i'm looking forward to my holidays:
- going to sentosa with da, grace & bf
- a date with my darling gfs
- genting trip with da n my family
- holiday with da
i would update in details when i could really throw aside my studies.
Look @ what I'm doing. *hahaI had a paper this morning @ 9am n yesterday night I only slept for like 3 hrs. I burnt the midnight oil till ard 2+am and went to bed then. But I couldnt sleep! Lying in my bed, kept tossing n turning. Super 'pek chek'! I think abt an hr later then I fell asleep. Slept for like 3 hrs n I woke up again, AUTOMATICALLY. I was supposed to sleep soundly like a pig right? Because of d rain la, damn heavy rain. I could hear d raindrops! It was ard 6+am then n I never get back to sleep anymore. Got prepared and off to school.
After my paper, had lunch together with my U friends and then I went to jp to do express pedi.
Reached home in d afternoon n went out again in d evening. Da wanted to buy clothes. Accompanied him even though I was drained. I bought a pack of homemade crackers from isetan supermarket (there's a food fair until 5th may). It smells good n taste real good! Really!
I took some pics but couldn't upload it as da's laptop don't have bluetooth device. Will upload them again.
I cant 'tahan' anymore. Going to sleep now. Nizz all~
Lingz: today's paper was manageable except d 'SPOT' part!
D wallet I bought:
D bag my mama bought:
I'm happy that my mama bought this bag because I can use also. *hoho. Her bag = my bag BUT mine not = to her bag. Its not because I'm selfish or what. Some of my bags juz dont suit her.
I also bought a wallet for da as our 2nd anniversary. Its like a month away thou. Luckily I asked him to choose cos d one he likes is not d one I thought of buying for him. He preferred d fabric one instead of d leather one. While I preferred d leather one.
Actually da don't accept such ex gift from me cos he knows d money r my hard 'SAVE' money. Only after much persuading, he allowed me to buy. Chey! Want to buy thing for him still have to persuade him to take.
Da thanz me profusely.
D wallet I bought for him:
I bought a wallet for da is bcos d wallet he's using looks like shit man! Some more that wallet is mine! I exchanged mine with his. He likes mine as its smaller n his is bigger. I remembered when I gave him d wallet, it was actually in tip top condition except d logo had faded. But now, look at d interior:
Da's one (which I'm using), is still in good hand. Must c who's using la!
Ay, I also bought a wallet for my cousin: (from ripcurl)
Basically that Sunday was wallets/bag day. *haha. *crap.
whee~ I'm going holiday this coming may n june. Going genting (AGAIN) with my family n da in may, n in june, I'm going somewhere else with da. We have not confirmed d place yet as we are still considering whether to go here or there. Will update soon.
Alright I shall stop here. Need to study. Byz~
Lingz: I need lotsa luck for my fluid exam!
Misadventures in English
I am surprised that among the responses from readers to the columns I write every Friday, the most have been to my pieces about our lapses in the English language.
This must mean that there are many of us who are keen to find out where we make language slips and want to know they can corrected.
What other reason can there be, other than that some of the mistakes are quite funny?
Last week, I received in the post requests to write such pieces regularly. I am no language expert, so I shall be happy to do the occasional one.
Two columns ago, I also pointed out a banner in Bishan with poor English.
I am not picking on Bishan. I happen to live there, so I get to see these public displays, such as this one near Junction 8 about an essay competition.
Urging students to take part, the words say: "Make a difference with your write." "Write-up" should have been the word.
Then I saw this food stall sign that read "Smoking Duck" in a food court on Bras Basah Road. I knew, of course, what it had intended to mean.
I wanted to go up to the stall owner to tell him that a smoking duck conjures up many pictures in my mind. One is that of a duck with a cigar in its beak, puffing away, the other of a duck that got burnt while being roasted.
Or it could describe the foul mood of the fowl - miffed at being trussed up, seasoned and hung over coals so that its gastronomic enjoyment of human beings.
But one never knows how such unsolicited advice might be taken, the owner might just ask me not to be too "keh Khiang" (clever by half) and to mind my own business, just as he was so successfully minding his.
That might leave me red-faced, if not roasted.
Not far from this food court many years ago, I saw a sign outside a Chinese estaurant on North Bridge Road, offering a very special price for "sucking pigs".
I have come across the word "suckling" used wrongly. A mother suckles her baby. This means she feeds the infant from her breast. I have heard some say the baby suckles the mother.
I guess this error is understandable as "suckles" is a verb that does suggest the act of sucking, but doesn't specify who does it. But English is weird this way and users just have to be informed and to remember.
For example, if "sanguine" means confident or optimistic, it would be quite logical for someone to think that a sanguinary person is someone in possession of these bright qualities. Yet, this word actually means murderous or blood-thirsty.
I also note that Singaporeans always say things such as: "Have you 'on' the air-con?" or "Remember to 'off' the fan when you leave."
And have we not often heard this: "Lend me your handphone, can or not?"
Answer: can.
Supplementary question: "Can also lend your pen?"
Answer: can also.
Or: "Have you been ever to Jurong BirdPark?"
Answer: ever.
Or: "Were you at Zouk last week?"
Answer: never.
"Ever" has taken the place of yes and "never" now means no.
These, to me are not examples of Singlish. They are just bad English.
One example of Singlish would be this: Wah liau, this chicken rice is really shiok.
I can live with that, but not all earlier examples.
Being careless with the meanings that words convey can lead to hilarious results.
The example I am about to give has been cited by me in a precious commentary elsewhere, but it is worth a repeat.
On top of a menu card in restaurant once saw these words: Cook yourself in Chinese steamboat.
Okay, but who'd be alive to
eat the meal afterwards?
Took me 4 hrs to complete 2 tut qtns on boundary layer. #$%@^! Bloody hell!
Super tired now.
Shall cont my revision tmr.
3 more chaps & 3 tuts to go.
Hav to complete by nx wed.
Good nizz~
Glad that their hard work had paid off.
Our story line for this project:
On 20 April 2007 (Friday), Shanghai, China, has prepared an emergency evacuation exercise at Oriental Pearl Tower site.
Upon the execution of the exercise on the assault on Shanghai, power supplies are being cut off and electrical generator had to be activated to light up the city with emergency floodlights. At this point in time, the PT is no longer just a tourist attraction, but an important landmark to guide people during evacuation. Emergency floodlights begin to illuminate the top sphere bringing assurance to the defense forces and people during the mission.
In reality, such massive operation is very unlikely to happen. And the possibility to see Shanghai, 'the city that never sleeps', being engulfed in total darkness is almost impossible. To be able to see the PT in different light such as above situation is only made possible with 3D Studio Max.
I was sleeping n da went to pay respect to his friend. On his way back, he went to buy d necessary ingredients from shop n save. I din know he wanted to cook, he din mention at all.
When he's back home, I got up. He told me to stay in room n not to come out. Something fishy, me being such a busybody went out to take a look. *hehe. I saw him preparing d ingredients and then he told me he wanted to cook spaghetti for me. I was somewhat caught by surprise. He knows how to cook?
See, he looked professional. Wearing an apron some more. He's so cute. *haha.
[1] fusilli [2] prawns [3] minced meat n crab meat [4] Prego spaghetti sauce [5] spaghetti done [6] left with empty plates
I had cooked spaghetti once before but I find his spaghetti taste better than mine. I think its great! *muackz. Oops, I should have wrapped my arms around him and give him a wonderful hug.
Speaking of which, I'm not much of a cook. Years ago (during secondary), I cooked fish porridge and u know which fish I bought? Salmon! O_o I foolishly thought that d salmon would turn white after it was cooked. *laughing. I'm far too naive. I realized I bought d wrong fish when d salmon remained in its original color. -_-'''
By d way, my exams r around d corners so I might not be able to blog that often. Below r my exams timetable:
18/04 0900 - 1130 Visualisation and Virtual Reality in
Product Design
26/04 0900 - 1130 Fluid Dynamic
02/05 1300 - 1530 Advanced Manufacturing and Nanotechnology
04/05 1430 - 1630 Engineers and SocietyOur last lecture ended on last Fri, d 13th. Most of my sch mates r graduating this sem. I should be graduating this sem too but due to my poor results in yr 2, I've to repeat another sem. Actually I'm still able to graduate on time la, but I choose not to as I dont want to overload my modules n I only started to do my fyp this sem. So, I got 1 more sem to go. Anyway, I count myself very lucky to get into uni so it doesn't really matter whether I grad this sem or next. So long as I'm able to grad with a degree, I'm more than happy. =)
2nd time already...
d same feeling...
d feeling is as strong as d first time...
I miss...
Very badly...
So sweet...
So gentle...
So nice...
I should have saved all...
Or at least one...
Shouldn’t have deleted...
Sigh...
Will I get to see...
I wish to stay in...
I will remember xxxxx + xxxxxxxxxx
This day...
I'm so happy...
Such a good companion...
I'm eating d choco delight flavor. Quite nice u know, not too sweet. :p
Since we were there, of course we did shop around. Not wanting to go back home with doughnuts only. Anyway effie also wanted to buy skirt from mphosis. Yes she bought d skirt n also 2 tubes from zara. I bought a tube from zara too. *hehe. We were happy ladies.
Other than shopping, we also took some photos. Effie brought her new cam, sony T100 (black).
@ d playground
actually its drizzling
but we dont care
y is my head bigger than effie's?
effie's so serious when driving
quick shot before traffic light turns green
Alright, I got to go. Going to da's house for dinner. Byz.
took this before going to sch
in da's car. he's fetching me to sch.
@ 5.30am, I fetched my mama to work. Reached home at about 6am n went back to sleep.
Woke up @ 7.15am again to prepare breakfast to 'bai' my grandma and then back to sleep again.
Finally woke up @ 11.15am. Oh din realize its already so late! I had to prepare breakfast for my da, papa, bro n cousin!
Today I 'xing xue lai chao', had d urge to make sandwiches for them. *haha.
These r d ingredients:
tuna, cheese, ham & bread
tuna
tuna spreaded onto d bread with ham n cheese below it
before I put into d toaster
my sandwiches done! can c d cheese already melted. *yumii! Don’t drool.
In d evening, effie n I went SHOPPING. Effie was so enthu to buy that. She doesn't even mind to drive to vivocity alone just to get that! All shan's fault la, she recommended. *hahaha. So we went to vivocity first and then to plaza. Guess what we bought? *happy face.
These r what I bought:
a box for my parents n another for da's family
effie fall in love with this
a dozen of durian puffs from 717 Trading (plaza)
tried it before and taste not bad so bought for da's mummy n also my parents
2 packs of japanese crispy seaweed (hot and spicy). Super nice ok! Bought for da n my parents to try.
So basically we shopped for groceries. *haha. Actually I got buy something else la. A bag from m)phosis. *hehe.
Yay! I'm going to watch The Phantom of the Opera on 12 may, Saturday. *anticipating. I'm going to watch it with da, so sweet.
"If you see only one show, make sure it is this one!" London Daily Mirror, UK.
Yes I agree! I believe its a fantastic musical!
Prologue
It is 1911 and the contents of the Paris Opera House are being auctioned off. Present are the auctioneer, porters and bidders. Raoul, now seventy years old and in a wheelchair, buys a poster a music box. As the auctioneer displays the Opera House chandelier, he explains that it is connected with the legend of The Phantom of the Opera. With a flash of light, the audience is flung back in time, when the Paris Opera was at its height.
Act 1
We are thrust in the middle of a rehearsal for the opera Hannibal. Monsieur Lefevre, the retiring manager of the Opera, is showing the new managers, Monsieurs Firmin and Andre, the great stage. As the prima donna, Carlotta, is singing, a backdrop falls to the floor, nearly killing her. The cry is raised, "It's The Phantom of the Opera!" Upset, Carlotta refuses to sing.
Meg Giry, daughter of the ballet mistress. Madame Giry, suggests her friend, Christine Daae, take Carlotta's place. Christine has been taking lessons from a mysterious new teacher.
At her triumph in the Opera, is Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera. Raoul recognizes Christine as a childhood friend. He comes backstage after the performance to escort her to dinner, but Christine tells him she cannot go, because her teacher, "The Angel of Music," is very strict.
When Raoul leaves Christine's room, the Phantom appears. Christine is lured into the bowels of the Opera House, when the Phantom will continue her lessons.
He leads her to his underground lair, where she sees a frightened vision of herself in a wedding gown. She faints, only to be awakened several hours later by the Phantom's music on the organ. Creeping up behind him, she rips off his mask. Horrified, he takes her back to the surface.
The Phantom has sent notes to both the managers of the Opera, as well as Raoul, Madame Giry and Carlotta, which give instructions that Christine will have the lead in the new opera, Il Muto. The manager refuse to give in to the Phantom's demands.
Il Muto proceeds as planned, with Carlotta in the lead, and Christine in a secondary role. As promised, disaster strikes - the stage hand, Joseph Buquet, is killed, and Carlotta's voice is stolen. In the confusion, Raoul and Christine escape to the roof of the Opera House. There, with all of Paris around them, they pledge their love to one another. They cannot see the Phantom overhearing their vows of love. Enrages at Christine's betrayal, the Phantom causes the final disaster of the night - the mighty
chandelier comes crashing to the stage floor.
Act 2
The second act opens at a grand Masquerade Ball, held on the steps of the Paris Opera. No one has heard from the Phantom in six months. Christine and Raoul are engaged, but are keeping it a secret; Christine keeps her engagement ring on a chain
around her neck.
Suddenly, the Phantom appears, disguised as The Red Death, and delivers to the managers a score from his opera, Don Juan Triumphant.
At first, the managers refuse to perform the strange, disturbing opera. Then, with the help of Raoul, they devise a plan to trap the Phantom, using Christine as bait. Plans for Don Juan Triumphant, and the trap, are made.
Christine visits the grave of her father. There on the grave stands the Phantom, beckoning her to join him. Raoul appears and takes her away.
At last, the opening night Don Juan Triumphant arrives. The theater is surrounded by guards and police, eager to catch the Phantom. As the opera comes to its end, the Phantom takes the place of Piangi, the lead singer. He confronts Chrisitne on stage during the performance, and escapes with her once more to his labyrinth below the Opera House.
In a last confrontation, the Phantom gives Christine a choice: stay with him forever, or he will kill Raoul. Her decision brings to an end the story of The Phantom of the Opera.
I want to buy the album too! The soundtrack very nice.
In d evening, I'll be meeting my babelicious for dinner and some catch up. We have not met for a couple of weeks. Oh I crave for sushi again! I shall persuade my girls to have sushi for dinner then. *haha.
Yesterday I went to meet grace and had dinner at plaza. So sweet of her to buy 2 banana muffins n a brownie for me. She bought them from ikea after her checkup at alexandra hospital. Thanz girl! Glad to see that u're fine. Must take good care of yourself hor!
I really should take good care of my health too. Should consume lesser junk food, heaty food, oily food n spicy food. Most importantly drink more water! I haven't fully recovered from flu and have been coughing + sore throat. So 'ke lian'. But anyway, it hasn't slowed me down from doing my daily things.
Moving on, in 2 weeks time my nightmare begins. SIGH! Time to immerse myself in studying!
Saturday
Despite d heavy rain, da and I left my house at around 5pm and we went to orchard. We shopped for like 3 hours and then we had our dinner at 'ding tai feng'. I thought its going to be a fruitful day in a sense that I'll
Da din return home empty-handed too. He bought a leather belt from topman and a watch from Guess. I was surprised that he would buy watch lo. He has been wearing his tag heuer watch for years! (still in tip top condition thou)
Sunday
Another shopping day. *haha. We headed bugis because in d evening we had steamboat dinner together with my family. Da wanted to treat my family with his bonus. This time round I bought a denim skirt and a leather belt from topshop and a DKNY watch. I like it so muchii!
I stated in my wishlist that I hope to get a red colour watch right? This watch I bought actually comes in 3 colours; red, white and black. Initially I wanted to buy red colour one but white one is much nicer; black, shiny metal frame with white face. As for d red one is also with white face but d frame is shiny metal colour. Thus I decided to buy white one lo. Who knows one fine day I might want to change d leather strap to red colour. *hehe.
Yeah, that white one is my new watch. See, that r all my watches.
I bought this at bugis street for $12! *hehe.
this too at bugis street. only for $5!!! I want to buy another one in red colour!Actually da intends to buy Gucci wallet for me but don't know y I don't feel like buying already. Perhaps for d time being I don't really need one. And I'm helping da to 'SAVE' money. *haha. I'll consider to buy one when my wallets r damaged ba.
My da really pampered me a lot. So much thanz to him. I promise once I started working, I'll bring da out to shopping too! All on me!
took this on fri. very blur ya. my hp cam don't have anti-blur!
***I striked d words buy and bought because da paid for most of my shopping expenses. As I mentioned in my previous entry that he got his bonus and wants to bring me out.