Me Difficult?

I'm letting off some steam.

I expect my friends to respect my religious practices and make an effort to remember that I eat halal food. Yes, halal does not mean no pork, it is more than that. Yes, I do go to non-halal restaurants but that is most of the times due to work - with boss, with clients (and sometimes in front of my boss, I don't even eat!) but when I am with friends, I expect friends to understand and respect that. I am FED UP of having to remind friends again and again. We are in Singapore, you have access to the internet, you can google for halal places here in Singapore! There are many Chinese shops that serve halal food - for one, there is Banquet. Go in and you'll see that every stall in Banquet is being run by Chinese. Halal does not mean Malay(!)

So am I being difficult? I am being assertive. The next time I get another suggestion for a non-halal makan place, one thing is for sure, you will not see me there. I'll join you guys later for coffee.

Holiday Holidays

Everyone celebrates the holiday season at the end of the year but why do people here wish you "Merry Christmas" and not "Happy Holidays"? I wish Merry X'mas to my Christian friends only and never wish anything to non Christians. Most of the times, I would say, enjoy the holidays.

I had dinner with one of my business colleagues a few weeks ago and she asked if the non-Christians feel offended with all the Christmas light ups and deco. I said no. To me, it is a commercial affair. She is Jewish and she told me that she would be offended if this was the case in her hometown. In US, there are all sorts of holidays - Kwanzaa, Hanukah, X'mas, Eid hence when it comes to the holiday seasons, they say Happy Holidays! Thinking about it, I think this is something we should adopt too.

When I Travel

I love to travel but I don't quite like traveling in SE Asia - call me a SNOB and I'll tell you "Whatever". I'm brought up in a country where everything is efficient, clean and safe... even when I am at home security comes first. My late father was a police inspector and he used to tell us many times to lock the door, the car, recognise buildings, faces, roads, what have you again and again. It has become a part of me.

Imagine how I feel when I found out troops stormed Peninsula Hotel in Makati City Manila last week. It's exactly 2 weeks ago I was at the same hotel. We usually stay either in Peninsula or the Shang but after what happened at SM Mall a few weeks back, I wanted to stay at the Peninsula. Little did I know that this was going to happen. Gosh, scary.
I know anything can happen to anyone at any time ... before I become a mom, I wasn't too bothered but now that I am a mom, I don't want anything to happen to me!

A Friend in the Making?

There is this colleague in the office. Let's call her "Stout Chicken". I find her rude and agressive and there have been times where I told myself to stay away from her. We used to see each other along the corridor or at the pantry and neither of us would say hi or make an eye contact.

Over the past few months, I don't have a choice but to sit in for meetings with her. Yesterday, we were in KL for some presentation and I found out several things about her. Maybe I have a soft heart, maybe I have become wiser with age, maybe I have decided to look at the good side of a person, maybe I have no choice but spend time with her since we are both away (!) I've come to a conclusion that she is lonely and she wants friends. Afterall, she has been away for 15 years! Hey from not saying hello, we actually had dinner together yesterday! While I still find her very aggressive and rough on the sides, I've come to a conclusion that she is probably like that by nature. Being in a foreign land away from family and friends makes you a "tougher/ rougher" person perhaps.

In one of the conversations, she told me that she misses this particular snack and guess what I did today, I brought some for her this morning. I surprise myself for making an effort to remember what she wants and packing that snack from her. I think I must have surprised her too because for the first time, she gave me a wide smile while she walked along the corridor.

Restricted Zone

ERP charges has gone up again and you now see more gantry on many roads. Years ago, I remembered when we wanted to drive in to the city, my late father would buy a $3 coupon and placed it on the dashboard. With that coupon, we can go in and out of the CBD area multiple times! I also remembered when my late father was late for work and did not want to buy the coupon, he used to fetch his colleagues from the bus-stop along Outram Road and with 4 passengers in the car, he would drive in the restricted zone. Looking back, the reason for buying that coupon restrict the number of cars that drive into the CBD area. How things have evolved and change over the years.

Nana Ke?

Hubby likes to listen to Era on FM 104.5. It's a radio station by Astro Malaysia.
His favorite DJ is Nana. At one stage when he liked listening to her, he even suggested that if we had a baby girl, our daughter's name must end with a "Na". God is fair. We got a baby boy :)

Anyhoo, I always go up to KL to meet our partners in Astro and as usual, I would tease hubby and asked him if he'd like me to get Nana's autograph. Hah! I never did it until today!! I did not ask for her autograph.. that to me is not cool... plus I've never done such things in my life before! Instead, I took a picture with her! hahaha... and she made my day when she sang our channel jingle. Watch me, I'll try every means to get her to do something for the channel...

Got home and immediately shared the picture with him.. somehow he was not that interested. He said now no fun liao! Alamak! Waste current.

Motherhood vs Singledom

It annoys me when I hear negative comments about working moms. Some feel that when one becomes a mother, she no longer is committed to her job as she is unable to work late to finish a project or travel as often for a meeting or has to take urgent leave when the child is unwell. No matter how successful or efficient one is pre motherhood, all that goes out of the window when she becomes a mom.

I could say the same to single people too right. Some have different priorities in life. Work may not be top of mind for them. They do what they are asked to do and leave work on time because they have friends waiting for them post working hours. Some have family commitments as top of mind... does this make a person less committed to their jobs?

At the end of the day, it all depends on each individual. How one prioritze their time and work. How driven one is, how much support they get from family, from their spouse, from their siblings, basically your support system.


One thing I have learnt is that no matter how much time you put into your work, when it comes to company's re-org, all that does not matter. What matters is your brand - what you stand for and what you as a brand can do.

While I'm Gone..

The little one crawls and can now sit up on his own. The little one can also pull himself up and stand... that was a surprise as hubby forgot to inform me! And the little one's tooth finally made an appearance on his gums! 8 days away and I missed all these!

Excuse Moi

I was in CDG airport in Paris today to get on my flight to Singapore. I arrived at a domestic airport and got on a sky train to the international airport. At one of the stops a cleaning lady came on board the train. She brought a cleaning cart with her. I was standing at one of the doors and she kept telling me to move away in French! I was annoyed as the train was empty and why should I move right? Of course I rolled my eyes and gave her a stare. She continued to push her way through and I was squeezed between the door and her cart. Just as I was about to move away, we reached the next station and she left! What an idiot!

I am Home!

Got in this morning and couldn't wait to go home to see my two heroes. The flight home was a smooth one and we flew on the new plane B777-300ER... the seat is fantastic.. it can be converted to a full bed! I slept most of the time as I was awake the night before.

Little hero was excited when he saw me. Before I could put my luggages aside, he threw himself at me and was smiling all the time. He got really impatient when I told him to hold on as mama needs to wash her hands, feet and face first. I spent the first hr just cuddling and kissing him. He loved it and laughed along! I am really happy to be home!

As today is the eve of eid, I was very ambitious. I wanted to cook several dishes for hubby and I am proud to say, I cooked Ayam Masak Merah, Beef Curry, Sambal Tumis Udang and Nasi Minyak. I had time to even share the dishes with both my mom and in-laws!

Granny in Red

I was enjoying the sun and sea view when I saw this really old Grandma wearing a red bikini! She has a huge stomach, lots of cellulite on her thighs and arms and she walked confidently in the red bikini. She's one woman who is comfortable of her body, I thought to myself. I turned my head for a second and when I turned back again, the Grandma was topless! Oh my goodness, I'm speechless!

Salade Mozarella

Friends sometimes laugh at me because I can have salad as my main meal. In their eyes, that is not a meal. Salad in this part of the world is great. Unlike back home, over here there are so many varieties to choose from. The ingredients used are so fresh, juicy, flavorful, crispy and fragrant. My favorite salad is Tomato Salad with Mozarella cheese. I can have that as my main meal every evening and never get bored of it. According to my colleagues here, this is a summer dish, best eaten with bread and white whine. Not sure about the white wine thing, but it sure tastes good with orange juice too.

People Watch

One of the things that I like doing of late is people watch. It is a lot more interesting to people watch when you travel and you have lots of time in between flights. I was in Rome's airport and I spent the 1.5hr looking at Europeans... figuring out their nationality, wondering where their next destination was, wondered why some women have fake eye lashes, listening to the European speak and admiring the beautiful women and the good looking men! I could be staring, I figured so what... afterall, I do get stares too.. so I stare back. Unlike back home, staring incidents can lead to a fight sometimes, here, you may find the other peson smiling at you. Nice. But no conversation please!

I have not had time to sit in the sun along the beach to people watch in Cannes. It's a pity. The weather is amazing, the sea is blue and the sky is so clear... I am in hotel ballrooms screening shows. Aahhh... that is work. I'm sure I will find sometime tomorrow to get some sun and people watch with friends when I meet up with them for drinks in the evening.

Louis Vuitton

A few years back, I refused to buy an LV bag.. I bought Gucci instead. Today, I am eating my own words... yes, I bought an LV handbag this afternoon. I spent the whole day screening shows and I needed to go for a walk. That 15mins walk brought me to LV boutique.

It was not an impulse buy. I have been thinking of getting one and I've been told that LV prices here is at least 30% cheaper compared to the prices back home. And it is true.

I am happy with my buy :)

One week to Eid and how do I Feel?

Depress... yes, that's how I feel currently.

I am traveling tonight to Cannes for a convention. It is the most painful and difficult time for me.
Firstly, I'll be away from my little one for exactly 8 days... my longest business trip ever. I will miss kissing, tickling, feeding, everything aboutt him, I will miss him. I've just put him to bed and all I want to do is to cuddle him all night long.... *sigh*

Secondly, it's 22 Ramadan... while everyone is busy preparing for breakfast, performs terawih, baking, cleaning and listening to Hari Raya songs... I am busy running from one meeting to another and eating the same food for sahur. This is too depressing.

Iftar with Friends

Every year, hubby's friends organize Iftar together. Usually, it's done at home but this year they decided to have it in a restaurant. I think it was a great idea. There were 4 families - 8 adults... and 12 kids! The youngest being my son, 8 months and the oldest 10 years old. My goodness, the kids can really play and play and run... I got exhausted just looking and running after them!

It was a fun evening...can't wait for Adli to grow up and join the abangs and kakaks play "police and thief" and soccer using plastic bottle!

Seloka Pantun

Anak Timah membeli roti
Roti dimakan dengan mentega
Wahai kawan janganlah ketawa
Membaca pantun di lelaman saya

Bulan Rejab sudah berlalu
Syabaan pula akan meninggalkan kita
Ramadan sedang menunggu
Sudahkah bayar hutang puasa?

Kueh jongkong kueh koci
Bukan senang membuatnya
Bila tiba Ramadan nanti
Kawan semua nak conserve energy

Pisang emas dibawa belayar
Masak sebiji di atas peti
Minggu depan aku pening kepala
Macam mana nak balik sebelum mulanya puasa?!

Wedge Sandals

Finally! I bought a pair. I've always wanted to get one... for as long as I can remember but told myself I don't need that extra height. This time, I succumb. So what if I become the tallest girl in office, in the MRT, in the lift? So what if I have to walk really slowly while I carry my son? I LOVE it and I'm glad I bought it.

But one thing I realized, I cannot wear it after training... my leg hurts and it's difficult to find my balance :P

Who cares if I'm in my PJs!!

Yes! I went down to the mamak shop downstairs to grab today's newspapers. So what if it's raining cats and dogs? Who cares if I'm still in my PJs?! I figured my neighbours are probably asleep... hey it was 615am!

Why so excited??!! Who wouldn't be?! My girlfriend nominated us for the best friend contest that Straits Times ran. And we won one of the consolation prizes. Never mind that! I was just excited and wanted to see what the journalist wrote. It was a long interview we had, but the write up was short... and the picture, my oh my, took 1/3 of the page size! Charl who must have been up really early text us at 6am... and does not give any details. Chris - who should sleep in texted us at 645-ish too.... guess we all couldn't sleep huh... and the weather was good to sleep in.

Here's the link below if you have not seen the papers. And we are on page 29 :P

http://www.straitstimes.com/STI/STIMEDIA/sp/ndp2007/supplement/index.html

My Obit Friend

Ku bentangkan perasaan ku pada mu

Untuk mengadilkan bisikan sukma ku

Ku bentangkan perasaan ku pada mu

Untuk mengadilkan bisikan sukma ku

Andainya kanda pikat asmara

Sudikan dengan jiwa raga ku



Sejak ku bertemu pada mu

Fikiran ku telah terharu

Hanya kekanda yang akan dapat Mengubatkan hati ku rindu!

familiar? Sanisah Huri sang this song

Waaahhhh I like! I found my obit kaki in the office today. She sits quietly in her corner, doing her work and she listens to all these old obit songs! Waaahhhhhh!!!! She looks trendy, exterior va-va-voom but deep down, she is hardcore obit fan!!!!