Some statement...

I saw this in England... Very accurate in describing some kids... You'll know what I mean if you've been around one... or more :-S

Weird...

There are some really funny stuff that I've come across in this part of the world -- although it's just less than four hours' flight time from Malaysia.

Besides the pink (solid) cars (I've seen BMW's in pink, Adrian thinks that these car owners should be executed), scooters and helmets, Hello Kitty all over (seriously both interior & exterior) some cars... the most ridiculous "behaviour" is this...

This is a Ferrarri parked in the carpark of our apartment. We would walk pass this car after we've parked ours and make our way to the elevators everyday after work. We've always wondered why the rear bonet was left open (without anyone near the car) every time we walk passed it after work but not any other time during the day.

Until one night, when we made our way back to our car after we've got home for a couple of hours, we noticed the rear bonet was closed after being spotted left open a couple of hours ago. We sort of guessed the reason... I must admit that it never occurred to me that a Ferrari could get overheated... Daft is the only word that is polite enough to describe the behaviour...

Farewell...

Yesterday was one of the busiest days in the year because the only one left in the Commercial Team is me. Back to square one... I started in the team as the First and only member, for 8 months, I had neither a manager nor an administrator.

Then Brian came and join us.

3 months later, Jane joined.

The team grew from slightly less than 15 to 75 at peak... so big that we have never had the chance to take a group picture together with everybody... This is just about 2/3...

Now, most of those in the picture have left.

We have delivered 2 wonderful projects (both first of its kind - so we are told) - The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at Four Seasons. Impressive results. All of us have gained new experience and friendships working this project.

It's been a roller coater ride for some. For me, it's a part of some of the most interesting experience in my life and I will always treasure the good times and bad that we've been through together.

Hang tough, guys!

iPML Xmas "Party"

Tonight, we have our first and possibly last iPML Xmas Party at RASCALS tonight!

Paul and I have been making posters for tonight... just for the fun of it... O btw, it's a private function, hopefully no outsiders are joining us!

Chinese version

The Venetian Job

My Goodness, my job!

The Nightmare Before Christmas...

Personally, I like this one most... and I want to dedicate this to all the guys in Podium Fitout Team who's been laid off -- most of them will wake up on Christmas day and find themselves jobless... WHAT AN ARRANGEMENT!

B O R E D O M

As everybody here in Macau/Hong Kong knows, this project has been suspended until Sands actually finds his funding... While just about 90% of the whole team (all of the teams) have been laid off, and some are still sitting around serving their notices... Adrian has created this brilliant piece! It's been circulated, posted on walls and partitions in some the offices hahaha!

A job well done!

小學生造句

Sorry if you don't read Chinese...


笑死我也…




很有趣的造句！隨著年齡增長，愈發羨慕小朋友能夠如此天真無邪的用語....當然，
也很羨慕這位老師如此幽默的評語，這工作真是享受.....
小學生造句精選

1。題目：一邊....一邊....
小朋友寫：他一邊脫衣服，一邊穿褲子。
老師批語：他到底是要脫還是要穿啊？

2。題目：其中
小朋友寫：我的其中一只左腳受傷了。
老師批語：你是蜈蚣嗎？

3。題目：陸陸續續
小朋友寫：下班了，爸爸陸陸續續的回家了。
老師批語：你到底有幾個爸爸呀？

4。題目：難過
小朋友寫：我家門前有條水溝很難過。
老師批語：老師更難過。

5。題目：又....又.....
小朋友寫：我的媽媽又矮又高又胖又瘦。
老師批語；你的媽媽是變形金鋼嗎？

6。題目：你看
小朋友寫：你看什麼看！沒看過啊？
老師批語：沒看過。

7。題目：欣欣向榮
小朋友寫：欣欣向榮榮告白。
老師批語：連續劇不要看太多了！

8。題目：好吃
小朋友寫：好吃個屁。
老師批語：有些東西是不能吃的。

9。題目：天真
小朋友寫：今天真熱。
老師批語：你真天真。

10。題目：果然
小朋友寫：昨天我吃水果，然後喝涼水。
老師批語：是詞組，不能分開的。

11。題目：先....再....，例題：先吃飯，再冼澡。
小朋友寫：先生，再見！
老師批語：想像力超過了地球人的智慧。

12。題目：況且
小朋友寫：一列火車經過，況且況且況且況且況且況。(請唸出來)
老師批語：我死了算了。

The disaster

It has been a sad sad month and it's only half way through.

First the Fitout team at 5&6 started letting ppl go when it was decided that L2&3 are suspended. Adrian was lucky to be kept and transferred down to the Casino, and that means he gets to stay -- a relief! Then it's our team, the RCT, we had to let 5 teammates go. Honestly, it did not impact us that much -- big relief. But Eric had already been laid off and Mendy was requested to resign a month ago and served her notice and left the first week of the month. She was glad to have to leave -- she was going back to Australia to get married!

This week, worse news struck early Monday - 5&6 will be suspended indefinitely, i.e. until Sands finds a financier/sufficient funding. This means that Adrian job is on the line now. He is gonna be laid off if he is not one of the skeleton team member that's been selected to babysit the project that is now at "vegetable" state (it was said that only 4 will form the team). Adrian is not confident that he's gonna make the team -- well at least that is not the impression he got from the chats that he had with Paul James. However, up to today, they haven't announced anything to the team yet.

The full suspension of 5&6 also means that the RCT will have no shops to open in the project and that will lead to a major downsize of the team. The bad news struck early morning of Thursday (13/11/08) -- I was called in to Ken Holman's room. There, he told me that they've decided that they will keep 12 team members and I was one of the 12. It's gonna be tough moving ahead but that's the reality. He wanted my commitment and with Adrian's future unknown, I will have to commit. And I did.

It wasn't my decision but I got what I hoped for. Of course I want to keep my job considering going back to Malaysia seems to be a bad idea now -- it's not doing any better compared to here anyway.

I should be happy to have kept my job. However, that wasn't the case. You can't imagine how bad it feels to see your mates being let go like that when at the same time, you get to stay. Not unless you've been there -- Adrian's been there and I'm so glad that he understood me. I cried that day before I had lunch with some teammates. I thought it was the worst that it could get. I was wrong.

Then came Friday. The day that they have to break the news to the teammates individually. The management met with them individually and gave them the letters and... that's it. I was busy putting cost analysis together for Mall Management but I couldn't help hearing ppl saying goodbyes and taking pictures... and the fact that Jane and Brian will be parting soon hurt so bad! These two wonderful mates have been my best friends in the team. I don't want them to leave! But I can't do anything about it. I hate the feeling of being helpless. Everything has a solution but not this one. When Eddie came around to my cubicle (he normally doesn't do that, btw, he's one of the selected 12) I turned to him and then broke down and cried. I am not good at things like this. It's harder than I thought. Knowing that some guys have got a family to feed, toddlers and mortgages...

I just hope that all my mates pull this through and I wish them all the best in their future undertakings.

Now I have to worry about Adrian being laid off and sent to another country for another job or finds another job in another country after being laid off. They are going to break the news to the Fitout team next week.

So stressed that my period came 1 week earlier. Shit.

Nothing to be proud of!!

I have never been political. You can say that I'm handicapped - I don't see it, I don't hear it, I don't read it, I don't even talk about it! If there's a grading system to it, I'm probably not qualified to be graded.

I think that was because Malaysia has always been, well, all through my life until I got here, a very calm country politically. People that I met (foreigners) were constantly surprised how well all the different races got along. I have always been proud about this. I still remember there was this ad that said, "Proud to be Malaysian"... I agreed, totally. I even defended the Malays/Muslims in our country whenever I hear criticisms about how agressive they are. They were really such kind people!

As you can read from my last post, things have changed dramatically. I fear going back although I don't earn as much as UDS20,000 a month (not sooooooo qualified la!) but I do earn at least five times better that what I was earning 2 years ago (I must say that Malaysian Chinese employers are not very reputable in this respect)! Besides the money bit, I don't feel safe being in the country anymore. But what do I do?

I love the country - I have always encouraged my foreign friends to visit Malaysia. We have some of the most beautiful islands and beaches, the greenest mountains and the greenest cities, richest cultures (Malaysia Truly Asia, is true!), best food in the world. We have no natural disasters except a few floods. We did not have riots (I don't know about now) like our neigbouring countries do. We have summer all year long! And most of all, we have the friendliest ppl to welcome our guests! And I have never hesitated to help promote my country until now. I feel that I have the responsibility to tell how good my country is but I can't lie...

We are (soon I'm gonna change "We" to "You"!!) killing our country don't you see???
俗語有云: "屎坑點燈 -- 找屎!" in English, we're digging our own graves! Yeah! Go ahead and do it!! You can do it!! Like you always say, "Malaysia Boleh!"

I must quote Patrick Teoh's blog name here --- "Niamah!!!" (this is what he named his blog!)

Some interesting topic...

I have read some very disturbing (yet very very true) about my home country -- Malaysia... One of the blogs I read is Patrick Teoh's "Niamah!!!" but today, I read something that speaks my mind... see below...

Very frightened Malaysian abroad writes
Interesting topic to share....

I HAVE been meaning to pen some thoughts for some time now, to let people actually read the views of the typical 'overseas Malaysian' who is kept away. I realise that my email is rather long, but I do hope that you would consider publishing it (and also keep my name private!).

I shall start by telling a little about my background. Mine is a rather sad tale - of a young Malaysian full of hope and patriotic enthusiasm, which is slowly but surely trickling away.

I am very different from many other non-bumiputeras, as I was given tremendous opportunities throughout my childhood.. Born into a middle-class Chinese but English-speaking family, I grew up with all the privileges of imported books, computers, piano/violin lessons and tuition teachers.

My parents insisted that I should be exposed to a multi-racial education in a national school. In my time, my urban national school (a missionary school) was a truly happy place - where the Malays, Chinese and Indian students were roughly equal in proportion. We played and laughed with each other, and studied the history of the world together during Form 4, with one interesting chapter dedicated to Islamic history.

Though 75% of my teachers were Malays, I never really noticed. My Malay teachers were the kindest to me - teaching me well and offering me every possible opportunity to develop. I led the district teams for English and Bahasa Malaysia debating competitions. I was the only non-Malay finalist in the Bahasa Malaysian state-level elocution competition. My Malay teachers encouraged me to transfer to a government residential school ( sekolah berasrama penuh) so as to enable me to maximise my academic potential. I refused because I was happy where I was, so they made me head prefect and nominated me as a 'Tokoh Pelajar Kebangsaan'. Till this day, I am absolutely certain that it was the kindness of all my Malay teachers which made me a true Malaysian.

I excelled at school and was offered a Singaporean government scholarship to study overseas. I turned them down because I wanted to ensure that I would remain a 'true Malaysian' in the eyes of Malaysia.. So I accepted a Malaysian government scholarship to study at Oxford University .

Throughout my three years as an undergraduate, the officers at the MSD looked after me very well, and was always there to offer support. I graduated with first class honours, and was offered a job with a leading investment bank. The JPA released me from my bond, so as to enable me to develop my potential. I shall always be grateful for that. I worked hard and rose in rank. My employer sent to me to Harvard University for postgraduate study and I climbed further up their meritocratic ladder.

Now I am 31 years old and draw a comfortable monthly salary of US$22,000. Yet, I yearn to return home.. I miss my home, my family, my friends, my Malaysian hawker food and the life in Malaysia . I have been asked many times by Singaporean government agencies to join them on very lucrative terms, but I have always refused due to my inherent patriotism.

Crushing down
I really want to return home. I have been told by government-linked corporations and private companies in Malaysia that at best, I would still have to take a 70% pay cut if I return to Malaysia to work. I am prepared and willing to accept that. My country has done a lot for me, so I should not complain about money.

But of late, my idealistic vision of my country has really come crashing down, harder and faster than ever before. I read about the annual fiasco involving non-bumiputera top scorers who are denied entry to critical courses at local universities and are offered forestry and fisheries instead. (My cousin scored 10A1's for SPM and yet was denied a scholarship).

I read about Umno Youth attacking the so-called meritocracy system because there are less than 60% of Malay students in law and pharmacy, whilst conveniently keeping silent about the fact that 90% of overseas scholarship recipients are Malays and that Malays form the vast majority in courses like medicine, accountancy and engineering at local universities.

I read about the Higher Education Minister promising that non-bumiputera Malaysians will never ever step foot into UiTM.
I read about a poor Chinese teacher's daughter with 11A1's being denied a scholarship, while I know some Malay friends who scored 7A's and whose parents are millionaires being given scholarships.
I read about the brilliant Prof KS Jomo ( right), who was denied a promotion to Senior Professor (not even to Head of Department), although he was backed by references from three Nobel Prize winners. Of course, his talent is recognised by a prestigious appointment at the United Nations.

I read about Umno Youth accusing Chinese schools of being detrimental to racial integration, while demanding that Mara Junior Science Colleges and other residential schools be kept only for Malays.

I read about the Malay newspaper editors attacking the private sector for not appointing enough Malays to senior management level, whilst insisting that the government always ensure that Malays dominate anything government-related.
I read that at our local universities, not a single vice-chancellor or deputy vice-chancellor is non-Malay.

I read that in the government, not a single secretary-general of any ministry is non-Malay. The same goes for all government agencies like the police, armed forces, etc.

I read about Umno screaming for the Malay Agenda, but accusing everyone else of racism for whispering about equality.
I tremble with fear

I read about a poor Indian lady having to pay full price for a low-cost house after being dispossessed from a plantation, whilst Malay millionaires demand their 10% bumiputera discount when buying RM2 million bungalows in a gated community.

I read about my beloved national schools becoming more and more Islamic by the day, enforced by overzealous principals.
I read about my Form 4 World History (Sejarah Dunia) syllabus, which now contains only one chapter of world history, with Islamic history covering the rest of the book.

As I read all this, I tremble with fear. I love my country and long to return. I am willing to take a 70% pay cut. I am willing to face a demotion. I honestly want to contribute my expertise in complex financial services and capital markets. But really, is there a future for me, for my children and for their children? I am truly frightened.

I can deal with the lack of democracy, the lack of press freedom, the ISA, our inefficient and bureaucratic civil service, our awful manners and even a little corruption. But I cannot deal with racism in my homeland.

I think this is the single biggest factor which is keeping people like myself away. And bear in mind - there are so many of us (researchers, scientists, bankers, economists, lawyers, academics, etc.).

What people read about in Malaysia (like Dr Terence Gomez) is but the tiniest tip of the iceberg. You will be amazed to know about Malaysians denied JPA scholarships (which would have made them civil servants), took loans to attend Ivy League universities, but who are later asked to advise our government (on IT, economics, etc.) at fees running to millions of US dollars. Such information will never be published because it is politically incorrect.

As a Christian, I pray for God's blessing on this great country of ours. I pray that He blesses our leaders with the foresight and humanity to see that this will not work and cannot continue. I pray that they will have the strength to make our country a home for all Malaysians and that they will have mercy for the poor, including the non-Malays. I pray for true racial harmony and acceptance (not just tolerance) in Malaysia . - Yours sincerely, A very frightened Malaysian abroad.

Time

I'd bet you know who sketched this. Yup it's me. I have this pinned on my partition because I want to remember the first day I started work in the Venetian.

I've been in Macau for approx. 27 months now... things have turned tougher these days but I'm still hanging here. Got to know so many interesting friends. Although some have already left the place but I do continue meeting different people. Every so often I realize that I'm around mostly Mat Salleh/Gweilos when I'm socializing. Sometimes it feels like I'm one of them and yet I'm not... strange feeling. Yes, I'm an expat here but I'm not very different from the major population here -- Chinese. However, not many Chinese hang out with Mat Salleh let alone Chinese girls. I would sometimes look around me and find that I'm the only Chinese girl in the crowd. Some friends even call me Gweipo...

I know I'm not an average girl all my life. I live a very different lifestyle from my closest friends back home. Sometimes I feel like an outsider around them. Some of my theories or my concepts are alien language to them. Despite all these, I still manage to make some really good girl friends here -- Mendy, Edith, Luria, Jane and Chin. In a way, we are all the same -- crazy and yet we make sense -- we are some of the most sensible girls in the region. hahaha!! At least that's what I think of us.

"If your man doesn't appreciate you... he's a stupid dumb arse..." that's what I've been told. And my reply was, "If he doesn't appreciate me, he doesn't deserve me..." hehehe!

I will hang tough and stick around until one day they no longer need me here and I will show the other parts of the world my charm hahahahahahaha!!

T8

It was the 6th of August... I woke up, well, half conscious, but I could still tell that the rain and the wind sounded louder than last night!! We (well almost everyone I know) prayed very hard(I just hoped, didn't really pray, because I don't really have a God to pray to... and borrowing one didn't sound normal...)that T8 hoisted so that we can all have a day off!! hehehehe yup T8=no work!! (Brian kept looking at the weather updates on the web the day before anyway! hahaha!!

We don't have Typhoon in Malaysia... well, at least our umbrellas don't "transform" into shapes like this in the wind... maybe we have better brollies...

Why did they insist using an umbrella like that????????????????

Anyway, it was a nice day off -- the moment I saw T8 on the TV screen(turn on the TV and they will have a small little log on the top left of the screen that tells you if it's T8 or something else or nothing...), I switched it off and then fell back to sleep... mmm... nice and sweet... mmm... zzzzzz....zzzz...zz..

At approx. 8:11am, Brian texted me and said, "In case you didn't know, it's T8 now and we're are not required to work but if it turned T3 before 2pm, we will need to go back to work... bla bla bla..." ya, ya... not bothered!!!

... we anxiously waited and hope that T3 comes after 2pm... 1:30pm "Babe can you please check the TV and see if it's still T8?" and I shouted back to him from the living room, "Can you please check the internet while I check the TV just to be sure?" and this exercise went on a few times until just after 2:00pm and "Yes!!!" we're off the rest of the day!! hahahaha!!!

It was a lazy day. Very lazy! We slept, watched TV, ate, slept a lot more, watched some movies... mmm... mmm... hahahahahaha!!

Some said that there will be 3 Typhoons in August... I just hope they came during the week... not weekends please!! hehehe

New Born!!!!

Good news arrived yesterday afternoon at about 3pm, I've become an antie again!! My brother's 2nd son is born!

I thought my brother could have taken a nicer photo... hmm... look at this ugly wrinkly little thing!! Hahahaha!!


According to my mom, he's got bigger mouth than his brother and cries louder than him! I just can't wait to get home and give the little thing a big big hug!

Some Engrish Menu!

I have been receiving emails about how Chinese (not only PRC Chinese, but Taiwan Chinese, HK/Macau Chinese, Japanese, Korean...) is translated to English wrongly... They call them Engrish.

Guess What me and Adrian found? We went shopping new the St. Paul's Church one weekend and saw this... but they do sell very delicious food and had asked us to help to correct the mistakes and of course, we did...

(click on the images to view larger image)




I'm not gonna translate... just ask me if you want to know what they are hehehe... For those who read Chinese, don't you dare to ask!!

One more!

Found one more as I was looking through the files...



"Fat area" is what it says in Chinese! I wouldn't want to live there for sure...

New discovery in Macau!!

I've been in Macau since August 2006, that means that I've been here for 1.75yrs now... and still, it's a very exciting adventure! Every now and then I have new discoveries!!

Here are some funny street names I came across lately...



I don't know about the Portuguese words but the Chinese words, pronounced "die law hong" (English pronunciation) or "dai loh hong" (Malay pronunciation), which means "Big Butt (bottom) Alley" in Cantonese!!!

and this one...



The Portuguese means "little hide out of pirates"... hehehe in Cantonese, it means "little thief area" ... hahaha

Love 'em!!

Top 3 spots for photos in the Grand Canal Shoppes, Venetian, Macau

I have been thinking about blogging this since not long after the Venetian’s Grand Opening…

When we walk around the mall, the gals and I found some really strange things… the things that we normally wouldn’t do…

And so we have concluded that the following spots in the Grand Canal Shoppes are the 3 most popular spots for camera shots!

3rd Place (outside Edo Japanese Restaurant, well comprehensive coz it has a very stunning backdrop)



2nd Place (the posters they put up on hoardings as displays so that they won’t look so plain... but to pose in front of the thing and take a picture??? come on, the real canal is just right in front of you!!)


1st Place (there’s a stage in St. Mark’s Square for Streetmosphere performances, when the stage is not in use, a black fabric panel will be placed right in front the stage, to prevent tourists/shoppers from staging themselves… erm... what's so special about a black fabric panel??? Ahhhhhh~~ Venetian's Logo!!!!)



Look!! I actually caught somebody in action!!!

Hahahaha!!

Thomas baked cookies again!!!

Thomas (the one in blue shirt) – the ultimate baker of the office… he bakes cookies occasionally and brings them to the office to share with all the colleagues. A very impressive action I must say. He’s the only man I know who bakes cookies!!

Today, he bakes again. Have a look, I just luuuuuurve the way they look… “These are bloody racist!!” says Brian hahahahaha…





and they do look yummy...



But... erm... 9 out of 10 gals think the same!! The last one, she was too...

Anyway, I must thank Thomas for all the cookies he has baked for us, they tasted wonderful! and I'm sure the guys would enjoy the cookies better than the gals this time... hehehe... ya ya ya, I know I know, I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad!!!

What a disappointment!

Last Thursday 28/03/2008 (I only have time to blog it now), we went to Oriented.com's Happy Hours (which is "simultaneously" held on the last Thursday of every month in more than ten cities around the world, providing international networking opportunities and global guanxi for members) in McSorley's, in The Venetian with Kenneth Terry, Eddie and Jane. As usual, the Guinness was good but because I've had too much to drink the night before, I only had one. It was a good place for friends get-together tho.

At about 20:15, Derek showed up and we've decided to go to the Lion's Bar in MGM (the link is for you to identify this place when you come visit Macau... read on and you'll see what I mean) but before me and Adrian got into Kenneth's car, Kenneth said he wanted to get something from his office and left us in the carpark for about 5 minutes. That was when we had a disagreement. It stopped when Kenneth returned to the car but I was still upset. It was about an accusation that Adrian made against one of my friends, which I was dead sure that Adrian was incorrect. I had to defend my friend.

Anyway, we arrived at the Lion's Bar and we made up before we even sat down but I needed more time to wait it out. When I finally calmed down, Adrian had decided he wanted to give us a kiss, but not in front of the friends - they'll tease us for sure! And so he grabbed my hand and we walked out of the bar and kissed right by the side entrance of the bar. (note: surrounding the Lion's Bar, is the casino - all 3 sides) Just as we started our kiss, a couple of security guards came at us and "told" us not to kiss there because it was the casino and that we had to get back to the bar!! hmm... that wasn't so nice! I understand that we're in Asia, which looks like a more conservative region but there was not a single sign that says, "no kissing"! Coming from a Muslim country, Malaysia, which is supposed to be very conservative, I couldn't figure it out, what do you think a gwailo like Adrian would think? I know that minors are not allowed in the casinos of Macau, and so are government servants, but no kissing is just unacceptable. And they had to send 2 impolite security guards to humiliate us???? Ya, right, we were just gonna provoke all the gamblers, who only had interest in what was happening at the gaming tables, by kissing at the side entrance of the bar!!! Can anyone please tell me if kissing is not allowed in casinos in Macau? And that it is prohibited???

I have decided to try kissing in all the other casinos in Macau and see how many casinos will send impolite security guards to tell us off... hehehehe

But I have to say that the band was pretty good. Just try to remember you can only kiss outside the casino! O ya, I saw Mark A. Brown in the same bar that night, enjoying the night... I wonder if he has ever been told off because he was kissing his missus in some casino... hmm...

Burns Night

After finished telling you about how it all began, it's now time to tell you a little bit of the new experience I had in Macau...

Burns Night - I heard about it the first time of my life, strangely, here in Asia, Macau to be exact (which has nothing much to do with Scotland)... it's a day when the Scots everywhere take time out to honour a national icon - Robert Burns (poet, balladeer and Scotland's favourite son). Each year on January 25, the great man's presumed birthday - Burns Night, whether it's a full-blown Burns Supper or a quiet night of reading poetry, Burns Night is a night for all Scots but that's the day the world paid homage to the great Scottish man...

I wanted to experience it with Adrian so I bought 2 tickets. This is all new to him too. We were there, saw a lot of familiar faces and met a lot of new people, heard a lot of alien languages - Scottish... hmm... I could only understood like 30% or less of what they were saying... poems were read, great food and wines and Piping in the Haggis... and most of all Scots men wearing kilts! (some sort of skirt hahahaha - I heard that they don't wear anything underneath!! wowow!!) And they even have a furry clutch "handbag" on their waists!! hahaha!

After the dinner, it was dancing, and singing as well!! And then we decided that we hadn't had enough partying after the event was officially over, we went to Lion's Bar at MGM! Unbelievably, Doug had became the hottest guy in the bar - girls went up to him to talk to him and taking pictures with him! Well, Doug is the guy with the most gray hair in the photos here... I think it's because of his kilt, mm... actually it was the whole package!! hahaha!!!


I thought Steve (the one in the middle) was supposed to be more attractive than Doug... well at the least he's better looking! I think it's probably because of the bottle of Whiskey in his hand! Haha!!

When we finally got home, it was 4:30am! Almost hammered and exhausted! but guess what, the best thing was, my mom wasn't there nagging me (ya ya ya, I'm at my early thirties and she still nags me... she calls me just to nag me sometimes hahahahaha but hey, despite the fact that she nags, she's still the best mom la!) and my boyfriend actually did all those crazy things with me!! hahaha!!! How could I not love being here?????

and so the story continues...

OK OK I know it's getting too long to read but hey, it's my very romantic story alright?! Look at my photo albums if I'm boring you!

And so I went home... sleepless again >____<

And, so it was 2 days later - Friday!!! You know Fridays, they always mean that happy hour starts at 3?? hehehe

I received a text from Adrian asking me to join him in the Benders - some papaya bar i.e. topless bar in Grand Waldo Hotel. I then went around asking the usual bunch if they would like to join and a few of them said yes and I replied yes to Adrian immediately. I was pretty excited about it coz I get to see Adrian again and hang out with the gang haha! But the excitement lasted for only a few minutes and it turned into rage when I received a phone call from my x-bf telling me not to go. Yes, you have not read it wrong, he literally told me not to go!!!! Why? Because it's his team mate's birthday and they don't like RCT ppl!!!! I have immediately made up my mind, even if I had to go alone I WILL GO!!! And so I hung up on him because I was so bloody angry that could not talk! And I was still very angry, I sent him an email (150point font, bolded and in red) and said, "FUCK OFF! YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!" Me and Luria both got pretty upset about this...

And right after work, we made our way there. Now because I know quite a few guys from P5 & 6, I said hi to them and chatted with them and for a bit, well, busy as usual hehehe. We (as in Eric, Richard, Jane...) were sitting with Adrian and Glenn. Mal (my x-bf's Project Manager) came to the table next to us and I went and said hello to him. The conversation started off alright but then I asked him what was wrong with his colleague telling me not to go to the benders. I was getting angry again, too angry I had to stop talking to Mal and head back to our table as I was starting to cry. Adrian asked me what happened as I was returning to my seat, I asked, "Can you give me a hug?" I really needed it soooo badly! Then I started crying hard... so hard that I thought it was too embarrassing, so I rushed into the ladies and continued crying...

I kept telling myself that he's nobody now but it somehow hurt when I thought about the ridiculous things he's done to me. I hate to be bullied and the fact that I can't fight back or don't want to fight back makes it worse!! I'm not a violent person but I am definitely one that will stand up for myself if it's gone too far! and so I cried and decided that it was the last time I would cry because of bullshit from him. and now, it doesn't hurt anymore!! YEAH!!!!

And after I finished crying, I came out of the ladies and there he was, Adrian, looking all concerned and worried... I went back to my seat, as the gang was leaving, they gave me hugs and left me with Adrian... He started asking me what was wrong and before I realize it, my head was saying, "WTF..." and we were kissing already! O he's such a kisser!!

I don't remember what time we left the bar, it was shortly after our first kiss... and then I drove us to, well he suggested the beach, and so we ended up on the beach... we hugged and kissed underneath a tree... and that was all that we did!! No one believe that nothing else happened, his hands were very well behaved as well!! And I was very very impressed! He was gentle, a little bit nervous but I could see that he was on top of the world! Haha!

It was 11th of January 2008, I will never forget this date, don't need a recall button for this one!

There you go, that's how it all started! Some may find it boring, but to me, it's one hell of a roller coaster ride!!

Valentine's Day 2008

Just in case you've got bored with all the writing, here's a video that's been taken this Valentine's Day, which was our first Valentine's Day...

Early in the morning, he made me breakfast in bed... just scrambled eggs on a toast with a glass of orange juice, normal? check out the plate he used...

And then I went to work. At about 10:30am, I received a call asking me to receive flowers outside the office... Wow! I'm not being cocky here but hey, it was the biggest bunch of flowers that day in the office of close to 100 ppl!!

I then bought him lunch at McSorleys... I had to buy him lunch at the very least! I mean he wouldn't allow me to do anything! Well, smart as me I somehow managed to buy him 2 pairs of socks, which I placed by the bed in the morning, and a Spiderman boxer which I placed on his chair before he came home from work! Nothing fancy but I did manage to surprise him a bit... B-D

He told me to go straight to his place after work and so I did... and that was what awaited me... hehehehe... I was sooooo touched! No one, absolutely no one had ever even tried to make my Valentine's Day special... Maybe they thought I didn't need one but hell, I desperately needed one!!!! and a lot more!!!!!!! each and every single one to come!!!!!!

I love you Adrian, and thank you for making my Valentine's Day soooo special! UMMMMMWA!!

Me and Adrian...

Well yes, I'm gonna talk about me and Adrian again...

There was this night when I actually sent him a text message. He replied immediately. I just don't remember what it was about coz if you have read the previous blog, the recall button in my brain is not working properly... The only thing that I remember is that his replies sounded a bit funny... he was obviously not fully conscious about what he was pressing on the phone when he replied -- I didn't understand his reply fully (I had to guess!), I sent him another one, and he replied too... same kind of reply too hehehe... still very much asleep haha! I then thought to myself, "better let him go back to sleep, this might piss him off..."

I know it was not nice to wake some friend up in the middle of the night because I couldn't sleep... but I was allowed to, encouraged to, by him!! Well, me, I let my friends call me in the middle of the night and wake me up and chat with me and all... no problem. I remember chatting with 2 of my x-bf's in high school for about 7 and 8 hours respectively, from about 11pm to 6 or 7 in the morning! And we only stopped because we were going to school! Crazy? Ya, but not so crazy la... hehehehe

If I remember correctly, it was before (or after???) I went off to the UK, we met up for a movie -- I am Legend, and then a buffet dinner in 360° Café, Macau's highest revolving restaurant, up on the 59th floor (if I remember correctly hehehe) of the Macau Tower. In the movies, it was funny. He got seats at the back row but his and mine are like at least 1.5 feet apart. He obviously didn't expect that. Well, going to our first movie, it really felt like high school again! If you have seen the movie, you'd know how they scare you. I screamed, as usual, ya ya ya, I scream, cry, laugh out loud watching movies, he gave me his hand to hold on to... sweet... but I was just too scared, and I think I squeezed his hand real hard... I did not realize how big and warm his hand was... and that it made me feel safe... you might say, "O c'mon, it's just a movie!" but that's one of the many things in that I enjoy doing which gives me a quick getaway from the everyday life...
Then we proceeded to dinner. There, they had a band going around the restaurant playing songs to guests... they came around sang us a song, a song they chose, "Change the world" by Eric Clapton. It was one of the most awkward situations when they were playing that song! Knowing what that song means, "o gosh, where do I look now? at him? O, his eyes, nope, not a good idea... outside the windows? kinda rude when ppl are singing for us... the food on my plate? hmm... not for that long... the band? probably a good idea..." and so I looked here and there and everywhere else but his eyes... "gosh, stop staring at me la!!!" I did look at him at some point but I just couldn't continue looking into his eyes, it's the way he looked at me... like it's saying, "come give me a kiss..." hahaha Yes, I was a coward! If you know me well enough, you'll know that I'm always bold... not afraid of people, and definitely not afraid of looking into ppl's eyes! I knew I was falling for him then... didn't want to admit it but couldn't avoid it Arrrrrgh!!

and so I came back from UK, depressed... but not for long. I started going out drinking with the gang again. OTT, Rascals, Star World, McSorley's... the usual places... and sometimes I would ask Adrian to come along... I could hardly sleep after I got back from UK, needed the alcohol -- I could only fall asleep around 4am or even 5am sometimes, every night. I didn't know why, because I definitely was not missing my x-bf! I remember sending Adrian a text message telling him that I couldn't sleep (Ok, I missed him ok?!)... he told me to think of something nice. I said, "I tried: I thought of you but it didn't work!" hahaha

It was one of those nights in OTT, with the gang, we ate, drank and chatted for quite a bit. Before I realized it, there were only the two of us left. We continued our conversation and we started off talking about topics that had never been brought up before... well at least not with him! as our faces got closer and closer, I suddenly realized something was gonna get outta hand and I thought to myself, "O no, Vernette, you're losing it... and no! you don't kiss him now!!!" and so I rushed into the wash room... I had to do it a few more times just to stop myself from kissing him! Phew! And so nothing happened. He then sent me home, I gave him a hug and that wrapped up the night. Phew!

and now, my fingers are tired... and I'm hungry... more stories to be told soon...

Adrian again

OK, at this point, I would assume that you have visited Adrian's blog by now. By reading his blog, you should now know how bad my memory is... hehehehe... well read his if you don't have a clue what I'm talking about... conclusion is, I don't have a recall button!!! I am very impressed because he actually remembers most of the details that I didn't remember. It's like I have a book, with titles and maybe subtitles, but not contents... but hey, I still remember how he smiled (the mouth kinda streched from his left ear to his right...) when I hugged and said goodbye to him after a McDonald's session!!

and so my story telling continues...

It was some time near the opening of the Venetian. I got hold of him. We lost contact for about half a year I think.

I was still in the previously relationship which started to make me hate myself at that point. I told myself off time and time again! However, it didn't work and I have to admit that I was badly hurt, so weak that I could not get out of it as easy as I used to (I had never had problems walking out of a relationship but this one!). But everytime I saw Adrian, he was able to make me forget about all those trouble I was having. I think that was because he was the only one outside of my everyday social life -- everyone of my friends and colleagues knew about this bf that I had...

I have to admit that I wasn't being totally honest with Adrian. Well I didn't actually lie to him, I just didn't tell him things?? hehehehe... I hear somebody telling me to F off now... hahahaha! Hey, I thought he had a gf! I did see a wallpaper on his phone that kinda made a statement that he wasn't available. "Hmm... typical Chinese girls from this part of the world (HK, Macau, China or even Thai...)!" I thought to myself. And so I asked him how his date was going. He said he wasn't dating. "Ya, right, like I am blind or something??" I didn't believe him tho. He did mention he was thinking about going steady with a girl but he could not make up his mind because he was thinking about quiting his job and move on somewhere else - not Macau. Don't ask me where, I can't remember!

And so he was just a friend. Although I enjoyed all the chats and laughs during our very brief lunch meetings nothing was likely to happen anyway! I didn't have the space in my head for anything else anyway! Being alone out here, an alien environment, was tough enough. Despite the fact that I am a Chinese, the cultural differences here made me feel like I'm an alien. And at the same time, I was going through the very annoying process of breaking up you see. And I was moving apartment and all... Adrian has always made it clear that I could call him for help anytime, even when I got scared at night, I was allowed, no, encouraged to call him anytime. Somehow I have never done that. Did not call him when I slipped and fell in the bath tub ended up with bruises on my legs, tighs, arms and dunno where else... Did not call him when I felt a pat on my tigh at night when I was sound asleep in my room... Did not call him when I left the house keys to both my apartments (old and new, I was moving from the old apartment to a new one because the landlord wanted a 35% increase of rental!!!) at 4am and I spent 5 hours in the car to wait for the locksmith to open... and that's me, the very annoying me to some of my closest friends -- I solve my own problems, and if I told you about what had happened that would mean that problems have been solved.

Until right before I went to the UK "break-up trip" with my now officially x-bf, Adrian text me and said that he had something to tell me when I get back (he didn't know what kind of a trip that was, it was irrelevant). I was curious but I kinda knew what he was planning to say. and he asked me to help him post a few Christmas cards when I visit London. and so I went off to this trip with him in my mind -- I had to remember to post the cards for him. And there came his sms wishing me a Merry Christmas. I received the same message once every hour, for 4 consecutive days! I was annoyed. The 2nd day, I text him and said, "the Christmas couldn't be any merrier than this... but you don't have to send me 1 every hour. it's getting freaky..." I received no reply from him and the sms's kept coming until the 4th day, I got fed up and turned off the phone! "OK, I need an explanation, that was not the Adrian that I knew!" and when I turned the phone back on, it stopped. I thought, "please please let it be the network!"

I got back, exhausted and weak but what was gonna be done was done. I set myself free.

Adrian told me that he checked with his handphone's network provider and they said that the message was caught in the loop. "Yes! It was the network!" hahaha!!

And we started meeting up again, this time, we even went out for drinks.

to be continued... fingers got cold and tired... and brain dead...

Adrian

Finally, a Saturday off. Which finally gives me the time to do some stuff I've been wanting to, and that includes writing something here...

It was sometime in the last 2 months of 2006 as far as I could remember (well Adrian managed to trace back and literally "tracked down" the exact date we met! It was 28/11/2006, I could only remember that it was a Tuesday coz it was scheduled to be a weekly-sample-viewing-day). Sometimes my brain would just fail me and remember nothing! I'm sure you have experience like that when your brain just stopped the recall function... mine just has a malfuntion recall button that's all hehehe...

I'm trying my best here and of course, Adrian's blog did help a bit to remember what happened that day.

I remember walking into the meeting room with the granite sample I was supposed to present, I was nervous because that sample has to be approved or we were screwed (at least that's how the Project Managers made it sound!). People with different samples came into the room and placed them on the table and slowly, the room started to get crowded. And there were very big samples that could only be placed on the floor intead of the table. Wow, these are mock-ups la! I thought. And I just hoped that mine gets to be looked at and approved first so that I could get out of the room fast. Then, I just can't remember how, I started talking to this gweilo who came in with a couple of guys helping him to move all his big, bulky and heavy samples into the room. Yes, that was Adrian.

I gave him my name card. I don't remember him giving me his though. As soon as I stepped out of the room, with my approved sample, he started sending me text messages! Well I was supposed to turn left when I got out, I turned right. After a few steps, "oops! wrong way!" and I turned around and walked passed the meeting room. I looked into the room, saw him in this chair playing with his phone. I thought I would waive and say goodbye again if so happens he looks back at me. But he was just too busy messing with his phone. As I proceeded to another room, just at the door, I received a text message. "O, that's not him..." but deep down inside (my freaky psychic power started working!), I had a feeling that it was him. And to my surprise, it was him indeed. It was like, "Now, that's quick!" and so, that was how the friendship started.

Sometimes we would text each other to chat and sometimes, we would have McDonald's. I was dating another guy at that time. Did not really want anything more than a friendship from Adrian although I knew he was attracted to me. You know, girls just know things like this. I must admit that I found him special in someways. He gets nervous and I could sense it. I didn't really tell him that I had a boyfriend. I'm not sure if I was being selfish or that relationship was just not something serious... I loved talking to Adrian but it was different, I don't know how but there were things that I wouldn't tell him and there were sooo many things that I told him which only my closest friends know. Maybe I was actually looking forward to something else to happen between us...

I started a new job, the sim card that I was using was given back to the previous company I was working for. Before I even had the chance to tell Adrian my new number, my handphone was stolen. I lost all my numbers including Adrian's. I hate it when things like this happen, well who don't?? I did not start using handphones until I was 25 when my x-boyfriend bought me my first handphone. I used to remember all the phone numbers by heart (that was when my brian worked at its top form) before that! And so we lost contact, for a few months until I finally realized I have contacts of the company he was working for. Projexasia... hmm... I interviewed them back in February!! And so I called up the office and asked for Adrian's email address. I sent him an email. I missed him... Although I was making new friends, very good friends came along, but no one was like Adrian. And everytime I saw McDonald's, I thought about him. I just had to find him! Losing a handphone was frustrating enough, I can't lose a friend because I lost a handphone!!

And so we were back "online"!

to be continued... my fingers got tired!

New Start

This is a very new start for me (well, it all started in January, I only have the time to blog it now!):


a new blog - I will terminate most of my old ones... and will only keep http://vernette.lifelogger.com/


a new, magical relationship - with a very wonderful man, Adrian Lydiard.

Ya, ya, ya, this is Adrian, he's English and he has blue eyes! And blonde hair!!

new best friends - I have, well, we have decided that these friendships will last a lifetime!

Me, Steve and Luria

Me and Mendy

that's Mendy, Edith and me

The stories? Will be told later as I have just been assigned to work on a shit load of things!!

But, I still love this life!! And I will live it to the fullest!!! And you should too!