Banana Pancakes & Boardgames

I had a pretty good weekend - managed to take time off to relax, chill out with Pen, watch a DVD and even hang out with an old friend.

On Saturday morning, playing the good wife, I got up early and cooked pancakes for the sleepyhead. It was rather yummy I must say. I had mine with butter, maple syrup topped with bananas. Pen had his just like mine, except with ice cream, a lot of ice cream. Haha.

In the afternoon, we went to Garden City and bought ourselves a couple of boardgames. :) K-Mart was having a promo -20% off all boardgames. Yipee! I've wanted to get some games for the longest time. I figured it would be a good way to spice up our evenings together at home. Some of you may not know this, but my husband gets extremely excited whenever he plays boardgames. Think Monopoly. It's an incredibly adorable sight.

After much deliberation, we bought Mastermind and Cranium. Mastermind because I'd told Pen weeks ago that I wanted to challenge him at it and Cranium because it just looks like so much fun!

Needless to say, we had a go at Mastermind the moment we got home. Guess who won. :p

On Sunday, Izaeel came over to hang out. We watched Clueless on the big screen, talked about her new business idea and just lazed. It was so nice to have another girl in the house for a change. It's her birthday this coming Saturday and we're gonna go see JT together! Woohoo!

Before I end, can I just say... We now have air con!!! It makes a huge difference having air con in the house, not that the temperature is sweltering or anything. It's just not the same when you can kick back, relax, lie on the couch, watch a movie on the projector and have the AC blowing cool air on your back. Y'know?

No to Merger

I came across this piece of news while I was updating myself on the happenings in Singapore. Have a read below.

My thoughts: Oh my goodness - please no!

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MM Lee speaks about idea of Singapore-Malaysia reunion once again

SINGAPORE: Some 10 years after he publicly broached the idea of a Singapore-Malaysia reunion - to raised eyebrows all around - Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has spoken about the topic once again.

In a recent interview with American journalist Tom Plate, Mr Lee said Singapore would be "happy" to go back to Malaysia should the latter practise meritocracy.

On Wednesday, transcripts of the wide-ranging interview - conducted last month in Mr Lee's office - were made available online by UCLA Asia Institute.

When Mr Plate asked Mr Lee who he thought would "come after" Singapore, the Minister Mentor said: "We are a standing indictment of all the things that they (Malaysia) can be doing differently."

"If they would just educate the Chinese and Indians, use them and treat them as their citizens, they can equal us and even do better than us and we would be happy to rejoin them."

The last time Mr Lee floated the idea in 1996, it caused ripples on both sides of the Causeway, with then-Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad replying that he did not think "it is time yet".

While much has changed since then, scepticism towards a reunion remains.

Said Dr Ooi Kee Beng, an Institute of South-east Asian Studies (ISEAS) fellow: "The chances of a re-merger in 1996 and in 2007 are the same - Zero."

While bilateral economic links would continue to increase, Malaysia is far from ditching its decades-old bumiputera policy, "where race-based affirmative action ... has disqualified efficacy as the criterion for policy correctness", Dr Ooi added.

In Parliament, Opposition leader Chiam See Tong is often a lone, but persistent, voice on the issue of an economic union with Malaysia, espousing the benefits of a common market.

Mr Chiam told TODAY: "A political union is out of the question. The Malaysians will never agree."

Dr Ooi added: "The very idea of a re-merger on Singapore's terms is appalling to most Malays (in Malaysia) and any move in that direction would be political suicide for a Malaysian politician to take."

ISEAS' Dr Terence Chong believes that Mr Lee had in mind the future - "50 to 100 years down the road" - when he talked about rejoining Malaysia.

Said Dr Chong: "If you look at historic port cities, they all enjoy their golden eras and then decline. For Singapore to flourish in perpetuity would mean defying history."

Already, Singapore is facing a fight to keep the very talent it had successfully attracted.

Mr Lee acknowledged in the interview that the Chinese students on Singapore Government scholarships were using the Republic as a stepping-stone.

Said Mr Lee: "They come in here, they get an English education ... and they're off to America. The Indians, strangely enough, more of them stay here in Singapore because they want to go home to visit their families."

Mr Lee added: "We are net gainers for how long? I think in the case of China, maybe another 20, 30 years ... India, maybe longer - 50, 60 years before their infrastructure catches up. Anyway, this is not my worry anymore!" - TODAY/ym

Addicted to Jewellery

I was in jewellery heaven yesterday when Pen took me to Thousand Island Dressing at New Farm after church. My workmates told me I could find heaps of gorgeous AND affordable jewellery there and I've been salivating ever since.

After days of anticipation, you can imagine how mesmerised I was when I finally stepped into the shop. There were shelves and shelves of earrings, necklaces and bracelets, arranged according to colour and racks with bags of all shapes and sizes. Hee hee! I lost count of how many times I "oohed" and "ahhed" as I pranced around the shop.

Needless to say, Pen was the only male "customer" there. He was really patient and quietly followed me around the shop. When he got bored, he politely excused himself - once to get money out of the ATM and once to get a drink.

After touching and trying on every other second thing in the shop, I emerged a happy customer, adding a charm bracelet, a matching necklace and two pairs of earrings to my accessories collection! Which I must add, Pen generously paid for.

Ahhh...the joys of being married... :)

Grow Wellington Grow

I am so excited! Finally, there's some action on our plot of land!

Pen and I dropped by Wellington yesterday morning before work and were thrilled to see they've put in a retaining wall, a builder sign and a portable dunny on our land. And this morning, they've flattened our land!

Pen obviously went trigger-happy. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

No, not the house behind. It's the empty land in front.

Pen approves

Yahooo!

Rendezvous

Pen took me out for dinner last night at Breakfast Creek Hotel to celebrate our 5th year anniversary. We still can't believe we've been together for that long. It still seems like yesterday that we started dating.

We had our meal in a lovely area called Spanish Garden. Pen's ribeye steak was pretty good but my barramundi was somewhat disappointing. Lesson learnt: Never order anything else when dining in a restaurant famous for its steaks. Well the good thing was, at least I didn't walk out of the restaurant feeling like I've stuffed my face with food.

Pen getting excited about his steak


Pen and me

After dinner, Pen and I went to Portside Wharf for a walk. It was really quiet as most of the shops and restaurants there are closed on Mondays. It was not as breath-taking as usual but still beautiful. I looked at the apartments situated along the river, green with envy. I told Pen that if we sold our land and half-constructed house at Wellington Place, we would be able to move into one of these luxury apartments. He didn't seem to bite. Hmm...wonder why. Must be because that would mean he won't be able to do his gardening. Hehe.

Anyway, we had a really nice and simple evening to ourselves. I'm just thankful I have someone who loves me and who laughs with me.

Grace

I received an unexpected sms from my dad last night which made me jumped for joy and reached excitedly for the phone.

My cousin Monica has given birth to baby Grace! I managed to speak to her last night and found that she had a really easy delivery and that Grace was born in just 2 hours! Hooray! I'm now officially an auntie! I'm *so* excited. I cannot wait to go back and hold her in my arms. Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!

Here she is...

Seeing Double

Oh my gosh! There's actually someone else called Huaiky!

Move Aside Summit

I'm so glad the Asia Pacific Cities Summit is finally over. I've been working and standing on my feet all of last Friday through till Monday morning. And not to mention those obscene early morning 6am starts. If there's something I've learnt the past few days, it's that Aussies have minimal problems waking up early. At least that's how it appears anyway.

I'm back in the office this week and have been really free. The hours are ticking by so slowly. Where's all the work?! In the past years at LEWIS, I've always been rushing in and out of the office and frantically meeting deadlines. It's definitely a 180 degrees switch for me now that I've moved down south. I probably shouldn't be complaining about the less stressful lifestyle, but I certainly won't mind more of a challenge at work.

Anyhoo, I got paid yesterday! So, to relax and reward myself for all the hard work I've put in over the weekend, I'm going shopping tonight at Carindale! Or I hope to anyway. I've written down a whole list of things I wanna buy - ranging from DVDs to shirts to underwear to books! And some things for our house of course. Hopefully the three extra hours of late night shopping will be sufficient for me.

And...I've just recently set my eyes on this:

Yes, my latest covet - The "Return to Tiffany" heart tag bracelet. Does anyone know how much this is? I haven't priced it yet. But I really like the classic design.

Pen, are you reading this? Someone tell him Christmas is only three months away.

Off to JT

We got tickets!

Tickets for the Justin Timberlake concert in Brisbane went on sale this morning and I’m thrilled to say that Izaeel and I managed to get pretty good seats, considering the amount of money we (actually, it’s me) were willing to pay. At 8:30am this morning, my colleagues said it would be impossible to get tickets coz’ Ticket Tek’s phone lines and website would be jammed and heaps of fans were already queuing at the booths. I thought they were joking until I logged on to the website and saw this:

But in true Singaporean spirit, I persevered and got in without too much effort. Yay!

I just want to say that although I’m going to see JT, I’m not some teeny bopper fan who drools at the mere sight of his face, or bottom, or any other body parts. I just happen to like his music and think he’s a good performer. I mean, did you see his performance at the recent Victoria’s Secret fashion show? Anyway, there - I’ve said it. And that’s precisely why I wouldn’t fork out more than $100 for the ticket.

The happiest and most relieved person would have to be Pen. He’s been so supportive of me going with Izaeel and even suggested I get the $149 ticket for a better view – all because this means he doesn’t have to grin and bear it, and go to the concert with me!

Down in the Valley

No, I have not disappeared. I am still here.

In the last two weeks or so, I've actually gone out and found myself a job! Praise God that His hand had moved so quickly in my life. I'm now working in a Public Relations agency in the Valley. I was gonna snap some photos of the office to show you but I keep forgetting. Well, the office is nice but I can't quite say the same for the Valley. It sure is a weird place. I'm still trying to get used to walking past drunks, sleazy adult shops, drug addiction recovery centres and oh, the occasional passerby who mumbles inaudibly at you. But it's really not that bad, I am thankful that I'm blessed with a job. At least it motivates me to walk quicker to the train station.

Working also means that I can't really cook dinner anymore. My travel journey is an hour and it's almost 7pm by the time I get home. But. I am blessed yet again because Pen cooks for me, eh I mean us! We made a mean pork chop with sweet potatoes, carrots and beans last night for dinner. :p Not too bad for a first attempt.

Steffy has arrived in Brissie today so over to Sentry tonight for dinner! Yay! :)

So I'm Here Now

Finally. I've pushed myself to start my blog. Now all I have to do is to maintain it. Heh. :p

So here I am, my third week in Brissie Land as a Mrs. Starting a new life hasn't been that easy, I must say. Battling homesickness is one of the hardest thing so far. But with prayer and Pen, things are getting better. I've been leading the life of a homemaker for the past two weeks or so. Cleaning, washing, ironing, grocery shopping, reading, watching dvds and just this week, cooking. I now have a newfound admiration for my mum. She is one amazing woman to be able to do all that everyday.

And now, for the benefit of all my friends back home in Singapore, here are some photos of where I'm living. It's a cozy single-storey house with four tiny bedrooms and a study. The living and dining room is a bit of a maze coz' it has two doorways cornered off by a pillar. Pen and I have experienced a bit of a "hide-and-seek" session a couple of times. I would be looking for him through one doorway, and he would be doing the same at another. Anyway, you'll know what I mean when you get here.

Here's our house at Byron Street

Our living area - Yes we'll be replacing the couch

Dining area

Our kitchen

Our bedroom

The veranda, just outside the kitchen

The backyard

And to end off, this one's for you girls back home. I miss you heaps! *hugs*