OMG.. =D

I want 1 too..

My fren/colleague is celebrating her 3rd wedding anni today!! "Congratz Ben!" Her husband just sent her this really huge bouquet.. on a stand summore.. like those u see when shops are newly opened!!

*hint hint* =D
.

random..

he: hey baby you there!
me: yes dear!!
he: what are you doing? why have you not been talking to me?
me: just got back from lunch.. eatin fruits now.. haha
he: stop lying to me! who is that fellow beside you?! tell me the truth?
me: hahah.. XXX!! haha..
he: avan sethan (translation: he's dead!)
he: i am comin to where ever he is staying and will throw a toothpick at him
me: haha... TOOTHPICK??!!
me: haha.. anyway, how come nowadays u call me baby often? not tat i mind.. =)
he: chumma.. why cannot is it? i am in NZ you see.. here every kutti is baby you know
me: Grrrr!!!

I ask for it sometimes... Haiz..
.

MBA!! =D

Wow… I’ve done it!! I’ve gotten my MBA!!! I just got an email from UniSA telling me that I’ve met all criteria for graduation!! WOOHOO.. all that slogging away on weekends.. all that assignments.. all that wkends of classes from 9am to 6pm!! Less hanging out with frens! Less shopping! Less slacking! GOSH.. I can’t believe it!! It’s finally over!! N I’ve done my parents proud once again! I can finally do this: Anuradha d/o Kabilar, BSc., MBA.

Congrats to all my coursemates!! Well done guys!! This MBA has done wonders for me!! I’ve made new friends, learnt to be more confident, lots more networks to rely on.. =) I’m also glad to have gone to Kaplan to have done this degree.. They have proven to be a reliable institution, handling all other details such that I have nothing else to worry abt N need only concentrate on my degree.. Thanks Merlinda! :D

Met my course-mates for lunch today @ Velocity.. Had fun..!! True celebration of MBA graduates!!

Planning to go Adelaide for graduation of cos!! =D Graduation ceremony in Adelaide is on 5 Apr @ 3pm @ Adelaide Festival Theatre. I’m soooooo excited!! Can’t wait!!

*************************************************

Thanks 4 calling to wish me Nagz!! Love ya gal..
.

Keeping active.. physically & mentally..

I’ve reset my mouse settings to manoeuvre the mouse using my non-dominant (left) hand.. Dunno why… Just decided to do it yesterday when I got to work.. Surprisingly it’s quite easy once u get the hang of it.. It’s supposed to improve hand-eye coordination and keep your brain active as your non-dominant hand has to play a bigger role now.. (I’m right-handed)..

Y dun U try it?? =D U can see how long it takes for u to master this particular skill.. Sometimes (when I'm not busy scribbling notes of meeting), I practise writing my name using my left hand.. I read somewhere that playing card games can also keep your mind active.. Read an article on this recently but can't trace it now.. So go ahead, do sth that keeps ur mind active now!!

Tats for the mental part.. Physically, my ABT (Abs, Butts & Thighs) fitness classes are comin to an end & I was wondering where n what to pursue next.. Surprisingly enuf, they started yoga classes in my office!! So as 1 ends, 1 begins.. Lucky me.. =D
.

PHI trip on 27-30Mar

CEBU.. I miss CEBU… Haiz.. LZH, KWT n SLI.. I miss u all too!!! I met LP @ Lakeside mrt @ 6.15am & we took the train down to Changi.. Plane was departing from Term 2 from SIN @ 930.. We were lookin ard the shops when the last call for our plane was made.. So we all ran for our plane.. as usual.. I’m ALWAYS running for planes… Was super excited n hyperactive on the plane.. took lotsa pics.. had lunch on plane as well.. wasn't tat great.. :P Loved the bun though.. haha.. ate lotsa bread thru’out the trip.. just ask the rest..

Once we landed n cleared customs, we saw signboard with a funny quote! Got reminded of Ali.. Ali, we missed u!! Anyway, the sign said.. “The best things in life are DUTY free” haha.. Pinoys are seriously funny.. There was a lady holding out a card with Liping’s name on it.. she directed us to the waiting car to take us to Parklane Hotel.. Nice quaint hotel with wonderful service.. besides there was Ayala shopping mall just next to it.. as big as Suntec.. we only had to JAYWALK 2 roads.. saw many jeepneys along the way.. For those of u who dunno wat a jeepney is.. pls see pic.. :)

PHI has plenty of security too.. not sure if it was to just create more employment.. There were security checks at every entrance of the mall.. there were like 6 people behind a cashier's counter! 1 to scan the items, 1 to pass it to another 1 to put it in a bag, 1 to take the money, 1 to staple to receipt to the bag & last 1 to pass me the bag!! haha.. We ate lunch @ Shakey's pizza.. Everything was suuuuppper SALTY!! We caught a movie too.. top floor was similar to our LIDO.. we watched 'Knowing' starring Nicholas cage... I would not recommend this alien movie to any1!! urghhhh!!! had dinner after that @ Giligan's restaurant! Their version of kangkong is alot different from ours..!! Went back to shower, change n head to a sleazy bar.. haha.. wasn't tat sleazy actually.. was called Club Pump.. paid 100 peso each = SGD3.50!! hahha... got us 4 free drinks too.. then we danced til 1am.. & walked back to our hotel.. 5 mins walkin distance only.. & went to bed..

Next mornin, we had breakfast @ the hotel itself.. lotsa pig soft toys ard the place.. we started talkin abt terrorism.. haha.. due to political n racial sensitivity, I’ll leave it out of here.. we left our luggage with concierge n went back to Ayala to shop some more!! Bought our fav fren Jess (CYP) her fav Mickey mouse slippers.. =D then had lunch @ Jollibee!!.. It's sth of a mix betw Macs & KFC.. haha.. n the dashing young mascot came to take pics with us!! haha.. he looked sooo gd.. he was there for a birthday party of a 2-yr old..
After lunch, we went back to the hotel to grab our luggage n take a cab to white sands resort.. our home for the next 3 days & 2 nites.. Checked in once we reached there n were directed to our rooms.. very East coast chalet-like.. There we freshened up & went to explore the beach n any water activities tat we could do.. it was low tide so simin ventured far far out.. n at one point in time, was surrounded by 5 guys who were tryin to sell their wares (trips to other islands n snorkellin n stuff la..).. then we decided to swim in the pool since we could not swim at the beach.. there were 2 pools there.. so we took the quieter one.. there was a nice jacuzzi rite next to the pool.. so we used it then got into the pool.. there were these reclining chairs in the pool that we could relax on.. took a few pics on tat.. oh yeah.. there was a wedding going on as well when we reached the resort.. so we took a pics of that.. saw lotsa filipinos with white men.. everywhere.. wonder y..

After swimmin, we went to shower and had dinner @ the hotel itself.. Supposedly it was a seafood buffet dinner.. but the only seafood there were fish and squid.. wat ever happened to prawns n lobster n crayfish n crabs??!! Anyway, so we ate like pork n chicken n fish n all.. i also had raw mangoes.. that was part of their starters.. YUMMY.. sth that my mum NEVER lets me eat.. EVER!! haha.. then we headed back to our rms.. played cards for awhile.. (cards gotten from Silkair..) We played taiti & hearts.. Kok weng taught us how to play hearts.. Interestin I must say.. then we went to bed.. woke up early the next day.. went for breakfast.. I just LURRRVVVVEEEEEE breakfast!! Bread, pastries, scrambled eggs, pancakes, koko krunch cereal...

Then we went to check out the prices offered by the hotel to bring us out to sea to snorkel.. but it was sooo expensive.. so we decided to go look 4 simin's guys from day b4 instead.. who offered their wares @ more attractive rates.. we found them by the beach.. agreed on a price with them.. went back to our rooms to grab our things n started out.. the security guard was quite strict cos we were leavin resort property n sneakin out to go on other snorkelling trips.. So, he made us sign some indemnity forms that wateva happened to us out there was not their responsibility.. then we went out to sea.. took lotsa pics.. went snorkellin.. I screamed all the time.. cos was sooo excited @ havin the fish so close to me, eating bread from my hand.. also did fishing.. I caught 2 fishes.. but thot the 2nd one was not a fish n let it go.. silly me..haha.. the pinoys laughed at me.. haha.. was soooo sunburnt!! even though we wore sunscreen!! My nose n back are peelin now.. GROSS! haiz..

We also went to have lunch on a floating restaurant.. but.. it cost sooo much 4 soooo lil!! so we decided it wasn't worth it.. & so headed back to the resort.. washed up.. went to front office & asked for recommendations for lunch places.. n were told to go to maribago grill for lunch.. the weather was very hot!! we were being sunburnt just walkin out of the resort to go grab lunch.. we walked across the road to Maribago grill.. a WONDERFUL restaurant with sumptious food & great ambience.. only setbacks were the mosquitoes n cats!! :P we ate lunch there.. were extremely exhausted so headed back to rms @4pm to sleep.. Only woke up @ 7pm!! :D & we went back to Maribago grill for dinner.. =) Only this time we sat @ a better place where the mosquitoes & cats couldn't get us.. enjoyed our meals n drinks.. I ate alot of pork on this trip though.. :) we also shared alot of stories over this last dinner.. we were sooo sad cos we had to leave the next day already.. haiz.. On our way back to the resort after dinner, we explored a 24hr korean grocery shop.. haha..

Next mornin, we woke up to have breakfast.. rushed to do last min packin.. then checked out of the resort.. when we were checkin out.. we saw these really cute guys.. ok ok.. Apparently only I thot they were cute.. haha.. I figured they were singaporeans too.. :) just knew.. dont ask me why or how.. well anyway, they had checked out 1st.. n so they took the 1st cab n left.. my frens were teasin me to go ask them to take a grp pic for us.. which of cos I didnt do.. Anyway, so we got our own cab n went to the airport.. Simin forgot that u can't carry liquids in hand luggage.. n she was carryin 3 tiny can drinks bought at the 24 hr korean grocery shop.. so Kok Weng had to down 2 bottles.. n Simin finished one.. only then were we were allowed to go thru..

Then while we were waitin to board the plane, guess who we saw??!! the CHECK OUT guys!! =D haha.. Simin was the voice of reason & LP was the DEVIL.. haha.. LP asked me to go take a pic with him n Simin kept remindin me of Suresh. They kept tellin me it was FATE!! haha.. On board the plane, they were seated rite in front of us!!! We were Row 18 and they were Row 17!! =D LP secretly tried to take pics of the guys.. when we got our food, the water's brand was Sunfresh.. cover the N & F & what do u get?? SURESH!! haha.. Simin said "he's watchin u!!" with the fingers to eyes to pointin at me.. haha.. that was super hilarious..

Haiz.. I miss CEBU... I miss my frens!

*For more pics, pls see my facebook.. =D

********************************************************************

Shamz, this is 4 u! =>

PSD Advance 2009

PSD Advance was held on 23 Mar 2009.. Immediately after I came back from my quick getaway in Batam with frens.. It is an annual PSD event that is attended by PSD and CSC.. to discuss plans for the organisation for the year.. Senior Mgmt laid out the directions to take.. N each depts will take it & work on it in their own areas.. So, reason y I mention this is cos.. I was emcee for this event.. MP Zainudin Nordin was the GOH.. He spoke of the ground sentiments of Singaporeans during this economic downturn & some of the issues were really quite stark..

On sun nite, I was busy plannin wat to wear.. N in the end decided to stick to my lil black dress.. It's formal wear.. not party wear.. so no worries.. Mum's selection.. Gd choice though cos everyone commented on my dress.. They all said it was pretty.. I had to tell them the truth.. tat it was 12 yrs old!! =D
Anyway, the event went well.. Justin my co-emcee had plenty of experience doing such PSD events.. Had a gd time with him.. After tea break, the session got a bit more complicated though.. After PS's speech, participants had to break up for discussions.. & that wasnt in our speech.. we had to stick tat in.. There was an sms aspect to the session where pple could sms their thoughts to numbers flashed on the screens & we would flash selected comments.. Haiz.. quite messy.. But we managed to pull thru..

Everyone said it was a job well done.. So I was really glad.. My 1st day back @ work had been great!! Can't say the same for my other frens who had come to Batam with me.. But, I just wanna say, Hang in there babettes... It'll get betta! Luv ya'll..

Took pics after tat with frens.. Will post them once my fren scans them to me.. :D

BATAM...21-22Mar!!! =D

I know I know.. I'm always soooo slow in updating my blog.. But wat can I do.. there's sooo much happening in life.. N not much time to pen down my thots.. Well, I have to say abt Batam though..

There was a grand total of 75 emails exchanged before we embarked on this 2day1nite journey!! I'm not kidding.. 75 emails.. Haha.. So, finally, we had booked a Spa package @ Holiday Inn..

Well, anyway.. we finally made it.. We made it to the ferry terminal (LATE as usual though!!), made the ferry trip, made our way to the hotel, lasted there for the 2d1n & made it back safe n sound too.. Didn't miss the ferry & mas selamat didnt attack Holiday Inn while we were there.. haha.. my darlin pessimistic frens' weird ideas..

I have to start at the beginning.. we were supposed to meet @ 7.20am @ Harbourfront PizzaHut.. cos thats the only landmark Shamz knew!! Doesn't matter how often we hang out @ Harbourfront or Vivo! I was there @ 7.10am!! Deepz came on time.. Knew I'd be on time & didn't wanna be late & make me wait.. @ least SHE had that courtesy!! the other 2 bums were late!! AS USUAL!! Shamz even overslept.. Wish we had left u behind gal! :P They (Vanz & Shamz) joined us 4 breakfast @ Macs.. Then we went to collect our ferry tickets & board the ferry.. Guess wat.. we were told tat our ferry was at 9.20am! But the actual ferry timing was 10.20am! We thought perhaps they had told us in Batam time (an hr behind SG).. So fine.. we went thru the gate & found out tat we were too early.. only those ferries leaving in the next 1/2 hr were supposed to go into thru the gates.. Haiz.. But they allowed us to pass thru.. Then we waited n waited n waited.. took pics in the meantime though.. Pics tat Vanz said she will send.. No sight of them til now.. N our boarding passes mentioned that our ferry was "Golden Image".. It was 10am.. N still no sight of "Golden Image".. Since we had been waitin for almost an hr for the damn ferry, we decided to go ask the staff @ the counter.. N they just kept sayin 'Hold on, it will be here soon.' However, there was another ferry heading to the same destination @ 10.20am.. So, we decided to heck it & boarded that ferry.. Crossin our fingers & praying tat we wouldn't be kicked off the ferry.. keke.. N we managed to make our way there!! haha..

Got ourselves a 2-bedroom suite.. Was wonderful!! We freshened up.. N left for Nagoya Hill, a shopping mall.. wanted to get some shopping done n lunch too.. We had to head back soon 4 our spa.. We ate @ Happiness Restaurant.. Turned out to be not so happy though.. Will tell u ltr on.. Keep readin.. :) Then did some shopping.. I bought 2 bags! :)

Then we had to rush back to hotel for our spa.. We had time for some sauna, steam bath & jacuzzi.. wonderful.. but we hadn't brought our cameras so couldnt get any pics.. Then we had to split.. 2 to a room for our actual massages.. Glad to know that Shamz enjoyed herself since it was her 1st time.. We had body scrubs and a body mask following tat.. OOhhh.. the mask smelt sooo yummy.. It was a honey milk mask.. we were left wrapped up after tat then told to shower.. It was hilarious when the masseuses asked us if we wanted to shower tog.. ahhah... [We told them NO of cos!!] After showering, we had a body massage.. tat was sooo relaxing.. Haiz.. Wat a life..

After that we returned to our rooms to relac the nite away.. Decided to order room service 4 dinner.. Weren't too keen on explorin Batam @ nite.. Haha.. Anyway, Deepz darlin fell sick.. N she vomited like thrice!! We hadn't even brought medications with us!! Haiz.. we were sooo worried.. But she pulled thru.. Amazingly!! She slept 4 like an hr while the other 3 of us had dinner.. N when she woke up.. she was as good as new! she didn't wanna spoil the nite for the rest of us.. N she kept up her gd spirits.. Learnt sth from her.. I got reminded of a chalet I attended over the Dec hols.. N how miserable I was cos I had injured my toe.. n probably made everyone else at the chalet miserable too.. So, SORRY guys!! (this apology goes out to those in the chalet, u know who u are!)

Then the rest of the nite was spent sharin secrets, hopes, dreams.. Shamz was annoying us all with "I'm tired!".. Shamz dear, I told Suresh tat he should be grateful I dun complain tat much.. haha.. He doesn't want u as set-up anymore!! hahahaha... Shamz had sth goin on with the balcony too.. Always kept goin to the balcony.. Too bad we had such a low floor.. Not that great a view from the balcony.. Locked her in the balcony once!! Have a great pic of her then.. starin @ us to let her go.. haha.. shall post that up..

Went to bed abt 4am.. Woke up @ 8am for breakfast.. Shamz was latest as usual! Ate for like an hr.. Will show the many plates on our table.. :) Returned to our rm to play charades, paatu varisai.. haha.. had fun... Then it was time to return home.... We left there with heavy hearts.. We all had to return to work the next day!! Tats y so sad.. Haiz..

Anyway, all in all, it was an enjoyable holiday.. Plannin to go further to either Bali or Bangkok next time.. Hopefully, Priya & Nagz can join us this time round.. Missed u babes..