A good run

Sometimes its better to be alone
Sometimes its tiring to be with someone
On the verge of giving up

2009 in a blink of an eye

2009 is zoooming away tooo fast!!!! I cant believe this..how do i get hold of time? Why does it feel like its slipping pass me sneakily? Before I know it..the last quarter i is coming..... =( What have I done the past year I wonder?
January
- Flew back home and Chinese New Year....ALways good to be home during CNY! ALl that feasting and laughters over reunion dinners, lunches,visitations.

February - Cant remember much of this month...

March
- Moved out from Bonham Road to Happy Valley The move was quite a memorable one. With about 5 girls and 2 men helping me. 2 years..and I accumulated about 10 blue-red-white bags!!! Unbelievableee!! But the move helped to clean out rubbish I accumulated the past 2 years...

- Enjoyed living in the 'wealthiest' part of Hk...Enjoyed watching cars that cost a house zipping past me...ENjoyed watching well groomed dogs marching down the pavement with their smartly dressed human friend...Enjoyed the peacefulness and serenity of Happy Valley

- Joanna visited and we had fun!minus the part where she choked up my toilet bowl badly!!!!!!!

End April - May - Bought my first DSLR Canon 450D(finally!) and went crazy snapping
- Flew back to Singapore to surprise Mum during her birthday and had a great celebration with her! =) Had a simple dinner at a very yummy chinese restaurant (and it was only a few days later we found out they closed down later and we were their LAST customers!)

- Nai Nai fell ill and was hospitalised for almost 10 days. One of the scariest moments in my life..to see someone you love so much suffering and not being able to speak to you properly. Thank God, she recovered, really by the grace of God. We were celebrating her 81st birthday with her at home.

Although celebrating at home was not as glamorous as celebrating at a restaurant as was planned, what mattered was that everyone was present to celebrate her 81st birthday with her. I extended my stay in Singapore to spend more time with her by requesting to work in the Sing office. Thank God the mgmt was kind enough to allow me to do that. The 7 more days I got meant a lot to both myself and Nai Nai. I pray that she will gain back her strength more and more day by day and may the Lord's joy always be with her.

June - Moved from Happy Valley to North Point. This move was much more efficient that the first and I only had 2 guys and 3girls (inluding mum and sis!) helping. so here am I now in the comforts of my North Point home. This is the home that my mum loves the most out of the 3 houses I have been in and its my favooorite too! Simply love the convenience (just right about MTR and 10 mins from work) and the renovation of this house!

- Was informed of a mini 'promotion' to be a team lead. Was a news nice to hear, but well, it just means more responsibility going fwd (with no increase in $....yet i hope hahaa). But Praise God for this opportunity

July - Had my first REAL holiday in 2009. The past few times I was in a plane were to go home... But well, it wasnt really a holiday too. It was a trip to Mount Kota kinabalu to challenge my limits. To push myself to reach the peak. Going up seriously required lotsa stamina and perseverance, where each step towards the end felt like I was lifting a sack of rice. Although we were short of the peak, I felt a little sense of accomplishment for going that far and will definitely kiss the peak of MOunt KK one day!! Maybe next year!

Whats more valuable about this trip is that I made a whole new bunch of friends! We had so much joy poking fun at each other, playing sea sports (fly fish and parasailing!) and going white water rafting!!! The guides we had at white water rafting made the activity even crazier! They poured water on us, dragged us down the river from the raft, capsized the raft on purpose etc. We also went swimming in the rivers and sat where the rapids were..felt almost like a natural jacuzzi! HOpefully this grp can go for another holiday some time again!

August - Telli and Jess visited and as always, we had a whale of a time! Doesnt matter where we are or what we are doing, whenever Im with my closest bunch of girl frens, laughters fill the air
- Had a great time visiting ZX with Jess in Beijing too. Loved Beijing. A feeling I never thought i would have. =P The Great Wall, the history, the little hu-tongs and chill out places....they all blend together really well to give Beijing its very own story. Will be back again someday!

Doesnt seem like it has been a very fruitful year. I ought to be doing stock take of my walk with God too =) which I will leave it to be btw me and God for now =P But no matter what happens, I thank God every morning for the breathe of life I have. =)

Homely Girl

Have not blogged for eooonnnss! and the only reason that Im penning down this blog is cause Im sick with flu and am hibernating at home!!!! =( Very rare that I get to spend one full day at home whilst in HK....Since Im stuck in this little hole....will just pen down my thoughts for 2008 and 2009...Yes a little late...but never late than never!

2008 Flash Highlights
1) Jan
- Went to taipei with Mandy,Anson Sherv...Had a great time! I rem we arrived at the hotel only at 3am cos the taxi driver got lost! and went partying immediately!!! aha
- My dearest buddyYilin...got MARRIED!!! To the veyr nice Dani Yoshimura! I did a surprise stunt on their wedding day!! hee heee
- Na and Mel visited me in HK!!! We had a helluva fun!
2) Feb
- Went back to Singapore for CNY!
3) March
-Did a 25km hike in HK! Walked for 6 whole hours from 2pm to 8pm and will never forget walking in the dark for the last 2 hours!
- Went for David Tao concert that got me hooked to him!
4) April
- Went back to SIngapore for 2 weeks for training!!
Was shiookk to stay at intercon and catching up with family and frens back home on company's expenses hahah!
Made a bunch of good frens from training tooo! =)
5) May
- Had my first golf experience!!!
6) June
- Sister and Xiaodi and Gerardine visited! All 4 pple squashed in a little house!!! Was cosy and fun though!
- Went to Davao!!! Had the craziest terrible flight experience with Cebu Pacific of all times!
But Davao Pearl Farm was a really chilled place.....Had the best pancakes I ve ever tasted. and I had my first ever full body oil massage there!!!
7) July
- Felt sad when sis who accompanied me for 3 weeks in HK left =**(
- Caught Alicia Keys concert
- Had my first golfing experience (maybe half cos its 9 holes) at nine eagles golf course near the airport!
8) August
- Celebrated Singapore's national day in HK! We were all decked out in red and white!! haha
A friend cooked S'pore dishes like prata and curry!
- Had a fantastic trip back home to Singapore and Brissby!
Brought my little sisters to visit Mel in Brisbby and i had my first overseas drive experience there! Drove to Goldcoast, Sunshine Coast, MOvieworld!!! yoohooooO!
Glad my sisters had fun!
9) Sep
- For some reason cant remember what went on in Sep!
10) October
- The beginning of the Bear Stearns nightmare!!!
Was the 'chosen' one to take over Bear Stearns which JPM bought over.
THink was one of the most stressful periods in my working career
- Went to Hainan Sanya, my motherland! Was a goood chill out trip.
11) November
- Had a cake baking session right at a building in Mongkok! Was amazed there can be a baking school in Mongkok!!!
12) December
- Had an unforgettable surprise birthday Party!!!
- Dad n Mum were here to spend Christmas with me...Sweet!

2009...To dos
1) Draw nearer to God all over again
2) Pick up Golf again! Kinda lost it amidst the busy year end.
3) Start an exercise regime and eat healthily!
4) Buy a new camera....SLR or point and shoot or both?
5) Go home more often!
6) Have an all family trip somewhere!!! No matter where it MUST happen!

in shocked

Tonight is truly a night to remember........................I cant believe all that has happened still......
Feeling really blessed..really touched....unbelievable. Thank God for such wonderful frens........

Mother-Land!

Yes! I went to my Mother Land...literally my Mother's Land ....Hainan Island!!! =)

Been wanting to go for a long time and finaly step foot on Sanya, the most Southern tip of Hainan Island!
Was a relaxing getaway and we stayed in Marriot Resort. The service is absolutely wonderful. Decor and layout made the whole place look so relaxing and just makes you feel like resting and stoning and doing nothing else.

We went out to the Sanya city area the 1st day...it was totally disappointing!! Firstly, the city was pretty..hmmm...not-so-clean. The toilet had doors...but the doors had a big rectangle hole at the bottom half. Why fix doors then?! Secondly, being surrounded by C.pple makes me feel more stressed than anything with all that constant shouting and squeezing. *sigh* Given a choice, I will rather spend that extra day at the resort sleeping by the beach or pool !

Also found out that Sanya was the venue of MIss UNiverse in 2004 or something! hahaa we passed by the building built specially for the event!

But sadly, the beach is not as white and sandy and clear as I thought Sanya will be!

ANywyas its the company that counts! Had a great time with Elisa and Elaine!!!
We need another holiday soooon!!!!!!!! =)

The Hainan-ners!

Stick Rice in Coconut Husk!

This rock can be found at Tian Ya Hai Jiao - Meaning 'The Ends of the Earth'

The white 'tent' that Miss UNiverse was held at.

Check this out! Hainan chicken in its most original form

(SIngapore's 'mutated' one is much much nicer!!!)

wats up!!!!!

The world is going crazy...maybe not the world..but the whole banking and finance industry....Have never seen it so volatile before!!! Wa...think I can tell my kids (if ever) next time that Mummy went through Great Depression 2!!!!!
Was at work watching how AUD was free falling....it fell 6% in 1 day!!! Oh gosh!!!!
ANd KRW is going to hit 1400 against USD...have never seen it hit 1400 before!!!!!!
Oh man!!! What mad volatility!!

Only happy thing amongst these dark clouds...is that USD is secretly creeping back up!!! WHich signifies great news for me..as Im earning HKD pegged to USD....HKD to SGD used to be 5.6....now its 5.3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Im gonna do some FX trading tmr to change my HKD to SGD! Yipppeee!!!

an "out-of-spore" experience

During my 2 weeks holiday in Sing-Aust, I went on a little excursion with Meow Meow and Yu Yu (a cat and a fish)......It was a fantabulous day out!!! Cos...not only did I get to taste sandwiches and carrot cake prepared and baked with lovee, but I could also finally ride on the wakeboard!!! the feeling is just...SHIOK!

Always thought Im hopeless in wakeboarding (cos I tried twice in HK but the waves there were just too strong!) and was really afraid that I will not be able to stand ...but I DID and I was riding for pretty long too!!! All thanks to Meow and Yu for introducing me to Jem aka Captain Hoe Say Bo!!!! Just a few words of wisdom from him and I could ride!! Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! THank God he didnt have to chop off his head that day! (he said if I cannot ride..he will chop off his head)

Im so excited about this new found sport!!! Cant wait to do it again!!!! But nothing can be compared with doing it again with Meow and Yu, my motivators for the sport =P

These 2 ah.....can do change of legs, 180/360 degrees surface, crossing the wakes...so coool!!!!!

We also had 2 mini 'performances' by the pros, Jem and Jon!! Wah...that was the first time I saw live wakeboarding jumps!! Jon could jump and somersault across 2 wakes oh gosh faints!!!!

Quite exhilarating watching em.......maybe i can be like that some day tooo.. **dreams**

oh oh! anoher highlight! Jem brought the whole troop to a kelong for a little picnic b4 wakeboarding too!! was really cool! Dont think I have ever been to a kelong in Singapore b4!!!

After wakeboarding, we went to this not-so-open restaurant in Sembawang for dinner... Quite a cool place, hidden yet u can see the HDB flats from afar! wahahhaa..dunno how to describe ! Really thanks to Jem for bringing all of us there!!

@ the Kelong
Yu and meow staring at Yu in the water

Savoring homemade carrot cake..yummm

Close up of carrot cake...w Captain HSB salivating @ the back

Happy girlies!

Pretty flowers made by Meow meow! so sweeeett!

My turn! All ready to get in!

Jem: " Ok just push ur butt against the board and stand"

Fran thinking: " so easy mehhh......."

ooohhh And...up I went!!!! yoo hooooo!!!

I love the feeling of the wind and water against my face

Look one-hand!!!! @ @

Captain HSB!

And up in the air he goes! Say bo??

And thats mini yu yu at the back! hee hee

Pom pom time for the boards!

Dinner-finally.....wakeboarding is tiring no doubt..

My yummy grill!

Hopefully, I will get to do more posts on more wakeboarding stunts in the near near future!!!!!

Missing the day........ =)