蓝月

Yup, it's blue moon time and it's time for an update.

Baby is about 5 months' old now and I can feel it kicking and pushing already. It's a most wonderful feeling, like having little butterflies fluttering in your tummy. Baby is still quite small now so the sensation is still enjoyable. In fact, I rather be kicked and pushed and 'disturbed' by Baby than not feeling it at all. Sometimes, when Baby have been quiet for some time, I would stroke my tummy and tell Baby: "Baby, can you kick Mummy to let me know that you're all right?" And amazingly, Baby would respond and give me a little push or shovel. Baby is a clever baby :).

The Tokyo trip was one of the most beautiful times I've had in a while. I think I did more walking during the trip than I did in the past few months. Steve was my tour guide, train master, rock. Indeed, I wouldn't have been able to quite enjoy the gruelling walks without him beside me encouraging and taking care of me. Yes, the bump is getting rather obvious and I can feel the extra baggage on me. Sleeping and the act of turning over in bed without having to think twice about making too big a movement has become a thing of the past. Thanks to this short holiday for us to take a breather out of the country, the little passenger and I have put on 2kg in a matter of just 6 days. It's good progress and I love and adore every bit of it, flesh or flab.

Lots of pictures from Tokyo to share.

Our first bento from the airport

We need some of these in Singapore don't we

At Shinjuku station. It's total mayhem!

On our way to our hotel which is located just a stone's throw away from the station

A Christmas treeful of teddy bears in Takashimaya

The next day, on our way to Akihabara

Having ramen at a little eatery at the train station

Walking around Ginza where everything is posh and expensive

It's Steve's birthday and we had such a difficult time finding cakes because it's already late and all the stores are closed. We finally manage to get 2 pieces from Starbucks.

The next day we visited a fish market, forgot the name liao. People mountain people sea queuing for the freshest catch of the day.

This is a most interesting place, small but warm and cosy, like at home. The boss is a very friendly host and he speaks English and Mandarin very well too. We even had free English-Japanese lessons during our 1.5 hours there. What's even more interesing about here is that Jay Chou had frequented this place twice, where the boss said Jay loves its unagi-don.

The amicable and lovable boss. He always has his camera ready at the side and the walls are adorned with photos of customers (incldg Jay's). Too bad we forgot to take a shot of them. But if you happen to be there you might just be able to see our photo on the wall too. He keeps a guestbook where customers are invited to leave messages. It's about 8 A4 sizes thick now.

This is the front of the restaurant. Oh! The lovable boss gave us a tuna sushi replica as a souvenir. We would love to be back.

At Ueno Park

At a shrine in Ueno Park

We had wanted to catch the autumn leaves but guess we're too late to do so in December

Donuts madness in Tokyo! This Krispy Kreme outlet is located just opposite our hotel and EVERYDAY EVERYTIME we pass by, there would always be a long long queue. We finally gave in and joined in tonight.

This board shows the average waiting time from this point onwards. 40 minutes is considered short already. The longest we've seen is 1hr 40 mins. Most comforting act is that they will give out a free donut (fresh and krispy from the oven!!) to every customer as they reach the front of the queue. This kind of thing will NEVER happen in Singapore.

We bought a dozen but can only finish 6 :(

Very greedy but worth every bit.

On a boat ride to Tokyo Bay

Rainbow Bridge in the distance

Replicas

Curry Katsu Don. I've been craving for this since we reached Tokyo but after this meal, I don't think I will touch curry katsu-don for at least half a year. The serving is too huge!!!

This guy beside Steve does nothing else but dons this funny costume and stands motionless outside an electronic store. Take photo is free one.

Shabu-shabu!! The wagyu was so well-marbled with fats it melts in the mouth! We had this for dinner for 2 consecutive nights.

Very satisfied customer

Another bizarre translation. I wonder how a Roman taste like.

Our last day in Tokyo. Takashimaya is just a road's cross away from our hotel.

The Thunder Gate is the main entrance of Asakusa Kannon, one of the oldest temple in Tokyo and a major tourist spot

It's really cold and this piping hot soba lunch was really welcoming.

Tired faces on our way back to the hotel.

The lobby of our hotel, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Shinjuku. We got a promotional rate of an average $130 per night. It's a really good deal and the location's fab.

The room's small but adequate for the 3 of us.

I love the toilets in Japan. Would love to ship one home had it not been so troublesome.

I didn't buy anything much in Tokyo, only a mascara for myself, and loads of local delicacies for relatives. Baby's due and there's so much more expenses coming up that I think it's better to save as much as I can to help chip in the household income in a way. Besides, I kept telling myself that I will be back in Japan soon.

By the way! Here's a picture of me having a scan.



I've cut my hair short, my first time in I think about 10 years. Sob. I miss my long hair but it's getting too long in this heat. I'm due for another detail scan in a week's time and by then, Baby's gender would be confirmed. Do you think it's going to be a boy-boy or girl-girl? If you ask me, I don't have a preference. Boy or girl, we know it's going to be very loved and cared for by Daddy and Mummy, right Baby? :)

2 + 1

FINALLY!!!

I can proudly announce the year's greatest news!!!!

If the fact that both hubby and I have gotten our PhDs this year is ranked second, then the first would undoubtedly be that.....

I AM EXPECTING!!! WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you look at the baby ticker on the right, you would realise that baby is already about 3 months plus old now. Yup, I've been keeping this little secret for the past 3 months and reckon it would be best to announce only after the 1st trimester is over.

And I had such a hard time keeping the secret!

The first few weeks after knowing, all I wanted to do was to really shout out from the top of the building that I'm going to be a mother soon! Steve had to pinch me a couple of times on the arm to hush me up whenever we meet friends and I just have the strong urge to announce the good news. I really can't help it you see :)

Now that the three of us have survived that all important first trimester, I am all out to showoff our newly gained status, and figure.

Very happy right!!!

Let me share some bites about the times when we first knew about the pregnancy. It all came as quite a surprise because the ovulation kit had failed us, and we really didn't expect the conceiving at all. When we found out and did a calculation, we realised that I had already been carrying baby when I was in Edinburgh for my viva. That means, baby was in the examination room with me and of course, ran that mad sprint with me in Heathrow. Isn't that quite amazing to think of? Steve kept remarking that baby's a champion and I agree with both hands and legs.

The 1st trimester was hard to bear. I was tired and breathless most of the time, my blood pressure was an all-time low. The morning sickness was terrible that I can't bear to eat for most of the day, which explains a little weight-loss (what a time it came). The occasional cramps was bearable but worrying and thus tiring. All in all, I was a useless big lump of flesh most of the time, not fulfilling the household chores yet spending the days watching TV and spending time my niece and nephew.

But all this while, Steve never had a word of complaint. He was supportive, encouraging and always loving and always understanding. Many times he would suggest to bring me out for shopping or just to get out of the house for some fresh air but I would either always express disinterest, or become totally breathless while we're out that he has to drive us home straightaway.

Sometimes I think to myself: Is it not a good time to have a baby now, considering that I'm not contributing any income and it all lies upon Steve now to support the three of us?

And usually when I have these thoughts, I would cry and express my guilt to Steve.

But Steve would always tell me to just do my part as a mummy, because that's as good as helping him support the three of us.

I tell baby during our baby talk that Daddy is going to be the greatest Daddy ever, and I'm sure baby will know :)

Now, my appetite's increasing, the bump's beginning to show slowly but surely, and I never thought I would get to say this, but I'm a C-cup now. Incredible right?!

Ok, I think I should resume blogging regularly so that baby's journal is consistent.

Oh oh!! And baby's due date is actually coinciding with my birthday! Well not exactly, but baby will come a day later. The 8th of June that is. But this kind of things very difficult to say for sure. I just know that my birthday present for 2008 has come alot earlier than expected and it is going to be the best gift, ever.

Kids

Mama and Dada

Memory Lapses

I think I have been forgotten, or rather I have quite, quite forgotten what's happened to myself for the past 2 months or so.

It's not as if I have been so busy with work that I couldn't afford the time to blog. In fact, I have all the time in the world to do so.

But if you ask me what have I done with all this time? I can only tell you:

I don't know.

Yet, it has been a very eventful October/November for me. But then again, it was so tranquil and lethargic that I'm convinced that I've become an absolute waste of space.

Anyway, recently, only recently, I went up to Facebook for a browse.

What I don't understand is:
Just what is its difference with Friendster???

I've received many invitations to go on Facebook but to date, I have yet to start an account myself.

The reason: Because I'm already on Friendster.

Perhaps the difference is really just a generation thing. Or maybe the true reason is, Facebook is a much more grown-up, mature revamp of Friendster, which to many is a version for kids.

To me, they are just platforms to showcase a way of life.

To friends or to the public, it is still only just a facet of the whole.

And since I've already got one, is there really a pressing need for me to put on just another in a different place?

Maybe it's a part of evolution. After all, the only constant in life is change isn't it?

Perhaps one of these days, I might get off my lazy ass and migrate to Facebook, but I seriously don't foresee myself to be doing so.

I'm too lazy you see.
And really not that bothered to do so.

Sigh, I must be getting old.

No lah, I am indeed getting old lah.

On a sidenote, Steve and I will be making a short trip to Japan this December. Strangely, it's not the shopping frenzies that I'm looking forward to, but rather the scenic walks and tours that we will be making together hand-in-hand.

Told you, I'm really getting old.

The Final Showdown

Twisties are not chocolate.

Anyway, the final showdown between Alonso, Hamilton and Raikkonen is finally here.

All shall be decided in Interlagos this weekend.

Wah I can't wait to see Alonso lift the championship title!

I love tofus!!!!

Alonso, 加油！

Hamilton, 漏油！

Fans of FA Unite!!

Question:
And do you believe in miracles?

Fernando Alonso:
I believe in miracles, for sure. I think anything can happen, this is Formula One. If you think the racing is boring or the sport is boring because always the same cars are winning the races and there is nothing to expect from the weekend, F1 is unpredictable sometimes and we have seen it many times, especially in wet races. If you said now that maybe it is raining again on Sunday, then anything can happen. Until mathematically you have no chance in the championship, you don’t give up.

It looks almost certain that Lewis Hamilton will take the championship this year but that is of course what the british media is brandishing about.

For me, I too believe that miracles can happen and that my tofu-silken-faced Alonso can defend his championship title.

This weekend in Shanghai, may all the Chinese gods favour FA instead of LH.

Yeah!!

Sai!

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？