Minty Grapevine

Changes and movement...

2009-09-04T13:50:00.002+08:00

Another 26 days....
Mixed feelings...

Till now, I'm just not too good with changes at all...

Stage 1 - Cleared
Stage 2 - Processing
Stage 3 - Pending
Stage 4 - Pending
Stage 5 - Pending
Stage 6 - Pending

Praying hard...

Frustration @ work

2009-07-17T14:18:00.003+08:00

Boiling point is rising. I am so so angry that I really need to vent this out now.

A colleague of mine was asking for help.
"Can I see you at 5pm?"
It wasn't much of a question. It was more of a command though.
Just because it was URGENT for him, I had to put down whatever I am doing and and assist him only.
True to his words, he came over to my desk at 5pm.
"Lifeng, I need you to put this up for me....NOW"

What was really frustrating (on top of me doing him a favour when I could have said 'no, go get someone else' PLUS his authoritative tone aside) was this.
1) "Lifeng, why do you have the bla bla bla rights to this system? Who gave it to you?"
2) "why are you using this system? who installed for you?"
3) "what's that number on the paper? why so long? what is it for?"
4) "why the extra set of laptop?"
5) "why is your system so slow"
6) "why the network so slow on ur pc"
7) "can you reload it? it's too slow"
8) "who is this, what is that"
BLA BLA BLA BLA BLA... AND more BLAs
Hounding me while I was TRYING to do HIM a favour.

I must bowdown to him as I have not seen or experienced any guy as nosy, by the books, irritating and unappreciative.

Because of such people around, I learned
1) to appreciate things better,
2) appreciate the nice colleagues I have,
3) not to take things for granted, etc

God, thank you for teaching me the art of appreciation.
I pray hard that I can learn how to curb the ' very evil emotion - anger' in me too.

When your dearest calls you "Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc,..."

2009-07-03T11:02:00.002+08:00

An elderly gent was invited to an old friend's home for dinner one evening.

He was impressed by the way his buddy preceded every request to his wife with endearing terms such as: Honey, My Love, Darling, Sweetheart, Pumpkin, etc,.

The couple had been married almost 70 years and clearly, they were still very much in love.

While the wife was in the kitchen, the man leaned over and said to his host, 'I think it's wonderful that, after all these years, you still call your wife those loving pet names.'

The old man hung his head. 'I have to tell you the truth,' he said, 'Her name slipped my mind about 10 years ago and I'm scared to death to ask her what it is !'.

Lifeng 最近忙什麽？(busy what? o_O)

2009-07-01T13:41:00.016+08:00

近來，有一些些的喘不過氣.

不是工作忙，而是找工忙。哈哈！

別擔心，我還是穩穩的坐著我的堡位上。

前陣子感到許許的不滿与擔憂。
對工作開始感到無法形容的厭倦。
漸漸的，感觸多了許多。
感到未來似乎一片空白，前途茫茫，生活無趣。
加重了經有沉重的心清与換職業的念頭。

無目標，像個無蒼蠅的我，開始這漫的过程。

在茫茫大海中，尋找著個‘完美’的工作。

可笑的是，在那一刻，我完全不知道我到底要的是設麽！

就這樣尋尋覓覓，並卸下了許多面試。

浪費了好多年度假期，好多貴的時間。

庆幸的是這一切換來了面試經驗与最重要的：“自我”。

我終于知道自己要設麽了！=）

好高興哦！

無目標的過這每一天好可怕！

大家！為我加油打氣哦！

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You must be wondering what with the impetus Chinese entry right?

Can you imagine that I took half an hour writing that where else it could have been easily done in 10 mins back when I was still in Primary school!

I realise how I've been so lazy, neglecting my Chinese, so much so that the simplest characters are almost unrecognisable!

So do bear with the mistakes and feel free to correct me! =)

I welcome all constructive criticisms!

==========================================================

Well besides the search for the perfect career,

I've been busy with....

1) Pretending to be OK with a digit added to my youthfulness

Thanks guys for the celebration, dinner, gifts and most importantly, company=)

2) STILL pretending to be OK with a digit added to my youthfulness

This was at Thomson Liquid Kitchen.
I must say it's really quite a nice place with great food, wine, ambiance and service!

The birthday babies - Annie and I =) Haha this shot is a little misleading... but really nothing happened.

I love these two babes la. Muacks!
Love ya Racheal and Annie!
All together! =)

It's amazing how all of us become such good friends. Especially at this age, when it's so difficult to find or even MAINTAIN a good friendship, we found each other. And I thank god for that.

Hey babes! It was one of my greatest night, albeit some major hiccups (you know what i mean), but it's through all these, that I realise we mean a lot to each other!

I'll definitely be there for you babes yeah! Stay strong Annie and Racheal! Constantly praying for you guys! Loves...

3) STILL STILL Pretending to be OK with a digit added to my youthfulness

Birthday Eve and Calvin was nice to treat me to this WONDERFUL but superly TOO expensive meal @ HV. great ambiance, food and service! =) Thanks Clavin!

Another movie treat from him too! TRANSFORMERS! great movie. Action was great=) love it!

Thanks AGAIN! haha!

And thanks for all the well wishes and gifts from my friends! =)

4) STILL STILL STILLPretending to be OK with a digit added to my youthfulness

No photos for this though. Brendan and Shan got me down to Union Square on my Bday itself. It was FUN!!!!! omg..haha If you know how it goes, the band and DJ will start playing a Bday song, and all the dancers will clear the dance floor just for the bday person and there will be a queue of guys/girls waiting to dance with the Bday person.

And in my case...haha although not the most fantastic Salsa dancer, i had a great time! Thanks to Brendan for saboing me. My first experience to have a pool of people watch me 'perform' and a line of (some very cute) guys queueing to dance! WOoohoooo! (for once, let me boast a little, Haha!)

So I literally danced my birthday away! =) Brendan and Shan were of coz great company! Thanks guys!

After which, Brendan was so nice to fulfil my craving for Teochew Porridge @ Thomson!

It was a tired, but happy and fulfiled Lifeng that night.

5) SWINE @Work!!!

Becoz of this certain swine, work piled up sky high for many of us! I'm sure you guys know what I mean, esp those working in School.

DEAR LORD,

"kill" the swine please...

AMEN

Till my next entry....
Loves and Smoochies....=)

Celebrations of love...

2009-06-17T17:14:00.007+08:00

Wedding - Lynda and Ross (14 June 2009)

Congrats! Ms Young, I mean Madam Young aka Mrs Ross.
It was a very classy wedding @ Waterfront Plaza.
Food was great and ambience beside the 'river' was great too.
Most importantly, Lynda, you looked great!
Happily ever after~

EAS Outing (15 June 2009)

Finally a day for the EAS to all gather together and enjoy a day.
It was a well organised outing by Anwar. Many Thanks! =)

Baby Amber (15 June 2009)

Chin was missing from the EAS Outing becoz of a little angel who decided to see the world 1 month earlier!!!

Let's welcome (Drum roll!!!!)

BABY AMBER!!!!

Smiles ~

Nearly 7 years...

2009-06-17T12:03:00.005+08:00

My heart actually dropped when I saw that...

Questions started popping up all over...

Wanted to 'satellite' straight to you.

Wanted to know exactly what's going on.

Wanted to hear with my own ears.

It's funny all those emotions that I thought I buried so well, suddenly all so familiar again.

It's been so long, and just when I thought I'm done with it.

It went straight to the beginning again.

How are you doing my dear friend?

Didn't realise it has been nearly 7 years since 23 July 2003.

Whatever it is, I'm happy for you, well wishes and you have all my blessings.

Lots of love...

Now the series of Fortunate Events...

2009-06-14T15:17:00.018+08:00

This is how I count my Blessings...

Blessing 1:
I have Godma who's always there to advice and listen and
handle my emotional problems (haha).

Blessing 2:
I have another wonderful colleague Chin who not only
-lends me A LOT of his stuff, train me for NAPFA,
-listen to me complain about work,
-bring me out eat snake (haha),
- and most importantly, intro me to FOOD!!!!!!!!!!
we ate at this Japanese Restaurant (Godma treated again!!!).
The Pork cheek and egg was really indescribable .

Blessing 3:
I think I got to know one of the nicest couples.
Chin (photographer) and Lynn plus baby chu (on the right)

Blessing 4:
I have the chance to be part of another ethnic community.
Another wonderful college of mine.
Mdm Chelvi and his son Vinod (Birthday boy)...

Blessing 5:
To attend an Indian Birthday Party.
One of the tradition is to feed each other cake.
What an experience=)

Blessing 6:

Ginger, my block's love is always there for me.
Love her to bits and pieces...

Blessing 6:
I've gotta know Azmat the Pee monster. =)
And most importantly, I've gotta know the owner, Brendan.
A great friend, listener, badminton kaki and salsa dancer! =)

Blessing 7:
A chance to hug a big soft cow when so many children in the world
are fighting to survive instead.

Blessing 8:
Knowing Calvin and having someone to go to Expo Food fair 2009 with me.
My first ever visit to Expo Food fair!

Blessing 9:
To own a camera to take down all the moments that mean something to me...

Blessing 10:
An opportunity to actually have a photo taken
with my fav childhood sweet mascot (Rabbit Milk Sweet).

Blessing 11:
To have someone who actually bothers to 'surprise' me,
bringing me all the way to Siglap Cheesecake Cafe.
I should have acted more surprised though. haha

Blessing 12:
To celebrate my mum's Birthday!!! @ Grand Mecure Roxy Hotel
To taste w wonderful tasting Durian Cake.

Blessing 13:
To see them smile=)

Blessing 14:
To surprise my mum @ 12am in her pajamas and still see her smile=)

Blessing 15:
To enjoy a 9-course Ala Carte Buffet @ ECP Seafood Tung Luk with my family!!!

Blessing 16:
To receive my first Birthday Gift way before my birthday haha=)

Blessing 17:
To have a bunch of Nafa friends remember and celebrate my Birthday.
Thanks May, Bernard, Gabriel and Minyu! =)
It was great catching up with you guys.
Looking forward to our next meeting already

Blessing 18:
To have a close bunch of uni friends Racheal and Annie=)
Enjoyed the 'bitching', laughters, jokes and weird conversations~ haha

Blessing 19:
To know such a beautiful girl, both inside and outside. =)

Blessing 20:
To have a chance to wear such a big diamond!!! omg!! haha
It's Racheal's not mine. But still I've got the chance to wear it! hahaha

That's 20 HUGE Blessings I've got there...
I'm truly blessed... =)

Have you counted your blessings yet?

A series of (1)unfortunate and fortunate events...

2009-06-14T14:12:00.000+08:00

Don't worry, I did not just lose my soccer bet. But this is really how I might have looked like two weeks ago @4.30pm, 05 June 2009.

But, as usual, when i'm upset, I start counting my blessings. And guess what, I do have more fortunate events than unfortunate ones. So it's good to really "count your blessings" when you feel like the whole world owes you something. Wahaha...

Alright, bet you remember my previous post on the NAPFA. Must be wondering why a 23 year old (oh dear i just mentioned my age haha) working adult needs to take NAPFA test. Well, because i applied for this 'prestigious' position of Naval Combat Officer with the Republic Singapore Navy.
There the secret is finally out. haha I must say that I "bow down" to their recruitment procedure.
After my online application, they called me down for registration and a navy seminar. After which was followed by an interview with some big shots. And after that a medical check-up. I went through all the procedures with the mindset that yeah, i think that's it. I'm going to be a naval female officer. And guess what. Just 3 days before my NAPFA test officer XXX called me saying...
XXX: "Dear Lifeng, I'm so sorry but I've just gotten notification from the Board that you Murdoch Degree is not recognised."
Me: "Oh. How about putting me on the Diploma Scheme then?"
XXX: "Erm. I'm sorry, but it's not recognised too"
Me: "ok. That's funny, so you are trying to tell me that the garmen do not recognise cert from Murdoch and NAFA?"
XXX:"Yeah. It's just too bad..."

What a conversation huh. May sound alright. But I was devastated after the call.
1) I wasted so much time going through ALL the procedures
2) I trained so hard for the NAPFA test. to think that I've never ran so hard and fast in my life. haha
3) Did someone just "slapped" me in the face telling me that i wasted 6 years of my life attaining TWO certs which are not recognised in Singapore?

So you can imagine how bad i felt. All these could have been avoided if they could have checked my cert accreditation before EVERTHING! And the best thing is, this is not one incident. It happened to me ever since i graduated from NAFA. So everytime I tried applying for garmen jobs, I get the same replies. "Oh your cert's a big problem."
Then dear mr Garmen, in the first place. Why on earth promote arts and music when you have vitually no platform for them to shine? Why on earth allow so many Foreign Unis open up campuses after campuses in Singapore?

Well I've got my answer in a hard way. It's all about the dollar sign $. And I being stupid and young and rebelious and dreamy then, fell straight into the trap.

Do i need to say more?

On 05 June 2009, I vowed never to work for the garmen.

My new aim: "Make the garmen work and work hard for me."

Yesterday I saw someone with someone

2009-06-05T14:28:00.001+08:00

A few interesting things happened yesterday.

Number 1 - Preparation for 10 June Napfa Test
Chin made me run like mad yesterday.
but it was good! great workout!
hehe and my mind is finally at ease.
My shuttle run isn't 20sec. It's 11.2sec.
I have been running the wrong distance all along. no wonder i was thinking how on earth did i get 20 secs!!!

Number 2 - Foot Reflexology
Although i might be too young for this. I totally enjoy the foot reflex session with my colleague.
Especially so because I've working the muscles I never thought existed these few weeks.
So looking forward to go again! =)

Number 3 - Met someone with someone!
ok, this is the interesting part. After the foot reflex, i meet a certain someone with the initials of TENG CK with a girl! not a bad match at all. Looks very compatible. Well done chee kian! oppz... did i just spell out your name? pardon me. =p ehehehe
加油！！！我永遠支持你！哈哈！！！

Blessings yeah! =)

NewsFlash - superstar's growing old and having white hair!
ok superstar, hope this entry will be your antidote to your white hair episode. lolz
you're my motivation to blog. Here it is! a simple one alright. Wanted to blog about my japan trip. BUT....... my photos are still with my friend!!! he deleted it from my thumbdrive!!! because of some virus. so bear with it yeah!

My dear readers, bear with the not so updated blogs. I promise to commit myself very very soon! and update all of the interesting places I've been to, food!!! I've eaten (omg..) and the latest updates of my very interesting work & love life! lolz
So stay tune yeah!

smooches~

some photos to humor you a little:

Ice cream!!! at Seventh Heaven
Very very nice French Vanilla, Black Forest & Chocolate and Whiskey

My Block's love, Ginger

Waiting for me to Raba raba her again.

She's a dear... love her to bits n pieces.

this is my most beautiful sis forced to try on the specs. hehe

And of course, how can i miss out the fun right...=)

Some 'advice' from the doctors =)

2009-05-28T17:35:00.001+08:00

Received this very funny email from a friend... enjoy! =)

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true?
A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?
A: No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain.. So have a cup now and then!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?
A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?
A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING!!! ..... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?
A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans ! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?
A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?
A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Well, I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets. Please remember: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways - Chardonnay in one hand - chocolate in the other - body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO, What a Ride'!
AND.....For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health. It's a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.
1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans or Australians.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans or Australians.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans or Australians.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans or Australians. 5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans or Australians.

CONCLUSION - Eat and drink what you like.Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

There you go, friend.

Being 'Fat' in Singapore

2008-04-24T00:28:00.000+08:00

I am fat. Not extremely fat, but fat enough to be known as ‘no where near skinny’. I use to be alright with being fat. Now I am not.

Health problems? Not really. Other than having a big body due to high bone mass and genes, I do not have any health problems. I enjoy eating and exercising, and ensure that I have sufficient rest. In fact, seldom do I fall sick as compared to my ‘correct’ sized colleagues.

I am unhappy because the society does not accept fat people, to the point that we are almost invisible.

Seldom do people discuss or write about the obese. Most people only desire to hear about or look at slim and beautiful people. So much so that clothing and shoe shops seldom carry large sizes and even if they did, many of us would have lost the desire to try due to disappointment and embarrassment from traveling to so many different shops looking for available sizes. And when finally the right size comes along, the design looks so bad that it makes one give up hope in the country’s fashion industry.

When basic needs of appropriate clothing are not easily available, finding a good mate is next to impossible. Who would want a badly dressed girlfriend no matter how good her heart is?

The average person has nearly no sympathy for the obese. Most think that weight lost is easily attainable through dieting, exercising, consuming slimming pills, etc. And if one is unable to do so, the over weight one is at fault for being lazy. But it is so untrue! The battle to losing weight might have been won by few, but it is difficult for most.

Sometimes driven by desperation, the few unfortunate ones are crowned ‘stupid’ for trying dieting programs that are overly publicized by the media which do not show any result.

This is injustice! We try so hard, yet we are admonished.

If that is not enough, the MRT and bus seats are so tiny that only our local singer Sun Yan-Zi can sit comfortably on it. Most of the time we, the obese ones are forced to stand. If we try our luck, we become the eyesore of many MRT and bus commuters.

By the way, I was once encouraged by a local airline ticket officer to buy an addition seat to feel more comfortable for both myself and my travel-mate-to-be.

Job hunting seems a million times easier for those that keep their weight down. With an experience with a job interview, I was told that a person who cannot control eating habit is a poor hiring choice and good appearance of organization’s employees accentuates the company image.

This is a give-and-take society. But if you are obese, be ready to give and give up more. If you stand firm that the society will one day truly accept us, get ready for a cruel awakening. Being fat is an eyesore. Do something about it and make sure it works.

If not, face the great invisibility treatment of the society.