massive ant hunt

I live in Punggol, a place, to most non-Punggolians-and-Sengkangians, is synonymous with Pulau Tekong. No, wait a minute, I think our BMT boys have it better in their holiday camp at Tekong, cos they probably don't have to deal with an entourage of ants/spiders/insects-attracted-to-lights-on-a-rainy-day that I have to endure!

Every night when I snuggle up to my soft bolster, I get bitten by at least two ants. The puny red ants. To them, it's probably just a playful nibble, but it hurts! My bro tried once to track down the nest. I can't remember the results of that surveillance, but the ants are still there!

So Leo went on the offensive last night, following the path of those frigging ants from my bed, up the side of my wardrobe, across my wardrobe, along the doorway, along the floor that leads to the living room (see picture), along the wall of the living room, right to the main door that leads to the common corridor.

His verdict: I think the ants come from outside, you know? But why do they go into your room?

His second verdict: I think I was born an ant-eater.

HUH? Oh, to try to understand this statement, you have to know that he was quite obssessed over the ant trail.

Ants aside, there is the spider that appears out of nowhere. A few months back, when I returned from my week-long New Zealand trip, I found that a spider had spun a sticky web in the space between my bolsters and pillow. Oh man.

And when it rains, these irritating black buzzing insects crowd around the ceiling room lights in my living room, like vultures drawn to roadkill. You know those insects you can get rid of by placing a pail of water under the light? They stupidly head for the water (and subsequently drown) cos they think that's light too.

Like how am I supposed to exterminate these insects when I have more than 10 such ceiling lights in the living room?

I'm living in Singapore right?

lookalike

When leo told me his colleague couldn't stop commenting on how much he looked like Hong Kong veteran actor Samuel Hui, I told him it couldn't be. Well, until I watched channel 8 last Sunday. And I thought oh my gosh! Just add that tacky Abba-like hair, a thicker moustache and a pair of big-framed specs and...and...and...

Ok, so I admit I was very tempted to photoshop leo's picture to look like a retro him. But he's so nice to me, I don't think I wanna embarrass him lah. Especially with my not-too-good photoshoping skills! (WAIT A MINUTE, since when did I become so kind???)

I'm now on a quest to find more lookalikes. Currently I have a shortlist:
1. My cousin Marilyn (17 yrs old) looks like Stella Huang or was it Wang? That local singer.
2. My former sailing captain Justiin looks like errr... smurf.
3. I errr...look like a chipmunk? Ok, nothing to be proud of, even if pple tell me 'hey but that's cute!!!'
4. James! James! looks like Zhang Zhen Yue, this Taiwanese singer. Spitting image. Sloppiness, unkempt look, cap and all!

Damn. Where are the photos when I need them!??

old man blues

I've left my company but my meal run for old man Mr Jai has to go on. And sometimes it gives me a headache because...

1. two of my volunteers have gone back to reporting, which means of cos, they don't know when they will get slapped with last-minute assignments.
2. well, I'm further away from Toa Payoh than ever!
3. the old man has his oddities and not everyone can get along with him.
4. he can only eat certain foods, cos either his stomach rejects some food cos of old age and sickness, he is unable to chew cos of his dentures, or the taste is not to his liking.

Some people may say he's fussy, but well, he doesn't expect to be bought food he doesn't eat. That is, he would rather go hungry than to pay for something that he is unable to swallow. To him, it's a fair deal, because we have already agreed on what to buy, and what not to.

But being the kind souls that most of us are, when we can't find the right foods, we try to find something else that we think is a close match. And, that's where some misunderstandings have occurred.

Recently, the doc's changed the medicine for his arthritic pain in the back cos it may cause internal bleeding. This new medication doesn't dull his pain that much so I've noticed he's been in greater pain.

It's a constant struggle to not get too close to him, yet maintain a close-enough distance to feel for him. Because I don't want to get too subjective about things - it would wear me down.

He's been sweet, though I've had glimpses of his brusque attitude and very set principles and thoughts about things. These uneasy moments have irked me. He's so much like my obstinate late grandpa. Why are all old people so set in their ways?

However, what's touched my heart is that he has made marmalade (orange bitters) for me, whipped up yoghurt for me, cooked preserved mango for me, and in a recent visit, fried this prata-like wheat-and-dough pancake called koh-khee, which he says is a Pakistan delight, often enjoyed with hot tea.

He can't even walk properly, he even has to boil the cooked pork we buy from the kopitiam just so it's soft enough to chew. Yet he's taken the effort to cook for me. I'm really touched.

He's even asked me to sell 10 rusted but unused umbrellas for him to supplement his savings. How to sell, you tell me? One had the unmistakable Tiger beer logo on it, its hinges crusted with gold rust. Another smelt of his medicine - stored in a musty house. My mum gave me $35 for them and I gave the brollies away.

More recently, he's asked if we could buy him a certain fish from a certain stall in Toa Payoh, which not only tastes good, but is soft enough to eat. Lucky Noel lives just next to the stall. But when Noel is not free, I will have to get it. I did it last Sunday.

When I don't have the car, thinking about the travelling time makes me so unwilling to help. But when I think of the bundled-up, hunched and shrunken figure in the three-room flat, I push back memories of his obstinacy and I regret my earlier thoughts.

All humans have flaws, it's a matter of overlooking them and dealing with what is most pressing at that time. Everyone has a right to enjoy food, no matter how poor they are.

I have a lot to learn.

happy hours

Friday night was great fun spent at Party World KTV at Oriental Plaza. I'm not ashamed to say I practised two new Chinese songs on Thursday so that I could belt them out during the fantastic karaoke session. I managed to sing a Penny Tai number, but not Tanya Chua's Amphibian.

Ahh....it was great to sing my lungs out! Singing provides me a release, whether or not I'm stressed. Like going for a spa, a swim and a haircut all on the same day!

Pat wins the honours for most-surprisingly-good-voice-of-the-night, while the rest of the guys - Leo, Ferris and Kent - deserve a thunderous applause for the most heartfelt rendition of some Aerosmith song. Haha. It's fun having guys in the group cos they just lose it when they sing man!

Saturday afternoon was spent with cocoatina, kelly and baby ethan at the Timberlux flea market. Cocoatina's younger sis Ai Mei opened a stall with two of her ex RJC classmates. Ai Mei makes earrings that she sells at Homespun at The Arts House (old Parliament House), under the brand Fabricate. She also retails them at some shops in Mandarin Hotel.

She made these lace earrings (see picture) for me! Anyone interested in her handmade vintage accessories, pls email her at fabricate_mei@hotmail.com

I don't remember any of my classmates going the design way in my time. Most became the usual - docs, lawyers and gahmen servants. To think that Ai Mei and her friends have such a lovely un-raffles common interest. Glad for them. Perhaps the gahmen's efforts in encouraging creativity are working???

rest and relax

hmm...my plans to really rest and relax after quitting don't seem to be panning out well! I've taken on quite a few freelance assignments from the dept I worked for, plus a friend recommended another freelance project. I don't want to turn them down cos number one, I wanna earn money, and number two, I don't wanna burn bridges. I mean, it's not always you're in such demand!

Sigh...wish I could have had more time to nuah though, tan at the beach, walk around interesting spots in Singapore to take pictures, practise my piano/guitar, try writing a few songs...

Well, I guess I could do that in the next year, since my lessons are gonna be at night. Actually, was pretty disappointed with the too-few subjects offered for my grad diploma. Feel kinda cheated actually.

There was a master list with more than 30 modules available and I had been eyeing a certain few. But some won't be offered at all in the year that I'm studying cos they can't find enough teachers! Irritated. So I've to make some changes to my plans.

Leo and an ex-colleague suggested I look through some of the undergrad modules and "audit" them. So this means I'll just attend classes for knowledge, but I won't take the exam. Haha, this sounds so Reading Lolita in Tehran: auditing classes! (Right olduvai and dsd?) Well, I'm thinking of attending lectures for one such module.

So, the plan for this coming semester is to read four modules (one of them the audit one), and write my professional paper (the thesis), all while freelancing. This will keep me busy for a bit I hope! Even though I'm taking more than the required number of modules, I don't mind, cos I really wanna learn as much as possible!

Eh wait, I actually want to rest and relax too! Ahh...it's time for a proper timetable :)

a crazy place to lay my head

Looking for somewhere crazy to stay while on holiday? Check out what The Sunday Times has to say about them Nutty Suites...

Here's an excerpt and I'm sure leo the diving evangelist would be so interested in it. But uh uh, not me :)

Talk about sleeping with the fishes. Once a research lab, this two-bedroom lodge off the coast of Florida is the only underwater hotel in the world. To get there, guests must dive down 21ft to the bottom of the Emerald Lagoon, in Key Largo (non-divers are given a three-hour crash course), then watch the world swim by through the 42in window in their room. A chef will dive down to cook your meal; otherwise, it’s just you and your lagoon.

(By the way, I checked my dusty dive book and found that 21ft is about 6m, not too deep...hmm...)

the best marriage announcement I've ever received!

This morning I received the funniest marriage announcement ever, from my girlfriend FY (see picture). I've abbreviated the names in case she doesn't want to be identified, after all she can be quite embarrassed to let other pple know she's so embarrassing. Here goes... "FY'S MARRIAGE FAQS":

1. Q--ARE YOU MARRYING G??????

A--No, I'm escaping to vermont and marrying JY (another girlfriend). WHAT the hell do you think? OF COURSE it's G!! wah kaus

2. Q--WHEN IS IT?????

A--Most likely end of next year. If you don't get a card by september 06, it means you're not invited. So please don't call up and ask question 2 repeatedly.

3. Q--WHY ARE YOU MARRYING G?? WHY? WHY? WHY??????????????

A--Because I don't want to marry JY.

4. Q--WHERE IS IT GOING TO BE?

A--Can you PLEASE bloody wait???! I'll tell you in due time! If you don't get any news about this by september 06, then PLEASE for the love of god, you're NOT INVITED! (and don't ask quesion 2 and 4 repeatedly)

5. Q--HOW DID HE DO IT?

A--do what?

6. Q--HOW DID HE PROPOSE?

A--Suffice to say, the following were not used: Char Bee Hoon; Coca Cola Ring Tab; Romantic Boat Ride; Romantic Hotel Stay; Knives and other sharp objects; Cheezels.

7. Q--WHERE DID HE PROPOSE?

A--In a car, in a carpark, after asking me 12 times where I want to go with the same answer of "I don't know" slapped in his face. In front of us, a leaky water pipe with water dripping out. Nice.

8. Q--WHERE IS THE RING FROM????

A--Bloody hell do you know you are damn nosy?

9. Q--WHAT DID YOUR MOTHER SAY?????

A--why the hell do you care what MY mother says???!?!!??!?

bye bye

Packed and gone, for real. Gonna miss my reporter's shorthand book with its smooth pages and lines that are spaced at just the right intervals. Gonna miss the imac that crashed on me twice and the cute helpdesk cheena-beng guy nick (haha! He's married lah!). Yes yes I have a fetish for cheena-bengs, and I guess my bf looks like one too??!!?? (Neighbourhood school guys rock!!!) Ok, I'm digressing...Gonna miss jamie who sits like two metres away, calling me to bitch/gossip/tell secrets, and of cos irritating the hell out of me at the same time. Gonna miss the 5pm cleaning auntie (whom I hope will not have a breast cancer relapse). She wished me well non-stop today and I felt like it was Chinese New Year all over again: "Xiao3 mei4, zhu4 ni3 bu4 bu4 gao1 sheng1, xue2 yue4 jing4 bu4, yi3 hou4 zhuan4 hen3 duo1 qian2!" (Translated: little girl, wish you climb higher higher, studies improve, earn lots of money!) Gonna miss the "you've got mail" dialogue box that pops up ever so often on the Lotus Notes email. There's something really cathartic about that, don't you agree? Gonna miss waiting at the lobby for lunch kakis, going through that stupid turnstile and never failing to say: "Where to eat? Wantan mee place? Or Aroma? HUH? Wantan mee again?" Gonna miss my most efficient kopitiam guy Kenneth, who gives me one more lemon slice than usual in my ice-lemon tea, and serves it before I even order. He's the man!

Gonna miss so many things. And like Kartaly said today at 8pm in the last phone call I will ever answer at my ex-desk: "And that will be the last time I will ever dial #2106!"