Leo born on Friday the 13th
Mild tempered when not working
Lioness when workaholic mode on
Mrs Lim as of 28/06/2009!

Prawns in Soya Sauce

Scallops with Veggie

Deep Fried Man Tou

长寿面

Hope Mummy's happy today and enjoyed herself these 2 days.

Now am counting down to 5/Nov for the HDB ballot results. So kan chiong and hope will get good news~

Hehe, went shopping with Hubby on Monday at Bugis. Went to my fav shop, Dorothy Perkins to see see look look since there was a sale going on.

Intended to look for a nice top to match my jeans for next Friday's clubbing but didn't see anything I fancy. Then... I saw purple! One of my fav colours other than black. It was a dark shade with a little shine and I absolutely fell in love with it. The dress came with a waisted belt and this dress was a style which I have never tried before.

Went to the fitting room to try it on and absolutely love it. Asked Hubby for his opinion and he said if I really like it, just to buy it but the dress was not a sales item, so I only got 10% off. When I reached home, I tried the dress on for mummy to see and she said its nice as well!

Hehe, so now Brenbren has a nice, purple dress to wear to Cammie's wedding! Yippee~

Went to Dorothy Perkin's website to get the photo of the dress, preview as below!



The link to see more details of the dress: Dorothy Perkins




烦死了！ 讨厌讨厌！ 气死我了！

下个月要“搬家” 了。。。 =...(

Period.



Despite the loads of eating recently, nice Jap food on Sat at Ichiban Boshi and steamboat buffet on Sun..... I lost 3kgs!!! Wahaha, I am so freaking happy loh. Yeah, let's celebrate by feasting! Oops.. =x Err, I meant keep up the hard work... =)

OK, I seriously don't know what caused the loss in 1week cos I haven't been exercising, still eating as much or more and no special diet. Only changes was I sweat a lot for the past 1-2 weeks because of the freaking hot weather and I usually don't sweat cos I am super afraid of cold.

Even now after my shower with aircon on, my temperature is still warmer than usual (I not having fever hor) and already sweating. But still, 3kgs is not a lot because... I have gained more than 3kgs previously and it is not even noticeable that I lost 3kgs because I didn't even notice it. Its probably just loss of water because of the sweating.

Anyhow and anyway, I am still happy, better than nothing when you lose weight with no pain. Haha... Yippee, look forward to continue losing weight without much effort, jia you!



I can't remember the last time I called my father “爸爸”. Its just 2 simple words that were probably among the first few words you learnt and said when you were a baby. Most of you probably get to say it everyday or get to greet your father most of the time. For me? Maybe 1-2 yrs back? Its been that long that I can't recall.

Why did I suddenly bring up this? Yesterday, me and Hubby were walking past the Indian temple at 四马路 and while I was facing the side to talk to Hubby, I saw a side profile of a man. A face that seemed so familiar yet far away from my memories. I was shocked for a moment and stopped and Hubby asked me what happened? For a moment, I just kept staring at the man's back while he was walking away in the opposite direction. I said that looked like my father but I wasn't sure as it was too dark and it happened too quickly. Hubby said that man seemed to be taller than my father and the way he walked didn't look like him too. I was uncertain too and I realised that I couldn't recall how tall he was and how he walked. The only way I could tell would be by looking at his left hand. My father's left hand was permanently in a half clench posture because of an accident many years back which I had heard from my mum.

According to my mum, my father stayed in Malaysia with his uncle during most of his teenage years. It was only when he had to be enlisted for NS then he returned to Singapore. He was at a coffeeshop one day intending to have coffee, not knowing that 2 gangs were there which a fight would break out later. When my father wanted to order drinks, he raised his hand and asked for "水" in Hokkien. This had mislead the gangs thought that it was a signal of sort and the fight broke out. My father was hurt in the midst of this sudden fight and his left wrist was slashed badly. He had bleed a lot and was rushed to hospital and had many stitches. Though he survived, his hand was not flexible as before. One day after discharged from the hospital, my father was holding on to a metal cup's handle which he poured hot water. Somehow, his hand become permanently fixed after that. I know it probably sounds like those drama and 夸张, but there's no reason for me to lie about it unless I was lied to.

This had caused him to had difficulties in finding a job as there wasn't much things he could do with only 1 hand back then. I don't really know when the accident happened exactly but from the time i had memories, his hand was already in that state. What I remembered was my father was one of those Lao Bengs back then who believed in 义气 and I used to tag along with him when he went to have coffee/beer with his friends. Joo Chiat was my playground and I practically grew up there till my parents divorced. I remembered my father selling newspapers and those deep fried food in between.

I was very close to my dad as a kid maybe because I was the 1st child and my father had almost never hit or scold me unlike my mum. Whenever my parents quarreled at night and I suppose mainly its my mum who started it, my mum would drag me out of bed and asked me who I wanted to follow. I would always say 爸爸 purely because my mum would always hit and scold me as a child even up to my teens. If I failed spelling or forgot my water bottle in kindergarden, my mum would cane me or hit me and scold me. I always had cane strokes on my hands and legs up till primary school. Being hit by those clothes bamboo or burned by a ligther, getting slapped or kicked were nothing new to me. You were not allowed to cry too or you would be dragged out and locked out to be sitting in the sun till you stop crying. My father was always the one to protect me when he was around.

Until... He left the home one day. His friend had borrowed money from the loansharks and he was the guarantor. His friend had fled and thus they had come after my father instead. So he left the house and went to Malaysia into hiding. I remember loansharks spraying those O$ P$ on the walls and lifts, knocking at our doors almost every night. My mum had to work to pay off the debts so I was left alone with my sis most of the times but my sis was too young then to remember I suppose. There were frequent blackouts at my block and it didn't help that we stayed at a corner unit. I remember crying each time the loansharks came and telling them my father was no longer staying here. I think it affected me quite badly which is why till now when people raise their voice or shout at me, I start to panick and sometimes cry...

I used to hate my father then because he left us in that situation and we had lost touch for a few years. When I was in my upper primary years, he had returned to Singapore and we spent holidays staying with him. It was the time I had the greatest freedom. I wandered around wherever I liked, helped out at my father's fruit and later egg stall as I wished and hanged around with his friend's children. When I went to secondary school, we kindda drifted apart again. Maybe cos I was getting rebellious by then and felt that parents were a bother.

My mum used to say I was a duplicate of my father in terms of looks, temper and character. That wasn't meant to be good by the way. Because I didn't look like her, I was ugly. I was bad tempered, stubborn and ah lian, all bad traits I had inherited from my father according to my mum. My mum would call him and complain to him how his daughter was getting out of control and he had better take me away. My father would always pacify me, telling me to be good and obey my mum, never shouting at me. Even when I made a great mistake 8 years ago, he never blamed me too and was on my side.

We are still not in touch because I don't have his number and I am afraid someday I might regret it. But I still do not have the courage to see him and face him again. This was probably when Hubby asked me if I wanted to go make sure if that guy was my father, I didn't. I am still not prepared up till now and though I have never mentioned it before. I do miss him at times and envy others when they talk about their father. Whenever people know that I come from a single parent family, they tend to apologise though I really don't mind it after so many years. Its been almost 20 years I suppose. Its really OK and I'm not putting a strong front when I say that because the hurt and scars have faded. What I need now is time and courage to face him someday.

爸爸， 我想你。 我永远记的你说 “Ah Hoon, 要乖， 要听妈妈的话。” 希望我还能敬你一杯茶， 说声 “爸爸，喝茶."



My days and nights seemed to be filled with work only. Day and night, in or out of office, its always work, work and more work.

Loads of emails flood my mailbox everyday and its become a norm that Finance/Admin send me emails everyday with cc to the Heads. So easy for them to say book in this, book in that, bill this, bill that, then you wanna do my shipments and coordinations for me while I settle your things?
While you're in office, type email and send, I am rushing shipments. When you're in the comfort of your home, I am still slogging away in office.

Worst thing is its not even my stuff and I'm clearing shit for others, duhz. Done whatever I can already and now still working from home while I'm typing this.

Don't care liao, after 1230hrs, I'm gonna enjoy my weekend. Hmph...



Venue: Raffles Town Club
Cocktail: 7pm
Solemnization & Dinner: 8pm

Robin is Hubby's TMC classmate when he was studying for his diploma. Have met up with him and Levin (another classmate) before when we just started dating. Although we have probably met less than 5 times through out the past 6yrs, but in a way I suppose they are special friends to Hubby. These guys who hanged out together after school for drinks at Buzz (coincidentally I used to go Buzz too) etc and who have funny stories to share.

Robin's wife looks sweet and cute and I love one of his wife's gowns in the photoshoot, haha. It was a white tube dress with black floral designs, something similar which I have too, lol. It was so sweet seeing them together and I kindda felt bittersweet as well. Sweet because seeing a couple getting married and looking so blissful like they're at the top of the world, bitter because I wonder when it will ever be my turn?

When they were taking their vows, some emotions stirred up in me and I could feel tears in my eyes which I managed to hold back. I am not especially close to them but it was just so heartwarming to see 2 persons deeply in love being united with so many people witnessing you and your partner become man & wife. I wish and hope, someday when its finally my day, My loved ones and friends will feel the same as what I felt today.

After the 2nd march-in, they had the usual popping of champagne, yum seng and wedding speech. Robin made his in English and his wife in Mandarin. Then.... Surprise! Robin said that he has a surprise for his wife which only he and his few friends know of... He was going to sing her a song! Omg omg omg!!! So sweet loh! Though it was a bit out of tune & rhythm and he couldn't really remember the lyrics (btw he sang that famous "wedding song" by Nat King Cole, you all should know lah), but the gesture was more than good enough. I was tugging Hubby's arm and saying, I want I want I want next time... Know what Hubby replied? Like that no surprise liao next time, so in order to create the surprise... You sing to me ok?

KNS... Always like that... Can make the most romantic moment into a sianz moment. I know its his nature and he loves to joke, but sometimes at moments like this, it makes me feel that I am not worth the effort for him to do these kindda things and it hurts badly, very badly... He probably doesn't know that when this kind of situation happens, many times I have held back my tears or cry to sleep at night in my bed. Especially today, he joked about having a void deck wedding again which is not the first time and which still stings.

I have always joked with him telling him that I want a super romantic, touching proposal and best is in front of my/our friends, lol. Because he always like to bully my/our friends especially my gal friends, must make him malu, haha. But think think, he has a love/hate relationship with my gal friends cos they need his help when their PC are faulty and he always has the ability to suan my gal friends. So I think they won't let him off easily in future, he better watch out, hehe.

Ok, digress too much liao, back to the topic. We did some catching up with Levin & Marie (Levin's wife) and turns out that we know someone in common: Jasimin Neo. Apparently, Jasimin's bf (Leslie)'s elder brother is Levin's best friend (something like that). What a small world, no wonder we have a mutual friend in Facebook. Marie is preg now and baby is gonna be due next year, so xin fu~ During the dinner, another classmate was around too and he... ermm, she got cleavage de loh! So jealous and envy, hmph.

9-course dinner ended around 11.15pm and we had to walk a long way out to get a cab because we were next to a expressway loh (dun ask me which one hor, only know got ERP). Managed to grab a cab within 10mins and went home.

Took only a few pics today cos busy eating and catching up!




P.S. My "ang mo" swee boh? Lol... Btw, I think my lower lips are too thick like sausage! Any method to make it thinner?



Yup yup, we have applied for the flat on Friday morning and hopefully we will get a good queue number. Waiting for the results on 10/Nov which is another torturing 25 days. Have shortlisted a few of the flats which seems quite nice in appearance and layout plan based on the HDB website.

Intending to get Tampines flats likely, so fellow Tampinesians look out for me, lol.
Wish us good luck and pray for us, haha~ ^_^



That's what I have been doing for the past 30 mins but still no sign of the Half Yearly Sale of 3-room Premium, 4-room and Bigger Flats!
Arghz!!! This is madness. I'm like a kan chiong spider, super kiasu and excited siao char bo wait until getting more and more sianz with each min ticking by. Sob sob... Pls pls pls, quick appear leh!




The reason why we took the above pics? Haha... There's a "special" unofficial parking lot which has loads of shelter be it shine or rain at our building's carpark. This car I suppose is the 1st car that has parked here and from then on, a game of "Do not park here" game started. LOL... Today was simply hilarious. The notes read "PLS DO NOT PARK HERE", the bottom note shows "From:" followed by 3 stick figures. Click on the picture to see the full size. Its not obvious cos its written using a pen, we should use marker in future, lol...

Dun play play!



I'm not afraid of anything
I just need to know that I can breath
And I don't need much of anything
But suddenly suddenly

I am small and the world is big
All around me is fast moving
Surrounded by so many things
Suddenly suddenly

How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel

I am young
And I am free
But I get tired and I get weak
I get lost and I can't sleep
But suddenly suddenly

How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel

Would you comfort me
Would you cry with me

I am small
And the world is big
But I'm not afraid of anything

How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel

How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel
To be different from me
Are we the same
How does it feel

Oh oh oh
How does it feel
How does it feel
You're different from me
Different
How does it feel
How does it feel
You're different from me





Had tummy ache yesterday afternoon but was still feeling OK. Went for dinner with some colleagues and ex-colleagues at Joo Chiat with "free ah char" thrown in, more about that another time, haha.

Had a good time during the steamboat dinner, lots of laughter, jokes and chit chat. Once I reached home, had tummy ache again and went toilet twice in half an hour. Felt nua and after that, so showered and had a early night. Think I turned in around 12+ to 1am and was sleeping quite soundly till 3am.

Hp started ringing due to work stuff and made a couple of phone calls till close to 4am before finally going back to sleep. 9am, 9.44am, 11.00am till 11+am, phone kept ringing. So though I slept early the night before, I didn't have a good sleep at well. Dragged myself out of bed to surf net and msn for a while before meeting Hubby. Was feeling still nua and slight headache. Went for my complimentary detox session and had lunch at Soup Spoon. Drank my fav Chicken Stew and shared some wraps with Hubby. But really no appetite and kept feel like puking so didn't really eat much as well. Took 2 Panadol Extra after the meal and LS again, sigh... Was feeling a bit giddy and nauseous so quickly shopped for Mummy's handphone and Hubby's shirt before heading to Hubby's place.

Mummy's handphone has gone faulty, so bought one for her to replace and considered as an early birthday present. Bought the Nokia 5220 Xpress Music for her and chose the red colour model. Hope she likes it bah! The phone's shape is rather unique and is quite light. Tested the camera alos and though its only 2 megapixels, looks quite alright on the screen. (P.S. Already help Mummy input my mobile phone number and store my photo in it, lol.)



Went to Marks & Spencer to buy Hubby's shirt from the Autograph's collection. Its a black shirt with thin grey, white and red stripes. Cost $99 loh! But the material is quite comfy to touch and not too thick (it better be good for that price!). Hubby looks quite smart in it, have not seen him in shirts for a long time! He'll be wearing it for his friend, Robin's wedding next week, must take pic on that day, hehe.

Close up of the design~


Ok, time to go lie down a while le cos tummy pain pain again le... =(



Was chatting with Keat Yao this morning (my kindergarden cum pri school classmate), he's getting ROM in December. So coincidence that his gf is staying somewhere near my block and the BS they booked is Golden Horse Award which is just next to my block.

Haiz, everyone's getting ROM/married. Left poor Brenbren rotting on the shelf waiting for her near-expiry date. From when I just hit the big "2", passed my mid 20s already and approaching the damned "3". Sometimes I wonder if I should stay on and continue to wait till god knows when or should I just give it all up?

I am so happy for my frens who are tying the knot yet feeling sad for myself. I wonder maybe its because I'm not good enough or I'm not the one or I'm not worth the effort? Yes, I know we both have financial commitments and our savings ain't consistent enough but still its a dream.

I am still dreading his working hours which are opposite to mine though it gives him more income. When at times I need someone to talk to, to listen to me, to chat with me, he's either asleep or working. I can go on paid leave and MC while no work means no income for him. It makes me feel guilty when all I want is to spend time with him when I'm on leave but he has to sacrifice his work and income. Somehow I have this nagging feeling that he probably resent me for it. I feel we hardly talk to each other anymore, we hardly meet up during weekdays and something is losing. Maybe I'm just being paranoid and thinking too much.

Its a public holiday but he's working this morning, this means he hasn't had much sleep since his night job usually ends around 5+ to 6am. So that means if I wanna go gaigai, he'll be feeling moody and frustrated. If I wanna go out on my own, he won't let me and insist on accompanying me and be all grumpy becos he does not have enough sleep. See? That's what I mean...

I know he hates shopping but I simply love it even if its window shopping. He's running outside everyday cos of work while I'm trapped in the office for hours. So while I'm yearning to go out, he's keen on staying home. Contradictions.



Hehe, my surprise is completed! Received the final product today. I had received a call from Jeana from Mbossed in office around 6+pm and she told me it was completed and asked if she could deliver tonight to my place. I told her I might not be home in time but my mum would be around, so told her to go ahead to arrange.

Quickly called home to tell Mummy that I'm expecting something and if I don't reach home in time, to accept for me first. Left office around 7pm odd, took 9 with Bixin and fell asleep halfway. Before Bixin alighted, she reminded me not to oversleep and miss my bus stop which I have done many times. Guess what? I missed my bus stop again and ended up in Simei. I was cashless and didn't wanna waste money on cab fare, so took another bus to Tampines again. Alighted at 201 bus stop, went ATM to withdraw money, crossed the overhead bridge, took bus 18 to Safra and walked 1 bus stop home. When I reached home, it was 8+pm. Took my dinner and not long after my dinner, Jeana reached my place.

The fun plate is quite nice I would say and I smsed Cammie a short while later after taking photos. She didn't know that the surprise was for her before this, hehe.

我的保密功夫不错吧！

Arranged to meet up with her later in the afternoon to pass her the gift. Hehe, hope she and her hubby-to-be will like it bah. =)

P.S. The picture isn't very well taken, the background colour is glitter pink.