booking my flight to myanmar.
i have too much work to clear before i go, too many clients to attend to. i am too unprepared for the trip, with only an air ticket, a visa and my first and last night of accommodation booked. i have done some research a few weeks back, but nothing concrete in my itinerary. my initial excitement has faded to a minimal and the destinations that i plan to visit seem to have lost its appeal already. moreover, after practising yoga regularly for five months, i cannot imagine living without yoga for two weeks.
with lots of expectations from the people around me, i cannot afford to pull out. i cannot believe that the exact thing that i seek to run away from by travelling alone, is the reason why i have to go ahead with my holiday in spite of my reluctance.
the plan must go on.
12.5.10
i've waited here for you, everlong
i once wrote that falling in love with jay chou, is like an annual affair.
unfortunately the annual affair didn't come to pass last year as the object of my affection decided to take a break from the music scene.
thankfully he is finally making a comeback this may, with his tenth album - entitled 跨时代 the era. and his first hit is a melodious number penned by his majesty, with poignant references to the struggles he faces in the entertainment circle:
ahh, i want to take a pause in my life too..
unfortunately the annual affair didn't come to pass last year as the object of my affection decided to take a break from the music scene.
thankfully he is finally making a comeback this may, with his tenth album - entitled 跨时代 the era. and his first hit is a melodious number penned by his majesty, with poignant references to the struggles he faces in the entertainment circle:
ahh, i want to take a pause in my life too..
11.5.10
midnight blues
it's 1.11am and the city has gone to sleep.
i have just finished all my household chores - which included, in chronological order, keeping my clean and dried laundry, washing another batch of clothes along with the two new dresses i bought from my workplace today (yes you may have already noticed that i am extremely averse to having dirty laundry in the bathroom when it's my responsibility), pressing a truckload of clothes, and then taking out the fresh-smelling clothes out of the washing machine to dry in the coolness of the night.
the past few days have been so packed with work, chores, yoga, tuition, cooking and grocery shopping. nonetheless, i felt empowered with my new-found independence. i found pride in my domestic abilities. and i gained confidence about how i can manage my life on my own. but in return, i had to sacrifice a lot of rest time and leisure time in order to maximise my twenty four hours in a day.
right now, my back is aching like an old lady, and my eyelids are sinking. but first i have to clear up the table and put my clothes back into the wardrobe. then i will fall into the embrace of my warm cosy bed.
thankfully, my mum is back tomorrow.
i have just finished all my household chores - which included, in chronological order, keeping my clean and dried laundry, washing another batch of clothes along with the two new dresses i bought from my workplace today (yes you may have already noticed that i am extremely averse to having dirty laundry in the bathroom when it's my responsibility), pressing a truckload of clothes, and then taking out the fresh-smelling clothes out of the washing machine to dry in the coolness of the night.
the past few days have been so packed with work, chores, yoga, tuition, cooking and grocery shopping. nonetheless, i felt empowered with my new-found independence. i found pride in my domestic abilities. and i gained confidence about how i can manage my life on my own. but in return, i had to sacrifice a lot of rest time and leisure time in order to maximise my twenty four hours in a day.
right now, my back is aching like an old lady, and my eyelids are sinking. but first i have to clear up the table and put my clothes back into the wardrobe. then i will fall into the embrace of my warm cosy bed.
thankfully, my mum is back tomorrow.
8.5.10
a different kind of mothers' day
this year, my mum is not going to be around for mothers' day.
she has resigned from her job and gone to a foreign land for a well-deserved break! for the past 15 years, she has single-handedly raised us up from a mediocre primary school to our privileged secondary schools and junior college, and on to university. now that we've successfully transited into adulthood and the workforce, i think it's time for her to take the backseat and let us take over the wheel.
my mum often complains that we don't know how she feels, or how difficult it is to be a single mother. sometimes, she would lose her temper out of the blue, or shout at us in frustration. i know it's tough, but i didn't know how tough it is - until yesterday.
last night, after one full day of work and two hours of intensive yoga, i reached home at 11.38pm with an aching body and a tired mind.
i dumped all my things on the couch, unpacked my gym clothes, and walked to the bathroom, only to see a load of dirty smelly laundry waiting for me. i thought, okay let me wash the clothes now. but i looked up to the kitchen ceiling and saw multiple rows of clothes hanging on the bamboo poles, waiting for somebody to keep. so i thought, okay let me keep the clothes first. i took down all the clothes, separated them into those that requires ironing and those which did not. i folded those that didn't require ironing, and placed them back to their respective wardrobe. by then, i was already perspiring despite having bathed at the gym before i came home. i was sticky with sweat, and i still have not washed the dirty laundry, nor ironed my clothes.
that was when i realised how difficult it is to juggle between work and domestic chores. that was when i understood why my mum would sometimes flare up when she returns home from work upon seeing an unkempt house. that was when i truly appreciate the presence of my mum, and all the labour that she has put in over the years.
now that i have a taste of how it feels like, i want to pen down these feelings and thoughts. because one day, my mum will grow old, and she may become ill, weak, or dependent. i may have to take care of her, and do many things for her. but i hope whatever i do for her in the future, i would never forget this day when i experienced the frustration that she's felt for the past 15 years, and remember that she did it all for the love of the family.
she has resigned from her job and gone to a foreign land for a well-deserved break! for the past 15 years, she has single-handedly raised us up from a mediocre primary school to our privileged secondary schools and junior college, and on to university. now that we've successfully transited into adulthood and the workforce, i think it's time for her to take the backseat and let us take over the wheel.
my mum often complains that we don't know how she feels, or how difficult it is to be a single mother. sometimes, she would lose her temper out of the blue, or shout at us in frustration. i know it's tough, but i didn't know how tough it is - until yesterday.
last night, after one full day of work and two hours of intensive yoga, i reached home at 11.38pm with an aching body and a tired mind.
i dumped all my things on the couch, unpacked my gym clothes, and walked to the bathroom, only to see a load of dirty smelly laundry waiting for me. i thought, okay let me wash the clothes now. but i looked up to the kitchen ceiling and saw multiple rows of clothes hanging on the bamboo poles, waiting for somebody to keep. so i thought, okay let me keep the clothes first. i took down all the clothes, separated them into those that requires ironing and those which did not. i folded those that didn't require ironing, and placed them back to their respective wardrobe. by then, i was already perspiring despite having bathed at the gym before i came home. i was sticky with sweat, and i still have not washed the dirty laundry, nor ironed my clothes.
that was when i realised how difficult it is to juggle between work and domestic chores. that was when i understood why my mum would sometimes flare up when she returns home from work upon seeing an unkempt house. that was when i truly appreciate the presence of my mum, and all the labour that she has put in over the years.
now that i have a taste of how it feels like, i want to pen down these feelings and thoughts. because one day, my mum will grow old, and she may become ill, weak, or dependent. i may have to take care of her, and do many things for her. but i hope whatever i do for her in the future, i would never forget this day when i experienced the frustration that she's felt for the past 15 years, and remember that she did it all for the love of the family.
2.5.10
bidding the round face goodbye!
(be prepared to see shocking photos of the author in this post..)
yesterday when i was looking through some of my old photos on my facebook, i was appalled, if not disgusted to find a ball hanging on my head. my face was so round that i think it would have rolled off my neck if i hadn't done something about it! haha, if you don't believe me, read on:
this was yours truly in mid 2006, during ISIS hatters' day (a busking event which i did to raise funds for singapore heart foundation) - a very revolting picture i'd say. i swear you can blackmail me with this photo on my wedding day (which will happen in about ten years' time perhaps!)
mid 2007, during arts club elections - thankfully i lost a little weight between mid to end 2006 due to rag and post-mc blues:
mid 2008, a selca i took when i was doing the UM-NUS module - bad complexion aside, i think my chin was actually quite sharp! :D but that was thanks to the severe diarrhea i had when i was in malaysia:
mid 2009, during my commencement - yes i put on weight in my final year due to thesis and exam stress! ):
and finally now, after i made a new year resolution, and stuck to it (i couldn't find an individual photo!):
well, there is no shortcut to looking good/better. but if i were to narrow it to one single factor, i'd say that self-discipline is the key to success. persevere and control your cravings but at the same time, don't be too hard on yourself. set realistic goals in very small steps, and whatever you do, remember that it has to be sustainable over a period of time.
here's wishing all my fellow flabby friends all the best! :D
yesterday when i was looking through some of my old photos on my facebook, i was appalled, if not disgusted to find a ball hanging on my head. my face was so round that i think it would have rolled off my neck if i hadn't done something about it! haha, if you don't believe me, read on:
this was yours truly in mid 2006, during ISIS hatters' day (a busking event which i did to raise funds for singapore heart foundation) - a very revolting picture i'd say. i swear you can blackmail me with this photo on my wedding day (which will happen in about ten years' time perhaps!)
mid 2007, during arts club elections - thankfully i lost a little weight between mid to end 2006 due to rag and post-mc blues:
mid 2008, a selca i took when i was doing the UM-NUS module - bad complexion aside, i think my chin was actually quite sharp! :D but that was thanks to the severe diarrhea i had when i was in malaysia:
mid 2009, during my commencement - yes i put on weight in my final year due to thesis and exam stress! ):
and finally now, after i made a new year resolution, and stuck to it (i couldn't find an individual photo!):
well, there is no shortcut to looking good/better. but if i were to narrow it to one single factor, i'd say that self-discipline is the key to success. persevere and control your cravings but at the same time, don't be too hard on yourself. set realistic goals in very small steps, and whatever you do, remember that it has to be sustainable over a period of time.
here's wishing all my fellow flabby friends all the best! :D
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