One week hols!

After all those crappy stuff at work... i am now finally relaxing my ass in melbourne with dear meowmeow... chilling out at family's apartment with bro who is working here. Man... so cool not to have to think about work and screening and reports and audits and dealing with irritating people and eating bad lunches and being tired and feeling frustrated and all drained out... ahhhh.... this is blissful!

Reached here on sunday and will leave on coming sunday. Wish the trip is longer... man.. wish i could quit now and not go back at all! Sigh. The weather is fantastic. Lots of sunshine and blue skies, the sun doesnt set till 8pm. A tad chilly cos of the wind but nothing a good fleece jacket can't help. Been bringing meowmeow around town and showing him the place. Thinks he likes it too... am hopeful that he will find a nice course to study here but if not, there are also other places we can consider.

Just nice that Moomba waterfest was also going on the weekend we reached here (monday was also public hol) so we got to go to carnivals and saw a great display of fireworks down at yarra river, up close! The carnivals were really fun too, though we didn't go on any rides (very scary looking and meowmeow didn't want to go up with me). We did however, win a big bart simpson soft toy :D The rides and games were spread across both side of the river, one side mainly for young people and the other side was more for kids and family. Could tell the australians really put alot of emphasis on family life and healthy living.. there were games whole family could play for free and kids could try out fun sports like giant soccer, rugby, floor hockey for free too and its all supervised by games wardens who would also referee on matches and teach the kids to play. And the toilet facilities.. wow.. no complains.. they use recycled water and there were so many cubicles (no need to queue at such big events!) that were clean and not stinky! Impressed!!

Pigging out alot also and the portions were huge.. couldnt finish a whole meal most of the time and needed to doggy bag it. I hope i wouldn't get use to the portions here because i will be fat in no time at all! Maybe that's why i should stick to walking all the time like my bro. :P

Anyway.. its relaxing and fun... really trying not to face up to reality comes sunday evening.. much less think about monday... groan....

Getting Old-er

Last week was my 31st birthday, on 1 march. To think, i'm stepped into the 30s already... was quite depressing initially. Thankfully all that 'feeling blue' bout did not last very long. Wonder if there was some guardian angel watching over me or perhaps i am just so blessed because there are always people around me that lifts me right out from the murky depths of depression.

There's hubby with his captain bluebear cheery-upper despite his own mounting stress and pressure... great family who remembered and fab friends/colleagues who gave me (and my family) a nice big 'crab-bie' treat at Seafood Paradize! :D

Really made my day... to eat big crabs, talk cock sing song with everyone at dinner and receiving a birthday cake & song by colleagues just when i am all tuckered out, playing a dead corpse in the OT room. Heh heh

THANKS!!

The Singapore Album & Thoughts...

Well.. if anyone pops in to see the exhibition at the National Museum (17/2 - 11/3), you will get to see the wedding photos of me & wilk, and also our parents and grandparents blown up big big... Ah. Not the most flattering of shots but it was quite nice when placed side by side with our parents/grandparents. Was there at the official opening last friday and was interview by one of the chinese radio station (fm88.3). Too bad we didn't get the hear it over the radio later that evening cos' we were all having a family dinner (his and mine) down at Sichuan Dou Hua. Our wedding album was displayed too though i think they might have kept it after one of the pages fell out after repeated flipping on the day of the opening by other people. Abit heart-pain... sigh. Whole experience was also abit wayang cos' we all (including all our family) had to hang around our "display" till the MP who officiated at the opening come by. Took quite a while before reaching our area too. He commented that our type of album would have a 'market' these days since couples will want something unique.

Well... our experiences so far were that, everyone wants to be unique, yet nobody really wants to fall out of the norm and push the boundaries (except within rather 'safe' limits). At the end of the day, while most people commented that our album was very nice and unique etc etc, not alot of people would want to do anything similar for theirs. Guess bottom line is, while it is all nice to be 'unique', it is also very important to be 'accepted' by the 'majority' of people (i.e. parents, relatives etc) and not go 'too out' of conventional 'wisdom', especially at weddings. It all ends up with couples wanting to be special, but not daring to be 'that' special and not wanting to offend or worry the elders, hence end up with something with vague touches of 'individuality' but really is very much like everyone else's.

Sorry for sounding bitchy... but I do understand how that goes because of the number of elders i had alienated and unconsiously offend by wanting to do the wedding in our own 'individual' way... It all depends if it would be that kinda of path you want to take. Frankly, if you are OK with doing the 'usual' wedding things and really like what you have, who cares about being 'unique'? I am not sure that people should strive to be unique, just for the sake of 'appearing' unique to others. If anything, I would just love for anybody to be able to to fight for what they want regardless of what people say. And if what people say is that important? Then know exactly what you are compromising for and be happy and have no regrets that you have given up your 'individuality' but made others happy.

CNY

I can forsee that CNY will be one of the tougher period of the year for me... Sigh.
Don't know what to say except that, differences sometimes can break you.
Still, we survived and its back to work and face other demands for now.

Happy Lunar New Year people...

White and blank

Crazy blog is still being nuts.
Blogger help is frankly... No HELP at ALL.
Despite sending them emails and dropping enquiries at the help forum.
Quite QUITE irritated.
But will keep on posting... since i doubt many people read this, and its more for myself.. but but but... i like my template... *burst into tears*

Ruskie Ties!

Hahaha Ruskie ties at first place with another lovely kitty at the flickr photo contest! Thanks to all that voted! *grins*

http://flickr.com/groups/gatti_gattini_gattoni/discuss/72157594544433832/

Vote for RUSKIE!

The blog is still WEIRD... So i wonder how many people can see my blog instead of a blank page.. But if you add a ? at the end of the url, the post does apply, though without template. Sigh...

Anyway...

Ruskie (me cat) is in a photo contest and i am shamelessly asking for anyone who can，to go vote for him here.. http://www.flickr.com/groups/gatti_gattini_gattoni/discuss/72157594533419663/

Heh heh

What's Wrong

I cant load the blog!

为什么我想当“咸鱼”。。。

<<咸鱼>> - 五月天

我是一只咸鱼 不想承认 也不能否认
不要同情我笨 又夸我天真 还梦想著翻身

咸鱼就算翻身 还是只咸鱼 输得也诚恳
至少到最后 我还有咸鱼 不腐烂的自尊

我没有任何天分 我却有梦的天真
我是傻 不是蠢 我将会证明 用我的一生

我 如果有梦 有没有错 错过才会更加明白 明白坚持是什麼？
我 如果有梦 梦要够疯 够疯才能变成英雄 总会有一篇 我的传说

我不好也不坏 不特别出众 我只是敢不同
我的人生就是 一错再错 错完了再从头

也许放弃掉一些 活得更轻松 我却不再是我
我不愿一生 晒太阳吹风 咸鱼也要有梦

有一天有我的天空

作我的英雄 在我的天空 我知道你懂 知道你会懂 耶～

Thanks to leonnie...

What Your Face Says

At first glance, people see you as driven and ambitious. Overall, your true self is moody and dynamic. With friends, you seem dramatic, lively, and quick to react. In love, you seem mysterious and interesting. In stressful situations, you seem selfish and moody.

What Do People Think Of Your Face?

Chatting up the boss...

Well, I've said what i need to say to my head of department. As expected, i was asked to stay till the end of the year because of the new psychologists coming in and i need to help with supervision. That, and the fact that another psychologist here has already tendered and due to leave by July.

Have not made up my mind about staying till the end of the year though i would rather leave earlier. My purpose of telling my HOD was to get her to 'spare' me from any training that the school might put me to because i do not want to waste my time, nor do i want the school to waste their money. All in all, it will also prevent any potential 'ugliness' between the school and i, if i am to attend those training yet knowing that i was not going to use the 'skills' learnt now that i am planning to go.

The HOD knew my reasons of wanting to leave and i guess she expected it but i have not really thought of how to say it to the principal. Everyone i know and articles i have read about resigning from one's job, spoke of leaving in a gracious and cordial note. A little difficult now, since i don't quite have a legit reason of leaving (can't say i am pregnant or going to studying can i?) nor do i really like to lie. Bottomline is, i DO want to speak my mind about why i wanted to leave due to how the organization has been managed. Yet on an emotional note, i also do not want to hurt anyone here because i do like them despite their 'flaws'. Looking at it, till now, i can hardly blog about my reasons, what more verbalizing them out. Writing the resignation letter was a breeze... now going to tell it as it is, that's the challenge for me.

In any case, i have to go talk to the principal later today because only she can offcially take me off those training lists that has just been posted up. As to what i'll eventually say, i guess i would only know after my meeting with her.

抱着五月天的阿信

那天做了个又好笑又开心的梦。。。
梦里我与我一位同事来到了阿信的签唱会。
就当我前面只剩几个人时，我突然自觉到自己其实正在做梦，一切只是梦境，并非真实。
奇怪的是我不感到失望，反而打起了一个念头。。。
既然是个梦，那一切应该可以让我支配吧？
现实难以发生的事，在梦里我可以一一的实现。
就在这种‘阿信’全全在我‘掌控’时，我跟他要了一个拥抱。
说来也满滑稽的。。。’阿信‘那时就如一个手脚不听使唤的人，一面hug着我，一面表露着一幅“发生了什么事”的表情， 我不禁暗暗自喜 *heehee*.
醒来时，很开心的把着梦告诉了meowmeow，他也觉得我很好笑，很奇怪。
幸好他不是个容易嫉妒的人，不然我就惨了！:)

梦醒后。。。

睁开眼时，感觉了一股沉闷。
心里老有一种难以形容得心情缠绕着。
似如一个早已填满的黑洞，本该空虚却又累积了一种莫明其妙的感动。
让人的心不经意的觉得阵阵酸，阵阵喜，也带点兴奋与刺激。
有点想起某些幻影，某些似以相识的人，像在我梦里与我分享了一个秘密。
一个己开心，又心痛的秘密。
一个我也不晓得是否有人可以与我分享的秘密。
好想你也有同一个洞，同一个梦。
同样的与我梦醒后感觉这一丝丝的酸与甜。。。

Inuka

Inuka - Sheba's son
Originally uploaded by AuRoRiN & MoOoK.

Visited the zoo over the weekend to see Inuka and Sheba. Never really took a closer look at them so this was a good chance before Inuka gets relocated after mommy Sheba passes away. Anyway it was a good day at the zoo, seeing the different animals and caught most of the animal shows and feeding. Only pity perhaps is that we only managed to see half of the zoo.

two zero zero seven

Judging by the lapse between the last post and this one, it's of little wonder how busy my life must be. Well, its either that or that i am plain lazy. Hmm. Perhaps a combination of both. I can't quite tell 'cause i've been pretty busy, as i was saying...

So.

2007.

Another year. Another day at work. Another hour of being 'gainfully' employed. Sad but it's seems brighter to me this time round since i think i jumped in this time with my eyes fully open and arms tightly wrapped around a lifejacket. My lifeline this year will be my full awareness of my limitations and capabilities, plus (and it is a huge plus) the fact that my route out of here is planned, my ticket safely in my pocket. Nothing that has happened thus far, since the start of the school year, has shown me that my choice wasn't the right one. Up til today... the last meeting just shows how much i needed to move on to avoid being sucked right into the 'hurricane' of chaos and have my sanity ripped right out of me before i know what's happening.

I am not kidding.

It is THAT bad.

On a brighter note... i am FINALLY finding that the fact my room is constantly beseiged by water problems (this time it is the toilet bowl which is leaking) a rather funny thing.

It is impossible not to see the humour when your roof is in tatters, your walls are constantly soaked, you have pails lining up your dresser, your floor is peeling off, your toilet door looking such a fright after being hacked and cemented, your floor has sprouted a 'drain' or sorts in front of the toilet, your toilet floor is constantly at a state of 'puddling' and finally your cat pooped on your bed since the toilet's making it too wet to thread through.

Frankly. I am serious when i think it's funny.

I mean, what's the alternative? Hammering my head on the wall and add blood to the water soaking up in the room?

:)

Ok. So not too bright a note, that.

Hmm... we did have a new colleague at work this year. More people to share the burden eh? Except, more people have resigned (ahead of me)... so that's also not too good.


But.

I still think 2007 isn't that bad. Kota Tinggi is flooding but here, it's just thomson (and maybe my room). Crazy weather patterns and funny man trying to solve a problem (which he has created in the first place) by putting more people in danger but, economy seems to be doing well and my stocks are rocketing still (i'm keeping at eye on it though). I am driven nuts by my insecurities but my family and loved ones are safe and sound. Some friends seemed to have disappeared into thin air but i got in touched with more friends than i have ever hoped to see again.

It's been a good start... 2007.

:)

”麦来乱“ - 五月天

Alright, the last video i'm going to put up this evening. My current favourite song to 'shout' while driving, "麦来乱" by Mayday. Basically it means don't come and disturb in Hokkien, and a really angst filled, top of your lungs type of song where the continually love-sick protagonist is asking a ex-lover not to come 'kar chiao'anymore now that everyone has moved on.

Been singing this in the car for a bit and yes, i can be oblivious to uncles/aunties staring from other cars when i do my whole rock/roll headbanging thing, and no, it doesn't hamper my driving.. at all. Anyway, i have many favourite songs by Mayday, this one just happened to be the 'flavour of the month' because i am into singing 'rock' or 'screaming' songs now (think songs from Beyond and Fir, and plenty of attitude) and doing it in Hokkien just up a notch of the challenge since i CAN'T speak Hokkien. No big deal, just more screaming along with the CDs when driving then.

Thankfully, i've plenty of opportunities to drive alone... so i guess my only casualty so far would only be wilk. Poor thing. Not only that, he had to sit through my ktv sessions too... heh heh. The things people do when they are in love eh?

Alritey... Here we go folks.. get ready the ear plugs!

All things bright and beautiful

Seems like a McDull festival on Madness Monologues but couldn't resist after spending half my evening surfing YouTube for clips (despite having the vcds for both McDull movies). This is my favourite song from the cartoon, "All things bright and beautiful" by the Pancakes. A real cheery song and one i would sing at KTV if it is avaliable. Pity that the YouTube version doesnt have the accompaning animation but still a wonderful song nonetheless.

Enjoy!

Mind-numbing menu

HmMmm makes me hungry with all the food...

YouTube is great... love all these little clips of McDull, featuring Sandra Ng (吴君如)as the mom and Anthony Wong (王秋生)as various other adult male characters, such as the waiter here. That man's really got great lungs to be able to rattle off the menu without taking a breath in between!

An anthem for new year!

From one of my favourite cartoon... *grins*

Moving out and moving on...

On xmas day, wilk and I went down to the studio space at perumal road to pack up our stuff. After almost 3 years of renting the space from P-10, wilk has finally decided to end his lease and move out. I think both of us are quite sad while packing away the books and paints, and covering his various paintings with paper. Over the years we have seen people moved in and out along this stretch at perumal road but i guess nowadays, more people are moving out than in. It's a pity really, because we did have a wonderful time at the studio. Wilkie will do his arty things while i just chill out and bum around watching him and various other artists around the area, most of which are friends we have known for a while.

I remembered initially when everyone was new and fresh to the place, there were always activities happening on the weekends or evenings, be it talks, performances or shows opening. There were impromptu dinners and coffee breaks at the corner coffee shops and people could be walking in and out of the studio space chatting and talking cock. I was generally a spectator in all this but it was fun listening and watching others. I've also gotten to know new friends and other singaporean young artists who shared the studio spaces around the area, and seen their works. Some of them have moved to other studio spaces, while a few sorta disappeared. A bulk of them are also exisiting art teachers, like wilk, trying to balance out work and their passion for art. Sadly, after a while, most found it difficult to continue on and moved out.. and now i guess, its us.

On the way back after packing... wilk and i had a talk about this. I felt a little frustrated by the fact that people could be drained out of their passion by work and life in general but since i am not the one living that experience, i guess i can't understand how it is to have to juggle making art, creating and yet fulfilling necessary responsibilities. Still, i looked to a few rare examples along perumal road... the individuals who had perservered and felt that nothing is impossible if one has the passion for the kind of life they want and seek to make that happened. Hence quite automatically, i questioned the passion of people who 'gave up' and settle for something else. But i realized that i shouldn't judge others this way since i am not in their shoes... and everyone has that choice to take their own road.

Guess i am just a little... disappointed.

Have plenty of good memories there.. wilk's cat paintings, preparing for exhibitions, kaya toast, billy cat from upstairs, mosquito coils, sunday indian crowds, chatting with other people around the studio, reading my books on the mat, catching a nap, watching others and wilk work on paintings...

Hmmm... Will miss the studio space.. the 'synergy' (though it has been increasingly quiet) and that little slice of life away from the hustle/bustle.