Working 9-5…

Gone are the days when working meant clocking in at 9am and leaving at 5pm sharp. I left those days well behind when I quit the government institution 4 years ago. The job I have now offers me flexibility – to a certain extent but looking at the way things are shaping up, we’ll all be burnt out before we know it. I have had 2 great years abroad but nothing has prepared me for what to expect when I moved back home. In fact, instead of preparing me for what lies ahead, it has made me soft. heh

I’ve only been back a week or so and I’ve put in 12-hour days already. I don’t mind it for now because of my new role and responsibilities. Besides, there’s no one at home for me to talk to so I might as well hang out in the office. When I left at 8.30pm, there were at least 8-10 people still hanging around. Work-life balance? Non-existant. I hope that things would have stabilised once my man moves back home.

Sigh….

Road Courtesy…

… does NOT exist in Singapore.

It’s only been my 3rd day on the roads and I’m already bitching about the traffic. It’s amazing how many cars have hit the roads in the last 2 years and there are road works almost everywhere! I made it on to the PIE today around 7pm and it was a huge mistake. There were to many motorbikes on the road and it felt like an assault from the left, right & centre.

I know I should be thankful that I have mum’s car to get me around but driving her car has additional stress. First up, it’s a CR-V and it feels like I’m driving a frigging TANK! Secondly, the car is like her 3rd child (or so mmwong & I think) so she’s is highly protective of it. I drive so carefully so that I wouldn’t get any scratched or dents on it.

I’m going to need a holiday from the traffic…

No car = no mobility

Ok that’s not exactly the most accurate statement but I’m shocked (not!)by my inability to get around without a car! I have had access to a car (mostly full-time) for the better part of 10 years. To compound the fact, the first place I visited were the car dealerships on Sat morning, 4 hours after I touched down in Singapore.

Yesterday was the first day of work and as expected, I hit the ground running. I was dressed in a pretty dress and killer heels, which were a very bad idea!!! To start the day, the father had to go to the airport for a morning flight so I hitched a ride to the office (5 mins away from the airport) with the parents. After a brief meeting with HR, I headed out of the office juggling 3 bags in an amazingly jerky cab to town for a case. After making rounds to visit a few docs, we headed out to lunch and then to the implant in the afternoon.

After the implant, it was back to the office in peak hour traffic. The trip from town to office cost me $29, which largely comprised of a 35% peak hour surcharge. Who charges 35% of the fare as a surcharge?!?!?! I am so outraged. Anyways, back to the point… I walked enough in 1 day in heels to last me a month. I got a bit smarter and turned up for work in pants and flats today. My feet still hurt but heaps less than yesterday.

I felt so lost, like I had lost my best friend… I need my car ASAP! COE bidding tomorrow. I hope the agent calls with good news.

I’m exhausted. Time to shower and head off to bed. And it’s only 9pm. tsktstsk…

It’s been 2 great years…

I bawled my eyes out as I was leaving. Everywhere I looked there was something to set me off, even as I was driving to and the from the office. The fact that I was leaving was my choice and I’m the only one to “blame”.

The guys at the office had a farewell dinner for me on Tuesday at Seamstress. I hopped into the office for one final round of goodbyes on Friday as well as to hand in the car keys. My trusty Holden, the car that has given me a comfy ride for 2 years.

I will miss my man of course but I know that he will be back eventually (sooner than later I hope). Towards the end, I did have waves of doubt and my resolve did waver as to whether to stay or go. He’s been trying to convince me that it is the right move, for the both of us. Timing might not be ideal but things always have a way of working itself out. There are some hiccups in terms of lodging so we’ll just have to tough it out for a bit while it all gets sorted out.

I cried when I thought about my sister, being in Melbourne all alone again. I have enjoyed the meals we have shared together, going shopping and even getting our nails done together. Most of all I’ll miss the text messages during the day, just to say hi.

As I was leaving, I finally realised why I felt so awful overall. These last 2 years have been like a vacation for me, a break from home, a break from the “real world”. Now that it’s is over, I don’t wanna go home!

p/s: I’ve already hijacked some closet / drawer space for meself. heh

pp/s: I miss you guys too!!

A month of food

We have had 4 brunches over 3 weekends in October. I wish we had started this eating-together thingy much sooner. We ate at Grigons & Orr twice, St Ali (best coffee ever!) and Fandango.

It was good while it lasted. ♥

Quirky corner store

I have to say this is the quirkiest corner store I’ve ever seen. I felt so at home I didn’t wanna leave! One more round of brunch there this Saturday with mmwong for her month-long birthday celebrations.

Another year older, another year wiser

It’s Edwin’s 28th birthday today and that marks meimei’s 24th birthday tomorrow. It’s amazing how fast time flies because I still see her as the little girl who has yet to grow up. I still think of her as the child who used to irk me to no end and was given the nickname “The Destroyer”. She’s still the bratty hardworking teenager with heaps of activities and friends.

When I was 24, I had already been dating the same guy for 5 years, getting ready to tie the knot and was stuck in a rather dead end job. We might be 6 years apart but we have taken very different paths in life. Who’s to say which path is better than the other?

In my books, turning 24 just means that she (still has 6 years to the big 30) has a world of possibilities and opportunities ahead of her. I don’t doubt that she’ll probably accomplish more than I ever can, academically and professionally, for she is the better of the 2 of us.

Happy birthday mmwong.

♥ jjwong

A good week comes to an end

The parents were here for 10 days and it was absolutely fantastic! It seemed like a lot of our activities centred around food. That said, food was somewhat of a tricky subject because my parents have gone vegetarian, the both of us are carnivores and my sister is on some form of diet. It was kinda hard to cater to all diets, especially when there was to be a home-cooked meal. My mum was the one who ended up cooking dinner at home and she had to cook at least 4-5 dishes to cater to all our diets. *lol*

Their flight was at 4pm in the afternoon so we headed out to The Green Grocer in North Fitzroy for one last meal together as a family. The day was nice to us and we had a table in the garden, in the sun. I was sad to see them go but I doesn’t bother me much as I will see them soon enough anyway.

I need a break from rich food… and I need to go on a diet.

Lunch that’s a little bit posh

Lunch (or brunch) was at a place called Eleonore’s at the Historic House in Yering Station. The Historic House had ornate decorations and I somewhat felt a bit under-dressed for the food and its surroundings. Service was only fair, only because I felt that the person who served us actually a bit racist/stuck-up. Anyways, we left him a tiny tip, which is even worse than no tip at all. heh

After lunch, we popped round to the Cellar Door next door only to bump into old family friends from Singapore. These are people we haven’t met in years and one of them is even a proud father of a 6-month-old! It was just in the car on the way to lunch that we were discussing what they are up to and how they have been. How small can the world be?

The sun decided to grace us with its presence after lunch and it made for loads of beautiful photographs. If only the weather was like that when we went to the country last week. I could have squeezed in a hot air balloon ride. Oh well… I’ll take what I have been given.

Family reunion

The parents are in town! It’s been a mad few days of cleaning and cleaning and cleaning. He thinks that I’m being paranoid and excessive but having the parents stay with you for a week is highly stressful!

Anyways, they arrived yesterday evening and tonight was the first of many meals to “celebrate” the family reunion. Dinner was at Shoya and it was somewhat of an early birthday celebration for mmwong.