Xmas and Boxing day walking

Xmas was spent eating steamboat at home first, then playing Nintendo Switch at Eric's in the afternoon and I got introduced to so many games lol. But it still wasn't tempting enough for me to buy one. A PS5, maybe. And then we had wine connection and sake. Not bad for a public holiday.

Boxing Day was spent at Wei Ling's with the xmas tree gift exchange and I got a diffuser as a gift lol. I didn't want to join coz I don't know what to get and I didn't want anything as well. I mean there are things I want to get, like Iphone 12 Pro or PS5 or a flight to Japan that sort of thing. 

After the kids went back we went for a walk around Merlion park to see the lights and ate at Brewerks. Sigh, I think we ate more calories than we burn. She has no determination to walk more. 

To think of it, I always felt guilty when I went overseas because one, no gym and two, all day eating. But I fail to consider that I do lotsa cardio when I go overseas. I remember I lost weight when I came back from Jordan. One day in Petra we walked 25km. And we only ate 2 meals a day. 

In Japan, I snowboard from 9.30 to 5.30pm - 7 hours of sports with 1 hour rest. That's extreme cardio for 2-3 days. And when I go to Tokyo I walk 10am to 10pm everyday, about 16.5km a day. 

That is crazy no wonder I feel so tired everyday in Japan haha it's so easy to walk around in the winter season. But I also ate a lot in Japan including sweets and stuff so I guess I shouldn't feel so guilty after all.

WW84

After waking up with a hangover at 1pm, I had cereal for breakfast/lunch and got reminded I have a movie with Eric at 7pm. 

I hate hangovers and the best way to get rid of a hangover is to go to the gym. So I went for the 2pm session with a headache and viola! By 4pm my hangover was cleared, showered, feeling fresh and heading to Orchard.

I was quite excited because it had been a while since my last super hero movie and the first WW had been great. Ok the movie started great, but lost a bit along the way. The final fighting scene was not bad as well. There are a lot of loopholes in the storyline and like why would her friends be so normal about her wearing her WW costume?? And also there's no direction in where the characters are going or what they gonna do. It's weird, and how they resolved the whole thing is so weird too. 

However I still enjoyed the movie, Gal is super pretty but her clothes were too modern. Her costume looks great though. The action scenes were great and it felt like spiderman because she was swinging with her lasso all around. Not a great movie (like Marvel) but ok not bad movie.

Then we went to eat german burgers and some beer at Gabby's workplace but we weren't sitting around Gabby. 

Jewel

Last Friday I went to Changi Airport for the first time since January and that's also my virgin visit to Jewel.

Yes I know, I won't go to Changi without any agenda since it's so far away, let alone to Jewel. It's just another mall/tourist attraction to me. But there was a egg-hatching game on ishopchangi and the first 100 participants who finds all the QR codes around Changi airport gets 6000points, which is equals to $30. It's worth it. So I texted Viv coz we were supposed to go on walks and so random, she said ok.

I actually took a half day (sick leave coz I'm sick of working) and then travelled 1.5hours to Changi Airport. So firstly we went to clear he 2 QR codes in T4, followed by T3, T1 and then Jewel. We spent about 1.5hrs and we managed to complete everything by 4pm, and walked around 5km, which is faster/shorter than I thought. There were quite a lot of people considering it's a weekday afternoon but it was school holidays and the airport was filled with activities. And then I went into Jewel for the first time.

Wow I was blown away. I have seen many people posted pictures of the waterfall in Jewel but didn't understand the hype - it's breathtaking when you see it in real. It's unbelievably beautiful and pictures doesn't do it justice. I am so proud to have Jewel in our airport lol. The Xmas tree and night lights were so awesome!

Anyway we walked around, had coffee at Hoshino, had Korean food at Kko Kko Nara, and then went shopping for a bit. She wanted to come my place for G&T so we went NTUC (yes there's a NTUC Finest there) to buy tonic and soda and some snacks. Then bought eclairs, and grabbed to my place.

We started with the bottles that I had, the Chase grapefruit one, then opened my British rose, Shiraz and Lavender. 4 bottles opened that night and we sorta went crazy. I love all my bottles and I just ordered another Orange gin which is going to be delivered soon. 

Honestly we drank too much but I still remember what we talked about and I thought that she was invading my privacy for a bit, and it ended in a slightly awkward note about being invited for Jarren's dinner. Oh wells. She left at 5am.

The next day I found out that 6000 points will be credited into my ishopchangi account. Woohoo! More gin!

Stop spending

Ok I need to stop spending money.

I suspect I'm revenge spending because I couldn't get the white sneakers on Carousell. And also all the 11.11, 12.12 sale and the coming year end sale and the surplus in my annual budget. I already have enough shoes!!! I need to save money for next year's trip to Japan for all my gundam stuff. 

Honestly if I were to shop physically I wouldn't even buy anything, and that includes the white sneakers. Online shopping just makes it easier to get everything. I know my size, the pictures looks nice, click click click, buy. 

Ok no more Caroubuying!!!

12.12 shoes this year

It is nearing the end of 2020 and I realised I haven't bought any shoes this year. Just last year I already bought 4 pairs in the first 2 months, running shoes in Sep for IPPT and ETQ sneakers at the end of the year. That's a total of 6 pairs and it seems like I have to buy a pair of expensive leather sneakers every year. 

I actually thought of buying that pair of white leather sneakers from Carousell but it was sold last week (DAYM). It's fated not to be mine and I shall look for other shoes. Then I went to hunt for my fav Asics and there is a 25% sale on the website. 

This pair of Gel Lyte 3 is on sale, and adding 25% off it's only $64. The design was inspired by the Shibuya Crossing and named Modern Tokyo. BUY. And also I bought another pair of spare gym shoes for $35 after discount. Kaching! 2 pairs of sneakers for less than $100 and free delivery to my house. I believe these are the cheapest Asics I have bought. I hope I'm not impulse buying. 

To think of it, I only liked the carousell white sneakers because it's cheap and it's quality, not because it's comfortable. The quality and design looks good but I guess it didn't justify the price, even if it's discounted. It would be another pair of uncomfortable, high maintenance, never-bring-overseas and wear-4-times-a-year shoes, like my Prada. At least I can wear my Asics everyday and overseas.

In additon to these shoes, I also bought some alcohol during the 1212 sale: A pack of 4 Strong Zero (since we can't go Japan yet) and Seville Orange gin which I heard is pretty yummy. 

I seriously have too many bottles of gin and pair of shoes. But there's never enough of both right. I hope there are more sales. How about that Ronnie Fieg x Asics?

Xmas tree

Last weekend I went over to cousin's place again to settle some of her carousell items and also accompany them for Xmas tree shopping at the nursery at Thomson.

It's the first time I've been Xmas tree shopping - I thought just order online and they will deliver to you but my cousin said we have to choose the right tree. I always love the smell of pine and fir and so nostalgic. It reminds me of when I was trekking in the forests in California or walking around in New Zealand. Most trees were already sold - so surprising, so in the end we chose a 6-7ft noble fir tree. It was $257 + $40 for disposal so probably like more than $300 overall. We went to peach garden for dinner after that, her treat hehehe.

Yesterday I went over again, and then the kids came over to help decorate the tree. So nice and the kids were having so much fun. Oh she did a Japanese Sukiyaki dinner which was awesome. 

The unveiling of the tree

Maybe I'll get a small tree next time. Or not. haha it's so hard to maintain. You have to put ice water every morning in the tree stand and sweep the fir every morning. Such work. Yea probably a fake tree will do.

December eatings

11.11 sale brought out the spending momentum in me, I just kept shopping and shopping. Even on carousell. And also I kept wanting to eat out on weekends. 

Like last weekend was at PS, after collecting my aunt's bag, Eric and I went to this cool hipster Vietnamese restaurant, and then we went shopping at Muji, Daiso and Donki - the next best alternative to shopping in Japan. As usual, spent loads at Don Don Donki buying food. 

And last Sat I finally met the 2 ladies with the babies. Reika is preggie and LJ with Baby Caleb. And we had pancakes woohoo.

Caleb is so cuteee and he kept leaning his head towards me. Am I a daddy now?

A crushing defeat by the machine

I was so nervous last night I couldn't fall asleep. The stress and the expectations were too high, ever since last year. 

This normal I woke up and didn't manage to sleep again after logging in, and I kept thinking about it the whole morning. I checked my carousell and found out that that pair of white sneakers that I have eyeing  was sold! I WAS DEVASTATED. Actually it was kinda my fault. I didn't want to buy it in the first place since June but now somebody snatched it first and it wasn't available anymore. Argh. It's fine. I have a pair of white sneakers that I seldom wear and I am not buying uncomfortable sneaker again. And my ETQ hasn't arrived yet and I need another pair of trainers, not sneakers.

 After everyone was out of the house, I began my preparation.

3.00pm - Shower

3.30pm - Drink protein shake

4.00pm - Eat my banana bread with peanut butter and change to running attire

4.30pm - Drink a can of red bull and leave the house

Arriving at KC, the staff verified my name and surprise! He was one of the staff who worked at my gym and we recognized each other hahaha what a coincidence. So glad I had a friend there. Anyway there were around 20 pax taking the test which is a far cry from the usual 40-50.

First stop - push ups. I maxed that out easily. The vibration were confusing but ok.

Second stop - sit ups. I usually do sit-ups first coz I always have a grudge with the machine and it will determine how I must perform for the rest of the test, but this time I had no choice. The machine really had a grudge with me. I was defeated by the machine. I was clearly touching my knees and the trainer could visually see it but the machine just didn't register. It counted 33. This was the weakest link.

I had no motivation to run the 6 rounds anymore but I didn't want to waste my time there so might as well train. I had to get 13:00 to get Silver, which wasn't hard for me. The second round I was feeling rather breathless already. I think I'm just not used to running on concrete, and also the air in the carpark was too still. After the third round I began to slow down quite substantially and by the fifth round my timing was 10.48. I was quite out of breath already by the fifth round. I walked for a few seconds and then dashed for 300m. 12.56 - same timing as my treadmill. 

Ok I got Silver - $300. Something to be proud of? Meh. It's personal pride. I think I got too complacent since I got Gold last year, I didn't train well enough to get Gold this time round. I need to do my sit-ups properly and train my running on concrete. I shall try again next month before my cycle ends.

PS: If I don't feel lazy.

Most difficult part of working in offfice

The most difficult part about working in office these days is not: 

waking up in the morning, 

nor deciding what to wear,

nor finding seats on the train,

nor wearing mask in office,

nor finding time to slack off,

but is... deciding what to eat for lunch.

Like seriously, there are so many lunch options but none of the options feels good enough. Last time when I worked in office I always pre-order from my regular store so I didn't have to decide, and then I brought lunch to work as well and now working from home I don't have to think about what to eat for lunch - just eat what my mum cooks. I am really amazed by how she can decide what to cook everyday.

Sometimes I'm just lazy to walk to the foodcourt, 

sometimes I just want to eat something spicy, 

sometimes I want to eat healthy, 

sometimes I want to eat something cheap, 

sometimes I want to eat thai, 

sometimes I want to eat something soupy, 

sometimes I want to eat mexican. 

It's crazy. They have everything in the CBD but I can't seem to choose anything. I don't want to eat caifan coz everyday is caifan at home already. I want to eat something healthy but healthy food are either expensive or not filling enough. 

I have always waited till last minute to decide what to eat, like walk around the areas and looking at foodpanda or walk to another restaurant and see the menu and then last 10 minutes of my lunch break quickly go to that first place that I went to -_-

Having too many choices is indeed first world problems.

Speaking too soon

Just as I was telling some of my friends that I have nothing much to work on, all the urgent work came like a tsunami. 

Today I just spent a whole day doing excel and powerpoint slides for the head of business coz the primary guy in Tokyo wasn't around, it was Japan holiday. And 9-6pm was gone just like that. I didn't have time to read my novels/comics or watch any of my shows. I think I did half an hour nap and that's it. 

Yea I shouldn't speak so soon.

Also, Xmas is round the corner. Omg? Totally not prepared. When can I book my snow trip???

Dr Ci Labo

A few years ago in Tokyo I was given a set of Dr Ci labo samples and I have been using their VC100 essence lotion ever since because it just felt so good on my face and it smells amazing and it really works well with my skin. I really love this and I started to look into their other stuff.

And then I bought this. 

I have been using The Ordinary's retinoid for a few weeks now and my face started to become sensitive to it so it had red patches here and there, so I stopped using the retinoid and started this Aqua Collagen Gel. I have been reading good reviews online, even in the Japanese websites/amazon so I was sort of curious about it. 

It's a night cream for moisturizing and anti-aging effect. I have been using this for a week now and I LOVE IT. My skin feels like a baby in the morning and the red patches are almost gone, and my face feels much better. 

I really love this brand, can't wait to try everything. They recently re-launched their products with a new packaging and everything became more expensive 😥 

Maybe it's a sign I should buy Pola instead - I've been researching on their stuff but they are so expensive.

Steak

 It was Deepavali and my parents wanted to go to our usual steak place for dinner. So they said what they want and then I went to queue and order and pay. It was a trick 😑💸 

But it was really good. I have been wanting to go back there since I went there for the first time. The steak was really well cooked. Ah, that ribeye. Gonna go back there again with Viv.

11 sale

What a hectic day. Having to work and shop at the same time is not fun, and I didn't manage to buy everything, which ok because there are no sale on some of the items I wanted to get.

I spent almost $500 in a single day. I bought:

7 boxes of contact lens on Taobao for $112, sent to Shikai. CHEAPNESS.

A pair of Nano Universe shorts and singlet from Taobao, to be shipped here, around $25 

1 bottle of shiraz gin and elderflower liquor from ishopchangi for $130++

6kg of protein and some other workout stuff for $160 from myprotein

Some vouchers and small stuff from Shopee

Some facial stuff from carousell

I also wanted to buy some clothes from Grana or other websites but nah, Marie Kondo. I have enough. My gundam painting stuff wasn't on sale so I have to wait till I can go to Japan to see what I can get from there first. Anyway I didn't want to buy and put it aside in my room, I can get them anytime.

And there's this winter coat which is so cheap on Taobao. Should I get it? I don't know when I will get to wear it though, and I just bought a winter coat earlier this year. 

Annoying to go out

It's really a chore to go out nowadays. All these check ins and check outs and the worst part is the mask wearing. So annoying. I'd rather just stay at home and be comfortable. 

That's why this few months had been super uneventful. I'm been online shopping and grocery shopping and drinking at home rather than outside. Sigh. One and a half year more. 

Ready for single sale

One more week and it's the biggest online shopping event of the year. 

 I'm already all set hehe. I have already placed all the items I wanted in my shopping cart and ready to click that buy button once the sale is on. I've been spending so much time in Taobao and Shopee and found so many amazing clothes, gundam stuff, alcohol and maybe some facial stuff or snowboarding stuff. 

This is the next best thing since we can't travel right now. So excited for the discounts!!!

Another stomach filling Saturday

We already decided to go Chinatown to eat China food for Gabby's birthday dinner but it was raining so heavily then we adjourned to City Hall coz shelter. So we walked to Suntec, walked around a little bit coz we couldn't decide what to eat and there were queue everywhere even at 6pm so we were on waiting list for some restaurants. 

Anyway so we walked to the Penang Place where I had Kelvin's farewell and it was quite good, so we just went in. And we came out with out stomach bursting. 

I didn't take pictures but I remembered the good stuff: the soup of the day, Kueh Pie Tee, beef redang, beef curry, char kway teow, salted egg chicken, assam fish, the chicken satay, chicken wings, and of course the desserts: Chendol was one of the best, Pulut Hitam and Bur Bur Cha Cha, both with coconut ice cream. Soooo good. Both of them also agreed that it is a hidden gem, we will probably go back again.

Next stop for me, Geri invited me a few days ago to her suite for cheese and wine and I'm really very excited because she is always super particular about food, and she is always having good wines. It's crazy. 

So there were 5 kinds of cheese - 18 months aged, 2 kinds of truffle cheese, some plasticky one and Gouda, which I liked. We started with prosecco, then moved to a Italian red, and then an expensive French one. 

I thought the Italian red was bland, but the French one was really amazing. I tell you, the normal wines does not taste the same as the expensive ones. Expensive wines are expensive for a reason. Floral on the nose, very clean and distinct profile, revealing layer by layer as you taste. Really unforgettable. I have been drinking the cheap ones from Cold Storage and this one is wows. 

When I went to bed, the taste still lingers in my mouth. Expensive wine is indeed amazing. Another stomach filling Saturday, I need to stop overeating. 

Stomach filling saturday

Last Saturday my mum cooked laksa for lunch and I was having it after gym. I like the dry kind so I separated the noodles and the other stuff in a separate bowl and then I didn't realise I took too much meat and stuff and then I finished everything because it was so good and I was super full after that. It was around 3pm.

Then I went over my cousin's place to help her select and sell stuff on carousell. I helped her sold some of her things already so she treated me to Korean dinner at Tanjong Pagar. It was Sat night so everywhere was filled with people and we had to wait for around 45mins for a table for the 5 of us, but only the 4 of us were eating.

So for the 4 of us, she ordered:

1 x pot of kimchi stew

1 x pot of rice cake topokki

1 x large jajang noodles

1 x bowl of dumplings

1 x steam egg

4 x rice balls

1 x kimchi fried rice

1 x rice to put over the kimchi stew as finale

1 x soju

1 x Makgeolli

Omg calories and carbs overload. It was crazy much and I was stuffing myself coz I like the food and I don't want to waste it. It was like having Korean buffet and I haven't had a buffet for many years (not counting hotel breakfast buffets). And it has been so long since my stomach felt sooooo stretched. Total damage: $200 which is not too bad.

And later I wanted to walk it off so went to Domi's office for two glasses of wine and didn't continue partying with them because they were going to drink somemore and I will definitely puke.

Overall a very stomach filling Saturday with all the yummies. Luckily Sunday was plain food day and I didn't eat much. 

Interesting fact: 1 bottle of soju has the same amount of calories as one mc spicy. 

So would you rather eat mcspicy or drink a bottle of soju? Just eat both. 

The new normal weekend

 Another weekend gone just like that. The weather is really hot this few weeks.

I have been hanging a lot with Nigel and Gabby, eating MLXG and Kao Yu, drinking a lot. Yesterday they came over my room for my gin collection and it was bonkers, together with Dommy. I slept at 4am and woke up at 11am like a zombie and I was napping the whole day today. Sigh what a waste of day, but then again, it's not like I have any plans today. 

Went to the library, I'm quite excited for the few new books that I managed to snatch - very popular books. I love sci-fi, fantasy and adventure. 

Since Feb all my weekends are almost the same, I seldom meet people nowadays. Is this my new normal weekend? Just going to the library and doing my own stuff?

 It's so strange but I like my alone time and just doing things I wanna do. Oh and I managed to sell many things on carousell like the Iphone 7 plus for my aunt and the glass set for my cousin. I even managed to sell my 15yo gundam which had been collecting dust in my cupboard and totally forgot about it. 

I think I'm just damn bored. I'm used to having a quiet weekend last time because I need to save up for my next big trip but this year there's no other big trip and all I can do is save money for next year and the year after. I'm still spending cautiously so I'm still on track. I really hope most things will be normalised by end of the year. 

I can't wait for winter

Can I just say that I can't wait for next year to come? 

Usually this time of the year I'm planning for my snow trip and probably booked my flights (3 months in advance) and hotels, but I can't really do that right now. All I can do is plan the trip - I've already decided when to go and where to snowboard, and came up with the itinerary. 

I was so excited when I was doing up my shopping list last week hehehehe all my nerdy geeky gundam and eva stuff and all the things I'm going look out for in Tokyo. I think it just feels good to spend money overseas, especially Japan.

I need to feel the winds of winter on my face as I walk down Shinjuku, surrounded by the electronic sounds in Akihabara and breathe the city air in Shibuya. Oh the family marts, donkis and dessert shops. Spidey is coming for you.

Itaewon hair

Chloe my hair stylist: How do you want to cut today?

Me:     Hm... I'm a bit bored of my hair style

Chloe: How about short fringe?

Me:     Ok anything

Chloe: That's the Itaewon Class haircut but you still look like Japanese. Totally not Korean.

After I posted it, I've got all sorts of reactions.

Pear: You look like Ang Moh plus Korean Beng

Jarren: OMFG + horrified emoji

Skylar: You look very nice

Reika: Looking good

Jasmine: Don't look like leh

I feel super weird but I guess I'll just have to get used to it and luckily it's WFH season. I miss my fringe.

Who is the ang moh korean beng I see

Staring straight back at me

No KFC Yes Popeyes

Obviously my stomach doesn't agree with KFC and I had to do it again and again. I had KFC last weekend coz I was craving for fried chicken and I wanted to compare the zinger with Popeye's chicken sandwich that I had the previous week. 

And Popeye's chicken sandwich won. It's so much better than Zinger, more meat more flavour less of the oily smell but what it lacks is more Vege. Maybe I should try it again next week hehe. No. I'm on a quest for Gold in IPPT again so I have to stay away from fatty food till I take IPPT. 

Anyway wine at Domi's office for the last 2 Sundays and hanging out with Nigel at Zion food center and also wines. I'm glad for no more beer but I miss my hardcore drinks. 

Mulan

 I just watched the live action Mulan and it was a mess. So many HUHs in the plot and chi doesn't work that way. 

Like why didn't the commander go and save the Emperor and let Mulan go instead?
How did she even flank to the snow mountain without being detected?
What's with all those side characters without any stories?
The witch could kill so many people but can't avoid an arrow? It's so riddiculous how she died. 

I think it might be the worst Disney remake ever. Luckily I didn't go to the cinemas or else I would have regretted greatly. 

air brush paints and stuff

I have decided to be more professional in my gundam art so I am researching on how to do them up more professionally like the sanding and air brush painting and stuff. 

Technology has enabled air compressors to be miniaturized and cheaper now so I can officially air paint my gundams. That means I have to get more boxes when I go Japan next year. I was using spray cans all the while this time and the effects weren't really good. There are small little flaws here and there.

Look at my 00 raiser and Seravee Gundam, Ver Ka designer colour. I'm also re-watching Gundam 00 now, one of the best Gundam series IMO. 

So researching on paints and techniques and mixes and models to build, started watching youtubes and stuff and planning what to buy when I go Japan. And yesterday I just dreamt of using white paint LOL.

I guess I really need to go full on professional Gundam Art. Crafta-san on youtube is really amazing. 

I have been dreaming a lot lately... about Domi, Skylar, Gundams, Hokkaido etc, I guess I'm just too bored.

loots from overseas

 It is mid September and we haven't got rid of the stupid virus and it is horrible and terrible.

This has been the longest I have not been flying and I was watching a lot of shows based in NYC and I suddenly feel like I have to go back there. It has been 12 years since I visited and it is about time. Plus, Skylar can bring me around and I can take a quick trip to either LA or Toronto or Quebec to visit friends. I would love that. Anyone would love to travel now actually.

So last 2 weekends was hanging out with Nigel with some Dong Bei food. Omg I miss China food esp shui jiaos. 

I watched Tenet with Paeng, the first movie in 9 months. Can you believe it. Our lifestyles totally changed this year. And also I found my missing pieces of gundam in another box of gundam when I was clearing my display cupboard. I have no idea how that ended up there but it is definitely time to go into gundams as a hobby.

 I already have lotsa things to buy when I go back Japan, I made a list and also all the stuff in my Amazon shopping cart. It's crazy how I miss that place so much when it's the last place I visited. I also need to go Shanghai for the taobaos and the food. Oh my beach attire arrived lol. 

The beach shorts are so skimpy I look like a Daddy when I wear it.

Binge drinking eating shopping

Binge Drinking
Last Saturday was binge drinking at Jarren's place with the gang. I wasn't gonna drink much, probably like 1 or 2 cans of beer and I have been winning all the games and then Jarren noticed and Edward noticed and I'm done for. They pointed at me twice in a roll and towards the end I was ded and wanted to pull my pants down for them to see. Ded. The hangover the next day was really bad urgh I hate it. I always say that I wouldn't drink so much but I don't know how to stop them from making me drink.

Binge Eating
Last Wednesday was some bai bai thing so there were a lot of food at my aunt's place. It has been so long since I've had such good food omg. The curry was amazing and so on point. The potatos were soft and the meat were drumstick and thigh and she made the curry from scratch. Amazing. And at night went over to Hwee's place and ate some more and saw Cindy and Phil and I was super full.

I looked at my tummy and sighed. Should I resign to fate? Also, I'm today years old when I found out Doritos are the bomb. Holy shit they are the ultimate snack when I'm watching my shows and movies I just can't stop snacking on them. I will not stop if they came with cheese or avocado or salsa. It's so dangerous.

Binge Window Shopping
Let me say again, Taobao is amazing. I just bought singlet, beach shorts, trunks and googles for like $50. And there are so many amazing things I want to buy they all look so nice. I can spend hours choosing the tee shirts, the towel rack, the dining chair, the plates etc and they are reasonably priced. It really is the most amazing market place ever.

BBFA never learn

Some BBFAs are really hopeless and just never learn. They should really grow up and reflect on their attitude because that is exactly why they are in their situation right now.

Dreaming of sky

This is the third time I dreamt of Skylar since we met in Japan in Jan and this time it's R21.
What is wrong with me.

Do I have OCD

I cannot stand mess.

Just like the messy furniture at Wei Ling's house when she was clearing her house
Just like the kitchen
Just like the shared drive in office
Just like the shared drive in my previous company
Just like my wardrobe
Just like the documents in my drawer
Just like the stack of comic books on my side
Just like in my drawer now
Just like the files in my previous laptop

It's because last year I did a Marie Kondo in my room and get rid of a lot of junk, a book cupboard, my table and arranged my living space. Now my room is sorta in a mess again and I still need to clear my wardrobe of those clothes that I would not wear or haven't been wearing for many years. I know it's so hard to part with some of my fav clothes but I have outgrown them. In fact not outgrown because I shrunk so my size changed and my style changed.

I just need to arrange, get rid of stuff and create categorial space for my stuff.

Luckily I haven't been buying more decorative items, I just buy what I need. I think I need to get rid of my stuff faster.

one and a half more years

I've been shopping on Taobao and I just can't wait for one and a half more years. ARGH.

One and a half more years
One and a half more years
One and a half more years

Such a massive project that I can't prepare for, but I can only plan and wait in the meantime. I can hardly breathe. There are so many things in between that I have to plan to occupy my time instead of wasting my youth in between, but I also need to save money.

New Work

One week into my new company, here are some observations:

I love the building it's so beautiful and it was even filmed in Westworld. I wish I could stay in the residences there but it's a dead town on weekends.

The office is so Japanese, even the toilets look like those Japanese train station toilets. The building and structure are new, the pantry is nice, the vending machine drinks are free, I only miss the drip coffee that the auntie makes in my previous office. I'm also figuring out what's the best way to get to office from home. My desk is big and spacey, but no privacy to surf net lol.

My team is very local, and my boss is very nice, I'm quite relieved with that. My team mate is very helpful but I can foresee that they would resist change, e.g. e-documents vs paper documents.
I also feel like I've travelled back in time haha, the system they are using are like 10 years old? MS office 2010 suite?? Windows 7??? And they don't even provide laptops for staff???
Hello this 2020 now, when are you going to upgrade your IT systems? BUT if it's not going to change at the HQ then nothing's going to change, we just have to accept that.

Other than that it's still too early to tell now, it's not like BNP where I immediately felt so comfortable with my team and manager, it's like the place I really fit in.

It's just my first week only.. it's too early to tell. Pay and staff loyalty is definitely better than outside, as Phileo said.

Should have taken more days off

Tomorrow is my first day of work and I don't want to go back to work so fast. At first I was thinking 2 weeks were more than enough when I planned my starting date and it seemed reasonable considering no travelling allowed and what can one do in Singapore??

Turns out staying at home and reading comics and waking up at 11am every day are very enjoyable. Walking around town randomly, going to the gym at random hours, searching for sushi lunch deals, going for massages (just did one today), meeting random people, baking random cakes, watching shows everyday till late, borrowing new comics from the library, all these are very enjoyable. Luckily I didn't start on Monday, and next Monday is a National holiday, and there's another holiday coming end of the month.

Ber was right. I should have taken more holidays before I start work, like at least a month. Ok this is a reminder the next time I get a chance to take a long holiday, I should take at least one month.

Basque Cheesecake

Because all the supermarkets have stocked up their cream cheese and I was craving for some cake and I have nothing to do during my break so...

Burnt cheesecake with a molten center.

How to lose weight like that.

New computer!

During the stay home/CB period I was watching a lot of shows and doing a lot of shit online using my laptop and somehow the lag started to annoy me, like my shows would be laggy and the websites were laggy. I thought it was a good time to change my laptop.

I still love my Asus laptop, it has been 8 year and it has been through Shanghai with me. When I came back to SG, I took out the battery and it has been on my table ever since. I have no need to bring with me outside (unless I move overseas again) so I've decided to replace my main computer with a desktop - which is more powerful and probably cheaper and bigger screen. My laptop could be my backup - it is still working fine.

So long story short and many visits to Funan and many nights of surfing Carousell, I settled on either a all-in-one desktop or building my own. But building my own I have to get my own monitor and stuff so it's a hassle, and I was already enquiring this AIO lenovo desktop from somebody in Carousell so I decided to just stick to the AIO. It's either the $1300 brand new Lenovo AIO or the $980 AIO from Carousell which I'm quite satisfied but not satisfied with no SSD. Turns out, she reduced the price to $780 and it comes with a 3 year warranty - so I thought ok I can make do without the SSD since it's so cheap and I wouldn't get the one with SSD for another $600.

Apparently she was selling on behalf of her company because the company closed an office and were trying to get rid of assets, so I negotiated the price down to $700 and went to collect it. I just finished setting it up and transferring my files from laptop yesterday and found out: it came with SSD!!! Woohoo. I got a really good deal yayness.

I love the big screen, I love the fast response and I love the 24inch touch screen! One of my proudest buys from Carousell. One word for the big screen - SHIOK.

Last day, massage, Sentosa

21 July was my last working day in my current company. After replying a few emails and having a call with my boss, I passed the laptop to my team mate and dropped my staff pass and clearance form in office, cleared out my desk a little and went for brunch with Brian. The start of a 2-weeks break.

I feel:

relieved - I am cleared of all my work responsibilities and I don't have to work for 2 weeks but I'm getting paid from my untaken leaves.

anxious - I couldn't sleep because it's a jobless mode and I'm nervous about my next company and they didn't advise me what to do on my first day. 

clueless - what can I do for 2 weeks without going overseas?

So after brunch I already booked a massage session. My first massage in Singapore which LJ introduced.

It was the chinese kinda massage where they used their arm bones and knuckles and rub against your bones/spine. My masseur was a chinese lady and I was glad she was chatty all the way if not I would have been very bored and awkward because she was massaging my butt. She was strong too, and when she did my hip and waist it was so painful. She said it was because we have been sitting down too much for work and my butt needs work lol. No happy ending because this is a clean place.
Overall for $64.20, good, clean and strong massage for Singapore standards. No pushy packages too.

The next day, I had to go to the beach. Nigel just came back from Shanghai and we had a lot to catch up on. To be honest, I hadn't chilled at Sentosa beach for the longest time. The last time was Secondary school, some 18-20 years back. I have only been to TBC to eat something but not chill. I'm totally not a beach person but Nigel and I had a day bed. Together with truffle fries and a bottle of moscato, the amazing weather, it was really wonderful.

Oh well. The things you can do in Singapore when you can't go overseas. Spending the travelling budget in Singapore and being a tourist in Singapore.

Chocolate cake achievement

I saw Lace's chocolate cake on instagram one day and I was really craving for it but I didn't want to wait (or pay) for the chocolate cake so I decided to look for the recipe and try it out myself. I also found out that I have chocolates in the fridge which had expired by 3 years but it was expensive chocolate and I didn't feel any discomfort after eating one that day so...

I posted the whole baking process on IG and somebody forwarded it to Lace and then my IG messages were bursting. Just look at that beautiful chocolate cake - made with premium Belgium chocolate (55% cacao), multi-texture with a molten center.

Lace even said mine looks more like the Tokyo version than hers and totally nice for a first try. And it taste differently when it's cold - like a chocolate truffle cake.
Another of my proud baking achievement. I have friends texting me, 2 orders coming in and a cousin to teach and ingredients to buy.

tummy

Honestly why is my tummy still there??? Argh!!!!

I mean my arms looks great, my shoulders looks great, why is there still a layer of fat around my tummy??? I have put some effort in my meals, albeit cheating just a little bit like eating a gummy worm during tea break but I have also been going to the gym for a few years but my tummy is still there!!! Why!!!

This is so unfair. Some people just go to the gym for less than a year and they got like a six pac but mine is still one whole pac. I can't believe this. Why can't I get rid of my tummy?? What's wrong with my body!!

CB over, stay home or not?

CB is over.

On one hand I wish to wear my nice clothes and go out with my friends, go for a nice meal/cafe/drink and catch up with them.
On the other hand I just want to stay at home and not spend any money and just leech on my parents and stay out of contact from the world.

Sigh such a dilemma. I really like not having to spend any money, not having to waste money and time travelling. One tap on the ezlink card is easily $1.50 already and going out would cost at least $20, including travelling. It's not that I can't afford, it's just... the feeling of saving that $10 for something that I need (all the heavy stuff that I mentioned earlier) is much more satisfactory than one meal.

Last weekend I just spent $70 on a Saturday from dim sum with LJ and Reika and Caleb the cutie, and some Japanese coffee with Paeng and grocery shopping. That's almost what I spent for entire 2 weeks during CB. And also, I wonder if it's the anti-social me talking. Going out to socialise is so tiring. I'd rather stay at home or go to a cafe to read a book or watching a movie and not talk to anyone lol.

Many things to buy

The most exciting news for me in phase 2 is the re-opening of the library!! I can't believe I am saying this but I miss the library so much. The day before CB I specially went to borrow 6 books but I finished them all by end of May and I had to resort to opening Becky's unsold books and also e-books. I was thinking of getting a tablet or ebook for reading but nah, I prefer physical books and turning the pages. I rushed to the library on the first day of re-opening (1 July) during lunchtime because I was still "working from home" and borrowed 7 books immediately. I am so relieved the library is opened.

On another matter, I really have so many heavy things to buy now.

1. Ski Jacket. Yes I have been using mine for 3 years already - total of 4 trips and earlier this year I posted my snowboarding photo and Alan asked if I took the photo last year and pretended I was in Japan -_-. Yes I need a new one to alternate. And Viv also encouraged me. So yeah. I have shortlisted 3, but 2 of them I have to collect in Japan. I don't know when I will be in Japan again.

2 Computer. My laptop has lasted me for 8 years. It has been working well actually, just super laggy and it affects me watching my shows. I decided I don't need another laptop and have also shortlisted some all-in-ones and a mini computer. Now I just need to order and collect but I'm just hesitant which one to get. I'm so used to my current Asus laptop. I need to decide and collect it when my work from home arrangement ends.

3. Work bag. My trusty Jack Spade Messager bag has been with me for more than 5 years and never failed me at the workplace. I mean it's still good, just a bit dirty and limited edition now coz Jack Spade is closed, and now I have new requirements for my work because I want to bring lunch to work. That means I need a work bag that can accommodate my lunchbox. Well I'm not in a hurry for this though. I'll need to go to my new work place and have a look.

4. That pair of white sneakers. Ok it's a want not a need.

Shows

Over this stay home period I have finished watching:

1 season of Locke and Key
3 seasons of The Leftovers
4 seasons of Star Wars Rebels
1 season of Star Trek Discovery
2 seasons of Fleabag
3 seasons of Killing Eve
2 seasons of Succession
2 seasons of Downton Abbey
Crash landing on you
Descendants of the Sun

Wow. TV watching galore during CB.

Don't let things go over your head

People's mindset do change when they get a raise or promotion in their work place. I guess because they let things go over their head, some people think they hold more power but it comes with pressure and responsibility. It's unavoidable, they just need to get used to it and move forward and not keep harping on it.

To be honest I can feel some changes in my attitude towards certain things. Like spending, I'm more willing to spend now, although I still hesitate a long time on that $113 on a t-shirt. What I should do is have the same mentality as what I been doing all these time - be restrictive in my spending so I can save more. Just because I earn more doesn't mean I have to spend more, instead it just means I have more to save and I can clear my future debts more quickly. Yes it's nice to treat or reward yourself occasionally but not every month or every weekend. The more I save the more I have for bigger things.

On working attitude, I was quite disappointed at the attitude and mentality I displayed last week because I let things get over my head. Yes, I am planning to move to another company but I still have a few more weeks to go and I haven't officially resigned, and I would like to come back if possible. So, I shouldn't be so hard-headed or aggressive or trying so hard to prove myself. And no sloppy seconds. I should have the same mentality as what I have been doing all these time - be humble, patient, ready for anything and focused on learning to improve. Having this attitude is the reason why I have been doing so well in this company and I have to bring this same attitude to the other side as well.

Kitsune Rainbow Tee

This broke the record of the most expensive t-shirt I have bought.

I wanted to buy something from Maison Kitsune after visiting their shop in Daikanyama in Jan, really beautiful shop, and I saw some of their t-shirts on sale but the simple designs were 120sgd after the sale and I know it wasn't worth that price. But the fitting is nice though.

So after the trip I saw this particular design that I liked from their SS collection so I was camping for the sale. The official website was too expensive and mr porter was out of stock even before the sale. So I had to source for alternative shops to buy from, and also I was contemplating if I should pay so much for a simple t-shirt. Urgh. Last year I wouldn't even think about paying above $60 for a T-shirt.

Yesterday I was causally googling this t-shirt and actually found a website with 50% off, almost 75sgd which was decent sale price, but the shipping was 35sgd. Well it was the cheapest option I had found and also I was going to have a salary increase so click click click, kaching kaching kaching. ~$113~

Officially the most expensive T-shirt I own now, and reward for not buying any clothes for the last 5 months, reward for getting a new job, something to wear after today coz phase 2 is official here and we can go out now.

Now how about that pair of Lanvin white sneakers that I have been eyeing...

New Offer

What a day.

After 12pm this afternoon I wouldn't focus at work today because the outcome of the counter-offer wasn't what I expected. Well I mean, I had 80% expectation that my company would counter-offer but seems like they didn't have enough budget and my boss says that it is a a good offer from the other side.

I have accepted the offer from the other company but it came with nervousness, excitement and scariness. I have became so comfortable in my current position that I wouldn't want to change anything besides my pay. I really like my company and my boss and I would stay here forever if not for the offer. It came at a surprise thou, I didn't expect to change jobs so fast. I was still planning which part of the business to rotate to within my company but it seems like plans do change when fate plays with you.

Ok it's almost the end game now, I'm scared and nervous.
As Kanan from Star Wars said, when the situation is out of your control, all you can do is wait.

AC spoil

As usual after dinner, after 1 episode of Star Trek Discovery, I switched on the air con in my room, went out to brush my teeth, came back, and the room was still warm.

My AC unit is not working AGAIN. ARGH. This time the in-built fan was not working.

Today the repair company came down and thought it was the circuit board problem. After switching the circuit board, the fan is still not working, so last resort - change the entire unit.

~$250~

Sigh, my hard earned $250 just flew away like that. To think that for the past month I have been hesitant whether I should buy that $200 tablet, this one just snapped away in 1 hour, even without consideration or hesitation.

AC is such an essential need, especially in this time of CB and WFH. I was so angsty yesterday night when I had to sleep without AC. I hope this unit will last longer.

Eldest uncle

Just got news that my eldest uncle from my mum's family passed away this morning.

There's no way to travel to JB in this situation, we can only observe from home and get updates from the family via phone. My mum was in all sorts of panics and out of focus and I was annoyed. Oh wells.

I'm not close to him at all, we only spoke briefly every Chinese New Year and he was particularly concerned about my job, as compared to the other cousins. He was also very aware that I was posted to Shanghai in my first job. Every year he would never fail to ask me about my job but this year surprisingly he didn't ask although I had prepared my speech so I was a little puzzled. He must have asked my dad coz my dad told me to exaggerate my job to him that day lol. Anyway he has been nice to me and I also have been polite to him, other than that there's no much interaction. 

Oh well, one less person to meet next CNY.

The leftovers

I finished 2 seasons of the highly acclaimed HBO series The Leftovers.

I'm quite of myself for finishing, although this is not the type of sci fi show that I would watch, but it's just so captivating. The storyline is very crazy and incomplete but it makes you reflect a lot about life.

2% of the people in the planet disappeared suddenly one day. After 3 seasons there wasn't any explanation about that and that's what the show wants you to think about. You actually want a logical explanation but sometimes in life you just have to accept that things happen in an unexplainable way and move on. The show is about moving on and acceptance about life. Sometimes we have to pretend to be ok, sometimes we just have to understand that life happens in a mysterious way, you can't control life, you can't control people, you just have to accept it. You don't know what other people are thinking, you don't know what they are going through and why they do the things they do.

It's about acceptance and moving on. Life is not logical sometimes.

The Leftovers displays what happens to all of us when we fail to let go of control of our goodness. Within a microcosm where the stakes are blatantly high and the situation increasingly dire, humanity faces the same old struggle with sin we’ve faced since the very beginning: We want to control what happens to us, if not also for those around us. We want a say in the whys and the hows of life—I was good, and therefore X happened, I failed at Y and therefore Z took place. We are not a people to be content with the unknown, we want skin in the game regardless of whether or not that means predicting outcomes, throwing in the towel and giving up altogether, or assuming nothing was ever wrong with us in the first place (or at least, that less is wrong with us than those other people).

So deep.

Good mobile plan deal

The most exciting news for me this month is that I finally changed my mobile plan to a SIM-only plan and guess what, it only costs $20 a month!

So my current plan is a corporate contract: 

$32.65 per month, 

6GB 200 mins talk time.

It had expired last year December, and earlier this month Singtel sent me a corporate promotion: 

$20 per month, 

20GB 700min talk time (really?? 20GB? isn't that too excessive??)

Tell me, logically, who is able to resist such a good deal. More data, more talk time (not that I will use) and so much cheaper? I think this is the cheapest plan I had since my first Singtel Classic plan 18 years ago. 

I love saving money.

Lagom

Lagom is a Swedish word meaning "just the right amount". The word can be variously translated as "in moderation", "in balance", "perfect-simple", and "suitable" (in matter of amounts).
The archetypical Swedish proverb "Lagom är bäst", literally "The right amount is best".

It's complementary of my life quote I've always used: Principle of Equivalent Trade.

I just love this word, the Swedish concept and I'm living by it now. It means that everything should be balanced, just the right amount, not too much not too little. That briefly describes my life and the direction that I'm pursuing.

Example, I used to want to live in a big house with high ceiling, like a landed property with balcony and outdoor BBQ, but I realised that no, I just need sufficient space for myself. Just enough and I'm contented with that. No space should be wasted for the sake of wanting.

Also my clothes. I seriously have too many clothes and I'm desperately trying to get rid of those that I do not want, but it's just so difficult. I just have one piece per special occasion. But I seriously have to Marie Kondo everything within 2 years, slowly so that I just have enough and what I need. Same goes for my shoes.

It also keeps me satisfied and contented. I don't need more (that's what I tell myself when I shop online, only buy what's needed and necessary), I don't need less. Just nice.

Life is Lagom. Lagom is life.

typically annoyed

I get annoyed at people who doesn't have general knowledge.

Me: When females in the society gets more educated they don't want children.
B: This is bullshit.

Go and google "female educated less children", Bitch!
This is really general knowledge, everyone knows that and so many research papers, datas and examples. If you come from a rural village and don't read any news or have any sense on the general society then STFU and acknowledge and stop giving uneducated comments to prove that you are a dumbass.

Typical msian.

stagnant limbo

The week has been boring. When I say that, I mean that there's nothing new to me or to what I'm doing. Everyday is just wake up, switch on work laptop, breakfast, play with phone, work, nap, shower, lunch, work, exercise, shower, dinner, shows, wine, sleep. And repeat.

The world is in a stagnant limbo right now, there's nothing we could do except to hope for the virus antibody or vaccine to save the world. It's like a 3-month earth cleanse and mind cleanse. Travelling stopped, normal life stopped, drunk times stopped, naughty times stopped, spending money stopped (for me), gym life stopped.

Argh I miss the body aches after an intense gym session and I simply can't do home workout for nuts. I'm starting to run longer distance - 4-5km the last time to compensate for gym but I'm crying for my shrinking muscles. I can't believe I miss gym. I wouldn't have said that 3 years ago but gym has been my go-to place almost everyday, even though sometimes I'd love to skip it. It's weird though, I feel like I have more time now to do nothing.

I guess everyone will go wild after this CB. I'm going to book my flight to BKK as soon as the borders open.

WFH extended

Ok so the work from home arrangement extended to June. The circuit breaker doesn't really affect me, except the weekend drinkings, and I do save a lot just chilling at home - although I've been window shopping a lot online. Now all the bubble tea shops and barber shops are closed, my hair is in a mess. I haven't had a haircut since Feb - that's exactly 2 months ago, and I've got one and a half month more to go. Good thing is I don't have to go out and meet people, and if I go for grocery runs I can just wear a cap. And also there's more hair for Chloe to play with.

I really hate second puberty. My hair is falling, my face is ageing, my fats are more stubborn, my body has more aches than ever, it's so hard to keep up with my fitness level. Maybe I just miss my baby face. Even my taste in clothes changed, I suspect it's because of friends that I hang out with the most.

I guess I don't have to go anywhere this year, I just want to go to Bangkok, probably Hong Kong or Taipei or Osaka, and probably some far away place like LA or Canada or London during block leave.

unfunny

I think the lack of social life has got to my humour level. I have forgot how to make jokes now and all I could think of are inappropriate ones. I think I'm not funny anymore. How? I can't deal with being a serious adult anymore. I need more creativity for jokes now.

Getting used to working from home

Although I miss working in the office, I'm starting to get the hang of working from home. I thought it would be a temporary thing but it seems 1 month is a long time. I have my own habits and routine when I work in the office, the showers in the morning, facial regime, reading on the train, breakfast, my wolfberry water, lunch, coffee, green tea, reading on the train, dinner, gym, facial regime, show, sleep.

Now I just need to incorporate some of my routine if I work from home, like the showers and green tea and stuff. I think the main thing is boiling water is not readily available at home, or the coffee is not made by the pantry lady etc. I miss my drip coffee.

Times like this I know I'm saving a lot by eating everything at home. I haven't spent a single cent at for 5 days straight already and I feel anxious. I know that it's the best time to save money now but I feel uneasy without spending money. And also I have been researching and projecting my 2 year plan and it's kinda settled that I have enough if nothing goes wrong.

I have stiff neck for 2 days now because I have been working and sleeping and watching tv in a bad posture. Urgh I want my gym.

Also, I need a new ski jacket.

Terrace Tokyo

I just caught up to the latest episode of Terrace House on Netflix, total of 13 episodes over the weekend. Phew. It was easy, just staying at home and binge watching while dreaming of going Japan again. My eyes were glued to my laptop screen literally.

Some things I noticed about Japanese in the show:
Every date is fun (tanoshi kata)
Every food is delicious (oiishi), besides the broccoli pasta which still cracks me up
They like to go to the aquarium for date
They like to go to the sea for dates
They love their seafood and sashimi

The show made me miss Japan so much, especially it was winter time and everyone was wearing sweater and eating hotpot or something hot. Such cozy weather. When I get my own place I'm going to grocery shop the hell out of Donki and cook Japanese for every dinner. Oyako-don, Jaga-Niku, Japanese pasta, Japanese curry, Oden etc.

I am going to book my flight to Japan once this thing is over. I need to find practise my Japanese with somebody. I love my All Saints coat I can't wait to wear it again.