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Monday, November 20, 2017

26. MY 2017 THUS FAR

Wow I suck at keeping this blog alive and I would probably blame it on the fact that I am now a ~full fledged working adult~ lol who am I kidding? I had about 5-8 drafts of posts sitting around throughout the year and I know blogger is practically dead. It's like the hard-copy of books versus kindle nowadays.

Nonetheless, something came above me this one fine night and I decided to take a look at my old old blog from ac days to uni days and I read through some of the 200 posts++ that I had and boy, did it take me down memory lane. It doesn't feel that far a time ago and it didn't feel as though that many things had transpired in those years but every year, something happened, every day, every week and every month, significant instances made me who I am today and during that time, it was an integral part of me to blog/write/type about it even though sometimes, no one would be reading.

I am glad I did it. Though I vowed to never take a look or be reminded at my ex, looking through some of the posts, even those containing him - those of events, of trips overseas, of friendships (forged so strongly at that point in my life and now just a memory) - really made me feel slightly bittersweet. I also enjoyed reading through some of the posts and my cringe worthy self then.

I figured I'd better start once again, to write, to type and to post even though I am probably the only one going to be looking back on these in a year or so to reminisce.

So here goes..... ...

How do I sum up the past 11.5 months of 2017 in a single post? Lol what a feat I've set for myself.


I probably say it every year but damn this year has passed in a blink of an eye. And I truly believe that it has passed even faster than previous years. Could it have something to do with growing older? Perhaps it could do with spending almost every weekday in a enclosed jail (the office lol) and at the same time having to deal with adult things like paying the bill, running errands for your family, keeping up with your social life (or what's left of it) and with growing up, the harsher realities of life actually set in. You're tasked with responsibilities you never wanted. You're suddenly thrown into this dark abyss of coming to terms with horrid things - dealing with actual death in life... and sucking it up because you're 2_ years old now and can't just simply fall back onto whatever it was protecting you when you were 8 years old. 

Another thing that I use as a bench mark as to how fast the year has passed is watching my nephew grow. He turned ONE YEAR old on the 8th of Nov, 2017. Call me a pessimist or skeptic but you know how they say that a woman never wants kids until a certain point in her life when she interacts with one and suddenly all motherly instincts are amplified?? - I get that, when I assume nanny duties I cannot get over his chubby cheeks and how he finds happiness in the SIMPLEST of things that we all take for granted for after a certain point. But then I feel sad or angry (?) because he's going to grow up and have this innocence taken away from him. He's going to grow up and feel all the shit I as a kid, tween, teen, young adult went through and continue to experience. Then I wonder if it's really all that to bring to the world a life. Then he smiles at me and my thought bubble bursts. That said, he's a year old and I have seen him from a 'useless' swaddled baby to one who could inflict pain on my fierce yorkie because he has learnt to WALK. And that is how I know this year has passed incredibly fast.

I travelled this year, to Taiwan with J, Hcmc, HK and upcoming Hanoi in December with my mom & Dad and yet it does not seem enough. It seems as though I am constantly chasing for holidays and breaks to get away from 'work'. That probably does not reflect very well on how I see work - if all I want to do is get away from it. J is also working, thankfully because the work employment climate is a bitch nowadays. He begs to differ but his workplace is x100 more rewarding than mine. That is for another post altogether. ;) 

Its almost midnight and this old fogie needs to get to bed lollll to wake up at 630am so that I can get out of the house and be the first few in line at the clinic. That is another sign of a mundane 'adult' life; to be the first at the doctor's clinic. 

Till the next one. 
x I PROMISE, to myself, to keep this regular. 

Monday, May 29, 2017

26. 5 Months Later....

Oh gosh, it has been a long while since I've last written on this platform. Though I am 100% certain no one is going to read this post, I decided I would come back and periodically update this space because I somehow chanced upon my older posts and older blogs and re-read a large portion of my life in words from 2014 to where I stopped, last year (2016). I smiled, frowned and laughed at some of the content and I realized how great it is to look back and see how the years have changed me as a person.

I guess when I am older, I will be able to look back at these posts and be thankful and reminisce on the type of feelings I had at a certain point in time...
--
Fast forward May 2017. A ton of things have changed, and maybe I'll get everyone (or just future me) up to speed.

- I gained weight, LOL I don't know why this is the first thing that came to my mind but yes, I am significantly larger than I was in 2014 and demoralizing as it is, I am trying to better myself, get fitter and more toned. Also to care less of the numbers on the scale. It is extremely hard for someone like me with ZERO, 0, discipline to stick to a routine so I often start and stop almost 1-2 weeks in. Praying that this time somethings sticks.

- I am no longer working at my previous workplace. I shan't elaborate on a public platform why but those who are interested; ya'll know social media has private DMs and such. I have been working for NUS since the beginning of March and it's been a whirlwind in the best and worst ways possible. Being a working 'adult' demands so much more energy and time than university ever did to me. My time out of work is so precious now and I finally get why TGIF is such a humongous movement. I am basically a sloth because 80% of the time, my work requires me to be in the office. If PE was what kept me fit in school, I don't have the luxury of that forced-physical activity thus, weight gain rapidly. I've been to more stats courses than I would ever imagine myself taking, if you asked uni-gwyn if she thought it was possible she'd laugh at you. Life works in weird ways. I have also come to the conclusion that no matter where you go, there is always one co-worker that pisses you off and there's nothing you can do to avoid them; just breathe. I could do an entire other post or essay on being a working adult ....

- J and I are still going strong and he's my pillar of strength and the one person who helps to keep me grounded and sane. I don't think I could deal with myself if I were a guy... I am forever and always thankful for all he has done for me.

- I am an aunty! My elder sister gave birth to a cute potato of a boy in November last year and he is just the centre of everyone's attention. He brings light and life into the eyes of my grandfather, my parents and even my dog's excited. Cookie was apprehensive at first but now she just wants to lick his face to the added dismay and confusion of the baby.

- My friends are still scattered all across the globe and it still gets lonely. What's new.

I guess for now, these will do. Here's a promise to myself, to keep this space updated.

X

Saturday, December 31, 2016

25. My 2016 IN 4 MINUTES

As 2016 draws to a close in approximately 4 minutes I attempt to wrap the year up in a few sentences of the words my mind scrambles to piece together.

It was a year of loss - loss of people close to my heart who I still think of every now and then. Some people worth the tears, some not but my mind still wanders to. It was a year of new experiences - writing up my thesis, waiting anxiously for my results, getting it, the anxiety of job-seeking, securing a job (and all the craziness that came along with that), graduating...

It was a year of growing older, wising up, maturing and knowing that truly, everything happens for a reason.

It was a year of chaos, the world had so much going on in 2016. I watched in awe; other times distraught at how the world could have so many crazy things going on at the same time.

2016 was a beautiful year nonetheless, and whatever I've learnt will put me in good stead for 2017.

Bring it on :)

x

Thursday, July 21, 2016

24. Thoughts on the Nicole Choo Ridhwan & DK saga

I am so sick of seeing certain responses to Nicole Choo and Ridhwan's "stunt" that I'm reduced to writing about this for twitter's 150 characters will never be enough.


Sure, I agree that they could have executed it in a better way without bringing pregnancy into the picture but they've clarified and apologised. You know what I can't stand?

Just because they're on the unpopular end of the spectrum they're getting hated on for no apparent logical reason. If you think about it, Dk bullied them, he started tweeting about them first.
What warrants 4 videos and discussing about their relationship at length? Because it fuels the fire and creates attention. Everyone likes to hate on a common denominator: for example, Donald trump for voicing out stupid decisions like building a wall around the USA to keep immigrants out. That's a legit reason to hate on him.

What stupid and illegal thing did Ridhwan and Nicole do that warranted such cyber bullying? He left tjht? So? That was his own decision to make. When the news first came out tjht also put up a couple of instagram posts adding fuel to the fire but the only one who got bashed was Ridh for wanting to get attention. 

He slapped his ex gf but that's super old news. Surely if you were Ridh you wouldn't want to be judged based on one stupid decision you made at one point in your life to define you as a person forever. Then what is the point of the yellow ribbon project? Lets just shun all ex offenders for they will NEVER turn over a new leaf shall we? (sarcasm)

Dk can have his own opinion about this. We all do. Some I don't agree with too. But just cause Dk has the platform, the followers and the right friends he thinks it's alright to speak about Ridhwan this way? 

Don't get me wrong. I really like some of dks videos, some are funny as hell and relevant. I watch him. I don't hate him. But I sure don't agree with the way he's been putting ridh down. This reminds me of freelee when she made a video about Anna Saccone stating the reason she had a miscarriage was because of the food she was eating?! Bitch please no one should be putting anyone else down based on what you see online.
Ridh and Nicole only show us how much of their lives. No one but themselves know what they're struggling with.

Tjht made an instagram video about social experiments to mock Nicole and Ridh. It's so blatantly obvious who he's referring to. Tweens look up to this guy and he's sending the message that it's alright to indirectly bully someone online?
They're getting so much shit for nothing they've done. Everyone just wants to be on the bandwagon that they can benefit from.

I mean what led to Ridh being the biggest idiot in Singapore in one of the videos, even on TOP of Amos yee who got in deep shit with the government, offended Christians and tried to tell us that Lee Kuan Yew did nothing for this country?! Ridh left a company on his own accord and suddenly just cause he's dating Nicole it gets blown out of proportion? Sure That makes him the biggest idiot...

And all y'all saying Nicole looks like crap under make up come on you think everyone is born like Kylie Jenner? Half of the bloggers out there's natural face is complete with false lashes and embroidered eyebrows. Make up is a fun tool for us to play with to add confidence to ourselves and not something that girls should be bashing each other about just cause she looks too different I mean who buys make up to look exactly the same before they put it on?


I'm out. 

Thursday, June 2, 2016

23. Final Year Thesis: Done and Dusted

Here's a lighter topic than the previous post =) I know I've been away from the blogosphere for the longest time ever - months. I've been busy with an internship and my final year thesis, which is finally and thankfully done with. 10k words later, I am now officially unemployed and a psychology graduate. I'm doing this post to get ya'll up to speed and also, I that free now.


I was interning for 2.5 months at AWARE (the women's organization that NS men dislike haha). The pay was um, well, lets just say it felt like free labour but it was a meaningful internship for I got to learn how a non profit organisation works in the inside. I also got to work on really interesting projects - single parenthood, women rights, rights for single parents in the HDB sphere... etc. It really shows you a side of Singapore you do not get to usually see (single parenthood is after all a really taboo subject, just as homosexuality is).

I ended my internship about half a month earlier because it was getting really stressful to juggle my thesis data collection, meeting up with my supervisor and actually writing the thesis. My supervisor, Patrick is God-sent. He was ever so helpful with anything I needed and would actually reply my cries for help at 9/10pm at night. I hit the jackpot with my supervisor this time! Thesis writing..is so so tiring. I have written so many essays, from as little as 1.5k to 4k words but nothing could have prepared me enough for this daunting task. Some days you look at your work and think, what in the world am have I been writing, this is ALL rubbish. Other days you feel quite good and confident but it is mostly tiring and exhausting. Sometimes you have the motivation to continue but you can't find anymore information that seems relevant. You just end up staring at your document and getting a headache from all the words swimming in your head.

Anywho after about 2.5 months of slugging my guts out, I was finally done. Getting them printed and binded felt numb and surreal. I wanted to be done with the university and its shitty admin staff and poor communications with students but at the same time I wanted to continue studying. HOW DO I ADULT. All a student has to worry about is homework, essays, tests and things like that. In comparison to insurance, bills, marriage and the list goes on. Do you know it takes 1 mill to raise a kid in Singapore? Like, I don't think i can even make a million in a lifetime what more by the time I am ready to have a child?

The weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders and now a different kind of weight has landed on them. I gotta start job searching........stat.

x

22. My first car accident: Reflections

I guess there's a first for everything in life? I got into my first car accident recently and boy was it an experience. I was hit from the back while my car was stationary (will not go into the little details), and the Singapore law states that once that happens, the vehicle from the back is at fault. The impact was huge, and the car's Neck Pro (installed in the head rests) activated immediately. It was so shocking and I was shaking even after many hours passed.

For anyone's sake, here are some ''tips'' for if you ever get into a car accident..

# Do not admit to any fault (even if it may seem like it is yours). I read a post before on DOs and DONTs and the definite DONT is to say 'I'm sorry'

# Exchange identification cards, numbers and insurance agencies.

# Take as many pictures as you can of your vehicle and the other party's in terms of damage inflicted.

# Do not agree to settle the payment 'on your own' or at another workshop. Always leave it to your insurance agent to contact the other party's agent.

# Drive (if your car is still in a state to) to the nearest police station to make a report.

# Call the TP (Traffic police) or Ambulance if the car is not in any drivable state and if anyone is injured. Also your relevant cars' 24 hour hotline for roadside assist.

# See a doctor. You may seem fine but you never know what's going on inside your body (My boyfriend - in the passenger seat and I were diagnosed with mild head contusions and he had a sprained shoulder with dizzy spells and nausea)

# Be thankful. You're okay!!! Your life is more important than the car's aesthetics. Thank God or your lucky stars if you're not religious.

Take it as an experience and learn from it.

Drive carefully everyone!

Sunday, March 13, 2016

21. Whampoa Market - Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan (Fishhead Steamboat) review

(photo courtesy of fatboo.com)

why hello, Keegan 

I'm back with another short review on, fishhead steamboat, again. This time at Whampoa Market, a lot nearer to me than Tampines! This hawker is bustling in the day time and eerily quiet at night if it weren't for this stall. Be sure to come early (5pm) because the waiting time does get quiet lengthy as the night goes by. We were there around 715pm and got our steamboat at 740pm. You order at the stall and an uncle will come by with a trolley tray with side dishes. They have duck wings, salted veg, taupok and braised eggs :) Humble homely food.

We ordered promfret, medium size, taupok and salted vegetable (not pictured) and the bill came up to $46-47. There were four of us so that would amount to $12 per person which is really reasonable for the amount of food there was! Also promfret is the most expensive fish option! The soup is filled with yam, seaweed, vegetables, fish and the thing I found that allowed it to stand out from the rest is...... garlic or shallot bits? or I'm not entirely sure.. but it made the soup extra tangy and flavourful. You have to try it to believe it. You can also top up the soup!!

Comparing this to the one at Tampines, my heart calls out for this one. Not only is it nearer to me, the soup brings me back to my grandmother's cooking :') It really is worth the trip down if you live further away and the wait on crowded hours.

Toodless

Xin Heng Feng Guo Tiao Tan
Mon: 17:00 - 21:30
Wed - Sun: 17:00 - 21:30
Closed on: Tuesday

#01-14/15,
Whampoa Market,
91 Whampoa Drive,
320091