it's coming true..whether you like it or not.

It’s really funny to see how all my previous posts about the life being a typical office worker…… going for dinner gatherings, having the dreadful feeling of seeing card bills every month, having to overcome the urge of overspending, thinking of what to wear to work everyday, trying all means to prevent blisters erupting on your feet, rushing datelines at work, coping with oh-so-no-EQ colleagues and handling the basic stress of having to force your butt down on that chair whole day long…….. is coming true for my ii tomodachi. ..

whahahah. good luck my friend. Welcome to the working world.

Being confused as usual around during flag raising today, I glanced around in panic for P1s. My panic was unfounded coz once they started singing the national anthem, I knew exactly where the P1s are located. They usually sing the loudest (I mean like real loud) till , with pride, gusto, enthusiasm (too much of it..killing the tempo of the song totally) and angst. There they are. So cute. Don’t laugh la. I was once like that too. Ha.

As the years passed, we became quieter and quieter in school and in class. Remember how eagerly we rose our hands to answer any…any questions… till the time when the lecturer had to almost coax us into reluctantly whispering our answers. How people change huh. .. no comments on whether for better or for worse. It’s debatable I think.

Anyways, it’s time to sleep… I can’t wait. But it’s a good sign that I’m feeling less tired now.

Hopefully when I wake up, I’ll feel less confused, more confident and of course…less tired. (-_-)zzZz
  

Unforsaken..

The start of my new job equals the end of my blogging.. okay..regular blogging. Cannot! I cannot forsake www.natsuri.blogspot.com !! ganbatte!!!!!

The fact is, I’m too tired to even type or check my emails..blah. stuff which I used to enjoy. It’s a matter of getting used to everyone tells me…my mum, naz and Sharon san.  The new waking up time (6.30am..and no, I don’t go home at 1.30pm everyday.), new job routine, new things to absorb, new expectations to meet and rowdy pupils to tame. Yes. Shouting is tiring. Not even shouting. Talking loudly is tiring.

But yeah.. people in my school are nice. Have yet to get to know them better though.

Amidst my shouting schedule, I managed to catch The Lake House. An adaptation from Il Mare. Loved it loads coz of Sandra and also the storyline. Making use of different time dimensions to bring out a long distance relationship which seemed unconceivable. I like movies which leaves us pondering over what exactly happened and to decipher the knotty, confusing parts due to the time dimensions. After a long argument, we finally came to a consensus on what the movie was about… hmm.. and The house was beautiful! A must watch!

Right now, I gotta do something very important.

Nap. ZzzZz

The not-so-perfect 1st day

Tired. The perfect word to describe my 1st day. And omg. It’s only training. Haha.

Thanks to the super efficient aircon that was blowing straight down on my head which nearly brain-froze me.. defreezed again when I went out for lunch and refroze when I went back into the lecture room. The result was a super bad headache.

Learnt quite interesting stuff today about class management and the lecturer is ..can you believe it… 71 years old. He has been teaching for 52 years! He told us he really love teaching for him to stay that long. Impressive. So you can imagine the countless examples he could give us when he was lecturing. That made the class pretty bearable.

That’s all folks. I’m going to sleep now (it’s like 9.45pm… haha…I better get enough sleep lor). Stay tuned for more updates.

Lights off!

Hands clasped in anticipation..

A brand new start.

I hope it’ll be a meaningful and prosperous first step into my new job as an educator. Err. Think the prosperous part will come in only very much later.

Visited the school today for a briefing. A small but cosy place. People there seemed friendly and nice. Got a cup of the tarik from 1 of the students coz it’s racial harmony day for them today. Okie. No connection. But well, quite cute la. Heh.

After my 2 day prep course, I’ll be attached to this senior teacher. Heard that probably only next year I’ll be given the full load of teaching. That’s good ne. I definitely need some adjustment to the simple and school environment again. As well as to adjust my taste buds to simple canteen food.. no more subway, Mr Bean, tom yum fish soup or Italian, jap or Korean food within my reach. Anyway, lunch is only half an hour, am already thinking of da-baoing food from home already. Next plan! To draw up a list of easy to prepare bento lunches!

It’s weird la.. moving from a busy bustling Raffles Place to a work place that’s only a 10 min bus ride away. The short travelling time is the most welcomed out of this whole change of job. Well, I’ve to reach school before 7.30am (ahhh!), so guess it’s a kind of tradeoff. We were forewarned also working hours can be pretty long.. urghz. Another trade off. Beginning to think if it’s worth it.

Idealistic it may sound, I hope the satisfaction I get from teaching is powerful enough to banish all these horrible trade offs to Mars..

**~trivia!~~**

What is the urban way of spelling the color "purple"?
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Pur pur!

Free & easy for awhile...

My last post was about 1 week away.. nope. I wasn’t busy with work. In fact, I’m on a 1 week break now… urgh. It’s ending soon.

I’m happy-ING!! Did stuff which I’ve been wanting to do but no chance to do while I’m a normal 9-5 working class routine.

On Sunday, went cycling at Pulau Ubin. I really like going there la. Peaceful, natural and can spot different fruits during different seasons. This time was the durian season! I love durians! Everywhere were people waiting around packing durians and some were waiting around for the durians to drop. Quite scary coz the durians are hanging above you while you’re cycling, …so pray hard.

Me and naz wanted to stop and maybe try to pick a durian just to see if it taste nice. When we parked our bikes at the side of these few aunties, they all turned and stared at us really hard like this is our durian territory kind of look. We were outnumbered, so we decided to go. Urghz.

Completed the next task on my Most Wanted List… swimming & tanning! Weather was so perfect for tanning that I’m so badly sunburnt now. itai ne. Naz tried to teach me freestyle but I’m a gonecase at that… think I’ll just stick to my leisurely froggy style.

Did some shopping as well coz found my working clothes a little too casual and skimpy for teaching. Hopefully I can still wear my sleeveless tops.. the weather is too hot la. Then I imagine standing for hours in the classroom without aircon…. … omg.. okie.. Positive thoughts, only positive thoughts please.

A few birthdays coming up which means there goes my resolution to save for the month and gives me another legit reason to shop. Yay.

Goodbye seems to be the hardest word

Last days are always tough.. how to bid farewell without making it a teary one, or how not to make it seem indifferent in an attempt to hold back your feelings. I like to make everything end on a happy note, if I can help it that is.

Bought some really oishii secret recipe’s “chocolate indulgence” and “chocolate banana fudge” for my colleagues. One of the best cakes I’ve tasted so thought it would make a nice farewell treat for them. Dinner was their treat to LingZhi restaurant…my 2nd time there. The 1st was a treat from them also for my birthday. Maybe coz I like vege just like them so we form good kakis for vegetarian food. Heh.

Not forgetting some really sweet farewell gifts.. Esther got me a crystal handphone accessory and Pat got me a little denim pouch big enough just to hold my wallet, hp and tissue. She couldn’t tahan the way I hold my wallet and hp in my palms whenever we go out for lunch. Hah.

It’s a norm to take pics on last days (I’ve gone through quite a number of last days…).. provided the place holds wonderful memories for me la. I totally forgot about my digi cam when I was in GE and intended to leave as quietly as possible. Haha. No thanks..

As much as I would love to make every farewell a happy one (the “let’s keep in touch okie!” type),  there were ironically, countless ones which were sobby and sad. Okie la, I shall stop being sunny and positive. Farewells are always sad la!

The 1st was during my Sec 4 graduation. Sec 4C rockz la..who wouldn’t cry.

Then the other few would be occasions when I send friends off at the airport. Somehow it must be the stupid gates with the immigration police officers standing waiting to check your tickets. Looks like they’re redeeming a ticket to jail, and they’re all set to escort you to jail.. so.. it seemed sadder than usual.

Especially when sharon san left for America on work & travel USA trip.. dam, she went there to have fun, why cry for her argentinnnaaaa~~.  Then it was her again when she left for Sydney.
Guess the saddest one for me was when she was sending me off at the Sydney Airport after my tour there. Sighz. Coz my tour ended with my ichiban tomodachi, which means I gotta go back to work, and on the thought that she gotta go back alone to face the bitches, crying was normal. It was a sad farewell to my harry’s pie and krispy crème. Won’t be back there for a long long time coz the air taxes are crazy! Same price as the ticket… madness.

My jap boss wished me good fortune all the way… I thought Chinese new year was here liao. Wahaha.. but.. yes!! I wouldn’t mind good fortune anytime….

十万个为什么。。

Kids nowadays are way too ba gua.. or inquisitive, to put it nicely.

Was on the phone with sharon san coz she was buying some ipod accessory for me and my tuition kid, instead of doing his way backdated math problem sums, was happily eavesdropping. Next, I was bombarded with questions like “teacher, you want to buy ipod ah?” “it is very good rite? But very expensive”

I told him I already own a nano and even showed it to him..of course as a sensei, I told him he can forget about buying until he can earn his own money. Wahhahah. He nodded. So cute.haha

The speed of the advancement in technology is incredible. I wished I had the money to keep up with all the new gadgets… !!!

Hmm.. my next splurge shall be on a pair of Birkenstocks…others gotta chotto matte.. one thing at a time only, I psycho myself as always. .

Mutsu apple must have came from paradise

A late pic (a pun.. again! meaning the already eaten, hence, dead apple. Also meaning a late posting of this pic..) of the takaii nihon no apple … 2 apples for $10. It’s crazy! Best part is that they tasted 100 x worse than those 4 for $2 apples my mum buys. Tasteless, non-juicy, unpalatable skin, dry and foamy textured flesh. You name it, they have it.

We got cheated by the Japanese la.. lucky I managed to dissuade naz from buying the honey dew.. $78 per honey dew. Insane. Insanely pricey and insanely oishi kunai.

the irritated post.. it's long..beware.

Glad that Ms Chean came back from South Africa in one piece. Heard her stories about the crocs and hippotamus that were in abundance everywhere she went. She told me that hippos are the most dangerous animals in Africa, causing the highest amount of casualties and death among tourists and locals. Kowaii ne.

Saturday was shopping day with sharon san and zhe san. As usual, zhe san had the most shou1 huo4…I hereby bestow upon her the title of “The Shopping Queen”.

Had subway for dinner and was greeted by super bad customer service. They will omit putting in some vegetables unless you specially request for it. Default is supposed to be all vegetables lor. I wanted 2 6-inch subs and the stupid guy made a 1 1-foot long sub wrapped as 1 looong sub, cut into 2. isn’t it obvious it’s for 2 people meaning they have to be wrapped separately?? I brought the long sub there and requested for him to wrap it separately. He said he couldn’t do it coz…. it’s parmesan chicken sub…. ??!!!! nani o hanasuru ka?! Thought maybe he spoke Mars language so I asked for another wrapper and I’ll wrap it myself. Then he said, oh! It’s 1 foot long ah… can can… I wrap for you… huh!!!!????!

Sharon san wanted to fill her cup with some ice and only few pathetic cubes came out no matter how hard she pressed the button. Fine. Just as we were eating our subs, the ice came tumbling out of the machine ..macham retarded reaction… just like the people who served us.

Anyway, earlier on, this stupid ocbc salesman tried promoting some credit cards to me. As if he hasn’t made sales since 10 years ago, he asked me to apply the Titanium card impatiently. Calmly, I told him I have that card already (and I really do..). Then he started to promote the Gold Card to me, repeatedly telling me, “this card is verrry good ma’am, really verrrrrry good you know. Got 3 years waiver… it is really verrrrrrry good.” Think I know why he’s so hungry to make sales.

Well, I told him I have the card as well. He said, “this card?? This one leh? You have?” …YESSS! Just didn’t see the point of telling him I was an ex-employee of the bank..if not I would, just to shut him up.. he’s so irritating!

Next up he’s forcing me to shop at Robinsons by telling me the card is verrrrrrry good and can get discount. Seriously, I really think his knowledge of the cards is way too pathetic, only good to target at 10 year olds and below. I told him that I don’t shop at robinsons and like a spoilt recorder, he repeated that it is verrrrry good and can get discount.

The ultimate was he told me if I apply for the card, I could go out with this other guy at the booth. ??!!! No meaning! The poor guy was shocked and kept shaking his head to signal him to stop his rubbish.

I finally told him I’m not interested and walked away. After we walked a distance away, sharon san told me that stupid idiotic shit scolded Ta ma de when I walked away. Sharon san then glared at him and he then pretended to give sharon san a pathetic doggy look (described as how sharon san demonstrated)

A pity I do not have his name man, if not I’ll present him with a complaint letter. Hmm.. that reminds me, think I can write in also even without his name. I’ll get naz to draft the letter! Haha…can always trust the complaint letter pro to do the writing. He should go get a life, he’s not cut out for sales… and also not cut out for anything.

Luckily the shopping trip was too fun to be easily affected by all of the above. (

10 July 2006 - a date with my favourite car & potato

Sunday went well. at least no stupid people to bitch about.

Was surprised I ended in the theatre watching Cars with naz san. A show which I was so sure about not watching. Sighz. This is the result of kena forced to 爱屋及乌. It’s ok la.. since he will be the next to 爱屋及乌by watching The Lake House with me. Wahaha. He might be saved coz I don’t like Keanu Reeves. Hmm so I might still change my mind.

But it didn’t turn out so bad, though I still maintain my opinion of animations. But it’s not fair. The sneak snippets of upcoming movies showed like 3 new animations coming soon…..~ take my breath away….woohoo..~

Had dinner at Jack’s place where I finally remembered to use my long forgotten digi cam…trigger- happy me took loads of pics! Yay.. check it out.. some taken outside the esplanade after our dinner.

Check out the sinful and generous dose of sour cream and bacon bits on the baked potato... .haha.. but it's so so oishiii.. i love it. not the escargots though. eeks.. the thought of putting snails into my mouth. no thanks. after much cajoling by naz to try try try, i took a small bite ans insisted for it to be totally drowned in fried garlic.. so it didn't taste like anything to me..

my black thursday 6/7/06

Stuff are predestined, most of time.

It’s like you tell yourself you don’t feel like eating hokkien mee for dinner and your mum will come back with a packet of hokkien mee. You are destined to eat hokkien mee. No escape.

Woke up earlier than usual. Decided that rushing for work is bad for my health. The strong wind was messing my already messy hair with the stormy clouds looming above me, as if all determined to make my day start off on the wrong note. As I quickened my pace to beat the gloating clouds and rain, I got a call from my otosan asking me if I needed a ride to the MRT as it was already raining.

I told him I was already reaching the station, no need, I said. As if he sensed an omen, he asked again  if I was sure, yes, I replied.

During that span of 1 min, for no reason, I looked down at my sandals and tried to recall when I bought it. Aug last year. Wow. They’re so durable lor, I thought.

1 min after, my sandals broke. I looked at it disbelievingly recalling the offer my otosan offered. It’s so xie2.

Dragging the slipper clumsily to the bread shop which I was heading to (ya..against all odds, I still would like to have my satay chicken bread), I called my otosan and accepted his offer, disbelievingly. Urghz. Doshite. It’s so scary.

Couldn’t help feeling so unlucky and complained to the bakery shop lady about my stupid shoe. She knew me by now coz I patronize her almost everyday, always buying the same bread, one of her most boring customers she must have thought.

From afar, I spotted my otosan’s car. For that moment, I thought I saw my otosan in the bodysuit of Superman, to the rescue of daughter in distress. Not much difference from superman except for the pouch and minus the curl of fringe.

Changed and was driven to the MRT. Arigato watashi no ichiban otosan.

Everything can only get better from here surely.

Stepped into the train and found myself plonked right in front of a lady, in her 40s, and clutched under her armpit was a lime green bag. Looks familiar, ya. it was the exact bag I was carrying!!! How suayz.

Wasn’t possible to move away so I stood there, trying hard to pretend engrossed in the ad promoting a new kind of flu tablet.

******** I’m beautiful, I’m beautiful, it’s true…… james blunt********************

take my breath away...hoohoo..

I’m left breathless as I look at how everybody’s life had changed since secondary school. We were from the same school, same class, maybe even stayed in the same HDB estate.

Kei started the ball rolling by being the 1st in our class to get married at age 23..*glupz* A recent email from her informed of us of her pregnancy, 13 weeks pregnant! Ii ne. but we are shocked like.. wow. a baby kei is coming into this world…

Next up was Jane who’s the organizer of all our gatherings and only SHE could make it happen. The rest of us belong to the N.A.T.O. club (a phrase that naz loves to use).. no action, talk only. Yeah.. I bao an angbao for her last year too. And she just moved into her new flat.. her new flat. It was like a childhood dream to be able to own a place of your own…Wow wow.

Hmm..  then there was Parie who updated that she is in Vancouver now doing her Masters and soon her Ph.D. Happily attached to a Scottish guy for 2 years now. Remembered her a reserved but artistically inclined girl.. look at how far she has come! Wow.

And weiwei who got married secretly for a year already and right now in Tokyo, with plans to develop her career and start her family in Nihon. Wow.

Others who got themselves high flying careers whether in high disposable income or literally the privilege of able to travel frequently for job purposes. Wow.

Then.. as the bottle tilted towards my direction, I saw the bottle shed a little tear, shaking her neck side to side at the same time.

….. but… I couldn’t care as I’m Happy-ING and 知足-ING…

buddy ng! Let’s shout out loud: 知足长乐! v(^_^)v

Spot Crouch!

As I watched the soccer matches during world cup, l was amazed at how the players sweat their guts out chasing after that ball and strategise on how to score that goal which could perhaps change their life forever.
I got bored after seeing beckham got sent off the field during the match England vs Portugal and began wondering whether I had any particular passion in life, a sport or hobby maybe, where I’ll go all out for.
Netball? Nah.. I was only fit enough to play for recreational purpose. But I really have a huge passion for netball. Passion vs reality. Reality is cruel.

Ok.. calligraphy? Ya.. I held positions like secretary and even president in the chinese calligraphy society.. my god. President lor. I should be proud.. might be the only time to hold this position in my life. My writing was so so. Maybe I got selected coz I wrote the best out of the worst. Haha. Yup. I wasn’t too passionate about calligraphy. Just liked the idea that my beautiful Chinese handwriting can be magnified 10 folds by writing with a brush. I’m crazy about my own handwriting! Ha.

Yeah.. that lasted me through college and that’s the end of my passion for calligraphy. I know it can be revived but if it needs to be revived, it can’t be called a passion anymore right. Having a passion for something means the person should be constantly enthusiastic about it, always seeking to attain a new or higher level in that passion and it should be ongoing regardless of circumstances.

Hmm.Think my greatest passions (not bad, adopting a diversified investment approach in many passions now) now would be to catch any tvb serial I can, updating my lyrics collection and to continuously expand my photo collection.
Look at Peter Crouch from England. He can’t play soccer but yet you see him dribbling and running as if he could. Standing at 6 foot 7, he’s a perfect example of a passionate individual.

must find a guy to sing melody...coz i want to sing the harmony!!

Recently am in love with this song.. esp the harmony, their voices blended quite well… unlike Jay & Lara’s 珊瑚海.. Lara was singing to an ant. And jay sang too loudly during his part of the harmony.. overall sad for my jay…

This is better! Gomen.. I can only provide the lyrics.. no audio available..=P

心动心痛 唱：刘耕宏/许慧欣

曲:周杰倫 詞:劉畊宏/陳劍龍

畊宏: 黑夜滲透了思念
偷不走微光閃現的千種畫面
我背著傷痛離開 孤單 拖著記憶支離破碎

慧欣: 原以為不會改變
眼淚在臉頰上乾枯失去知覺

合:我的心掙脱了愛 跟隨著夕陽埋進了海洋

合:為什麼相愛的人卻又為愛而紛爭
現實的翅膀擾亂原本幸福的氣氛

畊宏:我有我的過錯 慧欣: 我有
畊宏:我有我的疑惑 慧欣: 我的疑惑
藏在面對面的 沉默背后

為什麼讓愛躲進烏雲密布的天空
隨著風漂流在外一天一點的散落

畊宏:慢慢遠離的夢 慧欣: 漸漸
畊宏:漸漸冷卻冰封 慧欣: 冷卻冰封

心痛當初相遇的心 動