Thursday, February 28, 2008

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GUY!?



The police have reported that on 27 Feb 2008 at 4.05 pm they have mounted a massive search for JI detainee Mas Selamat Kastari who had escaped from Whitley Road Detention Center.


According to the police, Mas Selamat who is one Singapore's most wanted man is not known to be armed. O_O


How bad and dangerous is this guy??


The man was said to be involved in JI's plans to mount attacks against foreign and local establishments here. These included the US Embassy and American Club, the Defence Ministry headquarters at Bukit Gombak and the Education Ministry building at North Buona Vista Drive.

The militant leader had been on the run after Singapore authorities discovered plans to crash seven truck filled with bombs at various locations around the island.


Investigations also revealed that he was the mastermind behind a plan to hijack an airplane and crash it into Changi airport.


When he was last arrested in Indonesia, officers found literature on bomb making on the man.


He was also the mastermind behind a plan to hijack an airplane and crash it into Changi airport.


He walks with a limp and is presently at large Extensive police and armed forces have been deployed to track him down.


The police have advised public to be vigilant and to call 999 if they spot this wanted person.


This dangerous man is a very real threat to our peaceful society!!!


So everybody please help keep a look out for this guy and contact the authorities if you do!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Project Pinky Bunny Frame ~ Completed!

Finally, after weeks of hard work, it's completed!





Using angel clay, I created a photoframe as a farewell gift for my dearest sister. I also created a photo montage and placed it inside the photoframe. Unfortunately the IKEA frame seems a little too small, so the bottom part of the photo was cut off. BUt... 1st attempt, give chance lah hor? Haha...

Here's wishing Pinky Bunny a safe trip to Hong Kong, take good care of yourself. Singapore is a less interesting place without you! I will miss you sis~!

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

ABT~

Went for ABT (Abs, Bums & Thighs) lesson yesterday with the usual aerobics gang as well as some new comers (ex and current colleagues). I was so super glad to see Cobby after class as I was so tired I dreaded going home myself. Thank goodness he can come fetch me!! Its been months since I've exercise so this morning Im aching all over. 救命啊... Why oh why did I sign up to torture my body I have no idea. All I know is that tomorrow will be worse, so good luck to me. Tonight going for drving lessons and we'll be learning techniques from the circuit! I think it would be lessons like reversing, parking, S-course, etc. Hope it won't be too difficult!

Sunday with the Moms

My driving course includes a lesson on the driving simulator, so I went for that single class on Sunday. We had yummy mee soto for breakfast before going for my class, it was such a nice morning, cool and breezy, yet bright and sunny. Makes you sigh in relieve...



The driving simulator class was very interesting! The simulator let's you experience scenarios that is too dangerous in real life, usually resulting in accidents. It's really cool as the instructor has total control, like replay in slow motion and showing the accident in different views. Honestly, it's abit difficult to drive the simulator as it's just different from a real car. But it's fun! Like going to the arcade, and also a great learning experience.

After class we picked up both our moms and went to the temple at waterloo street to pray. Mommy wanted to thank the gods for a smooth operation (her knee), Cobby have to pray as this year he 犯太岁. I accompanied mom everywhere as the temple was so crowded and I was afraid that somebody may bump into her. She insists that her knee was ok but I wasn't taking any chances.

While mom was praying I started praying too. I got a little emotional as I prayed for family harmony, good health and happiness for the ones I love. That's all I ever wanted. I put on my smile again as mom finished and we went out to meet Cobby and his mom. (too crowded, got separated) When we got out Cobby and his mom was somewhere else praying, so mom suggested that I get some blessing too. So even though I didn’t犯太岁, I went to get my blessing.

This is the first time that I’ve experienced this so it was quite a scary experience. A lady writes your name, age and address on something like an incense paper, and then her helper brings you to a shop nearby. Inside there’s a deity table with a few others waiting to be blessed. When it’s your turn, you take some incense sticks, kneel down and she started chanting and flapping the paper on your shoulder. “Beating” away your bad luck and evil spirits. I can’t really understand what she’s chanting, but generally its blessings. Good luck, good fortune, health, career, etc…

After the pretty erm… interesting experience, we went for lunch. Mom recommended this soya sauce chicken that is absolutely delicious! Tucked away in a corner coffee shop, we had to queue for so long before we got our order. When we finally got to eat, we gobbled down half the plate before I realize that I haven’t taken a picture of the food! DUH not again! Nevermind, half a plate is better then none.



The chicken is very tender (even the breast meat!), juicy and the soya sauce is delicious! Best of all, it’s pretty reasonably priced. Half a chicken, three plates of rice, a plate of vegetable for only $20.50. Fragrant Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodles, definitely a must try!

After lunch mom wanted to buy some winter inner wear for sis and herself, so we headed to the OG. Along the way there were so many stores selling flowers, juicing machines, vegetable slicing apparatus, sewage pipe cleaners, all sorts of barang barang! So lively and interesting! There’s even a big crowd watching an old uncle and his electric guitar, crooning to songs from the sixties.


After mom bought her stuff, we passed them to sis, send the mommies home and we went home to rest. Wah… what a long morning! I quickly continued my “project”. It’s almost done, here’s a sneak peek.

Playing Hostess

Some friends from work came over to my humble home last Saturday for lunch, so Cobby and I work up early and headed to the market for breakfast and do some grocery shopping.

I cooked chicken curry, stir fry vegetables with mushrooms, gyoza and Cobby made some steam prawns with XO sauce and Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dessert. It was a good choice as it was quite easy to make and yet delicious. So I got Cobby to clean up the house abit while I cook. I think it went pretty well as all the food was polished off! Haha...

After lunch we played mahjong, and I experienced my first lost since CNY :P Some won the most money I think, but its ok, the game was filled with jokes and laughter. It was still early in the day so Cobby and I hopped over to mom's place for 2nd round of mahjong as sis and my bro-in-law, clarence was there too. We were walking to the car on the way to mommy's place when I realise that we didn't take a single photo! What a shame...

Clarence, cobby, mommy and I played another 2 rounds before we called it a day. Different crowd, different playing style, but just as enjoyable. Went home and realise that the house is still pretty clean. Guess my guests are pretty clean and neat.

The weather the next day was very hot, so Cobby just causually asked me if I wanted to have some ice cream later.

My eyes went O_O

ICE CREAM! I totally forgot about serving the ice cream yesterday! Oops... Oh well, I'll just have to finish both tubs of ice cream myself. Hahahaha....

Monday, February 18, 2008

V Day Celebrations~

Had a very nice lunch with 3 beautiful ladies on St Valentine's Day! Hey Valentine's day is also a good day to celebrate friendships! I took the photographs but I'm lazy to write, so you can read about the lunch here.



Cobby's very busy lately so it's great that he manage to meet me on time for dinner! We didn't make any prior plans, so we just went to our favourite steamboat restaurant for dinner. Not exactly a candle light dinner with soft music or anything, but it was a satisfying, spicy and shiok dinner! We love that place. After dinner, we happily went home and just chill out on our sofa. What a great Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 15, 2008

New Starbucks at Woodlands!

FINALLY!



They finally figured it out and realised that there isn't any cafe house in the whole bloody Woodlands centre! So some god-bless-him/her genius finally opened a very nice Starbucks just above the library. YEAH!!!! So after I picked up my new book on the 10 Feb, I couldn't resist stopping by for a nice cuppa and chill for awhile before hopping over to sis place for lunch.



I love the place! The staff are very friendly, the place is nice and clean, nice view, I could just sit there the whole day and read my book if I could.




So reluctantly I left the place and went to sis place for lunch. After lunch, we went to Compass Point and shop around before meeting my bro-in-law and setting off to a friend's place together. We played cards for awhile before dinner and going back home early. Tomorrow it's back to work! Sigh... Oh... by the way, I won about $20+ again.. I know, disgusting right?

HAHAHAHAHA!

年初二 2008

Mom-in-law went over to my parent's place to 拜年, and we hung around for awhile before going to Cobby's uncle's place at Tampines. That was the first time I saw his uncle as he was unwell during our wedding. That was also the first time playing with Cobby's cousin's little daughter. The last time I saw her was during my wedding day, so did not have much time to spend with her.



She is so adorable!


After a steamboat lunch they started playing cards again.

I borrowed $2 from Cobby and just joined in. Surprise! I won $16 just on that single $2! Man am I good or what! Hahaha... ahem - sorry must be humble.

The whole lot of us moved to Cobby's auntie's place for 2nd round. But mom needs fresh gauze for her knee, so we dropped cobby-ma off at cobby-aunt's place, hunt for gauze, send it over to mommy and came back to cobby-aunt's place. Cobby's auntie likes to play mahjong, so Cobby, auntie, a little cousin and I played a little mahjong. His cousin was a little new to the game, so we suggest 10/20 cents, but aunty say "so cheap - makes you sleepy..." so we up the stakes to 1/2 dollar. In the end the poor cousin lost $182... Oops :P I actually lost $$, but i stayed another game and in the end won $60+. Haha... Lucy lucky! Another successful winning night that day. Thank whoever up there who is taking care of me!

年初一 2008

Happy New Year! Left the house around 9am to go my mom-in-law's place to 拜年 like a good daughter-in-law.


Fresh and ready! Happy New Year!

Another beautiful morning! I wanted to visit mom first, but too bad, married already so must give priority to Cobby :P


We reached his mom's place around 10am and to our surprise, his mom just woke up, still in the shower, and his sis is still in bed. The house is dark and quiet, and worst of all NO FOOD.

-_-"

If I've known I would have slept abit later already. Sianz...

Every CNY morning at my home, we would always wake up to piping hot home made breakfast! Sad... Anyway, no food, so Cobby and I walked to the interchange to buy Macdonalds breakfast. Hang around till noon, about to go to my place already when his aunty's family suddenly showed up to 拜年。 Oh well, we'll be back for dinner.

So happy to go to my mom's place to 拜年! Sis showed up later with clarence, bro and Karen was there, my sis's brother-in-law's family came too. It was a very joyous afternoon. When the kids went home, we started another round of mahjong. Whahaha... super lucky~ Miss CoCo aka big winner won $250! Heehee... my personal highest record!

Went back to Cobby's place for dinner in the evening



Cobby played cards with his family after dinner all the way till late at night.



I'm dunno how to play what they playing so I rested in his room and watched tv.


Nothing to do so took photos of my pretty nails - see so matching with my outfit!

They were so excited and noisy I can't even hear my tv properly! Haha... Nothing much on tv at night except for CNY celebration shows from China. So entertaining just watching their outfits!!!

Super bling bling man~ And so biang!

Haha... Fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow when I got home that night. Having fun is exhausting!

CNY Reunion Luncheon 2008

Mom just had surgery, so sis offered to help cook the pre-CNY reunion luncheon. I took leave that day and went over and help out sis. It was a beautiful morning...



The rest of the day was non-stop activities! I was in charge of cutting the ingredients and washing the dishes while sis cooked away. I even made some decorations for the dishes. :)



When we were done, it was still early, so sis taught us how to fold ang pao goldfishes.


Dad bought alot of flowers... nice right...

When everybody arrived we feasted! It was always delicious and a happy occasion to have a family meal together. After lunch we played mahjong. We played 10/20 cents, but my bro-in-law said it was boring playing so cheap, so he up the stakes to limit 9 double (九翻) Not bad, I won about $20 bucks, but the star of the day was definitely Cobby!



碰碰-两翻
双翻东-两翻
半色-两翻
白板-一翻
花-两翻
各位观众!!!
自摸九翻!!!!


A very Happy Cobby...

Win already loh... haha.. what a way to end the day before going to Cobby's place for dinner. Sis and Bro lost money that day... Vomit blood... haha...

Tales of CoCo's Nails

Was so busy before the CNY, so I just left my nails alone. They grew and grew... so long!



I always can't resist the urge to cut them super short, so this is a record length for me. Even longer than when I was getting married! Even my dear manicurist Some was impressed. Haha...

So I made an appointment to get my nails done for CNY. But the choosing of colours was a little challenging as my outfits were all very different colours. I have pink, orange, blue and red. So after much headache, I settled with a bright shimmery shocking pink base with white sakura flowers.

I was abit turned off when the base was painted as it looked VERY... AUNTIE.... ;(



Coco: Can I change colour...? My nails look like those aunties in the market...
Some: Sorry loh, those aunties in the market don't paint their finger nails, they only paint their toe nails!
Coco: Oh great! Now you're saying my finger nails look like those auntie's toe nails!!!!!!

Some laughed and pretended that she didn't hear me and continued working on my toes... :(



Thank goodness she persevered because the nails were magically transformed when she skillfully painted the sakura flowers on them. Kawaii...!

Ii-des neh....!



Once again the master has done her magic. Yeah~ Thumbs up...

Chinese New Year Plants

1st time buying Chinese New Year Plants for my home sweet home!

After changing the Ang Pao money from the bank on the 3 Feb, we went to the nearby store to choose some nice plants. I know that if we buy then it would be much more expensive then buying at a date nearer to CNY, but nevermind lah hor... once a year only.

Erm.. A little difficult to choose as there were SO MANY!!!!



In the end we chose 3...


This little one is called 台湾森林. (Taiwan Forrest) So cute right...

Happy... We painted the balcony wall green! (can tell? - a little dark)



It was the only paint left that havn't dried up. But it turned out pretty nice! Guess we have to be a little more bold in using colours every now and then. :)

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Pre-CNY Feast

1 February 2008

What a treat! Cobby's ex-colleague's brother owns a catering business, so once a year he would invite all his friends to his store for a sumptuous feast! I'm not exaggerating when I say sumptuous because it really is! Because the boss is his brother, the dishes are disgustingly rich, filling and over the top luxurious! (hey- nobody's complaining.. hahaha) Every year is the same - by the 4 dish, everybody around the table would start to loosen their belts. Haha... but it is oh so good! So what do we get to eat?

1. Yu Sheng
2. Cold dish (egg, duck, octopus, etc.)
3. Roast Pig
4. 佛跳墙 (shark fin, abalone, sea cucumber, dried scallops, mushroom, chicken, ginseng, etc.)


5. Scallops and asparagus
6. Fried Chicken
7. Orh Heong - Prawn & meat roll
8. Stir-fry Prawns
9. Longevity noodles
10. Birds Nest Soup



So cute... the wet tissue got lucky number at the back...

So shiok right, but so guilty...! Next day must go vegetarian... Haha...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Mumbling...

Hi ho~!

Lately I’ve been abit busy with a little project, so my nights are more or less pre-occupied. No time to blog! Wish I could spend my days doing what I like.

I have a few resolutions for this year, but for once I would like to keep it to myself.

Anyway, how was your Chinese New Year!? It was great for me, very busy, very tired, but the gambling goddess was definitely smiling on me this year, if you know what I mean. Hehehe…

Having abit of a family problem recently, so, even when I have the time and effort to blog, I just don’t feel like it. That’s me! My family is everything to me. If anything can get to me, it would usually be related to my family.

So... Miss CoCo is been feeling abit down. I guess now the only thing that I can do would be to meet up parents for dinner once in awhile, make them smile or better yet, laugh. Hopefully, I can lighten up their spirits, even if it is only for a brief period.

That’s the best that I can do, for now.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Miss CoCo taking a break~

It's the 3rd day of the Chinese New Year so you may wonder why am I sitting at home, instead of going visiting? It was non-stop activity since 2 Feb till yesterday... cleaning, buying, shopping, visiting, eating, drinking, mahjong, cards, make-up, dress up, waking up at dawn, sleeping only 1-2am in the morning, laughing, travelling, need I say more???

So today we took a well deserved break by sleeping late, eating in, no make up, no fancy clothing. Just comfy clothes, the couch, the tv and the pc. (for cobby, the newspaper)



Got alot of updates from the CNY, but later lah ok? Some pics still with sis.

Meanwhile, a very happy new year to all Chinese all over the world! May the new year brings great fortune and happiness.

新年快乐,万事如意,身体健康,恭喜发财!!

To all non-Chinese, happy holidays!

Mom's Surgery ~ 30 Jan 08'

I was just vacuuming when I suddenly realised that I totally forgot to blog down mom's surgery! How could I forget! So anyway, this is the story of that day.

Actually, mom's right knee replacement surgery was scheduled to be in March, but one fine day the hospital called and told us that there's a slot available in 2 weeks and we thought, why not? So on the 30 Jan 2008, the whole family went to the the hospital around 8am and mom preps for the surgery.


Man.. if government hospitals are listed, I would buy some of their shares cause business definitely looked good! The pre-op room where everybody waits to go into surgery was packed with patients! Can you imagine the amount of money the hospital earns! ($_$)

Oops.. ahem.. anyway back to the story.

Mom was nervous naturally, and it showed in her blood pressure. Despite our efforts in chatting and joking and trying to calm her down, her blood pressure was still very high. We were thinking, they should play some soothing music to calm the patients like what they do in the spa. Like - music, birds chirping, water running, etc... I mean, all the patients looked super nervous loh!



We were concerned if they would cancel the surgery or not, but the nurse reassured us that they will give her a good doze of medication to push her blood pressure down before the surgery. So we said "see you later!" as they pushed her into the operating theatre around 9am. I think we were the most noisy bunch~ Haha... With mom in surgery, we went to Geylang for a good dim sum breakfast!


Hmm think they have something against cups??



It was kindda weird cuz its a weekday morning, so we were the only people in the store eating. After breakfast brother and Karen when off, so sis, dad and I headed back to the hospital. Sis was supposed to go back to work, but I managed to convince her to go to the hairdresser with me! Hee Hee Hee... I am bad influence~

So we when shopping, and for the first time, we went to fixed our hair together.



It was fun, we talked and read magazine, dozed off (very long leh...). Dad went to stroll around the shopping centre until he was super bored and he came back to the salon and read magazine.



At around 3pm plus the hospital called to inform us that mom's out of the surgery and is now resting in the recovery room. The surgery was smooth sailing all the way, so we were all relieved! So after we did our hair, we finally went for lunch at 4pm! Hungry... Oh did I mentioned how fabulous our hair looked? It does~ Hohohoho.....!



So the two fabulous babes (and dad) went for a super late lunch and gobbled down our food at Hans restaurant when we were informed of mom's ward and bed number.



Sis wanted to do her nails too, but we thought we should go back and see mom first. So we bought her some nice flowers and went back to the hospital.



Naturally, she feels like crap. Vomiting, dizzy, disoriented. All the after-effects of anaesthesia wearing out.



So we stayed awhile and looked after mom, after she dozed off again, we went back to the shopping centre to hunt for a manicure shop. Unfortunately, ALL the shops were unavailable as we didn't make any reservations. Besides, it’s already after working hours so the shops were all FULL! Just when we were giving up, we found a shop that can do ONE of us. So sis did it while I went back to the hospital.

Bro had already arrived when I went back. Mom was constantly slipping in and out, falling asleep at the slightest pause. It's kindda funny really. Best thing is, she still wanted to watch her favourite 7pm TV program, 手足II. So we helped her to put on the headphone, feeling very sure she would fall asleep again very soon. So we quietly counted 1...2...3...4...5... OUT! And true enough, she fell asleep again.



Wahahahaha......... Sigh, so we removed the headphones again and left her to sleep. Feeling glad that everything went well. Within a week mom was discharged and went home in time for the Chinese New Year. This right knee surgery was much better than the left knee.

Today, she is recovering very well and is due for her 1st check up very soon. Alot of people asked why do we wanted her to do the surgery just before the Chinese New Year. Well, we thought it over, and mom decided that it would be great to "get it over and done with" now rather than waiting and dreading about it for another antagonizing 2 months. So today she's glad she did it earlier. Now she can look forward to go to Hong Kong in March and to be able to walk without pain. How great is that!!??