Miserably sick

I can't remember when's the last time I felt so

ill and miserable.

I have always been familiar with the drill -

not enough sleep > fall sick > pop pills > sleep > get better.

Since sunday evening I know I'm coming down with a cold.

Been shuttling btn my new apt and CWB to get stuff/ideas for my new apt and also settled my mobile line and broadband. My mind REALLY didn't want to work on sunday. Most of the time, i'm spaced out. So glad mr neighbour and mr j offered their brains. The many measurements and fixtures drove me nuts.

Panadol cold & flu extra has ceased to be effective for me. Monday was spent rubbing my nose, and working under pressure. I didn't even know how i managed to survive the day. Was almost knocked down by the tram - that's how dizzy and faint I was.

Continued to drag my body to work on Tues but the world was just twirling around me. It helps that there are friends who care. :) Added warmth to a freezing body. Felt so miserable that I really wanted to cry. Thanks kain for accompanying me to the hospital. Your lecture about 五脏六腑 and 胃筋 made me laugh a lot.

And on wed I called in sick. I have never slept so much continuously. I was bedridden and my body ached so badly. And all I can remember is... falling into a deep abyss - not wanting to wake up.

I don't want to be so sick ever again. : (

Typhoon Nuri

Besides the Olympics and food, I think typhoons in HK excite every single person around you in Hong Kong. In the office, some religiously tune in to radio stations every 15 min; others surf the Observatory website for updates; or rely on email fwds. On the streets, people's footsteps are hurried, most are armed with a brolly. You hear people speaking of numbers 1, 3, 8 and even 9 and 10 (typhoon signals).

I must say the HK meteorologists are pretty accurate - before 8am they announced Typhoon signal 8 - meaning all schools, offices will be closed. People stock up on food, and stay home. I was already all dressed and ready for work and Typhoon Nuri is well on her way to HK (why do typhoons have female names?)

What the heck. I want to feel the wind. :)

And indeed I felt it. The scaffolding across the street shook slightly. Plastic bags and rubbish twirled like mini tornadoes and my hair was all over the place. Interestingly, the ladies were all in pants and there were hardly any cars on the streets (since insurance does not cover moving vehicles during typhoons).

Armed with my pink Giordano brolly bought last night, I made my way to the office. :D

Oh, last night too, I thought I had lost my super girly blue umbrella at TsuiWah after dinner. Only realised it when having GuiLingGao with kain, which must have been an hour or so later. My first thought was, it couldn't be there any more, someone must have taken my pretty umbrella. His thought was, no harm going back to take a look. And I'm SO happy we did.

失而复得的快乐 is velly wonderful.

Lost in HK

Lost in HK

I missed my bus stop on my way home

and before I knew it,

I was heading to the unfamiliar.

It was a good view of the Kowloon skyline, with the coast right next to the highway.

I thought of the highway in singapore with view of the esplanade, city skyline and I miss it more.

Nights like these make you miss home.

A place I call my own

=A place I call my own=

I finally decided on my apartment!

After viewing 6 units I decided that this one is it.

Being HK, you pay monkeys for peanuts

but I really like this unit.

White washed walls,

newly done up decor,

clean big bathroom (by HK standards),

BIG bed (to accomodate my visitors from Singapore!),

clean stylish kitchen...

and I wake up to a view of some colourful residential buildings and mountains.

It's really a lovely cosy unit.

I can't stop thinking about how I'm going to do it up.

Only bad is, I have no place to put my wardrobe.

But other goods - my neighbour is a Singaporean guy - who turned out to be my friend's friend,

and since we both stay on the top level, we have access to the rooftop!

I can't wait to move in!

我不.難過

我不.難過



I haven't heard this song in a while.

Last night, someone picked this song while at ktv

and it opened the floodgate of emotions and memories once more.

I remember the series of events that night

ever so vividly.

It was raining on our way home - the rain slapped the car windows without mercy.

We parked at the usual spot where he'd drop me off.

I was trembling, maybe he was too.

I don't know if there's any other way I could have said it better.

I know I've hurt him so badly, no matter how many times I said sorry

how tightly we've hugged.

I know I've broken a good man's heart - someone who loved me so very much

I miss him.

As much as I reason my thoughts, feelings some times overwhelm me.

我不难过
这不算什么
只是为什么眼泪会流
我也不懂

Survived my first week at work

Been in and out of meetings this week and

it's great meeting new people and sitting in teleconferencing sessions

Everything is so systematic here.

It's pretty easy to follow,

but I just need to get the workflow sorted out in my head.

The HR is organising a Wii Olympics competition which I think my team will most likely take part in

My singaporean colq has been extremely kind and helpful and it definitely feels better to have her around

My Hk colqs appear shy at the beginning but they're slowly warming up :)
Had lunch with one of them today and it was good

I wonder if age is catching up with me

I feel the passion in my team members towards research work and I always feel excited to meet a like-minded individual loves her job as much (or more) than I do.

And how small the world is - a sec sch classmate actually works two cubicles away from me and I only realised that on Thursday! She's been walking up and down and we didn't realise until we were introduced to each other - and then we screamed (in the office) - haha.. very typical of st nicks girls. :) It's good.

That is what's amazing about living - with some people, you tread on parallel lines. With others, the paths are crossed. Or perhaps, it's just a matter of time before all paths criss cross. Such is 'Yuan'.

Also found out today that someone intended to say goodbye. A goodbye I may have never known if not heard from another source. The news brought back a flood of memories.

All things take time.

First day at work!

First day at work

I need to brush up my cantonese.

Our HR is damn nice and they even sent an email round to remind us to have plenty of fruits and there are bananas, apples and golden kiwi in the pantry!

Still feel a bit out of place with everyone yakking away in cantonese in the office.

I've taken the step, now I need to do the climb.

Number counting

Clothing items to be shipped:

88 blouses

50 dresses

30 shoes

30 belts

19 pants

14 skirts

14 coats/jackets

13 sports wear

9 sweaters

9 scarves

5 caps

2 nightwear

A hell lot of toiletries and

1 Heavy heart

- - - - - - - - - -

The movers came by this morning to get my stuff. I'm finally done with packing (!)and filling up the inventory list for insurance purposes. Whatever I took 2 weeks to pack, these guys took 20 minutes.

I'm amazed at the number of clothing I have. Seriously I probably only wear 20% of what's in my wardrobe. Had to give two suitcases of clothes to yun for resale, and filled up another few bags of clothes to pass to her again.

Reality check - A conservative estimate of the value of all the items amount to 20k. Time to curb my shopping desires.

4 more days to go.

You're right - there're bound to be things which will be still left undone.

Gum scaling

The most excruciating pain - gum scaling.

A harrowing 5 min experience -

You see the tools used

sharp as needle

slicing your gums.

Your mouth becomes bloody in an instant.

You clench your fist,

and pray it be over soon.

Why do we put ourselves through such torture?

Brush and floss and rinse daily.

My girly times

Mambo jambo

According to wikipedia:

Mambo Jambo,

commonly known as Mambo nights,

is a theme clubbing night held every Wednesday at Zouk in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It is highly popular among the younger segment of the clubbing crowd in Singapore, and a Mambo experience is often regarded as an initiation ritual for many beginners into the local clubbing scene.

And I'm singing....

Oooh baby..do you know what that's worth...Oooh Heaven is a place on earth.... and i was dying inside to hold you... I couldn't believe what I felt for you... In the summer rain...Doesn't matter what I do now.. doesn't matter what I say... cos I'm guilty ... guilty as a girl can be... only you can set me free... I stand accccuuuuuused of love in the first degree.

Lazy Tuesday

Had lunch with this lady I've known for 5 years or so.

I feel her disappointment and I really appreciate her understanding and kindness. I guess she's not the only one who feels surprised and puzzled at the outcome.

Sometimes we have to learn to make our own choices - and accepting whatever good or bad outcomes. Life is an experience, isn't it? Live it without regrets, or... learn to deal with your regrets - a good cry helps.

No one knows for certain what's going to happen - there is no blueprint. Life is fluid like that.



I had my last gym session today with fav instructor and I still hadn't the courage to walk up and say hi. This may ... just be one of my tiny regrets.

1nitestand

I love comedy night!

A pity I always forget the jokes told and I'm always bad at (re)telling jokes!

I was really impressed with the host - his mind twists faster than a tornado.

The other two acts were both Australian music comedians - changing lyrics to a tune and singing along.

One made a string of songs using just 4 chords - that was fun.

Here they are - Axis of Awesome - quality of video not fantastic though...





Food for thought: Why are enjoyable moments transient?

Today is a very sad day

'Today is a very sad day...."

That's the first thing boss said to me when he walked by my desk this morning.


I looked out, and indeed, it looked grey.


Went to Dempsey Hill to grab some bites and drinks at Margaritas.


Mexican food - haha - reminded me of my days in Mexico city.

Headed to Handle Bar for more drinks.

Spoke about HK, about relationships....

Boss gave this analogy which I quite like:

'Everyone has their favourite mug, but once their favourite mug has a crack, do they throw it away?

No, people then start to store their favourite mug in a corner. But what's the point of keeping a cracked mug? It's just a matter of time before you chuck the cracked mug away - so better to do it sooner than later.'

Well, he obviously told it more convincingly.

Mae said something else, which her shrink told her:

'People are always evolving and if relationships don't evolve together with the persons, someone's bound to be left behind.'

Boss also gave me a farewell gift which he kept saying I can have it exchanged in T&co singapore if I don't like it... but I love it! I don't think I can say my thanks enough for the times spent at I-A-L.

I don't like farewells - I cried my heart out. It's gonna be worse on 10th aug. gosh.

It's my last day

Here I am

on the eve of my last day of work

pen in hand

I clearly remembered my first day of work

where we had our first lunch

my first project and the ones that followed

my first overseas assignment in Taiwan

I wrote my 'thank you's to Boss and (ex) colleagues

who had been so extremely sweet -

he wrote:

'Dear all,

Poh Chin has decided to leave for the bright lights of Hong Kong and Synovate. In the long history, I have rarely tried so hard to keep an employee. Sadly, despite my every effort, she could not be induced to stay.

Poh Chin has been with us for over three years, in which time she had become a consummate research professional, mastering every aspect of the job from interviewing, to analysis, to project management and even business development. Her last day in the office will be this Friday July 25th.

She will be sorely missed.'

And I will miss them too.

A brand new skin

I love my new blog skin!

I suppose the past is not easy to let go...

it's the past that shape me into who i am now.

The memories will always stay with me.

I had a new hair cut today too -

stephen thinks it's cool.

I think i need to get used to the look.

We went on a quick tour to mustafa this evening

where I happily got myself a new casio old school watch. :)

It's a period of changes -

new hair cut / colour

new specs

i'm removing my braces (finally!)

Perhaps change is the only constant.

The past the past

An old friend told me recently

he's starting to read my posts since day 1.

It made me go through my posts again

and it's strange how I can still feel the exact emotions felt when I pen them

the scenes flashed across my mind were vivid

I guess this site puts forth a pretty complete picture of what's been happening

over the past 3 years.

I'm starting a new chapter in my life in a couple of weeks' time.

maybe it calls for a shift in blog site too, u think?

Of packing

I have been packing

my belongings, my memories.

It's tough going through these

knowing some you can bring along with you

while others you must leave behind.

Haven't been in the pink of health lately

so spent quite some time staying at home

I woke up today and spent a little longer in bed

looking out the window, watching the ceiling

listening.

I want to remember this.

And there are the other million things I remember

of you.

Do I want to remember these?

perhaps it's not even an act of remembering

it's just a very natural association

and there are too many of these associations

in every corner i turn.

A friend advised, and asked if i'd regret this

As much as I want to say yes

I really don't know

I guess I can only find out

by moving forward.

it still stabs like a dagger through the heart.

Pain

I don't even have words for it.

do I really want this?