I’ve known Juanita since we were 7. We were Primary School classmates. She now lives in Zurich, Switzerland with her husband and 2 cats. We usually communicate online and send each other gifts. She’s quite the handy crafter and has made me many things – clothes and accessories. These days I get to see her once, if I’m lucky, twice a year when she returns to Singapore. Because time is precious, I always make an effort to take the day off work to spend it with her. Today, we had half a day and it was good!
We had lunch, she picked up a fantastic $10 pair of trekking sandals (carrying case included), bought fabric for dress-making (I spent S$57 for 3 dresses), had tea and then had dinner. I always look forward to just the two of us talking and catching up.
I kinda work in Music so attending concerts is practically part of the job and it’s no biggie whenever a new show comes to town. HENCE this Morrissey thing is an exception! By way of The Smiths, Morrissey is one of the must-see acts for me. I snapped up Early Bird tickets at $91 (saving $10, haha) and I planned my day off from work so that I could be one of the first in line!
The show was supposed to start at 8pm but Patrick, Lil Nat and I were there at about 4.30pm. We weren’t the first and there were many others who arrived before doors opened at 7pm.
My friends and I ran like the other early hoards to secure a place right in front of the barricades. This is funny for me because it’s usually other people who do that at my shows. (Like I said, this is an exception.) We waited for like a goddamn long time! The show only started at about 9.30pm! By then I was tired and thirsty and being squashed from all sides!
It was all worth it! I heard my favourite songs LIVE and went home before the crowd dispersed. So 8 May 2012 came and went.
Next up, Radiohead in November! My friends and I are going to Melbourne for it! We’ve got tickets for the show AND we just booked our flights. Oh gosh… I can’t wait… I need a holiday soon.
Last week, I managed to spend some time with Teresa from New Zealand who came to visit Singapore. Unfortunately, I could only take 1 day’s leave to hang out. We did get other opportunities to meet during the week when she came to visit me at work and I tried the best I could to take her to different places to experience Singapore’s east-meets-west, multi-culturalism.
Pedicures!! Look at the awesome bears on Teresa's toes!
Me being silly whilst waiting for a cab. Hooray for manicures!
Hello Kitty frames! CUTE!
In the time she was here, we did many different things! Shopped, went to Sentosa, did mani-pedi, ate cupcakes/chili crab/laksa in Katong/kaya toast in Chin Mee Chin, aura reading, had a Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel, bought fabric in Arab Street etc. It was awesome! Come visit me some time! I like visitors! And I especially like meeting friends from Internet, in real life!
Aura Reading for $5. Believe it or not, up to you!
Froyo on Liang Seah Street. Best way to beat the heat!
This has been a year of many many ups and a few downs. As always I count my blessings and I am grateful for an exciting career in an organisation that challenges me, the opportunities I’ve been given to dabble in 100000 things as well as the many many friends I can trust.
One of my goals for 2011 was to muster up enough strength and stamina to run 5km non-stop without fainting and halfway through tracking my progress, I realised I didn’t even have to prove anything to anyone – I was already motivated enough to do it! I now exercise regularly and if I am feeling sluggish I give myself a break. I’m glad I stuck with it even though when I started, it was PAINFUL! So yes, I pat myself on the back and I’ve been good! HAHA!
The good stuff of 2011:
3 holidays – England in January, Bandung in July and Taiwan in December.
Improved fitness level – I can easily complete 5km on the treadmill, and then some.
Money – I’ve enjoyed a good income and a steady stream of excesses (work bonuses, small side projects, blog endorsements etc.)
The bad:
Douche bags – I’ve met so many terrible men and went out on so many bad dates, I can write a book about the perils of dating in Singapore.
Overspending – despite the extra income, I’ve fallen short on my savings target by about S$5, 000. Too much online shopping. Excessive indulgences. Not enough discipline.
I lost my beloved spectacles! The big, chunky, brown ones
As I write this, I can barely remember any other bad stuff that has happened. I can’t complain. There’s no finer time to be alive.
On another note, I want to thank everyone for the many gifts this Christmas! It started with a couple here and there before my holiday, then when I got into work on Boxing Day, I found an entire army of presents having a party whilst I’ve been away! How awesome are my mates?
2012, bring it on! Ancient Mayans, hope you’re wrong!
Hello again! I’m now in Paradise Hotel in Taipei. Other than the fact that it is about 5 minutes walk from the very young and trendy Xi Men Ding, and there’s free wifi in the lobby, this is no Paradise. The room we’ve got is tiny and quite weird. It is an architectural nightmare. There are strange structures all over the place and it appears to have been patched together by very bad interior designers. Luckily we weren’t planning on hanging out inside.
Our flight tomorrow leaves at 9.05pm. A new ruling here requires us to be at the airport 3hours before. That still leaves me time to do stuff. I’m hoping to see some Taiwanese friends today and tomorrow. Packing it in, yo!
Hello I’m in Taiwan! I’ve been to Taoyuan, Kaoshiung, Taichung, Hualien and now heading to Taipei! It’s been hardcore travelling on the tour bus all over this “potato shaped” island. Home is a few days away and I’ll be back on Christmas!
Lots of eating but luckily I came with 3 other friends (Patsy, Stewart and Robin). What we’ve been doing is eating a bit of everything so I haven’t been overeating. Haha! I measure this by the belt hole I’m using and I haven’t had to move up a notch yet *phew*
Cold cold cold! 17deg Celsius today. And I’m tapping on free wifi outside a confectionary shop called Vigor Kobo.
Isn’t mobile blogging and wireless technology so amazing? I’m doing this post on the stealth in minutes!
A little more than a year ago, I was asked to predict or recommend 5-6 music acts that were going to be the next big thing to watch out for in 2011. In January of 2011, 5 of my picks were published in a local magazine called FEMALE. I mentioned The Trees & The Wild (Indonesia), Inch Chua (Singapore), Rumer (UK), Warpaint (US) and Esperanza Spalding (US).
Picks for 2011
Here are some acts you should listen to in 2012 (in no particular order):
1. Jenny and Johnny
Born from the ashes of Rilo Kiley and the product of Jenny Lewis-Jonathan Rice’s relationship. Their debut album “I’m Having Fun Now”, released in 2010, is somewhat underrated. Jangly, catchy, and fashionably “vintage-inspired”. My favourite song is Big Wave!
This is a case of why stage names are important - Lana Del Rey vs Elizabeth Grant? A little overrated now but I can see the machinery of the music industry working its magic. Well, she’s really pretty and does have talent to begin with. Also she hired a tiger for a music video… uhm, not that it matters. Actually, straight up, Lana Del Rey sounds like a slightly over-produced Duffy. Not a bad thing, just an opinion.
Protocol Afro sounds like a mixture of Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths and many hipster-loved bands. This was a very surprise find. I’ve had many friends comment that they do not sound like they came out of Indonesia. Hey, whatever that means ok! A relatively new and unknown band even in their home country and their own local press were surprised they were invited to play in Singapore.
Yet another Singapore indie superband of sorts. Shelves is made up of members from Silverspy, Suchness, Livonia and Leeson. If you ask me, Shelves sounds like Suchness with a tinge of Livonia – catchy, witty and jangly all at once. Keep a lookout for their 1st album, official release in March 2012!
I’m going on another holiday! From 17 – 24 December 2011, I’ll be in Taiwan! Have you seen the WELCOME TO TAIWAN ads?
For someone who hates travelling, three trips to three different countries in 1 year is a big thing to achieve! I guess it evens out since I did not travel for work this year. I was in England for the first two weeks of January and enjoyed a nice English winter (the tail end of it) and I jetted off to Bandung, Indonesia for a quick 5-day jaunt to reconnect with friends. Now, I’m heading to Taiwan!
Patsy booked us on a packaged-tour holiday (with 2 others) and I’m just riding the wave! Firstly, I don’t speak very good Mandarin (for some strange reason most people find my accent grating). Secondly, I’ve never been to Taiwan. Thirdly, I can’t read traditional Chinese script (we learn Simplified Chinese in Singapore). Fourthly, I’m not sure if I’m up with the programme. We’re travelling with a bus load of other strangers and there’s a fixed itinerary to follow. BUT YES! I’m excited and I’m making the most of it!
I’m excited because I have friends in Taiwan! And we’re going to meet up finally in their homeground, not mine. My friend Sky even said she’ll take me around Taipei on her motorcycle! WOOHOO!! And I’ve never travelled with Patsy (we were ex-colleagues)!
Anyway, I have started packing. I know I’m about 1 month away… but I do get terribly busy just before the trip and I’ll be working up to the day I leave. This gives me time to reorganise if necessary. All I’m bringing is a half-filled cabin-sized suitcase and a spare backpack. What do you think? 7-8 days away, this should be enough stuff right? I’ve got 4 tees, 4 dresses, 1 cardigan, 1 lightly padded trench coat, 1 pair of jeans, 3 pairs of opaque tights, 2 pairs of socks, a bag of accessories, a set of sleeping shorts/tee, a pair of ballet flats and sneakers. Of course, toiletries, make-up and underwear (half of which are icky disposables).
Junmin, Licia and I signed up for an Ice Cream-making class through some Groupons that we bought. After the class, we headed to Anime Festival Asia 2011. It was a fun day but… all in the name of research for work. We’re trying to find new activities to capture the youth market for our own festival.
Yup! And this is what I wear on weekends when I’m just hanging out…
I’m blogging about this on the go and I’m on a bus on the way to the gym. I was just at NEX mall in Serangoon for my weekly hair therapy at Svenson Hair Center (female hormones for hair loss, but that’s another story).
Anyway I stumbled into a Arthur Yen boutique by chance and I discovered some pretty wearables in larger sizes (up to a UK20, could be bigger but I didn’t look too carefully). This is a wonderful discovery as anything above UK12 is near impossible to find, save for old lady clothes and UK brands like Marks & Spencer, Dorothy Perkins etc. You know… Most Asian women are just impossibly small and petite.
I’ve always thought Arthur Yen did skinny people clothes with an OLOL (old lady old lady) vibe. Mostly conservative work clothes or evening wear. But I think I might be wrong!
Here are some of the pieces I tried on (all under SGD50 and there’s a sale on now):
Guess which 2 I ended up buying? I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep them or gift them to my sister. I do have too many clothes… and I have 4 new pieces from ASOS that I’ve just received in the mail heehee…
