TBH

Life has not been bad.

CNY this year was rather an anomaly. Went down to Chinatown with cousins, aunts, mom and sis (the first and probably the last time ever; just way too many sticky people rubbing me the wrong way). The sister and I slipped out on the first day for a trip to the museum (Starry starry night was pretty spectacular, so was Cezanne and Gaugin, very very recommended), cycling at ECP fell through due to bad weather, and so I ended up with some colleagues at Clarke Quay, followed by more wine at Siglap and a very surprisingly awesome KTV sesh!

Isn’t it strange that just a couple of months ago, Time felt like it was crawling and now, I can hardly believe that January is coming to an end. There are a couple of personal project I’d really like to see through this year, and at this rate, I’m afraid I’ll have to work much much harder! Majulah!!!

Work

Long week at work coordinating stuff with the LATAM team thousands of miles away. Time difference is a real pain in the ass.

But otherwise, I had a couple of good nights meeting up with friends, feeling their love and spending the weekend with family and more friends. Time really flies when one’s working. Two weeks have passed; next week is yet another steamer and then CNY rolls right along.

I really want to savour every moment right now. Even the shitty bits. Somewhere in the past 2 years, I’ve gotten used to dealing with the messiness of life, which no matter how hard I try to compartmentalize and pack into little neat Muji-like boxes, often manages to spill and spread itself all over my thoughts and anxieties without fail.

Please do not pass me by.

Be good to yourself

Always.

As the days get longer, friends busier, muscles weaker, alcohol stronger and confidants fewer, do not forget to be good to yourself. Play, laugh, experiment, try and just exhale.

Everything will be alright.

There’s this sweet spot

at the very edge of my bed; in the middle of the room ;where the laptop actually picks up some signal from the modem three floors down and wireless internet functions at 20th-century speeds. Hallelujah.

Start of the working year and yay to two-hour lunches with friends making the odyssey from raffles place. Cheerio!

Overheard at LSE

A presumably (hopefully) drunk student:

You know what I’ve never understood? When you look at those maps that say “You are here”… how do they know? HOW DO THEY KNOW?!?! It’s unbelievable!

Starting a new year well

Is finding the perfect Gstar jeans when you least expect it and then finding out that it’s on 30% off. Oh joy!

Last year this time

I think I  came up with 3 new year resolutions. Alas, I only recall 2 of them now – laugh out loud more and write more. Both of which I am happy to claim that I’ve accomplished. The third one I shall assume to be finally done with the masters. The past year has not been bad, really. On top of that, I’ve checked many things off my list. Like starting to travel again (too much, perhaps), driving overseas, experiencing oktoberfest and landing a job. So, pat on the shoulder!

Now that I’m back for good, things are more settled and the past wrapped up and put behind me, I’m looking forward to meeting new people, putting some effort into the career and hopefully, if time permits, making a trip as awesome as Croatia ’11 this year. Majulahhhhh! =)

In spirit

Christmas this year was surprisingly nice – no drama, too much good food and being with my family for the first time in 2 years. One often takes for granted the presence of family at festivities until you’ve lived alone overseas. Random friends and flatmates don’t quite make up for it.

And my head is starting to spin with new year resolutions for the new year ahead. To be honest, this doesn’t feel too different from this time last year – the feeling of being a little stressed, a little lost and a little apprehensive of facing the challenges in the new year. 2011 has brought some nice surprises, but I never quite feel like I was on top of it.

But life always go on. And continues to throw sheep and cows and what-nots at you whether you’re ready or not. So bring it on, cos come what may, now I know that surfing at Kuta is only 300 bucks away! :)))

After sunset

Backkkkk from Bali and Gili T and am sporting a deep caramel tan. Sent F off yesterday and I think that will be the last we see of each other. The holiday at Bali wasn’t too bad, but the best times for me were still surfing, talking rubbish with the surfer dude, sunset at the beach and a night at ku de ta. The rest, I suppose, we could have done without.

He’s having a shitty time with research and the flatmates but honestly there is not much I can do, so perhaps it’s for the better that he invest more time in developing closer friendships and find a confidante in the city where he lives in. It is nice to part without hard feelings and be able to wish the best for each other.

I know, I know, everyone is itching to tell me ‘I told you so’. But it would have been impossible for me to give up without trying. We had some good times which probably wouldn’t have been spent any better. Now that things are over, I’m glad there’s a week or so more to the end of the year and hopefully that will be sufficient time to get all set for 2012. Time will heal and reveal.

In the meantime, I’m grateful to be home and a very merry christmas to all.

D-Day

So F is on his way and I’m seriously jittery – because his brand of genius-awkward-coping-behaviour is not always something I understand fully or am able to undo all the time.

Conversations the past week has been pretty contrived and difficult. And I’m adamant about drawing the boundaries rather than let them fade in and out over the trip.

Not to mention now work is stealing away my precious napping time.

Man, this is tiring. CD he sent is very nice indeed. Add 2 points. But still, too little, too late.