Because I am a slow cake-cutter

Hello folks!

It's been 2 weeks since I came back from my viva, and it took me this long to finally update with an entry.

Well, my viva was a very smooth process. I definitely had my lucky stars to thank, and the biggest one is none other than my supervisor who has been my rock all the while, reassuring me and giving me immense encouragements right up to the second we stepped into the room facing my examiners.

Interestingly, quite a few incidents happened this trip.

Just 3 days before my flight, I was told that my paper has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Bank Marketing. It couldn't have come at a better time, it's timing to the finest precision!

Then, during my transit via Heathrow to Edinburgh, I was questioned at the immigration for quite a long while (do I look dodgy?) and hence almost missed my flight. I was the last to board the plane and everyone was saying "Well done!!" to me as I was panting heavily from my long sprint to the gate. Then upon reaching Edinburgh, I realised that my luggage was delayed. BA could not confirm when it will arrive and suggest I should wait for another flight to see if it comes. I was panicking so badly as all my stuff for the viva are in the luggage and was fretting what I should do and scolding all the 'tamades' I can conjure. Luckily, my luggage did arrive an hour later.

Then, during the viva itself, one of my examiners actually spilled coffee over his notes just when he was opening the session (maybe he's more nervous than me!). I think that huge yucky brown stain on his paper made him skipped a big part of the list of questions he had for me. Haha! Heng right!

End of the day, I had only a total of 8 minor amendments for my thesis, and so now I can officially say I have obtained my PhD!

Here's to formally having Permanent Head Damage!

Still have.

During my trip back to Singapore via Heathrow (where else can such things happen right), I was dismayed to find that my luggage DID NOT arrive yet again and that it would only reach the next day.

Luckily for me, I had bought travel insurance, something which I have done ONLY for this trip and not for those when I transit via Amsterdam. Mainly because I know I'll be transitting through Heathrow and Heathrow is defintely not known for efficient luggage handling. Lesson learned and well earned! Hehe.

So folks, I'm now home for good.

Have been offered a job but am going to turn it down. Why?

Because the pay is too low.

Even lower than what I was receiving before. Sob.

Thus, the hunt goes on...

Please PLEASE let me know if u have any lobangs for me. Ok ok??

Anyway, here are some photos taken when the kids came over for some play, and during Huiting's 6th birthday celebration.

Yes I am fat. But so what?

Not forgetting, a big shout-out to my dearest daddy:

Happy Birthday to you!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!!!

P.S.: And for the benefit of my 2nd supervisor, here you go:

Cameron Toll is a lousy place to shop.

I Survived!

I've done it!

I've passed my viva!

HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

猴急！救命啊！

I've been having nightmares recently...

Nightmares that we all have when we were younger.

Like dreaming that you were late for your examination, or...

Reaching the exam hall and realising that you have studied for the wrong subject, or...

Realising that you have booked the flights for the wrong dates.

Believe you me, these are the exact dreams that I've been having these days.

But lucky me, the flights have been booked correctly.

I'll be heading for Edinburgh on Monday night for the BIG day on 19 September Wednesday, where my viva will take place.

A typical session will last for 2-3 hours...

Is there really so much to talk about????

怎么办？怎么办？

不能說的秘密

还没看的委屈！

都快要下画了吧！

这感觉，就同如离目的地住得越靠近，就越会迟到的意思！

明明就在新加坡，怎么‘图’到现在还不去看？

全世界都知道了这秘密吧！

風箏

I brought mum, sis, Huiting and Yonghan to watch the much acclaimed 881 yesterday. Not too bad a show, afterall it made me cry along with the rest. But the best satisfaction was the fact that I know mum had enjoyed the show. I don't know, but it must be one of the very few times that she's actually watched a show proper in a cinema.

To all our mums (and dads), we'll always be their little kids even if we're already at a ripe old age. To them, we will always be a little baggage that they will carry with them and worry about.

这关系，也需要一个缘份。。。

要惜缘，更要惜根。

就好像风筝一样，要有线，才能飞得更高，更精彩。

若线断了，即使可以飞得很远，但它亦然是迷乱的。

我是一個貪玩又自由的風箏

每天都會讓你擔憂

如果有一天迷失風中

要如何回到你身邊?

如果有一天扯斷了線

你是否會回來尋找我?

如果有一天迷失風中

帶我回到你的懷中

我要做太太

If only I can be a paid full-time housewife, I can spend all my life doing this...

For these lovely kids

And this lovely big kid

Random

We strolled aimlessly around Club Street and Ann Siang Road looking for good foie gras and ended up at the restuarant in Scarlett Hotel.

Great decor and ambience, should be an ideal place for chilling but the food's way overpriced and not fantastic.

Clueless Carrot heads - now you know where NOT to dine

Baked some cupcakes and iced them with cream cheese frosting. They turned out great! Gonna explore with more colours and decos soon, I'm crazy about cuppies!

The place where I use to dwell in the office, all but memories now.

Operation Evacuation


That's it, gotto go full gear on my job hunt now. They say the job market's great, but it doesn't seem that way to me. Maybe I'm overqualified? Maybe I ought to try applying without stating my PhD qualification.

Slacker

水土不服

3 weeks after returning into the arms of my motherland, I learnt one major lesson....

Asparagus and durians TOGETHER are a lethal combination.

Eat them together and you risk losing everything u ingest from the mouth out from both ends. You would even start to recognise every single marks/scratches on the cistern. There are 3 significantly noticeable ones on mine - I've named them Peter, Bruce, and Pipi (pun alert).

我终于明白，什么是吃什么，拉什么的意思了。

To all friends: Sorry that I hadn't announced my return, let me settle down first, unpack the 20+ boxes, lose some weight, diminish the spots on my face, then let's arrange for a good meetup. Yes I'm a hopeless vainpot.

The end of the journey II

The culmination of 2 years of anticipation....

I couldn't really say that I've put 101% of yearning into its launch, but as I'm about to read through the last book of the series now, I must say I do feel bags of emotions in holding on to the tale that's provided me with lots of companionship in Edinburgh. How apt.

I think I will really miss Harry for his inspiration in harnessing my belief in fairytales even as I grow older with each day.

For assuring me that courage can triumph over insecurities and fear.

As I'm about to lift the cover and charter towards the full-stop to the end of Harry's journey, I'm beginning to feel a huge sense of inertia...

Sigh.

I wish there is some S.O.P. for detachment.

The end of the journey.....

The culmination of 3 years of work....

I couldn't really say that I've poured 101% of my heart and soul into this, but reading through the end result of the thesis now, I must say I do feel bags of pride in the work that I've produced over the past couple of years.

I think I will really miss my supervisor for all his guidance and encouragement in boosting my confidence as I falter along the way.

For assuring me that things can be done if I work harder.

As I'm about to put a full-stop to the end of this chapter, I'm beginning to feel a huge sense of inertia...

Sigh.

I wish there is some S.O.P. for detachment.

夢見周杰伦

Last night, I dreamt of many dreams.

I dreamt that I was watching Slamdunk (the anime) with Jay Chou, and he revealed that he has a Youtube account and his username was Blue.

Then, I dreamt that I was walking on an overhead bridge without fence.

I'm starting to feel quite sad about leaving Edinburgh....:(

Anyway, we finally did some touristy things here before we come home. How touristy is touristy? Does taking pictures count?

A little place where we have great breakfast and sinful carbonara

Overlooking Princes Street

So long Edinburgh....

Yayapapaya

At the Castle

Not very happy about the queue

FAT FACE ME

I'm only beginning to appreciate taking shots like this, makes me look slimmer.

And something that I've bought, like a graduation present for myself.

Neverfull MM

A little too self-indulgent? Maybe, I'm starting to have post-purchase guilt...but anyway, a woman can have never enough bags.

無奈何？

熟悉的归属感，眼看就要降落在手中。

可是，这是我这些日子以来，所学习去熟悉的归属感吗？

有点害怕，即将重新学习的感觉。

Departure Point

Sometimes, you don't need to always have to meet up with friends.

Even if it meant not having seen each other for about a year.

All it takes, is just one phone call.

And times apart are just as good as gold.

Saying goodbye to my best friend Agnes was very depressing. She had been a friend, a sister, even a mother all rolled into one for me in Edinburgh.

Poignantly, saying goodbye to her bore the significance of having to bid farewell to Scotland all together.

After about 4 years here, I'm finally able to say:

"Folks, I am coming home."

Working my socks off over the past fortnight resulted in the sweet production of my 243-pages thesis that I just handed in to my supervisor today.

And I think he's happy with what he saw. So the go-ahead for me to book my flight home.

Somewhere sometime over the next month, there will be one less lonely soul in Edinburgh, and one more happy family in Singapore.

But ironically now, I'm feeling a rather mix bag of emotions.

Maybe I'm just too overwhelmed with the fact that this is it, one major chapter of my life is coming to a close.

But you can bet I am darn sure looking forward to the next.

a time for everything

"what-a-load-of-work-to-be-done" time

"get-me-out-of-here" time

"major-ultra-squinting-bottleneck" time

"du-lan" time

It just spells thesis-time.

I've been so blardy busy I'm quite amazed at myself.

Been coming back to work late into the evenings, during the weekends, and spending a lot less time shopping online.

Handed in my first draft today. A second draft is due in a week's time.

Sometimes, I wish time can pass by faster.
Yet, I wish there is more for me to write better.

Anyway, it's already coming to about end June. It's all quick enough.

Can you believe it, almost half of the year is gone.

Wow.

(父父) 夫負何求？

亲爱的爸爸，

我翻了翻旧照片，想找一张适合今天日子的象征，放在这里。

我找了找，就是翻不出一张就只与你和照的倩影。

.......................................

我的爸爸，乍看之下，就是那么简单，那么朴素的。

他能够把一种无止禁的想象力，都发挥再身上的日用品。很多时候，他的手表，或钥匙圈，虽然都不是什么名牌的，但全世界，就只有他一人拥有。因为，他都会在它们上面，驶出一些花招，盖上自己的记号。很多时候，妈妈看了都会觉得有点不适眼，还会发几句牢骚，说这样很不实际，会惹来取笑的眼光。但爸爸还是很执著，继续骄傲的带着这些他亲手酝酿出的精心杰作。

这又有何不可呢？ 爸爸能够这样发挥它的想象力，因该是值得鼓励的。只要结果不太‘不实际’，爸爸的这个嗜好，因该是值得欣赏的。

可能，爸爸是寂寞吧！

可能对他来说，目前最能够直接让他感到骄傲的事和能够带再身上作为印章的，就是这些物件了。

爸爸，我好想你。

这句话，我实在是很少对你说，但我知道，你心里是感受得到的，是吗？

小时候，我年少无知。爸爸你的脾气，也相当暴躁。

当时爸爸给我的所有劝导，挨骂，对我来说，都是你对我的不了解。

现在我知道，最了解什么是对我好的，其实，就是你和妈妈了。

与其说岁月催人老，不如说，我们都一起成长了。

我们都一起经历过了很多让自己更改过来的时光。

爸爸，谢谢您陪我度过了这些岁月。

在不久的将来，请您把我戴在身上，作为您骄傲的印章。

父亲节快乐！

我們結婚吧！

Last week, I chanced upon a conversation topic with Steve.

I popped the question:

Shall we get married again?

That actually might just happen. Well, perhaps a couple more years down the road. It's quite a trendy idea here, what with re-taking your wedding vows etc.

Maybe, then, we could even get our own kids to be the page boy and flower girl! (is this what they're supposed to be called?)

Sigh.

I just heard from a friend that he's going to be a father soon this coming September

(if you're reading this: Congrats to you again! It's really, really good news :))

Plus, 2 more colleagues of mine here had just announced their pregnancies. Not forgetting the fact that another 2 had just become proud parents of their new ones over the last 2 months.

Is it the water or the air we breathe? Or the movement of the sun, stars and moon?

Is there a fertility conspiracy going on?

i am jealous.

actually, make that with a capital 'J'.

I can't wait to have a kid to call my own soon. I'm really aching to have someone call me Mama. Gosh this can sound freakishly scary cos I'm kinda getting manic over wanting to have babies!

But first things first, I got to get this PhD done and out of the way before embarking on any major baby-making projects.

7 chapters, 184 pages to date, 150+ references.

That's how my thesis look like now.

And hopefully that paper gets accepted and published soon.

Bottomline, I want to get home!!

Come to mama!

Chequered Flag

The chequered flag has become so well recognised that it is often used to indicate the conclusion of many things unrelated to auto racing.

Question is:

Am I ready to wave mine?

21 July 2007

A certain wizard awaits his fate.

So do I.

Heartware

PICTURES!!

and thanks so much for the lovely gift.....

完整無損

今天是我的生成大日！

又老了一岁。。。

真的，长得越大，越觉得时间过得更快。

二十年前的我，一年是一生中的11%时间。

如今，一年就只不过是这辈子的3%时间了。

太吝啬了吧。。。

现在，我正处在一个有点伤感的时刻。

这年龄，此刻人生的阶段，正是你开始发现身边的人，不是老的老，就是病的病。。。

总之，就是慢慢产生了越来越多疏远的压迫感。

这个，我不要。

我很想跟我的老板说: 够了。我要回家。现在。马上。此刻。

因为真的很害怕，随着年龄的增长，能让我补充失去的时光的机会，渐渐的会越来越浅薄。

但事实能这么简单吗？

我说过，立定要在这天前回到家中的温暖。

可是时间一拖再拖，我还是办不到。

这办不到的办到，我不想再重复了。

今后，要办到的应该是所谓的办不到才对，不是吗？

今年的生日，能够给我的最好祝福，就是为我加油吧！

加油！