Never in my life..

I'd imagine myself buying a bird cage.. and i did.. it was a totally horrifying experience to walk into a bird store... selling live birds in cages everywhere... hanging from the ceiling, along the corridor.. and the noise they make just one just walk pass them! The flapping noises, squawks and such. Ironically, the owner thought that i was afraid of the dog and tied him up. It was the birds that i'm terrified of.

It didn't make the task easier as i had to look up to the ceiling to see all the various bird cages hanging down to choose a really nice one... and i can't help but see some of the birds in the cages right above me. I kept reminding myself to keep my mouth closed.

See.. H's dad loves birds.. and he keeps and breeds them. He's even got a aviary... the last time i visited him, i got a book. I don't know if it is this one...



Something like that... a field guide to all the birds in this region... and he was mighty pleased.. and he said how the last trip to Thailand, he carried a bird cage back cos he really like it... and of course.. i offered to bring one for him the next time i'm back...

So... here's the one i bought... i think it's really nice.. and a bit special.






It's in the shape of a chinese pagoda.. and has got engravings on the perch for the birds and at the base of the cage.. and also, little chinese porcelain cups for the feed and water.

Now... if only H's niece and nephew will not chase me around with chicks in their hands and going, " See... so cute.. why are you scared of them?"

And now, the other amazing thing is the after 40 years of marriage and eating the abacus (算盘 子）that my mum makes, my dad sat down and helped my mum make!!!



Never thought it'd ever happen.. and it looked like he was having fun, making them. I had to take pictures to record it of course.



But in all honesty.. his turned out to be disks rather than abacus looking!!!

My loot from Sintaklaas

Sintaklaas is the quintessential traditional Dutch celebration.. and i was really bummed not to be able to be there for the occasion.

Imagine my surprise when i got a parcel in the mail filled with treasures from Sintaklaas!!! Check them out.



It consisted of
1. 2 drawings from Claire to Sintaklaas which was stuffed in her shoes
2. 1 song book "zie ginds komt de stoomboot"
3. Frog is Frog by Max Velthuijs
4. The Cow Who Fell in the Canal by Phyllis Krasilovsky
5. 2 shot glasses by Blond Amsterdam
6. 1 shopping bag and keychain by Blond Amsterdam
7. Bath foam and loofah
8. Postcards of Sintaklaas and his horses
9. Chocolate letters - S for my initials
10. Dutch cookies!

i love everything.. am so tempted to eat the chocolate.. but i'm still nursing my cough!!

Happiest ad ever

BTW, my laptop died.. am in the process of replacing it. i didn't know whether to fix it.. or replace it. Well, given what happened, i do think that replacing it maybe a better idea.

So... i'm missing my laptop now...

After a long search...

I finally found the advertisment that i saw in Netherlands when i was over there. I simply love it and can't stop laughing.

Presenting Hans Klok for Eneco



Some background.. Hans Klok is a famous dutch illusionist...

Am in a state of shock..

Never thought that it would hit that close to home.

I remember her... she is stunning with perfect skin... and was so poised and sweet, friendly..... there are some who are pretty and have a air of arrogance or something that i wouldn't want to have anything to do with.. but not her, always with a smile on her face.

The first time i met her was at Big D's... i was there for the first time.. and after sitting down.. she and her hubby came.. they were celebrating his birthday.. and being on a monday (if i remember correctly) and after working late, and without reservations.. they found themselves..having ran out of a few places to eat , at 2 or 3 different places.. and they ended up at Big D's having a very joyous and hearty meal..

And subsequently.. i have met up a few times with her and her hubby on various occasions.. and at a friend's party.

It really doesn't make sense and i now can't stop thinking about it. When her name was released in the papers.. there was no connection.... the pictures of her in the papers didn't look like her.. all fuzzy and distorted... until my friend told me about it early this morning.. and when i saw the newspapers.. now with all the personal pictures that shows her smiling, a familiar face that I know.. When the news came out at first, I did think that maybe my friends would have known her.. as they were from the same faulty.. just didn't cross my mind.

I keep wondering how her final hours would have been. One of terror and fear and tears? Reports had said that she was held at gunpoint and made to give a message to Singapore.

Why her? Cos she's singaporean? Cos she stood out? Cos she's Chinese? Cos she's pretty?

Was the message passed? Could the government had done anything? Were the commandos skilled?

These questions keep running through my head.. and i just want to voice it out.

The more i read.... the more i want to find out more..

I can only imagine the sense of loss her family and close friends are feeling. The sudden loss..

Makes me all the more want to be with my bf as soon as possible as in this world.. nothing is certain anymore.. the natural disasters, the collapse of the economy, the upheaval in governments, the wars, the violence... what's there to look forward anymore?

The loss of lives.. all people i whom have met ... from the db rowers, friend's best friend who passed away in China, aged 35, leaving behind wife and 2 young kids.. and now.. in Mumbai.

Wrong place at the wrong time.. how else can you explain?

Having seen up close how parents and families suffer and try to cope with the sudden loss of loved one in the tsunami... i can only offer my condolences to mike, his and her family.. the whole nation is reeling from the shock and the senseless violence.. and the stupid demands.. and all the crazy and greedy people out there, who claims that there are acting for god.

Rest In Peace.. You'd be sorely missed

Schmapp!

The Skinny Bridge

Kerkstraat/Nieuwe Kerkstraat

Amsterdam, 1018 EM

Tel: +31 (0)20 201 8800 (Tourist Information)

In 1671 a small footbridge was built across the river Amstel. The bridge was made of wood and it could be raised. In the beginning the bridge was called the "chicken's bridge" because of its small construction. Later on, again due to the construction, it adopted the name "Skinny Bridge", being compared to a slender woman. It was rebuilt in 1871 and 1929, but it was once again made of wood and the construction was "skinny". Nowadays, at night the Magere Brug is lit up at night, beautifying the river Amstel in the dark.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Paella.. ella.. ellaa..

So simple and nice.

A friend made that for my "last day" party.. and it's sososos wonderful.. loads of seafood, peas, peppers, chicken, chorizo...

2 batches were JUST enough.. and left us wanting more!

I want to try making it. H was drooling just looking at the pictures

She even made a brilliant flourless cake, which was deemed as 'flawless' by one of the other guests!

And loads of sangria... yum yum



Oh.. and last week, i found this really cool place. Brussels Sprout at The Pier... Belgium mussels served in a pot with Belgium white beer.. Yum..

Best part... they have a Tintin mural..



i love it..

Cheering up

This candid picture cracks me up big time!

Melon Collie

Today is the day that i had to clear out my work desk after almost 8 years. It was tougher than i thought. I have want to leave early. However, i started going thru my emails.. and downloading all the pictures and such since then.. and i realised that i have lots of good memories of working with my colleagues cum friends, projects that i have worked on.. and the batty exchanges thru the years.

It's impossible to save them all...

i have plenty to look forward to, and i'm giving it up to try something new... and well.. at least i know what i have accomplished to make me who i am.

Onward now...

Omar, Winnie and Jippie

I love the tigers...

Hope nothing happens to them.

Read more here, here and here

Lovely weekend break

With good friends.. from one who is the deafest of us all, who could heard the phone ring when all of us couldn't.. to the one who picked up the phone and went , "Hello, hello, hello, hello" without realising that the cable dropped out.

Thanks for a wonderful trip! Hope that next year.. I'll be back for our annual KL trip.

i want!!!

i saw the prettiest peek-toe Mary Janes yesterday.. and it was going for really cheap price.. in patent leather and so comfortable.. but cos i have a very common size foot.. they ran out of my size. In black, tan and even red.

i so love this pair of shoes.. so classic, elegant..

BBBbbwwwaaaahhhhhh!!!

Cute doggies

A friend asked me to take some pictures of her dogs... and this is my fave!




And here's some more of the cute puppies...

Floating..

Cos I just collected my Chacos from my friend and i love them!!!

Can't wait to groom my very sexy chaco tan!

To Schmap or not to schmap

Schmap just shortlisted and contacted me for permission to use one of my picture of the Skinny Bridge on Amstel River, Amsterdam, Netherlands to use for their guide.



I'm thrilled, of cos, to get some recognition and credit for my skills, art? :P However, with the debate on creative license, how companies are getting people to agree to use pictures for free and such companies are publishing and making money.

This is how it'd look like

Handsome and dashing...

who doesn't love him?

6 parter

today, after finishing off The Magician, i realised that it's going to be a 6 (SIX) parter.. how long will i have to wait for the book series to finish?

sigh...

one thing for sure.. i can't wait till the next book comes out



The Sorceress (Secrets Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott

Cute peanut comic

peanuts, 19 october 2008

Read these books recently..

Been busy doing lots of reading. Read a couple of chicklit books, and a couple of other ones.. but the ones that i've been totally hooked on are listed below.


Brisingr (Inheritance, Book 3)by Christopher Paolini


Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer


Then by Morris Gleitzman


The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

and now i'm waiting for my copy of this.


The Magician (Secrets Immortal Nicholas Flamel) by Michael Scott

Can't wait to get my hands on it.

And what else do i want?

this one


Pretty Party Cakes: Sweet and Stylish Cakes and Cookies for All Occasions
by Peggy Porschen

hint hint... see.. if i get this. maybe i can consider baking this for your wedding.. haahrarararrhh!

And i'm stressing over how to ship my stuff.. sigh..

Is there such an animal as 小熊猫?

It was great that it was a holiday yesterday and i had a great time doing stuff and hanging out with friends.

Caught up with a girlfriend who's been staying overseas.. and the conversation drifted over to Kung Fu Panda - the movie. How her son is obsessed with it.. and how she had to buy a whole set of water bottles of all the characters cos the tigress one wasn't available for sale on its own.. and it was surprising at least to me when all four of them couldn't decide what animal Shifu is.

For all the other characters... their names are indicative of what species they are. Tigress, Crane, Viper, Mantis, Monkey, Oogway (乌龟). Tai Lung is a snow leopard.. and Po is a panda of course.

But what about Sifu?




My friends were like going.. some raccoon.. some cat.. etc etc.. and i went.. RED PANDA...



And no one believed me... and i was .. yes.. Shifu is a RED PANDA... granted that i didn't remember what the chinese name for red panda is.. and had to call up a few people - including my dad.. to finally know that in chinese is 小熊猫. And you know what?? They laughed and said that 小熊猫 is little/baby panda... and not a red panda...

*roll eyes*

Red Panda is 小熊猫

Like i said once.. when i'm right.. i'm right!!!

Awesome pictures

From the first ever Singapore F1 night race.. the pictures here from Boston took my breath away!

And from here too





For a re-cap of the race, check out here


Singapore Executive Summary from Axis of Oversteer.com Video on Vimeo.