Wrapping up...

Wow...another year is approaching again...time flies. Ever since I last blogged, I had been work hard, playing hard and falling sick to this very last day of the year. But I'm getting better now, only left with a slightly stuffy nose. Been sleeping alot these days due to my running nose, sore throat and throbbing head...Had not been sleeping much ever since I came back from Bangkok a few days ago...Touched down at 10 plus and reach home at 12am...wrapped gifts till 3 am and woke up at 6 plus for work...That explains why I lack my beauty sleep....My face has an outbreak and my eyes seemed to have sunken into my skull....yes, that ugly now..

But I'm all set and ready for a meet up with my poly mates for dinner and movie-the Family Stone.

The pre-Christmas season was good as I had Christmas lunches and dinner with my friends...
Had a nite out at a 4-star hotel with ASHLY and FRIENDS where we played all sorts of board games till late. I really enjoyed that evening with the ladies and feel blessed to have friends like them whom I can celebrate Christmas every year without fail for a decade. On top of that, I've received countless gifts from colleagues and friends...Everyday, 1 or 2 gifts would pop up in my pigeon hole at work...It's like everyone started giving presents and my whole dept ended up exchanging gifts...I liked that...because it lightens the mood...Ever since a few new staff joined us a few weeks ago, I began to observe more smiling faces at work. Work is still busy, but not as bad as before...and things seemed to have changed for the better.

My Christmas was spent in Bangkok (left pic). There were lightings everywhere but the mood was more toned down as compared to Singapore. However, I did a lot of shopping and bought a lot of gifts for colleagues whom I've yet to return a gift. The weather was unbelievably cool...28 degrees. Even though I was clad in long- sleeves, I could feel the cold wind brushing across the surface of my blouse. This made shopping more relaxing and less stifling even though the crowds were overwhelming at Chatuchak weekend market ( right pic ). We visited Chinatown as well. Unlike other countries, the Chinatown in Bangkok covered an extensive district. It's a place where stuff like shoes, fabrics, bags toys, accessories are sold in bulks at wholesale prices. For people who are interested to get cheap goods to sell, this is heaven... But of course, no more bargaining is allowed cos they are at their lowest rates... This is a picture of an old temple taken in Chinatown. Thought it might look better in greyscale.

This is my 3rd time to Bangkok and I finally got a few good pictures of the Grand Palace with my own camera. This was my last day in Bangkok. The weather has become warm, breezeless and the air was stifling. The sky was greyish and moody.... The pictures would have turned out better if the sky is blue....






There goes my Christmas for 2005.

All Work and No Life

Ever since the departure of my colleague, work has become more hectic than ever. On top of that, the wet weather has deprived me from countless outdoor activities: swimming, blading, cycling etc...

Before the work really piled on, I frequent the newly opened gym at my workplace. It was well-equipped, spacious and most importantly, not crowded...I'd squeeze out some time during lunch or after work for a 30min jog on the threadmill.

But as days goes by, my working hours lengthen...instead of knocking off at 6pm, I've to knock off about 8pm most of the days...Just because one colleague didn't get his work organised, most of us has to do extra work for him. It was really tiring.

Lately, there are projects going on, and it's going to go on for a few months or even years.... I just completed 2 jobs and I'm already worn out....With these on going projects, I've to come earlier, about 7-ish and end work at the same time, which is about 7-8pm.

2 weeks ago, waited for a shipment to arrive till 1130pm on a Friday night....my brain was totally dead as i reached home at about 1am cos it was raining and I had a hard time calling a cab.
Last Friday, Reached work at 7am, knock off at 630pm for a tennis game at a colleague's place....If not for the game, I dun think I'd be able to force myself to rush everything before the day ends...

Was scheduled to come back over the weekends...Sat, work from 11am-4pm..and Sunday....fantastic, morning 950am-7pm in the evening.........Was supposed to catch a movie, but have to give it a miss in the end...there goes my weekend....
And today reach work at 7-ish and knock of at 8pm again.....
My fingers were already trembling....
At night I couldn't sleep well too....
There was once I tried half a can of beer, relaxant pills and tv before hitting the sack....I was supposed to wake up at 545am the next day....

I'm really looking forward to Christmas when I can relax and get out of work for a few days.....
It like whenever i go, i can't get my mind off work....My brain couldn't stop working as long as there's something that needs to been done.

But of course, I still do try to squeeze out some time for leisure. Visited the zoo and took some nice shots too.... Check them out.



On one weekend, I even got to see my 11-yr old cousin play soccer..He was estatic when he found that I'm going down to support him...Needless to say, his team won! :P ..I'm very proud of him because I think he's the potential of becoming our future young lion. Fandi is his coach and I managed to catch a glimpse of him and his family at the match....
Klinsmann (named after a former German football player) has been going on trips to Malaysia for friendly matches with his school. And now, he's actually at Perth for a week for some games too.....

Yesterday, went to trade-in my lousy phone for a new phone...It was a great deal because I got my previous phone for $160 and it has a trade-in value of $170! I ended topping up only $15 for my current phone...And I like it very much....;)

I promise myself that I'll not stay back so late for work anymore....tho J said that I've been repeating this phrase for a few days liao..:(...but I'm really grateful that she helped me out just now, or I might still be at work at this time....

Looking forward to Christmas!