Of pride and achievements...

A short while back, a very dear friend sent me a message over gmail chat, sharing with me a plan of hers...

She wanted to bake one dessert a day, for 30 days, to celebrate her entering the big '3' stage of her life. At the same time, she would blog about her baking experience. She asked me what my favorite dessert was, and I told her 'Apple Crumble'... I love apple crumble for various reasons...

And she did it! She dedicated one of her entries to me and apple crumble... and it really was touching...

A friend for more than 10 years, I can't help but feel very very proud of how far she has come. She has polished herself in so many aspects of her life, her different facets, that I can't help but admire her brilliance in her various talents... Writing, Photography, Baking and Cooking.

Bon Vivant

It looks simply delicious...! Thanks babe... for this! =D

P.S. All pictures on her blog 'Bon Vivant' are taken personally by herself! Do take a visit.

Improvisation

Lately, I've been pretty particular about buying comfy shoes. I realized I have a horrible habit of not wearing shoes that I buy again if they give me blisters / or bite me at certain areas.

Afterall, we've only got one pair for feet for the rest of our lives and we better treat them well!

I've also learn various ways to keep my shoes comfy, including:

1. Wearing toe socks with cushioning at the ball of my feet so that my toes are protected against blisters causing friction and the ball of my feet will not hurt so much if I have to walk around / stand alot.

2. Using this product known as 'Foot Glide' which is almost as good as 'waxing' your feet, instead of your shoes so that there is less friction.

3. Applying body lotion to the inside areas of new shoes and leave them on overnight, so as to soften the shoe.

4. Adding another layer of inside sole to soften the base of the shoe, or added cushioning to 'crucial' areas.

5. And lately, I started using 'Gel insoles' which are the greatest things for feet ever! There are 2 types of gel insoles. One type which is 'harder' and the other type which is 'softer'. Recently I bought these from Royal Sporting House, and it costs S$9.90 for 2 pairs! Much cheaper then the likes of foot petal etc.

I've happily added one pair to my Asics running shoes to give me an added Oomph and bounce when I run, and to this pair of flats which I use for driving and walking.

I'm loving it! =D

Randomness...

There's this air of restlessness around me today. I wonder what's up with it because while I have tonnes of work waiting to be done, I can't seem to get down to doing it.

There's like so many things that I wanna do, that's floating around in my head. I can't help but feel that I'm not anchored enough to achieve any of it. Perhaps its time again for me to get back down to earth and embed my feet firmly into the ground, and to remind myself that there's serious things to do. No more fooling around.

Adapted from The Economist

Anyway, read The Economist today and it said that the global economy seems to have hit rock bottom. But no one knows what the recovery process is like. V, U or W... it's gonna be a rocky road up.

That's interesting because some how deep down in my gut, I can't help but think that the worse is yet to come. With the time lags for action / reaction in the international economic borders, we're not there yet. We have perhaps not reached the depth of what U.S. felt 3-6 months back. But then again, with the China economy helping to 'hold up' the impact of recession, perhaps Asia was not meant to feel that depth.

I guess nobody really knows.

Argh... I rather be thinking about frivolous things at this point of my restlessness. I need new motivation! Rain on me!

Shanghai!

I love Shanghai!

Or rather I loved the recent trip that I took there...

I love how the old fuses with the new... the fusion of architecture from different eras, different cultures. The french influence on some places and buildings from days of French concession.

I like how things are reasonably affordable by Singapore standards and how I feel so at home there.

I can't imagine how working there is like, because of the language barrier, but I can imagine that I would want to pay a visit there again someday! =)

The food's there very yummy!

Some random shots....

Alluring...

Life's been a blast... I wish...

Work seems like a tunnel, without a light at the end lately... and I can't help but feel comforted when I look at visions like that below!!



I can't decide if it's for better or for worse that I have to stay within a tank with nothing to do but swim...

The Phantom Tollbooth

A good friend once gave me a book - The Phantom TollBooth as a present for my birthday. In fact, here's what he wrote in the book -

"Zen, this book got to me more than most other books I've read. I hope it reaches you as much as it did to me. Merry Christmas & Happy Birthday. Mark, 271207."


Haha, yup! It's now 2009 and this is my first time reading the book. Sorry Marky... It got left in my book cupboard and somehow my must-read list kept growing until I discovered this gem again in my cupboard.

But I must say that it is really a very interesting read. One day into the book and I'm on page 70.

It is rather cleverly written and it reminds me of Roald Dahl and Enid Blyton all at once... Reminds me of "Mathilda", "Alice in Wonderland" & "The Magic Faraway Tree" all at the same time. There's lots of word play (figuratively and literally) and imagery involved and to me, it's highly entertaining.

Nothing speaks louder than some excerpts from the book itself...

"I wonder where I am," said Milo in a very worried tone.
"You're... in... the... Dol... drums," wailed a voice that sounded far away.
He looked around quickly to see who had spoken. No one was there, and it was as quiet and still as one could imagine.
"Yes... the... Dol.. drums," yawned another voice, but still he saw no one.
"WHAT ARE THE DOLDRUMS?" he cried loudly, and tried very hard to see who would answer this time.
"The Doldrums, my friend, are where nothing every happens and nothing every changes."

Another one...

"Most people are just too lazy to make their words," he continued, "but it's much more fun." (says a words sales man).
"Is it difficult? I'm not much good at making words," admitted Milo, spitting the pits from a P.
"Perhaps I can be of some assistance - a-s-s-i-s-t-a-n-c-e," buzzed an unfamiliar voice, and when Milo looked up he saw an enormous bee, at least twice his size, sitting on top of the wagon.
"I am the Spelling Bee," announced the Spelling bee. "Don't be alarmed - a-l-a-r-m-e-d."

So, I think everyone who was ever interested in childhood stories and fantasy, should pick this book up reminisce and enjoy.

Looking forward to the rest of the book... definitely - D-e-f-i-n-i-t-e-l-y.

Babies Galore!

It must be a boom time again!!!

Lately I've heard of so many mummies to-be! There's ER, TC, GW, CL, CA, Jes, Miki! So many!!!

I guess that's just part and parcel of life... Babies do come after marriage!

So cute!! =)