Bye Bye 2008

Year 2008 was a challenging (positive way of describing it) / difficult (negative way…) year for me. I must admit that the mighty me broke down a few times… As usual I dun wanna talk much about the hardship as I dun believe in dwelling on the unhappiness…

A review of my 2008:

=) 14FEB08 - last day of my contract with SP (my last contract job for e past few years)

=) 15-22FEB08 - my 2nd solo leisure trip (1st was to India during 04JAN-09FEB07, attended Yoga Teacher Training Course), this round to Chiang Mai, attended a short Thai Massage Course

=) 28FEB-10MAR08 – my 3rd solo leisure trip to Rishikesh, attended Yoga Festival (01-07MAR08), on 05MAR08 joined the Yoga Aid Challenges 2008, completed 108 Sun Salutations by the river Ganga, raised USD709 via http://www.everydayhero.com.au/CathyHow for children in need, in which I was the top ten fundraisers.

=) 10MAR-14APR08 – traveled from Rishikesh to Nasik (1 day traveling via train, slept in train station,…), attended Yoga Therapy Course (my first Master Cleansing on 27MAR08, it’s amazing to see my stool in clear water form!), 3 days attachment in Yoga Therapy Center (supposed to be a 10-day attachment but mama had a stroke attack…)

=( 16APR-12MAY08 ‘camped’ at NUH

=) 13MAY08 – mama discharged to nursing home… will let her stay there for a year to try e TCM treatment…

=) 04AUG08 – my 1st day @DOF

=) 16-30AUG08 – traveled to Norway for system training…

=( 01SEP08 – papa admitted to A&E, operation done on head to remove blood-clot, his health badly affected…

I am hoping for a smooth 2009…
Bold Cathy Bold… Go Cathy Go…

27 DEC 2008 SAT

went for hair rebonding this afternoon, see how fast my hair grows... last rebonding done on 19JUL08, just 5 months +, my q-mor so unmanageable lei:

Dinner at Causeway Point 'Dian Xiao Er' with Evelyn & Peggy, my first time eating there, yum yum......
clockwise from bottom: my crocodile herbal soup, Evelyn's black chicken herbal soup and Peggy's carrot pork ribs soup:

Signature Dish - Roasted Duck and the Mongolian Pork Ribs:

Vege:

Belated x'mas gifts from them, so paisay... i din prepare anythings for them... THANKS pals!

Peggy also gave me these CDs, so sweet of her, I'm listening to the blue one now (Yatra-Music for travel). Curiosity drew me to pick this CD first:

[From his birth till his death a human being travels through life by himself. And in this life he has to travel somewhere or the other everyday. Traveling from one place to another is what we call 'Yatra'. This Yatra can be at times for a few hours, few minutes or for few days. For this 'Yatra' a person chooses a mode of transport, which takes him from one place to another. No matter what the choice of transport, if the journey is filled with soothing music; the entire time spent traveling becomes pleasurable and enjoyable.]

very soothing indeed... thanks Peggy... gonna stop here & enjoy the beautiful music......

THIS X'MAS

Last week - sore throat, kept drinking herbal tea, throat soothed but started coughing......
This week - MC on Monday & Tuesday (Dr Lee advised dun talk too much, your throat is RED!), Wednesday went back office for half day (x'mas party from 10am to 12pm) [gotta give my throat a break & miss e countdown gathering @ktv], Thursday X'mas Day, Friday office-granted day off. So good hor, it's like one whole week off... 'siao liao' lor, gotta slog next week... what a lousy kick-off for 2009 =(

Simple X'mas Party @ Office:









Last year I prepared Sweetie Bouquet of Lollipops for my friends & colleagues:
This year......

'Berry' X'mas Gift (CF & I shared) [um... got a box of strawberry polky and a piece of strawberry marshmallow, haha already in my stomach when this pic was taken]:

Blessed with X'mas gifts:

Half day off after e party @office, asked YiFan n YiHui to meet me at JE, brought them to IMM for lunch at Ajisen Ramen since they wanna eat mee, the seafood ramen set:

my miso butter ramen:

YiFan & YiHui each finished a big bowl of Seafood Ramen &...

we shared this dessert set, the 5 white balls in dark sauce tasted funny, (YiFan said disgusting), e dark sauce is salty lor...

19 DEC 08 FRI - GEOSEA Tour

Geosea at ST Marine in Tuas:
that's Geosea, double-banking ; CF signing in

We arrived at the highest deck, the 2nd chief brought us down (we followed him turned round n round, can't remember how many level down) to the canteen for Lunch:

After lunch, we went up to the cockpit at the highest deck to meet the captain for the tour:

Control room of the Diving function ; Divers' Cabin:

The divers breath in helium not oxygen, stay in the divers' cabin for a month,... I commented tough job, Captain Stuart said 'ya but good money'...
Meals send through this vacuum controlled door:

ROV:

2 of the entertainment rooms... with Play Station:

Gym:

Suana & Laundry area:

4-bedded cabin, with attached bathroom:

View from Cockpit

The helicopter deck & crane:

The steep stairs inside and the connecting one between vessels:

This is the view from DnB Bank, on the 48th floor of Temasek Tower:

MAKANsss...

Fruit Cake from York Hotel, yummy without the SWEET white coating.
Yummy 'hong zao mian xian' (chinese red wine vermicelli) from Ten-Miles' food court

Cafe Cartel's

Kopitiam's dessert

Xiang wei's ma ti su (chestnut biscuit?), yum yum:

my favourite lor kuay tiao & rojak

this not makan la, on our way home from TPY, asked my niece to sit on step if cannot tahan, haha she as bold as me lei, sat down n sms me [Very comfortable! :)]

A Very Meaningful Hokkien Song...家後

My nieces and nephews are learning this Hokkien song for mama......
:) hope mama will soon be able to talk... and comment on their hokkien heehee......

A very meaningful song:
有一日咱若老　找無人甲咱友孝　我會陪你
坐惦椅寮　聽你講少年的時陣　你有外摮
吃好吃醜無計較　怨天怨地嘛袂曉　你的手
我會甲你牽條條　因為我是你的家後

阮將青春嫁置恁兜　阮對少年跟你跟甲老
人情世事已經看透透　有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生獻乎恁兜　才知幸福是吵吵鬧鬧
等待返去的時陣若到　我會讓你先走
因為我會嘸甘　放你為我目屎流

有一日咱若老　有媳婦子兒友孝　你若無聊
拿咱的相片　看卡早結婚的時陣　你外緣投
穿好穿醜無計較　怪東怪西嘛袂曉
你的心我會永遠記條條　因為我是你的家後

阮將青春嫁置恁兜　阮對少年就跟你跟甲老
人情世事嘛已經看透透　有啥人比你卡重要
阮的一生獻乎恁兜　才知幸福是吵吵鬧鬧
等待返去的時陣若到　你著讓我先走
因為我會嘸甘　看你為我目屎流

06 DEC 08 SAT - 我和自己的約會

I din go Company X'mas Party today as I would definitely enjoy 'self-dating' than dancing n drinking...
我有好久好久没和自己约会... 这一次我要 好好跟自己约会...

This song best depicts me for now:
梁静茹 - 我和自己的约会
屋顶黑猫 打起哈欠 弓着背
微微风吹 整个城市 在午睡
让时间 都脱轨
放感觉散步 让思绪 都随意飞

忘了充电 手机只好继续睡
找不到谁 好像真的无所谓
我突然 才发现
我有好久好久 没和自己约会

对自己好些 存点时间
习惯以为空白是浪费 赶了又追
对自己好些 松开那疲惫
总是有太多的以为
规范定位 却没体会

咖啡泡沫 白色云朵的滋味
窝着棉被 紧紧把自己包围
不是谁 不想谁
这一次我要 好好和自己约会

绿茶一杯 缓缓晕开了味蕾
闭上眼睛 阳光轻吻我手背
不是谁 不想谁
我有好久好久 没和自己约会

对自己好些 存点时间
习惯以为空白是浪费 赶了又追
对自己好些 松开那疲惫
总是有太多的以为
规范定位 却没体会

平凡的美 心情透明的滋味
此刻感觉 就像清澈的湖水
不是谁 不想谁
这一次我要 好好跟自己约会