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Sunday, May 18, 2014
Someone took me off the shelf
I do not know how I put it but I got married...
(Continue from another day) I'm at the hospital now because the hubby is undergoing some minor process now. We have been married for three months now, no, no three months anniversary.
I'm sort of trying this blogger app now and it seems so much more user friendly than last time. Back to being married, things is more or less than same except that I stay in a different house now and I don't get to see my family that often. For awhile, I have this missing-home syndrome so at every opportunity, I'll drive back and laze around at home. I'm slowly getting used to it.
Let me show you some wedding pictures! Ok. Haha, lazy pig me but the point is I really got married. :p the honeymoon was the highlight! It was so much fun and I finally got myself inked. Ok. At Venice. And I turn 30 and need a new NRIC. It was my first time in my life spending my birthday away from my loved ones and I was getting kinda emotional. I think back of the family I have and the husband beside who went through lengths to let me be in Italy at that moment and I just got so overwhelmed, so with the alcohol and some tears, I look like that. I feel so grateful for all the love that I have received and I feel so lucky.
The second decade marks the most number of changes in my life. Things progress so fast after 21. From a kid, you explore and you work and you learn. Both in terms of life experiences, knowledge and love. From a graduate to working outside and then changing job to where I am today, I bet I'll probably have lots to tell the 21 year old me. In love, I'm grateful to those people who I have met and probably are mean to. I was young and ignorant but they eventually lead me to knowing what I truly want and need in a relationship. I really hope one day, we get to meet again and I get to tell them how I really feel.
It is a key because I hope I get the liberation I want. The freedom from within to reach to my own piece of paradise. As I turn 30, I learn, contentment is the key to happiness and freedom and I hope I remember that always :)
Till the next post, I wish you good health and take good care. :)
Labels: emo elmo, happy happenings, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 4:38:00 PM.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
July
This is a hot Saturday afternoon and I have neglected this space. There are so many places to update like the facebook and my diary. Well, I am getting a little sleepy so I will go catch some nap soon but here are some photos!
We sent WR off last night. Lucky her got married to a young doctor who cherishes and loves her. She's the envy! Where did all the sweet guys go? Bahz, attached and married, probably or maybe they just couldnt survive the majority. You know how the herds work.
This was her hens night.
 It was fun seeing her evade the questions we asked. Of course, she was sporting enough to go on the stage and wear that horrendous top I made for her.
 We were trying to get her dressed up in LP's car. That was fun and although I am not much of a marriage person, I love weddings. It is always heartening to see that albeit the fact that it is not easy for two worlds to merge, two people are trying to take that on, compromise and live side by side each other with hands firmly held. That is definitely not easy! Secretly, I believe I am a diehard escapist. I am totally useless in relationships and as much as possible, seek the easiest way out. For them, they have been apart most of the times so that was really hard to come. Well, you really need plenty of resilience and determination. Being abroad means you do not have much time to do anything else. Now in a LDR myself, although things have improve significantly, distance sometimes can really be a burden. The greater the distance the more skills and effort you require for effective communication. Ha! Easy said than done. I have been comfortable in school. Most of the time, I feel like the student. I am actively taking up courses on pedagogy. Oh my goodness, I am using that word! But yes, this is what it is all about in school now. I learnt more on various teaching methods and on communication. When I was in my previous job, it sort of eat into my personal life. Now I hope with all these skills, I would be able to be a better person. Oh yes, digress again. Look on for more photos!
 This really is sweet! Both of them were really meant for each other!
 A sweating me. I was running around trying to organise photographs, preparing the logistics. At the end, my hair all messed up and I was sweating like mad. I hope their life will get better and better in Australia and we are really planning a trip to visit them down there!
I am sure I mentioned that I have been to Greece. Athens, Mykonos and Santorini. That was before I started on this new job. It was a good break and it is really beautiful. Oh yes, that was before they started the rioting on the government. You know? The whole greek debt thing which runs on the Money page almost everyday? The people there are more liberal and they went about demonstrating their displeasure on the street.  The wild flowers on the road with the deep clean blue sea and the beautiful sky. I risked my life to take this photograph, there were many reptiles hiding inside the flowers! Ahhh, goes to show the risk in trying to get near to some wild flowers.  This is absolutely stunning! No castle there anymore but it serve as a wonderful place to catch the most talk-about sunset in the whole country. I have never seen a sunset nor sunrise in my entire life before. I remember this incident when I was at the Esplanade trying to catch the sunrise. It turned out I was facing the wrong direction and worse, I fell aslp and I woke up trying to find my slipper which I dreamt that was stolen by some sweeper. It was a joke. Subsequently, all sunsets nor sunrises never materialise, it was either because I was facing the wrong side or that I simply cannot wake up for it. I managed to catch sunsets in Mykonos and in Santorini which was really great. Oh, and I visited a volcano, steal some black sand and swam to a hot spring. All and all, it was a wonderful trip.  This was after scaling 260 steps. The sun was beaming and it was uber-ish bright. The weather was cooling but the sun just wasnt going to lose.  The track in Athens. The Olympic stadium just lost its glory after 2004 and now, its just a white elephant. It was unfortunate because the Greeks has invested heavily in the whole stadium. Oh well, bad planning and Singapore has its own side of the story with the YOG. Yea and it was only the YOG. Well, I guess lessons learnt.  Well, Athens is rich in history. This is Acropolis. This reminds me of Turkey and I have to say it is less preserved. But then, they have big statues which are really majestic and set you looking in awe. I love visiting such places. It always give me the feeling of being just immense in being part of being human and being smart because those historical people are SO smart.
I guess that is really quite a bit. I do really feel sleepy. My biological clock is getting used to the 6.30am thing. I woke up this morning at 7.10pm in a shock thinking there is school today. I was so glad that I managed to go back to sleep but something woke me up at 9. I guess it is a luxurious thing to be able to take some nap in the afternoon.
Have I told you how much I love things to be straight forward? Unfortunately, some people always tend to be too eager to please and they cannot handle having to say "no". That complicate things quite a fair bit. Some people call it lying, some calls it I-dont-want-to-hurt-you. Yea, me, myself is guilty of that. It always come with this inner struggle and it battles on with your heart and mind on what is to be done. People. Sometimes we forgot, much as the truth hurts, it is always the shortest pain you could have possibly endure. At least that is what I always believe. While you take the time to consider the pain you could have possibly cause to that person, why not break it out as soon as you can so that the recovery period can kickstart as soon as possible. Oh, I never can fully understand people. While opposites do attract, I guess sometimes you cannot take that too far and it will really be easier to live with people your own breed.
Goes to show how much I really need my nap. Yawn. Labels: emo elmo, happy happenings, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 1:49:00 PM.
Thursday, May 05, 2011
Of occupations, views and judgement
I am at the airport now, waiting for my flight. The end of my holiday is coming. I am heading back to tie up some loose knots and then next week, I will be heading to Greece. Work is commencing on third week of May.
Right, I have gotten the job. It is a long wait but this break is good. I managed to spend my time with Love, sticking myself to him all the time and trying to assist. Of course, sometimes I do get destructive, be it at work or personally but to me, it is time well spent. I really wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted to be a teacher at P4. Right, it was one of those common ambitions. That’s probably because we are only aware of a few occupations - the few occupations that we always see. For the record, I think most guys wanted to be policeman. Rarely will you find one that tells you he/she wants to be a banker because they most probably associated bankers with the bank tellers. I wanted to be a teacher and somehow, along the way, stumbled into Building and lost myself in it. Graduation came and I couldn’t let those 4 years go, besides the construction industry is a place full of dynamic and fun. So the whole thing about teaching was shelved. Opportunities came and I took it up so voila, Ms Koh became a Lecturer. :) I had a hard time convincing the panel. The fact that I was only 27 wasn’t helping much. I did not have masters in my pocket and this just compounded to everything. 3 rounds of grilling and there, Ms Koh is in now! I think the thing about poly students is they are a more mature lot to deal with and that is really something I am looking forward.
Speaking about age, I think the fact that Tin Peiling was fielded as a PAP candidate was a timely opportunity for me. I faced the same constraints that she faced when I was doing my interviews. Having said that, it does not mean that I like her or in any way approve of her presence in parliament. The fact that someone of her calibre is up there getting a fat pay check next month onwards just seem ridiculous. That is $15K we are talking about and we are paying for her tuition and grooming fee in Parliament. I often wonder on the sets of criteria that she was being judged on. How did PAP see her? Do they see her as the wife of principle secretary of PM Lee? How do the people see her? The fact that she is married to someone powerful and influential puts her up there? I was talking to a friend who happened to have a friend who knows TPL personally. Apparently, many of them feels that she is not ready. To me, this is just one of the many examples of complacency and not listening. Ahhh, goes to show how much I have been influenced by the book that I am reading! I am reading “what the dog saw” by Malcolm Gladwell.
We judge, no matter how hard we try not to, we judge. I have been away for almost 2 months, on and off, I come back to Singapore but having spent some time overseas, I must say Singapore is really uniquely safe and clean. I do have a problem with the pay that our ministers are paying themselves but I must say other than those issues, undeniably, they have not done a bad job. Corruption in other countries seems bad and the thing with corruption is it tweaked systems and systems are an integral part to making things work. Someone I was talking to overseas, in his country’s defense, mentioned that he see no difference between my government and his. While mine got paid legitimately and his is not, the amount of money lost is the same. In fact, corruption only works for the rich citizens and not for the poor and tax works in a miraculously way. My point was that my system has stayed intact and my people know exactly what to follow and where not to go. Nobody flaunts the rules knowing there are no other ways to get by it where corruption like I said, just make everything goes. For that same amount of money spent, we have a reputation and a system in place. Of course, that does not justify the high pay. Like Ms Sylvia Lim has said, politics is an occupation worth more than money. Our ministers salary are definitely outliers if you compare it with the world leaders. As a matter of fact, if I would probably advise a Senator running for election to come to Singapore and do politics instead. The fact that you are paid almost 7 times higher than Obama, something, somewhere has to be wrong. As a small country like us, to many, this whole politics thing we have seems like a joke to many.
Despite the grueling conditions, some of our opposition members have held strong. For Mr Low to come out of his comfort zone and go into the unknowns, I bet many fear for him. He is a strong voice I will want in parliament. It is a shame that this voice will come at a sacrifice of the residents in who has voted for him but I believe his area will not be managed any poorly. Indeed, the resources might be scarce and the residents might have to make do with whatever there is but what they will have will be a MP who will listen and serve. I have not heard about my MP nor see her physically until recently. I was having ice cream with a friend the other day and she told me residents in Potong Pasir even have a say in the paint colour of their flats! How cool is that?
People like Mr Chiam and Mr Low touch hearts. For someone who has contested 9 times and won 7 times, that is totally commendable! My friend uncontrollably emailed Mr Chaim expressing her regret that she cannot vote for him because she doesn’t stay in that area. For someone who has stood strong in difficult times and stand there firm, I find that touching. I, for one, kept asking and asking, for what does the opposition stands for? For fame and glory? For the hefty allowance? For being that voice in the parliament? Then you are all standing on the wrong side! That’s so because PAP can offer more. As a matter of fact, if you want to represent the people, you should have joined PAP because they are the ruling party! People from the opposition puzzled me and they are beyond my logics. Why? For the detainee who was locked away for decades, refusing to give in and relent, I cannot explain nor understand. What was it that motivates and keep them going? I saw Mr Chiam’s make shift cubicles and my heart goes out to him. His weak and frail body trampled by illness was held on by so strong a mind and determination that it inspires. I don’t know what makes him strong but I know he has earned my respect and support. I would love him as my MP.
It is a long, long way to go and it is not easy to be in politics. In fact, any job that deals with people is never easy. We are not easy to please and with one policy, the number of people affected and its outcomes can be of drastic ends but people like Mr Chiam and Mr Low, they are worthy politicians. Mr Ong Teng Cheong too. :) That is a very long post. Change might not be bad and some people do need our support. Yes, I know you heard this a thousand times, but please do vote wisely because your that vote will mean a future involving you.
Meanwhile, I hope for the best. Do take care and have fun!Labels: emo elmo, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 6:54:00 PM.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Or so I heard, that changes are constant...
Somehow, I miss being in projects. The hype, the people, the relationship, the tones, the money and the urgency. That feeds on brain cells but it is fun. This little period of mine, no, I am not selling ice-cream, I am trying to do a little administrative work with bigger agendas and intentions. Things I do for love. My second week in KL is coming to an end. I look forward to the weekends. That day I attended this seminar at Hotel Chulan. The room is huge :) the location fabulatastic!  March comes and go, Mr Yu got me this for my birthday :) It is easy to follow your heart and do whatever it says so but ultimately, does it really serve the best for you? Yea... I am talking about this job opportunity that I am pursuing.  Qin Ai de did this for me!  Dinner voucher already claimed! I really have to thank all for the surprise, painstakingly planned by Love and executed by my loved ones. I read the facebook messages and have a good laugh at it. :) I am so lucky I have these people with me.  There are limited pictures because my dearest Sis and her bf got me this. The whole night I was using this aged old camera. In the end, the lighting was not good enough and the pictures couldnt be developed. (-_-)'" Otherwise, I thought the camera is really fun! It looks like a toy? :) My sister and her ideas, she's full of them.  My *gasp* EX-COLLEAGUES. hahaha, I have since moved on and I still keep in contact with this bunch of fun loving people.  Love's mommy gave me this. It comes with a full hearty breakfast of course. :)  It is almost 1 and it is only half way through the meeting of minutes. Haha, the good old days... I certainly miss them but time to move on...move on...move on... Or so I heard, that changes are constant yet there are people in their life, comfortably settled. Even when you are settled, does that mean that there are no changes in your life at all? Changes are good, some jolts you up and you tend to look at things in a totally new way. I was on the plane the other day, yup yup, I tend to fly more these days, they are all short trips but just putting you in the plane space makes you feel different. I reached the apartment and think, "Just how wonderful and amazing is this, one minute I am comfortably in a job all settled in and the next, I packed up, leave and packed and take a flight and voila, I am mopping the floor and doing my own laundry." The world operates in a fascinating way that I never managed to fathom. While I take some of the variations and changes hardly, there are some which simply creeps their way in and there I am, totally adjusted to it. I supposed changes are good if they come in dosages, mlid and exciting in a certain way. Well, I am a complicated being which I have been stressing on but then again, who isnt? Till then, take care and tata, :)Labels: happy happenings, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 12:26:00 PM.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Earthling, it is another year...
 :) Accordingly to my father, I have picked the right day to be born. The middle of the month is the time when he get paid so I was born when he is the richest. I love March, if I have not mention but yea, I love March, particularly this one. It is unfortunate that Japan is in such a crisis and I hope they recover soon. I was supposed to visit Japan in April, I have wanted to see the cherry blosoms but oh well, I am sure there are other times. Besides, I have been bugged by Mummy Koh ever since the earthquake started. If you havent seen one gan chiong spider, you should really come my house.
Oh and now, I am very free so here I am. I did something for myself in the morning *grins* :
 Just so I can hold some of my earrings when I go over. Ha...
I am still trying to pack, the plane sets off tomorrow and my luggage is still empty. I have received calls but still, no email from them. The wait is long and tormenting but oh well, I am happy.
Eddy, King Mun and Wai San got me a cake yesterday! Eddy and I are "annual friends", the last time we met was one year ago. It was also for KTV.
 My fellow colleagues also bought me dinner! :) The la-kopi session was abit depressing with KY talking all about his Ferrari and the Mayan calender. Pat was all about his legs dangling at the bridge.
 Ban Ban and Ah Hao are heading over to Seattle and they are in Narita Airport now. Thats like so cool. They will be there for a month!
I organised the photos in my laptop these days that I am free. I also finished reading two books and wrapped like 5 books. That is really therapeutic. We used to be this big when the days were good.  I dont know why but there are many pictures of my desk.
 Those little things are gifts I bring back from overseas. From left, the hello kitty was somethingmy GM brought for me, apparently, it is there to help curb the fear I have for the felines. The crystal rose is from Shanghai, the ah gong has got an ah ma, it is from Taiwan, Koala from Perth, Bunny is a gift from a friend, the house from turkey. The chip from Macau, the long ruler from Taiwan. The tortoises have been with me since I am 16! *gasp* My 16th birthday gift from a friend. They are 11 years old now!
 Thats me, errrr with my not so messy table. Yea, it was taken pictures for so many times for a reason.
 This morning, I am greeted with this:
 It just make my day. Thats my cute daddy leaving a note for me. :)
 This is from my little bro. I wonder who he takes it from but no surprises. He asked if I wanted anything from Bodyshop. I said shower gels and he brought back and said they were my birthday gifts (-_-)'" Luckily, he is attached now.
My goodness, it is 4 already. (O_o) Somebody still hasnt wish me, is he going to repeat the same thing he did a few years back? The last time he forgot, I told him I was going to grumble all the way till I am 75. He cant possibly chu the same stunt again right? I thought his own birthday is the best hint ever! *grumbles grumbles*
Love is coming back later and Mummy Koh is preparing food. I am a happy being now. :)
Take care everyone. Be happy! :)Labels: happy happenings, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 4:14:00 PM.
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Changes
I love March, like how I told a friend, I love March. It just makes me feel better and it just get better knowing there are 31 days in it. I dont really like July, I have no idea why but I just dont like it.
For the past 3.5 years, March is the time where I get real busy, where people chases after one another more aggressively than the rest but still I like March. Of course, more particularly to a specific day in March. This March, :) no more chasing, at least not for me. I have finally put my plans in motion. I finally tendered my resignation. I decided since I am going to do it anyway, why not have a wonderful March this year? So... I did it, with no cast-in-stone plans, I did it.
It feels good. It really does. I dont know what took me that long. At work, I am this cockroach that never gives up. Never. Shove and push me around, no, I stay. Thats just pure stupid stubborn-ness. I am doing my little read up now to set my plans in a better motion. The wait is long and horribly torturing but I am confident and this is what I will want to do. :) So? We shall patiently wait and endure! The plans will be cast in stone one day! :)
Talking about waiting. *sneers* I am a forgetful person and at different aspects of my life, undeniably, Joanne behaves differently. I forgot faces at times, I forgot the reasons, I lost myself in my own thoughts. I like things to be simple and I dont like question marks. Question marks sap me off my brain cells, you know, like literally feeding on them and I am complicated enough, I dont need to be anything more than that.
I love Thursdays too and yes, I am heading to Japan for my little break. :) That is a good thing. Simple enough and the wait is short.
You take care.Labels: emo elmo, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 11:36:00 PM.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Time to read some books...
:) Hello there. All my courses have finally ended, or so I think. Boss went on trying on convincing again that I should take my SCEM. I am even contemplating if I should carry on with my SISV since ultimately I might not even carry on what I am doing now. Its a relief, really. Now, I am waiting for all the assessments results and really, I am done, at least for now. I just hope everything will be fine and voila. Good enough. I am thinking to really pursue my studies, MBA will be good but lets take a break for now. I guess plenty of thinking to do, that includes what I wanna do and also everything pretty much depends on my finances.
I have got so many books that I can read now, other then all my stupid notes. Yeah! Haha, I get tire out by all these additional things that I am doing that I have not been reading and on MRT, I cannot really read much. My latest buy, Generation A from Douglas Coupland keeps me giggling in the train. I remember reading his JPod and laughing over the things that he ridicule. He is still as funny, making a dig at almost everything.
I have spent more than 3 years in this company and today was the third staff conference I have attended. These 3 years, I have learnt many things and this bunch of people has went through alot with me. MD was saying, "Joanne has come a long way, she really has." What he doesnt realise is I have come a long way, yes, not just that episode with him in it, the mediation in Supreme Court was really just a very small part of the long way. There were many changes these 3 years. In terms of jobscope, I have changed my job scope various times. I have my very bad moments, dealing with different people and doing different things. Personally, I also went through major changes which, if you all have been reading, should have know. When I finished my exam yesterday, I was sitting at the bus stop and I suddenly see images of these three years. It must be this song I am listening. 说再见 by Jay Chou, heard it at the concert and I thought that was very nice.
There were good moments and extremely bad ones. I have made mistakes, some of which I managed to salvage and some made me lose things. I have did something right, some of which proves to be wrong and some of which makes me gain something. I believe things all happen for a reason. Having said that, it doesnt mean I am at my emo moments now. :p
Totally irrelevant but there are some pictures for your pleasure viewing:-
 :) On the eve of my exam, I just have to do this. HAHAHAH!!! The last time I took my FSM, prior to my exam, HAHAHHAHA, I went for a cruise. :p I think this is just a very bad habit.
 The infinity pool! :)
 My room.
 This is also another habit which I cant seem to quit. Toilets of the pictures. :) I have quit the habit by not randomly taking pictures of ALL the toilets I have been to. All thanks to a toilet project that I have done. (-_-)'" after that, any new toilets I go, I cannot stop snapping!The right is toilet and the left the shower area.
 Jacuzzi overseeing Gardens by The Bay. Oh yea, now its called Construction Site. :)
Comfy!It was very good time spent. :) Ohhhh...墨攻going to start liao! Haha, seriously, I cannot remember the last time I watched something at home on a Saturday night. I can blog, rest early and read. :DLabels: happy happenings, new chapter, vacation
JOanne thought hard on 9:53:00 PM.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
3 quarters almost gone...
And I realised I have not udated anything here for almost 2 months. 9 assignments to hand up and I have one last to go. I was supposed to finished it today but no... :x I am busy. I met the JC people for badminton today, it was good working out and be smelly, this makes you appreciates yourself for smelling nice (like now). I have also not moved my arse for a few months other than the weekly swimming because of that stupid sprain. It really feels good to be able to move around, running about... Now, I am so tired, I dont think I can work on my last assignment. :x EXCUSES. Bah!
The month of Sep is going to be busy. I am on course again, this time, part time, its ending soon and the assessment will be in Sep, the same goes for my specialist diploma. I have no idea why I have to bag so many things but yea, I just take things as it comes. Seriously, I need to relook into everything and decide on what I really want to do. I really want to sell ice cream so that I can preserve my brain cells. Not that I am saying selling ice cream doesnt require any brain cells, contracts just take up more than it should. At times, it gets so comfy, I really want myself out.
You probably miss me so here is me waiting to see Jay Chou.
 You know him.
 One more with the dancer.
 It was filled with technology and it was fun, an eye opener, although I wasnt an avid fan of his.
For the long holiday in August, I was also away in Malaysia. I took the aeroplace myself for the very first time in my life and my flight was also delayed for the first time in my life. I almost missed my flight to Langkawi because my flight to KL was delayed. I jumped quene and that has got to be the most embarassing moment of my life! I went to Langawi for a little R&R. Check out the pictures below:-
The little house I am staying:-
 My courtyard
 The waterfall.
 The rented car. :p Drove around without proper maps and road signs but I must say Langkawi is quite easy to move around. I road hogggggggg... kua kua kua...
 Ishan spa! Pure bliss. The ambience is good and the service is gooooooood.
 Something I spot in the Aquarium.
 Pregnant maiden lake. :p I will upload more photos when... when... I have more time and energy?
 :) As always, my pillar of support, my place of re-energising. We celebrated my little Bro's birthday. Yea, he doesnt really qualify under the word "little" anymore but well... he is my little brother.
 PM Lee is on TV and I always thought he is funny. I wonder what it feels like to have so many people's fates in your hands. I watched Liars Game yesterday, it was quite interesting! I wonder what will happen if I am in the game. I, if you do not know, kua kua kua... totally paranoid and ridiculous. *rolls eyes*
As you can see, I am blabbering, totally no link and disorganised. If you know me, that is how I am. Just randomly, randomly, pffff... The month of Sep is coming. I've got 2 plays and a long weekend, oh yea... I know, totally excited about the 2 assessments and project too... SO EXCITED. ptffffffffffffff.... Hmmm long weekend, should I head out too?
There, I have updated. Take care everyone. Thank you for the motivation, I. :0 Labels: emo elmo, happy happenings, new chapter
JOanne thought hard on 9:24:00 PM.
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