Coldplay and Angus in SG and 37

Last year we snatched up 3 tickets for Coldplay, so Angus is flying from Tokyo to SG for holiday and concert and will be staying with me. And then we will fly to Tokyo together to meet Neab for skiing at Appi hehe.

He arrived on Thursday at 3pm, took taxi to my place, settled in, met SJ then we had dinner at Chin Chin with Jessie. He was so fascinated by bitter gourd soup because they don't have it in China lol. Then we went around the light festival and Merlion park because he never been there before to do the most touristy thing ever - the drinking shot.

We went back to rest and watched a Korean movie at night while playing with our phones haha. 

The next morning I did laundry while Angus went to meet his brother for lunch and tea, then we met at Somerset, went to Le Labo to try my scent, walked around Taka for a while, had Thai food for dinner with Eric and then we went straight to National Stadium for the concert.

It was actually quite alright, we sat at higher place so everything looks nice and I only know a few songs. I wasn't a fan so it was just alright for me. The effects were very good tho, the lights and all but it was only 2hours. 

We headed back, went to drink a bit, clubbed, then back home.

Saturday Stanley took MC so didn't have to work, we had Malaysian lunch at Lao Wang claypot, didn't do anything much. Angus went for dinner with T rex while we had dinner and dessert with Eric at Mos Burger and PS cafe. Drinking Party with the gang at my place, I was so drunk after that and puked lol. The party ended at 4am lol.

Sunday I woke up with a hangover urgh. We had Nam Nam for lunch, then went to Jewel coz it is a tourist attraction. 

Headed back for dinner at Chin Chin again (with bitter gourd soup) and then we went home to pack for the early flight in the morning. 

Food and cake from SJ & Yuri

Last week SJ brought me to his Dad's restaurant that serves Sichuan and Dongbei food, and he said his Dad and stepmum are joining too? And I was like what?? Awkward max.

Luckily his stepmum was really nice and chatty, and it actually wasn't as awkward as he/I thought. The restaurant was space/astronaut themed which looked quite nice, food was not bad. Anyway free food is always nice and we ended up super full.

My first cake of the birthday season - Matcha Mango cake hahaha. It was quite ok, I posted on IG and some friends said it looks yummy lol.

Today I went to office for work (the only day I'm going in this week) and Yuri bought me a cake!! OMG I was quite surprised, she's so sweet. This cake was really quite yummy. 

My tummy is getting bigger...

Library open

The national library is finally open and I was one of the first to borrow books from the library - because I've been waiting for this book for a long time. The comic section wasn't updated though.

Anyway almost every book is new and so I'm very satisfied. 

First 2 weeks of the new year shoosh

After the New Year everything just breezed past so quickly I felt like I didn't accomplish much? Maybe because I didn't buy anything significant haha. 

After coffee on 4 Jan, BBQ dinner and drinks with Stanley on 5 Jan, BBQ dinner (again) with Eric on 6 Jan, first day in office on 9 Jan, dinner and drinking again at night and now it's Friday 12 Jan. I still feel like I'm on a holiday lol. All the grocery buying, fruits buying, ice cream buying, house keeping had kept my time well occupied and I kept thinking what to do next.

Anyway I need to plan and buy stuff for my Japan trip, I feel so unprepared now. 

Just waiting for my salary to come in...

New Year plans

The weekend before Xmas day (which is a Monday) I was already on leave and will be on clearing leave for the new years holiday as well, so I was thinking of what to do. I could travel, either to Bangkok to find Neab, or Bali with Eric, or Shanghai with Oli but Oli is out of comission/town. Or I could host a party.

So as I was thinking of what to do, the leave days ended and I ended up doing nothing haha. Not even a party. So New Year's I asked Jessie and family to come up to see fireworks, drank champagne and that's it. I returned to watching movies. I don't want to spend money because I have to save up for Japan and CNY and insurance. And I have sneakers/clothes/jacket to buy. 

Sigh. Why can't money fall from the sky and land in my wallet.

Looking back 2023

January to March

Went Hanoi for the first time for business trip, it was boring but the food and coffee were great

Celebrated CNY and birthday in Jan, no PD this year

Snow pilgrim in Feb in Myoko, first time after Covid with Zac, Mag, Angus, Neab, Jessie and Jon. Helped Zac propose on the slopes and a really fun time with Neab and Angus. One of most fun snow trips, we went Nagano, Niigata and Yokohama to see the big Gundam, and spained my ankle -_-

Went Jakarta for the first time for business trip, super drunk with the Vietnamese, chilling and met Andrew

Watched Frozen musical with Kathy.

April to June

Started on long term Project Kaya

Silver for IPPT

Headed to SGH almost every 2 weeks.

Bangkok for 3 days with 2 days of food poisoning for the first time lol

Had my first day surgery in May and the recovery process was a bitch. No gym for 2 months

Got a good bonus and increment

Neab came to sg and went to Bird Paradise.

July to September

Online war for Coldplay and Taylor Swift concert tickets

Progress and stress on purchasing big ticket items for Project Kaya

2 weeks reservist during NDP, and fireworks

Kaya delayed but good for me, China is visa free for sg finally

Bought my first Jacquemus after watching Heartstoppers haha

15 Sep pineapple and open house for Kat gang and family

Woon's wedding

October to December

Tokyo again to meet Oli and friends, couldn't buy my gundam paints back but bought lots of other random things haha. Caught up with Angus

First Shanghai trip after Covid, stayed at the most beautiful hotel I've been - Alila Wuzhen, stayed 2 weeks in Shanghai, a lot of good food

Moved into my new place permanently after moving my desktop

3-day Bali trip, stayed at Alila Seminyak

One of my used-to-be-close cousin passed away, was really devastated, went to JB for the memorial

Never ending buying household things and thinking about chores, settling in my new place and life.

Company DnD again, free entry to Marquee which was boring lol

Early Xmas party with random gang which was quite fun, set up my xmas tree

Didn't do much for Xmas

Zhi Hui back for a month from Toronto , met her for dinner and drinks

Ended the year with champagne and fireworks with Jessie

2023
Financial
This year I only saved 57.88% of my total cash, compared to 63% last year, but it was better than I expected since I didn't set a target this year. 

The beginning of this year was gearing up for the big dip, then the two big dips, one in Jan and one in August. This year is a year of big spending. I still went on holidays but still the budget kind - except Shanghai and Bali. I mean some things are worth spending on. 

I missed buying clothes - I only remember buying my Jacquemus t-shirt, that's it. I didn't even buy any big luxury clothes like sneakers or bag - although I really want to but I have other priorities like food, drinks and households. 

Physical
2 big body resets this year, gym is quite inconsistent so I guess not much changes in my fitness. I am more confident of my body now actually after the surgery. I got Silver for IPPT which was normal, signed up for a new gym as well. 

As usual, people comment on my youth.

My facial routine:

Morning: Elixir/Pola Toner, Elixir moisturiser, Allie sunblock.
Night: Pola Toner, Pola moisturiser, hair serum. Sometimes masking.
I need to buy more Pola stuff, they are amazing. 

Social

Beginning of the year was mostly working and meeting new colleagues overseas. Meeting Domi quite regularly for Project Kaya, Eric, Kat, Neab had been consistent too. Soon went away after Feb, which was ok because I became so busy after June. 

Met Oli and friends in Tokyo, then Shanghai trip and Bali trip - didn't meet my old friends in Shanghai though. Parties towards the end of the year - family, Jarren gang, Kat gang, chef Huang, drinking gang etc. Dinner with Zhi Hui and Randy. 

I guess my socials for this year is not bad towards the end of year.

Overall
I went to some new places like Hanoi and Jakarta for work but didn't travel to new exciting places this year because no mental capacity to plan and no money haha. Work has been very stable and stress free. I get lots of free time and it definitely helped me a lot in other areas. 

As I said the last review, this year is the year of reckoning. Body resets and life changes, towards the better of course. I'm staying in a new place which I still can't believe, all my effort and hard work in the finance department really paid off, one of my biggest life accomplishments and goal completed. Now I just need to maintain it. 

My tagline of 2023: New Places

2023 was a very good year of changes, many new experiences like staying at many new places (like Alila properties). I am a proud owner of a nice property, good job and boss, good socials, looking better and healthier. Only finances had been in the red as expected haha. This year started quite slow, very busy in the middle but ended really well. I'm in a good place right now.

2024
What's next? Maintaining, making things better, saving up and/or earning more, going to new places and meeting new peeps. Already planned for Coldplay, Japan, and Taylor Swift. I want to visit some nature places this year, maybe Chong Qing with Angus, Xinjiang or something.