We are in business!

Almost 4 weeks after moving in, I am happy to say that the flat is finally coming together.After weeks of trying to find some space 'awkwardly' in the flat, we can now co-exist in the same room. four full weeks of furniture hunting of some sorts, we've finally managed to put the place together within budget. we've still got bits and pieces in the background that we need to put up, but we're almost there!

The muji beanbag which is a lovely gift from my ex-housemate, is thereabouts the most used piece of furniture in the living room.  We absolutely adore it - thank you so much!

Now we will shortly be moving on to phase 2 - the terrace. That in itself is a piece of work, it's difficult to find furniture to survive the tropical humidity / rain / shine. We've concluded that it is unlikely that our next place will have a terrace like this, so we'll go for something with a good price-quality ratio - hopefully it wouldn't fall apart on us within the first 6 months!

What we got up to this weekend
:: picked up my passport at the ICA - this place is a well-oiled smooth operating machine!
:: waited for the handy man (for a leak), for furniture delivery, for repair man (for the terrace), found an oven (finally) + barbeque pit. Balked at the grocery bill. Supermarkets are frightfully expensive in this country.
:: saw my grand ma who seems to have had a bit of trouble registering the fact that i'm back.
:: came home to a lovely pizza which we shared on the terrace, with some cheese and bread , until we were invaded by a colony of ants. Ants aside, it was a quiet, cloudless evening, with a few stars peppered in the sky, the city's midnight skyline in the distance, a gentle breeze after the evening rain, it was a lovely way to end Saturday.
:: i finally brought my print down to Merlin Gallery at the recommendation of friends to get the repair works assessed.
:: we were having my parents over for dinner, so it was another round to the grocery store for yet another frightful round of shopping.
:: we spent an hour or so in the sun at east coast park, and came back for a swim in the pool.
:: frantic rush to rustle up in the kitchen to prep for our guests.

My parents, they had proud little smiles on their faces - I guess they are finally happy and comfortable with the fact that i've 'grown up'. Oddly enough, although the work's situation is still uncertain, dad's condition is somewhat difficult, I have to say, this is the best place i've been in for a long while.

Missing a little bit of les frogs

Les Printemps aux chateaux, les fleurs , le nouveau, l'esprit, pour vivre, un coup du cœur, l'amour.

What you can buy with love

 

"i Cant buy too much with money, money can't buy me love" 

-- the Beatles

I spent the evening at a farewell party of an ex-colleague. She is embarking on a new life path -- Art Therapy. She's put on some weight, has a smile on her face, dyed her hair blonde, but she's never strayed from good old Jill.

Seeing old faces, old habits, reminiscing on old friendships--- There are some I'd like to keep, and some whom I wouldn't spend the time of day to cherish. People watch me closely, and wonder, why I return, whether I have regrets, why I keep friendships or kinships with friends of 40 or 50. Yes, they may not be fashionable, yes they may not be the most 'appropriate', we will one day all be but 40 or 50. Youth wastes no time on men. These friends, they are the ones with the best life lessons, and most dear to me. And for one, I will be heading up to Nottingham. To visit a friend who is close to my heart, and has been in a severe car accident. He remembers some people, he forget those most recent and dear to him. People tell me, he asks for a pint of beer, he asks to return back to S co, he asks to go home, he wants to go to the races, to see his horses.  He doesn't remember the accident, he doesn't remember what happened. Most of all, he doesn't remember Heather, nor her family.

I hope that when we meet one day, he'd remember his life, his past and the good and bad times that time we've shared, and most of all, that he'd remember our friendship.

Paul, Get well soon. We're rooting for you.

Monday Blues 94/354

Week 2 and my cicak eye has gone from bad to worse. It's 4/4 today -- double death? Right, patangness begone!!

In other news, the housemates are back and they've brought lots of goodies from home to share. Life just got better!

Words from Alex 92/365

Exactly a month ago I posted about the passing of a dear friend. His best friend Jordan shared his message.

Alex's message to all.
I AM ALWAYS WITH YOU

When I am gone, release me, let me go.
I have so many things to see and do.
...You musn't tie yourself to me with too many tears.
But be thankful we had so many good years.
I gave you my love, and you can only guess how much you've given me in happiness.
I thank you for the love that you have shown,
But now it's time I travelled alone.
So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must.
Then let your grief be comforted by trust
that it is only for a while that we must part.
So treasure the memories within your heart.
I won't be far away, for life goes on.
And if you need me, call me and I will come.
Though you can't see or touch me, I'll be near
and if you listen with your heart, you will hear
all my love around you, soft and clear.
And then, when you come this way alone,
I'll greet you with a smile and a 'Welcome Home'

 

Reproduced here. Simply because he's thought of, fondly. And missed, dearly. 

Siong 89/365

Happy birthday my dear :)

At least this year we didn't have to wait for your shockingly orange hair !

Happy St Patricks day 76/365

So this evening, we were decked out in green, made merry, had Irish barmbrack, drank guinness and whisky. If you haven't already celebrated it, i am certain that the party heaves through the weekend. :)

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Sunsets 61/365

A friend told me today 既来之,则安之. Some things in life will end, some others just disappear. But like a sun fading into to the back of the sea, so goes that saying, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

Summer Rose 41/365

Here's a photo of the smiliest baby ever. Is there such a word as 'smiliest'?

Ok, i'll settle for happiest baby ever. SR you probably don't know it yet but EVERYONE adores you!

Plus Six Five (+65) 16/365

So a friend fr sg (who is by far one of the best cooks i've known -- Hey he even made his own bak kwa ok!) in london is about to start a new supperclub, called +65. The sweet old chap made some yummy tasting kway chap and invited some people round for dinner (which included me finally meeting miss goingwithmygut, and a longtime LJ cyberacquaintence). It was a very commendable effort, what with all the scrubbing of pig's stomachs and cleaning of fen changs. I wished I could have stayed for more food and chats, but I had visitors hailing from the land of windmills. :(

+65's website is currently under construction but will be up and running quite soon I think.

Time's up 15/365

i've finally recalled the name of the game, a la taboo + charades -- only this time the players get to make up the words and dump them in a bowl.

Amidst Siong's michael jackson's crotch grabbing moon walk, Ms Sotong's 'chilli crab' depicted as twinkle twinkle little stars, Ms Pow's squeaky chipmunks and my wanking drag green...

Guess who put Obama bin Laden in the bowl?

8/365

It's always monkey faces and smiles all round in Hubert Grove. How can one ever decline a day with the Shiongs? [updated with photo from Tiroler Hut]

Sotong Sisters 4/365

Since All That Jazz left London and now couples dominated our group, I find myself gravitating a little to Ms G, who is the first singaporean person i've seen this year. She has a boyfriend as well, with whom Mr Mo gets on fabulously along. I suppose that was one of the threads that drew us closer, plus two other factors, namely her getting incessnatly zapped by Queen J, and the fact that her SF left London in Q3 last year. In many ways, we are so similar (but also different) that she's named us the sotong sisters, no thanks to Goz who superimposed both our faces on to a plate of sotong.

I've always thought that age hardens a person, but not for her. The kindness in her heart, is like a cup flows ad infinitum. :) I guess today, I just wanted to say that I am very thankful for her friendship in the last year. Life wouldn't quite be the same without her.