Kampong Kampong (II)

And so we're tieing the red knot and these are some of our test shoots for our wedding album. Enjoy!

Kampong Kampong

A Sunday spent in Pulau Ubin. It was an eye-refresher with the rustic wooden houses and un-touched dusty roads with numerous mongrels running around.







Taking some pictures by the beach. The quality's bad though cause it was against sunlight and my cranky phone camera was set to VGA.



We had dinner at one of the traditional coffeeshops there and I must say, really fantastic food they have!

ka-chng!

Been using quite alot of facial masks recently due to the sudden hike of gatherings and special occasions. *smiles dreamily* Must be due to the festive season though there aren't any happening parties or programs lined up for me. The only thing worth looking forward to would be bringing QQ to the long awaited doggies' gathering on boxing day when I'll finally be able to meet a lovely white-apricot husky, Skylar. And also hoping that QQ will get to socialise during this gathering. What's more, there will also be an X'mas gift exchange for the attending poochies with a reasonable budget of 10bucks. I hope that everyone (mostly) will avoid giving any edibles with chicken cause MOST dogs are actually allergic to chicken, including my QQ. I've thought and thought about what we should get for the gift exchange - probably a kongo toy plus some non-meaty treats to avoid any complications, or dental chewing bones. I just found a cheap kongo toy for QQ but she doesn't seem to be able to master the knack of playing with it. Instead of nudging the toy around the floor, she managed to stretch her jaw to the widest extent and just ran off with the toy in her mouth to her 'hidey-hole'! Gosh! So much for distracting her with an interesting toy. Should have just got yet another, ball for her. QQ's crazy for balls!

Dear and I made our first trip down to Pulau Ubin on Sunday and was pleasantly surprised to find such a rural kampong setting still thriving. We had very tasty seafood with salted fish fried rice in a traditional 80s coffee shop with delightful home-made drinks and it was practically a dog-eye-feast for us cause almost every shop/household owned one mongrel! The dogs there are so tame and friendly of various shapes and sizes. I could'nt help wondering if sterilisation should also be carried out in that area for the mongrels, for even though they are owned, I would'nt call their living conditions ideal or healthy. They are still quite fleas-infested and I pretty much believe that heartworm would be a very common killer there due to the mozzies-saturated environment. Would sterilisation be good or should we let nature takes it course? Our business was finally wrapped up by 7pm when we made our way to the mainland. Was exhausted and feeling queasy due to my infrequent meals that I've been having for the past two weeks.

Another random revelation, I used to browse through many other pretty ladies' blogs and was impressed by the amazing photos that they display from their photoshoots and always wondered how/why they are so priviledged. But after some serious thought and listening to seasoned photographers, my perception of such photoshoots has started to take a sharp turn. They don't appear as glamourous or as 'easy' a job to me anymore. This goes to show how amateur I am and how much there is for me to learn.

Sighs, 2008 is coming to an end yet I have'nt been able to accomplish much. Let's hope there will be a better ending for me to reminisce for.

Goddess of Mercy

Today's weather was good - sun shone bright with a clear-blue sky. This seemed to be a good sign sent from above and before we knew it, we were walking along Bugis' streets.

Not missing out a stalk of lotus each on this special day.

After praying, we decided to check out this cafe that Kaiwan had introduced me to the week before. It was a good long hour before we managed to locate the cafe due to my inadequate memory. Poor baby had to endure terrible pangs of hunger. =(

I'm not gonna reveal here where or what the cafe is. I love it for its cosiness and quiet ambience.

And we finally found the place! Hooray!

Looking through the menu. They offer two selections namely, Asian and Western main courses. This cafe was set up primarily to showcase the chef's baking skills with their mouth-watering choices of cakes.

Set meal consists of a drink, main course and a cake of your choice!

His order: Roast Chicken with potato & greens.

Quite tasty, as you can very well see from the fervor as he tried the dish.

And mine: Spicy Shrimp Pasta. And they really mean it when they say spicy! I was practically gurgling cold water all the way.

It would have been better if they added less chilli flakes.

Mango Mambo and Minty something (can't remember the name!).

A mother and her child enjoying some quiet moments over a slice of the cafe's signature cake. Transient I call it.

Not forgetting to say, a BIG THANK YOU to you for turning an ordinary day into an extraordinary one.

cause you are so beautiful inside, so lovely, and I can't see why

reaching our quinquennial
yet all I can see of what's to-be are mere blurred images
our journey seems to have come to a standstill
like the red lights whicn won't turn green

sometimes thoughts flutter into my mind
which I can't help but brush aside
sometimes I look at you
hoping to find a trace of hope
to rekindle my faith in this affinity

all these pent-up frustrations with no outlet to go.

A&E

Whoa, I love civilisation!

Kisses to unlimited telly-channel surfing, full access of Internet, privacy, my luxurious complete facial regime (my face is engulfed with blackheads and big pimples!) and not forgetting, endless supply of (junk) food. Ok sounds like I just returned from Survivor XXXIII (can't remember what's the correct series now), but no, its only a 1-night stay in NUH which seemed to me like 1 week.

Baby was rushed to the Accident & Emergency (A&E) department in an ambulance on Sunday morning (4a.m) because of a severe stomachache and vomitting. Amid all the frantic and chaos, QQ ran out and the siblings had to go after her while I tend to baby. He was experiencing such pain that I've never seen him in before during our 4 years of relationship and all I could do was to prepare for the worst. Have you ever seen those television shows where someone would just faint all of a sudden and the companion would just stare back in shock, not knowing what to do. I used to criticise them cynically, half-muttering to myself what a dumb-ass they are when they should just dial 995. Well, after that night, I can finally understand why they reacted thay way.

We reached A&E around 5 a.m and waited till 8 a.m before the doctor finally came out to update us on his condition. Knowing that admission to the ward takes a darn long time in our government hospitals, we (his brother and I) decided to go back home first to rest and pack his belongings. I fell asleep as soon as I had fed Xiao Q and packed his toiletries cause I had not slept since Saturday. To my dismay, it was only 3 pathetic hours later when I woke up.

First day

Medical Officers came to examine baby and told us that it was most probably mild appendicitis, but they can only conclude after 24hours of observation. If it is indeed appendicitis, he would have to be operated on. Hence, no eating or drinking for him till Tuesday morning at least. I created some commotion when dinner was served and I helped him to finish it. My poor baby had to be on drip constantly which deterred his movements. We had to call the nurse everytime he needed the Gents. Bought some newspapers and magazines to accompany myself throughout the night but gave up after trying to stay awake at 2am.

Second day

Consultants came in to look at baby again during breakfast and told him the good news that he could eat. Baby was overjoyed and looked like he was savouring every mouthful of the porridge served. Should have taken pictures for keepsake's.

After trying the hospital food baby was served, I don't think their food is bad or mediocre at all. Around food-court's standard, I must say. Everything served looked appetising and did not tasted bland or awkward.

Finally, at around 6 p.m, baby was discharged and his parents drove me home first before my mom starts making a police report. This entire incident gave me some rather useful insight and helped answered questions which I had been pondering over for past weeks. Our relationship has definitely grown stronger and another chapter of our life-story passed.

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On a lighter note, here are some pictures of past events.

1. Anthony Hair Boutique Exclusive Opening

I hate my hair. Wasted a freaking $40 to style it and it came out horrendous. I know I'm constantly saying this, but I should have just done it myself.

Pictures credits to Clara (http://dblchin.blogspot.com/)

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2. Jing Jing's Solemnisation at Mandai Garden

Wish this young couple ever-lasting love and happiness.

Pictures credits to Jing Jing (http://jingjingdogs.blogspot.com/)

And the kind editor of Cozycot kindly decided to use my photo for their e-newsletter. Weee!

Guess what

we were doing...

Deflated tyre! We (actually only my boy) had to warn oncoming vehicles to keep to the other lanes. He said I looked more like a female ghost waving to a fateful car on the road, damnnnn...! It was so coincidental that my boy had to report to the headquarters and was donning the smart-fore or whatever you call that.

Breath-taking outline of nature. Taken by fluke with my 3.2 megapixel camera phone.

Bored from the long-wait for the towtruck.