blame the bubbly

The mandatory New Year post

2011-01-03T04:35:00.001+08:00

Has it really been six months since my last post and five since Junie's? We really didn't mean to abandon ship, but those who know us know that blogging really isn't our forte. We did start out doing it for money, but inferior photoshopping skills and frustration over simple formatting meant that we couldn't post any of the fancy stuff or post too many pics of ourselves. Let's not kid ourselves - nobody wants to look shitty on a page that is accessible to virtually anybody. Blogs with very little pics aren't incredibly popular. I know cos' I'm "kaypoh" (busybody) by nature and in a sea of blogs, it's really the ones with awesome layouts and great visuals that catch my attention.

Speaking of blogs, I just watched The Social Network and although I know the filmmakers and author of The Accidental Billionaires took liberty with the true story behind Facebook, the movie totally intrigued me. The story of a computer geek who tapped into the human psyche and created possibly one of this century's greatest inventions? Amazing! It's given me a lot to think about. Facebook is so brilliant because it fulfills our need to see and be seen on so many levels. I don't know what Facebook has that Friendster doesn't, but perhaps it's the intricate levels of connectivity that Mark Zuckerberg has so brilliantly weaved into it. When I update my status or comment on someone's status, do I hope someone responds? Hell, yeah! Cos' frankly, we size up people based on their comments and how many comments they receive. Gawd, it's so brilliant, it blows my mind. Dads, mums, grandparent, bosses and kids all log on several times a day, sometimes mindlessly! People "spy" on people and bitch about how someone had plastic surgery after high school or lost a ton of weight. Nobody wants to admit it, but we all do it! It's almost mandatory to have a Facebook page if you own a company of any size. There are people who think "I had an idea like that" or "I could have done that." But the fact is Mark Zuckerberg did it and these other people didn't. He programmed everything and created all the layers and levels that make Facebook the marvel that it is. So does he deserve his billions? Yeah, I should think so. I'm not sure I have the same incredible mind he has, but he's definitely inspired me to think beyond my current circumstances and the abilities I possess. Anything is possible!

2010 was a great year - I got to travel a bit, the work was hectic but incredibly fulfilling, and I worked with some of the awesomest people ever, but it's a new year and tomorrow marks not just the first work day for me in 2011, but also the beginning of what I believe will be an amazing new job. Here's wishing y'all that 2011 will be your best year yet! Anything is possible! JT

Chanel is for Closers

2010-08-05T16:46:00.000+08:00

I always tell the boy that Chanel is for Closers [as in someone who closes a big deal].

He makes fun of me when I say that... He said how about Chomel? [Chomel is the local costume jewellery brand that sells really pretty pearls and hair accessories at affordable prices] I know they sell lovely items but it's not in the same league as Chanel right?

Please note, I am not a label whore. I really don't care much for a $3000 bag but i say Chanel because it rolls off the tongue. Say it with me, "Chanel is for Closers!"

Last weekend, I attended a health talk and B dropped me off at Novena. He was gonna get a haircut and study while waiting to pick me up and when he did, he was hiding something behind his back. It turned out to be the prettiest pair of vintage Chanel earrings...

This is the part where I melted.

So sweet and unexpected. It wasn't a birthday present, it wasn't an anniversary. It was just because he knew it would make me a really happy girl. I love this boy a whole lot. This one's a keeper I say!

CTRL, ALT & DEL

2010-08-05T16:28:00.000+08:00

Hey guys and girls! My leg is healing pretty well and I'm almost, well I would say 90% healed. I still can't do a full on yoga class because Downward Dog will cause crazy severe pain in my left calf which would quite possibly leave me in tears! So I just stretch a little every day hoping to stretch out the stiffness and it's actually working.

This long break has gotten to my head. I watch so much telly that I feel a tad nutty. I used to have dreams about real people like family and friends but now I dream about the characters on TV. Pretty bad huh? However the upside to this long break is that it has also gotten me thinking about my career and ways I could improve it... Truly a creature of habit, I do things the same old way and never look for more interesting and sometimes easier, more effective ways of doing stuff.

Well, this time, I've hit the reset button. Y'know the button that brings you back to the first stage of the game. Or in this case Control, Alt, Delete gives me the chance to restart. I'm starting from ground zero and I'll keep working my way up. I want to learn more about my industry, the intricacies of human relations, networking etc. I truly believe in a good and solid education. That said, I always jump right into anything head first. I never read the instruction manual and 'Just do it' is the way I work... No need to read the manual, trust me, just boil the egg in the microwave... Bad idea! So now, armed with new ideas and thoughts on how to better myself, I'm gonna learn everything and anything all over again. I wanna be like Justina V2.0! Jujubee Version 2.0. Oh yeah and I have to lose some 'torn muscle' poundage too. Pffft! Lucky the gym's opening in Mid April. Woohoo! JY

Photo Credit: 1

Torn

2010-07-26T13:21:00.000+08:00

No, not the Natalie Imbruglia song. My calf muscle.

Yes, I've been cooped up at home since. No walking about on my bad leg until it heals properly. How did this happen? Well, I decided to be brave this year so I put away my fears in cold storage and went took up diving with Billy. We took up an open water diving course and man was I scared!

Diving was my two greatest fears combined. Big fishies and drowning. Long story short, I made it! I managed to see the beauty of the deep and now I wish I took it up earlier on in life. I passed all my drills without drowning but on the last leisure dive, right before I jumped in, I felt a pull in my left calf the moment I lifted my right leg to jump into the water. That split second hesitation placed my body weight + the whole scuba gear getup + the air tank + my weight belt bearing 5x2lbs weights [because of my buoyant body fats!] all onto that weakling of a left calf. It felt like a cramp, a bad one... so after a little massage from the instructor, I proceeded to dive to a depth of 15.2m. All with a torn calf muscle. It hurt but I pressed on and it wasn't until I tried to get back onto the boat did I realise the severity of the tear.

I had to remove all my gear while still in the water cos I couldn't get up the ladder. They guys on the boat practically had to haul me out of the water. Incoming Whale!!! I was so embarrassed... but stuff it, I'm just happy I didn't see a shark or drown. Now I'm stuck at home nursing my calf, I had exams over the weekend and I'm turning into a fat blob thanks to not being able to do yoga or run... I wonder what exercises I can do to make myself less of a porker. JY

Falling sick is a waste of time

2010-07-03T21:01:00.004+08:00

A morning of barfing, two nights of excruciating body aches and two days of throbbing headaches later, I've finally put my foot down that something is going to change. Even as I bang this post out with aching in my right cerebrum and waves of nausea, I'm determined that come Monday, my life is going to change. I don't know how it happened, but somehow a combination of late nights, poor food choices - instant noodles crouched in front of a computer screen in a poorly ventilated office infested with strange bugs - and lack of exercise probably contributed to my latest bout of illness - stomach flu - my second in less than two months.

I was supposed to be on leave on Friday, supposed to spend time watching a movie, supposed to spend a nice idyllic day with Bern catching up after the hectic month. Instead, I was writhing in bed, clutching my duvet and my bolster and moaning - and not in a good way. Awesome.

All that ends with this stomach flu. No more working till 4am. No more snacking on chips, mooncakes, cakes, chocolates or whatever junk food people send our way. No more instant noodle meal replacements. No more skipping runs. At the peak of training for the half marathon last year, I ate well and felt alert, a far cry from how I'm feeling now. I'm so sick of porridge, fish soup and oats. I'm sick of being sick.

No one dictates how you should live your life or spend your money or your time. And falling sick is a definite waste of time. Come Monday, no more whinging about not having time to run. I will make time to run. No more whinging about eating crap. I will whip up decent meals. No more bitching about snacking on shite all day. I will find healthier options. Come Monday, Justina version 2.0 launches. - Justina

Happy Birthday

2010-06-24T15:08:00.000+08:00

Oh wow! It feels amazing to be 18, I can finally do all the things I wanna do like, party like a rockstar, dunk like an all-star and shag like a porn-star. Now I can't wait to turn 21! Then again, do I really want to be 21 again? Or 18 again? Pffft!

After much deliberation, I am so much happier at my current age. I wouldn't trade anything for the knowledge and experience I've gained. It's true when they said that, 'Youth is wasted on the young'. The boy always laments about how he wishes he had the knowledge and spending power he has now when he was eighteen. I always laugh at him because I bask in the security I have now and I savour every moment of it.

I'm not as neurotic as I used to be, I stopped having nightmares about being late for school and exams, I've lost all my puppy fat (YEAH RIGHT, that's me dreaming!) and most of all I'm finally comfortable in my own skin. Now my concerns are my career, my fitness levels and most of all my beautiful family. Some individuals (no names here) only want to be 18 or 21 again just so they can escape reality and responsibility. In a sense, people like that are selfish. Like a wise cake once said: You don't give a shit about anyone but yourself. They want to live it up, party hard, serial date, break hearts and fall in and out of love and come out relatively unscathed. Don't envy people who live like that, especially when you're way past 21! You've had your chance, now live in the moment otherwise you might was 40 or 50 years of your life filled with envy.

It's always nice to look to the past to remember how hard you partied and the crazy things you did but there's no time like the present. Don't get lost reminiscing and forget to live your present to the fullest. I've forgotten what I was like at 18 and at 21, I've even forgotten what I did for fun. Maybe because I like the current Me so much more, except I want to look this age forever. Please?

Hello Current Me, you rock! Hell, you are made of... of AWESOME! JY

Photo Credit: 1

Song of the moment

2010-06-22T20:12:00.001+08:00

Satellite Heart by Anya Marina

I just heard this over the radio for the first time and it's so haunting. It really draws you in and now, I can't stop listening to it. I know it's from New Moon, but I ain't no RPatz groupie. Stop giving me grief over my song choices. - Justina

Boomz blog

2010-06-20T00:16:00.003+08:00

Hyuk. Haven't used the word 'boomz' in a while, since Ris Low's infamy died a slow death. But, I just couldn't find a better word to describe the new layout of our erratically updated blog. Every now and then, Junie surprises me with something fresh and new. I've only changed the layout once, but she's like an interior designer; it's a mailbox one day and colourful bubbles the next! So shexciting!

We just celebrated her birthday and it was plenty awesome. Lotsa food, lotsa cake (I love cake! I do!) and lotsa dogs. Happy 18th Birthday, minah. You're totally boomz and will always be. And of course, you'll be forever 18. ;) - Justina

Forever Friends

2010-06-01T09:38:00.000+08:00

I met her in a Marketing class complete with a hot Latino looking lecturer and we hit it off in an instant. It was like Chippendales but without the oiled up hot bods and pumping music. She'd been in Melbourne a year longer than me and she knew her way around the 'burbs. She drove a wicked old rust bucket that was a big and scary car but it ran decently well and I was in total awe of her driving such a monster.

We ate together in our boring campus filled w a million foreign students, hung out together in between classes and man, she made Uni life so much more bearable. In summer, we went down to the local pool to sunbathe and swim. When I got Toby, she was there too and she chipped in money for him to be mine :)

We didn't see each other all the time but every time we did, it was like a day never passed. We swopped stories about life and love, talked abt the good old days and laughed at the silly things we used to do. When I went back to Melbourne for a holiday w Billy. Guess who was there to pick us up in the wee hours at Tullamarine?

Bottom line, this girlfriend of mine is one I intend to keep for a very very long time and she'd be one of the top reasons I'd move back to Melbourne. I love you heaps babe, I'm so glad you're home and you're gonna spend some time with me and Tobbers!

Turning over a new 'leave'

2010-05-25T12:28:00.001+08:00

Gratuitous doggy pic

I haven't been on leave in a really long time and I really need it. It's day two and already I'm loving it. I still have to arrange some odds and ends for work, so I don't suffer when I return next week, but otherwise, it's been awesome.

I may not be travelling this time round, but it's also nice lolling in bed till late morning, watching CSI and House in the middle of the afternoon, spending time with the pooch, meeting my girlfriend for high tea and just doing things I haven't been able to do much of in recent times.

The only thing I haven't been able to do for a while that I hope to do more of this week (if I recover quick enough), is to get more runs in. JT

My never ending affair with Myco

2010-05-23T18:21:00.006+08:00

Butt-ugly bug

Myco isn't some sexy Latino lover by any stretch of the imagination, unfortunately. It's short for mycoplasma, the annoying bacteria that has been eating me alive the past week. And it's not any ordinary bacteria, mind you. It doesn't have a cell wall (freak), which makes it impervious to most antibiotics.

Back in 2008, I had a really bad encounter with it. It left me sick as a dog for two weeks, three kilos lighter and no thanks to our penchant for sharing food, I infected three other colleagues in the process.

It's supposed to give you a period of immunity after you recover from it, but guess what, Myco has decided to pay me another visit almost two years later. Like seriously, what were the chances?! Lightning doesn't strike twice? My ass!!!

I had no idea because the last time, I didn't have flu symptoms, just bouts of fever that came and went for over a week, crazy body aches, extreme fatigue and lightheadedness. I think I paid four visits to the doctors before they finally figured out what was wrong. They tested for dengue and whatnot, but just couldn't figure it out.

This time, it started exactly a week ago. I had a mild cough last Sunday and by evening, a sore throat and fever were threatening. I was totally ill on Monday and Tuesday, but it was deadline week, so in between medication, long naps and fever, I was desperately trying to submit stories. I was back to work on Wednesday and due to the backlog of work, I was in the office till the wee hours trying to finish up. I developed the sniffles on Thursday and by the time Friday rolled round, I was feeling like death warmed over again, so I asked the boss to let me off the latter half of the day.

After paying another visit to the doctor, she took a blood test that confirmed I was positive for mycoplasma. She changed my antibiotics to some really kick-ass crazy expensive ones ($6 a pop), which seem to be working. I'm still coughing and nasal, but the throat hurts less and I feel much less awful. The cough mixture is awesome, but it knocks me out like a light. I think, on the whole, it was worse the last time, probably because the docs took so damn long to diagnose the problem.

Bern doesn't look too sprightly, so I'm not sure if he's caught anything from me, but I'm plying him with vitamins and lozenges and hopefully that should stave off anything he might have caught from me. Mycoplasma is apparently more common than we think it is. Even though it's got a scary name, it's not life-threatening as far as I know, but it can really suck you dry. So if you're having horrible body aches and just feel like the pits for almost a week and your doctor can't seem to figure out what's wrong, try asking for a blood test for this naughty bug. It'll make you look like a total genius and you'll be feeling much better in a jiffy. JT

Photo credit: 1

Host for hire, NOT for free

2010-05-16T23:34:00.006+08:00

Man of the hour

My hubby is a host and a damn good one at that. So I hate it when peeps who don't know him very well and normally can't be bothered to talk to him suddenly decide he's their new BFF and try to sidle up to him or guilt him into hosting their weddings for FREE. He's not some half-arsed, fly by night compere who can't host to save his life or tries to con people into believing he's good. He works on his craft and he's excellent. Without actively promoting himself, he's been asked to host for many community events, corporate events and a ton of events in church. And many times, people pay him good money for it, so I can't imagine why these freeloaders would assume that he would do it for them for free!

Don't get me wrong. He's not mercenary at all and he's more than happy to host weddings FOC for close friends and family. In fact, I'm the one who feels indignant for him. He often finds it so hard to say 'no' even when he's got a packed weekend, especially when these freeloaders come to him with pleading eyes and go, "Hey Bern, please host for us. You are the best and we really need you for our wedding." Very often, they forget to thank him during their speeches as well.

He's too nice. But the fact is that hosting is now very much part of what he does for a living and I always believe that if you want quality, you should always be prepared to pay for it. You wouldn't ask a car mechanic to service your car for free, right? Bernard is awesome at what he does, so he's always up for hire at a reasonable price, but not for free. JT

Of curly hairs and barmy behaviour

2010-05-06T23:30:00.004+08:00

Who's that crazy chick?

Yesterday was "hair-in-my-grub" day. At lunch, I found a short curly hair (pray it wasn't from down south) in my dory fish and at dinner, I found a medium length straight hair in my dry fishball mee pok. As a kid, I used to get squeamish about finding hairs in my food - one strand in my noodles and the whole bowl was rendered vile; I just couldn't bring myself to finish it. Either my gut has since grown more tolerant or I'm just plain greedy because I casually pulled out the hair(s) at both meals and carried on gobbling. What were the chances of finding hairs in both meals on the same day?! I figured that chefs have probably done worse to the food I've sent back through the years, so what are a couple of strands? Hygiene levels have reached a new low. Oh well, I consider it building my body's resistance, just in case I ever have to go to India one day.

I'm a different person today than I was yesterday. I'm less uptight, I think. Where I used to hem and haw over whether to get a dress just because the shop didn't have a new piece, I'm a lot more impulsive now, which isn't necessarily a good thing. I figure that since I hardly have the time to shop these days and that life is so short, why obsess over whether it's been worn by someone else? It's gonna be tossed in the wash repeatedly and worn out over the next year or so anyway.

That said, I'm still insanely anal about certain things, to the point of being a tad OCD. Things like dents in cereal boxes (I blame my mum for this), the level of hand soap or drink in a bottle (the more the merrier), bruised fruit (hate ugly fruit), loose threads, how straight the stitching is on a dress, how stiff a zipper is, scuffs on new shoes (always happens on the very first day I wear them!), scratches on my bags and a whole bunch of other inane things.

A whole post on eating food tainted with dubious strands, my spendthrift ways and OCD behaviour! I don't update often, but once I do, a whole lot spills out heh? ;) I guess I'm just loco that way. It comes from the OCD. Surely I'm not the only nut job. What's your OCD behaviour? JT

What's in my day?

2010-05-05T10:19:00.000+08:00

No two days are the same. The nature of my job makes it tough to keep a schedule but I'm learning that I need to have one in order to be more productive and hit my targets. This requires focus and discipline, two very foreign words to me. Alas, I'm a kid no more so I sat down and this is what my day looks like now.

6 AM - Wake Up
8 AM - Yoga
10 - 12 - WORK
12 NN - Lunch
1 - 4.30 WORK
4.30 - 5.30 - WorkOUT (4km run + other stuff)
5.30 - Quick dinner and head off to church
6 PM Church
7.30 - 10.30 WORK

I love that I get to squeeze in 1 hour of church in and 2 hours of exercise but we'll see how long this lasts before I burnout. Commuting and all those little things really suck up so much of your time in one day, if only I could teleport, I'd pay extra for all that wasted time :) JY

Follow Your Heart

2010-04-27T10:26:00.003+08:00

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an actress. A stage actress.
I wanted to use my loud booming voice and my over the top character in every way possible. If I were an actress, I would never see my job as a job. My calling would be a skill that I would craft and perfect every single day. This talent would be the kind that I would give up great romances, amazing friendship and rock solid family ties for. Yes, I am a consummate professional!

Alas, when I was growing up, I never sought the right path to my super-stardom. So here I am wondering if I would have ever made it.

Did you follow your heart? Your childhood dream? I know people who pursued it only towards the later part of their lives. I've read books that tell you, follow your heart and the money will follow. More money than you can ever imagine. Sorry mate, I think that's pure BS. I mean, if I wanted to be a painter of abstract art in a market where people only know Picasso, do you honestly think I'd be rolling in dough?

You gotta know your environment, your surrounds and then you can decide from there. If I really wanted to make it big, I would have gotten out of Singapore and wormed my way into every audition on Broadway but I didn't so I'm still here.

We live in a practical world, following your heart comes with a huge price tag. You want to do what you love and you want a huge paycheck doing that? We're not all Tiger Woods! Even Tiger had to start young, it wasn't all about luck. In my opinion it's a lot more blood, sweat and tears or HARD WORK as we know it. If you want it bad enough, follow your heart but be prepared to pay the price. It may or may not work out but hey if you're young and reckless, give it a go. If you're older with a family, make sure you get all the support you need before you go nuts chasing your dreams.

A wise snowboarder once told me: Go hard or go home! JY

Photo Credit: 1

Who Are You?

2010-04-26T10:25:00.000+08:00

Here's a big shout out to all our readers. Hey there sexys!! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and read our snippets of our daily adventures. I see our counter grow everyday and I am curious as to who you all are. We get a handful of comments from other bloggers but the numbers just don't add up.

So here's the thing, drop us an email, a comment, anything! Even 2 letters that spell the work 'Hi' would be a blast. I would love to know where you're from, what you do, what you really want to do in life and what you wanna see more of on our blog.

Justina and I have been pretty busy with work, family and life in general but we'd love to learn a litte bit more about our readers. C'mon now, don't be shy! JY

"Excuse me, I'm from the MEE-JIA!"

2010-04-14T20:02:00.006+08:00

I just have to write about this before I forget because it's so damn funny. A few weeks back, Bernard was heading home from Junction 8 after a very long and exhausting day at work. He was about to enter the MRT station when right in the middle of the open space between BreadTalk and the entrance to the station was an ominous figure dressed in tight jeans and a fitted red singlet, holding a clipboard and posing like a Calvin Klein model gone wrong (I'm embellishing because I wasn't there. Haha. But he was wearing a red singlet and jeans).

As Bernard strolled past, the dude gave a sudden and dramatic head jerk as if he had just seen Fann Wong, and said, "Excuse me, may I know your age? I'm from the mee-jia ('media' for those of you who don't understand poor diction)!" Bernard gave him a weary pat on the shoulder and went, "It's alright, bro" before walking off.

I don't really want to spell his name right out lest he happens upon this blog and starts trying to make contact, sending weird emails or worse still, we end up on the infamy that is his blog! But, I'll give you a big hint: he's a "multi-hyphenate" who used to (maybe he still does) groom the brows of unsuspecting women outside Tangs and yellow is his favourite colour. He bangs. Guess who, don't sue! JT

Has it been a month?

2010-04-13T21:35:00.002+08:00

I know. I've been terrible. It's been a month since my last post. Thank God for Junie. I miss her. It isn't for lack of material. In fact, I always make a mental note whenever I encounter anything funny or interesting. Sometimes, I even snap a picture, meaning to upload it here and spill my two cents worth on it.

But somehow, after back to back deadlines, I forget what the pictures are all about and I completely forget what I even want to say about them. I'd look at my camera or mobile and go, "Why the hell did I snap a photo of a two-ton truck?"

I haven't had much sleep. I've been spending too many hours in the office, sometimes up to 18 hours. I go to bed worrying about my deadlines. I wake up with a looming sense of doom. I spend my weekends stressing over deadlines. I try to plan for runs, healthy meals and productive hours of work on the weekend, but somehow, I'm so tired from the week's onslaught, I often end up cooking Indomie and sleeping too much on the weekends. So yes, I think the radiation from my computer is totally decimating my brain cells. I'm forgetful and it's almost as if I need to forget something in order to make space for new information.

That said, I love what I do. And I think it's possibly the only thing that's keeping me going right now. Sleeping too little, skipping meals and eating the worst foods at the oddest hours are doing no favours for my skin or health. Eating week-old pasta at 3am isn't exactly the diet of champions, is it? I miss really living and I thought I'd never say this, but I actually do miss writing here. JT

Toby turns 5!

2010-04-01T15:33:00.000+08:00

My handsome little fella turns five tomorrow.
He's developed from a cheeky little pup into a fine young dawg.

He still has this naughty streak in him that he shows after every meal. When no one's paying any attention, he'll wipe his dirty face on mom's bed skirting and then proceed to jump up on her bed and roll on his back while kicking his feet up in the air and barking till we come play with him.

We love you so much little man. Thank you for making our lives soo much brighter :)

CAR = FATTY

2010-03-23T18:57:00.000+08:00

Wow, this year is going by pretty quickly. Everyone's moving on and working off the holiday flab and here I am still in a post-CNY haze of leftover goodies and chocs! My to-do list has piled up and what's worse is I got a car for work and now it's making me fat! Yes, my car makes me fat!

With a car, you can go to the best food joints in Singapore without having to sit in a cab that:

1. Smells

2. Is driven by a disgruntled driver

3. Is driven by a smelly AND disgruntled driver

So recently, the boy and I have gone to the far ends of the island eating up a storm and with the looming deadline for his office Biggest Loser competition, he looks like he's not going to be reigning champion 2 years in a row. So this weekend will be the last pig out weekend until the weigh in. We will have only clear soups, salads and high-protein nosh for a while. Yoga will be a painful 7am ordeal and running a 7pm affair! *groans*

Wish us luck, we'll post pics of this amazing Italian place we're going to for a celebratory lunch after the comp! Yes, Billy's very confident... For now these babies will have to wait! And yes, we will drive there because that's the only way :) JY

A phony adventure

2010-03-14T00:35:00.006+08:00

Maybe Junie and I should have just split the profits on this BB.

So how many of you would return a mobile phone you find in a cab, like a really nice one, say, a BlackBerry or an iPhone perhaps? I know of many friends who would be switching SIM cards faster than you can say, "I found a BlackBerry!" Well, I did find a BlackBerry in a cab a week ago, and being the good Samaritan that I am (don't get me wrong, I ain't judgin' my friends), I actually went on Facebook to find the owner (he had displayed his name and workplace on the wallpaper) because the phone was locked. Needless to say, he was thrilled and thanked me.

The owner was presumably busy because he sent one of his female friends to pick it up from me. When I saw her, she was dressed in a sunny yellow maxi dress, with shades perched on her head and driving a big car, looking every bit the poised, educated yuppie. But what followed kinda took me by surprise. I warmly greeted her by her first name and she awkwardly said, "Oh yah, hi, what a small world huh?"

Nope. No "thank you"or "so nice to meet you". Didn't even shake my hand. Firstly, one would have thought that even though it was her friend who had lost the mobile and not her, she would have been courteous enough to at least utter a cursory "thank you". Second of all, it's not a small world, lady. I don't know you or your friend and I deliberately sought him out on Facebook to return the mobile to him. Surely, he would have brought you up to speed before sending you off on an errand. So the brief exchange with her ended awkwardly, with her giving an uncomfortable smile, like I was making her ill at ease or gassy; I don't know which.

Anybody who knows me knows I'm not uppity or intimidating at all. I'm only 5' 3". How scary can I be? Moreover, I was togged in daggy T-shirt, shorts and thongs (Slippers, people. Not the skivvies.) I was befuddled at her behaviour, so I put it down to a bad case of EQ.

Some days later, I replied to a Facebook message from the owner, thanking me again and saying that he had received his precious mobile. I replied and never heard from him again, maybe because I asked him for a small favour.

It's not that I won't ever return nice stuff I pick up in the future (like the new iPhone or that Prada wallet; don't tempt me y'all). It would eat at my conscience to keep something that didn't belong to me and I would totally hate for it to happen to me. But it's made me realise that some people can have so much money and be decked out in the finest garb, yet lack basic manners. It just goes to show that money really can't buy class. JT

Photo credit: 1

If only...

2010-03-08T23:30:00.010+08:00

...I had straight 'A's. Remember having this conversation with some random people about how grades aren't important once you enter the workforce and that EQ rules? All balderdash. And I've learnt that the hard way.

Once upon a time, somewhere in my very distant past, I was once from an ivy league school. Yes, for those of you that know me, you can now close your mouth in disbelief. It was yonks ago, when Mummy used to hover while I studied, Magna Doodle in hand. That was probably the only reason I even made it into said school and possibly my only claim to academic glory.

When I hit my teenage years, everything went rapidly downhill. I wasn't the crappiest student, but I wasn't on the dean's list or any list for that matter. Maybe just the blacklist. There were those few subjects I excelled in because I liked them, English obviously being one of them, but everything else was pretty tragic. I just absolutely loathed studying and memorising; my form teacher rang my mum on more than one occasion while I sobbed in the background because I hadn't handed up my homework in weeks. I've always felt that it was such a pity I wasn't in love with studying, much like many of my peers back then. That and I was a lazy bugger back in the day.

Now some 14 years later, I'm kinda looking back with regret that my grades were so mediocre from secondary school all the way to university. You can say anything about how passion rules and money can't buy you happiness, but it well and truly sucks when a good 80 per cent of your ex-schoolmates are high-flying lawyers and bankers and your only claim to fame was having interviewed Zoe Tay. I've also recently discovered that many bankers are top students who are groomed the minute they graduate from uni, so there goes my dreams of becoming a power-hungry investment banker rolling on a bed of dollar bills. Well, maybe in rupiah, but then I'm not terribly excited about rolling in Indonesian currency.

I'm not even coveting Chanel or Prada, but it would be nice to never have to worry about money. I can't help but have a bad case of green eyes when I see ex-schoolmates strutting the streets of New York and lounging in far-flung destinations decked out in the finest garb. Of course I'm fairly certain they work their asses off as much as I do and possibly even more, but I do know that I don't have the option of pursuing a career in law or banking because of my grades or lack thereof. Well, that and because I copped out and chose an arts degree. You've heard of lawyers becoming journalists, but never the other way round, right?

So kids, as much as I hate to be naggy and a total party pooper, study hard and get a good degree because the world will be your oyster and then you can do anything from being a CEO to hawking your own self-woven friendship bands off a cart (Junie's lifelong passion). As much as I worry that I'm going to turn into my mum, I'm going to be standing next to my kids with Magna Doodle in hand. JT

Yeah baby, my far-flung destination is back to my alma mater in Brisbane and my fine garb is an AUD$10 dress from Jay Jays and an AUD$5 discounted scarf from Portmans.

Another survey

2010-03-08T19:50:00.000+08:00

Calling all lazy daisies! I'm doing a story for busy women who don't have time to care for their skin. It'd be great if you could do the survey on the left side and get in touch with me if you're guilty of any of the listed beauty sins and you don't mind having a small photo of yourself and a short quote in a women's magazine.

Please don't be shy. I didn't get a single response the last time I asked for help, so it'd be truly awesome if you could help out this time.

Please drop me an email at blamethebubbly@gmail.com and we can take it from there. Thanks and look forward to hearing from you! JT

Super Suay-day

2010-03-07T23:00:00.011+08:00

It took me a while to get this post out because my ego is a little bruised from the event(s) I'm about to relate. But I think the best way to deal with it is to face it head-on (for lack of a better word; you'll know why in a minute) and what better way then to confess to the whole world right?

I DROVE AGAINST ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A ONE-WAY STREET. Okay. There. I said it.

It happened two Fridays ago. And it was the mother of all suay-ness that culminated a very suay day. I'll get to it soon, but let me start from the very first stroke of bad luck.

It all went downhill after lunch that day. I had to head to Arab Street for a team lunch and it was crazy crowded because the mosque nearby was having prayers. After repeatedly circling five adjacent and parallel streets for an hour and repeated calls from my boss, I eventually decided to park on a street nearby that had no double yellow lines. After the lunch, as I was walking back to the car with colleagues, I tripped over myself and off a curb and fell on all fours. I made such a ruckus, a table of dudes exclaimed loudly, which made it even more embarrassing. Besides bruising my ego, my knees were bruised and I'd grazed my foot. It started bleeding so much, I wondered whether I had a clotting problem.

Anyhow, as if that wasn't enough, when I reached the car, I saw that ominous white receipt-sized piece of paper flapping under my wipers. I'd been fined $50 for parking somewhere else other than a parking lot. That's because there weren't any parking lots, you morons!!! Despite everything, I tried to clutch at whatever straws of positivity that were left and told myself that there's really no such thing as a bad day. It's all mind over matter. Blah blah blah.

When I left the office at 9pm that night, Bern had asked if I could fetch him from Bugis, which was quite near to my office. So, I confidently made my way there, chuffed that I had made it there without getting lost. Little did I know that the worst had yet to come.

Bern had told me that I should turn near Tian Tian Huo Guo, so when I saw the resto, I made an immediate left and stopped the car to call him. He said he was just at the other end of the street, so all I had to do was drive across. Simple enough right? WRONG. I asked him, "Is this street a one-way or two-way street?" He said, "Which street are you on?" "Not sure, but it's the one right next to Tian Tian Huo Guo," I replied. "Yeah, it should be," he said.

So, I then embarked on the path of no return, oblivious to the "no entry" sign that was supposedly there and to all the cars parked at the sides of the street that were FACING me head-on. "It's bloody cramp for a two-way street," I thought to myself. About halfway down the street, amidst a sea of oncoming vehicles and humans, a sense of dread started to creep up on me. The realisation hit me like a ton of bricks when pedestrians started to point at me and give me dirty looks and motorists in oncoming cars honked at me and signalled to me that it was a one-way street and that I was obviously facing the wrong direction. I panicked, stopped the car and called Bern again, this time using a very frantic and accusatory tone, "I thought you said this was a two-way street! It's not! I'm stuck!" It really wasn't his fault because he didn't know exactly which street I was on.

Anyway, I told myself that I only had three metres more before the end of the street, so I forged forward when there was a brief lull in the traffic and stopped again when I saw a narrow turning on to the next street. Of all the darnest luck, right then, two uniformed cops materialised out of nowhere and I thought they were being helpful when one of them offered to direct me to the next street. The shit was just about to hit the fan.

Once I was "safe", the cop said, "It's very dangerous to drive against oncoming traffic, you know?" Duh. Like I needed reminding. "I need to see your licence and inspect your car." *gulp* "I'm going to give you a summon because it's very dangerous to drive against oncoming traffic." *double gulp + a sensation of needing to hurl*

"Can't you let me off with a warning? I have a clean track record and I really didn't know it was a one-way street. It's never happened before!" I pleaded. No such luck. "I'm just doing my job. And it's very dangerous what you just did. You can try to appeal when you receive the letter," he said.

By then, Bern had turned up and the situation was tense. Bern tried pleading on my behalf and the cop refused to show any mercy. In fact, he nearly wanted to give us another summon for forgetting to change our road tax decal to the updated one and made it clear to us that he was being "kind" by letting this other offence slip. Whatever. We could tell his partner felt really sorry for us.

His parting shot was classic, "You all okay to drive home? I know it's very tense right now, but stay cool and calm." Well, a**hole, why don't you try seeing how cool you feel amidst the chaos of driving against oncoming traffic, facing an angry mob and then getting treated like a freakin' criminal?! As if I wasn't traumatised enough driving against oncoming traffic on a busy Friday night. And it's not an offence I'm likely to repeat, regardless of whether I receive a fine or summon! I've a whole slew of expletives and nasty names I want to call that cop, but we're a classy blog, so I shall refrain. That said, I felt really stupid and horrid.

As I sat in the passenger's seat on the journey back, I burst into tears. It was just such a terrible and traumatising day. And when Junie called, she was shocked when I started crying. Sorry babe! But thanks for taking me out for some tipple. I really needed it!

I refused to get behind the wheel for the next couple of days. I'm back terrorising the local roads, but I'm finally willing to admit that I need to be more careful on the road. I was a tad indignant when Junie mentioned that I sometimes scare the bejesus out of her when I forget to check before I turn, especially when I'm lost or panicking. But when I told Bern what she said, he said something that made me realise that I really need to get my act together now that I'm driving regularly, "Well, I'll let others tell you because when I do it, you get upset."

Sigh. Despite a clean record (before this super suay-day) and a history of zero accidents (touch wood), I've come to realise that what I had before wasn't mad driving skillz, but divine protection. The reason I'm still alive is because someone is watching over me. But let's not tempt fate. For the sake of my loved ones and myself, I'm not going to take it for granted and start being more careful on the road. Better to be safe than sorry.

Whatever the case, I hope that days like these are far and few between. JT

Photo credit: 1

How Could You Be So Heartless?

2010-02-25T19:17:00.000+08:00

My mother cracks me up. She's not your run-of-the-mill big momma who just wants you to study hard, get good grades then become a doctor/lawyer/banker. My friends love hanging out with her because she's open, funny and very very cheeky!

Mom loves music, back when I was in school, her favourite song was Sex Bomb by Tom Jones and she wouldn't hesitate to sing it at the top of her voice even if my friends came over. At one point, she loved Amy Lee from Evanescence cos she thought she was super hot. Recently she's had a thing for Lady Gaga and Sean Kingston but this one song of Kris Allen doing a cover of Kanye West's Heartless made history in our memoirs of embarrassing moments... She made me record it as her ringtone so she could listen to it a million times a day.

Priding herself on being able to remember phone numbers, the mumsy refuses to save my number on her phone. Choosing to recognise my number and saying something silly upon picking up. One Sunday, a number similar to mine called my mom. Keep in mind that she transfers all her business lines to her mobile:

Mumsy: *sings thinking it's me* How could you be so heartless?

Caller: Hello?

Mumsy: *sings again* How could you be so heartless?

Caller: Hello??? Is the The Com Shop [My mum's biz]?

Mumsy: Oh yes! *embarrassed* This is The Com Shop, how may I help you Sir?

SHE SANG TO A COMPLETE STRANGER... When she told me, I laughed so hard but I knew this wasn't the last time she'd do something this silly! I love my Momma, she's the best! JY

Photo Credit: 1

Return to running

2010-02-25T01:42:00.010+08:00

I had a good evening. I got home while there was still light. I took a nap and when the hubbers got home, we went for a run together, talked and had supper. Initially, I wanted to be a lazy daisy and curl up on the sofa to watch CSI because it was almost 10pm, but Bern egged me into running, which I'm so glad he did.

Some 6km later, I'm glad we ran together, not just because it got my endorphins going, but also because it was just so nice catching up. It's funny how you can live under the same roof and sleep on the same bed, but miss out so much on each other's lives when you don't make the time.

I really want to get back my running groove, which has been out of whack since the half marathon ended. Running motivates and empowers me. I know it sounds like an ad, but it really does. It does more than just make me feel good. Right after a run, I feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.

I want Bern and I to do this more often. It's good for us. Baby boy, let's head towards our first marathon together. You and me. At the finish line. JT

Tick tock. Where did all the time go?

2010-02-24T01:58:00.005+08:00

I thought I was done for the month and that I could finally take a breather, but somehow more work crept up on me and before I knew it, I just spent another late night in the office. If it isn't because I love what I do so much, I would've thrown in the towel a long time ago.

That said, I feel sad that all my grand plans and good intentions to go for runs, catch up with friends/my sister and spend some quality time with the hubbers were laid to waste this past week. I managed a few dinners here and there, but even then, I had to keep my dinner companions waiting because of deadlines. In the mornings, I practically have to scrape myself off the bed with an imaginary spatula.

When Junie asked me out last Friday night, I passed on it, which is unheard of! I NEVER turn down a night of bubbly, booze and dancing! But I was so pooped, I was passing out on my friend's sofa. I spent my weekend catching up on sleep. I looked in the mirror earlier and I swear my jowls are starting to sag. I feel old and haggard.

I don't want to feel this way and I don't want to lead this life. I don't want my friends, family and husband to think they aren't important because they are possibly the next best things in my life after God. I don't want to feel tired, be sedentary and unhealthy. I don't want to age faster than I should. I don't want to regret. Is there some way I can have my cake and eat it too? JT

Photo credit: 1

Dong dong dong chiang!

2010-02-18T20:59:00.013+08:00

Work and CNY ate me alive, which is why I've been MIA. The irony is that even though February has a shitload of holidays, I'm more stressed out because I have less time to clear my deadlines and a ton of reunion dinners to attend. Add to that doling out a ton of red packets with no return on my investment. When I was a kid, the cheena songs and crazy hot days of visiting were all worth it because folks gave me free money at the end of the day, so why not? There's really nothing in it for me now, except to get pudgy on bak kwa, pineapple tarts and almond sugee.

Regular folks have ONE reunion dinner to attend, but do I follow convention? NO. I'm special, so I have THREE reunion dinners - one with the hubber's family, one with my mum's side of the family and another with my dad's side of the family. There are really more lo heis than I care for because I normally wouldn't eat copious amounts of shredded cucumber and carrot on any given day. Add to that a complicated visitation plan and my holidays aren't really a holiday at all.

I never understood the complicated visitation plan. I just did it because I had to and because I couldn't weasel out if it. Don't get me wrong. I like most of my relatives. But I never understood the concept of warming someone's sofa for 30 minutes right after having met them at another relative's home. Imagine all that coordination - making sure said relative is home and trying to occupy that awkward interim time slot of an hour and a half while you wait for relative to get home - just to pop over for 30 minutes, drink a gallon of soft drinks and imbibe more calorie-ridden snacks. Doesn't help that some relatives consider it their given right to quiz you on your reproductive abilities and comment on your age and/or size.

Oranges are another matter all together. You start your day with pristine ones and by the time you're done exchanging them back and forth, you end up with dodgy pock-marked ones, or worse still, mouldy ones. And because you only brought those two buggers out, you don't have a choice but to keep the exchange going and the next person you pass them on to eyes you suspiciously when they see your dubious fruit. If it were up to me, there'd just be one heck of a fiesta, with bubbly of course, and we'd call it a day.

I was up to my ears in CNY that I even forgot Valentine's Day! So much for being in the mood for love. By the time the holidays rolled past, I was tired, lardy and suffering panic attacks from a combination of too much sugar and lurking deadlines. So, tell me again, what's there not to love about Chinese New Year? JT

Photo credit: 1

White is the New Black

2010-02-18T10:07:00.000+08:00

I've always been a fair skinned child. When I was born, my momma took one look at me and said, "Wow, she sure looks like a Sumo Wrestler!" I was as white as tofu and as chubby as the Pillsbury Doughboy and I loved it.

I lost my light skinned glow in primary school because I was a huge netball nut. I played in the sun whenever I could and who ever heard of SPF50 back then? Now, at this age, I'm getting paranoid. My aunts and older colleagues tell me they never bothered about their skin when they were young and now the pigmentation on their arms and faces tell a story of regret and the lack of education about sun protection.

I admit it's always nice to have a sexy tan and yes, tanned skin makes you look skinnier! But to hell with looking sexy now and living with hyper-pigmentation years down the road. Which is why I am now doing my best to prevent my skin from aging rapidly.

My current routine:

1. Upon waking, I wash my face with a face wash which is a part of a Whitening Range from Clarins.

2. I apply the serum, moisturizer (which contains SPF20) and an SPF30 Face Sun block from the same range.

3. I apply NIVEA's SPF30 Sunblock w Collagen all over my body even when I'm working from home because you still get bits of sun throughout the day through open windows and running errands require SPF50.

4. I take an oral sunblock which lasts 6 hrs with my breakfast and if I know I'll be exposed to the sun for longer periods, I take two.

5. Finally, I carry an umbrella with me wherever I go. It may not make a huge difference but I really believe that the kind with a silvery coating actually help reflect the sun's rays more efficiently.

Yes I do sound like a crazy person but I believe although the sun is what gives this Earth life and it chases away the blues, you can't have too much of a good thing! So today, I'm heading out to buy myself a nice new brolly and maybe a good pair of shades. Click this cute L'oreal website that teaches adults and kids on proper sun protection.

So please protect your skin before you step out ok? You don't want to look like a leathery Gucci bag by the time you're 35! JY

First Coach, Last Choice

2010-02-12T11:59:00.001+08:00

The boy was heading back to Malaysia for an extended CNY holiday so I decided to tag along just for 3 short days before heading back to Singapore to celebrate with my family. I craved the legendary char siew and I needed a short break.

We took First Coach from The Plaza at Beach Road cos it alights close to where we usually stay in PJ and we've always had a decent and relaxing ride back. However, this recent ride back changed our minds totally.

What started out as a nice sleep-inducing bus ride turned out to be a real wake-up call for all those Positive Pollys who think the world is a safe place. The boy brought traditional Chinese red packets filled with a fair amount of cash for his family and placed them in his large laptop bag. With only 3 passengers on the bus, we were actually outnumbered by the staff on board. Feeling safer than usual, we took intermittent naps on the bus.

Finally when it came time to get off the bus, we had so many bags and were left scrambling to alight. The boy, myself and the only other passenger (a lost looking Cambodian lady) made our way to the First Coach waiting lounge when suddenly, the boy realised he left his bag on the bus!

I immediately spoke to the ladies at the counter and asked them to ask the bus to come back right away because we left our bag behind but she said they were at a gas station and they'd be back shortly. We waited worrying 30 mins and when they showed up, we checked the bag and there was money was missing.

Oh the horrid feeling of realisation was unbearable!

We turned around and all 3 staff who came in contact with the bag disappeared! We asked for them to return and we questioned them one by one. They denied everything and we had no proof. But hey, no one else came into contact with the bag! I'm not saying they did it for sure but what do you think? Finally we left, made a police report and went home.

Story doesn't end here guys... When I was leaving Malaysia yesterday, I wanted to make sure that I wasn't going to be on the same bus as those guys cos I was travelling alone and I really didn't wanna be left behind at a rest stop. So we called First Coach to check which drivers etc and it turned out to be the same damn bus and drivers! The boy asked them to transfer my ticket to another bus. Under such circumstances, it would be understandable as to why I want to change buses right? They flatly refused, saying it's company policy.

Do you now know why I will never EVER use First Coach again? You get stolen from and then while feeling so miserable from the loss, they refuse to help you out by making an exception and changing your ticket to an equally empty bus as the one you're changing from. Being careless and stolen from is one thing but being subject to an unhelpful and inflexible company is unacceptable by my standards.

I am disappointed and angry. If management from First Coach is reading, it's about time you came to talk to me and not hide in your offices hoping this bad review will go away. It won't! For all travellers, this incident has set an example to all their staff that they can steal and get away with it so don't say I didn't warn you about travelling with them.

Photo Credit: 1

Softness Maximus

2010-02-05T17:56:00.000+08:00

I am guilty of always buying cheap kicks that kill my feet. My battle-scarred feet tell gruesome stories of how I paid $19.90 to torture them on a daily basis and if they could write a memoir, I would obviously be the monster who never gave them a chance at happiness despite them supporting me for the last 3 decades.

So I got these babies last week and I saw the light. These shoes are atrociously comfortable, lamb skin la and they look cute too! In my defense, I never saw a point in paying a premium to murder your feet but at a 20% discount, these kicks were so affordable. I gave up 2 buffet sessions just so I could start the healing process of my poor tortured feet.

I love you guys (my feet), thanks for helping me get around and most of all thanks for not giving up on me! Going forward, we'll have beautiful adventures filled with pedicures, spas and good shoes. *hugs* Next in line, a paid of Geox shoes, I heard they're good! Junie

Help is needed by this bubbly girl

2010-02-04T13:33:00.000+08:00

Hi y'all. Sorry to be such a nag. But I've got this amazing little poll to the left which I hope you can help me with. It's for work and I'll end up on the streets selling tissue if you don't help me.

There are like all of FIVE questions and you don't have to leave any personal details behind. Just click and go! It'll probably take you a couple of minutes at most. Don't be a stranger mm'kay! Help this bubbly chica! Thanks a mil! =) JT

The Sleep Wrecker

2010-02-03T07:02:00.001+08:00

I love my boyfriend to bits. He's funny, smart and kind. Generous with compliments, cuddles and kisses. He is as close as I could get to perfection in a partner but his nocturnal symphony of the nose and throat makes me want to stab him with a fork.

In short, the boy SNORES! Like a friggin' lumberjack!

At the start of relationship, I found sleeping impossible till I got a pair of ear plugs. I owe it to those two beautiful squishy pieces of foam because they saved our relationship. Recently, I realised they don't work anymore... The snoring is somehow amplified and sometimes it actually reverberates throughout the room. *a sad little tear just slid off my cheek*

One night, I wasn't feeling crash hot so we decided to sleep without the a/c and guess what!? He snored less! It was magical! Then we were in Hokkaido where the weather was -10 at night and guess who came to visit again? Yep, Mr Snorelikeaneffingmonster!

My question is, do I just learn to sleep without the a/c or should I just invest in industrial strength earplugs?JY

Please help!

2010-02-02T16:27:00.002+08:00

I don't usually ask for help on this blog, but hey, desperate times call for desperate measures! I need you smart multi-tasking women to provide me with tips on how you save time on your morning beauty and makeup routines for a story.

Please drop me an email at blamethebubbly@gmail.com with your nifty advice, a high-res (300KB or above) photo of yourself (just a head shot will do), your name, age and occupation (company name not necessary). I'll reply with details of when and where this story will appear and clarify any concerns you might have. Don't worry about your photo being blown up to gargantuan proportions. It'll be the size of your NRIC photo or smaller on the page.

I know most of you aren't a vocal bunch, but I really need your help, so pleasssssse help! I'll be waiting patiently by my inbox. Thank you! JT

Justina's Birthday

2010-02-02T06:55:00.003+08:00

Justina, the other bubbly addict celebrated her birthday in December and it was not easy keeping the surprise party a surprise. I was roped in by her darling hubby because of my flawless acting skillz but she smelled a rat just because I told her I had to go meet a client halfway thru dinner! And that was the truth... so much for the truth setting you free huh?

As we walked through the door of her apartment, Bern, Sofi and Benny popped out with a cake but the birthday girl was not as surprised as I expected. No biggie though cos the darling hubby had something else up his sleeve. Bern is the master of super dooper surprises, especially for the love of his life.

Yes, that biatch got a Balenciaga! Not cheap okay... This is true true true love. Despite all dirty looks the boys gave Bern, he managed to soldier on and appeased the other hubby and boyfriend with amazing Butter and Chilli Crabs from Mellben. What a smart cookie eh?

No I'm not jealous of the beautiful branded bag guys, I know I can borrow it anytime. Right babe? ;) As long as I bubble wrap it at all times... I much prefer some gold bars or a title deed to a pretty little house. Yes I am practical that way :) I kid, I kid... I'm just glad my partner in crime had an awesome birthday and a truckload of bubbly w me at the Shang. Love you heaps Boomz! You're the best! JY

Hokkaido Twenty Ten

2010-02-01T17:58:00.000+08:00

Quite easily the best holiday EVER! With very little shopping and day after day of hitting the slopes, the beautiful powder snow helped improve my pathetic snowboarding skills. The 5 bedroom chalet which housed our group of 10 comfortably was top-notch. Fresh Powder Apartments Rocked Our Socks!

I'm a shopping kinda girl and with nothing much to purchase near the slopes I had to settle for a 30min walk to the closest supermarket and fortunately stumbled upon a 100YEN store... Ahhhh bliss! Billy was the best, he patiently shopped with me while the only two Indians in Furano, Hokkaido shopped their little hearts out too. I bought pretty mittens in black, silver and gold.. for 105Yen!

If you're looking for a nice holiday with amazing powder every single day, Furano, Hokkaido is the place to be. A sleepy town with no long queues for the chairlift and service to die for... you'll be spoiled rotten!

Leave a message or send me an email to find out more if you're planning to go. It snows from Late November to Early May. Excellent for snow bunnies :) JY

From the Land of the Rising Sun to the Land of endless deadlines

2010-01-28T01:57:00.005+08:00

The husband and I were total camwhores in Tokyo and for posterity's sake, we took photos of everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Including 101 permutations of the cheesy kawaii "V" sign, a protest for or against foreigners; I'm not sure which (a deduction I made based on the kanji characters on the banners) and a real yakuza whose photo I can't post lest his gang lops his finger off for flouting the code of secrecy. The trip was for work, so it was a pretty short getaway, but we had fun and it gave us some much-needed time together. One of the highlights of the trip was the serendipitous meeting with the yakuza dude, which was pretty surreal. I'll talk more about that in another post.

I had lofty plans to do an extensive series of entries to showcase our time there, but since the new year rolled round, I've barely had time to breathe. I was up till the wee hours every day for the entire week before I left for Japan and it's been more of the same since I got back in the wee hours of Monday morning. And it promises to get even busier over the next few weeks and months. I'm tired and I feel lardy from the relentless bingeing in Tokyo and not having exercised for more than three weeks.

I will get down to rolling out those photos and entries when I'm a little less swamped. In the meantime, dai suki, okarada o daiji ni! Sugu ni modoru! JT

Land of the Rising Sun

2010-01-23T10:01:00.000+08:00

While Justina left for Tokyo on Wednesday, I'm still stuck here under a mountain of winter clothing prepping for my own little getaway. I'm also bound for the Land of the Rising Sun but more towards the ski slopes of Hokkaido. Every year we try to do at least one winter holiday where we get to indulge for days in powder.

This time we're super psyched cos we have a massive group of 10. Carefully planned by B, he seriously put in so much time and effort into this whole trip. I can't wait to hit the slopes with him the moment we arrive :) Stay tuned for pics! I so need an onsen bath the moment I get there, this week has been phwoar for the lack of a better word.

* I hope that girl w the macerated thumb doesn't go easy on the shopping while in Tokyo, don't forget to buy me something luvvie!!! I doubt there's much to shop for in Hokkaido. JY

Photo Credit: 1

Follow-up on thumb (*Warning: Gross pic at end of post)

2010-01-12T23:57:00.002+08:00

The thumb doesn't hurt as much as it did two days ago, but it doesn't seem to be healing too well. I went in for a review today and it looked like a piece of mouldy bak kwa. It was a different doctor today and he gently reprimanded me, "You've gone and gotten it wet, haven't you?" I was so sure I hadn't because I had made so much effort to prevent my thumb from coming in contact with anything wet or even vaguely moist. I only wash four fingers and half of my left palm and as much as possible, I use only my right hand. Even when bathing, I have a ginormous plastic bag with a rubber band sealing it at the wrist.

But there was the proof - a wrinkly mess under the bandage. All the doctors can't stop using the word "macerated" when they see my wound, I'm starting to imagine my thumb as a mushy peach or cherry. I hadn't actually taken a really close look at my wound till today because the doctor wanted to air it for 30 minutes before putting on a fresh dressing. So I was staring at it and snapping pictures of it. It really did look quite gross and I was wondering what exactly happened at the very moment the blade cut my skin. It all happened so swiftly, I thought the cut would've been clean. And yet, the wound looked almost as if a small savage animal had gnawed at it for a bit.

Whatever it is, my precious fingers are NEVER coming in contact with a razor blade ever again. You never truly appreciate each and every part of your body until you can't use it or have difficulty doing so. So you think a finger's just a finger, right? Lose one and you've still got nine. But losing temporary mobility on my thumb alone has already been frustrating me no end. When I'm driving, I need my right hand to help change gears because I can't press the button with my thumb without it hurting. The slightest movements on my left hand sometimes send a jolt through the nerve endings in my thumb, so I avoid using my left hand unnecessarily. I have to manage all my personal hygiene matters with one hand, including bathing and washing my face. Even carrying things get a little awkward cos' I can't really grip with my left hand. I feel more klutzy than normal. It didn't help that I developed a rash yesterday from the painkiller I had taken the night before (Yes, I succumbed. What?! Like you wouldn't have done the same! =P) I know I've been going on about this for quite a bit, but then again, it isn't every day that you get a serious shaver wound. And I intend to keep it that way - a one-off occurrence, not an everyday one!

I can't imagine how people who have lost fingers, limbs or mobility of their limps cope. I have newfound respect for them. Bern once told me about this dude who lost a few fingers in a factory accident and couldn't make a claim from his insurance company over a technicality. Apparently, he was only insured from the wrist up. What the...?!

As my wound isn't healing as well as had been hoped, I have to go in for another review on Thursday. I really hope I can remove the stitches on Sunday as initially forecasted, but seeing the progress and multiple follow-ups, I'm not sure if it's possible. It's really amusing how such a small injury by a seemingly harmless object can cause so much chaos. It's all so dramatic, it's ridiculous. As the treatment for the wound escalates, I become increasingly embarrassed to relate how I sustained it. People get their hands stuck in meat grinders or under a car, but I got cut by a ladies' shaver. How classy is that? JT

Can you believe a shaver did this?

Gash or lash?

2010-01-10T19:35:00.019+08:00

Doesn't this look like a handiplast ad?

I was gonna blog about my eyelash extensions, but something even more worthy arose! Though far less pleasant. I gashed my left thumb with my Gillette Venus shaver yesterday and ended up with four stitches, an anti-tetanus shot, painkillers, a three-day MC and a five-day course of antibiotics today. I know it all sounds a little drastic for a shaver-induced wound (it's technically not a shaving wound since I didn't sustain it while shaving), but believe you me, it hurts like a bitch and then some. Damn you, Gillette! First, you cut Tiger Woods off and now you cut my thumb. My friend says maybe it's time to do IPL.

The whole incident is inconvenient, embarrassing and funny all at once. I had a dinner gathering at my place last night and while I would have preferred to say that I injured myself while whipping up delicacies in the kitchen, I had to regale my guests with the pathetic tale of how I cut myself on my shaver, but not while shaving.

I was cleaning shaving cream residue off the shaving blade as I always do when I shower, in the direction of the blade of course, but somehow, I must have lost concentration or was in a hurry and abruptly went against the grain. Bad move. I was bleeding all over the shower. I quickly finished up, got out, applied pressure and slapped on a couple of plasters, which soaked through rapidly. I immediately asked my girlfriend to buy me the most waterproof, heavy-duty plasters she could find. I slapped two of those on and went about preparing dinner. She was a sweetie and did most of the slicing and dicing (of the ingredients, not my thumb - I had already done that myself).

So this morning, I was acting like a real pussy and asking Bern to change my icky plaster for me. And it was still bleeding like a fresh wound! He took one look and went, "What did you do to yourself?! I think you need stitches." I was like, "No way. I got this from a freakin' shaver, not a kitchen knife."

Anyhow, he was right. We headed to the A & E after church and I felt a bit retarded relating how I got the gash. It probably ranked right up there on the doctor's list of strange patients, like the guy who walks in with a wineglass stuck up his ass. The doctor gave me the same expression Bern gave me and went, "You left it like that overnight? It's a bit macerated. I think you sliced off some skin, so you'll need stitches. You'll also need an anti-tetanus shot just to be safe. And since you left it overnight, I'm going to give you antibiotics just in case."

So there I was lying in the minor OT, with Bern beside me cackling like a witch over my brilliance, having stitches for an injury for the first time in my life. The anaesthetic stung a bit, but the rest was a breeze. Until the anaesthetic started to wear off about an hour ago; now it hurts like hell. My left arm is all achy from the jab too. And there I was thinking the doctor was underestimating my pain threshold by giving me painkillers. That said, I'm gonna hold out as long as I can cos' it's too lame to take painkillers for a cut on my thumb. I don't know. We'll see.

Now my thumb is all wrapped up and I'm not supposed to get it wet. Like, how is that even possible?! I'll need to train my right hand to double up. Review is in two days and stitches come off in a week. Surely, this is more common than I think it is. Surely there's a group of "special" people out there who have stitches on their digits from shaver-induced injuries, yes? It's a little quiet in here. I think I might have developed a mild phobia of my monster shaver. I was contemplating leaving my legs unshaven this morning until vanity got the better of me.

So yes, that was my exciting weekend. On a less morbid note, I heart my eyelash extensions! A bit of a hassle to care for, but I don't have to draw eyeliner with these babies! But considering how klutzy and rough I am, I don't think I could upkeep this in the long run. Doesn't help that I can only wash my face with one hand now. Oh well, at least it wasn't my right hand. JT

Snuffleupagus can eat my dust!

First post of 2010

2010-01-03T23:55:00.002+08:00

Just one of the many insane spreads I've had over the past coupla weeks. Burp.

Okay, so this post is way overdue. Whateva. We probably should have done a last post of 2009 as well, but as always, something or other got in the way. Too much food. Too much bubbly. Too many celebrations. So what's new, eh? I just couldn't be arsed to update anywhere when all I wanted to do was curl up and snooze after filling up on festive grub and booze.

I don't mean to sound negative and ungrateful for all the year-end/new year festivities, but it can be so exhausting. A million birthday, Christmas and New Year dinners later, my taste buds are suffering from sensory overload, my digestive system has taken a real beating, my liver is probably in the early stages of Cirrhosis and I feel more than a little tox-ed. I could do well with more soup, porridge and early nights. I've been wrapping endless presents over these past two weeks, I think I might actually have developed a phobia of scissors, scotch tape and wrapping paper.

I haven't really given 2010 much thought. In fact, I think I might have just tripped into it. That said, I do have dreams and hopes for 2010, it being a brand new year and the turn of a decade and all. The cynic in me tells me to manage my expectations but the believer in me wants to have faith that it's gonna be an awesome, special and productive year.

All said and done, I'm a little worried about having to snap out of the festive mood after two languid long weekends and going full throttle at work from tomorrow. There are so many changes at work, it's all a little overwhelming. I want to say that I'm excited about all the new challenges, but frankly, I'm a little scared and a little hesitant about the changes.

I like my comfort zone, but I hope all this means that I'm moving on to bigger and better things in life. Like German scientist Georg C. Lichtenberg said, "I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better." (I obviously googled this quote. As if I would ever know what a German physicist would say!)

I hope that 2010 will be a good one for us and for y'all. Happy New Year from us here at Blame the Bubbly! May it be filled with happiness and more bubbly good times! JT

Merry Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T07:28:00.003+08:00

Christmas is my favourite time of the year.

This is my 3rd Christmas back home since returning from Melbourne and every single one has been magical. Not because of the pressies I get or the copious amount of food I manage to cook up every Christmas Eve. I love Christmas because I get to spend it with family. I look at their happy faces and it gives me goosebumps because I can't believe how blessed I am to be loved by such an awesome bunch.

2009 was a tough year for some people. Jobs were lost and families broken up. Take a long hard look at your life and if you have just one thing to be thankful for, then you are one lucky ducky. Take this time of the year to assist someone who might need a helping hand. Do something nice this year. Donate some food or money to your favourite charity or even pick up the phone to call someone you haven't spoken to in ages.

The feeling of doing good is euphoric, I get such a buzz from being a good girl and helping out the less fortunate. So tell me, are you going to be Naughty or Nice this Christmas? JY

Photo Credit: 1

Hiroki88@Infusion

2009-12-24T09:19:00.000+08:00

Junji-san and his lovely missus invited the boy and I out for a the soft launch of a newly opened fusion resto headed by Chef Hiroki. The handsome young chap came out to talk to us after his service and at just 29, he's had an awesome career. For the last 2 years he trained in Paris under a 3 Star Michelin Chef and with a fine dining background, he was mentored by culinary greats like Iron Chef winner Chef Sakai Hirokyuki. Now, who doesn't love Iron Chef? C'mon.... Billy thought he found his new BFF when Chef Hiroki said he loved Basketball and Snowboarding!

We were wow-ed by his unexpected creations and it was an adventure with every course. B and I had the 5 course dinner and it totally blew our minds. The risotto I had with my fish was a bit undercooked but overall, it was superb!

Shrimp with Deep Fried Mozzarella

Foie Gras w Miso Sauce

Tuna Tataki w Daikon

Pan Seared Foie Gras w Fried Egg (ZOMG!)

Snapper w Risotto and Shimeji Mushrooms

Pan Fried Meikajiki (Swordfish)

Chocolate and Banana Tart

A 5 course dinner is $68++ and let me know what you think.
Block 16A Dempsey Road. Call for reservations: 6474 7896 JY

iBusy

2009-12-24T08:41:00.004+08:00

Yes, I know it's been a while since my last post.

Why don't they have a proper BLOGGER app for the iPhone? Beats me but I know I said I would treasure Blackie till he was paper thin but c'mon guys, the iPhone has changed my life. Who needs friend or even a boyfriend when you have the iPhone? I kid... you do need peeps who care and a boy to love! Plus Blackie's ringer kinda died on me... just to make sure I got ALL my calls, Blackie had to be right in front of me at ALL times. Sad I know.

So yes, please say hello to my little friend!

Turning 29 isn't so bad

2009-12-22T04:00:00.011+08:00

The celebrations started on Friday evening and carried on through a decadent weekend of bubbly and binging, as was par for the course. I hate to sound self-absorbed, but I really felt quite special after discovering all the sacrifice my sweetest and most amazing hubby made to make my birthday an awesome one and the effort my friends made to be part of it.

Step one was of course to lie to me. He told me that he couldn't spend my birthday with me, but I didn't smell a rat because it'd happened before. But things got a little fishy when by midday, there was still no sign of a bouquet or present. Before you accuse me of being materialistic, I have to explain that in previous years, Bern often couldn't wait to give me my birthday pressie and would slip it under my pillow or some lame hiding place at the stroke of midnight. So I rang him up and went, "Where's my present?!" He made up some tall tale about how it hadn't arrived and the whole lot and even threw in a tinge of disappointment in his voice for effect.

So, to cut the long story short, I was supposed to pick Junie and Billy up and meet Sid at a resto near my home for dinner, so in the car, Junie said Sid was running late and suggested I drop my gazillion bags off at home first. Needless to say, when I walked into the dark living room, Bernard popped out from the shadows with a cake and some of my bestest friends - Sofi and Beni. The makan guru wanted to turn up, but she was tied up with work (she played along when I sounded a tad disappointed that Bernard couldn't spend my birthday with me. She totally had me! These people sure can fib well!) We then sat down to a dinner of Mellben crabs, which were absolutely delish!

Somewhere in the middle of the day when I didn't receive a present or a phone call from him, I suspected he had something up his sleeve. After all, I am the queen of planning surprises, so I can read all the signs. Nonetheless, I was so stoked that he did it anyway. He actually took half the day off to clean up the place for the surprise! So touched!

I thought the whole surprise and crab dinner were the bee's knees, but he totally blew me away after the dinner with his present. It wasn't because it was expensive or that it was my first bonafide designer bag, but it was about how generous he was with me. We've never been a couple that had to spend extravagantly on birthday gifts for it to mean something. He could have gotten me yet another pair of running shoes and I would have been happy. But it touched my heart that he got me a gift that really cost him something. He told me that he wanted to do it because of the difficult year that we'd been through and I felt so undeserving of him and of the gift because he had it a lot harder than I did, yet there he was giving me credit for his bravery. I couldn't have found a better husband and friend, Balenciaga bag notwithstanding.

As expected, Jujubee and I ended the evening with bubbly at The Shang. I traipsed there all the way from Takashimaya in four-inch heels! It was a very nice birthday indeed, even if it is my last year in the 20s. I'm not so much anxious about the actual age as I am about not having accomplished enough in life. But with wonderful friends and an amazing husband, I don't need to scale Mount Everest to be on top of the world. Thank you, guys. Y'all mean the world to me. JT

My birthday loot

Of course my hatch-day wouldn't be complete without bubbly.

No prizes for guessing who gave it to me. ;)

With my bubbly babe

I love you

The elixir of youth

2009-12-13T23:54:00.007+08:00

It's extremely depressing when all you see on your birthday cake are candles. And a bunch of nuts. It's like being caught between a rock and a hard place. Or a burning house and the nut house. Or between a tree and an angry wife with a golf club. You get the idea. Yes, I'm having pre-30 anxiety. For all you peeps who say 30 is the new 20, I like being in my 20s aight! And I'm gonna cling on for dear life to my last year in the 20s. Just try prying my gnarly claws away from my youth. I'll drink the blood of young nubile virgins if I have to. Rawr! JT

I'm going slightly mad

2009-12-12T01:25:00.000+08:00

Freddie Mercury...going slightly mad

I've had ringing in my ears since Monday. It makes me feel like I'm out at sea, but not in a good way. Is it a sign of madness?! JT

My Running History

2009-12-11T19:12:00.006+08:00

So yes, from Justina's posts, you probably figured we made it to the finish line in one piece and super proud of making it without passing out, puking or breaking anything. I'm still on Cloud 9 from finishing the race. The seasoned runner would be back at the jogging track prepping for the next race but I feel like kicking back and savouring my personal victory.

I was a really active kid and I used to play netball all throughout primary school and a bit of secondary school but I really hated running. It was pointless and in Singapore's wonderfully tropical weather, absolute murder!

First came the 1.6km in primary school. I remember running around the school field (which was tiny) 8 times or something. Then came the 2.4km. That was wayyyyy to long for me... I walked it all the way with some girls and failed the National Fitness Test. Even while doing my diploma, they made us do the 2.4km as well! I walked that too and someone said, "Oh if you don't pass it, they won't give you your diploma!" I ran for dear life!

One look at my jello thighs and you know this biatch ain't no runner so completing this race was a big thing for me. As I approached the finish line, the air felt super-charged, I knew this was one thing no one could take away from me. So no promises that I will do 42km because I love my knees and I want them around till I'm an old fart :) JY

Running w you Rocks my Socks!

A lifesaver for the directionally-challenged

2009-12-08T20:55:00.020+08:00

Obi should not be allowed to drive without a Garmin-Asus Smart Phone. Bad dog!

I'm not usually the sort to sign up for contests or participate in lucky draws because I have arse luck. The only time I won anything in a contest was a consolation prize of chocolate Horlicks and Horlicks Malties from Young Generation (that awesome kids' mag with Acai, the police constable!)

But when I saw Nuffnang's email in my inbox about winning a Garmin-Asus Smart Phone, I got all excited! I can't read maps and everybody knows I've got the worst sense of direction. My sister, my hubby and my girlfriends' husbands and boyfriends have all received frantic phone calls from me (before you call me a hussy for calling my girlfriends' partners, know that most of my girlfriends have equally shite road sense, so no point in calling them) asking for directions whilst driving. I've had too many panic attacks from getting hopelessly lost. In fact, I might've almost popped a vein on several occasions. Junie can attest to my lack of road sense.

When I went down under (Australia, for you perves out there) with Bern this year, a friend loaned us his Garmin GPS, which was a dream come true. It totally saved us from being stranded in the outback. True story. Compared to another brand of GPS loaned to us by another friend, the Garmin was infinitely superior in accuracy and ease of usage. I promptly bought one through Amazon, but the sad part is I haven't gotten the gizmo up and running because I'm not just a procrastinator, I'm also quite retarded when it comes to setting up machines. Also, the hassle of having to stow away the GPS each time I leave the car has put me off using it, so I might just sell it.

So, naturally, marrying a mobile phone and a GPS seems to be the obvious answer to all my directional woes! The Garmin-Asus G60 is voice-prompted and has turn-by-turn directions that speaks street names (a must-have because I don't understand when I'm told to "turn left in 200 metres"). Its virtual QWERTY keyboard makes keying in street names a breeze. I drive a lot for work, so it helps if I don't have to do any more frantic searches on streetdirectory.com and attempt to decipher the maps and directions. It's all Greek to me! (I don't do maps, remember?) I'll never get lost on the road or in the deserted woods ever again. If I win the Garmin-Asus G60 that is. I'll be the perfect poster girl for the Garmin-Asus G60 because I'll need to use it ALL.THE.TIME.

So, Nuffnang and the powers that be, I've never asked for anything from you. But if you're listening, please give me the Garmin-Asus G60! It'll save me a lot on petrol and make life less stressful for me. And you could potentially save lives - mine and those who share the roads with me. Do the right thing! JT

Bragging rights

2009-12-08T14:37:00.000+08:00

Yes, we still can't get over the fact that we completed a half marathon with all our bones and organs intact.

So here are our race results:

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2009 (Half Marathon - Women 21.1km)
Junie took: 03:21:44
Justina took: 03:17:47

Yes, we are awesome. Thank you very much.

JT

Try to Remember!

2009-12-08T10:17:00.000+08:00

I woke up on Monday morning aching like a freakazoid and the Boy promised me a lovely post-race massage when he got home from work. Arriving home from work, I welcomed him home and wore my finisher's medal all throughout dinner (delish fish head curry made by mumsy) as a reminder of what a survivor I was AND that he owed me a well deserved massage!

After dinner, he lumbered into the room and was quiet for a good hour or so. I realised he was napping while I watched my Korean drama. He soon woke up, took a shower and came back in to give the promised massage. I was delighted! As I was enjoying the massage and drifting off to sleepyland, the Boy suddenly said, "Hey baby, can you try to remember this massage?"

WTF dude? Try to remember this massage? How do I enjoy it then?

He then said a little bashfully, "So that you know how I like to be massaged next time..." *hint hint* You give crappy-ass massages, you need to learn from the pro!

BAH! No such thing as a free lunch/massage! Should have known... Still, I must thank you baby for the awesome massage. Pity I have such a bad memory :P JY

Photo Credit: 1

We are the champions, my friends

2009-12-06T22:05:00.019+08:00

We did it! And yes babe, your bangs are still in place. (As you can tell, those are my fav running shorts.) ;)

So as expected, we had to have a post-race post just to let you know that we not only survived our first half marathon, but did it in classic bubbly style - making crass jokes and groovin' to Lady Gaga along the way. I couldn't have asked for a better partner to run my first 21k race with. We were side by side for a good 16km before we parted ways. The first 10km was filled with fun and laughter, but we both fell a tad silent when the lactic acid started to attack us.

Jujubee is a true fighter. Despite a mid-race attack of the munchies and fatigue at the 16km mark, she forged forward and finished just a smidgen behind me. I don't mean to brag, but I'm really so proud of us. From two very slothful chicas who only understood the language of bubbly, burgers and languid afternoons in front of the telly, we've now progressed to pounding the pavement and bonding over pain. It may not be much to others, but to us, it's a big deal. We've come a long way, baby.

The race wasn't without its fair share of worry. I loathed the prospect of not finishing, so I had pre-race jitters. I tossed and turned all night and kept feeling like I needed to crap before the race started. Thank God I didn't toot during the race (not that I would ever admit to it)! But once the buzzer went off, all that went to the back of my mind. Eyes on the prize. I'm so glad we were blessed with beautiful weather - no rain and no sun. Junie and I would have so wilted in the heat.

Although this is the last race of 2009, I'm really looking forward to many more races with the Jubetube. There's really nothing like finishing a race with one of your bestest friends in the world. 42k next year, babe?

"We are the champions, my friends
And we'll keep on fighting - till the end"
JT

The race face

2009-12-04T16:25:00.001+08:00

Tell me this isn't a face of determination.

Well, it could've also been a "I need to take a crap right now" face, but let's just presume it was a face of perseverance and determination. Rawr! JT

Pick your battles

2009-12-02T20:58:00.002+08:00

Lately, I've been feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps it's the year-end syndrome. Perhaps it's all the changes at work. Perhaps it's the transition to living on our own. Anyhow, there are days when I look at all my deadlines, the new portfolio, all the dirty laundry and the untrained-for half marathon looming at the end of the week and can't help but feel like the wind has been knocked out of my sails.

There are just so many levels of struggle in life that we transition through the years. At 18, it's about falling in love with two boys simultaneously (that's why chicks love the Twilight series). At 28, it's about scraping together enough money to start a new life with your partner. At 35, it's about work, kids, family and keeping your marriage going. At 45, it's struggling with the fact that you are nearing 50. At 50, it's struggling with menopause and a myriad of health problems. At 60, it's the empty nest syndrome. From 70 onwards, it's about keeping your fingers crossed that the good Lord keeps you sprightly to a ripe old age before giving you an easy exit from this world.

Then I read about people dealing with the loss of a child, with illness, with more pain than anyone should have to go through and I feel lucky. But I also realise that learning to cope isn't really about your struggles being less important than others', but about picking your battles. Who's to say you won't have to face a giant some day? So when I look at people in different stages of life, I try not to go, "Pfft. What does she know about being in need? She's never worked a day in her life!" Somebody else might judge me for not having been through a hard-enough life. Wait a minute, how did I get to this topic?

Yes, back to what I was saying about picking your battles. It's hard enough dealing with the pressures of life. Why add to it by fighting every little thing that won't add to your life or your character? I've learnt not to get so angry with people who don't matter or situations that are beyond my control.

And when all else fails, there's always good ol' bubbly to chase the blues away. JT

I'm not an alkie, aight. *hic* Stop judging me, y'all.

Toby Goes Cycling!

2009-11-27T11:31:00.000+08:00

getting strapped in, thanks cheche mel

wheeeeee!

thank you korkor albert!

Mumsy and I headed to the beach w Tobes last Sunday and he got to ride in a kiddy seat. So bloody cute! He stuck his head out the side so he could catch some wind in his face. Much like being in a car eh? JY

Fringe Benefits

2009-11-27T11:03:00.004+08:00

Nov 2009

Dec 2007

I love it, I look young again! Billy calls it my pre-Japan haircut (I cut my hair in 2007 Dec weeks before we left for Tokyo) and I know he secretly hates it because this hairstyle makes him look like a pervy uncle. Or maybe it just makes my face look fat. Whatever the case, I've done it and hair will grow so no fussing here! Plus I did it myself, why pay 20 bucks when I have a pair of salon standard scissors?

Sometimes a girl's just gotta shake up her look. So what if I don't have a long shexy fringe anymore? I much prefer this look... JY

It's still dark, dammit.

2009-11-25T05:41:00.006+08:00

This is crazy shit, but it's now 5am and I'm wide awake and incredibly annoyed. Obi has been totally pissing me off for the last two nights. He usually sleeps with us and like me, he's a relatively heavy sleeper and would rather spend an extra five minutes in bed.

But since last night. he's been waking up in the middle of the night (2 or 3am dammit!), sometimes several times, to either faff around the bedroom or jump on and off the bed, wagging his tail and seemingly hoping for some playtime, at freakin' 3am. After intermittently waking Bern and I up several times, I chased him out, just to have him whine at the door, like forever! I finally caved in and let him back in where he slept till morning, but I was so tired and grouchy by then.

Tonight was a repeat of all that crazyass behaviour and as Bern and I were already uber exhausted from the long day and the previous night of nonsense (not to mention that I'm still recovering from my recent bout of illness), we chased him out at the first sign of fidgeting. He whined for a few hours, until I finally couldn't take it, so I marched out and gave him a good scolding. He's been quiet since. Even if it's been just 30 minutes. Any progress is good.

I don't know what's up with him. It hasn't been raining for the past two nights (he hates storms), he doesn't seem sick or uncomfortable, he's always been rather flexible with the sleeping arrangements, whether it's with us or on his own in the living room, and he's always slept a lot. Perhaps, he's getting older. Or perhaps we've been spoiling him too much by allowing him to sleep with us every night since we moved to the new place to help him acclimatise better. Anyhow, no more mollycoddling. It's not helping him or us. He's sleeping outside for the next week or so, until he learns that sleeping with us is a luxury, not a given, and until I've caught up on my sleep. Yawn. JT

Dang it dog! You're cute but totally testing my patience!

My awesome weekend

2009-11-22T13:55:00.002+08:00

OMG. The past four days have been some of the most exhausting days of my life and I spent them all in bed, literally. I'm surprised my MacBook hasn't fused to my lap by now. Between struggling to finish stories and battling the Zzz monster, I've morphed into a slovenly scrooge. My bum is numb and I think I may be permanently hunched now. Never underestimate how being sick can sap you of all energy and shrink your brains to the size of a pea. That said, I'm really relieved and glad that I'm finally done and can finally get some reprieve! For now.

So it's time to get happenin'! Which in my world, means taking a nice hot shower, getting something to eat, taking my meds and then crashing back into the bed I've been in for the past four days. Exciting times! JT

It's all swell(ing).

2009-11-19T23:37:00.001+08:00

I am all sick and puffy and the doctor has given strict orders to lay off running for a week or so lest I collapse and die from a heart attack. The sloth in me is secretly happy about that cos' then I can justify slacking off training and looking all apologetic when my boss cum unofficial trainer next tells me to stop making excuses and how running will clear up my headache and aches and pains. "But the doctor said I could die, y'know! I'm not making this shit up!" I'd say.

That said, this bout of infection is the pits and a real pain in the ass (the mouth, throat and gums actually). I'm laid up in bed on a major pity fest cos' my lymph nodes are all swollen, my throat, mouth and gums hurt like a bitch and I can't talk legibly or seem to keep awake for two seconds (yeah, I typed this in two seconds, people. Are you impressed?), which is a real torture when I've got two deadlines due (overdue actually). I'm so screwed. I'd inevitably nod off because I couldn't help my sick sorry ass and then wake up with a pounding heart cos' I've still got so much more to go and my mind is a wasteland. This has been going on throughout the day and I feel miserable and wretched. The doctor's bill was $98, so I'd better be up and running (just a manner of speech. Not literally. I could die, man.) by tomorrow, or I'll be back at her shop banging down her door. Or spend another day in a narcoleptic state, with the latter being more likely of the two.

Okay, ciao peeps. Gotta try to keep my poorly ass awake to finish my work, lest you find me on Orchard Road tomorrow selling tissue and nodding off. JT

Everything with Fries - Part Deux

2009-11-19T07:52:00.001+08:00

Loving the gorgeous white walls at EWF

Zoolander has Landed

Lamb Burger + Greedy Face

Fluffy Egg Soup

The dessert that makes life worth living. Nutella Tart!

The Boy and I go to a church nearby this incredible eatery and everytime we're close by, we are always tempted to pig out at this delightful joint. With fries that come in a multitude of flavours and a dessert to die for, it's no wonder Blamethebubbly had to do a second write up on this place. Justina did a great piece on EWF and it's a 2nd highest Most Read article on our blog.

We went by again with a new bunch of friends the other night, had a Butterscotch Milkshake, Eclairs, truckloads of fries and of course the Nutella Tart. Seriously, bring one home if you're too full. You won't regret it. In fact, Bern (Justina's Hubble Bubble) bought me a piece the other night. So sweet right? The Boy and I shared it for breakfast the next morning. I tried to take a pic but hey... I TRIED.

Thank Bern! You're a legend! JY

Just a shout out to say, "Thanks, y'all."

2009-11-18T21:27:00.015+08:00

Random pic of flowers to say 'thank you' (Ok, so I lied. It's cos' I don't know what pic to put up. Stop judging me.) and also cos' I've got a headache and pretty flowers might help.

I'm in the middle of writing a story for work, having a throbbing headache, an aching leg (getting old sucks) and I just need a break to write some more. Seriously. My life comprises of extreme highs and extreme lows, where I'm extremely high when I've finished a story or closed an issue and extremely low when I'm trudging along with writer's block. How sad is that?

This is kinda my ranting ground of sorts, though I can't really say a lot of the things I want to most times, unless I want to find myself on the streets selling tissue paper to a jingle. Neh, I jest. Bern will just have to support me and put up with my incessant complaints about how terrible my PMS is getting as I age, how my eczema is flaring up again, how our clothes don't dry well, how he forgot to switch off the water heater again and how the dog has developed a dirty new habit of drinking water off the bathroom floor. Not that he doesn't already put up with me. I think I'd go stir crazy if I didn't have an avenue to mingle with colleagues or gripe about work, which is what everybody does, no? (Oh, come on, don't bluff! You aren't a true Singaporean if you don't complain!)

Nonetheless, writing in this space really does help me unwind. (Thanks y'all. And I mean it.) When your world is so structured, it's nice to have a space where I can be footloose and fancy free and talk about bowel movements and running woes and know that someone out there gives enough of a shit to read about my bodily functions (even if it's just that one person out there, you know who you are. Thanks, yo.)

Even as I'm alone in the office trying to get work done and dealing with the ant infestation at my cubicle by using sticky tape to trap them and then sticking them at the bottom of my monitor like an ant house of horror until I'm about to leave the office (I'm morbid that way. So sue me IRA. Seriously, there's an Insect Rights Association. I'd rather scrape scum off my toilet bowl than hug a bug), I feel less wretched knowing I can connect to the world at large from behind my computer screen, even if it's just for 10 minutes. I heart technology. Sometimes. When it doesn't hang, crash and cost me a few hundred quid.

Okay, my 10 minutes is up. Back to the grind. Till my next high, adios. And love y'all. JT

Photo credit: 1

A date at Pierside Kitchen

2009-11-18T08:33:00.008+08:00

Our 2nd Anniversary of our 1st Date.

Wild Mushroom Terrine

Beetroot and Goats Cheese Salad

Coffin Bay Oysters

Potatoes cooked in Duck Fat

Bloody Good Mary!

And a very very Dirty Martini, Nom!

My main was nothing to shout about so I left it out. Billy's on the other hand, was divine! Miso Cod. I loved it to bits and wanted to smack myself hard for not choosing a good main. Pffft, spinach pasta my butt! It sounded great on the menu with feta cheese, zucchini and feta cheese but it came out tasting like a bland spinach wanton mee! Grrrr! JY

Stuffed on Saturday

2009-11-17T08:30:00.001+08:00

Olives stuffed w Pimento

Amigos stuffed with Good Indian Food @ Raj's

Spent some chowtime with the boys on a Saturday night. We had a vegetarian feast at Raj consisting of Palak Paneer, Eggplant Curry, Onion Masala Dosa and a South Indian Thali. Stuffed and in a curry coma, we made our way to Zsofi's for the Sangria. I love this place, everyone's warm, friendly and the service is excellent! I had my birthday party here in June and I had such an amazing time.

Twas hard to get a cab when we left and the cabbie ripped us off. He picked us up just before midnight but he charged us an extra $3 for CBD charge when we were 2 streets away from the city zone. Plus he had all these mean signs in the back saying NO DOGS, BRING YOUR DOGS TO MRT OR SIA. I wanted to bring his jerky-ass to LTA! Next time if you're unsure where the CBD ends and if he wants to charge you extra, do the following:

1. ASK - Why is there an extra surcharge? If you're at City Hall, don't be an idiot of course, but if you're somewhere where the boundaries are unfamiliar, just ask. Cabbies are required to bring a map stating where the boundaries are. If not, ask for a receipt, that should make dishonest cabbies think twice about overcharging you.

2. REMEMBER - Take down the cab license plate number and the driver's name if you don't want to kick up a fuss and risk having him know where you live and stalk you. Just call the cab company later to verify.

* EXTRA TIP: Always know how to get to where you're going. Look up Google Maps and know more or less which route is the shortest. Make a note of it and tell the cabby. Never get in and expect him to know, most times knowing which way to go helps both parties and you avoid feeling frustrated.

Plus, drivers should always have an updated Street Directory AT ALL TIMES. It should not be more than 3 years old and failure to have such a useful tool will result in a SGD$70 fine by LTA if caught. Here are some handy rates just in case you forgot. Happy rides to all those cabbing it around the island! JY

Colour of the week: Black

2009-11-16T11:59:00.000+08:00

I like my nails painted black. No I am not an Emo Teenager. I simply find black nails sexy sometimes and this time it matches my favourite ring. Even if my mom thinks only witches, vampires and satanic cult members sport black nails, I think it adds a little rebellion and danger to the week ahead. Get creative ladies and paint away! JY

Good Eats in the East!

2009-11-14T12:51:00.000+08:00

Oh lordy! We went for a short run this morning and decided to treat ourselves to a slammin' lunch. Kay Lee's Roast Meats @ Upper Paya Lebar. Legendary Char Siew. So legendary the boy had to buy $10 worth of the caramel crusted roast pork. And this was right after we had lunch there! Oddballs who love the burnt bits of normal roast pork, you'll fall madly in lust with this chunka burnin love! JY

Love is...

2009-11-12T14:58:00.003+08:00

...your little dog curling up and contentedly falling asleep on your stinky sweaty pile of post-run clothes. JT

Running makes me...

2009-11-11T17:07:00.003+08:00

...poo.

I love how I feel after a run - strong, fit and on top of the world. That is right before I stuff my face with barbecued chicken wings and roti prata post-run. I can only hope that all these greasy foods are making their exit pronto, since one thing I've noticed since picking up running is that I head to the loo more often. On days I don't run, I usually do a number two once a day, but the day after every run, especially the long ones (the run I mean, not the poo), it goes up to twice, maybe even thrice a day. Junie says I'm like a tube. Others just say I'm full of shit, which probably isn't too far from the truth, considering that I'm sharing my bowel movements with y'all. Hey, everybody takes a shit, no? JT

Photo credit: 1

The hair is longish!

2009-11-10T21:13:00.000+08:00

I was just about to wash my face when to my delight, I noticed in the mirror that my hair has gone from bob to lob (long bob in beauty speak). It wasn't too long ago that I was whinging about the dismal state of my hair. Okay, so it seems a bit bimbotic to be so obsessed with hair. Whatever. Who. Cares. I've long(ish) hair! Yay! JT

B-Boy's BIG 3-0

2009-11-09T13:57:00.017+08:00

After much planning and elaborate orchestration, the birthday of the century was finally pulled off with finesse. Dating almost a month back, I'd been contacting friends of the birthday boy, sourcing for the perfect gift, looking for the perfect cake and finding the best way to feed 30 to 40 people without selling off the family heirlooms.

Then as the date drew closer, I had to subtly ensure that said birthday boy kept the evening free, didn't catch a glimpse of the Serato Scratch Live (much thanks to everyone who generously chipped in for it!) box in my wardrobe, and that none of the party guests let the cat out of the bag. My cover almost got blown when the birthday boy's mum said, "See you tonight!" yesterday morning.

After some splendid acting from Sofi, a gorgeous and scrummy tennis cake by Mei from Petit Chateau, a barbeque overflowing with food, a gift to bring DJ B-Boy out of retirement, a lot of help from various ones and a whole lotta lovin' from everyone, the birthday boy was blown away, totally surprised and ecstatic.

He said it was his best birthday ever and I said that he was worth all the effort. It's really such a joy doing all this for him because he never expects any big shindigs during his birthdays and is contented and happy to just spend the evening with me. It hasn't been an easy year for Bern and he's really been such a strong and brave bear, exactly what his name means. It was a pretty awesome night and he totally deserved it. Thanks to everyone who made it possible! I couldn't have done it without you.

The best host and DJ I know is now up for hire. Enquire here for details. JT

The Paperweight

2009-11-09T09:30:00.004+08:00

I am so lucky I get to work from home. Even luckier when my furry monster begs to be carried and placed on the table next to the laptop. Shooooooo cute! He's like a really furry and huge paperweight.

Anniversary Present

2009-11-08T08:22:00.001+08:00

If you know me well enough, I'm not a huge fan of branded goods. Then again throw me a gorgeous lambskin bag from Chanel and I might just be your new BFF. Having lived in Melbourne where the fashion is utterly quirky and divine, I love anything vintage and pre-loved. And because I lived just off Chapel Street, there were Opt Shops everywhere! I bought a lovely Ostrich skin bag for AUD$5 and a Sherlock Holmes cape for just under AUD$20.

Camberwell Market was a religion for me and I was there every Sunday through rain, shine or hail, digging through someone's old junk while wolfing down a bratwurst smothered in mustard. Ah, such fond memories. Looking back, I really miss how simply I lived. I never craved branded goods and high street fashion. Despite not having a new wardrobe for every season, I dressed decently and a few classic pieces in my wardrobe saved me from looking like a hobo.

Being back in Singapore, I realised how different the culture here was. I almost forgot that growing up, I had to have an Elle bag just to be cool. While the not-so-well-off kids had to settle for Neve bags which looked just like Elle bags but cost 1/3 of Elle bags.

I went out this year wondering what to get the Boy for our anniversary. I got him a RAOUL cardholder two Christmases ago and it was showing signs of wear. So instead of getting him another one from RAOUL, I went and got him one from TOD's instead. More than double the price but it made me feel goooooooooood! I hope this isn't the start of a new addiction to everything with an expensive label. Oh crumbs!

*Thanks to the hottie who got me a discount too ;) Much love to you! Mwah mwah! JY

My birthday boy

2009-11-07T14:54:00.013+08:00

Happy 30th Birthday to my best friend in the whole world!
It's been a wonderful seven years.

Bubbles (as I so affectionately address him and so apt for this blog, might I add!) turns 30 tomorrow, but since we already have plans with friends on the actual day, I brought him to Shunjuu at Robertson Quay for a yakitori dinner last night.

The tofu with century egg sauce and prawn roe was marvellous - salty, rich and eggy - the perfect combination. The others were mostly conventional skewers like chicken wings, quail eggs, beef with enoki and chicken with leek. Most of it was pretty decent, 'cept for the beef, which was a tad dry, the ox tongue, which was like grilled rubber and the cod roe, which was so salty, I could almost feel kidney stones forming! We were so stuffed, but I was so tempted to order the fugu mirin boshi (dried puffer fish), which is like a fish version of bak kwa. I was so miffed that I had forgotten to order that and had ordered the awful mentaiyaki (cod roe) instead. Grrr...

Nonetheless, we had a lovely time. It was a simple evening filled with great food, the best company and wonderful conversation - just the way we like it. JT

Whazzup dawg?

2009-11-07T10:16:00.002+08:00

You know you've got it made when you're the only dawg in the hood with an LV tank. JT

New Year Resolutions

2009-11-07T08:42:00.002+08:00

A bit early you might say. I for one don't really believe in making new year resolutions. Seriously guys, how many of you have managed to stay on top of those resolutions? Pffft, I knew it. One. One over-achieving psycho, obsessive compulsive disorder friend who always has to be in control of everyone and everything.

I so wanna talk smack about that friend because she is everything I'm not. She may be able to keep all of the promises she made at the end of 2008 but is she truly happy? Has she brought joy and blessings to the people around her? I hear nothing so it must be a resounding NooOooOooo!

Now, I want to be a rebel. I want to deviate from the norm and make my resolutions today. Will I keep them? I don't know but I know whatever I choose to list will add value to my life and more importantly to the lives of those I love and care for. Don't worry, it won't be a long list. I have enough going on as it is, why add more MUST-DOs?

1. Pray often because many don't take advantage of this private line with God
2. Travel and spend more time with Mumsy - Family is more important than you think
3. Laugh more and love more - the Boy and I set up a blog with all our private jokes so we'd remember them for years to come
4. Save and invest well. Money is useless sitting in a bank account, it needs to work for you!
5. Be less of a chubster. Yes, I need to lose 5kgs or so.
6. Wake up early and eat well, the key to a productive day :)
7. Learn 2 new skills [Language & Exercise]
8. Plan every day. Live with intent and don't just go with the flow... only dead fish do that. JY

Photo Credit: 1

The Fake Stuff

2009-11-06T08:39:00.002+08:00

I've never been a fan of fake lashes. I find it odd that some local girls with smallish eyes would decide on a massive pair of falsies that look like visors for the eyes. I love walking through malls and pointing out girls with ridiculously unnatural lashes to the Boy. He too doesn't get it.

So the other day while cleaning out my dresser full of unused beauty products, I chanced upon a pair of falsies I bought from The Face Shop, possibly five-year-old lashes! I tried them on and boy, did they make a world of difference! I don't have small eyes, I have normal-sized eyes and I would usually use mascara to lengthen my lashes but brands that claim to be waterproof are also soap, water and makeup remover proof! I've spent many nights trying to remove mascara while ripping out precious real lashes.

What a discovery! I removed the fake lashes with minimal discomfort and I still had ALL my lashes intact! Now, don't go running to the nearest Face Shop to stock up on them lashes. Understand first which ones suit you best. If you have large eyes, lucky you, you wouldn't look like too much of a freak with thicker fake lashes but if you have smaller eyes, be kind to yourself ok? Don't let mean people like me talk about what a twat you look like with gigantic lashes and small eyes. Best is to start simple. You can find quite a few shops in Far East Plaza selling good quality lashes and even OPI nail polish at a bargain. Go nuts and look gorgeous today! JY

Image Credit : 1

Good Morning Singapore!

2009-11-05T08:00:00.015+08:00

Waking up early has never been a priority for me. I love sleeping in and having the dog wake me when he's desperate to go for a poo and a pee. Since the Boy and I started living together, I've had to put up with the racket he makes while getting ready for work. Well maybe not so much a racket but close enough for a very sleepy and grumpy bear. After he leaves, I dive deeper under the covers hoping to clock in a few more snooze points before the sun finally comes up, but the bad dreams that plague my extra 30mins of snooze are horrendous!

The dreams weren't a one-off incident. It's been tried and tested. It's been proven that when I'm a lazy bum and go back to sleep right after the Boy leaves for work, I get nightmares. Often of me having to settle for less in life. Or getting married to someone I despised.

So here I am today, it's 8am and already I have:

1. Made a full breakfast and fruit for the Boy (in a sleepwalking state of course)

2. Brought the dog down for his morning business

3. Read the papers, all of it, not just the Lifestyle section

4. Had a healthy breakfast with an orange for dessert :)

5. Made the bed (I know some people who don't)

I like this waking up early thingymajig... life is short, why lie in bed and laze while the world is buzzing with excitement? JY

Image Credit: 1

Breakfast is Served

2009-11-04T10:16:00.002+08:00

I had planned to make breakfast for the boy this morning because I love him to bits and ALSO because he's always having fruit, cereal and yogurt. Totally boring health nut stuff right? Healthy but boring... So I wanted to make him my version of Eggs Benedict.

Panini with Cream Cheese

Dill and pepper Salmon

Poached Eggs

Grilled Asparagus

Hollandaise Sauce w Lemon Zest

Too bad he had to be at work by 8am for a meeting. Mumsy got to enjoy the brekkie instead :) Soon darling, this was all in the name of research! XOXO JY

Doggy Wash

2009-11-03T12:55:00.003+08:00

Someone had a bath today. His stinky paws were getting unbearable so we decided to try out this new shampoo that Bubble girl Justina so kindly bought. It's a bottle of milky doggy shampoo with extra extra conditioner for Toby and mind you it's not cheap. Thank you Justina, Woof woooof! says my furry friend. We love how he smells now and better yet, his fur is sooooooo soft that I keep rubbing my face on his back. Unhygienic I know but I can't help it! Come over soon to hang out babe, Toby misses you and he loves cuddling with ya.

* Picture above is just for kicks, we didn't actually spin dry the dog :) JY

Flutes by Night

2009-11-02T12:37:00.001+08:00

Once is never enough. The charm of this old bungalow drew us back once again. This time we celebrated our 2nd year together and Sid's birthday. 27th October, the night when all good things happen!

Heshy boy, Sid, Mimi and the Boy

The beautiful flowers from the Boy

And some good Roast Lamb

Wanna Race Me?

2009-11-02T11:57:00.002+08:00

Bubbly Girls - Post Race

Great Eastern Women’s 10km
Time Taken: 01:17:10
Mood: Totally Psyched!

I’ve never been a runner. No matter what people may say about running, it’s a real feat and not for weak-minded individuals who think shopping and club-hopping are endurance sports. However with a whole lot of support from the boy and a lot of convincing from Justina, I decided to rough it out and sign up for 2 races this year.

Yesterday’s race was magic! I managed to finish at a decent time and I loved how the boy came along to support me. He had his own little private race around the Boat Quay, Clarke Quay and the River Valley area. Finally he called me when I was nearing the finish to say that he’s waiting to take shots of me. I love him to bits for capturing my very tiny but important goal. Knowing what a sloth I am, the boy bugged me consistently about how I should really train well otherwise I'd pay the price on race day.

Well, here I am now. Post-race and aching like a monster. I wonder if it really was the run or the 2 hour tennis lesson with B later in the evening. This is a real good start to a healthy lifestyle, no more being lazy and wishing my rear would keep itself fit.

My Bubbly Buddy, Justina, ran like a crazy horse, it was tough keeping up with her and I had to let her go at the 8km mark. But I caught up a little and made it to the finish just minutes after her. Way to go babe! Thanks for the company love, one race down, 21kms more to go. Yikes! With 33 days left to train, I'd better get my freak on and start running consistently.

See y’all at the finish line. XOXO JY

A weekend to remember

2009-11-01T16:04:00.012+08:00

The weekend has been a busy one filled with a wedding, a race, a birthday lunch and a birthday dinner. While it was lovely catching up with old friends at the wedding and I was thrilled at attaining a new PB at the race, it was the bride's father that made my weekend somewhat different and taught me a thing or two about love.

The man lost his wife to cancer three months ago. He's always been nice, but after what the man has been through, the term 'nice' doesn't quite cut it. I haven't seen him in years and he looks worn and weather-beaten, and understandably so. But it was a special day for his only daughter, so he smiled stoically, went about his fatherly duties and gave away his daughter at the alter.

When I asked him whether he was happy to see his daughter wed, it was almost as if I hit a nerve. He seemed ambivalent. Although he said he was happy, the expression on his mien told a different story, one that said he was a little lonely, perhaps even a little sad that the last woman in his home - the pretty young lady who reminded him so much of his late wife - had left.

Even as he shared about how he would return home from work every day during lunchtime in his wife's last days just to bathe and feed her, he did so as a matter of fact. To him, it wasn't anything worthy of a Nobel prize. I felt so much for the old gentleman because he truly is one.

Tears flowed and there wasn't a dry eye that day as the bride gave her 'Thank you' speech, especially when thanking her father. It was a bittersweet and poignant wedding, one that made a difference because of the father of the bride. JT

Photo credit: 1

I'm a loser

2009-10-30T21:06:00.005+08:00

Last & lost

No matter how others may tell you that the important thing about a race is finishing and having fun, it still totally sucks ass when you come in last and get lost for good measure.

When the boss asked if I wanted to do 3.2km or 4.8km for the company cross country run, I chose the latter without skipping a beat. After all, I'd been on so many runs that were way longer than 4.8km. But today, I was duly humbled.

It was my first time running on a trail. Within the first two bumpy kilometres, combined with a couple of uphill stretches, I was knackered more than I could imagine. Then came the classic. I was lagging behind, so when I came to a fork in the trail, I wasn't sure which way my colleagues had gone. I ran the seemingly easier way and when I saw that it led to the main road, I turned back and went down the other way, but it looked so narrow and rocky that I had my doubts. I returned to the fork and asked a couple there which way the big group of runners went and they pointed me in the original direction I had gone. By then I was waaaaay behind and as I ran past a bus stop, a girl unplugged her earphones and asked, "Are you from XYZ company? They went that way. Are you the last one?" I was a tad dejected when she said 'last'.

I finally made it just before it started pouring. My boss was really sweet; she was worried that something had happened to me and repeatedly told the organisers that there was one more girl left and when I finally returned, she was encouraging and all. I tried not to show it, but I was immensely disappointed at coming in last. Not only am I slow, but my trail sense is as bad as my road sense. Sigh. JT

Image credit: 1

Bliss is...

2009-10-30T12:23:00.003+08:00

...eating our first homecooked meal in our new home.

Bacon and mushroom Aglio Olio with oyster sauce veggies, whipped up by yours truly. Weird east meets west combination, I know, but I don't care. JT

10 ways to annoy your dog

2009-10-28T23:42:00.008+08:00

Blow on his face.
Warm your cold feet under his warm fuzzy tummy.
Let one rip under the covers while he's snoozing underneath.
Tap both his paws repeatedly when he's lying down and chillin'.
Make loud 'oohs' and 'ahhs' or slurpy noises when you're eating, then offer him a slice of cucumber.
Take out a new hide/milk bone and pretend to munch on it, complete with yummy noises.
Never let him win when you play tug-of-war with his toy.
Pretend to throw his toy, hide it, then watch him search high and low for it with a puzzled look.
Tickle his face or ass with a strand of hair.
Throw your shorts over his head.

So, what gets your pooch's goat? JT

Photo credit: 1

Don't call the SPCA!

2009-10-28T00:00:00.001+08:00

"Momma, I''m so hungry!"

I just had a really late dinner and little Obi was begging for some of the roast chicken I was having. I don't usually feed him any human food unless it's devoid of any seasoning, salt, sugar and essentially, taste. So, I teased him and gave him a small piece of cabbage from my salad, which he of course spat out. Twice. I laughed at him. That was until I checked with the hubbers and realised that Obi's food bowl had been empty since morning. And there I was mocking him. He hungrily tucked in when we refilled the bowl. I feel so bad. The furry little baby gets extra cuddles tonight for me being a bad momma. JT

The Magna Doodle stare

2009-10-26T23:23:00.007+08:00

I used to adore kids and kids used to adore me, but somewhere between my late teens and full blown adulthood, my patience wore thin. Now, babies bawl when I carry them. I was at Carrefour a few days ago to purchase a timber chopping board and while I was standing in line at the cashier, I saw a tai tai with three feet high hair barking orders at her domestic help.

I was horrified when she asked her son to pick just one of the three toys he had so conveniently tossed into the trolley and he stomped his foot, cried and dashed off to the books section just behind the cashier. His mother quickly ran after him and pulled the sulking kid back to the cashier where she insisted he could only pick ONE toy. He tearily chose some fish toy and stretched his hand out longingly when his mother dumped the other two toys on the newspaper rack nearby. Such a 'hard' life! His fish toy was the same price as all my groceries combined!

Bern turned to me with a shocked expression and we had this conversation:

B: Dear, wipe that evil look off your face!

J: What evil look?

B: The Magna Doodle stare! You look exactly like how your mum probably looked when she was about to bash your head in with the Magna Doodle.

J: No, I do not!

B: Yes, you do. You looked like you were going to hit the kid on the head with the chopping board.

Honestly, that kid really deserved two tight slaps, if not a bang on the head from a chopping board. Bern's mum used an excellent method to curb any tantrum. She used to tell him, "Boy, Mummy give you a present. You can choose any assessment book you want."

Just some background to the Magna Doodle analogy - When I was a kid, my mum used to test me in spelling and ting xie with the Magna Doodle and when she lost her patience with me, she'd bang the board on my noggin. I reckon we went through at least a dozen of those magnetic thingamajigs.

The source of my fear

So while all my peers associate the Magna Doodle with frivolous playtime and happy childhood memories, I shudder whenever I see the damn thing. That said, I do think that kid could use a bang or two. Suffering succotash! I'm turning into me ma, innit?! JT

Photo credit: 1

Good Friends eh?

2009-10-24T10:38:00.022+08:00

Remember that weird couple on the cereal box from Justina's last post? I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I woke up this morning and it clicked! The cereal box couple reminded me of Olivia Newton John and her ex-partner Patrick McDermott! You know, the dude that went missing while on a fishing trip?

Well, according to a Wiki entry and different news stations, he's alive and well in Mexico. Due to mounting debts and unpaid child support, he might have staged his own death to get insurance money for his teenage son. Patrick McDermott is still well and alive! Oooh, just a little mystery to get your weekend started! Handsome older dude, don't you agree? JY

Photo Credit: 1

Blackie's Bum

2009-10-23T10:19:00.000+08:00

In gadget-crazed Singapore, I love going against the grain. Why must I have the latest gadget every quarter? Why should I be able to Facebook while on the train? I used to have an LG Candybar until I found smsing on it a pain and that's when B got his BB from work while I inherited his trusty Sony Ericsson K800i.

I love this phone. It does whatever I command in a jiffy and despite not being able to check my emails and be constantly mobile on Facebook, it does what a good phone should do. My last phone which was an older version of the K800i got stolen. I dropped it in a cab on the way home from work and didn't even get to say goodbye to it. So yes, thief, if you're reading this... Boomz on you! (Sorry, last Boomz joke of the day, I know it's getting old.)

So just now while running, I received several work calls and I had to take out my phone to see who it was. On the 3rd call, the battery cover fell onto the ground but I didn't hear it cos I was listening to the FM radio. Hi-tech right? Heh... So into my 8th kilometer, I whipped out Blackie (my newly christened phone) to check the time and his bum cover was missing!!!!!!!!!!!! *wails* I had to go on the same trail and finally after 15 mins of toeing every black spot on the ground, I found it! I never thought I would. I settled with the idea of just securing the battery with a cheap red rubber band like some old men who hang out at the coffeeshop. BUT I FOUND BLACKIE'S BUM! Hurrah!

I'll never leave you Blackie... I will use you until you are paper-thin and your ringtone becomes nothing but a weak bleep bleep. Until your little light doesn't shine and until B's picture shows up as a blurry image of a panda when he calls. You get my drift Blackie, I love you to bits... Mwah! Be good to me now! JY

Midnight supermarket jaunt

2009-10-22T12:24:00.001+08:00

I was a little perturbed by this last night. Would you eat cereal branded 'Good Friends' with a couple of multi-racial fogies on the box? JT

This is home, truly

2009-10-21T15:50:00.005+08:00

Moving in

Moving out (the darned luggage on the right)

Some 40 boxes, a luggage of clothes I can't open, aching limbs and a sore lower back later, I'm finally in my new home. As expected with any move, there were hiccups galore. The phone line and broadband isn't working, the dog had new home anxiety and peed on the bed and I forgot the combination code to my sturdy Samsonite luggage (containing all my newest clothes) with its equally sturdy lock that won't budge.

Despite it all, I feel a sense of pride and joy coming back every day, even if I'm still surrounded by stacks of boxes. I diligently unpack and put away all my purchases, unlike in the past where I lived out of plastic and paper bags. I fold all my bags neatly and put them away. I chirpily clean my toilet bowl with lavender Harpic and mop the floor with lavender Dettol.

This is home and I couldn't be happier. JT

P.S.: Justina hasn't had much time to chill with Junie, but their adventures together are going to rekindle soon. Just you wait and see. Love you babe!

The Song of Hope

2009-10-15T09:08:00.007+08:00

I usually approve of the music the boy listens to; he loves RHCP and some good Bossa Nova here and there. We love the usual R&B shizz and most catchy pop tunes but lately, he's had an obsession with this one song. I heard it played so many times before and I loved it because the tune gave me a feeling of hope and anticipation. I never knew the title and neither did B. So I constantly referred to it as the 'Hopeful Song'! Yes we are very hip and creative people!

Months passed and after one fateful night at The Pump Room where we heard that song again, the boy got hooked onto that darned tune. Every time he was on the computer, it'd be playing on YouTube. When there was a moment of silence, he'd be humming that tune. On the way back from work, he'd be singing it till he reached our front door! Right before bed time, if I said something that triggered that song, he'd ask me to guess what song was on his mind. I couldn't guess it so he decided to hum it to me while I tried to sleep... This drove me nuts!!!

I have officially erased that song from my mind's playlist. If you must know what this song is, it includes the following words in the lyrics:

1. St Peter
2. Roman Catholic choirs
3. Jerusalem Bells

Ring a bell? No? Give up?
Have a listen, I'm sure you'll appreciate it more than I ever will.

Now the tipping point for me would be B downloading the ringtone and waiting for it to his the chorus before he picks up! Crikey! JY

Photo Credit: 1

Moving on

2009-10-12T02:22:00.008+08:00

My fabulous Picasso and his masterpiece

I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I am a bag lady. I've been living out of plastic bags and shopping bags I never got down to unpacking. I just cleared my room of all the clutter today and I'm amazed at how much bigger the room suddenly seems. Too bad I'm moving out this weekend. Bah. I'm NOT gonna let this happen at the new place. My hands are itching like crazy from all the dust. ("Dust. Anybody? No? Dust. Anybody? No? Dust." Sorry, couldn't help breaking into some Marjorie Dawes there.)

I'm really so proud of the hubbers. He spent the whole of last week tirelessly painting the new place. It's more or less done and I love it. He refused to let me help or take a look till Saturday night because he said it was his gift to me. I just feel so happy looking at the yellow walls. He's really such a sweetheart. It's really such hard work and he looks so worn out.

As I was packing, I came across more than a few cards, letters and notes from old friends, diaries and memories of my past. I realised how far I've come and I'm grateful. As more of my life disappears from here into boxes, it's finally hitting home that I'm moving and starting a new adventure. I'm excited. I'm ready. JT

Hair today, gone tomorrow

2009-10-10T00:42:00.004+08:00

The colossal mess that is my hair.

It's been almost three years since I chopped my longish locks to a bob. I've been trying to grow it out since June, but it's really hard when I'm so used to visiting my hairstylist, Chris, at least once every three months. It's become a form of therapy for me.

Right now, my hair is a colossal mess. It's neither long nor short; it flicks out at the nape of my neck and when I try to tie it up, straggly strands fall all over. On some days, when it behaves relatively well, I'm determined to persevere. But on bad days, when it fluffs out like a 'fro and makes my head look massive, I just feel like taking to it with a pair of scissors.

On the one hand, I think of all the cool styles I can do with a long mane (extensions are out of the question for now; too expensive and too much maintenance). On the other, it's been so painstaking trying to grow my hair out, I'm so tempted to just lop it back to a proper bob. Should I? JT

Curly Sue

2009-10-08T20:44:00.003+08:00

So Billy asked me out on a lunch date two weeks back and I bought the prettiest off-white dress. I felt like a child of 70s and all I wanted to be was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair. Then again, I though that soft curls would probably do this dress more justice. Plus it wasn't exactly a punk rocker dress!

I spent ages doing the curls with my ceramic hair straightner. After a while, it was all worth it. I felt gorgeous. The pretty curls that danced just off my shoulders were all I needed to feel like a princess. I found a gorgeous little headband from Diva and taaadaaaaah!

Lunch at this gorgeous little restaurant housed in a beautiful black and white bungalow near Fort Canning Park. Dating back to 1908, this bungalow housed the Fire Chiefs of the past. We had a delightful lunch and even spotted a little squirrel trying its best to hide a fruit it had found!

This place is a must-try. Reservations are necessary, don't wing it! We tried the first time and failed to get a table. It might seem like a little trek but trust me, it's worth it. If the food doesn't impress you, the service and surrounds will. JY

Races of 2009

2009-10-07T17:20:00.009+08:00

~~Adidas Sundown 10k - 30 May~~

~~Shape Run 10k - 19 July~~

Nike+ Human Race 10k - 24 October

Great Eastern Women 10k - 1 November

Standard Chartered Singapore Half Marathon 21.1k - 6 December

Two down, three to go. God help me. JT

Let sleeping dogs lie

2009-10-07T11:55:00.009+08:00

Every morning is a warm and fuzzy affair with this sleepy little monster, truly a boy after my own heart. JT

Packin's a bitch...

2009-10-06T20:54:00.004+08:00

...and then some. I'm a hoarder, so I find it very hard to trash anything; I might actually have every birthday card I've received since the age of five. I'm repacking stuff I never got down to unpacking when I moved to Bern's more than three years ago. I have so much more to go through now since I've accumulated three years more of stuff! Deadlines, boxes, movers, white goods and more, all by 17 October. Panic. Ugh. Somebody save me. JT

My dad is a crook

2009-10-05T21:21:00.004+08:00

This transpired between my dad and Tristan, Bern's five-year-old nephew, when they were at our new place yesterday:

My dad: There are lions and tigers just over the hill.

Tristan: Really? How come I can't hear them roar?

My dad: That is because they are asleep in the day and only come out at night.

Some 10 minutes later, Tristan, his mummy and my mum have this conversation:

Tristan: Mummy, where are the lions and tigers that Uncle talked about?

Tristan's mum: They've all been caught and put in the zoo.

My mum: Uncle eats a lot and dreams at night, so he dreamt about all those lions and tigers in his sleep!

Old is gold

2009-10-04T23:55:00.002+08:00

I'm feeling all sentimental. As my mother-in-law and I were waiting for Bern to drive the car over today, she suddenly told me that the nice old lady who used to sit downstairs every day had passed on a couple of months ago. She was 90 and had been mobile to her very last day. It was a day like any other: she had returned home to nap after her little jaunt downstairs and just went in her sleep. Another old lady in her 80s who always sits downstairs with her grandkids' little Yorkie had told Bern's mum. We like her too and hope we'll see her for quite a while more.

I don't know why, but Bern and I were a little choked up upon hearing the news. She was always dressed in a light blue samfu with black pants and used to ask us in Hokkien with a toothy smile, whether we had eaten. I'd been so caught up with my life, I hadn't noticed that she hadn't been down for some weeks. I remember the last time I saw her, I was in such a hurry to get home because I was so tired from work, I hadn't stopped to greet her like I normally did. And that was it. She died. Bern had commented every now and then when we saw her that she was very old and she might not be around much longer, but I guess it never hit home. Till now.

I have a soft spot for nice old ladies and as far as I knew, she was one of the cutest old ladies I had ever seen. I never knew her name and addressed her as 'auntie', but she reminded me so much of my sweet granny who died in 2000. Coincidentally, I found my granny's ruby ring today as I was packing and all those memories of her came rushing back. I was so young and busy with school and friends then, I regret not spending more time by her side in her last weeks. Such is the folly of youth.

I just found out through an old friend's wedding invite that her mum passed on from cancer just a few months ago as well. I used to see this woman every week and just like that, she was gone.

One day, our folks are going to be that old and I only hope that we'll never be too busy to show them that they mean the world to us. JT

The Dog of my Life

2009-10-04T21:33:00.003+08:00

Name: Toby
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia

The little man turned 4 this year and he's still a such a baby to me. It's World Animal Day today and he figured he deserved to be smothered with cuddles at 9am on a Sunday morning! This post is a shout out to the furry kid that lives with us. We love you so much more than you can imagine. Here are a few things that we love about you:

1. How you find it funny to wipe your naughty face on our clean sheets right after all meals

2. The way you pretend to have a good time by going into epileptic mode on the bed just so that we'd play with you

3. How you understand the words Bone and Clean Ears

4. The way you bug Mummy to carry you when she's standing near a window just so you can look out and spot birds, cars and buses... and sometimes bark at people.

5. When you climb in your Country Road bag all by yourself when you know we're gonna take you out

6. When you pick up your own leash and walk yourself when we drop it on the ground.

7. How you're socially inept and fearless cos you pick on the biggest and fiercest dogs in the park

8. The way you sometimes pee a little from sheer excitement when we get home

9. The way you look at us and how much you love us unconditionally...

We love you Bok Dok* forever and a day! JY

*Bok Dok is a name that came from some doggy treats we puchased in Bangkok, he loved them!