Way Maker

Before I even get to my main content for today, let me state that I just realised I had a half-written draft on my reflections for 2019 sitting in my outbox. It was dated 30 December 2019.

It's an incomplete piece of work, I have no idea why I didn't finish it, but in any case, it is not going to see the light of the day. Perhaps, I'll be more diligent and get around to writing, completing and posting a reflection piece on 2020. Maybe.

So, what brings me back here today after a long, long while? It only took a text.

My favourite uncle in the world dropped me a text to ask if I've stopped writing. So, that's why I am back.

Hm. There's a lot going on in the world today, and I have read so many opinions and comments that I am actively trying to refrain from saying anything because I feel like the world needs less comments and more introspection.

I am using this time to reflect on what is truly important to me, who really matters, and what my priorities are. I urge you to do the same.

For those of us who can afford to slow down, eat warm meals, listen to music, wake up and talk to family and friends via chats and technology, spare a moment also to remember that there are also others who don't have the same luxury.

So, let's not take anything for granted. Be grateful, and be kind.

I love this tune, and I hope it also encourages you who are reading this post today.

Way Maker - Passion 2020

Last but not least, today marks the 7th month of my (not-so-new) dating life! If you ever read this which I highly doubt, congratulations to us on making it this far, and I love you!

P/s: I am so sweet.

Only One Winner

Doesn't matter how hard you try. And what effort you make. And the things you do. Nothing counts anyway.

Ultimately, only one person emerges as the winner, and it'll never be me.

Though Tears Are Not Free

Those with more to prove, 

Always have more to lose.

Because we put in that much more heart, 

That much more effort, 

That much more care. 

And therefore, 

We are the first to bleed, 

Get hurt the worst, and cry the most. 

Just Wanted To Get It Out There

I've been saying this a lot to my peers and to those who asked if I don't ever get lonely. The truth is, of course there are times I feel like it would be nice to have someone to cuddle with, to share moments in life with. But at the same time, I don't think it necessary. 

I like being on my own, I like the fact that I can do what I want to do, when I want to do, and how I want to do. 

So yes. 

Source: Minion Quotes

Ten Feet Tall

The thing about trying to appear chirpy, sunny and positive all the time is that, when you do get tired of being cheerful, it becomes very obvious, to everyone.

Afrojack - Ten Feet Tall (Lyric Video) ft. Wrabel

Maybe I really just am. Grossly tired. That I can't even mock playing happy anymore.

People should get used to me being un-chirpy, unhappy and negative. Because I am tired of answering to "Are you okay?"

Obviously, I am not. 

Insomnia & Life Lessons

Insomnia - Wheesung

Current status: My entire body is aching because I've recently started gym-ing again. My stomach is probably still busy digesting my Korean BBQ dinner. I've been drinking truckloads of water because it's been so hot (and the BBQ), and my lips are dry. And I FREAKING can't go to sleep. T___T

Why? Is it that one coffee I had earlier today? But it can't be. I usually have more than one, and even in later hours of the day, and I still go to sleep fine at night.

Grrr. I hate not being able to sleep when it is bedtime. And for not knowing the reasons that are keeping me awake.

And if I send out work emails now, I'd look like a psycho trying to please my bosses, which is not entirely untrue. Except that I'm not a psycho - I just can't sleep.

Since I can't sleep anyway, I'm going to journal for a bit. Today, it occurred to me that there are two types of friends - A, the type who would go out of their way to do you a favor. And B, the type who'd very honestly tell you that they aren't willing to go out of their way. Not the sweetest I guess, but honest nonetheless.

I don't think B is any lesser of a friend than A. People have their reasons. And I shouldn't judge (although I have to admit, I did).

But the truth is, there is also a type C, the type who would do you that favor but very unwillingly.

This serves as a reminder to myself to be a consistent type A friend. And in tough situations to be a type B friend. But never to be a type C.

And one last thing to remember today by. A tip from living abroad (or in general when one finds oneself in a new place). There is always no harm in walking the extra few steps to the directory to get your bearings than to rely on gut and walk around aimlessly!

Just when I didn't think I'd see anything worth seeing this late at night early in the morning. I caught Obama's live speech post election, which was a really good message. Here's a summary by the Business Insider if you didn't manage to catch the speech. The final takeaway was this and I hope it sticks with me:

"I've said before: I think of this job as being a relay run," the president said. "You take the baton and you run your best race and hopefully by the time you hand it off, you're a little further ahead. You've made a little progress. And I can say we've done that."

How Great Thou Art - Home Free

What's In My Bag?

I decided to do a video! I figured it'd be fun, and it was pretty fun - except that you'll have to plug in your earphones to actually hear me because I was mostly whispering talking really softly so that my landlady won't think I've gone crazy talking to myself.

Hahaha, enjoy!

P/s: I didn't realise I was speaking with an accent until the playback. Guess that's just me trying to impress.

MY TEACHER TOLD US TO WATCH MORE DRAMAS!

I've been absent for a long while now.. Life has been full of ups and downs, chaos and moments of clarity.

For the most of it, now I am back on track (I hope), and am writing this on Notepad (which I will later just Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V into Blogger) because I am not connected to the Internet at home. This has been a running issue with wifi at home but I've managed somehow. At least it's preventing me from watching an episode of Kim Woo Bin / Shin Joon Young being an absolute idiot and wanting to shake some sense into him - definitely, he has better options than to break a girls heart that way.

Hur.

I am too full to go and shower, too full to do my #22dayspushupchallenge, so I am just gonna sit here and stare at my screen and just type what comes to mind.

I've been incredibly hungry at hourly intervals lately. Like, seriously hungry. And it's not that I've not been eating well - I eat well. But I just keep getting hungry. Yesterday I had dinner at 7pm and by the time I got home, around 10pm, I was crazy hungry and all because I conveniently have Snickers bars leftover from my 7-11 haul from Samui back in May, I ended eating a whole bar before I crashed out.

But the silver lining is, I don't seem to be putting on any more weight than normal. Metabolism in high gear? I sure hope so!

I went for a Groupon facial on my off day and the beautician said if I made it to the Olympics, I'd be on the "Who is that pretty girl?" list that people will talk about. So flattered. I'd take compliments like a lady when I am given some.

OH YAY! Dropbox is synced which means I am connected now! I'm gonna try to stream an episode of drama now while my dinner digests and then I'll do my 22 push ups and shower and study my Korean.

MY TEACHER TOLD US TO WATCH MORE DRAMAS!

P/s: Well, he also told us to do our homework.

Gah dang it, connection is so weak. I'm back here again.

Now I'm thinking if I should make myself a cup of coffee and just let that help my food digest. Maybe I should. But coffee was gonna be for after shower so that I can concentrate and get some revision done!

What I Love

I am most stressed, not when it comes to work.

I love laundry days.

My poop has been really stinky since I moved here. LOL. So much so that I everytime after I finish my business in the toilet at home, I hope no one walks past the door. And to the extent where I try to do my business outside of home. So yesterday, I bought air-freshener from NTUC.

I love doing groceries too.

I had to buy banana for my landlady yesterday and I couldn't find them. Haha, goes to show how you really wouldn't bother about things that don't interest / bother you.

I also bought a pair of orange minion bedroom slippers on discount from Watsons. But they're so squeaky with their rubber soles.

I'm hoping to pop by JB to visit the Dad over the one day Raya break. But I can be such a lazy ass sometimes.

The longer I am here, the more I realise how much I love being on my own. Just doing my own thing. By my own independent self.

BSF starts again tonight, after a month long break. Here's to hoping I stay awake and remain attentive, which was always a very hard thing to do.

Bread kaya cheese bread kaya cheese bread. That's lunch. And coffee.

I'm never gonna lose weight. I just keep telling myself, you've burn so much by walking, you can eat that icecream. You've climb 3 flights of stairs, you can have that bubble tea.

Doesn't help that I'm becoming more careless with my spending either.

Here's a beautiful picture of what took place over the recent weekend. I suppose, I guess I do like my job. Please go like SingaporeSailing's facebook page and see more photos there.

See you soon!

Laundry Days

Are happy days! :)

Easily Influenced, Easily Pleased

Today, I woke up when my alarm rang at 7am, determined to start my day on time, but didn't have the physical willpower to climb out of bed until 15 minutes later.

 Today, I had a combination of Reese's chocolate peanut butter spread with Singapore's version of Gardenia Milk Bread (supposedly enhanced with calcium) with my Moccona 3in1 Vanilla Latte mix. #decadance

Today, I first learnt how crowded the subway is during peak hours in the morning to get to work. Considering I used to live just across from my workplace up until a week ago and hadn't had the need to go into the office at 9am till today.

Today, I also learnt that the free shuttle from the Bedok MRT leaves for the office at 8.40am and not at 8.55am, as I was hopefully assuming.

Today, I re-learnt that I am most peckish when I have work to get done but not sure how to get started.

Today, I saw my own full body reflection in the sliding glass doors on my way to a meeting that I really look quite plump for my height. Either that or my skinny jeans should be thrown into the bin.

Today, I decided to take a walk around the MRT at Raffles Place, the very same one I usually just walk in and out of without much interest, to look for dinner and hopefully discover a gem or two.

Today, I walked into a Daiso-like Japanese shop that sold miscellaneous things, and I was tempted to buy some room slippers, an additional mat for my bedroom and some instant Bibimbap.

Today, I was totally enamoured by the instant Bibimbap that I ended up back at a Korean stall in the food court ordering exactly just that, after having forcibly turn myself away twice having seen the price. It was $8. I did get brown rice though.

Today, I realized if I had an interesting storybook (yeah, I know I am not a teenager anymore but who cares) to read during my commute, the distance really hardly bothers me.

Today, I realized that my Ezlink card was charged $1.95 one way. That means, to-and-fro my office, it could easily be $4 a day! So much for saving on transportation costs. Traveling cost estimation. #fail

Today, I am find myself sitting on the floor (on my carpet) because the floor is cold and I've not showered, and with the fan off, because I am cold.

I sure hope this is not a sign of me falling ill!!

Top !0

1. I used to think I wouldn't starve as long as I had a microwave. Now, I believe I'd survive as long as I have a kettle and instant mushroom soup. Man, I could drink that all day long!
2. I managed to do 7 unbroken double unders today. Some massive stroke marks on my forearms though. And a note to myself to avoid practicing on cement next time.
3. Reply 1988 ended over the weekend. A small part of me ended with Show too. That is what happens when a show has so many characters that you adore.
4. Maybe I should just keep to myself. The more I speak, the more trouble I get myself into. Just shut up already.
5. 6km's the other day! Woot woot. And then I am all sore until today. But sore is no excuse to not burn them calories. No pain no gain.
6. I should really introduce more fruits and vege into my food intake. All these instant stuff can't be doing me much good.
7. A cuppa would be perfect now. Seriously. Coffee. Please.
8. Been spending so much on taxi.. Well, at least now I know where my money has gone to.
9. 好马不吃回头草
10. Today, I got two gifts. A Laneige dual color lippy. And a colleague of mine, a funny Uncle, gave me a tube of hand lotion saying, "That day when I shook your hand, your skin was damn rough. Please use some lotion."

Weekends are no longer what it used to be, but TGIF all the same! :) 

Scent

I like the smell of fresh laundry. =)

That Eye Smile

I want a mini Kim Yeol for Christmas!

Jokes aside, where do I even start. There's so much to do, so much to tidy, things to ponder and plan, here and there..

I just wanna crawl back into bed wear a huge fluffy cuddly baby pink sweater and have a hot chocolate on a nice cushy couch with white pillows, in a nicely heated room in a cold and snowy place.

Is that too much to ask for? Lol. Maybe.

Then I just want a Kim Yeol.

It's A Pattern

When it's time to go on vacation, my body breaks down. Dive trip is due tomorrow, and I woke up with a sore throat this morning. And it doesn't seem to be getting any less sore.

I am really trying to resist eating an icecream now. Sweet tooth go away.

Today, it poured like madness. As I stared out the window and wondered if I liked rain. And then I concluded that I like it sometimes, and not so much at other times.

November - Gabrielle Aplin

I know it's not November yet, but rain makes me think of this song.

My eternal dilemma is in not knowing what I want. And when I think I know I want something, it's usually not that good for me. Like how I know I need to go pack my bags. But a big part of me wants to eat an icecream.

My throat hurts. And limbs hurt (from gym and climbing over the weekend). And my eyes are tired from staring at the computer for ridiculously long hours today.

I just really wanna whine. Which in this case, I know is not good for me.

Doggie has to go for an operation tomorrow. It seems that he has some blockage in his urinary tract. I am either heartless, or I've mastered the art of detachment so well that it is barely affecting me.

Once, a very good friend of mine, I can trust her to be honest with me (or so I like to think). She's completely blunt when it comes to serving you hard truths, she said something to me which stuck until this day - You're just tough on the exterior but inside, you're weak.

Of course, I did not enjoy hearing it. At all.

But she may just have scored a goal there.

Bye and goodnight now.

P/s: Please pray for Doggie's operation, And for my safe journey to the islands for my dives, and for Doggie and my speedy recovery. Thanks! xx

Epsilon

According to Dictionary.com,

noun
1. the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (E, ε).
2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.
3. Mathematics. an arbitrarily small quantity, used to indicate that a given quantity is small, or close to zero.

Epsilon - Kygo

1. When I start talking, I talk a lot. And when I do talk a lot, it's because I am comfortable around you. Or, in retrospect, it's also likely because I can't stand awkward silence.

Besides, what's the point if we all sit around the table and each stare at our phones. I don't get it.

2. I gave myself a scare this morning..

3. I really, really really, really want to sail some. On a fast boat. Like on the TP52. With the usual awesome crew. And plane with the hugeass kite.

4. I should attempt to get some work done. But I suspect even if I turn my work laptop on, I won't accomplish very much.

5. I like talking about myself too much, every sentence above makes reference to I.

On to serious matters, my doggie seems to be a little sick, please pray for his fast recovery!

Good night world, sweetest dreams! xx

I Kinda Need A Hero

Is it you?

I suspect it was the above cheese that made me not share this awesome song before, instead I then shared this, Rachel Platten's Fight Song, which is another current favourite.

Nightingale - Demi Lovato

But, there will always be times when you'd think to yourself, "Wouldn't it be nice if I did have a hero?"

1. Inet's a bit sucky tonight, so is my lappie.
2. I really love Mc Nuggets - and they now have new dips, limited time only!
3. I've not been working out for almost 2 weeks now..
4. My breakouts have gone from bad to worse. =(
5. The haze is making my nose itch.
6. I've not been climbing sufficient either.
7. Working holiday, working weekend then dive trip here I come!
8. Also playing on my Spotify is 周興哲 跟鋼琴說話
9. Even the most sociable person needs to go into solidarity every now and then.
10. Tummy ache.

Old Is Gold

Into the New World - Girls' Generation

1. I can usually resist carbs in the form of rice, except when it is Japanese / Korean rice.

2. I really have a really really really soft spot for sunflowers.

3. I would, on all counts, consider myself a homebody.

4. Creepy people really do creep me out.

5. I am addicted to watching the triplets on youtube!

Okaybye!

Work Out Goals

And Elite Daily being my reading entertainment tonight.

This is such a gorgeous photo; also from the Elite Daily
article I am sharing below! 

It started with this How To Finally Become One Of Those People Who Work Out In The Morning. Because I'm a lazy ass and I almost never workout if I don't have a session with my trainer / incredibly persistent and encouraging friends who make me go for my once-in-a-blue-moon crossfit sessions.

And quite frankly, not training for 3 - 4 days in a row makes going back to the gym such a pain to the body. Which is perhaps why my trainer has warned me multiple times to workout on my own when I don't have a session at the gym..

BUT THEM LAZY BONES!

So anyway, of my August rules to live by - here, I've not been particularly successful with the sleeping early clause. Which, if I had kept to more often, maybe waking up in the morning for a quick routine wouldn't be so appalling.

So. Starting next week, I'm going to aspire to sleep early (for real) and on days that I don't have a training session, I'll spend at least 30mins for a quick workout in the morning's - be it a run or skipping ropes. For reals!

I wonder if I have enough workout clothes to lasts me... Okay nevermind.

And to add on to my rules made for myself, I've also decided to go on a meat fast for the remaining days of the NECF prayer because fasting on my drama reading habit proved to be too much for me I felt it's doable and maybe it'll help with my workout goals, not so much with the lack of protein but more in the sense that I'll (try to) be (more) careful with what I eat.

And just as I was worrying if I'll still get sufficient protein to supplement my training, Elite Daily came to my rescue with 8 Meat-Free Meals To Power You Through A Day At The Office Or Gym. Haha, too much awesomes!

I now need to concoct my weekend groceries list.

And while writing this, I am having the most hilariously disturbing conversation with my lil brother with him telling me that he dreamt of me having my hand cut off while holidaying in the States with the family. And now he's trying to convince me that he'll dream of me finding a nice American guy who will take care of me in bid to convince me to go there year-end after the fact that he also tells me my hand was sewed back together and I hadn't lost any functions of my limb. T__T

I was supposed to do some writing (work related) and reading (bible study) before bed, but that's not happening no more.

Goodnight folks!

P/s: Thank you for reading my posts ever since I "picked up the pen" again!

Above Other Things

Yours truly is now an Open Water PADI certified scuba diver!

The 10 things on my mind now:

Almond milk | Exercise | Sweet potato, coffee, garlic toast |

Mom's mails | Wedding & Bridesmaid duties | BSF study notes | Household chores is a good workout | We need a new sofa set at home | Drink water | When you have a doggie who pees everywhere, and everyone at home hoards, you're in for a joy ride

I'm on leave today because we, the bridesmaid+co are tasked with the wedding prep for our dear Ivy's big day tomorrow. 

Here's to wishing you a happily ever after in advance. Love lots!