xmas gathering with ex-NYP netball gals. always feel great to catch up with friends. wel although we dun meet up with one another often during the yr, but whenever its xmas.. enting will always try to organise the gathering. All thanks to the organiser and the rest who also make the effort to come for the gathering. i know how hard it is to b an organiser, and that is why, i will always try to attend the gathering which are organise by others.

18h Dec - my younger sister's Guo Da Li day. ;) The day when both families exchange the betrothal stuffs... ;)

The Wedding cakes that my mum and sis have to deliver to relatives, informing them abt the wedding.

My sis's future mother-in-law
Giving our mum the betrothal red packets

According to my sis, the exchanging of the betrothal gifts are already very simplified... but it seems to me that there is still quite a lot!! !! Well, Chinese, alawys have a lot of traditions.. and different dialect group has different tradition..

Everyone has their own vulnerabilities, insecurities, weakness
But does everyone knows their own?
Those who know theirs, wil try their best to cover it up
but covering it up and not confronting it.. is it reali the best way out?

My weakness.. other than my impatience, which i have been workin on it really hard and of cos, it does paid off by overcoming it..

and now, its my habit of pushing myself too hard, especially when im sick.. i reali have to learn how to take a step back, and dont push it too hard.. it doesnt always hav a positive effect... which i have reali learnt my lesson last nite... nOT going to elaborate abt wat happen.. but wel, i did learnt frm it now.. ..

Although it was a little too early for xmas gift exchange, but wel, as there wont b enough time for us to spend together anymore for this dec, we decided to exchange our gifts for each other on last weekend. ;)

Bought Chris this cube photoframe with our pics in it, TED BAKER LONDON Boxer shorts, TED BAKER LONDON Phone cover, and a A4 size pic of us taken @ Grafton Street with the xmas lightings. And of cos a xmas card for him which i had slipped into his bag without his knowing, LOL.

a little sweet surprise for him ;p

And he bought me a really sweet xmas card & jewellery frm H. Samuel, a Bangle, necklace and earrings, white gold. Simple and stylish, totally my style! ;)

It was definitely a very gd weekend that we had spent together, wel, our last weekend together, before the end of year 2007. ;)

It felt really great to be in the gathering wif fellow singaporeans in dublin, seems like i am right back @ home with their company. ;)
This is the 3rd big gathering that we have for this yr.. wel, i missed the 1st one as i was in NYC. And of cos, gathering for singaporeans, is always abt FOOD!!!
This time, we had our xmas gathering @ a Korean Restaurant. ;)





James & Simon with their vegetarian korean dish. Looks really appetizing isnt?



Janice & Gavin, Thaiba & Simon.





Maggie, Chiny & Joyce. without their hubbies...



Laurence, and 2 malaysia gals, Nora & Serina.



Alli & my sweetie, Chris. ;)



Alli & James



Lastly, not forgetting taking our pic, just the two of us, my sweetie, Chris. ;)

Our 1st Candlelight Dinner.. or more of a tealight dinner. ;)
Our 1st time cooking Crab, one of our fav seafood..
Although i have seen my dad killing the crab and it does seems easy.. but.. honestly, it doesnt feel easy/happy to kill it with my own hands..!! i do felt horrible doing it though.. couldnt touch it with my fingers, but after stuggling with it for abt 10-15mins.. i have no choice but to use my hands to disembodied it... argh!!!!!!!!! Gross!!!!!

But hey, it still doesnt change my mind of eating it..!!

We were both glad that we got the crab in the market.. but not frm the asia market wher we had initially planned, but luckily we stil managed to get it frm another market, and its a whooping 1kg crab! its onli abt 14euros! ;)

this is our 1st time preparing dinner @ home, and to tink that we actualy hav to think and plan for it for abt 1week.. *grin*

while i was busy in the kitchen to get the food, Chris was busy in the living room placing and litting up the tealights. lol. he wanted to make it a surprise, but i happened to come out frm the kitchen while he was abt finishin doing it. ;)

wel, although it doesnt seems to b very well decorated, but it is really sweet, romantic and heartwarming, and both of us had a great time doing this together. kekekekekke
we're both simple people who very much appreciate all the small little things we do for each other, which we like abt each other. ;) simple dinner, with wat we both like, crab, rice and salad.

we are now looking forward to our nex cooking - pasta. ;)
its so much fun cooking for and with someone! lol

A Day in belfast spent with Chris, 29th November

Within these 2weeks, i have been catchin up with a lot of movies lately..

Gues everyone shld hav watched this movie.. what strikes in my mind after watchin the movie is that, how scary and DARK was the world before then, how pple kill one another to survive in the cruel cold world.. and how pple hav to struggle to survive..
and of cos i was really appalled to how can he think that he is doing good for his community by selling the pple drugs that are so pure.. i am definitely in the stand of russell crowe character.

Frank Lucas - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Lucas_(criminal)

based on the Old English epic poem of the same name. Set in a magical era, with groundbreaking visual effects, it chronicles the exploits of Beowulf (Ray Winstone), a Scandinavian hero who sets out to save the Danes from the monster Grendel (Crispin Glover), on behalf of King Hrothgar. Though at first Grendel seems invincible, Beowulf eventually manages to defeat him in a desperate battle to the death. In return for this act he gains great fame, wealth and power and succeeds the throne. However, Grendel?s ruthlessly seductive mother (Angelina Jolie), devastated by her son's violent demise at the hands of Beowulf, sets out in search of revenge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beowulf

The film follows the mysterious and ruthless Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen), who is tied to one of London's most notorious organized crime families. His carefully maintained existence is jarred when he crosses paths with Anna (Naomi Watts), an innocent midwife trying to right a wrong, who accidentally uncovers potential evidence against the family. Now Nikolai must put into motion a harrowing chain of murder, deceit, and retribution.

Another movie abt Russian Mafia.. its interesting to listen to the russian accents.. was having slight difficulties in the beginning of the movie listening to the conversation but all went well after gettin used to the accent. ;)


This is a really beautiful movie, a love story between 2 different young talented musicians falling in love, but were being apart. Their child who was being separated since birth, wanting so much and believing so much of searching for his parents. Although it became predictable towards the ending, but still, i love this movie, because it does have a very touching good story line abt it. Not any movie about war, hate, bad things in the world.. juz one show about LOVE. & the truth about music.. music is also an international language, it connects pple frm all over the world.. it tells stories..


based on a true story and the bestselling book by Jon Krakauer. After graduating from Emory University in 1992, top student and athlete Christopher McCandless abandoned his possessions, gave his entire $24,000 savings account to charity and hitchhiked to Alaska to live in the wilderness. Along the way, Christopher encounters a series of characters that help shape his life.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_McCandless

I was having lots of mixed feelings watching this show.. that is something i had thought of doing it before, when i was young.. but to tink back again.. wel, i hav done something like tat too, but in a safer way, safer in the sense that i do not endanger my life in any way.. by leaving singapore, coming to dublin without knowing anyone, with not much money in my pocket or in my bank.. lol
hey, im stil alive! and happy!!

My ever 1st salsa performance in dublin, which went very well last night, and right now, im still pretty hyped out frm it! lol

wel, although ther's stil not perfect, but hey, this is our 1st performance, we wil perfect it by the next performance! wel, im glad that i did not messed up my own part! lol 'pat pat on my both shoulders' honestly, i wasnt scared or nervous at all when we all walked out for the performance.. im pretty surprised that i was kinda calm, prob bcos i know ther r other pple in the team who were more nervous than me, lol wel,u prob can spot them frm the video ;p

And the funniest thing is that we didnt remembered to take a group picture after the performance!! which is reali totally unusual of me though... the 1st thing the girls do after the performance, is that they remove their eye make up and changin out of their outfits.. so did i then.. oh wel, anyway, we wil b havin another one nex mth, so then wil take the grp pic! kekekekeke

I really dont know why am i always writing in the middle of the night.. Not because i have insomnia.. i dont have any trouble faling asleep.. but guess its always @ the late hours of the night, and when im still up, emotions, feelings, inspiration will juz flows.. lol

Was walking back home alone earlier after watchin 2 movies wif channey nad rebecca, with my fav songs playin frm my ipod mini.. thoughts were running through my mind.. especially after watching 2 really gd movies, that will set my mind thinking about so many other things in life, about life.. like Chris and i always said, our minds are always busy.. busy like a bumble bee.. ..

I have this thoughts, feelings when i was walking alone back home..
I am always alone.. that was when im single
and i am still feeling that im alone even though i am in a relationship.. isnt tat weird?
although not many pple can stand this kind of loneliness, sadly but true, that is oso why ther r always pple who always end up with the wrong partner.. most pple are in a bad relationship bcos they cant stand loneliness..
i dont know y i am feeling that way, although i shldnt b.. but even though we r in a r/s, that doesnt mean that u wont have the time to b on yr own, alone.. its gd to have time for yrself, u know.. everyone shld learn how to embrace that. bcos this is the moment when u can find yrself once again. but of cos, its not healthy to b alone most of the time too. oh wel, i am definitely not a lone ranger, cos i love pple too, i love the interaction betw pple, that is when u will feel yrself being alive, and the world is still a beautiful plce. ;)


Alrite - movie reviews.. its been such a long time since i do this, its not that i have not watchin any movies, prob im juz being lazy.. kekekkekeke

Jane Austen Book Club - i was reading the book mths back but a pity that i have not comepleted reading the book, but i am really glad that the movie came out! ;)
I really like the idea of the Jane Austen Book club thingy.. 5 women and 1 man meeting up reading and discussing about the novels written by Jane Austen.. Although all of them are reading the same novel at the same time, but not everyone will feel or think the same way, and this is so true in the real world... everyone of us have our own perspective, and all of us are different and special, and that what makes us unique individual.. the character, Jocelyn, very much remind of myself.. i remembered myself as doing the same thing as she did, pushing guys who are interested in me, to my friends.. or to distract myself, or to prevent myself frm falling in love.. ;)

This story has a gd ending for every character, and its reflecting actualy, how we can do that too, have a happy ending for our own stories of our lives, if u try to, if u want to, if u believe.

This movie, "How About you" , is a brilliant movie too.. and another surprise is that, I have read this story too, and it was juz last week that i had read the short story frm the book that Ross has given me as a bday present. ;) Isnt it weird?? lol

How one's life is changed after having working in the elderly home, and how she changed their lives too.. this reminds me of my job.. taking care of sick pple, old pple, having touching their lives in the smallest little way, and they do the same thing to mine.. that is y i love my job too..

Our lives are always touched, changed by every body we meet in life, u might not notice it.. but if u really look into yr heart, look carefully, u will find it very true..

one phase frm the movie - "its not about what pple say, is what they do, that is more impt."

There are always folks who are mean frm their mouth, but in their heart.. they might not b as mean as what they appears to be.. not everyone is able to express their affection, care, love verbally..
Actions Do Speak Louder than Words!! !!

I am slowly getting excited, happy about tomorrow.. it is going to be my 1st salsa performance, and in dublin as well...

Although, i have done some other kind of performance before, but as for salsa, this is my very 1st. ;) just hope that everything will go on very well for tomorrow.

Will try to take loads of pictures or video too.

At this point of time, i was really wishing and hoping that i am back in spore, cos i know all my close friends, they would definitely come and support me, prob even my family, even though they dont dance salsa at all.. that really means so much to me, cos i know no matter what i do, where i go, they are always giving me all their support and love. that is why i also love them so much!

But of cos, im in dublin now, not in spore.. but stil, i have 2 supporting galfriends who wil also do the same as my loves in spore would do.. ;) that is y i know that i am truly blessed. ;)

im really glad to have known them here in dublin, and we have all grown so close to one another, and we know the fact that even though we might have to part one of these days, the friendship between us is definitely going on a long way too! ;)

wel, although my this new bf is not able to come and support me for the performance, bcos he has to b in london for work.. but wel, i am still going to have a blasting time @ the party and for the performance! ;) lol
nothing or nobody is going to change tat! lol

cant wait to let u folks see the performance!!!!!!

I know that im truly blessed when there are actually more than 5 different friends who wanted to fetch me frm the airport when im going back to spore... that's really a very touching thought, and i really appreciated it.. but thanks..

i have not tell anyone when am i actually touching dwn @ the airport.. i really wanna give all my dear family and friends a really gd surprise... well, considering that i was not suppose to tell anyone that i am coming back in dec.. and now, almost everybody knows tat.. so the date is really a big secret now! lol

so pple, stop asking me for the date ok? ;)

i will definitely call up u folks, everyone of u, when im in town ya!

and one thing.. stop asking if im bringing my bf along..
cos I AM COMING BACK ALONE!! ;)

i think i shld come up with a list of things to do, pple to meet when im in town, so that i wont leave anyone out this time before i fly back to freaky cold dublin.... i really dont wanna think abt that though!! !!

i am really thinking a little too far ahead, am i??
not back in singapore yet, and im thinking abt the flight back to dublin already.... geez...

wel, prob i am moving a little too fast sometimes eh... imagine that my trips for next yr are already booked for Jan, March, May.. And Nov too.... lol , well, that's all thanks to Channey and Rebecca honestly!! Cos they are the ones who booked the tickets and decide where to go, since i have not been many european countries, im the easiest to travel, kekkekeeke

things to look forward to:
- 1st performance on this Sat for Suavemente Dance Studio Anniversary Party
- being back home in Dec
- sister's wedding
- berlin trip in Jan
- blackpool trip in feb (have not book that ticket yet though)
- Stockholm in March
- Bratislavia, Slovakia in May

Someone from work has definitely pissed me off early in the morning, juz an hour before the end of our 6th night shift... and reminded me of one of my fav english teacher back in sch... dun get the wrong idea.. my teacher is reali a smart lady, but not my colleague...

My teacher taught me something,

"Do not ever ASSUME.
Because its making an ASS of U and ME"

and this 'lovely' colleague of mine has also juz proven this sentence right...

"Artificial Intelligience is no match for Natural Stupidity"

Really dont know which category she falls into though...
ARGH...!! !! !!

Grumpy grumpy... ... ...
going to sleep..
its the best form of meditation for me!! !!

Ever wonder who is the next one who wil comes along into yr life?
Who has ever comes into yr life and changed it for the better? or worse?
Or would you ever let someone to come into yr life in any way?

I remembered Varun once said that im transparent.. every one, anyone can see through me very easily, cos i expressed all my emotions.. that was true, and stil it is, but it has slightly changed since i had that comment frm him.. ;)

I am still quite an opened book, when most of the time, pple can still read me what im thinking about, what im feeling abt.. but i have also learned how to hide and keep some of the more important feelings to myself..

especially after travelling, being alone in the foreign country where i have to start my life all new again, i have certainly grew so much., but of cos, without losing any part of myself, to all my friends and family who hav known me for almost all my life in singapore, yes, i am stil the Angeline u once knew, i have not changed, but i had grown. ;)

my life has certainly changed for the better, ever since i have started anew here in dublin.
all that happens for the past one yr, has opened my eyes, my life and myself, and im glad that i had made the move to get out of my comfortable cosy zone back home.

its time for me to get some sleep, after nite shift.. im always puttin up crappy post when im sleepy.. .. shucks.. .. ;p

CAnt believe that its actualy November now, and nex mth i'll be gettin on the plane again.. and this time round, its going to b a long flight.. to singapore!!
Supposingly wanted to give a big surprise to all my friends and family, but it is reali hard to keep on lying to them that im not comin back.. esp after what peishi told me what she's been going through, and everyone kept on askin me when am i comin back.. so unwillingly but stil happily leaked the secret out a little, telling them that i'll b back in Dec. kekekeke. So now, everybody is looking forward to see me back home, but the big secret is none of them knew when exactly. lol except 2 of my friends.. the 2 whom might b away frm spore during the time when i'll b back..

this is my 1st time going back to spore for holiday after being away for more than a yr, honestly, i am realli excited and looking forward to it..! especially this time is specially for my dear sister's wedding. if not, i wouldnt have go back @ the end of the yr, cos the flight ticket is reali expensive.. i can actualy go to 2-3 different countries with the amount for the ticket that i paid for to go back... but wel, its my one and onli sister's wedding, i definitely cant miss that!

its reali unbelievable that i have done so many trips too within the time im here in dublin...
feb - london
may - portugal
june - norway, paris, barcelona & rome
oct - new york & boston
in ireland - Cork, bray, galway, westport, glendalough, giant causeway, howth,

and more to come... have alreadi booked some trips for nex yr !!

March - Stockholm
May - Brastilavia (slovakia)
Feb - wanna go blackpool salsa congress
Sept/Oct -wanna go New york salsa congress
Nov - New york for Tor & Christine wedding (tentatively)
Wel, we're planning to go to germany too, in jan! so tentatively, almost booked out on the alternate mths, with trips wif Channey and Rebecca!!! !!!

Does it sound crazy?? Honestly, i dun tink so!! !! I am Reali looking forward to all the trips that im goin to have! be it with the gals or mayb with chris.. i dun reali care wher im going, as long as im at somewher!! ;D
Gues im really a born traveller eh?!! lol
there are stil so many plces for me to go and explore..!!