with a 20 cents coin. Unlimited use of the bus pass! Spare time to go out and play. I had a good childhood. My mum overindulged us, still do even now. Hahahahaha.

Land of the Rising Sun

I am going to Japan!

I must curb my enthusiasm and try to stay calm because the trip is a little less than 5 months away. Went to the travel agent checked out the rates, went for a coffee and a cheese sandwich, thought a little about it, then went right back to the TA and bought me tickets. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Easy breezy.. can things get any simpler? I do not have a lot of time there though, so I got to get it all well planned.

Think about all the food I want to eat, all the nonsense that I will buy, and oh dear, Geisha spotting! Tsukiji Market! And then there is the Tokyo Motor Show. That is what is pulling the Hubby over. That is what is getting him excited. That is how I get a Japan holiday! I think next year, I will entice him with the Frankfurt Motor Show.

I think I will try to get some online Japanese lessons from Elaine. Then I will see if it is a good thing to buy the JR rail pass in Singapore....... then settle the accommodations. and sniff out the great eating places and watering holes.. I want to buy fabrics. JAPANESE FABRICS!!!!!!!!!!...... visit kinokuniya, and tokyu hands.. and the huge food floors in the departmental stores! Cosmetics! I want to buy that certain brand from kyoto!!!!!!!!!!!
See like that how to not get excited?