Gwendolyn Arnauld Elfglitter

I think we can all go part-time be satay sellers! Look how bright and nicely the flames burn!

Yeah! Finally, the long-awaited BBQ! Sorry hor, this one only for ERC Committee and Sports Conveners + captains hor.

Actually, suppose to start fire at 5.30pm but you know lah… BBQ sometimes is like Chinese wedding dinner lidat… everybody rubber timing… So hor… we oni started the fire around 7+… *Oops*  Hahaha… Eh… Though we started late but the fire set up was done pretty well and in a jiffy too ok! (Refer to the above pic) Hehehe…

Left to Right: Seng Guan, Kerwin, Chee Yee, Elaine, Jason, Steph and Mel (sitting on Steph’s lap)

Some of us are just somehow, much more excited than the rest… Folks like Bro Seng Guan, Jason, Elaine and Chee Yee came right on the dot 5.30pm man! But Jason a bit smarter… ‘Cuz he went roller-blading while the other 3 “sit around” lor!  Hahaha… Urhm, Steph and me reached around 6.30pm. We took the wrong bus some more! Went for a joy-ride around Pasir Ris estate!  Lucky the bus passed by a stop that is nearer to our destination. Sorry lah, Steph, I don’t mix Pasir Ris leh… *Oops*

Left to Right: Kerwin and Seng Guan (& Steph a bit “hidden” somewhere! Hahaha…)

Ok folks, don’t be fooled by Kerwin! He’s not the real “Firestarter”. The real ones are Steph, Elaine and I think Chee Yee and Seng Guan oso got a share to dirty their hands. Ya, Kerwin is just “maintaining’ it till the food comes.  Speaking of that, anyone called our Chairman about the food yet? It’s not here yet leh!  Hahaha…

Wah lao eh… The moon is coming out soon and the food not here yet… We almost finished the charcoals already leh… Anyone mind having a “Drinks BBQ”!?! Jason and Mel fully expressed our sentiments, especially Jason!  Hahaha… *Sob*

 Ok lah! Since the food is not here let’s find something to do! You take me, I take you taking me!  Hahaha…

Come, let’s take group photo.  Wah lao, not like this!?  Hahaha…

(Left to Right: Chee Yee, Elaine, Steph & Mel)

 wHeRe Is ThE fOoD!?!?!?!!!

Woo hoo! Finally, the food was here at what seemed like 8+pm. Who cares about the exact time, it’s BBQ time and most of all, MAKAN TIME!!!

I think Steph will be having more interesting things mentioned in her blog. May be I’ll ask her about it when I see her tomorrow.

Special thanks to Chairman Bee Hoon, Nichelle, Rachel, Ng Ming and Pak Kiong for the BBQ preparations.

Pictures not taken to be used for ransom are folks like Bee Hoon, Nichelle, Rachel, Ng Ming and Pak Kiong, and also Hsiao Yun, Crsytal, Althea, Chin Chai, Hui Peng and Vincent.

By the way, no chicken wings were harmed during the picture-taking of this BBQ (They got eaten after that)! Oh! And not forgetting the nice stingray with the super-dooper spicy blacan chilli, the otah, the squid, the satay, the Taiwan sausages, the Japanese toufu, the….  Hehehe…

 Left to right: “Multiple-layer Kueh”, “Kueh Dada”, “Coconut-covered Tapioca Kueh” (Actually, I have no idea!)

So small a token, so great an impact. To many others, this may not be some great deal. It was not a big deal to me too in the past. In fact, to harbor the thought that it is more hassle than T.L.C. was what I thought. But this morning, it was a different feeling. Thank you, Mummy! Then again, I shall teach her how to get to my blog so that she can read this!

I heard the keys, followed by the familiar shuffling of the slippers. Without much thought, I assume Mum brought Mr Ben downstairs for his regular regime and continued with my rountine preparation for work in my room. Running late again for the 2nd day in a row.

Not long, sounds of the keys and gate rung again. Seconds later, Mum knocked on my door and told me she hung this bag of munch by the gate, so that I would not forget. She had gone downstairs just to buy it for me. I felt very touched and at the same time, ashamed. Normally, I would tell her it’s not necessary to prepare breakfast for me, especially if it’s gonna take her the effort to go to the kopitiam downstairs to get it. There were days she had really bad aches, and all these “extras” I can do without. After all, I’ve gotten pretty used to skipping breakfast.  

“Guess it all started the evening before yesterday…”

I was preparing some reports and slides for my boss. It was about 0430hrs when she woke up and shocked to see me still struggling with the lappy. In actual fact, I didn’t get much sleep. My boss’ deadline to me was in fact, that nite itself, as he in turn, has the deadline fixed the next morning on the same subject matter. We were both kinda thrown off-guard as we both received the deadline at very short notice from The Management.

“Disastrous 1st meeting…”

At our 1st internal discussion some time back, I had a hard time presenting the stuff to my boss and my boss’ boss. This is largely due to the fact that I felt kinda bleek about what was actually considered a fair and accurate reflection of the financial figures. “If only I had more time” was what I felt then. From that meeting, I have gathered just about enough grasp to do a better job. I told myself that it will be better the next round, and I would not complicate my team member, Charmaine, with my shallow focus. Somehow, I sorta blame myself that Charmaine and the little life breeding in her tummy had to suffer the late nite with me during the 1st preparation. Charmaine, if you’re reading this, thanks for your help and I’m very sorry about the late nite.  Anyway, now it’s THE TIME.

“Do a better one this time, Fer”

It was a nite of battle against the extrapolating of the numbers, a self-battle against tiredness, and most of all, a battle against time itself. By near 0330hrs, dinner has already been depleted in my stomach. So, its a battle against hunger as well! Wah lao eh…

By the time I got it done and sent, it was already 0530hrs! Broken my own record of 0400hrs previously!  Is it a better job this time? I dunno, but one thing for sure - I felt better.  Was contemplating if I should sleep (knowing that I’ll be late if I do sleep at this time!) or go have a darn early breakfast. Nay, but then again, there’s in fact, nothing else to do already!  No lah, actually I remembered there’s badminton later in the evening. I’ll need the rest. So, ok lor! Went to sleep dreaming of Mcdonald’s stinger - “Becuz of you… The sun will always shine into my life… lah lah lah~”  

“Slip of the tongue is no fault of the mind… Or is it the other way around?”

Woke up late as can be! Greeted Mum with “I’M SO HUNGRY!” when about to race off. Quickly, she fumbled over the margarine and bread. Pushed the sandwhich into my hands with “EAT AS YOU GO”. Left house at 0900hrs when I should already be seated at my desk!

“T.L.C.”

So folks, that’s how I got breakfast this morning. Hmmm, wonder if it will be the same menu tomorrow morning… Think I better have a word with Mum later.  And for those of you who managed to read this entire post, WELL DONE!

Quote: “Be willing to lose a battle, in order to win a war.” ~ Sun Tze (I think?)

Strangely, it has laid hidden at the back of my mind all this while.

Today, someone mentioned these 3 words.

Strangely, I found it extremely familiar.

 He meant it to be part of his speech to his companion.

But strangely, I found it extremely familiar.

Then I realised… It was once dedicated to me…

“I will love you until my dying day…”

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL LOVE SONG EVER.

Never knew I could feel like this
Like I’ve never seen the sky before
Want to vanish inside your kiss
Every day I love you more and more
Listen to my heart, can you hear it sing?
Telling me to give you everything
Seasons may change, winter to spring
But I love you until the end of time

Come what may
Come what may
I will love you until my dying day

~ Nicole Kidman & Ewan Mcgregor ~

Seems like the virus has taken a liking for my throat. Felt my whole throat burning up. This is not good. Can feel the thick greenish globules in my lungs, reluctant to be thrown out.

For goodness sake! I just caught it last month and now it’s back again! What is going on!?

Hmmm, looks like I’ve really been “working too hard”. Now, I’m like coughing SUPER HARD too. Each cough seems like my whole throat is crackin’ up. Wonder if I’ll cough out BLOOD again this time? *Yucks!*

Oh C’mon! I have a wedding dinner to attend tomorrow! Can’t afford to fall sick now!? And great, I have been warned to stay away from chilli! How can!? I love spicy food! This is sick!

And there’s also the upcoming BBQ , I can’t afford to miss that too! It’s been ages since I reload those BBQ stint from Secondary School days! Only this time it’s with all the fun folks from ERC! Not gonna miss that in a million years! 

Perhaps I should just “use poison to cure poison”.

Everything in the home desktop has been wiped out with the crash, as it now lays as dummy on the table-top.

What a way to spend my leave.

Initial plan was to sleep in. Who knows my sis woke me up around 1100++ hrs and asked if I “did anything” to our 4-yr-old desktop at home.

“I didn’t touch it for what seems like eons.” I murmured in my sleep-mode. Can’t be bothered with her mumbles as she exited from my room.

That does it. It’s the same-o-mess again they have left me. My sleep has been disrupted. I woke up with bad cough (just got it today it seemed), went to the stagnant com, on it and there it is, an unfamiliar desktop setting. Norton Anti-virus has been disabled and can’t activate or enabled it.

When was the last time you access it? About 5 days ago.

Did you update the anti-virus definitions list? No.

Did u accidentally format the entire C drive? Not that I remember.

Did mom touch this baby recently (she always does that “I am the computer explorer adventure” thingy and left me with messes)? I don’t think so.

Most likely a virus. A fair chance of it formatting the C drive too.

Looks like mom’s gonna scream her head off tonite. Am thinking of replacing the com for a while already… Hopeless wreck, though it spelt Pentium 4, works like a Pentium 3.

One of my favourites - Angelina Jolie!

Brother Lukey and I have been planning this since last week, just like the badminton session last evening. Simply Gorgeous Movie (except for the panning camera that leaves me with a headache!)

Yoz! Had a great day today! Woke up at 1100+ hrs on a WEEKDAY! Nearly overslept and missed the appointment with Brother Lukey! *Oops* We planned to catch the show, then he heads off for his table-tennis while I joined my “gang” at the Tampines Sports Hall thereafter.

Introduced my dear fren, brother to the ”gang” and also to Coach Hassan. Well, guess he didn’t go for “ping pong” after all! You see, “HIS stomach wasn’t feeling fantastic today.” It’s the stomach-send-signal-to-the-buttock thingy… So, er… *Hehe*

Eh Lukey, don’t forget our pool challenge hey? I think you’ll most prob lose 6-7 again leh! Hahaha…

Rob Thomas - “Lonely No More”

My sister said it’s just another song of repeated lyrics. Hmmm… I tend to agree! Hahaha…

I don’t wanna be angry no more
But you know I could never stand for this
So when you tell me that you love me, know for sure
I don’t want to be lonely anymore

FER WAS HERE - 12/06/2005, 1300-1500+ hrs.

Hmmm… As usual, I was late for the badminton training. Woke up at 7am sharp, man! Darted into the bathroom as fast as possible and turned on the shower (Time to wake up!). *Brrr…* Just then, inspiration splattered me again (I always think better when bathing!)… Since I can’t make it for the training that usually starts with a jog around the Sports Hall, why don’t I jogged to the Sports Hall from home!? ONZ AH! Quickly got my act together, packed my gears ready and zipped outta house! Along the way to the lift, trying to stretch my muscles as much as possible, do as much warm-up as possible. Too bad I had to share the lift with an uncle (nowadays uncles all wake up so early leh… 7+ am in the morning leh…), otherwise I could have done some “Matrix” stretchings in the lift!

Don’t play play hor, I really jogged to the Sports Hall!  Pai Say. Coach Hassan was at the main entrance when I reached. *Oops*  Oh well, better late than never! Finally, the training started. Coach Hassan really put in effort to want to train me. I can feel it. *psychic power*

The jog really did some good. I don’t feel so stiff while playing the games (though I still lost). I’m thinking of jogging to the Sports Hall from home (like this morning) + 1 round around it (with my gears) for next Sunday’s training!

 Oh, BY THE WAY… Looks what Coach Hassan got me! Cotton shirts for a TRUE BADMINTON PLAYER!  Originally, I only asked for 1. But then again, he was kind enuf to get 2 real nice ones for me. Really appreciate it.

Well, that was not all. Dunno what’s gotten into me today. After 3 hours of training, I’m still feeling energetic. So, I joined Steph, Tiff, Brother Ah Liang & Da Sao for another round of badminton @ Punggol CC @ 1300hrs. First time meeting Da Sao (Brother Ah Liang’s wifey). She very humourous and sporting leh! Definitely not like the other young mothers I’ve seen. When Brother Ah Liang and Da Sao speak, for a moment I can’t picture that Brother Ah Liang used to be shy and introvert last time. She must have influenced him quite a bit (until now sometimes a bit siao! *Ssshhh*). Such a wonderful couple! 

After the game, I took the trusty Bus 27 from Hougang bus interchange. Pretty fast ride (I think). Either that or I dozed off too deeply on the bus. Lucky never drool. Erhm, and I don’t think I snored too lah hor? Hahaha…   But I did remember spotting this funny direction signage before I lost consciousness! BANGKOK in Singapore?!?! BUANGKOK in Singlish?!?!?  Eh, anyone can tell me this word belongs to which language ah? Hmmm…Interesting things around here… And now I’m tired liao! 

Hey~!

Think I can do this forever? Nay, I finished it! Good book. From a real-life story. Kinda sad setting, but marvellous facts of life. Some anedotes that struck me from the respective “Tuesdays” are:

Hey Ya!

Today, Exel Recreation Club T-shirts are finally here! Cool, isn’t it? Too bad, folks. Only the Committee members get it.

Originally, we wanted the T-shirt to be of RED HOT CHILLI RED. But unfortunately, the RED that the supplier showed us are all not to our expectation. Plus, some of the big bosses so superstitious. They felt that choosing RED means indicating our company is in the RED (Going Downhill)!  So in the end, we chose BLACK. Oh! And BY THE WAY, the logos are all EMBROIDERED ones hor! Wa lao eh… Very Chioz leh!

Anyway, the official launch for Exel Recreation Club is supposed to be the day after tomorrow, 10 June. It has been postponed to 09 July - same day as the Exel Way Walk. Good news to us. At least we don’t have to rush into things.

Woo hoo! Go Rec Club, Go Rec Club, GO!!! Goal!? Gold!? Aiya! Just Go!