Was browsing through several blogs tonight. 3 out of the 4 that I read focused on the topic of love. Perhaps it's the end of the year and everyone's in a reflective, pensive mood. One spoke of love for her students, another of love for a girl, another of the hopelessness of finding the right girl to love.
And there I was, telling my new stuffed toy donkey, Donga that I love him. Sigh.
These days, I do also think about affairs concerning finding that significant other. Not that it makes any difference since there's nothing I can or will do about it. I've always maintained that such things are really in God's hands. Doesn't make it easy though, especially when you're within the arbitrary "marriagable age range".
Typical conversation goes:
Them: "So, no boyfriend ah?"
Me: "No."
Them: "Why?"
Me: (Silence) But inside, I'm thinking.... "Got why one meh?"
I do however manage to give them the puzzled, confused and embarrassed grin that usually prompts a change of topic.
Oh well, I reckon if I'm still single by the time I'm 35, the questions will eventually cease. Not that I'm hoping that that will happen...
Saturday, December 30, 2006
My lobster face
Ouch!!
"If you don't take care of your skin, you'll just pay money to suffer!"
"If you don't take care of your skin, you'll just pay money to suffer!"
The words of mum echo in my head each time my face comes into contact with anything, even a piece of tissue paper. It's sore, very sore. It's red, very red.
Had a facial appointment today. The last time I went, Sam (facial lady) was appalled at the state of my skin. Apparently every single pore on my face was clogged, hence the eruption of white- heads and black-heads. She managed to convince me then that I should fork out a substantial sum of money to do "bio peeling". I agreed, not realising that it was going to be such an ordeal! Having said that, the result was good and even mum thought that it would be a good idea to have another "peel", which I did today.
Bio peeling. It is apparently a sort of face scrub, which is made up of some herbal formula which penetrates deep into the pores and cleanses deep down. What they don't advertise is that it actually feels like someone is heaping handfuls of ground glass and scrubbing your entire face with it for 15 min. (ok, it was probably more like 8-10 min, but it sure felt like eternity) If any of you have had your zits "extracted" during a facial session, I'd say that on a scale of 1-10 for pain, an extraction sits somewhere about 3 and this... about 8.
And when you thought it was over, spoonfuls of cold, very minty goop is heaped onto your painful raw skin. At this point, you actually feel the arteries supplying your face pulsate. The masque is then peeled off your face and the process of cleaning all the residue with 2 sponges begins. More pain.
That's not the end. You end up walking around like a well-cooked lobster for the next 2 days. Afterwhich, your skin starts to flake off- think severe facial dandruff if you want a good mental picture.
So yes mum, you are right, I am paying good money to suffer. Yes, I will use those facial products, I will try my very best to keep my itchy fingers off my face, I will put my fringe up. I will do just about anything if it means avoiding going through the entire process again.
Ouch!!!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Sumptuous lunch
Food. The one consistent feature of my current trip home. I've had an excess of good food on a daily basis, ranging from home-cooked-all-time-favourites to hawker fare to fine cuisine. My appreciation of food is the one proof of my "Singaporeaness"!
I shall admit to having a "checklist" that I try to get through at least once during each return home. Off the top of my head, I can tick off the following (in no particular order):
1. Mee rubus
2. Seafood hor fun
3. Mee pok tah with fishballs
4. Rojak
5. Popiah
6. Soon kway
7. Beef kway teow
8. Fish head curry
9. Dim sum
The above are just part of the list of "must haves". I've been quite successful- have managed to squeeze in many of the dishes more than once. I've had tonnes of other drool-worthy dishes, but I'll spare your salivary glands and refrain from listing them all.
I've detracted from the point of this post. I meant to say that mum, dad and I had lunch at Restaurante Bologna today. I normally try to have as little "ang-moh" food when I'm in S'pore as possible (so there'll be more room for the local grub), but this italien restaurant is a winner on more than one count! The food's fab, the ambience nice, the service good and very importantly, the capuccino did not disappoint. I had the antipasto and dessert buffet. The main courses looked really really good, but even my highly capable satiety centre had to stop me from over-indulgence. Having said that, I visited the antipasto spread at least 5 times, then swiftly proceeded to the desserts. The cheesecake was... well I had 2 slices, so that speaks for itself. Was quite controlled and had just 1 slice of chocolate cake, a bite of mum's tiramisu and another little chocolate thing which I don't know the name of. No matter how full one is, there's always room for coffee- my capuccino went down with much ease.
So, if you've not been to Bologna, I'd highly recommend it! Mum and dad have been there nearly every mothers' day for the past few years! And we all know how fussy my mum is about her food...
I shall admit to having a "checklist" that I try to get through at least once during each return home. Off the top of my head, I can tick off the following (in no particular order):
1. Mee rubus
2. Seafood hor fun
3. Mee pok tah with fishballs
4. Rojak
5. Popiah
6. Soon kway
7. Beef kway teow
8. Fish head curry
9. Dim sum
The above are just part of the list of "must haves". I've been quite successful- have managed to squeeze in many of the dishes more than once. I've had tonnes of other drool-worthy dishes, but I'll spare your salivary glands and refrain from listing them all.
I've detracted from the point of this post. I meant to say that mum, dad and I had lunch at Restaurante Bologna today. I normally try to have as little "ang-moh" food when I'm in S'pore as possible (so there'll be more room for the local grub), but this italien restaurant is a winner on more than one count! The food's fab, the ambience nice, the service good and very importantly, the capuccino did not disappoint. I had the antipasto and dessert buffet. The main courses looked really really good, but even my highly capable satiety centre had to stop me from over-indulgence. Having said that, I visited the antipasto spread at least 5 times, then swiftly proceeded to the desserts. The cheesecake was... well I had 2 slices, so that speaks for itself. Was quite controlled and had just 1 slice of chocolate cake, a bite of mum's tiramisu and another little chocolate thing which I don't know the name of. No matter how full one is, there's always room for coffee- my capuccino went down with much ease.
So, if you've not been to Bologna, I'd highly recommend it! Mum and dad have been there nearly every mothers' day for the past few years! And we all know how fussy my mum is about her food...
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
The frog symphony
My sleep cycle's a little topsy-turvy again. I blame it on the frogs.
Or I could go one step further and blame it on the rain.
When it rains constantly and heavily like it has done over the past 48 hours, the frog army invades the forest and fields around our house. These frogs have amazing stamina and lung capacity. They start their symphony at about 6.30pm and keep going till 6am the next day. The problem is made worse by the fact that they don't exactly sing rhythmically. So as I lie there, trying hard not to concentrate on their croaks, I can feel myself anticipating the arrival of the next croak, which would inevitably be totally out of time!
Maybe the frogs will get sore throats and stop. Or maybe it will just stop raining and the frogs will go home and give their voice boxes a rest.
Or I could go one step further and blame it on the rain.
When it rains constantly and heavily like it has done over the past 48 hours, the frog army invades the forest and fields around our house. These frogs have amazing stamina and lung capacity. They start their symphony at about 6.30pm and keep going till 6am the next day. The problem is made worse by the fact that they don't exactly sing rhythmically. So as I lie there, trying hard not to concentrate on their croaks, I can feel myself anticipating the arrival of the next croak, which would inevitably be totally out of time!
Maybe the frogs will get sore throats and stop. Or maybe it will just stop raining and the frogs will go home and give their voice boxes a rest.
Old friends
I believe people are like apples. There's the core, which is shaped by a person's nature, as well as nurture, particularly during childhood. Then there's all the flesh- the substance that's added on as the years go by, influenced by events and experiences unique to each person. Sometimes the flesh is beautiful, sweet and crunchy... almost perfect. Other times, it's sour, soft and powdery... perhaps even rotting. But as long as the rotting flesh does not penetrate to the core, the core's really still the same.
This thought always comes to me when I meet up with old friends. Whenever I meet up with friends whom I've known since primary or secondary school, I head to the meeting place with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. There's always joy and eager anticipation to see friends you've not seen for ages, find out about what's new and current in their lives, laugh over all the silly things that you did together in days gone by. And yet, there's always this tinge of fear. What if you've lost that "bond"? What if your lives have gone in such different directions that you don't have anything to talk about anymore? What if your friends whom you thought you knew have changed so much that you aren't sure you know them anymore?
Well, each time I do meet up with these old friends, I am relieved to discover that my fears are unfounded. That yes, our lives have taken very different paths, but we still share the thick bond of friendship that weathers time and circumstance.
Somehow, old friends who have known you since childhood/schooldays are special. Perhaps we become more shallow people as we go along, or perhaps we succumb to the world's value system, or lack of as we leave the comfort and security of our homes and schools. Such friends know our "core", the people we really are before we are dressed by the flesh. Maybe that's why when we meet, we are able to re-reveal that very pure part of ourselves that's always been there. A bit of that innocence that comes with being a child, being young. And we can rest assured that there are no pretences, no hidden agendas, no "reading between the lines".
To all my friends, especially the ones whom I've met up with or been in contact with in the recent weeks, thanks! - For being just the way you are.
This thought always comes to me when I meet up with old friends. Whenever I meet up with friends whom I've known since primary or secondary school, I head to the meeting place with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. There's always joy and eager anticipation to see friends you've not seen for ages, find out about what's new and current in their lives, laugh over all the silly things that you did together in days gone by. And yet, there's always this tinge of fear. What if you've lost that "bond"? What if your lives have gone in such different directions that you don't have anything to talk about anymore? What if your friends whom you thought you knew have changed so much that you aren't sure you know them anymore?
Well, each time I do meet up with these old friends, I am relieved to discover that my fears are unfounded. That yes, our lives have taken very different paths, but we still share the thick bond of friendship that weathers time and circumstance.
Somehow, old friends who have known you since childhood/schooldays are special. Perhaps we become more shallow people as we go along, or perhaps we succumb to the world's value system, or lack of as we leave the comfort and security of our homes and schools. Such friends know our "core", the people we really are before we are dressed by the flesh. Maybe that's why when we meet, we are able to re-reveal that very pure part of ourselves that's always been there. A bit of that innocence that comes with being a child, being young. And we can rest assured that there are no pretences, no hidden agendas, no "reading between the lines".
To all my friends, especially the ones whom I've met up with or been in contact with in the recent weeks, thanks! - For being just the way you are.
Boxing day thoughts
Ok, so it's about an hour past boxing day. Couldn't quite come up with another title for this post though.
Dawned on me this evening that my holiday at home is coming to an end in a week. It's been really nice to be home. Times like this, I ask myself if it is time to pack my bags and head home. Then all the "buts" come in. But... wouldn't it be easier to finish my exams first? But... is it really time to rejoin all my peers on the S'pore hamster wheel? But... how will I ever have a life outside medicine if I have to take on the not-so-friendly working hours of a S'pore doctor? But, but, but...
But there's the other side to it... I want to be there as my parents age and require more care and attention. If I do marry and have kids, I would rather they grow up in the secure S'pore environment (despite all the kiasuism) than in the UK environment, where the values of discipline, diligence and respect seem to have disintegrated.
The "buts" are unending. Guess the "wait and see" attitude is useful sometimes.
Dawned on me this evening that my holiday at home is coming to an end in a week. It's been really nice to be home. Times like this, I ask myself if it is time to pack my bags and head home. Then all the "buts" come in. But... wouldn't it be easier to finish my exams first? But... is it really time to rejoin all my peers on the S'pore hamster wheel? But... how will I ever have a life outside medicine if I have to take on the not-so-friendly working hours of a S'pore doctor? But, but, but...
But there's the other side to it... I want to be there as my parents age and require more care and attention. If I do marry and have kids, I would rather they grow up in the secure S'pore environment (despite all the kiasuism) than in the UK environment, where the values of discipline, diligence and respect seem to have disintegrated.
The "buts" are unending. Guess the "wait and see" attitude is useful sometimes.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Langkawi
Dad, mum, mei and I went on a nice short break to Langkawi. The sun was shining, the sea was clear and the food was yummy (most of it)!
So all we really did was lie on the beach, swim at the pool and in the sea, eat and watch astro in the hotel room. Oh yes, there was also some snorkelling and canoeing done.
We stayed at The Andaman, and I would highly recommend it. It's owned by the same group that own the famous Datai, but it's certainly less dear. We visited the rooms at the Datai as well, which were really nice, but to be honest, the deluxe rooms weren't that much nicer than their equivalent at the Andaman but cost about 1.7 times as much. The villas at the Datai however are in a league of their own.
Foodwise, apart from the satay that we had at the pasar malam, the food at the hotel was far superior to what we had outside the hotel. What was most impressive was Gulai House, which serves local cuisine with that added touch. Gulai House was a winner on all counts- presentation, flavours, service, ambience.
Now for the photos. 1st one is of dad, mum and mei walking on the beach. As you can see, dad's eyes are sensitive to the sunlight and mum, well... feels she needs her reflective umbrella along with SPF 60 sunblock.
2nd one is of me in full concentration. I was trying to scrape the coconut flesh from my "cendol in young coconut". Next one is of mum, dad and I at Gulai House- our 2nd meal there in 3 days. The last one is of me, dad and mei- the brown, the pale and the coffee...
So all we really did was lie on the beach, swim at the pool and in the sea, eat and watch astro in the hotel room. Oh yes, there was also some snorkelling and canoeing done.
We stayed at The Andaman, and I would highly recommend it. It's owned by the same group that own the famous Datai, but it's certainly less dear. We visited the rooms at the Datai as well, which were really nice, but to be honest, the deluxe rooms weren't that much nicer than their equivalent at the Andaman but cost about 1.7 times as much. The villas at the Datai however are in a league of their own.
Foodwise, apart from the satay that we had at the pasar malam, the food at the hotel was far superior to what we had outside the hotel. What was most impressive was Gulai House, which serves local cuisine with that added touch. Gulai House was a winner on all counts- presentation, flavours, service, ambience.
Now for the photos. 1st one is of dad, mum and mei walking on the beach. As you can see, dad's eyes are sensitive to the sunlight and mum, well... feels she needs her reflective umbrella along with SPF 60 sunblock.
2nd one is of me in full concentration. I was trying to scrape the coconut flesh from my "cendol in young coconut". Next one is of mum, dad and I at Gulai House- our 2nd meal there in 3 days. The last one is of me, dad and mei- the brown, the pale and the coffee...
Chinty and Leeyen's wedding
10th Dec- Chinty and Leeyen's wedding. I made a trip up to KL and spent several days there. Stayed with Michelle :) It was really nice... and most strange at the same time. Went up 2 days prior to the wedding and had a couple of meals with Glasgow friends who are back in KL for the season, as well as old friends who've returned to KL for good. It was somewhat like "Glasgow transferred". Pastor Winston and Sister Eunice were there too!Didn't have my camera with me, so all the photos were taken with my phone. Didn't snap any at the lunch reception. Shall await Michelle's photos.
Also met up with Sharm @ megamall... Haven't seen her in ages!
Monday, December 18, 2006
Dad's baptism
My dad was baptised yesterday:)
It was so sweet and beautiful.
2 days prior to baptism day, dad was informed he had to prepare a "testimony" on an A4 sheet. So guess what, my dear sis and I had to play scribe and "paraphraser" on Saturday night. It was actaully a blessing to be a part of his testimony writing! It was really nice hearing his testimony in it's raw form.
Often, "conversion" comes as a gradual process. For dad, there were so many factors that convinced him that Christ is real and that He really is the one true God. What struck me the most was that after he had narrated his brief testimony to mei and I, he said, "I know you've all been praying that I will one day come to believe."
I don't know if you've ever prayed for something on such a longterm basis that you sort of forget that you've been praying for it? Well, I've prayed through the years that my very "resistant" dad would come to experience a relationship with Christ. Honestly, at times, I have wondered, "Is there any point in praying? Nothing seems to happen." But God is faithful, even when I am often so lacking in faith. He answers. sometimes, it just takes a bit more perseverence, a bit more patience.
So, thank you my dear Lord for hearing and answering my prayers, and the prayers of so many around me, even when they may often be tinged with doubt. Prayer works :)
Several of mum and dad's friends were present at the baptism service and we were so blessed to have them share the special day with us.
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