One of my birthday wishes...

A restaurant which has good food and good service that is not intruding. A very comfortable environment whether the look be exotic, homely, modern etc, most important is that it makes the eating experience relaxed. A restaurant that doesn't have to be too atas such that more stress comes from ensuring you watch your actions so closely, do the right things at the right time and eat the right way (spoon out for soup, drink from the side of ur mouth etc.). A non threatening experience in which you're at total ease, just chatting while the background music just builds a romantic environment. A lovely dinner with a wonderful companion and an interesting and stimulating conversation. Follow this by a stroll by the beach/river/park or even a scenic drive before settling down at a chill out bar complete with a live band and a bottle of good, well aged wine put together with a cheese platter. Ahhh... Or even without the live band, just winding down on a comfy sofa/sun bed with soft easy listening/soothing/jazz/lounge music will do too. And as the night winds down to just enjoy the simple pleasures of great company, and good wine and cheese and let things steam up on their own cos while the night is winding down, the romance is heating up.

Mr Singapore Universe

We trooped down to St. James to see the top 10 of Mr Singapore Universe today. All I can say is that I was disappointed at the standard. Only Mr Woodlands was good looking. But, some had very impressive credentials. What with 5 semesters on Dean's List (!!!) and one other guy who did Chinese translation for the MPs. Still, I wasn't impressed and we left promptly after the swimsuit show. Almost everyone's body was somewhere there. A few without the 6 pecs but majority just toned. To me the most amusing was the sacarstic remarks that we formed during the event and laughing at they different actions of the contestants. Well, there's one who walks like a penguin (it was at first funny watch him walk, but after a while, it became painful), a couple who's blusher looks like a punch on their face... Nonetheless, thanks to Stanley for helping us to get in for free. It was a good eye opener and it makes you realise how much attention is paid to Ms Singapore Universe as compared to Mr Singapore Universe. And, you realise that you derive entertainment value not from looking at how good the people look but how not and casting sacarstic comments. Luckily these comments aren't broadcasted. Then again, since they're in for the pageant, they should have been well prepared for it.

Random Thoughts...

I've been a very good girl this week. I reach home no later than 10.30pm and am off to sleep by 11pm. The latest was only 12 midnight last night since today's saturday and I didn't need to get up early. It really surprised me, cos my parents were out of town and I thought I'd take the chance to go gallavanting with the car. But, maybe the flu and the medication got me so tired (yes... I had a flu during the week, which now has become stuffed nose. It's terribly horrible in the aircon especially, since my nose gets all stuffed up and I can't breathe properly. Especially in cold meeting rooms at work, I end up having to breathe through my mouth when my nose is all clogged up) and I just crash out every night. And, my internet connection has become such a bain in my life that I'm so fed up to repair the connection sometimes. So, pardon my lack of updates and slow email replying time.

On another note, we had fire drill in the office yesterday. And, I've been tasked to be the new fire warden for my floor. It was an interesting experience having to climb down 2X floors. But even more amusing were my colleagues' responses. Climbing down 2X floors is really no easy task, so most of them had decided to go for breakfast before the fire drill began (The lifts are shut down during fire drill). However, a fire drill, in all sense of it is supposed to be an exercise, and you're not supposed to know when it happens. Apparently, we missed cue and when they were preparing to go down for breakfast (and take the lift down), the alarm went off. Crap.. That meant the lifts were shut down and if they wanted breakfast, it was a 2X flor climb down. The alarm went off, breakfast plan was scrapped and we were told to "wait for further instructions". Seriously, if this were a real fire, would people even wait for instructions? We'd all have rushed down already!! When "further instructions" did come, only a few of us actually left the office and climbed down. Everyone else just came out of their work stations to chat and then went back to work.

After the climb down, we assembled at the grounds for roll call. So much for roll call. The list was prepared way beforehand. Like my colleague said, the worst thing to happen is for a real disaster to take place during the day of the fire drill and everyone mistaking that it was a drill. Imagine how many lives could have been lost because we didn't take it seriously.

The handsome boy...

Guess who's back home???

And, I'm so glad he still remembers my name even after such a long time. I love Caleb so much, he just so CUTE!! Since I had my camera with me, I couldn't help but snap away. He's just so cute!!! After cg, we were doing duck walks and kangaroo hops, and after which, I just squatted on the floor for a while, and guess what the little prince did? He ran towards me with arms open wide and hugged me. So sweet, rite? And gosh, he's got a tight grip! (Oh.. He did that about 3 times, cos I hadn't stood up from my squatting position)

Love him so much!

Wala Wala with the TJ mates

Finally, at long last, we managed to meet up. Thanks to Edmund for arranging the whole thing for us. And, finally, I managed to go to Wala Wala (was supposed to go last friday, but it was so packed). Nonetheless, the music on tuesday was good and it was a great night just chilling and hanging out (pity it's a tuesday and next day I had to go to work). So, although I was really tired (I had to OT that day and that made me 2 1/2 hrs late. But they were so sweet and understanding), but after listening to the music it totally recharged me. I love live music man!! =)

Missing the handsome boy...

I am suffering from Caleb withdrawal symptom. That little handsome boy has been holidaying in the US for the last 3 over weeks, and I haven't seen him for such a long time. I miss him SSSOOOOO MUCH!!! Today I was in church seeing all those little toddlers playing at the back and that made me miss him even more. Sigh... Well, he'll be back soon, I can't wait to see him this weekend. Yipppeeee....

Coffee Bean's online Cake ordering

Since Ivan left exchange, I volunteered to order the cake for the monthly CGL meeting in which we celebrate the CGLs birthday at the same time. True to my nature, I have been on the hunt for the best and most reasonable cakes around town (and of course the cakes that I've been yearning to try but never got a chance to). And, in fact, I look forward to the "cake buying" every month wanting to get the most reasonable cake which has a great taste. My motto: If you're going to waste those calories on cake, might as well get a good one, and I'd rather spend on a small but quality cake than a big but substandard cake. We've had choc.a.bloc's Crunchie Chocolate Fudge (in February), Secret Recipe's Chocolate Mud Cake (in March) and most recently, Classic Cakes' Mango Cheesecake (in April). Most of the selections come from recommendations from STOMP and other forums or I get the cakes from reknowned places. Well, I'd say I have a decent budget to get really "atas" cakes, however, I try to limit the budget to about $30-$40 for a cake for about 20 persons. That, I must say, has been a GREAT challenge with the rising cake prices. In the end, I usually end up with a cake which is about 1kg+. Well, one good thing is that there isn't any leftovers (From Ivan's experience sometimes we're left with quite a bit of cake). But it also means the piece each person gets is rather small. And, I'm not buying from high end places. In fact, regular shops like Prima Deli and Four Leaves are already charging about $30+ per kg, depending on the flavours. Really, just regular cakes these days are getting more expensive! Sometimes $30 can't even buy you a 1kg cake! Can you believe that? Such has been the case that I am now on the lookout for great promotions and good neighbourhood stores and online stores which dish out great cakes (eg. places like choc.a.bloc, chocolat n spice, classic cakes and many more) at similar Prima/4leaves prices. Maybe it's that thing about a small shop and the knowledge that each cake is attended to by the head chef that appeals to me more than a cake that's baked in some big bakery somewhere in Singapore and then delivered to the stores.

That's the reason why I'm going crazy about Coffee Bean's online cake ordering system. Recently they had some publicity to promote their online cake ordering system, and they have some really good promotions, like a 1.4kg cake going for $23!!! Where in the world can you get such a good price with a brand name to it? And, a 3kg cake that is only $42. WOw whee!! Not only do I get a big cake, but a get the brand equity of "Coffee Bean" on my cake (which hopefully spells quality cakes) And there's even a promotion on the mother's day cakes at $35 per cake (with special design and you can choose the flavours you want) and it's about 1.6kg for each cake. Can you believe it? Pity I missed last month's "cake of the month" (Hazelnut Praline Cheesecake... sounds good right?) that was going at $35 for 1.6kg. (This month's cake of the month didn't appeal to me as much as the strawberry flan.. haha...). And, their cupcakes are really cheap. $19.90 for 20!! when the market rate is about $2.50 (and for more "atas" places at $3-$3.50) per cupcake. I think I know what one of the CGLs monthly birthday cake is going to be... Can't wait for the next promotion.

Happy Labour Day

Today's the first time I've ever valued the Labour Day holiday. It's really a much needed day just to rest and lobo around in the heat of the hectic working world. Now, don't get me wrong, I love my job. But, see, for the past 22 years of my life, labour day had no significance to me. Let me explain: My schooling life from primary to secondary school say labour day as the day to study very hard in the wake of the impending school mid year exams. It didn't mean that labour day meant that it was a holiday from studying for me, in fact, it meant more studying and more catching up on work. In my JC, while the mid years were pushed back till after summer break, still, labour day holiday was usually after SYF and in the heat of all those CCA competitions and concerts, meaning labour day had to be used to do catch up on work. Come to my uni days, labour day usually fell in the midst of my exams (which means more studying on the day) or after my exams, of which I'm holidaying everyday and an extra public holiday makes no difference to me.

But, ah... come this year, while I didn't have any spectacular plans, just the normal weekend plans, sleep in, eat and hangout (and oh... I got to see the Phantom of the Opera with wonderful company), but at least I didn't have to study whatsoever. And, it made more sense to me since I wasn't loboing my days away, making Labour Day holiday a precious one. But alas, it is over, and it's back to work tomorrow. Still, it's really great to just have a day to rest and relax and do stupid things.

Happy May Day y'all!