A Mind of My Own

Rant ahead.

NYDC is famous for not allowing anyone to make any bookings on Friday. Thanks. At least that was what I expected since my friend had informed me about it. I just wanted to test them. The next sentence sprouting out of the lady’s mouth was “It should not be too crowded on Friday at Citylink.” Say what? I got 10 people wanting to eat, what if you don’t have enough seats for 10? Surely you won’t be moving one of your dining couple to another table, would you?

Next, I tried New York, New York. The website is slow. I think it’s ridiculous to use Flash for a webpage and it so reminds me of the hideous look of 1996. Slows down my loading time! The lady said last slot is only 6.30pm. So I have to find people to arrive there to ensure the table is not un-reserved by 6.30pm. They sure take their own sweet time to pick up calls too. I am turned off by the offhanded way that she threatened to un-reserve our table.

Frustrated by now, I tried Swensens. The lady replied that they don’t take reservations for Friday, Saturday and Sunday rather happily. This was getting out of hand! How can a simple booking take so much complication?

Since I have run out of places, I decided to go ahead with the restrictive New York, New York. This time a heavily don’t-know-what-accent guy picked up the call. Taking his own sweet time too. I couldn’t understand half the time what he was talking about. I had to repeat my name, how to spell, my mobile number (twice), the total number of people, etc.

All done, now I had to ensure that my table doesn’t get un-reserved. Now, I realised that I forgot to ask them to reserve a corner table. I was too caught up with the frustration of trying to understand what the accented-voice guy was telling me.

[via Flickr]

Flying kites in Singapore often means East Coast Park or Marina South. I was rather surprised that we would be at West Coast Park to fly kites. Someone was in charged of buying the kites and all we had to do was to turn up. Turn up we did.

I had the common sense to bring a bag with mats. It was a good thing too. Although my friends teased me for bringing such a huge bag, again. At this moment, it’s best to ignore when others laugh at you. However, we chose the wrong place. The sun was setting and the wind was blowing towards the sun, meaning we had to face the sun when our kites got flying.

I just let the kite go and it fly up high. Twice. Without any help. I’m a good kite flyer. Got these genes from my father, obviously. The second time, I got my string tangled with another kite and it got stuck high up in the tree. I had to break the string. So sad. Kite flying instructions here and here.

After dinner, we went to Settlers Cafe at Holland Village. It’s a fun place for small talk and board games. Officially tired from kite flying and playing exciting brain games at Settlers Cafe.

I didn’t have to spend too much today since there is someone who is very nice, drove us to and back.

You can say that again. Couples planning to tie the knots are having trouble trying to book their preferred hotels due to the steep and rising prices of the banquet tables. Even the red packets (ang baos) have to be bigger too. That way, the couple will not be able to cover their wedding celebrations, let alone honeymoon.

The price list for 2007 is available and I can’t imagine what it’ll be like for 2008 onwards. All these are just the tip of the iceberg, when the housing loans and renovation bills come, you’ll start to think how to get married with all these huge debts.

Went for a dinner treat by ES because the sisters have helped out at her wedding. It was great and I am now fatter than before. Great. I have resolved to do some workout but have done nothing until now. I think by getting wider in the girth, I get lazier. Darn.

We had the dinner at Just Greens in Chinatown. Ordered my favourite, fried golden mushrooms. Yummy and oily and sinfully great. I love the salad and oat meal prawns too. As for the mapo tofu, sorry, I’m not a fan of spicy food. However, everyone enjoyed the treat.

After the full dinner, we went for dessert. Oh no! The money for the drinks and fries! Erm, I think I got 2 free treats today. Thanks! Anyway, I’m growing old. I noticed that I have minute crow’s feet! NO!

The Legends in Fort Canning sounds like a fantasy. A place where legends come to life. DD’s friend was holding her wedding dinner there and I went with him. A cocktail reception was still going on at 8pm. The wedding card stated 7.30pm. Eventually, everyone arrived by 8.35pm. Sometimes, I hate Chinese style wedding dinners. Everyone is hungry.

The newly-weds had 3 changes of clothes. The first was a white gown with a long train. She looked absolutely lovely. The food started arriving after that. The food was up to standard but the timing was off. It didn’t seem to come within a certain timing. The 2nd change of clothes for the couple came up after the 3rd course arrived. The couple wore black. My parents would have jumped at my throat for wearing a black gown.

This gown had a huge can can. It suited the bride very well too. At the end of the dinner, the couple had a final change of clothes. This time, to a Pernarakan for the bride and a white suit for the groom. The couple had friends mixing cocktail of beer, brandy, red wine and some soy sauce in red wine to drink. Oh my.

I liked the ambiance at the place, just that the area was rectangular and the 2nd walk in was to be done at the other end. I wondered why the drinks weren’t refilled that promptly by the time it was near the bottom of the glass. My favourite was the dessert, honeydew sago. Nice. I do hate the dish before the dessert, fried noodles. By that time, I was already bursting at the seams, I don’t need the noodles to add on to my growing girth.

I think I’m not going to hold such a dinner. I would like to hold mine in a different way. Now, to convince the parents.

A friend of mine has a missing cousin. If you have seen her, please help. She was last seen in Malaysia although she entered Singapore on 24 Dec 2007.

Name : Ding Sook Feng
Age : 29
Height : 1.6m
Others : Fair, shoulder length hair.

[via friend's blog]

I’m hoping that she’ll be found soon as she is said to be emotionally unstable as she hadn’t been taking her medication for 2 weeks and has a history of depression.

Update: She has been found. Thank goodness.

It’s Christmas and this morning, I slept at 3am. That’s because I went to attend a Christmas party with DD at his friend’s place. The friend was so helpful. As the girlfriend, or as long as anyone is a woman, she is to buy the gifts for the gift exchange. Men and their ideas of what a woman should be doing. Them and their ideas of women doing the traditional role of housekeeping and looking after babies. Well, that’s if the men can bring home the bacon, ya?

Now, with 10 plus people attending this party, there has to be food. At 11pm. With fried chicken, wanton, salad and pizza. That’s a lot of food when there aren’t so many people attending. No wonder DD is getting, erm, more Buddha like. Now, what’s a party on Christmas Eve without a gift exchange? The drawing of the lots was simple, each gift had a number, you just pick one number from the box and the gift is yours, except not what you have bought.

DD had a cute photo frame with a bear holding a heart. I had Crabtree and Evelyn’s body and shower gel. I’m so tired. Waking up at 10.30am doesn’t help and I noticed that I’m having too many dark rings and wrinkles under my eyes. I’m old! And I am Legend doesn’t feel like a good movie to watch despite what DK claimed. I guess the only interesting and exciting parts are those shown in the trailer.

What bride would be without a bridal set? I’m in love with this bracelet from this bridal set by Goldheart.

[via Flickr]

And no, don’t ask me when either. I don’t know. But my friends, do take note. You can give me this set when I send you my invitation card.

I’ve been asked way too many times and I feel it’s never too good to ask people such a question. My colleagues were talking about marriage during lunch and they touched on “When is your turn?” topic. With lots of red bombs these few months, I’ve been asked this question numerous times. The last time I was asked, the relationship ended. So, if you want me to get married, don’t ask me.

Call me pandang or superstitious but if you do care about your friends, don’t ask them such a question if you expect the couples to get married. Let the river flow and your friends will be grateful for being thoughtful and feel happier attending the events.

I woke up early again this morning. Same time, 4.30am. Freaking early. Luckily, my dad was going in the direction I was going and I took a lift from him, It’s a very good thing I did too. The groom was super stingy. I doubt it would be enough to cover the taxi fare either.

It was also a good thing I had another lift from his friend too. It started to rain heavily just as we left the place after the ROM buffet. Overall, this event was very simple. No time was the phrase I kept hearing. Let’s see how tonight goes.