What I am trying to do with my life in 2006

A few weeks ago I posted a note which seemed to suggest that I don't believe in goals/resolutions. I don't, really. But I do believe in making one's life better every year, every month, every week, every day. What's the difference, you ask? If you choose the former, your life becomes a series of goalposts, a list of to-dos for the sake of it, you get stressed out to complete that list and the ends become the means (If you don't get that, you won't ever, so don't bother asking again).

So in 2006, instead of making resolutions, I'm going to have a mantra.

In 2006, I'll accept myself (even more).
I'll be more optimistic...for me and my loved ones.
I'll be fitter, stronger, happier, healthier, prettier and kinder.
I'll be more grateful for the things I have and be more content.
I won't take things for granted.

In 2006, I'll get my wardrobe into shape (the token to-do).

Have the best year ever, everyone.

Leaving blues

In the cuddly mood 12.05

I'm done packing; there's not much to bring to Shanghai this time round.

And somehow, Whiskey is extra "needy" today...he's been running to my room every other minute to lick my toes and other body parts. I think he knows what's going on. That I'm going away (again) and I won't be back till March. I'm going to miss him and HIM and so much.

Love you all...

Qns for end of the year

1. Was 2005 a good year for you?
It was the most awesome year of my life so far. And next year will be better, and the next, and the next...

2. What was your favourite moment of the year?
There were so many great moments, I really don't wanna decide.

3. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
Feb 22 2005. I thought I would die, but that was a major lesson learnt. I'll never forget it.

4. Where were you when 2005 began?
God, I don't remember!

5. Who were you with?
Ditto!

6. Where will you be when 2005 ends?
Haven't quite decided.

7. Who will you be with when 2005 ends?
Ditto!

8. Did you keep your new year's resolution of 2005?
Yes, yes, yes!

9. Do you have a new year's resolution for 2006?
Yes.

10. Did you fall in love in 2005?
Oh man, did I ever.

11. If yes, with who?
Duh.

12. If yes, do they know?
He'd better!

13. You regret it?
Uh, not yet...

14. Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
No.

15. Did you make any new friends in 2005?
Yes.

16. Who are your favourite new friends?
Liza and Carol, I would say.

17. What was your favourite month of 2005?
Ahhh. Gosh, I would have to say..April (when I fell in love), May (when I went to the awesome Petra, Jordan and Jerusalem, Israel, and July (when I visited New York).

18. Did you travel outside of Singapore in 2005?
Uh, yes.

19. How many different countries did you travel to in 2005?
Lemme see...East Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, West Malaysia (a couple of times), China (a couple of times), United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Israel, USA, Vietnam. That was it.

20. Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
No.

21. Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Yeah.

22. What was your favourite movie that you saw in 2005?
Damn. I donno. I didn't think this was a good year for movies. Many were very bad.

23. What was your favourite song from 2005?
Donno. Braindead now from sleeping too little.

24. What was your favourite record from 2005?
Collaborations, Sinead O'Connor.

25. How many concerts did you see in 2005?
Three, I think.

26. Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?
Cirque Du Soleil.

27. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
Not nearly as much as I did in the previous years.

28. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
None.

29. How many people did you sleep with in 2005?
NA.

30. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Not really. Wait, yeah.

31. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005?
Don't remember.

32. Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
I'm not sure.

33. Did somebody treat you badly in 2005?
No, not really.

35. How much money did you spend in 2005?
Too much!

36. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2005?
Can't remember!

37. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?
That's private.

38. What are your plans for 2006?
That's another posting.

Changes

It's been a great few days. I've been busy stuffing my face since I came back, shooting crap with the fam and spending a lot of time with Daryl. It's been really good.

Somehow, the great times and love and laughs is a wake-up call that even though I may have certain adventures and experiences overseas and see things people don't, they can't really compare with the little things here like sharing servings of char kway teow, BBQ fish, carrot cake, sambal kangkong with the loved ones. Maybe I have really changed (grown up? I donno) but as a friend put it, maybe it's a case of "been there, done that'. Perth, Sydney, Hong Kong, now Shanghai. I grew up wanting to live in different cities and to a certain extent, I've lived that dream but - here's the kicker - the thrill doesn't compare to that of finding the love of your life.

Somebody famous - I don't remember who - said "We love because it's the only true adventure."

I think he's on to something.

Merry Xmas

I'm home, I've got pressies and it's all (mostly) good.

Have a blessed one, everyone.

A sign that I'm getting boring...or at least old

Why do I feel sad and sickened that Xmas is all about partying, boozing and buying? It's all about the pressure to have the best dress on, the best hair, the best shoes, the best bag when you're out at the best club with the best-looking people. YUCKS!!!!!

The smallest things...

...usually are the biggest deal.

A gentle touch, a smile that tells you he knows exactly what you're thinking without your uttering a word, a look from across the room.

Oh how I miss those things.

A brief appearance

Somehow, blogger is not difficult to get into but blogspot is. You guys know what I mean. So I can't really read the stuff you guys leave on my little talkbox or respond to your comments promptly.

SORRY!!

So stupe, yes I know caffeine is direutic, i.e. it makes your body lose water but your body responds by keeping as much water as possible, i.e. retains water, see?????

Anyways, has it really been four weeks? Weeee how time flies. The first couple of weeks crawled by coz even the very ritual of going to work was difficult.

Happiness is...

Sweetie and me 11.05

1. A really really big hearty laugh
2. Great photos which remind you of good times
3. Great books
4. Great movies
5. Time spent with a good friend
6. Butterscotch bread and butter pudding
7. Puppies
8. Hugs
9. Sleeping in on a rainy day
10. Bumming under the sun with a Midori 7-up
11. Window shopping with no intention to buy but finding great deals
12. Lying on the grass
13. The smell of fresh fruit
14. Singapore food
15. A really good snog

It's good to bum...

...but it's good to get into the swing of work, too.

And I love being away from the office and being able to suggest stories. This is the kind of autonomy that I've been dreaming of. It's amazing.

Bloody hell

My brother: "How long have you been here?"
Me: "Three weeks."
Me: "Why?"
My brother: "You got a puffy face."
Me: "..."
My brother: "Eh, not fat la. Puffy. Just slightly."
Me: "..."

*cusses*

P.S. He is in town for a few days.

P.P.S. I discovered the culprit! It's the crazy amount of tea I've been drinking here! It retains water, doncha know?

What I want for Xmas

Ho ho ho

- a nice pair of gloves

- books

- more books

- CDs

- things for the house

- laughter, love, peace, happiness

The most important part...

...in building a new life in a new city is getting the little things right. It's also, unfortunately, the most mundane and time-consuming aspect of things. It's like, work can be going swimmingly but if you feel stressed-out over where to get your dry-cleaning done, things just seem not ideal.

Having said that, I still feel generally good to be here. I find work here far more interesting and fulfilling. Hong Kong is an hour or so away and so is Seoul. Tokyo is about three hours away.

Ok, just a short one today. Off to the Art Museum for dinner and some jazz after. Ace.

Who are the people who come to Shanghai?

Someone said last night that there are two types of people who come to work/live in Shanghai: the married ones who get sent here by their companies and they bring their kids and wifes/husbands - these are usually in their mid to late 30s - and those in their early 20s who have no obligation whatsoever and come here for the freedom. These are the ones who party all the time and rave about the night life here. These are also the ones who say those in the former group "don't come out" and how boring that is.

Where does that leave me and the people I know? Am I a 'tween? Stuck in that area between the hedonistic, carefree early 20s - I used to get pissed and party every weekend and get away with it - and that stage where you "no longer come out and have fun?" Then great, coz either group doesn't sound very appealing to me.

Limbo I

It's not that nothing is happening here in Shanghai. I've been meeting people, exploring places and working, but it just seems difficult to make any sort of judgment about the city or my life here...for now.

God bless wool

It's about 9 degrees outside. I just made grilled cheese on multigrain and a cuppa hot milo. (Wow. I am beginning to cook, even if it's just slicing up some cheddar and putting them on farmers' bread, then bunging that under the grill...that bread you gotta slice! So there IS some work involved) And I am contemplating whether to hole up at home and stay warm and just be a lazy arse, or go ahead with plans...a late morning yoga session, while the afternoon away at Changle Lu's Garden Books and sit in on a photography talk at The Glamour Room at The Bund in the late arvo. Then it's dinner followed by decorating Kelly's Xmas tree in her Pudong home.

...

What the heck. I'll just put on my heavy-duty jacket.

Winter's coming

This is not my first winter but compared with Shanghai's, the cold months of Hong Kong's and Sydney's are nothing.

This weekend, the temperature is going to fall below 5 Celsius and the city authorities are warning people of the "sudden and sharp drop"...considering it was a warm 16 degrees yesterday and a nice 14 Celsius today, yeah, that's scary.

In any case, other than getting used to the weather, I'm coping ok, I think. I'm beginning to get a sense of where's what in Shanghai - I still don't really know how to get around though; I tend to use cabs everywhere, except when I go to work. It's afterall a city of almost 20 million people, and Pudong alone is bigger than Singapore. It's mindboggling.

Some Singaporeans gripe about how rude Shanghainese are, and I must say I haven't really felt it. Most are ok. They also gripe about how dirty the place is and how unpleasant most things are, and I don't know what to say. I reckon if you're going to move overseas - most move here for the "opportunities", i.e. MONEY - then you had better be more open-minded. Say that to them, though, and they wouldn't be very happy. Oh well.

In any case, I must say I am beginning to sorta like Shanghai and settling in, albeit not as quickly as I would like to. There's too much to learn and see.