The Conversation with Vincent

I finally make it to the Jazz class after pon-tang-ing for 3 weeks.
Vincent is my Jazz class teacher. The conversation take place outside the studio at the sofa after the Jazz class.

Vincent: Are you dancing somewhere?
Me: (Giving the ? look, shaking my head)
Vincent: Or are you teaching kids dance?
Me: Nope.
(My o/s: So he thinks I could dance - I'm flattered. But he thinks I'm not good enough, cos only teach kids yah?)
Vincent: But you'd learn dancing before somewhere?
Me: Yah... when I was young. (Since he thinks I'm not tad good, besides, I couldn't catch the steps at class just now! better discount...) I can't really dance now... I learn when I was really young.
Vincent: Oh.... Becos I see something there... so I guess...


I really love to dance! But as age is catching up and I REALLY haven't had proper dance classes since sec 4, I'm in a rather bad shape to be frank. Should really make an effort to go Vincent's class man. I like his moves.


p/s:
Vincent: So wat's your professional? Are you a teacher?

I din know I really look like a teacher. So many had said. So I portray a 有气质 or 有爱心 image yah.... I only have 1 thing to say: Looks can be deceiving.

下一个行业

突发奇想 again......

最近有朋友,打电话给我,问我关于求职的问题。发现其实原来这不只是 fresh grad 会碰到的问题,就算是有工作经验的人也会有“我的resume, cover letter 要怎么写?”还是“我 interview 时应该怎么回答这个问题?”,甚至有人问我应该穿什么。市场上有很多101课程、seminars for dummies,网上也有很多articles 作顾问。不过,课程和网络千篇一律的 faq,其实缺少的是一个 made to measure 的 answer。

我想我应该有个一条龙服务:针对你想争取的工作,对 resumes, cover letters, interview questions和服装给你 one-to-one 的意见。How much should I charge then?

Chocolates... pls dun put me in the fridge

My fav... and my best buddy in JC. Life is a breeze with him always by my side.
I can finish almost a whole slab of chocolate in a day! As christmas is coming, I'm expecting chocolates as gifts. And many will be having vacation and the easiest gift to bring back seems to be chocolates as well.

However, easy it may seems, how to store chocolates properly is a skill need to be learned. I hope people dun just chuck the chocolates into the fridge, that destroy the taste. How many times have you come back from NTUC or vacation, and immediately those delicious chocolates go into the fridge? I seriously cannot enjoy those chocolates at all, they are hard, dry and not so tasty anymore (as compared when u do tasting before buying them). Wat a waste! Especially when you have spend a fortune bringing them back from abroad. So if we put in our hearts and some more efforts, we are able to appreciate the chocolates more.

Some tips:
1. Like I said, DUN JUST PUT CHOCOLATES IN THE FRIDGE.
We must remember not to leave the chocolates directly under sun, it's best kept in cool and dark places.

2. If we are packing chocolates in our hand luggage, it's important to leave it on tables or stool and not put it on your lap or on the floor so as not to absorb heat.

3. Remember to unpack your luggages to store your chocolates properly once you reach home! Singapore is warmer and more humid than many countries, so dun just leave your luggages lying around. Or else, you will wake up to find all your chocolates melted.

4. If we really bought too much that we might not be able to finish within a short time, and you have no choice but to store it in the fridge. Split your stock. Put the chocolates into a container before putting them into the fridge. When you want to consume them, bring the whole container out... and wait a while before consuming it. And to be careful not to let the condensation fall on the chocolates.

Wat Am I Reading >>> No Choice But Seduction

Another Malory-Anderson Series.
My 1st book was the love story of Nicholas Eden & Regina, if i din remember wrongly the book's name is Love Only Once. I think that was when I was in Sec 2. And till date, it's still my fav book in the series! Other than this, I tend to prefer those story with characters tat inherited the "gypsies" genes, eg, Derek, Jeremy, Amy. Am really thinking of re-reading all these books again. think i'd done that twice already over the last 10 yrs supporting the series.


Even when I'm abt 3/4 done with the book, I got this idea that this is an Anderson story, like previous Drew's story.... But with a twist, like Johanna Lindsey always do, and wat the Malory is capable of... it becomes a Malory story too... Not too bad. but thinks that some parts are too fast, some parts are too draggy. could have been better.

p/s: Lian, thanks for the book. I think there's even a newer book for the Malory-Anderson series... Let's see who get the hands on it 1st.

Wat Am I Reading? >>> Remember Me?

This book was left on the shelf for some time after my god-sis passed it to me...

Something new fr Sophie Kinsella, no more shopping... but still hilarious.
Old tricks like amnesia? Many times we want to forget the bad times. How many times have you hear people say, 如果我可以再來一次? people dun get a chance to live it again. Anyway, it's a light-hearted book just for leisure.



Disastrous Ride to SMU

Scenario: very crowded bus. I'm seated at the back and surrounded by passengers. Suddenly, someone right behind me called out loudly in Hokkien, sending me a jump.

Auntie 1: ji dao wu we, lai lai cey, wa lang ai cey zin hern, dia tio ai cey
(这里有位,来来坐,我们要坐很远,一定要坐。)

This Auntie... so many people standing around, then she put her hand on the empty seat beside me, CHOPPING the seat for her friend standing quite in front.
Finally, both were seated, but that was not all.

Auntie 2: 7点和9点的戏要完了。这两出戏真好看。

The next 10 mins was about Taiwan shows, singapore shows... and mind you, she was practically shouting in my ears. they are seated so close and they have to speak so loudly. frankly, i not very interested in their SHARING.

And then, the bus did a sudden brake because there was someone doing jay-walking. that spark another topic...

Auntie 1: 我跟谁谁讲不可以乱过马路。
Auntie 2: 对loh,过红绿灯mah.
Auntie 1: 过白线啦,车会停的mah.
Auntie 2: In-do-ne-sia lu geng si (Indonesia is worse)
Then they went on to talk about other countries' traffic....
Auntie 1: ya loh ya loh...
Auntie 2: 马坡淹水,真可怜。
(how they link traffic to 淹水?)

(...)

P/s: Not only Ah-tiong speaks loudly, singaporean can be quite inconsiderate as well.

我们的太始祖 -- 比干

原来,我们与很多文明一样,开始时是没有姓氏的。那么“林”氏是怎么来的呢?Who is our great great great.... father?

最近看电视才知道我们“林”氏的太始祖是比干。比干这个人名有没有 ring a bell? 因为几年前香港 TVB 砸金拍了一部《封神榜》,红极一时,捧红了很多演员,所以我才会对比干这号人物有所了解。虽然戏中已将比干神化,不过据记载,他是一个被妲己(奸妃)害死的忠臣。比干的夫人怀了他的骨肉,逃离了朝歌。周武王消灭了纣王后,赐了“林”姓给比干之子。

so “亘古第一忠臣”便成了我们林家的太始祖了!好厉害哦!

Love Story

Such a romantic song! Read the lyrics...



Songwriters: Swift, Taylor Alison

We were both young, when I first saw you.
I close my eyes and the flashback starts-
I'm standing there, on a balcony in summer air.

I see the lights; see the party, the ball gowns.
I see you make your way through the crowd-
You say hello, little did I know...

That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles-
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet"-
And I was crying on the staircase-
begging you, "Please don't go..."
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess,
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.

So I sneak out to the garden to see you.
We keep quiet, because we're dead if they knew-
So close your eyes... escape this town for a little while.
Oh, Oh.

Cause you were Romeo - I was a scarlet letter,
And my daddy said "stay away from Juliet" -
but you were everything to me-
I was begging you, "Please don't go"
And I said...

Romeo take me somewhere, we can be alone.
I'll be waiting; all there's left to do is run.
You'll be the prince and I'll be the princess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes-

Romeo save me, they're trying to tell me how to feel.
This love is difficult, but it's real.
Don't be afraid, we'll make it out of this mess.
It's a love story, baby, just say yes.
Oh, Oh.

I got tired of waiting.
Wondering if you were ever coming around.
My faith in you was fading-
When I met you on the outskirts of town.
And I said...

Romeo save me, I've been feeling so alone.
I keep waiting, for you but you never come.
Is this in my head, I don't know what to think-
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring and said...

Marry me Juliet, you'll never have to be alone.
I love you, and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad -- go pick out a white dress
It's a love story, baby just say... yes.
Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh.

'cause we were both young when I first saw you

脚痒?

怎么搞的,真是的。才夸自己几天,购物瘾又犯了!
不是手痒?是脚痒!

如果在 Pazzion 还是 Charles & Keith 之类的店买这种款式的凉鞋,起码要 $35 以上。
在 Bugis Street,只需 $15。你怎么能不心软?

快乐星期五

星期五的记忆:歌手们的好声音、韦丰的冰咖啡、立章的冷笑话,还有收也收不完、洗都洗不完的杯子!

记得还在念书时,我有好一段日子是在木船打工。星期五是最忙的一晚,光是收杯子、洗杯子,就有够累了。不过,也是我最喜欢工作的一晚。因为星期五是韦丰、立章、丽芬、婉燕的档,之后又换成了韦丰、立章、淳佳和康阳的档。超 enjoy!

所以从淳佳的第一张专辑,就一直支持到现在。昨天看了淳佳的网上采访,那些星期五的记忆又一点一点的浮现在脑海里。记得淳佳出了第一张专辑后,还有回来木船唱歌。曾问她有没有碰到很疯狂的粉丝时,她说其实没有,她的粉丝都很斯文。当时,我们有开玩笑说,艺人有气质,支持的粉丝也有气质,他们会比较含蓄。哈哈哈……很高兴阿佳能有这么好的成绩,才能够一直听到她的好声音。尤其喜欢淳佳的转音,音色超美。很希望她能有一些近距离的迷你演唱会,因为那就是她的专长阿!

除了淳佳,也想念立章的好歌声。他们的声音有个共同点——唱得很轻松,可以很舒服的享受他们的歌。他们的歌声怎么可以那么悦耳,那么自然?每次当我听立章的歌听得如痴如醉时,可恶的韦丰老是取笑我,说我暗恋立章。其实,应该说我暗恋他的声音才对。不过,现在要听到立章的声音,真是很困难了。如果淳佳和立章能再同台演出,就更好了。我一定第一时间买票支持!

钱不够用

到了我这个年龄,红炸弹收到手软。买楼、结婚、生子似乎才是人生三件大事。

不过,这三件事都跟钱离不开关系。普遍的情况是:年轻人没有积蓄,这三件事的费用都是老爸老妈包办。令人惊讶的是,我这些好友都不是富裕人家,爸妈都是打工阶级。他们多数有 2-3 孩子,供孩子们读完大学,竟然还能腾出$50k-$100K,给孩子买房子,办婚事!这不仅让我想到,如果到了他们这个年纪,我也能够有留那么多钱给我的宝贝孩子们吗?

仔细想想:我爸那个年代,省吃俭用,为的就是把最好的留给孩子。如今,我们这个年代,负债累累,散金如粪土。现在贷款很简单,三两天就有“支票”(balance transfer) 送上门。我觉得我们时时刻刻要提醒自己,小心不要步美国的后尘,个个都透支过日子。

王妃

果然,佛要金装,人要衣装。星光大道时期,我不喜欢萧敬腾,现在看他顺眼多了。特别喜欢这首歌《王妃》。觉得还蛮配合我 blog 的名字。



王妃
作曲:李偲菘 作词:陈耀川

摇晃的红酒杯 嘴唇像染着鲜血
那不寻常的美 难赦免的罪
谁忠心的跟随 充其量当个侍卫
脚下踩着玫瑰 回敬一个吻当安慰 可怜
像蠢动的音乐 教人们怎么成眠
不知名的香水 窒息的鬼魅
锋利的高跟鞋 让多少心肠破碎
弯刀一般的眉 捍卫你的秘密花园

夜太美 尽管再危险
总有人黑着眼眶熬着夜
爱太美 尽管再危险
愿赔上了一切超支千年的泪
痛太美 尽管再卑微
也想尝粉身碎骨的滋味
你太美 尽管再无言
我都想用石堆隔绝世界
我的王妃 我要霸占你的美

那催情的音乐 听起来多么愚昧
你武装的防备 伤你的是谁
靠近我一点点 是不一样的世界
安睡在我的肩 我用生命为你加冕

夜太美 尽管再危险
总有人黑着眼眶熬着夜
爱太美 尽管再危险
愿赔上了一切超支千年的泪
痛太美 尽管再卑微
也想尝粉身碎骨的滋味
你太美 尽管再无言
我都想用石堆隔绝世界
我的王妃 我要霸占你的美

Caught

Spotted.
R throwing cigarette butt on the floor and got FINE because of that. 1stly, I dun like R to smoke. 2ndly, I'm fairly disgusted with ppl that litter.

I seriously dun understand wat's wrong with R? After leaving the BANK, he ridiculously tried to avoid gng to the BANK. Honestly, we are no super stars, so no one is bothered by our presence in the BANK. Well, if by age 40, he has job-hopped around 5 banks, is he gng to avoid gng to those banks as well?

Becos' R refused to step into the BANK and so smoked to wait for me. Coincidently, there was no rubbish bin ard and... tat's it.


p/s: I was picking up a take one on a monthly saving program which earns a higher interest, I think the interest is not high enough to pay for the FINE.

Ang Bao Box


第 N 个红包箱(Ang Bao Box)。
妹妹问我为什么都不拍照,觉得我应该 take some pics for future reference.

问新人要什么颜色?是什么 theme? 新郎的回答是 anything. 通常我会配合 wedding theme, 让箱子也可以是一种摆设品。最怕就是两种人:1,要求多多的人,一大堆ideas, 不过都不切实际;2,问他什么他都说随便,成品他却不喜欢。你一定有碰过要打包,问那人要吃什么,他的回答是随便。结果你说鸡饭,他说不要,你说虾面,他说不要,你问他到底要吃什么,他还是说随便。很担心因为这次就是碰到这种人。完全不知道该如何下手,非常担心会花了很多心思和时间,结果他们不喜欢。

新人是摩登夫妻,我猜他们不喜欢太 childish,太 ang kong kong (红),或是太 kim dang dang (金)的 design. 最后不管三七二十一决定用自己喜欢的紫色, create 一个比较 classy 的 look。 不知道新人喜不喜欢,自己却非常满意。




Only $41!

The road to adulthood is tough.
I'm under lots of pressure - with the money needed for our new home and wedding preparation + I'm still in experimenting stage of my career. I even suggested to Royston that maybe we shouldn't go honeymoon, we could go when we are more comfortable with our pockets.

Things that I'd done to cut down on spending:
1. Cut down on shopping
My credit card says $41 only! yeah! so proud of myself.

2. Cut down on restaurant
No more extravagant living. I never like the food at foodcourts but I dun mind eating at hawker centres. Have been eating more meals at hawker nowadays.

3. No more taxi
I'm known as taxi uncle's best friend, I'm used to taking it almost everyday. But now I hardly take any cab anymore. So far, i've only taken 2 times for this month. I deserve a clap?

I need to brainstorm what else can I cut down on.

I step on a gum AGAIN

No wonder the Government ban the gum. Even when it's banned, I could step on a gum 2 times in this month.

Gum is one of my childhood memories, and I was quite angry when Government put a stop on it. But sometimes I couldn't help to think that we deserve to be treated this way.

R.S.V.P.

R.S.V.P is so widely used but how many know the meaning of this abbreviation?

任贤齐 just release his new album R.S.V.P, he says it means Reserve Shall Verify Presence(?) His Engrish din make much sense...

妹妹 out of curiosity had searched online before and says it's Respond Sender Via Phone. This could be right for party terms.

It's actually a French phrase, répondez, s'il vous plaît, meaning Respond Please. 任贤齐, this phrase is on ur cd cover. tsk tsk.

In olden days, written invitations require written respond from guests. Now, we often see this abbreviation on wedding or party invitations. The person inviting you would like you to respond if you will accept or decline the invitations. This is basic courtesy. But I realised the locals dun have this habit of RSVP. Often, guests wait for the hosts to call them for confirmation. Some din want to attend but just ignore the invitations totally.

Maybe we should seriously do some self-reflection, observe good ettique, and respect each other. Even when someone talks to you, it's only right to respond, let alone when someone extends their invitation to you, we shouldn't be so rude to ignore it.

Will you marry me?

20.10.2010

Nice date?
Many would think the same as me. So it would definitely be difficult to book a date at the registry office. Haven't thot of where to do it yet. Not gng to exaggerate the whole issue. Just a small place, with our love ones.

A place I call HOME

We finally got our own nest @ Bedok Reservoir View. Can you believe it? We din buy a condo (no $) but our living room & master bedroom has unblock reservoir view! We bought it on a 农历八月十五中秋节, it's really 良辰吉日.

It's really not so easy to have a place of your own in Singapore. There's so many things to look out for and a lot of admin costs. Haiz... How can public housing in Singapore be so expensive? I have look into my finances and how we could fund our lovely nest.

Forget or Not enough efforts

My mum is a genius. She has this very bad habit - she doesn't watch the over the stove while cooking. Things get burned easily when u dun pay attention to them. Everytime when it gets burned, we get the blame. It's almost ridiculous that she flared up and scolded the whole family for NOT paying attention to the stove. Unluckily, I was the 1 that discover the burned most of the times. Seriously can someone enlighten me how help my mum, so that things dun get burned?