So, of course, we had to end the first course winner-style. Last night was such a blast - we celebrated at Lawrence's place after class - and had local SG congee, Thai fried chicken wings, and drinks. It was just awesome. Laughed so much, and ate and drank so much. And the رجل رقم ست (rajul rakam sitta - man number 6, and see the empty seat "bayna" Alex and Law) - as we talked about the ang moh ghost vs chinese ghost. OMT. Unbelievable.
Saturday, June 19, 2021
这周的点点滴滴
Tuesday, June 08, 2021
Yiistiraaha (يستريح)
And finally, after I sent the email out to colleagues and friends, I found myself just tearing. It almost felt like it signified the closure of one beautiful work chapter, and the start of another. I didn't dwell on it for very long, but it was just a beautiful moment. I have not imagined staying on in SSG/WDA for more than a decade, about 12 years, but I did.
Sunday, May 16, 2021
幸福的味道
。。。就是简单。
And truthfully, it's not so 简单。The effort that goes into preparing the dishes - takes planning, thinking, marketing, preparation, cooking, washing.
We were truly blessed last night, with a taste of nostalgia. The food... I woke up this morning thinking about the cabbage and the peanut-lotus soup. Everything was so good. I loved the cabbage the most, but the rest - equally yummy. The "dir-ka-bee-hoon", curry chicken, lala, salted egg sotong - and having the peanut-lotus soup go along with it.
And we topped this up with Orh Nee, and also with 2 bottles of red wine. At the same time, the oldies were playing in the background - 张学友,张国荣, 张昕泽。 hahah... how come I only remember all the 张s?
This is what 幸福 looks like.
Little Lucas must have been feeling so happy too. The boundless energy and wanting to play and "go balcony" throughout the night. :-D
Truthfully, life gets better and more enjoyable with good SG food. We've been so blessed in the last 2 months by Lawrence. It wasn't just the foldie transaction. His generosity, warmth, kindness, and him being a great master chef - definitely brought a lot of tummy yummy to the SGPs around him. Steve and I are officially unabashed to say that we would return all the containers, so that there would be more to come! 💗
Saturday, May 15, 2021
Me and my Dahon
Thursday, May 13, 2021
F45 and Eid Mubarak!
I finally did my first HIIT at F45 with Ildico. Kinda nervous, after I looked at the videos last night, and then, thought to myself - 可以的。 While I haven't done HIIT before, I have been pretty active, and so I was also looking forward to the challenge.
Wednesday, May 05, 2021
Arabic 101
The covid threat seems to be worsening, with the latest focus on India. There have been more cases in Singapore too, and just these last few days, it hit closer to home. We received an email from the school stating that our instructor was tested positive, and that all of us needed to get our PCRs too.
So I did that earlier today. And the nose still felt pretty itchy even as I am writing this post. Thankfully, there was not a lot of crowd at the PCR station earlier.
And therefore, the Arabic lessons will be suspended temporarily. :)
I have started my lessons just last week, and learnt the alphabet, and how to do simple greetings and introductions. It was fun and nostalgic, reminding me of those days where I would do my JLPT 1 lessons at Ikoma Language School in Orchard area. Then, I remember how after work, I'd take the mrt down to Somerset, buy a canned coffee and old chang kee currypuff and sotong balls, and then tried to concentrate in class. Well, I remember the crammed small classroom, the textbooks with the kanjis, and this time round, it's a similar feel. I had my canned coffee, and the textbook and jotter book. Instead of 漢字, it is now filled with scribbles and shapes and lines and curves, and the script is from right to left.
So tonight, I am supposed to be in class. But because of the covid scare, I am at home now, thinking if I should do some Arabic learning and practice the script. And so, I shall do that, and then reward myself with some NF thereafter. :))
Monday, April 26, 2021
Wired for Waiting
It's been possibly 2 fastest months this year - March, April. And this weekend too, I did quite a lot of necessary admin, and had some adventures with my new monster, with the handphone overheating, and the gps shutting down whilst on the highway.
And with the 2 months zipping by, I must say that I am all the more thankful, for the understanding husband, work team, and plus the beautiful new friendships forged... and also, the very good short staycay break.
We, just decided to do a short staycay at the newly-opened Hilton@Yas last week - and it was so good. Maybe because it's Ramadan, and there's no one. We were told that there were only 10 rooms occupied on Wed and Thurs, and as we were there from Wed to Fri, it almost felt like the whole place as surreal, and the newness - can be smelt and felt.
The staff were so attentive, the meals were lavish enough, the pool lounging was good. Steve and I really enjoyed the quiet time out. Many moments, I sat at the balcony just to read and journal. The night time at the balcony was almost magical - so quiet, so still. Many moments too, it was at the morning breakfast table just reading and having good breakie. And also, at the poolside lounging with some prosecco.
Yet, whilst just taking a break, I suddenly felt that I was so free - as there was no email access. And for a moment, 有点不习惯。Still, it was such a good time of rest until I had to return to reality last Sunday. :)
This short staycay also reminded me that 我们都老了。With it were 2 amusement park tickets and we went to Yas Waterworld and Warner Brothers. The water rides were fine, and fun. But the WB ones - we started with just 2 3-D/4-D rides, and the 2nd Batman ride just nearly zapped all out of me. The remaining Friday and even Saturday, I felt like puking. 真的是老了。And, I'll never do such rides again, hopefully.
I have quite some 感触 through March and April. But they are not so easily describable in one post. Perhaps, one of the most poignant one was that all of mankind is made "wired for waiting". This was so much felt through the Easter weekend and these 2 months. We wait for the Messiah's return. A single person would be waiting for the right person. A barren couple wait, believing for a child. A sick person waits, to be made well. A jobseeker waits, for the role to materialize. We wait, for Covid to end. There are so many examples. In faith, we wait, for healing, for love, for our prayers to come through. The toughest part is always - how, and what we can do, through the waiting, in faith, trust, prayers and action. And then - acknowledging that the waiting can also lead to nowhere, and accepting that it is ok because it then means that God has other plans for me that I cannot see for now.
As I was reading and reflecting during the staycay, I was also just super thankful that life has brought me such experiences and adventures. I wouldn't ever ever have imagined that I'd ever be able to sit at Yas Island, in sunny UAE in the Middle East, one week in April 2021, reading and thinking about life at the balcony. This process of reflection, is in itself, so therapeutic and good for me. This has been an amazing 2 months of thanksgiving for me.
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Foldie Fun
Saturday, March 20, 2021
Earliest Saturday Morning ever
This last week was a good one. I felt more rested, and I keep thinking about how I can develop the people in my team, how I can help them grow. And - with a number of such conversations in this week and the last, it just cements so much what I believe in - to do my best to love people.
I caught a very amazing picture of Kenji on Wed. I was walking him in the early morning, and as I was just breathing and taking in the beauty of the day, Kenji sat down... He. just. sat. down. And it was as if he were also just wanting to be a part of the amazing dawn and daybreak. He does not sit outside (he is a pretty clean dog), but on Wed morning... he just did. :)
Saturday, March 13, 2021
Entering my 41st
I can only say I feel thankful today, and for the past 1.5 week gone by. He somehow read my mind, and this morning, for a change, we went out for coffee and breakfast after my run. I cannot express enough gratitude for little actions of love. And especially after the very draining Thurs evening episode.
In the cray cray 1.5 week past, I've had 4 really wonderful conversations and gatherings :)) 应该如何形容呢? 有些感触,那刹那的感动,就只能好好珍惜。Super thankful to the friends and loved ones here, whom I believe God has brought into my life for a reason, and are meant to be cherished.
Chronologically - I had a most wonderful catch up with Commander Ong last night. :) Never knew we could talk so long, and we were the last ones to leave the place. He also give me 正骨水 for my leg. This morning, I think about the stuff we talked about... it's really about life, time, meaning, and injuries. I only know that conversations like this means we 老一些了。
And the weather is now not as cold. :) It was nice to sit outside and have a beer. The 正骨水 looks like some sauce for the food. Haha.
And - then, last Sunday! Ildico and the kids gave me such a sweet sweet surprise. Tada!! They packed a love box filled with things they think I would enjoy, and then Ildico walked Kenji with me. :)) K really was so happy, and so am I. And - I really love the cute drawing of K, and the beautiful letter. 💓
And last Saturday!! Steve and I met up with a wonderful couple from church who just moved to AD for work. First time we met them, but there's that 熟悉的感觉。Really felt so good to hear their story and journey here, and we certainly hope to meet up again soon.
And finally, a really great catch up with Robert. 点点滴滴。有说有笑。好不同的友谊。创业人的心声。
March 5th came, and went. And when friends asked me how I celebrated my birthday, I said I really didn't do anything special. It's the normal and the little things that I am already grateful for. The cakes, flowers, the champagnes and beers I received are wonderful surprises - but 最重要的 would be because I know the folks that I love and care for are doing life together with me.
And as I think about the year ahead, I think I have only 1 wish for now. @Steveywonder, I want a bicycle. :-D
Monday, March 01, 2021
My first biking exploration!
Today, I woke up feeling that my right foot didn't ache as much as the past week. :) That was such a good feeling, and I'd attribute it to the light exercise Ildico had recommended me to do. So, it was off to some mini cycling adventure this morning.
It's my first time riding here, and the PCN really is not bad! The weather was super nice - breezy, with that tinge of warm sunshine. We rode and talked - and as I don't have a bike here, I used her daughter's bike and we just pedalled and pedalled.
Ildico is my new German friend. :) We've met each other a couple of times - the hi-bye neighbour type until pretty recently, when she struck up a conversation with me at Costa. And then, the texts came, the "shall we do sports together came". And yesterday, I brought Kenji up to her place whilst she examined my right foot, and Kenji had so much fun with her kids. :))
So, back to this morn.
Truth be told, I woke up feeling some levels of ストレス, and I know it's inevitable. もうじゅうぶんかなと思います。こんらんな気持ちずっと、特に最近。And so, I muttered a little prayer as I walked K in the morning dawn. And it was so good to be out exploring Abu Dhabi on the bike. :)
We passed by the Defence exhibition area, and the whole conference had completed. We continued cycling and soon, passed by Mushriff, was headed towards Corniche and we made a left turn to cross a bridge to one of the recently-opened islands.
The whole ride certainly made me feel more thankful. Talking to her husband at the breakfast ending point was also good - he is a neurosurgeon and shared some thoughts about his practice here. I remember too that focusing on others, and giving my time and love to others makes me forget about me, and that is such a powerful thing.
Sunday, February 21, 2021
My leg pain
今日も。週末の時間では大分寝てしまった。
























































