Movie, Shopping, Eating, Drinking – All the NUAZ habits

Off day! Met up with Stella & visited Wendy at her place! Uncle looks better! Goody! Just happy to chat up with them & hopeful I can ease/soothe a teeny bit of their worries away…

Went to watch at Cathy House! Niceeeeeeeee! The movie was really sweet & nice…. Rather dreamy actually…. Just have this warn fizzing feeling in me… Wow! Tickets were cheap! $6 only for UOB member! WOW! I wanna watch at Cathy from now on!!

We did some shopping at ADIDAS & bot quite a few things! With Jordan’s discount, we managed to get some 30% off some stuff! Stella bought her 1st pair of sports shoes & a newboy cap.

This is Stella's Cap!

I bought a pair of running tights & a Tennis Visor… dun ask me why I need yet another headwear when I seldom wear it… I just like it OKAY!

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I adjourned to meet Sheila for dinner at Suntec City, I suggested the reviewed Café il Lido. Read abt this place on Sunday Times & since I have a weakness for anything that contains cheese…. I MUST try the much raved Four Cheese Thin Crust Pizza!

We ordered 1 clam white aglio olio pasta to share, 2 soup, 1 four cheese pizza & 2 teas…
I had to ask for Salt, I started with the Pasta & soup & their were….. Well, in their original taste- meaning to say, Tasteless though Fragrant.

The waiter came over to ask …
“Hi Mdm, is everything alright? Food’s ok?”

“Yes, everything is alright, but the dishes were rather lacking in taste & that I had to put lotsa Salt….”
I must have rattled on too quickly that it sounded rather rehearsaed.

He looked rather shocked & was taken aback…
“Oh, ok……umm…..umm..” Imagine he trying to back away from the table to hide in the kitchen…

Puzzled by his action, I asked Sheila if he was actually asking a QUESTION, that needs an honest reply…. Or was he just used to making the statement to strike a conversation with patrons & “part of the job”.
We both agreed that he was just “asking” to fulfil part of the job…

Nevertheless, when we both sink our teeth into the pizzaa…… ooohhhhhohhh it was heavenly! So nice & rich in taste! Cheese is never fresh cos it’s fermented…but if I could use “FRESH” on cheese, they must have used the “FRESH-est” cheese on this pizza! It’s almost close to the ones I’ve tasted in Rome, Italy

YUMMY Four Cheese Pizza!

After stuffing ourselves with lotsa tea & YUMMY food, we went to Paulaner Brauhaus for a 0.3L Dark & White!

The 2-gals band was on & they were great! Sung all the nice songs that I like…. Nice lounge music… I have a thing for pple who can play the violin & the violinist just melted my heart! I felt wooed away…. How I long for a Vanessa Mae scene, playing the violin with half the body submerged in sea… Woooo……

!!!!

VICTORY for Tri-Factor Olypmic Distance Triathlon!

I remembered my 1st race, it was the OSIM Triathlon Sprint event at ECP.

I went with a very heavy heart… although I have Meimei as my loyal supporter… I was hoping that he would be there… my Zhan Ma was a gift to spur me to exercise (without putting too much strain on my knees)… we discussed about me signing up for the race… I asked if he would be there to support me… the answer was: “If I dun have anything on, I can go lor…you know I have to work on Sundays”… I know of course, but I dun understand, there is this thing call Annual Leave… Is it more precious than me? It was the same reply I got when my Auntie Sammi passed away… she was closer than a Mother is to me… I asked if he CAN take leave to be there at the Cremation (note, not if he WILL take leave), in other words, I realy needed him to be there… I got the same reply…haiz…

But I tell myself that today is different!

I no longer wanna look forward to whether who or who is gona be there! When you dun have expectations, you dun fall! So I was really overjoyed that I have my pals to be there to support me! Hey! No joke leh! Wake up early early on a Sunday Morning (best time to Nuazzz in bed!) & stand under the HOT sun to Cheer for me! So, I salute my Pong Pong Gals present! Sheila, Clarissa, Yuan Pei, Chris & Stella! Thank you gals for being this important part of my life! YAY!

Swim 1.5km, Bike 40km, Run 10km
- Swimming gear – “Sexy” Two piece Suit + Striking Pink Caps + Goggles - CHECKED!
- Biking gear – 战马, Shoes + Helmet + Shades - CHECKED! Running gear
- Bright Green Running Shoes + Power Gel -CHECKED!

Preparing for the transition point!

My 战马!

Clarissa commented that this is the 1st time she sees me looking so nervous…. OF cos my princess gal! I am having spasms with all that butterflies in my stomach!

Tested the water – CHOPPYTasted the air – 60-80% humidity (likelihood to have passing showers) – no, I cheated, it always drizzle at ECP in 3rd Quarter of the year!

Ok – I draw this conclusion, ECP has the most salty water, follow by Changi…

Have yet to taste Sentosa’s yet! Kekek!

OMG! I am so nervous!

Must do my Visualisation!

Ellen's Pong Pong Gal, Mei Shan!

Fierce Ellen & Me!

I hate wearing the Swimming cap!

Makes me look like a Nun!

Wave off was very messy! I didn’t even know it was waved cos it was supposed to be 9.30am briefing & 9.45am wave off! It waved off at 9.30am WITHOUT the briefing! I just quickly start my watch & run toward the beach & plunge into the water & swam with big strokes &… &…&… Yes lah, I panicked lor!

The swim was great! Big waves & just riding the wave with each pull… reminds me of dragonboat when we were out at sea & as pacers, have to dip our paddles in deep into the wave & catch it! COOOL!

I had to swim 1 loop, run pass the SPLIT point (timing counter) on the beach & swim another loop! The 2nd loop was not too good, launched with another wave & I got smashed & smacked & gobbled quite abit of water…

I could hear my Pong Pong gals cheering for me when I emerged from the water & ran past them! YAY! Motivated me to continue! Thank you thank you!!

The SHagged-cannot-think look!

Dun ask me why I still have energy to check my timing!

I slowed down when transiting for the bike segment… cleaned my YUCKY feet (full of soil, grass & beach sand) & slipped on my LUCKY GREEN TURTLE socks! YAY! Off I zoom!!!

I also took 2 big mouthful of the power Gu-Gel for energy boosting effect! What was I expecting?! Definitely not the RED button effect…. Think Fast & Furious when they hit the button that activates the NITROGEN Cylinder – They travel through space thereafter cos everything else was a blur!!

Love this shot by Starry!

Zoomm zoommm for 6laps! I noticed 1 piece Purple tri-suit… long hair, expensive equipment…she looks pretty…I also not bad what! So I attempt to overtake her… well, I did lah, but then for the next 20km or so – we were pacing rather well. When I dun see her, I imagine her using me as her pacer!

On route to my last SPLIT point, I saw the ambulance blocking the way. One usher was shouting at me to stop, the other one 2metres away was telling me to slow down… I figured there was an accident & that’s why everyone was so panicky. Only much later then I learnt from Sheila & Stella that 1 biker couldn’t uncleat in time & crashed into the side railings! They witnessed it right in front of their eyes! Judging from Stella’s tone, she was rather tramautised by the accident, she said it was bloody!

At my last lap, I actually chat up with Purple gal. I confirmed with her the distance her odometer was reading & if it was her last lap too! Cool! All the way!

There! There's the Purple Gal! Right behind me!

Took the last transit slow & steady… finished up the Power Gu-Gel & ¾ H2O in my bottle. I feel jelly legs…. Correction- I no feel no legs! The sun was hot & I starting to have stitches… I’ve been through this before – my 1st training attempt to run after a 40km cycling segment.
Then I ended up completing a 100m LIMP to the nearest 7-11 to get 2 bottles of POCARI SWEAT…
Then I sat at the road curb trying to stay conscious….
Then I told myself to be cool & easy on meself, it was my 1st attempt afterall….
Not today…. Not on the race day…
Today I pressed on….

I had expected the struggle to be abt 2km…. Abt 15-20mins… But it was pro-longed when I turned into 2 up slops somewhere pass the 300m mark… For goodness sake, I was trying to pace a big elderly guy in front of mer, who I thought might drop die from a heart attack anytime! It was THAT painful for me…

I must have struggled for 4km till the 2nd drinking point I saw. After I ascertain who cup is Ice Water, which is Isotonic, I drenched myself with the cold liquid and I felt myself sizzling…. I was rather amazed with my sanity at this point of time to still do the checks, I have heard of too many stories of pple pouring down Ice Isotonic instead of Water & become irritably uncomfortable for the rest of the run!

I usually do not drink water during races, esp not when I am already struggling with stitches… but this action probably saved my life… I felt much much better & upon passing the 4.5km mark – I was literally floating through the air! Maybe it was the water, maybe it was my ego...

but when I saw the Pong Pong gals there at the SPLIT shouting for me name “SOYA! GO!!!” – I felt an electric surge in me, jolting me into action!

So as they said, the rest is history! I was quite comfortable running through the finishing line! I could see in the blur the gals there SHOUTING for me! I have every darn right to be proud of myself! I did it…. I completed a FULL OLYMPIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON & my watch read 3hr 8mins+++!
(my dear friend, Ellen, later checked the web & confirmed that my timing was 3hr 8mins32sec, rank 46th outa 74)

Last Burst of Energy!

I was in a euphoria state! Jubilee! My friends were proud of me! I could feel their love & support… oozing outa them…. Literally! In my half dreamy state, I cant really register what every1 was saying….But I was seeing Pink heart-shaped stuff & Cleft treble were dropping outa their mouths when they speak! Heart to me Heart, Music to my ears! REALLI!!! I know it’s abit drama, but THIS IS WAT I SAW LAH!

Starry kept telling me : "You finally finish it!"
She finally believed that a Triathlon race has it’s dangers & it’s real when I told her the bike segment is the most dangerous 1 to me…. She was just very glad that I am safe & sound!

I decided to award myself with a nice cold Beer! So we went to the hawker centre & be gluttonous! We ordered those sinful food like Fried Hokkien Mee, Kway Taw, Satay, Otah, Sugar cane drink, Dessert, & of course Heineken(for me Me ME!!) & HoeGarden (for starry stella!)
What a great way to end the race!
美食, 啤酒, 女人! YAY!

Me & my Greenie shoes!

Will I do it again?! U BET!

Spent quite a while to wash up the equipment (shoes, bike, clothes & all). Stella was so tired that she fell asleep at the sofa & drifted into dreamland in a ever so soft snoozing sound…kekek! I watched her sleep like a baby even when C&N were darting around her!

Oh, & sheila is so sweet! She came up with this video for me! WWOW! I am very impressed!!!

Thank you my lady!

Must have been the caffine in the Power Gu-Gel, I was having problem sleeping even when I am so wasted… Mental note: Get rid of those Gu-Gel, they are way too “POWERFUL” for me!

Nugget’s 1st Vaccination

Went to AllPets vet for a 9.30am appointment to vaccinate Little Nugget. It’s his 1st vaccinate & boy was he very brave! Never even wince abit when the vet push the syringe of vaccine in! Oh! & The vet said I did a fantastic job to clear his ear mites! They are all Gone! YAY! Those little creepy mites are all gone!!! Happy! *Clap*Clap*

Today is the day I wished I still have my car… I had a hard time trying to get a cab back…. Imagine the 10am sun, me struggling with the carrier with Poor little Nugget in it, having probably to flight down a cab along the one lane 2-way road at Jalan Kayu. It happened to be the garbage collection timing so the collection trucks were stopping at almost every shop front to collect the bins. There I was, blocked in view & I was rather desperate after seeing that most of the cabs there were heading up to TPE or into the estates, which means they were mostly occupied.

I really really wished I still had my car… I really wished I had managed to borrow the car from KT…
All I want is to quickly settle Nugget comfortably (he is expected to feel lethargic after vaccination)…
It didn’t help that I hate taking cabs, I never seem to be able to flight down a cab in public (other than at my house)…As the traffic zoomed past me, the garbage smell linger in the air, the breakfast crowd started to come in for the pratas…. My time stood still…I felt really lost…. Haiz…

Anyway, finally after 15mins of wandering ard, up & down Jalan Kayu, I managed to “hogged” a cab on the opp side! The next problem happened, I cant cross the road for nuts (at least not without someone’s helpful T-shirt sleeve, or the traffic light) & damn! Jalan Kayu have only 2 traffic lights, one at the start, the other at the end… WHAT THE FISH! So I literally hug the carrier (not carry) & dash across during when the traffic seemed to stop for 5secs!

Phew! I finally got back & settle Nugget!
I also napped before waking up in a dreamy state to meet Stella for dinner! I was craving for MacDonald’s Seaweed shaker fries! Alas, the promotion was over! WHAT! No more seaweed shaker fries?! Since when!?! Have been a while since I last eaten MacDonald’s!

When we got home… I was having a lot of anxiety of the race… I feel the need to mentally prepare my family & friend, the worst that may happen! I want to be able to tell them I love them very much before I go for the race!! I gave my NRIC to Stella, & confirmed if she knows what the NRIC is for – she “scolded” me saying “Yah lah Yah lah!” Pouting her lips! I reminded her it’s for the registration at the hospital if anything!

Ok, my mentality is this:
“If I have prepared for the worst, then whatever happened will not be the worst!”

I got a nice surprise at night, I was delivered a handmade friendship band in striking Green, Orange, Yellow & White colour! Niceee…..=)

Anyway, I couldn’t really fall asleep till abt 12+…
tmr, I will overcome greater adversity! YAY!

9月9日2009年的约定: Bro Edwards’ ROM

一个九月九日二零零九年的约定, 就真的能长长久久吗?
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I woke at 7.30am this morning, help to style Edwards’ hair for his big day. He & Sister Ariel are getting hitched! Venue is at Changi Bethesda Church.

It’s gona be a short & simple church solemnisation, followed by a lunch buffet at the church’s kindergarten. My role today is to be the 乖妹妹, sit at the reception table to sign guests in. As I sat there signing guests in, I realised that I don’t know my own brother’s friends… he doesn’t have many to start with, mostly acquaintances from work… some cell group members… oh, he has ONE friend I recognise though.

I feel a tinge of sadness in me…. A rather solemn question bugging me… how is my own brother like, outside the family walls… was he likeable? Was he charismatic? Was he kind?
I was much saddened cos the whole family was there…. simply cos we have to be there, not cos we want to be there! I suddenly got rather fearful that if I were to get married, would I run into the same situation?

The pastor’s sermon highlighted 3 main points to keep a marriage going strong & happy:
1) Continue to pursue (追求) each other
追求 each other, do the things that you know make each other happy during courtship.
Courtship should be an on-going process! Dun stop after the success, work even harder from today onwards to maintain the relationship!

2) Be nice – Dun demean your partner.
Learn to not disagree, not be a wet blanket! Trust your spouse’s intelligence & maturity to make the decision that is best for the both is you! Most importantly, dun use this phrase when things go wrong: “ Seee! I told you so & you dun listen to me!” it’s most demeaning even when in private, esp when in the public! Boast abt his/her positive traits! For example, her cooking, his humour, her analytic skills, his financial planning skills etc!

3) Fulfil each other’s destiny in life
Know your spouses’ destiny in Life… is it to be a gd mother? Gd daughter? Sport person? Financial independents? Bigger house? Whatever the destiny is, try to help each other achieve it, & achieve it together! A couple whose goals are common – Strives & stays together!

The pastor’s sermon set me thinking lots… did I fulfilled my duty as a girlfriend in my past r/s? Did I cont to pursue him? Was I nice & boast his achievements? Did I understand & try to fulfil his destiny?
Some “Yes-es” & some “No-s”…I must take note of these & make improvement in my next r/s!
Jia you!

Anyway, we had a family portrait!

Has been awhile since we had one – we used to have one on the 1st day of every Chinese New Year… with the exception of the faithful year I didn’t stay with my family. I was always the one who initiated the photo taking. So since I emerged from the main door (not from my room door), everyone forgot! We missed the year’s most memorable event! Oh at least it’s memorable to me! Actually, I remembered & waited patiently for the day to come, sadly my theory was correct – only I cared. So this year, I make it a point to continue the tradition, I make sure I included my two cats! =D

Anyhow, the event ended sometime in the late afternoon & I got home to sleep…it was a rather disturbing sleep though. Weather was terrible + mind too full of thoughts!

Vet visit....again & again!

31 Sep Monday

Little Nugget has been shaking his head for the past 2 days... I dug up some dark yucky stuff from his ears & suspected ear mites....Aiks!

Went to the vet recommended by Vivien, it's at Jalan Kayu.

Brought Creamie along also, so thought it's good to check out her Blackie nose again for 2nd opinion! So verdict:

1) Creamie's nose still not verdict, DrGrace Lim couldnt really cfm the problem, but cfm it's non invasive. Suggested me to check DrSimonQuek out. He's a Pets Skin Specialist!

2) Cfm Nugget has got the Ear mites! After digging twice in the morning, DrGrace still managed to dig out another 5-6 cotton buds of YUCKY blacky stuff! She let me see under the microscope, & the Mite was waving "HELOO!" to me! Aiks!
I guess the fee is reasonable bah, abt $50+... but still, since I cant claim.... it's HAIZ for me...it's more expensive than my own doctor! I wonder if I remain Single & have an employment in a company, will they cover Creamie & Nugget as my next of Kin & I can claim for their expenses?! They are after all my children! Plus, if I m single, the company will save on the Hubby's medical expenses! wuahahh!

Some great companies should come out with this to attract animal lovers!

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Nugget will struggle alot when I try to clean his ears & squeeze the medication into his ear canal... haiz... scratched me lots lah.... sad.... he must be in pain... then got all grouchy with folded ears...the angry look.... I had to wrap him in a thick towel before I can do anything...

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2 Sep Wednesday

Went to DrSimonQuek (Sunset Way) to check out Creamie's Black nose.

He must be damn good, appt full all the way till next week! ARGH! I had to risk a Walk-in lah! All the way to Sunset Way leh!

Anyway, Verdict:

No confirmed diagnosis. Cfm not Parasite though after the skin scrap test. So Phew!

It's cfm not dirt of course! Could be skin sebum, like our human facial black heads etc. There's this thing call the "Dirty Face Syndrome", usually found on Persian Cats... it's rare but it does happen. Must google it.

Extract from Google:

"Kitten Dirty Face Syndrome (scientific name: Idiopathic facial dermatitis)
Persian and Himalayan kittens sometimes have a skin condition on the face (facial dermatoses). Symptoms of this condition include:
Inflammation around the mouth
Black spots on the skin
There is no treatment for this condition. Ointments for the face tend to provide temporary relief. "

"Caused by an over-active sebaceous gland, as it is in humans, cat acne at it's most severe can take a long time to respond to any treatment. Once the sebaceous gland begins working over-time, a series of knock-on effects will occur. Firstly, the hair follicles will become blocked. This happens because the sebaceous gland performs the function of keeping hair waterproof and skin supple. It produces a greasy oil called sebum, once the sebum has blocked the hair follicle acne begins to appear, as dirt and other foreign bodies get blocked in there as well. In severe cases the papules that cause acne can expel puss, which in turn will lead to secondary infection of the cat comedones begin to form on the skin. This infection is called folicullitis and results in extensive weeping from the skin of the cat."

Anyway, no alternatives, so bo bian... monitor the condition. I was told that if it spreads to the WHOLE face, I should visit the vet again... haiz...

So I decided since I have little to lose, I shall play Dr.Soya Ng!

When I got back, I wiped Creamie's nose with a moist cloth, & applied 99% Aloe Vera Gel on it. It works wonder for skin condition... for healing natural PH level etc.... so I figured it should be really mild to use on Creamie....

It seemed to little the spot alittle... will monitor again for the next 7 days....

Meanwhile, Nugget's ears are better already, less shaking... less Black Sticky mites from his ears... I figured he will recover, but will he start to "loathe" my hugging....

I have always wondered if me & creamie started off on the wrong foot .... I was too concerned abt cleaning her ears, bathing her... etc... things that she dislike.... haiz....

Let's pray that Creamie & Nugget will understand the Mummy's heart! kekek!

Anyway, gona visit the Vet quite often these few months...
next visit - 1st vacination for Nugget + check his ears,
1 month later - 2nd vacination for Nugget
3 mths later - sterilisation for Nugget....

$$$ where are you gona come from! =)