Another year. Another New Year's Eve. In the last 12 months there were lost and gains, sadness and happiness, mishaps and many great adventures, disappointments and fulfillment, failures and achievements, people you bid farewells and even new friends made. A great year indeed, which I will never have it any other ways.
This New Year brings many uncertainties and insecurities but also many new hopes, dreams and challenges for many. Challenges they may be but won't they be worthless if we don't put up a fight?
May we all take this moment in the midst of all the craziness of this festive season, to remember our love ones, family and dear friends (near and far far away), be grateful for all the things we have... family, real and by choice, some dearer than real family. Regardless of how some things has turned out to be, we are here and we will always have each other.
May this new dawn brings joy. May this new day brings contentment. Wish you all a very Happy and healthy 2009!
Wednesday 31 December 2008
New Dawn New Day
Tuesday 30 December 2008
Christmas At The Masters
3 full days of family Christmas at the Masters. From the Christmas Eve dinner D and I prepared to D's Mum's Christmas 3 day spread and finishing off with me and D's Dad sharing the kitchen preparing our lunch before we bid farewell... a tiring but amazing time had by all.
- Lots of food and wine. Home-made puddings and great cheeses.
- Stocking pressies after Christmas breakfast, tree pressies during lunch, and more main pressies after lunch.
- Trivia Pursuit in the evening followed by a light supper.
- Early morning walk with the whole family into the village on Boxing Day and finish off with a couple of pints in the village pub.
- More food after and followed by more Trivia and UNO.
Family traditions of the Masters and all done with such ease and joy.
All the food and presents aside, I cannot ask for more than such wonderful welcomes and acceptances from the family. D was still D and I was just another new addition to the family... That's how I feel at least.
I can only wish that I've left a good impression. A hug from D's Dad while saying goodbyes said it all.
It may be just another Christmas for some families but to me, it was the most beautiful family Christmas that I've always dreamed of having. And for that, I will always be grateful.
- Lots of food and wine. Home-made puddings and great cheeses.
- Stocking pressies after Christmas breakfast, tree pressies during lunch, and more main pressies after lunch.
- Trivia Pursuit in the evening followed by a light supper.
- Early morning walk with the whole family into the village on Boxing Day and finish off with a couple of pints in the village pub.
- More food after and followed by more Trivia and UNO.
Family traditions of the Masters and all done with such ease and joy.
All the food and presents aside, I cannot ask for more than such wonderful welcomes and acceptances from the family. D was still D and I was just another new addition to the family... That's how I feel at least.
I can only wish that I've left a good impression. A hug from D's Dad while saying goodbyes said it all.
It may be just another Christmas for some families but to me, it was the most beautiful family Christmas that I've always dreamed of having. And for that, I will always be grateful.
Sunday 21 December 2008
Wednesday 17 December 2008
The R Words
Recession - The word that everyone is talking about now. The news in the papers, on TV, stories we hear from friends, from work, from clients. All grey and gloomy. The property market is declining (which is great!), companies and stores closing down, banks shutting and being bought over, all industries looking at cost cutting, people stop travelling, people cautious of spending. They've said that this recession started in Dec 2007 and will usually last for 18 months... and if that's true, come June 2009... things should get better. So we shall wait and see. Just one question, just how did we get ourselves into this state?! No one realise and forecast what was coming? Were we really living in a big bubble waiting to burst?!
Re-structuring - Actually got the news when I first arrived back in Singapore a few weeks ago. Not a piece of good news to start off a short weekend back home but I soldiered on. Basically, they've decided and have to re-structure my department because Paris Head Office have decided not to fund our operations as from 2009. And therefore my section will not exist as from January. They've offered me two options within the company. Pressing for time upon arrival, I went along, convinced myself that it is the right thing to do. Said yes to the process of re-applying for a job.
Re-think - When the dust starts to settle, you then see more clearly of what is being presented to you. It's two great positions but I'm not excited of them. Moving on to a new job, I've always been and wanted to be motivated, excited, driven, feeling new, energise, curious and know that I can make a different and impact. But this time I'm not. To be fair, after 3.5 years with the company, I'm dying for a change. I've been looking for a change for the last 6 months. I know it's important for me to have a job now especially in this current climate, but should I go into something that I will not enjoy and one that I've been trying to get out from? Should I just get something and then start looking around further? What about floristry? I do not have any huge financial commitment & no mortgages, no family to feed... so why not? Have I not been complaining about not having enough time holding a full time job and still venturing into floristry part time? I enjoy what I do for a living but isn't the client interactions and showcasing of hotels that I truely enjoy but not the business dealing side of things? Wasn't the creativity of floristry that drove me to it in the first place?
Redundancy - It is very surreal. I've never ever been in this situation before and never thought I'll be. I've decided to take the redundancy package. I've decided not to go forth with the two positions. Had a long discussion with D, explained to him the logic behind my decision and have assured him that I will not be a burden to him in many ways. In fact, he was so proud and glad that I've decided on taking this route. Regardless of whatever happens, he will always support me he said. It is a very risky step to take but I'm willing to take the plunge. Of course I will still be looking for new opportunities but until I find the right role with the right company, floristry is the word! We've all heard of great stories and successes that people have carved out for themselves after redundancy and I can only pray that it will happen to me too. I've packed my bags and ventured into Sydney on me own before! I've moved everything to London and started my career in the hotel industry 7.5 years ago and now I'm with D and have a fantastic group of friends here. Surely I can do it again! Life's too short. Live a little. Say a little prayer for me though!
Re-structuring - Actually got the news when I first arrived back in Singapore a few weeks ago. Not a piece of good news to start off a short weekend back home but I soldiered on. Basically, they've decided and have to re-structure my department because Paris Head Office have decided not to fund our operations as from 2009. And therefore my section will not exist as from January. They've offered me two options within the company. Pressing for time upon arrival, I went along, convinced myself that it is the right thing to do. Said yes to the process of re-applying for a job.
Re-think - When the dust starts to settle, you then see more clearly of what is being presented to you. It's two great positions but I'm not excited of them. Moving on to a new job, I've always been and wanted to be motivated, excited, driven, feeling new, energise, curious and know that I can make a different and impact. But this time I'm not. To be fair, after 3.5 years with the company, I'm dying for a change. I've been looking for a change for the last 6 months. I know it's important for me to have a job now especially in this current climate, but should I go into something that I will not enjoy and one that I've been trying to get out from? Should I just get something and then start looking around further? What about floristry? I do not have any huge financial commitment & no mortgages, no family to feed... so why not? Have I not been complaining about not having enough time holding a full time job and still venturing into floristry part time? I enjoy what I do for a living but isn't the client interactions and showcasing of hotels that I truely enjoy but not the business dealing side of things? Wasn't the creativity of floristry that drove me to it in the first place?
Redundancy - It is very surreal. I've never ever been in this situation before and never thought I'll be. I've decided to take the redundancy package. I've decided not to go forth with the two positions. Had a long discussion with D, explained to him the logic behind my decision and have assured him that I will not be a burden to him in many ways. In fact, he was so proud and glad that I've decided on taking this route. Regardless of whatever happens, he will always support me he said. It is a very risky step to take but I'm willing to take the plunge. Of course I will still be looking for new opportunities but until I find the right role with the right company, floristry is the word! We've all heard of great stories and successes that people have carved out for themselves after redundancy and I can only pray that it will happen to me too. I've packed my bags and ventured into Sydney on me own before! I've moved everything to London and started my career in the hotel industry 7.5 years ago and now I'm with D and have a fantastic group of friends here. Surely I can do it again! Life's too short. Live a little. Say a little prayer for me though!
Sunday 14 December 2008
Friday 12 December 2008
Friends Reunited
Definitely unplanned and totally spontaneous. Call it a blessing in disguise. Because of what happened in Bangkok, our flights were diverted to Singapore! In the end, we caught up with my families, my dear friends, great food, shopping and even sampled the ever 'interesting' bar and club scene of Singapore.
Singapore will always be part of me, even though the next time I visit I will be of different citizenship officially... Singapore will always be special to me.
Hectic but worth every single minute of it! Till next time, take care of yourselves everyone. See you all soon xxx
Fantasy Island
After a very sociable week in Sydney and Melbourne, catching up with old friends, funky bars, amazing restaurants, we've arrived onto Paradise Bay Long Island at Whitsundays in a helicopter.
A resort made up of 10 Eco huts by the beach. No TV, no phone reception, no Internet. Just hot summer weather, crystal clear sea water, reef sharks & sting rays swimming by the shore, out sailing to secluded beaches, snorkeling, beautiful breakfast, healthy packed lunches on board the catamaran, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, brilliant 3 course dinner & wine with cooling sea breeze and star lit skies as back drop. For 6 long lazy days. Bliss.
It was a great relaxing time and we both needed it. Fantastic experience and I will not change it for any other way. But 6 long days!
Sorry... I'm a city boy after all.
A resort made up of 10 Eco huts by the beach. No TV, no phone reception, no Internet. Just hot summer weather, crystal clear sea water, reef sharks & sting rays swimming by the shore, out sailing to secluded beaches, snorkeling, beautiful breakfast, healthy packed lunches on board the catamaran, pre-dinner drinks and canapes, brilliant 3 course dinner & wine with cooling sea breeze and star lit skies as back drop. For 6 long lazy days. Bliss.
It was a great relaxing time and we both needed it. Fantastic experience and I will not change it for any other way. But 6 long days!
Sorry... I'm a city boy after all.
Homecoming Queen
Sydney... A city I've spent 3 years of my Life in. The same streets, the same buildings, the same harbour, the same sea, the same views. Its all coming back to me.
When we went back to my school in Manly, the familiar setting and seeing students in the same uniform I was in 8 years ago brought back fond memories.
Walking into the pie shop I worked in got me all nostalgic too. For memory sake, D even insisted that we should have lunch in there.
Still a beautiful city. The pace of Life is definitely more gentle. Seeing the city again, nothing has actually changed... I have for sure and I'm very sure I'll be missing London by the end of this holiday.
When we went back to my school in Manly, the familiar setting and seeing students in the same uniform I was in 8 years ago brought back fond memories.
Walking into the pie shop I worked in got me all nostalgic too. For memory sake, D even insisted that we should have lunch in there.
Still a beautiful city. The pace of Life is definitely more gentle. Seeing the city again, nothing has actually changed... I have for sure and I'm very sure I'll be missing London by the end of this holiday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)