Another biggie for 2011!

Ah..and you thought 2011 has been so happening until the biggest thing comes along...

Since 11.11.11

How could one of the most important days in my life go by without at least a short blog entry?

Extremely last min.

The night before the actual day we were still busy doing up the video.

Only bought the items for gate crashing at about 11+ pm..

Packing of the room and hotel stay took another hour or so...the vow that was not yet written remained unwritten into 1am or so before I finally went to bed, exhausted

Only 3 plus hours of sleep before I woke up the next day...glad I din have dark eye circles despite the lack of sleep! Make up commenced about 515am

Sisters gathered about 6am before the guys arrived at 7am..

Pleasantly surprised at their punctuality and his 10 promises...i've never seen such pretty handwriting from him all these many many years....

Pretty awkward moments at his place..but I really like the kwa...

The meesuah eating at my place afterwards was just hilarious!

Solemnization - who would have known his vows were so sweet..

Photo taking at the airport followed by Xin Wang...which other bride eats so much on her wedding day?

Banquet was fun! Speech by him was awesome but a little embarrassing! ever since that every now and then my colleagues will ask if i'm pregnant haha

The little regret is we never did what we thought we would be doing on our wedding day...strolling down orchard road and swimming at the pool...

Next time....

Grateful of the friends and relatives who made time to attend...a little disappointed that some did not turn up, but on hindsight it was all good.

And now that November is over, 'honeymoon' is over and it's back to work! And it's tough and stressful times ahead!

Till the real honeymoon! hmmm....in May?

Blood donation

I did a good deed today - I went to donate blood.

12 years ago, I pass by this banner that says "An hour of your time can mean a lifetime to others. Give blood" on the way to school everyday. I knew I should donate, but, having haemophobia and add a general laziness to find out how to donate, I didn't action. Until the mobile bank comes to school and Jamie Reeves told us he has been a regular donor all these years here and encouraged us to do the same.

I still recall on the day of donation, I was so nervous my resting heartbeat was 130+ and I had a great pal with me who helped distract me during the blood drawing. All was painless, easy and over so soon! We were then told not to carry heavy things after the donation but I went for my weights training session after school anyway. Asked for early release but perhaps it was more to slack off since I had a valid reason. My body could take it pretty well.

I haven't donated again since, until recently another great pal told me about the appeal. A few days later, I saw Jamie Reeves on TV and noticed he's lost so much weight and aged so much. I am reminded of what he used to tell us and my guess is he's still continuing in his donation practice. So I finally went again.

A lot of people. The friend could not make it. I was tempted to leave and revisit another day until I saw this labrador retriever at the counter. My first thought was 'they allow pets here?!?', then I realized the owner is blind and the dog was a guide dog. (My first time seeing one in Sg by the way). Even the blind has come to give blood! I felt ashamed of having the thought of leaving!

And so it was done.

Even before the blood drawing is complete, I already felt faint and numbness in my hand. Signs of poor blood circulation! And they had to keep me in my tilted bed due to my low blood pressure for a long long time...Aging!!!! Even though I'm glad I did donate a good packet of very valuable O blood, I'm so upset that my body condition has deteoriated so much! zzzzzzz.......

Encourage me to do this more often? I need many signs to push me....

hmmmm......

initially wanted to go to Spain..then there's an earthquake...

also wanted to go iceland..then there's volcano eruption...

now now... i also wanted to go new york.... hmmmmm........

Blogging in Edinburgh

I'm sitting down here in the bar of the Edinburgh Caledonian Backpackers' Hostel with my extremely noisy laptop. Must be the fan...Hang in there lappie! Please don't give up on me in this foreign land! The man beside me keeps giving me the look. The noise from my lappie must be disturbing him too! OOoooppps!

This is yet another first. I've travelled alone; I've stayed in low-budget hotels but this is the first time I'm staying in a non-ensuite room. For another two nights, I'll be staying in a 8-bed female dorm with shared bathroom and toilet facilities. And I must say that the first night's experience wasn't bad at all! It's a lot like Hall 6 actually. The facilities are clean and there's even free breakfast. Excellent location and absolutely value for money.

Me being me, I didn't really talk a lot to my roommates; I merely said my 'hi's and flashed my smiles. It's lovely listening to their Italian/Spanish I can't really tell. Their language sounds so melodious to the ears and I begin to reflect on the English I speak. Not nice!

(side track: I'm so glad they started playing loud music to mask the noise from my lappie!)

Colleagues have been asking me why Edinburgh? Other than the fact that tickets to elsewhere were too expensive given the rush, I can't really explain why I wanted to be here. I don't know a lot about this place and all I had on me was 50 pounds and it would make more sense to go somewhere using Euros. Or, I could have just stayed on in the comfort of my Cork Clarion! There must be a reason why I'm here!

And I think the reason is for me to learn how to live with basics and live life. I don't really need a fancy hotel on a trip. I don't need to plan a trip to the very detail. I don't need to know what I'd be doing later. I could, if I wanted to, just sleep in. Do nothing. Enjoy the peace. I could visit a place with no prior knowledge and simply, experience it.

爱丁堡 - this place is called. Maybe I'll appreciate love in a brand new way. Perhaps it could start with loving myself more. =)

I haven't lived

Children, ye have not lived, to you it seems

Life is a lovely stalactite of dreams,

Or carnival of careless joys that leap

About your hearts like billows on the deep

In flames of amber and of amethyst.

Children, ye have not lived, ye but exist

Till some resistless hour shall rise and move

Your hearts to wake and hunger after love,

And thirst with passionate longing for the things

That burn your brows with blood-red sufferings.

Till ye have battled with great grief and fears,

And borne the conflict of dream-shattering years,

Wounded with fierce desire and worn with strife,

Children, ye have not lived: for this is life.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I want to feel the thirst for the something I'm passionate about........

Secret mission

11/12 November 2011

Note to self:
一切从简。。。

Dinner thoughts

At dinner a while ago, I had this thought.

The reason for learning Chemistry is for you to understand that there are irreversible changes. We should not do things we will regret ie we must think carefully before we do something.

The reason for learning division is for you to understand that even though 100/100 = 1, 1 x 1 = 1 as well. Many ways to come to the same result. We have to find the easiest.

The reason for learning Physics is for you to understand that F=ma. If you have a big mass u jolly well run faster ie if you are stupid u gotta work harder.

Cupertino trip 24 - 29 Jan

Just want to put it on record: I'm in US!

For work. Rushed like mad before I came, and can already foresee the massive follow-up work to be done upon returning to Singapore.

But I say it's worth it!

Plenty of firsts -

1) flew business

2) visit US

3) left-hand drive

4) on a trip with boss (for this case it was grandboss)

Learnt a lot on the trip. A lot.

2011 resolutions

Highs and Lows of 2010:

- New job that is ever-changing and staying fresh and challenging

- London/Paris trip

- Panic from the prolonged gastric pain that ended with an expensive peace of mind

- Renovation in the house (which is both a high and a low)

- New niece

- The question

A few things I want to do in 2011:
Update Mar 13, 2011

1) Complete the half marathon in May
Ok I'll start training...

2) Retake the JLPT that I'm sure I'd failed in Dec, and pass it this time
Wahahaha...I passed...so this is not necessary...

3) Take my meals regularly and keep the gastric problems away
So far so good

4) Exercise and get back into better shape
Needs a lot more discipline in this

5) Visit US, preferably for both work and leisure
For work: checked
For leisure: semi-checked

6) Do another Europe trip, hopefully Greece+Italy+Spain this time
Should be happening...the Europe...but for work..

How many of the above will I be able to achieve? We shall see.....