End to the Easter break.

Early this morning, we woke up and made our way to town. Not for anymore shopping, but for the baptism of my new God siblings at 12, noon (Yes, NOON!) in St Joseph's Church in Victoria Street.
Went for a filling breakfast since we forsee that we will not be able to get any food till at least 3pm. After some ponders and wonders, we decided to go for prata and check out my 'teh chino'!Big right?! But hor, the uncle got problem. I asked for cold and I was still given warm. chey.... and when he was taking our orders, he asked till so detailed and yet, still wrong orders. Bleh. Anyway, I decided I don't like it. Much too sweet. =(

Proceed to St Joseph for the baptism service... er... Nothing much to say. Except, it was much much much toooooo warm and the baptismal font was sooooooo far to the left, we cannot see anything at all! The echo was quite bad in the church as well and frankly, hubby and I was getting quite fraustrated with the heat and the long long long process!

Anyway, a picture of my new God Siblings, together with Godma and the rest of my other God siblings. Short of 2 of them. Nick is in hospital and Vivien was having lessons till 5pm. So, needless to say, those 2 in white are the new addition to the family. Welcome, Joseph Terrence and Mabel! =) Must call me "Da Jie" lor. hahahahaha

Finally, after all the photo takings, we went for tea! Much much awaited tea! We were all famished! And during tea, we were all so hungy, I forgot to take any pics!

But look at this... EASTER EGG!!!! (My first time, receiving Easter Eggs!) so cute right?! Hand made by one of the sponsors lei! So sweet of her! And she also made 'hot cross buns' too. Of course, by the time, we actually eat the buns, it was no longer hot. And I hope, it wasn't cross anymore. Hahaha... It should be 'cool happy bun'!

1 for hubby and 1 for me! (no need to say which is mine right?) It took me such a long long time, before, I finally bare to make a hole and actually eat it! =( And I do feel pretty sad after cracking it open!!! I was trying so hard to open the smallest hole possible! But from the look of it... I did not do a very good job horz... =(

Easter Egg or rather, what's left of mine. =/

Final, couple egg-y shot before Hubby bring his egg home. It's lying on the stove now. Waiting for me to crack it opened for tomorrow's breakfast?! hahahaha...

Enough about eggs, I guess. Hubby and I went to Bugis Junction for a walk. We were both feeling rather tired out from the whole day in the warm chuch, hence no mood to really walk.

But being the highly effective shopping queen that I am, it took me less than 10 mins to get these! How can I miss it right? Pink discs lor.. haha... Just nice. My first sem in SIM is ending, I can do all my backup for this sem on the CD rather than just saving it on my PC. What if my hard disk crash?? Then, "God Bless me" liao lor. Nice and cute hor? And also, continue the rate that I am eating, I've very sure, pretty soon, I'll be looking like the bug too! =(

And I finally got my card holder!
It's at some shop, that I cannot even remember the name. Was eyeing the COACH ones... but hello... for more than a $100 just to hold some cards... forget it la... save up that kind of money instead. It's after all, just a card holder lor. Though of course, if $$$ is not an issue, I would still LOVE to have the COACH card holder. =)

Nice day to end my Easter Holy week celebrations. But hmm... hubby and me are such spoilt brats... we mentally and verbally agree with each other that, the next baptism, if Godma asks us to go and support... we ah.... will show our support mentally if it's held in an un air-conditioned church and join in for the makan session. But if it's in an air conditioned church, we will be there.

Yes, Yes I know. Spoit brats... but really. We cannot concentrate and less than halfway thru the service. We were figetting so much and feeling very very pek chek. Might as well, we don't do if that's how we really really feel right? I think I can still pray for them at home lor.

Hai... spoilt brats! *tsk*tsk*tsk*

Happy BDay, Momsy.

Celebrated Momsy's bday a day in advance with these... Feast from Pizza Hut, which includes the Seafood, the Hawaiian, 2 Garlic Bread and 20 piece of Drumlets for er... just 4 of us.... wah lau... so much food lor. Over ordered! Coz sis din say she's joining her friends for lunch! Bleh...

So much for my abstainence from meat for this weekend too lor.

Gave momsy the lipstick I bought from Clarins and she seemed excited at a wrapped up box. hahaha... must be a long long time that she received a wrapped up present lor. hahaha...

Finally, unwrapped the present and she immediately went to try it. She use soooooo little, I can hardly see the colour. But she seems happy with it and I think that's all that matters. =)

Happy Birthday, Momsy.

Go and nap now. Will be having a long long night later, during Easter Vigil.

Good Food with Good Friends.

Met up for dinner yesterday evening with our RCIA mates. Time really flies and we celebrated our 2nd year Baptism Anniversary admist laughter, chats and photos! Father Yim joined us as well and he told us how he was called to be a servant of God, how he became a Priest.

All too soon, time to say Bye Bye.

Really enjoyed myself with them. When will the next gathering be?!

Happy Time.

Picture says a Thousand Words right? So, can guess what this it? Yups, the chinese character for "double happiness" and when will this appear? Weddings! =) Hubby and I just came back from Serene & Sunny's wedding dinner at Carlton Hotel. This is my 2nd wedding dinner there, in the same ballroom too!

I cannot remember much about the ambience... neither can I remember the "Wedding Favour" of the previous couple who got married there...

Serene and her new husbad's "Thank You Favour" is rose buds in test tubes, tied in red organza. So pretty. At first glance, we really thought it was Test Tube rose or something like that.. Till we looked at the instructions, then we realised that it's rose buds for making tea! So clever lor. My "cleverity" at work again. =S

I must say, this time round, the food served is good! We enjoyed it every much! =) And, a few of our friends did not turn up, end up, our table only have 7 adults... then halfway, only left with 5, since another couple had to leave earlier to get ready for their drive to JB for golf. Sooo good!!! Can go short holiday.. I also want.. but holiday I don't have... school visit bright and early, I have! =(Thank goodness Lyn and Max were there too and they gave us a ride back, else, we got to take public transport and reach home at goodness knows what time and tomorrow (or rather later) is a working day too. Worse, since I have a school visit early in the morning, must reach office earlier than normal lei! So, all in all, still very blessed that we have a ride home. =) Tks Max and Lyn!

Before going for the dinner, Emma, Hubby and I went for the Sunset Mass in Good Shephard, since we were all lazy to go to CTK for mass in the morning, go home and then go out again. So we decided to go for the last mass and best is that Good Shephard is diagionally opposite to Carlton. Even the timing for mass works perfectly for us! So very happily, we all met up for mass.

Emma bought me this... Some sort of shimmering eye shadow. Which I think is gaining popularity in Taiwan and I heard Korea?Anyway, she got me if for me to try. Have'nt used it yet. But the name sounds so yummy... FONDUE Shadow. The only Fondue I know is that kind where I dipped my fruits/ice-cream/mashmellows into a pot of warm chocolate and pops it into my mouth kind.. I'm sure gonna try how out this Fondue Shadow will taste..opps! LOOK on my eyes!

I saw the brochure of Bobbi Brown and purple seems to be the 'in' colour this season... I must go and update the colours of my cosmestics! =)

First Minute of 2007!

What were you doing on this First Day of the New Year??

For hubby and me, we were in Novena Church celebrating a Thanksgiving mass. Thanking and reflecting on what God has bless us with for the pass year. After the mass, we had a countdown, ushering in the brand new, hot-from-the-oven 2007.

So, yups. My FIRST minute was with my loved ones and friends, surrounded by God's people in Novena church.

There was a HUGE life size Nativity being erected just beside the church. Very nice and very big!!

Blame my sucky HP camera for not capturing a nicer shot! Argg!!!

Before mass, we met up early and had dinner at Velocity aka Novena Square. Went to this restaurant called the "Magic Wok" or something at level 3. Cheap and not bad. Total of 9 of us and we only spent less than $74!! And we had so much food, Thai Pineapple rice, veg, prawns, sotong, tom yam soup. So stuffed out after that!!

Best of all, we were given a little cozy corner where we can see the whole of the restaurant. It was made to look like a cottage kind of feeling. Nice and comfortable!

We had the whole corner to ourselves and we all just sat there and yakked and laughed. Think we made the most noice!! hahaa.. But it felt good to be catching up with each other. Though we see each other in church often but it's not the same coz there isn't time to do the same kind of fellowship before or after mass.

Isn't it nice and peaceful looking? There were even 'grapevines' and 'lantern' hanging down from the structure. Quite nice hor?

Also went for coffee after mass at the kopitiam opp the church with the same bunch of people.

Luckily, we still managed to get a bus home even though it was soooo late. I must say our transport system is good, they extend the working hours. Poor drivers and all.. got to work so much harder because of us!

Managed to reach home at close to 2am. Settled down and blog this.

What were you doing when 2007 crept in? And who were you with?

Ours was a peaceful, blessful and holy countdown. Spent with loved ones in the house of God. =)

Surprise Sunday

To my surprise, today was a rainy Sunday. R-A-I-N-Y! What a nice and wonderful surprise for us. =)

I love wet weather.

If, I'm at home, it's good to laze in bed (or rather, Sofa in my case), curled up with a nice book with some music playing in the back ground. Or it's good to go shopping in malls where there is less crowd and when u walk from mall to mall in the Open, it's good to stil feel cool and nice. So what if I need to carry a brolly? I don't really mind that much.

But I did neither of these in my favourite weather. Instead. As per our practise and religious teachings, we went for mass. The skies opened when I was bathing and by the time we were ready to go out, the rain was coming down pretty hard. Took a big brolly with us, so that we won't get drench. Hubby is very bad at holding brolly and sheltering us and not to 'biong' me on my head as I have come to realise so with a bigger brolly, the chance of these 2 happening is lesser too.

The rain did stop for a while during mass but it came back when mass ended. Also, went for confession today. It's compulsory to go for confession before Christmas and Easter. We were weaiting in the confession room... I was thinking who will the preist be? Since, I've already gotton Fr Yim and Fr Robert before, I thought it will be Fr Peter.

I heard the slow, deliberate, paced, steady footsteps before I even saw the priest and I knew it was Fr Yim once again. I did a physical cringe but was mentally glad. Put it this way, it's hard to make confessions. It's even harder to make confessions to a priest who knows you! But it's good to make confession to a priest who knows you coz he "knows" your history and can give better advises.

My confessions this time warrant me a 1 decade of the rosary... coming from Fr Yim, seems to be quite alot lei! I usually get, 1 Our Father, 1 or 3 Hail Mary's. Anyway, as long as I'm absolve from my sins. I'm willing to go with the penance that Fr gave me.

But Fr Yim also very funny lar. When he saw me, he responed to my "Morning Father" with "Morning Sha..." (Think he want to give the false impression that he don't know who I am, but how lame can that be. When he always calls us if he is free and within his eye range and us with our backs turn, usually in the bookshop.) Then he added, with his hands sheilding his eyes, "I'll try not to look at you so you don't feel shy." I was giggling. He was trying to control his laughter too. hahah.. Funny priest but I still like him.

It doesn't make confession any much easier. But kind of glad it was Fr Yim still. I know.. Contricdtion. But I cannot help it. But, definately, do feel much much lighter after confession.

And, we were kind of rushing to Eve's house for her housewarming cum gathering after mass, so din stay for lunch with the rest as we normally do. I know where Eve stays since, it's near the Cheng San CC (the place where we took our yoga) and also it's near to where I used to stay when I was a child. =) So, on this rare occassion, I lead the way to her house, on ALL other occassions, Hubby will be leading the way when we go anywhere that is not a mall. hahah... But this time, I AM the leader!!

You know, the new flats are all clustered together and they all share the same block number? The only difference is that the blocks all have a different letter behind it and yet, there will be 1 or 2 blocks that has no letter behind it?. Well, we reached the cluster of flats with no troubles. The problem began when we began searching for the block WITHOUT the letter. We walked round the whole cluster and still CANNOT find the block!

ARGG!!

Finally, decided to call the host to check the block number. She din pick up. Called another friend, din pick up too. Called the friend's wife. STILL NO PICK UP!! Wah... not my day to find out address lei... But thank God, 1 of them called me back. Then.... ORH~~~ the host left out the letter 'C'. Wah lau...

Anyway, finally managed to get there. *PHEW* We were not the latest. Only the 3rd couple to arrive ma. In good time la. Settled down to flip thru her wedding albums and shots. Nice! Then hubby irriated me lei. He was looking thru the AD photos with me and he went, "Whose house is this?" (after gate crashing. during the tea ceremony) "How come got to go back to her mom's plc?" HELLO!!! Hubby MARRIED me last year right? We went through the samething too right? Wah lau eh...

"Whose house is this?"
Of course, is the hubby's side family lar!! He got to bring the bride over to his side to serve tea ma!

"How come got to go back to her mom's plc?"
Serve tea to the bride's side ma!! Wah lau... really almost made me vomit blood!

Anyway... other than that, nothing much happend la. Sit, and chat and eat lor. Left at about 4pm and the rain started to fall heavier again.

By the time we reached home, I was sooooo tired. Bathe and then promptly fell asleep. When the clock struck 6pm, I was jerk awake. Think I have an internal alarm clock for time at times. Made our way to my parents' plc for dinner.

Mom was busy watching some korean show on VCD and din even wanna sit down for dinner with me! Hurmp!!! But, I think she made up for it with my favourite prawns. hahaha.. so she's forgiven.

Mom and I chatted for awhile and coz my grandma's area is going thru upgrading, grandma went to another aunt's plc to stay so mom is home, rarely she's home on Sunday nite, so we stayed and chatted for longer than usual.

When I suddenly remember that we need to get some drinks in time for the Christmas dinner for my family in law next Monday and since Hubby is with me, I made him go with me, instead of me carrying all the packet drinks all by myself lor.

Bought 4 different kinds. Got my favourite, Peach with Green tea, Lemon Barley. Hubby grapped the Ju Hua Cha... (abit boring I feel) then I saw that there's cranberry juice. I heard cramberry juice are good so I got that as well. Total of 4, 6 packs for a party of 7.. haha.. more than enough la. But I'll save some myself and not bring all out.. haha.. So selfish hor?! haha

I think I need to go to bed early. I'm soooooo tired! I slept like a log the moment my head hit the pillows but I don't feel rested enough! How come??!

Everybody going for Holiday except US!!! =(

Yesterday, hubby told me OBIL sent him an email asking hubby and me if we wanna to to Taiwan with him and his GF in Apr. The exact dates was 4 Apr to 7 Apr next year.

Checked the calendar and it's right smack into the Easter season, we will be busy with church activities, with Moundy Thursday (Day before Jesus died), Easter (Day where Jesus died), Easter Vigil (Holy Saturday, where we will have the baptism mass) and lastly Easter Sunday during those dates that OBIL choose.

Easter is a busy time for us, especially during the week of Easter (Good Friday) the day before and for that weekend, we will be making a trip to church as this is one of the most important of the church.

Anyway... back to the holiday... so we cannot go. Which I think may not be such a bad thing after all, if we were to go, we have to spend more $$ and also I will miss my lessons somehow. But on the other hand, there will be a chance for me to get to know the couple slightly better. I mean, seeing each other for the entire 4 days, we are bound to talk and chit chat and maybe that will make our re-ship better right?

So there goes Taiwan... *puff* in smoke... =(

If you don't already know, Tiger airways is having their mega promotions again. This time, it's 2 cents per trip to 4 places in Thailand, which includes, Phuket, Bangkok, Hat Yai & Krabi from July to Sep. After hearing the news, OBIL again asked if we are interested to go, but for me, I dare not commit coz July will be a new sem for me and I have no idea which day the lessons are. So OBIL made booking for 5 ppl to Phuket in July, which include his parents, his GF and his youngest Bro. The entire family is going for a holiday but Hubby and me got to stay behind! ARGG!!!

I want to go too!!!

Since the dinner that we had together in M'sia and what 3rd aunt told hubby, I'm begining to feel sorry for her. It did not occur to me that I will be feeling sympathetic towards her, since I still secretly harbour and nurse the ill-feelings I have towards her. But I can feel my feelings towards her slowly changing.

I don't envy her in this situation. Especially when they are travelling in a group. She has no choice but to interact with PIL. MIL will be alright but FIL may be a bit more of an issue. He has this knack of asking and asking and sometimes can be embrassing when he gets too loud and justs keeps asking and expecting you to explain. Or he can be such a nagger. Repeating the same thing over and over again and again. Till you get so sick of him. But no choice, in my case, because he is the FIL, got to entertain him abit.

I thought I will be concerned that PIL grow to like her more than me. But now, I realised, it does not matter who they prefer. Why? Coz I realised that no matter who they prefer, they have no choice in who their sons choose as wives for themselves. As long as I do my part as a DIL to them, I have nothing to fear. After all, at the end of the day, who will they answer to? Who will I answer to? So, I don't have to be too concern over these now and make myself miserable.

But, I do feel that the GF is very lucky. She appear at the right time for OBIL. Just as he finished his studies, earning good $, relatively good career, financially strong, she appeared. And she was able to enjoy all the benefits that he can give her. I assume being chauffered, meals paid for, holidays subsidised, and don't have to bear with all the irregular time during exams, stress and his then pilot training. Seems like the ex was there to only share the bad but not the good while, she's here to share the good and I hope for their sake, the bad too.

It's strange how life can turn out. Everybody assume that OBIL and the ex will tie the knot soon. Yet he's with someone else now.

Earlier, when hubby came to fetch me from work, the DJ posted this question to his listeners, "What if one day, after 4,5 years, your ex emailed you an 'I Love You'. What will you do?"

I told hubby, my response will be, "Why? Regret now ar? You deserve it! And you are too late, I'm happily married to a wonderful man now." Hubby was of course pleased to hear it. And it din occur to me then, but I was wondering, if OBIL will ever do the mention "What IF" one day. haha..

I think I'm evil. VERY evil. I just want to see him regret. Not for the rest of his life, but at least on this, one occassion.

I think it won't happen anyway... so I'm doomed for disappointment.

But, SERIOUSLY, I am praying for understanding and peace for the family, that God will set aright whatever that is wrong.

3 is a Market

Yesterday was "All Saints' Day" and is also a day of obligation for us Catholics. Hubby and I went for the last mass which was at 8pm in CTK.

Quite normal mass by Fr. Peter Koh and as usual, all of us went to the nearby coffee shop and some had supper, some had dinner and others like us, just a drink and to catch up and fellowship. Then came Paul and we were all seated together.

Hubby told me tat Paul's co is 1 of the sponsor for the coming show, "Phantom of the Opera" I know the story though I've never watched it before and Paul says he could help us get discounted tickets if we are interested and if we want to, we might even be able to get free tickets to the show.

The few of us, were astounded! Of course, we want! Immediately, we baggered Paul to tell us more and quickly, we made plans. All in all, we need a total of 5-6 tickets for this show and we ONLY want the actual performances not some martini kinda performance. Paul said something, which I din really catch.

But it's confirmed, if he's able to help us get discounted tickets, we will be going on 1 Apr 2007!

On reaching home, hubby told me, he could hardly hear Paul say anything. Before he could say anything, the 4 of us, women just cut him off and discuss among ourselves again.

Hubby says, he is bewildered by how come the 4 of us women can be all talking at the same time and yet could understand each other perfectly. Paul is the main person in getting the information and tickets, yet he spoke the least and was quiet throughout. Should we not be listening to him?

He ended his speech with, "Once again, as proven, Men take turns to talk, while women can all be talking at the same time in the same conversation" which he had read from some book before.

And on hindsight, as I recall of last nite's conversation, yups! Whoever that clever guy is, He's absolutely RIGHT!

Anyway, Phantom of the Opera....Here we come! 1 Apr 2007!

Kena cheated again!

*sigh*

Went for the 9.45am mass so that, we can accompany YBIL to the Breaking of Word (BOW) for his RCIA later on. Don't know what thing prompted me to ask hubby to remind YBIL to bring bible for the class. And that was when he replied, he has mobilization later on and is on stand-by, hence cannot come. Aiyoh!! Should have told us earlier, then we don't need to wake up soooo early for the mass leh.

Anyway, after mass, we had brunch (in addition to the runny eggs and bread we had for breakfast at home) in CTK wif the usual gang. Ate lots of mini curry puff. Nice nice!! We even bought some home so we can enjoy it in the comfort of our home! =)

But, 1 good thing of gng for early mass is that by the time we reach home, it was not even noon! Showered and then we can laze in front of the google box, yes, enjoying our curry puffs and then take an afternoon nap! Pure indulgence, I tell you! It's been ages since, we were last able to do that on Sundays!

Was woken up by the rain, then I went on to prepare dinner and also made some juice for the both of us. Dinner was just a simple soya sauce chicken with rice. We both enjoyed it though I find the chicken a tad too salty. Seems ages that hubby and I last ate home cooked dinner prepared by me too! This week was soooo busy, everyday and every night, there's bound to be something that prevents us from having dinner at our own nest!

Really blissful and restful Sunday!

Maybe, we should go for 9.45 am mass from now onwards so that we can have a longer restful day!

But on another note, YBIL has missed quite a few sessions of RCIA already. He does not seem to be ready for baptism neither does he want to do it, I feel, but just hope that he will come for the sessions and get to know God more. He says the sharing scares him off. In my mind, I feel that this is an excuse.. but then again, he is not me, and I am not him, hence I won't be able to understand what he is really feeling. Maybe he is thinking that hubby and me are forcing him to go for RCIA? I don't know lar.

Can only pray for him at this moment lor. hai...

Retreat

Turned up at CTK for the retreat by Fr. Bill Heng. It was a good session I feel. Fr. Heng is a good speaker and he can make most of the topics interesting and I was not at all sleepy nor bored throughout the session at all.

Was supposed to be in CTK at 1pm till 5.30 pm and then go for mass after that. But coz one of our kakis suggested to go for mass at 11.30am and then do not need to go for the mass at 5.30pm as it's a bit late. So we all trooped into CTK before 11am for mass and grap a quick lunch and go for the retreat.

Many things were said by Fr. Heng. But out of the so many, I only remembered the following. Re-enactment soley by me..

Fr. Heng: I categorise 2 kinds of distractions when praying. 1st, the mosquitoes. 2nd, the blue bottle fly.
Me: *see stars and wonders, what is 'blue bottle fly'*?
Digress, after coming home, I did a search and found out what 'blue bottle fly' is.. like this.




Fr. Heng: When you pray and come across distractions, the 'mosquitoes' will come to distract you. Like the mosquitoes, it will come and if you can whisk it off your mind, then it's just a distraction. BUT... if, it's like the blue bottle fly and it comes and hunts you with the same distraction, then it may really be the Holy Spirit at work trying to tell you something from God.
Me: hmmm....

Suddenly, it just dawned on me that indeed, there is something, a distracting thought that keeps occuring and flashing into my mind whenever I am in prayer, mass or anything! All along, I thought that maybe it's me that I have an over imaginative brain and hence keeps 'seeing' the same distraction again and again.

But after this illuminating speech given by Fr. Heng, I realized it's not my very imaginative brain but it is indeed God trying to tell me something.

But I think this thought must be overcomed with hubby and me together. Coz I know for sure that I cannot do it alone.

Already spoken to hubby about my distraction but he doesn't really seem to believe me... Guess, I need to highlight it to him again when I have the chance. All I know for now, a confession is in the pipeline for me at least. =(