Blissful Existence

For too many years now my life in the UK has been one of frenzied work related existence. My daily ritual would consist of:

04.30 - Get out of bed
05.10 - 05.28 - Putting the foot down on the drive from Swanscombe to Falconwood
05.32 - Catch the first train from Falconwood to London
On "lazy" days, getting up at 05:00 and catching the 06.07 train
07:00 - 09:00 - Pounding the keyboard like mad
09:00 - 17:00 - Dealing with phonecalls, attending meetings and dealing with mindless disruptions throughout the day
17:00 - 19:00 - Catching up the day's emails and workload
20:30 - Getting home to a meal of packet noodles
22:00 - Catching Eastenders on BBC3
22:30 - 23:45 - Mindless surfing on the internet
00:00 - Bedtime

And the routine carries on through the week. How did I ever survive with 4 1/2 hrs sleep???

For once in my life I am now able to slow down, breathe and smell the coffee. Today is an example of such blissful existence

Although I had work today (Saturday), it was relatively easy and did not need much flexing of my braincells. Getting in at 17:15, I had an aerobics kick-boxing class at 17:30 with my sister. On to the supermarket for dinner tonight, by 20:00 we were at the table ready to eat dinner. And it's no microwave fast food either. Albeit not a very complicated dish, we made everything from scratch - with Basement Jaxx playing in the background for a bit of groovin'.

Singapore was doing an 'earth hour' thing today where you turn the lights for an hour from 20:00 - 21:00. Much like London's 'Lights Out London' last summer. My sister being the earth-freak insisted that we had to eat our dinner in the dark. Lucikly we had some candles so we can at least make out the outline of what we're eating. On the background, the sound of Norah Jones is playing on CD.

It has been too long since I was able to enjoy sitting around, not doing a lot and just listening to albums in their entirety. Normally, my dose of music would be on my iPod on the train with my 'flavour of the month' playing on repeat.

I was able to listen to my all time favourite Hong Kong band, Grasshopper, and it brings back memories of when life was much simpler without the stress of work.

Yes, my current job bores me to tears sometimes. Occasionally I actually run out of work to do and need try hard not to doze off at work. I miss my job in London terribly. I loved my job and getting up at 4.30am was never a problem.

But maybe being in Singapore isn't all that bad. I sound like a broken record reminding myself to treat this as a long term paid holiday. A proper break from it all. God knows we need it sometimes. A sign of old age? Or has this something to do with me having turned 30?

Well, having a relaxing break aside, sometimes I still need a good dose of partying. Thankfully a party is on the agenda next weekend. Otherwise I would die of boredom having a 'relaxing' break.....

Bored Shitless

I couldn't get up for work today. The alarm went off for a good 45 mins before I heard it. Another day at work and for once in my entire life, I actually did not have much to do. Couple of things here and there but if I get them done, I'd have absolutely nothing to do tomorrow.

I'm not sure how I got myself into this position. When they interviewed me for the job, they said everyone is running around like a blue-arsed fly. Yes, everyone seems really busy and it's not like I haven't got anything to do, I've got quite a few packages I'm looking after. But I've really got to pace my work out and take it real slow.

Maybe everyone's really busy because they're inefficient? I was literally dozing off at my desk pretty much all day. Really need huge matchsticks to prop my eyelids.

My colleague J is thinking of leaving. She's had enough. I'm tempted to go too, there's nothing here to exercise my grey matter. But I've got to hang on till the bitter end.

I've just got to think - PAID HOLIDAY!

.... sigh .....

Description of Me

Alas, I nearly died reading my youngest sister's latest blog describing her family. There's obviously the family photo, which I cannot find at the moment. And a brief description of each member of the family.

Her description of me:

Favourite Quote - I can't live like this

Hmm... I said that a lot when I first moved to Singapore. Not being able to unpack, living in hotels for 3 weeks and when I moved into my apartment, I still couldn't unpack as we didn't have any wardrobes. Not to mention I had to give up my room for over 2 weeks before I even had a chance to sleep in my room. I can't live like this - too damn right!

But I'm just about all settled in now. My wardrobe is bulging with clothes and I had to get a bookshelf for a shoe wardrobe. For once in my life, I can actually see every single pair of my shoe. This is heaven. Which brings me to the next description my sister had for me:

Fetish - Shoes

What is wrong with having a fetish for shoes? I've been very good actually. I only have about 30 pairs of shoes. (and about another 10 pairs of knee-highs packed away nicely in the store room!) But I've been very restrained. I saw an beautiful pair of stilettos in Nine West at half price and I managed to walk away from them... only because it was the last pair and they were half a size too small. This is an improvement. The old me would've just bought them, wear them once, cause my foot all sorts of pain and never wear them again. So, there!

My sister's final description of me:

Favourite Food - Durian

For all you 'ang moh' (Caucasians) who are reading this, you may not know what a duarian is. It's thorny fruit you can only find in Southeast Asia and looks a bit like this:

You need a very sharp butcher's knife to open the hard shell of a durian. And inside you'll find the creamiest fruit in the whole wide world. It's almost like custard. The smell puts a lot of people off. I can't really describe it as I love it but it's very strong.

I remember last year after I told my boss I had decided to work in another country in a year's time, he arranged for an 'emergency' lunch meeting. I chose a Malaysian restaurant and M, after consulting the reviews of the restaurant, suggested we try the durian ice cream. Luckily, for me, they hated it, so I finished it... ha ha ha...

So there you are. A rather accurate description of me, I would say. Then again, she is my sister after all.

Night Out On The Tiles

Long weekends always spell trouble for the liver. This Easter was no different. I always very quick to welcome any invitations to go out clubbing. Especially when Singapore is still so new and there are so many bars to explore. Plus, the last time I was properly wasted, it was my house-warming PARTY 2 weeks ago!

The original plan was to head off for a few jars straight after work, dinner, then hit the club. As usual, the best laid plans always end up down the pan. Everyone was scurrying home first, etc before going out. So I just took the opportunity to get some party clobbers on.

Started off at the Highlander with a pair of 'ang moh' (Caucasians) duo band who did a mixture of Keane, Cold Play, U2 and the likes. Terrible, terrible singers. I love One Love and they managed to completely trashed it! Puh-lease!!!

We then headed off to Attica in Clarke Quay. No pics taken as I had forgotten my camera but L from work had taken a few pics so will post them next time. This is the very seat we managed to get. Smokers paradise outside in the cool heat (if there is such a thing) with a bar just a few paces away and music thumping away... boom boom boom...

I managed to fall flat on my arse (well, my knee more like). The steps around the bar are clear see-through steps. Where I thought there was one step, there was actually two. And it was only the start of the night. I must have looked like a right pillock. The only thing I cared about was the VRB in my hand. I managed to save half the glass. Phew! (But gained a great big bruise on my knee.. nasty!)

By 1am, most of the people, certainly all the girls, were gone, leaving me with a 21-year old, 26-year old and a 35-year old. Quite a combination! I don't know how I managed to last through the night. Certainly when there is a 30-year old around, the guys sure love to to chat like women! We went off for food sometime in the morning, carrying on chatting and I became the Agony Aunt. If they think my advice was worth it, good luck to them.... a 30-year old single woman who's still out partying all night long, who can no longer hold a relationship longer than a one-night stand!!

And what do I talk about? WORK! Gawd, I'm getting B-O-R-I-N-G!!

Sentosa Island

Mum, dad and youngest sis came over to help us move into the new flat. So I took the opportunity to organise a 'family trip' to Sentosa Island one Sunday, except that mum and dad weren't keen. So it was just us three girls.

There was an animal show and people get to touch the snake at the end of it. Only little sis dared to go!

Aaahhhh..... warm sea water

Beautiful clear (ish) water

We went for a cycle around the beaches (Bum very sore the next day!!)

All sunscreened up for a hot hot day!

Self take of three sisters, missing the fourth :(

Oh..kay.... I'm not that scary!

Chingay Parade 2008

This happened during the Chinese New Year period. But as I've only just gone back online, I'm trying doing a bit of a catch up.

Before anyone post any comments, the Chingay Parade is the yearly Chinese New Year street procession with huge floats and different performances. A bit like the Notting Hill Carnival. Unlike someone at work (obviously new to S'pore) who said 'Oh, is it that the GAY parade?' Hmm...

I bought tickets for the preview show which is essentially the day before, cheaper, but exactly the same. I was glad I had ticked this box for things to do in S'pore. The performances were pretty good.

Can't remember what this was but it's bright!

Birthday cake and great big candle?

An F1 car

Traditional Chinese Wedding Carriage (for the bride only!!)

These guys were near enough butt naked!! We were laughing loads at the obscenity of it all. My sis got pulled up by the radio DJ who was who was asking if the ladies enjoyed that.

A princess carriage

Darth Veda and his troops

Umm... can't remember what this was

Chinese lion dance

A big whale?

What I Miss About London

I've been over here in Singapore for about 6 weeks now and I'm missing London. In no particular order, but then again, there must be an order according to my thought process??

1. Going out for a few drinks after work (and then sometimes getting rat-arsed!). People drink out here but not as much as the Brit. Just shows how much of a piss head I have become, especially if this is the top of the list!!

2. My super-mad super-busy job. Nowadays I occasionally, almost everyday actually, feel the need to prop my eyelids with matchsticks. Not just after lunch as it happens to most people, but in the middle of working on a 'riveting' spreadsheet. I also recently found out that the coffee at work I've been drinking is decaf. Go figure!

3. Going out on site. I work in the project site office. But I've not had the opportunity to go out to site as people here (especially the surveyors) try to stay indoors as much as possible. It's a wonder how they know what they're paying for!!

4. Nipping out to the shops. Not that I used to do it much in London, but it was comforting to know that if I ever needed anything, I can just nip out to the shops. Over here, I can't even get decent coffee let along nip out to the shops! Which brings me to....

5. My morning Venti Latte. Gawd I miss proper coffee! From leaving my flat to getting off the MRT station for work, I get nowhere near any coffee shops save for the canteen at work. I noticed a sign saying 'New drinks - Latte...' and all sorts of other 'western' drinks but I was told latte was 'sold out'. How is it sold out when they still sell coffees in other forms?

6. Eastenders. Gawd I miss the miserable life in Albert Square. But, thank god for cable TV, I get to watch loads of Hong Kong soap operas and practise my Cantonese at the same time.

7. My washer-dryer. Odd thing to miss but the rain hadn't really stopped the last few days and laundry takes forever to dry. You'd think that in a hot country it takes no time at all. Well, it's hot and humid, therefore nowhere for the moisture to go. It can take up to 3 days for my clothes to dry and it stinks of dampness and I have to wash it again and it's a never ending cycle. *sigh*

8. My old boss. My new boss can talk for England and repeats details about 20 times over. It's hard to just say 'Ok, I got the point the first time, let me go and just get on with the work' Although I sometimes hint in the dry English humour kinda way. Thank god he's English and understands the joke. I still maintain that my old boss is the best boss in the world, but I've still got my probation period to get through first.

9. The rights of the consumer. The number of times I've been pissed off in the shops for the ill-treatment and it just gets shrugged off. I wonder if it's just the hot weather or the inefficiencies here which pisses me off so much.

10. Civilisation at the tube station. At rush hour, people over here don't let you off the train before getting on. The push you as you're trying to get off. Which is a bit pointless cos if you don't let people off, how the hell will you get the space to get on the train???

I guess 10 is enough for now. But I keep reminding myself this - this ain't too bad, just treat it like a holiday, and a very well-paid one too. Just think of the light at the end of the tunnel, the end of the project, the opening ceremony, the champagne....