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A wish

Posted on January 27, 2012 by squareberry

I invited one of my professors to our wedding and through that, found out that his/her spouse was diagnosed with cancer at a late stage.

I may wish for a beautiful wedding, the most memorable and picture perfect day of my life. But at the end of the day, a wedding celebration is also made up by the people whom you wish to celebrate with, and it’s these people who count in your life. And these are the people I/we care about.

So, while my professor cannot commit to being there, my wedding wish would be that his/her spouse will be well again, and that God will give them and their child the strength to pull through.

My heart is heavy as I have heard a lot of bad news lately- people I care about struggling because their loved ones are ill. I really wish with all my heart they will be okay.

I think, love and health are really the most important things in life. “????” (good health) should be the most important CNY wish, “????? (good wealth) is secondary.

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Three

Posted on January 26, 2012 by squareberry

Yet another year has passed us by And its our 3rd year anniversary.

We are in a saving mode this year and thus, are not doing anything particularly special (he claims we will return to “normal programming” next year”), besides going to the restaurant we decided to spend every anniversary dining at until we get sick of it or it closes.

Nevertheless, I am just as happy because he is more than wonderful and I appreciate having him more than ever.

Four more months!

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CNY 15 day resolution

Posted on January 25, 2012 by squareberry

The crazy eating is killing me. I already hate pineapple tarts, peanut-anything, mandarin oranges (YUCK), kueh lapis, but all the chocolate and cakes are more than enough.

By the way, I swear I know the nicest Swiss roll ever, from “Rich and Good Cake Shop”- I do not even normally eat Swiss rolls! My aunt also gives us this special kueh lapis with only three layers every CNY- again, I detest regular kueh lapis but this is the best. The saddest part is that the bakery only makes that kueh lapis once a year!

Anyway, my CNY 15 day resolution is to do some exercise at least 12 out of the 15 days of CNY- not just running, but other exercises like my physiotherapy exercises, which are good for me, but I am always too lazy to do outside physiotherapy sessions.
It’s funny how I am pretty motivated to run, but am too lazy to do most other forms of exercises… I actually hate exercising and sports, ha!

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Kick”S” reunion

Posted on January 25, 2012 by squareberry

Serene and Jason organized a steamboat dinner for the SSSS and our plus ones. I had a plus two- Flare!

(Sidetrack: I realized Flare is very hypocritical. When she meets other people, she puts on this good, docile, lazy lady act and the moment she gets home, her crazy hyper barking snapping self is unleashed.)

Steamboat was delicious, I really love steamboats! I also like their house very much, now that it is done up. Thanks S and J!

It was a fun night and I think that marks the end of the CNY festivities for me. My family does not visit much! I am just left with massive CNY work lunches; just thinking of them makes my tummy full.

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2012 thus far

Posted on January 23, 2012 by squareberry

I just checked out his the countdown widget on his blog and discovered that we are 123 days way from saying “I Do”. The days, weeks and months just tick by, and I am thankful that we have been doing the preparations slowly, but steadily; it’s all about being task-oriented and getting things done. Thankfully, there has been no major stress so far and I actually find it quite enjoyable to do this together. It’s like a little project (that is likely to be easier than furnishing our future home!) for us to work on together, with each of us prodding the other occasionally.

Sherry and I have been assigned a new concert piece, which we are enjoying very much (well, at least I am enjoying it)! It’s nice to be playing a pleasant, joyful piece for once, even though the past exciting music have been fun too. We have very little time to work on it this time round, but I think it will be worthwhile, as it always is. Duo piano really adds that little spark to my musical life, and life in general.

Less than one month into the year, there has already been new challenges and stressors at work. A new big mistake too… I guess, these are good things, as they remind me to keep challenging myself and remain on my toes at work. Otherwise, I may just fall into an abyss of complacency, which is bad.

Teaching has been surprisingly good lately. Everyone seems to have settled into being better behaved, so lessons are less destructive, if not more productive. It has been rather gratifying, so much so that the feelings of “must I really go through this every weekend” have left.

It is going to be a busy Feb and Mar- a short getaway with my oldest friends, a trip to the Middle East, concert, photoshoot, various random wedding related appointments which I cannot recall at the moment, new students… Got to be grateful for things to do.

Posted in Life, Piano, Wedding 2012, Work | Leave a comment

Happy CNY!

Posted on January 23, 2012 by squareberry

Happy Lunar Water Dragon New Year!

It has been a new year of firsts-

First time I had reunion dinner at lennel’s
First time we invited friends for reunion (Ban and Lennel’s friend, whom I discovered is a Nanyang/Hwachong girl as well and had so much fun recalling schooldays with)
First time Flare is celebrating the new year with us (she even accompanied us to visit my mum’s aunt!)
First time we are celebrating the new year without my grandpa, miss him dearly

It is also the last year I am receiving red packets.

Some things never change, such as my grandma’s steamboat, with the best soup and beat fish balls (which she queued up for at 3am), the best fried ‘tanghoon’ on earth, the most unusual but best popiah!

Another thing which has not changed is my lack of new clothes, and the yearly morning scramble to look for something that looks decently new to wear, ha! I have never ever bought CNY clothes in my life- every year I tell myself I will definitely get some the new year, but when the time comes, I am either busy or lazy.

Wishing everyone a healthy, prosperous and blissful year ahead! =D

Posted in Dog, Family, Food, Friends, Lennel | Leave a comment

Circle line

Posted on January 16, 2012 by squareberry

Everytime I ride the circle line and get from NUS to Marymount in 18 min, I feel so grateful- gone are the days of taking three buses or 2 busses + 2 MRTs to NUS!

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Saving money diet

Posted on January 13, 2012 by squareberry

I spent a whole lot of money in Dec and started off the new year blowing a few hundred bucks…

I felt so guilty I could not bring myself to have a snack before piano lesson yesterday even though I was getting hungry. And it was also the day I had to pay for piano lessons! I have resolved not to spend any money on food outside breakfast, lunch and dinner until I feel like I have saved sufficient money. I reckon that will be two months and I am sure I can do it.

So, I bought a ring- my greatest fashion weakness. I do not really buy branded anything, but I cannot seem to resist rings. I now own a purple, a silver, a sapphire and finally, a black one. I am materially satisfied.

I think I am developing a collecting disorder. I now collect CDs and ZA shirts because they are fairly affordable, and I enjoy helping him with his vodka collection. I love collecting Starbucks tumblers and bearistas with him too…

If I had too much money, I will probably be collecting rings. Thankfully I do not.

P.S: I love Bvalgari rings, really cool stuff.

Posted in Life, Shopping | Leave a comment