Books = Comfort

This is so accurate and true lol. I love to read and re-read my favourite books by my favourite authors. I have read the entire collection of novels by James Rollins, Matthew Reilly, JR Ward, Preston and Child and others many times over and I still can;t get enough of them lol.

Your Bookshelf is Comforting

You collect books because you love to read. You love stories, and you reread your favorites over and over again. It's hard for you to pass up a book by your favorite author. Once you find a writer you love, you tend to read his or her whole catalog. Your favorite books are full of engaging stories, relatable characters, and surprising plot twists. You like to be immersed in a story. You read when you want to relax a bit or get away from the dreariness of life. Nothing renews you like a book. You love books for what's in them, and you don't get too caught up in the appearances of your collection. In fact, some of your favorite books are well worn, sentimental favorites. That's worth more to you than the latest shiny hardback.

The Bookshelf Test

Go Away!

Headache, headache, GO AWAY! 

Aching Neck

I woke up with my neck aching badly. It is the kind of aches that led to headaches... :(

Learning Jounrey to ITE College West

I used to bring students on learning journeys when I was teaching and I used to accompany my girls when they went on learning journeys during their pre-school years. I learnt during those journeys too but they were catered towards children, not adults. Now I finally attended a learning journey that is catered to my learning needs lol. 
My workplace organised a learning journey for us - research fellows and research scientists to ITE College West. I have never been to an Institute of Technical Education and it would be a perfect learning opportunity for me. Whatever I learn not only can help me, it would also be of use for my counsellees too. Killing two birds with one stone. :)
We were given a presentation by the Principal of ITE College West, Dr Yek. I now have a better picture about ITE. After the presentation, we went on a tour to the different schools and their facilities - School of Hospitality (which is the niche of College West), School of Engineering and School of Electronics and ICT (two of three common programmes across the three ITE colleges). 
We were shown how students were trained at Hotel@College West under School of Hospitality and we were all amazed and impressed by the hotel rooms lol.

The student in training and her supervisor at the deluxe room, Hotel@College West

The deluxe room bathroom

The living area of the suite, Hotel@College West with its own powder room

The bedroom of the suite, separated from the living area

The bathroom in the suite's bedroom

Standing shower and bathtub

Bathroom amenities using l'occitane products! :)

Next, we were shown the facilities used to train the students in Engineering and in ICT. Money has been invested to give the students as authentic a learning environment as possible.

The students' projects (and yes, they are operational)

We continued on to the kitchens where students are trained to cook and bake (under School of Hospitality). The kitchens are huge and reminds some of us of Masterchef lol.

Our last stop was Amber@West, the fine-dining restaurant where the students are the ones who prepare the dishes as well as manage the operations in the restaurant. Considering that the students are still learning and under training, the service was good. I loved my three course lunch (option 2). It was absolutely delicious! :)

Lunch Option 1 appetiser - salad

Lunch Option 1 main - prawn pasta

Lunch Option 1 dessert - passion fruit with white chocolate mousse

Lunch Option 2 appetiser - cream of cauliflower. Delicious!

Lunch Option 2 main - pasta with chicken meatballs in tomato sauce. I loved the meatballs, tender and juicy. :)

Lunch Option 2 dessert - mango mousse cake. Wonderful balance of sweet and sour! :)

I definitely learnt a lot on this learning journey. I wish all the ITE students all the best in their studies. 

The various views of the lovely and spacious campus of ITE College West

Hearty Breakfast(s) II

Hearty breakfasts from around Singapore - delicious and satisfying for both the body and mind. :)

Big Boy Breakfast from Forty Hands, Tiong Bahru

Egg Cocotte from Forty Hands, Tiong Bahru

The Big Breakfast from Olio Dome, Dempsey Hill

Pockets Subs with pork from The Orange Thimble, Tiong Bahru

Pcokets Subs with kaya and butter from The Orange Thimble, Tiong Bahru

Home-Cooked Noodles with Love

One advantage of my mother being in Singapore is having delicious and healthy home-cooked food everyday. :) For today's lunch, my mother cooked char siew noodles for us. She cooked the char siew herself as well as the XO sauce. Yummy!! :)

We are really blessed indeed! :)

You Don't Need To Attend

That was what my former SCGS colleagues said to me when they saw me at the Primary 5 and 6 Math and Science workshops lol. :P They asked, "Didn't you attend the workshops for last year?! They are almost the same content. And you taught all these before." 
Oh well, I guess I am kiasu hahaha. I did think that the content might be similar but you never know. :P I went through the materials and they are indeed what I used to teach. :)

A PhD Doctor, NOT a Medical Doctor

In the evening, the council of my estate had a meeting with LTA with regards to the new Napier MRT station that would be built near our estate. As a committee member of the council, I attended the meeting. After the meeting, the LTA personnel asked me if I am working at Gleneagles Hospital. I clarified that I am a PhD doctor, not a medical doctor. 
I guess people automatically assume that I am a medical doctor when they hear the Dr salutation in front of my surname. I wonder how many more such clarifications I have to make for the rest of my life lol.

Counselling Challenge

There is a new case today. It is going to be a challenge. Have to think hard about this case.

Late Night Work

It has been a while since I last worked so late into the night. The last time had been back in August 2012!

The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell

I finally got my hands on The Blood Gospel, the first-ever collaboration between James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell. It is the first novel in The Order of the Sanguines series and only released recently on 8 January 2013! I better make sure my Kindle is fully charged so that I read through the night! Lol :)

Why???

Why are all the special fares and offers for air tickets valid for flight until 30 May only?! School holidays start ONLY on 1 June this year!! So close yet so far... SIGH.

Staff Lunch & Awards 2013

Our organisation had its staff lunch and award presentation today at Orchard Hotel. This year's theme is "Happily Ever After... Fairytales and Enchanted Creatures". Lots of people dressed up as various fairytale characters but our colleagues and friends at our Table 16 didn't bother to dress up lol. Our table is right by the stage! All because I sent in our name list exactly 10 minutes later after I received the email for the staff lunch registration! Hahaha. Talk about being kiasu. :P
I must say this year's attendance is overwhelming. By 11.10am, the early bird gifts were all gone! The staff lunch started at 11am.. you go figure. :P As I was a little late this year, I partook in the photo taking which took me half an hour to line up for and also the tarot reading. The reading was disappointing because the reader skipped quite a few cards and he didn't do reverse reading. :( I could read tarot myself but I decided not to embarrass him by questioning him. I would have done a better job. Sigh. Wasted my time. I could have queued up for the caricature drawing instead! 
At 12 noon, the director gave his speech and followed by the award presentation of Long Service Awards, Excellence in Teaching Awards, and Excellence in Service Awards. Our dear friend and colleague, Dennis received two awards this afternoon - 10 years Long Service Award as well as the Excellence in Service Award!!! So happy for him. :) :)

Dennis receiving his 10 years Long Service Award from the Director

Acting cute while waiting his turn for the second award lol

Dennis receiving his Excellence in Service Award from the Director

At 1pm sharp, lunch started. It was buffet lunch and a few of the dishes were delicious. A lot of us went back for seconds and thirds lol. :P There were also table games and lucky draws in between lunch. The MC for this year is actually quite good and his jokes were cracking up us like nothing. :)
The staff lunch ended behind time but nobody minded. We were all enjoying ourselves. 
Dear Table 16 friends and colleagues, thanks for a wonderful time laughing and bonding. Next year, same table again, ok? Yes, I already have the name list ready for 2014's staff lunch! :P

The wonderful friends and colleagues at Table 16 :)

Cats 101

I am surprised at how much attention the girls are paying to and are learning about cats from Cats 101 on Animal Planet. They have been able to name and point out the different breeds of cats of which I am pretty impressed. It is interesting that they much prefer to watch Cats 101 than Dogs 101. :) Perhaps they just really like cats. Perhaps they are doing their homework first in the event they may get a pet cat lol.

Happy Valentine's Day 2013

Happy Valentine's Day 

Theoretical Love by Yannick Bovy

Theoretical Love (uploaded by YannickBovyVEVO)

Extra CNY Holiday

As the first day of CNY fell on a Sunday, today (3rd day of CNY, Tuesday) is a public holiday. Usually, by the 3rd day of CNY, we would all be back to work and to school. It is very relaxing to be doing nothing, just recouping from the hectic past two days. :) The main highlight of the day was watching Ah Boys to Men part 1, a DVD which I actually bought for my brother who is now in UK. The DVD is highly recommended by my colleagues who have been through National Service. The girls and I were in stitches watching the show. :D I hope Ah Boys to Men part 2 DVD will be released before my parents go to UK in July so that I can give my brother both parts of the show. I think it would make a memorable gift for my brother and my nephews can also see what their father has to go though in National Service. :) 

Ah Boys to Men part 1 trailer (uploaded by AhBOYStoMEN)

Ah Boys to Men theme song (uploaded by AhBOYStoMEN)
Hey, YM, I remembered that you did well in the army and enjoyed your National Service. :) I hope the trailers will bring back some of the good memories for you. :)

Drizzly Day 2 of CNY 2013

It is Day 2 of CNY 2013 and the wet weather has not let up. It drizzled on and off through out the day. We didn't go visiting because it is open house today at our place. Family and friends came over for our Hockchew red wine chicken soup mee sua. :)

Chinese New Year 2013

Happy Chinese New Year!

May good health, good luck and good fortune be yours.

祝大家: 新年快乐, 心想事成 !

We observed the same routine every Chinese New Year. Our first stop on the first day of Chinese New Year was to go to the temple to pray for good luck for the new year, followed by visits to my grandaunt, a family friend and my former teacher. We were done with our visiting by 12.30pm. It started raining heavily in the afternoon but that didn't stop our family friends from visiting us. :) After dinner, we went to visit an old family friend and her extended family. 
That rounded up our first day on Chinese New Year. It has been a very wet day and I have to admit that the rain had dampened the Chinese New Year mood somewhat. Let's hope the weather will be better tomorrow.

Chinese New Year Eve 2013

It is our tradition to have our reunion dinner at home because it is more cosy and you can have dinner any time you want and for however long you want it to last. No need to fight with the crowd in restaurants, no need to eat in shifts, no need to pay extra. :) 
We always have steamboat for our reunion dinner. It is fun to cook your own food lol.There is also less wastage of food because you cook what you can eat and there aren't many left-overs. The soup, after all the food (pork, vegetables, fish, prawns, squid, fishballs) have been cooked in, is the best-tasting thing ever. :P

 

Meow II

Here are more photos of cats I have seen around Singapore. :)

My heart goes out to this cat. It has lost its sight :(

Finally, got an un-blurred photo of this Ginger who was moving so much!

Looks like my former cat :) It was coming towards me when I knelt down to take its photo but it was distracted midway lol

Adorable cat. Looked at me with a stunned look lol

Showing me how to stretchhhhhhh

Looking regal

Unreal

I can't believe that Chinese New Year is this weekend! It seems so unreal. Either I have been too busy with work to notice the passing of time or there has not been much fanfare leading up to CNY. I think it is because I am TOO busy lol.

Are You a Doctor?

Today, my counsellees behaved differently from the usual when they saw me. The below is the conversation with my first counsellee. 

1st counsellee: "Are you a doctor?"
Me: "Oh, yes. But how did you know?"
1st counsellee: "Ms so-and-so told me"
Me: "Oh, I see."
1st counsellee: "Can I see you when I am sick too?" 
Me: "Oh, no, NO! I am NOT a medical doctor but a PhD doctor."

The same conversation happened with the next few counsellees. Apparently, the teacher-in-charge updated the counsellees' counselling notification slip and has now put me down as "Dr xxxx" instead of "Mrs xxxx". I think one or two of them still don't understand why a PhD doctor is not a medical doctor even after explaining. Just hope they don't expect to see me turning up for future counselling sessions in a white lab coat and a stethoscope round my neck lol.

Minsu 民宿

As my girls want to go Taipei again in June and my mother (who will already be in Taipei then because another cousin of mine getting married in mid May) will join us, I am looking into possible accommodations for the four of us. I am not interested in getting two twin rooms so quad room is the only option. But not many hotels have quad rooms. Another possibility is minsu 民宿. I have never stayed in a Minsu 民宿 before in Taiwan. It may be an interesting experience. :) It is still very early so I have plenty of time to look around.

My CNY Clothes

I bought 3 dresses when I was in Sydney last December. I have yet to wear any of them. At least two of them are good enough (as in bright colours) to be my CNY clothes. With that in mind, I did not go shopping for myself. However, that didn't stop my eyes from going auto-roaming at the clothes in the shops. :P

New Clothes for the New Year

I realised that this is the last weekend before Chinese New Year to get new clothes for the girls!!  Although I bought some clothes for the girls during my Sydney working trip in December 2012, they had already wore the clothes. It just isn't right if one doesn't wear new clothes for the first day of Chinese New Year! 
My girls are growing up too fast, especially Marieann. She could hardly fit into dresses of size 12 yrs. She had to buy a dress of size 14 yrs. Thank goodness, we managed to find something for her as there are very, very FEW size 14 yrs around. Phew. Thank goodness too, it was easier to find dresses for Juliane. :)

Broken :(

Today, Marieann broke her Sentimental Circus mug which I bought for her because I promised to buy her something to celebrate her efforts she put in for her SA2. The first thing I heard after the mug broke was, "Mama! I broke my cup!". My heart broke along with the mug as I am a sentimental person. Marieann was upset and cut herself too while trying to salvage the mug. We tried Isetan which was where I bought the mug from but they don't have any more stock.

We want to get the same mug again... if we can find it.  If any of you know where I can buy this particular mug, please leave me a comment. Thank you in advance!

Red Packets (Ang Pow/ Hong Bao/ 红包)

Every year, as it nears Chinese New Year (CNY), most Chinese, especially those who are married, would be trying amass red packets (ang pows, hong baos, 红包) for use during CNY. I am no different. There are two ways to obtain red packets: 1) red packets given by companies, banks, and malls to customers who buy their products or patronise their services, and 2) buy red packets. So far, I have been collecting the free red packets given by companies, banks and malls. I have yet to buy any red packets this year, namely because I haven't come across the shops that sell red packets yet. My mother commented that the (free) red packets I have obtained are ugly. :( Sigh. I still have a week to get my red packets. Hopefully, I can get some pretty ones...