mY 2009

today is the last day of 2009.
haha, none of my new yr resolution for 2009 came true. *sadly*


2009 was my first year as a married woman, wife to my hubbie, and being the daughter-in-law to my PIL.


it was a sad year to begin with. grandma was diagnosed with liver cancer sometime in late Dec 08. We were told it was the final stage. The cancer spreads from her colon cancer that was supposedly removed successfully 1 yr back. in a short span of time from mid Dec to mid Mar, i see grandma fade away. growing thinner and thinner day by day. grandma could be considered a pretty chubby person. by mid feb just before cny, she has grown so thin. we all knew that was the last cny we would spent with her. i remember we went on a frantic search for pearl jewellery as it is believed to say that if she were to wear it before she depart, she would have a better afterlife. And there, we had our last cny reunion dinner with grandma at her house, it was a feast but everyone was sad and forced ourselves to be happy. And on the morning of 15 Mar, grandma left us. i remember receiving a phone call from mum that qing said grandma was having breathing difficulties due to her phlegm, we were told to rush over. along the way, another phonecall came and said grandma was already feeling better. still, we went. however, when i reach grandma house, gu greeted us at the doorstep and told us grandma is going. i rushed in only to see a very pale grandma lying almost motionlessly on the bed. mum and the rest of the aunties are all crying out for her. kor tried to detect grandma's pulse but it was so weak. we immediately called the doc in. for the good whole 1 hr of waiting time, we were all in the agony of whether grandma was still with us. until mavis suddenly claimed that grandma's fingernails have all turned color. that was when i knew, we have lost grandma forever. the wake was held, it was the first funeral i attended. emotions were running high and low and so many incidents happened. on the day of the sending off, it rained in the wee morning and we were all so affected. all of us were praying for a good weather to send grandma off. thank god! the weather turned sunny and we walked along the familiar street sending grandma off on her last journey. the days to follow without grandma was difficult. i know its more emotional draining for mum. one thing for sure is the missing of our gathering at grandma house on sunday morning. a weekly ritual that we have all been doing since young. good bye grandma! you will always be in my memory.


i left tps in mar after a good 2.5 years there. a place where i met very nice bosses like lina, jazz, jasmine etc. a place so homely that i wondered if it was so beneficial for a company on the whole. still, i left feeling grateful to the ppl who have taught me so much.


ventured into family business which everyone else warned me against. it will be tough working for in laws. and yes indeed it was. everyone has their own opinions and given that its my fil, it was difficult to refute his points yet there were times which i felt his opinion was wrong. yet, i couldnt go too strong on my point. there were times also whereby i quarrel with hubbie over it. business is fortunately growing. the toughest period whereby we worked like there is no day and night, no weekends is finally over. also the era of manual invoices which i issue the invoices until my hand ach for days are also over. next yr with the move to the new factory, there will be a totally new sets of challenge.


on the whole, this yr was a very tough yr. there are somethings that are gone forever, but those memories will remain forever. there are things which are broken but i hope one day, it will be mended. though i am not sure when that will be. but i believe the challenges and trials that i have gone through in 2009 have made me a stronger person. with that, i hope 2010 would be a better year for me and everyone around me.

theRe aRe fOlloWerS fOr dayplUs... = (

feels so sad... today, i was informed that there are look-a-like product available in the market for dayplus natural yeast bread...so we went down to do market survey...

when i entered nanyang supermarket in ntu, i was taken aback...the packaging looks pretty similar...they also advertise it as Japanese bun...and selling at $1.20...the packaging look tatter...and of poorer quality...there is no nutrition facts on the packaging and the bread looks hard...

i understand from the shop owner that a lot of customers have bought THAT bread thinking that dayplus natural yeast bread has changed its packaging...most came back feeling disappointed with the purchase only to get clarification from the shopowner that actually its a new product from competitor...

so brillant consumers, let us be wary...

good and original products these days always suffer imitation or rather "followers" problem whenever they become successful...take Oreo biscuits and many many more...sometimes its hard to tell...

as to which of the above bread taste better...the answer goes without saying...

visit dayplus webbie @ www.ilovedayplus.com for launch of new flavors!

hellO kIttY 2x dIPs!

first day back at work after our genting trip...my one and only motivation is to go for the lucky dip after work today...eve's shop will be conducting the dip at 6.30pm for the 35th anniversary strawberry dip...


we headed to PS to try our luck for the dip...there were 2 dips going on concurrently...
1st ~ Sakura Dip and 2nd ~ HK 35th anniversary strawberry dip...

dear dear said i could have 10 chance at the lucky dip...6 went to the sakura dip as the quality of the prizes are better...i won a tote bag, 2 pairs of wooden chopsticks with chopstick holder, 01 mini coin pouch, 01 towel and towel holder, 1 serving tray..i tried my luck but couldnt get the hello kitty mascot..so i called eve and she told me its available for sales in her shop! *yuppie*


4 went to the 35th anniversary strawberry dip as dear dear want to aim for the LED clock. That together with the stool is the top prize for this dip...no luck again at PS...only got a tote bag, a coin pouch, pens, tissue pouch...


subsequently dear bought me to eve shop to pick up the hello kitty mascot...over there, i bought a pill holder and a water bottle holder...eve keep persuading me to try my luck on the dip and said that the top prize is still available...not wanting to decline her, i tried...and i won the STOOL!!! yuppie! finally a turn of luck for the lucky dip in Eve's shop... never before have i won anything more than the consolation prizes!

 
happily heading home!

eVerythiNg i dO, i dO it fOr u

i heard this when i attended ivan's wedding...
there was a guy who said
 for a married guy, everything he do, he do it for his wife...
and
what should the wife do in return? Just love him.

*that simple* but a tough one...

a beautiful wedding begins with the word "I do"...

but  a lasting and blissful marriage is about a deaf man and a blind woman...

listen with your heart and see with your eyes...do not see or hear what is on the surface...for what you see with the eyes might not be what it is..and what you hear through your ears might not be true...

instead, 
feel with you heart and you shall know what he did is the best for you...

dec marks a happy month with the finale to all the weddings i have attended in 2009...

heartfelt congratulations to my dear friends...may they embark on a meaningful marriage life ahead - 


♥ Jianye & Wenqi (20 Dec) ~ This was a touching one...they have been through 10 good years of courtship with its up and down...and finally they took the "plunge" or should i say is HE took the plunge? i was so happy and touched to see them wedded...this is something i have not felt for so long.. Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Chua! I am soooooo happy for you Mrs Chua! Grab tight of this title! and may you both enjoy ur new life in HK...


♥ Ivan & Tasha (19 Dec) ~ My ex-colleague's wedding...theirs was a simple and elegant one held in Fullerton. Saturday lunche! Tasha is very pretty and looks superb in her gold evening gown... Ivan is a very nice and caring guy...i am sure he will make a good hubbie! Congratulations to both!


♥ Junchao & Seriye (13 Dec) ~ This one also long time gf of my hubbie...our common friend too...theirs was a korean style wedding...almost 70%! they will be leaving for oman after their wedding...no pork for jc...that must be a torture! regardless, congratulations to them and wishing them all the best in their new life overseas!


♥ Angeline & Jinhow (10 Dec) ~ Angeline is my uni mate and Jinhow is hubbie course mate...surprisingly they are also using mrs chia as their JP...angeline wedding vow was so touching...jinhow is well-known for his kindness...guess it must be a fortune of good life ahead for angeline...


♥ Siok Wei & Zhenzhu (28 Nov) ~ 牛魔王 finally got married! long time buddy with hubbie...we even toil to give them a customised wedding gift! zz was very sexy and pretty in their gowns..."wow" factor very high lah! congratulations to them!


♥ Huihui & Alvin (18 Oct) ~ my distance cousin's wedding...i like her gowns and her wedding pics! and i like the part whereby they have this whole entourage of cars going to pick the bride.. all very nicely taken...think both of them have been together for the longest time ever...congratulations to them both!


♥ Huizhuan & Auggie (03 Oct) ~ my bestie friend...dearest whom i have spend my youth with! was so honored to be her jie-meis and contributed to a part in her big day...she's so pretty and happy that day! may auggie fulfilled and honored the 10 commandments written that day!


♥ Ivan & Sabrina (28 Jun) ~ this is one expensive wedding held at Ritz...grand gown...congratulations to mr and mrs ngiow!


♥ Ella & Matt (13 Jun) ~ my ex-senior from tps...its a wedding held at raffles hotel but i couldnt attend as i am still within the 3 months from grandma's funeral...

congratulations dear friends...

haPPy 6 yRs & 8 mtHs aNnivErsaRy

today marks the 6th year and 8th month anniversary with dear dear ong...


we had our dinner at Minori...the food was good...

this happens to be the place whereby we held our thank you meal for our xiong-dis and jie-meis...

~ HAPpy ANNiverSarY 老公~

百年修的同船度,千年修得同枕眠

all along, i have heard of the above proverb...
however, how many of us can truly understand the real meaning behind this?

in Dec itself, i have 4 weddings to attend! and a total of 10 in 2009 itself!

wedding see the union of 1 man and woman...nothing more nothing less...
it is an happy occasion to see so many of our close friends tying the knots in unison...and making the decision to start a new life together...

by chance of fate, we met Mrs Chia Swee Tin, our JP at 2 solemnization events. First was on 10 Dec (Thurs) at Angeline and Jinhow's ROM and the Second at 13 Dec (Sun) at Junchao & SeiRye's ROM...


it was nice and happy seeing her again...dear commented that mrs chia never seems to age a bit since one yr ago...she solemnized us on the 05th Oct 2008...

In my memory she was a very nice lady and never fails to inject laughter and joy into my soleminsation. I was so nervous back then. But i still remember how she tried her best to make us feel at ease...from the bottom of my heart, thank you mrs chia!

we were entrusted by JC to fetch Mrs Chia to his ROM from Jewel Box on Sunday, along the way, we chatted with her...

she is a mediator by day... its energy sipping as she has to witness angry and unhappy cases...cases such as divorce, law suits raised by parents-children or husband-wife...her job must be tough as she is constantly being surrounded by negative forces (unhappiness and sorrow)...this totally explains why she makes all the couples she solemnized to go through a marriage preparation course with her at the function room of her condo...such a thoughtful act yet some couples still complain...by night, she is a JP, where she soleminsed couples who are ready to become husband and wife...even though her lines never change, and the jokes are always at the same spot, it never fails to inject THAT special feeling...*beyond words*

i remember asking mrs chia, after witness so many divorce cases, what is her word of advice to couples? and her reply..."to see two "I" as we...to be independent and free ourselves from our parents..."...

the former is tough...each of us came into a marriage having live at least 21 years of our life separately as 2 individuals...we bring with ourselves different sets of opinions, mindset, values about many many things in life...to change all these by just signing on that dotted line on the marriage certificate, its impossible...thus, it takes a lot of effort and hardwork on both couple to throw away the "I" mentality and turn it into a "WE" mentality...this absolutely ties back with my topic of "百年修的同船度,千年修得同枕眠"... 
its all fate...全在于一个“缘”字...
among so many strangers in this world, had it not been fate, how would you get to know the special someone who will be your spouse for the rest of your life? if u believe, the text of the older days will tell u that its take thousands of years of good deeds accumulated to present the marriage of today...thus, treasure it and dont let it loose... 

百年修來同船渡，千年修得共枕眠， 既然愛一個人就要-------        要 了 解 ， 也 要 開 解 ；  要 道 歉 ， 也 要 道 謝 ；  要 認 錯 ， 也 要 改 錯 ；  要 體 貼 ， 也 要 體 諒 ；  是 接 受 ， 而 不 是 忍 受 ；  是 寬 容 ， 而 不 是 縱 容 ；  是 支 持 ， 而 不 是 支 配 ；  是 慰 問 ， 而 不 是 質 問 ；  是 傾 訴 ， 而 不 是 控 訴 ；  是 難 忘 ， 而 不 是 遺 忘 ；  是 彼 此 交 流 ，  而 不 是 凡 事 交 代 ； 是 為 對 方 默 默 祈 求 ，  而 不 是 向 對 方 諸 多 要 求 ；  可 以 浪 漫 ，  但 不 要 浪 費 ；  可 以 隨 時 牽 手 ，  但 不 要 隨 便 分 手 ；

**How true**

the latter "to be free from parents"...this is tough too...Mrs Chia told us that she is her son-in-law's best friend as she seldom interfere in this affairs...she let them having breathing space to grow their own world...but how many parents can do just that? her daughter's parents-in-law is not her daughter's best friend...every parent see their children as being the best and some feel that they are "giving" away their best treasure to someone else...hence, they continue to interfere even after the marriage...

this is not easy...and i cant comment since i am not a parent myself yet...maybe in times to come, i will be able to comprehend with Mrs Chia words...in the meanwhile, i think i would be better off remembering the other word of advice she has for her daughter...that is to be gracious at all times towards her PIL...

a lot of penny for my thoughts for the best few days...mainly cos kor encountering something difficult in his life...may he have the strength to tide on and see what's best for him...and may he comprehend the true meaning of the chinese saying....

DeAr dEar's fuLL maRatHon!

Kudos to my lovely hubbie! *thumbs up!*

today dear dear finally completed his first full marathon!
42km standard chartered run!

i registered but didnt go for it as i know i probably never going to make it further than reaching the East Coast Park, make no mention of having to run all the way to the end and coming back...

i stood along the finishing line waiting to capture the victorious moments of my dear dear...ps: dear dear says he always have no picture of him racing in marathon so i told myself i will take some pics of him...the sun was scorching hot...trust me its so HOT until i feel like bringing out my brolly but i cant as that would block the view of many enthusiastic audience waiting for their love ones to come back after such a long run...

and whoo! my dear dear finally completed his first personal full marathon in 6hrs...

next year perhaps, i will participate in the run with him!

tOil to 2aM! wEddiNg giFt ~ siOk & zZ

we finally completed our BIG project of customising the wedding gift for siokwei and zhenzhu...toiled till 2am...


dear dear was quite stressed as he says its too mushy to write his thoughts for siok and that his art was not good..

but i could see dear dear's effort in customising each and every notes for them...


because of our toil till 2am, we woke up with nothing but panda eyes...hope the weds to be will like the pressie...

hEllO kIttY wIntEr dIP!

Today, we were Jurong Point for dinner...as well as to shop for present for Siok & ZZ's wedding...dear wanted to give them a customised gift! in the end, we settled on buying a heart shaped board and will be doing some writing on it...hope it turn out nice....

before heading home, we went to Eve's shop to try our luck for the Hello Kitty Winter Dip!
Once into the shop, i immediately set my eyes on the hello kitty warmer. It's one of the top prize. Eve told me that there is still one chance for the hello kitty warmer that is still unclaimed. Alternatively, i can buy it as someone else is selling.

i simply love the warmer as i can use it monthly. Coupled with the soft pouch, wow! This is also a fabulous gift for Gerlin as well. She is also looking for a warmer...was supposed to go Taka tonight to source for it but i guess the hello kitty one might be nicer...got one for her!

i tried my hand on a few dips and here are my gifts!!! 

[Eat] La fOndUe ~ diNNer @ dEmPsEy

Our dinner adventure on 12 nov...LA FONDUE

innocently we landed ourselves in dempsey.. on a thursday night...

we thought might as well explore a new place for dinner rather than forever being at the same old places...

i was told reservations were required for this place...but guess what! we were the first customer... we didnt know what a fondue dinner means and decided to try it out...the waitress was nice and she took time to explain to us the differences between the different type of cheese and the menu..to me and dear, it all seems the same...cheese is cheese...and choco is choco...

though there was nobody in the restaurant apart from us and hello kitty, we waited a while for our meal...and while waiting, hello kitty decided to get in the limelight...cos hello kitty was also bored...

*waiting*

.

..

...

....

and finally the food arrives...i never know salad could taste this nice! i am NEVER a veggie person but trust me every single leaf was left unspared!

next come the cheese fondue...we were advised to take mexican cheese cos apparently the most popular one was too cheesy for locals (as advised by the waitress)...mexican cheese was a bit spicy but in both our opinion,
it was just not cheesy enough....

the meat platter...with the special sauces..and the grilling begins...

we were given 3 options as to how we would want the meat to be done..1st - broth, 2nd - fried, and 3rd - grilled..we chose grilled and this is how it turns out...really different from my expectations...looking at the portion, it was not a surprise that we finished our main course even before our stomach says i m full!

did i mention that one blogger mentioned that he was full by the 2nd course - cheese fondue and advised all diners to skip lunch just to eat there??? *gosh...is it me or him**

and finally to wrap up the dinner...our desserts...

cookies & cream choco fondue!

this was the disappointing one...in the menu description, it reads dark and white choco with cookies...when the chocolate fondue came, the only traces of white chocolate was the white choco chip which melted away with the heat...

we didnt finished the choco fondue...cos none of us were a chocolate lover..and guess what we did with the leftover choco and a unused plate???

my personal verdict...the food was ok but the price was really not...the dinner cost us a whopping $170...which we did not think was value for money...the experience was ok since none of us have tried fondue dinner before...i seriously doubt the reviews given by those folks at hungrygowhere on this place...was there some conspiracy at work??