Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Injury prone

Sigh, I sprained my ankle. 3 days before I'm heading off to Germany.

No, I wasn't running after a story, I wasn't wearing high heels, I wasn't climbing some mountain.

I was talking to my boss in his office, turned to exit, and my left foot got stuck in the carpet.

Bam! Crack! Ow! There goes the old left ankle again.

Circa May 2007, I sprained my right ankle in Beijing while on holiday. Also in flats.

Circa 2006, I sprained my ankle while playing volleyball. Also in flats (sports shoes to be exact).

My conclusion? High heels aren't dangerous. I've NEVER hurt my ankles in them. It's the flats. they're killing me, seriously. At this rate, I'd run out of ankles to injure.

Bloody sodding hell. At least my boss let me off early to see a doctor.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Work Trip

Since some of you asked what the heck I'm going to Germany for... actually, it's quite a funny story.

Ok, my radio station has this weekly programme that focuses on the education scene in Singapore.

So the reporter in charge of it chanced upon this MNC who organises an annual event for students to discuss about the environment.

Students from 17 countries around the world will submit eco-friendly projects to this MNC and 3 lucky and deserving students will be picked for the conference in Germany.

So anyway, my colleague wanted to interview the 3 Singaporean students for his programme when they returned from the trip.

Upon contacting the PR of the MNC, she asked my colleague if he'd like to accompany the students to Germany instead to witness the conference first-hand.

My colleague of course jumped at the opportunity, but lo and behold, he has reservist duty in the same exact week!!!

So he told my boss, and my boss then casually asked me if I was going on leave in November.

I said maybe, cos I wanted to go Batam with Kristin and Sylvia.

Then she said don't, and told me I'd be the backup for the Germany trip whilst my colleague attempted to defer his reservist.

Long story short, he didn't get his deferment, and I stepped into his place.

And so ladies and gentlemen, that's how I ended up being selected to go to Cologne, Germany's 4th largest city and oldest settlement, dating back to the Roman times!!!

Oh god, i'm so excited, and yet, a bit guilty too. I know it's not my fault that my colleague can't go to Germany, but I still feel bad, and in the office, I'm fearful to discuss my trip with my other colleagues, or show too much excitement.

But on the inside, I'm so happy it's sick. And I'm extending my trip by 3 nights so that I can wander and explore the place by myself.

First time I'd be travelling all alone. Cathedral! Musuems! Churches! Beer! Sausages!

Sigh, happy. *grinz*.

Leaving on the 1st, back on the 11th. Starting work on the 12th.

At first my supervisor didn't want to grant me leave. Cos I'm going on leave again in December. But I kept pestering him until he caved in. Hohoho.

But that also means I only have 13 working days to work on my 5 long stories based on the trip, before going on leave.

Yeah! Must work hard.... :)

Friday, October 17, 2008

Guess who's going to GERMANY for a work trip????


*does a victory lap around the office*


Hu-ha, babbbbeeeeezzzz!

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Selamat Hari Raya Bay-bee!

Just a photo post.... of great food, and cute cousins during Hari Raya! And for your benefit Ridzal, all the family photos too!

But first, a homage to my one true love... Fadz mum's cooking!

I'd never get sick of this stuff!

And a close up...


Sambal goreng. It's like bits of prawn and intestine. I always thought that it was oily because it was cooked in oil. I only found out this year that it's actually cooked in coconut milk until it becomes clarified OIL. (!!!)

Li Wern, your favourite beef rendang! And yes, it's still super shiok... haha! And no, I still haven't learnt how to make it.

Sambal Sotong. This stuff is soooo fabulous, it should be a national dish. It's spicy, but not so spicy that it numbs your tongue.

My very grumpy beloved. who still hadn't changed into his baju when I arrived. Reason? He didn't want to get his clothes dirty while digging into the food. He only changed when relatives started arriving.

The brudders (minus big brother Ridz) trying to act cool.

Smile!

Who's this? Who's this, you ask? Just about the sweetest, most adorable, angel, hamster-looking darling in the world!!! Meet Diya! Is she cute, or is she cute? Look at those cheeks! Those eyes!

Come, come, take photo with me.... Aww...

She loved to play with my ring and wouldn't return it. Here's Fadz trying to convince her to hand it over.

Aww, the tudung making your head itchy??


Man, those fingers must taste good...


...so we gave it a try.

Another cousin!! Diya's big brother, Rian! He just woke up, so kinda grumpy.

Family photos time!

Fadz's mum is the eldest sibling of the 2nd generation.

2nd sibling: Chik Ne and family.

3rd sibling: Chik Ros and family.


4th sibling: Chik Ham and family. (and ya ya and yan yan!)

Dunno why all look so solemn. I guess I missed the memo to "play it cool".

Fadz in a baju and me in erm... clothes.


Another cousin. Dunno which branch. He even stopped to pose for this picture.


Fadz being all fatherly. He really does adore children.


And front view of the toddler. Not happy with the camera's flash.

One more for the ride! Rian looks like his brains have been scrambled by too many flashes from the camera.

Good day.

Friday, October 03, 2008

Lifeless

A typical day for me sounds like this...

Wake up, stare blankly into the ceiling, get ready for work, go to work, sleepwalk through my assignments, go home, wash up, sleep.

It's really pathetic. Which explains how I could have missed a get-together with the volleyball girls.

I'm sorry darlings, I was working till 10.30pm.... and then you girls were unsure about what you wanted to do... So I jumped at the opportunity to do something when my colleague suggested we go for drinks.

Yes yes, promise that I'd make it for the next outing.... !

And yet, I'm typing this from the office. On a Friday night. The terminals around me are switched off and if I look up, I stare straight into an empty corner.

The only other person on shift with me is the night editor.

Sigh, sigh, sigh.

On the upside, I celebrated Hari Raya with Fadz's family on Wednesday.

This time last year, we had broken up. I remember I was sitting at home, thinking that life really sucked.

I didn't just miss Fadz, I missed the convivality of celebrating the holiday with his large and boisterous family.

Fast forward one year, and how times have changed. In fact, I can't believe that a year has passed since that "dark period", as I term it.

There I was, stuffing my face with his mum's famous food. Beef rendang, lontong, sambal goreng, ayam goreng and of course, my perennial favourite, SAMBAL SOTONG. I was practically drinking the stuff.

Playing with his numerous cousins. Coming from a small family (I only have 2 immediate cousins), I'm endlessly enthralled by his ever-expanding family.

Every year, it feels like I meet a new cousin, or a tiny baby being cradled in someone's arms.

And of course, seeing his cousins grow up before my eyes... tiny kids whom I used to run after in the corridors, who use to be up to my hip only and have now reached my eye-level.

Sniff, I'm growing old.

Attempting to my the dutiful girlfriend, I stayed till the end, attending to the endless stream of relatives who turned up at all hours, demanding to be fed.

Cups that needed to be refilled, lontong that needed to be cut, dishes that had to be replenished....

And the weird thing is, a lot of his family (whom I only see once a year, and the more distant ones), never know how to react to my presence.

When I attempt to salaam them, they either take my hand in an attempted shake, or look very confused. Or ignore me. I don't know which is worse. Maybe they're afraid to touch my pork-laden hand?

Oh Well. At least I was polite.

And when I was leaving, Fadz's grandma asked when I was planning to wear a baju. *Gulp*

Erm, how bout NEVER?

Or else, make sure your son marry me first. Hah. That should scare Fadz sufficiently.