Congratulations,Bro!

Welcome to the real world, baby Bro. Now that you're outta the safe nest of NTU, I wish you all the best in the chaotic world. Wear that smile,bro, you're gonna need it.

Aylwin at campus

There are only twice in your life when you get to be a superstar when everyone's focusing on you, everyone will fuss on what you wear, how you look and everyone would want to take photos with you. First time would be your graduation day and second, your wedding day. These two days, you'll be smiling until your face get cramps at the end of the day and the over whelming attention you get will leave you high and dry when the day ends. Therefore, this was a good practice for your wedding day,Bro.

Aylwin and Bryan, leaders of Tomorrow




Proud Daddy & Mommy....let us help u wif the heavy cert

Proud Ah Ma & Ah Kong

We've not forgotten 2nd sis...we'll get a complete shot soon

Cousin Brenda, the freshman in NTU

The Men after the ceremony

Mommy, Me and Ah Ma..nope, we're not sisters


Dinner celebration

That night, we had a celebration dinner at Ma Maison along with bro's gf, Jac. Of course, Ah Ma and Ah Kong had their vegetarian dinner already and after this, we headed for durian session. Ah Ma couldn't wait to sink her teeth into the juicy durian at Bugis. "It was heavenly", I heard.

Bryan's turn next!

It was tiring but a meaningful, significant day. We were proud to witness and share the glory. I'm sure I speak on behalf of Cher as well. To watch our bro finally turned into a real man in the society and another bro growing up to be one some day soon. Our parents were really proud of him and that all their hard work paid off. That's the moment when parents get rewarded for their lifetime sacrifice towards their children. And that day was the day they got their sense of achievement.

Well Done, Daddy,Mommy & Bro!!

Harry Potter Finale Released

21 July 2007

7am

Popular, Causeway Pt, Singapore

I've never got up so early for work ever but at 5.30am, my body clock woke me up. Today's the day to find out the long anticipated ending of Harry Potter's 7th and Final saga.

As planned, at 7.10am, I reached Popular bookstore and the bloody queue was already on the roll. There were already more than 60 people in front of me.

> 80% of them were kids/teenagers with thick glasses.

> 10% of them were adults with thick glasses buying for their kids.

> The remaining 10% were adults with thick glasses stuck in adolescent fantasies and I'm one of them!

The Bloody Queue at 7.10am

You would think Popular bookstore is popular with their generosity to keep us air-conditioned while queuing for their overpriced books but nope, they don't care that we were all drenched in our own sweat and fanning ourselves with flyers. What was worse, either the heat got to me or I was still half asleep, there were 2 Qs and I got into the longer Q without realizing. The promotional discount vouchers were all useless as it's only applicable for some non-selling books. Not applicable for magazines, best sellers, books on promotions, new release...basically, I could only use it for cook books or soduku books!!

Luckily, this is the last Harry Potter book cos I'm never ordering from Popular again.

After 40 agonizing minutes, I finally got my copy, with the feeling of satisfaction,excitement, anticipation and while trying to control the temptation of taking the book out from the bag and started reading, I just managed to put my hand inside the bag to touch the book whilst sped walking back home. To keep me calm and happy that the book was indeed REAL.

TA DA!!!! I got it at 7.40am before the Sun is fully up!

Kid's UK version. Front and back, in my hand

Left:-The silver doe, guess whose Patronus? U'll be surprised.

Right:- Hogwart's crest.

The thickness is roughly the same as The Half Blood Prince, if not, thinner. I was a little disappointed and "I could finish it by Sunday", I thought to myself. However, as I began reading, I slowed myself down to really enjoy and capture every single detail of the plot. It was just too precious to end it and I wish I could go on reading.

Last nite, I knew I would finish but I couldn't go to work the next day if I knew that there's no more Harry Potter left. It'll be the last of Hermione, Ron, Harry, Snape, the Weasleys, Hagrid, centeurs, Voldemort, Quidditch, Hogwarts, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaws, Slyterins....the list goes on. I would feel a huge part of me which was strongly influenced for the past years since the Philosopher's Stone is missing.

As incredible as the 1st book, the final one is equally exciting if not better. I shall update more when I reluctantly savour the final bit of it tonight. To be continued....

Fun Fun Fun

In a small country like Singapore, there isn't much room for all of us to roam about and the nearest getaway was indeed a long awaited one.

The blue sky, the sandy beach, the windy breeze and the sound of birds chirping, waves rushing to the shore and not forgetting the fresh air.

It's doubly worthwhile when you're indulging in all these with a bunch of buddies.

Shin, Sann and Val

Samantha,Coconut,Val,Shin & Sann

I think by now, you notice that like most Asian Chinese/Japanese gals, we like to pose with a peace V sign.

I have no idea why.


That's a question the boys frm UK asked me before which until now remains a puzzle.

Fun activities like cycling is part of the fun and exercise. However, 2 hours is really too much of a torture for my ass.

Not kidding, I swear!

Above:-Gals Riding the hood

There's something about the beaches. The effect beaches have on us. Is it the strong wind blowing our hair, the feeling of sand on our feet, the sound of the waves hitting the shore, the gals in bikinis....I think it's the view. The horizon we can see without any obstruction by high rise buildings.

Above:-Gals looking out for naked hunks.

What kind of relaxing holiday is considered complete if food is not part of the agenda??
The evening began with our food hunting with at the hawker stalls with just $50.

Sann does not let food wait and the only exception she'll make is when her photo is taken.

See how happy we were.

See how much $50 could buy.

See how much it took to feed us.


What a spread of happiness and joy!!!

Not forgetting the effort and kind gesture of our dear Sann with the super duper chewy juicy jelly lorr...besides being delicious, it's also an ART.

Of course, when our tummies were all filled up, the FUN began. Typically, Singaporeans spend their time best at a mahjong game.

(For the benefit of those who's not familiar with this local chinese game, Mahjong is a game of tiles with 4 different series of designs.) I'm not going to tell you how much I've learnt from this game but one thing is for sure, PATIENCE is required. And also, a nice chair with cushion helps you go a long way.

VODKA,7-Up,CORONA and CARDS

After who knows how many hours of ass cramping and fingers flicking with the mahjong tiles, I'm proud to say that I have finally mastered the game...errr...I think.

It was my 2nd time at it and Shin was trying so hard not to stuff my face with the tiles as I kept on forgetting the rules and my turns.

So sorry, I'm still proud to say I only lost $8. What an achievement!!

With that, the final session began. Card game. Simple and sweet.

Simple cos you just have to pick a card and place it above your head and pour the amount of alcohol you wish the loser to drink.

Sweet cos if your card is the lowest number, you get to drink the sweet vodka+7up.

Left:-Shin had the luck of a.....we were just speechless.
Right:- Not such a superman after all...

Who's got THE lowest?Sam helped to drink
I think the photos speak for themselves. I don't need to elaborate more except that our dear Shin might have been the biggest winner of Mahjong, she was certainly equally the biggest drinker for the card game.

Here come the PEACE signs again

Having a good time is not compulsary. It's just simply a NEED.

Living in Asia, we work as if we own the business. We work at such longer hours than the rest of the world and we get peanuts.

Then, if we don't work as hard, we get peanuts shells. Sometimes I wonder why don't we learn to just live with peanut shells. Some people who's got lotsa peanuts don't even have the time to crush the peanut open to get to the nuts.

Anyways, enough with peanuts before you think i'm going nuts. I just wanna learn to let go certain things and adapt to just being content with peanut shells and having the time of my life crushing them with my bare feet.

Thanks, gals, for the memory.

I sure hope everyone of you out there are blessed with the same luxury.

Breakfast buddy

Remember those days when your Mom wakes up early in the morning to prepare breakfast and snacks for you and your siblings to bring to school? Mine used to be bread with 'kaya', curry/sardine bun or bread with peanut butter.

I've always dreaded eating bread then but look at me now, thanks to the constant, loving food my parents consistently fed me throughout my teenage years, I turned out to be a big,healthy Val. I'm even bigger than some guy colleagues in the office, mind you.

I haven't had the habit of breakfast for a long time now, specially when I started working. Few days ago, I set off to work from a dear friend's place and the night before, she was preparing our lunch packages of healthy sandwiches of egg mayo with water cress and cucumber. Altogether 3 sets for me, herself and her husband. How sweet of her to personalize our bags and it came with a fruit too.

Set off to work with my bag and the day at work really started off much better than most days. The power of food. The power of breakfast. The power of friendship.

Thanks loadz,dear.

My latest Fav toy

I've been obsessing about something lately. It's just a little thing which is practical and yet it works well as a comforter to me. Now, if I feel down or needed a little comfort,I'll just whip it out to make myself smile. It reminds me of MuMu, my plant.

Just a little green pea Waddaya know, it's a practical key pouch!

I realised how deprived I am of nature. When we're lost in the concrete jungle, please beware not to turn into a concrete animal.

SAVE THE GREENS, SAVE THE PLANET!!!

I LOVE my bloody JOB

I realized something today. On top of all the pressure and the hostility, I am determined to stop complaining about my work. There's not much point except creating more wrinkles on my youthful looking face and turn the cute Val into some kind of monster. Nope, I am not going to bitch about work. It's reaching the point where I am immune to this dreadful, fatal place. And so, I'm found this that expressed my feelings so damn well.

The Lost Dr Seuss Poem

I love my job, I love the pay!

I love it more and more each day.

I love my boss, he is the best!

I love his boss and all the rest.

I love my office and its location,

I hate to have to go on vacation.

I love my furniture, drab and gray,

And piles of paper that grow each day!

I think my job is really swell;
There's nothing else I love so well.
I love to work among my peers.
I love their leers, and jeers, and sneers.

I love my computer and its software;

I hug it often though it won't care.

I love each program and every file.

I'd love them more if they worked a while.

I'm happy to be here. I am. I am.

I'm the happiest slave of the Firm, I am.

I love this work, I love these chores.

I love the meetings with deadly bores.

I love my job - I'll say it again -

I even love those friendly men.

Those friendly men who've come today,

In clean white coats to take me away!

Oh man, he's a great poet eh? sigh....how I bloody love my job to wish the men in white coats come to take me away too lorrrrrrrr.

No matter what, chew on your nails,Val, JIA YU!!! The world is still beautiful, I think.