I have been busy mugging (Singaporean slang for serious studying) for my CMFAS M1A and M6 today.  Brain is officially filled to the brim and am unable to absorb anymore.  I am soooo going to fail M6 again. Boo hoo. :( On the other hand, I hope to freaking pass M1A!! I get flying colours on the mock papers so I had better pass tomorrow!!!!!

Ok. Sleep time. ZZZZZ.....

My Christmas themed nails! Cute eh? :D

Anyway, I just HAD to blog about my Christmas Eve because it didn't start off in the best way.  I was walking out of my house on my way to work when the sole of my shoe came off! It was a new pair!!! Ah well...cheap pair of shoes. The story goes on.  When I was hobbling back home (uphill too), this cleaner came up closer to me, smiled at my waddling and said, "Heehehe...只要粘住它就行了 (t/n: you only need to glue it)."  DUH.  But I don't carry tubes of glue in my handbag, do I??? She then proceeded to ask me where I lived. I pointed to the block up ahead and she then went, "那就回家去换鞋！(t: then you should go home and change your shoes!)"  Double DUH.  That's why I'm walking back home in the morning despite being dressed for work! -_-;

After changing my shoes, I took a cab to work and had the (mis)fortune of getting into the taxi of Singapore's 'blurrest' driver.  I told him to take Orchard road and go straight down to my office at Raffles City Tower. 

Driver:  Orchard Road 不会塞车么？(Wouldn't Orchard Road be congested?"
Me:  不会。因为早上没有人去购物。(No, because nobody will be shopping in the morning.)

We then reached a traffic light which had turned red and there was a whole long row of cars waiting for the light to turn green.  Furthermore, these cars were on the right turning lane.

Driver:  你看！我每次早上来就会这样塞车！(Look! It's always this congested when I come in the morning!)

I mentally rolled my eyes.  There was a sign that read that Orchard Road would be closed tomorrow from 1pm to 1am. 

Driver:  1pm to 1am.  那不是很短？(Isn't that very short?)
Me:  Uncle, 是十二个小时哦！(it's 12 hours!)
(long pause)
Driver:  是喔！(Oh yeah!)

Yet another mental eye roll session.  The driver then proceeded to comment on the Christmas decoration on all the shopping centres.  When we drove past Ngee Ann City:

Driver:  为什么益安城没有啊？(Why does Ngee Ann City not have any decoration?)
Me:  Uncle, Ngee Ann 每年都没有啊！他们 是佛教的！(Uncle, Ngee Ann doesn't have any decorations every year! They're Buddhists!)
Driver: 他们是佛教啊？(They're Buddhists?) 那，那个日本公司也没有？(The Japanese company too? - referring to Takashimaya.)
Me:  里面就有但是益安城不是他们的，当然外面不能做！(There are decorations inside but Ngee Ann City isn't theirs so of course they can't decorate the building!)

I had to tell the driver where to turn right, otherwise, he would have gone straight down and I would've ended up at Suntec City or Marina Square! When he turned right, I told him specifically to enter via the second entrance.

Driver:  不是这个啊？(Not this one?)
Me: 不是。第二个入口。(No. The second entrance.)
Driver:  是新的啊？(It's new?)
Me: 不是。(No.)

I had to insist a few more times before he believed that this entrance was not new.  My mental sums isn't that great but this driver beats me.  I had to calculate how much the total sum was for him and how much change he needed to return to me. -__-;;  The total fare was $12.45 and I passed him $15.

Driver:  总共是。。。$12.45。你又没有$2？(The total is...$12.45. Do you have $2?)
Me: No.
Driver: 我需要还你。。。(I need to return...)
Me: $2.55
Driver: 你又没有$1? (Do you have $1?)
Me: No.

Thank goodness he eventually gave me my change and then I was free to go to my office and tell my taxi tales to my colleagues!  What a start to my Christmas.  Anyway, y'all have a great Christmas and stay sane!!!

Hi all.  Apologies for the hiatus but as I've explained, I have been very busy studying for my CMFAS exams.  Anyhows, I also had promised to come up with some Christmasy products which I did in one night! Tada....

Kimono flower ear studs

Agate Spiral Bracelet

This is a personal favourite.  The colours are so bright and cheery...suits Christmas to a T! Thus, I named it the Christmas Ribbon earrings.  I know...not very creative. Haha...

Continuing with the Ribbon theme is this dewdrop earrings.  I just felt that the purple is such a sweet colour and the blue faceted crystal bead really complements it.

Now, for the luxe creation.  This necklace is made with 14k gold plated parts (including the hooks) and with quartz 'tear drops'.

 Above - Gothic Heart SOLD

I love the burst of red and gold in this bracelet.  Really makes a statement!!

For those who prefer something a lot more subdued.  This long chain necklace will suit them perfectly. Simple, clean but yet has that fun element in it.

I still have another necklace but I couldn't take a good shot of it because it is sooo long.  I can't wait to take a good shot of it and post it up soon as I think it's a piece that's so sweet and easy to match! 

Above pieces can be viewed and purchased at www.oct1983.com.sg.  Do feel free to email me if you have any queries and don't forget that I do accept customisation orders!

Merry Christmas folks!

I came home not too long ago and when I closed my room door, I heard a 'bang'.  I was wondering what sound it was and when I opened my wardrobe, I found the source.  The metal pole holding my clothes up broke.  Yep.  Too many clothes? *Sheepish grin*

*sigh* Now, I've got to go get a new wardrobe...more moolah needed. *sigh* when will I see more money coming in than going out??? Ah well...at least I do get a new wardrobe :P

I'm going to be very busy for the next 2 weeks as I've got 4 exams to study for: CMFAS 1A, 5 and 6 as well as my Japanese (JLPT N2).

Gosh...I hate studying.  I'm not the memorising kind.  I like attending classes, get spoonfed and then regurgitate everything out during exams.  Ask me to read of a text? That's my immediate cure for insomnia man...*yawn*  Ah well...I must press on.

I'm taking the CMFAS exams in order to get my dealer license.  Yup, I've quit my current job and will be going back to the financial industry!!  I am excited at the challenge but extremely nervous at the same time.  Guess my ego has been bruised so badly that I second, triple guess my own intelligence.  I'm so glad to all my friends who have (and still are) encouraged me.  I'm also extremely grateful to the colleagues who happily clapped me on the back and said that I've made the right decision.

I have made the right decision.

This is both for my emotional well being as well as my career prospects.  :)

My last day at my current organisation will be on Tuesday and I can't wait for it to be over.  I'm also looking forward to Christmas and the New Year!!  May 2011 be a good year for one and all!!

 That is a picture of 2 Bai Ling mushrooms.  They're ginormous!!! Each of them are resting on your typical styrofoam plate...so imagine.  My bought it as her ex-colleagues told her that it is very smooth and crunchy.  I cooked it with spaghetti...ie. spaghetti al funghi.  Tossed it with loads of garlic, butter and white wine.  Mmm....yum!  I must say that I was quite pleased with myself ;)

On to more yummy stuff...I had lunch with a couple of colleagues (my farewell lunch...more on that in another post) at Caffe Pralet, Tiong Bahru.  Their cakes are divine....you've been warned...drool...

Lychee Martini Cake

Dragonfruit cheese cake

Mirin (sweet sake) cake

They even have gingerbread boys and girls!  Above is the girl and it was sooo adorable that I couldn't resist getting it.  It costs only $2.80 anyways.

I made plum wine jelly too...tada....!! Hur hur...I posted it up on facebook to make my friends jealous. Hiak hiak hiak.

Ok...enough of food.  I'm starting to sound like a glutt. :P

During dinner at Din Tai Fung last night, 2 idiots came by and sat down next to my table.

Guy 1: I want to eat truffle dumplings.
Guy 2: Huh? Where is it? (looking through the menu)
Guy1: It's not here...I want to eat it cos I heard about it.

My ears perked up because I love truffles and was hoping that the guy would just say where this truffle dumpling was being sold.  However, there is a reason why I called them idiots in the intro.

Guy 1: Anyway, I think it'll taste weird.  Sweet and then salty...
Guy 2: Ya...very weird, sweet sweet...

-__-

Guys...truffles are mushrooms. Horribly expensive mushrooms that are harvested by pigs and dogs.  They're not chocolates you dohtz.  Chocolate truffles were named after these famed mushrooms by mimicking the creamy and velvety texture and flavour.

Some people need to read more...