Sightings

Not everyday you see THIS in a supermarket....

and THIS along Orchard Road...

Language Blunders

What does one do while waiting for the lift that always seem to take ages to come? You start scanning through notices decorated around them. This was what I came across sometime back. Not sure if you notice what was wrong with it but I certainly did.

As I was taking the shot, I realised I was definitely not the first who noticed the blooper. I am saying this in my own defence that the cross was not my doing. If you look closer, you will know what I mean.

Should one classify that as public service or vandalism? I am inclined to feel it is the latter. If not, why wouldn't he or she do everyone a bigger favour by replacing it with the correct word instead of just stopping at a cross?

Perhaps he or she wasn't too sure either.

I cannot deny I was tempted to complete the unfinished business but not only did I not have a pen with me... my lift had also arrived... finally :)

By the way, doesn't anyone proof read these RC notices? Maybe it is time they start doing so.

Passwords Nightmares

What if one day you woke up and realised that you have forgotten all your passwords? I mean ALL of them.

Let's see... then you wouldn't be able to... login to your computer, open your files, access the Internet, connect to the VPN, check your emails, update your FB status, chat on MSN, do your Internet banking, withdraw cash from ATM, make payments by NETS, slide your iPhone or even enter your house (yes, I have a friend who uses digital locks). I am sure the list can goes on.

Isn't it a nightmare? Our everyday life is run by passwords!

No, of course that did not happen to me. Not yet.

What DID happen to me was... I am running out of passwords to use for work. I typically re-cycle four of them everytime they expire (ok I know this is not the best practice for security...) so that even if I suddenly cannot remember for some reason, I can just go down the list and hit the right one in no time. Somehow this morning when I was trying to do the same old thing... it failed. I was prompted that I cannot re-use any of the past EIGHT passwords. EIGHT ?!? Since when ?!?

Improvised Toys

I am sure many parents will attest to this.

When you are out with your little ones and they start to get cranky, what do you do? You improvise toys on the fly! Unless of course, if you are one of those are always well prepared with an entire bag of toys on your day out.

Here is Justin Baby looking satisfied with the camera case. In fact, he really treated it like his new toy and was so entertained by it for the rest of the afternoon.

Doctor Who?

I recently went for some routine medical checkup and I had quite an interesting conversation with the female doctor (Doctor A).

Doctor A: So... you had a baby this year. Who was your gynae?

Me: Ya. My Gynae was Doctor B.

Doctor A: Oh...Doctor B is such a charming man!

Me: Oh you know him?

Doctor A: Kind of. He is very experienced in his field. My husband is a gynae too and I once sat at a dinner beside him. So charismatic.

Me: Well, I guess he can be quite humorous sometimes.

Doctor A: He is quite old lah... but still very attractive at his age!

We both chuckled.

Doctor A: So... you also had your LASIK done this year?

Me: Ya but didnt go too well.... blah blah blah

Doctor A: I would never go for LASIK... blah blah blah. So who was your doctor?

Me: Doctor C

Doctor A: Oh... Doctor C!

Me: Huh? You know him too?

Doctor A: Aiya, he always appear on magazines mah

Me: He looks very young hoh?

Doctor A: Looks young only but actually not that young. Don't really like him. So vain. Always unbutton his shirt a little and trying too hard to look good. How much he charges? Where is his clinic?

Me: blah blah blah

Doctor A: Huh? His clinic is there uh. That place good enough for him meh? He so vain... thought he would be here in Paragon. That Doctor B is so much better than him. Older but more charming.

We both chuckled again.

Before this, I never expected Doctors to gossip (or even bitch).
At least not with the patient.
Then again... I guess it is a "woman" thing... regardless of profession :)

Happiness Is...

Happiness is...

When I open my eyes in the morning and the first thing I see is Justin Baby awake at my bedside, playing blissfully with his toy car.

Our First Trip with Justin Baby

For the first time in my life, I was actually kind of glad to be back in SG after a holiday. You must be thinking I have gone bonkers... who wouldn't prefer to be on vacation?!?!

Of course, it was still a dread to return to the cruel world of endless emails, incomplete tasks and sales targets after pretending they never existed the moment the A380 took off. But I don't think I could survive another day of a 10-day intensive training camp. In another words, it was still a holiday... but minus away the relaxation part. Oh wait... unless if you consider 2 nights of foot massage that sent me straight to deep sleep within the first 10 min.

I half expected that to be the case the moment we decide to take on this challenge of bringing Justin baby to Tokyo followed by Beijing. Wierd combination I know but let's just leave it as " a result of various various factors" and get on with my griping.

I knew it would be challenging (which was supposed to be part of the fun) but not THAT challenging. The last time I felt such physical torment was probably in the labour ward. There was endless flights of staircases throughout the trip (yes, both countries) that we have to overcome as a family of 4 + 1 and sometimes with 4 huge luggages, 1 stroller, 1 humongous baby bagpack and an increasing number of handcarry bags as the trip progressed. What will remain in my memories in many years to come would be the endless walking around with baggages in the merciless hot weather. If you think the Beijing traffic is bad, try the human traffic. Imagine being packed like sardines soaking wet in a human jam on Great Wall. Inconceivable.

To me, hotel rooms had taken on a new definition. It was where I spent every night emptying an entire bag of dirty milk bottles, spoons & containers.... washing them, drying them, refilling them, and repacking before hitting the showers. It was also where I ransacked my luggage (aka the mobile provision store) for the next day's supply.

So was it enjoyable at all? Well, not everyday Justin baby gets to suck milk at The Great Wall, poop in The Forbidden City, crawl around on tatami floor, eat in a bullet train, sleep in a cable car... and always having some place different to go everyday. So my guess is it was most enjoyable for him :)

Putting everything aside, the very simple joy of being able to spend 24 hours over 10 days together and all that extra bonding was totally worth it. And did I mention Justin baby had a stubborn pamper's tan line that still hasn't quite gone away?