:: Tossed Salad and Scramble Eggs ::

:: Saturday, December 23, 2006 ::

I love the smell of rain on a cold, albeit still humid, evening. I like it when I can see the the dark red sky in Singapore and the silhouette of my neighbour's terrace house.

My dad called me down abruptly to Raffles Hotel and he insisted in buying me a watch because the watch which I borrowed from my ma is took precious to be worn. Hes afraid that if I brought it with me back to the UK, someone, or something will slice my wrist off swiftly with a single well-sharpened blade. Its okay if someone slices off my wrist, but its not okay if I lost the watch. I didn't like any of the watches he so excitedly picked out and so I'll probably troup down to swatch and get a cheaper one.

:: Stuffy 12/23/2006 09:02:00 AM [+] ::
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Some Random Contemplating

I've disappointed this space because for the last 12 months, my thoughts have been devoted to things other than my personal reflections, simply because I haven't had any time to think of personal reflections. Two years out of Singapore, and still none the wiser. I haven't been able to sit around and contemplate and I suppose apart from spending my days at ISEAS, I shall keep the rest of my time for myself to contemplate. Only, contemplating has made me think about my prospects. In two years (or if I decide not to do my Masters, that would be in a few months time), I'll be back for work. I begin to wonder if being tied down to an organization is what I really want. If I had no obligation (and I'm not saying I'm going to break any of it soon), I would rather spend my time working from country to country. A couple of years in New York, maybe a couple of years in Eastern Europe pushing a goat-cart, joining a Non-governmental organization championing an intangible ideal. I'm not making these things up, I came to the conclusion that anything is possible if one is willing to risk security and comfort.

I've been back for a week now and all I really see is a life moving pretty fast. Last summer I caught a glimpse of how my life would be when I get back. I can live with it, and I'll be content because its safe and secure. How simple can life be, taking the train to MINDEF every morning for an hour and a half. Maybe if I have a car, only forty five minutes. Everyday at work, all I have to do is interact with my collegues and get the share of my work down, just meet the deadline, thats it. I'll be safe. And yet I wonder if I'm able to stay in the boat and let it sail smoothly through without rocking it.

I finally realised what Edwin meant when he said that being back home leaves you no time to think, and when the time comes for him to go back to the Navy, he'll miss the peacefulness and pleasantries of Warwick. True, we'll always call ourselves Singaporean, and yet while we pride ourselves on that, our overeseas experience must have taught us something valuable as well. True, staying in Singapore will have taught us alot in a different way, an experience that we probably missed out on for the last two years.

But over here, the lack of late night eateries leaves room for meaningful conversations over home cooked food. The 3 to 1 exchange rate conversions which means the inability to afford pure luxuries leaves you with making use of the best you can with what you have and teaches you the importance of sacrifice and giving. The lack of homely comfort leaves you with the reminder that small favors are not to be taken forgranted, and consideration for others become second nature to you. The slow pace of life and lack of distractions leaves you with more time to travel and experience God's creations and natural wonders.

:: Stuffy 12/15/2006 07:35:00 AM [+] ::
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ANNUAL CHRISTMAS GATHERING

http://restaurants.singapore.hyatt.com/straits/straits_intro.html please visit this website and let me know if everyone is alright with this place.

Its 1. HALAL
2. buffet
3. price range is $40+ dinner, should be more than $45
4. At Orchard Rd Hyatt Hotel
5. Zuck said its good,

Keep dates 22, 23rd free please and once everyone is agreed on this, I'll confirm the date. Thanks

Btw, can someone help with contacting the following ppl:
Khairul, Zhan, Ruhan, Zhi, Jason, Nad

Thanks

:: Stuffy 12/13/2006 08:58:00 AM [+] ::
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Note: Okay, so the msn TV link doesn't work to 'see the baby grow in real time', so you'll have to search on your own accord on the the msn website.

Its 5am UK time, and I'm finally able to sit down and write after downloading the relevant journal articles for my essays and what not. Just came back from Edwin's after having a supper of chicken curry and grass jelly. The two poor guys weren't going home this Christmas, so I bought them a bottle of Mint Chocolate Bailey's for the cold winter holidays. (Remember hor, its suppose to be shared, and drunk responsibly)

As usual, hectic is an understatement to any final year undergraduate, but I enjoyed the late night conversations with a random few over the last two weeks when things started to wind down. I'm glad I have 15 minutes of grace to write, albeit quite incoherently, given the ungodly hour.

Anyway, will the relevant people PLEASE LISTEN UP: I am told that the lot has fallen upon me to go think of something for annual gathering. I'm not exactly sure whether you guys still keep up with this blog, but I'll try anyway.
1. I suggest booking a restaurant either at a hotel or country club
2. Will the budget of $30 - 40 be alright for everyone?
3. WILL ZUCK, THARA, NAD PLEASE TELL ME whats the HALAL status?
4. IS EVERYONE OK with either the 22 or 23rd of DECEMBER 2006?
I'm alright for potluck, but I may not be able to open my place this year, partly because I haven't asked my parents, party because I am actually very exhausted from work over the last 3 months. So if you guys don't mind a nice fancy restaurant with a good discount?
Do contact me if you see this either at s.chia@warwick.ac.uk/ +6596636041 thanks

:: Stuffy 12/09/2006 09:05:00 PM [+] ::
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And this is abortions cannot be an option

I was watching this clip on MSN television, this medical doctor is brilliant, you could actually see the baby grow in real time.

:: Stuffy 12/08/2006 06:05:00 PM [+] ::
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On being Indianized

Not that I wasn't Indianized during my days in the Gulab Jamun girl gang back in JC, but now that I'm currently living in an all Indian flat (7 girls + me), my transition has been quite remarkable. I have gone from drinking soya bean milk to lassie, from prawn crakers to haldiram masala mix, and pronouncing Calcutta as Koukata.

:: Stuffy 12/04/2006 03:15:00 PM [+] ::
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