#1253.

Me and my ridiculous dad. People who don't know me, please don't judge. People who think they know me just because they follow my blog religiously, you can't be more wrong.


Anyway, that was just a disclaimer because I tend to leave out critical information sometimes, when communicating with people. Boyf says that, as a result, people may misunderstand or misinterpret my intentions. I'm truly apologetic if I've ever misguided you, so please don't take me seriously. If in doubt, always clarify.


So anyway I wasn't home most of time for the past week or so. And today, being Christmas, I thought I should give myself a little break and spend time alone, at home.


Dad had to screw up my day by nagging at the phone bills. I mean the home phone bills. I pay for my own mobile phone bills so he doesn't know how much it is. But the most ridiculous thing is that, he exclaims that I'm over-using the house phone, just because it's $20+ per month now.


OMGWTFBBQ!


I think this is the most ridiculous and nonsensical remark he has ever made! He even showed me the bill that states that I've used 2,400 minutes of talktime the last month, which translates to 80 minutes a day.


80 minutes a day is a lot meh? You really have to consider that I'm a chatterbox and when I don't have anybody to talk to at home, I call my boyf and disturb him. That's what boyfs are for right?


So my dad now claims that the phone bill is expensive (like wtf $20 per month leh!!!) and that I really should curb my phone usage.


This. Is. So. Ridiculous.


I feel like I'm in a jail, with curfew. Cannot go home late, cannot talk on the phone. What kind of life am I living?


Obviously I whined to the boyf about this and guess what he did??? He offered me solutions!!! OMG!


I definitely do not need solutions. I want nothing more than a listening ear, darling.


I've lived with my dad all my life and this is how our family works. Dad nags, I acknowledge, I act upon it. Regardless of how unreasonable the request is. I don't need people to tell me how to deal with it. I don't need advices like "maybe you should talk to your dad more and let him know what you're thinking." Honestly, I don't need that.


My dad is old and has traditional mindset. He's semi-retired and stays home everyday doing I-don't-know-what. He does not interact with people. So it is highly likely that he doesn't know how the world is like now, how society behaves now. He restricts me in as many ways you can imagine but I don't blame him, neither do I want to challenge his thinking.


He might not make sense, might make illogical assumptions, might have the weirdest misconception about everything but I don't want to argue with him. Whatever he thinks right or wrong, I will just let him be. I have my own thinking and I will do what I think is right. I know that some of the things I do, may be regarded by him as wrong, but I don't really care, I will just do it and not let him know.


I don't see the need of telling him, trying to change his mindset, to convince him to accept what is the norm now.


So boyf, I'm not sure if you will get to read this, but I just want to tell you that I'm very thankful for you. Just being there for me is already more than what I can ask for. I don't need advices and solutions, unless I ask for them. Otherwise, when I'm ranting, I only need an avenue to vent out my frustrations. I don't need to see the big picture, to have a different perspective, to know the possible repercussions. I only need someone to understand me, to lend me his shoulders, to comfort me. I know you always have my best interest at heart, and I really appreciate it. Thank you baby.

#1252.

Every year, we'd have potluck Christmas gathering at someone's place. This year, Yushu very kindly lent us her house, but we decided to go the "traditional" way of ordering turkey and all the other Christmas dinner food! Pizzas overload because the deliveryman made a mistake and gave us complimentary ones. Prior to this, we thought we didn't have enough and went to buy more. AK would never ever be anorexic. Haha. The boyf was formally introduced into the Kingdom, and he got the name "Housefly". I gave him that! Just because sometimes he's irritating like one! :P All of us were in white, except for lazy pig who couldn't be bothered to change. What a lovely white Christmas (:

#1251.

Awesome sisters dinner at Sukiya, for Christmas as well as birthdays! Sis Meh and I are just one day (or few hours) apart! Photos all on FB! (:

#1250.

Photog date with sis Noi today, and it was absolutely amazing! For one, it can be a little boring to go around the island shooting stuff. Plus, we got to catch up with each other. And she brought me to eat the famous Hock Lam Beef Noodles! Super love (:

#1249.

Annual guides gathering turned AK's gathering.


Pulau Ubin. Uphill downslope. Cycling. Rested. Uphill downslope. Lunch. Rain. Rested. Grocery shopping. Yushu's place. Steamboat. Eat and eat. And eat. Lotsa laughters. Ms Fah and Ms Soh. More laughters. Birthday cake surprise. Home.


And that was how I spent day one of being a 22-year-old (:

#1248.

Happy birthday to me! Yet another year has passed. This year is wonderfully special, not only because I’ve found someone special, but because I’ve learnt so many life lessons. All of us are definitely growing older each day, but how many of us are actually getting wiser?


It’s kinda good that my birthday is right at the end of the year, so that when I’m typing my birthday entry, it also seems like I’m reflecting on the year. Right now, what’s going through my mind are bits and pieces of everything. I feel like doing a last-day-cum-new-year-resolution entry, but maybe not now.


Alright, the usual birthday speech and thank you’s as follows:


My beloved boyfriend, Dennis the menace. For being part of my life, bringing me so much joy and laughter, not to mention occasional tears. I love you baby.


He sang me a birthday song last night before I went to bed and I was so touched, I teared.


Dennis’s family – aunty, uncle, jie, kor & Ade. For always treating me like part of the family, making me feel at home. Especially aunty and uncle, who’s always so caring. And I was so shocked by the sms. Thank you for remembering even though you are on vacation. I’m so touched (‘: Thankyou aunty for brewing those yucky herbal soup. I know you mean well and I appreciate it so much. Big love to the family.


Mummy, wherever you are, I still miss and love you. Please let me dream of you tonight.


My brother, Jun, who’s faraway in China now. The phone call this morning totally made my day. Please take care of yourself and don’t get into any more accidents. I really miss you so hurry back!


My dad. Even though I get angry at you every so often now, deep inside, you’re still my dad. Nothing in the world can ever change that. Thank you for everything you’ve done. I still don’t agree with many things you do or say, but what can I do? I’ve chose to listen and be your ideal daughter till the day you’re no longer around. For now, this is it.


My aunts. For the well wishes, and always concerned about the family even though mummy’s not around anymore.


Sisters Meh, Noi, Ting. Bff, Peisi. The rest of Shingzers Kathy, Aimee, Sha. Animals, Yushu, Sabrina, Veralyn, Siewhoon, Weili, Felina. My closest friends in my life. Almost like family already (: Each one of you is special in your own way and I’m ever so thankful for knowing you. Irreplaceable girls.



And all the rest of the well wishes, I’m glad you (or Facebook) remembered. Doesn’t matter, it still made my day. Aaron Adelene Chunhwee Cyrilla Daniel Eiei Idah Irene Jack Jason Jevelle Jiemin Jonathan JosephLam JosephNg Juliana Junwei Justina Kenny Kyee Lawrence Leechien Leeling LeonChia Leslie Liping Marcus Max Meiting Naomi Nazera Nicholas Nordiyana Norhikmah Pohkim Qingliang Reena Regina Reuben Samuel Sarah Siewteng Sihui Shihan Shuwen Tailun Valerie Wante Wanteng Xiuzhen Yixuan Yuyu Zirong.


P/s. Past birthday entries cos I felt like re-reading them. 2009 / 2008 / 2007.

#1247.

Hello readers, my highly anticipated food blog is now up and running! Hahaha omg why am I so thick skinned. Anyway the url is here:

http://rsberry.wordpress.com

Please do take a look and leave some comments so I can improve on it. Thanks a million. Really appreciate it (:

-

Went to the Bookfest on Monday and there wasn't alot to buy. Some good books but too expensive for me. Bought a book for boyf and another for his mum though (:


Had lunch thereafter at Ya Zhou Cafe @ Suntec City and accompanied the boyf for some shopping, before our movie date. Had free tickets from Cathay and we wanted to watch Rapunzel but the timing wasn't right. So we could only watch Narnia. I thought it was pretty good too (:

#1246.

This is so cool. Boyf's dad's birthday is just one day after mine, so that makes him a Sagittarius. What's more, he is a dragon (Chinese horoscope) too! Omg no wonder we kinda have the same traits -.-


Celebrated our birthdays together at Soup Restaurant at JP2 (refer to Food Blog for food review*) and then went to Icing Room for some fun at cake deco. It was kinda awkward because his dad kept asking me to write my name, etc, on the cake. As if I was the main birthday person. Urgh. That's what happens when you have 2 people with close birthdays.


But that said, obviously friends I don't mind la! Like how sis Meh and I always combine our birthdays. In fact I think it's quite awesome. But with another adult, I feel so pai seh -.-


Anyway, after that we went home for cake-cutting. And even webcam with kor & Ade all the way from Australia! So heartwarming. Feel the love (:


Cake supposed to be decorated by the birthday people but somebody so extra. Drew the daddy's face till so abstract. Lol.


So awkward, the daddy don't wanna cut cake, blow candle, take pictures. So I was like the only person. Urghhh.


Anyhow, what's most important is that everyone's happy. Seriously, their family feels so much more like family (:


*The url of my food blog will be released on the 15th of December. Stay tuned! (:

#1245.

Hectic day but amazing night. Sometimes joy and happiness can be derived from such simple things (:


If you've been following my twitter here, you would've known that I had quite a rushed morning from the moment I woke up. Basically I washed up, had breakfast, printed some stuff, called boyf, and it was already lunch time. Ok fine, it was because I woke up at 11am. Hur hur.


After lunch I had to iron the laundry. Haven't been doing that for weeks, and I'm running out of clothes to wear. And then R texted me to confirm the time I was going down. And sis Meh bbm-ed me to confirm our meet up. And it was already almost 3pm! Seriously, when you have tons to do, time just zoom pass like crazy. So I hurriedly packed my stuff, jotted down a to-do list, and rushed outta the house. It was so hectic I could feel myself panting. Haha.


Reached DHL at about 4.40pm. Super late. Was supposed to be there at 3pm. But then I bought bubbletea for R and S! So it kinda make up for my lateness. Managed to settle the shipment stuff and send out the item to bro. And off I went to meet boyf.


Supposed to meet him at City Hall at 5.30pm but I only left DHL at 5.10pm. Urgh. Thankfully he was late too. And we went to Marina Square for Christmas shopping. We already had in mind what we were buying for each other so it was pretty quick. Like we just went to the shop straight and bought the stuff.


After much research (by the boyf of course), we settled on a Panasonic Lumix LX5 for me! The amount of effort the boyf puts in is amazing. I'm so touched (': he spent like a whole day reading forums and doing comparisons, before deciding on a camera. And then went on to find which place has the best deals.


Don't say I never share good stuff - Cathay at Marina Square has the best offer, we think! Leave a comment if you wanna know the details. I'm lazy to list them all here.


Thank you so much boyfriend! Seriously, this is like the best Christmas present I had for my entire life. Nobody ever spent so much time, effort, and money. I really appreciate it baby (:


I'm going to learn photography and be good at it. Yes I am!


They only had it in white, which was perfect! Looks way more feminine than the black.


Next we went to get boyf's Christmas present - a Sony headphone XB500! For his DJ-ing needs. He's been wanting it for a long time but waiting for me to buy it for him for Christmas. It's great 'cos then I don't have to think what to buy! Teehee.


But when we reached the Sony shop, the guy said they were OOS. So sad! But he said he would check and came back from the storeroom with a 'last piece'. Were we lucky or what??? :D


We walked around grinning like idiots (:


Boyf kept saying 'happiness!' again and again. Haha.


Went to meet the brothers for dinner at Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery. We were late for an hour but just nice 'cos the guys had to queue |:


After Ippudo, the guys were still hungry -.- so we went to Macs for dinner part II.


Was terribly tired otw home. But it was a superb day (: Food review on my food blog (to be released very very soon!) Other pics on my FB. The only pic I'm gonna post is of my new baby.

#1244.

Here to update about a simple date with my dearest sis Meh since she had half day off yesterday.


We went to do some Christmas shopping in town. Lunch was settled at Quiznos and it was pretty good! Dessert at Marvellous Cream was a tad disappointing though. Finally ended off the shopping at Tampines 1 where we bought a whole lot of scrapbooking paper at 30% off. Great deal!


To end off this short entry, I'd like to share a simple story from the book I'm currently reading - '100 ways to happiness, a guide for busy people'.


A lecturer, when explaining stress management to a class, raised a glass of water and asked, 'How heavy is this glass of water?' The answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.


Then the lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it'.


'If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance. In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."


He continued, 'And that's the way it is with stress management. If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on. As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again. When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'

#1243.

Here to do a review of some Meiji snacks. Saw them lying on a supermarket shelf and I couldn't resist the temptation. Japanese products are always packaged so nicely!


Kinoko choco (mushroom chocolate)
S$3.80 (82 grams)


Tastes like mini 'yan yan' already dipped in chocolate! Nice!
Taste: 8 / 10

-

Fran Creamy Mousse Strawberry Chocolate
S$3.60 (49 grams)


Chocolate biscuit stick coated with a thick layer of strawberry. Beneath the layer of pink is a thin layer of white, I can't tell what it is though. Maybe milk? The strawberry is more sour than sweet so it tastes like yoghurt.
Taste: 7 / 10

-

Chou Cookie Strawberry Chocolate
S$4.00 (53 grams)


Gotta apologise for this low resolution photo taken with my Blackberry. And I couldn't find a photo of this snack on Google images so I had no choice but to use this.

Super crispy exterior which I totally didn't expect. From the packaging, I thought it was gonna be softer (a la cream puffs) but it was as hard as love letters (those kind you eat during Chinese New Year). In fact, the outer shell tastes just like love letters with a slight tinge of chocolate flavour. Cream filling was ok. The usual cream strawberry. Didn't really like the whole thing. Would have preferred Hello Panda for something similar.

Taste: 5 / 10

#1242.

Here's my list for this year. Very similar to this and this, I know. Haha. A very simple one this time. Read on!

#1241.

Hello there December! I've been waiting for you for a whole year. Am gonna cherish every single moment I have before I start job-hunting. Stepping into the next phase of life already.


So anyway, I had my last paper yesterday. Last examination for my 15 years of education. Hope I do ok and can at least make my parents happy.


After the paper, the boyf promised that he'll be waiting for me in school but as usual, he didn't come! Grrrr. I was quite angry but I guess it's all about managing expectations. Plus my period is here already, so no more mood swings. Yippee!


Dessert made with love! (:

Barley + gingko + wolfberry + aiyu jelly + soybeancurd + honey. Super healthy & super delicious. And it can double up as lunch too (there was like 1 bowl of barley)!


Reached PS just in time for Harry Potter at 5.30pm!


But before that, we went to buy Gong Cha's Special Alisan Milk Tea. I chose 50% sugar and it was not sweet at all! And changed to aiyu jelly instead of pearls. Healthier option right? (:


Anyway, the movie was good even though I didn't read the book. Heh. Part 2 better come out soon before I forget the storyline.


And dinner thereafter.


Wanted to go Daiso but realized it's no longer there! Who knows if Daiso is still at PS or completely gone already?


Christmas lights in the mall! (:


Totally enjoyed the evening. I love you boyf! (: