Merry Christmas To All My Dearies!

In An Ideal World...

I would have handed in my resignation letter 3 weeks ago before my holiday (I even marked it in my outlook diary). But instead, I typed the letter first thing this morning, kept the the date blank, took a deep breath and saved the document.

How bad can this get?

Holiday! Celebrate!

2 weeks of bliss & joy, pure indulgence and relaxation. No work and no people from work. Just the two of us and family & friends along the way. Get me on that plane now!

23rd Nov 2010

I've failed terribly this time.

I logged in at 7am and it was showing busy. Still the same until 1pm and by then everything was sold out. Went to the main store and all that it's left were odd pieces at big sizes.

No leopard print bow tie for Mucun, no t-shirt for my niece, no trench coat for me.

I've failed this time. Sorry :-(

Oh My God!!!

Is This It?!

Every morning walk to work. There must be more to Life than this!

Hint Hint

This was left on the table when I came back from NYC trip last weekend. 'Oh thought you might be interested to read the article.' 'Oh sure, will have a read.'

Hard to imagine and you might be surprised to hear this but I'm slowly warming up to the idea. Might be age but the thought of bringing up a kid with D does feel right, though I did say that I'm not having children out of wedlock. Hint hint ;-)

Sleeping Beauty

'Hi I'm Dr Amin and I'll be your anaesthetist today.'

'Hi.' While two other assistants were tubing me up my hand and checking my heart pressure.

'You will feel a bit sleepy first and we will be monitoring you throughout the operation.'

'Ok... thank you.' Yeah right, I'm not feeling anything yet. I might need more to hit me out.

'Now we will put this oxygen mask over you and you will feel slightly slee...'

'Zzzzzz...'

When I woke up an hour later, didn't even feel a thing. Best sleep ever! I wished I can sleep like this every night!

Excuse Me Are You A Model?

Since this Monday I was on a strict diet regime. Not by choice but because I'm under going a couple of minor surgery on Thursday (No! It's not cosmetic!). Only white fish (steamed or boiled), white bread with a bit of butter, eggs (poached or boiled), potatoes (no skin). That was it! And one day before the surgery, only liquid!

By the evening before, I was feeling so lethargic and restless. And by the morning before admission, I was feeling even more tired but my tummy was flat like I've never seen before.

If I do continue with this diet, I might be on the road to being size 0! Now I understand why so many models are into drugs... so to keep them going.

But you know what? I love my food too much. I've already craving for my Chinese takeaway on Thursday night!

Missing

To my gals,

Thinking of you... xxx

Passage To India

Water the plant... checked. Toiletries... checked. Work wear... checked. Smart casual (I hate conference attire!)... checked! Laptops... checked. Passport & Money... checked. Panadol... checked. Ibuprofen... checked, insect repellent... checked. Diarrhoea pills... big checked! I think I'm ready. God help me please! 10 days of India odyssey now begins... wish me luck!

999

30 mins before D's parents arrived for dinner, D was still in the gym, and I'm running around like crazy getting the flat and myself ready.

25 mins before their arrival I heard a loud crash of glass. OMG what now?! Went to the balcony and I can see the big vase I used to stop the balcony door from shutting (strong wind) is lying on the balcony in a thousand pieces, the sand in it scattered everywhere including our neighbour's balcony below us. Panic! Rolled up my sleeves, got the dust pan and brush, picking out the broken glass and tried not to have even more wreckage fall into neighbour's balcony.

23 mins before D's parents arrival, I heard commotions below me. A lady and two policemen were looking up, pointing to our flat 'There might be a break in!'. I quickly stood up 'I'm really sorry, it's me, it's my vase, strong wind (of course I didn't say that I was a fu*king idiot!), my bamboo plant swing the door shut, I'm really sorry...'.

24 mins before D's parent's arrival, D got back from his gym 'What's happening outside our building? There are two police cars, 5 policemen, a dog, and a couple of policemen knocking on our neighbour's flat to warn them about some break in...'. 'Oops baby, I think that might be me...'. 'Huh?'. 'Come to the balcony...'.

23 mins before D's parents arrival, a knock on the door, two policemen outside (one of them was hot!) 'Hi there, can we see your flat and the wreckage?'. 'Sure, come in! I'm really sorry...'. 'Wow, this is a really nice flat!'. 'Oh thanks! (Wink at D but evil look from D)'. They examined the balcony, took down our details so to verify that we do live in the flat. 'You have to be careful next time. The reason we were notify because there was a break in not too long ago in your building, hence the neighbours were very vigilant this time round. As they should be.'. 'That's great to hear, we will definitely do the same too!'.

18 mins before D's parents arrival 'Alright we have to go'. 'Really? (evil look from D)'. 'This flat look so different from the outside'. 'Thanks! (Another wink but this time D wasn't even looking at me) and I'm really sorry again.'.

15 mins before D's parents arrival 'Sh*t! Have to clean up the mess! Help baby!'. 'Er... you're on your own for this one.'. 'Fine!'

3 mins before D's parents arrival. The last bits of broken glass and sand cleared from the balcony and a note dropped into neighbour's flat to apologise and offered to clean the balcony up.

Door bell rang. They are here! Straightened myself up, opened the door 'Hey, how are you? How was your journey in? Come in!' Another wink at D and this time he smiled.

7th July 2010

The time has come. 7th July 2010 I've been told.

It's in my diary in red. I should be really excited but I'm finding it so hard to be.

After all these time... I should be filled with excitement and anticipation, so why the cold feet?

I tell you why...

Over 4 days, I'll be in Bangalore for our annual Taj Sales Conference. Staying in a Taj Hotel in Bangalore, in a conference room with at least 400 local sales people, representing and presenting on my region to my worldwide counterparts, 4 days of in your face 'Little India' experience. HOW TO SURVIVE??!!!

I'm hoping that I'll have time to sneak to the spa to get away from it all but I very doubt so. 4 days of Ah Neh Neh talk, KK food, Oa Pei culture, and don't forget about the smell as well.

You can laugh and you can say that I'm not politically correct, but try! Just try to be in my shoes?! Ah Cha! My head is already shaking as we speak. Ah Cha!!

Spot The Difference

You know how I'm like with Greyhound in Bangkok. If I can afford the whole shop... even the ladies wear, I will :-)

Anyway in my recent spree, did a round of shopping before our trip to Vietnam. Kind of satisfied my initial appetite. Then on our way back, I see myself in the store again. Tried on a couple of tops and trousers, and had my eyes set on this pale blue linen shirt. Just when I was paying, I saw another very similar shirt, which I thought was much cuter. Asked about it but the sales person went 'nok saze'. Well shame... wasn't meant to be. Walked away feeling a bit disappointed but at least I've got the first shirt anyway.

Went back to the hotel. Was packing for our returned flight back. Just when I was going through my shopping for this trip, I came across this...

The one on the right was bought on my returned leg. The shirt on the left was bought in the beginning of my trip and the one I prefer more, which I was told no size the second time round.

What can you learn from this? Well at least I was consistent ;-)

Sian!

What's the word for BEYOND BORED?! Sian ah!

One Night In Bangkok

I have to say, it was such a surreal experience this time in Bangkok. While walking down Silom, you will come across endless check points mandated by huge police and army forces carrying weapons and shields. Army vehicles, tanks, and bard wire were all dotted along the area.

The air was kind of tense but yet peaceful and everyone just kind of went along their daily lives. But a sense of solemn and sadness can be felt even when you're on the Sky Train.

The area that was taken over by the red shirts were just a mess and it's so sad to see a once vibrant and always busy area like Siam Square and Paragon becoming a deserted place.

One saving grace of this whole incident was the cute policemen and soldiers along Silom. Some of them were really cute and was even having some eye contact action with a couple of them while walking back to our hotel. Even the drag queens were flirting with them big time after their quiet shifts at DJ. It was so funny! And at this point, I was really missing my gals in Singapore. All the crazy nights and fun we had in Bangkok. You know who you are. Miss you gals so much!

Hopefully there won't be more blood shed and everything will be back to normal once again.

This one is for you G... xxx

Look Who's Talking

'Cough Cough... I'm not feeling well.'

'Oh dear will you be alright for our flight back to London?'

'I hope so... cough cough...'

'Let's go get some medication before we board... and drink loads of water.'

'I'm really not feeling very well... cough cough...'

'I know... you've said that.'

'I think I'm having a fever now... cough cough... hot cheeks and cold sweat.'

'Let me feel...'

'Fever right? Cough cough...'

'Baby! You're fine! No fever, just oily nose! You'll survive!'

'Cough cough... I'm really not feeling so well.'

Went into Boots at Bangkok Airport, piled on different cough medications. You name it, we bought it.

'There you go. Have them before you go to sleep, ok?'

12 hours flight back and he slept like a baby, while I was tossing and turning, and was tempted to get up and drug the baby a few rows away from us from crying throughout the first half of the flight.

Upon touching down into Heathrow. D looked so spaced out. Must be the flight pressure and plus the medication. He looked like he just came out from Fire (a dance club in London). Lol!

'I lost you when you went to collect our luggage. Where were you? Cough cough...'

'I was just here baby.'

'Why is everyone having a pint of beer in their hands? It's only 7am.'

'That's their Starbucks coffee baby! Let's get you home now!'

Red Or Yellow?

Message from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of UK

Thailand
Still current at: 23 April 2010
Updated: 23 April 2010

"This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and the Terrorism/Security and Local Travel sections (violence in Bangkok). The overall level of the advice has changed; we currently advise against all but essential travel to Bangkok; against all travel to some specific areas of Thailand and all but essential travel to other specific areas of Thailand."

"Essential travel" - I definitely well deserve a holiday and have some R&R time after the last six months of non stop work and doing up the flat.

"Against all travel to some specific areas..." - The Red shirts better be off limits to Paragon & Emporium.

Red or Yellow? So not my colours anyway!

My Little Prayer

Ash, Ash, go away,
Come again another day,
(Don't ever come back actually)
Little Kenny wants to play.
(Suppose to fly out on Friday night to meet D in Bangkok before our 10 day holiday in Vietnam)

Ash, Ash, go to Spain,
(where ever lah!)
Never show your face again!

Chow CB!! I better be on that BA flight, if not, na bey chow CB! I'll show you what real volcano is!!

Amen.

One more! Two more!

My personal trainer to be... hmm :-)

Lady Gaga Party

Attended a friend's Birthday party last Saturday. Theme - Lady Gaga. What do you think? Lol! Great party and it was such a laugh just looking at every one's creations! Now I know how it feels when girls complaint of pain from wearing heels. Poor girls.

My First Time

Call it mid life crisis (EARLY Stage I must add!), I've just joined my very first gym membership after my last one was about 20 years ago. Where we are now is not very convenient to the Bikram yoga studio and just round corner of our place is this really functional gym. It comes with all variety of classes, good gym equipment and lay out, a pool, a power zone where you can work out like in club and of course the most important jacuzzi and sauna. And some really cute young boys working out (have just checked it out this evening after work).

I know where I'll be most of the time ;-)

So wish me luck... well determination more like it! Let's see how long this will last. Even kitted myself out for gym and loving the track pants & trainers look! If all these fail, there's always nip and tuck.

Precious

This is definitely one of the most disturbing, heart wrenching & powerful movies I've ever seen... and it has been a while since I last saw one as good as this. I'm placing my bet on Monique winning an Oscar for playing the most real and evil character I've ever seen on screen. Mariah was actually really good! With no make up and even allowed her whole face to be filmed, and I supposed with only 3 scenes in total, she shouldn't really fu*k it up :-)

Go watch! It makes all our problems seem so small and insignificant. Every cloud has a silver lining and there are a lot more unfortunate people than 'we are' out there!

A Single Man

The movie was so stylish that will make you want to rush out and get a brand new wardrobe! Colin was amazing! Deserve an Oscar! Julianne was fabulous as usual... she seems to belong to that era. She was so 'Ad Fab' in her fake English accent! Who wears a white mohair jumper to school?! The whole movie was so Wong Kai Wai. So beautiful but tragic!

What's Up?!

No excuse at all for not blogging for this long! Miss me?! :-)

What have I been up to for the last 3 months? This will sound extremely boring but it was mainly work and trying to juggle the renovation of our new place at the same time.

Dealing with builders, being the bitch for any deviations from our desired design and finishing (D decided to play the good cop so someone have to play the bitch!), coping with living on site and at the same time work is still going on, work trips away and letting the builders on their own accord, it was very stressful at times (I've never swear so much... reminds me of a scene in 'Precious' when Monique was abusing Precious... poor D having to hear all my ranting).

But the end is near! Final stage now with the renovation and we can finally have the place ready hopefully in 2 weeks time (stay tune for the before and after pictures!).

So that's the exciting part. As with the boring part... work. Still don't like it! Call me racist but just can't fathom the work ethics of Indians. I'm sorry but you need a heart of stone and a brain of mud to survive. The randomness and bureaucracy is beyond any body's imaginations. A simple way of putting it... the company completely reflects the state of it's country... Huge, ignorant and chaotic!

Just a taster for now. Promise that it won't be another 3 months before my next entry. I'm still alive, thinking of you and missing you all loads always! xx