I should stop surfing online shopping website unless I am willing to spend US$500 at one go on bags, clothing, shoes and jewelery that I have yet to be able to be sure of the sizes yet. Argh. Rather than building new shopping malls and expensive billboards to promote those new malls, what we need is really cheaper and wider sources of imported clothing or decent local designs and prices. I am starting to like Topshop's designs but still way too expensive for a sustainable shopping lifestyle.

Now they have pre-order the Jay new album and gotten the rubik cube with his faces on it (I was warn not to mess them up) and so I was g-i-v-e-n this box. It (reads:he) now sits with me.

Thats the back of the car, i.e. the engine...

Now this is the front of the F1 car, with the helmet at the right hand side...

The F1 craze is not over yet. For an internal event next friday, we have a "booth" to explain the projects we do. And this is the banner for our "booth", in the shape of a F1 car (haha ok cant quite see from this photo though).

This is definitely one scene that blew me away; the cars lining up for the start.

The race is long; you should never give up because you never know how the ending would be like- this could either be inspirationally encouraging or desperately dejecting. But the pit stop accident must have been one shocking incident deadly enough to cost a win, bad luck enough to cost a win so near and unimaginable enough to always remember the pain of a win so lost. But in the competitive spirit he still completed the race so gone. So lets jus say I have once again realise from this of (1) the insecurities of a temporary (pole position) win, (2) the hard work you have put in yet sometimes you still dont get success, (3) the hard work you have put in and sometimes miracles really happen to you, (4) the race is too long for anyone to predict that you are on the winning or losing side, and so (5) (you) never give up (on yourself even if everyone has given up on you). Lets jus say I hadnt give up, on every part of life itself.

From google images.

Estimated 7-9 days for I-tried-to-squeeze-everything-into-a-size-1 parcel

from Suntec Post Office, Singapore

to Belleville Post Office, Paris

I dislike the feeling of should-have, for I rather not know.

I am trying very hard to ignore the unpleasant and re-focus on the core and so if you could, please dont irritate me further, find something to do alright. Anything that is not sincere enough is irritating enough.

From 44th floor, the pethhouse view.

And so we can telecommunicate on Friday, but almost the whole team is back in office. Which is quite fun. It must be one of those times we spontaneously lunch together, relaxingly.

3pm+
Even listening to music from my earplugs, the first vroom sound came by. Actually it sounds like the noise of the trendmill, but its alot more exciting. As I am seated next to the interactive area which oversees almost the whole of the pit stop if not for the trees blocking, I (we) naturally gotten more excited.


Watching it over at the bridge between Suntec Convention Hall and Marina
I must say its quite fun for a while, even if its watching the top of the non-F1 cars zoom past (the wheels covered up by the banners plus I am too short).


I even managed a run before watching some practice races. Enjoying the races on TV..

You see!? This is the BWM practice race.

Its ST

Our GP yeah

Alright its not clear, but still

Last night was playing around the F1 track.

This morning I was told to do some F1 related work- definitely more exciting going around in a jeep, knowing more of what is being done.

And tonight, more roads are blocked off.

What hair is this haha

F1 crazy

Legos at work

Oh we sure love this background

In a corner...

How else do you get the roads clear

Hehe

I sure am (super duper) excited

Isnt this exciting

Roads blocked off, traffic lights gone, traffic policeman in place

I feel so unfashionable today, and worse I cant be wearing the higher heels to be walking to the Raffles City and back.

Lets jus try to re-focus on the core, the work. And believe that

对这个世界如果你有太多的抱怨
跌倒了就不敢继续往前走
为什么人要这么的脆弱 堕落
请你打开电视看看
多少人为生命在努力勇敢的走下去
我们是不是该知足
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有

还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带着你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

不要这么容易就想放弃 就像我说的
追不到的梦想 换个梦不就得了
为自己的人生鲜艳上色
先把爱涂上喜欢的颜色
笑一个吧 功成名就不是目的
让自己快乐快乐这才叫做意义
童年的纸飞机 现在终于飞回我手里

所谓的那快乐
赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了 谁在偷笑呢
我靠着稻草人吹着风唱着歌睡着了
哦 哦 午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆
哦 哦 阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带着你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带着你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

所谓的那快乐
赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了 谁在偷笑呢
我靠著稻草人吹著风唱著歌睡著了
哦 哦 午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆
哦 哦 阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切 就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随著稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑 小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧 回到最初的美好

Really 追不到的梦想 换个梦就得了?

You sure know I would want to watch Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Emails, is one form of communication that reveals as much as it conceals. On the other hand, meeting is the most transparent way that reveals more than what one might pleasantly desired for.

If there is something I want to tell you today
If you dont have what it takes, it would show in almost any way.

*

Looking from the way that I sort out my bag contents/sports attire/breakfast bag/ food for the office/ newspaper every night, I can be a postman.

I am feeling very stress at the current moment, for reasons that I cant fathom. I am finding increasing irritation to keep up with all the lunches/dinners/appointments that were set for this week that I have less than desired time to spend with/for myself. This is greed.

And all the time I wish I could devote to sports. This is desire.

The letter came in today. I am half hoping for the news but I didnt know it will come in a letter, and this early. It was calm until I saw the numbers in bold- it jumped but it still is not starting with a 4. This is disappointment.

I was half hearted to keep up with the appointment today and the meeting that ran late provided a sort of excuse for me to skip it, for today. This is undecisiveness/laziness.

I dont dare to think of a break, let alone a holiday. This is work.

And I am seeking comfort in listening to that someone-said-is-kidish Jay's new song.

I am facing a new maze every day. Literally, City Hall/Suntec area have been quite a big maze. Yesterday the SingTel Grand Pix tent went up and today some lanes were blocked off, and the traffic lights too. I literally could cross the roads freely now without the cars.

I feel like a duckling in a zoo- its fun.

Victoria Beckham has always been linked to being a fashion icon (to the extent that every other day you almost know what she is wearing), a sort of singer, lately a fashion designer. And now a gym bunny/trendmill lover, running 6.4km/day.

Now I am convinced that I want to be in the same (fashion/designer/sports) league as her.

Buzzing

Service lift is for ?

I think it has become a subconscious, underlying dream of mine that one Europe trip a year will cover the major Europe.

I couldnt get any photos up (the icon for posting photos is gone) but the maps on my table today have make my day (despite the frustration).

Facing the same sort of frustration, I supposed that explains why I didnt f-l-a-r-e up that much. I dont think age was in play, but rather the number of times facing the s-a-m-e sort of frustration. Still, I was upset enough.

And how about the list of things that I am willing to spend money on:

1. Anything pink
I am trying because I dont need a third pink mini skirt.

2. Fashion/Dresses
My recent fashion craze is dresses. Maybe money-wise it is still alright since dresses are often cheaper than top + bottom.

3. Coke
Only when they go on sale, and I am trying to forget that I love coke.

4. Sushi Tei
Salmon belly soup or fried yaki soba, and fried belly skin?

5. Postcards (and stamps)

6. Instant mee (haha)

7. Chocolate bars (only when I am overseas)

8. H&M lip gloss (current standing at 5)

9. Keychains and magnets (when I am overseas)

10. Colour paper

11. Shower foams and shampo (mostly when I am overseas)

10. IT/Gadgets
Even though I risk having laughed at being in the IT/Telecom industry but carrying a old/simple movil, I still prefer paying $0 for my movil.

And yes if I dont have to pay, I would love to be wearing House of Holland on weekends and

Eley Kishimoto to work.

I was tempted to get the Monday magazine from the newstand to realise that the Sunday papers are already stacked by the side. Thats early, I thought it would always be last minute printing.


Anyway magazines is one of those things that I need much convincing before willing to fork out money on. There are always things we splurge on, others we try not to. And this is my list of saving more money- my money rarely goes into all these:


1. Magazines
Rather than having them dusty under the coffee table, the internet/blogs have provided much of all the entertainment/fashion news that I need.


2. Cabs
I cant stand sitting in the car seeing the money gone by the meter.


3. Bags
I do have quite a few bags but they are relatively cheap. I cant spend like hundreds or even thousands on a unique bag/designer bag that 1 out of 4 women on the street owns as well. Maybe item 3 should be "Branded stuff" instead- I wouldnt want to pay for the one-page newspaper ad, the billboard ad, the model's fee or jus the brand names.


4. Watches
I love them but then I dont really need them. When I am at my desk, the computer tells the time. When I am away from my desk, my mobile/ipod tells the time. And its too expensive for me to regard them as an accessory.


5. Good food every day
Other than the fact that I am watching my weight/health, I couldnt convince myself spending so much on food. So special offers/anything below $3, 4 bucks works. Better still if its at the good old days of $2(.50).


6. Accessory
I know how they say accessory can add spice up your dressing, but I find them often overpriced/at risk of being discard as out-of-fashion. So I love going through the drawers to see what my mother has.


7. Wines
I dont drink wines/alcohol other than those occasional slips so that I can knock-out-and-sleep-through-the-night, but I do know of people who spend (alot) on that.


8. Movies/CDs
The fact that I am lacking of a proper social life probably explains that I dont usually have someone to go to the movies with. Yet I am not really interested into expensive entertainment if you have already spotted the pattern.


9. Money spend from additional trips made
Maybe this is also because of the fact that I am generally lazy, but if I can somehow combine trips then I do save on transport fee etc.


10. Town VS home
This idea seems more pronounced as a tourist but the fact that if I can get something cheaper from my neighbourhood, then I shouldnt be getting that in town at a more expensive price.


If there is something I want to tell you today
If I keep having the mentality that getting-this-will-make-me-happy, then it will be increasingly difficult to make myself happy.

I love (all forms of) shopping

I previously have asked what (made in Singapore) presents would be good to give to someone living out of Singapore. And this is what I have (finally) gotten for my friend in Paris. A sweater from Mango (I know there is Mango in Paris but I think it suits her), a flower-pressed wallet from Botanic Gardens, and a golden Buddha from Lim Living, Holland Village. And the puma wrist band from Puma (for her son). And the card. Wee!

From Sushi Tei, on the newly introduced menu is this crab fried rice.

My usual way of waking up to a weekend was watching (re-)reruns on TV, reading the papers, surfing, all at the same time while thinking whether I should go (window) shopping in Orchard. The unusual thing today was, other than opting not to go out, us actually gone down to the food center for lunch.

I am running out of things to do to keep myself sane.

Rather than waiting and wondering whether I/my breathing is getting better, I decided to go for a run. I guess things arent as difficult as what I always thought so.

Members of my team are a-l-l taking turns to go away this few months, other than me. Thats for having 2 long holidays for first half of the year. Argh. Other than the nagging thought of saving money, the lack of concrete plan for a holiday and everywhere is Winter now, I feel like going away somewhere to say spend a few days leisurely (and of course shop). Super duper argh.

It has to be back to basics: start from twice a week of 1 hour each, first.

Its getting difficult.

Especially the past 2 days, the breathing gets heavier, the chest tighter and less easy than what it should be. And I have to stop the exercises, though I never stop thinking about those sweating moments. The lunch hour seemed extremely long for sure, as I made do with reading the papers, surfing aimlessly.

I suspect its either/combination of (1) the poor quality of sleep last week, (2) the poor ventilated run through the KPE tunnel (which is bad for my asthma-tic condition), (3) carrots being really a food allergy to me.

And I pretty much have no proper plans of a holiday to look forward to. I cant decide which do I want: to travel to new places, or to visit friends and travel leisurely.

Give me more strength.

Its been a while that I am still in office at this time of the day. In fact because of the same project, of a slightly different issue.

I can hear noises from below that seem to follow some beats, I can see the darkness surrounding my cubicle, I can hear music from my laptop and then my own typing sound.

Once in a while, this is that feeling.

Banks/investment firms must have been one of those places anyone trained in finances would at a point in time look forward/wish to join. The glamous, the achievements, and the bits about making money and doing everything like the books equip us to have. So to read the details of them collapsing, and see photos of people packing up and leaving, you wonder about the cores/anchors/uncertainities in life. Am I glad that I dont have to worry about if I still have my job tomorrow, yes I am.

And then I again wonder if age (or ignorance) has anything to do with my courage (or stubborn-ness) in the decisions I made/will make. Like traveling alone. Like operating beyond my limits. Like doing what I inherently like, say laze at home, than whats necessary to maintain a normal, social life.

Still, and regardless right or wrong (decisions), a part of me appreciate the guts I have, at times. I dont want to come to a stage/age in life to realise that I am incapable of doing all the things that I have tried.

It probably would always be a difficult choice to choose between the importance of the end result VS the process, but something today once again re-inforce the importance of the process. And the fact that I always (even if I have so much initial fears) (want myself to bear in mind that I) want to challenge myself beyond my limits/what people or even myself believe that I am only capable of.

I guess other people could instead view this to be stubborn-ness or ignorance but I guess this is the proper growing up.

Seeing someone fainted in the tunnel myself wasnt that tramatizing as seeing it a-g-a-i-n in the news knowing that he is in critical condition. Which makes me re-think a moment that at times whether I put myself at risk, or at least whether I hadnt taken precaution that I should, and whether I have push my limits (too much, at times).

I am starting to think of being located at the gateway to other parts of Asia and that I should make use of this to visit other places that I recently developed interest for, e.g. vietnam, malacca.

Things to look forward to: Mon's Sushi Tei lunch, Wed's dinner, 27 Sept's Sushi Tei family meal, 28 Sept's badminton game.

We had a minute of childhood fun by switching off all the lights and lit the lanterns. Haha.

I couldnt get this uploaded the other day, i.e. internet's bad. But its a nice cake from Bakerzin.

The last one standing- this is the balloon left over from National Day Celebration 08 and amazingly it was this small only this week. But soon to go as well...

I was busy designing/making this for my buddy...

A pity I didnt bring along a camera (because I didnt want the haste of bringing along a bag) to capture the tons of people inside the tunnel and how the little small latterns brighten up the dark tunnel while we run. But its a great and unique experience other than it being very warm and dark. Didnt I say I love trains/tunnels.

In bid of improving my lack-of-social-life lifestyle, I met up with the college mates by Riverside Point last night, before rushing home to sleep for the run.