on hiatus.

At least for the rest of the year. There will be no scheduled post or Music Mondays.

I am very vocal and when I see something that can be improve, I will try to improve it or feedback to someone who can do something about it. It usually works to my advantage and gets things going.

But I forgot that sometimes, the good intentions can be taken out of context. And when taken out of context, it will cause a lot of unnecessary stuff. It’s a good hard slap this time.

稍安勿躁. Everything in His time.

I will take this period to do some reflection. Stay away from Facebook/Twitter/blog. Or anything that let’s me express my thoughts. Maybe the occasional instagram. This will train me to think over these thoughts more carefully. It will be good for me. Now and in the future.

Sometimes sunset reflects how I feel: a bit of grey threatening to engulf my rays.

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Philippians 1:6

 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

As you may have already, I am re-reading the entire Harry Potter series cos a) I have time on my hands and b) can’t find anything that’s nice to read.

Just realised that Book 4 (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) has to be my favorite out of the 7 books! Here are some of the reasons –

• It’s the book before the entire series goes dark and gloomy.
• There’s the Triwizard Tournament! The tasks are interesting!
• Proper Quidditch coverage. The rest of the Quidditch mentions are just too long.
• Quotable Quotes!
• Touching moments (:
• First book of the series where I actually had to pre-order. Oh the excitement!

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book –

Never be ashamed (of who you are)…There’s some who’ll hold it against you, but they’re not worth bothering with…
– Hagrid

If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.
– Dumbledore

And one example of the touching moments –

(When Harry and Voldermort’s wands met and the Prior Incanto spell was forced onto Voldermort’s wand)

“Your father’s coming..” she said quietly. “Hold on for your father…It will be alright…Hold on…”

And he came…tall and untidy-haired like Harry, the smoky shadowy form of James Potter blossomed from the end of Voldermort’s wand, fell to the ground, and straightened like his wife.

Many small moments in the book that’s nice. Like when Mrs Weasley hugged Harry and it was described as, “…she hugged him as if he was one of her own children..”Or when Fred and George jinxed Malfoy at the same time as Harry, Ron and Hermonine.

Yups! I am on Book 5 right now. Reading it extra slowly cos Sirius is going to die and I really don’t like the Occlumency part (though the story about Snape’s past was interesting). Alrighty. Back to the books!

[Music Monday] Taylor Swift @ Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show 2013

Because we all need a earworm to kickstart the week! Plus, Monday is the only day in the week that starts with M. I’ll try to post non-Kpop songs occasionally 

Alrighty. This week is more of eye-candy than earworm but either ways~

I used to watch Victoria’s Secret faithfully. Year after year! I love Heidi Klum and Tyra Banks! They added fun and personality to the walkway. Plus the stage designs are fantastic! It’s what dreams are made of (kinda).

But since both of them left, I’ve kind of stopped watching. There’s still Miranda Kerr who I grew to like but the runway is just different. There’s too many new faces who, gorgeous as they may be, tries a little too hard. However! I do watch the performances of artists like Black Eyed Peas and Maroon 5 on Youtube though.

Was about to give this year’s show and performances a miss until I saw this on Taylor Swift’s Facebook page –

’nuff said!

So when the performance came out…Clicky-click!

Taylor Swift looks like she was one of the VS Angels as well! Nice! And the way she swings her hair. I really need to find out how singers do that without messing up the hair. Honestly.

Oh yeah. I don’t really fancy “Trouble” though. It’s catchy and the tune is a little different from her usual style. But still… *shrugs*

Anyhoos! Hope you like the performance as much as I did! That’s all this week!

Letter from 2012 (:

Hey there!

How was year 25? Quarter of a century old. That’s really putting things into perspective, isn’t it?

I guess that partly explains why you were rather unhappy in year 24. Quarter life crisis anyone? And you are writing this with a really jaded feeling.

Birthday celebration was rather awesome isn’t it? You have wonderful colleagues, really! Elmos, Polaroid camera, Wonder Shrimps (are they still alive?!) and that very expensive rainbow cake! Isn’t it nice that everyone went out of their way to delight you? To take care of you? Sometimes, I don’t know why you are so unhappy there.

I know you had some doubts about work. You contemplated it for many months. What is the conclusion? Did you stay? Or are you at a different place now? Happier? Less jaded? I’ve left. So glad that I wrote this down last year. It was a well thought out decision then (:

How’s the family? Is Ah Yong finally done with NS? (: Dajie still working? Yes, Ah Yong is done is with NS. He is taking some time to find his direction though. Dajie is still working and she bought a car!

Are the parents okay? Grams? Grams had a little accident last week. But all’s good! 

What’s the one thing that you are proudest of this past year?

Are you attached?

Did you go to Taiwan? Or Japan? How about Korea during Autumn? No:(

Meimei, not getting any younger. If you are still doing the same thing and yet not feeling happier, please do something about it. Take a break, find yourself again! Remember how jovial you used to be? Yes, I am partly writing this because I hate who I am now. Negative. Negative. Negative. Do something about it!!

Most importantly, remember to thank God for looking after your family and you.

Cheers to a happier 26 right? HWAITING!!

here comes 26!

A year just went by in a blink. Like really. Celebrating my 25th birthday with the CEM ladies didn’t feel that far away. The beautiful rainbow cake, the 2 adorable Elmos and the laughter. Ahhh…memories indeed (:

25th! A year ago (:

Much has happened since then. Year 25 was nothing short of eventful and a year of reflection where I took time off to slow down. Well, that’s a nice way of putting it ;p But to put it blatantly, I am unemployed.

BUT YES!

After much tears and struggle, I decided to leave the Maybank family. Hardest decision ever. But before that happened, I managed to organised the first every Savings Day and pulled together Glitz (and the first ever internal service award). I’m really proud of those two events (:

I went back to Korea in late April with the oldest friend too! That’s the 3rd time I have been to Korea in Spring (in case you are wondering). Hehe. Yes, I plan to go back there ONE more time before I explore the rest of the world. But that ONE more time takes a bit of planning so…wish me luck!

I obtained my TOPIK Level 2! (: HOORAY! I think that’s what I wanted to do last year (will know when the letter I wrote to myself comes in later).  I only attended 3 K-Pop concert this year! That’s significantly lower than last year ;p Phew! Think that’s what I set out to do last year too!

I also went for Scoot air stewardess interview back in June (: I was shortlisted and offered but decided that it was not for me in the end. But that’s another huge what-if cancelled!

During this period of unemployment, I sat down and think. What I wanted to do, where am I in my life, what is that one thing I want to for myself. And I think I have come to a conclusion. It’s a selfish thing (well, in my own view it is) to do but I think I have to do it. Keeping the fingers crossed. And ironically, I realised being in the banking industry seems to suit me. No, not doing the financial stuff. But maybe comms, service and the more right-brained stuff seems to suit me more. Of course, I didn’t forget about my childhood dream of teaching. I can feel that the time to teach is drawing nearer (: I will be ready soon!

Sometimes, I do regret quitting from Maybank. And that’s a huge thing to say. I have done many stupid things in the past but I’ve never regretted it. So yeah. But it was the right move for me at that point in time, DONE! Right now, I am looking forward to what I am going to do in the future!

Occasionally, I feel sorry towards my parents because they are already so old and here I am, unemployed. Unable to provide them with the additional source of income. Yes, I am not taking money from them but I am 26 already. I should be able to do more than that. But like what Jie En says, “do what you have to do. make up to them later. they will understand.” I just have to repeat that to myself right? (:

Somewhere in October/November, I retracted back into my shell cos I had a culture shock. Let’s just say…I have a different perspectives on stuff I see online now.

But during that time…I am glad. I am glad I have friends like Victor, Shuyun, Jian Lin, Calvin, Prof Lee and so many others. They stepped forward and helped me asked around for job vacancies. And for friends like Lucian, who I can talk to about the culture shock to.

And also, friends like Daniel who lend me his Note 2 when my phone broke down. Or DK and Jerrick who offered to lend me theirs. What else? Oh! And Chin Wah for stepping up to tell a certain someone that calling me names is wrong.

I think these past month or two weeks can be summarised in 1 hashtag – #faithinhumanityrestored

I am now abit less skeptical due to these people (: Thank you thank you!

Year 26! I will hereby call you…”Year of Chasing Dreams”. 追梦之年! Jiayou lah!

AJA AJA!

P/S: Learnt something from watching Okto. Won’t tell you the purpose of this though ;p

quicky edit.

[Music Monday] Mirror, Mirror – M2M

Because we all need a earworm to kickstart the week! Plus, Monday is the only day in the week that starts with M. I’ll try to post non-Kpop songs occasionally 

The brother was playing this song when I came home yesterday and I started singing along. Thought I’ll ‘dedicate’ this post to the song.

I was a huge fan of M2M back in secondary school. M2M and Britney Spears and A1. Every Sunday, I will wake up at about 10-ish to watch the MTV countdown on Ch5. When M2M/Britney/A1 comes on, I will slot in my VHS videotape and record ;p Those were the days!

Oh yeah! I used to have a notebook filled with lyrics of songs that I like. Written in rainbow pens! Do you remember those pens?

source: http://www.missivemaven.com

Anyways! That’s probably the reason why I still remember the lyrics to the song! Without further ado (and digression), here’s the song!

The MV is still etched in my mind. The two of them lying in the grass and singing. Hahaha!

M2M is also known for songs like “Pretty Boy”, “Don’t Say You Love Me” (theme song of Pokemon movie) and “The Day You Went Away”. All of which form a vital part of my playlist back in those teenage days (:

So yup! A little bit of throwback for this week’s Music Monday. On the off chance that this is the first time you guys have heard of M2M, what’s your view of them? Nice?

 

this christmas.

Been increasingly hearing friends fretting over what to get for gift exchange over the past week. And I realised how relieve I am that I don’t have to do that this year cos I am unemployed *phew*

Which got me thinking…how many people actually like or even use the presents they got at gift exchange?

I mean, yes, it’s the thought that counts. But frankly, most presents are bought in a rush or at the last moment. Secret Santa is even harder!

So…instead of doing gift exchange, why not pool the money together and donate to a charity organisation instead? Think it will be more meaningful (at least for me). And I guess…more practical too!

Just put forward this suggestion to the cousins. Let’s see how it goes (:

If you have a gift exchange tradition,  why not consider this option instead?