Hair dilemma

I keep battling within myself if I should just cut my hair or not.

Bob is good - bob means I don’t have to worry about bad hair days on workdays. I can just blow dry and everything will fall in place. The only problem will be spraying my fringe and ensuring it doesn’t fall apart.

Long hair - gosh I have to really hope the water wherever I am doesn’t cause the hair to be too slippery and soft, I’ve sometimes days where no matter how I pin the bun feels loose, or there’s just no volume at the top. I can tie and retie for 25 mins and it’s still not satisfactory.

But now that I’ve finally gotten my hands on this, I’ll hold back the idea of cutting them tresses for a while.

I found u, Create Ion!
I knew if there was a place to find this it would be at BIC Camera. And thankfully it’s dual voltage!

Depression

Sorry to have heard of Jonghyun of SHINee’s death.
I have only heard of the band but I don’t know them, and don’t know their songs. I know only one member as he had appeared on Running Man before.

Hearing of this death though is upsetting. How many lives are going to be lost to  depression?

Today his suicide note was released. So painful to read. It did read like a tortured soul had written it.

---------------------------------------------------

I was broken from the inside.

The depression slowly chipped me away, finally devouring me.

I could not beat the negativity.

I hated myself. Even though I tried so hard demanding my memories that kept getting cut off to 'wake up,' all I got in return was silence.

I'd rather stop if I cannot breathe.

I asked who could be responsible for me.

You're the only one.

I felt utterly alone.

It is easy to say "I'm going to end it."

It is very difficult to actually go through with it.

I've been struggling through the difficulty.

I told myself that it's just me wanting to run away from everything.

It's true. I really did want to run away.

From me.

From you.

I asked, "Who's there?" It's me. It's me again. And it's me the third time.

I asked, "Why do I keep on losing my memory?" They said it's due to my personality. I see. It's all my fault.

I wanted someone to notice (my suffering), but no one knew. Of course, they wouldn't. They never met me before.

I asked why people live. Just. Just. They live "just because."

If I ask why people died, they would probably say they couldn't bear it any longer.

Troubling thoughts flooded my head. I never got the chance to learn how to change dull pain into pure joy.

Pain is just pain.

I kept reprimanding myself not to do so.

Why? Why can't I even end my life with my own will?

I tried figuring out the reasons for my pain and suffering.

I already had the answer. I was in pain because of me. It's all my fault that I carry so many imperfections.

Teacher, is this what you wanted to hear?

No. I didn't do anything wrong.

I used to think that it's so easy for doctors to blame your personality for the suffering in their calm voice.

It surprises me how I am feeling this much pain. Those people, who have suffered worse than I, seem to go on living perfectly fine. Those weaker than I am live on as well. I guess not. Among the living, there is no one who is suffering worse and no one who is weaker.

The only answer I got back was "just live nevertheless."

Asking the purpose of life more than one hundred times is not for me. It's for you.

I wanted to do it for me.

Please don't say things you don't know.

How could you ask me to still look for reasons behind my pain? I told you multiple times why I'm suffering. Do I need more reasons to be in pain? More dramatic details in my stories? More stories even?

I told you already. Were you absent-minded when I told you? Things you can bear and even come above do not leave scars.

It wasn't my responsibility to go against the world.

It wasn't my path to become world-famous.

That's why they say it's hard to go against the world and to become famous. Why did I choose this path? It's quite funny now that I think about it.

It's a miracle that I endured through it all this time.

What more can I say. Just tell me "good job."

You did great. Tell me I suffered enough.

Even though you can't laugh right now, just don't send me off blaming me.

Good job.

You suffered a great deal.

Good-bye.

Ding!

Random thought while in bed.

I eat animals that are low in intellect.
I eat poultry and seafood (but not octopus).
I eat neither beef, mutton nor pork....

Perhaps that explains my IQ.
(O_O)

Midway through an unexpected break

I am suppose to be in Delhi now but OHMYLUCKYSTAR!, someone asked for my flight on Monday because she had to go back to Delhi for personal matters.
As a result I have been off since Monday (post-London) and will be off until Friday!

Since I have so many days in Singapore, what do I do? Relax.

Monday was spa day at Goodwood Park Hotel. That night I couldn’t sleep (actually I fell asleep too early and then woke up at midnight and couldn’t fall back asleep) until 5.30 am.
Thus I spent a good part of Tuesday just in and out of sleep. I managed to drag myself out for a scalp treatment though.
Today I had a leisurely lunch with Hsin Ching before going for a facial, which is actually a trial at a medical spa in Orchard Road.

I am thinking of going to perm my hair tomorrow, but I’ll see how it goes. Maybe I’ll go to the library instead or just stay at home.


On Monday I signed up for a spa package (........) after that session. Today of course the medical spa wanted me to commit myself but since I’ve another trial to go, I told them I’ll wait to see results. I must be firm and not be coerced into signing up for anything  >.<

On Saturday all these will end and I’ll go back to the reality of working to pay for all the bills I’ve racked up. 

Donki

Don Quijote, Japan’s version of Mustafa, is open in Singapore! This is their first store beyond Japanese shores and is located at Orchard Central.
It’s known as Don Don Donki here.

It opened to much fanfare. Before its opening day it had invited the media and bloggers for a preview.

I was there today and it was so crowded. Space was tight, just like in Japan! They carried everything you’ll need for a home and more, only that there were less varieties of each type of item. For example, in Japan there are aisles after aisles of hair styling tools but here it’s just a shelf. I can understand why since they can’t bring everything here due to voltage differences. Another example is cosplay costumes - in Japan there may be an entire aisle or two for that but here there are just a few pieces.

I was most amazed that they managed to bring in huge Japanese apples and selling them at merely $2.90 each.
Huge Japanese radish are only $4.90 each. There’s also an area that sells freshly made food and they’re cheap! I saw a takeaway box of fried chicken cutlet over rice for only $6.90. Salmon prices were almost the lowest I’ve ever seen in Singapore (from decent places - by that I exclude Giant).

The empty shelves really speak for themselves. Singaporeans are welcoming Donki with much passion. 

Going to up my layering game

London is going to be cold just on the days when I’ll be there. Will have to up my game in layering clothes because I don’t want to pack the puffy down jacket that takes up too much space!

I look forward to a good night’s rest. Will put my troubles away and rest.

When I went for a hair wash this morning, the lady washing my hair asked if I didn’t have a good night’s rest. She could feel the heat from my scalp and the shampoo just wasn’t bubbling. Whoa, never knew one can tell so much from just a hair wash.

I love love love our crew

It has been a long long time since I went about with a big group of crew.
We went out today to a beer hall for late lunch and then off we went to the Christmas Market in Marienplatz.

I truly enjoy the company of our crew. All the pilots joined the cabin crew. It was havoc.

Truly great people who work hard onboard and then play hard later. (They are in the room next door drinking away now, round 2.)

Today was such a beautiful evening visiting the Christmas market. It snowed and as it was very cold, it was most satisfying to drink Glühwine in this weather. The Christmas market had also just opened two nights ago, so lucky me I got here in time for this.

Munich is always special. Munich in winter will be forevermore special.
Ich liebe Deutschland!


——————————————————————————————————


I had a Singaporean couple on my flight today who flew in for their honeymoon. Honeymoon destinations are Munich, St Petersburg and Iceland. Geographically speaking, it’s not that near and rather unconventional. I salute them for being different. (Last year, they even visited the Arctic circle!)
Looking at them lovebirds I reminisced MY honeymoon. I remember being uber excited when I went on the flight. I wanna go back to Hawaii......... the world is just to big and I’ve too many places that I want to go to.
In the last week, I discovered 2 places that would be nice to go to. One of it is Sikkim. Please google it to see how beautiful it is! But this will probably be a forever-dream. There’s no way I’m gonna brave the trains in India for this. Teleportation device needed. 

May I have your boarding pass please?

Today I was at the door doing boarding. I had more than a hundred Japanese teenagers who were flying out of a foreign land.

Most had their boarding pass in hand, although 20-30% of them had not prepared for that. They had already kept their boarding passes in their pockets.

My hand was extended to receive this young man’s boarding pass when he unexpectedly bowed and shook my hand!!
(°_°)

I was so surprised I couldn’t contain my laughter!! It was so horrible of me because the Japanese are such shy creatures - what more an adolescent Japanese!!! Because of the language barrier, it probably didn’t process in him when I extended my hand and asked for his boarding pass. So he politely shook my hand..... A colleague who was boarding with me also couldn’t help but giggle.
The best part is, after about another 50 pax, it almost happened again! I quickly switched hand gestures to avoid shaking another hand!

Japanese are the worst offenders when it comes to not showing their boarding passes at the door. I can totally understand that after I flew with ANA. It’s because on Japanese airlines (and I believe a few others) there is no need to show your boarding pass after you’ve been cleared to board at the gate.

For many airlines, I can’t say if it’s for MOST airlines, the crew are the last line of defense for security and we ensure only legit pax board the flight.

I hope the young lad doesn’t hold it against me for not displaying my best poker face. 

King of pests: cockroaches

Nothing gives me the creeps as much as cockroaches. I can watch videos of lizards and maggots but I can’t stand cockroaches!! 

And having them in the house is ultra shitty. There’s a dead one in the sink and another on the floor in front of my toilet now but my knight is still at work T_____T

My hair just stands at the thought of the one in the sink! I can’t even wash my mug. 

I freaking hate them!!!!!! 

I can’t understand why my in-laws keep tearing away the tape that Markus keeps putting over the hole that these roaches are crawling out of??? 

Hsin Ching’s husband won’t let her tapw it because he thinks it’s ugly. BUT WHERE DOES AESTHETIC RANK WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT KEEPING OUT COCKROACHES? There will not even be room for negotiation!

Alas this isn’t my house so if they keep peeling it off, then their son will have to keep taping it on. 

Food

They say with Asian families, parents express their love through food.

Today my in-laws went across the border for just a day.
It’s a day trip!

They left pretty early; the rice cooker now shows it’s been warm for 9 hours. Meaning MIL woke up before 5 am to cook pumpkin rice (because then it would have started keeping warm at 5).
Then there are tuna salad sandwiches in the fridge, as well as a washed plate of salad. All that needs to go in is the dressing.

There’s also a pot of dessert in the fridge.

And cut fruits.

She told me last night to just open the fridge tomorrow and eat whatever is in there. That’s more than I can finish in a day!

Hence I say, me losing things occasionally is a way of God keeping things fair.
Yes I’ve lost many a precious things.... but my family are all healthy, everyone has a job (though not necessarily a job they love), and I’ve them all near me. I’ve been treated better than I can ever ask for by everyone. I’m more than blessed.

He will wake up forgetting this happened

I came in to the room after shower at 2.30 am. I will be doing this crazy early flight to Australia later on *rolls eyes*

Anyway, when I turned on the room light, Markus stirred and tried to pull up the duvet. His feet were slightly exposed so I tried to cover it for him. But by accident I jabbed a few fingernails into his feet. He is extremely sensitive at the feet! (Sometimes I tickle the feet to get him out of bed.) He immediately opened his eyes and gave me the most stoned WTF look!!

Had to keep apologizing until he fell back asleep, with a frown on his face that didn’t really go away. 

All claws out

Just checked in, and updated myself with Instagram.
WAH, seems like the last few hours have been a busy time in SG’s mid-to-high society circle.
Two parties, same colour theme, one for an infant, one for Singapore’s most famous Instagrammer (she’s what the other party calls an “old hag”).

One with many Mediacorp yesteryear celebs, one with .... I don’t know, she doesn’t have many friends left I guess.

So much gossip in the comments section. Thankfully I’ve a bag of Twisties here to keep my mouth busy while I read through the comments. 

Helping out a sister

I did a flight yesterday whereby the Big Sister airline was helping out the younger sister whose planes had to be serviced.
Big Sister took on the younger sister’s passengers so while the passengers paid budget fare, they were expecting premium products (￣^￣)

While it was annoying at first, it got funnier by the hour.

The funniest was when as a passenger disembarked, she commented to my chief stewardess, “Thank you for the beautiful service but next time turn on the TV ok??” (This was on top of countless remarks about the inoperable inflight entertainment system, which was turned off on purpose.)
HAHA!!!

Final day!

Been stuck in the most boring corner of the world for too long! Finally going back to Singapore tonight.

The most interesting thing here is a Coles supermarket. Even the David Jones and Myer here suck. 

Say no to guns

What has happened in Vegas is truly truly tragic.

After the last two concert incidences (Paris, Manchester) and several other terrorist attacks, we kind of learned that it was a good idea to play dead. When you play dead, the attackers move on. 

Not this time in Vegas. If you’re on the ground and not running quite likely you’d still get shot. 

Some humans are downright sick. 

There are the sick, and then there are the utterly irresponsible. (Did you all read about the US mum who left her 4 children, oldest being only 12) at home without care while she went on her 11-day European holiday??? And she had a gun in the house that was not locked away?!)

And people with power (looking at you, Trump) will not recognize the root cause of these mass shootings to put gun control in place. 

Before you ask others to check their immigration laws, take a look at your own backyard first to save your own people’s lives! 

Liking your own photo

Have you got a friend with more than one Facebook account who likes her own photos and posts with those extra accounts??

I don’t get it.

There is this ‘friend’ who has I think two other accounts, I don’t know for what reason, and when she posts a selfie, she will use her other accounts to like her post from her primary account.
WHY?
What does that do for her???
If gratification came from others liking your posts, then why do you have to like your own? Of gratification came from the number of likes, you know liking your own post just to increase the number by 2-3 is lying to yourself right?
I don’t understand these people. Kindly enlighten me. 

Here to save your lips!

Hello from South Africa!

I’ve been wanting to share this on my blog for weeks now but I just didn’t get around to doing it, mianhe. 

It is my favorite lip balm and I think you all ought to know about this goody since matte lipsticks are the rage and it is essential to have soft, moisturized lips to rock those matte colours.

I’m sure we’ve gone through numerous drugstore brands like Nivea and Vaseline, which is the supposed cheap multi-purpose wax.
None worked nicely for me.



THIS ONE, Elizabeth Arden’s Eight Hour Lip Cream is something I can’t leave home without. Take it from yours truly, when I say this is probably the best to prevent dry cracked lips as I wear thick matte lipsticks for work for as long as 18 hours a day each time (and planes have a notorious reputation for low air humidity). I travel to cold countries, sleep in hotel rooms with air-conditioning/heating on 24/7. Worse, now that I live with Markus, back in Singapore I sleep with air-conditioning on all-night too (something I’d never done for almost 32 years of my life).

The Eight Hour Lip Cream does a perfect job at soothing dry or even cracked lips, and for maintenance it keeps your lips smooth and hydrated too. Best thing about this? It costs only approximately S$10 if you get it at duty free.

There are a few versions of the Eight Hour cream/balms.
I use the one in a tin.
I personally do not like the one in the squeeze tube because I find it too runny. There is another version of this which smells the same, in a lipstick version but it is pricey. Then there is the jar version, ie this:

Since it is a repair balm, it is expected to work especially well on really dry and chapped lips. To be honest, I haven’t had such lips since I started using the Eight Hour Lip Cream but I bought this Repair Balm anyway. 

I’ve used it at night sometimes but due to its harder texture, I find it hard to get appropriate amounts of it out of the jar. It melts once you spread it out on the lips though. As such I still turn to the tin version on most occasions. 

If you are planning to use a matte lipstick or lip cream for the day, I recommend that you prep your lips with the Eight Hour Lip Cream first while you do most of your makeup. When the lips are nicely prepped just gently wipe away the excess cream before putting on the lipstick/lip cream. 

Muscle aching everywhere

Yesterday was the longest I've gone without sleeping. A little over 48 hours. Fml.
I woke up at 7.30 am in London (MYT 2.30 pm) on Friday and then spent a whole day out. Incidentally that was the day there was an attack on the London Tube which thankfully NO ONE DIED.
That night I couldn't sleep at all. I went to work faced with full load on a day flight. Because of no rest the night before I tired very quickly. My feet had already started to ache by the end of the first meal service. When crew rest period came I still couldn't sleep a wink.
Arrived in Singapore at 7.15 am. When I got home I only had time for a short nap before my taxi to BP came.
In the cab the air-condition was almost non-existent. It was stuffy and my thighs were sweating against the leather seat. It was bloody uncomfortable. I finally slept when I arrived in BP, at 4 pm.

When I woke up from my sleep I felt my feet and leg muscles and my entire back sore.
They muscles still feel sore now. I need a good massage.

When people think I've no sleeping problems, that I can sleep on demand, they forget I also have bad sleeping days. No matter how tired, how drained, the mind just won't shut off. 

That time of the year

Every year there'll be a time when Singapore is flooded with even more Ang Mohs.
Plenty of parties are lined up for the week too.
It's party town until Sunday!

Proud of myself

I went for a massage yesterday and that marked the second time I was able to say NO to those pushy salespeople trying to sell me a package.
The first time was many months ago, it was hard saying no because the massage was really good and the masseuse was those who really just does her job and didn't talk much. Most times people talk too much just to create rapport so that you'll buy a package at the end of it.
Yesterday's massage was mediocre, though it was cheap. The package is $380 for 10 times. $38 a session, how cheap is that?! However I didn't like the place most of all - I could hear everyone's conversations. It was just not relaxing. There were two men whose voices were so clear and one of those men's phone rang in the middle of his massage and he carried on a conversation there. I just did not feel relaxed. Notwithstanding my masseuse who probed too much into my personal life - 70% of what I told her were lies.
I told her I didn't work, I'm a housewife. Just to prep her since I knew she would sell me a package. Woman, housewives ain't got no income.


Speaking of housewife...
I mopped the house 3 times over today. This place is so dusty it's unbelievable. I'm sure it is also because just a stone's throw away there is a lot of work going on for an MRT station that's due to open next month but the dust is just...!! I could mop the floor in the day and by night my feet would be black just walking around the house.
How did I mop 3 times today? Because after twice, my feet were still black. Hence the third time.
No there won't be a fourth round today. 

You can only lose trust once

"People often lie not necessarily to deceive, but to protect their own ego. They’re ashamed of what they’re trying to cover up, they are afraid of the consequences, and they don’t want to have to live with your disappointment in them. When this is the case, it can be easy for them to convince themselves that they’re not really lying."

War is never easy

Finally caught Dunkirk last night.

I watched the movie with this man's words in my head the whole time.

“Tonight I cried because it’s never the end," Sturdy told Global News. "It won’t happen. We the human species are so intelligent and we do such astonishing things. We can fly to the moon, but we still do stupid things. So when I see the film tonight, I see it with a certain kind of sadness, because what happened back then in 1940, it’s not the end.”

Those were the words of war veteran Ken Sturdy who was there in Dunkirk. Read the full article here.

With crazy selfish humans running a few of the most powerful countries with access to nuclear weapons, i couldn't help imagining that the next time something like that happens, people will die faster and uglier and in larger numbers. It is scary.


 ***Contains spoiler***
In the movie there were many heroes. Every one was a hero in their own way but I was truly devastated to see at the last scene, the pilot whose fighting skills saved many lives from the air being captured in the end.
Life isn't fair. And in war, the next thing worse than dying is being captured as a prisoner of war.

To a Kim and an entrepreneur, stop provoking each other. At the end of the day, it is the common man who loses. 

I've a bone to pick with the system

It's my first rant against the Sg system, I believe. I hope you know what I mean when I say the system. It is synonymous with the G word.

I got charged peak hour charges when I used the MRT at 5.30 pm. I did not get on until the second train arrived because, as you already know it, it's peak hour.
That's 10 minutes of wait because it took 5 minutes for each train to arrive. .
Why charge me peak when train frequencies aren't running at its peak?

Next. This country would like its citizens to have babies and have bigger families. Then I find it pointless charging commuters extra for trying to leave work and get home asap. Why is the system not urging people to quickly leave, instead of mingling around waiting for peak-hour charges to drop?

Small ranting, pardon me. 

My mother-in-law looks very scary to an outsider

Today was the second time I saw my mother-in-law at her shop. She does look less than friendly when she's busy.

Anyway, during lunch, my MIL ordered 4 dishes. 

After having the first, she said it was bland. 

The second dish came, she said it wasn't spicy enough. 

The third dish came, she had no comments for it.

The fourth dish came, she said it's too sweet, sweet like dessert. She made it known to not only the boss but also the cooks. She called out cook by cook to complain. It was funny because she was like the auntie who's extremely difficult to please. 

It's actually quite funny as the people in the shop and outsiders must take pity on me a lot. They probably wonder what kinda MIL from hell do I have to endure on a daily basis. 

Disclaimer: She's very much the opposite at home. 

I would strangle him too

A pilot told me he was so mad at this crew that he really wanted to eff him.
What happened was Tiesto (!!!) was on the flight from SFO to HK.
He was in first class and he told this sad soul (ie the crew who should be fucked!) to contact a certain someone for tickets to his concert that night in HK!!! He was inviting all the crew onboard to his concert!
This sad soul is probably the type who stays in his room all the time...
And when in HK, most crew are up for a good party!

So on the evening of check-in, the crew gathered for drinks at the hotel bar (this is our norm before going to Lan Kwai Fong). This was when the sad soul revealed what Tiesto told him.
The crew got ultra excited, but then the sad soul said he didn't keep the contact number. WHADDAFUCKKKK????

The few of us who heard this story stared at the pilot with open jaws.
In fact, it's so twisted how it ended. When we heard the first part about Tiesto telling the crew about the concert we got so excited! We were like, "NO WAY...."


Years ago I had also heard Rihanna gave our crew concert access in SG. OF COURSE, the crew all went for it.

Bruno, can I please have u on my flight next May?

Homeless in Singapore

I was walking from Terminal 3 to Terminal 2 today because the sky trains within the transit area weren't working from Gates B to E while they build The Jewel.
Taking this path, I would first have to go to Basement 2 where the eateries and shops were. At 5.50 am the place was very dead.

At first I saw a man sleeping on a chair meant for wheelchair pax with a trolley of luggage. There were probably 4 small cabin-sized luggage. As I walked further, 5 others were sleeping around the fountain just beside Starbucks.
They had their belongings in bags beside them too.

Singapore's poorest, sleeping in the world's most acclaimed airport. 

It's a sad sight. But it's also by far the most comfortable place to be since it's air-conditioned 24 hours, has wifi, has clean toilets, restaurants and a food court (important for their daily coffee fix and cheap eats), safe, with many free charging points.

Sadly my regular taxi driver has also been homeless for years. To make matters worse, two years ago his driver's license was suspended so he relied on others to make some money. He helped to coordinate crew bookings and his driver-friends and earned a small commission from it. I didn't see him this morning so I don't know where is his little corner. I'm sure within the airport there are more than a handful of homeless.

The airport authorities have clearly tried to stop people from sleeping in the airport. The seats at Basement 1 near the doors where people wait for their transport used to be where the homeless slept. They'd take an entire row of about 4-5 seats for the night or even day. In the last year, these seats have had new metal arm-rests fixed, clearly to prevent people from lying across it.

It's a sad problem that Changi cannot handle alone. There has to be a way to find these homeless a place to live. Even if it's just to rent a room from the government wouldn't it be something? 

THE LAST OF THE MORNING FLIGHTS

I am so tired with the early morning departures and late arrivals.
I am sleep-deprived.
Looking forward to sleep tonight.

---------------------------------

You know how some people just wake up from sleep slowly upon hearing their alarm ring?
Markus has the funniest reactions.
He jumps up and looks shocked.
I just witnessed it when I walked into the room 5 minutes ago. It is exactly be how Mr Bean would react. 

Not enough rest

This roster is tight and I'm not getting enough rest! Incidentally so much to do. 

I went to London to catch a whale

I dreamt that I had been in London to catch a whale.
Mind you, I'm very against whaling.

In the dream, it was a long overdue matter so I was more than happy when the whale was finally caught. As the whale took its bait (haha, I don't know what is a good enough bait for a whale), it was very close to a jetty. It came up to the jetty (while being caught, wow, how convenient. No need for lugging it back to the shore) and at the same time swallowed 4 or so humans standing at the jetty.
And I was like, "ok, job done! Let's pack up and go! We will come back tomorrow to ship the carcass out."

I woke up shortly after and was disturbed. Why wasn't I even concerned the whale had just swallowed humans?! I should have slit open the whale to save the humans right?

Low fuel warning

It has been an incredible 2 days.
I touched down in Tokyo on Tuesday night and just couldn't sleep. I had already planned a long day ahead and was really hoping to sleep well that night. My plan was to sleep well and then spend the whole day out and go straight for flight (without a nap).
Who knew, I couldn't sleep a wink and shops only opened at 10. So I could only sit around and wait. I arrived in Shibuya at 10 am sharp. By then I was up for 24 hours. Despite that, I felt energized and not sleep at all.
Then I shopped and ate and shopped and just didn't feel tired. I knew I had to go back for a nap before flight now because I had no sleep the night before.
By the time I got to my room, I was already 36 hours awake and still alert!

I squeezed in a two-hour nap before having to wake up to prep for flight. Guess what? It wasn't even a good sleep. Not those where you just knock out the moment you shut your eyes. I even woke up twice in between.
Then I had to work all the way back. Right now I'm very close to being awake for 46 hours (with only two hours of nap in between)
I really don't know what I'm running on.

_______________________________________________

While I was sleepless in Tokyo I experienced two earthquakes WTF. The first was stronger than the second. My whole room shook for about 10 seconds and I could hear creaks. This is the first time, luckily, in all these years of flying that I've experienced an earthquake. Also very lucky considering that I go to Japan quite often these last few years.

_______________________________________________

Now is really time for me to sleep. 

Squat toilet

When was the last time you had to do the big job at a squat toilet?
I just had to.
Oh my God. That 'plop' when the poop dropped into the deep dark hole.... I was so embarrassed. 

Do not buy this phone

Not quite smart.

Need to make room for the new

I keep telling people I've not been buying bags for the longest time.
Truth is, I have bought a Longchamp backpack, one straw bag and one rattan bag in the last one year. Is that it? I think so. These bags don't count right?
Basically nothing too major. However these things DO take up space especially the straw and rattan bags.

As such, I'll be making a few painful decisions in deciding which bags have to go to new homes.
I did not want to have to sell my bags but I don't have a warehouse to store them (and most importantly...) neither do I have a warehouse full of money.

Ah so scary!

I was scrolling through Facebook and saw this. HOLY COW.

Can these 小妹妹 stop going for awful plastic jobs?!
I keep seeing them on my Facebook and UGH enough. They look like robots. Super scary ok? That's what our future bots will look like. You know, the ones that the Japanese are refining for receptionist positions.
I've seen some pretty scary work onboard too (amongst pax, that is). It is very hard to look them in the eye because they look so unnatural.

Ah, I'm really missing Japan now. I've a few things in my shopping list so I hope to get that sorted quickly. Thankfully I've a Tokyo trip coming up in less than 2 weeks! 

Second day

Second day cooped up at home (read: standby). In the past 40 hours I've only gone as far as the lift downstairs to see my mother-in-law get in a taxi.

I've been in and out of sleep mostly because I sleep terribly at night when I'm on standby. It's the nerves. Not only that the pillow is giving me a bad shoulder too and no matter how I tossed and turn I couldn't find a spot that didn't hurt my shoulder. People talk so much about buying the right bed - pillows are just as important!
It's so annoying because these past two days I really would have liked to go out to get a new pillow but I can't. Hmph.

So what have I been doing today? Well I woke up at 2 pm. Had my lunch and then listened to some music (right, music, blog post on this coming up!) and played with my hair.
I've a flat iron that's very under-used. Two years ago I bought it to curl my hair but who has the time when I sleep so much and don't wake up early enough to do my hair? Already there's so much to be done to the face...

6.5 more hours to go. I do intend to slip out if I don't get called by 7.30 pm.

Did you read about the kid who got a severe allergic reaction to peanuts that passengers around him were eating?
Should airlines really go as far as not serving peanuts onboard (oh, I know a certain group of people who will be devastated because they truly love to snack on peanuts) for fear of an allergic reaction? Apparently Qantas has not served peanuts for a long time.*
Or should passengers just carry their epipens and hope for the best? OR, have a nut-free flight only when there is a passenger with known severe allergic reaction to peanuts?

*Incidentally, many of the passengers I've seen with nut-free meals come from down under as well as  the USA. I have almost never seen an Asian request for a nut-free meal. 

Not feeling my best

Today is one of those days.
And one of those days is beginning to become quite common.

It's the day I miss being who I was. Carefree and strong. Willful if I want to be.
It's the kind of day I tell myself if I had a daughter, I will tell her not to marry.
If I had a son, I will have another load of advice to share with him.
To say I'm ungrateful having the life I'm having now is unfair because my life is how you see it yet not you living it.

This is just something that has happened in the last few weeks. I find myself sitting here in the kitchen or my hotel room being upset.


On a day like today, I just want to go to work and forget things. Work is something that has remain unchanged. And work is where I can forget how life is now for it has been the same as I've known it since the first day.

My ambition

Nothing big and fancy. Just want to be able to hire a helper to do my ironing.
Some people tell me they find ironing therapeutic. Therapeutic my ass!

And it doesn't help that I've to do it with a sore neck. Fuck all the flat pillows in the world. Fuck ironing. Fuck cotton. Double fuck linen!

Facebook adverts

UMMMM Facebook executives you need to know this:
Your ads are über annoying to the point that 98% of the time I don't continue watching a video that has been interrupted by an ad, even tho ad "ends in 10 seconds."

10 seconds is too long (yes, technology has made us an impatient lot)  and I don't like being interrupted.

Even though many times you've planned to place your ads at very strategic points of a video, I'd really rather not continue watching it.
I've missed many a Tastemade video endings this way. Well, whatever. I spend less time watching mindless videos on Facebook ever since ads started. I'll just scroll down and look for the next interesting vid... until an ad comes in again. 

Fancy a sobfest?

I've seen more than a couple of passengers who just silently stare at their screens with tears flowing or dabbing their tears eyes.
It is awkward when I've to talk to them, like asking if they'd like a drink or even some tissues.

Hence I think this is kinda cute:

It's featured on Virgin's inflight entertainment.

I'm now in the Maldives.
Arrived at the resort close to midnight.
Will explore this island when I wake up. Goodnight everyone. 

Mainstream pop goes downhill again

What's wrong with songs nowadays? Is Pop facing another dark age, like it was in the mid 00s...

Every song sounds the same. Yes David Guetta is great (I'm a fan) but there's no need to copy his style, everyone. Enough. It's either this electro-stuff or Pixie Lott/Sia-kinda vocals. Boring much.
If not that, it's this Puerto Rican-English song that is very overplayed.

Sorry, I had to get into a small rant after listening to a playlist that called itself Today's Hits.

Effects

The muscle ache in my arms is a reminder. 

The mind will not forget. 

PS: flipping your beds every once in a while is important if you want to maintain your bed in as good a condition as possible! 

PSS: where are all the PRCs? Didn't see them in Seoul. Don't see much of them in Paris either (SURPRISE!). They found somewhere new? 

Birthday

I turned 32.
It'll be a birthday I won't forget, just like when I turned 28.

Happy birthday to me and may I have more happy days to come! 

Jakarta nightstop

CGK nightstop is a flight that I do once every two years. Colleagues normally go for massage and hair spa (and blow their hair like the tai-tais but they've have to bun up again the next day *roll eyes*).

I went for a massage and bought several bottles of chili. Strange, you might think. My Indonesian colleagues have a habit of bringing their own chili overseas, even to restaurants when we dine out. They buy the ones that come in little sachets and it sure is HOT.

Anyway we moved hotel to one that's ultra convenient. A mall is linked to the hotel. I love hotels like that.
What I didn't like about the hotel were the art pieces. I'm sorry I've heard too much about haunted hotels, especially haunted Indonesian hotels.

This baby looks kinda creepy. There are 4 of these at the lobby. Not only that, there's also a hologram version, where the baby skips rope and laughs. Erm.

In my colleague's room, she has a big painting of a headless woman wtf.

We've only just moved here for a month. Only time will tell if this is a hotel that will be widely talked about.

This gets on my nerves ALL the time

Me: Would you like to have the chicken with pasta or the deep fried pork loin with steamed rice?
Pax: *thinks for 10 seconds*
Me: So would you prefer the chicken or pork?
Pax: I want fish.

***fume***

Really wasting my time when I have only 1.5 hours to serve a full flight.



A few rows down....,

Me: Would you like to try the breaded pork loin with rice or chicken with pasta?
Pax: *instantly* I want beef!

************FUME***************

Really wasting my time. Already in a rush and have to repeat myself umpteen times just because they refuse to listen to my question. LISTEN!!


That was my situation yesterday, and this is not uncommon. A particular group of people do this to me a lot, why ah???

Exam is overrrrr

WOOT!
Blasting Bigbang now. G-Dragon is a genius. How could he have composed all these songs?!

In case anybody needs a sleeping mask, I don't know how you all feel about Laneige but I've used their Waterbank sleeping mask before and it clogged my skin... I find the Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask EX to be pretty good. It is inexpensive too, compared to their usual ginseng stuff. I also use the Energy Radiance Mask about once a week. The latter is a kind of detox mask and there's actually a ritual before putting on the mask. Instead of using the piece of white jade that comes with it I just use my Refa Carat for the ritual. The white jade probably has its benefits but it's rather small...

Culinary exam

In a few hours I'll be done with the exam. It's been a nightmare trying to remember all the ingredients of different types of dressings, which dressings and sauces Muslims can't have (Perigourdine, Calvados...) and French/Italian/Spanish terms for foods.

I am just not gonna even bother with cuts of meat. Beef is beef. Pork is pork. Lamb is lamb. Loin, tenderloin, sirloin, it's from the same cow.

Just had a good trip to Taipei.
Followed my colleagues to Ximending, which was where I stayed with my family last year. To think we were at the XMD night market area every night and I had missed all the small lanes where food and shops are! I only discovered those with my colleagues two nights ago........

I bought a lot of crispy pork jerky for my dad because I hardly buy things for him and this is something I know he actually likes. I feel bad because I always buy stuff for the rest of the family members but my dad doesn't really get anything. Even if I did buy food stuff mum just keeps them aside and dad probably doesn't eat them since he wouldn't know they exist.

It was nice being in Taipei again. I have missed the friendly locals. Hope to be back there for a holiday again...

Some days it can just seem like bullshit

Some days my job can feel like real bullshit.
Some days it just isn't satisfying.
You face some serious bullshit and then you think this isn't worth it.

Some days. Yesterday was one of those days. 

In Clearwaters

Every time I'm back here, I feel incredibly relaxed.
That lake view, and the golf course...
I hope we never have to move out of this resort. 

Wide awake at 5 and not happy about it

I had to wake up at 4.30 am yesterday for work but was abruptly woken up at 3.45 and couldn't go back to sleep because of Markus' teeth grinding issues. It's just been getting louder and longer.
It was so horrible I had to wake him up to stop it.
After a long day of work and only sleeping at midnight, I was again woken up at 3+ am. Fell back asleep a few times (but woken up just as many times) until at 5 I really couldn't sleep anymore. So here I am feeling pissed because I'm sleep deprived! It's my off day so what the heck am I doing up at this hour!
Need to force him to see a dentist. He's been pushing this back for the longest time. Any longer I'll have to pack him a sleeping bag.

Happy zhang day!

Happy Duanwu Festival!

I feel so blessed on this day.

After blogging about my dream, I went to use the toilet. I saw there was lunch on the table prepared by MIL, including a few zhang. She did mention last night there'll be zhang but I had forgotten about it.

When I walked back to my room to take my tablet, I saw roses on the table which Markus gave last night.

The heavy rain this morning has also made the weather nice and cool today, perfect for lazing at home. I refuse to spoil the day by doing any ironing. 

Shitty school dream

I dreamt last night that I was struggling to cope with impending school exams.
I was Form 5 again. Faced with 9 bloody subjects (I still marvel at how Malaysian students cope with that many subjects), I was feeling very nervous in my dream that I knew shit about Additional Math and Physics (which yes, right up til when I was taking my SPM, I still knew nuts about those subjects).

In my dream I was sooooooo clueless that I think I didn't even know what was in the Form 4 syllabus let alone Form 5. And panic kicked in when I realized it is already May - major exams in just a few months! In my dream I also saw a brilliant cousin who was coolly solving math questions. That didn't help my anxiety.
It was a real feeling of dread and anxiety. I realized I was gonna flunk my exams and be a nobody.

When I woke up, I realized wtf, I've left school so many donkey years ago and I was still getting nervous over SPM.
I am living in this time where nobody gives a hoot anymore about SPM results so why was I still dreaming about it?

1 year

What do you know? Tomorrow is the first anniversary of my marriage. Time flies when I'm not around much!

Two days ago was my off day. It rained the entire day. Today, again, rain the entire day. Not fun! And it makes my hair flat too, this humidity.

I'm living in a 2GB world. Not!

This hotel caps free data at 2GB per day to hotel guests. Once exceeded, you can choose to pay another $10 for ONE MORE GB. Thereafter charges would be at 10 cent per MB. WTF.

HELLO, are we still living in dial-up world where internet is so expensive? Screw it.
Thank goodness for KnowRoaming. I activated my unlimited 24 hour data even though I'm in my room the whole day (standby day overseas *eye roll*) just so I don't go insane monitoring my every kilobyte.

With my unlimited internet, I have finally finished watching Legend Of The Blue Sea (those genes, Min Ho!) and will proceed with Running Man. As for dinner, it'll be lemon crumbed hoki fillet and microwaveable rice. Yay to kitchenette (stove, oven, microwave oven, dishwasher!) in the room and yay to guilt-laden TV dinners.


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MINNIE MOUSE IS HOME

My phone found its way back to me T_T

Less than 48 hours after it was lost (I thought forever), Changi Airport Lost & Found called to say they've my phone!!!

Can you even imagine the possibility or how this happened...

Glad that Minnie is as happy to see me. 

Latest Headlines: Ann Gie loses phone again

Really having the worst run of luck these days.
After alllllll that's been happening in my life, the ultimate - lost my phone just before I left Seoul.

Trying to take it all in my stride.

I am gonna have to visit a few temples to pray for luck.

Broke and time to go home

It's the last night.
Very sad for this trip to end. This is the longest break I've ever taken with Markus, and it has been great. He might think otherwise - he reckons I drive him too hard with tight schedules.

In our life there's only one honeymoon (hopefully!) and MY honeymoon is coming to an end

I'm actually quite emotional about this -.-

The land less explored

There are so few Singaporeans and Malaysians in Hawaii that the people here don't come across us very often, and then start getting surprised when we hold a conversation with them in English.

EVERY DAMN TIME - not just every day - every friggin time, the other person here would be like, "Where are you from? How come you speak such good English?"
Seriously.
When we reply that English is actually the first language is Singapore, they get extremely surprised.
Ah this is still a part of America. What would you expect right?

To be honest I have never been told in Europe, "You speak very good English." Looking back now, all the times I've been told this has been in America. America America.
I was at a store yesterday when this young girl walked up to me to tell me about the ongoing promotions. She asked me why I was in Hawaii, some small talk and then again she said, "You speak good English! Where are you from?" I replied Singapore.
Then came the *cricket sounds* puzzled look.
"I'm sorry... but where's that......?"
"In South-East Asia?"
*Girl shakes her head, still looking puzzled.*
"South of Thailand?"
"I don't know where that is...."

OKGIRL. wasting my time. You need a world map from Santa this year. 

it is tonight!

Last day of work is over. Today I went to pray for a safe trip, and get a book to read on the beach (ROFL). Like real. If I could use an umbrella there, I would. Only I fear embarrassment. "Bloody Asian woman what does she think she's doing..."

I'm still packing. 5 pairs of shoes for 11 days sounds a bit exaggerated but uhhh I think it's necessary.

This trip has been talked about for so long, and suddenly it's just tonight! I know time will fly while I'm there.

I am excited to show Markus Seoul, there's so much to see, eat and do. Then there's Hawaii, which is an all-new territory to me but at the same time, I see familiar names which I can't wait to share with him too like Cheesecake Factory, IHOP, Nobu, Yauatcha, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdales, Target, Walmart (I love supermarkets!), and of course the Premium Outlet there.

In another two having two check-in bags each, we'll also be checking in an empty check-in size bag and another empty cabin-size bag. Heh :-/
It gets a little tricky because the US goes by piece concept where each piece shouldn't exceed 25kg, but we get to check in 2 pieces; while the rest of the world goes by the weight concept. Will really have to pack our bags properly when in Seoul.

License renewed

allewhoop!

The annual thing that I hate the most is over.

Heading to Orchard Road now for smalltime retail therapy. To continue with the self-pampering, I've a massage and also lash extension appointments tomorrow! I'll update on my lash extensions tomorrow, hopefully. My batchgirl is doing lash extensions, home-based, and she gives very special rates for aircrew and even better rates for batch girls :-D
I was all excited about it - and I even made my appointment - until I found out that her home is in WOODLANDS.

I've a sudden craving for nasi lemak. In Singapore there's no nasi lemak that's worth my calories. Perhaps I could have Madam Kwan's but that's all the way at Vivocity. It has been a while since my last dose of santan-loaded rice with sambal.

Last night I saw the latest Europe prices of Chanel bags. It was very disturbing. How do they justify such price hikes?
My Jumbo that I bought at £1900 is now £4450 or something like that. It's not even a decade ago that I bought it.
I say, really have to buy them early or regret forever.

Blessed

I feel so blessed at this point in life. Thank You.

-----------------------------------------------------

one more week to go!
But first, SEP exams.
This is the dreaded year, it's the year I've to jump into the pool. Every second year I've to do this. Bluegh.

Once exams for SEP and First Aid are over, I'll have a massage and lash extensions to do on Thursday.
Friday for a short turnaround, and hopefully, a quiet day for Saturday's standby.
And then I'm OFF!

-------------------------------------------------------

My *oldest* friend got married this past weekend.
I'm so happy that she finally found her man.

--------------------------------------------------------

I miss having custard puffs. Beard Papa or Mini Ones. Whichever. I must satisfy the craving this week. Bikini body: NOT READY!

Hologram concert

Next month I'll be catching a Big Bang in "concert" in Seoul! Yup, doesn't matter TOP is serving the military now. It's a hologram concert (yeah, wow) and I hear it's very realistic!
The husband, as usual, is forced to watch it with me.

Planning the honeymoon

So much panic.
After listing out my flight details for mum, I realized that OMG, there is definitely too little time!
I knew the honeymoon was short but now it seriously looks like everything is just touch and go T___T


Now I've to compare travel insurance and car rental prices.
Not sure if I should book my tours in advance, just in case it rains....

Till next time

Leaving London with a heavy heart, as always.

The day I stop flying is the day my heart will shatter into a million pieces. 

Brutal

The way the man was dragged off the plane was brutal.
Heads should roll over this. Did United not know they had to pax 4 crew up beforehand?
Even with overbooking, volunteers should have been sought during the check-in process and none of these would have happened.

Like I have always been told, once in the plane, it's hard to get them off - be it humans (drunkards) or oversized bags.

On the morning of Qing Ming

(Maternal) Grandma was in her purple polyester blouse and grey pants. She was eating with a pair of chopsticks. Sitting with her was grandpa, in his usual white shirt. 

As I walked to the kitchen I was startled to see her at the dining table with grandpa. 

I stopped to digest the moment, then I continued to the kitchen to get my cutleries. 

I joined them at the table and I remarked that grandma seems stronger now that she can use chopsticks. 

She smiled and replied, "Yes, I am stronger now." She then asked grandpa if he'd like a cup of coffee but he replied not yet. 

Then I woke up. 

This was my dream yesterday morning.

Did grandpa drink coffee? It has been so long, I don't remember.  

It's nice to see grandma smiling and assuring me that she's stronger now. 

Weirded out

My colleagues in business class told me that was a passenger who had an outstretched arm in the cabin during the lull period. As the cabin was dark, they couldn't see what she was doing and thought she needed help/was calling for help. They walked closer and saw her PLUCKING HER ARMPIT HAIR.

Speechless....

If it's super urgent like she has a night tonight or something perhaps she could have done it in the toilet????

I'm now in this place called my happy place :)

Off to the wharf tomorrow! 

On the west side. Not always the best side.

This morning I woke up really early to begin my journey to the west. It's been an hour and 20 minutes in the mrt and I'm still not at my destination! You'd think there's no way you can travel that long on the MRT and still not be at the end of the line in Singapore right. You're wrong. Then there's the journey back to the east this evening. Fuck. Once more tomorrow. 

Owwwwww

My back.
It feels like I'm walking around with knives piercing through it.
I woke up like this. How did I sleep to have to suffer this since morning.....

I wish I'd taken painkillers before leaving the house. I can only grimace in pain with every step I take. There are times when I accidentally take a step too big and I would feel a very sharp pain. So today I've to walk in tiny steps, slightly bent. Even breathing hurts.

My stars must be all over the place. Things just aren't going right. 

WHERE IS THE RAIN

I AM SO FRUSTRATED I CAN CRY.

Works on the roof started since when I was back from Macau. Every day they start work before 9 am and end at 5.
As I live on the top floor it is all very loud to me. Footsteps of the workers and the drilling and hacking and piling of whatever stones.
I am not an early riser nor do I sleep early. Pisses the SHITTTTTTT out of me when I get woken up on my precious off days because of this. Now I'm even more frustrated because I HAVE AN OVERNIGHT FLIGHT TO DO LATER ON.
Can't catch a wink what the duck. Was praying so hard for it to rain so that works will stop.

I normally sleep in the early hours of am for 12 hours then go for my night flights. I bought earplugs yesterday but I couldn't sleep at all until 8 am because of the discomfort. Then the works started. My earplugs can't do nothing. When they drop their big boulders the walls and floor shake. And it's huge booms, so huge you wonder if your ceiling is gonna open up.

Now they're drilling and chiseling right above my room. It feels as though they're doing it in my rooo.
FUCK.
I NEED MY SLEEP. 

When?

Malaysians will welcome the news of S. Korea President Park's fall with much envy.

WHEN will it be our turn to celebrate the fall of an unscrupulous and corrupt leader?
Could it be that we haven't done enough? The South Koreans did turn up by the hundreds of thousands every Saturday in front of Gwanghwamun... While demanding for her resignation, people lost their lives too.
I wish Malaysia's turn will come soon. 

Traveler's diarrhea

Markus and I had travelled to Macau last weekend.
On Sunday, we had a meal at a Portuguese restaurant with his Aussie friend Rod. That was the last proper meal I would have in Macau. Because that night I started to have really bad lower abdominal cramps. I had initially thought it was the mixture of wine, beer and cocktail that gave me those cramps. However the next day, when we were out sightseeing, I started to need the toilet ever so often. That's when I knew it wasn't the alcohol.

Anyway long story short, I had to go to the A&E this morning.
I had bad cramps, vomiting and diarrhea - a grand total of 21 times of diarrhea.
I've never experienced anything like this. I was just more than happy to have boarded the flight back to SG yesterday afternoon. I'm never one who likes the end of holidays but this was different. I needed to come back to see a doctor.

During my short transit in HK, I traveled from the Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan to the airport. I was relieved to be back in HK. Good ol' HK. Macau is just not our thing. The hustle and bustle of HK isn't my cup of tea too but it beats the tackiness and opulence of every darn hotel and casino in Macau that's just so in-your-face.

I've got MC for the next 3 days. I would have negotiated for lesser days in the past but in view of the very public flak the company has drawn of late, I don't care. I'll take what the doc gives. 

I wish this never happens to anyone of us

I don't want to be the one on the bed with this dumb friend.

Falling into slumber

Have just sprayed my Chakra body mist and gave myself an awkward shoulder masssge (in my fantasy, I wish to have a masseuse with me 24/7).
I feel zen.
I am also happy to be back in Frankfurt where I really am super appreciative of the peace out here.
New York just isn't for me. I didn't sleep well, most of my colleagues didn't either. It was too noisy. The endless sirens that blared from day through to night, the horns that were incessant and the yells of easily irritable city-dwellers.
For myself and another girl, we could not sleep a wink in the day before our evening-departure flight after being woken up by the morning traffic. Yes, in a room with a bed, with blackout drapes. Yet we had a darn good nap in the bus on the way to the airport as we got further and further away from all the noise.

Now in Frankfurt it is all peace. Peace with my aromatherapy fix.
I am ready to have my best sleep in the last 8 days. Goodnight. 

This crazy weather

It is 18 degrees outside now which is the max temperature of the day. Today's lowest is 8 degrees. I'm glad to be checking out now because tomorrow's temperatures will drop to max of 10, low of -1.
I'm outta here! 

Chakra aroma

Earlier today I was at Aveda to get something for the husband. While doing so my attention was drawn to a chair and a sign that said $10 for a message and $20 for an extended massage, and the proceeds go entirely to charity. And it's for some water-conservation charity - exactly my kinda thing.
I said I'd like to do that so the SA gave me a brochure to go through the 7 chakras. She told me to choose 3 chakras that spoke to me. I was given some time to think about that. When I was ready, she asked which of their oils did I want her to use on me. The Stress-Fix oil of course.

And so I had a short but very amazing massage that started with her spraying all 3 chakra mists into the air.
I had chosen chakras 3, 6 and 7. My favourite were the first two. I have a weak spot for geranium so me liking #6 is kinda expected.
I couldn't afford to buy all of those 3 bottles of chakra aromas and the bottle of massage oil. I chose one chakra-aroma and the body oil instead. And instead of #6, I took #3.

I walked out of Aveda in Grand Central Terminal feeling super good. All that essential oils smell lingering on my skin just left me feeling calm.

Now that I'm back in my hotel room, I have sprayed more of the mist on myself. It's truly amazing. Maybe it reminds me of the very relaxing massage I had in the store.

Please, if you can, visit your local Aveda store and see if they can give you a massage with your chakras and an oil of your choice. You'll love it.  

Swiss privilege

I was doing boarding two nights ago for a Europe-bound flight.
Among the first to board were two men friends in economy class.
Both had Swiss passports and their individual boarding pass in their hands. As I signaled them to proceed, one of them asked, "So how come they asked the Swiss to board first???"
I couldn't understand his question. I told him to repeat.
He said, "Ya, they made the announcement asking Swiss passengers to board first."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

I AM SURE THEY MEANT SUITES.

Reminds me of the joke "Who is Kevin Khoo?"

My new chopper

About half an hour ago something loud and pulsing was emanating from somewhere. But don't know where.

Living here, there are many weird sounds (including a strange knocking sound every damn day from I don't know where too) that I haven't been able to identify.

Anyway this loud sound seemed quite close. Markus was taking a nap so I woke him up.
To be honest it sounded like a helicopter. I never knew HDB blocks have helipad (we are staying at the top floor, incidentally).

Then it got louder and faster. Wah. Helicopter landing already.

Markus was still stoned and tried to listen and identify it. I asked again. He still didn't know. Then it struck me.
I jumped out of bed and ran for the kitchen!
THE NEW WASHING MACHINE!!!!!!

When I got there my MIL was already holding on to the washing machine as it vibrated like crazy. It looked like it was about to take off.....

My FIL/MIL immediately turned off the power to the washing machine.

The same thing happened just this afternoon, on its maiden wash, though not as bsd (because I only spun my clothes at 400). It was loud and it moved further and further away from its original place. I managed to finish the full washing cycle despite that. We thought the plastic cups it was standing on wasn't stable so my FIL changed it to bricks. )It's in the bathroom so the in-laws decided to put it up at a height.)

Tonight there was another small load of laundry to do so we decided to try it at 1000 spin speed, totally forgetting what had happened  in the afternoon.

So anyway back to where we were when everyone had gathered in the bathroom - my FIL concluded the machine probably can't sit at a height so he removed the bricks. We turned on the power again and the machine remembered where it last stopped. 5 more minutes to go. Markus said we can go back to the room while we wait but I thought since it's just 5 minutes, why not wait.

Thankfully we did.

As the machine got into momentum again for its final spin, it got crazy loud again and shook so hard. It looked like the motor powering the washer is a Rolls Royce Trent. Madness.

Must return this tomorrow.

DXB

First time at this hotel.
It is so fancy it has its own ice-skating rink!

Yesterday I heard about one of my favorite Captains being involved in a serious road acccident in Malaysia. His right arm was so badly injured that it had to be amputated. It's incredibly shocking to know that I won't be flying with him anymore... and it just upsets me that such a thing can happen to such a nice person. He's always jovial and easy-going. But I'm sure even this will not be easy for him.

And hours later, came news that a senior colleague of mine had a stroke.

This is barely two weeks after the headline-grabbing news of a colleague's death overseas.

This is goodbye

 Junction of Everitt Road and Koon Seng Road. 

Today is my last day renting the room I was living in for the last 5.5 years.
I will miss this neighbourhood very much.
From seeing tourists come by with their cameras and tourist guide books for the conservation houses to the Peranakan food to the handsome dogs that people walk daily.... and most of all, the peace..... all these I will miss from the heartlands.

Thankful that for most of my time here in Singapore in the last 8.5 years, I've had the opportunity to live and experience life here.

Closing another chapter in life. 

1 of 5

Le sigh.

We will be patient. We will wait.

Damn droshophilas

I had many an encounter with Drisophila melanogaster during my uni days. They were the most common thing to be bred in labs. This fly is probably the only thing that isn't a bacteria whose scientific name every science student knows.

They're back to haunt me again.
Because this house is always well-stocked with fruits, these damn drosophilas are breeding fast and they're everywhere. Once my standby is over tonight, Imma go buy some apple cider vinegar and make traps. 

I'm in a happy place

If the last one week shows what marriage is like, then marriage is fine for me!

It was Chinese New Year on 28.1.2017, and I received a red packet from the husband.

I had to wake up at 4 am for my reporting at 7 am (to London, where I am now), and he woke up at 5 am to prepare breakfast and send me to work.

I had to cover up a few things from my MIL (oh the awkwardness of living with someone else's parents) and he was quick to do it for me.

I left a mess in our room, and he told me he tidied the mess while I was at work.

I wanted a haircut, so he sponsored my first haircut as his wife at his hairdresser (which I would never have paid for myself).

This genie doesn't live in a lamp. He lives with me.

May we live hale and hearty and love each other till our hairs are grey, our faces unrecognizably wrinkled and our backs are crooked. 

WEDDING IS OVER

I am extremely relieved the wedding is over.
Like super extremely.
There is nothing about it that I miss.
Nothing.

After two days of stuffing ourselves silly, it is now time for Markus and I to get back to work. While he has proper work to do, I need to pack up and be more serious with my moving.

I hate moving.
I'm never a creature of change. I like familiarity.

The biggest compliment

With money at two beauty salons in Singapore, yet I'm choosing to rush back to BP tomorrow afternoon (the start of my leave) just to do a 3-hour facial and come back again at 7 am the next day to continue with my wedding preparations, I think I've just paid the BP beautician the highest form of compliment!


Two days ago I did a trial makeup with the makeup artist.
I've no faith in her. Sigh. 

Remember the face

hahaha!!!

The day finger pickers took over the world

Sorry for the random title.
Guitar players would know what I'm referring to.

Anyway about 20 days ago I was cracking my head selecting songs for my montage.
About 10 days ago I was cracking my head over my march in song.
About 9 days ago I was still finalizing my playlist (which thankfully a guest came to tell me she noticed it and she loved it!).
TODAY, I'm still choosing songs fml.
I thought I'm done with that. I thought I'd be much more relaxed for the SG banquet since most things would have been ready.
No.
A new montage. Going through them songs again. Ugh. Dread.