Happy Ash Wednesday!

To further reinforce the depressed mood everyone is in of late (with the added pain of a 5% salary cut), Lent is suddenly dumped upon us.

Went to Ash Wednesday bilingual mass (only the sermon) at St John Bosco.

I was happily singing in Chinese until the part where it goes, Lord grant me peace or, 主赐我平安. Unfortunately I sang it as 主踢我平安 or, Lord kick me into peace. You will not believe how much restraint it took, not bursting into laughter in a very solemn mass.

After mass, I took a bus home, stopping by the nearby 7-11 to buy milk. I forgot that I did not clean off the ash cross mark on my forehead. And the Vietnamese priest drew me an ultra thick and black one for added effect. Great, all of Taipei now knows what Catholics do during Ash Wednesday mass.

Buzz

I visit Maggie's new place, it's way out in Hsindian (south Taipei) plus it's on top of a hill. Yeah, it took forever to get there, but it's really nice once you get into her estate. It's brand new 3 storey houses (yeah, landed property in Taipei). And gives you an awesome view of the nearby mountain range. Simply breathtaking. Her house is very nicely done up too.

We had some BBQ, then Emily & I left early to meet up with Ghee Hwee for KTV. The taxi ride back into the city district costs us 500NT. (Indicator of distance!)

KTV started out really fun. Cos there's only 3 of us singing, it was nice wholesome fun. Emily sang some Taiwanese songs (Taiyu), we did some rock numbers, it was hilarious. Then someone suggested alcohol.. We thought GaoLiang sounds interesting, plus we giggled at the listing "Yushan Gaoliang Chiewh".. chiewh is wine literally spelt.

So we ordered that. And we toasted the first glass to each other. And Emily & I were drunk.

Somehow Ghee Hwee single-handedly got us both home. Emily was worse off, she was sleeping on the couch and we had to walk her up 5 floors to her apartment.

It's all the blasted 5% paycut.... (easy excuse for all our sins).

Gaoliang incidentally is 38 to 63 percent alcohol content. My personal advice, do not ganbei with it.

Let the bad times begin

1 week ahead of Lent, we were informed of a 5% paycut for all HP employees. Boo!

Considering that our increments are like, 1 or 2% annually, 5% takes me back a couple of years. Double Boo!

Just last weekend, I went to Iris' new place for a housewarming party. It was nice, brand new building, 10mins walk to Ximenting, overall almost 40pings. You know, it made me want a new apartment. Even though I did at one point in time own a new apartment, I never had the experience of furnishing it, living in it. I was toying with the idea of moving. Seeing how I am in a rental place anyways, I could always move to a nicer place, today's economic climate it's possible to find a brand new apartment for roughly what I pay today in rent.

But with that 5% pay cut, perhaps I should be more prudent. Triple Boo!

Spring time!

Strangely it got warm a little earlier this year. It got as warm as 28degrees on Friday! The flowers - cherry blossoms in particular, are starting to bloom!

Here're some pictures on my walk in to work of the gorgeous cherry blossoms,

Not all the trees/flowers bloom though, some still think it's winter,

Spent the weekend putting away winter clothes, removing my heating blanket and washing it all.

The Chinese New Year latern festival is held at the Sunyatsen Memorial Hall, GH & I wandered through the park after work on Friday night. I remember last year (my 1st time), it was cold, crowded and I was really impressed with the displays. This year, it kinda lacked atmosphere.. or I'm just getting jaded, or I'm really rueing the fact that I have no camera to take pictures with cos some thief (my handbag was stolen in early Jan at the Sheraton Taipei hotel) is happily using it. Here's my 1 picture of the night - it had Singapore in it!

Please excuse me while I practise my forgiveness exercise again... ommm!

Back in Taipei

Back at Taipei.

Had to reapply for new phone SIM card, new ATM card, everything was froze after my handbag was stolen just before going back to Singapore. Now I have to reinstate stuff. Tedious, plus costly as everyone wanted a replacement fee. It sux.

Today's Thu and I've hit the gym once, the rockgym once, and 1 super-duper heavenly massage. Quite proud of my self discipline.. for now.

Last week I was gushing to my best friends about Wall-E being the best movie of 2008 - IMHO. And he commented that it's cos I'm lonely so I can relate to Wall-E (the sole robot left on Earth). Now that I'm back in Taipei, and back to er.. being lonely, just sets me thinking....

Hello God?

The Cheng Dinner

It occured to me that I have never taken my beloved aunties out for a good meal before... After Bay-Deh (eldest uncle)'s recent death, it is good to seize the day, never know what tomorrow holds. So, we all had dinner last night at Imperial Treasure Teochew restaurant in Ngee Ann City.

It was a great meal and set me back $650, averaging out to $66 per pax! Ouch! In Michelle's words, 'you had gold in your meal'? No, no gold, just a good expensive meal with the Chengs.

New running shoes

I bought a new pair of runners, Asics Nimbus to replace the Saucony pair that I've had from 2005. Perhaps this'll help me run faster... (or so I think)

The one about being home and being Singaporean

I'm starting to get what Steph meant when she said it's hard to blog when FaceBook basically says it all...

But at least blogging, you get to tell long story :)

Being back week 2 in Singapore, I slowly start to re-emerge as myself. Yeah, initially I felt kinda lost, out of place. When Ian/Michelle took me to breakfast at Dempsey, I remember thinking, wow, this place is great. It felt like Australia. When the hardcores ask me to do various climbs, I remember thinking, wow these guys climbing really hard stuff these days!

Now I feel I'm back. My Singlish is good again (hee hee). And I'm starting to climb hard again...

Me climbing outdoors at Volleyball Court (KL, Malaysia)

Me climbing indoors at Camp 5 (KL, Malaysia)