Goodbye 2016, Hello 2017 :)

Yet another year has pass by once again. 

2016 has been an eventful one and I'll be copying chunks I've wrote in my Dayre over here. I know I've been neglecting this little space because I had been focusing much on my Dayre. 

It's easier to update that platform as compared to here and this is a more 'serious' platform as compared to there. But this place will not be forgotten for sure as this is the place where I started writing more than 10 years ago. 

 "Summing up 2016 "

These were written 1 week before 2016 ends because it will take me quite sometime to finish writing this #2016review/#2016reflection 

2016 was filled with many ups and down. Indeed as challenging/more challenging that previous years but I always believe in what doesn't kills you makes you stronger. Right? :) 

" Honeymoon "

Embarked on our honeymoon trip on the first week of Jan 2016. 

Probably the best time to travel because it's really dreading to go back to work after 'restarting' the year. Air tickets were probably the lowest at that time too haha. 

It's a very impromptu decision though our cash flow is tight especially after the wedding. We just #yolo and went ahead. Not much planning as we were on day tour most of the time and it was one of our longer/further trip in recent years. 

Missing the blues.. 

Never thought the view will be so pretty and come to think of it I might just enjoy Maldives. 

One thing I regret not doing is to bring my sports gear to Perth. 

The weather and air is so apt for a good run. I only remember when I saw many locals doing their routine runs in the morning/evening :(

It was a mad crazy hunt for you but I'm glad we found you. In fac,t we found many of you but you guys can be quite scare of humans at times haha.

We traveled so many miles mainly cause of you :)

A good day spent with you at rottnest island and eventually I bought back the quokka soft toy as souvenir! 

So much love for this little fellow. 

Favorite pic of all time taken by us :) 

FYI, that's just the default face. The trick is to make it look up and you can see it's smiley face easily. 

Letting it hold onto his favorite food helps.. Pluck some for them and they will come after you haha..

 "Driving License" 

Something which I delay for years! 

It was the most torturing/busy 3-4 months of 2016. It meant juggling between personal life/work and attending lessons.

Sacrifice many sleeps on the weekends to attend driving lesson, and after work personal time (till 10.20pm, those were the most torturing ones) for driving lesson.

Totally no dating/social time for that few months because I just want to get it over and done with. 

Been there, done that and I will never miss those days ever. 

Got over and done with on the 2nd attempt and on the last day of my PDL :)

Probably the happiest thing that can happen to me in 2016. It was 10 years late but better than never.

Happy until tears can drop simply because my car is waiting for me to drive. Even though touching the steering wheel once again after getting the license require much courage lol.

But at the end of the day, it's all about getting used to it.

"小白 🚗"

Our biggest purchase after the house. 

I still remember how happy I was when I first saw you. 

Like a 初恋. 

Even though I always drool at other cars but you will always be my 'first love'.

You only has less than 1 year (from now on) with us but thanks for the memories. Life has been better with you around so I'm still thankful for your presence.

Probably gonna get quite emo when the day comes to bid goodbye to you. 

"BKK 2016"

The 4 of us finally went on a overseas trip together after saying it for ages haha. 

A different experience indeed and there's lots of first time in the trip. The epic moment when we were brought to a scam restaurant and hard to get out of it. Lol! 

Haven really get down to writing about the new discoveries of this BKK trip and I hope I do it soon.

"8 Races"

Enough said. This picture says it all. 

A total of 8 races in 2016. Back to the running streak and it felt like where I started in 2014. 

Dropped to 6 races in 2015 because way too busy with wedding prep and glad to be back to races in 2016. 

I already foresee lesser race in 2017 due to work commitment and probably no time to run (brain probably too tired after work) so I can only join those major races then. 

I've already signed up for 2 races in 2017! :) 

 "Thankful for the healthy/injury free year"

I'm glad I didn't suffer from any runner injury like in the past. Had a fall/minor sprain in 2015 at workplace and I had to stop running for 3 weeks? My ankle was swollen like pig trotters and it was being wrapped up by the TCM. 

Fall sick very badly in 2015 too (3 days mc straight and I had a super long weekend). 

So I'm really thankful for a healthy/injury free year.

"Career"

I don't know to count it as a blessing in disguise anot because within a few years, I changed my scope of work quite a few times.

来来去去the skill set is almost the same but every year I'm being allocated to do new stuffs. It's as good as restarting because I have to 'forget' the old one, and absorb the 'new' one like a sponge. 

To learn new stuff is always good because I won't get bored of doing the same old stuff again. But the learning curve is really steep. The upcoming milestones/deadline scare the shit out of everyone. So there will not be any luxury to learn things slowly. 

With more responsibility coming, I can only pray to bite on and tight through. Things will probably only get better after Q2 of 2017. Sad truth :(

The only rewarding part is, I'm still getting the sense of achievement like as before when things are finally delivered and completed.

"2017"

A challenging year ahead indeed. 

Still working out how to manage my time properly so I can still do what I love in the midst of the busy schedule. Probably cutting down on the number of days I run by making the distance up on LDR day(definitely weekend). 

It might meant waking up on weekend mornings to go for a run too (though I dread it badly). But I guess it's all worth to do something I love? I hope I can stay motivated.

"Goodbye 2016"

Thankful for a great 2016. Time to welcome 2017 with both arms. Set some resolutions but I shall keep them to myself. One of which is definitely to keep this space 'alive' :) More interesting posts to come so please be patience and stay tune. 

Hereby, wishing everyone a wonderful and blessed 2017 ahead! :) 

The Last of 2015 - Uncle Leong Seafood, Ang Mo Kio GRC & Sengkang SMCCountdown 2016

This shall be my last post on 2015 and the only event which I have not yet blogged about 2015 will be the wedding. I've lots to write about, just simply procrastinating. But anyway I'll get down to it really soon #hopefully

On the last day of 2015, it was spend mainly on cycling and eating to welcome 2016. Not forgetting we waited for the fireworks too :)

We started cycling around the evening time from Sengkang Riverside Park till Uncle Leong Seafood(Punggol) for our dinner. We didn't start cycling earlier because it was raining heavily till the late afternoon. 

I went in advance to rent our bikes around early afternoon and the bike rental owners passed me the keys to the bike locks (Since I don't need it that early). So it's pretty own-time-own-target to collect your bikes and return it. We rented the bike from the bike rental shop at Anchorvale CC (Ground Floor). I can't really remember what's the name of it, but I did sms in to enquire about the bikes before going down to make payment and etc.

Took the compact ones for myself and SIL.

The normal mountain bike for Derp and BIL.

Btw, the bike rental cost per bike was $35 in our case for the usage of close to 7 hours.

We started cycling around 6 plus. And yes I've to get used to cycling again because I almost forgot how to ride a bicycle. Took sometime for me to finally recap and made it to Punggol safely.

A #welfie while on the way there and before the heavy rain start pouring down.

We seeked shelter at Punggol Waterway for quite sometime due to the heavy rain at around 8pm.

In the end, we finally reached Uncle Leong Seafood close to 9pm. There wasn't much queue by then so we didn't wait too long for our seats. To our surprise, it was really crowded at that area that night, with lots of people prawn-ing, playing pool and etc.

Finally here after a long night..

As you can tell, crabs is their signature but nope we didn't order any crab dishes that night as we just had Melben's crab not long ago. 

Fried Rice (Can't remember if it's yang chou fried rice anot) 

We polished off this dish within 5 mins after it was served because it was too good and we were famished haha! Taste better than the one we had at White Restaurant

Uncle Leong Signature Seafood Hor Fun

Thai Style Chicken

Claypot Toufu (They were really generous with their ingredients)

三黄苋菜 - Chinese Spinach with Eggs

#onthetable

Basically, all their food was really good and affordable. For this amount of food we get, the bill came up to roughly 60 bucks.

And some couple pics..

Uncle Leong Seafood

6 Tebing Lane, #01-03, Punggol East, Singapore 828835

After the fulfilling dinner, it's time to head back to Sengkang Riverside Park for the fireworks. In the mean time, we went to return our bikes first. 

Forgot to mention, there were lots of mishap with the bicycles along the way to and fro Punggol. First, my bicycle's chain came off while I was still getting used to the bicycle. Next, Derp's bicycle's pedal came out which cause us much inconvenience to get the bike back to the rental area. 

The screws came off and we had trouble finding it in the dark and while we were doing so, SIL and I got sand flies bites which lasted few weeks and left us scars :( Can't help but to feedback to the bicycle rental place how bad their bikes condition were the very next day. 

#welfie while waiting..

The fireworks came from the location same as when the fireworks were set off during the National Day celebration so we roughly know where to stand to get the best view of the fireworks. 

Sooner or later, we kept capturing photos which turn out to be smokes/flames only instead of fireworks lol. 

Last #welfie of the night to end 2015 and welcome 2016 :) 

Glad to be doing something different to welcome this new year and having run so many times to Punggol area, this is the first time we cycled there. Indeed aonther new experience for all of us! 

Summing up 2015, Hello 2016!

It's back to page 1/365. Hello 2016!  

While I was compiling photos to sum up 2015, it felt like all these happen not long ago but actually some of which is almost a year ago. No point complaining where all the time went to, but what matter most is to have a fulfilling year :)  

#throwback to some major events of 2015..

1) First CNY as Mr and Mrs in our new crib 

A very different feeling to celebrate CNY especially when we are married and have moved out to live on our own. One thing to note is many places are closed during the CNY period, and I've issues eating fast food/instant noodles so often. So I do constantly remind myself to stock up my refrigerator with whatever veggie/meat especially during the CNY period just so to survive a few days. 

In the past, my parents will do all these but now that I've moved out, it's time to be more independent. Not forgetting we did wrap some hong baos, prepare oranges for 拜年, did spring cleaning and put up CNY deco. 

Indeed much more things to do as compare to the past, whereby I'll just wait for reunion dinner in the comfort of my old room lol. And yes, CNY 2016 is approaching really soon so it's time to get busy again.

2) First Lou Hei and Steamboat in the house 

Yay to the opening ceremony of the steamboat machine given by MIL and finally using it. And also the first lou hei done in the crib. Huat ah! 

You can read about my 2015's CNY celebration here

3) First time attending a Overseas Wedding  

It's the first time all of us went overseas together after knowing each other for so many years. And it's also the first time we attended a overseas wedding. And that's #jasewedsclaire in May :) 

Overseas wedding is definitely very different from local one due to culture and etc hence it was an eye opener for all of us. 

A good getaway trip for all of us.

4) 9th Year Dating Anniversary 

Had a simple anniversary celebration at our banquet venue. And that totally reminded us that we were left with 1/2 year to prepare for the wedding.

5) BKK 2015

Back to BKK after a year hiatus, seriously it should be made into a yearly affair to visit BKK. 

There's always never ending places to visit in BKK or even if it's a repeated place we have visited before, we definitely don't mind going back again.

Life is good there, period.

The best part of BKK 2015 has to be attending cooking lesson in a foreign country. We have been putting what we have learnt to good use, for example our favorite tom yum soup.

I know I have not finish blogging about this travelogue but soon I hope! Time to book air tickets for BKK 2016 *wink*

6) Yoga

I'm still practicing yoga after a year. #achievementunlocked by doing outdoor yoga. Not forgetting I've a new yoga khaki now who join me at my yoga class, my sil :) 

Always feels good to motivate people around me to move more, workout more and live a healthier life. 

7) Running 

6 races this year with a solo 15 km race all on my own. Just not long ago I was telling Derp, I can never forget this race because during the first 5 km I can barely open my eyes. It was so early in the morning and I'm running in almost pitch dark. Anyway, it was indeed a good race and I did it all alone! 

Didn't really participate much in races this year due to the wedding preparation but I do hope for more races in the coming year before a little one come and join us in races :) 

8) A Get-Together Session

Rare occasion when everyone in our family took time out to have a meal together. And to be honest, we never had such a 8 course meal with my MIL before too. 

Oh well, it's a happy occasion so Derp and I are glad that everyone is happy at the end of the day :) 

9) My Hens Night & Birthday Celebration

Haven't had a chance to blog about it yet but yes I've had my hens night and birthday celebration all in 1 night :) And here I am, looking so happy with 2 of my all time favourite cake, rainbow and red velvet cake. My girls do know me well enough! 

10) Getting Customary Married! 

After a year of preparation for the wedding, our customary wedding is finally over.

Having to hunt down everything by ourselves because we did not sign up any wedding package was the tiring part. And that's because we have gained experience from our ROM what we need and what we do not need. We are clear about it rather than going for those hard sell packages which are too stringent and most of the time tie down to many rules and regulation/top up.

No doubt, I will be spending sometime to blog about everything in the coming 2016. So be patience and stay tune :)

And now after summing up 2015, time to set resolutions for 2016.

In 2015, we were very cautious with our spending because of the wedding. But now that the wedding is over and we are debt-free, so in 2016, I really hope both Derp and I can

Do what we love, Love what we do.

As simple as it may sound, but very often we tend to have our own worries before doing something/making any decision.

To continue making improvement

Be it baking (since I've a proper oven now), running, yoga and everything else in life, there's still many room for improvement.

To live happily and healthily

I've injured my leg once this year and the same goes for Derp ( he's still recovering btw), we both fell seriously ill and took 3 days mc straight (indeed another personal best) in 2015.

Hence staying healthy is the most important resolution in 2016 because without health, we can't achieve any of the other resolutions we have set :)

2016, please be good and may you be an even awesome and better year! 

Last Day of 2012 - Art Walk @ JP

On the last day of 2012, sad to say i still got to report to work till 3pm. But smart us decide to skip our lunch  so that we can leave earlier that day plus it was raining during lunch time. Colleagues and i left office around 1:45pm or so to have our lunch before heading home. 

Rain got heavier towards late afternoon and boy was stuck on the train. train faulty -_-".I got the sudden craving for yami yogurt and i remember buying take home pack is more worth than everytime buy one small cup and add toppings. At that point i was thinking of just eating yami yogurt and be a potato couch to countdown for that night thanks to the heavy rain.

Bought the peach take home pack yogurt and granula toppings ). Total $10.20

I vaguely remember myself taking a afternoon nap that day before boy came over and we went out for dinner lol. Damn nice to sleep la! Miss those good old days when i can have afternoon naps.

When we reach JP, saw this new path from the interchange. We were wondering where it leads to. Then realise there's many photos that were frame up for sale. 

Free area to vandalise. 

OOTD - a old dress/top from bonitochico but still in superb good condition. Guess cause i hardy wear it ba. The last time i remember i wore was like during CNY 2010. Ya i repeat 2010 and now is 2013 :) Here's the link. I think i look like shit in the top/dress that time as compared to now. And the first zi lian photo in that post scare the shit out of me, so dont say i never warn your :)

Nah this is the so call exhibition area showing people's work and they are up for sale. :) Oh ya i really love the naraya bag i bought for myself in BKK. I'm basically carrying it everywhere i go cause it can contain everything i need. I want to go back get more! 

Anyway this path just leads from the new interchange to the old part of jurong point. A short cut whereby you dont have to squeeze with others in the shopping mall to get to the old part of jurong point :)

Decided to have ramen that day, the one that i always have with my gfs when we cant decide what to eat for dinner. The ramen there is yummy~ I posted a photo of it on my instagram few weeks back cause i went back there again with boy on a friday night for dinner :)

Our plan was to go for boon lay countdown near jurong point. This year they change location. Previous year were at boon lay cc area. Honestly speaking i prefer it to be at boon lay cc area but they would have to block the roads to prevent cars/buses from entering cause they used up the road to set up booths and stalls. 

The crowd at 9plus~

Wanted to go for the countdown to get goodie bag just like the pervious years BUT this year is at the open field, and it was raining heavily before that, its super duper MUDDY! Super spoil mood. No one were on the grass patch so everyone snatch to walk on the small path way. In the end i cannot be bothered to collect the goodies bag, just walk one round and get out of there. lol. 

Mini bungee jump station.

oh ya, all these station were set up by secondary sch students as their community work. So there's this station which they asked u whether u want to take polaroid  photo and they charge you $1 for it. Sounds good right cause is like doing charity. But the booth is too far in the grass patch and no one is going in.

They were kind enough to provide u cardboard to their booth but seriously no thanks. One secondary sch girl came to ask us "Do you want to take polaroid for $1?" Boy and i shake head and i said "even if u give me $1 to ask me take polaroid photo at your booth i wont even want lor". I know i sound damn evil lolol. Feel so guilty afterwards but seriously the condition were too chui. They should just put the countdown at boon lay cc area again la, or at least shift their booth out because when it rains, its damn chui~ 

On the last day of 2012~ 

Header to pioneer thinking that the pasar malam still around because i've been wanting to eat muah chee but end up all the stalls move out le. 

Took out my rilakkuma 2013 calendar given by li hua and arrange the area with all my rilakkuma stuff on the night of first day of 2013 before heading back to work the next day. 

A brand new start of the year! I'm sure 2013 will be a better year and i'm gonna make it happen! 

On a side note, boy and i am going to select our flat in mid march. its like mid feb soon and we haven even start seeing the catalogue, i sort of 'hang' once i see it and chuck it aside. -_-". Both of us decided that we should go down to do some site survey and at least know the surrounding before we just sign it, am planning to do it during cny period since got long holidays. Hopefully we are not busy and not lazy too. 

Oh ya, am celebrating valentines day earlier this year cause the restaurant i want to go hype up their price too much on valentines' day itself. Madness!