I hate falling sick. Maybe it’s because I stopped eating the Krill Oil capsules. Hmm, I should re-start eating it! Apparently, it helps to build healthy bodies and strong immunity, lol! It’s a little like Fish Liver Oil but it contains lesser Omega-3 fatty acids and it doesn’t stink that much. When Mummy first bought it for me, I laughed, saying that I’ll turn pink after eating it (think: flamingo). But I’m still as brown/black as I have always been:(

I used to eat it diligently while I was in JC but it is no longer part of my daily routine. My brother finished his bottle of Krill Oil capsules about 2 weeks ago while I’m only 2/3 through mine:/

Bleahs. I’ve been sleeping too much these few days. 11PM to 11AM! And I wake up with a headache :S What happened to my body clock that used to wake me up at 9AM? Come back, you!

Rewind to a few days back.. 25th’s Christmas Party at LF’s house!

It was my first time going to LF’s house. Met up with MS before heading there (I have a tendency for getting lost in private estates). AD and I decided to ditch our Jazz/Blues theme and came in jeans! Jazz/Blues is just too formal. Turned out that XY was my Secret Santa. Thanks for the diary!! Was feeling quite bleahs and zombie-fied ’cause I didn’t feel well I was a little glad when Abah came to fetch me because I was already feeling very sick. But I don’t regret forcing myself to eat Panadol (in a desperate attempt to get well before the party). Nor I do regret dragging myself out of bed to go for the party. Sometimes you just have to force yourself, yeah.

I want to go down to Cedar!! NOW!!!

I wonder how going back will feel like. Will it feel like going back home?

I’m sorry we couldn’t celebrate your birthday with you today but at least you had Has. We’ll do it soon when we can find another common date!!

I LOVE MY BROTHER! (Although I’ll never say this to him in person. Just that I suppose he doesn’t read my blog.)

To me, he’s everything an elder brother should be Aiya, the previous sentence sounds grammatically incorrect but I don’t know how to put it into words. He’s just MY elder brother

I don’t quite share my troubles and pour out my secrets to him. But I am sure if I am ever going to do that, he’ll be there for me.

He’s the one I go to when I am bored of studying (Ahh, countless). He’ll then start strumming his guitar while I sing along. I don’t quite listen to music so the range of songs that I can sing to are limited. So we’ll end up singing the same old songs every time. Those were his daily practice session during my CTs, Prelims and A’Levels period. Haha I’m laughing to myself thinking of those stupid moments. But yeah, he made my studying sessions at home a lot more survive-able.

He’s the one I go to (or rather, his room) when my dear sister kicks me out of our shared room or when my dear sister and I start our daily squabble. Then I’ll start complaining to him and he’ll entertain my complains. And mind you, once I start, I can’t stop. Haha poor him has to put up with all my complains. Tsk.

He’s the one who will always answer my questions when we’re watching the television (especially sci-fiction or action movies which I can’t understand) while the rest will go “Can you shut up?!”, “Noisy lah you!” or “Just watch lah!” But sometimes he does ask me to shut up. Haha once in a while.

He’s the one who will always SMS me after I quarrel with my dad. Because our problems are pretty much similar; we have our own interests but always being restricted by our dad and always having to conform to his ways. I will never forget the day I had a huge fight with him before leaving the house for 2Star kayaking course. While I was waiting for my bus, all red-eyed and teary, I got an SMS from Balong. And that was when I realised that I wasn’t the only one and I wasn’t alone. And that was also when I decided that I should be more tolerant of my dad and his ways. Thank you bro!

Ah, and now when I say that the list goes on, it really does go on.

Just want to say that you’ve been an awesome brother and I couldn’t have asked for a better one. Why would I when I already have one like you?

LOVE YOU BROOOOOOOOOOO

And urgh, I’m dreading the moment he’ll return.

Since we’re just 2 weeks shy of the New Year (according to the more commonly adapted Gregorian calendar), I shall make this a combined end-of-the-year post.

This year had been an exhausting one for me. Not so physically, but more of mentally and emotionally. I’ve got to say that this has got to be the most stressful year I’ve ever had. It had truly tested my strength and faith. Sometimes I triumphed but many a time, I succumbed.

It had watched me lose faith and believe in something I hold really close to my heart. It had watched me given up hope in striving and waiting for that one miracle. It had watched me retreated to my closet as I run away from the very same thing that used to keep me going on.

I think I have changed. For better or for worse, I don’t know.

What the new year has in store for me, I don’t know either.

“Forever was such a long time. But, Maeve thought, holding Clara’s hand as they walked into the kitchen to delve into the picnic basket, it went by just a little easier when you had a best friend by your side.” -Summer’s Child

Nenek’s condition is worsening. It seems like she’s slowly losing bits and pieces of her memory as the days pass and I really wonder if it’ll come to a point when she’ll forget who we are and even worse, forget who she is. I guess that’s just part of aging but sigh, it’s really sad to watch her as her memory degrades.

I don’t know what to do!

I can’t live with another regret. I know I can’t.

A few days ago, as I was entering my parents’ room to watch the 9PM Ch8 show (Abah was watching his Malay show in the living room), I saw something orange-y and furry under the television set.

As I walked towards the television, I realised that THAT thing was my CAT!!

Apparently, Dad caught him sleeping on his bed. As expected, he got a scolding from Dad! Handsome (My cat’s name, not my dad’s. Long story on why he is called ‘Handsome’.) then retreated to the corner of the room under the television set. So sad! (Actually, I find it funny!)

My camera’s flash woke him up. And here he is, stretching while making his way out of the cozy corner.

Lazy cat! The only things he do are to eat and sleep. Seriously. And while I am typing this, he’s just behind me, sleeping on my bed. He has been there since BEFORE I woke up! Tsktsk. Although I find him annoying and irritating at times, I’ve got to admit that the house will be much much much quieter without him

MEOW!

Speaking of my parents’ room, here’s a nice picture I took about a week ago. It was the shadow of the window grilles on the wall at about sunset.

Balong then got me to take a picture of him. Balong the Thinking Man! The curtains kind of spoiled the photo (I had Balong to hold up the curtain while I took the photo above).

And that’s me, pointing to the sunset!

Love sunsets

Met up with Azizah, Germaine and KeHui today:) We went to Marina Barrage to have a picnic and fly kite! Yay. Today was my first time trying to fly a kite. I was quite a failure at it but I had fun!!

We “toured” the water gallery (?) which was packed with pre-schoolers and army guys. Was wondering what the army guys were doing there. A little weird. Tried to camwhore inside but my oldie camera couldn’t capture nice photos because of the lighting. We then went to the Green Roof and managed to secure a shady spot to lay our picnic mat; thank God for that because it got sooooo hot and bright not longer after. Took more pictures, had some food and off we went (in an attempt) to fly kites. One of the kites couldn’t really fly well. Must be some problem with the structure of the kite. Went around snapping random photos because I couldn’t really see the screen of my camera against the brightness of the sun. But most of the photos turned out alright!

Got sticky, wet and tired so we took a break then resumed our kite-flying attempts!

Both Azizah and Germaine broke their slippers today!! So unlucky. First, it was Germaine. Lucky thing KeHui brought scotch tape (in case her plastic kite tear) so we tried taping the strap back to the base but failed. Resorted to rubber bands. Then while running around with the kite, Azizah’s slipper broke. So we stopped to mend her shoes using more rubber bands. I was secretly hoping my slippers won’t break ’cause they’re kind of old.

I like the wind. But I hate the heat :/

On our way out, we stopped by the souvenir store (while KeHui was away talking to her friend) and bought KeHui a (somewhat) cloth kite as an early birthday gift! Hope she liked it:D It was quite cute – moon&sun! Now she can go proper kite-flying:)

Stopped by City Hall to satisfy our cravings for nice, cool ice-cream! Had my dinner there ’cause I anticipated that I wouldn’t have any at home since mummy was out. Met Gabriel Chee. Spent some time trying to wave to him but he didn’t see me until I called out his name, tsk.

I’m not going to start working on Monday (as I was supposed to) due to some delay. So I’ll have a little more time:D But I shall devote that time to my family:)

Risky move?

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

You’ll come back
When they call you
No need to say goodbye

Sigh. I was supposed to go for a jog this morning (Saturday) after Subuh prayers but my feet dragged me back into the comfort of my bed, only to find myself waking up at 11AM with a throbbing headache from excessive sleep.

By the time I had my shower, breakfast/lunch and read the newspaper, my parents were back from the market. For the first time in months (probably since CT1s), mummy forced me into the kitchen to help her out. Sigh, no more privilege of escaping housework using A’levels as an excuse. So there I was, peeling and cleaning the prawns. I was so bored of doing the repetitive task, I started counting the prawns. 119 prawns in total! God knows why my mum bought soooo many prawns! High in cholestrol, you know!

My attempts to get rid of the prawn-y smell from my delicate hands failed. Speaking of hands, Vish commented on how wrinkled and un-feminine my palms are. Sad:( Need to start pampering my hands.

Bathed AGAIN to remove all traces of prawn stink then went down with sis to get a passport-sized photo of myself taken. Then we met mummy and went shopping for ESSENTIALS. Oh man, if spending $3.60 on transport alone (refer to Friday’s post) gave me a heartache, today my heart not only ached, it felt like someone was stabbing my heart.

I spent $130 + $58 + $ 46 = $234

OUCH.

It may not seem a lot for some people out there but I don’t usually spend THAT much in a single trip for MYSELF. Man, I need to get a job A.S.A.P.

Sidetrack a little. Singapore’s service standard is improving! Good job!

Anecdote #1: I recently stopped by MacDonalds to get mummy a burger (another of her cravings) and was pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a cheerful, friendly and approachable staff at the counter. Although it was during the peak hour, she served me patiently and in a way I never thought I would ever be (by MacDonalds staffs). Thumbs up!

Anecdote #2: I was waiting for the N-S line train (which I rarely travel by) yesterday and noticed that there were staff members standing around the waiting area. At first I thought that it was a waste of resources to station them there as I don’t see them doing much work. Then when an old lady alighted from the train, looking rather lost, a lady staff approached her. She not only directed the lady to her destination, she even walked the lady up the escalator and explained to her how to walk to a particular block she was looking for.

Anecdote #3: I was waiting for Dhivyaa at Braddell MRT control station when I saw a blind man tapping out. One of the staff member in the control station immediately informed his colleague who went out to help the man who was using the elevated flooring to guide him out of the station. The staff member walked the blind man all the way out of the station. It suddenly occured to me that since I saw the blind man tapping out alone, does that mean that no one helped him from the moment he alighted from the train, up the escalator (or elevator) and to the tapping station? Or maybe he refused their help.

Anecdote #4: I was looking for a lucky draw box in Metro, which according to the cashier was “a big red box near the entrance”. But the ‘big red box’ was nowhere to be seen. A lady staff member stationed near the entrance approached me, asking if I could use some help. She did not point out the box’s location to me, she walked me all the way into the store, past the peak hour crowd and gave me instructions on how to fill up the form. As I was walking out of the store, she (who was back at the entrance) smiled and said “thank you and see you again”. I know many stores/shops have staffs stationed at the entrance to say “hi, welcome to _____” and “thank you, see you again” but often, these staff are mere annoyance to customers who just wish that they would shut up and stop repeating like a broken record. But the lady at Metro said it in an honest and sincere way, I just had to turn and smiled back at her.

Good job, Singapore!

Oh man, it’s already 12:26AM! I don’t think I can/should run in the morning later. AHH! Another failed attempt. Maybe in the afternoon?:)