Darn Weather!

The darn weather forecast let me down!

It didn't rain or more importantly, pour like it did, the day before. Where were the cats and dogs when you needed them? And because of the promise I made to Jac yesterday that if it didn't rain, I had to get out of my warm bed, leave my lappie and Nintendo behind and go shopping with her. Not my favourite thing to do on a cold, winter's day. Not my favourite thing to do, period.

I was really not looking forward to being dragged from shop to shop. Trust me, window shopping is no fun when you look like the Michelin man and have a budget like Scrooge. You don't want to try on any clothes because you need to take off the clothes that took twenty-five minutes to put on. You don't think that you should buy a new wallet because the old one that your ex-ex-EX boyfriend gave you is still usable. Usable being the key word that it can still keep all your notes and coins, numerous discount and membership cards in one big fat wad, despite being held together by a rubber band. The clasp is broken. Sue me.

But because of Jac's enthusiasm and bubbly nature, I ended up having a pretty good time. She took me to Louis Vuitton where she helped her best friend get a scarf, a tie and a wallet. Then we went to Cartier to try on some really nice watches - the Santos and the Tank models. Gucci was next where she showed me the shoes she bought yesterday. We finally found Chanel and she bought a pair of Chanel sandals for Euro$450! WTF! I can't imagine paying S$900 for a pair of slippers! I can't even buy a pair of Birkies!

I smelled the leather. I carried a Chanel 2.55 bag. I slipped on a Cartier watch. I touched a world that I can only dream of in my wildest imagination. Even if it was only for that few minutes. Make that Cartier minutes!

Money Talks!

On Wednesday, a former colleague pinged me online. We chatted a little before she asked me, "So this year got bonus or not?" I was dumbfounded for a few seconds. I didn't know what to say. I find it absurd that in uncertain times like these, there are still people who are still hung up on bonuses! Shouldn't you be concerned if you still had your job? And worry about not getting retrenched? And be thankful? Heck, I'd be happy if I was still able to draw a basic salary which is not much but not have to join the unemployment line!

On the other hand, I just met a colleague who's spending freely as if money grows on trees. She casually mentioned that she lost S$5000 at mahjong over CNY. $5K! WTF! A few hours later, she was looking for other colleagues to go shopping with. She had a whole long list of things to buy and I'm not talking about basic grocery items like sugar and rice. She wanted to hit Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, the works!

She called me in the morning, asking if I wanted to go to town.
Jac : Eh, wan to go town or not?
Moi : No la, I got nothing to buy. I ordi ask Vivi to help my friend check if her item is in stock. If have, then I will go down tomorrow. If not, I no need to go.
Jac : Ok la, we go makan later, ok?
Moi : Ok. Call later la.

Six hours later :
Jac : Sista, you wan go town or not?
Moi : No la, dun wan. You hungry or not? We go makan?
Jac : Not very hungry yet la. Tinking to go town loh.
Moi : Call Nick la. Maybe he wan to go?
Jac : Ok, call you back. You sure you dont want to go?
Moi : Sure. You go ahead.

Another six hours later :
Jac : Sista, I bought so many things lei! Wasted you never go. I bought three pairs of Gucci sandals, an LV bag for my boyfriend and an LV wallet. I spent Euro$2000 ordi lei.
Moi : Wah! Why stop there? I thought you had more things you wanted?
Jac : The shops were closed loh! Aiyo, tomorrow must go again! I still have to go to Hermes and see LV again. Wanna go or not? Come la!
Moi : No la, nothing to buy.
Jac : Go la. Nick oso had nothing to buy until I stir him to buy the Gucci sandals. Then in LV, I oso stir him to buy a limited edition LV bag for his wife. Haha! I very good at stirring people.
Moi : (thinking silently : HENG ah, I never go!!)
Jac : So how, go la?
Moi : See how. If raining, very sian one lei. Walk in the rain.
Jac : Ok, if it's raining tomorrow, we don't go. If no rain, we go, ok? Set?
Moi : Ok la.

Weather.com said that there is a 80% chance of rain tomorrow. I don't know how to turn people down sometimes, especially when they are so enthusiastic about something? I don't want to be a wet blanket. So now, I can blame it on the wet weather!

Melancholy

I guess I'm feeling a little pensive these days. Ever since I made it back home for my CNY reunion dinner this year. I saw how my grandmother has deteriorated in her present condition and how old my mom looks as well. My grandmother has four other daughters to look after her. My mom only has my brother and I. And that kinda woke me up.

It is sad that a person has to go through life, without knowing the unconditional love parents can give their child. I had a very tough time growing up. I don't think anyone should ever have to go through what I did. But one can never choose their parents, can they? Let bygones be bygones? That still does not stop me from wishing for something like Jean or Susan's relationships with their families. Wistful thinking, I guess.

Relationships are hard. Mother-daughter, father-son, wife-husband, boyfriend-girlfriend, friend-friend. We have to work at it. Nothing should ever be taken for granted.

I Give Up!

Why am I still being so nice?

On Friday, I suggested to Eddy that he bring his parents out for a CNY dinner. His dad is a little immobile due to a mild stroke but his mom is a sprightly 70+ year old little firecracker! The conversation went something like this :

Me : Hey, lots of people eating here lei. You should bring your parents for dinner since it is CNY and so near your house?
Ed : Ya. Maybe.
Me : Monday night la. I free oso.
Ed : See how la.
Me : You better tell them before you go to Bombay. In case your mom cooks dinner for your dad. You know how early she starts cooking.
Ed : Aiya, I still can tell them in the morning when I come back.
Me : OK. Up to you.

So today, I waited, knowing that he will call in his own time and I was already expecting him to cancel the dinner. True enough, he cancelled. At 6pm. Said that his mom had cooked and she was going out with her friends. That was it.

I expected him to ask me out for dinner since "Hey, I did put aside this evening for you and your family". But Nooooooo ... he just hung up. I waited till 8pm and then I got too hungry and upset. I went to have my own dinner and he called when I was eating. Apparently he was on his way out too. Later, he told me that he went for dinner with his friends.

You say ANGRY or not?? I give up.

Baby Roses

Eddy's mom gave this to me a few months back when Eddy and I were seeing each other. Auntie started telling me that she learned to make roses out of ribbons at the local community centre and she made so many for practise that she didn't have anywhere to "chaap" these baby ones. So she stuck them in this tiny pot of jelly-seashells.Then she handed the pot to me and said, "Kei ni la."

It wasn't anything much but it was the spontaneity that took me by surprise. I was touched. I think Eddy was embarrassed. This little 2.5 inch tall gift has been sitting on my shelf ever since. I thought I'd better take a photo and blog it - just in case it goes missing when I move!

She's a dear old lady. Bless her heart!

Another Expired Product!

See lah!

Another one. And this one hor.. cannot miss one!! EXP SEP 2006. Thankfully, there was only a little bit more of the product inside the bottle. But me being me, I unscrewed the cap, dug my little pinkie into the hole and korek-korek for that very last drop before I threw the bottle away.

I MUST remember my resolution!

Happy Yan Yat!

Today is the Seventh Day of the New Year. We call it Yan Yat or Ren Ri 人日 in Mandarin. It is known as the common man's birthday where everyone grows a year older. It is when yue sang is eaten. People get together to toss the colourful salad as high as possible and make wishes for continued wealth, success and prosperity. We are also encouraged to eat noodles on this day as they represent longevity. That reminds me - I better go cook an instant noodle and have some, for "yee-see yee-see" la :o)

So Happy Yan Yat, my friends! A year older, a year wiser!