2013 is a year of uncertainty, waiting, sadness and insecurity...Many things could not be properly planned due to this nature. The year started off pretty fine initially.
I began to feel very weary at work.. no motivation to work, and no direction. I realised I was pretty much at the peak of what I had been doing and I wanted to do something different. The fact that Ally and Dia took the courage to step out of their comfort zone kinda acted as a catalyst to my desire. We have discussed and have agreed that we were probably going through some mid-life (30s) crisis. So I was looking around for some courses, hoping to spice up my life.
The Singapore City Race involved running around the city to look for checkpoints and completing 10km. Signed up with Beancurd and Elmo and completed the race only after 5 hours, we ended up doing 16 km because we took a long time looking for the checkpoint at Fort Canning. This was my 2nd run, first run was the 5km Terryfox last November. I hope to do a 10km Standchart but this year was too uncertain for me to plan.
I started to apply for jobs as well and I found a potential employer that was keen to hire me. But I did not plan to leave my company until I got my bonus in June, so I told them to wait. I was supposed to start work in July.
Apr 2013
My best dive buddy got married. Quite happy for him because he had been single for a long time and he lost both parents in the past few years. He was staying alone in the flat and I was sure he was lonely. Good that he has finally found someone he could spend his life with.
May 2013
Apparently, the new company have to hold the hire because certain things on their side did not get through. It was a new role and a new business venture so things did not happened as planned. I told them I could wait.
We decide to hold J's birthday and Hen's on the same day to maximise our budget. We've booked a room with Holiday Inn Orchard and decorated the room with balloons. The service at Holiday Inn was exemplary and the durian desserts at the Saturday lunch buffet was awesome! I'm sure I'd be back again.
June 2013
A lot of things began to happen this month...We got our worse haze ever, up to PSI 400. Even staying indoors with all the windows shut did not prevent our whole house smelling like burnt wood. We had to stay in the study room and turn on the air-con the whole day. When we went out to work, we have to keep the fans on so that the air ventilates for our kids. There was even a pint that we even have to don on the N95 mask because normal facial will not keep those particles out. The whole SG was in a hazy frenzy and everyone would keep an eye on the PSI figures every hour.
Ah boy developed UTI around this time as well. 3 times within 6 weeks. It all started when we realised that he was trying to pee outside his litterbox. Then it became more frequent but there was no pee. Brought him to the clinic and he had his bladder squeezed and emptied. he was given antibiotics and he was ok for awhile. Not too long later, he showed the same behavior again. This time, he had a surgery to insert a tube through his genitals. The tube kept the genitals open so that urine could pass freely, but that was also the stressful part for us where he peed everywhere. I ended up buying baby diapers for him but he really hated it. He was also under medication so we were monitoring his condition.
To add on to our worries, Boy got ringworm infection on his back and Xiaowa got it a few days later. It was not the first time he got ringworm infection each time he visited the clinic. I suspected the clinic was not clean.
On 21 June, Friday, we were called in a meeting at work. The presentation started with 1 management from UK and 1 management from Japan, telling us all the difficulties and achievements. Finally the news has to be broken by our Site director, that we would be closing down in Feb 2014. Everyone was shocked and speechless. But first reaction was actually relieved. Although we had seen the signs of this day but we did not expect it to happen so quickly. I was relieved because I thought I have a back up plan already.
But as I heard a little quaver from my director's voice as he broke the news, I felt really sad. Sad that we have to part. We were released for the rest of the day and I thought that was a very understanding gesture to allow us to swallow the fact.
I remember leaving at about 3.30pm, taking the train and not being able to read. There were so many thoughts racing through my head. Are we really going to be separated? What will happen to everyone?
A surge of emotions overwhelmed me-anger, sadness, lost, depressed... Even though I was prepared to leave but the thought that I would never be able to come back to this place to visit my ex-colleagues upsets me. Our group chat became very very depressing...
22nd June: A boy is showing some signs of recurring UTI again!!!
23rd-29th June: Flew to Taiwan for with Hubs for a holiday...
Worse worse start to a trip....How could I enjoy when Ah Boy is sick? I got help from WM, Yu following Cher veterinary medicine advice. On the day that we depart, Yu brought Boy to another vet that Cher has recommended. I was so worried that I developed gastric pain on the plane. How could one have gastric pain in food paradise? We went to the Shilin market at night and I couldn't eat much other than swallowing pills after pills. I was constantly in contact with Boy''s guardians so much that I have to exit the group chat in order to keep my mind and heart in Taiwan.
I was eventually told that they had to keep Xiaowa in the study room separately from Boy in order to collect Boy's urine in the litterbox. And the poor girl was meowing away, begging to be released from the room. My heart ached.
Days got by and I was told that the kids got much better and Yu and ST would pop by once a while to feed medicine when WM was not available, they also brought Ah boy for his follow up at the vet.
While I was in Taiwan, I realized that I could plan trips really well... All the timings for HRT, subways, railways, coach are all within my grasp.. of course this showed that the Taiwanese transport system is really efficient and punctual, making the F&E trip very convenient. We visited Taipei city, outskirts (Jiufen, Jinguashi and Yeliu), Taichung (Car Motel) and Alishan. I should let my pictures do the story telling.
Jul 2014
Quite a low profile birthday celebration, and my last birthday celeb in my company. Hubs brought me to the zoo and River Safari. The River Safari was pretty disappointing. We were told that the river boats were not out yet, but when we went in, it seemed like many of the creatures are not there; I was looking for Capybaras and Pirahnas but there were not at home :(
Sept 2014
My first trip to a "third-world" country made me a abit excited and anxious. Though the roads are really dusty, the technology in terms of WiFi far exceeded SG. I get to use high speed internet on the coach with no disruptions. Cambodia is country with a very sad history. We went to the Killing Fields and the Genocide Museum; it was en eye-opener. Siem Reap is very big and a great place for photo shoots.
Attended J's wedding at the Zoo and it was my first time attending a wedding reception held there. I wasn't too impressed with the way the Zoo handled the event though. But the food was not bad for being Halal certified.
Oct 2013
Was another big month for me as I was on hospitalization leave for more than 2 weeks. Why I said that I would have a huge commitment this year was because I was going through IVF. The appointment was made in May, before the retrenchment news was announced. We knew we had to resort to that after 2 different opinions and we decide that if we really wanted to have a kid, doing IVF earlier would increase our chances since our biological clocks are ticking.I never have thought that I would resort to such means but life is always unpredictable. We were both busy with our studies one after another so we put away our baby plans. But when we are ready to settle down, things do not work out. So, I did not make known to lot of people because I did not want to explain, be judged or receive any consolation when things did not turned out well. I told a few around me who would not judge me and those whom I need some help a way or another. The whole procedure took about 1 month. 2 weeks of self-administered hormonal injections, followed by embryo retrieval and then implant. The next 2 weeks would just be a bummer and to make sure that I protected those 2 little eggs inside with all my might.
I took those 2 weeks to give myself a break, relax and do the things I wanted. During that time, I was also actively looking for jobs and went for a few job interviews. I was a little stressed about getting a job and being pregnant at the same time. I don't know if that was the reason, but I bled heavily when my 2 weeks was almost up and all was done. We were upset for a few days but moved on pretty fast. We will be doing a 2nd round to use up what was left in the storage. On the other hand, I felt a bit relieved because it was not a good time as I would be out of job soon. Who would hire a pregnant woman? Maybe I was not prepared to give up everything. As a matter-of-fact, we were both not into kids, we don't really yearn for kids as much but the fact we are not able to conceive has made us wanted it more. And I don't think it's right to think that way. I can't imagine the pain of the couples who yearned so much for kids, it must have been unbearable.
And because I did not tell many people I was doing IVF, I did not need to update people on the results and receive any unnecessary sympathy. I would not appreciate any unsolicited advice on how to get pregnant because I do not believe in reducing your quality of life in order to bring a new life into this world. I remembered how the Chinese physician told me what not to eat and what to eat. To put it simply, I was supposed to eat all the things I hated and abandon all the things I loved. I tried that out for a few months and got really depressed. I do believe that those food might help in one way or another but I also believe in Science and Fate. I'm still trying to adhere to those eating restrictions as far as possible, but with a limit, and without compromising my general health and well-being.
Nov 2013
I took those 2 weeks to give myself a break, relax and do the things I wanted. During that time, I was also actively looking for jobs and went for a few job interviews. I was a little stressed about getting a job and being pregnant at the same time. I don't know if that was the reason, but I bled heavily when my 2 weeks was almost up and all was done. We were upset for a few days but moved on pretty fast. We will be doing a 2nd round to use up what was left in the storage. On the other hand, I felt a bit relieved because it was not a good time as I would be out of job soon. Who would hire a pregnant woman? Maybe I was not prepared to give up everything. As a matter-of-fact, we were both not into kids, we don't really yearn for kids as much but the fact we are not able to conceive has made us wanted it more. And I don't think it's right to think that way. I can't imagine the pain of the couples who yearned so much for kids, it must have been unbearable.
And because I did not tell many people I was doing IVF, I did not need to update people on the results and receive any unnecessary sympathy. I would not appreciate any unsolicited advice on how to get pregnant because I do not believe in reducing your quality of life in order to bring a new life into this world. I remembered how the Chinese physician told me what not to eat and what to eat. To put it simply, I was supposed to eat all the things I hated and abandon all the things I loved. I tried that out for a few months and got really depressed. I do believe that those food might help in one way or another but I also believe in Science and Fate. I'm still trying to adhere to those eating restrictions as far as possible, but with a limit, and without compromising my general health and well-being.
Nov 2013
My hard work in job hunting has paid off. The company which intended to hire me since May has been dragging their recruitment with no deadline. I was offered jobs from 2 other companies, 1 in higher education and the other in healthcare. I went with my passion and opted the latter. I was a little apprehensive as my gut feeling told me the former might have a better environment and nicer people to work with, but in my life I seemed to always be in favor of the unfavorables. I gave my current company less than 2 week's notice and left the company on the 15 Nov, after 7 years and 4 months of service. I gave myself another 2-week break before I start me new job in Dec. I couldn't recall doing anything meaningful other than washing the curtains, whipping out a few dishes and following a HK drama.
WM found a job as well and started a month ago so we decided to do a staycation in Sentosa to celebrate this life event for both of us.
Pierce finally graduated with 1st class honors. It was a well-deserved outcome from his hard work (and mine).
WM found a job as well and started a month ago so we decided to do a staycation in Sentosa to celebrate this life event for both of us.
Pierce finally graduated with 1st class honors. It was a well-deserved outcome from his hard work (and mine).
Dec 2013
Started work on 2 Dec. Other than the job itself (actual job will start in Jan), everything else exceeded/met my expectations; colleagues, pantry, gym, environment, desk, food. Will update more in 2014.
Managed to try out NOX-Dine in the dark with Dia and Ally. Service and food was great and the experience was awesome. Shan't reveal more, you would have to try it for yourself. But we will definitely go back.
Managed to try out NOX-Dine in the dark with Dia and Ally. Service and food was great and the experience was awesome. Shan't reveal more, you would have to try it for yourself. But we will definitely go back.
We had a blast at TSP's farewell dinner organized by me and other 2 colleagues. There was a bunch of objections to that venue and the ala carte dinner, but things got ironed out with the help of our boss. Everyone had fun with the game with had planned and I think it really paid off to insist on holding it in a private room. We took off to Harry's @ Esplanade and drank to our heart's content.
Christmas withASHLY AL was at Stellar @1 altitude. Other than the company and ambiance, there was really nothing much to rave about. We got a present for and from each, so no exchange was involved. Pros- We've got 2 presents, Cons-crack your brains on presents for 2 friends you have known for 18 years...
Christmas with
Dinner with J, Ai and Yu was at Imperial Treasure at RWS before catching Lightseeker. Pretty disappointed by the production because the acrobatic component outshined the musical component. Vocals and music were mediocre. The lead singer had a very sweet voice but it was too soft, no projection. Thankfully we had a 3 free 1 tix promotion, else it's really not worth the time and money (monorail to Sentosa is now $4!)
The rest of the days were the yearly dinner-at-my-place with BBQ, potluck with the Lee's, met up with LQ, Wen and Est. I realized that I've not met my parents for close to a month....I better catch up on that soonp. Happy New Year! I managed to complete this last entry for a fresh start the next year
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I woke up on 31st Dec morning with an achey cheek... I did not know what it was and thought I could just rub salt to the swell.. I discovered an ulcer eventually and put salt every other hour. I thought it should go off in a day. At 10pm, as I bent down, my left cheek felt heavy, the swell had became bigger. Hubs suggested that we visit the 24-hour clinic nearby. The doc said that it was a pretty bad ulcer with abscess. If there was a fever it would have been mumps. What a way to end my 2013...
The rest of the days were the yearly dinner-at-my-place with BBQ, potluck with the Lee's, met up with LQ, Wen and Est. I realized that I've not met my parents for close to a month....I better catch up on that soonp. Happy New Year! I managed to complete this last entry for a fresh start the next year
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I woke up on 31st Dec morning with an achey cheek... I did not know what it was and thought I could just rub salt to the swell.. I discovered an ulcer eventually and put salt every other hour. I thought it should go off in a day. At 10pm, as I bent down, my left cheek felt heavy, the swell had became bigger. Hubs suggested that we visit the 24-hour clinic nearby. The doc said that it was a pretty bad ulcer with abscess. If there was a fever it would have been mumps. What a way to end my 2013...
